Polar Prints, Issue 3, December 2011

Jake Mortenson; Hendrix Enthusiast

Jake Mortenson; musician, future member of law enforcement, and a fan of playing both football and basketball recreationally is a sophomore here at North.
Jake’s been playing the guitar for almost five years now, and is a huge fan of Jimmy Hendrix along with many older class rock bands from the 60’s and 70’s. He likes Hendrix because he’s really into his style. But, don’t let Jake’s love for older music fool you. Jake says that he “also enjoys some newer stuff too, like Wiz Khalifa.” His diverse preferences in different genres of music, can also be applied to his many interests in his life.
Along with music, Jake enjoys playing basketball and football just for fun outside of school. When asked if he enjoyed watching sports, he replied with a simple, “no, not really.” He’s a pretty social guy when in a setting with a lot of people, and enjoys the color purple, just because.
Jake wants to pursue a career in law enforcement someday. When asked why, he replied with, “I don’t want a boring job when I’m older.” In order to pursue this career, Jake would have to go to college once he finishes high school, and there are currently able to start training at the police department if he wishes.

Catapult Project

Physics students of North High School have to do the Catapult project for their first trimester. According to Mr. Scott Sturm, who teaches both Physics and Physical Science, says that students have to do this project because it gives them more knowledge on how Projectile motion works in physics. Projectile motion is about free fall with an initial horizontal velocity. The topic the students are studying is Two-Dimensional Motions and Vectors. He says that students get to investigate Projectile Motion. Catapult project, according to Mr. Sturm, has been in the Physics department curriculum for three years. Catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices. More importantly, Mr. Sturm says that the objective of the catapult project is to allow students to remove from their seats, so that they can learn by exploring and competing with other students.
What‘s most important of the catapult project, is that student get to work with each other, instead of working alone. In Mr. Sturm’ first hour Physics class, students Enyong Tan, Seng, Vang, and Dillon Olsterag [who are all seniors] all partnered to work on the catapult project. Veng says that he likes the project because it’s cool. He says that he gets “to make catapult.” As for Tan, he likes the project, because “he gets to have a feeling of being in the war field,” because he actually gets to shoot marshmallows from a catapult.”
The more interesting things about the project, is that students get to complete with other students about how far their catapults will reach. Students get to shoot marshmallow from the made catapult. During the competition’s day in Mr. Sturm’s first hour class, some students asked what the record was. Mr. Sturm said that since he has been doing this project, a group has exceeded more than 30 meters. His first hour class did not break the record. Tan, Veng, and Olsterag didn’t exceed, too. They did not exceed more than fourteen meters. They were between two meters for every turn round they shot the marshmallow from the catapult.
Each group had to shoot their marshmallow from the catapult six consecutive times. The first three trials, they used the smaller marshmallow, and then the last three consecutive trials, they used the bigger marshmallow to shoot.
Some of the materials students used to make their catapults were: wood, cardboard, paper, Popsicle sticks, plastic cups, fabric used for a sling, glue, dental floss (waxed or plain), string, rubber band, etc.

Polar Prints, Issue 2: November 2011

Click on a page to enlarge.

Yea For Toys is Back

This holiday season, the National Honor Society here at North is putting on its annual fundraiser Yea for Toys. The fundraiser is to provide poor families with an awesome Christmas at North that they can’t get on their own. Thanks to the National Honor Society, this is probably one of the best gifts these families can ever be given.
The Yea for Toys fundraiser was started back in 1999 by Mr. DuFresne and his wife (who is also a teacher here at North). How it works is each 1st hour class will put money in their 1st hour teacher’s stocking and try to average at least $7.50 per student in the class. If the class gets an average of $7.50 per student, then the class will get milk and cookies. And the top 3 classes with the most amount of money averaged will get a breakfast before finals start.
“It’s the National Honor Society’s favorite event of the year,” said Mr. Kopp, who is also a big supporter of the event. “It’s also fun to see the kids open the gifts the NHS bought for them and see what an impact they made on the kids’ lives.” This year, our goal is to raise $6,000-$8,000 for Yea for Toys. The money is used to put on the party with catered-in food, giving gift cards to Cub Foods to families and sometimes to buy gifts for the kids who come to the parties. And better yet, North provides an opportunity for kids to see their noncustodial parents.
“It’s a really good program for the kids and it goes to a really great cause,” said Sarah Boudlali (Junior), who is a member of North’s National Honor Society. “It would help out a lot if students donate money for this.” On a wall in the lobby, you can see how far each class has gotten in the Yea For Toys fundraiser with their colored stocking. Make donations as soon as you can, because those stockings fill up really fast!

Polar Prints, October 2011

(CLICK ON A PAGE TO ENLARGE...)

Teens Too Old to Trick or Treat?

With Halloween right around the corner, most people are expecting to see kids come to their house dressed up and requesting some sweets, but what about teens? According to Autumn Zuk (16), “I try to get out for at least an hour every year if not for the fun of it, I’ll usually bring one of my sisters”. So with at least one teen out there is coming 31^st, why even go? According to Brenda Muthoni, it’s all about “Dressing up in costumes and getting candy from strangers and hanging out with your friends”. Brenda also disagrees that teens are too old for trick or treating.

What teens seem to have in common with most kids is that Halloween is as much about getting in the spirit of the day and dressing up as it is about collecting candy. Like to many people, Halloween becomes pointless “If you go in regular clothing and do it just for the candy” is Brenda’s opinion.

It seems fairly safe to say whether you go out there this coming 31^st with younger ones or with people your age you’re never too old for this night of costumes and cavities. What counts is that you just have fun yourself, grab some people to go with and don’t forget your costume!

North High School’s boys’ soccer team has been doing an outstanding job this year with an 18-0-1 record. Mike “Big Mike” Nelson, a senior, is one of many contributing players of the Varsity team. “It’s a dream season,” he says. He is dressed in his Sunday’s best, minus the sport coat, for their big game against St. Paul Central, 7pm at North. If you hadn’t already known; they are going to State this year. It comes to show, if you work hard enough dreams do come true!

We Need Time to Eat

What lunch do you have? What do you think lunch should be like? Well, you know what; we think that lunch in the lunchroom takes way to long at times. Most students can recall having just got their food and sitting down, only to have the bell ring right when they started to eat. Lunch is supposed to be a peaceful time to sit down, eat, talk to your friends, and do some extra work when needed. But instead, some worry about having enough time to eat.

I can recall having just starting to eat my Sub Sandwich, when Helen announced everyone to leave lunch. I asked if I could get a pass to my next period, but they said “no”. so I ended up having to finish my sub really fast and speed walk to make it to class on time. Days like brunch for lunch, sub day, chicken patty, and turkey and mash potatoes are the days that you need to eat fast. The lines are super long, almost backing up to the doors. Nick Koetz, a student at North, said “I pay for my lunch, so I want to have time to eat it!”

Some suggestions that were made was to let students’ leave school to eat, having two monitors to make sure no one is budging, and possibly, another lunch period to make the cafeteria less crowded. Some others would include more lunch lines, longer lunch periods, and to make the cafeteria and line area larger.

Musical Taste

Fright Farm Rises from the Dead

After last year’s cancellation, the spirits awaken again as the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department brings back the ever-popular Halloween tradition: Fright Farm.
Cmdr. Brad Camitsch, the man who came up with the terrifying phenomenon, cancelled last year’s production because he was getting stressed, but then he found himself even more restless without it. But he wasn’t the only one driven nuts about it. Calls and emails came in from fans expressing their disappointment about it (including some North students.)
“They took a year off and had a rest and they missed it very much,” said Shani Mattson. “They knew a lot of other people missed it too.” For fifteen years, Fright Farm has drawn in about 15,000 people per year. And the scenery’s been different every year, giving a fresh barrage of scares to people who think they know what’s going to happen from what happened the year before. But shortly after going into Fright Farm, they quickly realize how wrong they really are and that they can never assume it’s going to be the same every year.
Some North students are planning on going to Fright Farm this year, including Lea Beaulieu (’13) and Shani Mattson (’13). When asked how Fright Farm’s been doing the past few tears, Shani replied “It gets better every year.” Fright Farm is on Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7-10 PM. It lasts from October 7th and Friday-Monday over Halloween weekend. Also on October 30th, there is a Low-Scare Matinee from noon to 4 PM. Regular admission is $10 and the Low-Scare Matinee admission is $5.

Art in Decline

In North High school there are three art teachers Ms.Krueger, Mr.Kopp, and Mr.Reda. They do a very good job at running the creativity of North High school and the 2nd floor is a beautifully decorated hallway of hand made crafts by North students. But America as a whole has been going into an art decrease over the past few years.

Rosa Grandell a senior says “I think there is a decrease in art because a lot of money isn’t going into art anymore it’s going to more activities like sports, etc: no offence”. When asked what does she think could help art be a more highly active area in a student’s life she responded “I think it’d help to get people more interested in art. Everyone can do art as long as they practice it and get motivated”.

Art is a hightly expressive form of someones inner being.It’d be wonderful to see more money from the government go into things that help express student’s inner self. To get involved in art it doesn’t have to be perfect, no art is perfect it’s just the creativity and energy you put into your art that can make it a beautiful masterpiece.

The Seniors' Future

Faduma Hassan, The Puzzler

She is a 15-year-old young woman attending North High School with dreams of becoming some type of lawyer. She would like to study law at the University of Minnesota because it is close and she likes it. She talked with her guidance counselor about her future plans, and her counselor told her that taking PSEO classes would be a beneficial idea because you get the idea of what college would be like and also save a lot of money.

One of her dream vacations would be to go to London because she has always been quite fond of the English accent and would like to learn it.

One of her interests she likes doing on her free time is building puzzles. It all started last year when she was 14 on a one lonesome day and the only thing in sight was a puzzle box. “I just like the cute little pictures that come out in the end,” she says. She doesn’t really like the small puzzle because those are too easy, but instead, she likes the 100+ puzzles. She can finish a puzzle in a few hours if she is really into it, but sometimes she gets distracted and it takes longer to build. Her favorite puzzle that she built would have to be of Arthur and his dog, Pal.

Don't Be Sagging

When you go to school in the morning, what do you see? Tired students’ with giant mugs of coffee, some rushing to finish their homework, and the rest waiting until the warning bell sounds to get to class. If you look closer, you will be surprised what you will see, or maybe not because it is you that is participating in this activity. You look around when all of a sudden, WHAM, you get a face full of underwear, boxers, shorts, or if you’re lucky, a full moon. This is referred to as sagging, if you hadn’t known already. Now, who wants to see that in the morning right when you wake up, nobody that’s who!

“I know what my students’ are wearing underwear, but I would rather not know the color of them,” said Mr. Simms, a North High staff member. Sagging is inappropriate and should only be done in the privacy of your own home. What would your parents say if you sat down for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and you were letting your rear end hang out? It is inappropriate and some to most girls think that sagging is unattractive. Mr. Richter, assistant principal, used to carry around zip ties and if he saw you sagging, he’d help you out by zip tying your pant loops together. Mr. Hackney, staff member at North, doesn’t see the practicality of it, that it is all shenanigans, and that they should “hitch them up.”

Sagging originated in jail because inmates couldn’t have belts, laces, string, or anything of the sort because they would use those to commit suicide with. So, without belts to hold their pants up, inmates’ pants tended to fall over their backsides. To some inmates it is telling them something other than sagging because you don’t have a belt.?

As of the last staff meeting at North, Mr. Nelson addressed the sagging issue, and has asked all staff members to ask those who sag, to pull them up. Saggin’ police are on the rise, now watch yo back!

Entertainment Favorites

Swinging in Dancing shoes

Shani Matson, a Junior of North High school is a student at the “Famous Dave’s Swing Lessons” on Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis. Every Monday free lessons from 7:15 - 11p.m are available to the public, that’s when she goes to lessons. Shani says the lessons aren’t unbearable but fun! She also says “It’s not very hard once you get used to the basic steps, it’s not very tiring either”.
The lessons are in an open area of the Famous Dave’s to anyone to watch or dance. Usually 30+ people attend every lesson, most of the age group is 25 and over but any age can join in the fun.
The main dance they teach is the “Rock” a stepping back and forth to the beats of the music. It’s a partner group dance, men usually lead and the women follow. The “Swing Dance” is a dance started to go along with the music style of “Jazz”.
It was most popular in the early 1920’s-1950’s.The dance was started in Harlem New York. There are many varieties of the Swing Dance the two most popular are the “Lindy Hop” and “Rock”.
Some of the famous singers of Jazz music include; Louise Armstrong and Lester Young. Shani also believes it is a positive and fun experience and anyone who wants to learn should join, it’s a great time.

Teachers VS. Technology

Many students of North High school hope to one day go to college. Everyone wants to live up to the American standards, good job, good house. But to get that you need a good education. With the decrease in jobs and over priced college many students are turning to Advance Placement classes for that extra boost of education and preparation for college.

Advanced Placement programs, also known as “AP” are a faster paced classroom environments. Megan O’Connor a Junior says “AP classes pay off because you are treated more like an adult, you get more in depth on subjects and more social interactions from discussions”. Megan also says that the AP courses are “passable if you think that you are at least smart and dedicated to your academics”.

The AP test, which is a test that can get you a college credit for History, Math, etc; it is usually held in the spring time. Megan says the test and class is hard the first time but after once you get used you get used to the feel of what college will be like.

AP classes may not be for everyone, if you don’t feel strong in that subject. But if you do you should go straight your goals in life. AP courses require much time out of school as well. You should study hard, ask your teacher if your confused and you will be on your way to be prepared for college and your future academic choices ahead.

Bullying-Rise Against Says 'Make It Stop'

Since September 2010, there have been numerous counts of suicide within the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender community (LGBT). Mainly for the reason that they have been bullied for it in a various amount of ways. Some have not done anything to solve the problem with bullying, but punk-rock band Rise Against is reaching out to those people.
Chicago activist punk rockers Rise Against have been getting videos from their fanbase of people with problems with their orientation and insecurities. In light of that, Rise Against has made a song and video called “Make It Stop (September’s Children),” which also includes small bits of videos from YouTube from the It Gets Better Campaign with victims telling their stories and letting people know “It gets better.” This video takes place in a high school gym with different scenes of teens in the LGBT community being bullied and then using the worst possible way to cope with it: contemplating suicide.
In the chorus, it says “Make it stop. Let this end. Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.” It means make the bullying stop and let the whole thing end. The victim is on the verge of suicide and might succeed if pushed any further. “When the song says ‘Make it stop,’ it’s talking to the parts of society that would hide behind euphemisms like ‘family values’ to justify bigotry, writes Tim McIlrath, lead singer, in a letter to the Huffington Post. “When it says ‘Let this end,’ it’s addressing hate-filled TV networks that masquerade as news stations.”
In the video during the bridge (the bridge is part of a song), Tim McIlrath tells the names of the victims who committed suicide due to bullying (names will not be mentioned) and in between each name has a YouTube exerpt with a person telling the victims that there’s no reason to be ashamed of themselves and they should live their lives how they want. At the very end of the song, the lyrics say “Make it stop. Let this end. This life chose me, I’m not lost in sin. But proud I stand of who I am. I plan to go on living.” With that said, make the bullying stop and check out this video!

North High Students and teachers perspective about school

Why school? Why people should learn? Why do you have to wake up every day in the morning to come to school? When I think about all of these questions, what comes to my mind is that, the society human beings have come to exist in, is will filled with the most complicated stuff that have to be figured out from different angles. The thing we never expected to be complicated is complicated today. In order to decode complicated stuff, we have to have a brain.

School is a place that we go to, to learn for the future. In our generation, the only way we can get into the work force, is to be knowledgeable-like knowing how to read, write, and indeed think critically. The days were even if you didn’t go to school, and you could still find a job, are over for mainly developed countries. Emerging countries are getting there eventually- where they will have to be educated before their needs and wants are being met. The only way a country can stand, is when its citizens are educated, and can make decisions that lead the country in a better path. When asked several students and teachers at North High School, why school? their answers were concurrent.
According to Mr. Simms who teaches English, tells me that school is legitimately important because it the place where students get to learn new things, which obviously can be used when they become adults. One of the things that Simms said was that school is a where struggle is created. What he meant by struggle, is that, school is the place where students get exposed to rigorous material. In some cases, they have difficulties completing those works. However, when they have successfully completed materials, they reach their full potential.

Rosa Grandell, a senior who wants to major in Arts really struck the cord. She said that she comes to school every day because she wants to be educated which obviously would save her a job in the future. When she gets a job in the future, she says that it will enable her to live life to the fullest.

According to another teacher, he said that school is important because its keeps children from the street He later said that school is valued because without it, people lives wouldn’t be better. On the other hand, he said that the world we live in today, the competition is very tight in the workforce. During my interview with him, I spoke to him about globalization, and mentioned about a book called “The World is Flat.” This book detailed that Americans jobs are be outsourced and offshored to other countries for cheaper laborers. Because of offshoring and outsourcing, the competetion in the United States is high. The only way people can get those jobs is to be well rounded and educated.

Shanvontae Jones and Toni Little who are both juniors share the same believe for school: they believe that school is that importance because it the place where people get an education, which will enable them to become successful in the future. Shavontae later went on to jokily say that she comes to school every day to make new friends.

Joe Kranz another junior jokily said that the only reason why he comes to school is that is required. Actually Joes said that he comes to school every day because he wants to have a good job, have a better life, and do what he likes to do like buy new cars, and buy new stuff.

My questions have been answered by North High students and teachers: school is there to prepare us for the future. The only way people can have a wonderful live, is to be educated. It you are not, the dream of living a better life is intangible.

Open Lunch?

Dominic Belmares

Journalism I

Students leaving school during lunch to choose other food options and then returning.

            This is the new debate that has come to a head this year at North High. Students are for it, some teachers are on the fence, and administration has mixed feelings. Administration commented that, “If my children are going to school, I want them to stay in school.” Teachers however are more open to the idea. “If it was based on your GPA and how many tardies you have, and clear set rules for returning, I would be more open to the idea.” School teachers who undecided gave the argument for and against. Stating that “It is a safety issue if I don’t know who my child might be driving with. However, Tartan has open lunch and it’s unfair if we are in the same district and we don’t have it. It’s a double standard.”

            As we can all assume students are going crazy for the idea, but what students are coming up with is impressing teachers and staff.

            Students are willing to work for this privilege and even stating that it should be a reward.

Robert Oberfrank, 12, says, “ Over crowded lunch rooms and lines leave sometimes only five minutes to eat lunch! It should be a reward. If we left we could get a variety of foods. I think I earned it.”

            Yesenia Pattorson, 12, also thinks it should be a reward based on your GPA and tardies. “It should be based on tardies. If you want to be able to leave for lunch, you need to make it to class on time.”

            Mr Simms, an English, Journalism, and Myth and Legends teachers here at North, says, “I’ve heard it works well at other schools.”

            With more support and still growing, some are calling for a test run. Try it for a trimester and see how the system works. If you have something students want to work for, it is an incentive to bring up your grades.

North's AFROTC Program Featured in Ramsey County Review

The North High AFROTC program got a writeup recently in the Ramsey County Review.  Master Sergeant David Wilkinson, one of AFROTC's teachers and coordinators, calls the article "very nice."  He adds that this is "well deserved recognition for our cadets."

Here is the link for the article:

http://review-news.com/main.asp?SectionID=64&SubSectionID=130&ArticleID=11697

North High School students at the University of Minnesota

Some students of North High School got the chance to go to the University of Minnesota for a CIS Composition on September 16, 2011. CIS composition is a course taken by students at North High School that can enable them to earn credit at the University of Minnesota while in high school, and it’s required that students who take this course go to the U for a join assembly- where students from different schools meet there to discuss a specific topic. Among the North High students who attended, Kevin Xiong was one of them. Kevin Xiong, who has been attending North High School since his freshman and in the school district since fourth grade, tells me that the field trip to the University of Minnesota was quiet educational. They were lectured about “Ethnography”- the process of observing, studying, and understanding other cultures. The lecture lasted for 90 minutes. Not only did they have to listen to the lecture, according to Kevin Xiong, they have to study different culture, and write a paper to their teachers who are teaching the course. When the lecture was over, he says that “they were given access to tour the campus."
Kevin Xiong history begins from Laos. His parents immigrated from Laos to the United States. When they came to the United States, they moved to California. Then move to the Minnesota. Kevin Xiong is very happy this year; he is the homecoming king this year for North High School. Xiong had no idea if he were to be king; he just heard the news from other students that he had been selected as homecoming king.
For his research, he hasn’t yet decided what he will do.

Mr. Larson takes group to far east

Over the summer Mr. Dan Larson took a group of students to Japan for 12 days. Mr. Larson said of the trip, “It was amazing and I’m sure it will be something we’ll never forget.”
The group traveled all throughout southern Japan which was far away from Sendai and the damage from the devastating tsunami that hit northern Japan last spring. They visited Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki and ended the trip with three days in Tokyo.
“The greatest part about going was that every student had a different favorite part of the trip.” Mr.Larson said. Marcelo Neblett, one of the students on the trip said his favorite part was , “Going to the Tokyo Dome and just meeting new people.”
The students that were interviewed abouth the trip all had the same thing to say, “It was amazing”. And if your interested in going to Japan talk to Mr. Larson. There is another trip going in 2013.

Opportunity For All

Polar After Hours program provides all North students’ academic assistance and quiet study with available resources and teachers, every Monday through Thursday until 5pm in the Library. Mr. Richter, North’s Associate Principal, says, “This program gives students’ the power to choose how far they want to go in life.”
The purpose of this program is to give students’ the opportunity to have resources available for learning and quiet study. The library has all sorts of resources available, such as computers for typing and research, books for research and homework, and tables for a firm workplace. There are teachers in the library from all the major courses, including math, science, social studies, and English. The library is also available before school at 7 am.
The program was originally started for only those in need of credit recovery and those who were expected not to graduate on time. But it has evolved to be open for all students. This program helps those in need of credit recovery, tutoring in any subject, and academic recovery (for those who miss school, tardy to class, and so on).
Statistics have shown that from the start of this program, success of students has greatly improved. “Students learn better when given the opportunities, we want to place the control for success in the students’ hands,” Mr. Richter said.

Revenge of the Smartboards

One day, a teacher may simply be teaching a class using their trusty Smart board, but then the Smart board misclicks and then all of the work that they put on there is gone! Could it get any worse than that? Oh, yes it can.
Smart boards are notorious for misclicking, freezing, the invisible words (the words aren’t writing), accidentally closing websites, delaying the words, and list goes on and on. “I call my Smart board a dumb board,” says Mrs. Cook, one of the victims of the Smart board experience. Some might say (teachers and students) that Smart boards have minds of their own, which can make lessons a little harder to teach.
“I think that it’s pretty funny,” says Nick Hicks (Junior). “It wastes like five minutes of class time to try and reboot the whole thing.” It’s understandable why the students might find the Smart board messing with the teachers funny. It sometimes misclicks when the teachers try to fix it, making matters worse and hearing the occasional “No! I didn’t want to do that!” or maybe writing in a place two feet from where the teacher’s actually writing. But nonetheless, that can get pretty annoying when you’re trying to learn something and then the things you want to copy for notes disappear in front of your eyes.

Kidnapping: Fun or Hazing?

Kidnapping: Fun or Hazing?

The recurring homecoming tradition of kidnapping has often been questioned as hazing or innocent fun? Kidnapping is when an upperclassman goes to the home of an underclassman early in the morning, and wakes them up, usually unexpectedly, then drives them around while telling them to do things that can be embarrassing at various places they might decide to stop. After that they generally take them out to breakfast, dress them up in an outfit that was not of their choice, and sometimes tell them things they can and can’t do during the school day.

When asked about his opinion on kidnapping Mr. Sowah (North High School staff member) said” I can see how it’s meant to be fun […] but it’s easy for a situation that’s supposed to be fun to turn bad”. In Mr. Sowah’s opinion he feels it kind of sounds like bullying. When asked Zanab Tiamiyu (15 ) described her experience of being kidnapped as “fun [and] exciting” and she also said “I hate how they [administration] try to ban kidnapping”

Regardless of where the thought of kidnapping stands in the minds of North High School staff and students, it’s important to consider Mr. Sowah’s closing remarks on the issue, “ [It’s] up to the students to make sure they don’t go out of line [with kidnapping]. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt which should be considered by both the kidnapper and kidnapped in the recurring homecoming tradition of kidnapping.