Four-by-four interviews: Coming Soon!

To our faithful blog readers:  We, the writers and producers of Polar Prints and Polar Prints Online, are excited to announce the next feature which will be appearing soon on this blog (and in our paper edition).  It is called a four-by-four interview.  Our reporter will ask four questions on a certain subject to four North High people and present the responses arranged into a grid with pictures.  This will be a quick, fun read for all, and a great way to find out what's on the minds of students and teachers.  Enjoy!

Dodgeball Tournament Shortage

It has been about two months since we had our dodgeball tournament here at North high, even though Student Council said we would have another one. Everyone was expecting another dodgeball tournament in a matter of weeks, but plans have not been made to get another one organized. They most people would enjoy another dodgeball tournament.
The tournament always has a good turnout and it is something fun and unique that we do here at North High. With North sports struggling right now, the students need something that they can compete in and be proud of. Many people are wondering why we haven’t had another one yet.
When asked what he thinks of this unfulfilled promise by Student Council, Joey Barron said, “The dodgeball tournament is Great, Student Council really needs to step up and get on top of that.” This is probably what our entire school is thinking. Why hasn’t Student Council organized another one yet?
They want to organize things that are fun for us students to do and the dodgeball tournament is the perfect activity for that.an enjoyable, competition that anybody can do, the perfect Student Council planned activity. They would really benefit from having another one.
The tournaments are a great time and nobody is ever in a rush to get out of there (other than the Janitors, trying to get everyone out so they can clean up). I am hoping that Student Council organizes another one soon. If they don’t, there is going to be a lot of questions from students.

Cartoons: The Animations of a Generation

Rugrats. Recess. The Lion King. Dexter’s Laboratory.
It’s not hard to recognize these names, considering that most everyone at this school grew up with them.
We nineties kids have a reputation for our fun television and film choices. Nickelodeon created and put “Nicktoons” on its channel for the first time in 1991, and Cartoon Network, launched in 1992, was a harbor for both new and nostalgic cartoons. Disney unloaded a galaxy of fun on us with the availability of our favorite animated movies on VHS tapes and video and computer games, and started making deals with Pixar to bring on Toy Story and other computer-animated films.
Let’s face it: cartoons are a major component of our generation, and we are the first group where it is okay for us to still love our little scribbled friends.
When animated cartoons were first created – credit for the first successful animated film projection goes to Émile Cohl, a French director, on his piece “Fantasmagorie” in 1908 – everyone was blown away. The idea that what was in one’s mind could be brought to life exactly as seen in one’s head was revolutionary – as Walt Disney said: “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Soon, cartoons gained a new public perspective. Other than the animations used in commercials, most cartoons were becoming more and more constrained to a younger audience. The 1950’s brought with it the creation of television shows like Jay Ward’s Crusader Rabbit and Hanna Barbara’s The Flintstones, as well as rebroadcasting of big screen bits from Disney, MGM, and the Warner Brothers.
Between the 50’s and 80’s, cartoons continued mostly as Saturday morning treats, where kids would rise early to watch their favorites like Scooby Doo and The Jetsons. Never before was there an entire channel devoted to an animated agenda.
Then the 1990’s rolled around. A new revolution emerged.
Now, cartoons are commonplace for several age groups, from the younger children to the college kids. Back in the day, people would stop watching the animated greats because they were scorned as “kids’ shows.” These days, there are even cartoons made specifically for adults, like Family Guy and Futurama. Many teenagers treasure their Disney VHS tapes like the Dead Sea Scrolls, search YouTube for old classics like Doug and The Peanuts Gang, and even enjoy watching new shows like Phineas and Ferb or Adventure Time. Boomerang brings us back to old school Cartoon Network with Tom and Jerry and Johnny Bravo, and Toon Disney makes Goof Troop and Gargoyles available. There is also a skepticism of new cartoons and how they’ll never be as good as they were before, and some of us could even be diagnosed with “Back in my day…” syndrome (even yours truly).
So the next time you sit down to enjoy Aladdin with your friends or excitedly come across Jackie Chan Adventures in your TV guide, remember that you aren’t just watching what you’ve loved since you were young: you’re participating in a generational tradition.

(Most information in this article received from Wikipedia)

Who is the Pullstick Bandit?
It started in early October with a couple of harmless little practical jokes, the woods teacher (Mr. Kiihn) would find them and just throw them away. It then picked up to four or five a day and that’s when the problem started.
The things that the pranksters were making are called “pullsticks.” A “pullstick” is a version of mr. Kiihns Pushstick, anybody who has had woods with Mr. Kiihn is familiar with these Pushsticks. They are slabs of wood that resemble a boot a when you are using a machine, you push the wood through with a pushstick. A pullstick is made by flipping the base upside down and getting behind the machine and pulling the wood through.
Although these sticks were a good prank, Kiihn did not find them funny at all. He started looking for the culpret days after he started finding these tools. It started by him going around and asking questions to students, his suspects include Tommy Edmund, Matt Hogate and Shawn Kelley. All of these suspects were questioned and offered a reward for telling who the Pullstick Bandit was.
The person making these them were in Mr. Kiihn’s third hour class and although these “Pullsticks” were not a big problem at first, they rapidly increased in number and started showing up all over the Woods shop. “It got up to four or five a day,” says Hogate. This is when Kiihn really began to get frustrated.
With Hogate and Edmond being the top two suspects, the interrigations increased for them. When they would not give him anyinformation, he offered them both reward of A minuses to confess who the one making the Pullsticks was. When asked about this bribe to rat the pullstick Bandit out Edmond said, “You just don’t do that when there’s a great prank like this going, you just don’t want it to stop.”
The making of these Pullsticks finally stopped a few weeks ago with Kihn threatening to shut down shop class. Kiihn was very happy with the prank coming to an end and hopes other classes don’t start to make them.
Even though Mr. Kiihn thinks it was a good prank, he says, “Someone could have gotten hurt.” Many students, including Evan Kimlinger, who is is his second year of Woods class argue that it’s safer because you don’t have to push into the machine. Safer or not,these Pullsticks have been banned from Woods class.
Sinceit is still an open case, the Pullstick Bandit won’t reveal himself yet, but there is speculation that he will go public with his confession soon. Whoever the prankster who made these pullsticks is,he should be proud of a first-class prank and has changed Woods class forever.

Mr.Kiihn also know as Kniner, is one of the most awsome teachers yet I have met at North High School. He has always been there for the students if they need school needs or perssonal needs. School wise his classes are awsome. He teachers Woods 1, Woods2, Advanced Woods 3, and Home Mechanics, 2 of which I have personally teken. Each of his classes challenegs you with not only your mind but also with your hands. Using your mind by thinking of ruling dementions, and using your hands by cutting and slicing wood with the machinery. As a full on teacher the students enjoy having Kiihn as a teacher. He makes remarks or jokes that make his classes enjoyable making his class a class which really brings out the extracuricular activity out. Mr. Kiihn is great!

Life at North High By: T.O.

“Four years is a long time but it has passed by so fast,” that was Eric Woodford’s response when I asked him to reflect on his high school expierence. When your a freshman you think it is going to be so long til your a senior, but before you know it, it’s over.

“ I will remember all 4 years and the great memories they brought,” said Jake Milton. High school is a time to meet new people and make new friendships that could last a lifetime.

“ High School was easier than I thought it would be,” said the senior whiz Joey Barron. As long as you try your best in all classes and do your homework than you will be just fine. “ As a freshman high school seemed so stressful, but really it’s just a place to have fun and learn useful stuff,” said Steve K. High school is what you make it. The best thing to do is to have a positive attitude.

Every one graduating from North High School this year is very excited and have been waiting for this moment for a life time.

Woodshop: By T.O.

Mr. Kiihn handles all of the woodshop classes here at North High. He is a really good teacher for the woods classes and likes doing what he is doing. The biggest problem with the classes he says “kids don’t like to wear their safety classes, even when I tell them stories about accidents that have happened.” For the first week or two in every class you go over safety rules, cause as Mr. Kiihn says “Safety first.” He wears his safety classes all day, he even wore them for this picture, which is good because he is setting a good example. Woodshop classes are a good place to learn new skills and things that someday you will need in life.

Jake Milton- Senior at North High

Jake Milton, livin life day by day

by: T.O.

Jake Milton a senior at North High School has one thing on his mind at the moment, finshing school on a good note and graduating this coming June. Jake plans to attend college after high school and is unsure at the moment what field of work he wants to get into. School is not his favorite activity, instead he enjoys playing basketball, football and also enjoys hanging out with friends. With his friends he likes to go to fast food resturants at all hours of the day, his favorite is Mcdonalds due to the 24 hour drive thru. Along with having fun with his friend he needs a way to have money for that, he currently works at Roma Italian Place and says it is good enough for now. Jake enjoys each day to the fullest, whether it is a day at school, work, or with friends.

Hot Lunch v. Boxed Lunch

Every day, all across the cafeteria, there is a quiet question echoing in minds and stomachs: What should I have for lunch? While the lunchroom offers us a plethora of choices, from soup and salad to pizza to fries and hot pretzels, there are students who opt out and bring a lunch from home.

But this leaves a question in several mouths: What makes a student choose between hot lunch and cold lunch? I talked with a couple people to find out.

Meet Arielle Napoli, a senior. While there are some students who don't mind where they get their food, Arielle is a "frozencore" cold lunch carrier. When I asked her why she totes her darling Hello Kitty lunchbox to the cafeteria every day, she said bluntly, "Because the food here is disgusting."

Upon discussing things with Arielle further, she explained why she felt this way. She likes knowing where her food comes from, and though the kitchens at North are very much visible behind the stainless steel buffets, it's difficult to know what the ingredients are. Plus she seems quite fond of her PB&J's, another plus to bringing her own lunch - she can have what she wants and prepare it how she wants it.

Getting a feel for where one student stands on the lunch issue, I decided to talk to someone that only eats hot lunch. Another senior, who has chosen to remain anonymous, sat with me and we talked about why she chooses to pay the school to give her sustenance. She told me that she likes the food here at North.

"It's actually pretty good, especially since they've added the sub sandwich days." Ever since she was young, she has also had a thing for school mashed potatoes. "They're really good with butter," she said, smiling. In addition, she mentioned that the best part about having hot lunch is not having to carry around a lunch box all day, which she finds annoying. "I had to do it when I was a kid and I always forgot my lunchbox at school. I'm glad that's over."

The Great Lunch Debate will always be a difficult one, but it's nice to have options. As for me, when I don't like what's on the menu at school, my Scooby Doo lunchbox will always be there for me.