Jequone Hill, Friendly North High Student

Talthau Lo
Journalism I


Moving to
North High School his freshmen year; Jequone Hill had no problem making
friends. During and after school, Jequone will most likely be found with
friends. Age, ethnicity, culture, or status does not matter to Jequone.

“I hang out with a variety of friends,” he says. His friends range from ages 14-28. Freshmen or senior, you will be welcomed by Jequone.

Being an only child, Jequone makes his friends his family. “If I had to estimate how many friends I have, I wouldn’t know. There’s too many.” He chuckles.

Jequone may seem like a popular guy, but he doesn’t take notice of it. He’s just an
average person, who’s easy to get along with, and that’s good enough for him.
Whether he’s in school, at the mall, a Chinese restaurant, or watching TV, he’s always with
company. He explains, “The only time I’m alone is when I sleep.” Jequone is
never too lonely.

Being at North High school for three years has gained him all
the friends he needs. Jequone is a guy who hates sports and is good at
computers. So how can be so popular? Hm… Maybe high school has changed. Or maybe you should just be friendly like Jequone.

Helpful Hobbies

North High Student Justin James (grade 12,) has unique hobbies that could help save many people. “One of my hobbies is Police and Fire explorers’ job training says Justin James”.

Justin has done interesting things in his life, he has traveled around the United States and plays guitar. His favorite sports are MMA and Football. Justin appears to be a typical teenager. During the interview Justin mentioned a unique hobby called Police and Fire explorers.

He explained what Fire and Police Explorers is by describing some of the scenarios that he trains for. Justin told me that Police and Fire explorers is a job training program that simulates real situations that Police Officers and Fire fighters face in their daily careers. Justin began with explaining the concept of Fire explores training by stating examples of what Fire fighters have to be prepared for and the knowledge that they need on the job. Justin listed examples of situations that a fire fighter must train for such as:

· Search and rescue

· Life support

· Medical training

Justin is also involved in Police explorers. In Police explores Justin deals with many situations that can be dangerous and difficult such as:

· Warrant searches and Arrests

· Crime scene

· Domestic Violence

· Traffic accidents

· Burglary

· Pulling people over

Justin said that the best way to handle these situations is to “keep a calm figure”. Justin stated that the simulations that he is put through both in Fire and Police explorers is very realistic just as if he was in that exact situation. Justin said that he has an outgoing personality and he is willing to try a new thing which stands true to his character and personality.

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!