By Peyton Wells
01/18/26
“Why don’t we find a way to invent inventors?” is the question that led Dean Kamen to found First Robotics, an organization set on helping to engage children and teens in hands-on experiences regarding STEM, specifically allowing them to be able to manufacture working robots.
Now every year, Robotz Garage, the robotics team for Laurens High School and Fountain Inn High School, attends a kick-off event to help answer Kamen’s question. The point of kick-off is where you watch the streamed video of the game release; teams from all over the world in different time zones are able to tune in to watch. Whether that be teams in Australia watching when it releases at three am, or teams in New Hampshire watching it live at 12 pm.
Then they discuss and plan for the upcoming season to find the most optimal strategies and robot designs, while also reviewing the manual with referees of the game present to answer any questions we may have about the rules.
FRC (First Robotics Competition) is constantly evolving with the times, technologically, and with its complex game elements. That is especially apparent in FRC’s new game, Rebuilt. The game focuses on robots working together to collect balls, called fuel, and shooting them into the hub. This will allow the team to obtain one point per fuel.
The other way to achieve points is to have a climbing robot. The higher the climb, the higher the points. Other than limitations on weight and the perimeter of the robot, teams are given freedom in the ways they want to score and climb. This allows students to be able to think outside the box and make impressive decisions that could win them the World Championship in Houston, Texas.
First’s main mission with this season is to be “looking to the past to build the future,” Blair Hundertmark said. Hundertmark is the main commentator for First Robotics and provides insights on what First is hoping to accomplish.
This is especially apparent as Rebuilt takes some elements from previous games First has done in the past, while also making a completely new and relevant game. However, this game is not without its challenges.
Kate Ehrenkaüfer, 11th grader at Fountain Inn High School and lead programmer for Robotz Garage, pointed that out.
“Since this game has an inactive and active feature, which is that if you shoot while it’s inactive, it won’t count as any points, I feel like that can be a very big problem with timing and scoring. Also, with climbing, since you can climb multiple different levels, it makes it more dangerous,” Ehrenkaüfer said.
Rob Sheffield, teacher and representative of the Fountain Inn High School side of the Robotz Garage team, was asked what he is excited about for this upcoming game.
“I’m always a big fan of shooter games, and that’s what it is this year with shooting the fuel. When we do STEM camp and when we do festivals in the fall, the people who are shown the robot love it when they can shoot balls at STEM camp. So this is going to be a great demonstration robot. Plus, it’s fun for me to watch from the stands,” Sheffield said.
By Danika Steadman and Danielle Kingsley
01/14/26
Starting high school is a major milestone that comes with its own set of challenges and emotions. For many students, it's a time of change where excitement and anxiety often mix together.
High school can be tough; there's more work, new social dynamics, and greater expectations. But everyone experiences it differently, with some feeling confident and ready while others feel overwhelmed and uncertain.
With high school comes different levels of difficulty (grade levels), and on Monday, January 26, from 6-7 PM, the rising freshman students will be able to tour the pathways that FIHS offers.
In order to prepare the “Future Fury,” the following is a compilation of advice from freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors on their personal opinions about how they felt when they started high school and what they wish they had known to help pave their way through high school.
Coming into high school as a freshman, students start at the bottom of the food chain.
“Something I wish I knew coming into high school that I didn't understand was that it will be a big change getting used to things. Though I shouldn't take my experience for granted right now because there should probably be a lot more stuff in store for me,” freshman Lola Wheeler Byce said.
Becoming a freshman is a daunting experience and is definitely challenging for most. It’s a big change and a big step up from middle school, with not just academics but socially too.
“One thing I wish I knew coming into high school was how connected everybody is because back in middle school there was 4 sets of teachers, and now you have this teacher over here and that teacher over here and I just feel like it’s definitely a more unique experience coming from middle school to high school because of the new connections you can make” Junior Jalin Hill says.
High school is not just within the school; you experience growth and challenges within yourself, and experience things that sometimes make you miss school.
Seat time in middle school is not acknowledged as much as it is in high school, and it doesn't have the same consequences as it does here at Fountain Inn. If you collect over five unexcused and five excused absences, you get something called “Seat Time.” Seat time is classified as coming in early for academic success, doing lunch detention, staying after school for bus holding, or even for an extra three hours for $15 to clear up those hours because you don't want to receive an FA (failure due to attendance) for your classes and have to repeat courses you got good grades in.
"Something that was new for me was seat time, because in middle school they didn’t have it, so I didn't understand the consequences,” said Junior Abbie Durham.
High school also comes with piled-up workloads that can easily stress you out, and people tend to take their freshman year unseriously, thinking “it won't affect me.” But in reality, freshman year will pave your way through high school.
“You need to pace yourself, don't overstress over work because if you overstress, you're gonna end up not getting anything done in the end,” said Senior Claire Edwards.
In high school, you’re going to need to get out of your comfort zone and interact with new people. Being shy is not going to do you any favors; it's just easier for you to be confident and to be yourself than to be shy and reserved.
“Making friends with the right group of people is very important, coming into high school a lot of people say that the academics is the only thing that matters, yes that may be true but friendship is very important as well because when times get tough you are going to want a friend or a couple to help you through things and overall just experience growing up with them, and not just that, also think about school events like sports events, spirit week, and stuff like that” says sophomore Camdyn Ingold.
High school is daunting and scary, but it is also a beautiful life experience that everyone experiences. In high school, you gain so much knowledge, make life-long friendships and relationships, and most importantly, grow and learn about yourself. So you don't need to be scared, think about the good within the experience, not just the daunting side.
By Elaine Stamper and Devi Kaspar
The Fine Arts Christmas concerts of Fountain Inn High School are not only a staple of the upcoming holiday season but also mark progress for the students who put work and effort into the experience. Each Fine Arts music program had its annual Christmas concert this month. Chorus, band and orchestra all focused on holiday-themed songs and making spirits bright.
The chorus program at FIHS held its concert Dec. 4, focusing on holiday spirit and songs that represent and express the choir's range and flexibility.
"By far, my favorite piece of the concert was 'Resonet in Laudibus' arr. Scott Logan.," Austin Hart, a freshman in both ensembles, said.
This song draws from the rich tradition of a 14th-century Latin hymn, in which the setting weaves classical elegance with contemporary vitality in an ancient-modern work.
Sarah Wahl, the choir director, was asked what would be different for a concert in a perfect world.
"I don't think I'd do anything differently for this concert — I feel like it was a really successful winter concert that showcased our incredible singers and also got to highlight our band (percussion) and orchestra (violin) programs, too!" Wahl said.
Fountain Inn's orchestra program held its concert Dec. 9 with several Christmas songs from different musical periods. The musical repertoire included "Carol of the Bells," "Hallelujah," "I'll be Bach for Christmas," a bass duet to "The 12 Days of Christmas," "A La Media Noche," "Canon Noel," "Alla Tchaikovsky" and "Deckorations."
Students had been preparing this music since their last concert in early October. Orchestra director, Natalie Rutledge, said she loved the "Alla Tchaikovsky" piece as well as the bass duet.
"I would have more small groups perform like the basses did. I think this was a fun addition and it allowed more students to be showcased," Rutledge said.
The FIHS band program's Christmas concert was Thursday, Dec. 11. The three different sections of band — upper band, lower band and percussion — each performed a wide variety of songs. A definite crowd favorite was "Sleigh Ride" performed by the upper band.
However, upper band student Zoe Waye had a different opinion.
"Out of the entire concert my favorite was the percussion group's second piece 'Skating.' It was fun to watch and listen to all of the controlled chaos that song was," Waye said.
Not all participants are just in one performing art. Some students, like Maggie Tipton and Josiah Canon, are in multiple programs, and participated in multiple concerts.
Tipton is a senior member of the chorus and orchestra programs.
“Preparing for multiple concerts was not a new experience for me, as I normally have many fine art events all at once around December. It was easy for me to separate the two worlds of music because they are so vastly different for me,” Canon said.
Canon, however, only participated in one concert as a member, but he also played the violin at the chorus concert.
“Getting to participate as a soloist for the chorus concert overall was really good, I ended the concert feeling like I could've done a lot better but I listened to the recording and still felt like I could've done better but I thought it wasn't bad.” In response to the overall feeling of his collaboration.
The holidays are better with music, anyone could agree, but especially those who have witnessed the Christmas miracle that is performance art and music.
Chorus, band and orchestra all had their respective concerts for the holiday season, and each brought their own talent and showcased ability to the stage. No matter the concert, the students still showcase their individuality and their ability to come together as a whole.
A New Home Away From Home
Five New Exchange Students at Fountain Inn
By Isabella Castro
In August, five new students joined us at Fountain Inn High School. They’re not just ordinary students, but special visitors from every corner of the world. Each student brought their own culture, background, experience, and personality. We have four kids from Europe; including juniors Elena Bausch from Hamburg, Germany; Laura Mazzini from Milan, Italy ; Laura Yloenen from Jyväskylä, Finland; and sophomore Alvaro Arderius Acha from Madrid, Spain. We also have junior Nicolas Montossa from São Paulo, Brazil. Although traveling over thousands of miles, these students did not let the distance get in their ways. They have made the most of their program and are bringing back so many memories when they go back home. Every single one of them are grateful for this experience and reflected on their journey navigating a new school in a new country.
For many of these students, it was their very first time stepping foot in the United States. While it was always a dream vacation spot, some had just never had the opportunity to open their horizons to visiting a new culture. There are many reasons why studying abroad is a beneficial chance for students. While some signed up to perfect their English, study a new culture, and achieve a sense of independence, others came to fulfill a life-long dream seen in movies: Teenage Life in America. As portrayed in movies such as High School Musical, Clueless and Devil Wears Prada; and shows such as Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, and Pretty Little Liars, these films all romanticize being a teenager in America.
“I always saw American movies and I just grew up thinking ‘oh I want to go to America’. I also wanted to experience the culture, how they live up here, and what the difference was between Germany and America. I've also always wanted to do it because I have friends my age in New York and I wanted to experience the same things as them,” said junior Elena Bausch.
As expected, there were major cultural differences that shocked these students. One common one was the kindness and familiarity shown to these students. Many were shocked at how friendly people were at the supermarket or the greetings that come when passing by someone. While in America people are friendly, they’re not drawn to give people a hug or kisses on the cheek when you meet someone you know. In Hispanic/Latin culture, it's a common standard to greet someone with two kisses on the cheek. For Alvaro Arderius Acha and Nicolas Montossa, this was an awkward shock to process. Although it was weird to adjust to, these challenges slowly turned into funny memories that remind them why they came in the first place.
“When I said hi to someone for the first time it was really weird. In Spain, if it's a woman you give two kisses on the cheek and if it's a guy you do a handshake. But here it's really different because when I arrived from the plane I gave my host mom two kisses on the cheek and she was shocked,” said Arderius.
The education system is very different across the world. Each and every student was awed at the massive school in front of them. Although they believe the rules are severe, the programs and opportunities within the school outweigh the disadvantages of strict bans and short time allotted for class changes. While the education system is different, some American students are still uneducated when it comes to thinking about culture outside the country. Some people have no sense of geography for countries around them or are ethnocentric about America. Another stereotype that was proven true was about the consumption of fast food. Other cultures believe that in the U.S., the majority of people would prefer fast food rather than home-cooked meals, which shocked a few of the exchange students.
“Another [stereotype] is that people don't know that much about other countries—where it is or what's going on outside the USA. I think it's true because some people don’t know and think Europe is a country. Others have thought that Finland is in Asia… [it’s not],” said junior Laura Yloenen.
But through all those unpleasantness, each student was able to find an extracurricular activity that they are passionate about. With Mazzini, Yloenen, and Bausch all in cheer, Arderius in Cross-Country, and Montossa working in music, all five students were able to surpass their knowledge and love for their sports. Every school in each country is different—some have more classes per day, others have longer breaks, or even smaller classrooms. The opportunity provided during secondary school allows for students to experiment taking courses that relate to their dream pathway. Students wanting to explore one certain pathway, can take classes relating to it, helping them decide whether it's truly something they want to work on.
“If you're interested in the medical field, like I am, in Italy you don't have this opportunity. You can only study medical things only at college or university. So if you end up not liking it at college, you have to lose one year of college, because you started the wrong one. So I love that here, you can choose your subject,” said Mazzini.
Moving to a new country was a giant step that each student took. They pushed themselves out of their comfort zones and learned how to be okay with being alone. The time difference between each student and their families doesn't allow for them to easily be able to speak with each other. For every person, leaving their family is difficult. Going from having your family and friends easily accessible to being halfway around the world by yourself is a hard and unthinkable concept. They were unable to get the support from the people they had always talked to. Luckily, for these students they found their own support system with their new host families and all their new friends.
“But when you are here at the beginning, you feel very, very alone, like lonely. Because you don't have friends, you don't have anyone. But now that I'm here, it's been two months and I have a lot of friends now,” said junior Laura Mazzini.
It not only has changed their views on the U.S., but also their views on themselves; their independence and confidence have improved as well. They have learned how to actually handle being alone and doing things alone, without help from their loved ones, especially when it comes to using a washing machine. We get so much help from our support systems that little tasks, such as washing clothes, go unnoticed until one realizes they don't know how to do it. Living abroad has changed their lifestyle and routine a lot, even their views on familiarity and meeting new people have changed.
“My independence has grown a lot actually. I’ve always just done something with someone, everything, like since I was kid. And being here, the first week and the first days, I had to do everything alone, so I now know how to do it,” Montossa said.
From these experiences, our exchange students are taking back loads of memories, growth as a person, confidence, knowledge, and a new set of family and friends. For anyone thinking of following in these footsteps and wanting to go explore a new country, being an exchange student isn’t a bad idea at all. While the idea may seem intimidating at first, the benefits outweigh it by far.
“Be open minded and always don't be shy and try to join as many clubs as possible as you can, do sports. If you also have a bad day, just remember that the next day will be better. If something goes wrong, it’s okay,” Mazzini said.
While many could see themselves back here, whether visiting or living permanently, each student valued their time here. Sadly, juniors Mazzini, Yloenen, Montossa are leaving after winter break. But Bausch and Arderius are staying until the end of this school year. Although it may not be the same, these students officially have found their own second home.
By Adriane Floyd
As the school year moves into its busiest months, many Fountain Inn High School students say one thing consistently helps them manage stress, stay focused and get through the day: music.
For junior Ava Suarez, music is more than background noise — it’s a daily ritual. She said she starts every morning by turning on her favorite playlist before driving to school.
“Music always gets me through my day,” Suarez said. “It’s the first thing I look forward to when I wake up and when I’m on my way to school.” She said those few minutes of listening before the first bell help her enter the building feeling energized and ready.
Senior Jack Corran said music serves a different purpose for him. With a busy schedule full of classes, activities and responsibilities, he said music helps keep him focused and grounded.
“Music helps keep me focused,” Corran said. “It always lifts the mood when I’m feeling stressed about activities or schoolwork.
However, some students said it can be harder to enjoy music throughout the school day because of the phone and headphone restriction during classes. “Sometimes I want to put my headphones in, but I know most times I can’t because most teachers won’t even let you use your headphones unless it’s for schoolwork and not independent time,” Suarez said.
Teachers say these headphones can’t become a distraction in some ways for the students. For many, it’s still a small but powerful way to relieve stress, find focus and boost energy throughout the day.
By Mikah Shell
Fountain Inn High School senior Isabella Castro came up with the idea for the "INN Our Eyes" podcast last year to enhance the school's media and journalism programs, serving as its lead host and producer. Castro, who was initially skeptical of the idea, found her passion for talking made her embrace the role, and this genuine love for the podcast is her main motivation. She credits journalism with helping her discover a career path, leading her to her plan on majoring in Mass Communications in college with a possible minor in Marketing or Business. Castro believes failure has motivated her to work harder and hopes her creation of the podcast will leave a lasting legacy.
By Adriane Floyd
With October underway and the first signs of fall finally settling in, students at Fountain Inn High School are fully embracing the shift in seasons. Even though temperatures remain warmer than expected across the Upstate, students say their minds are already focused on cooler weather, changing leaves and the traditions that make autumn a favorite time of year.
Junior Vianna Escayg said the lingering heat has overstayed its welcome, making her even more eager for fall activities. She said the season offers a chance to slow down, spend more time outdoors and enjoy annual traditions with family and friends.
“I’m ready for the weather to stop being hot,” Escayg said. “I’m excited to go to pumpkin patches. It’s something I look forward to every year, especially picking pumpkins and taking pictures with my friends.”
Senior Jack Carens said October brings a different kind of excitement for him. While some students lean toward cozy fall activities, Carens said he’s ready for thrills.
“I’m excited to go to Halloween haunted houses,” he said. “I love getting scared with a big group of friends. It’s something we plan for every October.”
Teachers at Fountain Inn High say they notice the growing anticipation in the hallways as October continues. Fall sports are in full swing, student clubs prepare seasonal events and plans for Halloween add even more energy to the school day.
Whether students prefer pumpkin patches or haunted attractions, the consensus is clear — Fountain Inn High School is more than ready for fall to settle in, bringing cooler weather and festive traditions along with it.
By Emma Croy
The start of the new TPUSA chapter at Fountain Inn High School has sparked interest, questions, and in some cases, misconceptions. As young people start to grow aware of the politics in their country, many students at Fountain Inn have expressed that they want a club where they can share their opinions on some of the current political issues and not feel judged for it.
The new TPUSA chapter is aimed at filling that void in hopes of giving students their own voice in issues that they believe affect them. While the name of the organization often sparks strong debates from both sides, the chapter wants to make it clear that its mission is rooted in the strong framework that the founders of TPUSA laid.
These foundational principles are as follows: constructive dialogue, student empowerment, and a commitment to individual liberty. The members of the chapter would like to state that this is not a club started to be a platform for hostility or division, but they will still stand firm in their beliefs, even if they clash with societal norms that have been set today.
The chapter at Fountain Inn is aimed at giving students a space for open discussion for respectful conversations. The chapter will focus on civic education, constitutional awareness, and the encouragement of independent thinking. The chapter is meant to promote thoughtful conversations rather than confrontational ones.
Many students in school might feel hesitant to express certain viewpoints on topics in fear of being shunned from a group. TPUSA offers a safe space to voice any opinions with no judgment. TPUSA offers students who might feel underrepresented to have a voice and helps them gain the confidence to voice their opinions and not let anyone tell them that they are wrong or less than for voicing how they feel.
TPUSA gives students the opportunity to build leadership and communication skills through discussions with many different people. This also gives students the opportunity to make relationships that they might have never made before.
TPUSA members believe that students should have the right to express their opinions, and defend their views, even if unpopular, as long as it is done respectfully. The chapter plans to host meetings, educational activities, and ways to give back to the community, throughout the year, as well as adding to the culture at Fountain Inn and do its part to make a change.
Some assume the club pushes members to adopt a single political belief, but members want to make it clear that this is not the case. Ideals such as limited government, free markets, and individual liberty are some ideals that some might not agree with, but these will be the main principles for the club.
Members of the club encourage all to come to the club and ask questions, think critically, and form their own conclusions based on what they have learned. As stated above, everyone is welcome to join the club; there is no criterion that needs to be met to join the club, all you need is to have an open mind and a respectful manner. The chapter emphasizes that its purpose is positive rather than adversarial—it exists to promote civic engagement, respectful discussion, and a space for perspectives that may be less represented within the school.
As the Turning Point USA club begins to hold meetings and get more traction, the leaders hope to make a lasting impact on the school's academic environment. In the future, the leaders want to get more involved in the community of Fountain Inn.
The chapter hopes to give back to the community as a part of its mission to engage people. Members believe that giving back to the community they live in is very important in making a lasting impact.
They want to find a way to support everyone who does something for the good of Fountain Inn, as well as doing anything to support the betterment of people all around the world. To make these hopes a reality, members want to give to any drives that Fountain Inn High School is doing, such as sock drives, canned food drives, participating in the angel tree hosted by Walmart and the Good Samaritan Boxes.
The members of TPUSA want to do as much as they can to help everyone they can. Through these actions, the club members aim to demonstrate that its values include not only strong ideas but meaningful contributions to the community as a whole.
The opening of a Turning Point USA chapter at Fountain Inn High School represents a growing desire among students for civic education, open discussion, and individual thinking skills. Whether one agrees with the club’s foundations or not, it is clear that its members are committed to respectful dialogue and staying true to their values, even when those values challenge prevailing norms.
As long as the chapter continues to promote constructive engagement and reflective conversation, it has the potential to grow the school’s academic environment and contribute meaningfully to student life at Fountain Inn High.
By Jada Anderson
Elev8Her is a club at Fountain Inn High School that empowers women and hosts gatherings, workshops and mentorship programs for the young women in the community. The following is a personal testimony of what the club has done for leader Jada Anderson, what it means to her and what it is building for her future.
A social hurdle I had to overcome was simply existing as a young black woman in spaces that weren’t designed for me. I had to have faith in my ideas and my perspective. I have learned to be calm under pressure and stress because a slight raise in my voice was seen as aggression.
I take these experiences and I use them to further myself in life. I have always been good with public speaking. We often overthink our words, but I find a good mix of flow and thoughtfulness gets you through a conversation. Connections are easy for me because I take a human approach. I talk about what the person likes and I get to know them, rather than trying to make them like me. I allow space in my connections for growth and change.
Mistakes are inevitable. What matters is how you conduct yourself. Elv8her has given me the most opportunity to create these connections. For me the most meaningful part of Elv8her is being around black women.
The club is not exclusive to black women however there are many of us. Looking at the leadership in the clubs at my school and seeing one or two black people in general is daunting. Rather than competing with other black women for opportunities we all deserve space to shine.
Connecting with young women throughout my school has given me the opportunity to uplift girls who may otherwise feel put down. By participating in this club I prevent the discouragement of young black girls. I’m teaching them not to give up and silence themselves but rather use their voice.
I have been a leader in Elv8her since the beginning. I’m both treasurer and recruitment specialist. Elv8her is meant to connect with our local community.
We mentor young girls in Greenville. We give them advice on how to handle school and how to navigate the world around them. We build a comfortable and exciting environment for them by hosting events and parties.
Elv8her is one of the best for inclusion and community service. It has been an honor to be apart of it.
By Ja´mya Williams
A freshman's first semester as a high school student is filled with new experiences and challenges. It begins with the excitement of moving through a bigger school and gaining independence. The semester introduces a significant shift for high school students, requiring stronger time management and study skills. Students must balance attending classes, completing assignments and preparing for exams simultaneously. Socially, it's a period of forming new friendships, joining clubs and exploring extracurricular activities. By the end of the semester, students have settled into a routine.
By Latailya Thompson
Freshmen at Fountain Inn High School are getting adjusted to high school life. From learning their way around, making new friends, and staying on top of their school work.
On September 11, 2025 two freshmen students at Fountain Inn High School were asked about how their freshmen year is going so far. The biggest difference between middle and high school so far has ranged, but ultimately, the grading has been the biggest shock.
“The social environment. And the jump from NHI’s to zeros,” Merria Fowler said.
"Getting zeros instead of NHI’s," Mikiah Shell said.
High school grading is definitely different from middle school grading. This is the time when students need to take their grades seriously.
Academic and personal goals were another topic of conversation.
“[Some of my goals are to] Continue to get good grades. And keep excelling in basketball,” Fowler said.
“My goal is to get A’s and B’s. And personally, I want to create a more balanced schedule,” Shell said.
To provide some advice for freshmen through their first year, a couple of students gave their two cents.
Sophomore Danica Thompson expressed how important it is to do all of your work.
“DO YOUR WORK!!!” junior Alydia Mills said.
Adjusting to high school can be stressful, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Seek help when you need it. Recognize when support is needed and lean on your support system. Learn to manage your time and stay organized. And lastly, make sure to embrace your journey and have as much fun as possible!
By Jack Carnes
Fountain Inn High School offers a wide range of clubs and sports, but one of the most meaningful opportunities on campus is the Fuse Club — a program that brings together peer partners and Special Olympics athletes to build friendships, leadership skills and a stronger sense of community.
According to Elizabeth Poston, who helps lead the club, being a peer mentor is a powerful experience for students.
"Peer mentor students gain friends, get to know more students outside of their usual classes, and mature through the experience," Poston said.
Fuse is the school's unified partners program, allowing neurotypical students and Special Olympics athletes to work, play and compete together.
Before coming to Fountain Inn, Meghan Sutherland, who leads Fuse, worked with a similar club at Mauldin Middle School called Be a Fan. Now at FIHS, she continues supporting students through service-learning and education classes.
Students who wish to become peer mentors can recommend two teachers, who then reach out on their behalf. Poston says students like Nyia, Lilan, Clare and Emma are standout leaders — kind, caring and capable.
The Fuse Club hosts several events throughout the year that help build connections. One of the most popular activities was a kickball tournament with students from Southside and Hillcrest.
By Isabella Castro
October 7, 2025
A short, hour-long program hosted during lunches will soon lead the way for our future educators.
Introduction to Education 1400, run by Spanish teacher Amber Long, hosted a lunch and greet program for students interested in education. With many Fountain Inn High School teachers volunteering their lunch break to talk to students, the program opened many eyes to joining the South Carolina education system. With over 13 teachers, coaches, and administrators from each subject, students were given the chance to choose a teacher from a subject that they’re interested in studying.
“Today, I think that they weren't necessarily talking to their teachers, but they were talking to teachers who I think could give them experience learning through their answers. It was also a little bit more of an informal setting than when you get a teacher up in front of the class talking, so it felt more like a one-on-one conversation. So for today, I chose matches that I thought these students could see themselves in this teacher,” Long said.
An opportunity like this mimics a mirror to show students what their future in teaching could look like. Students interested in a subject, such as math, were able to converse with math and science teachers, to ensure that's the future they want.
“I feel that overall Teaching Ed has given me a better understanding of what teaching actually is. It's given me perspectives of people who’ve always wanted to teach, ones who didn't originally want to, and what got them to do it. Overall, I feel like the biggest part of it is the opportunity to go into classrooms and see what it actually feels like and actually get the opportunity to teach,” junior Rylan Trub said.
Teachers reflected on their past as both students and teachers. They were asked questions about their work/life balance, the best and worst parts of being a teacher, and how they navigate having students with different study methods. Being asked what made them become a teacher made them reflect on their past and often triggered a smile of remembrance.
“It was so cool just to explain my years of experience, kind of just share my story with them. I honestly felt a bit more appreciated as a teacher. It's really cool talking to the students here that might be interested because maybe one day they could teach alongside me,” Special Education teacher Elizabeth Poston said.
While these students have a long way to go before they end up teaching on their own, they are getting one step closer. FIHS has dozens of programs for every student to figure out what they’re interested in, teaching is just one of many.
By Kasiya Duncan
Fountain Inn High School celebrated its first graduation with the class of 2025 since the school opened its doors on Aug 17, 2021. Following the milestone, several seniors shared about their experiences and what lies ahead. From handling setbacks to embracing new chapters, these seniors have figured out how they want to make an impact in the world and what they strive to be as they grow up.
"One thing that has made me feel really proud of myself recently is getting back into conditioning for lacrosse. Throughout the summer, I was very busy and did not really make time to be active. But jumping back into running a mile every day has really shown me that I am capable of anything that I put my mind to as long as I work hard and give it everything that I have," senior Morgan Skipper said.
For Skipper, getting back into lacrosse conditioning became about more than just physical fitness. It was a confidence breakthrough.
"I would say that I'm way more of a confident person just from seeing how academically I've improved... And joining the lacrosse team has really made a difference because even though I wasn't the best player, I tried my best, put in effort, and I gave it my all, which really showed me that I'm capable of doing anything," Skipper said.
"One thing I would change would be not to let what other people think influence me as much. I would genuinely be my own person and not care what others think," Skipper said.
Other students found their defining moments in different areas of their lives. For senior Zakyah Vance, academic perseverance became a source of pride.
“I was really proud of myself for getting this big project done when it was supposed to be turned in,” Vance said.
Vance, who admits she used to struggle with procrastination, found completing major assignments on time to be a significant personal victory. She decided to make a change by refocusing her goals on academics.
"Actually, like focusing and not slacking off most of the time," Vance said.
In their reflections of current progress, the seniors also reflect on what advice they would give their younger selves.
“Show up and actually put in some effort, since a little bit of effort goes a long way in high school. The main thing is to show up, respect teachers, and put some effort into your work," Skipper said.
This advice comes from Skipper's own transformation from someone who struggled with procrastination to a more focused student.
"I would say definitely work on organization and procrastination, and also put effort into school because it is not like middle school where you get NHI's -- you get zeros," Skipper said.
But Skipper also emphasizes that being serious about academics shouldn't mean missing out on the high school experience.
"Have fun, go to events, go to school activities, and make your high school year the best year because you only have four of them," Skipper said.
Vance offers similar advice with a focus on social influences.
"Do not get stirred up in the wrong group of friends and not let others influence you into doing bad things, and definitely don't slack off," said Vance.
“I've learned to prepare, and to let the world take you where you need to be. To understand the lessons in life and know it will all be okay,” senior Aarika Tripathi said.
This advice comes from Tripathi's transformation in becoming a better person and also having her best friend as a positive impact in her life.
“I feel like I've become a better person and friend, and grown in my future career options. I hope to continue to grow and become a better and more open person,” Tripathi said. “My best friend Vanessa has had a positive impact on me. She's taught me that strength means lending kindness to others and that kindness lies in lending strength to others.”
When facing challenges, these seniors have developed different strategies to persevere. For Skipper, faith plays a central role in overcoming obstacles.
"I would say what helps me come through tough challenges is always gonna be my Lord, he gives me strength through all my struggles because his plan will always prevail and trusting in Him when things don't go my way that I'm supposed to because he has a plan for me and it's his plan," Skipper said. "I always find a solution when something happens and I always make the best out of a situation but I always try to weigh out the good and the bad."
Senior Wayne Fleming takes a more practical approach, relying on music and perspective.
"Music helps me get through tough challenges and I'll just get over it," Fleming said. "I've realized that stuff just happens and if you focus on the problem too much, it will just get worse."
These seniors have clear visions for their futures, each taking a different route to achieve their goals. Fleming has mapped out a strategic plan that combines military service with his passion for music.
"I'm going to the army, because they pay for college, and you're gonna get free money, if you think about it. I always thought military vehicles were cool," Fleming said. "After I complete boot camp, and serve in the army for three years, I will go to music school, if I don't serve in the army for longer."
Skipper has chosen a more traditional academic path with a clear purpose in mind.
"For right now, I have decided to go to Greenville Tech for a few years and get core classes out of the way, then I will transfer to the University of South Carolina to get a major in psychology to pursue a career in developmental therapy to work with kids with special needs," Skipper said. "And my backup plan is to be an ultrasound tech."
Tripathi has decided to select a path in which she supports and protects others.
“I want to major in political science and psychology, pre-law. My career goal is to be a trial attorney,” Tripathi said. “I hope to help others in court and have them believe in the justice system again.”
These seniors are taking different approaches to prepare for their transition to adulthood. Vance has a clear educational path mapped out with long-term life goals in mind.
"I feel like I am because after high school, I want to go to a university to get my own degree in child care, maybe like being a teacher," Vance said. "In the coming years, I wanna have a stable job, have my life together, and from then on, maybe have a family."
Skipper feels ready for the freedom that comes with graduation but recognizes areas where she needs to grow.
"Yes, because I'm so ready to start a new chapter in my life since being in school for 12 years, you're usually so used to a routine and doing the same thing every day and not having a choice to come to school," Skipper said.
"Now when I graduate I can actually decide what I want to do with my life whether that be school or deciding to go straight into the workforce."
Skipper also acknowledges personal challenges she wants to overcome.
"I really hope I can grow out of my shell of procrastination because in life, you can't always do things at the last minute because it can set you down the wrong path," Skipper said.
As these seniors look ahead, they each envision different paths but share a common sense of purpose and determination. Fleming embraces the independence that awaits him.
"Yeah, because I get to start a new chapter in my life by myself," Fleming said. "I'd say basically, the pathway I'm already on, which is going to the army."
Skipper has found her calling in helping others while acknowledging personal growth she wants to achieve.
"My passion obviously is to work with special needs, so I can show them how to be confident within themselves because usually people with special needs don't feel that confident because of their disabilities, they feel as if it's a burden to them," Skipper said. "I want to make a change and show them that their disabilities shouldn't feel like a burden to them and it shouldn't be what identifies them—it's what matters on the inside and to show them that they shine bright."
Vance balances practical goals with personal passions.
"In the coming years, I wanna have a stable job, have my life together, and from then on, maybe have a family," Vance said. "I'm most passionate about doing nails, and I've gotten into that as a hobby.”
Tripathi is ready to embrace new challenges and continue pursuing her passions.
"I'm really excited to start a new journey after high school. I think it's because there's been so much emphasis on entering the real world, which makes me ready to join it," she said. "I am passionate about my writing, my friends, and taekwondo. I start prepping for my fourth-degree black belt — also known as Masters — testing soon and I'm generally excited about it."
By Laura Yloenen
On Friday, Sept. 5, I went to my first football game with my friends. Now I’m going to tell you what I expected and how it was, from an exchange student's perspective, so mine.
I have only seen American football games online, and they were always pictured like an American dream. So I had high expectations for the Friday game. For me I wanted to experience all the “big” things, when living in the USA.
I got ready like usual before the game. We were supposed to go eat with friends before the game, but the one that was supposed to drive got sick, so we just met at the game with others, around 7:00pm. When I first got there it kind of looked like the videos on the internet, but I thought there would be more people because everyone always says it’s the “American dream”. Usually there are fireworks on the videos, but in this game there weren’t. But I think this school isn’t as big as the others, so this school doesn't have those big things.
The game was good, even though I didn’t understand anything about the game. I think it would be more interesting when you know how the game works. The only thing I knew was a touchdown. So almost the whole game I was just cheering when everyone else was.
We were standing all the time, which is different from what I’m used to. Because in Finland we always sit, and when it’s time to cheer, everyone stands up. So my feet were hurting, but it wasn’t that bad. There was also a break, when me and my friends went to buy something to drink, because here, the weather is very warm. And it’s different to me because I’m used to going to watch ice hockey games inside the arena. But the game looked cool when the sun had already settled down, and the big lights were on. It was an exciting experience, and I will remember it for the rest of my life. For many people it’s just a football game. But for many exchange students it's a big thing, because we don’t have those kinds of sports and we will mostly experience those only when we are here in schools.
By Tyler Saldarriaga
Students may or may not have noticed them, but robots have been walking, well more like rolling around the halls at Fountain Inn High School this year. Students might also have the question, “What are robots doing at our school?” And it may surprise them that the robots have been maintaining our school all this semester.
The school has been using advanced new technology in the form of AI-powered cleaning machines since they arrived over the summer along with the addition of the school's new wing.
The automated cleaners have been maintaining hallways throughout the school from the old wing and fine arts hall to the new wing.
The district purchased two robot models for the school to use, the Cenobot SP50 unit, which vacuums the halls and picks up trash with extreme precision, and the Phantas Omnibot unit, which sweeps and mops up dust.
The machines can clean day and night; only stopping to charge occasionally. Since they handle the bulk of the vacuuming job and manage to clean so much surface area, the automatic cleaners leave the custodians more time to do more detailed cleaning of the classes and other rooms in the building.
The robots also require little maintenance because the staff only needs to clean out the trash bin and clean the units once every two weeks. The machine’s parts don’t need to be replaced often, and when they do, it's a cost-effective and efficient process, keeping operational costs low.
While the robots handle hallway maintenance, human custodial staff still remains essential for more in-depth classroom cleaning and tasks requiring manual precision that automated equipment can’t currently perform.
The school’s experimentation with these maintenance robots reflects a growing trend among other schools as well to lower operating costs, increase efficiency, and better school hygiene and cleanliness.
By McKenna Burks
With photos from prom 2025, it shows that you will have a lot of fun at prom with friends and all.
Students will get to vote for prom king and queen and may even win, like last year's winners Mia Barr and Alex Smith.
“Something that makes prom super exciting, especially for the girls, is arriving at prom and getting to see everyone and their dates' colors and outfits. It is super fun to get compliments and give them out to the girls there because it uplifts everyone and starts off the night with positivity!” senior Brantley Cooper said.
It is fun to see your friends with their dates and get and give lots of compliments to uplift everyone and start the night off positively.
“I think prom is super exciting because it's a big milestone mark in your life. You get to spend it with your friends and make a lot of memories. One of my favorite parts of prom is getting to dress up and take pictures because when you look good you feel good,” junior Kayla Giles said.
By Laura Yloenen
I’m talking about the differences and things that surprised me when coming here because many don’t know how life is outside the USA. I have interviewed Elli, so you can see the differences from another perspective too.
The most surprising thing when I came here was how social everybody is. I didn’t even know who they were, but they started talking to me. Because in Finland, nobody talks to you, not even when you know the person. The food was also a big difference; in the USA, they add things that they really don’t need in the food. That just makes it more unhealthy. School lunch break is also very short, and here you don’t have breaks between classes. Like in Finland, we have a much longer lunch, and after every 45 minutes of class, we have 15-minute breaks.
Next, I interviewed Elli, 11th. Simpsonville.
Q: Do you think there is a big difference between school lunches?
“School lunch is very different. In the USA, the food is unhealthy. Usually in Finland we had food that had some kind of meat, potatoes, and vegetables, while in the USA, the school lunch is burgers.”
Q: Do you have as much freedom in the USA as in Finland?
“Parents are more strict and 17-year-olds are treated as a baby, while in Finland, 17-year-olds are treated as adults, like many don't have curfews or rules, and they live a more independent life.”
Q: How do you spend your free time?
“Usually in Finland we go to friends' houses, parties, malls, brunch, and coffee shops. In the USA, I see my friends only in school or practice, because I don't have time outside the school.”
By Paxton Pilhower
Fountain Inn High School introduces a new club that allows students to bring their gaming skills to school.
“The E-sports Club is a video game club for our students to compete in local tournaments and competition,” said Donnie Woolsey, English teacher and founder of the E-sports club.
Woolsey took his own time to help found this club because he has played video games all his life and wants our students to have fun in the E-sports club.
Junior Gabriel Androsiglio is the student who introduced this idea to admin.
The E-sports club is held in room 2904 after school on Wednesdays.
“The E-sports club is held on Wednesday but we might switch it to Tuesdays or Thursdays due to the Dungeons and Dragons club being at the same time and some students want to participate in the E-sports and in the Dungeons and Dragons club,” Woolsey said.
There are no upcoming events for the students in the E-sports club to participate in currently.
The E-sports club was made because a student introduced it to admin and wanted it to become a club.
“The E-sports club had a lot of interest in the first meeting. In the recent meetings there has only been around Five through 10 students participating in the meets,” Woolsey said.
The E-sports club is still a fairly new club.
By Mikiah Shell
Fountain Inn, SC- From the variety of perspectives of a teacher to the fresh eyes of a freshman, the high school experience at Fountain Inn High School is very complex. Educator Elizabeth Bull reflects on her own journey, freshmen Tamiah Pierce and Mckenzie Godfrey offer a glimpse into the pressures of social life, academics, and finding one’s place in this generation.
For Elizabeth Bull, a teacher at Fountain Inn High, the echoes of her own high school days are never far away. She moved to the south to pursue her teaching career. She carries with her the wisdom she gained as a student. Elizabeth recalls loving middle school, even though things can be “pretty rough” at times, and praises the teachers who influenced her.
Elizabeth Bull sees the social shifts her students face, remembering her own experiences of being “really shy depending on who she was with, and really loud with people she knew.” Today she offers guidance that comes from her personal journey. She said things like “be apologetic to yourself because people are going to hate you or love you no matter what” and “to not be afraid of change.” For Elizabeth, building connections is a core aspect of her life, and she sees social media as a resource that can potentially be a positive influence.
Skeptical Freshman
On the other hand, freshman Tamiah Pierce predicts her high school years with a thick layer of skepticism. She views her schedule as “confusing” and struggles with a lack of social connections; she expresses that she doesn’t have classes with people she knows. Tamiah’s social world is small, limited to her boyfriend and cousins. She says “Don’t trust people” and “Everybody not your friend.” While acknowledging that “life is hard.” She has a clear vision for her future, aspiring to become an Ultrasound or Nail technician. Tamiah finds social media “entertaining” but blames it for having “ruined romance,” and unlike her peers, she states that “she doesn’t like having friends.”
Balanced Freshman
In contrast, Mckenzie Godfrey offers a more balanced and optimistic view of her freshman year. She sees school as a good “opportunity to find friends,” and unlike Tamiah Pierce, she believes that “friendships are important.” Mckenzie describes her high school experience as “better than middle school” and manages her busy schedule with a “very balanced” approach. She's known for being “very kind, and very goofy,” she also values her alone time and finds a moment of peace “being alone in her bed.” Mckenzie acknowledges the pressures of life, including “second-guessing things,” but grounds herself in the advice to “always be yourself, never change yourself for anybody else.” She recognizes social media but finds it a source of entertainment.
The experiences of Elizabeth Bull, Tamiah Pierce, and Mckenzie Godfrey shows the varied perspectives that happen within high school. Elizabeth wisdom as a teacher, shaped her own teenage years, highlights timeless the truth of teenage hood. Meanwhile, the different paths of freshmen Tamiah and Mckenzie demonstrate that for some students, high school can be a time of social connections and growth, while for others, it is a challenge to make it through.
By Kara Hammond
Maybe you're starting high school or in the middle of your high school journey and want to stay on trend and in style. If this is you, great because I got you covered. I collected information on what’s Trending around the halls at Fountain Inn High. Let's take a look!
Some of the big Universal trends are spreading around Fountain Inn like for example according to Senior Klair Thompson, Freshmen Emily Hug, and Intervention Specialist/ Track and Field Coach Conrad Mansel the biggest trend going around the school is 67! Some trends could be meant for a laugh all the way down to clothing styles that everyone else is wearing. According to Klair and Emily, “ my Favorite clothing trend right now is a cute sweater and Ugg mini boots.” Also we talked to Senior Claire Edwards and her favorite trend is some “Skinny Jeans” But Coach Mansel’s favorite clothing trend is “ proper school attire.”
There are some trends in how we communicate with each other around school. For example, according to Klair Thompson, some new trending ways of communication are “shortened words like (TBH and OFC) and saying lowkey a lot.”
Some people around the school either choose to follow the trend or choose to be their own person Coach Mansel says “I don’t follow the trend I just watch them but I used to set them!” According to Claire, Emily, and Klair “ I don’t usually follow the trends.”
At Fountain Inn High the trends are always changing whether it's clothes, communication, or funny jokes.
By Rebecca Bullington
The Homecoming dance is an iconic and highly anticipated night for much of the student body. However this year, Homecoming night only sets the tone for the rest of the festivities! The week of September 29th, 29th marks the beginning of Fountain Inn High School’s first spirit week of the 2025-2026 school year. The annual occasion is to get students hyped about the Homecoming game, which takes place the Friday of the same week.
Usually, Homecoming Spirit Week is the same week of the Homecoming dance and the football game. That Friday night the game would begin at 7:30 p.m. and end around 9:00 p.m. and the dance would start in wake of the game. This year’s spirit week is a little different in regards to timing
“In the years past, we’ve had the dance on the same night as the football game. So not everyone was able to go, including cheerleaders, the football players, and band members. So I think now that, you know, the dance is on a biweek and we have spirit week after the dance, I think the dance kind of sets the tone for everything,” said Alexa Morgan, Public Relations officer for the Fountain Inn Student Council.
The themes for each day of the homecoming spirit week are as follows: Monday; Jersey day, Tuesday: Country vs Country Club, Wednesday; Twin/Group Matching, Thursday; Tourist Attire, and Friday; Fury Gear.
“When I think of tourist, I think of like, maybe some beach wear… a camera, little things that you carry around, maybe a walking stick if you're going hiking or something like that,” said Morgan.
So get hyped for the Homecoming dance, Spirit Week, and the Homecoming game. We look forward to seeing everyone dressed up and dressed out at Fountain Inn next week!
By Payton Ware
Every Wednesday some Fountain Inn students are meeting to learn, research, and practice various topics hoping to beat others teams at trivia competitions. These competitions called Quiz Bowls are competitive events that take place on the weekend where four-person teams from different high schools compete to be the team that knows their trivia the best and Fountains Inn’s team is aiming to claim their first win.
The Academic Team is led by Stephen Lentz, and started with humble beginnings.
“The Academic Team started my first year here and we had six by the first semester. By the second semester it was closer to 10, initially I had four students that really wanted to compete while the rest came to hang out with their friends.” Lentz said.
The Academic team now has more students and a lot more passion.
“We have 22 students coming every Wednesday to practice trivia and we had 12 students compete in our last competition.”
They prepare for competitions in numerous ways from mock trivia competitions to creating research papers on different topics. The students part of the academic team work diligently chasing their main goal for the year, bringing home Fountain Inn’s first Quiz Bowl win. They have previously struggled to make it to playoff rounds but now have a serious chance of making it to a final. Academic team member Margaret Tipton has been an integral part of the club. Tipton originally joined because of interest in different topics and inspiration from her teacher.
“I joined the Academic Team because I was interested in learning many new things, and I was inspired by Mr. Lentz too.”
While the Academic Team sounds fun and laid back, Tipton reveals it's much more work that it may seem.
“Being in the Academic Team is a lot more work than it may come across as, It is weekly practices, long competitions, and independent study time.”
Traveling in a team is new to many of the members making it all the more exciting. They practice for weeks before competitions.
“We do practice rounds every Wednesday, researching topics for what comes up in tournaments.”
Traveling with a school club is a fun experience no matter what group you're a part of, Tipton describes their first traveling competition of the year like this.
“It is fun traveling to competitions because all of our work gets put towards something that can prove it was worth it. Our last competition was successful for the Varsity team, with us placing fifth overall.” Tipton said.
The bond that club members share is strong and they continue to integrate new members into their great community. Members hope to see the club size grow and become a more prominent part of the Fountain Inn Community and you can help realize this dream! If you have any interest in quiz bowl-like games such as Jeopardy and think you have what it takes, join the Academic Team. Contact Lentz for more information!
By Rebecca Bullington
The vision- lights low, music loud, elegance around every turn. Black drapes, Eiffel Tower photo op, and everyone dressed to a T, a perfect Night in Paris.
“We wanted something that everyone would like, and that they would wanna participate and contribute to,” said Erine Kabous, a student council representative who helped to plan the 2025 Homecoming Dance for Fountain Inn High School.
So? How did they do? According to students-
“Yea [it lived up to my expectation], but I didn't expect much,” said Remy Covington, a sophomore who attended the homecoming dance.
This description is more generous than other students would give, from the process of getting into the event to how soon the end rolled around, everyone seemed to have a problem with something. One of the most common things was decoration.
Once you finally made it through the line to get in, the entryway was decked out. Streamers hanging from the doors, balloons lining the halls, and a good amount of ambient lighting one would assume fit for an elegant theme. Sounds like it should be just a peek into the appearance of the star jewel, the gymnasium where the dance was held, right? Wrong.
“I feel like it could've been decorated a lot better, it felt like someone spent 20 minutes setting up balloons and that's it. There wasn’t anything else to it,” said Isabella Castro, a senior.
”The decor, it was really plain, whatever you wanna call it, bland, it was kinda dull. It wasn’t too much and it was something you didn't really notice,” said Covington.
Once students walked through the doors with hopes high and spirit soaring, they were met with… nothing. The underwhelming decor laid all of the focus on the music and the participants, which didn't bode well for the reviews.
“I didn’t like the music, I think it was too TikTok-y” said Gia Castiglio.
An earlier statement made by Castro, agreed with this evaluation.
“I do wish the music was better, especially considering they played a lot of [a specific explicit artist] and mostly TikTok-ified music,” said Castro.
The people weren’t dancing. A wanna-be moshpit formed every other song and if you weren't caught up in the heat of that then you were along the outskirts awkwardly mingling and trying to scream over the blasting, though nearly incoherent music.
“People were in the back standing around and talking, and people were not dancing that much, all it was was an occasional jumping circle. And going back to the music- the music could've contributed better into getting more people to join in, or just not making it into one giant mob circle,” said Castro.
Another thing that took a lot away from the dance and held a lot of space in attendee’s minds was time. The dance was scheduled to start at 7 p.m. The line formed far before then and took anywhere from 25-35 minutes to get through and into the school. While the outline of the check in process wasn't bad, it just wasn't smoothly executed. The time this took away from the experience of being inside was about a quarter of the dance itself. Many students recommend extending the dance later into the night to make up for time lost.
“7-9 p.m. was not enough. If anything, it should've been 7:00 maybe to even 10:00 or 11:00, just 10:00 because then we could've fit more songs, better songs, and just gotten into the vibe a little more,” said Covington.
“I had a lot of fun, I guess that I wish it could've been longer considering we only had two hours and a quarter of it was spent trying to get in,” said Castro.
Though there were a lot of aspects vulnerable to critique this year, everyone had a good time nonetheless.
“It was pretty fun, I saw a lot of people I knew and it was just a good experience to be with all my friends,” said Covington.
Some tips for next year stated by all interviewees were to take song requests, spend more time and effort on decor and matching it to the theme, adding more photo ops throughout, and extending the dance later into the night. We know the student council did their best and were proud of their work, none of this is meant to discredit that fact, only to critique and provide a foundation of student input to refer to in later years. Our school is still new and everyone is still learning so we owe them the grace of more opportunities in the future.
See ya next year Fury!
By Elaine Stamper and Chandler Byrd
The base of our country is run by the spread of information across several surfaces. Whether it's breaking news from the white house or a local celebration, information affects all of us. So the big question for our future is who is going to take over for our generation? Well, Fountain Inn High School is solving this problem through their Media Tech program and INNVision Media.
Fountain Inn High School’s Media Technology program has directly impacted the student body and their ability to be creative with the support of the teachers and staff of FIHS.
The program at FIHS includes four media tech classes available to students as well as the student lead club, INNVision Media. Jeff Hoffman runs all of these programs as well as supporting the live stream and has made it very clear that even though the program is a significant size, there is still plenty room to grow.
“What I wanna sell about InnVision is that we just started, the program is in beta. We haven't necessarily done it for that long and in the long run it’s not really me running it, it's the students in the club, all I really do is assist and push into the right direction,” Hoffman said.
This program has not only impacted the students' school lives, but has also provided them several opportunities in the community around us. Lucas Clark, a junior at FIHS, has had several opportunities to work with Greenville Presbyterian College on their football and basketball live streams featured on ESPN.
“The opportunity to work for them helped me grasp the broadcasting mindset better and get my name a little known in the industry,” Clark said.
Not only has this program impacted the students involved, but also students all around the school like Mackenzie McLaurin, a sophomore involved in the yearbook program at FIHS. While these programs are their own thing, media tech directly impacts students’ experiences within the class.
“Since media tech and yearbook are combined in some ways, you basically get a better understanding of each class due to them being similar,” McLaurin said.
As well as this, freshman journalism student, Devlin Kaspar, has been impacted in a significant way. Although McLaurin works almost directly with Media Tech, Kaspar’s experience significantly differs.
“It provides me with knowledge and news and it's very helpful when I'm trying to keep up with sports (Fury Live),” Kaspar said.
By Mari Copeland
Seveion Sewell was a student at Fountain Inn High School. He was not involved with sports but was loved by everybody; little kids loved him, people in the neighborhood loved him.
Sewell was an employee at Frankie's Fun Park whose life was cut short when the go-kart he was driving collided with an industrial-sized forklift operated by another park employee. The accident occurred a little after 11:42 a.m. while Sewell was conducting safety tests on the track before it opened to the public.
As a junior at the high school, Sewell's death took an enormous toll on the student body, who struggled to process the loss of their classmate and friend. Students found themselves dealing with grief in ways many had never experienced before, creating a somber atmosphere throughout the school halls where Sewell's presence was deeply missed.
The impact extended beyond the students to the teachers and staff, who faced the difficult challenge of supporting their students while managing their own grief. Teachers had to find ways to help the school community heal while continuing to provide the educational and emotional support that students desperately needed during this difficult time.
To cope with grief in difficult situations, focus on acknowledging your pain, creating structure and practicing self-care, seeking support from understanding people, and navigating complex emotions without judgment.
“Grief is different from everyone, we all process it in different ways and sometimes people need to talk about what happened in the past and it can also interfere with work and school,” Christina Paxton, school counselor, said.
“Grief doesn't get easier, but through time we can process it better.”
By Devi Kaspar
Friday, Sept. 5, Fountain Inn students got to participate in the first pep rally of the new school year. The pep rally was held in the main gymnasium to welcome our fall sports and their athletes, as well as celebrating the first Fury home game of the year. Because of the attention placed on the students, it was a fun event for all, and one to remember. The FIHS pep rally tied in a balance of fun and freedom for the students.
For those who participated in the pep rally, we have first hand accounts of what it was like. From an outsider's perspective, the games may have looked fun, but Austin Hart and Kailee Robinson are letting us know exactly what it was like.
Hart was able to participate in the pep rally as opposed to sidelining.
“The pep rally was alright. I participated in the first game and it was fun I guess,” Hart said.
Hart participated in the ‘Pass the Pom-pom’ game, the leading game of the pep rally, setting the tone for the rest of the event. For this particular piece of the event, Hart had to lie on his back, then using only his feet and legs, pass a pom-pom over his head to the person laying in wait behind him.
Robinson, however, participated in the second game, which entailed laying on a boogie board, while a team of students below her rolled to make her move to the opposite end of the gymnasium.
“I feel like the pep rally last Friday was a very good way to get everyone excited for the first football game of the year. I participated in the boogie board contest which was very fun and was definitely a highlight of my day,” Robinson said.
The students in the stands made sure to show how much fun they were having, so we have Kaylee Rodrigue and Imani Webb giving us their perspectives of it.
“The pep rally made me feel more positive about the school and its students, it was nice seeing all different fall sports and watching the games. I also enjoyed listening to our Fury band,” said Webb. Webb is a member of our JV volleyball team, leading 5-1 for the beginning of the season.
Similarly, Rodrigue was in the stands, cheering on her graduating class level and the rest of her school as well. “The pep rally was a fun experience to watch, the togetherness of all the grades made it really fun. The best part was watching the games. The balloon popping game was funny to see and I can't wait to see the other games we have next pep rally,” Rodrigue said.
Behind the scenes, the pep rally may not have been as smooth as it looked. To explain who got it up and running, Mia Wadsworth and Samantha Reichert from Student Council is dishing out the chinks in the armor of the Fury.
“I think pep rallies bring lots of school spirit and I love when everyone can come together and cheer for FIHS!” Said Wadsworth. Wadsworth is a member of the Student Council for FIHS, responsible for organizing the behind the scenes process of it all.
Likewise, Reichert from Student Council also had a comment on the matter. “I feel that the first pep rally of the 2025-2026 started off a little chaotic but when we figured everything out it went smoothly from there. It was one of the most positive and engaging pep rallies that we've had in a while and I feel that the student body really engaged from start to finish.” Reichert said.
Overall, we can attest to the fact that pep rallies go beyond the average sum of ‘fun’; they are so much more than that. Pep rallies are a perfect blend of morale, school-spirit, humor, and just the right amount of chaos to tie it all together. The modern day pep rally hosted by the typical American high school is heavily anticipated, and an exciting way to create a positive effect on the students.
By Danica Thompson
The South Carolina cell phone policy has become stricter since the 2024-2025 school year. All students have to follow this rule for it is a new state law. The school district has implemented new rules that there will be no phones allowed during school hours.
The biggest reason for the change in the policy was determined by the school district.
“[GCSD] said that there was too much cyberbullying along with too much sexting during school hours,” Stephanie Smith, FIHS Principal, said.
When asked about her view on the new policy, even Principal Smith acknowledged some complexity in the issue.
“I agree that there is a time and place where you can have social media. I disagree [with the rule] because students cannot text their parents during emergencies,” Smith said.
Ninth-grade Assistant Principal Aaron Shaw had some things to say about agreeing with the new policy.
“To a large extent, I think that there needs to be some education flexibility,” Shaw said.
Lindsey Beam, 10th-grade Assistant Principal, shared similar thoughts to Shaw.
“Kids are kids. I wish that sometimes on bus duty, they would get on their phones for a distraction that keeps them sitting down,” Beam said.
The policy is here to stay, at least for a while.
“For the foreseeable future, I imagine it will remain the same, but constituents could force [GCSD] to change the policy,” Shaw said.
Writing petitions and letters addressed to the South Carolina Department of Education could possibly change the new law. The more letters they receive, the more support there is for unbanning phones.
By Rhea Wright
The high school experience of the average student has many changes as well as many constants throughout the years. A graduate of 2002, compared to a graduate of 2026, has very different experiences looking at factors such as education, economy, and the way of constructional thinking.
A graduate from the Class of 2002, Khia Wright, let us in on her perspective of the differences between when she graduated from high school and the current generation of students.
“Kids in this generation are a lot more slack than when we were in school. Education is a very important part of our lives, and kids today in society do not use the better advantages that they have today,” Wright said.
Today, society has changed so much since 23 years ago. Down to the way kids today in age dress, their dialogue/talk, and also the music that they listen to.
A senior in this year's class of 2026, Jack Carnes, has a strong mindset on what he wants to do with his life and what's to come in life. Jack is a social butterfly. He plays sports and is a very outgoing person with a big personality (class clown). But will his lack of focus, procrastinating, and not-so-mature ways hold him back from featuring his education for the real world of adulthood?.
“I have a scholarship in wrestling, and I want to get my degree in business management, get a certification license in whatever business field I get into,” Carnes said.
While Carnes has a strong idea for his future, one thing that has not changed is getting your pathway ready for the real world.
By Hunter Altman
In March 2023, Harper General Contractors began construction on a new wing at Fountain Inn High School, expanding the main building outward.
This development is transforming not only the physical space but also the way students and teachers engage with their learning environment, shaping perceptions of the school and enhancing educational experiences.
At FIHS, the environment for students and teachers has changed significantly over the past year. The removal of the portables and the opening of the new wing have addressed issues like overcrowding and classroom shortages.
However, while these improvements have solved some problems, they have also created new challenges for the school community.
Many students and faculty have share their opinion about the new addition to the school.
Nate Aviles, a senior athlete, talked about how the new building did fix some problems like overcrowding.
But it made another problem; "a problem it did make was not having enough time to socialize with people's friends or talk to teachers, cause they have to rush from one side of the building to another,” Aviles said.
Caden Anslow, a senior and Orchestra player, had a very different opinion.
“Walking in for the first time, I could instantly see how identical and a little boring it was, since it was the same as the main building” Anslow said.
"It's like it was just copied and pasted onto another building. It was a good idea, but the only problem I think there is with it, I think they need to expand the doors on the second floor. They’re so small that they cause people to crowd the area way more,” Anslow said.
This contradicts most opinions saying the overcrowding was another problem fixed and created.
“With the overcrowding issue being fixed and also being a problem, another thing is that is problem is the confusion of the hallways. Like how they’re named after street names of our local town,” Anslow said.
"Saying that it was more confusing for newer students than it is with using the term 'New Wing' or 'Old Wing'," Anslow said.
By Camryn Davis
On August 15th, 2025 Fountain Inn Fury fans braved the rain on Friday, August 15th to support their school and community at the Fountain Inn Fury parade. The parade marked the start of the school year and was a visual representation of community support. Parade goers cheered on the teams as they marched. For many, the parade represented more than just school spirit.
“I think it's good for the community to see the people and athletes from the school so they want to support,” Quinn Wilson, head Cross Country coach and assistant Track and Field coach, said.
In addition to viewing what the school is accomplishing, students weigh in on what the parade means to them. Many of the Fountain Inn athletes said their favorite part about the parade was walking around, seeing the community supporting them.
“[The parade is meant] to support the community that supports us,” sophomore Derek Ashworth said.
Teams started walking around 5 PM down the streets of Fountain Inn, and the community lined up down every street to support the students, the faculty, and staff of FIHS. Not long after, the rain started, and the pep rally was canceled due to thunderstorms.
We are hoping for sunny skies and cooler weather (without the rain) next year.
By Paxton Philhower
On Aug. 15th in downtown Fountain Inn, Media Technology director Jeff Hoffman participated in the Fountain Inn parade. He helped film the students' march and play instruments. This is important to help people who couldn’t attend be able to see how the parade went.
The Fountain Inn parade is important to Fountain Inn High School because the people who come and watch are supporting our community. Our parades show the community how much we try to make our school one of the best.
“The fountain inn parade started to build community support for the school's athletic teams before football season. The fountain inn parade boosts school spirit and provides visibility for student achievements,” Hoffman said.
“The parade allows the community to see all of the sports and clubs offered at FIHS,” sophomore Ava Pillow said.
“My favorite thing about the parade is being able to spend time with my teammates that I don’t have classes with,” junior Vianna Escayg said.
“This year, my favorite thing was running back to the school in the rain,” senior Jack Carnes said.
“Considering there was a storm and it was raining, this year still had a lot of community support and was overall good,” Hoffman said.
By Harper Bartley
Stepping into your freshman year is like stepping into a whole new world. For freshmen, it’s all about making friends, first impressions, finding interests, and overall enjoying the high school experience. Being nervous and excited for something like ninth grade can be overwhelming.
Transitioning from middle school comes with a lot of adjustments for the freshmen.
“I think it was pretty easy going to high school because I had the support of my brothers who have gone through the school as well as my friends and other students and teachers,” said freshman Alyssa Haberger.
This feeling is shared by some freshmen teachers too.
“I think they're doing amazingly well with the transition. They are very sweet, thoughtful, and ready to learn, although some of them have trouble understanding that not completing work counts as a zero,” said Elizabeth Bull, freshman success teacher.
In addition to looking at how freshmen are taking the change, students also provided their thoughts on FIHS and explained what they are excited to do or be a part of.
“My favorite part about FIHS are the Fountain Inn parades. I think they are a fun way to celebrate the town and show support for our school,” Haberger said.
The parades are not the only thing students are looking forward to.
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, and making new friends,” freshman JJ Staton, said.
Fountain Inn offers new classes and opportunities that middle school students didn’t have the chance to participate in. These freshmen open up about some new classes they’re taking right now.
“My favorite class is Freshman Success, because the class is easy and I have fun in it,” said Blakelee Sandifer, a ninth grader.
“My favorite class right now is Law Education, because it’s like social studies and I really enjoy learning about things like that,” said Imani Webb, a ninth grader.
This year's freshmen are taking the transition amazingly well. They are enjoying their new opportunities, and are excited to create new experiences and memories.
Alex Smith and Mia Barr, Prom King and Queen.
Laynie Densmore and Kendric Figuera.
Elena Mertel, Taylor Needly, Reed Modrak, Christina Mosquera, and Savannah Cobb.
Bryce Bigley, Anna Bardi, Isabella Morales, Whit Bruce, Daniel Rentz and Audrey Rash.
Skye Sudduth crowning Mia Barr as Queen.
After four years of studying, testing, gossip and more, the Seniors had a chance this past Saturday night to party one last time together. On April 5 at the Revel Event Center located in Downtown Greenville, the Seniors all gathered into the party setting once more, to celebrate their achievements and prepare to set out into the real world.
As the students arrived, they were greeted with a beautiful exterior and interior as they opened the doors, all designed by our very own Anna Shumpert and Skye Sudduth, both of whom teach English classes. Sudduth and Shumpert both volunteered to decorate, design and set up the prom together.
“Shumpert and I planned it last year with the help of Mrs. Chappell, and last year was the first prom [for the juniors]. While I moved up with the Seniors this year, I figured since I had already done it it would be great to do it again. I enjoy it because it's an event rewarding the Seniors for making it through, and I enjoy being able to be a part of that,” Sudduth said.
While they did set up last year too, that was only a Junior Prom. This year, Fountain Inn High School hosted our first ever Senior Prom, and soon this class will be the first ever graduating class for our school. With this, it did happen to add some extra pressure onto the two English teachers.
“We wanted it to be better than last year, especially since this was the first Senior Prom, but it also put pressure on next year because I want to continue to make it bigger and better,” Sudduth said.
Both Sudduth and Shumpert did a very good job for the Seniors and it’s certain that they’ll do a phenomenal job again next year and the years to follow. During the dance, the two of them were given the honor of knighting our Prom King and Queen in return for their hard work.
“There’s a lot of pride that goes into the classmates cheering for the people they voted for, and they have been a couple forever and they're adorable so it makes sense,” Sudduth said.
This moment will surely go down in Fountain Inn High School’s personal history books. Our first ever royalty was awarded to Alex Smith as King, and Mia Barr as Queen.
All Prom Court nominees fought a good fight to win.
“I think that my prom proposal with the horse helped the most,” Smith said.
“Alex and I have been together for [almost three years] and I do think this increased our chances because people know us as a couple,” Barr said.
As our principal, Stephanie Smith announced our majesties, our King was crowned by Shumpert, and our Queen by Sudduth.
“I think this is an amazing opportunity/experience that Alex and I share together because we are the first Prom King and Queen at Fountain Inn High School which to me just makes this even more important,” Barr said.
The couple may never live this moment down, and rightfully so. They’re both admired by everyone.
If Smith and Barr were King and Queen over a legitimate kingdom, Smith declared that his first law would be to, “lower the price of roses because I spend about $60 a month on flowers for Mia.”
Though in the real world, the two of them danced and shared a special night, one that will always be memorable.
“Leading up to prom night, Alex asked me to prom on a horse,” Barr said.
“Getting to see his beautiful girlfriend in her beautiful dress” was Smith’s best memory. A wholesome couple, most worthy of the title of King and Queen.
As for all of the other students that attended, everyone else seemed to have just as great of a time.
Samiya Pugh, a graduating Senior who has committed to Winthrop College in hopes of pursuing business, celebrated at her first and last prom, along with many other young men and women.
“I expected it to be fun like last year, and it definitely exceeded those expectations,” Pugh said. The class of 2025 will be one to remember, and they may be leaving these walls soon but they certainly won’t leave our hearts.
Story By Layla Vicino
Photos By JPhotos
Fountain Inn High School is hosting our very first, official Senior Prom. The venue is located at the Revel Event Center in Downtown Greenville, everyone is more than excited and ready to celebrate; of course there’s one thing we can’t miss, Prom Court! This week we sought out the top three nominated boys: Renato Blanco, Alex Smith, and Nick Saddler, as well as the top three nominated girls: Sasha Tlapa, Mia Barr, and Reed Modrak.
Last year, our current seniors had their own Junior Prom, and a Junior Court to follow. Our Junior Queen was Elena Mertel, and the King was named Danny Chavez. The two of them together set out to find all six senior students and announce their position on the Senior Prom Court. As they entered each class, their classmates would applaud and cheer, congratulating them on their nomination. Smith and Saddler took a few photos together, preparing to either lose or win to the other this Saturday. Modrak hugged Mertel, happy for her friend to place the sash along her shoulders as she proceeded to thank everyone humbly, moving on to hug Anna Shumpert, one of our prom organizers. Tlapa and her chorus group stopped singing and started cheering as she was given her sash, and Barr had to put down her instrument so that instead she could take her new Prom Court sash in hand.
We wish each student the best of luck, knowing that all six of them are special and were all nominated for a reason. We love them all and we’re excited to put a crown on our first Senior King and Queen.
Story By Layla Vicino
By Payton Ware
We all love the Fury store's famous chocolate chip cookies, but how much do you know about how it’s run? Created and overseen by Jennifer Mason, one of Fountain Inn High School’s Business teachers. The Fury merchandise store has been a vital part of our lunches. They sell cookies, drinks, and more; but, a little known fact is how much effort some of Fountain Inn students put in it.
“It's 100 percent student-run, which is the best part,” Mason said. The students working for the store take turns doing the various jobs it takes to run it.
“I love that students get real world experience,” Mason said.
Students shift jobs incrementally which provides them with a lot of different job experience that can be very beneficial once they enter the workforce. This includes accounting, management, inventory, cashiering, and so much more. Last year 18 students were a part of it, and it was fundamentally a class. However, this successful student-run business hasn't always existed.
Mason worked at three other high schools before coming to Fountain Inn. In all those schools she helped manage their respective school stores. When she came here she continued her work and started running the Fury Cafe during lunches with a few other students. Soon the store grew into what we are familiar with today. Now they sell more than just cookies and have a designated space in the lunchroom. They even have various sales and raffles for free cookies and there's much more to come.
So what's coming next? The Fury store has big plans for this year's operations. They are of course keeping up with their fan favorite cookies and drinks, but they are also planning on offering clothing! When this plan comes to fruition like every other part of the store it will be 100 percent student-run. This means the merchandise that will be sold will be decided by the student body via voting.
Now you know chocolate chip cookies aren't the only great thing about the Fury Store. Its history, student involvement, and future are just as incredible. Knowing all this should make you feel that bit better when supporting them when they return to our lunches.
By Hayley Carr
School Stores are popular all around America but in our district, Jennifer Mason, new business teacher here at Fountain Inn Highschool, is starting the first student-led School Store with her Service Learning Class. This is her first year at Fountain Inn after moving from Pennsylvania.
“My last school stores have been huge hits! I’m super excited to see where this one takes us and how much we can sell since this is a much bigger school than my last,” Mason said.
From Otis Spunkmeyer cookies to school merchandise and supplies, this store will be a huge hit according to some of the students who will help run it. Service Learning Students will have real world experience and treat the school store as an actual store and not just a concessions stand.
“It's gonna be a challenge at first, but everyone will eventually get into a better routine that will just come naturally.” Said Sa’Kamri Wideman, a junior who is an employee of the school store.
“I’m excited because the school has never done anything like this before considering the school store will be open every single day and not something that is just a week long,” Wideman said.
Students have been working on employee manuals for their service learning grade. They will be graded off of their professionalism, work ethics and customer service. Admin admires this because they’re actually learning something from the store.
“We’ve been practicing by selling pottery so the students can learn proper management skills,” Mason said.
Caydence Cordel, a junior who is another employee will be taking the cart around at lunch. The service learning class came up with many good ideas to help sales when they open.
“We thought if we went around with the cart at lunch with cookies, we could prevent the concessions from being so crowded, which is new and hasn’t been done before,” Cordel said.
While the class is so big and the store is small, everyone has different roles and places to be. Around five students will be split up to go to lunch, then some students will be working the counter and baking the cookies. It's a very organized operation.
“It gets crowded very fast, and that can be a safety hazard. So we are extra careful with who is working and who isn’t. We need to have a lot of room to move around since students will be walking around with hot pans,” Mason said.
Since we are getting closer to the grand opening, students say they are very excited to see how the store works and taste cookies that are different and yummier than the cafeteria’s. Teachers and students are also very excited for the chances of winning freebies.
Emma Revis, a senior who helps run the store, has been taking note of giving out free cookies for certain events.
“We sent out a form about a month ago for school store names, and the winner gets a free set of cookies. In the future we hope to do polls or competitions like that for winners to earn free sets. We are very excited to see more people look forward to Otis Spunkmeyer cookies,” Revis said.
Dana Pico, A junior at FIHS, helps run the social media account. After talking with Mason, they plan on having lots of information on the upcoming opening. They also look forward to posting different types of polls and being very interactive with students and staff. Pico gave us a rundown on some ideas they have for their social media account.
“We definitely want to show how we make the cookies and the process of opening up the school store. It’s something that is different and has not really been done before. It’s kind of like A Day In The Life,” Pico said.
With an active social media, more people will be able to get more information and get an inside look of the store.
“This is going to be much different than my past stores up in the North. It's a bigger county and a bigger school with huge opportunities!” Mason said.
Mason along with the rest of the service learning students are very excited to see where this school store takes them.
By Arden Jackson & Emma-Grace Bolding
March 6, colorful posters, themed outfits, and enthusiastic cheers line the hallway. Behind the chaos lies a dedicated team of students and faculty working tirelessly to bring Spirit Week to life. In a small corner of the school, room 2109 is where the Student Council (StuCo) gathers to brainstorm themes, activities, and pep rallies.
FIHS Spirit Week is approaching fast and is FURYus, but the Student Council has been planning since November.
“It’s been a little chaotic getting events confirmed and getting students signed up. We have lots of cool new activities this year,” said Chelsea Elkins, Biology teacher and StuCo faculty advisor.
All the members are in charge of different activities based on the groups they are assigned; however, the main roadblock many face is getting in contact with businesses.
“A challenge I have mainly faced is trying to call businesses for profit shares. This has been hard because you never know what someone is going to say or how they will respond. I overcome this by asking the businesses that say no to send a donation to the school, as well as seeing if we can include them anywhere else,” said Brantley Cooper, junior and Spirit Week leader.
Feedback on Spirit Week from students last year is extremely valued and considered during the planning for the next year’s Spirit Week.
“We got asked for businesses that accept cards so we have some awesome restaurants like Bojangles, Salsaritas, TCBY Frozen Yogurt, Jeremah’s Italian Ice, etc; that will be available during lunches and take a card,” Elkins said.
“Feedback from last year helped us realize we needed to make things more spirited, so this year that is what we are trying to do,” Cooper said.
Numerous new and exciting ideas are flowing through room 2109; everyone has their favorites including the StuCo members.
“My favorite upcoming Spirit Week activity would have to be Powderpuff. I love watching the grades compete and now have cheerleaders, so I think this year everyone is excited to see them perform at the halftime of the championship game,” Cooper said.
“I’m most excited for the Hoedown. It’s off campus this year at the Pavilion in downtown Fountain Inn,” Elkins said.
Even though there is so much stress and countless worries, we have dug deep and pulled out the best StuCo memories from the past years.
“My favorite experience is always check reveal and the final pep rally. It’s so inspiring to see the students realize how much of a difference they made for our community,” Elkins said
“My favorite memory from the past spirit weeks is being an escort for my friend in Mr. Fury. He ended up having his own little Morgan Wallen concert, and that was super enjoyable,” Cooper said.
With all of this excitement and anticipation for spirit week we can't forget the real reason and meaning for why we are doing it in the first place.
“Spirit week to me is a week where the school unites in fun games, activities, and camaraderie, to raise money for a non-profit foundation. We are helping our community but also the individuals that will one day be at this school or already are,” said Nikki Wu, junior and Vice President of StuCo.
You might not think dressing like Adam Sandler, or playing bubble soccer is making a difference in anyone's life, but IT IS! All the participating students, teachers, and families are coming together to change the lives of children in the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“I hope that kids realize that they are very fortunate to be healthy and able to go to school. Kids that are enrolled in the Make-A-Wish Foundation have terminal illnesses that affect them for their entire lives, and us being able to raise money for them is just one way to help,” Cooper said.
This is the reason StuCo is pushing to raise money and encourage student participation in activities. It can be hard to motivate students sometimes, but that doesn't stop them.
“I try to ask people if they want to do things and then tell them about the benefits they will gain from participating and what all the money is going to. I try to encourage my peers to do new things and get their friends to sign up,” Wu said.
In the end all the time and dedication StuCo has put into this will help create a fun and spirited school community. So don’t forget to participate this year because it is all going to the kids at Make-A-Wish.
By Rebecca Bullington
“I think I wouldn't be who I am without all of the experiences I have gone through in high school. I have gone through the happiest moments of my life while at the same time heartbreak. High school is full of highs and a lot of lows, but the highs, no matter how few, are what really make it worth it,” said Claire Lane, a graduating senior here at Fountain Inn High School.
High school can be the best and worst time of one’s life, but no matter how one spends their days, graduating is guaranteed to be a whirlwind of emotions. 72 of our seniors at FIHS took the time to answer some questions about graduation and their thoughts on it. Exhilaration, excitement, happiness, accomplishment, pride, freedom, anxiety, nostalgia and curiosity are all words students used to describe the sentiment of closing out their high school journeys and heading off into the real world.
“It's crazy to think that just four years ago I was a freshman, and now my life is completely different. I've been thinking about freshman me a lot lately, and I just know that she'd be so proud of how far I've come since then. Knowing that in just seven months, I'll be out of school and graduating fills me with the most intense feeling of dread, relief, happiness, and nostalgia. I'm excited for this next chapter of my life, and I just know that I'll create a life for myself that freshman me would be proud of,” says Kaitlyn Keeney.
The majority of our seniors have been with us since the beginning. FIHS has grown with them and watched them bloom, from timid and unhurried freshmen to the dedicated and ambitious seniors they are today. 33% say that the number one thing they are excited for after graduation is new experiences, whether that be college, living on their own, making new friends, or traveling around the world. 15% want money, and 9% are just excited to get out of high school. The rest are focused on things like family, work, and a combination of them all.
“The plans I had straight out of high school changed so much before I got to where I am now,” said Lindsey Beam, the assistant principal in charge of the senior class.
Out of all our seniors, 94.3% think they know exactly what they want to do after graduation, most want to go to college, some are going straight into the workforce, but no matter how solid they think their plan is it can always change. However, this stat doesn't seem to have an impact on the anxiety levels associated with post high school life. 51.39% of our seniors say they are absolutely anxious about leaving what they’ve always known, but most are excited as well.
“Find out what you're good at, and how you can use your skills to give service to the people around you, and build your career based on that,” Beam said.
Leaving high school and the organized itinerary of every day education that you’ve had for the past 12 years isn’t easy, especially with the stress of real-world problems, and the unease of leaving behind your support system. 68.06% of seniors say that friends, staff, and the people they've known for years, is what they’ll miss the most about high school.
“I'll miss my teachers and staff as they've all been great, they've helped plenty and I'll remember them for what they did for me. Other than that, I'll miss the community in a way as it definitely fills the space of something more,” Ethan Cushman said.
With the impact teachers and staff have made on students, we know it will be hard to say goodbye but we know the community of Fountain Inn can all say they’re proud of Fountain Inn High School’s first graduating class and all they have yet to achieve.
By Tegan Eubanks
The Fountain Inn Band of Fury took the stage at River Bluff High School on October 26th to Face triumph and compete in the final band competition of the season. After Practicing a ton during normal school days after-school Practices and back-breaking band camp days!
“State championships are a big deal and something that takes a lot of preparation. Not only is it important to feel good about your marching and music, but also yourself. Having a good mindset and feeling encouraged will make your performance your best,” said Demerious Walden.
Before the River Bluff competition, the band went to Pendleton on October 12th where they placed fourth in class five A and advanced to the finals, leading them to the River Bluff competition two weeks later.
The Band of Fury set foot on the River Bluff High football field to perform at three pm.
“Out on the field, there's a few nerve-racking things. The judges being right there and timing you is stressful, but also knowing that you can't do anything else to prepare yourself or the people around you. The level you're at is the level you're at and you can't change that once you're on that field. You have to trust that everyone around you will do what they're supposed to do,” Zoe Waye said.
Even though the nerves were high, the Band of Fury pulled a spot in the finals. Therefore at 7:15 pm they stepped back onto the River Bluff football field, and put on one of the best performances in a while. The percussion and drums were roaring and the precision of the Band of Fury was great but despite all the effect they ended up placing ninth out of 12th in the finals and there were a whole bunch of different emotions about the placement.
“I think our placement was accurate. Given that Hurricane Helene messed up our season, it was already amazing that we made finals, and getting top 10 is a huge deal,” stated Rebeca Richardson. While others were just fine with the placement
“ I think it was fair for us to get ninth. I just think we could've done better,” said Christian Gordon. Some people were even shocked we placed
“Yeah I was kinda shocked we even made it to finals,” Tyler Eubanks explains.
The Band of Fury went back to Fountain Inn High School with a new sense of pride and accomplishments, but now that the marching band competitions are over this year one question remains: how will The Band of Fury prevail next?
By Katelyn Burton
The Dance Club at Fountain Inn Highschool is a club where both experienced dancers and potential dancers with less experience can get together and dance! They practice routines, and will also have performances. The dance club meets in the multipurpose room Tuesdays at 8 a.m.
You may be curious what the dance club would do in a day. Normally Diamond Jones, the senior and resident choreographer, or Holly Seigel, the dance club's sponsor, will lead the dancers through routines and choreography.
Holly Seigel, sponsor of the dance club, says “ On a normal day we do some techniques like kicks, turns, and leaps like across the floor and we do choreography. So either Diamond or myself will walk them (the dancers) through the routine. We're just kinda learning it and dancing.”
Kizzy Dunlop, a member of the dance club, says “The dance club seems like a lot of ballet so far.”
The dance club doesn't practice for nothing. Twice a year, once in the winter and once in the spring, there will be pep rallies where the dance club will have a one minute performance for the school. Currently, we do not have much information on it, however the members are very excited for and curious about the performance.
The dance club hasn't had very many meetings so far, however the members still enjoy it.
Dennasia Anderson, member of the dance club, says she “loves it even though we only had two meetings.” She likes “learning new dancing styles like jazz and funk.” Although, she does complain that “The turns hurt my feet.”
Anyone who wants to dance, experienced or not, can join the dance club with no prior requirements. However, some experience is recommended.
Seigel says “No, there's no requirements, but normally with the choreography having prior dance experience is very helpful because there is technique and choreography is fast in pace, so having dance experience really does help.”
While previous dancing experience does help, it's also okay if you don't have any dance experience. Kizzy says “Don't worry about getting it on the first try, it's a safe place and nobody will make fun of you”
So, like Seigel said, “If you love to dance, especially if you have prior dance experience, come join and bring the energy, it's a lot of fun.”
By: Hannah Courtney
Freshman athletes have to juggle being a new student in high school and the sport they play. Avieon Scott, Layla Pruitt, Kamaiya Johnson, Conor Fee, Abigail Pope, and Remy Covington all balance the life of school and sports at Fountain Inn High. Even though balancing both is hard, they all manage to get good grades and be able to play the sport they love.
Each of them mention that you have to have time management skills because if you don’t then it is hard to get all of your work done. Scott feels like time management is a big strategy for getting all of his work done.
“Without it I would struggle with keeping up with homework and school and sports. It’s just a really big part of it,” said Scott.
Procrastination is a hard habit to break, especially when trying to learn how to manage your time effectively. Pope, who is a volleyball player here, feels that procrastinating is not a good thing to do.
“I definitely feel like you should finish your work during the day as much as you can and don’t procrastinate cause whatever you have left is just gonna be more work after school. But also trying not to get distracted and putting everything away after practice will help you get your work done,” said Pope.
Despite how much they love the sport they play, it still puts stress on them to juggle school and sports.
“When I played my first year it put a little bit of stress on me because I was worried about how I was gonna manage sports and my grades,” said Johnson.
She is not the only one though who has felt the stress. Each of these athletes have spoken about how they have felt stress at some point, even Covington, who didn’t expect a lot of stress.
“A lot, like more than I thought it was going to be,” said Covington.
Pruitt, a cheerleader on the JV cheer team, tells us how she feels like there is a good and bad impact that sports have on her school work.
“Yes and no. I think sports is in a good impact, it is something to push me to keep my grades good because you can’t have bad grades and be part of a sport. But no as in, it makes things harder, like it makes getting your work done a lot harder,” said Pruitt.
In the end though, your friends, family, and teachers are there to help you when you need it. Sports help you connect with teammates and make more friends which can always be there for you.
“Besides my parents, my friends just like helping me out, especially ones on the swim team. Us helping each other out making sure we have all of our assignments done and are actually at practice,” said Fee.
Sports do put pressure on students, but it also pushes them to be their best in school. It also causes them to keep up their grades because they know if they don’t then they can’t play the sport they love. But overall, it helps them to connect with their sports team family.
By Reilly Lemieux have you ever reconsidered your choices?
"Yes every single day. This is one of the hardest jobs I have ever had and it is so defeating when you feel like you care more about students' success than the students you are teaching. It makes you want to quit and do something else," first year Science teacher Christiana Zachary said.
Teachers go through some of the hardest things in the work space. The vast majority of teachers that have been teaching over 20 years have thought of a change of career.
Most people would assume that teachers don't like their jobs because of the contents of the subject they teach or maybe even the students but most teachers we asked said it was because of all of the work and being underpaid for the amount of work they do. English teacher Christina Bianchi explained one of the many reasons teachers contemplate other options.
“Ït's not because I do not love my content or my students. I have reconsidered being a teacher because we are overworked and underpaid. We are expected to do far more than is realistic while still maintaining our own health and lives,” Bianchi said.
Bianchi is highly regarded as a fun and caring teacher. Many believe she is one of the best at Fountain Inn and yet she still believes this.
Being a teacher isn't easy, they deal with a multitude of different things daily. Students, curriculum, underpaid and overworked are some of the few words that fit a teacher well. With all this stress you can assuredly bet that teachers sometimes have that moment where they think, "I may not be good enough.”
A heart-wrenching example shows the reality of this from Brandy Garrett's experience.
“There have been many times where I have felt like I wasn't good enough as a teacher, I didn't feel like I was making a difference, and thought that the school/students would be better off with someone else teaching,” Garrett said.
"I have also been extremely overwhelmed with difficult classes, huge workloads, and the high expectations put on teachers. It made me wonder if all of the work and stress was worth it.” Garrett said.
While many teachers tend to just shove these feelings away this is the reality of teaching. Think of all the times you may have reconsidered being what you want. Then think of these amazingly strong soldiers that move along and prove the improbable isn't impossible. With serious gratitude and recognition, thank you to all teachers out there you definitely have the determination and strength many don't. us students all love and appreciate your words in one way or another even if we don't immediately recognize it.
By Juila Hoffman and Gabby Mulvay
During the student section at sport games students are standing up and loudly cheering. Confetti poppers and powder flying everywhere with screaming chants. The Fountain Inn student section is a place where students can stand in the bleachers and cheer for their team. The student section is located in the middle of the bleachers. The students help bring up their team and this is a way for them to have fun while watching and cheering.
The Student Council does help get involved with the student section at the sport games.
Student Council is big with helping the student section with their chants and hyping them up. They stand with the student section and when it starts to get quiet they go around telling people to start chanting and cheering for their team. The students go all out with the chants, they love screaming and cheering, the seniors are the craziest with their cheering. The cheerleaders also go up close to the stands and do chants with the students.
Over the four years of Fountain the student section has grown tremendously. Not just just in size but spirit.
Eleventh grade administrator, Mr. Irvin said, “It's more than doubled.”
The biggest part that the student section does is dress to impress. The Fury students go all out for the football themes. There is lots of work that goes into the themes to make sure that students are happy with what the clubs picked for them.
Junior Nikki Wu, president of the Student Council, explained how the StuCo picks their themes.
“We pick out themes during the summer and each leader from clubs comes together and picks out themes that students wanted and voted for them,” Wu explained.
Some of the themes students can look forward to this season are fury, neon, and white out.
Senior Dimond Jones, explained what themes she is looking forward to this year.
“I would love to have a western or usa theme.” Jones explained.
Our football games have the biggest student section with all the kids dressed up and cheering. Other sports don’t have a big student section and that has to do with students having a favorite sport. As of all the students do love going to their sport games, dressing up, cheering, and going all out.
By Sofia Avelar
Seniors eagerly prepare as this upcoming 2024-2025 school year begins at Fountain Inn High School, they have many events planned for this year to make the best of Senior year as the first graduating class of FIHS.
“As a 12th grade administrator it kind of falls underneath me, but my goal is for us to establish some tradition while also making this special because this is our inaugural class.” said assistant principal, Lindsey Beam.
“It's an exciting time – I hope that every person that walks across that stage can say I know my options tomorrow whether they know exactly what they want to do is irrelevant” Beam said. Beam was explaining how she changed majors twice before figuring out what she wanted to do. Being a senior can be stressful and scary figuring out what you want to do after high school.
“Yeah, senior year is pretty scary but honestly I’m trying to see the good and enjoy it, and not stress out too much about college stuff until it's time,” said Zyon Curenton.
At the same time, senior year is something that should be fun and memorable. After all, it is the last year of high school before moving into a new chapter in life.
“Me and Mrs. Smith look at them kind of collectively and figure out kind of what we’ve got in the space – but a lot of what I just named has already been approved and set”
Beam said.
There are lots of events coming up as Beam mentioned such as senior breakfast, senior sunset, Carowinds trip, and more. The best is yet to come for the seniors of Fountain Inn High and we are beyond excited to enjoy our last year of high school and complete the milestone, graduation.
By Isabella Castro
Argentina. Bolivia. Brazil. Chile. Colombia. Costa Rica. Cuba. Dominican Republic. Ecuador. El Salvador. Equatorial Guinea. Guatemala. Honduras. Mexico. Nicaragua. Panama. Paraguay. Peru. Spain. Uruguay. Venezuela.
Each of these countries were represented at Fountain Inn High School’s first annual Hispanic Heritage Night. This event occurred in the FIHS cafeteria on Monday, Sept. 24. The events of the evening consisted of: homemade traditional foods, dance performances, music and art displays.
From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month focuses on celebrating the history, culture and contributions of Latin ancestors. It also represents Independence Day for many countries including: Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.
In order to celebrate within our local community, the Hispanic Heritage Night event was put together by Reem Alnatour, the ESOL teacher at FIHS. As the teacher of multilingual students, Alnatour has experience with students from around the world, including those who are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
“The art and events from last night created a lasting impact by fostering a sense of pride and inclusion among our Hispanic students. Seeing their culture celebrated and appreciated in such a public way made them feel valued and recognized. For non-Hispanic attendees, the event was an opportunity to learn, engage and appreciate the diversity of our school community,” Alnatour said.
Informational displays were around the cafeteria, representing all 21 countries. People came out wearing traditional clothing or soccer jerseys, with the majority of attendees being from Mexico, Colombia and Puerto Rico.
Homemade food was also brought as a potluck for dinner. Many families and students cooked up their country’s traditional foods and shared it at the event. Many Latin foods such as empanadas, tacos, pozole, tamales, arroz and flan were served.
“Seeing our students, their families and staff come together to celebrate and share Hispanic heritage was heartwarming. The energy, participation and creativity of everyone involved made it a truly memorable night,” Alnatour said.
The International Dance Academy of Greenville showed up and gave attendees a fun and eventful show. Dances such as Volaré from Spain and Tierra Querida from Colombia, Mexico had Chiapanecas and Bomba representing Puerto Rico were all performed. The dance academy put a lot of effort into the show, with authentic dresses, music and accessories.
The art club marketed printmaking designs, bracelets and face-paintings to raise money for the program. The photobooth was also a huge hit, creating memories to cherish. Each of these tied directly to Hispanic culture in some characteristic. In addition, the art club had a communal “Pelliza” rag rug, that students and families can each tie a knot on. Ceramics teacher, Adri Jordan has hopes of finishing and displaying in the school at the end of this year. Symbolizing the unity and togetherness that is being fostered into the school.
“The idea behind the project is to force communication and positive socializing amongst students. It's going to be permanently installed here and it's going to signify (like with our graduating class) that we are rising up and we can do this,” Jordan said.
The first three years of school, no events were planned in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. People felt as if the school did not care about this important and celebratory month. This oversight may have caused students and families from Hispanic backgrounds to feel overlooked as their rich cultures and traditions were not acknowledged. It could have created a sense of exclusion, for both students and their family.
Eleventh grader Valery Muñoz said, “I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like our culture wasn't represented as much, but it also was because our community was kind of small and not as wide, not as it is now.”
Shedding light on Hispanic Heritage Month can help address issues many Hispanics face, particularly stereotypes. These stereotypes can be squashed with more representation and public events. People can educate themselves by exploring a variety of resources—books, documentaries, festivals, art and music that focus on Hispanic history and culture. Schools can play a vital role by integrating lessons on Hispanic heritage into their curriculum.
“There’s more to Hispanic culture than just tacos. Do your research, talk to people because Hispanic people exist,” junior Lyn Torres said.
This celebratory night marked the beginning of a new tradition at Fountain Inn High School. Students, family and staff hope that with this representation, no heritage month will go overlooked again in the future.
By Rebecca Bullington
With over 258,082 high school members across all 50 states, as well as Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and Germany, DECA is preparing the most promising generation of entrepreneurs and marketing leaders around the world.
First established in 1943, the Distributive Education Clubs of America, or DECA, is a non-for-profit organization made to prepare this generation’s business leaders for tomorrow and give them a head start in a professional environment.
“DECA is a club for students who are interested in becoming business leaders and it focuses on subjects such as marketing, finance, hospitality, business management, sports management, and fashion.” says Jennifer Mason, a business teacher and the primary advisor of our DECA chapter at Fountain Inn High School.
DECA is an organization every student can benefit from and in addition to teaching students important life skills, it can also provide them with experiences.
“DECA is a business and marketing organization. It can help students improve and demonstrate [students] business and marketing knowledge, communication skills, presentation skills, sales skills and leadership skills, just to give some examples. Being a part of the organization also gives students a chance to travel and see different places they may not have been to before,” said Logan Tepe, the co-advisor of our DECA chapter.
DECA attends two to four destination competitions each year. The regional competition takes place at Clover High School in York county, the state competition for South Carolina is held in Charleston, and Nationals could take place in Anaheim, Orlando, or Atlanta. In addition to these competitions, there is also a Power Trip in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“[Power trip] is a conference where there's no competition. You're just in academies where you learn about DECA and how to dress, how to do the role-plays, how to do the written events, how to prepare in front of judges and it's just another opportunity to get prepared and see DECA students from all over the world that will come to this event. It's a weekend of just fun and getting to know each other, mingling and kind of building those relationships.” says Mason.
Prior to the competitions, students pick the category they want to compete in, all details and lessons on the categories are given on the Power Trip. There are two different formats, the role-plays or the written event. Role-plays can be solo or duo and are performed in an improv-style in front of a judge. In contrast, written exams can have anywhere from one to three collaborative writers and are done in advance.
“Those are for students who are not very good at role-plays or knowing all the definitions and can't think on the spot. They can then do [the written exam] and put the time into writing the paper and making the presentation perfect before presenting,” Mason said.
If you place in one of these competitions, whether in States, or Nationals, there are many benefits and prizes you win. DECA is a huge help when it comes to scholarships and college applications. DECA alone gives away over $200,000 in scholarships to winners every year.
“There are some colleges that will give automatic scholarships for having DECA on your resume. And then there are a lot of colleges that will give scholarships if you win an event at Nationals, or even at your state competition.” Mason said.
DECA is an exceptionally promising path to any career in finance, marketing, hospitality, sports management, or any other financial leadership position. Students can join DECA at any point throughout the year, so don't be afraid to start your DECA journey today. DECA is working hard to grow this generation into the groundbreaking business leaders of tomorrow.
By Katelyn Burton
Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy game full of fun and adventure, has its own club at Fountain Inn High school! This club allows students to get together in the upstairs commons area every Wednesday at 3:45 p.m until 5 p.m and have their own campaigns.
According to Cale Bonnor, teacher and faculty advisor of the D&D club, “D&D is short for Dungeons and Dragons, a tabletop roleplaying game. Players work together to act as fantasy adventurers going on quests and overcoming obstacles set by a Dungeon Master who sets the scene and helps them tell their story.”
So far, the D&D club has been a fun experience for everyone involved! But what are some good things about D&D?
If you're looking for a professional answer, Bonner says “D&D is a great game to develop your problem solving skills. “Thinking outside of the box” is sometimes necessary to defeat monsters with special abilities, solve tricky puzzles, or investigate mysteries. I also love how collaborative the game can be. Very rarely can one individual overshadow others; rather, it takes teamwork, mindful actions, and good synergy to truly shine as an adventurer.”
Justice Crawford, club member and dungeon master of a campaign, has said “When playing D&D, you get to meet many people with the same interest as you while having a great time within a world based on pure creativity. I also love that in D&D you can make or do anything, it's only limit is the imagination of the players.”
Charlie Altheua-Martinez, member of the D&D club, says “You get to meet new people who have the same interest as you and possibly have a new friend added to your contacts.”
When asked, Dennasia Anderson, another member of the club, says she likes “making new friends and the dice”
Overall, many people like the D&D club for different reasons. D&D can help develop problem solving skills, and is a collaborative game. Justice likes D&D because of the creativity involved. Charlie likes the club because she gets to make new friends. Dennasia likes the club because it gives her a reason to collect cool looking dice!
If you think you may want to join the D&D club with no prior experience, then don't worry, new players are definitely welcomed.
Bonner, when talking about possible new club members, says “The more the merrier! D&D is a hobby that really benefits from having diverse players, diverse thoughts, and diverse personalities.”
Charlie says “I personally think it’s awesome that new people are joining! they’re probably exploring their interests and joined the club. So yeah, it’s really cool to get new members.”
Not only are new players welcomed, but also encouraged to join. You do not need any prior D&D experience in order to join the club.
Justice says, “I personally know many people that have never played before and they are playing great now, just asking questions and having fun.”
New players are welcomed to join at any time, but who should join? How do you know if you'd like it? D&D involves a lot of creativity. Your imagination, depending on what the dungeon master allows, is the only limit.
Bonnor would recommend D&D to “Anyone with an imagination, a little creativity, and a dream to be something “more” than a normal person.”
He has also added, “You can’t actually cast magic spells in real life, but that shouldn’t stop you from pretending that you’re a great wizard in your story!”
Justice would recommend D&D to “Anyone that has a vast creativity and is looking for something long term to make into a hobby.”
He has also clarified that “There really isn't a spectrum on the age at which you play, so really anyone can do it, just put a little time into it and come to meetings.”
If you do want to join the D&D club, then you don't need much. The only requirement to join the club itself is five dollars before thanksgiving. However, if you like to play D&D, there are a few things that would be useful while playing.
Bonnor says, “you just need time on Wednesday afternoons. There are lots of “extras” that you might want if you really like the hobby like dice, books, and tons of other accessories. If the club is the right fit for you, you’ll need $5 for dues, so that we can purchase some of those fun extra supplies for you to use here on campus.”
D&D is a game many creative people love to play, and Fountain Inn High School has a club for its players. Even if you have no prior D&D experience, if you like fantasy and think it sounds fun, you are encouraged to join it and try it out. You don't need anything except some time on Wednesdays whenever school ends and your imagination. While you can join the club at any time, the sooner the better!
By Matthew Lankford
The Environment is a big place, one that encompasses the entire globe, and is shared by many from its huge green and lively forests to its hot, dry, and arid desert. The environment has many different climates and weather patterns that change throughout the years, from one year being nice and warm to a cold winter wonderland. The environment is something we all share, and it's our job as the environment's dwellers to keep the environment clean so that it does not die out. That's where Environmental Studies comes into play. Environmental Studies is a pathway taught by Cale Bonner, Christina Zackery, and formerly John Micheal Hammond.
“Environmental Studies and Environmental Science are fun classes, but it's also a lot of other things, it is a combination of Political Science, there's Earth Science, we try to do writing, but it's just us in the environment, what humans do to the environment and how we benefit from it and how we change it how we interact with it, but at its most basic standing its glorified ecology which is a part of the biology course that gets ran through real quick,” Bonner said.
Furthermore, students who take Environmental Studies get a better understanding of how this planet works, how humans have interacted with the environment in the past, and how we continue to interact with the planet today.
“You have to live here, and by here, I mean on this planet, so you better figure out how to interact with this planet in a sustainable way. We don't have anywhere else we can go right now, so we better keep this [planet] the cleanest that we can while we are still here, not just for us but also for the future generation,” Bonner said.
Although the environment can affect us in positive ways such as more rain in some areas that desperately need it, there are also negatives such as ice glaciers melting around the world which would make sea levels rise.
“Global warming, for example, it is not necessary about all of a sudden it's getting way hotter and we are going to burn up because we can feel it get way hotter, it's more like subtle changes that happen over the time, and the fact we call it climate change now it’s a better descriptive for it, more violent storms in some areas, areas that get more rain now face more drought-like Australia where you see the wildfires, places that were used to less rain, now have more rain like monsoons, more violent storms, things like that. A big thing is the rising sea level, as the world heats up glaciers are going to melt a little more which is going to raise the water levels, and as the sea level rises land that is currently above sea level can now be below it, which is a problem if you live on the coast and it's a bigger problem if your country is an island nation,” Hammond said.
There are other ways that climate change has impacted us, such as air temperature and deforestation which has led to the increase of climate change.
“The environment impacts you in nearly every aspect, such as the quality of the air, temperature of the air, deforestation, pollution, it's all interconnected and an impact in one area is definitely noticeable, such as if climate change warms the natural temperature or polarizes it to be colder or warmer depending on the season,” said Martens Connor, AP Environmental Studies student.
The future impacts of environmental issues are equally important due to the fact that they will affect our future generations and generations after that.
“Climate change and other factors such as increased pollution have been a leading issue for years now, and with so many people still ignoring the issue it's only going to get worse and worse until we notice and actually take actions against it. So yes, I do believe that
it is an issue and we should be worried about our current direction and where it is going in the future,” Conners said.
Fourntally there are ways that students can help to keep our environment clean and healthy.
“Students can do a lot to help the environment, mainly lowering their overall ecological footprint, which include stuff like energy use, carbon emissions, etc. There is a website called Ecological Footprint Calculator that demonstrates your overall footprint and what
areas take up the most resources, so perhaps going more on a vegetarian diet or lowering the amount of miles you drive using gas will help lower it and help with the overall environment,” said Conners.
By Hannah Courtney
The Hydroponics Environmental Club has helped our community and environment grow and get better each day. They organize community service projects which could include planting trees, picking up trash or building a garden. Coach Hammond is the sponsor of this club and Ginnie Reames is the president, with a few other members included. Even though their club is small, they have a big impact.
With our earth constantly being polluted and neglected, Fountain Inn High is helping to make a difference. In the fact that they are stepping up to help in our community and make our earth a better place.
“This club is really important mainly because there isn’t a lot of [environmental clubs]. I’ve been to multiple colleges and only 1 has had a recycling/hydroponics, any kind of environmental climate action club. So it could be a big step for kids that want to go in that pathway,” Reames said.
However, it doesn’t just help our environment, it also teaches students more about the earth and why it is so important to take care of it.
“The main thing the club has taught me is that the world needs help and that climate action is very needed, but you have to start small. So we are starting with helping our community with homelessness and bringing food to the homeless at Greenville Garden (an adult program at Fountain Inn High that teaches about the environment and how to care for it) ,” Reames said.
Our earth is already about 99% polluted with unhealthy substances and air. With people neglecting the duty of protecting our earth then it will only continue to keep increasing.
“We only get one earth! As humans we tend to focus so much on ourselves and what we want and need, but we need to make sure we are being responsible,” Hammond said.
Even though Fountain Inn High has helped with our environment, they haven’t done it alone. The Fountain Inn community has supported this club, so it can grow to its greatest.
“Fountain Inn, that whole area is very proud of us. They have stuck with us and are the ones who have sponsored us and they have given us our hydroponics tower for Fountain Inn High,” Reames said.
No matter if you are building a garden or picking up trash, if you are doing it alone or with your community, you are still making a difference in our environment. That’s what Fountain Inn High and their community is doing.
We only have one earth, so we should be giving back 100%, not 1%. If we want to have clean water and air in the future, then we have to help make a difference. This club gives back 100% to the environment and teaches the students in the club to help our environment to keep it clean and safe.
By Tegan Eubanks
The marching band is very different from the competition band. Competition band takes a lot of time and effort with perseverance and precision while marching band takes perseverance and energy. Cayden Bradley, a student in the band, has put in a lot of hard work over the years when it comes to competition. Bradley explained the differences between the two.
“Marching band is more about marching. You compete against other schools at a competition, usually on Saturdays. You have marching band music, which is different from regular music. It's shorter and separated and more fermata, (fermata = a pause) It is usually loud and has a battery (The percussion section of an orchestra or band.) and a pit. (A pit is a type of orchestra.) We play xylophones and piano. And then batteries all the snare drums and the Bass drums and the tenors We have anywhere from one to four drum majors who conduct the band. They conduct the band on the field outside,” Bradley said.
“Competitive band or concert band, that's more like sitting down in a chair and playing your music on a stand. You don't really have battery. It's more just like a jumpset or like xylophones and tambourines. The instruments are different in both,” Bradley continued. Both bands are good at creating a good high school career.
“Band impacts my high school career by teaching me time management and allowing me to branch out and meet new people each year. It also gives me something that I love to do each week” states Tyler Hudson, a student in marching band. He continues, “Sometimes you just want a hard but fun class. It helps you express yourself.”
Arianna Wofford, a student in marching band says “My favorite thing about marching band is making all new connections with people and being able to teach them the fun things about marching band. I also enjoy competitions and the thrill of them. My favorite thing about a concert band is being able to show that not only can we do good on the field but we can also do good off the field.” Arianna Wofford, a student in marching band says
The differences between marching band and competition band are many. Still, they clearly share similarities when it comes to creating a high school career or just having a fun challenging class.
By Matthew Lankford
The classroom was dark… the door was unlocked… the air conditioning left on. It seemed that everything was off… he gently opened the glass door and an audible click was heard… as he walked into the classroom he noticed the chairs were up on the desk.. then there was a faint glow in the room, a pair of white glowing small eyes stared at him. He screamed as there was a loud crash, rushing to the light switch he turned it on only to find out… the eyes were actually lights on stands which were left turned on and accidentally left on by the Media Technology class, and the crash was an overturned C-Stand that had sandbags misplaced on the wrong legs causing it to tip, as he stopped to catch his breath and calm down.
Creatively coming up with ways to report news is just one of the many feats of the Media Tech courses. Led by Jeff Hoffman, there are four levels that students’ can participate in throughout their high school career.
“Media Technology is a digital storytelling course. We learn lots of technical aspects, how to run cameras, how to set up light and do audio edits. Those are all technical things that we do as part of the career tech pathway, but in the end we are working towards becoming good story tellers. I used to have a saying that life is a story, tell it.” Hoffman said.
Media Technology has evolved over the years to be faster. As time has gone on media advancements have allowed for us to do many things, such as keeping up to date with the news, following ongoing issues in the world, and provide entertainment as well as many other things, However, there can also be negatives with these advancements
“I think it impacts the world both negatively and positively, there are things that we are learning about that we would never find out about without the reach of the media. Media covers things that let us see people around the world that we would never see, and they are able to post events that are happening.” Hoffman said.
“ [For example], in the Congo, somebody with a cellphone can show [something] that may have never made national news, [especially] in the old days.” But then there is also a lot of media misinformation and propaganda spread throughout, so if you study regimes through history you know propaganda can be used to manipulate people, and they used the media to control that.” Hoffman continued.
Additionally, Media Technology allows for people all over the world to connect and to get involved. One such way here in Fountain Inn High School is our Media Technology class we have. It allows students’ to get hands-on experience with working with overs on projects, newscasts, recording sports and much much more.
“My key values when it comes to the newscast are working on projects. Even when multitasking, the newscast always comes first. I think it's important, I think it's a valuable resource not just for the students’ but for the school to know what's going on, it helps the staff know what's going on around the school, and recognizes.”
“The accomplishments from the students’ and staff but the biggest thing is that it reaches out to the Fountain Inn Community.”
Furthermore we talked with the Media Technology students to get a better understanding of the Media Technology department process
“Media Technology teaches a lot about leadership, and being the most experienced means you definitely get to help out other people and when you do group work, you're kind of in charge, so it does teach leadership skills.” Said Anna Bardy, Media Tech III student.
“It has been helpful and it has also helped me get a whole bunch of work done, not only in Media Tech, but in other classes as well, it has also become a collaboration, where you can't do stuff solo anymore, it also requires you to do bigger and better productions.” Said Jacob Butts, Media Tech II student.
If you are interested in Media Technology or Media in general, you should contact Jeff Hoffman at jhoffman@greenville.k12.sc.us
By Bowie Allmendinger, Gia Castiglia, Alex Geuea and Jeremiah Patterson
The Fountain Inn High School cafeteria is bustling with students and staff all eager to get their day's break. During the third block there are four different scheduled lunch times each lasting 30 minutes. During this time students are given time to rest from their work and socialize with their friends.
When entering the cafeteria students are able to choose one of four lines. The first two have the day's special entree, the third line includes chicken sandwiches, burgers and fries and the fourth line sells Papa John's Pizza, giving a variety of meals for students to choose from.
“I like having the option of having the chicken sandwiches, everyday in case they make something I don't prefer,” Senior Riley Smith said.
Students at lunch all have their own preferences with the school’s food. Some students’ favorites include fries, grilled cheese, chicken sandwiches, general tso chicken, pizza, ribs, mac and cheese and tater tots.
Some students who went to different schools and have transferred here say they prefer Fountain Inn’s lunch over their old school.
“I think [FIHS lunch] is better here, it's way better quality,” junior Isabella Castro said.
A downside to lunch is time. Students feel as if their 30 minutes is not enough time to get to lunch, receive your food and talk to friends compared to their time spent while in class.
Many students believe their lunch should be longer so they get enough time to rewind their school day.
“Yes, [there should be a longer lunch], because there is more time to talk to friends and sometimes the lunch line takes too long,” ninth grader George Bardis said.
Even though students may not feel like they get enough time for lunch they still enjoy the time with their friends.
The lunch staff puts in lots of effort to make the lunches for the students. They come in at around 7:20 am and leave around 3:15 pm. The lunch ladies have passion for providing lunches for the students. Food and Nutritional Service worker Linda Mullaney enjoys her job at FIHS
“I like serving the kids food and I like when the kids are nice.” Linda said.
Lunch is a very special break in the day that students and adults love to enjoy. The lunch food is something that most students enjoy but some don't, and that's okay, all the students have different preferences for their lunch. Lunch is a time that students and staff can look forward to during their day at school.
By Brycen Andrews, Sofia Avelar and Riley Smith
The Phoenix Chorale is like a family among the students in choir here at Fountain Inn. In addition to performing concerts for the community, The Phoenix Chorale participates in competitions and other educational field trips where they observe other choirs or are instructed by guest directors. This creates that family-like bond between them all.
“Most of my friends have been made in Choir,” alto, Maggie Mohler, said. Members of the choir are able to join in ninth grade, which allows them up to four years to create the bond that they have.
“The community is fun and I enjoy learning hard music and being surrounded by people who work hard and enjoy singing,” alto, Sasha Tlapa, said.
The Phoenix Chorale works very hard to learn high-level music to perform at different events such as concerts, ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), Region, Allstate, and many more. These events give them opportunities to show off their talents and the hard work that is put in each day.
“We’ve traveled to Carowinds, Tennessee, and Charleston,” Sanchez-Chenet said. Alto section leader, Savannah Sanchez-Chenet highlighted a couple of locations the choir has traveled to. These trips are used to showcase the talent of the young singers as concerts are a staple for The Phoenix Chorale.
Sitting down with multiple singers from the choir we got to see the preparation it takes to perform in one of these concerts.
“Vocal warm-ups, drinking peppermint tea, it helps with your vocal cords and preparing music,” Tlapa said.
Paying attention in class is a big thing for some of the students as allowing yourself to practice time in class drastically improves your abilities, especially when taking the time outside of school to practice music.
The Phoenix Chorale has an event on October 15 and is planning on using these practices to prepare for their much-anticipated performance.
Sarah Wahl, choir director, enjoys teaching students and preparing them for big opportunities and events that not only help them grow as singers but also as responsible and determined individuals.
“What I really like about choir is learning difficult music and working hard towards becoming better,” Tlapa said. Many people may misunderstand choir and how difficult it can be. Some people may think that you just sing and that's all, but no, choir is way more than going on stage and giving a performance to an audience.
“Music brings me joy” Sanchez-Chenet said. The Phoenix Chorale is said to be a space during the school day where kids can express themselves through music and have the opportunity to use their talent.
”Everyone has a voice and should consider a way to use their voice” Wahl, said. This concept has been the factor that encourages students to join the choir. Wahl truly wants people to feel a sense of belonging and to be able to express themselves in a way they do not get to do anywhere else.
“We have evolved into the best choir in Greenville county and definitely in the top five in the state.” Wahl said. Wahl grew the choir program from the ground up and has seen the growth and improvement of the Phoenix Choral.
As the program continues to evolve, Wahl wants to ensure that the core of the class is “a family, community and a place to belong while also just being who you are.”
By Boston Hooke
There are multiple ways for people to manage their stress, different people have different ways of coping with stress and finding ways to manage it. A few people may find it helpful to be organized while others may find it beneficial to read or even exercise. Even though some may have different ways to cope with their stress, the sources of our stress are typically the same such as school, work, home life, or friend groups. Unfortunately, these people also have to deal with some factors that can have negative effects.
Peyton Lazaroff, a ninth grader at Fountain Inn High School stated.“It distorts my mood because if I'm going to have a high-stress day, I'm going to be angry and sad as well as lashing out at people,”
Whenever someone is dealing with stress it may cause them to be in a worse mood and may cause them to be angry, frustrated, and sad. When stress causes these emotions can have such a heavy impact on someone to the point where they are only focusing on the stress and won’t work on things that are causing the stress. Then it happens to cause more things to add on and that can cause more stress and it can just cause them to burn out mentally and physically.
“Stress negatively impacts my mental health when I let stress be too much and then it puts me in a darker place mentally,” said Sky Sudduth, a teacher at FIHS.
Meanwhile, people are dealing with mental health struggles that stress can take over and it can be difficult to get that stress off your mind. Tons of people may associate self-worth with stress so whenever you may have more stress that is difficult for you to handle you may experience less self-worth you might have and with that, you may start getting into a negative headspace. Mental health can take a steep decline while you're stressed and these serious declines can lead to depression which can cause changes in appetite, sleeping habits, and your ability to concentrate. Fortunately, there are ways to cope with stress.
Rebecca Bullington, a ninth grader here at Fountain Inn High School stated “I think I really like to be organized and so when I have things sorted out and planned then it makes it a lot easier to distress”
There are many ways to cope with stress; they can be either being well organized, reading, exercising, or listening to music. Whenever you cope with stress you aren’t getting rid of the thing that's causing you the stress but you are trying to calm down and not think of the stress rather than letting it get to you. A perfect thing to do whenever you are stressed is to talk to a trusted parent or guardian and try and ask for help to get through the stress. Lastly, if you or someone you know needs some ways to cope with their stress try looking on social media or just looking it up on the internet.
**Image generated with AI
Robotics is Back in the Field
By Tegan Eubanks
The Robotics team is preparing for the upcoming 2024-2025 Robotics season, by practicing program and hand skills in our very own I.E. lab led by Rob Sheffield who has been doing robotics for over a decade.
“I have been with the robotics garage since the very beginning in 2013. I did that until 2022 at Laurens High School. Then when I came here to Fountain Inn, Dr. Tiller was kind enough to let me bring it with me,” Sheffield said.
Despite the setback of Covid, which set Robotics back two years, Sheffield delivered on his promises and brought Fountain Inn to the Robotics World Championship (Worlds) last year, where the team placed first.
“Ten years the Robotics team has had a robot and nine of the years we went to Worlds. First they had us in St. Louis, then Houston. We flew two teams from Fountain Inn to Houston and stayed for about a week. Eventually coming home, celebrating sweet victory.”
Now the team here is just wrapping up their interest meeting competition from September 9. The interest meeting was to recruit new members. The current Robotics team is filled with many seniors so to prevent an understaffed team next year.
“Seniors like Kaleb Gearey, Cole Gibbs, and many others have been preparing the rookies by teaching them basic hand skills using hand empower tools, I.E. Drills, saws, etc.,” Sheffield said.
The students also have CAD and programming teams which are a large part of robot functions and design.
“Being able to help teach new members the joy and pride of building a competition robot and taking those skills to the real world is a simply amazing feeling,” Geary said.
Their first official competition is an off season event from last year's game. It is Oct. 12. It's titled "Scriw". The Robotics team hopes that they will get the chance to get their drive team prepared for the upcoming Robotics season.
Youth in Government
Youth In Government (YIG) is a program at most high schools that educates high school students about the democratic process through hands-on experiences and collaboration with students from all over. YIG helps students develop skills in communication, leadership and critical thinking. It gives students an outlet to make a difference in their community and stand up for what they believe.
Nick Pickens, a junior at FIHS, is participating in his second year of YIG.
"So this year I am running for youth governor of South Carolina at the next YIG conference. I am extremely excited and overwhelmed with joy to be able to have the opportunity to run for this position," Pickens said.
Youth in Government gives students inspiration for their future and hope for their career.
"I have changed my career path fully to becoming a politician and doing everything in my power to make that dream come true. With the upcoming campaign, this will help me boost my confidence and help me gain a political standpoint in the world," Pickens said.
Fountain Inn is the home of YIG leaders. Twelfth-grader Nikki Wu is the YIG lieutenant governor.
By Rebecca Bullington
On Friday, August 30, freshmen voted on who their new representatives will be for Student Council. 10 students were chosen to guide, aid and constitute the class of 2028 into a promising new year here at Fountain Inn High School.
Mia Wadsworth, Abigail Pope, Mabry Thompson, Arden Jackson, Victoria Ta, Emma Beam, Honour Cleveland, Ryan Lee, Brady Mason and Madisyn Ross are this year’s Freshmen Representatives.
Freshmen Representatives have many responsibilities. “Some responsibilities in my position are doing service hours, teamwork to plan events out, and doing extra roles like running the concession stand to keep the events of the week going,” according to Ta.
While helping out around the school and planning for events are things all members of the student council are responsible for, the main purpose of our freshman representatives is to give the ninth graders a voice.
“I want to make sure the freshman class feels like they can talk to someone if they have any concerns or ideas because it can be intimidating to talk to upperclassmen,” said Jackson.
All the freshmen representatives are focused on making this year a positive and impactful experience, which means taking all students' ideas and thoughts into consideration.
Chelsea Elkins, a biology teacher and the student council advisor, says it's important to keep bringing in new students.
“[The students] just come in with their own ideas and new perspectives that really help us to just keep it fresh so that we're changing and we're not doing the same thing over and over again.”
If you, or any other students have any ideas on how to improve the high school experience, don't be afraid to talk to one of our 10 Freshmen Representatives and put your idea out there. The purpose of having these people represent our grade is to get the exposure that causes change.
By Isabella Castro
Mrs. Katlyn Marion started the Fountain Inn High School Student Council club when the school first opened. She wanted to build traditions and give students opportunities to become involved in their school. As the years passed, the club continued to grow and now has a lot of members. At the end of every school year, students have the opportunity to apply for student council. It has been a long process to get the student council to where it is today.
“I think we got big goals set, especially for spirit week this year and I think it's going to be great,” as told by Marion.
Last April, students designed campaigns to join the student council club. While creating social media posts, posters, and spreading the word, students were rushing to get the most votes. Now as members of student council, they can reflect on their experiences so far. Junior and vice-president, Nikki Wu gave advice about the elections,
“...Go out of your comfort zone and not be too stressed about maybe the elections part, but think about if you’re overall a really good student, you have a good chance, also don’t be too stressed about perfecting your application. I know when I was applying, I really wanted to make sure in all areas it was perfect, but just showing who you are would be really great.”
Being who you are is important for applying.
Reflecting on the workload in the club, sophomore Erine Kabous answered the question we are thinking: Is it a lot of work?
“No, not at all. The club has a good amount of people and we, for mostly everything we do, we’ll separate in groups. So for example, homecoming and spirit week coming up, we have a group that's for the dance, a group for advertising. So everyone has a good enough workload, not too much,” Kabous replied.
The best and worst thing about Student Council might not be the stress, as told by sophomore Cami Soto. Soto’s favorite thing about the club is,
“Probably planning events and being able to help set up and doing the activities. Sometimes it can be [stressful] but we also break into little groups and decide specific activities. It's just fun, you get to come up with ideas.”
If you’re interested in joining the FIHS Student Council and becoming a voice for your class, just do it. Reach out to representatives from your class or Mrs. Marion and Mrs. Elkins themselves.
National Honor Society
By Katelyn Burton
Fountain Inn High Schools National Honor Society will officially start Wednesday, Oct. 2. The National Honor Society is an organization which aims to recognize upperclassmen that join for their talent. The society will also help the community, and there are benefits for anyone who joins.
Fountain Inn High School also aims to help the community with their National Honor Society organization. Members of the National Honor Society will have 10 hours of community service to complete on their own time.
While Fountain Inn doesnt know exactly what the projects will be, they do have a few ideas. Brandy Garret, teacher and advisor of the National Honor Society, says “We could be doing all sorts of things. Nursing homes, soup kitchens, cleanups in communities, all sorts of different things.”
While the National Honor Society helps the community, there are also plenty of benefits for members. Members of the National Honor society will be recognized for their efforts, alongside a few additional benefits.
“The National Honor Society is something that members can put on resumes and college applications. This also gives them connections in the community, and scholarship opportunities because of their membership,” Garret said.
If you would like to join the National Honor Society, you must meet a few requirements. You must be an upperclassmen, have a GPA of at least 4.25, then fill out a form. From there you may be accepted.
Garret has stated “To get in you have to have a 4.25 GPA, you fill out an application with short essay questions that gives us background information, and then you have to have two teacher recommendations submitted.” Garret says,
“And then with all of that information you will be chosen or not based on what you submit.”
To conclude, Fountain Inn will soon have their own National Honor Society. Our National Honor Society will celebrate the achievements of qualified juniors and seniors. It will also aim to help the community with their projects. Any qualified junior or senior may apply and potentially be accepted into the National Honor Society.
The Publicity of National Honor Society
By Boston Hooke
Brandy Garrett’s experiences with leadership have really shaped who she is as a person today. This is the first year that Fountain Inn High School is inducting students for the National Honors Society (NHS).
The importance of the NHS can help impact a student’s life as they continue on with their lives and start applying for colleges. It can accentuate these students' qualifications and can have a very positive impact on these students’ lives for college.
The experiences that Garrett has endured have been really good for her to grow as a person and a teacher. Now that she is helping to lead Fountain Inn High School’s Honors Society, she has gained a new experience leading.
Garrett is really excited to be leading the National Honors Society which is mainly due to the fact that she wasn’t qualified to do during her high school years.
“I did not qualify for these things when I was in high school but when I was in college I joined the Phi Theta Kappa for my two year college. Once I got to my four year school I was a member of 5 other honors societies and it was a really big deal for me and it gave me a huge sense of leadership,” Garrett said.
The main mission for the NHS is to recognize students for their great achievements in their academic success. Having a GPA of 4.25 or higher, serving their community as a group of students, and being recognized for their achievements with an induction ceremony are just three of the many tasks that encompass a student’s journey in NHS. Once students have joined the National Honors Society, they will contribute to 10 hours of community service per semester individually.
As the students start to enter their senior year, they will come up with a senior community service project that will be done as a group of students. When the students have their first induction ceremony later this semester, they will receive their certificates, pins and get the recognition that they deserve for joining the National Honors Society.
**Image generated with AI
Behind the Aprons: The FIHS Cafeteria Staff Unveiled
By Analeise Yoshida
Fountain Inn High School, like any educational institution, is a bustling hub of activity, where teachers, students, and staff interact in the quest for knowledge. But there's a group of dedicated individuals who often go unnoticed despite their vital role in shaping students' experiences. They are the cafeteria staff, the unsung heroes who ensure that the school's young minds are well-fed and nourished.
In this extensive spotlight story, we'll take a closer look at the lives and experiences of two remarkable members of the Fountain Inn High School cafeteria team: Donna Davis and Tracy Malloy.
Donna Davis, the Assistant Manager for the cafeteria at Fountain Inn High School, is not just an employee but a beacon of enthusiasm and positivity in the cafeteria. Donna is the first to arrive and the last to leave, and she takes immense pride in her role. When asked if she enjoys her job, Donna's response is clear, "I do very much." Her commitment to her role is evident in her six and a half-hour workdays where she manages her staff, handles financial matters, and ensures the students' happiness.
Donna's job has brought her joy, and she emphasizes the valuable skills she's learned on the job. One of the most important, she notes, is how to treat people with kindness and respect. Although she encounters some challenges, like the rush on advisory days, Donna's ability to maintain a positive attitude stands out. She credits her supportive team and efficient communication with her co-workers for making her job a fulfilling one.
Beyond her role in the cafeteria, Donna's life is brimming with other passions. She enjoys camping in the great outdoors and is an avid enthusiast of raising chickens and puppies, highlighting the nurturing side of her personality. Her initial motivation for choosing to work in the school cafeteria was deeply rooted in family. Donna wanted to be present for her son during his middle school years, and even though he's grown into a 21-year-old, she continues to work at the school. The reason is simple: she finds immense joy in every moment spent with her co-workers, and they, in turn, have become an extended family.
Tracy Malloy primarily works in the cafeteria, where communication among the staff primarily flows through Mr. Washington, a central figure in their operations. Her work days typically start at 7:20 AM and end around 3:15 PM. Her primary focus is on ensuring the cafeteria is well-maintained, and her dedication to this task is admirable.
Outside of her role at the cafeteria, Tracy is equally committed to another passion: running her boys to baseball games. Her love for the sport is apparent in her dedication, and she enjoys being part of the vibrant baseball community.
While she has served as a cafeteria worker for approximately four years, her job has had minimal impact on her personal life. In fact, she appreciates the flexibility it offers, allowing her to align her schedule with her eighth-grader's routine at Rudolph Gordon. Tracy has also picked up valuable cooking skills and enjoys preparing a wide variety of dishes in substantial quantities. Her experiences in the cafeteria have expanded her culinary repertoire, and she often finds herself preparing large portions of dishes like fried rice, enough to feed a school.
In her free time, Tracy's life is a harmonious blend of family and personal passions. Baseball remains at the forefront of her interests, whether she's watching her boys on the field or enjoying a good book or some cross-stitching. Her dream career is still a work in progress, with a potential leaning towards a role involving numbers, reflecting her longstanding fascination with numerical and financial matters.
Donna Davis and Tracy Malloy, like the unsung heroes they are, wear aprons and serve students with a smile. Their dedication and passion for their work provide a nurturing and inviting environment for the Fountain Inn High School community. Their stories serve as a reminder that sometimes, it's the individuals behind the scenes who make the most significant impact. Their contributions to the school extend far beyond serving meals – they are providing nourishment for the soul, kindness in their actions, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes students feel at home. The Fountain Inn High School cafeteria staff is truly a hidden gem in the world of education, and Donna and Tracy are shining examples of the dedication and heart that they bring to their work every day.
With busy cafeterias bustling with students and staff during lunch hours, it's easy to overlook the tireless work that goes on behind the scenes. But Donna Davis and Tracy Malloy, two integral members of the Fountain Inn High School cafeteria team, are not content with staying in the shadows. They are a vital part of the school community, and their stories are a testament to the passion and dedication that often goes unnoticed in the world of education.
Donna Davis, the Assistant Manager for the cafeteria, is not your typical cafeteria worker. She exudes enthusiasm and warmth, and she doesn't just see her job as a means to an end. When asked about her job satisfaction, Donna's response is emphatic: "I do very much." Her commitment to her role is evident in her six and a half-hour workdays, where she manages her staff, handles financial matters, and ensures the students' happiness.
Donna's job has brought her joy, and she emphasizes the valuable skills she's learned on the job. One of the most important, she notes, is how to treat people with kindness and respect. Although she encounters some challenges, like the rush on advisory days, Donna's ability to maintain a positive attitude stands out. She credits her supportive team and efficient communication with her co-workers for making her job a fulfilling one.
Beyond her role in the cafeteria, Donna's life is brimming with other passions. She enjoys camping in the great outdoors and is an avid enthusiast of raising chickens and puppies, highlighting the nurturing side of her personality. Her initial motivation for choosing to work in the school cafeteria was deeply rooted in family. Donna wanted to be present for her son during his middle school years, and even though he's grown into a 21-year-old, she continues to work at the school. The reason is simple: she finds immense joy in every moment spent with her co-workers, and they, in turn, have become an extended family.
Tracy Malloy's story is equally inspiring. Although she primarily works in the cafeteria, her duties extend beyond her job title. Communication within her team primarily flows through Mr. Washington, a central figure in their operations. Her work days typically start at 7:20 AM and end around 3:15 PM, and her primary focus is on ensuring the cafeteria is well-maintained.
Beyond her role at the cafeteria, Tracy is equally committed to another passion: running her boys to baseball games. Her love for the sport is apparent in her dedication, and she enjoys being part of the vibrant baseball community. While she has served as a cafeteria worker for approximately four years, her job has had minimal impact on her personal life. In fact, she appreciates the flexibility it offers, allowing her to align her schedule with her eighth-grader's routine at Rudolph Gordon.
Tracy has also picked up valuable cooking skills and enjoys preparing a wide variety of dishes in substantial quantities. Her experiences in the cafeteria have expanded her culinary repertoire, and she often finds herself preparing large portions of dishes like fried rice, enough to feed a school. In her free time, Tracy's life is a harmonious blend of family and personal passions. Baseball remains at the forefront of her interests, whether she's watching her boys on the field or enjoying a good book or some cross-stitching. Her dream career is still a work in progress, with a potential leaning towards a role involving numbers, reflecting her longstanding fascination with numerical and financial matters.
Donna Davis and Tracy Malloy, like the unsung heroes they are, wear aprons and serve students with a smile. Their dedication and passion for their work provide a nurturing and inviting environment for the Fountain Inn High School community. Their stories serve as a reminder that sometimes, it's the individuals behind the scenes who make the most significant impact. Their contributions to the school extend far beyond serving meals – they are providing nourishment for the soul, kindness in their actions, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes students feel at home. The Fountain Inn High School cafeteria staff is truly a hidden gem in the world of education, and Donna and Tracy are shining examples of the dedication and heart that they bring to their work every day.
The school cafeteria is often viewed as a place to grab a quick meal, but for Donna Davis and Tracy Malloy, it's a platform for making a positive impact. Donna's journey is one of joy and the art of human connection, while Tracy's story reflects the balancing act of work and personal passions. As Donna and Tracy serve students with a smile, they remind us that sometimes, the most essential lessons in life come from the heart, and the most meaningful experiences happen behind the aprons.
**Image generated with AI
By Lucas Harvey
For as long as Fountain Inn High has been running, students have loved working in Media Tech. Media Tech is a class where students film and shoot pictures of events around and behind the scenes of FIHS. The daily news for the school, Inn A Minute, features the videos and pictures taken by the students.
Media Tech is famous for their main production, Inn A Minute. Students work on the entire operation; writing, filming, editing, and publishing. Freshman Jalin Hill said “It’s very fun and you can be very creative. Honestly, I think that working with the News show at Fountain Inn has really made me open up creatively, and helped work on my human interaction skills.”
Students also produce their own personal projects, which can be anything that they want to make. Media Tech student Hayden Morgan said “My favorite thing about media tech is the ability to make whatever I want, and to get to know the sports teams behind the scenes.”
Coach Hoffman, the Media Tech teacher and head of production at Fountain Inn, said “The best part about having Media Tech students is getting a chance to teach them, work with them, watch them grow, watch them be creative, watch them produce anything from Inn A Minute to the highlight videos to short films and music videos they create in class.”
Creativity is a staple trait of the class. Students have been given lots of free will with what they want to do with their time. Since the start of the class, creative freedom has been pushed as the forefront of Media Tech. This has led Media Tech to be one of the most requested classes at Fountain Inn.
Media Tech is a very popular class at Fountain Inn, and has Innspired and pushed the limits of students creativity. Morgan said “Being behind the scenes is really cool, I’ve been able to explore all around the building and see new areas I’ve never seen before.”
While students have the ability to go behind the scenes and film anything they want, they also have a responsibility as a class. There are projects assigned to the students. The current assignment is the national school lunch week commercials for Inn A Minute. They are entirely student led from drafting ideas, to writing, to production and editing.
There aren’t many other classes that are as different as Media Tech. There’s an extremely wide variety of opportunities given. It doesn’t only cover filming things, but also photography, writing, journalism, and more.
You can create anything you’d like, such as a photo portfolio or a highlight reel. Anything you’re passionate about can be brought to life. Ben Chamblee said “My favorite thing about Media Tech is probably all the freedom you have in the class. For example, if you have an idea Coach Hoffman will help you to bring that idea to life.”
The course is very unique compared to other classes. Students have a lot of freedom in where they can go and what they can do.
Being in Media Tech can open the door to many opportunities in life. The class can kick-start interest in a filmmaking career by teaching and training you how to write, direct, produce, and edit. Through Coach Hoffman, you can join a state-wide film competition for a cash prize. Any student grade 9-12 can join and submit their own two minute short film that matches the competition theme, for a chance to win hundreds of dollars.
Media tech is a class for all grade levels. There are currently four levels for the class. Hill said about joining the course, “Being in media tech is amazing, especially as a freshman. It’s especially awesome having privileges that you don’t typically have as a student.”
Levels one through three of the class are all grouped together. Level one and two produce Inn A Minute, while level three produce packages. Packages are sections of the newscast, like Inn focus or a spotlight, focused on one single thing.
It may be an easy grade for a class, according to both students and Coach Hoffman, but by no means is the class easy. Hoffman said “If you’re interested in joining Media Tech, it’s not a hard class grade wise, but it is a class where we work hard every day. I want you to be in Media Tech because you wanna be here to create content, not because you’re looking for an easy grade.”
Many students join Media Tech because they think it’s a free period, but they aren’t correct in their assumption. Ben Chamblee said “The hardest part of media tech is definitely script writing and idea generation; but once you finally nail the script you’ll most likely change a lot of aspects while you’re filming.”
There’s a lot of high quality, expensive equipment in the classroom. Media Tech is equipped with iMacs, Macbook Pros, Sony cameras, Panasonic cameras, Canon cameras, many different lenses, many different lights, and much more. There is a recording studio in the back of the classroom that is sometimes used to film Inn A Minute or student projects.
Media tech is a class that is still growing, along with many other arts at the Fountain Inn. Coach Hofman said “As a program, I think we just want to keep growing with what the students want to produce, so if that means more filmmaking, or more photography, or more journalism, as a club and as a class we want to continue to feed our students interests.”
The growing class allows for growing opportunities. Media Tech has been building up since the start of Fountain Inn High School. As students learn better how to use the new equipment in the class, they are allowed more opportunities, like being sent around FIHS to shoot pictures or video of things happening around our school.
A key component of Media Tech, due to its expansiveness, is pushing each other to success. Inn A Minute is all made on a team, and without a team, it would not be possible. Students push each other and assist each other in the class, and help each other to make anything they want to make. It’s an extremely broad class, and students can inspire each other to make things they want to make.
Though the class is a very broad and wide range of production, from film, to photography, and even writing, it can be narrowed down to two sentences. Hoffman said “In Media Tech, we create digital stories. Life is a story and we’re here to tell it.”
These two sentences completely highlight everything that Media Tech is about. The biggest thing that the class pushes you to do is to create your own story. There’s no restrictions on what you want to do, and how you can go about creating it. Students are allowed to take home equipment temporarily and film outside of school for a project, or even just to create what they want to.
Students can stay after school and go behind the scenes of Fountain Inn’s sports. Hoffman stated “My favorite projects have been the hype videos and media days we’ve had with students coming after school to volunteer to promote our Fury athletics and our various teams.” Anyone can participate in filming sports games, shooting pictures and videos for media days, and creating hype videos for our Furyus school sports teams.
Media Tech is constantly growing in numbers. They lead their own club, photography club, and are creating more. It has influenced and changed things around the school. Inn A Minute has drawn attention to events, people, classes, and opportunities around Fountain Inn High School.
When Hoffman was asked “What’s your favorite dream project for Media Tech?”, he responded with “I don’t know that I have one dream project, my dream project is that every student comes in, has an idea, and we get to finish it and get to produce their idea.” This statement shows what Media Tech is all about. Creating what you’re passionate about creating, and helping others do so.
By Kellet King
At FIHS, there are hundreds of unique student drivers in the parking lot. They have old cars, new cars, cheap cars, and expensive cars, but behind every car is an incredible story. Some are passed down from parents, while others are straight out of a dealership. But it is absolutely true that there is something more special about how a student loves their car.The parking lot is full of many cars, but the students all have favorites that they love. Kinley Henderson, a 10th grader at Fountain Inn, said, “My top three favorite cars are Garrett DeBerry’s Tahoe, Colin Wampler’s Green Mustang, and Caden Johnson's truck.” These selections show that there is plenty of variety in the opinions of cars among students. A Tahoe, Mustang, and a truck show that many different cars are appreciated by Henderson.
When five students were interviewed about their top three favorite cars in the parking lot, Kinley Henderson, Daniela Moody, Kyler Medlin, Derek Baldassarra, and Elliot Rowe, the favorites were quite interesting. The most picked type of car was the Jeep, which likely isn’t very shocking. What is more shocking is that Garrett DeBerry's Tahoe got three votes including a first-place vote.
Kinley Henderson drives a 2014 Jeep compass, which isn’t a bad option other than the outdated technology which would make it much more difficult to avoid a crash. If a crash occurs though, the car does have a four star out of five star rating for crash protection.
Daniela Moody drives a 2002 Lexus rx300. This car has very similar strengths and weaknesses to the Jeep compass. Similarly, this car also has a four out of five star crash protection rating but has the weakness of outdated technology that could help prevent a serious crash.
Next, Kyler Medlin drives a 2005 Toyota 4Runner, which, yet again, has similar strengths and weaknesses. Again, the 4Runner received four stars on the crash test which is pretty safe. The 4Runner also has outdated crash avoidance technology.
Derek Baldassarra drives a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee again has a four star crash rating. This car is a great option though because it will have pretty new safety features and crash protection technology.
Finally, Elliot Rowe drives a 2019 Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler also gets four out of five stars on the crash test. The Wrangler does not have any weaknesses and is an excellent car for a student. Rowe’s Jeep Wrangler also received two votes for the top three cars in the parking lot.
A Jeep Wrangler is also a favorite amongst students. "My dream car would have to be the Jeep Wrangler,” Baldassarra said.
By Danielle Kingsey, Renato Blanco, Alynna Powers
When working with Special Education students you need to know that no matter how big or small the class size, no matter how the kids act, no matter how much help you have it is always going to be stressful. No matter how talented you are as a teacher, each student needs different types of attention in different areas. Many special education students express themselves by screaming (usually when he or she is overwhelmed or frustrated), and that’s when the teacher needs to stay calm the most. Many special education students with autism can’t stand the sound of a ticking clock; it drives them crazy. Because of this, teachers have to refrain from the triggers that would cause an outburst. These are just two examples of the many ways that a special education professional handles his or her classroom.
Most special ed. teachers would say their days look very similar to a regular subject teacher. One teacher Eizabeth Poston, says “ I have three blocks. In those blocks I often teach multiple different classes as well as manage some of my students at work placements.”
Most special education teachers work together with a bunch of other teachers/ school administrators, such as (classroom assistants, other special education teachers, regular ed. teachers, transition liaisons and special education specialists) to ensure all of the students are getting what they specifically need to be successful.
To be a special education teacher it is very stressful; it’s stressful to be a teacher of any kind. Special education teachers worry about some things other teachers don’t worry about and vice versa. For example, special education teachers don’t worry about the EOC’s as much as regular education teachers would.
Special education teachers teach the kids who struggle to learn grade level material and most special education students are not working towards a high school diploma. Mrs. Poston says “ I try to keep working at work and home stress at home.” She says this is an easy way to manage the stress and to keep stress from work at work because it will be there tomorrow. The same goes for her home stress. She keeps it away from her kids so she doesn’t stress her kids. Another teacher from Rudolph G. Gordon School, Mrs. Mary Orr, says that her class is a balance of continuing to work on academics but also heavily focusing on functional and independent living skills.
They work on letter identification and number identification but also work on cooking, using appropriate social skills, taking turns, communication skills, advocating for themselves, and learning how to be a good friend and part of a class community. A good deal of her students deal with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Mrs. Orr also states that “a lot of our day is devoted to working on that.”
It is a high stress job many teachers have to keep their stress level in check. “Over my last 14 years as a sped teacher, the class sizes have continued to rise and rise. Having a large class of students with so many individual needs can and often does get very chaotic and very stressful.”
The mounds of paperwork, holding meetings, keeping relationships with parents and managing all of the adults within the classroom, can make it really stressful at times especially when the kids are acting up and they are causing a lot of stress then the paperwork,meeting,the relationships with parents and managing all of the adults in the classroom all come together and cause a lot of stress.
When working with Special Ed. Students you can’t expect everyday to be the same, everyday is going to be different, whether it be a difficult or easy day. “ No two days are alike.” It is a job that some days sucks the life out of you, but some days brings the greatest joy. It is a balancing act that requires patience, constant learning, growing, and adapting.
When working with these kids you have to know your stress limit, and you have to know how to manage your stress. Mrs. Orr says “ I try to unwind on the weekends, exercise really helps me.” In classes, keeping students engaged involves making sure they change up what they are doing frequently, give frequent breaks, providing sensory input and sensory items, making sure they are doing hands-on learning, and most of all providing structure and routine.
Seeing the wins of the students are probably one of the best parts of Special education teachers days, and also for all teachers. Every small win is exciting, even if it takes days, months, or even sometimes years. When you see them master something that they have worked so hard to master, “ It’s what keeps me going.”
Every single special education student has their own document that is a legal binding contract, that the parents and teachers have to fill out basically stating that “I am legally required to implement. They all have individual goals to achieve and they all have individual accommodations and modifications that they are legally entitled to.”
By Cadence Zbin
How many times a day do you walk past a custodial worker in the hall? How often do you thank them for their work? At Fountain Inn High School all the faculty and staff have very important jobs. One of these very crucial roles in the school is the custodial staff.
Custodial workers are responsible for many things throughout the school and without their help, the school would be disorganized and inhabitable. We interviewed many of our custodial staff to learn about what they do behind the scenes.
On average, custodial staff work eight hours a day each school week and occasionally on the weekends when there is an event. Every staff member works very hard to make sure the school is up to the district's standards.
Bill Washington is the head plant engineer and manages all of the custodians. Compared to a normal custodian, Washington works over 10 hours a day between his office and around the school.
He has been working at the school since it opened and enjoys his position here. Washington tries very hard to make the other custodial staff's jobs easier and more enjoyable.
Washington says, “Everyone gets along pretty well.The custodial staff is nice and they all help each other out.”
According to Washington, this is not a job that people are eager to apply for. “It takes a special type of person,” said Washington. Because of this, the plant staff at Fountain Inn High is not very large and sometimes they can’t do everything.
An instance of this was during the PSAT there were only five custodial workers available to set up at least 200 desks. Without the help of the football team and other people, it simply would have not been able to get done in time.
One of the people on the custodial team is Bennie Herring. Herring is an ex-military custodial worker who has been working at Fountain Inn High School for three years now.
Herring said personally he loves to travel around because that's what he did when he was in the military. Overall Herring loves his job here at Fountain Inn High School and everyone who works with him.
He found the job at a job fair and wanted to apply because, “I felt like I wasn’t doing anything, sitting at home all day.” He likes his job and says it is fairly easy and would recommend it to others however you would want to work to have this job.
Some of the things Herring does include helping students and teachers move furniture, cleaning any spills or messes, and setting up the cafeteria for the students. Every morning he works hard in the cafeteria to clean up the floors and messes left from breakfast.
We asked Herring what are some of the pros and cons of working here as a custodian. He says one of his favorite things about the job is the other staff. Like Washington, he said everyone gets along well, and mentioned that everyone helps each other with whatever they need.
However, the disrespect custodial workers get from students can make their job more challenging. Some students don’t think about the custodial workers, making their job even more difficult; even if it is not intentional.
Whenever a student leaves trash, spills a drink, or creates any other mess it makes the custodial staff's job more strenuous. Washington stated, “Nobodys perfect so it's natural for things to get left behind but when students don’t clean up after themself it makes our jobs harder.”
Furthermore, because of this Washington’s job has many aspects to it. An example of this is, taking care of the school's electrical system. Washington manages all of the custodial staff to ensure everything gets done.
They not only work during school hours but during the summer when they do the majority of their cleaning. Washington stated, “We move every piece of furniture and clean the floors, walls, dust the ceilings and Promethean boards.”
Even though the students do not see all the work these people do, it is a key part of keeping the school clean and running smoothly.
Washington likes the newness aspect of the school but more importantly, he enjoys getting to be a part of the community here at FIHS and understanding the students. During Spirit Week he even dressed up as a banana.
Washington has a lot of experience as a plant engineer and has been in this field for over 14 years. Nevertheless, he plans to go on to be a Specialist and he has already applied for a job and is just waiting to hear back.
Custodial specialists grade schools based on how clean it is among many other factors. The custodial staff here at our school work very hard to ensure that we score 95% which is high above the required grading of 85%.
Antwan Brown is another newer custodial worker here at Fountain Inn. This is Brown’s first time being a custodial worker and he has worked here for around a year now.
Brown works in the athletic hallway and has a multitude of different aspects to his job. He cleans the floors, dusts equipment, sweeps, dusts, and much more.
He told us,” At the end of the day we flush all the commodes.” Without this process, anything left in the bathroom at the end of the day could become an even bigger mess.
However one of Brown’s dislikes is cleaning liquids so this is not his favorite part of his job but without this, the school would be filthy.
On the contrary, he would recommend this job to others who enjoy cleaning and fixing things. People who work well with kids and adults would be a great fit for the job.
It's not just his work that keeps the school spotless, it’s the whole staff working together. As previously mentioned he and his coworkers get along very well; they all work together to keep the whole school clean.
He says he wanted to get a job here because the school is very new and polished. Being an engineer was his dream job but he had kids which limited his ability to get the job he wanted.
Along with being a custodial worker, he mentioned,” I am also a truck driver”. He says he does all this work because it's what needs to be done. He loves spending time with his kids and his whole family lives nearby.
There are a lot of other custodial staff around the school who each have their own lives and each has different aspects of their job. All of the staff play an important role in keeping the school clean and making sure all the students have a better experience and Fountain Inn High School.
The custodial staff at Fountain Inn High School is a close-knit team, working together to keep the school clean and well-maintained. Their collective effort ensures students have a positive school experience.
Washington stated “I don't make it stressful for my staff. It's stressful for me based on all the different things that need to happen to make things work.”
Keira Rios: Freshman Trailblazer Balancing Academics and Career Training at Golden Strip Career Center
By Cadence Zbin
Feet start shuffling around and food swooshes into the trash cans. The bell dings signifying the return to 2nd block. Keira Rios, however, packed her stuff, swung her backpack over her shoulder and started walking. The halls are silent as Rios ascends the stairs towards the exit.
Fountain Inn High School is a closed campus with no one in or out during the school day and especially not at lunch. However, for students like Rios, a ninth-grader at FIHS, she participates in an off-campus course which is a program in which she travels between schools.
Throughout Greenville County they offer a wide variety of courses students can take.
"The off-campus options available to students include career-focused programs at the Golden Strip Career Center and Fine Arts Center. Cutting-edge courses at the CT Innovation Center. Virtual classes through Greenville County programs, Virtual SC, and college-level dual credit classes through Greenville Technical College,” FIHS counselor Marsha Huebner said.
Overall only eight students attend the CT Innovation Center. Ten people attend the Fine Arts and around 50 attend the Golden Stirp Career Center out of the 753 students at Fountain Inn.
During Rios’s day at the Golden Strip Career Center, she is enrolled in Career Exploratory. This is one of the many courses they offer such as Automotive Collision, Automotive Technology, Building Construction, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts and Digital Art. This is a program that allows for you to explore different career paths to find which one fits you best.
“I chose Career Exploratory because I am interested in digital art and design as well as mechatronics, and this class aligns with those interests,” Rios said.
Unlike the classroom based learning at FIHS, the Golden Strip Career Center has significantly more hands-on learning and a different dress code depending on the programs. With only around 20 minutes of instruction a day and the rest spent on student led projects.
Rios she described a project the students are working on each year. The goal of this project was to make a small but still functioning Ice-Rink. They start off by bending metal to make the base of the rink and then using flex seal to connect the parts together. Overall the product normally ends up only being around three by three feet, but it is still strong enough for a person to skate on it. This is only one of the many examples of the creative and engaging styles the programs teach.
They mix academic work and fun into their lessons everyday. This makes for a more memorable lesson and learning experience that resonates more with the students. One of the more recent lessons Rios took part in was exploring different careers through Virtual Reality. This puts the student in a real life situation in-which they are performing a certain career.
Furthermore it appeals to a variety of learning styles including visual, audio, and kinesthetic so everyone can find which path will be the best one for them later in life. All of these projects allow for more interaction and a very practical feel for the work in that career.
However because Rios is attending this school, it means that throughout the semester there is no time for any other elective classes like a foreign language or a fine art. Nevertheless the Career Exploratory is only a semester long class so she will have time for it next semester. But most courses at the Golden Strip are year long or two year programs. The longer programs give students an opportunity to do work-based learning.
“Hands-on job experience at the Career Center is referred to as work-based learning. It's primarily for juniors and seniors, and students can work at places like BMW or Michelin, earning both money and school credits,” Rios said.
This is a great opportunity for a person and looks very appealing to future employers or colleges. Not only that but according to Huebner, you can get industry certificates which allow you to go straight into the workforce.
“I would recommend the program, especially for freshmen, as it allows for exploration and exposure to various fields,” Rios said.
The only drawback from this program is that no core classes are offered so full-time here would not be possible.
The CTE Innovation Center is another program that is only a few years old and was established near Roper Mountain. This off-campus program is the first of its kind in the county.
“[The CTE Innovation Center] provides programs in aerospace technology, automation and robotics, clean energy technology, and more. It's available to students from various high schools,” Huebner said.
With each of these classes the Innovation Center has specialized labs for each. Just like the Golden Strip Career Center, the CTE Innovation Center has a very less restrictive atmosphere.
“The dynamic at the CTE Innovation Center is very controlled, but free at the same time. Even though there are many rules placed, mostly everyone follows them, giving us freedom as a reward,” said career center student Leo Walmsey.
Walmsey takes the networking/cybersecurity program. This is a graded honors class that lasts 2 class periods during the morning.
The CTE innovation center is also structured very differently from FIHS. Because the class lasts 2 periods, in between is a 15 minute break. During this break, students are free to relax in the common areas, the courtyard, or go to the cafe the CTE Center has on campus.
Focused around high demanding job courses, the CTE center offers many certifications like the C++. This is an IT specialist certification that relates to coding and software engineering. This certification allows any graduate to go straight into the workforce as it is required around 2 years of schooling to get. However since this is a fairly new company it has not yet fully partnered with companies for work based learning but has been starting to.
Walmsley took this class because his interest and future career paths both lined up with this course. However, being in a class like this can be challenging because they cover a lot of content in a short amount of time and that requires a lot of memorization. Nevertheless it is a great opportunity for any student.
The teachers are all hand picked by the director of this program, Katie Porter. Furthermore, each teacher is specialized in this field and has a lot of experience. They are experts in what they are teaching and try to teach in a way that simulates a real world job situation.
“The teaching styles my instructor uses are very similar to teachers at Fountain Inn, besides the fact he gets us engaged on a level,” said Walmsley.
This prepares the student more effectively to deal with real world scenarios.
Unlike the Golden Strip Career Center traveled back from the CTE Innovation Center affects daily schooling at Fountain Inn a lot more. This is because traffic from Roper Mountain is a lot heavier around noon when they are returning. So this puts all the students there around 15 minutes late to the 3rd block everyday.
“It is easy to go to two different schools, the only setback is the time chunk lost in 3rd block,” said Walmsley.
All throughout the walls at the Fine Arts Center, art shows who the students are. The walls are covered with drawings and paintings that show true emotion. They create an emotion, feeling and experience that you can feel throughout the painting as well as your own view.
A former 2 year student of the Fine Arts center Diana Shaw describes it as a “ kind-of like a close knit family.”
This is a place where they can feel at home and have a true genuine community. The teachers there work very hard to interact with their students on a deeper level.
“It was the most involved teaching I've ever seen,” Shaw said.
The school makes sure that every student feels comfortable there.
“The people there were always nice, including the teachers and staff. It was definitely a friendly and safe environment,” said Shaw. The Fine Arts Center is very welcoming and a good choice for students interested in pursuing the arts.
They have hundreds of courses not just focused on drawing and painting, they have plays, and writers, musicians, pottery makers, photographers. They are a very unique program and you can take anything that ranges from anything screen writing to screen printing.
This school is for students who want to make a career out of their art and the Fine Arts center is the best place for them to do it.
The application process for these centers is fairly easy and you can apply to all of these programs through Backpack. People from any high school in the country can apply for these programs, however it all depends on if you have all your credits completed for the year because these courses take a significant chuck out of the regular school day. Other factors are academic standing, attendance and if there are enough spots for the students since so many people apply.
For the Golden Strip Career Center, you include what you're interested in and why you want to attend. The CTE Center is a little bit different because you just fill out a google form with all your information in it.
By far the hardest program to get into is the Fine Arts Center because for whichever courses you want to take, you have to put a portfolio together then go to an interview. And even then you still might not make it in. What all of these application processes have in common is that you apply months or even a year in advance and you wait a few months to know if you get in.
Whether it's the Fine Arts Center, The CTE innovation center or the Golden Strip Career center all of these programs allow for any student to follow a career path they are interested in. They help hone these skills and give them a better understanding of what a job in this career path would be like.
“The programs offer numerous advantages, such as early exposure to career paths, work-based learning, and industry certifications,” Huebner said.
*Photo Credit: Golden Strip CC Google Acct Career Center