Issue 6
in this issue
The Spell of Sleeping Beauty - Alicia Smith
Sunshine Society shakes up Sweetheart - Maggie Bradway
Winter Sports Preview - Alexa Orozco
Spell Bowl State - Alissa Knapp
Robotics Travels Out of Town - Jack Hedger
Physics Rocket Launch - Ivy Marin
ADR "Feather your turkey" - Hope Carter
A Piece of the past - Josie Edwards
Issue 006phs drama casts a spell
Alicia Smith
The Theatre Department unveiled their part in presenting the children’s play, “The Spell of Sleeping Beauty” this past weekend on November 3rd, 4th, 5th.
With the seats filled of children and their families waiting patiently for the show to start, some of cast who were a part of the play share their experiences.
Senior Cortni Cook played the role of Sleeping Beauty in one of the two casts and shared her thoughts on how it felt to be looked up to by children who enjoy princesses and fairytales.
Cook said, “I felt very honored to play a character little kids knew and loved. I felt like little girls looked up to me and I liked that feeling.”
On the opposite side of fairytale land, the evil, wicked witch, Evilina who was played by Senior Maggie Nate, and she shared what was most exciting for her through the experience of developing the character as her own.
She said, “The most exciting part of the play for me was being cast as an antagonist. Last year, I played Dorothy in the Children's Show, which was fantastic, but being able to create my own evil and unique character for Evilina was incredibly thrilling and different than anything I've done in the past. I also loved hearing the kids react to my character during the day shows. Among many things, I heard kids yell "You're mean!", "Get out of here!", and more. It was hilariously rewarding.”
Forming a character as an actor can be a little challenging due to factors like how the voice should pitched or what combination of facial expressions allows the character to come to life. Junior Madison Miller played Evilina’s “sidekick” in a way as a spider, and shares what was challenging for her to display her character in just the right way.
Miller said, “The hardest part about displaying my character was developing my character voice. I had a really funny accent when I first auditioned and when we first started doing things, but it was too difficult to hold and I had to figure out a different voice really quickly, that was still funny.”
She also shares what was most fun about her character.
Miller said, “My character was the villain's sidekick in a way, but he hated being the sidekick so he was always replying with witty comebacks and trying to get away from her. My personality really showed with my character and that was a lot of fun for me.”
In all things that come together in a play, there is always those lines that really allow an actor to dig into character. Some of the actors share their favorite lines that they presented in the play and why they were their favorite.
Cook said, “My favorite line was, “It’s not easy being a princess.”
Nate also said, “My favorite line was said when I casted a spell over the spinning wheel: "Spindle, crackle, claw, and bite. This evil curse is my delight. Spin, Princess Briar Rose. Spin and take a sleeping pose! Spin, spin, spin!" I had to put a lot of energy into this scene/line, but it was so fun!”
Another successful play for the Plymouth High School Theatre Department, more to be continued throughout the school year!
SUNSHINE SOCIETY Shakes up sweetheart
Maggie Bradway
The Great Gatsby was the theme of the annual Sweetheart dance on Saturday, November 11th. Many students found that planning their proposals to their dates was almost as much fun as attending the dance.
Freshman Daniela Antunez had a special plan of how to ask her desired date, freshman soccer player, Erik Pena, to Sweetheart. She wrapped up a poster in the morning and told him that the poster was for a biology project. By the end of the day, as he walked out to the bus, she stood there holding out the poster that had the words, “My goal is to kick it with you at Sweetheart. Did I score?” After reading the poster, there was no way he could turn it down. He walked up and gave her a big hug and accepted the offer.
Daniela and Erik are only two out of the over 400 people that attended the dance this year. Decorated and set up by the Sunshine Club members, this year's dance theme. The cost per ticket was $20 or $25 depending when they were bought. Performing was the one and only DJ Sticky Boots, and there was a photo booth to take home a great memento from the dance.
Another proposal was Junior Jennifer Sommers who found out what her date, junior Dylan Roberts, was in to. Knowing that he was fond of his Xbox, she made a poster that had the words, “Will you leave your Xbox for one night at Sweetheart?” and there were pictures along the sides of the two of them together.
Winter sports preview
Alexa Orozco
The team rolls out their wrestling mats and the sound of dribbled basketballs echos in the varsity gym. The wrestling, swim, gymnastics, winter cheer, and basketball seasons have started.
Wrestling started their season with their first practice on October 30th. Their first match will be at Culver Military Academy on Saturday, November 18 starting at 9:00 a.m.
Senior Gavin Banks, said he is looking forward to “Winning.”
Girls swim had their first practice on October 23rd and will have their first meet at Rochester on Tuesday, November 18 starting at 5:30 p.m.
Sophomore, Ava Goodrich said, “I really like to swim and I beat my personal best last year.”
Boys swim had their first practice on November 6th and will have their first meet tomorrow, November 14, at Rochester Community High starting at 5:30 p.m.
Boys basketball had their first practice on November 6 and began the season with their annual Red/White scrimmage game last Friday, November 10th. The preview gave Pilgrim fans a chance to catch a sneak peek as to what is to be expected in their first game on Wednesday, November 22 at John Glenn starting at 6:00 p.m.
Coach Bales said, “I am always excited to see how our team comes together - who is going to step up into new roles? Who is going to lead us? Which younger players will step up and give us some quality minutes. Just overall excited to see how our team's chemistry evolves as we begin practice.”
Girls basketball started their season with their first practice on October 16 and had their first game against South Bend Washington on October 31. The Lady Pilgrims were defeated by the Panthers, but then earned their first victory in their match against New Prairie on November 2 where the Lady Pilgrims took the scored 42-20. The Lady Pilgrims first home game will be Thursday, November 16, against Triton at the varsity gym starting at 6:00 p.m.
Sophomore, Erin Renneker said “I’m looking forward to bonding with my teammates, having fun, playing the game, and getting to know my new coach.”
Winter sideline cheer started their season with their first practice on October 30 and will begin their season cheering on the Varsity Lady Pilgrims at home versus Triton on November 16. Next, the cheerleaders will cheer on the Pilgrims at John Glenn on November 22.
Sophomore, Lakeland Strain said she is looking forward to “Making new friendships with girls on the team and getting more complicated stunts down.”
Gymnastics will have their first practice on Monday, November 20 and have their first meet at East Central on Wednesday December 27 at 12:00 p.m.
PHS students, parents, and teachers can come support the winter athletes at the annual Winter “Meet the Teams” and Picture Night on today, November 13 at 6:00 P.M. at the PHS auditorium.
Spell Bowl: State Results!
Alissa Knapp
Senior Sydney Morris earned a perfect score at this years Spell Bowl Area Contest. Senior Sydney Morris has never missed a word during her Spell Bowl years! Senior Autumn Wilson and Junior Jessica Baca also had a great scores finishing out with near perfects. Plymouth overall placed second in Class 1 to Penn and advanced to the state competition at Purdue University on November 11th. The team will compete against rival Penn again at state.
The spellers have study habits that help them to score so high such as copying all the words down, using Vocabulary.com as a resource in making it easier to remember the words and even writing the words down five more times after they wrote it down the first time.
Senior Sydney Morris said, “I like writing the words in a notebook a few times. I think it helps build muscle memory.”
Morris’ engaging methods has a outstanding accomplishing outcome because she has always earned a perfect score in every Spell Bowl contest in which she has participated. She also earned a perfect score in the team’s second place finish at NorthWood for the Northern Lakes Conference meet.
The team was very excited, ready, and anxious for State, but their expectations were to be determined as they spelled their way to the T-O-P.
Junior Jessica Baca said, ”I really hope that the words aren't too difficult at state. I got a perfect last year and I hope that I'll be able to achieve that again.”
Senior Autumn Wilson said, “I'm looking forward to attending state competition again, and I hope we do just as well as we did last year, but it's down to whatever words they choose! No matter what, I enjoy spending time with the team and celebrating our accomplishment.”
On November 11th, Veterans Day, the spell bowl team attended state at Purdue University. Four of the ten students received perfect scores, including Senior Grace Morris, Senior Sydney Morris, Senior Samuel Carroll and Junior Edgar Garcia.
After the season ended, Junior Jessica Baca, who received a near perfect, responded to her previous quote by saying, “The season was great, although, I really wish we would have gone to more competitions. I feel so disappointed in myself for missing one word at state. I had fun and was so proud at all the people who got perfects.”
Senior Autumn Wilson ended the season by saying, “I'm proud of the entire team for how well we did at state this year. Getting to spend the day with the team for the last time was fun and bittersweet. I hope that future team's get to experience it too!”
Either way, the team did great at state and everyone tried their best. Good job, initiates!
Robotics Travels Out of Town
Jack Hedger
The Plymouth Robotics teams went to Jay County Saturday, November, 4 to find out which teams robot is the best around. The teams are groups of three-six people with a random team of students to work with. They meet on Thursdays with the three coaches coach Doody, Coach Moore, and Coach Schiber. The game that the robotics teams played is called “In the Zone.” The idea is to stack cones on other cones to score points and the team with the highest point value wins.
Some teams even had some of their own predictions for which team will do the best.
One member of the robotics team, club president, senior Emma Daniels said, “B team is probably going to do the best.”
This prediction turned out to be true when they made it to the elimination semi-finals. Elimination is the farthest a team can advance and the winner of that goes to state. As the most complete robot at the time they were
Another student, freshman Blake Edwards, said, “I think E team will do the best.”
They later went to place 38 out of 43. Blake made the prediction because E-team was the second most complete robot at the time.
One thing that is a fairly recurring idea in robotics is working as a team.
Daniels said, “My favorite part of robotics working together till your group becomes like a family.”
One of the coaches, Jason Doody, said his favorite part about robotics is “seeing the kids’ faces light up when a robot part works.”
The robots do not always work and people often get frustrated, but when things do work there is always a small celebration.
The atmosphere of the robotics club is a challenging thing to capture.
Daniels said, “The atmosphere is chaotic, exciting, and spontaneous.”
Besides the family, the atmosphere, and the good time there are also the competitions. The general favorite being worlds because it is the biggest and final competition.
Coach Doody said, “Worlds is amazing because you get to meet so many people from all over the world with the same goal as you.”
With more competitions on the horizon and around the corner the robotics team is getting better and semifinals are only the first step.
LAUNCHING ROCKETS
Ivy Marin
On Tuesday, November 7, Mr. Michel’s Ag Power, Structure,Technology ,and Physics class built rockets and took the rockets out to test them. The rockets were tested outside between the football field and baseball field. The supplies for the rocket were part of their instructional supplies.
Mr. Johnson came up with the idea to use the rockets as a hands on learning tool in class. The rockets took the students about an hour to make. They were able to build the rockets in the same day since it is a two hour class. The class worked on this project for two weeks. The students really liked this project.
Junior Ezra Winkle said, “This project was a lot of fun and I learned how the wings should be placed to make it fly high and also how an engine works to be able to launch a rocket.”
Junior Kobe Johnson said, “I learned about Newton’s three laws, and about forces acting upon an object and how to calculate the forces.”
Although some kids thought it was hard,they still liked the project.
Junior Madison Smith said, “This project has been fun but also challenging.”
Junior Lucas Mikesell said, “I worked on my rocket for about three and a half hours. I made my rocket a bit differently from the rest of the class. Instead of using the kits provided by our teachers, I used a 3D modeling program on my computer to design my rocket. After I completed my design, I used my 3D printer to created the body of the rocket and the parachute blow pug.”
turkeys & Teachers
Hope Carter
With Thanksgiving approaching quickly, Alpha Delta Rho is hosting their annual “Feather Your Turkey!” event. Each PHS staff member has a turkey outside of their door, and they need feathers! On the feather, you can write a note to the teacher thanking them, or expressing gratitude. Feathers are 25¢ each or 5 for $1. They will be sold during lunch November 8th-17th. The staff member with the most feathers gets to donate half of the money earned to a charity of their choice.
- Alpha Delta Rho / ADR (a literacy club, i.e. writing stories, poetry, reading, Book Club, art, playwriting, etc.)
- Feathers are 25¢ each or 5 for $1.00
- Write notes on the feathers thanking the teacher, or expressing your gratitude.
- Sold during lunch, 11/8 - 11/17
- Who has a turkey?
- All PHS Staff :)
- 11/21 Winner is announced, last day before break.
A Piece of the past
Josie Edwards
Plymouth High School’s 2017 Sweetheart on Saturday was certainly a night to remember, and certainly not the first of the annual themed dance put on by Sunshine Society. While The Great Gatsby theme this year had students taking to the dance floor in style, in 1984 students were flying high above the clouds with the theme Up, Up, and Away.
There are a few differences between Sweetheart this year and in 1984. First, the dance this year offered a free photo booth, with props and free copies of pictures for silly memory making. However, in 1984 students had to pay 5.50$ to have their picture taken.
Next, Sweetheart was held on November 11. However, in 1984 Sweetheart was held on February 11, much closer to Valentine’s Day.
Lastly, this year at Sweetheart the hip DJ Sticky Boots brought the beat to the dance floor. In 1984, finding a band within price range was a bit of a problem, so music was provided by The Music Place from Goshen.
No matter the differences, Sweetheart has proven to be a memorable dance for many Plymouth High School students, and will continue to be for years to come.
All information and pictures found in Together We’re Better PHS Mayflower 1984 vol. 67