by Rachel Sechrist 1/14/25

Once students arrive at their final year of high school, the pressure begins to enroll in a university, enlist in the military, or be employed by the end of their senior year. A problem arises: a majority of students don’t know where to start when it comes to applying for college.

First of all, seniors should know that there are two main options for applying to college. The first includes applying directly to the institution, done through their website. If you are only planning to apply to one or two colleges, this may be your best option because it likely won’t take as long as the second option: the Common Application (more commonly known as “Common App.”)

The Common App, one enormously long application, may take up to an hour or two to complete fully; however, the benefit of submitting virtually the same application to up to twenty schools shortens the application process significantly.

Once you have completed the application, you will need to request a transcript from your guidance counselor. This can be done through Naviance, accessed through the Clever portal. Under the tab at the top entitled, “Colleges,” there is a drop-down section called “Manage Transcripts.” From here, you can request transcripts for your guidance counselor to send directly to these institutions. 

After that, some schools may require you to have one or more letters of recommendation from either teachers, counselors, or other mentors in your life. You can send out these requests in a similar fashion: by, again, accessing the drop-down “Colleges” menu and then selecting the “Letters of Recommendation” tab. On this page, you can search for teachers in the district and indicate that their recommendation letters be sent to the schools you want. If you wish to have a letter from someone outside of the district, you may need to send those letters directly to an application. 

Additionally, simply requesting a letter of recommendation from a teacher without meeting with them will not grant you a response, most of the time. Teachers expect to be asked in person because asking for a recommendation letter means asking them to spend around an hour of their time for you. Propper etiquette means speaking to your teachers in person, asking them to write a letter for you, and giving them a list of your involvement and extracurricular activities to include in their recommendation. Otherwise, some teachers may not send you a response at all.

Other aspects of your application may include an essay and/or a short answer section that you write before submitting. You should look over your applications thoroughly before submitting them, whether through Common App or directly to the institution, because once submitted, it cannot be altered, in most cases. You may make changes to your Common Application for future applications, but everything you submit becomes set in stone. Be sure you are finished with your application before you decide to turn it in. Good luck to all seniors who are taking the step to apply for further education!

by Callista Hayden

Last year FBLA had 30 active members, but this year it boasts a huge increase to 115 active members. We sat down with the FBLA leadership to find out why students have become so engaged in this club designed to inspire and prepare students to become effective leaders and responsible citizens in the business community.

What is FBLA? 

“FBLA or Future Business Leaders of America is an organization that prepares students for their futures through academic competitions, leadership development, and educational programs. It offers opportunities for students to enhance their business skills, network with professionals, and gain real world experience through various activities and events,” stated Vice President, Jaiden Bainey. 

It also is “an organization dedicated to enhancing students’ personal and professional growth, equipping them for life beyond their k-12 education. The mission of FBLA is to unite business and education through various leadership development initiatives. At Red Land, FBLA provides members with a range of opportunities, including conferences, competitive events, partnerships, community service activities, awards programs, and the chance to build friendships and develop leadership skills, among other benefits,” explained Mrs. Wiggins.

The Increased Membership

Mrs. Wiggins, President Taylor Updegraff, and Vice President Jaiden Bainey all believe that FBLA has such a big increase in membership because of the way they marketed it, being more active on social media, going to the middle school to try to get the 8th graders to join for this school year, and everyone finally getting out of the Covid slump and wanting to be involved again. Employing their business savvy and marketing skills, Taylor and Jaiden went to Crossroads last school year in the spring to advertise and recruit 8th graders that became 9th graders this year. Jaiden is also in charge of FBLA’s social media platforms, so she is marketing on Instagram and Tik Tok. They did a lot to try to recruit new members and not only make the club sound important and fun. but make it something that students didn’t want to be left out of. 

What is FBLA doing this year? 

They are doing a couple things differently now that there are so many members. They are making sure to stay organized with all the paperwork, documents, forms, rides for field trips, etc. They are also having more meeting times instead of just 4A and 4C, now they are offering one during every 4 on the second Thursday of every month. They are also doing a newspaper that goes out to all club members and their parents/ guardians so they are also informed and know what their money is going. They have also increased community events such as offering gift wrapping for parents/ guardians that either don’t have the time, don’t like wrapping presents or can not afford the wrapping paper or other supplies. They are doing this completely free of charge, but donations are welcome. They are also going to elementary schools in the spring to help with field day and going to the middle school and offering the event “So you want to get a job?” This event, offered to 7th through 10th graders, will teach how to fill out resumes, how to act/ what to say in a job interview, how to get their workers permit, and how to open checking and savings accounts.

by Jayla Hutchinson and Savannah Nelson 11/15/24

West Shore School District school board created a policy that prohibits students from using any devices to, “...record, transmit, or receive any unauthorized communication during class time.” The policy  prohibits the use of any electronic devices by any student during instructional time during the school day. Despite the clear policy, teachers dictate their classroom rules and phone usage varies from class to class.  

When principal Mrs. Herbert was asked to explain the thought process behind the board writing a stricter phone/device policy, she expressed how the schools are having issues with kids recording, texting, and filming when they should be learning. Mrs. Herbert said if she could change anything about the policy, she suggested locking up phones until the end of the day. Mrs. Herbert said, “People are obsessed with their phones and can't put them down.” Mrs. Herbert feels phones are distracting and make kids unable to focus.

Every teacher at Red Land High School has a different phone policy in their own classrooms. Lots of teachers have phone bins, where students  put them in the bin and get them back at the end of class. Mr. Stevenson teaches  psychology, sociology and world history  at Red Land. He  has made his own system: if kids get their phone out in class while he is lecturing, everybody gets a strike. Once the class  gets to three strikes, everyone puts their phones in their bags and puts their bag to the side of the classroom, out of reach. Mr. Stevenson explains how when you get a strike, it's a form of  social consequence which teaches kids how misbehaving can affect a social setting. Students at Red Land explained how his system is more effective at keeping phones under control while learning. “[Mr. Stevenson] has a sense of morality, he has a sense of life, he feels there's something to live for and other teachers just throw work at you and call it a day,” said Juliana Anderson.

Comparing whether or not a teacher's leniency in a classroom is affecting how well students can pay attention in a classroom, Juliana Anderson has a preference on which phone policy she sees as more effective. She liked Mr. Stevenson's “3 strikes rule.” Juliana said, “I do more work in his class than any other because I'm not distracted.” 

Regardless of the policies stated, many students have expressed the accountability in a classroom for getting phones out during instructional time is more effective in their overall learning.

by Abbie Crain, Kyla Barker-Hewlett, and Sophia Gross 11/13/24

The West Shore Marching Band had success at their National Competition at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey on November 2, 2024.

After reporting to their last practice of the season, they set off to their national performance of Vertigo. 

They scored an impressive 95.9 points and captured the 2nd place Silver Medal for the second straight year. Brass captain and senior Jesse Del Gaudio said, “Oh, it's good being so consistent. I would have liked to have won, of course, but I'm still super satisfied.”

After a season of hard work, multiple football games, and competitions, they left everything out on the field for nationals. Addison Weber, a 5th-year color guard member, noted that it was a big accomplishment for their team.

As the marching band season ended, students gained many strengths from their time in the program this year, Tobias Berninger, a 1st-year member added, that the program improved his playing and technique.