PDA

Chelsea Davenport and Even Spaeth pose for a shot.  Davenport and Spaeth have been dating for quite a while.

The halls of Sparta High School in 2010 are filled with more students displaying public affection than ever before. While couples are oblivious to the world around them, many students notice and are disturbed by their actions.

Sophomore James Larsen said, "Yes, I have a girlfriend and her name is Katie Hedrick. We do not show affection towards each other at school because we don't like people staring at us and it's just gross."

Lately, there has been numerous occasions where students have been complaining about the number of public displays of affection (PDA) in the hallways. Senior Katie Hernandez says, "I see couples showing PDA everyday in the hallways between every hour and it is ridiculous! School is a place to socialize, study and learn, not make out."

Katie goes on to talk about how the punishment for PDA needs to consist of more than just a scolding from a teacher. Katie continues, "This is a big disturbance to others and this issue should be handled better than it currently is."

NHS Officers

By: Maddie Munger

Recently the National Honors Society of the Sparta High School voted for new officers for the 2010-2011 school year.

They nominated a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Members of NHS voted on Wednesday, October 27 and the winners got announced that day. Nicole DeSmidt was very surprised when she heard her name announced as president."I didn't think I was going to get this position, but I'm excited to start my senior year with a big role," proclaimed DeSmidt. Duties of a president include leading your group into good decision making and fundraisers.

The other officers are Brook Sullivan, vice president; Kayla Kelsey, secretary; and Anna Moorhead, treasurer. Officer roles include helping organize the community projects that this club does. Senior Brook Sullivan commented, "I'm very excited to not only work with these four girls but with everyone else in NHS."

This year's NHS officers are ready for the fun and projects to come. DeSmidt commented, "It's hard work to be an officer. You have to be committed and be ready to work hard."

Abuse and Neglect of Children

        By: Angela Leis-Roberts

 Child abuse is harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare that occurs through non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment, by a parent, a legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare, or by a teacher, a teacher's aide, or a member of the clergy. Every day three to four children die each day from child abuse or neglect. In 2006, three million reports were made in the United States. Approximately 896,000 children were found to have been victims to abuse or neglect. "In 2006 there were 41,294 reports of abuse and neglect were made in Wisconsin. There was 1,251 physical cases, 2,871 sexual abuse cases, 50 emotional abuse cases and also 3,313 neglect cases. Thirteen of those cases children died because of abuse or neglect," says
http://www.preventchildabusewi.org/.
 "Every year only $1.06 per family is spent for programs to prevent child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect costs tax payers $258 million each day. Child abuse and neglect costs $94 billion a year," says http://www.preventchildabusewi.org/.
 There are many physical and behavioral signs you may notice in a child who has been abused or neglected. Some of the physical signs are bruises, welts, broken bones, burns, missing hair, poor hygiene, slowed physical developments, or/and a injury or medical condition that hasn't been properly treated. Some behavioral signs you may notice are poor grades, lack of concentration, frequent tardiness or absence from school, difficulty making and keeping friends, unhappiness or depression, withdrawal from others, acts of anger, low self-esteem, fatigue, speech problems, hunger, and/or unusual fears.
 There are three different types of abuse. There is physical abuse, which is someone inflicting any bodily injury through excessive force or forcing a child to engage in physically harmful activity, such as excessive exercise. There is sexual abuse, there is two types of sexual abuse one is non-touching which is having children watch pornography or talking about it. the Second type is touching sexual abuse, which is the sexual mistreatment of another person by fondling, rape, or forced participation in unnatural sex acts or other perverted behavior. There is also emotional abuse, which is harming of the child's mind.
 Physical abuse includes physical beatings, slapping, hitting, burns, strangulation, and/or human bites. " I remember everything that I went through like it was just happened," Mary* said. "I would fear going home from school, knowing that my father would be home when I got there." Mary has been through a lot throughout her life. "My best friend would ask me how I got a bruise, and I would always reply with I don't remember" Mary, said. "My dad would hit my sister and I, if we didn't eat all of our food or if we didn't clean the house to his expectations." There are many more cases of physical abuse that are like Mary's or even worse.
 Non-touching sexual abuse includes frank discussions about sexual acts, obscene phone calls, exhibitionism, voyeurism, pornography, and/or allowing children to witness or hear sexual acts. Non-touching sexual abuse isn't always recognized, because many people don't realize that it is happening.
 Amy* from Monroe County told me about her experiences with her physical sexual abuse. When asked what type of physical sexual abuse she endured she said "I never really thought of it as rape right after it happened but when i talked to my friends about it they told me that I had been raped and should report it, because i never wanted it." Physical sexual abuse includes rape, incest, touching of the breasts, attempted intercourse, and/or fondling of the genitals. Amy was asked if she ever reported it and she said " no i never reported it, i should have but i had no proof that it actually happened so i was afraid to press charges and than have him come after me for reporting him." Sexual abuse cases are the most common cases of child abuse that is reported.
 Emotional abuse includes patters of behavior that attacks children's emotional development, their spirit and self-concept which makes them feel unloved, unlovable, and even worthless. It is also constant criticizing, belittling, insulting, rejecting, withholding love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse is thought to be the most common form of abuse. Emotional abuse has the most longest lasting effects.
 Neglect is failing to provide for a child's well being. Neglect includes failing to provide the proper food, proper medical care, hygiene, shelter, clothing. education, love and attention, and/or supervision and setting limits.
 Adults who were abused or neglected as children are more likely to go on to commit crimes.
 There are a few ways to handle your experiences with child abuse. For many people speaking about your experience is a vital step in the healing process. You may try to forgive your abuser if you can. Grieving may also work. If none of the previous help seeking out professional help is the best way to go. When asked how she dealt with her experience with her abuse Mary said "For a couple of years I spoke to my older sister and my grandmother about it, but then i had to seek professional help. It affects your life in ways you can't imagine." Many children don't get help until it has majorly effected their life. Mary is one of those children who didn't let it affect her life in the end.
 There are many people who are mandated to report any suspicion of abuse or neglect. They are required to report any known or suspected abuse or neglect of any child under the age of 18 immediately to either child protective services or law enforcement. Reporting child abuse and neglect should not be viewed as an accusation, but as advocating for a child and his or her family. If you know of any child abuse or neglect you are asked to report it to Monroe County Department of Human Services at 608-269-8611, or you can report it to the Monroe County Police Department or any of Police Department.
 We need to try and minimize child abuse and neglect as much as possible. No child should suffer through child abuse or neglect. This information is to inform you on the different types of abuse and neglect and all of the signs to look for. Please help children out and report any suspected or known child abuse or neglect. There are way too many children who have had similar or even worse experiences like Mary's and Amy's.

*Names have been changed to protect the victim

Stolen Items

By: Maddie Munger 

Two students from Sparta High School got valuable items stolen from secure locations within the past month.

Senior Katie Sprague's Ipod was stolen while in 5th hour band class. At first, when Sprague couldn't find her Ipod, she didn't know that a crime had occurred. "I was just looking for my Ipod in my backpack because I always bring it to my next class hour. When I couldn't find it, I thought maybe I would have left it at home but I was positive I put it in my backpack," said Sprague.

She knew it was stolen when she went home and couldn't find it. "I thought my band locker was a safe place to keep my valuables but I guess not," continued Sprague.

The next complaint came from senior Becky Guldenaar. A graphing calculator was stolen from her locker. "I went to my locker to get my math stuff and my calculator was gone. I knew that I brought it to school that day but was confused on how anyone got into my locker," said Guldenaar.

Guldenaar continues, "I know graphing calculators are expensive, but I didn't think people would steal one." The lockers at school are provided for a safe area for ones materials. "I thought my locker was a safe place for my things but I'm not so sure anymore. I don't know how people can get into a locked locker."

To avoid being a victim of theft, always make sure your lock on your locker is locked and don't give out your combination to anyone. Sprague adds, "People don't need to steal. We spend our own money on our things that we have and it's not right."

Nick Loeffelholz stealing money out of a purse

 

The New Assistant Principal

Melissa Herek the assistant principal.  She is the newest assistant principal as of this 2010 school year.



Melissa Herek has been hired as the new Sparta High School assistant principal for the school year of 2010-2011.

Herek works as 60% principal at Lawerence Lawson and 30% at the High School. At the high school, she works with principal Sam Russ and the other assistant principal, Dale Stafslien. "They both have helped me a lot and we make a great team," said Herek.

Herek commented on why she accepted this job as assistant principal, "I took this job because there was a greater variety of working with all levels of students." She continued, "I felt Sparta was a good community and provided a good work area." Herek goes on to talk about things she likes about the Sparta School Systems.

"I like the diversity in all the students, the academic opportunities, the good education practices provided. I also like how there are extended opportunities provided through grants beneficial to both the community and district." She continues, "I love how Sparta is very 21st Century with their technology and they always put their kids first."

Herek has been a educator for 15 years, this includes being an elementary teacher, district reading specialist and an administrator, in the towns of Reedsburg and Mauston. Married with 2 daughters in fourth and sixth grade, she loves the outdoors, fishing, hunting, and camping. Herek said, "I live between Mauston and Elroy and commute to school, but it's worth it."

SHS Lunch

Sparta High School students have the opportunity to go out to eat, some students can (junior's and senior's) and some students can not eat off school campus (freshman and sophomore's) the students that do eat off campus go to multiple fast food restaurants.

Freshman and Sophomore's are limited to leave campus, they are on campus lock down from 7:45 am until 3:06 pm, with the inability to drive and leave without parent approval. "I eat at school because I have to, I'd rather go out but they wont let us." says freshman Andy Maxfield. "A lot of my friends go out with upper classman but now they have teachers waiting at the doors for under class people to walk in." said Maxfield.

Juniors and seniors have to ability to leave during there lunch periods to go out to eat and go home as long as they return by the start of there next class. Open campus is going to an end in two more years they are letting the junior class be the last class with open campus because they were given open campus there freshman year. "I like leaving it gives me a chance to do more than just eat, I can get other things done besides just eating, like getting gas, running to the bank or if I forgot something at home I can get it for the afternoon" junior Christina Mulder states. Multiple people eat outside of school, if they are able, many go even though they are unable too.

National Honor Society

By:  Kala Lindley

The National Honor Society has gotten underway for the 2010-2011 school year.

Members meet every other Wednesday in the morning. Julie Ender, NHS supervisor, states, "We have 36 senior members and are currently in the process of sending invitations out to the juniors."

Only upper classmen are allowed to be involved with NHS. However, not every junior and senior will be invited. "Members need to have a 3.0 grade point average or higher," said Ender. Also, each member needs to volunteer twenty hours of their time to a local company or organization.

The National Honor Society voted on officers Friday, October 22nd. The four officers are all seniors and include: Nicole Desmidt (President), Brook Sullivan (Vice President), Kayla Kelsey (Secretary) and Anna Moorhead (Treasurer). "We have a good group of seniors this year, who will do a fine job as our officers," stated Ender.

Throughout the year, members are involved in numerous community projects. "Our first project that we will be working on is Cardboard Village," offered Ender. For Cardboard Village, members raise money that goes to Habitat for Humanity. Each member must raise fifty dollars or more to participate. Once this goal is met, NHS members camp overnight in the high school parking lot with just their cardboard boxes.

Once Cardboard Village raps up, the National Honor Society will do other various projects, one of which is Ender's favorite. "Academic Assembly would have to be my favorite," explains Ender. During this assembly, all of the high schools' clubs and organizations are recognized. "It acknowledges kids who don't usually get recognition. I also love how loud and noisy it gets!" said Ender.

National Honor Society members are looking forward to another exciting and eventful year. If you wish to learn more about what NHS is involved in, stop by at room 410 and talk to Julie Ender.

Band plays for Specialty Foods Grand Opening.



Owners of Specialty Foods cutting the ribbon.

By: Cassy Trost
The Sparta High School band had the honor of playing for the Specialty Foods Grand Opening on October 21, 2010 at 10:45-11:00 a.m.

The band was asked to play for them by the owner of Specialty Foods. Michelle Jensen the band teacher at Sparta High mentioned, "I'm very excited and honored they had asked."
 
Drum majors Katie Spraque and Leanna Levrich, seniors at Sparta High helped their band put on an excellent performance. This was made clear by the clapping of owners and costumers standing outside the building listening. The band played a number of great songs from their past performances. Katie Spraque commented. "It is a great way for band members to raise money for their New York trip.
 

Specialty Foods is a new grocery store in the town of Sparta and is one of the few around. Similar to a Sam's club, they specialize in selling food and low prizes. They also have a dining area where you can relax, socialize and eat some food.

Sparta Band playing a common song to the Grand Opening of Specialty Foods.

Election Ads

By: Jenea Skon

It's that time of year when Wisconsin has their state and federal elections. It is also when the elected officials have their commercial ads taking over your television screen. Saying why they would make a better candidate. Some of them are talking negatively about the other candidates. But what do people think about these commercials?

"I think they get really annoying when they play over and over again," says Amanda Thurston, a senior at Sparta High School. During one hour on Fox 25 48, over 10 commercials are about the elections. Some are even back-to-back and about the same candidate. College student Jake Fox said, "It's starting to get to be 'vote for who you hate the least' instead of 'vote for who you think is the best'. It's sad but it's getting to be true!"

Some people have deeper thoughts about the ads. "We could solve the whole school funding problem in the state of Wisconsin if we would charge every candidate for office who airs a negative advertisement and require the money to go into the state fund,"says Pittsville School principal JoAnn Sondelski. "The example they are giving to the children of the state/country on how to treat one another and be towards one another is absolutely sinful!"

Their are some good things about the ads. They show how the candidates care about what they are willing to do if elected and what citizens think.

Though the ads started sometime in September, it seems that they have been going on forever. But all is well when these elections are coming to an end. And the ads will be removed from commercials, waiting for the next election year to come along.

Petty Driver Search



Richard Petty telling Davey Pennel and
Bobby Lobdell how it feels to be the king.

In September , junior Davey Pennel participated in the Richard Petty Driver Search in Charlotte, North Carolina.



Davey Pennel has been racing since he was 12 years old. He started out racing at the go-kart level and slowly made his way to the top. After go-karts, Pennel advanced into miniature cars, and then finally made it to a late model.

"I enjoyed racing go-karts, it was a lot of fun but getting behind the wheel of a late model is a totally different experience, and it's the experience of a lifetime," said Pennel. He races every saturday night from the months of March to the middle of October all over Wisconsin.

In the beginning of this 2010 school year Pennel got recognized as being talented enough to make it into the Petty Driver Search. Only 12 out of however many applicants in the world that wanted to apply got accepted.

The drivers search was a four day event and consisted of racing and learning other aspects of the racing world. There were participants from Barbados, Canada, and the United States, "I turned in my application online and got a phone call the next day saying that they were interested in me and would like to set up a phone interview. I set up the interview and told them what I was all about, and by the time we got done talking I was accepted," said Pennel.

Petty Driver Search is a huge learning experience for racers. "I learned a lot from the Petty Driver Search and gained skills in various parts of the racing world that I didn't have before," said Pennel.

Davey getting instructions from CEO
of Richard Petty Driver Search.

Pennel doesn't only get to brag that he made it into the event but he was also the youngest kid to ever make it to Richard Petty's Driver Search. Davey got to meet the legend of racing, Richard Petty, is something that racer's from any area of racing would love to have the chance to do. Going to the Petty Driver Search gives Davey a huge advantage locally over other drivers. "A lot of the materials that I learned I can bring back to the local short-track racing including how to talk in front of televisors and how to set my car up a little better," said Pennel.

The sport of racing is a very expensive sport, but for some people it is well worth the cost. "I'm not quite sure if I would do The Drivers Search again, it was a lot of money but it was a very good experience," said Pennel.
Davey didn't win at the Petty Driver Search, but he did do very well. Winning this type of event is very hard to do, and takes the best of the best. "I did well the first three days and messed up on my last day and that is what killed me," said Pennel.

He finished third out of 12 overall and even though it's not first, he is proud of how he did. "I'm proud but disappointed. I know I had what it takes to win, but I messed up one day and it hurt me," said Pennel. After this event was over, Pennel got offers from five different racing organizations around the Carolina's and may end up pursuing his racing career from there.

Davey very tired after running go-karts for
two straight hours for an endurance test.

Spirit Day -- Do You Know What It Means?

October 20 was Spirit Day, a day to honor LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transvestite) teens in recent months who have committed suicide due to excessive taunts about their sexuality. The goal of Spirit Day is to raise awareness of harassment against the LGBT community, and hopefully begin putting a stop to it.

This day was organized by a teenage girl from Canada, named Brittany McMillan, who sent out the call to honor recent homosexual suicide victims.

“On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the seven gay boys who committed suicide in recent months, many of them due to homophobic abuse in their homes or at their schools,” Brittany McMillan said in her announcement on her Tumblr account

One of these seven boys is Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University in New Jersey, who jumped off a bridge after another student secretly filmed a "sexual encounter" and posted it live on the Internet. His story has made a big impact on many people, and a Facebook page has been created in his honor.

Spirit Day had a nice turn out here in Sparta High. Many students wore purple on Wednesday, showing their support for raising awareness of harassment against LGBT teens. Mr. Erik Forde's Social Problems class had a discussion about the issue of homosexuality.

"No person, whether you agree or disagree with others, has the right to violate someone else's rights," Forde said when asked about his opinion on the event.

Many feel as though there isn't enough being done to put a stop to the senseless bullying that many LGBT youth face.

"A lot of adults don't do anything to stop it," says Dana Miller, a freshman at Sparta High, "but maybe that's because it wasn't accepted when they were growing up."

However, many may be wondering: Why purple? McMillan has offered an explanation as to why she choose the color purple:
 
“Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transvestite/queer [refers to those who are questioning their sexuality]) flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality.”

Brittany McMillan, the one who put out the call, has started what may perhaps grow into an annual event, such as the Day of Silence held every year around April. Raising awareness is the first step to overcoming any issue in society. The more people know about the issue, the more that can be done to change things.