The Streaks won their homecoming football game 25-14

My first reaction after starting “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates was one of sadness. It is safe to say that the mood of “Between the World and Me” is not very cheerful. It is also safe to say that despite this, or maybe because of it, “Between the World and Me” is one of the most eye-opening and useful books I, and any other white person, can possibly read.

Written from the point of view of Coates and in the format of a letter to his adolescent son, the book offers new and intriguing views on issues surrounding the idea of race in our country through Coates’ own experiences. Speaking as a white person, the idea of  “the dream,”  a theme throughout the whole book, stuck with me more than anything else. Coates discusses how this “Dream” allows “the Dreamers” to live in their own reality, one built on the bodies of black people.

Other themes included Coates’ concern for his son and the idea of the black body as tied to its physical nature, which white people cannot relate to as readily, making it even more insightful. On almost every new page lies a new idea that as a young white person, I had never really thought about a whole lot before this.

Now it seems I think about these issues all the time. In the one AP class I am taking this year, I cannot help but see how many white people there are in proportion to people of non-white ethnicity, although our school as a whole is diverse. I cannot help but question why this is through the lens of “Between the World and Me”, seeing it not as a result of black and brown people being somehow less intelligent, but rather as a cog in the wheel of the culture of these divided states. It is only by thinking about and discussing these issues that we can begin to bridge the divide between the world of “the Dreamers” and “the people who believe they are white” (another idea elaborated on in the book), and the world of everyone else. “Between the World and Me” has made me question my existence as a white person in America, and that’s a good thing.

The most chilling and profoundly impactful moment of the whole book for me came almost at the very end. Coates writes about “the Dreamers” to his son Samori, “I do not believe that we can stop them, Samori, because they must ultimately stop themselves. And I still urge you to struggle… But do not pin your struggle on their conversion. The Dreamers will have to learn to struggle themselves, to understand that the field for their dream, the stage where they have painted themselves white, is the deathbed of us all.”

I realize that I am “a Dreamer,” and I hope that I can begin to realize the full extent of what that entails so I may begin to untangle myself from the web white people have woven for themselves. I hope one day we will all be freed from “the Dream.” “Between the World and Me” was the first step to being free for me, and it can be the first step for many other white people too.

Right after school let out on October 14th, all four choirs spent the afternoon preparing and rehearsing for their concert that evening. Because it was an early release day, the singers didn’t need to miss school to practice. Despite the concert being shorter due to the absence of the eighth graders, it was a success. Sophomore Nelya Dyachenko is in the Camerata choir and is really happy with how the performance went.

“I think it went really well because there were a lot of people supporting us and we worked really hard on those songs,” Dyachenko said. “We spent the whole day [rehearsing], so I think we were really prepared.”

The concert had five songs that were performed by varying combinations of the four different choirs.

“[My favorite song was] ‘Fly’. I love ‘Fly’ because it’s a good song. It’s really pretty and it’s really modern,” Dyachenko said.

“Fly” was performed by all of the women in the choir, regardless of the level or grade. The song that was performed strictly by the men of the choir, called “Come Go With Me”, was Junior Katya Kirilyuk’s favorite piece.

“I really liked the guys’ song, because it was different than what we were singing. This one was just really exciting,” Kirilyuk said.

The concert opened with an African piece called “Morokeni”, which was sung by everyone. The singers lined the aisles and the stage, which caused the music to envelop the audience.

“My favorite part was ‘Morokeni’ when everyone was spread out and sang. I think it was pretty cool that we gathered all around,” Dyachenko said.

According to Kirilyuk, Choir day was a nice chance to relax and hang out with friends.

“[My favorite part was] laughing with friends. A lot of them I don’t see at school because we don’t have the same classes,” Kirilyuk said.

Kirilyuk thought the day was tiring, but that is was a lot of fun.

“My eyes were so tired, [but] I wasn’t nervous at all. [The concert] went very well, I think. It was more fun than last year, because I met more people. I learned to not be shy, because if you’re not shy, the more friends you’re going to get.”

Over the years, the Buffalo Bills have become one of the most pitied teams in professional sports. After all, they are the only team in any of the four major sports to ever make it to four straight championship games, only to lose all of them (Super Bowl XXV-XXVIII). They also haven’t made the playoffs since 1999. However, they are a new team this year, and despite the 17 year postseason-less streak, they shouldn’t be counted out as a playoff contender.

The Bills finished 8-8 in 2015, an improvement from previous years, but still not what was expected of a team with what was supposed to be one of the best defenses in the NFL. While the defense didn’t live up to expectations last year, Buffalo did find a hidden gem in quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who had spent the first four years of his career as the backup to Joe Flacco in Baltimore. Taylor was originally signed as a third-string insurance policy, but eventually beat out EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel for the starting job. The duo of Taylor and veteran running back LeSean McCoy has created a tough matchup for almost any defense, as Taylor is both a deep passing threat and a threat to run the football if necessary.

As for that defense that struggled during the 2015 season, well, those struggles are no more. Through five games, the Bills are 3-2, and middle linebacker Zach Brown is the NFL’s leader in tackles. In addition to Brown’s success, outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander leads the league in sacks, and has become a sneaky weapon as an edge rusher. The cornerback trio of Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby and Nickell Robey-Coleman has blossomed into one of the better groups in the league, and safeties Corey Graham and Aaron Williams are steadily improving as well.

Some might argue that a 3-2 record isn’t much to brag about, but considering Buffalo’s start to the season, there is still plenty of optimism in western New York. Through two games, the Bills were 0-2, with losses to the Ravens and Jets, and had already fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Since Roman was replaced with Anthony Lynn, however, the Bills are 3-0, outscoring their opponents 79-37. Two of those wins were against the Cardinals and Patriots, who both entered their matchup with the Bills at #1 in the FPI (Football Power Index) rankings. Even with the recent winning streak, there could still be a lot more success coming the Bills’ way. Taylor hasn’t played his best so far, throwing for under 200 yards a game, but is starting to find his dual-threat game again, and that should open up some deep passes as the season moves along. The Bills also have plenty of contributors that are out with injuries. First round draft pick Shaq Lawson, a defensive end out of Clemson, is projected to make his debut in Week 7 after injuring his shoulder in the preseason. Buffalo will also get star defensive tackle Marcell Dareus back from a hamstring injury in a couple weeks, and is optimistic that #1 wide receiver Sammy Watkins can return before the end of the season with a foot injury.

My final reason to watch out for Buffalo come December is their schedule. Of the final 11 games the Bills play, only five should really give them a threat. If they can even manage a 2-3 record in those games against the Patriots, Seahawks, Bengals, Raiders and Steelers, they could pull out of the regular season with an 11-5 record, easily good enough to make the playoffs. It’s certainly not a sure thing, but there’s a decently high probability that it could happen. All in all, don’t be shocked if you see the Bills celebrating a playoff berth in a couple of months, and also don’t be shocked if your favorite team falls to them in the postseason. And if it does happen? One postseason loss isn’t the end of the world. I know for a fact your favorite team never lost four straight Super Bowls.

Physical education teacher TJ Butler has been the owner of his side business Butlers Driving School for almost 14 years. The business started in 2003 after his first year of teaching at the high school.

“I just thought there was a need for kids to take behind the wheel. There was a waiting list for the school, so I just thought it was an opportunity to make some extra money as a teacher,” Butler said.

What started as a one man job has turned into a six driver business spanning all of Rockingham and Harrisonburg.

“Word of mouth and good service has really helped me expand. My first year I drove 40 kids, second year 80, and the third year over 100, so I started hiring new drivers since I couldn’t handle it all myself. I tried to get a driver at each of the schools. I now have 5 other drivers besides myself,” Butler said.

Compared to local driving businesses, Butlers is a cheaper option. He not only allows students to be able to take it with their friends, but will pick up and drop off at their homes each day. Butler enjoys being able to meet new kids each week.

“My favorite part is starting a session with 3 strangers and over the course of the week you are just sharing stories, joking, and gossiping. 98% of the kids are good drivers, which makes my job easy,” Butler said.

However, not every aspect of the business is as enjoyable as driving part.

“My least favorite part would have to be all the paperwork for the DMV from license forms to driving logs,” Butler said.

Looking towards the future, Butler would like to expand the business.

“A dream would be to have a building where I could do a classroom portion and clinics. The future will probably just be me doing what I do now. It would be nice to expand, but I don’t see it happening,” Butler said.

From a business mindset, Butler thinks organization is key.

“Being organized in my opinion is the most important part of running a business. A lot of kids send me a random text when they can start, and I need to be able to get them a start date in a timely manner, so just being able to keep everything organized is helpful,” Butler said.

Due to the high demand for the service, he keeps an organized schedule months in advance.

“I keep a schedule of when I can drive up to 5 months in advance. I recommend taking it around the 8.5 month mark; there is no need to take it earlier.” Butler said.

One of the reasons kids choose Butler over his competitors is his relaxed driving atmosphere.

“I think just being fun and flexible with the kids is a good way to make the experience enjoyable for everyone, for example we listen to the music the kids like,” Butler said.

If you are in need of behind the wheel, all you need to do is send Butler a text at (540) 476-0749. The cost of seven sessions is $200.

Online classes are a requirement for an advanced diploma, but some students have different ideas about the challenges they offer when compared to traditional classes.

“I heard multiple of my friends that said, ‘take online instead of with a teacher. It goes by way faster’…I’m almost done with a semester of work” Pirre Mblar said. Sophomore Pirre Mblar said, who’s taking his Personal Finance/Econ class through PLATO instead of through a teacher.

However, not all online classes are this straightforward or laid back where, according to Mblar, “When you finish you can go to sleep,” Senior Hannah Daniel is taking an AP World History class through Virtual Virginia, and it’s in an entirely new league.

“Usually online classes go pretty quickly, but mine is an AP course and it’s very scheduled. I have specific dates that I have to turn things in so that I’m kept on course for the AP Exam for the end of the year. My friend took this course last year and I expect to be working up until the last day of school,” Daniel said.

The only reason she had the option to take a rigorous course online is because she never took her world history course freshman year because her schedule got a bit muddled, in that she never took World History 1 freshman year. Unlike Daniel, other students take classes online because they’re easy.

Junior Nathan Gehman, who’s taking personal finance through PLATO, states that there are some difficulties in basic understanding of the content.

“You can’t ask questions because there is no one to ask it to. There’s the instructor, but [the classroom instructor is] there to help with technical difficulties,” Gehman said.

Students like Mblar think there are problems with taking advanced courses, issues the classes being more focused on taking tests than learning ideas are common, she describes.

“I feel like I’m learning things just for a short term memory…I’ll take the quiz and I won’t really retain as much as I want to,” Daniel said. Different types of learners, like Daniel, believe that there are problems with the structure of online classes.

“There isn’t a lecture style, and I really learn with with a traditional lecture style…so I read, I do the activities then I sort of get it out of my mind because it’s a fast-moving course. I don’t have time to delve in deeper,” Daniel said.

Students experience online classes differently from each other, whether it’s personal finance or AP history.

There is nothing more frustrating than having your educational research at school being blocked or hindered by a filter. The school filter has done more harm than good by limiting a student’s ability to successfully complete a project or assignment. Because administration believes that students will browse social media or play games on the computers, certain useful websites such as Huffington Post and a number of other news and magazine sites are blocked. Websites with controversial “key words” relating to subjects not “appropriate” for school are blocked.

An example of how the school filter is harming education is how multiple students in an English class were doing their project on the effects of sexual harassment and assault. They were unable to conduct any research at school because the filter prevented them from accessing any websites because of the “key word” sex, or rape. Because every website associated with the words rape or sex are blocked, the students were unable to successfully complete their assignment at school. Also, students who are not able to afford a computer or do not have internet at home have no option other than to use a school computer with the filter in place. They are limited to a certain amount of information allowed by the filter while other students who are able to afford a computer of their own are able to travel home and have an unlimited amount of information because the filter is not in place.

If a teacher believes that their students would search the words sex or rape as a joke and unrelated to school, they should not be allowing their students onto a computer in the first place. It should be up to the teacher to decide whether their students are mature enough to handle a computer responsibly. If the teacher decided that their students are not responsible, they can prevent them from using a computer. This allows students who are able to use a computer responsibly to use the internet filter free and having unlimited access to information to improve their learning and educational experience.

A majority of the students in high school own a cell phone with data, or access to the internet. With signal, they are able to search anything on their phone through their data and not the school wifi, allowing them to not be limited by the filter. Why have a filter when most students can get around it with cell phone usage? High schools should eliminate the school internet filter allowing students to use useful websites that can help them with assignments, projects and improving their overall education.

Max McDaniel is a junior Newsstreak representative, who skipped sophomore year. He, due to his passion for the activity, has been promoted from founder of Tabletop Games Club and President to Towel Boy, and couldn’t be happier. He also has two cats, they’re cool, he guesses, and he strongly believes dogs are inferior as companions, (he does admit that bionic hamsters are clearly at the top of the ladder, but felines are a close second). He is also very hesitant about breaking the fourth wall, as he believes it to be too cliche, but he honestly can’t find anything else to share about himself that’s even somewhat interesting.

During all four lunches, cards were given out to students, labeled with things to do for another person, in honor of Act of Kindness Day. Taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 18 during unity week, the school promoted kindness by rewarding students with bracelets when caught doing something kind.

Senior Kyel Towler handed kindness cards out during first lunch

“I think there’s a mass loss of kindness in this school,” Towler said. ” I want to say it’s become an epidemic, honestly. I’m trying to promote kindness.”

Unity week will continue on Wednesday with “wear orange day,” and on Thursday, students are encouraged to sit with new people at lunch. On Friday, Unity week is concluded with booths set up during lunch where students can meet new people.

Ty McDaniel – Blonde, 5’9”, 14 yrs old, brother to Max and Jake McDaniel, runs JV for the HHS cross country team, in his first year of Newsstreak and broadcasting, and he enjoys playing frisbee and taking long walks on the beach.

The Virginia Theatre Association holds a conference at the Waterside Marriott hotel in Norfolk, Virginia every year, where high schools from around the state compete with their shows, attending workshops and masterclasses with some of the most esteemed names in dance, music and theatre. The HHS Stage Streaks have become prominent members within the local theatre community, as one act director Stan Swartz served as Association president until this year.

Last year, the cast of “The Insanity of Mary Girard” placed fourth out of over 60 schools at VTA and went on to place second in the state in the VHSL league.

“It felt really good [to be finalists] because that was the first time we’d placed at VTA since I’ve been in one act, and I was just overcome with joy,” junior Josh Lucas said.

Lucas, along with five other actors, portrayed figments of Mary Girard’s imagination, the “Furies,” in the play. The group won a collective “Best Actor” award at the district level. In 2014, “The Beggar’s Opera” did not make it to VTA finals, but placed first in the VHSL league on the district, regional and state levels. “Pieces,” the last original show the Stage Streaks have done, was written by Swartz’s daughter Elana in 2013 and placed third in the state.

This year, with an original, student-written musical, the one act cast hopes to do well in competition.

“Maybe I’m delusional, but I’m shooting for the stars. I’m thinking we could win VTA. Of course we’re always hopeful that we’ll win VTA, but you never really know what your competition will be like,” assistant director Susan Comfort said of the show’s chances. Comfort served as assistant director for “The Insanity of Mary Girard” last year, and is still becoming familiar with the conference process.

The one act productions presented at VTA follow a set of guidelines that all schools must adhere to. Each show must be 45 minutes or less (including setup and takedown) and be entirely composed of actors, stage crew and musicians who attend the school they are competing with. This forces the shows to be resourceful with both their set pieces and cast.

Despite the number of schools participating in the one act competition, VTA is not solely a competitive event.

“It’s a mixture of getting to go to plays, auditions and workshops where you can work with actual famous actors who do this for a living, and in those rare moments where you get to chill out, it’s awesome,” senior Ben Hollenbeck said. “[VTA taught me] that acting is about more than knowing about one thing. It’s more than just being an actor and just knowing your lines. It’s living and existing within a space that you can call ‘theatre.’ It’s about understanding that that space is a community and everyone is equal.”

The Stage Streaks will be competing with their one act, “That Was Then” at 2:55 p.m. on Friday, October 28. On Saturday evening, the six finalists will be announced, along with select acting, set, tech, costume and directing awards. The finalists will perform Sunday morning.