News

Tyler Holbert
WebMaster

DECA received the spirit award at this year’s Area 9 competition. “It is an award given to the DECA chapter in Area 9 who shows the most “Spirit”! This includes almost everything you as a chapter does,” said Shawn Perez, the DECA Adviser. Heritage has a lot of school spirit and this award really shows how spirited our school is.

The DECA club worked really hard this year and was really proud and happy when they were presented with the award. “The chapter president senior Hanna Terry will give me feedback on the newsletter, and then I will reward a point to them! You can create a Facebook, have your students submit member of the month awards and others.” said Perez

Anna Tomlinson
News Editor

This year’s FBLA Regional competition took place in Longview where twenty-five Heritage students qualified for state. With seven first place, and thirty-one awards overall, the participants were certainly on a roll.

FBLA competitors prepare for their futures through the rigorous preparation of their displays and presentations, which, once at the competition, bring adrenaline rushes and anticipation. Everyone in attendance was anxious to see the final results in the hopes of moving on to the state competition on April 11 in Seattle.

Senior and FBLA President, Matthew Nicholas placed in all six of his events, qualifying for state where he will compete in three additional events. Aside from his personal events, each requiring varying degrees of preparation, he agreed that the team performed great. “We did extremely well. Most of the chapter placed in something. In some events, Heritage scored across the board,” said Nicholas, referring to Global Business where Heritage placed first, second, third, and fifth, all qualifying for state.

FBLA members all over the country have the ultimate desire to make it to Nationals, but the many friends that are made, and the experience that is gained in doing so is what many cherish most. According to Nicholas, FBLA is, “A great way to show your skills and prepare you for your future.”

By: Amanda Holloway
Advertisement Manager

Seniors have been busy filling out college applications for their lives after high school. Some students fill out multiple applications in case they are denied their number one choice.

Many seniors have gotten letters back that read “Congratulations, you have been accepted!” That’s when the excitement begins. A few seniors mentioned include:

Hannah Terry- Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona
Taylor Shaindlin- University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
Lindsey Maedl- Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington
Cherno Sowe- Western Oregon University (Football Scholarship) Monmouth, Oregon
Megan Kunze -Boise State University, Boise, Idaho; Eastern Washington University, Spokane, Washington
Jaren Jacobs- George Fox University (8,000 dollar scholarship) Newburg, Oregon
Miranda Hall- Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
Maddy Bennett- Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
Zach Hall- West Point Military Academy, New York, New York
Alexis Long- Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
Samantha Sam- Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

These students studied very hard to gain acceptance from these schools. Jacobs received an 8,000 dollar scholarship to George Fox University. Jacobs wanted to attend this college because they have an excellent engineering program. Jacobs says, “I wanted to go to GFU because they had a really cool engineering program for freshmen. You get to make a pneumatic engine out of aluminum and have competitions to see whose is the fastest.”

Many students have had to settle for their alternative choices in college, but sometimes these schools are the best choice. Terry says, “Grand Canyon wasn’t my first choice, but when I learned more about the school, and found out they were going to give me scholarships in the field I want to study, I knew I needed to go there.”

The few students mentioned out of many who have received acceptance letters are very excited to become college students and receive college educations for their ideal careers.

By: Kelley King
Reporter
These are some of the trinkets available for sale from the Kenya Project.
On the left is the Beaded Wood Carving Necklace which costs $12.
On the right is the Wooden Carved Animal which costs $25.

100% of all profits go to a school in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya so that they may afford a solar panel to improve education efficiency.

There are a couple more knickknacks for sale apart from these two. For more information please contact Mr. Berrigan in room 600.

By: Kelley King
Reporter
February is CTE month; CTE stands for Career and Technical Education. CTE is a group of classes provided at Heritage High School that help provide skills for future careers and can also provide college credits. There many CTE classes under a few different themes. A few of these themes are:

Family & Consumer Science (Child Development)
Child Psychology
Teaching Academy
Family & Consumer Science (Nutrition, Science & Fitness)
Bodywise
Food Science
Foods & Nutrition
Professional Food
Digital Arts
3D Animation
AP Studio Art 2D & 3D
Game Design
Video Production

This was pulled from an article written by Rick Brewer regarding the CTE program. “Career and technical education also has a profound impact in saving the youth that even No Child Left Behind (NCLB) leaves behind.

Each year, tens of thousands of our kids, feeling disconnected and disenfranchised, drop out of school. Politicians and legislators seldom mention these endangered students in their rhetoric. They disappear from the political radar as if they constitute the “dark side” of education. Increased standardized testing and mandates will not likely bring them back. And, if they do not come to school, you cannot teach them.”

“Career and technical education (CTE) offers a major solution for many problems in the US education system. Modern CTE programs not only support and integrate a full range of academics, but they have qualities that give much more meaning and purpose to the education process. Challenging even the most gifted students, CTE gives all students rich educational opportunities, equipping them for the dramatic transition from high school to postsecondary education and career options,” In plain English it is explaining that the CTE program is a good tool that helps students develop skills that will help them in the future. For more information visit the career center, which is a CTE hub.

By: Tyler Holbert
WebMaster
Fire alarms are an issue at Heritage whether it’s been pulled, or defaulted. Heritage is required to have a fire drill once a month for safety reasons; however, the school has had eighteen alarms in the last twelve months. All of those alarms notified 911 and the local fire station, Engine four.

On average there are three to five fire alarms pulled a year by students. Up to this point, three fire alarms have been pulled, but there has never been more than five pulled by a student during any one school year. There are two disciplines that can be handed out by pulling the fire alarm; school discipline, as well as criminal charges sense pulling a fire alarm whenever there isn’t a fire is a criminal offence.

“The alarm can be annoying when it is not planned or when it is a prank in particular,” said Sosky. “Students and staff need to evacuate immediately every time unless they are notified it is a false alarm. Never assume it’s nothing. Remind others not to pull the alarm or do anything that might set an alarm off. The alarms are there for everyone’s safety. It may seem like fun at the moment however in an actual disaster or serious event we are all grateful for those professionals who rush here and put their lives at risk for us,” she said.

When the fire department comes out and there is not a fire tax dollars are being wasted. The school tries to call the fire department as soon as they can to let them know the state of the situation.
The district is doing its best to prevent the fire alarms but you don’t know when there can be electrical problems due to a lot of dust. “The fire marshal may assess a civil penalty of $200 plus the costs incurred by the responding fire district against the owner or lessee of a property for each subsequent accidental fire alarm activation,” said Virginia Chapman, Deputy Fire Marshal.

“If the student has had no other similar incidents with the school or the fire department, most likely they would be required to complete a fire safety education program with their parents to return to school. If they have had previous incidents, they will be cited and referred to Juvenile courts for possible charges,” said Chapman.

By Erin Roetker
Editor-n-chief

A good essay can go a long way. Senior Sara Lyons was encouraged by her teacher, Mrs. Wendlandt, to enter the National Center for Women and Information Technology competition in the fall. Lyons won National Runner Up for Washington.

The NCWIT honors young women at the high school level for their computing related achievements and interests. The people who win are selected by their ability in the computing field, leadership, academic history and plans for their future.

Lyons is interested in becoming a 3D animator. “ I would love to work for Pixar someday,” Lyons mentions. She is taking every step necessary towards her dreams. As of now, Lyons is enrolled in AP 3D Animation and through this competition several colleges have contacted her. The two colleges that have been dominantly pursuing her are Cornish College of the Arts and Pacific University.

In addition to having the tittle of The National Runner Up for Washington there will be a follow up award ceremony in April for the final decision on who will win the grand prize, which includes $500 in cash, a laptop computer, a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina and an engraved crystal award for both the student and the student’s school. “It really is an honor to win this award. This is the first time I have ever won a contest,” Lyons said.

Best of luck to Sara Lyons and congratulations on all of her great achievements.

By Erin Roetker
Saturday, January 7th was an important day for Mrs. Haberl’s sixth period AP Government and Politics class. Winning fourth place at the We the People competition could be considered an accomplished day.
The competition took place in Olympia, Washington. Participants of the competition held a simulated Congressional hearing, which was a rigorous task. Teams worked together to prepare four-minute speechs to present to judges who were acting as congressional committee members. Students then answered any questions that the judges may have had, which provides an opportunity for students to display their knowledge of constitutional principles.
“Overall, We the People was worth it. We learned more about local and federal government and increased our knowledge about presidential administrations,” senior Liz Pring said.
The trip went beyond just the competition itself. While in Olympia the students got to tour the capital and even got to go on to the senate floor. “Overall, the experience was good because, besides the competition, we got to tour the building and learned all about it,” said competitor Andrew Trong. According to the students the capital was extremely impressive. Pring said, “The chandeliers were imported from Europe, the marble was from France, Italy and Belgium, and the crystals in the light fixtures were designed by Charles Lewis Tiffany, the founder of Tiffany & Co.” A group of students even had the honor of our governor, Christine Gregoire walking past them in the capital building.
The competition lasted the entire day Saturday and was exhausting. It consisted of strenuous hours of preparation, but the competition paid off for them as it was the first time for Heritage to place fourth. “I feel so proud of our class because that is the highest Heritage has ever placed. Plus unit five [from Heritage] beat Tahoma’s unit five, who is going to nationals because they placed first overall,” Pring explained. Teacher and coach Mrs. Haberl was more than impressed with her class. “While in the restroom, I over heard some students from another school saying how great Heritage kids were – no prompting and they did not know I was there. I was proud.” Haberl said.
Great job AP Government and Politics students for your high achievements at We the People. It is an honor to place so high in any given competition, but particularly one that requires such rigor.