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American Studies class formed to combine American history and literature

February 3, 2012

Nicole Sarquis, Staff Writer

History teachers tend to ramble off unrelatable facts about flappers, bootlegging, and the ease of life in the “Roaring 20s” during a typical U.S. History class, leaving their students with no real understanding of the subject. At the same time, English teachers’ enthusiasm over F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” can only be understood if students reading the literary classic have a solid knowledge base of the time period the novel is set in. In an attempts to bridge the gap between literature and history studies, two teachers––Ms. Megan Kern and Ms. Anne Marie Dominguez––have paired up to teach their newly developed class, American Studies, to juniors, combining the... Continue Reading

Lumpkin’s layup helps boys’ basketball avoid upset

February 3, 2012

Matt Muenzberg, Sports Editor

“Don’t miss.” That was the thought that ran through the head of senior forward Sanjay Lumpkin when he got the ball under the basket unguarded with three seconds left in the game. Lumpkin made the layup, giving the top ranked boys’ basketball team a 67-65 win over number two Spring Lake Park. “We were just trying to get a screen and roll on the top. The ball went into the corner and I just cut back door and no one was guarding me,” said Lumpkin. The Red Knights struggled to contain Spring Lake Park’s Sean Scott, who had a career night with 36 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks in a packed, pro-Panther gymnasium. Head coach Mr. John Moore admitted that guarding Scott isn’t an exact... Continue Reading

Rising actors partake in Les Miserables performance

Junior Shannon Galvin rehearses for the upcoming Les Miserables performance wither her fellow cast members. (Giulia Imholte)

Rising actors partake in Les Miserables performance

January 27, 2012

Emily Kline, Staff Writer

Blue Water Theatre Company, one of the Twin Cities’ top performing arts groups for youth, is taking on “Les Misérables,” one of musical theatre’s most famous works, for their winter production. Juniors Rachel Hogen and Shannon Galvin, along with sophomore Rachel Wallace, joined the cast in late November and are currently in rehearsals for the... Continue Reading

SOPA bill is ineffective, inefficient, and infringing

February 1, 2012

Nick Hillson, Staff Writer

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a bill running through Congress in an attempt to curb the illegal uploading and downloading of copyrighted information and programs. Unfortunately, due to extremely vague wording and unclear definitions, the censorship proposed could extend to websites such as Facebook, various e-mails, and any other free forum. Not only is SOPA ineffective for all but the technologically impaired, but it violates our rights and benefits only a small handful of elites. SOPA works by requiring websites and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to search through sent information and to censor any infringing material. Not only does this ignore the privacy guaranteed in the Constitution... Continue Reading

Mock Trial season testifies the team’s talent

The Mock Trial team had a succesful season at several competitions due to immense practice and help from professional lawyers. (Photo courtesy of Jim Vogl)

Mock Trial season testifies the team’s talent

February 3, 2012

Mallory Hoch, Staff Writer

Beginning in October, the Mock Trial team has practiced every night from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in room 121 in preparation for upcoming competitions. Coming to a close on January 31st, the season ended on a strong note, making it to subsections before loosing their last competition. The season commenced with general practices to help initiate new members.... Continue Reading

SportDateOpponentResultW/L
Boys BasketballFri, Feb 03 Spring Lake Park67-65 Read StoryW
Girls BasketballTue, Jan 31 Minneapolis Southwest70-38W
Girls HockeySat, Jan 28 Hill-Murray1-3 Read StoryL
Boys BasketballSat, Jan 28 North Branch82-21 Read StoryW
Girls BasketballSat, Jan 28 North Branch66-40 Read StoryW
Dance TeamSat, Jan 28 Catholic JamboreeJ: 2nd/K: 3rd
Girls HockeyFri, Jan 27 St. Francis/North Branch10-0 Read StoryW
Boys HockeyFri, Jan 27 Moorhead2-6 Read StoryL
WrestlingFri, Jan 27 Robbinsdale Cooper47-27W
WrestlingFri, Jan 27 Mahtomedi33-34L
Boys HockeyThu, Jan 26 Irondale6-1 Read StoryW
Girls BasketballThu, Jan 26 Chisago Lakes58 -45 Read StoryW
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.
SportDateTimeOpponentLocation
Girls HockeySat, Feb 04 3:00Totino-GraceParade Ice Gardens
Boys HockeySat, Feb 04 7:30Spring Lake ParkBlaine
WrestlingSat, Feb 04 9:00TBAPine Island
Girls BasketballMon, Feb 06 6:00DeLaSalleDeLaSalle
Boys HockeyWed, Feb 08 7:30Shattuck-St. Mary'sShattuck-St. Mary's
Girls BasketballFri, Feb 10 7:15St. Louis ParkSt. Louis Park
WrestlingFri, Feb 10 6:00Chisago LakesHome
Boys HockeySat, Feb 11 2:30Totino-GraceSt. Louis Park
Dance TeamSat, Feb 11 1:00SectionsAustin
Boys HockeyTue, Feb 14 7:00Chisago LakesChisago Lakes
Girls BasketballTue, Feb 14 7:15Columbia HeightsHome
Girls BasketballThu, Feb 16 7:15WaconiaHome
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.

Students find support groups beneficial

Katie McClurg
October 1, 2008
Filed under Student Life

Although about a quarter of each grade is in a support group, the majority of students haven’t been in one or don’t know much about them. This surprising fact is not good because “the goal of groups is prevention,” said Dr. Jeff Steffenson.

About two weeks ago each homeroom received a survey from the guidance department that is used to determine this year’s support groups. Once all the surveys are collected and read, groups are determined based on student need and who the Student Support Team, a group of deans, counselors, and the vice principal and principal who meet weekly to discuss student issues, feels should be in a group.

This year there are nine main groups: children of alcoholics, diversity, eating disorders and body image, family change, female issues, grief and loss, drug and alcohol insight, male issues, and tobacco cessation. There are all these groups because each different group does specific activities which focus on the need of the group. Dr. Steffenson said, “We need to offer all these different groups because there is such a variety of needs and issues in our school, and so each group is kept relatively small and focused on one area.”

The Student Support team reviews potential students to be in groups because it’s essential to the success of a group that people aren’t joining just to get out of class. Because of the confidentiality and openness required to build a group and build trust within the group, students who aren’t committed are detrimental to everyone’s progress. “Groups are fun, but that’s not the focus,” said Dr. Steffenson, “If someone joined just to get out of class they wouldn’t last long.”

Groups meet once a week or every other week and the class period is rotated so students don’t repeatedly miss a class. Some teachers acknowledge the importance of groups, even though some class time is missed. Math teacher James Picard said, “Support groups and counseling play a very important role in the lives of students. And if it benefits students to miss a day of class to go to a group and receive support, than they should be able to.”

Students also agree that group helps to relieve stress and gives them the tools they need to deal with conflicts that they face in everyday life. Senior Bailey Ribich said, “Last year [group] helped me work through a lot of friend problems. I think it’s so effective because you get a time to really talk about what is going on in each other’s lives and getting outside opinions from people, other than just your close friends, gives you a better perspective on things.”

Sophomores Lauren Meyer and Taylor Allen also agreed that last year their support group taught them valuable lessons and relationship skills that have aided them in dealing with family and friend conflicts. Meyer said, “I was having issues with boys and some of my friends, and group really helped me to understand them and work through them and I learned ways to better deal with future problems.”

These groups will begin to meet shortly after MEA, but there are students who join throughout the year if they are referred to a group or talk to a counselor. To learn more or join a specific group students can talk to Dr. Steffenson or any of the other counselors.

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