Giant Word

By: Reporters Seth Jones and JoJo Collins   

This year’s NFL season has been very controversial. Many people think different teams will win the Super Bowl or go to the playoffs. We chose these picks through statistical analysis of previous performances in the season.

In the first round of the NFC playoffs the Dallas Cowboys will lose to the Detroit Lions. The Lions’ offense has been phenomenal this season. With the help of their quarterback, Matt Stafford, the Lions started the season by winning five games.

The New Orleans Saints will defeat the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints are ranked first for overall passing yards. Their quarterback, Drew Brees, has passed for 4,031 yards.

At the start of the second round of the NFC playoffs the Detroit Lions will lose to the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are ranked third in passing yards and remain undefeated.

When the San Francisco 49ers take on the New Orleans Saints, they will win due to their excellent defense. The 49ers have best defense in the NFL against rushing.

The Packers will then defeat the 49ers in a close game. The advantage is with the Packers because their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, has over 3,000 passing yards. The Packers’ passing strategy will overcome the 49ers’ defense.

The first round of the AFC playoffs will be the Houston Texans versus the New York Jets. The Jets will win in a very close game because the Texans won’t have their starting quarterback, Matt Schaub, or their starting running back, Arian Foster.

The Denver Broncos will defeat the Pittsburg Steelers. The Steelers will not be at 100 percent due to recent recovery from injuries. The Broncos are also ranked number one in rushing and their quarterback, Tim Tebow, has been on a hot streak.

The New York Jets will lose to the New England Patriots. The Patriots have already beaten the Jets in blowout games two times this season. The Jets’ defense has improved since those games, but they will be no match for the Patriots’ offense.

The Baltimore Ravens will play the Denver Broncos. The Ravens’ defense will shutdown Tim Tebow and his running game. Statistics show that the Ravens will beat the Broncos fairly easily.

In the AFC Championship game the Patriots will beat the Ravens in a very close game. The Patriots’ offense is one of the best in the league and the Ravens’ defense is one of the best, too. The Patriots will find a way to beat the Ravens’ defense and win the game.

The Super Bowl is the most important football game of the year. It decides after a long season which team is truly the best. This game will include the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots. This will be a rematch of Super Bowl XXXI when the Packers beat the Patriots 35-21.

The Packers will win Super Bowl XLVI in an extremely tight game. The Packers and the Patriots offenses have proved to be excellent. Both teams’ defenses have not been great this season. The Packers’ quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, will help the team score enough points so defensive skills won’t matter.

Do you think this is accurate? Leave your comment here at Giantword.com.

NFC

Cowboys                             Lions

Lions                                      Packers                               Packers

Packers                                                                                                               Packers

Saints                                    Saints                                    49ers

Falcons                                 49ers

Packers                                                                                                                                                                           Packers

AFC

Texans                                  Jets

Jets                                        Patriots                                  Patriots

Patriots                                                                                                                 Patriots

Broncos                                Broncos                                Ravens

Steelers                                               Ravens

By Elizabeth Eutsler, reporter

The step team practices.

Students, teachers, and parents will soon be seeing the Step Team around the school and during half time at the basketball games.

This year sophomore Ryann Bellamy had the idea to start a new team, a Step Team. Step is a type of dance that involves clapping, stomping, and making noise with the body to make a beat with a group of people.  Mrs. Iris Carter is the sponsor for the Step Team.

Waynesboro High School was represented by a Step Team before. After two years of inactivity the new Step Team is trying to rebuild.

“We want to eventually get into competitions,” said Ms. Jamie Gunn, head coach.

“They are in a rebuilding year,” said Carter.

Step team practice happens every Tuesday and Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:30. Before each practice the team is required to do warm-ups. They work their hips from the cafeteria to the stairs beside the auditorium up to the third floor then back down again. Students and teachers hear the sound of the Step Team all around the school. Then they go straight into practice.

“They are going to be a drill team by the time I get done with them,” said Gunn.

The team has been practicing for four weeks.

At practices the team goes over steps many times to make sure that they are perfect. They rehearse for an hour and 15 minutes working on steps so that they can be ready for games and other events.  The Step Team members learn the steps quickly and then perfect them.

“It is a struggle,” said Bellamy, “learning all the fast steps and having to learn them in a certain amount of time.”

“It’s difficult to learn the claps,” said senior Cassie Laplante, another team member. “It’s fun because you can express yourself.”

Fifteen students are on the Step Team including high school students and middle school students. The middle school students ride the bus from Kate Collins to Waynesboro High School. Each member watches and tries to pick up on the new steps they are taught or they try to make the steps they have already learned better.

The name of the team is the “H.E.A.T.”

“The Heat stands for Hot, Educated, with Attitude, Talented team,” said Bellamy.

Bellamy said, “We’re here and ready to show our haters how the Heat does it!”

By Emma Parolisi, Reporter

A lot of people have mental disorders, not just in Waynesboro, but all over the world. Sometimes, it’s obvious when someone has a disorder, but other times they’re undetected until it’s too late. That’s what happened to Mr. Tommy Edwards. Tommy was an all-American football player in high school in Radford, and a star running back at Virginia Tech. During his time at Tech, Edwards was known for scoring touchdowns, partying, and getting into a fight in a frat house. No one knew at the time that his actions were the result of an undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

According to Ms. Deborah Watson, a school guidance counselor, mental disorders frequently go undiagnosed for long periods of time. Schools aren’t qualified to test or diagnose things like anxiety, bipolar disorders, or depression, so it’s up to the family of the student to have their child tested.

“Schools are asked to do so much already,” said Mr. Tim Teachey. “It’s hard to be mental health officials, too.”

Edwards was already struggling with anxiety and depression, and having the spotlight on him didn’t help.  He said his solution was to drink his way out of it, but that only deepened his depression. Finally, Edwards sought out help from a therapist, who promptly told him to “get over it.” His doctor gave him medication for his depression, but it only made his bipolar episodes worse.

He transferred to Boise State University, where he excelled at football once again, but was stopped by a shoulder injury halfway through the season. Once again he tried to get help, and once again Edwards was misdiagnosed and continued spiraling out of control.

After a brief return to his home state of Virginia, Edwards got into some trouble with drugs and alcohol. He gave that up in 1999, and got married in 2001. Edwards and his wife went to California and he became a professional skater, along with starting Sasquatch Skateboards, his own skateboard company. He also became a singer and guitarist in The Tommy Edwards Band. His marriage fell through, but in California his skating and music careers flourished.

“I knew I wanted to be a musician, even back in high school,” said Edwards.

In the summer of 2003 Edwards had a severe skating accident, resulting in a head injury that altered his brain chemicals and led to a massive manic episode. This episode ended up with him being homeless, jobless, and for the most part friendless for several years.

A few years later, he met a retired psychiatrist. They became friends, and he basically diagnosed and mentored Edwards.  The two of them worked together on treatments, medical and non-pharmaceutical. Tommy rebuilt his life and was working on just living normally.

On April 16, 2007, Edwards was visiting in Christiansburg when the shooting at Virginia Tech happened.

“We had heard the sirens, and we thought the Radford arsenal exploded or something. I turned on the TV at lunch, and it said ’33 dead at VT.’ I didn’t know how to respond,” said Edwards.

The deaths of those 33 students, the same number that he had on his football jersey during his years at Tech, shook him deeply. But instead of getting out of control, Edwards acted quickly to find a way to help. Within two days he had The Heart of Virginia, a foundation to raise awareness of mental illnesses, up and running. In an interview with Tech Sideline he said he was greatly affected by the story of Seung Hui-Cho, and how an obviously mentally ill young man had fallen through the cracks.

“It’s a good topic, because mental disorders are getting really serious in schools,” said nurse Jennifer Arnold.

In Waynesboro High, there are roughly eight students with bipolar disorder and 11 diagnosed with depression. Since the school year started, four more cases that hadn’t been previously diagnosed were noticed and acted upon by the school officials.

“It’s important to make kids aware, and help kids understand where to get help,” said Teachey.

In the Waynesboro community there are several places to get help. The Office on Youth offers counseling services and has a suicide prevention lifeline, and Arnold has information about self-help groups for substance abusers. What happened to Tommy Edwards?

Once he had his goal clearly in his mind, Edwards stopped what he was doing in California and moved back across the country to focus fully on the foundation.

“I think I’m much better off doing this than I would be if I played pro football,” said Edwards.

Currently, he is working with his band in Nashville, and plans to go Africa next year for filming and recording for his Music for Mental Health branch of the foundation.

Tommy Edwards, now 37, is doing more with his life than ever. His band, foundation, and friends help keep him on track as he helps make our world a better place.

My senior swag shot.

By Joseph Bryant, Editor-in-Chief

My ninth grade year.

The applause is deafening as I take my final bow on the stage of my high school career. I realize that life as I know it is over. Not over entirely, but this performance is complete. It is time to move on to a new production, the production of adulthood.

Now, I could tell you about how on my first day as a freshman how I had all of these tingly emotions. I could tell you how I was scared, nervous, and excited but I’m not going to.

Dang, I just did.

Anyways, as typical as they are, these are the emotions that I experienced, along with many others on that day. On our final day as seniors, we will experience the same exact emotions as we begin a brand new chapter in our life’s story.

My high school career has been a roller coaster. I’ve experienced highs, lows, and the occasional sick feeling in my stomach. Now, as the ride comes to an abrupt halt, I remember that I had some of the best times in my life here at WHS.

The place that I had the most fun was the theatre. It was the place where I got to cut loose and lose myself in a different world that didn’t have the stresses of life.

Theatre class was fun, but it was when I was in Grease that I had the best of times in theatre. So many days I would find myself with a few others literally rolling on the floor laughing, as we danced interpretively to songs like “Sandra Dee” and “Beauty School Dropout.”

These were the best of times. As the last week of the play came, I thought to myself that it was all over. We wouldn’t “Always Be Together” as the ending of the play promised. When the lights went down on the last night, I soaked in the memories that would last for a lifetime.

Don’t cry. My farewell isn’t done yet.

Let me tell you about some of my favorite achievements. This isn’t to brag on myself but simply to tell you about some of the things that were meaningful to me.

I’ve accomplished a lot these past four years. My favorite accomplishments have been winning both of my categories at my first forensics meet and being editor-in-chief of giantword.

I didn’t really leap through the past four years achieving everything with a bunch of accolades, but I have taken small steps to big goals.

The biggest of my small steps was when I brought up my Algebra 2/Trig grade from a magnificently low F to a B- in the course of two weeks. Math was hard for me, so this was a meaningful achievement.

I guess in life, it is the baby steps that move you the furthest. If anything, taking small steps allows you to enjoy the time on this earth instead of sprinting your way out of it.

My heart is pounding and my palms are sweaty as I write this bittersweet goodbye to end my stint as editor-in-chief. Then I have to take a deep breath and remember that I still have from this December day until the day of my graduation to enjoy the rest of my senior year.

High school itself is just another small step that I am taking in life. I’m still moving forward taking one step at a time. Life is still waiting for me, so I’ll take my time.

The applause comes to a stop after my final bow. The lights fade out and the performance is over. It’s time to start a new journey in life. It is time to move on. Thanks for the adventure.

By: Seth Jones, Reporter

Warning: this movie may cause anger, boredom, or drowsiness. Before watching this movie, remember this useful piece of information: NO REFUNDS!

Jack and Jill is a comedy starring Adam Sandler as Jack and Jill and Al Pacino as himself. The movie also had some pretty big actors playing small parts. Some of these actors include Johnny Depp, Regis Philbin, David Spade and Shaquille O’Neal.

Jack is a producer who is on the verge of losing a big Dunkin’ Donuts commercial. The only way to keep the commercial is to get Al Pacino to star in it. Jack must get Al Pacino to do the commercial while putting up with his twin sister Jill, who is visiting over the holidays. Jill causes many problems for Jack during the movie.

The actors did a good job, but the story wasn’t that exciting. The movie had some very funny parts. Adam Sandler playing both twins added a special quality to the movie, but Sandler’s “Jill” could be easily distinguished as a man.

This movie was very different from the movies Adam Sandler typically stars in. This movie portrays Sandler as two very different people which probably made the movie a very difficult challenge.

The movie was average. Every once in a while this movie would have a funny moment, but most of the time it was boring, unexciting, and lifeless. I was also the only one in the theater when I went to watch the movie. The movie is not worth the price of the ticket.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FEBRUARY 2, 2012

From the Counseling Office:

-Rising seniors who are interested in the Tech Prep program at BRCC need to pick up an application now from the counseling office.  Students in this program take 12 college credit hours at BRCC, getting a head start on their associate’s degree.  Deadline is Feb. 6.

LGU will be meeting TODAY

   –Thursday: Homework assistance and digital photography with Mrs. Ford.

Congratulations to the WHS forensics team for their 2nd place finish last night at the District Tournament.  Great job, guys. Your coach is proud!!! Special congratulations to the following:

Holly Reid-4th place Dramatic Interpretation

Victoria Piper-3rd place storytelling

Scarlette Harris-2nd place extemporaneous speaking

Gwynne Wood-2nd place poetry

Victoria O’Leary-2nd place humorous interpretation

Joe Bryant-1st place storytelling

Taylor Hines and Grayson Hamilton-1st place Humorous Duo

Emma Parolisi and Max Hamlyn–3rd Place Serious Duo

Any students who think they might be interested in taking journalism next year (working on GiantWord.com) are invited to find out more TODAY after school in Room 241.  Bring your questions; we’ll have answers and refreshments!  All are welcome.

The Dubstep Rave dance will beon Saturday, February 4 from 8pm – 11pm. The cost is $5 and tickets are available in advance.  You may purchase the tickets during luncheson February 2 and 3.  The dance is opento all WHS students and their dates.  KC students are not allowed.

If you plan to bring a date fromanother high school to the dance, please stop by the Main Office or the Activities Office to pick up the form that is required to be completed by yourdate’s principal.  If you have questions, stop by the Activities Office.

Have you ever wanted to show off your acting talent and be a part of a production?  Well here’s your chance!  On February 7th and 8th auditions for “A Night of One-Acts” takes place right after school in the auditorium.  Students will audition for all three of the student directed one acts. See Mrs. Truslow in room 270 for any other questions.

Waynesboro Activities and Athletics

Thursday, February 2

3:15    LGU

Friday, February 3

3:00    Swim – Region Meet @ JMU

5:30    GBB (H) vs. Fort Defiance (Senior Night)

5:30    BBB @ Fort Defiance

Saturday, February 4

10:00  Wrestling – District Tournament @ Turner Ashby

10:00  Indoor Track @ Fort Defiance

2:00    Swim – Region Meet @ JMU

3:00    BBB vs. Patrick Henry @ Salem Civic Center

8:00    Winter Dance

By Kelsey Hammond, technology manager 

The Great Wall of China

• Teachey’s China Experience
• Teachey, Henriksen, and Crowder visited three cities, Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi’an. “The cities were humongous,” said Teachey.
• They visited the Tiananmen Square, in which people protested the Chinese government. The Chinese never speak of it, so Teachey and the rest of the visitors were advised to never ask about it.
  

  Tiananmen Square

• “The two greatest places I went in China were the Great Wall of China and the Terra Cotta soldier monuments,” said Teachey. The Terra Cotta soldiers were sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang that were buried with the emperor in order to protect him in his afterlife. They date to 200 B.C.
  

  Terracotta soldiers

• “China is ancient compared to us. You could see the history around you,” said Teachey.  “China is thousands of years old. We’re not even 300,”
• Teachey said there were very close living quarters. They were very filthy, no bathrooms in houses and Chinese don’t drink out of tap. Three to four families had to share a kitchen. “I took my own shampoo,” said Teachey.
  

  A kitchen in Hutong

• “I expected China to be way different than us, but it’s not that different,” Teachey said. “The city of Shanghai was more like New York. It was commercialized.”

Ms. Iris Carter helps a student with her work.

By Lisandro Fernandez Reporter

Does Ms Iris Carter like what she does?

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said.

Carter, from DC, has been in Waynesboro since 2004. She has worked as a teacher’s aide in William Perry, substituted at KCMS and is now in Waynesboro High School. Carter said she likes what she does, teaching and helping, because she has never had problems. All her students are nice and respectful, she said.

“If you want respect, you have to give it,” said Carter.

Even though Carter has been busy with the two clubs that she helped bring back to WHS, the Interact Club and the Step Team, she plans to retire in about eight years. Carter does feel like she makes a change in school.

She said, “Education is the key to success.”

Carter says that the Waynesboro public school system has some of the best teachers.

“Our administrative team is a class act,”

In other words she likes the way they run things. However, she wishes the school was cleaner, but she likes the school climate. She also wishes the school had security cameras.

Carter said she helps with college applications she teaches girls to be young ladies, teaches boys how to be young men, provides advice when asked, and provides discipline.

“Every child should have a caring adult in their life,” said Carter.

By Kelsey Hammond, technology manager

“The Chinese think of America as ‘The beautiful country’,” said Mr. Tim Teachey.

UVA tries to do professional development for teachers, so last year, UVA partnered with a group that would send Virginia educators to China. Three teachers from Waynesboro were picked to attend. Superintendent Dr. Robin Crowder, WHS principal Mr. Tim Teachey, and WHS science teacher Ms. Desiree Henrikson were the lucky three.

In a class of 42 students, sitting in boy/girl pairs, kids prepare for their ninth grade entrance test. According to Teachey, in China, the students attend ‘lower high school,’ seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. In ninth grade, the students take an entrance test. This test decides whether they qualify to go to ‘upper high school,’ which is for grades 10, 11, and 12. Teachey explained if the student does not qualify, they must quit school and go straight to work. Those who do pass have to pay tuition to attend upper high school.  

In Chinese classrooms, Teachey said the students stay in the same room and the teachers change classes. They are required to learn English from the time they enter kindergarten until they are done with school. The teachers, Teachey said, really want to emphasize the new idea in China of thinking “outside of the box.” They strongly encourage creativity in China; they want creative thinkers but they face the obstacle of a government that doesn’t want the kids to question their communist party.

“We do school different but just as well,” said Teachey. “We try to educate everyone, because we allow and encourage creativity.”

Teachey wants Waynesboro students to prepare for the outside world and know that they will be dealing with more than just Waynesboro.

Teachey said he wants the students to think “outside the box” of Waynesboro city.

Out of all four movies that have been released from the Twilight saga “Breaking Dawn Part 1” has by far been the best. “Breaking Dawn Part 1” is all about Bella, Edward and their future together, getting married and then having children. The movie includes many twists that make it thrilling and unique.

Before going to the midnight release of “Breaking Dawn Part 1” I went to a Twilight party. At the party there we’re mostly couples and we had a variety of different foods, played games and watched the first three movies in the Twilight Saga to get ready for Breaking Dawn Part 1.

When we got to the theater in Charlottesville I could see many different types of people: couples on dates, teenage girls jumping around with excitement and groups of fans covered in Twilight gear talking about the end of the movie. But all of these different groups of people had one thing in common, their love for the Twilight saga.

As midnight grew closer I could see people pushing and shoving to get to their seats before the opening credits started. During the movie I heard many different things: crying, laughing and people gasping in surprise.

The books, by Stephanie Meyer are better than the movies because the books have a lot more detail in them, but Melissa Rosenberg, the screenwriter, did a terrific job of relating the movies to the books. The books and the movies include action, love and fantasy. That is why they are so popular, because they open up a variety of different genres.

Overall, going to see “Breaking Dawn Part 1” was an amazing experience and was definitely worth the money.

-Angela Rossi