CHS Demonstrates Improvement in State Report Card

Each year, the Tennessee releases the state report card, which looks at each individual school
system and the overall academic progress. In 2012, Cookeville High School’s composite ACT
scores ranked at 21.3, while the state’s were a lesser 19.2. The attendance rate at CHS was a
pleasing 96.5%, while out graduation rate was 93.9%, with an increase of almost ten percent
from the previous year.
When interviewed, Mr. Ward said, “We administrators at CHS were so excited by the
information we received; our attendance rate and graduation rate were both incredibly high. Our
school is becoming aware and finding those students who are falling behind. CHS is something
to be proud of and we hope to maintain and improve our school. We can do a better job truly
being college and career ready.”

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Music Review: Mumford & Sons

By Sarah Nisbet
Ever wonder if you’re a hipster? Well for a quick self check ask yourself the question, “Do I like Mumford & Sons?” If your answer is yes, you just might be the embodiment of the increasingly vague definition of a hipster. However, the phrase is not mutually exclusive and not all who like the indie rock gods Mumford & Sons have to be a hipster, so don’t freak out. Whether hipster or not, many people can find at least one song by Mumford & Sons that they enjoy, which is why the band has gained a massive following since their debut.

From their emergence onto the musical stage in 2007, Mumford & Sons quickly became a crowd favorite through their first album Sigh No More. Two years later, the popular band recently released their second album Babel on September 24, 2012. Led by the gritty voice of frontman Marcus Mumford, the band continually perform at iconic venues to sold out crowds. Their new album was mainly recorded during short breaks of their extensive tour. Babel continues the signature Mumford & Sons sound with a slightly more rock and roll feeling. Numerous instruments such as guitar, drums, keyboard, banjo, and mandolins are utilized throughout the album to maintain the band’s grassroots background. The lead single “I Will Wait” heightened the excitement and suspense to the release of the album; although, several tracks were prematurely leaked from the album that was years in the making. Babel did not disappoint for the die hard or newly established fan as the classic Mumford & Sons style progressed in their newest tracks such as “Whispers In The Dark” and “Hopeless Wanderer.” Even more songs are available on the deluxe edition of the album including “The Boxer.”
However, like so many other groups, the style of Mumford & Sons can become heavy and overwhelming since similar beats persist throughout the album. If Babel seemed like your kind of music, you should consider checking out the Avett Brothers. They share Mumford and Son’s alternative style with a bit more bluegrass. The Avett Brothers also recently released on September 11, 2012 titled The Carpenter. Both bands continue to gain popularity, and you should watch out for them in the future.

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Ask Eustice: Holiday Edition

“All I want for Christmas is youuu!” But really, I’m dealing with heartbreak this holiday season. How can I take my mind off it?
Egg nog and candy canes.

What are some creative gift ideas?
Anything homemade. Or a giant stuffed giraffe. Your pick.

Thoughts on No Shave November—Are you glad it’s over?
Over? This face full of fur isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

What are you looking forward to most this holiday season?
Sweaters. Especially turtlenecks, although they have to be altered a little to fit just right.

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A Letter to Santa, From the Seniors

By Abbie King

It’s almost Christmas break. The year is almost halfway over, which means the seniors are that
much closer to graduating. As seniors, I think our Christmas list should be the priority this year…

Dear Santa,

It’s hard to believe this is, technically, our last Christmas as children. We didn’t realize how
quickly this final year was approaching, and we didn’t appreciate the previous Christmases as
we should have. Can we be quite frank, Santa? We’re weary to see this major chapter in our
lives close, and we’re a little hesitant to embrace the change that will soon be here. We know
it’s a lot to ask, and it’s selfish, but we really need everything on our list this year.

First, we need money, and we need it desperately. No matter what path each of us are
choosing to take, we need all of the monetary help we can get. College is expensive. Exploring
the world is expensive. We need cash, but checks are good, too.

Second, we want acceptance letters. We’ve waited long enough for our futures; the least we
deserve is to know whether or not we got into our dream school.

Third, we want to let our parents know we appreciate everything they have done for us.
They’ve put up with us through meltdowns, rebellions, illnesses, nightmares, and middle
school. We’re not good with showing them affection, so we would love it if you could tell us
how to let them know we care.

Our friends come fourth. Not the acquaintances we just talk to when we’re in class with them,
but our real, genuine friends. We want some great, lasting memories with them. We want to be
able to remember all of the good, and all of the bad, situations we’ve been through together.
We want them to know what they mean to us. We don’t want them to forget us. Can you do
that?

Fifth, and finally, is time. We took for granted the time we had as children. We’re not ready to
take care of ourselves quite yet, to be responsible. As much as we say we can’t wait to get out
of here, most of us are a little frightened as to what our futures hold. We want time to think,
time to laugh, time to remember, time to forget, and time to sleep before we enter the world.
We need time to figure out how to make our mark.

So, Santa, we know it’s a lot to ask for, and we understand if you can’t give any of these things
to us, but this is where we are right now. Thanks for everything, big guy.

Love, the Class of 2013

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Boys Basketball Season Faces Tough Competition

By Justin Pearson
The sounds of shoes squeaking, and basketballs being dribbled on the gym floor are back again. The 2012 CHS boys basketball team has begun its season, and are eager for a big year this year. With six seniors returning for the Cavaliers, the boys are loaded with talent and experience. Mat Case, Trey Henderson, Lucas Ledbetter, Phoenix Roberts, Phillip Roper, and Elijah Scott are all ready to begin their final season at CHS and their hoping they can make this one count. The squad has a pretty tough schedule, including games against the dreaded Sparta , Bradley Central, Haywood County, and Wilson Central, all very daunting opponents. In order to make it to the playoffs, we must win our district consisting of: Sparta, Warren Co., Cumberland Co., and Coffee Co. The team is also taking a trip during Christmas break to Destin, Florida, where they’ll play against other talented schools CHS wouldn’t normally have the chance to face. As you can see, it's going to be an exciting season of boys basketball, so come out and see as many games as you can!

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Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade

By Stone Fagan

Along with the new presence of fall weather and Thanksgiving, came the beloved Macy’s Day Parade. This year was the 86th annual parade and occurred on November 22 in New York at 9 a.m. EST. Boasting more than 3.5 million viewers along the parade route this year, and 50 million watching the televised broadcast, the 10,000 participants in the parade had quite an enormous crowd. This year’s event was especially important, due to two of Cookeville High’s own students participating. Bailey Rose and Kaity Harville appeared as dancers in the parade.

In addition to this, three new floats were incorporated into the lineup, which were Hello Kitty, Elf on the Shelf, and Papa Smurf. The featured performance groups were as follows:

Performance Groups
-Spirit of America Dance
-Stagedoor Manor
-Varsity Spirit Cheer

Floats
-Gift of Freedom
-Zhu-niverse
-Smurf Mushroom Float
-Big Apple
-Bridge to the Future
-Marion Carole Showboat
-Snoopy’s Doghouse
-Peprally
-Home Baked Goodness
-Elves Raise the Roof
-Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure
-On the Roll Again
-International Celebration Clock tower
-Santa’s Sleigh
-Woodland Family Gathering
-Tom Turkey
-1-2-3 Sesame Street
-True Spirit of Thanksgiving
-American Pride
-Fall Frozen Fun
-Christmas in Central Park

Balloons
-Hello Kitty
-Spongebob Squarepants
-Kermit the Frog
-Diary of a Wimpy Kid
-Julius
-Spiderman
-Kung Fu Panda
-Pikachu
-Ronald McDonald
-Pillsbury Doughboy
-Buzz Lightyear
-Sailor Mickey
-Sonic the Hedgehog

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Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive... All Year

By Bethany Bray
The time of year when our houses smell of pine and cookies is right around the corner. That's right, friends, Christmas is almost here! Soon we will be violently tearing open presents from underneath our tree, and giving out hugs to family members who we are spending the holidays with. We will feel butterflies in the pits of our stomaches when we see our parents walking in the house with hands filled with shopping bags, hoping that the majority of the things in those bags are for us. But, what about the day after Christmas? When the tree comes down, and back in the garage? When there are no more presents or cookies, and that warm and fuzzy Christmas feeling won't be back for another 365 days? How do we keep the Christmas spirit alive all year long? Well, here are some solutions to keep everyone in a Christmas-y mood!
1.) Caroling- You may not be accustomed to seeing groups of brightly clad carolers strolling in your neighborhood in May, but singing is a year-round activity. Bring your group to a nursing home, pediatric hospital, or rehabilitation center to entertain the residents. Maybe, if you're not on the shy side, you could carol around your neighborhood whenever you feel inspired! I'm sure your neighbors would greatly appreciate a happy-go-lucky teenager caroling on their front porch even if the time is greatly overdue.
2.) Coddling- We make a special effort to choose the perfect gifts for our family and friends during the holidays. Are there other ways we can coddle them throughout the year? Taking interest in the activities they enjoy, preparing favored foods, and encouraging and appreciating them daily will make even the grouchiest Scrooge feel treasured.
3.) Music- We all love to hear Christmas classics during the holiday season, but in order to keep the spirit alive in not just the winter months, rejoice by playing Christmas tunes constantly! Music is the best way to someone's heart (besides food), so the soothing sounds of Michael Bublé's “I'll Be Home For Christmas” and hearing Mariah Carey belt “All I Want For Christmas Is You” are bound to put that warm feeling back in anyone's heart.
4.) Cooking- Food takes center stage at many holiday gatherings, but it may become humdrum at other times of the year. Make mealtime spectacular at least once a month by trying new recipes and themes, and getting crafty with table settings. Good luck!

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Ms. Smith Goes to California

By Cody Thompson
One of Cookeville High School’s own, Ms. Julie Smith, recently had a well-deserved vacation to California. Ms. Smith left Nashville on Saturday, November 11th. Accompanying her on this trip was her best friend of 35 years, Kelley Hudgens, who resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon her arrival in Los Angeles California, the first place Ms. Smith visited was California’s famous burger stop, In-N-Out Burger. Ms. Smith commented on this burger stop saying that, “It was delicious…I ate there three times, out of the four days I was there.” After her delicious meal, Ms. Smith took a delightful Beverly Hills tour. On the tour, she saw an abundant amount of celebrity homes. These homes include: Michael Jackson’s house, Paris Hilton’s house, Dr. Phil’s house, and many more.
Ms. Smith was also on two TV shows, Jimmy Kimmel Live with guest appearance by Robert Pattinson, and The Price is Right. Ms. Smith got to the Price is Right studio at 5:30 A.M. to be accepted into first 300 people. She stood in line until 8:30 and waited in the studio until the show started at 1:00 P.M. While waiting, Ms. Smith had a 15 second interview with the show’s producer to see if she could be on the stage with Drew Carey! (The host of the Price is Right) Ms. Smith was chosen to be one of the lucky few to be on the stage. I asked Ms. Smith if she won a prize, she stated “Yes, I can confirm that I did win something, and that I got to spin the Big Wheel, but I cannot tell you what I won, because of contract reasons.” If you are interested in what she won, you can watch the Price is Right on January 8th to see Ms. Smith on this popular television show.
I asked Ms. Smith what her favorite thing she did on the trip, and she said it was being on the Price is Right. She said she and her friend Kelley have been wishing to be on that show since they were little girls. I went on to ask her how her vacation was, she said, “ It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had… It exceeded my expectations.” She also said if anyone has the opportunity to visit the west coast, that they should!

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Christmas Isn't Just Music, Cookies, and Sweaters

By Matt Billings
The sound of easy listening Christmas music, the smell of gingerbread cookies, the feeling of semi-itchy sweaters, all of these are synonymous with Christmas traditions in America, and lest we forget, good ol’ Santa bringing us some well deserved gifts via the fireplace. What else, though, do people do during this beloved holiday season? Every continent and almost every single country has its own way of celebrating Christmas.

Let’s first take a look at the Christmas traditions in Europe to get a better idea of why we Americans do Christmas things the way we do.  One of the many interesting traditions in Europe includes the ever fun Dutch Christmas traditions, when The beloved “Sinterklaas” who comes all the from Spain to bring bags of toys to the children’s doorsteps, after this occurs, bands plays and everyone floods into the streets for more Christmas celebrations such as live music. In Germany, “Christmas Markets” are the thing to visit during the holiday season. Things such as candles, wooden trinkets, and pastries are sold in Markets there, these markets are long standing traditions and differ widely depending on the region visited. Perhaps the busiest of all places to visit during the December holiday season is London. In London there is a wide variety of Christmas themed theatre productions, as well as infinite street decorations and Christmas lights.

South America is home to many age old Christmas traditions that are somewhat similar to what we are used to here in the U.S., but in some ways different. In places like Bolivia and Brazil, The main focus of this holiday is a nativity scene which most people have in their homes. Plays and interpretations of the of Jesus Christ are reenacted through plays throughout the entire continent. La Posadas, the remarkable buildup to Christmas Eve, is a particularly delightful tradition originating in Mexico. Starting on December 16th, it commemorates Mary and Joseph's travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. After dark on every night of the "Posada," two children lead a procession, carrying a small pine-decorated platform bearing replicas of Joseph and Mary riding a burro, or donkey. Others follow the children, all holding long, slim, lit candles, singing the "Litany of the Virgin" as they approach the door of a household chosen for that night's 'Posada'. Chanting a traditional old song, they awaken the home's head to ask for lodging for Mary. The household occupants traditionally threaten the guests to leave, but they continue their pleads for admittance. When the household realizes who they is speaking with, they eagerly welcome them and invite them in. All the participants then kneel around the "Nacimiento," the manger scene, and offer songs of welcome, Ave Marias, and a prayer.

There are countless traditions acknowledged for this interesting holiday, the favorite of many. In short, the same holiday is celebrated in many different ways throughout the world, and one very important aspect of being a citizen of the world is understanding how peoples of different cultures live and do things, and what better way to start then to learn through the power of holiday cheer?

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Time to Roll Out the Mats

By Scott Proffitt
In the famous words of Michael Buffer, “Let’s get ready to rumble!” It’s time to strap on the head gear and roll out the mats because wrestling season is here again! Now that the football season has reached its conclusion, Coach Cook is geared and ready for the wrestling season. When asked about the transition from football to wrestling, Coach Cook replied, “Being head coach of football and of wrestling both entail much of the same things as far as preparation goes. The only difference is the sport itself.”
His goal for the team this year is for them to improve as the season progresses and to compete well on the state level. But most of all, Coach Cook expects his wrestlers to have a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard. And according to how he runs his practices, working hard is a must. Coach Cook described his practices as extremely intense with hands on drills and live situations. “I want everyone to always be working,” he says. “I don’t like a whole lot of standing around and watching.” Dalton Underwood, a sophomore wrestler, said, “His practices push you to the limit and are incredibly strenuous.” Although the preparation seems daunting, it’s all worthwhile for the wrestlers. All the hard work that’s put into practices finally comes to fruition when a meet rolls around. The team has around fifty meets during the course of the season and although this is a team sport, each wrestler has the task of facing their opponent on their own. “It’s an elevating feeling when you win a match knowing no one else helped you,” says Underwood.
Coach Cook along with the rest of the team is primed and ready for an excellent season of wrestling. Senior wrestlers this year include Glen Shoemake, Tanner Curto, Alex Davidson, Derek Hammons, and Amber Slaughter. Wrestling may seem like a simple sport, but in reality, there’s nothing further from the truth. Wrestling is one of the toughest sports there is and these students have been putting in a great deal of hard work each week. So come out and support your wrestling team and watch them kick some tail!

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On Being a Lady

By Abbie King
It has come to my attention that manners and etiquette as a whole are recently being pushed to the wayside. More specifically, though, I have observed the etiquette and poise young ladies once carried themselves with is being continuously disregarded. Although I do understand that some girls don’t want to appease sexism by falling into the stereotype of a “girl,” I believe there is a huge difference between a girl and a lady. A girl cares what others think. A girl lets others influence her decisions. A girl fits the stereotype.
But there is a certain magic to a lady. A lady thinks for herself. She places her napkin in her lap, chews food and chewing gum with her mouth closed, and knows when it is and is not acceptable to swear. A lady knows when to speak and when to listen. She is aware of the social situation she is in and knows how to conduct herself. Being ladylike is more than just please and thank-you’s. It is knowing not to degrade yourself, knowing what you are worth. Girls these days, due to media and society’s standards, are unaware of how truly special they are, and a disturbing amount sell themselves short, whether it be concerning boys, their peers, or their occupation. “Keep it classy,” is right. Less is more. Boys don’t deserve to know all of your secrets on the first date. Acting less intelligent than you are, believe it or not, isn’t appealing to a guy. You are worth more than what you think, so don’t let any boy or model or celebrity or clothing line make you think otherwise. Who you surround yourself with is who you becoming, so choose carefully. I am not suggesting we erase 50 years of feminism, but rather, we add a little class to what we’ve accomplished thus far.
As Marie from the Aristocats says, “I’m a lady.”

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The Movers and Shakers: Exile International

By Sarah Foy
Kony 2012. You watched the video, you saw the facebook statuses. If you’re like me, your heart broke to see a man, Joseph Kony, abduct hundreds of children and force them to kill their parents and fight in the Lord’s Resistance Army in this war waging across Africa. And, if you’re like me, you wanted to know what was being done to help these children. Exile International is a program that answers that question by focusing on three-fold plan: action, advocacy, and awareness.

The Exile team goes to the places hardest hit like Congo and eastern Africa to provide trauma care to these war-effected children through art and expressive therapy workshops. They listen to the kids’ stories and help them with the guilt of killing family members and fighting in the war. Exile International also has a sponsorship program for those orphaned and abandoned by the war providing food, shelter, education, and psychosocial care. The team is dedicated to social justice and advocacy, and they share the children’s artwork to raise awareness.
Exile International is taking major action against a major crime by helping these children live normal lives again and giving them opportunity for a future outside of fighting in the war. You can be involved in this program by telling others about Exile International, researching the war in Africa and become informed, or donating to their funding. Visit www.exileinternational.org for more details.

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Busy Season Ahead For Lady Cavs Basketball

By Rachel Fox

The girl’s basketball team looks promising this year. The CHS senior girls are Hannah Goolsby (#24), Sydney Robinson (#11), and Libby Ligon (#5). The junior girls are Alison Odom (#21) and Sydney Marek (#25). Sophomore girls are Haylie Kieth (#1), Syvannah Mayberry (#30), Merriel Craighead (#32), and Kylie Oliphant (#22). Freshman girls are Karagan Turner (#10) and Toiya Gwynn (#20). With the fantastic leadership of coach Mindy Odom and assistant coaches Janie Brock and Michelle Snow, the busy season is sure to be a great one!

Here’s the schedule for the 2012-13 season, 
11/17/12 Sat- Smith County Clarkrange High School Away Non-League    
11/17/12 Sat- Haywood County Clarkrange High School Away Non-League    
11/23/12 Fri- Cannon County High School Away Tournament    
11/24/12 Sat- Cannon County High School Away Tournament    
11/27/12 Tue- Lenoir City Cookeville High School Home Non-League    
12/04/12 Tue- Wilson Central Wilson Central Away Non-League    
12/07/12 Fri- Brentwood Academy Home Non-League    
12/15/12 Sat- Bradley Central Home Non-League    
12/18/12 Tue- Lebanon Home Non-League    
12/20/12 Thu- Warren County Away Tournament    
12/21/12 Fri- Warren County Away Tournament    
12/22/12 Sat- Warren County Away Tournament        
1/04/13 Fri- Cumberland County Away League    
1/08/13 Tue- Jackson County Home Non-League    
1/12/13 Sat- Bradley Central Away Non-League    
1/15/13 Tue- Coffee County Away League    
1/18/13 Fri- White County Home League    
1/22/13 Tue- Warren County Home League    
1/25/13 Fri- Cumberland County Home League    
1/29/13 Tue- Lancaster Christian Away Non-League    
2/01/13 Fri- Coffee County Home League    
2/05/13 Tue- White County Away League    
2/08/13 Fri- Warren County Away League    
2/12/13 Tue- Lancaster Christian Home Non-League    
2/16/13 Sat- District Semis White County Playoffs    
2/19/13 Tue- District Consolation or Championship White County Playoffs

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Student Spotlight: Josh Groves

By Rogerr Festerr Nolan
Cookeville High School is home to many interesting, if not peculiar, inhabitants. Among the coolest of these kids, though, is Joshua Thomas Groves, a Junior. Just what makes Josh cool you may ask? I set
out to find out myself and boy was I surprised at what I found.

Well for one thing, he is quite good at kayaking. “I’m actually training to be on the Junior Olympic kayak team,” Josh informed me. When asked about why he got into the splendid sport of kayaking, Josh didn’t hesitate, “Chicks dig kayakers.” But even when he’s not ripping it up in the water, Josh leads a pretty interesting life. His hobbies include but are not limited to the following: reading, juggling, listening to music, and attempting to build a 18th century pipe organ. Yeah, you read that right. He’s attempting to build his very own pipe organ. “If it’s good enough for Mozart, it’s good enough for me.” Another interesting fact about Josh that not everyone knows is that he can quote every single line from the play Mamma Mia!
But Josh isn’t all fun and games outside of school, and then a void of emotion during school. In fact, some of his friends claim that Josh is a master at appealing to the emotions. “Yeah. I once saw him serenading someone with a handwritten poem,” recalled one of Josh’s best friends, Phillip Dodge. He’s also an all-star in the classroom and in other school related activities. “Josh Groves is easily one of the best students I’ve ever had. If all students were half as good as he is, then wars would cease,” stated Mrs. Martin, his English teacher. It also shouldn’t fly under the radar that Josh is Junior Class President. And who better to assess his ability than Student Body President John Gleason? “Josh is a great worker and has not once been late to anything.” So next time you’re walking in the hall and you suddenly feel as if God has smiled upon you, look around. Odds are that you’ve just been graced with the presence of Josh Groves.

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Interact Blood Drive Collects Over 80 Units

By Josh Huddleston
The CHS Interact Club held its 15th annual Blood Drive on Thursday,  November 15th. Set up began at 7:15 in the Mezzanine, and the Blood Drive started at 8:00 and ran until 1:00. Students that signed up were assigned a time to come give blood. On average, between 75 to 90 units of blood are donated each year, this year's donation coming in at 86- enough to save 258 lives.

“This is the best thing a student can do,” says club sponsor Mrs. Nadine Jones, “because all the blood donated goes to Blood Assurance and is distributed to the (Cookeville) hospital, so it stays locally, and we are in short supply during the holiday season.” Students who donated were provided food, drink, and a t-shirt, and a second Blood Drive will be held in the spring for interested students aged 16 and older.

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Diving Into Swim Season

By Beth Kelly
Swim season here at CHS is in full swing, beginning in November and closing near the end of January. The swim team practices five days a week, either before or after school. Practice includes: running, swimming; distance (testing to see how far you can swim in a certain amount of time), pulls, and kicks (different types of strength exercises for their arms and legs) in order to succeed and do well in their meets. A swim meet takes place for a few hours, during which the team competes in multiple events.

The swim team consists primarily of juniors, a few freshmen, and an even number of seniors and sophomores. The coach of the team is Scott Brown. As the season proceeds, we hope the best for the swim team and that they have a great season!

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Christmas-Thanksgiving Unfairness

By Sarah Nisbet
“Just hear those sleigh bells ringing and jing ting tingaling too. Come on its lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.” I can almost hear the content sighs as the spirit of Christmas transforms the world into a winter wonderland for a few short months. However, I’m sure I’m not the only one to have heard those songs even before Halloween, and we all know the Christmas fanatics who have had a little too much eggnog and insist on putting their tree up (including presents) no later than November 1st. Unfortunately, this begs the question, whatever happened to Thanksgiving?!

For centuries, the two holidays have battled for recognition, and Christmas usually wins by a landslide. I mean, who doesn’t love presents, hot chocolate, and some forced family time? Plus, with all the snow we get, it’s tough to beat our sledding. Oh wait, I forgot we practically live in the snow dessert. (See: Winter 2011-2012) But I digress. The truth of the matter is Thanksgiving and Christmas both symbolize similar traditions. Typically, families come together to celebrate their love for one another and enjoy a feast of all feasts. Although Thanksgiving and Christmas originate from very different backgrounds since one is religious the other cultural, it’s clear to me that the two are equally recognizable. In the end, when the holidays role around next year, don’t let your Christmas spirit overlook the value of Thanksgiving! And as always, don’t forget to put those snow pajamas on inside out when the time comes!

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Talent Show: A High Note in November

By Destiny Rector
Every year, CHS takes an afternoon to display the talent it offers in the annual Talent Show. The Talent Show was put together by the Choral Department and the Student Congress and was held on November 20th in the gymnasium. The cost to attend was $3, and it was held following a shortened fourth block. There were many amazing acts this year with students from all different walks of life coming out to show the school what they have to offer.

Talent Show winners (left to right) JP Nelms, Vaden, Phillips, Billings, and Nathan Nelms

With as many as 17 performances, this years talent show was a jaw-dropping experience. Some of the performers included Jade Smith, Kaleb Carlile, Jasmine Clemente, Nick Baker, and Miranda Malin. The winners of the Talent Show were Aaron Phillips, Nathan Nelms, John Phillip Nelms, Matt Billings, and Elias Vaden performing Tighten Up by The Black Keys.

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Senior Superlatives

By Kayla Hardin

Every year here at CHS we elect Senior Superlatives.  This is where we spotlight some of our seniors for achieving high and representing the very best our school has to offer.

Mr and Miss Cavalier

Mr. and Miss Cavalier : Coleman Hawkins and Shelby Enochs

Mr and Miss Senior Class: John Gleason and Bailey Rose

Most Likely to Succeed: Coleman Hawkins and Colleen Ryan

Most Athletic : Darien Tubbs and Hannah Goolsby

Most Dependable: Elias Vaden and Sarah Wilson

Most Comedic: Ian Bass and Shelby Enochs

Most Well-Rounded: John Gleason and Meagan  Stafford

Most Likely to Brighten Your Day: Nathen Nelms and Abbie King

Most Talented : Aaron Phillips and Abby Weeden

Most Spirited: Judd Garrison and Lora Dycus

Most Intellectual : Will Kelly and Kacie Maeda

Most Congenial : Josh Craig and Jazmine Casal

Most Artistic: Humberto Cadena and Emaleigh Grantz

Dynamic Duos: Elias Vaden and Aaron Phillips, and Bailey Rose and Jennifer Montgomery

Mr. and Miss Senior Class

Senior Favorites: Sarah Best, Ashley Carter, Mat Case, Tyler Cavin, Katiebeth Chapman, Drew Dias, Lora Dycus, Ryan Eberle, Trey Fields, Hannah Goolsby, Samantha Harold, Trey Henderson, Lucas Ledbetter, Taylor Logan, Julie Moran, Colm Newson, Cory Parham , Aaron Phillips, Scott Proffit, Savannah Rippetoe, Courtney Thompson, Cole Wilson, Haley Wilson, and Sarah Wilson

Superlatives: Jeremy Craig, Josh Craig, Ethan Crum, Will Kelly, Libby Ligon, Sara Ramirez, Abbi Reeder, Colleen Ryan, Celina Unzueta, Megan Winningham, Elias Vaden, Mariah Vinson, and Ali Zekic

Every senior here at Cookeville High School has something amazing about them but these are just a few of the 2013 Senior Class that stand out and who will go far in life .

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Scientists Go Bananas for a New Monkey

By Jenna Lee Stevens

On September 12, 2012, scientists announced the discovery of a new monkey species, the Lesula, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The unfamiliar, brightly colored primate has a naked face with a think blond mane, red patch on its lower back, and aquamarine buttocks. Lesula monkeys typically weigh 12 pounds and measure around 20 inches. While new insect species are common and plentiful, the exposure of an unknown mammal species is a rarity. In fact, the Lesula is only the second primate species uncovered in Africa for nearly three decades. The wild Lesula monkey’s home, the lush Lomani Rainforest, explains how such a large mammal went unnoticed, as it is vast and remote.

Conservation biologists John and Therese Hart initially encountered the monkey in 2007 whilst working on the Lukuru Wildlife Research Project. The primate was a local family’s pet. Through genetic testing and observation, researchers concluded that the monkey was, in fact, a unique species.
Unfortunately, the Lesula monkey’s future is questionable. The monkey may be new to scientists, but it is certainly familiar to the dinner table in the region. Hunters target the Lesula, along with dozens of other species, because of the thriving market for bush meat. According to Hart, “Under the current trends of uncontrolled bush-meat hunting, it could become very endangered.” Now, the task is to save the newly discovered monkey.

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The Origins of Halloween

By Erica Dial
Halloween has just passed us, and the Charger staff thought it appropriate to take a look at the origins of Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, as it was originally called. The word Halloween was first used in the sixteenth century and represents a Scottish variant of All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Hallows' Day. Despite pagan roots, the etymology of the word is strictly Christian.

Scholars who have studied the holiday have found that All Hallows' Eve incorporated traditions from pagan harvest festivals, as well as festivals honoring the dead. While some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more closely tied with the Celtic festival of Samhain, meaning “summer's end”. This time of year was used for stock-taking and preparation for the vicious winter months ahead. There was a strong superstitious feel at this time of year; many folks believed that the physical and supernatural worlds were closest at this time and that magical things were more likely to happen. To ward off spirits, the Gaels built huge bonfires and asked for the help of the gods through animal and – allegedly – human sacrifices.
Halloween is believed to have been heavily influenced by Christian “holy days”, such as All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Collectively these holidays were a time for honoring saints and praying for those who had recently passed. It was believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve was the last day for the dead to seek vengeance on those who had wronged them in life. To avoid being recognized by the dead, Christians would wear masks and costumes in order to disguise themselves. This tradition is perpetuated to this day by children dressing up for trick-or-treating.
Whatever the “true” origins of Halloween may be, I think we can all agree that it is an enchanting time of the year. From spooky decorations to plastic jack-o-lanterns filled to the brim with candy, Halloween is a holiday for all to enjoy.

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Buffalo Wild Wings Comes to Cookeville

By Matt Billings and Cody Thompson

America. Many people regard this great land as the home of freedom, also home of guns, baseball, and perhaps most important of all, the hot chicken wing. Of the many great restaurants parceled throughout this great land, one of the most prominent to serve the mystical hot chicken wing is the treasure that is Buffalo Wild Wings. Founded in 1981, in Minneapolis, MN, James Disbrow and Scott Lowery created this famous chain. A mere thirty-one years later it stands as the quintessential chicken Mecca of North America.

On October 1st, the chain’s location in Cookeville, TN opened its doors for the first time? Like other Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, customers are offered boneless or traditional wings with more than thirty options for sauces and seasonings to provide the optimal flavor experience. This unique restaurant has a glorious and long-standing tradition of rewarding the first 100 people through the door with free hot chicken wings for one year. However, glorious and mighty this deal may seem, there is one disappointing catch. The hot chicken wings are limited to one order a week, which is less than one wing a day. Added up however, this is a total of 312 hot chicken wings over the course of a year.
We decided to have a chat with CHS’s own Gray Forrester, one of the lucky recipients of the 312 free hot chicken wings. Gray along with some friends camped out the Sunday before the opening day of the Mecca that is Buffalo Wild Wings. When asked about the experience in general, he replied “ The first two hours were delightful, but then a torrential downpour occurred, causing me to retreat to my tent and reflect on my life. Ultimately the experience made me more of a man.” After Mr. Forrester’s powerful account, we decided to head over to Interstate Drive to try some hot chicken wings. An entire three weeks after the grand opening, we were forced to park in the Logan’s parking lot, due to how full it was. Besides the minor set back, we made the trek inside to partake upon the hot chicken wings, rumored to be of the heavens. After being seated, we had a hard time deciding which sauces we would choose. The subsequent meal was quality and the sauces were rich and savory as well as spicy.
In all, Buffalo Wild Wings proved to be more than a mere restaurant to get a quality hot chicken wing. Buffalo Wild Wings serves as a symbol of this great nation, with the freedom to choose any sauce your heart desires. Buffalo Wild Wings is indeed here to stay.

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Movie Review: End of Watch

By Caleb King

Starring  Jake  Gyllenhaal  and  Michael  Peña,  End  of  Watch  is  a  movie  detailing  the  day  to  day  lives  of  fictional officers  Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala.  While  most  of  the  movie  takes  place  in  the  front  seat  of  there  squad  car  the  movie  is  never  boring due  to  the  relationship  between  the  characters,  the  camera  work,  and  the  writing  of  the story.

The  movie's  strongest  appeal  is  the  relationship  between  the  main  characters.  At  its centre, the movie  is  a  109  minute  bromance.  Gyllenhaal  and  Peña  play  so  well  off  of one  another  that  you  just  might believe  that  they  had  grown  up  together,  working  day  after  day  to  keep L.A.  safe.  The  only  problem  with  this  is  that  the  characters  never  disagree.  While  they  do  poke  fun  at  one  another  throughout  the  entire  movie  they  never  even  consider  that  what  the other  did  was  wrong.

Another  quality  that  the  movie  did  well  was  the  camera  work.  The  movie  was  shot  in the  “home  movie”  style.  Similar  to  Cloverfield  and  the  Blair  Witch  Project,  the  movie   is  supposedly  shot  by  officer  Brian  Taylor  for  a  college  thesis.  The  production  crew  went  all  out even  editing  in  the  picture  texture  to  give  it  a  mild  static  look  for  realism.  This  alone  would mean  nothing  if  the  charters  didn't  address  the  camera.

Finally  the  story  itself  is  very  well  written.  If  the  writers  had  gone  with  some  over  the top  action  movie  it  would  have  lost  most  of  its  appeal.  The  reason  the  movie  is  so  good  is because  the  charters  play  well  off  each  other.  Not  just  the  main  characters,  but  all  characters- the  cops,  the  gangsters-  are  ground  in  a  realism  that  adds  depth  to  the  entire  movie.

In  conclusion  the  movie  does  well  with  the  writing  and  character development  and  I  feel  that  the  only  shortcoming  is  that  the  movie  feels  short. Even  though  the  movie  is lengthy  it  crams  so  many  events  into  such  a  small  amount of  time  the  pacing  just  seems extraordinarily fast.

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Cavaliers Improve, Despite Loss at Mt. Juliet

By Ryan Eberle

Last Friday the Cavaliers had much to be excited about, except for the final outcome of the game.  The Cavaliers came into the game as a huge underdog, predicted by some people to lost by as many as 40 points to 6A No.7 ranked Mt. Juliet.  Mt. Juliet (6-1) had only one loss coming into the game, which came against Beech who had previously beaten the Cavaliers 56-0.
However, despite everyone’s expectations, Cookeville was the team that came out firing on all cylinders.  The Cavalier defense forced a quick 3 and out, and on the very first offensive play for the Cavaliers Ryan Eberle hooked up with Chase Mabey for a 60-yard completion all the way to the Mt. Juliet Golden Bears 8 yard line.  Unfortunately after a penalty and some miscues on offense, the Cavaliers missed a field goal and an opportunity to score first.  Then, it was the Golden Bears who went on a role, scoring twice and taking a 14-0 lead heading into the 2nd quarter.
Even though most people had written Cookeville off by this point, Cookeville had learned from the Beech game.  With a couple scores of their own and a last second field goal by Tyler Wright at the half, the Cavaliers had come within 8 points of Mt. Juliet and would receive the ball first in the 2nd half. 
The Cavaliers made the most of their first drive of the 2nd half, with an 8-minute, 15-play drive which resulted in an Alex Sklavenitis touchdown.  Then after a successful fake field goal pass to Blake Thurman, the Cavaliers were tied 24-24 and had silenced the Mt. Juliet homecoming crowd. 
Unfortunately the Cavaliers caught some tough breaks in the 4th quarter, and after a very controversial helmet-to-helmet penalty the Golden Bears had a 2-touchdown lead.  The Cavaliers though were not ready to quit just yet.  After driving down to the Golden Bears 2 yard line, the Cavaliers had 4 downs to score and draw within 1 score of Mt. Juliet.  Unfortunately, for the first time all night, the Cavaliers couldn’t come up with a big play when needed and turned the ball over on downs with a minute to go in the game.  Then the Golden Bears just needing to knee the ball and run out the clock, decided they would try to boost their rankings in the state and ran the ball in for another touchdown, effectively running up the score and showing just how un-classy they were. 
The Cavaliers will now face another tough test this week at home against previously ranked 6A No.8 ranked Riverdale.  It will be the senior night for the Cavaliers and their last regular season home game.  Riverdale has been the one game that has eluded the Cavaliers for years, but this year could be the year as Riverdale already has 3 losses and the Cavaliers will have home-field advantage on their side.

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Vote Kid President

By Sarah Foy

While you were reading the political arguments on Facebook (or joining in on them yourself), you might have missed a new candidate gracing the world of YouTube: Kid President.

He’s the self appointed voice for his generation, and he always tells it like it is. With a few hundred views on his YouTube channel, Kid President had a humble beginning, but soon the world took notice of his contagious charm, wit, and brutal honesty. For a special episode of his show, he interviewed the creator of Adventure Time, Ward Pen. But this was just the tip of the iceberg for Kid President. Soon, Frankie Jonas, the youngest of the famous Jonas Brothers, was appointed Vice President, drawing more eyes to this new take on politics. The biggest breakthrough for Kid President yet was announced just the other day. If you follow Rainn Wilson, a.k.a Dwight for The Office, you might have heard the news. Kid President is joining the popular Youtube Channel Soulpancake, a project co founded by Rainn Wilson himself. It’s apparent that Kid President has a bright future ahead of him, but you might be asking, “Just what does this kid do?”
Kid President encourages his viewers to take a different view on life. Instead of waiting for someone else to make things better, he tells us that it is our responsibility to give the world a reason to dance, to create positive change in the world. He respectfully asks adults to stop being so boring. He tells us to stop posting on Facebook and actually make stuff happen. Kid President isn’t all talk and no walk, though. Most recently he made a video calling attention to Krochet Kids, an organization that sells hats made by over a hundred different people in Uganda and Peru to help give these people jobs, education, and a future. I almost forgot the best part of Kid President. He’s likes to dance. A lot.
Kid President is definitely making the world a better place and giving us all a laugh at the same time. As soon as you’re able to get over the fact that this elementary school kid is way cooler than you will ever be, you can begin to take his advice and create positive change. I’ll leave you with the words of Kid President himself, “Don’t be in a party. Be a party.”

For more Kid President, check out:

http://www.facebook.com/KidPresident

https://twitter.com/iamkidpresident

http://kidpres.tumblr.com/

http://kidpresident.com/

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The Expendables 2

By Caleb King

The Expendables 2 The expendable 2 is the sequels to the 2010 film the expendables. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger one would think that the expendables would be high adrenalin action from beginning to end with a thread bare story to tie it together, and they would be right.

While I personally enjoyed The Expendables I couldn’t help but notice that it felt familiar. The movie really didn’t introduce anything new, but that is not to say that the movie was stale. The core of the film was to be an action movie and I feel that it was accomplished many times over. While the action was spectacular the story was, as stated early, bare. The complex twist and turns that allow other movies to keep you on your toes was not present. The story was overly straightforward and blunt. The villain (Jean-Claude Van) stated his every intention for his plans and telegraphed his every action.
While the story was far from phenomenal I was surprised by the character development. If you had watched the first movie you may have noticed the minor hostilities that Stallone, Willis, and Schwarzenegger had for one another in the church seen, yet in the sequel not only did the three Willing work together they went out of there way to save each other, this along with one character’s view of the deeper meaning of his meal and one character’s surprising M.I.T degree showed that the writers really wanted to show a more human side to their characters.
The humor mostly relies on allusions to the actors others movies. With three “I’ll be back” references, a Yippy-KY-eh and a Chuck Norris joke the film is not afraid to poke fun at the actors including remarks about the age of the actors. Though these are small remarks are funny trying to rely all humor on these is simply not enough for the two hour movie and this is clear even to the writers as they recycle old gags from the first movie.
Though the movie has lacking in story and humor, I do believe it accomplished what it set out to do make a great action movie. With that in mind I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves action movies or remembers these actors from the 80’s and 90’s.

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Memorable Phrases

By Gray Forrester

We’ve all done it. You’re walking down the hall when you hear
something that makes you stop and just go, “Huh? Did I really
just hear that?”. After some intense research, and more than
couple phrases and words I wish I hadn’t heard, here is a list of
some of the more memorable hallway phrases from this school
year.

• Dude. You should’ve seen my dog dance last night!
• Why are you only wearing one shoe?
• Oh, here’s some incoming traffic *beep beep*
• Dangit! I could’ve sworn today was Thursday!
• Did you really not know your shirt is inside out?
• I intend to live forever. So far so good!
• If your hair wasn’t curly, I swear it’d be at least 6 feet.
• Whatever you do, don’t tell her about the tarantula.
• Do you think he’d notice if I brought a pillow and went to
• sleep in the back corner?
• Fluggernugget…

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Charger Goes Online

A new school year, a new start. And a new Charger editor, Colleen Ryan, bringing many prodigious changes to our CHS Charger paper and staff. Perhaps most remarkable of all is the setup of the online edition of the Charger- a first for the newspaper. Miss Ryan proudly states, “It's just the beginning for the Charger. You can expect many more important changes to come.” 

So what is so important about the online edition of the Charger? Just about everything! Not only will students be able to browse the current issue, they will also be enabled to read past issues that are no longer available in print. Aside from the reprinting of the issues online, students will be able to read articles that the Charger did not have room for in printing. A conglomeration of important information and events can be learned of, while previously they would have been tossed away and forgotten.

What else does the online edition of the Charger bring to students? An important insight into the lives of the editor and staff members here at CHS. A link to each member is provided, including a photograph, taken by head photographer Blake Gentry, and a short biography about the member. Not only that, but links to each member's previously written articles will be provided, so that students may read as many articles by their friends as they want.

Each CHS student should be sure to take a look around the new website. It can be found at www.thechscharger.blogspot.com

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Men's Fashion from a Woman's Perspective

By Abbie King

When describing their dream man, most ladies list the typical qualities they look for, such as handsome, funny, and compassionate. A quality many women search for but do not admit to, however, is well dressed. It is almost embarrassing to admit to liking a well dressed fellow because it appears silly and shallow. I, on the other hand, am not ashamed to admit that how a guy dresses is important to me, and I know that there are many girls in this school like myself. So, fellas, if impressing the ladies is something you strive to do, listen up. Here are some styling tips that are woman-approved and, never fear, socially acceptable.

A huge hit that has already made many appearances at CHS is bright colors. Whether is be bright blue pants or light pink shorts, these articles add contrast to any simple outfit. If you’re not one for the lime-light and being conspicuous, subtle additions to your wardrobe have the same effect. Adding deep purple to your wardrobe instead of black can make all the difference. A trend that hasn’t quite made its way to Cookeville yet is texture and pattern combinations. If your old striped tee is just not cutting it, try throwing a flannel button up over it. The same old denim getting you down? Try pin-striped or corduroys. Popular this fall and winter is layering. Adding a blazer, vest, or cardigan spices up any simple outfit. Pairing a collared shirt with a sweater is a great way to keep warm while remaining classy. Oh, and flip flops are never acceptable.

So next time you’re getting dress, step out of your comfort zone and try something new! Women will swoon.

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HOSA Starts RED OUT.

By Cody Thompson

HOSA, meaning Health Occupations Students of America, is a nationwide club for students interested in having an occupation in the medical field. HOSA’s mission is to “enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing
opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students, therefore, helping students to meet the needs of the health care community.” HOSA will be doing a fundraiser this year for the American Heart Association, called RED OUT for the first time ever.
RED OUT is a way to take a stand against heart disease. Heart disease is our nation’s number one cause of death. Since Cookeville High School is participating in this inspiring fundraiser this year, the AHA (American Heart Association) will be providing us with awesome t-shirts to start selling for the cause.
CHS will start selling the t-shits at the Cav Walk and continue to sell them till October 19th at the football game against Riverdale, which is when everyone that bought a shirt should wear it! Buying a t-shirt does not only mean you will be donating money to a great cause, but you will also be raising awareness just by wearing the shirt. If you are interested in buying a t-shirt, donating to the cause, or helping out in anyway, you can talk to Ms. Julie Smith, or talk to either one of HOSA’s presidents, Jennifer Montgomery and Taylor Logan. HOSA will love all the support that they can get this year!
HOSA will also be doing more fundraisers for different causes and themselves in the near future. If you hear anything about HOSA on the announcements in the future, be sure to listen up! Other important projects that HOSA has done and will be doing this year, include the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and Cystic Fibrosis, which HOSA will be selling ribbons for, so that students can get out of class early. Be sure to help out!

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Fashion by Alana: Accessories

By Alana Farley

Is your outfit complete? There are many ways that you can make your outfit complete using accessories. Fashion accessories can be held or worn. Worn accessories are accessories such as jewelry, jackets, ties, belts, sunglasses, etc. Carried accessories include handbags and clutches.

Earrings come in various shapes and sizes. Even though mostly females wear earrings, males are also seen wearing them. Common locations for piercings, other than the earlobe, consist of the rook, tragus, and across the helix.

Types of earrings include: studs, dangle, hoop, huggie, bojaran, and ear thread.
Stud earrings: A small simple earring that is attached to a post that goes through the ear with a back to hold it in place.
Dangle earrings: Dangle from the ear, designed to flow from the bottom of the earlobes.
Hoop earrings: Circular or semi-circular in design.
Huggie earrings: earring where the setting actually ‘hugs’ your earlobe. Usually in the shape of a heart or rectangle.
Bajoran earrings: Large chain earrings with an ear cuff.
Ear Thread: A chain that is thin enough to slip into the ear hole, and come back out, dangles.

No outfit is complete without accessories. It’s important not to overdo the accessories you wear, you don’t want to make too much of an impression. “Keep your heels, head, and standards.” -Unknown

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Ask Eustice

I always procrastinate and fail to give 100% towards my school work. Any advice?
-Those who settle for the low hanging branches miss out on the bountiful leaves high up above.

I want to be creative when asking the girl/boy I like to the dance. How?!
-You can never go wrong with an oversized stuffed animal!

I’m a Senior who is struggling with college decisions and I can’t choose. Help!
-Go for somewhere with endless grasslands and a plethora of towering trees.

Keeping up with fashion is impossible. What’s the latest trend?
-Spots are eternally fashionable.

How are you liking the new bell schedule?
-Even with these long legs of mine, I can barely make it to class in time.

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2012-2013 Student Congress

By Sarah Nisbet

You’ve heard his voice every day, but who is he? Surprisingly, few students at CHS know that the Student Body President, John Gleason, is on the announcements every day at 8:00 and at the beginning of lunch. He is also in charge of the entire Student Congress, one of the busiest student organizations at Cookeville High School. With 44 members, the group is responsible for the Homecoming Week schedule and organizing activities throughout the year such as the Spring Week and Cav Walk. While most of the responsibility falls on the Student Body President, fortunately John does receive help from the members listed below:


Student Body Officers:
John Gleason- Student Body President
Kirsten Alcorn- Student Body Vice President
Bailey Rose- Student Body Secretary
Libby Ligon- Student Body Treasurer

Senior Class:
Trey Fields- Senior Class President
Will Kelly- Senior Class Vice President
Abbie King- Senior Class Secretary
Ali Zekic- Senior Class Treasurer
Ben Jones, Nayshil Dalal, Elias Vaden, Josh Craig, Jeremy Craig, Kacie Maeda- Senior Class Representatives

Junior Class:
Josh Groves- Junior Class President
Austin Thomas- Junior Class Vice President
AJ Cochrane- Junior Class Secretary
Gray Forrester- Junior Class Treasurer
Amber Barnwell, Adam Cox, Molly Collins, Emine Fidan, Sydney Marek, Sarah Nisbet- Junior Class Representatives


Sophomore Class:
Olivia Jarvis- Sophomore Class President
Noah Crum- Sophomore Class Vice President
Emma Benjamin- Sophomore Class Secretary
Ethan Jones- Sophomore Class Treasurer
Justin Clemmons, Craig Collins, Logan Houston, Isaac Morris, Andrew Reed, Summer Stroud- Sophomore Class Representatives

Freshmen Class:
Nic Cruz- Freshmen Class President
Laura Cummins Gleason- Freshmen Class Vice President
Brianna Hellman- Freshmen Class Secretary
Hannah Agbunag- Freshmen Class Treasurer
Shelby Clement, Delaney Duncan, Jacob McCarter, Abby Putz, Andrea Ramirez, Cassidy Winchester- Freshmen Class Representatives

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Nettiquette

By Bethany Bray

Our generation is at a coming of age where we will never know an Internet- free existence. We will never know what it's like to phone a friend at 10:00 p.m. and politely ask if it's too late to call. We will never know what it's like to ride our bike over to our neighbor's house to ask for a cup of sugar for the cookies that our mother is baking. We won't understand the humor that our parents will talk about in the scene of “Clueless” where Cher and Dionne find each other in the high school hall way, mid- cell phone conversation. The majority of us don't even know what “Clueless” is. 

While us teenagers are staring into our heavily pixelated cell phone screens, the adult world is worried that we are missing the poignant moments of our “golden years.” We may have never thought of it before, but think of all of the things we have missed because we were texting, or Tweeting, or even Facebooking about the cute old couple that we saw at WalMart holding hands earlier that day. I bet some of you didn't see Gabby Douglas become the first African American gymnast to win the gold medal in the all- around gymnastics competition, because you were texting your best friend about what you were going to wear to school the next day. I bet some of you didn't witness the success of the Curiosity as it planted on the surface of Mars, because you were Instagramming a picture of your cat. 

Maybe the adult world is right. Maybe we do need to pause and observe what's happening around us without having an iPhone 4 in front of our face. So, with fading hope for future generations, they leave us their pleas. 

Stop texting so much. In 2010, the average teen was sending more than 3,000 texts a month. That's 3,000 moments that we had our heads ducked down away from our surroundings, fingers flailing, tongue protruding from the lower left side of our mouth ever so slightly, sending someone an obviously inane message when we could've been interacting with the people around us. Trust me, I know, we use our phones to steer clear of awkward situations, but have you thought that maybe staying quiet in the elevator with our nose in the phone screen makes things more awkward? Would you rather ask the person in the elevator with you how his or her day is doing, leading up to a nice conversation, or stand pigeon toed quietly beside he or she wishing that you could get to the sixth floor faster to avoid the awkward silence? Plus, our fingers would appreciate a much- needed break from the touch- screen. 

Get over your fear of the phone. Voice-to-voice communication is becoming a lost art, and that's kind of a huge bummer. Nowadays, only 14% of teens say they talk daily with friends on a landline, when it was 30% in 2009. 31% of teens say that they never talk on a landline anyway. The phone offers unparalleled access to the thoughts and feelings of the other person on the line. Only over the phone can you pick up on nuances, or soothe a spurned friend appropriately, and really get to the heart of why that breezy Jocelyn asked Greg to the Sadie Hawkins Dance when everyone on the whole first floor knew you were planning to. 

Maybe the rules and pleas that the adult world has left are selfish, but they just want the best for everyone, even for the know-at-alls, the ADD-addled, and the lightening-fingered.  

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By Jenna Lee Stevens

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, rated PG-13, is based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Chbosky, hits select movie theatres on September 21st. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must-see film.

The plot involves a teenager under the alias of “Charlie,” who narrates his coming-of-age experiences through a series of letters to an anonymous person. This personal touch effectively captures the inevitable highs and lows of growing up.
Therefore, the obstacles he faces and awkward adolescent moments he endures in high school relate to teenagers everywhere.
The critically acclaimed novel often generates controversy because of its explicit content. In fact, the American Library Association’s list of the top ten most frequently challenged books of 2009 placed The Perks of Being a Wallflower third.
Many school systems banned the book for its subject matter, including drug use, sexual content, homosexuality, and suicide. However, supporters of the novel would argue that such references make the story more genuine. Despite this criticism, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an exceptional novel and a highly anticipated movie.

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Student Spotlight: The Crum Triplets

By Beth Kelly

As you may know, there are many different kinds of people in this world whether it be your average Joe or even a set of twins or triplets. At Cookeville High School there are three boys, Seth, Noah, and Zack Crum, who are triplets! Seth, Noah, and Zack were born on July 11 1996, in Lafayette, Indiana. They shortly after moved to Cookeville. This past July, they turned the sweet 16, and are now eligible to drive! Every year on their birthday, they usually just spend time with their family and have a relaxing day. Even though they are identical triplets, they each have their own unique style and personality. All three boys are active on the lacrosse team and very studious in school. Some studies show that there is a 1:200 million likelihood of having triplets. Other fun facts about triplets or multiples are that worldwide there are at least 125 million living multiples, and there is even a study that showed multiples have been known to develop their own “language” that only they understand. This is known as, cryptophasia or idioglossia. Overall Seth, Noah, and Zack Crum, enjoy being a set of 3 because it allows them to always have a friend wherever they may go.

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Teacher Spotlight: Kim Pack

By Aaron Phillips

In the spotlight this issue is that of Mrs. Kim Pack, a favorite of students in the science department we have here at CHS and winner of teacher of the year for 2010. I sat down to interview Mrs. Pack on her career in education and her opinions on famous science educators.

Q: When did you know that you wanted to go into the field of education?
A: In my sophomore year of college; I was a biochemistry major and my biology teacher
convinced me to tutor other biology students. I would’ve been going into research.

Q: Were there any other careers you had considered aside from biochemistry?
A: Yes, I had considered becoming a physician’s assistant.

Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: Nine years, all of which here at CHS.

Q: Why did you choose to go into teaching the subject of science?
A: I just liked it. I had enjoyed it throughout high-school. I had thought about doing pure math,
but I preferred the combination of math to science that comes with chemistry.

Q: Any hobbies in your spare time?
A: Does taking care of kids count!? No, I like to read, and to play video-games when I have the
time. Lego video games, they aren’t violent, it’s just blocks.

Q:What was your favorite high-school course?
A: I would have to say anatomy and physiology.

Q: Thoughts on Bill Nye.
A: Love him.

Q: Carl Sagan?
A: Strange, kind of creepy.

Q: Steven Hawking
A: Fascinating.

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Parent Teachers

By Alex Camuti

There are many Cavaliers whose parents also spend their days at CHS.
I discussed with Bethany Bray, junior, what she thought about having parents that work in the same school she attends. She told me that it is pretty convienent because she can always find them when she needs help on something or wants to ask them a question. Bethany also told me that she might have mixed feelings towards having parents who work at the school if students did not like having them as teachers.

I asked her what her parents thought about having a child in the school, and she told me this. "They think it's very nice because if they need to talk to me about something they always know where I am and can come see me in a matter of minutes." She also said that it is nice because if her grades ever start slipping or a class isn't going too well, her parents can always come and talk to the teacher about what's going on and usually get it straightened out in a short period of time. 
When I talked to Mr. Teeters about what his thoughts regarding having a child in the same school that he works in, he said,"It's a lot less of a hassle than when Cameron used to go to a different school. I can always find him if I need to talk to him and it's nice to not have to drive to another school after work and pick my son up. But I doubt he would say the same thing." So overall, the students who have parents that work at Cookeville High School like it because it makes certain things a lot easier. The kids enjoy being able to eat in their parents rooms and talk to them whenever they want to.

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