Be there, Be aware- Texting and Driving

During the month of April, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning wants to make students aware of the importance of teen drivers keeping their hands free and on the wheel.

Technology allows us to make phone calls, dictate texts or emails and update social media while driving – all actions that are proven to increase crash risk. The National Safety Council observes April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month to draw attention to this epidemic. The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. 1,064 of those being in Michigan alone.

Sydnee  Williams had dreams of becoming a cosmetologist, a wife and mother. Sadly Sydnee's dreams all died on October 20th, 2013. After she lost control of her car while texting and driving.  Sydnee was not wearing her seat belt, causing her to be ejected from the vehicle and inflicting fatal head trauma.

Every bit of hope was lost when doctors told  Sydnee’s family and friends, “We are going to take it slowly, but where she was hit it’s very unlikely we can do anything for her.” Sydnee died a few days later. Her friend Joe who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time, walked away with no injuries. Vicky the other passenger however was not quite as lucky. She broke her arm and neck in the crash. Now she has to go to physical therapy and speech therapy for her injuries.

“This would have all been preventable if she would have just stayed off her phone till she got home.” Said Sydnee’s mother Sara Williams.

In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the hearts of everyone who loves you.

So remember Sydnee next time you get behind the wheel. Do you really want to risk your life for one text or call?

Hemisphere Video News

Westerns Track Destroys Pennfield

This past Tuesday, April 25, Pennfield traveled over to Western High to face off in a track meet. From last years performance, Western was expected to win again. Ian Devine was ecstatic to get to the meet and "pulverize" them.
"we're going to have a fun time destroying Pennfield".
His pre-assessment was quite accurate, as Western was victorious over Pennfield. Western won with a  score of 133-28. The Western Track Team was dominant and got first in every event besides the 4x200m.
After the meet, Devine was proud with his performance.
"The meet for me was pretty good, but wasn't the greatest meet."
Devine plans to beat his personal record in the near future in the long jump. His favorite event is the long jump and on Tuesday night he jumped a 19'7'', but plans to beat his personal record of 20'11'' by the end of the season.
All in all it was a great meet for the Western Track Team and a fantastic addition to the season record.

(written by Jacob Jones and Alek Hendrickson)

Dodgeball Review

At Western High School, Springsanity is a widely celebrated week for Western students. During this week, students are able to sign up for their own dodgeball teams and compete in a tournament. The teams pay $5 for each player, and all proceeds go towards the yearbook and help keep the prices low for students. When interviewing Amanda Motts, she told us "The tournament went well, but we had hoped more teams would have participated. But we are happy with the turn out."
Last years winner, Steele Fortress, told us "I'm confident in our team and that we have a good group dynamic. But we have a good competition this year, so we need to be on top of our game."
The winner of the final game, will play the teachers, which has last years MVP, Mr Meredith.
Mr Tingle expressed his excitement to play on the team for the first time, "I'm not exactly scared of playing the students, but I'm definitely not gonna hold back just because you're students. I'm here to win." He said he's excited to play with Mr Meredith as well.
The final games will be played during the pep assembly on Thursday.

Future CEOs

       Jackson County is home to many young and brilliant minds. This was demonstrated by Western High School team “Apollo Enterprises” who took first place in the CEO challenge on March 11th 2017. 
      According to the President of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge, Connie Poisson, the teachers, Derek Huntley and Steve Weller, who coached “Apollo Enterprises,” “have been selected to receive the 2017 JA educator of the year Award for Jackson County.”

       “It was a nice surprise to be selected as junior achievement teacher of the year for Jackson County and was not expected.” Huntley said in response to winning educator of the year.
        According to Mr. Weller "there are a couple of events coming up in the summer. One being the OiChallengeU which is a two week opportunity to explore real life problem/solution situations for businesses."

       Finally, when asked if he had any advice for students who might be interested in participating in future events such as the CEO challenge Mr. Huntley had this to say, “take a chance and try something that will challenge and engage you.” 

To learn more about the OiChallengeU visit http://www.scmw.org/workforce-initiative/education.html 

Too Fool for School Vol. 9

Barrier Decorating Competition

SprINg SANITY Barrier Decorating Competition

As SprINg SANITY quickly approaches WHS, a new class competition has begun. This year each class will face off against other classes in decorating a concrete brick barrier (Yes a brick!) that represents our spring sports.

A large brick barrier will be placed at the entrance of each sport area. One in front by the Track entrance, one by the Tennis courts, One by the Baseball and Softball  fields and one by the

Soccer Fields.

The intention on painting the barriers is to fit the Spring Sanity theme (Rivalries), to encourage the team/ sport where the barrier is placed and to promote school pride. All paintings/ slogans must be school-appropriate and not damage any school property. Painting is to only be on the assigned concrete barrier chosen by your grade level team of painters. Nothing can alter the brick barrier or be attached to it in a way that makes not re-usable and repainting the barrier to be difficult or impossible. Supplies are not provided and grade level teams must have their own. A class advisor or adult also must be present when teams are painting. D

Barrier choices are as followed:

Softball and baseball are is assigned to the juniors

Soccer field area is assigned to the freshman

Tennis courts area are for the sophomores

And the Track area is for the seniors

Painting will begin the friday before spring sanity which is April 21st and must be finished no later than 7pm on Thursday, April 27th.

Good luck to all grade level teams!

Spring Sanity Shirts

This week on the Western Hemisphere we decided to interview Melody Owens over the spring sanity t-shirt sales. This years shirt theme is the popular book we all might have read sophomore year Enders Game. Melody told us that it was between Enders Game and Divergent and according to her It came down to Mrs. Sponslers who as we know decided on Enders Game will have each class represented by a fictional army in the book. Freshman are represented as Snake army, sophomores are represented as Dragon army, juniors are represented as Salamander army, and seniors are represented as Rat army. These fictional armies are inspired by the dodgeball tournament that will be occurring on Monday the 24th of April. According to Melody “T-shirts will be selling at $10 a pop.”

If you’re interested in purchasing one of your classes fine t-shirts please email Mrs. Sponsler at Erika.Sponsler@wsdpanthers.org or visit her class room across the SRC room. 

Track season

Track season is underway and the WHS team has been practicing hard. 

Senior Luke Raczkowski leads the Track team in warm ups on Thursday, May 20th.  

Western Hemisphere: Video Edition

In This Edition:

• Prom Tickets On Sale
• sprINgSANITY t-shirts and themes
• sprINgSANITY class competitions (Beirut Brick Decorating)
• sprINgSANITY dodgeball tournament

Dodgeball Tournament coming up

Dodgeball Tournament coming up

The dodgeball tournament is going to take place on monday night in the 59 gym. It is going to start at 7:02pm.

When we asked Jerry Meredith what dodgeball means to him, he said that he always appreciated dodgeball. “It is not a sport for everyone and that it is fine because everybody is different and that makes the sport so special”, he said.

The winner of the tournament will play the teachers team. If you still want to participate and still haven’t signed up, you can get a sign-up sheet in Mrs. Sponsler’s room. The last day to sign up is this friday. A team consists of 6 players on the court and you can add an alternate player.

Dog Days 2nd in a week

Dog Days

Too Fool for School Vol. 8

Groovin' on over to Prom

Dancing, atmosphere, good times, and more can all be found at the Western High School prom this year. Taking place on Saturday, May 6th, this prom promises to be one you won't soon forget. Although the class of 2017 left behind high standards with their beautiful "A Midsummer Night's Dream" inspired decor, the current juniors, led by Mrs. Genco and student Kerrington Curl, have been hard at work this year. Their planned venue includes a four seasons theme and various "selfie stations" for maximum picture-taking opportunities. Tickets are available during both lunches and in Mrs. Genco's room. Prices start at forty dollars the first two weeks of sales and jump up to forty five dollars the last week of sales, so buy while you can.

Class Competitions

As Springsanity is quickly approaching, the Western High School student body is excited to participate in the many activities going on during Spirit Week. During this week, each class faces one another in different competitions to prevail over its competitors. Each day has a different theme to dress up for, and all first hour teachers tally up who is dressed for that specific day. The pep assembly also will have various dodgeball games that some students will participate in and earn points for their class. All different students earn points for their specific class, and at the end of the week all the points are tallied up and those who have the most points win. "Each class will also decorate their own barrier brick, and whoevers brick is the best will win." said Amanda Motts

Chap 10 blog

I am going to work at Brembo in Homer MI making car parts for high end cars. I am going to be a line worker out there at Brembo, working on machines to make these car parts. Budget: spend money on bills. Totals are realistic. I will put the remaining amount into a sinking fund. Nothing is missing.