The Pony Express The Wright Beginning....
Volume 35 Number 2
Mustang Sports pages 11-12
Promises a Great Future
C. Milton Wright High School 1301 N. Fountain Green Road Bel Air, MD 21015
“It’s a plane, it’s a bird, it’s a BLIMP?” page 6
Holiday Fun page 8
March 31, 2015
Prom-Posals page 9
Dance Policy Reasoning
Mr.Milich Returns by Kara Zito
by Jaedon Stephens
Mr. Milich is the new Social Studies teacher who stepped in after Mr. Dunch’s retirement. He attended Harford Community College, University of Maryland and Towson University where he majored in Secondary Education with a miPictured Above: Nominating, current students and Mrs. Potter. nor in Social Studies. (left to right) Lauren O’Mara, Nate Ehrhardt, Mrs. Potter, Ethan Diven, Mr. Milich is a 2010 graduate and Julia O’Mara. of C. Milton Wright High School. Mr. Milich is interested in all sports and would coach anything but he really enjoys football, basketball, and track and field. He also participated in the Student vs. Faculty basketball game on March 13th. He was a student teacher at Bel Air High School and Magno- by Madelin Hill When asked how Mrs. Potlia Middle School before coming ter felt when she first heard about here to begin his career in teaching. Mrs. Laura Potter, a math her nomination she said, “I was reteacher here at C. Milton Wright, ally honored to be nominated for has won the distinction of Harford Teacher of the Year especially beCounty Teacher of the Year. cause it came from my students. It Mrs. Potter has been teaching was amazing to be able to read the math for 11 years. She taught for 8 letters they wrote about me, because years in Baltimore County and then it really made me feel like I must moved to C. Milton Wright where have done something special to she has been teaching for the past 3 make them feel that strongly about years. Mrs. Potter has taught a wide getting together to nominate me.” spectrum of math classes from Ramp Up Algebra I to Calculus AB/BC. (continued on page 5)
Many people have speculated about the changes to the school dance policy. Mr. Thatcher has spoken to many student groups about what is to be expected of the students at the dances. However, many students have been getting their information from 2nd and 3rd parties. That being the case, the only way to clear up any confusion is to get it from “the man” himself. After interviewing Mr. Thatcher, there is one clear change to the dance policy. He emphasized that there is no more “grinding” at school dances. He stated that the exact policy would be shared with students that purchase a ticket. He also stated that there will be a call home to also review the policy. Mr. Thatcher has a reason for the change of policy. He stated that it is just a “matter of respect.” He felt that the way students were dancing wasn’t school appropriate or respectful. He wants what’s best for the students. Mr. Thatcher stated that he “wants a comfortable environment for all students.” The dance policy change is unpopular, but it’s a change that seems to be staying.
Mrs.Potter: Our Very Own Harford County Schools Teacher of the Year
The Pony Express
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March 31, 2015
Opinion/Commentary
Detaching from Our Cell Phones by Jake Litterello Although many of us would not like to admit it, we are all guilty of spending too much time on our phones. Whether it be texting, games, or social media, we all need to learn to take a step back from our devices. Doing so would be beneficial by allowing us to create more social interactions with friends and family. Some colleges such as Duke University even tried to ban cell phones in student quads because the administration felt that students weren’t talking to each other enough. Instead of watching that funny viral video for the tenth time, put down your phone and have a conversation with someone. When extended amounts of time are spent on social media, unnecessary conflicts often arise. Most issues stem from a comment or Tweet that is antagonizing to others. Some thoughts do not always have to be voiced through Twitter. Some think that there must always be a response to comments with which they disagree. In a University of Maryland study, 200 students were challenged to abstain from social media for a full day. According to the University of Maryland, participants in the study felt anxiety and “cut off” from media. In multiple instances, students felt lonely when unable to access social networks such as Twitter, Vine and Instagram. One student stated that he felt “comforted” by his constant access to his cell phone. This society’s continuous
use of cell phones in all age groups, discourages individuals from intellectual growth and interactive experiences. The multi-tasking addiction of the cellular, social media is a trap that most people are unable to escape, whether it be in public or at home. People are unaware of the dependency they create on their phones. The habit that this generation has created prevents the youth from being aware and mindful of the world around them, replacing it with less important media. We can bring a halt to the continual attraction to our phones by simply setting them aside and using social media at the appropriate times.
Don’t Sweat the “Major” Stuff by Taylor Michocki For many seniors, after the thrill of getting accepted and choosing their college is over, they are left with a very stressful and difficult decision. Picking a college major. This determines what you will study in the upcoming four years of college and will help to determine what kind of career you will have moving on in the future. After watching my older sister and many friends go through the struggle of picking a college major, it leaves me worried about when I will have to do the same. Is it possible to make picking a college major any easier or any less stressful? The number one piece of advice that I have received
was to talk to your guidance counselor about what fields interest you and what type of career you would potentially like. Fortunately, many colleges prefer freshmen who are undecided as it gives them the chance to explore with all types of classes and can allow for new social interactions that may not have happened if they hadn’t taken these different classes. Many general classes can be applicable to many different majors. What if you haven’t decided your major yet? There are plenty of options. Eventually decided on a major, choose to declare “Undecided” and figure it out down the road, or even begin a career immediately. Whatever you decide, just know that it’s your decision, no one else’s.
No Honor’s Recognition for You by Karigan Wright In the past , students have been recognized for their GPA’s of 3.75 or higher by attending a ceremony in their honor. There was a separate ceremony for students with a GPA of 4.0. Starting this year, the ceremonies have been removed and students’ names are only put in the corner of the cafeteria. The ceremony had included the student’s name being called as they walked across the cafeteria and were handed a certificate. This was a moment for the student to feel proud for their GPA and give families a chance to be involved in their child’s academic life. Parents and grandparents appreciated seeing their child achieve
something and be recognized for it. At the end of third quarter, the seniors with a GPA of 3.75 or higher were given their certificate and state what college they were going to as well as their major.. It was an opportunity to recognize their high school career before graduation. Students were able to individually share their future plans. Although recognition is not everything, students admit that the ceremony made them feel acccomplished. Sophomore,
The Pony Express C. Milton Wright High School Student Publication
Casey Tinney said, “The honors ceremony really motivated me to work hard throughout the quarter, and gave me something to look forward to.” These ceremonies made students feel good about themselves and their achievements. Many students feel that the ceremonies should be brought back, as it builds their motivation and confidence. Students appreciate it when the school takes the time to acknowledge and recognize their hard work and achievements. The Pony Express contains editorials that express the opinions and viewpoints of individual student writers that are not necessarily shared by all students, staff, or the administration of C. Milton Wright HS.
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The Pony Express
March 31, 2015
Opinion/Commentary
Equal Play for All by Cidney Gray Public Schools currently have the rule that only underclassmen are eligible to play on the Junior Varsity Sports Team. However, the underclassmen are allowed to be on the Varsity Team. The Athletic Association states that it would be unfair for older stu-
dents to play against the younger ages, but if the change happened, then it would all be fair and equal. It would save some athletes the stress of worrying about making the Varsity Team. Sports are supposed to be fun and enjoyable, but not when upperclassmen have to stress about playing time or if they will even be awarded a spot.
Homework That Makes Sense by Casey Tinney
Prom-Posterous by Christian Shoap As the school year draws closer and closer to an end, the senior class faces a variety of extravagant, end-of-the-year events. One of those events is prom, and along with prom comes the big questions such as who’s going with whom, and more importantly, how they ask. The “tradition” of promposals has become more of an expectation of every guy wanting to ask someone to prom. No longer is it a cute and sweet way to ask someone to go with them. Whatever happened to just asking someone to go to prom with you? Nowadays everyone expects a singing and dancing fiasco, having the question written in the sky, or some other method with complexity that rivals that of a marketing guru. All
just to go to a high school dance. While prom is arguably the most pivotal dance during one’s time in high school, people should keep in mind that it is still a high school dance. Going out and spending exorbitant amounts of money just to ask someone to the prom is ridiculous. Girls have been known to refuse a date because their promposal wasn’t extravagant enough or it didn’t surpass their friend’s invite. Since putting on a show is pretty much expected now, are promposals really that special if everyone gets one? What used to make a promposal unique was that they weren’t done often. It used to be special becasue they were rare. So at the end of the day, are promposals really that special anymore now that they’re an expectation?
While homework is a necessity, many students are fed up with irrelevant homework assignments that eat up their free time. Homework is an important part of school, but only if it benefits the student. Students are finding more and more that their homework assignments are just busy work, and aren’t really benefiting them at all. Reading a chapter, completing a pre-lab, and even a couple math problems, are all great ways to reinforce topics covered during the day or even introduce a new topic. However, endless repetitive work doesn’t benefit anyone. “Irrelevant homework is just painful stress,” says sophomore Karigan Wright. Extra curricular activities take up a lot of time and students already struggle to complete all of their homework before the due date. These busy students feel that irrellevant assignments are just unnecessary. Instead of simply throwing time-consuming worksheets at stu-
dents, teachers should think about the topics that students struggle with, or the essential topics of the unit, when assigning homework. Instead of assigning students projects that take time, not thought, projects should involve students further researching the topic. For example, vocabulary is a great way to learn the basics of the subject. However, forcing the students to make elaborate posters, or other time-eating activities to show vocabulary knowledge is unnecessary. Overall, students are fed up with unnecessary homework, and want homework that truly benefits them, and their understanding.
Right of Reply If you would like an opportunity to respond to the opinions or viewpoints expressed within these editorial pages, please do not hesitate to submit “Letters to the Editor” in the Pony Express mailbox in the main office. Only signed letters will be accepted and they cannot contain any vulgarity. Publication of your letter is not guaranteed, but will be considered.
The Pony Express
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March 31, 2015
Features - Special Features
Happy Prom, Unhappy Bank Account by Payton Pross Prom season is here and so is spending hundreds of dollars on one night! At C. Milton Wright High School, it costs $50 per prom ticket. Needless to say, if you’re paying for your date, that’s $100! That is just for the prom itself. This year, another $80 goes to the After-Prom Party at the Bel Air Athletic Club. Preparing for the night must also be considered. Prom dresses alone can range anywhere from $100 to $700. There are even the select few dresses that cost over $1,000. Along with prom dresses come alterations which can cost anywhere from $50 to $300, just to make sure the dress fits you perfectly. You’re already spending hundreds of dollars on the dress, you have to add a hundred more to get it fit correctly. For guys, renting a tux from Men’s Wearhouse is usually the best option. Tux rentals can range anywhere from $50 to $200, depending on the brand you get. At Men’s Wearhouse, you can become a Prom Rep. Becoming a Prom Rep is FREE and comes with a great benefits. Just for signing up to become a rep, you automatically get $40 off your tux rental. On top of the $40 off, if
you get 5 people to rent their tux for prom from Men’s Wearhouse, you will get your rental for FREE. You can get those 5 people by handing out “$40 off prom tux rental” cards, which you will receive when you sign up to become the Prom Rep. For girls, hair, makeup and nails are key on prom day. Getting your hair done can cost $60 to $100, plus a tip for your hair dresser. Getting your makeup done can cost around the same as your hair. These expenses differ for each hair salon, hair dresser, and make-up artists. Getting your nails done usually costs about $20 to $30. If you want to be tan on prom day, you have to sign up for a
tanning membership. Memberships can cost anywhere from $150 to $300 for 3 months of tanning. If you don’t want to go tanning in a tanning bed, you’re saving a lot of money. Spray tans are a little less expensive. Spray tans usually cost about $20 to $30. Transportation to prom is important, but the price of limo rentals is not cheap. M o s t limo rentals have a flat fee per person. Rentals for limos can range from $50 to $150 per person. Party busses are usually more expensive. Some rental companies will have a
flat fee all together, and the price can be split between however many people go in the limo. With this option, the more people, the better. Don’t forget to find the perfect high heels or cute sandals or flats to match your beautiful dress. Shoes for prom can cost anywhere from $40 to $100. The corsage and boutonniere prices range anywhere from $20 to $50, all depending what type of flower you get and how large the flower arrangemnt is. All together, the expense of prom can range anywhere from roughly $700 to $2,000 per person. It’s all about your individual budget! Prom is special and a wonderful memory to cherish.Happy prom season, seniors. Unfortunately, not so happy bank account.
Juniors, Start Your Budgets Now •Senior Class Field Trip $25.00 • Prom ticket sales: $50.00 per person As a senior, it was surpris- •Buying the entire Senior Packing to discover how expensive age for $185 is recommended senior year can be. Future se- and it includes the following: niors need to know that it’s important to save a money early. 1. Admission to the After-Prom Although you don’t need to Party. Your date gets in for free buy all of these things, many people 2. After-graduation Harbor Cruise just buy everything because they 3.Mailbox bow want to have the memories from their 4. Personalized graduation banner high school senior year. It would 5. CMW horseshoe car magnet almost seem as though you’re miss- 6. Hot/ Cold CMW cup ing out if you don’t get these things. 7. Seniors lanyard by Ashley Robinson
If you don’t want all of those things, here are the costs to buy them seperately. 1. After prom party (Date is free) $80.00 2. Graduation cruise $80.00 3. Banner $40.00 4.Bow $10.00 5.Car magnet $10.00 6. Landyard $5.00 7.Hot/ Cold CMW cup $10.00 8. Black CMW Horeshow T-shirt Total = $235
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The Pony Express
March 31, 2015
Features - Our School
Mrs. Laura Potter Teacher of the Year (continued from front page) by Madelin Hill
Pictured Above: David Thompson with “his” Care Wall
Care Wall Inspiration by Corey Winterbottom Everyone should have heard David Thompson on the morning announcements. The CMW library is constantly trying to get more students to use its many assets, such as the computers, the lounge chairs, and the study tables. Most of all, have students take advantage of the many books that the library staff has worked very hard to acquire that match the interests of the students. Mrs. Buckley, the Media Specialist, was looking for a new idea that would be themed toward Valentine’s Day. The idea would be used to bring attention and make students want to come. David was in the Library that morning when Mrs. Buckley approached him looking for an idea. That’s when David suggested the Care Wall that he would personally advertise each morning during announcements. Mrs. Buckley supported this idea because she felt it wouldn’t have been complete without the word “fabulous” it it somewhere. It would only be right to have David make the announcement.
“The Clarity of David’s announcement was as smooth as glass”, said Mrs. Buckley when asked for a statement regarding the Care Wall announcement. When David was asked about how he felt about making the announcement, he responded saying, “I was nervous”, but I think we can all attest to the fact that I did an amazing job! Later in the interview I asked David what he thought Valentine’s Day represented, and where he came up with the idea for the Care Wall. David said, “Valentine’s Day is all about love. I wanted people to come in and pick up a paper heart which is located on the main desk in the Media Center and write down something they loved.” He didn’t want the whole thing to be “mushy”, but he did want it to be meaningful. Many students, teachers, and administrators took the time to record their “true loves” on the Care Wall. It was a wonderful way to have Mustangs express their feelings appropriately and also visit the Media Center and become more familiar with all the wonderful resources available.
Mrs. Potter also added that in the beginning she felt as though she did not deserve the nomination but as she has gone through she process she now feels like she does deserve it and is happy that her hard work is being recognized. The students responsible for her nomination were both former and current students. Ryan Pellegrino and Kelly O’Neill are both graduates of CMW and currently are in college. The other four current CMW students are Lauren and Julia O’Mara, Nate Ehrhardt, and Ethan Diven. Mrs. Potter is one of 5 finalists and until last week she had not met any of the other teachers. This is what Mrs. Potter had to say about her peers. “We all went out last week to get dinner and meet one another and they are all amazing people. There is another math teacher who teaches at Edgewood Middle School and it was nice to talk to another math teacher. It was also very interesting to talk to the elementary school teachers because they have such a different job than high school teachers. There was also a librarian who was nominated and it was great to talk to her. It was just awesome to be in the company of such amazing women who influence kids’ lives everyday.” As the final hours be-
fore the award banquet approached, I asked her what emotions she was feeling at that point. “I am feeling really nervous because they asked us all to prepare a speech in case we are awarded Teacher of the Year. It has been challenging because I did procrastinate but I have a draft which I don’t feel is good enough so I am glad I gave myself some time to revise it. I have three children. One who goes here, another one at Southampton Middle, and my youngest is at Fountain Green Elementary.They are all incredibly excited for me. It has been really cool and comforting to see the outpouring of support from my students, my family, and all the teachers here at C.Milton Wright.” In response to what she believed would be her first reaction if named Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Potter replied, “Well the first thing I will do is probably cry out of disbelief and happiness but then I will go up and give my speech. I want to make sure that I get my message across and that is that as teachers we have a really difficult job. But, we are always doing what is best for kids. What is really most important is doing that one extra thing or one small thing that really makes a difference to them. It is important that we teach kids the things they need to know but it’s more crucial that they feel important and good about themselves.” Mrs. Potter is deserving of this award.
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March 31, 2015
Features
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane,
It’s a BLIMP? by Austin Dolezal For many weeks now people in Baltimore and Harford County have noticed a blimp hanging over their heads. This blimp will soon be joined by another that can scan from New York to Norfolk, Virginia. Each blimp is the size of a football field, 10,000 feet in the sky, and tethered to a concrete pad at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The blimps will be filled with helium and air , “which are inert gases that do not burn,” NORAD stated to assure peoples’ safety. The 240 foot long blimps, also know as aerostats, will be in the air for 3 years to assess the
system’s effectiveness against cruise missiles aimed at the coast of the United States. If an enemy missile is detected, a missile from the United States will be launched from a plane or from the ground to intercept the enemy’s missile. The blimps are not armed. They are specifically designed to give the U.S more time to defend itself. One concern among residents in the Aberdeen area was whether the blimps have surveillance cameras. According to NORAD, “The JLENS aerostats cannot see people and do not have cameras onboard.” Next time you’re outside, look to the skies and find the blimp.
Composting for a Better Future
by Sophie Keele
Have you ever gone to throw your trash away at the end of lunch and realized that you’re putting it all in one bag?On average, in American schools, 77% of lunch waste is organic matter that can be composted, 2% of it is recyclable, and 21% of the waste is actual trash. According to this statistic, CMW only recycles 2% and 98% of our cafeteria waste is going to a landfill. How can we improve this statistic at our school? The simple answer to that is compost. There are countless benefits to composting organic waste. Trash is reduced, money is saved, nutrients are recylced back into the soil, and soil erosion is prevented. Humus is the product of composting. It builds up the soil and saves space around landfills. Now all of this sounds great but what are the logistics of this plan and how can CMW pursue this?
We would need a coordinator, a compost monitor, some lunch-sorters, and possibly an environmental class to keep track of the compost and make sure it is well kept. The whole custodial staff would have to be on-board with this plan as well. We already have trash monitors at the end of lunch, so it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle to create a sorting staff. They would make sure students are separating their lunches properly. This would dramatically decrease our huge contributions to landfills in the area. Of course composting on this property is a lot of work and could be hard to maintain, but there’s another option called “Offsite Composting.” A Waste Hauler would pick up our organic cafeteria waste and put it to good use. Composting at CMW would reduce our trash and make this world a little greener one step at a time.
The Long, Long Road to Getting a Driver’s License by Kiersten Wendt As more teens grow up they start to think about getting their driver’s license.The process is rather long. The first step to getting your drivers license is taking the test to get your permit. Before you take the test for your permit you need a couple of important documents. You need your birth certificate and an at-
tendance record from your school. The test is timed and consists of 25 questions. If you get four wrong, you fail the test and you have to go and schedule your next test online. If you pass, you must take a vision screening and you then get your picture taken for your permit card. After obtaining your permit you must then begin the driving process. You cannot be in a
car alone. You must have someone over the age of 21 with you in the car at all times. You need to maintain this permit for 9 months. Within this nine months you must take a drivers education class. You need at least 30 hours enrolled in this calss. In addition to the class, you must have specific hours behind the wheel. There are daytime and evening hours required.
After you complete this process you can then schedule your driving test. You must schedule your test a couple months ahead of time. Once you complete this test, you can then begin to drive on your own. This is a very long process but it’s another step to growing up. The most important thing to remember is to learn the rules and be safe.
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The Pony Express
March 31, 2015
Features - Student Life
The State of the Union: JCC Lives On by Tyler Williams The Junior Class Council has had an eventful year. After Winter Formal was cancelled, rumors began to spread about how the Junior Class was doing, financially. The following facts will put everyone on the same page regarding the status of the Junior Class. The Junior Class is not in debt and does not owe anyone money. After Winter Formal was cancelled, the JCC lost $500 to pay the DJ, but there was still money in the account after that. As of February 27th, the Junior Class had $838.37. After our Panera
fundraiser night and additional towel sales, we have approximately $1100. The money we raise does not affect our graduation. Graduation is funded by Project Graduation, a separate organization. The money our class council raises goes to things like Prom, the After-Prom Party, the Senior Trip, the Senior Gift, and the Senior Cruise. Spring Formal is a Sadie Hawkins Dance. Girls will ask the guys to be their date, and it’s taking place on Saturday, April 18th. Tickets will cost $20 for one person and $30 for two people. We are still having a 5k run. The JCC has teamed up with the Unite
Club to organize an anti-bullying 5k. This event is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 9th. We have other ways to make money. The Junior Class Council still has multiple dinner night fundraisers and a badminton tournament. The badminton tournament will take place the same day as the 5k, May 9th. We are also continuing to sell “Mustang Nation” towels for sporting events. The Junior Class still has hope. If the usual amount of students come to Sadie Hawkins, we will be on track to finish our junior year successfully, setting us up for a great senior year.
Center Stage with Wright Productions Corey Winterbottom Wright Productions recently presented their production of Our Miss Brooks. It was a stunning play within a play, with remarkable similarities to High School Musical. Our Miss Brooks focuses upon Miss Brooks (played by Alyssa Pettus), an English teacher whose methods are seen as less than satisfactory by the school board. It also includes her budding romance with the coach, Hugo Longacre (played by Parker Blaylock). The play emphasizes the bumps in the road that
come with being thrown into the role of director for the school play. Much like High School Musical, the star athlete Ted (played by Ryan Burmeister) becomes involved in the school play, while the school’s most popular girl, Rhonda Allen (played by Kim Bochenek), tries to get his attention by becoming the other lead in the play. Shockingly, the role ends up going to Jane (played by Amanda Bohlen) a seemingly unremarkable girl with a knack for acting. With three busy dress rehearsals, assistance from par-
ents, and students’ with fresh eyes, the play debuted as a hit. It was very obvious how truly hard each and every performer worked to make the play as professional as possible. The majority of the cast consisted of underclassmen that all hope to come back in upcoming productions. Mrs. Bullis personally connected to the play in saying that “I feel like I’m Living the part of Miss Brooks”. Tickets ranged from $8 online to $10 at the door.
by Cassondra Dorsey People are pledging daily to Spread the Word, to End the Word. The word in question is the word ‘retard(ed)’. Most students realize that the word is offensive and derogatory, but it has become part of our urban culture. Commonly people use the word to describe a situation that is ridiculous, silly or bizarre. When you say the word you never know who is listening or who it may affect. The Spread The Word to End the Word campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the word in any context. It’s a starting point to make people aware of how their words can hurt others.. A person’s vocabulary develops over time and if you use the r-word now on a consistent basis, it will take time to try and eliminate it from your vocabulary. Thousands of colleges, high schools, middle schools and even elementary schools have launched the campaign including our very own school. Consider making the pledge yourself. Sometimes it only takes a few brave students to show others that wrong is wrong. Do the right thing and “Spread the Word to End the Word”.
The Pony Express
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March 31, 2015
Features - It Really is Spring! Coloring Eggs is Still Fun
Activities to Enjoy
by Megan Chouinard Making Easter eggs is really fun and easy to do. Here are the steps on how to boil your eggs and then how to dye them. How to make hard boiled eggs. 1. Place eggs in a saucepan large enough to hold them in single layer. 2. Put cold water in the saucepan so that it covers eggs by 1 inch. 3. Heat on high until the water starts to boil 4. Remove from the stove and cover the pan 5. Drain the water immediately and then set them in the refrigerator to cool How to dye your eggs: 1. Get a cup for each color of dye that is big enough for an egg to fit in. 2.Add 1/2 cup of hot water to each cup. 3. Add 1 tbsp. vinegar and 10 drops of food coloring to each cup. 4. Dip your egg in the cup for 3-5 minuets 5. Place in an egg carton to dry. If you want you could also use a white crayon and draw on the egg before you put it in the dye and then your egg will have the design of whatever you drew!
by Lauren Cavanaugh
Holiday “Peep” Cake by Megan Cowan It looks and tastes just like a peep. Not only is it delicious, it is easy to make. Ingredients: unsalted butter and all-porpose flour for the pans, two 18.25 ounce boxes yellow cake mix, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, a pinch of salt, 3 large eggs whites, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract, 1 teaspoon of yellow food coloring, yellow sanding sugar, and two samll chocolate disks. Directions: First start by buttering and putting the flour in a 9-by-13-inch cake pan and a 1quart and 2 1/2-quart ovenproof bowl. Then begin to divide the cake mix amoung the pan and the bowls. Bake all three at 350 degrees until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes in the pans and bowls before taking them out to finish cooling on racks. Trim the flat sides of the bowl cakes with a serrated knife to make level. Using a chef’s knife, cut the four corners off the rectangular cake. Keep three of these corners to use for the tail and beak. Next, put the flat cake on
a cake board and using two toothpicks, attach two of the corner triangle cakes to a short end for the tail. Position the large bowl cake on top the flat cake. Then, take the small cake bowl and place that on top. Be sure to use toothpicks to secure the small bowl cake on top. Use a scewer to put throught the cake to ensure that it is secure and will not fall apart. Use the other triangle to make a beak for your cake. Now time for the frosting. Begin by heating the sugar with the cream of tartar, salt, and 2/3 cup of water in a saucepan. Take the egg whites and beat them with a mixer until they are frothy. Slowly, add the hot sugar mixture in with the egg white and continue mixing. As you do this, increase the mixer speed and beat until stiff peaks begin to form. To this mixture, next add the vanilla and almond extract as well as the food coloring. Once the forsting is complete, cover the cake in a thick layer of it. With the edge of an offset spatula, use some frosting to extend to the beak and tail. When the cake is covered, coat it with the yellow sugar. Refridgerate, uncovered, for 15 minutes. When this time is up, press the chocolate disks into the frosting for the peeps eyes.
Spring is finally here, even though it doesn’t seem like it with all this crazy weather. Spring started with rain, snow, and sleet. Then. warm weather in the 50-60’s and then back to cold, 30-40’s weather. This crazy weather isn’t stopping anyone from going outside, the outdoor spring activities have started. Now that the sun stays up longer people can stay outside until later at night. Driving through t o w n , y o u could see people riding bikes, playing soccer and basketball and a lot of dog walkers. Students here at C. Milton Wright do those things as well. Tyler Williams is one of the students who said “I like to walk my dog”. Gerrod Maddox says “I like to hoop, I like to go on walks in the nature. There is so much more outdoor activities to do now that the weather is warmer”. Gerrod is just one of the majority of the students that are liking the spring weather and are going outside more. As spring continues, the weather will continue to get warmer and warmer. This means there will be more and more outdoor activities for students here to participate in and enjoy.
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March 31, 2015
Features - PromPosal Spectacular What was the most imaginative promposal you’ve ever seen or heard of? “I saw a student fill a girl’s car with ping pong balls that each read, ‘Prom?’”
Doug Thier and Casey Gover Tom Chiascione and Emily Brandt
Do you plan to create an elaborate promposal?
What is the most disconcerting thing about promposals?
“It’s kind of expected. If I don’t, I might have to take my cousin to the prom. Ewwww.”
“I don’t ever want to be there when someone says, ‘no’ to a promposal. I would feel so bad.”
Matt Truesdale and Rachel Nolan Kyle Walters and ELuzetsky
Have a great promposal story?
Rob Elliot and Mackenzie Cunningham
Send it to the Pony Express. Maybe it’ll be published.
Jon Canepa and Kelsey Hilbourn
The Pony Express
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March 31, 2015
Features: School and Education
PARCC Testing Reactions
“I liked how the questions directly related to one anThe PARCC assess- other because it helped me anthe other questions.” ments were recently distrib- swer Even though she liked uted in the state of Maryland. The PARCC is a brand the questions, Caroline thought new standardized test that stu- that the test was too long, and dents who are enrolled in English should be shortened in the future. She went on to say, “I think 10 and Algebra are required to the test should be required, but take. Despite popular belief, after speaking to a teacher and three they should keep it so that there is students, not all opinions of the no required score. It should just be PARCC Assessment are negative. used to see where each student is.” Sophomore MiranHonors English 10 teacher, da Meisel, on the other hand, Mr. Griffith, overall thought that the PARCC Assessments weren’t wasn’t very positive about it. “I think it’s stupid. What’s a bad thing, but, like anything, they could be improved upon. the point of taking the test as a One of the main complaints graduation requirement if we students had was the difficulty don’t even need to get a cerof the test, however Mr.Griffith tain score? I could have failed had just the opposite opinion. it and it wouldn’t even matter.” Even though Miranda “I don’t mind challenging the students, but my concern wasn’t a fan of the test, she did is that they are going to water find the stories she had to read down the test in the future and more interesting than those in the make it much easier to pass.” previous MSA and HSA tests. Sophomore Aidan However, Mr.Griffith thought that not everyone should Wiley wasn’t a huge fan of the Assessment either. be required to take the assessment. PARCC “I don’t think we should “I don’t think it should be have to take both the PARCC and a requirement for those not going to college. How are we pre- the HSA. It should just be one or paring those going straight into the other. There are other options the work force? Is there a way instead of making us take both we can prepare them instead of of them. They could revamp the giving them standardized tests?” HSA, and make it more difficult, Mr.Griffth thought that the instead of forcing students to just assessment is a great way to prepare take another standardized test.” Only time will tell if the state those heading into college, and is interested in seeing what they do with of Maryland will keep the PARCC the PARCC Assessment in the future. Assessment, or what changes they Sophomore Caroline Col- will make. Until then, students lins also had a positive opinion should get ready, because for now, it about the PARCC Assessments. seems like the PARCC is here to stay. by Casey Tinney
The Emerging New World of 3D Printing by Dylan Donahue 3D printing is the technology of the future. Imagine the ability to bring anything from your imagination to life in plastic. As long as you can model it, you can print it. 3D printing is a new and emerging technology that allows the user to print in small layers of plastic to make any object. While it is still a new technology our school actually has two of them. One belonging to the Engineering Club and one other used for Engineering classes. You may be wondering what exactly 3D printing is. It is a process that uses a 3D printer to lay plastic onto a plate, and it builds up layer after layer in order to achieve 3D forms. They can build supports to make bridged forms and curves and angles. Nearly anything is possible. The technology for 3D printing is still very expensive, and the process is slow, but incredibly
strong parts can be made. Things such as detailed statues, and 3D art can all be made with ease, and a little bit of troubleshooting. The technology is still not exact, requires some technical prowess, and engineering skills to set up, but with help anyone can work one. Companies around the world are working on making their own printers, Makerbot is one of the most popular brands of printers. There are many open source printers that you can build yourself. Building your own printer is less expensive, but it can be very difficult to do. It’s also tricky to program the boards and wire all the motors.Only more technologically advanced people should choose this option. Even though this technology is still being rapidly innovated upon, 3D printing is a great investment and is very fun to work with. When printing, not even your printer is the limit, because you can even print it in pieces.
The Pony Express
Page 11
March 31, 2015
Mustang Sports and Athletics
Boys Basketball Finishes Best Season Yet This year’s Mustangs Boys Basketball team has accomplished something that no previous year’s team has. This year’s team is the first-ever Regional Champions in C. Milton Wright history. The team earned the right to play in Maryland’s high school version of the final four, again, the first State Final Four tournament in school history. In the first round of the tournament, CMW played Centennial, who has a history of good basketball teams. The Mustangs wound up losing the game by 12 points, but not before giving Centennial a good scare. The Mustangs were down by as much as 21 in the second half, before a good run put them just 8 points behind. From there, the UCBAC champions ran out of gas and could not complete the comeback. The tournament was held at the Xfinity Center at the University of Maryland. Centennial would continue on to win the State Championship Game, two days later. This season was a season of first the boys. They finished with the best record in school history at 22-2. The only losses on the season came to the number 2 team in the state John Carroll, and to the
eventual state champion Centennial. This year, CMW also produced the first boys basketball Regional C h a m p s in school history. This
is a young team, and will have some returning starters next year, as well as returning depth off the bench. A top 4 finish to the season is something to be proud of, something that students can say they were a part of and that they were here to witness. Yet, the future of basketball at CMW looks even brighter.
Swimming Falls Just Short of Repeat CMW Swimming had a The outlook on this year’s great season last year. They won t e a m Counties, and Regionals in both Boys and Girls, and Girls won the State Championship for the 2nd time in 3 years. This year, however, was more of a challenge for the team to repeat last year’s dominant performance. Senior was very Captian Bernie Chang says the optimisitic. “I think we will still team “lost a lot of good swimmers, do very well. I’m hoping we but also gained a lot of good talent.” continue the legacy of domi-
nance we’ve had here at CMW” Dominant was exactly what this year’s team was, but not as dominant as in year’s past. Once again the Mustang swimmers are UCBAC and Regional champions. This year, however, they fell just short of repeating as State Champions. The girls finished 4th behind Poolesville, Eastonn and Urbana. The boys finished 3rd behind Poolesville, and Damascus. Overall, It was a good season for both the swimmer’s teams, bu they left room for improvement for next season.
The Pony Express
Page 12
March 31, 2015
Mustang Sports and Athletics
Wrestling into the Record Books Head coach of the C. Milton Wright Wrestling team, Michael Zacharda said the season spoke for itself. “Every individual on the team made the season uplifting. They are a very young and for the most part, an inexperienced team that has a lot of growing to do.” Within the next few years of rebuilding the team, Coach Zacharda believes that the current team along with incoming
injured for the bulk of the season. When asked about the most memorable moments this season, Coach Zacharda was quick to mention the team victory they achieved at a tri-meet against Kenwood High School and Milford Mill Academy. Along with other exciting moments, there was the UCBAC conference meet, where Freshman Wyatt Graham placed 2nd in his weight class (182) and Junior Mason Herzing 4th (195).
freshman will have the potential to be highly competitive in the conference, as well as the state. Surely, Coach Zacharda can attest to this vision, for this season he surpassed 100 career wins. It’ll take the next few years to make a statement with the bulk of the team being underclassmen, which Coach Zacharda is ecstatic about. Sadly, the only senior wrestler and notably one of the most experienced, Philip Venanzi, was
Soon after, at regionals, Graham and Herzing would compete for the last time for the season, along with Sophomore Anthony Potter (113). No individuals participated in the state championship, although Wyatt Graham did qualify but was unable to participate due to an injury. Although it was a blow, it is looked at as motivation for next year because as hard as these young men are willing to work, the outlook for the coming years looks promising.
Life On The Fast Lane
Lady Mustangs Playoff Run
On February 23, the MPSSAA Indoor State Championships occured at Prince Georges Sports Complex where siblings Matthew and Christina Riggins represented C. Milton Wright out of 42 other teams in the 3A Division. Both of the athletes participated in the 55 meter, Matt, a senior placing 2nd running in 6.50 while Christina, a junior placed 6th in a time of 7.31. “To be among one of two schools representing Harford county at States is humbing and i’m extremely grateful to have such an opportunity” says Matt. “To run one of the greatest races of my career is what makes this meet the most memorable, especially this year being my senior year.” Both Matt and Christina have set record breaking marks for C. Milton Wright and are looking forward to the outdoor season, as they have high hopes for what the season has to bring.
The Lady Mustang’s season has summed up as one of the most memorable seasons that these group of girls have shared. The team had high expectations for themselves looked as a prospective team to make a deep run for the State Championship contention. During the first round of regional quarterfinals, the Mustangs blew out Dundalk, 69-10 in an effort to qualify for the next round. However in the semifinal round, they fell short of their team goal. With high hopes going into the game, the Mustangs came up short, in a loss to Edgewood, 35-33. “We are a tightly knit group of teammates and I couldn’t be any happier of how the season ended. Although we felt short of our goal, we fought through many battles together as a family” says Junior forward Blake Bukowski. The Mustangs final record stands at 18-6, ranking 3rd in the UCBAC Conference.
Pictured Above: 2014-2015 Wrestling Team ,
Winter Cheerleading
Cheerleading Squad: 3rd at Counties, Placed at both Regionals and States