PRINCE GEORGE HIGH SCHOOL - 7801 LAUREL SPRING ROAD - PRINCE GEORGE, VA 23875 VOLUME XIX - ISSUE 2 - DECEMBER 3, 2020 - WWW.TRNWIRED.ORG - @ROYALSMEDIANOW
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PRODUCTION DURING THE PANDEMIC p. p.10 10 Senior Sydney Conner works the teleprompter during the filming of the anchors for an episode of PGTV NEWS. Only three staff members of the staff actually attend school in person. Photo by Royals Media.
What’s Inside? p. 7 Bus Drivers Focus
On Students p. 8 Free Lunches Extended Through Grant
p. 15 Royal Cafe Remains Open For Business p. 18 Boys Basketball Anticipates Returning To Play On Home Court
Which professional sports do you watch? - NFL 43% - MLB 24% - None 14% - NBA 19% *Twitter Poll of 21 Votes
2 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 12.3.20
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What’s the REAL Cost of Your First Car? Seventeen-year-old Lanna bought a car for $7,500. Lanna was thrilled and felt that she got a great deal on the monthly payment. But six months later, her “really cool car” sits in the driveway most of the time because she can’t afford to drive it. Figure out the REAL cost of car ownership, starting with this list. Gas. Lanna needs about $35 every week for the gasoline to drive her car to work and school. You can’t control gasoline prices, but compact cars are more fuelefficient than trucks and vans. Oil. Changing your oil every six months takes only about 30-45 minutes and costs about $20-$30 (less if you do it yourself), but the consequences of neglecting it can be serious.
Did you know? If you live in Prince George County you could open an account!* Maintenance. It cost Lanna $225 to replace her muffler. If you’re buying a used car with higher mileage, think about frequently used and exposed parts: exhaust system, windshield wipers, brakes, tires, lights, and so on. Repairs can be costly, so be prepared by saving for them. Insurance. Most states and most lenders require auto insurance and Lanna’s cost $120 a month. Many insurers charge teenagers double or triple premiums because new drivers are a higher risk. Ask about discounts for such things as earning good grades in school. This article and its contents are for illustrative purposes only.
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Visit a branch 4495 Crossings Boulevard, Prince George 3510 A Avenue, Fort Lee Insured by NCUA. *Membership eligibility required. Certain qualifications and restrictions apply. A non-refundable membership fee of $1, plus $25 savings deposit is required for membership. The $25 Primary Share deposit will remain in your account throughout your membership, but is refundable upon account closing. Membership is open to those who live, work, worship or go to school in Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Hopewell, King and Queen, King William, New Kent, Nottoway, Petersburg, Powhatan, Prince George, Richmond, and Sussex.
THURSDAY 12.3.20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3
OP/ED
Gen Z In COVID-19 Pandemic
theRoyalNews the
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ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible. We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A2, or e-mail them to trnwired@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org. Publication theft. A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than three copies of an edition of a publication distributed on campus or in the surrounding community [with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading that edition of the publication]. A “publication” includes any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary or compensatory basis. In addition to the imposition of other campus disciplinary penalties, a person who violates this provision is responsible for compensating the publication for all reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refund of advertising fees.
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Section Editors Kaylaa’ White Cover Doubletruck: Emily Hannuksela OP/ED Features Maclay Cerny A&E Sports:
Writers Makayla Hamlin, Melliah Mason, Michael Mullenix, Rebekah Lee
Editorial Cartoonist Annabelle Starr
Editor-in-Chief Kaylaa’ White
Senior Editor Katie Zevgolis
Editor Emily Hannuksela
Editor Maclay Cerney
Adviser Chris Waugaman
Illustration by Annabelle Star.
Fans Should Return To Stands With Precautions
A
s of this week, high schools in surrounding areas have decided to cancel this year’s sports despite Virginia High School League (VHSL) clearance, due to its heightened chances of increased COVID-19 numbers in their districts. Many of our teams have begun training for the season within COVID-19 guidelines, and suggestions posted by VHSL pertaining to the sanitation of equipment and social distancing of players, but they offer little to no guidance on how to conduct events. With the rise of coronavirus cases in surrounding areas, many are wondering how the games will function in the pandemic. The CDC recommendation is “rather than focusing on an ideal number, emphasis should be placed on the ability to reduce and limit contact between people.” Under this recommendation parties from different households should practice social distancing, and
if you are shouting or performing any robust verbal actions, or are around others who are performing these actions, you should wear a face covering to potentially protect you from transferring particles. Ultimately, if people are going to be allowed in the stands our athletic department will have to come up with a plan. First they will have to control the number of people coming to the games and maintain social distancing in the waiting lines, then once they enter, they’ll have to enforce a social distancing. If concessions are going to be sold, they’ll have to have socially distanced lines and guidelines about mask removal. Having fans in the stands plays a crucial role in encouraging the players to do their best, and shows school spirit. If Prince George High School can put systems in place to allow students and the community to support our players, while following CDC recommendations, then we should allow “fans in the stands.”
want to be honest here. I am incredibly worried. Actually, I am terrified. A global pandemic has killed 270,000 Americans and is continuing to spread across the country EMMA like wildfire. WOODWARD-BURDETT Innocent U.S. citizens are being murdered by police on what seems like a daily basis. Domestic terrorist cells and white nationalists threaten the stability of our government. The news has been a whirlwind of tax returns, white supremacy, police brutality, natural disasters, and death. As I watch the 2020 election play out I can’t help but wonder about the long term effects of this experience on America’s youngest generations. We are witnessing our country devolve into chaos and madness, so how do we deal with it? At the beginning of the pandemic, I felt that I was managing my health decently. I drink lots of water and attempt to responsibly deal with schoolwork. But for me, along with many other members of Gen Z, it feels as though the pressure of our chaotic situation has become too much to handle. I have started to lose sleep, going four days in a row without so much as a nap. Anxiety and panic attacks have become incredibly common. I have started to experience chest pain, stress rashes, and mental fog. I have absolutely no idea how I am going to deal with these problems. I am not alone in feeling helpless. Gen Z has to absorb every disaster being thrown at them. Unfortunately, this means that they are going to feel the burden of stress and uncertainty. Outside of basic hygiene and mental health awareness, there is no permanent solution to ending the mental and physical effects of trauma. I have no perfect answers. We have every reason to feel stressed and concerned about school, the country, and the fate of the human race. Gen Z can use this experience as a catalyst for political passion and activism. That point might be too idealistic for some. Like I said before, I have no perfect answers. In the meantime we still have to cope to the best of our ability. To all my fellow Gen Zs, please take care of yourselves. Eat good food, drink lots of water, find a hobby, talk to your friends and family, vent your emotions, cry. This is an awful situation to experience, so don’t try to deal with it on your own. We might not be able to change our environment but we can control how we react to it.
4 | THE ROYAL NEWS | THURSDAY 12.3.20
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THURSDAY 12.3.20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5
THE WEEK AHEAD First Club Activity Fair - Monday, 12/7
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n Monday, December 7, 2020, the first Activity Period of the school year will take place virtually at the end of
1st block. Activity Period will last for the normal duration of around 22 minutes, beginning at 8:50 AM and lasting to 9:12 AM. Second block will be adjusted to last from 9:22 AM to 10:30 AM. All club meetings will be conducted virtually, students can join
from their current classrooms if inperson or from home if virtual. It will be a green activity period on Dec. 7, which includes 4H, Art Club, BETA Club, JROTC Leadership, Cultural Awareness, DECA, Key Club, Model UN, Royal GSA, Sign Language, and Guitar. The remaining activity days will be color-coded Gold (12/14), White (1/4), and Blue (1/11). The four days will begin to repeat after Jan. 11.
College Application Deadlines Approach
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eniors should be mindful of the January 1st deadline many universities have for applications. Guidance urges you over the next two weeks to complete all forms and bring all materials
and requests to them before we leave for break on December 18th. Do not expect guidance to be open over the winter break to answer email requests or other needs.
Winter Sports Tryouts Start - Monday, 12/7
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irls basketball tryouts will take place at Clements Jr. High on Monday December 7 and Tuesday December 8 at 3:15 PM. Those wanting to tryout need to be in grades 8-12 and bring a VHSL physical with them if one has not already been turned in to Prince George High School or the coach.
Boys basketball tryouts will be held on Monday, December 7th & Tuesday, December 8th. You must have an updated VHSL physical to participate, along with a signed COVID form. Both of these forms can be picked up in the main office. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Carr.
Interim Report Cards, 12/16 Students will receive information through Tyler SIS about interim report cards on Wednesday, December 16th. Students should remember that all classes except for 1st block classes will
end at the end of the 2nd 9 weeks. Final grades for 1st semester classes will be in at the end of January. There will be only four and a half weeks left after interims.
6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | THURSDAY 12.3.20
PH TO GALLERY
CLASS RINGS, SENIOR ORDERS BRING EXCITEMENT Herff Jones Visits In November To Deliver Rings, Place Orders For Graduation Items
1.
4.
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5. 6.
3. For more photos of all events follow this link to https://trnwired.smugmug.com/ Photos taken by Katherine Thacker.
1. Herff Jones items sit on display for students and family members to see up-close what ring stones are available. 2. Junior Joshua Dendler walks through the ring structure and receives his class ring from Herff Jones representative Jay Roudabush. 3. Senior Mitchell Wyatt looks over the cap and gown display after returning to pick up an item from the sales team of Herff Jones. Photos by Katherine Thacker.
4. Junior Dustin Wettstein shows off his new class ring which he picked up in the Commons during his lunch. 5. Junior Sam Martin checks out her new class ring on her hand during the ring pick-up. 6. Merchandise for the Class of 2021 sits on display from Herff Jones. Many seniors purchased sweatshirts and announcements, in addition to their cap and gowns. Photos by Katherine Thacker.
THURSDAY 12.3.20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7
FEATURES
BUS DRIVERS FOCUS ON STUDENTS With New Safety Regulations, Bus Drivers Take Precautions To Protect Students Maclay Cerrny
T
A&E/Sports Editor
he smell of strong cleaners can be expected in the high school bus loop on any weekday as bus drivers clean their busses. Just as schools have had to implicate changes, the transportation to those schools have as well. No longer will students see a bus full of students going down the road. Instead, they will see one only a quarter of the way full. “On a 65 passenger bus, we allow eleven students,” Director of Transportation Dustin Nase said. “On a 77 passenger bus, we allow thirteen students. We normally carry on average 50 students a bus on a normal year.” With bus capacity being so drastically reduced, some students are having to wait for an available spot. “Each school has their master transportation waitlist,” Nase said. “The schools know the needs of their students and as seats become available, we contact the school to send us students from their list. We can route students that fall in line with the routes we already are running. This allows for efficiency and streamline of all pickup times to stay on schedule.” Valerie Harris, a bus driver for five years, is a floater. This means that every day is a new challenge for her to overcome, as every day her route is different. “Monday [the 9th], I covered for a driver who’s runs are on the northern side of PG,” Harris said. “Tuesday [the 10th], I covered a driver’s run on the southside of PG. Wednesday [the 11th], I covered a driver’s runs in Branchester Lakes subdivision.” Drivers also have new responsibilities on their plate. “After each run, I have to spray my bus down with a disinfectant spray that is given to us, and the
same after my elementary run,” Ida Butler said. “This has to be done in the mornings and afternoons.” Along with these cleanings, other things are being done to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Masks are strongly recommended and encouraged but at this time they are not mandatory,” Harris said. “If a student gets on any of the buses I am running for without a mask, I do ask them if they need one and give them a disposable mask. As students get off the buses, we are taking their temperature to ensure they do not have a fever.” With all of these changes being implemented, it is important to have a strong team of people working in the background to make sure
everything runs correctly. “I feel like things are running smoothly,” Butler said. “Mr. Nase has taken the Transportation team and brought us to a new level, he empowers us to do the right thing along with supporting us as a team and individually. The team in the office is also a great support system for us bus drivers, they really go the extra mile with everything they do and help us with getting our routes straight.” Along with the numbers and facts, there is also an empathetic connection to the students for Nase. “My wife works at Walton and my daughter is in 4th grade there,” Nase said. “I treat each student as
Bus driver Mr. Jones checks sophomore Owen Tarnaski’s temperature before disembarking the bus. Bus drivers are required to not only check temperatures of all riders, but they also must clean and disinfect buses after runs. Photo by Maclay Cerny.
if they were my own. I want my daughter to have the opportunity to learn and I want to be able to provide that opportunity for other students as well. This community and the children are important to me and I want the best for all of them. We will continue to work with leadership to provide every opportunity we can. It will not be easy but we will continue to push forward.”
8 | THE ROYAL NEWS | THURSDAY 12.3.20
FEATURES Free Lunches Extended Through Grant Cafeteria Battles Through Reduced Sales, Increase Demand For At Home Students
50%
percentage of decrease in purchased meals since COVID-19
Kaylaa White
Editor-In-Chief
S
tudents across the nation have been receiving free lunch due to the pandemic, and now according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), students will continue to get free lunch throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Administrative Associate with the Prince George County Schools Food and Nutrition Services, Joanne Moyer is involved with making sure information about the assistance reaches the community. “The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) felt that extending the waiver for free meals would benefit everyone during this pandemic,” Moyer said. Although students have access to free lunches, the amount of students actually “purchasing” lunches has been consistent with previous numbers. “The participation [in the free lunch program] is about the same as last year,” Moyer said. There are roughly 1400 students attending Prince George High School, and out of that 1400, approximately 474 are in person students, the school’s cafeteria is bound to see a decrease in sales. Cafeteria Manager Thomas Guisto says COVID-19 has been detrimental to school cafeterias in Prince George County. “COVID 19 has hit the cafeterias hard across Prince George considering that we are not funded by taxpayer dollars,” Guisto said. The number of meals bought per day have decreased by more than 50% and our vending machines brought in four times the amount in per week last year, this year they’ve only made 25% percent of that sum for the entire month. Last year, pizza shortages were a common complaint from students rushing to get a spot in long lunch lines, or dreading their assigned “D Lunch”, but this year’s pizza sales have decreased by nearly 30%. Even though in-house purchases have decreased, the workload of our cafeteria staff has not. “Staff prepares food daily for pick up on Thursday after school, breakfast and lunch for virtual Friday students, and Friday pickup that consist of 5 breakfasts and
BY THE NUMBERS
25%
is the sum percentage made in meal sales relative to the same month last year
30%
is the percentage decrease in pizza sales
90%
of the pick-up meals are prepared by the cafeteria staff
5
5 lunches for 100% virtual students. We not only prepare daily breakfast and lunch for in-house students, but also for all food pickups. When all the food is prepared the meals are placed in a larger plastic bag along with milk and juice. In addition, the accounting for all these breakfasts and lunches served daily and pickups are very complex and time consuming for we must follow federal and state guidelines that are different from a normal school year,” Guisto said. The preparation process mostly includes packaging the food items as well. “Some items are pre-packed i.e. pastries and pbj. I would estimate 90% of the items are prepared by the staff, i.e. sandwiches, biscuits, fruit is washed and wrapped in individual plastic bags, vegetables are portioned and put in individual plastic bowls with a lid, and some items like chicken tenders, corn dog nuggets, etc. are portioned and put in individual plastic
(Above) Cafeteria Worker Tori Harper distributes the meals to the students on Friday, November 20. (Below) Workers take carts of meals down to the gym lobby for distribution each Friday. Photo by Rachael Blumenschine.
bags.” Currently, students 18 and under qualify for free lunches, and concerns have been raised about certain aid qualifications for students applying to college, but as of now Moyer has no information about how this could affect them. “At this time, no guidance has been provided as to what impact the possible aid given will be. However, we are encouraging all families to fill out a meal application. Applications are available at each school, and online at the Prince George County Food & Nutrition website,” Moyer said.
breakfasts and dinners are prepared each week for virtual students to pick up
474
is the number of in person students versus 1,400 last year Information provided by Cafeteria Manager Thomas Guisto
THURSDAY 12.3.20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9
FEATURES
COUNTY ELECTION FINALIZES RESULTS Ballot Requires Prince George Residents To Decide More Than Just Presidential Race Michael Mullenix
TRN Writer
O
n November 3rd, all of America voted on the direction they believed the country should go in. The electoral map was painted in deep blues and rich reds; county after county deciding the fate of our republic. Prince George County was no different that day. Prince George County had a great deal of decisions to make besides who should be president. The Senate race where incumbent (D) Mark Warner defeated (R) Daniel Gade and the House of Representative election where incumbent (D) Donald McEachin defeated (R) Leon Benjamin Sr. On top of these elections the two constitutional amendments proposed by the General Assembly passed with great enthusiasm. The race between McEachin and Benjamin for the fourth district of the House of Representatives followed a close path to the Senate election. The voters of PGC leaned heavily in favor of Benjamin with a vote count of 9,597 to McEachin’s 6,859 votes. In the districtwide vote, McEachin re-won his seat in the House having 227,623 votes, and Benjamin lost, having 146,963 votes. Karen Webb, an AP Government and civics teacher, expressed why McEachin won even without the majority of the Prince George vote. “Prince George is located in the 4th congressional district along with Sussex, Surry, Emporia, Petersburg, Richmond City, Suffolk, Hopewell, Charles City, Henrico and Greensville, which are all heavily blue localities,” Webb said. In the race for the U.S. Senate seat, Prince George showed an enthusiasm for Gade. With the votes tallied and finalized in PGC, Gade came out with 9,657 votes and Warner followed behind with 6,964. This enthusiasm did not, however, carry Gade to victory. In the state wide election, Warner won by 500,000 votes. A similar trend would reign over the House election. Webb explained why she believes Prince George voted red, with Virginia still going blue.
“Though it was considered a key swing state in the Obama era, Virginia is now a solidly blue state. The Commonwealth is known for its conservative political history. Yet, there has been a noticeable shift in the political dynamic in recent years,” Webb said. “The GOP has not won a statewide contest since 2009. Democrats have held both its U.S. Senate seats for over a decade. Democrats claim 7 of the 11 congressional districts. Of the 4 remaining districts, two of them are considered pink. Virginia’s statewide offices have been in Democratic hands since 2014. Both chambers of the General Assembly flipped blue in 2019. “I am not sure what effect it will have on voter turnout. It depends on the demographics of the regular voter
in Virginia. If the turnout in future elections remains high, Virginia may remain blue for quite some time,” Webb said. The first proposed amendment on the ballot focused on redistricting and the process in which it is done. The amendment proved very popular with PGC voters, receiving double the opposition votes. In total, the amendment received 2,446,479 votes in favor of the amendment state wide and 1,273,918 votes against the proposed amendment. Even with this overwhelming wave of support for this amendment, it is dwarfed by the second proposed amendment. If the first proposed amendment’s support was a tidal wave, then the second amendment’s support was a tsunami. 14,694 voters in PGC alone backed
Illustration created in Canva by Royals Media.
the amendment which offered a tax break on vehicles to disabled veterans. The opposition state wide numbered only 532,553 votes, while the support for this amendment was 3,262,395 voters strong. In the 2016 general election about 16,000 citizens voted in PGC. In the 2020 general election about 17,000 citizens voted in PGC. This trend shows a voter population increase of 1,000. It appears that while PGC leans more towards Republican candidates, Virginia and it’s public officials will likely stay majority blue in the near future.
12 | THE ROYAL NEWS | THURSDAY 12.03.20
A&E KEY CLUB MAKES ADJUSTMENTS TO CARRY ON Emily Hannuksela
I
OP/ED & Features Editor
n previous years, Key Club members have gathered together for many community service projects to improve Prince George. This year, however, the club has had to adapt to the ever-changing COVID-19 environment. Key Club strives to help their members become better leaders through service. Their main goal is to perform acts of service to the community. To do this, many volunteer opportunities are provided. In the past, Megan Cashing, the sponsor of Key Club, oversaw these events. “We have adopted a section of Route 156, from Clements to Circle D, that we clean about twice a year,” Cashing said. “We have also helped collect items for people in need and visited food pantries in the past. We hope to do some of this again this year.” To be able to run these events, Key Club must also be able to hold fundraisers, but there are challenges to overcome before anything can be sold. “We also will have to come up with some new ideas for fundraisers, as we usually sell candy, and we don’t want to encourage passing of materials and money between students,” Cashing said. “Ms. Brown and I will still be sponsoring the club, but more than ever Key Club will be studentled and organized.” Meetings this year will also have to be adjusted to fit the new recommended guidelines of social distancing. “We have a Google Classroom set up to keep our members informed, as well as an Instagram account,” Cashing said. “We’ll be having virtual meetings through Google Meet and get together in person when we can space out safely.” Collecting dues from members this year will also be a hardship that Key Club has to overcome. “We have really just started, but it will be challenging collecting dues from members this year. We will still have to send our dues into the district and international offices for Key Club, and with many students not
FACTS ON
KEY CLUB Core Values: Leadership, Character building, Caring, Inclusiveness
There are over 1,000 clubs in more than 38 countries.
being in person, they can’t just pop by our rooms like they used to do,” Cashing said. In order to run a club, a president, vice president, secretary, and publicist must be chosen. The normal procedure for electing these positions could not be used, but Cashing had a way to overcome the challenge. “We did not hold elections in the spring, but I reached out to the members from last year when we got back in the fall, and had 4 students interested in being officers,” Cashing said. “We kept the officer application open for a few weeks, and those 4 that responded became our officers.” One of these officers is senior Kassidy Reed, the vice president of Key Club. Her goal for this year focuses on student involvement. “I hope to make Key Club a bigger club along with getting more students involved in community service because they truly enjoy it compared to students feeling that they are required to,” Reed said. As such a prominent member of the club, Reed works to uphold the goal of the club. “As a vice president of the club, I
The Key Club poses for one of the biggest group photos last year during club picture day. This year the pandemic has made gathering and their outreach projects much more difficult. Photo by Madison Bailey.
help make activities for members to participate in and help organize functions,” Reed said. “Key Club is about giving back to the community and making PGHS more fun and enjoyable.” The club is very community-driven and helps others through hard work. “Key Club helps to make sure that the community stays clean and provides volunteer opportunities in the food drives,” Reed said. Cashing is impressed with the actions of the student body and the officers of Key Club as they have been very interested in making a difference. “I’m proud that our students wanted to do something this year, and that our officers have had so much initiative in helping out the community, especially during this time,” Cashing said.
Objectives of Key Club: To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
To promote the adoption and application of higher standards in scholarship, sportsmanship and social contacts.
THURSDAY 12.3.20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 13
A&E
Bachelor Event Offers Night Of Celebration In Fundraiser Emily Hannuksela
T
OP/ED & Features Editor
he smell of pizza drifts through the air as PGHS students fill the restaurant in preparation to see new faces through the PG Bachelor
event. This event is hosted by DECA as an opportunity to meet new people and raise money. It will take place in January at Rosas Italian Ristorante in Hopewell. The purpose of this event is to provide a different way to celebrate a normally annual event. “We knew that homecoming had been canceled, so this gives people a chance to dress up and go out,” said Kim Beales, the sponsor of DECA. “My officers came up with this alternative to homecoming.” To have dinner with one of the PG Bachelors, students can fill out a form.
“They fill out an order form to order tickets,” Beales said. “We put the tickets into a pile and draw them, so the more tickets you buy, the better chance you have of being picked to go.” In addition, some students that wanted to have dinner with a Bachelor may be concerned that their choice may be publicized. Beales, along with DECA members, want students to know that the process is secure. “We were also worried that people would be shy when it comes to their ticket choices, but I wanted to clarify that it’s all done secretly,” Beales said. “DECA puts the ballots in, students just fill out the information.” There are eight Bachelors. The seniors include Kacy Figueroa, Corey Edwards, Patrick Lockett, Spencer Fillhart, Larry Lane, and Dravyn Mejia. The juniors are Seven Jones and Tahir Johnson. Each of them are enthusiastic to take part in this event. “Being a DECA officer, we needed to find ways to raise money for the
program, so that was a big inspiration to participate,” Johnson said. Fillhart volunteered to be a PG Bachelor in order to have a good time while meeting new people. “I’m looking for a fun time,” Fillhart said. Johnson is anticipating the event, and is hopeful about the effects of it. “I’m looking forward to seeing how much money we raise and the overall outcome of the whole event,” Johnson said. The event will benefit DECA directly by continuing to hold events and raising funds. “We’re using it as a fundraiser as well as trying to keep DECA active during COVID-19 restrictions,” Jones said. FIllhart is hopeful that the event will continue to be held every year. “I believe it will help raise money for future events and if it’s successful, it could become an annual event,” Fillhart said. The goal of the event is to keep
Seniors Corey Edwards (left) and Spencer Fillhart (right) stand ready for the DECA event which will take place after the winter break. Both seniors are part of a larger group who will participate in the dinner at Rosas Italian Ristorante in Hopewell. Photo by Ande Davis.
people together during this time of distancing. “It might introduce new people together,” Beales said. “It’s not like a date because we’ll all be socially distanced, but we’ll still be together and have people meet.” Although DECA is benefitting from the PG Bachelor, the whole Prince George High School community will also profit from the event. “It’s really to benefit the emotional wellbeing of Prince George because we’re going through so much,” Beales said. “We just thought this would be a positive and fun thing to do.”
14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | THURSDAY 12.3.20
A&E
Holiday Favorites Bring Spirit To Season Katie Zevgolis
Editor
T
he time of the year has come again where many students spread holiday cheer through music. Although the Prince George High School Choir isn’t having a traditional annual Christmas concert, they are still finding Christmas cheer in music. “My favorite holiday song is ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’,” sophomore Samuel Knipp said. “I usually listen to holiday songs pretty much anywhere and everywhere. The format from which I listen to them is usually consistently digital.” “I am a fan of the ‘First Noel’,” sophomore Lochlan Jackson said. “I listen to holiday songs anywhere I can. I have a record player at home and so even though I listen to holiday music
on the radio and digitally, I also listen to it on vinyl.” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is my favorite holiday song,” sophomore Machi Jones said. “I listen to this song and other holiday tunes pretty much anywhere during the Christmas season. I also have a record player so I listen to holiday tunes on vinyl sometimes.” Holiday music originated in the fourth century in Rome. Christmas songs in the original native developed by the 13th century by Francis of Assisi. “O Come Emmanuel” was released in the twelfth century. In the 1800s it was translated in English, followed by, “The First Noel” which debuted in the 13th century. “Jingle Bells” was originally supposed to be a Thanksgiving song. It was one of the few songs written by an American composer. Sophomore Machi Jones showcases a record which contains many favorite holidays songs. Jones has a record player at home. Photo by Mackenzie Jackson.
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THURSDAY 12.3.20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15
A&E
ROYAL CAFE REMAINS OPEN FOR BUSINESS Makayla Hamlin
FACTS ON
ROYAL CAFE Where can I find it? Delivery to my classroom/ class pick up at the F wing doors of the cafeteria
TRN Writer
What classes receive delivery? Beasley, Bell, Corrigan, Day, Edmundson- 4th block only*** Francis, Hale, Halligan, Hamilton, Jones, Labossiere, Newbold, Polon, Roberts, Stevenson, Webb- ½ of class** Woodson, Stainback, Barnwell, and Guidance and Main offices
W
ith the crinkling of gloves, staff and students carefully place the ordered snack items into bags to prepare them for delivery. Champions Together, in addition to their cafe, also run a snack cart. It is run by the students and staff involved in the life skills program, with adult help, such as SPED teacher Catherine Beasley. “The Royal Cafe offers cold drinks and snacks throughout the day,” Beasley said. “The money goes directly back into the program for community trips, curriculum subscriptions, and we really want to have enough this year to purchase an interactive white board for student engagement.” They provide a multitude of different snacks, like donuts, candy, and chips. Also, drinks such as Monster, various sodas, and Starbucks are sold at an affordable cost, less than the machines in the cafeteria. “Most snacks are $.50, as are canned soda,” Beasley said. “Candy and bottled soda is $1.00. Starbucks and Monster are $2.00.” They do not have specific allergyfree items, but are always open to suggestions from the students and staff. “We do not have anything specifically for people with allergies, but we do listen to requests from staff and students. If we have enough people that will purchase a type of item, we are happy to try it. A lot of times, those items cost more so we have to keep that in mind”. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, the cart does not go around the school like in years past. However, snacks are eligible for delivery. “We deliver to classrooms if the teachers have indicated they are okay with students ordering,” Beasley said. They are also packaged and handled with sensitivity given the circumstances. “Students and staff wear masks and gloves when packaging and delivering and we have a really big focus on hygiene with the students,” Beasley
Most popular items: Flamin Hot Fries, Flamin Limon Cheetos, Cookies n’ Cream Pop Tarts, S’mores Pop Tarts, and Hershey bars.
said. “Students who struggle with hygiene or wearing gloves have other opportunities to help not dealing directly with food.” If certain teachers do not allow delivery, there is also the option to pick up. “For students in classes that do not allow deliveries, we offer between class pick up at the F wing doors of the cafeteria,” Beasley said. “Our order form has a dropdown option for between class pick up or for a specific teacher.” Students can order by finding the QR code and link on the bulletin board outside of the F wing doors on the board. On the form, you can pick which items you would like to buy, and how much you will pay in cash. “The Google form asks how students are paying and they can select exact change $5, $10, or $20 so we have their change pre-counted in their bag.” After buying, your items will be packaged and delivered to your class. If you are in a class that’s about to end, you may want to wait to order. “Once an order is placed, staff completes a paper form and the order is packaged and delivered, usually within 15 minutes,” said Beasley. Items are available to be sold Mon-
Students Mariah Mahone and Zach Townsend prepare the items for sale on the food cart. Each day the cart delivers snacks to students and teachers. Photo by Maclay Cerny.
day to Thursday from 7:30 to 2:30, not including lunch. If students are virtual or craving one of the snacks on Friday, ordering is possible on that day. “We are open to everyone on Fridays, but customers will have to come to F-18 to order or pick up,” Beasley said. While some may think that a snack cart does not have many benefits towards a goal, Beasley believes differently. “Our whole goal is to teach our kids skills that will help them be as independent as possible, including working in the community, when they leave high school,” Beasley said. “The interactions with staff and peers really go a long way with forging relationships with people in the community and learning skills for independence.” In order to access the form to place an order or browse the menu, scan the QR code.
18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | THURSDAY 12.03.20
SPORTS
Boys Basketball Anticipates Returning To Play On Home Court Rebekah Lee
A
TRN Writer
s the Boys Basketball team assembles back on the court, senior Chris Allen and sophomore J o r d a n Lambert’s love and passion for the game is back as well. For many of the boys, they grew up playing the sport, which led to everlasting friendships in the team. Despite the impact that COVID-19 has brought, the team is ready to get back to playing hard and doing it together. “The brotherhood you create with different people is the most important thing about the sport to me,” said Allen. Allen has been playing for about five years, and the sport benefits him both physically and emotionally. “I enjoy being a leader,” Allen said. “It’s good for me to always be held accountable for my actions.” Along with the players, the coach also plays a major role in the team. “The best part of coaching is watching a group of young men grow up right in front of your eyes, and still having those relationships beyond graduation,” said head coach Travis Carr. With hopes of first day tryouts on December 7th, the team is excited to have their sneakers squeak on the court again. The hard work and dedication of the team shows individually through each of the players in unique ways. “I’m excited to start playing again because I haven’t played in over a year,” Lambert said. “I have been practicing and preparing for a year now for this moment to come.”
Not only do the boys play an important role in bringing wins to Prince George, but Carr likes to keep them active in the community. “I try to instill a program that has players who do more than just play basketball,” said Carr. “With our platform, we try to give back to the community and school with projects such as the Annual Toy Drive & Student Basketball Game known as “Battle of the Classes” benefitting ASK, a Children’s Cancer Foundation, Annual Mentoring Program with Walton Elementary School called “Carr’s Kids”, Assisting with the Optimist Club Christmas Tree Lot every winter, and Annual Summer Camp for county kids.” Every athlete knows the feeling of love for their sport. “I can’t wait to just compete with the other teams and players around the area,” Lambert said. “Basketball makes me happy and I just love to compete and to put on a show for the crowd.” Basketball isn’t just about competition and athleticism, the sport is also about making memories that will last a lifetime. “One of my favorite memories was my second varsity game against Hopewell,” said Allen. “One of the boys from the other team came across half court and threw the ball. I was in the paint watching where the ball was going and when I turned around, I got dunked on.” Working together as a team and having a secure bond is important to the coach and players, especially the seniors on their final night. Not only are they teammates, but a family. “My favorite memory of coaching here is the annual Senior Night game,” Carr said. “It’s a special moment for our graduates, playing in their final home again.”
Senior Chris Allen sizes up the defense in a game against Hopewell in 2020. Allen is one of the returners preparing to play as the season starts on December 7th. Photo by Masako Kaneko.
THURSDAY 12.3.20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19
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SPORTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
>> Girls Basketball plays >> Indoor Track away at Hopewell High School on Monday, January 4th.
Meet is away at Meadowbrook High School on Tuesday, January 5th.
>> Boys Basketball plays >> Wrestling Dual Meet
Girls Basketball Prepares For Tryouts Melliah Mason
A
Writer
s the sounds of basketballs hitting the gym floor echoes, students and coaches prepare for a new season and tryouts for the girls basketball team. With the upcoming basketball season arriving quickly, past players and students looking to join the team have started conditioning to prepare for tryouts. Junior Mic’kayja Tatum, a past player, expresses the difficulty new players might experience while playing girls basketball this season. “I think the most difficult part is definitely staying committed,” Tatum said. “There will be hard days where we lose or you just don’t feel like going to practice and those are the days that you have to work twice as hard.” Tatum discusses how she prepares for tryouts even in difficult times like these, in hopes that other girls looking to tryout for the team will do the same. “To prepare for tryouts, I just try to prepare myself mentally and physically,” Tatum said. “Physically, I try to go to the gym a while ahead to get my stamina back to where it needs to be and just be prepared to be very sore.” Tatum gives realistic advice to those who are interested in trying out for girls basketball. “You have to be resilient and you have to be willing to work hard,” Tatum said. Girls basketball coach Kenya Grissett discusses how things are going to be this year at tryouts and in future practices due to COVID-19.
“It won’t be much different than previous tryouts,” Grissett said. “Once December 7th hits, we are allowed to have a regular practice but we will implement masks on the sideline, bringing your own hydration supply, plus reconfiguring space in the locker room.” Grissett discusses the uncertainty of knowing who is going to try out for this basketball season due to the location of the school. “Being in a military town, it’s hard to know who you will see from year to year,” Grissett said. Grissett expresses how the upcoming girls basketball season will be very different from other past seasons, due to the pandemic’s new guidelines and regulations for all sports. “The season is already different because it is starting later, and it is shorter,” Grissett said. “We will not be able to play some of the teams outside of our conference that we usually compete against.” Even though things may be different this season and there are new restrictions, Grissett is prepared to coach the girls basketball team this season regardless of what might be different this year. “I have a great group of coaches around me,” Grissett said. “If we need to pull a few players aside and give them additional pointers on how to grasp a skill set, we work well together to pull groups and work on multiple skill development drills at one time at varying levels.” Grissett shares her excitement about the future season and discusses how she loves the game. “You may have heard me say before that I am always excited to take the floor and play basketball,” Grissett said. “As a spectator, coach, or player, I love being around the game.”
Coach Kenya Grissett gives directions at girls basketball conditioning. Tryouts begin on Monday, December 7th at NB Clements Junior High School. Photo taken by Royals Media. For more photos of sports, scan this QR code.
away at Meadowbrook High School on Tuesday, January 5th.
is away at Petersburg High School on Wednesday, January 6th.