VOLUME XVIII - SPECIAL EDITION ISSUE - NOVEMBER 2019 - WWW.TRNWIRED.ORG - @ROYALSMEDIANOW
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SPECIAL EDITION
SPECIAL EDITION
HERE’S TO THE HELPERS THIS SPECIAL EDITION IS DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE AND ANIMALS WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.
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theRoyalNews Letter From The Editor
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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.
Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2016 CSPA Gold Crown Winner 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2017 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010, 2017, 2019 NSPA Online Pacemaker Winner 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 SIPA All Southern 2008-2015 The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org 7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia
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ehind the scenes, there are many people who at times get overlooked for their contributions. In the month of giving thanks, we wanted to recognize just a few of these helpers. Without these helpers several daily school functions would not be possible. Money would not be properly be handled. Teams would not be managed. These are the people we are looking at. Maddison Shawkey, Editor-In-Chief Our school is a machine with constantly moving parts, and many times when problems arise or are solved, we tend not to look into who helped solve these issues. Credit is due to those who work behind the scenes to make our school the best it can be. Each has a different job that helps make life easier on the student body and the staff here at the high school. They dedicate their time and effort in order to make our jobs easier. From the office aides to those who work the scoreboard, they all play significant roles in the function of what we do at the high school. Without these people in these roles we would struggle to find ways around these roles or would have to modify how different operations are done. Our goal is to see what these helpers have to say and make sure their efforts have not gone unnoticed. This issue is dedicated to recognizing their significance and telling their stories. As a staff we highlight what roles these background members played. We bring them to the front and give them a voice and say thank you for everything you do.
On The Cover
Section Editors Front page: Allison McCauley-Cook Op/Ed: Kaylaa White Features: Harmony Thomas Doubletruck: Allison McCauley-Cook A&E: Katie Zevgolis Sports: Masako Kaneko & Deana Nichols Photos: Shelby Hayes Reviews: Nic Brown
Writers Heidi Crane, Emily Hannuksela, Damion Perkinson, Maclay Cerny, Chris Newton, Skye Watkins, Jewel Harry
Editor-in-Chief Maddison Shawkey
Online Editor-In-Chief Carter Marks
Managing Editor Allison McCauley-Cook
Business Manager Sarah Schrum
Adviser Chris Waugaman
Copy aide Lumyai Prescott stands in her workspace awaiting her next assignment or the next call to come save the day by fixing a jammed copier. Along with printing Prescott also aides at the front desk in the afternoon as a aide for the front office and also works in guidance. Photo by Skye Watkins.
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Contents 4-5 Griffin Provides Motivation On Track, In Halls 6-7 Carmichael Manages Money In School 4-5 8-9 Service Dog Provides Aid to Friend In Need 12-13 Busy Teacher Inspire Young Musicians 14-15 Birch Serves Students While Smile 16-17 Student Workers Provide Support To Staff 18-19 Printing Prescott At Your Service 12-13 20-21 Bryant Makes Difference, Eases Pain 22-23 Security Officers Aim To Protect, Serve 26-27 Husband, Wife Take On Substitute Teaching 28-29 Lights Out? No Problem 30 McCauley-Cook Works To Better Lives Of Students 26-27 31 Walker Continues Love For Teaching Through Substituting 32-33 Paraprofessionals Help Out Students In Need 34-35 Hebert Takes Charge Of Numbers 36-37 Teacher By Day, Ticket Seller By Night 34-35
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Griffin Provides Motivation On Track, In Halls By Deana Nichols
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a l k i n g through the hallways, over a thousand students go about their day without thinking about who keeps the school clean and running smoothly. Behind the scenes are the custodians who make sure the school is ready everyday. But the one person who has overseen the operation for 30 years is head custodian Bryan Griffin. Along with being the head custodian, Griffin is also a track and field coach. He is always on the lookout for the next great track athlete. “Coach Griffin is really good at keeping us motivated on and off the track,” senior Gabbey Miner said. “Also, Griffin is able to push us and keep the atmosphere light, so he gives us hard work but keeps positive.” “I guess I look at them [students] to size them up to see if they are mentally and physically able,” Griffin said. While Griffin hopes to increase the number of members on the track team, the current members have formed strong relationships with him. Miner is a sprinter but enjoys talking and joking around with Griffin outside of track. “My responsibility as a custodian, being that I am the lead custodian here on the day shift, is to make sure the building is open in the morning and everything is clean that was not clean from the night before,” Griffin said. “We have to make sure it’s up and ready for that day of operation.” Like most jobs, there are challenges that come along the way. The biggest struggle for a custodian is cleaning up messes left intentionally on the lunch
tables by students. “It’s frustrating when the trash can is right in front of them and they just get up and leave everything like it is,” Griffin said. “Then when you bring it to their attention, the first thing they say is, ‘It’s not mine,’ but I just finished looking at you get up from the table.” Growing up in a household who believed in putting others first, Griffin has a heart to serve his community and those around him. His mother taught Griffin to do what is right no matter the situation. “She’s not here now, but when she was here, she always wanted to do the right thing, always tried to help somebody as much as possible,” Griffin said. “You should make somebody look for the right way to do certain things.” The best part of the job, for Griffin, would be seeing his previous students when he is out in public. It is a time to see and catch up with prior students and hear about the change in their lives. “It’s wonderful to hear from them after they’re gone,” Griffin said. “That means that you’ve done something in their life to make them feel good about themselves, and that’s what I enjoy.” Griffin continues to make an impact in students’ lives in a monumental way, not limited to those on the track team. What he does, does not go unnoticed. This impact on young people is what brings him back everyday. “I appreciate that Griffin cares about the team’s performance, as well as the people on the team itself,” Miner said. “He’s my number one!” Assistant Track Coach Bryan Griffin explains strategy to the sprinters at an indoor track meet. Griffin has coached mainly field event participants which includes the shot put. File photo by Royals Media.
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Carmichael Manages Money In School
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By Carter Marks
oney hits Jessie Carmichael’s desk almost every day as she is responsible for filing it in the appropriate place. In order for a school to run smoothly, there will be many who do significant roles behind the scenes. And sometimes they do not get as much recognition as they deserve. Every day is something new and she never knows what to expect when coming into work that morning. One morning this school year, DECA advisor Kim Beales forgot to get a check that she needed the for the state fair field trip. For Beales, she knew she could count on Carmichael to assist her in whatever she needed. “One day, I totally forgot I needed a check for the state fair and I needed it to leave the next morning,” Beales said. “She stayed, got it taken care of and got it for me the next morning. And I know that is out of her routine.” Accepting the job back in 1993, Carmichael has been the bookkeeper in the front office for the past 26 years. Before coming into the school system, she was an employee for the Bank of Southside Virginia in which she was then working her way up to the manager role. Going into work on a spring April day, Carmichael did not think she would come home experiencing what she did at work PGHS Bookkeeper Jessie Carmichael takes a phone call from one of the many vendors who work with the high school. Carmicheal manages all of the school financial accounts in main office. Photo by Shelby Hayes.
that day. “...I was working currently at the Bank of Southside Virginia and I went through a bad robbery in April of that year,” Carmichael said. “So I kind of was leaning to getting out of that role. I was working my way up to manager, but I had a friend of mine that approached me about the job here and that is how it all started.” Technology has really advanced in the past 25 years and for Carmichael, everything now is almost all electronic. “When I first started here, we did not have an accounting program where I could just plug in numbers,” Carmichael said. “When I was in banking, everything was so high tech. We were way up there, but our school system just wasn’t there yet.” As time went on, she approached Charlotte Martin, her principal in buying an accounting program for all the school accounts to be in. “I asked her [Martin] if I could research getting an accounting program for this school. She allowed me to do that and I did my research,” Carmichael said. “I found what I wanted and asked if I could purchase it. We did try this program and of course bam it worked.” From writing everything down and calculating numbers in a calculator, Carmichael has seen her daily duties change drastically in the past 25 years. Another thing that people can depend on her for is showing thanks to her other coworkers in the building. “Everyday is something new,” Carmichael said. “You never know what you are going to come into. I have a calendar that I keep all my functions in and all the highlights show that I have so much to do in the future. We just had bosses day. Now we are coming up on Halloween. I’m doing treats for some of our student workers. There is always something going on.”
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Service Dog Provides Aid To Friend In Need By Heidi Crane
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rusting companion, best friend and guardian angel describes Murphy, Gabby Boiteau’s dedicated service dog. Boiteau suffers from a heart condition called Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, also known as POTS. Since middle school Boiteau has suffered from seizures that affect her body’s changes in behavior, movements or feelings. “Pretty much that means my body hates gravity so whenever I stand up or sit in a desk too long my blood drops to my feet and I pass out,” Boiteau said. Murphy is trained to be a syncope response, cardiac alert, and mobility dog, these dogs help to warn of impending drops in blood pressure. Service dogs are capable of assisting individuals by working and performing tasks to assist their humans. Boiteau has been training Murphy to be as heroic as he is today since he was just a puppy, to take certain action when he becomes aware of her POTS as soon as it starts. Training Murphy started very early, in fact, he started training when he was only eight weeks old. Murphy is trained in many skills such as obedience, alerting, and task training. “I got Murphy from a breeder and trained him myself with the help of a trainer,” Boiteau said. Ever since Murphy was a puppy, the pair would make everlasting memories together that Boiteau will remember forever. “When he was a puppy and would get sad at night, I would sing to him to make him happy and make him go to sleep,” Boiteau said. As they both grew older together, Murphy was ready to finally come to school Senior Gabby Boiteau and her service dog Murphy Rae pose for a picture together a month before school begins. Boiteau informed students at an assembly at the beginning of the year how each should act around Murphy Rae. Photo provided by Gabby Boiteau.
with his best friend, where every morning they developed a routine. “We get up in the morning have breakfast, Murphy goes outside and plays with the ball and then we go to school,” Boiteau said. Service dogs have challenging roles in their everyday life, this makes them provide care to their owners anywhere they may go. “He always has to be aware of what is going on with my body,” Boiteau said. “Murphy can sense my heart rate getting high and let’s me know I need to get on the floor so I do not pass out, Murphy is also a cardiac alert dog he tells me when my heart gets too high so I can get on the floor and he does Deep Pressure Therapy to bring my heart rate lower.” Murphy’s presence has created a new set of rules and expectations for both teachers and students. Everyone is expected to understand that Murphy is here for a job and is not considered a pet. Petting, distracting, and feeding Murphy are all prohibited in order to keep Boiteau and Murphy safe. Although Murphy is a lovable pooch, he is doing a job and there is still etiquette one must follow to help secure Boiteau’s safety. “Please don’t stare. Pet. Give us space. Leave us alone unless we need help. Don’t distract,” Boiteau said. Though they have been together for quite some time, Boiteau learns new lessons from Murphy everyday. The one important lesson Boiteau learns from Murphy is that he is always on the job. “I can’t push myself, because he won’t let me,” Boiteau said. For Boiteau, Murphy is not only a service dog, but also a source of relief and freedom knowing he will be able to help her in a bad situation. “Before I got Murphy I would never go anywhere because I didn’t know what was going to happen and that scared me,” Boiteau said. “Now that I have Murphy I have my independence back and I’m not scared to go out and have fun because I know Murphy will keep me safe.” Murphy will stay by her side for a long time watching and protecting her. “[The future] will be full of laughs, smiles and happy healthy days,” Boiteau said.
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Busy Teacher Inspires Young Musicians
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By Maddison Shawkey
urriedly packing his bag in the afternoon, the 2:30 bell is only the beginning of a busy schedule for David Dockan. Dockan is the middle school choir teacher. This year he reached out to band director Michael Warnock and offered his assistance with the marching band. “I just reached out to Mr. Warnock and said, ‘Hey, I’m a trumpet player and would love to help out’,” Dockan said. Adding this extra commitment was just another tax on Dockan’s busy schedule. Dockan rushes between Prince George, Fort Lee, and Richmond everyday just to fulfill his commitments. Despite the hurried lifestyle, Dockan still finds joy in facilitating a love for music in children. “There are days that it feels like a job, but overall, it’s is such a great experience to see people make music and I get to make music,” Dockan said. Dockan did not start his musical journey at Prince George. From marching at West Virginia University to working with the Royal Marching Band, Dockan has been able to share his love of music with many students. “They see that, as a musician, I’m also doing things outside of school and like there’s still opportunities for you outside of school music and community music,” Dockan said. Dockan’s primary goal is to spread the joy and love of music he has to others. It inspires Dockan to see a love for music all the way from the middle school up to high school level. “[I enjoy] seeing people become better musicians and better people and just seeing people get that love of music and then seeing these students just grow as instrumentalist and grow as people and musicians,” Dockan said. The Royal Marchers see Dockan’s commitment as an opportunity and are grateful for the work Dockan has put into helping them.
“He has helped us with our fundamental marching which is a big part of what judges look for, to see if we can march in time and if we have good posture,” senior trumpet leader Alexandria Johnson said. “This also helps us have a good tone quality when we play.” Dockan helped the marching band achieve cleaner marches through different methods of repetition. “He would make us repeat routines over and over because he stresses the essence of it,” senior drum major Stanley Taylor said. “In the end though, it’s worth it.” Along with teaching and assisting the band, Dockan also commits time to the Fort Lee Playhouse in their current show, The Little Mermaid. Director Storm Burks has worked with Dockan for years in many different facets. Burks enjoys seeing his friend and colleague thrive in his busy environment. “Mr. Dockan is very well prepared,” Burks said. “He’s organized. He’s the kind that thrives being busy, and what everybody else would see as an overwhelming schedule, is just kind of where he falls into this comfort zone.” Along with the preparedness Dockan brings, Burks also is grateful for the positive energy and friendship he has with Dockan. “When you get to work with people that you’re friends with, they help inspire it, and it never becomes work,” Burks said. “It’s just getting to play and create art.” Dockan’s behind the scenes work has not gone unnoticed. Dockan is appreciated as a passionate musician who is patient and wants to share his love of music. “[I want to thank Dockan for] his patience,” Taylor said. “Not a lot of people are known to stick around when mistakes are often made but he stood with us even when ideas didn’t work out.” David Dockan conducts the PAAS All County concert on Oct. 18th. Dockan added this commitment to his work load in October, while also helping with the marching band and preparing his JEJ Moore Middle School choir for a fall concert. Photo by Haley Skalsky.
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Birch Serves Students With Smile By Emily Hannuksela
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he clank of pans colliding, chatter, and soft pop music fills the air as lunch lady Victoria Birch is hard at work in the commons. Birch has been a dedicated lunch lady at Prince George High School for five years. In her experiences of both her life and job, she’s gained a lot of knowledge and many memories as she’s worked with adults and interacted with students. “I have too many really good memories interacting with the students, while
working at the high school for the past five years. I cannot choose just one as my best memory,” Birch said. Birch has gained further expertise that helps her in her current career from prior job experiences at an elementary school in the Prince George area. “Before [becoming a lunch lady at Prince George High School] I was a cafeteria monitor at North Elementary for half a year,” Birch said. When Birch was searching for a new job, she was in luck because Prince George High School needed a larger lunch staff. “[I began working at Prince George High School] because I needed a better job than what I had before and they were hiring,” Birch said.
Now, as a dedicated lunch lady, Birch affects many people’s lives while they purchase food in the cafeteria. Sophomore Ethan McQuage has benefited from Birch’s presence in the lunch line. “I’m very grateful to have her in the lunch line. She brightens my day every single day,” McQuage said. Being a lunch lady requires a lot of hard work every morning, and Birch begins and ends each day with the same dedication as the previous one. “[I get] to work at 6:30 in the morning and [I set] up for breakfast, then [I serve] breakfast. At around 8 AM, I start helping with the preparation of lunch,” Birch said. “At around 11 PM we serve lunch until the end of the fourth lunch then we clean up
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the kitchen until 1:30 PM.” Birch does a lot more than just preparing food for the students and serving it every day, although many people consider it an easy job. “Serving lunch every day entails prepping the food to make sure that it is at the right temperature, trying to estimate how much of each item will be needed, and cleaning up everything at the end of the day,” Birch said. “The most challenging part would be the pizza preparation.” Preparing food, estimating the amount of food needed, and cleaning up are all very challenging aspects of being a lunch lady; however, Birch considers another part to be very satisfying for her.
“The most rewarding [aspect] would be when the students are appreciative of the lunch ladies,” Birch said. To get Birch to the point she is at today, two very important people guided her in her successful and hardworking life. These family members supported her during her whole life. “My mom and my brother helped me the most in my life,” Birch said. Although she excels at serving breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, she has aspirations of teaching in a classroom at the school. “I am thinking about becoming a history teacher,” Birch said. “I love history and would like to pass that onto future
generations.” Birch has learned many things while working here, but one particular piece of information will help her later on in life, especially if her goal is to be a history teacher. “Patience… I learned to be more patient and understanding with others,” Birch said.
Cafeteria worker Victoria Birch handles the steady flow of students during A lunch. Birch’s friendly face is appreciated by students who see her everyday in line. Photo by Shelby Hayes.
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Student Workers Provide Support To Staff By Harmony Thomas
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aking their way through the hallways, seniors with green and gold lanyards hanging from their necks help out the offices within the school in every way they can. Student workers help the front offices and guidance office with running errands and organizing. The students who are eligible to volunteer for these positions are seniors who have empty spots in their schedule. Seniors Alexus Garrett and Elizabeth Whittington volunteered to help out in the attendance office as attendance aides. “I thought it would be cool to see how my schools offices worked,” Garrett said. “I like that I’m helping Mrs. Ceney everyday because she gets overwhelmed sometimes.” “I decided to help out because I figured she [Mrs. Ceney] works really hard and I thought it would be fun,” Whittington said. Part of their routine is to take passes to students who have early release or they are getting picked up early. “[Part of my routine is to] write down subs for the day, file notes, type in and out lists, run passes, and pick up sub attendances,” Whittington said. “Running the passes is really fun because you get to go in all the classes.” In the main office, office aides help with organizing and they also help run passes to different classes. “I get to establish a relationship with the people in the front office,” senior Brooke Lawrence said. “If I wasn’t a helper I probably wouldn’t even know most of their names to be honest.” These students who help are contributing a great service to their school. Seniors, Elizabeth Whittington, Brooke Lawrence, and Carter Tate, help out in the main, attendance, and guidance offices. Photo by Harmony Thomas.
Lawrence shares what her days in the office consist of. “I always start out my block with Alison Worley by going to say good morning to Ms. Taylor. Then Alison and I do whatever is asked, make deliveries, stop by and see our favorite teachers, and our favorite thing [to do is] we make hot chocolate in the workroom,” Lawrence said. “Every day, Alison and I make a video about the main thing we did that day and come the end of senior year we are going to combine them all together to show all of our adventures.” Lawrence says that her daily routine of helping out in the main office has become more than just a job. “Since I’ve been working in there it’s evolved into actually doing things I enjoy and being a support to the men and women that do so much for our school,” Lawrence said. “I get to establish relationships and appreciate those who get very little of it.” In F-wing the guidance office also utilizes quite a few student workers. Guidance aides have identical roles to the other two student workers but they are able to stay more in touch with their counselors. “What I like most about helping in guidance is being able to connect with other students as we work, as well as being able to directly affiliate with our counselors, which is a very important part of being a senior,” senior Carter Tate said. Guidance aides take care of running all the counselor request slips to classrooms and do tasks similar to the other student workers such as organizing paperwork. “My routine each class block usually involves passing out request slips to students, as well as alphabetizing and organizing student related paperwork,” Tate said. All of these workers give back to each of the staff members in these offices by doing the little things that are so time-consuming. “The most rewarding aspect is being able to help out all the counselors when they need it, because they’re always busy helping students and parents, and have little time to spare,” Tate said.
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Printing Prescott At Your Service By Skye Watkins
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s the teacher frantically searches through the jammed copy machine to find the mangled papers the stress mounts. The bell rings signalling the fact that class has started and now not only is the test not copied but the teacher is late to class. The world is closing in and then copy aide Lumyai Prescott appears to make everything ok again. Prescott spends most of her days helping teachers and staff manage the task of printing and copying documents in the copy room, tucked away in the library media center, and then wherever else her duty calls her.
Being a copy aide entails many things, and most people wouldn’t notice unless they talk to Prescott themselves. “I enjoy being a copy aide, and I especially love working with the teachers in this school,” Prescott said. Though working with teachers is a big deal with her job, that’s not all that she does. Many times, she takes up the position of other staff and covers for their lunch periods. You might often see her in the guidance office covering for Monica Curtis or in the main office covering for Renee Topian. “Her personality is friendly, patient, and fun. She’s a pleasure to be around,” Topian said. When she is not covering for other staff, she’s in the copy room making copies of whatever teachers need from her. “Even if I do work behind the scenes, I do
still feel appreciated by all of the staff here,” Prescott said. Not many students may know her, but practically every teacher at the high school knows who Prescott is and they never forget to appreciate Prescott’s hard work. Prescott is very happy behind the scenes, and wouldn’t have it any other way. She could never imagine being known by everyone that works with the school and having the light shined upon her constantly. She prefers to avoid as much attention as possible. “Between storing copies and managing the distribution, and communicating to teachers about all of it... and at some point covering for every secretary, she has made a huge impact on us,” Curtis said. Curtis could never fully express how Prescott has helped out so much with her job and so many other staff that she works with.
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She’s very appreciative of all of the work that Prescott always does. “If you’ve got a job and enjoy it, it makes the job so much easier,” Prescott said. Prescott has always enjoyed working and keeping a simple routine to stick to. She’s never had a dull moment here. She enjoys what she does and she believes that the best way to stay successful in life is to do what makes you truly happy. This perspective will never fail to bring joy to your heart she believes. “She does filing, covers everyday for lunch, and will do anything I need help with. If I need a project done, she’ll work on it, she’s always happy to help,” Curtis said. Curtis feels like Prescott is a very helpful member of the staff. She enjoys having her around and she always knows that if she
needs help with something, she can count on Prescott to get it done. “There’s no challenge to my job, it’s fun and I really do enjoy it,” Prescott said. Even if there are a lot of tasks that come with her occupation, Prescott sees no challenge among them. She enjoys the pace of her day to day life. It’s simple, and even relaxing to her. I plan to leave the high school and retire at the age of 65,” Prescott said. Though Prescott does love being in Prince George, she plans to go back to her home, Thailand, once she retires. It can be very hot and dry there, but she has always loved it. Until that time has come, Prescott has intentions of staying in Prince George and living a good life here. She’s excited for what’s in store in the future.
Copy Aide Lumyia Prescott stands by one of two copy machines that the staff depend on for copies of tests and handouts. Prescott plans on being at PGHS until she retires. Photo by Shelby Hayes.
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Bryant Makes Difference, Eases Pain By Masako Kaneko
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eeing many students a day for a variety of reasons based on illnesses or injuries, filing, contacting parents about their students, collecting paperwork from healthcare providers, conducting hearing and vision screenings, distributing medication, school nurses have a lot on their plate. School nurse Tonya Bryant, for the past three years, has been through many challenges on her career path that have led her to where she is now. “My previous job relocated me and I wasn’t willing to drive an hour to get to work,” Bryant said. “School nursing was something I had wanted to do and as luck would have it a position was open so I applied and got the job.” Before being a school nurse Bryant worked for Sheltering Arms. But before she was even working at Sheltering Arms as a nurse case manager her path in the medical field began when she was 18. “My dad was a firefighter and had to go through EMT certification and he asked if my sister and I wanted to take the class with him to do something together,” Bryant said. She enjoyed the class with her father and sister and began to seriously consider it as a career, but unfortunately, she was not able to handle a major part of being an EMT, working in an ambulance. “Part of that [EMT certification] is practicing in the back of the ambulance,” Bryant said. “And every time I did that I got car sick so that’s not a good place to work at if you’re an EMT.” Nurse Tonya Bryant talks to a parent on the phone about her ill student. Bryant cares for students who are injured and ill, along with monitoring daily medications. Photo by Shelby Hayes.
Since she had trouble working in an ambulance, a colleague of hers suggested that she considered nursing as a career instead. She eventually ended up enrolling in a nursing school, where she faced another challenge. “Just being a new mom is a challenge within itself and so is being a student,” Bryant said. “I decided to have my child while I was in school and I had him on a Tuesday and returned to school the following Tuesday.” Bryant faced some challenges trying to balance between being a brand new mother to a newborn and being the best student she can be to get her degree. Although it as difficult she knew finishing nursing school was vital for providing better for her child and advises the same to other parents who are going through the same situation. “It is a lot of work but it will pay off,” Bryant said. “Try to be forgiving of yourself because you will feel as if you are not giving enough time to your child or your schoolwork but when you graduate you will be able to provide better for your child.” “My sister convinced me that I could finish my nursing school and be a brand new mom at the same time,” Bryant said. Bryant’s sister, Tessa Ferguson, has been her biggest supporter for almost her entire life. “She helped with everything from running errands for me to just being a sounding board when I’m stressed and she’s the kind of person that can be honest and tell me when I’m not making good decisions.” After finishing nursing school and working at Sheltering Arms, Bryant finds pride in her job with the school working with students. ”When you help someone and make a difference in their day or make a difference in their life here at school that could mean being able to ease someone’s pain or it could mean providing a safe place.”
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Security Officers Aim to Protect, Serve By Maclay Cerny
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n Laurel Spring Road, at the crossings between the high school and Clements, you will find security officer Dennis Carr or security officer Anthony Hamlet directing traffic. Energetic students trying to get to practice on time, busses going to drop off and pick up kids, and cars of civilians and students all trying to use the same stretch of road at the same time. Without the helping hands of our security officers, accidents would surely occur. Security officers Carr and Hamlet both have been working for the high school for an extensive period of time. Carr has been working for Prince George nine years, three years as a substitute teacher and six years as a security officer. Hamlet has been working as a security officer for five years at the high school, and before coming to Prince George, he worked as a security officer at a retirement community. Daily routines can be tiring, but certain parts brighten up the day. Both have an extensive routine they do daily inside and outside of the high school. “Checking the school to make sure it’s secure in the morning and making sure things run orderly with the students during movements and regular class time [are things we do daily],” Carr said. After leaving the retirement community, Hamlet wanted a job that was a little closer to home, and discovered that a security officer position at the high school was available. For Hamlet, the most Security officers , Dennis Carr and Anthony Hamlet walk the halls to keep the school safe. Both officers have encouraged students to be successful and make smart decisions. Photo by Shelby Hayes.
enjoyable part of his job is the positive energy within the school. “Seeing the smiling students every day and seeing how they interact with each other [is my favorite part],” Hamlet said. “Sometimes they interact with us and that’s a joy.” Before coming to Prince George, Carr worked for the federal government. Carr decided to come work for Prince George because his wife and son have both worked for the school system. Now, Carr looks forward to the interactions he is capable of having with faculty and the student body. “[My favorite part is] interacting with the teachers and the students,” Carr said. While certain parts of their routines they look forward to, there are also some more challenging aspects that the security officers have to overcome. “I think letting the students know that we are here for them [is the most challenging part], and sometimes they can’t get past the authority,” Hamlet said. “We have children too, so I guess the tough part of the job is having to be the disciplinarian.” When going through life, many people will help along the way. This is especially true for these security officers. Many people have helped them get to where they are now in their careers. “You gotta start from high school,” Hamlet said. “My favorite teacher was my principal, he never taught a class, but it was just the way he mentored the students. That was Dr. Charles Edward Murry. Of course my mother [helped]. After that, I joined the military and all the different sergeants and people in my life helped to lead me to where I am today.” Although their lives have taken many turns, both Hamlet and Carr believe that it has been and continues to be an exciting adventure. “You never know what the future brings, but now I do see that I can make a difference,” Hamlet said.
24 | THE ROYAL NEWS - SPECIAL EDITION | NOVEMBER 2019
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Husband, Wife Take on Substitute Teaching By Sarah Schrum
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andy Hawkins is a wearer of many hats. He is known as a preacher, a deacon, a husband, and a substitute teacher. But one of these titles is a new addition to Hawkins’s life. Last year was the first year Hawkins started working in the school alongside his wife. He retired as a bus driver and began substitute teaching. “I started out not wanting to be a sub. But she kept telling me to become a sub and I said no I cannot deal with the kids, I don’t think,” Hawkins said. So Hawkins found a different outlet to be a part of the school system. He drove a school bus, transporting students to and from school. “And then I started out bus driving and drove a bus until it was time to quit,” Hawkins said. But eventually he went to subbing. Hawkins realized that what he thought would get in the way of being a sub actually turned into his favorite aspect. “So I went ahead and filled out an application to sub and ever since I have loved it. It is dealing with the kids and meeting the ones I do not have in class and I just enjoy it very much,” Hawkins said. But driving a bus and keeping students in a classroom are two different things, and anyone just going into subbing would need time to adjust. Substitute Randy Hawkins helps senior Mariah Mahone with English classwork. Hawkins worked in the school system for many years as a bus driver, and recently has filled the role of substitute. Photo by Allison McCauley-Cook.
“At first it was challenging, it is just when you drive a bus you have the kids 45 minutes, when you are subbing you have the kids all day. But I got into the routine and realized what I had to do,” Hawkins said. Now he has the daily routine down pat. Come in, sign in, go to the class assigned for that day, and make sure the students get what they need while the teacher is away. “Some of the teachers now, this year, … have started telling me ‘hey I have put in a date for being absent see if you can get it,’ and that part I like. I like not coming in and having Ms. Bell say go here, go here, or go here. I know what I have got coming and where I am going to be and I enjoy that part. It really takes some of the anxiety out of it,” Hawkins said. But Mr. Hawkins’s favorite part of the whole deal is seeing the kids and helping them through the school years. “Just one on one, see a kid that’s down and just cheering them up a bit,” Hawkins said. For the last two weeks Hawkins has been filling in as a one-to-one aide. This means he has been able to focus on helping one student all week. “He also works with us and helps the other students, he is really great with the way he handles [the students] and the way he talks to them,” teacher Shirley Rose said. This is not the first time Hawkins has helped in classroom F18, so he is no stranger to the role he plays as a sub. “He has been in and out of our classroom when different [aides] have been out. So this is not totally new to him,” Rose said. “He has done a little bit of all of it… he has actually been in for the teacher, not just the aides, he has definitely done a little bit of everything we have going on.”
28 | THE ROYAL NEWS - SPECIAL EDITION | NOVEMBER 2019
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Lights Out? No Problem By Damion Perkinson
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hocked into panic mode as the electricity of the building goes into an unprecedented shut down, the principal’s secretary, Hannah Taylor, is on the frontlines, immediately establishing communication throughout the chain of command, adapting to the ever-fluctuating conditions of her job. Taylor was born and raised in Prince George County, but she had no prior intentions of working for the school system until she was influenced by her aunt, Megan Wilder, and further supported by her family and friends. “I never imagined that I would work in Prince George, it wasn’t a dream come true, that would be dramatic, but it really worked out because I didn’t want to make that drive to Richmond every day and I think I just kind of found my niche,” Taylor said. It requires independence and reliability in order to fulfill the numerous duties that she is responsible for on a daily basis. One of Taylor’s largest contributions is her flexibility. “No day is the same as yesterday, and when things happen like the power going out or the bells not working, it creates chaos for me. Immediately we’re on the radios, we’re trying to communicate, everyday it’s something different,” Taylor said. Though the hectic conditions of a power outage are extreme, there is no pattern, predictability, or way to see what is coming next. With all of this, her job title comes with no true definition. “I am Mr. Nelson’s secretary. I hold the records for a lot of personal data for the teachers; I’m kind of like the pinpoint of information from the school board to our faculty and staff, but I pretty much do whatever Mr. Nelson tells me to do,” Taylor Hannah Taylor has many responsibilities in the main office. Taylor was inspired by her aunt to enter into the world of education. Photo by Shelby Hayes.
said. Head principal Mike Nelson has been working with Taylor for years and has developed a bond with her. “Last year she developed a career fair, largely on her own, which was fantastic, and recently she has been working on collecting federal account cards. She’s always very positive and always rises to the occasion. She’s always interested in taking on more and always strives to do her best,” Nelson said. Her regular day-to-day routine is more collected and easily adjustable, usually being occupied by a series of email checks, bell changes, or handling any other operations throughout the week. “When it comes to my daily routine, I get here and start pulling up emails; if it is an activity day, I’m the one changing the bell schedules. I organize and list off who’s meeting and where they’re meeting. I kind of act as the operations of the building a lot of times,” Taylor said. It’s not easy for Taylor to balance the responsibilities that are demanded of her, but she manages to complete everything in a timely manner. “Time management and juggling is the most difficult part of my job; I really don’t have like ‘this is my job, this is my job title’ it’s kind of an open book. I’m an umbrella of things, so although I may not change the bells every single day, when they’re not working, I’m calling them; so just things like that,” Taylor said. Through all of the struggles that she deals with, every single day she is reminded of the reasons why her job is worthwhile. Taylor loves to notice the change that she gets to make in the lives of the students that she has the opportunity to work with every year. “We have student workers, and obviously I don’t teach, but the kids come in and help me and Ms. Topian with certain tasks. I feel like I get to make a difference by teaching job skills like clerical responsibility, deadlines, things like that. That’s the most rewarding thing,” Taylor said.
30 | THE ROYAL NEWS - SPECIAL EDITION | NOVEMBER 2019
McCauley-Cook Works To Better Lives Of Students By Shelby Hayes
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uiet, early mornings are all ingredients to a perfect morning before filling in for a teacher in the daily life of substitute Sonya McCauley-Cook. McCauley-Cook has been substituting for eleven years on and off and really enjoys being in this helpful role. “There is a sort of satisfaction in helping students reach their potential and supporting teachers by being a reliable presence in their class,” McCauley-Cook said. Along with being a substitute, McCauley-
Cook served in the military for eight years as a Human Resource Specialist, where she was responsible for providing support that affects soldiers’ overall welfare and well-being, while assisting leaders with keeping soldiers combat-ready, and her husband is still very active in the military. “As a military spouse and moving every two to three years, being a substitute makes sense because it is a job that is needed everywhere and the schedule is convenient when you have children,” McCauley-Cook said. Of course it is always challenging working with students who are sometimes resistant, McCauley-Cook has two children of her and often fosters children as well. “It takes some getting use to for my family and the foster child, but I want to help children by providing a safe home during a
difficult time in their lives,” McCauley-Cook said. Being able to work with children at home and at school is very rewarding and joyous experience for McCauley-Cook and the lessons she’s taken away from this job also help with her foster children at home. “Start each day as a clean slate, handle the students with kindness and hopefully they will return the favor,” McCauley-Cook said, “I love when I see kids passing by with a smile and they say hello or good morning.” Substitute teacher Sonya McCauley-Cook helps sophomore Tamarick Clemons with class work. McCauley-Cook has been a substitute for eleven years. Photo by Shelby Hayes.
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Walker Continues Love For Teaching Through Substituting By Jewel Harry
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ith Petersburg paving the path, substitute teacher Sue Walker has recently made her way to Prince George High School to continue her passion here. Walker taught in Petersburg for 34 years and she didn’t want to stop there. Her love for teaching continues to grow each year, which is why she decided to make her way to Prince George to sub after retiring. “Well even though I have retired from teaching, I was not done teaching. This was the best way to stay connected,” Walker said. Her career took off when she decided
to go to Virginia State University back in 1983. She had always wanted to be a teacher, and she went in with her mind set on this goal. She spent years studying and learning and after graduating from VSU in 1988, she went on to begin her job as well as end it in Petersburg county schools. Thirty four years later, she is now settled subbing here and plans on staying. Walker has substituted at Prince George for two and a half years. This is the only school she has ever subbed at because she likes to stay close to home throughout her career. “My favorite part about subbing is the diversity of students here at Prince George High School and it is fulfilling each day that I come in with the opportunity and the different classes,” Walker said. Along with the diversity and opportunity this school offers, Walker
also enjoys the seniors here. She likes to hear what’s in store for their lives after high school and watching them strive to accomplish their goals. Seniors set themselves apart from the other classes in many ways, one being their motivation and devotion to school because they are eager for the opportunities of college. Out of all the classes, Walker’s favorite one to sub is English 12. “English 12. Twelfth graders are the most rewarding and challenging because they are on their way out,” Walker said.
Substitute teacher Sue Walker checks attendance during the beginning of first block. Walker began substituting after years of teaching in Petersburg. Photo by Allison McCauley-Cook.
32 | THE ROYAL NEWS - SPECIAL EDITION | NOVEMBER 2019
Paraprofessionals Help Out Students In Need By Chris Newton
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fter a time served working for the federal government, both John Holden and Christopher Robertson come to Prince George to serve as paraprofessionals.
What made you paraprofessional?
wanna
be
a
Holden: “After I got out of the military I decided that I wanted to go back to school to be a teacher. I wanted to get ahead and get involved with the school. So I went to an elementary school, and became a paraprofessional mainly to work with students with disabilities.” What are some tasks that are challenging being a paraprofessional?
adjustable and just maintain a friendly demeanor at the same time also maintain a working relationship with the students, the teachers, and the parents.” What’s your favorite part about being a paraprofessional? Robertson: “I love the students. I just love being around them, It keeps me young.” How long have paraprofessional?
you
been
a
Robertson: “5 years. I did 27 years with the federal government, 27 years I was an analyst. I looked at overseas data. We’d have teams of people that would look at overseas data. 27 years I worked in DC. Principle at the time called me, and he actually asked me if I would teach algebra, which I did for a year. Then the paraprofessional thing opened up and I found that intriguing.”
Holden: “You’re required to understand and basically help students that cannot fend for themselves in some cases and also give an opportunity for students with disabilities to have a normal education opportunity. A lot of times the child can’t tell you what’s wrong or they can’t tell you why cant understand something and it’s kind of hard for me in my case to break those down for them so they understand it better.”
What are some fundamental things about being a paraprofessional?
What’s your favorite part about being a paraprofessional?
What are some tasks that are challenging being a paraprofessional?
Holden: “Watching the student grow from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year, seeing how they develop and knowing that the next year that they will be able to retain that information.”
Robertson: “You kind of have to get in the students mind a little bit, understand what’s going on and try to be helpful.”
Robertson: “You have to be a little bit careful of some things. You have to make sure that you understand triggers that might upset your student, or might bother them on some level. So you need to know these things and kind of stay from topics that upset them or things that would upset them, food whatever the case is.”
What are some fundamental things about being a paraprofessional? Holden: “The fundamentals about being a paraprofessional is a positive attitude, not all students are the same. They all learn at different rates so you have to be
John Holden started working as a paraprofessional after getting out of the military. Photo by Chris Newton.
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Hebert Takes Charge of Numbers
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By Nic Brown
or 30 years, math Teacher Charlene Hebert has had one of the best seats in the house at many of Prince George’s sports games. She has been in charge of the scoreboard for not only Prince George, but also Petersburg’s scoreboard. Hebert knew that she had wanted to be a math teacher since the time she was 6 years old. She would pretend to be a teacher and teach her brother how to do math as a kid. “I am a true math geek and love numbers,” Hebert said. When Hebert was 10 years old she had gotten an electronic baseball game. The game came with a pack of score sheets. Rather than using the for the game, she would sit in front of the television, watch Major League Baseball games and keep the score. “I focus and multitask on paying attention to the game, making sure the clock is working right, and of course keeping the score accurate,” Hebert said. Hebert has always had a love for sports. As a kid she played soccer, basketball and softball. She has also partaken in the annual student faculty basketball game during her time at N.B. Clements Junior High School. Hebert started her teaching career at Petersburg High School where she did the scoreboard for 11 years. She transferred to Prince George 19 years ago and has been teaching math and doing the scoreboard every year since. “I love gadgets, and that’s really what working the scoreboard is,” Hebert said. “Put that together with enjoying the games, it’s a perfect combination.” Hebert does not just keep score for one sport. In fact, she does scorekeeping for volleyball, junior varsity football, basketball
and softball games regularly during their seasons. However, she has been known to fill in for varsity football, soccer, and baseball games when needed. While others might not enjoy the tedious work that comes with keeping score, Hebert enjoys working the scoreboard and the view of the game she gets by doing it. “I get just about the best seat in the house,” Hebert said. “I love sports, and enjoy watching and supporting all of the student athletes.” Even though Hebert enjoys many attributes of her role as scorekeeper, there are some negative aspects that arise during the job. “It can get stressful at times during intense or close games,” Hebert said. “If the officials are having a difficult game, they sometimes take their frustrations out on us at the scorer’s table, and there have been times where I have had to work games every night of the week, and it just gets busy and exhausting.” Despite the intensity of keeping score, Hebert continues doing it in order to support the teams, some of which have some of her former students on them. “I take what I’m doing seriously and try my best to make sure that it’s done right so that the players, coaches, fans, and officials can do what they need to do to have a great game too,” Hebert said. Even once Hebert stops her career as a math teacher she wants to continue the role of scorekeeper that she loves so much. “I love watching the games and supporting the students. If they allow me to keep working the games, I will!”
Charlene Hebert along with volleyball managers Alison Worely and Xoe Binns keep score at the Lady Royals volleyball game in September of 2018. Photo by Monica Thompson.
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Teacher By Day, Ticket Seller By Night By Kaylaa’ White
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ny great team, needs a supporting student body cheering them on from the stands, and that’s where Carol Bolyard. Bolyard is in charge of getting viewers into volleyball, selling tickets and directing viewers at varsity and junior varsity games. Bolyard, a Hopewell native, is also a teacher at PGHS and has been teaching in the facility for 35 years, after completing her student teaching here. “This is where I chose to be, it a part of who I am, I’ve wanted to always be here in Prince George, my husband and I built our home in Prince George, I’ve devoted my whole career to Prince George, this is home.” Bolyard said. Out of all the other fall sports, Bolyard likes selling volleyball tickets because she enjoys watching the games and it’s a way to let her help the school. Devoting her services during the season is an easy task. “I just tell the coach I’m willing to help out, at the beginning of the year he asks for volunteers who are willing to help with the sports and I just let him know, but I’ve been doing it for a long time,” Bolyard said. According to junior Kassidy Reed, along with selling tickets, Bolyard helps the team in a magnitude of ways off of the court. Math teacher Carol Bolyard checks up on students. Bolyard helps out at sporting events well after school hours are over by selling tickets at the door. Photo by Masako Kaneko.
“[Bolyard] benefits the volleyball team by helping us raise money for the program,” Reed said. “She makes sure that everyone [that is] coming in to watch us, gets in the right way. She keeps the area secured, when someone comes in, they go directly to the gym.” As a part of her daily routine, Bolyard has to arrive at Prince George High School roughly 45 minutes before the volleyball game starts. She then collects money from the viewers as they come in, gives them the ticket, and directs them towards the gym. Bolyard recalls her favorite memory in the building, being one from her days of student teaching. “My last day of student teaching, the kids were all up and about, and I was ready to open the door and fuss at them, but they were actually throwing me a surprise party,” Bolyard said. Bolyard has desirable qualities that are helpful to all teachers. Her determination is exemplified in and outside the classroom. “She [Bolyard] is very ambitious and make sure the job is done,” Reed said. Working with kids is Bolyard’s most rewarding and challenging part of her job. Throughout her time at PGHS, she has learned an abundance of lessons, the most important being communication. “You [have] to listen to kids, because they tell you a lot of things without using their words, so you have to be aware by listening through watching them,” Bolyard said. Bolyard sees herself as getting closer to retirement but still with the desire to keep teaching. “I’m not there yet, I still look forward to staying here and being with the kids,” Bolyard said.
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