November 2018 by chris waugaman

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ROYAL NEWS VOL. XVII ISSUE 2

PRINCE GEORGE H.S. 7801 LAUREL SPRING RD., PRINCE GEORGE, VA 23875 WWW.TRNWIRED.ORG & @ROYALSMEDIANOW NOVEMBER 16, 2018

ADMINISTRATION ANSWERS NEW DESK QUESTIONS P. 12-13

Junior Damion Perkinson writes down notes while sitting in one of the newly ordered desks. Perkinson preferred the one piece desks. Photo by Maddison Shawkey.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inside? p. 5 Teachers For Tomorrow p. 17 Art Students Celebrate Veterans Day p. 15 All District Choir

p. 19 Sports Players Turn Into Mystics

Did you buy a class ring? - Yes 68% - No 32%

*Twitter poll of 25 votes

2 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

OP/ED

Why Should Young People Vote?

theRoyalNews

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.

Section Editors

Front page: Anna Mitchell, Op/Ed: Claudia King, Features: Harmony Thomas, Doubletruck: Maddison Shawkey, A&E: Sarah Schrum, Sports: Masako Kaneko & Carter Marks, Photos: Shelby Hayes

Writers Nic Brown, Skylar Gibbs, Allison McCauley-Cook, Gabbey Miner, Deanna Nichols, Lisa Parker, Francesca Quinata, Victoria Taylor, Kaylaá White, Zach Yamaguchi, Katie Zevgolis 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 NSPA Online Pacemaker Winner 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 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

Editor-in-Chief Anna Mitchell

Managing Editor Maddison Shawkey

Adviser Chris Waugaman

Students Need Classes With Real-Life

Illustration by Claudia King.

very year, millions of students step onto their college campuses and don’t know what they want to do with their lives. The National Center for Education Statistics found that almost 1/3 of all college students change their major at least once. Of course we do! We aren’t all lucky enough to know what we want yet. We’ve just graduated- adults by legal definition, not life experience. Our confusion is only natural. Most college students start their freshman year at 18. That’s only a fourth or a fifth of a whole lifetime. How can we be expected, at such a young age, to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives? This is a complex problem to solve, but there is one easy and obvious step we can take towards a solution. We need more classes that prepare students for work in their careers. We offer many AP and DE classes, which are great for those who are interested in those areas and can handle the workload. The spectrum of careers correlating to those classes is limited. Many people won’t utilize the skills learned in their AP Calculus or Chemistry classes. Finding the area between two curves can be useful- for aspiring engineers

or statisticians. Those jobs are only a small percentage of the thousands that we can pursue in life. We need more classes like Teachers for Tomorrow. It’s a valuable class because it allows students to try out the job and build the skills they need to succeed in teaching. Some aren’t sure what they want to do with their lives, but they might have an idea- and they can use their formative years to help them decide. Why don’t we have more classes like that? Vocational schools such as Rowanty are equally useful. Thousands go into industrial fields, and Rowanty gives them the training they need early to get a head start on their careers. Students deserve more chances like this. We are only young once. We deserve this chance to take a look at ourselves and see what we’re really passionate about. This is our chance to figure out what we want to do with our lives, but we don’t get the opportunity to explore it. We can sit inside all day and study the mechanics of English and the history of the Arabian peninsula- which is useful, yes- but why don’t we consider practical career training and preparation to be valuable, too?

ith elections being the main topic of discussion this past week, multiple questions rose to the stand pertaining to the voting age gap. Why are younglings choosing not to vote? Why are old people even voting anymore? Who cares? How do these age gaps contribute to votes? I just recently have heard people questioning why old people still vote. This was so new to me so I asked my classmates what they meant by it. They claimed that old people get to a certain age where MARISA KARGBO they just shouldn’t do certain things, “they shouldn’t vote, it’s not their future.” I can see where they are coming from, but I don’t understand their call at the same time. One thing I can say our generation is good at is not conforming. We bring change to the table, speak out on it, and fight for what we want to stand for, never giving up. For some apparent reason when it comes to voting, we sit still, watch things happen, and then complain when things don’t go as expected. We want change and chose not to commit to it. Whether you think we can or cannot make a difference, voting does matter! How can we complain about older people voting? It is hard to understand how you can be annoyed at elders voting when us younglings don’t take the time to vote ourselves. This is our future and we are choosing to ignore it by not contributing. So if the older people chose to vote whether its on your side or the other, there is no reason to complain. In the video, “Dear Young People, ‘Don’t Vote,” elders speak on the fact that they vote because they are “a generation of doers, not whiners.” So stop complaining! Get up! Go out! And do something.

FRIDAY 11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3

OP/ED

Decisions Are Now Life Or Death

Capital punishment was legal in Washington state until it was declared unconstitutional on October 11th. Now, Washington is the most recent state to join 19 others who have abolished the death penalty. This strikes up the political debate whether the death penalty is morally wrong or financially right.

he Supreme Court of Washington state recently concluded that the use of the death penalty as a punishment for crimes were unconstitutional and arbitrary decisions. With these reasons behind them Washington dismissed the death penalty all together and plans to replace it with the punishment of life in prison without parole. Although many agree the different methods of the death penalty are not very humane, these methods are given to people who have committed heinous crimes against humanity as a whole and are only receiving back what they gave. The suspect takes the right of life from their victim(s), the only decision that would be unconstitutional would be to prevent the government from taking the right of life from the suspect. The families of these victims, the individuals working with the police to find the suspect, want justice for their lost loved ones and can find that in the death penalty. The people may believe that the use of the death penalty is teaching the younger generation that the proper way to punish someone is to kill them. This belief is contradicted by the fact the younger generation is taught to never engage in criminal activities; they are not taught to kill. Washington stated that the use of the death penalty is an arbitrary decision that jurors make when debating the punishment of the crimes committed by the suspects. Arbitrary meaning the decision to administer the death penalty to suspects is random and unrelated to the crime. Although this point was a significant reason behind the omitting of the death penalty in Washington, with a quick search online many can find a list of federal crimes that result in the suspect receiving the death penalty. Crimes like treason, espionage, mass murder, murder of a witness, juror, or court officer in certain cases, murder of political figures such the president, senators, representatives, murder by hire, and many more capital offenses that result in death.

PRO CON SHELBY HAYES

HARMONY THOMAS

“People should not condone doing the same crimes to anyone who commits a specific crime.” “Methods are given to people who have committed heinous crimes against humanity as a whole and are only receiving back what they gave.” “Most of the time criminals get the death penalty simply because they do not have the best people to represent them in court.” “The suspect takes the right of life from their victim(s), the only decision that would be unconstitutional would be to prevent the government from taking the right of life from the suspect.”

his past October the Washington state Supreme Court abolished the death penalty in the state by declaring it unconstitutional for it’s racially biased and arbitrary background. The Supreme Court justices found that capital punishment is unfairly ruled and that the decision for who gets the death penalty is not equal. Many people believe that capital punishment is effective in many ways for example teaching the criminals a lesson or making them pay for what they did by making them sit in jail until their time is up. The death penalty should not be used as a punishment or payback for convicted felons in the United States. The death penalty is a form of revenge for society. If a person is convicted of murder the offender should not be murdered in return for their crime. People should not condone doing the same crimes to anyone who commits a specific crime. Another reason why the death penalty should not be a punishment is because there is an increasing number of wrongly accused and innocent people on death row receiving capital punishment. This is mostly due to the work of witnesses lying just to put the accused offenders in prison or it is due to major flaws in DNA analysis. The wrongly convicted offenders usually spend years in prison before getting exonerated. Most of the time criminals get the death penalty simply because they do not have the best people to represent them in court. Some defendants are appointed attorneys in cases because they cannot afford to get one. The attorneys picked to work on cases with the death penalty sentence are usually stressed over the case and are very under prepared. These attorneys tend to barely have any experience with defendants with a death sentence. The death penalty is cruel and inhumane and it should not be a punishment for anyone to receive. Criminals need to be sentenced with life in prison without parole in place of the death penalty.

4 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

THE WEEKS AHEAD

Powderpuff Moved To Monday

Annual Holiday Celebrations in PG

ue to rain, the annual powderpuff game has been moved to Monday, November 19. The game starts at 3:30 at the PG football field. Powderpuff is a football game of juniors versus

rince George Parks and Recreation will be holding their annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, November 28th at 7:00 P.M. at the Historic Courthouse on 6406 Courthouse Road. Following this ceremony will be the annual Christmas parade on Saturday, December 1st. The parade will start at Beazley Elementary School and run throughout Courthouse Road. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on, and all of your holiday cheer!

seniors, where the girls play football and the guys cheer and dance. Admission is 3 dollars or 3 cans of food. All proceeds go towards the Prince George County Food Bank. Seniors, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to wear all black.

PG Players Present Winter Play

n Thursday, December 6, through Saturday, December 8, the PG Players will present their annual winter play, The Lark. The Lark is about the life of Joan of Arc, and stars senior Mickey Stawarz as Joan. The Lark also features senior Nathan Beiro as Cauchon, senior Nick Humphries as Warwick, and junior Thaddeus Howerton as Dauphin Charles. Performances are December 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30 PM. Tickets cost $7 and proceeds go to the PG Players to use for future shows.

Hanzlik Is Teacher Of The Month

eacher Mike Hanzlik is the winner of the November Teacher of the Month award. Hanzlik teaches Woodworking I and II and Construction Technology. He was nominated for the award by his fellow teachers. Congrats, Hanzlik!

FRIDAY 11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5

FEATURES

Teachers For Tomorrow Inspires Students To Choose Career Allison McCauley-Cook TRN Writer

enior Abby Jones stands in front of the class prepared to deliver information to the students, but this is not for a project... she is the teacher of this class. In the course Teachers For Tomorrow, seniors step out of the role of student to experience something much more. “The purpose of the class is for students to get to see what it’s like to be a teacher before having to make a big decision at the next level,” course instructor Storm Burks said. Teachers for Tomorrow makes its students ready for the teaching profession and the level of rigor that comes with the job. “It really prepares you for real world stuff like down to deadlines, down to just doing work... I have learned a lot things I never thought about,” senior Elizabeth Lee said. Burks shared that he hopes the students understand the amount of hard work and dedication teachers put into their jobs, and that by the end of the year they are able to make an informed decision about their future. “[I would like for students] to know what it’s like to be a teacher and know the efforts and energy it truly take. There is a lot of work that

goes into it, into being a teacher… it’s really preparing kids for the next level in the teaching profession,” Burks said. The focus of the second semester is directed towards the students’ ability to stand in front of a classroom and teach younger students. Student teaching is a general requirement for university students during their second semester of their senior year or during their graduate years in

Teachers For Tomorrow instructor Storm Burks teaches a lesson to students about the basics of becoming a teacher. The course has returned for 2018-2019 after having once been taught by retired teacher Lisa Britt. Photo by Deana Nichols.

college. Teachers for Tomorrow offers students the time and resources to practice student teaching themselves before going to college.

Senior Abby Jones shared that she is most eager for the work for the second semester of the class, when she will be able to be in front of a classroom and practice the skills associated with teaching. “I assume this part is going to be my favorite... the second semester when we go to the elementary schools, and get to do lesson plans and actually teach. That will probably be my favorite,” Jones said. The class is designed with the intention of helping students decide if teaching is the next step in their lives, but it might also make them better students themselves. “I learned so many things I never thought about, and it’s a lot about perspective as well, … you learn things about students not just teachers,” Lee said. The psychology behind working with children is very important in the teaching profession. It prepares future teachers for working with children with all types of learning abilities. An important piece of the psychology is learning how to teach each individual student in a way they can comprehend and learn as much as possible. “This class has really opened up my eyes to how important developmental influences are,” Jones said. “I hope to understand children more and how being a good leader influences them. I also hope to understand social cues from children, because a lot of times those go missed.”

6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

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FRIDAY 11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7

FEATURES

Traditional Ring Ceremony Experienced By Junior Class Francesca Quinata

TRN Writer

here is an instant chatter in the auditorium. Juniors Elisha Henderson and Neelyan Pagan-Rodriguez awaits off stage along with the Class of 2020. They are both excited to finally receive their junior class rings. Their friends and family all wait in the auditorium for them to walk across the stage to get their custom ring. The Ring Ceremony is a traditional event for the Class of 2020. The event is held in the auditorium where the students’ friends and family walk them across the stage to receive their custom ring designed to represent themselves and their class. Beth Andersen is the sponsor for the Ring Ceremony this year. She books and advertises the event. “We are one of the only or one of the few schools who still hold a ring ceremony. Most schools have gone away from doing it,” Andersen said. Prince George High School is one of the few schools in Virginia that still holds events like the class ring ceremony. “We really changed the ceremony from what it’s traditionally been in the past of being a formal event to just more like Sunday best, so that way you don’t have to feel like you have to go out and buy a dress or borrow a dress,” said Andersen. Unlike the previous years, the Ring Ceremony has went from a formal to more casual event. In the past years, they have had a dance after the ceremony just for the junior class, but due to the lack of

RING

Collections Century Collection All-Star Collection

participation they have not had one since 2-3 years ago. Principal Mike Nelson and the junior class officers are involved in the ceremony with things like presenting the rings and saying the pledge of allegiance. Junior Elisha Henderson is a member of SGA. Henderson will be preparing for the event by setting up the ceremony for the juniors who purchased a ring. Henderson believes this ceremony is a high school experience that all students should have Henderson and her friends have all planned to go receive a class ring at the ceremony. “I decided to buy a ring because it is just something you do in high school. It’s a high school experience I think everyone should have,” Henderson said. “It is a very simple and tiny but it has good message behind it. It represents me because although it is tiny and doesn’t really stand out, it’s still part of a bigger cause. Which goes the same for the junior class because our class is fairly small,” Henderson said. Another student of the Class of 2020, Neelyan Pagan-Rodriguez. Pagan-Rodri-

Junior Neelyan Pagan-Rodriguez walks with her father to receive her class ring. Photo by Jenna Miles.

guez shares that she has been a student in Prince George County since the second grade and feels like she grew up with Prince George. Pagan-Rodriguez’s ring represents not only her school but also her home country. “My class ring is a ring of Puerto Rico. It has like a little Puerto Rican flag. It’s because I was born in Puerto Rico. So I just really wanted to put my country in my ring. And the other side of it has the royals mascot,” Pagan-Rodriguez said. Both Henderson and Pagan-Rodriguez had the help of their parents to purchase their rings. “I think it was really nice, it’s a remembrance of the high school prospects all the years from before high school. Everything that you’ve done is just put into this one little ring so that’s like in the future when you look at it, it’s just a lot of memories that come back,” Pagan-Rodriguez said.

Alliance Collection Princess Collection Crestline Collection Find more information: https://issuu.com/herffjoneshs/docs/2019_ring_catalog_final_nobleedpage

8 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

PH TO GALLERY

Yearbook Pushes To Complete First Deadline

4. 7. 5.

1. Senior Sydney Bartlett looks over her spread with Sophomore Kacey Kei, Sophomore Loren Knupp, and Senior Marisa Kargbo looking closely over her shoulder. Photo taken by Gabbey Minor. 2. Junior Quiarse Stratton uploads photos to place into her first year book spread of the year. Photo taken by Shelby Hayes 3. Junior Lise Joostens working with editors to wrap up final touches on her spread. Photo taken by Shelby Hayes. 4. Junior Madison Bailey working with the many materials on the computer, like Smug Mug, to upload photos. Photo taken by Gabbey Minor. 5. Sophomore Alessia Ingargiola helping a fellow staff member arrange photos and captions in the right locations. Photo taken by Shelby Hayes. 6. Senior Enily Whitehead works at computer to complete spread. As Editor-In-Chief, Whitehead proof reads all spreads to make sure everything is submission ready. Photo taken by Gabbey Minor. 7. Senior Marisa Kargbo writes up on the board notes and advice for her staff members to keep in mind when finishing up their yearbook spreads. Photo taken by Gabbey Minor.

For an interview with yearbook editor Madison Winner click on the QR code to listen to the podcast.

FRIDAY 11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9

FEATURES

FORENSICS

Forensics Team Prepares For Another Year Of Competition Skylar Gibbs TRN Writer

tanding in front of a crowd with all eyes on him, a feeling of nervousness overtakes him. He focuses on his main goal to beat his team members, and make it to nationals. Remembering all the skills he has learned and the compliments he has received about his voice, his confidence returns. Senior Jamal Berry speaks proudly and his voice carries throughout the room, captivating the audience. Berry is a first year member of the Forensics Team. He is an active member of the team and he attends all the meetings and stays updated about upcoming events. Berry is very excited for this year and has great expectations for the team. “We have a few different segments and facets of the Forensics team. We have humorous interpretation, poetry, original context, duos, and I believe we have absolutely no one doing historical,” Berry said. Berry explains that there are multiple branches of the Forensics Team. The Forensics Team’s multiple branches allow it to appeal to different people. Berry is part of the poetry interpretation segment, which he finds great interest in. “I’ve been told that my voice is automatically carrying and I know I’m going to do something with that when I’m older, and the Forensics team helps articulate the ability to verbally get something across,” Berry said. Berry was persuaded to join the Forensics Team by the advice of other people. Thinking about his plans for his future, he decided joining the Forensics Team

FACTS

Forensic speech

is the study and practice of public speaking and debate, according to the American Forensic Association.

The word “Forensics”

stems from ancient theories about debate,performance, and argumentation.

would benefit him and his skills. “The skills I’m hoping to improve are my voice and ability to captivate an audience,” Berry said. Berry clarifies the exact skills he is hoping to improve. Berry is focusing on those specific skills because a powerful voice that can captivate an audience’s interest is a very important part of being on the forensics team. “If you’re planning on winning anything you have to have a voice and a way of words that stands out and captivates the audience,” Berry said. Berry explains what his personal goal is this year while being part of the Forensics Team. He also mentions that the team competes in tournaments, possibly even regionals and nationals, which is one of the popular activities that the Forensics Team has to offer. “My goal this year is to win. We have several tournaments and we go all the way to regionals, and we can go to nationals if we make it past regionals. Only two people per segment can go to nationals, so I also have to defeat the other people in the club to win,” Berry said. Berry explains what exactly he is planning to win, and a step he has to take to

Senior Jamal Berry practices a speech for the forensics team. This is Berry’s first year on the team. Photo by Shelby Hayes.

reach that goal. He mentions that to go to nationals and win he must compete against the other team members in his segment. Berry is asked to describe, from his personal experience, what it is like being a member of the Forensics Team. “It’s competitive between the Forensics Team members. We’re technically not even team members because everything is individual. Forensics is like acting, except individually. The people that are in the same room can encourage each other, but at the end of the day we’re all competitors,” Berry said. In conclusion, Berry would suggest the Forensics team for anyone hoping to gain public speaking skills or improve already existing skills. There are many different options when it comes to segments, meaning there are multiple appeals that can catch the attention of a variation of people. The Forensics Team is very competitive and it is a good opportunity to prepare yourself for future plans.

The Forensics Team demonstrates how to develop confidence, along with skills in critical thinking and listening, organization, research

Forensic events

allow for team members to practice together, research together, travel, and compete with each other and with students from other schools.

Forensics team

gives students the opportunity to go to new places and meet people from different schools and backgrounds.

Information collected from: https://classroom.synonym.com/ forensic-speech-7459786.html

10 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

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FRIDAY 11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11

A&E

THE CAST

PG Players Prepare For Winter Play

of Characters

Lisa Parker

TRN Writer

his years 2018-2019 winter play is the story of Joan of Arc, called The Lark. Joan was born a peasant in Doremy in north-east France, at the age of eighteen. Joan managed to inspire the French army and led them into battle. Joan was a major turning point in the Hundred Years’ War because she motivated the troops to fight back. “I chose this play mainly because we had the perfect people for it. We had the perfect people for the cast., and we hadn’t done a historical drama in a long time... I wanted to do a historical drama that had a connection to some of the SOLs in some of the areas. This is connected to the language SOL in French and also the World History SOL,” Phillips said. Being a long-time teacher, Phillips knows the importance of tying the subjects together. “I knew vaguely her story about being called by God to fight in the french war as a soldier, and she was tried for heresy and cross-dressing and not fighting,” said Mickey Stawarz, senior lead of Joan of Arc. Stawarz is a French 5 student and has a vast knowledge, more than many of the other cast members. “Joan of Arc was a revolutionary in middle aged France, when England and France were in the Hundred Years’ War. Joan of Arc led the troops of France and fought the British,” junior actor Antonio Carpenter. Carpenter is a Spanish 3 student,

Joan of Arc is played by Mickey Stawarz

the knowledge he has on Joan he has learned from fellow cast members, Phillips, and the script. “I know that she was burned at the stake for her beliefs,” sophomore Abigail Glazier, who plays one of the Ladies of the Court. Glazier is a French 3 student. She learned about Joan in French 2 and World History 1. However, many of the cast members only know bits and pieces of Joan’s story, none of them have been able to express the complete story. Phillips works to change this, hoping to educate the cast while making sure they still have fun. Throughout the school, The Lark has been widely accepted by the cast, “It’s very interesting because it’s not something that we have done before. It’s unique and it’s a very unique and empowering story,” Stawarz, said. Stawarz like many of the other cast members is optimistic as to how the audience will react. “I think it’s going to be moving because it’s a very emotional story and it’s a very personal story for a lot of people, especially religious people,” Stawarz said. Carpenter hopes to educate the audience while still entertaining.

Seniors Mickey Stawarz and Jacob Martin run their lines for the winter play The Lark after school. The play recounts the story of Joan of Arc and her trial. Photo by Sarah Schrum.

“I think everybody will, not to many people know about Joan of Arc, and some people think they do, but this will add to the historical evidence and what people know,” Carpenter said. Glazier is very optimistic and expects the audience of the play to relate to it just as much as she does. “I think the audience will respond well. I hope they leave with an understanding of just how powerful and impactful Joan was. It’s a very relatable and personal story,” Glazier said. Phillips is just as optimistic as the cast members that the audience will enjoy the play, and knows personally how hard the students have worked. “I’m hoping they’ll like it. It’s a very compelling story, it’s got a lot of drama and humor in it, and the students, the cast, is a very strong cast. So you always hope the audience is going to like it,” Phillips said.

Cauchon is played by Nathan Beiro

Warwick is played by Nick Humphries

Dauphin Charles is played by Thaddeus Howerton

14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

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FRIDAY 11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15

A&E

BY THE

All District Completes Auditions Katie Zevgolis

How are you involved in All District? “I printed the music for the students and we have been rehearsing during class for several weeks,” Jarrett said.

What do you do to prepare students for All District? “Students selected for All District will be rehearsing the weekend of February 8th through 9th with a concert on Saturday afternoon on February 9th, 2019. Students from Clements will perform in the Workshop Chorus while the high school students will be assigned to the Women’s Choir or a Mixed Choir,” Jarrett said.

Students auditioning had to prepare

song for their audition- “Wither Must I Wander” by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

sopranos were selected for All District Chorus.

rounding counties and seeing all the talent that we have in this area,” Ganoe said.

What do you do to prepare for All District? “Most days we prepare in choir class with Mr. Burks. At home I would work on my piano and recording my music and listening to myself fixing all the smallest notes I could,” Ganoe said.

How do you feel now that you made All District? “I felt really excited especially it being my third year. I knew I would have a lot more competition and there is a lot of talent in our area, but it was really awesome to make it in,” Ganoe said.

Laci Lipford, Nadia Artus, and Adina Purdel sing in a trio at the All-PAAS concert on October 5th. Photo by Anna Mitchell.

“I wasn’t really nervous because I normally don’t get nervous. I had to sing in front of my church before and

altos were selected for All District Chorus.

I used to be in plays all the time. So I’ve always been around a big crowd of people, but I felt like it went well,” Toney said.

tenors were selected for All District Chorus.

Do you look up to anyone? If so, who and why?

basses were selected for All District Chorus.

“My mom she was a big inspiration, She has the chance to become a big time gospel singer, but ultimately gave it up. She had doubts, so I’ve learned from her to never give up and to push through things. I know that things are going to be okay and I’ll give it all that I can,” Toney said.

What made you want to How did you feel about au- How do you feel now that audition for All District? ditioning for All District? you made All District? “It’s kind of always been at least a competitive standpoint of really bringing our music to a competition level against other people our sur-

total Prince George students auditioned.

TRN Writer

ll District Choir provides an opfor portunity from singers District 3 to rehearse challenging music and work with a distinguished conductor at an advanced level. Janet Jarrett, the choir teacher at Clements, and sophomores Chris Ganoe and Gavin Toney, who both placed at All-District Choir, share more.

NUMBERS

“I feel happy. It feels good because I know that my hard work is starting to pay off. I know that there is places I can improve,” Toney said.

February 9-10 is the weekend that participating students will rehearse before the concert and audition for All State Choir.

February 10 is the date of the final concert. Information collected from Storm Burks, Janet Jarrett, and vmea.com.

16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

A&E

arlier in the month the publishing company Activision and developers Treyarch released its new addition to the “ Call of Duty: Black ops” games with “Call of Duty: Black ops 4.” I was able to get some hands on experience with the game. So the game has three different playing “modes”: multiplayer, Blackout, and Zombies. I personally played Blackout and multiplayer. So as you que up Blackout you spawn into the waiting lobby by gliding down to the ground with your wingsuit. Everyone spawns into the staging area you are able to run around and mess with other players. Once the game starts there is a cutscene that shows all of the helicopters flying out over the map.

GAMER'S CORNER

After the cutscene you have the ability to exit the helicopter anytime. When you exit the helicopter you are gliding through the sky in your wingsuit and once you get close enough to the ground your parachute deploys and you land. Once you land you go into first Nic Brown person. Once you’re on the ground the hunt for loot begins. As you run jump and slide through the map there is an abundance of items you can pick up like power ups, weapons, armor, backpacks, medpacks, and weapon attachments. There are various different types of weapons strewn throughout the game

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map being this is Call of Duty’s version of battle royale. You have: assault rifles, sniper rifles, light machine guns, tactical rifles, submachine guns, shotguns. Pistols, and launchers. As well as everything else in the game there are a handful of vehicles. There are large semi trucks you can drive. There are four wheelers you can driver. There are boats you can go through to water on. Last but not least there is a helicopter that you can fly through the sky. This game has stellar graphics. If you go prone into the grass you can see it sway in the wind. When you slide on the ground you get a dust trail behind you. As you skydive... if you dive straight down your vision blurs and distorts as

it does when you actually skydive. Over all this game is an amazing first person

Photo courtesy of twitter.com

shooter. It is a great rendition to the “battle royale” game style. It has great graphics, an amazing map, and enticing adrenaline filled gameplay. I would rate this game a 8.5/10. If you are looking for a new game to get I would recommend you check this one out.

FRIDAY 11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 17

A&E

BY THE

Artwork For Veterans On Fort Lee Zachary Yamaguchi

TRN Writer

eterans Day is a holiday not only to honor veterans but also to celebrate them and their service. One way the school has chosen to honor them is by displaying their Veterans Day related artwork on Fort Lee. “Mrs. Bell was looking for places where we could display our artwork, and Fort Lee reached out to us,” art student Alexandra Brewton said. About 50 Art 3 and 4 students are participating in this project, and they’re very excited to be a part of it. There is even an incentive for the students, however, only one can achieve it. “Each student is working on their project, with the knowledge that their artwork may be picked to be donated to Fort Lee,” Cindy Bell, the art teacher at PGHS said. Getting picked would be a big deal because it would show how hard the students work and how much they respect the military, the veterans, and what they do for the country. “Each student was introduced to the theme, completed research about Veterans Day and developed a concept in response to it,” Bell said. Because of this, every single project will be unique, making the choosing process difficult. The students art work will make a connection between Prince George schools and the military base to honor the military and

NUMBERS After JROTC classes

36%

of students go into the Army after graduation.

24%

of students go into the Navy after graduation.

23%

of students go into the Air Force after graduation.

14%

of students go into the Marine Corps after graduation.

veterans for the upcoming holiday. This project will open many new opportunities for the school because of this unique connection to Fort Lee such as, field trips, sponsors, and other class projects in the future. “No one really responded when we tried to display our artwork, so it was a pretty big deal when the school liaison for Fort Lee responded, and doing a project on Veterans Day seemed like a great idea, so it all worked out in the end,” Brewton said. For students in the high school who have a passion for art and may have thoughts of using it in their future profession, this project is a big deal. If their artwork is selected, it

Junior Alexandra Brewton shows her work ready to go to Fort Lee. Photo by Sarah Schrum.

could be a great opportunity for portfolios or even in job interviews. Mean while, veterans on Fort Lee will get to appreciate the thoughtful projects. It may be a simple gesture, but the students feel it represents Veterans Day perfectly and sometimes simple things can go a long way. “I think it’s awesome [the art project]. I appreciate it and I’m sure that the senior cadets would as well,” Colonel Wendell Johnson said.

of students go into the Coast Guard after graduation.

Information from http://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2017/04/13/6-facts-about-the-u-smilitary-and-its-changing-demographics/

18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11.16.18

WINTERSPORTS

Scan this QR code to follow the weekly podcast with interviews from coaches and players.

Youth Key To Girls Basketball

Curley, Blumenschine Share Understanding Of Team Leadership Victoria Taylor TRN Writer

s the tension builds between the two players chosen for the jump ball, the teams push for position. The ball is tapped towards sophomore Rachael Blumenschine’s direction and she secures it to start the game. Being on the girls varsity team as a sophomore makes Blumenschine one of the youngest on the team. Selected to the girls varsity last year, her years of practice are starting to pay off. Now as one of the team’s point guards the game she loves includes a new level of responsibility given to her by Head Coach Shavohn Curley. “I think I favor defense because that was my specialty when I played. Defense is about the heart and how bad you want it,” Curley said. I always tell my teams that defense creates your offense. When you can steal the ball before getting across half court you don’t need offense. I ran track as a kid and I know that contributed to how successful I was as a defensive player.” Curley favored defense most with regards to basketball. Being able to be aggressive with girls ﬁghting for the same thing makes the game more competitive. The determination she had when she played is what she wants from her young players. “I’ve coached boys and girls so it really doesn’t matter who I coach, it’s just a sport I’m passionate about, and a sport that’s been a part of my life since I was young. Coaching girls is deﬁnitely different than coaching boys. I get to be a role model for the girls and hopefully impact their lives in a positive

way. There are some things that as a female coach I can relate to the players a little better than boys,” Curley said. No matter who they are or how they look, Curley is always willing to help a student with basketball. “It’s exciting at times because you get an opportunity to see their potential as a young player, but on the other side it can be challenging because they are young and still learning. It can also be a little frustrating because as a coach you are waiting and hoping things will click a little faster, so they can apply what they’ve learned into the game,” Curley said. Curley is aware of the difﬁculties in coaching younger players, but that doesn’t make her second guess her expectations for the team. It can be somewhat difﬁcult to coach when the player isn’t putting their best effort or isn’t cooperating.

Sophomore guard Rachel Blumenschine drives the lane in 2018 against Colonial Heights. Blumenschine will share more of the ball handling responsibilities this year. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh. “It depends on their basketball IQ level coming into varsity. You can be a young player but if you truly understand the game then age to me is just a number. In high school I was a freshman on varsity but I was given the task to lead the team as the point guard. Because I had played lots of basketball before that, I was more prepared to take on that task. I had the experience under my belt that prepared me for that moment,” Curley said. One of her young guards is Blumenschine who will take over a fair share of the leadership responsibilities as a returner.

“It feels pretty good. Being on the team last year gave me the experience and how things work and this time around the team and I will be more prepared and hopefully have a winning season,” Blumenschine said. Blumenschine and her team are aiming for a lot of wins this season with their hard work and dedication in practice. “I’m not really intimidated but I am definitely competitive. We scrimmage and play 3-point challenges all the time at practice and we always try to get more time on the floor,” Blumenschine said. Curley shares that when she was in high school she was given the responsibility of being the leader of her team in the game. After many practices she adapted to that position. “I actually do think we will have a winning season because we have the pieces that we need to be successful. It really does depend on how well the girls play together on the court and the chemistry they have will determine how successful we are,” Curley said. No doubts are running through Curley’s mind. She has confidence in the girls, and she is positive that they’ll have a winning season. She is hoping that the girls will work together and have good communication on and off the court. “I hope we improve our record every year and advance further into the tournament than we did the year before,” Curley said. The goal and expectation Curley has for the team this season is to develop as much as possible. “Don’t worry if you mess up, it’s how you respond when you mess up that catches a coach’s eye. We have a saying that we use “mess up, make up” and just means if you make a mistake make it up on the other end of the court,” Curley said.

WINTER SPORTS

Three Royals Turn Into Three Mystics Carter Marks

W Sports Editor

hile many m i g h t think it is rare to continue a basketball career on the collegiate level, the Royals accepted that challenge sending three of their seniors to Bismarck State in North Dakota. Christian Chappell, Tynan Bassett and Isaiah Larkin are all lacing up their shoes as they get ready for their upcoming freshman season. Bismarck State is a junior college in North Dakota. They participate in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) division for all of their athletics. For Larkin, traveling so far would have to have something there that is more than basketball to him. “The coaches were nice and made us feel at home when we visited the school,” Larkin said. “Plus they offered a full scholarship which was something I couldn’t turn away from.” “What I enjoy most about it, is just seeing three student athletes go on to fulfill their dream and play college basketball,” Head Coach Travis Carr said. “Probably most importantly, they’re there at school, beyond high school and they’re there going for free on scholarship.” With Bismarck State being about a 25 hour drive from Prince George, the three Royals are leaning on each other for encouragement to push the best athlete out of each other. They eat, play and study together every day so the chemistry is strong not only on the court, but off

as well. “Being that they are my prior teammates we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Chappell said. “I eat with them everyday and encourage them to do their best on and off the court. They are my brothers and I will always have their back.” A lot of freshmen get redshirted their freshman year allowing them to grow and get stronger so when they come back as a sophomore, they will be ready to step right in. They will also still have four years of eligibility considering they redshirted freshman year. Going into the season, the mind sets of these three players are all the same. They want to win and they’ll do anything to help contribute to the team. “I just want to win no matter what I do this season,” Chappell said. “At the end of it all I’d like something to put on my finger.” As these three athletes left high school and entered college, they are leaving a team that Coach Carr is considering to be one of his most successful teams so far. “These three guys were part of a special team that set the bar for this program,” Carr said. “We had a very successful season last year.” For most coaches throughout sports, they try to get their players ready for collegiate ball physically just as much as they do mentally. College has many distractions that often lead into wrongdoing by athletes which can affect their eligibility. “Coach Carr and his staff prepared us in many ways but I think the most important thing he taught us was responsibility,” Larkin said. “Being responsible takes you a long way at this level gaining the coaches trust and showing that you can handle anything.”

11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19

Senior Spotlight Patrick Gee Varsity Basketball

What do you like about your position compared to other positions in basketball? It gives me a lot of freedom, [and] I can do what I feel like is best for the team, and I can get buckets.

Graduate Christian Chappell hands the ball off to graduate Tynan Bassett during the 2017-2018 season. Chappell and Bassett along with one other Prince George graduate are now at Bismarck State where they are continuing their athletic careers. Photo by Wayne Coleman.

The Mystics of Bismarck State opened their season on November 2nd against United Tribes Technical College, in which they fell short but bounced back with a win in their second game against, Miles Community College. Bismarck State is a two-year community college which gives the athletes two years to show off their game which then opens the door for a possible transfer after the two seasons. Last season, the Mystics finished the season with winning 10 games and losing 18.

What inspires/drives you to play basketball? Your goals? I really like the game. It’s always something I did (I’ve done), and just to be better and be the best. What is your career goal(s)? Of course I’d love to go to the NBA, but my plan B is to be an accountant. What is your favorite NBA team and player? Chicago Bulls and Carmelo Anthony. What are you learning in basketball that applies to your everyday life? To work hard, and to never quit. What is your current favorite Netflix show? Designated Survivor.

20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 11.16.18

PH TO GALLERY

Girls Dribble Their Way Through Tryouts

1. Sophomore Alexis Timm, freshman Heaven Jackson, and junior Justice Philips practice defending at tryouts by blocking junior Molly Ashcraft’s shot. 2. Junior Annie Fulmore weaves in and out of cones to practice handling the ball. 3. Freshman Ariana Nelson participates in practicing drills to help her improve ball handling. Photos by Nic Brown.

For more photos of girls basketball go to www.trnwired. smugmug.com

4. 4. Sophomore Alexis Timm gains possession of the ball and dribbles down the court. 5. Senior Kae’Ra Lucas warms up and practices dribbling by running down the court with the ball. All photos taken by Nic Brown.

WINTER SPORTS

Big Time Wrestling Returns

Pro Wrestlers Attending 11/17 Mick Foley • • •

Gabbey Miner

W TRN Writer

restlers breaking g y m bleachers, engaging c r o w d chants, and celebrity WWE Hall of Fame wrestlers have all been seen at previous Big Time Wrestling events hosted by Prince George High School. This unique wrestling event returns on November 17th. Photos and autographs will begin at 5 PM and bell time is 7 PM. The main attraction of the event is the wrestlers and all of the individual personalities present in each wrestler’s style. This year many experienced veterans will be participating including famous WWE Hall of Fame wrestlers. “We have four WWE Hall of Famer’s that will be here that night,” Health and PE teacher David Emory said. “Mick Foley, Sgt. Slaughter, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and the Rock’N’Roll Express members Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson.” However, the wrestling that will be seen is not like school style wrestling. Professional wrestling is much different and the main purpose is entertainment and style in the ring. The wrestlers combine physical strength with a theatrical themed performance. “This is professional wrestling, it is entertainment and for entertainment purposes, there is a wrestling ring with ropes, entrance music, etc.,” Emory said. With professional wrestlers the audience will experience the lengths the wrestlers will go to for an engaging performance. Chairs, umbrellas, and the

11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 21

WWE Hall of Famer Amputated right ear Won the 1995 King of Deathmatch tournament in Japan

Faces of Fear • • •

ring’s ropes have all been used during a wrestling match. Also, the wrestlers are not bound by the ring and have tendencies to travel outside of the ring during matches. Tristan Moore witnessed the wrestling event when it last came to the school explains how the wrestlers give their all each and every event. “The wrestler fell down the bleachers,” Moore said. “They broke the bleachers and continued wrestling.” A wrestler breaking gym bleachers shows that almost anything is possible when left to the minds of the professional wrestlers of Big Time Wrestling. Emory coordinators the event and is an experienced host of wrestling shows, and an even more experienced wrestling fan. “I have been putting on wrestling shows since 2004. Our last show was about three years ago,” Emory said. “I do the promoting, get sponsorships from local businesses, and do just about

Big Time Wrestler Flex Armstrong enters the ring back in 2014 at Prince George High School. Big Time Wrestling takes its show on the road and entertains fans all over the country. Photo by Ronnie Dayvault.

anything and everything on event day.” Fans are numerous and tickets sell out fast for the anticipated event. Admission, autographs, and combination tickets range from $15 to $60. Tickets are available at btwtickets.com or Jerry’s Burger Spot in Prince George. “The Big Time Wrestling events that I have done at PGHS, Thomas Dale HS, and Powhatan HS have had anywhere from 600-1,700 people,” Emory said. Concession sales, raffle sales, and program sales collected during the event will go towards the Prince George High School’s wrestling fundraiser. The revenue raised will be used to purchase uniforms, pay for travel expenses, and finance tournament fees, and much more within the wrestling team.

Meng and Barbarian are the members Have feud with Hulk Hogan The Faces of Fear defeated Rock’N’Roll Express

Rock’N’Roll Express • • •

WWE Hall of Famer’s Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson are the members Rival is Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express

Sgt. Slaughter • • •

WWE Hall of Famer Former U.S. Marine Started wrestling in 1974

Hacksaw Jim Duggan • •

WWE Hall of Famer Always enters ring with a 2x4 and an American flag

22 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11.16.18

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11.16.18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 23

WINTERSPORTS

Returning State Champ Javonte’ Harding Has Bigger Goal In Mind

Deana Nichols

TRN Writer

unior Javonte’ Harding has one goal this indoor season - to make it to states again. Except this year he plans on taking more people with him. Harding won the Class 5 state title in the 200 meter dash in the 2018 Southern Track Classic. The Royals indoor track team has had runners go to state championships since 2013. The team has also had four state champions in the last ﬁve years. “Getting any kid to succeed is about vision and belief. You ﬁrst must make kids dream big then make them work towards their dreams,” Indoor Track Head Coach Will Stevens said. After winning states last season, Coach Stevens would like Harding to be someone that both returning runners and new members of the track team can look up to. “I’d like Javonte’ to be a leader. Getting great grades, being nice to people, and being encouraging to people or just simply being the good kid,” Stevens said. Harding has been running track since he was eight years old. Harding has been working his strength over the summer. To prepare for a meet, Harding

eats pasta the night before to keep up his energy for the his race the next day. When Harding gets to the meet, he puts his headphones on and blocks out everything to focus on his upcoming race. In between each of his races, Harding is able to learn and grow from his mistakes made in previous races. “I know anything can happen in a race,” Harding said. “You always have to make sure you are in the right mindset to get you there.” Harding enjoys running and plans to continue track into his college years. Junior year is key for Harding to improve on his skills because it is when colleges start to look for potential runners. “Getting Javonte’ a scholarship to a school that works for him is my goal. His junior year is important because coaches want to see that he continues to get faster,” Stevens said. Stevens’ hope for Harding is to leave Prince George with at least five or more state rings. Stevens wants nothing but success for all of his runners. Especially for his runners that make it to states. “What I want for him is what I want for every kid that crosses my path. I want them to have success and winning is a part of success,” Stevens said. “It’s all about dedication and confidence. If you don’t have confidence then it’s not going to lead you to do well,” Harding said.

PG RECORD HOLDERS Indoor Track

Javonte’ Harding 2018 season Event: 200 m Time: 21.41

John Warren 2014 season Event: Long Jump Distance: 23’5.5”

John Warren 2014 season Event: Triple Jump Distance: 51’3”

Aman Bivens Keith Brown Joseph Kemp Tarik Samuel 2017 season Event: 4x200 Time: 1:28.92

WINTER SPORTS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Boys Basketball Girls >>Varsity >> Varsity Tournament Basketball Nov. 28 against Atlee at J.R. Tucker at 7:30 PM.

Invitational vs Varina on Thurs., Nov. 29th.

Wrestling Boys & Girls >> Varsity >>Varsity Tournament Fri., Nov. Indoor Track @ Boo 30th - Dec. 1st at Glen Allen High School.

Williams Complex on Fri., Dec. 7th.

COACH ‘B’ STRESSES BEING OPEN TO LEARNING Masako Kaneko

Sports Editor

he lights of Fenway Park shine brightly as World Series Champ, ALCS MVP, 2018 Gold Glove recipient, Boston Red Sox center ﬁelder, and Prince George alumnus Jackie Bradley Jr. comes up to bat. He takes a breath and recalls the advice of his baseball coach from high school, Donnie Brittingham, as the ball slices through the air at over 90 miles per hour towards him. Behind all great athletes there are people behind the scenes. These people inspire, teach, and motivate successful athletes to achieve more. Coach Brittingham is one of those people for Bradley and his other players. “Jackie enjoyed learning to be a better player and I tried to provide a place for that to happen,” Brittingham said. Coach Brittingham is happy to have known Bradley before his success and feels nothing but love and respect for him. He was able to create a close bond with Bradley during their time together. “Jackie was part of a group of kids that not only loved to play but learned to enjoy practicing. I spent six years with them and they took me into their family,” Brittingham said. Brittingham has many years of experience in coaching. He began coaching in 1979 for a pony league in Hopewell. Over the years he has picked up valuable lessons from the game and from his players. “It is hard. Hard to learn, hard to teach, hard to hit, hard to throw, hard to catch. Every game

is unique anything can happen. You never stop learning,” Brittingham said. Learning is a big part of Brittingham’s advice. He believes that there is always something you can learn and get better at. Especially in terms of life, school, or baseball it is important to keep an open mind and be ready to listen to what others have to say or teach. “Learn to listen, listen to learn. You have to learn to pay attention to coaches in order to learn how to play. You have to listen to teachers in class to succeed at school, and to parents at home to succeed in life,” Brittingham said. He knows not everyone will succeed on the ﬁrst try of something new but he is thrilled at the results when he and the other coaches introduce a new technique. “It’s amazing how much a kid can learn, how hard they’ll work if they are in a positive environment,” Brittingham said. Brittingham’s goal is to make sure each member of his team is surrounded with positivity and treated with kindness and respect, a valuable piece of advice given to him by his best friend’s father, Roland Gill. Even during the off-season, Brittingham is connected to his players. “The relationships developed with the players are the best part of coaching for me. Seeing kids learn and use the skills we teach makes me proud, but the bond between us lasts long after baseball is over,” Brittingham said. He also credits his relationship with the players for the man he is today. “All the kids that I have coached have impacted my life each in their own way and collectively have made me who I am, Coach B at PG,” Brittingham said.

Coach Donnie Brittingham looks on from the dugout at the 2018 5A Baseball State Final. Coach Brittingham coaches the middle school baseball team and also joins the varsity staff during the post season. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh. For more photos of all of the fall and winter sports follow this link.