A DeDicAtion to Ms. Kolb

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Volume 65 Issue eIght march 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

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By Michael Nicholson

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Marijuana, pot, weed, reefer,

ganja, bud; it’s everywhere. With graduation just a few months away, students are wondering what’s next and must quickly learn that bad decisions now can have a severe negative impact for years to come.

“Between most students that end up in either the alternative education programs or students that are drop outs the correlation

would be that they’re either using at the time or they have been using,” Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Daniel Ramirez said. “At some point in their life that’s played a factor in why they are the way they are and where they’re at

now.” Marijuana plays a significant role in the nation’s youth culture

and can be easily seen in TV, movies, music and more. Ramirez

believes that the way the media portrays drug usage has a negative impact on

students b e c a u s e it leads to students being misinformed, which can have severe ramifications. “You can turn on TV and see Seth Rogan smoking a joint in Pineapple Express,” junior Ian Harmon said. “It’s not really that big of a deal. There are, of course, people who frown upon it, also, which makes sense; but for the most part I think a lot of people just don’t care.” Harmon said that most people at our school are aware of what’s out there, but because it is so strongly present in music and movies, marijuana and other illegal drugs are far less taboo than once believed. “I wouldn’t consider it a problem, but it’s pretty obvious it’s there,” Harmon said. “You can walk down the hall and just overhear people talking about drugs and stuff. But it’s more common than a lot of adults

think it is.”

However, many students do not

accept marijuana usage so easily. In fact, many students at our school

reject marijuana’s place in modern culture altogether. “I view marijuana as an unnecessary drug which shouldn’t be within a society,” junior Amy McMahan said. “There really is no reason for students, or anyone to use it.” This idea is consistent with many students at our school, that drug usage is a dangerous and unnecessary part of life. “I don’t know why kids at our school do drugs in the first place, but I know they do them,” junior Joel Sands said. “I don’t really understand because it is only hurting their life, or at least I don’t know how it is making their lives any better.” Students’ opinions on marijuana vary greatly, while some look down upon smoking pot and believe its effects on people to be unfortunate; others endorse the act. “I can see no problem with it,” junior Samantha Martineau** said.

The LoneLy

By Eilie Strecker

$ SaleGallons

Hearing a news anchor ramble off a new list of facts and figures every night, listing the latest ‘hor-rendous’ gasoline prices like baseball scores, can somewhat lose the significance of being a serious problem. However, for many teens whose income is minimal at best, even a 10 cent increase in gas prices can really hit them hard. “My whole paycheck goes to paying for gas,” junior Becca Rigby said. “It’s a necessity, it’s some-thing you have to do, and you deal with it, but it is really annoying.” Another student struggling to make ends meet with gas money is junior Brian Schattle. “I am dreading filling up now,” Schattle said. “My parents don’t just give me money, I have to work for it. I have a lot of friends who have to pay for their own gas, and I know what a toll it takes when they can’t do some of the things they want to do because they have no transportation.” Especially for students who have hand me down cars, sometimes their options are limited when that car is not fuel efficient. “I have a 1970 GMC truck and it gets about eight miles to the gallon,” Schattle said. “The truck has been in my family for years, so when it came my turn to get it, I didn’t really have a choice as to what car I wanted.” Even for those who do get to choose their car, at this rate they may not be able to go anywhere either.

“I have a hummer and it gets about 16 miles to the gallon, so it is really expensive,” junior Haley Wilson said. “I spend about $55 every time I fill up and that lasts me about a week and a half, so that takes out a lot of my money. It’s not good when I am already paying so much, knowing that it is get-ting up to almost four dollars a gallon. It makes me want to not drive anywhere.” Though teens are worried about just getting to and from school as well as weekend plans, students are still concerned about the bigger picture. “I see how it affects students,” Schattle said. “However, this rise is really going to affect the United States economy on a much larger scale. Of course the increase affects the average person, but that’s nothing compared to how it will affect the nation as a whole if we cannot find a way to lower prices or become more self dependent.” Though gas will continue to come in regardless of the cost, the reliability of the countries the gaso-line is coming from may be unstable. “The gas prices are only as stable as the countries who export gas,” junior Katherine Friesen said. “It’s inevitable that the prices will jump around. This is just another reason why the United States should not rely on foreign OPEC oil. If we didn’t rely on it, we would not have this problem.” So how does a country as big as the United States go about taking steps to become more self reliant?

“I think we need to look at more alternative resources,” Rigby said. “Eventually fossil fuels are going to run out.” At this point, based on our lack of control over gas prices people, students especially, are doing everything they can to save a few dollars, whether that’s finding other forms of transportation or go-ing the distance to find cheaper gas. “I drive the extra mile and a half to get to the gas station that is cheaper. It may be counter active because I am probably wasting just as much gas by driving further, but sometimes it is hard justifying even an extra 10 cents,” Schattle said. “I even use my parents Kroger membership so I can get an ex-tra two cents off a gallon.” Although it is tough at the moment, some still have an optimistic outlook on the gas prices pos-sibly turning around. “I think the gas prices will start to go back down,” Wilson said. “They will have to when peo-ple start buying less gas because the can no longer afford the high prices.” Rising gas prices has developed into a huge struggle that has become more and more intrusive on students wallets. Unfortunately, without serious government action, it is unlikely that we will see a definite decrease in prices any time soon. But as Rigby said, “It’s something you just have to deal with.”

Issue eIght Page two March 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

newsWildcat Tales

Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFTaylor Thompson

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MISSION STATEMENTThe Wildcats Tales is a student produced publication that serves to educate, inform and entertain the student body in a professional manner that will provoke thought while upholding the principles of a free press. This publication is a forum for the student of Plano Senior High School. Any opinions expressed in Wildcat Tales is the opinion of the writer and of the writer only.

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By Michael Nicholson CONTINUED FROM COVERThe LoneLy SToner

By Clarissa Reeves

“People who have never smoked before want to make it out to be a really big deal, but once you try it, you realize it’s nothing serious.” Many students who use it agree that marijuana usage isn’t nearly as big of a deal as many make it our to be, and that many students have a harsh, negative stereotype towards marijuana that leads them to think badly of it. “I can’t speak for the whole school but I’d say just about all of my friends smoke and they would all agree it isn’t as big of a deal as people make it out to be,” Martineau said. “It’s extremely different from other drugs. You can’t get addicted to it. Also, the effects only last about an hour, and then you just get tired. It’s definitely safer than alcohol, which is legal.” While alcohol is not seen by many as a drug, some students see alcohol and marijuana as one in the same. “I think that marijuana should have the same types of laws as alcohol,” Martineau said. “It’s not an issue as long as you aren’t driving around and putting other people’s lives in danger.” However, in a recent study, the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that four to 14

percent of drivers who sustained injury or died in traffic accidents tested positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. “I feel like marijuana is illegal mostly because it is a mind-altering drug,” junior Morgan Youngblood said. “Couldn’t you say the same thing about alcohol? However, I also believe that weed is illegal because it is a gateway drug; the first drug you usually do is weed and then it may or may not lead to other things, but there are many students that don’t allow it to morph into other things, they only smoke weed, nothing else.: Youngblood hopes that reformed laws will result in the buyi8ng of marijuana at a certain age being legalized. Not all students are as eager to legalize or at least lessen current laws regarding marijuana. McMahan said that if anything, the laws should get tougher. “The students in general need to care more about themselves,” Ramirez said. “[They need to] quit worrying about partying, and trying to figure out where the next high is, [students need to] educate themselves, and try to figure out where they’re going with their lives.”

No chocolate, no ice-cream, no cakes for 40 days. Every year, students and their families give up different things for Lent. Their Lenten period is connected to the Christian faith and it prepares them to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The 40 days of reflection and deprivation represent the time Jesus spent in the desert and endured three temptations. Items that are given up are to be things one could normally not go without. Not all Christian faiths follow this practice, but for the ones that do, Sundays are not included in the 40 days because they are meant to be “mini-Easters” to celebrate the victory Jesus had over sin and death. Before the 40 days begin; participants in the Lenten season celebrate Mardi Gras. The final celebration is to hold individuals from Ash Wednesday until

Easter. Students give up things in their life such as TV, soda, shopping, fast food, etc. No matter the sacrifice, no matter the reason of the sacrifice, students all over campus are taking part in Lent. Some sacrifices have deeper meaning based off of their views on society. “I’m going to give up buying things that truly do matter, because I think as a community we spent too much money,” junior Jeremy Floyd said. “We buy things just to buy things and it’s things that don’t really matter. We keep going from one thing to the next, like ‘I want this’ or ‘I need this’.” Some students are just picking up on the idea of Lent but others have been doing it for years. Veterans of the season that have given up items, are sticking to what they gave up in past years because of how being with out that item made them feel amongst their peers.

“I think I’m going to give up make up again like I did last year,” junior Diane Hary said. “I wasn’t exactly changed by it last year but I liked how people wouldn’t look at me differently. It was almost like breaking the stereotype that people talk to the prettier people, but when I did this last year I was able to show that I’m still myself without the makeup.” Just like Hary gave up things she did in the past, others do the same because of what sacrificing helped them do in the long run. “I think Lent is important because it helps me get back to what I need to be focusing on,” senior Holland Thompson said. “Last year, I gave up Facebook for a month and it helped me move on from materialistic things.” Even though there are many students giving up things during this season, not all of

them are planning on giving up anything. But while some sacrifices are serious, not all of them have to be. “My friend one time tried to give up something for Lent, so she gave up spoons and used forks and knives instead,” senior Megan Sergeant said. The difference from today’s Lenten season and ancient times is participants aren’t always of the Christian faith. They give up similar things for the same amount of time, but not for the exact same reason. Lent holds different meaning to everyone even if they do it for the better of their health. “’[Lent] h a s b e c o m e a l m o s t like a New Y e a r s resolution type things w h e r e they just give up something

for a month, but it still holds significance to a lot of people,” Sergeant said. Christians during the Lenten season are proud of the sacrifices they do and the meanings behind them. Some of them spend the season representing their ancestors in their faith as they also spend the time keeping up with their grades. “I’m proud of my religion because it gives me boundaries; it continues to give me goals and things to live up to,” senior Theresa Sherman said. “Lent makes me respect my ancestors because I understand it use to be way tougher than it is

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newsIssue eIght Page three March 10 ,2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

By Diva Gulati Art students competed at the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) on Feb. 19 at Jasper High School. At VASE, students present their piece of art to about 73 judges and are judged on the quality of their work as well as on their interview. Students who receive a four, which is the highest possible score, receive a Regional Medal. However, only eight percent of regional winners will advance to state. Pieces which qualify will not be announced until March, before the state competition in Houston. “[Plano sent] almost 200 pieces,” art teacher Kyle Clark said. “Some students have two pieces of artwork.” VASE allows competition in a variety of artistic mediums, such as

Fifteen swimmers qualified to compete at the state championship on Feb. 18 and 19. To advance to the state level competition from the regional level, swimmers must have times that are among the fastest. This year, swimmers from both the boys and girls varsity swim teams competed at the state level. The girls swim team even placed third overall, despite getting disqualified in a preliminary round. “We [were] all very excited, especially the girls team,” senior Shirley Wang said. “We’re pretty happy with how we did, considering we lost a relay.” Swimmers did very well in competitions leading up to regionals but the regional competition itself was delayed, due to the weather, which

painting, drawing, photography, three dimensional art and many others. Each student can submit up to two pieces of art. Since only a limited amount of art can be submitted for judging, many things must be taken into consideration before picking which piece to send in. “We just really try to pick their best piece,” Clark said. “[We pick] the piece that would really represent their best work since there’s only one or two pieces that they’re taking ,they just take the one that they can really talk about and are really invested in, personally, and that really means something to them.” There were a total of 1,678 pieces of art entered at the regional level competition and of those, 88 are moving

onto the state level. The art department has eight pieces and seven students who are moving on to state this year. One of these students is junior Jessie Zhou. “It was my still life [that is going to state],” Zhou said. “It was our semester exam project. It was a still life set in my room and it was a statue of a boy and a vase.” Those who compete at state at Houston get to participate in things that students who compete at only the state level do not get to do. “You get to go to workshops [at state] for art and learn from real artists,” Zhou said. “I’m excited. I’ve never been to state before.”

heightened the importance of the competition for the swimmers. “Plano is in one of the fastest regions so everyone had to perform their best to make it to state,” junior Shannon Rogers said. Despite the fact that Southlake won regionals, the swim team had more swimmers at the state competition. “[It was] neck in neck until the end,” Rogers said. “At regionals, my events were really close together so it was intense.” Rogers, who participated in events that included the 500 meter freestyle and 100 meter butterfly at state, was excited to compete. “This year [was] the Plano girls team’s best chance to win state so we [were[ all

pumped and ready to go,” Rogers said. The boys team is very proud of their accomplishments in spite of the fact that they did not do as well as the girls team at state. “My experience was awesome,” senior Andrew Cely said. “The experience in and of itself and sharing it with the team and the team spirit that we had was really fun. [This season] has been the most fun that I’ve had.” Both the boys and girls swim teams are extremely proud of their accomplishments for this season. “We had a lot of people step us this meet and get best times and move up in rank,” Wang said

German students competed at the State German Competition in Austin on Feb. 26, where they placed fifth overall. To compete at the state level, students had to place first through fifth at the regional competition, Winterfest, which was on Feb. 12. There are a variety of events from which students can participate in. “Events [range] from arts and culture to dancing and academics,” junior Madison Morgan said. “[At state], you’re competing with a bunch of students from all over the state of Texas but otherwise it’s kind of like the Winterfest here. You just compete in your individual event.” “It was a lot of fun,” senior Austin Camp said. “I did well in three of the four things I did so I hoped to do well

[at State] as well.” At the state competition at Austin, German students had to compete among 75 other schools. “Our school did very well,” Morgan said. “We had a lot of kids place in different events.” Morgan competed at state in events in Prose Reading and in Folk Dancing, which is a group event. “[My experience] was awesome,” Morgan said. “I’m also excited to compete next year because I got fourth place this year but I want to get first next year.” For many German students, Winterfest and the state competition were more than opportunities to compete and demonstrate what they already knew about the German language and culture.

It allowed students to learn more about Germany as well. “Competing is awesome because you can challenge yourself and it helps you really understand and get involved,” Morgan said. “It’s exciting because you really get to see how talented you and your classmates are.” However, for those who went to state, it was a very exciting experience. There were very high expectations to place at the state level and German students did very well, placing at many different levels and in different events. “Placing at state is an awesome feeling because you realize that you’re that good out of every student in Texas,” Morgan said.

Girls Swim Team Places At State

German Students Travel to Austin for State Competition

Art Students Participate in VASE Competition

Swimmers participate in state meet at UT Austin

German places fifth overall

Seven students to compete at state level at Houston

Photos submitted by Katherine Hyde

Photos submitted by Kyle Clark

Photo by Jamie Denison

wildcatsIssue eIght Page Four March 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

By Claire Minor

All They Do is Win: Future of America

By Haley Bunnell

Clubs of all assortments around the school are contributing to the community, the arts, and even broadening student’s horizons. PALS, Student Congress, and NHS are clubs people know about from friends, flyers around halls, and t-shirts, but other clubs are often in their shadow. One club unknown to some is FBLA, or Future Business Leaders of America. Their mission statement is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. “We prepare for and compete in competitions at the area, state, and national level, learn about leadership, and do a little community service here and there,” junior Milan Kodali said. This academic club builds leaders throughout the school, and teaches students economic and business preparations for the future. “It gives you more exposure to the real world and how business and reality scenarios are out there,” senior Sovik De Sirkar said. “Competing is one part of it, and enjoying everyone’s company and having fun is another part of it.” For five years this has been an ongoing club, winning trophies at the competitions and making it from area to state to nationals. Jan. 29 FBLA competitors took their knowledge of business to Plano East. Many groups from this club get to move on to state competition in San Antonio and hopefully to Orlando afterwards for the National Competition.

“We get to the competition and they have a bunch of different events set up for us, like the opening ceremony and stuff like that,” senior, and president of FBLA, Varun Nagaich said. “Some events are just testing events, go to a computer and take a test with the group while others are where you turn in a report like I do, and then present the reports for six to seven minutes in front of a few judges.” For the FBLA president, this isn’t his first year competing. Last year Nagaich won first place in area, first place at state, and seventh in nationals. Being president of the club, as well as getting high places at competitions is something colleges endure, and like. “This absolutely helps for college,” Nagaich said. “Well if you’re trying to get into a business major it is always good to know you have business experience. You have to study businesses also, so it helps you understand. And on your resume if you win or have a leadership position like I do, you can put it on there.” Whether majoring in business, medical field, or even arts, this club has a variety of students with different futures ahead, learning about leadership and other life lessons through these competitions. “I feel like this club has prepared me for generally the health care industry as I got a little taste,” junior Chisom Ekweani said. “But it helped me overall in what I need to be able to do for competitions and such.” Future Business Leaders of America lead, compete and win.

There are three major events every senior looks forward to: prom, graduation and his or her eighteenth birthday. At the age of 18, a teen becomes legal. There are the downsides of turning 18, such as eligibility for jury duty, being charged as an adult and being sent to prison, and taxes. On the other hand, there is the freedom to do so much more than what they were able to do before. “I did what everyone does,” senior Nuzhat Kabir said. “I bought a lottery ticket and a pack of cigarettes and threw them away because I don’t

smoke.” Many teens focus on those basic new freedoms, with little regard to some of the responsibilities becoming an adult means. After you renew your license, a card is mailed to you that could be very important if politics are important to you. “I registered to vote,” senior Tyler Liang said. “To support my country.” Some more rebellious teens go for the tattoo and piercing route. Though it is legal to get a piercing before turning 18 with parent permission, some parents won’t allow their child to get certain piercings. Tattoos can be an even bigger taboo

unless you have more liberal parents. “I got a tattoo on my eighteenth birthday,” senior Jensan Voightlander said. “It’s special to me. It’s a mix between music notes, a peace sign and a heart. They’re all signs that are important to me, and I’ve been wanting it since I was 12. My parents actually paid for, my mom said as long as it was meaningful to me it didn’t matter.” Ownership is not something that crosses most students’ minds due to the fact that most of them stick around their parents’ house for awhile. Some are eager to start gathering their

own possessions, though. “I bought a car for myself, it’s my car,” senior Ava Wait said. “It’s a Kia Rio.” The worst part about turning 18 is waiting in line for hours at the DMV to renew your license. The best part about turning 18 is getting a license that clearly states you’re legal. “I went to the club, Insomnia, with my friends,” Wait said. “It was really fun.” Some teens think outside the box. There are many other opportunities not open to under age teens, and some of them are more thrilling than others. “I want to go sky diving,”

The Big One-EightWhat to Do When You Turn 18

senior Lylan Nguyen said. “That’s what I really want to do. I have some friends that went sky diving and my mom said it’s something she’s wanted to do. My cousins want to come, too.” Despite all the hype, 18 isn’t a turning point for everyone. Sometimes, it’s just another birthday. “Eighteen is kind of overrated,” senior Llych Sanders said. “Most teenagers do what they’re already doing. You just don’t need permission anymore.” All the opportunities available to kids turning 18 are just about endless. Whether you’re celebrating it like any old birthday

or doing everything you couldn’t before you were 18, it’s still a time of celebration. “I made a dry ice bomb when I turned 18,” senior Connor Lirot said. “I also got a machete, it was an impulse buy. I was very impulsive when I turned 18. [Turning 18] is something to look forward to.”

wildcatsIssue eIght Page FIve March 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

Photo Submitted by Linda Bamback Sheila Suzanne Kolb, physics and chemistry teacher and Academic Decathlon mentor, died Thursday March 3 after a 16 year battle with spreading cancer. She was a woman who loved to teach, to work in the Academic Decathlon, and to mentor others. “No question cancer is a horrible disease,” Kolb’s brother Kurt Kolb said. “It would be easy to paint this very sad picture of Sheila and her battle with cancer as some person who lived and died alone, and that cancer took away the chance for Sheila to experience the joy of doing something other than teaching.” Kolb, however, made a lifelong career of teaching the sciences. “It’s a touching portrait but it’s not true,” Mr. Kolb said. “Sheila was a person who always chose her life, her friends, her relationships, and her activities with great care. She was anything but alone. And she was doing exactly what she wanted to be doing in the place that mattered to her most, which was PSHS.” Born in the 1948, Kolb was raised in the small town of Tipton, Kansas. “Childhood was quite traditional,” Kolb’s sister Marita Kolb said. “We attended very small schools in Kansas where students participated in every activity. Our father was a teacher and basketball coach in the school, which meant that Sheila never really left school or home. It was a brave guy that asked Sheila out on a date, because it meant getting grilled by Dad: ‘Have you got your homework done?’” Marita Kolb knew her sister as an independent thinker who was always interested in pioneering new challenges.

After Kolb graduated from high school, she began studying for a chemistry degree from Kansas State University. “College was a time of tumultuous protest: the Vietnam War was in full swing, and the violence reached even the Kansas State campus where Sheila received her degree,” Mr. Kolb said. “It was a particularly unsettling time that encouraged young people to question long-held beliefs. She was always an independent thinker and always interested in pioneering new challenges. Sheila developed very strong personal beliefs but didn’t waste cycles imposing those beliefs on others. She was not the person to organize a rally; she was the person to dialogue with one on one. This trait enabled her to formally act as mediator, counselor, and mentor in later roles.” Kolb was a natural scientist. After getting her degree in 1970, Kolb joined the scientific community as a professional. “Sheila loved the sciences enough that she received her degree in chemistry when women were not exactly encouraged to enter into the physical sciences,” Mr. Kolb said. “Her summers were often spent at chemistry conferences. Someone recently told me that Clark Bricker, a chemist on the Manhattan Project, was one of her mentors.” She did not discover her passion for teaching, however, until she was already into a career in the sciences. After earning a Master’s degree in teaching and counseling from Central Michigan University in 1976, Kolb began teaching in Cass City and later Shepherd, Michigan. Kolb applied for a job at Plano while presenting a chemistry paper at a conference in Dallas. “I was her department chair from her arrival in 1983 until

I retired in 2003,” retiree Jim Mullins said. “When we hired Ms. Kolb, I had known her as a chemistry teacher by reputation. I did not realize that she was a jack of all trades in science until I talked to her.” Mullins always intended for Kolb to teach chemistry, but she always turned him down because she didn’t miss making up all of the “smelly solutions that were part of the chemistry lab.” He always admired her professionalism, her enthusiasm, and her dedication. “She told me one year that she really never appreciated

teaching physics until she came to Plano,” Mullins said. “Her small school in Michigan didn’t have the supplies and the equipment that made teaching physics fun for her.” Teacher Tim Murray was a friend of Kolb and a fellow Academic Decathlon judge. “Her students loved her,” Murray said. “She was smart and fanatically dedicated to the Decathlon, but I know her students in physics certainly appreciated her dark wit and sarcasm. Even though she taught science, she seemed to

have a love for much of the liberal arts.” Kolb had very little free time because of the dedication to teaching and Academic Decathlon. “Sheila enjoyed auto racing at one point,” Mr. Kolb said. “In Michigan she used to participate in “ice racing,” where drivers would race custom cars across the frozen lakes, and she always liked to drive fast.” Kolb’s interests did not stop there. Principal Sarah Watkins called Kolb “a Renaissance Woman” for her wide range of talents. “She loved music,” Mr. Kolb said. “She introduced me to the music of Bach, Duke Ellington, Pink Floyd. She

played piano, and earlier in her teaching career would accompany high school soloists at state competitions. She also played flute and clarinet in the community bands.” Although Kolb was a direct person with dry humor, she developed warm relationships with many. “She had very close and personal interactions with several different groups of people,” Mr. Kolb said. “These relationships stayed

close through the decades. She wasn’t lonely. Remarkably, friends who knew her in one role didn’t know about the other roles of the friends in them.” Kolb’s friend and longtime colleague Mullins returned to Plano on numerous occasions after retiring and visited Kolb. While the cancer took its toll, Kolb still remained upbeat. Her stamina in the face of so many personally debilitating health issues will always be something Mullins admires about Kolb. “I was in awe of her energy, especially during the last five to ten years when she was battling her cancer,” Mullins said. “It amazed me that she was able to handle the various treatments and the side effects and still keep her desire to say in the classroom.” Kolb’s colleagues and students will always carry with them the inspiration and lessons they received from her. “She was a superlative Academic Decathlon coach, and I learned a great deal from her in that area,” Murray said. “She was ecstatic that our current team won the latest Regional competition for the eighth year in a row, but we couldn’t have done it without the help that she offered Mr. Ramirez, my co-coach, and me.” As for the family, Kolb will be missed greatly. Her family knows it has been a privilege to see the remarkable impact her life has had on others. “Shelia Kolb loved teaching, she loved working in the academic decathlon, and she loved mentoring,” Mr. Kolb said. “We will remember her with love, and will miss her. Her nephews and niece will remember her as the aunt who always picked out the really cool Christmas gifts and could help out on those impossibly hard physics problems.”

“Sheila was a person who always chose her life, her friends, her

relationships, and her activities with great care. She was anything but alone. And she was doing exactly

what she wanted to be doing in the place that mattered to her most,

which was PSHS.”-- Kurt Kolb

I was in awe of her energy, especially during the last five to ten years

when she was battling her cancer. It amazed me that she was able to handle the various treatments and the side effects and still keep her

desire to say in the classroom.--Tim Mullins

By Meital Boim and Daniel Hinson

sportsIssue eIght Page eIght March 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

By Alex Gonzalez

By Meaghan Pulliam

After many weeks, and several practices, the basketball team won their final home game, leading them into the playoffs. “Rashad Smith had a really good game,” junior Connor Pitts said. “The juniors stepped it up, and Coach P[arlin] coached very well.” Rashad Smith scored 26 points, leading into a 76-72 victory against Hebron. Smith was later chosen as High School Game Time’s basketball player of the week. “It’s pretty cool seeing myself in all of these newspapers,” Smith said. The basketball team made it to the playoffs in 2009, however, did not get to play as long as they would’ve wanted. “We went to playoffs my sophomore year,” Smith said, “but we lost in the first round to Duncanville.” Some members went to playoffs for a second time. “I went my sophomore year, and playing at SMU was really fun,” senior Clayton Parlin said. ‘This time, we [played] at [the University of] North Texas. The best part of making it to playoffs is getting to keep playing with my teammates. I never like the point where the season ends.” Before making it to playoffs, the team faced many difficulties. “During off season we had some teammates move,” Smith said. “Some teammates had injuries, and some didn’t pass their classes, but we kept on moving.” Despite their hard work, the basketball team lost the first round of playoffs to Coppell with

a score of 63-58. “We played really hard, and we did all we could,” junior Kevin Nelsen said. “I just think we were tired, and sort of gave up.” Others were more disappointed. “Losing was disappointing, because some of us have been working for years,” senior Julian Okoro said. “To come up short at this point was not good.” While the season is over, there are still plans left in the basketball calendar. “We have a banquet coming up, and we just turned in all of our stuff.” Okoro said. Other plans include major training. “The incoming juniors and seniors are doing off season, but the current seniors are pretty much free to do whatever,” Smith said. During off season, the basketball team begins training for next year. “We get about a week or two off, then we start off season,” junior Shawn James said. ‘We’ve got to hit the weight room, because we look tiny compared to some of the other teams.” While off season is going on, the seniors will be finished with basketball. “I’m going to miss basketball,” Parlin said. “It was a fun experience and we tried our best. Now I have nothing else to do. I just go home and sleep.” For some, Plano basketball is a gateway to the team members’ future. “After this year is over, I’ll most likely be playing college basketball at Dallas Baptist University, or majoring in sports marketing at St. John’s” Okoro said.

BasketBall Playoff HigHligHts

The bar is set for this year’s softball team from previous teams, but this team is confident

in their skills and is ready to bring home the title of district champions. The 2010-2011 softball team

is ready to take the new season by storm. Many of the members of the team have been playing

softball for most of their lives and are completely dedicated to it. “I’ve been playing since third grade,” junior Haley Archer said. “We generally practice for three hours

everyday after school and Saturday mornings. Once the season starts we play every Tuesday and Friday.” Although the sport takes up quite a bit of time in their lives, the girls feel that it is completely

worth it. Many of them feel that without softball they wouldn’t be the same. “I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it,” Archer said. “It brings me so close with so many

people and my family.” Softball serves as more than just a PE credit to these girls. The camaraderie and feeling of belonging is a great

benefit of being a member. “[Softball is] definitely worth all my time,” junior Katie Hart said. “My teammates are no doubt my closest friends. All the time we spend together during district is always

hilarious.” To this team, trust and friendship is of utmost importance on the field. Team dynamics are essential for them to be the best they can be.

Photo submitted by Fermaint Photography

“[It is crucial to have] every single player on your team’s back,” Hart said. “Because when it’s the bottom of the last inning and your team is down, you can’t come back alone.” The spring season for the girls has just begun and they are off to a great start. The girls hit the ground running this season with an impressive second place in a tournament held at College Station. The girls played teams from all over the state and played incredibly. On top of their great victory in College Station, the team faced-off against archrival, Allen Eagles, and defeated them, 7-1. With these great victories under their belts, the girls are full speed ahead with their sights set on becoming district champions at the finish of the season. Though the team has every reason to take a load off after these accomplishments, they are still pushing themselves and their teammates to their limits. “There’s plenty room for improvements this season,” Archer said. “We just keep working hard everyday. The most important aspect to becoming the best team is knowing that you gave your all on every play in every game.”

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advertisersIssue eIght Page NINe March 10, 2011 PlaNo seNIor hIgh school 2200 INdePeNdeNce Pkwy PlaNo, tx 75075

reviewsIssue eIght Page ten March 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

ADELE Less than three years ago I came home from school listening to my mom rave about the new CD she had bought. She told me it was like nothing she had ever heard before and that I had to hear it. When I uploaded the CD onto iTunes and played the first song I knew I had fallen in love with music all over again. The United States was finally introduced to the soulful stylings of Adele’s first album, 19; drenched with emotion and heartbreak it was no wonder that her strong and smooth voice had won over the hearts of the UK’s top charts. Now, out with her second album, 21, Adele’s voice is seeping through headphones all around the country creating a whole new music revolution. Each song topping the one after the next, these 11 songs are just as bold and passionate as her last hits such as Chasing Pavements and Cold Shoulder. Songs like Take it All and Don’t You Remember show case just how melancholy, yet how powerful Adele’s lyrics are. Despite the two years that have passed, her new album has reached new heights of potent themes surrounding her experiences. Like most artists, Adele’s songs

are centered around lost love and vulnerability; and while in most cases the same old tune can get relentlessly boring after a while, her potent voice never fails to bore me. The past few years have made a great impact on the progression of Adele’s musical journey. Her first album entitled 19 corresponded to her current age and reflected the experiences she had encountered during that age. This included tales of first loves, the trials and tribulations of relationships and heartache she experienced all along the way. Now, as her age corresponds with her album once again, 21 reflect the same obstacles and experiences but she expresses them through a different point of view as she has gotten older. Not only has the maturity of her lyrics become prevalent, but her new musical sound has also captured attention. Her sound on this album is just as transfixing, but her voice has a more resonant quality making her every note drip like honey. While her last album, 19, was classified as pop, this new album has an R&B feel to it, giving off a deeply moving mood. Unlike typical pop songs that sound completely audio-tuned, 21 has taken a turn for a

more revealing angle, creating a raw sound. Through her songs Rolling in the Deep, which was featured in the newly released movie I Am Number Four, and Set Fire to the Rain, Adele has brought a whole new empowering sound to her songs. Compared to 19, this new album definitely s h o w s a more e x p o s e d type of sound; and cons ider ing she writes and co-writes all of her songs, Adele is sure to connect her love of poetry and translating them in to her own lyrical experiences. Whether you are a fan of folksy- pop, R&B, or you enjoyed her last album, Adele’s new CD, 21, is sure to exceed the expectations of her fans and live up to the hype of her new listeners.

By Madison McDaniel

RATING: A

HYPNOTIC DONUTSBy Taylor Thompson and Aleah Pushaw

Mexi co

Canadian Health

Care Roof of the Mouth

Hypnotic Donut

4 Chocolate

Roof of the Mouth

Lu cy in the Sky with Lemons

Poppin’ Berries

Every weekend at approximately seven in the morning, fresh donuts are being prepped. Waking up extremely early on the weekend has its benefits, but after you finally track down this donut shop, inconveniently located inside a local pizza shop down the never-ending Preston Road, you’re probably thinking twice about buying anything. Do not follow the map on their website hypnoticdonuts.com. The address is right, so copy and paste it into MapQuest as

your own personal GPS. The Pizza Guy is taken

over by a man and his co-

Key Ingredients: Fresh jalapeños and a dash of Tabasco

Reaction: Before you chicken out of even considering this donut, you should know that it is surprisingly not bad. Of course, it is going to be extremely different. However, the originality of this concoction is what makes it so pleasing. The jalapeños and Tabasco compliment the frosting nicely. This combination of sweet and spice should be tried by every customer, if for no other reason than to brag to your friends that you did, and survived.

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ore. Key Ingredients: Variety of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (white, dark, and milk chocolate) Reaction: Although I may not eat Reese’s Peanut Butter cups on a regular basis, this delcious combination of chocolate and peanut butter will stick with you long after you’ve experienced your last bite.

Key Ingredients: Chocolate frosting, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, chocolate donutReaction: As a chocoholic, this donut was truly a little slice of heaven for me. Unfortunately, a little slice is all I got, before my brother ate the rest of it in one bite. Luckily, the portion that I did get met up to all my expectations. In one word I would call it decadent. Unless you adore chocolate as much as I do, I recommend splitting this with a friend. That way both of y’all can enjoy the mouth watering chocolate f r o s t i n g and pieces w i t h o u t getting too full.

Key Ingredients: Pretzels, crushed peanut butter captain crunch, peanut butter, and chocolate drizzleReaction: This is by far my favorite donut. The swirl of ingredients balance each other beautifully. I enjoyed having the crunch from the pretzels mixed with the creamy peanut butter. Surprisingly, the large amount of ingredients do not overwhelm you. This is the only donut I was able to finish completely, and I don’t regret a single bit of it. If you are a first timer to Hypnotic Donuts I highly recommend you try this as your introduction to the store.

Key Ingredients: Lemon frosting,

lemon heads, and white chocolate chips

Reaction: If you are one who puckers up for

sweets, Lucy is the donut for you. The lemon

frosting adds a tart kick to your taste buds.

Whereas, the white chocolate adds a smooth

sweetness. To top it all off, you truly will pucker

up for the lemon heads. This donut is a nice

jumpstart to your morning routine.

Key Ingredients: Strawberry pop tarts and strawberry drizzle

Reaction: I literally jumped for joy when I saw this donut on the menu. It not only taste delicious, but the colors of the poptart just make you smile. It truly made me feel like I was eating Candyland. If fruit flavors make your mouth water, then you should pop this donut in your

mouth.

workers to sell breakfast. Not only does Hypnotic Donuts make their own donuts, but they serve biscuits and cinnamon rolls large enough to feed third world countries. I recommend that you get there when it opens, because they will run out of donuts, especially the delicious cake ones. Surprisingly enough, as you walk towards the door, the toppings you will hear being muttered along the side walk are not the generic sprinkles and chocolate. If you get there too late, but before closing, the owner generously offers to put whatever icing and toppings on a different donut if they are out of what you originally wanted.

Hypnotic Donuts does

not require a big budget; only a big appetite. I personally could barely finish one whole donut (not from lack of trying). If you don’t like getting messy, a knife and fork are a must, as icing and toppings flow in and over the donut, making the actual donut look microscopic. Hypnotic Donuts make their own donuts, but they serve biscuits and cinnamon rolls large enough to feed third world countries. I recommend that you get there when it opens, because they will run out of donuts, especially the delicious cake ones. Surprisingly enough, as you walk towards the door, the toppings you will hear being muttered along

the side walk are not the generic sprinkles and chocolate. If you get there too late, but before closing, the owner generously offers to put whatever icing and toppings on a different donut if they are out of what you originally wanted. Hypnotic Donuts does not require a big budget; only a big appetite. I personally could barely finish one whole donut (not from lack of trying). If you don’t like getting messy, a knife and fork are a must, as icing and toppings flow in and over the donut, making the actual donut look microscopic.

opinionIssue eIght Page eleven March 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

By Sarah Rosselet

The Good The Bad

THE

WEIRD

This dress has a wonderful color palate: I call it ‘Easter Chic’. It’s complimented by five lovely layers of tulle (yes, five) in varying Easter-type colors. The purple tulle is the base and it’s overlaid with yellow, giving the whole skirt a brownish, dirty color. There’s a reason people love things that are shabby chic, what’s chicer than something that looks like it’s been worn and re-worn since the 80s? The top is tight, see through, and accented by 11 fabric flowers on the mesh covering your stomach. There are nice, structured wires in the mess to make your stomach look like a carousel. The mesh does a great job accenting any excess fat you might have (even if you don’t have any) and showcasing your bellybutton. The top is more layers of tulle, in the signature colors of baby pink, yellow and purple, outlined with more fabric flowers all over the straps and back. This dress would certainly make a statement if you showed up at prom, and you could always re-wear it and be a clown at a child’s birthday party.

This dress has it all. Feather lining, tassels, beading, pastel rainbow colors, low neckline, tie-dye, paint splatters… what more could a girl want? This dress is so strange that I would feel bad calling it ugly, like you would never mock a three year old who dressed herself in the dark. This dress can’t even help how tragic it is. The abstract beading patterns look like sparkly throw-up, and the

mottled paint colors and splatters look like a dye job gone wrong. All I can do is question who would actually wear this. The saleswoman was very nice though: she said the last customer she sold the dress to was blind, and she chose it for its textures. That didn’t make me feel bad or anything…

Unless your goal is to embarrass your date to death or make a little ‘extra cash’ for dinner, then this dress should never be worn. By anyone. Ever. Fundamentally, this dress is not that bad: the color is nice, the material is okay, and although I don’t like the gold accents, they’re excusable. Somewhere down the line though, this dress lost any ounce of class and became the sick, twisted cousin of a cheap dress. There’s not only a slit up the leg, but a completely open back, hole for your stomach to pop out, two lovely side slits, and a nice low neckline. Did I mention the chains? In addition to ugliness, this dress also weighs at least 25 pounds. The weight must help if you want your dress to ‘conveniently’ fall down while your getting you groove on.

Prom isn’t the time to be something you’re not. If you love bright neon colors, wear bright neon colors. If you like fluffy princess looks, wear a cupcake dress. If you like the classic black dress, then rock that classic black dress! This timeless, Audrey Hepburn-esque look is one of my favorites. It’s classic, so (hopefully) you won’t die of embarrassment when you look back at these photos i n 30 years. It’s flattering without

showing too much of what other people don’t want to see. It’s

fancy without being over the top. You can accessorize it with anything, whether you’re into pearls and long

white gloves or rhinestones and tiaras. (although those

are another story all together). Don’t turn prom into a costume party: if you dress like yourself, you’ll look b e a u t i f u l no matter what you wear.

Prom

Stresses

Dresses, nails, and limousines, just a few of the

necessary things. Boys and girls alike have to think of everything

required for the big day in advance. Some people consider getting ready

for prom months early a bit excessive; however the excitement and upcoming highlight of the senior year can bring people to get ready for it too early. Both the big and little things involving prom have one thing in common, a price. Without the preparations made before the dance, money would be nonexistent. Seniors get jobs, up their hours at work, and ask their parents for money for the night. Some people don’t have a lot of time for a job and their parents refuse to pay, which is when the pressure sets in. The conservation of money stresses out people so quickly that it starts to become ridiculous to both the person that it’s happening to and their friends. All the worrying about money months beforehand makes perfect sense, without money there’s no prom for anyone.

The planning for prom a few months ahead of time helps the schedule for the day to become less stressful, but some things are a little too hard to plan so far ahead. For groups of friends to go with, you never know whether a fight or change of friends will occur, so planning groups closer to the day of prom would save from unnecessary drama. If you’re lucky enough to have a group set up, picking a limo or party bus as soon as possible would be best to ensure a ride for the dance and parties. However dates could be taken quickly, so if you have a special person in mind it makes perfect sense to ask them ahead of time to make sure someone else doesn’t. Too far ahead of time could sometimes be taken as a bit weird, and in a few months you might change your mind about the person or find someone new. Nails, tanning, and flowers are things that definitely need to be planned well before prom. Nail salons often get booked quickly and are a zoo to try to get into without an appointment the day of. Along with nail salons, hair stylists often fill their schedules months before, so choosing a hair style and stylists long before is important. If a tan is something that you feel is necessary for you to look your best, starting to tan a few months ahead of time would look much more natural than a quick spray on the day before. Also, flowers for corsages and boutonnieres ordered in advance allow for the pieces to be more original and decorated to match a dress or tuxedo. Finally, dresses and tuxes found a couple months before prom allow a larger selection to choose from and many at a more reasonable price than during the month of. For some things it is reasonable and understandable for seniors to be worried about prom many months before, but in other cases one just needs to calm down and breathe. Taking care of the little things may help you feel ready for the big day to come, but sometimes your family and friends don’t want to hear all about it. Keep it to yourself, unless something really exciting comes up, or someone asks about the big night.

By Dayna Gettel

By Dayna Gettel

Issue eIght Page twelve March 10, 2011 Plano senIor hIgh school 2200 IndePendence Pkwy Plano, tx 75075

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