For years Lakeview Centennial has operated on a 4×4 schedule. This means students will be in eight classes, every two days, for a little less than 90 minutes each class. Now for the first time in LCHS history GISD is considering to make the change next year to a 5×5 schedule. This means two extra classes and less class time.

Lakeview is GISD’s guinea pig for this transition. It is still not certain whether or not it will happen next year, the year after that, or even if it will ever happen at all. Currently the final decision is still pending at a state level.

“If the change were to occur it would not be GISD wide,” counselor Brent Theis said. “Lakeview would be the pilot school to see how it works out. We [the counselors] are making 10 course schedules for everyone already just in case and if technology can support this change than I’m all for it.”

For students this could be exactly what the school needs. Lakeview recently also became the experimental school to try the Collegiate Academy. Trying to fit both high school and college into such cramped schedules has gotten to be overwhelming for students and counselors alike.

“I like the idea of it because it gives you more chances. Being in the Collegiate Academy limits how many electives you have,” sophomore Sterling Boutte said.  “I hope we have the 5×5 schedule so when I’m a senior I won’t be stuck taking some boring required class that I could’ve taken my junior year.”

Also a new nationwide rule has been set increasing the number of credits needed to graduate making schedules more packed than ever.

“I would like to have the 5×5 schedule. Students now have to take an extra science and math. If we were on a 5×5 schedule they would have more choices as far as electives,” Assistant Principal, Dwight Lofton said.

For some students the 90 minute blocks add to a loss of focus and drive. Most students are in favor of the change.

“The classes are too long in a 4×4 schedule and I would prefer the 5×5. It will also help out students that don’t have a lot of credits to get caught up,” junior Jobin Samuel said.

Students, teachers, and even administration are still unsure of what exactly will happen next year. While Lakeview waits for a final confirmation all we can do is hope and prepare.

“It takes time to do anything and we don’t have the luxury of time,” Lofton said. “So it’s not confirmed yet.”

The state’s decision on the matter should be evident to all LCHS students by this summer when they receive their schedules for the 2010-2011 school year.

Sheldon Esdelle-Blackburn, Chris Copeland, and Ryan Williams prepare to sign their National Letter of Intent to various college and universities.

By: Ashlie Hendricks

Signing day has come upon us and boys Ryan Williams and Chris Copeland have chosen their schools. Signing day is the first day a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent, a commitment to a College, for athletics. Williams signed to Temple Junior College in Temple and Copeland to Concordia University in Austin.

Williams chose Temple Junior College because it seemed like a good fit and he was offered a full ride scholarship for athletics. His room and board, books, and tuition are all paid for. Williams also had the choices of Navarro College and McKinlen College but he liked the closeness of Temple.

“I’d like to stay close to my mom for when she needs me or I get home sick,” Williams said.

On March 26^th two weeks before the signing Williams went to visit Temple’s campus with the coach of the Leopards Basketball Team as a personal tour guide. He met the players of the team and liked that they have a good record; going 30 and 0 last season.

“I would be a good fit for the team and take them to championship games,” Williams said.

Copeland had two offers from both University of Texas at Tyler and University of Concordia. He chose Concordia because he liked the campus and the atmosphere of Austin.  Copeland also likes that Concordia is more in the woods and away from it all. He didn’t like UT Tyler as much because it was more in the country. One other reason Copeland chose Concordia is because his cousin is graduating from there so he knows a bit about the college from him.

“My cousin went there (to Concordia) so I already had a feel for the college,” Copeland said.

Copeland got a tour of the campus by Stan Bonewitz coach of the Tornados Basketball Team.   He got an academic scholarship because Concordia is a private school and doesn’t give many athletic scholarships. He will still be receiving help with his financial aid.

“I am thankful I have my mom to help get all the details of my scholarship and help prepare me for college life,” Copeland said.

The boys signed Thursday April the 8^th and are prepared to start at these schools during the 2010 fall term. It’s a bittersweet farewell but we are happy to see our boys going further in their education and ready to take the next step in life.

Obama signs the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the White House on March 23, 2010. Photo courtesy of www.zimbio.com

By: Leonard Ward

On Tuesday morning March 30^th, President Barack Obama signed the health care and education reconciliation bill which is now officially the law of the land. The question that is on our minds now is “How does this affect me?” Some of the students aren’t focused on this historic event and don’t have a clear conception of what the bill does. Government students in Mr. Haddox’s class, however, were given an overview of what the bill is, what it stands for, what it does, who it effects, and how.

This new final copy of the health care reform not only addresses health care in general, but also education and the funding for it. Now the middle men, the banks, are cut out of the equation concerning the payment of student loans.

“It will benefit people with pre- existing conditions because they will be able to get insurance and it will benefit the lower class that cannot afford insurance,”senior Justin Whaley said.

The provisions of the new bill will raise taxes for the middle class and upper class. In effect, the health care cost will be lower and for some even free, with the government programs Medicare and Medicaid.

It is now required for all citizens to have some form of health insurance and it will not be more than 8% of their income.

“I don’t like the government interfering with insurance companies too much because while it gives more people insurance it could lower healthcare standards, and the way people will be forced to buy insurance even if they don’t need it,” Whaley said.

The primary beneficiaries of the health care benefits are people of the lower class who can’t afford health care at all.

“I think the people who don’t have any money and live in the neighborhoods that are low class are the people it will help and who support this the most,” senior Stephanie Sailes said.

However, some of the people who do agree with the idea as a whole feel that some aspects should be different.

“If I could change anything about this act it would be how it actually cost money,” senior Emmanuel Lennix said.

With hope for change, President Barack Obama has delivered to us a new beginning of hope and in his mind he has helped millions of the people of this great nation.

Relay for Life is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Photo courtesy of www.relayforlife.org

By: Christina Bahena

For many years now the American Cancer Society has hosted it’s annual Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an event that gives communities a night to celebrate the lives of family, friends or loved ones who are battling cancer. Remember those who have lost their battle and fight back, to help find a cure. The relay is an all night event where teams camp out in a local area. Throughout the night teams interact with others in the community by playing games or participating in fundraisers, but teams must have at least one member either walking or running to represent them on the track. Every Relay for Life is different since this is an event that is taken on by people around the world.

With less than a hundred days left, Relay for Life teams in Garland are putting together fundraisers to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life Garland will host its fundraiser at Naaman Forest High School. It will be held on May 22-23 and will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 5 a.m. So far the city of Garland has 342 participants, 31 teams including clubs and organizations from our very own Lakeview Centennial High School are participating and have raised $28,085.77.

“I am grateful and willing to spend time volunteering to raise money and awareness.” Senior HOSA member Lindsey Ngo, said.

“I want to do Relay for Life, because I want to inspire others to not give up and continue living for their faith,” senior Juby Samuel, the daughter of a cancer patient said.

Garland’s relay consists of three parts including “Celebrate”, “Remember” and “Fight back”.

“Celebrate”, which is also known as the survivors lap, is held at the beginning of the relay. Survivors are invited to the track along with all who are participating and everyone walks around the track.

“Remember”, which is the Luminaria Ceremony is held after dark and people who had or have cancer are honored. Candles are lit in a bag filled with sand, and the name of a person that has been touched by cancer. Participants usually walk a lap in silence.

“Fight Back”, is a ceremony where all who participated make the pledge to help the fight against cancer. One can help fight back by either donating to the American Cancer Society or joining or making a team for next year’s  Relay for life.

“I expect to make something positive out of the negative. I am confident that somebody there will be a cure and I would have the satisfaction of knowing that I played a small role at this fundraiser,” Samuel said.

Seconds after the lunch bell rings, the cafeteria is filled with eager students ready for lunch, and they are immediately reminded that they only have four options. They can go through the Italian food line, where there is choice of pizza, pasta alfredo, marinara pasta, or caesar salad. They can choose  the American food line where there is a choice of, chicken, burgers, chicken, fries, chicken, and more chicken! There is also the Mexican food line, where you have a choice of burritos, taco salad, or quesadillas and of course the regular lunch line, where there is a mixture of different things.

According to calorieking.com, the average person should take in 400-500 calories per meal, but this isn’t happening in most school cafeterias, and because of this Jamie Oliver has started the “Jamie Oliver Revolution”.

“The food revolution is about trying to get the public angry, as they should be, about the terrible food problems in cafeterias. The children of America in 2010, are going to live a shorter life than their parents, this revolution is for the kids,” founder of the food revolution, Jamie Oliver said.

On the first episode of the Jamie Oliver Revolution he went to Huntingdon, VA which is the unhealthiest town in America.   As he walked through the cafeteria, he saw that they were serving pizza for breakfast and chicken nuggets for lunch. This sounded really familiar.  Our cafeteria serves the same thing! That would make us as unhealthy as them and no one seems to care.

“I care because everybody always wants to talk about how everything we eat is unhealthy, but we only eat what is put in front of us. We don’t have off campus lunch so we don’t have the option of leaving school to maybe get a healthier choice,” freshman Leah Smith said.

Smith usual has a cheese burger and fries for lunch. The average cheese burger has 510 calories and small fries have about 231 calories. That’s 214 calories over the average amount we’re supposed to take in per meal.

“I eat in the reduced line every day. I choose whatever in the line looks best that day. Do I think the line is healthy? No, but I think it’s healthier then the other lines. I would appreciate it a lot if they were to serve healthier food and more variety,” senior Andrea Forero said.

With the percentage of obese and overweight teenagers rapidly on the rise, school cafeterias don’t seem to be helping. Cafeteria food is not solely to blame, but they are definitely a contribution. Small changes in the cafeteria could be made to make it healthier, but in the end it is up to us to make healthier choices. Our cafeteria might not be able to do something others might consider extraordinary, but the little things we can do would count.

It was about 7^th grade when I first recognized that I am an expert at forgetting people’s names. I can’t count the number of times I’ve experienced that little heart attack that occurs when I realize that I’ve forgotten someone’s name. Particularly, someone who a) I should have remembered b) I have known for some time, and/or worst of all c) knows my name. It may be the baffled expression on my face or the way I might constantly refer to them as “hey” or “you” that gives me away, but somehow I always get caught and when it happens it’s usually bad. Soon after realizing my own special talent in memory lapses I began to develop newly found detective skills. To all of you scatterbrains out there, like me, here are a few tips on what to do if you are ever caught in that awkward situation.

Approach #1

Ask a mutual friend. Usually there is someone you may know that knows them. Remember, though, to be discreet about it. In other words, ask a discreet friend. In the event this person suffers from diarrhea mouth, there may be a chance that this nameless friend may hear from the mutual friend of your forgetfulness. Rumors are the worst way to hear of something like this, making this approach is risky if not operated well.

Approach #2

Try to get the person to say their own name. A few probing questions like “What’s your full name?” and “How do you spell your name?” just might be the perfect solution. Unfortunately you may come across that occasional Sam or Bob. A question like that will most likely only be answered with a face.

Approach #3

One other tactic is to listen for others who might say their name. Usually if you are among other friends there will be a time when someone else will call them or refer to them in a story. This may take a while and usually doesn’t work if no one else is around but, can be the easiest and most passive way of going about it.

There are a number of more strategies to figure out a person’s name with plenty necessary conditions and possible backfires. Yet, there is always one sure fire way of learning that ever elusive person’s name and that is by simply asking. Most likely they will understand. After all, everyone’s human and they have most likely had the same problem. The best thing you can do is to not be offended when someone asks you what your name is.

The Frank Irwin Center in Austin, TX throbbed with the sound of cheering fans, screeching sneakers, and the solid thump of a basketball being dribbled up and down the court. Lakeview was in the lead with only a few minutes left in the game. A victory was in sight and emotions were running high. Bush High School made a comeback in the final minutes of the game and the night ended with Lakeview 58 points and Wagner High School 65 points.

Lakeview’s Varsity Boys Basketball team was the first to go to boys basketball team in all of GISD to make it to state. After much hard work and great games all through the season a loss like this was unexpected.

“The semi-final game was one of our best games of the year,” boys basketball coach Mauldin said. “Our last game was definitely not our best, but that win also had a lot to do with how good the other team was playing.”

Seniors like Sheldon Edell-Blackburn, Chris Copeland, and Ryan Williams, who were star players on the team, won’t be returning next year. The question lingering in many fans’ minds now is “Will they make it that far next year?”

“Of course our goal would be to try and make it to state again but, it takes a lot to make it there,” Mauldin said.

Considering that never before had Lakeview’s basketball team gone this far, there was fans like never before. Lakeview students were even given the opportunity to miss part of a school day to watch and support their team. With fan buses and early releases, hundreds of Lakeview students took advantage of this opportunity.

“Our fans were a huge part of our playoff run,” Mauldin said. “It really takes the players doing their part and the fans helped.”

While some of the players are moving on to college and others are returning next year to hopefully influence the next group of underclassmen, all of the young men from Lakeview’s ’09-’10 Varsity Boys Basketball team will remember this near perfect season.

“We’re still disappointed,” Mauldin admitted. “There is a big difference between winning and coming in 2^nd, but we’re not naïve. We know it was still an amazing accomplishment and we will go down in history as the only GISD Boys Basketball team to make it that far and it’s been an adventure.”

All that’s left to do is congratulate the boys on their run and wait for next year’s season to follow the team’s progress again. These boys have left a lasting impression for underclassmen, a proud legacy for Lakeview, and very large shoes to fill for incoming varsity players.

Have you seen them? The billboards in Dallas depicting a young black man with his britches showing and Irma P. Hall dressed up like Aunt Jemima saying to the young man, “Pull ‘Em Up.” I’m not sure if a photo that makes Hall appear as a wet nurse and assumes the race of the young man will positively effective the public. Will such racism and stereotyping really influence the young to cover themselves up when they get dressed in the morning? Perhaps someone should teach the youth the actual truth.

The idea of sagging comes from prison attire when a man wanted to make himself appear available. Then, somebody saw a way to make money off of the disgusting symbol. Surely if that’s not a turn-off then the idea of being just like everyone else representing this would be. Furthermore, the sign says,” keep it a secret”.  This is a message to the ladies not to dress so provocatively.

“The girls are trying to keep up with the boys. We have to try to send a dual message out to say to the young ladies … tighten it up,” Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway said. “You don’t have to show just every single thing. Keep it a secret for a while.”

If that’s not an intelligent influence, I don’t know what is! Caraway started this campaign in hope of fighting the war on “saggin” pants. He went on the popular Dr. Phil show back in ‘09 to debate the subject. This seems like the kind of mayor who really gets things done! Furthermore, Caraway said he recently spoke with rapper 50 Cent, who purposively expressed his support for the program. He also said that that Dallas Cowboys Martellus Bennett and Ken Hamlin once sagged but have changed their positions. For more inspirational spills from the mind of the Dallas Mayor, Caraway brings the President Obama fad into the conversation at a press conference as he tells the young men:

“You’re not going to become President of the United States as Barack Obama, not if your pants are hanging down. And you’re not going to even get a chance to date those two little girls in the White House because Barack not going to let you, if your pants are hanging down.”

If the idea of one of Lakeview’s very own saggers hitting on two little girls isn’t reason for political action then concern with what kids are wearing definitely is! Although it is a good idea to tell the young men to pull up their pants (which would be common sense if society didn’t thrive on such controversial situations), why wouldn’t “Big Mama” use her real name? If Irma P. Hall really wants to represent herself and use her voice and her picture on large billboards, why represent a character?

“I’m on board because I love you. I am the Big grandmother, I am the ‘Big Mama’ in my family,”  Hall said.

 She taught in DISD schools from 1962 to 1984 before her acting career flourished. Hall is well known for her roles in movies like Soul Food, A Family Thing, Collateral, The Ladykillers, and Meet the Browns. Right before the beginning of Christmas ‘09 Caraway re-launched the anti-sagging campaign. He hoped to influence parents during shopping season, instilling a message not buy oversized clothes for their children. Well, its April now and the holidays have passed, you tell me if the campaign is working. I couldn’t quite find a solid number on how much money went into this whole shebang, but I’m sure it was more than 0$, which is too much.  Sagging is disgusting and unattractive in my opinion, but fads fade although this one has been followed for at least two decades. Surely Mayor Caraway has put the bigger issue in front.  

Let me take a moment to define sagging: Not only is one showing their underwear from their pants, but a spectator can view the dimensions of the saggers buttocks because his pants are so very low. Symptoms of sagging include , but are not limited to one waddling like a duck because the lowness of his pants are effecting the movement of his legs as he tries to walk, tripping, girls being grossed out, and (oh yeah!) getting raped in prison. If you have experienced any of these things your pants are probably too big for your child-like waist. Maybe one feels manly knowing that he is so small his pants fall off of him.  In conclusion, another ridiculous campaign was started and nothing really happened. The tax dollars are hard at work! Furthermore, students don’t seem to have a huge problem with sagging considering the Lakeview dress code. Some of our bigger concerns include passing the Math TAKS and graduation. At least Lakeview has their priorities somewhat straight even if Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway doesn’t.  Hopefully we will see a day when we don’t have to see what is underneath the pants of male youth. Even better we may see a day when Texan politics have evolved beyond habits of the past seeping into the future. For now we can just look away from billboard advertisements and keep our eyes on our cell phones while we are driving.

This past weekend Lakeview’s Varsity Boys Basketball Team traveled to Waco to compete against Langham Creek High School and Temple High School. The boys played well at both games beating Langham 69-63 on Friday, March 5 and beat Temple 54-45 the very next day. After winning the Regional Finals in Waco they are now advancing to the State Semi-Finals putting them in the final four. They play this Friday, March 12 in Austin against San Antonio’s Wagner High School. A fan bus is available for Lakeview students to go and support their fellow Patriots as they take on Wagner and hopefully move on to compete as the first GISD Boys Basketball team to make it to the State Tournament. The bus will be leave on Friday at 10 a.m. Students need to turn their permission slips to the office by Wednesday with $10.

Walking into Lakeview is now a new scene. Instead of seeing students standing around talking to their friends, you see them walking to class as if their eager to learn.

The No Standing Policy was put into effect at the start of the new semester. Many students were outraged by the newest policy because what was once their hot hang is now no more. Other students plainly accepted and obliged to the change.

“We plan to gain a safer environment for our students,” assistant Principal Mr. Lofton said.

The safety of the students is top priority at LC. The administration makes sure students have the safest possible surroundings.

“Many students felt uncomfortable walking through the main hall,” Lofton said.

Some students felt that when they walked through the halls, the jam-packed hallway made them feel uneasy and it was a struggle just to get to class. This policy was put into effect for different reasons such as the excessive tardiness and to create a better setting for our students.

“I feel that there is no point to this new rule because actions that happened before this rule can still happen,” senior Ashley Wilson said.

After the policy was put into effect, some students of LC began to realize that is was a good idea from the start.

 “It’s easier to get to class. It makes our school appear more professional,” junior Markenous Matthews said.

The orange signs are a reminder that the sooner we get to class the more time we have to prepare ourselves for tests, quizzes, and notes. The No Standing Policy has improved not only the look of our school, but it’s taught the students time management.