Smoke SignalSOctober 2007 Volume 39, Issue 1PTHS

Homecoming “P-Rade” Marches to Become an Annual Affair

Photos by Julianna Paterra

ScHool SPiriT aT iTS fineST The Indians always show up on Friday nights ready to compete. Cheerleaders successfully energize the fans during home football games. Meanwhile, the senior class always displays the most school spirit. Go Indians!

Grant BurkhardtNews Editor

As if homecoming week isn’t exciting enough – with an important home football game and the dance you can go ahead and add a parade to the list of activities as well. Actually, make it a P-Rade.

The Peters Township High School Dance Team will host a Homecoming “P-Rade”(P stands for Peters) on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at Century Sports with a pep rally and a bonfire following in the high school parking lot.

The Dance Team hopes that their idea for a community parade will be a huge hit this year and in upcoming years. They want to involve clubs and sports teams who do not normally receive much publicity in the township. Many groups placed floats in the parade, including the Media Department, the senior class, and the cheerleaders. These groups hope that their hard work will pay off with an award for best float or best costumes in the judging will take place during the P-Rade.

“I think the P-Rade will be a great opportunity for the people of Peters Township to see what the student organizations are capable of at the high school”, Senior Dance Team member Alex Egan explains. “It is great that there is already so much interest from many students at the high school. [The Dance Team] hopes the P-Rade will be successful enough to be continued and made an annual event.”

In addition to the after-parade festivities, there will be an auction among the students who are present for a segment called “Servant for a Day.” Senior fall sports captains and club presidents will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and the winner will claim the rights to him or her for the next day. The servant must do whatever their “master” tells them to do, including what to wear to school. The servant must also learn a short dance routine to be performed in front of the school at the Homecoming pep rally on Friday afternoon.

Overall, the P-Rade should be a huge success. The Dance Team hopes that the fun will continue into the upcoming years, and that the P-Rade will be considered an annual event during Homecoming Week.

PeterS townShiP referenceSmoke SignalS

2October 2007PTHS

1Vegetarian Day

2Walt Disney World

opened in 1971

3 4Sputnik is

launched by the USSR, 1957

5

Varsity Football @ TJ 7:30

6

7Frappe

Day

8Colmbus Day (observed)

9 10 11Saturday Night Live Premires,

1975Girls Field Hockey

Senior Rec

12

Varsity Football vs. KO 7:30

13Homecoming

14 15I Love Lucy

Premires, 1951

16Dictionary Day

17 18Girls Soccer Senior

RecGIrls Volleyball Se-

nior Rec

19

Varsity Football @ Ambridge 7:30

20

21 22The Beach Boys released, “Good

Vibrations”, 1966

23 24 25The Microwave

oven was introduced, 1955

Dracula @ 7:00

26

Varsity Football @ Trinity 7:30

Dracula @ 7:30

27

Dracula @ 7:30

Sunday SaturdayfridayThursdayWednesdayTuesdayMonday

Samurai Sudoku

Puzzle from: http://www.clarity-media.co.uk

Samurai Sudoku is a puzzle that combines the fun of sudoku two

or more times over. For those of you who are

sudoku addicts, and for whom the challenge of one grid is not enough, samurai sudoku is ideal.

ShowSpiritAt PT football games!

Photos by: Juliana Peterra, Jordan Grabowski, and Cara Stiffler

OctOber

New Teachers Bring Life Experience to PTHSMrs. Whi te tutors u n d e r c l a s s m e n students in Integrated III during fifth period math study lab. Study labs were excellent o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r students to get extra help that they needed to boost their math scores.

Photo by Brian Lewis

Kate Ellis

Staff Writer

newSPTHS October 2007 3

Over the summer, six teachers were in-ducted into Peters Township High School’s elite faculty and staff club. They bring a wide variety of new ideas and have incredibly diversified back-grounds; some have lived out of the country, others have been in this area their entire lives.

The English Department proudly welcomed Miss Ashley Daerr and Ms. Alissa Creany. Though she was born in Fairfax, Virginia, Daerr went to kindergarten in upstate New York. After completing kindergarten, her family moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia. She later moved to Peters Township and earned her diploma in 2003. Earlier this year, she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from St. Vincent College. This is her first year teaching.

Creany has had a bit more teaching experience. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in English and Art History, Creany earned her Master of Arts Degree by teaching at Brown University. She taught in Providence, Rhode Island for three years before coming to Pennsylvania as a sabbatical fill-in at Shady Side Academy. She later moved to Greensburg to teach at Ridgeview Academy Charter School for a year before becoming a teacher here in Peters Township.

The Mathematics Department also gained two new teachers: Mrs. Veronica White and Mrs. Erin Baker. White is an incredibly well traveled individual. Born in Rochester, New York, she later moved to Greece to attend Olympia High School. She was also a part of a summer exchange program that took her to Japan for a year of high school. She earned

a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, Computer Education, and Science from Rochester Institute of Technology. She later went to Robert Morris University to gain her teaching certification.

The second of our new Math teachers is also a Robert Morris University alumna, where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Ap-plied Mathematics. Baker taught for three-and-a-half years at Langley High School before coming here. She is a graduate of Derry Area High School.

Mrs. Lindsay Polard is the newest addition to the Social Studies Department. After graduating from North Allegheny High School, she continued her education at James Madison University for Interdisciplinary Social Science and then at the University of Pittsburgh for a Masters of Arts in Teaching. Polard has also traveled to

Tasmania, Australia for her junior year of high school, London, where she spent her junior year of college, and Haiti, where she volunteers at an orphanage school.

Yet another graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Laura Tokarczyk is an assistant teacher in Mrs. Beth Bockstoce’s eighth and ninth period Spanish classes and teaches Spanish at Pleasant Valley Elementary School as part of the Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) Program. Tokarczyk grew up in Carnegie, Pennsylvania and graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in 2001. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and her Master of Arts Degree in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh. Tokarczyk studied abroad in Spain and Brazil, and was married this summer at Heinz Chapel in downtown Pittsburgh.

What In The World?

Ochi Yosuke just won a custom-made Fly-ing Finn electric guitar, worth $3400, by playing air guitar. The annual air guitar contest, this year held in Finland, brought hundreds of hopeful participants, but Jap-anese native Yosuke out-aired them all.

A young woman in Oregon was recently ar-rested and charged with the arson and bur-glary of her neighbor’s home, believing that the neighbor had stolen her keys. It wasn’t until after the police arrived that she realized they were hanging out of her pants pocket.

A McDonald’s employee in Union City, Georgia spent a night in jail for serv-ing a police officer a burger that was too salty. Talk about being a picky eater!

A couple in Beijing, China recently attempt-ed to name their child “@”. They claim that the love for their child will be echoed with the use of their email address. Their gov-ernment, however, completely disagreed. Maybe this is a sign that the world is be-coming a bit too technologically involved?

A dissatisfied Belgian voter recently tried to sell Belgium on eBay in retaliation for his country’s political crisis. He offered to have it shipped for free, but mentioned that any potential buyer would have to take on over three hundred billion dol-lars in national debt. The sale was taken down three days later, though an offer for fourteen billion dollars had been placed.

Compiled by Katie Ellis

Game Time: 35 Years and (Still) MarchingRenée Wunderlich

Co-Editor -in-Chief

The Peters Township Mighty Indian Marching Band celebrates their 35th anniversary this year, with a grad total of 184 members, made up of 146 instrumentalists, 29 band front, and 9 management staff. Those who attend the numerous festivals, parades, or even halftime shows recognize the red and white-clad group, high stepping their way through rain or shine. This is not only one of the oldest student groups in the high school, but also one of the most active. This year, the Band has already completed Rookie Camp, Home Band Camp, Away Band Camp at California University of Pennsylvania. They have also preformed at the Washington County Fair, a Wild Things game, a Kennywood parade-and they’re just getting started.

The Band is set to perform in a total of 9 football games, 4 band festivals (including their commemorative home festival), as well as make an appearance at Waynesburg College for a closeout performance.

“It’s amazing how they improve,” commented Doctor Dell, director, “Each time, the group gets a little better- and I don’t mean just musically; on and off the field, these kids have an energy.” And while today what is the largest organization in the school appears that it’s always been an immortal, driving ‘energy’, it didn’t start out that way.

The year was 1972 when music education’s own beloved instructor and conductor Dr. Robert Dell created The Mighty Indian Marching Band. Mr. Howard Jack, superintendent at the time, had come to him with what was both a daring request, yet a seemingly probable dream: to gather those worthy and willing to march in a field band. That June, 18 students showed up to practice. In a matter of days, those 18 transformed into the “Original 42”. On September 9 of that same year, the first members of the young band paraded onto the football field for their debut halftime show. The rest (with a lot

more dates, names, and performances) is history. “We’ve all been on a building cycle, especially

in the last 10 years,” states Mrs. Donna Fox, who joined the Mighty Indians in 1984 as their assistant director, “But the thing about this is that the band really bonds. These kid’s support each other on and off the field.”

The 35th anniversary pregame and halftime shows feature selections such as the theme from Superman, “Cat Scratch Fever”, and “Everybody’s Everything”.

“The music that we’re playing this year is like a time capsule; they were written during the same time the band started.” informed senior Liz Zeffiro, a co-Drum Major.

They also display some of the talents of the 2007 staff in two pieces: Mr. Jeremy Olisar (former student teacher) rearranged PTHS’s Alma Mater. The percussion feature, “Get Up to Get Down”, was written by one of the Drumline’s instructors, Mr. Dan Hervatin.

This year’s Peters Township Band Festival featured not only these fine musicians, but also the many alumni that gathered at the stadium to support the Band, and the nine other visiting marching bands who joined the Mighty Indians on the field for a mass-band playing of the patriotic piece This is My Country.

“The Festival was a big success,” said Michael Jarrett, senior and co-Drum Major, “The whole thing was a lot of work- not just for the staff, drum majors, and Doc- for everyone. But it was amazing experience. This really is a season to remember.”

Smoke Signals

Photo courtesy of the Music Department

GO FIGUREPEP RALLIES

23 VARSITY CHEERLEADERS PUIMPING UP THE CROWD

43VARSITY FOOTBALL PLAYERSPREPARING FOR THE BIG GAME

19VARSITY SOCCER PLAYERS GETTING READY TO WIN ANOTHER GAME

1425 STUDENTS PACKED IN THE GYM

88 TEACHERS SUPERVISING STUDENTS

featureSSmoke SignalS

October 2007PTHS

ThE SEniorS show up the class of 2009 by displaying their outstanding school spirit! The Class of 2008 has managed to rally together to support all school sports.

Photo by Julianna Paterra

oUTSpeak

D o U g M a r o n D e ‘ 1 1“ I think students have more common sense than to bring drugs to school.”

n a T a l i e T o S c a n o ‘ 1 0“As long as they have a probable cause before they search, I think that they will be good for the school.”

c o l i n M U l l e T ‘ 0 9 “School searches are good because they are going to stop kids that need to act like adults.”

e r i n M a T T H i S ‘ 0 8“I don’t think that they are necessary. You should trust your students and trust that they will make the right decisions.”

Students React to New Search Policy

Emily Estep

Staff Writer

On the first day of school this year, Dr. Hajzus informed all students about the changes concerning lockdowns, dog searches, and other various searches. In the event of a lockdown, students will be locked in their classrooms as lockers are searched for illegal substances, weapons, etc. During a dog search, dogs will be free to search any classroom. If they suspect something on a student, they can search that student. A company called K9 Resources, who is known as an industry leader, and as “The Pro-fessional Detection Specialists”, will provide these dog searches. Vehicles are subject to search this year as well. However, students have varying opinions on these new procedures. Some students think they are great, some think they are overdoing it, and some are simply indifferent. “I don’t think they are all that necessary, PT’s drug problem isn’t that bad,” stated sophomore Sarah Quinn. Along with a few other students, Quinn believes that if they are going to search every student’s locker during the lockdowns, the problem should be more pressing. “I don’t like that every student’s locker is searched at the same time, I feel it’s a violation of our privacy,” remarked freshman Katie Rickman. On the other hand, sophomore James Northrop comment-ed, “All of these searches are a great idea. They keep us safe.” Students who share this opinion strongly support these proce-dures because it gives them a sense of security, and it shows them that wrongdoers will not go unpunished. “The searches keep our school in line, so I support them,” Northrop said. The issue doesn’t faze many students. “I don’t really care about the searches. They don’t have anything to do with me,” said junior Charanya Kaushik. A lot of students don’t feel affected; they figure that if you don’t have anything to hide, then you have nothing to worry about. Kaushik said, “They can search me if they want, I don’t mind.” Then, there are of course there are those who are just having fun. They think that lockdowns are fun and out of the ordinary. Multiple students said that they are excited to see, and possibly pet, the dogs.

angelina nepa

Features Editor

Pep Rally Roundtable

Every month the Life and Style section will print a conversation that features students discussing a topic they care about. This month, let’s talk about those seemingly weekly pep rallies.

Tim Beck (Senior): I think it’s a shame that more people don’t participate and feel as if somehow because they’re an underclassman or not “cool” or what have you, they feel as if they don’t matter to the event, which is very untrue. Like it or hate it, you’re here for 4 years (unless you move or are stupid and drop out.)… Our school has so many more opportunities than many schools, and too many people in the school take that for granted…We need to get involved and show a little support for this building we call a prison-cell from 7:30 until 2:20 every weekday, because things could be a lot worse, trust me.

Lauren hammell (Senior): I agree with Tim, because one of the new principals came from an inner city school …So even if you absolutely hate being at the pep rallies, just suck it up and cheer when you are supposed to.

Drew Caliguiri (Junior): Tim, I agree with you one hundred percent…I hope I can speak for the junior class when I say we don’t want our fellow classmates to get offended. We come to the football games and we cheer our team, band, and cheerleaders on as much as anyone else…I am sorry we have upset you.

Byron Zajdel (Senior): Pep rallies are the biggest waste of time. Don’t get me wrong, I support our teams and show a modest display of school spirit, but the whole event is just a big charade…It’s all just a big joke.

Tim Beck (Senior): Alright Drew, I understand. My comment wasn’t directed straight at the Juniors; it’s just the school in general. I personally really like the class of 2009… So Rock on!

Tom norton (Sophomore): Of course all of the seniors are cheering, but freshmen and sophomores are too. Maybe not as much or as loud, but I think they’re doing OK. Besides, seniors will always come out on top, so you can’t expect us to be louder than them. To prove my point, notice that the freshmen won that little race thing (and were excited about it) and sophomores won the quiz thing.

Allison Kipling (Senior): I personally think that if we focus only on athletics as the source of school spirit, we’re sending the wrong message. Students should support their school in academics and extracurriculars too.

Annelyse Giovannitti (Senior): Uhhh, we’re seniors.

4

Student Searches

MA

D A

bOu

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N From gemstones to fitted suits and peep toe shoes, the trends this year are hard to keep up with. That’s where I come in to guide you through the basic Homecoming trends of the season. This year, you definitely want to go with the darker birthstone colors (or ‘gem colors’) for your dress, such as ruby and sapphire. Besides gem colors there are: olive green, metallic, sequins, animal print, an egg plant purple, black, dark brown, gray, and yellow to chose from. The strapless, high collared short dress is back from the ‘60s. I recommend wearing peep toe heels for a shorter dress. For the shorter dresses, the more attention you draw to the dress and face - and not your feet or hair - the more people look people will be looking at you. For a longer dress, you can wear flats or heels - but make sure your entire shoe isn’t showing. The less your feet are showing, the more people’s attention will be on your dress and not your feet. Going with heels for Homecoming is a smart choice, since it is a formal event. For the men, the better-fitted suit you have, the better you will feel and look. For your shoes, the ‘beetle shoe’ (which is a pointier shoe that becomes

Homecoming 2007: Fall Fashions

5PTHS October 2007featureS

Best Kept Secret - Teen Outreach Peer Education

Melanie Hoffman

Staff Writer

If you’re looking for a unique and exciting extra-curricular activity, this is perfect for you. We all know teen outreach as sex class to get you out of gym, but they’ve been running the Peer Education program out of our high school for the past few years. It offers students from the high school a chance to revisit the middle school and talk to eighth graders about decision-making, confidence, peer pressure, and so much more.

What’s so great about this program is that they ask nothing more of you than your belief that middle school students are too young to be sexually active. Students are trained to teach at the middle school and are encouraged to attend bi-weekly meetings at the district wide home of Peer Education, The Washington Hospital. Here, members of the executive board serve as peer educators, Real Talk Performers, and even newspaper writers for The Observer-Reporter’s Ask Mary Jo advice column.

Interest in Peer Education is skyrocketing with Chris Kelly and Beth Levkulich running the Peter’s program. Their enjoyment and enthusiasm for the program comes from their background of volunteer work. Kelly got involved after volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center and seeing the

despair the young women were going through. “I just thought, if only I could get involved sooner and help these girls before they get to that point,” said Kelly. She then contacted the director of The Washington Hospital’s Teen Outreach program, Mary Jo Podgurski, who helped her become active in the classroom.

“As a high school senior, I had forgotten what a middle school student’s mind set is like. Peer Ed, has given me the chance to reconnect with that age group and really make a difference,” said senior Abby Getz. “When the peer educators talk, they listen. My only regret is that I didn’t get involved with the organization sooner.”

The program allows younger teens to open up about whatever issues are bothering them, freely express any opinion, and have any question about high school life answered. Freshman Meaghan Hrzic said, “Having heard from the peer educators bettered my understanding of life at the high school and prepared me for what to expect there.” Not only is Peer Education a fun and “feel good” program, but it also looks great on college resumés.

Interested in being a peer educator? Contact Chris Kelly at ckelly@healthyteens.com

There are so many songs that it is hard to remember the names of all of them. However, in a few years that won’t be a problem. There is a website being designed that will allow you to sing to your computer and within seconds find the song that you are looking for. Sandra Bogerd, a musician and Computer Science lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, is in the midst of designing the search engine (Sing to your Computer Blog).

This website will allow you to sing part of a song to the computer and it will come up with a list of digital files. Still, voice quality is important because it will affect the results. If the v o i c e range and song lyrics are

incorrect then the results will be delayed.

“I can never remember the name of the songs, so this will be perfect”, said junior Kristina Gaudy. This will not be expensive for the user; the only purchase necessary is a computer microphone, which cost $11.99 at www.dell.com. As of right now there is no official cost to access the search engine. Be sure to look for this new music retrieval technology in the next couple years.

TecH TrenD Sing, anD YoU Will finD MUSic

BriDgeT STaSenko, STaff WriTer

The first installment of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, The Golden Compass, is a fantastic story set in an alternate universe in which all humans possess animal manifestations of their personalities, called dæmons. Readers follow Lyra, an orphan living at slightly off-kilter Oxford, and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, who can shape shift, as they thwart an assassination attempt on her uncle, Lord Asriel. As a reward, Lord Asriel allows Lyra to become privy to secret (and heretical) information that the story’s incarnation of the Catholic Church is trying to cover up, concerning vanishing children in England’s poorer districts. When Lyra’s friend Roger disappears, she enlists a group of gypsies to find her friend and embarks upon an epic journey into the North, the source of Church secrets and hidden motives.

This story’s strong suit is actually its description of life at Oxford, the streets of London and the blurry line between scientific and religious beliefs. Real-world facts blend seamlessly with entirely made up details of this alternate universe. For example, Lyra will mention electrons one moment and a tribe of mercenary polar bears the next. At one point, I sat down to finish a chapter and didn’t look up for several hours. Pullman’s simple prose and thrilling ethical battles do not just make the characters interesting. I actually started to care about Lyra, who manages to sum up the best of Hermione Granger, Nancy Drew, and Kristy from The Babysitters’ Club. Luckily for readers, the novel will be released as a movie, staring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, in December 2007. Hopefully The Golden Compass film is only the first of a trilogy of movies, as Philip Pullman’s second and third novels, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, are sure to be spectacular.

Overall opinion: Amazing, desperately need to read the sequel.

Book revieW a golDen oPPorTUniTY in THe golDen coMPaSS

angelina nePa, feaTUreS eDiTor

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41cNl4xufjL._AA280_.jpg

Mady Dietrich

Staff Writer

Pt focuSSmoke SignalS

October 2007PTHS6

Mary Irwin

Guest Writer

Nearly one hundred autumns ago a poetically inclined nomad happened upon two roads that diverged in a wood. Following a few moments of indecision among the ochre leaves, he elected to take the road less traveled. Shortly thereafter that decision was made famous in the man’s chronicle of the event, several verses named for the weed-choked and seldom trod path. “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost enchants readers now as ever; this, at least, the passage of time has not greatly manipulated. However, in recent years especially, a change of monolithic proportions has taken place. Certain elements of modern culture have rendered Frost’s “road less traveled” all but impossible to walk anymore. The first of these elements truly epitomizes America’s character. Our society thrives upon activity. It is comprised of three hundred million interminably busy people. Too many of them cannot fit a walk in the woods into their overwhelming schedules; indeed, most citizens probably do not even

care to try. The hyperactivity of modern America has destroyed man’s quest for contentment as the flood destroyed Johnstown. A preponderance of the workforce is concerned primarily with, predictably, money. Since attainment of money is the only human desire that can never be satisfied, humans seeking only material wealth can never be content. People need something of which to be proud. They need to surprise themselves every once in a while, take chances, non-conform [sic] now and again-just as Robert Frost did so poignantly. The chaos of present-day society, however, resists these ideas ever so pusillanimously. America’s collective attitude is not the only reason for the disheartening lack of interest in the “road less traveled.” Few paths mean fewer travelers, and that is the other issue currently plaguing the United States and its deteriorating sense of imagination. One cannot hope to follow in Frost’s footsteps if these footsteps have been bulldozed. Eleven and a half billion trees are destroyed annually. Sixteen billion

cubic feet of American forests are annihilated in the same length of time. Our population is expanding by thirteen percent each decade, using precious natural resources-including, of course, space on the crust. Earth is staying the same size (although her forests are not!), and places which once retained the solemn idyll of the uncivilized Earth no longer exist in any useful quantity. If these trends continue, America will become a place entirely dominated by superficiality. The idea of our nation as a polluted industrial wasteland is a dark one, and not one many citizens would care see come to fruition. If each generation keeps leaving the problem to the next, however, that bleak possibility could with frightening ease become reality. Our society, then, must do what it can do to prevent that grave future from becoming our own. Preserve the environment. Don’t unconditionally equate money with happiness. And, most importantly, never ignore instincts when they suggest the road less traveled.

Junioritis: And All Around Lack of School SpiritAlex Egan

Opinion Editor

It’s Friday night, the field lights are on, the cheerleaders are cheering, and the crowd goes WILD! Oh, wait a minute, that doesn’t sound right. Are we even allowed to have school spirit in Peters? You’d never know it by the way our student fans respond to game-winning plays, exciting stunts, and loud cheers. If you’ve ever been to a PTHS pep rally or sporting event, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Most of the lack of school spirit was proven at the August 31 and September 14 pep rallies. Now, don’t get me wrong, the Seniors have always rocked the house. But the Juniors? Come on, we all expected better from you. The Seniors were going crazy, the Sophomores were barely shouting, and the Freshmen were at least speaking (and even standing up, might I add), while the Junior class sat in silence. Juniors, you know it’s getting bad when the

The Road Not Traveled At All Anymore

Carnegie Science Center Opens BODIES...THE EXHIBITION

Freshmen are louder than you. It’s really not that hard. When the cheerleaders yell “Juniors, Juniors, what’s your cry?” All you have to do is yell “V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!” You have no idea how the Junior cheerleaders feel when their class is sitting in silence. A lot of us are really wondering… why is it so funny? “School spirit isn’t measured by our participation in pep rallies. It’s all about heart,” said junior Chris Cain. Sorry Chris, but I’m not so sure about that. If you aren’t going to cheer and show school spirit, you might as well go back to class.

“I’m actually in the process of trying to get people to participate,” stated Junior class president Dave Edmunds. “I’m on the football team, so I’m not really involved in the crowd right now. But after football season, I’ll get pretty into it.” At least now we know it’s not the entire Junior class. But in all seriousness, what’s the point of trying to act too cool to show school spirit? If you’re trying to follow the crowd and be cool, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it seems as though the cool thing to do is actually “get fired up” at pep rallies. If you’re not doing it to win the spirit stick, do it for your athletic team. They need the support.

Another bone I have to pick is about school spirit at the football games. Being

a cheerleader myself, it’s easy to say that it’s hard

Photos by Julianna Paterra

for us to really cheer the game if the crowd is just sitting there. We love cheering with the fans; the only problem is that they need to respond. Cheerleader-fan interaction has gone way downhill this year. It not only makes it hard for us to get excited, it kills the fun of the game. If you guys aren’t excited, the cheerleaders aren’t excited, which makes for a boring game. And no one wants that. So what if the game isn’t going well? Call your own chants, and make it fun. So Juniors, let’s make an effort to get over your Junioritis, and get some school spirit. Seniors, keep it up, and show the rest of Peters Township what school spirit is really about. As for everyone else, get ready for the game on Friday… we want to see some spirit out there. Let’s gooooo PT!

Name: Mary IrwinGrade: 12

Inspired to write this paper for Writing Workshop because of the superficiality in America. Born in Germany, runs cross country, indoor track, and throws shotput and discus for track. In law and government club and Model UN. Wants to go into the Army and poilitics.

Photo by Melanie hoffman

7PTHS October 2007Pt focuS

Mr. Barry WoodDirector of Dracula

The weekend before Halloween will provide thrills and fun for the entire family as the three-act vampire play “DrACULA” will be presented on the high school stage by the Thespians under the direction of Barry N. Wood. This play is the original Bela Lugosi script written by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, which was based on the world famous novel by Bram Stoker.

The play will be presented on Thursday, October 25, promptly at 7:00 p.m., and again on Friday and Saturday, October 26 & 27, promptly at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $5.00 for adults, and $3.00 for seniors and students. They will be on sale at the high school and at the door for all performances.

The cast includes Chelsea Sweeney as Miss Wells, the maid, Harrison Buzzatto as Jonathan Harker, Thomas Rauch as Dr. Seward, Eli Diamond as Abraham Van Helsing, Dan DeLuca as R. M. Renfield, James Northrop as Butterworth, Laura Zini as Lucy Seward and Edward Hardy Kern as Count Dracula. The wolf and vampire bat sounds will be provided by Candace Deyarmin, Chelsea Harmon, Natalie Palamides and Matt Smith. The Technical Director for this production is Mr. David Walsh. Assisting Mr. Barry Wood are Ben West as Assistant Director and Christine Getto as Stage Manager.

Dracula Flies In For Halloween

Carnegie Science Center Opens BODIES...THE EXHIBITIONStephanie Cotugno

Staff Writer

Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh will open the doors on October 8 to BODIES…THE EXHIBITION, its first limited display of real human bodies. Located at the SportsWorks facility in downtown Pittsburgh, the fascinating showcase will exhibit the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, nervous, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, and circulatory systems of humans along with an understanding of both the anatomy and physiology of the body. For twenty dollars per adult and thirteen dollars for children, the must-see showcase of cadavers invites all visitors to experience the unique opportunity to see the inner workings of the human body through preserved specimens. The display is appropriate for all ages, but it is recommended for children to attend with a parent or teacher for guidance. The public will also be able to see how cancer and various diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s affect the human body as the display also addresses disease prevention and the advances of modern medicine. Medical students and practitioners have come together to create an exhibit that will help to inspire individuals to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

The goal of BODIES is to educate all visitors in life long lessons including the dangers of smoking and the benefits of healthy diets. “I think showing the effects of what bad habits do to the human body will help stop people from doing them. Seeing a brown lung from smoking will definitely stop me from smoking,” stated freshman Patrick Flaherty. The display also will exhibit the effects of lung cancer, breast cancer, obesity, and colon cancer as the creators want the public to have an understanding of the common diseases in modern day society.

“I loved going to the cadaver lab when I went on a field trip with Mrs. Gunther’s Anatomy and Physiology class last year. I can’t wait to visit the exhibit at SportsWorks,” said junior Amanda Wylie. The exhibit is home to 15 preserved cadavers that were obtained and preserved at Dalian Medical University in the People’s Republic of China. The bodies were preserved through a process called polymer preservation where the tissue is removed and replaced with silicone rubber. The end result is a rubberized specimen that can last up to a decade. The preservation process of a human body could take up to a year to complete, but preservation of human organs take as a little as a week.

Did You Know?Fun Facts About the human Body!• A human being loses between 40 to 100

strands of hair a day.

• It takes about 6 months for the nail on a finger or toe to grow from the base to the tip.

• Fingernails grow faster than toenails.

• It takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown.

• Every square inch of the human body has an average of 32 million bacterias on it.

• Humans shed 600,000 particles of skin every hour.

• Lungs are the only organ in the human body that can float on water.

• The heart circulates the body’s blood supply 1,000 times a day.

Andrea BriggsSyntax Editor

“Buenos Días: Elementary Students Expand Their Horizons”

Count Dracula, freshman Hardy Kern, and Lucy, senior Laura Zini, pose for a publicity photo. Dracula premieresThursday, Oct. 25 in the auditorium.

Phot

o by

Bar

ry W

ood

Peters Township School District is now offering foreign language

education in the elementary schools, as well as changing the programs in the middle school. The high school has always offered world language courses, ranging in difficulty from Level I through Advanced Placement classes. In the middle school, most seventh graders took Foreign Language Exploratory (FLEX) and had nine weeks of each German, Spanish, and French, as well as nine weeks of learning the roots of language. The following year they would select one of those languages and pursue it in Level I. Now the FLEX program is being moved to McMurray Elementary. The sixth graders will take that program, and the Level I curriculum in the language of their choice will be spread over the two years in the middle school. “Spreading out the Level I curriculum will help give the students a better foundation of the language,” said Mrs. Beth Bockstoce, one of four Spanish teachers at the high school.

Sometimes there just isn’t enough time during one school year to teach all of the material covered in Level I, so using the entire middle school experience to begin the study of either German, Spanish or French is beneficial to students. In turn, this will affect the high school classes, making them more rigorous and in-depth. “If I had been taught Spanish in the first and second grades, it would have given me a jump-start and helped me learn the language at a faster rate,” remarked junior, Taylor Miller. This year’s batch of first and second graders will have the opportunity that he missed. Mr. Robert DiBiase and Mrs. Laura Tokarczyk will be teaching Pleasant Valley and Bower Hill elementary students basic Spanish to help prepare them for their coming years in McMurray and beyond. “For the younger kids, we’re not out to make Spanish speakers. The goal of the program is to help give them the skills to learn a language, and then apply that to the language they ultimately end up choosing to learn,” Mrs. Bockstoce commented on the Foreign Language in Elementary School (FLES) program. Starting the world languages program earlier will also open them up to different cultures, because as of now FLEX and Level I students are just getting a brief overview of the various countries and their traditions.

oPinionSmoke SignalS

PTHSOctober 20078

Victoria Beckham because she seems cool and is pretty good looking to boot.

Taking a shower, shaving if needed, putting on a suit, and going to pick up your date.

Some photos are fine, maybe a few pictures for the parents to remember the occasion, but photos don’t need to take all day.

George Clooney because he is downright the sexiest man alive.

Weeks of preparation. Buy the dress, find the shoes, get the accesso-ries, make a hair appointment, get the manicure, pedicure, etc. Liter-

ally the whole day is devoted to getting dolled up for the dance. Oh the things we do for you boys.

To be honest, I love having my picture taken so it really doesn’t bother me. However, I DO think it takes a little long. I’m all for the memories,

but picture time should be cut down just a tad

Are Homecoming pictures necessary?

“I talk to some people religiously over Instant Messenger, but then they avoid me during school. I don’t understand it,” explains sophomore Danielle Dolcich. This appears to be a blossom-ing problem among students throughout society, neglecting to realize the entire system is a joke. Students fail to realize technology has taken over their lives in an unpleasant manner, forcing them to become less personable and more apathetic towards honest communication. Observing the four-minute pass time between classes, various students whip out their cell phones, sending a quick text to their friends, which could provide for a detention. Risky? Of course. Impossible? Not so much.

More and more, individuals are develop-ing a strong dependence on technology, which could negatively impact our developing society worldwide. Obviously, some methods of prompt communication prove to be efficient - texting, quick Facebook posts,instant messages - but do these approaches produce more unfavorable effects than favorable? Masses of today’s teens tend to act completely different when approached face-to-face, unable to talk about topics easily addressed over a text. The body of the community seems to worship their cellular devices. This can be clearly seen with traffic accidents occurring from these distractions regularly, according to a recent study by CNN. Putting the health issues, such as cases of terminal cancer and hearing loss to the side (CNN) people still want more. They have a growing need for easier, quicker, more impersonal communication. So login to Myspace, change your ringback tone, and let the colorless conversations flow.

From screaming fans to pumped performers, Battle of the Bands is one event no one wants to miss out on. Peters Township High School is hosting two Battle of the Bands this year, one will be held on October 4th and the other in November. On October 4th, a Christian organization called Campus Life will be hosting a Battle of the Bands in the cafeteria from 6:30-10:00. Tickets for the event have been on sale since mid September for $5 but will be available to eager fans for $8 in the cafeteria the night of the event. After one has paid or shown their pre-purchased ticket, their hand will be stamped so that they can leave and re-enter the cafeteria without charge. All profits from the event go to paying off the facility rental, sound crew, and the cash prizes for the band. Any additional money goes towards the Battle of the Bands next year. Along with the battling bands, such as “Pita” and “The Marauders”, last year’s winning band “Outcried Dilemma” is returning from college as the headlining band to close for the show. “I can’t wait to go see some of my friends and classmates play. It’s awesome to be a part of someone’s passion,” said sophomore Haley Gerritsen, a supportive fan of “Outcried Dilemma.” Being that this is the third year Campus Life is holding a Battle of the Bands, the crowd turnout is supposed to be larger than last year. Yearly, the number of fans has increased. This year’s crowd is estimated to be around 400-500 students, as compared to the first year where there were 350 attendants. “I think Campus Life promoted the event a lot more this year. Last year I didn’t hear too

Ask when both of you are alone and together, not over the phone or any funny business like that.

Be yourself, and don’t act nervous. Always ask in person; over the internet and on the phone is not going to fly. Be creative. My date wrote

“Homecoming!” all over my car. It was so cute.

What does getting ready for Homecoming consist of?

If you could take anyone to Homecoming, who would it be and why?

What is the best way to ask/be asked to Homecoming?

SHE SAIDAlex Egan

HE SAIDBrian Lewis

Battle of the Bands to Rock PT

much about Battle of the Bands, as compared to this year where it has come up in a few conversations,” said Julianne Taylor, a sophomore. The band that steals the crowds’ hearts this year will not only walk away winning a cash prize but will have the chance to play in the second round of the Campus Life Battle of the Bands. On December 28th, the winning bands from Peters Township, South Park, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, Bethel Park, and Moon Township will battle it out in the Bethel Park Community Center to be the ultimate winner of Battle of the Bands. So come prepared to support your favorite band this year and help them have the chance to compete in the next round.

Technology- the New Religion

Stephanie Nitschmann

Staff Writer Gina Nepa

Staff Writer

2007 Battle of the Bands Champion, the Marauders. Lead vocalist senior Tim Beck is ac-companied by senior guitarist Mike Jarrett and junior base Keith Quinn. Ride of Your Life rocked the judges to award the band first place.

Photo by Liz Cronin

9October 2007 PTHS

oPinion

Smoke SignalSSmoke Signals is produced eight times during a school year by the

students of Media II, III, IV Journalism and extracurricular staff at

Peters Towship High School, 264 E. McMurray Road, McMurray PA

15317. Telephone: 724-941-6250 x.5379. E-mail: sitlern@pt-sd.org.

Commentaries, reviews, and opinion columns are the expressed opinion

of the author and not of Smoke Signals, its advisor or the Peters Township

School District. Member of the Pennsylvania School Press Association.

eDiTor in cHiefashley czajkowskirenée Wunderlich

laYoUT eDiTorkatie gavlick

neWS eDiTorgrant Burkhardt

feaTUreS eDiTorangelina nepa

oPinion eDiTorSalex egan

Brian lewis

SPorTS eDiTorBill Berry

Jordan DentMarkeTing eDiTorS

Brianna lutesShelby Miller

STaff WriTerSandrea Briggs, emily estep, gina nepa,

Taylor relich, Bridget Stasenko, katie ellis, averi clements, Paige Burris, Mady Dietrich, Stephanie nitschmann, Stephanie cotugno, ian Jackson, Dana

Hoelle, Melanie Hoffman, Brendan Sikora

laYoUT TeaMkatie gavlick, kaylin Zawicki, emily correal, Shelby

Miller, Brianna lutes

aDviSer

Why is it that our school sells one of the most expensive lunches in the area? It seems outrageous to me that I can go over to Mt. Lebanon HS and get a basic lunch for $1.50 when here I have to pay $1.85. It is the exact same food that all students like to joke about; with the rubber burgers and the unidentifiable roast beef in gravy. There is no reason why I should be forced to fork over an extra $.35. This problem is not just with Mt. Lebanon. At Upper St. Clair HS, their grill lunch costs $2.40 while the super premium lunch, similar to our Panini’s, runs for $3.10. Canon Mac HS only pays a $1.50 for their basic lunch while their grill is $2.00, a full $.50 cheaper than our grill here. Last year our prices were already higher than almost every school in the surrounding area, and now they have risen even further. Even our beloved snack bar is not safe from the clutches of price rising with various items being increased a good $.05 to $.10 on average.

An additional problem with these price increases is the fact that lunches are not getting any bigger. If anything, portions are getting smaller and everyone is being forced to bring extra money to get snacks, or bring food from home to satisfy the voracious appetites of high school students. These problems also begin to make long time favored lunches like the Bronco Burger seem less appetizing. Early last year, the cafeteria changed the Bronco Burger patties from their usual patty to the two patties one can find in a double cheeseburger at the grill. Now students are essentially paying an extra $.75 for a unique bun and the chance to get baked potato chips as opposed to french fries. It seems like it would be a better idea to just get the french fries and save money for cookies. This price gouging almost seems as if they are trying to make students eat healthy by forcing them to bring their lunch or to only buy the salad bar or deli line. Maybe if students finally did stop buying lunches people would stand up and take notice of this problem.

Banning E-mail Access Hurts Students Food for the Wrong Price

Fishtank: Pep RalliesRenée Wuderlich

Ashley Czajkowski

Co-Editor-in-ChiefBrian Lewis

Opinion Co-Editor

Students returned to school only to find yet another website blocked: their e-mail. An important tool for relaying assignments from one’s house to the school virtually disappeared over night. With floppy disks becoming less practical, and burning CDs at school uncommon for those not in a media class, students are plagued with either purchasing a flash drive or hoping they can finish their assignment at the place they started. Even this, however, may prove unrealistic considering the district tech policy bans any “removable storage device or CD/DVD…that has not been properly scanned for viruses or authorized for use by a teacher/administrator”.

E-mail provides a convenient link from home to the school for transferring documents, pictures, etc. It was eliminated from our computer access due to the ever-dominating tech policy that seems to be blocking, well, everything, to say the least. To an extent, it is understandable as to why

this blocking occurs since spamming has become increasingly problematic. Spam blockers are available, though. They are used on sites students blog within the school; why not use them for e-mail?

The school computers can be monitored throughout

the office by the technology department. Administrators have access to see when students log in, what websites are accessed, and even what students are adding to their desktop. With virtually every aspect under surveillance, why can’t students use their e-mail?

If it were being used for the wrong reasons, wouldn’t the office be able to see it happening? It doesn’t make sense to limit something as vital as e-mail when everything is already strictly supervised on computers. In contrast, this could be resolved by creating student e-mail accounts. These could be used for school purposes and accessed both at home and at school. Until then, banning e-mail stands as an

“”

Eliminated from our computer access due

to the ever-dominating tech policy that seems

to be blocking, well, everything, to say the

least.

Photo by Katie Gavlick

Junior Dana Hoelle is upset about not being able to access her e-mail at school. Many students depend on e-mail access to transfer and complete assignments and were disappointed that major e-mail websites were blocked this school year.

SportSSmoke SignalS

10

ian

Lady Indians Golf Team Swings into the New Season

PT Football on the Warpath

Extra TaYlor

00 00

What is the best conference in college football?

Tr:There’s no doubt in my mind that the best teams to watch in college football are in the South-eastern Conference. 6 teams out of the top 25 in col-lege football are SEC teams according to the Asso-ciated Press poll. Aside from the rankings, the SEC has some of the most intimidating venues in the coun-try, including LSU’s Tiger Stadium and Alabama’s Bryant Denny Stadium. The SEC has the most com-petitive teams, and the most enthusiastic fans too. IJ: I think that the Pac-10 is the strongest confer-ence this season. They have UCLA, Oregon, USC, Cal, Oregon State, and Arizona State. They have the num-ber one team, USC. Plus, they have three other ranked teams in #6 Cal, #11 Oregon, and #23 Arizona State. UCLA has also started the season off 3-1. USC has a tough place to play and so does UCLA. The PAC-10 might not have the history that some of the stadiums you named have, but they still have some great crowds. Tr:The PAC-10 is a good conference, but its not as good as the SEC, because one team wins the con-ference every year. The SEC has had six different con-ference champions in the last ten years. The SEC also has a national championship contender this year, LSU, so they got that working for them, which is nice. The reason the SEC is the better conference is the overall caliber of football played and the intense competition. IJ: It isn’t the Pac10’s fault that they have the most dominant team in college football. USC would win any con-ference, any year. The PAC-10 has 4 teams in the top 25 after 5 games, and two of the top three teams. The SEC may be a little stronger all the way down the standings, but the Pac10 is stronger at the top. Auburn crushed Florida by the way. Tr:By the way, LSU is number one in the nation now, according to the AP poll. Your point about the PAC-10 being stronger at the top, who cares! A confer-ence is measured by how good all the teams are not just the top two. The PAC-10 has 4 good teams but they also have 4 really bad teams: Stanford, Washing-ton, Washington State, and oregon State. The fact that Auburn crushed Florida just supports my argument. in the SEC, any team can beat any other team any giv-en Saturday. That’s what makes a conference great. IJ: What are you talking about? Oregon State is not terrible. Maybe they aren’t their best this year, but they have a really solid program. Washington is on the way up too. The Pac10 is getting better and better each season. Stanford even has some things going for them, Walt Harris will defi-nitely turn that program around even if it takes a few years.

Cheaters Never WinBill Berry

Co-Sports Editor

Cheating and steroids have tarnished the credibility of sports, in the minds of many. As long as players and coaches have a desire to win, they will continue to cheat. No one knows who is cheating, but as time goes by, more and more cases will be revealed. Cheating has always been a part of sports, but it seems that cheating is more prevalent now than ever. Football, baseball, and basketball have been clouded by accusations of cheating.

In September, the New England Patriots were accused of cheating by New York Jets’ head coach, Eric Mangini. He claimed they were using video equipment to steal their defensive signals. It was not the first time Patriots’ coach, Bill Bilichick, has been accused of this. The Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, and the Detroit Lions have all made similar claims. However, it was the first time there was video evidence. NFL commissioner,

Roger Goodell fined Bilichick $500,000, and also imposed a $250,000 fine on the organization and he will take away their first pick in the 2008 draft if they make the playoffs.

Football is not alone; Major League Baseball may be the sport with the most steroid woes. Some of its biggest stars over the past 10 years are currently involved in an ongoing steroid investigation by the United States Congress. Players such as Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and most troubling, the home run king, Barry Bonds, have all drawn intense speculation from fans and other players. In his book, Juiced, José Canseco claims he supplied steroids to some of MLB’s biggest stars. Since then, baseball has attempted to get a grip on steroids but has had little success as there is not test for the steroid, HGH.

The most shocking case of cheating is that of

former NBA referee Tim Donaghey. Donaghey, a veteran NBA referee was involved with organized crime. He shaved points off the game to help give his associates inside information on games. When he was correct Donaghey received a cut of the profit and continued to disgrace the game. His crimes were brought to the NBA by the FBI, who was investigating the crime ring. Commissioner David Stern insists Donaghey acted alone, but many question whether or not he did.

Cheating is not new to sports. Many high profile athletes have had their own cheating scandals. Wayne Gretzky and Lance Armstrong have been caught up in different investigations, but both remain clean. Others such as Pete Rose have been banished by the game that once embraced them. Cheating is a thing of the past, present, and future and will continue to take place until fans take action.

Taylor Relich

Staff Writer

Nick Milchovich’s first year as head coach of the varsity football team hasn’t started spectacularly, but the Indians have big expectations for what others already consider to be a rebuilding year. Along with Coach Milchovich, the Indians have hired several new coaches, such as T.J. Plack (offensive coordinator) and Jeff Lowden (defensive coordinator).

“If we can overcome the mental barriers that have hung over this program, we can be successful,” said Milchovich. He also mentioned that the staff has high expectations for this team and that their main goals are to contend for the Big 7 Conference title and make the WPIAL playoffs. These goals will not be easily achieved, though; the Indians have four of their last six games away, and five of their last six against conference opponents. The Indians have struggled in their first four games at home, beating Laurel Highlands, but losing to

Pine Richland, Chartiers Valley, and West Mifflin. “Our team just needs to get healthy

again,” said quarterback Tyler Porco. The offense has had some difficulty scoring without starting tailback Nick Fazio, who has been suffering from an ankle injury. The defense also has not been up to par, giving up 114 points in the first four games. The Indians also have two injured starters on defense: Mike Allen, whose injury status is week to week, and Alex Smith, who suffered a concussion earlier this year but should be back soon. At this point, the football team’s playoff hopes rest on their last five games. Conference games in front of the Indians against Elizabeth Forward, Thomas Jefferson, Keystone Oaks, and Trinity will all be “must-win” games. For the Indians to make the playoffs, they will need an inspired effort from the whole team on both sides of the ball.

Averi Clements

Staff Writer

The Lady Indians Golf team possesses what is possibly the best record of any sports team in Peters Township. They were undefeated in 2006, and after six matches this year, their record remains perfect. They won their invitational this year, defeating Blackhawk by two strokes. Sophomore Jessy Parham even received the honor of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Junior Golf Tour’s female player of the year award in 2006, beating out girls from ages 14 to 17 in her division. “That was great and everything, but I think that my biggest accomplishment was that I shot a score of 34 [strokes] this year,” recalled Parham.

“A lot of people don’t realize just how much [a first birdie] can mean to a golfer. That’s huge progress, and it really makes you proud to know that all your hard work is paying off,” said sophomore Elizabeth Hammell. Hammell’s progress makes the sport even more enjoyable for her. “It’s something that you’re going to do your whole life. You don’t really get to play basketball or football too much after you finish high school, but a bunch of people go out to play golf on the weekends all the time,” she said. The girls find that the social aspects of the sport are just as enjoyable as the physical work. The players

are all friends with each other, and it makes the sport even more pleasant for them. The team seemed to overcome the physical and mental challenges of the sport when they defeated their rival, Mount Lebanon, during a recent match. The score was 184 to 194. “That was huge for us,” said senior Lauren Hammell. “It really showed everyone exactly what the team is made of. Make sure you watch out, because these Lady Indians are going all the way to WPIALs this year.” The Lady Indians’ future is looking bright, as they have a lot of young talent that is sure to carry on the team’s legacy.

ian PointJackSon relicH

October 2007

“I like the style that he brings to this team, and I think he will fit into our system perfectly. He really understands what we are trying to do here,” said senior forward Shane Pruitt. Partyka is a high scoring midfielder, who likes to attack and specializes in making long cross passes across the field.

Last year, Cody Partyka was another solid Peters Township Soccer player, but this season he is a star on the varsity boys’s soccer team. Partyka has played the game of soccer since age four. He has starred for Cup teams, Beadling and Penn’s Forest. He led the latter to a great season last year, including a huge win over local rival Century United.

As of 9-27-07, Partyka has assisted one goal and added three more of his own this season with the Indians. He scored two of his goals in a stellar performance against rival Upper St. Clair. He is a valuable asset playing alongside great Indian’s players such as Shane Pruitt, Pat Russo, Mark Majoras, Greg Weimer, Tim Hutchins, and Nick Wilcox. They have led the team to a fast start with a 6-1 record, as of 9-27-07. The varsity team also boasts a deep bench that includes players such as, Chris Beck, Ben Peterson, Ryan Matthews, and TJ Stipanovich. With those players assisting Partyka in taking on the bulk of the workload, this is going to be a really exciting season. Hopefully, that will culminate to another trip to the WPIAL finals, where the team lost to Bethel Park last season.

11PTHS SportS

12-1 record 1-0Win at home against Chartiers ValleyPlay at C.V. on 10/11

12-0 recordThey finish their season on 10/15 against Upper St. Clair 13-0 win at Trinity

3-2-1 recordTied Lebo 1-1 on 9/2Big game at Lebo on 10/16 in sea-son finale

Boys: 1-4 recordTough 29-28 loss to USC on 9/25Finishes season at Lebo on 10/2Girls: 6-0 recordHave dominated all opponentsFinishes their great season on 10/2 at Lebo

2-10 recordBig win against Chartiers Vally 10/02Senior rec season ender 10/18 vs USC

9-2 recordPulled out a four stroke lead against rival Canon Mac on 9/20Finish up their season on 10/11 against McGuffey

8-0 recordThey have been a WPIAL contender.

2-3 recordBig senior rec win against Elizabeth Forward on 9/28Finshes the season 10/26 at Trinity

SPORTS BRIEFS

Boys Soccer

Girls Soccer

Field Hockey

Girls Volleyball

Boys Golf

Girls Golf

Soccer Profile: #20 Cody PartykaSoccer Team Ready for Another Fine Season

Girls Tennis: Back in Full Swing

ian Jackson

Staff Writer

Jordan Dent

Co-Sports Editor

“I think our team has the talent to beat anybody, but we have every team coming after us. It’s not easy being the best,” Partyka confidently stated, “but we are, and we’ll probably win a lot of games this season.”

Cross Country

Even without their US-Open qualifier, junior Ali Riske, the girls tennis team is proving itself worthy of winning a second consecutive state title. Last year, the girls traveled to Hershey to win their first title ever. With a 7-0 section record (8-1 overall), they are looking to go back this year in pursuit of another victory.

The team consists of five seniors - a few of whom hope to pursue their tennis careers in college - three juniors, eight sophomores, and eight freshmen. They are a tightly knit crew who, despite being under pressure to win and play up to last years’ standards, still find time to be great friends. “Bus rides are definitely the best part of a match,” said senior Emily Palko, “Between stuffing our faces with food and listening to Julie Stroyne rap, we have a pretty good time.” Many of this years’ seniors have played together since elementary school, so this year has a major impact on them. “We just want to make this year count. For the seniors last year, winning

WPIALS was the best moment of their tennis careers. We’re looking to do the same,” Palko said.

On September 14, the team traveled to Upper St. Clair to play their most anticipated match of the season. Like many PT sports, the girls consider the Panthers to be their biggest rival. Despite the loss, the girls have decided that they won’t let a small bump upset their entire season. “We can’t let one loss get in the way of our goal,” stated Palko, assuring that at their next meeting, the Indians would come back with a new sense of confidence and

attitude. The teams are scheduled to play again on October 2nd.

With expectations such as winning section, and going back to the state tournament, the team’s mindset could be summarized in one word: determination. Just from watching the girls play, anyone can tell they are completely focused on one common goal, and that is to win. These girls have proven that victory is a team effort, that it takes more than one player to win a match, and that twenty-four players can combine having fun and staying disciplined to reach their ending objective.

AS oF SEPTEMBEr 27, 2007 #20 Cody Partyka playing tight defense against Norwin’s #23. The game was full of tight defense as the teams would play to a 0-0 tie.

Sophomore Julie Stroyne takes a swing during a match. Their competitive drive s a major factor in their victories.

Football

October 2007October 2007

Photo by Heidi Eltschlager

Photo by Dave DeBee

12VoiceS in the hall

Smoke SignalSPTHS October 2007

What is your most embarrasing moment?

Kayla Graninger ‘11“I was playing soccer and my pants fell to my ankles …I didn’t even notice at first!”

“During summer gym Tyler Sheetz kicked a soccer ball right in my face”

Mike Glod ‘10 Charles Murray ‘08I did a total “Charlie Brown”...I tried to kick a bottle, but missed and landed on straight on my back

Katie Lynam ‘09“I knocked over the wall in Mr. Kuhn’s room last year during American History”

Describe your dream date.

“I would go to a romantic dinner then a moonlit stroll on the beach.”

Katie Fife ‘10

“Definitely a Dave Mathews Band Concert with Jennifer Aniston”

Jack Hareza ‘09

“Sky diving with Angelina Jolie!”

Cameron Kasaraie ‘11

“I’d date the Tooth fairy for her endless amount of cash.”

Jim Ryder ‘08

What the teachers have to say...“

“During a 4th grade basketball game I made a beautiful shot ...into the opponent’s net.”

Mr. Sussman

“With Patrick Dempsey…on an island in the South Seas …far far away.”

Mrs. Stevenson“I had Perfect Attendance in high school, and missed the day I was supposed to receive the award.”

Mr. Walsh

“Dane Cook, definitely Dane Cook.”

Ms. O’Connor

Chase Wickerham ‘09 What is your favorite scary movie? - halloweenWhat is your favorite costume? - PedestrianWhere is the best place to Trick or Treat? - Quail runhow do you dress your pumpkin? - Carve a Colonel Sanders

Meredith Celko ‘09What is your favorite scary movie? - Willie Wonka and the Chocolate FactoryWhat is your favorite costume? - Pixie Fairyhow do you dress up? - Wear tons of make-up and crazy costumes

The PT Minute