Students “Sound-Off” on Snow Days

2/10/2011

Due to unbelievable amounts of ice, frigid temperatures, and widespread power outages, Neoga High School students have seen a few more snow days than expected this winter. They reacted in various ways to the recent inclement weather and its effects on their education.

“It was a great time to study and relax.”
“People need to learn to drive on ice, eventually.”
“I thought it was great – like a mini-vacation!”
“I got sick of staying home every day without being able to leave.”
“I was really bored and actually wanted to come to school.”

Neoga School Spirit Award

By Alex Harvey
2/10/2011

It’s that time of year again! It’s time for the faculty to choose the winner of Neoga High School’s Spirit Award! However, not just anyone can win this award. To start, you must be a senior this year. Next, of course, is how you show your school spirit, and go beyond the “call of duty” in your life. You should be well rounded-not just in academics, but in sports programs and the community as well.

Furthermore, the winner should show kindness, unselfishness, and should illustrate a positive attitude. The winner should be involved in the community, and active in clubs. With all of these factors considered, our faculty members have chosen three seniors that they feel best fits this award, and would like to thank and congratulate the one that they feel stands out above the rest with his or her achievements.

The votes are in, and congratulations Tyler Pikowski! For upcoming seniors, just remember, this isn’t an award based solely on athletic achievement -- there are other important factors involved. So, good luck to our 2011-2012 seniors!

Neoga Band Holds Christmas Concert

by Becca Warfel

1/13/2011

Sleigh bells were jingling in the Neoga High School gym last month as the school’s band performed at their annual Christmas concert. After tirelessly rehearsing for several months, the students played for their teachers, families, and friends a varied selection of Christmas contemporaries and classics. Songs played by the jazz band included “Big Mamma Cass”, “O Christmas Tree”, and “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, followed by the junior high band with “Happy Christmas Holidays”, “Minka’s Sleigh Ride”, and “The Christmas Machine”. Lastly, the high school band performed the songs “Christmas at the Movies,” “Sleigh Ride”, and “On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss”. The concert on the 19^th was also the last Christmas concert to be conducted by Neoga band teacher, Mr. Doug McClure, as he will be retiring at the end of the year.

Kid day

by Kendra Schooley

12/22/10

Recently, Mrs. Schafer’s Child Development class had “Kid Day.” This event is somewhat like a daycare for half a school day. There were planned activities, arts and crafts, nutritional snacks, and story time with Mrs. Ludwig. Also, there was a surprise visit from Tigger (played by NHS’s own Paul Frailey).

The point of having Kid Day was for the students to have a chance to observe children using their motor skills. Also, it provides “real-world” examples of what the students have learned in the classroom. Mrs. Schafer summed up her class’s outlook on Kid Day: “It was fun, but exhausting.”

Student of the Month

by Kendra Schooley

12-9-10

Each month at Neoga High School, a committee chooses the “Student of the Month.” In order to be nominated, the student must be in good academic standing, be involved in the school and community, and be an overall positive example to the students of the school. This December, Natalie Walk was the recipient of this award. Congratulations on your achievement, Natalie!

Poetry Club CD

by Allyssa Becker
12/22/2010

The Poetry Club is starting its annual “Nobody’s Fool” CD project. The club had auditions on December 1, and had a great turn out with some familiar faces along with some new ones. The five genres that were selected by the students were: Indie, Rap/Funk, Metal, and Goth. The audition list included some of the most popular song choices from these various genres. The students are working to get the project done in a timely manner and hope to do their finest. In fact, the musicians have already begun writing and rehearsing material for this project. Although a release date has not yet been set, the Poetry Club hopes to have the album finished in Spring 2011.

Mom with a Message

By Alex Harvey

12/22/2010

On average, someone in the U.S. is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes. Altamont mom, Teresa Rogers, learned this in an unforgettable way.

NJSH students were visited on November 24^th, 2010, by this local mother and heard her very important message: Drunk driving kills. The name of her presentation was “Mom with a Message.” She told the students of her experience with drunk driving, and the tragedies that it inflicted on her family, friends, and life, in general.

When Roy Dean Rogers III, her son, went driving on a late night in October, it was his last. He was hit head on in a collision involving a drunk motorist, thus ending his life. He died in a crash that occurred on US 45.

There are many steps we can take to avoid tragedies such as this. If you are drunk, don’t drive. Have another, sober, person take you home, call a cab, or use public transportation. Or, simply don’t drink! In 2006, there were 17,941 driving fatalities related to alcohol. This was 41 percent of the total 43,000 fatalities. By avoiding alcohol altogether, this number can be greatly reduced.