december rampage
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The RAMpage is hereTRANSCRIPT
Inside this Issue
Teacher of the Year
Fall semester wrap-up
A look ahead at
Spring sports
EIC Recap
Student Spotlight
Study tips for finals
College Acceptance
Music Reviews
Gift Guides
Beautiful U
Youth Leadership
DeKalb
Arabia Wins Award
Holiday Poll Results
Once Upon a RAM:
The RAMpage’s new
fiction section!
Reader Feedback
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in class,
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Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
By Jaila Lyons
The Teacher of the Year
Arabia Mountain High
School’s 2011-2012 teacher
of the year considers herself
to be an unconventional
educator.
Chef Harris feels her
way of teaching is totally
different from other teachers
because she “loves hard,”
meaning she uses a tough
love approach. She believes
her nomination is due to the
passion she has for culinary
and for children.
She has 23 years of
teaching experience,
including 16 years in
Cleveland, Ohio and 7 years
in DeKalb County.
Chef Harris began her
career in the food service
industry. She didn’t intend to
be a teacher but always
wanted to make a
difference and help people.
A very inspirational person in
her life suggested that she
go into teaching, which
made her reconsider.
Harris has a bachelor’s
degree from the University of
Akron in Ohio, a master’s
degree in education from
Cambridge College in
Massachusetts, and is
currently working towards an
educational specialist
degree from Argosy
University in Sarasota.
Her favorite teaching memory is “Watching a
young man who was destined to fail thrive, graduate
from high school, go to prison, redirect himself and
through it all, graduate from College.” This young man
is now 34 years old and she is still in tough with him.
Chef Harris believes that Arabia has “some of the
best students in DeKalb County and the faculty is top
notch.” She likes the accelerated program here as it is
truly preparing the students for college.
Her favorite AMHS memory is placing third in
DeKalb County’s “Iron Chef” annual competition last
year. She plans to win this year.
If Chef Harris had not been inspired to teach, she
would be a counselor because “I love to help people
and allowing them to talk and have a listening ear is
vital for young people.”
Chef Harris knows she “loves hard,” but she truly loves
her “babies!”
“Watching, listening, and helping to guide young
adults is the catalyst of my teaching career.”
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
And the Runners Up Were…
Mrs. Harper by Laura Hill
“Although she’s not sure, Mrs. Harper thinks her
“passion for education” and “dedication to the
success of [her] students” were the reasons she was
nominated for teacher of the year.
Upon graduating from both the University of
Georgia and Kennesaw State University, Mrs. Harper
began her teaching career at McNair High School,
where she stayed until coming to Arabia Mountain in
2009. She currently teaches biology, AP biology, and
human anatomy.
The thing Mrs. Harper loves most about our school, besides her awesome students, is
the location. “I love being able to look out my window and just see all the trees!” she said.
Her favorite teaching moments were going to graduation and seeing the students she
taught walking across the stage.
If she wasn’t a teacher, she would be a food critic. She loves to cook and loves to
eat. Hopefully one day she’ll share that other talent of with her wonderful students!
Mr. Burr by Raashida Howard and Shanakay Watson
“I was just lucky,” Mr. Burr says about his second
consecutive nomination for teacher of the year.
Mr. Burr attended Marshall University in West Virginia.
After leaving MU, he began his career as a teacher. He
moved to California to teach before coming to Georgia
twelve years ago. “I love to move around a lot,” says Burr. He
doesn’t like to sit still, so pursuing a career as a teacher was
the perfect job for him to stay up on his feet helping students.
He also wanted to be a teacher so he can get the holidays
and summers off.
Although he’s teaching chemistry for the second year
at Arabia Mountain High School, in 2009, when the school
opened, he taught English. “I like being able to work with the
best students in the country,” said Burr when asked what he
loves about Arabia Mountain High School. If he wasn’t a
teacher, Burr thinks he would probably be a coal miner.
His favorite memory of teaching was when one of his students
said “I want to be a teacher because you inspired me."
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Mrs. Davis by Shanakay Watson and Raashida Howard
You know her as the teacher who told you to tuck your shirt in and followed
you around the hall until you did. That persistence is what Mrs. Davis believes
earned her a nomination for teacher of the year.
Mrs. Davis has been a dedicated teacher for nine years now. She started
working as a teacher at Martin Luther King High School and then landed a
job as the department chair for social studies at Arabia Mountain High
School where she currently teaches AP American History.
Inspired by the teachers she had growing up, Mrs. Davis studied education
at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She participates in many
activities with students and helps them in any way she can.
“I love the team work,” said Mrs. Davis when asked what she loves about
Arabia. Her favorite memory of teaching was seeing the smile on a student’s
face after earning a B in her class. The fact that he never gave up even
though he was struggling made her feel honored. If she was not a teacher,
she’d be an accountant in a corporate office.
Inspired by the teachers she had growing up, Mrs. Davis studied education at Agnes Scott
College in Decatur, Georgia. She participates in many activities with students and helps them in
any way she can.
“I love the team work,” said Mrs. Davis when asked what she loves about Arabia. Her
favorite memory of teaching was seeing the smile on a student’s face after earning a B in her
class. The fact that he never gave up even though he was struggling made her feel honored. If
she was not a teacher, she’d be an accountant in a corporate office.
High School Drama
Sophomores Dallas Turner (zombie), Kiara
Knight, and Caleb Logan stage a death
scene for a project for Mrs. Schmitt’s
engineering class.
Volume 1 Issue 2 October 4 , 2011
6
This year was a busy
year for the Arabia Mountain
High School Marching Rams.
With practice every day,
football games every
weekend, and extra
performances squeezed in at
every chance these talented
musicians had a packed
schedule.
Aside from football games
the Arabia Mountain
Marching Band performed at
many events such as: The
Atlanta Classic Parade of
excellence, The Clark Atlanta
Homecoming Parade, Robert
Shaw Elementary School Pep
Rally. They appeared on The
11 Alive News Network, and
The Regional High Stepping
Marching Band Competition;
but their most recent feat was
The National High Stepping
High School Marching Band
Championship Competition.
This trip was the bands first out
of state trip as well as their first
National Competition. The
band had many long hours of
band practice in preparation
for this trip. On November the
11th the band excitedly
boarded the busses to
embark on their journey to
Charlotte, North Carolina. On
Nov. 12, the band members
boarded the buses for the
most important performance
of the season.
On the bus ride to the
stadium there was only one
thing on everyone’s mind and
that was the competition.
When they arrived at the
stadium, they went to the
practice field where they
were allowed to run the show
through once then it was
show time!
As the drum majors;
Brandon Hill (Senior), Joshua
Stephens (Senior), Jordan
Chappell (Senior), and Bakari
Green (Junior), led the band
into the field of competition.
The opening song was a
fanfare called Wildflower
which was followed by a
Medley of songs such as:
Boogie Oogie Oogie,
Fantastic Voyage, and
Groove line. After there was
the Jewels dance feature to
Michael Jackson’s Shake your
Body into Bad Mamma
Jamma, which transitioned
into the Emeralds flag feature
Torture where seniors Raven
White, Shanice Wallace, and
Shannon Hunter not only
performed with their flags but
with fire as well.
Next the band played Piece
of my Love into the dance
mix which included Tupac
Back and Party Rock Anthem.
In the end , Arabia Mountain
High School Marching Band
did not win Nationals but they
still came back victorious with
3 trophies: Second Place
Drum Majors in Class 4A,
Second Place Flags in Class
4A, and Second Place
Dancers in Class 4A. This was
not the last that the nationals
competition would see of
Arabia Mountain, next year
they are going to go back
bigger and better than ever
to come home National
Champions.
All in all the Arabia
Mountain High School
Marching band had a very
productive season that
opened doors for even
bigger performances and
possibilities, but although this
was the end of a marching
season it is the beginning of a
legacy as they continue to
grow as students, musicians,
and as a band.
To see the nationals
performance video and more
pictures of the band go to
http://www.twitvid.com and
type in: @AMHSBandsGA 2011
Nationals Performance.
The End of a Season, the Beginning of a Legacy
By: Kiara Falcher
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
The Lady Rams are springing back into action and leaping into the 2012 gymnastics season.
A few weeks, the gymnasts weren’t sure there would be a team this year.
Thankfully, Mrs. Andrews stepped up to the plate to coach. Last year, Lady Rams
placed top 5 in the county meet amongst eleven schools in the DeKalb region
with our top gymnast Camille Cassar.
In the 2010 season, the team placed 4th amongst the same 11 schools.
Arabia has had very dynamic teams in the past two years and hopes to have an
even stronger team this year. For those that don’t really know about high school
gymnastics is, it consists of four events: the balance beam, uneven bars, vault,
and floor exercise. It’s a competitive sport and very risky with the gymnasts
engaging in rigorous activities barefoot and wearing leotards.
In gymnastics the events are performed individually; however, the
gymnasts come together as a team. They support each other, help build each
other, and win as a team! Stay tuned the season kicks off in late February! Meets
will take places right here at home in the gym.
Fall Back By: Mickel Peace
The Lady Rams By Takiria Tyson
Football
Many people were looking
for the Arabia Mountain
Rams triumph this season,
and believed 2011 was their
year. Wrapping up a
wonderful season with a 3-7
record, the Arabia Mountain
Football team had a hard
and well-fought season.
Winning homecoming game
and almost making the
playoffs, the Rams as well as
Coach Beal believed they
did the best they could.
Junior football player Mike
Holloway scored 6
touchdowns this season and
ran 776 yards. He said, “I
worked hard this season, and
I plan on going harder my
senior year.” Ranking in the
state of Georgia at 287, the
team rammed their
competition.
Cheerleaders
The rams wouldn't have been
so successful without the spirit
and cheers from the Arabia
Mountain Cheerleaders. They
were at all the games for the
Arabia Mountain Football
team and cheered them on.
The cheerleader’s season is
not over and in fact they are
practicing for the current
competition season. Wrap-up
The end of fall sports is not the
end of the Rams success in
sports. Spring sports such as
track, tennis, and swimming
have already begun. Our
swimming rams started their
season strong with Coach
Williams by their side. Their first
swim meet was November 8th,
at Chamblee’s pool against
Redan. Senior Asher Bryan
said, “This is going to be a
good season."
Cross Country
If you ever stayed afterschool
during a cross country meet,
you often saw students from
schools across DeKalb
County running around
Arabia. Cross country also
had a fantastic season. They
made it to the DeKalb
County Cross Country
Championships and did their
best. On the boy’s team,
Cornell Mattox, a sophomore,
was the first to finish from
Arabia in place 59, with a
time of 22:03.16. Arabia
Mountain finished as a team
in 12th place. The girls’ cross
country team was a bit more
successful than the boys.
Ayana Sears, sophomore at
Arabia Mountain finished in
place 42 with a time of
28:21.86. Coach Griffin
couldn’t be happier of the
success of his team.
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Marcus Wilson builds his model compost bin for EIC.
Sophomores Brianna Thompson and Caleb Logan
show off a pansy and a vermicomposting worm in
Mrs. Klein’s class.
Soccer
Coach Bryan Wallace is looking for players who want to know the game of soccer, have a positive
attitude, and are hard workers. Wallace believes it’s not all about winning; it’s about progress. He
expects to have a successful season and feels that Arabia can do very well in the South DeKalb region.
Once the team is selected the soccer players will have practices every day, and, based on the
practices, captains and co-captain positions will be earned.
Baseball
Coach Hoxie is looking ahead for the 2012 baseball season as he awaits the rivalry with Cedar Grove
and hopes to make it to the State regionals. Hoxie has an experienced team and says the success of
his team comes from all of the players being hard workers. He anticipates he will have a full roster of 15
players who are dedicated, dependable, and determined to take this team to the playoffs.
Arabia Mountain High School EIC is finally over for first semester. This year students from every grade
level had some unique topics. As a recap the topics for each grade level are:
During presentation week, I went around to look at students
presenting their projects and saw some interesting things. In 10th
grade, Lasandra Taylor and her EIC group members Sierra Beasley,
Kristoff Morgan, and, Marcus Wilson did a project on compost in Mrs.
Klein’s class. The group drew plans for a compost bin and built a
scale model. They hope to place a compost bin near the picnic
tables by the cafeteria to encourage students to compost food
and paper waste instead of throwing it away. A compost bin will reduce the school’s solid waste and
provide rich fertilizer for landscaping and for the horticulture class. To test the quality of their compost,
the group also used it to plant a pansy, which flourished.
In 12th grade, Sashay Narcisse presented her topic on
history and how her family contributed to Jamaica. She
researched her history on the different aspects that have
happen in Jamaica. Sashay noticed that religion is very
important, and decided to look up information in that category
and found out that her great, great, great, great grandfather
was a slave and was teaching the gospel. His owners were not
big fans of him teaching the gospel, so the chased him out of
town and all over Jamaica just to kill him. Once they found him
they chopped his head off and stuck it on a steak and road
around town to show all of the other slaves what would happen
to them if they teach gospel. In the end gospel was still spread
and very much alive today.
EIC RECAP!!!
By: Kirsten Winston
9th: Ecosystems
10th: Exploring resources dealing with nature and interaction with the school
11th: Energy
12th: Identity
Spring Forward to Spring Sports!
By: Kimberly Baker
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
These students have out done themselves and received excellent grades on the project.
Students in other grade levels have also done good projects that represent Arabia Mountain EIC very
well. We can’t wait to see what next coming year bring us.
Spotlight on: Miles Bizzle
Remember the name, Miles Bizzle because you’ll hear
about him in the future.
A sophomore at AMHS, Bizzle maintains As and Bs, excels
during EIC, and is an all-around great student.
He has been recommended to go to the Young Scholars
Program at UGA, which is a big accomplishment.
In his free time, he plays golf, and with that has come so
many opportunities. He has been sponsored to go play
golf in the Bahamas and gave a speech at East Lake
Country Club for the Commissioners of DeKalb county on
how golf has made him a better and more responsible
person.
He describes himself as “helpful, fun to be around, overachiever” who “won’t stop until I finish what I started.”
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Hello Mighty Ram’s! Final’s Week is fast approaching and studying should not be put off to the last
minute. Here are some studying tips that can be beneficial when you are trying to learn bundles of
course material in a short time.
Use Your Study Guides
A lot of teachers have already put up their final exam study guides for your
viewing. Be sure to print these out and collecting notes on the material the exam
will cover. Study guides should be your main source of reference for what will be
on your test.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
As previously stated, Final’s Week is here. Waiting until the last minute to start studying is not wise.
Cramming, a widely practiced technique for studying is not helpful because as you try to memorize
large amounts of material your brain will release most of this information. Memorizing and learning is not
the same thing.
Study in a Quiet Area
While it is nice to plan studying groups with food and conversation with your
friends, it is not a great environment for trying to study. When studying for your
finals, close yourself in a quiet room or library, and dedicate as much time as you
can to simply absorbing the information. Later, you can choose to quiz yourself
with friends so you can assess what you have learned.
Learn How You Study
Find out how you study best to maximize the volume of information you can
absorb. If you are a visual learning, converting your information into
diagram, chart and graphs may help you learn. If you are an oral learner,
than having someone read the material to you may help you learn.
Whatever way you learn best, use this method to study.
And last but not least…
STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!
Finally, if the previous tips haven’t convinced you enough, studying
is vital to your success on your final exams. This may be the most
important tip to remember. Studying is the only way to assess that
you have the knowledge you need to do well on your final exams.
If only for a few minutes each day, take time out to study to ensure
that you get that “A” that you are pining for on Final Exam day.
What You Need to Study for Finals!
By: Megan McCall
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Salayna Bryant – Tuskegee University
Takira Tyson – Johnson and Wales University
Kyle Woumn – Georgia Tech
Clennette Read – LSU, Hampton University
Amber Owens- University of Alabama, Alabama State, Jacksonville State
Revenna Brown – Benedict College
Javanti Woods – Georgia Southern University
Jason Summerville – Georgia Southern University, Valdosta, Elon
Kiar Goldthwaite - University of Alabama
Xenia Jackson – Benedict College
Xavier Henderson – University of Central Florida
Mialiisa Nurmi – Brenau University
Nicole Barkley – Drexel, Western Carolina
Kiara Fletcher- Johnson and Wales University
Josh Dixon – Georgia Gwinnett College
Michael Lee- University of Kentucky
Adonis Hill – Alabama State
Jared Middleton - Tuskegee U, Albany State, Alabama State
Raashida Howard - Brenau
Kemayriah Milton – West Georgia
Ahjahnae Smith- Southern University Andrew White- Georgia Tech
Kymariah Milton- West Georgia
Revenna Brown- Benidict College
Kiar Griffin- University of Alabama
Xenia- Jackson- Benidict College, St. Johns, Brenau University
Mialiisa Nurmi - Brenau university
Jared Middletin- Tuskegee, Albany, Alabama A & M
Adonis Hill- Alabama A & M
Cameron Williams- Winston Salem State University
Josh Dixion- Georgia Gwinnett college
This year’s seniors have endured twelve long years of late nights and last minute
projects, but, most importantly, they’ve gained an extraordinary amount of knowledge that
they will take with them for the rest of their lives. High school seniors have worked hard for the
past three years studying for tests, concentrating on maintain good grades, and, of course,
procrastinating.
Everyone knows that the best part of senior year is the acceptance letters. Being
accepted into a college is one of the best feelings in the world. It validates your strengths and
work ethic and means that the school picked you over the other thousands of kids who
applied. There are many acceptances letters already issued in the Arabia Mountain Senior
Class of 2012 and there will continue to be more as the year progresses.
College Acceptance
By: Salayna Bryant and Raven White
Want to see your name here? Email
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
2011 Music Reviews and Gift Guide By Takiria Tyson
The results of the RAMpage Best Music of 2011 poll are in and the best Hip Hop/R&B album is
Drake’s Take Care. In this album Drake delivers some of his best rhymes; however, in my opinion,
this was the worst album among the other choices, which were: J. Cole’s Sideline Story, Wale’s
Ambition, and Jay Z & Kanye West’s Watch the Throne.
The second runner up was J.Cole’s Sideline Story. Lots of people really
think that J. Cole’s album was the best, and he won Best Hip Hop
artist. His music shows experience. J. Cole is a rapper with great
potential and an unbelievable flow. His album gives that real Hip Hop
feeling. I really enjoyed J. Cole albums and think that it is the real #1
album. Please check his album out and his underground music. He is
something real.
In third place was another one of my favorites, Wale’s Ambition. I
think Wale came out from under a rock, and he surprised a lot of
people with his underground mixtape, 11/1/11. A lot of people were
sleeping on him, and I think there are some people who still are. So,
for all of you who are sleeping on Wale, I highly recommend this
album. You will love it. In the album there is a mixture of Hip-Hop
and R&B. I must admit I love majority of the CD! My top three
favorites are “Chain Music” featuring Rick Ross, “Slight Work”
featuring Big Sean, and “Lotus Flower Bomb” featuring Miguel.
Parental Advisory!
Some underground music you should consider is Kendrick
Lamar. People try to compare him and Drake, but there is
no comparison - none whatsoever! Kendrick Lamar is a
real, powerful rapper out today. A lot of people do not
know about him but I highly recommend his music.
Hopefully he will get a deal sooner rather than later
because his music is something that you may not even
understand. That’s how great his music is. My all time
favorite would happen to be “Growing Apart” featuring
Jhene Aiko. Be sure to look Kendrick Lamar up!
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
It’s about that time. The holiday season is approaching. The thrills and excitement begin to fill our
hearts. Its only one worry we have. What gifts to buy? This is always the hardest part. Your mind is
rambling with thoughts: what do I get my parents, best friends, significant other, etc? Well here’s some
ideas suggested by fellow peers.
Gifts for your parents aren’t as difficult. They will love anything you get them because they know
it’s from the heart. Some possible ideas are: box of chocolates, perfume, breakfast for a day, gift cards,
flowers, jewelry, and so much more.
One female artist that you should listen to is Adele for you all that have not heard. She is so
phenomenal and graceful. She has music that is relative to females. She is one of the top Pop
and R&B artists out today. Be sure to check her out.
Some other artists to watch out
for are:
BIG K.R.I.T FUTURE
2CHAINZ CURREN$Y
BEI MAJOR SLICE9
TYLER THE CREATOR
THA JOKER
Most of these artists can be
found at livemixtapes.com
The RAMpage Gift Guide By Salayna Bryant and Jaila Lyons
Vera Wang Cardigan,
$40 @ kohls.com
Stevie Color Blocked Bag
$57 @ meliebianco.com
Old Navy Popcorn Scarf
$12.50 @oldnavy.com
Gifts for Mom
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Bobby Flay 5 piece Griller’s Kit $63.99 @ kohls.com
Dior Homme Sport $54 @
sephora.com
For your best friends, it gets a little harder. Depending on gender, you get what
symbolizes your friendship. Best friend gifts for girls are easy. Everyone knows girls love things
such as bath and body works, Victoria secret gift cards and perfume. Also jewelry, candy,
teddy bear, Forever 21 jewelry and nail polish, and even a girl’s day out.
Gifts for Dad
Old Navy Marled Socks $5 @
oldnavy.com
Gifts for Her
e.l.f. Gem Tools $4-10 @ eyeslipface.com
Book of Shadows IV $64 @ amazon.com
Deborah Lippman Sets $40
Juicy Couture $48
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Gifts for boys are similar in ways but more of clothes, watches, chocolate, cologne, and
gift cards. For mutual gifts, you can get a picture frame with your picture as a trademark.
Now a gift for your significant other gets a bit more complex. You can get shoes, jewelry,
clothes, gift cards, perfume/cologne, flowers, a special date, CD expressing your feelings,
teddy bears, candy, bake a cake, or something heartfelt. Just make sure your gift expresses
your feelings.
Live Love A$AP by
ASAP Rocky
Reasonable Doubt by
Jay Z
Gifts for Him
Super Dry USA Beanie
$30 @ superdry.com
i360 Snow Infused Beanie
$39.95 @ amazon.com
HEX Watch Band for iPod Nano 6G
$24.33 @ amazon.com
If You Buy Any of These Albums or Mixtapes,
You’re Awesome By Andrew Green
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
C
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Celebrate the BB EE AA UU TT YY in You with Beautiful U By Asia Minor
What does beauty
mean to you? Is it makeup,
long hair, and bright eyes? Is it
high heels, fashionable clothes,
and dramatic personalities?
There are many definitions of
the word beauty, but, in our
world today, it is often
characterized by light skin, a
size zero body, trendy clothes.
Most peoples’ idea of what is
beautiful has been influences
by television and magazines.
Unfortunately, many young
girls’ perspectives of themselves
are based on the media as
well. As a result, many are
discouraged or have low self
esteem when they are unable
to achieve the worlds’ idea of
what is beautiful.
Cheadee Doe is not one of
those girls. Cheadee believes
“Beauty has no limit, no color,
no nationality, but is BOLD and
confident to be different.” To
Cheadee, being bold creates a
unique, different kind of beauty
that can also transform a girl
into a strong leader and a force
for change.
“Beauty has no
limit, no color,
no nationality,
but is BOLD and
confident to be
different.”
Members of Beautiful U, Sydney Sailor, Eleana Sherchian, and Cydney
Bacon, gather around club president, Cheadee Doe, as she discusses
her vision for the club.
Cheadee was hesitant at first to
start a new club because she had
never done it before, but her desire to
help other young girls learn to embrace
their own beauty was stronger than her
fear. She had heard of the horrible
tragedies that many girls face when
they have low self-esteem and poor self
image. Pushing the anxiety aside, she
made the bold decision to start
Beautiful U. Through the club, Cheadee
hopes to become a role model to girls
everywhere and inspire them to feel
beautiful no matter what.
Helping members of Beautiful U
learn to embrace everything about
themselves as beautiful is one of Doe’s
first goals. Some of the founding
members of the club include Gabrielle
Hazelwood, Alexis Prince, Aliyah
Garvins, and Cydney Bacon. All four
members believe Beautiful U will help
them embrace their own beauty by
gaining boldness, confidence, and
leadership skills.
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
The RAMpage’s Guide to Feeling Beautiful
inside and Out
Take a minute to perform a random act of
kindness. Hand a pen to the student next to you
who is furiously digging in his bag. Hold the door
for a student who is carrying too many books.
Tell a teacher you enjoyed the lesson. You’ll be
surprised at how good you feel!
Do not take your phone, laptop, ipod, or tablet
to bed with you. Unplug yourself and relax by
falling asleep to a happy memory from your
day. You will wake up feeling more refreshed
and peaceful.
Live an active lifestyle! Make sure that you are
getting enough exercise, drinking enough water,
and eating a diet with plenty of vegetables and
whole grains.
Do not procrastinate! Stress can cause acne,
insomnia, overeating, and general irritability.
Read The RAMpage. It’s good for your heart!
Club members Alexis Prince, left, and Gabrielle Hazelwood,
right, listen as Cheadee shares her vision for Beautiful U.
Cheadee hopes to accomplish
many things through her work with
Beautiful U at Arabia Mountain High
School and would love to see it will
blossom into a larger organization.
Hitting the ground running, the
organization is holding a coat drive this
month and will collect donations
during lunch. Beatuiful U is planning a
fashion show in May. However, this will
not be a typical fashion show filled with
the latest new looks. It will highlight
people who have a unique and
creative taste in clothing. Cheadee
would like to reach out to other schools
to get more young people involved to
include a diverse group of teens in the
fashion show to bring awareness to
other cultures. Everyone will be
welcomed, no matter what size or
race. More information about the
fashion show will be announced at a
later date.
Although the 2011-2012
members have already applied and
been selected, there will be a meeting
held in the spring where applications
will be handed out for next year.
Arabia is fortunate to have an
organization like Beautiful U. Cheadee
sees Beautiful U becoming a great
success at Arabia Mountain High
School as well as in the community.
Beauty should be defined by each
person’s truth about themselves.
Beautiful U is here to help every girl find
her own definition.
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Three AMHS students have been identified as future leaders.
Youth Leadership DeKalb consists of 35 sophomore and junior students from public and private
schools across DeKalb county and Georgia’s Metro regions. The students participate in a 10-
month training program which educates them on DeKalb County itself, and provides training in
areas such as public safety, health, banking, their career options, and personal etiquette.
Arabia Mountain has three students participating in the program, sophomores, Alivia Cromartie
and Brittney Sears, and junior, Ayana Sears.
The students are enjoying the program, which
they joined in this program to be a part of
community, become better leaders, and help
others become better leaders in the school. They
enjoy going to different places, and so far have
visited the courthouse to learn about the judicial
system, they’ve had a health workshop, an
etiquette class, a bonding retreat at Rock Eagle,
and learned about Georgia’s history from visiting
the first plantation.
“Its fun, every month you get to do a different
activity.” says Brittney.
“You get to meet people you would never know,
and get to experience new things.” said Ayana.
They both agreed that the best part was that you
get to go back during your senior year and be
interns.
Brittney, left, and Ayana, right, are future leaders.
Youth Leadership Dekalb
by Laura Hill
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Arabia Mountain High School is one of the highest performing schools in DeKalb County due in
part to its demanding and innovative curriculum. Not only is AMHS Georgia’s first LEED certified high
school, but students also earned the highest average score on the science portion of the Georgia High
School Graduation Test in DeKalb County.
Our ability to succeed, learn, and make a difference in our community caught the eye of
Georgia Chapter of the U.S Green Building Council of Georgia, USGBC. The USGBC is a Washington
D.C.-based non-profit organization committed to creating a prosperous and sustainable future for the
nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green building. The organization created LEED in 1998.
The Georgia Chapter presented AMHS with an award for Leadership in Environmental
Curriculum. We hope to continue our legacy and next year hope to be nominated for an award at the
national level.
An ecstatic Mr. Wells explains, “The award validates the work and dedication to solving
environmental issues by our AMHS students. The teachers are cultivating them to become leaders in the
environmental community.”
Here’s what the organization had to say about AMHS: “While many schools may teach lessons
about the environment, Arabia Mountain High School’s entire curriculum
captures environmental issues. Every student conducts investigative research that connects each
content standard, participates in service learning for the community, and defends findings to local
businesses that have the ability to implement the students’ design plan. By having students construct
their own theories and experiments, they are well-prepared to enter college or the work force as
leaders in the environment. Last year, Arabia Mountain had a 94% average pass rate on the Science
section of the Graduation test. This was the highest pass rate for a traditional high school in DeKalb and
exceeded the State and System average.”
Way to go AMHS!
Arabia Wins An Award!
By Revenna Brown and Shanakay Watson
Volume 1 Issue 4
December ,2011
“Promethean projector
bulb “ -Mr. Burr
“A super bowl for the
falcons”
- Mrs. Thompson
Pagani Zonda
– Myles Young
“Michael Kors watch”
– Jenae Vernon
Lomography camera –
Brittney Thompson
A lomography camera is an
analog (meaning, not
digital) camera that
requires actual film.
Different models have
different special effects
built in. The model
pictured is a Diana Mini.
For more information, go
to www.lomography.com.
What I want more than
anything is to cuddle on
a couch by a fireplace,
drinking coco, and
listening to Boys II Men
Christmas CD. That
would be perfect. -
Ninakupenda Gaillard
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
The RAMpage staff listened to your feedback: What you want to see in
the paper is YOU! Here’s what you said.
Volume 1 Issue 4
December ,2011
Favorite Holiday Foods! That Sounds Good!
“My mom’s
mashed
potatoes”-
Mr. Canney
“Lobster”
– Coach Daniels
“ Gumbo and Jambalaya”
- Chris Booker
Green Bean Casserole
– Kiara Knight
Gumbo
-Ms. Watkins
“Pepperpot”
– Zhane
Cruckshank
My favorite holiday
food is Chex Mix.
For some reason,
my family only fixes
during the holidays,
and I eat literally
two pounds of it by
myself. – Mr. Burr
My favorite
food is
banana
pudding! It
has to be a
certain way
for me to like
it: creamy and the
perfect
balance of
cookies and "nanners." - Gwen Hanna
Volume 1 Issue 4
December ,2011
Christmas Around Arabia By Raashida Howard
Germany- Mr. Griffin
In Germany they do not celebrate Thanksgiving, instead they celebrate a holiday
called Erntedank fest. Erntedank fest is a local celebration that doesn’t happen on any
particular day. It is the celebration of the harvest and usually takes place inside a church.
They do, on the other hand, celebrate Christmas. A lot of Christmas traditions come
from Germany, for example the use of a Christmas tree, which stands for eternal light. Just as
in the U.S., Christmas Eve is the 24th but Christmas is celebrated for two days, the 25 and the
26. Children open presents on both days. In Germany, they recognize Knecht Ruprecht as
Santa’s little helper. He beats the children that have done wrong and punish all the naughty
kids. One of the foods eaten at this time is Stollen, which Mr. Griffin describes as a baked
sweet bread.
Just as in North America, Germans celebrate New Year’s. They make New Year’s
resolutions and watch fireworks.
South Korea – Mrs. Kim
Christmas is not recognized as a national holiday in South Korea. Usually for Christmas
they just have a family lunch. The widely celebrated holiday is New Year’s. As soon as you
wake up on New Year’s day, you go to your parents’ house to eat breakfast, then return
again to eat lunch. One New Year’s tradition is that the children have to bow to their elders.
Instead of the children making their own New Year’s resolution the elder gracefully dictates
what they would like to see the children achieve during the year. After the elder is done
talking, they extend a sum of money to the child. Each child gets the same amount of
money regardless of their age.
In South Korea they celebrate a second New Year’s based off the moon calendar.
Sometimes it occurs in February, sometimes March. The children have to then bow again to
receive their monetary gifts.
Colombia and Spanish speaking countries
Mrs. Rodriquez, Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs. Williams explained that Spanish speaking
often celebrate Christmas much like it is celebrated here in the US. They have the same
decorations the only difference is the food. Santa is called Papa Noelle.
In Colombia, the children leave their shoes out to receive money in the morning. This
is now a fading tradition. Mrs. Rodriquez did this as a child, but it is no longer strongly
followed.
The big holiday is New Year’s. Mrs. Rodrigues passionately added, “Me and my mommy cry.
It’s like a get together. New Years is for the adults Christmas is for the children.”
Nigeria – Dr. Okoh
Dr. Okoh, chair of the science department, is from southern Nigeria. Like the United
States, Nigeria was colonized by the United States and is a Christian, English-speaking nation.
Okoh explains that the Christmas traditions in Nigeria are very similar to American traditions.
However, they "don't give gifts like we do here," and "gifts are limited to family." Okoh
remembers that when he was growing up, he often received his school uniform for Christmas
because school began in January.
Like in America, food is an important aspect of the holiday. A traditional meal
includes rice and stew. A large extended family would go to the cattle yards together and
purchase a whole cow to slaughter and share.
Leading up to Christmas, Nigerians go door to door Christmas caroling and also have
a masquerade with traditional dancing on Christmas Eve.
Volume 1 Issue 4
December ,2011
What are you thankful for in 2011?
Family, health, TO BE AT ARABIA
What is your favorite THANKSGIVING/holiday food?
Thanksgiving-Dressing, Christmas- Red Velvet Cake
Holiday wish for the world?
Be at peace with one another
Favorite memory of this semester?
First day of school
New Years Resolutions
Be better person in 2012 than I was
in 2011, and help teachers so they
can help students to recognize
higher level of academic
achievement
What Do Our Principals Want for Christmas?
What are you thankful for in
2011?
My family is extremely big and
they are all healthy
What is your favorite holiday
food? Fried turkey
What is the one thing you want
most for Christmas?
To get away from DeKalb
County for a few days and go to
a warmer climate
Holiday wish for the world?
Peace and Joy
Favorite memory of this
semester?
First day of school
New Year’s Resolution
To take better care of myself
health wise (diet/excercise)
What is your favorite holiday
food?
Honey Baked Ham
What is the one thing you want
most for?
New car
Holiday wish for the world?
Peace
Favorite memory of this
semester?
Juniors getting
their writing test
scores back
New Years
Resolution
Never make
any
What are you thankful for in 2011?
Family, health,
What is your favorite THANKSGIVING/holiday food?
I make special cookie bars for my family
What is the one thing you want most for Christmas/the
holidays?
A new suit from the Steve Harvey Collection
Holiday wish for the world?
For people to stop being so self-consumed and have
compassion for others
Favorite memory of this semester?
Seeing Ramiil Dunford win Homecoming King
New Years Resolution (social/personal life)
To be more physically active
and read more, and to reduce
the number of seniors in danger of failing
Volume 1 Issue 4
December ,2011
RAP
POETRY
SHORT STORY
Once upon a Ram … (((Inspired by Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story”)
Written by the RAMpage staff
ft. MC Mr. Davidson
Once upon a ram Not long ago When people recycled And green was gold. All was stern Knowledge was learned Justice stood And Rams were behaving Like they all too good. There was a student that was misled By another little student And this is what he said “Me and you are gonna make some cash Recyclin‟ old cans and making a dash.” They took the job And money came at ease But one couldn‟t stop It‟s like he had a disease He picked up anotha‟ And anotha‟ and a bag With his brotha‟ And this is the way I have to end this story He was only 17 trying to green… Think you can do it better? Submit your original work
Tie Dye By Laura Hill
Have you ever looked at the colors, The colors on a tie dye shirt? They fit together perfectly No one color overpowering the other That‟s how we are The 6.8 billion people on this planet No one is the same But we all use one another to make something better Rather short, tall, skinny, fat Black, White, or anywhere between Singer, dancer, doctor, lawyer Each are needed to make our world a happier place This is diversity Like a tie dye shirt All the colors blended together Creating something beautiful
Volume 1 Issue 4
December ,2011
Music by Evan Phillips Turning the dial on the radio Scrolling through my ipod Different voices Different artists Different songs Different genres From Aerosmith to J-Lo Eminem to Marvin Gaye Music is for everybody Some artists appealed to a number of people Like Elvis Michael Jackson And the Black Eyed Peas Some say that the music you listen to influences you Listening to diverse music, you can appeal to different people Understand different people Interact with different people Diversity is mostly thought of as of difference in skin color People of every skin color makes music Music is diverse I‟m diverse You‟re diverse The whole world is diverse
Listing Places by Ashlee Bailey She wanders, as the world floats by why she can‟t be in. She folds the flab, and pokes and gags, hurting to be “thin”. In the store, they stare and laugh, blindly pulling her, She throttles her heavy weight on by, And this isn‟t even the worst. In fast food lines, they screech and moan, At “that fat kid” in front of them, Reminding her why she‟d never try, She‟d never get “him”. Her self worth hurts, She‟s lost her soul in the tears she cries most days, A slice of cake‟s a big mistake, Justifying, worsening her ways. In the stores, she‟d search for more, Hopelessly defeat. „Cause they‟d stare her down, The indifferences surround, The thought is bittersweet. The mirrors glazed, Reflects a being that can‟t seem to love itself She pinches the rolls But nothings worse than the inside pain she felt Until one day, one average day, she stumbled clumsily. But when she fell, New love prevailed, as she struggled to her knees All alone she thought aloud “I‟m- so- through-- with this.” With tears in her eyes she grabbed her pride and wiped her flabby cheeks She heard no noise, but an inside voice that screamed “I love… me”
Change Scene by Lauren Owen Mark eagerly strummed his instrument when he noticed a few out of tune strings. He needed it to be perfect, at least for one night, to really catch the music industry executive‟s eye. He began tuning with a certain precision that would make any guitar legend proud when his competition, Andy strolled into his dressing room. “It sounds out of tune to me,” remarked Andy in a patronizing tone. Mark knew Andy since childhood Boy Scouts where the use to work together in camping, fishing, and helping old ladies cross the street, but that was almost a decade ago, and the two could barely stand being in the same room. “Really? Thanks for telling me Andy I hadn‟t noticed,” replied Mark sarcastically. “I can understand why you didn‟t notice. Your cheap guitar probably never stays tuned longer than one strum.” “You‟re right Andy. But when I get signed tonight, I‟m sure they‟ll buy me better guitars and people that will tune it for me.” “You think you‟re getting signed? Tonight?” “No, I know I am getting signed.” “Hate to burst your bubble but that exec made a decision weeks ago and a contract is currently being produced. Tonight is just the opportunity for his colleagues to be assured by their investment and brainstorm ideas on whether to market me to be a teen heartthrob or more of an adult contemporary type artist.” The sound of a lighting engineer could be heard hitting the floor like thunder on a stormy night, and Mark‟s eyes were in such disbelief of Andy‟s words it was like he was the unlucky soul caught outside during this uproar of nature. “Hey, I got to go man. I‟m up next. And, uh… I‟m sorry you didn‟t already know.” Andy truly looked sorry but refused to look in Mark‟s eyes. He walked to the doorway and then took a look back at the disappointed stranger he once knew so well. A tear made a nest in the corner of his eye as Mark‟s nest ruptured and began coating his cheek.
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Unexpected
Arrival 1864 by Brianna Frye
Peering out my window, White crisp snow trickles from the clouds above, Sirens sore through the town, Another warning that the Union and Confederate solders are at battle, Hesitate I run for safety, Glancing upon the pure white snow slightly covering my lawn, Army trucks appears, One stops, Squinting, I see what looks like men jumping out of the army truck, Approaching my house, Bloodied, Injured men limp towards me, Waving in the distance for assistances, Running towards the door Have my eyes deceive me, Hand on the doorknob I turn it slowly anxious for what‟s next, My mouth drops as I fall to the floor, Happiness and relief overwhelm my body, The tears I shed are not of sorrow but of joy, For what is in front of me, What my eyes are gazing upon at this moment, My father and three older brothers, Alive and will, Father looks at me with love in his face, He hands me a cloth of some sort, Unfolding it, It brings a huge smile to me face, Looking at the Confederate flag, The war is over, We, The Union, Won the war.
Short Scene by Chinua Rose All the thoughts of doing a show, throwing the most memorable parties, and having the woman of his choice at his side all began to confront Mook. He stared intently at the signature line of the recording contract. It was as if the words above the tiny line didn‟t exist. He scribbled his full name on it. It felt awkward because he hadn‟t actually gone by that since he was three when his unstable father gave him his nickname. The contract was shaking wildly as he handed it to the CEO of the label, a white man at least in his late forties. Did people his age even listen to rap growing up? “This is that one decision that changes your whole life, son.” The CEO said staring Mook in the face for the first time in the whole meeting. He then finished his statement with a fake sort of reassuring smile to which Mook tried his best to smile back. It was clear that neither remembered the others name. All Mook knew was that he was the most important man he had talked to so far about his career. In the back of his mind, he was well-aware of the CEO‟s intentions of making the most money that he can out of him. Mook probably would do the same thing if he were in his shoes. He rapped about all the dollars he knew he didn‟t have. Guys like this CEO were the ones that made the real money. The one or two million Mook was about to get was chump change. But at least it was one or two million more than he had now.
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
The Sherlock Squad By Megan Mickel and Je'Rhonda Brown
The sky was an angry gray. The clouds hung heavily over of the Bowman household. A blaring alarm sounded throughout the empty townhouse. A girl groaned from her room. She ran a hand harshly down her face. From her plush bed, she hit the snooze button to the annoying loud clock. The girl raised her head, dark eyes still glazed with sleep. With difficulty, she read the numbers presented in block red lights. 7:45 am. She yawned, flopping back on her mattress. She had time, school started at 8:00 after all. She blissfully drifted back to sleep. Less than a second, she jumped up in a flurry of covers. Eyes wide, she leapt from her bed, scrambling out. She went two doors down, throwing open the column of wood. Laying there was another girl her age. She slept equally soundly.
“Jessie! Wake up!” The one from the door yelled. The girl jolted up.
“What?! There should be a good reason for waking me up Max!” she yelled back angrily. Max sighed.
“We over slept, we‟ll be late to school.” Jessie raised a tired eyebrow.
“So?” Max sighed, pointing to the clock. It now read 7:50. Jessie stared at it for a minute. Then, she vaulted out of bed, rushing past her sister to the bathroom.
“How did this happen?” she asked, jerking her toothbrush to her lips.
“I told you how! We over slept!” Max said running her sink of water. Both brushed and washed up vigorously. They dressed themselves and dashed down the steps of the house.
“The alarm‟s in your room! Didn‟t you here it?!” Jessie asked. She ran to the pantry, pulling out two pop tarts. She threw them to Max, who had both their bags and her keys with her. The sisters ran out the house to their car. Max sped out of the garage. Both hoped they could make it to the school in 10 minutes.
Thankfully, the sisters didn‟t live too far from the school, and, with a little illegal speeding, the duo made it to class before the bell rang. Max plopped her head down in a fit of exhaustion. If she rushed like that again, it would kill her. She pulled out her notebook, beginning to take notes on what was on the board, when the sound of ambulance alarms chimed from outside. Everyone rushed to the window as the white and red truck pulled up to the school, followed by two police cars. Max watched in silent confusion as they pulled around to the back of the high school. What were they doing here? She wondered to herself what could be going on when the intercom above her came to life.
“Will you please send Maxine Bowman to the office please? Tell her to bring her things with her.” Max stands at the mention of her name. She picks up her bag and leaves the room without making a sound. She stands in the hallway for a second.
“Amazing, I just got here, and I‟m already out of class.”
“I know right?” her sister Jessie said when she walked up behind Max. They both shared a smile and headed to the office where a woman with big poofy blonde hair and long nails told us to head to the football field.
“Seems like you girls are always being shipped off somewhere,” she said with her rough sounding voice as we left. Arriving to the field, the sight of the cop cars parked on the nice dark green grass, the yellow tap sectioning off a section on the slope that led down to the field, and of course the usual dead body greeted them as they strolled over to their boss slash partner in crime.
“It seems this one came a long way. A very long way,” Detective Givens said to us when we came up to him. He did a few drags on his cigar, releasing huge puffs of grayish white smoke. He jabs a thumb behind him at the body, “Just a few minutes ago, four eyes informed me that the body, the poor girl, came from Indonesia and is part of that big underground merchandise market we‟ve been working on for a while now.”
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
“Really?” Max squatted next to the body to examine some purple markings on the girl‟s neck, which she was able to define as bruises caused by three small punctures. “Hey can you get Donnie over here?” she asked to particularly no one. She just wanted someone to get him. A man with dark brown skin, navy blue cargo pants, and a navy blue wind breaker jacket that had big yellow lettering on the back came trudging over. He had a serious expression, one that made him seem like he had eyesight problems, as he looked down at the body. He was studying the puncture wounds that Max pointed out.
“These are not the fatal wounds,” he said in a slow smooth deep voice. He ran his index finger slowly around the puncture. A few droplets of blood oozed out. “They were created a few minutes to an hour after the body was dead, and plus they‟re no deeper than 5 to 7 centimeters by the look of it. But to give you the time and cause of death I„m goanna have to take this body back to the lab so Bonnie and I can examine it.” He motioned a few guys with a black body bag to come over. When the body was bagged and ready to go, Donnie and the few guys towed it over to their white truck, placing it in the back, and left for the lab.
“Do you think he could have done it?” Jessie asked Max. Her sister raised her eyebrow.
"Theo? I don't know; anything is possible." She began a slow walk around the field. Detective Givens gave Jessie a puzzled look.
"Who is this Theo?" he asked. Jessie‟s eyes watched Max as she stepped away from the spot where the body was.
"Theo is a criminal that's been running rampant a few weeks ago. At least, that's what our theory is. We just call him Theo because he always leaves a "T" somewhere after he kills," she explained, voice flat. Givens gave a grunt in response.
"Found it!" Max called suddenly. The duo ran to where she stood, behind the steel bleachers and to the left of them. They found her crouched on the ground underneath the beams. Beside her, etched in the grass, was a jagged uppercase "T".
"You were right Jessie," Max said a few minutes later. They all were back inside the school, standing by the front door. It had begun to rain outside, the drops heavy as they splashed against the glass.
"Theo has struck again," Jessie attested.
"But why?" Detective Givens asked from behind the duo. Max's eyes stared unblinkingly out the window, deep in thought.
"I have no idea. Theo's targets are usually older women, maybe in their 20's," she whispered. "And that girl looked to be our age."
“No,” Jessie said, shaking her head as she did so, “She looked more like she could be 18 or 19 years old.” She fell silent then, and so did everyone else.
After a while they arrived at the station. They went straight to the lab room, which was a floor just before it led to the basement. Two large silver doors slid open permitting them entrance into the room, after Max swiped her ID card in the key lock. Inside Donnie and Bonnie, the lab twins, were removing organs from the cut open body, putting them into silver trays that sat on tall wheeled tables.
“Good,” Donnie said when he spotted us as he grabbed a knife to cut the stomach open, “You guys are just in time.” He grabbed a spoon; he scoop undigested food out and put it into another bowl where. He took a magnifying
glass, using it to study the contents of her stomach. He noticed that the juices, the acids, weren‟t the usual color but black and thick, milky like. “When Bonnie and I saw the discoloration of the liver and the lungs we assumed she was poisoned and this,” he gestured to the mush he was just studying, “Proves it,” he lays the magnifying glass down, removing his gloves.
“I‟ve heard that Black Moray was capable of doing this but never to this degree,” Bonnie said then motioned for the three detectives to come and look at the heart and liver, “You see, these organs have shrunk as if you‟d put them in the dryer or something.” Black Moray was a new Chinese poison of this century. Scientist from all over the nation has classified that the content of the poison derived from all the components that created all the other existing poisons, making it untreatable.
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
“Are you sure it‟s Black Moray?” Detective Givens asked.
“The only one you can give a person for more than 6 years before it kills you,” Bonnie said then took off her gloves too. She walked over to one of the steal counters where a vanilla folder was sitting open. She scribbled a few things in a blue ink pen then handed it to Jessie who read the autopsy results. The three gave their thanks to the Donnie and Bonnie, and, right before they left Bonnie asked Detective Givens to deliver some DNA samples to Rose in the forensics lab. After the elevator rides, the three split up, Jessie and Max to their office and Detective Givens to the forensics Lab. An hour later they were called down to the forensics lab for results.
“Well Jane Doe isn‟t Jane Doe anymore,” Rose said when the two walked in. Rose was a tall woman with long blonde locks, blue eyes, and creamy skin. She held out a sheet of paper with the victim‟s picture on it. “Her name is Alexandria Groves,” She turns around in her chair and faces her computer, putting all what she had found on the big screen in front of them, which had a projector projecting what was on her computer screen onto it, “however, that‟s all I got so far. Sam and a few other employees are working on it and helping me so you‟ll get it tomorrow.”
“Good,” Jessie said, “I hope you guys can find everything; we‟ll need it, trust me.”
“Thanks for the hard work,” Max said and pulled her sister out the door with her, leaving Givens there to help Rose. Since school was already over they went home, e-mailed their teachers for assignments so they could maintain their grades. It was ok with the teachers, understanding that, being two young detectives, their work load and schedule will force them to miss classes. The sisters didn‟t min going over their notes at home anyway. Afterwards, both the girls stayed up an extra hour doing miscellaneous activities before going to bed.
The next morning the two came into the station determined to get some leads on who did what and why. As soon as they were in their office and sitting in front of their computers, ready to do some snooping, Sam, a fellow coworker was making a mad rampage down the hall to their office. “Here‟re the papers you wanted,” Sam said when he came bursting into Max‟s and Jessie‟s shared office. He nearly slammed the thick and over flowing vanilla, green, blue and burgundy folders against Mac‟s desk. “This is all I could find, after we had done identified Ms. Jane Doe. Rebecca from the private records office pulled an all-nighter; she found some decent tid bits. See here.” He pulls out a burgundy folder that had old reports of a missing child report, “Alexandra Groves was reported missing three years ago from today. She was last seen at school.,” he hands the file over to Jessie‟s outstretched hand, continuing, “I had someone from my department help me locate the mother, Mrs. Groves, and went down to the clinic where she worked to question her about the day she disappeared.”
“Hold on are you telling me that all this,” Max said as she sifted through the mounds of folders, that she was looking through with Jessie, “is just information about her from when she was kidnapped, which was about when she was approximately 15 years old?”
“Yeah, exactly,” he pulls out a tablet out of his back pocket, “in Mrs. Groves‟ statement she says that she knows, not think, but knows for a fact that it was her boyfriend that took her. But the question is: who was her boyfriend?” They looked at each other in silence for the moment. The sound of fans blades slicing through the air and the clinking of the metal chain hitting the fan‟s big bulb sounded through the room, before Jessie spoke up.
“Maybe the mom could tell us a little bit about this boyfriend of hers, after all he could have had a play in her death; She could be involved with Theo too.”
“Good Idea,” Max said then turned to Sam, “Sam you drive since you know the way.”
The three of them left the station in a red four passenger Toyota Tundra. They made their way over to Mrs. Groves‟ house. On a small plot of land a small mint green ranch house with a big oak tree out front stood in the suburban countryside, an old grey 1996 Nissan sat in the Driveway. The three of then jumped out of the truck going up to the dingy grey marked white door. Sam knocked twice. On the other side dogs set off barking.
“Oh be quiet Ginger!” a woman‟s voice shouted; then the door swung open. In the doorway a short stout woman with short grey streaked hair with under curls stood in her plush purple rob. “Aren‟t you that guy from yesterday?” she asked and adjusted her big thick brimmed circular classes to see him clearly, “I see you brought a couple of friends with you. Came to talk more about my daughter?”
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
“Yes, if you don‟t mind,” Sam said. She ushered them in beyond the threshold, into a small cluttered space, which they deemed to be her living room. The smell of dog circulated in the room.
“Go on,” she said. She waved a hand at the three as she lowered herself down in a big plush tan arm chair, “sit, sit.” They took a seat on the tan couch across from her. Sam started up the conversation by asking what her daughter was like and how come she was never found until recently. She told them it was because everyone, even her husband, just thought she ran away to go be with that boyfriend of hers, but they only said that because they didn‟t know what he was really like.
“What do you mean?” Jessie said. She scoots to the end of the couch.
“Well they argued a lot and a few weeks after she left called my cell phone from a blocked phone number. She wouldn‟t tell me where she was and she sounded scared. I tried to get the policed involved but they just sat there and laughed at me as they ate their doughnuts and drank their coffee.” She rocked herself forward and got up out of her chair. She went over to a bookcase that sat by the door. Off the top shelf she took down a black box thrusting it over to Sam, and went back to the arm chair. Sam opens the box to find a bunch of old photos of Alexandria with some boy. He had short cropped black hair and dark brown eyes. His skin was tanned. He had a bunch of tools on his belt with a yellow hard hat tucked under his arm, suggesting he was probably a construction worker. “His name is Tristan Downin. He might look sweet and innocent but know he‟s not. He was pure demon. Seems like I was the only one that could see it,” she began to play with the silver crucifix that she‟d pulled out from under the robe‟s layer, “And when my poor Alexandria found out it was too late for her, too late.” As Max was rummaging through the box one specific photo caught her eye. Before she could lose it she snatched it from the mound of photos. In the photo it had Tristan in only a white T-shirt and baggy jeans. He was squatting on the ground next to a capitalized T burned into the deed grass. “He loved to set fires and make shapes out of the burned areas just as much as
he loved to do his drugs. That‟s something else nobody but myself and my daughter knew. Every time he went on his drug rampage he‟d become violent; dangerous. He was so repugnant that I had to kick him out of my house once. He responded by going out and raping six women, six.”
Jessie and Max looked at each other; their eyes gleamed with new truth.
“Seems we found Theo,” Max said and turned to the lady, “Thank you for your help. We promise that we‟ll have this man put away for good.”
“Thank you,” she said and grabbed Max‟s hands and kissed them, “Thank you.” She walks them out the door. However, before they were completely out the door Sam stopped, turning to the woman, and said, “Wait, if you knew all of this and knew what our Theo was doing how come you didn‟t make the connection and call the police?” All the blood in the woman‟s face drained from it, making her look pale.
“You knew it was him but you still kept quiet?!” Jessie said disgusted.
“You could have saved your daughter you know,” Max said coldly, “Seems like we are going to have to take you down to the station for further questioning.” She pulled out a pair of silver handcuffs she had hidden away in her back pocket. After cuffing her they put her in the truck‟s back seat, heading for the station.
They all were silent when Sam pulled up to their last red light.
“Hey what made you…?” Sam began before he heard Jessie yell.
“GET DOWN!!!!” Jessie forces Mrs. Groves to the floor, Max and Sam flung themselves down to the car floor. Bullets shot through the windows. Shards of glass went everywhere. Some of them nicked Sam on the ear. When the gun shots stopped Jessie asked, “What the heck was that?”
“It was him,” Mrs. Groves said, her voice quivering, she sat up and pointed at a crystal blue impala, “There he is!” In the front
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
seat, Tristan was sitting on the driver‟s side. Out of the window he held a gun aiming at them. Before anyone could react a long silver bullet sliced through the air and made home in the center of Mrs. Groves‟ forehead. She was dead on impact. Her lifeless body toppled over to the left, hitting the passenger door. Tristan got out of his car and started walking towards the truck. He had a sly grin on his face, which grew bigger and bigger as he was getting closer. However, he stops in the middle of the street and raises his gun. He aims at Sam, shoots but misses.
“Dang it Sam! Get this car moving or we„ll be all dead!” Max yelled. Needing no other further instructions he put his foot on the gas and propelled them forward. He nearly ran over Tristan. Cars that held Tristan‟s men went after them. As Sam drove Max got on the radio, calling all squad cars, while Jessie retrieved a rifle from under the seat, which she used to shoot at the three cars. Jessie was able to get one of them in the tire, making it swerve and run off the road. In the second car a big burly man came up through the car‟s sun roof with a hand pistol, and aimed at Jessie. He shot twice, however, only one hit her. “Jessie!” Maxine yelled when she saw her fall to the ground.
“I‟m fine,” she said as she cupped her shoulder, “I‟m goanna have to stay on the floor to bind this wound up so, you‟ll have to shoot.” Max nodded, climbing to the back. She picked up the rifle, starting to shoot again.
“Whoa!” Sam yelled as he slammed violently on the breaks, throwing Max back up to the front seat over Jessie„s back. A group of other cars filled with Tristan‟s men blocked their way. What made it worse was that this was a one way street and they had explosives. “I hope everyone is okay because I‟m not. I mean I think I just peed in my pants,” Sam said nearly crying. Max and Jessie slapped him.
“Be a man!” they yelled together. Then Max continued, “What are we going to do now?”
“We‟re taking a plane,” Jessie said calmly as she watched the men light stick dynamite.
“Jessie you could at least make sense when we are about to be killed!” Max yelled at her.
“It‟ll make sense after we get out of this car!” She dove, pushing Max out of the car. Sam followed when Jessie stumbled, felling out of the car. They made it only a few feet away when the dynamite hit the car and went off. Sending ten feet in the air and propelling them through a nearby house‟s window. Lucky for them the resident‟s weren‟t home.
“You should have just said he was throwing it,” Sam said to Jessie when he sat up. Glaring at him she slapped him a second time. “OW!”
“Be quiet!” She said. The trio looked up as the group stalks closer to them, guns drawn. Options flitted through Max‟s mind. Her eyes scanned the proximity, finding a narrow alley to their left. It would be a long shot, but, if they could make it down that alley, they could possibly avoid the thugs, Tristan too, who was nowhere to be found. But, if without knowing what lay inside the passage, they risked running into another trap, let alone their own demise. She heard the safety of the guns unlock. “If anyone has any bright ideas, now would be a good time to say it!” Jessie hissed. Max looked at her, a calculative light in her eyes.
“On three, everyone into the alley,” she whispered. She then steadied herself on the steel firearms in front of them. Three in total. They could make it. “THREE!” Sam, Max, and Jessie jumped to their feet and scrambled to the alleyway. Gunfire rained down on them from their left. One bullet in particular hit Sam in his right shoulder. He pitched forward as he fell through the opening. Max grabbed him, holding him up. Jessie searched thee small space, hearing footsteps closing in on them. She found a metal door. She took out her own pistol, shooting the lock. Jessie threw open the door, revealing the inside of an abandoned warehouse. Max pulled Sam inside. She quickly patched up his wound, tearing off a piece of her shirt to bind it as a bandage. Jessie closed the door back, hoping that the gang hadn‟t seen them come in. Their footsteps stopped at the door for a second, causing all of them to hold their breath, but continued down the alley, fading slowly away. They all sighed in relief.
“Now what, we have no car!” Jessie said her voice in a whisper even though the thugs had ran past them. Max stared at her through calm eyes.
“Back up should be coming soon, especially since the explosion before,” she said. “All we have to do is wait it out here. Sam‟s injured after all.” Jessie nodded. Suddenly, an eerie laugh echoed throughout the building. They turned towards the noise. Tristan came walking out of the darkness of the shadows, smiling, and briskly clapping his hands as he came forward.
“Bravo!” he said, “Bravo!” he stops midway and leans on a stack of crates, “You‟ve solved the mystery and escaped death more than two times. Very impressive you three, very impressive.” Jessie started to reach for her pistol. “Ah-uh,” he said
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
wagging his finger, “No guns Jessie.” Just when she touched the cool metal of the gun a bullet lands a centimeter from her hand, grazing it a bit. “I said no guns,” he said coldly.
“Why are you doing this,” Max asked, “Why did you kill Alexandria, Mrs. Groves, and rape all those people? What could you have gained from all of it?!” His mouth molds into a snarl. He aims it dead at Max.
“Shut-up!” he yells, in his eyes he seemed to be a bit derange, “You don‟t know jack! You don‟t know! I loved her with all my heart. Besides,” a wide, sadistic smile adorns his face now, verifying how insane he is, “when you get with Tristan and his group, you don‟t leave unless you goanna go six feet under. Alexandria knew that and she made the choice. Her mother made the same choice too. She was supposed to keep her mouth shut unless she wanted a bullet to engrave itself into her brain,” he laughs softly, “They had their choice. Unfortunately for them it ended their lives,” the gun starts to click slowly, “And you‟ve made ya‟ll‟s choice so, here‟s ya‟ll‟s consequences.”
POW!!! The sound of a gunshot went off. Tristan drops his gun and staggers back. Smiling and laughing, he collapses on the floor in a puddle of his blood. His laugher grew louder, louder, until it finally stopped, freezing his facial muscles in smile. Blood, like that that flowed generously from the gun wound near his heart, trickled down from his mouth in a steady stream.
“Go Sam,” Jessie said slowly as she watches Tristan‟s lifeless body. The hand he held the gun in, drops to his side.
“I knew there was a reason why I didn‟t like that bastard,” he said then began laughing, which started everyone laughing. Outside the warehouse, sirens sounded everywhere. Shouts echoed throught the streets along . It wasn‟t until five minutes later when Detective Givens come in with his group to find the trio sitting on the floor. They were no longer laughing but rubbing their aching parts.
“Well I‟ll be Danged,” he said then placed his hands on his hips, “Earning a few wounds, catching the bad guy, and getting a confession is just another day with you Sherlock prodigies.”
“How did you know we got a confession?” Sam asked as he, Jessie, and Max helped each other up to their feet.
“Well that‟s because of me,” a man from the back came up to the group of people. It was Rick from FBI. He was unknowingly on the case with Jessie and Max. Or should you say more like a shadow on the case, because he was never seen but collected lots of information and recorded conversations.
“Well if you were here this whole time why didn‟t you come and help us?” Sam asked. He laughs holding up his camera recording equipment.
“Well I can‟t bring a knife to a gun fight now can I? That‟s how people get killed you know,” he shakes his head, hands Detective Givens the tape that had the whole confession to convict everyone else and left to join those that were outside.
“Good job guys,” he said turning the tape in his hands and leaving, his group following him. Some paramedics came in and started to tend to their wounds.
Later that day, the detectives were called into the police station. Detective Givens waited for them there.
About a week later the trio was honored for their closing the biggest ongoing seen in history. Not too long after the ceremony they were hit with another case. There‟s no resting for the Sherlock Squad is there?
Volume 1 Issue 4 December ,2011
Arabia Mountain High School
6610 Browns Mill Rd.
Lithonia, GA 30038
(678) 875-3699
Room #: D202
For More Info
Contact Mrs. Klein at
The newspaper was very attractive and it made me really want to look at it. The best part
about it was the brilliant slide show of the beautiful people we have at Arabia mountain
high school. I could say that these pictures are very good and years from now we will
have some great things to laugh at!!!!!!
I wish Arabia has more school spirit and more pep rallies.
It would be nice to have spirit day more often and include college wear.
Be real with everyone, don’t hide how you feel, just make sure that you don’t get suspended for expressing
it.
My name is Destiny Summers and I am a freshman of
Arabia Mountain High School. I think that the
Rampage should do stories on freshman and see how
they look up to the upper classmen. Of course upper
classmen don't like freshman, so that is why I think we
need a freshman section in the Rampage to show
these upper classmen that we aren’t as bad as they
think we are, and truly i believe that most of our
freshmen are more mature anyways!!!!!!!
GO CLASS OF (2015) :)
As a teacher if you are unable to be involved you are able
to still hear and see about all the fantastic things going on
around the school!
It was really good. They had Great pictures and very interesting topics.
I like how it went day by day. That was very creative. Colors were eye-
catching.
It was really bias... it had
people at home in a school
paper, and you can tell who
put the slide show together
because it had the same
people over and over
Reader Feedback!
See You Next Year!