Thomas Edison moves from

cutting trees to smashing keys

in 2017. Laptop carts are being

rolled into U.S. history, ACE

English, English 9, and sports

psychology almost every day.

Students at Edison have

reacted harshly to the introduc-

tion of paperless classrooms.

However, Edison is behind in

the technology department in

comparison to other area

schools, which could explain

the biased opinions towards

paperless classrooms.

Most students at Edison have

strong, negative opinions on

the topic. Students are not used

to using technology in the

school environment. Kandise

Perkins reports, “When you

have something in your hand

that you can read, you can

focus better, rather than look-

ing at a computer screen.”

Others, such as Jared Slavin

and Sérefíne Reed give their

unfiltered opinion, “I hate

them.” “I forget to do homework

because it’s not handed to me, so

I forget,” claimed Alexis Smith.

The student population is

divided on this new method of

learning, however students at

Edison could be biased. Paper-

less classrooms were only

introduced in September of

2017. Going from paper to

screen is a tremendous change,

which may take several months

to get used to. Christina Willsey,

who transferred from Notre

Dame last year, explains, “I

don’t mind them, but I prefer

paper.” Brianna Costley is

indifferent on the subject, “It’s

hard to do work at home because

my computer is really slow.”

There are some students that do

approve of paperless classrooms.

“It’s useful as long as you have a

computer at your house… It’s

gnarly,” replies Mike Condon, a

senior in ACE English. Teachers

also think paperless classrooms

will benefit the students overall.

Mr. Michael Larrabee, Edison’s

U.S. history teacher said, “The

biggest benefits are the time

management part and creating a

Paperless Classrooms at Edison By Hannah McConnell

INSIDE:

Senior Privileges –page 2

Holiday Stress Tips– page 3

Ask Ashton—page 4

Spirit Week Re-cap—page 6

Winter Events Calendar –page 7

Phones Have Become Part of Our Everyday Lives,

but Not At Edison High School By Rachel Becker

The phone policy at Edison

has been a controversial topic

of discussion for three years.

Our current phone policy is,

“School is not an appropriate

environment to bring person-

al electronic equipment such

as radios, laptops, cassette

players, CD players, walk-

mans, cameras, camcorders,

handheld video games,

beepers, cell phones, MP3

players, ‘Pod’ players, digital

assistants, etc. due to noise,

distraction and possible theft.

They are not to be used on

school district property or

visible during school hours

without prior permission”.

(TAE Student Handbook). If

you are seen with an electronic

device there is a possibility

EDITION 1

DECEMBER 2017

THOMAS A. EDISON HIGH SCHOOL

Mr. Larrabee’s US History class uses Office 365 to work on a Supreme Court

case assignment.

Edison is

behind in the

technology

department in

comparison to

other area

schools.

See Phones on page 5

See Paperless on page 5

EDITION 1 P AGE 2

The clothing you wear is a part of who you are. Image is a

big thing throughout high school, most teen students are

concerned about their appearance. You see a variety of

different styles in the hallways. From the girls who look like

they should be in a magazine, to the boys who look like

they came out of a sports article. There are more opportuni-

ties to be yourself. From jocks, to preps, to goths, everyone

has their own style. The good news is, eight out of ten

students interviewed said they didn’t feel judged based

on their appearance.

Celebrity trends and high school trends have few similarities.

For example a high school student is not going to wear a

designer Louis Vuitton dress to school. Most high

school students can’t afford designer clothes. Although

celebrities are beginning to endorse the “90s” look. People

are going back to mom jeans, skate tees, and some other

more expensive brands. Brands such as Tommy Hilfiger,

Calvin Klein, Guess, and Polo Sport are all coming back,

but did they ever go away? Then you have the “mainstream”

brands. Junior, Mikayla Wilber says,” I guess I have a lot of

different brands, but I have a lot of Nike that I prefer to wear.

I only wear Nike when I want to feel comfortable. When it

comes to jeans, I really like American Eagle’s brand.” The

typical student here at Edison has some Nike, Adidas, if

you’re a girl maybe you have some Pink.

You also have the other side of the fashion spectrum, the

“alternative” kids. These students prefer the grunge look:

baggy jeans, a graphic tee and topped off with a unbuttoned

Seniors are held at higher standards

compared to underclassmen. They are

seen as upcoming adults, but are not

always given privileges that make them

any different from the freshman in the

school. Some privileges that the senior

class would like to see would be ordering

food for lunch and being able to leave

five to ten minutes early for those who

have to work. There have previously

been issues with students leaving for

lunch, as they would not come back to

the school. “The students would leave

and go to the house of someone with no

parents’ home, then do stuff they aren’t

supposed to” says Mr. Bennett. Ways to

avoid abuses of these suggestions would

be making them an earned privilege,

meaning the students who want to do

such things would have to maintain a

certain average, or these rewards could

be a part of the Spartan Card. Many

students like to take advantage of their

Spartan Cards and love when new privi-

leges are added because it expands their

ability to do different things. Also, there

have been previous issues with students

leaving early for work because they

would leave and staff would later find

out they lied about having work. A way

that the staff could manage this is by

having the student that wants to leave

early hand in a copy of their work

schedule in the days beforehand.

Making these an earned privilege

could potentially lead to a rise in

grades, as students would be working

harder to get the Spartan Cards.

The Spartan style exchange is a brand new venture to come to

Thomas Edison. Students and staff are asked to bring in clothes

that are no longer worn or have been outgrown. Any clothing from

summer clothes to dress up attire, will be accepted in all sizes. It is

preferred that the clothes are washed before being brought in for

sanitary purposes. Mrs. Bement teamed up with Ms. Williamson,

Mrs. Newkirk, and Mrs. Hayes to start the Spartan Style Exchange.

According to Mrs. Bement, “the Spartan Closet was started for

students to have more professional attire”.

The ACE English and English twelve classes each partake in a

“mock interview,” which gives students the experience of being in

an interview scenario. The mock interview is practice for a job or

for other purposes. Students are awarded points based on attire and

appearance for the interview. While most students get full credit

on this part of the assignment, there are a few exceptions where

students do not own any form of dress attire. The closet was

Fashion Spectrum at Edison By Emmalea Erickson

Senior Privileges By Alecia McKillip

Spartan Style Exchange By Michael Condon

There are several styles and sizes to

choose from

already at the Spartan Style

Exchange

currently located in Mrs. Hayes

classroom.

Seniors Hannah Goff and Alecia McKillip leaving after school to grab a quick bite to eat

across the street at Taste of Asia. “Too bad it’s

not lunch.”

See Fashion on page 6

See Style on page 6

THE L IGHT BULB P AGE 3

The ideal "holiday"

is not realistic for

many of us. Adjust

your priorities and

expectations based

on previous years'

experience. Priori-

tize the invitations

and plans that mean

the most to you. It

can be hard to say “no” to people when

you’re asked to do more than you can,

don’t be scared to say no to favors or

invitations. Most importantly don’t

forget to spend time with family and

cherish these moments because one day

it could be all gone. Christmas time is

about spending time with family, which

is the best gift of them all!

Whether it’s money issues or

the challenges of scheduling

everything, the holiday sea-

son can be a very stressful

time. Follow these tips to

make it fun and more

enjoyable: Saving your

money is very important

for the holiday season.

It can be hard to do, but in the long run

it will all be worth it. If you start in the

beginning of the year and put $5-10 per

month aside you will have at least $40-

80 by November to spend on gifts for

friends and family. Clarify with friends

to make sure you are both planning on

exchanging gifts. This will save you

both time and money in the long run.

Sometimes making a gift is better than

going out to the store and buying one, it

can also be cheaper. Don’t go to the

store without knowing what you want to

get, make a list and check it twice.

Make sure you are checking off the gifts

you planned on and don’t buy anything

that’s not on the list.

Today many studies reveal that millen-

nials (ages 18-29) are America's most

stressed generation but many people

know that the pressure actually begins

at a younger age according to Huffing-

ton Post Teen. Academic reasons, as

early as elementary school expectations

exam pressures and later, college admis-

sions, academic stress can become a

daily struggle as early as middle school.

School was the most frequently men-

tioned source of stress for 13 to 17

year olds. From your parents pushing

you, your teachers criticizing you for

less than stellar grades, your own drive

to get into the best college or all of the

above. The pressure of school can get

the best of us if we don't learn how to

handle it properly.

First you need to think about your own

health. Take time to rest. Sleep helps

your body process your stress, therefore

being well rested can help alleviate

stress. Self-care also includes healthy

food, non-harmful substances, sleep,

and downtime incorporated into your

day, which allows you to process what

you've been going through.

Next, change how you think. All stress

is precipitated by stressful thinking.

When you start to stress about not being

able to finish a project on time, you start

to think about what will happen and this

can make this issue worse. When facing

negative thoughts, try coming up with

specific examples to counter the stress-

ful thoughts. Instead, think of good

ways that you can create more time for

yourself, to work on the project.

Take assignments one step at a time so

that you feel less anxious. Prioritize

what is due first or which assignment

will take the most effort and work from

there. Try listing what you have going

on, and write down how much time

Holiday Stress Tips By Hannah Goff

Managing School Stress and Time By Zachery Moore

each thing is going to take. Try adjust-

ing your goals. For example, instead

of having the goal of getting the highest

grade in the class, set a goal to feel sat-

isfied with your performance.

Stay balanced during test and exam

periods. Nobody can maintain constant

focus. You will burn yourself out if you

try too hard. Set small time goals take

short breaks periodically to recharge

and refocus so you can go back to your

writing or studying refreshed.

There are a lot of stressors that students

face in school. With the advice in this

article you should be able to get through

school with much more confidence.

“Make a list

and

check it twice”

Gearing up for the holidays, junior Emmalea Erickson places her newly purchased and

wrapped presents under the tree.

EDITION 1 P AGE 4

My dad just got out of jail and my fami-

ly pretends it didn’t happen. I can’t and

don’t want to ignore it. Help?

You need to communicate your feelings

to your parents. They may be choosing

to pretend it didn’t happen due to quiet

shame and not knowing themselves

what would be the best way to handle it.

There is a lot to consider when dealing

with family situations. You need to be

open and honest. If your parents aren’t

talkers, then reach out to an adult you

feel comfortable with to help advocate

for you when talking to your parents.

What should I do if I think my friend is

struggling with an eating disorder and

is in denial?

Suggest going with her to talk about

the signs and symptoms of an eating

disorder with the school nurse, social

worker or a teacher they’re comfortable

with. Try reaching out to her parent, but

be careful that might put a strain on

your friendship. The hardest part with

someone in denial is for them to see

what you see.

With Basketball starting, I am going to

be really busy with all my work. How

should I schedule my days to have

enough time for everything?

You need to use your free time at school

to get homework done so that will free

up your evenings for practice and

games. What you can’t complete in

school you can do before or after prac-

tice and always allow yourself at least

30 minutes to unwind from your busy

schedule. Always stay ahead of your

schoolwork, don’t put it off thinking

you have all week to complete a project,

you never know what will come up.

Good Luck! You can do this!

How do I make a friend stop doing toxic

things?

We all make choice for ourselves, some

better than others. Please talk to your

friend about your concerns in a non-

judgemental way. Depending on the

severity of the problem, you may need

to reach out to a trusted adult for help to

make the best plan to support your

friend. Unfortunately, you can’t make

the person stop, they need to do that for

themselves.

Ask Ashton Questions provided anonymously by your classmates and peers. Answers generously provided by

our own Nurse Ashton.

ever, while visiting Ithaca College, I

learned that the majority of students

who graduated from the Park School

had little to no difficulties finding a job.

I was informed that some students who

graduate from IC go onto pursue careers

with big name companies such as The

New York Times, The Washington

Post, BuzzFeed, and even Disney all

because they can add the

Park School to their

resume. Visiting Ithaca

College gave me oppor-

tunities that I would not

have even known about

had I not gone on this

field trip.”

The visit to IC was a

valuable experience

for all of our students,

many of them neck deep

in their own college

applications and

decisions. For our TAE

journalists, talking to

On November 14th, seven journalism

students travelled to Ithaca College in

order to tour the campus and the commu-

nications department. The Roy H. Park

School of Communications is arguably

among the best communications schools

in the nation. The department at IC has

the most advanced technology for broad-

casting, writing, and recording. The

building we explored consisted of two

high tech broadcast studios, which are

used for Ithaca College’s own live

public news broadcast as well as 26

other television shows, ranging from

news to sitcoms, and all completely run

by its students. Ithaca College also has

their own newspaper (The Ithacan),

magazine, 24 hour radio station, and

several other student run communica-

tions agencies.

Senior Hannah McConnell weighs in on

the trip, “I felt discouraged to pursue a

career in journalism because of the [lack

of] job growth (-10% decline, according

to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). How-

Journalism Class Visits Ithaca College By The Light Bulb Staff

TV-Radio Department Chair, Peter Johanns details the accolades and successful graduates to the TAE journalism students in one of

the two IC’s HD television studios.

the professors and advisors at the Park

School lit the spark that was integral in

our revival of TAE’s school newspaper,

the Light Bulb. We hope you enjoy the

product of all our efforts!

skill set that will provide you with a

base knowledge for what you will

encounter not just in college but even

in the workplace and the real world.”

Technology and knowing how to use it

is important, especially for anticipated

college students.

Mrs. Pamela Bement teaches ACE

English and English 9. ACE English

is partially paperless. Students use

paper during class, but essays and

other assignments are to be typed and

turned in online by 10:00 PM. “It helps

with organization because they don’t

have to keep track of papers” adds

Pamela Bement. She also reveals, “It’s

got a learning curve, it’s going to take

time and adjustment to get used to.”

Paperless Classrooms at Edison Continued from page 1

However, some students believe paper-

less classrooms are being used only to

benefit the teachers. An anonymous

student in Ms. Callie Black’s Sports

Psychology class said, “So she [Ms.

Black] doesn’t have to waste paper on

stuff that we won’t keep”. The global

teacher we all know, and love disagrees

that this is not the main reason for going

paperless. Ms. Callie Black explains, “I

think it’s easier in terms of organization

and it will prepare you for college. All

in one place too.”

Overall, the students at Edison are

concerned for their education and the

new ways they are being taught. The

teachers oversee the final decision, with

their judgement in the best interest of

the students’ education.

THE L IGHT BULB P AGE 5

that it can be confiscated. The administra-

tive office has come up with a process, the

first offense a parent guardian needs to

come and pick it up. The consequence of

the second offense is 1 day in in-school

suspension, and the consequence for the

3rd offense the principal’s decision.

Most students disagree with the phone

policy. Many students feel you should

be allowed to use electronics in study

halls or lunch especially because it is not

taking away from your academics. If they

allowed phones in study halls and lunches

many kids would stop trying to sneak their

phones in actual classes. Many teachers

may believe that students do not go on

their electronic devices, but that is not

true. Many students go against the phone

policy, they use them anyway in study

halls and lunch when a teacher is not

present. Technology is a major part of

everyone’s lives and do

have positive effects with

academics. If students

were allowed to use their

cell phones we would be

able play Kahoot, study on Quizlet,

and do online homework. New Vision’s

students curriculum and homework are

online and students need their phones in

order to accomplish homework. If we are

not allowed to use phones then it is not as

easy to get the homework done in study

halls. When asked 9 out of 17 teachers

felt as if the cell phone policy should be

different. They felt as if students should

Phones Continued from page 1

Mrs. Dildine’s chemistry class is completed

traditionally with pen and paper.

Mia Enright and Michael Hunt use their phones to

review with Kahoot.

be allowed to use electronic devices in

lunch and study halls.

The electronic device policy has not been

updated in many years, so they should

re-think their policy and make sure it is

up to date. The use of technology is a lot

more common especially with students.

It would be very beneficial for students

to look into updating the phone policy.

EDITION 1 P AGE 6

Spirit Week – the most anticipated week

of the school year. The seniors dominat-

ed the majority of the competitions

throughout the week to be the Spirit Jug

winners. In previous years, the fresh-

men had won hallway decorating; that

was not the case this year as we made a

change to spirit boards and floats that

were displayed at the Homecoming

football game on Saturday afternoon.

The real competition is between the

junior and seniors during the pep rally.

This year, that rivalry was intense!

The sophomores won the loudest class

as they are larger in numbers, but the

only thing they were good at was being

loud. Seniors won the Tug of War by a

landslide using Jordan Lohmeyer as an

anchor. The senior girls won the Pow-

der Puff Game when Skyler Cicora

scored the winning touchdown. The

juniors won the float competition with

their all-American backyard BBQ to

complete their 4th of July float. Many

believed the sophomores had the most

creative float with their creepy Christ-

mas scene.

As for Spirit Week,

the classes with the

most spirit were the

Juniors and Seniors.

Anticipation filled

the hallways as the

days ticked down to

the homecoming

game. The almost

inevitable victory

over Newfield was a

welcomed win. Go Spartans!

flannel. Some popular brands

also produce clothing that fits

within the “90s” look. Some of

them are Supreme, Off-White,

Golf, Palace, and Bape. The best

way to describe these brands

would be as high end street-

wear.

From the “alt” kids to the

“mainstream” kids, no one is

openly judged. Yes, people will

silently judge, but if you don’t

Spirit Week ReCap By Emmalea Erickson and Hannah McConnell

Edison Fashion Continued from page 2

created for this purpose.

There are also kids that under dress in the

winter times. Students that don’t drive have

to walk in sometimes negative degree

weather. By bringing in gently used or

unused clothes you as the staff or students

of Thomas Edison High School are helping

your fellow TAE students to come.

Style Continued from page 2

Nate DiBucci shows off his alternative streetware featuring Polo and Supreme brands with the grunge flannel. Right:

Rachel Becker sports her athletic wear Nike apparel.

Left: Senior Hailey Burdick, junior Josh Tryon, sophomore Ryan Benedict, and

freshman Isaac Burdick all compete for

the last chair at the pep rally.

Below: Almost there: our Spartans close in on the end zone in the Homecoming

game against Newfield.

THE L IGHT BULB P AGE 7

2017-2018 TAE 2 Hour Delay Schedule

Events Calendar: 2018

PERIOD TIME NOTES

1 10:15 - 10:49

2 10:52 - 11:23

4 11:26 - 11:49 PM BOCES DEPARTS @ 11:45

5 11:52 - 12:15

6 12:18 - 12:41

7 12:44 - 1:07

8 1:10 - 1:41

9 1:44 - 2:15

10 2:18 - 2:49 PM BOCES RETURNS @ 2:25

3 2:52 - 3:25

NO AM BOCES

NO EMM

The winter months are upon us. Check into

local television and radio stations for school

closings and delays. Also:

Twitter: @ EHCSD

Facebook:

@ElmiraHeightsCentralSchoolDistrict

Dec 23rd - Yearbook prices go up to $65.00

Jan 1st - Winter Recess

Jan 2nd – District musical auditions begin

Jan 3rd – Seniors: Cap and gown orders due

Jan 8th - TAE freshman fundraiser sale begins

Jan 10th – Seniors: First trip payment due, $60

Jan 15th - No School/ Martin Luther King Day

Jan 18th - TAE freshman Fundraiser ends

Jan 20th - Snowball dance

Jan 22rd —25th -Regents week

Jan 25th - 3rd marking period ends

Jan 26th - No School Conference day

Jan 31st - Half day

Feb 5th - Key Club candy gram sales begin

Feb 10th - ACT exam

Feb 19th -20th - Mid-winter recess

Feb 24th - TAE senior banquet

Feb 28th - Seniors: 2nd trip payment due, $60

March 1st - Spring sports parent night

March 2nd-3rd - District musical performances

March 5th - Spring JV/Varsity sports begin

March 8th - 4th marking period begins

March 9th - No School/conference day

March 28th – Seniors: 3rd trip payment due, $65

March 30th - No School

division and second

place in IACs. The

junior varsity team fol-

lowed suit by taking first

place in their division

and first place in IACs.

Congrats to both teams!

Our cross country

runners represented Edison

had a fantastic season as well.

Edison cross country had many

stand out runners this year.

Riley Vincent had an outstand-

ing season placing fifth at Divi-

sions, eleventh place at IAC

Championships, second place in

Team All-stars, twelfth place at

sectionals, and first Team All-

stars at Divisions. Senior, Julia

Eichenlaub, had a phenomenal

last year of cross country taking

fifteenth at sectionals. Mitchell

Perry, representing our male

runners, placed second in Team

The TAE varsity football team's

season has come to

a close. The season started

off strong with a win against

Unadilla High and a satisfying

shutout against Newfield high

(36-0). The team banded

together to take down the

Whitney Point Class C team.

Thanks to head coach, Mike

Bennett, the Spartans

concluded their season with

a 4-5 record. Hard work and

dedication made for an exciting

season that the Spartan team

can be proud of.

Along with an eventful football

season, the Junior Varsity and

Varsity volleyball teams also

rocked the season. The varsity

team ended with an amazing win

-loss record of 12-4. The team's

dedication to success carried

them to first place in their

All-stars at divisions.

Our Edison cheer team energized

the crowds with quite the perfor-

mance during the Edison Home-

coming pep rally and game. The

Varsity and JV cheer teams play an

important role during Homecoming

week and the fall sports seasons.

Not only do they practice their

routine for the pep rally, but while

everyone enjoys the homecoming

bonfire, they deliver posters to all

the athletes representing Edison

High. Without their unending

support and spirit, the fall season

would not be as exciting!

Fall Sports Wrap Up By Michael Condon

Edison High School is known as the Spartans,

but no opposing team has ever seen the Spartan

…until this year. Our challengers will tremble

before our new mascot. Athletes, spectators, and

students: Behold, Leonidas, the Thomas Edison

Spartan.

How did Leonidas get his name, you ask? The

TAE staff came together and voted. The final

two names selected were between Leonidas and

Spartacus. Leonidas was chosen because he was

an actual Spartan, the King of Sparta in fact who

led the Spartan army against the Persians in the

battle of Thermopylae. Spartacus was a warrior

as well. However, he was a slave captured by the

Roman army. He earned his name through the

arena as a gladiator.

Our Leonidas is dressed in orange body armor

with an orange helmet. You will see him at

athletic events, at home games or meets. Students,

introduce yourselves and your family to our new

mascot. Leo is excited to be a new addition to

our sports family and culture here at TAE!

Meet Leo! By Michael Condon

Journalists: Rachel Becker

Michael Condon

Emmalea Erickson

Hannah Goff

Hannah McConnell

Alecia McKillip

Zachery Moore

Advisors: Allison Newkirk

Amy Williamson

Our Spartan ladies score against Newark Valley