The Student Newspaper of Mars High School

PLANET PRESS TH

E

January 2014 Volume 86 Issue 6 Send us your suggestions

and questions to planet.press@yahoo.com

Scholastic art awards showcase local talent By Patience Yobp

Culture adjustment

Students from abroad board at Mars By Patience Yobp

Every year, Mars gets a taste of people from different countries and cultures. “It`s important to learn about other cultures and in a small town like Mars, bringing students from other countries is the next best thing than traveling to other countries,” said American Field Service coordinator and German teacher, Frau Peters. Peters has been the AFS coordina-tor at the High School for 15 years. Before Mars, she studied abroad at the University of Trier in Germany as a junior. AFS is in charge of the Fall Craft Show at Mars which is the club`s only fundraiser throughout the year. The fundraiser allows Mars to give scholarships to students who want to travel abroad and it helps pay for certain things the exchange students need here. The fundraiser also pro-vides money for the International Days in March. There are between one and three students that participates in AFS oth-er countries every year. This year there are two students, Guillen Steulet and Sofie Engel who talk about the change of coming to a new area.

key, silver key, or honorable men-tion. A gold key is where the artwork is sent even farther to New York City to be judged on a national level. A silver key is the equivalent to win-ning second place. An honorable mention is comparable to getting third place. “I guess I just wanted to see if I was any good,” artist, Katherine Butler said, “I was so excited, and honestly shocked at first.” Butler won two gold keys and two honora-ble mentions. Winning a gold key could get the

The Pittsburgh Arts Region Scho-lastic Art and Writing Awards took place this month showcasing many Mars students` artistic talents. “I think they are a wonderful bunch, I wish more would enter. We have a lot of quality kids, these kids are going above and beyond,” said art and photography teacher, Mrs. Sloane. The first stage of the competition is sending the art electronically to be judged. After that, there are different things that can happen, the artist and his or her artwork can win a gold

Inside this Issue

Page 2 Teacher Couples Olympics Cheer Page 3 Best friends, Perfect Date

artist a scholarship. Even if an artist received a silver key or honorable mention, it still looks good on their resume. Maddie Salapow entered a portfo-lio and her work won a gold key so it will go on for further judging. She was granted a $28,000 scholarship because she earned the Creative Vision Award for her art and strong academics. A tremendous amount of time is put into the art that is entered into this competition whether it is a port-folio or photograph. For a portfolio,

there are about eight pieces of art that go into it and in a photograph a student has to find and edit the shot. “If it wasn`t for Mrs. Sloane, I would have never even thought of entering. To be honest, I was just experiment-ing with my camera and taking pic-tures. I`m extremely happy and so thankful that my photos are being recognized,” said photographer Osyana Roman. After this contest, the students work will move onto other shows such as the Associate Artists of Butler County and the Coffeehouse Gallery.

Photos courtesy of Patience Yobp

Exchange student, Guillen Steulet

Exchange student, Sofie Engel

Guillen Steulet PY: Where are you from? GS: I am from Switzerland. PY: When did you get here? GS: I got here on August 9. PY: Do you like it here [in Ameri-ca]? Why? GS: Yes, KFC. Also, people are different, they talk more. I love Gi-ant Eagle. PY: What do you think of the school? GS: There are a lot of rules. The teacher student relationship is dif-ferent, it is more friendly. PY: What is your favorite thing

Sofie Engel PY: Where are you from? GS: I am from Germany.

about the school? GS: Lunch, the school`s pizza is the best pizza ever. PY: Is it easier or harder than where you came from? GS: It is different. Language plays a factor and makes school harder. I had to drop math because I didn`t know how to say “divided.” PY: Anything else? GS: There is this cliché about Americans being fat. Americans are not fat and I can’t wait to go back and tell everyone that it is not true.

PY: When did you get here? GS: I got here on August 23. PY: Do you like it here [in Ameri-ca]? Why? GS: Yes, the people are so differ-ent from Germany. They are more open with you and more fun. PY: What do you think of the school? GS: It`s bigger and school is long-er. Usually, the teachers move around and come to you and I don`t have as much time in between class. PY: What is your favorite thing about the school? GS: My favorite thing is that you can have the classes you want and that you can take more. There is more of a variety. PY: Is it easier or harder than where you came from? GS: School is about the same. PY: Anything else? GS: The American people drive everywhere and in Germany most people walk, ride a bike, or train.

If anybody is interested in hosting someone from another country for the International Days in March for three days (March 12-15), please contact Peters.

Awarded art-work from left to right by Osyana Ro-man, Nick Deleone, and Maddie Sala-pow. Photos courtesy of Mrs. Sloane.

You can’t teach love By Kendall Angeletti

Features Planet Press Volume 86 Issue 5 3

Love is in the air this month and couples all around are at their happiest times. Mars High has a handful of teachers who have been together for years, so the Planet Press decided to test these couples. We asked each person what some of his or her favorite things are. We then asked their spouse if they knew the answers, to see how well they really know their husband or wife.

All that glitters is not gold By Callie Carlson

Senior cheerleaders say goodbye By Kendall Angeletti

On the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 8, the Mars High School Varsity cheerleading team cheered for the last time togeth-er at the last home basketball game of the sea-son. Seniors, Demi Branchen, Jessyka Taylor, Casey Mag-dinec, Tessa Cybach, Christi-na Cassidy, Jo-sie Shebat, Han-na Ozarski, and Brooke Lampen-field, had a bit-tersweet feeling that night be-cause they knew it would be their last time to cheer at home high school bas-ketball game. “It was a sad day because I realized my cheerleading years were com-ing to an end,” said, senior Demi Branchen. “Although I started to cry, I was also happy because I knew it

wasn’t over just yet and I was still going to get to cheer during the playoffs,” Branchen added.

The cheerleaders said they had a fun season while following the foot-ball and basketball teams through

their many wins. Many seniors on the team believe that it was good last season for

them to have. “We were very fortunate that the teams have come as far as they did,” said senior, Casey Magdinec. “It was more enjoyable to cheer for a win-ning team.” The seniors made up a large part of the squad this year, so the team will be looking for many new mem-bers next year. “I bonded with this year’s sen-iors, so it will be hard to see them go,” said junior, Morgan

Ainsworth. “Although, I am excited to see what next year’s

season holds for us.”

Seniors, from left to right, Demi Branchen, Jessyka Taylor, Casey Magdinec, Josie Shebat, Brooke Lampenfield, and Christina Cassidy (not pictured Tessa Cybach and Hanna Ozarski). Photo from Instagram

SPORTS FEATURES

THE KLINES Señor and Mrs.

Silbaugh

Mr. Kline

Color- Blue Book– Money Ball Movie- A Field of Dreams Food– Hot Wings Song/artist– Tom Petty

Holiday– Christmas

MR. KLINE’S GUESSES

Color– anything but red, maybe black Book– Great Expectations

Movie– Sixteen Candles Food– Mashed Potatoes Song/Artist– Dave Matthews Band Holiday– Christmas

Mrs. Kline

Color– Black Book– Great Expectations

Movie– Sixteen Candles

Food– Mashed potatoes Song/Artist– Dave Matthews Band Holiday– Christmas

MRS. KLINE’s Guesses

Color– Navy blue Book– Money ball Movie– A Feld of Dreams Food– Hot wings

Song/artist– Pearl Jam Holiday– Christmas

Señor

Color– Green Book– Catcher in the Rye Movie– Usual Suspects Food– Mac &Cheese Song/Artist– Michael Bublé Holiday– St. Patrick’s Day Señor’s Guesses

Color– red like her luscious lips or black like her personality

Book– To Kill a Mockingbird Movie– Marley & Me

Food– Shamrock Shakes Song/artist– anything hipster Holiday– 4th of July

Mrs. Silbaugh

Color– Purple Book– To Kill a Mockingbird

Movie– Scent of a Woman Food– Chocolate

Song/Artist– Bright Eyes Holiday– Christmas MRS.Silbaugh’s Guesses

Color– Green

Book– Catcher in the Rye

Movie– Scent of a Woman

Food– Frozen meats

Song/Artist– Michael Bublé Holiday– Cinco de Mayo

From sparkling skate blades, shim-mering ski poles, and dazzling smiles, all that glitters is not gold, at least for the United States. Only earning nine gold medals out of a total 28, the Unit-ed States came in second for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Of those winning the gold for the United States, one that stood out was Mikaela Shiffrin. At only 18 years old, Shiffrin won the gold in women’s sla-lom and became the youngest ever to achieve this accomplishment. A few days ago, she reached out to her fans out twitter saying, “The sacrifices are nothing compared to a dream dying- keep your dreams alive, give them all of your soul”. Along with Mikaela Shiffrin, there was another “first” for the Americans this Olympics. Figure skating pair Mer-yl Davis and Charlie White won the first ever gold in ice dance for the Unit-ed States. Davis and White began figure skating together at 9 and 8 re-spectively. After 18 years of skating, the couple finally achieved a dream of many- winning a gold medal. Steven Holcomb also found triumph during the 2014 Olympics. Even after battling depression and deteriorating vision, Holcomb still had some fight left in him. Earning bronze in two-man bobsledding, Holcomb ended a “62-year drought” for Americans in medaling for that event. Four years ago, he ended yet another “62-year drought” by winning gold in four-man bobsledding for the United States. Although the United States failed to bring home first place from Sochi, history was still made. Hopefully the 2018 Olympics will hold more “firsts” for the United States.

F is for friends

By: Erin Ford

Throughout the years at Mars High people you see every day have turned into the best of friends. The friends that are made her now can last a lifetime. This month The Planet Press featured two sets of best friends, Ben Luce and Reed McDonough and Shannon McChesney and Reilly Butler.

Planet Press Volume 86 Issue 5 Feature/Entertainment 3

Fun facts about Valentine’s Day By Erin Ford

On Valentine’s Day, every year people show how much they care for someone by either taking them out on a romantic date or showering them with gifts such as flowers, jew-elry, candy, and cards. However, many people do not know how much money all across the world is actually spent on Feb.14

.

According to the National Retail Foundation, every year, an average

What’s your perfect date? By Kendall Angeletti

Whether it is a walk on the beach under the moonlight or a fancy dinner in the city, everyone has his or her depiction of the perfect date. February is the month of love and causes us to think about what we wish we could do with that special someone on Valentine’s Day. The Planet Press asked Mars High students what their perfect Valentine’s date would be.

person will approximately spend $130.97. If that is correct, the aver-age money spent on that day will sum up to be around $18.6 billion. One of the biggest aspects of the holiday is flowers. Over 50 percent of the flowers sold on Valentine’s Day sold are roses. Just for Valentine’s Day, around 200 million roses are grown. $1.9 million dollars would be the total money spent on flowers.

“Going to Chipotle with Dillon Wright would be the perfect date.” Junior, Ty Reginelli

“A nice dinner and a movie with a limo ride.” Junior, Cas-sie Frantz

“A perfect date would be a nice fancy dinner with some music playing in the background.” Freshman, Joey Crognale

When did you guys meet? R.M.: In 7

th grade, in our first period band class.

B.L: Then in high school, we participated in the same clubs and activities such as Reach, Key Club, and skiing. What do you admire the most about each other? R.M.: He is pretty chill and I really like that we have common interests. B.L: He is compassionate about everything he does and inspires the others around him. What is your favorite thing to do together? R.M.: We like to go out and pick up babes at the beach. B.L.: We like to hang out and hot tub at our one friend Brad’s house. Whose house do you hang out the most? R.M.: My house B.L.: Definitely Reed’s house. What is your favorite memory with each other? R.M.: We went with my family to the Outer Banks last summer and it was amazing. B.L.: Every time we hang out it is a memory in itself, and making fun of Mr.K in class every day.

When did you guys meet? S.H: We met in U-8 soccer league when we were really little and my dad was the coach. R.B.: But we did not actually become friends until high school cross-country even though we had known each other since we were little. What do you guys admire the most about each other? S.M.: I admire her sarcastic humor that I can always count on to get me through the day. R.B.: I admire Shannon’s for her bubbly personality and her positive outlook on life even in the toughest situations. What is your favorite activity to do together? S.M.: We run cross-country together, so we enjoy going on runs with each other because we help push one another. R.B.: I really like how after our runs we always have a feast of food with each other, which sometimes helps us get through the runs. Whose house do you hang out the most often? S.M: Reilly’s house because I love hanging out with her parents more than her sometimes. R.B.: My house What is your favorite memory with each other? S.M.: My favorite memory is when our cross-country team won WPIALS. It was an amazing experience in itself, but to do it with your best friend is so much more memorable. R.B.: I loved going to a cross country camp at Slippery Rock University last summer with her we got to spend a week together doing the thing that we both love.

“Going to Walmart and riding the bikes around the store and ending the night with a good snuggle,” said Senior, Kelsey Bruce.

Another big item that is bought for the holiday is jewelry. The amount of money that is spent on gold, sil-ver, and diamonds is just over $4.4 billion dollars, making it the most expensive. The next biggest gift are candy and chocolate. The studies show that $1.6 billion will be spent on these sweets every year.

Finally, every present needs a card. 145 million cards will be sold. Hallmark has approximately 1,400 different Valentine’s Day card tem-plates.

Juniors, Reed McDonough and Ben Luce (from left to right) pose with each other for their annual best friend homecoming picture. Photo courtesy of Facebook

Best Friends Reilly Butler and Shannon McChesney (right to left) at one of their cross country meets. Photo courtesy of Facebook