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Science Olympiad to compete in Akron University’s Regional Competition

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The Stow Munroe-Falls Science Olympiad team competed in the Regional Competition at University of Akron on Sat., March 14.

Science Olympiad is an academic club that competes in science-related events at designated schools. These events are known as “invitationals” and are, for reference, very similar to Speech and Debate tournaments. Both involve multiple students from several schools competing in many different categories to prove their ability to display their knowledge about one of any several areas.

The challenges can range from recalling simple information about the skeletal system of the human anatomy to explaining an electric circuit to a panel of judges. These are tests that truly exemplify the talent, ability and skill of the people performing them and require an incredible amount of advanced preparation.

Most schools have an actual class period dedicated to Science Olympiad, but Stow’s team meets once a week for an hour to discuss plans for the next event they will attend.

“We have competed in three different invitationals, and this is the culmination of our season,” teacher David Helmick said.

These three previous invitationals have only been preparing the team for the Regional Competition, which will be held at Akron University. If the team earns a position among the top six Science Olympiad teams in this region, the team will proceed to the State Level Competition in Columbus.

This is not an unheard of feat. In 2010, both the middle school and high school teams qualified to go to the state competition. They returned home with their heads held high but without the necessary qualifications to proceed to the national level invitational.

Since then, the middle school team has dissolved, but the hope that the high school team will prevail still exists.

The team’s outlook has been overwhelmingly positive. Many are confident that this will be the year the high school Science Olympiad team returns to the State Invitational. The team is fired up and ready to give it their best shot.

“I think that if there is going to be any year where we go to states, [it is] going to be this year,” senior Mia Hamilton said “we have a lot of good, passionate people who have the same goal in mind so it is really easy to be motivated. I want there to be another award for Science Olympiad in the trophy cabinet and know that [I am] part of the reason why it is there.”

The results of the Regional Competition will be posted online at Stohion.com as soon as they are available.

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School treasurer suspended with over twenty allegations by B.O.E

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With over 20 cited allegations, the Board of Education has voted 4-1 to suspend Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Catherine Bulgrin.

On Tues., Feb. 10, during a special BOE meeting, Bulgrin was officially suspended, pending a pre-disciplinary/pre- termination conference, which occurred on Thurs., Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the District’s Central Office.

David L. Osborne was hired as interim treasurer on Tues., Feb. 10. Osborne’s position became effective on Feb. 11. He will be paid $400 as a daily rate.

His contract says Osborne’s position will remain in place until the Board finds a permanent treasurer.

During this meeting, the BOE also approved to request the state auditor’s office hold both a “forensic audit and special investigation audit” at the treasurer’s office.

According to the district notice, her suspension is without benefits or pay.

According to Stow Sentry, Board member Pat Matthews, who cast the dissenting vote, said, “I stand behind [Bulgrin].”

Prior to approving the sus- pension, the Board unanimously voted to issue a letter, which requested Bulgrin’s attendance at the Thursday meeting. According to the letter, the BOE planned to have the conference in an executive session, but Bulgrin had the right to “demand the opportunity to be heard in open session.”

At the disciplinary hearing held on Jan. 29, Bulgrin’s attorney, Jack Morrison Jr., stated Bulgrin wanted the conference hearing to take place as an open session.

Bulgrin’s original contract was scheduled to expire in July 2016. On Jan. 13, the BOE informed Bulgrin they would not be renewing her contract. Six days later, the board assigned Bulgrin to work from home, starting on Jan. 21. This is when the board cited over 20 allegations, which may result in disciplinary action or even ter- mination of Bulgrin’s employ- ment. The board’s resolution ended in a 4-1 vote, Matthews again being the member with the dissenting vote.

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Activities during spirit week heat up the high school

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Seniors won the Battle of the Classes.

Seniors finished the battle with 49 points, following by juniors with 39 points, sophomores with 16 points and freshman with 14.

Stow B.O.T.C. 2015 shows who runs the school. All students hoped their class would win but in the end, many were upset again by the senior’s victory.

Seniors finished this year’s competi- tion with 5,300 points, second went to the juniors who had 2,400 points and third place went to freshmen with 1,900 points. Sophomores placed last with a dismal 1,100 points.

Mon. Feb. 9, there was an obstacle course during lunch to see which class could finish the fastest. The course consisted of crab walking, running and hula hooping. Seniors dominated with first place Tyler Hallam. Freshmen took second place and sophomores, third place.

Tues. Feb. 10, all activities were canceled due to ALICE training.

Wed. Feb. 11, there was a basketball shoot-out during lunch, winners were first place sophomore Ty Kremling, second place senior Antonio Johnson.

Wednesday night featured a dodge ball tournament and juniors dominated with first place showing their competitors who really runs the high school.

Thurs. Feb. 12 there was an obstacle course during lunch; however, due to some confusion, winners were not identified.

Fri. Feb. 13, due to the two-hour delay, lunch activities and pep rally activities were canceled.

One event that went on throughout the week was a coin collection; during lunches, student council collected change from each class, and the money went to Akron Children’s Hospital. The juniors won with a little over $450, and seniors came in second.

Another event was to see which class could accumulate the most followers on the B.O.T.C. twitter account.

Seniors came in first, freshmen came in second and juniors finished third. Each event was worth 500 points.

“I think it was fun. I was really unhappy about not having the pep rally because I was looking forward to it all week,” junior Chazon Clark said.

Many students were glad to have the B.O.T.C. this year. Participants seemed to enjoy the week’s activities.

“It made my week so much better being able to participate in school activities and spirit,” sophomore Pammy Meyer said.

Some students are excited to see what next year’s B.O.T.C. will bring to the table.

“I thought it was fun [and] cannot wait until we do it again next year,” freshman Parker Dinger said.

Students enjoy class events and spirit weeks because they are able to get involved in extra activities held at the high school.

Hopefully next year another class can dominate and take the throne from the new seniors because they are already looking at a “three-peat.”

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Junior Class Play excites audience through radio show performance

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The end of February kicks off with the performance of the Junior Class Play, Vintage Hitchcock.

On Feb. 27, 28 and March 1, the junior class will perform their class play. This year, the play is called “Vintage Hitch- cock: A Live Radio Play.” The play is a depiction of a radio show set in the 1940s. It involves many suspenseful mo- ments, including train chases, serial killers and explosions.

JCP takes place every Febru- ary. Unlike the Senior Class Play, which is traditionally a comedy, the Junior Class Play is a drama. The show is a juniors-only cast. The cast of the play is small this year but strong. The cast consists of only juniors, including Ricky Tritten, Jack Dotson, Tristan Ange, Stefano Mariola, Rachel Jagger, Emily Gresser, Marissa Sabatucci, Sarah Burger, Ciara Dawn and Nathaniel Halaz. The student producers, juniors Alex Laing and Taylor Hostetler, have been working on publicity for the play including painting the signs that are put up around Stow and the large banner hung in front of the auditorium.

“It’s cool to see it all come together,” Laing said. “I think it’s going to look really good on stage.”

The student directors, juniors Charlie Blair and Andrew Brown, work with the cast by helping them learn lines, block- ing on stage. They help Director Robert Putka by making sure everything is running smoothly and allow him to focus on the performance.

The show itself is structured in a different way than an typical play. Instead of separate scenes of people moving on stage, the actors present themselves as though they are in a radio show, standing in front of microphones much like a live radio perfor- mance. The cast puts on many different accents during the show, including British, which the cast and Putka have worked hard to perfect.

“It’s very suspenseful and funny,” Laing said.

The play is performed in three acts, with each act being an adaptation of a different work of Alfred Hitchcock. These ad- aptations include “The Lodger,” “Sabotage” and “39 Steps.”

“The Lodger” is a story about a serial killer who arrives to rent a room in London. Suspicion
is abound when certain people become jealous of the killer, and his identity may be discovered.

“Sabotage” is the story about a group of secret agents who are set up to spy on a goup of criminals.

“The 39 Steps” is about a man determined to expose a crime ring and prove his innocence in a murder.

The performances will take place on at the end of February. Tickets are $8 for students and senior citizens and $9 for adults.

The Junior Class Play is a junior class fund raiser, so students were encouraged to come see the show, both to help raise money for the junior class and see the amazing performance their classmates put on.

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