Feature

History behind Black History month

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As February took its toll and ended, students look back through the month and discover new and old ideas. One many seem to have forgotten is the importance of February; it is a month chosen for the celebration and recognition of Black Americans and is well known as Black History Month.

According to Inventors.about.com, “What we now call Black History Month originated in 1926, founded by Carter
G. Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was selected in deference to Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln who were both born in that month.”

The importance of Frederick Douglass being born in February is that he was one of America’s top anti-slavery activist. He was born a slave, but later gained his freedom at the age of 20, escaping from his past.

He fought against the commonly know Jim Crow laws and the acts of lynching.

According to history.com, “For 16 years, Douglass edited an influential black newspaper and achieved interna- tional fame as an orator and writer of great persuasive power. In thousands of speeches and editorials he levied an irresistible indictment against slavery and racism.”

Douglass also worked alongside former president Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

Lincoln, who was head of the Union army during the war against the Con- federation (or the South), was a man of integrity and wisdom. Lincoln saw the inside of all people and forewarned those who judged others.

According to ourdocuments.gov, “In 1863, President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring ‘all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.’”

However, the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation completely. Lincoln saw that this document would have to be accepted by a constitutional amendment in order to guarantee the abolishment of slavery.

“The 13th amendment, which formal- ly abolished slavery in the United States, passed the Senate on April 8, 1864, and the House on January 31, 1865. On February 1, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln approved the Joint Resolution of Congress submitting the proposed amendment to the state legislatures,” ourdocuments.gov said. “The necessary number of states ratified it by December 6, 1865. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution provides that ‘Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.’”

Feature

Student makes great achievements in singing

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For eleven years and counting, Senior Rayla Garske has been focused on singing.

From singing her heart out at every opportunity given, overcoming her nerves, practicing over and over again

and giving it her all, she has made singing her official career choice.

Garske has sung in small groups, in front of family and friends, in front of small crowds and at competi- tions. She has had leads in school plays and ETC show choir competitions. She competed and won “Stow Idol” and “Ohio Idol,” performed at Cleveland sports games, which included singing the National Anthem at a Cavaliers game. She also sang in her second, fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh grade talent shows; in her eleventh grade musical; and now plans to sing in her twelfth grade school musicals.

Rayla Garske was born to be singer on Broadway. She dreams of making a career out of her singing, and she is completely capable of doing so.

“Rayla is awesome. She has so much talent,” senior Sean Flemmings said.

Sophomore year, Garske won her first show choir solo competition, fourth best soloist in a show, best vocalist music in Parks with Jazz Band and “Show Choir Camp of America” talent contest. In eleventh grade, she won two show choir competitions and one best soloist
in the show, Stow’s high school Talent Show and “Ohio Idol.”

To top off how incredibly talented Rayla is, she also dances, plays the flute and is very artistic. She has been singing since she was seven-years-old and in second grade.

With all of the competitions and shows Rayla has participated, she says her favorite is the Show Choir Camp talent show, “Hearing the Roar of the crowd.” She also says her best accomplishment she has achieved so far has been winning “Ohio Idol” and meeting so many new people from it.

Her plan for her future is to attend “American Dramatic Arts Academy” in Hollywood for two years. Then attend their branch in New York for two years to graduate and obtain a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. She hopes to obtain her degree and pursue a future in performing.

Rayla has accomplished so much already and still has her whole life ahead of her, filled with opportunities.

She says all that she thinks of and all that fills her once she starts singing is simply joy.

“Music and singing are what I love,” Garske said.

Rayla puts so much work into performing and the star she looks up to for her singing is Beyonce Knowles.

Although she does look up to the star, that is not the only person who keeps her going with performing an following her dreams.

“I Have a lot of support from my mom, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, teachers and ETC family,” Garske said.

The first competition Garske ever participated in was when she was in second grade, which started her whole singing path.

“I wanted to sing in it, so I did,” Garske said. “My mom helped me find a song, which ended up being ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ by Louis Armstrong. When I sang it, people stopped to listen, and it felt right.”

She took lessons for a few months in seventh grade.

Rayla also has taught herself to play the guitar and has played the flute since fifth grade.

Rayla says she enjoys playing the flute and thought Marching Band was so much fun. She also loves to hang out with her friends, take naps, watch show choir and look up new songs to sing.

News

Spirit week supports a good cause

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Spirit week is often used to involve students with their school, but Student Council found a way to support a good cause at the same time.

The Battle of the Classes took place during the week of Feb. 9 and involved a competition between all four grade levels. Points were earned by the amount of money donated and the winning of the events.

Events during BOTC were attending the luau, following the BOTC twitter account, being the most spirited in a class, tweeting pictures, an obstacle course, a game of dodgeball and a three-legged race.

Students were allowed told to donate money to the bins in the lobby or the buckets in the lunch room. All of the donations went to the Akron Children’s Hospital Radiothon.

The Radiothon is an opportunity for patients and parents to share their personal stories on a radio station powered by 98.1 WKDD. People could then call and make pledges or school and other groups could make donations.

Those who made pledges were considered Change Bandits and the money contributes to the purchasing of child- size medical equipment and funding research and outreach for the community.

On the first day of the Battle of the Classes, there was a twin day. The next day’s theme was tye-dye, followed by well dressed, Valentine’s Day colors and class color day.

“I like spirit week because I think it is cool to see everyone dress up,” sophomore Lauryn Jones said.

The spirit days were chosen by the members of Student Council after students voted on what they wanted.

“I think spirit week for homecoming is a good idea, but then after I do not like it; however, I do like that we get the choice of the days,” junior Taylor Hostetler said.

Even though students had the ability to vote on the days, some students were still unsatisfied with the choices.

“Yeah I like spirit week, but I wish the days were different,” freshman Abby Johnson said.

Although the spirit week brought attention to a great cause, some students disagreed with the decision.
“The only spirit day I liked was well- groomed Wednesday because I am a fashionable guy, but I do not normally like spirit week. No one participates, and I do not want to go out of my way to buy things for it,” sophomore Andrew Shockling said.

When difficult days to dress for are chosen, sometimes students lose the desire to participate because they would have to go and buy items just for spirit week.

Nonetheless, spirit week still grants the possibility for students to get involved with their school and show their school spirit. Student Council also invited the opportunity to support both the school and a good cause.

Freshman Sophie Press said, “I like spirit weeks because you get involved with the school. You get to see who is involved, and it is just really fun.”

News

New teacher introduced to high school math department

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This year, the high school welcomes Angela Kibler to the math department. Kibler is excited to join the staff here. Kibler teaches Enriched Math I and Integrated Math II.

Although this is her first year at Stow, Kibler also taught at Maplewood, a school in Ravenna, for a year. There, she taught Algebra II and Technical Math.

Kibler did not start her career off as a teacher. She originally worked at Charles Schwab, an investment firm, under a Business Finance degree. She was there for 11 years before she went back to school so she could become a teacher.

“I have no regrets,” Kibler said.

Kibler graduated from Salem High School, which is near Youngstown, Ohio. She went to Kent State University for her undergraduate degree and the University of Akron for her Master’s Degree.

Kibler student taught at Coventry High School in Akron.

Last July, Kibler married Chris, and then she went to Hawaii for her honeymoon. She has two pets: an 18-year- old cat named Felix and a four-year-old dog named Hank.

Kibler and Hank both enjoy running in their free time. They usually like to run four to five times a week. When it is raining or too cold to run outside, Kibler runs on the treadmill. Then, once she is done, she lets Hank go. She loves how exercising makes her feel healthy.

“I know how much Hank enjoys it, too,” Kibler said.

One more thing Kibler enjoys in her free time is traveling. She loves many varieties of cultures and trying new and exotic things. Kibler has traveled to more than nine different countries with Chris, including Greece and France.

“My favorite place to travel thus far has been Hawaii. I loved it because there was a good variety of things to do. We could go to the beach, hike a volcano, hike to a waterfall, snorkel or go shopping. The weather, climate and scenery is awesome,” Kibler said.

Chris and Kibler have traveled to many countries and many states. The two have a bucket list of places they would like to go.

“The next place I would like to visit in the United States is New Orleans because I love music, and they are known for that,” Kibler said.

Kibler’s favorite sports are football and volleyball. She prefers professional football to college and her favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“My favorite sport to watch is volleyball because I love the team aspect,” Kibler said.

Ever since she was a child, Kibler new she wanted to be a teacher. She never acted on it though because she thought she did not have the patience to teach kids.

“When I began volunteering and working with children, I knew I was meant to teach, so I went back to school,” Kibler said.

Kibler really enjoyed school while growing up, hence the reason she decided upon a teaching career. Her favorite subjects were math, English and band.

Though Kibler did not start off being a teacher, she is very glad she followed her dream and became one. She is excit- ed to begin her journey here at the high school.

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