Law made a bet with his four groups competing at the festival that if each group received a superior rating, he would chop off his ponytail.

     All four orchestras were awarded straight superior ratings from all the judges at the orchestra.

     In addition to being awarded superior ratings, the Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra and Full Orchestra were given the prize for class 5A Outstanding Groups.

     The Monday after the festival, Law announced the results to his orchestras along with the fact that his ponytail has now been donated to Locks of Love.

By Claire Cooper

     “The (students) were charged by the police for trespassing and disorderly conduct, I believe,” Principal Jon Bilbo said.

     During the night, the students dumped horse manure in the GJHS staff parking lot and filled of a number of exterior door keyholes with super glue. The seniors proceeded to glue pennies over the key holes to prevent access.

     The senior girls were detained by police after a call was made reporting a truck that was on campus for an extended period of time.  

     Administration was later able to enter the school by opening a side door. They were able to open the other glued doors from the inside with the help of locksmiths. 

     “It goes back to the skunk oil incident last year. It just brings embarrassment to our school,” Bilbo said.

     If the school’s damage exceeds $1,000, the seniors will be charged with felony.

     The girls will be responsible for paying restitution and Bilbo was unable to discuss punishment from administration at the time of the interview.

By Kimberlyn Bennett

Students are required to have a 3.5 overall grade point average and be involved in serving the community.  Students must also write a letter to White and the NHS officers explaining why they feel they deserve to be in NHS. Informing the NHS officers of your academic excellence and prior community service experiences is also required.

To remain a part of NHS, members must continue to excel in their academics and complete 20 individual service hours and 10 group hours for non-profit organizations.

“I enjoy NHS because it is a fun way to interact with other students and a fun way to serve our community,” junior NHS member Julie Kembel said.

After the first year, students who are interested are given the opportunity to become an officer after writing an application letter and delivering a short speech.

“It’s better to be a leader in one club than a member in many,” senior NHS president Cyrus Pearo said.

By Jayme Hagedorn

All the other high schools in Mesa County have been working with this system for a couple of years now making GJHS the last to try the method.

Currently, almost every teacher at GJHS has two planning periods and six classes.

During their common planning period, teachers must  meet with their subject department and discuss their lesson plans.

This common planning period makes it so that every teacher in that department does not have any classes during that time.

Next year, instead of teachers having a common planning period within their departments, they will be required to meet up with their PLC team every Monday morning.

“We hold our professional learning meetings so we can get together and look at student data so that we can build better instruction for kids,” assistant principal Jami Moore said.

Because of the new system they will be following, the students will come to school an hour later than usual on Mondays.

The students attending GJHS next year are thrilled to have that extra hour on Monday mornings whether it is for extra sleep or just having extra free time.

Junior Ari Crossan is not only happy about the extra sleep he will be getting on Monday, but also that his schedule will be better and easier to put together for his senior year.

“It’ll help with everything,” Crossan said.

If the PLC arrangement shows improvement through the GJHS students and benefits the teachers with their learning criteria ideas, students, parents and faculty can expect this system to stay with the school for years to come.

By Michelle Pewters

Mrs. Cathy Larsen, the GJHS school to career counselor, has a plethora of scholarship opportunities available and advises students that “the sooner you look the better [because] deadlines are quickly approaching.”

Many websites, such as www.scholarshipsearch.com, offer weekly prizes and searches to match each person with his or her perfect scholarship.

“There are a million scholarships out there.” Larsen said, “With a little work and research everyone can find a scholarship.”

Larsen also encourages students to search for financial aid regardless of grade point average.

“Just because you don’t have the GPA, don’t not look because there are always ways.”

The state of Colorado also offers a variety of monetary awards including vouchers and stipends that can be used for universities, vocational schools and other education institutions.

“Everyone should apply for the COF (Colorado Opportunity Fund) because the money can be used for so many different things,” Larsen said.

Mrs. Larsen also recommends that students either drop by the school to career office or get to know their counselor to for help finding scholarships and grants that may apply to them.

“There’s a scholarship for everyone; in the end, it’s all on you.”

Mrs. Larsen’s Favorite Random Scholarships:

• parapsychology (apply if you are a psychic)
• reform of marijuana
• national marble tournament
• make-it-yourself wool scholarship
• scholarship for lefties (apply if you are lefthanded)
• National Christmas Tree: (Which Christmas Trees are better, real or fake?)
• Tall International (apply if you are a woman over 5’10” tall)

(the above can all be found at www.mynextcollege.com)

by Maggie Johnston

     8th Period 1:15 – 2:50

Thursday, Decenber 16th*

     1st hour  7:25-8:55

     3rd hour  9:05-10:35

     Lunch 10:35-11:35

     5th hour 11:40- 1:10

     7th hour 1:20-2:50

Friday, December 17th*

     2nd hour 7:25-8:55

     4th hour 9:05-10:35

     Lunch 10:35-11:35

     6th hour 11:40-1:10

     Make-Up Exams 1:20-2:50

*Passing Periods 10 minutes long

Questions 1-3: match the proposed amendments with what they would have done if voted into law:

Question 1: Proposition 101:   Lowers the driver registration fee

Question 2: Proposition 60:  Property taxes are lowered

Question 3: Proposition 61:  The government cannot borrow money

Questions 4-6: match the political candidates with their opponents and their political party:

     D: John Hickenlooper         R: Dan Maes

     D: John Salazar       R: Scott Tipton

     D: Michael Bennett            R: Ken Buck

Question 7:  The Gulf Coast oil spill began with an explosion on what oil rig?

     Answer:  Deepwater Horizon Rig

Question 8: Is America Currently in a recession?

     Answer: No.  According to economists, the recession has now ended.  We are, however, still suffering effects of the recession.

Question 9: Which Current major political party is the Tea Party movement trying to re-energize?

     Answer:  The Republican Party.

Question 10: Which country recently released Sara Shourd, one of three American hikers held for the past 13 months in prison?

     Answer: Iran

Question 11: Which of the following is not a political party in the USA?

     Answer:  Red.  GOP (a.k.a the Republican party), Libertarian, and Green are all political parties in the USA.  “Red” is a color associated with the Republican Party, but “Red” itself is not a political party.

     The dance will start at 7 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. at the GJHS Cafeteria, and it will cost 5 dollars.

     For those looking to indulge their sweet tooth, there will be a variety of desserts available.

     The Jazz band will play throughout the dance.

                                                                                          Story by: Paul Harmon

     “It was about two, two-and-a-half weeks ago,” said language arts teacher Jean McFadzen. “I went to my car in the afternoon and found this note on it.”

     McFadzen said the note from an anonymous student read, “You are a teacher. Go park in staff. We need the spaces more!”

     McFadzen found the note on her car while her car was parked in the math building parking lot. 

     “I talked to the administration,” said McFadzen. “The math building is mixed parking (meaning either students or staff can park there).”

     The staff is working on a system to clarify who can park where.

     “I continue to park there and I haven’t gotten any other notes,” said McFadzen. “There is a gross miscommunication.”

     The staff is hoping to solve the communication issues between teachers and students to prevent further problems.

     “Most of my students know where I park and what my car looks like.  I would hope if it was one of my students that they would come forward about it,” said McFadzen.

     Another teacher got a note on her car, but she would not comment. She has since then stopped parking in the spot where she got the note.

     “The other teacher stopped parking there because she got threatened, and thought something might happen to her car. I said I don’t think we have that kind of school here. I don’t feel threatened,” said McFadzen.

By James Osmundsen