By Molly Norback

This coming May 3^rd, 2012 the Mt. Edgecumbe High School seniors will be walking across the stage to receive the diplomas they’ve worked so hard for. The journey has been long, and they’re not done yet, but soon all will pay off for these dedicated seniors. As they get ready for the big day, each student has duties they need to complete to keep the process moving. The biggest priority for every one of them right now is to order their cap, gown, tassel, and class stole from the Josten’s Graduation Guide they received at a senior class meeting. Pricing is as follows:

 cap/gown/tassel package $33

class stole $16.

Announcements $1.10 each

The deadlines for the Josten’s package are OCTOBER 31^st. Turn them into Mrs. McCrossin or Mrs. Drake. Next on the graduation  list is the cute, little baby pictures that everyone loves to see at the slideshow presented during graduation. Each senior can have a maximum of three baby pictures to show off, and one of these pictures will be selected to be in the 2011-2012 yearbook. Baby pictures must be turned into Mrs. Drain before DECEMBER 10^th. If pictures are not submitted they will not be included in the slideshow or yearbook. Seniors: make sure graduation is celebrated the way it should be; do what needs to be done to walk across the stage in May!

Robotics II by Sean Melovidov

     Playing with Legos and experiencing a wide variety of programming technology was only the first step for us in robotics I. Robotics II is more critical and challenging. You have to really think “outside the box”. The challenges in robotics II take critical thinking and patience. Aaliq Rowland, Andrew Kingwell, Bill Jones, David Boyayok, Mr. Nance and I have all stepped up for a new challenge. The challenges of robotics I were teamwork, variables and estimations. Robotics II has the challenges of creativity, experiments, teamwork and patience. These challenges are difficult to overcome especially when you only have a few months to do it. The robotics II team will be traveled in February and March to compete in a region and statewide competition called “first tech challenge.” A lot of rules, studying and brainstorming was necessary for the competition, but the MEHS robotics team didn’t hesitate at all.

     Reading the rulebooks and assigning roles was our first step. When we first got to robotics II class we had no clue what we were going to be doing. When Mr. Nance told us about the competition we didn’t know how much work it would take. We voted on team captain (Sean), co-captain & book recorder (Aaliq), designer (Andrew &David), programmer(Bill) and our advisor was already Mr. Nance. Most of our days in the beginning of the semester were all reading the rules, searching for ideas, and brainstorming how we were to build our robot. In Robotics I it was all about Legos, but in robotics II it was all medal and screws. Towards February we found out more about the competition and were about a quarter done with our robot. It had taken us weeks to figure out a foundation model for our robot and how we were going to make everything fit. Our robot was going to be 100% original and, as Mr. Nance says, “K.I.S.S.” keep it simple stupid. Designing the robot and building took a lot of teamwork, brainstorming and a series of multiple tests and patience.

     Bill Jones, the head programmer, worked on programming for almost a month straight. Bill helped with many ideas on the building but had to study many ways for the robot to move as well as how to set the robot up with joysticks. Mr. Nance, who kept educating Bill with more programs, provided a device called the “Samantha unit” that would give the robot’s program wireless internet to the joysticks we would use in the competition. After hours and hours of staring at a computer screen to learn new programs, variables and statements, Bill was very competent in programming

     Aaliq and I, the captains of the team, floated around the classroom to help where we could. We suggested many ideas for the building. I spent much time with Andrew, the head builder, putting on screws and nuts to connect the robot’s structure together.

     Andrew and David, the builders, spent most of their time brainstorming and trying out different structures and movement methods for our robot. They were always in a race against time to find a K.I.S.S. structure that would work best.

      The robotics II class has many different challenges that test our ability to remain working and focusing on the task at hand. If you like the way this class sounds than you should think about participating in robotics I to get a feel for the techniques and smaller challenges that will prepare you for robotics II.

The ANSEP computer builds are coming to MEHS the last week of March (28-1).  The build is open to Seniors, Juniors and a select group of Sophomores.  To participate in the build see either Mr. Arnold or Mr. Nance for an application.  The applications for the ANSEP build are due on Wednesday March 16th.  All application need to be turned in on time.  If you are traveling during the build time, arrangements can be made to build at an alternative time, but you need to talk to Mr. Arnold or Mr. Nance.

ANSEP does more than help students with computer builds and scholarships, they have donated money to help with travel and equipment for the Robotics classes.  They also offer some real cool summer oppertunities.

Our goal is for each Summer Acceleration Academy student to:

• Earn $2,000 in scholarship support good at UAA, UAF, or UAS
• Complete two of the following classes: biology, chemistry, physics or
  trigonometry
• Or complete 2 of the following classes: Calculus 1, Introduction to Engineering, or Introduction to Biology
• Develop a peer group
• Get to know University faculty and staff
• Take classes not otherwise available
• Understand STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) career opportunities
• Understand the importance of a supportive community/study group
• Learn to navigate at the University
• Become college ready
• Learn to become independent by managing time and resources
• Earn college credits
• Graduate with a B.S. in a STEM discipline

The concept behind the Summer Acceleration Academy developed as a direct result of our Pre-College component. ANSEP places high expectations on our students and we provide them every opportunity to succeed. Students are expected to complete biology, trigonometry, chemistry, and physics before graduating from high school.

Many schools across Alaska do not offer these courses on location, which requires students to take them through a web-based program. ANSEP believes these students should have the opportunity to take these classes and be taught directly by a teacher. ANSEP’s Summer Acceleration Academy will provide this missing link.

Eligible students who have completed one or more of the courses offered during Summer Acceleration Academy may select from the Introduction to Engineering or Introduction to Biological Sciences class instead. Students who are ready with their math can take Calculus 1. This means you will be even further ahead when you arrive as a college student!


Here is a link to the ANSEP site for the SUMMER ACCELERATION PROGRAM



Also offered this summer is the SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM:

How the Summer Bridge component works

Summer Bridge is aimed at recent high school graduates who will be attending the University in the fall. The Summer Bridge was started at the University of Washington in the mid nineties as a way to mitigate some of the problems Indigenous students had due to poor math preparation as well as issues related to career awareness and transitioning to the University from rural communities. The University of Alaska adopted the Summer Bridge in 1998. The success of the Pre-College component has dramatically improved both the quality and the quantity of students applying for the Summer Bridge.

 

Students spend their first week doing a campus orientation and team building activities developing a cohort.

 

Anchorage Based Students:

Starting the second week and throughout the rest of the Summer Bridge these students spend 2 hours every morning from 8 am to 10 am in a college level math course that prepares them for University level math at UA.  The students work the remainder of the day on engineering or science internships within our partner organizations. They come back to ANSEP for dinner and work in teams on their homework.  The students also attend Friday morning field trips to different industry service companies adn participate in lunchtime presentations which broaden their knowledge of the engineering, construction, and sciences. 

 

Field Based Students:

The students spend the second week doing safety training to ready them to work in the field.  The students then spend 4 weeks in the field doing a full-time internship with engineers or scientists.  The students come back to UAA for their final 4 weeks for a calculus math preperation course to ready them for UA math. 

 

On the weekends the students are in town they participate in fun team building activities such as rock climbing, hiking, go carting, and movies.  At the end of the summer the students present their project results to supervisors, mentors, and the other team members. Students who successfully complete the program are awarded scholarship support. The pace of the summer is tough, but students enjoy it and rise to the challenge year after year.

Here is a link to the Summer Bridge Program

Here is a GOOGLE Docs version of the Computer Build Application

By Adam Merculieff

They come, and they go. They are yours and then they are someone else’s’. You burn bridges and you cross bridges. They can either make you or break you. You could either be going out with the person just because of their appearance or they have caught your attention and are firmly holding on to it. They can just be another notch on your belt, or your million dollar bill. Relationships at Mt. Edgecumbe High School are different because you can spend time with your significant other at anytime of the day, unless you’re on restriction, of course. You can make your schedule identical to theirs, if your classes permit you to do so. This effect can either strengthen your relationship, or destroy it.

Relationships: Noun. A connection, association, or involvement. A connection. Relationships begins with a connection, the certain feeling you get when you’re around them would be called a “connection.” Association. Before you plunge into a relationship, think, are you willing to be associated with them? Do they embarrass you? Do they dress sleazy, or are they too loud? Involvement. It’s heavy to be part of someone’s life; for example, meeting their parents or just being able to be there for them 24/7. It should enjoyable, since they caught your attention somehow, they should be able to hold it.   Relationships come with stress, troubles, and pressure: stress to make enough time to spend together and setting your priorities straight. Being in a relationship is hard, sometimes impossible, but going through all of it is worthwhile. It’s a drop of happiness in the cloudy cup we call life. They surprise you with gifts, words and actions. High school is when relationships begin to actually matter. People aren’t in middle school anymore, no more passing notes, pecks on the cheeks, or not being allowed to hold hands in the hallways. Mt. Edgecumbe is full of relationships, full of life.

by Joseph Kingeekuk

      There's a reason why kids from all over Alaska come to Mt. Edgecumbe High School, and that reason is to get the best education possible and take steps towards living their dreams. Students that attend Mt. Edgecumbe High School have set goals for themselves for a better, brighter future. Everyone wants their dreams to come true one day, but for many it may seem nearly impossible. Other students may be a distraction, or the school may not be challenging enough, so more kids should apply for Mt. Edgecumbe High School. All students should have this opportunity that their one dream can turn into reality some day. Students who are scared of being away from family and friends and living alongside people they don't know, should just go for it because fear makes a person feel alive. Students should do things they have never done before so they can experience what they never thought possible.

by Harlyn Andrew

     Students keep sending out e-mails that have no meaning. When you send out an e-mail it should be because you have a lost item or news for everyone like, scholarships, or something good about our school. When you type up the e-mail and send to everyone it will be sent to students, staff, advisory board, and some legislators.

     In the beginning of the school year Mr. Gurule sent out an e-mail saying that we were not allowed to send out mass e-mails in the first place. It isn’t a great idea to send e-mails to pass time. The school is here to give us an education, and when the teachers give us time during class to work we shouldn’t be going on Facebook, Myspace, or other e-mails and chat rooms. When you get on the school e-mail it should be to send your work to yourself for study hour. Sending out e-mails just to have fun is not what Mt. Edgecumbe is about. We are here to learn and move towards a higher education. It is not okay to send out mass e-mails to just pass time and have fun.

By Sam Clark

     There is nothing like the adrenaline rush you get when you are racing through the brush while paintballs are whizzing past your head. Paintball is a recreational sport that students can participate in on the weekends here at MEHS. Coach Anderson and Mr. Friske hold tournaments every Saturday and Sunday in the back of the boy’s dorm. There is always a big turnout so if you want to play check the activities calendar every week to see when paintball starts!