Photo Credit: Maddie Norwood[/caption]The first nine weeks are over and, for some people, that means a new start to help build a strong foundation for the rest of the school year. Many students may want to bring up their grades or make new friends. This new nine weeks is a good time for a new start to a new season.
So what should you do if you are having grade problems? Becky Smith, an OHS science teacher, gave her opinion on how this problem should be solved. “They need to see their teacher for help, and they need to make sure they’re doing all the work themselves,” said Smith.
The new lunch gives anyone slipping the perfect chance to bring their grades up. More people can come for tutoring and make up work during this time. Students who aren't using it for work may want to rethink their decisions.
If you feel hesitant to go back for tutoring, just bring a friend that can support you and maybe even help, but not one that can distract you. This will help you get over your fear and learn to build study groups.
Is your focus slipping? Another tip that Smith shared addressed this. “The best thing to do is make sure you aren’t hanging around with people that can distract you from your work, causing you to slip in school.”
If a student finds himself bored or in need of a community to hang out with, Smith recommends that he become more involved in the school, whether it be with clubs or sports. When asked why students should be more involved, she said, “Do things that make you happy and enjoy your life.”
Photo Credit: Jordan Cox[/caption]Orange High School has many new teachers for the 2014-2015 school year. One addition to the English Department is Meredith Newlin, who teaches English I and II.
Newlin came to teach at Orange after teaching summer school here this past summer. “I love all the other teachers and the overall atmosphere,” says Newlin. She said she loves all of the students here, their ability to work hard, and their willingness to learn. “I’ve missed teaching high school, and I’m glad to be back,” said Newlin.
This year marks Newlin’s 10th year of teaching. She is very fond of writing and reading. She used to work for a magazine before she began teaching. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys participating in activities outdoors. She likes hiking or running, or just any outdoors-related activity. Along with exploring the great outdoors, Newlin loves spending time with her one-year-old daughter, Lola.
What encouraging do students here at OHS need? According to Newlin, they don’t need any encouragement! She believes that all the students here are doing fantastic and don’t need any advice. “Don’t sweat the small stuff and believe in yourself,” is the advice she gives the students if they really needed it.
Newlin decided to be an English teacher because she loves to build the confidence of her students as readers and writers. She is excited to be here for her 10th anniversary of teaching, and we’re lucky to have her!
would be very interesting. That I wouldn’t relate to anything I asked her or it wouldn’t be relevant to my article. Then I asked my first question.
Ms.White was a graduate of UNC Greensboro. She is now in her thirteenth year of teaching. Not only has she taught in North Carolina, or in the United States; But for two years, Ms.White worked as a teacher in Busan, South Korea. “ The ages varied from ages 5 to 17” White told me. That is 7,208 miles from North Carolina to South Korea. That is a big change to Orange High School.
When I asked her why she chose OHS and Hillsborough, as it turns out, she is engaged! Ms.White is getting married on September 27, 2014. Her fiance is a teacher as well. White says she also loves the community. She sees herself teaching the rest of her career. Not just because she loves doing it, but it is also a great balance between family and work.
OHS recently gave out all of the laptops for the ‘14-’15 school year. Since this is Ms.Whites’ first year here, I asked her for her opinion on the laptops. In South Korea, they didn’t have laptops; or in any of her other schools she has taught in. She says she personally likes them. She thinks that they are very useful in the classroom. “ I notice the other side though, with the students and how difficult that they are to work with.” White explains. Most of the other new teachers are not familiar with the laptops or how difficult they are, so I am glad there is someone to help.
For my last question, I asked, “If you weren't teaching, what you be doing?” Ms.White replies, “Traveling and Writing.” For myself, that relates to me. I am in journalism because I love to write. When I get out of college, the first thing I want to do is travel. When I told Ms.White this, she replied very simply, “Do it while you're young, you’ll love it. “ I think that shows how caring of a teacher she is. I can not wait to see what Orange High School has in store for Ms.White.
While Mayor Stevens spoke to the class, he stressed three concepts that not only apply to public speaking but in life. The concepts were “simplify to amplify,” “cultivate not operate,” and “create a process we can trust.” For each of these, he gave explanations and examples of what they mean and how they compare to everyday life.
Stevens also handed out a sheet of seven tips that each speech should consist of. Greenstreet thinks that this really benefited his students, saying, “I think that this greatly assisted them not only in public speaking but in showing them rules of leadership and exemplifying a role model… He as well shows my students on how to engage your listeners and keep them engaged while you make your key points in a speech.”
In Greenstreet’s closing remarks, he expressed his gratitude towards the Mayor by stating, “I see him as a hero and a good guy who provides service and is constantly giving to others.”
She has taught Food Service (when it was still offered as a class), which teaches catering and how to buy food. During lunch her class would sell food that they prepared to the staff and they had a business called the Black Cat Cafe. Her business grew so popular that she had people outside of school wanting to buy her goods.Thomas now teaches Early Childhood Ed 1 and 2 and Parenting and Child Development. She tries to reach out to her students and help them understand that “being a parent is a 24/7 job that shouldn't be taken lightly.”
Before Thomas was a teacher she was an associate buyer at Belks, a job that consisted of long hours, traveling to New York for fashion shows, and designing. Thomas was also a Sunday school teacher at Memorial United Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
Thomas has noticed changes in OHS since she started teaching in 1980. When she first started there was no air conditioning which meant student were let out early on hot days. There was no 400 wing and the library and cafeteria were bigger. There was also no small gym and students had six 50-minute-long classes. There was a black homecoming queen and a white homecoming queen. Also, prom was held in the gym and smoking was allowed on campus.
Thomas has thought about retiring, but she believes “when the time comes I'll know.” When she does leave she doesn't plan on telling anyone because she doesn't like all the attention she would receive.
Mark Greenstreet explains his teaching style during an interview.[/caption]Mark Greenstreet feels honored to have become the 2013 Teacher of the Year. “I'm surrounded amongst so many talented teachers. I'm greatly honored.” Greenstreet has ten years of experience in the classroom. He has taught at OHS for four years. He previously taught at Hillside High School in Durham, where he was Teacher of the Year during his fifth year of teaching.
Greenstreet said that the most important things in his life are literature, young people, and having a passion for social change. For him, teaching is like “saving lives.” He loves to help young people find their place in the world.
When Greenstreet teaches he does more than a typical teacher. He helps students learn through performances. Greenstreet spoke about reaching out to students by having conversations with them and inspiring them through music and raps that relate to real life. His first goal is to make sure his students are comfortable with things that are going on. “There’s no right or wrong [in my class],” Greenstreet says. “I'm consistently creating a character in my mind.” He believes that students learn more when they are comfortable.
His biggest inspiration was his tenth grade teacher Rob Slater. Slater helped him realize that in class a teacher doesn’t teach you unnecessary things. Everything you are taught can be used in life. Greenstreet explained how he was able to work with the man that inspired his mentor in high school. Slater was in a class taught by a man named Bill Oliver. When he grew up and took a job at OHS, he got to meet Oliver and work with him.
This year, Greenstreet is teaching a new public speaking class. Greenstreet thinks it’s the most important skill a person can learn. “I want to help people take off their masks and share their voice within them... It’s basically literature in action.”
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Greenstreet teaches 9th grade English, as well as Public Speaking.[/caption]