Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2008)
------------------------------------ Cheaters beware: you're in for a scare! The controversial issues behind cheating analyzed. - page 3 — (0 UJ CL z> b UJ u. As retirement draws near, Noah reveals surprises surrounding her life as a leader. z WA Wrestlers finish second in Districts; Paulson places third at State. UJ "S z ? cc m -p a g e 5 - page 7 Witih John Stewart hosting, Oscar preview holds great expectations for return of Hollywood. Z UJ Rejuvenation Week stretches students' minds and bodies. page 10 -p a g e 12 Official Student Publication of West Linn High School Published Since 1921 — i- February2008 - Volume 96, Issue 5 i-SAFE brings internet safety close to home m S arah C hicoine co-Editor-in-Chief With 71 registered Oregpn sex offenders having accounts on Myspace alone, internet safety education is essential to Angie Hammond, IT Specialist. Hammond first realized the necessity for internet safety Luckily, soon after she began this endeavor, Hammond attended a conference in Seattle where she learned about i-SAFE. Three years ago, she brought i-SAFE to the school: A community based program, i-SAFE strives to educates Angie Hammond, IT specialist, leads a seminar on internet saftey in about keeping their children safe. In West Linn alone, there have been six known 'traveler cases.' Traveler cases are predators who don't live in West Linn, but travel in order to meet their prey. In this generation, internet is a way of life. On average parents spend four hours a week on the internet while kids spend four times that amount. This generation gap is the biggest since the Rock and Roll generation, according to Hammond. Because of this, internet education between parents and students is essential. "You have to get a driver's license to drive a car, and you have to be 21 to be trusted with alcohol, but when it comes to the internet, it is a free-for-all," Hammond said. "It is time that we educate ourselves and the community the same way you have to be educated to drive." Each academic department is required to show an educational video on different internet safety topics. Hammond is also giving free educational seminars about internet education for parents and other members of the community who are interested. The presentations and curriculum focus on education, rather than taking away programs like Myspace. Since kids are likely to have an account/even if their parents don't allow it, it is important not to just restrict use. However, through education, sexual predators, viruses, cyber harassment, pornography, gambling and other forms of internet abuse can be prevented. Hammond is holding four educational seminars which began on Jan. 30 and were held every Wednesday until Feb. 20. Nearly 70 parents attended each of the first two seminars and an équivalant amount were expected for the remaining programs. Hammond ends each seminar and Powerpoint with the same quote: "We recognize the answer to Internet safety ultimately lies with the child. You can't be with them every minuté, so educate to empower their choice making." yhe Forum on Feb. 13. Hammond has trained 500 people in internet safety using the community based program, i-SAFE. Photo by Jon Helmkamp education after seeing a news story about child pornography. After being touched by this story, Hammond started to create her own internet safety program. However, Hammond soon realized that this program needed to be community-wide, not just student focused. The amount of work was daunting. students, teachers and parents about internet safety. The program supplies a syllabus, and DVDs that provide relatable education. Hammond has succesfully trained nearly 500 people in internet safety. From Redmond, to Medford, to Estacada, she has made it her duty to educate communities A S B tries to allieviate student, staff stress HlUJ ClAVARELLO Staff Reporter Setting their sights on invigorating students and staff after the stress of Finals Week, ASB members planned an alternative to the traditional Spirit Week with Rejuvenation week which took place last week. The goal was to ease students and staff back into second semester with excitement instead o f dread. "H opefully it was a chance for students and staff to relax and get energized in a healthy way," Mary Kiely, senior and ASB member, said. Students and teachers were treated to free green tea each day, a longer lunch on Tuesday, yoga in the gym Tuesday and Thursday, a 10 second scream and 50 second silence diming break on Wednesday and added time for reading and napping during second period on Thursday. No Homework Day was pronounced for Wednesday. "W e wanted to make school fun again," Benjamin Morrow, senior and ASB member, said. A dance which was held Wednesday evening, boasted Christopher Jonsson, freshman, as DJ. ASB purchased special blacklights to add to the atmosphere in the old commons. Students who paid the $5 admission were treated to pizza and a three hour dance party. Connor Deeks, senior and ASB president, assured students beforehand that it would be the "biggest dance of the year." Bejgyeaattoii Weefc___________ m continued on page 2 ■ M ia ■ ■- ' ........ B ■ -• _ _ ■ _ Thespians rock, Science Bowl rolls tianna Young and Alyssa Ara- maki, juniors, came in second and third place respectively in Actors excel Solo Acting. "W e did incredibly w ell W LHS Thespians domi nated their competition in and are very proud of our Solo Acting, Solo M usical dedicated, talented students," Theatre, Duo Dramatic and Murray said. Competing students were Pantomime at the Region Act ing Competition held on Feb. primarily responsible for se lecting pieces and rehearsing. 2 at Parkrose High School. Eight students will ad In order to prepare, actors also vance in four divisions to met with Annie Kaiser, Murray, the State Acting Competition or her husband Colin Murray will be held in Medford, Ore. for coaching in 45 minute time at the Criterion Theatre on slots throughout January. The April 3-5. In order to qualify three offered coaching until 9 for state, an actor must score p.m. on weekdays and all day in the top ten percent of all of on Saturdays. Many other schools in the the competitors. A t state, Avik Bandyo- region offered class time in padhyay, senior, and Caitlin order to prepare for the compe Olson, junior, will be com tition. Such schools, including peting in Solo Acting in the Gresham and Centennial High experienced category. Alyssa School, who always do well, Johnston, sophomore, will be spent upwards of six weeks competing in Solo Musical preparing. The two schools also Theatre. G eorgina Cohen had a district competition three and Dylan Stark, seniors, will • weeks before competing at the compete in Duo Dramatic. Regional competition. The actors will spend the Alexandra Mink, sophomore, Je n e lle B arzola and R eis weekend away, first competing Mahnic, juniors, will be com on Saturday, and then attend ing a production of "M idsum peting in pantomime. "I was so excited when m er" at Oregon Shakespeare I found out [I had made it Festiv al on Sunday before to State]. I just stood there, returning home. screaming silently, and my hands wouldn't stop shaking Science Bowl Team for 15 minutes," Mink said. scores third In the second category, Novice, only first, second and The last w eek of January third place were awarded. Ta- m S ydney M a c N aughton Staff Reporter w as a good w eek for West L inn scien ce e n th u sia sts w ith West Linn scoring third at the Science Bow l, the an nual regional com petition in w h ich 64 team s from O regon and W ashington com pete against each other in a test of science and m ath know ledge. Com petitors Angela O li v e rio , M ic h e á l B e r n e r t, Cheng Tan, seniors, and Avi Levy, M att Kirsch, juniors, led West Linn to victory at the com petition w hich w as held at the U niversity of Portland. A lth o u gh there is no official Science Bow l sea son, team s p articip ate in Regionals in hopes of go ing on to State. This year's placem ent has been the best since Jonathan Isensee, sci ence teacher, took over five years ago. Both O liverio and Bernert have been on the team all four years of their high school career, each year com ing considerably closer to the num ber one spot. Isensee w ill be looking for new recruits this spring, w anting to continue on the path paved by Bernert and O liverio. ’T am looking forward to next year. W ith Avi and M att returning, the team prom ises to be strong enough to keep m oving forw ard,” Isensee said.
