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| OCTOBER 20, 1999 |
NEW! Click here to go to Mustangs Weekly-
Articles written by Madison County Middle School Students
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| OCTOBER 20, 1999 |
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RAIDERS WEEKLY |
Madison County High School senior superlatives
announced
BY SARA DUCEATT
Never easy decisions, but ones that had to be made.
Seniors recently voted on their senior superlatives, those seniors
who will be recognized in the 2000 Hilltopper as exemplaries of
their class.
Senior superlatives are determined when each senior turns in a
ballot with recommendations for each category considering fellow
students. The outcomes were: Mr. and Mrs. Senior Class Catie
Hawks and Travis Moore; Best Looking - Lindsay Weaver and Jeremy
Minish; Most Popular - Brooke Holloman and Bo Williamson; Most
Outstanding - Kim Johnson and Tim Costyn; Most Likely to Succeed
- Ashley Burford and Ryan Hybl; Best Personality - Jessica Perry,
Miranda Booth and Lee Allen; Most Polite - Brooke Perry and Josh
Chandler; Most Dependable - Pam Beck and Michael Turner; Best
Dressed - Monica Dominguez and Nick Mattox; Most School Spirit
- Jennifer Eubanks and David Harrison; Most Athletic - Tawana
Moon and Jamaris Mattox; Wittiest - Nickie Strickland and Nathan
Jensrud; Friendliest - Jennifer Berryman and Brian Strickland.
Junior sponsors anticipate a great year
BY STACIE SMITH AND MEGAN MCCAY
Every once in a while there are teachers who do an exceptional
job and make a positive difference in their students' futures.
Two such teachers are Sabrina Bennett and Renee Carey, the junior
class sponsors.
A former student of Madison County High School and a graduate
of North Georgia College, Carey takes a personal interest in her
students and her school. Her philosophy of teaching is that every
child is an individual, and a teacher should take a personal interest
in all children. One should also be a good influence, teach good
decision-making, and make a positive difference in their students'
lives. Carey and her husband, Curtis, have two children - Hayden,
4, and Chandler, 2.
She also manages to fit into her busy schedule the awesome task
of sponsoring the junior class.
Bennett attended Elbert County High School and received her teaching
degree from the University of Georgia. She feels that really good
teachers make an impression on their students and that is what
gave her the desire to teach. Bennett also enjoys the interaction
with other teachers. Teaching is fun for her because she likes
to see kids grow and develop into mature, responsible young adults.
Bennett and her husband Dennis have one child - West, 16. As the
prom coordinator, advisor of FCCLA (Family Career and Community
Leaders of America), and a Keep Madison County Clean and Beautiful
board member, she is constantly busy with organizing activities
and encouraging student involvement. Along with Carey, she sponsors
the Junior Class of 2001.
Being the sponsor of the junior class has many duties as well
as having to deal with all the problems that arise. Carey and
Bennett handle the Junior/Senior Prom fund-raisers and tickets,
decorations for prom, the music selection, as well as attending
to chaperone. They always seem to enjoy these responsibilities
as well as doing a great job organizing this major event.
Juniors have the opportunity to order class rings, are required
to take the graduation tests, and many are preparing to take the
SAT. Carey and Bennett are very influential in keeping everyone
on schedule doing the things they need to get done during this
important year.
Many of the juniors gave good comments about both Carey and Bennett.
"Mrs. Carey has helped me more than any other teacher,"
Kara McLocklin said.
Zach Manders really appreciates both sponsors.
"Mrs. Carey is very patient, and she seems to relate to her
students because she acts like us," he said. "Mrs. Bennett
always displays school spirit, and she is eager to initiate activities."
"Mrs. Carey's class is never boring, except when we read
poetry! Both Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Carey are perfect sponsors
for our class," Kurt Cooper mentioned.
Drew Brantley describes Carey as "awesome."
"She listens to what we have to say about junior class issues,"
he said.
Erin Gaines enjoys Bennett as the junior class sponsor. "Mrs.
Bennett is very creative and organized," she said.
Students and teachers alike are grateful to Carey and Bennett
for the hard work, dedication and care put into their jobs. They
look forward to a great junior experience that would not be the
same without them.
Roger and Rory Raider
Dear Roger and Rory Raider,
Why do we only get 25 minutes for lunch? After we stand in line
for 15 minutes, we only get 10 minutes to inhale the food and
then get to class before the bell rings. Now I bring my lunch.
How do you feel about this?
Yours Truly,
A Hungry Student
Dear Hungry Student,
The issue of lunch shift length has been talked about for a while
now. In my opinion, it is not the length of time that is the problem,
it is the number of people per lunch shift. Really, I do not see
any other way around it, though. If you try to put five lunch
shifts into third period, they would only be about 15 to 20 minutes
long and have probably only about 40 less people per shift. I
really dislike eating in the lunchroom because it is overcrowded.
There are just too many people who have to make it through two
lines of traffic in 25 or 30 minutes. The only option is to bring
your own lunch. I completely agree and sympathize with you.
Sincerely,
Rory Raider
'Chains of Spirit' fill Madison Co.
BY MEGAN MCCAY
Paper chains of white, red, black and gray encircle the school.
Everywhere you turn you see them. What is this, you ask? It is
the Spirit Chain class competition.
The competition is an annual fundraiser by the Y-Club. One link
costs 25 cents. The classes (divided by freshmen, sophomore, juniors
and seniors) compete to see which class can get the longest chain.
The competition lasts one week and began a spirit week that ends
with homecoming.
Clown workshops are under way
BY TESSA HOLLIS
The FCCLA (Family, Career, Community Leaders of America) has once
again started their clown workshops. The purpose of the workshops
is to train members of FCCLA to be professional clowns. Once the
members complete the training, they make appearances at events
such as the Family Fair, which is being held next Saturday. The
workshops are being conducted by Amy Bradshaw of Moon's Grove
Baptist Church.
During the first workshop the participants learned about the different
types of clowns and the art of face painting. The second and final
workshop will focus on making and sculpting balloon animals.
To participate in the workshops you must be a member of FCCLA.
If you would like information on becoming a member, see Sabrina
Bennett in the FACS lab. Dues for the club are $10.
Brandy Drake keeps busy
BY RANDALL BALLENGER
Brandy Drake is a junior who enjoys keeping busy.
She works hard to maintain high grades in her accelerated college
preparatory (ACP) classes.
She knows the value of an education, as one day she plans to take
on the responsibilities of a broadcast journalist.
Aside from her educational endeavors, Drake has been involved
in ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical dance for the past 10 years.
This year marks her fifth year as a cheeleader for Madison County.
Just this past summer, Brandy traveled to Tampa, where she participated
in Miss United States Teen.
Her total placement was 17 out of 53, placing tenth in evening
gown and sixth in swimsuit.
She currently holds the title of Teen Miss Georgia Forestry, with
which she travels all over Gerogia every week promoting Georgia's
leading industry, forestry, and her personal platform, responsible
driving.
"Through tragic times and exposure to other elements of society,
I have learned that in life I can go forward but I can never go
back. Thus, I should make every day the best day of my life,"
Drake said.
PSAT given to underclassmen
BY ASHLEY WALLER
Juniors, sophomores and a few freshmen took the PSAT on Tuesday,
Oct. 12. This test is to help prepare students for tests like
the SAT and ACT.
The government pays for all sophomores to take the test. Juniors
taking the test may qualify for National Merit scholarships. Students
are encouraged to take this test in order to increase their test-taking
skills.
Junior Arrie Brown said, "I took the test hoping for a good
source, because that will look good on college applications."
Those who have taken tests like the SAT and the ACT say that past
PSAT tests are good practice. Students can anticipate getting
their scores back in December.
'Students of the Week' named
BY TESSA HOLLIS
"Students of the Week" for the week of Oct. 10 were
Clayton Kirk, Allison Wilkes, Lauren Stopczynski, Tiffany Skelton,
Brad Kirk and Heather Hanley.
Madison Volley Raiders end season on high note
BY NATALEA FERRELL
The 1999 Volley Raiders went out with a bang.
Having their best season under the coaching of Andy Felt, the
Raiders headed to the Area 8 Tournament with a record of 10 wins
and 12 losses.
"It was our best season because of the progress we made,"
Felt commented.
Their final regular season match against Rockdale County proved
to be no obstacle in the Raiders' journey to the tournament. Defeating
Rockdale in two games, 15-3 and 15-0, gave the Volley Raiders
the momentum they needed to advance with a positive attitude to
the tournament.
The first round took place at Athens Academy, with the first match
against a challenging team from Lakeview Academy.
Having been defeated by Lakeview earlier in the season, the Raiders
knew it would be a difficult victory to capture, and Lakeview
again managed defeat them.
But the match helped show the Raiders how hard it would be to
achieve success in the tournament.
Later that day, the Raiders went on to eliminate Brenau Academy,
an earlier loser, from the tournament, 15-8, 15-3. This too, was
an important and motivating victory for the Volley Raiders.
The Raiders received two pieces of good news Fri., the day before
round two of the tournament at North Hall High School. First of
all, the No. 2 ranked Athens Academy Spartans had been eliminated
from the tournament. Secondly, the Raiders were informed that
they would be facing the team from Rabun Gap, who defeated the
Habersham Central Raiders Thursday night, eliminating them from
competition in the Saturday match. (The Raiders were supposed
to play against Rabun Gap earlier in the season, but due to a
mis-communication problem, Rabun Gap was forced to forfeit.)
The Raiders won the first game by a score of 15-8. The second
game showed Rabun Gap as a more stern competitor. Trailing 4-12,
the Raiders could give up the game and go on to play a third,
or make a comeback and win - and that is exactly what they chose
to do.
With the serve in the hands of junior Kristine Conley, the Raiders
made their comeback.
"I knew everyone was counting on me to get the serve over
and in bounds. I tried to hit my target and I prayed she wouldn't
play the ball correctly," Conley stated. They ended the game
with a 15-12 win and recorded another win in the tournament books.
The Raiders' next obstacle would be Hart County. They had not
been successful with Hart in the past and again lost to the Volley
Dogs, eliminating the Raiders from the tournament and ending a
great season.
Though they did not advance to the final, the Volley Raiders played
some of the best and most memorable games of their lives this
season. These games were especially memorable for the four departing
seniors: co-captains No. 2 Heather Hanley No. 16 Angelia Clark,
No. 15 Dongwen Cheapoo and No. 6 Natalea Ferrell.
The Volley Raiders, like most groups that spend months working
together to achieve a common goal, have become a family.
"I have gained so many memories and best friends that I will
never forget. I want to say thanks to 'my girls' for making my
senior year a great one and I love them all very much," Clark
commented when asked about the bond formed between all of the
girls.
New program offered at MCHS
BY TIFFANY SKELTON
Students are "taking" a new direction instead of "trying"
as they become more focused on important goals for the community,
determined to stand as tall and proud as ever.
In addition to the more serious side of the organization, female
African Americans have been extended the invitation to join as
"little sisters" to the males, and hope to demonstrate
that they are their "brother's keeper." Also, Caucasian
students volunteered to become part of the club.
"We're not about the black thing or the white thing, but
the right thing is what we are about," said Coach Robert
B. Freeman at the club's first meeting.
The minorities of this club make up about eight percent of Madison
County High school's population and prepared to take a S.T.A.N.D.
and carry out the purpose to provide positive role models and
influences for the young men and young women of our area. They
are committed to service and sacrifice for the sake of their community.
"I want people who are serious about what they want to do
because this club is about business," said Freeman.
Among many projects that the club planned this year, one that
is presently addressed is the Big Brother and Sister program.
As part of the program, the job of the mentors will be to take
a young person or persons under his or her wing and treat that
child as one of their own siblings. They are there for advice,
tutoring, or just having a good friend. For more information,
contact Robert B. Freeman at (706) 549-9954 or write to P.O. Box
726, Colbert, Ga. 30628.
 MCMS softball team
places first in tourneyBY KRISTIN LUNSFORD AND ASHLEY DRAKE The Madison County Middles School girl's softball team recently brought home two trophies after placing first in the area end of the season tournament. It was held Sept. 30 - Oct. 2. The games were played at the Madison County Recreation Dept. and Madison County High School baseball field where they played various counties. The two trophies were placed in the front of MCMS. We would like to congratulate the girls and Coach Kristi Logan for their hard work and for representing our school so well. Way to go, Softball Mustangs! MCMS spirit week held Mrs. Clark enjoys the differences |
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