Phoenix Central School District—Student Newspaper March 2018

March Calendar

March 2—25-weeks into this

quarter!!

March 7—JCB Musical

preview for Annie

(see page s 6 and 7 for more

information on

this year’s musical)

March 22—Mr. Phoenix

March 26—29

Spirit Week!! (See page 3

for details!)

March 30—No School!!

JCB Drama Club proudly presents...

Annie is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Thursday, March 8 at 4PM

Friday, March 9 at 7:30PM

Saturday, March 10 at 2PM & 7:30PM

TICKET

PRICES

Adults -

$10

Children/

Students/

Sr. Cit. - $7

Here is a handy list of important JCB websites!

*JCB Attendance (excuses for absences or tardies & passport notes) - jcbattendance@phoenixcsd.org *Softball—http://phoenixfirebirdssoftball.weebly.com/ *Ski Club - http://jcbskiclub.weebly.com/ *Wrestling- http://phoenixwrestling.weebly.com/ *Girls/Boys Tennis – http://jcbtennis.weebly.com/ *Girls Basketball—http://jcbgirlsbasketball.weebly.com/ *National Honor Society—http://jcbnhs.weebly.com/ *JCB Physical Education—http://jcbphysed.weebly.com/ *JCB Library—http://jcblibrary.weebly.com/ *JCB computer labs website—http://jcblabs.weebly.com/ *JCB Student Services Office (Guidance) http://www.phoenixcsd.org/Schools/John-C-Birdlebough-High-School/Guidance-Office *SchoolTool—https://phoenix.schooltool.cnyric.org/SchoolToolWeb/Default.aspx *Naviance— http://succeed.naviance.com *Castle Learning http://corp.castlelearning.com/ *College Info—*https://www.hesc.ny.gov/ *Mock trial — http://phoenixmocktrial.weebly.com/ *Music Department page — http://pcsdmusicdepartment.weebly.com/jcb.html

THANK YOU!!!

Faculty who contributed to this newspaper: Mr. Barrett, Mr. Jeffries, and Mrs. Spereno

Students who contributed to this newspaper: Danielle Backes, Lana Brown, Gianna DeRoberts,

Noah Gordon, Liv Lamphere, Jock Li, Shania Meaker, William Semanchuk-Enser, Sophia

Trinca, and Michael VanAuken

Senior Quick News

Mr. Phoenix competition Date: 3/22 Time: 7:00

Place: JCB Auditorium

Prom tickets on sale in April

Prom Date: May 4th Time: 6-11 pm

Place: Marr iott Hotel

Senior Trip: Date: 6/11 Place: Hershey Park

Junior Quick News

UPCOMING — Spring Dance – Date: 3/16

Time: 7-10 Place: JCB Cafeter ia

Chipotle Fundraiser – 3/29

Prom tickets on sale in April

Prom Date: May 4th Time: 6-11 pm

Place: Marr iott Hotel

JCB’s Got Talent – Date: 5/18

Place: JCB Auditorium

Freshmen Quick News

Dunkin Donuts fundraiser – April date TBA

STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS!!!

SPIRIT WEEK is March 26th-29th

*‘Merica Monday! WEAR

YOUR Red, white and blue!

*Disney Tuesday! - DRESS UP

AS your favorite Disney

character!

*Way-back Wednesday!

What’s your favorite era of

fashion? 70’s tie dye? 80’s

neon? 90’s grunge? Now is

your chance to show us!

*THURSDAY -- BATTLE OF THE

CLASSES!!! Class Color Day!

————————————————

Spirit Points so far…

Freshmen – 18 pts.

Sophomores – 17 pts.

Juniors – 35 pts.

Seniors – 26 pts.

ANNOUNCEMENT—Class Officer elections are coming!

Campaign in April; elections held during the week of May 7th

The boys and girls varsity

basketball teams played great

winter seasons, going full force into

sectionals. Tremendous efforts were

put forth by all team members and

it will be difficult to see the seniors

from both teams graduate this

spring. The varsity teams

celebrated their seniors on their

last home games of the regular

seasons. The celebrations were

complete with streamers, balloons

and for the girls, a trip down

memory lane. Everyone will miss

the laughter and friendships that

basketball has brought them.

Varsity girls seniors include

Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball

By: Gianna DeRoberts

Samantha Doupe, Natalie Hart,

B e l l a G a r o f a l o , C a i t l y n

Connolly, Skylear Mason,

a n d M o l l y T h o r n .

Varsity boys seniors include Kyle

Costello, James Lynch, Alex Sisera,

Scott Clark, Devin Dobovik, Austin

S t L a u r e n t , L o r e n z o

Campanino, and Niko Pangaro.

Congratulations to all!

See an additional note on Sam Doupe on page 6!!

Phoenix JV team has 15 people on it.

The starting five include Adam Hahn,

Andrew Hemingway, Charlie Claver,

Mike Dion, and Nick Vav. The bench

includes Jock Li, Noah Gordon, Owen

Lytle, Jacob St. Laurent, Ethan Fox,

Zach Green, Dom Demong, Kolby

Costello, and John Campbell. The two

star players are Jock and Noah (check

out who wrote this article if you want to

see why these two players are named

t h e S T A R p l a y e r s ! ) .

The boys practice 6 days a week from 3-

5, 6-8, and 10-12 on weekends. They have

won 6 games and lost 11. The team (AKA—

these two writers) thinks the refs have been

O N E - S I D E D i n t h e i r c a l l s .

The team did not win many home games

because WE NEED MORE STUDENTS TO

GO!!!!!!!!! (Support your team, JCB!!!)

Phoenix JV basketball team

By: Jock Li and Noah Gordon (with several side

notes by Mrs. O’Brien)

Our athletic director, John Jefferies, has

gathered a group of athletes to represent

the sports programs that JCB has to offer,

i n o r d e r t o f o r m a n e w

s p o r t s a d v o c a t i n g g r o u p .

These athletes share the responsibility of

increasing school spirit within the sports

programs and brainstorming ways to get

the student body more involved. They

have got the ball rolling with introducing

a new school “tribe” called the Bird’s

Nest., which is complete with its own

twitter account @BirdsNest_PHX. Follow

this account and listen to your

announcements for updates on games and

information on themed game nights.

A designated student section has also

been introduced to raise student spirit, similar

to that of other schools. All must join the effort

in order for our goal to be accomplished!

The advocacy group had to the opportunity to

go to Liverpool high school, to learn of a new

Section III sport referred to as Unified

Basketball. Unified basketball incorporates

students with disabilities into the sports

programs. Teams must be a mix of both types of

student, and all rules of basketball are enforced

and practices are held, as usual. The season is

during the spring but would be shorter than

other sports’ spring seasons. This is a great way

for ALL students to put on a uniform and

represent our school! Team members are

needed, so all students are encouraged to

participate, see our AD with any questions!

Sports Advocating Group

By: Gianna DeRoberts

Samantha Doupe became the girls’ (and school’s) all-

time leading scorer on Feb 10th at Bishop Ludden!! Sam

needed 2 points to pass Jackie Rossi’s 1416 points.

Samantha drove to the basket and was fouled. She went

to the foul line, made both free throws, and became the

all-time leading scorer at JCB High School! Samantha

ended her outstanding basketball career with 1427

points.

CONGRATS!!!

Ross McFarland won the D2 state wrestling title at 170

pounds. Ross won his first 3 matches at states by

pinning his opponent. In the state finals, he beat his

opponent 8-0 to capture his first state title!

PRINCIPALS:

Annie Hannah Grabowski Miss Hannigan Zaya Koegel Oliver Warbucks Sean Sievers

Grace Farrell Alyssa Goudy

Rooster Hannigan Garrett Strang

Lily St. Regis Kaitlin White

Orphans:

Molly Grace Calkins

Pepper Lauren Schmidt Kate Mackenzie Chetney

Duffy Jena Klimaszewski Tessie Alexa Hoag

July Lily Roberts

SUPPORTING:

Bundles McCloskey Declan Hawthorne

Lt. Ward Hunter Jewell Mrs. Greer Zoe Heckert Mrs. Pugh Olivia Ripley

Drake Dan Braun

Cecille Izzy Allen

Annette Isabella Stacey

Star To Be Crysania Gilbert Radio program

SFX person Gabby Brown

Johnson Hunter Jewell Wacky Jonah Hawthorne

Bert Healy Josh Van Gorder

Boylan Sisters

Connie (S1) Haley Bowersox

Bonnie (S2) Mallorie Mitchell Ronnie (A) Rebecca Burdick

President Roosevelt Declan Hawthorne

President’s Cabinet

Ickes Alan Merrill Perkins Izzy Allen

Hull James Hagg

Morganthau Josh Van Gorder

Howe (Marine guard) Dan Braun

Judge Brandeis Special Cameo

Hoovervilles, NYC, Warbucks Employees

Izzy Allen

Sarah Andrews

Virginia Bednarski

Ashleigh Besaw

Haley

Bowersox

Gabby Brown

(NOT Hoover-

ville)

Rebecca

Burdick

Jonathan

Burgess

Emma

Fatcheric

Crysania Gilbert

James Hagg (NOT Warbucks Employee)

Jonah Hawthorne

Zoe Heckert

Hunter Jewell (NOT Hooverville)

Summer Koegel

Hannah McArthur

Shania Meaker

Alan Merrill

Mallorie Mitchell

Savanah Neupert

Caytlyn Prickett

Keaton Renfrew

Olivia Ripley

Isabella Stacey

Ryan Thompson

Sophia Trinca

Josh Van Gorder

Hard Knock orphans, NYC, Warbucks Employees

Shauna Besaw

Allison Grabowski

Mattie Hunt

Maggie LaPine

Gabriella Payne

Sheridan Southworth

Zoie Tracy

(Specific Hooverville Roles) Apple Seller Caytlyn Prickett Eddie Declan Hawthorne

Sophie Sophia Trinca

Man 1 Dan Braun

Man 2 Josh Van Gorder

Man 3 James Hagg

Man 4 Alan Merrill Woman 1 Ashleigh Besaw

Woman 2 Isabella Stacey

Woman 3 Crysania Gilbert Woman 4 Haley Bowersox

Annie Cast List

Stage Manager: Emily Forget

Asst. Stage Manager/Prompter: Gabby Allen

Light Board: Aiden Southworth

Spots: Melody Trask, Darren Fischel

Sound Tech: Zach Neupert, Josh Smith

Sound Aide: Darren Fischel

Costume/Makeup/Hair: Aubri Renfrew,

Mikayla Bailey, Sophie Crandall

Display/Artists: Alyssa Goudy

Ushers: Christopher Caltabiano, Madison

Gaca, Kathryn Reed

Pit Personnel:

Brown, Natalie

Uhl, Thomas

Goudy, Hailey

Halstead, Bryon

Lefebvre, Danielle

Lewis, Nina

Annie Stage Crew

The 2018 annual Scholastic Art Awards

Exhibition is on display again this year on the

OCC Campus. The Central New York Arts

Council is one of the largest regional affiliate

in the National Scholastic Art program, this

year bringing in over 5,000 pieces of art from

a b o u t 2 0 0 t e a c h e r s a n d

between 80 to 100 individual schools. It is a

highly competitive exhibition highlighting

wonderful young artists and their diverse

talents. The scale of the exhibition is truly

astonishing!!! Over 1,300 awards are

presented each year, and those winning pieces

and portfolios will be on display throughout

the Whitney Applied Technology Center at

Onondaga Community College until Friday,

March 3rd. The exhibit is free and open to the

public!

There were a RECORD NUMBER of

submissions this year (again), we are pleased

t o a n n o u n c e t h a t 1 4 J C B

students were among the winning

selections for the 2018 Scholastic Art Show!

Honorable Mention Awards

Ceramics – Kearra Backus, Emilie Hilliard,

Vanessa Rivera,

and Mariah Sheirer

Mixed Media — Chloe Calkins and

Aidan Trumble;

Printmaking - Gabrielle Crandall

Silver Key Awards

Photography – Nicole Henry and Zachariah

Neupert

Gold Key Awards

Photography – Emily Forget

Congratulations to the award -

winning artists from JCB!

2018 Scholastic Art Exhibition Award Winners!!

Nicole Henry

Gabrielle

Crandall

Emilie Hilliard

Emily Forget

Zachariah Neupert Chloe Calkins

Aidan Trumble

On January 12, 2018, schools across Oswego

County travelled to John C Birdlebough High

school to participate in Senior High All-County

Band. There was a rehearsal that day from noon

to four. The original weekend long plans were

modified, and the concert was canceled because of

u n s a f e w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s .

Richard L. Saucedo, a successful composer and

musician travelled all the way from Indiana for

this countywide event. Though there was a lot less

time than anticipated, the band was still able to

come together and perform the pieces. There was

a n a u d i e n c e o f t e a c h e r s a n d

a r e c o r d i n g w a s t a k e n .

Senior High All-County Band

By: Hailey Goudy

Fourteen students from Phoenix made the band:

Hailey Goudy (Clarinet), Gabriella Allen (Clarinet),

Sarah Thorn (Bass Clarinet),, Dixon Ameele (Alto

Sax), Olivia Ripley (Trumpet), Aiden Trumble

(Trumpet), Thomas Uhl (Trumpet), Lily Roberts

(French Horn), Sean Sievers (Trombone), Skyler

Patnode (Trombone), Violet Ameele (Trombone), Chloe

Calkins (Euphonium), Sophia Trinca (Mallets),

a n d A l e x O l s c h e w s k e ( P e r c u s s i o n ) .

Four pieces were prepared: Burn by Roland Barrett,

Melodious Thunk by David Biedenbender, Walking

into History by Richard Saucedo, and His Honor by

Henry Fillmore. There was no concert, but the

experience was unforgettable.

I chose to interview the Phoenix Indoor

Percussion Ensemble (Drumline) director Er-

ic English. Eric has been the director for the

past three years now. For those who don’t

know Drumline is a organization

t h a t i s p u t t o g e t h e r b y

students and music professionals that play

percussion instruments. A Drumline has to

have a battery (the people who move on the

floor) of snare drums, bass drums, tenor

drums (quads) and, depending on the show,

possibly cymbals. A drumline also has to

have a pit (front ensemble). Then once you

have your group (ensemble) you have to get

dancers (visuals). This year our

visuals are called the crew because they play

in parts of the show also. Each year, the

Drumline puts together a show

and performs at competitions for a score and

they are ranked in the circuit based on the

show, placement (scores), and how

well you execute the show. Most

importantly you have to have a floor to

perform on and design accordingly to the

show design. That is what Drumline is in a

nutshell.

Mr. English (Eric) has a music and teaching

background. Eric went to Onondaga

Community College and got his Associates

degree in Architecture Technology. Then he

went to the University of Buffalo and

received his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture

Design. Eric has taught for seven different

I n d o o r P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e s :

Jordan Elbridge, Medina HS, Lancaster HS,

and Oswego HS to name a few. Now he is our

director and has led us to much success in the

last three years. He started out instructing the

Phoenix Drumline under the direction of Luke

Dennis. Luke is currently the bass drum

instructor.

Eric and two other current drumline instructors

Mitch and Mr. Ganey attended and graduated

from Jordan Elbridge HS. Currently

four of the five Drumline instructors and many

other percussionist are a part of a group called

Downbeat Percussion, which is a group of

percussionists who get paid to perform at the

B u f f a l o B i l l s g a m e s . I t i s

mostly professionals, but there are some kids

also. Four students from this high school are

actually in Downbeat Percussion! If you want

to get private lessons on being a

percussionist you can contact Eric or any

o f t h e s e n i o r s i n D r u m l i n e .

Eric always wanted to be a drummer and look

where he is now! He is the director of the

Drumline. Eric chose to teach Indoor Percussion

Ensembles because he loves music, so now he is

doing the things he loves. The biggest challenge/

obstacle Eric has faced this year was the snow

days and lost practice time, but he always tries

t o m a k e u p t h e l o s t t i m e .

Eric does a lot in his spare time such as

preparing the drumline shows. Yes, that is

right! He writes his own music, designs the

Interview with Eric English

(Drumline—Percussion Director)

By: Shania Meaker

Interview continued...

Taco Bell...has fries????

By: Lana Brown

Are Taco Bells NEW Nacho Fries all they’re hyped out to be? Some may ask what is so

special about these fries?? Well, let me tell you. They are some of the best French fries I

have ever had and I love fries! AND... they are only a dollar… AND who doesn’t want to

dunk their fries into some delicious Taco Bell

cheese sauce?? The fries are far better than any

other fast food chains, so, if you’re tired of plain

old fries with ketchup, then go try Taco Bell’s

Nacho Fries for yourself.

drill, builds the props, and he even

made the design on the wraps for the

b a t t e r y t h a t m a k e t h e

drums look like they are made

o u t o f p l a n k s o f w o o d .

The advice that Eric gives to students

is pick a job you love and you won’t

have to work a day in your life. That

explains his job perfectly. Eric is

always around if students want to

vent (preferably Drumline students—

because he knows them). He is a very

relaxed and nice guy. He is a really

good instructor—he can help students

learn rhythms and break them down.

He makes it very simple and easy

to pick up (learn) new things.

Eric is located in the band room and

he is usually just here for Drumline,

but he may come in once in a while to

work on props, the floor, or music

writing.

ARTWORK by Danielle B.

My obsession with dance is a problem

At seven in the morning

I jump, leap, think, run,

move, groove and dance

My obsession with dance is a problem

By Liv Lamphere

Emily had fallen, John in addition. For Emily had fallen forever,

And left John to affliction.

She gave him great pain, But she didn’t know

And now he self blames, For no reason at all.

But now he knows that he can recover.

For Emily had fallen, but John… …

John will never

By: William Semanchuk-Enser

The dangerous, old volcano is very silent

One night he feels angry and bold

He explodes, he erupts, he throws

He bubbles, he boils, he burns, he melts

The dangerous, old volcano is very silent

By: Michael VanAuken

Birds don’t shut up.

All the time

They chirp, they sing, they twitter,

they squawk

They cluck and scream, that’s how

they talk.

Birds don’t shut up.

By: Sophia Trinca