The sound of the balls dribbling and the enthusiasm of the fans cheering when the Jackets make a basket are crazy. It’s basketball season.
After a great season of football, the boys are getting prepared to do the same in basketball. Basketball started as soon as football playoffs were over. The first game was November 19 at Cushing High School. The boys are currently 1-2. “We will have a solid season this year,” basketball coach Akimba Johnson said. “The guys have been grinding since last April, and I believe we are primed to do great things this season. [We are] humble and hungry.” The players had a good season last year, but with the hard work they have accomplished throughout the months, they are prepared to make a better comeback this year. “Last year was rough because we really didn’t know how to play the game, but I believe our hard work over the spring and summer will pay off,” junior Chris Smith said. They have a lot of new skills and techniques they are ready to show off this season and couldn’t be more excited to apply them as they aspire to be champions. “Stay tuned…,” senior Michael Ramirez said. “We have championship aspirations and are willing to put in the work to achieve our goal.” With of all the training and practicing the boys have put in, they feel confident about their roles this year. “Basketball has helped me a lot,” senior Jade Ashalintubbi said. “My body feels good, and I’m more skilled. Most importantly, I understand my role this year better.” Basketball isn’t only a sport for them. It’s a bonding experience. No matter what happens, they’re a team. “We are a team,” senior Tyler Chmiel said. “Everyone likes each other, and we been playing together all spring/summer. The sky’s the limit for us.” The Jackets have a goal this season, and they are going to keep working until they reach it.
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By: A.Walker
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and many people are excited to eat turkey and participate in their usual traditions. But some traditions aren’t so common. In fact, some people have very unusual traditions, other than eating a whole plate of potatoes and drinking straight from the gravy boat. “On Thanksgiving, me and my mom inflate a ten foot santa,” sophomore Brooke Copeland said. “I really don’t like it. It wastes time and electricity, but I do it because it makes my mom happy.” Journalism teacher Amanda Ware envies Brooke for her concern of conserving electricity. Ware also has her own unique tradition whenever it’s time for turkey day. “I don’t eat meat [so] my grandmother makes me a separate pan of stuffing without turkey,” Ware said. “My grandma’s stuffing is so delicious, and I get a whole pan to myself!” Some aren’t so unusual as much as they are just not as common. “I know it’s kinda peculiar, but every Thanksgiving, me and my family get together and watch Christmas movies,” freshman Kameryn Trost said. “I don’t like it. I’d like to get into Christmas during December. It’s a bit too soon to watch Christmas movies, but I do enjoy spending time with my family.” Do you have any weird traditions that you participate in? Did you find these weird, or do you do these things every year too? By: B. Hendricks, K. Hart
Thanksgiving break is a week (November 19 - November 23) long break from school, giving students and teachers a chance to relax and spend time with family. So many people had great plans for the break, including traveling or just staying at home and stuffing their faces with delicious food. A few people spoke up to the staff about their plans during this break before it even began, including teachers. “My plans include spending time with my family and doing some fishing when I have time,” biology teacher James Beasley said. “Beyond this, I might do some yard work or a project in my workshop.” Many students had plans, too. “For my break, I planned on hanging out with my girlfriend mostly and eating my grandparent’s food,” freshmen Jacob Morgan said. “I love my grandma’s cooking!” Plenty of people had a lot of plans for the break. “I spent time with my family,” senior Kelsie Marcantel said. “My uncle always makes gumbo and hot chocolate which is a surprisingly good combination.” Hopefully, everyone had a safe and fun Thanksgiving break. By : C. Barras
Fans watch silently as seniors walk out of the tunnel on the field. Parents and students have a bittersweet feeling. Senior night was a big emotional night for everyone. On November 2, senior night, an event where senior football players, cheerleaders, and band members are recognized, occurred. The seniors were excited but sad about the walk. Walking out of the tunnel caused a realization for many of the seniors, but everyone enjoyed the moment and made more memories that night. “Senior night was filled with mixed emotions,” senior band member Brian Farmer said. The seniors talk about where they plan to go to college and what they’re going to pursue. “I’m going to Northwestern State University to become a pediatric nurse practitioner,” senior cheerleader Chesley Swilley said. “I’m sad that I won’t be cheering for EF anymore, but I’m excited for the future.” The seniors are constantly thinking about how things are going to be for them in the future and what they plan on doing now to pursue the things that they want to do or be. It’s going by fast for them, and they are emotionally affected by how things are going by. “I’m going to miss my friends,” Brian said. “But I’m happy because I’m ready to pursue my career in becoming an electrical lineman.” Senior night is a big night for fans and students. It’s an important step in their life to realize that they are becoming an adult and that it’s time to get prepared for their life that lies ahead. By: S. Wray, T. Nealy
Thump. Thump. Thump. Swish. That's the sound of basketball arriving. The basketballs girls had their most recent game on November 27 at Queen City. Coach Sierra Bradshaw, the head coach, is really excited for the upcoming season. “I am looking forward to the new group of girls that I get to work with this year,” Bradshaw said. “They have lots of energy and come ready to work hard every day.” Junior Carly Barras may be slightly nervous, but she is ready for this season. “I’m looking forward to having a great season with the girls,” Carly said. “I think that everything is going to go great for us this year.” Bradshaw loves that the girls are learning new things. “We have learned a lot of new things, and we are learning how to adjust to the new group” Bradshaw said. The girls began the Hughes Springs Tournament yesterday, the 29, and will be competing in it until December 1. By: M. Rogers, R. Perkins
Thanksgiving day is a national holiday in the United States. Thanksgiving 2018 occurred on Thursday, November 22. In November 1621, after the pilgrims first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited Native American allies. That day is now remembered as America’s first Thanksgiving. Pilgrims held their second Thanksgiving celebration in 1623 which made the Thanksgiving holiday official. “The pilgrims decided they would have a happy little gathering,” sophomore Savannah Wray said. Many people do not know the true meaning of how the Thanksgiving holiday was created. “I think back in the day the pilgrims and the Indians didn’t get along, so they had a feast that brought them together which is now called Thanksgiving,” sophomore Taylor Nealy said. Many people enjoy Thanksgiving. They have many different traditions and try new foods. “For Thanksgiving, each member of the family has to make either a dessert, main course, side, or even drink,” sophomore Ramani Perkins said. Thanksgiving isn't about the food you eat; it’s about being thankful for the things you have today and the things you will have in the future. By: K. Trost, K. Haigh
Late night cheers are as loud as ever for the 2018 jacket football season. The football team has worked their hardest to qualify for playoffs, and they succeeded. The season has surely had its ups and downs, but the boys have made it to playoffs. The whole school is teeming with excitement for the game. “I think the football team did great this year,” junior Jacob Bankhead said. “I enjoyed watching them excel. The season has been amazing, and I can’t wait for playoffs.” Playoffs are a big deal for students that follow the game. “I have a lot of faith in the boys,” sophomore Asia Neff said. “We’ve made it this far, so we can make it all the way. I truly believe we’ll make it to the second round. This is a huge opportunity, and we can make it worthwhile.” This season has been a rollercoaster from start to now, and some games were more intense than others. “My favorite game was the Dangerfield game,” sophomore Justin Kitchen said. “The whole game was close. It had me on edge from start to finish, but we won by 3 points.” The players, the cheerleaders, and the band have all pushed to their limits to put on a astounding show, and they all have done fantastic. Their work has really paid off, and it has come through to show that we can exceed. By: K. Marcantel
The students of the month for the month of November are sophomores Reed Parker and Madison Harris. Madison Elizabeth Harris is the driven and active daughter of Alonzo and LaTosha Harris. Due to her love of testing her strength and pushing herself to the limit, Madison is involved in track and field as well as weight-lifting. Her favorite class in chemistry. Madison continues to be an athletic young woman by practicing on the track even outside of school time. She also enjoys playing the piano and being with her family. Her number one goal for the future is to become a professional athlete in track and field while in high school. She would also like to participate in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Once she retires, she plans to be a college track and field coach. Reed Harmon Parker is the athletic teenage son of Dan and Leslie Parker. Reed also has a passion for testing his strength as he is a player on the junior varsity football team. When he’s not on the field, he can be found in the stands playing his instrument since he is involved in band, too. Reed pushes himself academically as well and says that algebra II is his favorite class. His love of football extends beyond the school campus as he spends his free time either playing or watching the game. He often plays video games as well. After he graduates, Reed plans to attend a big state college such as Texas A&M University or Louisiana Tech University to pursue an engineering career. By: K. Marcantel
Wind sends sand flowing into their eyes as they try to find their target. Their ears ring as the guns near them go off, bullet shells raining down to their combat boots. They serve their country with brave spirits. They sacrifice everything to protect those they love. They are heroes. We call them the military. Land of the free. Home of the brave. Because of our soldier’s bravery, we are free people. Those courageous souls put their lives on the line. They have seen unimaginable things after leaving behind what they know and love. While they fight wars we turn a blind eye to, we laugh with friends, ignorant to the military’s sacrifice and rarely showing thanks for it. We also do not recognize those brave enough to carry on as they struggle with having a loved one in the military. These loved ones feel the hardships of those fighting for our country as they support them back home. Sophomore Brooke Copeland has a brother, Lane, in the marines, and she understands the challenge of having a loved one in the military. “He’s [my brother] in California stationed at Camp Pendleton,” Brooke said. “He is licensed to drive AAV’s, and he will be going overseas soon. It’s very challenging knowing I can’t wake up and see him every day. It’s hard to know that he can’t come home whenever he wants, and it’s awful.” We do not know what it like to feel bullets whizzing past us to hit another innocent person. It’s considered nearly impossible for many to imagine their last “I love you”’s to family only being in a letter instead of in person. It hurts to think about being in fear of losing your life every day. These are the conditions the military face for years. Meanwhile, we sit at home, posting a hashtag for the latest shooting or hurricane we pretend to care about for a few days. When someone close to you is risking their life for your freedom, however, you have a certain respect and love for the military. Your heart not only breaks constantly for the conditions of our country but for those going to war for it. “I’m terrified,” Brooke said. “I never know when he’s safe. I never know how he’s feeling. His whole life is a mystery to me now, and I hate it.” The cyber security, the battles, the engineering, and the many other jobs all branches of the military do go under our radar until maybe Veteran’s Day and similar holidays. Every branch of the military and every job within those branches is important. Each job requires so much hard work and determination. Through every doubt, through every person that tells them what they are doing is wrong or that they can’t do it, those serving in the military must keep their heads high, their minds clear, and their hearts strong. For that, loved ones are proud to call those in the military family and friends and proud of all the military’s hard work. “I’m very proud of him for getting through all the rigorous training after everyone doubted that he could,” Brooke said. Whether one or their loved one is in the air force, the navy, the army, the marines, or the coast guard, the military’s service is greatly appreciated. While it may not always be shown, there is no greater sacrifice or example of bravery and patriotism than fighting for one’s country. So thank you, military, for all that you do. “I’m very proud to be a part of a country whose military is strong and prideful," Brooke said. By: K. Marcantel
For the third year in a row, the Elysian Fields High School Bleeding Orange newspaper staff attended one of the most anticipated events of the year. It is an event that gives them a chance to better themselves as individual writers and a team as well as showing just how bright a small but determined staff can stand out when faced with an epic challenge. The Bleeding Orange staff has once again rocked Journalism Day. The less theatrical run down of what “J-Day” is is this: a weekday where high school newspaper staffs attend journalism workshops and compete in multiple competitions available. Such competitions are pre-submission media writing, television broadcast, radio broadcast, media writing, and photojournalism. Each member of the staff competed in at least one of these contests. “I competed in news broadcast and photojournalism,” junior Morgan Durrett said. “I didn’t do so well on the news broadcast, but I got 3rd in photojournalism.” Journalism students not only have the chance to learn about Northwestern State University where the event is held as well as college life in general, but they also get a peek of what the field of journalism has to offer. Before and after certain events, students can listen to professional journalists and get advice. While the competitions themselves may be a little stress-inducing, especially for those attending for the first time, the overall experience is fun and a great opportunity to grow as a journalist and a staff. “This was my first year going, and I learned so many things about NSU and more about competing,” sophomore Jessica Collins said. “It was a fun, amazing experience because I got to spend quality time with my friends and teacher while doing things we enjoy.” Though it may have been Jessica’s first year attending, this year’s J-Day was the third and last for the seniors of the Bleeding Orange staff. Many great memories have been made at Journalism Day throughout those three years, and with 2018 being the final year for two young journalists, it can be an emotional time. “I knew what I was getting into,” senior Harleigh Whitehead said. “It was fun and chaotic. I’m also sad because it was my very last J-Day.” The 2018-29 Bleeding Orange staff made this year really count and did an outstanding job. While there may have been only seven members in attendance, the school’s newspaper staff managed to bring home a total of ten awards. Sophomore Brooke Copeland snagged 3rd place in the radio broadcast competition. The media writing competition held at NSU gave senior Kelsie Marcantel the opportunity to place 3rd as well. Though the staff fell short of placing in the TV broadcast contest, the staff took first-third in both pre-submission media writing and photojournalism. In pre-submission media writing, Kelsie placed 1st, Harleigh placed 2nd, and Jessica placed 3rd. As for photojournalism, junior Carly Barras placed 1st, Kelsie placed 2nd, and Morgan placed 3rd. Congratulations to each hard-working member of the 2018-19 Bleeding Orange staff. |
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