The Patriot Press Blog

The last show for members of the Class of 2012 features the Year in Review and Teacher Goodbyes:

Yesterday’s issue of The Patriot Press included the annual Senior Superlatives voted by the senior class. There was an omission in the Superlatives section. We accidentally left out the photo for the winners of Best Dancer category. The winners were Courtnie Grierson and Cody Webb. We apologize for this omission. Here are photos:

Best Dancers-Courtnie Grierson & Cody Webb

Stories on: Key Club’s Annual Quidditch Match, Lacrosse’s Preparations for Playoffs, and the Annual Spring Performance by the Dance Classes:

Stories on: The FBLA State Competitions, Softball vs. Mount de Sales, and Hall Sweeps:

Stories on: Best Buddies Dance, The GSA Day of Silence and Bloopers II:

Kyle Horak

Junior Kyle Horak was on Northern’s very successful swim team. We asked him to look back to the season to think about what it’s like spending the winter in the pool.

Q: How long have you been swimming?
A: I have a pool, so I have been swimming ever since I was about three. But I joined the swim team as a freshman.
Q: Why did you decide to join the swim team?
A: I joined because I play football and lacrosse so in the winter I don’t do anything, so I joined to stay in shape. I am glad I joined because I’m good at it and I made a lot of good friends.
Q: What events do you compete in?
A: The 200 yard medley (free), 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle and the 200 yard free relay.
Q: What are your greatest accomplishments?
A: Swimming my fastest times and as a team, it would be winning regionals.
Q: What is the best part about being on the swim team?
A: Staying in shape, and all of my friends on the team. My two cousins that swim are the best.
Q: What is your favorite swim team memory?
A: When (alumnus) D.J. Baxter threw a filled water cap at my back. It really hurt but it was funny because I had NHS printed on my back for the whole meet.
Q: Why should students join the swim team?
A: They should because it is really fun and you make a lot of friends. Plus, you get fit.
Q: What teammates stand out in skill and effort?
A: Ben Lawless because he breaks records, and Tommy Cranford because he’s very fast.
Q: If you could be one ocean animal, what would it be?
A: A clown fish because I’m funny.
–Devin Cutlip, The Patriot Press

Members of the track team stretch for practice.

Spring sports started on March 1. Northern softball conquered the state title last year and hopes to win another. If they win the state title again this year, they will have won five state titles in a row. The Lacrosse team looks stronger than ever this year. After winning S.M.A.C. last year and getting to the semi regionals, Northern lacrosse is expected to get to the state championship game this year.

The girls’ lacrosse team’s season ended last year with a lot of hung heads, however with the team having two freshmen with positive attitudes the team is looking very confident. Outdoor track and field have more runners this year, whcih should help track and field place in more events. Boys baseball had a good season last year, but fell short. This season they hope to get to the state championship game.

–Zac Brown, The Patriot Press

Journalism students pose on the TKTS stairs in Times Square.

Arriving at 9:45 in New York City on March 14, Northern’s journalism students eagerly checked into their hotel, The Milford Plaza, that sits just around the corner from Times Square. Of course the group, being so close to all of New York’s action, spent the next three days sightseeing and shopping, but the main focus of the trip was to expand their minds regarding the world of journalism.

The 13 student journalists attended sessions at Columbia University as part of the 88th Annual Columbia Scholastic Press Association Spring Convention from  Wednesday through Friday. They were chose a class each hour from among eight categories (Advisers, All Publications, Digital Media, Law and Ethics, Magazines, Newspapers, Photography, and Yearbooks). Along with the wide variety of categories, the conference instructors included employees at famous publications, like Sharon Otterman from The New York Times.

The journalism exposure the students gained during their sessions was extended in their other activities.  On Wednesday morning, students went to the plaza at Rockefeller Center to watch a taping of The Today Show outside.  The following morning, the students were part of a live audience during the recording of Anderson, journalist Anderson Cooper’s new talk show. Besides watching him interview guests, students were able to ask Cooper any questions they had relating to journalism.

On Wednesday, thanks to yearbook adviser Ms. Adriene Lagier’s involvement with CNN on the Lucky Seven program, the students and Lagier joined Laura Cozik for a jog and workout in Central Park filmed by the news network. Cozik is the assistant athletic director at CNN. The students also attended two Broadway shows, The Lion King and Jersey Boys. This great opportunity opened the students minds to the larger world of journalism, as well as to the independence that the city offers.
–Jess Ward, The Patriot Press

Stories on: Track Pre-Season Preparation and Student’s Hidden Talents: