Broadcaster Press 9 February 26, 2019 www.broadcasteronline.com FEBRUARY 2019 VERMILLION.K12.SD.US VERMILLION HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER BY ZADYA ABBOTT ZADYA ABBOTT YA The History Of Black History Month The year was 1925 when Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History declared that one week in February would be set aside for a celebration called Negro History Week. The week long holiday incorporated the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and spoke out for the purpose of acknowledging the historic revelations brought about by Black people. Negro History Week quickly became a public trademark for February, similar to Valentines and Presidents Day. Then two hundred years after the creation of the United States, 1976, Negro History Week was elongated to cover the entirety of February. Black History Month was born and President Ford called upon Americans to, Òseize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,Ó (africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/about/). A Letter To A Young Black Women/A Letter To A Younger Me Dear Black Girl, Happy Black History Month! When you look in the mirror today I want you to see your unique beauty. When you look at your widened hips and full lips do not waste time remembering the cat-callerÕs words of objectification. It was not a compliment. When you put on a fitted shirt, do not think of the neighbor that looked at the way you dressed your twelve year-old body and called you a prostitute. When you look at that mirror do not seek out the eyes that never adjusted to the innocence of your childness. Do not acknowledge those stereotypes. DonÕt let the mirror tell you that the kink of your natural hair, or darkness of your eyes is bad. You were born the embodiment of someoneÕs wildest dreams, and when you look in the mirror, see that. See your #BlackGirlMagic. See a person with the ability to decide who she is. Do not lock your head up with ideas of being ÔtooÕ or Ônot enoughÕ Black. You are a rightful part of the culture that fought for Civil Rights. So stand in support of all your sisters, and reject a colorist world. You are beautiful. Fight through the distorted images of Halloween costumes and anger society feeds you. Allow yourself to find representation in Disney’s first Black princess, in televised leading ladies like Viola Davis (ÔHow To Get Away With MurderÕ), Kerry Washington (ÔScandalÕ) and Amandla Stenberg (ÔEverything, EverythingÕ), and with RAISE YOUR Expectations We can help you get the keys to your new home and help protect your property rights Reading Program Excels at VHS BY KEEGAN RETZLAFF A ccelerated Reader (AR), is a program which tracks and monitors reading skills. High school students typically read less than their grade-school years, which is why our school is using AR. Students who have read fifty AR points have read, on average, over 1,200 pages outside of school. Studies have shown students who spend twenty minutes a day outside of school reading are exposed to two million more words, than students of whom do not. Advocating for reading programs, such as AR, opens many doors for graduates. VHS students who have exceeded the fifty AR points include Basmala Alemam, Carter Mart, Lilliana Port, Nathaniel Fick, Taylor Soloman, Alexandru Georgescu, Harshavardhan Kadarkaraisamy, and Angel Thompson. In addition to participating in the AR program, students from VHS have started a book club called Literature Lovers. High school students read Vermillion | 605.624.4461 |CorTrustBank.com books to Jolley Elementary students once a month to promote reading in our community. They also are trying to help teachers fundraise for students to receive free books to take home. If you want to sponsor one child and contribute $9, please contact the Literature Lovers, or their president Anna Bottesini. Remember, reading is to your brain what exercise is to your body! AR Points Award Students, Back Row: Nathaniel Fick, Harshavardhan Kadarkaraisamy, Carter Mart, Alexandru Georgescu. Front Row: Angel Thompson, Lilliana Port, and Taylor Soloman. Photo by Zadya Abbott (junior). One-Act Superior Again BY STEPHANIE MAGANA T started off rough with memorizing set/line cues. They pulled through and put on a great show. After being chosen at regionals in Yankton, along with Beresford, Vermillion students traveled to the state competition in Aberdeen. Over the course of three days, the schools from all over the state performed for the judges and other schools. After all the plays were performed, the awards were handed out. Although they started off rough due to weather conditions delaying the competition, Vermilion Drama pulled through in the end. he South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) sponsored this yearÕs One-Act play competition. In this event, schools from all over the state compete with plays which only have one act, hence the name One-Act. Every school year, our local Vermillion High School joins this competes with dedication. This year they performed The Perils of Lulu, which placed at a superior state rating. Superior ratings are based on the judgeÕs view of how they performed. Tessa Dooley played Lulu Barnes, Jake Oehler played Lance Hepplewhite and Annika Holdhusen played The Wilma Show Host. They all received superior medals for acting. The ensemble also received superior acting medals. The cast and crew of Vermillion Drama earned medals as well to acknowledge their hard work. VHS Drama put in tremendous 5 W. Cherry St. effort to find sucVermillion cess. Working from 624-4444 after school to 6, the cast and crew showed how determined they were to get to state. At Tanager Merchandise, Greeting Cards, Candies, Home Decor and first, like all plays, it Many Other Great Gift Ideas! catalysts for change like Michelle Obama and Mari Copeny. I have seen Amber Riley and Rachel Lindsay make history as the first Black woman to win Dancing With The Stars and ABC’s first Black Bachelorette. I am white, Native American, and Black. Everyday I wake up and, like everybody else, have to fight off my insecurities in order to live with faith in myself. So for this monthÕs pause for diversity, I urge you pause your culture code-switching. Press play on feeling comfortable enough to ask them not to pet your hair without asking, on acknowledging your Blackness without letting it become all that you are, and on celebrating yourself as the dreams of your ancestors and the inspiration of your posterity. LetÕs go, #BlackGirlMagic! With Love, Zadya A. Mr. Cameron Set to Retire at School YearÕs End BY CURT CAMERON, VHS PRINCIPAL I began my career in the Vermillion School District in 1980. I was hired by Gary Culver as an assistant varsity football coach from 1980 thru 1983. I did my student teaching at the Vermillion Middle School under John Grinde in 1982. I left Vermillion from 1983-1987 and taught social studies in a small town in western Nebraska. In 1987, Mrs. Hennies, the 8th grade social studies teacher at the Vermillion Middle School, transferred up to the high school and I was hired as her replacement. I taught 8th grade American history for ten years. I also coached 7th and 8th grade football, volleyball, and track. I doubled as the American History teacher and assistant principal from 1995-1998. In 1998, I transferred up to the high school and performed the duties as assistant principal and assistant track coach. In 2001, Doug Tuetken left as the high school principal and I replaced him. Jason Huska was hired as dean of students and athletic director. Mr. Huska and I have now worked together for 18 years. During my tenure as principal, I have taught Native American Studies, South Dakota History, Weight Training and Conditioning, and Fitness for Life. Over the years I have watched fads come and go: bell bottom jeans, silk shirts, flannel shirts, high top tennis shoes, hip huggers, perms for both boys and girls, jump suits, yoga pants, blue hair, red hair, purple hair, LeviÕs, WranglerÕs, leisure suits, designer jeans, parachute pants, short skirts, long skirts, long hair, shaved heads, tube tops and crop tops. The unique thing is that in school today you can see any of these styles walking down the hallway. The thing that has not changed over the years are the students. The Vermillion High School students have always been caring, conscientious, high achievers, empathic, intelligent, competitors, successful, vision seekers, polite, and open to new concepts. My wife and I intend to stay in Vermillion and reside in the house we built in 1991. I look forward to fishing, gardening, camping, attending USD and Tanager events, going south for the winter, reading fictional books, and relaxing a lot. Your future is waiting. Make it happen. UPCOMING CAMPUS VISIT DAY: APPLY FOR A FULL-RIDE BUILD DAKOTA SCHOLARSHIP BY MARCH 31. • Friday, March 22 • Schedule Personal Visit 605.367.6040 | SOUTHEASTTECH.EDU/BUILDDAKOTA