Local teen killed during Craigslist deal

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

Jawad Al Razai, a local 18-year-old and recent Leesville High graduate, was shot and killed in Durham on Oct. 21 in an attempted robbery. The police responded to a shooting call at around 7:30 p.m. and two teenagers with gunshot wounds at the scene. The second teen, 18-year-old Jarrion Hood, has been charged with murder and attempted robbery.

According to investigators, Razai met with Hood to buy a cell phone Hood posted on Craigslist. Razai suffered a gunshot after authorities say Hood attempted to rob him. Razai was taken to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Hood was also taken to the hospital for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg, but his injuries were not life-threatening. He was later released and taken to the Durham County jail.

Don't miss Don't Drink the Water

Rebekah Gould 
Staff Writer

Danny Martin (11), Rachel Cessna (11), and
David Flowers (12)

Apex Peak Players’ fall production, Don’t Drink the Water, is a hilarious show for all ages. There is fantastic talent in the cast with senior David Flowers as Father Drobney, the narrator of the show. The plot follows the struggles of Axel Magee as he attempts to run an American Embassy behind the Iron Curtain while his father, Ambassador Magee (senior Aidan Macpherson) is away on business. Right as Axel is put in charge the Hollanders, a family from Newark, New Jersey, come running in the embassy fleeing the communist police who accuse them of being spies.

Junior Sean Thornton perfectly portrayed a loveable and klutzy Axel Magee. He added many laugh out loud moments to the comedic atmosphere. Magee’s love interest is Susan Hollander, played by junior Laura Mumford, whose kind heart and thirst for adventure guide the storyline. Junior Danny Martin portrayed an outrageous Walter Hollander, Susan’s father. Martin’s Jersey accent, wild gestures, and continuous ranting brought Walter to life. The one who is always there to calm Walter’s rants or fuel them is his wife, Marion Hollander, played by junior Rachel Cessna. Her clumsiness and jokes throughout the show are hilarious. Senior Will Stapleton portrayed Krojack, a communist police officer whose Russian accent and demanding tone made his character believable. Flowers took on a whole new role as an old, quirky priest who has been stuck at the Embassy for six years. Thankful for the company, he entertains the Hollanders with magic tricks. Flowers’ accent, mannerisms, and “old man shuffle” created a hilarious “Holy Houdini.”

Closing night is Saturday, Nov. 1. Tickets are available at apexdrama.com for $6-$7 online or $10 at the door. Be sure to bring canned goods for International Thespian society to benefit their “Trick or Treat so Kids can Eat” drive. The canned goods will be donated to UNICEF.

Occupy Hong Kong movement faces violent opposition

Kennison Garratt
Staff Writer

Pro-democracy protests, known as Occupy Hong Kong, have been facing some violent opposition in response to this act of civil disobedience. The protesters are mostly young people and students protesting the changes in legislative council and chief executive elections that will be enforced in 2016 and 2017. They have been residing in tents in the streets of the financial central district since Sept. 28. The protesters were angered when police came early in the morning and attempted to remove blockades that they had set up. Before, masked men had come out of the subway station with knives and attacked them. They were infuriated because the police would not come to their aid from the anti-Occupy group, possibly one of Hong Kong’s triad gangs, which attempted to break up the demonstrations. After beginning to reconstruct the barriers, protesters began demanding for Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying to resign as well as free elections for selecting his replacement. But, on other demands, organizers are not sure where all of the protesters stand.

CAT Soccer moves on in state playoffs

Matt Sholtis
Staff Writer

The Apex Men’s soccer team defeated the Sanderson Spartans in the first round of the state playoffs on Wednesday night by a score of 3-0.

With the pouring rain during warm-ups and the quickly falling temperature, both fans and players were preparing for a long night in Apex. But just after the Spartans and Cougars got underway, the rain stopped and the home fans were treated to a victorious game.

"What the HECK" News

Alex Sands
Staff Writer

The inventor of the game “Operation” cannot afford an operation of his own

• You may remember the game of “Operation” from your childhood. The inventor, John Spinello, needs a $25,000 oral surgery that he cannot afford. Spinello has only made $500 from the game, collected when he sold the rights. Spinello said he plans to focus on the joy that the game brought children over the past 50 years rather than being bitter about his healthcare crisis. Donations for Spinello’s surgery are being accepted online.

Man behind bars for accidently sending “You have some weed?” to probation officer

• Ever sent a text to the wrong person? Alvin Cross, Jr. accidently sent the text “you have some weed?” to his probation officer, allowing the officer to search the man’s home and find a bag of cocaine. Cross was on probation after 15 years in jail for an armed robbery in 2006. Cross will be doing another year in prison due to his cocaine possession and poor texting etiquette.

UNC-Chapel Hill faces revealing academic fraud report

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

According to an academic report by former federal prosecutor Kenneth Wainstein, the University of North Carolina’s alleged academic fraud has been going on for 18 years and involved a large number of students. Wainstein’s investigation into the school came after several accusations against the university.  Student athletes at the school were directed to classes that never met.  This was done as a way to keep the GPA’s of the athletes high enough to maintain eligibility in sports.  Many of the “paper classes” were found in the African and Afro-American Studies Department (AFAM), which is run by Dr. Julius Nyang’oro.  Nyang’oro, along with department manager Deborah Crawford, knew that the classes were supposed to be easy and gave out abnormally high grades.  In fact, the only graded assignment given in many of the classes was a single research paper due at the end of the semester.

Remembering renowned journalist Ben Bradlee

Sarah Ford
Staff Writer

Famous journalist Ben Bradlee died of natural causes on October 21, 2014, in Washington, D.C. He went into hospice care in September due to his declining health related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Ben Bradlee had his share of experiences. He served as a communications officer in the Pacific during WWII, worked in the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange, and worked at Newsweek, helping to facilitate its purchase by The Washington Post. But what he will be most remembered for is his work at The Washington Post as executive editor from 1968 to 1991.

During this time, Bradlee challenged the federal government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers, a history of the political and military involvement of the United States in Vietnam between 1945 and 1967. Also during his time as executive editor, Bradlee oversaw Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s coverage of the Watergate scandal from 1972 to 1974 and was one of the first people aside from Woodward and Bernstein to know the true identity of their main source, Deep Throat.

Bradlee was awarded the French Legion of Honor, the highest award given by the French government, in 2007 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States, in 2013.

Bradlee will be remembered for his contributions to journalism and the transformation of The Washington Post during his time there. In a feature on Bradlee, Fox News said that he, “...got an early break...thanks to his friendship with one president...and became famous for toppling another…”

A Bittersweet Weekend for Apex XC

Matt Sholtis
Staff Writer

The Apex Cross Country team had a bittersweet NCHSAA Regional Meet this past Saturday. The men’s team finished as the Mideast Regional runner-up  for the second straight year while the women’s team finished 5^th in the region for the second year in a row.

Lou Reed, Green Day among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees

Sarah Kebea
Arts and Entertainment Editor

The 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees were announced October 9.   Out of the 15 nominees, only five will be inducted into the famous hall.  The following artists made the list:

Winter Sports Announcement

Grace Fendrick
Features Editor

Below are the known try-out/informational meetings for winter-season sports.

Indoor Track(Men’s and Women’s): Informational meeting on Thursday, October 30, at 2:25 in the cafeteria.

Basketball:

Women’s-

•  Freshmen/Sophomores: Wednesday, October 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the main gy
•  Juniors/Seniors: Wednesday, October 29, at 3:00 p.m. in the main gym

Men’s-

• Freshmen/Sophomores: Wednesday, October 29, at 4:30 p.m. in the main gym
• Juniors/Seniors: Wednesday, October 29, at 5:45 p.m. in the main gym

You need a current physical form to participate and tryout for the sports mentioned above. You can find more information at ahscougarsports.com.

Nigeria declared free of ebola by World Health Organization

Katie Mazanec
Staff Writer

Nigeria has had 42 days without any cases of Ebola, which is double the incubation period of the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Nigeria free of Ebola on October 20^th 2014. Though Nigeria can still contract Ebola cases or even experience another outbreak, for now they are free of any newly reported cases of the disease. This new information begs the question, what did this country do differently to survive the horrendous and devastating outbreaks surrounding them?

Opinion: Is grieving appropriate for social media?

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

It has been a difficult couple of weeks for Wake County students, parents, and staff. First came the death of Panther Creek High student Laura Yost, and very recently Apex High has seen the loss of senior Nathan Pribble. The reaction to these tragedies on its surface has been touching. Many friends and family of the victims have rallied together to console each other and to respect the memories of those students. Some of what has been happening on social media websites, however, is completely distasteful.

Don't miss the Peak Players' fall production!

Rebekah Gould
Staff Writer

The Apex Peak Players' fall production Don’t Drink the Water by Woody Allen is here. The play is about a caterer from Newark, New Jersey who travels with his family behind the Iron Curtain. While on vacation, the family is accused of being spies and hide out in the American Embassy. It is a comedy that will make you laugh out loud. Opening night is Wednesday Oct. 29, and the following shows are Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.

Tickets can be purchased online at apexdrama.com ($6 students/seniors, $7 adults) or at the door for $10. 

An introvert living in an extrovert world

Sarah Ford
Staff Writer

From the moment I started kindergarten, I sensed a difference between myself and many of my peers. As I went through elementary and middle school, I found myself preferring to work on my own and not speaking up in group discussions unless I absolutely had to. School took so much of my energy that when I got home each day, I was so tired that I would plop down on the couch and zone out.

When I got to middle school, my friends were always saying, “Loosen up,” or, “You’re such a party-pooper.” They all assumed that if I just did what they were doing I wouldn't be so apprehensive. I felt like there was something wrong with me for not being more outgoing, so I started trying to change myself. In reality, there wasn't anything inherently wrong with me; my brain was just wired differently. I didn't need to change myself; I just needed to learn about what made me different.

IBM releases Watson artificial intelligence technology

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

IBM has just released its improved Watson cognitive technology program. Watson, named after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson, processes information as a person would, rather than as a computer. Watson can read and understand natural language, learning as it goes and developing hypotheses based on information that is provided. Watson gains knowledge by being taught by users, from prior interactions, and by being presented with new information. Watson actually gets smarter with each use since it learns by tracking feedback from its users’ successes or failures. IBM describes this as the first step in a new era of computing technology, explaining that, “It uses programmatic computing plus the combination of three additional capabilities that make Watson truly unique: natural language processing, hypothesis generation and evaluation, and dynamic learning.” Also, it is moving from keyword based searches to more conversational methods for users to uncover new information.

Behind the wheel tips

Grace Fendrick
Features Editor

You hold the lives of others in your hands. That is the harsh reality that comes with being behind the wheel. The recent injuries and tragic deaths of Wake County students open a window to just how dangerous driving can be. Officer Jason Stone urges teen drivers to be extra cautious saying, “At this age you are supposed to be immature, no one expects you to be as mature as they do when you are an adult. But have maturity for this particular section of your life behind the wheel.”

Stone also said that the majority of the crashes he sees here at Apex are, “caused by inattention, confusion with right of way issues, and inexperience, as well as distractions.”

Questioning the morality of medically assisted suicides

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

There has been a large amount of controversy over Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old victim of terminal brain cancer residing in Portland, Oregon, choosing to die at the end of the month. Her medically assisted suicide is planned to take place on Saturday, November 1. Many oppose the practice of euthanasia, but on the subject, Maynard says that it is her choice and her right to die with dignity. Maynard is working to have medically assisted suicide legalized in other states, where it is currently against the law. Many organizations, such as the Death with Dignity National Center and the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, promote taking advantage of this option if one is suffering from a physical disability that is just too much or if one has a terminal illness. To be eligible for assisted suicide in the United States, one must have two different physician requests stating the patient will be passing away in under six months, be at least 18 years old, and be a resident of that state. Also, one cannot have a mental disorder; he or she must be a competent adult. “The law does provide safeguards against clinically depressed or mentally incompetent patients getting lethal drugs to end their lives. Four other states have enacted similar laws,” says CNN writer Sandeep Jauhar.

Queen C is crowned alongside ten other girls

Alex Sands
Staff Writer

Cierra Brown, otherwise known as “C Breezy” or now “Queen C,” was crowned as the 2014 Homecoming Queen during halftime at Friday night’s football game against Cary. When announced, the student section cheered Brown on, giving her a standing ovation.

“I think I knew deep down that I might win,” said Brown, “but when my name was called and everyone cheered, it was so overwhelming. I just couldn’t believe how much of a positive reaction I had on so many people. That experience with everyone cheering, just made me want to continue to strive to be a better person every day and bring joy to others.”

Looking at the safety of ageing planes

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

An American Airlines flight leaving for Dallas experienced difficulties as the walls of the plane started to split open.  A Boeing 757 was leaving San Francisco when passengers began to notice strange sounds coming from the plane.  The cabin walls then broke open and exposed insulation.  Many distressed passengers felt changes in the air pressure and expressed fear.  One man posted messages on Facebook about his fear during the flight and told his friends to let his wife know about what was going on.  The captain initially told the worried passengers that they would continue through to Dallas.  However, he felt the need to make an emergency landing in San Francisco once he personally saw the breaks in the plane.  No one was hurt, but the event raises questions about the age and safety of planes.

Orchestra hopes to keep the music playing in the face of budget cuts

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

The Wake County Public School System will decide the future of orchestra program funding in its November 18 board meeting. At this meeting, parents and orchestra representatives will present to the school board in hopes of improving funding for the program. Due to budget restrictions, there is a chance for all school orchestras to be cut completely.

Recent Snapchat hack leaks thousands of users' photos

Mae Turney
Staff Writer

Snapchat logo

Approximately 900,000 snapchats, the majority of which contain private content, have been exposed to the public on October 12 by a hacker who then posted them on a site called, thesnappening.org. The hacker was a 19 year old boy who took the site down when he was confronted, but claims that he was doing it “to teach people a lesson about how vulnerable they are making themselves on the internet.”

Apex XC Repeats as Conference Champions

Matt Sholtis
Staff Writer

The Apex Men’s Cross Country team won the SWAC Conference Meet on October 15, 2014 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Apex won for the second straight year as they edged Green Hope by a score of 37-48.

Miranda Lambert leads CMA nominations

Sarah Kebea
Arts and Entertainment Editor 

The CMA Awards are back with Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood hosting the event for the seventh consecutive year.  The awards show will air live on November 5 at 8 p.m. on ABC.  Performers for the night include Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, and Brad Paisley.  Out of the 12 nomination categories this year, here are seven:

Album of the Year:

• Luke Bryan, Crash My Party
• Keith Urban, Fuse
• Miranda Lambert, Platinum
• Dierks Bentley, Riser
• Eric Church, The Outsiders

Entertainer of the Year:

• Blake Shelton
• George Strait
• Keith Urban
• Luke Bryan
• Miranda Lambert

Is it soda or pop?

Sarah Ford and Kenison Garratt
Staff Writers

The United States is known for diversity, which is represented in many places, including here at Apex High School. One way this is shown is through varying dialects. Some use a different word or a different pronunciation. For the word ‘oil,’ everyone polled pronounced it the same way, with two syllables. For the word ‘iron,’ only one person pronounced it as ‘i-run’ instead of ‘i-urn.’ For words, such as ‘caramel’ and ‘syrup,’ there were a variety of answers. How do you pronounce these words? Some questions also have to do with word choice. Below are the questions and results from a recently conducted poll of 50 Apex High School staff and students. 

Pronunciation 

For the word ‘aunt,’ most pronounced it as 

‘ann-t,’ which is how most of the country says it. Others pronounce it as ‘awn-t’ which is a characteristic of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. 

Some choose to substitute an ‘e’ in place of the ‘i’ in milk and pillow, so that it mimics the word set. Others pronounced the first syllables as mill and pill.

Ask Apex: Politics

Zane Muzzillo
Staff Writer

Apex High School students were polled to express their opinions on current events, these are the results.

Who would you prefer to be elected as NC senate representative?

Do you support fracking in the U.S.?

Peak Week 2014: Black & Gold

Grace Fendrick, Sarah Kebea, and Maya Horton
Features Editor, Arts and Entertainment Editor, Staff Writer

The School Day

Kory Ogunnow, Paige Statham, Zoë Lukas, Payton Gardner, Lydia Merritt,
Alexis DeFreece, Natalie Turk, Riley Sassaman, and Olivia Anson. 

 

            Jenn Gubbins(12)                Peyton Farrel(12),              JT Burney(10)

What you need to know about... ADHD

Sarah Ford
Staff Writer

At some point or another, every student has trouble paying attention in school. It could be because they can’t sit still or have other things on their mind. Although inattention isn’t necessarily a good thing, it is not a cause for concern at first. Inattention becomes a problem when it is happening more often than not and when it begins to affect the student’s everyday life.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is, “one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood.” Eleven percent of children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD, and 6.1% are receiving ADHD medication.

What you need to know about... Depression

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

At one time or another everyone experiences feelings of sadness or maybe even despair.  However, just because you’re going through a hard time or you have had a bad day doesn’t mean you have depression. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America define major depression as, “A condition in which a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life in general.” 

It sounds familiar enough, but don’t get too worried, major depression would be intense negative feelings lasting for more than two weeks. This means feeling bad for a couple of days, although unenjoyable, doesn’t mean you should be heading to a psychologist or turning to medication. “Everyone has transient feelings of sadness and depression, especially in response to losses.  But when the feelings and symptoms ... become intense and debilitating (interfering with daily living), and persist for more than a few days, then it might be clinical depression,” Jeanne L. Bolick LCSW says. 

Quick Info on Depression:

• Three types: Major Depression, Dysthymia (Persistent Depression) and bipolar disorder.
• Major depression is intense negative feelings lasting for more than two weeks.
• Depression would interfere with daily life.
• There are treatments for depression such as psychotherapy and medication.
• If contemplating suicide, it is crucial that you seek help immediately.
• There are many sources for support: Trusted friends and family, health care professionals, the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Hotline (1.800.273.8255)

Just feeling down?

• Music and talking with trusted friends and family could also help with feelings of sadness.
• Exercise is proven to help improve your mood by releasing endorphins into your blood stream. 
• Deep breathing, meditation and thinking positively can help your outlook on life.
• A healthy diet and getting enough sleep can help to brighten your day.
• Talking with a doctor about taking natural supplements to help boost your emotional health is also an option.

Apex comes out on top in homecoming game

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

In a highly anticipated rivalry game against Cary as part of the Great American Rivalry Series, the Cougars came out on top in their homecoming game by a score of 40-10 last Friday. The win improves Apex’s record to 5-2 on the season.

The game opened with Apex taking the advantage, as senior Ben Foote snagged an interception on Cary’s first play from scrimmage, one of two he had in the game. “It was just so quick and so intense,” Foote said about his first interception. “On the second one I was just so happy that we had a second chance to score.”

On offense, Apex was led by junior running back Isaiah Totten who ran for 167 yards and four touchdowns. Totten was later named the game’s MVP. “It was definitely a great experience,” Totten said, “but I couldn’t have done it without my team helping me along the way.”

“The kids feel good,” said head coach Joe Kilby. “We’ve won five games and have our eyes on the state playoffs. It feels good to win.”

How effective are college essays in the admission process?

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

The deadline for early decision college applications was October 15, and most college-bound seniors have turned in a few college applications. Some of these kids would sell their soul to get into the college of their choice, and so they tried their hardest to sound unique to colleges through their essays and teacher recommendations. However, how effective are these as application supplements?

What you should know about... Anxiety

Sarah Ford
Staff Writer

Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in his or her life. It is what makes people study more for their history test and be extra careful while driving on the highway. So, anxiety can be a good thing. However, it transitions into an anxiety disorder when the anxious feelings are felt more often than not and don’t always have an obvious cause.

Amelia Kelley, M.S., LPC defines anxiety as, “A pervasive feeling of worry or dread that interrupts daily life functioning and is not able to be lessened or extinguished easily by the person suffering from these thoughts. Often the worry or dread is concerning events not actually occurring, but predicted events.”

Whether teens have an anxiety disorder or are just feeling excess stress and anxiety, they can learn to deal with it. One coping mechanism that has proven effective is ensuring that teens get enough sleep, nourishment, and exercise. All three of these can improve mood and energy, along with lower stress levels for many. Another coping mechanism that has proven effective for many people is keeping a positive attitude. This helps people to rid their minds of the stress and anxiety. By feeding themselves a positive message, they are able to focus on the good in their lives rather than the bad.

Peak Week 2014: America Day

Grace Fendrick, Sarah Kebea, 
Maya Horton, Mae Turney, and Katie Mazanec

Features Editor, Arts and Entertainment Editor, and Staff Writers

Andrew Fiorentino(12)                                    Brayden Lauffer(12)

Jacob T, Louis C, Katie D, Kathy W, Mackenzie H,
 Jonah C, Davis D, Tyler H, and Ben S(all 12th) 

"What the Heck" News

Alex Sands
Staff Writer

Lost parrot with British accent comes home speaking fluent Spanish

Nigel, the parrot with a British accent, disappeared from his British owner, Darren Chick, in California four years ago. The parrot was recently reunited with Chick, after the person who found Nigel searched for records within his microchip. To Chick’s surprise, the parrot now speaks fluent Spanish and calls out the name “Larry.” No one knows where Nigel has been but Chick says he is doing well back at home.

Peak Week 2014: Inner Nerd Day

Grace Fendrick
Features Editor

Matt C, Noah L, and Connor S. (all 10)

Hannah S. and Parker B. (both 11)

Former Charlotte mayor faces jail time

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

Patrick Cannon, former mayor of Charlotte, was sentenced to 44 months in prison on Tuesday, October 14.  Cannon was arrested on March 26 after being caught on tape accepting over $50,000 from undercover FBI agents.  The agents presented themselves as real estate developers and offered the money in exchange for expedited zoning approvals.  In addition to the years spent in prison, Cannon must repay over $50,000 worth in assets and pay a $10,000 fine.  Cannon is the first mayor in the city’s history to go to prison on corruption charges. 

Hacking threatens safety of online shopping

Aaron Koch
Staff Writer

The Internet is one of the greatest technological advancements in human history. It’s accomplishments like this that bring people together and help spread ideas. This goes to show that technology does and will always help better our lives. However, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the reaction would be hacking.

Medical properties of psychedelic substances uncovered

Nicholas Chupka
News Editor

For centuries, psilocybin mushrooms have been sought after for their psychedelic properties and the experiences produced after consumption. Now, psychopharmacologists are uncovering the chemical’s ability to treat a variety of drug addictions and mental illnesses.

Peak Week 2014: Guys in ties, girls in pearls

Alex Sands, Sarah Ford, Claire Feasey, 
Maya Horton, and Katie Mazanec
Staff Writers

Ashley Stella(12) and Hannah Siegel(11)

Jack Olson(11) and Josh Baber(11)

Sarah Beth Marriott(11), Trevor Hair(12),
and Jennifer Friedler

Pluto a planet again?

Katie Mazanec
Staff Writer

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) discussed Pluto’s status as a planet on September 18.  The celestial snowball is nearly 7.4 billion kilometers from the sun, making it a rather large mass of ice and dust. Pluto was considered to become a planet again when it was discussed by the IAU and officially failed the formalized definition of a planet. If an object orbits the sun, has sufficient mass and self-gravity to maintain a nearly round shape, and is not surrounded by objects similar in size and characteristics then it can be considered a planet. If a certain planetary-mass object did not meet all the requirements to become a planet, it is considered a dwarf planet.

Peak Week 2014: Hawaiian Day

Grace Fendrick, Alex Sands, and Claire Feasey
Features Editor, Staff Writers

The girls on the homecoming court pose for a picture

Caroline Moss(11) and Johunna Gaitlin(11)
are showing off their school spirit in an epic way

Some sophomores are going with the flow of the waves

Are college degrees necessary?

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

New research shows that many college graduates are underemployed and that the job demand for college graduates is leveling off.  In fact, the demand for non-college level jobs is increasing at a higher rate than college level jobs.  In a time when many people feel that having a college education after high school is essential to getting a job, this is a surprising trend.

WCPSS to change to 10 point grading scale

Mae Turney
Staff Writer

The North Carolina State Board of Education made the decision to eliminate the 7 point grading scale on October 2. This change will be effective in the 2015-2016 school year, beginning with next year’s freshman class.

The Board of Education made the change in order to level the playing field for North Carolina students applying to college who are up against high schoolers from other states on the 10 point scale. Decreasing the dropout rate, and increasing students morale are also goals that the board hopes to achieve with the change. CTE teacher Gary Austin, said, “I think that this new system will help get more students out the door and decrease the dropout rate, which is the main reason they’re doing it. That’s great, but it is also true that students aren’t going to have to try as hard to graduate. Kids who pass with a 60 obviously don’t care, and that lack of motivation isn’t going to help them once they’re out in the real world.”