New Teacher: Jessica Odom

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

Miss Jessica Odom

College: N.C. State University.

Subjects: English I and Honors English III.

Inspiration: Her sixth grade language arts and social studies teacher, Mr. Sloan, inspired her to become a teacher. “He was happy and entertaining. I want to enjoy my job and have fun too,” she says.

Past Teaching Experience: This is her fifth year teaching. Previously, she has taught at Hillside High School in Durham.

Favorite Restaurant: Saladelia, in Durham, because of the Mediterranean cuisine and it’s healthy.

Best High School Memory: “Playing softball and being out on the field,” she says.

Most Embarrassing High School Memory: One spirit week she dressed in a pumpkin costume. “Picture of me sleeping in second period, in the yearbook, dressed as a pumpkin,” she says.

Family: She is an only child and had a black lab when she was younger.

If she hadn’t been a teacher… she would have been a park ranger. She says, “It would afford me the opportunity to be outside all the time. Which is something that’s really important to me.”

Fall Flicks worth a peek

Claire Feasey
Staff Writer

Are you bored? Well, for a small fee of $10, you can go to the movies to see these fall flicks!

Back to School Fashion

Katie Mazanec, Alex Sands, and Mae Turney
Staff Writers

Carleigh Cerra

     Carleigh Cerra knows that black and white stripes are in this year. They're seen on her slim fitting, sophisticated dress and accessorized with a pair of black strappy sandals and a white headband, a good choice when you want to keep your hair out of your face throughout the long school day

                                         

                  

Left to Right: Gedia Ahmed, Emry Schneeweis
and Meghan Schmalzbauer

No back-to-school wardrobe is complete this year without a pair of brand new, sparkling white Converse. They’re versatile and make dresses look cute and casual and giving a sporty look to a t-shirt and shorts combo. (As seen on Gedia Ahmed)Maxi skirt lovers: you have nothing to worry about. These flowy garments were in last year and they haven’t left. What would this world be if we let such a comfortable and cute alternative to jeans go out of style? The length of Emry Schneeweis’ body is extended in this printed paisley maxi skirt.  It’s not hard to tell what the real trend this season is: prints on the bottoms, basics on the top. Meghan Schmalzbauer’s elephant printed pants make a statement with her pair of gray Vans. Her red tank top adds a pop of color to the neutrals.

Calling all actors

Rebekah Gould 
Staff Writer

Come one, come all, auditions for Apex Peak Player Production’s fall play, Don’t Drink the Water by Woody Allen, are Sept. 10 and 11. New teacher and former theater student teacher, Laura Levine, will be making her directing debut at Apex High School.

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. Don’t Drink the Water is a, “Comedy, a farce actually. It comes from a French style of comedy where it’s a lot of people in and out really quickly.” Levine explains. She is looking forward to working with the whole ensemble. “I’m really excited about the ensemble and I’m planning on getting a lot of inspiration from the people who are cast and just kind of letting them be free to try things out together.”

There will be some movement improv involved, so bring comfy clothes and close toed shoes. Contact Levine at llevine@wcpss.net if you have any questions. Break a leg. 

Experimental Ebola virus treatment shows promise

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

An experimental treatment for the Ebola virus called ZMapp has claimed 100% effectiveness in animal trials. The drug, under development by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, is the latest in a series of “cocktails” that contain several different antibodies that work together to combat the virus. In an animal trial on 21 rhesus monkeys infected with Ebola, all 18 of the monkeys given the ZMapp drug made a full recovery, while the 3 in the control group died.

New Teacher: Laura Levine

Rebekah Gould
Staff Writer

Miss Laura Levine

• College: Levine attended Appalachian State University. She finished her student teaching and was a long term substitute at Apex High School last year.
• Subjects: English I and III, Intro to Communications
•  Inspirations: Levine came from a family of teachers, but she didn’t plan on becoming a teacher until she went on her first trip to Uganda through Embrace Uganda. “I met a bunch of kids who came together and put on this play about why they were in the children’s home.” The kids inspired her “because I realized how important it is to be able to tell stories.”
• Embarrassing High School Memory: Levine’s happened to be in her sophomore English class. “My friend Mark made me so mad that I threw a fit. I was so upset that my teacher let me sit in her special rocking chair at the front of the class, which wasn’t embarrassing at the time because I was just mad, but thinking back that was probably a little dramatic.”
•  Favorite Rainy Day Activity: Levine enjoys listening to music. “I’m trying to teach myself guitar, so that’s always fun to practice.”

Apex football starts the season strong

Michael Lyday
Editor-in-Chief

The Cougars run out ready to start the season.

The Cougars defeated the Leesville Road Pride at Apex on Thursday, August 28, winning by a score of 44-14. It is the first time Apex has bested the Pride since 2004.