Thanksgiving Break

As the school year goes on, November offers many opportunities for students to have some time off. Election Day and multiple ISE days are a few times students have a break. The main break, though, comes at Thanksgiving Break. Students get a week off to travel, see family, or even just relax and watch some football. The best part of the break is getting to eat at Thanksgiving dinner. ‘I love Thanksgiving because I get to spend time with my family and eat great food,” said Junior Olivia Lopez. Many students may go on vacation over break to see family. “This year my family is going to the beach to spend Thanksgiving there,” said Freshman Logan Faris. As break gets closer and closer, students are getting more and more excited. Although school is out, some classes will still give homework and have projects due after break. If students can balance their homework, along with activities over break, they should have a great Thanksgiving Break! Chelsea Faris

Swimming For the Gold

With the beginning of a new season, the swim team is hard at work on their road to the State Swim Meet. The team, along with the usual mix of returning swimmers, was greeted with a large number of new swimmers, eager to join the team. “This is probably the largest team we’ve had in a long time. I think our team is going to be great this year.” stated Senior Chelsea Faris. In her second year of coaching, Christy Fubio is doing a few different things, much to the benefit of their swimmers. One such change is the addition of a meet in Charleston, which took place on December 1^st. This meet was important for the swimmers not only because it was a large meet, which had a lot of competition, but it gave them a chance to swim teams that ordinarily they wouldn’t see until the State Meet. With the second half of the season in front of them, the swim team is excited as they continue towards their goal. –Hunter Cutlip

SOAR-ing with the Eagles

     The SOAR program was recognized students of the month. This is the first year that Robert C Byrd has used the “Students of the month”. Every month teachers from each grade and subject meet to vote on a student who has achieved or performed high quality in a class that has been noticed. Students say that it is a great achievement to be chosen for the program. If teachers feel that a certain student has worked harder or shown more effort in class than any other student, then they can have the opportunity to be nominated for this award. Assistant principal, Donna Hage, said, “This program is a good idea because it recognizes a wide variety of students who have accomplished something.”  Hage thinks that anything that recognizes student achievement is a good idea. Shallyn Cochran

Holiday Shopping

    With winter weater settling in, it's reminding people that the holidays are approaching quickly. Some people already have their handy dandy lists made, complete with all of the names of the people they have to get presents for. Stores help make it easier on people by sending out flyers to advertise the deals they have. Based on the deals displayed in the flyers, people will map out what stores to hit on what days and when to go.

     Contrary to belief, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not the busiest shopping days of the holiday season. These always take place during the last weekend before Christmas Day. Each year the number of shoppers out on Black Friday increases and for those not brave or crazy enough to storm the stores wait until Cyber Monday to do their shopping online. Either way holiday shopping is still a great tradition that most people partake in.  Shannon Cunningham

Happy Halloween

People know Halloween as the time of year where everyone dresses up in costumes and goes trick or treating for candy. But what people don’t know is the meaning of Halloween. Halloween is thought to have originated with the ancient Goethic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. Around the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known has All Hollow’s Eve and later Halloween. As the time went on, Halloween evolved into community organized events put on by child-friendly activities such as trick or treating and dressing up as their favorite characters.

This year, Halloween, October 31, falls on Wednesday. The children in the Clarksburg area will get to go trick or treating on Tuesday evening October 30. RCB students had the opportunity to dress up in their costumes on the 26^th of October as a reward for a community service project.

Lady Eagles Socer

    The girl’s soccer team’s season has drawn to a close. The team suffered through several hardships during the season such as injuries and suspensions, but battled through with an ending record of 5-2-12. Coached by Todd Kiger and Andrew Kiger, the team began the season with 18 members, but ended with only 14. But Junior Stacie Welling has high hopes for next year’s season. “I think we can only improve and continue to work hard on off season. We’re still building, but we can only go up from here!”  Kyndra Lantz

Lady Eagles Basketball

          After having a successful season last year, the Lady Eagles Basketball team is back and ready to begin the season. Several girls worked hard to stay conditioned throughout the off-season. Their conditioning varied between playing on travel teams to lifting weights and working with personal trainers. The girls are ready to enter the new season with determination to make it to the State Tournament once again this year. As of now the Lady Eagles are scheduled to play 22 games. Their season will kick off against Grafton High School on November 30 at 7:30pm.  Early in December they will play against Nicholas County and Liberty. “This is my last year of basketball and I can’t wait to see what this season has in store!” stated Senior Laken Kiddy. Come out to support the Lady Eagles this winter as they strive for a successful season! Allison Carvelli

Marching to the Beat of Things

The marching season began with a bang! The band showed off their music and marching abilities at a number of football games and in several parades, however, they weren’t really tested until much later when they competed in their first competition of the year. On October 6, the band traveled to Elkins to compete in the Mountain State Forest Festival parade and field show competitions. Proving that hard work pays off, they brought home three trophies in the following categories: Best Drum Major, Best Drumline, and Best Auxiliary. Representing the school to accept the awards were the senior section leaders, dance team members, and the band director. Upcoming band activities include the Clarksburg Veteran’s Day Parade on November 12, the Nutter Fort Christmas Parade on November 16, and the Clarksburg Christmas Parade on November 30. The band is also scheduled to perform at Washington-Irving Middle School, Norwood Elementary, and Nutter Fort Primary and Intermediate Schools on December 14. Financing the band costs a lot of money, however, and they had to sponsor many fundraisers in order to remain operational. Some fundraisers the band has planned for the holiday season include a Sarris Candy sale that is on until November 7, a holiday craft show that will take place on November 10, a Vera Bradley purse bingo that will take place on November 24, and a holiday pie sale scheduled for sometime before winter break. With a Christmas concert scheduled for December 4 and the fast approach of concert season, the band has began to focus more on concert band music and a symphonic sound in preparation for the spring concert and Band Festival, where they will be judged on two concert pieces.

The Robert C Byrd Marching Band

    The Robert C. Byrd Marching Band kicked off the year July 23rd with three weeks of field show, parade, and musical rehearsal. The percussion began the first week, having tryouts and learning their instrument’s cadence parts. On the second week, all band members joined to prepare their competition field show and rehearse for the parades.

     To add fun and build a welcoming atmosphere, the members participated in spirit activities such as Duct Tape Day, Decade Day, Superhero Day, and Flag Day. Freshman loved the spirit days. "It was so much fun. I bonded with the other drummers and it made me feel like I was really apart of the band," commented Freshman Josh Longerbeam.

     The band has 75 members, 16 of which are seniors. The dance team is composed of 11 members, 3 of which are seniors. The band and dance team are led by Senior Drum Major Ronnie Johnson. The drumline is led by Senior Drum Captain Zac Clevenger.

     The theme of the band’s field show is MP3 Shuffle. It includes the songs "Animal" by Neon Trees, "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz, "4 Minutes" by Madonna and Justin Timberlake, "All the Small Things" by Blink-182, and also a solo by the drumline. They perform the field show during half time of all of the home football games and the Bridgeport and North Marion away games.

      Drum Major Ronnie Johnson enjoys leading the band in front of his fellow Byrd fans. "I cherish every performance in front of the RCB fans. I love knowing the band I conduct excites and provides spirit to the fans. The experience is amazing, and I’m proud to lead this band," remarked Johnson.

     The band not only prepares a field show, but a march which they perform during parades. They will be marching in four local parades and one in Elkins, WV, at the Mountain State Forest Festival. The band’s march and field show will compete with other bands in the state and judged by professionals. The also perform their field show at the Liberty Band Spectacular at Hite Field and the Fairmont Band Spectacular at East-West Stadium in Fairmont. Later in the school year, the band will be judged on two symphonic pieces at the Band Festival held at Bridgeport High School, and the dance team will compete in various competitions.

     The Band and Dance Team are conducted and coached by Mr.Grubb, Mr.Friend, and Mrs.Marozzi, respectively. Kyndra Lantz

Directing Hallway Traffic

     Introduced last year, neon vests are now used as hall passes. Gone are the days where students carried lanyards, and in their place are bright yellow vests that allow teachers to know if a student is supposed to be in the hallway or not.

     Each classroom now has a vest with the room number written on it, and a clipboard for students to sign out on. While students may view this as a hassle, teachers find it to be very helpful; keeping track of their students is extremely important.

     While it may take a couple months to adjust to this new system, students and teachers will find it to be an interesting experience. Eventually, students will find the vests to be as natural to carry as the lanyards were. Aimee Gallo

Freshman Class Elections

     The 2012-2013 Freshman Class came in this year with no class officers. They held an election complete with speeches, signs, and campaigning. On Monday August 27, 2012, the freshman candidates hung their posters in the elevator lobby. There were many unique and colorful posters made by the candidates.
     They presented their speeches on Wednesday during freshmen homeroom time. All freshmen voted in their homerooms on Friday and the results were tallied shortly after. The new officers include: President Justin Welling, Vice President Elisa Schwartzmiller, Treasurer Samantha Hines, and Secretary Sarah Grace Reed. Shannon Cunningham

Touchdowns at RCB

    During our four years of high school there are moments that are unforgettable: your first day of freshmen year, the lead in a school play and a late night football game. Cheering on your school team is always a fun memorable experience for all students. This season the Mighty Flying Eagles Football Team prevailed against Fairmont Senior on Friday, August 24,marking our first win.

    Senior Varsity Football Player Jermodd Garrett remarked that his favorite thing about football is hitting. He explained that the team’s biggest goal this season is to achieve a state title. Garrett stated he feels the Eagles have a pretty good chance at State Championship this year. He suggests to the freshmen football players, "Just sick with it. Don’t give up; just stick with it," he reiterated.

    The great win on Thursday August 30 against Liberty was an experience to witness. Jermodd added, "It was a good game, but the guys struggled mentally a little through the second quarter." This was followed by a smashing win over the Lincoln Cougars on September 7.On September 14 the Eagles eperienced their first loss this season against Bridgeport. With three wins under their belts the Eagles are prepared to defeat the Grafton Bearcats. Caitlyn Mcintyre

Cross Country at RCB

     Though some people might say that RCB has an unusually small Cross Country Team, they are actually six times larger than last year. Then, Freshman Austen Zorick, was the only member. This year, they’re up to six runners, including Cassidy Oliverio, Autumn Barnhart, Catherine Fox, Sarah Grace Reed, and John Lowther.

     Though the team has grown, they still aren’t large enough to compete as a team. They all run for individual places at their meets, though Coach Chad Feathers trains them as a group.  Junior Catherine Fox said, "We have a great team. We all get along and push each other. We have a lot of tough practices but they really help".

     They seem to be all set to have a great season. In Zorick’s first race he placed 20th out of 244 runners. When asked about his goals for the season, he said, "My goal is to make it to States." Sadie Janes

The Future Farmers of America

     "Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, and living to serve." That’s the motto of the recently adopted Future Farmers of America program. It started off slowly with only 60-70 students. Now, RCB has over 150 students enrolled in FFA based classes.

RCB offers the following FFA based classes: Agriculture, Horticulture, Greenhouse Production, and Leadership. If any students are interested in being in the leadership class, there are still open seats during second homeroom. However, if any student was enrolled in FFA based classes last year, their SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) from the previous year is still required. Please submit the records to Miss Milliken by January 15, 2013.

     There are plenty of upcoming events for FFA members; the national FFA convention is approaching very soon and the greenhouse shall be done by second semester. When it is completed RCB will be participating in the FARM TO SCHOOL program. Also, to all FFA members, there are still two open officer positions: Sentinel and Vice President. Shallyn Cochran

New Harrison County Dress and Dance Guidelines

The safety and appearance of all RCB students is the priority of RCB administration and staff. Homecoming and prom are times of celebration and enthusiasm for the school year. Reminder to all parents and students: Based upon the recommendation of student committee assembled from all high schools in Harrison County and the Board of Education, we remind all students to follow the following guidelines at all Harrison County dances:

· Appropriate dress (no see through, tight, etc.)

· Placement of hands on the waist

· Standing straight up (no bending over) at all times

Students who do not follow these guidelines will be dismissed from the dance (and possibly future dances) and disciplinary action may occur.

From The Principal's Desk

     "Every moment is a fresh beginning," said T. S. Eliot. The start of the 2012-13 school year is one of fresh beginnings for the 773 students at Robert C. Byrd High School. And, we are off to a promising beginning with the footprints started last year by the students and staff. The school made Annual Yearly Progress by meeting the State’s benchmark for Math and increasing the Reading Language Arts (RLA) scores among 11th grade test-takers. The 10th graders improved scores in RLA, Biology, and US History (with the largest gain of 11 percentile points recorded). The 9th graders improved scores in all subject areas with marked improvements in math (8 percentiles), RLA (9 percentiles), Physical Science (3 percentiles), and World History (10 percentiles). We once again commend those students who earned a Distinguished rating with a banner that includes their names in the entrance to the Academic Wing. Likewise, RCB cut its dropout rate in half and increased the graduation rate by almost 3 percentage points over the previous year.

     A team of teachers, working with input from community members and students, have developed new goals for the school:

   1. Strengthen the relationship between school and its families, parents, and community.

   2. Offer innovative technology and professional development to increase student usage of technology.

   3. Advance curriculum and rigor and relevance to promote student achievement.

   4. Reinforce a positive learning environment to promote morals, behaviors, academics, and civic duty.

     One of the exciting outcomes of these goals is a reading initiative where students, staff, and administration will participate in 30-minutes of Silent Sustained Reading weekly in homeroom each Wednesday. Also, a continuation and expansion of the Positive Behavior Support opportunities for students will take effect. SOAR (Showing Outstanding Attitude and Responsibility) started last year at RCB and recognizes students for extra efforts of responsibility, willingness to help others, a positive attitude, and other actions RCB wants to promote in the youth. Staff members recommend students to administration, and students receive a prize and letter of recognition for their parents. Students of the Month ("Soaring Eagles") will be recognized by each department and displayed in the cafeteria; likewise, banners for students who are on the honor roll will be hung at the entrance of the Academic Wing.

     In an effort to decrease obesity, intramurals will be organized for each Friday. And, as always, increased communication opportunities will be a priority as RCB teachers and administration will utilize the school blog, TV Productions class, parent newsletters, and Local School Improvement Council meetings to solicit the opinions of all stakeholders involved.

     Most importantly, I could not mention new beginnings without taking this opportunity to remind parents and teachers to always model appropriate behavior for our youth. It is essential that we all take a moment and think about the consequences of each one of our comments and actions before we make or perform them. In this time of heightened access to the opinion of others on facebook and Twitter, it is more important to think about the importance of not saying or fueling false truths. It is imperative that communication between the school and parents is a two-sided street where concerns are reported to administration so that important discussions and actions can occur. It takes the efforts of all of us to ensure that our youth receive the proper education in all aspects of life – not just those lessons learned from a textbook.

New faces on campus!

       

  

Freshmen turn into sophomores, and juniors turn into seniors, marking some of the natural changes in a school. Including the population; the head count at Byrd High has increased. RCB has obtained some new staff members this year.  Joining us this year English teacher and play director, Ms Moore, former teacher at Lumberport Middle school tells us a little bit about herself. Graduate from WVU tells that her favorite thing about teaching is the interaction with students and being a positive influence for them. When asked what she hoped to accomplish this year she replied, “I hope to accomplish a fabulous musical and to prepare my seniors for the real world.” She and fellow teacher Ms. Bryanna Reger are welcome additions to the Language Arts Department.
             Additions to the history department are Mr. Mike Duke and Mr. Greg Phillips. Duke comes to us from Bridgeport High while Phillips is familiar as he taught ESL students at RCB previously. That position is now filled by Ms. Jessica Moats. New art teacher Mrs. Kathryn Crim is a great addition as art teacher, along with Mr. Bruce Carey in Driver Ed and Health.         

The music department added a couple new faces this fall with Mrs. Vickie Haley in choir and Mrs. Barbara Cale in Strings.

Being a new teacher at a high school could be an exciting change. Business and marketing teacher Mrs. Michelle Allen tells us her favorite thing about teaching at a new school is meeting new students. Allen states her goal for this school year is to increase students’ interest in technology and hopes to make all her students feel appreciated. She shares the department with another new face, Dr. Gerry Newlon. And don’t forget new counselor Ms. Kim Miller and new secretary Mrs. Monica Audia.

We hope to have a great and successful year. Caitlyn McIntyre

   

        Robert C. Byrd High School's cheerleading season began successfully with tryouts in early August. After intense training and preparation, six new members joined the team. Although tryouts marked the official beginning of the season, a two-day cheerleading clinic was held over the summer. During the clinic, Head Coach Karen Thomason and Assistant Coach Jennifer Banko had the opportunity to see the skills of their cheerleaders.

       Now, the RCB Cheerleading Squad is working tediously to prepare for their upcoming competion in November. In order to get in shape, the squad runs a mile every day along with having practice every day except Sunday. They are all excited to have the opportunity to show everyone their skills at the competition.

      The senior captains this year include Jordan Thomason, Jada Nelson, Samantha Lawson, Drew Banko, and Austin Cross. The squad frequently holds team bonding activities such as going to the movies, to the lake, and having sleepovers at one another's homes. Spending so much time together makes the squad closer and stronger. Senior Samantha Lawson said, "This year is different because we are more of a family and we love each other." With team bonding, tough practices, and two great coaches, the RCB Cheerleaders are in for a very successful season. Haley Sommerville 

On the Green

       The Robert C. Byrd Golf Team began their season with several returning players as well as a few talented new additions. The team is made up of nine dedicated golfers who have practiced in the off season on order to better themselves for this year. Leading the team in the number one seed is Senior Travis Riddle. "Our team's looking pretty good this year. Everyone's been working really hard," Riddle stated confidently. Following him, are Sophomore Ezra Calef in the number two seed, Senior Jeremy Thomas in third,

Sophomore Louis Carvelli fourth, Freshman Luke Dyer fifth, and Junior Kirkland Piles as sixth. The team began their season defeating rivals, the Bridgeport Indians, by one stroke. That was only the beginning to a fresh start on the green; there is much more talent to be revealed as the season continues. Allison Carvelli

Starting Off Strong

     With a strong mixture of returning players and freshmen, the Robert C. Byrd Lady Eagles Volleyball Team is expected to have another excellent season, attempting to match last year’s trip to Charleston for the State tournament. Four out of the previous season’s six starting players have returned and are excited to begin the year. The team has a lot to look forward to, as their underclassmen are also performing well. "We have one of the strongest freshman classes we’ve ever had." stated Coach Ron Gilmore. "I expect great things from our girls."

     Although the Lady Eagles lost a close game in 3 sets against Buckhannon-Upshur, they showed promise for the rest of the season. Their off-season training shone through as many of the players had greatly improved from the last season. While it will be tough to replace graduated Seniors Kalilah Lasenby and Alissa Ford, many have stepped up to the challenge and are hoping to excel.
     In the coming month, the team has many exciting games, including a tri-match against Fairmont Senior and Tyler Consolidated on September 18th, and the annual MCM Eagles Classic, an all-day tournament held in the Robert C. Byrd Gym on September 22nd.  Hunter Cutlip

Back to the Beat

     The Robert C. Byrd Show Choir gained a new, vital member. New Director Mrs. Victoria Ray Haley tranferred from South Harrison Middle School where she held the position of assistant band director. Although she is new to instructing high school show choir field, she was a member of the show choir while a student at Washington Irving High School. She is plenty experienced vocally, being the instructor and member of local and travelling choirs.

     The Show Choir has a total of 22 performers: 6 seniors, 1 junior, 5 sophomores, and 10 freshman. Only 10 of the performers are returning.
     The theme of this year's show is British Invasion. Song choices are among the British artists such as Elton John, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Adele, The Police, Coldplay, and of course, The Beatles.

     The returning performers are thrilled to have a new director and have adjusted smoothly. Mrs.Haley is starting the year with only one expectation: creating a "united, creative, and musical aproach to competition and class." Kyndra Lantz

Food, Fun, and Fire

     To mark coming back to school, students attended our annual Back to School Bash.  Students were extremely anxious to receive and critique their schedules, and see with what friends they shared classes.  They were also enthusiastic about reuniting with friends they hadn't seen over the summer meeting their new teachers.

     Smiles filled the faces of students, new and old; laughter and chatter lingered in the air.  Students watched the band and dance team perform, and shortly after they were enthused by the cheerleaders.  Members of the band, cheerleaders and dance team were introduced, and Allison Carvelli and Shannon Cunningham, Student Body President and Treasurer respectively, as well as a few others, introduced members of each of the fall sports teams. The crowd then proceeded to the practice field where a bonfire was raging. 

     To get the students pumped for the upcoming football season and the impending game versus Fairmont Senior, the opponent's mascot, a polar bear, was roasted like a marshmallow.  Roasting the bear seemed to set the scene for the season and refresh school spirit and team enthusiasm.  This was a delight to most in attendance; however, a few children, including the young son of Student Council Sponsor Mrs. Mitchell  who planned the event were concerned for the bear.

     Thank you to the Clarksburg Fire Department for maintaining a safe fire and supporting Robert C. Byrd High School. Courtney Stemple

Suspended Indoors

     The infamous In School Suspension is back!! Even though it may not be glamorous, it does seem to help Robert C. Byrd High School students. This year, when they get in major trouble, they can come to school and experience ISS instead of staying out of school for their extended punishment.  
     ISS helps students receive classwork and homework help. Students may ask the teacher, Ms. Stout, for assistance, and instead of having to try to understand it themselves, they get a push in the right direction. However, if the students continue to misbehave, they will be suspended from school.
      As the school year gets under way, students are happy that ISS is once again an option at RCB. Now, when they have a behavior mishap, they can stay in school, do their work, and not get behind their in their classes.  Courtney Stemple