Budget cuts have taken away small classroom sizes, and curriculum availability, but now it is taking away something that cannot be replaced, fifteen of Allatoona’s most loving teachers and head coaches.  Some of these educators left their former jobs two years ago in order to have the opportunity to build a program from the ground up.  Now as of this week, these same hardworking teachers are being let go.  The expression “Teaching is not a profession; it’s a passion”, can easily serve to describe the dedication that thrived and still does exist in our affected teachers.

        Personally, my past two years at Allatoona has allowed me to become acquainted with some of the best teachers I’ve ever had.  I’ve met a variety of personalities and I’ve experienced a collection of teaching styles.  The sincere teacher who is so passionate about learning, she has cried about the most inspirational stories in history.  I had the privilege of learning about science from a dry humored, yet extremely funny coach and child at heart. I’ve even had the honor of being taught by Allatoona’s mystery woman who drives one of the nicest cars in the parking lot.

       However, unfortunately at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, Cobb County has voted to cut 579 full and part time teachers.  But, rather than having sympathy for the educators that we’re losing, perhaps we should celebrate their remaining time here.  A contribution a teacher has made to students’ lives cannot be “reduced” nor is it “temporary”.  It is a gift that has created some of the most passionate student reactions in Cobb’s history.  With these last two weeks left, the teachers and students at Allatoona should still spend their remaining time growing the connection that makes Allatoona the school it is, and will continue to be, regardless of our losses.

        In order to express to the community how dear our teachers are to us, please leave a comment on this article with a memory of your affected teacher.  Writing your name on a petition is one thing, but a sincere thought is something entirely different.

              Master Sergeant Mckoy and Lieutenant Commander Ronald Hojnowski have invested countless hours into the program to build it from the ground up. The practice and preparation the students and the officers put into the ceremony was shown through their perfection and unison in every step and move. “We practiced almost every other day and have been preparing for week. We conveyed the importance to them everyday,” explained Master Sergeant Mckoy.

              Throughout the assembly, numerous speeches were made including a special guest speaker, Commander Rustie Hibbard. Commander Hibbard is Area Twelve’s NJROTC manager. Hibbard has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star), Navy Commendation Medal (Three Gold Stars), Navy Achievement Medal and various sea and unit service related honors. During his speech, he expressed the importance of education and the honor gained through the NJROTC program. Allatoona’s own principal, Scott Bursmith, made an appearance at the podium as well. He shared his enthusiasm for a Navy program at our school due to his emotional ties to the Navy, which has been in his life and family for as long as he can recall.

              At the conclusion of the ceremony, they retired the colors and presented Allatoona with the official Allatoona NJROTC flag. One member of the crew, Melissa Santamaria said, “I feel proud to be a part of all this and it is a huge honor.” This ceremony is one of the ways that show the unity Allatoona has produced in just the last two years. 

            First is the Atlanta Zoo which is actually a very fun way to enjoy the spring weather with a date or a couple of friends. If it’s a rainy day, try indoor activities like bowling, shopping, or taking a visit to the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, or the Fern Bank Museum of Science. These places may not immediately come to mind when you’re thinking of things to do in your spare time; However, they are actually a lot of fun to visit with a date or a large group of friends and who knows, you might actually learn something.

            There are also several bands set to play in Atlanta spring break week including: Yeasayer (April 6^th), Blue October (April 7^th), Vampire Weekend (April 8^th), Temper Trap (April 9^th), Story of the Year (April 10^th) and Alan Jackson (April 10^th). Another fun way to spend a rainy day is to catch one of the numerous new movies with a group of friends. Currently out in theaters are movies such as Repo Men, The Bounty Hunter, The Crazies, Alice in Wonderland, & Remember Me, with movies like The Last song (March 31^st), Clash of the Titans (April 2^nd), and Date Night (April 9^th) are set to be released soon.

            So what ever you do this spring break, whether you’re traveling the globe or exploring your very own town, remember to stay safe and make the most of your free time!

            In a study conducted at the University of Newcastle, scientists placed doses of Aspirin in contact with cells that create blood vessels.  They found that, in small doses, the acids in Aspirin actually prevented the creation of new blood vessels.

            So what does this have to do with cancer?  In order for a tumor to grow and thrive, blood vessels are needed to transport nutrients and oxygen, and also enable it to spread throughout the body.  Without them, a tumor can grow to be no larger than a pea.  If the creation of new blood vessels is hindered or stopped completely, the tumor is “suffocated” and prevented from growing any larger. This, essentially, is what is believed Aspirin may be able to do.  If it can stop the growth of the blood vessels, it may be able to slow the disease or destroy it altogether. 

            Aspirin’s effects on prevention have been openly visible as well.  Women with breast cancer who took the drug 3-5 times a week were found to have cut their risk of dying by 71 percent and the risk of spreading by 60 percent.  Those who took it 6-7 times a week cut their risks by 60 percent, while the risk of reoccurring dropped by 43 percent.  In patients who were receiving treatment for colon cancer, the risk of the cancer returning was lowered by 50% by 75 of those that took Aspirin regularly, compared to those who didn’t. 

            However, while the benefits of Aspirin may appear to be substantial, it should not replace regular cancer treatment.  Doctors warn that repeated use of Aspirin and other pain-killers like it can cause stomach irritation, which can lead to ulcers and even fatal bleeding.

            The benefits that Aspirin provides are extensive and well-appreciated.  While doctors continue to work at finding a cure for cancer, this little drug can help patients along the way to stay healthy and survive such a debilitating disease.

          Bright and early on Saturday, January 30, 2010 the members of Bookaneers rose to compete with five other teams. Kennesaw Mountain, Osborne, Sprayberry, McEachern, and Hillgrove were all the teams competing with Allatoona on the high school level. Elementary and Middle schools also gathered that morning to have a reading competition. Last year schools traveled to Osborne high school to compete, but this year Allatoona hosted the event here at home. The competition is based on rounds of questions gathered from a list of books. The list is made up of twenty books pulled from the Georgia Peach Teen awards. The team members read the books and practices questions so they can buzz in with the answers. Some of the books on the reading list include: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs, and the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Senior Christine Lust said, “We improved a lot this year and hopefully next year the Bookaneers will be better than ever!” The competition ended with McEachern in first place with 320 points and Osborne in second place with 240. The Bookaneers will be back next year and they are excited for a new list of books and to improve even more.

The history of these little candies began in the mid 1800’s. The brother of NECCO’s founder, Olive Chase, devised a method for printing sayings onto the surfaces of candy, and some had paper notes tucked inside. While the idea was nifty, it was mainly used to add some pizzazz to parties, weddings, or other celebrations, not particularly for Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that the Sweethearts made their official debut, forever changing the hearts and minds of the people that purchased them.

The actual sayings on the candies have been given facelifts throughout the course of the 150 years of their existence, while some are still around today. Phrases that are considered old or outdated are removed, such as “Dig Me” or “You are Gay” (meaning, of course, that a person is happy or jolly). Occasionally some are re-printed for the enjoyment of the customer. Nowadays, the phrases are much more diversified and sometimes even a bit controversial, with a few hearts seen to have phrases such as “Hairy Chest” or “Let’s Sin.” For the most part, however, NECCO tries to keep the candy safe and family-oriented.

Getting the words on the candies is by far the hardest task. Sweethearts are incredibly tiny and only come in two sizes, the standard ½ inch and the special ¾ inch, so finding words that can fit in that small amount of space can be tricky. The smaller hearts are only able to hold, on average, about two four-letter words, while the larger ones can hold two six-lettered words. In order to put more on the hearts, creative phrasing such as “EZ 2 Love” is used.

All throughout the country, Sweethearts are an iconic symbol for Valentine’s Day. From people looking for a clever way to express their appreciation of love for the people they care about, to those that just want a yummy treat to munch on can enjoy these sweet little candies.

      Contrary to popular belief, Sadie Hawkins wasn’t actually a real person, but instead a L’il Abner comic strip character from the 1930’s. Avery ugly comic strip character to be exact, who because she couldn’t get a date, declared November 15^th “Sadie Hawkins’s Day”. The comic inspired high schools and colleges across the country to hold their own Sadie Hawkins’s Dances during the winter months.

       To some girls, asking a guy to be their date can seem a daunting task. “It definitely makes me appreciate what guys go through,” says sophomore Cassidy Daniel. However, there is a lot of fun, creative way to ask. So girls, if there’s someone special in mind, here are a few suggestions to help you along the way:

• Get a large chocolate bar or a bag of his favorite candy with a note saying, “It would be really sweet if you would go to the dance with me.”
• Write “will you go to the dance with me” on the front of a white t-shirt and on the back write the names of a bunch of girls he knows in washable marker & yours in permanent marker. Leave the t-shirt with instructions to wash it so that only your name remains & he’ll know who’s asking him.
• Make a campaign poster & stick it in his yard saying, “ _(his name)__ for Sadie Hawkins” and sign your name as campaign manager.
• Buy him a gold fish (or any type of fish really) and give it to him with a note saying, “Of all the fish in the sea, I choose you to go to the dance with me.”
• Get a disposable camera and take pictures of letters from all different signs that will spell out, “Will you go to the dance with me”, and take a picture of yourself at the end. Then tell him to have the pictures developed.