First Annual Book Sale at BHS

The Class of 2011 will be hosting the first annual Book Sale on Friday, May 21, 2010 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Brandywine High School. There are over 5,000 books for sale ranging in price from $0.25 to $5.00. Used DVDs will be on sale for $3.00.

All donations are due by May 18th and can be dropped off at the Main Office. Pick up is also available! Please direct all questions to Mr. Greg Erskine at 302-479-1600, ext. 2330 or via email at greg.erskine@bsd.k12.de.us.

Please come help support the class of 2011! Email Mr. Erskine for a copy of the flier that contains full information, coupons and more!

Join Us at the Young Brandywine Artist Exhibit

Tonight, April 29th, is Opening Night for the district-wide "Young Brandywine Artist Exhibit." This show features paintings, photographs, sulptures and drawings from art students in all of our district's middle and high schools.

Come and see our district office's transformation into our own art gallery from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served! The exhibit will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through May 21, 2010. Additional evening hours will be added on May 4-6, 2010 (5:00-7:00 p.m.).

The show will be held in the Brandywine Administrative Center, located at 1000 Pennsylvania Avenue, Claymont, DE 19703. A map of this location (with driving directions just a click away) can be found here.

Hope to see you there!

The Return of Great Bulldog Day

There have been many changes to Brandywine over the past four years. One is the ending of the ever popular "Great Bulldog Day." Many students were perturbed by this, mainly because the school makes a very slim effort to provide any sort of activity to entertain the students. As of this year we have had a homecoming dance, a pep rally (that students were required to pay for), and a prom for seniors only. Students often moan and groan about the lack of fun at Brandywine. Well, the teachers have decided to take action. They are bring back Great Bulldog Day!

For those unfamiliar with what exactly takes place on Great Bulldog day it is day where different classes compete in mini-events, which all gain points. At the end of the day the class with the most points wins the entire event. The games include things such as volleyball, tug-of-war, softball, powder puff football and more.

Though the day is fun, students have different feelings about it. When asked about her thoughts on Bulldog Day, Senior, Chelsea Woicekowski said "When we had it my freshman and sophomore year it was really fun! My powder puff football team was undefeated!" Other students feel differently, Senior, Brittany Caputo remarked "it's a good opportunity to skip school and not miss anything."

Whether students plan on coming to Great Bulldog day or not, most would agree the effort from the staff is a good thing.

Written by Hillary Cesna

Announcement!

BHS CLASS OF 2013 COURTYARD RESTORATION PROJECT



The Freshman Class, in cooperation with the Art Club and the Greenhouse Club would like to restore the BHS courtyard, making it a beautiful garden to be enjoyed for years to come.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please bring a shrub or perennial to school in the morning and drop it off at the BHS parking lot curb on May 5, 6, or 7.

When you drop off your child in the morning, simply drop off your plant too!! It’s that easy! We will do the rest. Just place your plant on the sidewalk, and a staff member, student, or volunteer will take care of the rest.

Any plant is welcome, but the ones needed most are these: azaleas, rhododendrons, hollies, any evergreens, perennials that bloom in spring or fall, or any flowering tree. We especially need shrubs more than small flowers. Your donated plants will be placed in the courtyard, and the greenhouse club will take care of watering them and maintaining them. Green plants are welcome, but green cash is accepted too. If you would prefer to donate money, send a check in care of Mr. Caldwell and the Greenhouse Club, made payable to Brandywine High School.

Drop off your plant at the curb by 7:30am on May 5, 6, or 7. Help the class of 2013 restore the courtyard.

Announcement!

Many Brandywine students particpated in a travel abroad trip to London over Spring Break. If you were unable to attend do not let this next opportunity pass you by!

The planning for next year's trip - Spring Break 2011 to the Mediterranean - has begun. There will be an informational meeting Monday, May 3rd in room 225 right after school. If you are interested in touring Florence, Rome and Barcelona next spring you must attend this meeting! For more details see Ms. Van Such in room 225 or Mr. Kulhanek in room 209.

Websites That Are Actually Worth Your Time

1. Facebook - we all know that everyone has one, and all of us that do are absolutely addicted. You can I.M./chat, write on walls, send messages, lets people know what you're doing, and look at pictures. It's the perfect way to creep.

2. Twitter - This new phenomenom is becoming big fast, especially with celebrities. You can let the world know what you're doing by "following" others.

3. FMyLife.com - A hilarious website that has actual people telling the most hilariously embarrassing stories that are absolutely horrifying.

4. MyLifeIsAverage.com - This website is one of the funniest. The stories are anything but average, and you won't be able to stop reading.

5. perezHilton.com - The queen of gossip keeps us all updated on the latest celeb gossip, drama, and everything in the news.

6. The Onion - An satirical website that mocks all types of things. However, they mainly rely on making fun of politics.

7. Texts From Last Night - The funniest text messages you'll ever read. Not only will you laugh your head off, but you may read things that will have you contemplating for hours.

Written by Geena Ciabattoni

FCCLA Competition- Brandywine Places!

April 15th marked the date of the spring conference and competition for FCCLA, or Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a competition that Brandywine artfully took by storm. Four of our own BHS students attended and competed in the state wide competition , 3 walking away with gold and one walking away with a fourth place ribbon.
Lakisha Atkinson wowed the judges with her preparation routine of a salad from scratch. Although Lakisha did not get the gold, the 3 professional chef judges were outrageously impressed by Atkinsons performance.
"I couldnt have even done that!" says Ms.Zellis. Latasha Atkinson scored a gold for her amish white bread in the yeast-bread competition. Ciara Carver also got gold for her double pie crust for her fruit pie in the pie competition. The last bulldog to place was Julian Austin who not only recieved gold for the appetizer competetion, but additionally banked a $3000 scholarship and qualified for the national level competition.
All four of the BHS competitors prepared extensuvely for the competition and the competition proved to be his walk in the park. All the competitors were individually interviewed by the 3 professional chef judges and there after began their evaluation. They had to present there dish, describe what they learned, include photos of the dish and then include info about nutritional value and cost of the recipie.
After an honor-worthy performance BHS returned back to Wilmington with their pride and some awards to give them a reason to boast

Written by: Tina Cianfaro

Should teens be allowed to tan?

YES!!!

There is word gong around school that the FDA is trying to enact a ban on artificial tanning for persons under the age of 18. The reasoning behind this ban is an attempt to lower the rate of diagnosed skin cancers in young people. I believe this legislation would violate our rights.

Statistics say there has been an increased rate of skin cancer in women aged from late teens to early twenties. Obviously, teen girls (and guys) have heard about the risks of tanning beds and presumably don't care. I think that if they want to continue to tan in the spite of the risks, who should be able to stop them?

Freshman Katie Udall says, "I don't go tanning often, but to those who do go a lot, its not fair to them at all."

Written by Ashley Chamberlain

NO!!!

There are many reasons why tanning is not a good pastime and should not be available to teens, chief among them being skin cancer, addiction and cost.

Tanning increases your chance of getting skin cancer by 80%. One of the deadliest types of skin cancer is melanoma. Melanoma can be very bad and is definitely hard to get rid of once you have it. The signs of melanoma are very difficult to see because at first it looks like a mole or a spot. If you have an irregular shaped mole you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. If bleeding or oozing is coming from the mole, see a dermatologist immediately.

Tanning can also be very addictive. Many girls who tan regularly claim they can't go more than four days without tanning without feeling stressed. These "tanoholics," or "tanorexics" are a perfect example of why teens shouldn't tan. Changing your busy shcedule to revolve around tanning is not a good idea.

Finally, the cost of tanning can be astronomical. Who wants to spend $60 a month, plus the cost for creams and lotions (which can range from $15-$150) in order to be able to tan regularly, especially in this economy?

With these facts in mind, I urge you to consider if it is such a bad thing for the FDA to put an age limit on tanning (much like smoking, drinking and gambling).

Written by Katie Burslem

Announcement

English teacher Mr. Caldwell has put a useful infrastructure to work. We all know of the small greenhouse near the audion, yet no one has used it in many years. The last teacher to use it was a retired Biology teacher named Mr. Twilly. The greenhouse sat as a wasted resource for too long.

The first step in repairing it was to make sure it was operable, since it hasn’t been used in around 10-15 years. Mr. Caldwell recently checked to see that the motor, water source, and heat worked and that all the plastic panels were intact. Surprisingly enough, even though it hadn’t been used in years the motor that opens to roof worked perfectly along with the heating. The water source was cut off at some point, but there were only two missing panels that needed to be replaced.

Mr. Caldwell tells me of how he grew up in Smyrna, Delaware on a farm. He says that for him, “[he] could not bare to let this building used for growing flowers and plants go to waste.”

The newly formed Greenhouse Club came next. Their long term goal is to be able to sell flowers and vegetables in a school sale whether it’s for homecoming and prom or for a school wide vegetable sale to teachers and parents. Brandywine’s Foods Classes have already gotten in on his great idea. They would like to use his vegetables in their class.

In the long run, this will stabilize our school’s economy and make our school more interdependent. If you’re interested in joining the up and coming Greenhouse Club you can join by getting in contact with Mr. Caldwell.”

Written by Gabby Kieffer

South Park depicts Muhammad (sort of)

South Park has approximately 200 shows, usually broadcasted on the ever-popular Comedy Central. While Brandywine High School students procrastinate, many witness the display of inappropriate jokes and obnoxious satire. Unfortunately there is a fine line between humor and offensive statements. Since, it is broadcasted to the entire nation, it is assumed that such a show would be carefully censored in a way to not offend as many people as possible. On the other hand, national news tells us that a terrorist has threatened the creators of South Park for mocking the prophet Muhammad (in a bear suit). Our world has become a crazy one where humor is payable by death. So, turn on your TV and procrastinate more often, make your own opinion. Has the show gone too far, or has our “war on terror” become way too involved for our society to handle? There are some things that we do as Americans that we find normal, such as creating outlets of our opposition.
If it is true that the past repeats itself, these threats are not empty. Kurt Westergaard, a cartoonist from the Netherlands also received death threats for depicting the prophet Muhammad. The man was thoroughly fearful for his physical well-being and was too afraid to continue his drawings. The cartoons were put in the Jylland-Posten, a newspaper of Denmark. Theo van Gogh, another Danish man was murdered in 2004. Van Gogh felt that all other religions were wrong and that Islam was a threat to western society and to liberals politically. He was shot by a Morrocan, but Danish citizen when he was biking to work. Theodoore “Theo” van Gogh was a controversial news columnist who criticized “multicultural society” and said that if he were younger he would have emigrated to the United States of America. This statement was published shortly before his tragic death.
A Muslim man says over a telephone interview on Wednesday that these horrifying statements aren’t threats, but mere predictions. If the past tells us anything, it may lead to the death. The F.B.I. has become involved in the situation and is closely watching the growth and development of online threats. The creator’s picture and contact information have been posted on a popular and religiously revolutionary Islamic website, where threats have become common. The F.B.I. claims to have seen them already.
We may find this humor perfectly normal, but have we gone far enough past the line that we have strongly offended our enemies, or is it just that they will do anything for a controversy?

Written by Gabby Kieffer
Image courtesy of southparkstudios.com

Attention Graduating Seniors!

The end of the school year is quickly approaching and seniors are making tough decisions about their plans for the next four years. Some students are going far away from home, but other students aren’t ready to leave just yet. For those students, University of Delaware offers the Associate in Arts Program. This program allows students to attend Delaware Tech for two years, before attending the University of Delaware’s main campus for the final two years. Any student with an average GPA of 2.5 is eligible to be a part of this program. For the students who do decide to complete this program, they have another tough decision to make: whether to live with their parents for a while, or to move into their own place after graduation. Deciding to move out could be a tough choice that would bring a lot of other decisions with it. Here are a few steps that a prospective student could take in helping them decide.
Deciding – Some students might not be ready to move out and to be independent from their families and homes. Staying at home wouldn’t be a bad option, because you would be saving even more money. But if you decide that you are ready and want to move out then you have to make a few other decisions that would help you get the best place for your money.
Roommate – Having a friend that is also participating in the Associate in Arts Program could be a big help for the fact that you might be able to have a roommate. If they are willing, this could double your budget and you wouldn’t have to be completely independent from the start. If you don’t have a friend you could always post advertisements on places like Craigslist. If your not able to find a person, you can always look for an apartment that is pet-friendly, so you could have company.
Budget – Budget is what can make or break you. Without some sort of financial standing, you’re not going to be able to get very far. Most students enlist the help of their parents, which can help get you on your feet. With your budget you have to decide how big of an apartment you can afford, you have to factor in utilities and you still have to have money left over for yourself. If you think that you can afford all these things, or at least your parents can help you, then finding your own place could be a good option.
Location – Location plays an important role in deciding what place is right for you. You have to consider the area you want to move too, it has to be safe enough. Also it should be close enough to everything that you need to reach, such as school, work, and your parent’s house.
Finding a nice enough place might be hard, so you shouldn’t save it for the last minute. Give yourself enough time to go apartment shopping, discuss your options with your parents and give yourself enough leeway to not stress out. Moving out is a big step, that involves a lot of decision-making, so taking your time is necessary. When you are apartment shopping don’t limit yourself, scope out all the options and decide from there.

Written and compiled by Kelsea Hertzler and Ericka Pyle

Brandywine Students Revive Literary Magazine

Did you hear that there is going to be a Literary Magazine coming to Brandywine soon? It is going to be called tapestry, which is the original title of earlier publications. Ms. Walker has been working with all of the English teachers and the art teacher in order to make this happen. Best part is that it won’t be a magazine filled with things we young adults don’t want to read about, because the articles, short stories, poetry, and artwork that you can find in the magazine will be written by US!

“The magazine is going to be a publication of student artwork and writings,” said Ms. Walker. She continued with saying “any student can submit things for the magazine, there are envelopes in every English class.” The magazine won’t only be filled with writings and artwork from the students of Brandywine; it will also be run by the students. The students collect what’s submitted, they read it, they edit it, and they design the layout for the book.

It has also been confirmed that the book should be out by the week of May 17, 2010. So, make sure you keep an ear open so that you could support your school’s magazine and possibly submit things to go in it.

Written by Jasmine Hall

City Restaurant Week

Wilmington, Delaware provides a treat to all avid diners this year from April 26 to May 1st with its City restaurant week, Dine-Around and Chef’s Table events. City Restaurant Week lets food advocates enjoy the taste of Wilmington’s finest without breaking the bank. The week essentially incorporates every facet of a meal through multiple sources, constantly enticing each diner with a new experience throughout.
Dine-Around’s mission is centered around and incorporates its name in the dining experience. The restaurant goers who choose to join in on the fun of City Restaurant Week will pay a base price of a $60 three-course dinner. The way its setup is where the Dine-Around event shines the most. Dine-Around includes ten restaurants set-up in groups of three. Diners can choose one of the three groups on any given night and experience a different component of the meal at each restaurant.
For Instance one who would choice into Loop A would have the Appetizer at Harry’s Seafood Grill, the Entrée at Orillas Tapas Bar Restaurant and dessert at the Wilmington Public House. The meal also comes with two glasses of wine provided by Robert Mondavi Winery and a set gratuity. Diners are placed in groups of three to create the “loop” style event.
Two other Options are also available to diners looking for a more subdued atmosphere. It features two-course lunches for $15 and three-course dinners for $35 at the restaurant of their choice at the participating restaurants. Contributing restaurants to this year’s City Restaurant Week are as follows: Domaine Hudson, Mikimotos, Washington Street Ale House, Cafe Mezzanotte, Deep Blue Bar & Grill, the Hotel du Pont’s Green Room, Public House, Chelsea Tavern, Orillas, Harry’s Seafood Grill.
The most exclusive choice for diners of City restaurant Week is the Chef’s table experience. Chef’s Table consists of a five course meal at one of the ten restaurants included in City Restaurant Week. The Five course meal gives you a chance to meet the chef and owner of the restaurant for a set price of $60 excluding alcohol and gratuity. What makes this the most exclusive aspect of the week is that only one Chef’s Table will be available per restaurant.
City restaurant Week is sponsored by multiple sources and is even endorsed by Mayor James Baker. “Great food, enjoyable surroundings, and affordable prices have proven to be a big drawing card for the thousands of people who participate in Wilmington’s Annual Restaurant Week,” For those who enjoy food, City Restaurant week is sure to deliver a lasting and exciting experience that is unparalleled in its design.

Written by Sam Inden