Announcement!

The end of the year, print edition of The Brandywine Line newspaper will be distributed following Senior graduation practice on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Please pick up your complimentary copy and thank you for reading.

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

My Opinion of the Fashion World

What is it that makes women so appealed to fashion magazines, fashion-based television shows, and fashion-based, well, everything? Being a seventeen year old girl myself, I personally think that it's the fantasy of glamour. Most women want to be just like these celebrities and models, all of who look perfect. They have rail-thin bodies, long luscious hair, and perfect faces with high cheek bones and just the right amount of pout in their lips.
But this is all just a hoax. The news and phsychologists say it all the time. Even with a professionals opinion, people still give in and become a slave to these diets and trends with the promise of being just like celebrities and models. Notice how you can never achieve exactly how they do their makeup or tone their body. Without the personal trainers, makeup artists, and airbrush, you can't do it. You cannot look like these people, because they don't even look like themselves.
So, where am I going with this? To sum it up, I'm saying - BE YOURSELF. Don't give in to these trends. If you're doing something to try to be someone else, you're losing yourself. And if you lose yourself, you might lose the people who love you for yourself. Don't try to be someone you're not. You are beautiful, and unique, and you don't need to give into the stereotypes. You won't have a happier life just because you work out 365 days a year or use a new lip gloss. Reading magazines and watching shows like "Project Runway" are all good and fun, but don't take it too seriously. You are amazing just the way you are, and don't let anyone or anything tell you otherwise.


- Geena Ciabattoni

Going Green

Do you ever wonder why everyone suddenly wants to "go green"? This new fad is taking over the streets, businesses, and schools. Energy efficient light bulbs, cars that run on electricity, solar energy: the list can go on forever. Who even decided that it was time to start being efficient as a country? When did this happen?
Do you have something along the lines of a Brita filter in your house? Did your mom and dad decide to get it one day because they were tired of you going through 20 water bottles a day? Everyday things that we have become accustomed to have actually changed before our eyes and we really haven't noticed. What about your washing machine? It's most likely Energy Star. Along with your refrigerator, dryer, oven, and your dishwasher.
This green fad is taking an effect on everyone. They have even created make-up that is "green". Our generation has made huge strides in trying to be the most efficient that we can be. 20 years ago, it would be rare to see solar panels around. Yet, as I drove down the highway just this week, I saw them. I saw them in fields owned by farmers, and I saw them on top of residential homes. You can even find them on public buildings.
The Department of Energy is striving to help our country be the most efficient and useful that we can be. New inventions are being worked towards everyday that push us closer to efficiency. You no longer need to be a hippie, to be obsessed with our enviroment to be gree. You just need to care amd make small adjustments.
This is a transformation era. Not only are we making huge strides in this area of our lifestyles, but it's actually making a difference. This isn't a phase that large businesses only are contributing to. It applies to big corporations in New York City who donated funds to help, and a couple in Wisconsin who just bought an Energy Star dishwasher for their new home. It applies to a family diner and public school.
Do your share and chip in. It'll be worth your time.


- Gabrielle Kieffer

Announcement!

2010 Booksale Donations

The BHS class of 2011 is looking for book donations for their book sale. Please consider donating any of the following areas:

History, Science, Romance, Literature, Self Help, Art, Reference, Cookbooks, Religion, Textbooks, Children, Novels, Sci-Fi, CDs, DVDs, Blue Ray

We can not accept:

Encyclopedias, Readers Digest, LPs, VHS and Cassettes or books of unreadable condition.

If you would like to donate please drop the items off in the BHS office care of Mr. Erskine

Pick up is available by contacting Greg.Erskine@bsd.k12.de.us

Donations must be made by April 16th 2010. Thanks for your support!

Sponsored by BHS Class of 2011

Announcement!

Coming Soon! The concession stand will be open for spring sports beginning March 25th! Come on out and support our BHS spring sports!

Sponsored by BHS Class of 2012

"X" Ceptionally Over You

Relationships come and go but that person in the back of your mind may still remain.You hang on to the good memores as you allow the bad times to slip away. Goin to the same school as your "X" can be a bit of a problem becasue you have to see them everyday which can get weird and messy at times. i cope by listening to a lot of music and do the things I love. I must say theat being "on to the next one" has been the best remedy so far. i don't believe in having rebounds. i believe in re-inevting yourself in a positive way. Re-getting to know myself was the best thing I've ever done. And it makes it worth the wait to see this special person becasue he goes to a different . - J.woodz

Kristen harris, who is a senior says " i can say that from personal experience that it all depends on how you feel about the person you are getting out of a relationship with. for instance if you still have strong feelings for that person then seeing them everyday might put things on the awkward side"

"All ;I have to say is that being in a school relationship has its ups and downs as getting out of it does too." Says Deondre Brown who is also a senior here at B-wine.

Bryan Lee says,"sure, I've had my share of school relationships but theres nothing like a fresh start with a girl who doesn't attend my school. it makes me feel relaxed, and plus, it builds trust."

" I like to have my privacy and go with a girl that doesn't go to my school because in my opinion that saves drama and doesn't waste time. Another thing is that I an do what I want in school , like flirt and have my fun." Says marcus Thompson.

Brandon Combs says that "I don't have time for high school relationships becasue I have more important things to worry about. But if I did have them and I broke up with a girl i would perfer my new girl to go to a different school becasue I wouldn't want to see her all the time, but i would still have eyes out gor her."

As you can see relationships come and go. And when they do, as young adolescents we find a way to make things work by moving on. The majority of students feel as though not seeing the person you go out with everyday can really save your relationship at the end of the day.

Article written by Jone't Woodson

Prom "Do's and Dont's"

1. Do set a budget for prom and stick to it. Between the clothes, limo and all the extras that go along with prom, you can easily spend a small fortune. Make plans ahead of time. Get friends to go in on costs. Shop around ahead of time to get the best deals. You don’t need to spend a huge amount of money for one night when you have the rest of your life ahead of you.

2. Do use a prom check list to make sure you are prepared. Being organized and prepared will reduce stress and worry. You will able to enjoy everything about prom.

3. Do brainstorm with your friends to get ideas for things to do before and after prom. Another good way is to research the internet for prom ideas and fun things to do.

4. Do talk to your parents before hand to make sure there are no surprises for either of you on prom night
Let your parents know what your plans are and set check in times so they know you are alright. It is a good idea to give your parents an itinerary so they know exactly where you are all night and/or weekend, if you have other events planned. You don’t want to lose their trust and respect because of the events of one night so be honest.

5. Do make sure you have plenty of rest the night before prom. You will use a lot of energy getting ready and you want to make sure you are not so tired that you can’t enjoy it. If possible, try to sneak in a nap during the day of prom.

6. Don’t go to prom with someone you don’t like. Choose your date wisely so you feel comfortable and will have a good time. Not having the right date is the top reason for not having a good time at prom.

7. Do be prepared for emergencies. Take extra money along, take a camera with you to capture pictures, bring your cell phone and take care of your belongings. You might want to include an emergency repair kit for anything that may come apart.

8. Do enjoy the dance. Don’t just show up, take pictures and then leave. Participate and enjoy your friends. Prom is a big party so have fun! You are making a memory that will last a lifetime.

9. Don’t expect prom to be anything other than it is, a night with friends. You will probably hang out with the same people and talk about the same things. It is not the start of new social life. It is just like any other dance or party but with a dressed up formal theme. Don’t set your self up for disappointment when it is over.
10. Don’t not match with your date then you will look organized and you’ll look ridiculous together.

11. Don’t do anything you will regret later. Don’t use prom night as a reason to do something you know is wrong. Drinking and sex is not something that will make prom night more fun. Keep it safe so your night to remember does not become a night that you want to forget.

Written by Amanda Bowers