Local rappers and students Cap Stylez (left) and Joseph Coleman

“We did it because it’s exposure and it’s a way to let out whatever you want that’s bottled up, but for fun too.” said original member J-Stylez, Joseph Coleman.

In the cypher was J-stylez, Cap-stylez, Calamity, Prince, Ghost and a few other’s coming to show off their lyrical skills.

“This was my first cypher.”  “I actually really enjoyed it, I cant wait for the next one” said one of the many by-standers standing around after the cypher was over.

“I really hope we end up getting Panache Trend as a real after school program, there’s some major talent at Oxon Hill just waiting to be unleashed.” Said innovator of the group Cap-Stylez, Steven Stembridge Jr. “We want this to go farther than rap, in march we’re trying to put on a talent showcase co-sponsored by the writers club to show everyone’s talent since the talent show was canceled. Then there’s the poetry book we’re trying to publish, we’re really trying to make this something positive for everyone”

The Class 2014 will allegedly be the first to graduate from the new building. The new school will include state-of-the art science labs, an auditorium capable of seating over eight hundred people, about 65 classrooms, a media enter, a multipurpose room, a health and wellness center, a reading resource room, and guidance and administrative offices.

The U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified environmentally friendly atmosphere will include the use of a light control systems, the storage and collection of recyclables, low water consuming plumbing fixtures, and the use of recyclable materials throughout the building.

Construction will take place in four phases.

• Phase 1: Completion of football stadium (November 2012)
• Phase 2: New building (August 2013)
• Phase 3: Demolish existing building, new parking lot (April 2014)
• Phase 4: Other athletic fields (August 2014)

This project has been highly anticipated and fought for by school board member Edward Burroughs (Dist. 8),Oxon Hill High Principal Dr. Jean Paul-Cadet, Maryland State Board of Education School Architect Supervisor Gloria Mikolajczyk, County Councilman Obie Patterson (D-Dist. 8), PTSA President Tonya Lawson, and County Superintendent Dr. William Hite Jr, all of whom attended and spoke at the groundbreaking.

Attendees at this event included many officials, the school mascot “Clippey”, parents, as well as a high turnout of students. Both the marching band and Stellar Award-winning choir performed in the ceremony.

One such student was Student Government Association President and senior Brianna Savage who was excited about the school although she herself will not personally “reap the benefits” since the new school is slated to open August 2014.

However, with all this excitement some students were sad to hear that the new school will only be built for 1,200 students while the current student enrollment is 1,600 students.

“In the case that size becomes a major issue, an extra wing may be added if given tangible capital by the state,” said Director of Capital Programs Carmen N. Jackson-Brown.

“The school is designed to grow either vertically, by adding classrooms to the ones at the end of a hallway, or by adding another wing to the school.” Jackson Brown said. “If such funds cannot be allocated students will be taken to adjacent schools such as Crossland, Friendly, and Potomac High School.”

However, certain sections of the school will be built to hold a larger capacity. These sections are additions to the standard classrooms that are within the building. These standard classrooms include forty-nine normal classrooms, two English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classrooms,and fourteen special education classrooms. All of these classrooms are built with new state-of-the-art equipment to help better enhance the educational experience, said Rupert McCave, a Capital Improvement Program Officer

The sections of the building that can hold a larger capacity of students include the cafeteria, auditorium, and the Media Center. All of which have a capacity to hold 7,200 students combined said David R. Whaples, the Design Architect of WMCRP Architects.

The building is expected to be finished by August 2013.

“I am not very confident that it’s gonna be finished in time.” said Maria Mendoza, sophomore.

“I am happy about it,” said Jessica Davis, sophomore. “My only fear is future generations after us will not properly take care of it.”

Visit the Capital Programs page at http://www1.pgcps.org/cip/ for periodic updates on the project as well as a live view once construction starts.

Staff Writer Vidal Adams III contributed to this report.

Alumni started off the game with three points, but Varsity quickly came back, putting them in the lead for the remainder of the first quarter. Second quarter proved to be anyone’s game. Unfortunately, the Alumni proved their dominance, winning the game 78-73.

Although Varsity lost the game, the school spirit was not lost.

“I enjoyed the Alumni vs. Varsity game the most. Even though we lost, it was still very exciting,” said Junior Janay Lanzo,

Even Potomac High School senior Shaquille Bailey seemed to enjoy the Clipper pride and spirit of the game. “It was fun and the environment was filled with joyful people,” she said.

Even though the crowd turnout wasn’t as big as everyone had expected, Midnight Madness turned out to be exciting for some students.

“What I like best about Midnight Madness was the crowds’ enthusiasm,” said junior and member of the Varsity team, Spencer Johnson. “I think we will do good this year. Everybody got better and when we focus no one can stop us.”

With over 10 fights, a noticeable increase in hallway traffic after the late bell and numerous instances of theft since the lockdown, the Oxon Hill administration has started random hall sweeps back up in an attempt to restore order.

“Administration must continue the hall sweeps for those that are insubordinate but with an added layer of consequences within the class enforced by security and administration,” said 12th grade aministrator Mrs. Jones-Smith.

“The previous ‘lock down,’ though it had vivid results, they were temporary because it was one sided.” Smith said.

To many students, this isn’t a surprise. In fact, a number of students predicted this would happen before the lockout even ended.

“There will always be some type of drama among individuals,” said junior Jorelle Casumbal. “It’s inevitable in high school.”

The upcoming holiday breaks may have something to do with the behavior of late.

“There are just certain points during the school year where the behavior of the student body is at its worst,” said senior AaRae Alexander. “We’re getting closer and closer to winter break so students start getting reckless and stop caring.”

“They haven’t put into place a proper system of consequences for negative behavior,” Senior Class President Terrence Odom said of the school administration.

The school morale has been on the decline since the end of Homecoming Week as well, students said.

“School isn’t a place students want to be.” said sophomore Jasmin Johnson. “It isn’t a fun atmosphere that makes you want to get involved and learn.”

Whether the finger is pointed at the students, administration, or a combination of the two, the issue still remains. The question is, how does the school restore order? That question has yet to be answered.
“I actually think that the actions of the students have an affect on the morale of the school.” Odom said “Who in their right mind would take pride in a school where they are in fear of getting their belongings stolen?”

With a 4-7-1 record, the girls soccer team ended the season with their last game on Nov. 1 against Charles H. Flowers High School with a 5-2 loss in the 4A South Region playoffs.

In the regular season finale, the Clippers took a 5-0 victory against Northwestern High School.

The team was lead to victory by captain Chelsea McCoy and forward Kiara McFadden, each scoring two goals. Thalia Goddard scored one goal.

11th grade defender Dawn Weston had high hopes for the team and expected the team to “play hard, give lots of determination and hopefully win.”

The team’s hard work and effort throughout the year finally paid off ending the season and starting the first game of the playoffs where they defeated Suitland High School, 6-1.

“I feel that we played really good,” said junior defender Annie Ross. “We played hard and had a lot of god passes.”

The team started off rough but captain Briana Savage pulled the team through, scoring five of the six goals.

The game was the only of the playoffs to be played at home but it had some minor problems. According to some of the team players, Suitland’s players were being aggressive, and showing a sense of bad sportsmanship with their conduct.

“It was really bad sportsmanship,” Weston said. “They should have took the loss a little better.”. The team became frustrated but “calmed down” and remembered that they were “the better team.”

But the victory was short lived. A defeat against Flowers, 5-2, ended the teams playoff season, losing in the 4A South Region quaterfinals. The teams performance throughout the year, however, won’t be forgotten.

“The team made a lot of improvements from the first game until the last game.”, said Coach Flanagan. “Not only did they improve in skill but in character. Next year should be a promising year, despite losing this year.”

Oxon Hill High School’s choir has just released its third album since 2001, “The Storm is Passing Over” . The album has already reached No. 5 as of November on billboard charts under the leadership of of the choir’s director, Rev. Dr. Emory Andrews.

“It started out as a lesson plan; technology has a very important place in music,” Andrews said. “It’s wonderful to learn technology while being a musician as it’s really beneficial. This CD supports the vocal music department because when money is given out, the music department is the last to get picked for anything, so we have to be self-sufficient.”.

The choir is also very excited about this release and the success and notoriety it’s receiving.

“I think the album is wonderful and hopefully is touching lives.” music major and senior Destiny Williams said.

“I’m really excited because we’re like a family and to have done this together and the recognition it’s getting is truly amazing.” sophomore Nefia Son said.

Not only is the choir excited, OHHS as a whole is proud of what they’re accomplishing.

“I give them 2 thumbs up.” said sophomore Bria Townsend

“In my opinion, they’re really good. Kudos to them honestly.” said Marisa Clark, a sophomore.

Despite the album itself being made of entirely gospel music, Dr. Andrews doesn’t associate the choir with being just gospel.

“We’re just a vocal music department that sings gospel,” he said. “ We actually do all genres. Pop, Folk, all of it and 7 different languages. Just demographically, gospel does a bit better. I think the choir did very well, I tried to teach them to reach for the stars so they can land on the clouds.”

The nightmare for students is arriving at  the end of the month with the release of report cards next week.

There are students with good grades, average grades, and unbelievable grades. Since progress reports show a student’s progress, report cards are the final grades that show students’ accomplishments from the first quarter.

For some students, progress reports aren’t a big  deal, but report cards are.

”Report cards are 50/50 sometimes – you like then and sometimes you don’t, but I think in a way to show my progress that i have made,” said junior DeAndre Niel.

There are teachers that are helping students bring their grades up with extra credit and projects as well.

Freshman, Isaiah Burroughs said,” Not all my teachers give me extra credit, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t”.

Students can check their progress and their grades through  SchoolMax, which shows what grades students received on quizzes, classwork, homework and as well projects.

“But why do we need report cards when we have SchoolMax”, said freshman Grant Rice.

Happy days and sad days will come Nov. 10  when report cards are distributed to students from their English classes. Some students who gave it all their best gave all they could to make their grades look good not only for their parents, but themselves as well. ]]> http://www.ohhssearchlight.com/news/2011/11/02/report-card-time/feed/ 0 http://www.ohhssearchlight.com/news/2011/04/17/obesity-in-america/ http://www.ohhssearchlight.com/news/2011/04/17/obesity-in-america/#comments Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:24:11 +0000 Brittany http://www.ohhssearchlight.com/?p=1305 “It’s nothing wrong with obesity except the health risks (diabetes, heart attacks, etc). In my opinion obesity is contagious even though it’s not a disease.” explains DeAndre Turrentine

Obesity is the number one killer (besides smoking) in America. Each year, about 300,000 people die from being obese and being obese creates a greater chance for getting a heart attack.

“Food has become a drug and fast food restaurants haven’t helped at all. They make dollar menus with the unhealthiest food on them making it cheaper to get bigger.” explains Bryan Edwards

The eating habits of Americans have gotten way out of hand. America never stops moving, it is a very fast paced country. There are many reasons to say why Americans are so obese, but the main one is not stopping to check their health. Many people are in denial about where they stand regarding their health. When it comes to the human body it’s good to know what’s going on with it at all times.

“It’s an epidemic. It’s something people can control, but won’t because of their unhealthy food preferences and lack of diet and exercise.” continues Bryan Edwards

In other countries most of the citizens walk to most of their destinations. So when they eat they already have a plan to burn the calories off. In America we wake up, go to work, eat and then go to sleep. There is no time for exercising because the normal day is just so tiring in itself. But then you see people who seem to fit exercising in their busy schedule. Why can’t others do the same?

“I think sports or physical training should be more mandatory for students in school and college. This could be a big help on the issue.” explains Brianna Baker

Is obesity just because a person eats unhealthy or could it be something else? People have so much going on that health seems to be the last thing on their minds. They could be stressed from work or family.

“It starts with something else like depression, verbal or physical abuse, etc. The problem is people just think that obesity is caused by eating and eating, but it’s caused by something deeper.” continues Brianna Baker

Motivation is the keep to living a better and healthier life, whether it has to be your doctor telling you that you’re on the brink of death or your own self motivation. In most cases obesity is hereditary. Families are born into obesity so it’s not much that can do right then and there. Then there are others, over time that just let their selves go completely.

“Obesity is very sad because it stops someone’s from enjoying or engaging in fun activities such as basketball, skating, dancing, etc.” explains Jarez Slater

Motivation can come from shows such as Biggest Loser or just running a marathon for a cause. You may not be first, but it’s the fact that you’re running for your health. I’m running a marathon in a few weeks. Although I may not be obese it doesn’t hurt to still stay in shape for you and help motivate others to do the same.