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December 2017

PFHS Sports Word Find By Zachary Shular

Find words that are centered around the sports offered in our school. You can find words vertically, horizontally, or even backwards. Find 9 words hidden throughout this puzzle: Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Bowling, Cross Country, Tigers, Football, Soccer & Pigeon Forge.

The Tiger Times

TheTiger Times

The Pigeon Forge Punnies Submitted by Noah Martin from www.EverythingMom.com

Q: What goes around and around the wood but never goes into the wood? A: The bark on a tree. Q: Two mothers and two daughters went out to eat. Everyone ate one burger yet only three burgers were eaten in all. How is this possible? A: They were a grandmother, mother and daughter. Q: A man was outside taking a walk, when it started to rain. The man didn’t have an umbrella and he wasn’t wearing a hat. His clothes got soaked, yet not a single hair on his head got wet. How could this happen? A: The man was bald. Q: A cowboy rides into town on Friday, stays for three days, then leaves on Friday. How did he do it? A: His horse’s name was Friday. Q: What starts with the letter “t”, is filled with “t” and ends in “t”? A: A teapot Q: What has hands but can not clap? A: A clock.

Volume 7, Issue 2

In This Newspaper: • Teacher Spotlights • Student Spotlight • Sports • Techology • Clubs • School News • Fun Stuff

Pigeon Forge High School - Home of the Tigers

December 2017

History of PFHS By: Kolton Hicks

Many do not know much about the history of Pigeon Forge High School (PFHS). The school that we go to Monday through Friday used to be a middle school up until 1999. Could you imagine if PFHS was not actually where it is now, or if the high school was still just a middle school? Just think about it. As the school continues to grow larger and larger, it seems that many family roots continue to come through Pigeon Forge High School. Now Pigeon Forge has about 750 students of all nationalities and a lot of different family trees. Over the years the campus has grown. Now it includes a basketball court, a baseball field and clubhouse, a football field and stadium, a multisport complex, a softball field, and even a greenhouse. Many of the sports within the school have accomplished great things. PFHS has added a number of athletes to their wall of amazing players in the main foyer. Many of these players have gone on to excel at the next level of sports and in education. These athletes have been with some of the great classes that have graduated from Pigeon Forge. Some of the sports that these athletes have played have made it above and beyond. Football made it to the first round of playoffs in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The girls basketball team was district champs in 2005, 2006, and 2009 as well as region champs in 2006 and 2011. The boy’s basketball team was district champions in 2004 and 2006. Pigeon Forge wrestling team won regions every year they went to state. In 2011-13, and 2016 they were dual team state runner-ups. They went all the way in 2014, 2015, 2017 becoming dual team state champions and in 2015, 2016, and 2017 they were state champions. The baseball team has won district almost every year they have been a team. They were district champions in 2004-2005, 2008-2009, and 2011- 2017. They have also won regions in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2017. Tigers baseball have gone to the state tournament four times, winning it in 2013, finishing runnerup in 2005, and falling a bit short in 2017 and 2006. Pigeon Forge baseball has had 16 all-state players, and in the 2012-2013 season Will Crowe was named Tennessee Baseball Player of the Year. As you can tell Pigeon Forge is very proud of the athletic accomplishments!

Q: Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks? A: Neither, they both weigh one pound. Q: How many months have 28 days? A: All 12 months. The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

Page 2 December 2017

Damaging Disasters: Hurricanes Harvey & Irma

The Tiger Times

By: Dalton McCostlin

Recently two hurricanes, Harvey and Irma, hit both Texas and Florida respectively. Hurricane Irma was the most recent storm devastating Florida. Irma, a Category Five storm, destroyed a lot of properties and buildings. Hurricane Harvey, the Texas hurricane hit as a Category Four with winds up to 130 mph leaving a path of destruction. These storms had a massive impact on many people’s lives not only in Florida and Texas, but here at Pigeon Forge High, too! Some students and teachers have been affected just because of volunteer work while others have family in the areas damaged. In Jacksonville, the whole city was under water. Florida resident Jackie Carver explained in a telephone conversation, “The wind was blowing really hard. You could hear trees breaking and stuff blowing around. We didn’t really have any major damage, but I have lots of friends that lost everything in their homes, pets, cars, [and] everything they have worked years to have.” Off the Atlantic coast, the floods were about five feet deep in the city, but luckily Carver’s property was only about two feet underwater. Irma affected Florida, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and many other places. Harvey was the first hurricane to make landfall since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Sophomore Josue Cruz stated, “Some of my family members from Honduras experienced pieces of the hurricane, but it wasn’t too bad there. I was relieved and more stress-free after I had talked to them and figured out everything was okay.” These hurricanes affected a lot of people’s lives. Many people lost everything they have ever had. Let’s hope we do not have any more devastating disasters like these and everyone everywhere can live life to the fullest!

To the Rescue By: Brendan Young

In recent times, severe weather has been terrorizing the coast of the United States. Hurricanes, as big as Texas, have been viciously striking the coast. The effects of the hurricanes included flooding cities, demolishing towns, and shattering the spirit of families. These hurricanes may not have directly hit Tennessee, but they still had a significant effect on the community as a whole. Tennessee harbored over ten thousand evacuees during the storms. Some hotels, in Pigeon Forge, gave free stays to people who evacuated from the hurricanes. The hurricanes that hit the United States that had a great impact were Harvey, Irma, and Jose. These hurricanes were some of the most devastating hurricanes in history, destroying large parts of Florida, Louisiana, Texas. The people of these states can not rebuild or restart their lives without the support and generosity of the people. People can donate many ways, in different manners. Donations do not need to be just capital donations; they can be food, clothing, hygiene products, and almost any other daily necessity. One of the biggest donors to hurricane victims was the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross has a donation website and a Red Cross center in Knoxville. Donations can be given either way. Change someone’s life and donate today. Flooded streets of Jacksonville, Florida shared by cousin of Senior Dalton McCostlin. The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

The Tiger Times

Teacher Interviews

Page 11

December 2017

By: Josue Lara & Zachary Shular

Teachers here at Pigeon Forge High-School have always been hardworking, kind, and generous. Our teachers at Pigeon Forge High School constantly push their students to their fullest potential so that the students can be phenomenal, lucrative, and outstanding individuals when the time comes for them to step out into the real world. These teachers we have interviewed are some of the most assiduous, diligent, and undoubtedly dedicated to their jobs because being a Tiger here is more than just a name. Being a Tiger is a lifestyle. It is a passion that is meant to be embraced and cherished for the rest of our lives. Mrs. Spanjersberg One of the science teachers, Mrs. Spanjersberg was asked five questions about herself. She stated that in five years she wants ten more kids probably all of them adopted. When asked what made her want to be a teacher, she replied, ”I have always loved science. At my old job, I used to always talk about science, and I thought that it would be fun to be a science teacher because of that.” Mrs. Spanjersberg expects all of her students to at least learn something when in her class. She told us that she prefers to spend her time outdoors when not at the school. She said nerdy, patient, energetic, sporty, and psychotic are five adjectives that describe herself. Mr. McBride Mr. McBride, the Latin teacher, was asked what he plans to be doing in five years. He answered that he still wants to be teaching Latin. He shared,”I expect them [his students] to give their best effort.” The reason he wanted to become a teacher was because he had a lot of excellent teachers. Outside of the classrooms, Mr. McBride likes to play guitar, play soccer, go hiking, and play video games. Five adjectives that Mr. McBride used to describe himself are handsome, humble, caring, fun, and loud. Ms. Russell Ms. Russell, the Theatre Arts, Vocal Music and Music History teacher, was asked what she plans to be doing in 5 years. She said that she would be planning or looking foreward to retirement. Ms. Russell said that she wanted to be a teacher because she loved music, and she loves sharing her love for music. She expects her students to do their best and to respect each other. Her interests outside of the classroom are singing and being with friends. She also sings at her church. Five adjectives that Ms. Russell feels describes her are easygoing, happy, friendly, outgoing, and funny. Mr. Baldwin Our SAILS Math, Personal Finance, and Credit Recovery teacher, Mr. Baldwin, shared a bit about himself. He stated that in five years he wants to continue teaching. He wanted to be a teacher because he wanted to work in Sevier County and not move to another place. He said that he expects effort from all of his students. Any student who has Mr. Baldwin knows if you try in his class, you will have his support. Outside of school, he likes walking in the woods and using his chainsaw. Mr. Cole Finally, Mr. Cole is the AP Calculus, Honors Precalculus, and College Prep Algebra I & II teacher. He stated that in five years he wants to still be teaching at the high school level. In addition, he would like to be teaching on the college level part-time. He wanted to be a teacher because he thought it was the only thing he could do with a math degree. He wants all of his students to try their best to hold themselves accountable. Outside of school, he enjoys working out, watching football, and woodworking. The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

Page 10

December 2017

Student Spotlights By: Brendan Young

Here at Pigeon Forge High School, talent is all around us. Some students may seem like your average Joe, but looks can be deceiving. Here are some of Pigeon Forge’s finest: First up is freshman Noah Martin. Noah has been doing karate for over a year now and has received his 2nd degree green belt, which means he has already been through white, yellow, orange, 2nd degree orange, and 1st degree green. He means business. If you don’t believe he’s serious, just ask senior Dalton McCostlin who witnessed some of Noah’s karate moves. Noah intends to practice karate until he becomes a black belt, for the sole purpose of self-defense. Who knows, he may become the next Bruce Lee. Junior Ismael Rodriguez has a pretty unusual talent, unusual but cool. Ismael has spent the last year learning the ways of the Rubik’s Cube because he was curious to learn how they work. He has said that he does not want to pursue this as a profession because there is no consistent way to make money. He knows how to solve a 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, and any cube higher because the method to solve each is the same. Ismael’s talent is strange, unique, and unusual but that just makes it easier to appreciate. Keep it up, Ismael. Last on the list is senior Hunter Vineyard, the finest picker to ever play the blues. Hunter has been playing the guitar for roughly three years now and has learned many songs. In fact, he knows over a hundred songs in the rock, classic rock, and country genres. Hunter was inspired to learn the guitar from his dad; it is always good to have a family tradition to pass down generation to generation. He has said that it would be cool if it leads to a profession as a professional guitarist but for now, he is focusing on it as just a hobby. Rock on, Hunter...rock on!

Tic Tac Toe

The Tiger Times

Sudoku

By: Noah Martin

What it Means to be a Teen By: Jasmine Metcalf

What it means to be a teen is never really clear You can drive, get a job, and feel adulthood coming near You start to love more and more School starts to feel like a chore Some people start to care about how they look While others stuff their nose in a book You start to stay up all night You make a lot more choices, wrong or right Sometimes your friends can be kind or mean And this is all just in the 7 years of being a teen

The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

The Tiger Times

Page 3

Social Media Addiction

By: Raymond Meadows & Jared Compton

People all over the world are addicted to social media, and as a result they are not paying attention to what is right in front of their faces. With attention on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat, individuals have a chance of getting hurt. There have been many cases where people have walked into the road or poles while distracted. Most people do not get how dangerous social media can be even leading to addiction. A senior, Kolton Hicks, suggests, “Try to get people involved in activity outside of their phone.” He noted that Snapchat seems to be more addicting because a lot of people use Snapchat with other people and they always want more streaks, and compete with other people on Snapchat. They will brag for no reason. A lot of funny things are seen on social media, and it is easy to communicate with friends outside of school than inside school. Destinee Shults, a sophomore, suggests, “Get them [students] more involved with family time or encourage them to spend more time with face-to-face talk with their friends. I use Instagram personally but I feel most people use Snapchat because it lets you connect with the world outside of your reach.” Sophomore Eloy Ramirez suggests, “The phone jail is a good way to keep kids off their phones during classes so they can pay more attention in class, and get better grades. Facebook hasn’t been used lately by a lot of people but, the most popular apps right now would be Snapchat and Instagram. The social media is very addicting because it has a lot of new stuff to see, and new comedy videos every day to see.”

December 2017

Apple vs. Samsung By: Kolton Hicks

Two of the biggest cell phone companies, Apple and Samsung, are always in competition. This is a very controversial subject as everyone argues which company is producing the better product. These manufacturers have spent decades trying to perfect their devices. The phones that they have created still have flaws and are not as perfect as the companies and people would like them. Many people say that Samsung has better perks than the iPhone while others say that it is the other way around. The first generation of the iPhone was released on June 29, 2007, by Apple. They continued to update the phone using IOS. These phones were equipped with wifi and could connect to cellular networks, which is not major to this generation. Over the past decade, Apple has created ten generations of the iPhone. Now Apple has the iPhone 8 out, and they are in the process of creating the iPhone X. Well over 8.7 billion dollars worth of iPhones has been sold all over the world. Because of the way they continue to improve the looks and performance of their product it keeps people coming back to get the new iPhones when they come out. iPhone never fails to impress their consumers. The iPhones competitor is Samsung. Samsung continues to grow over the years. If they continue the way they are going, Samsung should pass Apple’s profits. This will be the first time in the entire smartphone era. Samsung is now making big moves as their phones are beginning to be just as pleasing as the iPhone. They are making people want a Samsung Galaxy phone over an Apple iPhone.

Why We Think We Cannot Relate By: Jasmine Metcalf and Destinee Shults

Some teenagers think that their parents may not be listening to them. Most teens are surprised when their parents whom they think are not paying attention to their problems are actually more aware than they think. Parents have a firmer grasp on the situations they go through than most teens comprehend. More and more teenagers do not want to try and talk to people about the problems and the difficult situations they face in their day-to-day life. While teenagers still think their parents do not know or understand their situations, they come to find out that most of the problems they go through, the parents have gone through very similar ones in their past experiences. Teens are more likely to look up to adults who they feel are more relatable such as celebrities. Even though sometimes teens may feel as though they cannot relate to the adults in their lives, it is everyone’s responsibility to find out more about each other. We may have more in common than we might think. The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

Page 4

December 2017

The Tiger Times

Monthly Meanings By: Brendan Young

People may think the month they are born is just another month of the year, but there is much more information one can obtain about oneself than meets the eye. Here are some characteristics presented from the website thefamouspeople.com so you can find out about yourself just based on your birth month: January: People who are born in January are said to be smart, productive, ambitious, diligent, and serious. The later side of January is considered more serious while the earlier half is more focused on their future. If you think of yourself as smart or cynical, it may be caused by the January inside you. February: February is thought to be a month of love and warmth but a person’s characteristics during that month are quite different than the warm and fuzzy feeling of February. People who are born in the early half of February are thought of as intelligent, progressive and independent. While the later half is almost considered the opposite, such as free thinking and courageous. Fun fact, 12 percent of homeless people are born in February, that is four percent more than the other months average. Make sure you have a backup plan before being courageous. March: People born in early March are said to be affectionate and show charisma. Late March people are actually the same; they may just seem a little friendlier. March is one of the only months where both halves are equal. April: The name “April” means tough but friendly. A reason behind this is that characteristics of April are people of bravery, toughness, and outgoing. If you’re going to pick a fight with anyone, stay away from April! May: Individuals born during May are understanding, enthusiastic, and resolute. More about Mayans is that they are also considered attractive and irresistible. As a nonbiased, third-party who was born during May, I agree with this information. June: June is a very active month, so people born during that month are considered extroverts. Some characteristics are humorous, sociable and talkative. July: Intelligent, organized, generous, home-loving, and tenacious are the characteristics said to describe people of July. These people are said to consider other’s opinions over their own. August: People born in the early half of August are considered to have a very positive outlook on life and are usually enthusiastic. The later half of people born in August are said to be proud, modest, and determined. They try their hardest to reach their goals as soon as possible. They also show a dominant attitude towards others. September: People born in September are classified as “perfectionists” and extremely hard workers. Coincidence or not, September is the month with the most people who are diagnosed with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). October: Individuals born in the month of October are said to have inner beauty as well as a beautiful appearance. They are also said to be motivated and devoted towards their future. These people are said to be attracted to jobs that take many years of college or experience. November: November born people are said to be independent, passionate, and enigmatic. They will more than likely choose themselves over others. These people are said to be attracted to jobs where they can work at their own pace, and don’t see others often. December: People born in December are fun to be around and are trustworthy, but show short tempers. These people are attracted to jobs with many people or jobs where they get to conversate with new people.

The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

The Tiger Times

Video Game Reviews

Page 9

December 2017

By: Josue Lara, Zachary Shular & Eloy Ramirez

Video games have taken the 21st century by storm and grow more popular daily. Video games used to be considered a small thing, but now almost everyone has played a video game at least once in their lifetime. Many people have made a living off of video games, as for some it turned from a hobby to a career. We have picked six popular video games or series that some of our readers might not know about, and enjoy after reading these articles. The ratings used in this article were taken from IGN(Imagine Games Network). The Elder Scrolls is a series made by Bethesda, the same creators of the Fallout series. They have made a series of five out of the game, with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim the most popular out of the five games. Their latest game, Skyrim is for the older Xbox 360, PS3, and PC released in 2011, while the remastered Special Edition came out for Xbox One, PS4, and PC in October of 2016. The game has a rating of M, meaning mature. IGN gave the game an 8/10 in their game reviews. Skyrim has you playing as the Dragonborn, and his mission is to kill Alduin the world-eater. The game is an open world filled with side missions and the main quest as well, not including the three DLC you can buy or get for free in the legendary edition. Fans love Skyrim because the game has a lot to offer such as hidden missions and secret areas. Rainbow Six Siege is a five against five game where you attack bomb sites, or attack and free hostages against the enemy teams. You attack the objectives with your equipment and try to eliminate the other team or complete your objective. It’s a slow paced game that is said to take a lot of patience and skill. The way to rank up and achieve more things in the game is to buy all the characters with renown, the in-game currency, or real life money. The game was released in December of 2015 and is still maintaining up to 100,000 constant daily players. It was rated M, meaning mature audiences only. The game is released for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. When rating this game, IGN gave it a 7.9/10. The NBA 2k series is a video game series based on the National Basketball Association. The first game was made in 1999 with NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson on the cover. It has started to become a yearly game series with a different NBA All-Star being the cover artist every year, with new updates as well. With the many game modes as options, you could probably find something that you would enjoy. The newest version (NBA 2k18) is available for Xbox One, PS4, and the less popular PC version. The NBA 2k17 version sold 4.5million copies. The game also grabs money off of in-game currency known as VC (virtual currency). The game was given a rating of E, meaning for all ages. When IGN rated this game, they gave it an 8.4/10. Call of Duty is a first person shooter (FPS) video game series. The series started on PC and later came to consoles. The earlier games in the series are in earlier times, but later games are set in modern or future times. The most recent game, Call of Duty: WWII, will release on November 3, 2017. After many games including the jetpacks, most fans are ready for the original feel. This game will return the game to the boots on the ground feel, after years of futuristic combat. Fans hope this can bring back their love for the series and other FPS style game. The highest rated game was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which received a 9.5/10 from IGN. The game received a rating of M, meaning mature audiences only. Overwatch is a team based six against six shooter game. The point of the game is to make a balanced team of 6 out of the 25 available heroes, which your enemies do as well. You pick out of the four categories, Offensive, Defensive, Tanks, and Healers. Once you have your team, you attack or defend the objectives or payloads. The game was released in 2016 and has sold millions of copies across its three platforms. These platforms are PS4, Xbox One, and PC. There is a casual and competitive aspect to the game. Some players chose the casual style, while some like to take the game a lot more seriously and play competitively. The game holds hundreds of thousands of daily players and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. Overwatch was one of the highest rated games released in 2016, getting a 9.5/10 rating from IGN. The game has a rating of T, meaning for ages thirteen and up. FIFA is a football or soccer video game franchise, which is released yearly by Electronic Arts under EA Sports label. FIFA is a video game played by tons of soccer fans all around the world. The series was started in 1993, and it was the first to have an official license from FIFA. The latest installment released September 29th, 2017. The cover artist for this years FIFA game is Cristiano Ronaldo. It is available on the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. FIFA 18 received an 8.1/10 from IGN. The series has a rating of E, meaning the game is for all ages. The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

The Tiger Times

Page 8 December 2017

Purrfect Pets By: Noah Martin

Owning a pet can be a great stress reliever. Research from a variety of psychologists working with vets shows that pet owners laugh more and laughing is a stress reliever. Pets can be a stress reliever by being there to pet and love. Pets can be a great addition to your home and your life! Pets can provide a sense of responsibility to help develop maturity. A lot can be learned by being a pet owner. Having responsibility can make you more trustworthy because they can give you objectives to do and trust that you do it. Pets, like dogs and cats, are also very interactive with their owners. Having an interactive pet can allow you to have better interaction skills. We know that dogs will bark when they see or hear someone which can be very good for home security. However, pets can sense not only people but also danger. Here are a few examples from the article “Seven Reasons You Should Get a Pet”: A parrot in Florida alerted his family before fire detectors went off by making noises and flapping its wings essentially saving the life of family members. A dog in New Jersey, with a spinal disability, yanked himself up the stairs and alarmed his sleeping family about a fire probably saving all of their lives. A man’s snake in China alerted his sleeping owner of fire by grabbing the man’s clothes with his teeth and smacking the bed with its tail. You can find tons of amazing stories like these. No matter what kind of pet that is adopted, animals seem to be able to sense danger, provide people with a sense of stress relief, and can help with much-needed life skills. A pet would be a great addition to a home but more importantly a life and family. So why not get a pet?

Tips for a Clean Environment By: Jared Compton

According to an article in Green Child Magazine, people need to reduce the use of chemicals and correctly dispose of waste. For example, instead of purchasing disposal items such as plastic dishes and silverware, try reusable instead or get an extra set at Goodwill. Does it really matter if they match? For on the go coffee lovers, carry a thermal cup. With this small action, you reduce the amount of trash you’re disposing of, and your coffee remains hot while doing so. Another tip is to conserve water. With waste dumped into our water supplies, access to fresh, clean water becomes scarcer every year. Stop taking freely available water for granted. Running taps, unchecked water leakages, overflowing water trucks are all examples of unnecessary water wastage that needs to be ended. Water is an essential requirement for human survival, so let’s conserve it. Try collecting rainwater in buckets or a rain barrel to water the plants in the lawn or clean your cars. Growing food locally helps in reducing the overall transportation of food items that require pesticides and preservatives to preserve them. These preservatives directly pollute the air. It is also a proven fact that organic food is more sustainable than the one which uses harmful pesticides and chemicals, thereby causing harm to the entire global ecosystem. Just a little change can have a tremendous impact on our environment!

Fall Fun

By: Tristin McCarter

Going to the corn maze is a fun thing to do when the season turns to fall. There is much to do including games, food, and of course the corn maze. People from all over Sevierville come to these events to enjoy the season. One local corn maze, sponsored by the First Baptist Church, was located in Sevierville next to the city park. The friendly staff set-up kid rides and games. All the profits were donated to charity with attendees being able to select a pumpkin to take home or a sweet treat of roasted marshmallows. Events like these are why we love fall! The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

The Tiger Times

Page 5 December 2017

Student Government By: Destinee Shults

DECA

By: Zachary Shular & Josue

Student Government is one of the many clubs offered here at Lara Pigeon Forge High School. The Student Govenment is sponsored DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of by two teachers, Mrs. Breeden and Mrs. Loveday. The purpose America) is a club that forges leaders in of Student Government, according to our school website, is to high schools and colleges all over the provide the Pigeon Forge High School student body with a voice world. The club prepares people in marketing, finance, hospitalwithin the school and to organize class officers and school events. ity, and management. The entry fee for joining the club is $25. The 2017-2018 Student Government class officers: There are also various trips throughout the year, which fees can be reduced or eliminated from fundraisers. The meeting time for Senior Officers: President Kaitlyn Hill, VP Madison Moury, the clubs are during class periods, and the officer meetings are Secretary Ashley Dingus and Treasurer Gracie Foreman scheduled when necessary. Junior Officers: President Robert Lyszczarczyk, VP Whittly The competitions held are aligned with the National Curriculum Hoffner, Secretary Aaron Murphy. and Treasurer Cooper Holbert Standards. Competitions held include a written component includSophomore Officers: President Avery Bohanan, VP Marisol ing exams or reports. Also, they include an interactive component Amayo, Secretary Destinee Shults and Treasurer Lacey that includes an industry professional serving as a judge. Hunter We asked the Vice President Membership of DECA, Ismael Freshman Officers: President Carter Whaley, VP Andrew Rodriguez, a couple questions about the club. We asked him how Valentine, Secretary Trinity Smith and Treasurer Colin Roberts it feels to be a club officer, and he replied, “I was just elected, so I don’t know. It is going to be fun though. The job I have is to get Currently, Student Government is involved with two activities, people to join the club.” When asked how it felt to win a competione being the job taking responsibility for the United States and tion, he said, “I was surprised when I won. At first, I didn’t even Tennessee flags. The second is having members become more realize that they called my name.” He was asked what the most involved with not just the school, but also the Pigeon Forge fun part was, and he replied, “Being a team and competing for the community on a larger scale. One of the many examples of this school.” To Ismael, DECA is a way he can express his competiis helping with the Pigeon Forge Primary School’s Rotary Club tive side and have fun. Christmas Jamboree which takes place at the school in December. Keep an eye out for upcoming Student Government sponsored

Beta

By: Zachary Shular

Beta is a club that rewards students for excellence in academics. The club promotes the ideals of character, service, and leadership throughout our school. Members must have a GPA of at least 3.25 to join the club. The payment to join for new members is $20, and the fee for returning members is $10. Our Beta sponsors are Mrs. Ownby, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Loveday, and Mrs. Williams. Meetings are held during club time on the third Wednesday of each month. Also, if needed, meetings can be held after school. The state Beta trip is a yearly event held every November. The Tennessee State convention is held from November 16 through November 18. At the club, students compete in academic competitions and run for state offices. The winners of the competitions will receive an invitation to the National Beta Convention. The 2017 National Beta Convention was held in Orlando, Florida. The next convention will be located in Savannah, Georgia in June of 2018. The National Beta Club offers over $300,000 in scholarships to students in their senior year. Since 1991, the club has awarded over $6 million in scholarships. Over 275 scholarships are awarded each year, and they can range from $1,000 to $15,000. The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

Page 6 December 2017

Cross Country By: Eloy Ramirez

The cross country team started the season heading to Jefferson County. It was a long, harsh run for the team since some of the runners haven’t run in a while but the team pushed through in pain. The team improved with every practice. The primary mission for cross country is to create a competitive attitude and atmosphere for aspiring distance runners and provide an opportunity for athletes from other sports to compete and train during their main sport’s off-season. Cross country is a fall sport and also a short one with only twelve races. The program provides opportunities for the advance-skilled athlete as well as the beginning level. The coach for cross country is Mr. Greg Foreman, and he is also the wrestling coach, and he will tell you to join cross country to get in shape for wrestling if you’re joining wrestling. Now that the county championships are over the cross country team is almost at the end of its season with only two races left at Knoxville. Cross Country is a tough and good sport to get your body ready for any other sport you might be wanting to do in winter.

National Honor Society

Bowling

The Tiger Times

By: Raymond Meadows

The Pigeon Forge High School bowling team is aiming for a great year. Led by head coach Mr. Bohanan and assistant coach Mr. Guinn, the team consists of Brian Webb, Alex Wilson, Trevor Sucato, Kaleb Milam , Alex Holman, Ethan Sutton, and Raymond Meadows. The coaches guide the members of the team to help improve bowling techniques. Each member practices, aiming for perfection, to win the games. The team practices for about four hours of every week at the community center.

New Honor Society By: Brendan Young

The Lisa Oakley Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society is a new organization intended for juniors and seniors who excel or have serious interest in the social studies field sponsored by a committee of Dr. Kelley, Mr. Helton, Mrs. Bailey and Ms. Jones. The society is named after Lisa Oakley, a curator of education, for her 26 years of contribution and dedication towards students, teachers, and the history community of East Tennessee. This honor society is only available in Tennessee, for students who attend Pigeon Forge High School and two other schools. Members open up new pathways when enrolling into this group. Students will have opportunities to speak with honorable historians, geographers, and government majors. Students will also be able to tutor their peers at the middle school, to further the mind of the young. Last, members can attend cultural festivals, historical field trips, and even try foreign cuisines after meeting the academic and civic requirements.

Congratulations to the newly inducted members. Membership is by invition only based upon leadership, scholarship, and character. The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.

The Tiger Times

Page 7 December 2017

On the Road to College By: Dalton McCostlin

Are you worried about what you’re going to do after high school? Do not worry, picking a profession is not as difficult as you may believe! Pick something you enjoy though because your decision now could predict your future. Here are a few ways to figure out what you would like to do. First, figure out about yourself, what do you enjoy? After, make a list of some occupations. Then, research those career choices. Also, create a shortlist of the professions you like the most. Finally, make a list of your goals. This will help you achieve your career. Once you have done all of these things, you will be headed to a path of success! Take advantage of college, especially here in Tennessee. With the Tennessee Promise, you can achieve your goals. This allows two years of free college; you can choose from any of the Tennessee community colleges, public universities with two-year programs, private colleges with two-year programs, and Tennessee colleges of applied technology. Things you have to do after application when going to community colleges or universities include: submit ACT scores and your final high school transcript, attend orientation, take any required placement tests, create and check college account, meet with an advisor and register full time. After application to Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT), you should submit final high school transcripts, take any required placement tests, enroll in a full-time program, and attend orientation. After completing these steps, a profession is picked! None of the obstacles to getting into college and picking a career choice is difficult. So do not hold back from going to college. Go and make your dreams a reality!

The Recruiting Process By: Kolton Hicks

The recruiting process is one of the most challenging things athletes go through but can also be one of the most exciting. College coaches are watching, going through the player’s social media and seeing who the athlete is both on and off the field before a high school athlete even knows it. College staff will often call a high school coach asking questions about the player’s ability and work ethic. Many of these scouts do not even let the player know they are watching. Often scouts dress like an average person to blend in so they can see how the athlete plays without a scout present. If you are looking to be a part of the recruiting process, it is highly likely that you have played at a high level in the sport you are playing, such as a travel team. Most of these travel teams are used to help you get seen by prominent colleges. Some talented athletes go to showcases to show off their talent to schools in attendance. The recruiting process is one of the unique things an athlete will ever go through. The favorite part for most athletes is seeing what the college is like through a visit to the campus and their athletic facilities. Most of the time they even let you put on a jersey for a picture to help you visualize what it may be like to be a part of the team and how you look in the uniform. It also usually features a game where the team is playing so you can experience the team’s culture. This experience often helps you decide where you plan to attend college. To receive a letter offering an athletic scholarship is something not a lot of people even get to experience. Being able to be recruited after working so hard for your high school years is impressive. Recruitment can be a very hectic process that many do not enjoy, similar to trying to get an academic scholarship. You will need to have an adequate ACT or SAT score and turn in all the forms you will need for academics. The better GPA and ACT or SAT scores, the more money you are likely going to be offered. Colleges do not offer full scholarships as often as many think. The recruiting process is a great thing to be a part of, but if you are not careful and take time to make your decision on your school, then you could regret it. Always make sure that the school is the right school for you! The mission of Pigeon Forge High School is to provide all students with engaging learning experiences based on a relevant and rigorous curriculum, preparing them for success in college and their careers.