iNews Network

iSchool’s very own senior, Tyler Hostetter, is on the fast track to success. Through the George A. Jeffrey NATO Explorers program, Hostetter, age 17, was given the chance to begin a life changing research project over a drug known as D- psycloseric which, with all of the right testing, has the ability to cure people with Tinnitus. This is a chronic disease which Hostetter explained, “You know that high pitched ringing noise that you get in your ears sometimes? Well, that’s what these people with Tinnitus have…except it’s louder… and all of the time.” According to Hostetter, this disease can often be painful and disorienting for sufferers. Through the gory process of utilizing rats as test subjects, which Hostetter described commedically as “weird and gross and weird”, he, along with others at the University of Texas at Dallas Neuroscience lab came closer to achieving their goal of finding a cure to this debilitating illness.
When asked how he managed to stand the sight and smell that came along with the requisite decapitations of the rats, he said that he never actually got used to the brutal end which met his test subjects, but that he did get less sensitive to it over time. Hostetter remembered, “It gets easier the more you do it, and they are put to sleep so they aren't in pain. I remember the very first time, I was taken to a room and I had no idea where I was going. Then I was told “Okay, now we are going to decapitate the rats.” I didn't really know how to respond.” Being mindful, of all the iSchool students who are considerate of the feelings and well-being of our fury friends, he went on to explain the important data that is gathered throughout the process. According to Hostetter, the brain matter of the rat was extracted and spread over a gel. It sat there until the internal proteins separated. The denser ones sank to the bottom and the less dense stayed. The gel was then taken and developed like a photograph by placing a film over it for further examination by himself and others.
Although the young and determined Mr. Hostetter was unable to see the research through to the end, he does keep in touch with his supervisors who are continuing their noble search for a cure. Hostetter is looking forward to a time in the near future when tinnitus will not plague consumers. He ended his explanation commenting, “As of right now, the testing is showing a positive reaction and doing exactly what we hoped. I propose that after further testing, and the permission to test on humans, the drug should be available for use within the next five to ten years.”

Thinking, as the election closely approaches, I am only 16. It is said that my voice doesn’t matter. Simply, it does matter what I say. It will affect me and everyone. That is not up for question. So in shunning my voice, as an immigrant and a minor, a possible future is shunned. The influence of teachers on students greatly impacts the future. Expressing political affiliation is at fault with some teachers and as Ross Miller, history teacher, stated, “The more you are aware, the more you can speak for yourself. Decisions being made now will impact us, to protect ourselves. Political awareness is knowing your role in everything.” This I will say, know when you’re being influenced, know your stance based on your morality, know that not all things appear as the media reports, and know many more things. Mr. Miller has been teaching for 17 years and in all this time he has accomplished not influencing his students with political affiliation, as none of them have ever been able to assume what affiliation he belongs to, and he makes it clear that he is proud of not being tied to something that closes the mind to speaking for itself. I can assume safely that all that he wants is to make his students involved in politics, as he believes that it creates an impact on all in the nation. So if many of you say that you don’t care, that is doesn't matter; the fate of the future is in those who do care about it, and if those people are less aware, an effect is inevitable. Positive or negative, will you care then?
Mr. Miller is not the only one who agrees that political awareness is needed and that it shouldn't be silenced. Sara Ruppel, D.C U.S History teacher, has been teaching for 19 years states, “This generation is struggling with some nuances that have not been seen in the past, and it’s very important that we allow the students to speak and share struggles, to engage current events in history in order for [us] to see their worth in the political spectrum, to see their role in the nation’s future.” In a poll taken at the school that included 43 people, it was seen that 56% of the people voted YES and 44% voted NO, to the question if the school should encourage political activeness. Though the poll showed this, Mrs. Ruppel said that she does not see a division in the school and that the school encourages diverse thinking. There is an apparent mismatch, some students believe Mrs. Ruppel’s assessment and others do not. This could be do too much of the political talks as the election nears.
Through the ideas of both teachers, it is clear the future of the nation will come, with or without the voice of those who care or don’t. I will not state who I like, who I would vote for, I only urge for focus on the future, political awareness, and knowing your morals that will affect all of what you are in the past, present, and in the future.

Beginning Monday, October 29, iSchool High will celebrate its third annual spirit week. Students will have the opportunity to come together to celebrate the community as a whole, and the individuality that iSchool encourages in its students. Before you walk through the doors that Monday morning there are a few guidelines that you should know in order to participate fully.

It all starts on Monday with Jersey Day. On this day, iSchool students are encouraged to wear a jersey representing their favorite sport, team, athlete or any other group affiliation.

Tuesday, you are sure to see a a slew of doppelgangers parading through the halls as students celebrate Twin Day. Grab a like-minded soul who finds your taste in clothing particularly unoffensive and show that great minds think, and dress alike.

Halloween is sure to be the climax of Spirit Week where you will see every possible kind of costume roaming through the school. All costumes must follow student dress code guidelines, and no masks or morph suits will be allowed. However, there is good news for those who miss hats, they will be allowed as part of costumes on this one week only.

Break out your cowboy boots, hats and belt buckles, because Thursday is Western Day. Find your inner Texan and come to school prepared for a good 'ol hoedown.

Friday is sure to be a busy day for iSchool students, as we will be celebrating the awesomeness of iSchool through Spirit Day. iSchool will not be selling mums on campus, however students are encouraged to purchase and wear mums if they prefer. Each class also has it's own celebratory color to wear:

• Freshmen - Green
• Sophomores - Black
• Juniors - Purple
• Seniors - White

The festivities will continue well into Friday night when we have the annual Fall Dance. The dance will be at the Castle Hills Community Center from 7-11pm. Tickets are $7 prepaid and $10 at the door. Also, if you are going to bring someone from another school make sure to get a Guest Form on file, or your date will not be allowed entrance into the event. Come out for a fun night of excitement with your friends.

Senior and Student Council President, Tiana Hernandez, is hopeful that the week's events will bring the iSchool community even more unity. Hernandez said, "Spirit Week will bring us all together. I'm so excited!"

As Halloween parties and iSchool Spirit Week rapidly approach, we here at iNews have taken it upon ourselves to inform our faithful readers of the most popular and fresh costumes to be worn this coming Halloween of 2012. The following is a list of costume ideas that are sure to give anyone a jump-start in costume preparation.

1. Cat - This feline favorite poses tons of options for Halloween goers, a more realistic route can be chosen with lots of fur and authentic stage makeup, or a cue can be taken from Mean Girls by adding some cat ears and nose whiskers.

2. Superhero/Villain - This is specially a favorite among many comic lovers, or even just casual movie goers, since many movies have been over Superheroes this summer, a fresh idea for many costumes of Surperheroes and Villains is to add some authentic stage makeup that appropriately depicts the mood of the Superhero/Villain chosen.

3. Princess and Fairy - Many girls are fans of being Princesses and Fairies this Halloween Season, to add some style to the already popular costumes in the wild, sewing and custom-making this for every Princess and Fairy out there seems to be most appropriate, since most already take advantage of customizing their costumes to be amazingly flashy during their Trick-or-Treating.

4. Nurse - In accordance with popular belief, Nurses that are mean tend to be scary to patients, if being scary is what you're looking for, then be a Nurse, but don't forget to be mean, including in how you look!

5. Witch - A day of Halloween cannot be without the Witches, so celebrating without them would be impossible, they are part of popular Halloween belief, a reliable idea for Witches is to act the part that they are wearing, including all the laughs, this will add even more to what is trying to be depicted, and it will make you feel and sound like a fool, but isn't that what Halloween is for!

6. Hispter - The hipster-look should be simple for anyone to accomplish, shoes and clothing that you only like "ironically" and would only be worn on laundry day, add in some thick-end glasses and some sort of protruding accessory, such as a hat, or backwards fanny pack/side fanny packs. Now you're good to go!

A holiday isn't a holiday without a classic! So complete this Halloween with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." It’s a fantastic, fun spirited, and family friendly movie with a large amount of sarcasm, as well as great costumes. “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is the perfect movie to put you in the holiday spirit.

Hocus Pocus is a frightening movie that is sure to get your blood pressure going this Halloween. It’s filled with terrifying witches, bewitched cats, zombie ex boyfriends that come back from the grave, and much more. Take a journey with a young teenage boy, his little sister and his popular love interest as they stir up some trouble by awakening three evil witches that were once believed to be nothing more than an old Halloween myth. I would recommend seeing Hocus Pocus on Halloween night for some spooky fun.

"House at the End of the Street" is a movie about Sarah (who is a divorced nurse) and her teenage daughter Elisa. They are moving into their rural dream house, which borders an abandoned home where a young girl named Carrie Anne killed her parents four years earlier. Sarah is not comfortable when she realizes that the property is occupied by the family’s son Ryan, who had moved back home after his parents were killed.

Elisa encounters Ryan after she leaves a party in the middle of the night, and they both are immediately taken with one another. However, trouble is soon brewing because Ryan has been keeping some dark secrets. As the two continue to grow close, Elisa becomes ominously skeptical of her new mystery boy.

One night, she discovers the truth and Sarah and Crew end up fighting to survive the evening. At its core, "House at the End of the Street" is a thriller about the dirty truth of what can happen when an enigmatic guy has something to hide…

Ironically…the truth about this film is that all the pain and bloodshed could have been avoided if the characters had embraced and shared their own truths.

Trailers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xd2ceHDd-g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnpiVsAudNs&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTh-XNVKkgI&feature=related