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The iSchool High robotics team earned a perfect score of 100 in the Texas Computer Education Association's Regional Engineering Competition and are the first place champions for the second straight year in the DFW area for Region 11. Also two other teams from iSchool High placed third and fourth in the competition. The team that placed third included junior Jonathan Bont and the team that placed fourth included sophmores Samuel (Catfish) Alexander, Kyle Devaney, and Bailey Lawelling.

The robotics team which includes senior Timothy Foster, junior Tyler Hostetter, and junior Sam McClure call themselves the Sylversmiths. "It was interesting, we won" says iSchool High senior Timothy foster while discussing the victory. "We eventually chose a tree planter because that is easier to do with only three motors," said Foster.

The contraption, which plants tree seeds, works by using sensors that act as human senses. There are three motors that allow the robot to make different turns. One of the motors is called a shooter which shoots seeds into the ground so that the robot can plant the seed. The reason that the team created this type of robot is to fight deforestation. Using robots instead of workers is not only cheaper, but it also protects workers against environmental dangers such as poisonous animals. They chose the name Sylversmith 001 for the robot.

The team is now preparing for the state competition that will be held on April 14 in Irving. When asked about preparation for the competition Foster said, "Well, we have plenty of time. We have already started a complete redesign."

Mr. Price, the engineering teacher, said "the team did an outstanding job at following the engineering design process and were required to design a product and also create a marketing plan to consumers. They definitely have a great chance of winning first place in the state competition and we are very proud of their accomplishments."

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New Girl
Rated: TV-14
Created by: Elizabeth Meriwether
Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Hannah Simone, Jake M. Johnson, and Lamorne Morris

New Girl tells the story of Jess, an odd but adorable young woman played by Zooey Deschanel, moves into a small apartment with three single men after the end of her long term relationship. Although Deschanel is playing her typecast character of “adorkable,” the show is surprisingly original in both story line and the majority of its characters.

The entire cast does a wonderful job working as a seamless unit, bringing together comedy and awkwardness, without a single shred of serious. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, this is the show for you.

“The dance was a joy and an overall success” commented freshman Madison Seday when asked about iSchool’s 2011 Fall Social. Attending iSchool students spent the evening of October 28 dancing and enjoying a night with their peers that didn’t involve homework. Thanks to the smooth tunes of student DJs, junior Brian Haegar and sophomore Noah Denie, the music and dancing continued for hours.

Student Council workers showed up as early as 5:30 in order to ensure the perfect set up and, thanks to their hard work, the evening was fun for all. By 7:30 the dance was packed and the party was in full swing. Throughout the night iSchool students showed off their dance versatility by participating in everything from the Cupid Shuffle, to the Bernie, and even the classic Shuffle. For students who didn’t want to be restrained by typical dances there was plenty of jumping around and other random movement to keep the festivities exciting for all.

While the dance floor was most certainly the star attraction of the evening, iSchool students also had other options for entertainment. A friendly little game known as the World Series was being broadcast in the lobby, and plenty of students spent a portion of their evening watching and cheering on the struggling home team; the Texas Rangers. These sport spectators were also joined by a steady stream of circulating teachers who were dividing their time between watching the dance floor and the game.

As the dance came to an end, iSchool students were hesitant to get off the dance floor and would have preferred to continue dancing further into the night. In fact, the supervising teachers were met with groans and light heckling when they were forced to turn on the lights as the night neared its end. All in all, everyone had fun, and the dance proved to be another shining example of how great the iSchool high community is.

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When time is money, you have a lot to lose. For the people in the new movie In Time their time on earth is the money they have to spend each day on food and transportation. For the rich—i.e. those with eons of time stored away—this is hardly of consequence; they can live forever, so what’s the matter? The real problem lies in the poorer districts, where many people are living off mere hours. Every day more and more people “time out” when their genetic clocks—glowing an eerie green from beneath the skin on their right arm—count down to zero, and end the life of the unlucky person. Will Salas (Justin Timberlake) is hard up for time; he and his mom are living day by day and barely getting by. Meanwhile, Sylvia Weiss (Amanda Seyfried), daughter of Phillip Weiss (Vincent Kartheiser) has decades on her watch and a multi-millionaire father. All of the action begins when Will, upon being accused of the murder of an extremely rich individual, takes Sylvia hostage and is chased through the city by the police-like “Time Keepers” and a gang of “Minute Men.” This film is both suspenseful and thought-provoking. In Time was fun to watch the chase scenes and the strange use of time as currency was intriguing, but the movie gets a little redundant towards the end. Overall, it was fun to watch, but nothing I would be able to sit through more than once.

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Moneyball, is the true story of general manager Billy Beane of the Oakland A’s, who successfully developed a winning baseball team on a tight budget. Beane did this by drafting players with a new computer-generated analysis method. This was definitely an inspirational movie, and encompassed not only suspense and motivation, but also humor. It was a great film for teens and adults alike, and was very enjoyable to watch.

Your iSchool High Yearbook is now for sale, starting at $50! Go order your yearbook from Ms. Carmichael before prices go up on November 18!

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"I can't just leave it there" thought Timothy Foster after seeing a baby bird laying on the ground outside iSchool's front doors. Monday morning, September 26th turned out to be one crazy start to the week. A seriously injured baby bird was found lying right outside the school doors. It was said to have possibly flown into the window. Luckily, senior Timothy Foster and junior Aliya Kuykendall came to the rescue.

Upon first seeing the bird, Foster went to report the situation to Ms. Marchant who acquired some gloves and a box. She gently picked up the baby bird to set it in the box. Sadly, when she touched it, the bird coughed up a little blood. That's when they really knew it wasn't well and would not survive without help. Their first instinct was to take it to Mrs. Greenwood for advice. However, it was still well before 8:00 and she had not arrived. So, they ended up seeking help in Mrs. Ortiz's room. By this time, word had already spread and students began to gather, all wanting to see "the bird". However, all the excitement terrified the poor bird. In a fright, it tried to fly around and ended up hurting itself more.

During this time, Kuykendall had been calling local vets to find someone that would take it. Unfortunately, no local vets have a policy of treating wild birds. One student’s mom told them to keep it in a warm dark spot. With that advice, they put some paper towels and the bird in a bigger box that had ventilation. With her permission, they placed the new box in Mrs. Ortiz's closet area.

The bird was periodically checked on throughout the day. Shortly after first period, Aliya reported that it was very skiddish and flapping around. Later, about ten minutes into third period, juniors Brittney Selman and Kyle Katzen went to give it something to eat. By that time, the bird had calmed down. They put some watermelon and a spoon in the box hoping it would eat a little bit. After third period Kuykendall, Foster, Selman, and Katzen went back to see the status of the baby bird. Sadly, it had died. Foster had the heartfelt idea to bury it. The bird now rests in peace in the bushes outside of Mrs. Ortiz's garage. They all agreed to stick the spoon in the ground where it was buried to resemble a cross, or as Mrs. Ortiz said, "half a cross".

All in all, the Monday of September 26th was a very eventful day comprised of the care and burial of a hurting baby bird. Though no one is completely positive of how it got there, the theory is that it had either flown into the window or fallen from the top of the building. This small creature’s story is a testament to the kindness of the iSchool student body.

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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Rated R
Directed by Tim Burton
Written by John Logan, Stephen Sondheim, Hugh Wheeler and Christopher Bond
Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, tells the story of the infamous Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp), who sets up a barbershop in London to form a partnership with the ominous Ms. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter). Based on the Broadway musical, Todd is sent to prison on false charges by a judge who lusts after Todd’s wife. After escaping from prison, Todd seeks revenge for all of the injustices in the “black pit.”

In the typical dark style of any Tim Burton movie, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman made a 1979 musical into a culturally relevant and interesting movie with their exceptional acting and personas. Intensely suspenseful, Sweeney Todd will without a doubt keep you on the edge of your seat. Although quite gory, the blood has a very cheap ketchup photo shop feel. If you’re under seventeen, don’t watch this movie without parental consent!

Disclaimer: The iSchool newspaper staff does not endorse any content in the above move, and reminds students that they must have a parent or guardian’s permission to watch any R rated movie if they are under 17.

Being full of high school students, iSchool services many teenagers that own cars. Students are required to register their cars and receive a parking sticker to put in their window. In the previous years of iSchool’s existence, registering cars was not a rule nor was it mandatory.

Many students have accepted this change without putting up a fight but some, however, think that this new rule is unfair simply because car registration did not have to be done in previous years. Senior Jordan Bigham says “I think it’s stupid. This is another way for the school to get money out of us.” Some students may not realize that even though registering their cars may seem unfair, the new rule was implemented for security purposes.

Registering cars can help school officials know which car belongs to which student. If a car is parked in a spot that is not meant for students, the new rule will help to identify the owner and car so that the car won’t need to be towed. Also, registering each student’s car can help prevent other problems. For example, school officials can find out who left their car lights on, or even prevent people from harming or damaging cars that do not belong to them.

The fee for registering your car is five dollars and you will receive a decal to put in the back driver’s side window. Students should know that they are prohibited from parking in the front of the building. Instead, students may park on either side of the building or in the back. Any student who chooses to park illegally anywhere on campus can be towed at any time during the day without warning. Students do not have permission to park anywhere that is reserved for faculty, iQ Academy, or visitors. Repeated violations of these rules can result in a student’s car being towed and the loss of driving privileges. The temporary use of a car that is not registered must be cleared through the Office of Student Services. Vehicle registration forms are available at the front desk.

Mrs. Smith, the iSchool High secretary, believes that the new car registration rules will positively influence the safety of each student as well as the safety of their cars. Car registration forms are available at the front desk for any student who still needs to register their car. iSchool students can now relax and settle in for a great school year knowing that their vehicles and parking lots are safer than ever.

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Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas
Directed by: Henry Selick
Produced/Co-Written by: Tim Burton
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page and Glenn Shadix

Tim Burton took on the job of producing this spooky film back in 1991. The original concept for the film originated from a poem Burton wrote several years prior, when he was working as a Disney animator. The tale is that of a skeletal being named Jack Skellington (voiced by Christ Sarandon and Danny Elfman) who has lived out his entire existence in a place called Halloween Town. Every year, this town throws a huge celebration in honor of the aforementioned holiday: Halloween. Jack, however, grew tired of the tedium of recreating a bigger, scarier show every year. The monotony disappears, however, when Jack finds a portal to another world—Christmas Town—where he is enthralled by the dainty snowflakes, busy elves, and bright, happy colors. The plot begins to unfold as he attempts to bring Christmas to Halloween Town and his plans go awry when Santa Claus disappears without a trace. The movie, despite being almost two decades old, is still aired on TV every year around Halloween and Christmas and has retained much of its popularity. The stop animation provided an almost real feel to the scenery, while still retaining the characters’ cartoon-y qualities. However, the movie itself was rather cliché, and instead of keeping me enthralled by the fantastical worlds they had created, had me gagging as millions of cockroaches and centipedes burst forth from Oogie-Boogie’s dying form or when the mayor’s head turned a three-sixty to reveal a face contorted in pain. Overall, I wasn’t a huge fan of A Nightmare Before Christmas, and—while it is a seemingly timeless tale as it has the habit of reappearing every fall—I did not enjoy watching it.

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Despite the fact that Apollo 18 was a much anticipated movie, it really wasn’t as great as most expected it to be. It is a story about a few aspiring astronauts sent on secret trip to the moon where they were haunted by a mysterious life form of some kind. It was scary at points in the movie, but those moments didn’t lead anywhere. Overall, there was not a substantial plot or purpose for the story; I would not recommend seeing this movie.

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Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase
Rated Pg
Directed by Jim Stenstrum
Written by Mark Turosez
Starring Scott Innes, Joe Alaskey, and Bob Bergen

A strange virus from a new game based on the Mystery Gang's past adventures comes to life and tries to scare away the game's creator, so Mystery, Inc. themselves come to help. The gang goes to the college where the game was created. While there, they and from their friend (and the creator of the game) Eric, that the virus has assumed a life-like form and is now rampant across the campus. The gang goes on the hunt for the mysterious computer virus. Unfortunately, they somehow get pulled into the game after a mysterious villain activates the game. Left with no other choice but to complete the game in order to escape it, the gang fights their way through ten levels of mystery and adventure, with the goal of finding a box of Scooby Snacks in order to complete each level.

Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase is an entertaining and adventurous film that is appropriate for all ages. Through the ups and downs of the movie, the gang experiences twists and turns around every corner that keeps you on your seat full of great anticipation. Whether you’re looking for adventure, a good laugh, or pure sensation, this movie contains it all.

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Returning iSchool students recognized a huge change on August 22nd when they walked through iSchool’s new entrance for the first day of school. The school’s layout has completely changed since the 2010-2011 school year. While many incoming students were trying to get adjusted to a new place, the old students were having to do the same.

Principal Elaine Marchant elaborated on the renovations and changes made to the school this summer, by telling the iSchool paper that much of the move is attributed to another sister school, Texas Virtual Academy (TXVA), joining us in the building. Authorization for the addition of a new school in the building came from the corporate office of Responsive Education Systems (RES), the company that owns and funds our iSchool campus. Mrs. Moseley, a former secretary here at iSchool, and a current worker for Texas Virtual Academy said that the school next door serves about 4,000 online students all over Texas. She added that TXVA recently severed its relationship with another company, and began a new partnership with RES over the summer. One of the reasons Texas Virtual Academy moved into this building is that it is close to the RES charter system, and felt it would be better for communication with RES.

Ms. Marchant also spoke about the changes that were made. There was a wall taken out of John Moore’s old office to create the new dual credit room. Mr. Price’s old room was split to create a common area, and offices were combined to make a German classroom. Marchant said that she wanted to do a lot more, but there were insufficient funds to complete all desired changes. Also, the entrance was changed from the far west side of the building to the bigger entrance at the front of the building. There was also an increase in space, so it is bigger than all previous years at iSchool.

But what did returning students have to say about this new change? Elise Hanson, a senior and a three year student at iSchool, said “It’s confusing; I got lost several times.”

Another student, sophomore Vanessa Moody commented: “I think the other entrance was better because it was right next to where the parents drive up and it’s a shorter walk. I like that it is bigger, but I wish we still had the other entrance.”

Returning sophomore, Travis Ragsdale agreed: “I think all-in-all it is better, but I do miss the front area, for sentimental reasons.”

iSchool faculty members have been pleasantly surprised to find that their worries about student’s encroaching on TXVA space were completely unfounded. In fact, Mrs. Moseley says that there have been no problems whatsoever with catching iSchool students on the TXVA side of the building. Moseley added, “The only time I really see them is when I have to go to the iSchool side.” She also shared a story about a time when she was going through to iSchool and a shih tzu named “Socks” belonging to the head of Texas Virtual Academy, Dr. Fuller, escaped through the door, and was seen running through the halls of iSchool. Mrs. Moseley says that, when Dr. Fuller comes, he frequently brings his two dogs, both shih tzus named Socks and Shiloh, to the school.

Between the addition of TXVA students and staff, as well as the entrance of a couple friendly pups, it is clear that iSchool has gained many great things to replace the one hallway that our school lost.
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