Cougar Call
Volume 3, Issue 6
National Honors Society
National Honors Society is an important and prestigious organization at Piedmont Academy. This organization is based on the following four categories: character, leadership, service, and academics. The adults in charge of NHS at Piedmont Academy are Mr. Trevor Hart and Mrs. Angie Marks. Mr. Hart is the holder of the National Honors Society’s special book. This special book contains every NHS member’s signature that has ever been a part of NHS in Piedmont Academy.
National Honors Society is an organization many students strive to be involved in. To be a part of NHS, there are a few qualifications a student must meet. First, a student must have a 95 or a 3.5 grading average. Secondly, students must undertake an interview process. This interview process is judged by a panel of teachers that work at Piedmont Academy. Lastly, students must have good qualities such as character. New students are initiated into National Honors Society every year with a ceremony. The students initiated into NHS for the 2016-2017 school year are as follows: Georgia Allen (12), Brett Bush (11), Clayton Carter (10), Lawton Harris (10), Madelyn Johnston (10), Rainey Loftin (10), Madison McCart (10), Hannah Nelson (11), Grace Roberts (12), and Madison Sanders (10). Congratulations to these students!
By: Kelsey Leach
Upcoming Movies
Kong: Skull Island (March 10, 2017)
Explorers (Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman) encounter a gigantic ape and other monstrous creatures after traveling to an uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean.
Beauty and the Beast (March 17, 2017)
Belle (Emma Watson), a bright, beautiful and independent young woman, is taken prisoner by a beast (Dan Stevens) in its castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the beast's hideous exterior, allowing her to recognize the kind heart and soul of the true prince that hides on the inside.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (May 26, 2017)
Thrust into an all-new adventure, a down-on-his-luck Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Capt. Salazar, escape from the Devil's Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea including him. Capt. Jack's only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas.
Fifty Shades Darker (February 10, 2017)
When a wounded Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) tries to entice a cautious Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) back into his life, she demands a new arrangement before she will give him another chance. As the two begin to build trust and find stability, shadowy figures from Christian's past start to circle them, determined to destroy their hopes for a future together.
Despicable Me 3 (June 30, 2017)
Gru (Steve Carell) and his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) must stop former '80s child star Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker) from achieving world domination.
Smurfs: The Lost Village (April 7, 2017)
With the evil wizard Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) hot on their trail, Smurfette (Demi Lovato), Brainy (Danny Pudi), Clumsy (Jack McBrayer) and Hefty (Joe Manganiello) embark on a journey through the Forbidden Forest to find a mysterious village.
Fist Fight (February 17, 2017)
On the last day of the year, mild-mannered high school English teacher Andy Campbell (Charlie Day) is trying his best to keep it together amidst senior pranks, a dysfunctional administration, and budget cuts that put jobs on the line. But things go from bad to worse when he accidentally crosses his much tougher and deeply feared colleague, Ron Strickland (Ice Cube), who challenges Campbell to an old-fashioned throwdown after school.
The Fate of the Furious (April 12, 2017 )
Now that Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) are on their honeymoon, Brian and Mia have retired from the game, and the rest of the crew has been exonerated, the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman seduces Dom back into a world of crime that he can't seem to escape, the crew will face trials that will test them as never before.By: Joseph Anderson
Basketball
On January 21, Piedmont Academy faced Briarwood in a four game series with both middle and high school teams competing. In the first game, the middle school girls defeated Briarwood’s girls 29-22. In the second game, the middle school boys defeated the Briarwood boys by a score of 52-39. Unfortunately, both of our high school teams got defeated by Briarwood. Piedmont Varsity girls lost 33-46 and varsity boys lost 54-67.
By: Kensie Johnston
Devotional
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Love is a word that people use quite a lot. It is used in relationships, with friends, and sometimes even with materialistic things. What exactly is love? 1 Corinthians 13 tells us all about what love actually is. 1 John 4:8 also tells us that God is love. God is patient, kind, keeps no record of wrongs, etc. He portrays all of the characteristics of love.
Not only is God love, He loves us! His love is unfailing, and His love is everlasting. One thing that really demonstrates God’s love for us is that He knows everything about us. Even really "good" people have many flaws. God knows about all of our thoughts, our tears, our sins, and our shames. Most of all, He loves us despite the not so good things about us. His love is wonderful, and anyone who experiences God’s love is extremely blessed.
By; Kelsey Leach
Electives
Many people think Piedmont may be lacking in diverse elective classes. Piedmont’s current high school elective classes include art, journalism, publications, and weight lifting. We currently have no middle school electives. Elective classes are important for students because it gives them a choice of what skills they want to learn. After we asked some middle schoolers, high schoolers, and staff members what elective classes they think we should have at Piedmont, this is what they chose:
By: Mallory Boyd and Savannah Stanton
Christmas Celebrations
On December 13, 2016 April Allen directed a Christmas musical called Celebrations of our Savior’s Birth Christmas Shorts created by Jimmy Travis and Gail Getzen. The musical was very joyful and really put the crowd in the Christmas spirt. Students in grades PK3 through fifth grade gave an amazing performance. In the beginning, K3, K4 and K5 sang “Jingle Bells”, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, and “A Wonderful Counselor”. Next there was a performance by the school’s 5th grade band directed by Ralph Hickman. Everyone played different instruments such as the trumpet, flute, and trombone. After that, first grade through fifth grade performed a two-act musical: A Christmas Parade and From Our Herd to Your Herd, Merry Christmas! Cast members in the play included: Maggie Johnson, Natalie Sanders, Boone Pope, Ellie McCart, Brody Bush, Olivia McAllister, London Cobb, Abby Moore, and Isaac Lockett. The final skit was From Our Herd to Your Herd, Merry Christmas! Songs included: “Good News, Wonderful News” and “A Shepherd’s Heart”. The play was amazing, and we can’t wait to watch the next play!
By: Savannah Mote
Spring Sports
Spring sports are coming up soon at Piedmont Academy. Our spring sports include soccer, tennis, baseball, golf, and track. Before long, the first spring sports games are going to be here. The first tennis match is going to be on March 6th at Briarwood. For soccer, the first middle school game is going to be on March 6th at Cousins Middle School, and the first varsity game is going to be on March 2nd at home against Young Americans. For baseball, the first middle school game is going to be on February 28th against Briarwood, and the first varsity game is going to be on March 2nd at Bethlehem. The track and golf schedule is currently unknown. Here’s hope to a successful season!
By: Mallory Boyd
Jokes and Riddles
What belongs to you, but others use it more than you do? -your name
What has a head, is brown, and has a tail, but does not have legs? -a penny
It can be cracked, it can be made, it can be told, and it can be played. What is it? -a joke
What is a seven letter word containing thousands of letters? - a mailbox
The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? -footsteps
I don't have eyes, but I did once see. I once had thoughts, but now I'm white and empty. What am I? -a skull
If a green man lives in a greenhouse, and a purple man lives in a purple house, and a black man lives in a black house. Who lives in the white house? -the President
What is harder to catch, the faster you run? - your breath
- A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between 3 rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full with assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full with hungry tigers that hadn't eaten in 3 years. Which room is the safest choice? -The third room. The tigers hadn't eaten in 3 years; they would be dead.
By Kensie Johnston
FFA Proficiencies
The Piedmont Academy FFA Chapter is currently working on their proficiency applications. Proficiencies are awards that recognize students that are proficient in a project area. Members compete on a school, area, region, state, and national level where they can win both the award and other prizes such as trips. Lillie King, an FFA member said, “I did equine science placement. I took care of horses by feeding, watering, and riding horses. I helped maintain my barn and learned new skills through the process.”
After the long and strenuous application process, chapter members will move on to the region competition. After winning region, students practice interviews for the competition at State Convention. If a member wins at state, they will compete for the last time at National Convention in October in Indianapolis. Anne Marie Hildebrant said, “By completing a proficiency, I have learned many skills that will help me in a future work environment such as interview skills, essay writing, and resume building.”
By: Ivy English
PIEDMONT SNOW DAY!
Elementary students had quite a surprise the last day of school before Christmas break. After hearing an announcement from Santa Claus over the intercom, they were all astonished when they were told he had delivered a special gift for them on the football field. Much to their dismay, Santa’s helpers covered the “hill” and a portion of the field with real snow!
By: Judy Nelson
Paws at a Glance
February 1:Middle School basketball Tournament at John Milledge
February 2: Chapel
Elementary Paint Party 3:00
February 3: Varsity Basketball @ Brentwood
February 4: Region Reading Bowl
February 7: Varsity Basketball vs Windsor 6:00
February 8: Fine Arts Dress Down Day
February 10: Varsity Basketball @ Briarwood 6:00
February 11: Mathcounts Competition @ Mercer
February 16: Chapel
February 20: School Holiday
February 28: Middle School Basketball vs Briarwood 4:00