Cougar Call
Volume 2 Issue 8
A New Beginning for Our Paper
BY: Editor: Haley Tyler
Student/Teacher Spotlight
The Cougar Call staff is happy to congratulate Morgan Leach for earning the 2015-2016 STAR student award. She has chosen to credit some of her success to Mrs. Leslie White, stating that, “She has inspired me the most in high school, and is the reason I have chosen to pursue English as my major in college.” When asked what her future plans are, Morgan responded with, “I plan to attend the University of Georgia and double major in English and Criminal Justice, then eventually go on to law school.” Presented with this accolade, Morgan said, “I’m honestly surprised to be STAR student because I’ve never been a great test taker, but I’m thankful for the honor and thank God for allowing it to happen.”
Mrs. Leslie White was picked by Morgan Leach to be Piedmont’s 2015-2016 STAR teacher. She came to Piedmont in 2013 and filled an opening for ninth through twelfth grade English. A few years after retiring from an almost forty year career of teaching public school, she joined the Piedmont family. When asked about her experiences here so far, she stated, “I know now that I was supposed to walk through the door He (God) had opened- I'm so very glad I did.”
When she’s not teaching students, she enjoys reading, sewing, and cooking for friends and family. She also enjoys watching soccer, but in high school she played basketball.
She graduated from Fort Valley High School in 1970 and went off to Georgia Southwestern College to earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English Education. Her career started as one involving math, but after meeting Rev. G. Lewis Wright at Macon Jr. College, she realized a vocation involving literature might suit her better.
Do You Like Valentine's Day?
Valentine's Day Jokes
Q: What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day?
A: Hogs and kisses!
Q: What's the best part about Valentines Day?
A: The day after when all the chocolate goes on sale.
Q: What is the difference between a calendar and you?
A: A calendar has a date on Valentine's day.
Q: Why did the pig give his girlfriend a box of candy?
A: It was Valenswine's Day!
Q: Do skunks celebrate Valentine's Day?
A: Sure, they're very scent-imental!
Q: What is another way of saying Happy Valentines day!
A. S.A.D, Singles Awareness Day!
Q: What did the man with the broken leg say to his nurse?
A: "I've got a crutch on you!"
Q: What do you call two birds in love?
A: Tweethearts!
Q: What did the paper clip say to the magnet?
A:"I find you very attractive."
Knock, Knock!
Who's there?
Olive.
Olive who?
Olive you!
Q: What did the elephant say to his girlfriend?
A: "I love you a ton!"
Q: What did the bat say to his girlfriend?
A: "You're fun to hang around with."
Q: What is the true purpose of Valentine's Day?
A: To remind single people they are single.
Q: You wanna hear a joke?
A: Valentine's Day
BY: Haley Tyler
Is Valentine's Day a Hallmark Holiday?
Is Valentine’s Day a Hallmark holiday? First, the question of, "What is a Hallmark holiday?" must be answered. A Hallmark holiday is considered to be a holiday that is perceived to exist primarily for commercial purposes, rather than to commemorate a traditionally, or historically, significant event. There are many holidays that are considered to be Hallmark holidays. These include Grandparent’s Day, Sweetest Day, Boss’s Day, Secretary’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and sometimes Valentine’s Day. The Hallmark corporation states that they “can’t take credit for creating holidays,” but, back to Valentine’s Day.
When people are asked their opinion on this, some believe Valentine's Day is created by Hallmark, while just as many do not believe so. In most cases, today's younger generation overwhelmingly believe Valentine's is a Hallmark holiday. They think that today, corporations care more about this day than people because the "holiday" means money will be made. Today’s older generation believes Valentine’s Day is all about love and has little to do with being a Hallmark holiday. Valentine’s Day is also usually more meaningful for girls. When asked, one person even said it is just an excuse for girls to get showered with gifts from guys. All in all many businesses profit heavily from this day.
How is Valentine's Day Celebrated Around the World?
Valentine’s Day is an interesting holiday recognized worldwide. We know how it is celebrated in the United States; however, other countries have different traditions. Valentine’s Day in Japan is all about the guys. The women are supposed to pamper the men with chocolates and flowers in hopes that they will return the gesture later. In Scandinavia, men send anonymous love poems to women. The male’s name is signed using one dot for each letter; the woman must guess who her secret admirer is in order to receive an egg from the admirer on Easter. If her guess is incorrect, then she must give the admirer an egg. Valentine’s Day in France used to be hard core. The women would call out to find a match on February 14. If she was rejected, the picture of the unresponsive man was burned. This practice was soon banned by the French government; hmm, I wonder why. In Brazil, people put the names of their crushes into a hat. The name that is drawn is supposedly the one you will marry. Finally, the strangest tradition that I found is from Slovenia. The Slovenians walk barefoot through a field (even if it’s frozen) in order to watch birds on Valentine’s Day. Sounds like a romantic Valentine’s Day!
BY: Mikayla RigsbyBasketball Stays in Play
In the last weeks the girls’ basketball team has played several games. Monday (2/1) they lost 19-40, Tuesday (2/2) they lost 35-39, and Saturday (2/6) they lost by 8. Even though the girls have not won a game, the team and coaches are still confident that the team will improve. Coach Wilson says “The girls need to improve on dribbling, shooting and passing, but they play good defense.” The team and coaches also really want to see more parents and student attend the games for support.
Recently, Coach Tanner has offered to help with coaching the boys’ basketball team and when he was asked how he feels about suddenly acquiring a basketball team he said “I’m going to do anything that I can do to help.” To also increase the team’s chances of success he said “I want the boys’ practices to go well and for them to have focus.”
The boys also in the last week had three games. Monday they played Monsignor Donovan and lost 60-45; Tuesday they played Windsor and lost 89-66; and Saturday they played Covenant and lost 72-51. From a basketball player's perspective on how the team is improving and what the team needs to work on Sam Younker says “We are improving on our team work, but we need to work on our shooting.” Talon Anglin says, “We are improving mentally and getting through obstacles together,’ WE CAN DO THIS’!”
Wrestling Cougars
The Piedmont wrestling team went to Region this past weekend along with Westfield, Windsor, Gatewood, and JMA, and all of the wrestlers did very well. Corbin Burrell placed 2nd in the 126 weight class. Ian Boyd placed 3rd in the 132 weight class and Tanner Coppock placed 3rd in the 170 weight class. Parker Clark placed 4th in the 182 weight class. Also, Logan Connor, who is in the 195 weight class placed 1st along with Nolan Cleary who is in the 285 weight class, also placed 1st. The team will now move onto the state tournament at Georgia Southwestern on February 5th and 6th.
The Clay Crushing Cougars Ended With a 'Bang'
The Shotgun team’s season officially ended last Thursday with the team banquet held at Macedonia Baptist Church. After an amazing dinner provided by parents and Chick N Run, the program started by acknowledging the coaches and parents’ support. Then, the first year shooters received their certificates and shotgun letters. The second year shooters received their Jackets and certificates, and the 3rd year shooters received their crossbars and certificates. Next up, special awards were given out. Zach Sanders won High Shooter Overall in Sporting Clays and Trap. Mitch Marsh won High Shooter Overall in Skeet. After the Overall awards, the achievement awards were given out. Katherine Cunningham received the Most Improved Award, Joseph Anderson received the Coach’s Award, Anne Marie Hildebrant received the Achievement Award, Kevin Davis received the Scholar Athlete Award, and Mitch Marsh received the Teammate of the Year Award. The last of the awards given out were the Highest Overall Awards. Hunter Whiting placed 5th for the team breaking 608 out of 750 targets, Eli Waits placed 4th breaking 610 targets, Joseph Anderson placed 3rd breaking 641, and Zach Sanders placed 2nd breaking 661. Mitch Marsh received the Highest Overall trophy breaking 667 out of 750. After the awards were given out, this year’s seniors (Noah Quick, Hunter Whiting, and Chris Coogler) took to the podium and gave their farewell speeches, and then proceeded to give the coaches their gifts. The evening was ended after a short video by Morgan Spivey made from pictures from this year’s competitions. Thank you to all coaches and parents for the support you gave to the shooters this year. Congratulations to all shooters on a great year!!!
BY: Joseph Anderson
The Father Daughter Dance
The PTO is hosting the Father- Daughter Dance on Friday, February 19, 2016. The dance will be from 6:30-9:00 and there will be snacks provided. The cost is $10 per father/daughter or $15 for more than one daughter. Please RSVP by Thursday, February 11. 5th grader, Anna Grace Hinson says “I am very excited to hang out with my dad and all of my friends!”
Life of a Senior
Monday:
Getting accepted to college is one of the most terrifying tasks a senior will do. Applying is a hassle, but waiting for a response is the most grueling part of the process. For months, paranoia sinks in. “What if I don’t get into any colleges?” “What if I do get into a college?” “Which one will I choose?” It’s a never-ending list of unanswered questions that haunt Seniors most of the school year.
Luckily, there is an end. When that letter arrives, whether it says yes or no, the wait is over. Hopefully, the letter will bring good news. The next step is making a decision!
Tuesday:
It's about time to start preparing for Bacalarette.. Yay. This year, it's been debated to “shake it up a little” and instead of combining Jasper County schools, we will go out on our own, and HOPE to survive. So what is this? Is it graduation before graduation? I mean we do wear our caps and gowns and get recognized? Now all We need is our diplomas and We are FINALLY out of here! YAY!!
Wednesday:
Prom…. It’s our last year of prom and there is so much to prepare for.. What type of dress will I wear? What color will it be? Who will I go with? Will I be asked or will I have to ask? What kind of flowers do I want? UGH! There are so many things to think of before the day gets here. It’s all beginning to stress me out with a little over two months to get my life together!! Maybe, this year will be better than the last. As seniors, we do not have to do anything but show up and have fun. The best part of prom has GOT to be the cute pictures with all of your friends, and of course that AWESOME date of yours that has decided to put up with you for the night! Maybe this year, we will dance the night away because we are seniors and we can!
Thursday:
One of the hardest parts about being a Senior is the constant questions you hear. People ask where you want to go to college, what you want to major in, or what you generally want to do after high school. Well, the answer is all the same. I have no idea. As a Senior, I can tell you it is perfectly normal to be clueless on anything involving the future. I’m pretty sure most of us are. I figured I can just “wing it.”
Friday:
Whoo hoo!! It finally snowed! Of course, it was over the weekend and school wasn't canceled, and it was only enough to have about four snowballs, but other than that, it finally came. This IS winter right? Because the day after snow, the sun was out, and it was 54 degrees…. AND I couldn't build a snowman… So, it's now “swinter”, a mix of summer and winter! Maybe eventually Georgia will stop being bipolar and decide to get its life together, and take each season one step at a time!Super Champs Class
Starting February 10th, our Piedmont Academy Seniors will embark on a revolutionary new class altered from the original CHAMPS program. This class will provide information that will allow seniors to prepare themselves for the trials of college life, and the consequences some actions may hold. Jasper County Sheriff Donnie Pope and Investigator Amante Sands are teaching the course.
Sheriff Pope started out as a jailer in 1996, and graduated from Middle Georgia Police Academy in 1997. He went through training and, in 1998, became the primary firearms instructor. In 1999, he became the department’s training coordinator. He switched things up as Chief of the Jasper County Board of Education Campus Police Department in 2000. Sheriff Pope the became the Patrol Division Commander in 2001. He was later the department’s D.A.R.E instructor, a Team Commander, and a member of Piedmont’s very own Board of Trustees.
Sheriff Pope graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia College and State University. Over the years, he acquired the “The Most Outstanding Team Member,” the “Most Outstanding Academic Major,” and the “Top Gun” awards. He now has two children at Piedmont.
Investigator Amante Sands went straight to the United States Navy after graduating from Jasper County High School. He served for three years as an aircraft firefighter and a crash and salvage supervisor. After being honorably discharged, he went to Central Georgia Technical College and completed the master barbering program. He continued on and opened his own barber shop for three years. Investigator Sands studied automobile paint and body during that time and soon received his diploma.
By 2006, he went to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Over the next two years, he was a Detention Officer, a jailer, and a mandated peace officer. He soon became a member of the Sheriff’s Tactical Squad. In 2013, he was switched to an Investigator, Evidence Custodian, Terminal Agency Coordinator, and C.H.A.M.P.S. Instructor.
His hobbies include coaching baseball and football, fishing, spending time with family and friends, and working on cars.
In the course, they hope to cover choices and consequences, alcohol and tobacco use, drug abuse of both street and prescription drugs, driving and general dangers, and witnesses of taking the wrong path. Coordinators hope to show our Seniors what the “real world” holds, and to prepare them for the decisions they might have to make.
Prom Is Right Around the Corner
BY: Lauren Bernard
Prom-Posals
Lucy Tuggle was asked by Clayton Carter
Madison Burnham was asked by Preston Tyler
Ryn Smith was asked by Kade Mitcham
Kailyn Evans was asked by Hunter Whiting
Hunter sure did have it in the bag when he asked Kailyn to prom.
Caleb Faircloth asked Madison McCart
Caleb "SCORED" when Madison said "yes"!
Paws at a Glance
2/9:
· JV girls basketball VS. Brentwood- home- @3:45
· Middle school boys basketball VS. Brentwood- home- @3:45
· Varsity basketball VS. Brentwood- home- @6:00
2/10
· K3 Field trip to see “Skippy Jon Jones”
2/11
· Middle school spelling bee
· 4th and 5th grade to GA Aquarium
2/12
· Varsity basketball VS. Windsor- away- @6:00
· WINTER BREAK
2/15
· WINTER BREAK
2/15-19
· Basketball Region tournament
2/19
· PTO Father Daughter Dance
2/23-24
· 1st round of basketball state play-offs
2/26-27
· Basketball quarter finals
2/29
· Varsity baseball VS. BCA- home- @4
· Girls varsity VS. Creekside- home- @4:30
BY: Haley Tyler