After prom karaoke video clip

Aerospace Days!

J.W. and Kevin with Emerald Robinson, host of "On Science."

On Saturday, April 26, 2014 and Sunday, April 27, 2014, the first Aerospace Days in Wise, Virginia was held at the Lonesome Pine Regional Airport. The event featured numerous rocket launches (of various sizes) and flights of remote controlled aircrafts. The event also recognized John I. Burton students J.W. and Kevin V. for their participation in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program Mission 3.

Senior Summary : Brittany R.

Should students grade their teachers?

Students grading their teacher on how well he or she teaches has been a highly discussed topic nationwide. Many students complain about how poorly some teachers teach. If it is just one student or a handful of students complaining, it is most likely that the teacher is doing a great job but the student/students just dislike working. If a whole class complains, then the teacher might be struggling to effectively teach his or her students.

Senior Summary : Olivia L.

Burton varsity baseball victorious over Twin Springs

Yesterday, on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, Burton's baseball team was triumphant over the Twin Springs baseball team. The final score of the game was 5-1, ending in an easy victory for the Raiders. Burton's players did not play to the best of their abilities, but they did not need to as the Titans just did not have the necessary skill to beat the Raiders.

Generation selfie

What do you think of when you hear the word selfie? The "#selfie" song? A girl in a bathroom mirror? What about that guy who is holding up the green light because he was too busy snapping a picture? If you are breathing on Earth in this modern age, you know what selfie is and you know that you have taken at least a couple thousand in your lifetime. As for myself? Guilty as charged.

The selfie has become so ingrained in our generation that they have named us after it. Generation selfie is what we will be known as in history books and in the mocking voices of the next generation, but who is complaining? Not me, and I'll tell you why....

"But first, let me take a selfie."

Photo credit: SocialNewsDaily

Senior Summary: Amber R.

Prom 2014 schedule

A Fairytale Evening

Prom 2014 Schedule

April 26th, 2014

Historic Hotel Norton

6:00 PM - Valet parking begins

7:00 PM - Grand march lineup

7:30 PM - Grand march

8:00 PM - Prom begins

Approximately 11:00 PM - Prom King and Queen crowning

Approximately 11:30 PM- Prom ends

12:00 AM - After prom party at Norton Cinema

(No students will be admitted after 1:00AM)

5:00 AM - After prom party ends

The movie schedule for after prom is as follows:

12:30 - The Other Woman 

12:35 - The Quiet Ones

12:40 - Brick mansions

3:00 - Captain America

3:05 - Transcendence

3:10 - The Other Woman

Popcorn and drinks included with lots of other food provided by parents.

Other activities include:

Corn hole, ping-pong, karaoke, jump houses (inflatables), and many more.

Attention junior prom committee

Juniors will need to meet after school on Thursday at the Old Hotel Norton to help decorate for prom. Students who play sports may participate in this event after practice ends.  Any juniors who sufficiently participate in this activity will be allowed to decorate during class time this Friday.  Hope to see you there!

Weekly Announcements

Seniors

• Cap and gown pictures will be Tuesday, April 22. Order forms need to be picked up in the office.
• Cancer outreach scholarship due April 30th.
• Ricky Harris scholarship due May 2nd. 

Sophomores

• Sell you flower bulbs this week! Check your email and post your link to Facebook & send it to family and friends! This is the last week to sell. Good Luck!

General 

• Spring sports pictures will also be taken Tuesday, April 22.
• The following students have library books that need to be returned to the library before they can get their report cards for the 5th six weeks:  Chase A., Haley B., Caymen C., Patience E., Megan H., Jacob K., Laquiel M. 
• The sign up sheet for prom pictures is in the office. If you wish to purchase portraits you need to bring the order form with payment the day of prom. 
• All juniors and seniors that plan to attend prom must sign up in the office. See Mrs. Becky for the sign up sheet.
• Track practice after school Monday, April 21st. We will be practicing all events. 
• Sports physicals will be held May 2nd. Pick up forms in office and return to Nurse Shannon by April 30th.

Teacher report: All about Mr. Lobiondo

Mr. Lobiondo's full name is David Brian Lobiondo. He is currently at the young age of 45. Mr. Lobiondo is happily married and currently has one daughter. Mr. Lobiondo was born in Norton, raised in Norton, and still lives in Norton.

Catch some zzzzzzZZZzzz's.

Recently I have seen loads of people on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posting about how tired they are and how they have had little or no sleep. I hear similar comments daily when I walk down the hallway. Everyone just seems so drained, and we just came back from spring break. Everyone should be rested up and ready to finish out the school year.  

Everyone needs sleep to function, but is extremely important for teens to get sufficient sleep. Sleep helps us relax and function properly. We need sleep to function in school and to help deal with the stress of being a teenager.  Not sleeping can be harmful, or even deadly. Imagine driving to school after having maybe an hour or so of sleep and it seems almost impossible to stay awake.  You close your eyes for just a moment and you wreck.

Burton varsity baseball wrecked by Central

In the game on April 14, 2014, Burton was crushed by the Central Warriors baseball team. The end score of the game was 11-4. Both teams had players hit a home run during the course of the game; Central's was hit by Logan J., and Burton's was hit by Matthew B.

Important senior events

Senior Calendar

April 22nd - Cap and gown pictures.

April 26th - Prom.

May 15th - Last day of classes for seniors.

May 16th - Graduation practice/senior picnic.

May 23rd - Graduation at 7:00 PM at the John I. Burton gymnasium. 

Weekly Announcements

JUNIORS

• All juniors will meet Wednesday at 1:40 in the Auditorium to cast nominations for Prom Prince and Princess.

SENIORS

• Greever Crouse Scholarship due April 18th.

• Lacy Mattie Meador Scholarship due April 18th.

• All seniors will meet Wednesday at 1:40 in the Auditorium to nominate for Prom King and Queen.

PROM

• Any junior or senior who did not get their prom invitation needs to see Mrs. Carter.

Barter's "Man of La Mancha" is a complete delight

On April 1, 2014 more than thirty of Señora Beauchamp's Spanish two and three classes were given the opportunity to travel to Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia to see the Tony award wining play "Man of La Mancha." The musical, first preformed in 1965, is based off the book "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha" (Original Spanish title "El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha") written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Cervantes' book is considered a literary masterpiece that is studied in Spanish classes by students on both a high school and collegiate level. Señora Beauchamp begins teaching her students about Don Quixote in Spanish two and reads the story with her class in Spanish three. This field trip was a wonderful opportunity for her Spanish students to see the story brought to life by a lively and extremely talented cast. 

The musical "Man of La Mancha" stars a character that is depicted as the books author, Cervantes, himself. Cervantes in the musical is an actor-playwright-tax collector that is thrown into a debtors prison* during the Spanish inquisition* for foreclosing on a monetary. With nothing but a costume chest and his manservant, Cervantes is thrown into a dungeon filled with a rough bunch of individuals who are jaded by the Inquisitions treatment. His cellmates hold a mock-trail for all of his possessions that he is sure to lose, but Cervantes is able to deffer their verdict by acting out his latest work "Don Quixote". "Don Quixote" (both the book and play within "Man of La Mancha") is the story of a man driven mad by reading too many books about knights and ladies fair. The main character of the fable is the gallant Don Quixote, who believes he is a knight. This of course, causes lots of problems for the poor old man. Aided by his sidekick Sancho Panza, the two fight windmills and muleteers in order for Don Quixote to win the heart of Dulcinea, who is actually a local prostitute by the name of Aldonza. 

Barter Theatre's version of "Man of La Macha" is a complete delight. On April 1, 2014 I got to experience the musical for the first time and returned completely impressed. The musical features high energy dance numbers and moving ballads that are sure to tug on your heartstrings. Personally, my favorite part was a dance number entitled "Moorish Dance" where Don Quixote runs into a band of gypsies who steal everything Quixote and Sancho own. I enjoyed the upbeat tempo and the bright costumes that were featured in that particular number as well as "Dulcinea" a powerfull ballad where Don Quixote expresses his adoration for his lady fair. Ultimately, Barter theater's 'Man of La Mancha' features love, action, and comedy in a uniquely enjoyable way that is close to home. 

You can purchase tickets for 'Man of La Mancha' or any other of this season's shows on the Barter Theatre website.

Notes: *Debtors prison -  a prison for people who are unable to pay debt to an individual or tax to the government. 
*Spanish inquisition - an inquisition initiated in 1478 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that guarded the orthodoxy of Catholicism in Spain. (More info here)
(definitions from The Free Dictionary)

Senior Summary Report: Kierstien Stanley

Burton's baseball teams triumphed over Thomas Walker

Yesterday, Tuesday April 1, 2014, the Burton varsity and junior varsity teams traveled to Thomas Walker and returned home victorious. Varsity absolutely crushed Thomas Walker with a final score of 17-2. The eighth grade students also played a hard-fought game that in end, gave them a 2-1 win over Thomas Walker.

Students place in Forensics state competition

On Saturday, March 29, 2014,  students from Burton's Forensics team competed in the state competition. The team traveled to Harrisonburg, VA  on a private jet flown by Jerry Wharton, a student's parent. They left on Friday, March 28 and returned on Sunday, March 30. The competition took place at Harrisonburg High School, starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 6:30 p.m.

Olivia D. and Conner W. placed first in Humorous Duo with their piece "Graceland" by Ellen Byron. Jakub B. and Torie A. placed second in Serious Duo with their piece "The voice of the Prairie" by John Olive. Amber R. also competed and finished fifth  in the sate with her piece "Many Moons" by James Thurber. 

Congratulations to Coach Tracy Sharpe and to the whole forensics team for an incredible season and congratulations to Olivia and Conner for becoming state champs!

Pictured from left to right: Jakub, Torie, Conner, and Olivia.

Photo credit: Melissa Wharton

Above is a list of schools we beat.