New additions: hearing impaired interpreters

Here at John I Burton, we have had the pleasure of welcoming two new and very important people to our faculty. Chad and Sydnei Cantrell are our new deaf interpreters. The need for them arose last year when Autumn, a hearing impaired student, joined John I. Burton. 

Chad and Sydnei are siblings whose parents are both deaf; therefore, they learned to sign at very early stages in their lives. They are originally  from Florida, but moved to Wise because of an illness in the family. Before deciding to become  an interpreter, Sydnei was a full time nanny to six month old twins and a two year old child. Chad was a wrestling coach.

Sydnei and Chad started working in the Norton City Public School system this year and are enjoying the year so far. Since they already had the skills to be interpreters, they went to Richmond and got certified to work with students who have hearing disabilities. John I. Burton has one deaf impaired student and Norton Elementary and Middle School has a student with the same disability, so our school system had a high demand for these two important people. 

While Chad and Sydnei work at the high school and elementary school, they are also attending college. Syndei is studying deaf education while Chad is pursuing sports medicine. These two very important people have benefited our school system with their skills. Hopefully they will decide to further their career here at John I. Burton.

Book review: "The Old Willis Place"

I love spooky stories and ghost stories, especially as Halloween creeps closer. Last month, I discovered an excellent book filled with chilling suspense, which kept me entertained to the end.   This book was titled "The Old Willis Place," written by Mary Downing Hahn, and published in 2007. The story takes place years after the main characters' deaths. The two main characters in this book are Diana and Georgie, both young siblings who pulled pranks on their landowner before their deaths. After their unfortunate passing, their ghosts are left roaming around the old Willis farm. Their main goal for the remainder of the book is to find ways to keep themselves hidden from Mrs. Willis and other residents. They can not let Mrs. Willis see them because they fear her.

At the beginning, a girl, her father, and their dog move into a small trailer on the farm. The new girl, Lissa, gets the attention of the ghost, Diana, because Diana is in need of a friend. Diana struggles to keep herself hidden from Lissa. While spying on the young girl and her father, Diana realizes that Lissa is the same age as she was before she died. Diana wants to become friends with Lissa, but she knows this should not happen since she is a ghost. Lissa's first encounter with Diana is scary, but Diana proves to her that she is almost completely normal. The two become friends, but Lissa never realizes that Diana is a ghost.

Lissa is warned by her father to stay away from the farmhouse.  Near the end, Lissa's curiosity leads her to feel like she must find out what is going on behind the walls of the old house.  She takes her father's key to the farmhouse, unlocks the door, and begins her exploration.

This novel is well detailed, and will keep you on your toes wanting to know whats going to happen next. I encourage everyone to read this wonderful and suspenseful book. Find out whats behind the walls of the old Willis place. Will Lissa ever find out the truth about Diana and Georgie? What will happen next?

Cell booklets

Recently Ms.Phillips, John I. Burton's newest biology and anatomy teacher, gave her biology students a special assignment. The students were instructed to make booklets on cells and all of their parts. First, they were told to come up with a clever title name. Some of these names included: Cells of the Swamp; Cells Cells, They're Made of Organelles; and Eukary' Cells.

Secondly, the students wrote down several different definitions, and drew pictures for the different stages of the cell cycle.
These students worked very hard on their projects and in the end, had wonderful examples of cell processes. Each booklet was very eccentric and unique in its own way. The next booklets that are made will be hung up in Ms.Phillips' classroom for students to view and appreciate.

These booklets are an excellent way to assist students in learning and remembering information about cells. The students that are in Ms. Phillips Biology class have only been in there for thirty days and have already learned a tremendous amount of information about cells.  Great job, students!

Students excel through NASA programs

How many students can say that they have been to NASA? Well, one student at John I. Burton can: senior, Olivia D., completed a summer academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia in July of 2014. Olivia gave me several details about the extraordinary summer program and the online class available to students.

According to Olivia, juniors can enroll in Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS), a program sponsored by NASA. Students will be required to complete an online course throughout the second semester of their junior year. In the online course, students learn about space programs and space ships, how to write technical reports, mathematical formulas, and the components of a mission. The online course is meant to prepare students for the summer academy. If they are one of the top students in the online course they will receive an invitation to the week-long VASTS Summer Academy at NASA Langley. Students who attend the academy will work on all aspects of designing a crewed mission to Mars.


A total 180 students, out of approximately 500, who enroll in the online course get invited to the academy. The academy takes place over a period of three weeks; students have the ability to choose the week they want to attend. In addition, students are able to choose what aspect of the mission they work on. Students who are invited stay at Christopher Newport University, receive tours of  NASA facilities, and visit the Virginia Air and Space Center.

Towards the end of our interview Olivia said, "Although it is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, it has been the most rewarding." There are several benefits to taking this course. Taking this course looks exemplary on college applications, students receive college credit, and the program is free of charge. Additionally, students have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit NASA, meet astronauts, and learn from the best scientists in their respective fields. For more information or to sign up, talk to our guidance counselor, Mrs. Davis.

Inside the school board: Sherry Adams

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing school board member Sherry Adams about her job and the duties she carries out for the school board. Sherry has worked for the school board for about two years now and loves her job; she hopes to continue on in this position for a long time. She not only works for the school board, but she is also the CEO of Hospice and a full time mother.

Mrs. Adams decided to run for school board because Burton is very important to her. Her husband, herself, and three of her children are Burton alumni.  While her youngest child is still attending Burton. Though her children are an incredibly large part of her life, she said they did not really have an affect on her deciding to run.  What drove her the most to achieve her position was her personal desire to help.  She wanted to keep the school strong for future generations. As we were talking, I asked what some of her favorite parts of her job were, and she told me that she enjoys having a hand in important decisions for the school and being able to keep Burton on top academically.


In Mrs. Adams' opinion, being a school board member means being able to see what is best for students and blocking out all other distractions. She has to block out these distractions daily, but her actual work schedule is different. She only works as a school board member about once a week, but her daily board duties consist of checking her e-mail, going over information, and staying up to date with what is going on in the community and in school systems.

Over the past year our school system has been through several changes, some big and some small. For example, we hired a new superintendent, Dr. Keith Perrigan. With this change came smaller changes such as a new way of doing things and lots of energy. It seems that everyone has a very positive opinion on him, including Mrs. Adams. She said "His attention to detail is very, very good. His professionalism is unmatched and his heart for children is remarkable. He has more energy than anyone I've ever met." When talking about changes, Mrs. Adams said that if she could make any changes on her own, they would be to obtain additional funding for staff because she loves small classes and wishes to offer more courses.

In closing, Mrs. Adams stated: "My job is great, we have the best teachers and most talented students. It never even feels like a job." Mrs. Adams is a wonderful and sweet lady that I feel very lucky to have interviewed. With people like this running our school board, it is no wonder our school is as successful as it is.

Union demolishes the Raiders

Last Friday, September 19, Burton played against the Union Bears football team. The Raiders won the coin toss and let Union have the ball first. During the first drive for the Bears, they were stopped by the Raiders defense on the fourth down. Also, on the first drive for the Raiders had to punt the ball. The next drive was a touchdown for the Bears. With the two-point conversion, the score became 8-0. The Raiders' next drive was a touchdown, which made the score 8-7. On the kickoff after the Raiders scored, the Bears struck back with a kickoff returned for a touchdown. They missed the extra point, making the score 14-7.

To start the second quarter, the Raiders had possession of the ball, but they were shut down for the rest of the game. The Bears scored on four occasions during the second quarter. Almost every time Union scored a touchdown in the second quarter, it was from throwing the ball. There was only one occasion when the Union quarterback Tanner H. ran the touchdown.

In the beginning of the third quarter, the Bears scored the last touchdown of the game. Making that the ending score. The Raiders started off tough but their competitiveness  went down in the second quarter. With a 0-4 start, the Raiders will regroup; they plan to be competitive the rest of the season. The next opponent for the Raiders are the Twin Springs Titans.

See You At The Pole

Here at John I. Burton, we participate in a nationwide event called See You At The Pole.

See You At The Pole is an annual gathering of Christian students of all ages at a school flagpole for prayer, scripture reading, and worship during the early morning hours. These rallies are most often sponsored by local churches or local youth ministry networks. At JIB we have a group/club called FCS: Fellowship of Christian Students. At John I. Burton, FCS is sponsored by our own school because it is categorized as a school group.

Every year, this event has a specific verse that they use as a theme. This years verse is Ephesians 6:18, which reads: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." The 2014 theme verse follows Paul's famous passage on the armor of God, challenging and encouraging Christ followers to stand strong in the Lord and be His representatives to share the good news of the Gospel. 

This annual event is scheduled to take place on September 24, 2014.  On this day, students and faculty members are invited to meet at the flagpole in the front of our school at 7:45 am. There will be a youth leader from a local church who will be presenting music. Prayer will then commence at 8:00 am. Anyone who wants to participate in this event is welcome to come and join our teachers, students and FCS members.

J.I.B. t-shirt and hooded sweatshirts fund raiser

Here at John I. Burton, our girls' basketball team is in need of new Nike basketball shoes. In order to have the money to order these shoes, Coach Coffey is having a fundraiser. This fundraiser consists of selling t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts with our school name and logo.

The order forms for this fundraiser are due back Wednesday, September 24th!! So hurry, and get your t-shirt or hooded sweatshirt ordered for fall! Check payments are welcome. If you choose to pay with a check, make them payable to J.I. Burton High School. No orders will be taken without payment.

These t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts come in youth and adult sizes. Extra sizes(2x and 3x) are only two additional dollars. Items can be purchased in a black or gray color. The logo on the items can be printed in two different colors: orange and white, or orange and black. One of the logos is the exact replica of the picture above, the other logo spells out "Burton Raiders" and has two swords going through the word Raiders. 'Fund One Tee Graphx' is the company that will be printing these clothing items.

I encourage everyone to pick up an order form. Help our lady Raider basketball players have new shoes for the season!  Hurry and get your clothing items ordered; the fundraiser ends September 24th!!

The eighth grade transition

Every seventh grader is told: "You better watch out! Those seniors will stuff you in a locker! You won't last a day in high school!" But, do these common statements hold any real truth? Most eighth graders have no clue what's in store for them until they are actually put into high school. As an eighth grader you have to transition from a classroom style  where everything is laid out for you to one where you must be mainly self sufficient. Most eighth graders will have to try to do this quite quickly to try to keep their grade averages up. I recently interviewed several of our eighth grade students and my personal favorite eighth grade reading teacher: David LoBiondo. All of the students had very interesting comments about their experiences so far as eighth graders and the huge transition that has to be made when coming into high school. 

Devon W. said "Eighth grade is hard compared to the elementary school. They helped us with everything there." Another student, Aaron M. said, "The eighth grade has been tough for me. It's been a big transition, but I feel I will do well here."  Mike C. said our eighth grade teachers prepare us to take on more difficult challenges that we will face after eighth grade.  I personally experienced what a challenge the eighth can be only two years ago.  I went through the eighth grade with Mr. LoBiondo; I feel he helps better prepare students for the high school experience. Mr.LoBiondo helps all of his students with their writing skills and note taking skills.  He also works with his students to help them communicate with their peers and be respectful to their teachers.  

Personally, as an eighth grader, I had a tough time transitioning from the seventh grade to the high school.  I struggled with writing essays quite a bit because I had never written one. I also had trouble with having an extra fourth class, different from three classes at the elementary school. Both of these things got easier with time and help from the teachers. My advice for eighth graders would be to keep an open mind to all of these changes and to put your best foot forward.

Weekly Announcements

Dealing with internet stalking

I am sure we all surf the internet from time to time. Some of us for music, some for shopping, and some for research.  However, some have a much darker purpose when they go to the web: stalking. Now that I have your attention, here is my experience with internet stalkers.
                                                                                                            
A few years ago, I had just started my internet career as a video creator on YouTube. I was getting tired of watching other people make videos, so I decided to make my own video. I felt so nervous and excited at the same time. I had never made a video before, so I had no idea what to make the video about. I decided on a singing video, and soon afterwards came the hate comments. Then one day, someone wrote a comment saying how pretty I was. I thought nothing of it at the time, so I just replied with a simple thanks.

Then, everyday, he was writing overly zealous comments; he continued to say how pretty I was and requested pictures of me at the pool.  This type of commentary began to make me feel uncomfortable, especially because it continued over a long period of time.  I then showed my mother, and she told me to tell him to leave me alone. I did not know why, but I did it as I was told. He continued writing me messages, asking me to run away with him. He told me that if I went with him, he would let me do whatever I wanted. I felt scared, so I showed my mother the messages again, and she told me to threaten to report him to the police. We did actually called the police, but they said that they could not do anything because of where they do not have his name.  Plus, he was not from Virginia. After we contacted the police, he stopped talking to me anyway.

So if this ever happens to you, do not be afraid to tell a responsible adult or call the police. Be brave. Be strong. Be safe. Do not be another victim.

Football: Burton vs. Central

Last Friday, September 12, 2014, John I. Burton took on the Central Warriors. At the beginning of this game, I noticed one of our former Coaches, Ray T., was wearing the number 11. This was in honor of one of our injured players, Cobye R. We ask everyone to keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he continues to recover from injuries sustained during this football season. To begin the game we had a coin toss; the winner of this coin toss was Central. They began the game with an opening kick to the Raiders at their 33 yard line.  Shortly afterwards, the Warriors received the ball; they made a move and scored. After the Warriors scored, the Raiders came back with only a minute left and scored. As the game went on there was 20 seconds left and the Warriors scored, leaving the score at 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Beginning in the second quarter the Warriors kicked the ball to the Raiders. The Raiders did not score, but the Warriors received the ball and scored. As the quarter proceeded no one else scored and they went into half time. During our half time show, our John I. Burton band provided our entertainment. After the half time entertainment our cheerleaders had the honor of receiving trophies from the All AmeriCheer. They also announced to the community they had been selected to perform at the Capitol One Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. 

In the third quarter, the Raiders got the opening kick. After the opening kick the Warriors received  the ball. As the third quarter was getting ready to end, the Warriors made a touchdown. At this time the score was 20-7, with Central in the lead. Starting the fourth quarter, Burton punted and Central received  it for a touch down. Shortly after Central fumbled and Burton recovered. After the recovery of the fumble, there was only four minutes left. Within these four minutes, Central caught the punt return and scored. After this the game ended, and Central had the victory with a score 34-7. 

New vending introduced to Burton

Students are no longer starving for snacks at John I. Burton. Since last year, Burton has decided to start snacking healthier. On Monday, September 15, many students walked into our school astounded by the new vending machines. Students have been awaiting the arrival of the new vending technology since the first day of school. Many of my peers have been curious about what types of food could be held in these healthy snack machines; lucky for us, the wait is over.

Our new vending machines have a variety of healthy snacks to choose from. The new potato chip options come from the brand All Natural Popchips. The flavors for this brand consist of sour cream and onion, barbecue, original, cheddar and sour cream, and Special K honey barbecue. Students also have the option to choose Oven-Baked Cheetos. Other snacking options include chocolate chip mini cookie bites, whole grain Cheez-It's, cinnamon and strawberry whole grain Pop-Tarts, baked Goldfish, Dole mixed fruit, golden Graham Crackers, apple cinnamon Cheerios, chocolate and strawberry wholesome oatmeal bars, Nature Valley crunchy oats and honey bars, roasted salted Cashews, Nature Valley fruit and nut trail-mix bar, Special K strawberry bar, and raisins. New drink options include Zevia zero calorie soda, La Croix natural orange flavored sparkling water, fat free plus milk, Propel water, Pristine Springs water, and zero calorie Vitamin Water.

I asked a variety of students their opinion on the new vending machines. I mostly received the same responses throughout the interviews including comments such as: "I do not like them" and "I think they are a bad idea." Niko G. stated, "They took away the choice between healthy and non-healthy, and they restricted us to only healthy options."

The new vending machines are next to the gymnasium, and beside the health room. Be sure to check these out, and at least try the new healthy snacking options.

Grant competition: Celebrate My Drive

I am sure everyone has noticed the enormous Celebrate My Drive posters hanging around our school, but what exactly is Celebrate My Drive? It is a campaign which encourages teens to make positive choices as they begin driving, for example: 2N2- two eyes on the road, two hands on the wheel. Celebrate My Drive is a campaign powered by State Farm Insurance Company. In addition to promoting safe driving among teens, this campaign also offers grant funding to schools.  To receive grant funding, schools must get as many people as possible to make safe driving commitments online.  Norton City Schools has decided to take on this challenge.

This year's Celebrate My Drive competition will take place between October 15th-24th, and this week will be referred to the U.S. National Teen Driver Safety Week. Anyone, who is over the age of 14 and has a valid email address, can cast one vote per day. If everyone will vote, students, faculty, parents, and community members, we can work toward winning this competition and receiving a grand prize. Votes can only be placed during the 10 day U.S. National Teen Driver Safety Week. We encourage everyone to take part in voting.

 In reward to the winning schools, 100 high schools with the most commitments will be awarded a total of $3.25 million dollars in grants.  Two schools with the most votes will receive a $100,000 grant along with a Grand Prize Concert by GRAMMY Nominated The Band Perry. The second prize will go to 8 schools with next largest amount of votes. Those schools will also receive a $100,000 grant.  Lastly, 90 other schools with the most votes will receive a $25,000 grant. If we win a grant, the funds will be used to support driver's education courses, clubs, sports, and classrooms.

The more votes our school receives, the better chance we have of winning the competition and receiving a major grant for our school. This is a great competition for teens to be involved in because it focuses on making a commitment to safe driving. More teens die from car crashes than from any other cause, and the first year spent driving is statistically the most dangerous year. Involvement in this campaign will help to raise awareness of these issues.

Like this campaign at www.facebook.com/CelebrateMyDrive for news and updates.

Visit www.celebratemydrive.com for more information.

John I. Burton's cheer squad selected for the 2014-15 Citrus Bowl!

Over the past summer, the John I. Burton cheerleaders went to several camps all over southwest Virginia. Little did they know, their most important camp would happen right here in their own gym just three days before the beginning of the school year. An amazing opportunity was about to unfold.

A choreographer for AmeriCheer, named Heather Williams, came to teach the cheerleaders a pre-show dance for football season expecting to meet a normal, high school level, cheer squad. However, she found something else entirely. Williams was so impressed with their determination, passion, and skill that she submitted the squad to go All-American and perform at the Capitol One Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. After a few weeks of waiting, the squad finally got the news that they had been selected!

Soon after they received the news, they started planning how they would reveal this news to the community and finally decided to do it at the Central game. They knew this would be a big game so they wanted to go all out. They choreographed a pre-show dance and accepted their All-American cups on their home field during half-time. Though the actual football game was rough, these events kept the cheerleaders spirits high and their cheers sharp.




If you are not completely clear on what the Citrus Bowl is or what it means to be an All-American cheerleader, here are the answers.

First, the Capitol One Citrus Bowl is an annual college football game held at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. John I. Burton cheerleaders will be performing at the bowl's half-time show with hundreds of other All-American cheerleaders and a famous singer or performer. Secondly, if you do not understand what becoming an All-American cheer squad means, know that it is a very big deal. Most of the time, one or two cheerleaders from a squad will be selected but having an entire squad go All-American is a once in a lifetime opportunity that most cheerleaders can only dream of.

Burton's cheerleaders are very much looking forward to attending the bowl in December and performing on New Years Day. You can watch the Citrus Bowl on January first on ESPN. The cheerleaders are currently selling wreaths to fund the trip. To buy one of these, contact any of the Burton cheerleaders or their coach Melissa Wharton.


Photos courtesy of Sammy Belcher photography, www.belcherimages.com

Norton's new jump house

Have you ever wanted to work out and better your health but can not find the time to do so with your children? I have good news for you.  A new business is opening in Norton which will help you to achieve this goal. M and M Fun For All, a jump house for children, is opening right across from the new Fitness Advantage gym. These two businesses are both located in downtown Norton. 

The owners of both businesses have chosen to work together in order to help overworked parents.  Gym members are encouraged to drop their children off at M and M Fun For All while they go work out at Fitness Advantage. Employees of M and M Fun For All will be there to monitor your children on the inflatables while you work out across the street.  Unfortunately, M and M Fun For All is not open yet, but will be opening soon. For the time being, day care is provided inside of the gym. 

Fitness Advantage offers the following:

• Indoor Running/Walking Track
• Full Line of Free Weights
• Circuit Training 
• Cardio
• Zumba
• Yoga
• Kickboxing
• Line Dancing
• Cafe Advantages
• Tanning
• Massage
• Sauna

M and M Fun For All admission is $6 dollars each visit or a membership can be purchased for 3 months at $35 dollars. The prices may vary at Fitness Advantage depending on what you want to be involved in, but a basic gym memberships is $35 for every four months. The owners are very friendly and welcoming. I strongly encourage everyone to give it a shot. Hope to see you there!

Cross country meet

On Wednesday, September 10, the John I. Burton Cross Country team traveled to Central High School in Wise, Virgina to compete against several different schools in the first meet. Our runners held their own against an array of schools including Rye Cove, Eastside, Central, Clintwood, Thomas Walker, Castlewood, and Holston. There is always lots of excitement leading up to the first meet of the year. On this day the ground was soaked but the air was very dry. You could feel excitement in the air, even the birds went silent at the beginning of the first race.

Our team finished as follows:

J.V. Boys: Brandon A. placed 14th, Austin B. placed 25th, and Ron Y. placed 35th. 


J.V. Girls: Tiffany A. placed 16th and Cassie I. placed 30th.

Varsity Boys: Nathan W. placed 16th, Robert B. placed 18th, and Jon B. placed 24th.

Varsity Girls: Lily L. placed 33rd, Sophie G. placed 36th, and Laken S. placed 46th.

Overall, our Cross County team  performed extremely well against some tough competition. They have a tremendous amount of success to be proud of.

Their next meet will be held at Thomas Walker on Wednesday, September 17. Come out and support our running Raiders!

Wreaths, wreaths, and more wreaths

Whenever visitors walk into John I. Burton High School, they will be welcomed with an exquisite display of dozens of colorful wreaths, complete with ribbons. The cheerleaders of John I. Burton are creating hand-made wreaths as a fundraiser to sponsor their trip to the Citrus Bowl, which will be held in Orlando Florida, at its namesake stadium. The astounding wreaths consist of many colorful materials and are made upon request.

You can ask a cheerleader to make a wreath  to represent your favorite team or school.  Both high school and college colors are available. You can also request other themes, such as breast cancer or autism awareness. The wreaths are extremely customizable, light weight, and a great decorative item. You can receive a wreath in exchange for a donation of 50 dollars or higher, made to the John I. Burton cheerleaders. Wreaths go on sale at "Meet the Raiders Night" on Thursday, September 11.

The cheerleaders spend a considerable amount of time working on the wreaths. It takes three cheerleaders around an hour to make a single one. Our cheerleaders have been working on these wreaths during activity period, during lunch, and even at home. Come out and buy a one of a kind decorative piece of art and help support our Raiders!

Community pep rally with the Raiders

This Thursday, September 11, our school is having a community pep rally. Members of the community are encouraged to come out and meet everyone that is playing a fall sport and the coaches of each team. The teams that are involved are: football, band, cross country, cheer, and the volleyball teams. The event will start at 7 p.m. Whether the event will take place in the gym or at the practice field depends upon the weather.

Starting off, Coach Williams and Coach Helton will be introduced. Then, the band will be playing the fight song. Cheerleaders will be doing the orange and black cheer that they perform Friday nights. Then, next to be introduced will be our football team and coaches. Afterwards, the cheerleaders will be doing another dance.  Next, to be introduced will be the new band director, Mrs. Butler and the John I. Burton band. After the band is introduced the cheerleaders will start the game, "Ships and Sailors." Then, Mrs. Potter and the volleyball team will be introduced. Mr. Bentley will be introduced with the golf team, and Mrs. Beauchamp and the cross country team will also be introduced. After, everybody is introduced the band will be playing a variety of songs including the fight song and "Crazy Train." Then we will introduce our school board members and other people of importance.

We will not be having a bonfire for this pep rally, due to impending rain.  The bonfire has been rescheduled for October 30th.

Come and support all of our fall sport teams. We want to see everybody at the pep rally, and we want everyone to come watch the Burton vs. Central game on Friday, September 12. We need your support so that we can get a win our third game of the season.

Motion and devotion: cross country

Motion and devotion is a new, weekly series coming to the blog this year. In this series, we will be interviewing  different sports teams at Burton about their players, teams, and experiences with their sport.

This weeks motion and devotion article is about John I. Burton's cross country team. The cross country team participates in meets, usually held on Wednesdays, where the varsity team runs 3.2 miles and the JV team runs 2 miles. This week I met with some of my fellow team mates and coach, Mrs. Sherry Beauchamp, to ask them a few questions about the upcoming season.

When I met with Mrs. Beauchamp, cross country coach for 3 consecutive years, I first asked her what her hopes and goals were for the season and who her most promising runners were this year.  She replied saying that she hopes all her teams advance to state.  Furthermore, she believes that all of her varsity members are very promising this year.

Next, I met with some of the other runners on the team and asked them what their hopes and goals for the upcoming season were. They replied with almost the same answer. They wanted to make it to state and improve their times. With a much larger team than last year, along with some talented runners returning from last year, Burton's team is looking at a promising season.

                                   Pictured: Chris Hammonds, Nathan Ward, Jakub Blach, Robert Beauchamp Jr., Austin Skeens, Evan West, Thomas 

Cassell, Ron Yu, Lily Redman, Tiffany Aldridge, Sophie Gonzalez-Prince, Cassie Isom, Laken Sturgill

     Not pictured: Jonah Smallwood, Brandon Armistead, Isaac Shortt, Jon Blackwell, Austin Bordlee,

 

The team's first meet is the Wednesday, September 10th, at Veldon Dotson Park. If you have the time, come out after school and support your cross country team!

Balancing high school and a part time job

Cell phone bills, new clothes, car payments and insurance all cost money. When these factors become an everyday necessity, being a teenager and relying on your parents for money starts to become burdensome. Your needs as a teenager in high school are much more expensive than your needs were as a student in grade school. Most teenagers today, have gotten jobs while being in high school to compensate the need for money. Having a job allows teenager to earn their own money and learn job skills for their future.

Two summers ago, at the age of 15, I decided I needed to start making some extra money for my expenses, so I applied for a job at a local fast food restaurant. I learned how to fill out an application, get references, and interact during an interview. It was just my luck that I got hired. 

At my job, I learned how to work with the public. I knew some of my co-workers, since it was a local restaurant. However, I soon realized how different it was being behind the register rather than being the customer. I also quickly learned how cruel customers could be to employees. 

Although having a job as a teenager is highly beneficial, jobs take up time. Choosing between going to work or hanging out with your friends is a difficult decision. Furthermore, choosing to be employed while continuing to balance school work can be a hassle.  

Although having a job in high school is very difficult to manage, I made the decision to sacrifice some of my time in order to prepare for my future. In my opinion, the decision to have a job while being a full time student is defiantly worth it, if you are ready for the commitment. To all teenagers in high school who are wanting a job, please make sure you are prepared for what is ahead of you. Trying to juggle both work and school can be a very difficult task to accomplish. 

If you are a student trying to decide whether to get a job or not and you need some advice about the situation please feel free to contact me. My email is sadriannaaa@gmail.com.

Are you overworked?

Ask yourself this question: "Am I overworked?" If your answer is, "No, I just want to be a part of cheer leading, swim team, football, volleyball, volunteering at the vet, reading to the blind, and working at the library. I'm not overworked!" Then, you are probably overworked. Face it, you probably get close to 4 hours of sleep a night and that is just on the weekends! 

When teens get overworked, their brains send signals telling them to fall asleep more often, and sometimes at the worst times, like in class or behind the wheel. Most teens think they can chase it away with coffee or energy drinks, but that is not the case. Overworking yourself can lead to exhaustion, depression, grade reduction, and social depletion. Make sure to get as much sleep as possible, have fun when you need to, and study when you have to. Here are some ideas if you want to know how to get back on track and still have time to do your homework!

• Try setting up a calendar, so you know what events you'll be participating in ahead of time. 

• Create an hourly schedule for your afternoons: You can have time to do your homework, do your chores, maybe play that video game you have been wanting to play for months, and still have time to get some sleep!

• Try some yoga exercises: You will be relaxed, it is good stress relief, and you will be flexible for gym class! Nobody likes a leg cramp! Ouch!

• Get organized! Being organized saves time.  Have a specific notebook for each subject!

• Create a daily check list for what you need to complete -- you wouldn't want to forget that essay for Honors English, now would you?

Hope you found these ideas and suggestions helpful! 

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2014 F.C.A. super youth day

On Saturday, September 6th, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

At UVA Wise 

Lots of sports!

BASKETBALL

FLAG FOOTBALL 

PUNT PASS AND KICK

VOLLEYBALL

SOFTBALL

CORN HOLE 

BADMINTON 

RELAY RACES 

ALL YOUTH GROUPS WELCOME!

sponsored by F.C.A., Local churches, & businesses

For more information, contact Gary Maggard 

gmaggard@fca.org or 276 365 0721

John I. Burton takes a stand against tobacco

Smokeless tobacco is a major problem in our school.  At most schools, students frequently see other students using tobacco or they smell or see the remnants of tobacco. The same is true here at John I. Burton.  Nearly everyday I see tobacco spit in the bathroom floors, on the stairs, or in the water fountains. Our school now has signs to remind everyone that we are a tobacco free area. Signs have also been placed at the football stadium to notify the public of this policy as well.  Tobacco is not supposed to be used in the football stadium or in the gym during athletic events.

In my opinion, our new tobacco free signs have done little to deter tobacco use by students, as there does not seem to be anyone to enforce this policy. If there was somebody to enforce these rules, our school would be much better place. How can we stop this problem? I believe having a resource officer's presence in bathrooms and in hallways would cut back on the use of tobacco by John I. Burton students.

On the other hand, the administration feels that our new tobacco free policy has been successful during sporting events.  Before each game, fans are given little cards, discussing the disadvantages of using tobacco. During the game announcements are being made every quarter reminding fans that tobacco products are not to be used in the stadium. Coach Helton said, "I believed that everything is working." However, if you do see anyone smoking in the stadium, you should tell a school administrator.

We need to stand up to tobacco and not let it destroy our school. We need to keep our school clean and safe. If you want to take a stand against tobacco in our school, contact a responsible adult in our school.

Football: Burton vs. Lee High

On August 29, 2014 the John I. Burton Raiders opened up their season against Lee High Generals. At the being of the first quarter, the Generals made the first touchdown scoring six points. Shortly afterwards, the Raiders intercepted the football scoring six points and one point after touch down completion. 

Later on in the second quarter, three of Burton's starters Cobye R., Nelson T., and Blakelee C. sustained injuries. The game continued, and we went into half time. At this point, the score was Lee Generals 26 and Burton 14. Our half time entertainment was provided by the Burton Band. Their theme this year was "Off to Never NeverLand." The show songs included: "Teenage Dream" by Katty Perry, "Dream On" by Aerosmith, and "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. 

                           

During the half time show, it began to storm, and ten minutes later, we were put on a lighting delay. After an hour and half, we were able to begin the third quarter.Throughout the third quarter, Burton Raiders went scoreless. As for the Lee High Generals, they picked up where they had left off. By the the end of the third quarter, the score was 32 to 14, with the Generals in the lead. When the fourth quarter began, Lee High Generals scored right away. Later on, Burton recovered a fumble from Lee High. Shortly after Burton scored with a two point conversion. The end score was 40 to 22, with Lee High winning the game!

Class rings: Remembering your high school career

On September 2, the sophomore class met with Jostens and received different details about class rings. During the meeting many topics were discussed, such as how the rings are made, different types of metals that are offered, and examples of rings that have been made in the previous years at John I. Burton.

There are many different options for class rings such as the new ShadowCast option. This is a new unique metal finish that transforms the white lustrium ring into a darkly appealing work of art. Other metal options also include yellow lustrium, solaris elite, dualcast white, dualcast yellow, 10K, 14K, and 18K yellow and white gold.

There are so many different options to choose from when designing your class ring. You can choose from an extremely large selection of side images and protected emblems which are located inside the gem. Prices range anywhere from $69.99 to however much you want to invest. For more details or to design your own ring, visit www.jostens.com. Do not miss out on getting one of these high school souvenirs, which you can treasure for many years to come. Orders for class rings can be placed on September 11th, in Burton's lobby, during lunch or after school until 6:15.  Parents can come in to place orders after school.  A down payment of $75 is due when you place the order.

J.I.B. in need of a resource officer

John I. Burton High School is an outstanding and secure school, but we could use some extra help in keeping our school safe. Norton City Schools is truly in need of a resource officer. Both staff and students have been hearing rumors that our school may be trying to acquire funding to fill this position.  Dr. Perrigan, our superintendent, Mr. Williams, our principal, and Mrs. Wohlford, the elementary school principal, are currently looking into grant funding which would allow the high school and elementary school to share a resource officer.

If Norton City Schools is able to fill this position, the superintendent and both principals would have to establish the hours that the officer would work at each school. At the elementary school, there are more students, so it is likely that if an officer is hired they will spend the majority of their day at the elementary school, ensuring the safety of the smaller children.

On a latter note, John I. Burton is looking into providing a criminal justice class with the resource officer. Mr. Williams believes this class could be a good opportunity to students, who are interested in becoming a police officer. With that being said, the resource officer would be at both schools five days a week. The officer would be here to help protect our school, making it safer.

The search for foster parents in our city

When you are a child, your worries are not about getting fed, or going to school, but about what toys you 'need' and how much candy you can eat before bedtime. At least that is what one would think; in reality, there are many children that worry about starving and questioning whether their parents are going to provide to their everyday basic needs. These children usually have been or will be in the foster care system by the time they reach the age of 18. 

Currently, Norton Social Services has expressed to the City of Norton that they are in need of foster parents. Foster parents are qualified individuals who take children into their home, meet their needs, and provide them with the care they deserve. The need for foster parents in our city are at an all time high this year. 

In my experience, in order to be a foster parent in Norton you have to meet these requirements : you must be over the age of 18, have a stable home and enough room for a child to sleep comfortably in your home, have a steady income every month, and  be able to provide  children with the love and care they deserve. Foster parents can also not have a criminal record.

If interested in this immense opportunity, please research the requirements and contact the Norton Social Services for further instructions on how to be a foster parent!