This fall semester, a group of ten students, nine sophomores and one senior, were blindly placed into Online Communications. Little did they know that they would be involved in writing a blur of articles in order to capture what was going on at Burton throughout the semester. Little did they know that they would be delving into a class with so many different personalities, which required communication and cooperation.
Editor-in-chief, senior Cody Messer, started out this semester as an assistant editor along with sophomore, Taylor Collins. These editors were in charge of correcting and going over articles with each student in this class. During the third six weeks, Mrs. Bias promoted Messer to Editor in Chief because she always thought the blog should be run by students and felt that Cody had the necessary set of skills to step into a larger role. Sophomore, Kira Sturgill, filled his previous role as assistant editor number two, as Cody moved to Editor in Chief. Sophomores Mazzy Tomko and Madison Cardon managed the website's visual presentation to appeal to anyone visiting the blog. Sophomores Austin Lane, Tia Bates, and Dustin Pilkenton had the pleasure of being advertisers and created multiple crafts, candies and even locker signs to get the word out as the class tried to obtain at least 5,000 views each six weeks. The last two participants, sophomores Kaden Fisher and Jailen Bailey, were named Tech Assistants, as they knew the most about the technology used for the blog.
Learning a lot about one another, the students had to communicate with each other, as every role in the class depended on one another. All of the students worked very hard to complete their tasks. The writing process was frequently nothing short of a roller coaster ride, riddled with grammatical mistakes and sometimes even false information. Nonetheless, each classmate grew as writers; some went from very good writers to great writers, others from great writers to almost flawless writers. More often than not, the students learned many skills, which did not deal with writing, including leadership and time management skills.
The blog will certainly be missed by everyone in Online Communications and the students of this year's blog would like to wish the next class coming in next fall good luck and a fair warning: be prepared to work hard. Keep the blog at least almost as good as how we kept it. The class would also like to advise anyone with a love for writing and English, or looking to pursue a career in article publishing, to enroll in the class. It is certainly a beneficial experience.
Written by: Taylor Collins
Monday, December 14, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
Lady Raiders basketball
On December 8th, The Lady Raiders traveled to Tennessee to face the Davy Crockett Pioneers. Both varsity and junior varsity girls traveled to play them. Although, Davy Crockett is a 3A school compared to our 1A school, varsity coach Jared Coffey believed the Raiders could bring home a win.The girls gave a valiant performance, but came up short in their non-conference game, losing 54-49.
Although the Lady Raiders are young, with only two seniors and one junior, they are expected to have a good season. As of now, Burton's varsity starters include Gracie M., Kemia B., Racheal M., Kacie C., and Tia B. Gracie led the team in scoring with 21 points followed by Kacie with 12. While speaking with Gracie M., a sophomore, she mentioned that she personally thought that although the team played well, there are definitely some fundamentals that the team needs to work on. She felt that this was a winnable game for the Raiders. This put the varsity team at 0-3. As for the junior varsity team, they lost 41-28.
The varsity girl's basketball team will be participating in the Tip Off Classic at UVA Wise. The Lady Raiders will face Jenkins on Friday December 11th. Good luck, Lady Raiders!
Although the Lady Raiders are young, with only two seniors and one junior, they are expected to have a good season. As of now, Burton's varsity starters include Gracie M., Kemia B., Racheal M., Kacie C., and Tia B. Gracie led the team in scoring with 21 points followed by Kacie with 12. While speaking with Gracie M., a sophomore, she mentioned that she personally thought that although the team played well, there are definitely some fundamentals that the team needs to work on. She felt that this was a winnable game for the Raiders. This put the varsity team at 0-3. As for the junior varsity team, they lost 41-28.
The varsity girl's basketball team will be participating in the Tip Off Classic at UVA Wise. The Lady Raiders will face Jenkins on Friday December 11th. Good luck, Lady Raiders!
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Book Club field trip to McKay's Bookstore
John I. Burton's Book Club went on a field trip to McKay's Bookstore on the 2nd of December. The store is located in Knoxville,Tennessee. The students were given a brief tour of the bookstore and were then allowed to shop for books of their choosing. Mrs.Poteet, Mrs.Bias, and Mrs. Marsha, along with 6 students, all went on the trip. Student attendees included: Kaitlyn H., Sohphie G.P., Sierra S., Conner W., Kaylee D, and Tori A.
The trip was mostly taken so that the students who like to read and are committed to the Book Club could be rewarded for their hard work and be encouraged to read even more. Mrs. Poteet, the school librarian, said that she went because she hosts the Book Club meetings twice a month, plus she knew the store offered discounted prices on books. She ended up purchasing a large box of books for the school library.
Mrs. Poteet said that the trip was fantastic as well as an important trip because it allowed students to see a great bookstore. Mrs. Bias, an English and Online Communications teacher, said that it went very well and that she enjoyed it. Mrs. Poteet's last opinion on the topic was that she would love to go again next semester.
Written by: Dustin Pilkenton
The trip was mostly taken so that the students who like to read and are committed to the Book Club could be rewarded for their hard work and be encouraged to read even more. Mrs. Poteet, the school librarian, said that she went because she hosts the Book Club meetings twice a month, plus she knew the store offered discounted prices on books. She ended up purchasing a large box of books for the school library.
Mrs. Poteet said that the trip was fantastic as well as an important trip because it allowed students to see a great bookstore. Mrs. Bias, an English and Online Communications teacher, said that it went very well and that she enjoyed it. Mrs. Poteet's last opinion on the topic was that she would love to go again next semester.
Written by: Dustin Pilkenton
Norton Rescue: Bingo
On the first Sunday of every month and every Wednesday, bingo is hosted at the Norton Rescue Squad (NRS) building. The rescue squad allows junior members to join, run calls, and help with bingo. Junior members consist of mostly students from John I. Burton under the age of 18.
Dalton S., Austin C., Devin M., Tyler D., and Blake M. are just a few of the junior members that dedicate their time to EMS. These students come to the rescue squad during most of their spare time. During bingo, they sell tips (cards, which are comparable to a lottery ticket), call (sit behind the desk calling the balls out loud), and run the box (collect tip money and sell tips behind the main desk.)
Norton Rescue has made some recent changes to bingo. Door packs, which are cards that get you started right into bingo, are now $15.00 a pack and each additional pack is $10.00. Early birds are 3 packs for $10.00 or 1 for $5.00. These packs are for the early bird games only. This game is also only for those who show up before the regular games start. The progressive bingo has a jackpot that is continually increasing. The prize money in the progressive game comes from what the Rescue Squad takes in. Norton Rescue is still offering quarter bingo 10 games for $5.00 a pack. Quarter bingo consists of 6 games of regular bingo. This type of bingo starts at 4:30, early bird games start at 6:00 p.m., and regular games start at 6:30. If you have any further questions, call Norton Rescue at (276-679-0423). They are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Written by: Kaden Fisher
Dalton S., Austin C., Devin M., Tyler D., and Blake M. are just a few of the junior members that dedicate their time to EMS. These students come to the rescue squad during most of their spare time. During bingo, they sell tips (cards, which are comparable to a lottery ticket), call (sit behind the desk calling the balls out loud), and run the box (collect tip money and sell tips behind the main desk.)
Norton Rescue has made some recent changes to bingo. Door packs, which are cards that get you started right into bingo, are now $15.00 a pack and each additional pack is $10.00. Early birds are 3 packs for $10.00 or 1 for $5.00. These packs are for the early bird games only. This game is also only for those who show up before the regular games start. The progressive bingo has a jackpot that is continually increasing. The prize money in the progressive game comes from what the Rescue Squad takes in. Norton Rescue is still offering quarter bingo 10 games for $5.00 a pack. Quarter bingo consists of 6 games of regular bingo. This type of bingo starts at 4:30, early bird games start at 6:00 p.m., and regular games start at 6:30. If you have any further questions, call Norton Rescue at (276-679-0423). They are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Written by: Kaden Fisher
JIB's basketball scrimmage against Honaker
On December 4th, JIB's junior varsity and varsity basketball teams faced off against Honaker's jv and varsity basketball teams in a scrimmage. The Burton jv team was successful but,as hard as the varsity Raiders played, they were unsuccessful in winning. Even though the varsity team did not win, it will not affect the actual season because the game is just a scrimmage.
In the jv basketball game, Corey Ball started off as point guard. Tyree Bolling and Derick Allen were put at wing. Austin Lane and Mikey Culbertson were put in as posts. Mikey lead the team by scoring many points. He also had multiple steals to contribute to his scoring lead.
In the varsity game, Austin Johnson played point guard. Brady and Tra Adams started as wings. Nic Collins and Nelson Tate were placed in as posts. The scoring was balanced overall, with Austin Johnson leading the way using the help of the other players.
This game was not official. The coaches did not record the scores in a score book nor did they keep track of the other details. The first official game starts on the 15th of December, which is on Tuesday. Both jv and varsity play on Tuesday. The official times for each game are unknown at the moment, but this article will be updated when the information is available.
Written by: Jailen Bailey
In the jv basketball game, Corey Ball started off as point guard. Tyree Bolling and Derick Allen were put at wing. Austin Lane and Mikey Culbertson were put in as posts. Mikey lead the team by scoring many points. He also had multiple steals to contribute to his scoring lead.
In the varsity game, Austin Johnson played point guard. Brady and Tra Adams started as wings. Nic Collins and Nelson Tate were placed in as posts. The scoring was balanced overall, with Austin Johnson leading the way using the help of the other players.
This game was not official. The coaches did not record the scores in a score book nor did they keep track of the other details. The first official game starts on the 15th of December, which is on Tuesday. Both jv and varsity play on Tuesday. The official times for each game are unknown at the moment, but this article will be updated when the information is available.
Written by: Jailen Bailey
Friday, December 4, 2015
The "Hun" hairstyle
Hairstyles come and go, regardless of whether its big, straight, or the new style called the "Hun," which is a half up and half down bun. This hair style is self-explanatory: half of your hair is down (typically the bottom half) and the top half of it is in a bun. It can be worn by a male, but then they are called man buns.Jaycee B., a firm wearer of the half up and half down bun said that she just needed something new to do with her hair. She was getting tired of wearing it down or in a ponytail. This hairstyle is quick and easy; she would wear it every day if she could. She also loves how it looks great with anything she wears. Jaycee's opinion on the hairstyle is that the "Hun" should be worn on the back of the head and not on the tip top of the head.
The people that typically wear this recent fashion statement wear it with a dressy outfit or a lazy day outfit. Although most of the people surveyed said they were pro half up and half down buns, there were still a small group of people that prefer the traditional pony-tail or an all natural hairstyle. There were also a few people that were undecided, and they thought that it looked cute on some people and not so cute on others. Many boys seem to think a girl's hair looks better completely down, rather than it being half up and half down. In the end, people should wear their hair in a way that makes them comfortable and not worry about the opinions of others.
Written by Mazzy Tomko
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Blanket or no?
Changes in clothing choices are mostly due to weather. A few changes have been made to accommodate the winter months, such as switching classic t shirts with over-sized sweaters and thin throw overs with big jackets. Here at Burton, one fashion statement that has stood out the most is that students are now bringing blankets with them and keeping them on throughout the school day.
Opinions vary about this subject among the staff and students. Although there are no rules in the dress code stating that blankets are not allowed, there are several students that bring and use one daily. Some members of the staff feel like the blankets give students more flexibility and make them feel as if they have permission to go to sleep during class.
Burton student Raven V.,a firm blanket user, stated that she brings a blanket to school due to the fact that she is always cold; it also makes her feel safe and comfortable. Devon W. does not bring a blanket to school. He stated that the reason he does not bring one is because he does not have one. His opinion on the subject is that it is weird to bring a blanket to school.
Although there are no rules for blankets at school, many fear that the students will use blankets to items that may get them in trouble in class, like cell phones. In conclusion, opinions on the use of blankets differ and, as long as the blanket is not used for sleep or to hide things, then it is not a problem to bring one to school.
John I. Burton Raiders Football 2015: Season overview
The Raiders' season started off with a bang, but the odds were not in their favor, as they were handed the first loss of the season on opening night to the undefeated Union Bears. The stadium was packed for the game, but what the fans got was a taste of defeat, as the Bears stomped the Raiders, 52-6. Many thought after this loss that the Raiders would have a struggle gathering wins and making it into the playoffs. Contrary to the negativity among the fans, the Raiders won the remaining nine regular season games, including beating the 2A school Lee High Generals, 28-15, and stomping the powerhouse Honaker Tigers, 28-0.
The Raiders became Cumberland District Champions, and were the second ranked team in Virginia, in the 1A west division. In the first round of the playoffs the Raiders hosted a Saturday evening game against the Covington Cougars. The Raiders also came out on top in this game with a final score of 45-16. The following week, in the second round of the playoffs, the Raiders hosted a Friday night game against the Rural Retreat Indians, Burton once again came out with the win, 28-6. The Raiders looked as if they might make it to the state championship game, as they had now won 11 straight games since the loss to Union. It was time for the third round of the playoffs, and the Raiders hosted another Saturday evening game against the Galax Maroon Tide. Galax's Charles Harris and Caleb Spurlin were ready to bring on a fight against the Raiders. That is exactly what they did, as they stomped the Raiders, 35-12, bringing the Raiders' miracle season to a sad conclusion.
When speaking with three members of the football team, all of which are underclassmen, the three players were all asked the same questions about the season. When asked about the overview of the season, Taylor Mullins responded by saying,"It was a great season. After the loss to Union we were doing great, but we were just unable to finish the way we wanted to." Many of the other players agree with Taylor about being unable to finish the way they wanted to. Taylor's highlight of the season was making it to the third round of the playoffs. Freshman, Tyree Bolling, said that the season was great, but he was upset with the way it ended. Tyree also stated that the funnest game for him was the Unaka game, because he was able to play the whole game and had a big hit to save a first down conversion. When speaking to a third football player and sophomore, Ethan Cates, he thought the highlight of the season was winning the district championship, after losing it the previous season.
According to these players, the Raiders were very successful. The Raiders will be a young team next season, as many senior athletes will be graduating in the spring.In the backfield, they will be starting three freshmen, and one sophomore. Good luck to the Raiders next season.
Written By: Austin Lane
According to these players, the Raiders were very successful. The Raiders will be a young team next season, as many senior athletes will be graduating in the spring.In the backfield, they will be starting three freshmen, and one sophomore. Good luck to the Raiders next season.
Written By: Austin Lane
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Shelby Valley hosts Burton
On December 1st, 2015, the first official basketball game of the girls' J.V. season was played. The team consists of nine players: Naomi T., Hannah P., Kira S., Kaitlin L., Sarah M., Tavi S., Zoe E., Akyssa H. and Iyanna M.. The team played at Shelby Valley Kentucky's gym.
In the beginning of the first half, the Burton Raiders struggled with defense and speed, which helped the Shelby Valley Cats score thirty-six points. The Raiders' first point was a foul shot by Iyanna M.. Even though the Cats are an aggressive team, the Raiders were coming back with a fight. When the first half ended the score was 36-6. The second half of the game, the Raiders made a comeback. Burton scored four more points and held the Cats to only scoring 17 more points. This is a tremendous feat because Shelby Valley is a 2A school and their five starting members are also on the varsity team.
The final score of the game was 53-10. Although the Raiders did not come out with a win, they played competitively with the team. By playing teams like Shelby Valley, the Raiders will be more prepared for their district games. The Raiders play again on December 8th, at Davey Crockett. Come out and support your Lady Raiders!
Written by: Kira Sturgill
In the beginning of the first half, the Burton Raiders struggled with defense and speed, which helped the Shelby Valley Cats score thirty-six points. The Raiders' first point was a foul shot by Iyanna M.. Even though the Cats are an aggressive team, the Raiders were coming back with a fight. When the first half ended the score was 36-6. The second half of the game, the Raiders made a comeback. Burton scored four more points and held the Cats to only scoring 17 more points. This is a tremendous feat because Shelby Valley is a 2A school and their five starting members are also on the varsity team.
The final score of the game was 53-10. Although the Raiders did not come out with a win, they played competitively with the team. By playing teams like Shelby Valley, the Raiders will be more prepared for their district games. The Raiders play again on December 8th, at Davey Crockett. Come out and support your Lady Raiders!
Written by: Kira Sturgill
SOL test preparation
Students at John I. Burton High School are preparing for their SOL(Standards Of Learning) tests as the semester comes to an end. SOL tests are administered by the state to determine a student's knowledge of a given course. The teachers at John I. Burton are also trying their best to prepare students for their SOL tests.
Mr. Fultz, a teacher at John I. Burton, uses a combination of IXL Math and Interactive Achievement to evaluate his students. Then he uses classwork to make improvements to help prepare his students. Many students have their own methods of preparation. Makenna K. says that she makes sure to attend class as much as she can. Tori F. makes sure that she pays close attention to her teachers. Josh S. says that he uses short term memory to help with his SOL tests.
Mr. Fultz and the students also offered suggestions for all students to prepare for these tests. Mr. Fultz suggests that students ask for help in class and that they should practice often. Tori says that eating a large breakfast before the test may help. She also says that students that are struggling should attend tutoring. Josh suggests that students study in preparation for the test. Matthew M. suggests that students try their best during the test. Good Luck Students!
Written By: Dustin Pilkenton
Mr. Fultz, a teacher at John I. Burton, uses a combination of IXL Math and Interactive Achievement to evaluate his students. Then he uses classwork to make improvements to help prepare his students. Many students have their own methods of preparation. Makenna K. says that she makes sure to attend class as much as she can. Tori F. makes sure that she pays close attention to her teachers. Josh S. says that he uses short term memory to help with his SOL tests.
Mr. Fultz and the students also offered suggestions for all students to prepare for these tests. Mr. Fultz suggests that students ask for help in class and that they should practice often. Tori says that eating a large breakfast before the test may help. She also says that students that are struggling should attend tutoring. Josh suggests that students study in preparation for the test. Matthew M. suggests that students try their best during the test. Good Luck Students!
Written By: Dustin Pilkenton
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Winter weather hazards
With the fall season almost over and winter right around the corner, many drivers are not aware of the increasing number of dangers on the road. During the winter, roads can get very slick and cars have a higher chance of losing control and sliding. On average, there are approximately 500 wrecks per year during winter (according to http://icyroadsafety.com/).
Black ice is a major risk during the winter season; it can be harder to see than regular ice and is one of the leading causes of accidents in the winter. When the temperature drops, bridges freeze before roads, which can cause black ice to form on them later. Therefore, black ice can provide more challenges while driving during the winter months.
Mrs. Morris said, "The only way to keep from wrecking on ice is to go very slow and accelerate and decelerate slowly and with caution." The only way to prevent accidents is to drive safely and stay off the phone. Keep two hands on the wheel, and two eyes on the road (2N2). Stay safe this winter and keep these safety precautions in mind while driving.
Written by: Kaden Fisher
Black ice is a major risk during the winter season; it can be harder to see than regular ice and is one of the leading causes of accidents in the winter. When the temperature drops, bridges freeze before roads, which can cause black ice to form on them later. Therefore, black ice can provide more challenges while driving during the winter months.
Mrs. Morris said, "The only way to keep from wrecking on ice is to go very slow and accelerate and decelerate slowly and with caution." The only way to prevent accidents is to drive safely and stay off the phone. Keep two hands on the wheel, and two eyes on the road (2N2). Stay safe this winter and keep these safety precautions in mind while driving.
Written by: Kaden Fisher
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