Jaycee B. and competitive cheer

In a recent interview with Burton's own Jaycee B., she talked about her competitive cheer team.  Competitive cheer is when cheer teams compete against each other at a competition.  At a typical cheer competition, teams perform a two and a half minute routine with music that includes stunts, jumps and tumbling.  The name of Jaycee's team is called Top Gun.  Jaycee has been a competitive cheerleader since she was 11 years old, and she is now 16.  She has been on the Top Gun cheer team for 2 years.

The Top Gun Cheer Team consists of 21 people, all of which are girls.  The team practices for 4 hours, 3 days a week in Kingsport, Tennessee.  Her team participates in competitions that last all day.  The ages of the cheerleaders she competes against vary from 12 to 18.

They practice for their competitions that occur twice a month, January through April.  It is a level 4 cheer team, meaning that they are higher level performers that get to do stunts.  There are six levels, but the sixth level is usually reserved exhibition teams.

While asking Jaycee if she plans on having a future in cheer, she stated that she would like to go to cheer for Ole Miss, a college in Mississippi. Jaycee fell in love with Ole Miss when she went to an Ole Miss football game and a recruitment cheer clinic.

Written by: Tia

Ben Hayes: First place drum major!

On Saturday, October 24th, Burton's band traveled to UVA Wise College to compete. The competitions were between different divisions based on the school's size. Ben Hayes, the school drum major, received the title of 1st place drum major in class 2A. There were 22 contestants overall, and Ben placed 3rd among all competitors. He was judged on 3 different categories; general effect, conducting, and tempo.  He has been preparing for this competition since May of the previous school year.
Ben practiced in every free moment he had in order to prepare. When asked how it felt to win he replied, "The past competitions didn't go well for me, at all, so, it was nice to get a better score." The title is available to be won annually, and Ben is preparing to go for the title once again next year.

Ben works on setting a good example for the other band members and keeping the band  focused on the upcoming Christmas piece. Band member, Sierra K. stated, "Ben is exactly what the band needed."

Ben's advice to any band member competing is simple: "Just practice every free moment you have."

Written by: Madi Cardon

The short tale of the water cycle

Recently, in Mrs. Carter's Earth Science class, each student wrote a short story to display their understanding of the water cycle by explaining how one drop of water could move throughout the cycle.  They also had to explain the different processes that changed the drop of water from one step in the cycle to another step. Every student in the class was assigned a certain step to write about.  They used dice to determine which step would come next (each step was assigned a number).  The students named their water drops, and the class as a whole decided on names for the aunt, uncle, town, dog, etc.  Mrs. Carter stated, "The students seemed to really enjoy it.  I think they liked the creative element."

Here is one of the students essays, written by Caleb W., chosen for the blog by Mrs. Carter.

I was sitting in Earth Science class on a mild fall day, when a cry of help caught my attention.  No one else in the room could hear this faint sound except for me.  I continued taking notes but the noise got so loud I couldn’t help myself, so I raised my hand and said, “Excuse me Mrs. Carter, but I must leave.” She replied with “Where are you going, and do you have a hall pass?”  My response to that was, “Out to do some scientific investigation.”  I waited for her to reply and it came automatically, “Sure thing, just be quick.”

When I got outside the window, I saw what was making the noise: it was a water droplet.  So I said what any other person would say to a water droplet, “My name is Caleb.  What is yours?”  "Dippy Drippy, now please help me. I’m changing from a liquid to a gas because the sun is evil.”  I stood there and watched him going up into the sky saying, “I’m sorry I can’t help you.  You are in a continuous cycle called The Water Cycle and shouldn’t you know that by now? Bye.”

This was not the last time I saw Dippy Drippy.  After Drippy evaporated he began to condense, because the higher he got, the colder he got.  He found other droplets formed a cloud together.  Dippy Drippy and his friends got too heavy and fell back to earth, landing on Money Ball Road, between Aunt Martha and Uncle Ruckus’s house.  Drippy began to cling to other water droplets and run off into Lake Houston, but not without some trouble. He narrowly dodged some "business" freshly finished by Bell, Uncle Ruckus’s dog.  When I saw Drippy again, ironically, he had made it to the lake and was already beginning to evaporate and condense again.

Dippy Drippy fell back to the Earth, but this time as snow, which landed one hundred miles north of Norton, in a town called Salem.  Drippy fell in front of the restaurant Red Lobster and stayed there for a very long time.  Drippy was there until the snow began to melt, which led him to Cloud Central with all his other friends from the run-off.

Dippy Drippy liked being in the parking lot of Cloud Central, until the day he was slipped on by a pedestrian.  The unaware kidnapper carried Dippy Drippy toward his house and dumped him off in a field.  Drippy enjoyed the field until he began to sink, and sink, and sink, all the way until he hit an underground reservoir.

Most people would think Drippy’s story was over by now but it wasn’t.  Dippy come upon a spring which exposed him to light for the first time in three years.  Dippy Drippy was excited and grateful for being out in the open again.  Drippy began to feel hot, then lighter followed by a tingly sensation which could be caused by only one thing, evaporation.

“Mr. Williams, Pay attention!” said Mrs. Carter to me.  “Sorry I didn’t get much sleep last night, so I was trying to catch up.”  Mrs. Carter replied with “Well you know here at Cotton Candy High school we have a zero-tolerance policy for sleeping in class.”  My answer to that was “I know," I apologized, "but you won’t believe the dream I just had.”

Introduction written by: Mazzy T.
Short story written by: Caleb W.

Mrs. Fields: Purposefully re-purposing

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, recycling is defined as "to make something new from [something else]." To Mrs. Melita Fields, recycling means something much more.  Mrs. Fields has been with Norton City Schools for 20 years and, since 1998, she has been the proctor of the school's computer lab. She is well known among the school for recycling, or, as she calls it, "repurposing" leftover school materials that she feels still has some use. However, Mrs. Fields has been "repurposing" all of her life, from her curtains to her air freshener.

Mrs. Fields uses all kinds of materials to create new things, such as making corn hole bags from old, tattered blue jeans and air fresheners out of soup cans. Other items she recycles include magazines, clothing, catalogs, and newspaper. Her most creative project, she believes, is a wreath made of coat hangers, bows, and flowers. She said that she originally intended the object to be round, but, when it was hung up, the wreath made the shape of a heart. Mrs. Fields says she just comes up with these ideas when the situation arises. She just sees the need (or want) for something, sees some items that could be potentially reused for that purpose, and, using her mind and some work, creates something to fulfill that need (or want). She believes that "Anybody can look at anything and get something different out of it."

Mrs. Fields says that recycling is important for her because it saves money, and she is able to make something new that she needs and wants that she can't find in stores. For the world as a whole, Mrs. Fields believes recycling is good for the environment because it reduces the amount of waste piling up in garbage cans and dumps. Not only that, but she also believes that re-purposing can create wonderful works of art, such as the wreath mentioned above or the CD artwork which currently decorates her computer lab. Her future plans using recycling in the school include: creating a mural of recycled material for the outer computer lab (affectionately called "the morgue" by students because of the lack of windows), creating decorations, and painting a dead fig tree she obtained from a teacher.

If there was one problem in the world Mrs. Fields could fix using recycling, she would choose to feed the hungry and homeless. She stated: "I think that all the [leftover] school lunch, or all [unwanted] food should be given to homeless shelters instead of being thrown away." Her closing thoughts were: "Whether you recycle or not, we are a throwaway generation. There are a lot of things tossed and thrown away that can be recycled."

Written by Cody Messer

Senior English students perform "Porphyria's Lover"

Stylin' at JIB

High school is usually the time in a students life where they start to realize that the way one dresses says a lot about their personality. Some of the most fashionable men in our school were asked questions about fall their fall clothing choices this week and this is what they had to say:

Senior Robert Beauchamp says that he dresses nicely to make a good impression of himself on others. Robert enjoys dressing neatly for personal appeal and his preferred brand of clothing is H and M. He also went on to say that he prefers to dress for fall. 

Another senior, Jon Blackwell, said that he dresses up for self motivation. When he was asked if anyone influenced his style, his answer was that when he was a freshman in high school, he saw how the seniors dressed and just basically mimicked them. Jon's preferred brand is Calvin Klein. He also prefers fall wear and believes joggers and vans are in style as of late.

Tyree, who is a freshman at J. I. Burton, says that he dresses up for both his girlfriend and his own personal enjoyment. Tyree started dressing up in the fifth grade, his preferred brand is Stussey, and he likes dressing for both summer and fall. He said that he dresses to impress, and that he thinks sweaters are in style the season.

Sophomore Brandon Gilliam had some similar responses, but unique ones as well. He stated that the reason he dresses nice everyday is simply because he wants to look and feel good. Brandon's favorite brand, as far as dress clothes, is American Eagle, a common, but good looking choice among teenagers in high school. As far as pants go, he prefers khaki pants. Brandon prefers to dress for fall over summer. When asked what he thinks is in style, he replied, "I think vans, khakis, and button up shirts are in style."

Corey Ball, who is a sophomore, was the last chosen student to be interviewed about his preferred style of clothing. He motivates himself everyday to dress nicely to impress others. He began to dress in a stylish manner in the 5th grade, and enjoys dressing the way he does. His favorite brands consist of Ralph Lauren and Brixton apparel. He prefers to dress for Fall. When it comes to shoes, his favorite type is a brand known as Clarks. He has no order in which he puts together his outfit. His idea of today's style is rolled up jeans, a button up shirt, and a sweater over top.

The last person who was asked these questions was one of John I. Burton's math teacher, Mr. Robert Fultz. The reason he dresses the way he does everyday is to simply not look like a bum. His first job was his motivation to wear nice outfits daily. He prefers to wear Stafford Shirts and Express ties. He prefers to wear jeans when it comes to the pants category and prefers Rockport shoes for his outfit. Mr. Fultz likes to dress for summer and has no certain order in which he dresses. Meaning he decides when he wakes up every morning before work. His last statement was that he likes to dress to make an impression and for himself.

Written by: Austin Lane and Jailen Bailey

Student Volunteers for Norton Rescue

In recent years, Norton Rescue has allowed Burton students to volunteer as "Junior Members." Tyler Dingus, a student at John I. Burton, is one of those junior members. He has been a part of Norton Rescue for about 4 months now and volunteers 40+ hours a week.

Tyler said, "Since I was a little kid, I've always wanted to help people. I also want to become an EMT [Emergency Medical Technician] when I get older."  He is allowed to run any emergency call the dispatcher pages out to Norton Rescue.  Tyler runs calls with the two EMTs on duty. Tyler stated, "Norton Rescue does more than just run calls, we are the people that help out at the football games and any event that the city hosts that has a lot of attendants." He believes, "most people couldn't do this unless they have a strong stomach and can handle angry people, but it takes special talent to do this job."

If you have interest in helping people, or being in the medical field then this may be the job for you. Tyler, however, stated, "If you want this to be your career then you must put a lot of time and dedication into doing it."  For anyone that is interested in joining Norton Rescue, there are a few requirements in doing so: you must keep a C average or above and you must be able to avoid discussing any specific experiences that happen on the job.

Written by: Kaden F.

Fellowship of Christian Students

Every year at John I Burton, FCS (Fellowship of Christian Students) is offered every Wednesday during both lunches with free pizza, drinks, and sometimes sweets. Gary Maggard runs this program, and travels between about 12 different schools.

Gary Maggard always has a smile on his face, whether he is doing the teaching or a youth pastor from a different church is doing the teaching. Every Wednesay is looked forward to by 60 students as they are promised to be fed physically and spiritually. Gary even hands out different candy towards the end to any students that can correctly answer questions about the service. Every student that attends chooses to do so themselves and all really enjoys being there and seeing their fellow classmates learning a little bit more about Jesus.

"Everyone is welcome! Sponsors are super! Mrs. Fields, Mrs. Wampler, Mrs. Morris, and Mr. Fultz. Students are very respectful and fun to hang out with," says Gary. Not only does Gary enjoy getting the word out about Jesus, but he loves seeing students come back from week to week. Everyone come out and get a few slices of pizza as well as a lesson from The Bible.

Written by: Taylor C.

Senior pep rally is a success!

On Friday, October 23, 2015, John I. Burton had a senior pep rally. The pep rally was hosted by Melissa Wharton and the cheerleaders in recognition of the class of 2016. The pep rally started at 2:30 p.m. in the gymnasium. Dakota Messer, a senior and the afternoon announcer, dismissed all students by each grade from their classes to go to the gym for the festivities. During the beginning of the pep rally, the cheerleaders welcomed in the seniors by getting the whole school to participate in a chant for them.

Next, the cheerleaders performed their half- time/pre-show performance. They danced to "Applause" by Lady Gaga, they danced to a drum line, and they cheered. To follow up with this event, The pep- rally officially began with the games. The first  game played was called "Ships and Sailors". This game is like Simon Says, because you have to do what the leader tells you to. There are many different topics you have to display with your body. Some examples are : Whale, Star Fish, Four Men Eating, Five Men Pointing North, and Titanic. In this game, any students can play.  This game is a two people/partner game. The were two pairs who won this year: Michael Taylor and Kira Sturgill as partners; and Niko Godsey and Roy Thacker as partners.

Another game was called Hungry Hippo. During this game, a student lays on a spin table and two people hold their legs. In the middle of the gym are about thirty balloons, and the first team to get the most balloons wins. The seniors were the only ones allowed to participate in this game.

At the end of the pep rally,  the seniors were acknowledged according to the sports they participated in. These sports included : cheerleading,volleyball, football, one act, scholastic bowl, cross country, and golf. At the end, all of the seniors chose a representative to answer a world geography question in order to win a pizza party. That representative was Robert Beauchamp, and the question was how to pronounce the capital of Kentucky. It was a trick question, however, as the correct answer was not one of the options. Then, last but not least, the cheerleaders chanted while the seniors left. This was a very emotional time for the faculty and students. The seniors have been one of our schools most athletic and spontaneous classes yet.   Burton's Blog wishes the class of 2016 good luck in your years to come.

Written by: Kira Sturgill

May the moles be with you!

Annually on October 23rd, chemistry enthusiasts worldwide celebrate Mole Day. Teachers, students, and professors celebrate their love of chemistry from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. with Avogadro's number-6.02 X 10^23, a unit of measurement based on the number of molecules  in 12 grams of carbon-12.  Chemists use Avogadro's number to determine the number of molecules in a substance. 

Each year Mole Day has a different theme. This year's theme was "May the Moles be with You!" 

Burton's chemistry teacher, Jane Carter, joins in on the fun annually, along with all of her students.  Mrs.Carter sets up fun, educational activities to complete during this celebration. The activities include: making ice cream, making Mr. Mole a birthday card, and eating.  The students seem to enjoy this celebration. The classes conduct a experiment also. For the experiment the students make a gooey substance.

The students also received fake tattoos in celebration of Mole Day. Mrs.Carter utilizes the assigned theme each year during her celebration. She also has a toy mole that sits on her desk. Students sometimes even bring in presents on Mole Day for the toy mole. 

The students are asked to bring in snacks and beverages for the class. This year the class brought in pizza and soft drinks. They also got sweets from Mrs.Carter. The students have to make ice cream before they are allowed to eat. They also deliver beverages and snacks to Mrs.Carter's co-workers. 

During the spring, Mrs.Carter celebrates Earth Day.  Stay tuned to find out about this celebration.

Written by: Madi Cardon

JIB news report October 26, 2015

Part-time jobs in Norton/Wise Virginia

There are many part time jobs in Norton and Wise, Virginia available to students age 16 and over. However, the work hours and pay are limited. When one applies for a job at a business and is still attending high school, most businesses require that these students be released from work by 10 P.M., so they may be home before 11 P.M. Three JIB students by the names of Robert Leonard, Dakota Messer, and John Denham were all asked to provide information on their part time jobs. Part-time jobs are an important experience for high school students and are essential to any student who wishes to work and earn money for themselves.

A senior named Robert Leonard, who is 18 years of age, works part-time at Mr. Gatti's. When he was asked about his job, he said that there are four high school students who work there, and they are between the ages 16-18. The work that employees do at Mr. Gatti's involves washing the dishes, cleaning, making and providing pizza, and providing tickets in the game room. Student employees are payed $7.25 an hour (the current minimum wage).

 Another student, 17 year old senior Dakota Messer works at Ingles as a part-time employee. When asked of the age requirements, his response was that you must at least be 16 years of age to work at Ingles. He was also asked about the pay and he said that most high school students are payed minimum wage at Ingles as well. Most of the jobs available at Ingles include service clerk, cashier, and stocker. As of right now, only 3 high school students work at Ingles.

John Denham, a junior at J.I. Burton high school, has worked at McDonald's in Norton, Virginia and also had similar responses as well. He was limited to five hours a day and only made the minimum wage. He stated that while he was employed there that he was the only high school student who worked there. He was supposed to be home by 11 P.M. on school nights and his job consisted of working the grill. He also spoke of the jobs that they provide. He said that the only ones were the grill, the patty station (which is where the burgers are made), the register, and cleaning the floors/tables. He was 16 when he worked there and said that is the minimum age requirement.

Although these people worked in different places, the pay and hours are all extremely similar.. Most high school students usually work after to school to help pay for transportation expenses, once they begin driving.  Although it may not seem to be a big sum of money, part-time employment is beneficial for a high school student because it is a starting point for being involved in the work force.  It is an important step to learn responsibility and to learn how to save money and balance a checkbook. All of these skills are very important in life, regardless of whether college is a planned part of one's future.

Written by: Jailen Bailey

JIB news report October 23, 2015

WoodBooger Festival

Recently, local Norton City Schools' employee, Mr. Neil Walker shared some facts about the recent WoodBooger Festival on Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17  held on High Knob, a local tourist attraction 4,223 feet above sea level. Joseph Fawbush was the creator of this event, and the ultimate purpose of this event is to encourage people to visit Flag Rock.  It also helps raise money for Burton's art department.  Walker said that although the art department made less money than they did last year, the event had a better turn-out.  This is the second year this event has been held, and it is planned to occur every October during the open week of football.

Events in this festival included a theatrical production of John Smith vs. Chief Beng vs. the WoodBooger; Eddie B. and Burton's own, Tom C., preformed under one of the sheds along with pumpkin painting and mutiple vendors.  The cost of the tour was only one dollar. Walker confirmed that it doesn't cost the city anything, considering it isn't a city event.

The festival, that is only once a year for now, turned out to be a huge success considering there were 1,700 people in attendance and over 1,000 paid for the tour. Cheyenne S. said, "Although it was very cold, I thought it was very captivating and all the children seemed to love it. They had many types of food to choose from and a lot of things to keep the children entertained. Once you started the search they had actors and actresses to keep the kids wondering about the WoodBooger and led them to the excitement of finding him."

Everyone that attended and worked this festival seemed to love every minute of it, and Walker hopes to continue Norton's new tradition. To keep this annual event running, come out next year and support Burton's art program!  Have a fun time doing it, regardless of age!

Written by Mazzy T.

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" project

Mrs. Bias's 12th grade English class has just recently completed a set of new projects. The projects were about the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The project began on the 10th of October and ended on the 19th of October. Each student worked on their projects in the school's computer lab, during class, and at home, as needed.

A total of 15 students completed the projects. They had three options for what to do: A logbook (like a captain's log of each day), a story board (which included pictures with appropriate quotes), or a newspaper report (which has to be in the same style as a newspaper).  Each of these options had to reflect the events of the narrative poem in chronological order (the order in which events happened).

Mrs. Bias finds projects such as these to be invaluable, as they are an alternative way to assess student understanding. She feels as if this particular project assignment was successful in helping students to grasp the difficult language of the narrative poem and to have a better understanding of the story line. She feels that it also lead to her students thinking on a higher level because the assignment required students to be creative. Mrs. Bias said that SOL testing tends to push away these invaluable assignments, due to strict timelines.  Ultimately,  these types of assignments can vastly help a student's understanding of the particular subject.

Written By: Dustin Pilkenton

Scholastic Bowl:The Academic Sports Team

Many students know of and participate in certain sports at John I. Burton, such as football and basketball, but one of the least often talked about sports in the school is Scholastic Bowl. Scholastic Bowl is a far cry from the sports students have come to know so well. It is an academic sport, rather than a physical one, where students compete with only pencil, paper, and their mind. In an interview with Scholastic Bowl Coach Eddie Sharpe, he explained precisely what this sport is and how it is structured.

Coach Sharpe said that the Scholastic Bowl games are somewhat similar to other sports games in that each game, called a "match," is played between two teams from different high schools. Each match is usually hosted by one of the two competing school teams in a designated area at their respective school. The designated area for each game at John I. Burton is the school library.

The match is divided into three rounds. The first and third rounds are referred to as the "Buzz-In" rounds, where a group of four students from both teams sit at two separate, adjacent tables and are given four electronic buzzers that make a buzzing noise and light up when a button is pressed. Both teams are then asked a series of questions covering a wide variety of subjects from history to English. When a student thinks that they know the answer, they can buzz in, but they cannot answer until the name of their school is recognized. Each correct answer is worth normally five to fifteen points. Any incorrect answer and any accidental outcry before being called upon, after the first outcry, will lead to a ten point deduction. No points are awarded if neither team answers.

 The second round is called the "directed" round, which is similar to the "Buzz-In" round, but the buzzers are not used. Instead, each group of four students, consisting of the team captain and three other individuals, are asked one question. Once the question is read, it is up to the team captain, with the help of the other students at the table, to answer the question in its entirety. The team captain can also designate another player to answer on their team's behalf.  If their time limit is up or they answer with a wrong question, they do not lose points, but the other team has a three-second chance to answer the other team's question, which is referred to as "stealing." If the other team gets the question right, they are awarded with the points. This round lasts for ten questions for each team.

Coach Sharpe said that although Scholastic Bowl has been around in this region for 25 years, this is only the 6th year John I. Burton has participated. With the exception of last year, the Burton Scholastic Bowl team has won the district tournament, as well as placing in the regional and state tournaments, since the beginning. Coach Sharpe, as well as the Assistant Coach Tracy Sharpe, work very hard to prepare for and help the team practice during the year. Both the coaches and team members do things such as researching current events, practicing with the buzzers, and looking over general knowledge to get a good understanding of the some of the questions that may be asked.

Coach Sharpe says that these questions can be very difficult to practice for because you never know what they will ask. He also said, "Scholastic Bowl is a disadvantage to kids because it is like an extra academic class added on to the student's four other academic classes. It makes you mentally tired because these questions will have your brain shift from one subject to the next."

For all current Scholastic Bowl members, Coach Sharpe says to ". . . be aggressive, but smart." Team members have to be able to keep the other team from answering the question, but pay attention to what the question is asking so that they know what the question is asking for.  His advice for anyone interested in joining the team is: "Start early. The two top scorers in school history started as eighth graders, and they have been doing exceptionally well ever since." Coach Sharpe's closing thoughts were, "I think it is a privilege to do this [Scholastic Bowl] because that's why we are here [at the high school] is for the academics."

The full list of games the Scholastic Bowl team will play this year is listed below.

Date                                                               Opponent                                                       Site

October 21                                                    Wise Central                                                      A

October 22                                                       Gate City                                                        H

November 5                                                    Ridgeview                                                       H

November 9                                                    *Rye Cove                                                       H 

November 12                                                Wise Central                                                      H

November 19                                                  Ridgeview                                                        A

November 23                                                *Twin Springs                                                    A

November 30                                                   Abingdon                                                        H

December 7                                                   *Castlewood                                                      A

December 14                                              *Thomas Walker                                                  H 

January 11                                                        Abingdon                                                        A

January 18                                                       *Eastside                                                          A

January 21                                                        Gate City                                                         A

*Conference Games
Regional Deadline-February 13, 2016 (The time and location for the Regional tournament is not set until after the Conference games)
State Tournament-February 27, 2016--Williamsburg, VA

Written by Cody M.

Fall fashion at Burton

It is always hard to fade away from summer's floral bathing suits, sandals, and bucket hats. Sometimes, however, it is not so hard when you are moving on to fall fashions. This year, there are many new fashion trends spreading across America, and the halls of Burton are an excellent place to begin seeing these trends. Let's begin with the makeup trends. The lipstick styles this fall are ombre (a color going from dark on the outside to lighter in the middle) or a darker colored lipstick. The foundation look for this fall is contoured (the use of makeup to outline or curve specific facial features).  Finally, the  most common eye shadow and eyeliner used this season is a basic smoky-eye along with cat winged eye liner.

Fall is also the best season for women with beautiful hair that they want to show off. In the summer, when your hair is down, it can tend to get sweaty and tangle quickly.  The fall season is cooler, which means women can wear their hair down curly or straight and look flawless. The most common hair styles worn this season are "messy" curls, braids, and low buns.

Last but not least, we must discuss the trending outfits of fall. At John I. Burton, there are many different types of fashions. Here are just a few trending in the high school:

Sweaters and boots with leg warmers

Different patterned jeans topped off with studded collars

Chevron patterns with leggings



A blanket  sweater with jeans and boots

A dress with a cardigan and wedged shoes

Conclusively, the majority of women that attend or teach at John I. Burton tend wear sweaters and leg warmers in the fall. The type of pants most commonly worn are skinny jeans, so that boots can slip over them more easily. The fashion at our high school is stylish, yet classy. Stay tuned to Burton's Blog for more seasonal fashion!

Written by: Kira Sturgill

A Double Helix DNA

Recently, in a Biology class, students have been learning about DNA and RNA molecules. On Monday, October 19, the students participated in a class project. The project was about a double helix DNA molecule. The students were supposed to build this molecule out of small connectable pieces. Biology teacher, J.D. Lawson, said "I think that this is the best way to learn science, that is of course when you have the time." The students are allowed to work in groups instead of working alone. The use of safety equipment it not required in this certain experiment, because they use K'nex, which are basically like Lego blocks.

"The students really seem to enjoy doing class projects," says Mr. Lawson. Mr. Lawson also said, "Normally, projects are easier to do with smaller classes, but this one didn't really matter." The project takes about twenty minutes to complete. The students are not only having fun, but they are learning a lot in the process. Lawson says "I enjoy watching my students really focus and work on these projects, because it means they are interested in the class."

 When Mr. Lawson was asked how these projects benefit the students, he went on to say "It gives them a hands-on perspective of the notes we had taken." The students are graded on these projects, and the grades are counted as test grades. So far, in this semester, the Biology class has not done many class projects. Mr. Lawson says that he plans to do at least two or three more projects. Class projects truly provide an alternative way for students to get the education they need.

Written By: Austin Lane

Student art: Once again on display

In September, some controversy arose over student art no longer being on display in the halls of Burton. In particular, one student, Destiny Powers, began to make suggestions and push for student art to once again be displayed.  It appears as if the controversy has been resolved with a compromise.  In the middle of October,  bulletin board strips suddenly appeared on the walls in the cafeteria. A week later, students arrived to see art displayed on each of the strips.  However, student art is still not on display in the front hallway.

For Ms. Powers to get the art displayed in the cafeteria, she had to get the approval of both Mr. Williams, and Mrs. Bonnie, a cafeteria worker, to agree to let her hang it up. This deal also requires that all artwork must be approved by Coach Williams and both  of the Guidance Councilors  and it must avoid vulgarity.

As an advocate for student art, Destiny Powers gets to choose what artwork is put on display. Although she has the choice to pick what she believes is the very best, she likes to have a piece from every art student. Ms. Powers plans to change out the artwork every month. She plans to still hang up artwork, even after she completes all three art classes. Destiny would still like to see art hanging in the halls in the future.

Book review: "If I Stay"

Book review: "The Color Purple"

JIB news report October 16, 2015

Make up, make up, make up! What is a teenage girl without her make up?

Recently, senior,Vallen E. provided Burton's Blog with a makeup tutorial, as part of a recent focus on student features.  In this video, Vallen shows how she does her ordinary everyday makeup for school.  Vallen is very good at doing very simple every day make up without looking extremely overdone. Vallen explained how she uses her makeup, what she uses, and how to use it properly. Make up is used by many teenage girls and even some boys; it brings out natural, already beautiful, features.

Although Vallen tells her specific brand, she clarified that you can use whatever brand you feel comfortable with.

She began by using her foundation. (She told me that users can use foundation primer if wanted/needed to make it stay a little longer.) She continued by using concealer, a type of makeup used to cover acne or blemishes.  Next, she used bronzer near her cheek bones; it highlights and contours the face, as well as resembles a sun tan.  Then she uses a highlighter, not shown on video, which basically reflects light under the eyes and makes skin glow, so to speak. Finally to finish her simple, yet beautiful look, she adds mascara and lip gloss.

Written and recorded by: Mazzy

Robert Fultz, Jr. for Norton City Councilman

Robert Fultz, a math instructor at John I. Burton High School, is in the run for City Councilman of Norton, Virginia. His competitor is William Witt . The election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, in the Community Center(near Norton Elementary and Middle School).Voters must be of at least 18 years of age. Robert Fultz, Jr. is currently the appointed City Councilman until the election. He is truly an outstanding man who can handle a variety of roles; he is a teacher, a business owner, and a pastor.

As a City Councilman, Robert Fultz, Jr.would be dealing with the current problems Norton City faces, as well as opportunities available to the city.  His decisions would affect the future of Norton. His goal is to make good decisions regarding the problems and opportunities that he may face in this position. One of his other goals, if he wins the election, is to analyze and set a course that allows himself and the other councilmen to be proud of the decisions that they have made.

Robert Fultz, Jr. began his attempt at being elected councilman by getting 150 signatures through personal contact (i.e. going to houses and knocking on doors). He has also created a Facebook page that is updated regularly and shows what his campaign is all about. Access his page here.  He would like to make as many personal contacts as he possibly can. Robert Fultz, Jr. says that he tries to be involved in public affairs so that  people can know that he is running and what he stands for. He also says that he plans to use "word of mouth"(i.e.people's conversations and social media) as his means for getting votes rather than putting signs in everyone's yards and using money as political weight.

Written by: Dustin Pilkenton

Champions run hard when its hard to run

John I. Burton's Cross Country Team, consists of fourteen people, five of which are girls.  This team is coached by Sherry Beauchamp.  In a recent interview with Robert B. and Jon B., they spoke a lot of a sport that requires tons of hard work and dedication. Other members of the Cross-Country team include Nic C.,Nathan W., Sam S., Jonah S., Derrick., Austin B., Malachi K., Stacy W., Paloma B., Tiffany A., Haley H., and Sophie G.P.

 Robert and Jon said that there are four races every meet, two junior varsity, and two varsity.  There are around about 80 runners in each varsity race and about 40 in a junior varsity.  Each race consists of 3.2 miles (5k).  Among all local courses, both Jon and Robert agreed that the course at Thomas Walker is the hardest because of the many types of terrain and the fact that they have to run through various creeks.

Later in the interview, the senior captain, Robert B., who has been participating in cross country for five years said, "I qualified for state in singles last year and hope to bring my team with me this year."  Robert feels that his team will be able to achieve this goal if they work hard enough.  The strongest competition they have right now is Eastside and Castlewood.

As some cross country runners would say, "Our sport is your sport's punishment." Good luck to the Cross-Country team this year as they continue their season with, hopefully, some first place bragging rights.  The Cross-Country teams next meet is Wednesday October 21st at Radford.  Come out and support the Raiders!

Written by: Tia Bates

Do you need help "Surviving High School English?"

High school English classes are often challenging for many students; between reading complex literature selections, trying to understand grammar and mechanics, and working on essay composition, students can frequently feel overwhelmed.  However, one teacher is hoping to reduce some of the challenges students face in English classes.  Mrs. Bias, who normally provides instruction for English 10, English 11, and English 12 courses has developed a website entitled "Surviving High School English." The purpose of this website is to provide students, parents, and other teachers with resources appropriate for high school English courses.

According to Mrs. Bias, her main motivation for developing this website was student absenteeism and the constant struggle students face managing and organizing handouts.  This website functions to provide students with handouts and assignments that may have been missed due to absenteeism or lost due to a lack of organization.  She also hopes that her website will function as a way to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom by providing materials and links where students may practice difficult concepts.  Lastly, she plans to use it as a resource to communicate classroom content to parents.

On her website, there are links to different categories including writing, literature, grammar and mechanics, independent reading, vocabulary, independent study, and tips for students.  Under each category, there are links to helpful information, and printable resources . She does not plan on adding any new categories, but plans to add more resources under each category.  Mrs. Bias encourages all of her current students to visit her webpage and utilize these resources.

This guide is  for grades 9-12, and it is not intended for use by sub-freshmen, although it may be useful for them as well. Go check out the "Surviving High School English" website at www.brookebias.weebly.com.

Written by : Kaden Fisher

JIB news report October 14, 2015

Karli Underwood: The pageant life

Miss Norton, also known as Karli Underwood, is a tenth grader at John I. Burton High School. Karli has been attending and competing in pageants since the age of 6 months. She has participated in approximately 80 to 100 pageants and has won between 30 and 40 pageants.

Pageants may seem like all play, but Karli explained there is a lot of work and preparation time that is needed. However, all of the hard work pays off, as contestants win prizes. Karli has mostly won crowns and trophies, but she has also won unique prizes including a luggage set. There are also titles that are given to winners. Karli has won Miss Wise County for the past three years and is currently Miss Teen Norton. The most important title she has received in the past three years is Miss Tennessee Citrus.


Karli has competed in pageants as far away as Tazwell. She stated that if she is in a pageant mood, she will compete in one every other weekend. Her pageant coach, Lauren Barnette, has been encouraging her to compete for Miss Virginia Teen USA in 2016. She has been participating in national pageants to prepare for the competition for Miss Virginia Teen USA.

Karli has to go through a set of competitions at each pageant. The competitions include, evening gown (contestant wears a gown of their choice), onstage question (a random question, usually about contestant's hobbies or future plans. The contestant has approximately 30 to 45 seconds to answer.), fun wear/model wear (contestants pick an outfit that symbolizes one from a fashion show; they have 2 minutes to model this.), and photogenic competition (contestants are judged by a photograph of their choice). After all of the competitions have taken place there are side awards given out. The side awards include: prettiest hair, smile, eyes, best dressed, Miss Congeniality, Miss Photogenic, best interview, and best modeling.

Karli's advice to any little girl wanting to compete is, "Don't be discouraged at any pageant you compete in every judge has their own opinion. Pageants should be all about having fun and meeting new people!" 

Written by: Madi Cardon

Book review: "Muskets Along the Chickahominy"

Book review: " The Longest Ride"

Seniors getting ready to head to New York

John I. Burton's seniors feel very privileged this year, as they are planning to be the first graduating class to go on a senior trip in numerous years.  In fact, it has been so many years since Burton's seniors have had a senior trip that none of the current faculty can remember the last year that one occurred. The class of 2016 will be going to New York, but spending their nights in Newark, New Jersey at Marriot Marquis for 4 days. The seniors; Mrs. Adams and Coach Adams; and a few parents will be leaving March 23 at 11:30 PM on a charter bus from high school to their hotel in Newark. They will be returning March 27 at around midnight.

Seniors Jazlyn Adams, Emily Trent, Tiffany Cole, and Caitlyn Yates, all stated that this is the first time since they have been in high school that a senior group has gone on a trip and they are all extremely excited. They also said they are especially excited because this is the first time they, and most of the rest of the seniors, have been to New York.

In an interview with Mrs. Adams, coordinator of the trip, she said, "We will be touring such places as Central Park, Strawberry Fields, Upper West Side, Lincoln Center, Harlem, Apollo Theater, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trump Towers, Apple, H & M Niketown, Tiffany's, Sak's, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Immigration Museum, Wall Street, Chinatown, Little Italy, Empire State Building, Museum of Natural History and Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks play the Bulls. It is going to be a wonderful trip!" Seniors are responsible for coming up with $750, excluding spending money and although that seems like a lot, it is really an affordable option for a trip to the Big Apple.

This trip has opened up many opportunities for future classes to also go on senior trips. The class of 2018 will be the next group to go on a small "vacation," which, at the current time, is planned for Clearwater, Florida. Not only are the seniors excited because of the bragging rights, but also because of the educational experience that this event is providing. 

Written by: Taylor Collins

John I Burton Vs. Honaker

On Friday, October 9, the John I. Burton Raiders traveled to Honaker, Virginia to face off against the Honaker Tigers at Fuller Field. The Raiders coming into the game were predicted by the Coalfield Progress to lose, 40-0, but the Herald Courier predicted the Raiders to win by 3 points.

Coming into the game, the Raiders had one big game plan for the night: run the ball up the middle and try to score early and often. The Raiders knew this was going to be a very physical game. The Tigers were coming off a tough loss, in yet another very physical game against George Wythe. The weather was in favor of the Raiders, even though the field was turf, it was going to be rainy, and the ball would be very wet. The Raiders had a lot of practice over the past two weeks in the rain and mud. The Raiders showed their dominance early in the game, and at the end of the first quarter, the score was 21-0, Raiders up.

Throughout the game, the score did not change much. The Raiders would go on to score one more time in the second quarter, making the score 28-0. Honaker could not find an answer to stopping the Raiders, with basically a three headed monster in the backfield, consisting of Mathew Branham who rushed for 107 yards, Isaac Davis who rushed for 99 yards, and Isaac Perrigan who rushed for 96 yards. The Raiders just kept on pounding the ball at Honaker, but they appeared to get a little lethargic in the second half, not scoring any points. The game ended with the score being 28-0, Raiders win. This made the Raiders 6-1, and the Tigers 5-2.

The game was all but easy for both teams and everyone is very proud of the football team as well as the coaches. Good luck to the Raiders next week, the 23, against the Castlewood Blue Devils at home. It will be senior night, so everyone should try to attend!

Written by: Austin Lane

JIB news report October 12, 2015

Burton's library gets a little more recognition

Burton's newest book-pusher, Mrs. Poteet, has taken on the task of making a new website for the library. Poteet was very excited in showing off her well put together website; she loves working on her page and she hopes that as soon as it is finished, she can get the word out a little more. As of right now, few students or teachers know about the website, but hopefully, that will change soon.

Mrs. Poteet says that the reason she wanted to make a website was because she has a passion for the whole design process from beginning to end. She states that there is so much fun in the creation process. Fortunately, Poteet already had experience in webpage design, as she had managed the website for her old school, Grundy High School. She tried multiple times to explain just how much she fancies managing webpages, but couldn't quite capture her excitement in words.

So far, Mrs. Poteet  has worked on making and designing her website for about a week, and it is updated everyday, even though the website itself is not completed. Her favorite parts of the website are the interactive calendar that shows when the library, laptops, and soon to be arriving tablets are reserved; all of the Blog's book reviews; the new books section;  the ACT and SAT  prep information; the National Honor Society section; and a book of the month showcase.  Poteet also loves that the site is mobile ready (accessible by phone).

Help Mrs. Poteet get many more page views! To visit this stunningly engineered website, click on the link: http://jiburtonlibrary.weebly.com/

Written by: Taylor Collins

Book review: "Copper Sun"

What's a school without spirit?

During homecoming week many John I. Burton students began feeling especially energized with school spirit.  A few of the students collaborated and decided they wanted to have a student section for the homecoming football game against the Eastside Spartans.  The spirit section was organized by  Mazzy T., the sophomore Vice President, who claims she lost many hours of sleep in preparation for this event.

Although the spirit section had confetti and spirit bottles, many still feel the student section needs some improvement, as their noise level tapered off throughout the game.  They also needed more cheers and chants, as well as more participants. While the student section was not as effective as planned, the football players were tremendously thankful for the cheers provided throughout the game.  

While speaking with Mazzy T.,  she mentioned that she was a little disappointed with the number of people who participated.  She also mentioned that she wanted to continue having student sections and hopes to continue this through basketball season.

 Remember that on September 9th, the school will be taking a pep bus to the game against Honaker, but only if 25 people sign up to ride it. Sign up and come out to support your John I. Burton Raider football team!

Written by: Tia

Eric Fletcher: The ideal sophomore president

Fifteen year old Eric Fletcher was elected president of the tenth grade on September 24th, 2015.  His primary responsibility as president is to make decisions on behalf of the tenth grade. Eric played a crucial role in preparing the sophomore student section for homecoming. He said that the only real trouble is students blaming him for decisions that he has very little input in. For example, some students blame him for the vending machines having undesirable food. All in all, being the president comes with its own set of challenges.

 He is in the highest possible position that a sophomore can obtain. He, along with the other members of the sophomore council, meet in a chosen room at least once a month. Eric told me that he always tries to get the input of his fellow students before making a decision. He said that his favorite part of being the sophomore president is that he is able to represent his grade level.

Eric was the perfect candidate for president, as he shows wisdom despite his young age. He makes sure to take in the input of others. Ultimately, Eric actually cares about what he is doing in his position, and according to some may be the most dedicated of all class presidents.

Written by: Dustin Pilkenton

Homecoming: J.I. Burton vs Eastside

On October 2nd, the John I. Burton football team faced off against Eastside High School for their annual homecoming game. Despite the harsh, cold, and rainy weather conditions, the Raider fans, especially those in the student section, were determined to achieve victory over the Spartans.

Matthew Branham, a senior and football player for Burton, scored the first touchdown of the game, as well as the first two point conversion.  Branham, whose number is 32, scored  four touchdowns in total, and three of those were in the first quarter alone. Houston Thacker, a freshman and number 11 on the football team, made the first two interceptions of the game.

Matthew Branham and Houston Thacker were not the only ones to perform well in the game. Senior, Isaac Perrigan, number 2 for Burton; Junior, Jacob Branham, number 6; and Senior, Tra Adams, number 19,  made the first touchdowns of the second,  third, and fourth quarters, respectively. Tra Adams and Jacob Branham were also noted for the 65 yard pass to score the first touchdown of the third quarter. Sophomore, Austin Lane, who is number 7 on the team, made the last touchdown, which was a 35 yard touchdown, and the last two point conversion of the game for the Raiders.

Eastside played a very decent game, but only had two notable highlights, both of which were touchdowns. In the third quarter, Roger Sartin, a senior and number 5 for the Spartans, scored a 17 yard touchdown. Finally, near the end of the fourth quarter, sophomore Mason Bellamy, number 13, scored the final touchdown for Eastside High School. In the end, the Raiders won with an overall final score of 58 to 12.

Written By: Cody Messer

JIB news report October 7, 2015

Homecoming Week is a hit!

For most high school students, the week of homecoming is special, unique, and highly entertaining. It’s a week of pride and joy; it is also a week to have fun and remember for many years to come. The date of of our homecoming week was September 27th through October 2nd, and on Friday, October 2nd the Raiders faced off against the Eastside Spartans. This year’s homecoming days were: Monday, Autograph Day; Tuesday, Favorite Sports Team Day; Wednesday, Favorite Holiday Day; Thursday,Wounded Spartans Day; and Friday, Spirit Day.

Homecoming week was definitely a sight to see. The students seemed to be having a blast and really enjoyed seeing each other's creative attire each day. There were students running around everywhere with signatures all over their shirts; there were Christmas presents and cowboys; there were even wounded football players and Raider fanatics.

Just about every single student participated on at least one homecoming day. Autograph Day was the first day of homecoming. If they wanted to participate, the students wore a white tee shirt and brought a sharpie to sign other student’s shirts or have the other students sign their shirt; a few students even showed up feeling a bit rebellious in black tee shirts and carried silver sharpies for their classmates to sign with. The next day was Favorite Sports Team Day: the students wore anything that had to do with their favorite sports team, whether it be local, college, or professional. The following day, the students were allowed to dress up for their favorite holiday. On Thursday, the students dressed up as a wounded Eastside Spartan. The last day of homecoming was also game day; the John I. Burton Raiders faced off against the Eastside Spartans, in a district ball game, so the students dressed in all school colors, orange, black, and white.

This week was fun for the students, as well as for the teachers. John I. Burton does this every year in honor of homecoming, as it allows them to relax, have fun, and prove their school pride all while supporting the football team. John I. Burton also does a homecoming week during basketball season, which consists of different days.  Students are already looking forward to it.

Written by: Austin Lane

Nicholas Sparks, a library phenomenon!

The new librarian at John I. Burton High School, Mrs.Poteet, immediately realized that the Burton library is quite masculine. One day, while she was sitting in the library helping students check out books, a student came up to her and asked for a Nicholas Sparks book. She helpfully replied, "Look in the fiction section under SPA ." The student came back with a gloomy look on her face and told Mrs. Poteet that  there was not a single Nicholas Sparks book in the library. Mrs. Poteet knew that this had to change, as the number one selling romance author did not have a presence in the library.

Soon after the student left the library, Mrs.Poteet ordered all of the Nicholas Sparks books that she could find. The books that were ordered included: "The Best of Me," "Guardian," "The Longest Ride," "Message in a Bottle,""The Notebook," "Rescue," "Safe Haven," "True Believer," "A Walk to Remember," and "The Wedding." The majority of these books have won silver medals and have been adapted into film.

This author has truly changed the way people view romance novels. Nicholas Sparks is passionate about his books and the way he writes them. According to the acknowledgements in the opening of his novel "The Longest Ride," he gets his inspiration from Cathy, his lovely wife. He bases all of his female characters off of her. All of his feminine characters remind him of the times he has spent with her, or something she has done that he admired.

The day that these books came in, seven books were checked out immediately. When reading these books, many young teens were left astonished. The stories he writes are relatable to real life situations. He writes in a way that touches one's emotional side.  If anyone is interested in these novels, they are available in the John I. Burton Library.

Written by : Kira Sturgill

Burton's Blog Hit 25k veiws

At the end of September, Burton's Blog hit 25,000 total page views. The current contributors managed to get over 5,000 views in just 6 weeks, averaging around 120 views a day! The advertisers: Austin Lane, Kira Sturgill, Dustin Pilkenton, and Tia Bates were vital in the journey to establish our presence. They worked diligently to get every teacher and employee subscribed the the blog. They also designed locker signs for all contributors on the blog, and hung up posters at Burton's homecoming game, which focused on advertising sports updates. Other contributors also worked to increase page views, by sharing their articles on social networks.  Tia and Mazzy received over 350 hits on one co-written article by sharing their writing to social networks.

Burton's Bloggers would like to send out an enormous thanks to our viewers for helping us reach our goal!  Bloggers were told by Mrs. Bias, the Chief Editor and Manager of Burton's Blog, that if students were able to reach our goal, we could have a party celebrating our commitment and success. We strive to bring the most information in current school news and sports.  We also write feature articles, opinion articles, and entertainment pieces. As a team, we didn't just push for a party, we pushed ourselves to be the best journalists to have ever run this blog.

Having this party was not only a celebration of an accomplishment, but also a reward for our hard work and dedication. We want to focus on keeping the public informed and interested in our articles.  We hope to continue to provide quality information and entertainment in the future.

Book review: "The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones"

"The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones," book is the first in a series of six, all written by the author, Cassandra Clare. The book takes place in many different settings, but all somewhere in New York City. The time period is not specific, but it can be assumed that it takes place in a fairly modern time period due to the use of cell phones. There are two main characters: Clary Fray and Jace Waylond. There are many other side characters, but the ones that appear the most are: Simon Lewis; Isabelle Lightwood, Alec Lightwood, Magnus Bane, Jocelyn Fray, and Hodge Starkweather.

The book is about a world the normal eye cannot see. Mundanes, which have a certain type of blood, can view this invisible world. The protagonist, Clary Fray, is known as a mundane. The world itself is not that different, but there are buildings and people that only these certain people may view. Other than mundanes, there are many other beings that have the blood to view his world. The other type of people that most often appear in this novel are known as shadowhunters. Protagonist, Jace Waylond is one of these special people.

The book's objective revolves around finding a very important item known as The Mortal Cup. However, since this book is the first in its series, it is also the time that Cary Fray finds out who she is and the dark secrets her mother, Jocelyn Fray, has been keeping away from her for her entire life. This book was very entertaining to read, and it is recommended to anyone who wants to read a very interesting science fiction book. If you would like to read it, the book is available in our school's library.

Written by: Jailen Bailey