Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Fall Ball 2015

Fall Ball 2015
Molly Burhans

Every year, Homer High School’s International Club puts together a halloween dance, known as the Fall Ball. This exciting event is open to all Homer High students. Mrs. Zimmerman is the supervisor of the club and says that they have been putting the dance on for as long as she can remember. Everyone is encouraged to wear a costume, and prizes are given to people with the best costume, most creative costume, etc. This year, the club has a large amount of prizes donated from local establishments such as Coffee Mania, Dunkin Donuts, Frosted, Rili Bubble Tea, and many more.

Mrs. Zimmerman and all of the students involved in International Club start planning for the dance weeks in advance and take a lot of time preparing in order to make this dance one of the best of the year. Students go to local businesses and ask for the prize donations, and they make treats that are included with the price of admission. The club also does all of the decorating and they work to make sure that the dance runs smoothly. There are many exciting activities going on throughout the dance as well, such as the costume contest. There also may be a pumpkin carving contest in which you enter your name, and if it’s drawn you will get to participate in the contest. This dance is a great way to celebrate Halloween and have a good time, so come and join the fun!

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas
Skyler Powers

Halloween is just around the corner and this brings many fun activities along with it.  However, this also can pose as a dilemma for some unlucky folks.  Many of these activities require costumes.  Whether you are trick or treating, going to a cool Halloween party, or even attending Homer High School’s annual Fall Ball, chances are you will need a costume.  But being the procrastinating fellow that you are, you realize that you haven’t put together a costume yet.  If you are in this situation, you are lucky because I am here to help with some awesome costume ideas that can be put together quickly and still steal the show.  So without further ado, let’s get started!
The first costume idea is for those Instagram lovers and hashtag spammers alike.  Take a plain t-shirt of any color and use adhesive letters or masking tape to spell out the word “Thursday” on the front of the shirt.  Next, wrap the lower half of the shirt with a bandage but make sure not to cover up the letters.  For an ultra-realistic costume, constantly moan to others about your aching back.  What are you?  You are Throwback Thursday, commonly referred to simply as #TBT.  
The next option is for someone who likes books and, ideally, doesn’t need to use their hands much.  Just take one or two catcher’s mitts and then glue a piece of rye bread to each mitt.  This may confuse those who aren’t familiar with classic American literature, but you are referencing J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.  You could also always throw in some existential angst for effect.  
The next idea is a quick and simple one that is best for those arrogant clean freaks out there, but anyone can pull this off with the right materials and attitude.  Start with a plain t-shirt of any color and then simply glue several sponges to your shirt.  Then, as I hinted at, act as arrogant as possible.  You could even throw in a mirror which you should constantly stare into.  What are you?  You are “Self-Absorbed.”
Up next is a good ole play on words.  Once again, you will need a plain t-shirt of any color.  Then open up an old World Atlas or that new one that you got for Christmas that you’ll never use, not even when you travel to Timbuktu.  Next, take out your handy dandy scissors and cut out a section of a map that features several countries. Pull out your glue and glue the map to the side of the T shirt, but only to the side of the T shirt.  Glueing a map to any other part of the shirt would ruin the costume.  If you have followed the instructions, you should be a countryside.  
This next idea will satisfy even the most casual costume wearers.  This is a super convenient option for trick or treating since the weather can be unpredictable.  All you need is any pair of pants as long as they have pockets.  If you play the guitar, this will be even easier since the second step requires you to glue several guitar picks to the outside of your pockets.  What are you?  You are a pickpocket.  
For this sharp costume idea, you’ll need to pull that black shirt out of your closet that you never wear.  Don’t worry though, this shirt will still be wearable when Halloween is over.  Now, you may have to go out to the store and purchase some white duct tape if you don’t already have it but that should be all you need.  I hope you also have a fork lying around; a plastic one is best but I suppose a stainless steel one or even a genuine silver one will work too.  Just create dashes in a line going up the middle of your shirt with the tape and tape your forck under one of the dashes.  It should look like a road with a fork in it or, in other words, a fork in the road.  
I’m afraid we have come to the last costume idea on this list, and it may confuse some of you modern people.  You may be too young to know what I am talking about, but there was a time before selfies were a thing.  I know, crazy right?  Back in those days, people would flaunt all of their filtered beauty through a different method.  That’s right, I’m talking about self-portraits.  Now don’t break out your paints and pastels yet and don’t worry if you are a horrible artist.  This requires no artistic ability, but I think I should give the disclaimer that there are no filters available.  Everyone will see your real face which is a big change from those Instagram selfies which are Vignetted to death.  All you need for this “portrait-perfect” costume is a snazzy picture frame; a gold one will add a vintage feel but if sleek and modern silver is your thing, that will work too.  Then just use your hands to hold the frame in front of your face and voila, you are your own very self-portrait!

Well folks, I hope this list of clever, last minute costume ideas has helped you.  No one wants to show up to a party wearing a bedsheet or trick or treating with sweatpants and a pillow case.  With these awesome ideas, you can look absolutely amazing and impress and/or confuse your friends, family, and everyone else.  Halloween is a day that you can be whatever you want: a superhero, a supervillain, a supermodel, or your favorite catchphrase.  Don’t waste it!  And who knows, if you use one of these suggestions, maybe you’ll win the Fall Ball costume contest!

Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Living with Type 1 Diabetes
Alyson Witt

What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes is a chronic condition that is common in adolescents and experiences about 200,000 to 3 million cases a year. This disease occurs when the body does not produce insulin due to damaged cells from the pancreas. Insulin is required in order for cells to take in sugars, produced from the carbohydrates that we eat, from our bloodstream. When there is too much sugar in your blood, it's known as a high blood sugar, and a low blood sugar is when there isn't enough sugar in your blood. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include increased thirst and hunger, fatigue, or blurred vision. Type 1 diabetes differs from type 2, which develops due to irregular eating habits, lack of exercise and a poor diet. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still produces insulin although it can produce less over time when compared to the pancreas of one without diabetes.

Is there a cure and what treatments are available?
Although there is no cure to permanently cure diabetes, there are many treatments available. When diagnosed, lab tests and imaging are required to develop a treatment plan suited to your needs. Treatments aim to maintain healthy blood sugars (ranging anywhere from 85-150 mg/dl), regular blood sugar checking (monitoring), insulin dosage, diet, and exercise. Insulin is given mainly through shots or through a pump. Shots are given whenever food is eaten in order to cover carbs or when blood sugar is high in order to bring it down to a healthy level. Also with shots, you must take a shot of Lantus, a type of man-made insulin, at night to stabilize you throughout the night. With a pump you take less shots and, therefore, have more freedom than if you used solely shots. The pump requires you to change a site every three days but it's also more reliable and easier to control than the shots.

What's it like living with diabetes?

When I was diagnosed in June 10, 2010, it brought about a major change in my life. I had to learn how to take care of my body in order to keep it healthy. Through many late nights and many visits to the doctors, I have gained a better understanding of how to manage my diabetes. Living with diabetes is hard, you're constantly fighting for your life and often you are limited to many things. Shots and site changes are painful and you're often asked to explain what you're dealing with to people, which can get tiring. But through all of it, you have to keep fighting and stay strong. This is my plan.

JumpStart 10: Sophomore Class Field Trip

JumpStart 10: Sophomore Class Field Trip
Reed Cleland

Homer’s entire sophomore class took a field trip, known as JumpStart 10, on Tuesday, October 20th. This trip aimed at giving high schoolers a preview into the college world. JumpStart 10 is a program sponsored at SUNY Cortland, where the event was also held. The entire Cortland County district, seven schools in all, came together in a day full of informative workshops. The day was sectioned into three tracks; each track had a variety of workshops. The first track was based on what to expect when getting ready for and applying to colleges, and it contained workshops such as “Let Your Strengths Guide You” and “Getting Ready For College”. The second track addressed social aspects such as “The Power of Advocacy” and “Superhero, Villain or Bystander: It’s Your Choice”. The third track encompassed a variety of career workshops such as “Trending...Hot Jobs in Central New York,” “Careers in Journalism,” and “Careers in Welding.” There was something in it for everybody, and everybody returned to school having learned something new. Many thanks should be given SUNY Cortland for providing seven schools with both lunch and raffle prizes and for hosting the event in general! Also, congratulations to Homer’s sophomores for being superb representatives of our school!

Sunday, October 18, 2015

The Homecoming Hype

The Homecoming Hype
Marleah Dentes

With the beginning of the school year came the events that make up homecoming and a surge of pride and support for the Homer Trojans. Each year, the week leading up to the football game is spirit week; themes for each day of the week contribute to the sense of unity and satisfaction students feel. The events encompassing homecoming also include a pep rally the day before the game, a parade an hour prior to kickoff, and a dance immediately after the game.

This year, Homer played the Skaneateles Lakers on October 2nd at seven o’clock. In preparation, banners were made for the parade, activities were organized for the pep rally, and many people worked very hard this year to make homecoming a success. Spirit Week happened from September 28th to October 2nd and students participated tremendously in order to raise school spirit for the big game. Monday was tie dye day, Tuesday was twin day, Wednesday was rockin’ sock day, Thursday was america day, and Friday was bleed blue day. The pep rally was on on Thursday, October first from seven to nine at night. It had a DJ, plenty of food, and a kickball game. The class with the highest attendance, the senior class, received one-hundred dollars for their class and one-hundred dollars for a charity of their choice. This year, the theme for the banners, which made an appearance in the parade and during halftime at the game, was greek mythology. In each grade, members of student council chose a mythical creature and gathered as many people as possible from their class in order to create the best banner they could. This year, the junior class won the banner contest with their creation depicting Poseidon. Overall, homecoming for 2015 was a huge success.

Homecoming Court

Homecoming Court
Marleah Dentes

This year’s Homecoming was a huge success. Many people look forward to not just the homecoming football game, but also the annual crowning of a new Homecoming King and Queen. Last year, Lucy Connery was crowned as queen and Anthony Basile as king. The candidates on this year’s list were very promising; the students on the court were generated from a staff vote on the entire senior class. For homecoming king, the candidates were Ryan Aylesworth, Nate Cottrell, Mark Currie, Tighe Gugerty, Beck Lundeen, David Perfetti, Joe Settineri, and Ryan Wainwright. As for homecoming queen, the candidates were McKayla Crawford, Kennedy George, Abby Gray, Jordan Laundry, Sophia Pizzola, Molly Ulrich, Karlee Vanwagenen, and Carolyne Yonta. The homecoming court was introduced at the Pep Rally and the winners were announced during halftime at the homecoming game. A big congratulations goes out to Carolyne Yonta and Ryan Wainwright for their victory as Homecoming Queen and King.

Youth and Government

Youth and Government
Neil Malakar

Youth and Government is one of the many extra-curricular activities offered by Homer High School and it focuses on politics and law. Y&G is unique because of the opportunities that it presents to students and its value as a medium of expression that allows them to discover new interests and expand their horizons.

First of all, the structure of the club mimics that of the state government’s Judicial and Legislative branches. Those who choose to join the Legislative Branch draft “bills” on a topic of their choosing that they will learn the ins and outs of and be able to defend. They will get to present these bills at the New York State Conference in March. Those who join the Judicial Branch are given a criminal case, and they will act as attorneys on one side of the dispute and present their formal case at the conference mentioned above. Each group has its own unique benefits and idiosyncrasies, but the beauty in each can only be determined by its beholder.

The New York State Youth and Government Conference is held every year in March at the Desmond Hotel in Albany. It is a truly awe-inspiring experience, as it gives an idea of the grand scope of this nationwide organization through the number and diversity of the other young people there. The conference is also where one presents the bill or case that one spent the last few months perfecting and rehearsing. These orations actually take place in the State Capitol building, in the courtrooms and assembly rooms that are used by state officials.

Homer’s Y&G group meets on Thursday nights at 7:00- 8:30 at the Cortland YMCA. Even if you are only slightly interested in what the club has to offer, why not stay for a bit and see what goes on? It will definitely be worth your time.

Open House 2015

    Open House 2015
Alyson Witt

On the 7th of October, the Homer High School hosted its annual Open House. This is a time where parents get to visit the school and have an opportunity to be introduced to their child’s teachers. They are also informed on what their child can be expecting from the courses in the upcoming year. Parents followed their student's everyday schedule and had about fifteen minutes to be introduced to the teacher and get a sense of what is offered from the class as well things such as grading policies and requirements for the class. Parents also got to learn about Homer's various clubs and extracurricular actives from the numerous tables located in the main lobby. Here, they could also buy t-shirts to support the school. Many of Homer's staff, students, and parents attended the event.

Species Spotlight: Ringed Teal

Species Spotlight: Ringed Teal
Alex Levitskiy


This week’s featured species is one of my favorite duck species: the Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys).  This small duck is native to South American forests.  The males have a chestnut-red coloring on their back, grey flanks, and a salmon colored breast that is speckled with black.  The head is distinctively marked with a black band running from its beak to its flank.  The bill of the male is a light blue color.  The hens are an overall brown color, however their heads are marked with white splotches and their breasts are penciled with white.  Both sexes have a white rump, dark tail, and their infamous white ring on their wings; the ring is seen most clearly when they are in flight.  Both sexes also have pink feet that have sharp claws, allowing them to perch and nest amongst the trees. The lovely part about these ducks is that the males do not have an eclipse plumage, so they remain colorful all year long.  Ringed Teals also make a sound similar to that of a cat’s meow.  
Ringed Teal do have a fairly stable population in the wild, and they are also well-represented in captivity.  Ringed Teal are calm ducks that pose no challenges to raise.  They also easily pair bond.  The hens are great at incubating and rearing the ducklings, and the drakes even take part in protecting their family.  In captivity there are various color mutations of Ringed Teal, like Blonde Ringed Teal, which I raise.  Since they are native to warm regions of South America like Argentina and Paraguay, care needs to be taken to protect them from the elements during the extreme cold spells in the winter.  This duck is a great species to keep to spruce up one’s collection, especially during the months when other species are in eclipse plumage.


The Male Ringed Teal


The Ringed Teal Duck Family






The Blonde Ringed Teal Hen








Insane Inflatable 5k

Insane Inflatable 5k    
     Alyson Witt


    On the 10th of October, I had the opportunity to test my speed, agility, strength, and brainpower as I competed in the Insane Inflatable 5k, sponsored by McDonald's. McDonald’s also contributed a "kid zone" for children who weren't running in the race. This event was located in Binghamton near the tri-cities regional airport. The 3.1 mile course was composed of mixed terrain and trail running through a series of dirt paths and fields lined with cones. More importantly, it incorporated a series of about 10 inflatable obstacles. Admission for this event ranged from fifty to one-hundred dollars, but parking and spectating were free. These events happen year round all over the United States.

    I raced at 9:15 am in the third wave of the day. In total there were 12 waves between the time period of 8 am and 12 pm. To participate, I paid an admission fee of sixty dollars, but in the end the achievements and experiences were well worth it. Compared to the about fifty runners in my event I placed first, being the first to come across the finish line from the 9:15 wave. All runners, including myself, received a metal and a t-shirt to recognize their efforts. I also received a picture with someone from a local radio station who was helping run the event. In total, about 579 runners competed in the race. Jacob Maxwell (who placed third), Emma Anderson (who placed second), Ken Maxwell, and Kendra Anderson ran with me. This weekend gave me and my friends a newfound love for running. I’d encourage anyone to take place in an Insane Inflatable 5k if they ever have chance in the future.

















Humans of Homer

Humans of Homer
Autumn Stevens



You may or may not be familiar with the popular interviews of “Humans of New York.” Similarly, and on a much smaller scale, is The Olympian’s new feature, the “Humans of Homer.” If you were one who mentally checked “may not” in your head, I’ll explain. Here at Homer High School we have tons of brilliant athletes, artists, musicians, students, teachers, and well, humans. Each of these people has a story, and my goal is to tell it for them. I will ask a selected human in Homer a thought provoking question in hopes that they will reveal a little part of themselves.
Now that you know a little more about what “Humans of Homer” is, let’s get to know me, the author. Here’s the question I randomly selected for myself, “Do you feel like your outside appearance is a fair representation of the ‘real you’?” and here is my answer:

Often times I joke about what my style even is. It varies from “I got this from the thrift store and I’m still not sure if it’s cute or not” to “should I continue my middle school emo phase” to “I am a princess and I’m going to dress as such.” Even though my style changes from day to day, I still feel like it shows who I really am. I do not have just one style, nor do I have just one personality. I wear certain outfits for certain occasions, I pose a certain demeanor for certain situations. That is who I am; a complexity of a person with a unique idea of fashion. I am Autumn Stevens.

Cross Country Invite at Baldwinsville

Cross Country Invite at Baldwinsville
Alyson Witt
    

  On the 26th of September, both the modified and varsity Homer Cross Country teams traveled to the home of the Baldwinsville Bees to compete at their 64th annual cross country invite. Here they raced on a 2.95 mile course which was mostly flat with the exception of some steep hills. The runners raced in the woods as well as through the school fields. This meet was held between roughly fifty-nine other schools; many of which were local, such as Liverpool, Cortland, Tully and St. Mary's. Although the race was also open to any non scholastic runners, those that ran without correlation to a school were mainly alumni and friends of the Baldwinsville Cross Country program. Team and individual results for the race were supplied by the Leone timing service.

      Both teams competed in the varsity small school race, and were very successful. Both the girls and boys teams finished sixth compared to 20-25 other teams. All runners received a ribbon at the finish line, and the top twenty finishers were also awarded a t-shirt. McKayla Crawford (6th), Zoe fish (14th), and Arielle Moheimani (18th) all placed in the top twenty in their varsity race against 161 other runners. From the boys team, Evan Ulrich (6th) and Grant Stoke (12th) also placed in the top twenty and received a t-shirt. Overall, this race was yet another success for the Homer Cross Country program.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead!

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead!

    Thanks to everyone who came to show their support for the production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead on May 9 and 10! The cast greatly appreciated it! Honorable mentions go to Paula Gustafson for supplying the show with costumes and ideas, as well as Michael Brutvan and Rachel Hyde for taking some amazing photos! And let’s not forget the parents who have been there throughout the entire process! Your assistance has been invaluable! Unfortunately, the senior cast and tech crew members will be leaving after this year. This includes:

Jake Elkins
Wyatt Bush
Jordan Green
Zack Randall
Elizabeth Redenback
Erik Gustafson
Lilly Gustafson
Jared Pace
Lukas Pizzola
Kaige Gailor

    While we are saddened by their departure, we hope for their continued success in college and beyond! There are sure to be many more great cast and tech crew members to join the society along the way! So, from everyone in the Shakespearean Society, thank you! And remember to look forward to future productions next year!





Isa Berthelsen: Foreign Exchange Student Interview

Isa Berthelsen: Foreign Exchange Student Interview
Skyler Powers




Every year, a foreign exchange student comes to Homer High School for the school year.  The school’s latest foreign exchange student is Isabell, “Isa”, Berthelsen.  Isa is from southern Denmark, specifically the small island called Tåsinge.  She lives there with her mother, father, and twelve year old brother.  Before coming here, she had a job at a radio station, fitness center, and a jewelry company.  
I was lucky enough to interview her and I found out a lot of interesting and intriguing information about her life and Denmark.  I asked her what her favorite American food was and she replied by saying, “That’s a tough question. You have a lot of REALLY good food, but my favorites must be peanut butter and American pancakes.  I heard you can get it together which sounds amazing!  I also like donuts which I had never tasted before I came to the US.  They’re good!”  I then asked her what her favorite and least favorite things were about the United States and how they compare to Denmark. She said that she loved the food, the attitude, and the people.  She politely added that she didn’t have a least favorite, but did point out that Denmark has a lot of good food as well.  When bringing up her various experiences here in the United States, she said that her best school-related experiences were Spirit Week and her first American football game even though she didn’t quite understand the game itself.  I built on this idea by asking her what the most interesting thing she had seen in the United States was. She brought up the Great New York State Fair, specifically the fried food and various activities there, and pointed out how it was unlike anything in Denmark.  Lastly, I asked her what she had learned since coming to our country and she mentioned our odd foods and excess of political television.  
I then moved on to questions concerning her home country, Denmark.  She said that she had travelled to places throughout Europe but never to the United States.  She also said that Danish was her first language but she had taken English in school since the age of ten.  German also happens to be a language that she can speak.  She wanted to point out to Americans that Danes love licorice and their frequent use of the word “hyggelig” which roughly translates to “cozy.”  However, that translation doesn’t cover it’s meaning in Danish according to Isa since they call their nation a “hyggelig” one.  I then proceeded to ask her how the United States’ educational system compares to Denmark’s.  She said that they are drastically different and went on to explain it.  Danes start school when they are six years old at grade 0.  They continue through to grade 9 which they graduate when they are sixteen.  When Isa returns to Denmark, she will take three years of gymnasium which is similar to our high school before heading off to the university.  She added that in Danish schools, students remain in the same classrooms all day and the teacher change rooms. She also mentioned that they have different schedules every single day as opposed to the even and odd days that are in place here at Homer.  Lastly, she pointed out our shorter breaks between classes (four minutes as opposed to five to fifteen minutes in Denmark), how we refer to our teachers (last names as opposed to first names) and our lockers which are hard to open for her since there are no lockers in Danish schools.
Isa then gave some really interesting facts about Denmark that include: their excessive uses and odd applications of ketchup, their traffic lights with different color sequences, the fact that young Danes wear black nearly all the time, their excessive utilization of bicycles, the fact that eighteen is the age at which you can get your driver’s license, their tendency to swear, their celebration of Christmas on December 24th, the minimum age for purchasing alcohol being sixteen, the fact that sports are completely separate from schools, their lower amount of TV commercials, the fact that the female singer in “Lean On,” MØ, is Danish, their love for American movies, and their own version of several American TV shows.  
Lastly, Isa told me that she misses her friends and family but appreciates her host family’s kindness as well as the kindness of everyone.  She really wants to learn more about the United States and its culture and she hopes to return to Denmark with many memories, fun experiences, and better English.  If you see Isa in the halls at school, be sure to say hello and welcome her to Homer.

Local Boy Scouts Complete Summer Backpacking Trek in New Mexico

Local Boy Scouts Complete Summer Backpacking Trek in New Mexico
Neil Malakar

From July 27th to August 15th this summer, a crew of twelve Boy Scouts and leaders from Homer’s Troop 79 traveled to New Mexico for a twelve day long backpacking trip at Philmont Scout Ranch in the Rocky Mountain wilderness. Eight students of Homer High School, Tighe Gugerty, Neil Malakar, Jack Church, Andy Swenson, Tim Swenson, Andrew Thompson, Chris Delage,  and Lucas Payne, were among those that participated. This voyage, nearly eighty miles long, was one that tested the mettle of this group as they climbed mountains, avoided black bears, and pushed themselves to their physical limits.
The crew arrived at Philmont’s base camp on Wednesday, the 29th of July, and set out on the trail the following day. They went with full packs, which often weighed between thirty-five and fifty pounds each. These were laden with all the gear they would need to take on the wilderness: dehydrated food, tents, sleeping items, mess kits, clothing, and crew items such as camp stoves or rope. Each day, the crew would walk anywhere from five to ten miles, almost entirely uphill, stopping for breaks, map checks, or to simply absorb the breathtaking views that seemed to follow them wherever they went. On the third day of the trek, the group side-hiked a mountain called the Tooth of Time, Philmont’s most iconic natural feature. At 9,003 feet, this would be one of two notable high peaks that they would surmount. The other one was Mount Phillips, sharing its namesake with Philmont, at 11,742 feet. Unlike most of New Mexico, which is arid desert land, the northeastern region is particularly green and heavily forested.

Despite the physically and mentally taxing nature of their itinerary, the boys were generally able to keep morale high through a perpetual flow of banter. They also got to enjoy themselves at the various staffed camps along the trail where they could experience a variety of engaging programs. These included horseback riding, homesteading, rock climbing and rappelling, bathing in a Navajo-style sweat lodge, fly fishing, rifle shooting, musket shooting, and tomahawk throwing. Overall, the trip was a life-changing experience for every member of the crew, and marked a great accomplishment for all who went.

Shakespearean Society Production

Shakespearean Society Production
Reed Cleland

After a well-deserved summer’s vacation, the Homer Shakespearean Society is up on stage again and production is under way for a Midsummer Night’s Dream set in...1967 San Francisco? Shakespeare is being brought into the twentieth century, where fairies are hippies, lovers are Young Republicans, and mechanical workers are labor unionists! Many thanks to BOCES for providing us with the use of their auditorium! More updates will be posted as the show comes closer. Mark your calendars for November’s production of a Midsummer Night’s Dream!

Director: Ms. Louise Felker
Stage Manager: Mikaela Elkins
Assistant Stage Director: Kenian Ulrich
Costumes: Mrs. Paula Gustafson

Cast:
Theseus: David Fein
Hippolyta: Kate Halstead
Philostrata: Sarah Redenback
Egeus: Rowan Travis
Hermia: Tessa Brown
Lysander: Drew Gustafson
Demetrius: David Fuller
Helena: Elena Gustafson
Quince: Hanna Whalen
Snug: Benji Hyde
Bottom: David Perfetti
Francis Flute: Nate Johnson
Tom Snout: Will Anderson
Robin Starveling: Brenden Haskins
Robin Goodfellow (Puck): Reed Cleland
Peaseblossom: Emily Travis
Oberon: Stephen Hyde
Titania: Julia Gustafson
Mustardseed: Chrissy Rolfe
Moth: Abby Elkins

Cobweb: Leah Potter

New Visions


New Visions
Tighe Gugerty

Every year, a select group of Homer Seniors participate in an OCM-Boces program called New Visions. This program offers students a glimpse into either the world of medical professions or into that of outdoor education. Seniors Kenian Ulrich, Maddie Jennings, Jacob Jensen, and Michael Morse are participating in the outdoor education program while Katie Ryan and Carly VanWagenen  are participating in the medical program.
For each of these programs, students leave school for half of the day to go to either the Cortland Regional Medical Center or the Lime Hollow Nature Center. To compensate for their missed periods, they receive an English 12 credit and Government & Economics credit. For each of these programs, students must be of good academic standing and have good leadership skills

The medical program offers an insight into the wide variety of medical professions through working at the hospital and doing research about medical professions. Students actually work with medical staff to get a hands on feel for this field. The environmental science program offers students a glimpse into the world around them and how to preserve it. They learn about the complex ecosystems of the area and the diverse flora and fauna. Students also take backpacking trips to greater expose them to the environment surrounding them. Congratulations to all of the Seniors who were chosen to participate in the New Visions program this year.