The Rich Central Torch

Spring Break is in the air

by Asya P.

Spring Break, for both students and staff alike, is a week off of school and work to enjoy the fresh spring air, relax and rejuvenate.  While some people may be traveling during their week off, most will be staying home.  However, but just because a person home bound for the week, doesn’t mean they don’t have anything on the agenda.

“This is my time to do what I want,” said Edrianna B., senior at Rich Central. “It’s like a mini-summer break, and I have no problem staying at home.”

Mario R., freshman at Rich Central will be “playing basketball, going places with my friends, and if nothing else comes up, I’ll just stay in and watch ESPN.”

This is the one time during the year students can take a small break with the possibility of great weather and dedicate some time to themselves, as well as other activities.

Some won’t be relaxing much at all.  Welbon M., a senior a Rich Central says “I plan to accomplish a lot with my music and work on different fashion projects, I hope to stir up some buzz about my production business and getting my name out there by the time break is over. I want to make this a very productive Spring Break.”

As it would be nearly impossible to find a student or teacher not looking forward to a glorious week off, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be trying to spend all day outdoors.   In addition to social gatherings and other means of entertainment, many people will focusing on one thing.

“I plan to sleep all day,” adds Edrianna B. “I’m not worrying about anyone but myself.”

Elijah M., a sophomore at Rich Central, added, “I don’t care if I don’t go anywhere at all, I’ll just get on Twitter or watch a movie.”

While some may have a calendar full of events and others have no set agenda at all, the only real plan for Spring Break should to be make it as enjoyable and relaxing as possible whatever you do, or don’t do.     

Cupid’s Arrow: Day of Love

by: Whitney F.

Love is in the air. That’s right, Valentine’s Day is coming and it’s coming fast. That means whatever needs to be done, whatever finishing touches need to be made for that perfect gift, should be made fast.  Many people have different views on Valentine’s Day, so I spoke with some Rich Central students to get their views.

          To keep a balance, I spoke with one male and and one female about their views on this holiday. 

          When  DeVeon D. was asked what comes to mind when he thinks of February 14th, he stated, “My two year anniversary comes to mind, which is a very special day to me.”  When asked what was his idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day evening included he said, “Going to the movies and out to dinner and relaxing and spending quality time with my loved one.”

          For those who may not have a special someone on Valentine’s Day, DeVeon would recommend spending time with your family or getting together with other single friends and do something fun.  

          To get a females perspective on Valentine’s Day, I spoke to Dominique F. When she was asked what came to mind when she hears Valentine’s Day she replied by saying, “I think love and all that gushy stuff.”   Dominique went on to say she doesn’t really mind Valentine’s Day, it is just another day.  When asked what was her idea of a romantic date she stated, “A dinner, a movie, and a walk through a park.” 

          Many gifts are also exchanged on Valentine’s Day.  When asked what she would give someone on Valentine’s Day she said that she would give a friend a hug and someone that she is in a relationship she would give them candy.

         There you have it, the views and feelings towards Valentine’s Day from a male and a female. What do you do for Valentine’s Day for that special someone? What are you planning on doing for that special day?  

Super Bowl XLVI

by Marlon S.

As we all know Super Bowl XLVI is being held this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, in Indianapolis. Although our hometown team Chicago Bears won’t be playing, the match-up is still a great one; it is a Super Bowl rematch between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.

These two teams met previously in Super Bowl XLII, with the Giants taking the victory in a 17-14 win over the Patriots, who up until that point, we undefeated.  Taking that loss to the Giants had to have left the Patriots bitter. Although the teams are not necessarily the same, the same quarterbacks and head coaches remain.

The Rich Central Torch staff asked some of our very own coaches and teachers how they feel about the game. Coach Stein, P.E. teacher and member of the basket ball staff, picked the Patriots by three over the Giants.

In addition, Coach Stallings, P.E. teacher and baseball coach, stated, “A 27-24 win for the Giants, because Eli manning is underrated and he has defense to back him up.”

One of our football coaches, Coach Woods, stated, “Giants win due to their defense, their leadership at quarterback in Eli Manning, and they have great talent surrounding him.”

Regardless of all the predictions, the match up will be a tough one, with two great teams, both vying for the big prize.  Be sure to tune in this Sunday evening on CBS. 

Speed Camp

by Brandon F.

Every Sunday from 3-4 P.M., in the Rich Central gymnasium, there is blood, sweat, and tears. Coach Quincy Woods is giving back to his community by holding a speed camp for junior high and high school athletes.

Woods was a talented high school athlete at Rich East.  He was the highest ranked quarterback in the nation and attended University of Southern California. 

In addition to Woods, speed camp is assisted by other top athletes.  Ryan Yarbrough, who played for the Baltimore Ravens; University of Minnesota alum and running back coach, Jeff Spikes; and other members of Rich Central’s own coaching staff, including Mr. Alexander, who played football and wrestled at Northern Illinois University. 

Woods came up with the idea for the camp, and says, “it was something we needed in the area because kids have to a great distance to get the workouts they need.”

What makes the camp special is its competitive nature. The camp pushes athletes competitiveness against each other along with pushing themselves to the highest limit possible.

The camp specifically hits anything with speed, explosion, and acceleration.  It helps increase speed, elevate jumping, and increase acceleration.  With athletes competing and giving it their all, they are being taught that hard work and dedication can get them where they want to be in life.

Lady Olympians Play Tough Game

By Lauren R.

On Thursday night, January 19, 2012, Rich Central’s Lady Olympians varsity basketball ball team took their first lost in a conference game against the Rich South Stars, leaving their record for conference 6-1. It was a rough and aggressive game that the ladies played very well.

Throughout the game, the team continued to played hard and strong, but seemed to lack defense. The intensity between the two teams was overwhelming and hyped up both the players and coaches. Down 16 at the end of fourth quarter, the girls did not give up and kept pushing hard, trying to get the victory over H-F.

Keeping her head in the game, Ariel S. felt that, as a team, they used what they had to the best of their ability, and many teammates stepped up in a big help to their defense. She also stated, “As time progresses and we play more games, I think our chemistry will increase, and our playing together as a whole will improve.”

Upset about the lost, but proud of how much commitment his girls showed throughout the game, Coach Dice believed, “The girls played excellent considering we missed some key players. The team really stepped out.”

As the second half of the game went on, Coach Dice believed they fell down due to lack of guards and didn’t have enough ball handlers to handle the H-F defensive.  Coach Dice  feels that H-F took advantage by having defensive pressure. As the season continues on, Coach Dice states, “I think it’s going to take team and group effort if our girls want to go down state, but they definitely have the athletic ability.”

Early Anticipation for Prom 2012 

By Brandi P.

It’s that time of the year again; the 2012 prom is approaching quickly. After winter break, students have started the count down to the big day.

At the beginning of the second quarter, guidelines for the availability to go to prom were set. Students who have four or more unexcused absences, an out of school suspension, and/or two or more in school suspensions will not be eligible to attend this year’s prom. Since these guidelines have been placed, students have made it their duty to follow them so that they can attend.

The early buzz consist of questions such as “Who’s taking who to prom?” “Are you driving or are you taking a limo” and “What colors are you going to wear?”  Females are deciding where to book their hair and nail appointments and where to get their purchase their dresses. The males are deciding about their hair styles and what kind of statement to make with their tux.  Senior Ashley T. decided that she is “going to wear a pretty coral color, which is great for spring.”

This year’s prom will be held at Dinolfo’s Banquets on May 5th. Students always throw out the possibilities of where prom should be. Since a lot of television shows create the fantasy of a “dream prom,” students feel they should have the same possibilities. However, that’s not always the case.

When asked about her expectations of prom, Layne M. responded, “I just hope it’s a night to remember. Since we don’t get to go anywhere super fancy like some other schools, I hope the party is good, because I like to partyyy.”

Is “Senioritis” here to stay?

by Jordan W.

Second semester has come and you know what that means to seniors: SENIORITIS! Most seniors are either dressing like “bums” or sporting college apparel. Most seniors know where they want to go to school at by now some are still applying.

Senior Osayuki Uwumarogie said that “I can’t wait to get out of here, the anticipation is killing me!!” Most seniors have unfortunately caught the disease. Symptoms of senioritis include: unexpected laziness, dressing like a “bum”, and sudden anticipation of leaving school.

If you have experienced two out of three or all three of those symptoms, you might be coming down with senioritis. “I mean it’s understandable” said Mrs. Baxter, a physics teacher at Rich Central. “I’ve had seniors before in my classes and I always dread second semester because all you hear is seniors counting down and getting lazy with their work.”

Most teachers are very understanding of this disease. “I mean they’ve worked so hard to get here and I could understand why they have those feelings. I’ve had those same ones when I was a senior in high school.” said keyboarding instructor Mrs. Robertson. Whether you have it or not, administrator’s advise seniors to not get too excited because there is still more work to be done.

FAFSA Going Fast

by Emma P.

As we move into the end of January, seniors are counting down their final days of high school. Most seniors have already chosen the college they’ll attend, while others are still in the process. The next step is filling out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid or commonly known as FAFSA. 

Even if you do not believe you are eligible, the FAFSA website, encourages your application, regardless.  According to FAFSA, “Many students make incorrect assumptions about their eligibility for federal student aid. As a result, they sometimes simply refuse to submit a FAFSA, believing there is no point in doing so.”

FAFSA has been available since January 1^st and it’s on a first-come-first-serve basis.  FAFSA is based on the income of your parents, how many dependents they have and how many are attending college. Some students will receive a considerable amount of money, while others may not because their parents make too much.

As students, the best bet is to get it done early and out the way, whether or not they think they will get “enough” money because once the money is gone it’s gone.

Fall Fashion: You Can Get With This or You Can Get With That

by Whitney D.

As winter rapidly approaches, students at Rich Central are in tune with their fashion senses and, as the years have passed, the trends have changed as well. In the early 2000s name brands like Baby Phat, Apple Bottom, and Rocawear were popular. Over the years name brands like Nike, Jordan, and Tru Religion have still been popular with the student body at Rich Central. They seem to be some of the more popular brands.

The major question is this: While having designer things is nice, are they really necessary?

Students, along with some teachers, are fairly stylish. Within the district, Rich Central seems to be known as the “most stylish” or “most materialistic” of all three buildings. We usually set the trends for other schools to follow.

Over the years, popular fads for name brands have decreased and the actual appreciation for fashion sense has increased. Students are no longer labeling students by a label they are wearing, but are giving credit for the way someone assembled their clothes, regardless of brands.

Whether students and teachers are sporting old, hand-crafted flannels, Chucks, or old-school crewnecks and letterman jackets, students have shown that the demand for name brands is not as important as it used to be in the past.

Senior Deadlines: Up Against the Line

by Jordan W.
December 19, 2011

As we all know, college is the main priority seniors are thinking about at this time of year. What if I told you that there are still some seniors who haven’t applied yet?

Senior Robert F. said, “The only reason I haven’t applied is because I am still waiting for my new ACT score because my current one isn’t so good.”

Senior Tanesha K. has another reason she has yet to apply, saying, “I haven’t applied because I still need to get all of my information together.”

As the first semester comes to an end, counselor Mr. Craig tells seniors, “We will not really be helping seniors next semester because of the ACT coming up. If seniors need their transcripts they need to do it before December 23.”

Most college deadlines are in December or January, so seniors need to get a jump on application process as soon as possible.

Student Spotlight: Munang E.

by Lashai S.
Staff Reporter
December 16, 2011

There is a wealth of talent amongst students at Rich Central High School, but one student in this building who is hard to overlook is Munang E.

Munang is a junior on the Rich Central Varsity Boys’ basketball team. He is one of the team’s key players as a starter for the 2011-2012 season. 

“I feel more accomplished since I have more opportunities to show my talents and get time to shine,” said Munang E.

What he does before games to get himself prepared is a long process of mental and spiritual preparation.  “I ask God for blessings and protections during the game,” he went on to say. “I focus on my role for the team.”

Munang seems to be a humble player who not only focuses on his team’s well-being, but he still has goals of his own. “I hope to do my best in every game and help my team do whatever it takes to win,” he says.

As far as the future goes, Munang wants to go on to play for Rich Central’s team next year and he hopes to get to play at a collegiate level for “any good school making good offers.”

Pep Club Steps Up Support of Teams

by Tyron E.
Staff Reporter
December 16, 2011

Many Rich Central fans look forward to watching the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams play. What many don’t know is that the Pep Club is filled with students who look forward to these games, too.

After the last home game for the Lady Olympians, starting point guard Alex S. stated, “It always feels good to see plenty of your friends in the stands rooting for you. The bigger the crowd, the better we play.”

On December 13, the Rich Central Olympians played against Crete in a tough game, and Coach Smith recognized the Pep Club as the sixth man and acknowledged them for doing a great job with supporting his team.

When Coach Smith was asked what he expects from the Pep Club he said, “Chests painted with school letters can always work, but most of all I expect them to be respectful with their comments and, win or lose, to stay for the whole game.”

Regardless of a win or a loss, the Rich Central boys’ team feels their peers should be respectful of them by showing their support the whole game.

District Releases Senior Final Exam Exemptions

by Asya P.

What are the senior final exam exemption requirements for the first semester? That’s the main concern for most seniors at Rich Central High School. All of District 227 had to agree on one list of exemptions, so it felt like many were becoming very impatient about the wait.

“I mean I can understand why they have to have it. I mean they have to be the same, and everyone has to agree on it,” said Alexis T, a senior at Rich Central.

“It may be the same district, but it’s not the same school. Different schools have different problems, so we shouldn’t have to agree on the same exemptions,” disagreed Corry R., another senior at Rich Central.

The Fall semester final exam exemptions for seniors are:

- You must have met or exceeded the state standards on the 2011 PSAE examination

- You must currently be earning an A or B in your class

- You cannot have any more than four absences in the semester

Students and staff alike have to deal with the exemptions and figure out who qualifies. This can be kind of stressful on some people, and when students read the exemptions, some people weren’t too happy about it.

Some felt that they were unfairly disqualified because they couldn’t help it when they were sick.

Others, like Imari S., had this to say: “The only reason I am ok with it is because I made it. If I didn’t then I would be upset. The only requirement I would be upset over would be the absences because you can’t control when you get sick.”

Lady Olympians Plays a Tough Game Against H-F

by Lauren R.

On Tuesday night, December 6, 2011, the Rich Central Lady Olympians Varsity basketball ball team took a tough lost against the Homewood-Flossmoor Vikings, leaving the Lady Olympians with a record of 8-3. It was a tough and competitive game that the girls played very well.

At the tip off, Tyron E. scored the first points of the game, and as the game went on, the Lady Olympians and Vikings were neck and neck through the first half. Leading the Olympians was Jessa W. with 6 points, Chaz D. with 19 points, and Ariel S. with 8 points.

Throughout the game, the girls continued to played hard and strong, though with lack of defense. The intensity between the two teams was overwhelming. Down sixteen points at the end of fourth quarter, the Lady Olympians did not give up and kept pushing harder as they tried to get the victory over H-F.

Ariel S. felt that, as a team, they used what they had to the best of their ability, and the people that stepped up were a big help to their defense. She also stated, “As time progresses and we play more games, I think our chemistry will get stronger, and our playing together as a whole will get better.”

Upset about the loss, but proud of how much commitment his girls showed throughout the game, Coach Dice stated, “The girls played excellent considering we missed some key players. The team really stepped out.”

As the second half of the game went on, Coach Dice believes they fell down due a lack of point guards. They didn’t have enough ball handers to handle their defense, and he feels that H-F took advantage of that by putting up solid defensive pressure. As the season goes on, Coach Dice states, “I think it’s going to take a team and group effort if our girls want to go downstate, but they definitely have the athletic ability.”

NBA News: With Lockout Over, Fans/Students Locked In

by Whitney D.

The NBA lockout was by far one of the most controversial issues sports fans faced this year. Although this was not the first labor struggle in NBA history, sports fans were appalled by the actions of both the players and owners.

Most of the serious NBA fans hoped the lockout would be over sooner rather than later. It began on July 1, 2011, and was officially ended Thanksgiving weekend. Now, fans are ecstatic for the return of professional basketball!

Keon J., a senior here at Rich Central, stated, “The NBA lockout was selfish. No one thought about the fans back at home. I am glad that it is over. It’s game time now!”

Basketball fans are now anticipating the 66-game season.

“I was horrified when I heard of the NBA lockout, and I was glad when I heard it was over. I was tired of watching football,” Imani C. exclaimed.

The conclusion of the NBA lockout has brought many sports fans and die-hard basketball fans peace. And now the focus turns toward entertaining families on Christmas Day with highly anticipated match-ups like the Lakers versus the Bulls.

Obviously, many area Bulls fans are excited about this year’s team. “The Bulls will take the ‘W’ because we have the best point guard in the league, Derick Rose,” commented Sernard G. “Kobe’s time on the court has expired.”