Swift has been on a tour this year, named the Speak Now world tour, to promote the album. Europe, Asia, North America and the newest announced, Oceania, are the countries which were chosen to present the concerts.

 Currently, the song “Speak Now” is in 41st at Billboard 200, and “Sparks Fly” 50th at Billboard’s Top 100 (10/23/11).

Taylor Swift was voted Woman of the Year by Billboard, becoming the youngest artist to receive such an honor. Billboard´s editorial director, Bill Werde said that the songs and compositions of Swift transcends all genres of music. She´ll receive the award on December 2 2011, in New York City.

Mary Burns moved to Black River Falls with her family for a new environment and has lived here for twenty-eight years. She started teaching here last year, working at both the middle and high schools.

“I teach Introduction to Business. It was a course that didn’t have a teacher, so I was assigned to be the teacher, and I love it. It’s my favorite class!” said Byrns. “I like the school a lot. I like that there is a lot of variety.”

It’s always a scary feeling going from the middle school to high school for students and teachers, especially if you’re new.

“I taught middle school in Sparta, and I was nervous to come into a high school. I just wanted to do a good job and have good lesson plans that my students would like,” said Byrns. “Since I was in middle school I didn’t know the expectations of high school kids.”

Before teaching, Byrns was coaching some sports, which is how she became more comfortable being in the school.

“I’ve coached sports at the school, and met some students,” she said. “…many of them are unbelievably crazy, in a good way.”

Three months into the school year and Byrns is still going strong.

“So far this year has been going great! I’m glad I’m making it through!”

Paul Rykken has been a social studies teacher at BRFHS for 22 years and has received many awards for his teaching abilities. Rykken teaches AP American History, American Politics, 21st Century World and Law and Society.

Beside teaching, he is also the head of the Falls History Project and directs the student senate.

“He’s a good teacher because he knows what he’s talking about, he cares about his students and he doesn’t give us busy work. Instead, he makes sure we understand what he’s teaching,” said junior Mara Ransom.

The Law and Society class focuses on the different types of law and how they function. A lot of the class time is spent in the computer lab doing research on cases.

“We didn’t really have a lot of homework assignments, we just spent time learning. We learned about our legal system and we spent the whole term doing case research,” said Ransom.

Rykken started the Falls History Project in 2000 in the effort to document the history of the area. Last year’s concentration was on the Native American-European American relationships in the area.

“I’m really excited to get started with the history project. I think it’s going to be a really good opportunity for me and I’m really interested in the project itself. Mr. Rykken really finds a way to keep everyone interested and involved and I think his styles and strategies keep everything open for discussion,” said senior Joshua Hanson.

This will be Rykken’s eleventh year being involved with the project.

“He’s really into what he teaches. He’s always very thorough,” said senior Tim Nortman.

“[The kids really enjoy] the variety they get–they seem to really like the current event quizzes,” said Byrns.

To be successful, people have to be aware of what is happening in the world. Being offered the current event quizzes, as well as the variety of projects is, to many, enjoyable and beneficial.

“I really enjoyed the types of ownership of businesses, creating projects and running your own business,” said Dvorak.

Not only do students enjoy those portions of the class, but Byrns believes those portions of the class are important and worthwhile. These subjects help prepare students for the business world, and can help to explain the complexity of business.

“[The reason I teach Intro to Business is] to give some introductory concepts about business and explain the many facets of business,” Byrns said.

If you’re interested in Intro to Business, the class is a one term elective offered to grades 9-12. It generally includes students from many grades– so seniors are just as welcome as freshmen. Intro to business can help build a solid foundation for future BRFHS business classes.

“I mean, let’s be honest,” said Dvorak, “business is a part of everything.”

One of my favorite songs off of Cole’s debut album is “Mr. Nice Watch”. This song features fellow rapper Jay-Z, also Cole’s label signer.

“They say time is money, but really it’s not. If we ever go broke girl, then time is all we got. And you can’t get that back, no you can’t get that back,” sings Cole in the hook of that song. And, that statement is entirely true in my mind. Once you use up time, there is no way to get it back. And if all you have is time, then you’ve got a lot. You don’t need money, just time.

Prior to the release of J. Cole’s debut album, he started a trend called “Any Given Sunday”, where before he released his debut album, he would release something new every week. During this time he released three of his mixtapes. Those mixtapes only contained a few songs a piece and those songs were the songs that didn’t make the cut for the actual album. The three mixtapes held songs that had great potential, but still lack some of the lyricism and flow that songs on the album had.

J. Cole is touring the U.S. now, and at the end of the month he will begin touring in Europe.

Hilts joined the tennis team this year, and she is finding it enjoyable. “It’s sad to know that this is my first, last and only year of tennis.”

Once the first day of practice was tackled, the seniors then had to face the first day of school.

“I thought I would be a lot more stressed over it [the first day],” said senior Leah Pennekamp, “but I was actually very calm and relaxed about the whole thing.”

The first day of school passed and the seniors are starting to get used to the fact that they are seniors.

“Thinking of my class as seniors is surreal and sobering,” said senior Desireé
Shawley.

Being a senior means superiority. They are the oldest and have the most experience of the school. They rule the school, as they would say.

“I am definitely looking forward to my last year,” said Cork.

Something that many seniors are looking forward to is freedom. As they transition from getting a license, to becoming an adult, they begin to experience the freedom they have wanted since childhood.

“I’m pretty excited to leave the nest and be a free bird,” said Hilts. Hilts wants to attend a tech college in La Crosse or Eau Claire to get her general credits, then later transfer to a university and pursue a career in health.

Though senior year is exciting, new and greatly looked forward to, it also requires huge responsibilities. Seniors are busy filling out applications for colleges and scholarships, and they are meeting with the counselors to further map out their futures.

“I’m excited to move out, go to college and start the rest of my life,” said  Pennekamp.“But at the same time, I’m not [ready to leave the school and graduate]. It’s scary to think about leaving my friends and family.”

Some seniors don’t have their futures mapped out as well as they hoped. They have all year to make concrete plans. Cork is not 100% sure where she wants to go to college in her future; she is still looking into different options. Right now, Cork plans to live her last year to the fullest.

“I just want this year to be awesome.”

The position title can be explained as: serving temporarily for the persuasion of voters in a political campaign. His task was to see that work gets done promptly and efficiently. One of his main duties was to run an OFA phone bank. Phone banks are put together by establishing lists of registered voters, developing a call list, making and providing volunteers with scripts, and finally, setting the calls into motion.

OFA, also known as Obama for America, strives for the re-election of Obama, and the passing of his legislation. Its summer programs are intended to be for people who want to become politically involved, and for those with a strong pride in the country’s constitution and the rights that come with it.

Hanson said, “It’s fun! Everyone else should do it.”

Hanson worked especially close with August’s recall elections, which his calls, and the directing of people to door-to-door areas, were majorly based upon.

“Because the Republicans that were in office were elected in a year that was deemed a ‘democratic year,’ they were either very well liked or very well represented by the Republican areas. Therefore the ejection of them was a major score for the Democrats. In addition to that, three Democratic leaders were able to sustain their spots,” Hanson said.

How could he possibly have come to all this at such a young age? That’s a question that is more commonly asked than not. The answer would be that he began his interest in politics in 2008 (which he says was furthered after taking both American Politics and 21st Century World) and really began to get involved in 2010.

Before he took his position, he attended OFA training in Milwaukee. His house contains his own “office” which is covered in political quotes and ideas, and he even entered and became a finalist for a summer essay contest that if won, would have led to him having dinner with Obama.

Hanson said, “I hope that my work with OFA and with politics in general will help me  gain success in my future career, and influence two colleges (Georgetown and William and Mary) to accepting me.”

Senior Jordyn Hilts calls Hanson “devoted, enthusiastic, and a future political leader” and senior Tim Nortman says, “Oh, I think he’ll definitely accomplish his goals.”

Hanson explains he is going to continue his political involvement during the school year by “trying to make a difference in any way I can.” He will be participating in OFA’s “Fall Fellow” Program which concentrates on sustaining and building his team and in his own words: “taking it one step at a time.”

Former singer of the band Yesterdays Rising Brandon Bolmer stepped up to the plate and embraced the fact that for most Chiodos fans, he had some major shoes to fill. Being the new vocalists for Chiodos and beginning the new Cragiless Chiodos.

The album starts into a reflection of their past, up-beat, and very good. Unlike previous albums, where the music started off upbeat and somewhat balanced, the new Illuminaudio has finally found that balance between screaming, singing, the overall up-beat theme that continues throughout the entire cd. Its overwhelming!

With more hardcore melodies and classically influenced parts to add some much needed flavor, the song Illuminaudio is the opening track was a success for the entire band. The melodies are strong, the chops are evident, and the screams? Well Craig’s, vocals don’t compare to Brandon’s. New drummer Tanner Wayne’s role is also defined from the get-go, with more double bass and heavier sounding parts. While the band could have made this album with ex-drummer Derrick Frost, his style is certainly welcome during the album, adding favorably and intelligent rhythmic phrases behind Jason Hale and Bradly Bell’s melodies.

Overall the new album is very good. A lot can change in 30 seconds. It’s more than enough time for a life to be flipped on its head, and certainly enough time to decide the fate of a band with everything to prove.

These are the rooms that you will want to make sure you have a fleece or sweatshirt and possibly some mittens, if you’re always cold.

“The band room, Dawn Peterson’s room [math Peterson], and Mr. Klos’s current room are all very cold,” said junior Leah Pennekamp.

 James Klos’s room tends to be really cold because it used to be the I-TV room and it just doesn’t get very warm in there.

“I think Mr. Rykken’s room, Mrs. Wojo’s room and math Peterson’s room are all really cold,” said junior Kelsey Casper.

Dawn Peterson’s room is so cold because she has a vent in the ceiling that blows out cold air.

“In my opinion Mr. Rukavina’s room, all the hallways, Mrs. Peterson’s room, and Mrs. Perry’s room are the coldest rooms in the school,” said junior Lindsey Breheim.

These are the hot rooms, you should definetly consider layering if you have one of these hot or cold rooms on your schedule.

“I think the west gym, choir room, and Mrs.G’s room are the warmest,” said Pennekamp.

The choir room tends to be very warm not only because of the large amounts of people that get packed into the room, but also because the boiler room is right below. It’s the worst at the very beginning of school and at the end.

“I think that the warmest rooms are Mrs. Duvall’s, the locker rooms, and the boiler room,” said Breheim.

Some people say the choir room is bipolar, because if you’re on the alto/bass side, its freezing, and if you’re on the soprano/tenor side, you’re roasting.

“The hottest rooms are the ‘Shake N’ Bake’ [the practice room in the choir room], Mr. Colburn’s room, and the west gym,” said Casper.

Here’s a suggestion: consider layering in the event of being scheduled with more than one of these classrooms.