Sleigh Bells blew our minds when they first popped up, and now they’re back with their second album, Reign of Terror. Of course, such awesomeness can only be contained for so long, so they’re a pretty big deal now. They performed on Saturday Night Live last weekend. Here’s their performance of “End of the Line” from the new album…

Admittedly, the new stuff isn’t as immediately and endlessly catchy or noisy as most of the songs from Treats, but there’s plenty to love. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

Principal Joe Krumpak said, “We conducted this survey because, after holding the first [honor roll] assembly of the year, there was a lot of disinterest as the kids sat there and watched. We aren’t here to supply people with gifts for their achievements; we are just trying to let students know that they have a voice in this school.”

Mr. Krumpak went on to say, “It’s really important to make it worth their while to come to school. I want students to look at me as being stern, but fair. I’m trying to make it so kids have self motivation.”

250 students received the survey during homeroom. Out of those 250 kids, 60% of the students wanted to preserve honors assemblies as they are, and 92% want the school to continue to recognize academic achievements in some form. Since the survey, the administration has been considering possible alternatives or additions to the honor roll assemblies. The assemblies, as they are, primarily involve students who have made the honor roll for a given nine week period or semester being called onto stage to receive certificates.

No matter how much value students place on their academic achievements, the leadership at MRHS is really trying to make it a top priority. Though many students decided to skip the survey or write “I don’t know,” it can no longer be said that the faculty is doing nothing to improve the motivation for all students. One of the ideas on the table is to exempt straight-A students from final exams.

Although some of them did not take the survey seriously, Mr. Krumpak believes that most students did and efforts are going to be made to make these students feel better about coming to school. Warming up to a new principal during this school year may have been hard at first, but Mr. Krumpak is sincerely trying to better the school and improve the attitudes of all students.

I don’t go to museums much, but when I do, I barely ever notice the benches in the middle of the rooms. I’m accustomed to strolling past the art, taking in as much as I can in a relatively small amount of time. I never realized the full purpose of the benches until I sat down on one of them. I relaxed and began to fully appreciate the art around me. I felt the depth of the art as I actually gave myself time to take it in. I could have stayed there for hours.

Egg and cheesey goodness. A splash of cinnamon and raisin. The perfect combination of different worlds: salty, sweet, crunchy, gooey, oozey. A great way to start the day. I’ve never tasted anything like it. I plan to visit my friend in corned beef land again soon.

As we walked around downtown Youngstown, we saw a series of large pictures of Youngstown from long ago placed on the sides of buildings by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. I love old things like that. Seeing the pictures really showed me how bustling and big Youngstown was in the past. I got a history lesson when I least expected it.

There were many things that I enjoyed on our trip to Youngstown, but what stood out to me most was how proud the people seemed to be. When we talked to Charlie Staples, for example, he talked about how he loves the town’s atmosphere. Even though it has been through tough times and the city still has its rough spots, many of those who have stayed through it all love their city because they grew up there and have so many memories. To me, it is important to be proud of where were come from. Where you’re from is, in many ways, who you are.

I have to say that I loved Mr. Charlie Staples when I met him yesterday at his restaurant. The food was very good, but I liked Charlie more; he was such a sweet man. We watched him walk around to every table to shake hands with all of the customers and thank them for coming to eat at his place. How many business owners take the time to personally thank the customers for their business? He took the time out of his day to interview him, and he really did have quite the story to tell. That story is coming soon…

What are the difference between high school and college?

College may be different from high school in more ways than we might think. For people who decide to live on campus, daily life changes dramatically. From doing laundry to finding food to waking up without mom’s repeated screams, life away from home can be challenging, as well as exciting.

Whether one chooses to move away or stay at home, the expectations for college students are much different from high school students. Doug Johnson, a freshman at Youngstown State University said, “The main difference is definitely the work. Teachers go over everything one time. They don’t like to repeat or get away from their lesson, and sometimes they don’t have time to cover everything so it’s up to you to read and learn on your own.”

Southern Methodist University created a great chart that shows many of the differences between high school and college; you can find it here.

What are the differences between private and public colleges?

1. Price: Private universities tend to run a little (or a lot) higher than a state-funded, public university. Public, out-of-state universities average about $12,500 for the 2011-2012 academic year, according to The College Board, while public in-state universities average about $8000. Private schools, on the other hand charge about $28,000 per year, and that doesn’t even include room and board.

2. Size: Public universities generally have a larger population than most private universities. Private universities tend to have smaller classes and more compact campuses. Private schools usually allow students to develop closer relationships with teachers and other students.

3. Selection: Public universities usually have a larger selection of classes, majors and extracurricular activities.

4. Affiliation: Private universities more commonly have religious affiliations. So if you aren’t religiously inclined, public schools might be more your style.

How much will college cost?

As you read above, college is expensive; the total average cost of a four-year degree is $48,000, and that number rises every year. But more important is the overwhelming evidence that supports the importance of a college education. Just check out this article from The Atlantic that shows college to be the safest investment you can make as well as the vast differences in earnings between those with and without a college education.

What’s the average debt after college?

The current average amount of student loan debt is $25,250. Again, that might sound like a lot of money, but consider the fact that most students have about ten years to pay back that loan. Furthermore, take into account that – if you graduate from college – you will be more likely to find a job that will allow you to better manage those loan payments. Here’s the breakdown for paying that loan back over ten years:

 $25,250/10 years= $2,525 per year

 $2525/12 months= $210 per month

 $210/52 weeks= $4.05 a week

$4.05/ 7days =0.58$a day!

That’s what college would cost a day, not that scary right?

Where can I find scholarships (other than in Mrs. Mogulich’s office)?

Scholarships are a great way to earn money for college, and you don’t have to pay the money back. Scholarships are free to apply for and can result in big chunks of your college debt paid off. Try these sites:

www.fastweb.com
www.college-scholarships.com
www.sholarshipsforstudents.com
www.studentscholarships.org
www.freescholarshipsguide.com

What the heck is a FAFSA?

FAFSA is the free application for federal student aid. This is the form that is required to determine your expected family contribution. The government provides a “need analysis” based on your family’s financial information. This is the application most colleges use to determine eligibility for federal, stat, and college sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational lones and work-study programs.

Huh?!!?!? What does that all mean, you ask? Well, all you need to know is that if you want to be eligible for most financial aid, you have to fill this thing out. Sit down with your parents and get this done.

What is it like to live in a dorm?

Haley Garris, Mineral Ridge graduate and freshman at Walsh University said, “Living in dorms is a totally different experience. You have to learn to adjust to new things such as your roommate’s habits and sleeping schedule. And, generally, for freshman living in dorms, it means getting used to living in a small space. There is a lot of adjusting and change, but I think it’s worth it. You meet so many people and create amazing friendships because you basically live with all these people. It’s nice to be able to run across the hall to your friend’s room or go to the study lounge down the hall to do group projects instead of having to drive somewhere to meet people like everyone has to do in high school.”

Is college one big party?

Johnson said, “It depends on who you are. Some people feel like they just graduated so they want to get crazy but most people realize it’s time to be serious, and they keep themselves under control.”

Garris said, “If you want to succeed in college, then it is definitely not one big party. Depending on your major, your work load maybe strenuous compared to others, so often you have to pick and choose when you really can go out and have fun and when you need to stay in. There is a lot more opportunity to be involved in things and have a lot of fun, but if you don’t manage your time then life can become really stressful.”