By Jessica Wiegandt, Lord Botetourt High School

Hiking mixed with treasure hunting; what more could you ask for?

Geocaching is a hobby that involves using a Global Positioning System (GPS) and hiking shoes.

I love to go geocaching when it’s a sunny day. The activity is simple and a great way to spend a day outside.

In order to geocache, visit geocaching.com and select a cache. The hunt starts as soon as the given coordinates are plugged into a GPS.

The trick? The GPS directional arrow starts acting crazy and usually stops giving directions when the seeker is within 100 feet of the cache, which is usually contained in a box. Then the hunt begins.

The box could be anywhere; under rocks, inside trees, covered in leaves, or sometimes, it’s a small compartment magnetically attached to something like a bench. Once found, the geocacher signs his/her name on the piece of paper and takes one item from the box after leaving an item they brought.

I always enjoy spending time outside with my friends, family and dog, searching for geocaches; especially since it gives me the feeling that I really am searching for treasure in the woods.

By Lauren Maddox, Hidden Valley High School

Workers moving weight equipment onto a truck and sounds of clanking and banging aren’t normal in high school. But the sounds echo around Hidden Valley High School. All because Hidden Valley is getting a new weight room.

Hidden Valley was fundraising for a new field house for the past two years; however, “the money was needed to be spent in other, more important places, such as security,” said Hidden Valley’s principal, Rhonda Stegall.

Hidden Valley applied for several grants and were told that the national foundation had picked Hidden Valley to be it’s regional nomination. But the school did not receive the grant. They then went to the school board to show how much support they had, and the school evidently approved a grant for Hidden Valley, Glenvar and Cave Spring to all get new weight rooms.

After the Newtown shooting, there was a need for more security, so the money that was for the weight room is now being used for those purposes at all three schools.

The estimated combined cost for a new weight room and locker room was about 1.1 million dollars, according to football head coach Scott Weaver. The booster club at Hidden Valley was able to raise enough money for both. The football team sold gold cards (cards that have a variety of coupons on them) and volunteered at Salem Red Sox games to raise money.

The old weight room was far too small and with the amount of athletes using it at one time, it became a hazard.

“The weight room was overall a safety hazard,” Stegall said. “There were too many people using it at one time and too little space.”

As a result, the boy’s locker room was used often.

“There wasn’t much time allowed for a good cleaning, so athletes were contracting skin infections,” Stegall said. “The [new] locker room will have better ventilation so it will be less of a hazard.”

Beginning this year, Hidden Valley’s district changed because the school was over-populated. Therefore, there are less students enrolled at Hidden Valley High School, causing classrooms to go unused.

The foreign language pod and the math pod, which are on opposite ends of a hallway, will be flip-flopped next year. This will allow the space for a new locker room with showers and weight room.

And along with the new weight room and locker room, there will be all new weight equipment.

“The new weight room will enhance our performance and it will give us the opportunity to workout to our full potential,” Weaver said. “It allows us to work out with the best equipment, and will give us an advantage throughout the season.”

By Amber Montgomery, Glenvar High School

The Glenvar community lost one of their own in January when freshman Michael Sandridge passed away from cancer.

Not only was he a member of the school’s football and soccer teams, but he was recognized as a good role model for his peers.

Michael Sandridge

“Michael was a very loyal and friendly person. He got along with everyone and always had a smile on his face,” said Glenvar High School coach and teacher Kevin Clifford. “Michael was very unselfish, as well. When Make a Wish Foundation visited and offered him any wish, he asked for them to purchase new weight equipment for the football weight room. He thought of his teammates ahead of himself.”

Since the loss, the community has come together to keep his memory and fighting spirit alive. The Michael Sandridge Scholarship has been started in his name. The scholarship, available for Glenvar students, is planned to be offered annually beginning in 2014, and the specific criteria for the scholarship have not yet been determined.

And the community support is not stopping at the high school’s doors. To benefit both the scholarship and cancer research, the high school will host the Glenvar Avenger 5K on May 18 as a fundraiser and rally for the community. Read more »

Sailing is Hidden Valley senior Morgan Firing’s favorite sport. Illustration by Alexis Holland, William Byrd High School

Morgan Firing

By Lauren Maddox, Hidden Valley High School

Morgan Firing places her sails and gear into the car. She goes to her room and slips into bed early, knowing she has a long day ahead of her.

Morgan and her dad, Darrin, make the hour long drive in the morning. When they arrive at Smith Mountain Lake, she unloads her boat and pieces it together. She then attends a skippers meeting. After the meeting, they go over strategies and pray, and Morgan heads out to participate in her favorite sport: sailing.

The Hidden Valley senior has been competitive in the world of sailing since she was eight. Her father and grandfather were both competitive sailors, and they inspired her.

“My grandfather placed in worlds competition for a boat type called a “Flying Dutchman,” and I wanted to be as successful as him,” Firing said.

Read more »

With the beginning of spring, water bottles are proliferating in high schools around Southwest Virginia. Illustration by Marta Kodin, Hidden Valley High School

Article by Ciara Mulcahy, Patrick Henry High School

Throughout the school day, they will be sitting on desks, brought to lunch, carried during class changes, stuffed into book bags and refilled by the school water fountains. Water bottles are everywhere in our local high schools.

The trend increases during warm weather and is encouraged by many sports coaches in order to prevent dehydration. Christian Blackwell, a freshman on the Patrick Henry cross country and varsity lacrosse teams said, “I bring bottled water to school because it is really important to stay hydrated for after-school sports.”

The benefits of water bottles have not always been available to students. In middle schools in the city of Roanoke, for instance, drinking from a water bottle during class requires a doctor’s note attesting to a health condition. But water bottles are permissible — and popular — at Patrick Henry High School. Ryan Jennings, a freshman, said, “I drink water mostly during lunch at school, and it keeps me awake.”

Salem High School recently changed its policy to allow water bottles in the classroom, while other food and drinks are still not allowed outside of the cafeteria. However, teachers have authority to choose not to allow bottled water in their classes, according to the school’s agenda book.

The new policy is good for students’ well-being and class flow, according to senior Jordan Waller. Read more »

Lord Botetourt sophomores Cameron Turner and Justin Beard, and freshman Alex Boyer are avid hunters. Illustration by Claire Gross, Lord Botetourt High School

Lord Botetourt freshman Alex Boyer made a kill on his first day out deer hunting this winter. Photo submitted by Alex Boyer

By Jessica Wiegandt, Lord Botetourt High School

It’s the crack of dawn, and people are already bustling about. Lord Botetourt sophomore Cameron Turner forces himself out of bed and opens his eyes. He is barely awake, and tries to motivate himself to get moving. It’s time to go hunting.

Turner and his dad, Darrell Turner, share a common interest of hunting. Sophomore Justin Beard and freshman Alex Boyer also participate in the sport.

Turner said his dad got him interested in hunting about five years ago, and hunts with the seasons. He hunts squirrels in the summer, deer in the winter, bear during late December to early January and coyote year-round. His family owns land in Floyd, and uses the land for hunting ground.

“It’s a lot easier to have our own land. I mean, there’s less competition. We get there early, there’s other people that hunt there too, so we get there before all the activity starts,” Turner said.

For avid hunters, early morning is the best time to be out.

“There’s never a guarantee that you’ll get something, but there’s a much better chance if you’re up and ready early in the morning.”

Read more »

By Ciara Mulcahy, Patrick Henry High School

Teen athletes around the Roanoke Valley will get a fresh look at their competition next school year when the Virginia High School League implements a redistricting plan for sports and activities.

The changes, which take effect July 1, have been adopted for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. According to the VHSL, the re-alignment is an effort to reduce travel time, emphasize equity and remove partial advantages.

“Crowds will be bigger for events, as local competition will bring more people,” said Patti Sheedy, athletic director at Patrick Henry High School, which will be part of the new River Ridge District along with Hidden Valley, Cave Spring, Salem, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Pulaski County and Carroll County high schools.

“It will be a stronger district than it has been in the past even though they are smaller schools,” Sheedy added.

“I think it will be interesting to see how it all plays out,” said Brody Hicks, a freshman on the Cave Spring boys’ varsity basketball team. “I am not opposed to the change. I don’t know the effects of the redistricting on our game schedule, but I think it will be fun if we have to play teams we haven’t played in the past.” Read more »

Illustration by Alexis Holland, William Byrd High School

By Neale Butler, North Cross School

Now that it’s winter, the fall sports season for most schools has come to an end. And for teens who are not playing a winter sport, staying in shape throughout the long winter months can be a concern.

Since it often feels too cold to run outside, finding just a couple of days a week to work out at a gym can help keep athletes in shape.

Other ways to stay in shape, that are a little more exciting than lifting weights, are taking classes like Zumba, or pilates. Going to these classes with friends can keep the workout fun, and make your motivation a little stronger.

Schools that have gyms are great for keeping in shape. When classes are over in the afternoon, you can exercise without even having to leave the campus.

I am currently trying to stay in shape for field hockey, which starts up again in the spring. Keeping my muscles moving and my stamina up throughout the year will help my skill level remain consistent.

Illustration by Alexis Holland, William Byrd High School

By Lauren Maddox, Hidden Valley High School

Kali Edsall hears her alarm beeping. She gets out of bed and turns on her light. It’s 3:45 a.m.

She grabs her sweat shirt, swim suit, goggles and swim cap. After brushing her teeth, Edsall grabs a power bar in the kitchen. Then she picks up her backpack and heads to swimming practice.

Edsall is up at this hour three times a week. She swims at North Cross School with the Carter Center Aquatics (CCA) Marlins, a local team.

Read more »