DeSoto Eagle Eye

School Supply Expenses On The Rise

As the second semester swings into a rapid beginning, many students and staff member s have taken notice of the inflation of school supplies. It seems as if each time parents and students look up, costs just keep rising for basic supplies such as paper, folders, binders, and writing utensils. However, who are these prices really affecting?
“It effects the parents,” said junior Patrick Linthecome. Linthecome also believes that the recession is a reason as to why students and parents are struggling to pay for school supplies. “Teens find it hard to get jobs, and those who have jobs often times get their hours cut, and this makes it hard for students to makes it hard for students to make money and buy school supplies,” said Linthecome.
Although student and parents are being affected, teachers are also feeling the pinch of the recession as well. “Some of my students do not have their supplies and I have to go out of my way to pay for them personally, because I want all of my students to be prepared to learn,” said Lindsay Holland, Spanish teacher. Aside from borrowing supplies from their teachers, students are also borrowing needed supplies from their peers in order to be prepared for class.
On the other hand, there are some students who are not looking for the bargains, but just looking to get their supplies. “There are really no cheap places to shop at the moment; so I just buy them all at the same store so that I know I have them,” said Sierra Thompson, sophomore.
However, whatever the situation may be, the economy is in a recession, with no sign of it getting better in the next few months-therefore it seems as if the inflation of school supplies will remain the same. Right now, students, parents and teachers are struggling because of the inflation of school supplies. “My mother is a single parent, and we usually buy our supplies in the summer when they are on sale, because no one is buying them at that time,” said Arnetia Pipikins, sophomore.
Although retail stores such as Wal-Mart, and Target are slashing prices, the school supply merchandise prices still seems to be on a steady incline. School supply expenses have incredibly increased when compared to five years ago. So, shopping around and looking for bargains seems to be the best solution for the rise in school supplies.

Written by: Asa Woodberry

High School Musical Hits DeSoto

Disney Channel’s smash hit, “High School Musical” came to life on the high school stage. The musical’s three performances played to several audiences in which totaled to about five hundred attending individuals.      It all started with planning by James Hammer, and Latreasa Clark, head directors of the theatre department, in selecting “High School Musical”. According to Hammer, it took awhile to get the theater students behind the familiar show.      “We chose High School Musical because of the popularity for the franchise, it was something that most people had heard of, whether they liked it or not. There are many, many musicals out there, and it seemed important for our very first production to be a very well known show, “ said Hammer. “We didn’t want to mention the title of the show and have people go ‘huh? What’s that’?”      Since the majority of the students were familiar with the show, the theater department set a new level of entertainment for the high school. Teachers gave up time to take their classes to the production. The theater department was even assisted by Pamela Dawson, the choir director.      Although many people came to see the show, the total audience was not what was expected. “We had a total attendance of less than five hundred, “ said Hammer, “ I would like to have seen sold out houses for every show, but I think we had several factors working against us,” said Hammer. Despite the unexpected attendance rate, Hammer still encourages his students to work with a positive vibe in the theatrical department.      “I tell my students that when the Desoto community thinks of quality theatrical productions, I want them to think of Desoto High School first-a vision that takes time to develop,” said Hammer. The department is certainly on their way to becoming one of the best high school theater departments that the community has seen in a while. Overall, the theater department did a stupendous job on the stage with their first major play, and showed their talents in amazing ways such as singing, and even dancing. The musical surely did rock the house.

Written by: Kylania Brooks

Baby Think It Over

During the last couple of weeks in October, the campus was suddenly filled with mechanical bundles of joy-taking the place of real life babies. Students enrolled in the preparation for parenting course soon experienced a parenting experience that brings frustrating joy. The cries and demanding needs of the newly accounted for mechanical baby bring attention that the students enrolled in this course could ever imagine.
“This class makes the students aware of how it is to have a child and offer it all that it needs,” said Ms. Carson, personal development teacher. “It also helps some students refresh their memory if they already have a child,” Said Carson. Carson believes that the project brings the reality of parenting to life for many students. She also added that grades may differ in many cases from those students who may have day-to-day contact with babies or small children versus those that don’t.
“I did not know what to expect being woke up in the middle of the night”, said Brionna Smith, junior. With little or no assistance with her child, proved to be hard work for Smith. “This stimulation taught me a very valuable lesson,” said Smith, “and it was not to have kids! That is-anytime soon,” said Smith.
Although only a few percentages of the students at the school participated in the program, just about everyone on campus was affected, including teachers. “I think this way students learn responsibility,” said Frances Jones, Algebra II teacher. Jones has many students who participated in the program in her classes.
“I would advise students to take this project seriously, and to see how much responsibility it is to bring a baby into this world.” Said Jones. This golden piece of advice can be used towards anyone who assumes that they are ready for such a huge responsibility such as a child.

Written by: Odette Vega