Tag Archives: Christina Vilar

December 15, 2010 · 2:06 pm

OG band members make their way

By: Christina Vilar

On November 20, seven OG band students auditioned at Pearl High School to be members of the 2011 MS Lions All-State Band. Sarah Keilholz, Connor Lawson, Nathan Lockey, Mary Katherine Oglesbee, and Christina Vilar were the five out of the seven students selected to be members of the Lions Band. Mallory Jennings and Walker Karstens also auditioned at callbacks.
The MS Lions Band is made up of a group of high school students who are in good standings in their own band. They meet two times a year: in the winter for concert band, and in the summer before the big trip.
Senior Mary Katherine Oglesbee ranked fifth as a percussion member and will be playing the snare drum. “As a senior, scholarships are very important to me right now,” Oglesbee said. “I believe that making the 2011 Lions Band snare line will open a lot of doors for me in the future.”
This year, the Lions Band will be traveling to Seattle, Washington, for the annual Lions International Parade. Lions club members from all over the world come to march in the parade and show their pride in their country. “The trip is going to be amazing,” sophomore Sarah Keilholz said. “I think this summer is going to be one to remember!” This is Keilholz’s first time as a member and has ranked eighth as a dancer.
Several hundred students from all over the state go to Pearl High School to audition for Lions Band. They have to prepare a two-minute solo, play a required scale and another major scale, and sight read a piece that the judges choose. Their reward for such hard work and dedication: the trip to Seattle.
Being a Lions Band member opens many doors in the music industry, especially when you’re a member of an international championship band. Senior and seventh chair baritone, Nathan Lockey said, “I believe that this will give me more experience to try and be a successful musician.”
Besides excelling in the music department, the Lions Band is a great way to meet friends, and get together with old ones. Senior Connor Lawson said, “I’m really excited to see my friends from last year, and I’m eager to meet some new and talented faces.” This is Lawson’s second year in the Lions Band and is third chair saxophone.
Jeff Cannon, the director/manager of the MS Lions Band, has been with the Lions Band for 17 years.  In a congratulatory letter he sent to last year’s members, Cannon said, “Our trip to Seattle promises to be equally as awesome [as our trip to Sydney] as we visit Vancouver Island, The Space Needle, and whale watching excursions in the Pacific.”  If they win in Seattle, they’ll come home with their third consecutive and 28th win for Mississippi.

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· 1:58 pm

How will you decorate your tree this season?

Merry Christmas

By: Miranda Rester

“Merry Christmas” is a phrase that brings most people a feeling of joy.  It reminds us of a time of year when families come together, neighbors exchange genuine smiles, and people see more in the world than just themselves.  Wishing a Jewish person a happy Hanukkah can also bring these blissful emotions of caring and loving others.  That’s why I believe you should say “have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah” instead of a uniform, insincere “Happy Holidays.”
It seems that Americans have become so consumed in being politically correct about this time of year that they’ve forgotten the emotions involved.  They’ve forgotten that Christmas and Hanukkah aren’t just regular holidays like New Year’s day or Thanksgiving.  For many Americans, Christmas or Hanukkah is the most important time of the year because it’s an incredibly special day for their religions.
But some Americans think that if they don’t use the general and unspecific “Happy Holidays,” they’ll offend the numerous Americans that aren’t religious or don’t have a religious holiday this time of year.  However, that isn’t exactly true.  According to a recent Fox News poll, over 96% of Americans celebrate either Christmas or Hanukkah.
Wishing that nonbelievers have a Merry Christmas or a Happy Hanukkah isn’t forcing your religion on them.  It’s merely telling them that you hope they have a wonderful day.
I don’t view saying “have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah” as being inconsiderate or offensive.  Many don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but they don’t throw a temper tantrum when you wish them a happy one.  “Happy Holidays” is just another way that the personal beliefs of Americans are being suppressed.
The First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  Most people would use this quote when trying to say that religion is being forced on them.  However, it can also be used to show that Americans have every right to show their religion in any way that doesn’t harm other people.  Saying Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah instead of Happy Holidays is a perfect example of exercising this right.

Happy Holidays

By: Christina Vilar

We’ve all been exposed to them and some even afraid of them. The people who start complaining about how America has gone downhill because of the “Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas” controversy.  So, should a well-intentioned fellow wish them “Happy Holidays,” the offended would snarl back in reply “Merry Christmas” and walk away with their pride intact.
The second after all the Thanksgiving turkey has been gobbled up, and stores start putting their insanely low sale tags up for Black Friday, people start thinking about the holidays in the upcoming month: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even New Year’s.  You can even count Bill of Rights day if you’re feeling a little patriotic.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make your beliefs known by saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah.”  But putting a knife to someone’s throat after they say “Happy Holidays” is a little sacrificial.  “Happy Holidays” is a very all-inclusive statement.  It’s a much easier way to greet someone without offending them, and it’s so much faster than saying, “Happy New Year’s, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Eid, and Happy Hanukkah!”  The First Amendment loosely translates into: “The government can’t tell you what to believe in, and which religious holidays to celebrate.”   Sure, America is 95% Christian, and we’re most likely to see green and red Christmas lights and a nicely decorated tree.  But just because the popular kids are doing it, doesn’t mean everyone has to do the same.
Since the holiday season is between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, wouldn’t it be better to say you’re celebrating the holiday season all month plus one week?  That means overeating and excessive partying are acceptable, because that’s what everyone does during the holidays anyway; even though our conservative American sensibilities are insulted by having extended periods of time where people are generally cheerful like everyone else likes to do it.
Every time someone greets me with a “Happy Holidays,” no matter who says it, I’ve always thought of it as a kindhearted statement implying, “We may or may not have different beliefs, and I don’t want to offend you, but I hope you celebrate your holiday with as much joy and love as I’ll celebrate mine.”
So during this holiday season, everyone just needs to give your holiday well-wishers a toothy smile, deliver your own warm hearted wishes, and make this a happy season for all to enjoy.

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November 12, 2010 · 2:46 pm

OGHS drum majors snag perfect scores

By: Chirstina Vilar

On October 2, drum majors Kaelyn Sydboten, Emily Torres, and Donell Wilson wowed the audience and judges with their performance worth a perfect score at the annual OG Marching Festival.  Not only was their performance stellar, but it exceeded expectations.  “I was so happy,” senior Emily Torres, two year drum major said, “I felt very proud and accomplished.  It made all the hard work and long hours worth it.”
The drum majors’ job is to keep the band together. They not only have to set a steady tempo for the band, but also have to keep each other in line.  The drum majors have to be strong leaders in order to set the standard of performing for the rest of the band.  They’re usually positioned at the front or head of the band.  Drum majors wear more ornate clothing than the rest of the band, not only to be spotted easily by the band, but to add some difference in appearance.
On top of having their first coed set of drum majors, this is the first time in OG band history that the drum majors have ever gotten a perfect score.  Wilson, first time drum major and senior said, “I know that the highest score last year’s drum majors had was a 95, so I knew it had been a while since others had achieved a perfect score, if any.”
On October 9, at the Battle on the Beach festival in Biloxi, the drum majors received a score of 99, just one point shy of a perfect score.  “I did mess up a few times, but I felt like the three of us stayed together pretty well,” Sydboten, sophomore and first year drum major, said.  “So I feel like we performed well but not our best.”  They were disappointed, but the reminder of their perfect score the week before made them set the bar higher for their performance that night.
Though the band, color guard, nor percussion didn’t match the drum majors’ perfect score, Wilson said, “Everyone did well, especially for their first time.  It was my first competition performing as drum major, so I felt that a number of things could’ve been better.  I’m generally pretty critical of my performances, and Emily lectures me about that.”
The drum majors, along with the band, have endured long hours of practice in the heat since late July.  With an hour and a half practices during first block and two days a week of after school practice, it’s no wonder the drum majors received a perfect score so early in marching season.  “I’m generally thinking about what went wrong after a performance,” Wilson said. “The rest of the time is spent trying to relax my nerves.”
Even with last minute changes to the drill, the drum majors led the band to the state championship on October 23 in Clinton.  Placing seventh out of eleven bands, Torres said, “There’s always room for improvement in my mind.”
With Torres and Wilson leaving next year for bigger and better things in college, Sydboten will be the only experienced drum major left.  It’s no doubt that Torres and Wilson’s expectations for next year’s drum majors and band are higher than before.  “I hope next year’s drum majors will be just as focused and dedicated as Emily and Donell and I are this year.  I know I will put my all into next year’s show, and I hope the new drum majors will do the same,” Sydboten said.
Only time can tell whether their expectations will be conquered, but for now the only thing left to do is,  as Torres says, “practice, practice, practice!”

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September 14, 2010 · 1:29 pm

By: Christina Vilar
Staff Reporter

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the OGHS marching band has a male drum major for the first time in several years. Senior Donnel Wilson is proud to hold the title. The drum majors are the ones on the ladders conducting the drumline and the rest of the band. They set a steady beat unless there’s a tempo change. He, along with senior Emily Torres and sophomore Kaelyn Sydboten, will hopefully lead the band to another “all-superior” year. From a marcher’s perspective on the field, Donell, Emily, and Kaelyn look good on their ladders with their chins up and arms moving in a rhythmical pattern. So, next time you see the drum majors salute to the audience before the band begins playing, give them a little support and cheer them on!

Co-ed drum majors for the first time in many years: Upgrade

The Office will never be the same now that star Steve Carell said, “It was time for my character to go.” This news hit  The Office lovers hard, including the ones on the Warrior Beat staff. Carell is reported to be leaving The Office at the end of the seventh season which ends in May 2011. Plenty fans of The Office have expressed their feelings by starting groups and blogs about how much they dislike the idea of Carell leaving the beloved show. Other fans are just grateful to have one more season to laugh at Carell’s funny and lovable character. Possible funnyman replacements to fill in Michael Scott’s shoes are Danny McBride (Pineapple Express, Land of the Lost) and Rhys Darby (Yes Man, Pirate Radio). Though these two actors are funny and entertaining, they’ll never fill the space in our hearts the way Michael Scott has these past six seasons.

Steve Carell leaving The Office: Downgrade

It’s taken us a couple of weeks, but we’ve finally gotten used to the school uniforms. One thing that sent a bit of confusion throughout the school is whether or not we were able to wear navy blue or Polo brand shirts. Mr. Folkes held a 20-minute assembly the first week of school, informing students that we are indeed allowed to wear navy and regular Polo brand shirts. Some students were told by administrators they couldn’t wear Polos because the logo was a few centimeters outside the size of a quarter and they couldn’t wear navy shirts, just navy bottoms. We still can’t wear navy on black or black on navy. We still have to tuck in our shirts and wear belts when our pants have belt loops, but at least we have one more color to add to our closets full of khakis and belts.

Being able to wear navy shirts and Polos: Upgrade

Who likes being stuck behind a group of slow walking people in the hallways? Well, I sure don’t, and I’m sure the rest of the student population doesn’t either. Because of these slowpokes, it makes walking from one side of the school to the other intolerable. And what’s up with people randomly stopping in the middle of the halls to talk to their buddies? If you want to talk to someone, how much energy is it going to take you to move to the side so people who are interested in getting somewhere can go around you? Word of advice to all you slow walkers out there: Start walking faster than my grandmother or you will get run over.

Getting stuck behind slowpokes in the crowded halls: Downgrade

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