ACADEMY OF ARTS,
CAREERS AND
TECHNOLOGY
the
SOCIAL
The Annual Showcase
by Timber Cox
On April 22nd, 2016, the Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology held its annual Showcase in the form of a play. Reinventing Patrick Rainville Dorn’s play Nightmare High School, students Maya Lemus, Hunter Woolsey, Wyatt Danne, Emily Ward, Hunter Woolsey, Courtney Hendrix, Noah Van Dyke, and Angel Garcia showcased our school’s talent as leads. Directed by Robert Zorn, the play features a group of students who stay at school over-night in hopes of catching the ‘locker-stalker’. Students from Communications, Arts and Media filmed and edited dream sequences that were played as videos on a projector throughout the play when the actors “fell asleep”. The video cast and crew included students Gigi Van Dyke, Abbi Weckerly. Carissa Harlowe, Isabelle Bento, Sadie Wenzel, Haley Litov, Elijah O’Bryant, Kay Virgilio, Andrew Boomer, Veronica Garcia, Aurelio Cortes, Cierra Koitmaa, Ali Hernandez, Timber Cox, Sarina Dilwith, Matthew Kalmer, Brandyn Lavac, and Asia Tutino. The night of the showcase, the Culinary and Hospitality Academy prepared a number of appetizers that the guests could purchase with tickets. Choice volunteers from this academy participated as servers in full formal attire. This not only served as fundraising for the culinary academy, but helped showcase their skills to the public as well. The show was advised by Maren Oates and Assistant Director/ Stage Manager Julien Powell. Thanks to all the aforementioned people and the Tech Team (Jack Tonner, Hunter Mason, Sarina Dilwith, and Gigi Van Dyke), the showcase was a success.
by Brandyn Lavac
AACT Slams Poetry
The academy has a variety of events that are held outside of school. These events are far from academic, and they always allow students to connect on a deeper level and show a more personal side; the poetry slam is quite possibly one of the academy’s most important events. This year’s third annual poetry slam held during the 2016 school year at the academy was a complete success, It gave the opportunity to any and all students to come to have fun, listen to the poetry of their peers, or to compete with their own poetry for the opportunity to win prizes or to just gain the experience of slam poetry. The poetry slam was created and ran by students, along with some of the best English teachers who also help to judge and determine the winners. Mr. Burge and Mr. Wilhite are the main teachers who are involved in this event, with their support of judging and providing the awards to the winners, they are a crucial part of this event. There are always a set of first, second, and third place winners. The poetry slam consists of two rounds usually lasting one to two days, due to bus scheduling. The first round takes place on day one from 3:05 to 3:30. The first day any student can come and enter the competition to present their poetry. The judge’s and other students give each poet a one through ten rating which is added together to determine the finalists. The following day the second and final round where the winners from day one come to place with a second poem. The winners of this round win the competition and prizes. Students hope that this will grow into a more common event where it can be held every quarter rather than once a semester due to the growing popularity of poetry at the academy. Whether you are new to poetry or a returning winner, anyone is welcome to compete. The slam is a great opportunity to express creativity through poetry in a fun and easy going environment with your fellow classmates. The slam is an event that most look forward to. Posters and other advertisements of the poetry slam help to build our students excitement to compete and view this exciting event. Stay tuned for the next AACT poetry slam, and come and support your fellow peers as they share their pieces of art and show their true creative sides!
AACT has had many different events in the past. Some of our most popular events have been our dances. The dances that our school puts together are usually attended by all four classes, with the exception of freshman and sophomores at Prom. Our school dances are an easy way for students to relax and unwind. The dances are always a blast. Whether you’re a dancing queen, or taking a mass amount of selfies with friends, everyone can always find a way to have a good time.
Some of our best dances have been our Sadie Hawkins dance and our proms. Our Sadie’s dance was primarily handled by the girls. Girls asked guys to these dances, and in some cases handled all of the dance planning. It was a good night for a reversal in the traditional gender roles.
Prom was also an important dance for our juniors and seniors. It was a night of color that will surely be remembered by all. Prom 2016 had many great features. With a live DJ, a photo-booth, and some cool neon decorations, there was a lot key features that helped to make prom what it was. This years prom was actively participated in by all, whether it simply be voting for prom royalty, or planning the decorations and venue. There were a lot of students including all of student leadership who we have to thank for this amazing night.
The prom royalty this year had originally 5 candidates per election for each level of royalty, but it ultimately came down to Hunter Woolsey & Allison Wales for junior class prince and princess, and Vance Stinson & Maddie Newcombe for senior class king and queen. They were crowned and given a private dance to honor them. Although not everyone made royalty, there were certainly a lot of other couples who were perfectly happy with still having own princes and princesses to themselves for the night.
Ultimately our dances are one of AACT’s most beloved activities by all classes. They offer a night of dancing and fun to be shared between friends and couples. Even if you’re not one to dance, you can still find a good time at our dances.
AACT Dances
by Allie Wales
by Julien Powell
Spirit Week
The best to show a school’s heart and soul is to have a spirit week; a week where the any and all students can truly become misfits and showcase their pride and goofiness for their school. Every time a spirit week rolls around, there is always a rumble in the halls that echo excitement. Every day of that week will be filled with something unique, something fun, even something quirky; every week is a chance to express your fun side and have the time of your high school life.
My recommendation is for everyone to participate in these dress days along with their activities for they are inherently filled with memories that will last a long time.
Biking to School
by Brandyn Lavac & Allie Wales
Bike week is a fun and active way for the community to get together and ride their bikes to work and school for a week. Not only is this annual challenge encouraging to the community, using a bicycle as transportation helps the environment and also helps to reduces smog from cars. It is a blast for all who take part in this extravagant bike week, between free activities, perks, and prizes, bike week has a lot to offer to AACT and the general community around us. It is sponsored and supported by the TMBA which is “a group of organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting safe bicycle commuting in the Truckee Meadows.” The Academy takes a big step into promoting a greener and more environmentally friendly school. With a total of around 35 students and staff participating in the activity, there is a lot of support and fun being experienced by all. Together our participants logged over 400 miles by the end of the week, surpassing what we had originally anticipated.
Bike week is a helpful experience that provides an opportunity for participants to be active and healthy rather than using a typical sedentary car ride to school or work every morning and afternoon. While this event is beneficial to participant’s health, it is also a fun way to spend time with peers or friends on your way each day. Bike week was a total success that left participants anxious and excited for next year’s bike week.
