Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Quick hits on the issues

Thumbs up to social studies teacher Roddy Story for winning Chatham County Teacher of the Year and being a great teacher. Good luck moving on to Regional Teacher of the Year. How could you not win? You’re the best.

Thumbs down to Charger Challenge. Two words that Northwood students absolutely cannot stand to hear. Twenty hours of community service, essays to be written, as well as an eight-hour job shadowing that we are not given a school day for. One issue students feel strongly about is the time required out of their lives to meet the necessary requirements, as well as the mix up and changes made each year. If the Charger Challenge stayed consistent and did not change every year, as well as allowing those students who must job shadow an excused absence, students at Northwood would be much happier.

Thumbs up to the arts program for putting on a great show in the dance, theatre, visual arts and chorus department this semester. In the visual arts department, artists placed fourth in the state at the NCASA Scholastic Cup. Both the dance and chorus department received a new teacher this year, and the chorus department added an a capella club.

Thumbs down to moving up to 3A for athletics next year. This means harder competition and unfamiliar schools to play. It will be quite the adjustment but hopefully the Chargers can power through it and have successful seasons next year.

Thumbs up to the Class of 2016 who just completed their first year of high school. You no doubt had your fair share of worries and stress, memories and new experiences as you started a new school this year. Keep up the good work, and here’s to three more great years.

Thumbs down to growing up and taking on responsibilities of the real world. To getting jobs and having to pay for things yourself. Having to follow all the rules and not being forgiven for mistakes that are often overlooked in teen years.