Is it really worth getting written up for chewing gum? Probably not. You might think it’s funny to even consider such a thing … right?
Well, if you think that’s funny then read on.
Sometimes students come to class, and they push all the teachers’ wrong buttons without even realizing that they are doing it. And sometimes, in the worst case scenarios, this lands them in the principal’s office.
I mean, really, is laughing a little too loud and a little too much worth getting written up for, Charity Page?
Is running away from scissors worth getting written up for, Dedra Stearn?
Is having a lack of communication with a teacher worth getting written up for, J.S. Stegall?
Their teachers sure think so.
At the time, it’s not a laughing matter. But a few weeks later, hopefully both the teachers and the students can see the humor in some of these types of infractions.
I am a witness to this very situation.
Ms. T. sent me to the principal’s office for writing my name on one of the newspapers. She only two strict rules: no vandalism of newspapers, and no games on the computers. We had to sign a contract on the first day of school promising not to do either one of these things. Well, I forgot and painted my name on one of the class newspapers with whiteout.
I was really mad when she sent me to Mr. Riggans, but deep down I knew I was wrong.
And I’ve learned from the past situations to be on my best behavior at all times, to read (ALL) contracts from each class and teacher. Especially the ones that say, you will be sent to the office the first time you do such-and-such.
Sometimes we get written up for not taking heed of teachers’ specific pet peeves.
I hope you have learned something by reading my story. Stay in church. Praise God. And be mindful of what your teachers tell you to do. (And be especially mindful of what they tell you not to do!)

The legal age for children to have jobs is 14, but a lot of places won’t hire until you are at least 18. Sometimes you can work a few hours a week, if you are under 16.
Fifteen was the age that I start working at my first job.
I work at Party N’ Things in Northview Plaza. I am now 16 and have been working for about 6 months.
I go in to work at about 8:45 almost every Saturday morning and work until about 5 p.m. I do a little bit of everything.
First I help kids get in and out of the moon bounces, and pass out cake and presents at the birthday parties held in the party room at the store.
I also blow up balloons and arrange them for the customers to pick up through out the day.
Lastly, I help customers with anything they might need help with.
It gives me the best feeling when I work the birthday parties.
When the kids arrive, you can feel their excitement fill the room.
The kids all have so much fun and never want to leave.
Their smiles and laughter are just so contagious, I can’t stop smiling.
The parties are never the same from week to week, from the decorations to the moon bounces, down to the kids who attend the parties.
So I always look forward to going to work, to see what’s new that week. All the kids are so polite when you give them their cake.
The birthday boys and girls are always so excited when it’s time for them to open presents. They run through opening their presents so fast.
During the day my main duty is to make sure that all the balloons are done by the time the costumer comes to pick them up.
My favorite memories are when someone comes to pick up balloons, and they just beam when they see the finished product. They keep saying how perfect it is and how they are even more excited, now that they have seen their decorations right there before them.
I haven’t been working there for long, so when people have a question and I actually know the answer I feel more experienced than I really am.
But when I don’t know the answer, of course, I either direct them toward someone who does know or I go and check myself.
I am planning on staying at this same job at least until I graduate college – maybe even longer. It is great having a job I know I can count on, never wondering what part-time job I can get, or even want in the future so that I can get through college.
I am so glad that I have been given the wonderful opportunity of starting a job at this age.

If you have ever been involved in an accident, the first thing you might have thought is, “Really…what just happened?”
Then it hits you, “I just had a wreck. Dang it, what am I going to do?”
Then when you get out of your vehicle, and you see the only thing banged up is your bumper, you realize it’ll be ok.
Once the police get there and you give them your story and they comfort you, you’re fine until you have to explain to Mom and Dad.
But when you realize that all Mom can do is cry and ask if you are alright, and Dad handles everything else, you are finally at ease.
Having a wreck is scary, and it needs to be taken very seriously.
I know from personal experience that it can be a very stressful and frightening time, but a little fender bender never hurt any body.
If you are in a wreck the most important thing to do is to stay calm and listen to the local authorities and answer the questions they ask.
When I was in my wreck I was actually a passenger, and it was my older brother who was driving. He was under a lot of stress and was very concerned for the other driver and me.
At the time it was very important to me to help him to stay calm and do as the police asked him. Of course, he made up the excuse that caused me to have to call our parents, and one of our adult friends who was at the church we had just left a few blocks back.
When they all arrived we sorted everything out with the other drivers and soon were on our way home to rest up before we dealt with the aftermath.
My brother did not total his car or the other car but both vehicles did pay a visit to the auto repair shop and were out within two weeks time.
Now it is all behind us and he is still driving his Hyundai Santa Fe with the “battle wounds” on the bumper and grill.
Before the wreck my brother and I both were cautious drivers, but now we are both very cautious drivers!

Those who have seen new faces in the hallways may be wondering who’s new at NHS.
Some of the new people on campus are the new assistant principals. The new APs are doing a great job, according to most teachers and students who were interviewed.
When the students walked in on the first day of school, they were greeted by Mr. Encarnacion or (Mr. E as he is better known). He taught at Lamarque High School before coming here. There, he was a 10th grade AP.
“I had mixed emotions about my first day here,” he said. “I was happy and nervous, at the same time.”
Mr. E said he has had a few problems since he started at NHS; but he said he still loves it. Mr. Encarnacion went to high school in Lufkin, so he knows the culture of East Texas.
“I want my 10th grade to be the best in the school,” he said with a grin. “I want to have them all graduate and none to fail.”
One thing about Mr. E is he likes to follow the rules, and he doesn’t like when people break the rules. He strongly believes in showing leadership.
A familiar face in a different place is Ms. Heath – the new AP of curriculum and instruction. Anyone who knew what her old job entails can tell her new job is much different.
During the interview for The Dragon Echo, people walked in and the phone rang every few minutes. She handled these issues quickly and effectively.
“I love the new job, and it is what I did before I came here,” she said “I like to be more hands-on with the students.”
Her goal this year is to fine tune things, she said.
She also said there is a huge change happening in the algebra program.
“So far it seems better, and it will hopefully improve scores from last year’s TAKS math,” she said.
Rounding off the new APs is Mr. Scotty Riggans. Mr. Riggans is a familiar face for those who went to McMichael Middle School or played football.
Mr. Riggans loves his new job at Nacogdoches High School.
“It’s wonderful to be here,” he said.
He no longer coaches but he said he misses it very much. He was happy to do this job when asked to. “I have had no problems with this job so far” he said. His goals this year is to “Make a difference in a child’s life” he said.
To hunt down and interview these new APs was a difficult process, due to how busy they all are. They can never be one spot for too long, because they’re out making NHS a safe school. “They are very visible with more walk troughs” said Ms. Wright.”They are doing their jobs well and letting us teach our classes” said Coach Delgado.”I’m happy we got a Hispanic AP to support that side of the population” said Ms. Olvera. Even students are happy with the new APs. “They’re really nice and friendly” said Jordy Reyna. “They’re good; I have had no bad encounters with them” said Jason Pixley.

The low rumble of an engine is the song of the siren to most of today’s young population.
Knowing this, many students spare no expense, (often accompanied by the groaning of their parent’s wallets), outfitting themselves with fastest, most appealing vehicles in near sight.
Then, there are those who take their choice of automobile to a level of near worship.
Consider Daniel Morgan, an average student whose car defies the very fabric of our generation’s social expectation.
Daniel does not roll up to stop lights in a sleek convertible, or force those sharing the road with him to read his license plate as he screeches past them behind the wheel of a Camero.
Instead, he rolls behind the wheel of a vehicle much more unique – for better or worse. Daniel drives a stylish mini van.
Now Daniel is a good friend of mine, so naturally I had a few questions for him when he, (not a lady many years his elder), stepped out from behind the wheel of that beautiful car.
First, I was curious as to the kind of van he drove. He answered concisely, “the crappy kind.”
With that last sentence in mind you might be convinced that everything about this monster of a vehicle is negative.
Not so, according to Daniel. He said he can cram, (theoretically that is), 15 people into the innards of this people pusher. (If you’re not worried with legality, that is.)
Then, with a cab full of unassuming victims, Daniel claims he could achieve a top speed of 120 miles an hour.
So with this in mind, a fuel rating of twenty-three miles to the gallon, and an engine said only to be “the crappy kind”, it seems that this van can’t be beat for one not so concerned with visual appeal.
Now, some people are attached to their vans, and Daniel is no exception to this.
His van is affectionately named “Barry with an a,” not “Berry with an e,” he said, emphasizing that his van’s name should conjure up images of a scraggily mountain man, not a small, but delicious piece of fruit.
When asked how he maintains and washes his chariot, Daniel responded regretfully after a long pause with “I don’t…”
Overshadowing all other aspects of a vehicle is, of course, its raw appeal to others. Performance and top speed matter little when your car puts off the same appeal as a Tonka push car.
Cars. Cars. Cars. The sweet melody of exhaust and screeching tires.
No matter what car you drive, drive it with style.
And watch out for those Maroney Drive speed traps: 20 mph in a school zone, no matter what you drive.

Ms. Christian’s Pre-AP world history class is like no other history class at NHS. Even though it is a class for sophomores, it is taught very similar to that of a college class.
“I know it is a very difficult class, but at the end they will look back on it and say it was worthwhile,” Ms. Christian said.
Ms. Christian said she loves history and loves preparing students for college (as well as duel credit, an AP courses that the students can take the year after her class).
She said she feels it is critical for students to be able to take notes from a lecture, so one of the ways students take notes is orally. The other way students take notes is from the chapters in their world history book.
Students are assigned several chapters to read and take notes over and are expected to know the information when it’s time for that test.
Her tests are also like college tests in some ways. Each test includes an essay, six to eight short answer questions, and around 40 objective questions. It takes the students two days to complete these tests.
Ms.Christian said it takes her four days and nights to grade these tests, but luckily for her (and her students as long as they do well,) there is only one major test each six weeks.
Kelsey Matter, a sophomore currently in Ms. Christian’s class, said, “I can tell the class is going to take a lot of time and effort, but it is going to be worth it in the end. You just have to learn to manage your time wisely.”
Most upper classmen who took Ms. Christian’s class agree with that statement.
“I now know better what professors are looking for in class,” Senior Jonny Hughes said.
Students who have had her class say it is not an easy class, but it is a huge help for anyone who is planning on going to college after high school.

No, the cafeteria was not remodeled again, and the library is still the same as it was last year. However, lockers are absent in the yellow hall, and new paint and carpet replaced the worn out retro paint and carpet from the past in yellow and blue halls.

Additionally, the NHS auditorium has been revamped after… well, what seems like a thousand years. Following the in the footsteps of the up-to-date process that began last summer with the library and commons, NHS’ campus may be unrecognizable to alumni of classes as early as 1980.

Ms. Ferrell, English III teacher, sits at the end of yellow hall in room 115, and she is thrilled that the project is finally completed.

Ferrell said she likes the changes that have been made, and the difference that has been brought about by those changes.

She said the atmosphere of the room has changed. “The students are more willing to respect the room,” she said.

Countless hours of work and funding did not go to waste, according to teachers and students alike.

In the auditorium the story is similar. Since 1980, the auditorium has not been touched. The last day of the 2010 school year marked the day that the room that holds so much entertainment history would get its tune-up.

Ms. Perry, theatre teacher, said the stage her actors will be performing on is “freakin’ awesome.”

She said she believes that everyone who uses it will be proud of the space, and that the community will be anxious to see what the school has done. By sparking curiosity, maybe the turn-out for shows will be even more impressive than in years past, she said.

With the yellow and blue halls completed and the auditorium on the edge of perfection, NHS is in for a treat that will continue throughout the 2011 school year and well into the 2020’s.