Walnut Hills High School
Volume CVIII, Issue 7
Colorful murals embody Walnut student culture
January 16, 2014
Celeste Kearney ‘15 Hannah Shaw ‘14
ALLSON MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX
Murals located in the modern language hall (top) and science classrooms (middle and bottom) showcase the diversity and talent within the walls of Walnut Hills. Walnut students who worked for Artworks helped to create the murals.
Optioning for your future Abrena Rowe, ‘14 The start of second semester doesn't mean that the school year will be any less busy. Third quarter is upon us, and for some, that means big projects, research papers and tests. Also, people begin to look ahead to their AP exams in May and to start figuring out how they'll prepare for them. But before any of that, students have to think about what classes they will take next year.
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Yes, optioning will be here beginning the week of January 13. The counselors are scheduled to visit seventh through 11th-grade English classes by the end of January to introduce the optioning process. Students will receive information about optioning and classes that they are eligible to take; they will also receive information about AP courses and their prerequisites. There will be an AP fair on January 22 during all three lunches in the cafeteria to give
inspiration from the diverse group of people in the Walnut community, whether it Coming back from winter be using alumni or taking break, it was hard not to notice inspiration from the janitorial the technicolored mural in the staff. Even though Heldman modern world language hallcould recruit outside artists, way, an extreme juxtaposition she prefers alumni or students from the butter-yellow walls who know Walnut best. She Walnut students have become enlisted students Katrina Jones, accustomed to. “It caught my ‘15 and Skylar Coleman, ‘16 attention immediately,” said through Artworks, a non-profit Makayla Gentry, ‘16. organization that trains local This eye-catching muyouth to create community art. ral seemed to have magiArtworks is headed by Tamara cally appeared while the rest Harkavy, ‘75. of the Walnut For the “I think that the community mural in the was huddled modern formurals are a huge around space contribution to the school eign language heaters avoidhallway, “the atmosphere. The color concept is [that] ing negative scheme is very temperatures, different colors but the Alumni represent differinspirational.” Foundation is ent languages,” to thank with said Heldman. -Kellan Robinson, ‘16 the help of curFrench teacher rent and former Madeline Walnut students and artists. LaJeunesse’s classroom is across Debbie Heldman, Execufrom the mural and she is “very tive Director of the Alumni happy to see the new [colors] Foundation, explained that highlight [the] presence of “throughout the year we pick world language in school.” different art projects ranging The plans were designed by from equipment in digital Zach Sawan, who is both a graphic design lab to murals.” class of 2004 alumni and counThe murals are a part of an selor Linda Sawan’s son. Kellan ongoing project that began Robinson, ‘16 likes the “very over the summer with murals inspirational” color scheme, in the classrooms of Jeffrey while John Meyer, ‘18 likes Lazar, Brian Pinkerton and Eric how “the colors go around in a Brock. circle.” Pinkerton likes the mural According to Heldman, in his classroom “because it Dimitrius Lail, a member of has that 3-D appeal.” Rachel the janitorial staff, had the idea Kimura, ‘15 thinks the mural of the concept of “birds around “adds a lot to the room, conthe world.” Emily Silvius, ‘14 sidering [there are] no winsaid that “it adds color and dows.” Helen Dietsch, ‘14 likes life.” The mural “really brightthe “nice addition” in Lazar’s ens up the place,” according to classroom. Danyelle Gaines, ‘16. When handling projLaJeunesse hopes “to see ects involving the culture of more murals in the school Walnut, Heldman always tries downstairs with the other lanto “make a circle” by drawing guage classes.”
students a better idea about what AP courses they want to take. Optioning is a time when students can choose the classes that they think fit them best. If students already have an idea of what they want to do with their future, they can take this time to enroll in classes that will give them a better idea of what they will be learning in college. Continued on page 2.
ALLSON MCNAIR/CHATTERBOX
Kayla Porter, ‘16 discusses optioning. The counselors will spend time with students to discuss their choices for the upcoming year.
Hannah Shaw, Editor-in-Chief
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