Spring Musical Tonight!

 

Music is the motive

by Cassidy Kelley

 
   Lights, camera, sing! The MHS Musical Theatre class will be performing the classic comedy ‘Anything Goes’. For hilarity, romance, action, a good laugh and some incredible music, this will be one production that shouldn’t be missed.
   Set in the 1920s on a boat called the S.S. America, “Anything Goes” is a comedic love story between the rich, and engaged, Hope Harcourt (Soph. Abby Crump) and her ever persistent admirer Billy Crocker (Sr. David Trusty) as they travel from New York to London. This musical has been described as being similar to Titanic, but funnier and without a tragic boat scene.
   Mr. Jason Damron has been the Musical Theatre teacher for the three years that it has been offered as a class. Previous productions he helped produce were ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Seussical the Musical’.
   “All musicals are different,” Damron said. “‘Anything Goes’ is different because it has a combination of acting and singing, whereas ‘Seussical the Musical’ was mostly just singing.”
   Damron will be conducting the pit orchestra during the musical so he can also help the students during their cues for singing. MHS Theatre Arts teacher Melanie Kassen will be behind the curtain, directing.
   The students themselves have had a daunting task ahead of them. During their 5^th period class they practice their acting and singing, but they do choreography after school from 3-8.
   Senior David Trusty is playing Hope’s love interest Billy. His goal is to win her from her fiancé whom she’s only marrying because her family is in financial debt. Trusty, a first time actor who is used to reading from a teleprompter in his Broadcast class, has had to face a particular challenge in memorizing his lines for the musical.
   “I am definitely not a fan of having to memorize lines,” Trusty said. “This is my first year and I didn’t know what I was getting into. It was rough.”
   Fellow senior Becca Ford, also a first time participant in Musical Theatre, plays the role of a former Evangelist turned nightclub singer.
   When asked what has been most stressful in putting together this production she said, jokingly, “Working with David Trusty because he never knows his lines so I have to remember them for him.”
   Hope Harcourt will be portrayed by sophomore Abby Crump, who has had previous experience in working with a theatrical atmosphere. Though this is her first year in Musical Theatre at MHS, she has participated in local productions and community theatres since she was young.
   “I’ve had the chance to go to workshops with professionals,” Crump said. “The only part I’ve struggled with is learning the dances. I’m not a very strong dancer.”
   Though this is a school production, the Musical Theatre class had a lot of outside help. Erin Fruew and Charlotte Beckman helped with the costumes and Melodie Halstead was a great contributor in helping to design and create the set and its props.
   “Anything Goes” will be performed in the MHS Auditorium at 7 pm on May 10 and 11. Tickets will be $7. Come out and support the MHS Musical Theatre class.

Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.  ~Ronald Reagan

Briscoe Accepts Positon at Grace College

   In June, Mooresville High School will say goodbye to our Athletic Director of two years, Chad Briscoe.             

   Briscoe has accomplished many things as Athletic Director at MHS, including Mooresville’s Champions of Character program, a program that recognizes students from all Mooresville schools who display excellency in character, unity and servant leadership. He also oversaw the planning for the Mooresville Sports Complex, a complex that includes the Mooresville Junior League fields, the cross country course, all other Mooresville athletic fields, and the League of Miracles.

   “Chad served Mooresville Schools extraordinarily well by consistently living out positive, professional and productive behaviors and habits,” Superintendent Brad Lindsay said in a press release.

   There were also several firsts in Mooresville Athletics history while Briscoe was Athletic Director, including Mooresville’s first All Star in Cross Country, the first Regional qualifier in swimming and the first Sectional title in girls’ tennis.

   “[Briscoe] has done a wonderful job in the two years that he has been here,” Athletic Secretary Marsha Green said. “He has done so many positive things.”

   Briscoe also oversaw the building of the first school-owned softball field in MHS history. He has also secured a three-year sponsorship from St. Francis hospital for the athletic department and improving the school’s tennis courts, baseball field, weight rooms, track and football building, basketball gym, natatorium and soccer field.

   Briscoe has accepted a position as athletic director and professor of Sports Management at Grace College in Indiana.

   “There are many benefits for my family in returning to the college level,” Briscoe said. “I will serve as a professor on campus and I look forward to returning to teaching again.”

   Briscoe will be missed by the students and staff at MHS. Be sure to wish him luck at Grace College.

   “I have grown professionally from my experience at Mooresville and will miss working with the staff, students and coaches that make Mooresville a special place,” Briscoe said.

Summer Activities

by Abby Ellinghausen

   Do you ever get bored during the summer and have no idea what to do? Well, we’ve got you covered with a few ideas.

   If you are looking for something to do one day just here in Mooresville, you could go to the pool at Pioneer Park or just to have a picnic. 

   “I really like going to Gray’s for lunch and taking it to the park to eat,” senior Taylor Fiesel said. 

There is also a new Soaring Eagle Zipline being put in at the park, which is only $7 a ride. For more information on the zipline and other park activities go to http://mooresville.org/ParksRecreation.aspx.

 The Mooresville Library will kick off its annual summer reading program on May 31^st. This year’s theme is Beneath the Surface. The program will be focused on mysteries, the mind, and masquerade. There will be events such as Rorschach Henna, Sherlock Holmes Scavenger Hunt, Cosplay, Life Size Clue, and much more. There will be tons of prizes for teens participating in the reading program. You can find more information soon at http://mooresvillelib.org/.

   If you are an outdoor person some good things to do would be biking or rollerblading at the park, exploring scenic trails at Sodalis Nature Park in Plainfield or you could even go canoeing. You could also take a road trip and head down to Holiday World or Kings Island for a day with your friends or family.

There are also many fun things to do in downtown Indianapolis including the Indianapolis Zoo, the Children’s Museum or Indianapolis Museum of Art.

   “I love going to the zoo for a day with my niece during the summer,” sophomore Grant Bailey said.

 In addition to those things you can rent a paddle boat on the canal, go to an Indians’ game, climb to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument or spend an afternoon at the City Market. These are all great things to do with a small group of friends!

Concerts are also a great thing to do in the summer. For concerts around Indianapolis check out www.aroundindy.com/concerts.   

   If you are looking for things like summer camps and such, CampPage.com is a great tool to use to find a camp to attend this summer.  You can search by camp type, camp activity, or state/province. There are many different types of camps including day camps, residential camps, adventure-travel camps, religious camps and more.

2013 Prom Pictures

Special Thanks to Mrs. Kelly Patel for providing these photos to The Pulse staff.

News Release: Champions of Character April Winners

Champions of Character Press Release

   The Mooresville High School Athletic Department is pleased to announce the Champions of Character award winners from all Mooresville Schools for the month of April.

   The Champions of Character program inspires character qualities being implemented through life experiences gained from the educational and/or athletic experiences at Mooresville.  The program recognizes one male & female student from each elementary school, the middle school and high school for the month of March.  The students each month are nominated by their teachers and chosen by their Principal for demonstrating the following three main core values through the Mooresville Champions of Character program: Character, Unity and Servant Leadership. 

April Award Winners:

Mooresville High School – Sophomore Amanda Gifford & Freshman Conner Cooper

Paul Hadley Middle School – 7th grader Emily Lindsay & 8th grader Aaron Culver

Neil Armstrong Elementary – 2nd grader Emma Mayer & 6thgrader Bryce Hahn

Newby Elementary – 5th grader Hannah Hopkins & Kindergartener Dezi Longoria 

Northwood Elementary – 3rd grader Kinley Roberson & 2nd grader Mathew Danielson

North Madison Elementary – Kindergartener Kaleigh Russell & Kindergartener Cameron Grimes

Waverly Elementary – 5th grader Libby Grant & 6th grader Andrew Diaz

  

   The program will recognize those students who are making a positive difference in Mooresville schools as they demonstrate these core values throughout the year.  The students selected for the month of April and March will be recognized in a ceremony before the home varsity baseball game Monday, May 13, 2013.  All award winners and their parents will receive free admission to the baseball game, which starts at 6:00 p.m.  All award winners need to arrive at the varsity baseball field behind the high school by 5:30 pm.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

Renovation Update

   With all the new changes coming to MHS, Pulse is here to keep students updated on what’s happening with the renovation process. Below is some information regarding the current situation with the construction.

 

Former Library (Soon to become new office)

Former Library Entrance

Staff Members now park in front lot

Current Renovations taking place:

·         Library

o   This area will become the main office.

·         Athletic Office

o   This area will be incorporated into the new main office.

Currently Affected Faculty Members:

·         Mr. Chad Briscoe

o   Now located near the South Gym.

·         Mrs. Barb Goddard

o   Now located in Room 131.

·         Mr. Brian Stayte

o   Moved due to need for computer labs (as a result of the old library being cleared out).

·         Mrs. Lindy Scott

o   Moved due to need for computer labs (as a result of the old library being cleared out). Now located in Room 137.

Areas that will be worked on before school ends:

·         Library (being converted into new main office)

Estimations for Summer Construction  (what may be done before school starts again):

·         Current Main Office

·         All Classrooms Started

·         Industrial Arts Area

·         Old Library Area

·         New Corridor

   “The 2013-2014 school year will be a construction zone. Many improvements will be taking place,” Mr. Tim VanWanzeele said, “and we are upgrading many things that will improve the look and usefulness of our facility.

Editorial: Attention Deserved for Good Attendance

   Ever since the state mandated that teachers would be evaluated based on test scores (thus eliminating final exam exemptions), students of MHS talked about how the attendance rate would drop dramatically; however, the truth of this situation may be a surprise.

   Last year, while MHS still had exemptions, the average attendance rate was 97.1 percent. This year, after a rough estimate, the attendance rate is 96.52 percent, which is less than 1 percent lower than last year’s. The drop was not so dramatic after all.

   “I’ve been doing this for over 10 years,” attendance secretary Mrs. Becky Bischoff said, “and the attendance rate hardly ever changes more than one percent whenever exam exemptions are affected. Even when exam exemptions were first created there was hardly any difference.”

   What does this mean? Students are still coming to school without the reward at the end of the year. Whether it’s because they don’t want to fall behind in schoolwork or they can’t afford to miss, the exam exemptions didn’t matter as much as many people believed they did.

   “There will always be kids who come to school every day and there will always be kids who just don’t,” Bischoff said.

   But here’s the question: Should there still be some type of reward system at the end of the year to recognize kids who come to school every day?

   The Pulse believes there should be. Why shouldn’t students be recognized for being at school a certain amount of days? Even if it was a small prize, it would be enough just to be acknowledged for their achievements.