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Favorite quotes or scripture of Messmer students

By Latanza Franklin, sophomore

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Messmer's favorite sports

By Eduardo Castaneda, sophomore

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An artist among us: Ms. Jennifer Klecker

Senator Kohl visits students via the Distance Learning Lab

By Kamisha Harvey, sophomore

Senator Herb Kohl took time out of his day to talk to Messmer students in the Distance Learning Lab last week Wednesday.  Once a year he wants to speak with students around the state to understand their views and thoughts. Messmer High School was one school that participated.

 Senior Shameka Moore asked the Senator about health care not being passed. Kohl’s response was, “Today health care costs so much that it’s hard for people to pay. Since hospitals cost so much now, health care is taking money out of families pockets.”

Drunk driving laws and their enforcement was another topic of concern for Messmer students. Kohl responded that he feels no sympathy for those who hurt others through their own poor choices, especially driving drunk. He feels that Wisconsin is just as tough on drunk drivers as other states.

Another student from a local middle school asked, “Why are taxes so high compared to other states?” Kohl prompt response was that it’s up to state law makers and not federal policy.

Kohl provided some advice for to youth that deal with peer pressure on a daily basis. “They deal with peer pressure because they don’t stand up for themselves. If people stand up for what they believe in and stand up for themselves they can fight off the people that cause peer pressure,” states the Senator. The best way to deal with peer pressure is to just forget about that person and avoid them. Go the other way and don’t think about that person.

It was a great experience for students, and hopefully Messmer will be part of the panel next year as well. For the last two years students have also gotten to visit Senator Kohl's office in Washington DC. Students in the National Honor Society make a spring trip and experience all our Nation's capitol has to offer.

New computer teacher, Ms. Patterson

By Kamisha Harvey, sophomore

Mrs. Della Patterson is a computer and a finance teacher here at Messmer.  She teaches these two classes because she feels students need to know how to understand the importance of computers and managing finances better. Patterson feels that at times students go on the computer and just handle their business, but there are other interesting things on the computer that students can enjoy.

The reason Patterson came to teach at Messmer is because she wanted to help students get a better education in learning how to actually use the computer. She feels that students here are well educated but that help with computers could improve.

When Patterson first came to Messmer she wasn’t nervous but she was very happy to teach. She was ready to teach the students and show them how to actually use the computer. The best thing she likes about her job is teaching the students. She loves to teach and show kids new things. 

Wisconsin to Iowa and back again

By Eduardo Castaneda, sophomore

Mr. Geoff Kaiser was born in Merrill, Wisconsin in October 1, 1984. He just to live in Horicon, Wisconsin, but then moved to Dubuque, Iowa. He has one sister and brother-in-law and two aunts and two uncles that live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
 Kaiser went to Loras College in Dubuque with his major being Physical Education and Health with a teaching endorsement for biology and to coach. He found Messmer because it was late in the summer and he had applied everywhere for work and luckily he heard of Messmer. The reason he chose to teach P.E is because he likes teaching through sports because they are great.

Before he studied in college, Kaiser wanted to be an athletic trainer. He enjoys watching the students succeed and to watch them get better. His favorite moment from Messmer so far is getting ready to coach a basketball game and coming to school. A for his favorite sport? It is coming up: track and field because!  Kaiser is the Messmer Basketball coach and the Track and Field coach.                        

New secretary Ms. Jackson

By Justice Adams-Woods, sophomore

Ms. Lakesha Jackson is Messmer High School’s newest secretary, and we are happy to have her here! Jackson attended John Muir Middle School, and she said that a favorite memory from that school was when she first met her a girl that is now her best friend the first day of school. She says, “I had just moved to Milwaukee from East St. Louis, Illinois, and she was the first to introduce herself to me. We have been inseparable ever since.” She also remembers when she receives her first job through her guidance counselor.

Jackson also attended Washington High School, and her favorite memory from there was when she first received an award from UWM for her consistent academic achievement and best of all, graduation. For her success, her father took her and her sisters to Florida for one whole week. After that, Jackson attended Mount Mary College to become a school secretary. She goes on to stating, “My favorite memory from Mount Mary is becoming a member of the best sorority throughout the land and that sorority is none other than Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.” However, while at Mount Mary College her field of study was Business and Professional Communications.

She has already been a school secretary for 6 years. The best thing that she would say has happened to her out of all her years of being a secretary was her building relationships with all the students and parents and knowing that she has made a difference in their lives. Besides working at Messmer as a secretary she has also worked at Tricept Solutions. She decided to be a school secretary because she enjoys working with people. 

The best part, for Jackson, to working at Messmer is getting to know the students, but it’s not all good all the time. The worst part is not remembering all of the students’ names – even though there are a lot of them! Overall, her dream job is to be a pharmaceutical sales representative. She wants to become a pharmaceutical sales representative because she says she is very good at convincing people to buy things. With that, she also states, “Becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative will help me utilize my gifts and talents beyond the front desk.”
Thank you for all your hard work, and students, be nice to Ms Jackson and all of the other front office staff members!

Senior research

By Mark Thomas, senior

The senior research criteria has changed every year for the last four years.. Some students may see this as a good thing since because certain criteria changes may benefit students.

In the 2005-06 school year the requirement to graduate was a ten page research paper, but last year the seniors only needed a fifteen-minute PowerPoint presentation.

Based on changes that took place this summer, students are required to write at least ten to twelve pages about their chosen topic. Some examples include how teen suicide affects a family and how raising the minimum work age can benefit students.

The senior research for this year has excluded the PowerPoint presentation portion that was required for last year’s exhibition. Sophomore Imani Calloway said: “ A presentation sounds easier because when I do papers I like to procrastinate.” This is a common problem among many other students as well, and it proved to be a reason for lower grades on the presentation in past years.

More than half of the students (65%) were undecided as to whether the changes in Senior Research would help them.  Senior Lacierra Smith states: I think students get discouraged when they hear ‘ten pages’ because they think it is the end of the world.  I was actually looking forward to doing a presentation this year.”

             Junior Crystal Brown is a year away from this project:  “I do not think it is a good way to tell a senior’s success because some people are more gifted than others at writing.”  She later goes on to say, “If this year’s change in the senior research shows good results then I think they should keep it that way.”

The senior research project is a good example of what is to come when a student goes to college. Senior Marcell Wilson knows this. “It just helps prepare you for college, he says. Doing long papers in high school helps prepare students so that if they do decide to go to college, doing such papers will not be as hard.

Senior guidance councilor Ms. Matthews states: “ I think that benefits of the addition of the paper to the senior exhibition project are immeasurable. Writing good research papers will allow students to gain experience in writing which will help them when they get to college.”

There are some tips for seniors when trying to do the research paper.  Pick a topic that is interesting. Some students may have trouble committing to a chosen topic because they might not like it, so do not expect a teacher or parent to give you a subject you like.

Also, avoid trying to do the research paper at the last minute. Procrastination usually produces poor results when trying to do something as important as senior research. This research paper is the most important assignment a student will receive because it is one of the determining factors of student graduation. 

President Obama update

By Mark Thomas, senior
There is a lot expected of Barack Obama in his first year as President based on what he headlined in his campaign. He is expected to keep all of his promises no matter what they are, but is he on his way to success?

 Obama promised to bring about changes, and some may say he has done a good job so far or some might believe he has not done anything at all.  Whether he can fulfill all of his promises or not he still is expected to do so.

Just recently Barack Obama received the  Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2009 for  what he has done in the previous year. Many people are debating on whether or not he deserved the award. A lot of people feel that he has not done enough in the previous year and in his nine months as President . The President said that he would accept the award as “a call to action, a call for all nations…”

Early in his term President Obama announced that he would fix the economy and help create more jobs for people.  About one-third (35%) of the students think that he is doing a good job of stabilizing the economy and another third of the students (38%) thinks that he is doing what he said he would. 

Freshman Terrell Williams weighs in. “I do not know to much about Obama ,but I do know that he promised to do a lot. As long as he is doing things differently from former President George Bush, that is good enough for me.”

Overall Obama’s rating as President throughout the school is decent (80%) but on August 31, 2009  his national approval rating ranged from 50-61% according to the Gallup poll from CNSNews.com.

About one third of the students (38%) think that he is making the changes he said would come. Senior Corey Williams states, “Nothing is going to happen overnight.”    Even though he started just his term this year, Obama has more than three years to make changes as President.

Senior Garry Santillana admits that: “He is doing an okay job. Some of the things he said he was going to do before he got elected he is not doing yet.”  Though Obama was known for changing his mind on certain topics he is still keeping some of his promises.

Gregory Bates, a senior adds, “He is doing the opposite of what he said during his campaign. I have not seen any changes yet but I know it is too early to really tell anything.”

In the future Obama will have to continue to prove himself. He has a lot of promises to keep and a lot of people to please.  He has to show his leadership by helping people get through these tough times because a lot of people look up to him.  Only time will tell.

School secruity

By Mark Thomas, junior
       The safety of students in the schools of Milwaukee is a pressing issue. As more and more students become involved in devious acts there is a need for punishments and the enforcement of security systems.
        There is a list of important guidelines schools must follow in order to prevent and manage school violence, reduce safety risks and improve school community relations according to the National School and Safety and Security services.

           Different schools require different types of security, which is based on past or chronic offenses.  Public schools tend to have more strict security policies than most private schools in Milwaukee. For example, the Milwaukee School of Languages requires students to have the book bags checked.

         “I see fights in this schools almost every week. If it wasn’t for the security and police being around the school all day I would not feel as safe as I do now.” States Marquis Carlisle, a senior who attends Custer High School.

       “I remember this school was bad when I was a freshman because I would always hear about Custer being on the news because some students were fighting. Now that I’m a senior I’m kind of used to seeing fights and I think the school has gotten better but it still has a long way to go before I actually start to call it a safe school.”

          Student safety in Milwaukee has been an ongoing issue but it is important to remember that providing more security or making stricter security policies will not stop some students from engaging in devious acts.

Mall secruity

By Briana Stewart, junior

Security guards have become a normal sight among the throng of patrons for most malls in town. Because restrictions on certain malls have been actively enforced, there has been less crime and more enjoyable visits.

            People are curious as to know whether or not it’s the security affecting the crime and punishment element. The need for security has made it clear, but some malls don’t have security and are well off. Restrictions on certain malls have been changed in the last two years mostly because of the behavior and actions of a younger audience. There were a few episodes that were violent that required police intervention. The parental escort policy has been instituted.

            “These rules are so bogus.” Says freshman Juandrell Cage “It’s stupid of them to punish all of us for a few bad incidents like the fights that happened.

            On New Year’s Eve, there was another change in policy at Bayshore similar to Mayfair’s parental escort policy. People under eighteen will be banned from the center after 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. An incident in the food court on the day after Christmas is what caused Bayshore to take on this restriction. So far, the policy is supposed to be enforced for a month, but Glendale police and community leaders will determine in a few weeks if it will become permanent.

 “The changes were difficult to adapt to in the beginning,” says Bob Harrington, head of security at Mayfair. “It was a real change off pace because the ranges of age and types of people have changed due to the restrictions placed.”

The changes are not only hard for security staff. Messmer students are not taking the news well either. “I can’t believe they’re doing this policy at Bayshore now too. They’re banning us from everywhere we go! What are we supposed to do now?” questions Javonte Davis.

According to security and shop owners at Mayfair and Bayshore, both parking lot surveillance and mall security personnel have been increased because of past incidents.

However, malls’ target audiences have been altered due to these issues and the crowds have become more manageable

People have reacted differently to these changes. Only 19% of Messmer students are truly angry about parental escort policy placed at Mayfair and have decided to just move on to other malls such as Brookfield Square and Bayshore. Another 37%, did not even care about the policy because it wasn’t even their first choice of malls to shop or hang out at.

 “The restrictions at Mayfair Mall on North Mayfair Road are irritating to me now. They make it not even worth trying to go to. The fact that they are even enforcing this policy is a major force, and I don’t even see the point in going anymore when I could just go to Bayshore Mall by myself without being stopped by some security guard!” says Andria Sewell-Cotton, junior.

She isn’t the only one reacting this way. Messmer students are frustrated that the only way to get into Mayfair for a short time these days is to be eighteen or older when attending alone or with someone 21 years or older if your not 18 yet. The only time that children can be without escort at Mayfair is on Fridays and Saturdays until 2pm. Many of the students have transferred their allegiance over to Bayshore where the Parental Escort Policy is also starting to slowly take over.

I'm so embarrassed

By Kamisha Harvey, sophomore

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What's your favorite food?

By Sharmane Hughes, sophomore

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Favorite Birthday Memory

By Tamiya Edwards, sophomore

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Student teacher Mrs.Vento

By Tamiya Edwards, sophomore

Ms. Beth Vento is Ms. Angie Sereno’s American Government and American Studies student teacher. She was born on February 16, 1980 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. When she was in high school she went to Westosha Central High School. She went to college at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to get her BA in History and then went to Cardinal Stritch to get her Maters in Teaching Social Studies.

Before this 30 year-old came to Messmer, she was a substitute teacher for the Milwaukee Public Schools system. Vento wants to be a teacher for the rest of her life. The reason why she wanted to be a teacher is because she loves kids and likes students and content area.

Vento has one child named Bella Vento; this 3-½ year old girl is the most important person in her life. She is happily married to her husband Tony, and they celebrated their 6-year anniversary around Valentine’s Day.

The most embarrassing moment Ms. Vento has ever had was when she was in high school and broke her tailbone in cheerleading. The things she likes to do for fun outside of work is having special dates with her daughter Bella and traveling. If she was to receive one million dollars she would pay off her student loans, take a trip with her family, and still teach. She wants everyone at Mesmer to know that she is grateful to be here and that she feels so welcomed here.

Community service

By Kamisha Harvey, sophomore

If you go to your guidance counselors and talk to them about how you can get a scholarship, you might think they will just talk to you about grades. However, they will most likely bring up community service activities as well. If you participate in community service, and have extra curricular activities to support your grades, colleges will be very impressed with what they see.

Community Service is a great thing for Milwaukee. Although many people don’t participate in community service opportunities, that doesn’t mean they’re lazy or don’t care. Maybe they just don’t know what to participate in that’s going to fit them.

Participating in activities and community services tells Admissions Staff that you care and are willing to help out; they want active students to represent their colleges. Plus, being involved will help you feel good about yourself and about what you can give to other people.

Freshman Kasaundra Jones participates in community service activities at shelters. At the shelters she serves food and play games with the people there. She likes to help people and those in need of help. She says, “I love to be around people and help people as well.”

Many people will do community service just to help out others. Many people say they like to help out those in need. They don’t want anything in return, it’s the thought of it that’s count.

“I usually don’t like to help out but I’ll help for the Lord any day.” States sophomore Ashleigh Johnson. She likes to be apart of community service activities that occur at her church. She cleans the church, serve food, helps out during after service activities and plant flowers.

Some students also enjoy working with children as their source of service. “I love kids. I’ll help out with other things in the community, but I usually help out the babies,” claims junior Darren Welch. He’ll go to daycares and play with the kids. Welch also says, “Babies are the easiest to watch. Yea they’re a lot of work but they don’t talk back or cause as much trouble.”

Senior Chuka Ofojebe says, “I love books and love to read. All books are interesting I there own way.” He also volunteers at book sales. He once applied for a job at the library. “Books are an interesting source to go to for anything.

Marquette University student Kaitie Kovach takes on service work even in college, but about her work in high school she states, “I did community service activities in high school and loved it.” The things she did in school were picking up trash and collecting leftovers from restaurants to donate shelters. She now works for the newspaper at Marquette, but it’s a job that she’d do for free. “As a senior in college, I sill participate in community service.”

Kovach liked doing the work, and so do our high school students. In the Mesmer poll, 70% people say that they would like to participate in community service activities. People mostly participate in community service by helping out others. Helping the needy. Freshman Kasaundra Jones says, “I participate in community service activities by helping the people at shelters. I serve food and clothes to them.”

40% said that they wouldn’t like to participate in community service because certain activities might be stressful to them. “I would serve food, but if I have to touch someone I don’t know then, I will not participate in community service,” Kedara Suber states. Some people don’t participate in community service because they don’t like to pick up or clean up after people. “If I have to pick up trash then I will definitely not participate in community service. Trash can be contaminated, and I do not want to catch anything,” states Suber.

All in all, many people we help for free and enjoy what they do. Community service is great thing that could help a lot throughout people lives, and if you want to make an impact on those reading your college applications, get involved as soon as you possibly can.

Twitter isn't popular as everyone thinks

By Sharmane Hughes, sophomore

Twitter is a new network site that has taken a new toll on all populations. This social networking site has become so popular that celebrities are really active on it. Jay-Z, Nikki Minaj, Mario, Rihanna, and even the newest President Barack Obama are active Twitter users.

People are “tweeting” about many different things that are happening or going to happen in the future. This network website, that has been overflowed by all cultures, has also been referred to as the “New Facebook”.

In a Messmer poll, an overwhelming 95% of students know what Twitter is all about. Senior Tim Johnson states, “Of course I know what Twitter Is. Who doesn’t?” Maybe the other 5% will be a little more informed after they read this story!

“I’ve heard that it is a website where celebrities update or tweet about what they’re doing at the moment or what they’re going to do in the future,” states sophomore Alexandria Taylor. Celebrities are really popular among teenagers. There’s always a teenager who is obsessed or either wants to be just like a celebrity. Could that be their main attraction?

When people think of Twitter they might think of a website that lots of people are on and a place where everyone wants to visit. Surprisingly, even though almost everyone has heard of Twitter, 80% of people report that they never even use Twitter.

“Twitter is just a waste of time. It’s just another way to create drama,” claims Junior Keonna Windom. Although Twitter has become one of the most popular trends on the internet outside of the Messmer community, not everyone agrees that it is better than the network site called “Faceboook”.

“Better than Facebook? Never! You do the same things on Facebook that you do on Twitter except more,” exclaims Freshman Felix Ramsey. “You can update your statuses, upload cool pictures, and join celeb fan pages where they state where they’re going to be at the moment or what to look forward to them doing in the near future,” adds freshman Felix Ramsey.

There are also a number of other things you can do on Facebook that you can’t do on Twitter. You can watch videos, take quizzes ondifferent topics and compare them to other people scores, play games, and partake in other applications and things that are available there.

On the other hand, other individuals believe that Twitter is more convenient and informational. Kaitie Kovach, a Marquette University senior, is part of the Marquette Tribune newspaper staff. “As a journalism student, [Twitter is] good for news. You can tweet news and get it to tons of people, fast. Personally, I love it.”

Even though the Messmer community has an overwhelming dislike of the website Twitter, it may be a more quick and easier way of getting news from point A to point B. Say less but mean more; what do you think?

Best friends forever (BFF)?

By Tamiya Edwards, sophomore

In a Messmer poll, only half of students claim that they have a best friend. Most students believe that they have a best friend forever (BFF) because they want someone they can go to and tell all their secrets to or maybe want a friend that they can tell all their problems to without the whole schools knowing about it.

But what about the other half? Junior Briana Stewart-Jiles stated, “No, I don’t have a best friend.” She believes that she doesn’t need one and best friends don’t last forever.

However, most of the answers that was collected responses “yes” seem to be the same answer that popped up the most but with different a reason which was that they wanted someone who they can go to and talk to. Some people just feel as if they don’t need a best friend and don’t have any that’s worthy of being called their best friend.

Some students say that they choose their BFF based on trust, honesty, and humor. Freshman Jaelynn Molley stated, “They have to be trustworthy and they need to be a person who actually cares about how you feel.”

Sophomore Xavier Johnson stated, “Me and my BFF have been friends for about 6 years.” The reason why they lasted so long is because Johnson and his best friend do a lot of things together and have similar interests. Just like Johnson, half of those polled have been friends with their best friend for 6 years or more. Maybe the reason some friendships last that long is because they are friends with a person that they can trust, have good advice, never go behind their backs and talk bout them, and knows how to keep secrets

Senior Garry Santilana states, “I have 2 or 4 best friends.” Even though there is no limit on how many best friends you can, have but many students just call anyone they talk to their “BFF”. Only 40% claim say that they have only one or two BFFs. If you have students calling anyone their BFF then what’s the purpose for having a BFF at all then?

So many people change their best friends everyday. Maybe the reason for that is because they really don’t know what a real best friend really is. Or it can just be the person that they called their best friend did something that ruined their friendship either it was telling their secrets or talked about them behind their back. If you keep changing best friends every week or so then that means the people that you are calling your best friend really isn’t your best friend.

Tips for friends

Things you should do….

1. Be honest with your friend

2. There must be loyalty in your friendship

3. Communication, talk to your friend

4. You have to be trustworthy

5. Have things in common

Things you shouldn’t do….

1. Don’t betray your friend

2. Don’t be a back stabber

3. Don’t ever talk bout your friend behind their back

4. NEVER go with your best friend’s ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend

5. NEVER tell your best friend’s secrets to anyone else