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P��� 12 ���.D�����M��������.��� O������ 6, 2010 Submitted by Scholars’ Academy Journalism Class Interview with Mrs. McClenning Scholars’ Academy Founder & Principle Mr. McClenning An article by Zachary Phelps Steve McClenning is the Principal and founder of the Scholars Academy . He was born in White Hall , Illinois in 1967. He has been teaching for 20 years, and most of that has been right here at the Academy. He has seen our school change from 1 teacher and 1 classroom into the success it is today. His goal for every student is for them to not only graduate but to succeed in their careers and their lives. His has also become the legacy of this school as a whole. He first thought up Scholars because he was disappointed that so many students were dropping out of high school in his community. So he decided to found a school that would be student driven and geared towards success. In 2008 he decided to expand The Scholars Academy into a Junior High and High School, including 7th and 8th grade. This would give students that attended this school in Junior High a kind of advantage over students who came in freshman year and didn’t really know anyone. They get more comfortable with the high school crowd before they even start high school itself. He has strived to make our school violence and prejudice free. He believes that there is enough hate and violence out in the real world; that he wants this to be a safe and inviting place for everyone. Thanks for everything you’ve done for us Mr. McClenning. Percy Jackson and the Olympians “The Lightning Thief” A book summary by Richard Aaron If you haven’t already seen the movie, ‘The Lightning Thief’ is a great story. Well, even after you’ve seen the movie it’s still good. Percy Jackson, wild child and severely misunderstood, is on a school field trip to the Ancient Greek Museum, hoping that this time he doesn’t get caught in a fight this time. No such luck. After being attacked by his pre- algebra teacher (who turns out to be a blood-thirsty bat woman from the underworld), Percy along with his best friend, Grover ditch the school group and make headway for Percy’s house. Awaiting them is his mother with a plan to take him on a relaxing vacation to their favorite spot out on the beach. When they arrive at their beach house, they get attacked by a Minotaur. They high tail it to Camp Half Blood, a kind of safe haven for kids with…special talents. Does Percy have some kind of dark secret family history that is so hidden that not only he knows about it? And where has his mysterious father been all these years? And above all… why, oh why is he being attacked by living fairy tales? By Tim Martin SCHOLARS- Mrs. Rebecca McClenning has been employed at The Scholars’ Acad- emy for 10 years, with a career total of 20 years. She is the School’s Special Proj- ects Coordinator, Grant Writer, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Sponsor along with The National Honor Society, Title One Coordinator, Curricu- lum Coordinator, and she also teaches English for grades 7-10 and Performance Class. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in 1998, she graduated with Honors. Now a resident of small town of Bouse, Arizona, the veteran Teacher began her career in an elementary classroom at Quartzsite Elementary School, there she taught 3rd and 4th Grade. She was hired as Principal of Mountain View Elemen- tary School in Bullhead, Arizona. She also opened a new school as principal; Sun- rise Elementary. It was after this that she decided to advance on to a higher level of teaching and began teaching at Scholars’. She founded the Little Scholars’ Pre- school seven years ago, now a full blown and very successful preschool. In her first year of working at The Academy, Mrs. McClenning wrote over a half a million dollars in grants for the development of the school. She says that she enjoys her teaching career; that ‘every day is exciting!’ She however refused to say which of her several daily classes is her favorite, saying ‘I enjoy teaching all of my classes. They are all interesting and keep me entertained. Mrs. McClenning is a woman of many tastes; she enjoys all genres of music (with the small exception of Rap and Heavy Metal Rock). She enjoys Italian food; in our interview she mentioned that her favorite food is Clam Linguine. Scholars’ Stars Football Roster • 2010 You are all winners! Best of luck! David Romero Austin Smith Tom Scharrigarren Tony Espinoza Victor Demara Raul Amador Jesse Garcia Jarvier Garnica Sergio Cossio Domink Richardson Joshua Wilson Brandon Jones Jacob Lutz Evan Joslin Destry Yarbro Mikey Maldenado Jordan Wallace Scott Richards Gabriel Orozco Dalton Churchwell Michael Madera Jose Flores Zacharay Behrendt Tyler Richardson Jacob Fugate Jesus Mendevil Kole Smith