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Welcome Back!

As the school year for 2024-2025 starts up, we welcome back all former and new students! The school year was essentially kicked off with a football game against Hertford County, where we saw (and heard) multiple performances from the GCHS Marching Barons, and at the beginning of the game, colors were presented by our GCHS NNDCC Color Guard. We loved to see the students’ and parents’ support throughout the game.

This past Tuesday, the administration also held a “ Club Fair” where each of the classes got to go into the new gym and learn about different clubs and organizations they could join. Everyone was pleased to see a lot of interest and participation from the different classes.

On Friday (9/6/24), the school hosted a pep rally, recognizing the GCHS staff and fall athletes as well as an armed drill demonstration performed by the GCHS NNDCC. We wish you all an amazing school year! Go Barons!

By Courtney Unger

Baron Beat Editor

 

Cell Phone Policy

As the school year has kicked back up, we have seen many changes to the school and the cell phone policy. It has been quite the hot topic among students, faculty, and families.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the matter, and we would like to write about it since it has been such an influential change to our school process. Obviously, the faculty and students will have differing opinions, so our Baron Beat Staff sent out two separate Google Forms to the teachers and students. When asked what effect the students believe the cell phone policy has had, 129 out of 168 students reported it as having a negative effect on their day and their ability to focus. One student said “…students are more focused on what time they will get out of class and go home. With or without phones there will be new distractions that take away from students learning, phones were never the issue”.

Teachers, on the other hand, said things like “Classroom disruptions are less frequent,” and “…students are not distracted by their phones since they are required to have them put away or in their pockets”.

Compared to each other, 73.9% of the teachers said that they think the policy will continue to be enforced, and 58.3% of the students said that they think the policy will be dropped or changed after this year.

Recently, we had interviews with students and teachers. Mrs. Unger (Foods and Nutrition) reports “…it’s been great actually watching students interact with each other.” Chief Howard says “…I also see the positive effect of others not being distracted by social media and other shenanigans”.

However, while students (most of them, that is) understand the policy being enforced in the classroom, they think that it is “unnecessary that we can’t use them during free time in class” and that “When it comes to the hallway, cafeteria, and free time, it draws the line,” according to two students who requested to stay anonymous.

Again, everyone is entitled to their opinions, and we hope that you found this article informative and helpful. Go Barons!

By Tyliyah Howell, Makinzi Davis, and Brooke Cyr (Baron Beat Writers), and Courtney Unger (Baron Beat Editor)

 

Drill Dynamics Camp

This past weekend (September 7-8), the GCHS NNDCC hosted a Drill Dynamics Camp, and invited Washington County High School’s Army JROTC to come and participate in the camp over the weekend.

At this camp, the cadets not only learned the fundamentals of leadership and military drill, but they also learned some very cool things to do with the drill rifles. Cadets learned how to spin and toss the drill rifles in a safe manner for “Armed Exhibition Drill”, which originated in 1983 and has been a very prominent factor in JROTC Programs when it comes to competitions.

The cadets intend to use and expand their knowledge on exhibition drill starting this week, when on Wednesday (9/11/24), they will have their first practice for the new NNDCC Drill Team. This team is commanded by Cadet Ensign Corey Lassiter and co-captains Cadet 3rd Class Petty Officer Hunter Matthews (Armed Exhibition) and Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Courtney Unger (Unarmed Exhibition). They have been trying to jump start this team for a few years, and are very excited to finally be able to host this team and grow our NNDCC Unit.

“We are very excited to get going and kick off this team. With the knowledge we have from our Drill Dynamics camp and our captains, we have high hopes for the potential of this team.” reports a Cadet on the team.

Our school is very proud at the progress our NNDCC Unit has been making. Go Barons!

By Courtney Unger

Baron Beat Editor