Tag: Delanie Tucker

News

Centennial Security Alerts Students and Faculty of Recent Car Break-ins

Words: Delanie Tucker

Centennial’s security staff sent out a warning email to all faculty today, February 15, highlighting the importance of locking car doors during the school day.

According to the email, people of high school age are milling the parking lot looking for unlocked cars.

Student Resource Officer Marc Carneal, said that once an open car is found, the individuals proceed to search through the car, taking any cash they can find.

“They’re not actually breaking windows,” stated Mike Guizzotti, on-site Security Guard. “They’re just going around and trying different [car] doors.”

While no positive identification has been made, a description of the subjects’ car has been released. It has been described as an “older model Toyota Camry, gold in color, missing the passenger front hub cap, sticker on the right side of the trunk,” according to the email.

Carneal advises staff members to “keep an eye out for any suspicious subjects or vehicles in [Centennial’s] lot.”

Guizzotti extended the warning to students as well, notioning that they, too, should be cautious about leaving their cars unlocked.

For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.

Sports

Boys Basketball Loses to Reservoir, 56-54

Words: Emily Hollwedel

Photos: Delanie Tucker

On February 12, the Centennial Boys’ Varsity Basketball team took on Reservoir High School. It was also the team’s Senior Night. After the seniors from the drill team and basketball team walked onto the court and took photos, the game began.

At the tip-off, Centennial struggled to make shots and stand their ground to keep the ball in play. Four fouls were given to both teams, and the first quarter concluded with Reservoir in the lead, with a score of 13-8.

Second quarter was more of the same, but Centennial managed to score more points after a time out that allowed them to pick up speed. A boost of motivation came along with an impressive steal from Centennial to make a basket. The quarter finished 25-17, and Reservoir was still ahead.

The rise and fall of energy kept the third quarter score rather steady. Eventually, the points climbed up to 41-31, and Reservoir remained in the lead.

The Eagles kept up the fight in the fourth quarter. Several fouls shots allowed the Eagles to catch up with two minutes left, and a timeout helped the team greatly. Several impressive three-pointers set up an opportunity for the win, but in the end, the game finished with a final score of 56-54.

Centennial will take on the Lions at Howard High School on Thursday at 5:30pm.

For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.

News

Office of Environment Takes Action

Words: Delanie Tucker

In early November of 2018, Centennial High School’s water was tested for lead. The tests revealed that 10 of 58 samples taken held levels above the Action Level of 20 parts per billion (ppb).

After a second look at each impacted fixture, the Howard County School Board Office of Environment determined what will be done to bring the lead levels below 20 ppb.

For 8 of the 10 water sources, the Board determined that the fixtures themselves will be replaced, as the pipes are not the source of the lead.

For the other two fixtures, a sink and a water fountain, the Office of Environment has decided to get rid of them, rather than replace them.

The water fountain, which is in the World Language planning room, is too small for most Centennial faculty to use, due to the room previously being used for Child Care and Development.

The sink is in the science and math planning room, which has another sink, so a second one is not needed.

None of the affected fixtures will be turned back on until the Office of Environment assures the water is safe.

“The fixtures are scheduled to be replaced and then retested,” Centennial Principal, Cynthia Dillon, commented. “Then we’ll know where we stand.”

 

For more information on the original tests, visit https://chswingspan.com/2019/01/22/office-of-environment-finds-unsafe-lead-levels-in-centennial-high-schools-water/.

For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.

Announcements

Office of Environment Finds Unsafe Lead Levels in Centennial High School’s Water

Words: Delanie Tucker

Photos: Zach Grable

In the past two months at Centennial High School, students and faculty have been very cautious with their water consumption due to lead reports released in early November by the Howard County School Board.

The reports, which consisted of the results of the lead tests from several Howard County schools, show that 10 of 58 samples taken at Centennial on November 3, 2018 came back positive for levels of lead above the Action Level of 20 parts per billion (ppb).

Tests were taken from all spigots that provide water for consumption; these spigots include water fountains and kitchen sinks.

Other sources of water, such as showers or bathroom sinks, were not tested, as they are not intended to provide drinking water.

Although these lead levels are dangerous when consumed, it is not a current issue, as all affected pipes were shut off within 24 hours of testing, according to a Centennial High School Notice released by Centennial principal, Cynthia Dillon, on November 12.

“The ten impacted water outlets have been shut off, so they cannot be accessed,” Dillon said in the notice. “Currently, no harm is being done because people are not drinking from those outlets.”

Of the original samples taken, 11 came back positive, one of which was voided due to the sampled faucet not being a drinking source.

Of the other ten, four contained under 25 ppb, one between 25 and 30 ppb, two between 30 and 35 ppb, and three above 35 ppb.

The three above 35 ppb were from a sink in the indoor concession stand, a sink in the Family and Consumer Science classroom, and a planning area sink for teachers.

Several steps need to be taken before the county even considers turning the water back on in these areas. They include evaluating the cause of the lead build up, replacing specific fixtures as necessary, or bypassing sources of lead in the plumbing.

If nothing works, the impacted fixture will be permanently shut down.

“The pipes won’t be turned back on until these things are done,” Dillon stated. “They’re going to evaluate whether or not it’s the fixture or something else that’s causing lead in the water. There may be some that they determine they can’t fix and they may permanently turn it off.”

The Howard County School Board Office of the Environment is working to the best of its abilities to fix the problem.

“It’s a big problem and we need to ensure the central office remediates the issues because we want our school to be safe.”

For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.

Sports

Centennial Hosts Wrestling Tri-Match with Long Reach and Glenelg

Words: Minah Mubasher

Photos: Delanie Tucker

On December 18, Centennial High School hosted its second tri-match of the season, featuring Long Reach High School and Glenelg High School.

Centennial and Glenelg took the mat first. Unfortunately, Centennial fell early in the match and finished with a final score of 17-50.

Varsity player, Sam Bussink, held the attention of the crowd with his match that lasted two rounds.

Charlie Schmidt managed to score the first few points for Centennial.

Although their match with Glenelg was a loss, Centennial bounced back when they wrestled Long Reach.

The Eagles ended the night with a winning score of 45-15.

Varsity player, Chris Lee, defeated his opponent by tech fall, earning the team 5 points.

Nick Shapiro also won his match, along with Matthew Harris, and state champion, Jason Kraisser.

For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.
Sports

Centennial Girls’ Varsity Basketball Loses Heartbreaker to Reservoir

Words: Shawn Kruhm

Photos: Delanie Tucker

On Monday, December 17, Centennial Girls’ Varsity basketball team lost a nail biter to Reservoir by a final score of 34-33.

The game began rather slow due to exceptional defensive play on both sides of the court. It was not until four minutes in, when junior Brook Anderson broke the ice and hit a heavily contested three-pointer. The rest of the first quarter was back-and-forth. The Eagles would end the first quarter with a 9-8 lead.

Despite entering halftime with just a three-point lead, Centennial dominated the second quarter. Throughout the entire quarter, the Eagles struggled to get their shots to fall. Great ball movement led to open shots, but they were unable to convert.  

With 20 seconds left in the first half, senior Jordan Dossett hit a deep three-pointer to beat the shot clock buzzer. Immediately after, senior Ashley Molz and junior Rasa Welsh trapped Reservoir’s point guard in the corner, causing her to travel. The crowd instantly jumped to their feet and applauded the girls as they retreated back to the locker room for halftime.

Centennial controlled the third quarter, allowing Reservoir to score just seven points. They capitalized on turnovers and finished out the third quarter with a 27-22 lead.

The Eagles struggled defensively at the start of the fourth quarter. Reservoir scored two three pointers on back-to-back possessions.

With just 1:30 left to play, Centennial took a two-point lead. On the following defensive possession, Dossett came up with an energizing block, causing Reservoir to call a timeout.

Despite great defensive play from the Eagles, Reservoir found themselves with one last offensive opportunity.

With five seconds left, Reservoir inbounded the ball to their starting point guard. She took one step in and pulled up from beyond the arc. She was fouled with just one tenth of a second left on the clock. She made all three free throws and Reservoir won by a score of 34-33.

The Centennial girls’ basketball team will travel to Broadneck for their next game, Wednesday, December 19.

For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.

Feature

Centennial Hosts Annual Poetry Out Loud Competition

Words: Delanie Tucker and Madison Baltimore

Photos: Sayak Maity

Poetry Out Loud, an annual Centennial tradition, took place on December 13 during periods five and six.

“Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition that is a collaboration among different organizations,” said Corey O’Brien, the school-site coordinator and English teacher at Centennial. “Students do not perform the poems, but bring them to life with their voices, in a way becoming the poems.”

Students recited poems of their choice from the Poetry Out Loud official website.

Poushali Banerjee, Sarah Donyaee, Sam Melicosta, Kieran Newell, Carolyn Reynolds, Masha Samokhvalova, Malika Shah, Daniyar Sheets, Selaya Smithery, Philip Wang, and Ashley Xu were featured in this year’s competition, reciting poems such as “Abandoned Farmhouse” by Ted Kooser and “Catch A Little Rhyme” by Eve Merriam.

“It starts in the classroom with classroom competition. The winners from those go to the school competition. And we send one winner to the regional competition,” O’Brien stated. “I think we’ve had 3 [students] who have placed at regionals go to states.

“I can’t say how I heard about it, like 7 or 8 years ago,” O’Brien continued, speaking on how long it has been running at Centennial. “But I thought it would be a good activity for Advanced Composition to get involved with it.”

The winner of the competition was Banerjee, with Shah in second and Smithery in third.

“Mrs. McDonough-Schlehr and [National English Honor Society] actually organizes the school competition, though. I just make sure we have the space and the people ready to go. Beyond the school competition, the Maryland State Arts Council organizes [Poetry Out Loud] for the state of Maryland,” O’Brien said, giving credit to those who made the event possible.

Banerjee will advance to the Region Two competition on January 19, 2019.

For more breaking news and photos, follow The Wingspan on Instagram and Twitter @CHSWingspan.