Author: Davis Raynor, managing editor 2014-2015
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Next to Normal visits Raleigh
May 1-10, the Triangle welcomed the Tony Award winning musical, Next to Normal, to North Carolina Theatre. Playing thirteen shows over the course of two weeks, Next to Normal tells the story of a…
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Safe students at Leesville
April 21-23 LRHS Student Services hosted “Safe Student Week.” Three days where all students could stop by the Student Services booth and tables in the cafeteria and learn about safe driving, social media use…
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World premiere of King Georges, standout documentary
Saturday, April 11, I attended the Full Frame Documentary FIlm Festival in Durham, NC. That night I had the pleasure of viewing the world premiere of director Erika Frankel’s documentary, King Georges. The film…
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VIP leaves lasting impression
The air at Leesville was thick with mixed emotions last Thursday morning, even from the moment students arrived at school. Parked near the entrance of the student parking lot was a wrecked car with…
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Insurgent review
Love and war. These were the raging themes of the second book-to-film in the popular YA Divergent series by Veronica Roth. Like many superfans of the series, I was eagerly awaiting the release of…
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French Club performs service project
This Monday, April 13th, Leesville’s French Club held their second-to-last meeting, and participated in one of their two planned service projects for the year. For clubs to retain their honor’s status they must perform…
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Video Games: A boys world after all?
No matter how hard modern day activists may try to level all playing fields when it comes to breaking gender stereotypes or equalizing aspects of society, some things may always remain geared towards one…
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A case for cats
“A dog is a man’s best friend.” “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.” We’ve all grown up hearing these things about dogs. We all…
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Mainstage takes a dark turn
On January 8 and 9, Leesville’s honors theatre class, Mainstage, put on an enthralling production of Before Juliet, a sharp contrast to last year’s more comedic Mean Girls. Before Juliet tells the story of…
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Why ‘Theory of Everything’ could take home an Oscar
As the Academy Awards race begins to heat up, more movies will be released well into the end of the month. Last week, the latest potential picture of the year, Theory of Everything, came…
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CFNC’s college application week
While many seniors are well under way in the college application process, those who opted not to apply Early Action or Early Decision to any college may now be beginning. And for anyone applying…
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1989: pop’s newest guilty pleasure
For many jaded millennials and older adults alike, the release of Taylor Swift’s fifth album, 1989, on Monday has become just another 13-track album full of hardly insightful glimpses into the world of a…
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A bigger and better bluegrass festival
The Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, returning for the second time to Raleigh this year, ran from Oct. 3 – 4. Music lovers from all over the state came to experience a weekend of southern…
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Phantom returns bigger and better
The bright chandelier shimmers over the first five rows of the audience. The rich reds of the curtain and subtle gold lighting creates a dramatic tone. The auctioneer utters one of the most famous…
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The interaction between self and social media: Q&A with Leesville students and teacher
The Mycenaean (M): How would you describe your personality? Emily Echols, senior (EE): I would describe my personality as outgoing and I love talking to people and trying to be nice to people. Tyler…
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NHS welcomes members new and old
On September 18, the first National Honor’s Society meeting of the year was held in the auditorium. With both returning and recently accepted members, the meeting lasted around twenty minutes. New officers were introduced:…
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Executive Council goes for gold
While the majority of Leesville’s students just suffered through their first week of classes, endless traffic and six a.m. alarms, Executive Council has been working diligently to plan for this school year since early…
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Leesville honors its best
On Tuesday, May 13, Leesville honored its brightest at the annual Awards Ceremony. The program started at 6:30, and was held in the auditorium. Openings included renditions of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” and Greenday’s…
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Teenage communication lacks substance
It’s Friday afternoon, and I’m awoken from my nap by the sound of a buzzing iPhone. I blindly search for it because it’s, of course, only inches away from me at all times. I…
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Leesville’s Health Week
As students returned from Spring Break, Leesville’s Student Services decided it was time to boost Leesville’s health – in more ways than one. The focus of Healthy Student Week wasn’t simply the physical…
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‘Divergent’ diverges from its predecessors
Based on the Veronica Roth’s best seller, Divergent, the movie, epitomizes the general message of most young adult fiction — you’re you, and nobody else. You can’t let them define you. Don’t let them…
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The SAT: What does it really achieve?
In 2012, over 1.6 million American students took the SAT, but only half of those students were deemed college-ready. Cheating scandals, thousands of dollars spent on SAT prep and severely anxious students on testing…
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Leesville shows off its French skills
Every year, Leesville’s French students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in a day full of French food, language and interaction. This year was no different. Wednesday, March 19, schools from all around…
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Chubby’s restaurant review
Voted “Favorite Restaurant Value” in 2010 by the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chubby’s Tacos has certainly lived up to this title in recent years. Walking in you’re immediately put at ease with cozy…
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Raleigh museum reviews
Located downtown on 5 East Edenton Street, the North Carolina History Museum hosts multiple exhibits. Any sports fan can enjoy the permanent NC Sports Hall of Fame, and political fanatics may indulge in an…
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Stephenson leaves a legend
Angela Stephenson, well known and well liked for her direct nature with students and sarcastic yet communicative character, left Leesville Friday, February 14 — her last day after twenty-one years at LRHS. Stephenson was…
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Leesville produces a good “Mean Girl”
Taking on such an iconic millennial movie could prove to be a task that would leave most falling flat. However, the Leesville Mainstage class took on the job with excitement — delivering a great…
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Downton Abbey returns
The fourth season of Downton Abbey began Sunday, January 5 — leaving eagerly awaiting fans feeling bittersweet. The absence of the British drama left a hole in dedicated fans weekly Sunday night routine, however…
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Leesville Tutoring Program resumes
In high school, students are relentlessly searching for volunteer opportunities. Whether they are members of a club that requires service hours, seeking to complete a portion of their college applications, or just generally looking…
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The Pit review: A sweet, southern spot
Nestled between W. Davie and S. Harrington Street, The Pit stands as one of North Carolina’s most successful barbecue restaurants. As you enter, the smell of sweet sauce lapping over smoky pork, cheesy macaroni,…
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Mental disorders in teens: a “popular” epidemic
“I just want someone to kiss my scars.” “Your cuts are beautiful.” “One day someone will come and fix me.” Ideas like these have recently consumed the minds of teens and young adults on…
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French Club visits NC Museum of Art
Tuesday, Nov. 12, French Club visited the North Carolina Museum of Art and observed various paintings and sculptures created by classic French artists. Chaperoned by French Club’s advisor, Madame West, and Paul Dinkenor, an…
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Band member honors veterans
Davis Raynor, managing editor 2014-2015
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Great job, old sport!
The lights dim, the jazz-age music commences, Jake Banasiewicz takes stage right as the iconic Jay Gatsby. The Great Gatsby begins. Running last Thursday through Saturday night, October 31 to November 2, with a…
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Key Club, the Key to Happiness (for teachers at least!)
Thursday, Oct. 25, over one hundred kids squeezed into the pit of the cafeteria to participate in the Key Club Meeting. Key Club is the oldest and largest program for high school students. At…
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Los pequeños españoles
On Oct. 22, Sr. Ross’ Spanish 5 classes reached out to the youngest of Spanish learners when they read self-written Spanish childrens’ books to second and fourth graders at Leesville Road Elementary School. Several…
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IMBA festival
Overalls and hay. Toothless hicks and whiny vocals. Simple country music for simple, country folk. All things that may come to one’s mind when presented with the idea of Bluegrass. This past week, however,…
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Held Captive by Prisoners
How far would you go to protect your child? The single question that echoes throughout the entire two and a half hours of Prisoners. Friday, Sept. 20, the movie-going audience of America welcomed a…
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Swift Paints the Town Red
Last Friday, September 13, the PNC Arena was immersed in Red. Returning for the third time in six years to Raleigh, Taylor Swift proved that heartbreak is a lifetime affair. Opening with “State of…
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Executive Council Leads the Way
As the rest of the 2,350 Leesville population scurries out the door to home, jobs, and sports practice, a handful stay behind to take care of Leesville. Those students are Executive Council, the leading…
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Slow dancing with John Mayer
“I’m headed out west with my headphones on, boarded a flight with a song in the back of my soul, and no one knows” — The first words crooning out of John Mayer, the…