By Sydney Dixon
Siren Reviews Editor

Every year around this time, Hopeless Records releases a new volume of the Take Action compilation, and this year it’s full of hard-to-get-your-hands-on bonus tracks, acoustic versions of songs, and remixes. Not only that, but a great cover song and a handful of already released favorites – and some of the proceeds benefit charity.

The opening song off the album is a track off of the b-side on the Japanese version of The Used’s fifth studio album, Vulnerable, which is being reissued and released in America on January 13 with several b-sides and acoustic tracks.

Then you can hear the first single from Bad Religion’s new album True North, which will be released on January 22. The first part of the album continues with tracks from various bands such as The Wonder Years, All Time Low, and NeverShoutNever.

The second disc kicks off with a cover of Tears For Fears’ 1985 Number One hit, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” by Glass Cloud. This disc gets a bit heavier as the following tracks consist of bands such as I Am The Avalanche, Memphis May Fire, and Ice Nine Kills.

Already released tracks from bands like Balance and Composure, Mayday Parade, Falling in Reverse, Set It Off, Say Anything, and Sleeping With Sirens are also included, and the album winds down with mostly acoustic tracks, as well as a standout track from The Academy Is’s William Beckett:“48 in a Hospital.”

By Megan Hromika
Siren Staff

As the new year is approaching, you may be starting the new year with the new you. Stop eating junk food? Drop a few pounds? Be positive? Here are goals that some Lincoln Park students and teachers are setting for 2013.

Sophomore Haley Coe wants to get organized.

Senior Kenna Rearick wants to graduate with a GPA above 3.9 and earn at least 10,000 dollars in scholarships for college.

Junior Amberlyn Ryan wants to set goals for herself, do well in school, and be “doggin’.”

Edward Weslowski’s New Year’s resolution is to be a better person, a better father, and a better husband.

Freshman Danjiel Babic wants to get fit.

Freshman Savanna Fox says, “My New Year’s resolution is to be less lazy but that would require effort, so…”

Freshman Tom Scuilli’s New Year’s resolution is to have no New Year’s resolution. “I hate New Year’s resolutions. I can change myself at any time.”

Jared Schmidt wants all of his students to get all A’s.

By Shannon Cavender
Siren Feature Editor

Have you ever been asked a question about Lincoln Park and not known how to respond? Well, here’s a guide for a few of the misconceptions we have to deal with.

Do you have academics?

To quote English teacher Edward Wesolowski, “Yeah, it’s great. We even have textbooks and everything.” Lincoln Park students take academics just like every other high school. The only difference is, we take arts classes in addition to our academics. This is a common misconception, because when Lincoln Park was first proposed, the idea was that kids would only attend the school for half a day to study their arts, and then be bused back to their original school districts to take their academics. This plan didn’t work out though, so Lincoln Park became a fully realized high school.

Is your school just like High School Musical?

The first time I heard this question, I couldn’t help but laugh. I said, “No, of course not. That’s so silly.” However, when I came to school with next day, and saw actors practicing their lines, heard singers warming up their voices, and watched dancers practicing their steps in the halls, I thought: Well maybe it is like High School Musical…. Maybe just a little bit…

Were you founded by the band Linkin Park?

This one always gets me. After you’re done peeling your hand off your face from your incredibly justified face-palm, you can kindly explain to them that our school was founded by Nicholas Trombetta. We are called Lincoln Park, because the park located directly behind us is named Lincoln Park. Finally, you can

calmly and slowly explain to them that Lincoln Park is spelled L-I-N-C-O-L-N, not L-I-N-K-I-N.

Isn’t your school an alternative for rich/preppy kids who think they are too good for public school?

The first time I heard this I became a bit annoyed. However, it is a common misconception because it isn’t uncommon for people to think that because we are not a normal school, and we have to be accepted, they think we have to pay tuition. Even if they ask this question rudely, like it has been asked to me so many times, try to understand that they just don’t understand. Charter schools have been around for a while, yes, but they still aren’t that common in this area. Just explain that we are essentially a public school; the only difference is that we have to be evaluated in an arts discipline, and that we don’t have to pay tuition to attend here. It is a free alternative.

Please remember to try your hardest to stay calm and composed while answering these questions. Even if your mind is screaming at you to call the person an idiot, just don’t do it. Be the better person. However, I do not discourage the use of sass. It’s a powerful tool.

by Nicole Andrasko
Siren Staff

It seems like most people at Lincoln Park have seen at least one of the plays. And you can’t forget the dance performances or musical shows. But how many people have seen the media department’s talents in action? How about the literary arts department?

If you haven’t attended one yet, the Literary Arts and Visual Arts events (aka LAVA) are a great way to experience both the literary and media departments. When asked to describe what LAVA is, Media Director Laura Humbert describes it as “an art show for the media arts department and an opportunity for the literary arts students to perform readings to the public.” And you can experience all this for just five dollars.

There are a couple of LAVA events during the second semester in the Black Box – in January, and again in May, when the year-end, two-day LAVA Festival is held. There are also three LAVA Lites. LAVA Lite is a new addition this year. Basically, it is a smaller version of LAVA.

Ms. Humbert explains LAVA Lite: “We wanted to give the students more opportunities to show their art and read. Since the atrium is not the lunch room anymore, we have more time to leave up the art exhibits. We also have themes for the media side of things in the LAVA Lite shows. For LAVA Lite, we do work in progress for media arts and we don’t do a ticketed event for literary readings.”

The last of the LAVA events is LAVA On The Road, which will take place on Feb. 7 It was added just last year and is being brought back for a second round. It is the same event as LAVA essentially, but it takes place at Barnes and Noble at Settlers Ridge. “It is a good way to expose the school to people who can’t come down here or don’t know of Lincoln Park,” says Ms. Humbert.

Meanwhile, this year’s LAVA festival is set for May 28-29, and will include the annual awards ceremony for the literary arts and media departments.

By Shannon Cavender
Siren Staff

Seeing friends, attending an exciting assembly, and of course, testing. That’s what you can often expect on your first day at Lincoln Park.

When we came back from summer vacation, everyone, except the seniors, had to take tests. These were no surprise to returning students, because this is a normal occurrence to prepare for the PSSA’s. However, this year the state has added a new test called the Keystone. Therefore, the beginning-of-the-year tests, called benchmarks, were different as well.

The math benchmarks were split up into six sections: operations, inequalities, linear inequalities, functions, data analysis, and coordinate geometry. These are the recording sections for the keystones.
To pass these tests, you had to get three of eight correct in operations and a three-of-five in every other category. If you scored below the listed, you were placed into comprehensive math courses that focused on the area, or areas, you weren’t proficient in.

In addition to the math benchmarks, there were also benchmarks in literature. To avoid being placed into comprehensive reading classes, you had earn a passing grade on the exam. Your previous English grades were also taken into account. “We even went as far to talking to past English teachers,” Dr. Lindsay Rodgers, head of the math department and Lincoln Park’s Title I coordinator, says.

This is the first year that the Keystones are being administered in Pennsylvania. Adds Dr. Rogers, ” I think it’s going be a learning experience for everyone in the state.”

By Jillian Holness
Siren Staff

Sneakers, gym shorts and Mickey Mouse ears? Check

Last month our Leopards ventured down to Florida for the Disney Classic Quad A Division Tournament.
According to Lincoln Park Athletic Director Mike Bariski, the whole point of going out of town to compete is to gain more experience.

“You want to play the best team to get you prepared for the playoffs and hopefully the championship. Florida gave us a great challenge. We played a team from Alaska and a Christian school from Florida. Both teams are part of the Quad A Division, which is the biggest division in high school basketball,” he says.

Playing out of state is not that much different from playing the local games, Mr. Bariksi says.
“It’s the same quality of teams,” he says, “but you get a different look and feel being in a different region.”

By Danielle Turner
Siren Staff

Exhale, juniors. The next wave of the Keystones just washed over you. You
managed to keep your head above water the first time, and you won’t drown now, either.

On a personal level, if you fail the literature, math or biology tests, it doesn’t mean you get to just accept the bad score and go on with your life. You’ll have to retake the test. And it’s bad enough going through that once. Who would want to go for it two times?

But it could be a necessary step so that the school can make AYP, or Adequate Yearly Progress. Keystone scores help determine whether a school is making sufficient progress in the eyes of the state.

“There are a couple steps that would be taken,” Title I Coordinator Dr. Lindsey Rodgers said about the possibility of the school, as a whole, failing to make AYP. “First we would receive a warning. Basically, that means we’d have to change our curriculum to better prepare the students for the tests.”

Hopefully, that’s all the farther we’d have to go, but if we still didn’t manage to pass, the near
future wouldn’t be so bright. “If we got that far, and I really don’t think we will, it’d be a whole
big mess that I don’t want to get into,” said Dr. Rodgers.

So while some of us might need to grab our floaties for the math sections, study hard and just keep
swimming.

by Ashley Emanuel
Siren Staff

Peanut Butter Fudge

2 cups sugar
1/2 cups milk
1 1/3 cups peanut butter
7 oz. Marshmallow crème

Stir sugar and milk together in a large saucepan over medium heat. This is very important; if the heat is any higher your fudge will burn. Bring it to a full boil, and let it sit (while boiling) for three minutes. It is unnecessary to stir it during this time.

After those three minutes are up, remove from heat, and add the peanut butter and marshmallow crème. This is the time where stirring it is very important. Keep stirring until completely mixed together.

Stir completely together then pour into a 9 inch by 9 inch pan, and you’re done. You can either let it sit and harden, or put it in the fridge for quicker results. Finally, eat and enjoy.

****TIP****
Measure out all your ingredients first, so when it’s time to add them you have everything ready and don’t have to fumble around to measure out the ingredients before the mixture cools down.

Here’s the deal: your trusty Siren staff snoops around the building every week, collecting rare, candid photos of your favorite Lincoln Park personalities. All you have to do is come up with witty captions to accompany each week’s photos, and you could win free Siren swag, as well as the real reward: the undying respect and admiration of your peers.

The Siren’s newest Student Spotlight shines on Lincoln Park senior Marissa Rayes!