This year, he’s doing a sport for every season: cross country, swim, and track.

For swimming, he competes in the 50 meter freestyle, the 500 meter dash, and 200 meter relay. For track, he competes in the 2 mile, the 1 mile, and the 800 meter. For cross country, Mejia received a junior varsity letter and two varsity letters, along with a varsity letter for track.

Mejia joined swim to build his work ethic and stay in shape.

“Every time I’m tired,” Mejia explained, “I think about my future and my dad to strive for the best.”

Mejia explained that his dad keeps him motivated. “I want to make him proud and show him that I want to go somewhere in life before he passes on,” he said.

Fellow track team mate Meridith Tucker had nothing but good things to say about Mejia. “He’s really friendly,” she said, ‘and a great person.”

Mejia enjoys his sports and his teammates thoroughly. For team bonding, they go out to eat and hang out when they’re not in school. During practice for swim, they play water polo, and for track and cross country, they play “Red Light, Green Light.”

Mejia also said that his sports are really different in a lot of ways.

“They’re honestly a lot different. Even cross country and track are a lot different than each other, even though they both have to do with running,” he said.

As far as staying determined, he said that he knows that “pain will always go away and you just have to keep going.”

He wants to prove people wrong and show everyone that he can be the best.

“Every day I set new goals so that I can achieve them, and go above and beyond,” Mejia said.

As far as his future, Mejia wants to go to University of Mary Washington and then be a personal trainer to keep others in shape.

“I want to be known for something and to go somewhere in life,” he said.

Focus if where the freshmen students at Spotsylvania High spend half of their lunch time. During Focus, students are required to have work to do to keep them busy for twenty minutes. Freshmen students have to have their grades up at an A, B or C average to be released from Focus.

Freshmen students at Spotsylvania High have strong opinions about focus.

Many freshmen students think being left in a class for half of their lunch time hurts their social life and makes them feel like elementary school students.

Mr. Joe Valasko, and freshman English teacher, said that he enjoys having the opportunity to help the kids.  He also thinks it is a good thing to help the freshmen learn to get work done on their own time. He feels that “having focus is a wonderful tool for the students to take advantage of.”

Valasko said, “Students that don’t use this opportunity and time to get help with work would be a risk that they should be willing to take. But if they don’t use the opportunity, they must be ready for the consequences that will happen for not using it.”

Freshmen students think Focus messes with their time to hang with friends and eat their lunch. Freshman Erika Remiraz said that the students should not be forced to stay in focus for no reason. She thinks they should be able to choose to go on their own, but not by force.

Freshmen that have been in focus for more than one quarter think that they should be able to take the risk on their own. Katrina Jonas said it is pointless to keep freshmen in Focus for half of their lunch shift.

Erika Durettet said focus is pointless. She would rather be in the halls with her friends. Erika said, “Putting me and my friends in focus is pointless. We have the time to do this work outside of school on our own.”

David Michael Weaver is typical teenager  who likes doing teenage things, but one specific talent of his stands out: he loves to cheer. David became a varsity cheerleader last winter and has enjoyed cheering since.

“I wanted to do something that involved dancing, and cheer was the closest thing. Then I fell in love with it,” said David.

Being a male cheerleader brings a lot of stress, but Weaver has a lot of confidence to handle it. He doesn’t let anything bring him down.

“David works hard at everything he does. He works hard in school and in cheer. David brightens the mood when he walks in a room. He makes a lot of people laugh and he’s always doing something to help others,” said Amber Baker, a fellow SHS varsity cheerleader.

Weaver also likes to play soccer. He used to play when he was little. It wasn’t anything serious, it was just a fun sport.

Weaver loves to eat Italian food and drink sweet tea. Weaver’s favorite color is sky blue, and he loves chorus class because he loves to sing.

Weaver’s first motive to join cheer was the lack of a dance team at Spotsy.  He loves to dance and wasn’t expecting to like cheer as much as he does now. Weaver also did competition cheer in the fall and helped his team out with his muscles during stunts. Stunting is one of Weaver’s favorite things about cheer because he loves surprising the audience with the stunts.

Weaver takes all advanced classes and wants to go to college when he graduates.  Weaver’s dream college is Old Dominion University. He wants a masters or doctorate degree in a type of science.

Weaver also wants to follow up with cheer at ODU. Weaver wants to get a good paying job and receive a noble peace prize in science.

“My favorite part about celebrating Christmas in Germany is getting up and going to church on the twenty-fourth,” said Dettmer.

“It will be kind of awkward to get up on the 25^th instead of the 24^th because we don’t have a Christmas Eve,” Dettmer shared.

While Christmas in America is celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December, in Germany, her tradition is to celebrate on the twenty-fourth.

Dettmer mentioned that there is only one thing she dislikes about Christmas and that’s the shopping part. “It’s so hectic, I don’t like buying gifts for other people,” she said with a smile.  Dettmer is looking forward to two gifts in particular this year, and she hopes to get them both.

Dettmer has her eye on one particular item this year. “I really want a Hello Kitty stocking, it is so cute,” Dettmer said.

Dettmer’s favorite Christmas gift of all time will always be her acoustic guitar. “I’m not very good at it, but I love my guitar,” she said.

“My family usually gives me really big boxes filled with gifts,” she admitted. She is also looking forward to her family back home sending her German chocolates and gifts

In America, if you’re naughty, Santa might leave you a stocking full of coal. If you’re naughty in Germany, Santa might leave your parents a whip.

“The whip is for your mom and dad to show you, as a symbol, that you’ve been naughty,” Dettmer said.

To Dettmer, Christmas is the best experience ever. Back in Germany, she would participate in big family dinners with lavish spreads of fish, duck and geese after church.

This year, she started her Christmas by attending the Spotsylvania Christmas Parade. “I’ve never seen anything like it before,” she said.

Dettmer also said that American decorations are a little different than in Germany. “Our decorations are mainly just gingerbread men everywhere,” Dettmer said.

She also mentioned that she’s excited to go pick a Christmas tree and decorate it.

Germany and America share similar traditions when it comes to celebrating Christmas; the trees, decorations, dinners and the quality family time. Dettmer gets to experience something completely new and exciting this year in a new place with new friends and family.

“I picked the plays according to the genders and the amount of students in the drama three and four classes,” said Mr. Scott O’Quinn, director of the plays and theater arts teacher. “ It wasn’t meant to be a comedy, but it turned out as one, and it was great.”

Drama three and four students do these plays for a grade. They performed on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 in the school’s auditorium.

“I’ve been in plays since I was little, so it was very simple and fun. When I’m acting, I feel like I’m a part of the stage. I feel like I belong there,” said Justin Wood, a drama three student who preformed in “Reese & Babe.”

The first play performed, “Reese & Babe”, consisted of: senior Andrea Clark; and juniors Justin Wood, Zoe Corbett, and Mackenzie Liggett. This comedy was about a married couple. Babe ran over a monkey so Reese buried the car. The monkeys’ partner in the circus wasn’t very happy.

The second play of the night, “Twitch,” consisted of seniors Cody Saunders, Jordan Massey, Ashley Beckham, and James Oesterheld, and junior Mackenzie Liggett. Twitch was about strange neighbors that always seemed to be watching from afar. Their neighbor had a big surprise for them at the end.

All the “Spotlight Knight Patrons” helped make the whole night possible. Each year there will continue to be “A Knight of One-Act” so, as Mr. O’Quinn said, “be there” next year.

A total of fourteen staff members participated, but only one could take the gold. Ms. Amanda Rollins, a biology teacher, received the trophy at the October Faculty Meeting. Second and third place were taken by Mr. Jacobs and Ms. Todd. They received prizes courtesy of DECA and the school store.

Many volunteers, including Mr. Cheeks, Mrs. Sale and several DECA members, helped make this event possible.The festivities began at five o’clock and they served over 350 people, which included students and teachers. Along with chili, they served hot dogs, chips and drinks as part of the tailgate.

NUNU plays Corner Back. He is known on the field as number 9 and off the field as “the team clown,” according to Coach Ben Lawrynas. NUNU is considered small for his position, but he has played it for the past six years. He stands 5 feet 8 inches, while the average height of a cornerback is 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet.

NUNU’s job on the field (covering the receivers) requires him to be agile and quick. He is one of the “anchors” of the pass defense and, according to Mr. Lawrynas, “his effectiveness greatly influences the success of the overall defense.”

“NUNU normally covers the receiver widest out on the offense,” said Coach Lawrynas.

“Throwing water on Coach Law and Dawes while they were asleep, has to be the funniest thing we ever did during this season and is without a doubt one of the best memory I have from this season. But honestly, I must say nothing compares to the knots I get in my stomach and the energy of the team when we walk off the field victorious,” said NUNU.

What college did you go to?

Dennis Sizemore: Va Tech

Brian Jacobs: Christopher Newport University

Keely Maitland: I earned my B.S. in Psychology from Radford University in 2005 & my M.Ed (Master of Education) in School Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2008.

Harold Nuckols: Bridgewater College for BS degree in Health Ed., Physical Ed. and Cert. in Drivers Ed., Virginia Commonwealth Univ. for Masters in Ed. Leadership

Shawn Kelley: I graduated from the great Marshall University in Huntington, WV.

Patrick Maginnis: Sage Graduate School in Troy, NY Mass.; College of Liberal Arts, State University of NY @ Albany Northeastern University  (Boston, MA)

What brought you to SHS?

Mr. Sizemore: Still wanted to teach after retiring from 26.5 years of teaching in Northern Va.

Mr. Jacobs: I grew up in Spotsylvania County and love the area and the schools.

Ms. Maitland : I have lived most of my life in Fredericksburg and I graduated from Chancellor High. I was very excited when a School Counselor position opened up here at SHS because it was in my hometown.

Mr. Nuckols :  After leaving the classroom in 2007 I had been seeking a return and was fortunate enough to get an interview with Mr. Davis and gladly accepted the offer to come and teach/coach here.

Mr. Kelley : .  I currently live in Caroline County.  I used to work at Colonial Forge High School and I hated the drive!  In addition, my wife and I enjoy being a part of the community where we teach.  Working at Spotsy makes it easier for me to go to football and basketball games, as well as take part in all the other activities that the administration provide (I’m really looking forward to Halloween!)

Mr. Maginnis : Opportunity to teach in the Governor’s School.

What subject(s) do you teach? Why?

Mr. Sizemore: Agriculture, because of its diversity and challenges. Its scope is endless and the opportunities are tremendous. Besides, it has the best youth organization going-The FFA!

Mr. Jacobs:  I currently teach Band and Orchestra. Music is my passion and sharing it with others is very rewarding.

Ms. Maitland : I work with 10th-12th grade students with last names D-M. Working with high-school-aged students is very rewarding. It’s great to see student’s mature and grow from their 9th grade year to the time they graduate and head off to work, tech school, military service, or college.

Mr. Nuckols : I teach 10th grade Health/Drivers Ed. and Physical Education.  Because this is the area in which I enjoy working and also an area of need for Spotsy High.

Mr. Kelley : I teach AP Human Geography, AP Government (both of these in the Commonwealth Governor’s School) and also teach freshmen World Geography.  I have always had an affinity for social studies.  It is a subject I truly enjoy teaching.

Mr. Maginnis :  AP European History and AP US History.  Ever since I lived in Lexington, Mass., I fell in love with history and knew I wanted to be a teacher.

Did you want to be a teacher when you were a child? If not, what did you want to be?

Mr. Sizemore: No;  cowboy

Mr. Jacobs: I knew in 7th grade I wanted to be a band director.

Ms. Maitland: When I was little, I was very involved in dance, therefore I was pretty set on becoming a prima ballerina. I changed my mind in high school and decided to go to college.

Mr. Nuckols:  No.  I thought I would be a lawyer as a child, but some of the teachers and coaches in my high school experience influenced my life in a way that lead me to desire to teach and coach.

Mr. Kelley: I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be…and I’m still not sure!  I really liked the discussion I had with my senior social studies teacher back in WV.  He inspired me to be a teacher.

Mr. Miginnis: Yes!

What is your favorite experience being a teacher?

Mr. Sizemore: Working with interested young people who genuinely want to learn what you have to offer.

Mr. Jacobs: The end of a performance when I can see the pride and excitement in the students’ faces.

Ms. Maitland: My favorite experience being a counselor is getting to know my students and watching them walk across the stage on the day of graduation.

Mr. Nuckols: Seeing the students participate in an activity and enjoy the experience.  When a student tells me “I can’t…” I will always enjoy helping them get to the point of saying “I did…”

Mr. Kelley: The best experience as a teacher is catching up with your students several years after they’ve left.  I like seeing how they’ve progressed in life, and it makes me feel good knowing that I have contributed to their development.

Mr. Miginnis:  Being able to connect with kids and working closely with my colleagues.  I try to pass on my love of history to my students by making my classroom a comfortable and fun place to be in.

What grade(s) do you teach? Why?

Mr. Sizemore: Basically ninth (1st year of Ag. Ed. ) because of the need of the dept.

Mr. Jacobs: I teach 9-12 band and orchestra.

Ms. Maitland: 10th-12th

Mr. Nuckols: I teach 10th grade because that is the area needed here at Spotsy, but I had taught ninth grade for 16 years at my previous school.

Mr. Kelley: I teach 9th (World Geography), 10th (AP Government), and 12th graders (AP Human Geography).

Mr. Maginnis: I have taught grades 7-12 over the past 15 years, but here at SHS/CGS I teach 9th and 11th.

What are some of your hobbies?

Mr. Sizemore: motorcycle adventures, fishing, hunting, sports, etc.

Mr. Jacobs: I enjoy outdoor activities: running, camping, kayaking and hiking. I also serve on the board for the Fredericksburg Community Concert Band.

Ms. Maitland: I like to find sharks teeth and sea shells on the Potomac River and at the beach. I like to hang out with friends and go dancing. I like to take classes at the gym. I like to try new recipes and cook. And I like to travel and visit family.

Mr. Nuckols: My wife and four kids consume any free time.  I guess they are my hobby.  I have a son who plays little league football, and another [son] who has a chicken coop, which I helped him build this past summer. (He has eight chickens and plans to sell the eggs.) Occasionally my family and I have worked through our church with the homeless, orphaned, or hungry, which is always a joy for us.

Mr. Kelley:  Hobbies?  What are those?  I’m way too busy for those things.  Seriously, I love college football.  I can’t get enough of it.  I also really like gardening in the summer.  When I was a kid it seemed like the dumbest thing in the world to do, but as an adult I really enjoy it.  I also LOVE coaching my daughter’s soccer team.  She is 7.  This spring I hope to also coach my four year old’s soccer team.  Honestly, my kids eat up all of my free time….and I love it!

Mr. Maginnis: I love to golf, play tennis, and hockey.  I also enjoy coaching tennis and softball.

The American Red Cross is a life-saving association dedicated to collecting and donating blood to people in need all across the world. In order to do that, they need selfless volunteers who are willing to donate their blood. Each pint of blood that is donated saves not only one life, but up to three.

To be eligible to donate blood one must be healthy, meaning that you feel well and can perform normal activities. You must also be at least 17 years old in most states, or 16 years old with parental consent if allowed by state law. In addition, you must weigh at least 110 pounds. If you are deferred from giving blood it could be because you don’t meet the listed requirements.

Deferral can be for other reasons as well, such as low hemoglobin, cold, flu or other illness symptoms, or if you’re on certain medications that can interfere with the healthiness of your blood.

Being deferred from giving blood doesn’t mean you should give up trying to save lives; you can work with the association in different ways to achieve their goals.

Donors are advised to maintain a healthy iron level in their diet before the day of the donation. Eating iron rich foods, such as spinach, red meat, fish, poultry, iron-fortified cereals, raisins, and beans are among the many foods that can help your donation go successfully. Avoid fatty foods like hamburgers, fries, and ice cream before donating. Getting a good night’s sleep and drinking an extra 16 ounces of water is also recommended. After the donation you should still continue to hydrate throughout the day and try not to overexert yourself.

Senior Garrett Robinson was one of the many students at Spotsy that gave blood. Before his donation he was excited to be able to donate to this wonderful cause. Like most students at Spotsy, it was his first time donating; so, it wasn’t unusual for him and others to get nervous when the time ticked closer to donating.

Kaitlyn Orris (2013) also gave blood on Tuesday and was slightly nervous, but she said, “The doctor taking my blood was so funny. He would joke around about something, keeping the mood light.”

After donating Orris and Robinson both said they felt great about themselves. “I feel really important. Someone out there needs my blood, and I’m happy to help them,” said Robinson.

The nurses that are a part of the Red Cross were very helpful to those who were nervous or had a fear of needles. Davis, a member of the Red Cross, crew was giving advice to students who were especially nervous about needles.

She said, “If you look at the needle going into your arm, you’re more susceptible to jerking away. It’s best to look away and take a deep breath; it’ll be over before you know it!”

Boggs was also giving advice to donators. He said, “The best way to prepare before donating is drinking a lot of water to make sure you’re completely hydrated.”