January 2012:
Trends

Roundtable: You are unique, just like everybody else
Young Observers discuss high school trends, counterculture and fitting in “Stereotypes are everywhere,” said Harley Bennett, 17, a student at Canon-McMillan High School.
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Social sites take on trends of their own
Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, LinkedIn and Orkut are only a few of the world’s fastestgrowing social networking sites. Now, social networks are starting to follow a pattern or a trend. They are constantly making updates and changes to progress and keep up with the fast-growing social networking population. Some social networking sites even compete trying to beat the number one competitor, Facebook, and win the crown of social network king.
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‘Zoo’ a winner
I walk into the theater, sit down with my chocolate chip cookie dough bites and the screen before me lights up with the words “We Bought A Zoo.”
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Remakes a popular horror cinema trend
One of the longest lasting and most dynamic forms of American culture has been horror films. From the sympathetic monsters of the 1930s and ’40s, giant monsters of the ’50s, chilling suspense films of the 1960s, aliens of the ’70s and ’80s and slashers of the ‘80s and ’90s, cinema goers have watched decades labeled by what scares us.
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Just meme, myself and I
It’s been done thousands, if not millions, of times. An email comes into the inbox with a link to an important website or video. Someone clicks it, and instead of the desired video, Rick Astley appears on the screen singing “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Seconds later, another email arrives with three lone words: “You’ve been Rickrolled.”
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WHS gets a face-lift
Confused freshmen, fresh paint, new textbooks and the latest fashion trends are typical sights one would expect at the start of a new school year.
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Online learning a break from tradition
When people think of school, some think of waking up early in the morning with an alarm clock, rushing to get ready before the bus arrives, and spending most of the day learning. They may also think of talking to friends and fun electives. All of this is fine, but another learning option exists.
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Academy welcomes first spiritual leader
Paul Tripoli – or Mr. Paul or “Doc Tripoli” as he prefers to be called – is the first ever spiritual leader at First Love Christian Academy High School, an educational institution committed to educating and guiding generations of Christian leaders, located in downtown Washington.
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Big changes for the Buccaneers
Loud crashes, sounds of jackhammers and constant dust and debris all were disruptions to daily class life last year at Chartiers-Houston School District, but as the 2011-12 school year now is in full swing, it’s all dust in the wind.
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Trinity adopts pay to play
As a result of funding cuts to school districts statewide, Trinity Area School District recently adopted the pay to participate program for school athletics and activities.
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Ace, a family pet in theTender household, plays “time keeper” in his Burgettstown home. (Brittany Tender/Flipside)


The newly renovated halls of Washington High School are pictured in October 2011. Renovations are slated for completion in January 2012. (Photo by Benjamin Marasco)