By Rachel Dupree – September 27, 2017

The 2018 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are open for submissions, and each year students write or create art specifically for this contest with the guidance of English and creative writing teachers.

“Scholastic doesn’t censor ideas or limit students on what they can write about,” said English teacher Maureen Barclay, who is a juror for Scholastic at the Regional level. “The audience is teens and young adults, and so any topic is permissible.”

According to its website, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the most prestigious recognition program for grades 7-12, and it looks for work that “demonstrates originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal voice or vision.”

“Get out of your comfort zone and let it all out,” said junior Claire Guin, who won a Silver Key for one of her works that she submitted to the competition.

Students such as Jacob Wise, a junior who also won a Silver Key, agree with this. He said students who are trying to come up with a topic should write about something they can relate to and make other people relate to.

“People go through so many different experiences, and when students read other students’ works, it can open their eyes to a new point of view,” junior Taylor Guin said. She won a Silver Key for her portfolio.

When trying to style a piece, creative writing teacher Michael Scott said, “Don’t be afraid to emulate the style of an author you admire.” However, he also said there is a difference between borrowing from and plagiarizing.

Students can also look at the world around them for inspiration and keep a notebook or journal in which to record ideas.

“Read a lot – you will pick up so many ideas,” junior Georgia Hilburn, a Gold Key winner, said.

Students in Scott’s creative writing class write pieces that will eventually be considered for submission to the competition. Part of his goal is to help students create a library of works that they can pull from if they want to submit a piece to writing contests like Scholastic, Seedlings and Art Break.

“Your first draft is never your final draft,” Scott said. It is not recommended that students write the first draft and turn it in. A work should be proofread and critiqued more than just once, or until the author is satisfied.

The deadline for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is Dec. 7, 2017. Students can enter artworks, short stories in a myriad of genres, poems and portfolios. The fee is $5 per individual submission and $20 for portfolios. Entries can be submitted online through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards website.

By Alexis McClain – September 20, 2017

Close Up is a weeklong study from Jan. 28 through Feb. 2 in which students are able to see the workings and processes of the U.S. government through direct experience in the nation’s capital.

“On the trip they get to experience our government at work,” sponsor Loretta Hunt said. “They, of course, see all those monuments at the Smithsonian Institutions that they go to. The Close Up staff is very knowledgeable in the history of D.C.”

Along with these experiences, AP U.S. History teacher and Close Up sponsor Barbara Doughty said they also got to see the Women’s March last year because it was happening during that time. Both sponsors of the Close Up trip, Hunt and Doughty, look forward to this week every year.

“It’s amazing because I think when the students go and see it in action, they realize that they can be a part of it and they can actually make changes,” Doughty said.

One day out of the trip, the sponsors take students to Capitol Hill to meet with their senators and representatives. Students last year were given a firsthand look at the inside workings of the Senate and were able to see the voting process.

This opportunity was given to these students because of Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, a Captain Shreve alumnus, who brought them up to the gallery to see a vote take place.

The Close Up program is nationwide, and participants are able to meet with other students from across the U.S.

“They’ll meet all the other schools – there’ll be five or six other schools,” Doughty said. “Last year we had Florida, Pennsylvania, California, New York and Illinois. They meet kids from all around the country with all different kinds of political views, and they have kind of a big get together, a kind of a political discussion.”

Hunt said that many students even keep in touch with each other after the trip is over. Senior Sydney Fant said that meeting all the people from across the country was her favorite part about the trip.

“It’s like the best trip ever,” Hunt said. “They’re just blessed and lucky to go on that trip.”

The price of the trip is $1,745, and the deadline to sign up is Oct. 4. Students each receive an account number that allows them to directly deposit money. Students in the past have asked their friends and relatives to put money in, as well as asking for sponsorships from businesses.

To sign up for the trip or to get more information, students can contact Doughty in Room A213 or Hunt in Room MH04.

By Kaden Bagwell – September 12, 2017

With production already underway, the 2017-2018 KGTR team includes a larger cast of students and a new sponsor, liberal arts and world history teacher Greg Baswell.

KGTR is Captain Shreve’s student-produced broadcast news outlet, based on YouTube, that airs every week. It was founded in the 2003-2004 school year and is now in its 15th year.

Although this is Baswell’s first year as KGTR sponsor, video production and news broadcasting are no foreign realm to him.

Baswell’s father was a sports director at local news station KTBS 3 for over 20 years. His sister also has a similar background, as a producer at KTAL NBC 6.

“I guess the reason why I am most excited about it is because it is a new avenue for me, something different,” Baswell said. “I’ve had a pretty standard routine for the last few years, and breaking up that routine gives me an opportunity to challenge myself.”

In his debut year as KGTR sponsor, Baswell hopes to increase uploads and diversify the content created, thus generating an boost in viewership.

This year Baswell has taken charge in many leadership roles. He is now in charge of liberal arts and KGTR. Along with the new additions, Baswell continues to be the Captain Shreve rugby sponsor.

“What I’ve found out is that it’s all about the kids,” Baswell said. “We have such an amazing crew right now that it makes it easy on me.”

One of the notable changes this year has been the crew size increase.

“I really like having such a big cast to work with,” junior KGTR cast member Abigail Roberts said. “It gives us more opportunities to throw more ideas out there and cover more events.”

Even though this is Baswell’s year to “learn the ropes,” students are already pleased with his performance as a sponsor.

“He has a knack for keeping us working 24/7,” senior KGTR cast member Elliot Redstone said. “We always have something to do, and it’s truly a nonstop effort to give the school the best news possible.”

Their segments can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/user/KGTRBroadcasting/videos.

By Alexis McClain – August 30, 2017

After facing criticism for several problems with the most recent volume of The Log, the yearbook staff is fighting to turn their reputation around this year by switching to a different publisher, called Jostens.

“This company is the leading yearbook producer in the nation,” Christopher Long, one of the yearbook advisers, said.

The advisers and staff said they are excited about the new software they will be using as well as some other changes.

“Using what Jostens has to offer, the yearbook staff will be able to produce a 200-page book,” Long said.

In addition to a different company, there will be a new app that goes along with the yearbook.

“Some pictures, indicated by an icon, will allow you to hold your phone over the picture to view a 30-second video,” adviser Sarah Roussel said. “For example, the choir group photo would include a clip of them singing, or the football photo would include a video of them running out onto the field and breaking the banner.”

Roussel also said how she is excited to “add augmented reality” by using this app. A student on the staff said that signing day is another addition this year.

“It kinda brings us all together on that one day to be able to sign each other’s yearbooks,” staff member Taylor Guin said.

Advisers said the staff is striving to show off their Gator pride by featuring a variety of students here in the Swamp.

“We are attempting to feature every student at least two times in the book, if not more,” Roussel said.

Their goal is to create a collection of all big events that happen during the school year and to make a yearbook for all current and past students.

These yearbooks will be delivered in May and can be ordered from Roussel or the staff. They start at $60, increasing in price as the year goes on. Posters are currently hanging around the school with more information about ordering.

By Kaden Bagwell – August 30, 2017

Approximately 475 freshmen are enrolled at Captain Shreve for the 2017-2018 school year, a notable increase from previous years.

This number is significant to the overall size of the school. In recent years Captain Shreve’s enrollment has continued to increase. It is one of the largest schools in the district in enrollment, but it has not always been so.

“It is the largest freshman class in the nine years I have been here,” freshman counselor Lori Dye said.

Captain Shreve High School was founded in the fall of 1967. This year is the 50th anniversary.

“I feel really special to be a part of this class,” freshman Jolee Anderson said. “I think if more people knew about it, they, too, would feel special.”

Dye attributes the increase in enrollment to “the great academic and extracurricular opportunities.” She said the increase in enrollment of the 2017-2018 freshman class shows that it is a great time to be a Gator.

This increase in enrollment has sparked Captain Shreve’s school spirit around campus.

“I love everything about this school and want to see it prosper,” senior Nathan Rowley said. “Seeing so many students excited about my school gets me excited for the future of Captain Shreve High School.”

Nobody can know for certain why the sudden increase occurred, but there are many assumptions that can be made. Some might attribute it to the recent athletic success that has come the Gators’ way, such as the Lady Gator victory in their first district soccer championship and district basketball championship. Others might attribute the increase to the diverse clubs and organizations Captain Shreve has to offer.

Whatever the case may be, the freshman class is historic in size on Captain Shreve’s 50th anniversary.