User:Tlogmer/The Peninsula Outlook

The Peninsula Outlook is a high-school newspaper run by the students of Peninsula High School (PHS) in Gig Harbor, Washington. The paper is one of the most famous high-school newspapers in America, and has won countless awards from various press-related organizations such as the NSPA and WJEA. Started in the school's first year, 1957-58, the paper is still produced today, although there were a few years in which no paper was produced.

Although The Peninsula Outlook has been active for nearly fifty years, no one website can contain all the information concerning the paper for half a century. Thus, this entry attempts to most accurately reflect the Outlook at the turn of the millennium, most notably years in which Derek Smith was adviser for the newspaper.

Implementations of The Outlook
In order to articulate exactly what you're talking about, there are a variety of ways to refer to The Outlook:
 * The Peninsula Outlook : Commonly used at award ceremonies, banquets, and workshops, in order to properly help people identify the paper and let them know what school we come from.
 * The Outlook : Used within Peninsula High School to describe the newspaper. When one is "on" the newspaper, they are referring to being on the staff, not necessarily sitting on a newspaper.
 * "What extra-curriculurs do you do, Bobby?" "Me?  Oh, I'm on The Outlook."
 * Also used with "of" to refer a position on The Outlook staff, or "from" when representing the newspaper.
 * "I am Managing Editor of The Outlook" or  "I'm from The Outlook, would you like to buy an ad?"
 * All in all, it is most commonly used to refer to the newspaper, and not especially the class itself.


 * Outlook : Used with friends to describe what you're doing on a given weekend, or where you're going.
 * "I'll see you later, I'm going to Outlook." or  "Yeah, I can hang out, I don't have Outlook this weekend."


 * Outlooker : Used to describe someone in the Outlook class, or someone in the staff box who just shows up.
 * "Yeah, I'm an Outlooker."


 * Outlooking : The act of reporting, investigating, taking pictures, or making artwork for the paper.
 * "Look at those Outlookers. Look at them just...Outlooking."


 * The Outlook Room : Room 530 of Peninsula High School. Since there's only one Outlook Room, it's not uncommon to hear, "I'm in The Outlook Room," or, "I'll meet you at The Outlook Room."

History
First created in 1957, The Peninsula Outlook provides Peninsula High School with news regarding the school and the community.

Awards
Although the awards are too numerous to list all of them, here is a brief summary from 1984 through the school year 2002-03:

Award Summary

Key to abbreviations:


 * CSPA = Columbia Scholastic Press Association
 * NSPA = National Scholastic Press Association
 * WPA = Washington Press Association
 * SPJ = Society of Professional Journalists (Western Washington Chapter)
 * GNSJA = Greater Northwest Student Journalism Awards

Staff
The Outlook has always attracted a variety of people, coming from all circles of your average high-school stereotypical groups. One of the most prominent features of the Outlook is the "togetherness" of the class as a whole. When forced to work in a confined space for more than twenty hours in three (more times two) days, it's not uncommon to warm up to each other, letting past wounds heal, as well as inflicting new ones. The most important thing to remember, though, is that like a job, Outlookers have to work with each other, and that's usually easier when relations are good.

Relationships
Many relationships, both platonic and romantic, have blossomed within Outlook. This, some have theorized, is due again to the closeness and time spent together within the classroom. Students joke about Outlook posing as a dating service.

It was a match made in Outlook. - Patrick Renie, 2005

Positions
The following are the positions on the Outlook staff.


 * Ads Manager
 * Adviser
 * Associate Editors
 * Business Manager
 * PR Manager
 * Editors
 * A&E Editor
 * Art Editor
 * Closer Look Editor
 * Culinary Editor
 * Editor(s)-In-Chief
 * Features Editor
 * Managing Editor
 * News Editor
 * Opinions Editor
 * Photo Editor
 * Sports Editor
 * General Staff Member

Positions no longer in use
The following positions have either been removed or replaced with a new position.


 * Administrative Aide

Staff Box
The staff box is located on the first page of the Opinions section in every issue of the Outlook, describing in brief every staff members' position on the paper.

Projects
Every year staff members create miscellaneous works related to the paper, sometimes for points, and sometimes just to stimulate the class as a whole.

The Faces of Outlook
Produced by the class's 2006-2007 Art Editor, Gibson Starkweather, this gallery displays his mastery of the art of portrait photography, and provides photographs of every staff member on The Outlook for the 2005-2006 school year. The website is no longer updated, but a new page may be in the works for the 2006-2007 school year.

The Peninsula Outlook Online
This site currently contains three main sections dedicated to multiple electronic forms of journalistic presentations: Video Profiles, Photo Essays and Other Media Projects. The website was designed by Patrick Renie (Managing Editor) and is maintained and updated by Gibson Starkweather (Art Editor).

Video Profiles
''Words can't always portray an individual's amazing talents. In order to truly understand a phenomenal feat, one must watch the action unfold. Profiling a new student every issue, an Outlook reporter captures the action and thrill of talented teenagers on video. ''

Photo Essays
''The best things in life come at us hard and fast. Sometimes too fast to appreciate fully. Through the lens of an Outlook photographer's camera, we can relive the most mezmerizing and fantastical moments once thought lost.''

Other Media Projects
''When inspiration strikes, it doesn't always arrive on film. Inside is a collection of Outlook works from podcasts to commentaries. ''

Outlook T-Shirts
As an extra-curricular activity, The Outlook designs their own T-shirts as well as sweatshirts, printing them at a local screen-printing facility. The process is usually more drawn-out than necessary, and sometimes delves deep into the second semester of school before the clothes are printed.

Outlook Mix CDs
Since 2005, The Outlook has been producing a Mix CD with most of the class's favorite songs on it.

Outlook Music Videos
In the 2005-2006 school year, James Davidson and Ross Todrzak created a series of music videos, taking clips from Paste-Up, investigations, and general classroom activity, as well as outer-classroom activity. The videos were a big hit with the class, and helped to cultivate the Outlook Culture.

The Oulook eBloggy
A blog dedicated to all that is Outlook. Started by Derek Smith (Adviser) in 2002 and carried on by Patrick Renie (Managing Editor) in 2006. A place where questions and assignments are posted. Frequented by Outlook Staff members.

The Vision
During a fall trip to the University of Washington campus, Derek Smith described his "vision" as he called it, repeatedly referring to said revelation as "The Vision." The Vision, in short, aims to implement The Outlook into the internet, creating an entire experience, instead of a standard newspaper experience. The Vision was inspired in part by previous Outlook projects, most prominently the The Peninsula Outlook Online. The Vision came to life the first issue of Vol. 49, with the creation of a video by James Luce that delved into the talents of Jens Luebeck, a 9th grade student at Peninsula High School with musical talent.

The third issue of Vol. 49, The Vision expanded to contain both video profiles and photo essays, publishing a series of photographs of the abnormal November snowfall at PHS. In addition to this, Loren Johnson wrote and recorded a story cataloguing the activities available to students during a snow day. All of these publications combined to form The Vision, and are open to the public at www.phsoutlook.com, webmastered by Gibson Starkweather and designed by Patrick Renie. Note: The website is under heavy construction and is not yet fully functional.

Paste-Up
Quite possibly the most important aspect of Outlook, Paste-Up is the time once a month when all of the staff members come together and work on the paper, placing the finishing touches on written articles, creating art, taking last-minute photos, and putting it all together in order to make the latest issue. Although it only comes once a month, the event occupies an entire weekend, much like the famous Woodstock Festival.

Paste-Up is called such because before computers and modern technology, reporters and newspaper staff members would literally paste (with glue) their articles onto a sheet of paper the size of the newspaper. They would do this for each page, and then essentially run it all through a giant copy machine, or printing press.

There are countless tales of insane antics and bizarre occurrences during Paste-Up. However, since most stories would all but defame the average person, jeopardizing all chances of a respectable job and a decent living, many agree that it would be best not to publish such recounts.

Thursday
Thursday is the first day of Paste-Up for a given issue. In the early years of the 21st century, Thursday was taken lightly and few came, but with a new generation of Outlookers on the rise, 2006-2007 may be the year this trend is altered. Originally, no parent was designated to bring food in for dinner on Thursdays, but more and more parents are showing their support on this lonely night as the year progresses.

Outlook Culture
The Outlook has always had a peculiar atmosphere about it, or "culture." While difficult to describe, the culture involves loud music, hilarious in-jokes, and a large variety of social groups coming together into one. The most important thing in Outlook, just about everyone will agree, is to have fun. This largely depends on the people in the class, which varies from year to year, and some will say some years are more fun than others.

Stilettos in a Sandstorm
Since Outlookers come from all realms of PHS, it is not uncommon for musical tastes to clash. During Paste-Up, there is usually one CD Player in the front of the room, in which people take turns commandeering, inserting their CDs, much to the pleasure and/or displeasure of other classmates. Popular tunes include:


 * Gwen Stefani - "Hollaback Girl"
 * Rent - "Seasons of Love"
 * Crime Mob - "Stilettos (Pumps)"
 * Darude - "Sandstorm" (Though a strobe-light is mandatory.)
 * Death Cab for Cutie - "Title and Registration"
 * 311 - "Amber"
 * Fergie - "Fergalicious"

Future Psychologists of America
The Outlook Room is located approximately twenty yards from the Peninsula High football field and track. As paste-ups go well into the night and morning, tempers flare and stress rises, creating the need to cool off. The track is a good way to relieve oneself of stress and get away from the loud, inane environment embedded within Room 530. When one staff member wishes to talk to another in order to understand more about them or what's occupying their mind, they may invite them to the track. This is commonly referred to as "walking a lap."

Family, Capice?
The Outlook staff members like to refer to themselves and the class like one large family. Everyone on staff soon becomes friends, and if someone is having a problem, others will usually notice, taking care to see what's wrong. In this way, the Outlookers are more like a fellowship, and less like a group of classmates.

Late-Night Candy Runs
It's not uncommon for paste-ups to run late into the night (in fact, it would be quite uncommon if they didn't), and as such, it is important to fuel editors and staff members with candy and caffeine. The local Albertson's is a hot spot to pick up liquid energy even so late as a Saturday's midnight. Sometimes Outlookers will bond during the car ride, an experience equivalent to that of The Track.

Chicken, Pizza, and Home-Cooked Meals
The paste-ups consume much of a weekend, and sufficient food is required in order to stabilize the environment and make sure people stay. Every Outlooker's set of parental units is required to bring in a meal or two during the year. The meals are dinner Friday, lunch Saturday, and dinner Saturday. However, Kevin (a former Outlooker), despite not having been on staff for a year and a half now, will still inexplicably bring chips and coke on Friday afternoons.

JPG For Life
In the 2005-2006 school year, the art staff consisted of three members: James Davidson, Patrick Renie, and Gibson Starkweather. The initials of their first names combined to form JPG, which is a common format for images. Many would argue that these three made up the closest staff on the paper, hanging out and doing things together outside the paper nearly every weekend. In October of 2006, James finished a work he had begun the beginning of summer, an 11x18 poster reading "JPG For Life." Above the words were three fully colored caricatures of Patrick, James, and Gibson, the art style purposely emulating that of Jhonen Vasquez (creator of Invader Zim).

Activities
The Outlook staff members participate in many different activities and events throughout each school year. Most of these involve journalism or furthering the production of the paper, but some are just plain fun.

Ad Sales Day
Once a year (two times on occasion), the Outlookers embark on a quest around the community (including the vast majority of Gig Harbor, the KP, and the closer regions of Tacoma) selling advertising space in the paper in order to raise money for The Outlook. Ads are approximately $25-$300 dollars. A free subscription is given to anyone who buys an ad. This activity is the primary source of funding for the paper, and takes place in September and sometimes March (depending on how much money is needed).

Journalism Camp
Hosted by the Washington Journalism Education Association (WJEA) every year at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, ___, or Journalism Camp, is a four-day event in August involving seminars, classes, fun. While the food is deplorable, many Outlookers agree that it is a worthwhile trip. All editors must participate, and staff members are encouraged to go. During the 2006 Journalism Camp, an enormous Nine Square tournament was held.

Newspaper Conventions
Every year, staff members go to the Washington State Journalism Convention and compete in "write-offs." Write-offs are individual competitions in which staff members write articles, design layouts, or design ads on the spot. In addition, artists and photographers participate in "carry-in" contests, in which they bring a previously published piece of art or a photo. All Washington state write-offs are judged by professional journalists.

In addition to the annual state convention, the NSPA hosts two national conventions that function in the same way. The write-offs are judged by volunteer advisers for schools' newspapers around the country. At both national and state conventions, newspapers may enter an issue of their publication for the Best of Show category. The Outlook has placed in the top 10 more times than not.

Write-offs
Write-offs are small competitions held at journalism conventions. During any write-off event--save select art and photograph competitions--a few dozen students are given a prompt, and the students must write accordingly, given no prior information except for what genre embodies the event (editorial writing, satire writing, sports writing, etc.).

Nine Square
A tradition since 2004, Nine Square was implemented into the Outlook Culture by Mr. Smith. The game emulates that of Four Square, with several key differences, the most prominent being that instead of four squares to play in, there are nine. Note that the following information is based upon Outlook House Rules, and are not official or set in stone in any way.

Standard Instructions
Required materials:
 * Chalk
 * Pavement/Sidewalk
 * Nine people (more is preferred)
 * Bouncy red four square ball

The rules of Nine Square are very similar to Four Square. There are nine equal squares chalked on a slab of pavement, each preferably about 3.5 to 4 feet in width and length. One player stands in each square, and the remaining players form a line to the side of the game. Each square has a number written on it, the one in the far corner a one, the one to the right of it a two, and so forth in a counter-clockwise fashion until eight. The middle square is nine.

At the beginning of each round, the player standing in the middle square of the Nine Square court holds the ball. Tossing it lightly in the air underhand to any square he or she chooses on the court, the ball is served.

The player at which the ball is moving to must now wait for it to bounce in their square, and reflect it off of their palms towards another player's square. The entire game must be played under-handed, unless you are playing Extreme Nine Square.

The players keep bouncing the ball to one another until it bounces in someone's square and they are unable to return it to someone else. That person is "out." They must go to the first square, and everyone that was in a number lower than that player rotates forward. If there is a line waiting to play the game, the player goes to the end of the line, and the person in front goes to Square 1.

The game is fairly straight-forward. The players keep playing until a specified number of rounds has passed, or until everyone is satisfied and decides to quit.

Specifics
There are specific rules that verify exactly what is "in" and what is "out" when playing Nine Square.


 * A "line ball" is considered a re-do
 * If the ball touches any part of one's body except his or her hands, they are considered out
 * If one hits the ball before it bounces in their square, they are out unless the ball continues to be played
 * If one hits the ball in their own square, they are out
 * If one hits the ball and it bounces outside the court, they are out

Legal/Illegal Moves
There are certain ways in which you hit the ball (moves) that are considered illegal and will get the user of that move out. Below are some of the most commonly mistaken legal and illegal moves.

Moves
In the game of Nine Square, new moves are invented every day, and while not all of them have names, some players take it upon themselves to create new and interesting Nine Square innovations. Certain moves are looked down upon, while still legal unless playing under house rules, and others are far more respectable and impressive.

Other Forms of Nine Square
Although Nine Square is already an exciting and fast-paced game, veterans sometimes find it too repetitive and look for a thrill (not unlike crack addicts), creating these new variations on the game. The variations commonly include making a bigger court with more room for each player.

Extreme Nine Square A fast-paced form of Nine Square in which the players may perform some of the normally illegal Nine Square maneuvers, including hitting the ball overhand, cherry bombs, and in some cases using other body parts to reflect the ball.

Dual Nine Square Not much different than a normal Nine Square game, except instead of bouncing one ball in one court, there are two balls in one court. The square sizes may be altered at the players' discretion.

Full Court Nine Square Double the width and length of each square, making the area of each about 64 square feet. Also called "Long Range Nine Square."

Yard Nine Square Nine Square, except played on one's yard, or the big lot of land that the kind old woman lets the neighborhood kids play on sometimes. It is often much more invigorating, as more dangerous tactics and moves are implemented, due to the lack of concrete, and consequently lack of opportunities to seriously injure oneself. Grass chalk, paint, and tape are used for markers. Can be either played on grass or dry dirt, depending on climate and/or preference.

Points
Although not commonly played recreationally, professional Nine Square players and some casual players prefer to use a point system in Nine Square in order to decide who the winner is. This version of the game calls for a referee, who judges the moves and keeps count of points. Sometimes a video camera is used to get a more accurate representation of the game. Each move either adds or deducts a number of points from the user of the move. The number of points is decided by the National Committee of Nine Square Representatives.

National Committee of Nine Square Representatives
When Nine Square became an official sport in 2024, the NCNSR was created in order to officially decide to add moves, rules, etc. This committee consists of Patrick Renie, President of the Red Ball Faction; Derek Smith, Vice President of the Red Ball Faction; Ian Ostericher, Official Move Coordinator; Nicole Pinto, Official "Out" Administrator; and Li'l Appleleaf, Foreign Relations Advisor.

Frisbee
Nine Square is not the only sport Outlookers participate in. In fact, before Nine Square's conception and integration, Frisbee reigned as king of all Outlook sports, Ultimate Frisbee being the variant of choice. This would be played on the Peninsula High School football field. Although the activity has recently died out, it is supposedly being brought back to life in the 2006-2007 school year.

The Outlook Special Edition
In September of 2005, the Outlook put out a special edition (or SPED) of the paper, a broadsheet, six-pager with the angle "___." It was passed out on the first day of school, having been worked on over the summer by volunteering staff members and helpful students.

The SPED Fiasco
In Spring of 2006, a group of Outlook staff members and other students got together to create another special edition of the paper, this one focusing on "Awkward Moments." The issue in its entirety can be viewed here.

Outlook Parody (The Lookout)
During the months of the 2005-2006 school year, an underground publication known as The Lookout was created by an unknown staff with the intent of satirizing The Outlook. A few Outlook staff members were known to have either helped with the production of the Lookout or written articles appearing in the Lookout. The act of communicating with Lookout staff members was considered a "sin."