By Pepper Baker
Seniors Alex Johnson and Molly Pearce each signed on for full collegiate volleyball scholarships on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
Johnson, an outside hitter, signed with the University of Miami and Pearce, a setter, signed with the University of West Florida.
“Alex, you are by far the hardest-working player who has walked through these doors,” Coach Joy Becker said during a press conference held in the foyer of the new gymnasium.
Johnson and Pearce sat at two big tables with the support of their parents standing behind them.
Of Pearce, Becker said: “It took …

By June Lee
Here are the things I’m looking forward to doing on Valentine’s Day:

Gloves and Scarf

I’m guessing that high school couples generally spend anywhere from $10 to $50 on Valentine’s gifts for each other.
Malls will be having special sales and deals just for this occasion. I intend on buying myself a new pair of gloves and a scarf for this chilly weather.

Hit the Gym

I want to go to the gym at least twice a week this year. At my gym, there is an Advanced Pilates class at 1:15 p.m. on …

C.C. Smith
Each semester, Leon opens its classrooms to interns, usually from Florida State University.
This semester is no exception, as eight new interns are on board.
After a two-week period of observation, the interns begin to take over their assigned classes and teach the curriculum.
The teachers with interns this semester are Martha Towey, Joy Becker, Ed Prasse, Lewis Tillman, Susan David, Eileen Schaap, Judy Arthur and Janice Ouimet. These teachers must have taken a class to make them eligible to supervise an intern.
The process of applying to be an intern starts with …

By Taylor Seay

Anxiety is no match for senior Greta Smidt when she performs onstage for Leon students. How could it be? She sang in front of Pope Benedict XVI.
Smidt joined a singing group called Renaissance Singers at age 11. Being the youngest member did not intimidate the aspiring artist. The group is made up of 50 people of all ages from across America.Renaissance Singers travel to Europe to sing for various functions. These trips are considered “chance-of-a-lifetime moments,” according to Smidt. Past trips included singing in St. Paul’s Cathedral, in …

By Roberta Fiorito
Richard Rabitaille has worked at Leon since Principal Rocky Hanna was a senior. Back then, Rabataille was groundskeeper for the school. After 11 years as groundskeeper, Rabataille became media tech aid.
These days, and for the past seven years, Rabitaille is employed as head custodian, or Building Maintenance Supervisor.
As Building Maintenance Supervisor, Rabitaille overlooks all 11 custodians. He supervises the day crew of custodians from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., while also performing work requests and regular building maintenance, such as air conditioning problems and electrical work.
Before coming to …

By Danielle Faulk
Eighth grade Raa Middle School student Billy Brickner, 14, attends Leon High School during first period to take a class which his middle school does not offer.
Brickner attends Susan Nelson’s Algebra II class because he started math early and excelled at it.
Leon was contacted by Raa’s assistant principle about a student who was advanced in math. Raa, however, could not offer the Algebra II class he needed. Leon and Raa worked out the schedule togeher. Brickner now takes his math class at Leon in addition to his classes …

By Andy Rogers
Aaron Clark, 39, has been active in baseball since the age of 5. He has followed the sport all the way to becoming the head coach of Leon’s baseball team.
Clark has been the head coach for 11 years, after a stint as an assistant coach.
Clark played baseball for Leon all four years of his high school career, which landed him a scholarship at Florida State University. After a shoulder injury that cut short his Seminole career, Clark immediately returned to Leon to coach.
In addition to coaching, Clark has …

By Logan Reid
Angie Strickland, a two-year assistant in the Leon program, has taken over as head coach in the wake of legendary coach Joy Becker’s retirement.
Strickland played volleyball at the Kings Academy in West Palm Beach.
The team won state championships during her sophomore and junior years.
After her years at Kings Academny, Strickland went to Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce for two years. She finished her college career at Union College and made the “all-conference” team.
Strickland was the head coach at Lincoln High School from 2002-2007 before coming to Leon …

By Haley Mendoza
 
But not for senior Colin Granger.
Granger plays soccer and lacrosse, while maintaining a 4.5 grade point average. He is ranked sixth in the senior class and has never made a ‘B’ in his high school career.
Impressive as that is, he also is a vital starter on Leon’s soccer and lacrosse teams.
Granger has been playing soccer since he was five years old. He started on recreational league teams, like Top of Florida, and advanced to the Tallahassee United Futbol Club when he was 13.
On Leon’s soccer team, Granger played …