Mr. Post Named Teacher of the Year The beloved IB English and Philosophy teacher is held in high regard by both teachers and students. By Ashley Crowell March 14, 2025 You can learn a lot about teachers by their classrooms, and Mr. Evan Post’s room has a lot to say. Full of posters of philosophers, art from students and even a stuffed platypus, his room reflects the varied interests of its occupant. For International Baccalaureate students in English and Philosophy classes, the thoughtful debates, complex books and philosophical concepts Mr. Post teaches make his room come alive. Mr. Post is a loved and respected figure on the Grimsley campus and has earned the admiration of not only his students, but also his colleagues. “He’s literally like a professeur,” said Ms. Sarah Lord, an Advanced Placement US History teacher at Grimsley. “He’s extremely knowledgeable, patient, he’s very understanding, and he provides support to all of us as teachers and students. He’s what you strive to be.” His colleagues showed their respect for him by naming him the Teacher of the Year for Grimsley. “It’s nice to get the feeling that my colleagues think a lot of what I’m doing or think I’m doing a good job, particularly given that I think we’ve got so many good teachers here,” Mr. Post said. “Their esteem means a lot to me for that reason.” Mr. Post chuckles as he muses that perhaps when his students return for a 50th high school reunion, they will hobble over to a plaque in the main building, see his name and reminisce. “I do like the idea that, as I’m looking ahead towards retiring sometime in the not too distant future, I’m gonna become one of the ghosts of Grimsley,” he said. But for those who know him, he will be remembered for more than just a few awards. Mr. Ben Barnard coordinates the IB and AP programs at Grimsley and is a friend of Mr. Post. They have taught together for nearly 20 years now. “He works harder than any other teacher I know,” he said. “He’s really good at giving feedback to his students. He really takes their learning to write as his goal. He’s really developed the craft,” said Mr. Barnard, who teaches IB Theory of Knowledge. “I think he really cares about his students, he cares about his colleagues, and he cares very much about what he does.” Noah Levine, a senior in the IB Program at Grimsley, has benefited from Mr. Post’s teaching for two years in English and Philosophy. “Mr. Post is an inspirational teacher and mentor who is generous with his knowledge and his time,” Levine said. “I consider myself fortunate to have had Mr. Post.” Mr. Post engages with his students in his philosophy class, encourages them to ask questions and raise objections, and takes their thoughts seriously. Nikhil Nataraju, a junior in the IB Program who is also in IB English and Philosophy, often participates in the class discussions. “I would describe him as a teacher who strives to make a positive impact on a child’s education,” Nataraju said. Mr. Post has been a teacher for 31 years, and he has been teaching at Grimsley close to 20 years. And while he said recognition is nice, it’s not why he does what he does. “I like learning,” Mr. Post said. “I like to think my students learn, but the thing that motivates me is my own learning. By being in the classroom I’m putting myself in a position of having to keep learning, because I teach very bright students who ask interesting questions, and I’m always trying to be better at helping them understand.” Mr. Post has taught several different classes at Grimsley, including creative writing, and different levels of English including AP. But for the past few years he has been teaching IB English SL and IB Philosophy. In addition, he supports student-led clubs by acting as an advisor for The Whirlie Post and the Philosophy Club. “I love the things that I teach,” Mr. Post said. “I love the books that I teach in my English classes, the ideas that I teach in my philosophy class, the arguments that I teach them and philosophers. These things are nourishing to me. I really enjoy that.”

Connecting with Community at Grimsley There are so many different opportunities outside of the classroom at Grimsley High School. By Kennedy Goree March 14, 2025 The best advice for making friends in high school might go like this: Find something to become connected to, whether it’s a sport or club, singing or dance team, that you enjoy doing and will lead you to people who will be some of your best friends. With nearly 2,000 students, the many ways you can connect with your school community is an important and essential part of Grimsley’s culture. Junior Antony Pena joined JROTC and the cross country team at Grimsley his freshman year. By getting out of his comfort zone, Antony has been able to make the most of his time at Grimsley. “My freshman year I started going to football games, and since I got involvedI in JROTC, we would clean up the stadiums the Saturday after the game,” Pena said. “Overall, the different experiences and friends I've made freshman year are what made the rest of my time here until now amazing. So don’t be afraid to try new things! Do a sport, join a club, whatever. It really does make all the difference with your experience here.” Another great opportunity to get involved in campus life is the Club Expo at the beginning of the school year. Different clubs set up tables near five points as a way to connect with new members. “I got connected at Grimsley through the club expo, and hearing my friends talk about the different clubs,” Sophomore Katia Lopez-Giron said. Lopez-Giron is involved in clubs such as DECA, (Distributive Education Clubs of America), and L’amities International, a pen pal club with students from France! “Getting involved has made me learn so many different skills and ways of thinking that have shaped me into who I am today,” she said. Alumna Andi Liegh Waldrop is a senior at Appalachian State University and took full advantage of the opportunities at Grimsley. She was a student ambassador, helped with the food pantry and sang with the Madrigals. “Getting involved shaped my high school experience because it gave me a feeling of belonging and purpose and allowed me to meet new people,” she said. “I gained skills such as leadership, time management, and communication, which has served me well throughout my college experience.” Grimsley alumna Emily Phillips put herself out there as a freshman and made a built-in group of friends through the volleyball program. “I found myself through my sport and friends groups so I knew what I wanted when choosing my college,” said Phillips, now a freshman at Averett College. These are only a few examples of how finding connections at Grimsley can improve your high school experience. Asking friends and neighbors about their experiences at Grimsley can be a rewarding experience and show just how much spirit and love Grimsley provides. Future Whirlie Roland Goree is an 8th grader at a small middle school. Goree is looking forward to meeting new people and having new experiences that will shape his high school career. “I can’t wait to attend football games,” he said, “and get involved in clubs that interest me.” Check out some of our articles about the different clubs and activities at Grimsley: Cher Ami : Club L'Amitié Internationale at Grimsley is building international relationships through pen pal letters. Tight Knit: Grimsley Needlework Club Started by Two Sophomores Objection Your Honor! Grimsley's Mock Trial Club prepares students for the future. Giving Back to Grimsley : Grimsley Goods finds ways to create a better Grimsley.

Photo from Guilford County Schools Brooks Buddies Club Reborn Under Grimsley Student Club provides high schoolers with opportunities to work with Brooks Global students and teachers. by Ava Lani Schmuzer March 14, 2025 A Grimsley student has rejuvenated a club that connects high schoolers with Brooks Global Studies Elementary. Despite facing challenges after Brooks moved to a new location, the Brooks Buddies have persevered and now assist teachers in the classroom each day. Club President Georgette Beaumont is a Grimsley sophomore who went to Brooks Global as an elementary student. She had looked forward to becoming a Brooks Buddy, but during the Covid pandemic, the club was discontinued. Beaumont recalls how Buddies from Grimsley would hang out and play with elementary schoolers during lunch and recess. “I remember my classmates loving the program and getting excited to see their ’buddy’ every month,” Beaumont said. “So naturally, when I came to Grimsley, I was excited to be a part of the club that had meant so much to me as a kid.” When she discovered the club had died, Beaumont decided to put in the hard work to resuscitate it her freshman year. “I took it upon myself to revive the club,” she said. ”It was a challenge that involved constant emailing back and forth with teachers in order to find a new sponsor. Eventually, I found Ms. Kiss, who was interested in the goals of the club and willing to help out.” After an abundance of excited Buddies showed up at the interest meeting, participants were selected. “We were able to officially start the club last February (2024), and it has flourished ever since!” Beaumont said. However, this endeavor was not without its setbacks. In December, Brooks Global migrated to its new location on Ashland Drive by the Greensboro Arboretum. No longer right next door to Grimsley, the school wasn’t available to many Buddies who didn’t have consistent transportation. “I had to find new, reliable students who could drive themselves or could rely on their parents to drive them,” Beaumont said. “Eventually, we were able to find replacements and restart Brooks Buddies at the new school!” Adapting to this change, students now assist teachers, perform tasks and help children learn to read in the mornings and afternoons of each school day. By fostering connections with elementary students, high schoolers learn about education, patience and leadership while gaining service learning hours in a field that interests them. The club also enables students from other Guilford County high schools to participate, like Berkeley Willis, a Page sophomore. Through Brooks Buddies, he has gained service hours and a spot on student councils. “Being a part of the club now has given me significant insight into my own strengths and values. Working with these kids helped me to realize that I enjoy teaching, at least in the capacity that I am doing it,” Willis said. “For the future, being a Buddy gives me experience when I need a job, and it looks good to colleges.” Cultivating connections is another key component of the club. Brooks Buddies have the chance to reconnect with old teachers while creating new bonds with elementary students. “So far I’ve worked with teachers who I already had a prior connection to,” Willis said. “Buddies helped deepen that connection.” Each day, Brooks Buddies like Catherine Bowers, a Grimsley sophomore, help out and contribute to the learning at Brooks Global. Usually, Buddies read with children one-on-one or find other ways to assist in their learning. “One of the kids that I read with is extremely funny and outgoing,” Bowers said, “Whenever I arrive, he asks if he can read with me first.” “Through working as a Brooks Buddy, I have learned how to more effectively communicate and teach kids who are younger than me,” Bowers said. Through this club, students can not only make a positive impact on their community, but also grow and learn through the process.

A member of Club L'Amitié writes her letter. Photo by Kevin Massey Cher Ami Club L'Amitié Internationale at Grimsley is building international relationships through pen pal letters. By Juliet Fisher February 11, 2025 Have you ever had a penpal? What about a penpal across the world? Well, students participating in the L'Amitié Internationale club (International Friendship) do! The club was started by Grimsley Junior Shalyce Watson-Carrington. Watson-Carrington is a member of the IB program at Grimsley, and one of the requirements for the program is leading a CAS project, or Creativity, Activity and Service project. “I started hearing CAS project ideas through my peers, and I like the idea of starting a club and incorporating my love for France and the French culture and language,” she said. However, starting the club was not an easy process. Watson-Carrington searched the internet for schools in the same cities in France she thought would participate with her. She wrote dozens of long emails to the schools, and a handful answered. “Reaching out to the schools has been the most difficult part,” she said. “Communicating has been difficult due to the time difference and language barrier.” The club is more than just a school project. It's helping students learn more about French culture and connecting with other students across the ocean! “You're not just looking at one school's perspective, but gaining more knowledge of French culture as a whole,” Watson-Carrington said. Club sponsor Madame Johnston-Kerns, a French teacher at Grimsley, agrees with her. “The fact is that young people corresponding across the world is so motivational,” Mme JJK said. “The kids will see that real people speak French and learn actual vocabulary and it's not just for school.” “I like how it's giving global connections, and giving us a chance to connect with another culture and make a new friend I normally wouldn't connect with,” Club member Kennedy Goree said. The club meets every Monday and Wednesday. Right now, the students are working on their first letter to send to their pen pal. As for the future of the club, Watson-Carrington hopes it will continue even after her project is over. “Letters are a lost art. I have all the letters from my past pen pals. They mean so much to me,” Mme JJK said. “I love letter writing and hope the students can learn to love it as much as I do.”

The Whirlie Post is the Grimsley student newspaper, dedicated to providing relevant news and impactful stories for the Grimsley community. Current Headlines Discover what's happening at Grimsley! Connecting with Community at Grimsley There are so many different opportunities outside of the classroom at Grimsley High School. Mr. Post Named Teacher of the Year The beloved IB English and Philosophy teacher is held in high regard by both teachers and students. Brooks Buddies Club Reborn Under Grimsley Student Club provides high schoolers with opportunities to work with Brooks Global students and teachers. Hea dlines Check out other articles from The Whirlie Post Read Here Our Vision Dedicated to creating a community in conversation with itself at Grimsley High School Learn More Letters to the Editor We welcome your respectful thoughts and opinions about the issues and topics discussed in these articles. We may publish your letter in an upcoming publication. First Name Last Name Email Subject Leave us a message... Submit Thanks for submitting!

Current Headlines Discover what's happening at Grimsley! Connecting with Community at Grimsley There are so many different opportunities outside of the classroom at Grimsley High School. Mr. Post Named Teacher of the Year The beloved IB English and Philosophy teacher is held in high regard by both teachers and students. Brooks Buddies Club Reborn Under Grimsley Student Club provides high schoolers with opportunities to work with Brooks Global students and teachers. Previous Headlines Catch up on what you might have missed at Grimsley! Meet Your Librarian: Ms. Kiss Tiffany Kiss is new to the Grimsley Media Center this year. Ace the Second Semester: Study Tips for Success How to finish this school year off strong Musical Traditions at Grimsley: Open Mic Night Grimsely’s Modern Band stars in a night filled with Grimsley’s musical talent. Meet Nurse Stockton Keria Stockon is not just Grimsley’s school nurse, but a public health professional. Stress : How Does It Affect You Physically? Learn how stress affects your physical health, and ways to combat it. Renovations of Grimsley To Begin This Summer Bathrooms in Main, Vocational, and Old Science will be renovated. Seeing the Light When There’s No End In Sight Tips on how to combat burnout during the 3rd Quarter Opinion: Renovation Revolution We believe upgrades could transform Grimsley High School Cher Ami Club L'Amitié Internationale at Grimsley is building international relationships through pen pal letters. From Purple Whirlwinds to Navy Whirlies: The History of GHS Even before being named Grimsley, GHS has long been one of the premier high schools in North Carolina. Tight Knit: Grimsley Needlework Club Started by Two Sophomores Club founders want to spread the joy and fun of needlework. Meet Your Teacher: Ms. Ostrander Jessie Ostrander knows that math isn’t for everyone, and she’s ok with that. Meet Your Teacher: Ms. Brockett Jennifer Brockett, a new art teacher, loves the diversity at Grimsley. Mental health or Work: Do you have to choose? Time management can help you have a healthy balance of both. Beloved Teacher Makes Musical Magic at Grimsley Marshall “MJ” Johnson celebrates his 20th anniversary leading vocal music at Grimsley. Grimsley Bathrooms to Be Renovated This Summer. Indoor cosmetic renovations, as well as bathrooms and AC will be addressed during summer renovations. Ramadan: My Perspective as a Grimsley Student What does this holy month mean to Muslims and what is the purpose of fasting? Film By Grimsley Student Wins State Competition Golden Dawn director and Grimsley senior Alexander Carpenter aspires to be a successful filmmaker. Donuts: A Perspective A look at producer J Dilla and his unmatched legacy. Athlete Spotlight: Drew Mascia This Grimsley runner is not only an outstanding athlete, but also a hard worker! Giving Back to Grimsley Grimsley Goods finds ways to create a better Grimsley. Student Council Brings Back T.W.I.R.P. Dance Despite challenges, the Student Council hopes the dance will become a spring staple. Three Grimsley Poets Voted Finalists Poems by Nasir Crawford, Rainey Thompson, and Zai’ere Watson were selected in the GCS poetry competition. A Tribute to Molly Rotunda The Grimsley community mourns the loss of a beloved alumna. Objection Your Honor! Grimsley's Mock Trial Club prepares students for the future. Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Potts and Ms. Williams Meet two first-year teachers at Grimsley! Anxiety Is Real I struggle with anxiety in high school. Do you? “Overwhelmed” Grimsley Senior Charlotte Williams overcomes her anxiety. The Whirlie Cafe Exceptional students serve up coffee and gain valuable experience. Seminar Class Cooks Up A Storm GHS Seminar Class finds its sweet spot with a weekly baking competition. Swann Middle to Be Shut Down, Renovated Major changes to Swann Middle School bring mixed reactions from students and teachers. Athlete Spotlight Swimmer Ellie Hunt speeds her way through the water to a successful season. Catch the Beat: Praises for Legendary Chillhop Artists Nujabes and Shing02 engineer the chill sounds of Lo-Fi Hip-Hop. Whirlie Trends Make Friends and Fun Fads in music and school essentials fuel self-expression, giving students a place to belong. What Happened to the School Newspaper? Join us as we dive into the history of the High Life.

Ace the Second Semester: Study Tips for Success Finish the school year strong. By Aissatou Coly February 26, 2025 As the first half of the third quarter draws to the end, many students feel overwhelmed and stressed because their grades are not where they want them to be. Although this may be discouraging, there are many strategies you can use to help you meet your goals by the end of the school year! For starters, many students tend to set goals that are unrealistic and vague. Setting unrealistic goals will ultimately do more harm than good, which will make you less likely to meet them. This can lead to a vicious cycle of burnout and stress because your goals will seem virtually impossible to achieve, ultimately leading to lower grades. Instead, try setting clear, attainable goals such as “I want to raise my math grade by 5 points this quarter” instead of saying “I want to do better in math this quarter”. Having a clear goal in sight will help motivate you and give you direction. “Setting clear and realistic goals helps me with my grades because it's like an outline,” Junior Aubreigh Duckworth said. “It helps me remember what I need to do and when I need to do it to be successful and achieve my goals.” Many students also tend to not ask for help from teachers or fellow classmates when they don’t understand something. Many students, including myself, are often nervous to ask for help simply because they are afraid others will think that they are “dumb”, or everyone else understands it, so there is no point in asking for help. But this simply isn’t the case! Most of the time, many students have the same questions, and are just too afraid to ask for help just like you are. Teachers are also there to help students learn, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. One question could help 10 students! Another common pitfall is pulling all-nighters. Although it’s tempting and may seem productive, you should try your hardest to never pull an all-nighter. Pulling an all-nighter can hurt your memory and concentration! To help retain everything that you learned during the day at school and while studying, you should aim to get 7-10 hours of sleep each night to help keep your mind fresh and sharp. Lastly, make sure that you celebrate all of your achievements– no matter how small they may seem. Did you get an A on a test that was on a really difficult topic? Or did you manage to not check your phone during your study session? Celebrating these wins will help keep you motivated for the rest of the semester, setting you up for success!! “Rewarding myself for raising my AP pre calc grade to an A motivates me to do well because it makes me feel better about myself and my accomplishments,” Junior Heather Monge-Ceciliano said. The second semester is a fresh start with new opportunities. Adopting these study habits will help you achieve your academic goals, and with staying organized. Good luck, and happy studying!

Musical Traditions at Grimsley: Open Mic Night Grimsley’s Modern Band stars in a night filled with Grimsley’s musical talent. By Mila Pucilowski February 26, 2025 Over the years, Grimsley High School has built up many valued and loved traditions. One of those is Open Mic Night. Open Mic Night is a music department tradition. The event happens four times a year and is run by Grimsley's modern band and their teacher Marshall Johnson. Marshall Johnson, called MJ by his students, has been teaching at Grimsley for 22 years. He started the Modern Band program at Grimsley in 2019. “My personal philosophy is that you need to meet students where they are at musically, not try to jam everybody into a one size fits all kind of option.” MJ said. Because of this, Modern Band classes offer opportunities to learn how to play instruments such as bass, guitar, keyboard and drums, and collaborate with other students on popular songs for Open Mic Night. The songs range from “Hey Jude” by the Beatles and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” to Taylor Swift's “Red” and “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. “I think I’ve just gotten even better as a musician,” said Junior Andrew Crowell, the keyboardist for the Modern Band. “I wasn’t sure how I would do when I first signed up for the class, but I’ve learned a lot about playing music, and I”ve discovered a lot of musicians and songs through preparing for open mic. I’ve added a lot of new music to my library.” Over the five years of the Modern Band Program, “we've continued to add more and more talent to the program,” MJ said. Open Mic is the perfect place for these students to showcase their talents, as well as gain the experience of setting up for shows and performing live for crowds. “It feels good to know that there’s a lot of talented musicians at Grimsley, and it’s really fun to be able to perform music with other people my age,” Crowell said. Performing "Jump" by Van Halen are Modern Band students Grey Davis, guitar; Noah Dupont, bass; Andrew Crowell, keyboard and Elijah Blow, drums at the February Open Mic. Modern Band student Sophomore Nate Fitzgerald’s favorite part of Open Mic Night is “having moments where everyone comes together, actually makes a song and being able to show it off, and have people watch.” Open Mic is also a great opportunity for people who aren't in a music class to showcase their talent. It's also a perfect place to hear different types of music. The evening features anything from metal bands, rock, to instrumentalists playing saxophone in jazz songs. Even if you're not interested in performing, Open Mic Night is still a perfect activity to hang out with friends and meet new people. The next Open Mic is April 3rd. “I love Open Mic, it's always a fun experience to get dressed up with my friends and go listen to good music,” said Junior Genni Porter, who's been attending Open Mic for years. Open Mic started in the early 2010’s before the modern band program even existed. The event was an expansion of the previous tradition called Coffee House, started in the mid 1990’s by Grimsley Madrigal singers to perform songs for each other. But once MJ started Open Mic Night, the two merged together with a mix of singers and bands performing for the night. Now it's more of a performance night for the modern band classes to showcase what they've been working on throughout the year. However, the concert is still open to performers outside of modern band. Open Mic Night has evolved throughout the years and become the perfect place to watch emerging musical talent at Grimsley High School.

Meet Nurse Stockton Keria Stockon is not just Grimsley’s school nurse, but a public health professional. By Sally Nagappan February 26, 2025 Have you ever had a question about one of your classes, needed help changing your schedule or needed to pick up a form? If you have, you have likely gone to the counseling office. When you were in the counseling you may have noticed a room in the very back of the office. This is the office of Grimsley’s school nurse. Nurse Keria Stockton is the school nurse at Grimley and has been working at the school for about three years. Before becoming a school nurse, Nurse Stockton worked as a nurse in a hospital, where she helped patients who were on life-sustaining care and medication. However, Nurse Stockton had an interest in working with a more consistent population. She felt being a school nurse would provide this. She also wanted to be able to prevent health issues in the first place. “I wanted to challenge myself to be a part of the care team that works more on the preventative front and that’s what school health offers,” Nurse Stockton said. Unfortunately, when you walked into the counseling office, you may have noticed that Nurse Stockton’s office was dark and empty. This is because Nurse Stockton travels to several different schools, middle and elementary included, so sometimes she is not available when day-to-day health issues come up. Because of this she must train other school staff to assist with these issues. “Between my assigned schools, I help take care of approximately 2,500 students…1 nurse,” Nurse Stockton said. In addition, Nurse Stockton explained that it is very challenging when there is a situation that she is not able to fix such as helping a student get the medication they need or eyeglasses. “Sometimes I wish I could hold the hands of the parents and students and walk them through the process so that the student’s needs can quickly be met,” Nurse Stockton said. However whenever she is able to help Nurse Stockton takes pride in being able to see the effect that her hard work has had in helping a student. As such since Nurse Stockton is involved in helping students in many ways so no two days look exactly alike. “There’s no such thing [as a typical day] in this specialty of nursing. While I am the school nurse at Grimsley, my primary role is a public health nurse, and public health is very fluid,” Nurse Stockton said. One common misconception about school nurses is that they are only there to help with minor injuries such as cuts or headaches. Being a school nurse actually, means a lot more than handing students ice or bandages for injuries. While school nurses are certainly able to help with those types of injuries, they mostly are there to provide education, community outreach and provide help to students' and their family so that individual health can be met.

Grimsley High welcomes passionate first-year teachers Sarah Potts and Alecia Williams, who bonded with students over shared first-day nerves. With non-traditional paths to teaching, they're committed to inspiring young minds. Grimsley Math Teacher Ms. Sarah Potts, Photo by Jake Acosta and Kevin Massey Ms. Alicia Willliams, a social studies teacher at Grimsley Teacher Spotlight: Ms. Potts and Ms. Williams Meet two first-year teachers at Grimsley! By Mila Pucilowski Feb 29, 2024 The first day of school brings a whole new environment with new people and new expectations. This can generate feelings of excitement and nervousness, or a combination of both. Those feelings aren’t restricted to students. Ms. Sarah Potts and Ms. Alicia Williams are two first-year teachers at Grimsley high school. “It felt like being the new kid at a new school, but after the first week everything started to fall into place,” said Sarah Potts, a first-year math teacher at Grimsley. For Ms. Potts, it's not only her first year teaching at Grimsley, but her first year teaching at all. She has a degree in accounting and project managing. Before she began teaching she led a very eventful life, serving twelve years in the military as well as working at Honda Jet, Volvo and Mack Trucks. Ms. Potts has always loved math, so after her work in the military, she decided teaching math would be perfect. The best part for her is getting the students involved in math. “For her first year, she's doing an amazing job connecting with her students,” said Freshman Kennedy Goree. Ms. Williams also didn't plan to go into teaching. She originally went to school at UNCG for a degree in history. Then, she was offered a scholarship to join the Teacher Education Fellows, which required her to add education to her history major. “I always felt taken care of by my teachers,” Ms. Williams said.”So I wanted to be there for my students like my teachers were there for me.” She decided to take the scholarship and join the program. Throughout the program she was able to study abroad in Botswana, Africa. After finishing the program, she graduated UNCG with a History and Education degree. Ms. Williams went on to teach black history at Page High School for four years. But on her first day at Grimsley, she also experienced first day nerves. That morning, Ms. Williams decided she would stop at the welcome seminar for the freshman. While she was there, Principal O'Donnell talked about what to expect being new to the school, assuring them there was no need to worry. Soon, her nerves started to fade away. “Ms. Williams has always been there to help me achieve my academic goals,” said freshman Redas Wigyealla. Grimsley is fortunate to have first-year teachers like Ms. Potts and Ms. Williams who relate so well to their students, transforming first-day nerves into academic excellence.

The Whirlie Cafe is brewing up life skills and community at Grimsley High. Run by exceptional students and teacher Jessica Fancourt, it serves faculty lattes and cookies with a side of job training. Supporting dreams and building inclusion with each cup. Madame Jennifer Johnston Kerns orders coffee online from The Whirlie Cafe. Photo by Jake Acosta and Kevin Massey The Whirlie Cafe: What It Is and Why It Matters Exceptional students serve up coffee and gain valuable experience. By Lincoln Casey Feb. 29, 2024 A new addition to the historic halls of Grimsley is serving up hot coffee while also providing valuable skills to its students. The Whirlie Cafe, est. 2023, is run by the Exceptional Children at Grimsley. Open 9:30 to 11 a.m, they currently only serve faculty members and staff, but hope to open for students in the future. “A lot of what we teach are job skills because we hope that after graduation they will get competitive employment,” said Ms. Jessica Fancourt, the EC teacher who created the cafe. “So the cafe gives them real life experience while they are at school.” The students love serving coffee at The Whirlie Cafe, and now with their new espresso machine they can make lattes. The most popular drink at The Whirlie Cafe is hot chocolate. “The drinks are amazing,” said Madame Jennifer Johnston Kerns, a French teacher at Grimsley, and oat milk latte fan. “I am kind of boring. I get the same drink every time, but every time it's been outstanding!” In addition to outstanding drinks, the cafe also serves cookies on occasion. Ms. Fancourt previously owned a cookie business and often bakes delicious cookies to serve at the cafe. All the profits from the cafe go to the EC adaptive program. Ms. Fancourt’s interest in teaching exceptional students began when she was in high school. “I have always had a soft spot for people with disabilities in high school,” she said. “The high school that I attended did a program. It was kind of like a teacher cadet program. We would have students come in and volunteer during the day in a special education classroom and so I just built relationships and then I just thought it would be a great field to go into.” The cafe provides a little extra energy to Grimsley’s amazing faculty and staff while also connecting the community with every cup of coffee.

Donuts: A Perspective A look at producer J Dilla and his unmatched legacy. By Jake Acosta April 4, 2024 Hip-Hop has had many era-defining sounds and legendary producers. They have introduced sounds and energies that many have since tried to mimic. Very few have been able to master every recent sonic advancement with flying colors; however, the exception showcases perhaps the most legendary producer of all time. James Dewit Yancey, known professionally as J Dilla, was born on February 7, 1974 in Detroit, Michigan. From a young age, Dilla was surrounded by a widespread variety of music, such as soul, bossa nova, jazz, and RnB. His parents also influenced his musical development, as his mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, was an opera singer, and his father, Beverely Yancey, was a jazz bassist. These surroundings would provide an early education for Dilla in musical composition. He began making beats at the age of two after receiving a turntable for Christmas, his mother said in an interview with To The Best Of Our Knowledge magazine. Across his many years within the music scene, Dilla produced for many legendary artists, such as MF DOOM, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, D’Angelo, The Pharcyde, Slum Village, The Roots, and many others. Throughout his career, his signature style of production can be easily spotted due to its otherworldly essence and charisma. No one did it like Dilla, which is why so many wanted to work with him. While still relatively young, Dilla developed several diseases that would require frequent hospitalizations. He struggled with a rare blood disease called TTC, and the auto-immune disorder lupus, which eventually took his life at the age of 32. Throughout his hospitalizations, Dilla continued to work making the music he loved and the beats that drove him. According to Kelley L. Carter of Detroit Free Press, Dilla told his doctor he was proud of the work, and all he wanted to do was to finish the album. The record he completed while on his hospital bed was Donuts (2006). In the December 2006 issue of The Fader , a magazine known for its intricate dives into music and the voices around it, J Dilla's mother Maureen Yancey spoke of watching her son's daily routine during the making of Donuts: I saw him all day, everyday. I would go there for breakfast, go back to Detroit to check on the daycare business I was running, and then back to his house for lunch and dinner. He was on a special diet and he was a funny eater anyway. He had to take 15 different medications, we would split them up between meals, and every other day we would binge on a brownie sundae from Big Boys. That was his treat. Dilla completed and released Donuts on his 32nd birthday, 4 days before his death, making it his last release during his lifetime. Donuts gained universal acclaim from critics and quickly became a cult classic for devoted hip-hop fans. Dilla wanted to complete this album before his inevitable end, and through his dedication, one of the most amazing and deep instrumental albums of all time was produced, proving his capability and exceeding limits among fellow instrumentalists. Donuts is credited as Dilla’s most personal and honest record ever, as the beats that were featured on the record were some of the most descriptive of his career. Some beats blended classical music with an intense grit and loopy feeling that some would find in underground hip-hop at the time. He even utilized some samples to speak to his audience, most notably his mother. The track Don’t Cry is not only one of J Dilla’s greatest individual works, but was also made as a personal message to his mother after his death. To this day many praise this meaningful track as one of the best in the world. Donuts is an album of explosions and restraint, of precisely crafted balances and absurd breakdowns, displaying Dilla’s ability to contort samples and yet seamlessly thread his ideas into one cohesive song. Dilla uses this album as a “thank you” to hip-hop for showing him and his craft the respect they rightfully deserve.