Advice to Incoming Students

This class was difficult I'm not going to lie. My advice to anyone who is interested in this class is to prepare yourself for a year of critical thinking and a lot of studying. This class is quite time consuming and requires actual effort; probably more than any other class. Make sure you do ALL of the extra credit, read through the book, and buy the AP exam prep book! In order to succeed in this class you need to be willing to work for a grade and get as much extra credit as you can. It's a great class don't get me wrong, I'm just saying be prepared. Good Luck!

What I've Learned In AP Biology

AP Biology. Yes, it is as hard as it sounds...it's an AP class. It is suppose to challenge you and push you to gain more knowledge in the world of science. I have learned so much in this class and I do not think I could really explain how much I have learned in words. This class went into so much depth in the biology and chemistry part of science and allowed me to become a more critical thinker and think of science on a totally new level.

Lysosome

  If I could play the role of an organelle, I would want to be a lysosome.
     Lysosome derives from the Greek words lysis, meaning "to separate", and soma, meaning "body." They are cells that contain powerful digestive enzymes that digest excess or worn-out organelles, food particles, and engulf bacteria or viruses. They are found only in animals, however, the vacuole of a plant does the same job.
     Diseases of the lysosome are  Lysosome storage disorders (LSDs). This disorder is inherited  and caused by a deficiency of specific enzymes that require the break down glycosaminoglycans. It is a synthetic crystalline compound, lysergic acid diethylamide, that is a potent hallucinogenic drug.

Here is a video link to watch these organelles in the works: https://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chapter2/animation__lysosomes.html

Deforestation

     Deforestation is the clearing of the Earth's forest on an extreme scale, causing damage to the land's quality. An estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost each year, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Deforestation is considered to be one of the contributing factors to global climate change. Trees absorb greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. They produce oxygen and perpetuate the water cycle by releasing water vapor into the atmosphere. Without trees, forest lands can quickly become barren land.  Deforestation is brought about by the following: conversion of forests and woodlands to agricultural land to feed growing numbers of people; development of cash crops and cattle ranching, both of which earn money for tropical countries; commercial logging (which supplies the world market with woods such as meranti, teak, mahogany and ebony) destroys trees as well as opening up forests for agriculture; felling of trees for firewood and building material; the heavy lopping of foliage for fodder; and heavy browsing of saplings by domestic animals like goats. To compound the problem, the poor soils of the humid tropics do not support agriculture for long. Thus people are often forced to move on and clear more forests in order to maintain production.

     Deforestation can effect things like the carbon and water. The carbon cycle. Forests act as a major carbon store because carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken up from the atmosphere and used to produce the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that make up the tree. When forests are cleared, and the trees are either burnt or rot, this carbon is released as CO2. This leads to an increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration. CO2 is the major contributor to the greenhouse effect. It is estimated that deforestation contributes one-third of all CO2 releases caused by people.
The water cycle. Trees draw ground water up through their roots and release it into the atmosphere (transpiration). In Amazonia over half of all the water circulating through the region's ecosystem remains within the plants. With removal of part of the forest, the region cannot hold as much water. The effect of this could be a drier climate. 
To prevent deforestation from going any further we can...

• Use Recycled Items
• Tree Care
• Farming Practices
• Cut Back on Palm Oil
•  Coals
• Reforestation
• Become an Advocate
• Support Conservation Organizations

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4jhjt1_eyM

Sources:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/#close-modal

http://www.howtoprevent.com/enviroment/how-to-prevent-deforestation/

      My last homecoming has come to an end. Sparta, hands down, puts on the best homecoming! We have dress up days for the entire week, and on the Friday of homecoming we have The Games/Mock Rock! The Games are where the Freshmen through Seniors compete for the title of the RED APPLE! It is one of the most exciting things that happens all year and brings each class closer together. And there is, of course, the homecoming football game and dance.
      Homecoming this year was one of the best! I had such a great time participating in The Games and in Mock Rock! The Senior Class of 2014 won the RED APPLE! Woohoo! We also won our football game against Coopersville! The homecoming dance was also a lot of fun. Although, i was not a big fan of our DJ. Other than that I had a great time with my friends and could not have asked for anything better.

A Little About Me

Hi, my name is Brianna Stechebar. I am the oldest of my family with only one sister who is 12 and going into 7th grade. I have been a gymnast for almost 15 years now. Toward the end of my level 9 season, this past year, I decided to stop doing club gymnastics and try something new.  I joined the school's track team and received my varsity letter. I also decided I am going to be apart of the Sparta/Rockford  Division 1 gymnastics team this winter. I am currently employed as a gymnastics coach at Radiant Sportz and have been working there for about 3 years now. My favorite colors are hot pink and aqua blue. On the weekend you can find me at home relaxing, now that I have more free time on my hand, or getting extra hours in at work. You may also find me reading fictional books and doing something crafty. My favorite activities include gymnastics, reading, swimming, sketching (or anything crafty for that matter), and hanging out with family and friends. I took this class because I have had my heart set on becoming a veterinarian since preschool and I want to be prepared for college. I plan to attend Michigan State University and become part of there pre-veterinary program. I am leaning towards working with small animals, but that could change. I am really looking forward to this class and expect to learn a lot.