New school, new attitude

By Ray Finefrock

Published: August 20, 2008

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Culpeper’s second high school, Eastern View, welcomed about 1,200 students Wednesday morning.

“I was worried about the intersection (at Route 666 and U.S. 29), but VDOT worked late into the night,” said principal Roger Mello. “When I left here at 9 p.m. Tuesday I didn’t think there was any way it would be done, but look at it now.”

Everything seemed to be going smoothly inside the school as well.

A smiling Mello burst into one classroom Wednesday singing the new Cyclone fight song. He wrote the lyrics to the tune of “The Victor’s,” the University of Michigan fight song.

“Any of you who learn the words and are willing to sing it in public, I will shower with gifts,” Mello said to applause from the students.

Students seemed relaxed and impressed with their new surroundings.

“It’s a new school and everyone has a new attitude,” said senior Stevie Strother, 17, who plays football, basketball and runs track for the Cyclones. “It’s great to be here. Mr. Mello is a good principal and will take care of us.”

Strother, a standout athlete for Culpeper County High School the past three years, said it would be “kind of awkward” playing football against the Blue Devils. “It did feel kind of funny when I first put the (Eastern View) uniform on,” he said.

The two teams scrimmage Friday night at 7:30 at EVHS.

Junior Seth Cundiff, “almost 16,” said the morning’s bus ride set the tone for the day.

“Everybody was talking, socializing, just being cool,” Cundiff said. “I like this school. I’m a Cyclone now.”

Junior Josh Sparrow, 16, said he liked the layout of EVHS.

“I’m especially impressed with the auditorium and the orchestra pit. That’s pretty interesting.”

Sparrow said he’s “a Cyclone now” but goes to games mostly to see his friends.

“I’ll be whatever the school is,” Sparrow said. “It doesn’t make that much difference to me what my school logo is.”

Freshmen Trey Settle and Tyesha Lyburn, both 14, are among the more than 300 students who will be in the first class to go all four years at EVHS – the class of 2012.

“I’m looking forward to being a Cyclone,” said Settle. “I’m glad to be here.”

Lyburn said the move was a big change for her and her family.

“They all went to Culpeper Middle School and CCHS,” she said. “But I switched it up and went to Binns and now here. I may as well be a Cyclone. I was a football and basketball manager for Binns and hope to do that here. And I haven’t gotten lost yet so I’ve had a pretty good first day.”

Summarized Junior Katie Stuckner, 16: “Everyone is new here, teachers and students, we can all figure this new school out together.”

Ray Finefrock can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 111 or