The
Sheepherder Volume 33 Issue 1
Serving Sweet Grass County High School
Halloween Memories
October 29, 2015
Prepared for Playoffs
A walk down memory lane... By Caitlyn Corso, The Sheepherder
Photo by Caitlyn Corso Greeley Schuman: “Me and Cole got together when we were eight, because Cole´s parents were sick so he wasn’t gonna get to go trick or treating. So me and my mom picked him up and we both got all dressed up as rodeo clowns and went trick or treating .”
Photo by Caitlyn Corso Kate Walker: “The morning after Halloween my 6th grade year, I grabbed a Tootsie Roll from my bag. When I took a bite, I heard a loud crunch. When I looked down, I found my tooth, stuck into the hard chocolate.”
See STORY, page 6
Photo Courtesy of Randi Pike The Senior football players after their game against the Roundup Panthers: Colton Bice, Billy Miller, Drew Pike, Kyle Smith, Sam Curry, Weston LaVoy, Cole Mckenney, Luke Rech, Ryan Morgan, and Brent Finn.
Herder Football Winning Record
W
By Ryan Morgan, The Sheepherder
hat once seemed to be a clear playoff picture for the Herder football team became a little hazy after last week’s hardfought loss to the conference rival, Columbus Cougars. The game was the deciding factor in which team would be number one in the 4B conference. The Herders went into the game with
a 2-0 conference record and a tie for first place with the likewise 2-0 Cougars. After the loss, the Herders ended up with a 2-1 record which currently has them tied for second place with the Roundup Panthers. The Herders beat Roundup by 5 earlier in the season so they currently win the tie, but if Roundup wins against Columbus this Friday by
more than 5, the Herders will most likely place third. This is only the case, of course, if Big Timber gets the job done against Red Lodge this Friday and ends the season with a 3-1 conference record. So, under the best circumstances, Columbus will beat Roundup and Big Timber will beat Red Lodge on Friday which will place the Herders
as second in the 4B conference and will allow them to host a first-round playoff game against the second place team from the 7B conference. This will most likely be Bigfork or Thompson Falls. Worst case scenario is a loss for the Herders Friday night which will almost certainly dash any playoffs hopes at all.
The Consent Debate
The Gender Discriminatory Society We’ve Grown Up In Rape culture.
Photo Courtesy of Blue Seat Studios Screenshot of Consent It’s Simple as Tea, a video to help people understand the meaning of consent.
Two words that some would like to deny, some have experienced, and all of us have to live with in our day to day life.
By Greta Sanders, The Sheepherder It starts when we are children. One in four girls will be molested by the time she is 18. Yes, you read that right. In an average
senior classroom of twenty, five of those girls will have been sexually abused. The definition of sexual abuse is a wide one, but the Victims of Crime website defines
See STORY, page 5
“Your town. Your news.” The Pioneer is proud to sponsor the The Sheepherder insert for the 2015-16 school year.
Page 2
October 29, 2015
Remembering Connie By Erin Dringman, The Sheepherder
Connie Elgen Kunda was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early forties. A personal trainer with a vibrant, fierce, energetic personality, Connie put up a valiant fight against this disease. On Saturday, September 19th, she passed away in Billings, Montana. Some might say that the world became a darker place the day that Connie left it. However, the truth is that the world became a brighter place because Connie graced it. As a mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and coach, Connie impacted and influenced countless lives. Today and always, we remember one amazing woman who touched the hearts of innumerable people. In a moving tribute on October 10th, Connie’s cheer team performed a routine in memory of her. Their dance was choreographed to Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”. To see a full video of the performance, visit thesheepherder.org.
“This is my fight song Take back my life song Prove I’m alright song My power’s turned on Starting right now I’ll be strong I’ll play my fight song And I don’t really care If nobody else believes Cuz I’ve still got A lot of fight left in me.”
“Connie Kunda touched many people’s lives in many different ways.
She was a daughter to a loving mom and dad, a sister to a lov-
ing brother and sister, an aunt to many loving nieces and nephews.
She was a wife to a loving husband, and a mom to a loving son, who she lives on in everyday. I will never forget all the camping trips, four wheeling trips, getting Christmas trees, and Christmas at Aunt Connie’s house. She will be missed by all, and was loved by all.” ~ Wayne Swanson
Photo Courtesy, Jeni Lannen The SGHS Cheer Team performs a routine in memory of Connie.
Photo Courtesy, The Big Timber Pioneer The always radiant Connie Kunda.
“I guess death is a part of life, but never did I think I would be sitting down trying to put into words how much Connie meant to me because it is more than words can say. I started helping out with the cheerleading team when I was 18, fresh out of high school. Connie, Brandi and I were all new, trying to bring a little cheer back to SGHS. In the first year, Brandi and I may have had a few squabbles about what to teach and how to teach it (considering we were friends, former cheerleaders and teammates this wasn’t much of a surprise) but Connie was always there to mediate the situation! After 3 seasons, Brandi moved away and it was just Connie and I. Even then, I never imagined that Connie and I would grow so close. I had always known Connie because she was my cousins’ aunt and when I was younger, all of our families would go camping and 4-wheeling together. As coaches, Connie and I were a welloiled machine. We were always on the same wave length and we even finished each other’s sentences! I guess that’s what we got for spending so much time together! There’s a possibility we may have acquired a nickname during one of the seasons, here’s to Skonnie! Besides being co-workers, Connie and I were friends. She was always there for me when I needed to vent my frustrations or could use a little encouragement. I feel comfort in hoping I did that for her also. When it was finally my time to get my schooling done, Connie was so supportive. Despite the fact that she was fighting her own battle, she never made me feel like it was an inconvenience to her. That’s one thing I admired about her was her ability to multitask! She always had so much going on and still managed to stay organized. Another thing I admired was how she was never afraid to stand up for herself or the people close to her. She may have been small but she was
fierce!
In the last few weeks, I’ve thought about how things could have been different if I would have stayed and coached with her. At least I could have been closer to my friend in the time she had left. But when I think that way, I have to stop myself because I know that in May when I cross Photo courtesy, Skye Rouwhorst the stage to get my diploma, Connie will be there-clapping her hands, bobbing her Connie Kunda, Lindi DeMars, Shelby Arant, Sojin Josephson, and Skye Rouwhorst head and pumping her fists to her happy dance! smile for the camera. There will never be a day that goes by that I don’t miss her, but there will always be a part of me that is better for having known her and that is something that will be with me forever. For one last tidbit, I wanted to share that in the years that Connie and I coached together; we had around 60 team members. 60 people whose lives were touched by Connie! And that doesn’t even break the surface for everyone else who was blessed to have her in their lives. Although she is gone, I know we will always have a fan and a friend in heaven. I love you Connie!” ~ Skye Rouwhorst
Connie summed up in a few words: inspiring, strong, encouraging, positive, beautiful, kind, passionate, energetic, spirited, loving, dedicated ~ Jeff & Laura Johnson
October 29, 2015
Page 3
“Connie was not only my cheer coach but someone who opened her house and offered her couch to me, and was a strong
mother figure in my life who always believed in me and pushed me to do my best.”
~ Riley Horigan
“Connie was a big influence in my life. She taught me what it was
like to be part of a team, and to never give up. Connie was a very fun, loving, and caring person and was hardly ever seen without a smile on her face. She was a strong woman with a heart of gold. She cared about each of her girls and tried to accommodate us all to the best of her ability. Connie is truly a person who is going to be missed by everyone in the community.” ~ Tyler Horigan
“Connie and I knew each other in grade school and high school, but it wasn’t til later in our adult life we really got to know one another. We both had a passion for health and an active lifestyle. We started teaching fitness classes together in the early 90s. We had a good laugh when we found out we were pregnant with Walker & Kalvin, then a moment of panic when we realized “who was going to teach the fitness classes?” We hadn’t planned on both of us being pregnant! She was due 2 months after me and fortunately was able to continue teaching long enough for me to recover & get back before she took time off. As usual, Connie would do anything for you! Our working relationship worked perfectly, she thought of things I didn’t, my weaknesses were her strengths and we shared a lot of the same sarcasm
and humor, she had an incredibly strong shoulder and good business sense. Her dependability, loyalty, honesty and work ethic were way beyond measure! I feel so blessed to have had her by my side teaching and training together for 20+ years!!” ~ Sandi LaVoy “The first time I met Connie was in 6th grade. She was my sub that day. We were filling out papers that had things like our biggest fears. My biggest fear back then was talking in front of people, with people, asking questions, etc. She had read through mine and called me up and told me that that was her fear back in school also. She told me not to be afraid that I could do whatever I wanted. Connie was also someone who inspired me and encouraged me and I thank her for that!” ~ Brielle Stosich
Photo Courtesy, Jeni Lannen The SGHS Cheerleaders for the 2015 Fall season perform their routine for Connie. The back of their shirts reads “I never knew what bravery was until I saw it in my coach.” “From day one of my high school career Connie Kunda taught me
to be a leader! She was a great asset to the community, and even better coach to SGHS. She took her girls on many bus trips, and led them to successful cheerleading competitions. We had many wonderful shopping extravaganzas during tournaments where we had arguments about putting Vaseline on our teeth. She always won, because she strived for us to look and be the best. My four years of high school Connie was not only my coach, but a leader, a personal trainer, a mentor, and a friend. Connie was fun, goofy, and was not afraid to be herself around a large group of judgmental teenage girls. I will never forget, my senior year, when we were headed to Lewistown, Montana, at six o’ clock in the morning. Connie and the two other coaches, Brandi DeMars and Sky Rouwhorst strutted down the aisle to the back of the bus wearing black pants and ugly brown sweaters! Little side note, throughout my four years of cheer, we girls were convinced black and brown did not go together at all. The coaches knew I was nervous and stressed, but as they approached me, I burst into laughter and was thinking to myself “NO! Is this for real!” Connie and the other coaches were calm and collected but couldn’t hold their composure for long. They began to bust out laughing with me and knew it would bring a smile to my face. These are the times I
“Connie was one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.
completely embodied the word courage. She was a huge part of everyone’s lives. She
~ Ian Garcia
Photo Courtesy, Erin Dringman SGHS Cheerleaders participate in the Walk for Connie, “Connie influenced me by never giving up and by pushing herself past the limit. She worked hard and never complained and you
will always cherish and remember of my lovely coach Connie Kunda. We became the daughters she never had, and I hope her girls continue to wave those pink pompoms high and proud in her honor. She continued to fight, and fought hard, but is now in a beautiful place.
never said ‘I can’t’ to her, because you can do anything you put your mind to.” ~ Krisha Worl
“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations”-Author Unknown Connie will be truly missed by her family, friends, community, and cheerleaders. May she be in God’s hands now and many prayers are with her family during this difficult time. ~ With Love, Lindi DeMars (Cheerleader and Captain 2009-2012)
Photo Courtesy, Erin Dringman 2015 Senior Cheer captains, Greta Sanders and Caitlyn Corso, carry balloons to release for Connie.
Photo Courtesy, Kalvin Kunda Kevin Kunda, Connie Kunda, and Kalvin Kunda link arms as a happy family.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who made this tribute possible. To the Firehouse, to Kalvin, and to everyone who shared memories and pictures of Connie, thank you. Due to the fact that Connie touched so many lives, I received a tremendous outpouring of memories while creating this tribute. As much as I would have loved to fit everyone’s quotes on these two pages, there simply wasn’t enough room. I also apologize for not contacting anyone I should have. I want people to feel free to continue to share their memories and love for Connie. Please visit our website to read more tributes and submit anything you would like to say. Once again, thank you to everyone for your contributions about one very special lady--working on this has been one of the most poignant experiences of my life. ~ Erin Dringman The Sheepherder editor-in-chief
Jaime Wittrock, proud sponsor of The Sheepherder 214 McLeod Street Big Timber, Montana (406) 932-5052
“Mrs. Kunda treasured us and we treasured her and she won’t be forgotten. She was a good woman. I know I won’t forget her.” ~ Xavier Cowell
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October 29, 2015
Herders Spike the 2015 Season By Caitlyn Corso, The Sheepherder This year’s varsity volleyball team was made up of ten dedicated players who earned an overall record of 6-8, and a conference record of 6-3. ¨The team has gone through some ups and downs, but as we have started to grow we have seemed to come together more¨ said King about the season. This year all of the girls stats are impressive, but Leichell Wood leads the team in aces, and kills; Mesa King leads the team in blocks; and Madilyn Emter leads the team in digs. They had a very impressive season, and are now on the road to district tournaments on October 30th in Belgrade, where they will play to hopefully move on to the divisional tournament on November 5th in Huntley. The team has a great chance to play well at tournaments, ¨if we stick together, play the game we know to play, and play as a team, it shouldn’t be hard” King said about the district tournament. Nice job on a great season, and good luck to all of the players in the tournament!
Photo Courtesy of Christina Bowden The SGHS Cross Country Team: Jacob Hussman, Kate Indreland, Jordan Chulyac, Brielle Stosich, Clayton Gano, Megan Gerard, Emily Hughes, Brandon Schwers, and Tanna Campbell.
Dashing Through the Course: Cross Country 2015 By Greta Sanders, The Sheepherder
Photo Courtesy of Mackenzie Reiss Herder Varsity Volleyball Team: Ashley Gunlikson, Leichelle Wood, Mesa King, Carrie Lehman, Aly Shreeve-Rosteck, Sammi Weiting, Mikala Doss, Holly Emter, TediJo Todd, Madilyn Emter, and Hannah Wheeler.
The Sheepherder 2015-16 Staff The Sheepherder is published by the Journalism class at Sweet Grass County High School. Our goal is to provide a public forum to express the zany and unique imaginations, ideals, and ingenuities of the student body. We strive to unbiasedly represent the diverse interests and opinions of our students and the community.
Erin Dringman Editor in Chief & Design Editor
Caitlyn Corso Web Editor & Design Editor
Greta Sanders Marketing & Opinion Editor
This season, the Herder cross country team has had a roaring season. With ten runners (four who returned from last season) and an incredible coach (Christina Bowden) the team has made leaps and bounds towards the finish line, getting faster every race. At their Huntley Project meet, every single runner ran their personal best! In addition, Brandon Schweres, a sophomore, met Varsity lettering requirements in the first half of the season. Think you could never do what these kids do? Think again! (Unless you’re me and you don’t run, then don’t think again.) Christina had this to say to students: “Many students have said that they could never run this much, but they’ll never know unless they try. The payoff? Achieving goals on a weekly basis and a fitness level that is empowering.” We applaud you, Herder runners! You are out there doing what many of us consider the impossible, and you are rocking our socks off. Get out and support your Herder runners at their State meet in Great Falls this Saturday!
Ending the Fall Season By Caitlyn Corso, The Sheepherder
This year’s fall cheer season consisted of fifteen cheerleaders, and of these fifteen there are four seniors: Caitlyn Corso, Greta Sanders, Mckenzie Freeman, and Kaylyn Bodily. The captains of the team this year are Caitlyn and Greta, who have worked diligently to ensure that the team is always cheering loud and proud no matter what the circumstance. As the season comes to an end the team is preparing for tournaments, where they will cheer on the volleyball team in their final games of the season when they Photo Courtesy, Rae Walker need them the most. The cheer- The SGHS Cheer Team: Lacey Johnson, Kate Walker, Caitlyn leaders are also very hopeful to Corso, Greta Sanders, Natalie Large, Bailey Essex, Bailey Veteto, be cheering on the boys through- Mariah Wood, Emily Wagner, Mckenzie Freeman, Kaylyn Bodily, out the playoff games, which will Larissa Teague, Madison Myrstol, Kirsten Demasters, and Holli be a new and exciting experience Kovatch. for everyone. Once tournaments and playoffs are over, the fall cheer season will also come to an end. With this season behind them, the returning cheerleaders are ready to move on to winter season, where they will gain new members, and even possibly be competing. We cannot wait to cheer on the Herders for another season!
Sweet Grass Farm Bureau Randy, Suzie, Shelly, Reed, Charli and Sam Moore
Proud Sponsor of The Sheepherder
October 29, 2015
Page 5
Ruby Valley Invitational 2015
Thank You, Zoetis! 2015 Homecoming Court.
Photo Courtesy of Shawn Lannen
Homecoming Happenings By Erin Dringman, The Sheepherder
Photo by Caitlyn Corso Dylan Laverell receiving the varsity Livestock team award at the Ruby Valley Invitational.
By Caitlyn Corso, The Sheepherder This year the Big Timber FFA chapter had nineteen great members participate at the Ruby Valley Invitational, which was hosted by the Ruby Valley FFA chapter in Belgrade on September 29th. Teams who participated competed in Agronomy, Forestry, or Livestock Judging at this contest. The Agronomy team included Kelli Mack, Caitlyn Corso, Martje Plaggemeyer, and Carter Brownlee. For Agronomy this contest included several different range components, which was a challenge for the team who does not generally deal with range problems. Even with these difficult circumstances the team had a nice first contest to start their season. The Forestry team was made up of Mat Gibby, Tyler Smith, Trever Klein, and Cole Lunceford. They did an excellent job, especially considering that they were all new to the forestry team this year. They received 5th place overall as a team at this contest. There were two varsity teams and a JV judging team that competed at this contest. The first varsity team was Cole Mckenney, Jess Moody, Mesa King, and Dylan Lavarell. The second varsity team included Reilly Lannen, Bailey Veteto, and Jodee Flemming. The JV team included Orry Carroccia, Gunner Hathaway, and Shayden King. These teams also did a fantastic job, with the first varsity team placing third overall, Jess receiving third, and Mesa ninth individually. The JV team also did a nice job with Gunner receiving second place individually. Once again, all of the teams did an excellent job and are even more prepared to compete at future contests. A big thank you goes out to Mr. Mattheis and Mr. Lunceford for coaching us and bringing us to the contest. Nice job to everyone who competed!
Sweet Grass County High School’s homecoming was held on September 11th, 2015. The theme, in respect for the infamous date, was patriotism. In keeping with longstanding traditions, each grade built and decorated a float. During the parade through downtown Big Timber, judges admired the class’s creations and voted to determine the placings. This year, the Sophomore class stole the crown from the reigning Senior class, who tied for second with the Freshman. The Juniors fell into last place, though their float--complete with Herder versions of Niagra Falls, Iwa Jima, and Mount Rushmore--was a tough competitor. During the afternoon, the much anticipated Powder Puff game was held on the SGHS football field. The Red Ants (ahem, best team ever-no biased reporting here) stomped on the Yellow Bumblebees, winning with a 21-0 score. Luke Rech and Sam Curry were the proud coaches of the Red Ants. The coaches of the defeated Yellow Bumblebees were Ryan Morgan and Drew Pike. Special thanks are extended to the wonderful refereeing talents of Kyle Smith and Colton Bice. The 2015 Homecoming court consisted of several students from each grade, as pictured above. Representing the Freshman were Zandy Carroccia and Casey Gunlikson. The Sophomore couple was Bailey Veteto and Kenny Conner. The Junior candidates were Tanna Campbell, Charlie Hurley, Emily Hughes, and Billy Stevens. For the Senior class, Aly Shreeve-Rosteck, Sam Curry, Holly Emter, and Luke Rech walked onto the football field at halftime. The incumbent queen and king from 2014, Riley Horigan and Kalvin Kunda, crowned their successors: Holly Emter and Luke Rech. For the big event of the night, the Herder Varsity football team faced off against the Manhattan Tigers, one of the toughest teams in the state. The Herders fought bravely, but came out with a13-27 loss.
By Caitlyn Corso The Sheepherder Every year the Zoetis Company works with All Creatures Vet Clinic to sell their vaccinations and medicine products, and then gives a portion of their profits to the Big Timber FFA chapter. They have done this for three years, but this past year had an especially amazing outcome; the Big Timber FFA received nearly $12,000 in donations from the Zoetis Company. Zoetis does this as a promotional program to donate to the FFA, and everything that they sell is included in the donation. Thank you so much, Zoetis for everything that you have done for the Big Timber FFA over the years!
Photo Courtesy of Shawn Lannen Homecoming King and Queen, Holly Emter and Luke Rech.
Photo Courtesy of Jeni Lannen Herder fans cheer on the team as they battle the Tigers.
Rape Culture, Cont.
Photo by Caitlyn Corso Jodee Flemming participating in the games before awards at RVI.
The Nile 2015
By Caitlyn Corso, The Sheepherder The Nile Livestock and Ag sales contest was hosted by Powell College on October 13th in Billings, and many of the Big Timber FFA members competed. The senior FFA livestock team was Cole Mckenney, Jess Moody, Mesa King, and Dylan Laverell. They had an outstanding contest with Jess Moody receiving first place individually, Cole Mckenney taking third place, and Mesa King receiving thirteenth place individually. The team brought home first place overall. The senior 4-H livestock team included Kate Indreland, Shayden King, Gunner Hathaway, and Cody Stene, and they did an excellent job as well. Kate Indreland received seventh place, Gunner Hathaway took eighth, Shayden King took ninth, and Cody Stene received thirteenth place individually. The team received second place overall. Congratulations to everyone who competed at the Nile, this contest had an excellent turnout from all of the teams, nice job!
sexual abuse as the infliction of sexual activity on a person who cannot give consent. Little girls on the playground are told when a boy is mean to them; it means he likes them, setting a foundation for male dominance and violence. When we allow this foundation to build, we teach little girls that it’s okay when a boy is rough or violent to get what he wants, even when it is sexual in nature. Girls are told “boys will be boys,” an excuse that covers a wide range of behaviors from eating dirt to forcing a kiss on a little girl. In the meantime, girls are forced to fit into a tight mold that society has crafted for them. Their behavior is defined by society, telling them what is “right” and “proper”. That to be sexually open is slutty, promiscuous. On the other hand, boys are told the more females they “conquer” the more manly, the more superior they are. It is not easy to admit that, as a society, we raise rapists; through advertisements and popular media that sexualizes women to the point where they are merely sex objects. The gender pay gap, the fact that we STILL have not had a female president, and many other subtle and not-so-subtle ways we teach boys that they are above girls. I will admit that we have come a long way since the days when women were basically considered housekeepers and baby-makers, but that stereotype still follows women today in a quiet whisper. There are still those who think that women exist solely to satisfy their sexual pleasure, and until we annihilate that idea, we will always live with rape culture. The end of rape culture will only occur when we, as a human race, come together and say enough is enough. Women are equal to men, and their bodies and minds deserve to be respected. A cultural revolution has to take place before we can reach a world in which no person feels superior to another based on gender. Until then, I will keep writing articles and standing up for what I believe in in an attempt to change the world.
Big Timber Ace Hardware 111 McLeod Street Big Timber, MT 59011 Phone: (406) 932-5318 Cell: (406) 931-0112
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Page 6
October 29, 2015
Ms. Stines, Math Magician By Erin Dringman, The Sheepherder
Photo Courtesy, Lunceford family Dexter Ramey Lunceford, son of Casey and Jeneva Lunceford, was born August 13th.
Dexter Ramey Lunceford By Caitlyn Corso The Sheepherder
Casey and Jeneva Lunceford welcomed the newest addition to their family, Dexter Ramey Lunceford, on August 13th 2015 at 3:07 p.m. in Billings, MT. As many of you may have seen from Mr.Lunceford’s countless “Dexter selfies”, he was extremely tiny when first born, but has already doubled in size. Dexter was 4 lbs 11 oz when he was born, and now measures 9 lbs 4oz. Dexter was named after Dexter Clark, Mr. Lunceford´s grandpa, and Ramey Lunceford, Mr. Lunceford´s brother. According to Cole Lunceford, Photo Courtesy, Casey Lunceford the family calls him Casey Lunceford, an ag teacher at SGHS, “Dex Rage when he poses for a selfie with his newborn son, gets mad, because we Dexter. call my uncle Ramey, Rage¨. They also occasionally call him “Tigger, because to keep him from crying we have to bounce him¨. While Dexter has a bit of an advantage on being the favorite sibling since he can’t talk yet, it has still been confirmed that he’s Cole’s favorite ¨because he doesn´t give me sass”. Congratulations to the Lunceford family on your newest member!
Sidney Stines, daughter of Joe Stines and LaDonna Fisher, is a twenty-four year old who hails from Spencer, Indiana. “I loved living in a small town,” Stines said of her childhood in a town of 2,300 people. Ms. Stines attended Vincennes University in Indiana for one year, before transferring to Indiana University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree. Stines knew at a young age that she wanted to pursue a career in teaching. “I decided going into my sophomore year of high school. I wanted to be a teacher, one because I like children, and two, I enjoy helping people.” In 2013, a friend of Stines’s came to Montana as part of a discipleship. Her experience was so positive that Stines decided to spend her summer participating in a discipleship in Bozeman, Montana. When the summer drew to an end, Stines returned to Indiana for her final year of undergrad. “I loved it (Montana) so much that I wanted to come back” she said. Acting upon this desire, Stines began applying for student teaching positions in Montana. She moved to the state at the end of the summer of 2014 and student taught in Gardiner during the 2014/15 school year. In the summer of 2015, Stines interviewed for the position of math teacher at Sweet Grass County High School. Photo Courtesy, Erin Dringman The SGHS board made short work of offering Stines a Ms, Stines, the new math teacher at SGHS. contract and sealing the deal. Thus far, Stines has greatly enjoyed working at SGHS. She plans to continue teaching at SGHS for the foreseeable future. When asked about the greatest reward she receives from teaching, she answered “Seeing your kids become successful in and after high school. You may not see them for a few years, and then when they do, they’re successful adults and they went on to bigger and better things.” SGHS welcomes Ms. Stines and looks forward to many more years with her.
New Administration at SGHS: Matt Kleinsasser steps in as principal By Caitlyn Corso, The Sheepherder As all of you know, this year we have a new principal and athletic director at SGHS. Matt Kleinsasser has taken on this big role, and is happy to be doing so. Mr. Kleinsasser hails from Big Sandy, MT, and he and his wife, Kaylee, have two daughters, Greeley and Izzy. He attended college at MSU-Northern, and the University of Montana. He was most recently the superintendent of the Rosebud school district, and after working there for four years he decided to become a principal because it was the ¨natural progression of education¨. As for being an athletic director, he has done it for the past few years already, so it is just a normal part of the job now. He chose to come to SGHS as his next school because he was looking for change, and a bigger school. Mr. Kleinsasser says that the best part about being the principal at SGHS is the kids. The worst part is having to deal with issues, hopefully we don’t Photo Courtesy, Greta Sanders cause too many for him. We are happy to have Mr. Kleinsasser SGHS’s new principal, Mr. Kleinsasser. at SGHS, and can’t wait to see what he brings to our school.
Halloween Memories, continued Sam Curry:
Photo by Caitlyn Corso
“I was with Jess and Jordan Moody, and our moms. I was in second grade. Jess and I wanted to stop at the second grade teacher Mr. Dykstra’s house and Jordan thinking she was too cool for us, so she said she wanted to stay in the car. But, a few moments later she decided that she wanted to go to the house, without telling anyone. Jess and I got our goodies, and returned to the car and my mom drove off thinking we were all in the car. Soon in the rearview mirror, our mom’s saw only a bouncing glow stick in the dark, which was Jordan running to catch us.”
Kelli Mack:
Photo by Caitlyn Corso
“Mandi and I were in my aunt’s car and we were trick or treating with our cousins, and we saw the Schwan’s guy parked on the side of the road. My mom and aunt told us to go trick or treat him, and he gave us ice cream.”
Get Your Herder Gear at Gusts of Big Timber
October 29, 2015
Page 7
Adventurous Things! The Fall Edition By Greta Sanders, The Sheepherder My absolute favorite season is Fall. I love the way the leaves fall and crunch under my feet, a cascading swirl of oranges, reds, and browns. I love the way the crackling fire smells as I walk into my house, the burning wood creating a cozy atmosphere. I love the way the sky is a cloudless, brilliant blue, a slight chill in the air (which gives me an excuse to drink lots of apple cider!). Far too often, however, I let Fall pass me by. Before I know it, football and volleyball season is over, and Christmas is upon us. This year, I intend to take full advantage of all that Fall has to offer, and I’ve rounded up a list of exciting events/ideas for you to do with me:
Pick your own pumpkins
Solo En Español By Erin Dringman, The Sheepherder
Collage of all things Fall!
Photo Courtesy of Google Images
What could be more fun and fall-esque than picking your own pumpkin?! Bundle up in a cute scarf and mosey on over to Rocky Creek Farms near Bozeman. There, you can select your own pumpkin and take it right from the patch. Whether you do it with friend of family, this is sure to be an enjoyable activity. For more information, see the Rocky Creek Farm description at this link: http://www.pickyourown.org/MT.htm
Take a hike (or drive)
Enjoy the gorgeous fall colors that are currently taking over the state! Montana has absolutely breathtaking views in all seasons, but nothing is quite like Fall. Take a look at http://glaciermt.com/fall-foliage.php for several ideas on where to take your next adventure!
Have a horror movie marathon
If you’re a big baby like me, you tend to stay away from scary movies as much as possible. Alas, Halloween only comes once a year and you might as well force yourself to watch at least a few horror movies with your friends (or yourself, if you’re brave…). For the scaredy cats such as myself, I recommend loading up on snacks so you can distract yourself by eating and drown your tears of terror in a bowl of popcorn as everyone laughs at you. Netflix is always a good place to look for scary movies, but you can always bust out the ol’ VCR player and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown which is plenty spooky enough for me.
BAKE EVERYTHING PUMPKIN
‘Tis the season of the great orange berry! (Seriously, it’s technically a berry. Check it out: http://www. thepumpkinfarm.com/faq.html). Try baking pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bars, pumpkin biscuits, pumpkin bread, you get the idea. Even if the projects crash and burn, at least your house will smell like (burnt) pumpkin, and what’s more Fall than that?
Play in the leaves
Basically the “it” Fall activity of our childhoods, this pastime is the best time: Break out the rake and set to making huge piles of crisp Fall leaves for you to prance in. Invite your friends, family, neighbors, everyone! More people=more hands=more rakes=more fun.
Shakespeare Said What?
By Greta Sanders, The Sheepherder
Photo by Caitlyn Corso
Photo by Caitlyn Corso
Big Timber, Montana www.mlproperties.com (406) 932-5000 Proud Sponsor of The Sheepherder Dave Moore
Ashley Gunlikson, Spanish III: “I think overall it’s beneficial to learning Spanish because him (Mr. Morgan) talking in it, telling us stories--even if you don’t know all the words--makes you learn Spanish better. I pick out the words I do know and try to put it together in a way that makes sense”, said Ashley Gunlikson, a member of the Spanish III class. Avery Conner, Spanish IV: “I do feel it’s important to speak the language if we’re going to learn, and we don’t get many opportunities in Big Timber to speak it in a natural setting, so we have to create one.” Sam Curry, Spanish III: “Hablando en Espanol es muy dificil para yo porque tuve un ano con no Espanol, pero es bien.” Translation: “Speaking in Spanish is very difficult for me because I had a year with no Spanish, but it’s good.” De acuerdo que hablando en Espanol es un desafio . Pero, hablando en Espanol es muy importante para aprenderlo. Me encanta Espanol. I agree that speaking in Spanish is a challenge. However, speaking in Spanish is very important for learning it. I love Spanish.
Anti-Semitism. Money over love. Mercy versus justice. Where can one find all of these themes with a twist of comedy? The answer, my friends, is in the work of William Shakespeare. On Monday, October 19th, the Shakespeare in the Schools troupe performed The Merchant of Venice. Eight actors and actresses (three women, five men) brought the play to life set in post-World War II Palestine. A Christian man borrows money from a Jewish lender and cannot pay back his debt, and the case goes to court. Women dress up as men and a couple runs away together, a Moroccan prince plays the drums and people get rich. After the play, students had the opportunity to participate in workshops, in which they delved into Shakespeare’s rich language with actors from the troupe. Without further ado, enjoy these pictures from the Shakespeare in the Schools presentation of The Merchant of Venice!
Mary Lair
Este ano, el profesor de Espanol de Sweet Grass County High School tiene una regla nueva. El profesor, Senor Morgan, ha decidido exigir todos sus estudiantes para hablar solo en espanol mientras en clase. Hablando en ingles no es permitir. Translation: This year, the Spanish teacher at Sweet Grass County High school has a new rule. The teacher, Mr. Morgan, has decided to require all of his students to speak only in Spanish while in class. Speaking in English is not allowed. This is the first time in the last several years that Mr. Morgan has implemented the “Spanish speaking only” rule. For Spanish I, II, and III, students are generally allowed to speak in English when asking questions, but he generally requires his fourth year Spanish students to speak only in Spanish while in his classroom. Last year, however, he had only one student enrolled in Spanish IV, so he therefore decided to forego that rule. For the 2015-2016 school year, Mr. Morgan’s Spanish III & IV (a combined class) contains four Spanish III students and four Spanish IV students. All eight students are required to speak in Spanish for the entire duration of the class period, so as to fully immerse themselves in the language they are learning. Mr. Morgan outlined the benefits of speaking only Spanish for fifty-three minutes a day, “In order to learn how to play the piano you’ve got to practice it, in order to learn how to shoot baskets you’ve got to practice it, in order to learn how to speak Spanish, you’ve got to practice it.”
Jill Baird
Kim Colvin
Page 8
October 29, 2015
Hobble Diamond Arts Roundup
Think Pink
Breast Cancer Awareness By Caitlyn Corso, The Sheepherder
A Weekend of Fun By Greta Sanders, The Sheepherder Photos Courtesy of Kyle Rennie
Thursday, October 15th, marked the beginning of the Hobble Diamond Arts Roundup. What is the Arts Roundup, you ask? It is three and a half days full of learning, creativity, and tranquility. Surrounded by nature on the exquisitely beautiful Hobble Diamond Ranch, teenagers from Montana and Pennsylvania gather to learn and grow as actors, writers, artists, and photographers. Professionals from all of these fields gather at the ranch to help spark creativity and encourage students to go beyond their comfort zones. Students attend workshops every day in their chosen field, and then are given time to explore the ranch. Each day, various professionals give “talk backs” in which students have a free reign to ask questions ranging from how they got their start to what they ate for breakfast. The event is catered by Susan Pauli, which is the cherry on top of this incredible experience. (Pun intended, haha… Get it? Catering? Cherry? Food? Never mind.) I may not be good at puns, but I am good at eating food made by Susan. While I digest the crazy amount of food I consumed, please enjoy these works of art produced by SGHS students!
Boy reaches out his hand (picture 1) to congratulate Jesse Adams (picture 2) on his wonderful acting.
Bonfire Beneath the Montana Sky
October has come to be known as “Pink Month” across the nation, but do people actually know why? A pink ribbon is the symbol used to bring people’s attention across the nation to the fight against breast cancer. There are two main reasons for this, the first pertaining to the ribbon itself. In 1979, Penney Laingen, wife of a hostage who had been taken in Iran, began to tie yellow ribbons around the trees in her yard to symbolize her hope and desire to see her husband safe and sound. After this, ribbons became known as the symbol that they represent today, one of hope. The second reason influenced the ribbons being the color pink, specifically to represent breast cancer. The first ribbon, other than the infamous yellow ribbon seen around the world was the bright red ribbon that was distributed by the Visual AIDS activist group. The pink ribbon came about after a New York City race for breast cancer survivors when Susan G. Komen handed them out to every participant after the race. However, the pink ribbon was not nationally recognized until 1992, when the editor in chief of Self magazine, Alexandra Penney, decided to use a pink ribbon made up of cosmetics giants on the cover of the breast cancer issue. Evelyn Launder, Estee Lauder senior corporate vice president and breast cancer survivor, took the pink ribbon one step farther and ensured that pink ribbons would be put on cosmetics counters across the country. At SGHS we participate in “Pink Month” by hosting our very own Pink Night, to honor those battling the disease, survivors, and those we have lost. This year SGHS made the decision to donate to the Sweet Grass Cancer Alliance with all of the different fundraisers available for the night. Pink Month has become a national phenomenon that gives everyone the opportunity to support the fight against breast cancer. As the National Breast Cancer Foundation says, “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. About 1 in 8 women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime, and a man´s lifetime risk is 1 in 1,000. This year, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, and 40,290 women are expected to have fatal cases. Early detection is key, and it is never too early to take steps to ensure this detection, self-examinations are the easiest way to take steps on your own, however there are many other medical steps that can be taken. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go and need your help!” You can help the foundation by participating in pink month to raise awareness throughout your community. For more information on breast cancer, go to www.nationalbreastcancer.org. You can also get involved with the Sweet Grass Cancer Alliance if you would like to help locally. Everyone can help, so show your support for the fight against Breast Cancer by participating in not only Pink Month, but any month of the year. The fight against breast cancer never ends and you can make a difference all year round!
From left: 1st picture: Greta Sanders (Acting), Jesse Adams (Acting) and Kate Walker (Writing) eat lunch on the sunny lawn. 2nd picture: Kierra Plaggemeyer (Writing) reads her piece on show day. 3rd picture: Kyle Rennie (Photography) took this photo of an unknown photographer (wrap your mind arond that one).
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