Oriole March 2018 Issue

Augusta Oriole March 2018 Volume 85, Issue 5

The

Augusta High School

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Augusta KS 67010

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Organizations compete at state tournaments Lindsay Baugher and Noah Coldwell Reporters The scholars bowl team placed 3rd at the state tournament Feb. 10 in Girard after placing 2nd at the regional meet in Wellington.

Team members were exstatic to go to state.

“State was exciting because we almost made it to state last year,,” Karissa Parker (12) said.

Although members were happy to go to state, they were not excited about the 123.5 mile car ride.

At a scholar’s bowl tournament members are asked a series of questions in different subjects.

“You have teams of five students and they answer questions from a bunch of different categories like history, math, science, fine arts, different categories like that,” scholars bowl coach Jonathan Morgan said.

The number of correct answers given determines the winner of the round.

Scholars bowls holding their third place plaque. Photo Courtesy

Johnathan Morgan

“You have two teams facing each other and the team that answers the most questions win that round. For every meet there will be 20 or 30 schools there and you just play a bunch of different schools,” Morgan said.

The five students chosen for the round have subjects they are strong in and subjects they are weak in.

“My strengths are science, history, and year in review which is similar to current events. I am horrible at fine arts,” Josh Woodsmall (10) said.

“I hope that we get a lot of people coming back and that we get some new people joining and we just continue to build off of our success this year and do well again next year, hopefully qualify for state again,” Morgan said.

Members of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) are headed to state March 28 and 29.

The FBLA tournament was held Jan. 31, which decided what students got the opportunity to go to state. Student’s who attended the tournament performed well enough to qualify for state.

FBLA is the largest career student business organization in the world. The organization allows students to participate in activities specialized to develop their entrepreneurial and social skills. Members go to competitions and even competes in it’s own state tournament.

“There are a lot more upperclassmen in FBLA compared to years past, so a little more time in the classroom helps out quite a bit,” FBLA sponsor Clint Robinson said.

This year has been enjoyable for students due to the success of the club.

“A lot of my friends do FBLA, and I’ve already placed in two tests to go to state, so that should be fun,” Nataleigh Cantu (11) said.

The club is looking to continue its success into the state competition in late March.

“A few more business students and computer technology specialized kids would help out, but we’ll find out more at state in late March,” Robinson said.

The club opens up new opportunities in the specific fields for students. Students could compete in any of the 40 events available.

“It was really fun this year, and I can’t wait to see how I do at state,” Brice Helton (10) said.

FBLA Regional Placers - Accounting: Addie Whitlow 7th - Agribusiness: Lindsey Lewellen 3rd - Business Ethics 5th: Lindsey Lewellen, Sadie Williams - Client Services: Tyler Miller 8th - Computer Problem Solving: Ellesa Henning 9th - Cyber Security: Ellesa Henning 9th - Economics: Brice Helton 7th - Entrepreneurship 3rd: Hailey LaPlant, Katie Rockers, Aubrey Stueven - Health Care Administration: Nataleigh Cantu 3rd - Hospitality Management 8th: Ashley Prentice, Jake Tucker - Insurance and Risk Management: Tyler Miller 4th - Intro to Business: Macie Goodmanson 7th - Intro to Business Communications: Hailey Sims 9th - Into to Business Procedures: Addy Whitlow 2nd - Intro to Informational Technology: Addy Whitlow 2nd - Job Interview: Lindsey Lewellen 7th - Management Decision Making 7th: Hailey LaPlant, Ashley Prentice, Katie Rockers - Marketing 2nd: Lindsey Lewellen, Aubrey Stueven - Organizational Leadership: Nataleigh Cantu 7th - Sports and Entertainment Management 3rd: Brice Helton, Gracie Johnston, Sadie Williams

Amazon opens lineless store Bitcoin worth faces decline Lindsay Baugher Reporter

Amazon opened its cashierless Amazon Go grocery store Jan. 22 in Seattle. Customer purchases are tracked through the app linked to the store and their Amazon accounts. Everything is charged to the method of payment linked to the Amazon account as soon as the customer walks out.

What the customers picks up and puts down is not just tracked by the app. The store is full of algorithms and cameras that communicate with the app about what people are picking up.

According to UPROXX the store has mostly prepackaged food with ingredients for a specific meal.

The store is mostly automated and is designed to eliminate as many labor costs as possible. Amazon Go was open last year to Amazon employees for a trial run.

This helped Amazon work out all the issues within the store so it could run smoothly.

This store might be harder for Amazon than they were anticipating.

“I think it’s probably going to be more of a hassle for Amazon more than anything because there are a lot of things I could image that go into it,” teacher Tyler Hinkle said.

The store offers many positive aspects.

“Some pros of the store would be it is faster and more convenient,” Tori Wolff (12) said.

The cashierless store will have effects on the working force.

“Amazon Go is not creating jobs for people, there is no chance for human interaction when customers go into the store,” Chad Mercier (11) said.

America may not be ready for this advancement in technology yet.

“I have a feeling most people are going to kind of stick to what they have been doing and go to just regular grocery stores,” Hinkle said.

Technological advancement is not the only reason people might not want to shop at this store.

“I would not shop there because it takes away going out and getting things at the grocery store and having interaction,” Wolff said.

The store would be good for quick pick ups. Dillons and Walmart would still be used for grocery runs with more items.

“If I needed to get like 20 or 30, things I’d probably go to a regular grocery store like Dillons or Walmart to go get my stuff,” Hinkle said.

Workers not being available would make getting help difficult.

“You can not ask questions if something is wrong, machines can go down and not be fixed for a long time,” Wolff said.

Noah Coldwell Reporter An unidentified individual, supposedly named Satoshi Nakamoto, released the first version of the Bitcoin software Jan. 9, 2009. The true name and identity of this individual is unknown, but he would be worth $19.4 billion, making him the 44th richest person in the world.

A Bitcoin, at it’s most expensive point, was worth $19,783. Many took note of this significant change, some making large amounts of money off of it. Hip-Hop artist 50 Cent made $8,000,000 after forgetting he ever bought into Bitcoin.

“50 Cent was already one of the richest rappers out there, and Bitcoin made him even wealthier,” July Basset (11) said.

Many look back in hindsight wishing they would have invested when they were affordable.

“I’d probably invest in Bitcoin if I had a chance back when they were cheap,” Cole Brown (10) said.

Although the $19,783 peak of Bitcoin is now over, according to Bitcoin.com the online currency

is still a common topic on social media.

“I don’t know exactly what Bitcoin is, and I don’t think many other people do, but it’s huge news and was all over social media for weeks,” Bassett said.

Although many students don’t know much about Bitcoin itself, understanding the way it works could benefit those willing to invest in the future.

“I think it would’ve been really cool to be one of the few people who took great advantage of Bitcoin when it was affordable,” Alexis Bodie (10) said.

A software designer in Australia named Craig Wright claimed to be the original creator of Bitcoin, even though it is still not entirely proven.

Wright is facing a lawsuit from the family of a deceased IT security consultant and buisness partner Dave Klieman.

Due to speculation that Wright stole billions of dollars worth of Bitcoins from the family. the lawsuit has not been processed.

2

News

The Oriole

March 2018

Girl-run, national business begins yearly cookie sales Aubrey Stueven Reporter

Favorite Girl Scout cookies

The start of the 101st Girl Scout cookie sale season starts each spring. Feb. 9, a cookie kickoff commenced and sales began for the Girl Scout cookie season. The cookie season is expanded across the United States bringing in the main source of income for Girl Scouts. Cookie season ends March 18.

According to NBC news, the Girl Scouts make Thin Mints Lemonades Caramel deLites Peanut Butter Patties $700 million a year. Seventy-five percent of profits 41.7% 14.6% 19.4% 8.7% go to local councils, while the rest goes to the cookie bakers. Local councils are the subdivisions of theheadquarters in New York.

To prevent a monopoly, the cookies are made by two different bakers on cookie sales. ABC Girl Scout Cookie Bakers (ABC) and Little Brownie Bakers (LBB). From there, the cookies are distributed to warehouses around the country. ABC provides cookPeanut Butter S’mores Shortbread Thanks-A-Lot Trios ies for the Kansas troops as well as the surrounding Sandwiches 1.9% 1.0% 4.9% 1.0% states.

7.8% After being distributed to the warehouses, the 103 students surveyed Graphic by Aubrey Stueven cookies go to the Cookie Cupboards. The Cookie Cupboards are commonly one person, who stores up to me to make sure everyone is treated equally girls take the cookies and sell them by door-to-door and distributes the cookies to the service unit leaper se,” Stueven said. sales as well as in booth sales. ders, as well as cookie moms.

The service unit leaders are generally in charge of When participating in booth sales, the girls stand Cookie Cupboards are based in strategic locations cookie logistics. outside of businesses and attempt to sell cookies to to provide cookies when needed. Cookie Cupboard “As the service unit leader, basically I coordinate the businesses patrons. In contrast, when selling cooBob Stueven runs the closest cupboard. kies door-to-door, the girls walk the neighborhood Stueven has a personal reason for being the Cook- the cookie deliveries to the troops and I audit the books,” service unit leader Gwyn Birk said. attempting to sell cookies to the people they know. ie Cupboard.

Birk also works as what is known as the Cookie “My least favorite part of selling cookies was “I have three lovely granddaughters that sell Girl Police. having to talk to adults,” former Girl Scout Lauren Scout cookies, and it was a volunteer position where “I’m the one who has to enforce the rules. When Burrows said.

I felt like I could help them and help their troops,” we see that troops are breaking the rules, I’m usually Because of the separation between the two bakeStueven said. the one who gets called. I then have to go out and ries the Girl Scouts use, girls in different regions of Stueven keeps 24 ft. x 24 ft. area designated to remind them of the rules,” Birk said. the United States sell different cookies.

Girl Scout cookies. He had a total of 17,500 boxes These rules relate to the parent to Girl Scout ratio The main differences in cookies are the names to kick off the cookie season. Stueven is required to at booth sales and prevent families from beginning because the general cookies have similar recipes. The keep track of how many cases he has left, and how cookie sales early. most common cookies have two names. ABC makes many boxes become damaged and unsellable.

Cookie moms store the cookies for specific troops. Caramel deLites, while LBB makes Samoas.

“Being a cookie cupboard entails being a manager Each bakery provides Girl Scout S’mores, but the of inventory and also being a place where cookie mo- Girls join troops based on their grade level: Daisies, kindergarteners-1st graders; Brownies, 2st-3rd cookies are completely different. LBB also sells Sathers can come and pick up cookies without having graders; Juniors, 4th-5th graders; Cadettes, 6th-8th vannah Smiles, as well the Toffee-tastic cookie. ABC to go all the way to Wichita,” Stueven said. graders; Seniors, 9th-10th graders; and Ambassadors, provides a gluten-free cookie option with Trios.

The service unit leaders and cookie moms only 11th12th graders.

“My favorite part of selling cookies was when I’d order as many boxes as they need from Stueven, so After being distributed to the cookie moms, the convince my parents to buy our family some so I the cookies are not distributed evenly among the could eat boxes upon troops. boxes of Thin Mints,” “I don’t actually have Burrows said. to worry about distribuGirl Scouts has been ting the cookies equally to around since March them because they have The two different bakers employed by the Girl Scouts sell different variations of the same cookies, as 1912, and has been to place orders on what well as making completely different cookies for the different regions. selling cookies for 101 they want. I just years. fill those Last year was the orders.

100th cookie sale It’s not 1. Samoas 1. Caramel deLites season and introduced the year‘s most popular 2.

Thin Mints 2. Thin Mints cookie, the Girl Scout 3. Tagalongs 3. Peanut Butter Patties S’mores.

4. Peanut Butter Sandwiches 4. Do-si-dos Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts 5. Trefoils 5. Shortbread and troop leaders have 6. (ABC’s Lemonades) 6. Lemonades passed down traditions 7. Savanna Smiles 7. (LBB’s Savanna Smiles) to girls for years. Low was commonly known 8. Girl Scout S’mores 8. Girl Scout S’mores as Daisy, bringing 9. (ABC’s Trios) 9. Trios about the name for the 10. Toffee-tastic 10. (LBB’s Toffee-tastic) youngest group of girls, the Daisies.

Graphic by Aubrey Stueven

Little Brownie Bakers v ABC Bakers ABC Bakers

Little Brownie Bakers

The Augusta Oriole Staff 2017-2018 Mission and Policy Our mission as the staff of the 2017-2018 Augusta Oriole is to provide the student body with newsworthy information and entertainment in a professional and timely manner. The Oriole serves as an open forum for student expression in Augusta High School, encouraging all sides to voice their opinions in order to better serve the entire school community. Signed letters to the editor of no more than 250 words are accepted and may be edited for style, grammar, length and taste. If a student or faculty member would like to submit an article or comic please turn it in for review by the 1st of each month. The Editor-In-Chief is responsible for all content approved. The Oriole is published every progress term, with exception of the online edition and in accordance with the Kansas Student Publications Act is written, edited and produced by the Digital Media Design and Production students with the guidance of an adviser. Contact ahsnewspaper@usd402.com questions or concerns.

Editor-In-Chief: Bailey Pennycuff Adviser Julie barker

Staff Lindsay Baugher Noah Coldwell Maddy Foy Gracie Johnson Charles Lighty Micheala Lord Tatum Moore Aubrey Stueven Sadie Williams

The Oriole

Opinions

March 2018

3

Safety in schools is as important as the curriculum provided Lindsay Baugher Reporter

In light of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, the safety of schools has been weighing heavy on my mind.

This shooting takes me back to sixth grade when the Sandy Hook massacre happened. This was the first time my brain comprehended that something was wrong in the world. I remember being scared of being in the same situation as those little kids, but it did not have as much of an impact on me as Parkland.

Situations like this happening are more real to me now because the students at Parkland were the same age as the students here. I have so many plans for my future that I want to fulfill. I do not want anything to happen that could jeopardize my plans.

I also want to raise a family here one day, and I do not want my children to feel unsafe at school. I also do not want to have to worry about the safety of my children at school.

Since this is where we spend the majority of our time we should feel as safe in this building as we do in our own homes. Students and faculty

are both responsible for making this building as safe as possible.

The the first set of front doors are easy to get in and out of. If a student leaves the building via one of the doors all they have to do is put a rock in the door and it will not

close all the way. The doors can also be propped open on their own, and they get left open. Anyone could walk in when these doors are open and someone is not there to regulate who comes in if they are suppose to be there or not. Students should

Illustration By Lindsay Baugher

only be allowed to go in and out of the front door and not the side doors just because going all the way around to the front door is inconvient.

Out of the the six schools in Augusta, the high school is the only one that does not have to be buzzed into after the school day has started.

I think all the buildings should have the feature because it adds another line of defense.

It is easy to tell when our resource officer is here and when he is not because he drives a police car and sometimes parks in the front line of the student parking lot. If someone wanted to come into the school and harm others, they would not come when the officers car is parked out front.

A resource officer should be at the school at all times during the school day; also, an hour before school starts and an hour after school ends.

I am happy the administration did have a crisis/lockdown drill; however, I do think there should be more of them so that teachers and students get practice in what they need to do if there were to be a shooter in the building.

The safety of students should be as important as their education.

Cellphones do not match Battle royale games flourish carcinogen levels of tobacco Lindsay Baugher Reporter In 1965, Congress required tobacco companies to put health warning labels on their products.

Many people propose the idea of having similar labels on cell phone because there is the belief that they increase the chance of brain and salivary gland cancers. Phone companies should not have to post health warnings on their products because according to the research I found, radiation from phones does not cause cancer.

Also, a warning label would look dumb on the back of my phone.

Two different types of electromagnetic radiation exist. Ionizing radiation is the radiation used in x-rays, which can increase the chance of developing cancer. Non-ionizing means there is a low frequency of radiation being emitted. Cellphone emit non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation.

According to Mayo Clinic Oncologist Timothy J. Moynihan, there is little evidence that the radiation from cellphones is a cancer causing agent.

In 2009 The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper reported that Lebron James had a salivary gland tumor which turned out to be non cancerous. Many people linked it to the use of his cell phone. This idea is far fetched.

According to the Ben Greenfield Fitness website, these tumors are happening to many politicians, basketball players and musicians for many reasons. They travel frequently which exposes them to radiation. Celebrities are all over social media, and in today’s world, most social media usage is done on a cellphone. Some celebrities or politicians take many phone calls throughout the day that can last for

hours.

Because no one has conducted a study on long-term use, people should still avoid holding their phones right up to their heads. So, hold the cellphone away from the head and turn the volume up or just use the speakerphone feature.

The Department of Oncology in Sweden conducted a study on the matter. The results showed the short-term use of cellphone did not lead to an increased risk in salivary gland tumors.

Short-term use is defined as 20-30 minutes total on one or many phone calls per day while long-term use is defined as six to eight hours total on one or many phone calls per day.

Another study by the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the University of Utah found no increased risk for brain tumors after short-term use of cellphone.

As of right now no studies have been conducted to show that longterm use of cellphone cause any cancers.

I think there is a chance cancer could develop from the use of cellphone, but the probability is very slim.

The development of salivary gland tumors could have nothing to do with the use of cellphones. Everything in the world is a carcinogen.

I am interested to see if there will be a study over the long-term use and if there is a chance cellphone can be linked to increased cancer risks.

Not only are many people exposed to the radiation emitted from cellphones, they are also exposed to secondhand smoke almost anytime they go outside.

Since it is still unsure people should take precautionary measures. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Noah Coldwell Reporter

In the past year, two games have been released to the public and stirred up a lot of commotion over which is superior.

“PlayerUnknown’s BattleGrounds” (PUBG) was released on Steam, the online distribution platform, for early access in March 2017. The full version of the game was released in December for $29.99.

It uses a battle royale format, where a large group of players battle it out until only one team is left.

September 2017, Epic Games released a game to replicate the early success of PUBG. They developed “Fortnite” years prior to “PUBG” intending to make the game completely based on surviving the zombie apocalypse. After the early success of “PUBG” in beta trials, Epic Games made the decision to add a similar “Battle Royale” mode to the game. This decision is what made “Fortnite” better than “PUBG,” and what made the battle royal style of game so popular.

“The quality of ‘Fortnite’ is 110 percent better than ‘PUBG.’ You

can build which makes the game more fun and forces you to have better skill,” Zac Burton (11) said.

Far more people activly play “Fortnite” compared to “PUBG”, but some of that can be traced back to fortnite being free compared to the cost of “PUBG.” “Fortnite” also has a more lighthearted “I think ‘Fortnite’ is a lot more fun of a game to play because anyone can just hop in and play and it will be fun if you lose or win.

In ‘PUBG’, It’s a lot more serious of a game and you have to try a lot harder than Fortnite,” Tallon Martin (10) said.

The majority of gamers prefer “Fortnite” over “PUBG”, and the same goes for most people throughout the country. It’s just easier to get on and play with anybody, especially considering you don’t need to subscribe to “Playstation Plus” to play online.

Personally, I think “Fortnite” is a much better than “PUBG” because of fortnites better graphics and the fact thats it’s free to play.

Fortnite is also coming out to cell phones soon, something “PUBG” does not yet plan to do.

4

Features

The Oriole

March 2018

Schaible affects students’ feelings toward high school Tatum Moore Reporter Everyone in the high school knows lunch aide Jan Schaible.

Schaible walks around during lunch picking up trash, giving hugs and occasionally singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to someone, but many people wonder why she stays around and puts up with high school students.

“To be around high school aged kids,” Schaible said, “I used to work with high school kids from all across the state, and after I retired from Beech (an aircraft company), I wanted to get back with young adults.“ The student’s enjoy being around Schaible, too.

“She’s so sweet,” Bailey Chinn (10) said, “She’s like a grandma.”

One of Schaible’s favorite parts of working in the cafeteria is being able to see her great-nephew Roman Swartz (11).

“I enjoy seeing him probably more than he enjoys seeing me,” Schaible said.

Schaible occasionally tries to embarrass Swartz.

“She tries, but I’m not embarrassed easily,” Swartz said.

Though Schaible sometimes tries to embarrass him, Swartz enjoys seeing his great-aunt.

“I get to see her at school and not just at home,” Swartz said.

Students have many reasons they enjoy seeing Schaible.

“She’s enthusiastic and spirited,” Bridgett Winzer (12) said.

Schaible makes many students days better.

“She always has a smile on her face and gives you a hug,” Juan Miranda (10) said, “It makes your day.”

Many will be happy to hear that Schaible hopes to continue working here.

“It all depends on how long my back will hold out for me,” Schaible said.

The students hope Schaible sticks around because of how loving she is.

“She loves everybody,” Chinn said.

Though the students make a big deal about Schaible trying to make students feel special, she does not like to make it a big deal.

“I enjoy making students feel special,” Schaible said.

“I’m just sad that we don’t reach each student during the school year, but I have plans to change that.”

Lunch aid, Jan Schaible, gives Madeline Lovette (10) a heart on Valentine’s Day. Photo by Tatum Moore

Senior adopts new persona Video games gain popularity

Michaela Lord Reporter “Mr. Steal Yo Girl” has been around for two years tweeting about stealing other guys’ girlfriends as a joke.

The Twitter page’s first post was not thought of by one person.

“My Twitter wasn’t completely my idea, Carter Swan [12] and Skylur Stevens [12] said I should post something while I was wearing my cool looking sunglasses,” Avery Latimer (12) said.

It was going good in the beginning, then the page seemed to slow down.

“I feel like it’s died down quite a lot. I haven’t posted anything in awhile,” Latimer said.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on how they feel about his Twitter page.

“I feel like his screen name is demeaning towards women,” Carly Condella (10) said.

Latimer had motive for making his “Mr. Steal Yo Girl” Twitter page.

“I want to be funny, so I made a good looking pose next to a lawn-

mower,” Latimer said.

Latimer’s Twitter page has changed over the two years it’s been around.

“It’s changed by how I’ve actually stolen a girl, my current girlfriend I ‘stole’,” Latimer said.

Not everybody thinks Latimer should stop Tweeting “He’s not harming anyone, but it’s not really necessary,” Kayla Arredondo (10) said.

While some say he should stop, others feel his page is a good idea.

“He has a lot of self confidence and that’s hard to find these days,” Arredondo said.

Even though he seems to have confidence, people try to destroy it.

“There is no one I am more embarrassed to be cousins with than him,” Maddy Ray (10) said.

Some have a favorite part about his page and some have a part they do not really like.

“The worst part for me is the fact that he posted the same post about the pop from ‘Rocket Fizz’,” Condella said.

Although the page is controversial, Latimer has chosen to maintain it.

Sadie Williams Reporter As seen on Snapchat stories everywhere, “Fortnite” wins are a big deal.

Although “Fortnite” is the latest mainstream craze, various video games have been popular for years.

Ethan Wells (11) can hardly remember a time when the virtual games were not a part of his life.

“I started playing before I even went to school. I had a PS2,” Wells said.

Wells plays a variety of games.

“I play ‘The Division’, ‘Escape from Tarkov’, some ‘League of Legends’ here and there. Right now everyone is playing ‘World of Warcraft’,” Wells said.

Due to the wide variety of games, a lot of time has is needed to play them.

“I’d say I play at least five hours every day I can,” Wells said.

Not all gamers play for as large amount a time as Wells.

“I play two hours minimum every day,” Dalton Tolbert (11) said.

Tolbert plays video games less than Wells, but they are still a prominent part of his life.

“I started playing video games in third grade, and I never really stopped,” Tolbert said.

Although “Fortnite” is all over social media, not everyone is a huge fan of the video game. “‘Fortnite’ isn’t appealing to me, but the other counterpart for it is you just get a little rush every time. Like I want to win,” Wells said.

On the other hand, some gamers find themselves completely entranced by the world that “Fortnite” created.

“You get to play with your friends, and try to win against other people,” Jadyn Jackson (9) said.

“It’s just interesting, and it is kind of like the Hunger Games so it’s fun.”

Video games have become a normal part of many teenagers’ lives, and continue to gain more and more fanatics.

The Oriole

Features

March 2018

5

Teenagers work to maintain out of town relationships Sadie Williams Reporter Most high schoolers chose to be in a relationship with someone close to them, often who go to the same school. However, a minority has taken on the challenge to date someone a little bit farther away.

Clay Wesbrooks (12) has been dating his girlfriend, Taylor Hinnenkamp (graduate), for two years.

Hinnenkamp currently lives in Ark City, as she attends Cowley County Community College to play softball, and further her education.

Despite their current arrangement, Wesbrooks and Hinnenkamp used to attend the high school together.

“I met her my sophomore year. It was during powder puff,” Wesbrooks said. “She meant to take a picture with Jayden Reynolds and grabbed me instead. She didn’t look, and accidentally grabbed me.”

The couple has to make a conscious effort to see each other.

“First semester I saw her on the weekends, but this semester I’ll get to see her on Valentines Day,” Wesbrooks said. “Then I won’t get to see her for another month and a half.”

Long-term relationships are not the only group of people affected by distance.

Erin Fitzpatrick’s (11) boyfriend lives approxi-

mately 45 minutes outside of Augusta.

“My significant other lives in Mulvane, Kansas,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick and her boyfriend have been dating for two months, but struggles still arise.

“We spend the weekend together, and then once in the week. So three days a week,” Fitzpatrick said.

Although the pair can see each other more often than Wesbrooks and Hinnenkamp, they are disheartened by the limited amount of time they have on a weekly basis.

Erin Fitzpatrick poses with her boyfriend Adam Mouak (12) after he won homecoming king.

Mouak lives in Mulvane.

photo courtesy of Erin Fitzpatrick

“It is difficult not being able to see him every day,” Fitzpatrick said.

Although Fitzpatrick and her boyfriend both attended a Butler Academy first semester, they met through a mutual friend.

“We met at Butler Academy through Michael Bruce. Shout out to Michael Bruce,” Fitzpatrick said.

It is not just upper class-men who are affected by dating out of town.

Younger love is also impacted by distance related struggles. McKenna Stangle (10) is dating a boy who lives 20 minutes away.

“He lives and goes to school in Rose Hill,” Stangle said.

Even a short distance puts a strain on the relationship that is unique to those who date individuals who live out of town.

“It’s kind of hard, and distance is hard but we seem to make it work,” Stangle said.

Stangle and her boyfriend see each other at intervals that vary depending on their current obligations.

“I see him every week, to every other week.”

Stangle said.

Long-distance relationships are difficult and bring unique challenges to the table. Despite this, more and more couples attempt to have successful relationships in these stressful circumstances.

Although the task is often viewed at as daunting, if a couple puts in equal effort success is achievable.

Junior dances through life with constant determination Sadie Williams Reporter It is the mantra of most coaches: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Although this is typically used to motivate the untalented and talented alike, there are those who do not need to hear it because they work hard on their own.

If a talented person worked hard, the result would be Kassidy Bratton (11).

Kassidy started dancing at a very young age.

“I started dancing when I was three,” Kassidy said.

It was initially her parents idea to put her in dance classes.

“My girls didn’t like sports sports that well because they had eye problems,” Kassidy’s mother Cheryl Bratton said. “For exercise, I wanted to have them do something, so we put them in dance.”

Despite how confident Kassidy is

On the dance team, Kassidy has a now, she was not always so keen on teacher-like role and often assists othperforming. ers. She has become well-known for “Her very first performance, she her expertise and generosity. stood there and cried the entire time,” “She is always Cheryl said. willing to help others, Kassidy eventually and she is very good found her niche. at teaching when you “I think when I got aren’t sure what to into first or second do,” Prentice said. grade was when I actuOn top of high ally knew what I was school dance, Kassidy doing, and I started to dances competitively. really advance in my She has been dancing technique,” Kassidy at the same studio, said.

Ashley Prentice Davis Dance, since she first started dancing (11) has danced with fourteen years ago. her since Kassidy “I go to about 12 since they both made competitions; they the dance team their are held all around freshman year.

Kansas, Missouri, and “I immediately Kassidy Bratton (11) dances on a Oklahoma,” Kassidy thought that she was a really good dancer,” beach in Texas. She was on a said. mission trip during spring break She has had a lot of Prentice said.

2017 at the time.

719 W 7th Ave Augusta, KS 67010 (316) 775-2254

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success in these competitions.

“My favorite memory is when I won nationals,” Kassidy said.

Kassidy’s dance career is not without its struggles. In middle school, she began passing out for an inexplicable reason, but the culprit soon was discovered to be vasovagal syncope, or when the body overreacts to certain triggers like blood, or emotional distress.

Despite these struggles, Kassidy continues to dance.

“It has made it more difficult trying to dance and deal with it. It has made me a better dancer because I have had to learn from the experience,” Kassidy said.

It has not been an easy road, but her love for dance has persisted through all of Kassidy’s obstacles.

“I love it, and I would not change it. If I had to go back and choose a different sport I was good at, I wouldn’t change it,” Kassidy said.

6

Features

The Oriole

March 2018

Fans create basketball brackets Students pick Sadie Williams Reporter

Just as December means Christmas, and February means Valentine’s Day, March brings the cause of anticipation for college basketball fans all around America: March Madness.

With the regular season in the past, post-season play starts - possibly with even more excitement than the actual season. Fans make brackets, buy tickets for games their teams may not even make it to, and wait to see the inevitable plot-twists.

“My favorite part of the March Madness is the upsets that happen. Like when a higher seed loses to a lower one,” Chance Whitehead (12) said.

These unforeseeable occurrences are permanently ingrained in the mind of the viewer.

“The biggest surprise I’ve seen, I think, was when Davidson went on that roll with Steph Curry and them when he played there, and went deep.

That was a big one,” life-long basketball lover Steve Reichardt said.

Reichardt has been involved in March Madness for as long as he’s been able to talk.

“Since I can remember, my dad was a high school basketball coach, so I’ve been around basketball my whole life. I’ve coached myself, and I’ve played. It’s just been a part of my life,” Reichardt said.

For most fans, their personal favorite team causes their bracket to be biased.

“Wichita State has everything to do with my bracket. I never put them losing, no matter what. I have never won a bracket,” Whitehead said.

Some people chose to play it safer.

“Typically, I fill out two [brackets]. One’s a homer bracket, and one is a legitimate thought at it.

The homer one I literally fill out KU all the way,” Drew Hess (11) said.

Reichardt’s favorite team in KU, which plays heavily into his bracket from year to year.

This strategy has lead to positive results.

“I won it back a handful of years ago. We used to do one with coach Jackson and Coach Tillet and Coach Bodyk and a bunch of us, and I won one year,” Reichardt said.

March Madness may cause some mayhem, but in the end it is just a fun way to root for your team.

Children no longer believe myths Michaela Lord Reporter Childhood legends are a part of most children’s lives.

These legends may include Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.

“I believed in Santa until I was about eight years old when my mom told me he wasn’t real,” Sarah Oliver (10) said.

Some were affected when they found out that what they had believed in was not true, while others were not affected at all.

“My parents lying to me did not really bother me,” Cassadee Stonecipher (10) said.

At a young age, children may try to catch their parents in a lie by staying up late, waking up early, or any creative idea they come up with.

“I found out Santa wasn’t real, because I woke up at night and watched my mom put stuff in my stocking,” Jada Garrison (12) said.

Figuring out that childhood legends are not real may happen accidentally.

“I was at a friend’s house and our parents left to go eat. They told us not to go in the basement. We were playing with a ball and the ball went in the basement, so we went down to go get it. We saw that there were already presents under the tree from Santa,” Ashley Prentice (11) said. “We ran upstairs and acted like we didn’t see it.”

Finding out the Tooth Fairy is not real can be devastating or funny.

“I put the tooth in my hand so I could catch the Tooth Fairy. My hand was under my pillow and my

parents lifted the pillow to get the tooth, but then realized it was in my hand. I woke up, because they were laughing,” Paige McDaniel (12) said.

Some situations may be quite disturbing, or even gross.

“I found my teeth in my mom’s jewelry box,” Garrison said.

People live to tell the tale of their childhood legends.

new courses Tatum Moore Reporter

After high school, many graduates attend college, but some students decide to start college their junior year in order to graduate with their associates.

Jaci Bogner (11) believes this is a great idea for those who are motivated to get their school work done.

“You’re graduating with an associates degree, which will put you two years ahead of everyone else,” Bogner said. “I’m going to work as a reconstructive plastic surgeon, so it’s already going to be like 10 or 12 years, so I’m shaving off two years of that, so that will save me a lot of money and time.”

Kenzie Childers (10) wants to participate in the pre-nursing academy for these same reasons and others.

“I can graduate with my CNA (certified nursing assistant) and associates and get a head start on my life,” Childers said.

Michael Lydon (10) who wants to be an engineer is also planning on attending the academy.

“I’m going to take the engineering technology academy,” Lydon said.

Bogner thinks that Butler offers a great program, but only certain people should take it.

“People that are internally motivated to do well because they need to get their stuff done and keep their grades up,” Bogner said.

This is due to the amount of homework academy students receive each night.

Bogner said every night she spends anywhere from 1 to 6 hours on homework depending on what she need to get done. Some time is shed off because she uses her Ace time to get most of her highschool work done.

Though Bogner thinks the program is great, there are a few downfalls.

“You can’t hang out with your friends as much as you think, and it’s really hard to have relationships and everything because you’re always so busy,” Bogner said.

Childers is worried about the amount of work that will be presented. “[The hardest part will] probably be the workload,” Childers said.

Though he is worried about college algebra Lydon is excited for the academy.

“I want experience in engineering,” Lydon said.

With the busy schedules some may worry about missing out on the high school experience, but these students do not think they will.

“We’re all high school students at the academy, so we’re still getting the high school experience,” Bogner said.

Even with the large amount of homework and little free time Bogner said she would recommend the program and that it has great teachers.

“All the teachers are really great and they’re willing to help,” Bogner said.

The Oriole

Sports

March 2018

Girls basketball makes Oriole history and I wanted to go to state,” Anderson said.

To start off sub-state, the Orioles defeated Mulvane 50-22 to send them to face Andover Central the following Saturday.

The Orioles beat the Jaguars 63-46 in the sub-state championship.

“It was amazing, the atmosphere was electric,” Anderson said. “It was by far the best atmosphere we’ve had and it definitely made a huge difference at home.”

Along with the atmosphere, the home-court advantage played a role in

the win.

“We have one of the best bands in the area. The atmosphere allowed us to The girls basketball program has play free and loose,” Anderson said. faced many hardships in the past, After winning the sub-state title, yet, the 2017-2018 team has overcome the Orioles traveled to Salina to face those boundaries as well exceeded McPherson in game one of the state what their opponents thought impostournament. sible.

They arrived at Tony’s Pizza Event In the history of Augusta girls Center in Salina, where they would basketball, only one team prior to this lose to McPherson 62-46. season’s team made it to the AVCTL “I was soaking the atmosphere in bestate tournament. fore the game. I really wanted to enjoy The assistant coach, Rainey Maloy the moment,” Anderson said. “We have played basketball for the Orioles in a great fan-base. It was an entertain2007. The 2006-2007 ing game. Every play team was the only seemed big.” other Augusta team Although the to make it to the state Orioles lost, the team tournament. felt they played to the “Knowing that we best of their abilities, are the second team to and fought harder ever make it to state is than they thought exhilarating,” Jayden possible.

Marlnee (11) said. “It’s “It was crazy. We even more exhilarating have never played so knowing that three of well against McPherour starters are only son,” Raine Harman juniors and we are go(11) said. “We were ing to do great things down only four points again next season.” from McPherson Expectations for two different times, the season were met, which is something through head coach we haven’t even done Tracy Anderson’s eyes. The girls basketball team holds up the Sub-State Championship plaque after a crucial before.”

“I wanted to win 14 win against Andover Central. The team won 63-46 which sent them to the state tourPlayers were proud nament in Salina. Photo courtesy Gus Garcia regular season games of their efforts.

Bailey Pennycuff Editor-in-Chief

Track, field develops skills to compete Charles Lighty Reporter With track season’s April beginning nearing closer with every passing day, the runners prepare vigorously for the upcoming season under a new, yet former coach.

Social studies teacher Joan Reichardt is filling in the position for long distance running coach for the track team, taking over the position of former English teacher Meriel Hartling who moved to Ireland before the school year.

The transition from middle school to high school adds an experience for Reichardt who had served as the middle school coach.

“I think it’s going to be really interesting to coach them again after a few

years of not coaching them,” Reichardt said.

Not only will the situation positively impact Reichardt’s outlook on the season, but for the athletes she coaches as well.

“I think it is nice that I already know and have relationships with the athletes instead of having to learn a whole team of new athletes,” Reichardt said.

Although having a former coach as the new high school coach, the number of runners weren’t as high as expected.

“We have several boys that are out for the long-distance team this year, but we lack in numbers of girls who are out. However, the distance girls who are out are working very hard to do everything they can and compete

well,” Reichardt said.

The team is also expecting to improve from last season.

“Last year we didn’t have anyone who went to state for long distance.

This year we are hoping to change that,” Reichardt said. “We expect Bryce Helton (10) to do good this season and to be one of our best runners.”

Hartling and Reichardt both coached Helton at separate times in his track career.

“I am very excited for track, and I am hoping that I improve from last season. Although I set a new personal record and broke 5 minutes in a mile, I am still looking to improve,” Helton said. “I am hoping to make it to state, and I am pretty confident that I will make regionals this year.”

Soccer laces up for new challenges Maddy Foy Reporter As the girls soccer season begins, conditioning plays a large role during tryouts as well as for the rest of the practices for all the girls that made the team.

Sage Peterson (10) tried out for soccer and made the team.

“We did not really have any tryouts, because there were not enough girls trying out,” Peterson said.

Bri Coon (11) has never played soccer and did not plan on playing until her friends (who play soccer as well) encouraged her to.

“The hardest part will be going into

it without knowing barely anything about soccer,” Coon said.

Madylan Mayfield (11) went to the conditioning and tryouts and is on the team.

“We did a lot of passing drills, a lot of conditioning which was mostly running,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said the hardest part was definitely the conditioning. She has experience with soccer from past years.

“I played last year and once when I was like six,” Mayfield said.

Peterson has some experience as well; however, not as much as some of her fellow teammates.

“I have not played at all until last

year,” Peterson said.

Peterson said the conditioning was easier for her than she had previously anticipated.

“The conditioning for me was pretty easy, but I just came from basketball, for others it was not so easy,” Peterson said.

Peterson said they did a lot of footwork and running drills while handling the ball.

“We also did a lot of running on the turf,” Peterson said.

Peterson is excited for games to begin and to see how the team competes this year while displaying how hard they worked at the beginning of the season.

7

Boys tennis prepares for tournaments Bailey Pennycuff Editor-in-Chief Most tennis players this season look forward to improving their skill sets while also enjoying themselves with their fellow teammates.

Jordan Bodyk (12) and Blake Altenhofen (11) competed as a doubles team last season.

“We won some of the smaller tournaments last year,” Bodyk said.

“I think Blake and I did well, and we plan on doing better this season.”

In order to do better than last year, Bodyk and Altenhofen plan to work hard on specific aspects of the game during practice.

“I definitely need to work on serving,” Bodyk said. “I’m pretty bad at that.”

Braden Jergensen (11) also needs to practice serving. Jergensen needs to practice more because he was on JV last season and hopes to compete at the varsity level this season.

“It depends on who goes out to decide if I will get to play varsity. There’s a senior who played the last couple years,” Jergensen said.

Jergensen plays singles. Only six people can be on varsity, which includes of two singles players and two doubles teams.

The tennis players are not the only ones looking forward to the upcoming season.

“My boyfriend Cole [Johnson (11)] plays tennis, and I am excited to watch him play this season,” Kenzie Kirk (11) said. “He played last year, too, but I played softball last year, so I didn’t get to watch him play very often.”

Kirk wishes she could play tennis as well.

“If the girls tennis season was in the spring, I would totally play, but sadly, the girls’ season is in the fall, when I play volleyball.”

Some tennis players have techniques when they play, especially doubles partners, so that they are always on the same page and their moves are as efficient as possible to win the match.

“The only technique we do is we get hype and just kind of run around,” Bodyk said.

Some people don’t prefer to use any sort of techniques.

“They [the coaches] try to like tell Jordan and I different techniques to use and we usually just end up winging it,” Altenhofen said.

8

Sports

The Oriole

March 2018

Softball team welcomes new varsity coaches Maddy Foy Reporter The Oriole softball team welcomed two new coaches to the varsity team. Middle school teacher Jamie VanDever, and a new assistant coach, social studies teacher Casey Penner.

Former head varsity coach Shane Steinkamp, former varsity assistant coach Kellee Roberts and former JV assistant coach Jessica Carey were the coaches from last year.

Steinkamp took the team to state four out of five years he coached. Three seasons he had a record of 16 and four before going to state. The first year, his team was undefeated except the last game, which they lost in the state championship.

Steinkamp now works at Hibbett Sports.

Carey was the pitching coach and the JV assistant coach.

“Augusta High School softball has been one of the best softball teams in the state for almost two decades now,” VanDever said.

VanDever has coached basketball and volleyball at the Middle School. Also, he coached as assistant JV coach on the softball team.

“I have coached high school softball for 16 years, and it is one of my favorite sports to coach. Our team has great players who always want to work hard and get better. Watching them grow and improve is always the best part for me,” VanDever said.

VanDever and the team won the state championship in 2006, 2014 and 2015.

“Also, our JV team went undefeated for the first time last year. That was definitely a proud moment,”

VanDever said.

Kourtney Divine (11) is excited about getting new coaches this year.

“I am most excited about playing under a new coach and seeing what it is like,” Divine said.

Some of the other softball players are excited as well.

Ivory Rightnar (9) is nervous but excited.

“I’m excited about playing with new people. I’m a people person,” Rightnar said.

Sophie Johnston (10) believes the new coaches are nice and have an idea about how to play and coach softball.

“I am very excited about VanDever being our coach, because he is a good guy,” Johnston said.

VanDever has coached some of the girls from the past.

“He has coached me in basketball in the past and we were successful,” Johnston said.

With a new coach comes new guidelines, rules and usually a different way of teaching.

“I think some things will change, but I also think some of the things we have done in the past have worked,” Johnston said.

VanDever is very excited, but knows that this role might be challenging.

“Taking over this program is definitely going to be a challenge for me. I am very excited about the opportunity to work with these kids to take the team back to state,” VanDever said.

VanDever is happy about his new assistant coach.

“I am thrilled to be working with coach Penner.

She is going to be an awesome addition to the team,” VanDever said.

Penner has coaching experience from Wichita North.

“Two years I coached softball at Wichita North. I also coached volleyball here and at Wichita North as well,” Penner said.

Penner played softball in high school.

“I have enjoyed working with softball. I know that Augusta has a good program, so I am excited to see what working with a good program is like,” Penner said.

Penner is not nervous about taking the role as varsity assistant coach.

“I have been working with softball for so long that it is a comfortable fit,” Penner said.

Penner plans to continue coaching softball for Augusta as long as all goes well.

The first part of tryouts always contain conditioning. Some of the conditioning consisted of 15 minute jogs, 10 minute sprints, and running up stairs.

Ivory’s expectations about the conditioning was that there would be alot of running. Her expectations were correct.

“I honestly thought it would be more difficult. It was pretty much what I thought it was going to be: running,” Rightnar said.

Rightnar said they ran for the first three days and then began participating in normal everyday softball activities.

Baseball team begins practice for season Gracie Johnston Reporter Head baseball coach Doug Jefferson plans to prepare his baseball boys to be ready to face every opponent this season.

“Tryouts have been good this year,” Jefferson said.

“We had just under 40 kids tryout. We have had nice weather, so it has worked out really well this year.”

Players agree that tryouts went well this year.

“Tryouts are going great,” Tyler Smith (12) said.

“We have a lot of kids with talent, this should be a great year.”

The baseball team has had a lot of freshmen come out this year.

“All of the freshmen are pretty good for their age,” Collin Hiser (11) said.

The team is composed of seven seniors this year, many of which were on the state team last year.

“Our goals going in are always to try to win league, win regionals and win state,” Jefferson said.

“We don’t talk about them all the time but it is just a given, those are our goals.”

The question is if the baseball team will return to state or not.

“I hope we will return to state this year. It will be tough,” Jefferson said. “I would imagine we will end up playing [Andover] Central again this year and they have 10 or 11 seniors, but we knocked them off last year, and I hope we can knock them off this year.”

Players are confident about returning to state.

“I think we will return to state because I think we will have a similar sub-state, and we are going to have a heavy senior lineup and some schools have lost some seniors that were important last year, so I think we will make it back,” Blakesley said.

Blakesley has recently signed to continue his

baseball career at Tabor University.

“I’ve always played baseball ever since I was little, and I just enjoy the sport and like getting to hang out on the field with my friends and play the sport I love,” Blakesley said.

Baseball gives boys the opportunity to play with friends and make new connections.

“I never play with the exact same kids as I did the year before,” Hiser said. “There are always new kids coming in both on the high school and my summer team. There are kids on my summer team from all over the state and it is cool to meet the kids and play with people I haven’t played with before.”

Players are optimistic about the upcoming season.

“I think the team is going to be just as good as we were last year, and we will have some juniors that will be able to fill some holes that we are having, so I think we will be pretty good,” Blakesley said.

The first game is March 29 against Winfield.

Catcher Gavin Payne (10) hits as the varsity team gathers around waiting for their turns in the batting cage. On a typical day, the team spends about 30 minutes in the cage. Photo by Maddy Foy