Black and Gold Issue 6 November 23, 2021

THE BLACK AND GOLD "HAPPY THANKSGIVING!" NOVEMBER 23, 2021

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VOLUME I: ISSUE 6

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWS SOURCE OF BUCHANAN COUNTY R-IV

Newspaper Staff Members: Mekayla Boydston

Helaina Geoffroy

Abigail Miller

Tricia Simpson

DEKALB COOKS NOURISH SCHOOL COMMUNITY

BY HELAINA GEOFFROY To run a school, you need teachers, custodians, a principal, a board of education, and physical activity directors. But, what else? You need cooks.

Some students don’t have as much food as others at home, so going to school helps them get what they need.

Or some do physical activities and need the proper nutrients, but, most common is all humans need to eat.

Especially when sitting in a classroom all day.

Pictured: Gayle Mayhew and Angie Hall Photo credit: Helaina Geoffroy

Gayle Mayhew and Angie Hall are the cooks at De Kalb High School. Every day they show up to school at 5:30 am to get breakfast, lunch, the entree salad, and the salad bar ready for up to 120 people.

Gayle started working at De Kalb 14 years ago“I wanted to work at the school. I like being around the kids. I cooked a lot when I was at home. My mom was a stay-at-home mom, and she cooked a lot, so I learned to do that. I guess it’s just my thing,” Gayle recalled.

Angie started working in 2018. Both have always had a passion for cooking and working as a team. “It takes a lot of teamwork and a lot of prep, and the ability to think on your feet,” stated Angie.

Students coming to school with a good attitude leaves a mark on the cooks. Without the cooks at school making our meals, we couldn’t get the right antioxidants and nutrients we need to support our health. The next time you pick up your breakfast or lunch tray, be sure to thank Gayle and Angie for all their hard work.

Pictured: Gayle Mayhew Photo credit: Tricia Simpson

SPANISH WORD OF THE WEEK

pavo Definition: turkey

Use it in a Sentence:

El pavo es delicioso.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE CHEER SQUAD Carli Browning Carli Browning started cheering in 7th grade because “When I was little I would come to the games and watch the cheerleaders and I liked what they did.” Carli’s favorite part about cheer is “Going to the games and supporting the sports.” Carli’s advice for girls who want to start cheering is “If you don’t make it the first time, do not give up because it gets easier.” Carli would recommend girls to start cheering because you never know and she has always enjoyed it.

Natalyn Killoren Natalyn Killoren started cheering in 7th grade because “My sister did it in high school and I knew I wasn’t gonna play any other sports and I wanted to go to all the games.”

Natalyn’s favorite part about cheer is stunting and homecoming. Natalyn’s advice for girls who would want to start cheering is “Try it in 7th grade or freshman year because if you don’t play any sports and want to go to the games, you can.” She also wanted to add “It’s nice not having to pick out my clothes on Fridays because you get to wear your cheer uniforms.

Kalyn Hartman

Kalyn Hartman started cheering in 7th grade because “It looks fun and I wanted to go to the football games.” Kalyn’s favorite part about cheer is the friends you make through it.” Kalyn’s advice for girls who would want to start cheering is “Be confident in tryouts.”

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE CHEER SQUAD Rylie Johnson Rylie Johnson started cheering in middle school because “I thought it would be fun.” Rylie’s favorite part about cheer is the stunting.” Rylie’s advice for girls who would want to start cheering is “If you’re going to do it in high school, make sure you can do the splits for tryouts.”

Tori Hawk Pictured Left to Right: Tori Hawk, Rylie Johnson

Tori Hawk started cheering in 7th grade because “I did dance for 5 years and I was like send it.” Tori’s favorite part about cheer is the memories. Tori is glad she joined cheer because “I knew what I was doing.”

Harlie Hall Harlie Hall started cheering in 7th grade because “I like going to the sports games.” Harlie’s favorite part about cheer is the stunting.” Harlie’s advice for girls who would want to start cheering is “If you’re gonna do it make sure you come in being able to learn the cheers.”

Lainie Vogan Lainie Vogan started cheering her freshman year because “It was another extracurricular activity.”

Lainie’s favorite part about cheer is “Hanging out with my friends.” Lainie’s advice for girls who would want to start cheer is “Be willing to put in the time to learn the cheers, and be a good role model.

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

Pictured Left to Right: Harlie Hall, Lainie Vogan

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE CHEER SQUAD Lauren Marriott Izzy Bowen started cheering freshman year because “I wanted to try it out.” Izzy’s favorite part about cheer is “Having fun with everyone on the cheer team and watching the boys play football,” Izzy is glad she joined because it has been fun.

Izzy Bowen Lauren Marriott started cheering in 7th grade because “I thought it was cool and I wanted to be a cheerleader since I was 3.” Lauren’s favorite part about cheer is “The adrenaline rush you get when you’re up in a stunt.” Lauren’s glad she joined cheer because “We’ve grown to be a great team.”

De Kalb's Thanksgiving Favorites

Rolls 10.3%

Pictured Left to Right: Lauren Marriott, Izzy Bowen

Turkey 12%

Ham 13.9%

Pumpkin Pie 15.5%

Greenbean Casserole 2.6%

Stuffing 8.6%

Mac n Cheese 9.5% Cranberry Sauce 2.6%

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

Sweet Potatoes 4.3% Mashed Potatoes 18.9% PAGE | 04

THANKSGIVING IS GETTING REAL

BY ABIGAIL MILLER Most of us just assume Thanksgiving was created when the pilgrims came and had a big Thanksgiving feast with the Native Americans, and they all stood around and sang Kumbaya. But is that actually what happened?

The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 and it was celebrated by the Plymouth colonies and the Wampanoag Indians. “The Indians usually had a celebration for the end of harvest season if they had a good harvest,” says Mr. Wardlow.

Pictured: Mr. Wardlow Photo Credits: Abigail Miller

“The Indian story of Thanksgiving was that the Plymouth colony did not have enough food to feed its colonists, so the Indians gave them seeds and taught them how to fish and helped them translate. In 1621, they had the great harvest, and the colonists invited the Indians over for a three day celebration,” says Mr. Wardlow.

Since then, a lot has changed. For example, there are now even Thanksgiving TV dinners. “In 1953, they had tons of leftover turkey and they needed something to do with it, so the first Swanson brand of TV dinner was produced in the United States a Thanksgiving meal,” says Mr. Wardlow

Thanksgiving is somewhat how it was told to be, but it didn't become common practice to celebrate it until the late 1660s.

If you would like to know more on Thanksgiving, you can ask a history teacher near you.

BRAYDEN BOWEN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK De Kalb has students who never quit reading, and one of those students is sophomore Brayden Bowen. If you see Brayden, he will most likely be reading or carrying a book around. This week he is reading Iron Gold by Pierce Brown. Brayden is on chapter 6, and so far he would recommend the book to other readers because “It depends on your taste, it’s a lot of gore. It’s not like Harry Potter, but I like it. Brayden also gave a note about the author. “You will not like him, he does not keep any characters alive.”

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

Pictured: Brayden Bowen Photo Credit: Tricia Simpson

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Lunch Menu Monday, Nov. 29 Cheeseburger Pictured: Junior Rylie Johnson, Sophomore Rachel Reagan, 7th grader Thomas Gunter, Vicki Sampson

Pictured: Cooper Wachtel, Kayln Hartman

Photo Credits: Mr. Lawson

De Kalb Students of the Month Pay it Forward at Golden Oldies Luncheon By: Helaina Geoffroy About ⅓ of the community members are elders. They know the town and the people really well, and all have most likely have done what they could to make it a better place for the new generations to come. Every once in a while, the rest of us in the community like to show our thanks to these community members.

Every month three students get selected as student of the month, one from middle school, one underclassman, and one upperclassman. The September students of the month were middle schooler Cooper Wachtel, Underclassman Kayln Hartman, and Upperclassman Natalyn Killoren.

October students of the month were Middle Schooler Thomas Gunter, Underclassman Rachel Raegen, and Upperclassman Rylie Johnson.

Once a month after the students are selected, they also volunteer to serve lunch to the community members at the Dekalb Community Center. Golden Oldies is where some different people come, help out, and serve food to the local elderly citizens. According to Sophomore Kayln Hartman, “It is fun to see all the people and see them visit with each other. And a great experience.” As Thomas Gunter recalls, “It was a little awkward not knowing some of the people, but, it was a really good experience.”

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

Tuesday, Nov. 30 Chedda-Toni Wednesday, Dec. 1 Meatloaf

Thursday, Dec. 2 Chicken and Waffles

Friday, Dec. 3 Pepperoni Pizza

Monday, Dec. 6 Chili Dog

Tuesday, Dec. 7 Pork Tacos Wednesday, Dec. 8 Chicken Patty

Thursday, Dec. 9 Super Nachos

Friday, Dec. 10 Pepperoni Pizza PAGE | 06

Pictured: The De Kalb High School Band

Photo Credits: Mekayla Boydston

The De Kalb Band's Haunted Halloween By: Helaina Geoffroy On Saturday, October 15th, the De Kalb Band started their eventful day with the Haunted Hustle 5K they have used as a fundraising opportunity for around 6 years, and then soon after went to Atchison to participate in the annual Halloween parade.

Pictured: Mrs.King

Mrs. Angie King has put together the 5K for at least six years.

Every year we get a good amount of runners, even in the cold as we had on this year’s event day. As Mrs. King describes it, “People are willing to come to participate, sometimes more than purchasing items from a fundraiser.

It’s good to get people out and together instead of just selling things.” There were approximately 45 participants at the 5K, better than the previous year due to Covid.

Later that afternoon, The band participated in the Atchison Halloween parade. The high school band, Colorguard, and three 6th graders, who carried the banner, participated. The best and most surprising part was seeing the Benedictine band standing and cheering for the De Kalb Band and shouting “GO, Tuba!” or “Go, Trumpet!” “The hardest part of the 5k was "making sure everything was organized and making sure I hadn’t forgotten things [.....]. And the hardest part of the parade was just the endurance for the students, to be able to march and play for that long,” says Mrs.King.

Pictured: Vicki Sampson

Pictured: Cole Kovac and Coral Kovac NOVEMBER 23, 2021

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USING YOUR VOICE

BY ABIGAIL MILLER

For some of us, the last thing we want to do is get up in front of people and speak, but it's an important skill to have and to use. “Public speaking is a skill all students and all people have to have throughout their lives,” says Mr. Medsker.

Public speaking is scary, but three of our students here at De Kalb were brave enough to do it in the Area 1 FFA fall speaking contest. The three students are Rebekah Gunter, Olivia Fisher, and Carissa Martin. Each girl did their own topics: Rebekah spoke about teaching AG, Olivia spoke about pet breeders, and Carissa spoke about MIssouri soil and water conservation.

Rebekah discussed AG student Projects and how AG teachers can help. This speech got her 1st place in area, which qualified her for districts.

“They started by announcing who got third then worked their way up the list. Then they said second, and they hadn't said my name yet, and I was shaking my head and laughing.

Mr. Medsker was laughing, and then I gasped when they said I got first,” recalls Rebekah Gunter.

Pictured: Mr. Medsker

Pictured: Rebekah Gunter

Knowing how to speak publicly is a skill we should all learn to be good at it even if we don't use it in front of a big group and we only need it to talk to new people. If you have any questions about the Area 1 speaking contest or about any AG events you can talk to Mr. Medsker down at the Ag building.

Quote of the week brought to you by Brenna Bowen:

"I just wanna go home!"

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

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NOVEMBER 22, 2021

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