Beak
Friday, April 8, 2016
‘n’
Eye
! E V I T I S O P BE
It can change your life page 8
West High School
3505 W Locust St.
Davenport, Iowa 52806
Vol. 56 Issue 3
news
Students have been rehearsing for weeks to bring the musical “Guys and Dolls” to the West High stage. Large sets and lively music will help capture the feel of this 1950s’ classic.The show will be at 7 p.m. April 8-9 and at 2 p.m. April 10.
The Davenport School Board voted to close JB Young K-8 School at the end of this school year in order to cut $1.5 million from the budget.
Budget woes force school closing By Kate Kealey Reporter
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here has been a lot of talk about the Davenport District closing the smallest intermediate school in the district, JB Young. It is now official that after this school year JB Young, which serves K-8 grades, will be closing due to low enrollment and budget problems. The $1.5 million savings from the closing will go toward a $3 to 5 million budget deficit due to a predicted 2 percent increase in state funding and rising school costs. The closing however will help keep class sizes from getting bigger and teachers from losing their jobs. JB Young is a K - 8th grade school with only 308 students, which is one-third of its capacity. The students at JB would be moved to different schools next year. The elementary children would be moved to Madison and Jefferson and for the intermediate schoolers they would be assigned to schools like Sudlow, Smart, and Williams. Superintendent Arthur Tate said he wants
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impacted that much because there is space in to make the transition as easy as possible. the classrooms. “If the families would like their child to Tate proposed that the school board apgo to a different school that is not in their prove other changes to next year’s budboundaries, they have the option to enroll anywhere within the district and we will help get. Department budgets would be cut 10 percent, class sizes in elementary, make it possible.” A lot of “No teachers will intermediate, and high schools parents are worried about would increase, and $1.7 million the instability of moving be losing their would be taken from the district’s their children to an unfamil- jobs; they will health insurance reserve fund. iar school. Superintendent Tate said be assigned to another building Other cost cutting measures that the building could be include reducing copier expenses used for a lot of different whenever there $71,000, early retirement savings things. is a job open$696,000, administrative reducCommunity listening sesing, and the JB tions $300,000, and increasing the sions were held and the teachers will get teacher-student ratio at intermedilast one was Feb. 28 The ate and high schools $600,000. goal is to just listen to what the first pick.” Tate the people think is the best —Supt. Tate plans to take $2.7 million from thing is for the community. the district’s mandatory reserve When asked about teachfund, which is against state law, in order to ers, Tate said, “No teachers will be losing avoid cutting programs. their jobs; they will be assigned to another Board members said they hate to make building whenever there is a job opening, large budget cuts year after year. They will and the JB teachers will get the first pick.” vote on the $181 million budget on April 11. Tate also said that class sizes won’t be
‘Guys and Dolls’ portrays ‘taking risks on love’ By Andrew Lord Reporter Mark your calendars--West Falcon Theatre will perform the musical Guys and Dolls att 7 p.m. April 8-9 and 2:30 p.m. April 10. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls truly is a classic show. The premiere on Broadway was in 1950. It ran a total of 1,200 performances and even won a Tony for Best Musical. Director Kristen Koski said the musical focuses on deciding what is important in life.. “Guys and Dolls is a musical about taking risks on love. Some take a risk by choosing love where it’s least expected. Oth-
ers take a risk by just investing more than they really wanted to. I think it teaches us to find what’s really important in life.” Koski said she loves big productions. “I love directing musicals because they’re so incredibly theatrical. The large cast and moving sets and costume changes require big, bold choices.” The cast members of Guys and Dolls said they are excited about their roles in the show. Olivia Frick, who plays one of the female lead rolls Adelade, said that working on the show is such a joy, and she loves to sing in the musical because the songs are so catchy. Adelaide’s love interest--Nathan Detroit
beak ‘n’ eye News Editor Kate Kealey Focus Editor Andrew Lord Feature Editors Cory Prather Sports Editor Chay White
played by Michael Trettin--also said that he loves the songs in this musical and that the plot is very intriguing. He said this is his favorite musical he has worked on at West. One of the Hot Box girls Emilie Santarsieri says that the musical is very retro and the other people in the cast are so awesome. One of the crapshooter gamblers, Rolando Gonzales, said, “The cast of the musical is full of fun and energetic people and I am so glad that I auditioned.” Everyone working on the musical is so excited for the curtains to open on April 8. This is Koski’s first musical at West and she said she is so glad to be here.
The Beak ‘n’ Eye is published four times a year by the students of West High School, 3505 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52804. The content is produced by students, and it does not represent the views of the Davenport school district or its employees. The Beak ‘n’ Eye is an open forum and welcomes signed letters to the editor. We are a member of the Iowa High School Press Association. Also visit WHSToday.com
Voice Editor Kelly Swanerdt Reporters Emma Bernick, Tyler Rhoades Adviser Steve Lyle
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April 9, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
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feature
Deadly Facts
Shootings are a growing concern in the Quad Cities By Tyler Rhoades Reporter
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un violence in the United States overall has declined rapidly, but what about in your local area? Shootings and shots fired incidents in Davenport are not uncommon for the community. Over the summer of 2015 there were a reported of at least 2 shots fired incidents every week for the residents of Davenport. On March 13, 2016 there was a shots fired incident on 11th Street and Ripley. The week before, a person was shot near Clark Street. Since Jan. 1, Davenport police have investigated 43 incidents of shots fired. So what is being done to stop the shootings? Gun safety is a major law in states everywhere but most importantly in states with concealed carry laws, which allow a person to carry a licensed gun at the age of 21. The shots fired incidents that appear to happen in Davenport are happening mostly at random and sporadic times. Every day guns are bought and nine people under the age of 21 die from them on a daily basis. Guns and other firearms were 38% of the suicides that took place to people under 21 in 2010. You can buy a handgun in certain states at
the age of 18 and you can buy a rifle in some at only the age of 14. Even though you have to be 18 in certain states to buy a gun, in Iowa you have to be 21 so how are the teens and young adults getting these guns in the first place? There are studies that have shown that most purchases of guns that are sold to the kids are illegal and under the table. You would think that they would take their parents gun but not every household has a firearm in the house. Studies show that more kids will buy a gun illegally then taking their parents. Even though the federal law prohibits firearm dealers from selling to anyone under 18, you still have the people who will sell to young adults and teenagers to get more money out of them. Gun safety is a major issue and you should know what to do in the situation when someone has an illegal firearm. The Davenport shootings were a major issue in the summer of 2015 and something needed to stop them from happening. Most of the shots fired incidents that were reported did not have casualities and were only kids or random people shooting at each other or at something. Davenport ratings have gone down hill and was ranked in the top 5 worst places to
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live in out of the state of Iowa, according to a survey done by the state. To make Davenport a safer and better place, police say to always report what happened at the scene of the crime if you are a witness or know any information. Local police officers state “I think the that in cases where shootings are there are shots fired, they try there best crazy... people to identify the type of gun and who it need to think is to make sure that they cannot put other about those in danger around you...” people again. The hardest thing is to find someone who shot and fled the scene with nobody getting harmed because the only thing that they can go off is if they find a bullet and eye witnesses. If you see the incident happen, remember to call 911 always. Churches and United Neighbors have met to dicuss solutions to the problem. There are many different things that you can do to try and get the shooting rates down. Parents should talk with their kids about what can happen to them if they are the ones in the situation that can get them put pages by Tyler Rhoades
in jail or sent away from a long time. Parents should make it aware to their families about the consequences that come with actions you take and that you always need to be smart about what you do and don’t do. Communities that come together and try and make the effort to stop what is bringing them down can get back up and work towards being a place where you do want to live and not be afraid to walk outside. Freshman A’Brianna Bogan said her mother is thinking about moving to a more safer and secure area due to the shootings in their neighborhood. “I think the shootings are crazy and really dumb because people need to think about those around you and how it affects them,” Bogan said. The Davenport Police Department had shootings that were mostly reported in the summer time, and is that a coincidence? Tensions get higher and you are most likely to do something not very smart when you are out with your friends and summertime is one for those times. To protect yourself from a situation where you feel in danger, always pick the phone up and contact the police or authorities. You never know when you could in the wrong place at the wrong time.
According to CDC in 2014: Firearm deaths in Iowa: 239 Rate: 7.4 Firearm deaths in the U.S. 33,390 Rate: 10.2 (Death rate is the number of deaths per 100,000 people.) 2013, 10 states with the highest firearm age-adjusted death rates were (highlow): 1. Alaska 19.8 2. Louisiana 19.3 3. Mississippi 17.8 4. Alabama 17.6 5. Arkansas 16.8 6. Wyoming 16.7 7. Montana 16.7 8. Oklahoma 16.5 9. New Mexico 15.5 10. Tennessee 15.4 10 states with the lowest firearm ageadjusted death rates (low-high): 1. Hawaii 2.6 2. Massachusetts 3.1 3. New York 4.2 4. Connecticut 4.4 5. Rhode Island 5.3 6. New Jersey 5.7 7. New Hampshire 6.4 8. Minnesota 7.6 9. California 7.7 10. Iowa 8.0
• As of Dec. 23, a total of 12,942 people had been killed by gun homicides, unintentional shootings, and murder/suicides. • On an average day 36 Americans were killed by guns • Mass shooting have taken place in almost 100 metro areas. • At a rate of twice a day, someone under 18 has been shot and killed. • At least 756 American children have been killed by gunfire. • Guns now kill as many people as cars do. At a rate of 10.3 per 100,000 people. • Eight percent of gun owners own a stockpile of 10 or more weapons. • Chicago police have been taking one illegal gun off the street every 74 minutes. • There were 372 mass shootings in the US in 2015, killing 475 people and wounding 1,870. • There were 64 school shootings in 2015. • 13,286 people were killed in the US by firearms in 2015. • According to figures from the US Department of Justice and the Council on Foreign Affairs, 11,385 people died on average annually in gun matters in the US between 2001 and 2011.
To see where shots have been fired in Davenport, go to the interactive map at QCTimes.com
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April 8, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
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faces
TAKE A BREAK
Rides at amusement parks are a big favorite for vacationers.
TOP VACATION SPOTS • • • • • • • •
Steve Lyle, language arts, and his wife visited Paris to see his cousins and take in the Eiffel Tower. photos by Steve Lyle
People benefit from taking a vacation By Andrew Lord Reporter acations are essential. Whether you are tanning on the beaches of California, skiing on the slopes of Colorado or even just chilling on the couch watching your favorite Netflix series. It’s important to remember that everybody needs time away from their normal activities. according to Karen Matthews of Mind Body Center at the University of Pittsburgh. The center surveyed 1,399 participants recruited for studies on cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and other conditions, and found that leisure activities, including taking vacations, contributed to higher positive emotional levels and less depression among the participants. Other benefits include lower blood pressure and smaller waistlines. Women especially seem to benefit from taking vacations Women who vacationed less often than once every two years were more likely to suffer from depression and increased stress than women who took vacations at least twice a year. We all have hectic schedules with classes, homework, clubs, sports, and part-time
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jobs. Sometimes juggling everything we do becomes too much and we need a break to regain our balance. Parents have the same challenges with their jobs and family “After I get responsibilities. When we vacation it gives home from an opportunity reset our minds and bodies vacation I feel that are not possible rejuvenated during our regular and ready to lives. Whether you like to relax during get back to vacations, stay active, or learn, vacations work” are aspect part of our lives Vacation means something different to everyone. According to dictionary.reference. com a vacation is a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, travel, recess or holiday. There are three types of people when it comes to vacations. The first type of person wants only to relax the second type of person wants to stay busy and the third type of person likes to learn something new.
The first type of person enjoys “chilling out” while on vacations. Freshman Michelle Lam said, “My favorite part about going on vacations is to get a break from my stressful life. When I am on vacations I like to just chill out and relax. I love laying by the beach and getting a good tan. After I get home from vacation I feel rejuvenated and ready to get back to work”. The second type of person when it comes to vacations likes to do lots of thing and stay active. Whether it’s be going to amusement parks or festivals this type of person loves to be engaged. Freshmen Amber Curtis says, “When I go on vacations I like to experience new things. Florida Disney World fantastic My favorite type of vacations is when I go someplace I have never been before and stay busy.” The third type of person during vacations goes on vacations to learn new things. Junior Alleyah Melendez says, “When I go on vacations I don’t want to just sit around, I can do that anytime. I like to learn about the history and the culture of where I am at. I also like seeing thing that you wouldn’t necessarily see in Iowa.”
Children enjoy trying to catch a minnow in a trout stream near Decorah, Iowa.
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Cancun, Mexico Miami, Florida The Bahamas South Padre Island, Texas Puerto Rico Jamaica Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Cabo San Lucas, Mexico California Colorado
The tradition of Spring Break continues By Andrew Lord Reporter Spring Break is a U.S. phenomenon. Once a year for about a week you just get to sit back and relax. We can all appreciate a break from school every once and awhile. However this spring break lets try to do more than just sleep. Spring break may be an opportunity for you to catch up on some things you have wanted to do, but didn’t have time for it. Perhaps it is reading a book for enjoyment instead of a class, hanging out with friends or family, volunteering at the humane society, taking an all day or week long trip. Whatever you choose, planning can help you accomplish everything you want to do. You may have other obligations to help around the house, babysitting siblings, helping to clean the garage, or organize your room. Step 1: Set a goal Setting and maintaining a goal is the single most important thing to do when trying to be productive. With setting a goal you are going to want to make goal that you will be able to keep. For instance don’t give up something that would be really hard. Setting and maintaining goals work best when you take baby steps but at the same time one giant leap. Next make a list of things that you want to get done and then set a due date. Also instead of making just a to-do list try making a not-to-do list as well. You will be amazed of what you can achieve if you set a goal and stick with it. Step 2: Stay focused We live in a world full of infinite distractions. The first step in
staying focused is to remove anything that will distract you. When trying to stay focused you want to tackle one obstacle at a time. It is a common misconception that multitasking can make you be more productive. Think of something you want to get done then just do it. One last step in staying focused it to keep your room or workspace tidy. A messy workspace is distracting, it is beneficial to be in an environment with minimum loose objects to catch your eye. Step 3: Take care of yourself The most important step in taking care of yourself is to get as much sleep as you can preferably 8-10 hours. Being tired or sleep deprived makes you cranky, distracted, and less productive. Getting more sleep is a good thing but not when you sleep until 1 p.m. Try setting an alarm and get up right when it goes off, yeah it is spring break and you were told to get more sleep, but try going to bed at an earlier time. When you wake up and get to work, you will feel better with yourself. Next eat healthy and go for a walk or jog. One favorite quotes says, “You are one workout away from a good mood.” and that’s true. When you exercise your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that trigger a positive feeling. Think of spring break as an opportunity to rejuvenate with a purpose. Make a plan that makes sense for you lifestyle. Write it down so that you can easily follow it, completing the least liked items first. Doing things for others can give a sense of accomplishment. Volunteer to read at a daycare or nursing facility, visit a lonely relative of neighbor. Make the most of your spring break. -
April 8, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
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Should I say ‘hi’? feature
Building a supportive relationship is all about the little things
ESL teacher Amanda Schwartzhoff greets a student by her door. photo by Steve Lyle
Thinking positively helps the mind and body ‘Positive thinkers really are individuals who recognize both the bright side and the negative, but they choose to focus their energy and time on the side that’s going to promote the most positive outcome.’
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By Emma Bernick Reporter
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ife is like a rollercoaster, and all of us are just along for the ride. Some of us get to the point where we ask ourselves: what is the point of trying to stay positive? Is it really worth it? The answer is yes. Positivity can not only improve the way you feel, but it can actually improve your physical health. We often think of negativity causing depression or anxiety, but according to a University of Michigan study, it can actually decrease our lifespan. Poorly managed hostility is also related to many health conditions, such as; hypertension, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders, and infection. Research from Stanford University shows that the physical stress of negativity actually wears down your organs. So if you are mad at boyfriend or your boss, and you think about it 40 times a day,
then that is 40 times a day where your body gets a jolt of adrenaline-which has a wearing down effect on the organs of your body. Being positive is more helpful than you may have thought. So how can you improve your improve positivity? It’s not like you can just wake up one day and be happy in a land full of sunshine. It takes a little work to get rid of your negative habits. An easy way to start is through forgiveness. The Stanford Forgiveness project trained 260 adults in a six-week course on forgiveness. At the end of the trial, 70 percent of them of them reported a decrease in their feelings being hurt. Forgiveness feels like a weight being lifted of your chest, and it is a good way to start. Another way is to try to think more positively. See if you can catch yourself judging others, complaining or criticizing yourself. Every time you think something negative, think of two things positively. It may sound
annoying, but it actually works. Ever heard of the self-fulfilling prophecy by sociologist Robert Merton? It’s the idea that if you go into something thinking positively, then it will work out better than you had planned, but if you go into something thinking about it negatively, then it won’t go very well. So, be optimistic and keep an open mind. It really does help. Also, remember that not every single day is going to be perfect. Try to be a realistic optimist. Positivity expert Joffery Suprina says, “Positive thinkers really are individuals who recognize both the bright side and the negative, but they choose to focus their energy and time on the side that’s going to promote the most positive outcome.” So try not to focus on all the bad things-that stress can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Focus on the good things so you will feel better and will cherish them while they last. -
In some classrooms you can feel the chill, and it has nothing to do with the temperature. The students act cold, bored and unresponsive to each other. Although there may be several reasons for the students’ disengagement, most classrooms could be warm and supportive if students practiced good manners and signs of respect. For example, saying “please” and “thank you” are tiny words, but they are as precious as gold when building a supportive relationship. So is saying “I’m sorry” when you have offended someone to keep the harmony between you. When people talk, turn and face them to show that you are listening. When they finish, offer positive feedback, such as saying, “That’s a good idea, Kayla.” Addressing people by name increases the personal connection. Avoid feedback that can harm the support you are trying to build. Stop being sarcastic. Stop saying put-downs, even if said as a joke. Put-downs still do damage. So does laughing at people when they make a mistake. Also, notice your surroundings. When people seem uncomfortable, don’t ignore them; ask if something is wrong. If they need help, offer it, such as a sheet of paper if they are without one. These little things go a long way to show that you care for others. They will feel better, and the energy of the room will change. Most likely, they will start doing the same things in return. People will open up and be more themselves. It’s not that hard to build a positive classroom environment, but it’s up to you to do it-not just the teacher. It’s as easy as saying “Hi, what’s your name?” to the person seated next to you.
April 8, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
9
focus
Anyone can get hacked— from the creator of Facebook to a freshman in high school Journalism students demonstrate how easy it is to look over the shoulder to steal information. photo illustration by Cory Prather
Don’t be fooled— Facebook security isn’t By Cory Prather Reporter
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ou think your Facebook account is safe warning you can get hacked at anytime from a hacker. You better think twice about that because your account could be hacked at anytime. Over 600,000 Facebook accounts are hacked into everyday. A CNN reporter did a story about facebook getting hacked. Hackers can even hack into the creator of Facebook himself Mark Zuckerbergs. The hacker hacked Mark’s account on just a regular day just an out of knowhere event that’s how it can happen. Mark’s account by the hacker posting a video on Mark’s page. Mark said that the hackers post from his account couldn’t be seen because that person wasn’t a friend on his friends list. Once facebook responded to the message followed by the video and the were surprised and knew that they needed to get on the situation quick. By next thursday the problem was fixed all through out Facebook. But then over the weekend the video started making headlines on different tech blogs. The hacker is from the city of Yatta and
has been looking for work for over two years ,but in Yatta it is hard to find a job due to the 22% unemployment rate. The hacker could of put the hacking method that he used on to the internet. By sending it to public black hat sites and make double the money he would make working for Facebook but the hacker was a good man and he didn’t really like dealing with the black hat programing. There are websites called white hats where people find problems with the big website and get paid for finding these problems in the system and then report them. The hacker is said to be a Palestinian man who hacked into one of the biggest websites in the world with a five-year old laptop with a broken battery and broken keys. He was hoping that finding the problem would led to Facebook giving him a big check that he needed. Security researcher Marc Maiffret wanted to pay him the money that Facebook didn’t give the hacker, so Maiffret got more than $8,800 by the early morning of Tuesday. It really gave security researchers a big wake up call that they wanted to say thanks you to all the effort they put into finding these problems. Facebook security may not always protect
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you from hackers hacking into you account people need to make sure that they use a safe and secure password for there Facebook account. People want to make a one of a kind password to make sure that they keep their Facebook secure and lockdown. Many people when they their account Over 600,000 get hacked start to worry about what the people get person that hacked their Facetheir account can do. is many things book acoount There that can happen to hacked every- your account when it is hacked. day Freshman Lauren Oostendorp said she was hacked recently. “I was worried when my Facebook account got hacked because I had information about who I liked on Facebook, and I didn’t know what to do I asked my friends what I should do. I knew it was hacked because whenever I tried to log into my Facebook, it said that I was signed in on another computer. So I made a new account to find out if my account as made any recent post lately and pages by Cory Prather
as safe as you may think it didn’t so I was relived. Then I called Facebook services and told them that my account had been hacked and I didn’t know what to do so they took care of the problem by deleting my account off Facebook.” Lauren was never able to figure out who hacked into her account even though she didn’t share her password with anybody, but the hacker could have guessed her password by trying different types of common passwords that people would use. John Brosius a computer teacher at West, gave his opinion of hacking into Facebook accounts. “That it is wrong and nobody should be hacking into someone’s private information,” he said. “There are also many different way that you can prevent this from happening to you.” John Brosius shared some tips so your account wouldn’t get hacked. First, pick an in-depth password by using numbers and using up to 8 characters or more. However, when you have developers like Microsoft you will have backdoors to get in, then an indepth password won’t help you that much. Also you would like to keep your information locked up. Making sure that you don’t let anyone know your password you
can also make it to where everytime you click on the Facebook app on your phone you automatically sign in. So you won’t need to remember your password. Many people think that they are completely safe from anyone hacking into their Facebook account because they think that Facebook can protect them from that happening but. Hackers can find different types of methods to hack into anything that even the Facebook security people don’t know. You must be careful because once they are in, they can do whatever they want. Consequently, you must keep you passwords and other information hidden from people who may try to sabatoge you. So the best way to defend you account is to have it automatically log you into your facebook account so you can forget about putting your password in. Also log out everytime that you’re on a public computer so people can’t get a hold of it by just turning on the computer and going to Facebook. Make sure you keep everything secure so you can prevent any kind of hankering to your account.
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How to sign up safely
When sighning up for your facebook account there are some things you may need to know. • Make sure you have a email that you use for everything not just facebook • Make sure your password is something only you would know • Make sure you use all real information that way you wont forget it if its real • Make your setting to where you atomatically sign in if your on your moble divice • Dont let anybody else use your account for anymeans they could get you in trouble
Picking a password You want to make sure that you pick the best safe and secure password you can get. • You want to pick a kind long password something that isnt so simple • You want to make sure that you remember your password so dont make it really long and have it be something you will forget • Make it a one of a kind password to where you wont forget it • You can make your password from 6-8 characters or even you can go up to 64 characters • Make sure you do share your password with anyone it is the key to your Facebook account. April 8, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
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sports
“In high school we actually name our athletes ‘student’ athletes, because they are students first.” –Director of Athletics Kevin Peterson
Athletes vs. Academics
How West keeps the balance
Cory Prather, freshman, correctly balances school and basketball. Photos by Cha White
By Cha White Reporter
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here’s a lot of controversy surrounding the subject of high school athletes and their education. Some believe that the stereotype of a “dumb-jock” might actually be true. While others believe that athletes are some of the best academic scholars in high school. In reality, it really depends on the school, the athlete, and what’s being done to help them achieve their full potential. According to Childtrends.org and their studies, they believe that high school athletes grades are more exceptional than non-athletes. Their dropout and discipline referrals percentages have decreased, and athletes have a higher chance of graduating. Also, according to Jay P. Greene and Dan Bowens’ examination of this problem at the high schools in Ohio, they have found that most high schools dedicate majority of their time and energy to helping athletes succeed. Not only sport wise, but also academically. They concluded that the increase in schools overall test scores is associated with an athlete’s athletic participation and success. The better the athlete does on the field, the better they do in the classroom. Research found at Michigan State University shows that students who engaged in school sports did 10 percent better in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies than the average non-athlete, and girls did even better. According to Gorman’s research, the average GPA for a male student athlete is 2.90, and 3.10 for a female. As stated by Gorman in her article “A High School Athlete’s GPA Vs. Average High School Student’s GPA,” almost 60 percent of the nation’s high school students participate in a school sport according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in 2009. “Sports require time and energy, but surprisingly that doesn’t come at the cost of academic performance.” concludes Gorman. “In high school we actually name our athletes student athletes, because they are students first.”, emphasizes the director of athletics Kevin Peterson. “So, in my mind it is important that the student athlete takes care of their business in the classroom before on the field or in the gym.” Most people don’t understand just how difficult it is to be an athlete in today’s’ world. But, luckily West isn’t like other high schools. The difference between our school and others? Well, West doesn’t live up to the stereotype of “dumb-jocks”. Our school goes out of their way to prove that stereotype wrong. The problem isn’t the athletes. According to Peterson, “I think a lot of times failing students aren’t necessarily failing because they’re not smart enough for that class or they’re incompetent in that area. I think
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more times than not it is the lack of finishing homework, or doing the homework, or rushing through the homework. So, I think the biggest thing is that they have to work on their time management skills, because they do have a lot on their plate with athletics and four classes. Thats a lot of work, especially for teenagers. That’s my biggest suggestion, find different ways to manage their time so they can get everything done.” So, basically what Mr. Peterson is saying is that all athletes need to do is find a way to balance their life between athletics and academics. In Iowa there is something called the ‘Eligibility Rule’. The eligibility rule is sometimes referred to as the ‘No pass, No play’ rule. Basically when a student athlete gets an F on their end of the term report card, they are marked ineligible for 30 days from that grading term until the 30 days of the sport they were planning on playing has taken place. “So, say they become ineligible in the middle of football. If the 30 days doesn’t end pages by Cha White
by the time football is over then it carries on to basketball.”, explain Peterson. The only thing he doesn’t really agree on is that the student athlete can have an F on their midterms and still play. According to Peterson, West had 13 ineligible students for the winter sports. 13 student athletes that were benched for not being able to keep their grades up. But, it’s not their fault! Being a student and an athlete is hard. But here at West, there is help for everyone. So, what Peterson has created is a study table. Each week Peterson and his fellow athletic associates in the Athletics Office check the grades of each student athlete. If someone has a D or lower, he emails their coach and says that so-and-so has to be at Wednesday’s study table from 2:15pm3:15pm in the library. That student athlete has to continue to go to that study table until their failing grade is at a C or higher. If by the end of the term they’re still failing that
class, then their 30 day ineligibility starts. There are other opportunities at West to help the student athletes keep their grades up, too. Most coaches have set up their own study tables to have help their athletes. Also, some coaches even make their athletes spend the first 30 minutes of practice working on homework or studying for their classes. And if none of that helps you, Mike Garnica and the other associate principals have set up a tutoring program for all students, including but not limited to athletes. Jeanne Goodes also offers several suggestions in her article, “Tips for Helping Teens Balance School and Sport.” A good way to get that perfect balance is to get organized and stay organized. Writing down all your assignment deadlines, and games/practices is a great way to remember what you have to do so you don’t get overwhelmed. Getting organized also lets you be able to plan your week out right, without having to worry about if you’re going to have time or not. “Plan your week; don’t let your week plan you,” Goodes notes. “Plan how you will study and when you will study.” Another way is to not procrastinate and to use your weekends wisely. So, stop procrastinating and don’t get behind. If possible get ahead, because wouldn’t you rather be ahead with no worries instead of behind with the weight of the world on your shoulders? West doesn’t live up to the stereotype of a “dumb-jock.” Our school does so much to help our student athletes achieve as much as they possibly can. You also know a few tricks of the trade to help yourself if you were to ever find yourself failing. As Peterson says, “I do think that athletics is a good tool to help with academics. Not only from a physical standpoint, but a mental standpoint.” -
Tanner Mecham,12, GPA 3.49 How do you manage sports and school? Good use of time management. When you’re giving free time in a class, use that free time for other classes. I don’t get everything done at home. Like, I’ll have to finish up a Physics project or a paper for AP English in other classes when I have free time. I don’t waste that time on my phone or anything, When do you find time to study? Usually after I finish all my homework. Which would be like around 10, and then I’ll study for tests. Or I’ll again, utilize that free time in other classes to study for other tests. Have you run into any problems? Oh my gosh yes! Sometimes, I forget about my homework. Sometimes I have poor time management skills. I’ll play tennis too long, or I’ll be out doing other activities for too long. And I’d just forget.
Keaton Rommel,12, GPA 3.9 How do you manage sports and school? I put my mind to the work, basically. You have to do well in school, to do well in sports. Which is basically how I see it. If you fail a class, you’re going to be done. And that looks bad on you, and everyone else. So, I manage my time pretty well. When do you find time to study? Whenever. I’ve had a lot of nights where I’m up to 2-3 o’clock in the morning. Studying, and stuff like that. I really don’t like that, but it has to be done. Have you run into any problems? Yeah! I’ve had times where I’m stressing at the last minute to turn in a paper or turn in an assignment, and stuff like that. So, yeah. I’ve run into problems like that. April 8, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
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Why use your cell phone when you can use your brain?
voice
MCT Media Services
OUR VIEW
Violence has no place at rallies
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n recent news, there has been a lot of buzz about the violence at recent rallies for presidential candidate Donald Trump. On March 11 the debacle in North Carolina at a rally was pure chaos. People who were supporting Trump soon came into conflict with protesters. In one case, one of the Trump supporters was shown to have sucker-punched a protester at the event. That same supporter was charged with assault after videos proved the action on camera. Day in and day out, everyone hears about Trump being such a big deal, but why are we making him one? We are feeding his ego. Does Donald Trump really care about the people who are hurt on both sides, or does he simply just want the attention that it brings. Trump has always said how he “loves our people” and how much he “loves every state”, but let’s not forget about when he arrogantly said that Iowans were “stupid.” Clearly he only enjoys the spotlight and attention that comes along with being a candidate, and will do whatever it takes to be on
everyone’s side. What will we expect from him if he ends up in office? Trump didn’t even attempt to stop the violence in North Carolina, and in a way, even encouraged it. He saw a protestor and said, “Get him, and beat the crap out of him. I’ll pay for the legal fees.” In St. Louis, 31 people were arrested at a rally for those same kinds of outbursts and disagreements between supporters and protesters. He doesn’t care about finding peace and prosperity, common ground or most importantly, unifying America. He needs to be more open to everyone voting’s points of view. A true leader would not condone violence, but would stimulate open discussions, and respect that everyone has different opinions. Trump only says “get them out.” Does this show good qualities of someone who could be in charge of not one party, but of all Americans? The more that we think about it, maybe we’re wrong, Trump does care … about himself.
What do you like to do when the weather is beautiful? “I like to have picnics and go on long walks and play basketball and go to VandeVeer Park with my girlfriend.” - Kenny Clay, 10
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“Go out and play football in my backyard with frineds and family. Also have grill outs with my family and play basketball at Northwest Park.” - Eric Haymond, 10
Call me crazy, but am I the only one who thinks our phones are too big of a distraction during class, even if we do claim they’re put away? Every day, kids are told to “put their phones away,” or “turn it off; this is your last warning.” But is it really their last warning? Teachers seem to think they are putting their feet down when they express the phrase “this is your last warning,” but the majority of time that is actually never their last warning. Students should not be able to use their cellphones in class. Besides being a distraction to the user, our phones also divert others’ attention during class. For example, I can’t help but notice when another student is using his or her phone next to me, because of the flashing colors and switching screens. Students just can’t multitask using their phones and listening to the teacher’s instructions without needing constant repeating; which is definitely Kelly Snawerdt annoying and disrespectful to the teacher, as well as students. We are in class to learn and prepare for the future, not to check the latest social media. Sometimes kids really have their priorities backward. Don’t get me wrong, I am certainly guilty of sometimes using my phone when I shouldn’t, but despite being biased, I know that there are kids who use their phones a lot more than I do in school. Teachers will use the whole “warning” tactic, but it still doesn’t seem to be making a difference. I would suggest we go as far as putting our phones on the teacher’s desk as soon as we enter the classroom. Sometimes we do have free time in class, but instead of using technology to talk to the person right next to us, we could make eye contact and actually start a conversation. Some feel they should have the right to use their phones in class when they please, because they would say they’re in charge of their own learning. “I feel like kids who do absolutely nothing in class, and are always on their phones, should have them taken away, but if a person uses his or her phone at the proper time, and they don’t make it an issue, they shouldn’t be punished,” said Addison Gordon. While I do agree with this statement to a certain extent, I feel the proper time to use your phone is outside the classroom.
Reported by Cory Prather
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April 8, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
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faces
‘The kid got his books slammed out of his hands and everyone was watching and making fun of him. I walked over to the student and asked if he was okay and helped pick up his books.” - Hailey Crisci
Sophomore makes a point to help others By Tyler Rhoades Reporter
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here comes a time for confrontation and when to let things go. Hailey Crisci, sophomore, shows both of the traits and knows when to use both of them. Crisci is one who likes to face problems when they happen and to push everything else aside till she figures her problem out. Hailey is one to help students when they need it as well. “I just feel for people. I’m not even sure how to explain it, but when someone comes to me I feel like I should help them and that is what I do,” she said. Not only does she just help people with problems, but she helps kids when they’re getting bullied or harassed. She is one to stick up to someone who needs some help
sticking up for themselves. “Last year, I was walking down the green building hallway, and there was these two kids and I turned my head for not even a minute because I was walking with my friends, and next thing you know the kid got his books slammed out of his hands and everyone was watching and making fun of him,” Hailey recalled. “I walked over to the student and asked if he was okay and helped pick up his books.” Even though Hailey may not know the person or what they go through everyday, she is always there for them and have built long term friendships with one of those kids. “Toward the end of third term, about to be spring break, I met these two kids and they got laughed at and called names, and when I said something to the person that was doing
it, they stopped. Since then those two people are my best friends.” Hailey said that in middle school she experienced bullying, and she wouldn’t wish it upon anyone. “I’ve had times where I was in a dark place and you know, I didn’t really have the support team that I should’ve so without a doubt, I will be that person’s shoulder to cry and make sure that they’re okay,” Hailey said. “If I was in class and I felt like someone is down, I’ll go make sure that they are okay and I will be that person so help them through whatever they are going through even though I don’t know them, because I am a nice and caring person and no one should ever have to go through it by themselves.”
Freshman has an eye for fashion design by Michael Davis Reporter There’s always the collect few of people who are so last season when it comes to trends, but you won’t find that here. Freshman Kelly Snawerdt is cut from a different cloth, or rather, a different brand. With a sustained interest in design for at least five years, Kelly finds joy in fashion. “I like talking about patterns, clothes, and trends,” she says, and is even known to sketch a few drawings whenever she can find time in her busy schedule… which includes watching TV. Her interest in design isn’t limited to pencil and paper as she also likes designing on the computer via high end programs like Photoshop. It’s safe to say she’ll stay on top of trendy brands with particular fashion favorites being Kate Spade, Von Maur, Coach, and Juicy Couture. If she will pave her own path in the fashion world remains to be seen, as she has yet to make a physical product and the designs she has sketched have all been for herself and are stashed away in her desk.
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One of freshman Kelly Snawerdt’s hobbies is fashion design. She enjoys sketching outfits on paper and on computer. photo by Michael Davis April 8, 2016 / beak ‘n’ eye
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