November 1, 2010

KODIAK NOVERBER 2O10

BILLINGS WEST HIGH SCHOOL

2201 ST. JOHN’S AVENUE

BILLINGS, MT 59102

REPEAT! BACK-TO-BACK

Congratulations to the West High Lady Bears Soccer team!

Volume 51

Issue 2

A Look Inside This Issue

Jessica Moody junior staffwritter

West High’s Lady Bear soccer team have won again!

Junior Savannah Witt, one of the team’s forwards and occasional center midfielder, made the overtime goal against Flathead that led them to the State AA Championship.

However, the struggle did not stop there.

Witt said, “My parents put me in soccer because I was overly energetic,” and she is now a valuable attribute to the team.

The girls fought with the focus on repeating as champions.

During the final game against Senior High’s Lady Broncs, the Lady Bear senior leaders kept an upbeat pace and attitude.

The rest of the team pursued their lead resulting in the winning

KODIAK Billings West High School 2201 St. John's Avenue Billings, MT 59102

Health career video chats in the health classes page 6

score of 2-0 two minutes into overtime.

Even when their bus broke

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Billings, MT Permit #88

down in the middle of the road to a Butte game, the Lady Bears hung in there and tried to have

In the championship match against the Lady Broncs, junior Rachel Hein and senior Ambriel Stein try to strip the ball from a Lady Bronc. The Lady Bears eventually won the match to repeat the feat of being AA State Champions submitted photo

fun.

Many of the players enjoyed the games against the cross town rivals Senior High Lady Broncs the most.

But junior Janell Cabrea, left outside forward, disagreed, “The

After winning the championship match against crosstown rival Senior High Lady Broncs and sealing their repeat as Montana State AA Champions, the Lady Bear soccer team takes a picture with their trophy. submitted photo

Great Falls [game] was one of the best games with a score of 9-0 because we learned some faults of our team.”

Senior Ambri Stein, a center defender, said, “I love the team.

We always have fun times!”

Junior outside midfielder Ciara Gorman told the story, “There were about 14 of us girls in the hotel elevator during the state championship … all of us jumped and [the elevator] broke,” leaving the hotel staff very upset.

“I wore a pterodactyl costume to the last practice. It was really fun,” recalls the daring Cate Hanna, sophomore and defensive midfielder.

A handful of the players favorite moment this year was dancing to some Mexicanthemed music that Coach John Dorr had decided to play.

Many of the girls are really motivated for next year’s season.

Gorman’s motivation for her soccer career here at West High, “As a senior next year, I want to try to go for the 3-peat.”

Overall, the Lady Bears won a total of 10 games and lost two: one against Senior High’s Lady Broncs with a score of 2-0 and one against CMR’s Lady Rustlers with a score of 3-2.

Football team plays in the semi finals page 12

Cross Country finishes season strong page 12

NEWS FEATURES ARTS SPORTS OPINION ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

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NEWS

Stewart and Colbert unite to restore sanity...or fear Comedy Central journalists collaborate to hold rally Andrew Eagle

sophomore staffwriter

Two well known satirists Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart decided it was finally time for America to change.

Unfortunately, they disagreed on the how.

Jon Stewart, well trusted journalist and host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, announced on September 16 that he was holding a rally in Washington D.C., a Rally to Restore Sanity.

Soon after Stewart made his announcement, Stephen Colbert, another journalist for Comedy Central and host of the Colbert Report, released news that he was going to be holding a rally as well, also in D.C., the March to Restore Fear.

The events were planned to be at exactly the same place at exactly the same time.

The rallies were held on

Stay out of detention!

New changes made to old detention policy Kaydee Oldham Copy Editor

Plenty of changes affected Billings West High School this year. Students have differing opinions on these changes.

One change that students are still adapting to is the new detention policy. Previous years at West, detention was held after school. Now it’s during students lunch periods in room 170, or in the over fill room 160.

During the 40-minute detention, students may work on homework assignments quietly. For $2.25, students are provided a sack lunch form the cafeteria. That sack lunch consists of a sandwich, vegetables and milk.

If a student decides to skip lunch detention, they will automatically receive two additional detentions.

Billings Senior High School piloted this policy two years ago and it worked. Thus far, West is having success too.

On days students were assigned after-school detention, many would skip their sixth period to avoid detention after school. This year, having it during a student’s social time causes more students to show up.

“Lunch detention is doing much better than past [after-school detention] years. Last year, only about one fourth of students would show up. This year, about three fourths of students are coming when they should. I think it pushes some freshmen to the positive end one they come just once.

There still is that select few who seems to be regulars though,” Barbara Headlee, monitor of lunch detention, mentioned.

Students seem to think that having detention during their lunch comes in more handy than after school.

Reasons include sports, driver’s education, work or other extra curricular activities they do.

Freshmen have not really been effected by this change, but others have.

“I had lunch detention once and never again will I. I learned my lesson and recognized my mistakes. I like having a social time with my friends for half an hour!” sophomore McKenzie Poulson stated.

Poulson went on to say she regrets getting detention because it was boring and too quiet.

After three detentions, students are sent to the truancy center, also known as out of school suspension.

Students can lose credit for a class if sent to detention too often, and some teachers will not let them do any make up work for credit.

If students are trying to get out of a detention and have a real excuse or reason, they should talk to their dean and arrange a new date.

“I never have detention, but if I did, I would prefer it during my lunch period and get it done and over with over after school when I get home,” sophomore Tyson Wells said.

October 30 at 3 p.m. and were aired live on Comedy Central and streamed online. The programs were also available to stream straight to various mobile devices including iPhones, iPads and Droids.

The Rally to Restore Sanity was based around the philosophy that it is time for Americans to “take it down a notch.”

The March to Keep Fear Alive however, had a different philosophy behind it. The people who attended the march go to support one of the claimed three base principles of America: “Freedom, Liberty and Fear that somebody will take our Freedom and Liberty.”

The rallies were used to make a joke about the ridiculous lengths that politicians

This touching speech at the end of the comical rally left people with something to think on; he explained why people need to stop being so absorbed with themselves and start thinking about society and other people.

The informational website stated, “We’re looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counter-productive and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn’t be the only ones that get heard.”

The main purpose of the Rally was to make a point about the sheer number of people who do not have time to take out of their busy schedules to protest things they care about and rally in support of causes.

The rallies also support being moderate with ideas, such as the “I disagree with you, but I’m pretty sure you’re not Hitler,” slogan, or the “I am not afraid of Muslims/Tea Partiers/Socialists/Immigrants/ Gun Owners/Gays… But I am afraid of spiders,” motto.

sometimes go to in order to garner peoples’ support. Another thing they hoped to reveal to be ridiculous was the large numbers of rallies that have seemingly become a political trend.

These conflicting rallies met at the National Mall in D.C. on October 30 with Jon Stewart performing the introduction and the role of straight man for this comic event.

Colbert, on the other side, played the role of a super conservative man, who just arrived from his fear bunker.

The first part of this event, which turned out to be half rally and half concert, consisted of 4TROOPS, a band consisting of four soldiers, singing the national anthem.

Right after the troops left

the stage, Colbert’s fear bunker was lifted onto the stage, and he would not leave the bunker until he was sure that people turned up for the rally.

Colbert made anyone that was there to restore sanity whisper and everyone that was there to keep fear alive were to talk spookily. The volume difference was obvious, and Colbert officially announced that he won.

After the volume contest, they had an official benediction

by Father Guido Sarducci.

Following the benediction, Sam Waterston performed a rendition of the poem “Are You Sure?” by Colbert.

Once the poem was done, and Waterston left the stage, the rally continued with Stewart trying to find out whether or not the rally was a “tremendous success or horrendous failure,” by allowing two separate journalists to each perform one of the perspectives.

The rally also contained a musical competition between Ozzy Osbourne singing Crazy Train, and Cat Stevens singing Peace Train. After the clash of music, they worked together to sing Love Train.

At the end of the rally, Jon Stewart had a moment of sincerity.

He explained to the people why exactly he had called the rally.

This touching speech at the end of the comical rally left people with something to think on; he explained why people need to stop being so absorbed with themselves and start thinking about society and other people.

And here we go again!

Students prepare to travel to D.C. in February Kendra Schaff senior staffwriter

In the beginning of February next year, Genocide and government students will travel to Washington D.C. on an educational trip.

The point of the trip is for the genocide students to see the National Holocaust Museum, but the students will have plenty of other activities.

The trip is from February 48. The students will tour of the White House, see the Senate in action and meet with our state senators, Max Baucus and Jon Tester.

Students will also able to listen to the son of a holocaust survivor speak. There is also a couple of down time days when students can shop or see the Smithsonian Museums and be a tourist.

The students also have to Skype with the school board to prove that the trip is actually educational.

Rob Stanton, World History and genocide teacher, says, “[Students should go on this trip] for the experience of exploring our government, having the experiences of personally meeting a Holocaust survivor and going through the Holocaust Museum. It will be life changing for some of them.”

Senior Megan Siroky said, “It is important [to go to D.C.] because I want to experience new things outside of Billings, Montana.”

Preparing for the trip is an educational experience in itself.

Students have to join a website to communicate with students from Kyrgyzstan, to learn about the country and what is currently going on there.

One of the topic questions

that they must discuss is, “What can youth do to prevent conflict and promote nonviolence in their communities?”

The group is planning to have a raffle of Red Lodge lift tickets, a Dillards beauty product gift bag and other various items.

Students are also able to work at Guelff mart for $10 an hour to raise money. They are also planning to sell coupon books from Herbergers to fundraise.

The trip will cost about $784 per student.

There are about 33 students and adults currently signed up.

Senior Amanda Dunlap wants to go to D.C. because, “I really wanted to go to the Holocaust museum and hang out at our nation’s capitol with my besties!”

Students get to Skype with the students from Kyrgyzstan again and a Holocaust survivor before they leave DC.

NEWS

NOVEMBER 2O1O

The hunt is on! Or is it?

Wolf population has recently led to recent political conflicts Katherine Cole

sophomore staffwriter

On August 5, Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolves were returned to the endangered species list.

Last year, Montana and Idaho removed them from the list because their numbers had reached the recovery goal of 300 wolves. At the end of 2008, an estimated 500 wolves lived in Montana. In 2009, the two states proposed wolf management programs that allowed wolves to be hunted within regulations.

In 2005, Wyoming met its minimum recovery goal, but the wolves have remained on the endangered species list.

Wolves remained protected in Wyoming because their proposition to shoot wolves on sight was rejected.

This August the judge ruled that not just an area where a species lived could be protected.

A wolf can no longer be shot because it crossed a state line.

Outside of Yellowstone National Park, the wolf population has grown an average of 19 percent since 2000. From

2008 to 2009, these numbers grew from 178 to 224 wolves; 23 wolf packs have denned this year inside of the park.

Many farmers want the wolves off of the list as they threaten wildlife, livestock and pets.

Wolves were originally introduced to Yellowstone in 1995 to balance the bison

Who cares if they are killing livestock; there are more livestock than people in Montana population, but instead they have drastically diminished the moose and elk population. This may have been part of the motivation of Montana and Idaho to support hunting wolves in the past.

Junior Danni Petak remarked that, “The growth in the population is good because it is sad to see a species die off. Who cares if they are killing livestock; there are more livestock than

people in Montana. Lowering that number truly would not matter.”

Some argue that the decline in the wolf population led to an increase in smaller predators, causing economic and ecological disruptions.

Whatever the case, wolves play an important role in the food chain.

Sophomore Dustin Scheie stated, “It is great that they put they put the wolves on the endangered species list the first time because the population was down, but if the population hasn’t decreased to a concerning number, then they shouldn’t be on it [again]. I think they are important to the ecosystem, but like all game they should be hunted as long as it is regulated.”

The first wolf hunt in Montana was held in September of 2009, killing 29 wolves and raising $325,916.

There are conflicting opinions on the hunt. Freshman Evan Quarles said, “They shouldn’t have made hunting wolves legal.”

To report a dead wolf or possible illegal activity, call 1800-TIP-MONT.

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This little piggy went for charity Nikki Sanders

junior staffwriter This year, Family Community and Career Leaders of America [FCCLA] bought a pig for a third world country.

Heifer International is a program that sends animals to third world countries to help with starvation, poverty and infertile soil. Each pig can produce up to 16 piglets a year, and with this, a family can sell offspring, breed them or eat them.

The pig cost FCCLA $120 with no extra charge for shipping. Unfortunately, the club was not allowed to send a note with the pig.

FCCLA was very excited about this opportunity to help out another country and are very proud of what they have done to help.

“We chose a pig because we love bacon,” said Jill Miller, advisor of FCCLA..

“We want to help people in foreign countries and make a difference,” mentioned junior Shawnee Jerome.

“Also, we want them to love bacon like we do,”

The Heifer program offers other packages as well such as: A dairy cow for $500, Cheeses of the World Holiday Gift Basket for $990, Gift of a Goat for $120, Pigs as Presents for $120, Gift of a Sheep $120, Knitter’s Gift Basket $480, Trio of Rabbits $60 , Flock of Chicks $20, Gift of Honeybees $30, Gift of a Llama $150, Gift of a Water Buffalo $250, Tree Seedlings $60, Gift of Gardener’s Basket $170, Gift Ark $5,000 , WiLD Gift $10,000, Gift of a Lifetime $25,000 The Ark package offers two of every animal offered.

The WiLD gift supports Women in Livestock Development, and the gift of a Lifetime goes to youth education.

All of these programs help with poverty and starvation.

Once the animal is sent the family that it goes to receives training on how to care for their animal and how to profit from it.

FCCLA does a charity event every year.

Poverty rates skyrocket in past three years One in four American children live below the poverty level Michaila Grant senior staffwriter

With the economy as bad as it has been these past few years, it is expected that there would be a high poverty rate. However, the extreme numbers that have been shown the past three years shocked almost everybody.

Poverty is defined by the government as any person who makes less than living wage in a year.

Right now, the living wage is set at $20,000 for any fourperson household, and for every

additional person in the household, the living wage increases by $3,500.

In 2008, the poverty rates hit an 11- year high with the high number of 13.2 percent of all Americans living in poverty.

In 2009, the percentage increased to a new high of 14.3 percent.

2010 rates have not been calculated but are expected to increase again.

With these numbers came the statistic that one in every four kids living in the United States today is living below the poverty

level. That makes out to about 16.7 million kids who are living in a household in poverty today.

Other statistics showed that one in seven people in the United States is living in poverty which totals about 44 million people in poverty.

Senior Alexis Schantz stated, “The number of people in poverty is astonishing. It is sad that anyone should have to live in poverty.”

Even with this definition, the number of people living below the poverty level is astonishing.

That does not include the fact that

it is almost impossible for a family of four to function on only $20,000, which means that many more people are actually in poverty right now.

With this amount of poverty also comes many people that cannot afford health insurance.

The American Public Health Association stated, “Disturbingly, the uninsured numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau represent the tip of the problem; there are another 25 million underinsured people who also receive inadequate access to care and are at risk of many of the

same outcomes as those with no coverage at all.”

This shows that poverty not only affects those who have no work at all or have no coverage but also those who do not have enough to live comfortably.

Sophomore Katelyn Hansen exclaimed, “I find it ridiculous and sad that there are really rich people and really poor people! In a country like ours that is so blessed, there should not be people who have to live in poverty.”

Many people agree with this statement, but every year the poverty rate is slowly increasing, and more and more people are being forced to live in a way that they should not have to.

FEATURES

New Teachers

Welcome to the Golden Bear family Emily Sample Copy Editor

New teachers are present at the Freshman Academy.

Rachelle Woods Ms. Rachelle Woods teaches Earth Science at the Academy in room 8. She has six years of teaching experience.

She wanted to teach so that she can share what she knows

and loves. It is also an added bonus that she gets to spend time with wonderful high schools students.

Woods looks forward to one day winning the lottery, if she ever buys a ticket, and working with the students and staff at the Academy for the rest of the year.

Volunteering opportunities abound Katie Parish Photo Editor

How many people actually volunteer?

Probably not as many as you may think. There are so many different volunteer opportunities just in the Billings area; it’s not hard to get involved.

If you are looking for something to do during the summer or after school or on the weekends, volunteering is a great option. There are many great benefits to volunteering, including college and job applications.

Counselor Kim Petersen stated, “I think volunteer[ing] is very important during high school.”

Senior Nathan Fritz said, “Its fun to work with a different group of people… people in other places of town and even those of different ages.”

Petersen continued,

“[Volunteering] is often over looked. [When] applying for jobs and colleges, [volunteering] helps you stand out.”

When colleges and businesses are looking at applications, most applicants are very similar, and one way to make a person stand out is by volunteering.

Petersen explained, “[Volunteering] just shows that you are more compassionate and want to improve your community. I think that kids [who] volunteer have a lot of personal satisfaction [and] see [the] problems of others. [Which] makes you appreciate more.”

If you go to the website www.youcanvolunteer.org, you will find many volunteer opportunities. If you click on one of the agencies, the site will give you all sort of information about that agency.

Woods said, “To laugh is to learn,” and that is how she views teaching.

Thomas Smithlin Mr. Thomas Smithlin teaches English 1 at the Academy in room 2. He has been a substitute teacher in the past. This is his first year of teaching.

“I teach because I want to be in the service of others, and so far, I have not found a better service to my community than teaching,” said Smithlin.

Smithlin looks forward to whenever “the invisible light bulb [goes] on above [his] student’s heads.”

The best moment thus far was when one of his students pointed out the irony that his Everbind Books dictionaries, which are falling apart, supply.

He also manages the clock

Elizabeth Fulton Mrs. Elizabeth Fulton teaches Algebra and Algebra Foundations at the Academy in room 7.

She comes from a family of teachers and said, “Math was always my favorite subject, and when I got to the point that I needed to think of a career and how to contribute to society as well as use math, it was clear that teaching math was what I wanted to do.”

She looks forward to know-

and scoreboard for many of the freshman and sophomore football games and is helping with the Prom planning committee.

His approach to teaching involves identifying any opportunities for growth and then serving his students’ needs accordingly.

Steven Lehman Mr. Steven Lehman teaches Algebra 1 and Geometry at the Academy in room 4. This is his 20th year of teaching.

He has a background in construction and attempts to bring those real world applications into his classroom. He also tries to model problems to help his students attain mastery.

Leh-man looks forward to building relationships with his students and watching them grow.

“I enjoy working with people and have always had a knack for explaining things,” commented Lehman.

ing her students more and observing their successes. She finds working with her students enjoyable. Fulton’s favorite moment is each day when her students enter the classroom.

She has also been a cross country coach this year.

Honoring Veterans

Mrs. Burgess’ class honors both veterans and family Keely Patton

junior staffwriter

Every year on November 11, the United States celebrates Veterans Day. This day is set aside to honor the struggle of American troops.

According to “The Liberty of Congress; American Memories,” when the allied powers came together to bring World War I to a close, the U.S. commemorated the day as Armistice Day. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as a day of tribute to veterans. November 11 now marks the day Americans come together and give gratitude and appreciation to our soldiers in the Navy, Army, Coast Guard and Air Force.

English teacher Donna Burgess’s Honors English Class 1 has an assignment each year on Veterans Day. It’s not a paper or a project, but more of a “come with a story to tell.”

Mrs. Burgess asked her students to think of a family mem-

ber who is a veteran and then come to class prepare to tell this relatives story.

Freshman Allison Belgarde’s story goes deep into her family history.

Belgarde’s great-grandfather Harold George Maguson served as a Navy soldier in World War II. His job was not to fight but to build the ships which Americans used for battle.

After serving for one year, he was then discharged.

Maguson explained his aspirations for join the Navy, “He just wanted to help America and win the war!”

She explained a funny story about her great-grandfather, it started when he was in training’ every night, the soldiers would have lamb, and after that, he refused to eat lamb again.

Belgarde thought that when, times back then, people did not have the money and pleasures of today, they dealt with what they had and stuck with it.

Although he passed in October 1992, his 86 year- old wife, Alex Maguson, remains alive to tell his story.

Alex Maguson explained that living in this time period was a struggle. Each family received rations, which are an amount of how much a specific family could get of sugar, eggs, fabric, and other household necessities.

Many things were hard to come by.

Belgarde commented that her great-grandfather’s biggest issues were “Raising two daughters while he was gone, and having to find jobs to support the family.”

Alex Maguson actually helped the Navy also; she took out the nails in the ships so that they could be reused for other projects.

Belgarde said, “I feel closer to my grandpa even though I never knew him, from learning about him.”

This idea of getting to know family can be a good influence in the way students view family history.

If she could ask him anything in the world if she went back in time, it would be, “Why did you join the Navy? You were not forced into it, so why?”

NOVEMBER 2O1O

FEATURES

5

Foreign Exchange Students They traveled from overseas to spend a year at West Nikki Sanders junior staffwriter

Last issue, The Kodiak introduced three of Billings West High’s six foreign exchange stu-

West.

Like the typical person, Tiainen misses his family and friends because he has not seen them in a long time, and he also misses his sauna. F i n n i s h , English and a little bit of Swedish can be found in Tiainen’s vocabulary.

Tiainen enjoys spending his time snowboarding whenever and wherever he can.

dents. Here are the three more to learn all about.

Ida Molsa, Sweden First up is eighteen-year-old Ida Molsa.

Molsa’s favorite classes at West are Single Survival, Math and English.

She misses her family and friends but especially her closet.

Molsa only has one complaint about America, which is she cannot drive here because she is a foreign exchange student.

Molsa has a younger brother and sister back home in Sweden.

Everyone has a favorite food and Molsa is no exception, but it was a hard choice.

“Jimmy John’s is pretty good,” said Molsa.

Molsa speaks Swedish, Finnish, English and a little bit of German.

Otto Tiainen, Finland

Reijonen speaks Finnish, Swedish, English and a little bit of French, she is also in yearbook this year.

“It’s really hard, but worth it,” stated Reijonen about the yearbook class.

ViiVi Reijonen, Finland

Otto Tiainen is seventeen years old and has two brothers.

He enjoys Algebra 2 and “loves toaster strudels,” Tiainen mentioned that he hates how strict the school rules are in America, especially at

ViiVi Reijonen is seventeen years old and has two little sisters. She misses her family, friends and lifestyle.

Reijonen is really excited for Prom and loves the class Fitness and Conditioning.

“I’m in love with grilled cheese,” said Reijonen.

Reijonen two favorite activities are shopping with her friends and playing tennis.

Local business supports “fair trade” goods Zoey Elias

freshman staffwriter

On November 9, 2010, Rocky Mountain College hosted a “Fair Trade Christmas.”

The organizers of this event were Jamie Elias and Kristi Foster.

Foster said “Jamie and I sat down and talked about doing something like it. I had been thinking about doing something like it in past years, but I didn’t have the help. Jamie wanted to bring Global Village onto the campus. We also did this to educate people about gift ideas for Christmas.”

The pair advertised through all the partner churches to Rocky Mountain College and also through Global Village that the event was open to the public with admission.

The event featured craft demonstrations, body care prod-

ucts, hand woven bags from the south pacific, handmade clothing, handmade jewelry and a huge variety of items from the store Global Village.

This was the first Fair Trade Christmas that Rocky has held, and admissions as well as vendor tables were free.

After being asked if the event would be informational, Foster said, “Yes. We hope that students will learn more about fair trade and learn about all the choices on what to buy.”

After the Fair Trade Christmas event, Foster said, “I think it was definitely a success.

More than two people showed up!” At least 150 people came and participated.

Fair trade is when someone in a developing country hand makes something (so no factories or machinery) and then a store buys it from them for a price that is fair to the maker.

The makers of the items are making money to help raise their family, send their children to school and to just generally live.

Supporting fair trade is good because then the families that are making the items are not living in poverty or starving, and their children are getting the

education they need.

Some common fair trade items are jewelry, clothing, woven baskets, hats, gloves, scarves, tapestries, tablecloths, children’s toys or decorations.

Global Village is a nonprofit organization that only sells completely fair trade items.

Their store is in downtown Billings and is volunteer based.

When looking for items that are certified fair trade, look for the national fair trade emblem on all products.

West seniors begin senior projects Michaila Grant senior staffwriter

Billings West High School has started a new pilot program this year called Senior Project.

This project may be instituted for all students in later years, depending on how the trial goes.

Each student chooses a subject that he or she would like to research, normally being a subject he or she are considering pursuing as a career, so that he or she can learn more about the subject and can see if they would enjoy it as a career.

In many states, this program is already required for all students, and some colleges look for senior projects on transcripts, to show that the student has completed an extended research project.

Senior Project is a project that lasts the whole school year and is counted as an elective credit.

Ms. Courtney Hamblin, the head of the project, stated, “The senior project is a way for students to research a possible

career, and it hopefully helps them decide.”

Each student is given a staff mentor, whose job it is to help the student with his or her project. The students then get a community mentor, a person in the field that they are researching for their project who will help them and meet with them throughout the project.

Senior project consists of four major parts: the letter of intent, the findings paper, the final presentation and the reflection paper.

The letter of intent is a paper describing what exactly the student is planning to do for his or her project to the people in charge of the Senior Project and also includes a time chart that has the expected dates the student believes he or she will be done with the different aspects of the project.

The findings paper is a research essay telling everything that he or she has learned in the research that he or she has done.

For the final presentation, the students must give a visual

report to a panel, showing all that they have learned from the project.

Finally, the refection paper is a look back for the student to see all that he or she has done throughout the year and what he or she has learned from the project.

One senior, Brandon Case, who is involved in the project ,said, “I am really enjoying the project, but I think it will be better next year once they have worked out all the kinks from this year.”

“It is a good program to learn more about the field you are interested in,” said junior McKayla Dundas, who is thinking about signing up for the class next year to research physical therapy.

Grades for this class are a pass or fail grade.

The project is very self paced, with the entirety of the project being done outside of school, and the students set the dates of when parts of the project will be due.

NOVEMBER 2O1O

FEATURES

6

Marfin Syndrome causes complications for West High teacher Mr. Olson absent this fall due to rare condition Emily Sample Copy Editor

As many may have noticed, John Olson, chemistry teacher at West High, has been absent for most of the year.

Due to some difficulties that arose because of a condition he has been diagnosed with known as Marfan’s Syndrome [MFS], Olson has not been able to return to school full time. His classes

have been taught by substitute teacher Nikki Bethune, who was teaching Biology teacher Krista Cunningham’s classes while she was out.

It is not certain yet as to when he will be able to return.

One in 5,000 people have MFS, which seems insignificant, but that is 61,402 people in the United States alone.

Marfan’s Syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the gene that

Health Careers students use technology to communicate with Louisiana Students Katherine Cole

sophomore staffwriter

On October 19, the Health Careers class held a video chat with another Health Careers class in Edgar, Louisiana.

The class, taught by Doug VanZee, is new this year, so there are no text books and no set curriculum, although the district will probably purchase text books for next semester.

This was the first chat, so the Louisiana class and the West High class got to know each other. Everyone in the classes introduced themselves and explained their main health career interest.

Twenty-two students are taking the class at West, and 7 people from the school of 500 in Louisiana are taking the class.

The students seemed to be predominantly interested in pharmaceutical work.

Although in a very rural town, the class from Edgar had several misconceptions about Montana, including that the state is composed entirely of farms.

Sophomore Natasha Halstvedt stated, “It helps us create a blending of cultures across the nation. I could tell each side was nervous to meet, but the chat was very informative.”

VanZee hopes to continue these chats throughout the year, ideally once every week to improve the curriculum.

Sophomore Ashley Kustka predicted, “The next chat will probably be more in depth. The class in Louisiana is taking the same class as us, so we are hoping to borrow some of the stuff they are learning.”

Right now the class includes a lot of computer usage.

The class took a self inventory survey to discover where their interests lie within the health field.

Sophomore Beth Uthaug commented that she is “really enjoying the class; it is a lot of fun and an interesting experience.”

They also work on resume building and creating digital portfolios.

Students research and explore careers in the health field, and people in the work force with those jobs often visit the class.

VanZee has contacted 10 guest speakers and desires that all of them will speak. So far, a clinical manager has spoken and was met with enthusiasm.

VanZee also anticipates that the class will continue next year and hopes that the class will grow next semester.

He stated that he is “really looking for more students to take the class.”

determines the structure of may also occur. sports, particularly football, fibrillin-1, a protein that The membrane of the basketball and soccer. Sudden forms the connective tissues fluid surrounding the nervous death has been known to of the body. It also does not system may stretch, causing occur in patients unaware of discriminate over age, gender strain on the vertebrae of the their condition. or race. spine. This can range from As with all medical conIt is named after Antonie being slightly irritating to ditions, early diagnosis is preMarfan, a pediatrician from highly painful. ferred so help may be applied France, who quickly. f i r s t described it in Those with Common characteristics of MFS 1896.

In MFS now 1 9 9 1 , can expect a include an arched roof to the Francesco typical life mouth leading to crowding of Ramirez expectancy identified the of those teeth, scoliosis, flat feet or a stergene responwithout disnum that either caves toward the sible. ease, should Sympthey be internal organs of the body or toms can be aware of the present in difcondition. protrudes outward. ferent body systems. For Olson said, example, symptoms of the MFS does not affect a “I have lived with Marfan’s skeletal system include being person’s mental development Syndrome my whole life, and very tall, slender and loose- or intelligence. other then having had several jointed with disproportionate In order to be classified as surgeries and having to take limbs. having MFS, one must pos- lots of pills, I have lived my Common characteristics sess at least three symptoms. life the way I have chosen. I of MFS include an arched It is exceedingly rare for am limited somewhat physiroof to the mouth leading to one person to have all symp- cally, but I have had an active crowding of teeth, scoliosis, toms. outdoor life, spending most of flat feet or a sternum that It is also possible for one my time hunting and fishing either caves toward the inter- who has these symptoms to and enjoying Montana‘s great nal organs of the body or pro- not actually have MFS, only a outdoors.” trudes outward. health-care professional can Research is constantly There can be some dis- diagnose for certain. being conducted to find more placement of the lens of the The diagnosis is deter- treatment options for those eye; nearsightedness is com- mined by Marfan Syndrome diagnosed with this disease. mon, as well as glaucoma, Diagnostic Criteria and Famous people who have cataracts and retinal displace- numerous tests, including MFS, or have been believed ment, which is when the reti- MRIs, echocardiograms, elec- to have had MFS, include na breaks from the connective trocardiograms, CT scans and Abraham Lincoln, Mary tissue of the eye. slit eye lamp exams, which Queen of Scots, Italian violinThe valves of the heart are routinely performed in ist Niccolo Paganini, and the arteries may weaken, annual eye exams.

American actor Vincent causing irregular heart beats, There is no cure for MFS, Schiavelli and Charles de leaking valves and tears any but there are ways to prevent Gaulle. of which can cause fatigue and alleviate symptoms.

To find out more informaand shortness of breath.

Getting annual check-ups, tion about MFS and related Stretch marks may appear working with a collection of disorders visit the National on the skin without any doctors and following orders Marfan Foundation website at changes in weight. Hernias, and advice given by doctors is www.marfan.org/marfan/. which occur when body tis- best. sues bulge through other musIt can be dangerous for cles or membranes or organs, those with MFS to compete in

NOVEMBER 2O1O

FEATURES

Allergens influence West High policies

Latex and Peanut-Safe School policies are aimed at keeping West High students safe Kaydee Oldham Copy Editor

In today’s world, allergies are a common problem many suffer from. For the staff and students own health, Billings West High School has decided to take more action on preventing allergic reactions.

Latex, peanut, and wheat allergies are the most common at West. Although not many students suffer from these allergies, those who do suffer severely.

The exact cause of latex allergies is unknown, but it is thought that repeated exposure to latex and rubber products may induce symptoms. Rubber latex exposure can be released into the body through contact with skin, eyes, mouth, inhalation, and blood.

The new trend, of wearing Silly Bands is banned from West because of the latex they may contain. Students need to realize that wearing these Silly Bands is putting other student’s health at risk. When the Silly Bands are removed from a students arm, latex is released into the air, which can cause an allergic reaction to those students who are allergic. Rubber bands, latex gloves, and latex balloons have also been removed from West.

Foods containing peanuts are not allowed at West. All items

involving peanuts were removed from cooking classrooms at West High as well. If a student’s ate something involving peanut butter, then touches a door handle, the person with a peanut allergy could have a reaction.

One percent of the American population has an allergy to peanuts and approximately ten people dies from the allergy yearly.

“I wouldn’t say a lot of students have peanut or latex allergies, but those who do suffer severely. I would like to remind students that we are a Latex/Peanut-Safe School.

Sometimes students grumble about the policy, but we have to think of students safely first. I just want students to realize that those students affected will live this way for a life time,” Kim Verschoot, assistant principal, mentioned.

The wheat allergy is the last one. Some foods students bring to school contain wheat products.

“Kids eat in class and get crumbs on the desks and because of this I get a reaction. I think because 15 students statistically have the allergy at our school. It should be prevented the best possible,” senior Rachel Sample commented about her wheat allergy.

7

The Key to cleaning up

West High students beautify Billings with Garbage Cleanup Day Sally Weinand Arts Editor

West High Key Club participated in their second Garbage Clean Up day on Wednesday, October 27.

Key Club is a volunteering club at West in which students sign up for events and participate at volunteer projects throughout our community.

At this event students were sent out to several locations around out local community to clean up trash and any type of litter.

Students were sent to locations such as the Career Center parking lot, the mall parking lots, Stewart Park, the West High parking lot, 32nd Street to Grand on Shiloh and a final group was sent to a residential area.

Junior Jessica Golubski took part in the event this year cleaning up at the mall parking lot and the school parking lot. Golubski worked with her group which included senior Sally Weinand and

sophomores Madi Miller and Rachel Temme.

Golubski explains that she participated because it was her way of helping out the environment.

“I wanted to volunteer not only to be able to put it on my application for college, but because I just feel like kids in our generation need to do more for our future generations to come and for ourselves, or our society is going to go down the drain,” comments Golubski.

This is the second year the event has occurred but last year the event was much less popular.

The head of West’s Key Club, Lauren Zent, explains, “We did it last year, but it was not very popular. This year we did it the same as last year. Students missed fifth and sixth period, but this year we had a way better turnout.”

Twenty-two students chose to participate in the event this year.

Temme explains, “[I participated because] it is really disgusting around our school and I just wanted to help out in our community.”

As the students were going along picking up trash, the news and newspaper followed them asking questions about the event and the reasons they chose to participate in the event this year. “[We did this event] because people were complaining that there was a lot of garbage on the road. So I thought what a great job for Key Club” Zent explained.

After completing the project Mrs. Zent believed that the job done was a success she states, “I think we cleaned up a large area and really helped our community.”

If you are interested in participating in future Key Club events such as this garbage clean up visit Zent in room 225 to become a member of Key Club.

Suicide: third highest cause of teen death in the United States Keely Patton

junior staffwriter

Every two hours and eleven minutes, someone under the age of 25 will commit suicide.

Suicide is the third highest cause of death among teens in the United States.

For every suicide completion, there are between 50 and 200 attempts.

A recent survey of high school students found that almost one in five students have considered suicide while more than one in six had made plans to attempt this form of death.

Just last year, one in twelve high school students had attempted.

These statistics one continue to increase each year.

So what exactly causes a person to consider suicide? Most suicidal people suffer from the recognized mental illness of depression; but many depressed people adequately manage their daily life.

People cannot assume that the people who are suicidal act and appear that way because some suicide people adequately manage everyday with a smile on

their faces.

One would have to look deeper into the situation and into that person instead of just relying on outside appearances.

Drug abuse is the highest reported reason for depression and suicide. Drugs impair the mind and, more often than not, change the way a student views his or her life.

who is considering, or has considered suicide, contact a teacher, parent or advisor of some sort and let him or her know what is going on.

Many times, a student considering suicide will talk to a friend before hand in place of an adult.

If you have knowledge of anyone thinking of taking his/her life, be sure to talk to a trusted adult.

Here are some steps to take when dealing with a person considering suicide.

Handle the situation seriously. It may seem be a joke to you, but to them, it is literally life or death.

Next, remember suicide is a cry for help, try your hardest to help them and reassure them that everything will be okay.

Do your best to listen to them.

If the person is acutely suicidal, do not leave the individual alone.

Dr. Burford states, “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”

Follow up with an adult you can trust; if the situation is out of your hands, contact someone who can help.

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”

Unrequited love, break ups and sexual pressure explain others reasons why many view suicide is their last resort.

Many kids deal with distinct situations at home that affect their everyday living. Divorced parents and split families cause emotional heartache, also.

Physical limitations can also be a reason for suicide for some people.

Bullying and social rejection, the dislike of school, and lack of self esteem are also reasons. School social worker Dr. Vickie Burford explained, “Sometimes, suicide is impulsive; kids do not always realize how much danger it actually is.”

If you know of someone

NOVEMBER 2O1O

FEATURES

Smoking or chewing, both equally harmful Madi Miller Copy Editor

Tobacco consumption has two different forms. It can be either smoked or chewed. A large misconception exists that one is safer, but both are dangerous and damaging to the body.

At least 19 different cancercausing substances are found in tobacco.

Oral cancer from use of these products is serious, even deadly.

Dentists know when a person has been using nicotine because their gums recede, and the cheeks of a persons mouth turns white.

Health and PE teacher Don Gleason explained, “Oral cancer is the nastiest to cure. You have to surgically cut away the cancer, which is very painful.”

The risk of developing lung cancer is ten times greater with tobacco use.

The biggest problem is heart

damage. Heart cells take time for cancer to develop normally, but nicotine will speed that up.

Smoking is one of the most

“Oral cancer is the nastiest to cure.” common uses of tobacco. It lowers potassium levels and makes muscles weaker even if it is not being inhaled.

A person would be considered second-hand smoking if they are around one or more people who are smoking cigarettes.

Second-hand smoke is also be very dangerous to an innocent bystander.

“For athletes, secondhand smoke can cause them to not have muscle gain, which is what they are working for. That is why smoking outside will someday be illegal, people will only be able

to smoke in their homes. It just pretty much harms everyone,” commented Gleason.

Chewing tobacco, also known as smokeless tobacco, is not as common as smoking. It has a lot of the same effects; it affects the bloodstream, and it still causes problems with the heart, but it causes more damage to teeth and gums because there is more contact to these areas.

Both products stimulate saliva, and people who are using tobacco must spit frequently to clear the excess saliva. Flavor loss is also common.

Investing the same amount of money that would spent on two packs of cigarettes a day for 50 years into a savings account could save people about a million dollars.

Tobacco users also have to pay twice as much for life insurance.

More than five million people today will die prematurely because a decision they made to use tobacco.

Keep-a-Breast foundation bracelets deemed a distraction Davis Connelley junior staffwriter

At one time, a fairly common sight around West High was the many “I heart boobies” bracelets, with quite a few students wearing them in order to promote breast cancer awareness.

However, the decision was made by Billings School District 2 to ban these bracelets, citing them as an unnecessary distraction and inappropriate for school.

At first, many students were very set against this decision and became quite upset and energetic when the topic came up in conversation.

“Let them be. It helps awareness,” said senior James Lyle.

“They’re awesome,” agreed freshman Ty Emineth.

But that attitude has seemed to fade as time went on.

Judy Povilaitis, one of the deans at West, says, “Our students have been very compliant.

[Students] can exchange for alternative bracelets for students who really want to show support.”

The controversy over the bracelets comes from whether the proceeds from the bracelets actually goes to breast cancer research.

Most people seem to think the bands’ profits go directly to

breast cancer foundations and similar organizations, but the popular bracelets’ proceeds do not actually go to research, as many believe, but are more focused on raising awareness and paying expenses and profits, according to the last public IRS filings by the “I heart boobies” bracelets’ parent company, The Keep a Breast Foundation.

Many people believed that proceeds from the bracelets went right to charity, but it appears that is not the case.

The edict has been passed down however, and any students wearing the bands will simply be asked to take it off.

Will the Milky Way collide with the Andromeda Galaxy?

Katie Parish Photo Editor

For the past couple of years, scientists have been claiming that the Milky Way Galaxy is going to collide with the Andromeda Galaxy.

The collision will not happen in our lifetime, but it will happen in the future.

The collision may not be the only event happening during that time either, as the sun may be at the end of its life span as well.

Physics teacher Maureen Ladd said, “Chances are no one will be around to witness the event!”

The Andromeda Galaxy is two million light years away.

Several theories about exist what will happen if the two galaxies collide include the most popular theory which states that the two galaxies will combine to form one monstrous galaxy.

Every hour, the galaxies are getting about one million miles closer to each other. In other words, they are traveling approximately 24 million miles closer to each other every day.

The Andromeda Galaxy’s stars orbit around a large black hole that is about 140 million times bigger than our sun.

There are over 440 more planets in the Andromeda Galaxy than in the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Andromeda Galaxy is about one trillion stars in diameter.

Chemistry teacher Joe Catron explained, “My guess is if we stay in orbit with our sun, it won’t kill us [if we collide with the Andromeda galaxy], but there’s a possibility that if we come close to a black hole, it could end life as we know it.”

A light year is the distance that light can travel in a year.

That is the reason why it will take billions of years for the galaxies to collide.

8

National Honor Society inducts new members Kendra Schaff

character.

Ruff said, “Unyielding passions and convictions lead to On October 25, National leadership. NHS puts an emphaHonors Society [NHS] held their sis on leadership opportunities annul induction banquet at the and convinces people to take Crown Plaza. chances. It is time for us to act; T h e we now have banquet was to an opportunity officially to help our “Service is not declare stuschool, comdents part of munity and only an act, but NHS. even our an attitude.

NHS is world,” in her similar to Key speech about Service to Club, giving leadership. another is the the students in Serit opportunities vice includes key to true to participate opportunities happiness.” in community such as volunservice. teering and However, helping the to be eligible for induction, stu- community. Sullivan gave her dents have to have a cumulative speech on issues such as these.

GPA of 3.5 and be recommended She stated, “Service is not by their teachers. only an act, but an attitude.

The inductees went to listen Service to another is the key to to speeches from their elected true happiness.” She also called officers: seniors Tess Hamzeh, on everyone to take time to parpresident; Nathan Fritz, vice- ticipate in service. president; Mahli Ruff, secreSenior and Student Body tary/treasurer; and Emma President Caleb Hamilton led the Sullivan, historian. new members of NHS in their Hamzeh gave her speech on pledge and gave a short speech. scholarship, saying, “Scholarship In that speech, he cited the commences when we begin to Lord of the Rings summarizing, think for ourselves, using critical “Even the smallest person can thinking into our everyday life.” change the world.”

She also challenges everyAdvisor Kari Field also one to “be the best you can be.” described a situation where when Fritz gave his speech on she began teaching at Skyview, character. He started with an she was always excited to get up example of choosing whether or and teach. After ten years though, not to cheat on a Math test. she began to lose her enthusiasm.

“Character is a dynamic Once she had her first meetquality affected by our everyday ing with NHS, she realized the choices. The question we all face type of students with whom she is whether our values can over- was working. The enthusiasm of power selfishness,” Fritz said. the students got her excited He boiled character down to again, and she thanks them for choices showing every little that. choice we make can shape our senior staffwriter

FEATURES

NOVEMBER 2O1O

Ecology Club hikes the Beartooths First trip of season a success as students and advisers hike nearly 11 miles from Gardner Lake Trailhead to Elk Lake Katherine Cole

sophomore staffwriter

On October 10, Ecology Club hiked in the Beartooth Mountains.

This first trip was reasonably simple and featured side trip options such as a path to a ravine.

They started at Gardner Lake Trailhead and traveled 10.75 miles to Elk Lake. This loop is gently traveled and provided a great trip, despite having no designated wilderness. A steep trail led to a ravine that they explored.

John Miller, biology teacher and Ecology Club sponsor, saw a bull moose that he described as “absolutely beautiful and one of the largest that I have ever seen.”

The sponsors of Ecology Club are passionate about the environment and add depth to

the outings.

Senior Ksenia Lynch said, “Biology or science teachers know a lot about the environment and surroundings, so people go not just to have fun but to learn something.”

Fourteen of the 100 stu-

cross country skiing and much more.

Meetings are not held on a regular basis, but text messages are sent out to participants to inform them of upcoming events.

The day trip to the

Club adviser John Miller saw a bull moose, which he described as “absolutely beautiful and one of the largest that I have ever seen.” dents involved in the Ecology Club participated in the trip.

This club attracts a variety of students from West High for a wide range of activities.

Their excursions can include hiking, fishing, snowshoeing,

Beartooths cost $5 per person, and students are driven by parent chaperones and teachers.

Lynch also stated, “The staff that goes to these recreational activities is the best part because we have to spend

two hours in the car with them and their interesting music.”

Students enjoy hiking with their friends, and they often have remarkable adventures.

Senior Eileen Gregori said, “[Sophomore] Jillian [Brogan] and I got separated from the group; I almost got stuck behind a rock, but the view was breathtaking.”

This winter, Ecology Club will cross country ski in Yellowstone, and they will camp in Yellowstone during the spring.

The trips to Yellowstone supply an exciting opportunity for students to get outdoors.

Hiking includes both physical benefits from the exercise and mental perks from spending time with nature.

If interested in joining Ecology Club, contact Chuck Swarm, a sponsor of the club,

Forensics begins competition Vickie Contreraz News Editor

Forensics kicked off this season with a bang!

Rocky Mountain College’s speech and debate team held a tournament on October 16 that was a practice meet for the Billings high school forensics teams.

Sophomore Lizzy Toenyes commented, “We all have so much fun, and it helps for our future. [Speech and debate] creates life long friends.”

West took second in sweepstakes and also had many successful individuals on both sides of the spectrum.

Skyview High School took first. Other schools in attendance included both Billings

Senior and Central High schools.

For the speech events, seniors Erin Kusek and Laura Wilson took first and second in Memorized Public Address.

Junior Emily Sample placed first in Impromptu speaking, with sophomores Maddy Drake and Tessa Fendley taking fourth and eighth.

For Duo Interpretation, West closed out taking places first through fourth. Senior Alex Bush and junior Lexi Eagle placed first, Senior Zach Krell and sophomore Bridger Johnson placed second, sophomore Andy Eagle and freshman Tanner Bolin took third and sophomores Maddy Drake and Michelle Mullowney placed

fourth.

Senior Jan Roddy placed third in Original Oratory speaking.

Senior Zack Aschim placed top eight in Humerous Oral Interpretation.

On the other side of the tournament, senior Kendra Schaff and junior Danni Petak placed first in Public Forum debate.

Sophomores Katherine Cole and Vickie Contreraz placed third, and senior Elijah Lewis and junior David Culbertson took fourth in Varsity Policy.

Senior Krista Bailey placed third in Varsity LincolnDouglas debate.

This year, the forensics team has four coaches. Melinda Middleton and Steve Macartney prepare students for the speech events and Fred Petak and Dan Johnson help with debate.

“I was happy that some of our younger members had moments of success and got a chance to learn,” said Macartney about the Helena tournament. He also mentioned that the first tournament showed what everyone had to improve on.

Officers include seniors Laura Wilson as president, Nathan Fritz as vice president, Krista Bailey as secretary and Jan Roddy as treasurer.

Following the Rocky tournament, the team traveled to Helena on October 29 and 30.

They left Friday morning and returned late Saturday evening.

Helena was the first official tournament of the season, and it was a rough beginning on the debate side. Overall, West placed sixth.

Sophomore Michael Hill placed seventh in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas and said that he “should have taken second.”

Lewis and Culbertson placed fifth in Varsity Policy.

Speech had better luck in Helena.

Bush and Lexi Eagle took eighth in Duo, along with Johnson and Krell taking seventh and seniors Michael Dunham and Nathan Williams placing sixth.

Roddy placed eighth and senior Anna Kietzman placed fourth in Original Oratory.

Sample took fifth in Legislative Debate.

Missoula’s tournament took place the following weekend (November 5-6). West improved at this tournament, placing in fifth, even with most of the speech side, including coaches Macartney and Middleton, at home for the production of A Servant of Two Masters.

At this tournament, Toenyes and senior Megan Frisk took 4th in Public Forum, being the only team not from Bozeman in Semi-Finals, and Bailey placed in the top eight of Varsity Lincoln-Douglas again.

Bush and Lexi Eagle once again placed in Duo, taking third, and junior Colleen Powers placed seventh in Original Oratory.

9 Math department chair gets grant to purchase new calculators for student use Davis Connelley junior staffwriter

For some students, the hardest thing about math is that the concepts can sometimes be difficult understand, even if the teacher has explained it well.

But thanks to a grant from Quest to purchase new TI-Nspire CAS handheld calculators, that may be an issue of the past.

The grant, authored by Margret Aukshun, a math teacher here at West High, gives $3075 for the purchasing of 25 calculators for use by students to better understand difficult mathematical concepts.

These calculators more resemble supercomputers rather than simple addition or subtraction machines, with touchpads for easy manipulation and full keyboards that students could use to take notes if the need arose.

The idea behind the calculators, or CAS algebra systems to be more specific, are action-consequence lessons.

These lessons allow students to manipulate graphs and other mathematical concepts using the CAS systems and learn by doing in a more intuitive way than ever before. Students can literally grasp the math.

As Aukshun put it, the idea is “getting tools in [the students’] hands to help them learn.”

The need for this innovative way to learn was predicated by the startling statistic that 16% of freshman in Algebra 1 had failed at least two or more semesters of their middle school math program.

So, in response, the grant was written and a new course, starting next semester, will be available to student struggling in math.

This class, Algebra Readiness, will serve students who are two or three grade levels behind in math and will use the CAS systems as a fundamental unit for change.

ARTS

Zombies infect AMC

Millions watch premiere of new zombie television show Andrew Eagle

sophomore staffwriter

A new series, first aired on October 31, 2010 on American Movie Classics, The Walking Dead opened with a bang, premiering with a 90-minute episode of the six-part first season.

Each episode airs on Sunday night at 8 p.m. locally.

Frank Darabont, the director, co-wrote the show along with Robert Kirkman, who wrote the original comic series. Darabont also served as an executive producer along with Kirkman and Charles H. Eglee.

This grotesque and powerful show’s main character is Rick Grimes, a deputy sheriff played by Andrew Lincoln, who wakes up from a coma after the zombie plague has swept the nation.

Grimes wakes up into a world ruled by the dead, with no idea what has happened to his wife, played by Sarah Wayne Callies, or son, played by Chandler Riggs.

He luckily runs into a father-son pair who has been living in the city, hiding until the infestation ends, who point

him in the right direction. The pair tells him that the government was telling everyone to evacuate to the larger cities where they could be more easily protected.

On the way to the city, he is radioing across the country that he is a police officer searching for survivors, and his message reaches a small group of survivors outside of the city, they tried but failed to reply to his radio message.

Among the group were his wife and son, although neither group knows that the man on the radio was Rick.

When Rick enters the city, instead of finding a city of humans protected by the government, he instead finds the streets full of zombies, and he only escapes with the help of another human survivor.

The make-up work makes up (pun intended) for any of the small points lacking from the plot. All of the “zombies” makeup is hand done by professionals so that each one is unique in its own disturbing way.

The creators even included an On-Demand release of a lesson on how to “Walk like a Zombie.”

AMC Aires new show about the zombie apocalypse

Taylor Roberts, a junior at Skyview, commented on the show, “It’s interesting to find anything about zombies more focused on human drama than zombie killing.”

This show has a grim message about what people are

capable of in the case of something as catastrophic as the apocalypse, with many people looting, stealing and committing banditry.

“Super Mario Melody” and “Eleanor Rigby” all in one night

Billings West High Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras perform for the f irst time this school year Kendra Schaff senior staffwriter

On November 8 the Billings West High Orchestras had their first concert of the year.

The Chamber Orchestra started off the night by playing “Walking Basses” by Merle J. Isaac, three movements of the “Colorado Suite” by Francis L. Feese, “Russian Sailor’s Dance” by R. Gliere and arranged by M. Allen and “Eleanor Rigby”

by Lennon and McCartney and arranged by L. Moore.

The Philharmonic Orchestra concluded the concert by playing “Super Mario Medley” by Koji Kondo and arranged by H. Hoover, “Folk Tune Air and Fiddler’s Fury” by Alexander

Safford, “Carmen Suite No. 1” by George Bizet, and the first two movements of the “Carmen Suite No. 2”by Bizet.

In Philharmonic, senior Krista Bailey said, “ [ M y favorite song is] Habanera [from the s e c o n d C a r m e n S u i t e ] because it has a really c o o l melody.”

I n camber, sophomore Natasha Halstvedt said,” [My favorite song is] Russian Sailor’s Dance because the violas actually have a main part [in the song].”

The first concert this year was especially an important event for the new teacher.

Harmony Hoover, from California, had to replace

so I have been listening to other schools to compare and follow their lead. We are playing crowd-pleasing music, so I expected the

While Philharmonic was playing “Super Mario Medley” seniors Daniel Khoe and Alex Stacy dressed up as Mario and Luigi respectively. They ran around on stage and performed to entertain the audience during the classical video game theme song.

Mike Peterson after his 35year term here at West High.

Hoover expected the concert to go really well.

Before the concert, she said, “I am new to the district,

concert to go well.”

Also before the concert, Bailey said, “The concert will go beautifully. We have been practicing hard and for a long time, the only outcome is a

positive one.”

The concert ended up being one that the audience enjoyed.

While Philharmonic was playing “Super Mario Medley,” seniors Danny Khoe and Alex Stacy dressed up as Mario and Luigi respectively. They ran around on stage and performed to entertain the audience during this classical video game theme song.

Their additional performance had the audience, and even some of the players, giggling.

Both the conductor and the students were proud of the job well done.

The next concert is on December 16 for the Chamber Orchestra and on December 21 for the Philharmonic Orchestra.

ARTS

NOVEMBER 2010

First choir concert a success Keely Patton junior staffwriter

What did the chorus department have prepared for West High this year? The fall concert took place on November 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the West High Auditorium.

The directors of the choirs, Laura Blodgett and David Green, lead outstanding musical talents into the spotlight, showing off what they practice every day.

Sophomore Whitney Wells expressed her passion for music, saying, “Music is my escape from life’s challenges. It keeps me going every day.”

Not only are these music directors teachers, but they also allow passionate singers to pursue their destiny.

Junior Mercer Pickens comments, “Mr. Green has pretty much got it down. He’s the man!”

Junior Rebecca Stinchfeild commented, “[Mrs. Blodgett] has a different way of teaching; it is probably hard for her to deal with so many high school girls in one class, just as all the other teachers, but she is a good music teacher and knows what she is doing.”

The literature in the program varied from spirituals to jazz pieces and more, giving the students a chance to express music in a way in which they are probably not used to.

A challenging but impressive bit of the music performed was the variations

of culture and language.

Some of the foreign pieces included “Fillimioriay” sung by Cantus, “In Paradisum” sung by Chantreles, “Kyrie Eleison” sung by Concert Choir, “Ricevette,” sung by Chamber Singers and “Daemon Irrepit Callidus” sung by Meistersingers.

The choirs and audition ensembles in the concert included Cantus, Chanterelles, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Meistersingers, Westwinds, Bella Voce and Acafellas.

The two audition choirs include Meistersingers and Chamber Singers.

Sophomore Teala Naylor says, “I’ve been in chorus for two years and plan to do it the next two.”

All West bands play at fall concert

Concert features pieces from chamber, concert, symphonic and jazz bands Zoey Elias

freshman staffwriter

On November 11, the Billings West High band department held a concert at BWHS. The bands that played were the chamber band, which is completely made up of freshmen; the concert band, which is sophomores, juniors and seniors; the symphonic band, which is an audition band of all four grades but of the best musicians; and the jazz band, which is open to anyone who auditions.

The jazz band played two songs. They were called Blues For Cat written by Rob Vuno, Jr. and Blues in Hoss Flat which was written by Basie/Foster and arranged by Mark Taylor. Many students in jazz band had solos.

Michael O’Connell had a solo in both Blues For Cat and in Blues in Hoss Flat.

Jake Goldberg who also had solos in both Blues For Cat and Blues in Hoss Flat.

Miles Otstott had a solo in Blues in Hoss Flat.

Tiffany Personet had a solo in Blues in Hoss Flat.

Shawn Foster had his solo in Blues in Hoss Flat.

Ethan Carling had a solo in Blues in Hoss Flat.

The chamber band also played two pieces, Moscow 1941, written by Brian Balmages and With Quiet Courage, written by Larry Daehn.

No one had solos in either of these songs, but the band did very well for this being their first concert at Billings West High School.

The concert band played three songs, Waterdance, written

by Carl Strommen, Loch Lomond, written by Frank Ticheli, and The Great Locomotive Chase, written by Robert W. Smith.

There were no solos in any of these pieces.

Finally, the symphonic band also played three pieces, Deerpath Dances, written by David R. Holsinger, Armed Forces Salute, arranged by Bob Lowden, and The Second Sweet in F, written by Gustav Holst.

There were no solos in any of these pieces either.

When asked what his favorite pieces to direct were, director Steve Patton said Deer Path Dances and The First Sweet in F. He said, “They are both written very well, and Deer Path Dances has a lot of mixed meter.

I like to have the challenge of conducting a piece where the pulse changes.”

11

Microsoft releases Kinect Andrew Eagle

sophomore staffwriter

Recently Microsoft has released their response to Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s Playstation Move: the Kinect, designed to compete with the other movement based controlled consoles.

The main difference between Kinect and the other consoles is that it is completely controller free, allowing the user to apply voice commands and gestures to control the Xbox Dashboard as well as the games designed for the system.

Kinect utilizes a colorsensitive camera, a depth sensor and a multi-array microphone to sense movement, gestures and spoken commands given by the user. It has full-body 3D motion recognition as well as facial and vocal recognition.

Microsoft announced that the range at which Kinect works best is about 4 feet to 11 feet, and the company believes that the controller-free Kinect represents the start of the next generation of gaming.

Kinect is completely compatible with all Xbox 360s that have been released, not just the recently-released upgraded version.

Kinect’s technological prowess comes at a price of about $150, and games are made to be fun as well as active and a good work out.

The games that have been announced so far include many sports games, dance games and

workout games.

Games being released with the console on its release include: Motion Sports, Kinect Sports, Dance Evolution, Dance Paradise, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved and Fighters Uncaged.

In general, the games that are being released on November 4 along with the console are ones that Microsoft believes best show off Kinect’s capabilities.

Although this type of game was expected by gamers all over the world, the announcements made by Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, SEGA, Square Enix and many other major gaming companies about plans to release games on Kinect were a surprise to many people.

The companies above are responsible for titles like the Call of Duty series, the Elder Scrolls, the Fallout series, Sonic the Hedgehog and the Final Fantasy series. They are some of the most popular names in the gaming world, and their interest in Kinect games puts some credibility behind the system.

Kinect does not stop with games; it also adds an entirely new way to control the Xbox Dashboard.

Using sweeping gestures and voice commands allows the accessing of many functions of the Xbox. The facial recognition identifies whoever turns on the console and loads avatars for the user.

Drama department presents fall play: “A Servant of Two Masters” Jalen Creech

freshman staffwriter

November 4-6, the West High Drama department put on the fall play, “A Servant of Two Masters” in the West High auditorium.

This comedy had the main characters were senior Zach Krell (servant), junior Grace Hein ( Beatrice- Master) and sophomore Bridger Johnson (Florindo - Master).

“When I went to the play, I don’t remember the last time I have ever laughed that hard” said freshman Taylor Stensland.

Before the curtain went up, director Melinda Middleton said it took play about 300 years ago in Italy. She also said it was difficult for the actors to learn the accents and to understand the language differences.

The play is, essentially, a comedy of errors with people misunderstanding who one

another are and whether or not their love interests are alive.

“I thought it was a good play; I love watching high school plays. I really enjoyed going to the play with my grandaughter.

It’s just another thing we like to do together,” said Karla Ranes.

This play had everything.

It featured romance when Clarice and Silvio ended up getting married and when Beatrice and Florindo find each other and fall in love again like they had been before.

It had adventure when Silvio and Fredirigo, who is actually Beatrice, sword fight and also when Beatrice flees the country to find her true love.

And, finally, it had comedy when the servant Truffledino is serving them diner and the waiters came out and stumbled all over the stage especially when the green waiters did a belly bump.

SPORTS Right: The Golden Bears leave the field with pride after suffering a loss against the Helena High Bengals.

The score was 20-18. submitted photo

Football finishes up a fabulous season!

The second half of the season comes to the end.

Davis Connelley junior staffwriter

November finds the Billings West High football team right where they want to be: in the playoffs. The Bears entered the playoffs as the 3 seed with an 8-2 record. Getting there was not without a few bumps along the way, however.

On the season so far,

Coach Paul Klaboe remarked, “We have gotten better every week, and that’s key.”

After the wild win over the Butte High Bulldogs in the homecoming game, the Bears took a trip up to Helena to challenge the formidable Capital High Bruins on October 8.

In a game that had its ups and downs, the Bears came out on the wrong end of a 24-17 contest. That loss was a tough one, but the Bears did not lose

heart even though another long road trip loomed.

The Bears hopped on the bus to Missoula to face the AA conference leading passing attack of the Missoula Sentinel Spartans, but the Bears restrained it, allowing only a single touchdown on the way to a 56-7 routing of the Spartans.

After two weeks on the road, the Bears came home on October 22 to face off against

with a 6-3 record while the Bears held a 7-2 record. A number 3 seed, along with the home field advantage that comes with it, was on the line.

The Bears started strong with an 18-0 lead going into the half, but had to stave off a furious Bronc rally in the final minutes. It was a close one, but the Bears pulled out a 24-21 win and secured a solid spot in the playoffs.

squared off against the Skyview Falcons, the 6 seed, on Nov. 5, in a rematch of the week 5 game.

The Falcons contested the Bears hotly, but the Bears ended up with a 14-13 victory and advanced into the second round of the playoffs.

But the Bears’ good fortune wasn’t meant to last.

On November 12, the Golden Bears took the trip up to

the CMR Rustlers. The Golden Bear offense continued their high level of play, putting up 49 points, while the defense kept the dangerous Rustlers in check, holding them to 27 points in the West High victory.

At last came the game everyone in Billings had been looking forward to all season: the famed Senior-West matchup on October 29.

The Broncs entered

Junior quarterback Brady Gustafson commented, “We really improved a lot over the course of the season and from last year.”

Junior tight-end Eric Rydquist added, “Being in the playoffs is sweet!”

But the first playoff contest wasn’t the smooth ride the Bears wanted.

For the first round of the playoffs, West, the 3 seed,

Helena to take on the Helena High Bengals, the number 2 seed.

The game was closely contested until the final seconds when the Bears failed to convert a two point conversion and could not recover ensuing onside kick and fell 20-18, ending the season for the Golden Bears.

Run, Run as fast as you can...

The Cross Country team runs the season to a close.

Ryan Klette freshman staffwriter

Cross Country is a great sport, especially if you like to run. This year’s cross country teams had about a total of 80 students join this year. The boys’ team had about 45 students and the girls’ 35.

Cross country had a strong season. Kids set personal lifetime best times, made new friends, and were able to travel all over the state. West took control of the City Meet, where they competed against all Billings Schools.

Junior Varsity boys and girls both took first. The Varsity boys took first, beating longtime rival Skyview, while Varsity girls placed second, just points behind rival Senior. Senior, Ryan Grammens ran a lifetime best of 16:02, and placed second at city.

He started the race in the middle of the pack and by the second mile had positioned himself for a strong finish. The last half mile was down to the wire, with Grammens and a Skyview runner racing neck in neck. On the girls’

side, Senior, Nicole Rietz also ran a lifetime best of 18:02 and places second overall. Rietz went on to place fourth at state in a time of 18:10, which is her third best time of her career. This was her fourth year placing in the top 10 at the state meet. Both Grammens and Reitz were MVP’s of the season and will graduate this year.

The state cross country meet was held in Helena this year.

West had a strong showing with some great performances. Reitz, placed fourth to lead the girls’ team. Sophomore Keisha Stensby had her first all-state finish, placing 11th out of 94 competitors.

On the boys’ side, Grammens led the way placing 32nd in a field of 102 boys. Although disappointed by the overall finish of the teams, West was not disappointed in the season they had.

“We had a ton of PR’s this year. Both Varsity and JV ran the best they have all season. It was awesome to watch,” said Coach Lauren Zent. In Cross Country, there are two different types of

PR’s., which stands for a personal record. A lifetime best is a time a runner has run that has been better than any other time they have ever run before. The second kind of PR is a season PR, which is the best time of the season. It is possible to have one time be both a persons season PR and lifetime PR. For those that do not understand cross country, everyone runs a three mile course for every meet for cross country. The races are divided into JV and Varsity races. Varsity consists of the top 7 runners and JV is everyone else.

The JV races are usually larger, but the Varsity races are usually faster.

“The top seven fastest times (boys and girls) make the varsity team. JV is everyone else, there are no cuts in cross country,” says Zent. “Some runners come out and cross country is their competitive sport, other runners just do it for fun.”

So what makes cross country hard? Besides just running?

“The hardest meet, I think, is the Anaconda Golf course. It is

such a mental course and a physical one, too. All of its hills and the stupid switch backs make it a challenging one,” explained sophomore Taylor Clark.

“Great Falls was definitely the hardest meet for its big, grueling hills,” explained sophomore Connor Hintt. Cross Country athletes do not just run three miles; they have to run up and down hills, through tiny paths, back and forth on switchbacks, and even on different surfaces.

Meets usually happen at golf courses, parks, or even at hospital grounds. Any place that is large and has different types of terrain, except for a flat area, can host a cross country meet.

“My favorite part of the cross country season were the pasta parties, most assuredly,” said sophomore Casey Burke.

“Doing cross country at West has been the single best choice that I have made. The coaches and the team are the absolute greatest people I have met at West,” said sophomore Tyler Shrauger. “Cross country is one of the hardest sports to compete

in. The time and effort needed to perform at one’s best is so much more than any other sport out there.”

Cross Country usually starts in the summer, where runners log miles to get “in shape” for cross country. Even though the season maybe the shortest (only 10 weeks), it definitely requires some pre-season practice. Most runners are still running in the off-season and looking forward to after season races and functions.

“Cross Country is a year round sport, we are always running,” Zent said. “Anyone interested in running competitively or just for fun, should join cross country. It is a decision you will never regret!”

SPORTS

NOVEBER 2010

13

West High Students certainly know how to pass the puck.

Hockey is an after school activity for some of the students at West.

Jessica Moody junior staffwriter

Who knew that at Centennial Ice arena West High students, both boys and girls from freshman to seniors, play in one of the four ice-hockey teams provided?

There are about 30 students in total who attend West High and play Hockey.

The four teams are OZ Fitness AAA, Thunder Blades AA, High School and the Billings Bulls. Most of Billings West High students play in the high school division. All teams have varying ages.

Some students are even crazy enough to play for two teams.

At practice, students work on blocking, passing and shooting. The four types of shots include the wrist shot, slap shot, snap shot and back hand shot.

They must also work well together as a team and communicate well. While doing this, they must be able to skate with coordination and tact.

Junior Nick Rizzo, who plays defense on OZ Fitness AA, became interested in hockey “[by] watching The Mighty Ducks movies.”

Because of this, he has learned to make a shot between his legs aiming high within the goal net.

Junior and goalie Shakeel McKinley says that he became interested in hockey by “watch[ing] hockey when [he] was little.”

This level of skill only comes with years of experience, tons of endurance and the will to try.

Motivation for many of the players is to make it to Division One hockey during their

college years.

Junior Olivia Barragree, who plays right wing and defense for the high school team, reaches higher, stating, “[My] ultimate goal for women’s hockey is the Olympic team.”

Many teams, or players themselves, play around the country to get equal opportunity on the ice against a variety of other players. Some players even come to Montana through foreign exchange to get into our Billings’ teams.

The teams do exceptionally well for such a lowly populated state.

The Thunder Blades AA went to nationals within their bracket last year.

Oz Fitness AAA Hockey team huddles up for a time out. submitted photo

They shoot... they score!

Golden Bears soccer f inished up a sucessful year.

Keely Patton

junior staffwriter

This year’s Golden Bears soccer team went out with flying colors.

A team of talented athletes and high spirits ripped the field up for one more season.

Although they did not win at state, the Golden Bears did awesome.

At the AA State Tournament, the first game was a win against Missoula Big Sky Eagles, 3-2.

The second game was a 31loss against Helena High Bengals.

The third game was a 1-0 loss against Bozeman Hawks.

All in all, the Golden Bears

finished in 5th place.

Before the tournament, Coach Mike Maycott said, “A game is a game; you have to do the best you can.”

Senior Joe Frank commented, “Overcoming injuries for the team [was our biggest struggle]; we didn’t have too many, but when we did get them, we were unlucky and suffered in the state tournament.”

Senior Alex Gallagher’s advice to upcoming soccer players was, “Keep working hard and don’t settle for nothing.”

Frank added, “Keep it up and stay committed!”

Gallagher said the biggest struggle was, “Team chemistry; we had a lot of talent, but we just

couldn’t connect as much as I thought we could.”

As a senior, Frank comments his favorite part about his final year, “Being with the team, being a senior; it was the last year with the kids; we are like family!”

The best game, according to Frank and Gallagher, was beating cross-town rivals Senior Broncs at Daylis Stadium.

Earlier in the season Senior Zachary Moyers prepare to pass the ball off. submitted photo

The uprise of the San Fransico Giants!

Giants win the World Series of Baseball.

Tawni Palin Sports Editor

On November 1, a band of unlikely heroes arose.

The San Francisco Giants beat the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the World Series the final score was 3-1.

This is the first World Series for the Giants since 1954.

The game was 0-0 until the top of the seventh inning when the Giants earned all of their runs. The Rangers gained their only score in the bottom of the seventh.

The Rangers had one error and zero home runs. For the Giants, it was the opposite.

MVP World Series ring went to Giant’s pitcher Tim Lincecum. During one of his ESPN interviews, he was asked if he thought that the personalities of the team mirrored the city of San Francisco’s.

Lincecum’s reply was, “Yeah, we got a pretty crazy crew of guys on the team, and it fits well with San Francisco. It is very diverse, and everyone is doing their part. They also make it easy to play for them.”

San Francisco Giants Sergio Romo, right, hugs an unidentified teammate as they celebrate the team’s win over the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the 2010 World Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, November 1, 2010.

(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 2010

14

Sub Varsity Fall season is closing in.

One last look at how the fall sports lower teams did for the season.

Tawni Palin Sports Editor

Cross Country The JV Cross Country team had their last meet on October 13.

This was the City Meet at Riverfront Park.

The top two places for the Golden Bears were juniors Gus Sloan and Kirk Ligget. Sloan’s time was 17:09, and he got to go with the Varsity team as an alternate at State.

Ligget’s record was 17:14.

“That was my best score yet, and I am really proud of it,” Ligget said.

For the Lady Bears, the top two were senior Britney Darling and sophomore Lila Hamburg.

Darling went on to State with the

varsity team as the alternate.

Football West High’s freshmen teams played their hearts out, and although the season itself was not a winning one, they learned a lot and are prepared for next season.

The sophomore team had a very gratifying year by ending the season 8-3. Their last game was played against the crosstown rivals the Senior Broncs on October 28. The Bears had a score to settle with the Broncs after losing to them earlier in the season.

“They beat us the first time we played them, and the score was 6-18,” sophomore Stewart Harris explained. “So we went back and beat them, 53-14.”

The West High JV team had

a perfect season up until their last game. But the Broncs had a score to settle with them, beating the Golden Bears on October 30, 1442. Their last game was the first lost of the season.

Junior Blake Boston said, “I was disappointed to break a record that had been going on for so long, but we are capable of winning and doing better.”

“Next year we are going to win us a State Championship,” Boston boldly predicts.

Soccer Girls Lady Bears JV’s soccer team played the Great Falls Lady Bison and the CMR Lady Rustlers as their last opponents of the season.

On October 15, they beat

Great Falls 5-0. Then they went on the next day to cream CMR with the dominating score of 8-0.

Boys West High JV Bears went into their last weekend against the same advisories, and they also won both games.

Their win over the Great Falls Bison was 1-0, and they also creamed the CMR Rustlers with the impressive score of 5-0.

Volleyball West High Lady Bear’s freshman A Volleyball team had a record of 22-3 win this year.

Their last match was on October 30, and they played the CMR Lady Rustlers, losing to them in three games.

The freshman B team had on overall record of 14-8. They also

The toes shoes sensations have been growing over the past 5 years. submitted photo

Everybody’s going footloose!!

The new toeshoes fab has really caught on.

Jessica Moody junior staffwriter

Toeshoes, are the new allpurpose evolutionary shoes, designed by Vibran Fivefingers from the ideas of Marco Bramani and Robert Fliri.

The design was created to give the owner the feeling of being barefoot while still giving better support for the feet.

The feet are the most important support of the body. Shoes support the feet. Because of this, most shoe designs surround the foot in an overprotective cushioning that leaves the foot weak and under developed, creating a greater possibility of injury to a foot.

Toeshoes have become the solution to this problem. The fabric gives the foot a range of motion that gives it strength, and the designed soles develop the feet to their full potential.

Junior Kelsey Holle said, “The most interesting thing [about toeshoes] is probably the soles because of how they shape to the foot and make walking feel effortless.”

Plus, wearers don’t have to

tie any laces.

Sophomore Kean Haunt reveals from his experience wearing toeshoes that they are “comfortable [as well as] good for your feet and legs.”

Haunt states, “I really like to trail run and climb [in them].”

These little wonders will put foot performance on top of its game.

The things users can wear them for seem endless: rock climbing, running, hiking, everyday uses, and much more. The only thing they do not hold up to are snow and rain because of the mesh, just like the standard shoe.

Junior Cody Collins says he “likes to use them for rock climbing and running.”

The most difficult part about the toeshoes is picking out a style from an assortment of colors and foot coverage. Colors range from green to purple, plain to camouflaged. The coverage can be the whole foot or in a style similar to flats.

Within Billings students can obtain these unique shoes at The Base Camp on Grand Ave. , Scheels or www.vibranfivefingers.com.

played the CMR Lady Rustlers for their last match on October 30 and also lost all three games. But they did give the season their all.

The sophomore Lady Bears Volleyball team won their last match against CMR in three games. Their overall record is a commendable 14-6.

JV Lady Bears Volleyball team have a track record of 19-5 overall. They also beat CMR in the last match by winning all three of the games played.

“We had a great season,” junior Ruby Hahn said. “We made a lot of good memories together, especially before the games, like the dance parties we had in the locker room.”

You’ve just been served!

Lady Bears place second in AA State Volleyball State Championship.

Kaydee Oldham Copy Editor

Lady Bears were hoping for a big win.

The volleyball season has wrapped up, and coach Beth Tocci is pleased with the final outcome for the team.

Pack the Place in Pink was a game at Skyview High School at the end of October.

The purpose of Pack the Place in Pink is to raise awareness for breast cancer and to donate to breasts cancer research.

West won the game.

After battling all the way back through the losers bracket for a chance at the AA Championship, the Lady Bears lost to the Helena High Lady Bengals to place sec-

ond.

“State altogether was a challenge, but I think we pulled through as best we could! Everyone wants first place, but I am just happy we beat Glacier in 5 games to get into the championship,” senior Cherina Walen explained.

“I think state went well.

We still did extremely well, placing second. My favorite memory was smashing Cherina’s Doritos bag that blew up all over her,” senior Janiel Olson said.

Olson went on to say she is open to playing college volleyball.

“I love volleyball. It is all I know. I just finished my sixteenth season and strictly love being around the kids,” Tocci mentioned about her-

self and players.

28-6 was the Lady Bear’s overall record. Three losses were to the Lady Bengals.

Tocci thinks that they must have just been meant to win.

The five seniors of the team are Walen, Olson, Jenna Fiscus, Jessyka MacDonald and Allie Mahon.

“The season was amazing. My favorite memory was the hotel rooms, team dinners and bus rides with the girls,” Walen said.

“Volleyball is my passion, ands I encourage as many girls as possible to play because it is the most energetic and fun sport out there,” Walen stated.

OPINION

College stress: it’s not your friend

Hey Seniors! Don’t let the stress of applications ruin your last year of high school!

Michaila Grant senior staffwriter

This is an article for all the seniors who are, right about now, feeling the stress of applying for college and scholarships, are feeling completely overwhelmed with everything that has to go into it.

It is for the seniors who are completely sick of hearing, “Where are you going to go to college?”

“What do you want to do with your life?” “How are you going to afford that?”, or have seriously considered lying and saying that you are actually a junior in high school so that you won’t have to answer any of these questions.

If you don’t fit these criteria, stop reading now.

In our society, it is

expected that most everyone will go to college even though a good number who go then drop out, deciding it is not right for them.

The system that we have now drills into our heads that we can’t do anything if we

college.

In recent polls, 28 percent of people admit to having a degree that has nothing to do with their job.

Still, we are nagged by parents, teachers, counselors, random family, friends,

The reality is that there are many things that we can do without a degree, and many people do not even go into the field of study that they study in college. don’t have a degree; the reality is that there are many things that we can do without a degree, and many people do not even go into the field of study that they study in

distant relatives and sometimes those really annoying class-mates to apply everywhere, do everything and figure out what we want to do with our lives until we

are pushed to the breaking point.

I believe that people should stop hounding us so that we can breathe and take a look at what we want to do.

What you initially go into college for might not be what you leave with a degree in.

We are only seniors in high school and we do not need to have our whole lives planned out no matter what others tell us. We have time to see what we are interested in.

So seniors, my advice to you is to just breathe. Ignore all the voices telling you you have to plan out your life.

Try to tread water or just sit back and enjoy the year as your life totally rushes past you this last year of high school.

One vote can make a difference

The next generation of voters needs to get involved.

Ashlynn Andersen Opinion Editor

It’s quick. It’s relatively painless. And it’s the

BILLINGS WEST HIGH SCHOOL

ARTS EDITOR Sally Weinand

FEATURES EDITOR Kelsey Munsell

NEWS EDITOR

Vickie Contreraz

OPINION EDITOR

Ashlynn Andersen

SPORTS EDITOR Tawni Palin

COPY EDITORS Madi Miller Kaydee Oldham Emily Sample

WEB EDITOR

KODIAK 2201 ST. JOHN’S AVENUE

ADVISER

BILLINGS, MT 59102

Caaren Cerise

PRINCIPAL

Dave Cobb

STAFF WRITERS Angelica Bauer Katherine Cole Davis Connelley Jalen Creech Andy Eagle Zoey Elias Tessa Fendley Michaila Grant Ryan Klette Madi Miller Jessica Moody Keely Patton Nikki Sanders Kendra Schaff

Kelsey Munsell

PHOTO MANAGER Katie Parish

The Billings West High Kodiak is an open forum for student expression that aims to publish information suitable for West High students of all ages.

Letters to the editor must be signed; the Editorial Board reserves the right to edit letters for length, accuracy and repetition.

Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service

generally the best, legal way every age, including young young people who do vote do to get your voice heard. adults, are excited to have not take the time to look into I’m talking about voting, and take advantage of doing. the candidates and issues an act that the majority of A passive voting body is being voted on, instead young people in America a dangerous thing that can casting blind votes that may seem to have little to no allow its government to fail, or may not correlate with interest in doing. but by voting and taking an their beliefs.

According to the U.S. active role in government, There have been some Census, during the 2008 citizens can make known the steps taken to help increase presidential election, one that issues that are most voter turnout in the younger appealed to many young important to the American population, including many voters, only 48.5 percent of public, choosing officials that colleges giving their students 18-to 24-year-olds voted. will address these issues in Election Day off to In 2006, a encourage mid-term them to election year, vote.

As Americans, we are given the only 22.1 Absenpercent of tee ballots incredible privilege of choosing people in this that voters the leaders of our country. age group fill out and v o t e d , mail in lieu Montana especially gives its demonstrating of going to the sad fact the polls people the ability to choose many that a good h a v e public officials who, in other deal of young become people cannot v e r y states, are chosen for them. manage to popular, in take time out Montana of their day to especially. perform their civic duty and the best way possible for the Even at West High, vote.

American people. students are given the As Americans, we are As young people, we are opportunity to register to given the incredible privilege oftentimes so overwhelmed vote in their social studies of choosing the leaders of our with our own lives that being classes if their eighteenth country. Montana especially politically aware and birthday falls before Election gives its people the ability to politically active takes a back Day. choose many public officials seat to school, friends and So, to all my fellow who, in other states, are other activities. When given young Americans, take the chosen for them. the choice, most students initiative and make your The ability to choose the would probably choose an voice heard! Your vote may leaders, lawmakers, and extracurricular activity or count more than you think. justices that help run our downtime over schlepping to county and our state should the polls on Election Day. be something that people of Also, many of those

The third president, Thomas Jefferson considered Thanksgiving to be completely ridiculous.

•

• So apparently turkeys have heart attacks. When the Air Force was doing some testing and they broke the sound barrier a field of turkeys dropped dead.

• About 40 million green bean casseroles are served on Thanksgiving.

• The very first Thanksgiving lasted three days.

junior staffwriter

• Turkeys were among the first animals in America to be domesticated.

Andy Eagle

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Thanksgivings Fun Facts

Jessica Moody junior staffwriter