CMR Stampede March 2015

The Stampede

Next stop: State Girls basketball advances to state tournament for first time since 2012 c.m. russell high school great falls, mont. march 12, 2015 vol. 49, issue 8

An open forum for student expression

www.rustlernews.com

The Stampede

The Stampede staff strives to produce a publication that is relevant to the CMR student body while maintaining journalistic standards. We help to provide a free exchange of ideas and establish a student voice in the school community.

2014-2015 STAFF

CONTENTS 1 - Cover photo by Peyton Fulbright 2 - Table of Contents NEWS 3- Peyton’s column, GFPS sub shortage 4- Facility updates, Samantha Sipes 5- Dissections OPINION 6- Editorial, Laura’s column 7- SYM FEATURES 8- Kloppel’s last year 9- Prom at Pat O’Connell’s house, Danielle Potts CENTER 10-11- Siblings of CMR FEAURES CONT. 12- Pet peeves 13- Sleep and technology ENTERTAINMENT 14- Stuff 3.0, Cascade of Talent 15- Soundtrack to life 16- Books from the past SPORTS 17-Throwback Wranglers 18- Spring sports preview 19- Rustler Athlete, Stats BACKPAGE 20- Teachers who “live” at CMR

editor-in-chief peyton fulbright

online editor tony lynes

visual content editor tom gruner

news/opinion editor laura marsilio

features/ entertainment editor olivia rudio

sports editor

lindsay martinez

advertising manager jaylynn mitchell

staff

drew brennan jesse whiteman elea roberts katelyn smith allison hanson april hummel nate johnson shannon o’neil sarina calaman amanda cornwall carli dieruf tamara miller clara mcclain jara wilkinson iris kaiser

adviser

beth britton

principal

dick kloppel

TOP LEFT: Seniors Shelly Walker and Dylan Lavalley have their first dance after being crowned Prom King and Queen. TOP MIDDLE: Before they got into prom, students line up throughout the airport. TOP RIGHT: Devin Cichosz BOTTOM LEFT: Pat O’Connell photographs couples at his house before Prom. BOTTOM RIGHT: Photos by Beth Britton.

Editorial Policy The Stampede -- produced by journalism classes at C.M. Russell High School -- is a public forum for all voices on campus. These voices include the students, parents, faculty and the community at large.

The opinions and views in this publication are not necessarily those of the Stampede staff, the student body, CMR employees or the school administration.

The Stampede strives to cover the news accurately and fairly; however, when a mistake is made, a correction will be printed in the following issue. All writers are responsible for the content of their articles.

Editors will edit all copy to be free of plagiarism and libel, and all writers will double-check their facts before publication.

Letters to the editor and guest essays are welcome. Letters are limited to 200 words, and essays 350 words. All submissions must be signed and include a phone number so authenticity

can be verified. The editors and/or adviser reserve the right to edit all letters for grammar and spelling as well as content that may include profanity, be libelous, obscene or not meet general editorial guidelines.

Anonymous letters are not accepted. Submissions can be dropped off in room 326 or e-mailed to: stampede@gfps.k12. mt.us.

The Stampede maintains membership in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, the Journalism Education Association and Quill and Scroll.

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

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NEWS

3

District faces lack of substitute teachers

Editor-in-Chief

peytonfulbright

by jesse whiteman, staff writer The school district is facing an impending financial burden in the form of the working hours of substitute teachers.

“Due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), we can only work our teachers four days a week, under a 30-houra-week threshold,” said Brenda Dockter, the Great Falls Public Schools sub clerk. “That’s not the choice of the school district.”

Dockter said that the guidelines set by the ACA have caused potential substitutes to search for jobs that provide more financial security.

“I think that people are taking jobs that are day to day.

They want that residual job, that residual income,” she said.

“There are higher paying jobs out there.”

The ACA has set a threshold of work hours in which employers must provide health insurance, a request that the district cannot meet.

“They look for other employers that offer health insurance because we will not be able to provide that,” she said.

Dockter said that she tries to have every room in the district filled by a teacher. The placing of each teacher is determined by Dockter, and the preferences of each sub are taken into consideration.

“Some subs have preferences: some prefer elementary while others will only work secondary,” she said.

However, if no subs are available to fill a classroom, Dockter said that she combines classes together, has student teachers sub, or uses other aides.

Substitute teacher Jeff Brainard said he has barely noticed any change as he is part of “a select group.”

This “group” is called Class I substitutes. A sub must maintain a positive record from teachers and receive extra training in order to become certified. These teachers can work five days a week and earn added benefits when working at any of the three classified Title I elementary schools: Longfellow, Whittier, and West.

“I don’t really go through the regular sub stuff,” Brainard said in reference to his Class I status. “The subbing thing works out really well for me. I like it. I wanted to use what I went to school for at least to some extent.”

The music education graduate said that being a substitute teacher fills up his days – unlike his other job as a landlord.

“I totally appreciate that it’s day to day and I can choose not to work with no consequences. Being a landlord is

An empty podium has slowly become an increasing sight at C. M. Russell High School as the school district faces a shortage of substitute teachers. Photo by Jesse Whiteman.

a lonely gig. Being around you guys and the community keeps me going,” Brainard said. “I could have all the money in the world, and it would only make me rich and lonely.”

One of Brainard’s good friends was a hefty influence in his decision to maintain his job in the school district.

“When he moved away, it really took a gigantic chunk out of my life, and that’s when being around people at school became really important,” he said.

A situational intervention also brought Hakeem Samuels, an elementary substitute, into district work.

“I worked at the bagel shop before it closed. A teacher who was a frequent costumer and he told me I’d make a good teacher,” Samuels said. “I want to help people.”

Samuels said that had said teacher not have encouraged him to substitute teach, he would have no idea what he would be doing.

“I don’t think it would’ve been substituting,” he said.

“Kids are the future so it’d be cool to say I taught the president of the United States.”

He is currently working on his generals at Great Falls College-MSU and is soon moving to Mississippi. He said that his experience has opened up a new career option to him.

“It’s cool to see how personalities develop at a young age,” Samuels said.

But, with this school year being his first, and consequently his last, his work week was limited to only four days.

“From the sub aspect, I don’t really agree with [the ACA limitations,]” he said. “If the kids want me to come in on a fifth day, I’m going in regardless.”

I like to think I have some style. I care about the way I look, and for good reason. While every piece of clothing I wear is a calculated decision, the most important element to my fashion is my hair. Because of how much I love my hair, I am filled with an all-consuming inner rage when people say stupid things about it, so I’m going to set some things straight.

First, time for a little history lesson. It’s called a pompadour. It’s a slicked back hairstyle, but it goes up then back, forming a little bump. You can wear a pomp with or without a part, but I generally part on my right side. The most famous pomp belongs to Elvis Presley.

Now that you know what a pomp is, it’s time to cover what isn’t a pomp. John Travolta in “Grease?” That’s an elephant trunk. Sides shaved bare like Mackelmore?

That’s an undercut, even if you grow the top out long enough slick up and back. To be a pomp, you need sides

An individual perspective

by jesse whiteman, staff writer Substitute teaching took a downfall for an anonymous teacher, who has sought and found employment elsewhere, when a cap on the workable week changed and became enforced.

“I stopped subbing because they cut our hours from full time to only hour days a week,” the former sub said.

“We already only make $65 a day which if you calculate it out hourly wise, is only around eight or nine dollars an hour.”

It was said that the amount of work days was cut down from five to four so the school district could avoid offering unpayable benefits.

“The school district simply can’t afford to offer health insurance to substitutes. If they cut the one day out of their week, they wouldn’t be required to offer health insurance to the subs.”

Another reason he gave for leaving the job was the lack of preparatory time in the classroom.

“They required us to come up only about 15 to 20 minutes before the first bell which wasn’t nearly enough time to sit down, read the lesson plans, make changes as necessary, and frankly most importantly, figure out what we were actually teaching,” he said.

A final complaint given was that he was not given the opportunity to become a more “serious educator.”

“The pay as a sub was never very high, but at least I was in the school system. That was enough to ignore the poor pay.”

slicked back and the top up and back.

If you want to really anger a greaser, go ahead and insist that they use a gel. In case that sarcasm went over your head, please stop referring to it as gel. Gel doesn’t work the way we need, so we use pomade. Pomade is a wax or oil-based product that never dries. That means throughout the day, one can comb and restyle at any time.

With gel, you cannot do this. It makes it flake and the gel loses all of its hold. Also because pomade is essentially just grease, it doesn’t wash out in one wash like gel would.

Your hair’s natural oils remove it over the course of a few days.

Because pomade never dries, it makes the pompadour into a living, breathing monster of a hairstyle. It flows, it bounces, it moves. You will recomb throughout the day, and that’s part of the fun.

Until next time, pomp hard and stay greasy.

KEY CLUB Have a wonderful prom and be safe, happy and healthy!

Meeting Mondays at 4 p.m in room 325

4 news

3.12.15 The Stampede

Great Falls Public Schools Superintendent Tammy Lacey talks and discusses with faculty about ideas for possible repairs on district buildings at a meeting in Bill Williamson Hall on Feb. 25. Photo by Tom Gruner.

Educators seek grant to repair our schools for the future Meetings held to determine future of GFPS educational facilities

by laura marsilio, news/opinion editor A collective groan sounds as a picture of a small pipe filled with lime appears.

Realizing that this pipe is a part of the large network of piping that brings water to district drinking fountains gives an uneasy feeling to those in attendance.

“This building has 50-year-old issues,” principal Dick Kloppel said.

Faculty around the district held a meeting on Feb. 25 to discuss the increasing issues facing the district’s buildings. The district may get a multi-million dollar bond in order to fix these problems. It would allow for better buildings and less structural failures. The issues that plague the buildings include asbestos, boilers, bad flooring, uneven doors, electrical work, and fire alarms.

“You can see daylight through [the cracks] in certain places,” he said.

One of the oldest buildings within the district is Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art which was built in 1896, and was originally a high school. With a large technological advancement over the last 120 years, Great Falls Public Schools Superintendent Tammy Lacey says that most of the buildings in the district were never meant to hold modern technology.

“Our buildings are built so well that WIFI can’t get through,” Lacey said, laughing.

With a large array of wires coming from the computers, there also comes an increase in possible fire hazards. C.M. Russell High School, however, is not the only school that is facing million dollar problems.

“We’re starting to worry about Memorial Stadium,” Lacey said.

The football stadium that both Great Falls High School and CMR use as a home field is in need of an update. The stands that are filled with hundreds of students and parents each year is starting to crack. The overall infrastructure of the field is beginning

to fail, and fixing it is on the list for future plans. Some problems from previous years still need to be fixed. One of the complications is the pipe that burst last year outside by the industrial building. The burst led to a day without working water for CMR students.

“The pipe [from last year] is still leaking toward the fire hydrant,” Kloppel said.

CMR’s practice field has also shifted over the last few years. Originally the track and the field were on the same level, but now the track sinks down a foot from the actual field. The concrete in the building is also giving way, which is creating problems. The concrete, which is supposed to be holding up the building is instead being stabilized by the rusty rebar within the foundation. Lacey hopes to fix these problems while creating an optimal learning environment for students.

“We don’t want kids to just be ready for college, but for their careers also,” she said.

With the grant these problems would be able to be properly addressed. The students and faculty would no longer have to worry about possible structural failures. Lacey believes addressing these issues will increase the chance of a change, and allowing the community to put their input will give an opportunity to make the entirety of the population to be proud. Better facilities would create a happier and more efficient work place.

“We want [teachers] to be proud to work in the facilities,” Lacey said.

Overall, the school is in good condition. Kloppel thanks the future thinking that the designers and builders had when constructing CMR. With their modern day architecture the school will last for years to come. Its problems cannot be forgotten, however.

“Usually people forget about CMR because it’s newer. They think no renovations are needed, but our ‘new’ high school is 50 years old. It needs to be fixed,” Kloppel said.

A year later, friends reminisce about Samantha Sipes

by carli dieruf, staff writer Losing someone that is important to you is one of life’s most difficult things to deal with. Family and friends, even strangers who had only seen their face a few times, suddenly become lost and confused. March 6 marks a date that struck many hearts at our school.

Samantha Sipes, a senior last year, was killed in a car wreck on Frontage Road.

Senior Lane Jones flashes back to the first day that he met Sipes.

“We met at Mizpah, a church camp, and that is where we became best friends,” Jones said.

After the accident, Jones made sure he practiced his religion more often.

“It strengthened my faith. It really made me ask why for a long time. I just didn’t understand, but then I realized I needed to deal with these things, realize that stuff happens,” Jones said.

Senior Trevin Thompson agrees that so much has changed since the accident.

“Just about everything has changed,” Thompson said.

“I used to go to YOUth Group just because of a small crush and for the fun of it. After what happened, the reason I went was actually for the religious aspect. It changed me.”

Along with Jones, Thompson also was a close friend of Sipes.

Thompson admits to having a small argument with Sipes and they actually stopped talking for a while because of it. Days before the accident, Thompson said he felt different and had a sudden urge to apologize to Sipes because of the things that happened, which he also said were silly and not worth fighting over.

“I apologized to her a few days before the accident, and that hit hard. If I hadn’t done that, this would have been even harder for me,” Thompson said. “It was some sort of sign, it was amazing, the feeling I had when I knew I needed to say ‘I’m sorry’.”

When Jones is questioned about his daily routine, it made him flash back to great times.

“I keep an old school photo she gave me. It was from her freshman year, I think. I keep it in my wallet every single day,” Jones said. “I also have a rock with an angel

on it. I gave it to her a few days before the accident, [and] her sister made sure to get it to me afterwards.”

Like Jones, Thompson also keeps items that remind him of Sipes. He keeps a flower that is similar to one that Sipes had on her rear view mirror, along with a bracelet that he wears every day.

“I remember being in Sam’s car, and I always wanted that flower. I asked her for it multiple times, but she always said ‘I can’t, my friend gave it to me’. It drove me crazy. After the accident, of course I got one. It reminds me of her every day,” Thompson said.

Sipes had little things that each person agreed were the best about her.

“Her smile. She definitely had the cutest smile out of any girl I’ve ever seen. It brightened up a whole room,” Jones said. “She was an amazing person, and she will always be remembered for her personality.”

Thompson agrees that her smile was the thing that no one could ever forget.

“You couldn’t help but smile when she did, you saw her and she would flash a smile and it was inevitable to make your day.”

news 5

DISSECTION 3.12.15 The Stampede

Students explore the world of biology through open dissections

TOP RIGHT: Sophomores Eryn Frahm and Melissa Worley begin to dissect a fetal pig in Nathan Gregier’s Biology 1-2 class.

BOTTOM: Sophomores Kendra Scherrer, Meridith Depping, Kaylee Olson, Taryn Dawson, seniors Jose Steffanlo, Audra Maddox and teacher Christine Sundley work on starfish dissections, one of 14 Biology 3-4 dissections.

Photos by Drew Brennan and Beth Britton.

by drew brennan, staff writer Step one is to cut off the skin, then through the thin, cold flesh, and find where the motionless heart is while holding back vomit as formaldehyde rushes into your nostrils.

Biology 1-2 and 3-4 classes have been busy at work dissecting an array of different species ranging from roundworms to fetal pigs.

Teacher Christine Sundly and her Biology 3-4 classes have completed over half of the 14 dissections scheduled for this school year.

Sundly said about $1,000 was spent on specimens this year. This was also the first year in which a lab fee of $10 was introduced to the class, giving Sundly the financial resources to buy better specimens. The sharks this year cost $9 each, with a grand total of $376 just on sharks.

“The dissections have been so much better this year.

The specimens we got are just more mature. Either the specimens are better or your all going to be surgeons,” Sundly said.

Not only are the specimens expensive, on gloves alone Sundly said she spends around $250 a year.

Sundly said dissections provide a way to look at anatomy comparatively in order to learn more about the physiology of living organisms starting from the bottom of the phylogenetic tree and moving up.

“I hate when people say humans are the smartest, we don’t know what dolphins and crayfish are thinking,” she said.

The main difference between Biology 1-2 and 3-4 dissections is that there are no mammals in Biology 3-4 and Biology 1-2 is closer to studying human anatomy.

Junior Maren Olson is in Sundly’s fifth period Biology 3-4 class.

“It’s really interesting being able to look into an animal and see how we are related to all of the different species.

Some organisms that are so different looking from us have basically the same type of structures and processes as us. We really are one big family going back millions of year,” Olson said.

Olson said that her favorite animal to dissect, so far, is the starfish.

“They are my favorite animal. I also really love spongebob and it has Patrick Star in it,” she said.

While Sundly has no least favorite dissection, she does have a favorite.

“It has to be the shark. It’s the smelliest and we utilize it really well by looking at all the structures,” she said.

OPINION Out with the old, in with the new

6

Brass intimidation

A great adventure during AA Band Festival 2015

Want versus need. It always seems to be those two words.

During CMR’s 50th year, those words have come across quite a number of times.

Infrastructure concerns have taken center stage, and the district is holding community meetings at Longfellow, Roosevelt, and Great Falls High, to help decide the future Artwork by Shannon O’Neil of the district’s school buildings.

CMR, built in 1964, has been considered the “new school” and and the track by Jack Johnson Pride Field. It needs to be leveled put off to the side like anything else new. No one assumes that with the football field to help prevent injuries. The roofs of the one of the youngest buildings in the district would need fixes, Auto Tech building, Bill Will, and the main building all have but there’s more than meets the eye in this case. leaks that can’t be found.

After 50 years of running heaters, sinks and toilets, We believe the district needs to take care of our school and slamming doors open and shut, CMR is finally starting to show think about what’s beyond what people can see. And we’re its age. Out of the three boilers, for a short period of time only pleased to see Superintendent Tammy Lacey leading an inone worked; now the other two are running as they should. depth discussion of the infrastructure issuesfacing the district.

A $50,000 project to fix the plumbing has been in Students say we need better vending machine progress since the pipe broke out by the jock lot. From food, or more TV’s in the Commons, or more green Also by the jock lot, the stairwell that leads to the and gold throughout the school. Count how many point of view cracks you find in the floor whether it be inside or gym breezeway looks as it should. But go down the stairs and take a look underneath at the expanding outside. We encourage community members to get crack beneath the surface and you’ll be surprised by what you involved as the district works to maintain our buildings. see.

Look at the cracks in the walls, the broken plastic barriers In October, the crack was patched and good to go. Now, outside the windows, and feel how uneven the floor is in both five months later, the crack is once again visible and still breezeways. Just because you can’t physically see the damage growing. Who knows how big it’ll be in eight or 10 months. It’s doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. now considered a safety hazard, according to Principal Dick Yes it would be nice to have more televisions and better Kloppel. food. Just know that those concrete pillars that you most likely Winter can be chilly because the heating system needs new thought were decoration go more than 60 feet underground valves. Each valve is $7,000. Not just one needs to be replaced; down to bedrock. but quite a few. The total cost to fix the heaters would be more CMR is not close to falling apart any time soon. But there than $14,000. are little details that over time have progressively worsened Along with those issues, Kloppel pointed out problems and need to be fixed before more damage happens in the with the shifting concrete in the foundation, the water heater coming years.

News/Opinion Editor

lauramarsilio

OUR

The overwhelming stupidity of the Oklahoma legislative committee is fascinating. Recently, a bill was approved that will cut funding on the teaching of AP U.S. History in the state of Oklahoma and eventually Georgia, which is currently fighting for the bill. The reason for this lack of funding, according to the Oklahoma legislative committee, is that AP U.S. History emphasizes “what is bad about America” instead of focusing on this “perfect” American spirit.

Wake up America. We’re not a flawless nation. This country was built with a lot of blood and loss, and the history is not pretty. We grow up believing that Columbus discovered America, that the Pilgrims and Native Americans were besties, and that the Boston Tea Party tried to help the “outrageous” taxes that were bestowed on them by the British. Also, spoiler alert: George Washington never actually chopped down a cherry tree.

These misconceptions have plagued young American minds for 200 years. My naive self still believed in them up until last year when I took teacher Burke Allen’s AP U.S. History course. Taking important learning opportunities like that away from students is not right. It probably goes against something in the Constitution, right?

Old, white Republican men shouldn’t be able to dictate our education just because they don’t believe in the actual history of the United States. Sorry to break it to them, but the course teaches the real, grueling, and painful history of our country. There’s no sugar coating in the real world.

The truth hurts, but I think that’s the point. We need to learn from our mistakes to ensure we don’t repeat history. If we take away part of our history, we’ll never learn. America did make a lot of mistakes, but it’s the baby of the world. England would be

by laura marsilio, news/opinion editor One band room. More than 100 kids. A bunch of instruments scattering the ground. Welcome to AA Band Festival 2015.

On the morning of March 2 the festival commenced. Walking onto the stage you see many new faces and your only goal is to find your name tag. The nerves start to set in once you hear everyone start to warm up. Everyone always tries to play one another up, trying to prove who the better player is and who is more worthy of the grand solos.

The first day was all about learning to create a decent sound together. My first day, however, consisted of getting used to the amazing, yet very loud, playing from Senior’s first trumpet. Dr. Scott Hagen, our conductor, started to teach us the basics of working collectively. After spending almost a collective five hours playing on the first day we finally went home. During this time I got to know the two guys that I was hosting, Jack and John. Easy names to remember and, to my relief, easy to get along with.

That night we had our individual concerts where we heard how each band sounded by themselves.

Intimidation and admiration were some of the feelings that I felt as the band we were paired with played.

The second day all of us entered with a newfound determination. Hagen spent the morning preparing us for David Maslanka, the composer of “Give us this Day.” During break, all of us discussed the nervousness of knowing that the actual composer would be helping us.

Maslanka was probably the most interesting person I have ever met. One thing he said to us was, “You can’t play the music. You have to let the music play you.” Even though all of us already knew this, we were inspired to play the music in a more complex manner.

That night so much emotion was spilled into the music, and you could feel how everyone had changed.

Even if it was AA Band Festival, it wasn’t just a time to relax. A lot of hard work and passion were put into one of the best concerts I think I’ve ever had. shaking its head if rebellious teenage America refuses to accept its childish mistakes and grow up.

Students in Oklahoma and other states such as Georgia and South Carolina, which are trying to pass the bill, have lead multiple strikes in order to stop this educational halt from happening. I feel like this would be an obvious indicator to the legislative committee that students don’t want their learning taken away.

It’s almost as if there’s a big sign for them to read saying “stop censoring our history.”

Thanks for taking away education for the youth.

Even though we are just some teenagers, one day we will be running this country. We should be able to be in charge of our own learning, not the government.

Maybe in a few decades this argument will be a part of the AP U.S. History and us “children” can laugh about the stupid mistake that the Oklahoma legislative committee made passing this bill.

The Stampede 3.12.15

Speak Your Mind Do you believe in luck?

It depends. Say winning the lottery, that’s luck. And There’s no such making a game winning shot in a basketball game. thing as luck. It’s being fortunate That’s luck, too. I don’t think that when a relative dies it’s bad luck. That’s just what happens in life. to have a chance,

working hard to achieve things. It’s I don’t believe in luck. Luck can be when preparation your friend or it cannot be. I believe meets opportunity in chance. and you take it.

-Trisha Elliott, 9

I believe in luck. Lucky stuff happens to me, lucky itself is -Carrie Lycett, 10 really just a word, I don’t believe in luck, but I believe though. in coincidences and

-Michael Michelsen, 9

probability.

-Jake Fisher, 11

Luck is something people invented to have an excuse for achieving or not achieving things by chance. It’s all in the imagination.

-Kelan Kropp, 11

-Katie Lamping, 12

I believe in luck and karma. What you give the world, you’ll get back whether it’s good or bad.

-Liz Thomas,12

I believe in karma and that You make your own luck. everything happens for a reason.

Hard work and perseverance is what determines how well What you give out you receive back, but no luck. you do, not luck.

-Alyssia Salois, 10 -Brandon Rogers, 12

The

opinion 7

LUCK of the

IRISH

by amanda cornwall, staff writer Ah, the luck of the Irish.

You’d imagine a teenager would be pretty happy to be Irish, what with all that luck on their side, right? WRONG. Well, at least wrong for me.

I’m about 96 percent Irish, I was born with red hair, green eyes, a skin tone so light I look like a ghost, and more freckles than I’d care to admit. Yep, I’m Irish through and through, yet I have the WORST luck in the world. I can’t even walk without tripping over air. I feel like it gets worse around Saint Patrick’s Day, to be honest. Maybe I’m like, a reverse leprechaun; rather than gaining luck around St. Patty’s Day, I lose all of mine.

My parents always go on and on about not doing drugs and not taking the car without permission, and not going to parties and no drinking, and they never have to worry about it, wanna know why? I have the worst luck an Irish teenager could possibly have. I’ll never sneak out, or take the car, or go get drunk at a party, because I would get caught the moment I even thought about doing it.

Now, despite all of this complaining, I suppose there are some good things that balance it out. I don’t like my natural red hair color, but I do like my very green eyes. I don’t like how naturally pale I am, I don’t like the leprechaun stereotypes because I’m so short and angry, I don’t like all of my freckles despite how many people think they’re adorable….okay so, maybe the bad outweighs the good. But, there is one final thing I like about being Irish. My family.

They’re loud, obnoxious, annoying, angry, odd, and there’s far too many cousins to count, but they’re my loud, annoying, odd family and I absolutely love it. My favorite part of the year is when we have our annual family reunion every summer and the entire family stays at an old girl scout camp for a little while. Sure, it gets loud and the teenagers are always arguing with each other while the little kids are fighting over toys and grandma is shooing the parents out of the kitchen, but when we all stop running around long enough to sit by the campfire and make s’mores, or when we all sit down and play our favorite game (Yahtzee), I can’t help but be proud of my loud, Irish family.

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FEATURES

8

The end of an era Principal Dick Kloppel anounces retirement, seniors reflect on their four years under his guidance

Features Editor

oliviarudio

by nate johnson, staff writer We see him in the Commons. We see him monitoring classrooms. We know he has meetings, and always has something to do. But somehow, someway, he is always available to talk to anyone, at any time, about anything.

Principal Dick Kloppel is many things, but according to senior Brandon Rogers, his most outstanding quality is his massive amount of school spirit.

He calls Kloppel “the embodiment of CMR spirit” and believes “he is what the student section should be.”

Rogers has been in student government for three years, and he has played with the pep band for four. He claims that Kloppel has become much more than a principal to him during the past four years, and has become a sort of father figure. “[He] always offers guidance when you need it,” Rogers said.

While he won’t be here to work with CMR’s new principal, Rogers understands that replacing Kloppel will be a hard job, and the whole school will have a rough time adjusting. For Rogers, it comes down to the fact that students and staff are used to Kloppel’s style, and the new hire “will have to be competent enough to take his spot, but it’s not going to be D-Klopp.”

Rogers believes that Kloppel’s best quality is the fact that “everybody knows you can talk to him.”

Student body secretary Shelly Walker shares that sentiment.

“I like that his door is always open, and he’s always willing to talk,” Walker

said.

Walker, a senior, has been in student government for two years, and this year as a student body officer, she has gotten to know Kloppel very well.

She believes that Kloppel has become such a great principal because he is willing to build relationships with students. He even offered to tutor her in math.

Walker believes that it will be hard for students and staff to adjust to a new principal, and she said that she is glad to be the last class to graduate under Kloppel’s leadership.

“I think that it’s kind of cool that we get to be the last graduating class with Kloppel,” she said.

She would like to see Kloppel honored in some way at the end of the year “for all the hard work he put in,” even though she recognizes that he does not like attention.

She noted Kloppel’s incredible work ethic, stating that she “can’t remember a day when he wasn’t at school.”

Above all, both students respect how humble Kloppel is.

Rogers mentioned the fact that Kloppel is “humble enough to not put himself on a pedestal,” and claims that the man’s most admirable trait is just how reasonable he is.

“He’s just another person. He may be our principal, but he’s just another guy trying to be involved as possible,” Rogers said.

Kloppel will retire at the end of this year, after 15 years as CMR’s principal, and 45 years in education.

Chevy. Toyota. Nissan. Bzz bzz.

Ford. Honda. Chevy. Bzz bzz….green!

My phone has one unread message, but I promise myself not to read it until I’m parked. I get to the next stop light and continue keeping track of every single vehicle that drives by.

Cadillac. Chevy. Is that a…Mercury?

This is a silly little game, but it serves a lifesaving purpose. I still have that unread text on my phone, but after another Chevy drives by I’ve mostly repressed the urge to respond.

Not too long ago, I hate to admit, I would have whipped out my phone immediately to read and maybe even send back a quick response without a second thought; and that’s the worst part. Having a phone has become second nature for most all of the teenage population, so to risk the chance of reading a text while operating a vehicle doesn’t seem

Top: Principal Dick Kloppel smiles as he is honored at this year’s Homecoming coronation. Coronation was a celebration of CMR’s 50 years and honored all principals in the school’s history. Bottom left: Kloppel walks into prom on March 7 at the Great Falls International Airport. Bottom right: Kloppel during this year’s Homecoming parade. He and his wife, Mende, rode with Ed Plass and his wife. Plass was CMR’s 3rd principal and Kloppel’s predecessor. Kloppel began his teaching career in 1970 as a science teacher at Paris Gibson Jr. High. He then taught science and math as well as coaching girls basketball at GFH from 1975-1988. His first administrative position was as principal at Fergus High in Lewistown from 1988-1989, then was Assistant Principal at East Middle School from 1989-1994. He was Principal at East from 1994-2000, before becoming CMR’s principal in 2000. Photos by Peyton Fulbright, Caitlin Soltesz, and Beth Britton.

like a big deal.

Everyone does it—even most adults! But the problem with aligning your actions with the majority is that the majority is still wrong. Texting and driving is something that seems like such a simple task that it’s hard to associate any actual impending danger to it when you’re cruising down the street and think a little LOL couldn’t hurt. And in hindsight it probably won’t.

But it only takes breaking the rule a couple times before it becomes a deadly habit, and believe me it’s a hard habit to kick. I’ve only found remedy to keeping my eyes on the road by checking out the manufacturers of cars passing by and assuming that whenever I get multiple texts in a row, they’re just remind 101 texts from Ms. B. So next time you reach for the phone when you’re behind the wheel, think twice. And don’t forget to buckle up!

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features 9

The Stampede 3.12.15

Potts on a mission

Danielle Potts spends her Saturday afternoons volunteering

Pat O’Connell photographs a group of CMR students before 2015 Prom. Photos by Beth Britton.

PROM PICTURES@Pat’s Following tradition, Pat and Claudia O’Connell open home on prom night to capture memories by sarina calaman, staff writer Prom night is always a night to remember. It is filled with laughs, lots of pictures and nostalgia. That’s especially the case for one Great Falls couple, who have welcomed Rustlers into their home on prom night for three decades.

“I love the kids. It’s just a way to be with them and share prom with them,” photographer Pat O’Connell said. “[It’s about] the joy they get from seeing their pictures, and with Facebook I can read their comments when I put a few online.”

O’Connell and his wife, Claudia, devote several hours annually to prom night pictures, but that’s not how photographer O’Connell started out. He began by taking photos at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, and he has volunteered his time at CMR since 1983.

“A few kids came over and asked for prom photos,” O’Connell said of that first year. “I think what has changed is technology -- I was the only game in town, and now most parents will take their pictures.”

Today, he said many students take prom photos with their phones or digital cameras instead of coming to his

home on prom night. In the beginning, O’Connell used film and gave people Polaroid versions of their pictures.

Claudia considers herself to be the “mom of prom.” She said she spends her time fixing hair, adjusting corsages, and placing boutonnieres. She has even fixed ties and dresses, and one year two couples showed up to their house to get pictures done and did not have time to eat dinner.

She said she made the couples grilled cheese sandwiches.

“I like to really be here for the kids,” she said. “We love experiencing [prom] with the kids.”

Pictures at Pat’s house has become a tradition for many students, but O’Connell admits that attendance has been a hit and a miss. It just depends on the year, he said. One year kids will be waiting in a line and the next there will be just a few kids that show.

This year a few dozen students appeared at his door -all at different times. As for how long he plans to continue the tradition, O’Connell does not know, but he said he wants to provide a fun atmosphere and free photos for those students who will really appreciate it.

by jara wilkinson, staff writer High school is one of the busiest time for most people, most teenagers struggle to find a balance between school, friends, relationships, and jobs.

Senior Danielle Potts maintains her cool for these activities and spends her free time just a little differently.

Danielle has been serving people from the Great Falls Rescue Mission almost every Saturday since Sep. 14, 2013. Although she only spends an hour and a half there every weekend, time adds up.

“I started my freshman year. My sister was volunteering and asked if I would like to join,” Potts said.

A grin appears on her face when she talks about her favorite part of volunteering.

“It’s the greatest feeling when the people you’re helping actually show their appreciation,” Potts said.

To Potts, it’s not just wasting time. She said that volunteering is so much better when you know the people need help.

“Everyone at the mission is a big family.

There’s no such a thing as a stranger,” Potts said.

Mission volunteer board leader, Athena Nedens, she said Potts stands out most because of her heart to serve.

“Danielle is such a sweet girl with a big heart, and I don’t think anyone could ever show her enough appreciation for her time,” Nedens said.

Meeting her in May 2013, Nedens said she has watched Potts make connections with the people who stay at the homeless shelter as well.

“Honestly, Danielle speaks out to me because of her time.

Most teenagers are out hanging with their friends or sleeping.” Nedens said.

“But her.. She’d rather help the people who don’t have money for food. And that really says something,” Its hard to come by people who put those in need before themselves.

And Potts has set a high bar for others who have the same mindset.

Join the STEAM EXPO Sign up at the link below! http://events.gfps.k12. mt.us/?registration

Great Falls High Field House Saturday, April 11 10 a.m.

Scholarship Applications are available in the advisement center

12 features

The Stampede 3.12.15

PET PEEVES “I don’t like seeing kids making out in the hall. They just suck each other’s faces.”

“I don’t need to see people making out at their lockers every day.”

“I don’t like when people have to take three spots to park.”

Weston Stalsburg, 11

Trevor Pepin, 11

Jorden Laira, 9 “Keep your affection for after school. People don’t need to know you’re dating -- you can just tell them.”

Courtney Schroeder, 11

“I hate when people stop dead smack in the hallway. You’re trying to walk to your next class and they stop right in front of you. It really bugs me.” Brandi Aguirre, 12

“My biggest pet peeve is how it seems that we idolize the major sports and how drama, art, and the music department is under the radar.”

“Reckless driving, I don’t want to get hit in our parking lot because of other students’ actions.”

Amanda Gibson, 11

“When people drive recklessly in the parking lot when it’s icy out.

Or even in general it’s annoying.”

Jamie Sandefur, 11

Kaydee Smith, 12

“When people are walking as slow as dead people. Seriously, I’ve seen dead people walk faster than people in this school.”

Remington Frick, 11 “Annoying people in the classroom that are too loud and you can over hear their conversations.”

Amberlie Kuglin, 10

“My pet peeve is lunch time, I hate how they are so short.”

Eryn Frahm, 10

illustrations by shannon o’neil

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“When people think they are cooler than you, and people in class that don’t even try. It’s irritating.”

Taylor Scott, 10

“When people throw things like food during lunch and expect someone else to pick it up for them? I hate it.”

Becca Rutledge, 12

“When people spell everything wrong and don’t care or bother to fix it.”

Adam Agamenoni, 10

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13 features

3.12.15 The Stampede

Technology causes tiredness in teens

by shannon o’neil, staff writer Complete darkness shrouds the cozy oasis of pillows and blankets.

Everything is quiet and calm, and slumber is on its way.

BEEP BEEP BUZZ BUZZ That sound. It alerts even the deepest of sleepers that someone is trying to contact them. So they pick up the phone and continue to check every single social media and game that exists within the home screen of the phone. This can take more than an hour, maybe two, and then it’s time to head back to Slumber Town.

BEEP BEEP BUZZ BUZZ There it is again. And so goes the endless cycle of coming out of your dream-state just to see how many likes on Instagram you got or what’s trending on Twitter.

For teens like senior Gabi Andrews, sleep is hard to come by when there is a phone right next to her bed.

“I go to bed at 9:00 or 9:30, but then I check [all of my social medias],” she said.

“I don’t really go to bed until like 11:00.”

For other teens, like senior Anthony Leathers, sleep comes only after the phone comes out. “[Looking at my phone at night] helps me fall asleep faster,” he said. “I check all of my apps, listen to music and [watch] YouTube.”

So when teens go to bed they don’t actually go to sleep. They’re just going to lay down for a bit with their phone’s light blaring

in their face for a few hours. Then after that, they’ll maybe go to sleep. What does psychology teacher Brian Greenwell have to say about this? “[Using your phone before bedtime] definitely cuts into your sleep,” he said.

“Without sleep, there will be a cognitive difference. You’ll have a hard time learning and a hard time with your memory. The body will go into REM rebound.”

REM rebound happens after periods of sleep deprivation. When a person doesn’t sleep enough to the point where they enter REM sleep, they will not obtain enough REM sleep, at least not enough for the brain.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need at least 8 ½ hours of sleep every night to function best, but only 15 percent of teens reported sleeping that long on school nights. The percentage of U.S. high school students who reported falling asleep in school at least once a week due to not getting the recommended nine hours of sleep per night is 28 percent. The foundation said that to get the proper amount of sleep at night, a teenager should try to avoid the TV, computer and telephone in the hour before they go to bed. And Greenwell agrees.

“Limit your [phone] time. Bed time means bed time. Turn off the notifications on your phone [at night],” he said. “Find a constructive hobby to do [that won’t involve your phone].”

28% of high school children fall asleep while at school once a week or more 14% of high school children arrive late for school at least once a week because they have problems getting up Over half of all teenagers have been driving their car while feeling sleepy (over the last year)

Statistics from National Sleep Foundation and Medical News Today Illustration by Shannon O’neil, staff writer

ENTERTAINMENT

c s a C ade o

14

f

T al e n t

The Stuff 3.0 cast listens to teacher Chris Evans during tech rehearsal (right) and junior Ethan Naranjo practices his monologue (left) on March 5. Photos by Clara McClain.

Drama students raise the bar with Stuff 3.0 by clara mcclain, staff writer Drama teacher Chris Evans is just as, if not more, excited for this year’s Stuff show than the actors themselves. He said he loves having kids show who’s really serious about helping out the drama department.

He was adamant about it not being a talent show that anybody’s grandma gets to come see for free. Instead, it’s a place for students to showcase something that they found and loved during class.

“Stuff is not a lowering of the bar. It’s a little raising of it actually,” Evans said. It’s a show where students get to raise money for their school and show off what they’ve learned in drama class during the year, he added.

Junior Ethan Naranjo has showcased his talent in all three “Stuff” shows, and he said he has loved being in each one.

The best part for him has been the ability to pick out one of his favorite monologues that might be too long to do in class.

His freshman year, he performed a monologue by Charlie Chaplin.

Sophomore year he picked two fairly

intense monologues to present during the show. One was the story of a man who lost his family in the 9/11 attack and the other was a poem written by Shaun Koyczan named “Remember How We Forgot.”

For Stuff 3.0 he has chosen another of Koyczan’s poems called “Shoulders. “ He’s had a lot these past three years and hopes to do a nine-minute piece next year to make his senior year go out in style.

On the other side of “Stuff”, this will be Taylor Potts’ first time performing in the variety show and she’s singing.

For her first solo performance here at CMR, she picked “Summertime Sadness”

by Lana Del Ray because she loves the emotion shown in that song.

So far, she loves being in this variety show. When asked why she decided to do it, Potts said, “I wanted to do it to help raise money for charity, and for a chance to work with other performers.”

This show filled with many talented students, runs March 12-14, with showtimes starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $5.

During dress rehearsals on Feb. 28, dancers, singer Maura Hodges, and an ensemble of dancers from Sole Dance Academy run through their routines. The Cascade of Talent was held on March 1 in the Great Falls High auditorium with a juniors matinee show and a high school evening show. Photos by Tom Gruner.

by tom gruner, visual content editor There’s a first time for everything, and for freshman Maygie Li, this years Cascade of Talent was a great start of something new.

“It was [an] invigorating experience,” Li said. “Good start for [my] freshman year.”

Li said she decided to try out for the show this year because in the past she has had problems with stage fright and she thought this would be a good way to overcome it.

“I’ve had bad stage fright and low confidence these past couple [of] years,” Li said.

“Performing in front of new crowd can really help it.”

Li sang “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King.

The Cascade of Talent is an annual talent show open to the entire community. It consists of a matinee show, which is for younger kids, and an evening show, for high school and up. This year, it was held in the Great Falls High auditorium on March 1.

Sophomore Maryah Schrock also decided to start off with something new this year.

Schrock just started voice lessons this year after being told there’s something there.

“I’ve always been told I have talent, people told me I’m good so I continued it,” Schrock said. “Turned out I love it.”

Both Li and Schrock said they really enjoyed the whole experience.

“Performing in front of a crowd gives you a feeling that’s completely new,” Li said.

entertainment

The Stampede 3.12.15

Soundtrack of my life Enrique Tuipaodos, 9

vergal wil iams, 10

15

by iris kaiser, staff writer Music tastes range from unknown choir groups to more well-known pop singers. Artists create weird and funky music, and there’s no stopping kids from listening. Each and every one of us creates a sort of inner soundtrack that speaks just to us. So, what’s on your play list?

tatjana clark, 11

aaron evans, 12

Favorite Type of Music

Depends on the situation.

All, except some country.

“Literally everything.”

Rock

3 Favorite Artists

Disclosure, School Boy Q, AC/DC

Paramore, Katy Perry, The Angel’s Wings

Beyonce, Falling in Reverse, Jason Mraz

The Amity Afliction, Foo Fighters, The Beatles

3 Favorite Songs

Thunderbird, You and Me, Sandstorm

Take Me to Church, Love Me Like You Do, Spirit Breakout

Somebody, New Perspective, Clint Eastwood

Chicago, My Demons, Youth of a Nation

One Song That Describes You

No song in particular

“You’d have to like, put a lot of songs together, and that’d be me.”

Dear Old Me

Coconut Dracula

AC/DC

Beyonce

Beyonce and Nicki Minaj

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16 entertainment

The Stampede 3.12.15

Blast from the past

A look at the books that helped raised Generation Z

Series of Unfortunate Events

Harry Potter

by olivia rudio, features/entertainment editor

by J.K. Rowling

by Lemony Snicket

These books were strange and impressionable enough to remain in the psyche of all kids who read them well into their most recent years. So much so that whenever they recall the Baudelaire children and their twisted uncle Count Olaf, it’s hard to resist the urge to read the whole series through again. And while most fans would consider themselves disappointed by the less than stellar attempt to adapt the first three books into an embarrassing live action movie, the series gets a chance to redeem itself on the screen as Netflix has secured the rights to all 13 of the novels to make into a TV series.

Goodnight Moon

Junie B. Jones

by Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones was the ultimate sass master. Rest assured, everything that could be said about the first grade was said by her. Jones was always pushing the limits in hilarious ways that could inspire the elementary school readers to break out of their shell and speak their mind, no matter the repercussions waiting on the other side. Her frank manner may have gotten her into trouble, but it always meant a fun time for the reader.

Unlike the Series of Unfortunate Event series, the Harry Potter movie franchise was much more successful in adapting the books onto the silver screen.

With an exception perhaps to the last one, no one wanted to see Deathly Hallows split into two parts if the majority of part one was the trio dancing in tents and listening to the radio. The books, however, remain a magically memorable part of any Generation Z childhood. Obsessions of the series range from memorizing spells, dressing as favorite characters for consecutive Halloweens, and most presently organizing quidditch leagues on college campuses.

by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrations by Clement Hurd

The perfect bedtime story, Goodnight Moon resonates in any kid who had to procrastinate every night before going to bed. In Goodnight Moon, the adorable little rabbit protagonist scours every object and living creature in the room that he can say goodnight to. For most kids this book was used as the last stop stalling technique if they could get their parents to read it to them and buy more time before having to go to sleep.

Magic Tree House

by Mary Pope Osborne

The trials of Jack and Annie were read and loved by many. The great appeal to these stories were that the siblings could travel anywhere, anytime with just one trip to the backyard. Growing up, every kid dreamed of stumbling upon any sort of adventure in their backyard let alone one that would take them to the dawn of dinosaurs, ancient Greece or maybe even a night on the Titanic. Jack and Annie allowed readers to do it all, right in time before dinner.

An unborn baby’s heart starts to beat just 18 days after conception.

That’s just 4 days after a woman misses her first period.

Abortion stops that beating heart.

Before you choose to have an abortion or encourage someone you know to have one, take the time to get the facts.

There are alternatives to abortion.

There have to be.

For free literature about abortion and the alternatives, write to:

Great Falls Right to Life -- 500 Montana Ave. NW -- Great Falls, MT 59404

SPORTS

17

Former Wranglers gathered on Feb. 20 to perform at a basketball game. Their performance included batons, kicklines, and dancing with current Wranglers.

English teacher Danielle Hogan (bottom right) danced in the performance and sophomore Ellie Brennan posed with a former Wrangler at the end of the performance. Photos by Caitlin Soltesz.

Wranglers alumni entertain crowd

Dancers from past years come back together to put on a special half-time show at Feb. 20 girls basketball game

Sports Editor

lindsaymartinez

Wrangler from the class of 1981.

“It was interesting to see how in shape by allison hanson, staff writer “Being able to relive this moment as a they were and how well they picked up After a full day of having her students perform for her, Friday night on Feb. 20 was teenager was so much fun,” Lacey said. “6 routines,” Kuglin said.

English teacher Danielle Hogan’s chance to a.m. practice was the hardest part of it.”

Alongside Lacey was former Wrangler reverse the roles.

“My initial response to this was nervous Nicole Palagi, who danced with the group because I have not done this for 12 years,” for two years. “[It] was a lot of fun. I loved doing it,” said Hogan, a 2003 graduate.

Hogan was a Wrangler for all four years Palagi said.

The fieldhouse was full of cheer and of her high school experience.

“Practices had a lot of time commitments. happiness as the 2014-2015 Wranglers joined Altogether we practiced several hours,” the alumni dancing to “Ice Ice Baby.”

“It was really fun. They talked more than she said. “[It] was so much fun and a good experience. [It] was fun to reconnect with we did,” sophomore Wrangler Amberlie Wranglers from all the different years and Kuglin said. For most of the women, talking to them about their experience with practices perhaps were the hardest part for several weeks. They practiced Tuesday, Wranglers.”

Hogan was joined by Great Falls Public Wednesday, and Friday for two weeks to Schools Superintendent Tammy Lacey, a learn the performance.

I had a column written for this page. It was pretty solid, I thought, and I was about the foul shots during the timeout and crumble under the pressure. Fortunately, ready to have it printed in this issue of the Stampede. missing the shots and losing the game didn’t cross my mind But then, last Thursday night happened, so I’m going to have to save that other When I walked up to the free throw line, the gym was deafening. I don’t think column for a different month. I want to give my version of events from what was I have ever experienced a noise quite like that. I tuned it out though, and worried the craziest game of my life. only about putting the ball through the hoop two times. I thought about how this Of course, the basketball team and I traveled to face Billings Skyview in a playoff was a chance for me to be a hero on a stage I always wanted to succeed on: varsity game March 5. The winner was to advance to the AA State Basketball Tournament basketball. I remembered an article Coach Crosby gave us earlier in the week. The in Butte. This meant that the game would either be the last of my high school career gist of it was that one can be a goldfish who gets paralyzed with fear and lets things or the game that could send me to my first state hoops tournament as a player. happen to it, or a shark who seizes opportunities. I told myself to be a shark.

The game lasted a lot longer than an ordinary contest, I’m guessing to the And it worked. The first shot was way too close for comfort, but it dropped in. excitement of our fans listening on the radio or following on Twitter at home.

The next was a swish to tie the game, and Skyview couldn’t get a basket in the final Lots of people have been commenting to me about my last-second free throw second. We were headed to overtime. shots, so, for the sake of space, I’ll skip forward a little.

The two overtimes we played were just as close as the rest of the game, and I Skyview, with 4.0 seconds to play, missed a free throw to go up by three points, think that our team’s conditioning and mental toughness were the difference. We and we secured the rebound. The ball was passed to me and I was bobbling it refused to give up (“It’s not over until the fat lady sings,” several girls said later.) behind half court. Then, two Skyview girls ran to defend me, with one running into Finally, the buzzer signaled a 69-66 Lady Rustler victory me, knocking me over. The referee called a foul. I would be shooting a one-and-one, Now, we head for Butte for the state tournament. Anything can happen there. meaning if I made the first free throw I would earn a second one. We needed two Win or lose, I will guarantee you that I will not let that game (or any cardiac makes to tie the game at 55. The clock was at 1.7 seconds. problems you may be suffering from following it) go to waste. We’ll be leaving it all The other coach called a timeout to “ice” me. I figure he expected me to think on the court one last time.

18 sports

3.12.15 The Stampede

Here Come TheA quick Spring Sports look into Spring Athletics 2015

Trina Schalin, 12

Peter Grey, 12 Cailtin Soltesz, 12 Photos by April Hummel

Track and Field

Tennis

by april hummel, staff writer When it comes to one’s last year of competing in a sport, it can be bittersweet, but senior Peter Grey said it is more about having fun.

“I am looking forward to it. I have played tennis for two years, and tennis is always really fun,” Grey said of this season.

With memories Grey said that it has always been about having fun, enjoying the people who participate in tennis, and spending time with Coach Anne Bulger. But watching senior Lindsay Martinez play is by far one of his favorite memories.

“I can always remember when Lindsay Martinez wins -- how easy she makes it look,” he said. “It’s more important to have fun than to play tennis.”

by april hummel, staff writer “Schalin on deck!”

When senior Trina Schalin goes up to throw for either discus or javelin, that is what she hears. This year is the beginning of the end of Schalin’s four-year Track and Field career, and the end of being with people who Caelan Brady, 12 share her passion: throwing.

“Going to the meets and talking to other athletes that by april hummel, staff writer share [in] the same passions as Walking on to the field bat in hand, getting ready to you [is great],” Schalin said. play a sport that she loves. For senior Caitlin Soltesz that The lessons Schalin has is one thing her last season as part of the Lady Rustlers learned range from working softball team has to offer. hard to enjoying the ability to “I am looking forward to playing the sport I love with throw for fun. some really great teammates. They are all very talented “In anything it doesn’t and hard working,” Soltesz said. matter how hard you want to be She also said being part of a team and making great the best. You have to work your friends is the best thing that can come from playing softball. way to try [to be] the best, but “They should enjoy all the time they have because it [you] also [have to] enjoy the will go fast. Make friends and lots of memories because journey there,” Schalin said. “I they will last longer than the things you do on the field,” may not PR [personal record] she said at every meet, but I still enjoy With every sport there comes a lesson and a goal, and being able to throw.”

Soltesz said that she hopes they make it to the championship When it comes to the season this year and to always do better. starting, she said she is ready to “You always have another chance to do better, whether start new memories and have a that be at bat or at play in the field. So you have to work great last season. hard every day to make sure you can achieve your best,” “It’s exciting to be back she said. “I want our team to be as successful as we can. with all of my teammates and Hopefully that means winning a state championship.”

Softball

to know we are going to make the most memories we can in this last year together,” she said, adding that she’ll carry those memories for years to come.

Schalin said that her favorite memories are bus rides and overnight trips. “We would walk to the gas station and get a bunch of food and just have fun being in a hotel with all [of] your best friends who share your same joy for throwing.”

Middle distance runner and senior Caelan Brady said he has learned that sometimes just making the coach happy is the best thing you can do.

“I am looking forward to putting a smile on Hennenberg’s face,” he said.

Brady, who runs the 4x4 relay, among other events, said the best part of being a part of Track and Field is being with the team and competing in meets. He also said that he has learned that in life nothing is a guaranteed.

“You aren’t given anything. You have to work for it. Talent will only get you so far,” he said, adding that you have to earn what your goal is.

When it comes to memories, Brady said his favorite was participating in the 4x4 relay team last year at divisionals. For anyone who is considering being part of the Track and Field team this year, Brady said the best thing is to have fun.

3.12.15 The Stampede

How well doyouknow your

Rustler Athlete? by peyton fulbright, editor-in-chief You see them on the field. You seem them in the halls. You see them going to practice, but how well do you actually know them? C.M. Russell High School has one of the most prestigous athletic programs in the state, made up entirely of student athletes. Although they get attention from the media about their games, wouldn’t you like to know what they are really like? In this monthly feature, three in-season athletes will be profiled in a brief Q&A about their personal life.

What’s the most embarassing thing to happen to you?

Earlier this season we were in Bozeman at the Buffalo Wild Wings to eat before the game. I went in to use the bathroom, and when I came out of the stall there was a man washing his hands. It was in the women’s bathroom! I ran out of there at full speed. I think he saw me though in the mirror. After we saw him come out, I went in to wash my hands. By the time I came out, he had left the place.

Are you playing basketball in college?

Just intramural or maybe club.

During a Sunday school class and I was about 14 and my older brother was teaching the lesson and he asked the class if anyone could name any pro’s of having a job, and I said pro basketball player. My brother looked at me and just laughed, and so did the entire class because I had no idea what pro’s and con’s were, but now I do.

RUSTLER STATS March 5 in the girls basketball playoff game, it took 2

overtimes for the Lady Rustlers to win 69-66

So what is it like knowing that this is your last season?

In the win, senior Taylor Edwards scored

Basketball has been something I’ve participated in since elementary school, so it’s very sad that this is the end of the road. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know so many girls through this sport.

Because this is the end, I want to go out an a high note.

points and was the game’s leading scorer

Lindsay Martinez, 12 What’s the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you?

sports 19

Are you playing basketball in college?

I am not playing basketball in college.

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The team earned the number 4

seed in the Eastern Conference The first game for the CMR girls is tonight at 8 p.m.

So what is it like knowning that this is your last season?

It’s a bittersweet moment in my life because I enjoyed basketball, especially with such a great group of young men. But also I am looking forward to relaxing and preparing to attend BYU-Idaho in the fall.

against Helena Capital High School The CMR girls have not made state since the 2012

season, the freshman year of this year’s seniors

Zach Harper, 12

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Apply at the Human Resources Office, room 202, Civic Center, online at www.greatfallsmt. net, or call 455-8545 for more information.

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The Stampede 3.12.15

Burning the midnight oil CMR a second home to teachers logging in extra hours

by elea roberts, staff writer Entropy. It’s a lifestyle for chemistry teacher Karen Spencer. She teaches it, lives it and cannot quite get out of its grasp. Instead she finds herself switching to its chaotic state.

Throughout this process of entropy, however, Spencer has the mentality of an alchemist, consistently trying to achieve the unattainable in her classroom.

But Spencer does perform miracles at Charles M. Russell High School. She is one of several teachers who appear to “live” within the walls of CMR. Whether it be working with students or doing the everyday task of teaching, she never appears to leave.

“For years my husband taught theatre here at the school,” Spencer said. Because of his constant need to be at CMR early, said she often found herself prepping for her school day extremely early in the morning. “[It’s difficult] to teach if I’m not prepared to teach,” Spencer said.

Mike Lathrop usually finds himself in the school at 5:45 a.m., but unlike Spencer, Lathrop teaches a 7:00 a.m. class -- intro to engineering.

“I’m usually the third or fourth person in the building,” Lathrop said.

Aside from the early mornings (waking up at 5 a.m. is late for him) Lathrop also enjoys the late nights.

During the basketball season the Key Club runs the concessions and “even though the club doesn’t have to be there till five” Lathrop usually does not go home between the end of the school day and the start of the game. He said his longest days are usually on game days when he does not get home till around 10:00 p.m.

Athletic trainer Teayre Klosterman also finds

herself held hostage to the late game nights. While Klosterman is not always available for every single game, she is almost always on call in case there is an emergency. This year she has made two trips back to the school to help the athletes. “[The trip back] usually takes long enough that the dinner gets cold in the microwave,” Klosterman said.

While taking care of the athletes keeps her busy, Klosterman also has another major component to her job.

“It’s hectic on me because it’s a lot of paperwork,” Klosterman said. Included in this paperwork is concussion testing, sports physicals and the grading that comes with teaching her classes.

“There is no time for myself. I’m almost done with my masters, so I go home and do papers,” she said.

What keeps Spencer so late at the school is the inability to do most of her work at home.

“In another class I think kids can do their homework at home, but they can’t do a lab at home,” Spencer said.

Additionally, Spencer can’t prepare for the labs at home and the difficulty level of her honors classes requires students to come in more often than a typical class.

“I have kids in all the time for help,” Spencer said, “It doesn’t seem to matter too much when I get here in the morning, I have kids come in.”

Spencer also coaches Science Bowl and directs the chemistry magic show. Both of these annual events cause her to stay later at the school than her normal 5 p.m., which can cause the entropy in her life to reappear.

“I sometimes put the kids ahead of my own needs,” Spencer said. “I set really high standards for kids in my classes, but I’m hard on myself.”

Klosterman, like Spencer, believes that she can be a “glutton for punishment,” but the lows of the job are worth experiencing the highs.

“Watching the kids go from struggling to being able to go back to play [is the best part],” Klosterman said.

Lathrop agrees that it’s the students who make the job enjoyable.

“It’s not about giving donuts, giving compliments,” he said. “It’s all about showing you’re interested.”

Even outside of teaching Lathrop has an active part in the school. Lathrop has missed less than a handful of football games since he began working at CMR and is also a part of the interviews to look for a new principal to replace Dick Kloppel. Being a part of the evaluation committee, PIR steering committee, tech team, having the focus groups take part in his room and the being leader Key Club, Lathrop has a fair bit of entropy going on in his life own life.

“Even though the door is closed and the lights are off. It’s not because I’m not working, it’s because I’m somewhere else.”

Through thick and thin and entropy these three teachers are surviving the hardships and joys of CMR. Even though they may be the first and last lights on, or somewhere else working quietly, their enthusiasm shines on. Just ask Spencer.

“I obviously love my job, or else I wouldn’t be here.”

Photo by Beth Britton.