S C R O L L V o l u m e
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I s s u e
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SENIORS
Shukri Abdirahman
Devaki Adhikari Alea Hoof Isabella Lopez Aiom Makier Lyric Sellers
JUNIORS Ny’Asiah Gully Kirsten Pierce
CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
Isabella Lopez Aiom Makier
COPY EDITOR
Shukri Abdirahman
PRINCIPAL Jill Versteeg
ADVISOR
SOPHOMORES
Gabe Cook Maya HernandezHoward Angelina McDaniel Kendall Moss Devyn Sam Paul Sleeth Kaylie Shannon Kelle Stewart Dayanna Vinalay Natalie Taylor Jaitreana White
FEATURE EDITOR Natalie Taylor
PRINTED BY:
Des Moines Public Schools Printing Services
W I N T E R
Natalie Niemeyer
District Educational Equality Statement
Des Moines Public Schools prohibits discrimination in educational and employment programs and activities based on age, race, creed, color, sex, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disablility. In addition, the District prohibits acts of intolerance or harrassment toward employees or students that are not related to the individual’s employment or education.
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Letter Policy The Scroll welcomes letters but reserves the right to edit for space as needed. Outside contributions are subject to the usual restrictions of libel and obscenity and must conform to general paper policy, which is available upon request. Signed commentaries represent personal opinions, not views of the staff. Also, your letter needs to include your full name and grade. Unsigned letters can not be printed. You can deliver your letter to Natalie Niemeyer in room 3060N.
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Jill Versteeg Meet East High’s Interim Principal
story/S. Abdirahman photo/S.Abdirahman
J
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We have some unique opportunities to grow right now at East High School and that’s what I’m excited about.
ill Versteeg is no longer an Associate Principal at East High School. But wait, you’re positive you saw her in the building last week. She’s still here, she is just now serving as East High School’s Interim principal. This is Versteeg’s fourth year at East. She was at Johnston for 13 years as a special education teacher and an instructional coach. As principal, she oversees all the departments and supports the other associate principals, as well as working with the alumni foundation. “We have some unique opportunities to grow right now at East High School and that’s what I’m excited about,” Versteeg said. What is going to be different for students this year? “The first thing we’ve put in place is the 70 percent attendance to be able to attend activities, as well as having student IDs available if asked for it,” Versteeg said. East has put this new rule in place as of November 8. Administrators will pull up the attendance list every week to see if you are eligible to attend upcoming events. You won’t be penalized for excused absences. East High students are also required to always have their student IDs with them. Students will not be allowed to enter the building without an ID. “We just want to keep East High school safe; we want to make sure there are only East students in our building, and if you forget your ID, go to the office to get a pass for that day,” Versteeg said. Personal life Outside of school, Versteeg loves to read, and spends most of her free time with her kids. Versteeg and her husband have been married for almost 15 years. They have two kids, an 11-year-old and a nine-year-old. “We like to read and hike as a family. Driving them to events has become my hobby right now,” Versteeg said. Versteeg knows that this school year has brought a lot of change and she encourages students to reach out with questions and concerns. “There has been a lot of transition these past few weeks, and I want students to know that if they have questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or other administrators. Don’t feel like we’re off limits. I want to open up those lines of communication more with students and families,” Versteeg said.
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More than just a campus monitor
story/N.Gully
Wether it’s coaching basketball, sponsporing a dance team, or hosting well needed group talks every week, these three monitors take on alot to ensure the students at East are on the path to success.
Y
ou’re running late to second Dawson’s position at East is campus moniperiod for the fourth time this tor, she takes on a lot more. Like the other week. You frantically run in the monitors, Dawson is very involved with the main door and with your eyes focused on students. She’s always saying hi and greeting the clock, you bump into a group of figures. any student she encounters. She does her You hear the small whispers of a radio and best to look out for the students she sees feel your hands clam up. You know it’s got and tries to impact as many as possible. to be the campus monitors. Dreading the “We gotta do better with knowing who bad day, you’re going to have after being rid- students are because there’s a lot of noniculed by another staff member, you slowly students coming into the building. And we look up. You’re met by three pairs of eyes, got to do better with learning our students’ a hand reaching to steady you, and an “slow names and trying to positively impact as down there sweetheart.”. The three campus many as we can in day,” Dawson said. Dawmonitors give you a quick talk about how son not only tries her best to impact and get important education and being on time is to know as many students as possible, but and kindly she also “And we gotta do better with send you sponsors a off to class. learning our students’ names and dance team These are trying to positvely impact as many at East. everyday “I have interactions as we can in a day.” a dance many students crave for within their school. team here at East, this is my fifth year Meet Jontay Williams, Becky Dawson, sponsoring the dance team Unity Squad,” and Larry Mason. These three amusing, Dawson said. Everyone is welcomed, make compassionate, and disciplined individuals, sure you join. Being at East at for almost responsible for these interactions, are more two decades, you can imagine the things than just a campus monitor to students at Dawson has seen and experienced. Like East High School. every other high school East has its good and bad days. Becky Dawson “Honestly, we have little issues and Everyone in the school knows Dawson is the OG monitor. Dawson has been work- stuff, it’s going to be stuff everywhere, in every high school. I can’t say what’s good or ing at East for 16 years. Before working at what’s bad, but I honestly like being here at East, Dawson was working at a day care. East no matter what so that’s why I’m still “I was ready to come to the schools and here,” Dawson said. I wanted elementary or middle school and Besides sponsoring the dance team, they weren’t open, and East was open, so Dawson loves basketball, track, music, I chose East,” Dawson said. Even though and boxing. In her spare time, she enjoys East wasn’t her first choice, she’s more watching reality TV. Dawson has a late older than happy with where she’s at. Although sister, a son, daughter, and one
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grand baby. She loves children and loves what she’s able to do for the students at East.
Larry Mason
“I’ve been working at East since the beginning of August,” Mason said. Before East, Mason ran many of his own businesses. In Mason’s free time, he enjoys golfing. He’s a single father of four sons and has seven siblings. Although Mason has only been working at East as a campus monitor for a few months, he worked as a basketball coach last school year. “I coached here last year and there was a lot of good coaching opportunities and I ended up getting the head coaching job here for varsity and also a campus monitor job,” Like Dawson, Mason has a great relationship with the students. Mason takes pride in not only coaching here last year, but also coaching many of his players when they were young boys. “That makes my impact a little greater because a lot of these kids I actually coached when they were younger and not just coached them here at East high school. So that makes it interesting, and it helps me be able to build the relationships that I have with them. But the kids that don’t play basketball I have a good relationship with them also because I communicate with the kids, I mean I’m a people person. You know I communicate with all the kids rather they play basketball or not and start developing and building relationships with them,” Mason said. Being a campus monitor, you see so many student faces and have the chance the impact every single one’s day. High schoolers are still very emotional. A bad interaction with a campus monitor, administration, or any faculty can ruin a student’s entire day. A bad day can easily turn into a bad week, and bad weeks can negatively affect students’ grades. Sometimes its not only staff negatively effecting students’ day. Parents, siblings, or issues at home can also cause a student to have a bad day. Campus monitors, being the first face many students may see can, with a simple smile and conversation can change that bad day to a good day. “I think that a lot of the students here, we don’t know what they’re dealing with in their day-to-day situations, so I think that a lot of the administration, campus monitors and faculty, I think they need to spend more time getting to know the kids and also you know communicating and seeing how this kids’ days are going…” Mason said. Mason strives for the success of
students. Many students grow up hearing graduating college, getting a job, and starting a family is the perfect path for life. College can be a very important factor for the future of many students. Although East has a few posters here and there, there’s many programs and organizations whose goal is to help students succeed after high school students should hear about. “I would have more things around the school, like banners and announcements, that would give kids an opportunity to see that I can go to a prep school, or I can go to an Ivy League school, or I can go and do something after I leave East High School besides get a job and work and you know start doing things for my family,” Mason said. Mason’s position allows him to impact a lot of students on a day-to-day basis. He’s a great coach, always has the best jokes, and has the best interest at heart for the students at East.
Jontay Williams
“My relationship with students is tremendous. I get to wake up every single day and speak to new students and get to know a little more about them and their background. Their history and everything.” Williams said. Williams has been working at East for a little over five months. Before working at East, Williams worked at Brubaker elementary school as the before and after school supervisor. He worked with all the after-school programs like Metro kids and 21st Century. Williams carried his passion to connect with students and enable students to connect with each other to East. Williams hosts a small group talk during East’s Scarlet time, where students can come together to have debates and discussions to voice their opinions. “I started a group called real talk, real answers, real solutions. Better known as Triple R. It’s a time for kids to come and voice their opinions about things that are going on in the world, things that could be going on at home but also group discussions. So, they can understand that the people that are sitting next to them are probably going through the same things as well in life,” Williams said. Triple R is one of the many things Williams does to go out his way to positively impact as many students as he can. Williams is always in the halls smiling and greeting students. He’s always asking about students’ days, checking on them, keeping them from skipping classes, and being that staff member many students may not have realized they needed. “I really feel like just one single conversation can just change a whole kid’s perspective on the school and life in general. Being able to let them know they have you the voice. And let them
know they have someone to talk to regardless of any situation,” Williams said. Williams is a basketball player so in his free time he trains kids for basketball in the community. He has an organization called Big Guard U where he teaches skill development, how to become disciplined, hold themselves accountable. When he’s not training, he’s hanging out with his family or shopping for clothes and shoes. “You know I like to look good. First impression, best impression,” Williams said. Although Williams is like a friend to many students, and loves to keep a smile on their faces, he equally wants to push them to succeed. “I just wish we could all try to get on the same page and really push these kids to be the best that they can really be and let them know they can do whatever they want to do. All it takes is hard work and discipline,” Williams said. “’Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction, ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must but take the step.’ Big quote that I use, I don’t know I just want them to understand that they could do whatever they want to do. It’s all up to them all they must do is take that final step, to better themselves and when they do that bet on themselves and when they do that have an overall goal in life you know and find the goal and aim for that,” Williams said. Everyone has bad days. Children and adults. Some peoples’ days are worse than others. Although everyone’s bad day can start from something different, a lot of the time everyone needs the same thing in those times. They need a listening ear, someone who will tell them what they need and not what they want to hear and a good laugh. When walking into the doors of East High School, you will have never had a problem finding those things. Williams is the best at not just listening but hearing what you’re saying, paying attention to your words and responding in the best way he can. Dawson, also good at listening, will tell you exactly what you need to hear. It may not always be what you want to hear, but its going to be some good advice that’ll help you out. And Mason is one of the funniest coaches at East. He’s always having to throw in some slick comment that leaves everyones stomach hurting from laughter. East may not be the top school in everyones eyes, but the students, staff, and spirit is what makes it the top to its students.
Becky Dawson
Larry Mason
Jontay Williams
“
Sometimes, the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must but take the step.”
photos/N. Gully
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Would you rather?
Story/ A.Bloomer Page editor/ A.Bloomer Illustrator/ A.Bloomer
Winter Edition
Twinkle lights, snow, cold, fuzzy socks, big sweaters, stocking hats, mittens, sledding and ice skating. These are all things that make people think about winter in Iowa. If you’re not sure what to do this winter, do these things!
OR
OR
Hoodies
Ice skating
Coats
OR
OR
Hot cocoa
Slippers
Apple cider
OR Fall break
Basketball
Sledding
Fuzzy socks
OR Winter break
Wrestling
Swimming
OR Dress up
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Ugly sweaters
Pajamas
What is your favorite holiday movie?
29.2% of students voted The Grinch 27.1% of students voted Home Alone 14.6% of students voted Elf 10.4% of students voted other 8.3% of students voted Polar Express 6.3% of students voted Nightmare Before Christmas 4.2% of students voted Frost The Snowman
Bright lights with the love of my life; Her As the weather grows colder, and the air becomes more defined Christmas lights and the smell of peppermint fill the empty night. This Christmas it’ll be me and her looking at the bright lights amongst the low sky. Holly jolly lights at Adventureland campground is where you’ll find me, and my love at first sight. That one night where stars glow more than any other time, and when our hearts collide. As we drive through and see the lights shine ever so brightly, I’ll glance over and admire your beauty and hold you tightly. The various colors of the lights bring me happiness and joy, And ever so slightly brings me reassurance on how you’re mine. I mourn on how I wish this lovely night would never end, then again at least you belong to me once again.
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on LOCKDOWN East students already dealing with multiple lockdowns during the 2021-22 school year
Y
ou walk into school thinking its going to be a nor“We separate roles on who should contact parents, who mal day until your school is suddenly on lockdown, should contact security and who should contact police if we Students at East High School have been experienc- have to. We pull those students in having conversations with ing this just months into the 2021-2022 school year. them, getting their sides of story, and just making sure our This year there has been multiple lockdowns due to fights, ducks are in a row,” Restoration Safety Coordinator Molly gun threats, and people coming from different schools to get Girsch said. in altercations. Students feelings about As a parent when you hear that your “It’s very stressful safety are mixed, some people think kid is involved with a conflict at school because I come here that East isn’t a very safe place and are its very stressful and sometimes, they to learn and not be on tend to take it out on the staff. It can also scared to come to school, while others think that East is very safe and they feel lockdown for however be very stressful as a staff member when like the teachers and admin around them you have an angry parent yelling in your many minutes and keep the school safe. Freshman McKthey don’t really give face about a conflict that you’re trying to enna Cleggett seems to think East isn’t a resolve. Both sides of the story can be information about what’s very safe place for her. very stressful but in the end all you need “I feel like it’s not safe at all because going on so I’m just in the is good communication between the parclassroom worrying and ent, student, and staff member. there was people from other schools coming up to East and fighting East panicking because I have “Patience is a really good tool when students and that’s kind of dangerous no idea what’s going on.” it comes to angry parents, because at the and even outside of school but near the -McKenna Cleggett/9 end of the day you have to be underschool there was some dangerous altercastanding as well that this is someone’s tions going on,” Cleggett said. child that is at risk right now. Trying to Students at East get very stressed when it comes to going keep a level head and just to communicate with the parents, on lockdown multiple times a year. Some students don’t even and clear direction,” Campus Monitor Jontay Williams said. know what is going on because there is delayed communicaWhenever the School faces a threat or some sort of tion between admin and students which can be stressful for conflict, they have protocols for almost every situation. “If the students that are here to learn. Cleggett seems to think there’s a threat of a weapon we find out if it’s credible or that the delayed communication is very stressful when she is not, to see if we have to bring in our security team. Security here to learn can have a presence here, they have a direct line to DMPD if Anytime there is an altercation with students, the admin needed. Sometimes having police presence helps decrease a meet and discuss the problem and talk about their next steps lot,” Girsch said. on solving and fixing the issue. They debrief in an office to go over who is involved, and what there consequences should be. Issues sometimes get resolved or sometimes the situation can escalate so they take the altercation to bigger authority as Story/D.Sam and M.Howard in the DMPD and DMPS security.
Photos/D.Sam and M.Howard
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Molly Girsch Restoration Safety Coordinator
Shirley RiveraPogyo
Sophomore
Mckenna Cleggett “This is my first year at East so I have nothing to compare it to, I think the safety is great. But everything can improve, and just making sure are protocols, policies and procedures are strict and high expectations. But, I do know there is always room for improvement and always getting feedback from students and families, maybe they have ideas that we didn’t think of so that’s really nice to, I came from elementary school so it’s totally different. East is kind of it’s own little town there’s a lot of towns in Iowa that’s smaller than this school so we have to enforce all the safety things.”-Molly Girsch/RSC
“My opinion on East safety is in the middle. I honestly feel okay about it but some students may feel differently because they want to leave for good causes. What I don’t like is teachers being rude to students during lock down, You might think, “oh they are not being rude they’re just trying to keep us safe.” Like yes, I understand that but they should do it in a more orderly manner and not snap at us during those situations because we are stressed as well. But safety for kids I feel like we don’t need to show our ID’s everywhere because not everyone is unsafe.” - Shirley Rivera-Pogyo/10th
Freshman
“I think safety is really ensured when students are in the right place when they’re supposed to be there. I think people involve themselves in dangerous situations when they’re somewhere they’re not supposed to be. So, when you’re skipping classes with a large group of students and being somewhere you’re not supposed to be is the large majority of unsafe situations, like fights and dangerous situations, involve those kids in those categories.” -Anthony Gianaras/Associate Principal
“I personally do feel safe at East, I am not worried about my own safety I know that some people don’t make the right and proper decisions but I know that I’m making the right ones to keep myself safe and I’ve never once ever felt fear here at East.” - Marisol Argueta-Hernandez/12th Marisol ArguetaHernandez
Senior
“So with East safety I feel like it’s not safe at all because there was people from other schools coming up to East and fighting East students and that’s dangerous. Even outside of the schools, there was some dangerous altercations going on and more towards the beginning of school, everyone was fighting everyday and they just now took action and started suspending people. It’s also stressful to deal with because I come to school to learn not be on lock down all the time and they don’t give out information on what’s going on which is also very stressful. It is very scary, one day I thought someone was going to shoot up the school so I as begging my mom to not go to school.”- McKenna Cleggett/9th
Jontay Williams Campus Monitor
Anthony Gianaras Associate Principal
“My opinion on East safety is that you are safe if you are in class. All the fights and things that happen, they occur outside or at lunch. I feel like if you surround yourself with a good crowd of good people than you shouldn’t have a problem at East if your involved with the wrong crowd you going to get what you get.” -Jontay Williams/Campus Monitor
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DMPS considers summer break change Y
ou’re a senior in high school and it’s May 8. You wake up and start to get ready for school. You get the urge to check your schedule,” We have another break? I thought we just had one,” you mumble. “Wow. A week off. In May.” That’s when a thought hits you, “With all these breaks, is the school year going to be longer?” You check the district calendar. It states that school year goes a week into June. This could be a reality for DMPS students in the 2022-2023 school year if the proposed new calendar passes. The summer break change for next year will bring more breaks throughout the year but it will also push back the end of the school year. Therefor seniors will graduate later, and the usual long summer break will be shorter. This possible change has brought controversy to the DMPS community. This change will result in getting more holidays off like, Ramadan, Lunar New Year, and Yom Kippur. It will also include getting election day off, too. Due to getting more time off, the last day of school will be pushed into June instead of getting out in May. The reason for this summer break change is because the summer break is so long that students tend to forget some of the stuff, that they learned the previous year. Students, especially juniors, will be affected by this change because most will want to get summer jobs. However, since the summer will
be shorter their experience in the workplace will also be shorter. As of now, the calendar committee have reviewed the survey sent by DMPS and have made changes to the calendar. “The calendar committee reviewed the results of the survey and made changes sought by the majority of the respondents. In the current proposed calendar, the first day of school is August 24 and the last day is June 6. A proposed weeklong break in May is eliminated and teacher conferences are reintroduced.” Not only are the students and staff affected by this change but so are the parents. With more days off, parents with younger children must find alternatives for their kids, like day care or people to watch over their kids while the parents go to work. However, some may say that this would be a good thing because it could lessen stress in students. “I think this change could be beneficial to many students because it’s like taking a little break in stressful times. From seeing my kids in school, I believe this would be helpful to many,” parent Lucy Brown said. A plan to extend the school year until June 14 was taken off the table after community input following a school board meeting. On Nov. 12, the district released a new proposed calendar that would put the last day of school on June 6. There is no official word on when the final decision will be made on the proposed calendar.
“I don’t think this will be helpful because more breaks during the school year will most likely mess up some people’s way of learning. Not to mention that students, a lot of the time during summer break, travel or have jobs,” junior Ciel Meza said.
Story/K.Pierce
Students with jobs Students without jobs
About 30% of teenagers have jobs during their summer break.
Amount of learning lost Amount of learning kept
Students can lose up to 40% of what they learned the previous school year during summer break
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controlled CONTROlLED Gaming controller in depth overveiw
Controllers, the key item to playing video games, different shapes, all sizes, some good and some bad. In this article you will learn some information about controllers to help you decide which will better your gaming experience. There are many companies who make controllers for their consoles. The main two companies products that will be discussed are “Xbox/Microsoft” and “PlayStation/Sony.” Each company makes controllers similar but still unique from one another’s product. “XBOX/Microsoft”: The “Xbox” wireless controller is the primary gaming controller for the “Xbox One”, “Xbox series X”, and “Xbox series S” home video game consoles, also commercialized for its use in windowsbased PCs, and compatible with other operating systems such as “MacOS”, “Linux”, “IOS”, and “Android.” This controller goes for around $50 and can be bought at multiple stores, as well as online. The controller maintains the overall layout found in the “Xbox 360” controller, but various tweaks to its design, such as a revised shape, redesigned analog sticks, shoulder button, and trigger redesign, along with new rumble motors within the triggers for the directional haptic feedback, this product has three revisions and several changes to the controller’s design and functionality. Microsoft also markets the “Xbox Elite” wireless controller, which costs $140-$180, it can be bought at multiple stores, as well as online, this controller premium version geared towards professional gamers, including interchangeable parts and programmability features and a built-in rechargeable battery. In turn, each of the variations have been offered in various color schemes, some featuring special designs tying into specific games. The “Xbox” wireless does not come with a rechargeable battery, instead it comes with two AA batteries. You can buy separately a rechargeable battery for the controller, which can range from $10-$40 which can be bought at multiple stores also online. “PlayStation/Sony” : The “DualShock” controller has many variations all primarily used for their corresponding consoles. The “DualShock4” is primarily used with the “PS4 (PlayStation 4)”. This controller goes for $30-$50 and can be bought at multiple stores, as well as online. The “DualShock4” wireless controller has many changes compared the “DualShock3” wireless controller that was used for the “PS3”. A new feature for the “DualShock4” is a built in two-point capacitive touch pad on the front of the controller, which also counts as a pressable button. This allows the touch pad to represent as multiple buttons. The four corners can be mapped to different clickable actions. The controller supports motion detection via a three-axis gyroscope and three axis accelerometer and vibration. It includes a built-in rechargeable battery, which can be charged while the system is in rest mode or while the system is running.
Xbox wireless
Xbox Elite
Dualshock3
Dualshock4
Story/P.Sleeth Design/P.Sleeth Photos/P.Sleeth
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products
your
might
enviroment
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Birth Control: More Than we Assume
story/ K. Moss page editor/ K. Moss illustrations/ K. Moss
Judgement and strain all for one mainembarrassing. stream objective: avoid pregnancy. Many If a woman people think birth control is for one thing, announces avoiding pregnancy. That’s far from the that she’s truth. There are many different reasons why on it, the someone may use birth control. Women assumpsuffer through choosing different options will tions and opposing opinions from others automatiwhen deciding whether or not to use birth cally be that control. she is passed Birth control may seem scary, the reputa- around or tion of it may push many people away from sexually active. it. The overwhelming options and wonderHow it’s shameing what methods may suit them best or ful and that it isn’t where to start. Worrying about side effects something to talk about like weight gain or getting depression, the publicly, it’s something that should many side effects are overwhelming. There’s be personal to you. To some people it is, a lot of different options when it comes but to some others it helps them more than to birth control. Deciding people know. what’s best for you is a con- “Some women or those who “I think that there versation between you and is a stigma definitely. have their menstrual cycles, your healthcare provider or Some women or get looked at differently by even the school nurse. those who have their some people as if they are “I think most students menstrual cycles, get getting ‘passed around,’” are having personal converlooked at differently sations with their parents by some people as junior Grace Boley said. and healthcare providers. if they are getting We sometimes do have “passed around” It’s students coming in asking questions,” East a very biased topic, there are many differNurse Vicki Bonnet said. ent reasons why people get on birth control There’s a lot of different reasons why and it doesn’t make you any less of a person someone may go onto birth control, it’s whether you take it or not,” junior Gracie more than just preventing pregnancy. Boley said. Whether it’s to regulate, to lighten a period Birth control isn’t something to be emor stopping it completely. Controlling acne barrassed about or ashamed of and it most or balancing hormones, all are valid reasons definitely not something that should be to use it. scary to get on. The sooner people get com“I have the IUD and I was fortable sharing their experiences instead put on it because I had of shaming women that are on any form an irregular period,” of it, the better education will be, and teen sophomore Mo pregnancy rates will go down. Instead of Purdy said. teaching abstinence, educate with condoms There’s a stigma and birth control. around birth control, telling someone that you’re on it can be
Methods of Birth Control
iud
pill
depo shot patch
implant
East High Scroll
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How to get involved at East Many students feel left out at school but how can we change this?
Story/G Cook Have you ever felt lonely or left out of activities? Well, East High School has many ways you can express yourself with classes such as newspaper and even clubs such as “Gay Straight Alliance” (GSA) and “Spoken Voice Poetry” (SAY). Everyone should have the chance to express themselves and voice their opinion but, why is it so important for students to be able to voice their opinion? It is important for students to be able to express themselves because if they can’t do this it can cause students to feel lonely or sometimes sad. This is a problem because everyone deserves to be happy and not feel left out but if students can’t do this than they may feel this way and it can cause their grades to drop or sometimes the student may not show up to class/school at all. With all these groups at East, students can express themselves through these, and it can help many students voice their opinion and sometimes even change things they don’t like. Newspaper is a class where students can write different articles about anything they want and publish it for people in the school to read, the class is advised by Natalie Niemeyer and student editors. This gives students the opportunity to share their opinion on something around the school or community they can write about it and publish it for the school to read. This is a
good way for students to start change around the school and even if it doesn’t cause change, it can cause people to see things through this person’s eyes. “It’s a very interesting class where I can express things that I like to do to …. a lot of the time it is very open and free to your own opinion on what you want to write, and you can put other people’s opinion as well,” newspaper student Paul Sleeth said. The GSA is a club where people in the LGBTQ+ community and allies of the LGBTQ+ community can come together and talk about problems they see or things they want to change. This group is led by Lisa Kebort. This is a great way for students to express themselves because if you are in or support the LGBTQ+ community and want to talk about issues involved with it this is a great way to do it with other people who may have similar opinions as you. “GSA is a place where everyone can get together and talk about things that not only affect them but affect others and ways that we can help others,” GSA officer Ace Osborn said. “I enjoy the sense of community and safeness there and everyone kind of knows each other,” Osborn said. When asked if students voices were heard, Osborn answered, “oh yeah, we make sure we
even have a talking piece, we make sure everyone has a chance to be heard there.” SAY is another club where students can voice their opinions through poetry. This is district and community wide but at East it is led by Jeanna Joyce. This is a good way for students to voice their opinions because they get to write and perform poems in front of a live audience about what they feel needs spoken. “SAY is spoken word poetry where we write poetry, listen to poetry, and we get prepared to perform it.... It is student driven and a lot of the time we are listening to students’ opinions,” Joyce said. SAY is a great group to be in and they are competing and anyone who wants to join and compete with them can attend a meeting on Tuesdays in room 3063. East does a great job of finding ways for students to get involved. The best part is this is only a few ways students can voice their opinions there are multiple other ways for students to get involved and show what they believe in. Students can join these clubs and classes by talking to their counselors or talking to the leaders of the clubs. The best way to do this is by emailing them.
Who should you talk to in order to join these clubs?
GSA
For more info about GSA, talk to Lisa Kebort because she is the adviser
lisa.kebort@dmschools.org
Newspaper
For Newspaper you will have to talk to a counselor because this is a class or you could talk to Natalie Niemeyer
natalie.niemeyerlorenz @dmschools.org
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SAY
To get involved in SAY talk to Jenna Joyce because she is the adviser of the club
jeanna.joyce@dmschools.org
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An inside look at the life of Jeanna Joyce, East High School’s new English teacher Photo/J.Joyce
You see her in the hallways, classrooms, after school programs like SAY, but you may not know who she is. Well now you do, Meet East high Schools new English teacher, Jeanna Joyce. Jeanna Joyce grew up in California, but Joyce’s family moved to Mason City when she was 11. Her family later on moved to West Des Moines back in 2018. Her husband Mike was her fathers neighbor back in California and was her best friend when they were teenagers. “After we moved, I still spent my summers back home in California,” Joyce said. Joyce and her husband Mike went 15 years without seeing each other and now they have four kids together, Sarah, Robert, Lillee, and Evangeline. “We went 15 years without seeing each other and have now been together for 11 years. Our oldest daughter Sarah is 21 and had our first granddaughter Donna, they live in California with our son, Robert who is 20. Our daughter Lillee is 20 and had our second granddaughter Melody, they live in Mason City where I raised Lillee. Our youngest daughter, Evangeline is 12 and goes to sixth grade in West Des Moines,” Joyce said. Before Joyce came to East High School, she was a middle school teacher over at Hiatt Middle School, while she was there, she taught Language Arts. “I started teaching in 2018. My first school was Hiatt Middle School and I taught sixth and seventh grade Language Arts,” Joyce said. Joyce wanted to be a teacher all her life, but things didn’t go as planned for her, she went to Iowa Central Community College in 2000 but then dropped out when her first daughter was born. She later went back to school for cosmetology and became a cosmetology instructor.
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Joyce and her family hang out at the beach have a nice family day. ”I then went to La’ James cosmetology school and became a cosmetologist and a cosmetology instructor at the college,” Joyce said. In 2007 Joyce went back to school at Iowa Lakes Community College and graduated in 2008. Later in 2008, she went back to school at Buena Vista University, but life got in the way and she later failed her classes in the spring of 2009. “I had health issues and failed my classes in the spring on 2009. I was put on academic probation for fall 2009,” Joyce said. Joyce started class up again three days after her youngest daughter was born. “She got sick, and I failed my fall courses,” Joyce said. In 2016, Joyce went back to BVU and took as many courses as she could. In May of 2018 she graduated from BVU with honors. “I worked very hard and stayed in the dean’s list every term. I have been living my best life
since then. I love being a teacher,” Joyce said. Many students here at East love having Joyce as a teacher, coming into her classroom and seeing all the new fun things she has planned and all her good energy she brings into her class each and every day. “Jeanna Joyce is a good teacher here at East because she brings so much good energy in class and her actives she plans for us, she makes it fun to learn,” sophomore Azariah Crockett said. Joyce is such an awesome teacher to have, the fun things she does to make students days and how much she is willing to learn from others. “One of my many favorite things about Mrs. Joyce is that she is willing to learn from her students. She takes and accepts any opportunity to provide students her full potential,” sophomore Jasmine Maceda said.
East High Scroll
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Meet the Scroll staff
The bell rings, first period has just ended. Your second period class is newspaper. As you turn into the class hallway, you see Mrs. Niemeyer standing by the door, she greets you good morning and welcomes you into the class. You look up at the board for today’s agenda and you head to your seat where you’re greeted by your friends. In room 3060N, many amazing student writers work hard to put out the East High Scroll. They are called the scroll staff. Newspaper is held during second period. Newspaper currently has 22 staff members. These students are amazing writers, they must meet deadlines and get feedback from their peers. At the beginning of class, the staff do team builders
East High Scroll
and activities before starting class. “It’s a good way to start and talk to people,” sophomore Gabe Cook said. The Scroll staff puts out five issues throughout the school year. Every issue the scroll staff gets to choose their topic about what they want to write. The staff members are passionate about their design, they put all their time and focus onto their paper. “I just like how really chill newspaper is, it’s like really relaxing, if you need support, you can always go to Mrs. Niemeyer, she is a really great teacher. Newspaper is like a mental break,” Moss said. Mrs. Niemeyer inspires a lot of her students even students outside of newspaper. There is always nice and wholesome comments about Mrs. Niemeyer.
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Newspaper checklist Computer Reporters notebook Writing Utencils Good music Ideass Positive mindset
Story/D.Vinalay Photo/D.Vinalay
Kendall Moss
Kaylie Shannon
What is your favorite activity/team builder in newspaper? “Shoutout Friday because it’s nice and wholesome, it’s a great way to encourage and motive people,” sophomore Kendall Moss said. How do the activities/ team builder help you prepare for newspaper? “Great way for motivation, I often get stressed and knowing people are supporting you is good,” Moss said. After taking journalism what made you take newspaper? “I wanted to have the freedom to write what I wanted, and I learned in journalism that you have freedom of speech completely, I wanted to write multiple things so that’s why I chose newspaper,” Moss said.
What is your favorite activity/team builder in newspaper? “This or that it’s fun to have arguments about silly stuff,” sophomore Kaylie Shannon said. How does the activities/ team builder help you prepare for newspaper? “It helps to get to know my peers and build relationship with them,” Shannon said. After taking journalism what made you take newspaper? “Mrs. Niemeyer convinced me to join newspaper, I love Mrs. Niemeyer and the way she teaches, and I wanted to be with her all the time so that’s why I wanted to be in newspaper,” Shannon said.
What is your favorite activity/team builder in newspaper? “The back-to-back drawing activity,” sophomore Jaitreana White said. How does the activities/ team builder help you prepare for newspaper? “It mentally helps me become awake since newspaper class is second period, it also gets me mentally active,” White said. After taking journalism what made you take newspaper ? “I really like the teacher and just the aurora of the classroomm, it is a really relaxing space and thats why i wanted to continue in newspaper.” White said.
What is your favorite activity/team builder in newspaper? “Throwing the ball around and answering to what is written on the ball,” sophomore Sleeth said. How does the activities/ team builder help you prepare for newspaper? “It makes me feel connected to the people around me,” Sleeth said. After taking journalism what made you take newspaper? “I was really good with design in journalism, I really enjoyed doing it and i just thought it would be nice to do it in newspaper,” Sleeth said.
Jaitreana White
Paul Sleeth
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SCARLET SQUAD T H E
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Whether you’re an incoming freshman looking for fellow students to guide you through out your freshman year, or you’re an upperclassman looking to get involved and help other students within East High School, look no further than Scarlet Squad.
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carlet Squad is a group of juniors and seniors at East High School who help incoming freshman transition into high school. They meet every Tuesday in the library during scarlet time. During these meetings they discuss upcoming events, start to plan out the activities, and prepare for them. “I think it’s a great opportunity and support system for freshman. It’s a great group for support and a model of a good and responsible student,” teacher Justine Rinker said. There are currently 54 members who help around the school. From eighth grade tours, freshman orientation, tours of the building, and team builders they do it all. Scarlet Squad focuses on volunteering within East and helping the underclassmen. Their goal is to not only give incoming students a good first impression of their high school experience but to be leaders for all the students at East. “I feel like Scarlet Squad is super helpful. They have helped guide me to my classes... I definitely want to join later when I can,” freshman Florance Nshimirimana said. Maddie Cano, the new squad leader, leads the group and this year more than ever she has given many opportunities to students who want to be involved. Not only are they helping freshman they get to learn more about fellow juniors and seniors. When they are not planning activities, they are learning more about each other. It’s helped the group get more comfortable with each other and has started many new friendships “It’s really fun, we learn to be able to communicate with each other, being able to work as a group, and doing team building activities with one another,” senior scarlet squad member Marcelo Acosta said. Teachers are even noticing a difference within their students after Scarlet Squad has come into their rooms for fun activities with
East High Scroll
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From bottom to top: Marisol Argueta-Hernandez, Kenna Dolphin, Emma Moore, Byaombe Lombe, Lynnsey Lynch, Bethany Harapat, Lauren Johnson, Delanee Stuve, Catherine Guerra, Taelyn Fischer, Remi Dyer, Aaron Luong, Christa Hall, Emma Rounds, Galilea Lechuga, Jesohaia Diaz, Shukri Abdirahman, Heidy Artero, Evvy Kephart, Ashlyn Hudrick, Keyshaliz Cruz, Iqro Yussuf, Jennifer Berber-Marquez, Taylor Cobb, Ehlaykler Soe, Evan Woods, Marcelo Acosta, Madeline Cano, Sergio Jimenez
Maddie Cano Alana Chanthavong, Heidy Artero, and Bethany Harapat helping guide parents to classrooms for parent teacher confrences. Story/ I. Lopez
Photo/ I. Lopez
Page Editor/ I. Lopez
one another,” senior scarlet squad member Marcelo Acosta said. Teachers are even noticing a difference within their students after Scarlet Squad has come into their rooms for fun activities with the freshman. “When you come into the classroom the kids actually participate and have fun. They get to know the squad and classmates. They are learning more faces and names than just the people in the classroom... The kids who participate are having fun. They are learning rather its learning how to do something or about something, about someone else or maybe even a little about themselves,” Rinker said. Any junior or senior can join. The Squad doesn’t just work with students but sometimes works with student government to help run and set up for school events. Overall, it’s a great way for students to get involved and give back to East. An email
“I feel like I’ve made a difference. I got to bond with students and they even asked how they could be like me. I told them to get involved and talk to their counselors. The next day they came to me and told me they had talked to their counselors,” Yussuf said.
is sent out at the beginning of every school year with the sign-up form to join. All events and volunteering counts for silver cord hours. Any student who completes 160 hours throughout their 4 years at East will revive a silver cord for their graduation. It’s always a cool thing to show off and is a reminder of how much you have given back to the community. “Join Scarlet Squad not only does it help you get more silver cord hours but it’s fun and you get to bond with other students,” senior scarlet squad member Iqro Yussuf said.
Community School Cordinator Got her undergrad degree from University of Iowa in Spanish and the other in international relations. She then did grad school at Drake and got her masters in public administrations and public policy. She is the community school coordinator at East High School which is the bridge between students, families, community resources, and business partners. She came to East because she had worked with students before prior to working there and she wanted to continue with the kids from the same background and bring them more opportunities. Cano spends her time outside of East doing watercolor, calligraphy, and spending lots of time with her dogs. She also volunteers within her community at local volunteer spots. “I want Scarlet Squad as a group to be exemplary in leadership for all students at East. I would love for more students to engage in Scarlet Squad and see this is an opportunity to not only engage with underclassmen and help people become more a part of the scarlet community but also to be more engaged with the more broader Des Moines community,” Cano said.
East High Scroll
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The dating age gap Does dating someone older or younger than you lead to serious consequences in the future? It was typical day at East High School, that are similar,” AP psychology teacher love birds are acting all lovey dovey, you are Koch Brain said. walking by those love birds and notice that one is a sophomore, and one is a senior. Con of dating someone older or You start to wonder what obstacles they younger could be facing due to their difference in Most of the relationships do not end in a age. Especially since one will be going to happy ending when two couples don’t build college soon. What are pros and cons about up what it takes for them to maintain their being in a relationship with someone who is relationship long term. not the same age as you? “A con with an age gap would be if one Pro of dating someone older or of the people are not mature enough for the younger relationship and share similar life goals. A Dating someone who is older or person that is younger younger than in a relationship with you can be an age gap may be less harder when established, rely on there is diftheir partner finanference in cially, and not go after maturity level, their own goals. It is understanding important for both e “ Out of five friends mayb each othpeople to establish four would be like ‘oh girl that’s themselves first beers thoughts, motives, and great and the fifth one would be fore committing to a emotions. It is Buckley like’ umm that’s a predator situ- relationship,” important to said. tion’,” think wisely “From a psywhen choosing chological point Steils - Teacher Laurie Huss who you want of view, we know to be with. that the brain isn’t “In my expefully developed until rience and my someone is in their personal belief mid-20s. This means is that I only think an age gap is healthy if younger people are less likely to think about both people are adults and it is legal. To me, the possible drawbacks of a relationship it can be a pro to be in a relationship with with someone much older than they are,” someone who is older. They may have more Koch said. life experiences, be more mature, be motivated, have life goals, and be established in their career,” Power English teacher Trisha Buckley said. “I think age gaps become much easier the older you get. When you are a teenager, there’s a lot of difference in maturity levels between people that are just a couple years Story/D.Adhikari Page editor/D. Adhikari apart. When you are older, it’s not as big Illustration/D.Adhikari of a deal if you are 60 dating a 75-year-old or 40 dating a 50-year-old because you’ve reached a maturity level and life experiences
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Age gap fact According to brides.com, A healthly age gap is 0-3 years 4-6 year Age of consent In Iowa 16 According to Psychology Today the Average Age gap is 2 and half to 3 years
Other people’s perceptions older than her and students who are in Teenagers feel uncomfortable telling relationships with people a few years their friends and family members about older or younger than them. They share what’s going on with their life, and the fear the lesson they have learned, obstacles, of society’s judgement may trigger them. and the outcome to what it takes to build “Parents a have hard time believing that a healthy relationship. their kids can actually make some decent “I was married at 22 (three weeks after decisions. They graduating colwant to protect lege) to a 23-yearthem. They want old man. I didn’t From a psychoto stop them really know what logical point of view, we from making I was going to do those choices,” with my life yet, know that the brain isn’t fully Health teacher hadn’t estabdeveloped until someone is in Laurie Huss lished my career Steils said. their mid-20s. This means younger or my life goals, “I think people are less likely to think about and sacrificed society tends my career to the possible drawbacks of a reto frown upon support his. I teenagers datdidn’t know that lationship with someone much ing someone people could older than they are,” who is older or develop mental -Teacher Koch Brain younger than health issues them. I think later in life that society thinks could severely that teenagimpact a person’s ers need to focus on their education and ability to treat their spouse well or make establishing themselves and not be pulled good decisions regarding finances and in different directions by dating someone a career. After 10.5 years of marriage, I that is more established. Maybe society sees became a divorced single mom. I learned it as limiting the teenager’s opportunities in that some people are not matured and life when they should be opening as many haven’t learned to handle the challenges doors as possible to explore who they are of adulthood and all the responsibilities and want to be,” Buckley said. that come with it. I wish I would have “Out of five friends maybe four would recognized that myself instead of getting be like ‘oh girl that’s great’ and the fifth married young. Being in a relationship one would be like’ umm that’s a predator young put a lot of strain on us financially situation,”teacher Huss Steils said. and I am much more financially stable Real life experiences now on my own than when I was when Here are a few stories between a teacher I was younger and married. If I were to who had married a man that was one year date, I would now date someone who is
older, stable career, and financially stable,” Buckley said. “My boyfriend’s name is Bijay Tamang he is 19 years old, and I am 17. We are two years apart. I guess there’s some obstacles we have faced being in long a distance relationship. One is not being able to meet each other, not being able to support each other face to face, not being able to hangout, and go to movies, and stuff like that. We both are trying to understand each other for sure. Me wanting to get my MD degree triggers him sometimes because it’s a long time. He has to bear so much stress because of me and my mood swings and stuff like that. He supports me very well, and motivates me to keep going even on the days I feel like giving up,” 17-year-old Buddha Gurung said. “My boyfriend’s name is Soroj Gurung, we are two years apart. My personal experience with dating someone older than me is his side of family and my side of family of accept our love. Which is precious for both of us. I have always felt such a strong connection between us. He a is gentleman, mature, and a friendly person who gives importance to his loved ones. Our relationship is not perfect there are time where time management get’s hard due to our long-distance relationship. Our relationship is not perfect we have fight, we argue, based on our rights, but we motive each other by talking it out, forgive when we both makes mistakes, and in the end of the day the love we have for each other always remain same,” 17-year-old Kusang Gurung said.
East High Scroll
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Triple R Real Talks Real Problems Real Solutions
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Scan the QR code and check out our podcast!
East High Scroll
/22
Illustration/A.Hoof
Why does East require school IDs? Students are adjusting to this new rule that began Nov. 8. Have you ever wondered why East started to require IDs on November 8? This article will tell you everything you need to know about these IDs that you were given at the start of the school year. IDs are here to keep us safe, and to allow only those who go to our school to enter inside the school. These were recently used to allow students to come and watch school activities. They are still used for these activities, but they are also used to allow students to be safe from those who are not supposed to be here at East High School. There are pros and cons leaning into this. IDs can help with security issues throughout East High School. Making sure students show their IDs to administrator is important in preventing non-East students from entering the building. The cons of this rule are that the problem with this new rule is that many students forget to bring their IDs to school and are not allowed to come inside. Without an ID, you cannot enter after 8:25 a.m. The problem with this new rule is that if students have doctor appointments or any other type of appointments and have no ID and are coming back to school, they cannot enter. To solve this problem, you would have to go to the office and get yourself an ID during the start of school. Some students cannot afford to buy a new ID, which leads to a huge issue. A solution to fixing this problem is that IDs should not cost money. These IDs can show who and who is not able to enter inside the building. Staff will usually stand at the door asking to show your ID. If you forget your ID, you can get
An ID costs $5 each time you need a new one.
opinion/K.Stewart photo/K.Stewart
Students entering the building without an ID can get a temporary ID for the day. Campus monitors can print IDs at kiosks. a temporary ID, which is helpful if you ever forget it. Charging students $5 for a new ID can also help the school fund more money so they can produce more and more, but some students need to save money.
Beginning, on Nov. 8, East students are required to have an ID.
Paper version IDs are available, this can show that you are from East instead of other schools.
East High Scroll
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Happy Holidays from the scroll