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Feature, Page 4 1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
VOLUME 52 ISSUE 14
Bike Tech offers classes Sarah Church Staff Writer
Bike Tech is now offering free classes to high school students as a method to get CFHS students involved in cycling. “Bicycling is a lifelong sport, and it is important to start teaching young,” Brent Johnson, the owner of Bike Tech said. He is offering two classes: Bicycling 101, a four week class that focues on the basics of cycling and Bicycling 201, a 12 week class that expands on the teaching in 101. He is waiting to set a definitive date and time until he gets a sense of student interest. Interested students can contact Johnson at (319)-266-5979 or brent@biketechcf.com
Tutoring:
Peer tutoring now offered for students in need of assistance Rhydian Talbot Staff Writer
Collaboration Community, co-created by juniors Hannah Mallaro and Maya Amjadi, is a student tutoring group that aims to provide classwork assistance to peers by peers. Meeting Mondays and Thursdays after school in the library, select juniors and seniors provide their skills and insights to any fellow students seeking assistance in a variety of subjects. The peer-assistance program is a product of an observation made in many different classroom settings. “We created it as a place to learn and collaborate because [Maya and I have] had people in classes that have needed help, so we thought it’d be good place for students to come together to help each other,” Mallaro said.
Chandal Geerdes Photo
Junior Hanno Fenech assists students Monday and Thursday after school in the peer tutoring program.
As a novel experience, the sessions place emphasis on allowing students to collaborate with their peers to foster a low-key learning environment. If unable to fully grasp a concept when first presented in the classroom, one-on-one assistance with a trusted classmate provides
the same concepts in laymen terms, translating a difficult lesson into more manageable pieces. “It’s less intimidating for students to approach other students for help, and peers might be able to explain it in terms that are different from their teachers in order to provide another angle for
understanding the material,” Mallaro said. Student communication serves as a springboard for students seeking classroom help, giving them the confidence to approach teachers directly for further assistance if needed. All students are welcome to approach one of the student tutors for homework help in a variety of categories. At each session, four-to-six peer collaborators are available to answer questions in conceptual subjects like science and math as well as edit and provide immediate feedback on papers. Collaboration Community meets until 4:30 every Monday and Thursday in the library. Refreshments are provided. For further information, please contact Hannah Mallaro, Maya Amjadi, or the counseling office.
Students reflect on the ending of Iraq war Maya Amjadi News Editor
Obama declared the end of a nearly nine year war in Iraq a “historic moment” on Wednesday, Dec. 14 as he addressed the soldiers at Fort Bragg. The concluding act by the United States took place Saturday evening when the last of the war troops left Iraq. Accounts of soldiers and pilots, when told their mission was over, reveal that they didn’t fully believe the news. Students at Cedar Falls High School were just as surprised as the soldiers. “I think it is fantastic [that the war is over]. I didn’t actually believe my sister at first when she told me,” junior Shelby Snell said. Senior Maria Dropps is also happy the war is officially over. “It is kind of like a sigh of relief in some way,” Dropps said. For some students, the
news was shocking because they hadn’t heard about it for so long. “At first when I found out the Iraqi war officially ended, I realized I forgot it was still going on. Then I was glad to have American troops come back, but I was still slightly concerned about whether or not Iraq’s violence would rise again once all the troops were out,” junior Brianna King said. Regardless of students’ opinions on the war, they agree it is time to end it. Senior Nate Hua said, “I’m glad the war is over finally. I thought it was unnecessary in the first place.” Junior Gregory Power said, “At the beginning of the war, I was neutral due to a lack of information available. However, following the death of Saddam Hussein in 2006, I could not understand why we were staying in Iraq
and became opposed to the war.” Some students noticed a lack of awareness. “When I mentioned the Iraqi war ending to some of my friends, they didn’t even know that it had ended,” King said. Dropps thought the announcement that the war had ended was very low key. “Really I only remember seeing it on one or two TV stations. Either people just haven’t really heard about it or some just don’t care, but personally it’s a good feeling to know that we’re not fighting anymore,” she said. All student comments revealed the anticlamactic progression of the war. “In WWII we clearly won the war. Here, there is no victory. Many Americans have died, and we have gained little additional security as a result of their deaths,” Power said. The war was far removed
from American sociDo you think the U.S. War ety, and Snell thinks that may be why in Iraq was a successful other students are involvement for our not concerned about country? it. “I don’t know why people aren’t celebrating. This war seemed as if it was going on forever. Perhaps because it didn’t personally affect us?” Snell asked. Yes No But senior John Paul Sevick was 66% 34% personally affected Hi-Line Poll represents 10 percent repby the war because he knew people serv- resenative sample of students. ing in Iraq. His uncle, Dropps didn’t know anycousin and friends’ parents one in the war personally, but all served among the soldiers. she remembers doing service “Whether we were going over projects and buying things to there to remove a dictator who give to families affected by was doing terrible things to the war. “Seeing how thankful his people or for something they were when we recogconcerning oil prices, I feel nized them is enough to show we ended up doing some good that they really care about the over there, so I’m fine with war ending,” Dropps said. it,” Sevick said.