Tiger Hi-Line
Winter workout
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Volume 48 Edition 17
Senior Nina Savage and a number of other athletes not out for winter sports have stayed active in preparing for the upcoming spring sports. Check out the details on the Sports Page.
http://hi-lineonline.shorturl.com 1015 Division Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Jazz bands prepare for Tallcorn Jazz Festival, NEIBA Jazz Contest after earning Division I ratings at IHSMA Jazz Contest Jakob Zierer Staff Writer
The CFHS Jazz Bands are preparing for the annual Tallcorn Jazz Festival on Feb. 15, in the Great Hall at Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center (GBAC). CFHS has two jazz bands, “Jazz I” and “Jazz, Too!.” “Jazz I is the top jazz band at C.F. We play much harder charts and the competition is tougher. Jazz, Too is a pretty good band as far as second jazz bands go,” Steve Ramsey, trombone player in Jazz I and All-State Band, said. “The name ‘Jazz, Too!’ obviously is a pun. It’s the second jazz band, so one would expect it to be called ‘Jazz II.’ When you hear the name spoken, you typically assume you are hearing ‘Jazz
Senior sprint
II,’ but when you see it written, the name implies ‘also jazz,’ so the name emphasizes that the second band is also jazz band despite the fact that it is not our top jazz ensemble,” Gerald Ramsey, conducter of Jazz, Too!, said. The Tallcorn Jazz Festival is a jazz contest open to any high school jazz band. “Bands come from all over Iowa, and there’s one school from Wisconsin that comes,” he explained. Kyle Engelhardt, conducter of Jazz I, is looking forward to the Tallcorn Festival with his band. “The students are really fired up and want to play well. They have been putting in some long hours of practice both on their own and as a group, and it will be fun to see how it all comes out. It’s a great experience to play at Tallcorn and get some good feedback, and to play in
the Great Hall at GBPAC.” Jazz I is working on the follwing pieces for the Tallcorn Fesitval: Tonight Show band’s version of “Take the ‘A Train’,” which Ramsey calls“a really neat ballad,” and “You Love but Once,” by Oliver Nelson, which is an alto sax feature with clarinet, oboe, English horn and bass clarinet doubles in the sax parts. They will also play “Blue Miles” and a new piece by Dave Holland, “What Goes Around.” “I picked pieces to showcase the individuals and groups that are the strongest in my band. For example, this year’s saxophone section is very good, so I picked ‘Blue Miles’ for them — it has a very difficult sax solo in it, and it shows off their incredible musicianship. ‘Blue Miles’ is also a great piece to showcase all of the different soloists in the band and how well they can impro-
vise. I have two very talented seniors — Joe Citta and Stephanie Koltookian — who have each been featured on different ballads,” Engelhardt said. “The rhythm section has also really pulled together, and they are being featured on ‘What Goes Around, ‘ which has a very unique time signature challenge. It’s just fun to find pieces that play to the strengths of each group and individual within the band,” he continued. Jazz, Too! is going to play “All of Me,” “Using the Force,” an alto sax feature, “Prayer Meetin” and “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise.” “I’m pretty excited for Tallcorn. We’ve got some pretty sweet tunes, and this year we get to play in the Great Hall at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center since the building we usually play in is under construction,”
Ramsey said. “It’s always fun to go to jazz contests and see how other schools are doing and hear what they’re playing.” The jazz bands participated on Saturday, Jan. 26 at the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) Jazz Contest, and both got a Division I ranking at the event. “I’m very happy with how all of the jazz groups have played thus far. It’s an exciting year for jazz at Cedar Falls,” Engelhardt said. “Both bands are doing really good,” Ramsey agreed. The next upcoming event for Jazz I is the Truman State Jazz Festival on Feb. 23 in Kirksville, Mo. Also, on March 1, Jazz I and Jazz, Too! will be competing in the North East Iowa Band Association (NEIBA) Jazz Contest in Waterloo.
Model United Nations delegations represent Chad, Peru, North Korea for spring symposium Nadia Honary Staff Writer
Brian Winkel Photo
Senior Charla Devries races across the gym delivering her homeroom’s answer as a part of a game that all senior homerooms played last Thursday. World language teacher Anna Danforth’s homeroom was the winner.
After wrapping up its fall season with two students, Stephanie Koltookian and Kavin Sundaram, named as outstanding delegates, Model UN is just beginning its transition to the spring season. Students participating in spring Model UN split up into four committees, and each committee focuses on different international issues. For example, the Social Humanitarian and Culture committee focuses on issues such as protection of children in armed conflict, prevention of malaria, and water scarcity and sanitation. Senior Kavin Sundaram has participated in Model UN for three years now. “There are a number of things I enjoy about Model UN such as studying a country in depth and learning to defend different views of the country through debate which may not necessarily be your own, in contrast to the fall session where you voice your own opinions,” Sundaram said. Students who are interested in learning more about global issues should consider getting involved.
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There are a number of things I enjoy about Model UN such as studying a counttry in depth and learning to defend different views of the country through debate which may not necessarily be your own in contrast to the fall session where you voice your own opinions.
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— Kavin Sundaram Senior Model UN member “I would highly recommend joining. It makes you much more involved with different things that you may not see in the news and helps you relate policy issues,” Sundaram said. Each committee has a head delegate. Students who wish to hold the position of head delegate expect more responsibility. “Head delegates have to have a general understanding of a country as well as lead the committees. I’d like to be a head delegate, but due to commitments to college classes I don’t have time,”
Sundaram said. Senior Sarah Anderson is very interested in being a head delegate. “I think it’s fun to help the people in my group to get up and speak and make sense. Head delegates make sure everyone knows what they’re doing,” Anderson said. Spring Model UN debates and focuses on different countries around the world. For those who are interested in what it is all about, Model UN meets every Thursday at 3:05 p.m. in room 258.
Tiger Hi-Line The
OPIn n IO OPI IOnn
our view our view Driving restrictions reach unfair limits We feel that it was extremely important to inform our readers about an issue that, for the most part as a high school newspaper, affects them greatly. One of the proposed changes would ban cell phone usage while driving among anyone who has a school permit or intermediate license. This applies to texting as well as talking on a cell phone. We feel that cell phone usage among anyone while driving, regardless of their age, is detrimental to the ability of the driver to focus on driving tasks. Therefore, changes such as t his unfairly target the often young drivers who do not yet have a full license. Allowing for people that have full licenses to continue to text or talk on cell phones is not only unfair to younger and possible less-experienced drivers, but also does not make much sense. We believe that the ability to text or talk on a cell phone and maintain focus while driving ins not immediately gained from receiving a full driver’s license, so the privilege of being able to do so should not be gained either. . In addition to the ban on cell phone usage, another change proposed by a separate3 bill would dramatically decrease the privileges of student drivers with only school driving permits. The proposed bill would no longer allow for drivers who have school driving permits to transport passengers unless the passengers are parents/guardians, family members over 21, an approved driving instructor, or an adult over 25 of which the driver has obtained written permission from their parent/guardian to drive with. We feel that such restrictions as these are unfair and underestimate the driving ability of such student drivers. We would also like to point out that these restrictions would eliminate the possibility among drivers with school driving permits to carpool, which in times such as these when being green is encouraged, not to mention the busy lifestyles of families who could benefit from their children riding to school with a friend, could be very beneficial. Whatever the outcome of these proposed changed to driving privileges may be, we would like to remind our readers, and primarily those which the driving restrictions will affect, that the changes were not proposed solely as a result of the underestimation of their driving abilities. Therefore, we believe that the best way to preserve driving privileges is to exercise safe driving abilities, that way the Iowa legislature and supporters of such bills do not have any reason to believe that driving privileges deserve to be restricted.
Write the Tiger Hi-Line
The Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes of Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Each edition is published on Wenesdays during the school year in The Insider and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, 501 Commercial St., Waterloo, Iowa 50701. Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Hi-Line or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial staff view is presented weekly in the editorial labeled as Our View. Reader opinions on any topic are welcome and should be sent to the Tiger Hi-Line staff or delivered to room 208. All letters must be signed. Letters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday for publication the following Wednesday. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Include address and phone number for verification.
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Briana McGeough News Editors: Olivia Schares and Kellie Petersen Opinion Editor: Torie Jochims Sports Editor: Jacqueline Jordan Feature Editors: Honor Heindl and Briana McGeough On-Line Editors: Ellen Wrede Entertainment Editor: Kristen Hammer
Rearranged test schedule would relieve stress After the completion of first semester tests in mid-January, many questions and debates arose concerning them. Could the tests be moved forward? Why have these exams, anyway? These Paul Strike semester tests shouldn’t Staff Writer be abolished and can’t be moved forward to avoid Christmas break. We just need a new
plan that will satisfy both students and teachers. I think I have a solution to all
I think I have a solution to all of your semester test woes. of your semester test woes. The plan I have brainstormed is this: all semester-long classes will be required to have finals at the end of the semester, but year-long classes are allowed to move the exams to an earlier date. There will also be no special days set aside for tests. The tests will be taken during the last two school days of the semester, just on a regular school schedule.
This idea makes the test-taking process much easier and also gives teachers a bigger say in what they want to do for their own classes. Teachers of year-long classes can schedule final tests at any time they feel. Students get the big benefit. Instead of taking five or six tests, the students now only take two or three in the last two days. High-pitched whining and low grumbling will be rare occurrences in the school halls. Pressure and last minute studying will be at a much lower level while sleep will not be lacking. There are problems with the way Cedar Falls High School handles first semester tests. This plan would put those issues to rest or at least make students and teachers happy.
Great chances presented by ‘J’ and ‘M’ terms As students arrive back from holiday break, many feel like they have lost everything that they learned before they left. There has been talk about changing the finals to be before break instead of April Hackman after. Staff Writer I feel as if break gets me out of the learning mode, and when I come back and have a few days before finals, I can’t get motivated in time to study. There have been many conflicts with Cedar Falls High School changing the finals before break because that would interfere with the junior high and elementary schools, but one way the high school could get around this is if we would change our quarters into eight-week terms. If we would implement two eight week terms, we would save the two remaining weeks for instruction on other
topics after the holidays. After the two eight-week quarters, we’d have semester tests before the holiday break. The remaining two weeks after the break and could be called “J-term,” short for January term. This could benefit a lot of students who might fail a class or others who would like to advance in learning in something else. Students who fail a class could have two weeks to make up the class and pass it. They would go to that class from eight in the morning till dismal at three. This class might run every day or every other day in case students fail more than one class. Students who pass all their classes could take a class they have interest in and learn a lot more. Classes for students who passed all of their classes could include specialty art classes, photography, physical education classes like cross country skiing or maybe students could work full time in a co-op class or learn to improve their writing, math or science skills in classes like environmental science, complete with field trips to apply the skills learned. The school could set up a lot of different minisemester classes. Then at the end of the year, the
same thing would be done. We would have a mini spring two-week classes called “M-term,” short for May term. This way at the end of the year, students in danger of not graduating have a chance to make up failed classes. Then they could graduate with their class. This could help the graduation rate improve and even the grades would go up because students will not forget what they learned over the holiday break. Another advantage of this system is that it provides a safety net for incoming sophomores who will be required to take more math, science and English courses. As our schedule is now, if these sophomores fail required classes, they will have to repeat the whole course and wipe an elective course from their future schedules. A J-term or M-term make up course would allow them to stay on track and pursue other interests. The biggest disadvantage to this idea is the loss of one full week per quarter, but when weighed against the advantages above and the fact that this schedule would allow six more courses to be added for every student to explore, the switch would be best for all.
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SPORTS SPORTS
Wrestlers send five to State, take 4th place at Districts Jill Dally Staff Writer
Cedar Falls High School took 4th at Districts on Saturday in Waverly, sending five wrestlers to State. Sophomore Michael Kelly wrestling at the 145-weight class was a champion, along with teammate junior Aiden Brock who wrestles in the 160-weight class. “We did pretty well. We wanted to place in the top two so we would make it to the Dual Tournament, but our guys did the best they could. As a coach you just want to bring as many guys to State as you can,” wrestling coach Jay Llewellyn said. Seniors Jess Froehner (2nd at 135), Kevin Hancock (2nd at 112) and David Weidenbacher (2nd at 125) also won big and set a place for themselves at State along with Kelly and Brock. “I had a huge adrenaline rush, it was one of the most exciting things in my wrestling career. Waterloo West wrestler Nick Stanz and I are rivals. It felt really good to come
back and beat him when it counts,” Hancock said. Hancock wrestled and lost to Stanz twice this year, but finally defeated him at Districts for a place at State. State wrestlers have to work really hard to make it to State. According to Hancock he has been preparing for this match both “mentally and physically.” “I hope to do really well. The touch thing is getting there, then having to wrestle like I did in the semi-final match at Districts. I hope to go all the way to the final match,” Hancock said. State meet is Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The first match is at 9 a.m. on Thursday. “I think we have the potential to all place. We have worked really hard, and I know we can do it,” Hancock said. Llewellyn said that he just wants to go out there and do the best they can.
As bowling season draws to a close, Cheerleaders Women’s team heads to state meet wrap up season Nadia Honary Staff Writer
State is just around the corner for the CFHS women’s varsity bowling team, and they are prepared as they sit at number one in their conference. This will be the women’s first time going to State in five to six years. At the meet last Friday, the team bowled strong, winning by 500 pins. Sophomore Jessica Fuller, with a bowling average of 215, is the women’s highest scoring team member. Last Friday, senior Aimee Kohler felt very good about the team’s success. “Right now we are 9-2. We are number one in our conference, meaning there is a very good probability of going on to State,” Kohler said. Kohler is enjoying her final year on the bowling team. “This year has been a lot of fun. This is the first year we’ve actually won a lot of games. All the other years I’ve been in it, we haven’t won much. Also, this year the people are great, and we are winning a lot, so it’s just a lot of fun,” Kohler said. Kohler’s bowling average is 150. Senior Stacey Walker is excited for
“Right now we are 9-2. We are number one in our conference, meaning there is a very good probability of going on to State.” —Aimee Kohler senior bowler the team. “I’m just thrilled I can be a part of the success,” Walker said. The varsity women are number two in the State, and the junior varsity girls are sitting at number one among all other JV teams. Senior Michelle Bamber, with an average of 130, enjoys the competition. Last Friday, Bamber bowled for the junior varsity. “We’re going against our hometown rivals (West). We’re hoping to pull through,” Bamber said. Last Friday, the junior varsity girls won by 54 pins. The girls are prepared to take home the state title. Be sure to catch them on Saturday, Feb. 16.
‘Off season’ athletes stay sharp through winter Vincent Stigliani Staff Writer
While most of the student athletes are either participating in a winter sport or are enjoying a rare rest from the busy athletic year, a few students are doing neither. The group, led by senior Nina Savage, meets regularly but is always changing. “We do a variety of sprint workouts through the hallways of the high school to prepare for track season. We are on the third floor doing them at least three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, if not more,” Savage said. “A variety of people come each day, usually no more than four or five though except on plyometric day, which is Wednesday.” The group does not train with fancy equipment or even in a gym. “Gymnasiums suck to run in, and they are in use every day after school by the basketball teams, so we don’t really have the option of a gym,” Savage said. They hope these training sessions will give them and edge up on the competition in the coming track season.
“We hope to go into the track season more prepared physically and mentally,” Savage said. “It’s also great to be able to begin forming the close relationships that form during a school sport before the season has even begun.” “People who train, like Nina and Faith (Burt), are going to be better at the sport when they have their part put into it. It doesn’t matter what sport it is, you will always be better if you train in the off-season,” women’s track coach Troy Becker said. While many athletes participate in winter sports, members of this group are not interested for one reason or another. “The only winter sport that would be even remotely helpful for track is basketball, and myself and the other girls haven’t ever taken enough of a liking in basketball to invest the needed amount of time to be a part of the CF girl’s basketball team, who are absolutely fantastic, by the way,” Savage said. They are open to new members interested in hard work during the off-season. They hope all this hard work and dedication will pay off. “We want to be the best we can be, and we work very hard to achieve that,” Savage said.
Honor Heindl Photo
As they have for many winter weeks, a number of athletes stay sharp by doing plyometrics in the English hallway on Wednesdays after school.
Kristen Counsell Staff Writer
The CFHS competition cheerleaders took 1st place at their competition in Waverly, on Sunday, Jan. 27. A week earlier the squad also received first place at the Chicago Regional Championships, though they were the only ones in their division at the Chicago competition. “The last couple of competitions that we have attended, we got 1st place in our division and grand champions out of the whole competition, and we won $100 to go toward our next year’s season,” head coach Tami Doyle said. There have been many injuries on the squad this year. Not all are due to cheerleading. though it was hard on the squad because people’s spots had to be filled, and the routine had to be adjusted in a small period of time. “I think the most challenging thing is overcoming injuries and changing our routine to adapt to those girls missing this year,” senior Kelsey Ihde said. As the season has gone on, some of the injured cheerleaders have been able to participate again. “We kind of took a break and tried to recover from injuries, so we started putting our routine back together. We’ve had some of our injured cheerleaders come back to the squad, so we’ve been putting people in where we took them out before and were still doing the same routine, but just trying to make it a more perfected routine,” Doyle said. Coed cheerleaders have also put together a routine and performed it at the Nashua Plainfield Invite and during intermissions for both basketball games and wrestling meets. “Most of the time it’s the guys who aren’t currently active in something and just want something fun to do,” Doyle said. Cheerleading try-outs are coming up really soon. The first required try-out practice is on Monday, Feb. 18 at 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. The actual try-out day is Saturday, March 1.
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Student returns to CFHS after studying at Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind Ashley Ehrig Staff Writer
As students began finding their way to new classes this semester, junior Kelsi Hansen joined the chaos. She needs to find a place for herself in a new school, master the new coursework of Cedar Falls High School, and literally struggle to find her way through the crowded hallways. After battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and numerous tumors during her seventh grade year, Hansen was left completely blind. A quarter into her freshmen year, Hansen moved to Phoenix to take classes at the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB). “I lived in Tuscan, Arizona, and went to school in Phoenix. Sunday nights I would take a bus up to the school and stayed in a dorm-like room until Friday afternoon. We would get out early on Fridays, around 1 p.m., and then I took the bus back home where I stayed until Sunday night again,” Hansen said.
After spending two years at Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind, Hansen is now adjusting to the CFHS environment.
demeanor. “Not too many people really talk to me. All they really have to do is introduce themselves so I know who they are and then start talking. Also, telling me when you’re leaving is helpful; it’s always embarrassing when I start talking to someone who has already left,” Hansen said. Somtimes Hansen could use the help of a friendly student. “Sometimes I don’t ask for help if I’m lost, so if I look —Kelsi Hansen frustrated, then maybe ask CFHS Student and see if you can help, or if I need help. But if I ask where I am, just don’t laugh at me,” Hansen said, smiling. “I miss it there. It’s a very small setHansen gets help from teachers and ting with about 40 kids, and they’re all an associate; however, she still has blind, so you’re more normal, well, different ways of getting around in the ‘normal’. You also learn a lot from the school environment, doing homework, students there, but I got everything I and completing regular class work. needed to learn from ASDB. I learned “I have to use a cane, and it’s difhow to get around and function day- ficult because I can’t always find my to-day but wasn’t really academically landmarks, so I know when to turn focused there,” Hansen said. or to figure out where I’m going. For Getting to socialize like a normal homework I use a Braille Note. It’s teen has proven rather difficult for basically a computer laptop that talks Hansen, despite her kind, approachable back to me.”
“Not too many people really talk to me. All they really have to do is introduce themselves”
Brian Winkel photo
Typing at her Braille Note, a talking laptop, CFHS junior Kelsi Hansen works on her homework. After battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma her 7th grade year, Hansen was left completely blind.
Jill Dally Staff Writer
During a school break, a sophomore from Chile decided to experience American education by joining the student body at Cedar Falls High School this spring. Rolando Martinez is simply here for the experience, nothing he does will count towards his schooling back home. Martinez said that he came to Cedar Falls during his break to visit his friend Mario Meza. Meza has gone to Chile to visit him many times. Martinez is a part of the English Language Learners (ELL) program here at the high school. It is offered to students that don’t speak English as their primary language. “I think ELL helps students like Rolando. It gives them a place where they can focus primarily on a language. It’s
a safe place where they can feel free to ask questions,” ELL teacher Sarah Wait said. The ELL classroom has high school students in it from around the world. “In ELL we work on skills for reading, writing, listening, speaking and culture. Since we have such a range of abilities, we work on a more content based schedule,” Wait said. Martinez is taking a lot of grueling classes for someone who is still learning the language and for someone whose summer break has just started. According to him, though, he has no problem understanding what is going on in his classrooms. “He’s not afraid to ask questions. I think he is adjusting pretty well. He has a good attitude and is very positive,” Wait said. According to Wait, ELL helps the students in more than just that one class.
It is one hour of the day, and it helps them to adjust to their other classes. “Teachers in other classes make accommodations, like giving extra time on a test. Fortunately, the one hour influences everything and has an immediate impact on their classes,” Wait said. In Chilean schools, grades are not a focus point; students pass or fail based on how they do on a standardized test. “My credits won’t transfer back to Chile. They don’t test in grades. Everything I am doing here is all for experience of what it is like in an American culture. In Chile they are on break right now. By the time I get back I will miss a little bit of school,” Martinez said. Martinez likes Cedar Falls, but he misses the warm weather of his hometown of Copiapó. He will be returning there on March 25, unless he decides he wants to stay longer.
Brian Winkel photo
Absorbing the American culture of Cedar Falls, sophomore Rolando Martinez has been studying at Cedar Falls High School during his vacation. Although he will receive no credit for his studies, Martinez is taking a challenging course load.
Chilean Student studies in America to experience culture