The
JV team undefeated
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Friday, Feb. 14, 2014
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Volume 53 Edition 16
New AP music class to enter next year’s school curriculum
Class provides head start for music majors There are several AP classes that have existed over the years in all kinds of subjects. However, there has never before been an AP class offered in music, until now. Next year, Cedar Falls High School will be offering an AP music theory class for any students who believe they will be participating in music in college. The class is specifically intended for those who are planning to major in music in college. Because very few students are exposed to theory before college, many music majors struggle when they take their required theory classes in col-
lege, due to their lack of prior theory training. CFHS band teacher Gerald Ramsey said, “In the past we have had several students take music theory as an independent study, but with this new class, we will be able to give them a more thorough music theory experience.” Many of the music teachers at the high school have wanted to offer a music theory class at the high school. However, prior to this year there has only been one music teacher at the high school all day every day, so they were not able to offer the class. This year, Ramsey is also full-
Speech team competes at state Last Saturday, Feb. 8, thousands of people gathered at Waterloo West High School to watch the state speech competition. There were 103 different teams there competing to have the chance to compete at All-State on Feb. 22. “Speech competitions are CRAZY,” head coach Alissa Unertl said. Cedar Falls High School had 21 groups competing at the the district competition. In order for a group to get to State, it must get a Division I rating at Districts. Sixteen groups got a Division I rating at Districts and got the chance to perform at State, where they would try to qualify for All-State. At State, 10 groups got a Division I rating. At speech competitions, even if students get a Division I rating, which is the best one can get, students are not guaranteed to go to All-State. None of the teams from Cedar Falls qualified to participate in the All-State competition at Iowa State University. To prepare for these com-
petitions, the speech team members practice after school. They also practice some mornings and some afternoons, or whatever works best for the people that want to do it, so many people can be involved. “I would compare it to a mullet,” Unertl said when talking about a typical speech practice. “Business in the front, party in the back.” The speech team is coached by art teacher Alissa Unertl. This year is Unertl’s first year as the head coach for Cedar Falls. “I love seeing the growth in students from the first practice to when they perform at contest. Sometimes students don’t realize how much better they have become, but since I watch them from day one, I’m witness to it. The confidence they gain and the smiles on their faces when they are done with a performance make it worth it,” Unertl said. By Staff Writer Abby
YOUNG
time at the high school, so he and choir teacher Eliott Kranz will share music theory teaching duties, which allows them to continue to teach music lessons to students. The year long course will cover material typically learned in first-year college music theory courses, covering topics such as scale identification and inversions of chords. Like any AP class, the credit received from the course may or may not be accepted by students’ selected college. However, Ramsey said, “Our main goal is to have students well-prepared for the next
stage of their education.” Ramsey said he is excited about a theory class being added to the high school curriculum. He especially likes that with current staffing, none of the music classes will have to eliminate a class period from their lesson rotation in order to make the theory class possible. “This will give us time in the school day to teach music theory more thoroughly to students who will need this in preparation for their college education,” Ramsey said. By Editor-in-Chief Mallory
AP Classes Offered at Cedar Falls High School:
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AP Biology
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AP Calculus
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AP Chemistry
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AP Composition & Rhetoric II
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AP Great Books II
•
AP History
• AP Psychology
VALLENTINE
Doing it for the kids:
High school to hold dance marathon
Henry Zimmerman was diagnosed with Hydronephrosis, which creates problems in the kidneys.
Walker Gardner was diagnosed with Ectopia Lentis, which is a displacement of the eye’s crystalline lens, and Adams LT4.
Jude Corkery was diagnosed with Epilepsy, which is a neurological disorder characterized by seizures. He also has trouble with his eyes and focusing.
Maddox was born 17 weeks early weighing 1Ib and 4 oz. He spent months in Iowa City.
Bryant was born 11 weeks early weighing only 2Ibs and 3ozs. He and many weeks in Iowa City.
The Dance Marathon will be held this Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dancers must have their student IDs with them to enter, and it costs $7 at the door to get in. In addition to dancing, there will also be dodge ball, tie-dying shirts and casino games. The Dance Marathon raises money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.