Sept. 26, 2014

John F. Kennedy High School

Volume 48, Issue 1

September 26th, 2014

the torch

Contents Editorial

Photo

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16

Technology takes over

Cougar catch up

Health/Lifestyle

News

08 S.M.A.R.T. lunch: to leave or not to leave

18

Battle of the burrito

Mission Statement

3URÀOH

A&E

10

20

Sights of summer

Online friendships

Feature

Sports

13

22

Your choice

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 48, Issue 1

New season, new face

cover by Hannah Bruns

The student staff and adviser are committed to producing top quality student publications, applying high standards of writing, editing, and production.

These media seek to fairly serve the Kennedy High School faculty, students, and staff showing no favoritism to any particular interest, individual, or group.

Final decisions about content are the responsibility of the individual editors, and the Editorial Board.

Non-Discrimination policy

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It is the Torch policy not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age (employment only), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (students/program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices.

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Ownership 5IF 5PSDI QVCMJDBUJPO XFCTJUF PGmDJBM social media, and broadcasts serve as a public forum produced by the students in Journalism - Newspaper. Student editors make content decisions consistent with the Torch Editorial Policy, Iowa law and the ethics of journalism.

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Letter from the editor Coming into Journalism class my freshman year of high school I never imagined I would be where I am today. The only reason I took Journalism was because Riley Galbraith, a family friend, always told me I would love being a part of the Torch. He was right.

Second trimester of my freshman year I joined the Torch. I remember the first day like it was yesterday. I was so scared, it was a class of upperclassmen and it was intimidating. But soon after the first day it became the class I wanted to be in all day every day.

Unlike previous members of the Torch, being in the Torch wasn’t in my blood. It wasn’t something that I would follow in the footsteps of my older brother with. Torch has never been in family before, but Torch has now become like another family to me.

Even though I don’t have to follow in the footsteps of a family member, I still have to follow a legacy that previous editor-in-chiefs have set for me.

That’s a tough act to follow.

Under the previous editor-in-chiefs leadership, the Torch has received the George H. Gallup Award numerous times. The Gallup award is one of the highest awards in high school journalism. So hopefully we can get it again this year.

This year will be our fourth year of the newsmagazine style. This makes the Torch able to have more coverage as well as take on a more visual aspect. For our most recent news stories and coverage, you can check out our website, kennedytorch.org or follow us on Twitter, @kennedytorch. The Torch also has an Instagram account, @jfktorch so be sure to follow us.

We hope our readers take the time to read and enjoy our content this year. And as always, Go Cougs!

Staff editorial: SMART lunch and tutorials take over Kennedy The Torch staff editorial is a topic important to the students of Kennedy. This editorial represents our student editorial board’s opinion.

S.M.A.R.T. lunch is also known as the best 80 minutes of most students’ day. It gives us the perfect amount of time to eat and get help from teachers. Mr. Kline says there has to be a certain amount of tutorials attended for each class but some teachers require more than others.

For the most part, S.M.A.R.T. lunch is somewhat of a free for all for juniors and seniors. However, freshmen and sopho-

mores can’t leave the building. In order for juniors and seniors to leave, they must have a pass from the front desk and their student ID on them to show to security when leaving. Exiting and entering the school must only be done through the north and south doors. It’s pretty convenient considering most students have a job, club, sport or some kind of extra curricular activity to attend after school and do not have time to stay and make up a test or get extra help in their classes.

In past years students had to make the decision between completing homework

or going to lunch and now we have enough time for both.

As for freshmen and sophomores who cannot leave, they must be either at a tutorial, in the library, computer labs, cafeteria, or hallways. Everyone must move quietly through the academic hallways.

Telling students to stay quiet in the hallways may seem impossible, but it seems to be working.

Students are taking full advantage of S.M.A.R.T. lunch and so far it seems to be working out just fine.

Editorial

Editorial

Get to know the staff

Editorial Board:

Lydia Martin, sr.

Editor-In-Chief

Abby Donovan, jr.

Sports Editor

Brant Barnhart, so Writer 4

Hannah Bruns, sr.

Design Editor

Maddy Crist, sr.

Editorial Editor

Morgan Schwab, sr.

Director of Social Media

Melanie Northland, sr.

Photo Editor

Macy Anderson, jr.

Health Editor

Elianna Novitch, jr.

Profile Editor

Fatima Elsheikh, sr.

Writer

Xander Riley, jr.

News Editor

Ron Lund., jr.

Writer

Maddie Herlocker, jr.

Writer & Photographer

Jade Milota, sr.

PR Director

Gabby Olejniczak, jr.

Advertising Manager

Hadley Rittgers, jr.

Writer & Photographer

Emily Sass, so.

Co-Sports Editor

Stacey Haynes-Moore Adviser

Naomi Hofferber, jr.

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Brooke Timmerman, so.

Writer & Photographer

PAGES BY MADDY Crist 5

Editorial

Editorial

Accepting the challenge

Technology takes over

Photo by Hannah Bruns

My mom works in a kindergarten classroom at Viola Gibson and every year she tells me about the two or three kids who don’t know how to hold a pencil or don’t know how to spell their name.

Those kids are not as developed as the other kids in the classroom and that sets them back in their progress at school. It used to just be standard for children to learn how to count and spell at preschool and coloring was a daily activity.

I can easily see why parents are tempted to hand off their phone to entertain their whiny kid and give them a few mnutes of quiet time but in the long run I think it only causes harm. Instead of running around the park and interacting with other kids, the children are allured to the screen of entertainment.

Technology is rapidly increasing its presence in children’s lives.

A 2010 Kaiser study reported that 75 percent of American children have TVs in their room. Those with TVs in their room have reported sleeping problems and are more likely to have lower test scores at school. They also reported that minors in this generation on average spend 7.5 hours per day on using technology for entertainment. That’s almost a third of an entire day.

Think about it, instead of picking up the crayon and coloring, kids in this generation are picking up their parents’ phone and playing games on it. Not only will this decrease their development of motor skills, it affects their imagination and creativity.

The Kaiser study also reported that in order to achieve healthy child development, children need movement, touch, human connection, and exposure to nature. None of that is achieved when a child is engrossed in a video game.

I don’t necessarily blame parents for the influence of technology in their child’s life. All throughout society technology has

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taken over in the education system and for faster and more efficient communication. Some schools now feature iPad’s instead of the standard paper and pencil. SMART boards instead of white boards and computers for standardized testing. The whole world of technology is evolving around us and its affects are starting to show on the younger generation.

The world is intrigued with the thought of connection. How can they get better, faster connection to the people around them?

That’s the idea of phones, TVS, and the Internet. It connects people around the world. I can turn on my TV and see what is going in the Middle East, which is halfway around the world; but we only have access to that information through advanced technology. Connection is what is motivates the progress of electronics. But I think the very same thing that is motivating us actually has the opposite effect on society. Effects technology is having not only can be displayed in a child’s physical, psychological and behavioral health, but also on their ability to learn and create relationships with the people around them. If children are relying on technology for entertainment and learning then they will be underdeveloped in the people skills that are needed for everyday in society. Connections should be about the people instead of the device that makes it possible.

I’m not exactly sure what the answer is to fix this growing concern and there might not even be a solution. Because technology will forever be evolving and so will human beings. Our obsession with new things will always drive consumerism, and I don’t think we will backtrack our way to ordinary crayons and paper when there is a screen available. But I do have hope that human interaction will always overpower technology.

Maddy Crist

Over the summer, all of the buzz on social media sites has been about the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.” Before this many people did not know what ALS was. ALS is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. According to ALSA.org, ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis can be defined as a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord. When the motor neurons within the nerve cells die, the ability of the brain to control muscle movement is lost.

ALS takes away your ability to control your muscle movements, which is how the “Ice Bucket Challenge” came to be. By pouring a bucket of ice water on your head, for those couple seconds in which the ice water hits your body, you experience what it would feel to have no control over your own muscles. This is what a person with ALS faces every day of their life.

This horrible disease and the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” hit pretty close to home with me. My grandmother was diagnosed with ALS two years ago. Over the last two years and even before her diagnosis, my family has watched her struggle to speak. ALS first hit her somewhere within her throat muscles. Since the disease, in her case slowly, takes away your ability to control your muscles she has struggled to form words because the muscles in her throat are hard for her to control.

Everyday this disease affects her and my family, any time we want to communicate with my grandmother we have to watch her struggle to form words. She used to be able to communicate using her hands to write or type things, however now ALS is starting to take away her ability to control the muscles in her hands and arms.

Can you imagine your brain telling you to communicate something but your body not allowing you to do so?

The worst part is when you’re diagnosed with ALS there is not much hope. ALS will eventually shut down your body, in my grandmother’s case slowly, in other cases very quickly. As of right not there is no cure for this disease.

This is what the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” is trying to change.

If you have participated in this challenge and have not donated to the cause, please do so. This disease affects 30,000 Americans.

It is not just my family who is affected by this. Every day, fifteen people in America are diagnosed with this disease. Every day fifteen new families are pleading for a cure to ALS. For the sake of my grandmother, my family and many other families facing this disease, please consider donating a few dollars to ALSA.org in hopes of finding a cure for ALS.

Lydia Martin

Control of a little letter A, B, C-… These simple letters are what define your skill level throughout your courses in school. These letters can bring smile to your face or absolutely cause you to cringe in horror. They bring pressure and stress to every assignment and test. I can speak from experience that they are an ever-daunting part of my daily school life.

When I do an assignment, I’m not usually focused on what I’m actually learning from it, but rather what I can do to get an A with the least amount of effort. I am sure I am not the only student that does that and this is the problem.

Because grades are such an important part of our education system, they have become the central focus rather than what is actually being taught.

So what is the actual value of what we are being taught? Are we wasting our time?

We are taught so much every day, but so much of it is shrugged off because we are more focused on the ten page reading assignment for tonight or the test tomorrow that you know you aren’t prepared for.

Now I’m not saying education is a waste; because it’s not. The things we are taught in school are supposed to help us prepare to

be successful in life. But how can we be successful if we determine our success by a letter?

What we need to do is re-evaluate the work that is being given and the pressure that is forced on students when it comes to grading.

A possible solution to the grades vs. value-of-the-lesson dilemma could be standardized grading. Maybe if our grades were only based on tests and quizzes, the lessons and work in between would be more valuable and less stressful.

Imagine what education would be like without so much pressure and limitation all from a little letter that currently holds so much power over us.

Grades are definitely important when it comes to college and scholarships. But if how we grade was not considered a threat and kids could focus on giving their best work and effort, would grades increase?

Instead of focusing on passing school, let’s focus on what we are learning. School shouldn’t be an absolute burden but rather a place where we are open and able to understand new things.

Elianna Novitch PAGES BY MADDY Crist

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News

TO LEAVE OR

Do you have a pass? Teachers and faculty such as Ben Ethier, pictured above, stop students at the doors to make sure they are authorized to leave the building during SMART lunch. photo by Maddie Herlocker Over the past few weeks Kennedy has “I think it’s also great that we take new experienced its first taste of S.M.A.R.T. pictures for the IDs because the students lunch releases. The new idea has presented change their looks and styles over time,” many unseen positives and negatives to Johnson said, allowing students to outboth students and grow their dreaded teachers alike, leav- “I pictures of the past. the idea of ing many to wonder The new release prolunch because what the future of it allows me to gram allows students S.M.A.R.T. lunch reto take responsibilwhat I want to do with leases will be. ity for their grades, ”-Rylee Steinke, sr.

“I don’t ever really choosing whether go out for S.M.A.R.T. they would like to lunch, I’d rather stay at school because you take an 80 minute lunch or to attend tuwaste just as much time driving when you torials. “There is no reason for a student to could do homework,” Aimee Ermer, jr., fail now that there is availability for them said. “I also think that it’s more productive to receive help while at school in tutorials,” to stay here and do homework rather than Johnson said. Students are expected to get go home and watch Netflix.” passing grades, and if there isn’t a rise in “Right now I believe S.M.A.R.T. Lunch is passing students, S.M.A.R.T. lunch could going as expected and students and teach- easily revert back to A, B, C, D lunch. ers are adjusting well to the new concept,” “I like the idea of S.M.A.R.T. Lunch beassistant principal Robert Johnson said. cause it allows me to decide what I want to

like

S.M.A.R.T.

time,

decide

my

8 PAGES BY Xander RIley

do with my time, and I can go out and relax in the middle of the day when I’m usually tired,” Rylee Steinke, sr., said. “I also think that the way to sign in and out is confusing and takes too much time to do.” Some students have even claimed to have waited in line to sign in or out for 15 minutes.

The administration at Kennedy also firmly believes that if S.M.A.R.T. Lunch is successful, other schools in the district and surrounding areas will apply the concept into their school days. “In the district we have three high schools and they all have their own identity and personalities, and I am a firm believer that the other schools will adopt it,” Johnson said.

In the meantime S.M.A.R.T. Lunch has proven successful and has left many students and teachers with a positive attitude towards the idea.

Ron Lund

News

NOT TO LEAVE S.M.A.R.T. Lunch was started this fall to give students time to eat, have quiet work time in the library, and go to tutorials.

Another thing students can do is to participate in various clubs, such as the video game club.

“It’s a good way for them to have a little break during the school day, play games, have fun, and just hang out with all their friends,” teacher Angie Fogle said. Fogle is the staff supervisor of the video game club.

The club has a lot of different activities for students to do.

“They can bring their own systems, we have TVs they can use, they can play on the computers, and some of them play the card game Magic,” Fogle said.

The club meets on Friday every week during the A part of S.M.A.R.T. Lunch. The club has 70 members, but can only have around 30 club members in the room at a time. For the club that is a big upswing of members compared to last year’s membership.

“It’s grown a lot, last year we were down to only having about six to seven members, and now it’s gotten to the point where we have to turn kids away,” Fogle said.

“It’s great to have fun during the day and to play video games with all their friends that they can’t play with at home,” said

Garrett Jackson, sr., the video game club president.

If you are interested in joining video game club, it’s very simple.

“Anybody can come in, all you have to do is go in and sign up,’” Jackson said.

Another activity is designed for students that would rather do something more active. They can go to the gym and participate in Students play an intramural game of basketball in the main intramurals during gymnasium. photo by Maddie Herlocker S.M.A.R.T. Lunch.

“It’s a good way to get some energy and have fun with all their friends. after sitting in classrooms during the day,” “It’s great because it’s just for fun, and Caleb Carlson, so., said. we just get together and we play with each Intramurals are offered to students ev- other just because we’re friends.” Carlson ery day, except for Wednesday, during said.

S.M.A.R.T. Lunch for forty minutes. It Just like joining the video game club, usually rotates between joining intramurals is really easy.

A and B lunch, and offers activities such as “Pretty much all you have to do is go basketball and volleyball. It is a good way down to the gym to join,” Carlson said.

Brant Barnhart for students to get active during the day

The weekly schedule for S.M.A.R.T. lunch tutorials.

S

Sights of summer

helby Pickering sr., was able to spend a part of her Pickering said. summer traveling Europe. Pickering left for Europe She also hopes that she on June 27, and returned home on Aug. 2. will be able to study abroad Shelby Pickering met up with her sister, Samie, and live in Europe someday. who had already been studying abroad in Europe. She visited Pickering’s trip to Europe was Belgium, Italy, France, Austria, the Netherlands, and England. not inexpensive though. The Shelby, who has always wanted to travel, went on the trip for plane ticket for the trip was the experience. $1400.

Much of her time was spent sight-seeing. While in Europe The rest of the trip cost she went to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in France, where about $3000. “When I was she got to see the Mona Lisa. In Rome, Pickering was able to young, my parents started a Shelby Pickering sr., (right) and see the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Coliseum. While savings account for me, and 2012 alumna Samie Pickering in the Vatican, Pickering saw the famous art piece School of put some money in it for a Athens by Raphael. starting balance,” Pickering Pickering’s favorite place from the said.

“It’s just amazing to trip was Italy. “I loved the countryside,” When she was younger, Pickering would not think that thousands spend her money. After a babysitting job, or helpshe said. When Pickering went to Italy, she had to take a train ride in that was ing her dad, she would save all the money she had of years ago they three hours long. “Yeah it took forever, earned. built this city.” but the countryside was beautiful.”

Pickering also got a job a little over a year ago and -Shelby Pickering She also liked that she was able to be would save 70 percent of her paycheck and spend in such a historic city. “It’s just amazing to think that thouthe other 30 percent. She was able to save up $2000 by the sands of years ago they built this city.” time she started working.

Another memorable experience from Pickering’s trip was her Pickering tried to save her money while in Europe by grocery visit to Westminster Abbey, in London, England. “They have shopping instead of going out to eat every meal. “If I were to Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin buried there, and I stood eat out every time, it would have been a lot more expensive over Charles Darwin.” than it was,” Pickering said.

While traveling through these countries, Pickering struggled While in Europe Pickering had to pay for her own expenses. with the language barrier. She said that most people knew baShe said that London had the most expensive public transporsic English, but she still found it very difficult to talk to them. tation out of all the places she went. “We spent almost $85 on “This one guy in Brussels started talking to me in French, and the Tube system alone.”

I was like ‘No France’,” Pickering said. “Then he tried to talk to After looking back at what she had spent on the trip, Pickerme in English, but I could not make out what he was saying so ing said that she “shopped way too much. That was probably I just pretended I could.” the bulk of my expenses.”

After looking back on her trip, Pickering said if she went on Pickering would recommend the trip to others, but she says the trip again, she would plan it better. “I didn’t go over with it is not for everyone. “If you go over on a budget you cannot much of a plan at all which I thought would be kind of cool. be picky.”

But it actually made things a lot harder and more expensive,” Brooke Timmerman

Costs of culture

-Getting a taste of Europe cost Pickering $287.81 -Traveling around and seeing all the different sites of Europe cost Pickering $1,004.09 -The trip overall cost Pickering $5,469.00 10

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Picture perfect view

Postcard 1- Big Ben in London, England Postcard 2- Eiffel Tower in Paris, France Postcard 3- Fountain located outside the Habsburg’s Quarters in Vienna, Austria.

Photos provided and taken by Shelby Pickering

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get in the know Advertise with us @kennedytorch KHSads@gmail.com kennedytorch.org 319-558-4581 12

PAGE BY Gabby Olejniczak and Maddie Herlocker

PAGE BY HAnnah Bruns

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Troy Fox woke up in the hospital strapped to a bed with a broken neck, five broken vertebrate, all of his ribs broken and the front of his head stapled back on to his body.

“We grew up in the same neighborhood, though we haven’t talked in a long, long time,” Kennedy teacher, Patrick Cory said.

Fox raduated from Kennedy in 1991, wrote to Cory and told him of the incident that changed not only his life, but also the lives of many others.

A friend of Fox’s who was in the car with him suffered from many serious injuries and died six days later. “A crash caused by my poor decision to try and drive home drunk,” Fox writes in a letter he addressed to Kennedy students.

In fact, “Alcohol is the number one killer for people your age involved in fatalities and motor vehicle accidents,” Officer Charity Hansel said.

Fox writes, “At first I thought my crash had one victim. Then I realized the ripples. Some are obvious. His family and friends are victims. Most people never got to tell him goodbye or continue to be blessed with his presence in their lives. My family and friends are in those ripples as well.

They have to deal with the shame and embarrassment of my actions.”

Fox was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for the crash that killed his friend. This is all because he made a choice to get behind the wheel after the consumption of alcohol. He writes, “I sit in a cell on holidays.

There is an empty seat at my family’s table on those days. Someday I will fill that seat again. The table where my friend sat has an empty seat as well. That seat is empty permanently because I chose to drive drunk.”

It’s your choice. Have you ever decided to get behind the wheel under

the influence? This is a decision that could impact the rest of your life. The Torch discussed this with members of the Kennedy community.

Many students of Kennedy have themselves or know someone who has made the choice to get behind the wheel while under the influence.

A Kennedy student who asked to remain anonymous shared their story with us. This student was picked up for drunk driving after crashing their vehicle leading to a revocation of their license. This student also was punished by Kennedy’s code of conduct.

“I regret it because it really effects you a long time into the future. It really sucks having to sit out in sports and losing opportunities that you could have gotten if you were eligible to play,” anonymous said.

Officer Hansel advises students to always call someone else for a ride if they’re under the influence.

“If you’ve been drinking don’t take that chance because an OWI minimum now is going to cost you $5000 and as a juvenile there’s so many more issues that go a long with that so just don’t do it, call somebody, call me for goodness sakes but don’t get behind the wheel,” Hansel said.

Hansel explained to Torch what could happen if the choice is made to pick up a friend who is under the influence at a party.

“If you drive sober and get pulled over with a friend who has been drinking, they will have to blow, we wouldn’t arrest them but then what the street officers do is they would report it back to me, and it’s a code of conduct violation in the schools.”

She said, “For students its like a double edged sword because there may not be an arrest-able offense but there will be consequences to face at school.”

A Kennedy parent, Kelly Sass was hit by a drunk driver in the afternoon of July 4th, 2013. Her vehicle was stuck by another vehicle that lost control going an estimated 75 mph.

“It was probably the scariest thing that I have ever been through. It all happened so fast that you don’t really have time to react,” Sass said, “In the past, I would worry about drunk drivers late at night, but it never really occurred to me that it could happen at any time of day.”

Luckily no one in the accident was seriously injured however all four people involved suffered from minor injuries. Both vehicles involved in the accident were totaled.

“I was very angry at the time of the accident as it was very apparent that the driver and his passengers who were underage were drunk. They did not seem to grasp the seriousness of what just happened. They never acknowledged whether I was okay. It took awhile to get over being so angry with them,” Sass said.

Although in this accident and the anonymous student’s accident no one was seriously injured, unlike Fox’s ac-­ cident, all three of these incidents have in common the impact they placed on all who were involved. ³1RZ , DOZD\V KDYH WR ¿QG D ULGH from someone, its just an extra step I have to do every time I am trying to hang out with friends or get home from a practice. A license is really something you shouldn’t take for granted like I did,” anonymous said, “as bad as it sounds it was a good learning experience.”

Fox writes to students, “If someone \RX NQRZ LV XQGHU WKH LQÀXHQFH SOHDVH stop them from driving. You may not seem cool at the time, but you may save someone’s life. That is cool.”

Lydia Martin

feature

PAGES BY Hannah Bruns 15

Photo

Cougar Catch-Up Photos by Naomi Hofferber

Think Fast (below): The Washington Warriors tackle Kennedy offense

16

Ready, Set (below): The Cougars get ready to run offense in the game against the Washington Warriors

Photo

Final Score (right): Despite their effort Kennedy takes a loss against the Washington Warriors

Cougar Nation (right): The student section cheers on the Cougars as they push for a win.

The call (right): A referee at the game makes a call favoring the Cougars

PAGES BY MELANIE NORTHLAND 17

Health AND Lifestyle

Battle of the burrito The rivalry is real. Rivalry of the burrito that is. Chipotle opened up in Cedar Rapids this summer and is now challenging local favorite Pancheros. With more similarities than differences between their hardy burritos there is bound to be competition for high school students’ business. Kennedy, being so close to both restaurants, gives students easy access and has started an uproar. The ongoing debate has people taking sides. Will you defend the old but faithful Pancheros, or favor the new Chipotle?

Chipotle ey rian, and th “I’m a vegeta ariety for have morenoSfhaavff, jr. me,” Shau

“Panchero they bob s is better bec Siegrist, sthe burritos,” Dause o. ylan

“Chip I thinkoitsle is fresher w Bell, so. better,” Britt hich any

tter “The ingredients tasteunbe e and they offer quesoson,lik so.

Chipotle,” Zach John

heros until c n a P d a h ’t n d a h “I ed o I’ve alwaaytts i,lik . last year, sM jr b ia C e ik ,” e tl o Chip

“Pa partniecheros is a Alexans and for kgreat pla ce dria W i est, fdr.s to studyf,”or

“I like Ch it tastes ipotle’s rice b Mittlebereally fresh,” etter, Renee rg, jr.

eros has “I like thatllPaasnecvheryday,” fresh torti baugh, jr.

Noah Cron

havena y e h t , potlebowls,” An i h C e “I likter burrito bet nt, jr.

Flue 18

Pancheros

“The bettertoarttillas stay tog Baethke Pancheros,” ether , jr.

Katelyn

Health And Lifestyle

S.M.A.R.T. lunch affects food waste at Kennedy

Americans are wasting tons of food each what they take. “We’re hoping that you guys year, without even knowing it. All that food (students) continue to come down and eat,” being thrown into the garbage starts to Schmidt said. add up fast. The average American throws With food waste becoming such a problem away about 25 percent of food and drinks promoting and supporting places that work purchased. This adds up to about 70 bilto prevent food waste would reduce the lion pounds of edible food wasted each year. amount of food thrown away. A restaurant Without food waste there would be enough that participates in this is Panera Bread. At food to feed every mouth in end of the day all of the baked “Extra (prepared) the America. goods that haven’t been sold are food is thrown donated. This food goes to homeless With S.M.A.R.T. lunch in away and not shelters, churches, and any other session many more students donated,” -Kelly place that can use it. are eating off campus. This Schmidt, head means that they aren’t eatMany students try to support cook. ing the food that the cafeteria restaurants that have food waste workers have prepared for them. The fresh programs, but for most high school students fruits and vegetables that students don’t eat eating out can become an expensive thing are just being thrown away because they’re to do every week. The price of food and gas going bad. can add up quickly. By staying on campus “I have noticed a drastic change. We’re down students are not only preventing food waste, a couple hundred (students) since when we they’re also saving money.

Hadley Rittgers started at the beginning of the school year,” head cook Kelly Schmidt said.

A student throws away her food in the cafeteria trash can. Photo by Hadley Rittgers To avoid food waste the lunch staff is trying to prepare fruits and vegetables that they know the kids like and will eat. Otherwise food is thrown away. Lunch is continuously prepared in batches during S.M.A.R.T. lunch.

If there is leftover food that hasn’t been cooked for that meal it is just used for the next time that meal is served, so less food is ordered for the next time.

“Extra (prepared) food is thrown away and not donated,” Schmidt said. “It would be Restaurants in Cedar Rapids great if Kennedy could come up with a way to with food waste programs: minimize food waste.”

-Panera Bread The cafeteria workers never know how -Jimmy John’s -Bruegger’s Bagels many students they are going to be feeding Through the Darden Harvest that day. Without any system, they have to Program: guess day by day how much food they think -Red Lobster students will consume.

-Olive Garden -Long Horn Steakhouse Teachers and student can help prevent food waste by taking what they want and eating PAGES BY Macy Anderson

19

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Movie Money Madness The concession stand employees should give you your large Coke before they ring it up, just so you could do a proper spit take when you hear the final price. Aside from the expensive movie ticket, many movie-goers know movie theater food is overpriced. For instance, movie theater popcorn has a retail price of almost nine times what it costs to make. Yet, for many, going to the movie theater is still the go-to place for a hangout.

Despite the overpriced soda, candy, hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn, Brock Hromidko, fr., goes to the movie theaters almost every other weekend for a great time.

On average, Hromidko spends about $40 each time he goes to the movie theaters, regretting not even a single cent.

“It’s worth it. I have a great time whenever I go,” said Hromidko.

Joe Benedict, a Kennedy U.S History teacher, felt the same way when attending movie theaters as a teenager when the price was $37 cheaper than today’s expenses.

“It was the thing to do,” said Benedict. “A movie and a pizza didn’t get much better than that.”

For many others, movie theaters haven’t been the thing to do lately. Some Kennedy students believe that it isn’t worth the cost.

“I really don’t go to the movie theaters that often anymore, it has probably been a couple

months since I have last gone,” Lauren Meyer, sr., said, “I am just not wanting to spend over $30 each time I go to the movie theaters.”

Not only has the price of attending a movie theater increased significantly from the past, but the availability and resources of being able to watch a movie without having to go the movie theaters has increased as well.

Back when neither internet access nor DVDs existed, movie theaters were essentially the only place someone could go to enjoy a film.

“We didn’t have a choice back then,” says Benedict, “we had to go to the movie theaters in order to see a movie.”

With other options nowadays, teens like Meyer would rather avoid a trip to the theater.

“I usually only go to the movie-theaters when a movie that I think is worth watching right away comes out,” said Meyer. “Otherwise, I usually wait to see the movie online, or I may buy the DVD.” Yet several teens including Hromidko, would rather pay for overpriced products than relax at home at factually no cost.

“Its always fun to mess around, and have a good time with friends,” said Hromidko. “Sometimes you end up making memories that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.”

By Fatima Elsheikh

Cost Cutting: How Much Can You Save?

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Large Popcorn Tub Price at Wehrenburg -$8.50

Evening Ticket

Large Drink

Price at Wehrenburg -$9.75

Price at Wehrenburg$6.00

Price at Collins Road- $5.00

Price at Collins Road- $5.00

Price at Collins Road- $3.00

ARTS ARTS AND AND ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

!"#$%&'(

How social media is forming friendships that go beyond a like, favorite, reblog, or comment The lesson “Don’t talk to strangers on the internet” has long been taught to many teenagers exploring the world wide web. But for some Kennedy students, those strangers have become very close friends.

Ryann Jensen, jr., has made close friends from all around the United States, five of which she communicates with on a regular basis. Jensen’s friends help her to expand on her art skills, even when they are miles away.

“Collaborating is definitely something special about online friends. Being into art, I have a lot more “art friends” than I do in real life. When you have someone with the same talents and ideas and hobbies as you, it’s easy to come together and creating something,” Jensen said.

Social media websites ranging from Twitter to Tumblr are connecting people from all around the world with a click of a button. Technology has allowed for new forms of contact, like online messaging, tweeting, web chatting, facetime, snapchatting, and more. Because of the change of communication, there is also a change in the way people make friends, as conversations usually take place over a text or video chat.

“It feels new every time you talk to them because you don’t get to see them that often and you’re a lot more eager,” Shelbi Benion, sr., said.

Benion has both Twitter and Tumblr accounts, and with over 469 Twitter followers, has built up her online friends over time. Despite the strong bonds that online friends can form, the anonymity of people online can raise some concerns.

“I know a lot of people would be worried about the creepers online and crazy people, and I would say that is completely plausible,” Jensen said, “That’s why you should always, always, always be careful about who you befriend, where you befriend them, and how long you know them, it definitely adds up to being safe online.”

Both Jensen and Benion agree that they would like to meet the friends they’ve made online in real life.

By Naomi Hofferber

Tools of the Trade

Many public areas, like coffeeshops and libraries, offer free wi-fi to it’s customers

Web cameras allow users without a camera in their laptop to webchat over software like Skype

Cell phones can access a large majority of what laptops can, like social media and facetime technology

Pages Pages

By Naomi

By Naomi HoFferber HoFferber 21

21

Sports

New season, new face

Sports

White takes field as new head coach

F

ootball season this year kicked off in Iowa City on Friday, August 29 led by new head coach, Brian White.

White was the head track coach for three years at Kennedy and assistant track coach for six years at Washington High School prior to this. For White and the team, football season takes up nine months out of the year. This time commitment led him to make the decision to step down as head track coach. White remains an assistant track coach under varsity head track coach, Curt Pakkebier.

“It is going to be difficult to coach both sports, being head coach is very time consuming. That is why I have decided to reduce my role in track,” White said.

On top of White’s coaching jobs he is also a part of the social studies department at Kennedy and has been a teacher for 20 years.

“I truly believe that teaching is the best job on the planet. To have the opportunity to make a positive impact on so many lives is awesome, I love going to work everyday,” White said.

White is taking over the coaching position from Tim Lewis, who was head coach for thirteen years.

“Being head football coach has always been my career goal. I have been the defensive coordinator at Kennedy for eight years

and at Wash for 11 years. I love the sport and I am really excited for the opportunity,” White said.

Members of the team are excited that White has stepped into the position.

“Coach White has brought a new type of ‘scheme’, which is our speed. We’re not the biggest team in the state, but we’re the fastest,” Noah Nosley, sr., said. “I like what he has done with our program, we as a team need to start executing at the times we most need it.”

As of press time, the varsity football team is 0-4. Losing to Iowa City West, North Scott, Cedar Rapids Washington, and Pleasant Valley.

Kennedy hasn’t had a winning record after the first three weeks since 2008.

“We’ve started the year rough losing the first three games, but we hope to improve on coming together as a team and being able to finish out drives and getting the ball in the end zone,” Jake Grovert, sr., said before the Pleasant Valley game.

The team has been working on eliminating small mistakes such as dropped balls and fumbles, “we just need to work on playing smarter,” Nosley said.

White is optimistic that the team will be successful this season.

“I expect us to be in the playoffs in November,” White said.

“Being head football coach has always been my career goal. I love the sport and I am really excited for the opportunity,”-Head Coach, Brian White

Morgan Schwab

photo provided by Connie Caviness

22

Sports

Taking the field. From left to right, captains Terrance Hall sr., Mason Jacobs jr., Jay Blank sr., and Sammy Lizarraga sr., walk together to the coin coin toss at their first game against Iowa City West on Aug. 29. photo provided by Cathy Thompson

Friday night lights

The players are pumped, the cheerleaders are fired up, and the students are full of anticipation for the game to start.

It’s the day before a football game when it starts to get busy for the football team. In the days leading up to the game the practices are intense and the players are expected to keep hydrated and eat healthy.

Terrence Hall, sr., team captain explains that he prepares for the game by taking ice baths to get rid of all the pain and sore muscles. Hall plays middle linebacker and running back.

“I must make sure that I eat a nutritional breakfast that morning. That will probably be the heaviest thing I eat all day,” Hall said.

“School is definitely hard to focus on when you know you have a big game coming up,” Shaun Beyer jr., said. “You just have to make sure that you keep up with everything in school while getting your mind ready for the night.” Beyer plays tight end, quarterback, and safety.

“Football is more than what you see on the field, it teaches you essential life lessons that prepares you for real life,” Hall said.

“I wouldn’t want to play it with anyone else other than the guys I play it with now, because we bond everyday and that’s a connection that you don’t find very often.”

Game day isn’t only busy for the football players, but also for

the cheerleaders. They practice two nights a week for about two hours. Every week the cheerleaders make a big poster for the players to run through when they take the field. It hangs in the cafeteria until the game that week. They also take time to make individual signs for the players to hang on their football lockers.

“It can be stressful during the week, but once we are at the game cheering just being there is really exciting,” Taylor Sauser, sr., said.

Many students and parents attend the Kennedy football games.

The Kennedy student section is very energetic. Each week the students of Kennedy pick an “out” and everyone dresses alike to show their Cougar spirit. Students have carried on the traditions of running out in front of the football team with the J-F-K flags, and chanting “I Believe” before the game.

“I like being a part of leading the student section. It’s awesome.

Being able to stand up and cheer with a couple hundred people behind you is something I look forward to every week,” Matt Morrow, sr., said. jade milota and abby donovan

PAGES BY abby Abby donovan Donovanand andemily Emilysass Sass 23 23

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

“The torch has been passed to a new generation.” - John F. Kennedy www.twitter.com/KennedyTorch

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