160816 Mentor Edition 1

page 4, choir

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The mentor Nate McClendon wins teaching award volume 104 • Issue 1 • Aug. 16, 2016 visit mhsmentor.com

Angie Moss print editor-in-chief

Orchestra teacher Nate McClendon conducts during the final concert of the 2015-2016 school year on May 12.

Photo by Anna Alanazi

Quality of service, welfare of children, instructional methods, building trust and confidence and creativity are all things that were taken into account as orchestra teacher Nate McClendon was being considered for the Bob Srack Excellence in Teaching award.

All of which were traits that parents believed McClendon exhibited as he was given the award on Aug. 10.

Senior Nyza Milligan, who has been in orchestra throughout high school, appreciates McClendon’s unique way of teaching.

“He finds a way at figuring out where your comfort zone lies then he pushes past it,” Milligan said. “You know, so this way you have a broader look on life. He breaks past your walls so you don’t set tight boundar-

ies on life.”

Although loved widely by students and parents, McClendon felt as though last year was not his best. “[Winning the award] was really humbling because I felt last year was my worst teaching year,” McClendon said. “I’ve been teaching since 1993 and last year was the toughest year I’ve ever had as a teacher. So bad to the point that on the last day of school, I actually apologized to my students for not being as good of a teacher as I expected myself to be. So that’s why the shock of seeing that I was nominated, much less winning, it was just crazy.”

Winning the award was surprising, but nothing compared to the feeling that came with knowing parents nominated him, McClendon said.

“To know that it came from the parents is what

made it special,” McClendon said, “and part of that weirdness was that when I went through a year in which it was one of the toughest and the worst for me, but what other people saw was something they valued or saw as something good enough to go through the process of nominating me.”

The award is in honor of Bob Srack, a 1944 Manhattan High graduate who died in the line of duty for the United States Marine Corps in 1981. The Bob Srack Excellence in Teaching awards were instituted in 1981 when an anonymous donor created it to honor the memory of Srack. The award is given to one elementary teacher and one secondary teacher each year and the recipients receive a $500 check and an engraved marble apple.

Advisory provides time for bonding Freshmen Party aims to join both campuses Anna hupp content editor

What, once and for all, is the new Advisory Period?

According to Principal Greg Hoyt, Advisory will be 95 minutes of community. Picture it as nests within the jungle. Escape from voiceless whispers and nameless faces.

Teacher-student and student-student relationships.

Can a public high school foster a community?

It’s going to try.

“This is a large school with lots of people,” Hoyt said. “We want to make [Advisory Period] as small and intimate of an environment as we can.”

Advisory Period will be divided into two sections: Goal Setting and Move Time, or individual academic help. The Goal Setting part of Activity Period will be centered on afterhigh school preparedness (read: Naviance) and bul-

ly prevention. It will last 40 minutes. The following 55 minutes, Move Time, is for students to seek assistance from teachers around the building. Obviously, leaving class to meet friends in the hallway will not be allowed and students must stay within their Advisory classes to work.

Class sizes are intended to be similar in size at about 16 or 17 students per teacher. Sophomores, juniors and seniors will be separated and will stay in the same cluster with the same teacher until graduation.

“We tried to do our best to randomly assign students to adult advisors so that there is a mixture of students based on grade point average … so that there’s just an even balance among the students,” Hoyt said. “We’ve grouped them all together so that advisors are going to be all seniors in an Advisory; all juniors in an Advisory; all sophomores in an Advisory. In any Advisory, there’s a mix of GPA.”

Because administrators balanced groups by GPA, students cannot switch their Advisory Period teacher for another.

Teachers are in the same boat: they had no input in deciding which students would be allotted to them, according to Hoyt.

Why Advisory Period?

Many teachers felt Tribe Time was too short to be effective, according to Hoyt. He also said that Tribe Time’s studentto-teacher ratio was too high. As a result, students within the class weren’t developing relationships with their teachers or with each other.

To cultivate those relationships, the administration decided to launch Advisory Period.

“Obviously we’ve got counselors who are experts in these areas, but it’s hard for counselors when they’ve got 420 students that they advise,”

see advisory on page 3

what are your thoughts on modified block scheduling?

Tweet us your answers @MHSMentorOnline for a chance to be featured in the next edition coming out Aug. 30.

fall sports previews boys soccer Erick echegaray Opinions editor

girls tennis

Angie Moss print editor-in-chief

The start of any season comes with the hope of the team making it to state and advancing as a team. Although the girls tennis team has that goal, it also hopes to bond.

football

Jacob clanton sports editor

a Future Farmers of America and Skills USA softball game. Through discussions with administration and other teachers the event has morphed into something for all clubs to take part in to help welcome and include

“This time it may be 400 kids versus 1,800 kids,” Muller said. “We are trying to get into a smaller scale Though just one mile to see if we can work out all apart from each other, the of the kinks and then mayManhattan High School be we can maybe put it up campuses can tend to feel for the whole school,” like two different worlds to Rupe wants the students, teachers intent of the event and administration. to stay clear even if The “Freshmen Party “We created this to help it grows, “This event at the Park” hopes to the freshmen feel more is for the freshmen,” merge these worlds a part of the high school Rupe Said. We want by bringing clubs and and welcome them to both them to feel a part of booths staffed by upschool.” campuses.” per classmen to this The Freshmen freshmen-only event.

--activities director Party at the Park will “We created this Marvin rupe said be held 5 to 8:30 on to help the freshmen Friday, August 19. feel more a part of The event is free the high school and welcome them to both cam- the incoming freshman and there will be booths and games sponsored by puses,” said activities direc- class.

This year the event is MHS clubs including softtor and assistant principal only open to freshmen, but ball, flag football and yard Marvin Rupe.

The party has been in if the event goes well it is games. Food for the event the works since last spring not out of the picture for the is donated by Hy-Vee and when auto shop teacher event to expand to the en- Smithfield Foods.

Doug Muller wanted to plan tire student body.

Lily colburn business manager

girls golf

John ostermann staff writer

After being knocked off by rivals Washburn Rural last year in sub-state, the Indians not only look for revenge, but to find a playoff run that will give longtime coach Frank Alonso his first state title. Even after last year’s record breaking season from then-seniors Austin French and Kirkland Lambert, the team doesn’t believe that anything will

change, even with the loss of players.

“Losing the seniors we had last year, the standards are still the same if not higher,” senior defender Conall Root said. “We still expect to come out strong and hopefully we can play as we plan to.”

Manhattan’s journey begins on Aug. 26 at Lawrence High

“I think that we actually will have a pretty good team this next year,” junior Neely Joyce said. “There are a lot of talented upcoming freshman that are going to be a great addition to the team. Most of our players from last year are returning and I think we have a good chance of doing quite well

this year. It’s the second year with Coach Ingram as our coach so I think that we have the opportunity to really bond as a team this upcoming year as well.”

The first match of the season will be against Topeka High at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 here.

Ending the season without a win at state, the volleyball team is back and ready to play.

Having started tryouts on Monday and end today, the potential team members will go through various drills to test where they are physically and skill wise.

“We have really strong seniors that will help pull our team together,” junior Mackenzie Pease said.

Last season was full of disappointments for the Manhattan High football team, including a heartbreaking loss to Junction

City in overtime.

“We didn’t finish games last year,” junior Caleb Payne said of their poor fourth quarter showing. “So

we’re going to do better this year.”

The Indians’ begin Sept.

2 against Shawnee Heights at Bishop Stadium.

volleyball Jordan Lutz staff writer

Practices throughout the summer have given the Manhattan High girls golf team the preparation needed to start the season off strong.

"My expectations for this year is for the team to go out and play to the best of our abilities,” sophomore Camy McAtee said.

cross country John ostermann staff writer

After the girls took state last year, cross country has hope for defending the title and maintaining a high level of competition.

“I think we are going to have a good solid team this year.” Junior Cooper Schroeder said, “The girls

“I think going back to state is always the goal for all of us. Last year we went to state and placed fourth overall. We lost by one to get third. But overall, last year was very successful for us, as we were a very young team."

The girls Varsity team begins the season Aug. 25 in the Shawnee Heights Invitational are defending state champs and are looking good and the boys are coming from a fourth place state run.”

The team has practiced every day this summer.

“I’m excited for our team this year and we have lots of potential for boys and girls,” Schroeder said.

The team kicks off the season on Sept. 3 in the Manhattan Invitational.

2015 fall sports images. student Publications File PhotoS

volume 104 • Issue 1 • Aug. 16, 2016 visit mhsmentor.com

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old new: Shawn Bammes is going to be a health and physical education teacher at Manhattan High school east campus. Bammes has looking forward to finally be in the classroom this year after previously serving as a security guard for the school.

“I was actually working on my college classes while I was actually in the school building,” Bammes said.

Bammes is an MHS graduate and while he was here one of his favorite teachers was Lee Woodford.

Chelsea Barten will teach freshman English this year. Barten previously taught English at Junction City Middle School and Anthony Middle School. She is excited to be “moving forward in a positive direction to improve our facility.” Walt Disney has always served as inspiration for Barten because of his innovation and vision.

MHS welcomes teachers to new positions

lily colburn business manager

to “being a part of the family and to get to know the students and teachers here.”

dents after being in an administrative role at KState prior to this year.

Emma Detrixhe will be teaching physics at the west campus this year.

Detrixhe is coming from Abilene where she taught various science classes.

She is looking forward to living in Manhattan, a bigger city than she is used to, because there is a Chipotle and Target. Growing up Detrixhe always looked up to her mom who was able to attend college while taking care of her children and home.

Hannah Pralle will be starting her teaching career as a ninth grade English teacher. Pralle graduated from Kansas State University last year.

She is looking forward to getting to know the students in her classroom this year. Pralle completed her student teaching here at MHS under Miss Kleiner.

Jancey Radke is joining the math department this year as a geometry and intermediate algebra teacher. Radke is excited to be teaching a curriculum that is new to both her and MHS. Growing up, and to this day, Radke looked up to her brother who is just three years older than herself.

“He set the bar, and I always wanted to break it,” said Radke.

Caroline Gunn joined the special education department at MHSW this year as the transition coordinator. Gunn is looking forward to interacting with the kids and to start collaborating in the family atmosphere of MHS. Gunn’s favorite teacher when she was in high school was her junior english teacher who taught her to love reading.

Carol Beins will be an special education teacher for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities at both MHS East and West campus this year. Beins is looking forward to being back in the district after living and teaching in Nebraska for the past two years.

Timber Haw Keye, the author of Buddhist Bootcamp, is someone Beins has always admired and continues to inspire her.

Janette Stark will be a Gifted coordinator for MHS this year. Stark is excited to be back teaching high school students.

She previously taught at MHS but has most recently been teaching at Amanda Arnold Elementary School.

Ian Holman will join the social sciences department this year teaching global affairs as well as U.S. history.

In high school Holman’s favorite teacher was a math, not social studies teacher, who helped guide him both personally and academically. Holman previously taught at Fort Riley Middle School.

Jennifer Swenson will be an 11th grade English teacher who is new to the area. Swenson previously taught at Campus High School which is located in Wichita, KS. She is excited to live in a, “smaller community,” this year. While in high school Swenson looked up to her 10th and 11th grade English teacher as well as her librarians, “they nurtured my love of English and reading,” said Swenson.

Morgan Jobe is an 11th grade English teacher who is most looking forward to a shorter commute to work this year. She has lived in Manhattan since college but previously taught English at Junction City High School. “I’m excited to finally get to teach kids who live in my community,” Jobe said.

Samantha Brown is going to be a special education teacher for students with behavioral disabilities for Manhattan and is looking forward to meeting the kids she will be assisting.

“They are what make it fun,” Brown said. While in high school Brown’s favorite teacher was an English teacher who didn’t fit the mold of a “normal” teacher.

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features

Haleigh Carlson will teach ninth grade English this year. This will be Carlson’s first year teaching after she graduated from KSU last year. Carlson is from Manhattan and attended Manhattan High School.

While she was a student here, her favorite teacher was Mrs. Eichman. Carlson is excited to get into her own classroom and getting to figure everything out.

Darren McCoy is going to be teaching AP US History and regular US History.

McCoy is looking forward to teaching a curriculum that is at a higher level than he has taught in the past.

When McCoy was growing up he always looked up to his martial arts teacher.

McCoy is new to the High School but not to the district; before this year he taught history at Anthony Middle School.

Val Converse is going to serve as a Gifted facilitator for MHS this year. Converse has previously taught across USD 383 but most recently at USD 383’s adult learning center. Converse said she is looking forward

Elissa Mullinix will join the agriculture and science department and will teach environmental science, agriscience, botany and biotechnology. Mullinix is excited to be back in the classroom working with stu-

Adrian Walker will be a Biology, Zoology and Marine science teacher at the high school this year.

“I’m excited to teach using fun, interactive learning labs in my classes,” said Walker. Walker was previously the pre service coordinator for KState students teaching at the high school.

Kathryn Estabrook will teach French at MHS this year. Estabrook was not available for comment at the time of publication because she was attending an immersive french workshop.

maps to manhattan high school It takes anyone time to learn their way around a new territory, but we’ve provided maps of both campuses to hopefully aid any confusion you may have of getting around. vanessa guvele graphic artist

Angie Moss -- Print Editor-in-Chief David Fliter -- Online Editor-in-Chief Erick Echegaray -- Opinions Editor Jacob Clanton -- Sports Editor Jeremy Woolever -- Entertainment Editor

Savannah Cherms -- Trending Editor Anna Hupp -- Content Editor Dylan Thomas -- Photo Editor Lily Colburn -- Business Manager Vanessa Guvele -- Graphic Artist Copy Editors -- Elizabeth Riforgiate

and Rick Brown Social Media Managers -- Savannah Cherms and Jeremy Woolever Staff Writers/Photographers -- Mira Bhandari, Jordan Lutz and John Ostermann

Kristy Nyp -- Adviser The Mentor is published each Tuesday that school is in session at Manhattan High School, 2100 Poyntz Ave. Manhattan, Kan. Telephone (785) 587-2114.

More than 1,000 Mentors are printed

each week and distributed free of charge to all faculty members and students. MHS journalists are members of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association. The Mentor is a public forum.

E-mail us at mhsmentor@gmail.com

volume 104 • Issue 1 • Aug. 16, 2016 visit mhsmentor.com

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entertainment

do it, do it, do it: how to rep Mhs well Angie Moss print editor-in-chief

being unprepared for the first few events of the year:

Fall sports are starting up now and that means one thing: school spirit.

Last year, our student section grew and became one of the best in the state, according to social media. Let’s continue that trend. Are you ready to represent the student section well? Here’s what you need to prevent

Something navy blue, white or red.

Manhattan High’s colors are navy and white, with red accent. and if you don’t possess anything with these colors yet, you have some new life choices to make. Not only are these colors good for Red, Navy or White Out, but you can repurpose them for America

Out as well.

we’ve lost to the disease.

Neon clothing.

There is always a neon-out game. Save yourself future grief and buy the highlighter yellow scarf now.

Camo. Would we really be a high school in Kansas without at least one camouflage themed game?

A Dig Pink volleyball t-shirt. These will be for sale later on in the season, but this game is not one to miss. The fundraiser goes toward cancer research and honors those

Overalls, cowboy boots and a straw hat. Hillbilly Out is happening and you need to be prepared.

Equality. There is more to MHS than football. Vol-

leyball literally kills it every single week. Tennis, golf, cross country and soccer all play at least once a week as well. Make it a goal to go to at least one event of every sport this year. #RollTribe A loud voice. Oh, sorry.

I couldn’t hear you over the booming sound of Junction City’s student section. If your voice isn’t almost gone by the end of the night, you’re doing it wrong.

Respect. That being said, Junction City is indeed our rival, but that doesn’t mean we have to scream expletives at them every time we play them.

Stay classy, Manhattan. We also need to have respect for our facilities. If you don’t want to clean up a hundred pounds of baby powder thrown into the air by teenagers, then our custodians don’t want to either.

Which clubs should you join? Never miss an assignment again david fliter online editor-in-chief

Manhattan High School has a wide variety of clubs that students can get involved in. Whether it is an academic or social club, there is a club for just about anyone. The problem is that while these clubs are available for everyone, some students that miss the announcement for club signup day and do not get the opportunity to get acquainted with what the different groups offer. Here are some clubs and their agendas so you can be ready for club sign-up.

Anime Club This club brings together students who enjoy watching the japanese style of animation known as anime and reading its literary equivalent: Manga.

Art Club Art Club offers a different environment for student artists to express themselves outside of a classroom.

awareness.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) FCA brings together athletes for bonding not only through their sporting ability but through their religion as well. Weekly bible studies are held.

Future Farmers of America (FFA) This club brings students together that plan to have a future in agricultural studies or farming. Members go to agricultural events and provide their own materials for competition.

Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) The LGBTQ community and the straight community come together and work on making the school a more tolerant environment for those questioning their sexuality or those transitioning genders.

Black Student Union This club brings the school’s African American students together to discuss racial identity and pride. BSU held a poetry slam last year that had participation from people in the club and outside of it

Interpersonal Skills (IPS) Students get the opportunity to help the mentally disabled students that attend the school. Those in the club get to help the students participate in the America’s Got Special Talent competition and give back to the community by doing various fundraisers and volunteer projects.

Business Professionals of America (BPA) Students interested in entrepreneurial paths come together to work on their selling and speaking abilities.

Key Club This club provides an opportunity to get involved in community service and orient students with leadership and the responsibilities of leading.

Earth Club This club encourages recycling around the school and general environmental

Language clubs The options for language that our school includes are: Spanish, French and German clubs. They are an

opportunity for students to learn more about the different cultures and lifestyles of the countries of origin of the languages they are learning as well as being clubs for students to socialize and make friends in.

Medical Explorers A club centered around learning more about human anatomy with presentations from doctors and surgeons from different medical fields.

Wednesdsay Schedule Period 1: 7:40-9:15 Advisory: 9:20-10:55 Period 2: 10:55-1:10 Period 3: 1:15-2:50

Thursday Schedule Period 4: 7:40-9:15 Period 5: 9:20-10:55 Period 6: 10:55-1:10 Period 7: 1:15-2:50

First lunch each day: East Campus: 3rd floor, West Campus: Main level Second lunch each day: East Campus: 1st floor, 2nd floor, PE West Campus: Ground level, 2nd level

If you’re one of those people who is always forgetting when things are due, can’t remember the homework for the night or one who is simply looking to get more organized this year, a planner might be what you need. While the school does provide students with a planner, the day-by-day layout isn’t for everyone. The planner world has lots to offer, but don’t worry. We have a short guide to help you find which method of planning will work for you.

step one:

Quill and Scroll This club is for students who have distinguished themselves as journalists.

Science Olympiad This club brings together those who wish to create their own machines or other objects by using their knowledge of science.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) This club centers around the advocation of teens to be drug and alcohol free.

Student Council Representatives from each grade come together to form a voice for the students as well as working with the administration to make changes around the school. Students who wish to elected present speeches to the whole school.

Student Publications This is multiple groups that allow students to get involved with making the newspaper and yearbook.

step two:

Find a planner that fits your needs. Some people prefer a daily view in their planner, where each page is laid out by the hour. Others prefer a weekly view with large boxes so they can fill each date with what was done on the current day as well as what needs to be done later in the week. Find one that fits you, and then stick to it.

The key to a successful planner is maintaining its use.

Develop a system. Use colored pens, symbols, washi tape, stickers, or anything else that you can associate with certain classes, assignments, or events. For example, each of your classes could be represented by a certain color, and any time you have homework or a test in that class, write the due date and what it is in that color. If colored pens and stickers aren’t your thing, the same idea can be used with a simple black pen and highlighters of your choice. Again, develop a system and then stick with it.

step three:

Ultimate Frisbee Students get the opportunity to play Ultimate as an organized team sport.

schedule changes: Know when Class is

Monday/Tuesday/Friday Schedule Period 1: 7:40-8:32 Period 2: 8:37-9:29 Period 3: 9:34-10:27 Period 4: 10:32-11:24 Period 5: 11:24-12:56 Period 6: 1:01-1:53 Period 7: 1:58-2:50

savannah cherms trending editor

Non-Block Days First lunch: Lunch: 11:24-11:59 Class: 12:04-12:56 Second lunch: Class: 11:29-12:21 Lunch: 12:21-12:56

Block Days First lunch: Lunch: 10:55-11:30 Class: 11:35-1:10 Second lunch: Class: 11:00-12:35 Lunch: 12:35-1:10

Come join the Mentor/ Blue M staff! We are looking for more photographers and staff writers. All are welcome.

Come join the Mentor/Blue M staff.

We are looking for photographers and staff writers. All are welcome.

Make it fun. Just because your planner is for school doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.

Use stickers, scribble little doodles around your planner, jot down some funny joke you heard that day. School doesn’t have to suck, and neither does being organized.

Your planner is your own space where you can keep track of what you need to do to stay on track, but it doesn’t have to be boring.

If you’re interested in a fully personalized experience, a Moleskin journal and a bullet journal layout could be for you. A bullet journal will allow you to create your own layout and system of how you will plan out your days or weeks. These heavy duty journals are sleek and fit in your backpack perfectly, and again can be totally personalized when used as a planner.

If you’re really serious about your planner and are looking to invest, try a Hobonichi planner. These planners, created entirely in Japan, can be intimidating, but the reviews don’t lie. Hobonichi planners are sturdy, have a practical layout, which is different for each type of planner they carry, and are totally worth the money. Each “generation” of planner comes with a different layout: Day-to-day, monthly, and weekly.

advisory from page 1

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Hoyt said. “It’s hard to have that intimate relationship, so really I’m just helping develop and foster deep relationships student-to-student and student-to-adult advocate.”

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VOLUME 104 • ISSUE 1 • AUG. 16, 2016 VISIT MHSMENTOR.COM

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TRENDING

Welcome back

Welcome back to school! You’ve probably spent your summer vacation going on exciting trips, visiting family and hanging out with friends. Or maybe you just stayed home all summer. If you’re a student athlete, however, you probably spent some portion of your summer at camp.

Cheerleading camp shows promising season SAVANNAH CHERMS TRENDING EDITOR

As the excitement of the summer fades away and the reality of school coming back sets in, sports teams are gearing up for the upcoming seasons. Manhattan High’s cheer team has spent their summer making themselves both physically and mentally prepared for the year ahead.

The cheerleading camp is directed by coaches from California’s World Class Cheer company. Each year, the camp’s trainers fly out and teach MHS cheerleaders every dance routine and high flying stunt seen throughout the year. Although the three-day camp is primarily about learning, the long days are also one of the first bonding experiences team members get to share.

“The best part of camp has been that there is more bonding here,” first-year cheerleader and junior Mariah Garmen said. “It’s different than practice; I’ve made so many more friends

at camp than I would at practice.”

The new cheerleaders and incoming freshman aren’t the only changes that have been made to this year’s squad. At the end of last year’s season, head coach Jennifer Alonso stepped down from her position, which was then filled

by Maddie Tenbrink, previous assistant coach under Alonso. The assistant coach position was filled

by Kansas State University cheer alumna Michelle Page.

“It’s been pretty good to put my own spin on things as a coach,” Tenbrink said.

“I only wanted to change some things that would organize us a little bit better.

The main part has been just wrapping my mind around the administrative part that I never really saw as an assistant coach.”

Tenbrink says that while leading MHS’s cheer squad has been a dream of hers, it is a lot more work than being assistant.

“It was always in my head that I always wanted

to be the head coach at the high school,” Tenbrink said.

“So when it came about, it was kind of an amazing feeling, but in the back of my mind I knew there was a lot more to be in charge of.”

Despite all the new changes that come with this year’s squad, team members expressed that they want the world to know one thing: this team is back and better than ever, and they are not to be underestimated. Page agrees.

“This is an incredibly accomplished squad,” Page said. “It’s not just during tryouts. They have to be accomplished in their academics, in their community. they have to be on good standing even to get the opportunity to try out. It’s not just a uniform, it’s not just a pretty face. They are athletes. They work super hard to have the same respect that the football players, basketball players, soccer teams, baseball teams. It’s huge. They are putting in so many hours and they have to look good doing it. We just want that respect.”

Loading into her stunt, junior Kaitlyn French focuses on a point on the wall ahead of her, ready to be lifted up into her prep. Stunts are a major part to the MHS cheerleaders camp, as everything they learn the three days at camp will be used throughout the season.

PHOTO BY SAVANNAH CHERMS

Band camp prepares annual show Teams use camps to prep for season MIRA BIHANDARI STAFF WRITER

The first sound that reaches the ears of an anticipating crowd shuffling into Bishop Stadium is the rhythmic bassline of the Big Blue Marching Band.

Over 150 students began rehearsing for their annual debut at Manhattan High School sporting events in the first week of August with the start of the Big Blue Marching Band Camp, led by band director Joel Gittle.

The positive reactions from participants of the camp have proven it to be an asset to the marching band members. “[Band camp] set in place the fundamental elements of marching and showed me just how difficult it re-

ally was,” freshman Jayna Schwartz said. “In just one week I’ve improved a lot on the clarinet, and we’ve definitely got a huge head start on anyone who didn’t attend band camp.”

The typical seven-hour day at camp began with a half hour period of socializing and preparation. The rest of the day’s agenda consisted of a midday lunch break and practice sessions, where they polished their marching.

Many band members found that on top of their progression as musicians through camp, they also developed as a team.

“I think the goal was to prepare everyone for the marching band season and also for us to get to know each other,” freshman and

alto saxophonist Elizabeth Hohn said. “I feel like the goal was achieved because I learned a lot and got to know my section.”

With a week of band being the focus of all efforts, individual attention was able to be paid to all instrumental sections, allowing the complete group to come together with increased strength. The band’s accomplishments by the end of camp included an early start on the pieces that will be performed by the band once school begins, an introduction to marching skills for those students taking part in band camp for the first time and an established sense of camaraderie amongst a group of dedicated musicians.

Two MHS students attend KU debate camp ANNA HUPP CONTENT EDITOR

The high-schoolers dropped their bags on the floors of college dorm rooms. They would be here for the next three weeks, filling nondescript lobbies with a potent, not quite toxic combination of energy, exhaustion and passion.

This educational experience was debate camp.

Jayhawk Debate Institute hosted the clinic, which began mid-June and was attended by roughly 75 students, including two from MHS. The first week of camp was a mesh of lectures at a nearby hall and events within “labs” -- classes of 15 students who practiced, discussed and researched debate together. Each lab

was instructed by three KU students, professors or alumni who had achieved success in debate through teaching or competition.

“You’d get up in the morning; go get breakfast; go back up; go to lab; go get lunch; go to lab; go get dinner; go to lab,” --JUNIOR LILY COLBURN SAID

“It’s kind of intimidating seeing all these people you’ve heard of, and now you’re learning from them,” junior Lily Colburn said.

“But it’s also really cool because you are learning from people that know what they’re talking about and they’ve experienced it and they have a lot of knowledge to give to you.”

The following two weeks were spent almost completely in labs.

“You’d get up in the morning; go get breakfast; go back up; go to lab; go get lunch; go to lab; go get dinner; go to lab,” Colburn said. “By that time it was about 9:00 at night, and then we spent two hours working together in different groups and with other teams doing research and practicing; working on files.”

Why? “I’m not just going to spend three weeks at a camp because it’s something I find slightly interesting,” Colburn said. “I’m going to spend three weeks of my time at a camp because it’s something I love and am passionate about and that I want to dedicate my time to because it’s worth it and it’s something that I enjoy.”

JACOB CLANTON SPORTS EDITOR

In the world of professional and collegiate athletics, the words “off-season” are used very lightly.

To stay on the top of their game, athletes must be training all year round. For high schoolers, who must be focused on school as well as athletics, more of an off-season emerges.

However, there is not as long of one as spectators might think.

Even though the first official day of practice was Monday, Manhattan High fall sports teams have been working hard all summer, preparing for the upcoming season.

“Cross country has been running every day throughout the summer,” sophomore Clara Mayfield said. “[On] Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we have team practices where we do a workout run. Then Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, we plan group runs as boys/girls teams.”

Although the primary use of these camps and practices is to get all of the athletes on the same page, there are side effects.

Some are positive, such as the team growing closer

and the newbies meeting everyone else.

“This summer we had practices on Sunday nights to get ready for the upcoming season,” junior tennis player Neely Joyce said. “[We played] with the upcoming freshman and everyone returning or just coming to play for the first time.”

Growing the team together is not the only side effect. Holding these camps allows the athletes to ensure they are playing at the highest level they can.

“We focus on each individual skill so we can really take each of those skills step by step and fix the little errors that we may have,” junior volleyball player Mackenzie Pease said. “It’s also a great way for the coaches to see how we play. We scrimmage a lot which is the best way to improve on skills and learn what we need to work on.”

Although some teams choose to stay in Manhattan all summer out of convenience, others go to outof-town camps, where they get to practice against other teams. Football was one of the teams that left town.

“We went to Washburn [University],” junior Caleb Payne said. “[We] played

Washburn Rural and Wichita Southeast. That was cool. [We] got to see competition for this year [when we played] against Washburn Rural.”

Much like football, the boys soccer team left town for a team camp. However, their destination was Springfield, Missouri.

“We went to Missouri State for a team camp,” junior Ben Choi said. “It was really fun. I think we grew as a team. We played against really good teams...and it was a really good experience.”

In all of the camps and practices, the girls golf team was an outlier. Unlike the other five teams, the golf team held no team camps or practices.

Instead, the golfers were given a list of tournaments held this summer, and told to participate in if desired.

“They gave us a list of all the tournaments this summer,” junior Lydia Fry said. “And then encouraged us to participate. But it’s not mandatory and it’s not a team event. We try to sometimes get together and practice, but it’s hard to get the whole team together when everyone is busy with other stuff.”

Summer choir camps offers early practice

Senior Grant Williams laughs at one of his fellow choir members while performing “Surfin’ USA.” Pops choir split into two groups, one that performed and one that judged and critiqued. Pat Zenk, Pops choir alum, helped choreograph the group’s summer camp.

PHOTO BY SAVANNAH CHERMS