the Mentor
NEWS
December 9, 2011 Manhattan High volume 99 issue 11
News Briefs Lockdown On Wednesday the School Resource Officer called for a school lock down. Without an explanation, many students were left questioning their teachers who didn’t know either. The cause of the lock down was due to an upset on Westwood, a street near the high school. There was suspicious activity at the 200 Westwood. The RCPD contacted Principal Terry McCarty and the announcement was made that the school was on lock down at 2:29. At 2:51 McCarty was informed that the area was in the clear and free of any dangerous activity. “I got orders from my captain to make sure everything was safe and secure,” Resource Officer Brian Swearingen said, “It sounded like it went really well. There was a rapid response from administration. Within minutes of McCarty’s announcement the hallways were clear.”
AFS American Field Service Club is preparing for their Kansas City Winter Trip on Saturday, Dec. 15. They will be shopping at the Kansas City Crown Center and Legends, strolling the Plaza and ice skating. The first 25 students are eligible to go, and the host family members of the foreign exchange students will be participating as well. “It’s going to be fun. You can get your Christmas shopping done and we’ll ice skate at the Crown Center,” President James Weiss said. For more information and questions, contact AFS Sponsor Tony Wichmann.
page 2: Staff editorial -- hashtags, Senior year page 3: Christmas albums, Pops Choir preview, Watch the Throne page 4: Sunrise Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Wrestling picture story page 5: Daniel St. Amand, Photography wall, Senior pictures page 6: Horoscopes, Special crossword
REDRAWING USD 383 every Thursday to discuss topics about the redistricting. As of now the committee has looked at 30 scenarios of redistricting with the schools.
with the parents, which is a concern with the committee.” Some parents of student Committee members for shave felt that the change the redistricting of USD in school would split up the 383 are busy at plans for the family and consistency overredistricting of Manhattan all, Amanda Arnold Elemenand Ogden elementary and tary Principal Larry Liotta middle schools. agreed. The plans are to cre“An issue for parents is ate large and small schools, that the bus neighborhoods by redistricting them into for students that are farther existing elementary schools away from schools. It’s harder to go along with the bond for the parents with the disissue passed in 2008. The tance, where as the students definition of a large school in neighborhoods closer to is student population averJones, the school only have a walk to age of 472 students, school,” Liotta said, “That’s one while a small school of the small problem with this has 246 students. plan.” Large schools such Liotta continued to exas Amanda Arnold, plain that the growth areas Bergman, of Manhattan would benefit Northwith having a large school view, Marnear them to accommolatt and date that USD 383 student Lee were growth. designated “That’s a challenge with for maxidesignating large schools mum capacity with growing neighborhoods as the larger and redistricting with small schools. The Graphic of districts of Manhattan shaded to fit appropriate schools assigned areas. schools, also,” Liotta said. reason for small Image courtesy of USD 383 “The general argument schools such as Redistricting means the committee members who parents are making is ‘Don’t Ogden, Bluemont, Theodore move my kid,’” Jones said. Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wil- designating which neighbor- has been part of the redis“These opinions we are willtricting process three times son are to reduce lesson loads hoods are assigned to which schools. Redistricting in USD before, expressed the impact ing to listen to, every comon large schools. mittee meeting we have.” it has on the schools. The redistricting commit- 383 has been challenge for The final decision, which “With past experience tee is made up of elementary the district, parents and students with the possibility that we’ve seen, children are will be made later in Februteachers, principals, a parstudents may have to change always resilient. Introducing ary, would be effective the ent from each school, and fall of 2012. them into another school transportation director Ron to a different school. USD 383 Communica“The redistricting and always goes pretty seamless,” Swearingen and Associate tions Representative and moving of students from Jones said. “The process of Superintendent Robert Seytheir old school to a new mour. The committee meets committee member Michelle transition is often harder Cole Anneberg news editor
Students perform at District Choir The day began early, at around 8 a.m., and the practices lasted until around Nearly a month after 11:30 a.m.. The musicians the strenuous auditions, the were then given a long lunch select few chosen for the break and were to return in Kansas Music Educators concert attire. The students Association District choir, were to refer to their school’s band, jazz band and orchestra concert dress code on what congregated at Junction City to wear. The students from Middle School for rehearsal MHS wore either the black and performance last Saturconcert dress or a tuxedo. day. “I enjoyed getting to dress Through live auditions on up. I felt more professional, Nov. 6, the District was able but it also made it very hot,” to hand pick the top students Junior Brady Kiracofe said. in the region in their respecThe hard work of the day tive musical categories. Stu- paid off when the bands, dents could audition in more choir and orchestra came than one musical category; together for a special District however if students were concert for the parents and accepted into more than one other onlookers. Each group they had to choose just one performed for about 30 minin which to participate. With utes. many multi-talented students “The whole day was a at Manhattan High School, great experience and ended this could have easily posed a up being a lot of fun,” Junior problem. Alec Schlotzhauer said. “I just decided to only try Freeby agreed. “District out for band and not choir band was really rewarding so that my decision would be but at the same time very tiring. I thought that the direceasy,” Junior Claire Freeby tor was nice,” she said. said. Kaitlin Wichmann staff writer
Jones noted the stress redistricting is bringing to USD 383. “Like other situations, plans are never perfect, it’s always a hard process, and there is always parents that talk of their concerns about redistricting their child into another school,” Jones said.
one would be provided later in April, a welcome day and tour for elementary students subject to the redistricting change,” Jones said. “Our direction is to make the students feel that they are welcomed into their new school with faculty and students being present for that start of transition.” Another side of the redistricting plans is the change in school for middle school students as well. Students can possibly change middle school from Anthony Middle School to Eisenhower Middle School and vice versa. This redistricting of schools ultimately affects all schools in the district. “This process of redistricting is easier said than done,” Jones said. “All the
“Like other situations, plans are never perfect. it’s always a hard process.” -Jones committee members are still discussing how to finalize the change.”
New school event u n i f i e s club members Cole Anneberg Dheepthi Perumal staff story Student Council is planning a new event for Manhattan High School clubs. Club Feast will take place 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the commons/cafeteria area. The concept of Club Feast is to unite every club at MHS with a common cause of donating to Manhattan’s Breadbasket. “All the students who are going should bring food to share with the other clubs,” StuCo Vice President Shawn Sheu said. “They’re also invited to bring a can donation to support families in need. We will be donating all the cans to the Flint Hills Breadbasket.” The opportunity first was brought up during 20082009 by then-Secretary Bella Alonso, but it was never presented because of time limitations with the fall
blood drive. “This year we wanted to take off with huge leaps in StuCo,” StuCo Secretary James Weiss said. “We didn’t want to sit around and do what StuCo normally does. These fresh ideas help us be more active in the school.” In past events that StuCo has held as food drives for the Breadbasket, the contribution donated has been substantial. StuCo had a canned food drive at the MHS football scrimmage in September raising around 300 pounds of food and close to $500 dollars, the biggest amount recorded ever, to send to the Breadbasket. “We’ve done so incredible so far with giving back to the school and community,” Weiss said. “I don’t see why we can’t be more successful with this next function.” Clubs that already reserved spots for the night are German, Spanish, Earth, Amnesty International, AFS and
Thespian clubs and many more clubs are still reserving their spot. Freshmen Class President Andrew Hodges is collaborating with Junior Class President Jack Hubler-Dayton to organize their class representatives for decorating the event. Hodges thinks that having Club Feast is a great way to come and meet students from the school’s diverse clubs while helping the community. ”It is an amazing concept to give to the needy,” Hodges said. Many in StuCo are greatly excited for the event and look forward to the turnout. “I’m very excited to see a lot of the clubs there,” Sophomore StuCo Representative Sarah Shi said. “It’ll be so sweet to see the turnout at the event.” Club Feast continued on page 4