Issue 3 of The Reporter

the

reporter

Paola High School • 401 N. Angela • Paola, KS 66071

Super seniors

3 (news)

December 2011

Student writers

4 (entertainment)

Video game lives

6-7(features)

Football review

10 (sports)

Getting back Dear Santa, on track

Harrison recuperates from brain aneurysm marissa bergman reporter

Even after senior Nikki Harrison was diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease, her uncle Curtis Darby said she remained optimistic.

“She’s so positive-minded about everything; she’s kind of a role model to me,” Darby said.

Harrison is still recovering from an aneurysm that happened on Nov. 4. Harrison said she was diagnosed with Moyamoya Disease, a vascular disorder that affects the blood vessels in the brain.

She will have to live with the disease for the rest of her life because Moyamoya is not curable.

“I am apt to have a stroke any time,” Harrison said.

Harrison knows she is an exception to the normal age range of people who contract the disease.

“Generally it affects young children or much older people,” Harrison said.

Photo courtesy of Nikki Harrison Harrison first knew something was Senior Nikki Harrison and ‘11 graduate Amanda Brixey wrong when she was at home with her eat Harrison’s birthday cake on Nov. 7. Harrison was boyfriend, senior Tanner Staats. She said diagnosed with Moyamoya disease on Nov. 4 and spent she had a bad headache and couldn’t move her 18th birthday in the hospital. her left side.

“I joked to Tanner, ‘Hey! Maybe I had a She also said weakness in Harrison’s left side stroke,’” Harrison said. “That joke wasn’t so may be a sign. funny after all.”

Harrison is back at home and has returned Harrison said the doctors discovered she had to school now, but she said she still can’t feel Moyamoya after she was driven by ambulance her left side and can’t do all of the things she to KU Medical Center. Harrison’s best friend, normally did. senior Shauna Denton, rode with her in the “I can’t do anything ‘strenuous’ for three ambulance. months so it’s hard to not wrestle my brothers or “Shauna was away from the hospital for two exercise,” Harrison said. hours in the six days I spent there,” Harrison Her schedule has also changed. said. “Who better to keep you company and talk “I was able to drop two classes that I don’t to you than your best friend in the whole wide need to graduate, so my school day is shorter,” world?”

Harrison said. “Next semester I will only have Denton said she helped Harrison out while one day of classes because that’s all I need.” she was in the hospital.

To help Harrison, a dice run and chili feed “I got her food so she didn’t have to eat was held Nov. 19. Darby said a dice run is an hospital food,” Denton said. event where motorcyclists pay to ride in the While Denton was at the hospital, she learned run and half of the fee goes to Harrison. Darby how to know when Harrison might be having a helped organize the event. stroke.

“I wanted to do everything I could to help her “If she has a sharp headache, that’s probably get back on two feet,” Darby said. a sign of it,” Denton said.

Darby said the fundraiser raised $3,700.

Kessler, Short write wish-lists

Dear Santa , I’m REA L LY sorr P.S year. Befo re I went y about last unlo . I will leave the front door to get my to bed I tr cked for y pa o ie P.P.S. I w u this year. but they rents to put out the d an ju fi I was jok st laughed at me re mean you’ve t a pony…again. I ing or so like stu given me me so ff sneak dow nstairs in thing. I did pon in the past but I’ve a me good the night y for the la the middle sked for a to already co put it out but you of It probably w st 14 years straight. ou m h a new suit e and gone. I can pay ad the chimney ldn’t have fit down but this y if your old for use ear or repairs th o if it’s not ne is ruined disa e door so no ex you can lost cause cuses for p a p completely ointing me . again.

Sincerely, Annie Kes sler, senio r

ay not have been (Granted, you m u started, but n yo Dear Mr. Claus, u to tell you that way whe e saying goes – th yo e w rit ho w u know Most kids have this yo ice makes perfect.”) And if to g in dy e ’r ct what they est “Pra en who cares? ther it be the new u’re not real, th ho you are, or yo s Christmas. Whe an je of t change w “cute” pair cell phone, that ody’s butt look That doesn’ That doesn’t change eb ar m u so what yo e. that make some of us up cash. But ht ig ra st en y we all got (and the “Ho! ev jo e th e good, or rit w we hear the time to still get it) when in the mall. It today, I’m taking ” u yo s. of nk t you to say “Tha , are a symbol. Ho! Ho!” w excited we ge ho ge us la an C ch r. t n’ es do You, M nd ou t ar lo as, but also of a istmas Eve rolls Yes, of Christm ing when Chr gle into bed after baking nn gi be e th e liz more. You symbo nning of a time and we snug g one s (maybe stealin and begi ie e th ok ; co on u as yo se a of s) ve s in the proces ul for what we’ to really be joyf re going to get. for ourselve ilk. You are the guy m e’ got, and what w little kids look pouring your ts to see at least once ho an w w an ne m yo a er e ar ev You about. You truly up to and dream mebody can see in their life. anks Santa. so to conclude, th , So , are a man who in ng my family st burst into a gr nks for bringi s for making ha T r in a mall and ju ou of . Thank e of some close every year ueal in delight even at the ag sq er st si . little grandparents this letter, my she sees you on the square and e rit w I as , ow You kn ubt when center. Thanks lot of people do r local shopping ou at I’ve realized, a y he T . you’re real ing you. whether or not for “one for be erely, le ib ss po im s Sinc think that it’ ld nior l around the wor Nathan Short, se back door if guy to travel al ar the questions the e us u he P.S. Do yo in one night.” I e ones m sa e y? th ; ne ad im he e there’s no ch echoing in my ars. “How do th I’ve heard for ye , in my opinion, ut reindeer fly?” B point. If you’re e th ng si is m e they’r it however you do real, then you ng been doing it lo see fit. You’ve ve ha tta go ve you’ enough, I mean, w. no ason to it, by a rhyme and re

2 (quick news)

The Reporter • December 2011

-23

lowest temperature ever recorded in Kansas City area

38

centimeters of largest snowflake ever recorded

Compiled by Kali Blanc

height of world’s tallest snowman in feet

inches of snowfall a year in Kansas

by the numbers

quick picks

113

20.1

Information from NBC Action News, USA Today, Weather facts website and National Weather Serivce.

12.19,20,21 Finals

12.22-1.3 No School Winter Break

1.21

Varsity Wrestling Tournament PHS gymnasium 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo by Kali Blanc

Junior Patrick Kennedy practices his breast stroke during boy’s swim team practive on Nov. 28. The boy’s swim team’s first meet was Dec. 3 at Coffeyville. The team took second place.

Arguing for a cause SophomoreTera Brandt thinks of debate, she envisions long Saturdays, dreading rounds and Duane Lintz yelling.

This is Brandt’s second year in debate. She said she has to do a lot of research and give up her Saturdays, but she enjoys it.

“I like to argue with people,” she said.

Lintz, debate teacher, said he believes that debate is like learning to play chess. He said that he could explain debate to someone until he’s blue in the face, but they would never learn unless they tried it themself.

“That’s the only way you’ll learn the game,” he said.

The team is preparing for tournaments. They

will be trying to qualify to go to state through regionals or invitationals.

State will be held at Silver Lake on Jan. 13 and 14. They already have 4 two-speaker teams qualified for state out of 10 affirmative cases.

These cases range from how to deflect asteroids as they come to Earth, to one of Saturn’s moons called Titan.

“I have no idea how we’ll do,” Lintz said.

He encourages people to join debate. He said it is good for anyone looking for a mental challenge or competition.

“Sign up,” he said.

- shelby mcdaniel

Loud music, late nights and lots of laughs are part of the Robotics team’s activities.

The team’s goal is to commit more than 200 hours of build time to win competitions with their machine.

The team competes in Kansas City in early March.

“We’re going to two competitions,” Anna Faust, freshman, said. “One is in Kansas City after we build our robot. The other one we are debating on is between Denver and St. Louis, and if we make it to championships, we will go to St. Louis.”

With one month of planning and fundraising left, the team starts build season on the “first convenient six weeks of the year,” said senior Tyler Cawley.

The team raised roughly $3,000 from the Robotics Dance that was held Dec. 3.

“We will build five, six, or seven days out of the week,” Cawley said. “On weekends we’ve sometimes worked until two in the morning.”

Cawley said putting in a lot of time is worthwhile.

“Staying up late is where you get the triple digit scores, which requires a lot of commitment, and it tires you out,” he said.

Faust said building is fun.

“We just basically have the music turned on all the way up and dance and everything and we just kind of joke around while also building and being serious and trying to build the robot and getting ready for competitions,” she said.

- lane harris

Beloved brother

remembered

Robotics builds memories

Clay Kessler,‘08 graduate On November 20, Clay Kessler, a ‘‘ ‘08 PHS graduate, died in a single-car accident.

In high school, Clay played football his freshman through junior year and high jumped in track all four years.

After high school, Clay bought a house in Hillsdale and worked on a road crew for Gunko Traffic Control before taking a different path toward welding for Greenbrier. He took a job for Doherty Steel Inc. just a few weeks be-

fore the accident.

His sister, senior Annie Kessler, said she and her family had a tradition to watch the TV show “Bones” at Clay’s house on Thursday nights. She met a woman at Clay’s funeral who had been an associate of Clay’s at Greenbrier. The woman was a single mother of two who had been invited to Clay’s “Bones” night, but had never been able to attend.

Annie said the woman had mentioned her kids to Clay before and one day she was surprised when Clay gave her a gift for her daughter.

Annie said Clay had never met the woman’s children before and he had only heard stories about them.

“That’s just the kind of person he was,” Annie said. “Even if he hardly knew you he’d have an hour long conversation with you and invite you to his place for a drink or something like that.”

Clay’s funeral was on Nov. 23. Services were at Penwell-Gable Funeral home and he is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery.

-hope waisner

The Reporter • December 2011

A day in the life of...

Debrick and Nelson balance their busy lives

(news)

3

super seniors

having things to do.”

Senior Mallorie Nelson is also extremely involved in In one day, senior Jobie Debrick juggles school, soccer, school. She is actively involved in volleyball, softball, choir, basketball and Madrigals, on top of his additional involve- National Honor Society and is the KAYS club president. ment in Developmental Leadership, Rat Pack, National Nelson said she chooses to be involved because she genuHonor Society, drama and choir. He keeps a 3.75 GPA… and inely enjoys everything she’s involved in and because, like is in bed by 8 p.m.

Debrick, she enjoys having a busy schedule.

Debrick said his cousin, Kreston, ‘11 graduate, got him Though Nelson doesn’t play a winter sport for a school into being hyper-involved and he said he continues to choose team, she still remains busy doing out-of-school softball. to be involved because he loves experiencing the satisfaction “I have pitching lessons, practice and indoor tournaof getting better and because he likes having things to keep ments,” Nelson said. “So I have some downtime, but at the him busy. same time I don’t.”

“I’ve always been a busy beaver,” Debrick said. “I like Debrick advises involvement because he said it helps to keep people away from drugs.

Counselor Debbie Baldwin doesn’t necessarily agree.

“I would love to say that’s true, but peer pressures are still very high,” Baldwin said. “Kids who are very involved are more likely to feel like they have to say yes to everything.”

Baldwin said that this ‘feeling obligated to say yes’ can cause students to spread themselves too thin to the point where they aren’t doing tasks to the best of their abilities.

Baldwin also said that a downside to being heavily involved is stress. Baldwin said most students can get overwhelmed. Her best advice to avoid stress? Relax.

“It’s going to sound cliché, but I think every student should take 10-15 minutes per day to meditate: keep a journal, listen to your favorite music, take a bubble bath,” Baldwin said. “I think it’s really important to gather your thoughts and just put things out of your mind.”

Nelson admits to feeling the stress that comes along with being involved but she said that her friends help her to get through high stress times.

“It’s good to just see my friends and smile,” Nelson said.

While the stress that comes along with being super involved is a downside, there are still plenty of positive things that result from involvement. Baldwin said research shows that students who are involved are more likely to receive higher grades.

Photo by Hope Waisner Both Debrick and Nelson are examples of this. They both maintain a 3.75 GPA cumulative and are a part of the National Senior Jobie Debrick cheers on the varsity football team with the Honor Society.

Rat Pack on October 14 during the Homecoming game against Baldwin said achieving good grades is more typical for Osawatomie. students who are involved because in order to be successful aly johnson reporter

Photo by Caleb Hecker

Senior Mallorie Nelson pitches in a Panther softball game in 2011 . Nelson is also involved in volleyball, choir, National Honor Society and KAYS.

in their involvement, they have to learn to set goals, prioritize, manage time, and multitask.

For Nelson, the ability to balance her high involvement and her academics has come naturally over time.

“I’ve been doing it my whole life, so after a while you figure out how to work in your schoolwork with everything else,” Nelson said.

Though pressures to maintain good grades along with being heavily involved are immense, Baldwin said that that is not all that goes into consideration when it comes to college applications.

“Colleges don’t mind the B-student,” Baldwin said.

“Community service and volunteerism are becoming more important.”

4 (features)

Jotting it down

The Reporter • December 2011

Photo illustration by Libby Rayne

Students write their way to become novelists katey colwell reporter jenna ratzlaff reporter Sophomore Amelia Sample wakes up, lurches for her notebook, and furiously scribbles down ideas from her dreams. This is what she does to get ideas for her stories.

Sample said writing is an outlet for her, because she isn’t interested in other activities. She works continuously on an idea after it comes to her. Sample prefers imagery from a 1st person perspective when she writes.

“I guess I suspend reality for a little bit to be able to do stuff I couldn’t do in real life,” Sample said.

Sample’s characters are people who tell it like it is. Currently, Sample is working on a project, but the only thing she released about its content was ‘spoiler alert: everyone dies’,

and ‘is fiction a genre? Or is that too broad?’.

Sample has a 50-50 chance of finishing the work. She prefers to work alone. While Sample prefers to write by herself, others prefer the collaboration. Brittny Wellman is one of them.

“She writes the romance, I don’t like writing those. I write the funny side characters.”

Brittany Wellman, freshman, said. She did not give the collaborator’s name. Wellman has attempted poetry, but she prefers novels.

Generally Wellman writes fantasy and any subgenre of it.

“I like to write because it feels good to write,” Wellman said. Wellman doesn’t dream up ideas, but instead likes to watch other media and play with some of the ideas from those until she has something funny.

Occasionally, strange habits emerge.

“I will randomly start talking to the characters I’m writing,” Wellman said. Some of her other writing habits include listening to

Lily Allen and Kat Nash. Wellman is working on several projects, but released information on the collaborative work.

Wellman said “It’s basically about a 22 year old girl who is being forced to marry someone. Then, this fairy guys shows up and tries to get her a boyfriend. Eventually, through a bunch of weird dates with other guys, falls in love with the fairy guys stereotypically, and he has to run through a flock of geese to break up her wedding with the nice zookeeper.” Wellman also stated that her characters aren’t totally based off of herself.

Wellman said, “There’s little bits, but they’re just little things. I think it’s impossible to write completely different.”

Kelly Fields, sophomore/freshman English teacher ,reads student’s work every day.

“When someone clearly communicates an idea in few words or as Emily Dickenson says, ‘when you read it and you get chills’.”

She said.

Some of the students work can invoke chills, she said.

Fields says that writing with a plan can be helpful not only with the quality of the writing, but with getting it done as well.

“Sometimes it helps organize thoughts and get the writing flowing--however, it can be limiting to some kids.” Fields said.

If you are interested in becoming a young author you may want to know that grades do not correspond with the way a person writes.

You could be a great write, and have terrible grades in English, or have great grades in English and be a terrible writer. However, some young authors have the best of both worlds.

Zach Holtz, junior, enjoys writing. The style of writing he prefers is creative writing.

“I think I’m pretty good at it,” Holtz said.

Holtz’s inspiration comes from thinking in the early hours of the morning, he says that anything becomes inspiration after that.

(entertainment)

The Reporter • December 2011

Season for fa-la-las to Trigg, Hinote rosalyn lucas co-editor-in-chief Of all the things that define the Christmas season, it’s impossible to conceive the holiday without Christmas music.

“I love Christmas music,” said junior Zach Trigg. “It just makes me feel happy inside.”

Trigg said he listens to 107.7 everyday. His favorite is music from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Senior and Madrigals ensemble member Kaiti Hinote said she enjoys Christmas music because it’s easy to sing along to and puts her in the holiday spirit. She said her favorite place to carol is the Olathe Medical Center.

“It’s bringing cheer to all the people who are there and can’t go home,” Hinote said.

Top 3 jingles

Alternatives to traditional carols

Hinote’s favorite Christmas song is “Brazilian Christmas Carol”.

“It’s fun,” Hinote said. “It’s peppy and brings another culture into it.”

Freshman Gabriela Maya said she enjoys Christmas music because it puts her in the Christmas mood.

“It’s being with my family and being happy,” Maya said.

Her view on the season is also reflected in her favorite holiday song, “Jingle Bells”.

“My brothers and sisters and I sing it together,” Maya said.

Sandra Buntin, choir director, said people like Christmas music because it’s upbeat and joyous. Those are also part of her criteria for picking pieces for the choir to sing in the Winter Concert Dec. 19.

“I look for music the groups can handle vocally with an appropriate difficulty level,” Bun-

tin said. “I’m also trying to set a tone in with the winter concept and have variety.”

The tone for the winter concert this year, she said, is “reflections on the holiday season.”

Buntin said that by the end of the season, she gets tired of Christmas music.

“There’s not a lot of variety in the form of the musical structure,” she said. “After a while it can seem like all the songs sound the same.”

Trigg agrees that Christmas music gets annoying.

“Usually around New Year’s after I’ve been listening to it for a month and a half, it gets old,” he said.

Hinote, Maya and sophomore Travis Thomas said they don’t get tired of Christmas music.

“It’s better than the usual stuff because it comes around once a year,” said Thomas.

Sleigh Ride by Relient K

1. Let it Snow Baby...Let it Reindeer

What’s your

As with nearly every Relient K song, Sleigh Ride builds. Part of the joy of this song is having it progressively get better.

carol IQ?

Which songs do these

lyrical tidbits come from:

1.

“peace on Earth and mercy mild”

2. “given a choice between the two of you I’d take the seasick crocodile”

3. “thou shalt find the winter’s rage freeze thy blood less coldly”

4.

5.

“oh what joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes to see a hippo hero standing there!” “they should never give a license to a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves”

Answers: 1. Hark the Herald Angels Sing 2. Good King Wenceslas 3. Mr. Grinch 4. I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas 5. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer

Holiday tunes speak

5

Carolina Christmas by Squirrel Nut Zippers

2. Christmas Caravan

A jazzier song selection with comedic, saucy overtones.

Present Face by Garfunkel and Oates

3. Present Face

A funny, little ditty by a comedic folk duo about unwanted presents and the inevitable facial expression they call “present face”.

Photos courtesy of Amazon.com

6

Got Game?

Students talk about their gaming experiences as dedicated gamers

libby rayne reporter hali wimbush reporter From Nintendo 64 to Xbox Kinect, the world of gaming has developed drastically over the years.

Throughout the years, students have kept up with the advancements in communicative skills between gamers, game diversity, and the methods of playing from touch screens to two screens to adapting their eyes to the new world of virtual 3D graphics.

This is the world of video gaming and the lives of students that participate in the technological progressions as the tech-era blooms.

Video games were introduced into the world in 1947. The first video game, even before Pong, was Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device. This was the first interactive electronic game introduced to America. This game was a missile simulation game inspired by

World War II, according to gizmag.com. A few years later in 1972 the beloved Pong was invented.

Since then Nintendo 64 invented in 1996, PlayStation 1 invented in 1994, Xbox 360 invented in 2005, and Wii invented in 2006 have been released into the world of mass media and entered the home of millions of people across the world.

Sophomore Sarah Phipps plays Crash Bandicoot, a video game introduced to the world in 1996.

“There’s this marsupial, and you basically just conquer levels, that’s all you really do, you find apples and you have to get these jewels; these special jewels to get to more levels,” Phipps said.

Crash Bandicoot was made for the oldest PlayStation system.

Giovanni Carrete, sophomore, is a competitive gamer.

“When I first play it’s to have fun, but eventually I will go online and just

try to level up and get the highest ranking,” Carrete said. “I play to win.”

Mitch Franklin, senior, is a dedicated gamer, not an addicted gamer.

“An addiction is something you can’t live without it, you kind of feed off of it, but a dedication would be more like, ‘I can live without it but I play it because it makes me happy to play’,” Franklin said.

Franklin plays on more up-to-date systems, which includes the Xbox 360.

“What I like about them is better graphics and better gaming,” Franklin said. “They just came out with a lot of better ideas, like the Xbox Kinect for the Xbox 360 is motion censored. What’s better is that you’re not restricted to a certain area, you don’t have to be in like a five foot area with the system you can either be across the room or you can go upstairs,” Franklin said one of the best parts of the new up-

to-date systems was the layout of online gaming.

“The online game play is the best [with Xbox] out of any of the other systems,” Franklin said.

Junior Austin Kehoe is also an online player that plays with friends instead of strangers.

Gaming doesn’t just depend on the system though; it also depends on the game.

“I look to see what type of game it is,” Franklin said. “There’s FPS which is first person shooter, or I look to see if it’s an RPG which is a role playing game. My main thing is FPS, like Call of Duty.

I’ll look up reviews for it, or I’ll talk to friends about it.”

The gaming cartridges have changed over time as well. Games that were once located in large gray blocks that constantly had to be blown into to work have been slimmed down and smashed into CDs such as The Sims and the disks used for Call of Duty both large and small or slimmed into small

7

(features)

The Reporter • December 2011

chips such as SD cards and the game chips used for Nintendo D.S. As time progresses the virtual world of gaming is expecting immense jumps in game capability.

“Since they’re already working on motion sensors you will probably be suited up in the game, and that’s how you will control the game.” Franklin said.

Each gamer goes through a different range of emotions when conflict arises in their game.

“It doesn’t really bother me, I know I can just reload the game and start all over,” Dustyn Mize, junior said.

Franklin shares the same perspective as Mize.

“There are ups and downs in everything.

Franklin said. You can’t always be good at the game you play. I wouldn’t say [I get] violent, I get a little frustrated sometimes but you can’t let that just ruin your whole day. I’ve never spiked a controller. The worst thing I’ve probably done is use pro-

fanity.”

“Spiking a controller” or throwing a control with immense force, was much harder to do with past games, now with inventions such as the wireless controller and games that don’t even need controllers, such as Just Dance 3 for the Xbox Kinect, gamers are able to move freely and at their own will.

Phipps, however, manages her frustration at games in a different way. ”I get really into it and sometimes I hit things.

One time I threw the controller at the TV and it hit the TV and that was bad.

Phipps said. “I get really into it, especially shooting games,” As the world of gaming develops students will continue to be drawn to their favorite games, whether new or old, the world of gaming is a world of advancements that not only effects the media but also student’s lives.

The Reporter • December 2011

If your life were a video game...

Reed McFarland, Freshmen Game choice: Call of Duty Reason/ Walk Through: I would do what I needed to do to stay alive. I’d be on the Russian team to kill all the Americans. I would want to use the helicopter mini gun.

Ryan Hedding, Sophomore Game of choice: Mario Kart Reason/ Walk Through: So I can drive one of those cool cars and go to Yoshi Island

Lake Vasquez, Sophomore Game of choice: Pong Reason/ Walk Through: Because it’s really hard. I’d play 17 hours a day and then nine hours to practice. I like going up and then down as a strategy.

Dustin Rojohn, Sophomore Game choice: Call of Duty Reason/Walk Through: It teaches you what to do in the army and military. I would want to be a sniper because you shoot people and it takes skill. I would also want to be on the American team because I’m American.

Featured:

Austin Kehoe, junior

Dustyn Mize, junior

Sarah Phipps, sophomore

Giovanni Carrete, sophomore

Microsoft release it’s second console the Xbox 360 this is also the year that Guitarhero was released.

The Nintendo 64’ sold 33 million copies this was the last home console that was cartiridge based.

Information courtesy of Gizmag web site

The Sony PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii were released just eight days apart from each other in 2006.

Nintendo releases the Game Cube the first console to use Optical Disks. 21 million units sold.

Game Profiles:

Mitch Franklin, senior

Mike Smith, Social Sciences Games Choice: Astroids, Pac-Man, Atari, Super Mario Bros., Techmo Bowl, Mike Tyson’s Punchout When: Played in highschool and would stay up late playing. I now play some different sport games with my son, like NCAA.

Skyrim:

Plot of Skyrim is to defeat Alduin the dragon.

The game is set 200 years after the previous chapter in the series, Oblivion.

It was released November 11, 2011.

Action-role playing genre.

It is a part of a gaming series known as The Elder Scrolls.

Has received 50 of 50 review scores that are perfect.

Super Mario 64:

Released in 1996.

It has sold over 11 million copies Revolutionized 3-D gaming experience.

Plot of game is to save Princess Peach from the hand of Bowser.

To win the game you must collect 120 stars.

Crash Bandicoot:

Released in 1996 Action genre A game played on the orginal PlayStation.

The goal is to save the golden beauty.

Cortex must be defeated at the end.

8 (opinion)

hall talk What do you want most for Christmas?

“An iPod touch.”

-Brook Prothe, freshman

“A new phone, the Samsung Galaxy two.”

- A l ys s a L a r s o n , sophomore

“A Camaro.”

-Matt Basterache, junior

“Concert tickets, especially George Straight and Tim McGraw.”

-Cory Weaver, senior

“A MacBook Pro.” -Gina Williams, junior

Compiled by Shelby McDaniel

The Reporter • December 2011

staff editorial

4.0 and homeless Grade point averages don’t tell it all

A 4.0 is a scholar’s highest mark, the top rung of the high school achievement ladder for many, but it is said that it is needed to further their career or their life. It’s not.

Now if your goal in life is to be an astrophysicist or a brain surgeon, it is probably in your best interest to work and get the 4.0 GPA, if possible. It’s possible for almost all people, if they work hard and put their mind to it.

Now, a 4.0 might not be not be needed if you go into a field like auto repair or farming (not saying those fields aren’t important, those jobs are vital to our economy) but they require a different skill set and different knowledge than how the Congressman or a kindergarten teacher works.

If you are going straight to a job out of high school, most jobs do not look at GPA’s said the Examiner website, so a high GPA is not needed. Most jobs look for proof you can do the job, like communication skills and work ethic.

Before you think you should slack off and not take school seriously, I have to say this; I think you, as a person, should at least try your best at all times. That is one way to show you take pride in yourself and show you care.

Sometimes people just don’t understand something--it’s hard for them to comprehend. It’s alright as long as you do your best.

That’s all a person can ask. If you get a C, but you tried your hardest, then take pride in that C. Having a 4.0 is not for everybody. If I got a B, it’s no big deal. It just means I have to try harder.

Some people believe a B is the end of the

world and others think a B is unreachable.

If you are a person planning to go to college, you need to do the best you can but still don’t stress about getting a 4.0.

The College Apps website said that a college looks mostly at how you did in your core classes like math and English. They will even discount some classes like gym and choir because they are not needed for most college requirements. They will also look at what classes you have taken and any AP classes.

Also, a 4.0 isn’t everything. Just because you walk into a college dean’s office with a 4.0, doesn’t mean you are going to get accepted.

There are other factors like ACT scores, SAT scores, attendance and behavior. If you score a 10 on your ACT, but have a 4.0, its going to say one of two things. Either you don’t care and didn’t take it seriously, or that was just a really, really bad day. Most likely it was the first option.

Now if you’re looking to go to college, it is your best bet to keep that GPA up.

According to The College Helper website, “Although the low GPA dilemma will perhaps require you to be a little more creative and tackle a few extra challenges, it is possible to get into college.”

They said community colleges, special programs, high standardized test scores and quality essays are a way to help you out through the college admission process.

Overall, I don’t think it’s needed. It does depend on how you see your future though.

Just picture yourself thirty years in the future. Are you going to look back and wish you did more for that 4.0? That’s a question for you to decide.

Have a story idea? Talk to a member of the newspaper staff.

Cartoon by Jenna Ratzlaff

The Reporter • December 2011

girls beth johansen reporter

(opinion)

Coming together

Boys obviously have struggles. Girls make life for boys seem like a never-ending roller coaster of drama. Girls expect boys to approach them and ask them out and then once going out they expect you to pay for the date. The boys are then expected to grab the girl’s hand, but NOT too soon. Boys, then go back and forth with themself, debating whether or not it is the right time, because boy doesn’t want to come across wrong. Near the end of the first date boys are then expected to make the first move, where again the boy is struggling with whether or not he should. We know boys have it hard; they have to deal with girls. Girls can be difficult. We complain, whine, cry, laugh and vent about pointless things.

Girls, you put boys through too much. Their brains can’t contain it all. Girls like to play with boys like puppy dogs and have boys do whatever girls want them to do. Girls are sneaky and manipulative. Then we come off all cute and pretty, giving boys hope. The we shoot him down. That’s hurtful, I’m sure the boys don’t appreciate it, because though they won’t admit it out loud, they have feelings when it comes to those type of things.

I understand girls have to go through the motions of being a girl and having “girl issues”, but boys have issues as well. They are traditionally labeled to be masculine, “the bread winner”. Therein they have to take on more responsibilities such as, taking charge of the relationship, and providing for a family if he were to have one. Out of a survey of 123 students, 3 percent of girls said saying boys have a harder life because they have to figure women out and have the pressure of being successful.

Many in society view girls as having a harder life, from a personal experience, girls have a hard life, but boys do also. Just because boys don’t have a reoccurring monthly issue, doesn’t mean boys don’t go through problems as well. They try and keep up to par with society’s view of being masculine and fit into that stereotype. Society views boys who are more feminine as weak, and not manly. Just because they care about their appearance, we shouldn’t look down on them. On the flip side, society then seems to motivate girls who live like a boy labeled as a “tom-boy”.

Boys and girls should be viewed as equals. We are all human, whether or not we like it, we all have a difficult life.

Girls don’t have it any harder than boys and boys don’t have it any harder than girls. It’s life. We all just have to get used to the troubles and heartaches that life is going to bring us.

Both boys and girls have struggles, we face it and come together

the

reporter the staff

Volume 87 Issue 3

Co-Editors-in-Chief: Rosalyn Lucas, Riley Sawyer Design Editor: Hope Waisner Sports Editor: Caleb Hecker Reporters: Marissa Bergman, Kali Blanc, Katey Colwell, Lane Harris, Beth Johansen, Aly Johnson, Shelby McDaniel, Jenna Ratzlaff, Libby Rayne, Carl Schmidt, Chrystal Thompson, Hali Wimbush Ad Manager: Jessica Allison Political Cartoonist: Rosalyn Lucas Adviser: BriAnne Chayer

9

boys lane harris reporter Brave, buff, and hygiene conscious. No wonder the princess fell for the knight. Senior Zachary Martin said he was in a 2 year relationship and he knows a man must always be “sticking up for his woman, always doing the right things, never hurting her feelings, [and] never making her cry— basically being the knight in shining armor.”

Chivalry is alive, barely.

“Every guy has their moment,” Martin said.

“Chivalry is not dead, but it’s not as obvious, like it used to be.”

I was raised to act appropriately to the opposite sex in public, but I slip like everyone else.

For instance, I eat at a fancy diner with my Mom and Grandma. I compliment Granny’s necklace and get jabbed overlooking Mom’s new lipstick, “Sublime Sunrise.”

I ask myself, “Why try?”

Because chivalry is necessary. A girl would love being treated like a goddess after a hard day of piercing, prodding and pulling to make herself seem, well, perfect.

If a girl has to look good every day, a guy should make themselves look presentable too.

Guys: groom. If your eyebrows are growing together or if your fingernails can scare children, we’ve got problems. Fact: Those beautiful brown eyes you take pride in won’t help you if they are drowning in your long, greasy hair.

Unless your girlfriend is blind, has a big heart and isn’t stricken with germaphobia.

Throw in a good-natured compliment to let her know she’s beautiful.

Don’t grovel.

Don’t beg.

A compliment isn’t the defining say for a woman’s selfesteem. She’s entirely independent of a man’s opinions and a man’s agenda. That’s why it’s called a compliment.

Ladies, recognize when a guy is chivalrous. A civil guy will try to open a door for you, and try to pull out a seat for you, and compliment whatever beautiful accessory catches his eye in the light. He may knock over a few waitresses in the process, but just laugh and wave it off.

Girls: Know that he thinks a queen is here.

Chivalry is playing the part. Chivalry is when a man tries his best to make a woman happy, and when a woman allows herself to be pampered, even if he’s just holding a door or complimenting a fake diamond necklace.

mission statement

The mission of the Paola High School Reporter is to inform and entertain its audience in a broad, fair, and accurate manner of all subjects that affect readers. The publication seeks also to provide a forum for the opinion of students, the staff of the paper, and the faculty, thus encouraging an exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of importance to the readers.

editorial policy

It is the policy of the Paola Reporter, to provide a forum for student expression, voices in the uninhibited, robust, free and open discussion of issues. The Reporter encourages students to write letters to the editor or submit articles for the editorial page. We reserve the right to edit content. Material that contains libelous or obscene information will not be published. Material that will cause a disruption of school activities is also prohibited. Authors must provide their full name. No articles will be published with an alias.

10 (sports) 3-peat as sub-state runners-up

The Reporter • December 2011

Varsity wins 11 games caleb hecker sports editor Quarterback Seth Kern, senior, said the football team had a successful year because of its team’s growth -- not just because of its wins.

Three straight trips to sub-state.

Three straight sub-state runners-up.

Not the typical storybook ending.

Kern said his favorite memory of the season was Senior Night on Oct. 21.

“It was great to hear all the guys talk about what we mean to each other and all the things we went through as a team,” Kern said.

Sophomore Lucas Wilson echoed Kern’s views of the season.

“It was a great season because we worked hard and it showed with how the season paid off,” Wilson said.

Junior Eric Dunbar said he also enjoyed the season.

“It was a pretty fun season, but we could have done better,” Dunbar said. “We would have liked to win a State Championship along with our third straight sub-state appearance, but we still did well.”

Head coach Mike Dumpert had a different view on a third sub-state run.

“We expected to make sub-state,” Dumpert said. “We are at the point in our program when we should be competing for a state championship every year.”

Dunbar said the fans helped make the season a success.

“When the fans were loud, we felt we had to play harder because they were there with us urging us to victory,” Dunbar said.

Dumpert said the community’s support of the team was good.

“We have awesome fans and I have always felt this was a football town,” Dumpert said. “The Miami County Republic did a good job of covering us and the radio station had us on.”

Kern said he thought it was a successful season all around.

“We built a good team with great relationships,” Kern said.

Dumpert said the seniors were a great group of guys.

“They were close-knit and were unselfish and played for each other,” Dumpert said.

Wilson said he is ready for next season.

“We need to work hard and get done what needs to be done next year,” Wilson said.

Dunbar said he looks for next year’s team to do just as good as this team.

“We have a good JV team moving up to varsity next year,” Dunbar said. “We gave up no points in five games against Spring Hill, Ottawa, Desoto, Pittsburg and Baldwin on JV this year.”

Above right: Senior Justin Dunmars receives the sub-state runner-up plaque from activities director Jeff T. Hines. Paola lost the game to Eudora 13-10 on Nov. 18.

Photo by Journey Capettini

Seniors Justin Dunmars and Tanner Staats jump and celebrate after a touchdown in a game against Blue Valley Southwest. Paola won the game 35-21 on Nov. 11.

were close-knit and were un“They selfish and played for each other. ” -Mike Dumpert,c oach

Photo by Journey Capettini

Shooting for success Girls, boys teams look to “rebound” after losing key seniors

Welcoming rookies

New athletes feel support from experienced players kali blanc reporter

carl schmidt reporter The squeaking of sneakers, the bouncing of basketballs. The new basketball season has begun.

After successful seasons last year, both teams look to rebuild.

After the boys lost strong players like Nick Wilson, Travis Hayes, and Connor Kresin, it could prove to be a challenge. Head coach David Cash said this is just a bump in the road.

“Replacing those seniors will not be easy as they did a nice job for us, Photo by Hope Waisner but that was then and it’s time for Kaylee Farmer, junior, is on the offensive at the Dec. 5 game against Turner. this year’s seniors and underclassmen to show what they can do,” said Cash. “I do like the girl’s team looks to do the same. The girls lost a lot the make-up of our team, as we have guys who want of impact players last year and look to rebuild, but the to do well team was preand want to paring for this be successlast year. ful.”

“When people Senior graduate, you point guard hope you have Justin Dundeveloped unmars also derclassmen to said that step into that the loss of good seniors could prove to be hard, but can role once it happens. Obviously talent levels are hard be overcome. to replace, but new people take their place better “We lost good seniors last year, but this year’s se- than we think sometimes,” said assistant coach Greg niors have a lot of game experience and each one Cartwright. brings a different skill and playing style that adds to the With many young players trying to make an impact team,” said Dunmars. on the team, freshmen point guard Lyndsee Johnson is With many of the underclassmen having to step up trying to find her place on the team. and fill some big roles, the players are still looking for “I believe I need to be vocal and help encourage the their niche and developing their play. team, Coach Ross has prepared us very well for the “We are still trying to figure out what we are good upcoming season,” said Johnson. at and what we need to work on. Hopefully the games As both teams embark on the new season, both early in the season will help us figure out what our coaches know what needs to happen for them to be identity is and what our strengths and weaknesses are,” successful, improvement every day. said Cash.

“Constant improvement helps put you in a posi Dunmars added that teamwork and experience are tion to have a legitimate chance of being competitive the strong points of the team, and he looks to play hard on a state wide level. We see success as getting better and give it his all. at what we do. If we do that, the rewards will come,” As the boy’s team looks to start on the right the track, Cartwright said.

“

11

(sports)

The Reporter • December 2011

It’s time for this year’s seniors and underclassmen to show what they can do.

- Dave Cash, head coach

”

“I knew they were going to be better than me, and I was scared I’d come in last,” Junior Heather Thornberg said. “But it turns out I was actually kind of good.”

Thornberg’s friends, juniors, Amanda Hedges and Ayla Fedor, convinced her to go out for the cross country team for the first time this year.

Thornberg said that her new teammates treated her really well.

“I met a lot of people,” Thornburg said. “You wake up in the mornings [of meets] and you don’t want to go, but when you get on the bus and everyone is singing, it just brightens your mood.”

Debbie Baldwin, counselor, said that she doesn’t see many cases where the new teammate is bullied.

“There’s all kinds of research that say that students who get involved do better,” Baldwin said.

Thornberg says that the team was really open to welcoming new members.

“I wasn’t worried about the people,” Thornberg said. “I was scared about the workouts.”

Thornberg giggled when she reminisced about the bonding time the team had at the spaghetti dinners and during state.

“At the [spaghetti dinners], it was nice when everyone came together and sang,” Thornberg said.

Freshman Kai Beverlin swims for the boys swim team, because he swam on the Paola Piranha’s, summer-league, this summer and enjoyed swimming. He said he

figured the older boys would be better than him because he was a freshman.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Beverlin said. “I just try my best every day.”

Balwin said that sports aren’t all about competition, she said students should just go out for the cardio, and get in shape.

Junior Dylan Cooper was excited to try out for the basketball team this year, but was cut.

Cooper has been playing since he was a kid, and had wanted to try out for the last two years. He couldn’t try out due to a broken ankle his freshman year, and a ruptured tendon his sophomore year. “[Getting cut] isn’t anything personal, you have to come out and play you’re hardest or you won’t get a spot,” Cooper said.

“You can’t complain if you’re not working you’re hardest.”

Cooper said that getting a spot on the team as a new player is hard because a new player doesn’t know the offense.

“Jobie [Debrick, senior] helped a lot, he told me what was going on,” Cooper said. “Nobody excluded me [because I was new]; it was a good group of kids.”

Cooper said that the coaches already knew the talent of the returning boys and were satisfied with last year’s roster.

“Why change the roster, if it has worked for the past two years?” Cooper said.

Baldwin said that new sports give students a new opportunity.

“It’s not always about competition,” Baldwin said.

12 (features)

Essential Appar el Socks provide more than comfort, protection

The Reporter • December 2011

K

chrystal thompson reporter

ate Sample, freshman, owns 396 pairs of over-the-knee socks.

This number doesn’t include her ankle, no-show and mid-calf socks.

Socks are a part of daily life. Most people wear them every day. Deonna Jacobson, junior, said socks add comfort when wearing shoes. They also keep her feet warm and help them from smelling, she said.

Tyler Henness, senor, views socks as protection. He has even rocked socks at the beach volleyball game because the socks helped prevent his feet from being burned by the sand.

“I don’t want to get tree poop1 in between my tootsies,” he said.

The only place he does not wear socks is to bed, he said.

For some, socks can be used as weapons. Luke Larson, sophomore, knows all about this.

“I put a bar of soap in one and hit my friend with it one time,” Larson said his friend laughed.

Like Larson, Jacobson has found alternate uses for socks.

“I filled up a bunch of men’s socks with flour and my friends used them as beating sticks,” she said.

Some students view their socks as good luck charms.

Henness favors his mid-calf socks with a brown beaver on the sides. During football season, Henness wore the beaver socks every game they won except one.

Jacobson prefers to wear soft socks. Her favorites are big pink fuzzy socks because she likes how they keep her feet warm when she is sleeping. Larson prefers argyle2 socks. In close second are his mid-calf flamingo socks.

Sample’s favorite pair is her thigh-high socks. She described the socks as being all different colors with paint splatters, polka dots, stars and everything else imaginable. Though she loves them she never wears them in public.

“They don’t match with anything.” she said.

Sometimes mismatching socks are better than matching socks, Jacobson said. She said she mismatches her socks almost every day, most of the time because she’s not able to find two of the same colors. She also mismatches because some socks look better with a sock of a different color.

Both Larson and Henness wear mismatching socks if they can’t find the mate. Sample also will wear mismatched socks, within reason.

“The mismatched socks should at least be similar,” she said. “You don’t want two different species of animals (on opposite feet). Like a lion on stilts, chasing a giraffe.”

Opinions differ on how these socks became mismatched in the first place. Henness once had a pair of socks stolen by a dog. Afterward he was only able to find one and it was slobbery.

Jacobson said she thinks her dog has something to do with her socks disappearing because she travels and leaves them places.

Larson, who estimates more than 100 of his socks have gone missing, blames the infamous sock goblins he said he believes probably eat socks.

Footnotes: Tree poop:

1

Henness is referencing a Youtube video called “Nature Walk with Lenny Pepperbottom.”

The full quote from the video is “Early settlers thought that pine cones were actually tree poop.

If they stepped on it they would say, ‘Oh no! I got tree poop on my tootsies.’”

Argyle:

2

noun, often capitalized A geometric knitting pattern of varicolored diamonds in solid and outline shapes on a single background color; also : a sock knit in this pattern -Information from Merriam Webster Dictionary

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