The Reporter- Issue 2 December 2017

{reporter}

THE

volume 93 issue 2 december 2017 paola high school 401 angela street paola, ks 66071

In this issue {3} academic epidemic {5} we are of ireland {8-9} java jitters {11} pros & cons of gun control {14} this is our house

take risks, learn to live and take life to its fullest For: 37

As I look at my high school career, I realize that I haven’t taken as many risks as I would like, but junior year sparked something inside me. This year, I want to learn and strive for the future. Risks guide me through certain paths that will have a tremendous impact on my future, and I would not be where I am today without them.

While you’re in high school, risks are a necessity. Risks create drive, passion, and personality. Without risks life would be dull and tedious. There would be no purpose having an imag-

Against: 0 ination, goals, or dreams. When we are young and reckless, we often try to run from risks like: reckless driving, underage drinking, or drug abuse, but, there are so many other risks that we should run to.

The biggest risk I have taken was trying out for the softball team sophomore year. I had not actually played the sport. Needless to say, I was cut the first day of tryouts.

Risks can be embarrassing, yes, but they are important to your growth and personality; they teach you to be charismatic and help your character. Some risks lead to success and high achievement, and some lead to consequences.

Risks are all a part of learning. I took the risk and applied to be a part of the Developmental Leadership class this year and I was accepted. I took another risk by applying to the National Honors Society and was accepted.

Those two successful risks grant me the ability to be a part of something

Absent: 0 greater and better for my future. All I had to do was believe.

If I continue to take risks and work toward my future, I could attend KU, K-State, or the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and eventually become a general surgeon, a photographer or a journalist. All it takes is bravery, drive and a lot of passion.

Taking risks is more than just risking your reputation or popularity, it’s about learning who you are and what you can become if you just believe in yourself.

Taking risks betters you and your future. It leads you to learn more about who you are, new hobbies, or career choices . It all depends on how far you are willing to go or what you are willing to risk.

In the end, high school is what you make of it, so take risks and learn to live.

hall talk what is the biggest risk you have taken or wil take?

{ }{ } { } “My biggest risk is when I Decided to graduate early.”

Maddie Slyter, Junior

{2}

“My biggest risk was when I tore my ACL and I came back fully healed three months

“My biggest risk will be when I audition for the next school play, The Brothers

Jake Miller, Senior

Tabitha Cantrel, Freshman

The Reporter December 2017 Editorial

2017-2018

staff list Managing Editors

Mariah Sullivan & Matthew Troutman

Photo & Design Editors

Kelsey Lester & Hannah Menefee

Online & Social Media Editors

Jacquee Hecker & Moorea Long

Ads Manager Amanda Meeks

Senior ads managers Bre Allen & Abby Winterscheid

Reporters

Abby Richmond, Abgiail Heger, Ashlyn Watson, Cali Seck, Chloe DeYoung, Claire Cox, Cora Jackowski, Nikki Bates, Emma Behrendt, Emma Cox, Faith Beyer, Gracyn Shulista, Haleigh West, Jordyn Barbosa, Kalyn Bell, Kassidy Blann, Kaylie Miller, Lauren Espinoza, Macayla Enman, Madison Taylor, Makayla Hughes, Liv Meridith, Paige Fleming, Preston Martin, Rylan Armbruster, Skyler Hughes.

Stephanie Castillo, Taylor Murdock, Tori Fox, Trinity Miller

Adviser

BriAnne Chayer

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.

Volume 93 Issue 2 mission statement

It What

make you will

the Reporter

the reporter editorial policy

Staff Editorial

The Reporter is for the students, by the students. The goal of the Reporter is to give the students a voice, and provide an open forum of ideas while maintaining an ethical publication with unbiased coverage.

Academic Epidem ic cheating becomes easier for students { }{ } CLaire Cox reporter

Chloe Deyoung reporter

yes:

39% -64 students

no:

68% -110 students

yes:

43% -70 students

no:

58% -94 students Many students feel compelled to cheat on test due to feeling pressure to get good grades, lack of studying, and fear of failure. Source, survey of 163 PHS students. {Photo Illustration by Claire Cox}

In a study that recently surveyed 163 high school students, 41 percent said they have cheated on a test.

Fletcher Aude, 9, said he is against cheating.

“The pressure from needing to get good grades is probably what causes most people to cheat,” Aude said. “It doesn’t help you in the long run for your final, and if you get caught, you get in a bunch of trouble.”

Charlotte George, 10, said she believes cheating is dishonest.

“You’re going off of somebody else’s work. It will never help you in the long run,” George said.

George also said cheating is wrong because it is unfair to the students who put in the work.

Counselor Justin Elliott said cheating hurts the offending students as much as non offenders.

“The concern I would have is the personality of taking the easy way out. It makes sense that the person who is going to put in the time to study, practice and learn the material would be more successful later down the road,” Elliott said.

Chemistry teacher Rachel Dougherty, practices anti-cheating strategies.

“I walk the room to monitor it and check and clear calculators. As I’m handing out the test, I make sure that students have their hands off the table,” Dougherty said.

For Dougherty, there are more than the obvious forms of cheating. She said asking students who have

already taken an exam what the questions are is just as much cheating as having a cheat sheet.

The study of 158 students also found that 76 percent viewed cheating as something that hurt more in the long run than it helped.

Cevin Soling, American writer and Harvard University graduate, disagrees.

“The benefits of cheating are obvious- improved grades in an environment where failure is not an opportunity for learning, but rather a badge of shame,” Soling writes.

Soling said students live in a world where they are forced to take tests and face consequences for each wrong answer. He said it should not matter if a student cheats on a test if it is not the field in which they will major. If they aren’t allowed to cheat, they shouldn’t have to take classes that will not apply to their future career.

Elliott said he hopes students who are often cheating on test would come to him for help.

“I’m of the opinion that there is a cause behind every behavior. Students don’t know, or are worried they don’t know the material, or there’s pressure from home to do the best they can on a test,” Elliott said. “I’d like to speak with students who cheat to see if they need academic support, or if there is something they need help with to better prepare for test.”

Have you helped someone cheat before?

Is it easier to cheat with a Phone? {Source: Survey of 25 percent of student body}

Q&Awith Amanda Rosich,11 What do you think tempts students to want to cheat?

They think the assignment is too hard or they are too lazy to study.

Why do you think cheating is bad?

It’s not your own knowledge, it’s like you’re stealing.

How often do you see a student cheating on a test?

I usually focus on my own test, but I know people do it all the time.

Do you agree with the statement ‘cheating is unfair to the students who do study’?

Yes I do.

The Reporter December 2017 Academics

{3}

12 S. Hedge Lane Paola, KS 66071 (913)294-4400

CHECK OUT...

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PHS JOURNALISM ONLINE FEMINISM IS EQUAL RIGHTS BY KATIE AUSTIN

The Reporter OCTOBER 2017 advertisement

WWW.PHSJOURNALISM.COM

We are of ireland { }{ }{ celtic tales qualifies for state

The stage is lit on a bar scene.

Actors dance around the stage singing “I am of Ireland” and raise their glasses in celebration.

Students performed Celtic Tales Nov. 17-18.

Celtic Tales is a musical about a community of friends who regularly meet at an Irish pub. William Yeats, played by Creigh Markovich, 10, returns home from England searching for an Irish story he can tell his English friends. A contest arises that whomever tells the best story wins a pint and a guinea, Irish money.

Leslie Coats, theater director, wrote Celtic Tales.

“Together, this group of artists, both the young and the more experienced, have created a piece of theater where one did not exist,“ Coats said.

Amber Berrey, 9, said the play was both amazing and difficult for the cast and crew. Berrey worked sound for the show.

“Sometimes it is great working with the writer, because she tells us what she envisions for it. But it also is sometimes stressful, with changing things every rehearsal,” Berrey said.

Coats also directed the play in 2012-13 when it qualified for state,

Matthew troutman

but she modified it. Celtic Tales qualified for state again this year.

State is in Wichita in January where theater groups audition for colleges, attend workshops and watch select performances audition for nationals.

To qualify, a show is selected by state officials to perform forthousands of people. Some are chosen to go to nationals, where they will perform for theater groups from around the nation.

Anna Oberheide, 12, was in Dear America her freshman year which also qualified for state and will be in Celtic Tales.

“When we went freshman year, I was so excited and I realized I may never get this chance again and so to get the opportunity to perform another amazing show with my best friends is incredible,” Oberheide said.

Coats said she is proud of her students for pulling through with nothing but her idea and developing it enough to make state.

“My students are brave because they stepped off with me, and we caught each other,” Coats said.

The cast and crew for Celtic Tales will be in Wichita Jan. 3-6 to perform.

managing editor

cali Seck staff member

}

faith Beyer staff member

shows that qualified For state The Taming of the Shrew The Love of Seven Dolls

1979-80 1980-81

The Lion in Winter

1982-83

The Miracle Worker Vanities

1982-83 1985-86

The Visit

1995-96

Picnic All My Sons

1987-88 2004-05

Mr. Bundy

2001-02

Noises Off

2003-04

Bus Stop

1990-91

Scapino

2000-01

All I Really Need To Know I learned In Kindergarten

1999-00

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

1988-89

Celtic Tales

2012-13 2017-18 1989-90 1994-95 2006-07

Buried Child Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam

Top Left:Ashley Schwach, 10, and Kailey Johmson, 11, narrate the story “How Thomas Met the Banshee” while Chloe Rausch, 12, and Caleb Weaver, 12, observe during Celtic Tales Nov. 17. The story was about Thomas Connolly, played by Braden Parks, 11, when he met the terrifying banshee. {Photo by Matt Troutman} Top Middle:Gabe Cunningham, 12, sings a line from the song “Step It Out Mary” while Mary, played by Kailey Johnson, 11, and a soldier, played by Cooper Edison, 10, stand in the background with the solider husband she loved while they commit suicide. “Step It Out Mary” sung by Bea Pomatto, 12, {Photo by Matt Troutman} Top Right: Creigh Markovich, 10, hangs Riley Upshaw, 12, by his ankles along with Braden Parks, 11, and Christian Lucas, 12. Upshaw played a dead body in this scene where Pat Diver, played by Caleb Weaver, 12, looks for a place to stay. He comes across three men who force him to turn the dead body over the fire, carry the body, and is almost forced to bury it. {Photo by Matt Troutman}

1986-87 2002-03 1991-92 2014-15

The Reporter December 2017 Entertainment

{5}

your night... your event... your

CHECK PHS JOURNALISM ONLINE WWW.PHSJOURNALISM.COM OUT... COPING WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS BY LAUREN ESPINOZA

{6}

The Reporter December 2017 advertisement

christmas cheer

Abby Richmond} {Mariah sullivan} trinity miller { { } christmas is about the memories made Reporter

When most people think of Christmas they immediately think of family, Santa Claus, and Christmas music.

Christmas is easily the most popular holiday. According to The Top Tens website, the holiday takes first in the most favorite holiday category out of 54 others. People love Christmas so much they even created a genre of music dedicated to wishing for a hippopotamus for Christmas or kissing under the mistletoe.

We live for Christmas. What’s better than sitting by the fire and sipping hot chocolate or baking cookies coated in red and green frosting with sprinkles, lots of sprinkles.

Christmas starts in November for some, once Halloween is over. It’s Christmas season, Christmas music, Christmas trees and Christmas cookies. Some say it’s

ridiculous to be listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but some of those crazy Christmas people listen to it year round.

According to a journalism survey of 148 high school students over half think December is the prime time to start listening to christmas music.

Christmas isn’t just about the presents, it’s about spending time with loved ones and making memories.

People love Christmas music because it projects a message that brings comfort and peace, and they feel like that’s what the holiday season truly means.

So if you’ve seen The Grinch, or watched A Christmas Carol you know not all humbugs stay humbugs, and Christmas isn’t just about the presents and food --even though they are really great.

managing editor

reporter

Top Right: A picture of the christmas tree in the town square, lit to its full on Nov. 24. The town lights the Christmas tree every year after thanksgiving. {Photo by Abby Heger}

top 4

favorite christmas songs of PHS

{Source: Reporter survey of 20 percent of student body- 120 students}

1

{Photo Courtesy of Billboard website}

2 3 4

All I Want For Christmas is YouMariah Carey Last Christmas-Wham!

Blue Christmas- Elvis Presley Jingle Bells- Micheal Buble The Reporter december 2017 School News

{7}

Java Jitters

students show their coffee habits

{Mariah sullivan} {jacquee Hecker} {Abby heger} managing editor

managing editor

top 3

staff member

places to get coffee in the mornings

{Source: Google Reviews}

1

Cafe Latte- 4.8 stars

2 3

When did you start working at Dunkin Donuts?

I was actually one of the first people to go in and do training, so I started around the first week of June.

Why did you decide to work at Dunkin Donuts?

I was originally going to work at Price Chopper and then my dad suggested applying at Dunkin Donuts, and ultimately Dunkin Donuts paid more than Price Chopper.

How many times a week do you work?

Right now I only work one day a week because of sports, but normally I’d work five times a week.

What do you do while you work?

Dunkin Donuts- 5 stars McDonalds-3.4 stars

The Reporter DECEMBER 2017 ENTERTAINMENT

When did you start and how often do you work at Cafe Latte?

I started working in the summer around June 25.

Why did you decide to work at Cafe Latte?

I went there a lot, probably spet most of my money at Cafe Latte. Then one day they asked me if I wanted a job, and since I kind of know them I got an interview after school and I got the job.

How many times a week do you work?

During the summer I worked three times a week, but during the school year I only work on Saturdays.

If I start in the morning we open, I’ll grab donuts, make drinks and sometimes make sandwiches. Then as the day goes on and it gets slower we begin to clean.

What do you do while you work there?

Why do you think so many students at PHS drink coffee?

Why do you think so many students at PHS drink coffee?

I think that most students are stressed or tired, so they use caffeine to get through the day.

I see quite a few students in Cafe Latte. They probably need something to help wake up in the morning.

What do you like about working in a Dunkin Donuts?

Top: Gabby Sawyer, ’16 graduate, makes a hazelnut latte on Dec. 6. Cafe Latte is locally owned cafe located on 1306 Kansas Drive. The cafe serves coffee, smoothies and other food items. {Photo by Moorea Long} Bottom: Dunkin Donuts first opened July 26 and is located in Price Chopper. They serve donuts, breakfast foods and sandwiches and coffee drinks. {Photo by Moorea Long}

{8}

Q&A with Hannah Pearce, 12 Q&A with Kodi Reed, 12

What do you like about working in a cafe?

I like interacting with people and making the drinks, mostly because I like the reaction that I get from people. I just really like having conversations with people.

HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK DO STUDENTS DRINK COFFEE?

3-4:

22% -29 students

5+:

27% -35 students

I like the atmosphere. Its all nice, calming and your surrounded by coffee all day.

14% -18 students

HOW DO STUDENTS DRINK THEIR COFFEE?

With milk:

18% -25 students

with sugar:

24% -32 students

with cream:

44% -60 students {Source: Reporter survey of 21 percent of student body- 135 students}

fRAPPE:

33% -45 students

CAPPUCINO:

16% -22 students

lATTE:

Black:

1-2:

52% -68 students

I’m a barista, all I do is make drinks

What are students favorite coffee drinks?

14% -19 students

mOCHA:

10% -14 students

REGULAR:

8% -11 students

eSPRESSO:

6% -8 students

machiatto:

5% -7 students The Reporter dECEMBER 2017 eNTERTAINMENT

{9}

Just Breathe

students should focus on the present and relax “It’s easy to forget that what you feel is just as important or more important than getting the best grades.”

-Junior gracyn shulista Walking into school everyday, you feel the stress hit you like a wave. Coffee in hand to recover from the lack of sleep from a long night of homework. Some students sit on the hallway floor, working to fit in the last little bit of work because they fell asleep before they could finish.

Almost every minute is spent at school, working on school or stressing about school.

Sometimes the stress carries into the little bit of sleep a person gets.

All of this stress and anxiety is supposed to be worth it. The hard classes, the activities, the sports, the jobs. It is all going to make it easier to get into college, which will make your life easier.

All of the things you do in high school are suppose to help you work towards getting the job you want, the money you want, and the life you want to live.

But has all this future thinking blown the pressure and stress that students have out of control?

On a survey taken by 20 percent of the student body, 89 percent of students

said they feel a lot of pressure to know what they will do in the next chapter in their life. 75 percent of students reported they feel anxious when they think about their future.

A lot of the times, it is easy to get caught up in all this stress. It’s easy to forget that what you feel is just as important, or even more important than getting the best grades.

It’s OK to take a step back and take a little break from it.

It’s OK to watch a little TV, read a book for fun, or just talk to your friends and family.

It’s OK to tell your teachers and counselors you feel extremely overwhelmed because they are there to help you.

The best thing to do is plan out your day and add a little time just to relax and live without stress for a little while.

It will help change your mindset from thinking of how all of this is going toward your future, to what is happening right now.

top 4 ways to destress 1

stay positive

2

meditate

{10}

exercise 4 unplug 3

{Source: Harvard Medical School}

The Reporter december 2017 opinion

parking lot jungle the struggles of the parking lot “Learning to drive in the parking lot after school is like trying to take a group of toddlers to the zoo,”

-junior Hannah menefee The 3:10 bell rings, everyone rushes to get out of the building. The mess has already started.

Parents pick up their kids from school and get caught in the mayhem of high schoolers doing whatever they do after school.

You get in your car, snap in your seat belt and start to pull out of the parking spot when another student flies by out of nowhere.

Most likely they are texting or Snapchatting and not paying any attention to what is around them. Chaos everywhere.

Screeching brakes, horns honking. It’s a jungle.

The freshmen learning to drive and sophomores thinking they own the place.

We only have two exits from the parking lot. Everyone tries to leave at the same time.

Fixing the problem is actually quite simple. It’s like a zipper effect: someone from one line then someone from the other line, every other person.

The more you cooperate with others, the smoother

it will run.

So many people don’t understand this concept and it makes others mad because they are too conceited to let them in.

If someone is getting ready to pull up, don’t cut them off. Pushing your way through only causes more stress.

You finally make it out of the parking lot and then there is another line of cars. It’s a slow process making it out after school and it feels like it takes forever.

If you work after school, then you are stuck. You hope and pray you can make it there on time.

Athletes also need to be at a different venue for practice, it puts more stress on the drivers to make sure they get there on time. If you see someone you know is in a sport that takes place off campus, like swim, softball and baseball, be nice and let them in.

There is so much going on in the parking lot. You have to watch for little kids, parents and other high school students. Not

only do you have to pay attention for yourself but also everyone else around you.

Learning to drive in the parking lot after school is like trying to take a group of toddlers to the zoo.

If everyone could understand the simplicity of “working together” to leave the parking lot, it would happen in a decent amount of time.

There is a plus side to being nice in the parking lot because not only can you get out sooner but you also gain more friends throughout high school.

Once you get to your car and decide to leave, just leave. There is no need to slam on your brakes for your friends because it only causes more delays.

At the end of the day, everyone just wants to leave, so if people would just calm down, it would be 10 times easier. So many people worry about being the last ones out, that it just causes more drama.

The nicer you are, the more friends you gain and the faster you get out of the parking lot.

Tipping THE Point Drop your weapon guns don’t kil , people do

“You could take away all of the guns in the world, and it wouldn’t change a single thing. ”

-Junior Makayla Hughes We live in a world, where some people are afraid to walk out of their front door.

Scared of their own shadow. Scared of everyone around them. What some people don’t realize is that no matter where or how, bad things happen.

People will always want to hurt others.

Which brings me to the topic of how most people protect themselves: guns.

It’s pure ignorance to “call for more restrictions” and/or to take away our rights. Just think about our location and how many people own guns. USACarry says in Kansas, 42.1 percent of all residents own a gun. In the U.S. 42 percent of all residents own more than one firearm.

Those who own legally are not the ones at fault. Those who own guns illegally are the ones who go around committing crimes. You could take away all of the guns in the world, and there would still be crimes every which way.

If people wanted guns, they would still get their hands on them. Just like they do anyway. You could take away all of the guns in the world, and it wouldn’t change a single thing.

Many crimes happen everyday without guns. The FBI claims that in the year of 2013, 3,799 other murders took place without a firearm. More than 1,000 were killed with knives or cutting utensils.

The right to own a gun has been protected by the Constitution since the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791.

No, that isn’t a “get out of jail free card,”

but then again, the people who follow the laws, aren’t the ones who abuse them. On average, firearms prevent 400,000 life-threatening violent crimes according to GunFacts.

The state of Wyoming has one of the loosest gun laws and it has some of the lowest crime rates. Look at Chicago: it has some of the strictest gun restrictions, yet just last year, there were 726 gun homicides.

Growing up in a house full of guns, which are used for their licensed reason, has taught me not to be afraid of them.

I feel safe knowing that at any time, if someone were to barge into my house with bad intentions, my family and I would be safe because we have guns to protect ourselves. If worst comes to worst, you shoot first and ask questions later.

people don’t kil , guns do

The government does not want to take any gun not designed to kill multiple people in a short time.”

-Junior Amanda Meeks Every day, we hear about another mass shooting in this country, and every day, Congress does nothing about it.

The problem is the mindset of the average gun owner.

“Gun lovers”’ first argument is “guns don’t kill people” and their second argument is “if you try to take my guns, I’ll kill you.”

One could argue “who cares if Kim Jong-un gets a nuke?” Nukes don’t kill people, people kill people. See how ignorant these arguments are?

Try using a little common sense.

Ever since the Brady Bill was passed in 1993, legislators haven’t used any common sense for gun laws. The Brady Bill, enacted after the assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan, banned the sale of semiautomatic and automatic weapons. It also required a five-day waiting period between buying a gun and receiving the gun, which is not heavily enforced. This creates a big prob-

{Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

lem with gun shows where people can walk in without a gun and walk out with one without a background check or anything.

Aurora, Orlando, Las Vegas, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, Sutherland Springs were all perpetrated with an AR-15 style weapon, which is supposed to “banned.”

The time has come to fix the epidemic of gun violence. The time has come for common sense gun legislation.

First of all, the government does want to take your shotgun, handgun, rifle, or any other gun that is not designed to kill multiple people in a short amount of time.

75 percent of Americans want to ban the sale of automatic and semi-automatic weapons and to close the gun show loophole, which allows anyone to purchase any gun without a background check.

We also want a significant time delay on the purchase of a firearm. Nobody needs a gun right now. If they need it right now, odds are they are going to use it to commit a crime. We need a 30-day waiting period for all gun sales.

Finally, we need an ironclad communication procedure between all agencies involved in criminal and mental background checks. Anyone failing these requirements should not be allowed to own, purchase, or possess a firearm of any kind.

The time is now to start fighting for justice for the millions of people affected by gun violence -- whether they are a victim, survivor, or mourner.

The Reporter December 2017 Opinion

{11}

take a knee ‘tis the season? football players protest racial injustice

“Racism is still a problem in the United States.

Everyone has the right to protest and speak their mind; except for minorities, it seems.”

“Nowadays, some people are getting ready for Christmas so early. People like to get Christmas started earlier, but then there is nothing for Thanksgiving.”

-freshman rylan armbruster

-freshman Nikki Bates

Sept 2, 2016, senior quarterback Rodney Axson in Ohio knelt while the national anthem played because he heard teammates using the “n-word” to describe their opponents in the locker room. He received racial threats after his protest.

On Sept. 23, 2016, four football players from Cincinnati took a knee during the national anthem. They weren’t punished, but received negative reactions.

Sept. 29, 2016 Cedric Ingram-Lewis raised his fist while cousin Larry McCullough knelt. They were forced to take off their uniforms and kicked off the team.

Since August 14, 2016, kneeling during the national anthem has become a common protest. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started this protest by staying seated, instead of standing. It brought a lot negative attention. Some people believe sitting during the national anthem disrespecs those who have served in the military.

Kaepernick started kneeling to show respect to the military. This was met with more backlash because people still thought he was being disrespectful. However, he didn’t intend to show disrespect. He used the anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice in America.

Racism is still a problem in the United States. Everyone has the right to protest and speak their mind; except for minorities, it seems. We say kneeling is unpatriotic and disrespectful, but if we support this country so much, we should support the First Amendment for everyone. Attention needs to be directed toward stopping racism and police brutality in America.

People struggle to understand the issue

{12}

let’s take holidays one at time

players are protesting. It has nothing to do with our military. It has everything to do with the treatment of minorities. Several veterans have said the troops don’t fight to protect the flag; they fight to protect people’s rights in the country they love. Those rights include freedom of speech. A right even the president is trying to deny minorities in this country.

Some people say the players are protesting in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s getting people’s attention though, isn’t it? If they did it in private, what difference would it make? Protesting isn’t effective unless it’s seen and heard.

President Trump condemned African American protesters much faster than he condemned white supremacists. On Sept 22, Trump said “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b---- off the field right now, out, he’s fired!” in response to the kneeling. Referring to the peaceful protesters as “sons of b-----” while calling white supremacists “very fine people” is as racist as you can get.

Some people support the protest, however. In September 2016, President Obama said Kaepernick was “exercising his constitutional right” to protest. He went on to say “If nothing else, he’s generated more conversation about issues that have to be talked about.” The popular sports brand Nike put out the statement “Nike supports athletes and their right to freedom of expression on issues that are of great importance to our society.”

Everyone has the right to stand up for what they believe in, or in this case, kneel.

The Reporter December 2017 opinions

I walk into Target and am bombarded with Christmas music and decorations. My nose is attacked with the scents of peppermint, gingerbread, pine, hot cocoa, and even eggnog. I look down to check my phone and it’s Nov. 1. I came to shop for Thanksgiving necessities and can’t find anything.

Nowadays, some people get ready for Christmas too early. People like to get Christmas started earlier, but then there is nothing for Thanksgiving. I enjoy Christmas, but it’s almost like Thanksgiving is being pushed aside and forgotten. What makes Christmas better than the other fall holidays? Thanksgiving is a celebration of history and Halloween provides fun time for kids and their families. We shouldn’t ignore them.

I get that you can have parties and get togethers planned, while also spreading out your budget within two months. If you decorate earlier, then you get to enjoy them longer, but

you should at least wait until the day after Thanksgiving. I prefer to set up my holiday decor at the beginning of December.

This is exactly why time seems to be going by so fast because stores, television stations such as Hallmark and radio stations shove it in our faces.

What is the deal with Christmas in July? Let’s simply enjoy the summer months in peace and be happy that it is not snowing yet. I like Christmas, but not in July, not before or after Halloween and not before Thanksgiving.

Although I, as a Christian, understand Christmas is a very important holiday celebrated for a good reason, I just wish we could stop with the red and green for a little bit and bring back the turkey, pumpkins and pie.

Stop and enjoy the moments; let’s not bypass and rush through life when Santa needs to wait his turn.

{Art by Abby Heger}

1 in 643

a series providing a glimpse into the life of one out of the 643 unique students at PHS

Listening Through the Signs

{Katie Austin} {moorea long} Reporter

social media editor

brooks’ father shows love through signs

From the sound of her voice to the pilot, but he said he knows he would not sound of her playing the clarinet, Cyla want anything different.

Brooks, 10, wishes her dad, Christopher, Even though Brooks has her dad, she could hear. Since the age of 1, Brooks has still counts on her friends including Aubeen studying how to communicate with drey Lester, 9. Throughout the day, Brooks’ her dad. She learned sign language be- friends will always have her back, knowcause she wanted to speak to her father, ing what she goes through and always but even though it took time, she never wondering how they can help, she said. gave up on him.

“I don’t think it really affects how Cyla “I wouldn’t wish thinks about for anything differher dad,” Lester ent because he’s my said. unique dad,” Brooks Lester met said.

Brooks’ father As Brooks hops once, but he in the car after seemed to make school, her dad asks an impact on Cyla brooks, 10 her how her day how she views went and a conversation leads from there. others. Now Lester wants to learn signing When a song with good bass comes on, he so she can hold a conversation with him. turns it up so he can feel the beat fill the But even without learning sign language, car.

Lester can still understand a few things Even though he can’t hear his kids’ he says, with Brooks’ help. voices, he is still grateful for the things “I’m learning new things everyday he can hear, such as his dog barking and and I’m enjoying it very much,” Brooks’ even a baby crying. He said he wishes he father said. could hear the beautiful sounds of the Even if Brooks father can’t hear her, she outdoors, the animals making sounds, said they will always have that special and hearing his own children talking bond. about their crushes, their days, and even “I feel as if this bond is better than what they had for lunch. any father and daughter ever will have,” He also missed being able to join the Brooks said.

Air Force and fulfill his dream of being a

{

}

“I wouldn’t wish for anything different because he is my unique dad.”

Top: Cyla Brooks, 9, and her father, Christopher Brooks, sign to each other on Sept. 16. {Photo by Katie Austin} Bottom: Brooks’ father teaches his daughter to sign “love you too” in sign language Sept. 16. {Photo by Katie Austin}

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The Reporter December 2017 FEATURES

This Is Our House the rat pack cheers on athletes {

} {Skyler hughes} {Taylor murdock}

stephanie castillo

It’s another game day at the high school.

The stands filled with black and gold. Students fill the section of the stands known as The Rat Pack. The Rat Pack is the backbone at all home football, volleyball, and basketball games. Most of their power comes from their unity and their voices at all events inside or outside.

Post/wing of the girls basketball team, Kelley Colwell, 12, said the Rat Pack makes her and the team more excited to get out and score.

“It gets everyone more hype, it makes us feel like we are not only playing for ourselves, but everyone else there. It makes us feel like we’re getting somewhere” Colwell said.

She said the Rat Pack adds that needed boost to get out there and get the job done and normally she can just hear the noise in the background and know they are there.

The first thing Colwell notices when she turns her head toward the Rat Pack is the students cheering and jumping around if she turns her head and the Rat Pack is sitting or not going crazy it makes her feel like they are not even there.

“I feel like if they are less loud it feels like no one is cheering for us or has our back even though we know the team has our back, it is nice to have someone else there” Colwell said.

Lucas Owens, 12, co-leader of the Rat Pack said his favorite thing about the Rat Pack is “getting rowdy, dressing up, and watching Paola win.”

Co-leader of the Rat Pack Ady Edwards, 12, helps choose the themes for the games. she said there is not any special way but they typicaly save certain ones for certain games.

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reporter

“We save the best themes for our rivals,” Edwards said.

Assistant principal, Darin Gagnebin says he enjoys our school’s strong student section and expects the Rat Pack to follow good sportsmanship rules, be positive and have fun.

“I have always admired the Rat Pack, even when I was at Louisburg. I felt they have always provided tons of school spirit and generated a lot of excitement while at the same time using good sportsmanship to do so,” Gagnebin said.

Kimberly Prockish, English teacher, said she is impressed with how the Rat Pack cheers the entire game, shows up early to the games and travels to away games.

Top: The Rat Pack sings “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam in the last seconds of the football game against Ottawa on October 13. {Photo by Macayla Enman} Middle: The Rat Pack chants during the basketball game on December 4. The girls beat Bishop Ward and the boys lost to Truman. {Photo by Mariah Sullivan} Bottom:The Ratpack blow their horns after the Panthers score against the Broncos. {Photo by Matthew Troutman}

The Reporter December 2017 Sports

reporter

reporter

Break a leg

injuries affect goals, playing time { } { Kalyn bell Reporter

A sports injury this fall sidelined Jacob Maynard, 12, from more than just football. Maynard had to refocus his career goals, too.

Getting injured has been a difficult life challenge to overcome for many athletes.

Maynard was injured while playing football against the Ottawa Cyclones Oct.13. He said his leg started to hurt as he was escorted off the field. Later, he found out the pain was more serious.

“I cut back to make a tackle and played after I tore my ACL then went back in and played more and tore my meniscus,” Maynard said.

This injury had a major impact on his goals.

He had his life planned out to go into the Navy and become a Navy Seal. Because of his injury, he is now unable to achieve this goal because he is not physically able. Tearing his ACL and meniscus decreased his physical chances of making it into his dream career.

“I plan on becoming an EMT/Paramedic, go-

Femur

}

Paige Fleming Reporter

ing to school at Fort Scott Community College.”

Maynard said.

Brayden Hanf, 10, loved playing basketball in a fall league to improve for varsity basketball team this winter.

On Oct. 15, Hanf planted her foot to cross over during a fall league basketball game when it popped. She tore her ACL, meniscus, and fractured her femur. Hanf can’t play basketball or throw shot and discus during track this spring like she planned. She said she still considers herself part of the basketball team.

Hanf played varsity as a freshman and lettered. She attends all practices, team dinners, and games.

She is unable to play sports again until the end of May because of the healing process and rehab.

Hanf underwent surgery Nov. 29, and planned to start physical therapy Dec. 15 when her remaining stitches were removed, Hanf said.

ACL Meniscus

{

“I have been hit in the face and thumb with a football. When it hit my face, I chipped a small piece of my tooth.”

-unknown Student

yes:

58.1% -54 students

no:

41.9% -39 students Bottom Left: Trevor Galagher, 12, walks off the field with Trainer John Pomatto after he was injured while playing soccer Sept. 1.

He rolled his ankle and tore ligaments. {Photo by Kalyn Bell} Bottom Right: Nikki Bates, 9, was injured by practicing a back full in cheer. She has a stress fracture in the lateral tibia plateau. {Photo by Kalyn Bell}

}

Art by Paige Fleming

Have you ever been injured in a high school sport?

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{Reporter survey of 20 percent of students}

The Reporter December 2017 Sports

Christmas Festivities students share favorite family holiday traditions {

} {Emma Behrendt} Bea pomatto, 12

hannah Menefee

staff member

It’s been in the family for years, setting out penguins and putting up crazy Christmas trees. Bea Pomatto, 12, loves this time of year.

“My dad always chooses an ugly tree to decorate and my mom has an obsession with penguins, so the tradition started,” Pomatto said.

Pomatto’s family eats Italian food on Christmas day. Their meal consists of cappellettis, breaded chicken rolled in noodles which takes three days to make.

Mackenzie Loar, 12 “Every Christmas my siblings and I get up at two in the morning to secretly look in our stockings and our presents, and then we go back up stairs before our parents know,” Mackenzie Loar, 12, said.

Loar’s Christmas tradition started 13 years ago when she, and her siblings became nosey and curious to see what they got for Christmas. To celebrate the season every year, Loar’s family puts up their tree, lights and nativity the weekend after Thanksgiving.

“We go all out for our Christmas decorations,” Loar said. “Our neighbors probably hate us because we put up lights that play to music on our house.”

The day of Christmas, Loar celebrates with her family in a traditional schedule; she wakes up early with her siblings to secretly glance at presents. Later in the morning she and her siblings open presents and later that day, Loar and her family go to a big family dinner at her grandparent’s house. To get into the Christmas spirit every Christmas Eve, Loar and her family make brownies or cookies and watch A Christmas Story.

Christmas is a busy time, making cookies, putting up lights and buying gifts. It all starts the day after Thanksgiving when Pomatto goes Black Friday shopping with the girls and the guys set up the tree.

“On Christmas Eve, we all watch as many movies as possible with my siblings,” Pomatto said.

Pomatto’s favorite thing to do is watch White Christmas and make sugar cookies.

{Source: Google Images}

{Source: Google Images}

Jessika Bucio, 9

{Source: Google Images}

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photo editor

{Art by Trinity Miller}

The Reporter December 2017 entertainment

“On Christmas, everyone wears footie pajamas and watches A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Jessika Bucio, 9 said.

On Christmas, Bucio prays with her family and opens presents all together. Bucio goes to holiday parties, drinks hot cocoa, watches movies and puts lights up to get into the holiday spirit.

“I watch Elf, Rudolph The RedNosed Reindeer, and Frosty The Snowman,” Bucio said.

Bucio decorates the outside of her house with lights in her garden and putting a Santa hat on her garden gnome. Bucio celebrates Christmas with her parents, her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s grandparents.

“On Christmas Eve, my family and I bake cookies, decorate gingerbread cookies, and watch movies all together,” Bucio said.