The Reporter- Issue 5 May 2018

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THE

volume 93 issue 5 may 2018 paola high school 401 angela street paola, ks 66071

In this issue {5} teachers leaving {7} summer countdown {12-13} senior timeline {11} d1 althletes {16-24} literary magazine

Dear Susan Atkins, Thank you for sparking my interest in science. I remember coming into your class excited to learn. You taught me the experiment that started it all. While the result of this experiment confused me, you sat with me and explained it all. We put a dry paper towel into a cup and submerged the cup into water with the opening of the cup facing straight down. My young self thought the paper towel would get wet and I could not wrap my head around how it stayed dry. You drew pictures and explained until it made sense. Thank you for helping me work through that and turning the light bulb on for me.

I discovered my love for biology and life. Now I plan to major in nursing at The University of Kansas and I have you to thank for that. If you had never helped me understand, the frustration would have overpowered my will to learn, and science would become a class I dreaded instead of a class I loved. Because of your science class, I always paid attention in any other science class and made sense of it.

Sincerely, Stephanie Castillo

Dear Leslie Coats, You gave me hope when I didn’t think I had any. You taught me some handy skills that will follow me forever. You gave me a chance as a freshman to be an assistant stage manager and as ASM several more times. Without you, I would have never touched a power tool. Although it was a mess, it was a learning experience that helped me this year as

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yearbook editor because of the leadership roles I took with the job. You still believe in me and I believe in you. Between you, Mrs. Chayer and Mrs. Sims, I have become a better leader, making better decisions and taking the most positive risks I can.

Sincerely, Matthew Troutman

Dear Allison Enneking, Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone. You consistently pushed me to go beyond my own expectations. No matter what we do, you find a way to push us further than before. Since freshman year, I have taken two solos to regional contest, tried out for district choir and auditioned for the school musical Fiddler on the Roof. It’s clear how much you care for every single one of your students. You pushed us to work together, and together we became a family. Thank you for pushing me to be better than I could have imagined and never giving up on me.

Sincerely, Jacquee Hecker Dear Heather Kauk, Even though I didn’t have you in class, you were so nice to me. You would say “hi” even when you didn’t know my name. My junior year, I freaked out because I didn’t know how to write an essay over a book. I went to your room and you sat down with me and gave me ideas about what to write. Thank you for always being there for me and always listening to me rant about track and assignments. I enjoyed being your teacher’s aide and always coming to your room asking for a seminar

The Reporter May 2018 Editorial

pass just because I didn’t want to go to my seminar. I’m going to miss you so much, walking the halls and seeing you at my meets. I appreciate how caring you are to others, which encourages me to spread kindness to everyone around me. Thanks again for having such an impact on my life.

Sincerely, Emily Taylor Dear Mike Smith, Thank you so much for all the time and love you give your athletes.

It is clear what an amazing coach you are when you have so many athletes continue to compete in track in college. I appreciate you taking so much time out of your personal life, away from your family, to treat your athletes like your own children.

Not only are you a tremendous coach, but the amount you care about your athletes shines bright. Thank you for always pushing me, cheering me on, motivating me and giving me endless pep talks before I run or jump. I feel so blessed to have been a part of your winning program for the past four years. Thank you also for introducing me to new events and pushing me outside my comfort zone to get the best results for the team. Although I’ll miss your high fives, dancing, hugs after a bus ride, and your live concerts at practice, I will be forever grateful to have had a coach like you impact my life so much.

I’ll miss you down in Texas. Thanks again for everything.

Moorea Long

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, Abigail Heger, Ashlyn Watson, Chloe DeYoung, Claire Cox, Cora Jackowski, Nikki Bates, Emily Taylor, 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, 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 5 mission statement

Thank you for bei n g there teachers inspire students to achieve

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.

I Just had a vision seniors envision what’s in store for their futures {

} {macayla enman}

paige fleming

Blake Batchelder, 12 What are your plans after high school?

I plan to go into the military and get my bu s i ne s s de g re e through Online classes.

What branch do you want to go into?

I want to go into the Army as a 68W which is a combat medic.

What was your inspiration for wanting to go into the Army?

I’ve wanted to serve for several years. I felt like it was my calling to help my country.

Do you have any plans after the military?

I want to go into the oil or farming business.

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Aziza Patillo, 12

Where are you going to college?

I am going to Baker University. I want to major in biology and psychology.

Why did you pick Baker University?

It’s a small university, and I wasn’t ready to go to a bigger state university. I also like that it’s close to home.

What profession are you going into?

Psychology because it is the first stop into Psychiatry.

Are you playing in sports in college?

I am going to run track in college.

Tyler Molina, 12

Chris Trejo, 12

W h at m ade you want to go back to California?

All my family is there, I moved from there sophomore year and I just want to go back and see my family.

What are your plans after high school?

I plan to go to Johnson County Community College and start figuring out what I really want to do. Perhaps get a Business Degree or something in culinary.

Who in your family lives in California?

My grandma, grandparents, all my aunts and uncles, and my cousins.

Are you planning on taking over Casa Grande?

It’s a possibility. I want my dad’s dreams to live on.

Where are you going to college?

I am starting at Palomar Community College then I am going to California State. I want to major in nursing and economics.

Do you want to stay in Paola?

I want to stay in Paola for the business, but I want to live somewhere in the Kansas City and Johnson County area.

The Reporter May 2018

Features

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Congrats to PHS Journalism staff for The Reporter earning

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4A All-Kansas rating from KSPA The Reporter May 2018 advertisements

go their own way teachers leave teaching {

} {Trinity Miller}

Emily Taylor reporter

High school established friendships and created memories, and for Monty Chayer, business teacher, that is exactly what he did.

“I started teaching because I wanted to coach basketball, and I did for several years. I really enjoyed it this year,” Chayer said. “Basketball makes leaving so difficult because I had so much fun,” Chayer also loves teaching his personal finance and college accounting students.

“Building relationships and knowing they can trust you and have faith in you to do the right thing for them is the best thing,” Chayer said. “Knowing that the kids are making great achievements and seeing them do well is always a positive.”

After 23 years of teaching, Chayer was offered a personal advisor position for Edward Jones. His first day will be June 18.

He said he always wanted to be involved in personal finance, he can help people navigate financial trouble.

“It’s something I experienced so I know how to get out of it,” Chayer said. “I like a lot of the same about teaching as I do about personal finance, building relationships with people instead of building them with kids, I will help adults and teach them about what to do to achieve their goals.”

Chayer said he will miss the students and the faculty. He will still work in Paola, but he won’t have the same connections with the students.

After teaching at the high school for four years, Randi Ernest, agriculture teacher, said she is sad to leave.

“I’m a little bummed. I love what I do and leaving that is

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hard,” Ernest said. “I’m going to miss Dumpert and Gor. I love those guys.”

Ernest said she adores watching students do well when they put effort to achieve their goals.

“Over the years, I have had a number of students who worked hard but didn’t expect to do well,” Ernest said.

“When they exceed their own expectations, it is so awesome to see that confidence build and how they grow from it.”

Ernest will not return to teach because she will stay home with her three children - a toddler and newborn twins.

“It’s kind of hard to wrap my mind around it, knowing that I won’t be getting ready for school again next year. It’s going to hit me hard,” Ernest said.

However, Ernest looks forward to wearing sweats every day.

Ernest also looks forward to spending more time with Teddy, her 15-month-old son.

“He’s at an age where he changes very quickly, and I’m noticing that a lot as I’ve been in the hospital for almost a month,” Ernest said. “I’ll get to be with my kids and spend time with them while they’re at this crazy stage in their lives.”

Ernest spent a lot of time in the hospital for the past month as her newborn twins are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, after being born a month early. Kady Caroline and Jack Jacob were born April 9.

Ernest said she hopes to return to a classroom once her children are a little older, but until then she’s excited for them to be at the right age to go to the zoo often.

Q&A Wil Schowalter, English teacher Where will you teach next year?

I will teach English and French at Olathe West.

What made you decide to transfer schools?

It is closer to where I live. I also wouldn’t have the chance to teach French at the high school, and Olathe West is more college-preparatory based.

What will you miss most about Paola?

I’ll miss teaching and working with the students and faculty.

Above: Will Schowalter, English teacher, competes in the inflatable match against Brendan Ohlmeier, 11, during the Developmental Leadership sponsored lock-in, April 28. “It was my first year teaching Dev. Lead. and it was such a fun experience,” Schowalter said. {Photo by Trinity Miller}

Top: Randi Ernest, agriculture teacher, plays with her oldest son, Teddy, while in the hospital after having her twins April 9. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with Teddy. He’s at an age where he changes very quickly, and I’m noticing that a lot as I’ve been in the hospital for almost a month,” Ernest said. {Photo courtesy of Randi Ernest} Bottom: Monty Chayer, personal finance teacher, participates in Donkey Ball March 13. The teachers won against the community, SCORE. “I had a student ask me in October if I wasn’t a teacher what I would do and I told him I would probably be a personal advisor, and two months later Curtis Long, Edward Jones, asked me to be a personal advisor,” Chayer said. “So if I didn’t do this I have a feeling I would be kicking myself ten years down the road.” {Photo by Mariah Sullivan}

The Reporter May 2018 School news

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From

IrelandtoLincoln

theater troupe returns to nationals { } { Claire Cox reporter

}

Gracyn Shulista reporter

When students performed Celtic Tales in November, ics. Only the 11 shows with the highest scores are invited seniors could only dream about making it to Nationals. to perform on the international stage.

Caleb Weaver, 12, performed at the International ThesCoats said the Celtic Tales cast and crew will rehearse pian Festival his freshman year when Dear America: five or six times before heading to the festival in June, Letters Home from Vietnam qualified. Weaver said he and will perform one show in Paola before going to Linthought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but he is coln. Coats said students will be busy with preparations grateful to be able again. for the festival, and need to prepare several things need Weaver said it’s nice to see it go full circle from his to be accomplished before the show is performance ready. freshman to senior year. Most of the actors and actressCoats also said the entire set will have to repainted es are different from Dear America to Celtic Tales, and along with building some new additions. The cast and Weaver said it’s interesting to see how much the theater crew will also practice putting up and taking down department has changed and evolved. the entire set before they leave for internationals, due to “Going to Nationals a second time shows how much the short period of time they have to build it before the we’ve grown and gotten better,” Weaver said. mainstage performance.

Weaver said Celtic Tales Weaver said he’s very is a special show, and he excited to get back to thinks because it was so work on Celtic Tales, and different, it helped them get he can’t wait to immerse to the Kansas State Festival himself once again in and then on to the Internathe world of Connolly’s tional Festival.

Pub. “The cool thing about “We’re going to get Celtic is that it’s a constantbetter with transporting ly evolving show,” Weaver and building the set, that said. “The script and set are way we don’t just have a constantly changing. This whole bunch of people Caleb weaver, 12 is a brand-new show, and standing around not we were lucky enough to be able to define the characters knowing what to do. We’re also going to rework all the and kind of make it our own.” scenes, and just try and find things that we may have Weaver said because he’s been to the International lost, along with finding brand new ideas,” Weaver said.

Festival before, he knows how hard it is to be invited to There are many good opportunities at International perform.

Thespian Festival Coats said, and it’s a great experience Celtic Tales had to go through to get invited to the In- to help meet new people and get them out there. ternational Thespian Festival in Lincoln Neb., the last “There are hundreds of workshops and there are colweek of June. lege auditions for juniors in front of about 60 different Leslie Coats, theater teacher and director, said the colleges, all with a performing arts department majors. show first had to be invited to the Kansas State Festival, There’s lots of opportunities to meet people from all over where it was adjudicated by people from the Internation- the country that love the exact same thing you do. There al Festival. The show was rated on several different top- is a lot of learning,” Coats said.

{ } “The script and set are constantly changing. This is a brand-new show, and we were lucky enough to be able to define the characters and kind of make it our own.”

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The Reporter May 2018

entertainment

Above: Caleb Weaver, 12, jumps on top of the bar to hide during th Pat Diver scene of Celtic Tales on Nov. 17. {Photo by Matthew Troutman}

Summer Countdown students look forward to summer heat, treats and activities What is the best summer treat?*

Garrett Rausch, 12 For the past five summers, Garrett Rausch, 12, be been found digging a pit in the ground.

“It’s an annual deal that my stepdad puts on,” Rausch said. “We dig a pit in the ground- I think about 5 feet deep.”

After the pit has been dug, Rausch and his stepdad fill it with sand and coals.

“Then we just put a hog in it,” Rausch said.

The hog cooks for 24 hours, and when it’s ready, they carve it for serving.

“Pretty close to 100 people come, and it keeps growing every year,” Rausch said.

Friends and family bring desserts and sides, everything from macaroni to mandarin-orange Jell-O. “My personal favorites are brown sugar baked beans and peach cobbler made from a Dutch oven,” Rausch said.

During the get-together, guests enjoy friendly competition in games such as washers or football.

“There is usually no shortage of food and we’re basically handing out bags of pulled pork with how much we have left,” Rausch said. “It’s sort of like a mini family reunion.”

33% Ice cream

29% Fruits & Veggies

15% Popsicles

16% Lemonade

7% Ice Cold Drinks

{Chloe DeYoung} {Amanda Meeks}

Veck Sims: “When are you gonna give up, Blart?”

Paul Blart: “How about now? I’ll meet you on the corner of ‘NE’ and ‘VER!’” While Kalli Burton, 12, may not be training to be a mall cop, like the character Paul Blart from Mall Cop, she plans to intern at the Paola Police Department this summer.

“I plan on studying criminal psychology in college,” Burton said. “I thought this would help me get a better idea of what I want to do.”

Burton said she will be interning approximately five to 10 hours a week.

She will apprentice under and observe the different roles of workers in law enforcement such as maintaining court records, answering 911 calls and riding with officers on duty.

“I’m most excited about experiencing life inside a courtroom while shadowing the court clerk because it’s closer to the field of study that I would like to go into,” Burton said.

Ads Manager

Do You Enjoy Summer Weather?

87.5% Yes

Kalli Burton, 12

Reporter

12.5% No

Do you Plan to work this summer?

75.5% Yes

7.5% No 17% Maybe

{Source: Reporter survey of 25 percent of student body - 160 students} {Art By Chloe DeYoung}

The Reporter May 2018 Entertainment

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Pages of many colors Happy mind Happy life life is your coloring book, how are you going to color it learning and believing what you want leads to success

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with my hand print on the Dev. Lead. wall and my painted brick in the journalism room, these as well as making memorable moments in the J-room, theater and on the sidelines.

I also want to thank a friend of mine for helping me make it through high school.

She is the Mitchell Pritchett to my Cam Tucker, the Grace Adler to my Will Truman and the Rachel Berry to my Kurt Hummel.

You pushed me as much as I’ve pushed you. I don’t know where I would be without you. You brought exotic colors to my life I wouldn’t have otherwise. I want you to remember I will always have your back.

Like you said, “Put your camp counselor pants on and just go with it.” We will always just go with it, my fellow camp counselor.

We experience so many good things about high school, and we say goodbye to them at the end of our senior year. Why don’t we say goodbye to the bad things?

All the times we felt lost; the times when it was a ‘no’ instead of a ‘yes;’ to all the scrapes and bruises. To the time we felt a heartbreak, to everything we wanted to do for the last time.

As seniors in high school, we believe if we say goodbye to the good things, it makes graduating a little easier. Yet when you look back on the past, you always remember the good times. All of those trips to State or Nationals, all of the first, second, or third place trophies we collected during the past four years always create life-changing memories.

So, let’s say goodbye to the things that made us cry, angry or confused. Let’s welcome the new lives we will lead, and let’s thank those who helped us through tough times.

Here’s to taking new risks and making new memories, and let’s remember the good things will always be here waiting for us when we revisit this amazing school.

The Reporter may 2018 opinion

A valuable lesson I’ve learned in high school is that successful people like to see other people succeed: unsuccessful people don’t. Period.

Successful people realize no one else has to fail for them to achieve great things. As the saying goes, if your circle doesn’t like to see you win, get a new circle. It’s not always easy making adjustments to your circle, but it’s an important part of living a happy and full life.

Sadly, some people will spend their lifetimes trying to pull other people down in an attempt to lift themselves up. Some are so driven by peer pressure they have completely lost their sense of self and will do or say anything just to feel accepted by a certain group. While I can’t change them, I can change the impact they have upon my life by being protective of my circle.

We start learning basic geometric shapes, such as circles, as toddlers.

Much like mastering the alphabet, such knowledge is considered a building block to learning.

I believe a more in-depth understanding of circles is an important key to happiness because people become like those they hold the closest. If you’re around others who have a way of lifting people up, you will learn how to lift others up also. If the people in your circle like to talk badly about other people, you can assume they also talk negatively about you when you’re not in the circle (or maybe even when you are).

I believe these five strategies are key when it comes to forming successful circles.

Moorea long

Matthew Troutman

Life is like a coloring book; how detailed you color it affects the true beauty of the book.

If you don’t try your hardest, then all you have are lines that make a bland two-dimensional shape. I would like to think high school has been the most colorful pages so far in my coloring book of life, but that can change.

It even added details I would have never thought of such as going to nationals my freshman year or taking first at state journalism as a junior. With journalism, drama club and developmental leadership, I found accepting families. They all shaped me to be who I am today. Drama club helped me be more open with who I am, journalism gave me an outlet and Dev Lead gave me the skills to lead. Black and Gold will always be my go-to colors, for I have colored many pages with the memories I have made here.

Take all the risks you want to take, don’t regret not doing something. It’s easier to regret something you did do and learn from it than to regret something that could have greatly affected your life.

Make all the memories you can because sometimes life can be cut short. Make connections with people, whether that be a love connection or an everlasting friendship. Achieve all you can because after high school, all of those achievements could fade away. Be the best person you can be, or be as different as you want. Be your true self.

I will admit, I do regret some of the things I did do in my life so far. I just want to say I’m sorry to those whom I have affected with these decisions.

At least I know I left my mark. Physically

Choose happiness. Invite happy people into your circle. They are contagious and like to see other people happy. Learn from their example.

Cheer for others. Whether someone needs to be cheered up or applauded, be there for the people in your circle. This simple act can bring great joy. Don’t be jealous of others when they accomplish great things because knocking others down definitely doesn’t raise you up. I can honestly say that a team state championship in track would mean more to me than any individual accomplishment I might earn. I feel like such a proud sister as I watch so many of my teammates excelling in the sport and signing with universities to take the sport we all love to the next level.

Remember the mind is a powerful tool. Fill it with positive thoughts. I once read about a study using a new chemotherapy drug. The people in the study were told that hair loss was a common side effect. As a result, 30 percent of people taking the placebo pill lost their hair. While there was no medical reason for this loss, the results show that mindset changes outcomes. Remind your circle that mind over matter, matters.

Be generous. Find something that feeds your spirit. Your circle will be inspired by your experience and so will you. For me, delivering craft-o-grams to young oncology patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital brings so much reward.

It’s something I started doing after my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and I’ve now delivered 3,000 craft kits and counting. Turning a negative situation into something so positive is life-changing. Give it a try. I guarantee if you’re having a bad day and you do something for someone else, you are bound to feel better instantly.

Expand your circle. Avoid cliques. The more diverse your circle, the more enriched your life will be.

music i s who I am Advice to youth choir in high school was a major part of my life follow this guide to surviving high school like to stand out, but by working in an environment where everyone has the same fear I started to feel more encouraged. Being a part of these choirs gave me the opportunity to be encouraged by all of my peers and to further encourage them as well. Choir has been a major part of my high school career and it is because of how interactive we all are. I have bonded with this group and formed a forever family. Out of all the things I could have done in high school to become more involved, choir was the best for me.

Without choir I would be nowhere near the person I am today.

Being in choir, I have been presented with the opportunity to go out and perform in the community. One of the biggest opportunities are Singing Valentines. Singing Valentines gave us a chance to show friends and family what we have worked on as well as making their day. My favorite performance was junior year when we sang to the cutest couple. This couple had been married over 65 years and when we delivered their singing valentine it was their anniversary.

Being able to see the love they had for each other and the joy they had from receiving the singing valentine was an amazing experience. It’s encouraging to see the joy you can give to those in your community by doing the things you love.

Emily Taylor

igoodt’slufinally over ck next year, you’ll be fine

Senior year is finally over.

No more waking up at the crack of dawn.

No more staying up until midnight just to finish that English paper. No more mental breakdowns while looking at your grades before finals.

All I have to say about high school is “good luck” and “goodbye.” High school was one heck of a ride, from signing up for classes with your best friends, hoping you would at least have one class together freshmen year, to waiting to graduate.

These past four years could not have gone by any faster. Freshman year was terrifying, but

As an expert on the high school experience, I know everything, so please feel honored to be able to read these bits of advice.

1. Never worry about homework. Teachers make it seem way more important than they should, and really it’s not necessary.

All it does is stress you out and teach you how to procrastinate. Instead of doing your homework early, stay up late playing on your phone. Then start your homework because you can totally motivate yourself to get up two hours after you went to sleep.

2. Stress about other’s opinions. After you wake up from two hours of sleep, make sure you dress how everyone else wants you to dress, and worry about what other people think of you. Why? Because their opinion of you is by far the most important thing.

3. Disrespect everyone. Keep worrying

Stephanie castillo

jacquelyn hecker

Walking into the high school for the first time as a freshman can be exciting and frightening.

The first thing freshmen think about is “how am I going to get from class to class and how can I avoid the senior hallway?” Often we’re told that once we start high school, left for the wolves and we are on our own.

My high-school experience has been nothing like that. During my freshman and sophomore year, my cousin and his friends helped me feel more at home. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have been as involved.

My cousin constantly encouraged me to do things outside of the box. From freshman year to sophomore year my cousin told me that by doing the bare minimum I will never get to my full potential.

Senior year showed me to make the best of my high school experience, I should become involved in as many things as possible. Becoming a part of both the Varsity and Madrigal choirs gave me the opportunity to work outside of my comfort zone. I do not

also exciting because it was our first taste of freedom. As the years went by, I was excited for the first day of new classes and wearing new clothes. But as weeks turned into months, I would beg my mom and use every excuse in the book to stay home. I did not care about my appearance and I would count down the hours until I could go home and sleep.

In all seriousness to the juniors, if you ever hear seniors say “Senior year is a breeze,” I hate to inform you that is a lie. Trust me, I fell for it too. But here I am, crawling on my stomach towards graduation. It doesn’t get easier.

The class of 2018 has successfully made it to graduation - or at least fairly close. Even though senior year is not the easiest, it is the most rewarding.

As seniors, we have been through everything

about everyone’s opinions, but don’t forget to never show respect, especially toward your teachers. If you disagree with a teacher, yell, curse, cause a riot, and make them feel like a small speck with absolutely no meaning in this world because teachers serve no purpose.

4. Never clean up after yourself. While dishing out disrespect, never forget the school is your trash can. Leave your stuff everywhere because the janitors deserve to clean up after you.

5. Try to stay uninvolved. As you disregard everyone’s feelings, make sure to never get involved and never make friends. As a matter of fact, make sure you tell at least one person a day how horrible their hair looks or how awful they are.

6. Be bored and stay bored. Never have fun because there’s no possible way to have fun, try your hardest to have the least amount of joy and amusement.

7. Trash all advice. As amazing as this advice seems, ignore all of it.

8. Be kind enjoy your time in high school.

Instead, remember kindness goes a long way. Happiness is important and doing the opposite of everything said above will get you through high school with joy and without becoming a jerk.

from facing our own struggles such as getting out of a class just because you did not want that one teacher, to juggling a job and sports with school work. It has helped us for the new chapter in life and our new struggles.

No matter where we go after graduating, it is going to be hard for every single one of us.

Saying goodbye to the people we grew up with, friends we shared our animal crackers with, to teachers who saw us grow into the adults we are today.

No matter where the journey takes us or what life has brought for us, just keep doing your best.

It does not matter what classes you take or the friends you leave behind, just focus on yourself and your grades, and you’ll be able to survive the brutality of senior year.

The Reporter may 2018 Opinion

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

we will distibute yearbooks to seniors May 18 and May 21 to underclassmen

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The Reporter may 2018 Advertisement

1 in 643

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

Did someone call a vet

{moorea long} {Skyler Hughes} social media editor Reporter

Salisbury starts her future with experience at two different veterinarian clinics

Brittany Salisbury, 12, has always hoped to become a veterinarian, but her love for helping animals only grew when she started working at the Paola Vet Clinic and Louisburg Wildcat Vet Clinic in August.

“I live in the country so a lot of my neighbors have animals that I have grown up helping.

However, I personally only have cats and chickens,” Salisbury said.

At the clinics, Salisbury works mostly with smaller animals unless it is a farm call, then the vets deal with bigger animals, such as horses or cows.

She said she feels she makes a difference for the animals she treats.

“I am drawn to this occupation because it allows me to help those who can’t speak for themselves,” Salisbury said.

“Working at a vet clinic has reinforced my decision to pursue becoming a veterinarian,” Salisbury said.

Salisbury said the owner of the clinics allows her to shadow the vets which ensures she gets experience watching surgeries.

Salisbury said she does not actu-

ally work in the procedures, but she shadows a vet, which will be beneficial when she applies to collegiate vet programs and jobs.

Salisbury applied to Kansas State University and hopes to be accepted in its veterinary program, which

mately decide which path they wish to take after graduation,” Salisbury said.

After college, Salisbury plans to work at a clinic until she gains enough experience to open her own practice.

“Oftentimes they feel experienced enough to move on and open their own practice,” Salisbury said.

A challenge Salisbury said she will face is the high rejection rate when applying to the vet program and grad school.

By working at two vet clinics, Salisbury said she thinks she is a step ahead of the other students.

Salisbury said to be prepared for college she took many concurrent credit courses and every science class available, so she can help at the clinic more and help the clients when they come in.

{ } “I am drawn to this occupation because it allows me to help those who can’t speak for themselves.”

Brittany salisbury, 12

requires a seven to eight years of school, she said.

The K-State vet program requires students work with larger animals, such as horses and cows, and smaller animals, such as cats and dogs.

Salisbury said students will have a choice to work with small or large animals during the program to figure out which animals they work best with for their career.

“K-State ensures students get experience with both so they can ulti-

Brittany Salisbury, 12, takes care of her duck for College Biology April 30. The students cared for a duck to understand how imprinting works in the wild and introduce certain elements to change it. {Photo by Matthew Troutman}

The Reporter May 2018 FEATURES

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SeniorTimeline important events from the class of 2018

Freshman Year 2014-2015

{

“I went in on a clean slate. Everything changes when you’re in high school. I knew that and I took advantage.”

Chloe Rausch, 12

September First day of school

} {

junior Year 2016-2017

September

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The Reporter May 2018 Features

14% -9 students

Managing editor

22% -36 students

senior:

42% -26 students

}

June

{

Concert band receives a one rating

Garrett Davidson, 12

November Royals won the world series in 2015

Christian lucas, 12

}{

“We didn’t get there early so we were far away from the parade, but you could still see it. I remember holding my little brother up on my shoulders so he could see what was going on. I had a good time.”

What was the hardest year of high school?*

junior:

October

Zach VanDonsel, 12

Dear america goes to nationals

}

“I felt blessed to bring twirling back to phs. performing at games was feeling like no other. I will miss the crowd and community. without their support I wouldn’t have he confidence I have today.” celsea butler, 12

September

January chromebooks were Handed to students

1 College Prep English 3 Human Anatomy & Physiology

Sophomore Year 2015-2016

first feature twirler in 45 years

4 Chemistry 2 *{Source: Reporter survey of 40 percent of senior student body- 62 students} Middle left: Deanna Morgan, art teacher, draws an image of Darth Vader for May 4. {Photo by Stephanie Castillo} Bottom left: Anna Ohlmeier, 12, uses her chrome book for the time to work May 5. The chromebooks were given to students to reduce the use of paper. {Photo by Stephanie Castillo} Bottom middle: The Panther football team prepares to score a touchdown Nov. 3 against Labette County. The football team ended the season with an overall record of 7-3. {Photo by Mariah Sullivan} Bottom left: Terrell Moffett, 11, freestyle dances as the opening act of the talent show Feb. 16 {Photo by Katherine Austin}

{ }{ } “the night of sub state The rat pack was very loud and into the game and I think that is what helped us win those two big games.”

Hannah Pearce, 12

November FOOTBALL TEAM MADE IT TO DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

hardest classes of senior year

2 Government

senior Year 2017-2018

Kaleigh Scott, 12

volleyball placed fourth in state

sophomore:

“It was an extremely amazing experience going for the first time and performing in front of those audiences.”

“All of the hard work paid off since we were the first ones in 20 years. It was such a honor to be with a great team that wanted it as bad as i did.”

October

5% -8 students

Reporter

}{

top 4

Freshman:

managing editor

some of the members thought there was no way we would get a one compared to how the other bands played, but we pulled it off.”

nEW ART PROGRAM

{ }

{Mariah sullivan} {stephanie castillo} {Matt Troutman}

February first talent show

March

Girls Basketball qualified for state for the 6th year

“I’m excited but I’m also a little nervous. School is the only thing we’ve known for the majority of our lives and it’s going to be a big change.”

Mackenzie Loar, 12

May

Seniors last day The Reporter may 2018 features

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d1 and beyond athletes talk about future plans for college {

} {kalyn bell}

hannah menefee

University of central Arkansas jordan johnson, 12

Jordan Johnson, 12, committed to play softball at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Johnson said she fell in love with the school during her visit.

“It’s a beautiful campus and the state of Arkansas is just so beautiful,” Johnson said.

She said it’s a great place to get her bachelor’s in forensic science to pursue her master’s elsewhere.

“Even though this sounds cliche, the campus felt like home,” Johnson said.

Johnson is looking forward to using free equipment on extra days she wants to practice and workout individually. Johnson also likes that her team will get to travel nationwide.

The school provides tutors to help keep them caught up on school work.

Johnson said she won’t have to worry financially because her edu-

reporter

Baylor university moorea long, 12

cation is mostly paid for.

“It’s nice that softball covers so much of the cost,” Johnson said.

Since Johnson picked a school out of state, leaving her fellow teammates in Kansas is going to be hard for her.

“I will miss the closeness of our team,” Johnson said. “The majority of us were already friends outside of softball, so it is a lot of fun playing with girls you have known since childhood, but that also makes it so much harder to say goodbye.”

university of kansas sam van hoecke, Sam Van Hoecke, 12, signed to pole vault for the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Van Hoecke plans to major in biology with a minor in psychology. Then she plans to earn a doctorate of medicine to be a pediatric neurologist.

She said she looks forward to the many benefits for athletes. People help keep the students healthy and succeed in the sport.

By participating in a sport, all the meals are paid for and the school pays for medical ex-

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photo editor

The Reporter may 2018 Sports

Moorea Long, 12, signed with Baylor University in Waco, Texas to high jump on the track and field team.

Long said she chose Baylor because she wanted to go to a big school where her jumps were competitive. She has always wanted to be on a Big 12 team since she grew up around teams in the conference.

Long went to Baylor for an official visit and said she fell in love.

Long and her parents went to dinner with the coaches, the trainer and some of the athletes at a private Baylor club in the football stadium. After dinner, she left with the athletes to meet her future track family. Long said she enjoyed spending the night with the athletes wandering around Waco into the early morning.

Long said Baylor had nice benefits for athletes.

“It’s a Nike sponsored school so each athlete gets thousands of dollars worth of Nike apparel,”Long said.

penses as a part of the scholarship.

Van Hoecke said she fell in love with a lot of things on her visit to become a Jayhawk.

Some things she enjoys the most about this campus is the architecture of the buildings and the layout. At Kansas, students do not have to stay in the dorms on campus as incoming freshmen.

Other recruiters for Van Hoecke were Louisville, Washington State and Wichita State.

She said she picked Kansas because of the benefits for the athletes and how friendly the team and coaches were.

Van Hoecke said saying goodbye to the teammates she calls family will be the hard-

Long said she visited and heard from many schools, but Baylor won her over.

“Even though I took multiple visits to some other schools, Baylor won my heart,” Long said. “I hung out with the team until about 2 am. and then texted my mom saying ‘I love these people, mom. This is going to be my new home’.”

Long said she will miss everyone who helped her get to where she is.

“I’ll miss my coaches and my fellow teammates to death,” Long said. “All of the coaches have pushed me everyday and they constantly build me up and give me pep talks. I’ll never be able to thank them enough.”

Long said the high jumpers have become her second family.

“I can always count on them to make me laugh until my stomach hurts,” Long said.

“I really was blessed with a great jumping group to support me and always be there for me as not only teammates, but also family.”

est part about leaving.

“We’re just one big family, and we’re always there for each other no matter what,” Van Hoecke said. “I am going to miss seeing them everyday.”

Top Right: Jordan Johnson, 12, pitches the ball in the game against Louisburg. The Panthers are 15-3 in their season at press time. {Photo by Chloe DeYoung} Top Left: Moorea Long, 12, high jumps during the meet in Fort Scott. Long won the meet in a jump off. She has wanted to attend a Big 12 school since she was little. {Photo by Amanda Meeks} Left: Sam Van Hoecke, 12, pole vaults during the KU Relays. Van Hoecke is looking forward to KU because it is so close to home. {Photo by James Shultz}

we’ l l bleed black and gold forever Wilkes, Clark and Hadle reflect on seasons, to say goodbye {

} {emma cox}

kelsey Lester

One last time. No more tryouts and no more camps. Athletes hear the last gunshot to start the race, the last buzzer and the final group hug to end a high school career playing as a Panther.

Brandon Wilkes, 12, played football, basketball and ran track. Wilkes will pursue track as a Hornet at Emporia State University.

“I’m not playing football in college because it wasn’t the right fit for me and it’s a lot different in college,” Wilkes said.“I have more fun in track and I have more potential.”

Wilkes said the bond he shares with his teammates is strong.

“We trust each other,” Wilkes said. “During competition we’re all business, but we enjoy joking around off the track. We always cheer each other on.”

His most memorable moment at Panther Stadium was his touchdown senior year, made alongside his teammates. Wilkes said the refs argued for a moment and then declared it was a touchdown.

“I caught the ball and slid into the end zone,” Wilkes said.

Wilkes said he will remember Coach Mike Smith telling him to be serious when needed, but also have fun.

“Smith always made jokes and danced to keep the team pumped up,” Wilkes said. “He kept it a competitive atmosphere with a smile on his face.”

Smith said he encourages athletes to take the skills they learn and use them to pursue getting their college degrees paid for in some way.

“Student athletes who are also good academically are what colleges are looking for,” Smith said. “I follow up with them every chance I can. We have had great success with our alumni participating at

design editor

reporter

the college level.”

Even when saying goodbye, athletes still take what their coaches have taught them with them to use in life.

Kale Clark, 12, decided to major in marketing at Kansas State University after he graduates. Clark played basketball and baseball.

“I’m sure I could have worked harder to get offers but it just wasn’t what I wanted to do with my future,” Clark said.

Clark said he will miss the bus rides and practices with his teammates.

“We all have a really close bond and we all joke Lydia hadle, 12 with each other,” Clark said. “We know when it is time to get serious and when to have fun.”

When facing the basketball last home game, Clark said he was be sad with the realization he would not play another year of sports.

“Just knowing that it’s all over and this time there wasn’t going to be a next year,” Clark said.

Lydia Hadle, 12, said she plans to continue to run in her free time at college. Hadle ran cross country for two years and competed in girl’s swim for three.

“I want to focus more on my education and not be busy all the time with sports,” Hadle said.

Hadle said she will miss running and swimming with her teammates, especially at home where she said she had an advantage.

“Competing at other schools is more difficult because you don’t know the terrain, but with our home field we know what’s coming up and what to expect,” Hadle said.

Hadle said her coaches taught her to always push through the pain, try her hardest and never give up.

{ } “I will miss the bonds with my coaches most at Paola, but I will also miss representing Paola.”

{

}

I have had a great experience playing sports in high school but at some point you have to stop playing them, and I think that it will hurt less if I just leave it in high school.

Hannah Pearce, 12

Why are you no longer continuing your athletic career into college?

Left: Lydia Hadle, 12, runs for the finish line during a cross country meet at Louisburg Oct. 5. {Photo by Emma Behrendt}.

Right: Kale Clark, 12, gets ready to pass the ball during a varsity basketball game against Ottawa. {Photo

by Mariah Sullivan}.

The Reporter

Top: Brandon Wilkes, 12, catches the ball and runs down field to the two yard line before being tackled by Fort Scott players. {Photo by Macayla Enman}.

May 2018

Sports

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The Muse Fourth Annual Literary Magazine Spring

By Braden Parks, 11

Wake me up from my winter dream, As nature grows back its self-esteem, And melts back into brook and stream.

Once again, a living being.

Wake me up when the setting serene, Nature in bloom, and tinted green, As tulips and bluebells set the scene, For the world to recall Winter’s wean On every living thing.

Waves of love

By Dakxton Vohs

Only for a second do the waves cease And in that moment I find absolute peace Where everything is happy and nothing’s a bore So I search for that moment ever more I’ve struggled to find it, but I swear that it’s true That very same moment, I feel when I’m with you.

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Photo by Kodi Reed,12 The Reporter May 2018 Literary Magazine

Designs By Matthew Troutman,12

Art by Destiny Ferguson, 9

My First Love

By Destiny Ferguson, 9 You’ve read the title and you are probably coming up with a lot of sappy, cheesy middle-school first loves between the bad boy and the good girl. As much as I love cliches, this isn’t one. This is something much different. My first love started when I was five and while most people fear my love, I feel safe with my love. My first love was the night. I have always been the shortest and smallest, so people consider me weak and easy prey, but that is only in the day. At night I have an advantage with my dark hair and mostly-black clothes, I disappeared. In the dark, being small made it so much easier.

Another reason I love the dark was how it changes the ugly to beautiful. Anyone with working eyes can see beauty in the day or where there is light. Few people can see the beauty at night where light is scarce or not even there, but the beauty is there. The moon shines through the trees and casts streams of shimmer on the river behind my house.

When I was 11, I snuck out of my room in the middle of the night, and all I could think was: I feel absolutely incredible and right now, right here is where I’m supposed to be. I feel out of place a lot of the time, but in the night and dark I feel like I am right where I’m supposed to be. Kids in my grade hated the dark, my best friend would say to me when she spent the night, “It’s too dark. Where’s your night light?”

I would respond annoyed and say, “If you want a night light, you can go home.” She would get upset and leave, but it never bothered me much.

The older I got, the more I fell in love. When I couldn’t sleep, I would open my blinds and just look at the stars. The longer I looked, the more that appeared, the more I felt at peace.

While I watched, I would just listen. The thing that annoys me most is when people feel the need to constantly talk and not just sit and think. At night, the air is filled with crisp, beautiful silence except for the soft rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.

I felt more connected to that owl than any person. The real me always comes alive at night, when I’m alone, cloaked in the darkness, dotted with stars, bowing to the moon’s power and its beauty. Everyone calls me a night owl, because if I had it my way we would sleep all day and do everything at night.

The night also taught me lessons. Whenever I was caught up in my own problems, I would look at the stars, there were so many.

To read more of this story or to see more of Destiny’s art work go to www. phsjournalism.com The Reporter May 2018 Literary Magazine

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Wrestling with your faith

By Jake Miller,12

I am going to make a metaphor of one of the most important things in my life. It is the sole thing (besides God and family) that has shaped me into the person I am today. It has taught me determination, the meaning of hard work and unconditional passion. Before I get started on my devotion, I am going to sum up wrestling in one sentence for you: wrestling is the act of physically and psychologically beating your opponent. This sounds a lot worse than what it is, trust me. I am perfectly normal right? You don’t have to answer that...haha. So yes, I recommend this sport to any person struggling with self-discipline or other life skills.

I know wrestling better than anything. I love every minute of it: the adversity, the hard work and dedication! We can relate our faith to the exact same thing. Sometimes we struggle with our faith. Sometimes we take a shot and miss. Then, we continue with a counter shot. Sometimes we believe we miss our mark with God, but we all know, God’s plan is greater than our plan. So we then take a second

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chance and our Faith continues to grow. Sometimes we escape from our opponent. Sometimes we escape from our opponent in our Faith (this being Satan and sin). All these things happen in our every day walk with God. I know when I struggle on the wrestling mat, I can win the battle, but I have to get it in my head that I can overcome this hard-fought battle. As Christians, we know we can win the battle; all we have to do is recognize Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. I say, “all you have to do” like it is easy. Any Christian can agree that sometimes we have trouble with our own walk with God. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it can lead to spiritual growth and maturity. This is the kind of old saying your dad probably told you. “You will learn more from your losses, rather than the amount of wins you accumulate.” But no one wants to question their faith! Ultimately, we all want to serve God just like we were meant to do at some point in our lives. We all know, however this is tough to remember. A million things we created

in this world can open up the gates for Satan so, it is our job to bring Heaven to Earth and to let every soul in this world have a chance to hear the good word of Jesus Christ.

So yeah, I am comparing your walk with God to a wrestling match. You can also compare it to a basketball game, a game under the Friday night lights or even a set on the volleyball court. I chose to write about wrestling because it is my way of realizing how to wrestle my faith and grow as a Christian.

If you wrestle with your faith, this can be a good thing! It is your chance to mature and grow as a Christian. One way I handle my struggle is to find another fellow Christian and talk to them. It might sound cheesy coming from a 17-year-old from a little town in Kansas. I know I have no idea what is coming in the world, but I am ready! Be willing to talk about your faith to your friends, family and peers, even if you are struggling.

Also, try this prayer. I have been praying this regularly lately. Lord, I pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad and a soul that never loses faith in you, God.” Give it a try, It may help you get through your struggles.

Photo by Trinity Miller, 11 The Reporter May 2018 Literary Magazine

Alive But Not Living

By Creighton Markovich, 10 Resistance builds an artist, Friction gives him something to push against.

To fight against.

Juice flows best from a fruit When it is pressed and squeezed.

Not when it is bruised.

Pestilence strips away and squanders, Ridding one of any chance to prosper.

To prosper is by chance.

To live is not chance, To live is choice.

Though, when our choice to live is not ours, We may be alive but we do not live.

The moment living becomes small chance not choice, Alive or not, Is the moment you rot.

Photo by Makayla Hughes, 11

Photo by Katie Cosgrove, 9 The Reporter May 2018 Literary Magazine

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Stronger

By Leigha Clark, 11

Photo by Matthew Troutman, 12

Photo by Macayla Enman, 10

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The Reporter May 2018 literary Magazine

Don’t give up and don’t give in.

You’re stronger than you show yourself to be.

Don’t fall too far For you will see the dangers you’ve struggled through.

You will be back where you were.

Oh so long ago.

For you my child, You have the strength to trudge through this hardship.

So don’t give up and don’t give in.

My child, you’re stronger than you show yourself to be.

Photo by Abby Heger, 9

Hail friend! cloak and retrieved my Wand of Insulin.

Stay awhile, I stood up, pointed my wand in the and listen knight’s direction, and howled to my tale.

“Succumbus CarbohyThis tale I drus!” The towering speak of is knight then no ordinary fell to the spiel, but earth and the greatest writhed. The adventure I incantation have encounwas successful, tered thus far as the knight - A spectacuhad been lar escapade, afflicted with one filled hypoglycemia. with But lo! He strife must have and been prepared folly for such a you wouldn’t believe. spell, as he

By Nathan Darling, 11 So sit down, dear interlocutor, then equipped an enchanted Box of and harken!

Juice he had stored in his chassis! The intimidatIt was a dark, ominous night in the dead of suming foe downed the box and quickly recovered from mer. The freshly rained ground reeked of petrichor. his stupor, eager to perform another deadly swing. I This is a night which I may never forget, as this ran, and my adversary followed. I scurried across a very night was the night which I had finally slain nearby bridge in hopes of losing him, but the knight the evil knight, also known as ‘The Devil Knight was still in pursuit. However, instead of continuing of the Nightless Nights.’ At first, I was unaware of to abscond, I stood dormant at the edge of the bridge. his presence. In fact, I was unaware of many things I knew it was not strong enough to hold the weight of that night as my eyes had not properly adjusted to the titanic foe, and would surely break if he decided the darkness quite yet. It was this general lack of to cross it. Underneath said bridge laid the greatest spatial awareness that prompted me to bump into enemy of any corrodible metal: water! It seemed the knight’s enormous armored leg. This careless the knight was none the wiser, as he confidently wandering seemed to have offended the knight, as strutted upon the bridge and sank through it with a his mood quickly took a turn for the cantankerous. thunderous yelp. Once he hit the water, his magnanHe turned to face me, and blared “How dare you imous armor began to rust. He thrashed about and encroach upon my personal space in such a manattempted to exit the water with urgency, but it was ner!? Now you must pay!” Well, actually, he said no use. The rust had rendered his armor unmovable, “Blraaaaaauugh!! [sic],” but I knew what he meant. and himself by extension. And so, I took a brief However, what he did not know was that I myself moment to catch my breath, and continued forward. was a master wizard experienced in the field of I finally arrived at my suburban home with the diabetic magic, and he just landed himself into a baking ingredients I had just previously ventured to major dia-beat down. I could see he was preparing acquire. I then sprawled them about, and prepared to for a swing of his immense warhammer towards my bake a cake. What followed was a long, difficult jourgeneral direction. So, thinking quickly, I dove to the ney of strenuous ardor to bake the greatest cake ever right to avoid his incoming blow. The hammer struck baked. That cake was easily the greatest adventure earth, and it shook the ground as hard as a category of my young life. six earthquake! I then reached within my wizardly

Pottery by Samantha Duckworth, 12 Art by Paige Fleming, 11

The Reporter May 2018 Literary Magazine

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Government

Photo by Madison Taylor, 9

Photo by Kaylie Miller, 10

Art by Anna Ohlmeier, 12

Art by Alaura Gage, 12

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The Reporter May 2018 Literary Magazine

Art by Mary Peuser, 12

By Kodiac Hainline, 10 Triggers pulled, people hired Deals made, people fired Laws created for everyone Only benefit a certain sum Military budgets set They must be met People starved Can’t pay their debts Land carved out Environmentalists pout Pollution unchecked No care for the effect The homeless are dying Trust us we’re trying Let’s commit to another war That should help However, the problem is never payed for The relief is never felt Nukes and tax cuts for the rich Are deemed more important than health benefits These problems will persist As long as our government is full of corruption Continuing to assist in our own self-destruction

Contingency

By Kalli Burton, 12

It was as if 1,000 bulls had rammed right into my chest. It wasn’t the exhilarating feeling like it had been last time. No… this time, it was different. I had been put on this mission for the mere purpose of search and destroy. And I had brutally just done that.

I grew up in this life, starting at the age of 5. It was no different than a child going through kindergarten or preschool. Although, instead of safety scissors and glue they gave you lessons on how to swiftly kill someone with a spoon in a matter of 3 movements. It was all I knew at the time, though back then we didn’t take it as seriously as we do now. I remember the time, I believe I was about 7 or 8, I had just finished our morning class and was headed to lunch with my good friend, Arnold.

Once we sat down, he thought it to be a good idea to jump onto the table with his spoon and scream, “On guard, Torhan!”, pointing at me as I sat, quietly eating my mashed potatoes. Our advisor, Mr. Onfario, began walking over and Arnold moved faster than I had ever seen him do in our years spent together. As he walked over, I saw a hint of a small smirk across his face.

“Arnold, son, what on earth are you doing?” he asked, placing both hands on the table. He gave me a small wink, as if signalling me to go along with whatever crazy idea he had next.

“I-I was… I was just-um... “ Arnold

stammered.

“I would suggest never pointing your weapon of choice at Torhan, young man, she would take you down in a heartbeat.” I sat up straighter and turned to Arnold and gave him a small nod of my head as if to say ‘You bet I would’. Arnold crossed his arms and made a pouting face up to Onfario.

“Finish your lunch, child. You need all the nutrients you can get before your next class,” Onfario warned.

“But...we have Basic Mathematics next,” I questioned him.

“Exactly, Torhan.” Onfario said over his shoulder as he walked away.

A few years later, Onfario died.

Arnold had just turned 13, I was patiently waiting for my birthday to arrive. I think that day changed Arnold for good. He became more dark and secluded, barely speaking a word to me. He blamed me for it, for Onfario’s death. Somehow, it had been my fault.

I couldn’t be mad at him for it though; Arnold needed someone to blame for the murder of his father, so why not blame the person who found him?

Once we turned 18, we were allowed to go out on our own missions.

I’ve been doing this for a year now, Arnold left 6 months ago and became a rogue agent. My search and destroy mission that I mentioned in the beginning… was to search and destroy an agent who had killed another agent years ago.

The name of that mission: Arnold Onfario.

Art by Jake McDaniel, 11

Art by Tori McLemore, 12

Art by Alisha Blanc, 10 The Reporter May 2018 Literary Magazine

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It’s simple, really. How one person can change your mind on a thousand things. How they can sweep you off your feet with one look, one breath. How they can twist your dreams, the way you see yourself.

It’s simple, really. How one look, one breath, can hold you captive. How you change everything in hope of an “us.”

How you hold yourself as less than a person, a faint image.

It’s simple, really. How one minor thing can turn into something so complex.

One second at a time, everything passes by.

With a blink of an eye, life as it is can change immensely.

1 1 , How a simple look can r ille make the heart skip a beat, love M ty i n at first sight. i Tr y It’s simple, really. How one person can break and B heal your heart at the same time. How you can adore a person and despise them, too. How you can disappoint yourself for how the heart feels, the heart hurts, heals, rejoices. So, it’s simple, really. How great you can be with or without, one person.

Photo by Makayla Hughes, 11

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The Reporter May 2018 literary Magazine

Art by Wyatt Johnston, 12

Art by Kaitlyn Brewer, 10