Issue 4

the

reporter

February 2014

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

Obsessions

Students cheat to get ahead but lose knowledge ashley everhart reporter

8-9 (features)

So they cheated...

Hipsters

Photo illustration by Ashley Everhart

Bond promises safety and Some students said they improved facilities cheat out of laziness or because they don‘t know natalie eppler reporter the answer

11(features) Tall vs. Short

13 (sports) Never Stop Practicing

14 (sports)

For some, not only will a new bond issue, or loan paid for by taxes, provide improved facilities and more security, it will provide opportunities.

“What we want is for our facilities to help enhance all the great things going on inside our schools,” assistant superintendent Matt Meek said.

Meek said, preparedness and safety are the most important aspects of the issue.

Security enhancements include: restricted entry to the High School and both Elementary Schools (as currently implemented in the Middle School), automated camera systems, proxy card readers (According to Keri systems incorporated website, proxy card readers interpret cards and then record that information), tornado shelters for all schools and additional classroom space.

High school athletics director Jeff T. Hines agreed with Meek.

“Every student and every staff member has the right to feel safe in their building, just like every parent has the right to expect their child to be safe when they are in the school’s care,” Hines said.

Academically the district hopes to construct an animal lab for FFA students and a greenhouse for the science department.

Junior Katie Thoden, is eager for a new learning environment.

“We don’t have anywhere to do anything besides the classroom,” Thoden said.

See Investment pg. 4

ashley everhart reporter While, at times, it may seem that cheating and plagiarizing is just another thing everyone is doing, Jared Brock, sophomore, would disagree.

“A lot of people do cheat, but there still are some people who put in the work,” Brock said.

Brock admits to cheating, but he says that when he does cheat, he keeps it within proportion.

“If I need the help, I will [cheat] a little. Just to move along to the next question, not to take someone else’s work,” Brock said.

As for the difference between the two, Brock says he considers plagiarizing to be far worse.

“Cheating can be okay, as long as it’s little. With plagiarizing you’re taking all of someone’s work and claiming it as your own,” Brock said.

Brock first started cheating in middle school when the work started getting harder.

Even though he admits to cheating for the past several years, Brock has never been caught.

Alisha Lockhard, freshman, hasn’t been quite so fortunate. After being caught 1 year

ago, Lockhard says that she often regrets it because she would’ve gotten a better grade if she just put in her own effort. “[When I cheat] I don’t learn as much as I could have,” Lockhard said.

Lockhard says she cheats when someone gives her their paper, but she only does this on assignments that she doesn’t have the time to get to.

Like many students, Lockhard first started cheating because she wanted a good grade, but felt she couldn’t attain it on her own.

“I don’t think it’s right, just something you do when you don’t know the answers,” Lockhard says.

Michelle Abshire, English teacher, said she thinks students cheat out of laziness.

“They don’t want to do the work themselves and they don’t know the consequences of that,” Abshire said.

When Abshire catches a student in the act of cheating, which she says happens at least once every school year, she gives the student and anyone else involved a zero. While cheating is more often considered wrong than not, Abshire said that in some cases, it can be good.

“If a student learns a lesson from cheating, then good can come out of it,” Abshire said.

2 (briefs)

The Reporter • February 2014

More than music

Photo by Aly Johnson

Sophomore Justin Criddle leaps over the Osage City players on Jan. 28. Paola won 68-47. The Panthers will play again on Feb. 13 at home against Eudora.

Basketball records: Girls Varsity: 9-2 Boys Varsity: 9-4

Upcoming games: Feb. 18 vs Ottawa Feb. 24 vs Anderson Feb. 21@ Desoto Feb. 28 vs Louisburg

In sixth grade, senior Alicia Schoenberger could only get sound from one instrument: the flute.

5 years later, Schoenberger is preparing to perform in the state honor band as a fourth chair flute.

“I was really happy when I found out,” Schoenberger said. “I was so nervous the night before.”

To qualify for State honor band, Schoenberger first auditioned or performed a solo in front of a judge, played in the regional honor band and then auditioned for the state honor band. For Schoenberger not knowing if she had qualified for the state honor band was worse than the audition.

“Whenever I play an instrumental solo, I know that I am the one that is in control and I kind of control my destiny,” Schoenberger said. “Mainly you can’t rely on anyone else while you’re doing it.”

Junior clarinet player Christian Eickoff qualified for state honor band as well, and will perform at state honor band as 12th chair clarinet.

“When I was standing at my auditions, I was very nervous,” Eickoff said. I actually started jumping in the hallway.”

Sophomore vocalist Cassie Olender is also familiar with performing in front of a judge.

“I did a [solo] last year and I had a lot of

fun at the Regional and at State,” Olender said.

“I hope to improve my singing at State this year if I get past the Regional.”

Band director Nick Proctor and Choir Director Sandra Buntin said students select the piece of music they will perform months before the contest.

“We want to make sure that we are able to portray the meaning of a song,” Buntin said.

“They have to have a clear understanding of what they are singing about and what feelings they want to portray.”

According to Buntin, vocal soloists work on perfecting pronunciation, memorization, melody, rhythm, controlled breathing, phrasing and dynamics prior to the contest on April 5.

“I enjoy getting to work with the students one-on-one,” Proctor said. “I really enjoy seeing the students’ progress as they work on a difficult piece of music.”

For instrumental solos, performers work on improving tempo, double tonguing and musicality before the contest on April 12, Proctor said.

Sophomore Justin Heiber is preparing to perform a vocal solo for contest in April.

“Giving a solo is nerve wracking mostly,” Heiber said. “It is good for me to step out of my comfort zone.”

- Natalie Eppler

By the #s

37% 77% 42% 20%

Plagiarized on a school assignment

Cheated on a major assignment, test or quiz

Reporter survey of 20 percent of high school students

Cheated on a daily school assignment

Caught cheating on a school, daily or major assignment, test or quiz

The Reporter • February 2014

Early release rules change

Despite new

restrictions, seniors still have options audrey brodie reporter Previously, students have been given the opportunity of early release. According to the student handbook, students are required to have 18 credits, and if that is achieved they are eligible for early release.

This year, students are still able to leave school early; however they must have a more steadfast reason besides wanting to leave early, such as an internship or a mandatory job.

“What we’ve found is that previous graduates who took multiple blocks of early release felt like they weren’t fully prepared for college,” counselor Justin Elliott said.

Seniors have the opportunity to take extra classes for more college credits.

“I think it’d be beneficial to take classes for college credits if you plan on going to college,” Junior Taylor

McCaskey said.

Junior Emile Hinote said early release is a convenience and said nothing was wrong with getting out early.

“I think it’s better for the senior because if you have a job, that’s more money you could be making during the day,” Hinote said. “I work the nightshift at Sonic and I know all the good tips are during the day.”

McCaskey agrees with Hinote and said it’s beneficial for seniors to get out early.

Senior Alyssa Jackson doesn’t participate in early release.

“One of the reasons we can take early release is because we have a job, but I haven’t been able to get a job,” Jackson said. “I don’t have anything else to do.”

Jackson said she agrees with the restrictions on early release, and it would be beneficial for seniors to take more classes.

“If you take college credits now, then that makes college easier for you later on,” Jackson said.

‘Killed it’

(news)

3

Thespians find success at state conference

ashley everhart reporter

Leslie Coats, drama teacher, says she is very proud of how the Thespians did at the conference.

While it’s not really a competition, she said the students won the tech challenge, Libby McCormack qualified for nationals and Nina Lopez received an excellence.

“We won completely, as in absolutely killed it,” Coats said.

The conference is four days of workshops, performances, and auditions for $10,000 in scholarships.

“They can perform for 90 seconds and be seen by 40 different colleges,” Coats said.

She says she thinks the conferences can prepare her students for a future in acting.

“It gives students the expectation for professionals in the work place,” Coats said.

Libby McCormack, senior, competed in the 35th annual Thespian conference on January 9-11 and

Photo by Natalie Franz

Libby McCormack, senior, demonstrates her acting skills in Love Goes to Press in November. McCormack said the state thespians conference helped prepare her for the future. received scholarships for her solo at the read and practiced it,” McCormack said. conference.

Since McCormack plans on a future “I did an individual event, like a in acting she says that she agrees with musical solo, to see if I could make it to Coats that this will prepare her for her nationals,” McCormack said. future.

This is McCormack’s forth year “I think the conferences, but not so competing with the Thespians, but much the competition, help [prepare for her first solo. To prepare for her solo the future]. Really just any time to work McCormack had to put in time to on additional material,” McCormack practice. said.

“Coats gave me the music, and I just

hall talk: high school relationships “They are fine as long as you plan on having them longterm and you’re happy. Whatever Emily Muckelbauer, makes you happy junior is always a good thing.”

Blake Driskell, sophomore

“You can do what you want. Don’t take it too seriously. You’ve got plenty of time after you graduate to find a relationship.”

Mackenzie Getz, senior

‘I like them as long as you don’t post it on social media. People don’t really care. They aren’t just something to flaunt, and PDA is not cool.”

Worship Service: 9:15-10:30 am Sunday School: 10:45-11:45 am Nursery Provided

Pastor Laurie Johnston 22875 West 255th Street Hillsdale, Kansas hillspres@mokancomm.net www.hillsdalepresbyterian.com

3

4 (news)

The Reporter • February 2014

Investment: contd. from pg. 1

Photo courtesy of Kate Sample

Senior Katie Jones and Freshman Eli Smith work together on a robot. Each year the team spends more than 200 hours building their robot.

Not just Wall-E katharina dietz reporter While many students think of Wall-E when you mention Robotics, these students build their own.

This year’s robot is programmed to throw a yoga ball from one side of a playing field to the other and shoot it into a goal, which is about 7 feet high.

“It’s just a challenge to come up with a solution to get a robot to do something that a human could easily do,” senior Luke Larson said.

Their next competition is going to be on March 6, 7 and 8 in Terre Haute, Ind. If the team wins an award, they can qualify for championships, which are followed by two more competitions in the summer.

Last year the team won the Hub City Engineering Excellence award at regionals, made it into the semi-finals and qualified for championships.

For Junior Kate Sample, going to the championships is her favorite part about Robotics.

“There are people from all over the world.

I made friends with people from Saudi Arabia.

You get to see how they do Robotics in other parts of the world,” Sample said.

Competing in Robotics comes with a price.

Entering one competition costs $5,000 and $400 each for the ones in the summer. Building the robot costs up to $4,000. In addition to

Robotics prepares for regionals in Indiana

that, the team has to pay for gas, hotel rooms and food.

To fund all of that, the team does projects like carwashes. A lot of the money also comes from donations. In 2004, the team got a $50,000 grant.

The students meet every Wednesday, except when they are in their build season, which means they meet every day for six weeks to build their robot. It usually takes them more than 200 hours. “[I still do it] because it’s fun work,” junior Tyler Box said.

According to Box, Robotics helps him in school too, because he has more experience in physics, maths and the industrial arts department.

Besides that, Robotics taught him time management and how to deal with other people, especially people in higher authority.

Panther Robotics is a team that belongs to an organization called FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

In 2002, former PHS Physics teacher Dean Scherman heard about robotics and asked his physics students what they thought about it.

He then got together with students and parents and formed Panther Robotics. In the spring of 2003 they competed for the first time, Sample said.

“With FFA it really does help to be hands on and not just look at pictures of things.”

Parking lot improvements would include the resurfacing of both high school lots as well as the Cottonwood Elementary School faculty lot.

The bond also promises improved athletic facilities, including six tennis courts, and two baseball and two softball fields with synthetic turf infields.

Sophomore Erin Winterscheid said she is glad the softball and baseball fields will be closer to the schools.

“It might make [students] more interested [because] they get to play on the new turf and the new softball fields might get them more involved,” Winterscheid said.

To increase accessibility and use, Panther stadium would also be remodeled.

Projects include replacing the track, adding more stadium seating, remodeling the press box, fencing in the track and laying down synthetic turf on the football field.

“Our soccer program is no longer going to be the outcasts,” Hines said. “They are going to be brought down to the stadium and they are going to get to play in front of everyone.”

Finally, the bond would fund the construction of a competitive gym seating 2000.

Senior Jennifer Wisniewski said the new facilities will draw more people to Paola.

“They will show up at first to see the new facilities, and then they will [realize] these games are actually fun to come to and they will keep coming over and over again,” Wisniewski said.

On the other hand, some said parts of the bond issue are more than what the school district needs right now.

“Some of the projects are good,” Sophomore Collin Graves said. “I don’t know that they need that many seats for [the recreational gym], and I don’t know about the [proxy card readers]. I don’t know that that is really needed.”

Freshman Keaton Farmer said the new bond is a good idea.

“I think that anytime you invest in the school, it’s a good thing. Whether it’s through your sports or

academics programs or just keeping your facilities up to date,” Farmer said.

On April 1, the School Board will ask voters to authorize a 14 year, $17 million bond issue at an interest rate of about 2 percent. Tax levies would stay the same.

“We don’t want to wait,” Meek said. “We need to get secured entries done, and with this bond, the state of Kansas will help pay for up to 24 percent of the bond.”

If the bond passes, work will begin on the secure entrances summer 2014.

“A democracy only works correctly if everyone’s voice is heard,” Hines said. “I would encourage students to register to vote whether you are for or against it. Go vote.”

(features)

The Reporter • February 2014

G VE GE TA RI AN!

mariona olasz reporter

FOR HOW LONG?

“I did it for two-and-a-half years, and then I gradually added meat back into my diet, except I still don’t eat chicken, because that was what grossed me out the most, to know what they do with chicken meat.”

–Natalie Steutermann, math teacher

“I don’t agree with how they treat the animals. If they get a live a happy life, I’m fine with it, but if they are just in a dark room and there’s diseases going around, or if they are tortured then I don’t agree with it.”

–Emilee Johnson, senior

“It’ll be four years this April.”

–Camille Mars, junior

MEALS

“For four years.”

–Emilee Johnson, senior

WHY?

“I read a book and that grossed me out on meat. That made me continue to read other books and do other research and I decided to give it a try. Once I tried it, it wasn’t as hard as I thought. I still ate fish, but I just didn’t eat any land animal.”

–Natalie Steutermann, math teacher

“In 7th grade I watched a video of animal cruelty on veggie.com and I got dared by a friend to do it for a month. I got stuck with it since then.”

–Camille Mars, junior

5

VOICE OF THE EXPERT: Karl Schmidt, biology teacher

Advantages: [When you are a vegetarian]you are not getting as much saturated fat. You’ll have less calories, so if you are looking at maybe losing weight, if you can reduce your animal fat, it’ll be easier to lose weight. You can eat more, and get fuller and not gain as much weight if you go with plant-based foods.

And plants are higher in antioxidants. It’s also cheap “I did a lot of like tuna salad, baked tilapia, er to produce a pound of plants than a pound of “anieating with rice and veggies and stuff like that. mal.” It’s cheaper to live on peanut butter than on steak.

You have to make sure you’re still getting in proteins and vitamins. Peanut butter is another Disadvantages: You have to be more in tune to way to get in your protein.” your diet. There are some certain amino acids you have –Natalie Steutermann, math teacher to eat. When you eat a peanut butter sandwich or a steak, you can take those and make your own amino acids, but “Probably not as balanced as they should there are some amino acids you can’t make, and you have be… my vegetarian meals have beans and that to have those in your diet. You have to get them already kind of stuff because I try to get my proteins. “made”. So, if you are a vegetarian, you have to be very And I eat a lot of vegetarian meats.” conscious that you are eating these. Eating meat, you’ll –Camille Mars, junior get those essential amino acids, but if you are vegetarian you have to be careful. Otherwise you’ll get malnutrition.

“I usually eat a lot of junk food, but I get my protein through peanut butter, beans, veggie Personal opinion: You can probably eat any way burgers… and stuff like that. I’ve eaten tofu you want but in moderation. And you need to exercise. and I like it, but I just tried sushi, so I think I might start eating fish.”

–Emilee Johnson, senior

(opinion)

The Reporter • February 2014

Think before you post Absence policy

Things you post now can affect your future

Penalty doesn’t fit all situations

staff editorial As teens, we all have a lot on our plate. We must be able to handle responsibilities as an adult, but at the same time we are treated like we have no power, because we’re just a “kid.”

Then all of the sudden, BAM! Here’s a chance for you to say what you want. The Internet was amazing before, but now a site where you can be connected with whomever you want exists. While it’s all exciting, it’s too much to take in for us, whether we want to admit it or not.

According to its website, Facebook was founded on Feb. 4, 2004 and claims its mission is to change the world by making it feel more open and connected.

This is done by giving you the ability to share what you would like with the friends you choose on your profile.

While on paper, social media is one of the greatest things ever invented, as soon as you get this perfect thing in your hands you become a little kid again fighting over a spot to get a sticker. You shouldn’t think you can say whatever you want.

Popular social media sites include Instagram, Facebook and Twitter can connect you with more people than people 10 years ago could. This makes the privacy of your profile that much more important.

According to the AOL Jobs website, one in 10 young job hunters are rejected because of

unfair

Cartoon by Katie Biggs

what they have posted on social media. Also, according to the bullying statistics website, about half of teens have said something offensive to another teen via internet. This is an alarmingly large number since teens who have been cyberbullied are more likely to have a low self-esteem or possibly commit suicide.

It’s idiotic for you to think you can use it against others.

Plain and simple, you blew it!

Once again you have failed to take a new idea and actually keep it pure and clean. Instead, you had to post things you feel guilty for, not proud.

Posting information of you drinking alcohol, taking drugs and smoking are only some of the things with which you trash social media. Social media really would be a whole lot better if you didn’t post half of the stuff you do now.

Surprise, people out there really don’t care to see you making fun of another person and fighting like a preschooler.

There really is no reason to put that information. I would think you would want to make social media a fun site to be on,

but instead you decide to fill it with meaningless drama.

If only you could see how ridiculous you look when you post offensive and unnecessary things. In a sense, social media is just another way to gossip and even you know gossip never ends well.

In some cases you know what you’re saying is offensive, but you still say it. There must be some amazing feeling you get when you say what you do, but that’s a lie and you know it. If you think about some of the things you have said, would you regret at least one thing?

Of course you would. Please think about what you post and don’t be an immature brat.

With great power comes great responsibility. There’s no reason to ruin your future friends, jobs and more by something you said on a social media site that might not exist in 20 years.

Next time you’re looking at a social media website, remember: listen to your conscience, be slow to anger and be slow to speak.

katie biggs managing editor Throughout my school career I have always had good attendance, I have never really got sick and I am usually only gone for school events. But this last semester, I have been exposed to the unfairness of our absence policy.

My sister was gone several times because of orthodontics appointments, which are about four times in the first semester.

The school’s absence policy is as follows: “Students who miss more than six school days in a semester will be required to provide verification of absence from one of the following: 1.

Medical professional (doctor, dentist, etc.) 2. Court official (when student is required to be in attendance) 3. Other as deemed acceptable by administration.

Absences beyond six that are not verified will be classified as unexcused,” according to the Paola High School Student Handbook.

According to this, we only have six excused absences. In my sister’s situation, she had already taken up four of those absences. She was gone two other occasions last semester, one for a doctor’s appointment, the other for a family occasion.

So the next time she felt sick, but not sick enough to go to the doctor, she had to go to the doctor’s office simple because

she couldn’t come back to school unless she had it.

This is where I have a problem with the system. Apparently a note - or even a call from a parent - isn’t enough to excuse a student after six absences.

I think that is unfair it means a parent has to pay to see a doctor to get a note even if their child isn’t terminally ill or contagious. I think there should be a fourth verification in the list that is a call or note from the student’s parent explaining why they were gone from school.

I understand the other side of the argument though. Assistant principal Jeff Hines said the absence policy is a way to make sure that students are coming to school the number of days required by the state. He explained that even if they did allow parents to call and excuse the absence, some parents will call even if their child skipped, and they are aware of it, just because they don’t care. There are also the parents who, with them, it doesn’t matter if the number is six or 60; they would still get upset when their reached the maximum number of days they can miss.

Although I still think it is unfair for the students who really aren’t just skipping school and actually try to be at school as much as they can.

It just punishes them for the irresponsibility of the few students that skip school three times a week and don’t make any effort.

(opinion)

The Reporter • February 2014

I Do(n’t) forever in love sounds really perfect, and there are some people who bring you so much happiness that you must be love with them, right?

Wrong.

The word “love” gets tossed around so much nowadays that it is starting to lose its meaning entirely.

You are not in love after two weeks of dating some high school no-name. You are not in love just because someone makes you happy for the time being. You are not in love just because you have sex. In high school, we’re so young and immature that we’re probably not in love at all. Ever. And that’s OK. Stop searching for love. Stop relying on other people to bring you happiness. Stop taking your high-school relationship so seriously. You have the rest of your life to find love, but you only have four short years to build friendships with the people around you.

At the end of your senior year, all these people are going to be gone. Don’t be that guy who abandons his friends for a girl, because when your girl dumps you and you look back on your high school years, all you will see is a royal waste of time.

And to all you single folks out there, when you look around this Valentine’s Day, see all the “happy couples” and start wanting to enter into a high school relationship of your own, I have one piece of advice for you: Don’t.

the

reporter Volume 89 Issue 4

the staff

Valentine’s Day is approaching, and it is going to take every ounce of composure for me to keep from punching myself in the face.

No, I’m not bitter. I’m not just being passive-aggressive. And I’m absolutely not “just jealous” of your oh-so-beautiful relationships. In fact, I’m quite the opposite.

As I see couples gawking over their “love” for each other during this Valentine’s season, I just want to go ahead and hand them a couple of tragic romance movies, a giant tub of ice cream and an Adele CD right then and there, because I already know the inevitable high school heartbreak is going to ensue in no time at all.

That’s the thing about high school relationships: they’re painfully predictable.

He’s ratchet, she’s crazy, he lies to her, she cheats on him, he doesn’t feel the same way anymore, she expects too much, he stops showing he cares, she’s too emotional, and the list of shallow, cliché break-ups goes on.

Don’t worry, though… it’s OK. If things don’t work out the first time, just keep getting back together! I’m sure it’ll work out GREAT after the 500th breakup!

GOOD PLAN, KIDS. Except no.

It actually won’t.

You. Are. Wasting. Your. Time.

Now, I understand that the idea of falling

Editor-in-Chief: Aly Johnson Managing Editor: Katie Biggs Online Editor: Whitney McDaniel Sports Editor: Brooke Prothe Reporters: Audrey Brodie, Katharina Dietz, Natalie Eppler, Ashley Everhart, Eric Haefele, Mariona Olasz, Megan Stover Ad Manager: Lauren Wood Adviser: BriAnne Chayer

at the

kids’ table Embrace your years at the kids’table

brooke prothe sports editor Over the holidays, I came to the realization that I will never be able to escape the kids’ table.

I was sitting with my cousins, discussing the inevitability of forever being considered a kid.

When I was younger, I always loved having a kids’ table. My cousins and I could talk about top secret, hush hush sort of things such as our secret hideout, battle strategies for cops and robbers and how to sneak away from the family without them noticing — which worked every time (or at least we thought so).

But things change. As a 16-year-old, I’m in the awkward middle stage. Not

really an adult, not really a kid, just kind of there.

The problem with the middle stage is there is no “halfway there” table. It’s either the adult table, or the kids’ table, and I’m too immature to be considered an adult. If I’m being honest here, I’m not going to be mature enough to be an adult, ever.

I can relate to the boy in the Reddi-Whip commercial who finally gets his chance to move up to the big leagues of the adult table. After he gets to the adult table and sees the children getting Reddi-Whip and he misses out, he decides being an adult is overrated.

I fear I will finally sit at the adult table and get dragged into listening to the boring topics of adulthood such as politics, football games, problems dealing with customer service, where they grew up, what it was

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.

editorial policy

aly johnson editor-in-chief

mission statement

High school relationships a waste of time

7

like when they were kids (walking to school up-hill both ways in the snow, sleet, rain or sunshine, which the kids today will never have to experience), the phone bill, what they do for a living, what the children are doing in school, vehicle problems, home renovations, and everything else under the hot, boring sun of adulthood.

You get my point. If not, then you’re probably an adult.

Some of us will become adults — the ones who truly belong at the adult table.

The ones who will suffer through life with boring conversation topics and maturity.

The rest of us will live our lives like children, entertaining ourselves on the little things in life and being happy and carefree.

Don’t feel bad about being stuck at the kids’ table.

Being an adult is overrated.

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.

(features)

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The Reporter • December 2013

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The Reporter • December 2013

10 (academics) Method to the

madness

The Reporter • February 2014

Dodging debts Seniors apply for scholarships

aly johnson editor-in-chief

Photo by Katie Biggs

Sophomores Emma Phipps and Cybil Drummond act out a skit for Lesley Wilson’s history class.

audrey brodie reporter Max Cornelius, sophomore, said he prefers a class that doesn’t have a strict environment, but still gets stuff done.

“I think it’s easier for kids to learn because they can discuss it and always have open opinions about it and the teachers can still say what they need to say,”Cornelius said.

Cornelius is a visual person. He likes when teachers draw things out and explain things in depth.

Being in a class that keeps all students attention and works for everyone can be difficult.

Whether its how or what students prefer to learn, the high school has a variety of teaching options.

Freshman Caleb Cline said he prefers teachers who get right to the point when teaching because he gets bored and stops listening.

Sandra Buntin, choir and

American music appreciation teacher said she likes that she has two different types of classes.

“Choir is more upbeat.

It’s not a normal classroom style, but we are making noise or music, hopefully.”

Buntin said.

College Prep English teacher Andrew Gibbs said he teaches every class differently.

“What I am covering today might be the same, but the way I approach it may be different,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs teaches his class based on what he thinks will work for everyone.

“One class might be introverted, and won’t talk much, so I do things to draw the students out,” Gibbs said. “Or another class that talks a lot, how am I going to take that and use it as an advantage.”

Senior Noah Franz has been accepted into five different schools, but he has narrowed his selection down to Newmont University in Salt Lake City and John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. “I have been offered substantial scholarships of over $10,000 per year renewable at both schools,” Franz said.

At Newmont specifically, I’ve been offered a threefourths scholarship for tuition and I’m in the running for a full-tuition, full-ride scholarship. So college is looking very up for me right now.”

In addition to the school specific scholarships he is in the running for, Franz plans to file his Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for local and fastweb scholarships as well.

“I haven’t spent any time going to external sources to look for scholarships, so that’s something I’ll be doing in this second semester,” Franz said. “And, assuming I do still qualify for all those big scholarships and I get my FAFSA turned in on time, hopefully I won’t have much college costs at all, which is really good.”

Franz said scholarships are a crucial step in the college preparation process.

“I don’t really have any other way of paying for college besides scholarships and loans, so—while I realize they aren’t everything—I think scholarships are a huge component,” Franz said.

In writing his scholarship essays, Franz said he tries to make his writing stand out.

“It’s a battle of being able to pick what you want to say and how it fits their question, but then also of being able to put your own personal spin on it so you stick out in their memory,” Franz said.

One of the most important things when writing essays for colleges is that you stick out to them in some sort of way, because otherwise you’re just another name in a pile.”

Guidance counselor Justin Elliott said the key when applying for scholarships is to just put in the time and effort.

“The scholarship applications that are multistep or require essays automatically have fewer people who apply for them because they’re harder work, so your odds of getting those scholarships increase,” Elliott said. “The big thing is that you just have to be willing to put in the work.”

When applying for scholarships, Elliott said it is important to start early, stay organized, take your time, make it neat and follow the directions.

Senior Lexie Dyer plans to attend the University of Kansas to major in chemistry, then further her

education and become an anesthesiologist.

“Scholarships are going to be very important for me, because that’s like eight years of schooling and college is expensive, so every penny you can get is a penny you don’t have to pay back,” Dyer said.

She plans to apply for as many scholarships as she can through fastweb and local scholarship opportunities.

“I think scholarships really are the key, because once you go into the work force, the first thing you’re going to have to do is pay off all those debts before you can buy a house or do anything major like that with your money,” Dyer said.

Dyer wants to get far away from Paola and live in the South after she finishes college.

“I just feel like whoever you were at high school in Paola is who you’ll still be if you move back here in 10 years,” Dyer said. “You can’t escape your high school stereotype.”

On the contrary, senior Brennan Haley hopes to someday move back to Paola to raise his family.

He plans to attend either

Benedictine University on a football scholarship or Pitt State University.

“Playing football in college would be a cool experience,” Haley said. “I know if I don’t play, I’m going to miss football, but if I do play, I’m just worried that I might get burnt out or I might injure myself to the point that it will have negative long-term effects on my body.”

Ultimately, Haley said his decision is going to come down to which school offers him the best scholarship.

Haley said his GPA is going to play a big role in earning him scholarships, and he advises anyone who wants to get through high school with a top notch GPA to just put in the effort.

“Just try. If you have big tests coming, don’t blow it off. Study for your tests and do your homework,” Haley said.

It’s OK if you miss homework every once in a while, but don’t get on a spree where you just don’t do it for like two weeks because that can affect your grade pretty significantly.”

(features)

The Reporter • February 2014

[hip-ster] “ Students define modern-day“hipster” aly johnson editor-in-chief

Photo illustration by Aly Johnson

As sophomore Zach Franz glanced down at his graphic tee, cropped black skinny jeans, and worn out converse, he admitted to having a few hipster-like qualities.

“I’d have to say my personality, the shirts I wear and my shoes—because I wear these things every day— would all be considered ‘hipster’,” Franz said.

Although he doesn’t try to be hipster, Franz said he would consider himself one primarily because of the way he dresses. “[Hipsters] wear a lot of decorated clothing—like things that express their personality,” Franz said, then looked down at his Pacman T-shirt. “Like this awesome Pacman shirt… I play a lot of Pacman.”

Overall, Franz’s analysis of hipsters is rather simple.

“I just think that hipsters are trendy and have great hair—I don’t have great hair though,” Franz said.

While Franz regards hipsters in a positive light, junior Sakeena Agha has a negative view.

“I would find it more offensive if someone called me hipster, because I don’t think I strive to be different. I’m just myself,” Agha said. “But you can’t be an individual without having that individuality taken away from you by being labeled as ‘hipster.’”

Agha said people call her a hipster because of the way she dresses. She said she often wears printed leggings, oversized sweaters and thick framed glasses.

“I like weird things,” Agha said. “But I don’t like them because I want to be different, I just like them because they catch my eye and I think they’re cool.”

In the school, she said the definition of what it means to be “hipster” isn’t actually hipster.

“Hipster used to mean you’re completely and totally individually yourself and no one else is like you,” Agha said. “But now it’s just

“

11

Hipsters are more carefree—they wear whatever they want, they listen to different music; they’re just different in every single way.

”

-Morgan Driskell, senior

A hipster is someone who does what they want and doesn’t care about what other people think about them.

”

-Jake Walker, sophomore

like, you’re just dressing how everyone else dresses at high school—basically hipster is just fashionable now.”

Senior Luke Larson echoed the same sentiment.

“Hipsters were initially people who were trying to be original and out-of-the-box, and now it’s just anyone who conforms to a fashion,” Larson said. “They’re just going along with the trend.”

Larson said he wouldn’t really consider himself a hipster, but sometimes he comes across as one.

“I don’t try to do things just to be unique.

If I dress like a hipster it’s just because it’s random and weird, and I am a weird person,” Larson said.

Around freshman year, Larson said he started to dress the way he currently does.

“I just stopped caring about what other people thought about me,” Larson said. “And it’s a lot easier to live that way when you’re not worrying about people looking at you and saying ‘yeah, he’s a hipster.’ Like… I just don’t care.”

English teacher Kelly Fields said that “I don’t care” attitude is one of the components that makes up a hipster.

“A hipster is somebody who’s real nonchalant,” Fields said. “They’re laid-back, they don’t care—it’s an attitude.”

Fields said hipsters try to be ironic in what they think is cool.

“The things that are really ‘cool,’ a hipster would look down on,” Fields said. “And things that are kind of cliché or ‘lame,’ a hipster would think those were really cool.”

Although Fields said she was never a hipster, she wishes she could have been.

“I wasn’t cool enough to be a hipster,” Fields said. “I would have liked to have been cool enough, but I just never attained that status.”

Fields said the concept of hipsters hasn’t

changed over time, but the terminology of what it means to be a hipster has.

“If you trace the etymology of the term ‘hipster,’ you will find that it actually originated during the 1920s Jazz Era when the musicians were referred to as ‘hip,’” Fields said. “Then the white kids tried to be cool like the jazz musicians, so they started emulating their style and it just went from there.”

Fields said The Beatniks from the ‘50s and Kurt Cobain from the ‘90s ushered in new styles of hipster.

“In the ‘50s, they were called The Beat Generation,” Fields said. “So hipster became Beatnik became hippie became grunge and then back to hipster.”

Junior Kylee Blake said people in this day and age try too hard to be hipster.

“I think more people try and be different just so they can get the title of ‘hipster,’” Blake said.

Blake said she would kind of consider herself a hipster, although she doesn’t strive to be one.

“It just happens naturally,” Blake said.

“Like with the things you wear and the music you listen to and just all the differences you naturally have.”

Senior Seth Slayman said a lot of people are trying to force themselves to be different.

“People are trying too hard to be weird,” Slayman said. “That’s not how it should be.

You should just be yourself.”

Slayman said people trying to force “hipster” upon themselves are turning hipsters mainstream.

“Nowadays if you’re a hipster, that just means you go along with what’s popular. You don’t have individual style—it’s all based on society,” Slayman said. “People are doing things just to fit in with what other people, because that’s what they think is cool.”

12 (entertainment)

The Reporter • February 2014

katie biggs managing editor

Has a specific interest / lifestyle with which they have become an expert

Can be extravagant and long-winded Wears ironic t-shirts

A fan of gadgets

Interests may be: gaming, film,computing, gadgets/ tech, coding, hacking, techno music

Knowledge ranges from ordinary to a“living encyclopedia”

VS.

Extreme interest or fascination in academics Soft-spoken and cautious

Socially awkward

Diverse and useless skills derived from interests in movies, gaming, computers, science, etc.

Interests may include: Battlestar Galactica, LARPing, SecondLife, physics, chess, fantasy/scifi, computer programming

Prefers a PC Information courtesy of Mastersinit.org

What’s the difference?

Likely jobs

“A geek is into fandoms and things like Star Wars and Star Trek and a nerd is more of having intellect.”

-Cole Decker, freshman

Nerd Geek

“A geek is more severe than a nerd. But a nerd kind of has no other life other than one [subject or activity].”

-Kate Sample, junior

Rocket Scientist

Graphic Designer

Professor

Entrepreneur

Engineer

IT Professional

Inventor

Game Designer

The Reporter • February 2014

Tall vs. short

(sports)

13

Every size has an advantage or disadvantage brooke prothe sports editor Junior Tiana Moala said her height has its ups and downs.

“I like my height,” Moala said.

“But if I could change it, I would want to be taller for basketball, like 6 foot 3 inches but shorter in real life.”

Moala said being 6 foot 2 inches tall makes her seem more intimidating to the other team and players. “[Being tall] is sometimes annoying,” Moala said. “But in basketball, people can’t shoot over me as easily.”

Freshman Jacob Maichel said he wants to be taller than his height of 4 foot 9 inches because in wrestling he is at a disadvantage by being shorter than others.

“It’s hard to get out of a tie up when you’re shorter than [your opponent],” Maichel said.

However, Maichel said he doesn’t want to be considered tall, and never be as tall as 5 foot 11 inches.

“It’s fun being short because you get to go under the tall people you’re wrestling,” Maichel said.

Like Maichel, sophomore Mason McDow likes his height.

McDow said being 6 foot 7 inches helps him in basketball because he can easily shoot over others and rebound easier as well.

“I like being this tall because people can’t look down on me,” McDow said. “It also gives me an intimidation factor.”

Senior Lauren Frederick said

being taller than others gives her advantages in college exposure for basketball. “[In basketball], if you’re 6 foot tall you’re viewed more as an athlete as opposed to being shorter.”

Frederick said that her height also gives her the ability to compete in certain track events such as high jump. Even though she is able to compete in more events in track, Frederick said she is no longer able to do gymnastics because she is 5 foot 10 inches.

“I used to do gymnastics and loved it, then I grew,” Frederick said.

Varsity boys basketball coach David Cash said height can have advantages and disadvantages.

“From a basketball angle a little size can help,” said Cash. “[But taller athletes] are also more susceptible to knee injuries.”

Cash said taller people are more often not as quick and coordinated and smaller athletes are able to pressure the entire court easier.

However, being tall takes up more space on the court and can protect the basket easier. “[Whether tall or short, coaches] need to let them know no matter what their height is, if they play hard, they can be successful,” Cash said.

Cartoon by Brooke Prothe

14 (sports)

The Reporter • February 2014

Never stop practicing Training in the off-season seems to be the key for successful athletes katharina dietz reporter After sophomore Madison Capps’ volleyball season at school is over, she plays on a club team, whose season goes all year round.

She said both of her teams are like family for her, but at times it’s hard to keep motivated.

“Sometimes I just want to quit, but I love the tournaments and I don’t know what I would do with myself if I would quit,” she said.

For many athletes, the sports season is not only a few months long. Many train all year around or play in a league when the high school season is over.

Capps said she thinks it’s important to practice in the off season.

“The other kids that don’t practice much don’t get as much experience,” Capps said.

Cross country and track athlete Gio Carrete said he doesn’t like the off season, because it’s harder to stay in the running schedule.

“I enjoy seeing everyone and I have more energy

Photo by Katharina Dietz

The softball team does a hip workout at conditioning on Jan. 24. The team will train twice a week until the beginning of the season.

when I’m in the season. I wish it was throughout the year,” the senior said.

It is important to Carrete to stay fit during the off season. He goes for a run almost every day to stay in shape.

“I want to be good and ready for the season. I love to run,” Carrete said.

Softball coach Troy Collier tries to get his team ready for the season by conditioning. Since after winter break, the softball girls train two times a week.

Because of a state law, they are

not allowed to practice with any softball equipment until March 3.

“I think it gives them an advantage,” Collier said.

A few of his team’s athletes play softball all year around, which Collier said helps the program a lot.

About 90 percent of the softball players play multiple sports, which is a good thing in Collier’s eyes.

“As a coach I believe that you should do all sports if it helps the school,” he said.

Off-Season s by the

53

#s

days conditioning starts before softball season

times Carrete runs a week

3+

hours a week Capps’league team trains % of American students who play club sports

90%

6

60

softball players who play multiple sports

Information from Troy Collier & statisticbrain.com

The Reporter • February 2014

More than just a letter

eric haefele reporter For sophomore Taylor Williams, spening time in the gym or putting in extra work during the offseason isn’t an odd sight.

Williams also said the main goal is for the team to win, not to letter.

“It’s really the team that matters the most,” Williams said.

Williams has lettered in volleyball, basketball, track and academics.

Williams said she lettered in track and basketball as a freshman.

“I was proud to accomplish a goal I had,” Williams said.

“It’s a good feeling when my hard work pays off.”

Putting in the extra work and having the motivation from her teammates, coaches, family and herself is what Williams said helped her get the letters. Williams said even in the summer she doesn’t get a break.

“If you want to be great, there is no offseason,” she said.

Williams said lettering also motivates her for next year.

“It sets my expectations high and I get better from there,” Williams said.

Williams said lettering isn’t the most important thing.

“It’s important, but it’s not my main focus,” Williams said.

“It’s a side bonus.”

For junior Jake Robison, his favorite varsity letter was for football freshman year. “[I was] very joyful. It’s a good feeling to have a lot of letter [bars],” Robison said. “Makes me feel like a stud.”

Robison has received a total of eight letters in five different

ways. These include three football, one basketball, two track, one weightlifting and one academic letter.

When Robison got his first letter for football, he was surprised. He said his first letter was the greatest, because it meant he could now get the letter jacket.

Robison said he gets a sense of pride when he wears his letter jacket. “[Lettering] means you played a lot and it gives me selfsatisfaction,” Robison said.

Even though Robison said lettering is important, he said he doesn’t think about it too often.

“It’s just kind of there,” Robison said. “At first I thought about it, but now I don’t care about it as much anymore. The main goal is winning.”

Like Robison and Williams, senior Katie-Jo Kirk received a letter freshman year, but it was for swim team instead.

“I was excited and felt accomplished,” she said.

Since then, she has received three cross country, one track and another swim team letter.

She said cross country sophomore year was her favorite letter. Kirk had a lot of motivation to do her best from her team and to finish out senior year strong.

“I think it is always important to try your best and work towards a goal,” Kirk said. “It isn’t fair to just expect a varsity letter without any effort.”

Kirk said as long as you are giving your all, lettering shouldn’t mean everything. She said the main goal is to im-

15

(sports)

Student athletes’ hard work pays off for the better prove on her times rather than get the letter, but lettering is always an honor. “[Lettering] motivates you to work on your skills throughout the year,” Kirk said.

Track and football coach, Mike Smith, said he believes lettering is important to the players and for the sport.

“Sports are very team orientated and lettering shows athletes how important they are to the success of the team,” Smith said.

In football, a player must participate in a certain number of varsity quarters based upon number of games played and in track, a player must participate in a varsity track meet, Smith said.

Smith said to letter, it takes extra work. This includes offseason work, staying after practice to work on a particular skill and a commitment to be your best.

“It shows commitment and unselfishness for the team,” Smith said.

Smith said he likes the lettering system, because he said it is for those who have been committed to the success of the team. “[Lettering] is a way to celebrate the commitment to the team throughout the season,” Smith said.

Read about sports long-term effects at phsjournalism.com

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16 (features)

To

for

megan stover reporter

Freshman Brenna Sherman said she isn’t afraid to stand out.

Sherman said it all started in eighth grade when her mom bought purple hair dye, and since then she has dyed her hair a variety of colors.

“I’ve done purple on the bottom and on my bangs, blue and pink on the bottom and on my bangs, blue and white, and now this (neon blue and blonde),” she said.

Sherman said she mostly gets good reactions from people about her hair.

“Most of the time, it’s ‘wow, that’s really cool’,

The Reporter • February 2014

but sometimes people frown upon it for some reason,” she said.

When she receives a negative reaction, Sherman said she doesn’t let it bother her.

She said her dad tells her she will regret it when she’s older, but she doesn’t worry about it and continues to look forward to changing her hairstyle. “[Next] I’ll probably do a different color than blue, but I’m not sure which one yet,” she said.

Photo by Megan Stover

Sherman, Stephens, Smothers not afraid to show individuality

Sophomore Jared Stephens has a hairstyle not many guys his age do- he has a beard.

Stephens said he started to grow out his beard at the beginning of his freshman year.

“I just thought it was something cool,” he said. “It is who I am, and it just kind of fit me I thought.”

Stephens said he gets weird reactions from people about his look, ranging from disbelief about his age to negativity about his appearance.

“When we walked into school

for freshman orientation I got asked if I was somebody’s uncle,” he said.

“None of the teachers believed I was a freshman.”

Stephens said he doesn’t plan on shaving it off any time soon.

“I might let it grow out longer, or I might just keep it trimmed up where it’s at,” he said.

Stephens also said he doesn’t plan on doing anything crazy with it, such as braiding it or shaving designs in it, especially now that he has a girlfriend.

“The best part [of having a beard] would be getting away with stuff you shouldn’t be able to at 15,” Stephens said. “The worst part is probably all the weird comments.”

Sophomore Sabrina Smothers started playing with her hair around age 10.

“A lot of the times [I dye my hair] it is on impulse,” she said.

Smothers said she has never regretted dying her hair.

“I know myself well enough that if it is a bad decision I won’t do it,” she said.

Smothers said a lot of people say they like her

hair, but others think it’s weird.

“I know it’s weirdI’m weird. I do this to express myself,” she said.

Smothers said her mom cares more about what she does to her hair than her dad does.

“I tell her, ‘Mom, it’s just hair. It’ll grow back.’”

Smothers said that next she might dye her hair dark red, or maybe pink. But so far, blue has been her favorite.

“It’s different, and it makes me stand out more,” she said.

Voice of the expert: Hairdresser and salon owner Amy Musick knows a thing or two about hair.

“I opened my salon two years ago, and it has been such a fun experience,” she said.

“It’s the best way to make a profession in this industry.”

Musick has experienced many fads, including feathers, color stripes, and other cuts that have gone in and out of style.

“The craziest thing I’ve seen would be people trying to be their own hair stylist,” Musick said. “As hair stylists, we have been taught the correct way to cut hair.”

Musick is a strong believer that people express themselves through their hair.

“Your hair plays such an important role for you, it can make you feel good about yourself and help with your confidence,” she said.