The Royal Page

the

page

ROYAL

VOLUME 33, ISSUE 4

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Center-Spread Read about HHS student musicians and the myriad inspirations behind their work in this issue’s C-spread, pages 6-7.

www.hopkinsrp.org

AP Computer Science course boots up HHS has offered this course for several years, but not enough students sign up to run

More than 31,000 people took the AP Computer Science exam in 2014.

---------------------------Average starting salary with a computer science degree: $60,000 ---------------------------AP Computer Science is taught in only 5% of all U.S. high schools.

-----------------------------data

from Forbes, College Board, and Computer Science Education Week

by Justice Feldman Staff Reporter The world is becoming progressively more digital.

Banks, schools, and even students’ identities are online. To keep up with the increasingly technological world, HHS introduced the AP Computer Science class for this school year.

“We offered it in the registration book last year, but we didn’t have enough people wanting to sign up. This year is the first year HHS has had enough students to take the course,” said Mr. Tim Amlie, Business, Communication and Technology Education.

Alex Feldman owns WhatHurts? Technology Solutions, a company located in Minneapolis that specializes in providing creative professionals with advice and solutions for all their technology needs. Feldman believes that technology will continue to have an expanding impact on the professional world.

“I think students at HHS should understand that in the real world, a lot of jobs are moving toward online information and training,” Feldman said.

The AP Computer Science course introduces students to computer science topics such as problemsolving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data, algorithms, analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing.

“AP Computer Science is a very challenging course, and it really pushes you to problem solve. I suggest that students have prior knowledge of algebra and good problem-solving or troubleshooting skills to be comfortable with the information given in the class,” Amlie said.

The course emphasizes problem-solving and design using the computer program Java, a general-purpose computer programming language that is object-oriented and specifically designed to function independently.

Java appears in sections of the AP Computer Science exam in the spring, which requires students to read and write actual programs.

“The exam is on paper, just like any other AP test,” Amlie said.

AP COMPUTER SCIENCE cont. on page 2

SPORTS, page 10

Ranked first in state

Girls basketball has set their standards high with a 16-1 record as of Jan. 26.

FEATURE, page 8

Code models across country

Lydia Code, senior, has modeled and walked the runway for Aveda.

Plagiarism in AP World

AP World struggles with students copying and pasting work from the web.

Read more on

hopkinsrp.org

Shooting for their best season in years

by Lauren Goodman Staff Reporter It was 49 seconds into overtime when the HHS boys hockey team won 2-1 against the number one single A team, Hermantown.

“We were on the power play and Nate Nelsen took a wrist shot from the blue line. Noah Bragg screened the goalie and the puck found the back of the net,” said Matt Hines, senior captain.

The team has been having these sort of close games for the majority of their season. So far,

five of their 16 games have gone into overtime.

Since 2010, they have not won more than 11 games in the season. With six games left in the regular season, they have already won 11. At a record of 11-7-1 they are already on track to beat their record from 2009 which was 11-14-1. The most successful season before that, was in 2007 with a record of 22-4-1.

With 11 wins, the hockey team is started towards a more successful season than they have had since the 2009 season, and before that, 2007.

Hines has led the team to many successes so far this season. He believes that the team is motivated by positivity. “[We] work hard in practice, [we] work hard in games, [we] make smart plays in games and [I] have a positive attitude to lead the team,” Hines said.

Despite the few losses that were mostly all lost in overtime, the team is still working hard in games with a positive attitude. They are now ahead of their impressive record in 2009 which was the best season they had had in a long time. Hines is happy with the record but still

MEET THE CAPTAINS:

Josh Kuehmichel, senior captain Goalie ranked 2nd in the state Save percentage: .918% (statistics as of 1/23/15)

Matt Hines, senior captain Defense 8 assists 12 years playing hockey

Josh Laven, senior captain Offense 15 goals scored 13 assists photos by Claire Benton

thinks there is room for improvement. “[The record] could be better. I mean we have had a couple heartbreakers, but that’s hockey, so we’re happy right now,” Hines said.

Josh Kuehmichel, senior captain, also thinks the past few games could have been won, but is optimistic as well.

“We lost some games in the past week that we thought we should have won, but we got to just keep moving forward. I think the fact that we all believe that we can win these big games is why we are doing better. We didn’t really think we could win the conference games, until last year when we beat Tonka twice,” Kuehmichel said.

Kuehmichel thinks the hard work put in during practice and the team’s faith in one another leads them to win games.

BOYS HOCKEY cont. on page 11

Brennen Ohlemann, junior, has been acting since seventh grade.

Ohlemann played Jack in Into the Woods. photo provided by Brennan Ohlemann

Ohlemann expresses himself in spotlight

by Andrew Zhou Feature Editor Whether he’s a fast-talking music salesman, an infamous serial killer, or the meek owner of a carnivorous plant, Brennen Ohlemann, junior, is constantly reinventing himself through theater.

Ohlemann has acted in a total of 15 shows, making his debut as a seventh grader at North Junior High when he was cast in Oklahoma! Jr. as Curly McLain, the lead role.

“I was terrified at the audition. They made me sing ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.’ I had the sheet music, and I knew the song, but I was just shaking. I could not handle that,” Ohlemann said. “But after [the audition], everything was fine, and everyone got to know each other. I have so many fond memories of [that cast].”

OHLEMANN cont. on page 9

RPThursday, January 29, 2015

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Influenza: Dec. outbreaks at all-time high

by Claire Benton and Isabel Hall Front Page Editor and Staff Reporter

In the month of Dec. 2014, Chuck Hartman, senior, missed eight days of school. Two of those days, he was being hospitalized for influenza, commonly known as the flu.

“I have this stomach [condition] called GERD- gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Normally it’s not a problem, but when I get the flu, it makes [GERD] worse, so I can’t eat food,” Hartman said. “The flu this year, the strain I got, makes [people infected with that strain] not be able to take in nutrients.

So you just starve.”

Hartman was just one of 1,283 hospitalized flu cases in Minn., as of Jan. 15.

The most noticeable characteristic of the flu season this year was when it reached its maximum number of cases, which was much earlier than past seasons, according to reports from hospitals, clinics, and schools to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Though flu is around all year long, it typically does not peak until Jan. This flu season’s early onset has caught the entire nation off

guard, especially schools.

“If we look at symptoms of fever over 100 [degrees Fahrenheit], cough, sore throat, and extreme body aches. We have definitely seen an uptick in the number of kids who have those symptoms,” said Ms. Bobbi Pointer, school nurse.

According to state law, if five percent of a school’s student body, or three or more students in an elementary classroom, are absent due to influenza-like illness, the school must report an outbreak.

“We have met that in a number of [elementary school] classrooms in this district already,” Pointer said.

There were 622 school flu outbreaks in the state of Minn. reported at the end of 2014, with an all-time high reached in Dec. at more than three hundred outbreaks in one week, according to MDH. Pointer works with the MDH on a program called Flu Surveillance.

“Basically, people all over the state of Minnesota alert the Health Department when we get to a certain level of potential flu cases. That level is five percent of our student body, and that’s only about 80 to 100 students,” Pointer said. “[HHS hasn’t] reached

that threshold yet; we might after break - who knows.”

During the month of school Dec. 2014, there were a collective 715.22 days of absence due to illness at HHS - 266,778 minutes of school missed. In the same period the year before, there were only 554.28.

From Dec. 1 through Dec. 16, over the course of 12 school days, there were a collective 508.9 days of school missed at HHS. In the same period last year, there were only 410.29. That is a 19.3 percent increase, thanks in part to the early onset of the flu season.

One of the reasons so many students get sick may be due to the nature of influenza’s spread.

“It’s incredibly contagious.

That’s why we see so much of it.

It’s respiratory, so if you sneeze, if you cough, if you do that into your sleeve or into your hand, and then you touch that doorknob, or you walk into the cafeteria, and you touch a door in your classroom, or you share a pencil with somebody - it is contagious,” Pointer said.

Hartman expressed similar sentiments, hoping he was not sick while in school.

“Whenever you’re in the bathroom, people don’t wash their hands,” Hartman said.

“And hand sanitizer, that’s not

RPBRIEFS

Dart and his dog

good for you. You’re killing the good bacteria on your hands, so you’re making all the bacteria on your hands immune to bacteriakilling antibodies.”

Hartman weighed 215 pounds before he had the flu.

By the time his symptoms went away, he weighed 185 - a 30 pound loss.

“I would hope that students

who have any of [the flu] symptoms, and especially in combination, stay home,” Pointer said.

“And really you are contagious until you no longer have a fever.”

MDH recommends that the best way to avoid getting the flu is to get either the nasal spray vaccine or the quadrivalent flu shot, which immunizes for four strains of influenza. How-

ever, some years, the strain that emerges is not among those in the vaccine. It is believed that the strain this year has mutated to protect itself against the vaccination.

“I don’t think being in school while sick is good,” Hartman said. “There’s 30-32 people [in each classroom,] and if someone coughs, we all inhale it.”

Infographic by Claire Benton

Winter week schedule announced

Seniors selected to take NAEP test

Winter Week is scheduled for Feb. 9 through 13, leading up to the boys basketball game on Fri. Feb. 13.

National Honor Society will be holding a fundraiser called Hoops For Hope at the game to raise money for cancer research. The basketball game will be played against the Edina Hornets, and the game’s spirit will be a purple out to raise awareness for Hoops For Hope.

The Sadie Hawkins Dance is on Sat. Feb. 14 from 8 to 11 pm. Due to scheduling conflicts, the pep-fest will be held on Fri. Feb. 6 before Winter Week.

The spirit for Winter Week has not been determined but will be announced in a few weeks by Student Government.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test assesses American students in different subject areas. The test is known in the media as the nation’s report card, and is given in all 50 states.

The test is comprised of three subjects: reading, science, and math. The students will only complete one section, but don’t know which subject they will be tested on until they arrive on test day.

“The NAEP takes a random sampling of students.

It’s a federal requirement that a certain amount of high school seniors take the test. This year, about 80 HHS seniors received a letter in the mail saying they have been selected to take the test,” said Ms. Sarah Chamberlain, test coordinator.

Neither the students or district will ever get a result from the test. That information is sent only to the state. briefs by Anne Goodroad and Isabel Hall

AP Computer Science boots up Continued from page 1

Mr. Douglas Dart, English, brings his dog, Brick, to his third and

fourth block Honors Humanities classes. Brick, a Helping Paws golden

retriever, is being trained by Dart and his family to become a service dog.

Brick will live with the Dart family for about two and a half years before graduating the training program and being given to someone with physical disabilities.

Photos by Liam Bronstein

Students that take AP Computer Science also learn how to code. Code is written by programmers and is readable by people, but not by computers. Code must be converted to object code or machine language before a computer can read or execute the program.

“To learn coding is to basically learn a new language,” Amlie said.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, and Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio have been pushing for more K-12 emphasis on coding, according to quotes gathered by code.org.

However, significant obstacles deter many students from studying computer sci-

ence during high school.

Some schools do not have the resources available to offer computer science courses or to train their teachers. Additionally, there is a fairly widespread belief among minority students and female students that the computer science industry is populated solely by people of certain demographics. ”We have only two girls in the class. Females are mainly the minority in computer related careers,” Amlie said.

The College Board’s online statistics show that 82 percent of students who take AP Computer Science are white or Asian, and only 20 percent are female.

“Being a woman in computer science is golden,” said Ellie Tigner, senior. “There is a lot of opportunity for ca-

reers in this field.”

The College Board is currently introducing a new course called AP Computer Science Principles, which will launch in the fall of 2016.

The class aims to appeal to a broader audience by allowing flexibility in the use of computing tools and languages and by emphasizing how computing innovations affect people and society.

“I hope HHS adds AP Computer Science Principles to the course registration book next year because it would open up another door for students who want to go to college to be a computer programmer or a software developer,” said Harry Jensen, senior.

Many students believe that if they take AP Computer Science they could learn how

to hack a computer.

“Hacking is getting through a computer networking system. It’s not a part of our curriculum, and we do not promote it,” Amlie said.

With the saturation of computers and technology in today’s world, it may be hard to believe that computer science-related careers could have more room to grow.

However, as stated by the United States Department of Labor, it is expected that there will be one million more jobs in the computer programming field in the coming years.

“There are always job availabilities for people who graduate from college with a degree in computer science, so I encourage students to pursue those kinds of careers,” Amlie said.

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RP Thursday, January 29, 2015

Finance offers credit Omelettes

by Morgan Downing Staff Reporter Nicole Harr, junior, is interested in studying accounting in college and pursuing accounting as a future career. Harr believes she is taking the right steps to do so, and with a new opportunity given to Personal Finance students, she may be even closer to her goal.

Through a partnership between HHS and North Hennepin Community College (NHCC), Personal Finance, a single credit class at HHS, now allows students to earn three college credits in any college at the Minnesota State Colleges and University system (MNSCU).

Personal Finance is a mandatory class at HHS. However, the credit option is not mandatory and is new to HHS this school year.

“I took advantage of the credit because it was free. College is so expensive, and it’s better to just get the credit now than to have to pay for it later on,” Harr said.

Harr took Personal Finance first quarter and believes it was one of the most helpful classes that she has taken at HHS. “I enjoyed Personal Finance because I understood it well.

The class changed my view on everything. [I realized that] after I go to college, my parents won’t really be there to help me anymore. A class like Personal Finance can teach you how to spend your money wisely,” Harr said.

Mr. David Braaten, Business Education, believes that the credit comes with many benefits.

“First of all, it’s available to any student who is willing to work for it. [Secondly], students will be taking a class for free instead of taking it for $200 at NHCC, $600 at a MNSCU school, and possibly $1000 at an out-of-state or private school,” Braaten said.

Braaten added that apart from the money, the new credit could also give students more time to take more self-selected courses while they are in college.

“When you go to college, you won’t have to worry about taking [a personal finance class] if you’ve already fulfilled the credits. This way, you’ll have more room for elective courses or a couple of hours off from classes. Overall, [the credit] is a win-win deal for students,” Braaten said.

Mr. Tim Amlie, Business, Career and Technical Education Coordinator, was a key figure in bringing the concurrent enrolment credit to HHS. Concurrent enrolment is a program where students take a college level class while in high school. Because of the strong partnership between HHS and NHCC, it was easy to obtain the credit option.

“Recently, new legislation initiated a change that increased focus on more technology and personal finance classes. [NHCC] offered the credit option, and Hopkins quickly agreed. [The credit]

would not only help our curriculum grow, but make it more important,” Amlie said.

Although the credit has been added to the course, the class curriculum will stay the same. 1.5 personal finance credits will still be a requirement for high school graduation.

Even though the credit will not physically change the class, Braaten believes the credit will prompt students to work harder.

“With the credit comes more responsibilities. In order to receive the credit, students must maintain a 2.0 GPA and

finish [Personal Finance] with a passing grade,” Braaten said.

According to the HHS website, over 200 students had signed up for the credit just days after it was announced.

Amlie is excited to see where the credit takes students and Personal Finance.

“Personal Finance is important [to HHS students] because it’s a required course, and with this new credit, the class will be even more important for students [who signed up for it]. The credit will bring a lot more opportunities to students who didn’t know they had any, whether it’s for college or future jobs,” Amlie said.

Infographic by Morgan Downing

eliminated from lunch

by Morgan Downing Staff Reporter

On Thursday, Jan. 8, HHS students experienced quite a shock when hearing the news that Omelette Day was being removed from the school lunch schedule.

Every two Thursdays, HHS students had the option to personalize their own breakfast meal at the do-ityourself omelette bar, along with the choice of one or two pancakes, home-style potatoes, and maple syrup.

In response to the news of the cancellation, students took to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, believing that the end of Omelette Day was a punishment for students.

However, that was not the case. Glen Ritter, Assistant Food Service Director of HHS, explained that having the omelettes being cooked in front of students was a fire hazard.

“When you cook any [food] in the school’s kitchens, a hood or [protection] to cover the open flame is needed. [HHS] didn’t realize this would be a problem,” Ritter said.

Kathryn Hernke, dieti-

tian, nutritionist, and mother to an HHS student, is working toward bringing Omelette Day back to HHS. “[Hopkins Student Nutrition Services, provider of the school meal program], has been working closely with the city inspectors to make sure safety standards are in place, including ventilation for gas burners and shields between the customer and the food being cooked,” Hernke said.

Hernke herself is a fan of Omelette Day and is looking forward to the return of the lunch.

“I like to hear positives about school lunches, especially when vegetables are included and it’s made fresh in front of students,” Hernke said. “If the school can afford to implement the solutions that were discussed, I’m sure omelettes will be back.”

Ritter, like Hernke, is working to bring back Omelette Day. “Omelette Day was obviously a fan favorite among the food choices [at HHS]. If [HHS] can come up with a new solution to make sure that Omelette Day is no longer a fire hazard, Omelette Day will come back,” Ritter said.

4opinion

the

RPThursday, January 29, 2015 Thumbs Up, Is it worth the money to extend your education? Thumbs Down

Investing in college

by Brit Stein News Editor Megan McArdle, Newsweek magazine journalist, boldly stated that “the extra time and money spent pursuing a college diploma will leave [kids] worse off than they were before they set foot on campus.” McArdle’s article, titled “Is College a Lousy Investment,”brought to the attention of thousands of subscribers that as a society, we should question the value of higher education. I am one of those subscribers.

As I anxiously await admissions decisions and scholarship details from eight universities, I can’t help but wonder whether college is an investment worth making. Questioning the value of education, however, seems quite silly - like questioning the value of happiness or fun.

Still, there is no denying that the price of a college education has nearly doubled since 1995. According to McArdle’s article, more than half of all recent graduates are unemployed or in jobs that do not require a degree. The amount of studentloan debt carried by households has more than quintupled since 1999, and the average college student in 2011 graduated with $26,600 in debt. Yes, college graduates make 80 percent more

than people who only have a high school diploma, but most of these college graduates are not able to pay off their student loans for decades.

Modern American society pressures young adults into going to college, advertising it as an “investment in yourself.” The return on that investment for college is not enough to pay off the student loans in a timely fashion. Still, high school students feel that they must conform to conventional thinking and go to college in order to succeed, and HHS students are no different.

“I feel HHS makes it seem like going to college is the only way to be successful. We take all these AP classes to stretch ourselves and get college credit. In advisory, we always talk about college as if it is the only option for next year,” said Cristina Brown, senior.

Teachers such as Mr. Dale Stahl, Social Studies and Department Chair, stress that college is not the only option after high school, such as on-the-job train-

ing or apprenticeship programs. “[Post-secondary education] is more about continuing your learning in a field or in a discipline that you are either interested or motivated in pursuing. I try and emphasize that going to a four-year college is only one of the ways to be successful,” Stahl said.

Stahl’s belief brings me to an important statement by James Heckman, Nobel-Prize winning economist.

“Even with high prices [for higher education], you’re still finding a high return for individuals who are bright and motivated,” Heckman said.

Essentially, what Heckman is saying is that what you get from a college education is proportional to what you put in. Even if college costs nothing, if you learn nothing, it is expensive.

“You’re going to need to be motivated and study in college just to pass the classes. College students need to figure out the right techniques to find success in college and make the invest-

I feel HHS makes it seem like going to college is the only way to be successful.

- Cristina Brown, senior

Top 10 :

Ways NOT to ask a date to Sadie’s

10 ‘P’-ing your pants

9 Claim you have a fatal disease 8 Lots of crying 7 I need an Insta, Sadie’s?

6 Via telegraph

5 A sign that doesn’t rhyme

4 Sing “I’m Having Your Baby”

3 Please go with me, I’m so alone 2 *insert verb* w/ me to Sadie’s?

1 In the omelette bar line >:(

ment of college worth it instead of wasting thousands of dollars,” said Joe Nelsen, senior.

In addition to encouraging students to find the best education programs after high school, HHS teachers should strive to keep students inquisitive and motivated about their interests.

Subsequently, HHS students should continue to further their academic interests, continuing to invest in their education.

“A lot of students, especially seniors, feel like once they get accepted to college, it is an excuse to stop trying because they think they have a future. Seniors don’t make a whole lot of changes in their GPA or academic progress, and their drive is non-existent.

But, students fail to realize that your progress senior year matters,” Nelsen said.

Nelsen’s statement is often echoed by HHS faculty throughout the year.

“I think we need to do a better job of making students aware of their education. Students need to learn the value of learning, and this is what will make them successful in life or in their education. I want students to find joy and be passionate in the process of learning,” Stahl said.

Regardless of the price of investing in college, its true worth is determined by how much is learned.

“I am getting the education I want and my parents are pushing me hard.”

- Ge Thao, junior

“My brother is way cooler than me.”

- Jacob Youakim, sophomore “My Soundcloud is doing numbers.”

- SuspectAl

“I’m not in the newspaper.”

- Claire Dirnberger, senior

“Six months until I never have to come back to Hopkins.”

- Gabe Herstig, senior “Getting rid of the omelette bar.”

- Laura Kloos, junior

Left behind:

Coping in a world of righthanded dominance

Have you ever sat at a school desk without an arm rest? Ruined your favorite sweater by dragging your sleeve through fresh ink? Used tools, utensils, or equipment that weren’t designed for you?

If your answer was no to those questions, chances are, you’re right-handed.

This makes sense on the surface because, according to Everyday Health, lefties make up 10 percent of the general population. Most do not even notice the fact that we’re living in a right-handed world.

For example, many common expressions that we say without even a thought to their true meaning have a negative connotation toward lefties.

If someone is crazy, they’re “out in left field.” A valuable assistant is considered your “righthand man.” When it is your legal right to proceed along your route, you have the “right of way.”

All of these are derogatory

towards lefties, but this is nothing new.

Dating back to the 1800s, lefties were conditioned to be righties and considered children of the devil.

It is obviously more unique to be a lefty. However, the cons surely outweigh the pros.

Whether at school, home, or out in public, lefties are constantly faced with little things that are not in their favor.

During my sophomore year, Mr. Jacques Youakim, Math, brought to my attention the right-handed bias that is ever so present in a classroom setting.

Since that time, I tend to observe this phenomenon more closely.

Activboards are fun to write on until I step back and realize no one can make out what I wrote because of the shadow my hand casts as I write. Spiral notebooks and binders are awkward and can be difficult to write in, especially with ballpoint pens which were designed to be pulled, not pushed, making handwriting messy and illegible.

As a kid it was uncomfortable to

constantly use a right-handed scissor, as the grips do not flow with the curve of a left hand.

But being left-handed isn’t only biased in the classroom; it’s getting in your car and finding the gear shift to be on your right side as well as the cup holder.

For my family of four (two being lefties), it’s playing musical chairs at a restaurant so that our elbows aren’t bumping each other throughout the meal. It’s ordering custom gear for sports while almost everyone else can choose from a wide selection of colors and styles.

Most lefties assimilate from an early age, not realizing the additional inconveniences they face.

Fortunately, there’s still hope for us. There are special school supplies that are hard to come by, but designed specifically for this minority. If you move overseas, everything in a car will be on your left.

Next time you’re meeting someone, try shaking with your left hand and watch the awkward response you get back.

Left Handed...

20% of all MENSA members reported being lefties

Leftie’s average life spans are nine years shorter

Males are twice as likely to be lefties

Of the last five presidents, three were left handed

by Madeline Martodam Opinion Editor

infographic by Randy Marchione Source: dailyinfographic.com

opinion5

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RPThursday, January 29, 2015

Editorial

The staff editorial represents the viewpoint of the Royal Page

On the balance of freedom and restraint: a response to Charlie Hebdo

As high schoolers, we live with a unique balance of freedom and restraint. We publish our writing, make art and proudly display it, assert and debate opinions, and know enough about the world to want to change it. At the same time, we adhere to a 19-page student handbook, can get suspended for posts on social media, and need a pass to go to the bathroom.

Freedom, restraint.

When masked murderers belonging to a radical Islamic terrorist group entered the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine, and killed 12 on Jan. 7, the world witnessed an act of terror. In the attack’s wake,

this balance between freedom and restraint has become a hot-button issue worldwide.

The magazine exercised their freedom of expression by not only mocking the prophet Muhammad and Islam, but also targeting Jews, Christians, politicians, sexuality, and popular culture. Hebdo chooses to push boundaries and, many would say, cross lines - no matter the cost.

In fact, the recent attack was not the first against the magazine. In 2011, their office was bombed. Though no one was killed, they have had permanent security and received continued threats ever since.

These journalists risked their lives every day

Learning through discovery

to mock the figures and ideologies that guide billions of lives. They spared no feelings. In a sense, they were extremists because they flaunted their prerogative to satirize.

There is a close-minded association that terrorists armed with AK-47s are likely to be Islamic extremists rather than Christian or Jewish fanatics. If increased prejudice, hatred, and intolerance of different religions and cultures ensue from incidents like this, are we not falling prey to extremism ourselves in a way that Charlie Hebdo would abhor?

It is worth noting that the headline of the edition published after the attacks was “Tout Est Pardonne” – all is forgiven.

Closer to home, The Royal Page staff is constantly grappling with journalistic integrity.

How do we deal with sources who wish to remain anonymous? Where is the line when the damage a news story will cause outweighs any of its value? We strive to find the balance between free expression and restraint.

We’re unlikely to be the subjects of violence as result of our publication any time soon. After Charlie Hebdo, however, each of us understands a little more clearly the meaning and cost of a truly free press. We also must remember that it is the violence that needs to be condemned, not a race, religion, or culture lest we become extremists ourselves.

Royal Inquisition: Expressing yourself

Exploration, passion must be made central to educational philosophy

by Callan Showers Editor-in-Chief “Why do we come to school?”

“To learn.”

Countless memories of monotonously repeating this call and response in the NJH lunchroom ring through my head.

However, as my own graduation approaches, I am hesitant to submit fully to the central principle of “learning.” I ask myself: is this message of learning truly conveying the purpose of education, or has it become synonymous with rule-following and not disturbing the peace?

It’s clear to me that my past teachers and administrators have reiterated this message for an essential reason: we cannot learn if we are misbehaving or distracting ourselves; we must learn if we want to succeed. But the mes-

“ ____”

sage I have not received is one of what true success is and how it is acquired.

The civil rights leader, philosopher, and educator Howard Thurman once said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

Unfortunately, I feel as if I’ve been spoon-fed the tools to ask what the world needs and submit to it. I have learned about “in-demand” fields of study and those that are hopeless or dying.

I’ve taken “career search” tests that have made me feel boxed in and worried, rather than empowered and confident in my skills.

I have not learned how to come alive. I have not been told to explore, discover, or look inside of myself. Passion has been di-

luted in favor of practicality.

Thankfully, along the way, I have had many teachers, peers, mentors, and supporters who have helped me realize the importance of discovering what I come alive for, and the resources at HHS have been crucial to my self-exploration. I have had classes and teachers that have pushed me to find my voice, articulate my thoughts, be an observer of our world and its history, and tackle formulas and equations that truly frightened me.

I only wish that the power of this search was celebrated, instead of neglected.

Before you graduate, you will have spent 3,060 hours, or 510 days, inside the halls of HHS. The journey to find what makes you come alive needs to be as central to an HHS education as the 56-credit requirement.

“ ____”

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - Howard Thurman

Jayme Ratliff Senior How do you express yourself? I like to express myself through writing and ceramics.

Why? Writing allows me to express things that I wouldn’t be able to any other way. It’s a good creative outlet for me.

Sam Greenwald Senior

Kamal Baker Junior How do you express yourself? Through Martial Arts.

Why? The flow and body movements allow me to show my self-expression. It also lets me use my emotions in this great art.

Claire Miller Senior

How do you express yourself? I express myself through ceramics.

How do you express yourself? I play the piano and violin.

Why? It allows me to show how I feel about certain things without saying anything. For my final project, my theme is vices people have, so ceramics allows me to talk about anorexia and smoking in a different way.

Why? Playing is so much a part of who I am, it’s like an extension of myself. It can express how I’m feeling without saying anything.

Katie Leeke Junior How do express yourself? I journal in my free time.

Why? Journaling and writing poetry let me express how I feel in a creative sense and it’s fun for me to do.

Zach Meyers Junior How do you express yourself? I play the trombone in many different jazz ensembles.

Why? Playing the trombone has become a piece of me. I play it because I love it. When I improvise while I’m playing, that is when I really get to express myself. interviews by Sam Ostenso and Madison Petty

Finding who you are through artistic mediums

by Gannon Youakim Opinion Editor Art makes appearances in our lives at different times and in different ways.

It is in the music you listen to while on your way to school, the graffiti sprawling across a wall, and the sculptures decorating a park.

Some see these morsels of art and continue on with what they are doing, noticing but never regarding. Others let these displays spark a burgeoning flame inside them. Regardless of what type of art you allow to touch you, that art will lead you on a path to self-discovery.

“Art is literacy of the heart,” Elliot Eisner, professor of Art and Education at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, said in his book, 10 Lessons the

Arts Teach.

Just like a diamond, our hearts have many facets when it comes to the arts. For some, self is found in the art of music.

Jack Martin, senior, plays the guitar, the cello, and sings.

He is also a member of the band Quincy. For him, music is an outlet of creativity that has become an important part of his life.

“Probably half my day is related to music. Either playing music in school or at home, and listening to music. I used to not listen to music at all, but now it is one of the things I do everyday,” Martin said.

Martin believes that music should be present in every person’s life in some manner. “[Music] is kind of like a language. Everyone should learn how to play an instrument

or have training in vocal music.

It’s a very good form of expression, and a good outlet to blow the stink off,” Martin said.

For those who feel that music has never been that important to them, or have trouble finding genres they enjoy, there is hope.

“I think there is a type of music for everybody. Maybe they haven’t found it yet and they should just keep looking,” Martin said.

If music is to be regarded as a language, it can be thought of as a dialect of the arts. Another dialect of the arts is the visual arts, including ceramics. Plenty of ceramics courses are offered at HHS, and there are students who have discovered that this type of art is for them.

Dominique Brown, senior, takes Ceramics 3.

“I started [ceramics] in 10th grade when I did Ceramics 1.

There was an AP student here, Matt Chinn, who was super good and always helped me. It was very encouraging because he would always say, ‘Oh, I see potential here’,” Brown said.

One of the great things about the arts is their variety.

They are not mutually exclusive, so you may find that, while you suffer in one area, you excel in another.

“I really enjoy [ceramics].

I’ve never been good at drawing and this is another art form,” Brown said.

Ceramics has the potential for practicality, making it versatile. Brown has taken advantage of this by making useful tools such as mugs, bowls, and even a casserole dish for her grandma.

Brown has been taught

many lessons about patience by ceramics.

“In ceramics, you are not gonna get it right the first time.

Sometimes you make a bowl and it falls over, and its like ‘Oh, whoops, I just have to try again’,” Brown said. “If you take time, you can make things more beautiful.”

There are many other forms of art that have gone unmentioned here, but regardless of the art, or arts, you choose to partake in, discovery may be just over the next horizon. You could encounter a universal truth, or a cultural disposition.

Maybe, if you’re lucky, you will discover a little bit more about yourself.

But why would you want to discover more about yourself ?

For some, this is an enjoyable prospect. Others may try to

hide because they are afraid of what they will find.

If you are afraid of who you are, grow up. You are stuck with you until the day you die, so you might as well sit down with your soul and get to know it.

You can talk about the weather or something like that.

Maybe some people feel that the results of their adventures in the arts don’t concur with who they believe they are.

Just like personality tests, art forms don’t define you. They depict hues of your character, hues that vary greatly and change according to the position and lighting of your life.

Maybe you just never noticed that color of yourself.

Once again, you are like a diamond. Find those facets you don’t know about by dabbling in the arts.

ph r u

M

s e yr

M

Lucas LaFostecasse, senior, a rapper with the stage name “Murph Myres,” uses his unique style to write his own songs.

“I try to express my creativity by saying weird things with an intelligent vibe, and I try to make my lyrics relatable,” LaFostecasse said. “Normally, I keep my personal experiences out of the picture, but I’ll write stories that I find have a helpful message or are entertaining.”

Foster began exploring his musical talent in junior high after listening to Eminem for the first time.

“I started rapping in eighth grade shortly after hearing Eminem’s “Not Afraid.” After that, I just started scribbling lyrics down - whatever came to mind,” LaFostecasse said.

Foster counts Eminem and Doomtree as some of his favorite artists and biggest influences. Buckfest 3, a concert organized by HHS musicians, was his favorite performance to date. “[Buckfest 3] was the only time I’ve been on a legitimate stage with awesome stage lights, a big crowd, and actual dividers between the crowd and the stage,” LaFostecasse said. “The crowd was awesome, the hype was amazing, and the microphone sounded really good.”

Throughout the rest of his time in high school and beyond, LaFostecasse plans to revamp his production schedule and continue creating music.

“I want to continue making bigger and better projects, and a first step towards this goal was the 11-track album I just released on Bandcamp, ‘The Plunge,’” LaFostecasse said. “Additionally, I’ll continue creating tracks and releasing albums that have cohesive themes, as opposed to the jumble of songs I have right now.”

LaFostecasse has a clear idea of the direction he will take his career after leaving HHS. “I want to perform at venues and open mics much more often, collaborate with more artists, and create a presence online - basically just get myself out there as an entertaining artist pursuing a music career,” LaFostecasse said.

By Nate Pasko, Danielle Fogelson, and Alex Felemovicius, Editor in Chief, Feature Editor, and C-Spread Editor of the Royal Page

Lucius Jemison, junior, and Alex Goldberg, senior, are a rapping and producing duo known as the Goofy Boys. Jemison, the rapper, sees music as an arbitrary form of expression that should not follow any rules or guidelines.

“I view music as an art, and I try to treat it that way,” Jemison said.

“I do whatever I want and create whatever feels right without focusing on a main topic.”

Goldberg likes to include his personal feelings and thoughts on popular culture in his songs.

“I like to focus on current events and express my opinions on them through music,” Goldberg said. “My emotions and swagger are expressed as well.”

Goldberg began producing music in his sophomore year with help from a former HHS student.

“I started producing on my own, and I didn’t get very far with it,” Goldberg said. “Then Ben Dustman, who graduated in 2013, got me started in Mr. Fuhr’s room, and I just self-taught from there with help from YouTube tutorials.”

Both Jemison and Goldberg see music in their futures but are comfortable without concrete plans.

“Regardless of what I’m doing, music will have a presence in my life,” Jemison said. “I don’t know if it will necessarily be a career, but I will see where it takes me and just go with it.”

Malik Andrews, senior, expr through his lyrics and the way in wh “It’s not always what you say, it’s drews said. “An ‘oh’ or a ‘yeah’ might n paper, but but when I say it, it expre Andrews, who performs under White,” uses the themes of comm many of his songs.

“My favorite song is “Club Par cause it is so much different from m out there. Most are about money or dise” is just about being home, whic Andrews said. “I try to put Hopkins as possible.”

Andrews began recording music “I was moving schools almost e have a lot of friends, so I started wr book to pass the time,” Andrews sai came my best friend, and [my interes from there.”

Andrews plans to pursue a mu school.

“I take music very seriously, and Andrews said. “I’m going to try to ge I know I can take the next step in sound. I hope to start performing venues in Minneapolis and just keep

Get an inside look at the rap and rock culture at HHS in this Royal Page Center Spread. Meet eight musicians who are expressing their passions and making their mark in the local music scene.

Dirty

White

All photos taken and provided by Jake Condon, sophomore.

resses his emotions hich he raps them. s how you say it,” Annot look like much on esses my style.” the moniker “Dirty munity and home in

radise” by Drake, bemany of the rap songs cars, but “Club Parach really spoke to me,” s in my songs as much

c as a ninth-grader. every year and didn’t riting lyrics in a noteid. “The notebook best in music] expanded

usic career after high

I see it as my future,” et into a studio, where n my production and in bigger and bigger p going from there.”

Quincy is an alt-rock band consisting of bass guitarist Charlie Butwinick, guitarist Francisco Gonzalez, drummer Drew Kist, and guitarist and vocalist Jack Martin, seniors.

How do you express yourselves through your music?

Butwinick: “Our songs are pretty instrumental, so you can get our vibe from what the instruments sound like.

Having only a few songs with vocals makes expressing ourselves more difficult.”

Kist: “With drums it’s more of a physical thing. You really just need to get into it. It’s a lot of improv sometimes, and that’s why drums has always been easy for me - I just play.”

Gonzalez: “Our more aggressive songs are the most fun - not because we’re mad or anything, but just because they have a lot of energy.”

When was Quincy formed?

Martin: “The WJH talent show in ninth grade was the first time Quincy (without Charlie) came together. The first Buckfest last spring was the entire Quincy’s first performance together.”

K: “My first real show was with Jack and Fred at the talent show. When they asked me if I wanted to do the show with them, I was really excited. Ever since that show, music has been my main thing, and Quincy giving me that opportunity was fantastic.”

What was the motivation behind creating Buckfest?

G: “We started Buckfest to give our artist friends a chance to showcase their skills. We’ve been at a lot of concerts where there are five people in the crowd, which sucks. People should appreciate what our artists are making.”

What has been your favorite performance? Why? M: “Buckfest 2. From what I can remember, we didn’t mess up at all. My pedals went crazy in the first Buckfest, and the volume on my guitar didn’t work for a while during 3. But compared to 2, 3 was much bigger.”

K: “Definitely 3. We were so amazed at the turnout and the support everybody gave us. It was such a blast.

Getting ready was stressful, but the whole night was amazing.”

Do you see music in your future?

B: “I don’t know that I would make a lot of money off music or that it would be my main source of income, but it will certainly always be something in my life.”

G: “I plan to continue music, because it’s something that I love doing. Doing something you love and getting paid for it is the ultimate goal.”

M: “I plan on always playing an instrument, in whatever format that may be. You never really stop.”

K: “Definitely. I got into the U of M recently, and I’m going to try out for their drumline, so that will hopefully continue throughout college.”

Thoughts on keeping the band together?

M: “I know a lot of people in bands who go to college in different places. It’s not like they break up - they just take breaks while at school and get back together when they come home. That’s probably what we’ll do.”

QUINCY

Four years ago, Asher Weisberg, junior, developed his passion for DJing. Today, he showcases his talents at many house parties, shows, and venues around the metropolitan area.

“It all mostly comes from word of mouth and people asking me to be at their events,” Weisberg said. “It takes a lot of planning beforehand, but I really enjoy it.”

Most of the venues Weisberg performs at are 18+.

At these types of shows, he tends to be the youngest one there.

“It is definitely more pressure when people are older than me because the other DJs there are usually headlining or playing before/after you, so they are listening to what you are doing,” Weisberg said. “It’s also important to make sure I’m not only caring about what my colleagues are thinking, but also what the crowd is thinking.”

Weisberg plans to continue performing in the near future and throughout his high school career.

“I don’t know if DJing itself will take me very far, but I definitely see myself doing stage management and event management in the music industry specifically in the future,” Weisberg said.

Asher Weisberg, junior, pictured in black in the middle of the crowd celebrating after his set DJing at Buckfest 3, a concert started by HHS students.

The Royal Page 2014-2015

Editors in Chief Nate Pasko Callan Showers

Front Page Editor Claire Benton

Design Editor in Chief Alex Felemovicius

News Editor Brit Stein

Opinion Editors

Madeline Martodam Gannon Youakim

Feature Editors Danielle Fogelson Andrew Zhou

Sports Editor Hillary Donovan

Photo Editor Sam Ostenso

Infographic Editor

Isabella Weisman

Business Editors

Jacob Ungerman Brian Yu

Web Editors in Chief Bradley Kaplan Ellie Maag

Sports Blogger Ben Segelbaum

RPThursday, January 29, 2015

the

8 feature

Code models her way across country

by Liam Bronstein Staff Reporter As a child, Lydia Code, senior, idolized the models on the television show “America’s Next Top Model.” However, she seldom thought she would be in a similar situation as she grew older.

“When I got older, I started to realize that maybe I could actually give modeling a try,” Code said.

At the beginning of her junior year, Code became familiar with an online organization called Vision Management after being noticed by their talent scouts at a show in Chicago.

Vision Management, based in Minneapolis, is a modeling agency that helps models like herself find representation and job opportunities.

Code then discovered new opportunities with companies such as Aveda and Joynoelle.

Aveda specializes in skin and hair care while Joynoelle creates clothing lines.

Code has been receiving endless support from her friends and family since the beginning of her modeling career.

“When I first heard that Lydia wanted to model, I was more than excited. Her father and I encouraged her to try new things, and I think modeling was right for Lydia,” said Tina Code, Lydia’s mother.

The peak of Lydia’s model-

ing career so far has been the Aveda Showcase, highlighting skin care, cosmetics, perfume, and hair care products. The show required Lydia to travel through four different cities in six days, where she was featured along with nine other models. The show focused on hair products, and Lydia had her hair dyed a deeper red than her usually brightly-colored, natural hair.

“Some people had their hair cut onstage as part of the showcase,” Lydia said. “I only had mine dyed.”

Lydia walked the runway in

four different cities.

“I woke up after the Boston show, flew to Philadelphia, did a show that day, and then flew across the country straight to California for the Sacramento and Berkley shows,” Lydia said.

Lydia felt welcomed within the Aveda community and finished the showcase by traveling by herself for the first time.

“It was definitely something to get used to,” Lydia said. “I made friends with a lot of the models at the showcase right away. Modeling has been new to me, but I’m starting to really enjoy it.”

Left: Lydia Code, senior, receives last-minute adjustments at a photo shoot. The shoot took place in Minneapolis.

Top right: Code poses during her senior photo shoot. This picture was taken by Lisa Persson, HHS alumni ‘13.

Above: Code dons heavy makeup as she poses for the camera. She began modeling last year. photos provided by Lydia Code

Staff Reporters

Molly Abbott Ladner Imran Baksh Liam Bronstein Mariah Byron Will Cohen Morgan Downing Trianna Downing Justice Feldman Andrew Fern Ellie Fromstein Lauren Goodman Anne Goodroad Isabel Hall Rachel Hall Ely Harel Croix JoliCoeur Nick Mandler Randy Marchione Madison Petty Lucy Pierro Ian Tennant Isaac Teplinsky

Minh enlists in National Guard, serves nation Lucy Pierro Staff Reporter When Chrisna Minh, senior, decided to join the National Guard, she was immediately faced with her first duty: get her parents on board.

“My parents were completely against it. They were scared I would get deployed, as most parents are, but they realized it was something I really wanted to do,” said Chrisna Minh, senior. “It was something I’ve been working really hard for.”

The National Guard is a reserve military force that is

composed of all 50 U.S. states and is under control of both the state and federal governments.

It consists of two reserve components: the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force.

“She’s a goofy girl, that was my first impression,” said Staff Sergeant Johnny Wadsworth, National Guard recruiter. “She’s has an outward and very extroverted personality.”

Throughout the school year, military recruiters visit various high schools in their area to begin recruiting students ages 17 and older. Minh met her recruiter during the lunch periods

Adviser

Mr. Kocur The editorial represents the opinion of the newspaper staff. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the administration, the student body or the advisor. Signed viewpoints represent the view of the writer.

The Royal Page operates as an open forum student publication, and student editors make editorial decisions regarding content.

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Annual Subscriptions are available for $20.

The Royal Page encourages letters to the editor. Letters are not guaranteed publication, are subject to editing for content and length, must be signed and meet deadlines. Compliments and suggestions are also welcome.

Chrisna Minh, senior, shakes the hand of an officer as she swears into the National Guard. This ceremony took place on Nov. 20, 2014. photo provided by Chrisna Minh

at HHS. “[The recruiters] are all friendly people, and I’m pretty close to them. They make the process of joining a little less stressful. Once you’re through, it’s not bad,” Minh said.

While enlisted in the National Guard, soldiers attend drill to serve their country parttime: one weekend per month and two weeks per summer. The soldiers receive the opportunity to complete college or post-secondary schooling at little to no cost and the ability to hold a civilian job full-time.

“Normally, when people come to drill, they’re nervous or scared of being yelled at.

For Chrisna, she’s always smiling and excited to get into the routine,” Wadsworth said. “She knows that if we say ‘be here at 7:45,’ that means she shows up fifteen minutes early, regardless.”

Minh will graduate with her 2015 class and ship out to Fort Sill, Okla. on July 8, where she will spend 12 weeks in basic combat training (BCT). Immediately after BCT, Minh will ship out to Fort Lee, Virg. for the remainder of her advanced individual training (AIT). Once she completes her training, Minh will start college a semes-

ter late in the spring of 2016.

“Going to school later than everyone else makes me a little emotional. I still wish I could have gone through the full college student life with orientation and graduating with everyone else. But, on the bright side, I do receive college credits during training,” Minh said.

During the enlistment process, potential soldiers are required to take a series of basic knowledge placement tests to determine what military occupation specialty (MOS) will fit a soldier best. This test is commonly known as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

To be eligible to enlist, potential soldiers must also meet a wide variety of medical requirements ranging from body mass index to placement of tattoos.

Any health conditions that will interfere with successful military performance may quickly disqualify one from enlisting.

“It’s rewarding just passing [the ASVAB and physical] realizing you made it through what most people can’t and now, you’re able to serve your country among the less than one percent that will stand beside you,” Wadsworth said.

The ASVAB and a required

medical examination is performed at the MN Military Enlistment Processing Station (MEPS).

“The stressful thing about joining is going through the MN MEPS process,” Minh said. “It involves a lot of paperwork, medical exams, and determination. That’s where recruiters can’t help you, and they didn’t pressure me at all either,” Minh said. “[The recruiters] said that if I wanted to back out before [swearing in,] they would be fine with it and pull me out.”

Since it can be difficult to request a commonly-desired occupation such as combat medic, it is typical for a soldier to transfer to a different MOS whenever a position may become available.

Minh chose 92 Alpha (automated logistics specialist) as her MOS but wishes to complete college, obtain a degree as a certified emergency medical technician, and transfer to a different MOS. Throughout her service in the National Guard, Minh hopes to acquire new perspectives from her journey.

“I hope to gain all things involving being more independent, determined and disciplined,” Minh said.

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RPThursday, January 29, 2015

Students shoot to kill during open season

by Madison Petty Staff Reporter Students at HHS have a wide range of hobbies, but there are only a few whose interests include camouflage and a gun.

Jack Anderson, senior, started hunting after becoming close with his sister’s boyfriend around six years ago, and he has become very involved in it ever since. After hunting many kinds of game, ducks became his favorite. “[I love] hunting ducks because there is a lot of shooting [involved], and you get to really test your skills because you’re shooting at a moving target,” Anderson said.

There are many rules and regulations regarding hunting, especially for teenagers. Starting at age 11, children can complete

a firearms safety course, which includes classroom instruction and field experience, to receive a certificate valid at the age of 12. The safety course can be completed either in a classroom or online through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

In many cases, Boy Scout troops decide to complete the licensing process together, which is how Anderson completed it.

Every hunter must also possess one particular skill: patience.

“Patience is very important, but it also depends on the game you’re after,” Anderson said. “[It requires] a lot more patience to hunt deer and big game because you’re waiting for them to come to you. As for waterfowl, you can move around more, but once you see the birds in the distance,

you [have to] lay low and wait for them to land.”

Hunters purchase different licenses depending on the game they want to hunt, which can only be hunted during particular open seasons. In Minn., the most popular game to hunt is deer, which can only be hunted in the fall. Waterfowl, which includes ducks and geese, are also hunted in the fall, with a tentative opening day of Sept. 26 this year.

Tom Koppe, senior, started hunting in elementary school after his family purchased land up north. Since then, ducks have also become his favorite game to hunt.

“A lot of people think that I just like to kill stuff, but it’s more of the atmosphere and simply being outside,” Koppe said. “It’s a lot of strategy.”

Duck decoys are used to help hunters attract ducks. They are life-sized models of ducks, made of either wood or plastic, that are set up around the hunting area.

Setting up multiple decoys around a hunting area encourages real ducks to land nearby, hopefully in range of the hunter’s gun.

“The preparation for the hunt and the setting up of the decoys in the dark, not knowing if they’re going to fly that day, is always exciting once the light breaks through the sky,” Anderson said.

Anderson and Koppe spare countless weekend mornings to get up far before they would to make it to school by 7:47. However, for them, it’s all part of the hunt.

Tom Koppe, senior, poses by the first deer he hunted. He has been hunting since sixth grade. photo provided by Tom Koppe

Ohlemann expresses himself in spotlight Royal of the Month Continued from page 1 From then on, Ohlemann dedicated himself to theater, eventually earning the supporting role of The Wolf in Into the Woods, an HHS production, in ninth grade. Acting in a high school show as a middle schooler, however, was intimidating at first.

“It felt like I was a gazelle, and everybody else were big league actor tigers, and they were going to eat me alive,” Ohlemann said.

Despite his initial fears, Ohlemann found HHS actors to be very welcoming, and he continued working with them once he began his high school career.

“Once I got to the high school, they accepted me even

more,” Ohlemann said. “They were very welcoming.”

In addition to school shows, Ohlemann is also heavily involved with Blue Water Theatre Company, a community theater in Wayzata that mainly stars high schoolers and middle schoolers.

The main director is Charlie Leonard, who also directed Ohlemann’s first show. “[Blue Water Theatre Company] is like Hopkins theater, but it’s just a melting pot of a bunch of kids from different communities. [Blue Water Theatre Company] puts [actors] in a fantastic situation where they get to make something amazing,” Ohlemann said.

Acting outside of school is a very different experience for Ohlemann when compared to

performing in shows at HHS with students he sees every day.

“I like to do Hopkins shows because I feel like I grow more as an actor, and I like to see all the people that I get to see around school in a different spotlight,” Ohlemann said. “It changes how you perceive a person when you see them acting and just having a good time with other people.”

Acting and singing often intersect for Ohlemann in theater, and both have played a large part in Ohlemann’s life since he was very young, as he sang in his church choir. In ninth grade, he joined his school choir after leaving orchestra.

“In [an orchestra], it’s only one director, and he has to look at all these instruments that work so differently, and he has to make them work, and there’s never enough time for that.

When you’re in choir, you’re always using your voice. It’s much easier for the director to get a good response out of their students,” Ohlemann said. “I’ve always strived to be a better singer and be more diverse in the type of music that I can sing.”

Ohlemann is now a mem-

ber of Geoff, the top male choir at HHS, and he sings in the MMEA All-State choir, a prestigious choir for high schoolers in Minn.

Ohlemann also finds great enjoyment from blending his passions for music and theater together by participating in musicals. However, musicals only occur once per year at HHS, which is a large reason for Ohlemann’s participation at Blue Water Theatre Company, which puts on at least four musicals per year.

“Sometimes, I miss the music,” Ohlemann said. “When you can take something like music and put it into a physical form, it creates a new landscape to work with.”

Currently, Ohlemann is rehearsing for a play called The Man Who Couldn’t Dance for the Winter One Act Plays in Feb. He plans to remain involved in theater for the rest of his high school career.

“It’s a growing family bond.

Theater people always like to say [theater] is a family,” Ohlemann said. “It draws together some of the best people I’ve ever known.”

Left: Brennen Ohlemann, junior, performs a dance in the Blue Water Theatre Comopany production of Once Upon a Mattress. He played the lead role in the show in the summer of 2013.

Above: Ohlemann stars in State Fair. This production was put on Blue Water Theatre Company. photos provided by Brennen Ohlemann

Kenta Yamamoto, senior Every month, Mr. Tyson Crockett, Academic Dean, chooses one student to be recognized for his or her outstanding academic achievements. This month’s Royal of the Month, Kenta Yamamoto, senior, was nominated by Serena Schmidt, School Counselor, for his academic success and positive responses from teachers.

“He’s taking very rigorous classes and performing very well in them,” Schmidt said. “I’ve gotten positive feedback from other teachers about how helpful he is in class and how supportive he is with his classmates.”

In addition to his school work, Yamamoto participates in multiple extracurricular activities.

“Kenta is involved with the Minneapolis Japanese School where he goes and learns Japanese after school. He’s also involved with robotics, National Honors Society, jazz band, and is the first chair saxophonist in the school band,” Schmidt said.

Yamamoto maintains focus in order to juggle his many responsibilities.

“I keep lists of everything I have to do,” Yamamoto said.

“They keep me organized, and then I get everything done.”

RPThursday, January 29, 2015

the

10 sports

Left: The girls basketball team gathers to listen to head coach Cosgriff before practice.

Right: DeAnna Winston, sophomore, guarding TT Starks, senior, in practice. The girls basketball team has won 11 games so far this season.

photos by Hillary Donovan

Girls basketball starts strong, remains humble

By Ely Harel Staff Reporter Coming off a disappointing loss to Eden Prairie in the section semifinals last year, the Royals have come out of the gate swinging with a 16-1 record, winning games by more than 30 points on average as of Jan. 26.

The Royals’ only loss on the season was to Eastview, the defending state 4A champion, but the girls made up for it by defeating them in a New Year’s Eve rematch at Augsburg College.

“If losing in sections, being

the number one seed, ranked number two all year isn’t motivation for the off-season, I don’t know what is. The bar is set extremely high, but it is every year,” said Brian Cosgriff, head coach.

While many teams set high expectations for themselves at the start of their seasons, few reach the type of success that the HHS girls basketball team has achieved in recent years.

The Royals have won five state

titles under Cosgriff, including three in a row between 2011 and 2013.

In order to live up to the standards the team sets for itself, the girls follow Cosgriff ’s one percent rule.

“We use the saying that we want to improve one percent every day. Every day one percent.

We gotta keep working hard and have great attention to detail, make sure we try to stay healthy.

If we do that, we feel we will be

in good shape,” Cosgriff said.

The team’s hard work is already showing through their play this season. The Royals are ranked number one in the state and are hoping to keep up their winning ways as they head into the heart of their season, playing Lake Conference foes such as Minnetonka, currently ranked second in state.

The girls have already blown past Edina in their conference opener, defeating the Hornets

by a score of 67-30 on January 9th at the Hopkins Lindbergh Center.

TT Starks, senior captain, has been on the team since 8th grade and has seen first hand how far hard work can take the team.

“We just work on our basics: shooting, ball handling, layups, moving the ball around and working with your team. Not just making yourself better but making the team better,” Starks said.

“We shouldn’t lose another game,” Starks said, “We’ve proved what we need to prove, we just need to keep getting better everyday and play to the best of our ability every game.”

Although the girls seem to be on track for another highly successful season, Cosgriff knows that they must keep focus on their ultimate goal.

“We’ve always started off pretty good like this. Actually, I don’t think we’re playing as well as we have in past years. We have a lot of room for improvement, the potential is there, so we hope to be playing our best basketball in March,” Cosgriff said.

“ “ ____” ____” Gymnastics hindered by injury, high hopes for youth

By Will Cohen Staff Reporter

The HHS gymnastics team is younger than ever. Having six junior high students out of 13 total athletes, the team is looking to sculpt the future.

“I'm not even a senior yet and I still feel like one of the main leaders of the team. It’s been a privilege to take some of the younger girls and show them how to be the best that they can be,” said Katie Leeke, junior.

With a wide age range throughout the entire team,

If losing in sections, being the number one seed, ranked number two all year isn’t motivation for the off-season, I don’t know what is.

-Brian Cosgriff, head coach

they have made a bright future their uniting goal.

“We take everything seriously and work extremely hard at everything we do,” Leeke said. “We are really pushing for a better future for the program.”

The team has been together for a short period of time but has already started bonding within each practice and meet.

“Since kids are all over the place in age, we try to find things we have in common to bond with,” Leeke said. “The older kids are social and always include the junior high kids in jokes and

common conversation.”

Injuries have been a constant struggle for the Royals this year.

With more than half of their starting gymnasts out with injuries, the Royals have been relying on younger talent throughout the season so far. Leeke is one of the injured athletes, and recently had elbow surgery.

“It kills me not to be able to compete with my team. The healing process is harder when you have to watch your teammates practice without you,” Leeke said.

Leeke feels the repercussions of injury in the team atmosphere.

“It’s been really hard on the team not having some of the more experienced girls out there practicing everyday,” Leeke said.

“It’s mentally draining.”

One unique tradition the team bonds with is their dance that serves as a warm-up before every practice. With music blaring, the gymnasts spread across the tumbling mat. All in sync, the team performs the dance together.

“It’s really embarrassing but really cool. We grow as a team really well with it,” Leeke said.

“Since we are such a young team, it’s important that we focus on growing together and have something to bond with.”

Every practice is started by this ritual of workouts that create a positive and happy atmosphere to kick off each practice.

Scoring high in meets this year isn’t necessarily the primary goal for this year’s team. Getting bigger and stronger as individuals and improving in events is the main focus.

“If we could reach that goal, we would be looking very nice.

We have high goals but we try to make realistic goals so our team can achieve them,” Leeke said.

The team has lost their past four meets, but HHS gymnastics hopes that they are on track for a bigger, brighter future.

Top: Grace O’Neil, junior, practing a tumbling pass in practice. The gymnastics team has not won a meet so far this season.

Bottom: Six of the 13 athletes on the gymnastics team warm up the beam.

The gymnastics team is made up of six junior high students and seven HHS students. photos by Croix JoliCoeur and Ellie Fromstein

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Without Coffey, boys basketball still succeeding

By Trianna Dowing Staff Reporter

Amir Coffey, junior, is currently the number one recruit in Minn. and has offers from several schools such as the University of Arizona, Iowa State University and Penn State University.

Unfortunately for the Royals, an unforeseen injury during a game against Burnsville on Dec. 3 sidelined Coffey.

After coming down on a rebound attempt, Coffey fell to the floor and was taken off the court to the hospital.

Coffey suffered an ACL tear, deep bone bruising, and a sprained MCL. Coffey had surgery on Dec. 22 and will undergo physical therapy for the next six to eight months. He will not be returning for the remainder of the season.

“Now I have to keep my

head high and stay focused,” Coffey said. “It’s important that I work hard to get back on the court. There’s a lot of college and NBA players that had or have the same injury I do. I know I can get better, too.”

Currently, the varsity boys basketball team has an overall record of 12-4 and a conference record of 3-0, with wins against Chanhassen, Wayzata, Eden Prairie and Edina and losses against Champlin Park, Shakopee, and Maple Grove.

Without the participation of Coffey, the team believes the only way to make up for his absence is for players to work hard and demonstrate more leadership.

“Obviously Amir’s one of the bigger assets of our team,” said Simon Wright, sophomore.

“Luckily people are stepping up, so that’s good.”

The Royals are ranked

fourth in state, 124th nationally, and have players such as John Warren, senior, averaging 17 points per game, and Xavier Johnson, junior, averaging 13.4.

Before his injury Coffey was averaging 30 points per game.

“I would like to think we’re successful because we help teach kids,” said Mr. Ken Novak Jr., head coach and Social Studies.

“We’re teaching kids how to discipline themselves, how to work hard and how to strive for excellence, and to figure out other ways to accomplish goals.”

While the dream is to win the state championship, teamwork is the number one goal.

“There are certain things we do as a team to make ourselves successful, winning state or not,” Novak said. “But our first priority is playing as a team. And if we’re doing that and it’s working, the results will take care of themselves.”

Graham Hutson, senior, looks to pass against Eden Prairie. The Royals won 75-67 against Eden Prarie on January 16.

photo by Maya Condon

Seventh grader making impact on varsity ski team

By Croix JoliCoeur Staff Reporter Ellie Munger, seventh grader at WJH, is in a unique position as the youngest of 14 varsity skiers on the HHS nordic ski team.

“We’ve had seventh graders [on the team] before, but its not usual. Some of my skiers now started like Ellie,” said the head coach, Rob Fuhr, Technology Education.

Munger has been skiing for 11 years and grew up skiing, with her dad, John Munger, being a founder of the Loppet Foundation.

The Loppet Foundation provides the chance for people to get outdoors and create a passion for different outdoor activities and adventures in the metro area year round.

“My dad is the Director of the Loppet. He is kind of in charge of everything. He runs around making sure everything is getting done,” said Munger.

Munger will sometimes go

to the Loppet events and help her father in all different types of ways.

“I do a lot of the events, the Loppet, the Tour, the TriLoppet, and the Trail Loppet mostly. I've also done volunteer stuff before like cleaning up the trails in the spring or fall,” said Munger.

Loppet also has training for nordic skiing during the summer.

“I train with Loppet Nordic Racing, and its a summer program for 13 year olds to 19 year olds and you train for the season, but it’s really hard,” said Munger.

With parents who have been skiing for as long as Munger can remember, it makes sense that this is Munger’s 11th year in skiing.

“I’ve been skiing since I was two,” Munger said. “My parents skied a lot, but when I was younger I didn’t really like skiing. My parents forced me to, but now I love it. I pretty much

Ellie Munger, seventh grader at WJH, skiing at a conference race at Elm Creek. Munger has placed 12th, 13th and 19th individually in the varsity races this season.

photo by Isabel Hall

started out by standing on my skis and falling, then getting back up and falling.”

This season, Munger has placed 12th, 19th, and 13th individually in the varsity races.

“(Being a varsity skier) is pretty fun. Everyone is really nice,” Munger said.

Katie Craemer, senior captain, doesn’t feel like Munger is the odd one out because of

Shooting for their best season in years Continued from page 1

“We all have good chemistry with each other and we all have these big goals that we want to accomplish, so that helps,” Kuehmichel said.

As the goalie, Kuehmichel relies on his team as well to keep the puck on the opposite side of the ice, far away from the goal he is defending.

“It boosts my confidence to know that I have my team in front of me having a ton of effort and scoring goals so that I’m not the only one doing my job,” Kuehmichel said.

Corey Peterson, head coach, started coaching the team just last season and has made a positive influence on the team.

“The potential is endless with this bunch of guys. They have the talent and they can go as far they want to,” Peterson said. “I

came in wide-eyed, not knowing what to expect. Now that I know the team, it’s a much easier relationship with them now.”

Two state tournament appearances, in 1975 and 1980

73 goals scored by the team this season as of 1/23

Austin Fisher, senior, skates to check an Edina skater. The boys hockey team lost to Edina 8-4 on Jan. 22.

photo by Hillary Donovan

884:08 minutes of ice time for Josh Kuehmichel, senior

her age. Instead she feels that Munger fits in because of her ability to perform.

“She doesn’t really seem like a seventh grader because she is very good, and she is mature,”

Craemer said.

Craemer sees a lot of potential for Munger going into the future.

“I think she is going to be very good, she just needs to get a little bit stronger and bigger,” Craemer said.

In Nordic, like in most sports, there is a team goal.

Though they may all sound similar, athletes and coaches work hard to reach those goals.

“Our team goal is to perform as well as we possibly can, and hopefully go to state this year,” Fuhr said.

Fuhr hopes that Munger doesn't feel increased pressure and continues to focus on her love of skiing.

“Right now we are not pressuring her to do anything,” Fuhr said. “We just want her to be a seventh grader and enjoy being on the team, then eventually stay on the team and evolve into a state contender as an individual and as a team member.”

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

WHEN GAS PRICES FALL

Current Situation:

Dec.- $2.41 Nov.- $2.82 Oct.- $3.14 Sept.- $3.30 Aug.- $3.42 July- $3.58

The United States imports more than 61 percent of consumed oil. With the sudden decrease in oil prices, America’s natural gas supply may be at risk.

In theory, Saudi Arabia is trying to flush out the United States’ natural gas industry, making it too expensive for the U.S. to produce natural gas. The U.S. would have to be more dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil.

To get natural gas, the U.S. has to hydraulic fracture (frack) land. In this process, a company digs a well in the ground and sends a mix of water and chemicals into it. This water mix breaks up ground and releases natural gas, which is mostly methane.

Since 2005, there has been a huge increase in production of natural gas, which has replaced some of the need for foreign oil.

With the decrease of oil prices from Saudi Arabia and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), it is predicted that the demand for natural gas will decrease.

“[Natural gas] has not completely removed oil from our economy, but our imports of foreign oil have gone down. Natural gas is a more reliable domestic energy source for us,” said Mr. John Sammler, Science.

Natural gas also burns cleaner than oil, meaning that it doesn’t emit as many greenhouse gases when burned. Since gas prices are lower, people have been driving more frequently, emitting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

“The environment loves a high gas price. The price of gasoline does not include the environmental cost,” Sammler said. “If we added the price of money needed to clean up potential oil spills, or the money needed to drill and then reclaim the land, the price would go up and in theory people would be more conservative with their use.”

Pros

Fracking

Reading Supply and Demand Graphs The black lines represent balanced supply and demand. The red lines represent what happens when there is a change in either supply or demand.

85% Water Contamination 40% Energy 60% Production Environmental Damage

price

$

Economics:

Cons

Low Gas Prices

Easy Access to Oil

National Gas Prices in 2014

Cost of driving to Chicago from Hopkins

2013: $48.65 in a Honda CR-V (gas was $3.18)

2014: $30.45 in a Honda CR-V

Health Issues

$

MN Gas Tax 2009-2010: 28 cents 2011-2014: 27 cents

Transit use up 37% in 2013

(gas is $1.99 as of 1/26/15)

OPEC Facts Produces 40% of the world supply of oil 1.206 billion barrels of oil produced in 2013

SUV sales up 20% Truck sales up 17% Toyota hybrid sales down 11.4%

Information from AAA.com, MN Revenue, USA Today

s

s p

p

Spending/ Dependence on Foreign Oil

Current Situation Supply and Demand:

e

e d q

d

quantity

Currently, demand for oil is low because people are buying fuel-efficient vehicles.

The supply for oil is growing because of fracking, which makes supply increase. The combination of low demand and high supply makes the price of oil extremely low.

Backpage by: Hillary Donovan, Sports Editor and Isabella Weisman, Infographic Editor