T-Bird
THE
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History of Skyline gets celebrated
Corbin Keeling..........................copy editor Skyline Schools were able to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the school on April 28. The Skyline Foundation had been planning this event for over two years in a two part event. The history of Skyline Schools began in a rough patch as it was first shot down by the community because they did not want to consolidate schools from surrounding towns. To get in favor of the public opinion, the original Board of Education, formed by Charles H. Cooper, Bob L. Moore, Billy Kenworthy, Lothair Dauner, Jess F. Stratford. and Clarence F. Newby, went out to each of the different towns and talked personally with the people about the idea of forming a Unified School District. Skyline was named after the Skyline League that the previous schools participated in. Picking the school colors was a difficult job because they didn’t want to use colors from any of the previous schools so that they could keep everyone happy. The previous schools consisted of the Byers Hornets, Coats Bulldogs, Cullison Owls and the Sawyer Eagles. The Hornets were black and orange, the Bulldogs were royal blue and white, the Owls were black and red and the Eagles were yellow and purple. The mascot and school colors, the Thunderbirds and columbia blue and white, both came from an Air Force precision flying team. The first part of the celebration consisted of a goal to raise $50,000 dollars for the school and according to superintendent Becca Flowers that goal was well surpassed. The second part of the event was the actual celebration that took place at the school. At first they expected 250 people to reserve a spot, but that number eventually grew to over 500 people. “The purpose of the celebration is to honor all previous graduates and really anyone that helped this school over the years,” Flowers said. see celebration pg. 3
Juniors Kara Bower and Silvano Casas, senior Courtney Gamble, freshman Kyrian Keeling and sophomore Harley Tucker hand out envelopes to alumni guests coming into the building ready to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the school. photo by Sharity Adams
Journalism receives State placings STUDENT...................................... STATE PLACING....................................................... EVENT Ryan Adams................................................. 1st Place......................................................... News Writing Madison Tyler............................................. 2nd Place...................................................... Cutline Writing Ethan Haskett............................................. 2nd Place................................................ News Page Design Ryan Adams................................................ 2nd Place....................................................... Sports Writing Steve Fisher.................................................. 3rd Place............................................................. Advertising Hallee Burgardt........................................... 3rd Place...................................... Yearbook Sports Writing Abigail Ailstock........................................... Hon Men..................................................... Cutline Writing Ryan Adams................................................ Hon Men................................ Headline Writing & Design Jesus Marquez............................................. Hon Men............................................. Sports Photography Jacob Swisher............................................. Hon Men................................... Student Life Photography Abigail Ailstock........................................... Hon Men....................................... Yearbook Copy Writing Regional qualifiers included Sydney Graber, Corbin Keeling, Michelle Ramirez, Kayla Urban, Bryson Fletcher, Sherley Pedroza-Chavez, Kamron Welsch, Julianne Bates, Caleb Reece, Ethan Haskett.
Skyline High School Volume 42 Issue 7 May 11, 2018
Career Day opening doors Bryson Fletcher staff reporter
Students got the opportunity to hear about different careers during the Career Day held on April 27. There were 12 presenters and the students listened to three of the 12, then attended a question and answer session. The presenters covered finance, entrepreneurship, automotive, web developing, welding, teaching and more. Students chose to listen in on
careers that they were most interested in. “It was a fun experience,” freshman Yahelin Corona said. “I got to learn and got inspired by the different careers.” Each student got to choose the presenter that they wanted to see and learn about that person’s career. “Listening to all the speakers talk about their experience gave me a better view on what I want in my future,” Corona said. Each presenter that was
at the school said that they started with one certain job and they ended up having another job. “Even though not all the jobs interested me, I got to learn something new about each career. I learned that you can start out with a certain career and end with a completely different one,” Corona said. Ten of the presenters were Skyline alumni. Many of them attended the 50th Anniversary the next day.
Musicians perform at state competition Junior Abby Ailstock
Junior Kayla Flora
Sophomore Brenna Dolezal
Freshman Josiah Giles
Senior Jade Downs
Sophomore Kailey Hamm
Sophomore Corey Crouch
Senior Carson Lee
2 rating on choir solo
2 rating on choir solo
1 rating on choir solo
1 rating on flute solo
Trumpet ensemble got a 1 rating
Hallee Burgardt, Keagan Davidson, Eliazar Carrasco, Cassidy Corbet, Adison Hampton, Kaylee Harbour, Katelynn McGraw, Joshua Nelson, Thomas Sturgeon, Riley Washington.
Page 2 News May 11, 2018
1 rating on trombone solo
2 rating on trombone solo
1 rating on baritone solo
1 rating on timpani solo 2 rating on snare
Trombone ensemble got a 1 rating Kayla Flora, Colton Gaton, Josiah Giles, Tanner MaGee, Kenleigh Nation, T’Lane Tobin, Mark Schmidt.
The T-Bird Times is an open forum for student expression. The mission of the T-Bird Times editorial page is to engage all students and patrons in a search for democratic solutions. The T-Bird Times’ editorial voice, expressed in the form of editorials, columns and articles, is a part of that search, but only one part. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of other students, the adviser, faculty, administrators or the Board of Education of this district. The T-Bird Times, a member of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, is published by the 21st Century Journalism class at Skyline High School, 20269 W. Hwy. 54, Pratt, Kan., 67124. The T-Bird Times is printed in-house and distributed to high school students and staff. The pages can also be found online at www.tbirdtimes. com. The T-Bird Times will strive to live up to the highest standards of professional journalism. The T-Bird Times endorses the First Amendment of the Constitution and will not publish material that could cause disorderly conduct or invade the rights of others. Any material that is not original will be given full credit, and The T-Bird Times will acknowledge any mistakes by correcting any errors that are brought to the attention of the staff. The staff welcomes letters to the editor from patrons and students. Letters to the editor must be signed and the staff reserves the right to edit letters for libel and grammar.
Editors Copy.......... Corbin Keeling Design...... Hallee Burgardt Staff Members Reporter........ Ryan Adams Reporter... Bryson Fletcher Adviser..........Judy Hampel
OUR FUTURE PLANS
Seth Bower: I plan to live in Pratt and continue working for Pratt Feeders.
Dylan Brown: Go to college so I can learn to weld in the future. Justin Brown: Continue
working at Walmart, then transfer to Butler Community College.
Hallee Burgardt: Play
volleyball at Pratt Community College for a year, then transfer to Kansas State University and earn my master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Daylen Chadd: Join the workforce at Chadd Farms and run a welding business on the side.
Logan Clifton: Straight to working, most likely moving to Ohio to work in the family excavating business.
Corbin Keeling: Continue my education at Baker University and major in either Psychology or Sociology.
Jade Downs: Be involved in Encore at Pratt Community College for two years, then transfer to sing at a University and major in Musical Performance.
Sydney Koirth: Attend
Courtney Gamble: Study Chemistry at Pratt Community College for two years, then transfer to the University of Kansas to study to be a pharmacist. Cooper Gates: Major in Bakery Science Management at Kansas State University. Mason Jones: Take classes
at Pratt Community College for two years.
Fort Hays State University and major in Medical Diagnostic Imaging.
Carson Lee: Studying Pre-Med at the University of Notre Dame, then go to Medical School to become a doctor. Joshua Nelson: I plan to
come back to Pratt after college with a degree in Criminal Justice and work for the Pratt County Sheriff department.
Brittaney Smith: Take
General Education courses at Pratt Community College and then transfer to a University to study nursing.
Tyler Tobin: Attend Pratt
Community College for a year and then transfer to Kansas State University and major in Agronomy and Computer Science.
Madison Tyler: Major in Medical Imaging at Washburn University. William Wiltshire: Study at Pratt Community College for two years to earn a nursing degree.
Francisco Palacios: I plan
to serve in the Army.
CLASS OF 2018 “THE BEST IS YET TO COME.”
May 11, 2018 Feature Page 3
Seth Alan Bower
Dylan Dace Brown
Justin Ellis Brown
Logan Michael Clifton
Jade Alan Downs
Courtney Rachelle Gamble
Corbin Pierson Keeling
Sydney Jo Koirth
Carson Hunter Lee
Brittaney Nicole Smith
Tyler James Tobin
Madison Rhae Tyler
Page 4 Feature May 11, 2018
Hallee Addison Burgardt
Daylen Andrew Chadd
Cooper Lee Gates
Mason Andrew Jones
Class Colors Lavender and Champagne Class Flower Blue Passion Flower
Joshua Loren Nelson
Francisco Javier Palacios
Class Motto “You will never influence the world trying to be like it.” -Anonymous
William James Wiltshire
Seniors 2018 Page 5
Track team improves at large meet Ryan Adams staff reporter
The track team had their biggest meet of the regular season last week at Jetmore in Hodgeman County. The meet included nearly a dozen of the teams that the T-Birds will face this year at Regionals and included 20 teams total. The boys placed fifth at the meet with 46.5 points and the girls placed 14th overall with 18 points. Multiple athletes got new personal bests at this meet with a lot of competition which included some events having more than 55 competitors. The girls’ individual events were led by seniors Madison
Tyler and Sydney Koirth. Tyler earned gold in the triple jump and Koirth got fifth in shot put. The rest of the Lady T-Birds’ points came from relays. The 4x100, consisting of Tyler, Koirth, junior Kayley Cook and sophomore Katelynn McGraw got fourth. The 4x400 consisting of Tyler, junior Kayla Flora, and sophomores Hayley and Heidi Roberts placed seventh, and the 4x800 consisting of the same runners placed fifth. “This was a really great meet to see all the improvements everyone has made throughout the season,” Tyler said. “It was really exciting because multiple people got new personal bests.”
Sophomore Mark Schmidt Q: What are your goals for this year? A: My goals are to get my 800m under two minutes, get on the record board for the 4x100 and for the 4x800 to go to State. Q: How long have you been in track? A: I’ve done track since seventh grade. Q: What events do you compete in? A: I’m in the 4x100, 4x400, 4x800 and high jump. Q: Who pushes you the hardest in practices and at meets? A: Jackson, Sam, Cade, Colby and Erik push me the most because we’re all so competitive.
Page 6 Sports May 11, 2018
The boys started the day off well in the field events with freshman Eliazar Carrasco placing second in the long jump, junior Zack Urban earning fifth in shot put, and senior Carson Lee placing sixth in javelin. Distance races were also a strong part of the day with sophomore Ryan Adams earning silver in the 800m, and freshman Jackson Wallace placing third in both the 1600m and the 3200m. The relays placed well for the boys with the 4x800 consisting of Adams, Wallace, junior Colby Shriver and sophomore Mark Schmidt placing second, and the 4x100 consisting of Schmidt, Carrasco, junior
Cade Swonger and sophomore Sam Fisher placing fifth. Swonger and Fisher also placed later in the meet with a fourth place finish in the 200m and fifth in the 300m high hurdles. “I liked the competition at the Hodgeman meet,” Fisher said. “It was really cool to see where I am compared to multiple other Regional teams.” The T-Birds traveled to Burrton for the Heart of the Plains League meet yesterday and will travel to Spearville for Regionals next week where many athletes have high hopes of placing high enough to make it to the state meet in Wichita on the 25th and 26th of May.
Sophomore Brenna Dolezal
Q: What events do you compete in? A: I am in the 100HH, triple jump and the 200m. Q: How long have you been in track? A: I did track in middle school and decided to do it again this year. Q: What is your favorite event this year? A: My favorite event is the 200m because I like sprinting. Q: Who pushes you the hardest in practices and at meets? A: The teammates that push me the most are Katelynn, Riley and Mark. Q: What are your main goals for this season? A: To get faster for future seasons.
TEACHER
F THE YEAR
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Ryan Adams......................... staff reporter
The teacher of the year for the 2018-2019 school year is band and choir teacher, and assistant track coach, Bob Lee. He has taught band here for six years and choir for three years. Lee has brought home multiple awards and plaques with each group. This is his first year as a track coach. “I grew up with a band director as a father,” Lee said. “Watching him through his journey as an educator really helped inspire me to do the same thing.” This year has been a very busy one for Lee because not only did he take both of his groups to all the regularly scheduled competitions, but he also took both the band and the choir to perform at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot in Orlando, Florida over Winter Break. He also takes the band to march at the state fair every year and took the choir to Newman University to perform earlier this year. “I love interacting with the students and I get to interact with them on so many different levels,” Lee said. “Just having them in the classroom and getting to know them, the opportunities to interact with them outside the classroom like traveling to Disney World or to League or State music festival is always fun. And lastly, the interaction that takes place when we work on and perform the music. There is a connection there that is like no other.” Lee has also taken the position of throwers coach on the track team. He says that he took the position in order to work with students outside of the music room so that they could see a different side of him. “Coach Lee has massively helped improve my javelin throwing ability,” sophomore Colton Gatton said. “He works with all the throwers and makes sure everyone gets the help they need.”
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4 1. Accepting the 2018 Teacher of the Year award is Bob Lee. This was Lee’s sixth year teaching at Skyline. 2. Lee helps junior Sydney Graber get ready to perform at the state fair. He has taken the band to march every year that he has taught here. 3. Lee introduces the choir at their performance earlier this week. This was Lee’s third year directing choir. 4. Rocking his shades and leading the way for the band is Lee at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. This was the second time he took the band on a trip to Florida and the first time he took the choir.
May 11, 2018 Feature Page 7
Celebrating 50 years of excellence
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2 celebration from pg. 1 Lisa Befort kicked off the event with Dr. Justin Moore who was the emcee for the night. All previous alumni and staff members were invited to attend the event. The celebration consisted of school tours, a silent auction followed by a live auction, dinner, band with alumni and a presentation on the history of the school. The celebration was continued at the Elks Lodge after the school portion of the event.
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1. The band was joined by past graduates who played in band during their high school careers. 2. The FCCLA was in charge of handing out packets and t-shirts as the guests walked in. They also helped serve during the dinner of the celebration.
3. Alumni gathered together to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” for the crowd of people.
4. A silent auction was held for alumni to bid on special items donated by patrons. This was the first auction of the night. The live auction was held later that night. 5. The dinner for the event was catered by Sam Sterling. It was set up in a buffet style of meal.
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