The Newtonian, Issue 1 - October 2019

THE NEWTONIAN NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT MAGAZINE Series 97 | Issue 1 | October 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS News Amazon Fires Affect Brazilian exchange students

4-5

Board of Education impacts community

6-7

Effects of vaping apparent in school, community

8-9

Opinions Social media serves as consumerism avenue

10-11

Not all abuse physical

12-13

History of women’s pockets sexist, belitting

14-15

Features Nickel, Quispe expect babies in October Ochoa, McCloud reflect on previous professions Stonehouse spends year in Indonesia

Arts & Culture

16-17 18 20-21

Staff Issue Playlist

22

Student Celebrity Look-Alikes

23

students use Pins, Patches, Sticker s

Sports

24-25

SPorts terms to know

26-27

Dancers, Cheerleaders define themselves athletes

28-29

Photo Essay Quarter in Review

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30-31

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STAFF INFORMATION Editor-in-Chief Addie Lindenmeyer @addielindy06

Reporter Kati Blaylock @kati_blaylock

Reporter Elly Green @EllyGreen16

Online Editor Ellen Miller Garrett @ellsmgarrett

Reporter Matt Olson @MattOlson2021

Reporter Libby Crawford @LibbyCrawford9

Content Editor Benton Dreasher @benton0817

Reporter Ann Pomeroy @PomeroyAnn

Reporter Daniel Gonzalez @danny_g679

Follow @RailerNews on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to follow sports updates, as well as important announcements from the journalism department!

Page 20-21 Page 26-27 Page 28-29 Page 6-7 Page 16-17

Adviser Robin Montano @robinmontano7

Bookmark our website www.RailerNews.org to follow online content, as well as stories printed in this magazine!

STAFF

| OCTOBER 2019 | 3

Homeland Aflame Amazon Fires Affect Brazilian Exchange students

Ann Pomeroy Reporter @PomeroyAnn

T

hroughout August and early September, the media was flooded with concern for the Amazon forest fires. Over 74,000 fires have been reported in the Amazon between January and August. The Amazon fires are believed to have been started by a group of farmers wanting to clear land for the harvesting of crops and raising cattle. The fires, however, got far out of hand.

The high school is hosting two female Brazilian students, seniors Gabriela Senhor and Maria Petita. These seniors live closer in proximity to the fires than anyone else in Newton. Senhor lives near the center of Brazil in Sorriso Mato Grosso, approximately five hours

4 | NEWS | OCTOBER DECEMBER 2019 2018

away from the fires. Petita lives in the southern part of Brazil near the city of Sao Paulo, further away from the fires in the north.

“To me, it is really sad,” Senhor said. “Especially because our president does not care about it.

I think most Brazilians see this happening but not so many things are being done to help.”

The Amazon fires illuminate Brazil’s problems with their current president Jair Bolsonaro.

Senhor and Petita believe that Bolsonaro is not focused on helping the environment and his morals have changed since his election in October 2018.

Bolsonaro was elected with 55.1% of the vote.

“For me it is very sad because I have heard the news and the president is not doing anything to help them,” Petita said. “In Brazil it

is either ‘I hate him’ or ‘I love him,’ but with this problem with the Amazon, I think the people who love him are changing their mind.”

Senhor believes that in many years the Amazon may be able to recover from the fires but help needs to start now. Petita warns that the number one thing we can do to help here in the United States is to not share fake news and fake photos. Both Senhor and Petita convey that it is not always trouble in Brazil but there are good times as well.

“I think that the Brazilians here, me and [Senhor], need to change the vision and show for all the other American people, how Brazil is beautiful,” Petita said. “How Brazil is good, how we have our problems, yes, but it is a beautiful country and the people are amazing. It is our country.”

30,000 sq. kilometers of rain forest burned burning at the Highest Rate Since

2013

1

72,843

2

reported fires This year

80%

increase in deforestation 1. Approximate house of Senhor 2. Approximate house of Petita Fires are placed in relative locations.

**Photo provided by Creative Commons

||

NEWS NEWS DECEMBER OCTOBER 2019 2018

|5

November Elections Board of Education impacts community Daniel Gonzalez-Arevalo Reporter @danny_g679

E

lection day can be full of excitement, nerves and controversy. This is the day where all people who are eligible vote on different issues. While one of the most popular types of elections is the presidential election, many community members believe that the Board Of Education (BOE) elections are just as important.

The BOE has a very important role in the district. They have final say in what occurs in the school and decide on issues concerning the all the schools in the district.

This year, the BOE will also face the task of hiring a new superintendent following the announcement of Dr. Hamm’s retirement.

This affects all students who attend the school in the area and teachers according to history teacher Elizabeth Gunn.

“It could be from the facilities that I teach in, to the current curriculum that I have to teach,” Gunn said. “I mean, some of that is state-driven, but lately, they’ll determine how we teach those things from the state by what the administrators give to them.”

However, by only knowing what the school board does will not do you any good. Senior Eli Blaufuss said when voting you should focus on candidate stances in relation to issues such as the school bond.

“Pay attention to whether or not they support or supported the passage of bond and whether or not they want to continue trying to get a bond passed in the future,” Blaufuss said.

“Because if you want to try and renovate new schools and get a better school district overall, watching out to see who’s supporting bond is a big issue.”

6 | NEWS | OCTOBER 2019

In contrast Gunn believes that people should pay attention to the bigger picture and take time to see which candidate they support the most.

“I feel like sometimes, when we go in there, a lot of times people are voting just for what they’re passionate about without understanding the bigger picture,” Gunn said. “And so I think that’s really important to really take the time to figure out what the candidates’ stances are.”

Being able to have a say in these types of issues also brings up a very important topic, and that is voting.

“That’s your voice, it’s what you get and I think that that’s a huge asset to the American way, that we have the ability to help form our governments,” Gunn said. “I think a lot of people don’t take an active role in that, and I don’t think that that’s right; I think they should because in a lot of countries you don’t have that.”

Everyone has an opinion on these types of situations and for Blaufuss it is important for people to use their right to vote.

“People like to complain about what’s happening in their government, but you know, voter turnout for things like the school boards is pretty low,” Blaufuss said. “So my opinion, you shouldn’t complain unless you have actually done your part.”

One that does not attend the school or has already graduated might wonder, ‘How will this affect me?’. Blaufuss believes having a good school board for the future still remains important.

“They’re not so much going to affect my life, but they’re going to affect the generations that go to Newton after me,” Blaufuss said. “So really, when it comes to my thoughts on the school board, it’s about what’s best for the future and not really what’s best for me.”

Candidate Introductions Main Goals:

Matt Treaster (Attorney)

• Hire new superintendent for the district • Figure out what to do with a third bond campaign

Main Goals: • • Andy Harder (Firefighter)

Main Goals: • • Nathan Dominguez (Student)

Help support students with mental health issues Hopes to inspire young people to speak up on issues and get involved in their community

Main Goals: •

Melissa Schreiber (Banker)

Main Goals: •

Allen Jantz (Bethel College Director of Teacher Education)

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Has no primary issue as to why he is running but has a passion for public education and helping children gain an education to be successful in the future Improve communication and trust between community and the BOE

Mallory Morton (Community Volunteer)

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Strengthen ties with the school board, students, parents, administrators and teachers.

Create policies to give the district clear direction in hopes to achieve academic goals

Main Goals: •

Carmina Frances Suter (School Volunteer)

Main Goals: •

Prioritize the safety of staff and students.

Create a positive work environment for students and staff

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Support struggling students in schools or in our community through partnerships and facility improvement without spending too much Improve the facilities for the district to create greater community investment in schools

Main Goals:

Strengthen the faith and overall trust in the school board for all students, staff and parents

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Luke Edwards (Firefighter)

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Further focus on the community and students and parents feel proud of the district.

Solve problems in the district so students can remain proud of going to NHS

NEWS

| OCTOBER 2019 | 7

21 or

none

Effects of vaping apparent in school, community

Benton Dreasher Content Editor @Benton0817

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aping is a fad that has seen a great increase in notoriety in the last three years as a result of the widespread popularity of JUULs and other vaping devices like the NJOY. Due to the fact that research into the health effects of vaping is not fully developed, more and more people are growing weary of the safety profile of this new trend. On top of the lack of research into vaping, another factor that makes the idea of vaping scary to the public is the recent death of 17 vape users in the United States, two of which occurred in Kansas.

In response to this weariness, the Tobacco 21 (T21) ordinance was passed in Newton on Sept. 24, but will not be implemented until the start of 2020.

The T21 ordinance was proposed to the Newton City Commission by members of STAND, an NHS club comprised of students in Harvey county that promotes healthy decisionmaking in youth and young adults. A crucial member of STAND who was involved in this process was STAND former president junior Eli Reddington. The ordinance was written explicitly to fit the inclination of STAND.

8 | NEWS | OCTOBER 2019

“The T21 ordinance raises the minimum age to 21 to purchase tobacco products. All tobacco products are covered in the ordinance, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes (such as JUUL), cigars, chewing tobacco,” Newton Director of Communications Erin McDaniel said in an announcement regarding the Sept. 24 City Commission meeting.

However, the students and other people under the age of 21 are not the targets of the T21 ordinance. Instead, the ordinance focuses punishing the those that distribute tobacco products and serve to penalize them if any products are to be sold to those under the age of 21.

“The T21 ordinance focuses on retailers and providers, it punishes the retailers who are selling to anyone under the age of 21,” Reddington said. “The youth caught with nicotine won’t get in trouble, the distributor will. We’re trying to cut it off at the source, more or less.”

This ordinance will not have any effect on how the high school deals with nicotine use with students as administration believes the new Life of a Railer policy is sufficient in dealing with those sorts of issues.

“Policy wise, [as a result of the T21 ordinance] NHS isn’t going to make any difference regarding how we handle nicotine. Teenagers will be teenagers,” principal Lisa Moore

said. “The age restriction for alcohol is 21, but students still find a way to drink on the weekends.”

STAND’s intentions and concern for Newton youth is reflected by the rest of the city, as is evident by the overwhelming support STAND saw in their proposition for the ordinance, as well as the lack of opposition they saw.

“We saw a problem in the community so we addressed it, and we got a lot of support from community members, from all across every sector, from religious to business,” Reddington said. “In fact one retailer of tobacco here in town had already raised his stores limit to 21 before the ordinance was even introduced because he agreed with it.”

Despite the rising popularity of e-cigarette use, vaping has not been a major issue at the high school this year. Moore reported that there has only been three incidents of tobacco

related activity at the high school as of October.

“One student athlete got caught with a package of cigarettes and won’t be able to play for the first 20% of his sports season, and there’s been two cases of students caught vaping at school,” Moore said. “I don’t think it’s been a particularly huge issue at NHS so far this year.”

The small amount of opposition STAND saw in their proposal of the T21 ordinance came from some of the friends of the club members; however, the arguments were easily refuted by STAND members.

“The biggest [critical argument of T21] that’s said is that it won’t change anything, but at the same time,” said Reddington. “The matter is if we can help one person not be addicted to nicotine by raising the age limit, then that means we’ve done something right.”

**Photo provided by Creative Commons

Additional information • The minimum legal age (MLA) was set to 18 more than two decades ago when the Congress passed the Synar Amendment.

• There has been no statewide legislation introduced in Kansas, although Newton enacted the T21 ordinance on Sept. 24.

• Penalties for youth who violate a use/ possession (PUP) law typically include a fine. Although, they also may include other penalties including community service, attending mandatory smoking education or cessation programs, or the suspension of a driver’s license or permit.

**according to www.khi.org

Members of STAND, juniors Mallory Seirer and Eli Reddington and sophomores Karly Green and Savannah Hunsucker, present to the city commission on Sept.

24. The T21 ordinance was passed later in the meeting. Photo Courtesy

As of June 2018, approximately 25% of the U.S. population lives in an area with an MLA at age 21, either under state law or local ordinance.

25%

NEWS

**according to www.khi.org

| OCTOBER 2019 | 9

Are you being

brainwashed?

If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval, realize that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own.

- Epictitus

10 | OPINION | OCTOBER 2019

social media serves as avenue for consumerism Benton Dreasher Content Editor @Benton0817

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ou are very likely being brainwashed, having your brain programmed to work in a certain way, seemingly beyond your control, but you do in fact have a say in the matter.

According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, “70% of Americans report going online daily.” If this statistic applies to you, then it is likely you are subject to this mind control through the use of social networking apps and websites such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

These apps are designed to make you addicted to scrolling through your feed and are capable of learning your interests, what you agree and disagree with, as well as the amount of time you spend on social media. If this fact makes you uncomfortable, I urge you to consider the thought of taking yourself out of the equation and deleting your social networking accounts. One should not subject themselves to this brainwashing without being educated of its full extent.

To clarify, social media is not an inherently bad thing, in fact, it is a very powerful tool; never before in human history has being able to connect to the rest of the world been such an accessible feat. In spite of this widely available access to connectivity, the factor that makes social networking a double-edged sword is not in fact social media itself, but rather the algorithmic design behind what is shown on your news feed as well as how the notification system works.

One’s news feed and notifications on social media are determined by an algorithm that through the use of machine learning- which is where a computer does calculations rather than a person- tailors the kind information you see and when you see it.

As a matter of fact, the engineers of the aforementioned algorithms take advantage of human

neurology. The algorithms have been designed in such a way that it takes into account what triggers a dopamine uptake in one’s brain- dopamine is the neurotransmitter responsible for making humans feel satisfied, happy and content. In other words, these algorithms can manipulate an emotional response out of humans, creating something called a feedback loop.

Moreover, much like somebody gambling on a slot machine, one scrolls and scrolls through their news feed on these social networking sites, bent over the knee of these algorithms waiting for some sort of emotional feedback/dopamine uptake. This at its very core is an addiction.

But why is this addiction a bad thing? To quote the ex-vice president of Facebook, Chamath Palihapitiya, “If you feed the beast, that beast will destroy you. If you push back on it, we have a chance to control it and rein it in…” Palihapitiya said. “These short term dopamine feedback loops that we have created are destroying how society works, no civil discourse, no cooperation, misinformation, and mistruth.”

The satisfaction that some people find through posting on social media is nothing more than a facade of popularity, the likes, hearts and thumbs-ups they receive on their posts trigger that dopamine feedback loop, then they feel more empty than before they posted it. In order to satiate that addiction, they then ask themselves what they need to post to relive that facade of popularity once again (hence the name feedback loop).

Greek philosopher Epictetus once said, “If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval, realize that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own.” To elaborate on what this means, one should not put all their stock in other’s opinions of themselves, when all we need is the approval of ourselves. If you no longer want to be controlled by the algorithmic design and the subsequent addiction that corresponds to social media, I strongly urge you to delete your social media accounts. Take yourself out of the equation.

OPINIONS

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Cycle of Abuse: 1. Tension

Tensions increase, breakdown of communication,

Verbal, emotional, and physical abuse occurs. Anger,

Abuser apologizes, gives excuses, blames the victim,

The incident is ‘forgotten’, no abuse is taking place.

victim becomes fearful.

2. Incident

blaming, arguing. Threats. Intimidation.

3. Reconciliation

12 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER 2019

denies the abuse or claims it was not as bad as claimed.

4. Calm

The ‘honeymoon’ phase.

giving validation, support important, necessary Ellen Miller Garrett Online Editor @ellsmgarrett

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o you ever wonder why, even after your physical scars heal, it still feels like they are there?

Emotional abuse both underlies every other form of abuse and stands alone as a recognized form of abuse. A study done

by JAMA Psychiatry asserts that emotional abuse is just as harmful as physical and sexual abuse. These survivors carry their own scars.

While not physical, these scars have lifelong effects on them and often their loved ones.

According to psychologist Joseph Pittman, the fear created by both emotional abuse and the psychological aspects of physical abuse manifest in the development of mental disorders such as anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and depression. Survivors also have higher rates of alcoholism and drug use. Emotional abuse has lifelong and sometimes life-ending effects. According to domesticshelters.org, the suicide rates for abuse survivors are higher than people who have not experienced abuse at a rate of 23% as opposed to the average 3%.

This means that even after the abuse has ended, it will still affect the survivor.

Psychological disorders are not the only thing that emotional abuse survivors develop. According to clinical psychologist Adedotun Ajiboye, this abuse can take form in cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal disorders. These can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke, and ulcers. It can also cause survivors to develop chronic health issues such as eating disorders, obesity, headaches and sleep disorders, according to nurse practitioner Timothy J. Legg.

In order to become or remain healthy, abuse survivors should be physically active, social, be mindful of their diet and make rest a priority.

With all of this said, while signs of physical abuse are often obvious, it is harder to detect the signs of emotional abuse. However, that doesn’t mean that it is any less harmful. Without therapy, survivors often carry their pain with them through their entire lives. Emotional abuse deserves to be recognized as harmful and survivors should be validated.

OPINIONS

| OCTOBER 2019 | 13

Pocket Problems

14 | OPINIONS | OCTOBER 2019

History of women’s pocket sexist, belittling Addie Lindenmeyer Editor-In-Chief @addielindy06

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omen fight for equal pay, reproductive rights and punishment of sexual harassment. These are just three things that contribute to a never-ending list of prejudiced actions against women. Protests surrounding such conflicts result in street rallies of distressed people, social media networks with enraged users and headlines crossing the top of nationwide newspapers.

Yet, affairs encompassing female pockets come in the form of mere complaints that are heard in passing. On the surface, it appears to be a superficial problem. Although, the history of the female pocket is sexist and belittling.

In an article from mic.com, author Rachel Lubitz states that the female pocket originates from the 17th century in the form of a pouch that one would tie around their waist. This way, bulky dresses hid the storage space, maintaining the ever-important concept of femininity. When alternative forms of storage for women, such as the handbag, emerged in the 19th century, female pockets disappeared. Although, women of the 20th century rebelled by wearing pants, contrary to the likes of society and earning back the commodity, using it as a statement. As they entered the workforce, this evolution in attire assisted women in defying gender roles and solidifying the existence of women’s pockets today.

While pockets are more prevalent in women’s clothing in the present, they are still considered scarce in comparison to men’s pockets. Not to mention, even when female attire has pockets, they lack in functionality.

According to www.independent.co.uk, pockets in women’s jeans were 48% smaller and 6.5% narrower than those in men’s jeans. How are women expected to transport items such as their phone and keys when their pockets are nearly half the size of their male counterparts?

As for ideals within the fashion industry, the majority of women could not care less about the way pockets could alter their appearance. Women are expected to exhibit their femininity by wearing form fitting clothing that can not feasibly disguise pockets. In a survey of 89 female students, 76.4% said they value functionality over fashion. Therefore, all fashion guidelines should be word of the past and women should be able to wear clothes that provide useful features.

Women shouldn’t have to make sacrifices to uphold traditional forms of femininity through the lessening of our pocket space. As a unified front, women need to ditch their handbags and fight for functional clothing to the same degree that they fight for the equity of pay and reproductive rights.

“Appearance is something we've been taught is more important rather than functionally.”

Junior Maria Romero Reyes

“Bigger pockets could still be fashionable…”

Junior Katherine Hatch

“[I] find it annoying that the same clothing standards for men are not being upheld for women.”

Freshman Eva Dungan **survey of 89 female students

OPINIONS

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Preparing to pop...

Nickel, Quispe begin School year pregnant Addie Lindenmeyer Editor-In-Chief @addielindy06

“

What To Expect When You’re Expecting” might be a helpful pregnancy manual for those preparing to care for a newborn. But, when it comes to being a student of a pregnant teacher, all information becomes almost completely useless.

When both math teacher Eunice Nickel and art teacher Eden Quispe began the school year seven months pregnant, students were left inexperienced with what to expect while they were expecting.

This was not Nickel’s first experience leading the classroom with a growing bump. Thanks to two prior pregnancies, Nickel felt reasonably prepared for her approaching maternity absence.

“The first time [leaving] was the most daunting, just knowing what kind of plans to leave for the sub and how things would go while I was gone,” Nickel said. “But, in all three cases I have had very qualified people subbing for me. That just puts my mind at ease knowing that my students will be in good hands while I’m gone.”

During her absence, math teacher Jennifer Horn is filling in as a long-

term sub to teach Nickel’s calculus classes. Not only does she have state certifications, but Horn is acclimated to the atmosphere of the high school.

“It is just going to hopefully be a natural fit for her to just be here full-time for a little while while I am gone,” Nickel said. “... Since Mrs. Horn is already here at the high school, it might be a familiar face to them [students]. She also has experience subbing for another teacher that taught Pre-Calculus during this time of year, and so she’s very familiar with the content that she will be teaching.”

Similar to Nickel, art teacher Eden Quispe was previously pregnant with her third child. Although, this was the first time she taught while pregnant. Despite her inexperience with the situation, Quispe prepared for her departure by setting up a long-term sub and planning classroom activities.

“I’ve switched up some projects so I can be there to present them for the kids, and when the sub is here I’m trying to make it a little easier on kids so I give them projects they don’t need as much help for,” Quispe said.

Quispe is two weeks into her maternity leave. In the meantime, substitute Shardae Dickgraff is

16 | FEATURES | OCTOBER 2019 2018

serving as a long-term substitute during Quispe’s absence. Quispe said she has prior experience substituting for art classes. As for days that Dickgraff can not teach, previous art teacher Raymond Olais will step in and return to his former classroom.

Not only have Nickel and Quispe had to manage their school and home lives, but they endured the occasional physical tolls of pregnancy. Both mothers said they experienced the commonality of fatigue, nevertheless serious complications were avoided.

“At this last trimester it was more challenging just because I get out of breath very easily. One time I felt like I was going to pass out because I’m up and awake, up and talking at the same time,” Quispe said. “That’s the worst thing that’s happened, but other than that it was easy. It’s not been that hard.”

Although both women will be spending time with their newborns, Nickel and Quispe said they will miss their students during their absences.

“Adding a new member to the family and having a baby is always an adjustment, so I’m sure it will be tough getting back into the routine,” Nickel said. “But, I love being at school and it will be hard for me to be away from my students.”

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BABY NICKEL

Name: jordan timothy nickel Birth date: october 3 Gender: male

1. In early September, Nickel and her family capture themselves for the arrival of her third child. Nickel currently has two daughters. Photo Courtesy 2. Eight days early, Nickel gives birth to her first son on Oct. 3. The family waited until birth to find out the gender of the baby. Photo Courtesy

BABY QUISPE

Name: Danielle Augustina Quispe Birth date: September 26 Gender: Female

1. On a trip to Colorado, Quispe and her family pose for a picture on the mountain trail. Photo Courtesy

2. Nine days early, Quispe gives birth to her first daughter on Sept. 26 at 5:50 a.m. She now has two sons and a daughter. Photo Courtesy

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FEATURES FEATURES OCTOBER OCTOBER2018 2019

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BACK to the Basics Ochoa, Mccloud reflect on previous professions Elly Green Reporter @EllyGreen16

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Chandler Ochoa (Spanish teacher)

ometimes it is hard to believe teachers had different lives outside of school before they became a teacher. It is even harder to believe that they may have had another career path before coming to a teaching position. Spanish teacher Chandler Ochoa and English teacher Scott McCloud both worked in different environments before switching their paths into a teaching career.

Previous to teaching, Ochoa worked as a reporter for the official newspaper in Derby, The Derby Informer. A day on the job for her would look like researching things going on in the community, meeting people for interviews and writing up stories. Additionally, she was allowed the opportunity to meet influential people in her community, all with the help of her press badge.

“I got to talk with some really cool people and you know when you’re writing stories you don’t talk to the people that aren’t motivated, you talk to people who are changing things and who are really inspiring,” Ochoa said.

Although Ochoa experienced engaging work at her previous job, she had a multitude of reasons for transitioning to teaching. Ochoa said she did not feel ‘fulfilled’ working as a journalist; she wanted to use all of her strengths, not just communication and writing. The teaching opportunity also gave her a reason to use her “passion for speaking Spanish.”

“I feel like with teaching, I can do so

18 | FEATURES | OCTOBER 2019

much with it. And I enjoy that every day is new, there’s no monotony. I never get bored.” Ochoa said.

Another teacher with a prior profession was English teacher Scott McCloud, previously an IT manager of all security products at Koch Industries.

Typically, he would keep hackers out of the networks and conduct employee investigations. McCloud left Koch Industries when he was told that his job was moving into another state.

“They moved my job to Wilmington, Delaware and I was not going to move away from my family,” McCloud said.

McCloud found this job at the high school while teaching at Wichita South as an English teacher, he wanted to teach in Newton so he took the position here instead. McCloud originally wanted to be an English teacher coming out of college.

“I chose that career when I graduated from university in 1985. I didn’t find a teaching position in the university system so I went to work in other fields,” McCloud said.

In addition to working as a teacher, McCloud and his father have a business called ‘Old Timers Clock Repair’, where they repair antique clocks as a form of revenue. Although McCloud said that he definitely misses the money from his previous job, his new job is a lot less stressful compared to his corporate job.

McCloud said the best part of his job is getting to interact with students as they provide a different atmosphere than those at Koch Industries.

“You, the kids. The students. They’re weird and funky, they make me laugh. And they have interesting ideas,” McCloud said.

Scott McCloud (English teacher)

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FEATURES

| OCTOBER 2019 | 19

Home Sweet Home

20 | FEATURES | OCTOBER 2019

Photo Courtesy

Stonehouse spends year in Indonesia Kati Blaylock Reporter @kati_blaylock

T

he words ‘exchange student’ usually paint the picture of diverse people from other countries coming to the United States, but that is not always the case. Senior Zoe Stonehouse spent her junior year studying abroad as an exchange student in Jakarta, Indonesia. After applying through the YES Abroad Organization, Stonehouse received word she got approved into the program.

“Initially, I was selected for Turkey, but Turkey was taken off the list because it was no longer deemed safe,” Stonehouse said. “I was put on alternate status for three days, then I got my acceptance letter to Indonesia and I didn’t want to go. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.”

After arriving in Jakarta, Stonehouse stayed with the host family she matched the best with, based upon her application and attended school there for 10 months.

Unlike in America where students are obligated to take required courses, students in Indonesia have the option of enrolling into pathways, usually a science or social pathway. Stonehouse had the opportunity to be in both of these pathways.

“You can look at the science class here and you can see how advanced it is, but in our chemistry lab there, all of the beakers were broken,“ Stonehouse said. “ It was just really behind, it was just wasn’t updated compared to here.”

Aside from attending school, Stonehouse had the opportunity to travel around Jakarta and the surrounding areas. One of Stonehouse’s memorable moments of her exchange was when her host family took her on a boat tour to the island of Bangka.

“I was the only white person there and they were all very excited, but they thought they would have to speak English with me,” Stonehouse said. “We were on a boat and I was talking to the captain of the boat and I wanted to drive the boat so I just asked in Indonesian. I didn’t think I knew how to ask, but I did it and we had a full conversation.

I still to this day don’t know how I was able to have that conversation, how I understood him. I just wasn’t thinking, and that’s probably one of my favorite days on exchange. It just felt so real and I accomplished it” However, not all experiences were remembered with such fondness. Stonehouse recalls an encounter at the U.S. Embassy where she was presenting about America to fellow Indonesians.

“This lady, she said something to me like, ‘You’ll never be the minority if you are an American.’ I guess that just put it into perspective how powerful America is,” Stonehouse said. “I did feel out of place. In that area of the world, people would just stare at you when you walk into a room. Everyone stares at you all the time, but you just have to learn to live with it. It sucks.”

Coming back to the states, Stonehouse learned how to apply the life lessons she learned while in Indonesia into her everyday life in America.

“I really learned how to look at things from another point of view. Right now, when I’m in America, I see America through an American lens, but when I was over there, I saw America through an Indonesian lens,” Stonehouse said. “I heard a lot of perspectives.. I think that really helped me learn how to see things from other people’s perspectives. That made me more of an understanding person, because I had to live like that and change my thinking for 10 months.”

Stonehouse misses her trip and the people she met, but is excited to share her experiences with her peers. “[The exchange in four words would be] kaleidoscopic, delicious, beautiful, life changing,” Stonehouse said.

Stonehouse poses alongside other Indonesian exchange students on their national trip to Banka.

At the University of Indonesia Fashion Week, Stonehouse poses in front of a mirror with her friends.

With her host family, Stonehouse takes a photo on the last day of school.

With her friend, Stonehouse poses outside of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

FEATURES

| OCTOBER 2019 | 21

22 | ARTS & CULTURE | OCTOBER 2019

Student celebrity look-alikes I think we kind of do but also not. I think that’s just my opinion because, you know, I don’t see myself.

- Sophomore Kayla Wong

ss Actre Lana or

Cond

I think that when I was little I looked like the younger version of Miley Cyrus, but I hear that I look like a lot of people. I guess I kind of just have a basic girl next door face.

I think I do look like him because of the hair, and then my skin complexion...

I sing, but not as good as him. Hopefully one day I can sing like him.

- Senior Meya Green

Singe ss and Actre yrus C Miley

Singer Bruno Mar

s

- Senior Michael Smith

| OCTOBER 2019 | 23 r

ARTS & CULTURE

Pins, Patches, Stickers

sTudents express creativity through embellishments Ann Pomeroy Reporter @PomeroyAnn

W

Photo Courtesy

**Photo provided by Creative Commons

alking down the halls, it is guaranteed that at least one Hydro Flask water bottle covered in stickers or possibly a jean jacket covered in pins and patches will be seen. Pins, patches and stickers are a popularly used tactic of expression by today’s generation. They are usually inexpensive and can be personalized to convey the owner’s personality and interests.

Junior Toria Thaw just recently became interested in stickers and pins. She buys her stickers online and has made her own pins out of plastic that you put in the oven.

Thaw prefers stickers over pins and patches and her favorite spot to put her stickers is her Hydroflask.

“I’ve always liked stickers,” Thaw said. “I don’t like to use them because I don’t want to waste them. You’re able to customize and personalize your possessions in any way you want. I’m not very good at drawing so I use other people’s things that they draw.”

Freshman Eliza Epp also prefers stickers and places them on her

24 | ARTS & CULTURE | OCTOBER 2019

water bottle. Epp places her stickers on her bottle so she can look at it and see all of her stickers and be reminded of all the things she has done.

“I always go to different places and see their pins, patches and mostly stickers and I want to take one to put it on my water bottle so I can remember it,” Epp said. “I prefer stickers because you can put them all together and they’re usually the cheapest and the most places sell stickers over pins or patches.”

Junior Natalie Kuhn has been interested in patches and stickers since middle school. She buys them from stores such as Hot Topic, Spencers, Etsy and Redbubble. Kuhn believes that these items can be used as a type of personalization as well as a conversation starter.

“There’s a certain look that is associated with having jackets that are covered in pins and patches,” Kuhn said. “When I was younger I would go to motorcycle rallies with my dad and I would see all these guys with big leather jackets that have their groups all over them.

Showing what they’re a part of and being proud of it.”

One that comes to my mind specifically is on one of my water bottles is Spider Man. It's quite a large sticker and it has Peter Parker reading a book but he has the webbing and it's hung like upside down. The way I layered it with other stickers I made it look like he was hanging from another one, - Junior Natalie Kuhn

Photo Courtesy

I got the horses in the back. It's on my water bottle because I like that song and I think it's funny, - Junior Toria Thaw

Courtesy Eliza Epp

Photo by Addie Lindenmeyer

Photo Courtesy

My favorite pin is a sunflower because one of my best friends gave it to me and a bunch of my other friends, -Freshman Eliza Epp ARTS & CULTURE

| OCTOBER 2019 | 25

Libby Crawford Reporter @LibbyCrawford9

SP RTS TERMS T KN W

Baseball- Bunt: When a batter holds the baseball bat out and tries to tap the ball.

Basketball- Free Throw: Generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team. The player shoots the basketball behind the free throw line.

Bowling- Foul: When you cross the foul line during the bowl.

Cheerleading- Prep: The flyer has both feet in the base’s hands which are then at shoulder level. Prep is used in various other stunts.

Cross Country- PR: Personal Record.

Dance- Layout: An extension of one leg while the body is leaned back away from the kick and arms are extended backwards. The torso is also parallel to the ground.

Football- Sack: When a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage.

Golf- Par: The score the player is expected to make on a hole. Either a three, four or five.

26 | SPORTS | OCTOBER 2019

Gymnastics- Kip: Movement from a position below the equipment to a position above, usually on the uneven bars, parallel bars or high bars.

Soccer- Hat Trick: When the same person scores three goals in a single game.

Softball- Bent Leg Slide: A sliding into a base technique in which the bottom leg is flexed under the top leg which extends to the base.

Swimming- Start: A dive off the starting block that begins the race.

Tennis- Serve: The swing that puts the match into play.

Track- High Jump: Competitors jump over a bar that is raised until only one competitor can jump over it without dislodging it.

Volleyball- Spike: A strategy used to send the ball over the net to where it is not returnable.

Wrestling- Take down: Two points.

SPORTS

| OCTOBER 2019 | 27

In preparation for the homecoming football game, the Railiners performed at the pep assembly on Sept 27, 2019. They performed to “On the Floor� by Jennifer Lopez. Photo by Shelby Spreier

What makes an

28 | SPORTS | OCTOBER 2019

?

Cheerleaders perform their fall fest routine at the first pep assembly of the year. The pep assembly was held on Sept 6, 2019 in Ravenscroft Gym. Photo by Allyson Symonds

Dancers, cheerleaders Define themselves as athletes Matt Olson Reporter @MattOlson2021

“

[Being an athlete means] having goals and achieving them, and always wanting to do the best that you can and never giving up,” Railiner Sierra Wedel said.

When thinking of athletes, one would typically picture a buff football player. However, they are not the only athletes on the field. Cheerleaders and dancers at the high school often feel under-appreciated in comparison to ‘real’ sports such as football or basketball.

“It is not recognized enough as a sport because of all the stereotypes, and what people think it is to be a cheerleader,” junior Kayden Avants said. “They don’t know how much effort we actually put into our sport.”

Contrary to popular belief, dancing and cheerleading both require a considerable amount of hard work and dedication.

Just like any sport, these athletes are also at risk for injuries because of the physical toll it puts on their bodies. “[We are at risk for] literally anything because you are putting your body at risk, whether you’re a base or back spot or a flier, literally anything could happen,” Avants said. “I try to explain to [people] that it’s just about as much physically demanding as any other sport, if not more than those sports.”

Similar to other athletes, dancers and cheerleaders can also experience serious injuries during practices and games that could prevent them from performing.

“Right now I can’t move my arm at all so it affects everything because I can’t do any cheers and I can’t stunt,” cheerleader Acacia Penner said. “We get hurt a lot trying new stunts, and if one thing goes wrong on anyone’s part, the flier can come down and land on someone and hurt multiple people.”

In addition to physical injuries, a sport like dance or cheer can also languish your mental health, which is just as important to take care of when it comes to performance.

“When I didn’t make the team going into my freshman year, it made me want to quit dance,” Wedel said. “I did stop dancing until tryouts came again, and then I made it so I tackled this obstacle.”

Perseverance is a quality that is commonly seen as important to being an athlete. Continuing to work hard through difficult times is what has helped many athletes progress with their athleticism.

“Sometimes it’s really hard because you get down on yourself sometimes and just all of that,” Railiner Chandlor Buffalo said. “But it has taught me to not give up and to keep trying.”

SPORTS

| OCTOBER 2019 | 29

2. 2.

1.

4.

3.

6.

5.

4.

30 | PHOTO ESSAY | OCTOBER 2019

5.

Quarter In Review

7.

8.

9.

1. Looking into the crowd, seniors Jaden Anton and Drake Henrich pose for photos. Homecoming candidates were announced during half-time of the football game on Sept. 27.

Photo by Tony Lemus

2. The varsity volleyball team celebrate together after scoring a point. The team won their game against Independence on Sept. 12. Photo by Jamilid Romero Ortiz 3. Defending the goal, junior Trev Golubski plays against a player on the opposing team. JV boys soccer beat Valley Center 2-0 on Sept. 20. Photo by Allyson Symonds

4. Standing on stage, sophomore Tabitha Buffalo auditions for the fall musical “Into The Woods.� Students had to sing, run through choreography and read from the script. Photo by Jamilid Romero Ortiz 5. After a touch down, senior Austin Wondra and sophomore Kenyon Forest celebrate with a shoulder bump after a play against Campus. The team beat Campus in a double overtime, ending with a score of 27-24. Photo by Kati Blaylock

6. The student section cheers on the football team as they play against Buhler. The theme was neon night. Photo by Kati Blaylock

7. Science teacher Fred Becker holds his Hall of Fame plaque while standing next to family member on Fischer Field. The 2019 Hall of Fame members were recognized during halftime of the first home football game and celebrated with a banquet following the game at Santa Fe. Photo Courtesy 8. With their game faces on, junior Evie Bartley and sophomore Elly Green perform with the Railiners during the pep assembly on Sept. 6. Photo by Kati Blaylock 9. Focusing intently, senior Zadiea Simonsen paints her senior parking spot for the 2019-20 school year. Juniors and seniors reserved their parking space for the whole year and personalized during the summer and the early weeks of school. Photo by Kati Blaylock

PHOTO ESSAY

| OCTOBER 2019 | 31

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