The Newtonian, Issue 2 - December 2019

THE NEWTONIAN NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT MAGAZINE Series 97 | Issue 2 | December 2019

Page 8-9 Health coordinators respond to rising STD, STI rates Photo by Addie Lindenmeyer

TABLE OF CONTENTS News Community Elects new Board of Education members

4-5

RAILINers to host home dance competition

6-7

Health Coordinators respond to rising STD, STI rates

8-9

Opinions School should start later for student benefit

10-11

Animals make poor testing models

12-13

Parents should allow children to make mistakes

14-15

Features Bruey expresses entertainment passion Ekerberg participates in arm wrestling competitions Pierce volunteers at newton carriage factory

Arts & Culture

16-17 18 20-21

10 things to do during holiday season

22

newtonian Staff 2019 top songs playlist

23

Students choose best, worst school lunches

24-25

Sports Team rules differ between state, school, team

26-27

Student-athletes Identify role models

28-29

Photo Essay Quarter in Review

2 | STAFF | DECEMBER 2019

30-31

2.

1.

3.

STAFF INFORMATION

5.

4.

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!

1. Page 16-17 2. Page 30-31 3. Page 20-21 4. Page 6-7 5. Page 24-25

Adviser Robin Montano @robinmontano7

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

STAFF

| DECEMBER 2019 | 3

School district under remodel New Superintendent Top Priority For New BOE Libby Crawford Reporter @LibbyCrawford9

T

he school district is undergoing various changes, including newly elected Board of Education (BOE) members and the retirement of superintendent Dr. Deborah Hamm.

On Nov. 5, Matt Treaster, Mallory Morton, Luke Edwards and Melissa Schreiber were elected to the board. Treaster had the highest amount of votes with 2,474, Morton following with 2,315, Edwards with 2,098 and Schreiber with 2,062.

“I feel a strong sense of responsibility knowing that I have been trusted by over 2200 voters to make decisions on behalf of our students, teachers, administrators and the community as a whole,” Edwards said.

Just as their campaigns suggested, board members are looking to make changes in the district for the better of community members and students alike.

“The most important thing I campaigned on was to put kids first. I believe if we make our decisions with that in mind, then that will result with what is best for our district,” Treaster said.

Along with Treaster and his hope to put the kids first, Edwards has similar ideals and wants to be able to make changes to the school district that will help to prepare students for the future and ensure that they are receiving the best education possible. He wants to be able to show the state how great the USD 373 district is, starting with raising state testing scores.

“Some of the most talented musicians and artists I’ve ever seen or heard come from Newton. We might not have the money rolling in like some schools, but I guarantee we’ve got just as much talent, if not more,” Edwards said. “I am proud of the fact that our teachers aren’t just “teaching to the test” when it comes to state assessments, but I would love to see our scores look a little better.”

While improving the school district is important to board members, their first duty as a new board will be

4 | NEWS |

DECEMBER 2019

finding the best fit for the next superintendent.

“My main focus right now is going to be giving time and effort into identifying the best candidate for the soon to be vacant superintendent position and making sure that we utilize the input of our community to help us,” Edwards said. “There are many things that need to be accomplished and having a superintendent who supports those initiatives is going to be crucial to seeing them through.”

There are high expectations for anyone in a position that represents the school district and makes decisions within it. Hamm said she thinks that to be a superintendent is being able to love who you work with and be passionate about your job.

“We need someone who wants to be involved, has a background in education, and possibly experiences in a district of around the same size as Newton. Someone who has had successes as a superintendent, or as a building,” Hamm said. “Someone who is good at building relationships, and can move the district forward.”

The hiring of the superintendent position, like any, will take time and meticulous attention to detail. When the applications are received, ranging from 20 to 40 candidates, the new BOE members will narrow the amount down to five.

“The people that they interview [the five remaining candidates] will get a tour of the facility and get to see all the schools that we have in the area,” Treaster said.

“They will then get told what our needs and wants are. If they are wanted for the job they will get an offer thrown at them and will either say yes or no.”

There is no specific date in which the superintendent position must be filled, however, the target month is March. With expectations in mind, BOE members hope to find the person that will suit the position and will help the district in the right direction.

“My advice would be value the people that you have the opportunity to work with. I’ve had the opportunity to work with great teaching staff, and administrative staff here in the district office and community members,” Hamm said.

Elected Board members Goals:

• Put the students first • Hire a new superintendent

Goals:

Matt Treaster

• Strengthen faith and trust throughout the school board for the benefit of the students, staff and parents

Mallory Morton

Goals

:

• Provide more training for teachers • Make improvements to schools in the district • Reconstruct a new bond

Goals:

• Strengthen ties with the board, students, parents and faculty members • Help schools in the district to achieve academic goals

Luke Edwards

Melissa Schreiber

Photo Courtesy

NEWS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 5

JUST DANCE

Railiners to host dance competition

Ellen Miller Garrett Online Editor @ellsmgarrett

S

tudents of all grades and interests are brought together by high school athletic events. Whether that be a home cross country meet or an away basketball game.

On Saturday Feb. 15, 2020, there will be a new event to bring spectators and students together: a dance team competition. The Railiner home performances will no longer be limited to before games or during half time.

The planning for this event began last winter when Railiner coach Amy Pollard judged at a similar competition.

It was solidified during the summer and now only requires minor planning. Most details, like judges, are the responsibility of a company called ‘Innovative’, but the team is still very involved.

“Right now we’re working on what rooms we get for different teams to be in. Who’s gonna sell concessions and vendors,” Pollard said.

While the team participates in performances throughout the state, they are labeled as showcases, not competitions.

“We participate at North High which is just like a showcase and then we also go to Rally in the Valley. We get awards but it’s not really a competition like this is,” senior Emily Brandt said.

Photo Courtesy

6 | NEWS | DECEMBER 2019

However, even this event is not technically a competition. There are rules in Kansas that prevent ranked competitions from happening in dance. This forces teams to travel outside of the state for more chances to perform and claim accolades, Pollard hopes to change this.

“There is nothing like this is in this area. If a dance team wants to go to a competition they have to travel.

It’s really nice to have one that is local,” Pollard said.

“You can’t compete in Kansas. Technically we just get adjudicated, we can’t get ranked. So if there is a ‘competition’ like this in Kansas, it’s not ranked.”

There is nothing like this in this area. It’s really nice to have one that is local.

- coach Amy Pollard

The event will include group dances as well as duets and solos. They are currently unsure of how many schools will attend. Many of the Railiners have competed in competitions through their personal dance companies such as Newton Performing Arts Center (NPAC). But students who do not dance in companies or dance with groups like Bethel College Academy of Performing Arts (BCAPA), will be exposed to this format for the first time.

“It’s going to be a great new experience for all of us, especially people on the team who haven’t been to a competition,” senior Chandlor Buffalo said.

This event aims to be something new and local for all teams involved, as well as having other, more personal impacts for the team. They also plan to raise money from the competition by having fees for entering.

“It’s a great way to get us in with other schools and it helps us raise money,” senior Meya Green said.

Photo Courtesy

NEWS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 7

(Un)safe Sex Health coordinators respond to rising STD,STI rates Elly Green Reporter @EllyGreen16

A

h, unprotected sex: the cause of pregnancies in young adults and teenagers. Most importantly, it is the cause of the rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to abc7ny.com, rates for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis have risen dramatically in the past couple of years, and teenagers are to blame, says dailywire.com.

The use of condoms is rapidly decreasing. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a study ending in 2015 stated that men from the age of 15-44 only use condoms 33.7 percent of the time they have sex. The use of condoms with the women interviewed comes in at a staggering 23.8 percent.

Since the 1960s, when safe and affordable birth control was first invented, the majority of people turn to chemical birth control, such as the pill, the implant or IUD to prevent pregnancy. Physical education and health teacher Tony Hein says that along with the deteriorated use of condoms, STDs/STIs are not viewed as a ‘big deal’.

“Up until recently STDs were much less common than pregnancy and there is a myth that all STDs are easily treated,” Hein said.

In sexual education classes at the high school, the curriculum currently being taught is called “Physical Dimensions.” Hein informs students of how to be sexually safe and make good choices. It also teaches what types of protection students should use. Most adults and health professionals highly recommend using condoms, including Toby Harkins, a member of the Harvey County Health Department (HCHD).

“What I want the teenage population to understand is that it [unprotected sex] could have lifelong consequences. It has the potential to create STIs, infertility, cancer, death, illness, financial loss, one time in your teenage years can have lifelong consequences. And, in that, I didn’t even mention teen pregnancy,” Harkins said.

According to the HCHD, the CDC estimates that there are 19 million new cases of STDs each year, half of the cases belonging to teenagers.

It may be hard to believe that STDs/STIs are happening at the school, but according to Hein, the number of STDs at the high school is more than it was 10 years ago. Harkins confirm that the HCHD tests around 100 teenagers for STDs/STIs each year, all in the Harvey County area.

8 | NEWS | DECEMBER 2019

“There are more teenage pregnancies and STI reports than in the last 20 years,” Harkins said. “If they have no financial means to purchase condoms, we will give them out here at the Harvey County Health Department.”

Like many health professionals, to avoid STDs/STIs, Harkins recommends the use of condoms if you are having sex, but abstinence is the only way to guarantee you are being safe. Harkins says that if you fear you have a STD/STI it is important to get tested or talk to a trusted adult.

“STIs are not the end of the world and most can be treated and cured with intervention,” Harkins said. “Hiding them or running away from the responsibility may be easy in the short run but can have long term consequences.”

There is an estimated

20 million

people

in the United States with an STD/STI.

Out of a study of

people living in Harvey County, 4.5% have

reported having an STD/STI.

**according to www.khi.org

Americans from the

ages of 15-24 make

up 27% of the sexually active population.

**according to www.khi.org

1,000

**according to kansashealthmatters.org

**according to www.khi.org

This portion accounts for

50% of the 20 million new STIs reported each year.

NEWS

**according to www.khi.org

| DECEMBER 2019 | 9

It’s never too late...

School day should begin later for student benefit Kati Blaylock Reporter @kati_blaylock

I

n a speech addressing school starting times in 1999, Congress representative Zoe Lofgren said, “Over time, sleep deprivation leads to serious consequences for academic achievement, social behavior and the health and safety of our nation’s youth.” Despite the 20year time difference, this is a problem that is still relevant today. Factors that contribute to this issue include timeconsuming school work and inability to fall asleep until late hours of the night as a result of bad sleep hygiene. In order to change this, school should not start until at least 9 a.m.

If school were to start at 9 a.m., students would feel more well-rested and have a better sleeping schedule.

According to BBC News, teenagers do not start secreting melatonin, which is a hormone that helps control our daily sleep-wake cycles until 11 p.m., which given how early they have to wake up to attend school, only leaves them with roughly six to seven hours of sleep.

In an adolescent, melatonin secretion does not finalize until around 8:30 a.m.

Therefore, teenagers consistently arrive to school in need of sleep. With this much sleep deprivation, the circadian rhythm, also known as the body’s 24-hour timing period, of students is disturbed.

This disruption can eventually lead to obesity, depression, anxiety and the higher chance of abusing drugs or other substances.

With the later start of school, students would be more awake and therefore more alert of the surrounding environment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), the primary cause of death for teenagers, vehicle accidents, would significantly decline if teens were to get more than eight hours of sleep. A total of 27 percent of students are getting more than eight hours of sleep, while 73 percent of teenagers get on average five hours of sleep.

In addition to students getting more hours of sleep, a study in 2014 from the University of Minnesota revealed that the number of absences and tardies would significantly decline if school was postponed for at least 30 minutes. With the decreasing number of tardies and absences, one could assume that there would be a significant climb in test scores due to more student engagement.

After evaluating the effects of the disturbance in the melatonin cycle and the impact they have on students’ mental health and physical health, it is safe to say that we all should be on a mission to better ourselves physically and mentally by starting school at a later time.

10 | OPINIONS | DECEMBER 2019

“I think school should start later because there has been research showing that, at a later time, kids’ brains are more awake. I think this will make more kids focus and get their work done.”

- Junior Samantha Pittman

“I don’t think school should start later. If you start school later then we would have to get out at like four and that would interfere with after-school practices. We would also miss more school if we had to travel away.”

- Sophomore Clayton Smith

“There is a bunch of research about why we should have a late start. I really liked it when we started our school day later.”

- Physical education teacher Tony Hein “I would be okay if school started later, but only if we got out at the same time. [This would mean] that more students will have more time before coming to school.”

- Junior Toria Thaw

“I don’t think school should start later.

I think it’s valuable that we get up earlier and I think, with the way our school day ends at three, if it were to end any later it wouldn’t allow opportunities for students to have jobs or extracurricular activities.”

- Senior Hanna Brown

“[School should start] no later than 9:30 because the science of students’ melatonin hormone cycle is wellestablished. [Starting later would] lessen behavioral referrals, improve chronic absenteeism.”

- English teacher Scott McCloud

OPINIONS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 11

Experimentation

ANIMALS MAKE POOR TESTING MODELS

Ann Pomeroy Reporter @PomeroyAnn

A

12 | OPINIONS | DECEMBER 2019

n estimated 26 million animals- mostly rabbits, mice and rats- are used every year in the United States for scientific and commercial testing.

This is due to the assumption that animals respond the same way as humans when exposed to certain products. However, the differences between animals and humans actually makes animals poor models for human beings.

An example would be the sleeping pill, Thalidomide. According to an early 2019 study by ProCon.org, the pill caused over 10,000 babies to be born with severe deformities. The pill was tested on a variety of pregnant animals and did not result in birth defects prior to the release. Another example would be the Arthritis drug, Vioxx, which according to ProCon.org showed protective effects on the hearts of mice, yet caused more than 27,000 heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths.

However, animal testing has also contributed to many life saving cures and treatments. Cures and treatments such as the discovery of insulin, the hepatitis vaccine, the polio vaccine, and the development of pacemakers and anesthetics. Advances in the understanding of breast cancer, brain injury, leukemia, cystic fibrosis and malaria can also be attributed to animal testing.

On Sept. 10, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that the agency planned to reduce the amount of animal testing by 30 percent by 2025 and eliminate the testing entirely by 2035. EPA plans to invest $4.5 million dollars in four universities to help to develop alternate ways of testing chemicals that do not require animals.

An increasingly popular alternate way of testing chemicals that does not require animals is the use of synthetic livers.

Synthetic livers can predict the liver’s metabolic reactions during an experiment and are also quicker, cheaper and more accurate than animal testing. In a specific trial, synthetic livers provided a level of specificity that previously would have required testing on 1000 rats and 100 dogs. Human cell-based tests and sophisticated computer models also deliver results at less cost and in less time than animal tests.

A 2011 survey found that 67 percent of Americans believe that companies should not test products like cosmetics and dish soap on animals. Additionally 60 percent of Americans are more likely to buy products that have not been tested on animals. A small step we can individually make is cutting down our personal use of products tested on animals and opt for products that have not been tested on animals. Small steps lead to big change.

60,979 dogs were used in animal testing in the United States in 2016.

102,633 hamsters were used in animal testing in the United States in 2016.

50,226 pigs were used in animal testing in the United States in 2016.

**according to ProCon.org

OPINIONS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 13

HO V E R I N G helicopter parents Parents Should Allow Children to Make Mistakes Libby Crawford Reporter @LibbyCrawford9

H

elicopter parents. We have all seen them, perhaps some of us have them.

And just like their name suggests these parents hover over their children like a helicopter over land. Sure, it could be worse having parents who do not care whether or not you will graduate from high school or whether or not you are home safe. Yet, there can be both long-term and short-term consequences when your parents are overly involved.

All parents have different ways of taking control and taking care of their children. When looking at it from the children’s side of the story, they feel controlled and cannot do anything without their parents right there knowing everything that is happening. Helicopter parents need to be able to take a step back and let their children take control of their own lives.

Parents need to be able to both step in and step back when needed. Not every child will need their parents by their side telling them what to do and trying to take control over their life. Every child needs a separate set of rules and boundaries. Helicopter parents take control of their child even when it is not necessary, which will not help their child grow and learn. Some parents can become more involved in dictating their kids about what they can and cannot do rather than being there for them as a support system.

According to Joel L. Young M.D., helicopter parents do not benefit children in any way; they actually cause children to have more anxiety and their emotional and cognitive development could potentially be stunted.

When children are constantly being pressured into thinking or wanting what their parents tell them they want or what they should think, they do not have any way to then think for themselves. Many of the parenting

14 | OPINIONS | DECEMBER 2019

techniques that controlling parents use put their children into risk for having depression along with anxiety. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anxiety and depression from controlling parents effects anywhere from five to ten percent of children.

Despite living with helicopter parents, according to psychologenie.com there are ways children can cope. Communication is a huge part in dealing with controlling parents, speaking calmly and reasonable to make sure they know the side of your story. Knowing that the parents want to control every part of the child’s life, having another source to talk sometimes would be easier than talking to the parents directly. The helicopter parents want everything you do to be approved by them, they want you to please them. Stop trying to please your parents and focus on what you want. A goal from controlling parents is to not see their child fail, in reality, failing is what you learn from. Depending on how severe the control from the parents are the best thing to do is to distance yourself from the situation.

As soon as a teenager walks into high school, they are automatically introduced to things they have never been exposed to before; their social, school and athletic lives change dramatically within the snap of a finger. In high school, you meet so many new people and want to experience new things. Teens need a time in their life to be able to lewwwarn to take ownership of their lives and how they manage things on their own. With a parent hovering over their heads, they will not have time to practice taking ownership before going to college or getting a job.

Growing up comes with being able to make your own decisions and making sure they are the right ones. Before maturing and making hard decisions in life, teenagers should have the chance to make mistakes. Being a helicopter parent in the long run will stop your child from the learning opportunities that life will throw them.

I feel like parents should trust us and let us take risks and have fun every once and awhile.

- Sophomore Kamryn Archibald

If a child hasn’t done anything to lose their parents’ trust, then the parents should not feel the need to helicopter them all the time.

- Sophomore Ben Crawford

You will be out on your own eventually. So by being overprotective, parents aren’t properly preparing you for the future.

- Sophomore Lauren Anton

You have less trust in your parents because it feels like they don’t trust you or want you to make your own decisions.

- Junior Kalie Kosminski

OPINIONS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 15

The

Greatest Showman 16 | FEATURES | DECEMBER OCTOBER 2018 2019

**Photo by Addie Lindenmeyer

Bruey Expresses Entertainment passion Addie Lindenmeyer Editor-In-Chief @addielindy06

B

eginning at an Andover Central little cheer clinic, sophomore Seth Bruey’s first interest in cheerleading came to light. Years later, he would share his love of entertainment with the high school student body and join the cheer team.

“I wanted to do it [cheer] freshman year, but I didn’t know when it was tryouts. So I just did it sophomore after asking people on the team and my friends that are on the team,” Bruey said.

Bruey’s interest in entertainment grew further as a 10-year-old after attending a Cirque du Soleil show with his family. The performance especially ignited an interest in aerial silk dancing, a type of performance in which artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from fabric. From that night stems his dream of joining the circus.

“I just like the atmosphere and how the characters connected to the audience and making people happy and having people forget about their troubles at home,” Seth said.

Following the performance, his sister Hayden Bruey witnessed a change in her brother.

“When saw the first Cirque du Soleil show, he was amazed, and weeks later he would be outside on the swings trying to do tricks. That was about 5 years ago,” Hayden said.

With an enthusiasm towards silk dancing, Seth and his father looked into lessons. Upon finding classes in Wichita, he attends practices every Wednesday at Flow Foundry.

“We [Seth and his classmates] just

kind of work on skills and training and doing things safely,” Seth said.

Not only does Seth attend lessons, but this year in the middle of August, he acquired an aerial silk dancing rig in his very own backyard. This way, Hayden says that she gets a behind-the-scenes look into his passion.

“I see him practicing his tricks and he will be outside for hours on end,” Hayden said. “Not a lot of people see the practice he puts into his activities and how dedicated he is.”

In addition to attending silk dancing lessons, Seth said that cheerleading contributes to artistry he will need for his desired future profession.

“Being flexible and athletic in a way [will be factors in participating in the Circus]. Just doing stuff like tumbling,” Seth said.

As he is only a sophomore, Seth has two more years in high school before he must tackle his future. Similar to his desired future career, his secondary education will differ from that of the average high schooler.

“I think I’m going to go to a school that specializes in aerial silks or acrobatics,” Seth said. “I think there’s a few schools in the United States who kind of like train people for that kind of career.”

In the meantime, Seth’s family members are some of his biggest supporters. Hayden said that the family is incredibly proud of Seth and hopes to see him succeed in what he wants to do.

“I love watching him. I think it’s so cool that he is doing something so different from everybody else,” Hayden said. “And what he is doing is so challenging. It just blows my mind.”

Smiling at the audience, Bruey performs for the school body at the Sept. 27 fall homecoming pep assembly. This was his first year as a part of the cheerleading team. Photo by Shelby Spreier

FEATURES

| DECEMBER 2019 | 17

Junior Creed Ekerberg and his father Mark Ekerberg demonstrate the starting position on their arm wrestling table. Creed and his father have competed in arm wrestling competition around the Midwest since this past summer. Photo Courtesy

Eat, Sleep, Arm Wrestle

Ekerberg Participates in arm wrestling competitions Matt Olson Reporter @MattOlson2021

W

hen spending quality time with a father figure, one might think of going to a football game, or playing catch in the backyard. For junior Creed Ekerberg, his family works differently. Classifying themselves as “extreme hobbyists,” Creed and his father Mark Ekerberg have competed in arm wrestling competitions around the Midwest since this past summer.

“It all started when my dad found out that there was professional arm wrestling,” Creed said. “And then it escalated from there. A week after [discovering arm wrestling] he bought a book, and then a month later he bought a table.”

New hobbies can be discovered when you are least expecting it, whether you are scrolling online, reading an article or attending an event. In Mark’s case, he discovered his passion for arm wrestling at the Kansas State Fair.

“I decided to compete in the arm wrestling tournament at the State Fair in 2018. I had never seen an arm wrestling table before that day,” Mark said. “I lost every match, but learned

18 | FEATURES | DECEMBER 2019

that there is more to it than just strength.”

When they are not doing competitions, Creed and his dad are training for their next event. They do so by doing arm curls, using homemade pulley systems or by practicing arm wrestling on their own.

“We do a month of intense arm wrestling training, but it really doesn’t ever stop. It’s just when it gets closer [to the competition] we work more at the table,” Creed said.

Although arm wrestling has its unique characteristics, the process is very similar to that of wrestling.

“You just weigh in and then you’ll probably be put in the amateur division if you haven’t arm wrestled before,” Creed said. “But you have to have someone else in your weight class, so kind of like wrestling.”

Even though it may not be the most traditional father-son bonding experience, Creed appreciates the time it gives him to spend time with his dad.

“I was never a sporty kid growing up, and I always felt kind of bad because in the movies, you know the dad would throw the ball with his son, but I never really liked throwing around a ball with my dad, so it’s something that we can bond over and that we both enjoy,” Creed said.

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ADS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 19

P A ITH

W R E NTE

U L O V

Sophomore Rylie Pierce poses in front of the Sunflower mural designed by The Newton Mural and Arts Project. Photo by Ann Pomeroy

20 | FEATURES | DECEMBER 2019

N O I ASS

Ann Pomeroy Reporter @PomeroyAnn

H

igh school students volunteer for a variety of reasons such as for the opportunity to try something new, gain experience, build confidence and meet unfamiliar faces.

Sophomore Rylie Pierce can often be found volunteering with her mom at the Newton Carriage Factory Art Gallery.

Pierce’s mom, Traci Flores Suderman, has served on the Board of Directors at the Carriage Factory for over three years and is currently serving as treasurer. Pierce was invited to an opening by her mom and instantly fell in love after attending the event.

“I’ve always had a connection to art because my mom has always been really into art and I like art personally too,” Pierce said. “I enjoy that I can help people, I can spend time with my mom and I can spend time around art.”

The Carriage Factory eventually asked Pierce to volunteer, an offer that she gladly accepted. Due to her love for art, she felt right at home. Pierce enjoys that she can help others while spending quality time with her biggest mentor, her mom, around a thing in which she loves.

“The gallery has given Rylie the opportunity to volunteer her time and gather valuable experience,” Suderman said.

“She gets to help facilitate events, assists instruction for children’s projects and make contacts with members of the community all while being surrounded by wonderful art. It has been a great experience for personal growth and will make an impactful addition to her resume.”

tg r a al c o l h t i w d e v ol v n i CE R E I P

One of the things Pierce enjoys most about the Carriage Factory is the people she meets while volunteering there.

Pierce has met artists from all around the world including famous ones such as Kansas artist Phil Epp. Epp is the man who inspired the clouds and blue sky that soars on the Newton water tower. Unlike Epp, who primarily focuses in painting blue skies and clouds, Pierce likes to paint sunsets and ocean scenes.

“I usually paint with acrylics. I’ve never tried oils, I’ve tried watercolors but I mostly like acrylics,” Pierce said. “I usually draw designs, I mean it really just depends on what I feel like that day.”

Pierce is active in the art department where she took Art Basics as a freshman and is currently enrolled in Ceramics I. Art teacher Patrice Olais said that Pierce is a very hard worker and has very good focus. Olais thinks that volunteering at the Carriage Factory is a very good opportunity and she hopes that one day more of her students will volunteer there.

“Rylie is a hard worker and I’m sure she’s doing a great job at the Carriage Factory,” Olais said. “I think it’s a very good opportunity, especially that she can see professional gallery installations, she can meet artists and can help with doing all the necessary things that go behind the scenes.”

Although Pierce wants to one day work in a medical profession, she said she could never see herself without art in her life. She hopes to one day have a studio in her house to pursue art as a hobby. Pierce has also considered teaching art as a side career.

“I think art helps you emotionally a lot,” Pierce said. “Art can help you go through something. You can always draw what you think or draw something that makes you happy or something where you can go to your happy place.”

Ann o by Phot

roy Pome

y r e l al

On the third level of the Carriage Factory Art Gallery sophomore Rylie Pierce sorts greeting cards designed by Susan Bartel. Photo by Ann Pomeroy

Sophomore Rylie Pierce poses by artwork located outside of the Carriage Factory Art Gallery. Photo by Ann Pomeroy

FEATURES

| DECEMBER 2019 | 21

Winter Wonderlist

10 things to do during holiday break

Where: Wichita Ice Center Cost: Affordable ($5-10 per skater) Website: wichitaicecenter. com

Where: Pine Creek Farm (Newton), Peaceful Pines, LLC (Walton) Cost: Moderate (depending on the purchase of a tree)

Where: Home Cost: Varies (depending on dessert)

Where: Home Cost: Free-affordable Recommended movies: Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Santa Clause series, Home Alone series, The Polar Express

Where: Anywhere Cost: Varies (depending on gift) For: Friends, family, teachers

Where: Local neighborhoods, or Botanica, The Wichita Gardens for a quality experience Cost: Free (neighborhoods)-affordable ($10 adults, $7 members)

Where: Home Cost: Free How: Wear comfy clothes, take a nap

Where: Outside Cost: Free Activities: Go sledding, build a snowman or have a snowball fight

22 | ARTS & CULTURE | DECEMBER 2019

Your Top 2019 This playlist features some of the most popular songs from this year.

Created by: Matt Olson • 15 songs, 0 hr 47 mins

Filter Truth Hurts

Lizzo • Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) Bad Guy

Billie Eilish • WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? Thotiana

Blueface • Famous Cryp If I Can’t Have You

Shawn Mendes • If I Can’t Have You Old Town Road

Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus • 7 EP Sucker

Jonas Brothers • Sucker Circles

Post Malone • Hollywood’s Bleeding Señorita

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello • Señorita HIGHEST IN THE ROOM

Travis Scott • HIGHEST IN THE ROOM Ransom

Lil Tecca - We Love You Tecca Harmony Hall

Vampire Weekend • Father of the Bride 7 Rings

Ariana Grande • thank u, next Nightmare

Halsey • Nightmare a lot

21 Savage • i am > i was No Guidance

Chris Brown (feat. Drake) • Indigo

||

ARTS ARTS && CULTURE CULTURE DECEMBER OCTOBER 2019

2:53 3:14 2:09 3:10 2:37 3:01 3:35 3:10 2:55 2:11 5:08 2:58 3:51 4:48 4:20

| 23

Fan Favorites Students pick best, worst lunch Option Crispitos “You can never go wrong with a crispito. I like it a lot more when it comes with cheese though and not the chili.”

- Freshman Lindsey Warsnack

VS

WINNER: CRISPITOs

“Italian dunkers epitomizes what one looks for in a school lunch. The quantity is great enough to fill one up, and the quality of bread, cheese and marinara sauce is exquisite.”

- Senior Erik Jantz

Italian Dunkers

24 | ARTS & CULTURE | DECEMBER 2019

Honorable Mentions Pizza

Overall statistics

45%

“It’s just more delicious than the other selections.”

- Freshman Morgan McCoy

like crispitos

36%

Chicken Nuggets

like Italian dunkers

“They’re really good. It’s been my favorite for years.“ - Junior Alyssa Lujano

Chicken Fajitas

13.6% do not like little smokies

“They are really different, but they’re really good. It’s just a different flavor.”

- Junior Alaijah Stokes

10%

do not like beef steak

Italian Grilled Cheese

4%

“High quality ingredients and top notch flavor.”

- Senior John Jantzen

like grilled cheese

**according to a survey of 219 students

ARTS & CULTURE

| DECEMBER 2019 | 25

School before sports

Team rules differ between state, school, team Benton Dreasher Content Editor @Benton8017

T

he primary focus of a student is obvious: to utilize their education by acquiring promising grades. However, outside of the classroom, some students might have different priorities, such as sports and other extracurricular activities.

Along with sports come various factors that could alter the time students put forth to their education. Therefore the state of Kansas, school administration and individual team coaches work to ensure that education remains a top priority through policies that outline participation requirements.

There are three tiers of policies students need to follow in order to participate in their chosen extracurricular activity.

The tiers follow a hierarchical structure in which the state level policy is required no matter what.

“Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is the baseline requirement for every statewide extracurricular participants to follow, next the board and I decide the school-wide requirements,” athletic director Brian Becker said. “[These are] rules every extracurricular activity must follow, and then finally, coaches are allowed to choose or amend the policies their team is required to follow [as long as those rules are in compliance with KSHSAA].”

KSHSAA is responsible for making the rules and guidelines for high school level athletics and extracurricular activities in Kansas.

“In order for a student to participate in an extracurricular activity they must be passing all the classes of the semester prior to the activities active season,” Becker said. “KSHSAA requires students to not miss more than two class periods, but we set our standard to not missing any more than 45 minutes of class.”

When it comes to participation eligibility in extracurricular activities, the Life of a Railer code of conduct policy as well as “The Railer Way” policy, enforced by the high school, ensure that students make an attempt to be successful in school and present themselves appropriately.

“We use ‘The Railer Way’ policies that the school district and our athletic director has made for all of our athletes here at Newton High School,” boys basketball head coach Andy Preston said. “The policy pretty much covers attendance, personal conduct and grades.”

Most extracurricular coaches/advisors model their activity-specific policies based off of KSHSAA’s rules, mainly focusing their attention to grades and attendance.

“The rules for swim are just like any other winter sport: keep your grades up, stay in practice and school and make sure to be respectful to coaches during practice,” senior swimmer James Tyrell said.

Whereas most activities follow the very basic guidelines required by the state and school, other activities have more strict requirements, whether that be meeting a high academic standard or following specific requirements within a sport.

“Making weight is the hardest criteria for me to meet,” senior wrestler Trevor Waldrop said. “But it’s not really a policy Edgmon puts in place, it’s just how wrestling works, you need to wrestle the people the exact weight as you, so that’s alright.”

Some students find it very upsetting when they are blocked from participating in the activity they specifically signed up for. However, many students do understand the importance of restricting participation for the sake of academic success.

“I think the policies we have now are good because it makes sure that the student-athletes who actually care about competing, actually do well in school. We are at school after all,” Tyrell said.

Q: What are your team’s rules and expectations?

Senior James Tyrell

Junior Carsen Ebert

“With swimming, I’ve been removed from the team for not having good enough grades, and my overall behavior was lacking.

That’s okay though, it’s how we learn.”

“We pretty much have the basic rules for bowling. Don’t get in trouble, keep good grades. All that general stuff.”

26 | SPORTS | DECEMBER 2019

Basketball Stay out of trouble with teachers, maintain grades, attend all practices.

Bowling Stay out of trouble with teachers, maintain grades, attend all practices.

Wrestling

Swimming

Make weight requirements, Attend all practices unless excused.

Stay out of trouble with teachers, maintain grades, attend all practices, show respect for coaches.

Coach level

Administration level - Be in compliance with the Life of a Railer policy:

- No use of illegal drugs

- No attending of parties

- Represent NHS in a positive light State level (KSHSAA)

- Maintain a passing grade in all classes the semester before the activity starts - Be in good standing with school staff

SPORTS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 27

Winter Sports Inspirations

Student-Athletes identify role models Daniel Gonzalez-Arevalo Reporter @danny_g679

W

hen it comes to playing a sport, athletes can have various reasons for why they first became interested in a sport. Often times, high school athletes follow the guidance of a person or role model, imitating their actions and acquiring similar goals.

For sophomore, Owen Mills the idea of a role model is greater than just looking up to them for a specific sport. Mills believes being source of inspiration in life is also important for a role model.

“He’s just a good role model in life (Richard Mick),” Mills said. “He’s just a good guy that I can look up to for my life

endeavors.”

A role model can range from an older family member to a retired athlete. In sophomore Hayley Loewen’s case, her parents, who used to play basketball, inspired her to participate in the sport as well. The mentality of her mother and father is one reason that she admires them so much.

“They were hard working and never gave up,” Loewen said.

“My dad had a lot of injuries when he was playing, but he kept persevering and coming back again and again.”

Role models can significantly impact the lives of athletes.

Additionally, they can provide inspiration in areas of life separate from sports. Loewen believes a role model can inspire other forms of motivation for a person.

“I think they’re someone to look up to,” Loewen said. “They motivate you to be a better overall person.”

Key

Role Model: Outline in red Student Athlete: Outline in blue

Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball “They really had an influence in getting me involved as a younger child.“

“His jump shot was hand-crafted by the gods themselves.”

28 | SPORTS | DECEMBER 2019

Sophomore Hayley Loewen Tobie Loewen

Richard Mick

Sophomore Owen Mills

Girls Bowling

Boys Bowling “He doesn’t pressure you, but he encourages you to want to do good.”

“He is my rock and can help me get through anything.”

Senior Joey Gile

Keith Woolery

Jamie Brockman

Sophomore Emma Brockman

Railiners

Cheerleading “She helps me be a better flyer for my stunt group.”

“She taught me to be the best I can be.”

Boys Swimming

Sophomore Jodie Masters

Senior Atlanta Lopez

Kylie McCord

Junior Evie Bartley

Wrestling “He’s a nice dude.

He’s always like helping us out and helping me out.”

“Phelps has amazing speed and technique and is fun to watch.”

Junior Avery Dutcher

Senior Grant Treaster

Michael Phelps

Sophomore Kaden Anderson

SPORTS

| DECEMBER 2019 | 29

2.

1.

4.

3.

5.

30 | PHOTO ESSAY | DECEMBER 2019

6.

Quarter in review

7.

1. During an interactive presentation from a music therapist during Experiential Learning Day on Oct. 24, senior Alex Krogmeier throws an instrument. Every student was required to participate in the day and attended a variety of sessions. Photo by Kati Blaylock

2. Freshmen Jiovani Valdivia and Jaylianna Diaz play tug of war during PE I. Students are required to take three semesters of P.E. during high school. Photo

by Linda Shine 3. Senior John Jantzen and assistant soccer coach Robin Montano embrace during senior night for soccer. Senior night for boy’s soccer was Oct. 17, during which three seniors were honored. Photo by Allyson Symonds.

8.

4. Junior Jakob Senn and his parents converse with math teacher Jennifer Horn at Parent-Teacher Conferences on Oct. 15. Horn is the long-term substitute for math teacher Eunice Nickel’s Precalculus and Calculus classes.

Photo by Tony Lemus

5. Juniors Santiago Fernandez and Armando Alvarez section grain into different meals during the Numana Event held on Nov. 21. The event was put together by the Ag Academy and is the second annual event hosted at the high school. Photo by Ben Schmidt

9.

6. While surrounded by fire extinguisher confetti, freshman Arnold Aguilar exits the locker room, ready to celebrate the team’s seniors. Football senior night took place on Oct. 25. Photo by Kati Blaylock

7. Seniors Reagan Moe and Molly Stahl celebrate the senior’s victory in Powderpuff. The games were played on Nov. 8 and did not allow players to tackle one another. “I was pretty much in shock because our class has not won any games before in powderpuff and it was so exciting to have won our first and last time playing,” Moe said. Photo by Linda Shine

8. Grabbing senior Eli Regier, junior Makenzie Glassman sings her lines during the second act of the fall musical “Into the Woods.” The musical was performed for live audiences in the auditorium on Nov. 15, 16 and 17. Photo by Schyler Entz 9. During her last drumline performance for football, senior Lindsey Luinstra smiles in the direction of the student section. Luinstra served as the captain of the drumline. Photo by Kati Blaylock

PHOTO ESSAY

| DECEMBER 2019 | 31

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