Vo l u m e 5 3 , I s s u e 2 路 N o v 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 路 S . H . R i d e r H i g h S c h o o l 路 4 6 1 1 Cy p r e s s 路 Wi c h i t a Fa l l s, T X 7 6 3 1 0
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riderchronicle
Crafting the Community New club organized after eye-opening experiences Sydney stood behind the door, waiting. Hair tied back with a neat bow, she wore a dress made by her mother. Weeks of preparation have the girls eager with excitement Beyond the doors, several children sit oblivious to the upcoming surprise. Handmade Disney princess dresses adorn juniors Sydney Mayo, Kara Hicks, Natalie Ojeda, Paige Inman and Kaylee Olds as they visit the little girls at Faith Refuge for the Grace Church Fall Outreach project. As the wooden door is pulled open, the little faces brighten with wonder and their jaws drop. For the whole story see page 7
Juniors Kaylee Olds, Paige Inman, Natalie Ojeda, Kara Hicks and Sydney Mayo. Photo contributed by Paige Inman.
Topics of the Issue
The drought p.6
Teens Make a Difference p.7
Wisdom teeth p.4
thestaff | 2
staffeditorial
It’s time to get involved
Spanish club, Drama club, Key Club, Crime Stoppers, Chess Club, Student Council, and Mu Alpha Theta. If you haven’t noticed already, all of these clubs have something in common: they are all extra-curricular activities provided for students. If you aren’t involved in some kind of extra-curricular activity yet, now is the time to get involved. Rider provides many different activities for students to get involved in that are not only good for college resumes, but also bring peers together outside of school. Although we all have busy schedules as high school students, whether it be a sport or fine arts activity, the various clubs can possibly accomodate to your schedule. Clubs take place in the morning before school or in the afternoon after school. No matter what the reason for joining the club, whether it be for service hours, to have a good college resume, or simply because you enjoy that certain club, get involved. These activities are here for you. It is up to you to join. If you are not sure about how to get involved, talk to your counselor. They will be able to guide you in the right direction to find the perfect club for you.
letter from the editors
thestaff
co-editors in chief: emilycarroll & kierstenscott web designer: deweycooper feature editor: shannonpyle news editor: cortneywood news staff: abbeyhood, abbylove, aleksastankovic, alyssamatthews, collinpartridge, courtneylee, kobielunsford, lanemaddox, madelinehill, maddiebox, mirandadarne, raymondmcnally, samanthaharbottle, stevengarcia, sydneymayo
Sorry for the delay
11/14/14
This is the first print edition of The Rider Chronicle. Typically this would be our October Issue, but due to budget constraints and primarily the sale of ads, and lack thereof, we gladly showcase this publication. Our desire as editors and staffers is for you the student body to look at us. For you to see our work. Reading this paper tells us that we have done well. If what we do angers you, if it is not an acturate expression of your voice, then we want to know about it. Let this paper be your voice, or at least turn each page with an open mind and an editor’s heart. If you are not a reader than be a consumer. Consume our graphics or design, and if you do not feel involved then complain. Be the critical consumers that we need you to be. The student body is what will make or break this publication. This is because saying nothing about us tells us everything. And also beacause we know better than almost anyone that each student and each faculty member has a story. Everyone is part of this staff. Mission Statement: Our mission is to be the voice of the student body, and to be aware of the everyday activities that go on at school and to cover those stories without bias, writing the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Letters to the Editor: Given its free forum status, The Rider Chronicle accepts all letters, guest work, artwork, and feedback from its readers. The author’s name must be submitted alongside the work and items containing profanity will not be published. Letter to the editor form available on theriderchronicle.com Audience: Material may not reflect the intended views of the staff, school, or community, but the views of the author and its interest of our audience. Contact Us: Co-Editors: Emily Carroll & Kiersten Scott. Adviser: Mary Beth Lee. Principal: Dee Palmore. Newsroom direct phoneline: 235-1077 ext. 31061. All guest submissions must be brought by room 247 or e-mailed to emilycarroll@theriderchronicle.com or kierstenscott@theriderchronicle.om www.theriderchronicle.com
Key Club Helps MSU with The Fantasy of Lights in October in many ways like... • putting glitter on poles • collecting donations • scaring spiders off the displays The Fantasy of Lights is open on December 1st- 5th
The popular Cinderella exhibt was donated by the Sue, Thomas, and Sadie Thacker family. phtoto by msuburnsfantasyoflights. com
Key Club Unlocking the service potential of Rider students through community service by abbylove Key Club is a student community service organization at Rider that helps with Kiwanis Club in Wichita Falls. The Club benefits the students who participate in it, by teaching them how to be involved in their city. “It’s an avenue for the kids to give back to the community by doing service projects,” Key Club Sponsor Cleveland Wallerich said. “It lets them see other people are out there who are less fortunate then themselves.” Key Club works with Kiwanis in some of the big events like Pancake Festival, The Fantasy of Lights, and more recently Halloween in the Park. Wallerich has sponsored Key Club for 10 years and in the past there have been years with only seven or eight members.
Wallerich says his favorite part is being able to see the students interact with community members. This year there are 33 students involved in Key Club. “We do a lot of community service and jobs around town,” Key Club Secretary Laura Sorge says. Laura says she thinks it’s important for students to step up, be a part of the community and give back as much as we can. Wallerich says he wants people who are interested in being in Key Club to attend at least one meeting and see how they feel about it.
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age 17 senior been in Key Club since her junior year favorite thing about Key Club: “It gives me the opportunity to give back.” favorite cereal is Honey Nut Cheerios Favorite colors are blue, black and purple she “drives a blue 74’ Super Beetle named Vincent.” favorite movies are the Dark Night and the Dark Night Rises
Secretary Laura Sorge • age 17 • senior • been in Key Club since her junior year • favorite thing about Key Club is setting up, working, and cleaning up the Fantasy
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of Lights favorite cereal is Lucky Charms favorite color is blue she is a triplet favorite move is The Notebook favorite song is “anything by Blake Shelton”
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About the Officers
Key Club helps Kiwanis prepare for the annual January Pancake Festival in many ways such as... • running table stations • cleaning • sellingdrinks • helping whereever needed
“I want an active club,” Wallerich said. “Any kid who really wants to be involved is more than welcome.”
President Bailey Gutierrez • • •
Pancake Festival
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Fantasy of Lights
Every eveary the Kiwanis Club attempts to break the world record of largest pancake feed set by the town of Fargo, Noth Dakota with 34,818 pancakes served. photo by http://universitykiwaniswf.org
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I’m sorry
The Wisdom of Pulling Teeth Seniors tell their humorous stories about getting wisdom teeth removed along with their reactions after surgery by aleksastankovic
Researchers say that the average person has four wisdom teeth and about 90 percent of all people will develop at least one. The problem with wisdom teeth is that they don’t have enough space to break through the gums and most people decide to remove them in their teen age. Most of those experiences are both stressing and funny in the same way for some students. Seniors Luke Barker and Garrett Gregg had their wisdom teeth removed this summer at the beginning of August. “The dentist wanted them gone,” Barker said. “I was a little nervous, but I knew it would be okay
because he had done so many surgeries.” Removing of wisdom teeth was not a big deal for Gregg also because, as he said, he really wanted them to be removed before college. “I was calm all the time,” Gregg said. “It’s not a big surgery!” Because of anesthesia, that is a usual method to prevent pain during the process of removal, many of those who remove their wisdom teeth don’t remember what really happened, but they do some silly things and both Barker and Gregg did. “I was loopy while I was out with my friends and I found everything hilarious,” Gregg said. “But they were embarrassed.”
“My friends came over while I was loopy and I began singing very loudly when the doorbell rang,” Barker said. “That made my friends laughs so much.” As Barker said, everything was fine after a month. “But, you should be ready to eat mashed potatoes and milkshakes all the time and not everyone likes that like me,” Barker said. Wisdom teeth removal is routine thing in now day medicine and, although the concerns are normal, dentists say there is nothing to be afraid of.
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Fast Facts
1. Wisdom teeth are actually called third molars. 2. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, an estimated 85% of wisdom teeth will eventually need to be removed. 3. 35% of the population is born without wisdom teeth 4. Usually the first six to eight hours after extraction are the most difficult. Senior Garrett Gregg takes a selfie of post-wisdom teeth surgury.
Senior Luke Barker rests after wisdom teeth removal. Photo provided by Anna Krzewinski.
Student shares anorexia battle online by collinpartridge
www.theriderchronicle.com
“Then my anxiety came back full swing.” “So lately, I’ve been working on finding my identity in Christ.” “I’m still ashamed for occasionally wanting ‘unhealthy’ food.” You can read more of lauren’s blog at www. eatprayrun1997. wordpress.com
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“When I was in the second grade that was the first time someone called me fat.” For senior Lauren Tisdale this begun the downward spiral of the disorder that controlled her diet, and consumed her body. It wasn’t until last April that Lauren was given a name for what she was struggling with. The diagnosis finally gave Lauren a direction to beat her illness. Anorexia. Anorexia is a disorder that two out of 100 teenagers struggle with; this disease causes a fear of weight gain and a distorted view of body size and shape causing extreme measures to be taken such as dieting, fasting, or exercise to an unhealthy degree. For Lauren, this disease meant her daily meals consisted of a fruit cup in the morning and a scoop of peanut butter after a school. Paired with the struggles of properly eating, Lauren also struggled with depression, anxiety and even self-harm. “I couldn’t eat without feeling this guilt,” she said. “And in the darkest part of this illness I was cutting myself, hitting myself, and calling myself bad things.” This didn’t change until a doctor’s visit for an injury she received by simply slipping on ice. That slip turned into an opportunity for Lauren to talk to a professional. “I originally went there for my [injury] but I just started crying,” She said “I told my doctor how I thought I was crazy, and that I was literally killing myself and I needed help.” Getting help has changed everything for Lauren, her family is supportive, she is able to place her trust in God, she can now confide in a counselor, and she has even started a blog where she talks about her struggle of recovering from the illness that once had such a strong grip on her life. “I decided that I wanted it out there,” she said. “If I could just help one person, and let them know that this can be beat and they are not alone out there.” Today Lauren’s life has changed and while she still struggles with this illness it no longer controls her, she controls it. “Everyone has their struggles and demons,” she said. “But eventually those voices will be so minute that I won’t be bothered anymore”.
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The Illness Left Behind
“How do you even burn rice?!”
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Water Wars
Wichita County faces record-setting drought after 5 years of below average rainfall that results in restrictions by madiehill The drought. The dilemma everyone has heard of. The one thing that has impacted the lives of people in the Wichita Falls area, and in the Rider community. Comedian Jimmy Fallon even briefly mentioned it on his nightly television program. If you don’t know about it, you must not live in Texas. Senior Kelise Cunningham’s family has been affected by the drought. Her family had to sell half of their cattle, and move it to a different area. The lack of water made hay hard to come by, which is necessary for feeding. Her family has used remaining water in old water bottles and placed buckets inside their shower to dump on shrubs and other plants, to make sure that these plants get proper care. Senior Breanna Cotner moved from Arkansas, where the area was definitely not in a drought. “There was water on the ground. There was water in the air. It was so humid all the time,” Cotner said. After moving to Texas, Cotner’s family bought a home with a pool. With water restrictions in place, Cotner says they have had to pay extreme amounts of money to import water from other towns. Paying this amount has influenced the income that her family is able to take in. “It’s so strange to come from a place where you can feel the moisture on your skin all the time, to a place where you have to limit the amount of time you spend running the water in your home,” Cotner said. Although she lived in Texas a years ago, we were not under the authority of the water restriction. It has also impacted Rider History Teacher John Pearson. Pearson said his yard contains one pecan tree and several bushes that are struggling to live due to water restrictions. “Authors have been talking for decades now, and water is a dwindling source,” Pearson said.
Lake Wichita has dried up into nothing more than a puddle. It has been declared a dead lake. Photo by Kylie Dougherty
On the topic of well water, Pearson believes that it is only a temporary solution for the problem. He also sees that the water purification system that the city has adopted creates cleaner water than what we were drinking before. “Eventually we will need to find ways to use less water,and much of that will come from the industrial side of it, as well as the agricultural side of it,” Pearson said.
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With an average annual rainfall of 35.65 inches, the state of Texas gets 3.5 less inches of rain than the national average (39.17 inches inches). Wichita Falls has an average rainfall of 28.92 inches over the last 30 years, which is 26% less than the average nationwide, and 6.73 inches less than the average in Texas.
www.theriderchronicle.com
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Room 230
y t i n u m m o C Crafting the New Club Organized After Eye Opening Experiences bycortneywood Paige Inman said that she thinks the people recieving the bracelets will feel special because when Kara Hicks first gave her a bracelet, she thnks about how Hicks “wask thinking about [her] and what [she] liked in mnd while making it.” Each week, the club will have a theme in which the crafts will pertain to. One week, co-founder Kara Hicks will show the members how to make threaded bracelets. The threads thickness and weaving will change the shape and style of each bracelet which adds to the personal individualization: the clubs premise. “The club would give us an outlet to be creative and unique, just like these bracelts,” Inman said. “The club would give us an outlet to be creative and unique, just like these bracelts,” Inman said. photo by cortney wood
(From left to right) Juniors Kaylee Olds, Paige Inman, Natalie Ojeda, Kara Hicks, and Sydney Mayo at the Faith Refuge at the Grace Church Fall Outreach Oct. 11, 2014 photo contributed by paige inman photo illistration by anna krzewinsk
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Sydney stood behind the door, waiting. Hair tied back with a neat bow, she wore a dress made by her mother. Weeks of preparation have the girls eager with excitement Beyond the doors, several children sit oblivious to the upcoming surprise. Handmade Disney princess dresses adorn juniors Sydney Mayo, Kara Hicks, Natalie Ojeda, Paige Inman and Kaylee Olds as they visit the little girls at Faith Refuge for the Grace Church Fall Outreach project. As the wooden door is pulled open, the little faces brighten with wonder and their jaws drop. Moments like this urged Mayo and Hicks to start a Craft Club of their own to help those who “don’t have the freedom to make a club,” Mayo said. “Seeing people struggle through things, especially kids our age and younger, and don’t have the stuff we do, was really eye opening,” she said. “We are trying to get people involved in a way that is easy and fun.” The club couples as a getaway from the stress at school as well as community services projects, co-founder Hicks said. “Most the clubs here are education based like Spanish club and biology club, and that’s a good thing, but I think there needs to be more clubs that have a set time after school and not have to think about school,” she said. Because of the necessary mental break after school, the club benefits the community while “the other half of it is to just have fun,” she said. While the club is underway, students have already taken interest in joining. “[Junior] year has been pretty stressful so far, so I figured it would be something fun to do,” junior Paige Inman said. “I thought it would be something that was kind of relaxing but also semi school related.” Projects the club will do will pertain to theme weeks where the club would collectively participate in a craft. “We’ll do bracelets one week, or painting, and then we can make shirts,” Hicks said. “The threads for bracelets are pretty inexpensive, and I have a whole bucket at home, and we could take turns bringing stuff for each week.” Mayo says each project wouldn’t be difficult, but not insanely easy. “They’re not going to be like children’s crafts like making a sun, that’s ridiculous,” she said. “Crafts don’t have to be expensive; you can make crafts out of anything, DIY things.” The club will be open to all grades and won’t have many requirements. “I don’t think we will make it ‘official’,” Hicks said. “We won’t take attendance and I don’t care for it to be in the yearbook, or for colleges to recognize it, it’s more just like a fun thing that doesn’t need to be serious. If you don’t feel like making a shirt or whatever, you can come and just talk with us.” And because of the relax feel to the club, Mayo said she feels the people will want to join. “I think it will introduce them to all the other fun things at Rider outside of the normal school day,” Mayo said. “It’s a nice way to have fun, but instead of doing something just for yourself, you are doing something for everyone around you.”
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s t i a r t r o P r o i n e on S its
p u Portra r io n e e S s e v a The Clo d Cost Efficient Ways To H Seniors Fin
Photo By: Angel Quevy
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by kierstenscott
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“Can you sit on that tree over there?” Angel Quevy pointed to a mesquite. True to form I took the instructions literally. With my hands laced overhead I placed my traction-less white sneakers on a more horizontal stretch of a branch, trying to look a little bit more comfortable or at least less awkward than I feel. Suddenly my sneaker slides down the bark and my arm reaches out for support. I am still balanced albeit precariously but I impaled my palm on a mesquite thorn. Still the show goes on and I’ve heard beauty is pain so I should get a few good shots. “Oh my gosh,” Angel croons over the prick of blood oozing from my hand. “I don’t think I have any band-aids.” Still we move towards the distance, I swear I hear a cow mooing and Angel shoots me an is-it-just-me-or-is-there-something looks and we laugh just as I spot a mess of shimmering fuzzy webs and we simultaneously turn around. Changing place, pose. Lighting harsh, soft. It’s all almost glamorous considering we are in some form of Texas Wilderness. Next she wants me to peer through some high dry grass. And in my business casual attire borrowed from Angel’s closet I crouch hoping to look as fierce as a lion scanting through the savanna brush or something. In between shots I scan my surroundings, slowly focusing on the blades of grass I’ve been parting. I start to trace lines of silken web with my eyes until my vision settles. A yellow-white black legged-black spotted monstrosity. It had to be bigger than a quarter! It was no more than six inches from my face and it was being stretched between the two bundles of grass I had separated. “Angel!” I said in an urgent mini-shout. I eased the grass back together. “I’m done!”
atthews
m by alyssa
“Senior portraits are about celebrating a life stage,” professional portrait photographer Maris Ehlers said. “For many teens, their entire senior year is filled with milestones, and it is definitely one worth noting and celebrating in many ways, including portraiture.” Senior Photographers Jaycee Walden and Angel Quevy are using senior year to promote their photography businesses, PPJ and Angelic Touch, respectively. While some students’ families spend numerous amounts on getting the perfect senior pictures, some believe that “professionals” aren’t the only ones who can take fantastic pictures. Pride of the Raiders color guard senior Mary Forney chose to have Walden, also color guard member, and best friend, to take her senior pictures. “I trust Jaycee more than anyone else,” Forney said. “She knows what kind of pictures I like to take, and she will always tell me when I look dumb.” As a young entrepreneur, Walden has been practicing her photography skills on her friends and family to better herself for her business, PPJ. “She is a beautiful model,“ Walden said. “I know her character and I know how to express that in her portraits.” Walden is working on expanding her business, but currently is offering her services free of charge to her friends. “I specialize in senior portraits and engagement photos,” Walden said. “I plan on getting into the wedding photography area as well.” Kiersten Scott, trumpet section leader for the Rider band, newspaper co-editor in chief, and biology club president and founder let Angel Quevy, photographer, BRAVO member, and best friend use her as a model. “I didn’t even want senior portraits,” Scott said. “My family isn’t really big on pictures, so it isn’t a big deal.” One day, after a sleepover, Quevy decided to dress Scott up and take some sample pictures for her photography business, Angelic Touch. “I needed someone I was comfortable with so I could practice my photography and get better at it,” Quevy said. “I used my friends because I knew I could try out new styles or lighting fixtures and they wouldn’t hate me.” Taking pictures with someone familiar was something that Scott enjoyed about the experience. Now, she is looking forward to taking more pictures with Quevy. “Angel is my best friend, and I trust her more than some stranger” Scott said. “She knows what I like and hate, and she knows how to portray my personality better than anyone else.” In comparison to these young entrepreneurs, local professional photographers offer seniors a precise time slot with a limited amount of location and outfit changes. But these sensational pictures come at various prices. Varsity volleyball player Maddie Box, chose to have her photographs taken with local professional Carissa Davis. “I chose Imagery by Carissa because I knew she would be able to capture my personality in my senior pictures which was the most important thing to me.” There is no price ceiling or price floor when it comes to getting personalized portraits. Some professional photographers even add bonuses if you buy a package. “Carissa charges $300 for girls and $250 for boys,” Box said. “You get a 1.5 hour session with 60-80 edited images on a CD, 3-4 location changes, and it includes makeup for girls.” Kelise Cunningham found out about a modeling program that Creative Portraits was offering in March 2014 for 2015 Seniors. “I was one of her previous customers, so one day she called me and asked if I wanted to be in her photo shoots for her senior ads,” Cunningham said. “It was free with professional makeup so I thought I might as well!” Kelise’s photos were collaged and sent all across town to prospective customers of Creative Portraits. “I had a great time with the photographer, Julie Gilmore,” Cunningham said. “ She gets your different personality traits down to the ‘T’ with the props and what you wear and how she shoots it.”
Photo By: Jaycee Walden
Photo By: Imagery By Carissa
Photo By: Creative Portraits
M otherhood: Par t of Ever y Day Life for One Student Athlete
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“The Journey Is Often The Reward” by cortneywood Breathe. Her arms swing back and her pitch is released. A curve ball straight past the plate. Strike one. Kari Toalson, a junior at the time, determined to get three strikes, focuses on the batter. Off to the side, her littlest fan cheers her on. She doesn’t hear him at first, but the familiar voice demands to be heard. “Hey! Hey! Go Mom, go Mom! That’s my mom. Hey!” He fuels her to push harder in softball games.
photo by Kari Toalson
Talking with Mom
Her son was born the summer before freshman year, and she said she had to mature and become more responsible than she already was, and it was complicated at times. “It was a big challenge being 14 and a mom,” she said. “You don’t hear it that often, and usually it is juniors and seniors that get pregnant.” Now, as a senior, Kari gains responsibility and maturity as she goes on with life. “But it wasn’t easy, the administrators at McNiel wanted me to go to Harrell,” she said. “I told them no, that I wanted to have the high school experiences, and I did not want to give everything up because I had a kid. And I am glad I got the experience while still being a mom.” Breathe.
www.theriderchronicle.com
11/14/14
She was in a state of shock. Her daughter was only in eighth grade. And she was pregnant. Dana Toalson, mother of senior Kari Toalson, talks about Kari’s eighth grade year, her reaction to finding out about her daughter’s pregnancy, and her how their life has been affected from that point on. “I took the situation from the beginning that it was going to turn out okay,” she said. “And it has.” While transitioning from adolescence to motherhood, Kari relied on her mom for strength and support. “My mom helps me out whenever I need it,” Kari said. “She watched him for me when I need to get something done.” If Kari is busy with her studies or work, Dana will step up and “just be a grandma,” to Kie. “Sometimes I have to baby him, put him to bed and get him to sleep, feed him, or whatever Kari needs to be done.” And through this, the family has gotten closer together, Dana said. They have worked around each others schedule and together make ends meet. “We would work plans out and get her to her softball games while taking care of the baby,” she said. “We would handle whatever she wanted to do, it was her choice, and I wanted her to be happy.” But even through the challenges, Dana focused on her family rather than those surrounding. “I didn’t really think about what other people were going to say because I felt that it was our lives that were going to be affected.”
Keys to the computer click away beneath her fingers with a little laughter floating in the air. Kari turns her attention to finishing her dual credit English essay while her mom plays with Kie behind her in another room. Balancing school, motherhood, and extra-curricular activities is nothing new to Kari. Multitasking, it’s something she’s become accustomed to. Something her daily life revolves around. But she focuses on one task at a time. “I am proud of myself for not giving up on my school or anything else people normally do,” she said.
If you need someone to talk to about the loss of your pet, you can call either of these hotlines, free of charge.
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Grief Hotlines Tufts University Pet Loss Support Hotline
An Unexpected Change Student Struggles With Loss of Long-Term Pet by lanemaddox Jessica Bivona walks through her front door, glad to finally be home after a family trip to Abilene. She sits on the couch, and all feels safe and normal, until she notices her 13 year-old cat, Clara Bell, lying motionless under the family coffee table. Clara painstakingly tries to pad her way over to Jessica but suddenly collapses onto the carpet. After owning Clara for 12 years, Jessica and her family were devastated at the unexpected loss of their pet. “We had to put her down in the morning, but she died as soon as we walked through the [vet office] doors.” Jessica said. Jessica’s mother was holding Clara during her final moments. “She passed away in my arms,” Mrs. Bivona said. “It broke my heart. She was the perfect cat. She was always happy when we came home; she would be wherever we were in the house.” Jessica was “more affected” than her brothers by
the loss of Clara, Mrs. Bivona said. “The boys were sad, but thankful they could say goodbye,” she said. “Jessica kept a picture of Clara in her room. She felt the loss of our sweet Clara for a very long time.”
“She was a part of my family for so long it was hard not to have her there anymore.” -Jessica Bivona “She was a part of my family for so long it was hard not to have her there anymore,” Jessica said. “We were living in a small apartment at the time. Getting used to her not walking around my feet or laying with me on the couch was difficult.” Jessica and Clara Bell had a close bond with each other from the start.
Phone: 508-839-7966 Email: Tuftspetloss@gmail. com
Penn Vet Pet Grief Support Hotline
Phone: 215-898-4556 “I helped pick her out when I was little,” she said. “She stayed with us through every move we’ve ever gone through. When I would sit down on the couch, she would jump up and lay on my chest.” After enough time had passed for the family to recover from the sudden loss of Clara, they went to the Humane Society and rescued two kittens. “It helped fill the emptiness from something that became a normal part of my day,” Jessica said. “You can’t replace [your pets], so cherish the time you have with them.” If you need help dealing with the loss of your pet, you don’t have to sit alone in silence. You can talk it out with your parents, friends, or a trusted adult. There are also several hotlines you can call, free of charge, for immediate support.
www.theriderchronicle.com
11/14/14
If you would like to adopt a cat or dog, you can visit the Humane Society of Wichita County. (You must be with your parents if you aren’t18 or older) Contact information: Humane Society of Wichita County Phone: 940-855-4941 Address: 4360 Iowa Park Rd.
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A Difference That Matters Teens give back to their community through volunteering at various establishments, activities around Wichita Falls by kobielunsford Sophomore Class President, Trisha Nicolas, didn’t expect so many teens ready to help at Faith Mission on a Saturday during October, but there they were, for the Teens Make a Difference program. “We take a lot of things for granted,” Nicolas said. “Some people are worried about whether they will have a place to eat and sleep and I am worried about when I’m going to get the new iPhone.” In Wichita Falls, Teens Make a Difference Day is run mostly by teacher volunteers under the jurisdiction of the Wichita Falls Non-Profit Organization located at Parker Square. “[Teens Make a Difference is] a day that encourages all Wichita Falls area teams to catch the spirit of volunteerism,” librarian Sally Mroczkowski said. Teens Make a Difference Day is meant to create student volunteers who will go on as adults to volunteer. Mroczkowski says their objective is to create people who recognize the need to give back both now as a student and later as an adult. “It instills in [students] a sense of accomplishment and prepares them to be life-long volunteers,” Mroczkowski said. There were over 200 volunteers just from Rider.
This was seen by Mroczkowski as an opportunity to build class unity. 15 groups of students went out on Oct. 25 to assist locations and events ranging from cleaning highways to working at homeless shelters to helping with Zombie Crawl. Mroczkowski said the day had a good turn out and it was a success. “Our generation is the future of our community,” Student Council President Sara Sorge said. The senior class volunteered at the Humane Society. The students performed tasks like cleaning cathouses and walking dogs. The group did really well and was organized according to Sorge. “It’s good to volunteer to do things other people wouldn’t want to do because you have the ability and resources to do so,” Senior Class President Georgia Dubose said. The junior class volunteered at Straight Street. Straight Street is an organization meant to provide a safe Christian environment for young teens that may have a troubled or no home to get involved and talk to someone, according to their website. “I think the event went really well and got everyone more invested in the community,” Dubose said.
Senior Bailey Gutierrez and Junior Paige Hollingsworth. Photo by Lane Weldon.
“It’s good to volunteer to do things other people wouldn’t want to do because you have the ability and resources to do so.” –Senior Class President Georgia Dubose
“It’s good to give back to your community,” Nicolas said. The sophomore class volunteered at Faith Mission homeless shelter. “I had a lot of fun and it was really humbling,” Nicolas said. “It taught me to be thankful for what I have and be more appreciative,” Nicolas said.
Junior Josh Peloquin and Conner Patterson hold up ones after Conner beat him at Bocce ball. Photo by Lane Weldon.