The Wildcat September (issue 1)

The

W ildcat

Volume 48, Issue 1

September 27, 2018

20363 Lane of Champions, PO Box 248, Warsaw, MO 65355

HITS KEEP COMING FOR SOFTBALL TEAM

PAGE 8

A Happily Ever After

Homecoming invites float building, spirit week costumes and games by

Ethan Schomburg

web editor/staff writer

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he time-honored tradition of Homecoming is once again filling the halls of WHS with school spirit and class rivalry as each class attempts to outdo the other.

Student Council members have been hard at work planning the events of the week to celebrate Wildcat pride.

The spirit days included Disney Duo (Tuesday), Nick vs Disney (Wednesday), Throwback (Thursday), Color War (Friday).

Friday will be a busy day at WHS as classes construct floats for a downtown parade, attend assemblies and face-off in games and contests. Classes will accumulate points based on their class

float, participation in spirit week costume days and assembly games.

Once the assembly is over, class scores will be counted by the student council members and the class with the most points will have won Homecoming week. Students also get awarded for being the most spirited on certain days of the week. Classes get quite competitive about the award.

“Underclassmen want to show up the upperclassmen like this year’s seniors have done in the past,” Student Council sponsor Kara Hill said.

The celebration will culminate with the football game against the Butler Bears, coronation of Homecoming royalty at half time and a Homecoming dance following the game.

Homecoming candidates prepare for Friday night coronation on Randy Morrow Field. They include, (front row) princess candidates, juniors Payge Adair, Kiersten Grobe, Ally Wenberg, Ashten Cunningham, queen candidates, seniors Helena Givens, Suzy Cortright, Rylee Pals and Jessie Glenn; (back row) prince candidates, juniors Zach Chapman, Lane Bates, Matt Couzens, Chase Steiner, king candidates, seniors, Ethan Schomburg, Eli Hawkins, Joey Mace, Jesse Johnson. Photo by Ally Estes.

Check out full candidate profiles online at thewildcatonline.com

Students, staff settle into a four-day schedule Opinions about the change mostly positive by

Joshua Simpson

staff writer

“Higher teacher morale, higher student morale, higher attendance rates already, not as many disciplinary referrals,” are among what Principal Danny Morrison observes to be the immediate effects of the four day school week.

After much discourse and debate in the 2017/2018 school year, Warsaw R/ IX made a huge change within the district; a four-day week was approved by the board of education in March and initiated this school year.

“I can’t say because we’re early enough in it … but everyone seems more ‘uppy,’ more happy to be here,” Morrison said.

Assistant Principal Cody Wright was working as a history teacher at Walnut

Grove, a school that was also on a fourday schedule. The school had been on a four-day schedule for a year of the four years that he worked there, and he claims to have been unable to observe any long-term effects.

“The effects that were noticeable were attendance. Attendance went up,” Wright said about working at Walnut Grove after their transition.

The idea for the new schedule came from Superintendent Dr. Shawn Poyser when he had been doing research to earn his specialist degree.

Poyser listed some of the reasons behind the transition as finding new teachers, longer school hours, more out-of-school time and built in snow days. However, even with these reasons people still reacted negatively.

“I was a little surprised at how some people really came after me. The people that came after me and after the four-day, they didn’t have a dog in the

Student-produced news for Warsaw High School

Has the new schedule been a positive or a negative change for you?

62.2% Positive 12.2% Negative 23.5 % Neutral 2.1% Other

98 surveyed

fight, if you will. They didn’t have kids in the district. The folks that seem to have the biggest voices were the people that were retired, or their kids no longer go to school or they have no kids at all. I like to say sometimes people just complain if their ice cream’s cold,” Poyser said.

Ninety-three percent of Warsaw staff was in favor of the four day school week, including math teacher Jowell

Roellig.

“I was always for the four-day week, I was just not sure how it was going to impact my class so positively,” Roellig said. “I thought it could be something to adjust to and make work, but little did I realize what a positive impact it’s made on my class and my students.”

Roellig has also heard from her students that the dread of coming to school has been lessened now that the schedule doesn’t dominate their waking life so fully anymore.

But for some whose lives are just crammed with activities, the four-day school week can be kind of a stressful positive.

Junior Aubri Umlauf works, and is currently involved in color guard, softball, speech, pep club, band, and English club. Her extensive involvement is a mental necessity for her.

“It’s hard because I get up at five o’clock every morning for early morn-

ing band practice, then I go to softball practice or a game… It all gets crammed into a smaller amount of time.”

Senior Virgil Goucher said “I enjoy [the new schedule] because I don’t actually work work, I just work with family members up in Clinton, so it’s nice to have an extra day.”

The weekend gives him more time to work so “when I come back on Tuesdays I’m a lot more tired than usual.”

The results of a student/teacher survey tend to express that many are happy about the extra time on the weekends to rest and catch up on work. Out of 98 responses of high school teachers and students, 62.2 percent responded that the new schedule has been a positive change, with 12.2 percent reporting a negative change and 23.5 percent neutral about the change.

The survey also tends to express that the longer days are tiring to both students and teachers.

2018 Benton County Enterprise Company, Inc. Warsaw, Missouri

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Sports

September 28, 2017

thewildcatonline.com

Players continue to enjoy volleyball traditions by

Ashley Turner

staff writer

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radition, pride, and excellence stand as Warsaw staple points within the district motto. While Warsaw’s volleyball team may take pride in their excellence, little may be known about their traditions. Within each player lies some form of pre-game ritual not widely known to others.

Volleyball coach Shelly Hodges has a few traditions she implements for the sake of her team, one being that each year she picks a motto for her players to look up to.

“I picked ‘Our Time’ because it was the first time my seniors stayed through with it and they wanted to go out with a bang,” Hodges said.

Another tradition that coach Hodges has implemented is the

leadership ball.

“The leadership ball is voted on by the team, for whoever had the most leadership during the game. We have done it every year since I’ve been here,” Hodges said.

Some traditions lay hidden in each individual player. Senior varsity setter Jessie Glenn has played volleyball since seventh grade. Before every game, she plays practice games with her teammates, kicks the wall, and yells “good game.”

After every game, Glenn makes a point to stay in the locker room and think about what she did during the game, as well as how she can improve.

Freshman JV player Taylar Kleihauer has played volleyball since third grade. Her pre-game ritual consists of getting together with the other players and saying a group prayer.

“It was always in my head, it was just normal,” Kleihauer said.

Freshman JV player Sarah Johnson has also played volleyball since the third grade. Her pre-game ritual is bumping the ball with her teammates, and they try to keep it off the floor.

“It just gets me ready for the game. It hypes me up it makes me look forward to what’s happening,” Kleihauer said.

Her after-game ritual consists of sitting in the locker room with her team, where they decide who deserves the ‘Leadership Ball.’

Whoever earns it gets to write a saying on the ball.

“I have not received the leadership ball yet, but I would like to.

I would feel like I did the best I could have and it would make me try harder to get it again,” Kleihauer said.

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Junior Rheanna Coke writes a quote on the leadership ball. Coke was chosen to represent the ball due to her outstanding role on the court and her inclination to take charge. Photo by Ashley Turner.

Left: Junior Ariaunna Johnson-Childers blocks a hit from Sherwood. Warsaw went against Sherwood Aug. 30, and ,although the rally did not end in a win for varsity, the scoreboard remained a close tie throughout the game.

Photo by Brandon Herring.

Cross country overcomes obstacles by

Petraliejo Wurtz

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staff writer

rom sprinting around the parking lot to jogging on the track, cross country runners are practicing hard nearly every day after school. These practices are aimed to improve each individual’s qualities as they are faced with obstacles that the sport of cross country provides.

Cross country runners are seniors Robert McMurtry, Maleek Porter, Evan Kowal, juniors Julian Barkley, Kathryn Ricke, Scott Winters, sophomore Trey Palmer and freshmen, Alyssa Alcantara, Bryan Coffey, Alan

Landsberg and Calvin Long.

The challenges of cross country have been very difficult for the coach and team players. Cross country coach Ehren Banfield has been working hard to improve his athletes through rigorous training and thoroughly believes that the biggest challenge for cross country is keeping up each athlete’s individual endurance.

“Endurance is when you have to go longer, and not just that short burst of energy that sports like football and basketball require. For cross country, you have to have that true spirit in a sense, because there are no breaks. You don’t just get to sit

out and then come back and hit for a few minutes. It’s continual and non-stop,” Banfield said.

The challenges of cross country for a student is motivation.

“My personal challenge is finding the motivation to run,” freshman Calvin Long said.

“To help motivate me, I think of food. Instead of thinking about how much pain my legs are in from running, I try to focus on something that I like to do or eat.

Maleek told me to do something like that and so I thought about food, and it really helps me.”

“The sport is very difficult,” freshman Alyssa Alcantara said.

“It is hard to motivate yourself to run up a hill over and over

Top Cross Country Results Alyssa Alcantara:

9/22 Hermitage, 2nd place 22:40.15 9/18 Stockton 2nd place, 24:02.00 9/15 Smith Cotton, 3rd place, 23:22.00 9/11 SBU, 13th place, 22:57.48

Trey Palmer:

9/22 Hermitage, 19th place 9/18 Stockton, 17th place, 20:21.68 9/15 Smith Cotton, 11th Place, 19:13.00 9/11 SBU, 23rd place, 19:14.97

Maleek Porter:

9/22 Hermitage, 16th place, 19:04.00 9/18 Stockton,11th place, 19:44.96 9/15 Smith Cotton, 10th Place, 19:06.00 9/11 SBU, 28th place, 19:35.68

again. My coach has been helping me by increasing my time, getting ready for the race and raising my confidence.”

Cross country terrain can be difficult to maneuver through.

The players often practice for this kind of obstacle by running on hills, tracks, ground, and stretching.

“We start off with a ten minute warm-up, and then we go into form run, then dynamics and sometimes - depending on the day - we do 400 repeats and hills. After a hard day we go into a long run,” Long said While some athletes struggle to keep their motivation consistent, some struggle with their timing. Sophomore Kathryn Ricke has been working her hardest to get her time to about 28 minutes.

“Trying to say under 30 mins is my biggest struggle,” Ricke said. “I learned that if your head says you’re tired, you’re not actually tired. Your head thinks you’re tired but your body can go a lot farther than you think.”

Senior captain Maleek Porter

Senior Maleek Porter runs the course at Smith Cotton. Cross country competed at Smith Cotton Sept. 15. Porter finished 10th in the race. Photo submitted.

has faced injury and pain, but has managed to keep himself motivated for the sake of the sport.

“It has been a hard, long road.

Right now I’ve had a lot of experience with difficulties, injury and a lot of pain due to continuous running, but I know we are

getting there. We are getting better. It just comes with a price,” Porter said. “All of the time I feel like I want to give up. The thought of giving up shouldn’t cross your mind, but it does and it will, and you just have to fight yourself and keep running.”

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Opinion

thewildcatonline.com

Lifein

Staff Editorial

Quotes

Sit down, be humble

Seniority does not equal entitlement

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he seniors own the bench. And the front row risers of pep club. And the back seats of the bus. Like dogs foaming at the mouth, they’ll defend their territory with barked words and bared teeth. But, what did they do to deserve this right?

Some will say they went through four years of torture. Four years of studying, sleepless nights, and teenage drama. They’re allowed to own that bench, and that section of risers, and those seats in the back of the bus. Are they allowed to yell at underclassmen for sitting there? Are they allowed to rip freshmen off the front row risers at basketball games? Should seniority equal entitlement when it can so easily become exclusion?

Warsaw takes pride in its tradition, and it’s undeniable that seniority plays a large part in this, but it’s time that Warsaw High changed its morals. Seniors should be setting the example and being kind to the underclassmen, not making them feel excluded on their own turf.

Feeling entitled is what kept the previous senior class from winning the coveted Homecoming spirit class award. While seniors winning homecoming spirit week is a tradition, it’s only because of the effort and energy that the senior class puts into it. Last year’s seniors were so used to the senior class winning that they stopped trying, and as a result, the junior class took the win. Seniors should not feel like they will get trophies handed to them because of their seniority rank, but must set examples of what school spirit is and work for it.

Seniors only have a few more months before they’ll be thrust into a world where no one knows their name. They’ll be stumbling around blindly, hoping that there will be someone there to show them the ropes. Breaking the cycle is vital to the growth of the seniors and the inclusion of the underclassmen.

Instead of trying to lead the pack, seniors should join the pack and unite the classes through school spirit and inclusion.

We need to stop acting like dogs fighting over a bone and join together as the proud and spirited wildcats we’ve been raised to be.

by

Brenna Smith

photo editor/writer

“However dark the night, however dim our hopes, the light will always follow darkness.”

-Louis Zamperini Guest Column

by

Lica Rosa

W ildcat

The

The Wildcat, the official student newspaper of Warsaw High School, has been established as a forum for student expression as well as a source for student news and opinion. The Wildcat is published as part of the Benton County Enterprise monthly at a cost of 75 cents per copy. The content is also available online at thewildcatonline.com.

Letters to the editor are welcome, however all letters must be signed and are subject to editing.

Write to: The Wildcat, Warsaw High School 20363 Lane of Champions Warsaw, MO 65355

or e-mail Adviser Amanda Adler aadler@warsawk12.org

Editor-in-Chief Ally Estes Photo Editor Brenna Smith Web Editor Ethan Schomburg Writers/Photographers Joshua Simpson Lica Rosa PetralieJo Wurtz Emmaleigh Kowal Ellie Wassman Ashley Turner Bridget McClusky

Adviser

Amanda Adler

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staff writer

fter eight months of preparation for the biggest journey of my life so far, It is my turn to be an exchange student.

What brought me to this idea was the will to join the family history tradition, since all of my five cousins, my brother and my mom were exchange students in the United States. I would finally have a story of my own to tell after a semester.

I also love to travel and see the world through a different culture’s view, so what a better way to do that than to actually live with complete strangers?

With this in mind, I left my city, São Paulo in Southeast Brazil, to dive into the unknown and face (almost) everything by myself

September 28, 2017

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Fight through your darkness and be the light

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walk in the hallways every day and see people I know smiling and laughing with friends, but to sit down with them face to face is another story. The beginning of a school year is always the hardest, we adjust to the old and miss the new, and we dwell on all of the upcoming challenges.

Listening to my friends about their anxiety, stress, and willingness to give up has made it hard to stay positive; I am at a point in my life when I should be ecstatic to be a senior, to be celebrating one of the best times in my life, but I have learned that not all things last.

Louis Zamperini was a war hero, and an Olympic champion. His challenges are known by many and has inspired thousands. His stories have become known by many are encouraging to others to look down on your life, there are always others who

have it worse than you.

I learned early on in life from my parents that there are highs and lows at every point in life, and although I’ve developed a way to overcome my lows, the highs never seem to last long enough.

Seeing my friends struggle though issues that I can’t fix are always hard to watch, weather it be failing grades, parent issues, or wanting to give up on their favorite activity, I can only watch from a distance and hope that the light follows them too, as it does and has for me in many situations.

There are always going to be struggles that we face in life, so if your in a fetal position crying alone, or if your wanting to harm yourself, or feel like your not smart enough to face the day, then push through, and when you come out on the other side, you’ll see the progress you

made and how much you’ve grown from it. Even the ones you see smiling in the hallway and laughing with friends may be wearing a mask as, in their back of their minds, the darkness has crept in and they don’t feel the light just yet.

Like Zamperini said, the light will always follow the darkness.

So find the light in your own dark world, find the good in any dark spot and then spread the light.

Senior Brenna Smith, a lifelong Wildcat, has come back to the journalism department for her fourth and last year. This is her second year as the photo-editor for The Wildcat, and first year as the Editor in Chief for the Ozark Echoes yearbook. She is involved in color guard, newspaper, yearbook, NHS, STUCO, English Club, Pep club, and FBLA.

Foreign exchange program is an enriching experience for the first time.

I passed a rough start and had to live in two different homes before I finally found a caring and fun family here in Warsaw. Or, in better words, they found me. I was picked by the Miller’s, and it has been a blast ever since.

It is all new to me: the small town, the school, the fact that I’m a “big sister,” the weather.

São Paulo is a huge city, which means it is really unlikely to see the same person passing by you twice on the street. That’s why it’s been really interesting to find out that the police officer could be your friend’s uncle, or the waitress could be your classmate’s mom. Everyone kind of knows each other and that is pretty cool to me.

The school is also really different. Back home, I have a twelve-subject schedule with no electives, which is really tiring but also very rewarding at the end of the day. Getting to pick the classes I want to take is a really liberating moment, even though I have some requirements to get the credits when I go back home.

I think that elective classes have a positive impact in the daily school life, since between classes that I’m not that good at, there are classes that I really enjoy that make the day more interesting. Another aspect that I think is really great is the fourday week, which gives me more time to rest in the weekend and organize all the things I can’t do during the week in exchange of just one more hour in school days. For me, that has been a pretty good deal. Back home I experience a five-day week, from seven thirty to four thirty.

The family structure has also been something that I enjoy, since I’m the youngest back home and now I’m the “big sister” for James and Mason, my two little host brothers. That’s actually a really fun relationship because it made me realize how funny kids are with all of their imagination and curiosity.

The weather got me. I never thought the end of summer could be this hot, which I enjoy since I don’t deal very well with lower temperatures. The coldest we get in my city was 48 degrees Fahrenheit, and that’s once in a

blue moon and always happens during night, so we don’t really have to deal with it. Still, I’m looking forward to experience how people do their normal life activities in the winter, or at least in the beginning of it. I’m also excited about celebrating holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving because some American holidays aren’t shared with Brazil.

Among cinnamon rolls, things that mow grass, strawberry milk, football, teenagers that drive (driving age in Brazil is 18), grocery stores that sell guns and all the first experiences I’m having, I am learning the importance of wanting to know more about different cultures in order to enrich ourselves and the world with knowledge and empathy.

Junior Lica Rosa 17 year old exchange student from São Paulo, South East Brazil. Rosa is interested in the journalism class because she enjoys descriptive writing and displaying the emotions of people through the art of photography.

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Features

September 27, 2018

thewildcatonline.com

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Cast starts rehearsal for November performance of Seussical by

Ashley Turner

staff writer

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uditions were held August 23 and the cast and crew have already started the rehearsals to perform “Seussical”, a musical that revolves around many childhood Dr. Seuss classics, Nov. 2-4.

Stories that are going to be performed include “Horton Hears a Who,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “The Butter Battle Book,” “The Cat in the Hat,” “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” and other smaller pieces. Examples of some of the smaller pieces include “Mayzie In Palm Beach,” “How Lucky Your Are,” “Egg Nest and Tree” and “Chasing the Whos.”

It was first performed on Nov. 30, 2000 on Broadway. It has spawned two U.S. national tours and a West End production and it is frequently performed in schools and theatres. Seussical is narrated by the character “Cat in The Hat,” who is being played by junior Madeline Schockmann.

He or She speaks about “Horton,” an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that the “Who Jojo” happens to live in. Jojo is a Who that is sent off to

a military school for thinking too many “Thinks.”

But that isn’t Horton’s only responsibility. He must care for an egg abandoned by an irresponsible bird named “Mayzie La Bird.” Even though Horton faces challenges by being put in danger, mockery, kidnapping and a trial, the fearless “Gertrude McFuzz” does not lose faith in him.

“Seussical” CAST LIST Cat in the Hat - junior Madeline Schockmann Jojo - sophomore Ariel Givens Horton - sophomore Grady Miller Mr. Mayor - junior Larran Yoder Mrs. Mayer - sophomore Lauren Kreisel Gertrude - senior Allison Thomas Mayzie - junior Alexa Scrivener Sour Kangaroo - junior Kathryn Ricke General Schmitz - senior Kieon Davis

Senior Kieon Davis, juniors Lerran Yoder and Aubri Umlauf, senior Ally Thomas, and sophomore Gabbie Jones act out the script for the “Suessical.” Auditions were held August 23 and will be performed November 2-4. Photo by Ashley Turner.

Junior Madeline Schockmann gets into character while reading her script for “Suessical.” Schockmann will play “Cat in the Hat.” Photo by Ashley Turner.

Cheer squad introduces new look Competition on the horizon for the team by

Ally Estes

editor-in-chief

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he cheer squad has rebranded itself completely, from the multi-colored bows in their ponytails to the all-white kicks they sport at every game. The team is majorly comprised of new members and underclassmen, but they all share the same spirit and pep that drives them.

“This year we got new uniforms, a new captain and seven new members,” sophomore flyer Darby Mostaffa said. “I like this year’s uniform much better than the previous ones. They’re newer and fresher and look much more professional and clean.”

The team attended an NCA cheer camp and have already implemented their new material and skills within their performances. However, with

new cheers comes new stunts.

Freshman base/backspot Jolina Givens takes the sport very seriously due to the potential health risks that come with it.

“Middle school cheer was different. In high school, there’s a lot more high-skill stunts that could potentially get you injured. That’s why we take it very seriously and stay committed,” Givens said. “Honestly, my least favorite part about cheer is when someone gets hurt. It makes you feel like something is missing from the team.”

The girls are currently looking at regionals, with their eyes set on state. In order to qualify, the squad must have a three minute routine composed of various skills, material, etc,. They will be competing against other schools within the same class and, depending on the score, will have the opportunity to advance to state competition.

“Anyone is welcome to watch the competition and we would love to have some support from our little town,” cheer coach Rachel Eichler said. “My favorite thing about cheer is that our

Eight selected for All-District Choir

Junior Wade Henderson, senior Kieon Davis, juniors Lerran Yoder, Alexa Scrivener, Becky Petesch and Madeline Schockmann, and seniors Helena Givens and Ally Thomas have all been selected for All-District Choir. Juniors Toni Turner and Jessica Dwyer and senior Ren Rozzel have also been selected to be part of the Women’s All-District Honor choir. They will participate in the District Choir performance Oct. 13. Photo by Ally Estes.

Juniors Alexus Brown and Andrea Merritt cheer on the football team during the home game against Midway. The game was held Aug. 24. Photo by Kya Schepker.

main job is to support and uplift our school. The girls work well together and have put in the time and effort that this program so desperately needed. I’m very proud of them!”

The biggest change that the squad is trying to make is the dismantalization of their sport’s stereotype.

“Cheer is a very fun and interactive sport that teaches leadership skills, communication skills, and social skills,” sophomore base Morgan Branson said. “It’s not all about wearing a short skirt or shaking pom poms.

We work hard and enjoy doing what we do!”

103 Polk St. Warsaw, MO 65355 (660) 438-7394

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Features

thewildcatonline.com

September 27, 2018

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New faculty takes on a new year at Warsaw High by

Ellie Wassman

staff writer

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ine new high school staff members have started their Wildcat experience. Cody Wright, Bobbi Swisher, Whitney Hamilton and Kristin Rode have chosen Warsaw out of all the other schools because they felt like it was the place for them. Check out the next issue of The Wildcat to read about more new teachers.

Wright’s biggest struggle is learning all the names of the students because he doesn’t have them is class every day, so it’s not the same connection. Wright says all the students he’s met so far have been well behaved for the most part, and very welcoming.

In his free time loves to hunt, and fish but mainly hunting. He prefers bow hunting and duck hunting and is looking forward to the upcoming hunting season.

Swisher is married with two children, a 13-yearold student at John Boise Middle school and a four-year-old at Warsaw preschool. Her husband is a 1997 graduate of Warsaw High, Willie Salley. He works for Harry S. Truman Dam and State Park.

Swisher said her children are her biggest achievement.

teaching with being a student herself.

Band director Kristin Rode New band director Kristin Rode, graduated from the University of Central Missouri and is originally from Warrensburg.

This is her second year teaching and only her first year teaching band. Previously, she taught elementary music at Jarrell Elementary.

Warsaw has been a big change, but she really has liked the four-day week, the students, and staff.

She said the four-day week has been a good thing for her because it extends the “weekend” and gives her and the band kids an extra day to rest from Friday night football games and competitions.

Rode has recognized that the band is really creating a good reputation for themselves and getting their name out there in a good way and gaining the recognition it deserves. She said her musicians are working super hard, and she is proud of that.

Assistant Principal Cody Wright Cody Wright is the new Assistant Principal.

Wright grew up in Warsaw and went to school all the way from Kindergarten to his graduating year in 2009. He came back to Warsaw from Walnut Grove primarily for his family, friends, and the fact that he grew here.

“Warsaw was a unique place and there’s nowhere in Missouri quite like it,” he said.

While in Walnut Grove, Wright taught Social Studies and coached. At Walnut Grove, Wright also experienced a four-day week so he has had some experience with the new change.

Math teacher Bobbi Swisher Bobbi Swisher, a new math teacher in the special education department, said staff and students at WHS have been very welcoming.

Swisher chose Warsaw because she said she heard about the great things going on here, and she lives in Warsaw. She says that so far she loves Warsaw High so far and it was the change she needed.

Swisher taught in Lincoln for six years.

She said she absolutely loves the four-day weeks because she gets more time with her family and more time to devote to both school and personal tasks.

English teacher Whitney Hamilton Whitney Hamilton, teaches English I and English II. Hamilton is originally from Arkansas and moved to Missouri to be closer to her husband’s family.

Her teaching experience began in Vilonia, Arkansas for three and a half years, then she taught at Applewood Christian School for two years in Sedalia.

She said Warsaw has been really welcoming and she’s really enjoying the four day weeks.

“It makes the week feel more manageable, it feels faster. I feel like I’m not counting down the days as much,” Hamilton said.

Read about Holly Howerton, Johnny Eierman, Hamilton also goes to graduate school and she Justin Thomas, Daniel Waller and Emily Banfield said her biggest accomplishment is juggling her in the next issue of The Wildcat.

Assistant Principal Cody Wright

Math Teacher Bobbi Swisher

English teacher Whitney Hamilton

Band Director Kristin Rode

And the Golden Scoop goes to . . .

FFA Advisor Stan Adler awards the golden scoop to sophomore James Baumli for the winning ice cream at the Sept. 18 FFA ice cream social.

Photo submitted.

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Sports W Athletic building promises more space Teacher-coaches split time between take up gym space, such as con- all the time, and it’s just pretty the classroom and the field Ally Estes certs in the spring and gradua- rough in there. So, yeah, they September 27, 2018

thewildcatonline.com

by

editor-in-chief

Booster club plans for $100,000 project

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fter years of fund raisers, donations and events, the athletic booster club has raised an estimated amount of over $100,000 for a new athletic building. From band students to stellar athletes, everyone awaits the chance to use the new space for their passion.

The location of this new building will be beside the field house in the area that currently hosts the long jump, high jump and triple jump pits. Its size is estimated to be the equivalent of the Agriculture building workshop (sixty by one hundred feet.)

“This building will be based on zero percent school funding,” principal Danny Morrison said.

“It will be fully funded by the athletic booster club, and will include all sports in its usage.”

Wrestling, archery, softball and all other sports will be allowed to use the building, as well as the high school PE classes. Because of this new space, conflicting schedules between extracurricular activities will be less of a problem.

“We have limited gym space and limited gym availability, so with this, we’ll be able to free up our gym for extracurriculars that may not necessarily be athletic,” Boyer said. “During events that

tion, the athletic building will be a way of continuing gym classes and spring sports practices.”

Boyer plans on beginning the project this summer, with donations and volunteer work from the community being a heavy part of the process.

“Even in the spring, a bit before I came here two years ago, athletics evaluated where we were at and potential needs in the future, as well as small projects and big projects. This was one that, if the money was available, it’d be one of the first we would do,” Boyer said. “In comparisons to things we could build, like a baseball stadium, this is a much more affordable option.”

While athletic students appreciate the change, there are some more improvements that senior tight end and middle linebacker Eli Hawkins thinks are necessary.

“I can see why the athletic department could need this new building. The current wrestling room is pretty garbage, and the locker rooms need some improvement, especially the showers,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins also believes that a new office for athletic trainer Leisha Douglas is a room that should be included with this building.

“I would give Leisha a new office. The one she has now is nice and all, but it’s kind of just an empty room, and they didn’t really put much time into it. Like, the power goes off in her room

should hook her up,” Hawkins said.

Freshman softball player Emma Payne is excited at what the new athletic building has to offer. The idea of having batting cages included offers more opportunities for the baseball and softball teams.

“This building will definitely make our athletic department better,” Payne said. “It would be better for practicing for softball.

If it’s a rainy day or something like that, it can be hard to find a place to practice because football is outside and volleyball is inside.”

Some of the booster club contributors to this building’s concept and design include president Megan Cunningham, vice president Adam Howe, treasurer Erin Kellner, secretary Rickie Caswell and all of the parent representatives.

“When people sign up for these memberships, it’s good for people to know where their money goes to. Last year, the big focus for our program was to get caught up in terms of uniforms and necessary every-day supplies. Now, because we’ve had so much support from the community and alumni, we’ve been able to fast-track this big goal,” Boyer said. “We owe a huge thank you to the booster club, which, in turn, is a thank you to the community. None of this would be possible without the community’s support, and each individual’s support.”

Warsaw High/Middle School

Scholastic Book Fair

Open each day from 7:45 am to 3:30 pm and also during the Parent/Teacher Conferences on Monday evening, Oct. 22,1 -7 pm in the Warsaw Middle/High School Library.

Oct. 17 - 25

Students will discover books that are fun, interesting, inspirational, and a resource in dealing with real-life experiences and emerging emotions.

Also check out more great books at our online fair from Oct. 13 – 30 at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/johnboisemiddleschool1 Call for more information at 438-7351.

by

Emmaleigh Kowal

D

staff writer

uring the First Day of School assembly, it was greatly stressed that Warsaw High is a school composed of “student-athletes” with the word student, education and school, coming first in the title.

“You have to be a student before you can be an athlete, work hard and get good grades before you go out on the court,” said freshman Isabella Morrison, who competes in volleyball as a setter, outside hitter, and a weak side hitter.

Now, while athletes make up close to thirty-five percent of the school, that would not be possible if there were not people willing to take time out of their day to coach them during afterschool practices.

There is a saying that goes along the lines of “Every classroom is a team and every teacher is a coach,” however there are some teachers who are really taking this quote to heart and spending hours a day coaching after-school practices.

With the fall sports starting up, there are nine high school teachers who stay after school to coach the athletes in their respective sports. With so many of the teachers taking time out of their day, close to three hours each day, to coach sports it makes one wonder how much free time they actually have to create lesson plans and grade papers for each of their classes.

Some classes, such as P.E. and weights, might not take as much time to create a lesson plan or grade assignments, as opposed to a science or math class.

Cody Morgan, who has been teaching middle school P.E. and weights along with high school personal fitness and weights for 12 years, spends roughly one hour preparing lessons for a single week of school.

“I think it also helps that I split middle school and high school with my classes. I have

“I try to make sure I am still there for my students, even though I am crunched for time.”

-Coach and math teacher Kyle Stoecklein

made connections with most the high school students that I don’t coach or have in class too,” Morgan said.

Morgan is also the head track coach, assistant boys basketball coach for seven years, and girls basketball head coach for five years, at WHS. Morgan takes roughly half an hour a day to prepare practice plans for basketball and track and spends anywhere from two to three hours after school to coach athletes during practice days and six to ten hours, depending on travel time, when there is a game or meet.

Kyle Stoecklein is a math teacher responsible for teaching geometry, Integrated Math, and Consumer Math. Besides teaching in the day, Stoecklein is also an assistant football coach and head golf coach.

Coaching after school typically keeps Stoecklein at the school until 6:45 p.m. on Monday through Thursday while he does not get home until close to 1 a.m. after football games on Friday. Stoecklein, and the other football coaches, attends a meeting on Sunday that lasts from 7 to 9 p.m.

Taking advantage of the onehour plan period, Stoecklein creates his lesson plans for the week along with using time after football practice to tie up any loose ends in his lessons.

Balancing a teaching schedule as well as a coaching schedule, it can be hard to be there when students need help with an assignment or have a question regarding a lesson. To ease the

struggle, Stoecklein makes sure to take time in the morning to set up meetings with students to help them with any problems with the assignment that they might have.

“I try to make sure I am still there for my students, even though I am crunched for time,” he said.

While relationships are formed on the court or the field, a teacher-coach’s time in the classroom can be affected by teaching duties.

Before coming to Warsaw to teach anatomy, Biology I, and Biology II, Mason Dunnaway taught and coached at a different school. Dunnaway recounted an event where he was unable to see his seventh hour class ten days out of forty-two, since he had to leave for the girls golf team, which caused him to struggle in reaching his seventh hour for the remainder of the semester, once the golf season had ended.

Spending so much time with student-athletes after school really helps to create a bond between coaches and athletes.

“I feel like coaching allows me to see them under pressure and fighting adversity in a situation where the only reward is a win, and this helps me understand behavior in the classroom when they are frustrated with some of the problems we do,” Stoecklein said.

Senior wrestler Kolby Estes said he simply gets to know his coaches more because he spends more time with them then most other teachers.

“You’re around them everyday so you get to know them better than other students might,” he said.

Justin Thomas teaches biology, chemistry and physics while coaching high school football and middle school boys basketball.

“I feel I have a similar relationship with all students, though I typically know more about players compared to non-players,” Thomas said.

W

News

thewildcatonline.com

September 28, 2017

7

Tardy policy becomes less strict Band steals the spotlight with new field show performance S

web editor/staff writer

tudents are recognizing that an adjustment to the tardy policy is more lenient than last school year.

Changes to the policy include teachers tracking how many times a student is late to class and referring a student for discipline on the third tardy in each class each quarter. A student accumulating a third tardy in a class during the quarter will start at one day of after school or morning detention and punishment escalates from there.

Last year’s policy required students to get a pass from the ISS room in order to come to class and tardies accumulated over all classes for the semester. A student who earned his third tardy would start at two days of after school detention with punishment escalating from there.

The tardy policy this year has become much more lenient. A student can collect up to 14 tardies total in a single quarter and 28 tardies in total in a single semester without punishment.

All tardies disappear when the next quarter begins. A student has the potential to collect up to 56 tardies altogether in a single school year. All information on the tardy policy can be found on page 21-22 in the Warsaw High 2018-19 Student Handbook.

“I like the new tardy policy because it gives people less to worry about if they come in late because of traffic, or because they live on the other

side of town,” senior Heather Weaver said. “If I’m late, it’s usually because of people driving slow on the road.”

Not all students are affected by this change, however. Junior Aubri Umlauf has little experience with being late, but still believes the policy will have a positive impact.

“I’m never tardy so it doesn’t affect me, but I do think the new policy will give us more leverage than last year. Sometimes you can’t help being late,” Umlauf said. “For people who do get a lot of tardies, a piece of advice is to not stop to talk in the

Another difference between the new and old policy is that the teachers mark students tardy instead of the students going to receive their tardy slip in the ISS room. Principal Danny Morrison said the reasoning for this change is so that students don’t have to waste valuable time in the classroom.

“Students will spend more time learning the material than wasting time and walking back to the ISS room to get a tardy slip,” Morrison said Senior Chance Thirstrup agrees that students shouldn’t

“Students will spend more time learning the material than wasting time and walking back to the ISS room to get a tardy slip,” -Principal Danny Morrison hallways. It makes you and other people late. You can always see your friends later.”

Freshman Jaidyn Estes believes that the new policy will leave room for student’s irresponsibly using their time.

“I think it’s ridiculous to have so many tardies. I understand if there are emergencies and the tardy becomes necessary, but 14 in one semester is way too many and shows a high level of irresponsibility,” Estes said. “I’ve never gotten a tardy in my life, but I would urge other kids to be more responsible of your time, and do everything you can to not use them.”

waste valuable class time going to get a tardy slip, and finds that this new policy will help teach him responsibility.

“Compared to the old one I do like it better. It seems less controlled and more self-run by the teachers, and I appreciate that the school gave the teachers that option,” Thirstrup said. “It also helps take away from the time students would miss from class having to go and grab a tardy slip.”

“I think it’s more lenient because you can get 14 tardies before any form of punishment happens, not that you should though,” business teacher Bethany Siegel said.

Yearbooks on sale!!

Order your 2019 Ozark Echoes yearbook y full am Pa

Send payments to the yearbook staff at WHS in Mrs. Adler’s room (room 11).

n ou

Extra 2018 books are still available for $50

t or split

p ments ay

Get the cheapest price of the year by ordering your book this fall. Prices go up in December.

You may pay installments with $20 down and $20 upon delivery.

$40

70

Ozark Echoes

by

Ethan Schomburg

Volume

2019

Senior Brenna Smith gets into character as a “thief” in the band’s field show.

Color guard performers create choreography for the show themselves.

Photo by Kya Schepker.

Junior flutist Becky Petesch performs the first movement of the “To Catch a Thief” field show at half time of the Midway game. The band performed in their first competition last weekend in Carrollton. Photo by Kya Schepker by

Bridget McClusky & Ally Estes staff writer editor-in-chief

S

ilence encases the field as band members stand in uniformed lines; sweat drips from their brows and is trapped by the black molded masks hiding their features. Senior Drum Major Autumn Long raises her gloved hands, and with just a few simple movements, the mask-clad members march into formation.

Color guard disperses, tip-toeing in their pointed shoes around one another, heads whipping from side to side in suspicion as bags of money are slung over their shoulders. With the end of the marimba solo comes the beginning of “To Catch A Thief.”

Warsaw High’s new band director Kristin Rode has introduced a new program for marching band, featuring music such

as “To Catch a Thief,” “The Heist,” “Jewels by Moonlight” and “Entrapment/The Slip.”

Rode has been involved with band programs for 17 years, and this is her first year working at Warsaw.

“I chose this theme because I just wanted something fun to do, for the most part,” Rode said.

“The hardest part about band and performing is time management, and the amount of time it takes up.”

Band members have received the theme well and have already participated in four performances. Freshman trumpet player Corbin Thirstrup has a passion for music, but a hatred for marching. Despite this, he pushes through to perform his best.

“My favorite part is learning the music, but I don’t like marching. The hardest part is

memorizing,” Thirstrup said.

“And I feel like we should get rid of morning practices.”

Band practices at 6:45 a.m.

Tuesday through Friday and after school on Thursdays the week of a competition.

A large portion of the band members are willing to appreciate the effort they put into the show. Sophomore percussionist Darby Mostaffa has been in band for four years. Her favorite theme so far has been “To Catch a Thief.”

“The hardest part about band is getting up at five in the morning for early morning band practices. They are very helpful but they are also very life-sucking,” Mostaffa said. “All of the new changes this year makes it difficult to adjust.”

Sophomore Lucas Culbertson believes the new changes are very minimal, and is adjusting to the new regime with ease.

“Being able to play, and getting new music is the best part of band, but the hardest part about band is putting everything together,” Culberston said. “My favorite is parade marching, because you have more of a chance to show off your skills. If anyone has any talent on an instrument, they should join, too.”

The band performed in their first marching competition of the year in Carrollton.

W

Sports

thewildcatonline.com

September 27, 2018

8

Softball team’s bond grows as wins keep coming by

The varsity softball team huddles up as they hatch out their plan during their game against Lamar.

The Warsaw tournament was held Sept. 15 and the Lamar game resulted in a win 13-0. The Lady Cats also came away with the tournament trophy. Photo by Brenna Smith.

Brenna Smith

W

photo editor/writer

ith only a couple home games left, the dedicated softball girls of Warsaw are back onto the field with determination leading the way. Practice for the team started Aug. 6, with early morning and late night practices keeping the team on their toes and motivated for anything the season throws at them.

The team is built up of a well-rounded group of players, joining the team this year are nine up and coming freshmen, with senior Kinsten Cunningham leading the girls into a winning season.

“Being the only senior this year is crazy, you have to constantly be a leader and be there for all of the girls on the team. I think I was super lucky to be the senior of the team that I got. Even if we are losing and no one is positive sometimes, they just need a pat on the back and telling them that, although we are behind, we need to stay up, cheer for the team and keep being the team I know we can be,” Cunningham said.

However, losing is not something the team is used to doing. The team has won 16 of their 17 games this season, losing to Pilot Grove, 1-9, early in the season. Many of their wins have ended in a run rule, where the game is called after the first 3 innings when Warsaw was 15 ahead or the first 5 innings with a 10 run lead. Other close games have been against Sherwood on Sept. 11 (7-6) in 12 innings and Eugene on Sept. 17 (8-7).

Returning to the field are juniors Kya Schepker, Reagan Shelby, Kiersten Grobe, Rayni Simons, Payge Adair, Aubrie McRoberts, and Aubri Umlauf.

Adair has been playing softball for seven years, and currently holds down the mound as pitcher, along with playing first and second baseman.

Adair, along with the other girls, is hoping for the best outcome this season.

“I think that wanting to make it to state makes

Junior Kya Schepker bats against Clinton. The game was held on Sept. 18 and resulted in a win for Warsaw 15-0. Photo submitted.

us want to try our best. We all want to go to state and we want the experience. I am very passionate about softball, I try my hardest when ever I’m on the field,” said Adair.

With a handful of kids who have been playing traveling ball through the off season, the team is easily getting back into the swing of things.

New assistant coach Kelli Eierman has worked with the girls before and knows the girls are down for anything.

“We are very fortunate to have a group of girls who are already very knowledgeable about softball. Our practices always run very smoothly, but I feel there is always room for improvement and growth,” said Eierman.

Off and on the field, the girls are known to have an unbreakable bond.

Freshman and first baseman Karlie Jones has been playing softball for five years.

“When you have a team that cares about each other, it makes you want to work even harder to make your teammates happy. We all love to work hard and if we have a bad day, we pick each other up and help find a way to fix what needs to be fixed,” said Jones.

Even with their strong friendship, the team is always focused on the next win and the there next big play. All of the girls bring their own personal strength, and contribute to a well-rounded team.

Head coach Steve Larson has been coaching the team for 14 years.

“I have 12 players who have played travel ball and 11 that currently play. They put in the hard work all year round and that’s what makes you a

well rounded player. Many of them participate in multiple sports, that also makes you a more rounded player,” said Larson.

As the girls get ready for upcoming districts, they are looking to win big at every game. With their passion for the sport, and coaches to lead the team, the girls are having an amazing season.

The girls recently came out on top at the annual Warsaw softball tournament, with an overall record of 16-1 so far this season. The girls recently beat Clinton on Sept. 18 with a score of 15-0.

“I think that we have a ton of girls who just strive to win, that helps with the momentum and personality of the team, that helps 100 percent. A good attitude and always acting like you’re five points behind just to help you drive to keep going,” said Cunningham.

Football team fights through 2018 season by

Joshua Simpson

T

The football team stampedes onto the field during Warsaw High’s jamboree.

The scrimmage was held Aug. 17. Photo by Kya Schepker.

staff writer

his season has been a tough one, but The Wildcats pulled through on Sept 14 with a 48-6 victory against Sherwood.

“Junior Varsity came in at the second half, and they were doing good. They didn’t give up a point,” senior tight end Eli Hawkins said.

The performance on the 14th was a stellar juxtaposition to the game on the 9th against Cole Camp, in which the Wildcats lost 0-21.

Junior Chase Steiner injured his

knee at the Cole Camp game, just one in a handful of injuries that the football team sustained during the 2018 season.

Most of these injuries were small, and healed fast. There were one or two concussions and some muscle injuries. All injured players were back in the game in no time.

Senior quarterback Matthew Luebbert had experienced an elbow injury that prevented him from playing this season. “[Other player’s injuries] put us all in a bad mood, since they’re out we’re not going to be able

to do as much,” senior Dalton Nickles said.

Senior wide receiver/free safety Colby Schwartz experienced a shoulder injury that slowed things down and switched up playing style for him.

Whenever a player is injured, often a younger player will step in.

“It takes them a while to get the hang of it but they do. They’ve been stepping up.” Schwartz said.

Whenever it comes to the outlook for the football season,

head coach Ryan Boyer divides the season of nine games up into thirds, and they move through it a week at a time, adjusting players positions as necessary.

The adjustment is part of relative improvements made to the spirit of the team. Boyer also says that ‘effective communication’ has developed.

“Communication is always key.

You’re gonna have adversity, you’re gonna have tough situations. Working it through personally, or with another person is what you always hope to see in the team,” Boyer said.