3 WHAT’S INSIDE? October 2021 * Issue 2
9 9
11 Wichita Collegiate Middle School 9115 E. 13th St. N Wichita, KS 67206
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY Teachers, Students Took a Break From Their Studies to Focus on Wellness Photo by Khloie Villagomez
By Khloie Villagomez Although mental health is not something people always want to talk about, it is an important thing that should be recognized as a big part of daily life. With the past two years being extremely abnormal with the Covid-19 pandemic, stress and anxiety was laid onto the shoulders of many students. This year, Wellness Wednesday
was a total surprise to the students. During the day you could watch groups of people running around campus doing a scavenger hunt, playing yard games, petting dogs, painting colorful murals, doing yoga, and creating safe spaces to learn more about themselves. (Photos by Reghan Eck) (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2)
2 NEWS/FEATURE
Wellness Wednesday Allows Students to “Pause,” Check in With Mental Health
Students pose with Leonidas as part of the physical education scavenger hunt on Wellness Wednesday. Students had to solve riddles and do physical challenges. Photos by Reghan Eck
(CONT’D FROM PAGE 1) “Wellness Wednesday is to create a time for both students and teachers to press pause on their daily activities and focus on their own mental health / wellbeing,” said Mrs. Heidi Holton. “We provided multiple different rotations that offered both knowledge in learning more about ourselves and our emotions, as well as opportunities to try different stress activities.” This idea of Wellness Wednesday is a way to show that mental health includes physical health, emotions, pet therapy, and even food. According to Mental Health American, “Young people are struggling most with their mental health. The proportion of youth ages 11-17 who accessed screening was 9 percent higher than the average in 2019. Not only are the number of youth searching for help with their mental health increasing, but throughout the COVID-19 pandemic youth ages 11-17 have been more likely
than any other age group to score for moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.” So, a conversation was brought up with Mr. Vincent, Mrs. Dokken, and Ms. Holton to involve the discussion about mental health and emotions. “It [mental health] is something that the Middle School feels is important to focus on and share with the MS students that it is worthwhile,” Holton said. The reason behind ‘Wellness Wednesday’ is not for all students to love every single activity. “The true objective is to show students (AND teachers) that they matter enough to take an entire day away from “normalcy,” to have fun and focus on their own emotions, mental health, and growth as middle school students,” said Ms. Holton. “I believe that days like Wellness Wednesday impact students because they walk away with the experience of hearing a discussion and participating in an activity that requires them to look inside themselves -
what brings them joy, stresses them out, and everything in between.” This experience was embraced differently for many students. Fifth grader Manhattan Bacci said, “I feel that it was a relaxing day and it really helped me, especially the dogs and the running that got me going. Right after was the yoga, which was really fun. I had a good day!” Wichita Collegiate School has embraced the RULER Approach that was developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University. This is an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning, and over the past year, a group of WCS Faculty took part in RULER Training and started the process of training teachers more on social-emotional learning so that they can apply it to students in the future. “Here we believe, ‘Mental Health matters because students matter, teachers matter, we all matter,’” Holton said.
Hadley Porter (6) helps paint a mural. The collaborative mural is now hanging in the middle school hallway.
“Here we believe mental health matters because students matter, teachers matter, we all matter.”
NEWS/FEATURE 3
Left: Max Timsah and Ella Pearson learn to assemble a robot in TinkerLab. Photo courtesy of Mr. Gehrer Below: Mr. Gehrer shows Ben Alderson the correct way to use a saw in WoodLab. Photo courtesy of Mr. Gehrer
What’s New in the I-Lab? New Innovation Lab courses and collaborative projects challenge students and teachers to test their creativity.
By Avery Compton The innovation lab has been a part of the Collegiate campus for almost seven years. This year, Mr. Joe Gehrer has taken the Ilab to the next level. Gehrer has added four new classes: WoodLab, VexLab, TinkerLab, and ScratchLab. Gehrer hopes the ILab can influence students and teachers to test their creativity. WoodLab allows students to be safe while using power tools and hands on tools. The wood lab class is currently working on making tables and benches for the new middle school hangout area, just outside the Lair. The VexLab class focuses on coding and engineering. This class prepares students for Upper School, as they use the same program, RobotsC. VexLab is testing their robotics and coding skills, building various robots. Gehrer’s class, TinkerLab, focuses on a students’ design becoming tangible products. TinkerLab will
be adding to our campus with their birdhouses, which they will have to design and build. The ScratchLab class teaches the coding of games and animations. ScratchLab is incorporating their core subjects into games for their peers to review on. The Innovation Lab is open to all divisions of the school, including our Lower School. Mrs. Simms is the Lower School science teacher, and has started STEM challenges on Fridays. “The iLab is a shared space for teachers of all divisions to use as needed, whether that is a place to spread out, get messy or use some tools to help complete a project,” said Gehrer. Gehrer has high hopes for the ILab and what it can bring to our campus. He believes that students shouldn’t have to feel the pressure of taking a core class in order to step out of their comfort zone. “I hope to show students that
there is a wide variety of career choices out there that use skills and content they are currently learning,” said Gehrer. These kinds of classes offer a hands-on learning experience. The use of tools, coding, and creating items for a customer are all used in the real world. This class is a great way to prepare students for future careers.
Congratulations to Jackson Lukic (7) for being the winner of the Spartan Torch animated logo contest in ScratchLab. Scan to see his work!
4 OPINION
OPINION
Candy Corn... Classic or Plastic? PLASTIC!
CLASSIC! By Eloise King Do you think Candy Corn is a good candy? If you replied “no,” then you are wrong. Let’s start with some fun facts about candy corn. Did you know that Candy Corn has its own holiday? Before you ask, no, it is not Halloween, but rather the day before on October 30th. I assure you right now that there is no holiday for why Candy Corn is a trash candy. My other fun fact for now is that candy corn is rated in the top two in candies right after chocolate in South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Oregon. One of my favorite things to do with candy corn when I was little was to eat the orange and yellow, then use the white part to pretend my tooth fell out, and throw it at my sister to make her scream. Here’s a disclaimer right now to not do that because you will probably get in trouble for throwing pieces of candy corn at people. Anyway, besides making people scream at the fragments of candy that you are throwing at them, candy corn is also a very low- calorie candy. Before you say that it’s the worst candy and is practically wax, the top reason
that people don’t like candy corn isn’t because of the taste, but actually the texture. I did some research about why it has such an odd and unusual texture and discovered that it’s actually hardened sugar crystals that give it its texture. This was intended to give the candy its crumbly yet not too hard or chewy texture which was achieved with the success of the candy managing to stay together at the same time. I would also like to point out that candy corn is a mixture of fondant, vanilla flavoring, and marshmallow creamer. If you had read those ingredients on a candy that you had never tried before, you would think that it may be your new favorite candy. So think for a moment, would you like candy corn if it had a better texture? To conclude, candy corn is a great Halloween- themed candy, and it goes well with your favorite death-themed movie or TV show like Hocus Pocus, It, Criminal Minds and many more like these.
By Delilah Banuelos Candy Corn is the classic candy for Halloween, but it’s the worst candy ever. There are many reasons why candy corn is terrible but some of the biggest reasons are the texture and shape, the lack of nutrition, and the fact it’s made from bugs
and bones. The texture of candy corn is just weird. It’s like candy corn doesn’t know what it wants to be. There really is no great way to describe the texture of candy corn. It’s very weird. The only way really to describe it is waxy, gritty, and hard. Also, the shape of candy corn: If we want to be technical, corn isn’t shaped in a triangle or pyramid, or whatever the shape of candy corn is. Corn is shaped in little balls with a flat bottom, so that’s how candy corn should be shaped. On another note, the colors are strange: why orange, white, and yellow?I get those are fall colors, but if the candy corn is called candy corn it should just
be yellow and not any other colors because a single piece of corn isjust one color, so there’s no reason for there to be three colors in candy corn. Candy corn is not healthy for you. It’s just made up of seven ingredients, which are sugar, corn syrup, carnauba wax, artificial colors and binders, gelatin and confectioners glaze. Now people might think I’m lying when I say candy corn is made from bugs and bones, but surprise! I’m not. Candy corn is made from bugs and bones because of the gelatin and confectioner’s glaze. Gelatin is made from animal hydes because when the animal hides are boiled the animal’s collagen is broken down into a semi-solid gelatin. Confectioner’s glaze is what is on the top of candy corn to give it that shiny look. The truth is that the confectioner’s glaze is made from lac-resin, which is a bug secretion. The bug that they use for the lac-resin is the lac-bug. So my question is, now how do you feel about candy corn now after learning about it. Do you still think it is good? I think not and if you do still think it’s good, I hope you enjoy eating bugs and animal hides.
House Captains Should Have Bigger Roles By: Reghan Eck What do house captains do? This is a commonly asked question by middle school students. However, this should not be a question. Middle school captains should do more than what their current roles are. These roles include helping out at house games. Yes, that it is a fun thing to do, but they should be able to do more! When seventh graders send in their videos for house captains they say everything they want to accomplish, but are they getting a big enough opportunity? I believe that house captains should have more of a responsibility because they are facing these issues that they want to change. Also, middle schoolers
probably feel more comfortable opening up to captains. Captains also understand what the other students are trying to possibly change because they are going through it as well. “We need to meet together more and talk about our ideas that we provided in our house videos,” said Carlyle Johnson, Delphi captain. “I think if we do that it could help get our ideas across.” Not only do they think they could change specific things, they also believe that they could make us bond more with each other. “We could do more to connect,” saidIsaac Vanderburg, Corinth. These are all great ideas, and they provide ways that they could do it.
Some may be thinking: why should we allow students to decide what happens in the school? They may think that students are not as responsible as they should be, or that they are too young to decide certain things. At Collegiate, we are difference makers, so let’s allow our students to help change certain things they feel passionate about. We need to allow house captains to make a difference because why shouldn’t they? Let’s help our fellow students to make a change at Wichita Collegiate.
“We could do more to connect.” -Isaac Vanderburg, Corinth House Captain
Letters to the Editor OPINION 5
Collegiate Should Get an Orchestra
Dear Editor, As a former violinist in a Virginia private school all-strings orchestra, I think WCS should have an orchestra. WCS should have one because some violinists, cellists, and violinists should have a musical group of their own. WCS already has a band, but why not add an orchestra too? The orchestra could play at school events in the quad, at local contests and more events.
I believe that music and classical music (like Mozart)play a very important role in the life of music. Classical music is one of the oldest types of music in the life of humans. We need an orchestra. So, I ask you: should WCS bring back the history of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach to WCS? The answer is yes. Sincerely, Chloe Carpenter, 6th
More Zero Hour Activities Should be Offered Dear Editor, There should be more zero hour activities/after school activities available for middle schoolers. It helps kids find other hobbies that they didn’t know they liked. Last year I knew nothing about bass guitar. Then after the talent show, me and my friends decided to start playing after school and for events at school. Now I love the bass guitar and play it almost every day. If a kid doesn’t want to do something new, they can do something that they already know how to do. This can help them get better at the things they like. Also this can be used for other stuff like study hall. Some might say, “If they want more ac-
,
“Build Your Own Sandwich bar” -Ava Monahan, 5th
“Fried Chicken” -Laith AlSukin, 7th
tivities for after school and Zero Hour, why don’t they sign up for something that’s not at school?” To this I think that it would be better for kids to do what they like in an environment that they already know, with kids they know. This would in all be a better experience for kids who want to learn stuff that they love. I believe that in the future we should add more activities to help kids either get motivated in the morning, or learn something new after school. Sincerely,
Uniforms Instead of Dress Code? Dear Editor,
As a student of Collegiate for many years I have been wanting uniforms. I think that we should have uniforms because we don’t have to think about what we wear in the morning. Yesterday morning, I spent five minutes thinking about what I should wear to school that day. Also, having uniforms would save Collegiate families lots of money not having to go shop for school clothes. Having uniforms would also save Mrs. Dokken lots of stress from going around dress coding people all the time. Also uniforms would save parents lots of time because they don’t have to worry about what you wear every day. Some might say they like having the choice of picking out their clothes every morning. Here is what I would say to them: uni-
forms save money, time, and stress. If we did have uniforms, I would like them to be comfortable. Maybe a dri-fit collared shirt and some khaki slacks. If some people wanted, the Shirt Shack could sell some extra items for the uniforms like a jacket and shorts. This would also make the Shirt Shack more money from all of the parents wanting their kids to look good. If anyone else wants this school to get uniforms, we all need to come together and email Mr. Washer or the school board. We can do this! Sincerely Yours, Torsten Overman, 6th
If you would like to send a letter to the editor, please write to abowers@wcsks.com
Liam Finan , 6th
“IF...” you could add one item to the lunch menu what would it be? by Campbell Arneson
(“IF” is a monthly feature inspired by the famous laconic answer by the ancient Spartans to an invading foe. Look it up! Spartans were known for their verbal austerity and pithy remarks.)
“Chicken Wings” -Gavin Klausmeyer, 7th
“Calzones” -Brooke Mcknown, 8th
Editorial Cartoon by Lucy Gehrer
6 ENTERTAINMENT
Book Review : Wilder Girls By Eloise King
Imagine for a moment that you are looking in the mirror and see a slight twitch coming from your arm. The small parasite that everyone on your island has been so terrified of seeing. Your fingertips slowly turn bluequickly yet excruciatingly killing you from the inside out. You're dead within an hour. “There were about a hundred girls when it started, and twenty teachers. All together we filled both wings off the old house. These days we only need one.” This is only a small portion of one of my favorite books entitled Wilder Girls written by Rory Power. This dystopian story follows 16 year-old Hetty and her roommate Reece as they try helplessly to search for their best friend Byatt who has mysteriously disappeared from Raxter Island where their boarding school is located. Everyone at Raxter knows that, eventually, you will catch the Tox- nature’s way of trying to make you more powerful. After this, it’s
only a matter of time before it kills you. Everyone has their own flare-ups to deal with. In Hetty’s case it’s an extremely itchy eye that’s permanently sealed shut with something growing behind it- causing her to go blind in that eye. Others have extra hearts or spines or scales growing on them. The worst part is that it’s not only the girls that go to school there who are getting the Tox. Every living thing on the island is susceptible. Including the bears, deer, and bobcats which grow to be twice their size and exceptionally persistent on killing everyone they see before eating them and some
The ORACLE By Max Timsah
As fall begins, so does Libra season and Mercury’s retrograde. For the month of October, here is what to expect:
even resort to cannibalism. If you thought that our quarantine was bad, imagine not being allowed outside the fence of a very small school campus and being forced to learn to use a gun and knives in case an animal gets in the fence. They receive hardly any food from the mainland from a boat and are then forced to throw out anything that had been opened because it may be contaminated. I like this book because it puts all of our problems into perspective and shows us how good we have it. Even though there’s all of this violence is in the book, it’s still considered a child-appropriate book because all of these things aren’t really mentioned in detail as opposed to being vaguely mentioned. Along with this, whenever people die, it’s normally just implied instead of them telling us directly. I normally don’t give great book reviews because I have really high expectations for books because I spend most of my time reading, but I give this book four out of five stars. Scorpio: You underestimate your appeal to others sometimes, the many factors of your personality will draw others to you this month. Do not promise too much to these friendships, but do not allow them to be sustained by one party of the friendship. A lot of good things will come if they are taken care of. To take care of these things, organization may be key. This month will be a month of fruitful responsibility for Scorpio. Libra: If there are things in the past that need mending or attention, take on their needs and face them this month. This is also a time to evaluate the current situation on things
Delano Shop Rocket Fizz a Hit for Adventurous Eaters By Lucy Shepherd
was very sweet and left a bitter taste. It was a very strong I went to a small candy drink. I give it a 7.5/10 and soda shop called Rocket On the far right. I tried the Fizz. It's a really cool place “BARF.” I know how gross if you're looking for a little and weird it sounds. Right? more adventure in your bev- Surprisingly it was a very citerages and or candy. They rus drink and fizzy. It tastes have a wide variety of many like an orange and lemon flavors of drinks. I tried sprite. I was really nervous some really weird flavors. to try this one. It was not my On the far left is the drink, favorite one out of the “Bloody Nose”. It was a nice bunch. I give it an 7/10 and subtle wild cherry. It was I also got a chance to try a kick of cherry and a very some of their yummy canfruity flavor. I was nervous dies. I tried the “Birthday to try it at first. I give it an Cake Cotton Candy.” It was a 8/10! weird first taste but it endIn the middle was the ed up really good. I think “John Lemonade.” It was a it tasted like the ice cream. very sour and tart lemonade, It was delicious. I give an not quite like any of the orig- 8.5/10 inal lemonades. However, it
Bloody Nose: 8/10 John Lemonade: 7.5/10 Barf: 7/10 in your life. Put some new systems into place, take out ones that are outdated and tidy up what you need to be efficient and happy in your life. This month will be a month of problem-solving for Libra. Sagittarius: To keep a positive attitude this month, explore new horizons. Be safe about your choices but take the time to do new things. You may be surprised by what you find. The more you do, the more you learn about your surroundings, and then you may find that you know more aware of your personal facets. This month will be a month of new horizons for Sagittarius.
Birthday Cake Cotton Candy: 8.5/10 Capricorn: In the recent months you have had an adventurous spirit, somewhat like Sagittarius, and now is the time to handle the people who have become more intrigued in your life and maybe even your new hobbies. Your time to explore is almost up because you can now connect to those that found you while you found yourself. This month will be a month of connections for Capricorn. Aquarius: Thoughts of sizable change may randomly emerge in your mind this month, but do not stray away from immersing yourself with your ideas and newfound goals. They are not bad omens, but
ENTERTAINMENT 7
SHEERAN
VS
SWIFT
WHO’S THE BEST ARTIST? Torch reporters Max Timsah and Campbell Arneson duke it By Campbell Arneson out By Campbell Arneson MUSIC Ed Sheeran has such meaningful lyrics about his gorgeous wife, Cherry. His song “Perfect” is all about how he doesn’t deserve his wife because she is so perfect. Taylor Swift only writes about her breakups with a bunch of men she can’t keep. Another one of Ed’s most meaningful songs is “Small Bump.” He wrote it for a close friend and it is about him becoming a father. Ed Sheeran writes many lyrics for other artists and they are so significant to his kind heart. CHARITY Ed Sheeran has supported 11 charities and 8 causes. Ed has millions of followers on different social media platforms and makes lots of money from his music. Ed does not new thoughts that your body is not used to. Use your preexisting knowledge to make balanced and wise decisions and get the opinions of others to ensure that you are making the right decision for yourself. This month will be a month of change for Aquarius. Pisces: As you begin to adapt to the new school year let yourself be more relaxed. Don’t take this as a pass to laziness, but when you become more emotionally relaxed in an important setting such as school the time will pass faster. Start implementing new ways of doing things and see what is best for you. You may begin to use your new knowledge as a standard.
use hismoney for new cars or a new house. He uses his money mostly for charity. One of Ed’s biggest donations is $10,000 to the hospital that took care of his sick grandmother. Ed Sheeran is such a kind-hearted person who will do anything to take care of anyone. VIDEOS His music videos relate to his music so much and show exactly what the song is about. His latest music video Bad Habits is a great example. STAGE PRESENCE He interacts with the crowd and always has a lot of energy when performing.
This month will be a month of advancement for Pisces. Aries: This month you will watch many interesting occurrences. Drama will be the most prevalent, however you will be on the sidelines and not inside of the events. This will be exciting, but you must continue to focus on yourself, free of the excitement. Remember, Aries are fun, we got this. This month is a month of observation for Aries. Taurus: In theory, the thoughts of others about you do not matter, however you must do things to impress a few others this month to reach the full potential that you want to reach. Play the role
By Max Timsah MUSIC Since the release of Swift’s first album, she has won over 32 AMA awards, 11 Grammys, 25 Billboard music awards and had all 9 of her albums go #1 including the rerecording of her second album Fearless. She also has had 7 number 1 songs and 29 top ten songs. Throughout Swift’s discography she has told her story through clever lyrics and well-curated albums that have upheld her career for the past decade. From “Fearless” to “Evermore,” she has taken inspiration from country artists to Victorian poets. I find that Look of the person that you want to project without erasing your personal identity. This month will be a month of projection for Taurus . Gemini: The confidence that you hold will make others pressure you to put your self-glorified thoughts into action. Successful in your journey or not, the lesson that Geminis will learn this month could change the course of their life, big or small. These changes may affect others in the translations of your thoughts into a tangible thing. This month will be a month of trials for Gemini. Cancer: You have been working hard
What You Made Me Do, Champagne Problems, The Lakes and many other songs have meaningful lyrics. Her newest albums have lots of literary and historical inspiration. Unlike the poorly written, poorly sung songs by Ed Sheeran. CHARITY In the years of Taylor’s career she has donated to charities helping those affected by abuse, orphans, AIDS & HIV patients, Animals, Disadvantaged Youths, Bullying, Cancer, Children, Civil Rights, LGBT Support, Miscellaneous, Poverty, Sexual Abuse, Refugees, Human Trafficking, Substance Abuse, Unemployment, to keep yourself consistent this month and you may begin to feel anxious and tired of the workload that you are doing. Keep up your work and you will be surprised by how well it will pay off. This may feel like a chore, but it will help you in the end. This month will be a month of steadiness for Cancer. Leo: There are times when the body needs time to digest. Not as in bodily digestion, but as in time to process certain events and reminiscing on past ones. Look at a photo album, watch a show that you have been meaning to watch, maybe read a book that reminds you of a happy time in your life. I can recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society
Women’s rights. In her album Lover she also touches on topics of human rights and feminism. VIDEOS The videos for songs like Me, You Need To Calm Down, Look What You Made Me Do, and Blank Space all have easter eggs that symbolize different aspects of the songs. She has portrayed crazy alter-egos, buried her old self, burned down a camper, and communicated with poster signs in the iconic You Belong With Me video. STAGE PRESENCE is a big part of Taylor’s career, this is evident during her Reputation Stadium Tour which grossed 345 million dollars making it the best-selling tour in U.S history. She has always had confidence and although she never dances during tours, she has still been successful in choreography and engagement with her fans. The fact that Taylor has been bashed for her past relationships also makes me aware of the rampant double standard for women writing breakup or love songs since all of Ed’s music is love songs and he has never gotten any hate.
series for a good read that is full of adventure, but has a casual tone. Try to find a comforting source of entertainment and you will thrive while giving yourself some time to relax. This month will be a month of emotional digestion for Leo. Virgo: You may have been taking pride in yourself and working to keep a clean reputation in the past moths. This is good, but don’t overindulge yourself in yourself. It sounds funny, but it is true. Sometimes I find myself getting caught up in my grades and it is important to not be obsessive about yourself. This month will be a month of considerate decisions for Virgo.
8 Lifestyle
the
Real HousePets OF COLLEGIATE by Max Timsah Squiggles Viljanmaa enjoys a hammock. Photo courtesy of Finley Viljanmaa
Hiku Vincent lounges with his flannel toys while spying on his neighbors. Photo courtesy of Hanale Vincent. Moshi Mallard jumps up for a treat. Photo courtesy of Jessica Mallard Top Center: Blue Kater sleeps away the day. Photo courtesy of Ellie Kater. Right: Steve Santo rocks his tux. Photo courtesy of Sophia Santo.
The Campbell Chicks dance in the heat lamp. Photo courtesy of Jena Campbell Left: Florence Youssef screams for treats. Photo courtesy of George Youssef
Millie and Cookie Michaelis lounge on a bench. Photo courtesy of Nancy Perla Goldie Fazio walks and shows off her new haircut. Photo courtesy of Alegra Fazio. Gilly Gehrer dresses up as a depressedf flower (Lucy said that). Photo courtesy of Lucy Gehrer.
PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH BY LUCY GEHRER
Belle Black enjoys an icy treat. Photo courtesy of Niamh Black
CULTURE OF THE MONTH: GREECE
Clubs & Fine Arts 9
Each month, the Torch will explore a new culture and its connection to our student body-
BEAUTIFYING OUR CAMPUS
By Claire Marquadt
By Claire Marquadt
Many students here at WCS have culturally diverse backgrounds that their classmates may not know about. One such student is Evan Lynch. Evan is half Greek and has visited Greece three times. One of his favorite traditions is a yearly race in Meligalas. Meligalas is where his grandparents live and has an incredibly rich culture. It is located in a valley of the Pamisos River. This small valley town has a rich history being created in the
Teachers have been busy making our campus more cozy and beautiful. We’re sure you have noticed the new student art all over the walls. But are you able to identify the masterpieces below?
middle ages. When Evan visits Greece his favorite food to eat there is spanakopita which is, “Basically, a pastry with spinach inside and feta.”
If you look outside you never know if it will rain, snow, or be 100 degrees, That is just Kansas. In Meligalas it rarely ever rains
and is sunny and hot all year round.
Curious about the inspiration behind your “House” name? Ithaca, Delphi, and Corinth are real places with a rich history! Ithaca: When many envision Greece they think of beautiful beaches, rich culture, and ancient legends. Ithaca encompaces every one of these thoughts, and more. While most of Greece has strong ties to Turkey, Ithaca’s culture is closest to Italian culture with a strong Gypsy influence. In the summer Ithaca is full of parties, fairs, and other festivities. Almost every night there are different celebrations celebrating the Orthodox religion of the people. During these celebrations you may see people dancing. In the Ithacan culture, dance is a way to spend your time when you have little technology. Even though they have little technology, they find other fun ways to
7th and 8th Grade Play: Santa’s Zombie Apocalypse Photos by Lucy Gehrer
keep their hopes up. Some may research the history of Odysseus, who was said to be born in Ithaca. If you want to learn more about the history of Odysseus and Ithaca you could read the Odyssey. All in all the island of Ithaca is beautifully diverse. Delphi: If you know anything about Greek Mythology, you would’ve heard about Delphi. Delphi isn’t just the name of the oracle, but also the place. Delphi, located on Mount Parnassus is ancient and the stories of what has supposedly happened there has spread all over the globe. These ancient stories are one of the biggest contributing factors to the culture there. In Delphi the arts are very
important and valued, they have been for a while. They do all kinds of performances and many of them tell stories of their ancestors. These performances include theatrical and musical performances, as well as ancient tragedies and concerts. These astounding performonces happen on the Ancient Theater of Delphi. This theater, built with the limestone of Mount Parnassus, is also on the same hill as the Temple of Apollo, who is not only the god of the sun but also the god of music. Corinth: Corinth is a beautiful city in Greece. Ancient ruins of what was once one of the most powerful cities in Greece stand on rolling hills. The people of Corinth
are happy here. They have jobs just like everyone else, even if their traditions date back centuries. Many Corinthians are tradesmen, shipping cargo from Asia, Africa, and Europe. After a long day full of strenuous labor and little leisure time many sit down to a freshly made honey cake, which is a Corinthian specialty. The ancient people of Greece lived a life surrounded by legends, and tales of gods such as Apollo, Aphrodite, and Poseidon, who is Corinth's patron god. The temple of Apollo is located amongst mist covered mountains, a hidden gem of Corinth. This serene setting proves that the ancient people of Corinth lived a life of serene beauty.
The first student to identify all three pieces of art below and bring the titles/ artist to Mrs. Dokken will receive five points for their House!
10 CAMPUS LIFE
Meet the Teacher: Mr. Baker
By Courtlyn Ramsey Who is Mr. Baker? Well, the coolest 8th grade math teacher you'll meet! Before Collegiate, he was teaching reading and math to middle school students in Connecticut. While Mr. Baker is in Wichita, he is happy to reunite with family nearby, but he sometimes misses his old town of Greenwich, Connecticut. Greenwich is a quiet place to take a rest, especially by Island Beach, Great Captains Island Lighthouse, parks, and many more other attractions. He misses the fall season of Connecticut, his friends, being near the beach, and he misses the weekend trips to Boston and Maine.
“The seafood and lobster, really good stuff,” said Baker. In Wichita, daily life is different than it was in Connecticut. “Ever since I’ve been here the wind hasn’t stopped blowing!” he said. Mr. Baker said the main difference between Connecticut and Kansas are accents, weather, and a different pace. Traveling is a big part of his life, because he likes experiencing cultures and different ways people do things, environments, being a part of it, and how it is so much fun. “Life’s too short to not have great experiences,” said Baker. Mr. Baker has a favorite place: London, England. He
STUDENT ST UDENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
loves the culture, the food, the vibe of the people, and how much there is to see and do. Baker, who loves Harry Potter, has gone to platform 9 ¾ located in King Cross Train Station in London. He has also visited Elephant House Cafe, where J.K Rowling started writing Harry Potter. Mr. Baker thinks he would be in Slytherin because the traits are ambitious, determined, clever, and resourceful. “But,” he added, “The house chooses you, you don't choose the house.” The Harry Potter books got him into reading again for pleasure, because he had a period of time where reading wasn’t fun for him. Books to him are fun and he said they can help you escape to somewhere you can feel safe and secure. Mr. Baker looks forward to a good year ahead of him standing strong as a part of the Collegiate community. He wants to teach his students to gain more confidence in math and his goals are to be a better teacher and to fit in well in this community. “I haven’t been to many schools with this kind of spirit,” he said. The Spartan community is proud to have a teacher like Mr. Baker!
By Carson Malaise
Sometimes, it's just hard to be a chef, so volunteer to make dinner one night. It might be helpful to be honest sometimes. If you don’t, he might never know that you don’t like his food unless you tell him. Also, when he finally does something right, you should praise him excessively so he’ll do it again. -Lucy and Lucy
I feel almost invisible to my crush sometimes. She never looks or notices me. How do I get her to notice me. Should I change my looks? I don’t know what to do? She is so beautiful and I feel like a mole rat compared to her. What should I do? -Mole Rat
you to be feeling this way. Don’t change yourself for others. Always do what you want. (Remember that you make your own decisions) Go up to her, and tell her how you feel. Don’t hide your emotions. If she doesn’t see you it’s her mistake. Stay true to yourself. Confi-
Dear Mole Rat, It’s totally normal for
When you hear karate, what do you think of? Some people may think of the movie “Karate Kid,” or maybe the controversial side of “Cobra Kai.” Others may think of intense training, discipline, and dedication. One of the most popular stereotypes about martial arts is cool flashy moves that beat up all the school bullies. When some people want to start something new they don’t want to put in work, or it’s too much dedication to put in, but this isn’t the case for Jett Riley. His journey to gaining a black belt began when he saw Taikwondo going on in a dojo. “I never thought I would get into karate until I saw it. When I saw it I wanted to try it out, and I’ve kept at it ever since,” said Riley. Riley didn’t start off on the path of karate though.
He began taking Taikwondo lessons for a year, and then made the transition to karate. For the past six years, he has been taking karate lessons climbing up the ranks of the belts. From white to orange to blue to yellow to green to brown, and finally, to the greatest rank of the karate world: black. Keeping up with an activity for seven years takes a lot of dedication and devotion, and there is a good reason why Jett has continued to pursue karate. “The amount of discipline that we gain from karate is one of the greatest things I’ve gained, and it’s a reason why I keep participating in karate,” Riley said. Riley just recently gained his black belt. In the future, Riley hopes to keep karate up as a hobby and to keep active. Keep up the great work, Jett!
JUST A SK LUC Y
justasklucy2008@gmail.com
Dear Lucy, My dad thinks he’s a chef, but he’s really not. His food is really bad. So bad it makes me sick. That's why I’m gone a lot. How do I tell him without hurting his feelings? -Cow Tongue Dear Cow Tongue, If you don’t want to hurt his feelings, then try giving him some pointers or tips.
Dear Lucy,
dence is hot!
-Lucy and Lucy
SPORTS
FALL SPORTS
11
VOLLEYBALL SEASON RECORDS
6th Grade 6-7 7th Grade 7-5
The Spartan football team runs through the banner to prepare for the big win againt Andale.
UNDEFEATED!!
Both middle school football teams are undefeated this year.
8th Grade 10-2
The 7th/8th grade team ended their season 6-0. The final game for 5th/6th is Saturday against Cheney.
Eighth grader Carlyle Johnson goes in for the kill.
Isaac Vanderburg hands off the ball to Jaden Parker. Photo by Reghan Eck
CHEER Anne Marie Olson, Elizabeth Timsah, and Zaryn Thompson pump up the crowd at the football game.
Photos by Reghan Eck
TENNIS GIRLS END “FANTASTIC” SEASON “Twenty-five girls, all interested in getting better, different levels of ability starting out. They all made progress throughout the year fantastic season!” -Coach Dave Hawley
CROSS COUNTRY By Khloie Villagomez As the cross country season comes to an end, we reflect on the improvements all throughout this group of runners as they made new personal records every week in races, placed and got medals, had first time runners join the team, enjoyed running to PeachWave for frozen yogurt, teaching the coaches “cool lingo”, making TikToks, and enjoyed the cold morning practices. Coach Elkouri said, “Watching the way that our team came together and always celebrated each other’s victories was what made me proudest as a coach.” Kudos to this year's cross country team, or as the team would say, big
purr! “This season was absolutely one to never forget,” Coach Lippoldt said. “So much hard work was put in and tons of fun was had!”
Alegra Fazio went undefeated this sea son. Photo by Reghan Eck
Right: The newspaper staff celebrates its very first issue! Not pictured: Sadhakshi Sivaraman and Delilah Banuelos. Photo by Mrs. Bowers
Lower Right: Eigth grader Ali Al-Sukin plays with a dog during a relaxing activity on Wellness Wednesday. Photo by Delilah Banuelos
October in review Right: Team Ithaca does a victory pyramid after the P.E. scavenger hunt Below: House captains and the middle school band lead an assembly for National Hispanic Heritage Month
Left: Drama students delight the audience with a hilarious play during a Star Day assembly