Optimist issue 2 2013

The

A t c h i s o n H i g h S c h o o l ’s S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r

Optimist 1

Impressions of a Foreign Exchange Student, page 6

October 25, 2013 Issue #2

Racing to the Top, page 3

Have Halloween costumes become too scandalous?

See page 4

Your Ad Here Contact The Optimist staff at ahsjournalism1@usd409.net.

Fall Focus, page 8

Want to be a Big Brother or a Big Sister to a student at AES? Contact school counselor for details. RSVP hours available.

Marathon Educators, page 3

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Textbooks On iPad: Necessary?

Laura Whitmer, Editor-in-chief

At the beginning of the 20122013 school year, hundreds of iPads found homes in our student bodies’ backpacks.

and reports.

Atchison administration had hoped for many months to create a one-to-one school system where each student would have a laptop of their own for class.

High prices led the school to iPads, though the educational intention behind this decision remained unclear.

I find no issue continuing to use physical textbooks. Granted, my backpack weighs more than my shoulders appreciate some days, but our district already owns these books. Why should we spend more money on virtual textbooks when we will essentially learn the same material?

The state learning requirements have not changed so drastically that we require any new learning tools; our inventory stocks plenty of adequate textbooks.

Now, one quarter into the second year of iPad use, multiple teachers have discovered apps worth having their classes download, and students have access to an endless supply of media tools needed for a variety of projects

After waiting for over one year, textbook rather than twenty picit’s finally arrived: textbooks on tures. your iPad! When this happens I sometimes Of course, that’s false. Even af- ask myself what my iPad is acter possessing the technology to tually for. Few teachers at this turn this school paper-free, our school allow for note taking on school still insists on loading its Notability, and I haven’t been students down with (literally) able to take practical notes in the twenty pounds of textbooks on classrooms that do since my keytop of a three pound iPad. board broke this summer.

The most obvious solution to this problem is simply to take a picture of the pages in your textbook. This works most of the time, but I’ve often had to take over twenty pages from an English textbook home to read or study. In these situations I find it easier to take home my entire

The Optimist Staff Laura Whitmer Editor-in-Chief

2014laura.whitmer@usd409.net

Connor Wheatley Editor

2015connor.wheatley@usd409.net

Charlsey Green Reporter Tommaso Coratella Reporter Brett Spillman Graphics Designer Nathan Farrell Featured Columnist Dylan Amos Lead Photographer Alexis Smith Photographer Taylor Foster Photographer Leah Lane Photographer Maddison Welch Photographer Emily Genail Photographer Brittany Ettleman Photographer Matt Renk Advisor matt.renk@usd409.net

In School

Editorials

Fewer teachers, as I’ve seen, regularly make use of the amazing technology in their grasp in their everyday classes.

Sure, I can write an English paper or send an email to my teachers, but the on screen keyboard is clumsy and hard to use effec-

Through the Halls

Hard Work Beats Talent When Talent Doesn’t Work Hard

Written by Nathan Farrell Seniors, it’s that time of year: when all of your hard work and dedication has finally made its way onto the face of your college application. You have invested the past four years of your life both into school and into your extracurricular activities. Those four years have led up to the dreaded and painstaking process of applying to colleges in hopes of getting in, while the fear of rejection looms over the mailbox.

But did you really try your hardest these past four years?

Did you really reach your full potential during your high school career?

If I were to ask myself these

Most of these iPads, however, lack virtual textbooks.

In addition, our generation finds themselves hunched over a

screen more often than not even without virtual textbooks. According to the Washington Post, “teens spend more than 7 1/2 hours a day consuming media.”

Whether it be through watching Netflix or refreshing a Twitter feed, technology has burrowed its way into our daily lives.

I find it beneficial to close out of our Facebook apps and Pinterest boards for 45 minutes and transport our minds to the world of Shakespeare or the English Colonies without the glare of a screen cast before our vision.

As technology advances, I hope physical textbooks still find themselves on top of our desks and off our computer’s desktops.

tively. It seems as though I use my iPad more efficiently as a distraction than as a learning aid.

Connor Wheatley, Editor

I am a musician; making music is my passion, but I know that I will not be able to succeed if I don’t work hard both on and off “the field.” If I am not succeeding in every aspect of my life, then I am letting my entire being fail.

Well, that is correct, but not only is it a small part of our lives, it lays the foundation for the rest of our life. If we choose to be unsuccessful now in high school, then we are setting ourselves up for failure in the future.

I know that I will not be able to succeed if I don’t work hard both on and off “the field.”

The Optimist wants to hear your opinion

The Optimist gladly accepts contributions from guest writers on any subject.

E-mail your letters, preferably limited to 500 words, to ahsjournalism1@usd409.net.

Submissions must include full name for inclusion and we will contact you to confirm that you are the author of the letter.

Marathon Educators On Saturday, October 19th, a marathon was held in the downtown Kansas City area. Starting and ending across from Crown Center, at the corner of 22nd & Grand, the race began at 7:05 AM.

“We did what we trained for,” says Craig Hanzel, who is pleased with his performance.

questions, my answer would be a clear “no.” Rarely have I tried as hard as I could and rarely would I opt for anything more difficult than the easy way out.

But what’s that to me? High school is only a small portion of my life, right?

Now, many of us may have talents outside of school. For instance, there are many talented athletes on the track, football, and soccer teams, but we can’t dedicate our whole being to extracurricular activities. We must balance our priorities with our passion.

Kurt Shlanker, Craig Hanzel, and Laura Hanzel sport their Kansas City Marathon attire the Monday following their race.

Atchison High educators Kurt Schlanker, Craig Hanzel, and Laura Hanzel all participated in the 26.2 mile run.

With the exceptional amount of content accessible from the small device that every student has access to, I see no reason why the school hasn’t taken advantage of every opportunity.

Perhaps I’m ranting over something small. I know there’s plenty of ways to avoid taking a textbook home. Still, it’s been two years. I think these iPad should have found some use by now.

3

The Hanzels trained 5 days a week for 5 months in preparation prior to entering the race.

Mr. Schlanker started training at the beginning of June and frequently enters into local races.

“My favorite moment was seeing our three children, Johnathan, Allyson, and Gabriel, at the finish line,” says Laura Hanzel. “[My husband and I] stopped for several moments to hug and kiss

Written by Connor Wheatley

them before crossing the finish line together.”

“One of the best moments for me,” Mr. Schlanker reminisces, “was when my wife appeared and ran part of the last half-mile holding my hand. She’s been extremely supportive of me while I’ve been training for the race.”

The Hanzels completed the marathon with a time of 4 hours and 54 minutes, and Mr. Schlanker finished in just under 5 hours and 45 minutes.

Achievement Unlocked

Written by Connor Wheatley Atchison High School is slated to receive a Certificate of Merit in Math. The school will receive recognition at the Annual Challenge Award Recognition Ceremony in Junction City on November 13, 2013.

The Certificate was rewarded based upon the test scores of last year’s Junior class. The Challenge Award Recognition awards schools based on the results of the 2013 Kansas Assessment among other factors, such as the size of the class and the socio-economic status of the tested students.

The leading score from each state board region receives a Certificate of Merit. Forrest Covey, the principal at Atchison High, and Kaylene Deware, a chairperson of the math department, will accept the award on behalf of Atchison High School.

Racing to the Top

Written by Connor Wheatley Sarah Jaloma, a sophomore at Atchison High, recently beat last year’s female 3A cross country champion, Jordan Puvogel, at the Hiawatha cross country invitational October 7th.

Puvogel, a junior at Hiawatha, received the 1st place medal with a time of 15 minutes and 30.6 seconds last year at state competition.

And so, I am encouraging you to pursue what you love, but not to forget what the real key to success is: hard work.

Work hard and good things will come. The stars of tomorrow walk the halls of our schools today. There are future NFL stars, concert pianists, world renowned physicists, and CEOs right in this school. Whether or not you choose to work hard and become what you want is up to you.

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” - Vince Lombardi

NEED RSVP HOURS?

The AES Community Club needs child care providLetters may be editted for clarity. ers for their Monday night meetings.

The Optimist is the official student newspaper of Atchison High School. It is produced entirely by students of the Contact Heather Matthias or newspaper production class.

Marcia Jarombek for details.

Sarah Jaloma races to the finish line at the Hiawatha inventional on October 7th.

Jaloma won 1st place with a time of 15 minutes and 25.5 seconds over Puvogel, who won 2nd place with a time of 15 minutes and 37.31 seconds, at the Hiawatha invitational.

Additionally, Jaloma received first place in the regional race on Thursday, October 17th. The cross country team won both the boys and the girls KCAL championships.

Redmen through The Optimist’s history: 1922 Football team reffered to as “Coach Reid’s men” and “fighting Reidmen”

1926

Teams described as “red and gold”

1923

Term “Redmen” first used

1950 First use of Indian mascot image *Information courtesy of Ginny Donaldson and Wade Gassman.

Featured

Featured

5 4 Have Halloween costumes become too scandalous?

From zombies to vampires, scandalously should not be the many people use October 31st as focus for Halloween enthusiasts. a means to dress up in the scariest costumes they can find.

Q: What do you think about girls who dress scandalously for Halloween?

Wade Gassman: “As a guy, I’m fine with it. Here’s just a limit.

Too far is just bad.”

Q: Would you allow your daughter to dress scandalously for Halloween?

Gassman: “The limit shrinks a lot.”

According to Money Talk News, almost 7 billion dollars is spent on Halloween each year. The National Retail Federation reports that 2.6 billion of this Halloween money funds adult, children, and pet costumes alone.

The shift in Halloween spending has transitioned from purchasing a frightening costume to wearing an outfit that reveals as much skin as possible. Halloween has evolved into the night individuals, specially teenage girls, can dress up in whatever they want - whether it be frightening or not.

American

spends $2.6 billion on Halloween costumes Each year

ter dress that way.”

Written by Charlsey Green

English teacher Angela Rapp states, “While I do feel that how individuals choose to dress is their business, scandalous costumes can send the wrong message.”

Senior Clifford Johnson begs to differ. “The average guy is gonna say they hate it, but I love it.”

When presented with the scenario of having his own daughter dress scandalously, however, Johnson replied with a firm, “No.”

Q: What do you think about girls who dress scandalously for Halloween?

Nathan Julo: “They are begging for attention.”

Junior Josh Munson, “I don’t Despite the increased market understand why they can’t just for revealing costumes, a major- wear a good old Superman cosity of people agree that dressing tume. I will never let my daughQ: What do you think about girls who dress scandalously for Halloween?

Rickey Smith: “I think it’s trashy.”

Q: What do you think about girls who dress scandalously for Halloween?

Paul Ogle: “I am a dad, and I Q: What do you think about girls don’t believe girls should ever who dress scandalously for Haldress in this manner. loween?

Ashley Burge: “I think that they Q: Would you allow your daugh- should be covered up and dressed ter to dress scandalously for Hal- appropriately.” loween?

Ogle: “Never!”

Q: Would you allow your daughter to dress scandalously for Halloween?

Gabe Julo: “I don’t have a daughter.”

Q: What do you think about girls who dress scandalously for Halloween?

Angela Rapp: “Scandalous costumes can send the wrong message.”

Q: Would you allow your daughter to dress scandalously for Halloween?

Rapp: “Certainly not before she was 16.”

Q: What do you think about girls who dress scandalously for Halloween?

Ed Crouse: “All girls should cover up as much as possible.

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Culture

Entertainment

Impressions of a Foreign Exchange Student After an eight hour flight from Milan, Italy, to New York City and another flight from JFK to Kansas City, I finally landed in the place where I will stay until June of 2014.

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Written by Tommaso Coratella

tory, Philosophy, Math, Science, Physics, History of Art, and PE.

Students do not have the same classes each day, and they have to go to school on Saturdays.

In Italy, there are specific kinds I immediately noticed a lot of dif- of high schools: the science, the ferences between America and classic, the linguistic, and others.

Italy, even just on the ride from High school is longer in Italy; the airport to my new home in there, school last five years inAtchison. For example, I was re- stead of four. ally surprised to see lot of trucks driving on the roads because in High school’s social aspects Italy there are just a few. are also different. To be popular in Italy, individuals have to In Italy, streets are smaller, be good looking, well dressed, signs are different, and there and wealthy. Also, the people are squares where we can meet are sometimes really snobbish.

My favorite American foods are friends every day. Here, build- At Atchison High, everyone is huge burgers, French fries, and ings are pretty modern, houses friendly and helpful. large, sweet drinks with a lot of different flavors. In Italy, there are fewer fast food restaurants: only McDonalds, Burger King, and Starbucks. Italy does not have Sonic, Subway, KFC, Taco Bell, or other common American fast food chains.

Those are the main differences that I found in these past weeks.

I really like America, this town, and this school. I miss Italy, but I hope to have a great year at Atchison High with all of you!

are bigger, there are gardens in most yards, and there is not a centre of the city. In Italy, the centre is where the Dom, the biggest church in town, is located.

Lots of habits are different in America. For example, people eat meals much later in Italy.

Lunch is usually at 1:00 PM and dinner is around 8:00 PM. GenCremona, my hometown, is situ- erally people walk or ride bikes ated along a river similar to the instead of driving. Until adolesriver in Atchison. There is a re- cents are 18, they cannot drive ally big bridge, but on the bank cars, but they can drive a moped of Cremona’s river there are also at age 14. a lot of sport clubs for activities like rowing and country clubs In Italy, if people are not busy with swimming pools, basket- with homework, sports, or othball courts, tennis courts, soccer er activities, they usually meet fields, and restaurants. To be- friends in the centre of the city come a member of these clubs, and hang out for a couple of people have to pay an expensive hours. Teenagers don’t do anyregistration fee (about $7000 at thing special on Friday nights, the smallest one.) like it is common to do in America, because on Saturday morning We do not play football or base- they go to school. On Saturday ball in Italy, and our basketball night everyone usually hangs out teams are not as good as the with friends, goes to parties, or American teams. dances at the disco.

The main differences that I found are in the school. In Italy, school usually starts at 8:00 AM, lasts for five hours with a break after the third, and ends at 1:00 PM. Students do not have lunch at school and do not move from classroom to classroom - teachers do! Students also cannot choose the classes that they would like to take; they are obligated to take Italian, Latin, His-

The drinking age is also different; in Italy, we can buy beer and wine when we are 16 and hard liquors when we are 18.

Top right: Cremona, Italy.

Above: Sports club along the river in Cremona. Left: River and bridge in Cremona. Below: Centre of Cremona.

Across

4. Roundabout, not direct 6. To sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling or distress 8. Composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances 12. A natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior) 13. Thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported 14. Existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously 16. To direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit 18. To make amends, make up for; to avert

19. The modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend

Down

1. To assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute 2. To use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end 3. Not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no 5. Resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government 7. To have an intense dislike or hatred for 9. Resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not

congenital 10. To steal something that has been given into one’s trust; to take improperly for one’s own use 11. Bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid) 15. Resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental 17. A state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action 18. To make easy, cause to progress faster The crossword answers are vocabulary words from Mrs. Kaveler’s junior classes. The first 15 juniors to return a completed crossword to Mrs. Kaveler will be awarded extra credit.

The food is completely different as well. For example, American pizza is good, but the Italian one is the best - probably because it was invented there. Also, Italians usually cook pasta for a shorter amount of time than people traditional do in America.

Email pictures of you and your friends decked out in Halloween attire to Laura Whitmer or Connor Wheatley and see them featured in the Atchison High School online newsletter or school Twitter page.

Top left: Atchison Adrenaline show choir perfroms at Oktoberfest on October 5th.Bottom left: Senior Arika Smith shows Redmen pride at the Homecoming football game. Varsity cheerleaders support the varsity Reddmen. Above left: Seniors Bennie Smith and Mady Shipley are crowned Atchison High’s homecoming king and queen. Above right: Seniors Allysen Owens and Dane Anderson compete at the homecoming pep rally. Top right: Morgan O’Niones recieves 3rd place at the Desoto Invitational tournament on September 30th. Hannah Liggit serves during a varsity volleyball match. Bottom right: Atchison High’s drumline warms up before the homecoming parade.

Photos Fall Focus