Special First Day Issue
ECHOES
Issue 1 | Volume 113 August 2013
The Independent Voice of Abraham Lincoln High School | Council Bluffs, Iowa | ALechoes.com
Photo and graphic by Francisco Franco
Students getting involved through activities Sports:
Beautify ALHS:
Fall, winter, spring, and summer sports are one way to get to know one’s peers. By joining in sports such as: swimming, volleyball, bowling, or soccer one will be able to work with schoolmates they never would have talked to otherwise. There are more than 15 sports that are offered to both boys and girls throughout the school year.
Submitted by Mindi Richardson Beautify ALHS is a group of students and staff members who volunteer their time and effort to making AL a better place to learn and work. We are focused on the “looks” of our schoolboth inside and out, improving the grounds and overall “curb appeal” of AL. We would LOVE any new students to join our club. Please see Mindi or Aileen in the Main Office for information!
DECA: DECA is a group of students joining together to improve upon their skills in: hospitality, marketing, finance, and management. Kristy Courter, business teacher, is the instructor for DECA. Although freshman are not allowed into DECA (only offered to juniors and seniors), younger students interested in the program are advised by Courter to take business classes in their underclassman years to help with their future success in DECA.
ALL IN: Submitted by Samantha Adams ALL IN is a great organization for any student in school. The group includes students that are interested in creating a better environment at Abraham Lincoln. It strives to make all students feel welcome and involved. If you want to meet new people and be part of the school wide movement to improve the student to student relationships in the building, this group is for you! Meeting times and dates will be announced in the first few weeks of the new school year.
Speech: If one is interested in branching out, wanting to break out of their shell, or just want to join in with a group who works hard, but still has fun, Speech is the group to join. “Public speaking is the number one fear of Americans. Join speech and you can overcome that fear and have fun along the way. Anyone is welcome in speech and freshmen get their own team. Consider joining speech!” said Dirk Waller, Social Studies teacher/ Speech sponsor said.
Whether it be in activities to help keep the school clean, or in sports, getting involved in activities is one way to feel apart of AL. In joining these different activities, students are able to branch out and meet new people. Grapic by Jessie Adkins
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ALECHOES.com
Important Dates
September 2-Labor Day October 11- Student Vacation day November 19- End 1st Trimester
November 21- Start 2nd trimester March 4- End 2nd Trimester March 10- Start 3rd Trimester
May 31- Graduation Day June 4- End 3rd Trimester/ Start Summer Vacation
Feature
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Spread Designed By Britteny Johnson
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Freshmen, fresh start: meet new students and find your way around What are you most excited about when it comes to starting high school? “I’m excited about being around a lot of new people and I get to be a part of something big.” - Avery Thomas ‘17
“I’m most excited about getting to know more and making new friends.” -Ben Jones ‘17
“I’m most excited to meet new people, new teachers and make new friends.” -Ashley Mcclary ‘17
Cartoons by Jazmine Orellana
What activities or clubs do you plan on joining this year? “I’m a member of Student Council, I’m also going out for Lynx Legion. I’m going to run track and I might tryout for a musical.” -Avery Thomas ‘17
“I’m taking Piano, Concert Choir, and Spanish.” - Ben Jones ‘17
“I plan on doing track and I’ve already joined Cheerleading.” - Ashley Mcclary ‘17
What electives are you taking this year? “I’m taking French, Orchestra, Show Choir, and Parenting.” - Avery Thomas ‘17
“I’m nervous about starting all over in a new place.” - Ben Jones ‘17
“I’m taking Intro to Engineering Design, Spanish and Biology.” - Ashley Mcclary’17 Interviews by Jaidlyn Bookout
Echoes The Echoes is published by the newspaper staff of Abraham Lincoln High School, and exists to serve as an open forum for the students, faculty, administration and community. All state and federal laws regarding the publications
of student materials shall apply, and the Echoes will not publish materials which also fall under the guidelines established by the Council Bluffs Public Schools system, and are deemed libelous, obscene, or a material and substantial disruption to normal classroom activities. The views expressed are not those of the Council Bluffs Public Schools, faculty, or administration.
Any student, faculty, or staff member wishing to contribute materials will need to submit a letter to the editor within deadline restriction; however, final publications is at the discretion of the staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged, and must be 400 words or less in length and signed; letters will be printed as received. Every attempt will be made to
verify the authenticity of the author, and no anonymous letters will be published. Advertising will not be accepted for all products or services that are illegal for minors to possess or utilize. Advertisers wishing to reserve publication space should call 712-3286481 ext. 425.
Sports
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Page Design by Jaidlyn Bookout
Baseball team reflects on past season
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By Victoria Holcomb Opinion Editor
his past baseball season may have been rocky, but that gives the team even more of a reason to work on teamwork and their physical abilities. At the end of the 2013 baseball season, AL lost 9 seniors : Brett Mcgee, Drue Cull, Connor Gann, Connor Dean, Chase Herbst, Brian Johnson, Sean Smith, Sean Powers, and Zach Clark. That leaves the team with just two upcoming seniors. One of the upcoming seniors took a moment to reflect on the past season. “We had a great team,” Chris Lavy ‘14 said. “When we were doing what we were supposed to, we would win the game.”
Head Coach James Larsen played baseball during his high school and college years before coaching for nine years and counting at AL. Being a player himself, he likes the fact it’s not an easy thing to do, he enjoys watching the team succeed. Larsen said the incoming seniors will determine their own successes during the next season. “I think the seniors have the effort and attitude to have success,” Larsen said. Many of the recently graduated players said they will miss playing baseball for AL. “It’s a summer I’ll never forget,” Connor Dean ‘13. “There was something special about these seniors and it showed.” One player said this season is a satisfying way to end his baseball career. “It was a fun group of
guys to play my last high school season with,” Connor Gann ‘13. “Wouldn’t have traded it for the world.” Though the season may not have been the best, it pushed the team to work harder. “I will be training a lot harder this year,” Lavy said. “To be both physically and mentally ready for the next season.” Baseball players start their season in April, and by the time the middle of July rolls around, the players have played a few games a week. Players dedicate their time during summer break to better themselves, and play quite a few games. “Ups and downs, the season overall was enjoyable,” Larsen said. “Even though we didn’t have the success I anticipated. I am really proud of the team and thankful to be the coach.” Photos by Alex Snipes
Record breaking season for Lady Lynx By Kate Hiers
News Co-Editor This past summer marked a winning season for the AL softball team, breaking the school’s overall win record with a 15 game win streak. Along with the past season, the 2013 softball team also welcomed new coach Vallarie Hallagan. Hallagan will be coach-
ing next year as well. Players said that Hallagan did a great job coaching, and had a special connection with everyone. “She’s awesome. Even though she’s young enough to be my sister, there was something maternal about her. She did a fantastic job for her first year, I wouldn’t have wanted anybody else to be my coach,” Hayley Hochstetler ‘13 said. Starting out with a 15
game win streak, the softball team achieved an overall record of 28-11. “We had a very successful season. The girls worked very hard. They pushed each other and themselves,” Hallagan said. The only difficulty the girls faced this year was the amount of underclassmen versus the amount of upperclassmen. “Not having many upperclassmen meant we
had a lack of experience. Although, as we started playing we all grew together, and played as a team. We were competing against difficult teams, but overall it was a great season,” Lauren Nahnsen ‘15 said. Teammate Lauren Meeker was named softball player of the year, among other things. “My junior year I got City Female Athlete of the year, which is all sports. This
year I actually got Softball player of the year and City Athlete of the year again,” Lauren Meeker ‘13 said. Some advice Meeker said she’d give to others is to work your hardest and hope for the best. Meeker says she’ll be playing softball in college at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Hochstetler and Meeker made big impressions on fellow teammates.
“The seniors this year made a huge impact on the upcoming freshman and I. I feel like we all had a sisterly bond at some point towards the end of the season,” Nina Wellman ‘17 said. “We’re all sad to see them go! I think they helped us a lot with our upcoming future in softball and high school socially!” The softball team ended the season by saying goodbyes to graduated seniors, and having a banquet.
2013 Football Schedule Thursday 8/29 4:45 Freshmen vs. Lewis Central at CB Stadium 7:00 Varsity vs. Lewis Central at CB Stadium Saturday 8/31 11:00
AM JV vs. Lewis Central at LCHS
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Monday 9/9 7:00 JV vs. Harlan at CB Stadium
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Friday 9/20 7:00 Varsity vs. Sioux City North at Olsen Stadium
Friday 9/13 4:30 Freshmen vs. TJ at CB Stadium 7:00 Varsity vs. Tj at CB S.
Monday 9/23 6:00
JV vs. Ralston at CB S.
Saturday 9/14
11:00 AM JV vs. TJ at CB S.
Friday 9/6 4:45
Freshmen vs. Harlan at Harlan 7:30 Varsity vs. Harlan at Harlan
Homecoming Dance
Thursday 9/19
6:00 Freshmen vs. DenisonSchleswig at Denison HS
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September 28th
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Friday 9/27 at 7:00 Varsity vs. Sioux City West at CB S. HOMECOMING GAME! Monday 9/30 at 6:30 JV vs. St. Albert at St. Albert HS Thursday 10/3 6:30 Freshmen vs. St. Albert at St. A HS Friday 10/3 7:00 Varsity vs. Des Moines East
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at Des Moines East Fields
Saturday 10/5 11:00
AM JV vs. Glenwood at Glenwood HS
Monday 10/7 6:00 JV. vs. Denison- Schleswig at CB S. Thursday 10/10
4:30 Freshmen vs. Gross Catholic at CB S.
Graphic by Jessie Adkins
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