Issue 2 September-October

ECHOES

Issue 2 October 2012

The Independent Voice of Abraham Lincoln High School

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Tucker Center celebrates 40th anniversary Students, staff highlight success through events, displays, tours

“Having class with TJ people.”

Jill Waugh ‘14

Photos by Francisco Franco

ALechoes.com

This year, the Tucker Center will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. It was first established in 1972 and aims at giving students college credit while still attending their home high school. Students come to the Tucker Center from local high schools in the area to work together as a team as they prepare themselves for different career fields.

The majority of students who attend are juniors and seniors, who are on the path of graduating soon.

The Tucker Center is a safe environment to learn and meet new people along the way. Most students and teachers are able to connect with each other beyond the typical classroom setting

What’s Inside:

and create friendships, while still getting the benefit of advancing their schooling.

“Both the teachers and the students seem to be more like a family.” said Sonya Stejskal, Social Studies Teacher at Tucker Center.

“It is a smaller building with good curriculum offerings that are dual credit. It is smart for students to come here and earn college credit while they are still in high school.”

Although the courses offered at Tucker Center are challenging, the teachers are always there and make it a priority to help their students, if needed. Some students, such as Sarah Fisher ‘13, are very familiar with this. Due to the smaller size, students are able to connected with teachers at a higher level.

“The teachers are really cool,” Fisher said. “ (They) are very understanding and help you with everything and

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Students compete in River City Roundup Oratical Competition

are really easy to get along with.”

Fisher, who has has attended Tucker Center since her junior year, is currently taking Health Science as she prepares for a health-related field for the future.

A few major accomplishments that the Tucker Center is proud of includes their HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) chapter who has enjoyed a long history of accomplishments at the State and National level and continues to grow. Students who attend or have attended the Tucker Center have had numerous awards and accomplishments.

There were a few things planned to help celebrate the great success Tucker Center has accomplished over the years.

“We incorporated an Open House event during our Parent/Teachers

Conference on October 1,” said Cyle Forney, Tucker Center Principal. “We had guided tours of the Tucker Center and historical artifacts on display along with refreshments prepared by the culinary classes.”

This event took place to celebrate the 40 years Tucker Center has been in existence.

Tucker Center’s primary goal has always been to help students continue their career path beyond high school and develop skills to help them succeed in the future. For one, it’s hard work but it pays off.

“If you come to the Tucker Center, be ready to work hard and learn,” Stejskal said. “The benefits will come to you as you graduate high school with some college credits that you didn’t have to pay for yourself. It’s a win-win situation.”

6 7 11 &

“Do It Yourself” Halloween projects

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“It’s someplace different other than AL, there are college credit classes and cool teachers.”

By Christina Rivera Reporter

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Jaimee Swanson ‘13

“It’s different from what we normally do at AL.”

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Taylora Christiansen ‘13

“What is your favorite thing about the Tucker Center?”

Learn some history about the Lynx

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News

Suzanne Peterson | News Editor

Echoes

Tech support center located in school Students get hands-on techonolgy experience

By Brooke Criswell Reporter

With the school’s new chromebooks in use, it is thought by staff to be simpler to have a tech support right here at our school.

If any problems come up people won’t have to wait two to three days for an answer. The tech center is ran by Computer Technician, Nina Reedy. Along her side is the help of students. Requirements for getting recommended are that their sponsor knows they have a love for technology, they want to take their studies further into that field, and kids who just enjoy helping and fixing problems. There are already certain problems occurring with the chromebooks such as broken screens, broken touch pads, or just having simple questions about working the laptop.

“I ask what they need, and we’ll try to figure out the problem, then if I can’t figure it out, we’ll double check with our teacher,” Robb Shane ‘14 said.

There are basic ideas you have to learn before handling computers and electronics.

The first steps Reedy teaches the students are the basic guidelines. Students have to double check every part to make sure they won’t electrocute themselves and go over safety procedures. Other than that, their instructor likes to give them freedom to explore.

“I start them on a project, guide them to a point where they need to be, then I turn them

loose. I really want them to dig in with their heels and I don’t want them to have to keep coming back asking how you do this and do that.” Reedy said. “Clear directions are all my techs need. Each of them are very smart and knowledgeable.”

Students that participate in this class don’t only get the opportunity of working with what they love, but will be learning valuable skills.

The hope is for students that leave here can take that comprehension of hands on work and apply it to the real world for an advantage.

“We are getting real life tech experiences,

learning the chromebooks basically inside and out. We’re also learning a lot about customer service and it could help us get a job in the technology field,” Alec Van Gerpen ‘13 said.

All students agreed that their favorite part about being in the class is just being able to be around technology, and being able to gain more knowledge about the components inside.

Along with being an independent study, they think it’s a good plan that other students can come to peers their same age.

“Students can relate more, plus we have our own laptops and understand what the use

“I want them to be able to walk away with more

knowledge, something they can use. I don’t think they would be in here if they weren’t intrested in pursuing a job with technology. I want them to be successful.”

- Computer Technician Nina Reedy

and purposes are for. It’s also nice that we get to help others while gaining social skills that we’ll have to use,” Van Gerpen said.

Teachers aren’t just teachers. They want more for their students, they have a certain passion and patience with the kids. They are here to help mold and guide them on the path the students decide they’ll want to go on. Since this is new to the whole district, Reedy hopes for a great, rewarding year.

“I want them to be able to walk away with more knowledge, something they can use.

I don’t think they would be in here if they weren’t interested in pursuing a job with technology. I want them to be successful.” Reedy said.

Things have been running smoothly so far, the technicians will be rotating jobs throughout the year, but just like technology, things are always changing. There’s not a complaint to change about the way the day is managed.

The setup has been working well, the only complaint Robb had was that he wished there were more people involved. Those who decide to participate seem to have an ambition and excitement about learning more and more about the technical field.If any problems occur the technology center is located right next to the library. Students and staff can find technitions working from 7:30 A.M through 4:00 P.M. So far there are only five students, which are all boys. Technicians are always looking for more students to get involved.

Thomas Jefferson has in-school bank Bank allows opportunity to practice finacial literacy

By Nathan Vorce Reporter

As students mature into their high school years, they are becoming more conscious about money and the value of it. To that extent, Thomas Jefferson High School is hosting in-school bank.

“There are many benefits to having this in the building,” Deb Goodman, a business teacher at TJ said. “Having a bank at TJ will allow the students to have the opportunity to practice financial literacy in a real world environment.

The mission of TS Bank is to promote financial literacy through its foundation work. This will be accomplished by the students having the opportunity to learn the intricate workings of a financial institution and then help the entire student body become exposed to a variety of financial topics.”

TS bank partnered up with TJ to help students learn how to handle their money better.

“There is a good reason that TJ has the opportunity to get a bank. The Council Bluffs School District is creating academies to allow students to explore career options. Thomas Jefferson is the Business and Finance Academy (which is why the bank is housed at TJ) and AL has the Emerging Technology and Engineering Academy,” Goodman said.

AL will not be getting a bank because the district is divided up in two high schools. TJ and AL have different class options and strong points. AL curriculum is directed more towards technology and engineering, with classes such as Aerospace Engineering, Biotechnical Engi-

neering, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Digital Electronics and Engineering Design and Development, to name a few. TJ’s course curriculum is more directed toward business classes.

“Students from ALHS who wish to be a part of the Banking and Finance Academy can choose to go to TJHS for the banking experience if they wish,” said Kristy Courter, a business teacher at AL. As to having a bank, “I would support it, (but) I don’t think that would be an option. The hands-on experience of working in a bank would be very valuable to students interested in that career path. Students who wish to pursue that path, should visit with their counselor about that.”

If AL did have a bank, however, Courter says it wouldn’t be problematic, as the bank at TJ is professionally run, even though it is entirely student run.

It has also been confirmed that Hoover Elementary has will also be obtaining a bank through US banks in January 2013.

“It will give our students an opportunity to learn how to be responsible with saving money and to set short and long term goals for saving,” Hoover Principal Joy Stein said, when asked what benefits a bank at an Elementary school could have. For Hoover, the bank is a blessing, as the cost is nothing. “We do not have to expend any funds as a school to start the bank. U.S. Bank fully supports the opening of the bank and provides assistance from their teller station on a weekly basis to manage the bank,” Stein said. “Our Challenge Program teacher, Rhonda Leffler, wrote a proposal based on our district-approved curriculum to expand opportunities for our students.”

The bank at Hoover is basically free, and will help the students learn about money handling.

Administration Update :

Thomas Jefferson High School has a new addition; a bank located at the school. Photo by Alex Snipes

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

200 million people in China live on less than a $1 a day Left handed people live slightly shorter lives than right handed people.

Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.

In comic strips, the person on the left always speaks first.

Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes

Facts collected from Stunning-stuff.com

Assistant principal Bridgette Bellows is on maternity leave after having her baby boy, Sullivan Drake, shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Sept. 28. Sullivan is healthy, weighing 8 lbs 2 oz, and is 20.5 inches long. Retired assistant principal Fred Maher is filling in for Bellows while she is gone.

News

Echoes

Suzanne Peterson | News Editor

Work hard, play hard

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Band students prepare for upcoming competitions

By Brooke Criswell Reporter

The band is coming together again to go head to head with three other bands this year and the first competition is coming up soon.

Tyler Larsen ‘14 believes that band has what it takes to show dedication, put forth a lot of effort and time, and show a passion for making music.

“We go up on the field at seven in the morning on Tuesday and Thursdays until 2nd hour,” Larsen said. “Then we’ll have private lessons with Mr. Mendell to go over what we should work on.”

With the band’s first competition on Oct. 6th, the students are all getting really excited about the preparation for competing.

“Our first one (competition) is the Loess Hills in Glenwood where we’ll compete with Lewis Central and TJ.” Katie Hummel, Drum Major ‘13 said.

Hummel’s favorite part about competition is watching the other groups. Seven days later the band goes to Lewis Central High School and does a state competition. They are all hoping for their 15th state division win. They are the second smallest school to compete this year with only 88 students playing instruments.

Keowa Coleman ‘14 does band because a lot of his friends have gotten involved since elementary and always has a good time in the class. The students that surround him are just

an added bonus.

“High school is a four year long party, and I want to be apart of that party every day, band is where it is.”

Waukee is their longest, most exciting trip because they will be competing against bigger schools. This year there will be nine schools competing against AL. The bands will start out with the same number of points and whichever band gets the least reduction in points, will come out ahead. The ranking system is based off of organization of the band, how well they play, and the effect it brings to the shows.

“The first two really help us because we have two judges that’ll give us feedback and then Mr. Mendell will have us work on what they said to us until we get it right,” Kahlin Denkiw ‘15 said.

Coming up from middle school, along with all of the new faces and steps one has to take in high school, band is taken more seriously than before.

“There is a lot more prep with the songs. I have to memorize more than before, and I take more time to practice. It’s a lot more work this year than last,” Abbi Harding ‘16 said.

Competing against other schools are not the only thing the band participates in throughout the year. They also do football games and march in the Veterans Parade. At the beginning of November, concert band will start up.

“In concert band you get music and we practice it during class time. We perform the songs that we do at a concert,” Madison

Battle of the bands; Band students pratice for competitions.

Photo by Francisco Franco Kinney ‘15 said. “Students can also do solo for small group, and work for honor bands like SWIBA (Southwest Iowa Band Association).”

Every other year, the band will take a bus ride and go to places such as New York or Texas (past trips) there, they’ll compete in large group competitions.

“I like to do marching band better because it’s more interactive and it puts on more of a show compared to sitting around playing

music,” Kinney said.

Having to be around the same kids all year long, there becomes a bond between everyone.

Being apart of something that is bigger than yourself can give a lot of meaning. There isn’t just one person per musical group, all of the students have to learn to work together and make not only themselves better, but keep the band improving more and more.

Students competing at River City Round-Up Oratorical Competition

By Lauren Myers Editor-in-Chief If someone asked a group of people their biggest fear, answers would vary from spiders, heights, public speaking to even death. A common fear of students, including adults, is public speaking which can be addressed in high school by taking a class to diminish some of the anxiety one may have.

“Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is one of the most common social phobias,” said Jane Hannigan, English teacher at Tucker Center. “According to a 2012 study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, as many as 74% of all Americans struggle with some degree of speech anxiety.

Getting up in front of an audience however large or small and sharing your thoughts aloud is a form of baring your soul really for others’ critique. I get it, I have experienced significant anxiety myself when addressing a group. My goal for the class is that together, we find strategies to minimize our natural

anxiety and maximize our effectiveness as communicators.”

If someone feels confident enough with public speaking more than likely they will participate in a speech competition.

On Sept. 30 at the Centurylink Center students from both middle school and high school presented written speeches on the power of youth. There divisions varied by age as well as small school and large school. Most students who competed were from Hanigan’s public speaking class.

“We had several students participating in the River City Round-up Oratorical Competition,” Hanigan said. “It was an important opportunity to apply what we’ve learned in a truly ‘public’ format.”

Not only did the students who participated have a chance to speak in a “public” format, they also had the benefit of getting to work on an assignment from the class.

“One component of the class, in my opinion that is especially beneficial to student speakers is the ‘Special Occasion’ speech requirement,” Hanigan said. “Students are expected to deliver one prepared speech outside of the classroom setting to a group

of 15 or more that showcases the work that we have done in class. Not only are the Special Occasion speeches an important way to apply our work to authentic, real-world speaking opportunities, they are also a way for the community to see first-hand the learning and skill building that is taking place in our schools. The Special Occasion speeches can definitely ‘push’ students out of their comfort zones but it’s that challenge that is essential for growth to occur and it doesn’t hurt that our students have frequently earned prize money in the process for their efforts!”

Students who competed from the tucker center were either entered as a small school or large school competitor. No one won the small school division from the tucker center but a student from Thomas Jefferson who is in one of Hanigan’s classes, won the large school division.

Even though a fear of some is public speaking, students can take a class in high school to help diminish anxieties. If one feels content with public speaking, taking apart of a speech competition can help them improve and grow in that area.

Voters pass resolution that will shift funds within school district

By Megan Figueroa Reporter

On Sept. 11 voters passed a resolution that will shift funds from the Council Bluffs Community School District reserve levy, which is a levy that has designated “reserve” cash, to instructional programs in the school systems. This reserve levy has determined whether the district will have to make changes with electives, now that it has passed there are things students, faculty and parents no longer need to worry about. Around 500 voters voted

yes for the levy to be passed. Superintendent Martha Bruckner believes that all the people that voted realized how important education is in the community. If this levy was not passed, it would have affected the district greatly.

“Once again, our voters have demonstrated that the education of our children is important to them. We will continue to provide the best educational experiences and environments possible for our students to succeed,” Bruckner told the Council Bluffs Nonpareil.

Due to the levy passing the school district now has roughly $2.9 million for educational use. The money will go towards instructional programs or enrichment programs or electives the use of the money will be able starting July 13, 2013. This allows those classes to still

be funded and to provide classroom supplies and help faculty. District Spokeswoman, Diane Ostrowski believes that this levy will maximize the use of instructional programs.

“The shift in the district’s property tax levy to Instructional Support from Cash Reserve will positively affect the District’s ability to maintain a solid financial condition as prescribed by state recommendations.This change would give the District the ability to continue progress in educational programs by maximizing the use of the Instructional Support Program,” Ostrowski said.

The school district can now be secure in having electives, and keeping student interest in those classes with the funding now available.

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Page Design by Jaidlyn Bookout | Opinion Editor

Staff Editorial

Opinion

Echoes

Accepting every student for who they are: Ally Week

Illustration by Tiffany Ferrer

Originating in 2005, Ally Week was founded by the members of the GLSEN Jump-Start National Student Leadership Team.

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, is an organization that’s main focus is to have safe schools for all students.

GLSEN was established in 1990, with a mindset that people will accept others for whom they are and their sexual orientation. GLSEN members thought it’d be effective to celebrate allies that were committed to taking a stand, when making schools safe and respectful.

An ally is a person who

stands up against bullying and harassment towards LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered) students, therefore not pointing out their orientation nor judging. Ally week takes place on October 15-19th; this week is to say thanks for the allies. During this week, students and staff will be encouraged to sign the Ally Pledge. To say thanks, you can give an ally a thank you card, post positive messages, and persuade others to live a non-hate lifestyle, and stand up and support others different from you.

A student originated club GSA (Gay Straight

Alliance) is doing their part at our school. They are also participating in Ally Week by making posters, pledges etc.

We believe everyone should be accepted for whom they are as a person.

If you have different beliefs about things it shouldn’t make you an outcast or be despised by others. Diversity is something others should learn to treasure, it creates a path we are bound to go down. Everyone has a different way of expressing themselves, that shouldn’t depict whether you are accepted by society or not.

Although people’s beliefs

about this topic are different, Ally Week is trying to get everyone to make a pact of acceptance to support every individual all around the nation.

Do your part and become part of the change.

Sign the pledge and accept everyone for whom they are, and the lifestyle they choose to lead. Become an ally today!

To learn more about being an ally or becoming one visit www.allyweek.org

(The staff voted in favor of this column, 12 out of 12 )

Halloween showdown: the battle of Batman versus Superman

By Suzanne Peterson Executive Reporter Multi billionaire > News Reporter. Regular human > Alien. Batman > Superman.

The origin of Batman is grounded. Therefore it is emotional. An emotion that is primal, timeless and dark.

Bruce Wayne was forced to watch his parents get brutally murdered at the hands of a thief on the street. At the moment at intense grief, my boy Bruce commits himself to a life dedicated to making criminals pay for their deeds. His obsession guides and motivates him to accomplishments that most of us are capable of accomplishing. I’m sure we can all understand his frustration at having to watch helplessly as the lives of the most important people to him are taken. He’s a normal guy, that can be a hero, even with a utility belt; just an ordinary guy who learned to do nifty things, like swing from place to place on his bat-rope. Even though he may not be able to shoot fire out of his eyes, or fly around like a bird, he was gifted with amazing intellect and ingenuity. Plus, he has all the motive he needs to defeat all the crooks and villains that terrorize the streets of Gotham City. He has good detective skills, can take a beating, and his power is eventually his mind. He’s a neat looking crime fighter, who is also very strong and

intelligent. A superhero that can pull that off, is definitely a truly inspirational one. His secret identity works as a good cover itself. Not many would consider that the playboy and philanthropist would grow up to dress like a bat and run around the city.

Let’s move on to talk about Superman. Pretty boy Clark was born with powers, making him an amazing, strong superhero. He is a pretty cool superhero. Even though he steals our precious light from our sun, has no parents, and only weakness is Kryptonite. He has super strength, high-speed, can fly and has laser eyes; I know if he wanted to, he could punch a hole through B-Man, but he can’t because of his boy scout personality. To be honest, I’d rather read/watch about a regular human, someone like us, be a hero. Superman is too perfect. If I wanted to see something so perfect, I’d close my eyes and dream. Batman had to work for the title of being one the best superheroes, while Superman had everything handed to him.

Think about it. How many of us love those spoiled people, who have everything handed to them? Exactly.

And the movies? We all know “The Dark Knight,” and The “Dark Knight Rises” are some of the best movies made (they’re on my

By Katie Hiers Reporter

Photo by Hayley Hochstetler top 10 fave movies fo sho).

Batman, dark and verging on being a psychopath himself, has no powers, but keeps on fighting. So much perseverance and determination from one guy. He’s the combination of two different beings locked up in our souls; the shining knight... and Mr.Hyde.

We all know Batman is the man. He’s self made.

He’s one of us. He’s clearly amazing. He’s hot. He’s everything Superman is not.

He’s Batman.

Superman’s totally rad because he’s invincible, with the exception of Kryptonite, of course. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in the 1930s, Superman’s been a heroic icon ever since. When you say superhero, the first thought that comes to mind is typically Superman. He’s the most cherished superhero DC Comics has created.

Superman comes from the planet Krypton. His father Jor-El knew that the planet was going to com-

bust, so he then put Kal-El (Superman’s kryptonian name) In a spacecraft that he launched towards Earth right before Krypton exploded.

Kal-El was then found by Martha and Jonathan Kent in a field located in Smallville, Kansas. Martha and Jonathan took Kal-El in as their own and raised him as Clark Kent.

When grown, Clark Kent aka Superman started a job at the Daily Planet, encouraged by his love Lois Lane. Kent writes mainly about Superman, and his adventures.

Superman outstands the other superheroes immensely, especially Batman.

He doesn’t rely on anyone nor does he need to. Batman always has his handy dandy sidekick trailing him.

One reason why I favor Superman is because he always is doing the right thing, he’s all about law and order.

When it comes to Batman, he goes about it any way to fight off crime. Superman is a hero for all the right reasons. He fights crime to protect people, unlike Batman, who fights for his own personal vendetta. Batman is the result of a moody being that never got over his childhood issues.

When it comes to conflict, Batman has all these little gadgets to help

him. Superman doesn’t need weapons to win a battle, although without his powers he’d be as helpless as Batman. If Superman and Batman were ever to get in a fight, Superman would win because he has super powers, unlike Batman. On the flip side, Batman may come out ahead, but only if he used Kryptonite--which in my opinion, is a wuss thing to do. He obviously is going up against someone much more superior than him.

Superman has so many advantages over Batman, it’s uncanny. He’s faster than a speeding bullet, which of course would frustrate Batman as an opponent. Batman may utilize his Batmobile but Superman is more powerful than any tricked out locomotive. Superman can shoot lasers out of his eyes, he has freaking heat vision!

All Batman can do with his eyes is look mean.

Superman can make the earth spin backwards and reverse time to save the woman he loves, Batman, not so much. Batman has commitment issues and just has meaningless hookups with women who are just out to get his fortune.

Lastly, Superman is better than Batman because Superman’s a hunk, plus he writes for a newspaper, the Daily Planet. So that makes him even more of hunk.

Big brand name clothing, small ticket to fitting in

A

By Arianne Boehme Advertising Staff

s I walk the hallways of our school, I notice a lot of the same thing, groups of friends laughing and talking and students racing to their locker before their next class. But I have also noticed one other thing, girls and guys dressed in nothing but expensive big name clothing such as Nike and Victoria’s Secret.

I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing because I too have clothing that are from those

companies and companies alike, but those people who dress in those brands and nothing else or even the people who feel like they have to spend that kind of money just to fit in. I don’t see why people insist on spending hundreds of dollars on one outfit when you could get multiple outfits from other stores for the same amount of money.

I don’t see the point of buying a $60 hoodie when you can buy one that looks

almost exactly the same for $20. The only difference between those two hoodies?

The label. All these clothes are made in the same place, same color, same material, same everything, except the label. I just don’t get it. People should not feel the need to spend hundreds of dollars just to fit in. Last time I checked I wasn’t trying to find the label on someones shirt just to make sure it was from a certain brand.

Target, Rue 21 and

Gordmans are all retail stores that have the same kind of clothes for a cheaper price. I compared the price of an outfit from Victoria’s Secret to a very similar outfit from Target. The whole outfit, undergarments and all from Victoria’s Secret was about $200 while the outfit from Target was only about $85. You could get two, almost three outfits from Target for the same price.

Now I’m not trying to tell you what and what not

to wear because that’s your choice, but you should not feel the need to spend all sorts of money just to fit in.

I mean do you really want to look like everyone else?

That would be boring if everyone dressed the same.

Expressing yourself is something someone shouldn’t be afraid of doing, so don’t go buy what everyone else thinks you should. Be yourself, people will probably like you more that way anyways.

Opinion

Echoes

Jaidlyn Bookout | Opinion Editor

Proving the importance of the penny

By Joe Vrenick Reporter Money is a part of our daily lives. Whether it be a dollar or in coins, we use it to buy our wants and

needs. We all like money no matter what form it’s in. My favorite form of money are coins. It just shocks me how one metallic/copper cylinder is of some value to pretty much every place that sells a want or need in this nation.

Of those coins, my favorite is the Penny. But, there have been arguments about the penny and how its the most useless of the coins. I’ve got a counter argument that proves that the penny is not useless!

First off, a penny, despite that it’s not worth that much, is still money.

You can still pay for a

Red Bull using pennies (not saying that it’s a little strange to buy a Red Bull using all pennies!) It still has value. You can use pennies to buy items. Stores still take pennies, given how you use them.

Secondly, they help with exact change. If you owe the gas station a $1.27 for a soda, and you pay a $1.30, the gas station can’t give you your spare change in quarters or dimes. They have to give you three pennies back to match up $1.27. It’s all basic math.

Third, pennies are everywhere. You can walk

down the street, or in a parking lot, or even in the store on rare occasions, and find one, or even more pennies on the ground. And nobody really cares if you take it or not! So in a small way, it’s like it’s raining a really small amount of money.

Finally, you can add pennies up. We all know one hundred pennies make a dollar right? Well, you feel a really small sense of accomplishment. You’re slowly earning money. Keep adding more pennies to the one hundred pennies you already have and make up

to $5, you feel like you’ve accomplished something bigger (sort of).

So the next time you’re thinking “Boy, the penny is so stupid! Why does it exist?” Or our government is deciding whether or not to abolish the penny, just stop and remember what I’ve told you! The penny is still money despite its very small amount. It helps when it comes to exact change. You can find them everywhere. And you feel a small sense of accomplishment while collecting them.

Student takes pride in our community

By Lauren Myers Entertainment Editor The history of Council Bluffs is pretty remarkable.

Did you know that the town was a major railroad center, the country’s fifth largest to be exact? Or that the Squirrel Cage Jail is one of the three remaining rotary jails? Not only is the history, art, culture, and education strong points of our community, there are some interesting facts that makes my pride for the community grow even stronger. There have been a handful of notable people who have either been born or

Illustration by Lauren Myers resided in this town. A few people who are notable that I think are pretty awesome are: David Yost, an actor in

the Power Rangers; Harry Langdon, a silent movie star; Amelia Bloomer, an American Women’s Right

advocate and Nathan M. Pusey, the former president of Harvard University.

It’s pretty common when I’m on one of my social networking sites or hear conversations from students who I do and do not attend school with. They’re either complaining about one of two things: the school they attend (or attended) and the town they grew up in.

Whether a complaint is in a status update, tweet or said in a conversation, more than likely the bash to either one of them is followed by the other. Such as,“I hate this school, I can’t wait to leave this town,” or “I hate this town and can’t wait til I graduate to get up and go.”

But no matter where you go, the same problems will still exist if you surround yourself with the same people. So even if you want to leave good ol’ “Arkan Bluff” or “Council Tuckey” some things will be sure to follow you. But there will be some things that won’t

follow you, such as the feelings of how close our community is. It is pretty astounding to see almost the whole town get together for one week of the year to celebrate the community.

My life’s journey may not be the plan of the person next to me. Even though I could have it all planned out, I never know where life will take me. But my point is while you are here, notice all that our community has to offer and rethink some of the things within our community. It’s better to enjoy something “in the now” then finally realizing all of it in the future when it’s too late.

Day to day I notice in even the smallest things, all of the history, diversity, relationships, opportunities and growth of our community. Those are some major reasons to why I want to stay in this town. I know that I can prosper here and while I do, the town will prosper with me.

Making a new transition to Paris

By Evan Giles Foreign Correspondent Monday, August 27 6:00 AM: beep beep beep.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggg,” it is too early. It just seemed like another day. After getting ready quickly, my mom and I drove off to the airport talking about nothing with substance. We met my father at the airport and we were waiting outside the security gate so we could

talk until my plane arrived.

When it was time to finally say goodbye I knew that if I saw my mother cry I would cry too, it happens every time even if I don’t know what she is crying about so I made sure to avoid this.

I hugged my mom and my dad, my mom started to talk me so I hugged her again while she talked. When she was done I turned around and walked away. As soon as I started through the airport I felt a slight change, nothing significant but a difference about myself. I knew that this was the beginning of something crazy and one of the best times of my life.

While I waited for my plane I could tell there were so many emotions going through my head, emotions that I’ve never felt before

so I didn’t know how to react to them, if you think you’ve had mixed emotions think again. The only thing that can describe it to the slightest degree is that I felt like a new person.

I finally boarded the plane at 10:00 AM. Talking to a microbiologist sitting next to me the entire trip made time fly. After a two hour flight I was now in Detroit. I met 30 other exchange students that were all heading to France for the year. I hadn’t been looking forward to the five hour layover so having them there made it much more bearable. The last thing I remember going through my head before I took off from Detroit was that this is the last time I’m going to see the United States for

11 months, craziness. As night fell across the Atlantic Ocean, everyone in the plane was dozing off but I couldn’t seem to fall asleep. I decided to talk to random people ambling around the plane to pass the time, turns out there are some really irascible and charming people walking about at 3:00 in the morning on a flight to Paris. As we landed and got off the plane I could feel that everyone had the feeling of “Well... is this it?” It just didn’t feel French!

As soon as I had to maneuver through security in France I got the hint.

When we exited the security zone in the airport there were signs looking for exchange students for as far as I could see. As soon as I found my Rotary district, an

Australian boy escorted me to a nearby hotel where I waited for other exchange students from all around the world. There I had my long overdue introduction to the Brazilian Leonardo Schwider. We talked a bit before we left our countries and we started to be friends as soon as we put on a small concert in the parking lot for the exchange students.

From Paris to Le Pouligen all 40 of us were completely beat but so ardent at the same time. I had big expectations and so far they weren’t really met. We went straight from the airport to the country side that looked identical to Iowa’s... this quickly changed.

(Catch the rest of Evan’s story in our next issue)

Echoes

5

Editors-in-Chief Lauren Myers Blake Willadsen Section Editors Suzanne Peterson Jaidlyn Bookout Britteny Johnson Business Manager Emmalee Adams Advertising Staff Arianne Boehme Amanda Peters Brooke Criswell Photographers Francisco Franco Alex Snipes Graphic Design Editor Hayley Hochstetler Copy Editors Jessie Adkins Emmalee Adams Arianne Boehme Reporters Victoria Holcomb Joe Vrenick Christina Rivera Krystal Hopkins Katie Hiers Melloney Keller Tiffany Ferrer Brooke Criswell Megan Figueroa Kaylee Wiladsen Nathan Vorce Tristan Agersea Multimedia Specialist Joe Vrenick Foreign Correspondent Evan Giles Adviser Gerry Appel 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 712-328-6481 ext. 425.

Member Publication

Feature

6

Britteny Johnson | Feature Page Editor

DIY Hallow's Eve

Grape costumes, gummy worms, crayon pumpkins

By Emmalee Adams Business Manager

By Amanda Peters Ad Staff

Carvin' some Pumpkins

Haunted Houses Bring Frights to Students

By Tiffany Ferrer Reporter

A creepy old broken down house, with the traditional spooky grave in the back. Screams of terror and ghostly sounds are heard.

Blood dripping and oozing out of everywhere and unusual clowns are seen. Every haunted house is different, but has one thing in common: a goal to frighten people. The main thought that rush’s into students minds around Halloween is the need to be scared. With that, students go out in October and find haunted houses to fill the need for the scare. Inside these haunted houses are things that frighten people beyond reality.

Having random people that no one knows everywhere, then having them jumping out in costumes to scare you. Chanel Zarate ‘15 enjoys being frightened at haunted houses, “Well they bring everyone’s greatest fears to life. Like mine is clowns, I hate those jolly scary creatures and one chased me,” Zarate said. “What I love is I can’t get scared easily so I can walk through like there’s nothing wrong, but put me in a room of clowns and I’d be out of there like a bat out of hell”.

What makes the haunted houses so haunted is the stories behind them. One famous place that students tend to go to is Mystery Manor. They put on shows every Wednesday to Sunday, and every day a week before Halloween.

However, what also takes a factor into a haunted house is the characters. For instances, as said by Chanel, the scary part comes from the clowns. Then in Mystery Manor their characters show a story about a chain murder that happened in a family. All in all Haunted houses bring a fright you might love or hate.

“They bring everyone’s

Here are the supplies you will need to make your grape costume. In addition to these, you will need a solid color shirt to pin the balloons to. We chose a black shirt then paired them with black leggings or sweatpants.

Blow the balloons up. Each shirt will need approximately 15-18 balloons. Make sure to pin the balloons at the knot otherwise the balloons will be popped and that is just no fun at all. Try to arrange the balloons in a triangle shape to give it a bunch of grapes illusion.

If you’re lucky, you will turn out as fantastic as us. Although we did not do the backs of our shirts, that doesn’t mean that you can’t. Make sure you take this outfit off if you plan on doing things such as eating, driving, or fitting through tight spaces. This outfit can be very hard to do these in!

These are the supplies you will need.

You will need bendy straws, 2 packets of raspberry flavored jello, 1 packet of plain gelatin, 1/3cup of half & half, and a tall, narrow bottle. You can also add in 7 drops of green food coloring for a more “wormy” color.

Bring 2 ½ cups of water to a boil, then add in the raspberry Jello, and plain gelatin. Once the gelatin is mixed in, wait for the mixture to be lukewarm, then add in the half & half. Tie the straws together with a rubber band and secure the bottom of them(we used a grocery bag). Pour your worm mixture over the straws, then put it in the fridge and wait for them to firm(this could get messy).

Once your worms are firm and ready, gently squeeze them into a bowl, starting from the bottom of the straw. Now that you have your creepy, gummy worms, you can now start to freak everyone out and let them think you are really disgusting.

greatest fears to life.”

Clean it!

-Chanel Zarate ‘15

The echoes guide to a fun and safe Halloween * When a creepy old guy in a white van offers you candy, go ahead and take it. It is a nice gesture (but don’t get in the van, unless he looks friendly)

* When pushing young children over, push them in the grass for a soft fall. * Eat all your candy on the first night!

Cut it!

* Make sure to have the Ghostbusters on speed dial in case you encounter ghosts. * Already opened candy is the best candy! Yummy! * Make sure to wear all black to blend in with the night.

Draw it!

Disclaimer : The Echoes is not responsible for any injuries, kidnapping, stomach aches, emotional trauma, or parent phone calls where they are upset or angry.

Here are the supplies you would need for a crayon art pumpkin. Many have heard of melted crayon art on a canvas, why not on a pumpkin?

All you need is a mid-sized pumpkin, crayons, and a lighter.

Unwrap the crayons so you don’t start a fire.

Start the lighter and hold it so the flame stays lit. Hold the crayon under the flame until the crayon starts to melt. As it melts let the drops fall onto the pumpkin. It is also a good idea to put one of our newspapers underneath the pumpkin, and while its there you might as well read and enjoy it.

Here is the final product. You can make designs, do just the top, the bottoms, or the whole thing.

Photo illustration by Amanda Peters and Emmalee Adams

Love it!

Photo Illustration by Alex Snipes

7

8

Britteny Johnson | Feature Page Editor

Feature

Echoes

Custodial staff gives insight into daily grind

By Katie Hiers Reporter

Cleaning up messes and keeping the school in tip-top shape are the typical duties of being a custodian. However, some may take advantage of having the custodial staff pick up after them, day after day.

“They’re really nice and you can get along with them easily, always around to help,” Jimmy Mcentee ‘16 said.

Custodians have mentioned that they’d appreciate it if everyone would do their part in helping keeping our school clean.

“If you see trash on the ground pick it up,” Custodian Gabe Campos said.

After working at AL for 12 and a half years, Campos said that he enjoys being able to see new faces every year

and watching people grow up over the four year duration.

Campos said the only thing he didn’t favor about his job was cleaning up the really disgusting messes.

“They’re very helpful, I have great conversations with them. I’m am very fond of Gabe,” Jonathan Florea ‘13 said.

Custodians not only clean messes and fix things they also have to be timely when it comes to extracurricular activities of students. Custodian Mary Villareal has to unlock the doors at 6:00 AM for band kids arriving to tend early morning rehearsals. Arriving at school and seeing students maneuver their vehicles around all the broken glass in the parking lot is an everyday obstacle. Once school gets out the broken glass and litter has somehow disappeared.

Villareal also has the task of cleaning up the parking lot

during school hours.

Some custodians have said that one of their expectations from administrators and students is being treated with the same respect as they’re given.

Many teachers appreciate the work custodians do in keeping their classrooms tidy and neat.

“Custodians are always helpful and do a great job with my classroom, everything’s always put back where it was,” Child Development teacher, Laura Ahl said.

Some custodians really appreciate the benefits that come along with the job, including health insurance, retirement funds, paid vacations, etc.

Custodian Ed Thomas Jr. has been employed at AL for seven years and seven months. Thomas said that it’s nice being inside an air conditioned and

heated building. One thing he dislikes about being a custodian is shoveling sidewalks during the Winter.

Thomas would appreciate if students wouldn’t place their chewed gum in every crevice possible; he said he once found gum behind a fire extinguisher.

Although there’s always a mess to clean and that’s just a part of being a custodian.

“If there wasn’t trash on the ground then there wouldn’t really be a reason for me to have my job,” Thomas said.

Students have spoken up and really do appreciate their hard work and dedication.

“I think the custodians are wonderful. They bring out a side of people you wouldn’t normally see; because custodians do the work people typically wouldn’t,” Jessica Roane ‘15 said.

Custodian Ed Thomas keeping AL clean. Photo by Jessie Adkins

Students benefiting from shared schooling in district

By Tristan Agersea Reporter

Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Tucker Center; all of these schools offer different electives for kids. Sometimes not all of them can have the same classes so kids are missing out on classes that could better their educations. So how did the Council Bluffs School District find a way around this conflict?

Abraham Lincoln and

Thomas Jefferson students have visited the Tucker Center for 40 years now for electives that have proven over and over again useful such as public speaking, automotive repair, photography, foods and food prep, and world religions and cultures. These are all useful classes and can have a massive improvement in students education in both high school and can potentially help to further the students education in college (see our Tucker Center anniversary coverage on page 1).

“Sharing our resources

around the district to better serve our students is in everyone’s best interest.

Since moving to TC, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that comes from Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson students working collaboratively... everybody benefits,” said Jane Hanigan, Public Speaking teacher at TC. Though TC is an opportunity to expand a student’s educational potential, it can’t have everything. AL has had R.O.T.C. for years and was one of the first classes to accept kids from TJ into its

program.

“I think it’s an opportunity to cut down the tension between the two schools at the same time allowing the students to compete together nationally,” Master Sgt. Von Cook, R.O.T.C. instructor said.

This gave TJ students that have a plan of military after high school an opportunity to get skills they can later use such as joining the rifle team, drill team, marksman team, or even just a class to learn about the United States military.

“It’s good anytime you can promote citizenship

throughout the community.

It enhances the community by producing productive citizens.” Sgt. Cook said.

R.O.T.C. isn’t the only class reaching out to TJ students. AL also has a Biotechnology Engineering class that has TJ students being bussed over to AL to take the chance to learn about biological technology that can help people with medical problems.

“Multiple perspectives and the option to take the classes that will help them in their career path,” said Traci Flanagan, Biotech teacher.

This class is offering

many skills that can benefit the individual students and the community as a whole.

Though there are many benefits come out of this system, there are some drawbacks that some don’t find to their liking.

“This is both good and bad because yeah it’s furthering our education but we’re also losing time that we need in other classes,“ TJ student Jake Taylor said.

This transfer of students from school to school during school hours is the district’s way of making sure that all students have the same opportunities.

New dangers spawning from drug experimentation

By Brooke Criswell Reporter

Alcohol and drug abuse has always been a problem in schools for literally as long as they’ve been around.

However, some teenagers have found another way of becoming intoxicated and high without drinking and smoking. Those who take part in these experiments may not be aware of the toll it has on their bodies.

“It’s ridiculous and they’re doing it because they think it’s easier to get away with, rather than just straight up drinking,” Shannon Hunt ‘15 said.

Though some people think it’s easier going through with these experiments to get drunk or high, while thinking they can’t get caught, little do these teens know that they present huge dangers and risks. According to ABC News, a few squirts of hand sanitizer ingested could easily equal a couple of shots of hard liquor. Hand

sanitizer is made up of 6265% of Ethyl alcohol which is the main ingredient in beer, wine, and spirits. Another product some use, tampons, can hold up to one shot of vodka and can go straight into the bloodstream .

Smoking bath salts have the same ingredients and effects of methamphetamine.

U.S poison control center reported rapid increases in the calls from bath salt related instances starting in 2009 with 0, 2010 grew to 292, then just last year the number jumped to 4,137. According to the University of Michigan, Erik Gunderson, MD and Martha Wunsch, Md, Nationwide 36.8% of students have used meth at least once in their life. Using meth can destroy the brain and body easily also. Destruction of the tissue and blood vessels, inhibiting the body to repair itself, and make the user appear even decades older, are just some effects of the usage.

More extremely, it can cause liver damage, rises in body

temperature, which leads to brain damage, stroke, and even to death.

“If a person does pass out or lose consciousness, health care professionals won’t always know that they have to look in those areas, and that could always delay their treatment,” Dr. Dan Quan, physician at Maricopa Medical Center commented in a presentation prepared for medical officials.

According to Te e n a l c o h o l a b u s e . u s , absorbing alcohol in the way that some people, but mostly teens are doing, can be much more dangerous than absorbing it orally. It can provide a stronger and faster intoxication where the user doesn’t even know when he has truly have had enough.

There is not a digestive pattern where the gag reflexes tell you when you’ve had too much. This is dangerous because it is more likely to get alcohol poisoning.

According to Alcoholismsolutions.com over 50,000 people a year in the U.S

are diagnosed with alcohol poisoning.

Signs to look for are vomiting, coughing up blood, and passing out.

Drinking excruciating amounts can lead to a badly damaged liver, brain and heart. Alcohol is also the third largest killer in the United States.

Gunderson and WunschsSay that if the first use of Information gathered from U.S poison control center alcohol at under 15 predicts a fourfold they come off as just eating there. People can still get increase in lifetime risk for gummy bears or have no addicted just as easy. If you, dependency on alcohol. If trace of alcohol on their or if you know of anyone who age of first intoxication is breath. has drug abuse problems, and 21 and up, the percentage of “(If caught intoxicated at need someone to talk, people dependency is 12% at risk. If the school) the consequences are willing to help. 1-800taken from 15 to younger it can be serious suspension and 559-9503 is a 24/7 addiction goes from 59% anywhere to even drug rehab,” assistant hotline that can help with 92% risk. principal Jeff Novotny said. any questions or concerns Teenagers, who are No matter how someone someone may have. Jennie apart of the age group who may get high, or drunk, Edmundson behavior health frequently do some of these endorphins are being services can also help as well dangerous experiments, may released into the brain, and their number is 712-396think they are sneaky, if the symptoms are all still 6044.

Entertainment

Echoes

Lauren Myers | Entertainment Editor

9

Preparations underway for upcoming production Drama department to perform broadway production of “Lend Me A Tenor”

By Krystal Hopkins Reporter This year the drama department is performing a production of Lend Me A Tenor. Lend Me A Tenor was performed on broadway and won multiple awards including, a Tony award for best actor (Philip Bosco) as well as best direction of a play. The play was so successful that it has been translated into 16 different languages, and produced in 25 countries.

The cast of this play is smaller than previous plays, containing only 8 people.

The cast includes Isabella Taylor ‘13, Floyd Palser ‘13, Taylora Christensen ‘13, Payten Shively ‘13, Britteny Johnson ‘14, Joseph Vernick ‘14, Francisco Franco ‘14,

and Daniel Cano-Pargas ‘15.

The reason for a smaller cast this year is that it is hard to find a script with lots of girl roles and at our school drama seems to be female dominate.

Senior Isabella Taylor has been in plays and musicals since she was in middle school. In this play she will be playing Maria, the wife of Tito who is described as hot-blooded and territorial.

Maria is Italian therefore Isabella will be speaking in an Italian accent.

“Taylora and I do accents all the time,” Taylor said, “we like to go to places and try out the accents we want for that day, but we haven’t really practiced Italian before.”

Taylora Christensen has also performed in a number of plays in the past. Including “I Remember Momma,” and

last years musical “The Putnam County Spelling Bee”.

Taylora loves performing “I like that you can be someone different,” Christensen said, “you can play with your character and manipulate how they will be.”

Playing one of the lead roles for the first time, Joseph Vrenick (who is also on newspaper staff) is nervous about the amount of lines he has to memorize.

“I’m most nervous about missing a line on stage,” said Vrenick. “but I’m most excited for the day of the show, to see how it all comes together.”

For Daniel Cano-Pargas this play will be his first. Although when faced with this new experience he is nothing but excited. Daniel will be playing the bellhop and has a small singing part.

Students practice for the upcoming production of “Lend Me A Tenor” Photo by Francisco Franco

Student art work on display Creativity, opinions, humor show in comics

Artist Andrea Ramirez ‘13 Photo by Francisco Franco

In the artist’s own words: “This cartoon is about habitat loss and preserving tigers. I wanted to draw some tigers so then I remembered that in some countries people are tearing up their homes for their own selfish reasons. The tigers are forced to retreat in what little territory they have. But people don’t seem to care, and they end up killing and illegally peaching them every time of them kills their livestock or a person. The tigers are only looking for food and doing what tigers do best. It’s not their fault we invaded their home”

Professional editorial cartoonist, Tom Kerr, put on a workshop and speaks to art students about editorial cartooning. After the workshop students created their own editoral cartoons (one pictured to the left).

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Lauren Myers | Entertainment Editor

Entertainment

Echoes

Popular smartphone app fast, easy to use Students connect with one another through Instagram

By Britteny Johnson Reporter The cyber social networking world has developed from Myspace to Facebook, to Twitter, and now to Instagram. Instagram is a free app for smart phones, such as iPhones, Droids, etc. This app is all about taking pictures, adding effects, and sharing them with the fellow instagrammers.

New students are being drawn into this sharing site every day, many for the same reason--people see their friends using it.

“I saw one of my friends using it, I felt left out, so I joined it to see what it was and got hooked.”

Ellie Krabbe ‘13 said.

On the app. one can follow celebrities, friends, and strangers to view the pictures of their everyday life.

It is like Twitter, only with pictures, not status updates.

“I like being able to see people update pictures of their lives, and it’s

another way to keep updated on people’s lives,” Michaela Jones ‘15 said.

This app has been around for about two years and has acquired around 50 million users, and gets a new user every second. That’s 60 people every minute. Instagram is slowly making it’s way to being the quickest social media site to reach 100 million users. The quickest as of right now is Facebook, which took four years to reach the 100 million mark.

Instagram is a fast, friendly, easy way to upload photos for the world to view. According to digitalbuzzblog.com, around 58 photos are uploaded every second, and around 300 million photos are uploaded to Facebook through the app everyday. Close to one billion photos have been taken through the app thus far.

Earlier this year Facebook purchased the Instagram app for around $1 billion, approximately $20 per user. Now, Instagrammers are able to connect their

accounts on Instagram, to their accounts on Facebook.

Along with being able to connect to Facebook, one can connect their profile with Instagram to Twitter too.

With the skyrocketing popularity of Instagram comes many different apps with the Insta prefix, such apps as InstaFonts, InstaCollage, InstaPicFrame, InstaMessage, and InstaEditor.

These apps let one talk to friends and strangers, add effects to ones photos, make collages out of one’s edited photos, and add picture frames to the edited photos.

This world keeps changing, and social networking does too. One can post about their lives in many different ways, and no doubt in a short amount of time, something new will be invented for ones posting pleasures.

Information was gathered at:http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/infographic-instagram-stats/

Photo illustration by Lauren Myers

Indie movies gaining popularity, breaking records

By Joe Vrenick Reporter

photo from collider.com

photo from movieposterdb.com

Going to the movies has been treasured by generations of people for over the past 100 years of film’s existence. People have gone to very well known movie theaters chains such as AMC and Regal Cinemas to go and see the big blockbuster hits.

People go to the movies that are promoted quite often on TV and the internet, or the movie that’s based on popular material. Yet for every major motion picture, there are the ones that aren’t as promoted and well known.

These movies happened to be called independent films, or indie movies for short.

“I prefer indie movies,” Alan McLean, ‘14, said, “because it allows filmmakers to express their originality and creativity in a different style.”

For the readers who don’t

know what an indie movie is, an indie movie is the same as a regular movie, you sit in a regular sized theater, have some popcorn, and watch a movie, but these movies are usually not shown in many theaters at all. You’d have to drive out to a smaller theater that nobody’s ever really heard of. There, they show movies that were cheap to produce by smaller companies that may or may not be branches of larger companies (for example, Fox Searchlight and Magnolia Pictures) , and may or may not feature some really big stars. Sometimes, if the studio is lucky, they may have the shorter release in smaller theaters at first, but a few months later (during the October/ November season where the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences search for Academy Award Nominees) the movie will be released to an even wider audience in AMC theaters. Some exam-

ples of indie movie that are really popular are “Napoleon Dynamite (2004),”“Juno (2007),” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974),” and “The Terminator (1980)” This year has been a record breaking year for Indie Movies. Major records were broken with Wes Anderson’s huge hit “Moonrise Kingdom” which opened in May (The same day as “Men in Black 3”). The movie managed to make a huge amount of money with very little openings. After the small success “Moonrise” had in its first month, demand for the movie rose and it opened in many more theaters (none of them were AMC). For the entire month of June, it managed to stay at the #7 spot on the weekly box office charts. “Moonrise Kingdom” has won the praise of many critics and audiences alike.

Reporter Manohla Dargis of The New York Times said “Moonrise Kingdom breezes

along with a beautifully coordinated admixture of droll humor, deadpan and slapstick. Like all of Mr. Anderson’s films, though, there’s a deep, pervasive melancholia here too.”

“I loved ‘Moonrise Kingdom’” Melanie Mathiesen, ‘14, said, “because it had a sense of humor that no other movie really has. Plus it has a love story you can really relate to, and has an all star cast of Bruce Willis and Edward Norton!”

Indie movies have become the underdog of the film industry. People have begun to hear about indie movies, and like every underdog, people begin to root for it and the underdogs popularity begins to rise. Will indie movies make its way into your mind and heart to where you want to root for these underdogs?

Sports

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Blake Willadsen | Sports editor

Echoes

“What’s your favorite NFL team?”

“They have the best defense and a great offense.”

“I follow my family and they like the Broncos.”

“It’s been my favorite team since I was little.”

-William Connelly ‘13, Baltimore Ravens fan -Samantha Groat ‘16, Denver Broncos fan -Chloe Church ‘16, Pittsburgh Steelers fan

Preparing for battle The work done before AL competitions

By Blake Willadsen Editor-in-chief

T

he goal of an athlete is simple. Go out, put in your best effort, and win the game. The work that goes in before the competition can be just as important as a big play. One of the most important factors of success in all aspects of athletics is the hours of preparation that come right before the competition. To win the game, you have to be focused on the task at hand from the minute you wake up that morning.

Traci Flanagan, science teacher and Cross Country coach, has been running for most of her life and understands what preparation can do to help an athlete succeed.

“I think it’s extremely important. We’ve been preparing probably for four or five months just to compete for eight meets so its pretty important to spend a lot of time in the off season preparing for competition,” Flanagan said.

In order to put in the full effort that student athletes strive for every competition it’s important for student athletes to eat nutritiously. That means getting a good meal and having enough water in your system. Being well nourished is a process that starts days before an athlete ever takes the field.

“I always like to, before any competition, eat a lot of carbs. Spaghettis, pastas, macaroni and cheese chicken parmesan is really good.

Anything with a lot of carbohydrates the day before or even two days before tends to be a pretty good energy booster.”

The Cross Country team goes through a similar routine before each meet.

“Mentally we go through a pre-run ritual. where they’re focused completely on the meet and only the meet,” Flanagan said. “We try to mentally get them prepared as well as physically.

Obviously you don’t want to run a lot before the meets because we are trying to save their legs.”

Brandon Colpitts ‘14 is a varsity football player who has a strict routine every evening before game day.

“Every night before I drink a glass of pickle juice, I clean off all my stuff wipe off my shoulder pads and my cleats. I put it all in my bag

and try on all my clothes and stuff. Then I always pray,” Colpitts said. “Before the game I like to move my car as close to the school as possible, I don’t leave school. I just relax. I like to listen to music I like to watch videos on youtube to get me ready. I like to pray even more. I like to do the hail mary on game days, it gets me ready.”

Mentally preparing yourself can be just as important if Lynx athletes want to get the win. “Mind over matter” can mean a world of a difference when a game or meet can be decided by inches or seconds. The football team does several things to mentally prepare for a game.

“I like to watch film to get mentally prepared for the most part so i can pick up tendencies of their defense and offense so I’m more prepared when the game comes,” Colpitts said. “Every Sunday we go in and watch film from the game. we see what we did wrong and what we did right, and figure out what we need to fix.”

Whether you are on the field or in the stands, the time before a competition can be a routine. preparing for the game means being ready on a physical and mental level.

All this in hopes that the Lynx can go out and compete at the best of their abilities every day, all day.

Set and spike volleyball team primed for a strong year

By Melloney Keller Photographer

W

ith the new volleyball season brings new players that are ready to go as far as they can. Each player has different views on the season and what they hope to get out of it.

“I hope to work as a team to get the job done, and to be way more experienced at the end of the year, then I was when I first started.” Eric Wolf ‘16 said.

For the new season, the Lady Lynx say they are working hard to do their best and make it as far as they can in the new season together.

With the season starting to come along, players are noticing a few changes.

“Yes, the new people on the team make it different

and but we have been working extra hard this year and working out more,” Bailee Gofta ‘15 said.

There are also new members of the volleyball team this year on the freshman team. There is a total of nine new girls.

The coaches help the ladies by encouraging them to do their best and to keep working hard.

“We can do it if we put our minds to it and work for it has hard as we can. She also believes in us,” Krechele Brown ‘15 said.

Every team has their challenges, their ups and downs. All the team has to do is work through it and get better with each practice.

“I find the teamwork to be a bit of a challenge because we’re all different, but other than that I’m learning something new everyday.”

Erin Wolf ‘16 said.

Other players see one goal and they shoot for it because they know this team can do it.

“I hope we can learn to

work together very well, so by the time me and all the other sophomores are senior we will win state.” Krechele brown ‘15 said.

Every player believes that this team can go to the state tournament this year and all they need is hard work and dedication and they’ll be on their way.

“I think that state is possible, we just need to go in focused on every game and play the way we know we can. We have amazing players we just need to all work together and we will get there.” Jordyn Hyde ‘13 said.

So for the volleyball players state means a lot to them and with the support from the student body at every game cheering them on it just brings them one step closer. They hope to see all of you at their games and the louder they can hear you the better the atmosphere is to play.

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Echoes

Sports

Blake Willadsen | Sports editor

History of the Lynx:

By Victoria Holcomb Reporter Way back in time, back when Abraham Lincoln was running for office (1859), he visited Council Bluffs, although he was not dealing with our school he still visited on the matter of realizing that our city should be the east terminus of the transcontinental railroad.

Just a few years after that, from 1869 up until the year 1921, all students in the Council Bluffs area attended the first high school built a t 102 5th Avenue called Council Bluffs High School.

The first c l a s s graduated in 1871. After several m o r e

graduations there were requests for a “more accessible location and for more space.”

This led to building Abraham Lincoln High School at the corner of Bluff Street and Fifth Avenue in 1900; students on the west side of town were transitioned into Thomas Jefferson’s current middle school which changed into a high school. Council Bluffs High stayed in place but was renamed after the former president, Abraham Lincoln.

For a more complete school in 1926; a track, football field, and g y m w e r e added and the mascot was decided to be the Lynx.

When 1961 rolled around con-

struction workers began building a new Junior High on the outskirts of town, 1205 Bonham Avenue. As they started their work, they decided the plan for construction would be to slowly build the school in phases so it could easily be changed into Abraham Lincoln. When all the renovations were done with the total cost was over $2.5 million to fix up the school. These changes came about the fall of 1967, when high school classes didn’t include ninth grade, they studied at Kirn Jr High until the change was made in 1986 and freshman were now the little guys of high school.

Current 3rd grade students (graduating in 2022) will reach their last year in high school as we celebrate 100 years of Abraham Lincoln.

Just as our school paper has been around

12 The story behind the crimson and blue

since 1901 and by 1913 it had already been considered to be one of the best high

school papers in the country. Newspapers are exchanged all over the nation with other schools like the Echoes.

The Echoes has changed since 1901 and so has the spirit of the school. In a fire caused by disgruntled teenagers at Kirn in May 1996, the historic building and its contents were lost.

As AL moved to Bonham Avenue the school spirit had changed. Although, the

Lynx Legion has kept spirit up at Football, Volleyball and Basketball games for about

four years now.

By arriving to every game early to meet up at the tailgate party and paint their bodies in red and blue to match all their AL gear.

Considering the Legion is made up mostly of seniors, they dominate the front of the bleachers.

Underclassmen follow in behind and cheer a l o n g with legion.

Throughout the games, they cheer with the cheerleaders and over the years they have even thrown in some of their own. Since students make up a vast area of the bleachers; they encourage the rest of the stands to join in their pep.

Over the next few years our school will change in more ways than one. In pep, spirit, probably construction and obviously new students.

Be on the lookout because more history is still to come.

Some information from this story was collected from http://alhs70.com/history. htm#Brief Photos by Jessie Adkins

Fall sports: a glance into the season Photo by Scott Brown

courtesy of:

Photo by Kent Willadsen Photo by Hayley Hochstetler

Photo by Hayley Hochstetler

4:30

5:00

7:30

Cross Country

Swimming

Volleyball

conference meet

Girls Varsity

Varsity

@ IWCC

@ Southeast Polk

vs Shenandoah @ALHS

Oct. 12

Games

Oct. 11

Upcoming

Photo by Hayley Hochstetler

7:30 Football Varsity vs Waukee @ CB Stadium