Issue 9 2015

ECHOES

Issue 9 | Volume 114 April 2015

The Independent Voice of Abraham Lincoln High School | Council Bluffs, Iowa | ALechoes.com

A new chApter begins Bellows succeeds departing Barnett NEXT PRINCIPAL SELECT START

Photo illustration made by Oakland Elliff.

Nathan Vorce Co-editor in chief

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hange is coming to the administration at AL, involving both the assistant principals and Principal. Current Principal Todd Barnett will be taking the position of Principal at Thomas Jefferson High School, and current assistant principal Bridgette Bellows will take over as Principal at AL. Several other moves are being made in the district.

Aside from the moves

by Bellows and Barnett, three other moves on the

administrative level are occuring, and have been made publicly know, as of April 20. These moves include: current TJ Principal Dr. Jason Plourde taking the role of Director of Secondary Education role, the current Director of Secondary Education, Kerry Newman, will become the Principal at Kirn Middle School, and current Kirn Principal Dr. Melissa Byington will take on a different district role, which has not yet been determined. In an email sent out to staff, superintendent Dr. Martha Bruckner also added that other administrative vacancies will be filled in the weeks to come.

The changes were

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ALECHOES.com

made by Bruckner. School Administrative Manager Tom Lowndes holds a firm belief that Bellows will do well in her new position. “(Bridgette) Bellows is a highly qualified, highly experienced administrator who is confident in her abilities,” Lowndes said.

Bellows is also preparing to become principal.

“I am very excited, and also a little nervous. It’s a huge responsibility, but I love what I do,” Bellows said.

“I want to make Abraham Lincoln High School the best place it can be for students and staff. I think we have the resources and the programming at this school to do so, and that’s what excites me. This is a great

Upcoming Events

school with great students and great staff.”

Bellows intends to continue to place emphasis on the areas Barnett focused on during his tenure, and doesn’t imagine any drastic changes taking place in transition to her tenure.

“I don’t foresee any major changes. I predict we’ll continue to emphasize building relationships between staff and students, and different groups of students,” Bellows said.

Bellows has praise for what Barnett has done in the school for both the students and the teachers.

“Mr. Barnett has placed emphasis on achievement and growth, and has had a huge impact on school climate

and culture,” Bellows said.

“He expects teachers to work together in content like teams to ensure that the curriculum is not only taught, but taught at a rigorous level.”

Barnett leaves behind a school where he has resided as principal for 4 years, but does not depart the district he has taught at for years.

Barnett has taught around the district, including at Wilson for three years, TJ for 14, and at the Tucker Center for three years as principal, before coming to AL and serving as Principal for four years. Barnett has a goal in mind for his new school, and faces the new chapter with the same determination as his previous job: his overall goal of helping kids.

“My purpose is the every kid is successful, period,” Barnett said. “All kids-TJ, middle and elementary school kids, it doesn’t matter.

It never has mattered. I don’t treat them any different than I do AL kids. Yes, it’s a change, but it’s the same mission.”

With all the change going on, Barnett will continue to make relationships with students from around the school, district, state, and beyond.

“It’s all about relationships, when people know you care about them, it’s all about that,” Barnett said. “I will miss AL, the teachers, kids, and the relationships I’ve built.”

May 16:

May 27:

May 30:

Prom

Seniors’ Last Day

Graduation

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Nathan Vorce | News Editor

News

April 2015

Echoes

Seniors prepare as graduation looms Anthony Ruiz Reporter

As the 2014-2015 school year comes to a close, seniors begin their preparations for graduation and their lives after high school.

Preparations consist of keeping their grades and GPA up, maintaining their credits, applying for colleges, applying for scholarships, and finalizing any testing. Deadlines need be met with testings, grades, and applications for colleges need to be turned in.

They also have options for a

certain number of excess activities such as prom, parties, trips, and other activities.

“Just taking steps one step by step and once done just go on to the next step,” senior Ethan Thomas said.

“Try to find out what you want to do with your life and don’t be afraid to fail.”

The school year ends on June 5 but the last day for seniors is May 27, three days before graduation. One requirement for graduation is keeping your grades up.

Seniors must have at least a D or better in every class in

order to pass. If they have 3.0 or higher, it’s highly suggested that the keep their grades that way because if they apply for scholarships, they’ll have a much higher chance at earning one. Seniors are also required to have at least 48 credits in order to graduate as well.

Applying for colleges is essential for seniors because if they plan on starting college during the fall after graduation they’ll have to apply sometime early in the school.

This will give colleges time to go and review applications

in order to see if the college you’re looking into will accept you or reject you. Senior Noah Larsen has some advice for his fellow seniors as the year draws to a close.

“Go out fighting, take the next month seriously and do not succumb to senioritis,” Larsen said.

Testing is a key role for graduating because colleges require you to take the ACT test and it’ll look good if you can score an ACT score of 20 or higher, because that will increase the chances on getting into the college you

are hoping to get into. With both a high GPA and a high ACT score a lot more scholarships will be open to you.

Applying for scholarships is also essential for seniors.

With applying for scholarships they will have a chance at earning money or getting accepted into a college or university for free. Some other preparations some seniors might have in mind for graduation are the possibility of having a party or maybe even have a little vacation in order to celebrate graduation.

“Make sure to go to all

the mandatory meetings and pass all your classes and that you’re keeping your grades up as best as you can,” senior counselor Larella Rangel said.

As the school year comes to a close, the class of 2015 is busy making preparations for their exit out of high school and the long road of life out ahead of them.

Preparations consist of keeping their grades and GPA elevated, maintaining their credits, applying for colleges, applying for scholarships, and finalizing any testings.

Alyssa Clayton

Council Bluffs organization.

“I chose to do this as my senior project because it’s a great way to give back to the community,” Hesser said. Selecting a topic did not prove to be difficult. Sarah Steinmetz, the TAG teacher, helped her come up with the idea for it.

“I saw a flyer at my church about it, and it went from there,” Steinmetz said.

Community service is a good way to do something worthwhile with your free time. The fundraiser is a good cause that anybody can donate to, and it makes a difference in the community.

The shoe drive is a way to help others, and Live Well also receives a small compensation for all of the shoes.

“For each pair of shoes donated, forty cents goes to Live Well CB,” sophomore Mikayla Olson said. According to the Live Well Council

Bluffs website, if you want to donate your old shoes, you just have to make sure they are a matching pair, then tie them together or secure them with a rubber band and donate them to the designated collection sites.

You may have noticed Hesser and Olson going around to classrooms asking for shoes, but the end date for collection here at Abraham Lincoln was April 17.

They have received three hundred plus shoes, taking in plenty of footwear for the purpose of helping the less fortunate. If you missed the date and you still want to try to help out, you can drop off your items at the YMCA, the Council Bluffs Recycling Center, or City Hall. Or, if you are feeling especially ambitious, you could start your own shoe drive by contacting the Live Well CB organization and setting it up.

Olson, Hesser host shoe drive at school Reporter

Mikayla Olson and Sara Hesser pose with the bags of shoes collected. Photo submitted by Sarah Steinmetz.

This year, senior Sara Hesser and sophomore Mikayla Olson hosted a shoe drive, a fundraiser that collects any type of slightlyused shoe, from sneakers to flip flops, to donate to Live Well Council Bluffs, an organization devoted to doing things around our town to be “green” and helpful, along the lines of recycling and planting trees. This cause benefits kids and adults alike, and it also helps keep old shoes out of the landfills by repurposing them.

“The shoes we collect will be refurbished and sent to adults and children overseas who don’t have shoes,” senior Sara Hesser said. The shoe drive is Hesser’s project that she decided to take on through the

AL counselor recognized with award Nathan Vorce Co-editor in chief

Teaching is a job with many non-tangible rewards, including witnessing children learning, and building relationships with teachers and students. Some educators also win tangible awards for their work, such as counselor Sharon Crawford, who recently won an Excellence in Teaching Award, presented by the H. H. “Red” and Ruth H. Nelson Foundation. The Nelson Family Foundation started off as an insurance company, and eventually grew to be a larger corporation, which is now known as the Silverstone Group.

“The Nelson Family Foundation does philanthropic things--one of which is taking the time to honor educators in Council Bluffs. They are very generous people,” Crawford said.

Every year, five teach-

ers from around the area are selected to receive this award. Some past AL winners include: Dirk Waller, Kristy Courter, and Terry Hanzlik. This year, Crawford was the only AL recipient.

Other recipients were: Charissa Haney, James Giles,

I received the award, I was kind of speechless, and very humbled. It felt amazing to know people would write letters to nominate me.”

Crawford is honored to receive this award, and has a strong belief that she has been fortunate

“It felt amazing to know people would write letters to honor me.”

-Sharon Crawford, counselor Carolyn Ridenour, and Anne Benson. Past winners of the award are also invited to attend the award ceremony.

“Award winners are selected by letters sent in by the community: teachers, counselors, parents, and other community members,” Crawford said. “When I found out

to have her current job.

“I have the best job in the world. I love the people I work with, the staff and the students. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else,” Crawford said.

Crawford, along with others, will continue to be a helpful force at AL.

Sharon Crawford, middle, recieves her award with Mr. Nelson (left) and Mrs. Nelson (right).

Photo submitted by Sharon Crawford.

Echoes

News

April 2015

Nathan Vorce | News Editor

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Autism 5k held to raise funds, awareness Taylor Bever Reporter

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L students have the opportunity to support people with Autism with the 5k run for Autism Awareness Month. This event will be happening on April 25, at 9 a.m, with a cost of $2. Walkons are welcome but $10 will be charged. With the fee, participants will not get a snack or shirt since the fee is reduced. There will be stands for shirts, bottles of water, and snacks. Kathy Reckling, P.E coach/ health teacher is the reason why it was reduced down to get more high schoolers to go and would like groups of ten to go.

“My background as a coach is team building, that’s why I want to see groups of ten go. This is a good team bonding exercise,” Reckling said.

This 5k run is a fundraiser

that will be put back into the community for people who have autism. Reckling would like to see about 450 students in Lynx gear gaining awareness for autism.

“It’s not all about the athletes, people in band, spanish club, Key Club and all the other clubs.

There are kids in there that can run just as good as the athletes,” Reckling said.

There are over 20 clubs at Abraham Lincoln High School. There are students in all of them that like to, or are really good at running.

The 5k isn’t all about running, it’s about going and supporting something that can help support people with autism and their families. It’s also a good team building activity if you come in a group. You can name your group a funky name or wear superhero shirts, it’s all up to the group you are with.

“I have autistic students that I hear people call them weird and other names

because they aren’t like everyone else, I don’t have an autistic child at home but I’m very passionate about

helping kids with special needs,” Reckling said.

Reckling wants to see Abraham Lincoln High

School support something that would help the community help autistic people. She wants you to

care because one day if want to have kids, the child might end up with autism.

Autism related facts:

-Autism affects one in 68 children

-Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder, yet the most underfunded

-Boys are four times more likely to develop autism than girls -Autism varies greatly from person to person

http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/autism-fact-sheet/

ITED exams test student comprehension

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Sophia Cooper Reporter

owa Tests of E d u c a t i o n Development, better known as the ITEDS, are a series of tests that are given each year to high school students. They test vocab, comprehension skills, language, spelling, math, social studies, and science skills. The main reason for these tests are to help teachers with educating students. The tests help track development of skills and analysis of each areas of the test. ALHS will have two days of testing for

ITEDS, April 14 and 15.

“I don’t really look forward to ITEDS because it’s stressful and I really don’t like taking tests,” freshman Sydni McIntosh said.

The ITED was first created in 1942 by University of Iowa’s College of Education. It was created as program to help develop a series of nationally accepted standardized achievement tests. It has been supported

by Riverside Publishing.

Riverside produces tests and distributes to the University of Iowa, also handling processing, scoring, and reportings of the tests results.

The ITED is used in majority of schools, public and private.

Some goals of the ITED test are to help track the process of student’s abilities, monitor schools in Iowa’s progress, to see if school’s and students are meeting certain goals, individual student results are used to help determine placements and tracks, help educators plan a student’s schedule, and also help plan school curriculums.

Scores from the test also compared to the scores of other students nationwide.

A score at or above 40th percentile is considered

proficient.

Proficient meaning competent or welladvanced with a certain area.

“ITEDS is very important because they tell you where you are educationally.” freshman Timmy Tracy said.

There are seven sections of the test. Vocabulary, testing the development of student’s vocabulary for everyday communication.

Reading comprehension tests the understanding and analysis of reading.

Language: Revising Written Materials, tests abilities of being able to revise, edit, and fix grammatical errors of text. Spelling is testing

whether or not a student can identify a misspelled word or whether all the words are spelled correctly.

Mathematics: Concepts and Problem Solving, tests on problem solving and logical thinking skills. Analysis of Social Studies Materials focuses on students to analyze information and will often contain documents including maps, graphs and reading passages. Analysis of Science Materials evaluates student’s knowledge on scientific procedures and being able to analysis scientific information.

“I don’t think it’s

necessary to test over all these subjects,” freshman Ravyn Anderson said. “I understand why we have to do, to see where you get placed next school, but it’s really long and confusing and it’s not that necessary.

If you fail your classes it’s a sign that you shouldn’t go on to the next grade level but if you pass you should.”

Staff at University of Iowa continues to conduct research to help improve ITEDS. They are working on helping to have testing that accommodates students with special needs and software for computer based testing.

Students prepare for college level testing AP exams challenge students to earn college credits Taylor Daugherty Reporter

Now that April is here students and teachers alike are anxiously waiting for summer to come faster.

The school year is ending just like any other year, but not for students that have signed up for the AP exams. While others are waiting for the school year to end these students are busy preparing themselves for the three hour test.

While the test may seem extreme, if a student passes the exam, he or she will earn a college credit, which is usually priority number one. This can be a huge relief for people that are struggling financially,

or people that want to take other classes in college.

It is a way for students to further their education while in high school. Students are also able to learn at a level that suits them.

“I think it furthers my education because in regular ed classes we don’t get to go as in depth as we do in an AP History Class,” sophomore Maddy St. Clair said.

Students aren’t the only ones that can get stressed over the test and the class.

Sometimes, teachers aren’t given enough time to teach the content and the skills that are needed to take the test.

“I think that three trimesters is enough time for science,” Biology teacher Brian Moritz said.

Other courses aren’t as fortunate, but the

teachers have found ways to make it work.

“While we could all benefit from more time, AP Language and Composition is more of a process and skill course than a content course, so we can cover the majority,” English teacher Carrie Booms-Ryan said.

Sometimes teachers will put together study sessions for students to attend.

These can be beneficial to the students who took the class during the first two trimesters of the year. From the end of second trimester until the day of the test, these students can lose a lot of information. Even with a review book and plenty of time to study, they can still forget some of the little details that can be extremely important to the test.

While the classes can be stressful at times it is rewarding too. Having the opportunity to take the class and the test is actually a wonderful thing. AP teachers work just as hard as the students. The teachers would definitely recommend taking the exam, but only if it is something you are actually ready for.

“I think that if you can commit to it and you want to challenge yourself I would definitely recommend the class and the t e s t , ” Moritz said.

The most important part the exam is all of the preparation that comes with it. Because students are known to forget things so easily there are a multitude of things they can do to retain their knowledge.

“Keep up on reading, take a half hour and study

every night, invest in a spark notes version of the class and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Moritz said.

Even though the exams are approaching fast, with the effort that teachers and students have put into the class, students hope the tests will be a breeze.

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Opinion

Dani Rambo | Opinion Editor

Echoes

Deciphering boys and girls

What guys need to know What girls need to know Andrea Milstead Reporter

Dear Guys, First of all we’d like you to know that we’re not bashing you, but rather we’re just giving suggestions.

Girls appreciate many of the things guys do for us such as holding doors open, making plans, being the one to ask us out, and so many other things we’re forgetting. Despite the positives, we’d like to help you out a little in some of the things you as guys do that hurt or annoy girls. And don’t worry, we’ll point out what we like too.

First off, when a girl denies a compliment, it’s because we don’t want to seem like we’re full of ourselves. Girls are afraid of accepting compliments

something’s wrong and she says she’s fine, she’s fine.

Just be happy with her, she’s not always emotional.

“We aren’t all over emotional and boys shouldn’t assume that,” sophomore Makenna Murray said.

Also, girls will question you on things we already know the answer to, just to test your honesty. Don’t lie.

However, just because a girl isn’t in a relationship, doesn’t mean she wants one. Many women are independent and as capable as men in meeting their needs. Women can work, care for themselves, and buy their own things. It doesn’t mean she’s against men; it just means she’s capable of living by herself.

But among all these suggestions and things us girls would like you, as guys to know; we want you to know we appreciate the loyal ones. We appreciate sweet messages, and when you dress up and smell nice for us.

become the great social debate. People against free sexuality take a religious standpoint and people for the cause have taken a moral side. The issue is both sides are logically correct from their viewpoints, but one person’s beliefs shouldn’t dictate another “human’s” lifestyle.

The term “human” is loosely based in this article due to the fallacies in federal logic.

First off, the idea of sexuality should be free is both logically sound and morally correct. Regardless of your sexual preference, try to be attracted or not

would be involved in a car accident, but it really put the dangers of not following the laws in perspective.

Seatbelts are more than just one thing you have to worry about getting a ticket for. I’m sure some of us know the feeling where you forget to put it on and see a cop across the street and slowly pull it across your chest hoping they won’t notice. Maybe you just always put it on because it is not worth getting a ticket for $127 in the state of Iowa. The whole reason it is a requirement though is because it is designed to save you if you were ever in an accident. According to cdc.

Sean Veazie

Dear Girls, There are many things that guys do and understand without thinking, that they need an explanation, whether it’s in relationships or in the way they talk, walk, and think. When it comes to relationships we do not like to play games. The way guys think is very simple: we do not over-think too much, but there are some things girls just seem to not get at all.

When you are showing interest in a guy we need much more than a touch on the arm and a smile. Girls like to give subtle hints to get the guys attention, and it needs to be much more than what you are giving us. When the hints are small

things like spelling out all of the words in your text and using emojis it is no wonder that you think that we aren’t showing interest. When that happens we aren’t picking up on the clues that you are laying down because we honestly do not see them or understand the true meaning of them.

When a guy goes up to a girl, who is surrounded by her close friends, and tries to talk to her it takes quite a bit of courage and self esteem.

It’s not casual no matter how much we act like it is.

That walking up to her is the most overthinking we will be doing in that entire day. This is the only way we know how to get the girl’s attention. We do not have any subtle hints or clues that we leave for the girl to figure out. We suck up our fear, we walk up to the girl looking like a total idiot and talk to her where all of her friends can hear.

Us guys are not complicated creatures. We will tell you the truth if you ask for it. Ask us anything and we will tell you. Ask us if you think we are cheating; ask us if anything is

bothering us. The only thing that will stop the truth is you lying to us or you cutting us off from talking or sharing our opinion repeatedly.

We expect a little bit of space just because we need it. It doesn’t mean that we are not interested or are talking to someone else. It means that we are playing a game, spending time with our family, taking care of ourselves or any other thing.

We have the same feelings as you do. We do feel love, sadness, and anger just like the opposite gender. Just because we don’t share them out loud doesn’t mean that we don’t feel them.

We do weird things that girls seem to just not understand. We don’t even know why we do them it is just natural for us to do it.

We will eat random things just to see how it tastes. We do these things because they are biological. Not because we think they are good ideas.

Deep down we are all severe dorks, and we all know it.

attracted to your current sexual preferences. It is very difficult, even impossible for some people. That’s because it is something that is predetermined in life. In fact sexual preference has been a debate topic since 1898, starting with activist August Bebel’s speech. So if both race and sexual identity are predetermined, why is it still a debate?

Second, excluding sexual minorities of normal human rights actually alienates them. Quoted from the Bill of Rights, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The First Amendment also contributes to that law by stating:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” That means keep government and religion separate, so thanks, Indiana. That brings up the question: Are minorities that are discriminated against considered actual human beings, by law? If they are not considered human beings, then they are completely exempt from all laws, since they aren’t considered to be human bound by law.

If they are human beings, those minorities should already have those rights.

If the point that human rights should be completely universal isn’t getting across,

then we as humans need to understand our liberties and our hindrances since it seems that we don’t.

There are many debates against the lifestyle of sexual minorities. Religion states “Man shall only lie with a woman, otherwise it is an abomination” yet 99.99% of the world “sins”. Don’t judge someone since they “sin” differently, in fact don’t judge in the first place since that also against those religions.

Other arguments can include the idea of two genders as parents couldn’t fulfill a motherly/fatherly role. For example, two parents of the same gender apparently have a higher chance to raise a

homosexual child. Recently, sociologist Mark Regnerus from the University of Texas did a study on this topic. The study concluded that there were no drawbacks from both styles of parenting.

There will always be social debates, yet most have been over minorities and morals. People will always find certain standpoints but it always seems like logic wins the debate. Don’t believe what everyone else believes, understand and transcend into knowledge. The Bible may say homosexual relationships are an abomination but the New Testament says “Love thy neighbor, but also love thy enemy.”

gov, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens, and seat belts reduce serious crashrelated injuries and deaths by about half. My friends and I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for ours.

After going down and then up a ditch, clearing the fence at the top, and rolling multiple times (I’ve been told four but I couldn’t exactly count), the most striking memories from before the accident were us putting on our seat belts. It sticks out in my mind that for just a moment I had briefly forgotten. I can’t even express how grateful I was for putting it on. Besides

some minor injuries and some massive bruises we were okay even though it takes time to heal.

Now though, even short car rides have me gripping my seat in fear. Everything that could go wrong sticks out in my mind. I am scared of cars. I trust myself with driving, but not so much others. It makes me think about who I ride with. I don’t ever want to have to call 911, or ride in an ambulance or scare my parents again.

I never thought anything like that would happen to me.

It was just a normal Sunday afternoon, I had plans for the rest of the day, but before I even consciously knew

what was happening it was too late, we were already swerving off the road. I often think about what we could have done to change the outcome of that day but now and even then when we were in the hospital, we tried to look on the bright side of things. We learned a lesson none of us will easily forget.

Because we were going so fast, over-correcting on the gravel was a huge mistake. This brings us to another rule, follow the speed limit. When going over it, it makes it easier for little mistakes to become big ones.

Even though there might not be a speed limit posted, there are some general rules on

how fast you should go. For gravel according to iowadot. gov, the Iowa law is 55 mph or lower, depending on the conditions of the road.

Young, inexperienced drivers like us should take it slower because it is so easy to slip up, and it could cost you or somebody else’s life.

Just wanting to fly down some hills with the music up loud and enjoy the nice spring day turned into a disaster, seatbelts saved our lives. Speeding almost took them. It has altered our physical being, and changed my way of thinking. The driving laws are no joke, there are people who don’t obey and don’t survive.

Sincerely, The Girls

Reporter

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Graphics by Oakland Elliff

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because guys sometimes degrade us for doing so. If a girl accepts a compliment, she’s not full of herself, it just means she has selfconfidence.

We understand guys have trouble expressing their feelings, but girls want you to be able to be open with us.

In order to be comfortable around us, you have to talk to us! When you don’t text us back, we worry. People get busy, we get quite busy ourselves, but we’d just like to know that you still like us at the end of the day. Girls lay in bed waiting for replies because if she’s that into you, she’d rather talk to you than sleep. Trust us, we’d rather know if you’re busy or tired than be waiting for the text we won’t get that night; we need our rest too.

Girls like talking to you, but we don’t expect a lot.

Most girls don’t prefer saggy pants or a guy who isn’t doing anything with his life, but we don’t need a guy to be perfect. There’s no need for extravagant surprises, we truly just enjoy the little things.

If you ask a girl whether

Sincerely, The Guys

Ancient discrimination still active today Logan Erwin

Circulation Manager

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uman rights have always been a huge debate dating back to the biblical era on the idea of monotheism. In this modern era, sexual preference has

Student shares car accident experience Hailey Carson Reporter

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his past March, I learned a huge lesson. There are laws and restrictions on driving, and they are for our safety and protection. I never thought I

Opinion

Echoes

Staff Editorial

Dani Rambo | Opinion Editor

Benefits from student monitoring peer monitoring brings out the one-on-one which is much more helpful for most people.

The key to starting a peer monitoring program is simple. Now you wouldn’t match just anybody up. This is where administrators pick out the positive kids who can help be a leader to those who are kind of stuck in high

school and don’t know what to do. The key is to influence good things and not the bad.

Say a freshman is not doing too well the first year of high school and the negative influences are doing their job.

When something like this happens you would want a student who is academically doing well and can be an understanding yet supportive

friend to the other. This will influence the teen not doing well to want to thrive off of high school and the positives it does bring, and it will be like a chain reaction where once they get on their feet then they too can go be a supportive friend to someone else.

We all know what it was like our first time

Picture by Dani Rambo

Peer pressure, the need to fit in, and negative influences-all things that describe high school very well. Most school authorities believe detention is the way to go or some time in the juvenile center when it comes to something illegal, but it has actually been proven in some schools that peer monitoring has helped many kids avoid such punishments. The idea behind peer monitoring is to match up the older youth with the younger. These two are a team in a way where they encourage each other and help each other out when the wrong crowd comes around.

According to NCJRS. gov “Youth involved in mentoring programs, in fact, have been shown to be less likely to experiment with drugs, less likely to be physically aggressive, and less likely to skip school than those not involved in such programs.”

Our school has come close to something like this by providing an advisement time for a bigger group of kids to come together and encourage each other, but

transitioning from middle school to high school.

There were all these mixed emotions, there was a feel for the need to change to fit in, and the entire move was overwhelming. To help upcoming kids avoid these not so fantastic emotions, and in a way giving them a friend starting off would help them quickly realize that the next four years are going to be a breeze and that they too can get through it.

The Boomerang Project states “More students fail 9th grade than any other grade.”

Now this isn’t because freshman year is hard, but it’s caused from that lack of support. More schools should look into the peer monitoring program, and it just might turn things around for their students. We as students have the power to show both positivity and negativity towards other students. Every adult has told us “to act like a role model”.

In all seriousness we should take that and apply it to our lives. The change must first begin with us for it to spread anywhere else.

First impressions are a huge deal Taylor Daugherty Reporter

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ccording to multiple studies the first thing someone notices about you is your smile or your teeth. Whether this is for a job interview or a future

boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t necessarily matter. It’s all part of a first impression.

There are first impressions based on what you look like and others that are built on what you say. Either way a first impression can make or break you.

To really even have an understanding of the topic, you have to know what a first impression really is. There are two main types. Those that are based on looks and the other that is based on things you do and say. Both are pretty important and are crucial to what people think of you when you first meet.

First impressions can actually be a huge deal. In certain situations they can

totally make things work out. In the situations when it depends on looks there are things you can do that could screw everything up. For instance, at a job interview you wouldn’t wear sweatpants because that would totally ruin your chances at getting the job.

They’d probably think you were a slob and that you’d be a bad worker. Of course, how many people would actually do that?

I feel that first impressions based on looks are the worst. I think that judging a person by the way they look is completely wrong. In the beginning I said the first thing people notice is a smile or teeth.

Looking at someone’s physical appearance and judging whether or not they are a good person is a risky game.

The best kind of first impressions are ones that aren’t really first impressions at all. They are based on a short time with that person.

As in a short time I mean a meeting or listening to them present something. If I didn’t know anything about the speaker, but the things they said were intelligent and friendly then it would lead me to believe that he or she is a good person.

In my life, I’ve been wrong about lots of people.

Most of the first impressions that I’ve made were all bad.

Lots of those people actually turned out to be my best friends. It just goes to show that you shouldn’t really judge a book by its cover.

However, with first impressions you have to be careful. You could assume that someone is a good person based on the the words they used and the way they presented themselves and in the end you’d be totally wrong. I’ve been wrong about so many people based on first impressions. I think they should be thrown out the window. If people really stick to them they can harm you in the sense that possible friendships and relationships can be ruined.

Following a traumatic event or repeated trauma, people may experience physical and emotional reactions. Even when a survivor is feeling better or it has been weeks, even years after a trauma, those reactions can respond to triggers.

Triggers are something that transports a person back to the original event of a trauma through a memory or flashback.They affect a wide range of people from survivors of child abuse, war veterans, rape victims, people with eating disorders and more.

Those suffering from anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and other mental health illnesses are triggered in ways that are overlooked within the

classroom. Rather than someone turning away from what they don’t want to see, they feel a threat to their safety where they are stuck in a classroom where there’s no escape - they can’t get out or leave without it being public.

Trigger warnings alert students about explicit material they are about to see or read in a classroom that may be upsetting. They allow students to choose whether or not they want to engage with material.

Rather than it serving as a type of censorship blocking information within the material. Material includes but may be limited to certain images, ideas, or comments.

Not every potential trigger can be flagged. It

would impossible. No one expects that to happen.

Often people don’t understand what their triggers are or when a posttraumatic reaction happens.

Being triggered without warning is an experience that makes it nearly impossible to learn material or engage in the class. Making day-today life both challenging and exhausting.

If you’re not a survivor of trauma, try to ignore the voice that says, “viewer discretion advised” before an episode of “House” or the label “may contain nuts” if you have an allergy.

It’s difficult, isn’t it? For survivors, trigger warnings are an issue of health and safety in classes. Similar, to

that voice or label warning of potential harm to a person’s health and safety. It’s nearly impossible to internalize the reality of the day to day struggle of life after trauma.

What you can do is listen to the voices of survivors when they request small accommodations making it possible for them to continue their education in the midst of coping.

Giving a person the power to say “no” to certain types of content gives them power that they might not have otherwise. It aids in their journey to recovery. It is a sign of empathy. Nothing but positive things come out of it. They can help create a safe space for students full of respect and responsibility.

Alumna explains trigger warnings Lauren Myers Alumna ‘13

P

eople come from a wide range of experiences. We all respond differently to things depending on our mood, where we are, what our day has been like, etc.

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ECHOES Editors-in-Chief Jessi Borwick Nathan Vorce

Section Editors

Dani Rambo Kendal Bainbridge Will Schademann Tanner Hochstetler

Graphic Design Editor Don Vinkenberg

Graphic Designer Oakland Elliff

Business Manager Calab Holder

Circulation Manager Logan Erwin

Reporters

Kelly Hickey Sean Veazie Hailey Carson Alyssa Clayton Audrey Hays Jake Peterson Anthony Ruiz Taylor Daugherty Taylor Bever Emma Seilstad Sophia Cooper Andrea Milstead Breana Rocha

Los Ecos

Jazmine Martinez Ricardo Lopez Raquel Lopez

Adviser

Gerry Appel The Echoes is published by the newspaper staff at 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.

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Advertisers wishing to reserve publication space should contact us by:

Phone: 712-328-6481 Facebook: ALHS Echoes Twitter: @ALHSJournalism Web site: alechoes.com NSPA Member Publication

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Feature

April 2015

Spread Design By Jessi Borwick

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students go organic with vegetable garden Harriet Siegrist Crimson and Blue

Sowing the seeds, the Organic Gardening Club is there to watch them grow and provide what it needs until it can be planted.

Chemistry teacher Jason Larson and student teacher John Bieber are the sponsors of this club.

Larson began the activity five years ago for kids who would be interested in learning about gardening. The club currently has eight members, including juniors Aly Sorensen and Josh Johnson, and

are still in the early stages of growth.

“Gardening is a good way to get outside,” Larson said.

Within the club, the main thing they learn is how to grow and learn about starting seeds. Or even garden placement and companion planting.

This is done to make plants grow better and faster because it does matter when and where you grow different types of plants. For example, some plants need to be completely in the sun while others need a bit of shade. They also

learn about soil and water conversation, a very important topic for gardeners. And most importantly they grow food too so they discuss how to grow food without chemicals.

“Plants are cool,” Johnson said, as explanation for why he joined the club.

His favorite part he’s been involved in so far is organically making pots for the plants and growing peppers. Others also joined for the friends who are in it, and more importantly, because they like plants. For

Sorensen, it is a time to hang out and spend more times with her friends.

With Earth Day coming up on April 22, Aly Sorensen and Josh Johnson will personally be doing something good for the holiday. Johnson plans to “plant a flower and hug a tree,” while Sorensen is going on a hike.

“Being part of the club is a great opportunity to get connected with what you are growing and learn about plants.

Don’t be afraid to join the club,” Larson said.

Jason Larson and OGC members. Photo by Nathan Vorce Top Row: Joshua Johnson, James Groenjes, Kelly Hickey Bottom Row: Alyson Sorensen, Marina Galaska, Paige Oamek, Jessica Hipnar

New tomato seedling planted by OGC students. Photo by Dani Rambo

OGC members, Josh Johnson, Marina Galaska, and James Groenjes clearing out garden plots so they can plant their vegtables later in the trimester. Photo by Nathan Vorce

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Feature

Jessi Borwick | Co-Editor-in-Chief

April 2015

Echoes

Student teacher, future career trial Hailey Carson

M

Reporter

any teachers at Abraham Lincoln High School have had a student teacher who comes into their classes and gets to see how they run them. Student teachers also get a chance to teach some lessons themselves. They use this as an opportunity to gain experience in the teaching field.

Marin Maycock, former Student Teacher for Bryan Pregon, Social Studies teacher, was here Monday through Thursday for a few hours starting Feb. 23.

Maycock is enrolled at The University of Nebraska at Omaha. She will be certified to teach social sciences to 7th to 12th graders.

“I’d prefer to work with juniors or seniors to talk about the future and college with them,” Maycock said.

“Middle schoolers are crazy, but I am too so that wouldn’t be bad though.”

In her classes, they do a lot of group projects to demonstrate and give ideas for their own class one day.

They are taught a lot of techniques. Student teaching gives them a chance to get into a classroom and use the skills they’ve learned and practice before one day it is the real deal. March 19 was her last day at AL. Chemistry teacher Jason Larson, was assigned a student teacher on March 16. John Bieber, a student from Buena Vista University, wants to one day teach a science class to share what he knows. He is into freshwater

ecology and is testing the water for its health. Along with getting a degree in teaching, he has been taking classes in biology, chemistry, and physics.

“The students here get along together, even in random groups,” Bieber said.

“I want to learn what they want in a teacher.”

Bieber taught in a 6th grade class before, but wants to help high schoolers put theories into practice. In the future he would like to be able to teach at a STEM school, one that just focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math.

Bieber is at AL all day, until May 20.

Teachers can learn things from the student teachers also. Larson has learned a few techniques to help students visualize things

and was introduced to some website he can use in class.

Larson said that it is great having a student teacher, and Bieber jumped right in and started leading the class after just a couple of weeks.

According to Larson, he is very passionate about what he does and he hopes to help show Bieber that teaching is more than just giving students a set curriculum.

“You need to help them and build relationships with each other,” Larson said.

“You need to be flexible.”

Student teachers come to the school to learn more about teaching for their future. Abraham Lincoln staff and students have both learned from the experience as well. Many teachers think it it has been a great opportunity having them in class.

Student teacher John Bieber helps a student with a chemistry asignment. Photo by Don Vinkenberg

New field revives robotics hopes after loss Emma Seilstad Reporter

The engineering courses provide a wide range of opportunities for students, but the robotics club are also very popular amongst students. Teams range from two to six students, and each team builds a robot to maneuver through a playing field. The team is required to build a robot that has the following qualifications: it must deliver items to a scoring zone, it must fit inside an 18”x18”x18” frame, and must function on the field. Various schools from around the country compete in this tournament, earning accolades and even local fame along the way.

“The purpose of Robotics is to engage students in a rigorous activity that requires them to apply skills they have

learned in their academic classes,” said Robotics Teacher Justin Heckman, “Particularly science, technology, engineering, and math.”

The 2015 event consisted of a 12’ by 12’ field that scored using pegs, buckyballs, or cubes. If a team could place their robot in a certain zone when time expired, they received extra points. Last year, robots had to hang from a bar above the ground for the bonus. Other major obstacles included a height bar, speedbump, and tall buckets. Only two teams consisting of two robots each were allowed to compete at a time. Building commenced during April and the competitions lasted all year.

The newest field update was announced on April 17 and many things have been changed. The original

12’x12’ dimensions are the same yet there are four sectioned corners. On one half, there are team spawn points whilst the other side has two nets for a 1-point and a 5-point net. Green balls score the 1 and 5 points while orange bonus balls provide twice the value.

Bonus points are awarded at the end of the match for one team member’s robot lifting the other off the ground: 25 points for 4 inches, 50 for 12 inches. 94 green balls and 10 bonus balls are placed on the field, equidistant throughout the field. Extra details are mentioned in the “VEX Nothing But Net” video on YouTube.

Throughout the school year, after several victories with very few losses, the VEX robotics team went to the U.S Open. It was attended not only from teams from America, but from all

Robotics students taking apart a previous robot from past competition. Photo

by Audrey Hays over the world as well.

“There were teams from Hong Kong, teams from Canada, teams from all over the nation,” Heckman said.

After many meets going in their favor, their luck

went down and they lost the international event.

Robotics is always looking for new members to join and help them out.

Having a background in engineering, robotics,

or even math is not required, even though it is recommended. The team is looking for people with backgrounds in everything such as organization skills to being able to drive the robot.

C-Wing offers hands-on learning experiences Nathan Vorce

Co-Editor in Chief

W

hen students think of courses,

many think of the core curriculum courses: math, social studies, English,

Junior Priscilla Kleppe and foods partner, Wesley Ruppe, making gravy for biscuits and gravy. Photo by Nathan Vorce

and science.

However, elective slots are required for graduation, and many helpful electives are offered throughout the school. One particular area in the school which houses electives is the C wing, located in its own hallway of the school. The C wing houses electives which include family consumer science classes, as well as Woodshop and ROTC. Junior Josh Vrenick thinks of Woodshop when the C wing is mentioned, but believes that the wing doesn’t receive much attention.

“It’s very ignored. I hardly even know it’s there,” Vrenick said.

Family consumer science classes taught at AL include Foods 1 and 2, Parenting, Child Development, and Fashion. Foods instructor Shelley Struebing holds a belief that the classes in the wing are unique in how the classes are taught.

“The biggest thing about the C wing is that it is a hands on learning environment. I think that helps kids learn,” Struebing said.

Brook Parsons teaches the Parenting, Child Development, and Fashion classes, and echoes Struebing’s belief about the active participation the classes demand and how they positively impact the students.

“We do a lot of partner group work, not sit and talk, there’s a lot more doing,” Parsons said. “Watching kids learn something and get something out of this topic, I enjoy seeing that. I’m in it to see the individual growth in each student.”

Electives like these have applicable life experience, but the educators want to make sure no information about the courses is misconstrued.

“The class is an intro on

how to prep nutritional food, and learn skills such as safety, sanitation, teamwork, and basic concepts,” Struebing said. “The misconception with a foods course is that you go here, you want to be a chef. I think we’re missing other areas: food sciences, food photography, and in general, food education is huge.”

There are other skills that can be learned from parenting and child development classes as well, which are applicable in life.

“The baby simulator (in Parenting) is a good experience for the students, they can see what it’s like to have a baby for 5 days,” Parsons said.

Although the C wing is sometimes overlooked by students, the hands-on learning that happens in the wing is important to the school learning of many students.

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Kendal Bainbridge | A&E page editor

Arts & Entertainment

April 2015

Echoes

Zombie Prom; bringing life back to the stage Audrey Hayes Reporter

In life there can sometimes be a pile of things to worry about, but in this case the worry arises in a typically normal high school.

As prom arrives some might worry whether the prom attire fits or the looks are more than great. The day of prom comes and when the music begins one wouldn’t think to worry about the monsters in Thriller really existing and that these ghouls don’t feel like doing too much dancing.

Students may have to keep

doing the tango in order to survive this nightmare.

Introduced by Drama teacher, Steve Mandelko, and Choir teacher, Lynne Boyd, is “Zombie Prom”, a romantic comedy musical from the perspective of the labeled bad boy, Jonny, who meets good girl, Toffee. Both characters are in their senior year at Enrico Fermi High, where the two had fallen in love but became separated by their principal, Mrs. Strict, and families who forbid it.

Devastated, Jonny sets to end his life at the nuclear reactor plant which leaves him with

a life changing transfusion.

Determined to take his girl to the prom and finish senior year, he heads back with a deadly surprise. This particular play was chosen because of the benefit of acting it offered to the cast.

“We chose this musical because it was one of the top musicals right now in the country,” Boyd said. “It features a lot of people, there are many musicals that only have a couple leads and this one has a lot for everybody to do.”

In the start of rehearsal,

the singers usually begin by blocking, which is the more acting portion or positioning on stage. Also during the assigned time, lines are practiced and choreography is focused on along to the music. The background of the story flows with 1950s rock hits, which makes the music of key importance.

“It’s a lot of music,” Mandelko said. “So getting the music is crucial for understanding the story and getting to know the characters.” The actors begin also with blocking

for an hour after school and then switch to singing until practice comes to an end.

For a play to usually do great, not only could it be the directors behind it, but the actors who carry the job to bring the story to life.

“The lead doesn’t mean I lead everyone,” junior Dillon Gibson, who plays the character Jonny, said.

“Just because I have lines over everyone else doesn’t mean my part is important than anyone else’s.” Cast of characters are: Dillion Hawley as Jake, Colton MaHood as Eddie Flaguante,

Chase Davis as Josh, Elijah Bennett as Joey, Maddie Kinney as Mrs. Strict, and Tori Albertus as Toffee.

Extras included are unlisted cast, all the techs, set designers and additional singers. On the road where the progress might still be coming, it seems Zombie Prom is slowly rising as May nears. Since the show doesn’t hit the stage until then, it’s practice, practice, practice from here. The play will be open to audiences May 21, 22, and 23 at 7:00, one might regret missing it.

National Poetry Month offers opportunites Andrea Milstead Reporter

April is National Poetry Month and this was started in 1996. It is the largest literary celebration in the world.

Poetry is a form of writing where there’s more emphasis on feelings and ideas with certain styles and rhythms.

There’s a club at our school, called “Louder than a Bomb” (LTAB) and it is a slam poetry club. They meet weekly and participate in bouts where they perform poetry and perform a group poem.

“Poetry helps me express myself and get out bad, negative emotions. It helps me release and finish the day happy. Poetry and writing means everything to me,” said sophomore Damon Wilson.

Wilson is part of the LTAB poetry club and enjoys writing very much. But many

other students enjoy writing poetry as well and to the right is a poem written by an anonymous student.

Poems can be powerful like the one above or they can be silly. They can be taken literally or could have a hidden meaning.

You don’t have to be part of a poetry club to enjoy National Poetry Day! You can enjoy reading poetry of several well-known poets like William Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, Edgar Allen Poe or even cute poems by Shel Silverstein, and Dr. Seuss. Even if you don’t normally read poems, try it out!

Not only can you read poems, but you can even write them! You don’t have to be a brilliant writer to have fun writing poems. Whatever your preference, take this month to enjoy this unique form of writing poetry.

You walk down the hallway with your head down Because you’re tired of everyone critiquing your frown It’s just driving me crazy all this pain and suffering’s got me hazy You hear about the suffering and you hear of the pain all without love, all without gain all of this BS and I’m trying to be sane But that’s not how it works Because this world’s full of jerks I try not to fight but it’s hard to stand when the ground isn’t solid and you’re slipping through sand You stuck in this world without a whim or a plan And all they do, you just don’t understand All they do is shove you around and rough you up And I’m really sorry to interrupt but I’m so sick of the pushing around When they pick you up and shove you in your burial mound just wait till they get bored and get angry and then upset, quite frankly They froth at the mouth and find you quickly Till they bully you around till you’re almost sickly And all you are is a front man to hide why your parents left and ran

and I’m not sorry I’m angry, my patience is through because you have pushed me far off the edge And I hope you start to dredge all of the energy you have because I will break it all away and I hope you pray because I will not stop and I will hop hop hop down to your face and let you know that I’m not a disgrace and that yes my mother loves me Now you will see why bullying me wasn’t for free Now this world will regret for ever causing me hurt Now this world will regret for pushing me into the dirt I’m on my feet and I’m ready to fight I will punish with you all of the pain you try to cause No remote, no, rewind, no pause.

Just me and all of my retribution Let me be your herald, of absolution Because now I’m the maker and You will be unmade I will cascade and obliterate and I won’t reiterate That I am a done with you and done with this game And that you will regret the day you learned my name

“Bully” by Anonymous

‘Insurgent’ a must see action packed, romantic thriller Emma Seilstad

I

Reporter

magine a world where if you didn’t fit into a special area of expertise, you were destined to be killed.

Unfortunately, for Tris Prior that was all but an imagination. Tris is what is known as a “Divergent”, a person suspected to not be able to be controlled. She also happens to be one of the main characters in the

“Divergent” movie series.

Tris, who is played by Shailene Woodley, had many obstacles to overcome after the first movie “Divergent”, which were either resolved or intensified in the following movie, “Insurgent”.

For starters, I have not read any of the “Divergent” books. Therefore I am able to judge the plot and technical properties solely on the movie alone.

In case you are not familiar with the different factions, they are Dauntless the protectors, Amity the peaceful, Erudite the intelligent, Abnegation

the selfless, Candor the honest, and of course The Factionless, who do not belong in any faction.

Among the factionless are “Divergents” and people who just didn’t meet the requirements of the faction they chose.

I think there are only two words to describe “Insurgent”, and that is plot twist. Director Robert Schwentke sure knows how to keep an audience on the edge of their seat. When unexpected encounters with dead and “dead” mothers occur and the secret of the “message” in the box,

you can definitely feel the suspense in the theatre.

If you’re looking for a romantic movie, Insurgent’s got you covered. The power couple of Tris and Four have undeniable chemistry that’s showcased in several ways.

Just a warning for kids, there is an extensive scene you may want to shield eyes from.

The only thing I was not a huge fan of was Tris’ haircut and sudden turn of violent behavior. Although I understand why she turned violent, there seems to be a lack of the sweetness Tris once held. Other than that,

Woodley was a perfect fit for Tris, not to mention her acting was impeccable. In one specific scene, I recall her going under a Candor serum causing her to tell the truth in front of a large group of people. In this scene, she cries and the hurt she was feeling radiated off her like sun rays.

“Insurgent” was a bit more violent and darker than “Divergent”. Four and Tris both have obstacles to overcome that causes them to act in perpetual ways.

Although the movie is dark throughout, there is a hopeful, happy ending.

When it comes to technical properties, the special effects were extraordinary. In fact, during one scene, Tris was given a Dauntless serum to test her limits, whereas I felt like I had been given the serum considering how fast my heart was beating. All the special effects seemed to make you feel like you right there with the characters, in this dystopian world.

Overall, it was far above a disappointing sequel.

Furthermore, if you’re looking for an action packed romantic thriller, Insurgent’s a must-see for you.

Echoes

April 2015

Arts & Entertainment

Kendal Bainbridge | A&E page editor

‘The Secret Garden’ playing at Chanticleer

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Chanticleer Theatre portrays story of the sickly Mary Lennox Don Vinkenburg The last show this season at our home theatre is “The Secret Garden.” The Chanticleer Theatre has had many musicals and plays and talents, this theatre has left a lasting memory on everyone who has been apart of it on and off the stage. It has been a really good season for the Chanticleer and they picked a very good show to end with.

The arts is much more difficult than anyone may think. Memorizing many lines, learning spot on dancing and making sure it’s all in time and learning songs and memorizing the lyrics all the pitches without help onstage.

Taking all of these and a few months of training to end up performing a show live in front of many people is no easy task. “The Secret Garden” is full of laughs, tears and breath taking moments

with excellent talent from all the actors that you won’t want to miss.

“The Secret Garden” is a story about a young girl named Mary Lennox who is very sick and unwanted by her parents. She has been dreaming for years and when she finally awakes, she learns that her parents and everyone she knew died of cholera. She is found by a group of soldiers and, after briefly living with an English clergyman and his family, later gets taken in by her relatives that she has never met or even heard of in Yorkshire, England. Mary’s personality is horrible, and no one could put up with her. Shortly after arriving at her new home in England, Mary hears about a secret garden from Martha, her aunt. The garden door was locked and the key was somewhere buried beneath the earth. Mary becomes intensely curious about the secret garden, and deter-

mined to find it. Later on, everything changes when she meets a young gardener named Colin and her personality blooms. This is only the beginning of the story. You have to come watch it to see what happens next in Mary’s journey.

An English teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School is also performing in “The Secret Garden.” Brenda Smrdel, who is involved in the arts, will be on stage soon when the show comes out in May, taking over the role of “Ayah,” the nanny of Mary, who is now a ghost that haunts her.

“It’s a very fun cast and very engaging show,” Smrdel said.

Smrdel has been doing theatre for most of her life and started dancing when she was 3 years old. She does theatre in her spare time and has been a part of many shows. Smrdel was the head speech coach at her previous

school for 6 years and also directed plays.

“I think everyone should come see it,” Smrdel said.

She loves it and is open to about anything with her students and being apart of Theatre has helped her with that.

Show dates are May 8, 9, 15, and 16, on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and the 10th, 17th, on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets for adults are 20 dollars per person and for students it’s only 10 dollars per person. There are only six chances to see this wonderful show, and you won’t want to miss it! The Chanticleer Theatre is located at 830 Franklin ave, and has been up and running since 1952. Everyone should come support the Fine Arts and come watch our own Brenda Smrdel, along with all of the other amazing talented people perform this wonderful show.

a politically-charged murder mystery.

“Child 44” tracks the exploits of MGB agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy), who loses his position of power in Moscow when he refuses to denounce his wife Raisa (Noomi Rapace) as a traitor.

The couple is subsequently banished to the desolate town of Volsk, Russia where they are condemned to a life of hardship and poverty - - until General Nesterov (Gary Oldman) shows up.

Demidov, along with Nesterov, proceed to continue the investigation of a gruesome series of murders that have claimed the lives of over 40 young boys.

Although the series of events seem extraordinary and riveting on paper, the film plods along during its grueling 137 minutes, resulting in a decidedly prolonged and unexciting narrative.

First, the killing that is depicted in the film is either excessively casual or too distant that it’s ultimately ineffective and uninteresting for the audience. The audience is so far removed from the grisly incidents of the child murders that they have no emotional investment in what has occurred. There is only one scene where moviegoers marginally enter the mind of the deranged killer, who waterboards himself

and mutters broken and unintelligible English. But if the makers of the film wanted to construct a thriller that truly engaged its audience, then I believe more focus should have been placed on the murderer rather than the murders.

With the inclusion of more information about the origin of his malevolence, then viewers might shrink in fear from the killer, rather than constantly ponder and question his ambiguity.

While disgraced agent Leo Demidov is the assumed “hero” of the film, every character portrayed in the film is imperfect and flawed.

While the representation of these personas is genuine, I

think its effect is the opposite. The lost opportunity of focusing on the redeemable values of Demidov effectively make him another nameless instrument of a grim society. During the course of the film Demidov gruesomely murders five different people and forces his wife into an unhappy marriage. The professed honor that’s paraded in the film is so infinitesimal and pathetic that the overwhelming atmosphere of hopelessness smothers it into submission. In referring back to the statement, “There is no murder in Paradise,” I would suggest a revision: “There is no honor in Hell.”

Even when Demidov

and Raisa agree to take in two orphans at the end of the film, I was left with an emotion of incredulity and frustration. As others in the theater sobbed at this action, I failed to see its significance.

While the girls left a life of loneliness and neglect, they entered a lifetime of uncertainty and doubt. Nonetheless, I suppose a few years of intermittent tranquility is better than ten years of hard labor in the Gulag.

three inches removed. Since the kidney failures, Kaleigha has graduated from Abraham Lincoln and has earned a nursing degree at Iowa Western, and is also working at Mercy Hospital. She is now working on completion of a degree in health and human performance at Iowa Western. At the end of the movie, there will be interviews with people that have also experienced kidney failures.

A student at IWCC named Leigh, and a stunt woman came up with the idea of making a film about Kaleigha’s story. Jim Lairmore has started the kickstarter this month, with the goal of making $36,500 to help make the film.

Depending on the amount donated, donors can receive gift cards, or access to seeing the film. Once they reach the amount, they will begin filming in the second week of June.

Students at Iowa

Western will help with camera work and audio for the movie.

“We will be doing camera work and audio for the movie,” says Cole McAfee, a student at Iowa Western “So we’ll basically be the crew.”

Making the film is a part of Iowa Western’s Media Production program, which is a program that allows students to learn skills needed in film, television/ cable, and other media applications while using state of the art equipment.

Working on the film with Larimore and Total-Leigh Entertainment, students hope to gain knowledge about making films.

“Well, just a step really for all of us,” says McAfee, “We are looking for bigger things and we are very grateful for these people to help us out and giving us a summer project.”

Filming for the movie will be done mostly in the

Council Bluffs area. Most scenes will be taken out on a farm, but some scenes will be shot at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and in the Omaha Metro.

If all goes well if the short film, Lairmore hopes a full length feature film will follow. They also hope that the film will inspire and bring awareness to kidney failure

and the importance of organ donation. Those interested can keep updated on the film and the kickstarter on Total-Leigh Entertainment’s website.

Reporter

Paradise is lost in ‘Child 44’, film drags on Calab Holder Reporter

D

uring the opening credits of the thriller, “Child 44,” a new film from director Daniel Espinosa, a lone sentence stands starkly against a black screen: “There is no murder in Paradise.” This simple, yet profound statement immerses the audience in the historical context of post-war Soviet Russia, and sets the scene for

Filmakers ask IWCC students to create short film Sophia Cooper Reporter

Iowa Western Community College is helping produce a local film, “The Gift.” “The Gift” is a retelling of Kaleigha Lairmore’s story of her triumph over kidney failure.

One of her kidneys began to fail at age five. She spent several hours in the emergency rooms of Mercy Hospital (currently CHI Health), before she was flown to Children’s Hospital in Omaha. Spending a month in intensive care unit, she was placed in a medically induced coma. With several tests done, doctors found out that other things were causing the kidney failure. Spending the next several years in and out of hospitals, cell transplant in Minnesota, removing the kidney in Michigan, and then finally returning to Mercy in Iowa. In 2001, she had nine inches of intestine removed and in 2007, had

Photo credit to Jim Lairmore and IWCC staff

Echoes

Sports

April 2015

Commentary

Will Schademann | Sports Editor

11

College squads warming up with spring games Jake Peterson

A Reporter

re you ready?

Well if you are then you will have to wait for another 5 months, but nevertheless that will be here before you know it. The college football spring games have been in full swing and some very interesting teams and players have been turning people’s heads this spring.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers had once again done really well in attendance with 76,000 attending a spring game at Memorial Stadium.

Some rather staggering standouts in some of the spring games, but perhaps what is very staggering is Oklahoma’s wideouts, what was a weakness of there’s last year is now starting to look like a strength for next season with some newcomers and of course experienced and very tal-

ented Sterling Shepard. The running back spot should be just fine for Oklahoma as always, this time loading up on Samaje Perine.

Iowa State is having a solid spring game as well with Grant Rohach being the surprising star perhaps making the quarterback race a little more interesting although don’t be surprised to see Sam Richardson excel in the off season. The defensive line for Iowa State also looked much improved and are led by transfer Demond Tucker from the state of Mississippi who also had offers from Ole Miss, Texas A&M, TCU, West Virginia, and Kansas State. He will give you athleticism, speed, and size up front for the Cyclones. Darius White, Gabe Luna, Dale Pierson, and Trent Taylor should all contribute around him.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have some problems on the offensive line and the linebacking core, losing Brandon Scherff on the offensive line will most definitely be their biggest loss for next season, but those questions on the linebacking core are still loom-

ing, last year they weren’t that good, but perhaps they can only go up.

The wide receiving core should be one of the best that Kirk Ferentz has ever had, and quarterback CJ Beathard should be the guy to lead them to a few victories this fall.

The teams to watch out for the 2015 season are Ohio State, TCU, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama, but maybe there will be someone else on that list that none of us are even talking about, Texas A&M could be solid, West Virginia might respond strong, who knows what we could expect for the 2015 campaign, either way it’s gonna be another fun one.

So will some questions be answered before the season starts? Will Kyle Allen be the guy for the Aggies, will Oklahoma overcome adversity, will USC matchup to its recruiting ballot, and will the Playoff Committee actually pick the four best teams for a change next season?

All of these questions will be answered starting on Sept. 3.

North Carolina State defensive end Darian Roseboro (45) tackles running back Reggie Gallaspy II during the Wolfpack's Kay Yow Spring Game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., on April 11.

Courtesy of MCT Campus

Commentary

NFL Draft will answer questions heading into year Jake Peterson Reporter

Are you ready for the next crop of NFL stars to prevail? The NFL scouts sure are. Many questions hang in the air as far as who is going to be that number 1

pick in the draft.

Many seem to think Jameis Winston is going to be that guy who would go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But others think it will be Marcus Mariota who certainly has the smarts, but not necessarily the durability of some of the quarterbacks in

the draft.

Some other players to watch out for in the draft are a couple of wide receivers named Amari Cooper of Alabama and Kevin White of West Virginia.

Kevin White who is a Larry Fitzgerald clone will do some damage in the NFL,

and Amari Cooper who was an absolute superstar for the University of Alabama could very easily live up to his hype in the NFL. Another potential NFL superstar is defensive lineman Leonard Williams of USC who is very fast and very powerful.

Some running backs to watch out for in the draft are Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin, and Todd Gurley of Georgia, both running backs are very complete and smart.

Gurley will bring you the power and speed, and Melvin Gordon will give you a versatile running game a variety

of things, he will adjust his running style as far as how he runs the ball against certain teams so he will match up better.

The NFL draft will start on April 30 and end on May 2. So who will be the NFL star out of this draft?

Soccer players preparing for upcoming season Brenna Rocha Reporter

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ith the soccer season kicking off, many players are preparing for the games that are ahead. This soccer season the players are getting ready to build up their endurance and strength for the upcoming games. The players have been preparing and working hard to be ready for the season.

On the boys soccer team the players are hard at work and practicing for the onslaught of games to come.

With the boys soccer team rebounding from their losses last year, many of the players are practicing hard and getting ready for what is to come. Girls players are working out frequently as well.

“I do a lot of running to get in shape and keep my body fit for the season,” sophomore Julia Gibler said.

For the girls soccer team, improving their overall skills is one of the main things they are trying to work on this season. Improving the team’s soccer skills is not just about the physical attributes of the sport, it’s also about building a bond between the players.

“I’ve meet some of my best friends in soccer. It’s just something that keeps me busy and it’s just fun sport to play. I really enjoy it,” junior Madison Wendland said.

Building a relationship between the players can be just as important as the physical practice that soccer requires.

The girls and boys soccer teams are hard at work practicing techniques and drills that will improve their performance for the season. With this comes endless work for the players, but most have a way of getting

through the tiring exercises.

“We do a lot of drills that deal with footwork, like dribbling and running,” Gibler said.

With the season progressing rapidly, many players are doing their best to keep up with the physical aspects of soccer. Soccer requires a lot of running and footwork, this requires lots of practice and preparation to be able to learn the right techniques and ways on not to hurt yourself during practice or game. The soccer players have had to work against the cold and wet conditions spring has brought us this soccer season.

As the team works on techniques, coaches are working hard on watching players learn and better their abilities for the season. The coaches are watching and teaching many things to the new and old players on the team this year. The coaches love bringing the teammates together and becoming better

as a whole.

“My favorite part about coaching is that I get to work with teens in a fun and competitive environment,” said soccer coach Robert Miller. “I really enjoy the strategy and team building aspects of coaching.”

Coaching can be fun and beneficial because it allow many of the coaches to see players change and turn in to better players and hard workers. Coaching isn’t all about teaching players to physically be better it also encourages them to be better people and good friends.

The mental efforts of the players and the consistent drills preparing them for the season are the main things that will get the players to state this year. Working hard and being active is just part of the many things the soccer teams have worked on so far in the season.

Senior Pedro Zarate attempts to kick the ball with a TJ defender looking on.

Photo by Kaitlyn Nielsen, Crimson and Blue Yearbook

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Sports Echoes 12 Royals, Cubs fans optimistic on year Will Schademann | Sports Editor

April 2015

Will Schademann Sports Editor

I

t’s time for baseball.

The Major League Baseball (MLB) season has officially started and fans of their teams are excited to see how their teams will perform this season. It’s going to be interesting how the Kansas City Royals come back after a World Series run last year, and the ultimate question remains, can the Chicago Cubs win the World Series? Instructional coach Carrie Nepple (and Chicago Cubs fan) is optimistic of the Cubs’ chances this year.

Some reasons for the optimism are that the Cubs hired new manager Joe Maddon, gained some new young and fresh talent and acquired star pitcher Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox. “With all of the young

talent they have been accumulating over the last three or four years and the addition of Jon Lester, the Cubs should be very competitive this year,” Nepple said.

Lastly, Nepple explained that the main reason she is still a Cubs fan is that if the Cubs would win the World Series, which they have not won since 1908, it would make winning a title more rewarding.

“I have a lot of loyalty to my Cubs and also waiting that long for a championship will only make a World Series championship that much sweeter,” Nepple said.

Senior Noah Larsen doesn’t believe the Cubs will have as good of a year as people are expecting.

“The past five years, they’ve had losing records, so by that statistic, I wouldn’t expect much from them. But you never know,” Larsen said.

Over in the American League, Kansas City Royals

fan and engineering teacher Ryan Higgins is predicting the Royals to continue the consistency from last year’s World Series run. ”I am predicting about the same as last year. Also, I’m thinking the Royals with have around 89 wins and a wild card playoff appearance,” Higgins predicted.

As for how the Royals will respond to the loss last year in the World Series, Higgins believes that the team will be more hungry to reach the World Series again.

“I think it makes them hungry. If they were that close to the ultimate goal once, they really want to dig harder to get that World Series ring,” Higgins said.

Despite being a Royals fan, Higgins doesn’t think the Royals will reach the World Series again this year, but thinks they will be back after several seasons.

“Probably not this year, just because it is so hard to do but I think they will be

back in the next five years,” Higgins said.

This year in Major League Baseball should be one that fans of all teams won’t forget.

Top: The Kansas City Royals’ Eric Hosmer, middle, celebrates his three-run home run in the third inning against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, April 8. at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Bottom: Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning on April 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Courtesy of MCT Campus

Tennis allows players to stay in shape, remain active Audrey Hays Reporter

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hile basketballs and footballs are now deflating on the sidelines, tennis balls are taking charge of the year. Merely a week ago the coaches of boys’ and girls’ tennis, Myron Wilder and Bryan Pregon, began assembling this season’s two teams. In the categories of JV or Varsity, a mix of newcomers and returning players prepare for tournaments to come. For those that might consider tennis a boring sport or not so widely liked, some consider it as an in-between sport for a student athlete to keep in shape when basketball and football season end.

“Big benefit for a lot of my players, it’s an in-between sport,” Wilder said.

“In the long run it’s great because they can play at my age or any age.”

Some players are: Seniors- Sam Wilder, Cole Ragland, Franki Farwell, Katelyne Hiers, Rachel Harold; Juniors- Ben Addison, Jakob Swanson, Claire Boes, Karlie Petersen; Sophomores- Dale Fienhold, Alex Michael, Katie Pregon, Madison Sapienza, Hayley Holland; Freshmen- Stephanie Lepe, Jessica Dix, and many more returning and new.

Practice schedules for the boys team can vary dayto-day and can last a half an hour long for each team. JV focuses on skill practice and varsity improves on skills and accuracy. Girls’ practice begins with a short warm-

Senior Francesa Farwell getting ready to serve against T.J.on April 20.

Photo by Will Schademann

up and then moves to small groups practicing or games with actual points to prepare for competition. It’s finished up with one huge drill everyone is involved in. One of the newcomers that had joined Wilder this season was junior Jesse Lorenzon.

Ahead of the few practices Jesse hadn’t known much of the sport before going out for it and already his serves have gotten better and he’s begun to learn some of the techniques. He expected there to be a lot of ball control, ball handling and running which proved true. By going out for a sport one might never thought of, some could dislike the idea of becoming a newbie on which he expressed this advice, “Don’t think too hard about it, just try your best to hit it,” Lorenzon said. “Don’t

push yourself to be as good as those returning.”

The coaches hold a spot for everyone on the team, one can’t be dropped because a lower level of skills is shown. Filled with competition, movement and rackets to hit the ball might make it a sport to reconsider.

“The best part is you get to be outside and enjoying a sport I like a lot and being with students who want to get better at tennis.” Pregon said. Tennis is a lifelong sport where one can play recreationally or just for fun, but overall it’s a sport one has the opportunity to enjoy for a long time.

UNO hockey goes to first Frozen Four in school history

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Jake Peterson Reporter

or the first time in UNO hockey h i s t o r y, the Mavs played in the Frozen Four. A team that consists of 17 players that are either freshmen or sophomores, it is considered to be one of the young-

est teams in the country this year, and yet they played in the Frozen Four. This team was led by goaltender Ryan Massa, freshmen forwards (and former Omaha Lancer players) Jake Randolph and Tyler Vesel, and also sophomore and former Indiana Ice player Austin Ortega. Tanner Lane and Pittsburgh Penguin draft pick Jake Guentzel.

“It’s a great feeling,” Massa said to Omaha.com.

“But its not satisfying. For

us, it’s pretty short enjoyment. It’s nice reaching a milestone as an organization, but our work’s far from over.” Goaltender Ryan Massa made 40 saves to complete the 4-0 shutout against RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) to get UNO in the Frozen Four. In the first matchup of the Frozen Four, UNO lost to eventual national champs Providence by the score of 4-1, and yet goaltender Ryan Massa still

made 44 saves for the Mavs in that loss. UNO’s defense was clearly a weak point in that game as the Mavs had a really tough time keeping it out of the defensive zone, which gave Providence many offensive opportunities and they executed.

“I thought Massa played a terrific game tonight, and we could have gotten frustrated,” Providence coach Nate Leaman said to Omaha. com.

“We talked about getting the next goal when it was 2-0 between the second and third period, no matter what the shots were, because we’re a team that has come back during the course of the year,” Mavs coach Dean Blais said to Omaha.com.

Many questions hang in the air heading into next season, such as, can a future goalie take over? Obviously we aren’t expecting anyone to fill in Massa’s shoes,

but UNO needs that certain someone to be steady and consistent if UNO wants to go back to the Frozen Four, because they have the personnel on the forward side of things, but defense is also something UNO needs for next season as they are also losing Brian Cooper a solid, and also smart defenseman.

Until then we can only sit, wait, and wonder if UNO will go to Tampa Bay next year at the 2016 Frozen Four.