Borah Senator 11 16 16 by Borah Senator

For river rafting fun, go to pages 8&9 Check out page 12 for a review on Xanadu Jr.

“Five”: a book review on page 13 Realistic illustration of a turtle drawn by senior Garrett Vandermeer. For more artwork, go to page 2.

Stories and photo galleries updated on

“I see athletes here that play not only because of the game of football but for the lifelong brotherhood.”

BorahSenator.com

Go to pages 10 & 11 to see more football photos taken by senior photographer Amber French.

Coach Jason Burton

Borah Bio

Senior artist finds satisfaction in realism

May 17, 2016

Staff

Head Honchos: Editor-in-Chief: Demi Manglona Photographers: Juliann Daw, Emma Doane, Amber French, Heidi Johnson, Baylee London Photo Editor: Heidi Johnson Illustrator: Gabriel Abille Page Editors: Cover: Demi Manglona Borah Bio: Demi Manglona News: Baylee London Opinion: Juliann Daw New Teachers: Juliann Daw, Phoenix Dunn River Rafting: Juliann Daw, Brooke Kerley, Skye Vialpando Double Truck: Demi Manglona A&E: Brooke Kerley Clubs & Activities: Moses Rodriguez Sports: Hailey Hasenyager, Aubrey Pulsipher, Elaina Swanson Fun & Games: Phoenix Dunn, Skye Vialpando

By Demi Manglona

17deminicole.manglona@boiseschools.net Senior Garrett Vandermeer has been exploring his artistic talent since fifth grade and has developed his own style of realism. After years of experimentation with different techniques, the artist said painting and architectural design are the only styles connecting to his style. “Realism has just been more appealing to draw,” Vandermeer said. “Recreating something exactly like itself is just really satisfying. I’ve only really been good at realism so I try to stick with my strength.” Vandermeer prefers to draw using a photo reference to guide his initial linework. He uses this common technique to ensure his interpretation of the image captures each detail, accurately. “I want people to understand that when using a reference, you’re not just taking the idea of another artist. You’re recreating the idea--making it your own,” Vandermeer said. The senior admits he fluctuates between spurts of inspiration and bouts of frustrating artistic block. Though Vandermeer said blocks can be anything but brief, he believes a muse can be found within any loss of inspiration. “Instead of stopping at the block, I block out the block,” he explained. “I just try to push through. I will ask for opinions from my peers and my instructor on how I can move forward.” Vandermeer would like to thank art teacher Jen Compton for “all her support and direction.”

Staff Writers: Ariel Cordova Reid Post Isabelle Robison Adviser: Michelle Harmon

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News

The Borah Senator

Updated grading policy goes into effect next year By Elaina Swanson

19elaina.swanson@bosieschools.net In July 2017 a new grading policy will go into effect. This policy will not just go into effect at Borah, but throughout the entire Boise School District. The hope is that this new policy will help students have more success. “Some of the teachers right now are prototyping it to see how logistically it’s going to work out,” chemistry teacher Mark Westcott said. According to “Grading From the Inside Out,” a book by Tom Schimmer,

“Anchoring grading practices with a focus on accuracy and confidence leads to decisions that are on point and aligned with what we know to be in the best interest of the student.” Some of the ideas for the new grading policy are based on ideas from Schimmer’s book, and all the teachers at Borah will be receiving a copy. “Well, it’s still evolving,” Principal Tim Standlee said. “It’s not set in stone, and they (the district administrators) haven’t had the final policy read upon it.” This is the Zero Year, or pilot year, of the new policy. Teachers are prototyping

it to see how it will work for themselves and students. The biggest shift is not a number shift, but rather making sure that the students’ grades reflect how much the students understand. Standlee said, “Where in the end. what we really want to make sure is you learn the material. And if you learn the material, you shouldn’t be graded on why, how or when you learned it. The point is you learned it. ” This new policy for grading will allow students to learn at their own pace. For example, if a student takes a test and doesn’t do very well, then the test

can be retaken. There won’t be any zeros to bury the students and make it so they can’t achieve an A grade as long as they put forth the effort. According to a powerpoint on grading presented by the principal on the opening day meeting of faculty, “Grading should be accurate and produce students who are confident in their learning abilities.” A goal of the new policy is to give accurate grades to all students to help them achieve. Another goal is to build the confidence level of the students which will then help them to succeed academically.

District transgender policy makes breakthrough By Ariel Cordova

19ariel.cordova@boiseschools.net The world has taken on a new view as LBGT+ teens and adult high school dropout and suicide rates rise. Borah has made it its mission to keep kids safe, feel wanted, and create a community where they can be themselves. A new Transgender Student Policy allows kids to change their online school profile and keep true to themselves. Q. What was the big factor that made the district take on these policies? Woodland: In my opinion, the district adopted this policy because they recognized that all students need support. And no matter their sexuality, no matter their gender, it doesn’t matter, because all students need support to stay in school. Obviously the goal of the district is to educate kids, and if they’re feeling unsafe or if they’re feeling unwelcome or unwanted at this school, then there’s no way they can learn. So the district recognized that and fixed it--they tried really hard to fix it. Q. Did any of you have any worries for the student body on how it will affect them? As Idaho is mostly closed off from the rest of the U.S. and is quite conservative? Woodland: You know, the district, the Boise School District, has always been very progressive. They’ve always been the leader in Idaho about how they

deal with social issues and to be honest, I don’t think they cared. They saw a need and they filled it, which is incredible, the support we have from the district. Again, personal opinion, but I think the district is more focused on helping kids than how they will look, which is huge; it’s just a big deal, because they are focused on helping kids. And I’m sure there’s pushback and I’m sure there’s people that don’t want it and it’s not about that, it’s about the students, and if they feel safe. Q. It’s said the district wanted to keep the students who take the policy into action safe; how do you plan to achieve this? Woodland: Well, the district already has an anti-bullying policy that’s pretty comprehensive, and would include any form of bullying based on religion, sex, gender, sexuality, all that. One of the questions on the questionnaire first is safety. You know? Who would you go to to feel safe -- you know, if you are having problems? The Gender Support Plan is pretty specific on how we will support students. So yes, and this came from the top down that this is the way it is and this is how we’re going to support these students, so if there was any push back, the district would act immediately. And that means, you know, the counseling office has been trained pretty comprehensively on this, as have administration and the teachers have had a little bit of training around this,

enough that we all know, this is the way it is. And we’re all there to kind of be, the backbone, so that we’re there to make sure the policy is carried through. Q. What does the district hope to achieve? Woodland: I can’t speak for the district, but I can speak for Borah and what I think is happening. What I see is an attempt to keep kids in school, and to help them graduate, and to help them in a way that they can look back on their schooling, and have a positive view. Students that feel ostracized or that feel different or that aren’t welcome -- the chances of them dropping out, or worse, are high. We know the statistics on suicides amongst LGBT+ youth; we know that it’s not good, and so, if we can support by making school a safe place, the chances of those other things happening massively decrease. Q. What other hopes does the district have to move forward with more policies to help, include, and keep safe those who wish to take part in the policy? Woodland: I don’t really know the answer to that. It seems like policies are very fluid. They’re always changing, and they always adapt to the needs of students, so who knows what the next policy is that we have to change. Because we don’t even know what that is yet, but I have faith that the Boise School District will make changes to help students however they can. That’s

the cool thing about our district. What makes it different from the others in America is that we’re supported by both staff and students in a way that we can make those changes without a big fuss. Q. Has there been any negative comments or takes on the district’s plan? Woodland: There will always be the naysayers, always. It doesn’t matter if it’s internally, externally, in the world, there’s always going to be the haters. They may have personal opinions that may be different from the policy, but the school district makes it very clear that when you’re in the hallway and when you’re in the walls of this school, that’s the way it is, and that is awesome. And, of course, there’s going to be people that have the closed minds and the different viewpoints, but when they walk through those doors, they have to adhere to the school policy. Q. How did you feel about this new policy, and others, being put into action? Woodland: I think it’s incredible. I really don’t have the right words to say or to show how excited I am to see the district support this and the students, because I have seen a lot of students hide who they are out of fear and now I see them opening up, I see them talking about it. I think Borah’s always been a special place; we’re way more accepting than some of the other schools, and this just catches the rest of the school district up to par.

News

November 16, 2016

Orchestra performs initial fall classical concert By Gabriel Abille

17gabriel.abille@boiseschools.net Borah’s orchestra played its fall concert in early October in the Borah auditorium. “He has a great sense of humor and he has a lot of experience with performance, he is the right person to have followed Christa Rowlands footsteps” that is how Caleb Hart describes Richard Grassler who this year replaced Christa Rowland after her departure. Grassler definitely showed his skill at the Fall concert. A variety of songs were played by Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra from various composers: “Spring” by Vivaldi and “Ghosts of

Brandenburg” by Richard Meyer. Caleb Hart is one of the few members of chamber orchestra, an experienced violinist and being a concert master, he mentions that he had to prepare extra to perfect his solo’s. “Vivaldi’s spring was definitely harder on my end and probably easier for others, but we had to practice for all of the songs, outside of class as well.” Grassler made a short speech on his life, allowing the crowd to gain more information about himself, and a loud applause was given by the crowd, finishing the Fall concert. The next concert will be held at the Borah auditorium Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Songs such as “Winter” by Vivaldi and “Waltz of the Flowers” by Tchaikovsky will be included.

Gabriel Abille | 17gabriel.abille@boiseschools

New Orchestra director, Richard Grassler, conducts the chamber orchestra.

Tackle puts varsity football player in wheelchair -- others also injured this season I was hopping off field but Burton kept saying, “Get down. Just stay down.” By Baylee London

19baylee.london@boiseschools.net Hopes are high with two minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Borah versus Columbia game. Sophomore Ndayiragije Innocent goes in for a tackle while playing defense. “In this play, (sophomore) Jackson (Cole) and I jump back 6-10 yards and we try to break their (Columbia’s) route,” Innocent said. After making the tackle, he said he felt pure pain in his right leg. He tried to walk it off at first, and then he started hopping until Coach Jason Burton told him to get down. (Sophomore) Jacob Batubenga was also on field at the time. He said, “One minute he was in the air, the next he was on the ground.” The full diagnosis for his leg was a clean break in his tibia. After his fivehour emergency room visit, he was put into a wheelchair in which he will most likely remain until late October. Senior Tanner Chapman and the rest

Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools.net

Sophomore Ndayiragjie Innocent sits on a box in the weight room because he can’t participate in the activity. The center picture shows an X-ray from Senior Tanner Chapman with a clean break in his collar bone. Sophomore Sam Caldwell gets through his school days in a leg brace. of the football team were scrimmaging against Bishop Kelly in mid-July. In the midst of diving and doing whatever he was doing, he slipped and landed on his shoulder. “As soon as I hit the ground, I knew something was wrong,” Tanner said. “It swelled up pretty bad, but the picture was cool.” Diagnosis was a clean break in his left collarbone. He was cleared not too long

after and got right back on the field to assume position as cornerback and safety for the varsity football team. Sophomore Sam Caldwell has been playing football since the eighth grade. Never has he ever been pulled from a game for an injury quite like this. Caldwell was pumped and waiting for the game against Capital. Only minutes into the first game of the season, he was blocking for the running back,

Innocent. When the Capital player that was after Innocent rolled over, he hit the outside of Caldwell’s ’s knee -- resulting in his knee bending inward. The full diagnosis was a strain in one of his ligaments (MCL), and he almost strained his ACL. He has been in a brace since and shall remain until October. Caldwell said he does not plan to play anymore football this season, so he can be ready to play winter basketball.

News

The Borah Senator

Photographer shines light on the lives of graduated By Demi Manglona

17deminicole.manglona@boiseschools.net A piece of Borah High School’s culture and diversity is now viewable downtown by City Hall, 10th and Bannock, and The Grove Plaza. Angie Smith, a freelance photographer from Eugene, Ore., has been working on her project “Stronger Shines the Light Inside” for a year and a half, and since publication of The Borah Senator’s article last year, Smith has displayed her exhibition for all of Boise to see. The project includes photographs of the lives of refugees in Boise and brief stories complementing the pictures. Many photos include Borah graduates of 2016. The pho-

tos are displayed onto high definition 6-feet by 100-feet banners with quotes from subjects about their lives as refugees, and what it means to them to live in America. One subject Smith captured is former Borah student and former Borah Senator staff member Abdullah Salman. In Salman’s banner, he said, “‘People only see the bad stuff that refugees do, I didn’t do the bombing in France or in Baghdad or 9/11, but people don’t see the good stuff I do.” The picture shows Salman smiling in his cap and gown on graduation night. Kelly Akimana, another Borah graduate, is also shown on her graduation night and posing with her family. Other Borah graduates featured in the project

include Rukundo Ngabidatinya, Makiwa Nduwimana, Achanty Binene and Nasro Mohamed, all of whom were pictured the night of prom 2016. On Smith’s official website for the project she explains her inspiration for the project. “The intolerance in the U.S. exists because most people don’t know where refugees came from, the hardships they’ve experienced, what it’s like rebuilding their lives in America or the economic contribution they make to a community.” “Stronger Shines the Light Inside” has been featured on the New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, The Idaho Statesman and Boise Weekly.

Thursday lunch in library includes Maker Time, other creative activites By Elaina Swanson

19elaina.swanson@boiseschools.net The Borah High School library is full of many activities including Maker Time, First Friday and Book Club. The students are the ones who help make the club fun. “Maker Time is a really, like, a really student driven club. Kind of, whatever the students want to work on or make is what happens,” says Laura Johnston, one of the three librarians. Maker Time has activities from button making to coding personal video games. Students can even learn how to use lasers. The club meets every Thursday at lunch “First Friday is kind of a monthly celebration of something interesting and unique, usually something that we’d like to expose Borah to or to celebrate something about the culture of Borah,” said Johnston. In the library, the first Friday of every month, except for September and January, is about celebrating and introducing new things to Borah. The library is turned into a performance space. In addition to Maker Time and First Friday, Book

Club has been active for about five years, and is about getting students into reading and discussing those books they have read. “Talk about books they’re reading and book-to-movie adaptations” said Johnston Labyrinths and Lions, though not an official club yet, is about tabletop role-playing. They meet Mondays at lunch in the library. When asked what the most popular club is, Jennifer Boyd responded, “It just depends, I mean there’s different… People come in to Book Club or Maker Time if we’re highlighting a special thing.” The clubs and activities at the Borah Library are full of many different things to do. Go explore all the different activities and decide what you would like to do!

Laura Johnston and Halima Hamud knitting.

Weight room: how clean? By Brooke Kerley

17brooke.kerley@boiseschools.net It’s that time of year again when the flu season settles over Borah High School and wipes out half of the student population. The cold and flu season is impossible to stop, but there’s a chance of prevention. Borah’s a respectable blue-collared school with satisfactory facilities, of which one is the weight room. Although the workout chamber sees over a hundred student athletes a day, it is a prime location for spreading germs. Fitness magazine claims that regular gym equipment can carry fungus, bacteria, and viruses for up to three days. Hot spots for these germs are found on the free weights, weight machines, exercise balls, and the locker room. This means that these areas are the dirtiest, and most likely are the reason for the spread of illness. Unlike public gyms, Borah’s weights are cleaned daily not only by custodians but also by teacher aides and students. “We

always have disinfecting wipes down there, and I know they are being put to use, because we go through them like crazy,” said principal Tim Standlee. The wipes help out when it comes to one of the main users of the weight room--our beloved sweaty wrestlers. During their season, they are constantly taking turns in passing around sickness. The good news is when there is something going around the team, they are kept out of the weight room, according to Greg Mitchell, the Sports Medicine teacher. Another concern is the ceiling. “Sometimes after your workout, you’re covered in paint chips and ceiling foam,” said senior Clayton Berlinguet, a football player, adding, “Not to mention the random cockroaches.” The occasional cockroach and old ceiling in Borah’s 40-year-old weight room may be a sign for a renovation, like any gym. “I would like to eventually have a cardio center and maybe add another floor,” Standlee said, “but all those requests take grants and money, so maybe someday.”

All photos by Juliann Daw | 17juliann.daw@boiseschools.net

Christian Reynolds, Casey Alves, Alexander Puryear, and Porter Hart.

Abigail Hagen, Kimberly Finn, Jane Kennedy, and Bailey Humphrey.

Opinion

November 16, 2016

Surveyed students disliked both ‘16 candidates By Demi Manglona

17demi.manglona@boiseschools.net Although the election is over, I handed out a political survey prior to the big date, with a total of 78 surveys handed back to me. Each anonymous survey asked the age of the student, their level of interest and attentiveness in politics, the candidate they would vote for as well as the reason for picking the candidate. The survey was distributed to a sociology class, two debate classes containing three levels of debate, an AP U.S. history class, and a western civilization class in hopes of obtaining data from all grade and class levels.Here are the results with approximated percentages: 22 surveys from 15-year-old students 32% said they would vote for Hillary Clinton. Many students wrote they would mainly vote for Clinton, but only because doing so would mean voting against her main opponent, Donald Trump. 23% preferred Trump and gave mostly the same reasoning as Clinton supporters gave: to vote against the opposing candidate. 32% of the students chose Gary Johnson as their preferred candidate. Many claimed Johnson was “less insane” and the “lesser of two evils” among the more popular candidates. 5% answered they wouldn’t vote even

Losing friends over the election By Juliann Daw

17juliann.daw@boiseschools.net We walk down the breezeway everyday side by side, all of us believing and supporting a big range of different opinions. We work together in to make Borah and the world around us a better place in whatever way we could. Borah, having such a diverse student body, is what helps make us such an amazing school.

if they were old enough, due to the lack of appeal they claimed for any of the candidates. 14%, or three students, wrote in a candidate. One wrote in Bernie Sanders claiming everyone else scared the student. Another wrote Evan McMullin as their candidate. 44 surveys from 16-year-old students 20% said they would vote for Clinton due to her prolonged experience in office and her qualifications. One student wrote “Hillary is the most sensible candidate during this election. Even if she isn’t fantastic, she has experience and common sense.” 7% stated they would vote for Trump. Most commended Trump for his honesty and his understanding of “how America once was” a student wrote. 7% favored Johnson, explaining how they like when “he speaks his mind without offending a large group of people” and “fights for rights,” students said. 18% voted for Jill Stein, the candidate for the Green Party. Many of Stein’s votes came from this age group, due to her passion with the environment many students related to. 32% said they would not elect any of the candidates. Some say their reasoning for this is because they don’t follow the election very closely. 2%, or one student, claimed they would vote for an independent but did

not state who or why. 14% wrote in candidates, but many wrote in mock answers like Mickey Mouse, themselves or even “bleach” because “he’s the only one who can end my suffering.” On more serious answers, one student wrote in Sanders, another writing in McMullin. 9 surveys from 17-yearold students 22% expressed their liking for Clinton, and similar to the 15-year-olds, explained they were mainly voting against Trump. 11%, or one student, said they would vote for Trump only because the student is Republican, and Trump is the only Republican candidate. 33% said Johnson was their choice candidate. A student claimed Johnson “is the only one who answers questions” in the election. Others relate to his Libertarian views and want to break the two-party system. 11%, or one student, voted for no one and wrote, “No one really applies to my beliefs except for Bernie...but he’s not in [the race] anymore so there’s no hope.” 22% wrote in a candidate, the only serious answer being Ben Carson, claim-

ing the candidate to be “unbiased.” 3 surveys from 18-year-old or older students 33% said they would vote for Trump for “his seriousness.” 33% voted for Johnson and said “I know that he won’t win, and I won’t be responsible for America’s downfall.” 33% wrote in Sanders because he “rocks,” and “Hillary seems crooked.”

We have never let our difference in opinions and ideas hold us back. How can we build each other up, push forward all of our ideas? We have a country built on the idea of celebrating each other’s differences. We make discussion trying to understand both sides. When it comes to the real housewife episode that was this election race, we decided that the other side is someone who we cannot be friends with, that their ideas are so different and radical than ours that we shouldn’t discuss what is different. Instead of being able to discuss openly about different opinions, we get mad at and defriend each other. We stop talking. We limit each other and what we could do, because we are not willing to work it out. Most of us agree that this country is only going downhill. We are not going

to be able to change anything if we don’t work together. As Trump makes his way down in the White House, we are only going to experience more division among us if we don’t point our focus on coming together as a whole. Don’t lose connections over who is in office or a difference in opinion. Sometimes we need to just sit down and talk. We sit on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other forms of social media, screaming about how our side is “right” because we believe it is slightly less “wrong” than the other side. We never really just stop and talk about why we support who we support. Open door instead of just screaming at each other. After we all found out that Trump is probably going to be the next president of the United States, I had several “friends” place their hand in face, and

tell me not to talk to them the rest of the day. Imagine, if the only interaction I ever gotten from the “other” side was them sticking their hand in my face. Of course, I would hate everything about the other side. Not only would people make me feel humiliated but they would start the conversation that my opinion didn’t matter. If I wasn’t shut down right at the beginning, we could have had a really cool conversation and discovered something new about each other’s mindsets. Forget about who we think is the best for office. Let’s talk about policies and how we can change politics to make it better for everyone. If we open this conversation, so that we are all able to talk about it. Maybe then we might not all just be scream, and we might actually agree on something. We might actually get something done.

Gabriel Abille | 17gabriel.abille@boiseschools.net

New Teachers

The Borah Senator

New teacher inspires his students By Baylee London

19baylee.london@boiseschools.net New English teacher Josh Tuggle is a huge family guy and very adventurous. He wants students to know they can use their voice. Q: What inspired you to be a teacher? Young people are devalued and I want to spend my time convincing them that they have a voice. Communication is important. Q: What kind of impact do you think you have on your students? I want them to know that they are the future, that they have a voice. Q: What do you do in your free time? I spend lots of time with my family: I hike and mountain bike. I love to cook and I spend time reading. Q: What’s a normal weekday for you? Well, I get up at 4:30 a.m., then I go to the gym for about an hour. I go back home to shower and eat breakfast. I’m

to school by 7:15, and then I have a class schedule of five English classes. It basically goes English 11, English 10, English 11, English 10, then ends with another English 11. After school, I pick up my 19-month-old daughter from daycare, take her home and spend time with her before my wife comes home. Then, we eat dinner, hang out, maybe take a bike ride, then go to sleep between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m. Q: What’s your immediate family like? (Wife and Daughter) High energy and active. We’re very adventurous. We (my wife and I) think it’s very important for our daughter to grow up around tradition. For example, 80 percent of the world eat plain rice and beans three times a day, seven days a week. So every Wednesday night, we eat rice and beans without any seasoning, garnish, or anything else. Q: Over the past two and a half weeks of school, the number one thing that stood out to me was your sense of humor. Where did it come from?

From my experience and childhood, everything has been so serious. Joking is a simpler way for me to maintain a positive mentality. Q: Out of all the joke styles you could tell, you usually always do a pun of some kind; how come? I like puns because they make everyone cringe. I like my students to think I’m “dumb.” That way they’re laughing at me instead of laughing at each other. Q: What courses do or have you taught? I currently teach English 10 and English 11, although I have taught English 9 and 12. I also have taught U.S. history and ancient civilization. Q: How long have you been in Boise? Thirty-seven days (as of Sept. 7). Q: Where were you before Boise? A suburb right outside of Seattle, called Kirkland. Q: How long had you been in the Seattle area before moving? I had been there for 31 years and my

Heidi Johnson | 19heidi.johnson@boiseschools.net

English teacher Josh Tuggle helps his 7th period students with a new assignment. wife had been there since college. Q: How would you describe yourself? I am a person of integrity. I am one who means what the say and just wants to offer love to the world instead of hate. I consider myself a positive person and I have high expectation for myself and the people around me.

Spanish teacher thrives to be notable By Phoenix Dunn

19phoenix.dunn@boiseschools.net Spanish teacher Grant Severts has traveled all around Mexico and explored his hometown, making him interested in other parts of the world, which is why he decided to travel and learn from other cultures and religions. He is most interested in learning about Spanish culture. After his personal experiences in these Spanish countries, he wished to teach the language starting at our very own Borah High School. Q: What motivated you to travel? I appreciated cultures and lands, and wanted to see more. I wanted to be exposed to different people around the world for a new view on these people and their beliefs and traditions. Q: What made you interested in the spanish culture? How welcoming of a community it was, and how these people would do anything to make you felt comfortable and safe, even if you were a stranger like me. Q: How did you learn to speak Spanish?

I took Spanish in high school, so with that background of the language, when living in Mexico, surrounded by people who only spoke Spanish. I picked up and defined many words on my own, using a small notebook and pen. Q: When and why did you move to Mexico? At age 19, I moved to Mexico as a service project for a language course and exploration after high school. I lived there for two years until age 21, and became fluent in Spanish. Q: Can you explain an experience that happened in Mexico that is memorable? Everyday interactions with locals and different people from different backgrounds and religions was an overall experience that I loved. Nothing specifically except these everyday people and their welcoming spirits. Q: Why did you want to start teaching? Students and kids inspire me to be a better person. With interactions with these kids and young adults, I hope to give back to the schooling community, to society. Also, as a teacher I am a life-

long learner, which is beneficial and fun. Q: How would you explain the process of getting your teaching degree in language? I got my teaching degree from the U of I in Moscow, Idaho, and they prepared me to be a successful teacher through their enriching classes and it was overall a great experience. Q: What’s your favorite thing about teaching? Watching students understand concepts and applying themselves (their ideas and experiences) to the language, which helps challenge them to grow and realize their potential. Q: What’s your favorite thing about Borah and why? The culture and diversity — there are many backgrounds, which reminds me of my past with lots of different people with unique backgrounds. These diverse people help prepare students outside of school and Boise to interact with all types of people around the country/world. Q: What’s it like being a traveling teacher? Different but fun! Not a lot of space

Heidi Johnson | 18heidi.johnson@boiseschools.net

Severts helps his students with pronunciation during their presenatations.

which is challenging and confined, but the teachers support and help me by letting me use their rooms. Going from classroom to classroom, every one of them is different, either colored or by subjects, which I love. Q: What advice would you give to students? To high school students, little steps and understanding concepts from not only my class but others, helps us to apply to the next step of our lives toward our education. There is a world of opportunities and possibilities that help us take that big step after high school, to do anything.

River Raft Trip

November 16, 2016

Outdoor camping trip brings people together By Brooke Kerley

17brooke.kerley@boiseschools.net Idaho is a place of all places: it has everything from mountains to lakes to hot summers and snowy winters. The options are endless and the fun never stops. We often overlook the wonders Idaho has to offer, and how lucky we are to live in such a diverse state. Art teacher Jennifer Compton is a prideful Idahoan that wants to spread the culture of Boise’s community to the newcomers of Boise. In early October, she guided a camping trip up to Celebration Park along with five other teachers and a group of students from Bridge, AVID, Newspaper, and Student Council. “I wanted to take a trip that would let kids who are new to the area--like Bridge kids--learn about all the awesome things Idaho has to offer,” Compton said at a meeting before the trip. “I also wanted to mend cultures between the Bridge kids and the Student Council/ AVID kids and give them the opportunity to actually get closer to one another outside of school.” To accomplish the goal of unity, she planned an overnighter at Celebration Park. Originally, the group was going to raft down the Snake River to the campground at Celebration Park, but due to bad weather the activity got cancelled. That didn’t, however, stop the campers from having the trip of a lifetime. Instead, the days were filled with fishing, hiking, atl atl’s (ancient throwing spears), discovering petroglyphs, and bonding together. The adventure started in Computer Science teacher Sam Stafford’s room where the group met before boarding the bus. Students and teachers piled their duffle bags by the door, checked all the supplies, and then all sat on their phones in silence until it was time to leave. It was the typical setting of modern society, where people looked to their phones for a distraction because they didn’t know how to interact with strangers--little did they all know that in two days that would change. The bus ride up was similar to the dull vibe in the room, but teachers Amy Everson (AVID), Pat Rose (Ceramics), Jen Compton, Sam Stafford (Computer Science), and Gina Lockwood (Science) , were determined to change that and show students that nature is as much or

more valuable than technology. Soon after arrival, a survival activity became the tool to break the ice between students. Kids had to partner up with someone they didn’t know, and see if they could pass the survival test with minimal resources. Almost everybody failed--mostly because the “steel wool” option threw everybody off and was actually more essential than they thought. It became an inside joke for the rest of the trip between teachers and students. Whenever somebody needed an answer, the solution was always, “Use the steel wool!” Students then had to pitch Juliann Daw | 17juliann.daw@boiseschools.net their own tents and set up Junior Megan Thorpe and art teacher Jennifer Compton work together to put up a windbreaker. camp. Newbies had to figure out how to set up their own shelter, and different backgrounds. Some fled from left the relationship, and everybody the experienced had to help others. For their countries and have experienced came together as friends. Senior Oliver Bridge sophomore Doh Gay, it was the horror beyond what most Americans Irakiza had the pleasure of making his first time he had ever been camping, let would know. Although being brand first s’more--and in the first bite his face alone put together a tent. new to a school is hard enough, imag- lit up. The awkward separation between Through the chilly weather, everyone ine being new to a culture and language students had became extinct and everymade do. They bundled up and went on with which you know nothing. For one came together like family. numerous hikes into the hills across the these students, experiencing Idaho in its There aren’t many opportunities for river. The groups explored trails that true form along with peers at school is teachers and students to build a relahad interesting plants and animals--in- an unforgettable adventure. tionship outside of the classroom, but cluding snakes, skeletons, and bushes There were games of charades, draw- this trip changed that. “I needed this that also tasted like salt, according to ing, and frisbee. One activity that stood trip,” Everson said. “It is a reminder of Compton. out to many of the students was the si- why we do what we do, and that’s beThe group also had a competition to lent journal in which they were asked to cause kids are awesome.” see who could collect the most garbage seek out an area of peace, where it was Rose said, “This trip allowed me to in order to be the first in line for lunch-- only you and nature, and sit by your- see the potential again.” He added that, Gay was the winner, of course. self for 30 minutes. No distractions, no “When you’re a teacher you have to reRose taught history when he pointed phones, just a piece of paper and pencil. member because you’re surrounded by out the bullet holes in a bridge, which They were supposed to really listen to kids all day.” A trip like this can bring was once used by fighter planes for tar- the sound of the wild. What you don’t anyone together. get practice. hear can surprise you, and what the As for the students, everyone agreed Another highlight of the trip was fish- sounds can make you think of are even that this trip helped them come together in g on the Snake River. Some had never more impactful. and learn each other’s stories. The Bridge even held a rod before, and by the end of Some people drew, wrote poems or kids felt less intimidated about sharing the day they were casting into the water. stories, but overall it taught them that their backgrounds, and students got to However, fishing lines weren’t the personal time is very valuable. Having see teachers in a different way. only thing thrown into the river. In an time to think for oneself and be alone For Senier Amber Siddoway (Student effort to grab the pole he accidently is rare in today’s world in which tech- Council), she felt that the trip helped threw in the water mid-cast, sophomore nology dominates people’s time and her make new friends, and realized are Mateso Ngoja fell in. Rose was the first attention. The activity provided a much some amazing individuals at Borah. to rush down the dock to help, but needed detox from the modern world. Compton accomplished her goal of laughed uncontrollably once he realized To end the night, teachers and stu- bringing knowledge and unity to the Mateso was ok. dents all gathered around the campfire students during the two days, and she The Bridge students came from all and shared stories. School had officially plans to continue the tradition.

River Raft Trip

The Borah Senator

All photos by seniors Brooke Kerley and Juliann Daw 17brooke.kerley@boiseschools.net 17juliann.daw@boiseschools.net

Sophomore Doh Gay is staring at the petroglyphs during a hike around Boiseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boulders.

Junior Ian Reddy casts into the Snake River waiting for a bite.

Jen Compton poses with her famous expression.

Juniors Ian Reddy and Braden Crain eat a quick snack before hike

Senior Amber Siddoway glances at an ancient petroglyph carved into rock.

Junior Megan Thorpe gets licked in the face by Kenya the dog .

Amber Siddoway, Gabrielle Lopac, and Tram Le pose in front of a hut.

Braden Crain takes a break with Kenya.

Sophomore Mateso Ngoja and science teacher Gina Lockwood discuss a type of bird found in the cliffs.

Sophomore Mateso Ngoja takes a break from the hike.

Teachers and students gather around the camp fire before playing charades.

Fall Football

10 | November 16, 2016

Behind the scenes of being a football player countable for maintaining at least a 2.3 GPA, and if any player falls below, he becomes ineligible to play in a game. The first definition of “football players” in Not to mention, even if a person has good urban dictionary is, “dumb, moronic meat grades but does not turn in a grade check, the heads whose only job in life is placed at great team has to do extra conditioning. 10-yard jeopardy every time they get a concussion.” sprints, 40-yard sprints and dive-bombers The dumb macho jock stereotype has are some of coaches’ favorites (not so much existed as long as the sport itself, but is far the same for players). overused. To be a student and an athlete in this sport To find out if the myth is really true, head is an impressive accomplishment, given the coach Jason Burton allowed The Borah Sena- limited time and busy schedule they all tor to see the ins and outs of Borah’s football have. team, and what it looks like to be a football It is a diverse, time consuming, strenuous player on and off the field. sport, but all the players are here for different Borah footballers aren’t just your aver- reasons. age athlete. All sports require commitment, “I see athletes here that play not only sacrifice, and determination--but football is because of the game of football but for the truly a different story. lifelong brotherhood,” said Burton. “I know “Football is the closest sport to real life,” when I played football, I built lifelong relasaid Jeremy Dovel, a retired player and tionships with friends that I could never coach. “It takes a lot to be out here. These forget.” kids have to learn how to work togetherHollywood exaggerates, especially in the -even if they don’t like each other.” movies--but the brotherhood that is often Dovel added, “It gets hard and often recognized in football exists 100 percent. The pushes you to give up, because of all the com- boys spend not only the season together, but mitment it takes to be a successful team.” also before, after, and in-between. By commitment, Dovel means practices “There’s 11 people on the field, and they every day that go beyond two hours, sum- all have to do their job for it to be successful,” mers filled with camps and two-a-days, Burton said. “If one dude doesn’t do their job, lunch meetings Monday through Wednes- it doesn’t work out. You can have one star day, fundraising, team bonding events, early player or a few, and you can still suck.” workouts, winter workouts and grade reThat is why it is important to have a team quirements. that can sync up together and create an un“Everyone else only gets to see us dur- breakable bond for when times get tough. ing games or practice but doesn’t realize To enable a stronger linkage, players are the amount of time we put into this sport required to go to pre-game dinners and footis much more than that,” said senior Trevor ball camps, but the true brotherhood comes Detwiler (42), the starting inside linebacker. when they bond on their own time. “We sacrifice our social life, homework time, You can often find footballers in the and a healthy body all summer and fall for coach’s office, where there are cabinets filled the game we love.” with endless amounts of peanut butter and The biggest lie about football players is jelly jars. The players make sandwiches, listhat they’re, for lack of a better term, stupid. ten to “hood” music, sing, dance, and goof Every single member of the team is held ac- around (mainly talk smack to each other)

By Brooke Kerley

17brooke.kerley@boiseschools.net

while they can until their next class or practice. It’s during these unexpected times that the athletes come together. The team is filled with all different types of personalities. They range from being nerds to gym rats who are on the other side of the spectrum. There is no “typical” type of player, but one thing they all have in common is passion for the game. “Because of the time, commitment, and sacrifice it takes to be a football player, you have to want to be there,” senior running back Kegan Lester (24) said. “Kids who don’t have passion don’t last long.” At the end of the day, there is a time to have fun and then a time to kick it into gear. Practices are so organized they almost seem synchronized. Teams break off into individual position groups and work on fundamentals--while constantly getting criticized and lectured by coaches. The constant battle between yourself and the game can be exhausting, especially on “Tackle Tuesdays.” “It’s a game of will, where two people are literally pushing each other against their will,” Burton said. “There’s no other game like it. That’s why being tough plays a huge role in this sport.” You can find the members of the team wearing bracelets with the words “Honor the Code” on them. It acts as a constant reminder that they are a part of something bigger than themselves--a team. The whole purpose of the team is to create and form individuals to becoming a better them. Whether that’s emotionally or physically, this sport exists because it challenges its contenders to honor themselves and their team. “As a coach your goal is to have a successful season,” Dovel said, “But the main reason I’m out here is to help kids grow, and contribute to our school.” It is important to mold athletes into better people because they represent not only their team but also their school. Being a Bo-

rah football player means living up to the standards of being well-rounded and hard working, and when coaches aren’t happy with results, players risk losing their spot. On top of trying to raise a team, the coaches also strive to dominate athletically. “You’re worrying about a hundred different guys, and all the moving parts from the starters to the third strings,” Burton said. “When you’re a player it’s easy because you’re worried about yourself and how you can contribute where a coach is looking out for the entirety of the team.” It takes a lot of extra hours of watching film, planning plays, and studying opponents to be prepared for the upcoming game. “Once you step out onto that field you’re with a family,” junior center Damian Knapp (66) said. “You don’t want to let each other down because you have all put so much effort into this game.” Whether they achieve a victory or receive defeat, they always stay together. “It’s not just a game of wins and losses, it’s a game of learning,” senior and defensive end Marcos Cazares (72) said. “You learn how to work together and build relationships with your coaches and teammates.” “When you mess up you have to learn how to not be selfish and move on,” senior quarterback Justin Palmer (14) said. Although it is important for an athlete to be mentally in check, football players often look to the coaches for help in the times of struggle. “Burton definitely knows how to hype you up,” junior corner Cory Lewis (12) said, “He coaches with you not at you.” Football is a very physical sport and comes with a lot of injuries, yet these guys still choose to play. Players suffer through pain, put their bodies at risk, sit through hours of meetings, play in the smoke, heat and rain. All this for the reward of friendship, confidence, opportunity, and playing a sport that they love.

Festivities

The Borah Senator | 11

All photos on double truck taken by Amber French

Senior photographer captures athletes in the moment By Skye Vialpando

19skye.vialpando@boiseschools.net Senior Amber French is proving to be Borah’s school photographer, showing her dedication and school pride by attending all of the games and consistently taking candid photos around school. She tells the story of the joy and the brotherhood of football with just a single photo--she does this out of pure happiness, enjoying the knowledge that future Borah students, and parents, can look back on these photos and reminisce. “I’ll get them hugging or cheering--it’s so cute, because they look so happy in the photo and it doesn’t matter if they’re

at the end of the quarter game if they lost and all that. They’re all hugging and crying. It’s a sad thing, but it also brings joy so that they can remember these moments.” French further explained, “It’s the joy they get from seeing those photos and thinking, ‘Ah yay!’ It’s nice to know they’ll be able to look back at their senior year and remember these things.” French is very motivated to capture the moments in life that she might not have otherwise done if she were not a photographer; having stumbled upon this hobby accidentally after a class dropping out of her schedule. In the end, this incident is a token of fortune as she displays Borah pride and team spirit through her art.

Heidi Johnson | 18heidi.johnson@boiseschools.net

Senior photographer Amber French takes pride in displaying the pride shown around Borah High School.

Arts & Entertianment

November 16, 2016

‘Xanadu Jr.’ turns heads with big hair, bright colors, leg warmers

By Ariel Cordova

19ariel.cordova@boiseschools.net ‘Xanadu Jr.’ turns heads with big hair, bright colors, and leg warmers Ever heard of the Muses? The greek goddesses of the arts who inspired people to make great works such as the Sistine Chapel and Mona Lisa? From Rome to Barcelona, they filled the minds of painters and architects to build places like Venice. Some helped Leonardo Da Vinci with his inventions. Others helped Van Gogh with his master piece “Starry Night.” That is not the case with the play, “Xanadu Jr.” Here, sister on sister rivalry is common, artists show plenty of leg, and dreams can come true, that is, if you have a magical demigoddess to help out. The production for Borah opens in Venice Beach, Calif., with Sonny Malone (played by junior McKay Fife) putting the finishing touches on his mural of 12 sisters, the muses.

The play was well received by the audience and got a standing ovation; most students came to watch and were enamored by the acting, singing, and imaginative props. A favorite prop was the telephone booth Sonny used to call Danny, asking for the Xanadu Theatre. All in all, the play was well executed, and one could tell the actors and crew put in a lot of work to make the play the best it could be. Fife takes on the role of Sonny Malone with a comfort that makes his wearing of the 80s style shorts and knee-highs seem like the going look. He rocked the shorts and headband while banging out to songs like “Don’t Walk Away.” He made it his mission to give the audience the true feeling of knowing who Sonny was, and he delivered. The character, Sonny, was a precise artist who couldn’t get it out of his head that he was a lousy artist. As the play went on, he sang his songs with vigor

All photos taken at the Thursday night performance in the auditorium.

and the audience could hear the emotion behind them, especially when they were duets with Kira, acted out by junior Joshalyn Smith. Smith took a whole other route with her character; instead of the bumbling, clumsy mess that Sonny was, Smith’s character went about with precision and grace. She glided elegantly across the stage, like a pro on those white roller skates. Costume changes backstage were so well practiced the audience could barely imagine actors and stagehands running around in panic backstage. Danny, acted out by Junior Nate Hart, was a rich business tycoon. His character was portrayed as greedy and heartbroken. He took his mean demeanor and selfishness to a very believable state; one could barely tell that he was actually the sweet guy underneath. The muses, Melpomene and Calliope, portrayed by seniors Annika Miller and

Anna Gagnon, were a most vital part of the play. Melpomene was self-centered and controlling, using Calliope as a puppet in her plan to become leader of the muses once more. Miller took to the role like a bear to honey. She was able to easily give off the sense of uncaringness for the people around her, even her own siblings. Gagnon, on the other hand, lead people to believe she was just a ditz following orders. This gave the play an overall feel of true backstabbing. As for the rest of the cast, including the gods, dancers, creatures and backstage crew, true diligence and a good work ethic were obvious. They knew their cues and did what needed to be done as quickly as possible. The dancers must have practiced hard, because it showed with their spectacular performance. The gods were selfish but caring, and the creatures were creepy. Overall, everyone did an amazing job with this fun play.

All Photos by Emma Doane | 17emma.doane@boiseschools.net

Actors and actresses colaborate to entertain the audience with this 80’s styled comedy.

Arts & Entertainment

The Borah Senator

Borah Choir performs with rock band Foreigner

Les Paul guitar signed by the band. The CD profits were all donated to Hungry for Music, a charity which provides musical instruments to impoverished children and ill-equipped school districts around the world. With CDVE’s help, Hungry for Music received more than $3,000 in proceeds. After selling CDs for several hours, the band came onstage and began to play. While “Jukebox Hero” rang in the background, the choir stood outside the

amphitheater and practiced walking on and off an imaginary stage. As the third-to-last song began to play, the students made their way near the stage and received cheers and highfives from the crowd. Eventually they were lined up backstage, strumming the air-guitar and lip-synching as “I Wanna Know What Love Is” began to play. While the second verse echoed in the crowd, the choir was ushered onto the stage. “The greatest part of the whole eve-

ning was walking onstage; seeing all the people was indescribable. That’s when it became a once in a lifetime experience”, says junior, Nate Hart. As the students stood between the keyboard and drums, the band members interacted with them, such as playfully conducting them, high-fiving them, and even taking a selfie using one of the chaperone’s cell phones. At the very end of the song, the bassist pointed directly at Sounally Chanthaminavong, a senior in the second row, and brought her down near the front of the stage, where she got to play the final chord on the bass. “It was so amazing and an absolute surprise!” she laughs. “It was crazy to see them take obscure high schools kids to come perform with the legends. They made us feel like we got to be the star, too.” This isn’t the first time Borah Choirs have had an opportunity of this proportion; in 2014, the men’s choir, Tactus, was invited to perform in Carnegie Hall, in New York. Even last year, Ars Nova, the women’s choir, was visited in their very own choir room by David Archuleta, runner up on Season 7 of American Idol, the afternoon before his concert at the BSU Morrison Center, as well as performed with Noteworthy, the all-women’s a cappella group from Brigham Young University.

some humor, even if it is sexual at times. I found that in the book when the young wizards are using their wands, they refer to them as “channeling rods.” To the common eye, this sort of euphemism may just seem weird, but to someone who has read a lot of fantasy, they idea of “wiping out my rod to fight the beast” is just hilarious! Something that irritated me though was seeing the cover. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a great cover, but it’s what’s inside the book compared to the cover that makes me angry. In the book we meet five main characters, three boys and two girls. I knew the blonde upfront was Paige as she was described as a blonde preacher’s daughter and the girl behind her Halli, due to her small 12 year old stature as she is in the book.

From reading, I assumed the boy in the jean jacket was Jonathan due to his being blonde as in the novel and the big, burly brown haired boy to be Seth. The other blonde had to be Alec, with his longer blonde hair and mischievous nature. Upon looking at the second book cover I see that the Seth character is all lovey dovey with Paige and I’m confused. Did I get Jonathan’s description wrong? Did Paige get with Seth? Did the photographer just decide those two kids be lovey? I have no idea, all I know is that I

might be in for a wild ride in the next book. But the great thing about the characters is that they are very organic. Not the “plain but beautiful chosen ones” but actually very real and normal, with flaws that are just flaws.

By Isabelle Robison

17Isabelle.robison@boiseschools.net Foreigner’s lead singer, Kelly Hansen, took selfies on stage with special guests, Borah CDVE choir students, during the band’s concert at the Western Idaho Fair in August. “It was a really great way to start off the year,” said Annika Miller, co-president of the choir, adding, “and a good bonding experience.” CDVE, or Contemporary Directional Vocal Ensemble, is a choir that meets and rehearses after school three days a week. The choir was personally invited to perform at the concert by K-Hits 107.1 back in April. Usually, the radio station would hold a contest for teens in the Treasure Valley to win the chance to sing with such a band, but Foreigner’s arrival at the fair was short notice, so the station simply had to choose a group itself. The head of the sweepstakes at K-Hits happened to be a Borah graduate, who had heard great things about the chamber choir, and decided to give Choral Director Heather Ray a call. Despite the concert being on the evening of the first day of school, Ray knew her group would be up to it. Before the concert started, the choir sold Greatest Hits CDs, and for each CD, buyers received a raffle ticket to win a

Trevor Hart (junior Nate Hart’s father)

Foreigner’s lead singer, Kelly Hansen, grabbed a chaperone’s cell phone and took this selfie.

Young adult fantasy book is good in-between read By Ariel Cordova

19ariel.cordova@boiseschools.net Ever find it really difficult to get out of a reading slump? Say you just finished a big series and it’s about time you reread that Harry Potter series sitting on your shelf– this could be a great intermediate book to get you started. “FIVE: Out of the Dark” by Holli Anderson is perfect for a reading in between series, especially when you’re looking for a book in the realm of magic and adventure. It’s the kind of book that isn’t hard to read, somewhat like an upper level 8th grade novel, and if that’s not enough, the cover feels smooth and relaxing, bending easy so you can read at any angle. Of course no good novel is without

Arts & Entertainment

The Borah Senator

Borah Choir performs with rock band Foreigner

By Isabelle Robison

Trevor Hart (junior Nate Hart’s father)

Foreigner’s lead singer, Kelly Hansen, grabbed a chaperone’s cell phone and took this selfie.

Young adult fantasy book is good in-between read By Ariel Cordova

Clubs & Activities

November 16, 2016

Producing video announcements is fast-paced “We commit ourselves as much as we can to make them as good as possible.” Senior Brian Bishop By Moses Rodriguez

17moses.rodriguez@boiseschools.net How do Borah’s video announcements come to be? They don’t just magically appear everyday of every week of every school year. There has to be a team of people who organize, edit, and produce them. Well that team here at Borah would be the Video Broadcasting class. This year the broadcasting team is trying something new: live video announcements. “This year we have a new system, a live system, so it’s a little more tricky” said senior Brian Bishop. Setting up video announcements is easier said than done. If anyone on the team messes up while recording, they can’t undo it because it’s live so they have

to go with it. The anchors don’t have very much time to rehearse the scripts because they get them at the beginning, every period. Last year they had the advantage and availability of recording the announcements, and going back to edit the video. This year everything is live so they don’t have that luxury of going back and fixing any errors. It is all very fast paced as well; they need to be ready when class starts and in their positions to start.”Weekly, we designate jobs so that it is easy and quick. If you are the anchor, you come in, start getting dressed, and read through your scripts so you know what to say. And editors and video people will need to have all their stuff set up as well, so like I said, it’s very fast pace,” said Bishop. Bishop also said there are some

Heidi Johnson | 18heidi.johnson@boiseschools.net

Video crew works on the morning announcements. advantages to having live video announcements, such as quicker upload speeds. This year’s class also has accessibility to 4k cameras which gives better quality to the videos. It gives the announcements a finer look and they are more pleasant to watch. Our video announcement crew here

at Borah work very hard to feed us news about our school. “We commit ourselves as much as we can to make them as good as possible” said Bishop. Watching Borah’s video announcements and giving the video crew some support will help video announcements continue to grow, and become better in the coming years.

Bike club rides all over Idaho By Reid Post

17reid.post@boiseschools.net Mountain bike club is an ambitious, extreme sport for those with a knack for adventure and nature. It is a way for kids who aren’t necessarily into mainstream sports to get good exercise and witness nature’s many trails and paths. Senior MiKayla Neff is an active member of the club. Q: What is mountain bike club? A: “A group of people I get to ride my bike with.” Q: Where do you guys usually ride? A: “Usually by Camels back and around in the foothills.” Q: Right on, do you guys also travel around at all? A: “Yeah, we race through a series called Nika, and we go to all different places in Idaho and race, like we go to Sun Valley, Twin Falls, and we go to Alta Wyoming, which is basically Idaho.” Q: That sounds great, what keeps driving you or inspires you to continue? A: “I don’t really have any inspiration, I just started last year and I really, really liked mountain biking and I really liked the people in the club so it’s pretty cool to be able to hangout with them all the time.” Q: Do you think it’s a good alternative for kids who don’t want to do mainstream sports? A: “Yes, because your team does not depend on how well you do, so there’s not a bunch of pressure on you, you just do the best you can do. Also, it’s an all inclusive sport, like nobody is sitting on the bench or sitting out everybody gets to go race and participate as well as no judgment really.”

Lucia Bennett | lucia.bennett@boiseschools.org

Mountain bike club members; Jenna Bishop (senior), Kristen Dwyer(senior), Kayla Neff (senior), Lilly Mellish (sophmore), and Gabby Lopac (junior).

Clubs and Activities

The Borah Senator

96 students stand silent for death day

By Baylee London

19baylee.london@boiseschools.net Every 15 minutes, someone is a victim of drunk driving. On the last day of this year’s Red Ribbon Week, student council organized “Death Day”. Over the course of fourth period, student council dressed up in black and pulled students from class, marked their faces with white X’s, and gave them gravestones. Those students were not supposed to speak or interact more than needed for the remainder of class. Minutes before the lunch bell rang, all 96 students lined up in the main hall to raise awareness in the school.

96 students stand silently in the hall.

xxphotobilinexx | xxphotographeremailxx

Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools.net

Senior Kelsey Rowles waits to get her face painted with a white X.

“I was a drunk driver.”

Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools.net

Sophomore Jackson Le reading his role as drunk driver.

Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools

Cristian Corza and Natalie Dunkley pose as grim reapers.

Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools.net

Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools.

Grace Rosetti, Hailey Hill, and Peyton McBride.

Senior Michael Trammell shows off his “gravestone.”

Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools.net

Junior Zakary Eytchison showing off his “gravestone.”

Sports

November 16, 2016

JV football players look to next year’s varsity During the season, much was made of who earned places on varsity and JV football squads By Skye Vialpando

19skye.vialpando@boiseschools.net Within Borah, the controversy of whether JV football is more skilled than varsity sparks debate as the season continues -- the subject is emphasized when considering whom on JV proves to be just as good as those on varsity, or those who show promise. Some factors include the audience, social surroundings, practice, and recognition. Science teacher and JV coach Christian Jones is quick to eliminate the controversy. He said, “Varsity are the elite players. They’re on varsity for a reason … Ultimately, the goal is to get to varsity.” Jones explained that many factors play into the results of each game, be it injuries or players being called down. He said there is a direct correlation between the number of juniors on the JV team and how good the team is; they’ve been in the program longer, they’re more mature, they’re faster. Contrary to that, Jones said, if varsity’s seasons aren’t going well, they’re going to pull up those good players - those players are going to be those juniors. He concludes that there was never a controversy in his mind -- there just happened to be a few games where varsity didn’t play their best. “That’s all there is to it,” Jones said. JV players themselves are hesitant to answer the question - perhaps not to kindle the controversy further. Nearly all resolve to similar answers. Popularly, sophomore football players Izzy Daffer (#26), Peyton Lundquist (#22), Cord Hall (#19) and Ben Williams (#27) said that while JV is not as good as varsity now, they’ll be better than the current varsity the following year when they are pulled up. “I think varsity is better right now, but JV -- we have a higher potential. If we try harder, we’d be better,” Lundquist said. Hall said, “I agree with Peyton, I think we will be better next year. Right now? They’re varsity, we’re JV: they’re supposed to be better than us.” Inversely, sophomore Nate Hinz (#35)

said he believes JV is better than varsity, “Yeah, I think so. Our energy and everything is way better than theirs.” Sophomore Jackson Cole (#16), however, said that it wouldn’t be fair to compare the two - each player is at a different level of skill; and while they’re [junior varsity] not exactly better, it wouldn’t be right to take that recognition away from them either. One sophomore fan, Sara Ard, who goes to both JV and varsity games, is quick to opine, “I do think junior varsity is better than the varsity Baylee London | 19baylee.london@boiseschools.net players themselves … I Ndayiragije Innocent intercepts the ball during the game against Columbia. don’t know if as a whole it’s better than our varsity -- it may just in the following year, but only if they than varsity; energy fueling them to go be because other schools aren’t as good.” were to improve some factors in their all out. Ard said the element of crowds adds lives. Of these three, Daffer is the most Such an attitude on JV sometimes to the overall performance. backed by numerous players such as proves a problem, Hinz said, because it Lundquist and Hall. causes a player to overrun it and miss a Daffer himself backs this up, suppos- tackle due to the intense tempo. ing that if he were to have the chance Cole, who has experienced both JV to dress down for varsity, he’d need to and varsity, said both teams are about play smarter on the field; he said he’d being the best athlete possible: same also need to transition positions, taking tempo, same everything. Intensity is on linebacker and moving forward by raised with older players, but all around learning the plays and calls. everyone’s trying to put their all in. Of suggested players for the idea of “Everyone gives a lot of effort,” Hall dressing down, mentioned by fellow said. “But it’s more of a skill thing. Overfootball players, were sophomores Trev- all? It’s about how good you are, not how or Steinquist (#17), Ammon Harris (#15), much effort you put in.” Parker Watson (#56), Kyle Jones (#79), Although this is very much up for deand Jacob Batubenga (#6). Just the fact bate among the players, skill appears to that fellow JV players recognize who is be the common factor between JV and good enough possibly aids the side of JV varsity. on whether they’re better than varsity While some JV players question Sophomore and perhaps gives the varsity coaches whether everyone on varsity deserves an idea of who to keep an eye on for to dress down for varsity, at the end of Peyton Lundquist moving up. the day, JV all agrees that they feel like Though everyone puts in their best a family. effort, varsity is where a player goes all Whether or not this contributes to Promising players that are factors in in and must hit harder and do better; an their playing as a large portion, as the debate are Daffer, sophomore Jakob athlete must continually prove that they “brothers”, they feed off each other’s enHanson (#65), and Hinz. are the ideal choice to play full term for erg. They are all JV players Coach Jones varsity. That’s what makes them play better said he is watching; players who prove However, on the field, a junior var- as a team, even if they aren’t as good as to be able to dress for Varsity or play full sity player reports, they’re more excited varsity; they have each other.

“I think we will be better next year. Right now? They’re varsity, we’re JV: they’re supposed to be better than us.”

Sports

The Borah Senator

Basketball team excited for gym floor updates “There have yet to be any negatives to getting the floor, all that the players, coaches and program can think of are positives.” Coach Jeremy Dennis By Heidi Johnson

18heidi.johnson@boiseschools.net Jeremy Dennis, Varsity Boys head Basketball coach gives his opinion about how he feels the new floor being refinished will help the team as well as the new equipment the program has gotten this year. The boys this year not only got new uniforms, but now have new green jackets to flaunt as a privilege of being on varsity. Principal Tim Standlee made his choice by deciding the floor needed to be refinished because “players were getting hurt from the floor being so slippery and had a large amount of dead spots in the wood. The basketball program also agreed to refinish the floor because there wasn’t enough room for multiple teams to play on the court at once. Now

Heidi Johnson | 18Heidi.Johnson@boiseschools.net

A finished look at the new gym floor. there is more room in all four gyms and less hours after school the gyms will be used.” The cost of the gym floor however didn’t affect the team getting new uniforms or equipment for their season. “There have yet to be any negatives to getting the floor, all that the players, coaches and program can think of are positives,” said Dennis. Girls Varsity Head coach Jason Willer talks about his point of view on the

refinished floor and how it affects the girls program, not only the boys. Coach Willer also goes on to tell us about the new girls uniforms and how the cost of the floor had no effect on getting the new uniforms for the girls either, which is a less common thing. “The old gym was refinished because it hadn’t been replaced is 30 or so years.” A former basketball player Alesia Jones gives her opinion on the new gym floor. “The old floor was to slick and it

professionally and academically. He said another main focus for the season is adjusting the player’s character to where it needs to be. “I just want to get the team to state, maintain my weight and stay healthy,” sophomore Johnathan Winn said. The first tournament is a double duel at home on Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. As for the preseason, the wrestling team has taken part of Camp Rhino, a gym that specializes in obstacle training, boot camp, crossfit, personal training and more. Many players on the team have been going to the camp after school for nutrition training and intense conditioning

and other workouts. “It’s been a great opportunity to be a part of,” senior Ian McCandless said. “The trainers and nutritionists are great and very helpful.”. Although wrestling is an individual sport, it focuses heavily on the team aspect. As it is not the most popular sport for students to attend, the wrestlers become their own fans, their own rowdies. The team learns skills from each other, work together, and bond at practices and workouts. “Being together for this long period of time, the boys have created a brotherhood,” Coach Gardner said.

was dangerous to play on. A lot of the team was scared that there would be injuries because of the floor, and we actually considered ourselves lucky when there wasn’t. Both guys and girls team both got new jerseys. The logo is cool besides that it says borah athletics.” She believes that the girls will make it to state and “if we all come together we will have a good shot at winning state. ‘Go Lions #Thecomeback.”

2016 wrestling team prepares for successful season By Baylee London

19baylee.london@boiseschools.net Wrestling team prepare and plan for a successful season through teamwork and growth. ”You begin to develop an emotional connection to the team,” junior Logan Bennett said. This season, the team is focusing on its goals. Coach Justin Gardner said he is looking forward to the upcoming season as it should bring tough challenges, but also allow the wrestlers to grow. Not only is the team growing stronger, he said, but they are developing

Baylee London | 19Baylee.Londo@boiseschools. net

School purchased new wrestling mats.

Sports

November 16, 2016

Boys basketball kicks off new year training By Aubrey Pulsipher

17Aubrey.Pulsipher@boiseschools.net

What’s the one sport in high school that the student section will go absolutely psychotic for, while also being inside? What is the one sport that has the possibility of having 100 points on the board within a single game? That’s right, we’re talking about basketball season. Every year when winter starts to roll around, the locker rooms open up, players start getting ready for tryouts, open gym becomes a daily thing, and basketball players come out of hiding. Now

“I know that we will be good because of how hard are past teammates have pushed us to prepare us for now,” said sophomore Ellis Magnuson. that the highly praised Cary Cada has retired and is no longer coaching, the team has to adapt to Jeremy Dennis being the new head of the basketball program. “Even though we have a new coach, Dennis still coaches a lot like Cada did. Same style, same attitude for the game, same passion, it’ll just be a fresh face on the court along with a few of our players,” said ju-

nior Jay Alstrom. With basketball season and tryouts right around the corner, the players are doing everything they can in order to prepare for their new season of being a Varsity Lion. The returning varsity players all agree that this year’s team is going to be pretty young, but they know their team will be able to live up to their potential.

“Last years season was fun meeting and learning from all the seniors and now that the seniors are gone we will have a young team but I know that we will be good because of how hard are past teammates have pushed us to prepare us for now,” said sophomore Ellis Magnuson. “We aren’t going to be the same team, we are gonna have our strengths and weakness and we are going to be a lot smaller this year than last but I believe that we will get through this season with a lot more experience than we had before,” finished junior Derek Opland Evers.

Borah lions soccer season comes to an end it means to be determined. Sometimes in life one learns more from their failures than from their success. With the end of Fall sports comes As a team we learned, and we grew; the end of Borah’s Soccer season, together.” The captain knew that at which means those of us graduat- the beginning the team would be a ing this year will never step foot on new adjustment, but always wanted Borah’s field as his team to be a player again. closer, knowWith this ending ing that it would though, came a help with their lot of praise for games; that’s exour boys. With a actly what the 7-3-1 record, the outcome was. Borah Boys VarJunior Zack sity Soccer Team Bryant (17) had was praised by certain thoughts their coaches on not only because of what how the season they accomended, but also Senior Stefan Cavalcanti plished. With what he felt the one of the best seniors should records the team hear as a final has had in years. goodbye off of Most of the boys were more than the field as a lion. happy with the outcome of their He said, “It didn’t end the way we season. All of the players formed a had hoped, but we ended the season stronger bond with each other than with a good competitive game. We they thought they would, and that’s fought hard. I know we’re all going what made the Borah Lions a more to miss the seniors and I hope the fudeveloped and stronger team. tures they have are bright.” Captain Jared Harr (15) grew to Although Bryant still has another love his team as not only teammates, year to play as a Lion, he grew to be but as brothers. He showed through close with the seniors and ended behis words what it was like to be a coming really close to some of them. Lions on a varsity team said “Doing Bryant is excited for what the fuyour best is the only option even if it ture holds for his new found brothers ends in failure. Our team embodied and hopes that there is nothing but that. success for them in whatever they Our team shed new light on what decide to pursue. By Aubrey Pulsipher

17aubrey.pulsipher@boiseschools.net

“Winning or losing, at the end of the day I can say that everyone gave their 100% out there.”

All photos by Steve Conner | steve@steveconnerphotography.com

Above is Borah High home field. Below is Varsity Borah boys soccer team rushing the ball against Columbia High.

Senior Stefan Cavalcanti (10) said “My last season with Borah soccer has given me a lot of great memories. Winning or losing, at the end of the day I can say that everyone gave

their 100% out there on any field we played. Sports give you a lot of different feelings, especially when you love the sport and you are passionate about it, but the fun never stops.”

The Borah Senator

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November 16, 2016