The cast of the fall play “Anatomy of Gray” was noti ed on Dec. 4 that they have been selected for the state competition in January, the rst time in school history for a play to reach state in consecutive years.
“This was supposed to be a rebuilding year, so we weren’t really expecting anything,” junior Whitney Thurman said, “However, we weren’t going to limit ourselves either.”
The show was selected as one of the four highest scoring plays in the state.
The cast will perform a revival show next month to raise money for the state competition.
by Emily Strickland
The Malaria Comedy Bash raised over $150 for Nothing
But Nets, a campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killing among African children.
“It went better than I ex-
pected. I knew the Comedy Troupe was good but they blew me away. The members of the Troupe are talented actors and great at improv and they really stepped up for this event. They deserve a lot of the credit for its success,” Students for Social Justice president and senior Kelly Cosby said.
by Steven Reno
Many Blue Valley clubs have began initiatives to help the needy this holiday season.
Sta members Steve Rampy and Nancy Kissel are organizing the eighth annual toy drive for Della Lamb Community Services.
“I heard about it on the radio and it touched my heart that second and third graders weren’t experiencing Christmas,” Rampy said. “If we didn’t help out, they’d wake up on Christmas morning and it would be a normal day.”
Each year, they collect toys for children in need and provide them with presents during the holidays. Della Lamb provides
gifts for 1,500 to 1,800 children each year.
National Honor Society helped with the Johnson County Christmas Bureau holiday shopping program. Less fortunate families in the area will be able to purchase items from the Bureau’s holiday store. BV students help the families shop and carry items in the store.
“It’s important to help people in need,” senior Laurel Hill said. “Its more than just a charity organization. It’s a real family experience.”
KAY Club sponsored the school’s annual coat drive earlier this month. Coats that students donate are then sent to City Union Mission where they are given to the needy.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is helping children around the world this year as well. They worked with Kanakuk Ministries to collect 30 bags of Christmas gifts and other supplies for children in Haiti.
by Jason Wood
Several music students were selected for All District groups after audtioning in Baldwin City last month. The groups per-
formed in locations across the county on Dec. 1.
The band had ten members qualify for senior high All District as seniors Emily Crooks ( ute), Riley Shaw ( ute), Je Smith (clarinet), Molly Hartz (trumpet) and Philip Heinrich (mallets) were selected. Also making the group were juniors Danny Wood and Mitchell Smith on euphonium and sophomores Ryan Cau eld (tuba), Ben Cooper (trombone) and Abby Douglas (clarinet). The band also selected three members to the ninth grade All District group as freshmen Allen Xu (trombone), Laura Carey ( ute) and Kaitlyn Lotz ( ute) also performed.
Blue Valley choral members also auditioned and quali ed 14
for All District. Seniors Hayley Black and Sarah Cline, sophomore Jessica Mussatto and junior Samantha Steinmetz quali ed on soprano. Seniors Ashley Bili, Ashley Cook, Kelly Cosby, Courtney Carlson and Malissa Wolfe made the group as alto. Junior Rigvid Mehta and sophomore Austin Stang quali ed as tenors while juniors Chris Gibson and Ben Stratman and senior Cam McCallie earned the distinction on bass. Orchestra also had some success at the auditions with junior Ned Kellenberger, senior Rohini Chakravarthy and sophomore Yanjie Yu qualifying on the violin while senior Hannah Kim quali ed on the cello. by Steven Reno
“I’ve
- Chanta Givens , Senior Accounting Major, Little Rock AR
The BV cheerleading squad was recently named National Champions in The American Spectacular competition at Bartle Hall on Dec. 1 and 2. This was the last competition of the season for the squad, and they said they were very pleased with their results.
“We obviously wanted to do well and we went into this
competition pretty confident,” senior co-captain Melissa Biagioli said. “This was the last competition of the year and we wanted to make it the best.”
The cheerleaders also won the Judge’s Choice Award for outstanding jumps, were named the National Champions of the high school division and the Grand Champions, receiving the highest score out of the 32 teams that competed.
“This is definitely the biggest award we have ever received, at least since I have been cheering here,” Biagioli said.
Considering the magnitude of the event, many said they were jittery before the performance.
“When I was waiting in line with everyone before we went out on the floor, I was a little nervous,” junior cheerleader Maggie Baker said.
With the enrollment process for the 2008-09 school year scheduled to begin in January, teachers and students alike have mixed opinions as to the effectiveness of the current enrollment process.
Currently, all students are able to enroll in Advanced Placement and honors courses providing they have met certain prerequisites. The prerequisites do not necessarily need to be of the honors or AP variety.
Some faculty and students support this policy while others would prefer a recommendation process.
Many advanced or honors courses allow students to earn college credit by performing well on the AP Exam, given each May, while sometimes providing opportunities for weighted high school credit or dual enrollment through Johnson County Community College.
“It’s a personal decision,” counselor and AP coordinator Keith Elmore said. “If [students] are willing to do the extra work, then we’re all about the challenge.”
Blue Valley currently offers 15 AP classes, although students enrolled in Art History also prepare to take the AP Exam. This semester, there are 870 enrollees in AP courses. That number, however, does not mean that 870 students are enrolled because those who are taking multiple AP classes are counted for each individual course.
AP Communication Arts teacher Teresa Schulte attributes these high numbers to an aggressive recruiting effort by administration and faculty.
“I believe in open enrollment,” Schulte said. “If 95 percent of students go to college, 95 percent of kids should be taking
ensure that the classes were up to AP standards. The international audit was in response to schools outside of the district attaching the “AP” label to courses not sponsored by or up to the standards of the College Board.
“It didn’t affect us except for we had
wanting to work hard and learn,” Klopfenstein said.
Junior Alfredo Dominguez fits the profile of a student who enrolled under pressure from others.
“I enrolled in an AP class because my friend told me to,” Dominguez said. “[My teacher last year] didn’t talk about AP classes so I thought it would be easier — simple enough he didn’t need to talk about it.”
Still, Klopfenstein feels the positives outweigh the problems of open enrollment.
“We’re better off letting a few students in who aren’t high achievers than potentially leaving out students who could improve,” Klopfenstein said.
an AP course. They are so much better off for having taken the course.”
While Schulte supports the open enrollment process, honors math teacher Adam Wade believes a recommendation process would be more effective, particularly in his subject area.
“In math, to override a teacher recommendation there needs to be a large amount of discussion,” Wade said. “Challenging is our philosophy, but sometimes kids bite off more than they can chew.”
Elmore said he believes a recent audit by the College Board further shows that AP courses at Blue Valley are up to expectations.
The audit required all AP teachers to submit their syllabuses for approval to
to write and submit the course audit information,” Elmore said. “It is a way to verify for colleges that [the ‘AP’ label] is authentic, real and deserved.”
While open enrollment has its advantages, AP history teacher Mark Klopfenstein said he worries some students may enroll in challenging classes due to peer or parental pressure.
“Parents may not necessarily always provide the most objective advice,” Klopfenstein said.
Although he supports the current policy as a whole, Klopfenstein has some reservations as to what students’ motives are for taking AP classes.
“In practice, sometimes we have students who enroll for reasons other than
Schulte agrees that to exclude students, particularly in subjects such as English where the curriculum is not as cumulative, is not a good policy.
“Kids who take an AP class gain so much more and are so much better prepared for college,” Schulte said.
Junior Victor Cassone agrees that students should be able to enroll in any class they choose.
“Why should someone else tell you what you can and can’t do?” Cassone said.
While teachers debate the effectiveness of open enrollment, junior Mitchell Waala, who is enrolled in three AP classes, is concerned that underachieving students may slow the pace of some AP classes.
“ ” if 95 percent of students go to college, 95 percent of students should be taking an AP class.
- AP Communication Arts teacher Teresa Schulte
Tension is heightening in Islamabad as Benazir Bhutto, the twice-elected former Prime Minister of Pakistan who has recently returned to the country from exile, pushes for President Pervez Musharraf to step down. On Nov. 3, Musharraf suspended the constitution and imposed military rule. He claimed a state of emergency and has insisted that the change is temporary. Musharraf jailed the Supreme Court of Pakistan judges and closed all private television channels. All of this is happed right before Pakistan’s presidential elections, scheduled to occur sometime next month.
Bhutto insists that Musharraf is intentionally trouncing free elections.
“In doing so he endangered the viability of Pakistan as an independent state,” Bhutto said in a New York Times article. “He presented the country’s democratic forces with a tough decision -- acquiesce to the brutality of the dictatorship or take over the streets and show the world where the people of Pakistan really stand.”
Musharraf argued the emergency martial law was for the good of the people and claims it has nothing to do with January’s elections.
‘’Emergency is not meant to rig elections,” Musharraf said in a press conference on Nov. 14. “Emergency is in fact meant to
make sure that elections are held in a peaceful manner.’’
This news is especially concerning for Blue Valley freshman Danish Zaidi. His parents moved to the United States from Pakistan, and much of his extended family still resides in the nation’s capitol city of Islamabad.
“Since my family lives there, if it was a bad change, it would be scary,” Zaidi said. “[The people of Pakistan] just want some sort of change in government.”
Zaidi has visited Pakistan five times in his life. His unique situation allows him to understand both the perspectives of the United States and of Pakistan’s people. In his opinion, a change is imperative.
“[Musharraf] kept Pakistan out of major conflicts, but someone else should be in power now,” Zaidi said.
Zaidi said the violence is not as prevalent now as it was ear-
lier this year; recently such outbreaks have been minimized, at least near where his family lives. The situation is controversial, but he also doesn’t think its urgency is very threatening to the citizens of Pakistan.
“It’s kind of like sports, if a coach was leaving or something like that,” Zaidi said.
Even though Musharraf is no longer popular among Pakistani citizens, neither is Bhutto.
“A lot of people don’t really like [Bhutto] because she’s from a rich family that just wants to control Pakistan,” Zaidi said.
As far as his opinion of how the US should handle the situation, Zaidi said it is the same as most of the people living in Pakistan.
“It’s the thoughts of pretty much everyone there that the US should keep to its own business,” Zaidi said. “I guess they think they probably should be able to handle it themselves.”
The Headrush literary magazine has been redesigned to incorporate global issues and encourage global awareness amongst teens. This comes just two years after the magazine’s shift from a class to an activity.
“We felt like we were just showcasing a lot of teen angst,” Headrush editor and senior Mel Troutman said. “Everyone on the staff cares about issues going on globally so we decided to incorporate that into Headrush this year.”
Headrush is asking the students to create artwork that relates to the theme of global awareness by submitting work about issues they really care about. The magazine will be divided into “chapters,” each one focusing around a different problem, such as bringing publicity to the Darfur genocide in Sudan.
“We wanted everyone to be more educated about this kind of stuff,” Troutman said. “We want this magazine to be a tool for going beyond Johnson County and for the artists to educate the readers about what’s going on out there.”
Headrush will also be organizing fundraisers to raise awareness about Darfur and to help put out the magazine. The staff is in the middle of organizing an outdoor advocacy concert, planned for Apr. 19. Fifty-five percent of the money raised at the concert will go toward Darfur relief and the other 45 percent will help Headrush put out their magazine, which will be presented there.
“We needed to do more fundraisers because Headrush isn’t a class anymore,” Troutman said. “We felt this was a good way to raise money, because we’re actually helping out others who are in need.”
Since Headrush is going to be completely different this year, the staff will have to work extra hard to put it out, in addition to planning the concert and other fundraisers.
“I’m asking a lot more of them this year because most of the work has to be done in our spare time,” Troutman said. “But I know we can do it and it’s something we all care about. I think that this year’s Headrush is going to make all these global issues more approachable for the average student.”
ith the 2008 presidential race beginning to heat up and primaries scheduled to begin next month, frontrunners have begun to position themselves ahead of the pack of presidential hopefuls. Although Kansas does not have a significant presidential primary, White House hopefuls area already campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, among other states, in hopes of grabbing their party’s nomination for the general
Abortion: Pro-choice.
Immigration: Supports some amnesty programs for illegal immigrants.
Gay Marraige: Supports gay unions and constiutional ban on gay marraige
Death Penalty: Supports.
Stem Cell Research: Supports.
Iraq War: Plans phased withdrawl.
Health Care:Plans universal health care.
Abortion: Pro-choice.
Immigration: Supports some amnesty programs for illegal immigrants.
Gay Marraige: Supports gay unions but not in the form of marraige.
Death Penalty: Opposes.
Stem Cell Research: Supports.
Iraq War: Plans phased withdrawl.
Health Care:Plans universal health care.
Iraq War: Wants troop surge. Health Care: Against universal care.
Iraq War: Supports a troop surge. Health Care: Opposes universal care.
Abortion: Pro-choice.
Immigration: Supports some amnesty programs for illegal immigrants.
Gay Marraige: Supports gay unions but not formal marraige.
Death Penalty: Supports.
Stem Cell Research: Supports.
Iraq War: Plans phased withdrawl.
Health Care:Plans universal health care.
Abortion: Pro-choice.
Immigration: Supports some amnesty programs for illegal immigrants.
Gay Marraige: Supports gay union but not formal marraige.
Death Penalty: Supports.
Stem Cell Research: Supports.
Iraq War: Plans phased withdrawl. Health Care:Plans universal health care.
Abortion: Pro-life.
Immigration: Supports some amnesty programs for illegal immigrants.
Gay Marraige: Opposes gay unions and gay marraige.
Death Penalty: Supports.
Stem Cell Research: Supports.
Iraq War: Wants troop surge.
Health Care: Against univeral care.
Abortion: Pro-life.
Immigration: Supports some amnesty programs for illegal immigrants.
Gay Marraige: Opposes gay unions and supports a constitutional ban.
Death Penalty: Supports.
Stem Cell Research: Opposes.
Iraq War: Opposes troop withdrawl. Health Care: Opposes universal care.
Do you think AP classes should have a recommendation process for students to get enrolled? Are classes slowed down by letting anyone enroll?
don’t think it matters; it’s the kid’s choice; the teachers aren’t taking the class.
-sophomore lorenzo stawarz
y es, if people had to be recommended the class would move faster.
-junior jordan king
compiled by ashley stickler and karen liebentritt
n o, it’s their choice. If they want to challenge themselves they should be able to.
-senior emily brown
i“don’t think that there needs to be recommendations, but there should be a minimum requirement of previous grades leading up to it.
”-teacher charlena sieve
ajbarbosa
myvoice
As if the agony of waiting in line for hours in a shopping mall to tell a red and white clad man one item they would like for Christmas wasn’t enough, children can come to expect one more woeful addition to that trip: to be laughed at by the big man.
By most standards this may be unbelievable, but some people in western society believe it is more socially acceptable for Santa Claus to belt out “Ha, Ha, Ha!” at little Jimmy and Sally than the more traditional “Ho, Ho, Ho!”
Now I’m sure as teenagers, each and every one of us has noticed this and giggled about it in our middle school careers at least once, but it seems a bit odd that parents are taking it so seriously
now. It almost seems that the radical feminists have had nothing to talk about, so they have decided to take one of the simplest double-meanings in our culture and have turned it on its head, claiming that Santa Claus himself is degrading to women.
The fact that this is even being argued disgusts me. There are so many more sexist things in the western culture than the simple jovial cheer of Kris Kringle, so why is this being pinpointed so hard by Australian feminists?
It’s just a waste of everybody’s time, and distracts everyone from the real meaning of Christmas, to show your affection to those you love.
That phrase is part of a tradition that has been around for decades, and to try to stop it in the name of feminism is pure blasphemy to our culture, and only negates the credibility of feminists throughout the world.
By Rebecca Feehan.myvoice
stevenreno
Missouri deserved to be in a Bowl Championship Series game, not KU. Being a Jayhawk fan myself, this is hard for me to say; but it’s true. The Jayhawks were still worthy of their spot, Missouri just deserved it more.
Just look at the facts: Missouri beat Kansas, 36-28, only eight days before the BCS bowls were announced.
More importantly, Missouri beat Illinois, a three-loss BCS team who will play USC in the Rose Bowl, the first week of the season.
On top of everything, the Tigers were ranked sixth in the final BCS rankings while the Jayhawks were eighth and Illinois, thirteenth. If you’re not going to use the rankings, why have them?
By no means do I mean to bash the one-loss
Jayhawks, they just happened to reap the benefits of an unfair system. In a reasonable BCS world, Kansas and Missouri both clinch spots, but that was impossible because the current system only allows two teams from a conference to make the BCS. Oklahoma received the automatic bid with the Big 12 title, leaving the atlarge bid up for the next best team. So the question is Jayhawks or Tigers?
Right now there is a playoff system in place in Division I college football. Formerly known as Division I-AA, the Football Championship Subdivision or FCS plays a 16team playoff to crown their champion. In fact, the only NCAA football division (or subdivision) that doesn’t have a playoff is the most important, Division I-A which has the BCS.
The plan is simple and easy to put in place. The NCAA should remove the BCS bowl games, keep the rankings and have a 16-team playoff just like the one in Division
I-AA. Keep the rest of the bowls for the teams that don’t make it in and at that point the NCAA has a system that without a doubt crowns the best team in the country.
It would be all right with an 8-team playoff despite any controversy that might occur with the final spots because nothing could be as bad as the BCS.
There are barriers to a playoff, however. Think of all the money that would disappear. There would be no FedEx Orange Bowl or Rose Bowl presented by Citi; a lot of title sponsors paying millions of dollars would vanish and that scares the NCAA. While a playoff is a great plan, the people who can change it just aren’t willing.
Now it is up to Missouri to beat Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl because if the Tigers lose, all of the arguing would be worthless.
They would have proven the BCS right. That same outlook applies to KU, beat Virginia Tech and prove the BCS right for choosing you.
‘ha ha ha’
editor-in-chief
sarah weaver
managing editor
brooke thurman
news editor
mitch smith
opinions editors
megan van sooy
emily strickland
sports editor
braden miller
nina humphrey
assistant entertainment editor
stephanie roche
reporters
aj barbosa
kelly cosby
andrew fiori
ally francis
tori freisner
noopur goel
kylie hennagin
Just 11 days until Christmas, and I still haven’t bought all the presents I need to. My best friend wants a $300 limited edition Coach purse, my brother wants a Wii, my dad’s been hinting about the new iPod nano, and my sister wants Vera Wang perfume; she’s 10 years old, for heaven’s sake. Oh, and these random people from school have been dropping hints for weeks. I better hurry up so I can make these beggars happy. Or not.
Seriously, what is the big deal about holiday shopping? Yes, I do understand that it’s important to show your friends and family you care about them, but isn’t that what birthdays are for? Being a teenager, I don’t have unlimited funds to buy elaborate presents for everyone I’ve ever talked to.
karen liebentritt
nathan lindshield
katie louis
cole owen
allison kohn lauren penn
steven reno
drew rogers
kyra storm
jason wood
photo editor photographers
kelly aubuchon
gwen bergerhofer
amanda blue
tom roudebush
ashley stickler
advertising manager
sara ster
circulation manager
noopur goel
adviser
jill chittum
guest cartoonist
rebecca feehan
The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for students, faculty and the surrounding community of Blue Valley High School. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this newspaper do not necessarily re ect the views of the administration of Blue Valley School District #229.
The Tiger Print encourages guest photography. Photos should be submitted to room 450 with information pertaining to the photo.
Front page photo: Junior Frankie Scara le along with the rest of the cheerleaders performed at the pep assembly on Nov. 30. Photo by Ashley Stickler.
Letters to the editor and reader responses are also encouraged. Letters must be signed in order to be considered for publication. The Tiger Print reserves the right to edit all submissions and encourages letter to be no more than 500 words. Letters should be submitted to room 450 or mailed to:
The Tiger Print c/o
Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Stilwell, KS 66085
email: thetigerprint@yahoo.com
913-239-4800
Some people are under the impression that money buys friends. They are sadly mistaken. Living in southeastern Johnson County, it seems like everyone is participating in some sort of sick competition to see who can give the best presents. Yes, it’s cliché, but it is the thought that counts. Life isn’t about keeping up with the Jones’.
Can’t these people nd something more productive to do with their time than to waste money on people who don’t really care about them? After we graduate high school it’s possible we will never see them again. I know it sounds rude, but why would you make someone a priority if they only make you an option?
There’s simply no need to only buy designer presents to aunt your money or lack thereof. No one really cares if you buy your friends something with a designer nametag.
So, when some of you start doing your holiday shopping, think very carefully about this: by January, the only thing people will remember is that you remembered, not how much money you spent.
As a former sta member, current patron, and future parent of BVHS, I enjoy reading each edition of Tiger Print. I would like to voice my opinion on the October column “Middle schoolers raise mayhem at games.”
I, too, have been somewhat disturbed by the behavior of younger students at BVHS (and other district stadium) games. In my role as a BVHS administrator (from 2002-2005) I recall very clearly my frustration in persuading the pre-Tiger audience to sit, watch and support the BV Tigers.
This inappropriate behavior is by no means new or unique to the 2007 football season. It has been exactly the same for years. The “hormonal monsters” that you referred to are indeed the less mature pre-adolescents who need boundaries of behavior enforced.
As the principal at Prairie Star Middle School, I take o ense to the notion that the behaviors are “common-
place in the terror zones” — referring to conduct you imagine in my school or my sister school, Blue Valley Middle School.
These students, who you refer to as “runts,” are smart, focused, talented, spirited and academically and athletically top-notch in my opinion. Interestingly, our football team this season was undefeated and our volleyball team lost only one match.
Academically, the PSMS “runts” achieved the State Standard of Excellence and Governor’s Award demonstrating a commitment to trying to do their best in the classroom. These types of awards and records do not happen in “terror zones.”
There is a tradition of excellence at PSMS which will carry right into the next stage of high school life. Your warning of the next BVHS student body could not be more o track — the future generation of BVHS will be nothing short of extraordinary.
We welcome BVHS student repre-
sentatives to visit PSMS to speak to our student body about game behavior expectations and how to show Tiger spirit. Students who are informed in no uncertain terms of these expectations and still choose to behave inappropriately should perhaps be asked to leave the game.
Is it an expectation that parents sit with and oversee their child’s football game conduct? Other district high schools have designated alternative locations for the middle school students. Perhaps those options are being considered for the BVHS stadium.
It is my hope that BVHS, its feeder schools, and the parent community will talk about the issue early, in a proactive way for the fall of 2008. That way, we can appropriately demonstrate our collective, high-quality, unbending BVHS Tiger Pride.
Sincerely,
Lyn D. Rantz Principal, Prairie Star Middle School
Kicking back and relaxing after a long, hard day at school and watching a brand-new episode of The Office or Grey’s Anatomy: those were the good old days. Families planned their Tuesday evenings around watching their weekly episode of House at 8 o’clock. Now the writer’s strike has destroyed this routine. Reruns have begun to take over primetime television because writers refuse to work.
This is exactly the kind of complaining that has been floating around Blue Valley High School. They don’t realize the writers are fighting for their livelihood. The student body needs to get over their needless frustration and stop criticizing the strike.
The writers demand compensation for episodes viewed online and purchased via iTunes as well as for seasons bought on DVD. On average, writers currently make about 4 cents for every DVD sold. They want just a fraction of what the producers and actors make.
By Rebecca Feehan.“All we’re asking is to get a tiny slice of that pie,” The Office star Rainn Wilson said in an interview with Us Weekly.
A member of the Writers Guild of America, Wilson is one of many actors and TV personalities to join the writers on the picket line. Celebrities
have provided enormous support for the picketers.
Many Blue Valley students are ignoring the real reasons behind the strike and are more concerned with their lack of television enjoyment. They don’t seem to care that the issue deals with writers’ livings; it is more important to students that they get their shows, and they get them now.
The student body needs to stop whining. Their shows will come back eventually, and until then, they should learn to be appreciative of the work writers do behind the scenes. Without these talented writers, shows like The Colbert Report and CSI wouldn’t exist. They ought to be rewarded for their hard work. Going on strike is the only way the writers can really take a stand for what they deserve. The students’ complaining only demonstrates their lack of empathy and understanding. The issue at hand is a lot more complicated and serious than teenagers having to give up their weeknight shows.
The writers will hopefully continue their efforts until producers agree to renegotiate salaries. In the meantime, students should find a better way to occupy their time than sitting around and whining at a television screen.
Let’s face it, when you enter the lunchroom it is always the same monotonous food. Where is the variety in the school lunch menu?
Unless you feel like eating chicken, spaghetti or pizza everyday, school lunches are becoming less and less appealing. The lunch food could definitely use some serious help.
Most students are familiar with this every day calorie-filled pasta and meat sauce, or if you like adding some variety to your meal, there is the option of Alfredo sauce, which by the way is only available sporadically.
If the boring spaghetti and meat sauce is not your thing then you can always fill up your tray with chicken strips and a heaping pile of greasy fries. Or better yet, you can always boost your cholesterol with some pizza or a cheeseburger.
The fact of the matter is that the current lunch system in place is not providing students with nutritionally sound food. This, however, is not a problem that just pertains to BVHS.
Many schools around the country have a similar lunch plan. Perhaps this is why the United States has seen a rapid growth in adolescent obesity over the last decade.
Much of the food that is being served to students is doing little more for them than making them full. It is this type of food that is leading kids down the wrong dietary path and later in their lives they will have to live with the consequences that accompany an unhealthy lifestyle.
These new options need to be more nutritious
instead of providing students with little more than a tray full of fat.
Believe it or not, it is possible to have a decent meal without purchasing the large “thunder thighs,” and the “badonkadonk” butt. Additions such as grilled chicken and less fried food should be made so at least students can have the option of making a healthy choice.
The average cost of a lunch meal is $1.60; however, when you add a cookie to the equation, the lunch can cost over $2. This raises the issue of pricing. Sides such as cookies need to at least be half the price they are now.
“The lunch food is pretty bad, but what else are you going to eat? They are unhealthy and expensive,” sophomore Nick Allen said.
School lunches at least need to be made to look more appetizing if the other options are not foreseeable in the future. The appearance of a typical lunch meal is soggy, runny or the total opposite: bone-dry, crusty and stale.
If we want to see a change for the better in the food that is being served to students during lunch, not only does the fat and cholesterol need to be drastically cut, but also wider ranges of foods that actually look appetizing need to be added. More importantly, from an economic standpoint, the price for snacks needs to be reduced.
On a broader level, many schools around the country have implemented healthier lunch alternatives for students to choose from and totally eliminated foods high in trans-fats and cholesterol from their menus. Perhaps our school and other schools in the district should consider doing the same. The thighs of the student body depend on it.
it’s a great year to be a TIGER!!!
Junior Simran Singh practices an Indian religion called Sikhism. Although Sikhism beliefs di er from Hindu beliefs, Sikhism celebrates Diwali.
“Everybody in India celebrates Diwali,” Singh said. “It’s like their Christmas.”
Diwali originates from the story of Prince Ram, who was exiled by his stepmother. The holiday is a celebration of his return from exile. Singh said they celebrate by praying, lighting candles, and leaving Indian sweets out as an o ering to their god. Other celebrations include Holi, the festival of color, and Guru Nanak Dev Gji’s birthday.
“In India, they celebrate Holi di erently,” Singh said. “They throw water and colored powder at each other. It’s really fun.”
BV teacher Manal Siam practices the Muslim religion. The most important celebration is called Ramadan, and it takes place in the ninth month of the lunar calendar. During Ramadan, people of Muslim beliefs will fast from sunrise to sunset each day.
“Nothing can enter our body,” Siam said.
Sophomore Monica Roy Chowdhury and junior Suraj Keshary are just a couple of the students who practice the Hindu religion. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a ve-day celebration. The third day is the most auspicious and honors the goddess of wealth and happiness, Lakshmi. The entire community gets together and brings sweets and lights clay candles called diyas.
“There are usually about 100 people there,” Roy Chowdhury said.
Other celebrations are called Pujas. A Puja is an all-day celebration, which begins with a very religious morning.
“There is a bunch of praying involved in the religion,” Keshary said.
The afternoon of a Puja is lled with cultural plays, singing and dancing. The night usually ends with a traditional dinner followed by a party.
Junior Simran Singh wears a traditional out t to celebrate the Sikh holiday, Diwali. “This is one of my more fashionable ones,” Singh said. “Everybody in India celebrates Diwali. It’s like their Christmas.” Diwali was Nov. 10 this year. Photo and information compiled by Amanda Blue.
The fasting is symbolic of enduring what the less fortunate go through and it is a mental, spiritual, and physical cleansing of the body. Ramadan is concluded with the celebration of Eid, which takes place the day after. Eid lasts three days and it includes feasting and gifts. Each family has their own way of celebration; however, Siam’s family celebrates Eid by eating a traditional meal of rice, chicken, ground meat and spices.
BV teacher Adam Wade was raised Jewish and celebrates certain Jewish holidays. Hanukkah, the most well-known of the Jewish holidays, lasts for eight nights. Each night, the children receive one gift and the family lights a menorah and says blessings.
“To religious Jews, Hanukkah is not a very big deal,” Wade said. “Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are much more important.”
Rosh Hashana is the Jewish New Year and consists of many religious services. During Yom Kippur, one will fast until sundown. The day of Yom Kippur is believed to be the day that one must atone for all his sins.
Lucky winners freshmen Dani Bohde and Maddie Turcotte won Satoraum Salon and the Tiger Print’s 2007 Holiday Makeover.
On Dec. 4 the girls were transformed with their new haircuts, highlights and make-up.
There were a lot of firsts for Turcotte.
“I had never won anything,” Turcotte said. “I’ve never colored my hair before. either”
Bohde on the other hand has had lots of change in the past few weeks.
“I had eight inches cut off two or three weeks ago,” Bohde said.
Both hair dressers had lots of ideas on what to do.
“[The highlights] will bring out the color in her eyes,” Bohde’s hair dresser Stephanie Ellis said. “She has really pretty eyes.”
“I’m doing a highlight, low light on an asymmetrical bob with texturized layers,” Turcotte’s hair dresser David Thill
The makeovers were a success.
“I think it’s really cute,” Turcotte said. “I like my hair.”
Students are getting a chance to explore their career choices further than traditional curriculum allows. The Broadmoor Technical Center offers classes to high school students through the Shawnee Mission school district, and some Blue Valley students are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Senior Austin Carpenter has been interesting in the culinary arts since his freshman year.
“My dad runs restaurants and I used to work for him,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter attends Broadmoor for cooking classes because of its advanced curriculum and equipment. He appreciates the center for its hands-on approach.
“It gives you a lot more experience that you can use in the work force straight after high school,” Carpenter said.
With the advanced skills gained from Broadmoor, Carpenter plans on attending a culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island.
Seniors Melanie Troutman and Tiffany Evans also take classes at Broadmoor, but their focus is on filmmaking. Troutman wants to major in music history, theory and literature, but she still feels that her film classes at Broadmoor are a perfect fit for her future.
“I want to pursue music as my career choice, but I wasn’t sure if I was enjoying working with that type of equipment as a living,” Troutman said. “So, I wanted experience in the field; Broadmoor helped me
make up my mind.”
This equipment includes a state of the art recording studio and other professional film and audio equipment. Such advanced technology provides the students with opportunities they cannot find at Blue Valley.
“This is the richest environment I can imagine for film students,” film teacher Steven Swagerty said.
Troutman is in a class of only 25 students, and her projects include making documentaries and short films. Evans, her classmate, focuses on animated film. She is currently working on a claymation movie, which involves several takes of clay figures in different positions to simulate movement.
At Broadmoor, the first thing one notices is the laid back feel in the classrooms.
“We like to keep a relaxed and friendly environment,” Swagerty said.
Students have more freedom, but still have to complete their work in a timely manner and are responsible for their own projects.
“We can go offsight for filming, which makes it a lot different than broadcast technology at Blue Valley,” Troutman said. “I can sign out and go film downtown or something for three days of class.”
This kind of independence is an added benefit of the Broadmoor Technical Center. Evans agrees that she has as lot more free time and can do things on her own.
“I don’t have to sit in a chair and be a trained monkey,”
Senior Emily Bowden plans on completing her senior year within one semester in order to pursue her future career. She made this decision junior year when her father suggested it.
After graduating she will work part-time as a dental assistant at Ironhorse Dental and take classes at Johnson County Community College. She plans on attending the University of Florida next year with the money that she saves up from working.
“A lot of kids graduate early to jumpstart their long-term majors,” Bowden said.
Like the other seniors graduating early, Bowden had to start the process to achieve early graduation last year at enrollment time. All of the hopefuls
wrote a letter to the admistration with their request while enrolling for their senior classes. This letter was to detail why they desired graduating before the rest of their class and what they plan on doing afterwards. A plan of action submitted with the letter highlighted how they will get all of their credits before leaving. To achieve this some students took online or summer classes outside of school. To make sure that the four years of communication arts were completed many of these students doubled up on their senior communication arts classes.
“I’m taking regular and AP [communication arts] this year,” Bowden said. “I had most of my credits already since I took two science classes in both freshman
and sophomore year. I didn’t really take freshman classes freshman year, that’s why I’m taking two computer classes this year.” Although Bowden will leave after semester she can return for prom and graduation.
“Early graduation is somewhat misleading because they will not receive a diploma until the rest of their class graduates,” counselor Keith Elmore said. “If they are applying to college right afterwards the school will provide them with a letter explaining their early graduation.” Bowden plans on pursuing a dental degree next year. She hopes graduating from medical school a year early as well. She will overlap two of her college years in hopes graduating in seven years.
It may be hard to imagine life without a favorite television show after a long day, but that may soon become a reality if the Writer’s Guild of America continues its strike.
The WGA went on strike Nov. 5 after three months of negotiation. The writers are demanding an increase in residuals on three big issues – video streaming, WGA control over made-for-Internet shows and downloads.
“The writers deserve more money because they wrote the shows and without a script there would be no show,” sophomore Jackie Nugent said.
The shows immediately affected by the strike were talk shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Stewart’s company Busboy Productions has agreed to pay two weeks’ worth of salaries for writers on both series.
Other members of television productions staffs, including actors, directors and producers have thrown their support behind writers by joining them on the picket lines. Eva Longoria was seen passing out pizza to writers and Jay Leno was seen handing out doughnuts to writers.
Various studios like CBS Paramount Network Television and 20th Century
Fox Television have sent out letters to producers warning them that if they do not fulfill their producer-related functions the studio might sue.
“I personally think the studios should not give the writers a lot more money because if they do the writers will always expect a pay increase when they strike,” sophomore Ross Watson said.
As for programming plans, shows like Desperate Housewives and Heroes will run out of new episodes by approximately early 2008. Shows that were expected to start mid-season like 24 have delayed their premiere indefinitely. NBC’s The Office began showing re-runs after Nov. 15 due to actors on the show refusing to cross the picket lines.
“I am going to be so pissed off if my shows go off the air,” sophomore Hannah Tebo said. “Watching TV is what I do when I need a break.”
With scripted shows on a break, reality shows will become more common on the prime time schedule. Big Brother, which usually airs in the summer, may be back as soon as February according to Variety. Other reality shows such as Survivor and The Amazing Race should be unaffected by the strike.
The WGA went on strike for five months in 1988 and it cost the entertainment business approximately $500 million. Should the strike continue, the
projected losses are millions and maybe even billions of dollars according to E! Online.
The strike could have a horrible impact on the economy because more than 10,000 writers are not being paid and therefore are not spending money like usual. The writers are not the only
people who are not being paid because of the strike – stylists, caterers and many other people who work behind the scenes are suffering too.
The WGA strike may just be a preview of what is to come this summer when the contracts for the Screen Actors and Directors Guild are set to expire.
When walking down the 300 and 400 hallways, one is bound to see an array of 15-year-old girls with matching jeans, hairstyles and vocabulary. Being that this high school stereotype is so common, it is quite simple to guess this type of student’s preferences about where to buy clothes, what to watch on television, and what’s entertaining on a Friday night.
However, ask these clones about their musical preferences, and one might be surprised to find mention of iPods filled with tunes of a somewhat abrasive persuasion.
“We listen to gangster rap,” junior Katy Fryberger said.
Whether this definition of the term is socially adept or not, it is blatant that these students somehow identify themselves with the “thug life.”
in the back of Mom’s minivan, it’s safe to say absolutely nothing. Around here, it’s “ghetto” to buy coffee at QuikTrip instead of Starbucks.
However, there are dozens of naïve suburbanites
who only listen to artists who have five illegitimate children or frequently reference an experience in jail, such as Akon’s repetitive exploitation of the word “convict.” These facts amount a quizzical question.
in order to add “danger” to our mundane lives?
Maybe we just like the rhythm, because it gives us something halfway decent to dance to.
We’ve all heard the speech about the teenage identity crisis. Apparently rap music gives us something to be a part of. At a time when we are uncomfortable with ourselves, we gain acceptance by referring to catchy choruses. When one doesn’t know how to respond to a situation, there is always the option of yelling out “Ballin”. But really, what does that even mean?
many other students at Blue Valley make some people wonder why privileged students, who have grown up in a some what shelltered life, are getting down to songs about the hard life in jail and the projects. Maybe it is because they need a little thrill in their otherwise safe lives or perhaps students are just going with the flow of what is popular.
by Gwen Bergerhofer.
But really, what do they, or almost any other student at Blue Valley, know about hustling the streets? Unless that street is Mission, and hustling means riding
Why does freshman Jackson Rowe love Lil Whyte’s song “Oxycontin”? Why is senior Kyndal Moore obsessed with TPain’s “Bartender”? Why do Blue Valley students flock toward entertainment that represents a culture they are not a part of?
It must come down to what our music says about who we are. Do we distract ourselves with musical pimp vocabulary
While these hypotheses are not meant to degrade Blue Valley institutions like the Hip Hop club or the street credibility of Stilwell’s finest, they do have a valid point.
Our parents’ generation wondered how many licks it took to get to the center of a tootsie pop. Today, we ponder why students lucky enough to live in the lushness of Overland Park wish they were in the projects. The world may never know.
You tell yourself: You’ll never get caught; no one ever has. Just one click is all it takes. Really, it’s a no-brainer. Everyone’s doing it: illegal downloading.
While most Blue Valley students and staff would not describe themselves as criminals, a recent survey within our halls reported that 93 percent of students and faculty download music illegally through online programs like Kazaa, Limewire, and Bearshare.
“Downloading online is convenient, easy, and cheap. I’ve been doing it for years, and have no plan to stop,” an anonymous student said.
However, according to arstechnica. com, the music recording industry is taking illegal downloaders to court and winning.
With the conviction of Jammie Thomas in 2003, an illegal downloader ordered to pay $222,000 for the dozens of songs she pulled from the Internet, maybe concern is in order. After Thomas’s success-
downloading],” Art teacher Mark Mosier said. “I download a lot from itunes”.
Nevertheless, threats and skeptics are making only a superficial dent in the illegal downloading community. This may
ful conviction, 26,000 lawsuits have been filed, citing damages claiming file sharing hurts recording sales.
While this form of piracy is common, there are those at Blue Valley who openly disagree with it.
“I’m a strong advocate against [illegal
be due to public outcry, including the popular rebuttal by Harvard Business School professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee and his co-author Koleman Strumpf, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in their work The Effect of File Sharing on Record Sales published in the Jour-
nal of Politcal Economy. These scholars claim that illegal downloading is actually beneficial, because it exposes the teen and young adult market to a wider variety of music and later prompts them to buy, much like how the radio functions. CNN.com psychologists have their own claims about what prompts downloaders despite the risks. In a lot of ways, downloading is more like shoplifting than it is like piracy, the term often used for it. Their reasoning is that pirates embrace a life of crime; shoplifters often see their activity as an exciting and slightly risky diversion.
Whatever the reason, downloading music online without paying is illegal. One may get away with it this time, and next time, and the time after that, but sooner or later one might end up like Thomas, and really, are a few free songs worth a court date?
Even with hours of homework and in school activities, several students find time in their busy schedule to play on a competitive club sports team. Some of them pause from their club team, when their school sport is in session.
As a little second grader, senior Taylor Hanson probably never understood her full basketball potential, now she is a senior playing varsity at Blue Valley and playing on a competitive basketball team called Hoop Service. During the spring and summer, the team practices about eight hours per week. Every weekend during the season, Hoop Service plays around six games.
Some students cannot understand why someone would spend so much time playing a sport, but Hanson insists it is a way of life for her. She loves the sport.
“Basketball does take away from my social life, but what I lose is gained with my friends on the team,” Hanson said.
Hanson has competed with
the team in Louisiana, South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Minnesota and many other states.
“My favorite part about basketball is definitely the competition,” Hanson said.
Hanson is committed to play on the University of Central Missouri basketball team, for which she has received a full-ride scholarship.
Sophomore Jessica Mussatto plays club soccer on the Omega team. She practices
three times a week, logging close to five hours. Mussatto typically plays three games each weekend.
Some students wonder if the time commitment is really worthwhile.
“All the time I spend practicing is definitely worth it because of how much fun we have at the games,” Mussatto said. Mussatto has traveled with the Omega team to Des Moines and Indianapolis; competing in
tournaments with other teams in their age group. The team has also recently traveled to Texas and Florida.
Along with Mussato, another fellow soccer player, sophomore Sally Stromme, plays for the Blue Valley Stars 16’s division. Stromme has played on this team since the third grade and has gained immeasurable soccer skills that she demonstrates on the field. Like many other students who play competitive sports, Stromme hopes to continue playing throughout college and into her adult life.
“I love playing soccer because it is team oriented,” Stromme said. “I like being a team player.”
Another BV student, junior Jake Faber, enjoys playing hockey on the Blue Valley club team, which is made up of students from Blue Valley and Blue Valley West. He practices twice a week at Pepsi Ice Midwest. Faber plays around two games each weekend. He hopes to continue playing the sport throughout high school and into his college years, if the opportunity is available.
“Playing hockey is great because you get to play a sport
that isn’t really common in Kansas,” Faber said. “If you’re good enough, there are many scholarships.”
Another student also competes on a club basketball team. Among the many students who play competitive sports, junior Liz Stinson is one who feels passionately about basketball. Stinson spends most of her free time playing for Missouri Valley Power. Stinson has traveled with the team to Nashville, Dallas and Chicago in the recent months.
“My favorite tournament was in Nashville, because we got to compete in nationals,” Stinson said. “We had a lot of time to have fun and bond with the team.”
Stinson stays close with her teammates, who attend schools across the Kansas City Metro, during the almost eight hours of playing time they share on the court each week. Stinson hopes to continue her basketball hobby throughout college and into her adult life. She insists the sport is worth her time.
“It’s not always about getting better,” Stinson said. “It’s about having fun.”
ajbarbosa staff reporter
Of all the possible times that the antibiotic-resistant staph infection known as MRSA could have hit the Kansas City metro area, wrestling season might be the worst.
It isn’t news that diseases can easily be spread through wrestling because of its direct skin-to-skin contact, but this recent strain of staph has coaches throughout the city taking every precaution necessary.
“We clean our mats every day at the end of practice like we always have,” coach Jason Peres said. “But now we also stress to our wrestlers to take showers before they go home, because the disease is so easily spread from person to person.”
The disease spread from the east coast last year, and has now reached the metro area, with cases being confirmed at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan., and in the Shawnee Mission School District in Overland Park. The disease infects open wounds and can be contracted from toilet handles, sinks, doorknobs and other commonly touched objects in public places.
Wrestlers are even more susceptible to
catch the disease at tournaments, where each individual can wrestle up to five different competitors, each from separate schools, possibly including any of the Shawnee Mission or Piper schools.
“I’m not really worried about it,” sophomore Gavin Weir said. “They make sure we wear different clothes each day, so it’s pretty hard to get sick.”
“It’s mainly a concern to make sure that every wrestler is clean during practice.” Peres said. “Practice is where it can be spread from one person to the entire program, so we’re not taking any chances.”
Even with all the concern about bringing the disease to the school, athletic director Bob Whitehead remains optimistic about the prevention methods.
“It’s more about being proactive to prevent it,” Whitehead said. “We take every single measure in our hands to keep it from happening. It’s certainly possible, but we’d like to think that it’s not going to happen to this school.”
The disease is one of gigantic proportions. At its first known detection, the disease was easily treatable, but with its maturity, it has developed resistance to penicillin and other antibiotics. Virtually the only way to fight off the disease is to
trust the body to fight it off on its own. After the disease enters one’s system, problems can develop such as urinary tract infections, large boils, bloodstream infections, pneumonia and sores all over the body. The infected sores also tend to swell up and eventually rupture, expelling discharge such as blood and pus.
“It’s a terrible infection. I’m not too sure what would happen if someone in our school were to contract it,” Whitehead said. “There would be a lot of panic, I’m sure, but we would get through the whole disinfecting process.”
The easiest way to prevent catching the disease outside of wrestling is by washing hands as often as possible. Another way is to make sure that all open sores or cuts on the body are covered, regardless of size. If one small cell of the bacteria were to find that open sore, the disease would waste no time circulating through the bloodstream and infecting the person.
Even with all the paranoia, the wrestling team is blocking it all out and preparing for their three-month season.
“We have a really great group this year,” Peres said. “And we’re not going to let the rumor mill distract us from our goal of success this year.”
Since football season is over and bringing the color guard to a close, the drill team has started training for winter guard. Recognized by Winter Guard International as the “sport of the arts”, winter guard is a relatively new performance art form that combines elements of music, dance, and militaryprecision marching into a competitive arena. Unlike color guard, which performs outdoors on a football field, winter guard performs indoors and without the band. After intense training, the girls will attend competitions throughout the Midwest beginning in December.
Training is a big task; it takes literally months to create a show worthy of competition. The team holds daily practices in the morning that go through first hour, as well as separate rehearsals after school on Mondays and Wednesdays.
“It’s a lot of freaking work,” sophomore Erica Bowden said.
Training consists of body and equipment warm-ups before learning intense technical choreography. Once the cho-
reography is created and taught to all dancers, including new freshmen, all that is left is repetition. Precision and uniformity is key to success in competition and achieving that takes determination, effort, and time.
“It is a lot of work, but when I get that rush in a performance it makes it all worthwhile,” sophomore Rachel McCullough said.
This year has the potential to be a success, according to sophomore Shelby Tate. At competitions, the highest score they can get is a 100 points score. In 2003, the team got all the way to the World Championship and placed 13th.
“We do have a very capable team this year,” Tate said. “My goal is to get above a 70 with our score.”
The team can set the bar high this season, with a new director, Sandie Rosenblatt
“Every year for the last five years we have had a new director,” McCullough said. “It can be hard to get acquainted with everyone so quickly, but I feel we have had a much more positive year.”
The team also made it a point to include the freshmen as much as possible.
“Last year, I felt very excluded so I really did not want that for the freshmen this year,” Tate said.
The winter guard shows are usually themed or have some underlying concept to portray to the audience through the music, props, and movement. This
The basketball coaching staff has a new member this year. Kyle Mendenhall is the new sophomore basketball coach.
You may have seen Mendenhall walking through the halls during passing period before. He was a student teacher, until he found another student teaching job for physical education at Prairie Star Elementary School. Mendenhall is still student teaching, but is also looking for a permanent job as a physical education and health teacher.
Mendenhall has been around basketball his entire life; playing ever since he was five. He played in high school at Hutchinson High School all four years and then went to play for two years at Hutchinson Community College. He then transferred to the University of Sterling in Sterling, Kan., where he played two more
years of basketball. Mendenhall also has a little bit of coaching experience.
“I know I wanted to get involved, and it worked out right,” Mendenhall said. “I volunteered my services to get experience and jumped in on the opportunity.”
Mendenhall is pretty stoked for this season and hopes it turns out the best.
“I’m looking forward to working with the kids, and I hope I have a good time, as well as finishing out with a good season,” Mendenhall said.
Because Mendenhall is in love with basketball, his favorite sporting event to watch on television year round is March Madness.
“It’s the best sporting experience, and it’s amazing to watch the upsets that happen. It’s madness,” Mendenhall said.
Mendenhall plans to improve the play for the underclassmen so they will be ready for the varsity level.
year, Blue Valley’s show is a sort of tribute to diversity and discrimination. It begins with a slow song that gives way to one of Martin Luther King’s famous speeches. With the amount of work the girls are putting into it, the show is sure to be a success.
School- Oklahoma
Class
Senior Megan Ferguson did gymnastics her whole life and has been rewarded, with her hard and dedicated work, a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma.
“I’m very proud of her,” coach Kim Fuchs said.
“She is the top gymnast I’ve coached.”
Ferguson is a two time national champion and at the end of this school year, she will be going for her third straight title.
Sport- Basketball
Senior Taylor Hanson is in her fourth year on the varsity basketball team. Hanson is a team captain and a vital asset to the team. Her hard work has earned her a scholarship to the University of Central Missouri.
“She is really competitive and has a good knowledge of the game and knows her strengths,” head coach Andy Unrein said. “I think she’ll be very successful.”
I’m nervous, I won’t know anyone, but it will be nice to have a team to make friends.
Class- 2008
Gather
Boy’s swimming is under new management as coach Mary Jo Kiler is leading the team this season. With 27 on the team, Kiler feels she is up to the challenge.
Kiler is also the coach of “Tsunami,” a swim team that competes all over Kansas and Missouri.
Under this new guidance, the expectations for this year are up.
“I think we are definitely going to see some surprises this year,” assistant coach Azie Taghizadeh said. “With a new coach comes new exercises and swimming methods, so we’re definitely looking forward to this season. We are really expecting good things from Mary, her goal being to bring the aspect of swimming back to Blue Valley.”
The next meet is scheduled for next Tuesday.
by Andrew FioriThe girls basketball team kicked off their season with a 45-29 win at GardnerEdgerton High School on Nov. 29 and then followed with a tough 59-54 loss in overtime to Shawnee Mission South on Dec. 3.
Nine varsity athletes return, including seniors Brianna Eldridge, Taylor Hanson, Morgan Matile, Victoria Renn, juniors Shelby Geiman, Leslee Kinnison, Liz Stinson and sophomores Nicole Berry and Nicole Gloor. They are joined by new varsity players sophomore Lauren Wormington and freshmen Emily Ball and Aerial Smith.
“They are hungry,” head coach Andy Unrien said. “Our experience is a huge advantage.”
by Drew RogersThe men’s basketball team kicked its season off 1-0, after a forfeit by Center High School on Dec. 6. The following day, the Tigers took on Ralston High. With great teamwork, the Tigers led 3635 at halftime with senior Kolbe Joens and junior Tyler VanGerpan leading in points and seniors Michael Grant and Chris McDermott leading in rebounds. After halftime, the Tigers tried to contain Ralston, but couldn’t answer on the offensive side and ended up with their first loss. On Dec. 8, the Tigers faced a tough Sumner team. The Tigers won, taking them to a 2-1 record on the season.
by Braden Miller
Two of Blue Valley’s top runners competed in the 2007 Cross Country Coaches National Championships on Dec. 1. Senior Devin Wiegers placed eighth in the nation in the 5K run.
“It was a proud moment and I was really excited,” Wiegers said. “It was a good way to end my senior cross country year.”
Senior Ben Loats also ran in the 5K run. He placed fourteenth out of 50 runners and he finished within 50 seconds of the first place runner.
“I felt like it was a good end to the season because I didn’t get to compete at state,” Loats said. “I felt really strong coming into the race.”
Both Wiegers and Loats competed on their club team, the Brocaw Blazers, in the race.
by Jason WoodAfter the season ends, the cross country runners don’t stop running. On Nov. 18, a number of the cross country runners woke up early in the morning to run at the Gobbler Grind half-marathon. Seniors Ryan Clark and Devin Wiegers, sophomores Tyler Smiley, Matt Roselli, Casey Bodenhausen, Paige Owens, Jaclyn Callison, Allison Kohn, Alyssa Luker ,Stephanie Gibson and freshmen Adam Chinery, Skyler Trieu, Caitlin Holland all participated in the 13.1-mile run.
by Steven RenoChiefs vs. Titans
Feel free to scream at your television.
Christmas Carol Charles Dickens published this holiday favorite 167 years ago today.
Bake Cookies Day
Nothing’s more convienient than pre-sliced dough.
Christmas Day
Awful Tie Day
Last day of finals ... but it is the shortest day of the year — Winter Solstice
You’ve been looking forward to this day since August.
The last show is at 1 p.m. at the Music Hall.
Tiger Woods Birthday
Maybe he’ll wish for another PGA Tour win?
Start making New Year’s Resolutions so you can start breaking
We hope you get your Red Rider BB gun. “Don’t shoot your eye out!”
Now your dad can wear that ugly tie you bought him for Christmas. Dad never looked so good.
No meat for you, but you can have broccoli. Yummm!
Let anyone whose name starts with a Z go first!
Break out that slicer. Everyone will be asking who cut the cheese?
Harlem Globetrotters
Ballin’ it up at the Sprint Center until Jan. 6. Tickets start at $15.
5:30 p.m. girls & boys at 7:00 p.m at Home.
Today is NOT opposite day.
Anne Clark had the first legal divorce in North America 364 years ago. Now, the divorce rate is up to 50 percent. Way to go Clark.
Back to School
7:45 a.m. has never felt this early! Today we will participate in an Enrollment Fair.
Have yours with a spot of tea.
Home game versus Bishop Miege 7 p.m.
Hot Winter Nights
Pro Beach Volleyball at Sprint Center. January has never been this hot. Tickets start at $18.
Dress up your
Fluffy needs a new pair of shoes.
Appreciate a Dragon Day
“Dragon Tales, Dragon Tales/ It’s almost time for Dragon Tales”
Home meet at 4:30 p.m.
Home game versus Olathe Northwest at 7 p.m.
With seizure-inducingly bright posters and flyers hung up all around the school, there’s no doubt you’ve heard about SWITCH. Although not a school dance, SWITCH was partially funded by the PTO. Promised to be more alternative than regular dances, it took place on November 30. An anti-prom of sorts, tickets were priced at $5 and proceeds went to the National Arts Honor Society. Additional donations will be used to support local arts.
With over 500 people in attendance, SWITCH was a success and is expected to be held again next school year.
“It’s started a Blue Valley tradition,” senior Taylor Odom, NAHS president, said. e idea was brought up by Patrick Cooley, a 2007 graduate, last May.
“It came from the realization that school dances are ridiculously expensive,” Odom said. e crowds parted in the middle of the dance to make room for a fashion show displaying some of the outfits designed for the dance. How to describe the event for those who didn’t attend?
“Phenomenal. Domination,” Odom said.
by Tori Freisner
