The Tiger Print — January 2008

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It’s a grind

New homework program piloted

In-house marketing class opens school coffee shop

$ecrets of teen spending, saving

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Hot topics from Blue Valley...

1.

Several Blue Valley students have been selected for Kansas Music Educators Association All-State groups. The students were required to make their All-District group to be eligible for selection for the state ensemble. Seniors Sarah Cline and Kelly Cosby and juniors Ben Stratman and Samantha Steinmetz qualified for the state choir. Senior Riley Shaw, junior Danny Wood and sophomore Ben Cooper were selected to be members of the state band while junior Ned Kellenberger received the distinction for orchestra. By Mitch Smith with additional reporting by Andrew Fiori.

2.

Beginning this past week, Campus Police Officer Dennis Randall has begun ticketing those who park without a proper parking pass amid concerns of overcrowding in the parking lot.

“The parking lot is becoming more congested,” Randall said. “There are a lot more 16-year-old sophomores applying for spots.” By Cole Owen.

3.

begins with enrollment fair.

Blue Valley’s enrollment fair on Jan. 7 provided an opportunity for students to visit classes they are considering for the next school year.

“The purpose of [the enrollment fair] is to give students a good knowledge basis to use when they make their enrollment choices,” administrator Brett Potts said. By Jake Faber.

DEBATE TAKES STATE

kellycosby staff reporter

The Blue Valley 4-speaker debate team captured the state championship last Saturday in Garden City. The team, composed of seniors Megan Adams and Megan Ritter and juniors Josh Dean and Taylor Nichols, lived up to the squad’s billing the National Forensics League as one of the top 100

programs in the nation by defeating schools across the state.

“This is Blue Valley’s seventh win in eight years,” Dean said. The squad hopes to continue the legacy next season with several strong returning teams.

This triumph was preceded by another successful weekend on Jan. 4 and 5, which consisted of the Novice State and

clubprofile: robotics

Coach’s Invitational tournament at Washburn Rural. The novice team of junior Jonathan Nebel and freshman Samantha Nichols placed third in their State tournament. In the Coach’s Invitational, the team of Adams and Ritter took ninth place, and Dean and Taylor Nichols placed fourth, making them the highest placing all-junior team.

Pakistani political leader Benazir Bhutto was killed last month when her car was struck by enemy fire in Rawalpindi. This comes after Bhutto, the nation’s former prime minister, returned from exile in wake of the upcoming parliamentary elections. President Bush gave a press conference denouncing her assassination. By Mitch Smith.

The presidential race has remained hotly contested since primaries and caucuses began earlier this month. Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) won Iowa’s Democratic Caucus while Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won on the Republican side. New York Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton took first place in New Hampshire and Nevada for her party while Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) took first place for the Republicans in both New Hampshire and South Carolina. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the Republican primaries in Michigan and Nevada as well as the Republican caucuses in Wyoming. By Mitch Smith and Kelly Cosby

The Lakota Sioux Indian Tribe cancelled all treaties with the United States last month and declared themselves a separate, sovereign nation. Citing the fact that 97 percent of Lakota live below the poverty line, the average life expectancy of a Lakota man is 44 and that the infant mortality rate for the tribe is 300 percent higher than the national average, the Lakota have withdrawn from the United States. The Tribe also expressed frustration with the United States government’s adherence to treaties with the tribe. The area which they claim as part of their new Republic of the Lakota includes parts of Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. This comes after the United Nations passed a measure last year supporting rights of indigenous people, a measure which the Bush administration opposed. By Mitch Smith.

peting in tournaments and building various robots in its first year.

Students in the club enjoy their new experience in the field of robotics.

“I like the freedom to do what we want and build things,” sophomore Jackson Cwach said.

Club members were overwhelmed with the rules in a robotics competition.

“Most of them had never done something like this before so it was a totally new experience,” club sponsor Trevor Sutcliffe said.

The team usually has about six weeks to build an entire robot.

“Getting it all done on

part about building the robot,” Cwach said.

According to Sutcliffe, club participants will be eligible for college scholarships.

“It is extremely beneficial to someone who is following any type of technology career path,” Sutcliffe said.

The club’s first tournament was the BEST Robotics Competition in October at Wichita State University, where they placed ninth out of 25 teams.

“I thought we did an outstanding job in the BEST tournament for being a first-year team,” Sutcliffe said. “There’s really a lot of dedication to the team.”

The team will compete in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics tournament on

they received the guidelines and rules at Shawnee Mission South High School. Each team builds their robot using the supplies given to them by the tournament sponsors. The robot will have to race around a track while carrying large ball. There are various obstacles on the track through which it must manuever.

The team is confident.

“I think the team will do really well if we get a few new members,” Cwach said.

The team has approximately six weeks to build the entire robot. Each robot will weigh approximately 200 pounds and will be about four feet tall.

Music students qualify for all-state groups.

Officer to issue parking tickets.

Second semester

2. Presidential race tightens for both parties.

1. Former Pakistani prime minister assasinated.

3. Lakota Sioux Indians secede from United States.

jason

Senior Tina Seitz works on assembling a robot that she intends on entering in an upcoming competition.

Photo by Nina Humphrey.

...and the world around us

Diversity speaker stresses compassion, kindness

callieeaton staff reporter

Rachel’s Challenge, an program designed to encourage compassion and kindess, visited Blue Valley on Jan. 18. The assembly is in memory of Rachel Scott, who was the first student killed in the Columbine High School shootings in 1999.

“Rachel’s story impacted me on how I want to run my life,” one Blue Valley student told Larry Scott, Rachel’s uncle, who also gave the presentation.

Larry Scott encouraged Blue Valley students to embrace Rachel’s philosophy on life, which

included five challenges. Scott encouraged students to look for the best in others, to eliminate prejudice, to dream for their lives, not jump to judge others, to choose positive influences and finally to start a chain reaction of kindness.

“Don’t let your character change color with your environment, find out who you are and let it stay its true color,” Rachel Scott wrote in one of her diaries.

The assembly came to Blue Valley after visiting Leawood and Prairie Star Middle Schools. Several students heard the pre-

sentation at district office during first semester, and encouraged the administration to bring the assembly here.

Students who attended that meeting have formed the Friends of Rachel club, which embraces Rachel’s Challenge and encourages its acceptance among the student body.

Several Blue Valley students have embraced Rachel’s Challenge, evidenced by their signature on a banner in the gym.

“I want to be an individual without having to worry about being accepted,” another Blue Valley student told Larry Scott.

Marketing class plans, opens school coffee shop in concession

bradenmillersports editor

In-house marketing class recently opened a new coffee shop, called The Jungle, on Jan. 14, which sells several products for a cheaper price than other local shops.

The Jungle will have a temporary location in the commons where the concessions are located for basketball games until it moves to its permanent location, next to where the vending machines are in the commons.

The Jungle is open before and after school from 7:15 to 7:40 and from 3:00 to 3:30.

Several different kinds of beverages

will be offered. Frozen drinks, mochas, coffee, hot chocolate and tea are just some of the drinks availabe. Drinks range in price from $1-$3 and are sold in a 16 ounce cup.

“I love all the different flavored drinks,” senior Steven Cox said. “And there’s numerous items to choose from.”

There are also a variety of foods that well be served. Cookies, cinnamon rolls, granola bars and Orbit gum will be ofered and range in price from 75 cents to $1.50.

There will be no teacher or administrator running the store as the in-house marketing students will be in control of everything. In-house marketing students

will rotate responsiblities for running the shop.

“I love working here. It’s gradually increasing with more and more customers,” senior Daniel Mayer said. “Hot chocolate is our number one seller thus far.”

“With what we can sell now and our good prices, it should work pretty well,” Lickteig said. “We have just as good a quality of stuff as other places like Starbucks and it’s cheaper.”

The students are pleased with the initial response.

“The shop is going good so far and it’s getting on track,” Calys said. “The only bad thing about running it is waking up in the morning, but it’s still very fun.”

stand

Jungle Staff

Nick

Miles

Freshman Brittany Spandle signs a pledge after the assembly put on by Rachel’s Challenge, which encouraged students to live their lives by the morals of Rachel Scott. Scott was the first student killed in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. Photo by Nina Humphrey.

Blake Lickteig - CEO. Drew Rogers - marketing director.

Michael Borgerdingcore-merchandising director. Kelly Nichols - human resource director.

Calys - accounting director

Murphynon-merchandise director

Homework initiative aims to improve assignment completion

In response to a perceived correlation between missing assignments and failing grades, Blue Valley has instituted a new homework completion program called Overtime. The program, being tested by 11 teachers in several subject areas, aims to provide students with a way of completing missing assignments in a timely fashion.

“It is going to be an opportunity for students to complete their work in a timely fashion so they get the most out of class discussion,” teacher and Overtime participant Dianne O’Bryan said.

According to Principal Scott Bacon, the program will require students with a teacher participating in Overtime to come to an after-school session to complete any missing homework. Bacon plans to monitor the program himself during the standard Academics First time and track its progress.

“I wanted to keep it small so I knew what the management issues might be,” Bacon said. “We’re going to manage it and see how it goes.”

The inspiration for this program came from four sta members who attended a presentation by Papillion-La Vista (Neb.) High School last summer in Omaha. The teachers were impressed by a similar program that was implemented at Papillion-La Vista and proposed

the idea to administration last August. Bacon spent the past semester conferring with Papillion-La Vista administration, who boasted of a 99.7% assignment completion rate, and collecting data to see if the program would be viable at Blue Valley.

Math teacher Adam Wade attended the conference in Omaha and believes that the program can be utilized to help focus Blue Valley students on completing homework, in turn boosting their grades and academic con dence.

“I really do think it will work. We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t,” Wade, who has implemented the program in his Algebra II class, said. “Students always look for loopholes, but there is no way around not doing your homework.”

While much of the sta is supportive of this new policy, students have mixed feelings as to its appropriateness.

“I think the program is trying to go too fast,” freshman Allen Xu, whose Spanish teacher has introduced the program, said. “Teachers need to have more power as to who goes to Overtime.”

Sophomore Erik Witt sees the value in the program, but worries that it is too harsh.

“I think it’s good, because right now we have programs that are too lenient to those who fail classes,” Witt said. “But it has its pros and cons. A stu-

dent shouldn’t have to go to Overtime that day if they can turn in the assignment the next day.”

Bacon is con dent that the hardnosed stance of the program will prevent students from falling behind in classes and having missing assignments build, a trend which he feels is all too common at Blue Valley.

“It has become very clear that students who had a D or F usually had several missing assignments,” Bacon said. “Can you imagine if I’m a student who has struggled all my life in school and, if at the end of this school year, I had a B and not a D?”

Bacon hopes for Overtime to become a helpful tool for struggling students, not a punitive measure. He also stressed that teachers will retain complete discretion in assigning Overtime to their students, taking special circumstances in to consideration. Overtime, however, will take precedence over sports practices and other after-school activities.

“I don’t want our students to take advantage of the exibility,” Bacon said. “We’re not assigning Overtime because it’s convenient.”

While only 11 teachers are participating in Overtime this quarter, Bacon anticipates analyzing data after both third and fourth quarters to see if it supports expanding the program.

Chemistry teacher Manal

Siam, who is not currently involved in the program, hopes to become an Overtime teacher in the future.

“I’m strongly for [Overtime],” Siam said. “Many of my students who are struggling also have problems with turning in assignments.”

While AP European History teacher O’Bryan believes that AP teachers typically have less of a problem with late or missing assignments, she feels her students are being adversely a ected in class discussions by missing homework.

“With sophomores in their rst AP class, I think it’s really important that you get more out of class discussions,” O’Bryan said. “I would like this to be more about the bene t of learning. I think it’s for the good of the kids.”

Although Blue Valley has seen its percentage of students with Ds or Fs cut in half over the past

decade, it has seemed to plateau at about 20 percent of the student body, the equivalent of about 300 students with Ds or Fs. Bacon hopes that Overtime can help cut that number even further from the high-point of 41 percent in 1998.

“I think we can see the day when my dream of no one having a D or F comes true,” Bacon said. “I think the day when very few students have a D or F is even closer.”

The program began on Jan. 14 and takes place after school every day except Friday. Students who attend Overtime will be allowed to leave as soon as they complete their assignment. According to Bacon, if a student skips Overtime one day, he or she will be assigned it on the next day. A second unexcused absence would then result in a conference with administrators, parental interventions and a Saturday School.

Junior Matt Ladegaard turns in an assignment to administrators during Overtime, a new program designed to allow students a chance to complete missing assignments in a timely fashion. Photo by Amanda Blue.

Rachel’s Challenge opens students’ eyes

Assembly shows students how to improve their school, community with kindness

As we sat in the gym for the Rachel’s Challenge assembly, we were amazed by the silence of the student body. Never has our school shown so much respect for a guest speaker.

After the presentation, it was obvious that many students were touched by the tragic story and inspired by Rachel’s character. Rachel’s uncle, Larry Scott, told a heartfelt story of the tragedy his family experienced when Rachel was the first student killed at

to write down their dreams in order to better make them realities. He portrayed Rachel’s message as something much more than the kindergarten basics of being nice to those around you.

Her idea of doing something small can have a huge outcome, especially if a large amount of people take it seriously and participate.

Rachel had a dream of making the world a better place through simple acts of kindness, and on

How do you feel about Overtime?

body to enforce the positive aspects of Rachel’s Challenge. It starts with students taking themselves seriously, and then must progress into a group effort to make sure every individual feels appreciated. This means the entire student body must participate; it cannot be an effort by a few individuals.

We hope the students continue to take this challenge seriously despite our community’s good fortune

slip once you shouldn’t be punished.

Columbine High School, but he put it in a positive light by encouraging students to live their lives in the way that Rachel had lived hers.

The students were challenged to be compassionate towards others in order to start a chain reaction. Scott also pushed students to believe in themselves and

behalf of the staff, our student body is encouraged to take the emotion and motivation felt after that assembly and channel it into an effort to further Rachel’s vision.

We are not suggesting that for the rest of the year, the school have a somber attitude; this is not about focusing on the negative. We want the student

Teens spend too

About a month ago, I heard another student say, “I’m beginning to feel my life start to slip away from me.”

At the time I laughed it off, even found it a little strange. However, when I got home that night, I gave that sentence a little more thought and realized something: he was right. My life was passing me by and I was sitting in the passenger’s seat.

Right now, I’m 16 years old, a junior in high school and will be a legal adult and headed off to college in less than two years. Based on the average life expectancy of 76, I’m about 20 percent of the way to the grave. If I follow the trend, over one fifth of my life has passed me by.

Time goes quickly. I still start to say “Stanley” when someone asks me what school I attend and often call my mother for a ride before remembering I have my own car. I’m beginning to empathize

t here are no second chances in college; it’s not teaching students anything.

-senior alyson lippert

i don’t want to spend my time after school doing work I already decided not to do.

-junior trey moravek

of never having experienced adversity quite on the scale of the Columbine shooting. We expect every individual to use this opportunity to create something better. If our school can do this, we can set an example and start a chain reaction district-wide; we might just make a real change.

t’s an incredible opportunity for students who really struggle with getting their work in on time.

-teacher britt qualls

time wishing for their lives to go by quickly

with senior citizens who say things to the effect of “I remember World War II like it was yesterday” or “It feels like I fell asleep at age 20 and woke up in my 70s.”

I feel life has been largely about tomorrow. In elementary school, life centered around learning multiplication tables and basic spelling in preparation for middle school. Middle school concerned itself largely with academic and social preparations for high school and high school’s purpose seems largely to prepare students for college.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s all great. If everyone was turned loose at age seven to pursue their life’s ambitions, no one would get very far. But still, the focus of childhood, adolescence and perhaps life in general is, for the most part, on the next step. What we fail to realize is that maybe sometimes we could achieve more by focusing on the journey instead of always on the destination.

Less than two weeks ago, I lost two loved ones within 19 hours of each other. They had both lived full, wonderful and meaningful lives well in to their 80s. Still,

this put the fragility of life in perspective for me. Even now, it’s hard to believe that I won’t be receiving a Christmas card from my grandfather this year and that I won’t ever again get a hug from the person I was named after.

While planning for tomorrow is important, without a map for the future we would have no route to follow, this recent adversity inspired me to focus more on valuing each individual day. Every single hour is one to treasure, because we will never know which breath will be our last.

When I begin to stress about college admissions, pre-calculus tests or band concerts, I find myself instead focusing on the little things. I begin to look at that picture that has hung on my living room wall for a decade that I’ve never taken the time to notice. Or I see that 25-yearold plaque hanging in the school gym. While unimportant to the sustenance of my life, these finer points of life are what we miss. No amount of stress can win a scholarship, gain admission to a college or complete a math assignment. What

that unhealthy stress can do, however, is blur the picture of the present in a futile attempt to control the future.

Each day, students say “I can’t wait to be finished with my math credits” or “I just want to be a senior.” These students will eventually get all their math credits and they too will finally become seniors and graduate.

What is different is that, instead of enjoying their classes and immersing themselves in activities, they begin to wish their lives away. Sadly, these students spend their lives waiting for good things to find them and never being content with what they have.

If we continue to spend our time worrying about the past and obsessing about the future, we’ll eventually end up on our death bed with precious little to show for it. However, if we live our lives with a plan for the future but a focus on reaping the benefits of the present, we will leave this world with, valuable memories and few regrets, knowing that we reclaimed our lives before they slipped away.

-sophomore jaclyn callison

f you

much

mitchsmith

myvoice

survey compiled by ashley stickler and karen liebentritt.

fter the presentation, it was obvious that many students were touched by the tragic story and inspired by Rachel’s character.

editor-in-chief

sarah weaver

managing editor

brooke thurman

news editors

mitch smith

opinions editors

megan van sooy

emily strickland

sports editor

braden miller

The weather outside is frightful

With temperatures below freezing, a select few students still choose summer-appropriate attire

With the cold blast of that winter air still serving as a rude awakening each morning when you walk outside, it just seems like common sense to at least throw on a jacket and some gloves before leaving the house. Some people seem to disagree, though.

nina humphrey

assistant entertainment editor

stephanie roche

reporters

aj barbosa

tyler duke

andrew fiori

ally francis

tori freisner

allison kohn

karen liebentritt

nathan lindshield

katie louis

cole owen

steven reno

kyra storm

jason wood

photo editor photographers

kelly aubuchon

gwen bergerhofer

tess england

amanda blue

tom roudebush

ashley stickler

advertising managers

noopur goel

kylie hennagin

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 reflect 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: Students line up for the grand opening of The Jungle, BV’s new coffee shop. The Jungle first opened on Jan. 14. Photo by Nina Humphrey

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

Walking through the halls of Blue Valley, it is hard to tell that it’s even winter unless there is that slight chance that some white, fluffy snow fell from the sky last night and you brought in some slush while walking into school. You might think that it is spring around this part of Johnson County.

Girls are dressed in miniskirts, short summer dresses, tank tops and halters. You name it and they’ve got it on. There could be three to five inches of snow on the ground but that still doesn’t stop them. Flip-flops seem to be slowly turning into a new form of snow boot. If someone could please explain to me how that works, I would greatly appreciate it.

Although more girls seem to be facing the cold weather with summer clothing than guys are, when it comes down to it, it is a two-way street. Girls and guys alike are wearing clothing that is fit for spring or summer, even though 70degree weather is months away. There are just more options for girls such as tanks, skirts, shorts, etc. But dressing for May won’t make it come any faster.

Guys are sporting shorts and flip-flops and the word “coat” seems to be a foreign language to them. Don’t worry guys, wearing a coat won’t make you look like less of a man. Shivering your cold little buns off will make you look a little uncomfortable though.

Wearing shorts while it is snowing outside won’t make you look cool while your legs are shaking uncontrollably from the cold, either. If anything, people will look at you funny and wonder why you are even wearing that in the first place.

Since Ugg boots and North Face jackets are the trend these days, why don’t people actually make good use of them? Sure, pairing Uggs with a miniskirt is popular, but in the middle of winter? That doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. Boots and sweaters are made for a reason: to keep you warm.

But if you are one of the brave souls out there who is going to risk catching pneumonia just to wear that cute little dress and those flip-flops in the snow, then you can’t say you weren’t warned. Be prepared for some strange looks and what could be some intense frostbite.

Male’s perspective about lack of chivalry

Chivalry is dead, but who is to say that it’s dead for all the wrong reasons? To say that men are vulgar, crude or chauvinistic heathens is generalizing.

Times have changed.

Women want to be independent and in some cases, are just as vulgar as men, if not worse.

So, here it is from the guys’ point of view.

We play X-Box or any other kind of video game because it is fun and gives us a sense of pride when we accomplish something. Guys also watch

sports for hours at a time because it’s something that we can relate to. We also watch it because it takes us back to a time when we played some sort of sport, and if I’m not mistaken, a lot of girls watch sports as well.

How can you ask that a guy opens a door for you when you demand that

and crude, they should look in the mirror and think about the things they say and do. Walking down the hallways, the conversations anyone ever hears are he said-she said. Besides, whatever happened to a girl’s best friend? It seems as if being a two-faced friend is what’s in style.

I’ve witnessed it and so have about 13 million other guys.

you are equal or greater than men?

Yeah, I’ll admit it. It’s polite and it may be the right thing to do, but like I said, times have changed, and it’s neither the style nor something guys think about when the time comes around.

When girls say that guys are vulgar

Girls can be just as gross as guys and they laugh at the things they do or say just like guys. It’s hypocritical and rude to say that girls are better than guys in that respect.

By they way, I’m not sexist. Neither is any girl that complains about guys. It could just be the age-old battle of the sexes.

callie eaton

kelly cosby jake faber

coleowen

myvoice

The ground is cold and wet, the wind still hasn’t stopped blowing, but these students would rather sacrifice their comfort for the sake of style. Photo by Kelly Aubuchon.

hen girls say that guys are vulgar and crude, they should look in the mirror and think about the things they say and do.

Taking it all off

willing to contribute to her cause.

“All I asked for at Christmas this year was donations,” Renn said. “My Christmas was sponsoring a child.”

Senior donates hair to honorable cause

easier, too. As Renn makes this comment, one of her many friends quickly rubs her head while walking by.

Senior Victoria Renn has always had a passion for charity, but she recently made a huge sacrifice to help disadvantaged children.

“I wanted to do something good,” Renn said.

Renn shaved her head in December. Because she was using all of her hair, she was able to donate numerous ponytails from 13 to 18 inches long to Locks Of Love. Her hair will be made into a wig for a child with cancer and other conditions where total hair loss occurs.

However, Renn did more than just donate her hair, she is also donating $1,000 to help create the wig.

“People don’t realize how expensive it is to actually make the wig,” Renn said. “Donating the hair is only the first part, I wanted to do more than that.”

Renn has been collecting money from teachers, principals, coaches, friends, family and anyone else who is

Renn’s mother has been her biggest supporter. Dawn Renn, Victoria’s mother, was not shocked when her daughter came to her with this idea.

“ Victoria is a very unique and giving young lady; this plan didn’t surprise me at all,” Dawn said. “I thought this was extremely generous of her.”

While Renn’s family and friends have been supportive, she has gotten her share of sideways glances.

“I get stared at in public almost every time I go out,” she said. “I get asked if I have cancer a lot.”

Besides getting some unusual reactions, going bald has altered her daily life. Renn has felt the effects on the basketball court and in the snow.

“I sweat a lot more in basketball now,” Renn said. “I look like a Gatorade commercial. I always have to wear beanies outside; my head gets really cold.”

Her morning routine has obviously become much

“I get that all the time,” Renn said. “Sometimes I sit in class and just rub my head, it feels so weird.”

Shaving one’s head is a big sacrifice, but Renn said she encourages everyone to at least think about donating some of their hair.

“People always say, ‘Oh I could never do that,’ Renn said. “But I’m like, ‘it’s just hair, it’s growing back.’ Kids with cancer don’t have that choice.”

Renn acknowleges that the mid-stages of growth may be awkward but she will never regret chopping it off.

If you are thinking about donating at least a portion of hair to Locks of Love, make sure your hair is healthy, natural and unbleached and at least a 10 inches long. They will also accept permed, chemically straightened and colored hair. If that isn’t feasible, Locks of Love also accepts financial donations on its website, www.locksoflove.org.

kyrastorm staff reporter

Senior Victoria Renn sits patiently in a salon chair while getting a new type of haircut. On Dec. 12, Renn donated more than 13 inches to Locks of Love. She also gave money to help create the wig. Renn decided to shave her head. “It feels so weird,” Renn said of having no hair. Renn wanted to do something helpful and she did just that. Photos courtesy of Victoria Renn.

Hannah Montana: Miley Cyrus soared to success through her hit TV show, Hannah Montana. The day that tickets went on sale for her 54-city tour, brokers immediately snatched up the tickets, gaining public attention and charging people between $350 and $2,000 for tickets.

Britney Spears: She shaved her head, had her sons taken away, began a public dispute with her family, had perhaps the most pathetic comeback of the year, and was sent to the pysche ward.

The Beckhams: Soccer star David Beckham and family moved to the U.S. this year. Beckham signed a 5-year deal to play for the L.A. Galaxy.

Must see movies of 2008

Must see movies of 2008

allyfrancis staff reporter

Indiana Jones

Starring:

Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf

Synopsis:

Set in 1957, “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” puts Indiana Jones opposite the Soviet Union in search for the crystal skull.

Starring:

iPhone: There are many reasons why TIME magazine named the iPhone the number one gadget of 2007. It’s fully equipped with a touch screen, two mega-pixel camera, wiand much more. There’s no wonder why Apple sold its millionth iPhone just 74 days after it was released.

1 2 3 4 5

Michael Vick: The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was charged with funding and hosting dog ghts. As of now, the Falcons have no chance of their star quarterback returning until after his release from jail, which is scheduled for late 2009.

Owen Wilson, Alex Frost, Leslie Mann and Josh Peck

Synopsis:

A hilarious lm about three high school students that hire a down-on-his-luck soldier to defend them against a bully.

Drillbit Taylor Ironman

Starring:

Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Je Bridges

Synopsis:

Billionaire industrialist Tony Stark makes weapons for the U.S. government. After being captured, he develops a suit of armor to help save his life.

Photos courtesy of MCT

Here’s the stories that dominated headlines, de ned pop culture in 2007

photos courtesy of paramount vantage

amandablue photographer

Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and tons of blood. What more could a girl ask for?

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, is a fantastically horri c musical that will leave you disgusted but at the same time tug on your heart.

Depp stars as Sweeney Todd, a serial killing barber who is out for revenge. Mrs. Lovett, played by director Burton’s partner Helena Bonham Carter, helps Todd by providing an apartment in which he can do his dirty work. She is also a meatpie shop owner who does not wish to see all the bodies go to waste.

Sweeney Todd has a fantastic cast of supporting actors, some

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old and some new. Alan Rickman (from Harry Potter) plays Todd’s foe, Judge Turpin, who destroyed Todd’s family long ago. Also in a supporting role is Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) who, to my surprise, can hit a few high notes. New comers Jayne Wisener and Jamie Campbell Bower also add to this fantastic ensemble.

There is no doubt that this is a Burton lm. Just as in Sleepy Hollow, a previous Burton-Depp collaboration, he does not skimp on the blood. Burton has the ability to place you in the scene and make you feel the emotions the characters feel. There are also whimsical moments where Burton lets you come up for a breath before taking you under again.

In its rst weekend the lm-

Add It All Up

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grossed more than $9 million, and has since grossed more than $40 million.

Sweeney Todd was nominated for ve Critics Choice Awards, four Golden Globes and won two Golden Globes. Depp won for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and Sweeney Todd won for Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy. I would recommend this movie to mature students who do not get lightheaded at the sight of blood. If you are interested in seeing this movie, do not wait until it is released on DVD. Seeing it on the big screen is a big part of the appeal. This movie is rated R for graphic and bloody violence in some scenes.

Sweeney Todd released on Dec. 21. Its running time is 1 hour and 56 minutes.

UGK Underground Kingz Against Me! New Wave

Underground Kingz comes with two discs, both lled to the brim with guest stars and potential singles. Even though UGK hasn’t put out an album in six years prior to the release of Underground Kingz, they have proven with singles such as “Intl. Players Anthem (I Choose You)” and “The Game Belongs to Me” that they can cohesively put together an album just as good as any other group today.

After negative criticism for their third full length release, Searching For a Former Clarity, Against Me! had a shot at redeeming all lost respect with the release of their fourth full length album, New Wave. The sound of the album is almost too clean compared to the raw and in-your-face roots of the band’s past. The album has the potential to draw in more fans of alternative music, but will undoubtedly cause the loss of many loyal fans of the band.

Mae Singularity

Singularity may be Mae’s rst widely accepted album, but they aren’t newcomers to the alternative music scene. Having already put out two albums on Tooth & Nail Records, Mae took a dangerous step forward and signed onto powerhouse record label, Capitol Records. Singularity butchers almost all credibility established by the band over the years, and is an overall letdown to the band’s fans as well as anyone who purchases the album.

stephanieroche staff reporter

Photo courtesy of MCT

Junior swims with high expectations

Wright prepares, practices for state swim competition with hopes of domination

nathanlindshield staff reporter

While eating and sleeping are inherent characteristics of the human species, other humans have more unique instinctive attributes. For example, some people are born with a skill that takes the average person years to develop. These skills can range from having a high intellectual capacity to being athletically gifted in a sport.

For junior Austin Wright swimming is second nature. Wright did not start competitively swimming until his freshman year of high school. However, this has not hampered his ability to succeed in the sport at all.

“I have been swimming competitively for three years now,” Wright said. “My mom was always pushing me to try it and she saw it as an opportunity for me to try something new my freshman year. She keeps me motivated to get better and improve for each competition.”

During his three years of

high school swimming, Wright has been gathering awards and setting records. He was a state qualifier in the 50-meter freestyle his freshman year and 400 freestyle relay his sophomore year.

This year, he is projected to

go in 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle.

The accolades did not come without dedication and support. He keeps his body conditioned for the season by swimming all year round. He started swimming this his sophomore year

and continues to swim all year round at the Kansas City Swim Academy in Overland Park.

“My mom is my biggest supporter in my endeavors of swimming and she is the one who is always there to encourage me to do better,” Wright said.

Many sports tend to have an emphasis on team. This, however, is not the case with swimming. A swimmer has the option of choosing whether or not he or she wants to compete individually or with a group or team. If one is looking to stand out above the others in a sport, swimming is the optimal sport to do so.

This in fact is one major reason why Wright decided to take up swimming. He said he enjoys having the option of competing on a team or on an individual

It is important that everyone sets achievable goals for themselves regardless of whether or not these goals are in a sport or other area of life. Wright said that he wants to become better as a team and make top eight in 50-meter freestyle at state. Wright is hoping to continue his swimming endeavors at Penn State or Drury University. Wright still has one more year left of eligibility, for high school and hopes to meet his goal to being a top state swimmer.

In contrast to the traditional spa pedicure chairs, our spa pedicure chairs are pipeless, which are designed to eliminate bacteria buildup.

Expires 2/1/08

Junior Austin Wright hits the pool for practice everyday after school. Wright, on a typical practice, swims two to three hours each time. Wright swims the 50 meter freestyle, along with, the 100 meter freestyle. Photo by Tess England.

Ups, downs for winter sports halfway through season

Boys basketball look to turn around their season

The boys’ basketball season has gotten off with a slow start, with some tough losses, but look to get back on the right track.

The Tigers played Olathe Northwest on Jan. 22, results were not available by press time.

On Jan. 19, the Tigers went up against Schlagle High School in the Valley Center tournament. With an all around team effort, the Tigers came up with a nice victory 57-55. The Tigers suffered two tough losses against Derby High School and Garden City.

On Jan. 4, St. Thomas Aquinas visited the Tiger Pit. With great defense and offense, led by senior Kolbe Joens and juniors Ryan Magdziarz and Tyler VanGerpen, the Tigers lossed a tough one.

With seniors Chris McDermott, Michael Grant, Griffin Page, Drew Williams and junior Josh Wormington, the Tigers look to get back on the right track.

Junior player Spencer Hurst comments, “We’re happy with the way things have been going and we hope to win a few more games before the end of the season.”

Tonight the Tigers face off against rival Blue Valley West at 7:00 p.m. You can show your support for the team by coming out to the Tiger Pit tonight and cheering them on against the Jags.

by Jake Faber

Inexperienced wrestlers still have shot at state

The Tiger varsity wrestling team is rebuilding this season due to a lack of overall experience.

“We are really young this season,” coach Matt Ortman said. “We’ve also been battling through a number of injuries and trying to get the young guys some experience.”

Some Tigers have had a lot of

individual success. Sophomore Parker Madl has placed high in almost every tournament and sophomore Nick Pearch is having a solid season as well.

As for the rest of the season and state aspirations, the team is definitely still in it.

“Anything is possible,” Ortman said. “If we can turn the corner we could make a run for it but it will take a lot of hard work.”

by Steven Reno

Girls basketball keep high rank after Olathe NW win

The Lady Tiger basketball team is continuing their amazing season with an 81 record thus far. With only having one loss, in overtime, against Shawnee Mission South in week two, the Tigers have gone on to win seven straight, including tough wins over Washburn Rural and St. Thomas Aquinas.

The lady Tigers faced rival, Blue Valley West on Jan. 22, results were not available by press time.

On Jan. 18, the Tigers hosted Olathe Northwest and ran away with it from the start. With senior Brianna Eldridge leading in points and rebounds, the Tigers won comfortably 59-29.

On Jan. 15, the Tigers battled the Eagles from Olathe North High School. Leading scorers included Eldridge, sophomores Nicole Gloor and Nicole Berry Leading rebounders included senior Morgan Matile, Eldridge and Gloor.

On Jan. 14, the Tigers faced a tough Washburn Rural team. With Eldridge and senior Taylor Hanson leading in points, the Tigers came out victorious with a nice 50-36 win.

According to MaxPreps, The Lady Tigers are ranked fifth in the state. Led by Eldridge, Hanson, Matile and senior Victoria Renn, the Tigers are eager to face any opponent.

The Lady Tigers are in Topeka for the Highland Park tournament. But on Jan. 29 the Tigers will face Blue Valley North.

by Braden Miller

Senior Taylor Hanson shooting a free throw during the Olathe Northwest game on Jan. 18. The Lady Tigers won, taking them to 8-1 on the season. Photo by Tom Roudebush

January 25

Home game vs. Blue Valley West at 7 p.m.

National Pie Day

Put on your baking mitts.

Band Chili Concert Boys Basketball

Australia

Day

“Krikey mate!”

Wolfgang Mozart Birthday

Happy 252 birthday!

South Area Chior Concert

Sing your heart out.

Boys & Girls B-ball

Home games vs. Blue Valley North at 7 p.m.

Jackie Robinson Birthday

In 1947 he became the rst African-American MLB player.

JV Wrestling

BV Invitational starting at 9 a.m.

Chinese New Year Day

Boys Basketball

Home game vs. Blue Valley North West at 7 p.m.

Sweetheart Dance

Wear your heart on your sleeve or on your new dress.

Monster Jam

Bring your ear plugs.

Sprint Center at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $10.

Boys Basketball

Home game vs. Miege at 7 p.m.

Footloose

“Did you ever get busted for boppin’?”

In the PAC at 7 p.m. on the 14, 15 & 16.

Susan B. Anthony Birthday

She worked for women’s su erage and other rights.

Paper comes out today!

Mardi Gras

Any excuse for a party!

Robotics Club

BV After Hours...

After the fi nal bell rings, many Blue Valley students don’t immediately head for the parking lot. Instead, students fi nd themselves participating in activities ranging from Chess Club to rehearsing for the school musical.

Musical

to complete her stained glass project.

Chess Club Art club Headrush

posts signs up around the school that call for students to submit their works to the Art and Literary Magazine, Headrush

Photos by Tess England and Nina Humphrey.

Freshmen Ryan Jaspal and Garrett Rowland build a robot for the competition “First.”

Juniors Chris Gibson, Jonny Nebel, senior Hayley Black and sophomore Scott Bolton run lines in rehearsal for the production of the winter musical Footloose

Junior Samy Mousa and other students in the Chess Club meet every Tuesday after school.

Freshman Elizabeth Davidson

Junior Rachel Contess slices shapes out of glass