The Tiger Print — November 2010

the

print TIGER BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Vol. 41 Issue 4

November 2010

Stilwell, KS

Hockey players turn longtime rivalry into friendship on local team pages 8-9

inside Project Playground update After 3 months of fundrasing, FEA, FCCLA members face challenges page 3

MathXL woes

Culture shock

page 5

page 11

New online feature causes problems for students

Russian heritage allows for expanded life experiences

inthenews

in the halls...

1. Principal chosen for award Principal Scott Bacon was recognized as the Area One Principal Honoree at the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals Fall Conference on Nov. 4.

One principal is chosen from each of the six areas in the state.

Bacon said winning the award wasn’t about him alone.

“The only way I can accept the recommendation is on behalf of this school,” he said. “It’s not about me. It’s about the staff and students.”

Bacon said winning the award motivates him to improve BV even more.

“It all goes back to the dream for this school,” he said. “The challenge is to try to make the school the best it can be, piece by piece.”

By Odi Opole.

2. SWITCH dance scheduled, proceeds to benefit charity National Art Honor Society members will host the SWITCH dance on Friday, Dec. 3, from 8-11 p.m. in the commons.

Proceeds will go to an undecided charity. The cost of the dance will be $5 per person.

“It’s going to be a for a good cause,” NAHS President senior Kristi Thompson said.

Mark Mosier, NAHS sponsor, said the fundraising that goes towards the event counts as community service. This is one of the reasons the club donates all proceeds to a charity.

Mosier said not all the details are finalized.

Pizza and drinks will be provided.

By Kelly Cordingley.

this month...

Nov. 6

Pianist David Nevue will perform 6-9 p.m.

Nov. 11,12,13

The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculathon in PAC at 7 p.m.

Nov. 20 TigerFest

Nov. 22

Winter Sports Night at 6 p.m.

Nov. 24, 25, 26 Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 2

Fall Academic Awards Breakfast at 7:15 a.m.

Dec. 3

SWITCH Dance 8-11 p.m.

on the cover...

The Kansas City Stars Hockey Club is a competitive team for all ages. The traveling teams compete across the Midwest in tournaments. Several BV students play for the team. Photo by Maegan Kabel.

0 2 NOVEMBER 2010

BIONIC club promotes drug-free life saranaatz managing editor

Fifteen kindergarten students sat huddled up on a blue and red rug, staring with big eyes at four BV students.

The elementary school students listened intently as the Believe It Or Not I Care (BIONIC) club members, sporting their bright orange shirts, told them the story of Red Ribbon Week.

The book, The Red Ribbon: A Story of Hope, explained how the ribbon had once saved a kingdom in a far off land, instilling hope in the hearts of all the people.

Now, the red ribbon represents a symbol to students against the use of drugs and alcohol.

During the last two weeks of October, the BIONIC Club visited all BVHS feeder elementary schools to promote this message.

“It’s to provide awareness about drug and alcohol use starting at a younger age,” club president senior Maria Cobb said.

The members of the BIONIC club act as role models for the elementary school students.

“We’re trying to teach them that not everyone does it,” BIONIC Club member freshman Kylee Bliss said. “[Red Ribbon Week] is to teach kids that drugs are bad and that they can lead a better life without them.”

After reading the story, each student

Saying boo to drugs, freshman Cassidy McCumber helps a Blue River first grader color a ghost for Red Ribbon Week. BIONIC club members will post the ghosts at BV to send an anti-drug message.

Photo by Maria Fournier.

also received a ghost to color. The theme for this year, “Say Boo to Drugs,” inspired the activity.

“My favorite part was coloring the ghost,” second grade student Ella Peters said. “It was to tell us to not do drugs.”

Cobb said the elementary students had a very positive reaction to the activities, and the teachers also enjoyed it.

“We got so many e-mails back about how they loved it this year,” Cobb said.

“They want us to do it again next year.”

Bliss said BIONIC club members intend to spread the word about the drug-free lifestyle to their peers.

“It’s a really good thing,” she said.

“We’re trying to be a good influence on the community and tell kids they can lead a lot better lives without using drugs.”

Cobb said Red Ribbon Week emphasizes everything the BIONIC club stands for.

“We’re spreading the word to not only our school but also the community around us,” she said. “I personally think it’s a great opportunity for high school kids to interact with elementary school kids.

Red Ribbon Week is what BIONIC Club is all about.”

Journalism funds cut, affects smaller districts jordanmcentee design editor The Kansas Department of Education is changing its educational funds, and journalism programs will not be eligible for funding under the new plan in 2012-2013.

Linda Affholder, BV Director of Career and Technical Education, said the program won’t completely lose financial support.

She said every course receives baseline funding, but some courses have additional weighted funding to support necessary equipment purchases or the number of students.

Newspaper and yearbook did fall under this weighted funding category, so the state looked carefully at the federal legislation for the eligibility of these funds.

“It’s important to understand that the programs won’t lose all funding,” Affholder said. “But the state looks at the demand for a certain occupation, and currently print journalism doesn’t have very high levels of growth. So when areas aren’t in very high demand, they may lose funding.”

Affholder said the cuts shouldn’t really affect the Blue Valley School District; however, smaller districts might lose teachers or even the publications themselves.

“We are very fortunate in Blue Valley to have such great support from the community and from the district,” she said.

Journalism adviser Jill Chittum said publication staff members learn both written and verbal communication skills, how to speak to people they don’t know, how to be part of a team and essentially how to manage a business.

“They learn to actually sit face to face and have a conversation with people,” she said. “They also use skills that they’ve learned in other classes and apply those academic skills in their writing or photography to put out a professional product.”

Affholder said even though journalism programs are losing some funding, the district recognizes their importance.

“We definitely see the value in these courses,” she said. “They offer amazing college readiness skills along with the service they provide to the community and to the school.”

Yearbook staff member junior Lauren Reardon also said yearbook provides skills that can’t be taught in any other class.

“In journalism we develop a professional atmosphere,” she said. “We learn about interviewing, budgeting and meeting deadlines, things that you just don’t get from art or sports.”

Sophomore Erica Lange said she thinks the student body would be very upset if the Tiger Print or Reflections yearbook didn’t come out.

“Both the yearbook and newspaper are pretty stellar,” she said. “They put in a lot of hard work to put them out, and it definitely pays off. I really look forward to getting the Tiger Print.

I like to see what’s going down in our school, hearing people’s views on things and finding out about local stuff.”

Chittum said she thinks high school publications will always be cherished, despite the emergence of new technology.

“Yearbooks are a memento of high school,” she said. “Some people say that yearbooks will go away because of things like Facebook, but I don’t believe that. Who knows if we’ll still be watching TVs or DVDs in 15 years, but books won’t go away.

They’ll be on the library shelves until the world ends.”

inthenews

Clubs struggle to raise money for school playground stephenkarst staff writer Current earnings to build a new playground at Eugene Ware Elementary School in Kansas City, Kan., stand at $400. Future Educators of America (FEA) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members hope to raise $15,000 by March.

FCCLA sponsor Donna DeHart said FCCLA and FEA members knew the equipment would be expensive, but did not know how expensive.

Initial cost estimates were around $10,000 but with unforeseen requirements, construction and equipment, the project will now require nearly $15,000.

“We haven’t made as much as maybe we wanted by this time,” DeHart said. “The thing people have to remember is that it takes money to make money. This entire process is for us to learn from. It’s the first time these students have had a big project like this. I am overseeing it, but they are doing most of the work.”

Project members from FCCLA and FEA

are employing a variety of fundraising techniques.

“We still haven’t got to our end goal,” senior Carly Thompson said. “We’re contacting companies for fundraisers and applied for district grants. Hopefully those come through pretty big for us.”

DeHart said the money has not been raised yet due to lack of corporate funds.

“We have asked several companies to support us,” she said. “Now that request is just making its way up corporate ladders for approval. Having big companies support us is important because they have the money.”

Junior Hannah Skidmore said she feels the groups have a good idea of what needs to get done in order to make a bigger dent in the cost.

“We sold all of the T-shirts at school, which was awesome, but people and companies asked for shirts and we didn’t have any,” Skidmore said. “So we had to buy more with what we had raised already.”

FCCLA and FEA will sell water bottles for $1 each at TigerFest. There will also be a Project Playground day at Rawhide Harley-Davidson in Olathe where wristbands

and shirts will be available. Members also partnered with Church of the Resurrection in order to raise funds.

DeHart said this is a great partnership because the church contributed to projects similar to this before and has given recommendations on architects to work with and suppliers to buy from.

“We are doing a lot of things to raise money, but we can only raise so much on T-shirts,” Thompson said. “So until we get those corporate sponsors we’re going do what we can. This is a great opportunity for me to learn because we are working outside Johnson County and our comfort zones a little. But the experience of getting to work with architects, school and corporation officials is amazing.”

DeHart said she is proud of the groups’ determination.

“Everyone is still very positive and plugging ahead,” DeHart said. “I know that even if this turns into a two-year project it will still be a huge success because of the impact it will have on Eugene’s community and the students.”

Senior Lauren Kats said the groups’

plan to go to Eugene Ware in early March.

Seventy-five raffle winners will accompany the Project Playground group to assist in construction.

“I can’t wait to actually go there and build it,” Kats said. “It’s seemed like a really long process already, but I know there is still a long way to go.”

Project Playground budget New goal: $15,000 Original goal: $10,000 Due to unforeseen construction requirements, students hope to raise $15,000.

This would provide a complete playground for the Eugene Ware Elementary School.

Current status: $400 Starting funds: $0

Not to scale.

NOVEMBER 2010 0 3

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The Tiger Print editor-in-chief Caitlin Holland

web photo editor Conor Storm

managing editor Sara Naatz

ads manager Sam Brennan

news/web editor Annie Matheis

circulations Courtney Woodworth

opinion editor Jacob Pruitt features editor Jordan Huesers sports editor Chris Roche copy editor Emily Brown design editor Jordan McEntee

staff writers Jaida Anderlik Kelly Cordingley Clay Cosby Ben Grove Stephen Karst Ryan O’Toole Odi Opole photographers Maria Fournier Juliana Himmel Olivia Roudebush

Cartoon by Evelyn Davis.

Extracurriculars provide opportunity not found in traditional classes Extracurricular activities are a necessity for any high school student.

They encourage creativity and thinking. They build memodisagreed agreed ries and character.

Unlike just punching numbers into a calculator and writing down what it tells you, or spewing words onto a page and hoping they actually relate to the paper’s topic, these programs offer activities that students can do voluntarily.

Activities that students may actually be interested in enough to stay awake.

Students, teachers and parents can all see the benefits of participating in an extracurricular activity.

You are forced to work outside of the box — to work for your own personal gain.

The state government, which controls the amount of funds allocated to extracurricular activities in public schools, doesn’t see this.

All the government sees is the state assessment scores.

Surprise, co-curricular and extracurricular activities are not assessed.

The Kansas state government is cutting funding to these programs.

staff editorial 21

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raise your voice

senior Danny Willis They provide extra education. I’m in debate and we learn a lot about extra topics you wouldn’t learn about in school.

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It can’t see these programs are off-beat paths that show students how to be original and different.

We are being forced to take drastic measures.

Some football leagues in central Kansas are talking about dropping their regular season games from nine to seven and having no postseason games for any sport for two years.

This isn’t anything that complaining to the district or state will change.

Instead, we need to focus on helping the high school programs that offer something unique to students.

Some of these groups have found their own creative way to raise funds. The football program sells Gold Cards, which give the buyer coupons redeemable at local shops. Baseball players sell water bottles with Tiger labels.

For those that haven’t successfully fundraised on their own, TigerFest provides extra help.

TigerFest is an amazing opportunity to funnel money directly to the fine arts.

Unfortunately, TigerFest is only publicized to BV students and their parents.

What we need to do is raise awareness and promote TigerFest donations all around our community.

We know photography, football or marching band isn’t for everyone.

But just know that, to someone, it may be everything.

cartoonist Evelyn Davis adviser Jill Chittum

photo editor Maegan Kabel

The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for the 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 paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrations of Blue Valley Unified School District #229.

Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged for publication. The Tiger Print reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content and encourages letters to be no more than 350 words. Letters should be submitted to room 450, e-mailed to thetigerprint@yahoo.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print c/o Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Stilwell, KS 66085 phone: 913-239-4800 Pacemaker finalist, 2009 and 2010 Member, Kansas Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association

What is important about extracurricular activities at BV?

SEPTEMBER 2010 0 5 junior Miranda Loats [They] give students a chance to express themselves and be an individual.

sophomore Sarah Hill They provide opportunities for kids to get involved in things they like to do.

outloud

Technology changes math classes, creates irritation Thoughts on MathXL.com

To my teachers: you caught me.

This is being written on a home computer that is connected to the internet.

I do own a flash drive.

I do have a working printer.

The same could be said for most of the students at BV. But guess what?

Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.

Sorry that when I tried to turn in my hastily-written essay to turnitin.com at 11:59 p.m., in order to meet that midnight deadline, my computer crashed.

These things do happen.

Altering my grade on an assignment because my internet was down is unacceptable.

If I miss a day of class, I’m not going to be spending all my time refreshing School Center so I can learn what my

assignment was and turn it in with the rest of the student body.

I’m going to be spending all day in bed...“sick.”

So when I come into school the next day and ask what we went over the day before, don’t glare at me.

Technology is not an educational crutch.

More and more of my math homework is assigned through MathXL.com I guess I keep carrying that tenpound book back and forth to class for nothing.

MathXL.com would be a brilliant tool. If only it served its purpose.

I’m sure it was designed to give teachers a clear sense of the type of problems their students were getting wrong.

In reality, it gives me the opportunity to finish my math homework in under five minutes, thanks to the handydandy ‘Help me solve this’ feature.

It even tells you when you have the right or wrong answer.

Thanks, MathXL.com. Now I’m never going to try in that class.

I do understand that the internet is an amazing resource, but relying on

technology for education is sending the wrong message to students.

It isn’t showing that BV is moving forward with their process of learning.

All it shows is that we are taking the job that teachers should be doing and replacing it with websites.

If I fall asleep in class, then I shouldn’t be able to complete the homework.

Fact.

This is no longer the case, thanks to the technological elitism that BV is showing.

Just because a teacher can tell a student to go to the internet for help rather than teach something, doesn’t mean they should.

It is completely detrimental to education in the classroom.

If I have to do an assignment online, we can’t discuss it in class the next day.

Even the tools provided don’t replace face-to-face help from an instructor.

If a student wants to copy an essay off of the internet and turn it in, that is their problem.

They won’t be receiving the education that the rest of us will.

Sherry Spotts We are just beginning to use it. I think it’s powerful that a student can look at an example and get immediate feedback on the question they are working on. I like it because you can go in and tell exactly what a student is having trouble with. It’s very informative for me. We try to balance the paper-pencil assignments and the MathXL.com.

Both have value. I’m trying to do both, as to what fits the assignment.

Jill Robbins I’m tutoring a kid from a different school. He likes doing stuff on MathXL. com and not out of the book. The problem is that they aren’t being tested on how well you can do on the computer.

Showing respect for nation should be taken seriously This is what I wished happened before the BV vs.

St. Thomas Aquinas football game on Oct. 15: Tiger fans filled the student section.

The announcer introduced the choir singers down on the field to begin the national anthem.

All students ended their pre-game conversations and placed their right hand over their heart, showing respect for the American flag and their fellow students singing.

This is what actually happened before the BV vs. St. Thomas Aquinas game: The noise level coming from the student section decreased slightly after the announcer spoke.

Many students half-heartedly placed their right hand over the heart and refused to end their obviously important conversations.

It was almost as if nothing happened.

For those who were trying to show proper respect, it was hard to do so. The choir’s singing was almost completely drowned out by the voices of fans.

It wasn’t until Athletic Director Bob Whitehead turned around to give the students a rather angry glare (about halfway through) that the chatting died down.

Hold on just a second.

Could it possibly be that hard to stand in respect for maybe two minutes prior to the start of a football game?

We’re all capable of being quiet and respectful — we do it every day in school for hours on end.

What was so hard about those two minutes?

Nothing.

I’m not trying to say that students here aren’t respectful.

This was just one instance that reflects poorly on our student body out of so many that are great. But after anywhere between 14 and 18 years of life, everyone should know the right way to salute the flag during the National Anthem.

By now, it’s just something I do.

As a 17-year-old senior, I’ve sat through enough United States history lessons to know the sacrifices made by so many men and women to keep our nation safe.

I see the flag as a symbol for our country’s strength — and all the lives lost along the way to allow us to be where we are today.

It just makes sense that we, the beneficiaries of countless

sacrifices, can stand quietly to show respect for those who gave their lives for us to live freely.

Standing at attention is something we should take very seriously.

Over the summer, I attended Girls’ State, a weeklong program to inspire girls to get involved in government later in life.

While there, I met so many girls with family members serving in the military. One girl I met eventually became Girls’ State Governor. In her inaugural address, she told us about her father serving for a year in Kuwait and how hard it was to say goodbye for so long.

The next day, she and I talked about how many times her family had to move because her dad was stationed somewhere else around the country.

Imagine not seeing your dad, mom, brother or sister for a year or more.

Think about moving again after finally making a new best friend and getting settled in to a new home.

When it comes time to stand in respect for the flag, it’s important that we do so.

We need to take the time to think about how great the nation we live in is and how lucky we are.

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A fine line

between legal and illegal

Pastor’s controversial campaign pushes freedom of speech liberties “You’re going to hell.”

“God hates fags.”

“Thank God for dead soldiers.”

These are a few of the anti-homosexuality signs the members of the Westboro Baptist Church carry around during their protests.

Fred Phelps, a pastor from Topeka, is the leader of this homophobic campaign.

He demonstrates at military funerals because the military protects a country that allows homosexuality.

He thinks it is his sacred duty to warn people of God’s wrath and anger against homosexuals.

On March 10, 2006, Westboro Baptist Church members picketed the funeral of Matthew Snyder, who died in combat in Iraq.

The Snyder family sued Phelps for defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Now it is up to the Supreme Court to decide whether he has the right to speak his discriminatory mind.

Since the protests are non-violent, Phelps believes he has the right to picket wherever he wants.

Even if he is protesting the very men that died to give him those rights.

Unfortunately, it is my sacred duty as a journalist to acknowledge that he is partly right.

The First Amendment of the Constitution states that Congress has no right to prohibit freedom of speech or the right of the people to peaceably assemble.

No matter how disgusting Phelps’ message may be, it is legal for him to speak it.

His words go against everything I personally believe.

I am not willing to sacrifice my freedom of speech because of his ignorance.

However, the issue remains.

Where will the government draw the line?

What will they be restricting next time?

Will my article be too radical?

Will I be sued for harassment or defamation for standing up for what I believe in?

I would rather have the right to fight against Phelps’ twisted doctrine than be refused the right of speaking at all.

Look at the Patriot Guard Riders.

This motorcycle club formed to shield mourners with its motorcade from the presence of the Westboro Baptist Church protesters.

They hold up American flags and drown out the protesters’ chants by singing patriotic songs or revving their motorcycles.

They are supporting their country and protesting Phelps’ ideals in one giant statement.

Obviously, we don’t need to restrict the rights this country was built upon to take away his power.

There are many ways to fight against Phelps’ message.

We should counter-protest the heck out of them. The perfect, constitutional solution.

Westboro Baptist Church isn’t the only institution that can hold up signs.

Shawnee Mission East High School elected an openly gay student as prom king in 2007.

Westboro Baptist Church members decided to picket in front of the school but they were met with an even larger counter-protest of SME students.

Let Phelps act the fool.

And I (and others) will continue speaking out against his foolishness, as long as I still have right to do so.

Cultural differences should be approached with caution “Do your grandparents live in a hut?”

“Do you, like, speak another language?”

“Do people carry spears around a lot?”

My full name is Odindo Opole.

I am from Kenya, a country the size of Kansas on the east coast of Africa.

My parents speak five languages: Swahili, Luya, Luo, Kikuyu and English.

I just kind of pick out words here and there and eject an occasional “What was that?”

My paternal grandparents live in Nyakach, near Lake Victoria, a traditional home of the Luo people.

When I talk to my grandma, I say “Owimore Aheenya,” in reply to “Owimore,” both of which mean “Good morning.”

Then my dad kind of takes over the interpreting.

For me, my heritage is nothing to be ashamed of.

I love being unique; even the shortened version of my name is pretty awesome.

But that doesn’t mean questions like those won’t stop me from telling you who I am.

It doesn’t mean I won’t hesitate for a second when someone asks what origin my name is, what my parents do or whether I ever go back home to visit.

Hearing someone say “I built a church there,” every time

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you mention your homeland gets very old. Very fast.

Seriously, there are tons of churches in the world.

I do not assume that you all built the same one — besides, do you really want to start on religion three seconds into the conversation?

Questions like these are examples of cultural ignorance, something I find increasingly common — on both sides of the spectrum.

If you’re American, you might be the one asking about spears, or blindly saying “I built a church there,” without thinking.

Or, if you’re a recent immigrant, you might think American streets are paved with gold, and teens all have parents who are AWOL all the time (thanks, Disney).

We all have some work to do.

It’s okay to be curious. As a matter of fact, it’s great to be curious.

Just exercise caution, especially when we have some of the best teachers at our disposal, our fellow students.

There’s the obvious part: the question.

If you’re asking about a sensitive topic, word your question carefully.

Despite my sarcasm, culturally ignorant questions can be hurtful.

There is a right and wrong way to talk to a person of a different heritage, and I’ve heard the wrong way far too often.

The wrong way to ask about religion in a foreign country is to say, “Do you have Christians there?”

If we don’t, we certainly won’t want to anymore.

A better way to ask is, “So, is Christianity a dominant religion?” That way, you sound curious, you don’t offend anyone and you get your question answered.

It doesn’t have to be deliberate.

Most of the time, it isn’t. But if you’re not careful about how you word a question, you can give the wrong impression.

Now, on to the more subtle part: the answer.

When someone takes the time to share their culture with you, listen.

You don’t have to take notes or remember every single detail — just make sure you understand the point being made, and do your best to remember it next time.

If you’re asking a Jewish student about a Yarmulke, pay attention to what they tell you.

If you’re asking a Muslim student about Ramadan, remember his or her main points: this is how it’s celebrated, and this is why it is done that way.

If you’re asking me about huts in Africa and I start telling you about the city of Nairobi, the new traffic lights going up all over town or the brand-spanking-new highway system, try to retain the main point: Africa is not just huts.

Be curious.

Learn those quirky things, and explain exactly how present and involved American parents really are.

Make sure curiosity and courtesy go hand in hand — it’ll make conversations so much more pleasant.

payin’ the bills

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Club promotes strategy, critical thinking emilybrown copy editor

Freshman Calum Fletcher advances his pawn during a chess match. “I participate in Chess Club because it’s a fun way to hang out with friends and enriches your mind because of where you move the pieces,” he said. Chess Club meets Tuesdays from 3-4 p.m. in Room 215. Photo by Evelyn Davis.

The hand of the clock ticks away. It’s a face-off between two freshmen in a game of intelligence, not luck.

They tap their fingers, mutter quietly and twirl the game pieces that now belong to them.

It is a battle of two brilliant minds. And only one will win.

Every Tuesday, the members of Chess Club learn different strategies of the game of chess.

“Learning chess is really good mental stimulation,” club sponsor Richard Gill said. “It forces you to think in terms of consequences. ‘What are they going to? If they do this what am I going to do? Where am I weak? Where am I strong?’ The whole thinking process is very important.”

Chess consists of three main components.

The first component is the opening, or the first 10 moves. Each player has different openings that they prefer.

The second is the middle game. This is where the strategy comes in.

The third component is the end game. This is when you get down to only a few pieces.

“The middle game is where great players beat good players,” Gill said. “There is no luck involved.

You have to be able to work out what you are going to do.”

Freshman Calum Fletcher said that figuring out ways to win is his favorite part of the game.

“One time, I faced one of the top guys in the chess club I was on,” he said. “I beat him because I did a lucky thing with the castle that he didn’t notice. I felt kind of bad afterwards when he started crying under the table. But I felt good because it meant I beat a good chess player.”

Gill said social skills are developed and friendships are formed in the Chess Club.

“Chess gives some of these people a group to belong to and a sense of participating in the school that they wouldn’t get otherwise,” he said. “This is what they do for Blue Valley High School.”

Chess tournaments have elementary, middle and high school divisions.

There are six rounds and each time a student is playing someone with the same record.

Each player has 30 minutes to make all of their moves.

They have a clock that will time them until they have finished their move.

You can lose by your king getting captured or by running out of time.

“It is important to be ready to move when it is your turn,” Gill said. “Learning to think well under pressure is a good skill. It is a skill you can use in real life too.”

Freshman Michael Thompson said he participated in too many tournaments to count.

“I get nervous after the game,” Thompson said. “I fret over how could I have done better. What were my mistakes? I worry about the little errors. I don’t worry about losing as a whole because losing is just another way to learn.”

Chess taught Thompson how to read facial expressions.

“Though the strategic part of chess is incredibly fun, the interaction with the players is even better,” he said. “You get see your opponents think and make decisions.”

Gill said that chess is a game that you can play for the rest of your life.

“Chess is a game that really takes 5 minutes to learn and a whole lifetime to master,” Gill said.

Expires 11/31/10

Expires 11/31/10

Expires 11/31/10

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A change in perspective

Interpersonal skills class offers beneficial social experience anniematheis news editor

They encourage their fellow students. They support every person. They help in any way they can.

Students in the Interpersonal Skills class participate in weekly activities to apply the skills they learn in the classroom.

The goal of the Interpersonal Skills class is to help students learn better social skills by interacting with other students who have strong social skills. Students develop these skills through activities like role playing, volunteer work, field trips and class presentations.

“Everyone does the same assignments together,” Interpersonal Skills teacher Susan Fisher said. “They learn from each other.”

Senior Molly DeBusk said the students work together to build relationships and friendships. The class really affected her outlook on people and relationships.

“It has changed the way I view and make quick assumptions of people,” DeBusk said. “I have been working on getting to know people better now, instead of just deciding what they are like off of the first conversation. I will give them a chance and actually get to know who they are and where they came from.”

DeBusk said her favorite part of the class is how she meets diverse people.

“You actually get to learn so much about so many different people, like where they come from and what they are like,” she said. “You really get to know them.”

Recently, the class went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch in Louisburg to practice the skills they learned.

“It gave me time to know [everyone],” senior Justin Pemberton said. “You get to move around and be active and social. It is really cool.”

He said he thinks the class has changed his perspective on people.

“It has taught me how to look at things,” Pemberton said.

“What a stranger, an acquaintance, a best friend, a school pal, what all that is.”

Interpersonal Skills teacher Laurie Rue created this class

Senior Chandler Williams and freshman Alex Couchman play the drums during a music therapy session. “Our job is to help them get more socially comfortable,” senior Cody Shrum said. “It feels really good to help them out.” Photo by Conor Storm.

with another teacher at Shawnee Mission South in 1995.

She said the students needed a class where they could learn from each other, instead of just from a teacher.

“I believe, for anyone, the social piece is so important before they get out of high school,” Rue said. “I think it can be, in some respects, more important than other classes they take because it is something they are going to have to do the rest of their life.”

Pemberton said he is glad he took Interpersonal Skills throughout high school. “[This class] has gotten me ready so when I get in certain situations, I will know how to react and what to do,” Pemberton said. “I am happy I took the class because I think it is a wonderful opportunity to learn about friendship and how to really get to know somebody. This is one class I will never forget because of all the people, friends and fun activities.”

Interpersonal Skills students complete a Stepping Out

project every quarter. They go into the community and participate in fun activities with others. Then they return and present a poster about their experience.

Rue said all the students approach this project in a different manner. Some students will go over to a friend’s house, while other will go out to a restaurant.

For his most recent Stepping Out project, Pemberton ate at Jalapeno’s Mexican Restaurant with some other classmates, and then went to Sweet Caroline’s for dessert.

“I like being around everybody, socializing,” he said. “The food is also really good.”

Students are chosen for the class through teacher recommendations and then an interview with Fisher and Rue. “The bottom line is there aren’t written rules for social interactions,” Fisher said. “There are just unwritten rules. Some people get them and other people need to be taught them.

That is why we teach the class.”

Russian culture, heritage contribute to wide knowledge base emilybrown copy editor Whenever his preschool teacher would ask him a question, he would merely nod.

Perplexed, he understood exactly what she said, but he couldn’t respond to the rapid string of English words.

Senior Daniel Tabakh was born in America, but grew up surrounded by Russian culture. When he was a child, it was the only language he could speak.

“We wanted to cement Russian in his brain so he could use it in the future,” Daniel’s father Eugene Tabakh said.

Eugene was working towards his Ph.D. when he decided to bring his family to America.

Political instability and the lack of democracy in Russia convinced the Tabakh family to take the trip overseas.

They picked Kansas as a home because Eugene’s cousin lived there.

“They left Russia because of anti-Semitism,” Daniel said. “They also felt like there would be more opportunities for my older siblings in America rather than in Russia.”

English, Spanish and Russian are now included in Daniel’s language repertoire.

“If I’m talking really, really fast in Spanish, I will sometimes accidentally put Russian in there,” he said. “Sometimes, I only know a word in Russian and I completely forget it in English.”

Daniel said the local Russian population is very warm and open.

To him, it is like a large extended family.

“Our Russian community in Kansas City is very, very tight-knit,” he said. “They have known me since I was born. They have seen me grow up. And in Russian culture, you don’t call them Mr. or Mrs., you call them Uncle or Aunt.”

He said he enjoys communicating with others in Russian because it is unique to his background.

“I eat Russian food, speak Russian and even listen to Russian music,” Daniel said.

“That is just how I was brought up.”

Eugene said Russian and American cultures are different in the way people interact.

He said people are a lot closer to each other in Russia and the social events typically last longer than events in America.

“In America, when you see someone you know, you give them a hug or highfive,” Daniel said. “In Russia, it’s a big kiss on the cheek. It is interesting to see different perspectives of culture from a different viewpoint.”

Daniel said he hopes to travel to Russia this summer. He said he wants to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg.

“I miss my friends, the culture and the beautiful architecture and scenery,” Eugene said. “I want to show my son the art galleries, museums and the places where I grew up and became who I am today.”

Hear Tabakh speak in Russian at www.bvtigernews.com.

NOVEMBER 2010 1 1

centerstage

Buy one, give one free

Taking it to the stage Lengthy audition process anticipated for musical jordanhuesers features editor

TOMS Shoes increase in popularity, promote idea of paying it forward anniematheis news editor

One for One. For every pair of shoes bought, a pair goes to a child in need. This is the idea of the for-profit organization, TOMS Shoes.

Hailee Hawthorne, sales associate at Taylor’s shoes in Town Center Plaza said she loves the cause.

“I think anything to help out people who are in need of shoes is great,” Hawthorne said. “Anything for the kids to get is a big deal to them.

Walking around barefoot hurts.”

TOMS come in a variety of styles for both men and women. Senior Will Metcalf said he is very happy with his pair of TOMS. However, he

said he can see why they are more popular among women at BV. “The first impression when I was looking at the guys’ shoes was that they looked kind of womenly,” Metcalf said. “I think the average guy will look at TOMS and think they look too weird or too girly.”

TOMS usually range in price from $40-65. They come in a variety of styles. They are all hand-made and the fabrics range from canvas to linen to corduroy.

“They are helping people,” junior Rebecca Jenkins said.

“I like the idea that by buying a pair of shoes, someone else has a pair of shoes that normally wouldn’t. When you think about it, you are helping at the same time, so they

expiration date Dec. 31

1 2 NOVEMBER 2010

are not that expensive.”

Hawthorne said she thinks the shoes are worth the price.

“They are a little spendier, but what I think is you are paying for two shoes, because you’re giving one away and keeping one,” she said.

Jenkins said she thinks it is a good thing more people are starting to know about TOMS. “At first, people were like, ‘I don’t know how cute they are,” she said. “But now, when more people have them, they are cuter. And TOMS is coming out with a lot more styles than they used to have. There are so many options.”

According to TOMS.com, TOMS has given more than 1 million pairs of new shoes to children in need through giving partners around the world, as of September 2010.

Five minutes to show what she can do.

Five minutes to perform with all she has.

Five minutes will decide her role in the musical.

Senior Lauren Flack is a three-year member of the repertory theater and Chambers, and a two-year member of Chorale.

She will audition with around 60-90 students for this year’s musical, Beauty and the Beast, Nov. 16-18.

Producer and vocal director Marsha Moeller selected Beauty and the Beast because of the abundant number of roles, the music and the diverse characters.

“Beauty and the Beast fits this year’s kids really well and fits the talent we have,” she said.

A typical audition for a part in the musical includes a solo of 16-32 bars from a song Moeller selects. The next day, the performer will learn a dance from choreographer Ann McCroskey, practices it for 30 minutes, then performs it on stage.

Callbacks are made on the final day for lead roles.

“The more auditions and more experience you have, the easier the auditions,” Flack said. “I know how it is going to work so it alleviates some of the stress for me.”

Flack said she views auditions as an opportunity to have her own personal

expiration date Dec. 31

stage time.

“As a young performer you don’t always get the opportunity to be the lead role, so the audition is like your own special mini performance,” she said.

Flack said this musical fits the department because it features a large amount of lead roles.

“This year’s senior class is big in the sense of it has a lot of talent and a lot of capability,” she said.

Over the summer, Flack participated in the performance of Beauty and the Beast at the Jewish Community Center as a dancer.

“It is going to be great to do this same musical with another group of people,” she said. “It is definitely going to be a different experience working with kids my own age instead of a lot of adults.”

During the auditions, Moeller and drama director Jeff Yarnell take a student’s acting, singing and dancing abilities into consideration.

“I have confidence with the people running the show,” Flack said. “I trust they will choose the best people for each part, whether for me that means a lead role or the chorale.”

Moeller posted sign-up sheets for auditions Monday across from the choir room. Students can continue to sign up for auditions through Nov. 16.

Moeller encourages everyone to audition, not solely students involved in performing arts. The musical is scheduled for Feb. 19-21.

centerstage

next dimension

striving

Upcoming Harry Potter film will be not be released in 3D as previously scheduled

for the

jaidaanderlik staff writer

Broomsticks zoom past your ears.

Spells whiz past your head.

Dragon tails swish past your nose.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1 was planned to be released in 3D. The movie is currently scheduled to open on Nov. 19.

Warner Bros. Entertainment made a statement saying it didn’t want to push back the release date any more in order to convert the movie to 3D. The intention was to redo the entire movie to attract more viewers by playing to the current 3D craze.

As if they don’t have a big audience already.

I go to theaters to see a movie. Hopefully, a good one, although that is not always possible. I fully accept that reality must be suspended in order to enjoy the movie. I know what happens

on screen is not real.

So why must movies be in 3D? Harry Potter is wonderful — at least I think so. Sure it is taking a little while to finish up, but waiting is just part of the fun.

Production companies make movies in 3D in a ploy to extract a few more dollars from viewers. They hope to influence their fan base to pay more for the “3D experience.”

I am not one of those people who gets a headache from watching a movie with those dorky glasses, but I still don’t enjoy watching 3D films.

I feel no need for an added dimension. I’d rather focus on plot than the special effects.

Fortunately, part one of the upcoming Harry Potter finale won’t have an unnecessary dimension. The second part reportedly will, but I’ll worry about that next July.

For now, I’ll take delight in watching the beginning of the end of Harry Potter with broomsticks, spells and dragon tails staying within the screen.

releasing the

series

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Released Nov. 16, 2001

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Released Nov. 15, 2002

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Released June 4, 2004

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Released Nov. 18, 2005

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

Released July 11, 2007

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Released July 15, 2009

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Released Nov. 19, 2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Released July 15, 2011

Earn college credit while in high school

“College Now classes give you an advantage the second you start college.”

Libby, transferred 21 College Now credits to Ohio State University

College Now at Johnson County Community College is the only nationally accredited concurrent program in Kansas.

See your school counselor for details or visit www.jccc.edu/collegenow

NOVEMBER 2010 1 3

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Ashley vs. Audrey BV seniors went head-to-head in the tennis state championship after playing each other all year in practice

saranaatz managing editor Senior Ashley Tiefel won the singles state championship this year, facing off against teammate senior Audrey Coventry in the finals.

“It was different,” she said. “It was tough because it’s your teammate. But it ended up being the best situation we could have been in for the rest of the team.”

Tiefel said she and Coventry grew close as they played tennis together more and more.

“She’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet,” she said. “We don’t hang out much off the court, but we know each other and see each other a lot from tennis.”

Achieving the state championship relied heavily on teamwork, and Tiefel said this benefits all the girls on the team.

She said though the girls play individually, they are all playing for the team in the end.

“As it got closer to state, us six girls that knew we were going to regionals worked really hard supporting each other in tournaments,” she said.

Tiefel took fourth place in state her sophomore year, and third in state her junior year. She said winning state as an individual and as a team was the best possible outcome.

“It was a perfect ending to my senior year,” she said. “It was so overwhelming for me to win state and have our team win, too.”

Ashley Tiefel Do you plan on playing tennis after high school?

I’m committed to [University of ] Colorado. I got a full ride there.

How long have you been playing tennis?

I’ve been playing since I could pick up a racket at 6 years old.

Then I’ve been playing tournaments for seven or eight years.

How do you feel about placing first at state?

The initial feeling was just overwhelming. I couldn’t believe it.

And then once I found out the team won, I was 10 times more excited. It was the best outcome we could have had.

What’s your favorite thing about tennis?

The people you meet and the competitive aspect. I like playing really hard.

1 4 NOVEMBER 2010

caitlinholland editor-in-chief Senior Audrey Coventry placed second individually at the 5A State tennis match. This was Coventry’s first year playing for the Tigers.

Coventry said she chose to wait until her senior year to play tennis with the school team because KSHSAA guidelines don’t allow athletes to play with their school and play outside tournaments at the same time.

“I didn’t want to sacrifice that,” she said. “I wanted to focus on getting better. Senior year, I decided that it just looked really awesome and fun and I wanted to do it.”

Coventry said she was pleased with the way she played at state. She said senior Ashley Tiefel had many specific strengths that made her hard to beat when it was time for the championship game.

“She’s very competitive and she will never give up anything easily,” Coventry said.

“Even if she’s down, you have to work really hard to stay up. She’s also good at not missing — she’s very consistent. She’s also good at knowing what to do with certain people, like how to beat them and figuring out what their weaknesses are.”

Coventry said having Tiefel as a teammate helped her game progress throughout the year.

“It was really good just to be able to practice against her,” she said. “It’s always good to play against people who are better than you. That’s just how you improve the most.”

Audrey Coventry Do you plan on playing tennis after high school?

I’m planning to get a scholarship to play in college somewhere. I don’t know where yet.

How long have you been playing tennis?

I’ve been playing since I was 8.

How do you feel about placing second at state?

Part of me was disappointed — I like winning, obviously. But I’m really glad Ashley got it because she’s played all four years and she’s been playing amazing. I felt she deserved it.

What’s your favorite thing about tennis?

I like the fact that it’s individual. Whether it’s a win or even a loss, it’s all on you. You really know how you play. You know what to work on and everything.

tigerturf

Reeling in the win Competitive fisherman plans to continue sport in college caitlinholland editor-in-chief Senior Bo Ament said most of his friends don’t really understand the sport he loves. He said they don’t get that bass fishing takes skill and determination, just like other sports.

In a word, it’s intense.

“The competition level is really tough,” he said. “Actually, two of the kids I fished with in my tournament series got fullride scholarships to college for tournament fishing. I actually beat both of them this year. It’s pretty tough competition, especially in Missouri.”

Ament has been fishing competitively for five years through the Missouri Bass Federation. He said before that point he always enjoyed fishing casually, but everything changed when he learned he could actually compete in it.

“I really, really liked fishing — it was something I did as a hobby until I was about 13,” he said. “But once I realized I could go to nationals and go somewhere with it, that’s when I really actually got into it. It’s something I’ve been committed to, and I plan on trying to go pro.”

Ament’s bass fishing accomplishments include a Missouri state champion title, a top-30 national ranking, a Missouri Angler of the Year award and racking up sponsors who pay for his equipment.

He also hopes to get a scholarship to continue competitive fishing in college at the University of Arkansas next year.

Bass fishing at most colleges in the Midwest is a club sport.

He said he plans on meeting with the Arkansas fishing team first.

“They really look for if you know what you’re doing with the baits and all that stuff,” he said. “They look at your past experience, like how many tournaments you’ve won and if you have a boat.”

Ament said he got a job and saved up for six months to buy his own boat for $1,300. He said owning a boat and good equipment is really important for a competitive fisherman.

He said the most frustrating aspect of the sport is spending money and putting effort in and often not seeing the benefits of Ament hard work.

“You’ve got to just keep going,” he said. “With fishing, a lot of it’s skill and a lot of it’s luck.

Most people say they’d rather be lucky than skilled in fishing because you’ve got to get that one bite. I just keep thinking that, the next tournament I’m in is the one I’m going to win it all.”

Senior Loren Wynn said Ament got him started competitively fishing when he was 15. He said having a friend there to compete against helps add more intensity to the sport.

“It’s always fun when I beat Bo when we go out fishing,” he said. “It seems to happen all the time, but once we get to a tournament I can’t catch anything. When we actually get to a tournament, he catches fish and I don’t.”

Wynn said when the time comes, Ament is always ready to compete.

“He gets really fired up about it,” he said. “You can tell when it’s getting close to a tournament because he shuts down.”

Ament said one of his best fishing experiences was competing at nationals. He flew to Pittsburgh with his dad, stayed in a hotel for free and competed on the Kittanning River in a tournament for a $5,000 scholarship. Unfortunately, the fishing conditions that day were not ideal because it

rained three inches the day before, affecting water levels.

“The river rose like eight feet,” he said. “It was like chocolate milk, and super fast. It was really, really hard to fish.”

Ament said his club chapter, Bass Masters of Lee’s Summit, provides a support network and helps him become a better fisherman. He said it also helps because fishermen in the same chapter help the other members by teaching different fishing skills.

“Everyone shares all the different techniques they use,” he said. “We always try to get better and keep practicing — ­ it’s just like any other sport. You have to practice to win.”

tacklin’ the box Ament said bass fishing is a sport that requires extensive equipment. The baits and rods used depend on the weather and water levels and impact the size and amount of fish caught.

spinner bait:

crank bait:

Sports In Brief Football

Previous Action: 10/22 @ Pittsburg W 49-7, 10/29 @ Gardner Edgerton L Record: 8-1 Key Athletes: Seniors Kirk Harris and Hayden Murray, junior Justin Fulks Upcoming Action: Playoffs

Cross Country

Previous Action: Boys and girls teams placed 8th @ State Key Athletes: Boys: Senior Ben Gaede, 14th place, Girls: Junior Bailey Swimmer, 32nd place

Volleyball

Boys Soccer

Girls Golf

Girls Tennis

Previous Action: 10/23 @ St. Thomas Aquinas L 2-0, 10/23 vs BV Southwest W 2-0 Record: 21-14-2 Key Athletes: Senior Taylor Popp, junior Meghan Mahoney and freshman Chloe Rogers

Previous Action: Tied for 19th @ State Key Athletes: Sophomore Megan Richards

Previous Action: 10/28 @ J.C. Harmon W Record: 12-6 as of press date (11/1) Key Athletes: Seniors Tom Adams and Tyler Dixon and junior Cole McCubbin Upcoming Action: State Quarterfinal as of press date (11/1)

Previous Action: Won 5A State Championship State athletes: Seniors Ashley Tiefel and Audrey Coventry, junior Payton Meyer, sophomore Jessie Alexander and freshmen Jenny Moon and Shivani Patel

NOVEMBER 2010 1 5

incolor

On your mark, get set,

Freshman Nick Idoux works with other students as part of an assembly line, gluing pegs into note holders.

Woods teacher David Briggs said students made three note holders: one for themselves and two to give away.

Students in the course had the opportunity to burn the wood, engraving it with names and symbols to personalize the holders. (left and above.)

Woods I students contruct quality products

Demonstrating proper technique, woods teacher David Briggs shows freshman Jamie Jimenez how to sand a table leg. While some students worked on the noteholder project, others furthered progress on the construction of end tables. (above.)

Freshman Niko Papazafiropoulos uses the bandsaw to cut longer rods into two smaller pegs to be used for the noteholders.

“We sand them down and then put glue in the hole,” Papazafiropoulos said. “The pegs then go in the hole so the paper can stay on the holder.” (left.)

Freshmen Bret King and Jackson Macoubrie laugh about a small miscut on a table leg. King used the table saw to taper legs for the side table legs. After being cut, the legs went to the sander to have blade burns sanded out of the wood, and then the router to have edges rounded off.

Photos by Maegan Kabel.

1 6 NOVEMBER 2010

Check out bvtigernews.com for more photos of woods students at work.