The Tiger Print –– November 2011

THE

TIGER PRINT BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Vol. 42 Issue 4 November 2011 Stilwell, KS

SKIPPING OUT Attendance drops during planned events and activities page 4 A LOOK AT THE GOP Student analyzes candidates for upcoming election page 5 JUMPING IN Administrators announce new swim coach page 14

Spinning out ceramics Art class shapes students’ creativity : pages 8-9 Photo illustration by Aubrey Illig.

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inthenews

November 2011

Boys soccer team takes second place in State championship

Theater students perform fall play saranaatz and kellycordingley co-editor and news editor

Sophomore Ben McDonald and senior Jake Hackney laugh while watching the soccer video shown during the pep assembly on Nov. 3. The boys soccer team won their substate game against Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 1-0. In the State game against Liberal on Nov. 5, the team lost 3-1. “We had a 5-0 run, and we couldn’t finish the job,” Hackney said. “The regular season wasn’t the best, but we came together in the post season and got a good result.” Photo by Maegan Kabel.

saranaatz co-editor The boys soccer team went head-to-head with the Liberal Redskins on Nov. 5 in a fight for the State championship.

The first half began with several runs by seniors Taylor Walter and Cole McCubbin, giving BV players a few chances to score.

In the 16th minute, McCubbin scored a goal with an assist by Walter, but an offsides call by the referee kept the game tied at 0-0.

With a little less than 6 minutes left in the half, senior Christian Muñoz was injured and temporarily taken out of the game. He returned with 2 minutes left in the half to take a corner kick.

Despite more attempts at a goal, the half ended with a score of 0-0.

The Redskins came back after the half, scoring into the bottom left corner of the goal after only a few minutes.

The Tigers had a few scoring opportunities with free kicks off penalties, but shots were deflected by the Liberal defense.

The Redskins scored again at 19:57. The BV defense

sprang into action, with several clears from sweeper senior Jake Hackney.

McCubbin scored the Tigers’ first goal at 13:23 on a breakaway, but BV players had little time to celebrate.

The Redskins returned with a goal less than 20 seconds later.

The rest of the game was filled with yellow cards and even a red card, taking out several BV players, but no more goals were made by either team. The game ended at 3-1.

Coach K. Dean Snell said the boys were hoping to win State after a winning streak.

“They were really bummed out,” he said. “But they have a reason to hold their heads high. They left it all on the field. Every one of them gave their best effort and as a coach that’s all I can ask for.”

Hackney said he feels disappointed that the team was unable to end the season on a win.

“We had a 5-0 run and we couldn’t finish the job,” he said. “The regular season wasn’t the best but we came together in the post season and got a good result.”

Snell said he feels proud of the team for their performance over the course of the season.

“It was a great run,” he said. “We accomplished a lot of great things.”

Tonight and tomorrow the theater program will perform “The Foreigner.”

Director Jeff Yarnell said he hopes for a good turnout for this year’s play.

“I expect people to be blown away,” he said.

“The Foreigner” is a story of a British man named Charlie who ventures to Georgia for a few days.

Charlie is shy and does not want to talk to anyone. His friend, Froggy, tells everyone Charlie cannot speak English. This lands Charlie in awkward situations, hearing conversations filled with secrets.

Grayson Yockey, who plays Ellard, said he expects the audience to like the play. “[The cast has] been working really hard,” he said. “Everyone enjoyed the teaser, so I think they will react really positively to the play.”

Yarnell said the characters play an important role in audience involvement with the play.

“The best part is that we have a really good cast that brings extra comedy which adds for a good show,” Yarnell said.

Yockey said he loves acting in comedies.

“Comedy has always been one of my favorites,” he said. “Audiences like to laugh, and they will get that with ‘The Foreigner.’”

on bvtigernews.com now more information and photos from the State soccer game a review of the fall play, ‘The Foreigner,’ performed tonight and tomorrow in the PAC a season in review: Sporting Kansas City

November 2011

payin’thebills

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In Touch Photographic, Inc. www.intouchphoto.com 816-765-5400

Sports Photography Plus www.sportsphotographersplus.com 913-829-0613

Blue Valley photographer and lab specializing for almost 20 years in school, youth sports and event photography.

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inthenews

November 2011

Checking Out haileymcentee staff writer On College Readiness Day, Oct. 12, around 220 students got checked out after taking the PLAN, PSAT or the practice ACT. Principal Scott Bacon said the reason many students left was that they didn’t think it was going to be an important opportunity.

“I think the reason to get checked out that the students gave to their parents was that they weren’t doing anything,” Bacon said. “There is never a day at Blue Valley High School that we plan to do nothing. We had a lot of activities planned for their benefit. The activities were based off of feedback we got from previous students.”

Attendance secretary Jan Wilcoxon said between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m., the attendance hotline received about 100 phone calls to check students out. This took place right before the college preparation activities began.

“Most were saying their student didn’t have anything to do that afternoon,” she said. “Some [parents] were letting them go because they had homework. Some said their student had an appointment.”

Bacon said the students who left missed valuable information about how to pick colleges and how to get accepted.

“They missed the opportunity to develop a résumé,” he said. “Also, they missed out on seeing websites used to search for colleges based off of their interests. They also missed the opportunity to see what resources there are for

scholarship opportunities. They also missed out on hearing from a college panel of students and professors.”

Bacon said not many schools do activities like the college panel. He said it was a good way to get information to the students.

“We want to work with students in a mature way to inform them,” he said.

Junior Steph Woltkamp said she did not attend because she already knew the requirements to get into her college of choice.

“I felt since I already know where I am going to college, it wouldn’t benefit me as much as it would benefit other students,” she said.

Sophomore Ashlynn Summar said the college preparation activities were helpful and informative.

“I think a lot of the kids who skipped it missed a lot of important information,” she said. “It’s kind of a big deal.”

Bacon said it is hard to see the students miss out on valuable information by leaving school.

“It’s very frustrating to see this happen,” he said. “We tried to inform the students and parents about what was going to be happening. We really need parental commitment, too.”

Wilcoxon said the counseling office did a lot to plan for the college preparation activities.

“It is an insult to the people who put a lot of work into the events,” she said. “Parents need to double-check that there is a legitimate reason they are checking their child out.”

Woltkamp said she didn’t think leaving before the college

Find us on Facebook at Robeks Overland Park.

Large number of students left school during college preparation activities

Attendance secretary Jan Wilcoxen takes phone calls to check students in and out of school. Wilcoxen receives many phone calls a day and even more during school functions and activities. Photo

by Kaelin Storm.

preparation activities was a big deal at the time.

“After the college thing, I heard a lot of the teachers were really upset about students leaving because they felt they had done so much for it, and so many students just left,” she said. “I think if I had known that it would be like that — like teachers being so disappointed — I probably wouldn’t have left, but I hadn’t seen it as a big deal.”

Bacon said everyone in the school community is needed to make school activities effective.

“It takes us all doing our part to make our activities a success,” he said. “It takes the administration planning, the parents supporting and the students attending.”

November 2011

Herman Cain

Rick Perry

“I’m not a professional politician. I’m a professional problem solver, and I believe we should cut the salaries of Senators and Congressmen 10 percent until they balance the budget. I call that conservative common sense.”

outloud

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Rick Santorum

“Dark economic clouds are dissipating into an emerging blue sky of opportunity.”

“Isn’t that the ultimate homeland security, standing up and defending marriage?”

Quotes gathered from brainyquotes.com. Photos courtesy of Santorum, Cain, and Perry campaigns.

Grading the Grand Old Party Rick Santorum: www.ricksantorum.com

emilybrown opinion editor

Jon Huntsman: www.jon2012.com

Of all the GOP candidates, Jon, you are my favorite.

Unlike 90 percent of all politicians, you seem to have some intelligence. And your previous job as ambassador to China, well, let’s just say we need that experience right now.

You believe that gay marriage should be legal and still have the conservative monetary policies I support.

Basically, you are the best of both liberal and conservative worlds. You aren’t extreme like Ron Paul, but you still have that aura of change about you.

Also, your hair is pretty cool. In the debates, you are one of the calmest of the bunch, and you don’t freak out every time the moderator’s basically ignore you, like Mr. Santorum does.

And boycotting the GOP debate in Las Vegas to campaign in New Hampshire because of disputes over caucus dates?

Well, that is gutsy, and one of the coolest things I’ve seen in this campaign so far.

One of the first things that Mr. Santorum addresses on his website is that he is a “Champion of Faith and Families.”

Sadly, this is not an election for a town preacher. Yeah, yeah, marriage is good. Love the family.

But, honestly, what does the federal government have to do with the structure of the home? Nothing. Mr. Santorum, stop preaching about how marriage is fundamental to society and start explaining what would you do as president, policy-wise.

Your other main two posts on your website are “Defender of the Tax Payer” and “Believer in American Exceptionalism.”

I’m sorry, but I don’t believe I’ve ever met a candidate that is not for these two things.

Don’t worry too much, though. It is pretty obvious from the polls that no one thinks you are president-worthy, either.

Herman Cain: www.hermancain.com

Former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, you, Herman Cain are truly the chupacabra of the political world — a real candidate from the private sector.

Unfortunately, I think you should stay right where you are.

Let’s begin with your 9-9-9 plan — a taxation system that would have a flat 9 percent business tax, individual tax and national sales tax. You hope to expand the GDP and create new jobs from this system. Nothing to complain about there.

But like Michele Bachmann said during the New Hampshire debate, “When you take the 9-9-9 plan, and you turn it upside down, the devil is in the details.”

Sure, it sounds like a nice deal. However, you still haven’t provided the public with specific details. Right now, it is simply a wellmarketed idea.

You also have a major issue with saying joking things that really aren’t funny. Like putting up an electric fence on our border. In the Iowa presidential debate, you said “America has got to learn how to take a joke.”

Ha ha, electrocuting illegal immigrants.

Wait, that isn’t funny, Mr. Cain. You are the one who needs to work on your sense of humor. However, threatening to cut the salaries of congressional representatives until they solve the debt issue, is something I can heartily agree with.

Ron Paul:

www.ronpaul2012.com Your campaign slogan is very simple: “Restore America Now.” Many candidates have promised change and restoration of former American values. Yet, you are one of the few who has convinced me that change can happen. You are famous for your consistent voting record, and you never vote for legislation unless it is expressly authorized by the Constitution. Of all of the politicians on this list, you are the least like a politician.

I’m not sure if you will be elected in 2012.

Your views are a little extreme, like the end of the Federal Reserve, the legalization of all drugs and prostitution and ending federal aid like Medicare and Social Security. But I’ve got

to say. Your isolationist foreign policy is starting to look mighty good at the moment with the Middle Eastern situation worsening day by day and our high deficit.

But I just don’t think America is ready for you, Ron Paul. And I doubt they ever will be.

Rick Perry: www.rickperry.org

Rick, I’ll be honest. I wish you would just go away. Your debating skills are horrible, and you like an utter fool up there. You turn questions into rants against other candidates, and mudslinging seems to be your forté. Your interruptions in all of the debates make you look like a 10-year-old girl who has been slighted.

Like Mitt Romney said in the Las Vegas debate, “If you want to become President of the United States, you should learn to let other people speak.”

And as for your policies, you don’t really seem to know what is going on there either.

Yes, the state you govern, Texas, has been successful economically. But you haven’t been able to deal with one of the main issues plaguing the government today — illegal immigration.

According to insidermonkey.com, illegal immigrants make up 6.58 percent of the Texas population, ranking third on the list of the worst states for illegal immigration.

Check out bvtigernews.com to read about GOP candidates Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

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outloud

November 2011

Awkwardness becomes the new norm

courtneywoodworth photo editor When I walk down the hallway, one of the following things happens: I run into someone and proceed to mutter apologies as I walk away, or I drop something that I’m carrying and have to bend down to pick it up while a sea of people rush past me.

The first thing that comes to mind in these dayto-day occurrences of life?

Well, that was awkward.

The fact is, I am an awkward person.

You’re an awkward person.

We’re all awkward people.

There will always be situations where you have no choice but to whip out the awkward turtle hand gesture. It’s life.

Nothing can ever be comfortable because, then, you would have no funny stories.

It seems it is now more acceptable to be awkward.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m made fun of for being awkward a lot, but I make fun of myself, too.

I have accepted the fact that I am awkward.

I know that, at the end of the day, I will have an awkward story to tell to one of my friends.

Because, in my life, the awkward moments are

never-ending.

For example, this past summer, I attended a journalism camp in Dallas with a group of newspaper kids.

On one of the days, there was a camp-sanctioned “rave” party with a disc jockey, lasers and some glow sticks. I dragged my fellow staffers along with me to the rave — all I wanted to do was dance.

At some point during the dance I looked up and saw someone crowd surfing.

For those of you who don’t know, I am a huge concert goer; therefore, I love crowd surfing.

I found the closest muscular guy next to me and asked him to lift me up. I laid on my back as people threw me to the next pair of hands. Then, I’m not really sure how, but I fell. The kind of fall that leaves you spinning.

And what do I do? Jump up, head still spinning and scream through a fit of giggles “I am okay!”

People around me stared at me like I had done the stupidest thing all night — which, I guess, is kind of true.

Awkward.

But, let’s face it, life is awkward.

So embrace it.

Accept the fact that you will probably only feel comfortable when you’re sleeping. Unless you are someone who magically never faces an awkward encounter, then kudos to you.

But for the majority of people, know that someone is as awkward, if not more awkward than you are.

Sure people might make fun of you from time to time, but to be honest, being normal is overrated.

Cartoon by Evelyn Davis.

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jordanhuesers co-editor If I could spend time with my family more than a couple nights a week, I would.

I would join them for a nice family dinner around the kitchen table, or in the living room while we watch our favorite TV show, Friends.

Despite what they might tell you, I do in fact love eating dinner with them.

It’s entertaining. The two little ones always seem to

bicker about one thing or another — who sits where or who will get to play the Xbox first.

A majority of the time, the littlest one ends up screaming in his abnormally high-pitched voice.

I love those kids.

But on most nights, I do not get home until around 5 p.m. From there, my night usually consists of a nap, homework, a shower and then some more homework.

Usually crashing at around 1 a.m.

I’m not going to list the activities I do because, frankly, it’s about the same length as the majority of students. I have the typical amount of homework or, at least, the typical amount for students taking AP classes.

The thing is, I can’t count the number of times I’ve been called selfish.

Everyone says teenagers are selfish, and I do not particularly disagree, but how are we not supposed to be?

We have high expectations placed on us. We feel an immense pressure to have a 4.0 GPA, to get accepted into the best colleges in the country, to be a part of the all the extracurricular clubs and activities possible.

In order to attain those standards, we have to work hard.

We have to spend every night writing a paper or trying to decode a calculus worksheet.

Through all this, we still have to maintain friendships, relationships, high performance in activities, our health and much more.

On the weekends, nothing sounds more appealing than lying in bed until noon. When you only get about five hours a night, catching up on sleep can be the best feeling in the world.

High school friendships tend to work out fairly well because each person in the relationship acts in a selfish manner.

But concerning families, it can seem like we don’t care.

So, I’m sorry for that.

Understand, our selfishness is nothing personal.

We are trying to become successful so we can have fulfilling lives.

I hope every person in my family knows I love them. In the end, I know they will be the ones there for me — supporting, caring and loving me.

November 2011

staffeditorial

outloud

the tiger print publication co-editors-in-chief Jordan Huesers Sara Naatz website editor Maegan Kabel photo editor Courtney Woodworth news editor Kelly Cordingley features editor Annie Matheis entertainment editor Odi Opole opinion editor Emily Brown sports editor Jordan McEntee

Cartoon by Evelyn Davis.

Teachers deserve appreciation, respect for extra efforts to help student body staff editorial

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agreed

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disagreed

Voices call out around the table covered in steaming dishes.

“I’m thankful for my mom and dad.”

“I’m thankful for this delicious food.”

“I’m thankful for my friends.”

How often do you hear the words, “I’m thankful for my teachers?”

Rarely.

Teachers go out of their way to help us.

They get to school early to help with homework.

They stay late after school to let us retake tests.

They schedule review sessions to

help us with material we should have already learned.

They negotiate our grades, listen to our excuses and chat with us in the hallways.

They put up with scowls, snotty comments and child-like behavior on a daily basis.

And they rarely get any thanks for all of that hard work — and they certainly don’t get paid to stay late and arrive early.

They do it for our education.

You would be surprised how much they would treasure a simple note, especially after grading hundreds of papers and tests.

Yes, we have a hard life. Homework, school and work.

But they have to work just as much as us, if not more.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, teachers are far more likely to do work at home than other professionals.

That means their working hours far

exceed the normal school day.

They go home and often have their own children and spouses to care for.

But they still have to do their own homework — which is quadrupled our amount.

Imagine how much they have to grade on a daily basis. They have hundreds, if not thousands of assignments to read and grade throughout the year.

Those papers don’t just get graded by themselves.

They spend hours planning out lessons, attending meetings and going to workshops to improve their teaching skills.

Many teachers live for their students.

Now it is time that we show them that we appreciate their effort, their hard work and their kindness.

During this time of thanksgiving, show your teacher that you are thankful for everything they do.

All it takes is a simple gesture.

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ads manager Anna Wonderlich circulation manager Taylor Yeazel staff writers Abby Bamburg Jansen Hess Maddie Jewett Meghan Kennedy Hailey McEntee Caroline Meinzenbach photographers Dakota Behrman Maria Fournier Aubrey Illig Bailey Outlaw Olivia Roudebush Kaelin Storm cartoonist Evelyn Davis adviser Jill Chittum

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 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, emailed 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.

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indepth

November 2011

the dy n a of cera mics mics Art class offers opportunity to create 3-dimensional art annawonderlich ads manager Bowls, mugs, plates and platters.

Jars, containers and abstract objects.

You name it, and a ceramics student has probably made it.

These are the types of projects that senior Meredith Schmidt created in Ceramics 1 and 2 during her sophomore and junior years.

She is currently putting a portfolio together for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in hopes of winning a Gold Key in ceramics.

Ceramics is artwork made from clay that is fired to a permanent state in a kiln.

In the beginning Schmidt just wanted to try ceramics, but it became an activity she said she loves.

“My favorite part about ceramics is seeing all the glazed, finished pieces when they come out of the kiln,” she said. “[Former ceramics teacher Robert Putnam] used to always compare opening the glaze kiln to opening presents on Christmas morning.”

Last year she took Ceramics 2, taught by art teacher Michael Johnston.

He has been teaching photography at BV for 18 years, but began teaching ceramics class last year.

He said students feel proud of their unique creations when they see how their work pays off.

“There’s quite a sense of pride and ownership in the pieces that you create, because, obviously, you start from nothing,” Johnston said. “Students start from the lump of clay and get a fired, finished and permanent piece that will be around for hundreds of years if it’s not broken or shattered.”

Senior Weston Mosburg is a student in Johnston’s Ceramics

1 class this year. He said Johnston’s experience with ceramics helps students learn.

“He knows how to do everything on the wheel, and he’ll help you and give you ideas,” Mosburg said. “It’s really good that he knows how to do it, because he can show you firsthand.”

Johnston said ceramics class pushes students to view objects three-dimensionally.

He wants his students to benefit from the creative process that is taught and applied in class.

“It’s more than just technique,” he said. “It’s the fact that they’re problem solving. They’re using creative thinking skills in a way that they don’t in most other classes and even in other classes in our art department. Ceramics is the one class that focuses solely on three-dimensional art forms.”

Mosburg said he originally got involved with ceramics because it sounded like an interesting class.

“I wanted to take it for a while, but I hadn’t been able to get in for the past couple of years,” he said. “It just seemed like a fun class where you get to do your own projects and create what you want to.”

Mosburg is one of two male students in the seventh hour ceramics class. He said he encourages more guys to take ceramics because it’s fun and not gender-specific.

“It’s not really girly,” he said. “You do lots of dirty work — you get dirty lots of days. You get to build things.”

Johnston said students will definitely get messy when working with clay, but it makes ceramics fun.

“For some students, they don’t realize that it is clay, and you will get dirty in the class,” he said. “I think if they can get past that idea of being afraid to get dirty, most students will really enjoy it. I have had some students that have been a bit intimidated by the fact that they have to get their hands dirty or their dress dirty, so I do lose some enthusiasm [from students]

“My favorite part about ceramics is seeing all the glazed, ðQLVKHG SLHFHV ZKHQ WKH\ FRPH RXW RI WKH NLOQ ú — senior Meredith Schmidt

because of that.”

Schmidt said her experiences from ceramics classes required her to practice patience and perseverance.

“I once made a platter four times before I succeeded in finishing it without it cracking,” she said. “I was so annoyed with it by the fourth time, but when it came out of the kiln, it was the best thing I’ve ever made. All the frustration of making it really paid off.”

Ceramics 1 involves getting used to the environment, learning how to work with the clay and learning basic techniques for clay-making.

As a beginning ceramics student, Mosburg said it takes practice to perform the new skills, such as throwing on the wheel.

“Mr. Johnston has said you can throw a hundred good pots to get one, and it takes lots of practice to finally be able to throw on the wheel,” he said. “Doing everything for the first time can be a challenge. It’s not too hard once you start to learn, and everybody’s able to make something.”

The skills developed in Ceramics 1 prepare students for Ceramics 2, where they can produce pieces that go toward portfolios and scholarships.

“Ceramics 2 is more of a studio class — most of the students have a pretty decent understanding of the techniques that it takes to create either functional or sculptural pieces,” Johnston said. “So in Ceramics 2, they’re kind of pushing their creative outlook. They’re looking for ways that they can voice their individuality through the pieces that they’re making.”

Schmidt said working closely with 15 to 20 other students makes it difficult to think of original ideas.

“It’s so easy to just steal their ideas and make them your own — just to say you’ve completed the project,” she said. “The class is much more fun when we come up with our own unique ideas and then compliment each other on their finished pieces.”

Schmidt said students should give ceramics a try because it’s a great way to be creative through a different medium, even if they don’t succeed at other types of art.

“So many kids just blow off art classes to get their credit, when they could actually be really good at it,” she said. “Someone whose strong suit is not drawing could excel in ceramics.

Just because you’re not good at one type of art doesn’t mean you couldn’t be very successful in another.”

November 2011

Check out bvtigernews.com for more ceramics photos as well as photos of other art classes offered at BV.

(Above) Senior Meredith Schmidt concentrates on throwing a pot after school on Nov. 2. Schmidt has taken the classes Ceramics 1 and 2. Photo by Olivia Roudebush.

(Top) Spinning her potter’s wheel, senior Lauren Kostusik creates a bowl. Ceramics is offered at BV and taught by Michael Johnston. Photo by Bailey Outlaw.

(Right) Ceramics teacher Michael Johnston demonstrates different techniques for crafting pots on a throwing wheel for senior Jenna Wiggins. Students learn this skill as part of the curriculum for Ceramics I. Photo by Aubrey Illig.

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November 2011

:[\KLU[Z JYLH[L UL^ OVUVY ZVJPL[PLZ Story by Maddie Jewett.

Photos by Evelyn Davis.

National Math Honor Society Talk to math teachers to find a sponsor.

Find four students who would be willing to help run it.

Lay down ground rules to officers.

These are the steps senior Allen Zhu took to start a chapter of National Math Honor Society (NMHS).

NMHS began this school year when Zhu created the society, along with seniors Brady Buescher, Nick Reding, Spencer Ho and junior Asim Zaidi.

“We started it because we felt math was important,” Zhu said. “It’s one of the most widely used subjects in the world.”

The NMHS provides SAT and ACT math help during the meetings.

NMHS 8\HSPÄJH[PVUZ 3.5 weighted GPA 3.0 unweighted GPA $10 registration fee and forms

They also help students prepare for math contests such as the American Mathematics Competition 10 and 12. Zhu said the leaders are trying to get a speaker from the University of Kansas to come to one of the meetings.

They also plan to do some math games and activities at future meetings.

Sponsor Richard Gill said the main idea of NMHS is to bring students together that have an interest in math.

“The overall purpose is to recognize and honor math students,” he said. “Also, we want the mathematically gifted students to get together and work together.”

Zhu said Gill lets the officers lead NMHS. “Sometimes he steps in and gives us ideas, but usually it’s just been the five of us planing and doing everything,” Zhu said. “He is encouraging us to be independent. He knows that we are capable of leading this thing well.”

Gill said there are two main reasons why students should join the organization.

“One reason for students to join is that it looks good on college applications,” Gill said. “The other reason is to bring like-minded students together. If you enjoy mathematics and excel in mathematics, you need to be able to get together with people who have the same interests as you.”

About 1,800 other National Math Honor Societies exist in the world.

“At first, some people thought this wasn’t something to be taken seriously,” Zhu said. “I know people might think it’s a joke, but it’s not.

The fact that we can be a part of this is a pretty big deal to us, so that’s why we are taking it so seriously.”

For more information, listen to the announcements or look for the group on Facebook.

National History Honor Society Contemporary issues, wars, philosophy, the economy.

All of these topics, plus many more, are ideas that the new National History Honor Society (NHHS) have discussed at the meetings.

Junior Nate Provost began NHHS this year because nothing else like it exists at BV. “There weren’t really any other clubs I

could connect with,” Provost said. “I didn’t have an interest in any of the other academic ones, so I thought it would be a good idea to get this club started. I was inspired to start the club because I saw how much interest my AP Euro class took in history and how much they got involved.”

Provost went to social studies teacher Brian Mowry to ask if he would sponsor the society.

He and the other officers were trying to figure out how they should run the society when they found a website about other National History Honor Societies that existed.

“I had the idea,” he said. “It was all planned out. I just needed to make it work. I wrote a letter to the National History Club in Boston, and they gave me the okay.”

Provost said the process of starting the club was difficult but worth it in the end.

“It’s something I care about,” he said. “I’ve never really cared so much about any other academic thing except history. It’s always been my forté.”

The society meets every other Tuesday in room 608.

Meetings are occasionally on the weekends to watch historical movies.

NHHS has four officers: juniors Blake Staley, Collin Mardis, Travis Strohmeyer and Jamie Brower. Provost said he chose the officers because they all have the same interests.

“We were all upset about the fact that there wasn’t anything like [NHHS],” he said. “The other officers felt the same way I did.”

Provost said NHHS involves discussing current events.

“It’s basically a club that will get people thinking about their views on the government,” he said. “It’s important for people to know where we are headed, why we are the way we are and why we live the way we live. I just wish people would be a little more educated about it.”

Provost said NHHS is different from the other honor societies because they talk about their opinions.

“I feel like students hold back on good ideas that they have and don’t say what they want to say,” he said. “They should be allowed to say whatever they want — that’s the beauty of this club. We say what we think.”

For more information, check out the NHHS on Facebook.

NHHS 8\HSPÄJH[PVUZ Overall 3.0 GPA and 3.5 GPA in history classes At least one AP history class 200 points before graduation $5 registration fee and forms

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18 Take Care Drake

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November 2011

Swimming Just keep

New swim coach looks forward to upcoming season

Instructing one of his students on a club team, coach Adam Bien leads a swim practice. Bien has been chosen to be the new head swim coach at BV. “I’m really excited,” Bien said. “I’ve been an assistant coach for four years, and this is my chance to help more swimmers.” Photo by Maria Fournier.

maddiejewett staff writer Adam Bien, former St. James Academy assistant swim coach, has been announced as the new swim coach.

After Greg House passed away due to stage IV lung cancer in August, administrators were left with the task of finding a new coach for the upcoming season.

For about two months, athletic director Bob Whitehead searched for someone to take House’s place.

“When you find the right person, you can tell,” he said.

“However, when you get it wrong Greg House you can also tell.”

Whitehead said finding a new coach was a struggle.

“It’s hard when the head coach is taken quickly,” he said. “You don’t have as much time to make decisions as you would like. I wasn’t able to start looking immediately. It was a very emotional situation.”

Varsity swimmer senior Beth Houghton said losing House will make the upcoming season difficult.

“The season could go differently,” she said. “But I know that the returning girls will want to do just as well or even better than they have in the previous years — in memory of him.”

Whitehead said House left the swimmers with a number of traditions.

“One legacy he left with the kids is that you can

achieve certain goals if you want to work on it and pay the price,” he said. “They all understand now what it takes to be the best.”

Shan Secrest, who was the girls assistant coach last year, will be the assistant coach for both the girls and boys this year.

The new head swim coach was chosen after approximately six weeks of interviewing potential candidates.

“When I started out, I was looking for someone who understood our program,” Whitehead said. “Someone who was used to the practices Coach House did and had a similar philosophy to what we are used to.”

Whitehead said Bien fits this profile. When he was in high school at BV North, he was one of House’s swimmers. While Bien was there, the swim team won three state championships.

“He knows what kind of swim workouts we’re talking about,“ Whitehead said. “He knows what it takes to get there, and he knows how to win a state championship.”

Bien said he looks forward to being a part of the swim program here.

“I want to maintain the tradition that Coach House started — getting the swimmers to swim to the best of their abilities,” he said.

Varsity swimmer junior Vaughn Ericson said the season won’t be that different.

“I don’t think [having a new swim coach] will affect the season as much as people think,” Ericson said. “We will have the same practice schedule and workouts. It should be an easy transformation.”

Bien said it will be difficult to follow in House’s footsteps.

“One thing Mr. Whitehead and I talked about during the interview process was that I am not Coach House,” Bien said. “I do have lots of the same values as him, but I’m not him. I think that will be hardest thing, just getting the guys and girls accustomed to how I run things.”

Bien said he will push the swimmers to work hard and set goals.

“The hard work ethic is a big part of it — knowing that we’re going to work harder than everyone else,” he said. “I want them to be aware of the end time they will need to get in order to go to State. Each week I’m planning on sitting down with them and talking about their personal goals for the upcoming week.”

There was a meeting for the boys swim team to meet Bien.

“He reviewed his résumé with the boys,” Whitehead said, “He talked to the boys about his previous experiences. He told them he wants to win a state championship. A couple of boys came to me after the meeting and said they were pleased because he has a good background in both club swimming and high school swimming.”

Whitehead said Bien has already given the swimmers some workouts to do before the season starts.

“It’s important that he be himself,“ Whitehead said.

“Many of the workouts will be the same, but he also has developed some of his own.”

Whitehead said choosing Bien has relieved a lot of stress.

“I am happy we are moving forward,” he said. “Sad we had to do it, but happy we have a good quality coach who will hopefully be here for a long period of time.”

November 2011

Assistant wrestling coach hangs up singlet to spend more time with family kellycordingley news editor He is up at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, and his family is still asleep.

He arrives at BV by 6:30 a.m. for the wrestling team to weigh in prior to a tournament.

A jam-packed day of coaching with back-to-back wrestling matches.

He is home by 7 p.m. — if he’s lucky.

His two sons are asleep by now, and his wife hasn’t seen him all day.

Former assistant wrestling coach Jason Peres decided to end his coaching career to spend more time with his family.

“There was not a lot of time left to spend with my family after wrestling,” Peres said. “I am old now. I get worn out. The constant pressure made me wonder ‘Is it worth it?”’

Peres was an assistant wrestling coach at BV for 8 years.

“It was a really hard decision for me to make,” Peres said. “I have to allocate my time. My children were

just more important than wrestling.”

Peres has two sons — Landon who is six months old and Grant who is two years old.

Peres said when Landon was born last year he decided to give up his position.

“When Grant was born, I thought about quitting, too,” he said.

“Now, it was just time.”

With Peres resigning, there will be no wrestling coaches working in the BVHS building, which is something Peres said could possibly harm the program.

“There’s no one to speak at the assemblies, and the kids can’t run by and tell something to their coach,” he said. “It’s hard to build a good program without a face in the program here.”

Coaches usually seek out wrestlers before the season begins, but without a coach at BV, that won’t happen.

“We are going to have to rely on kids naturally coming out for wrestling,” Peres said.

Although he said he will miss be-

ing a coach, he feels like he will still be part of the team.

“I can take Grant to wrestling matches now,” Peres said. “I think my kids would be great wrestlers.”

Wrestler junior Jacob Sims said Peres not only made the wrestlers better through practices, but made practices more fun and comfortable.

“We’d have life conversations,” Sims said. “He was always there to talk to.”

Wrestler senior Kellen Rios said Peres made the wrestlers think about more than just wrestling.

“He was a different type of coach,” Rios said. “He was able to help us out and make us think about life.”

Wrestling coach and teacher at Blue Valley Academy Chris Paisley, said Peres was a lot of fun and had a great sense of humor.

Even though Paisley said he will miss Peres being a coach, he understands why he came to the decision.

“Now he’s got two little kids he gets to play with,” he said. “And that is even more fun.”

tigerturf

TIGER

TURF

BV SPORTS

sports in brief FOOTBALL

Previous Action:

10/28 vs Gardner Edgerton (W 40-6) 11/4 vs Lansing (W 56-7) Upcoming Action: 11/11 @ Bishop Miege

VOLLEYBALL

Playoff Results: Substate — 10/22 vs BV Southwest (W) 10/22 vs Bishop Miege (L)

BOYS SOCCER

important info

FYI The Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake will face off in the MLS Cup 2011 on Nov. 20, kickoff 8 p.m.

The boys soccer team became the 5A State Runner-Up after the State game against Liberal High School.

The Kansas City Chiefs are currently tied with San Diego and Oakland for first place in the AFC West.

The Tiger football team plays Bishop Miege High School tonight at Miege, game time 7 p.m.

in the news Winter sports tryout dates: Boys Basketball Nov. 14-16 — Sophomores, juniors and seniors, 3:15-5:30 p.m.

Nov. 14-16 — Freshmen, 5:30-7:45 p.m.

Girls Basketball Nov. 14-16 — Sophomores, juniors and seniors, 3-5 p.m.

Nov. 14-16 — Freshmen, 5-7 p.m.

Girls Bowling Dec. 5 or 6 Boys Swimming Nov. 14 — Swimming pool Wrestling Nov. 14 — Wrestling room

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Playoff Results: 11/1 @ St. Thomas Aquinas (W) 11/4 vs Kapaun Mt. Carmel (W 1-0) 11/5 vs Liberal (L 3-1)

CROSS COUNTRY

Playoff Results: 10/22 Regionals — Girls placed 3rd, boys placed 2nd 10/29 State — Girls placed 8th, boys placed 6th

GIRLS TENNIS

Playoff Results: State — 4th place with 31 ½ points

GIRLS GOLF Playoff Results: Regionals — 3rd place State — 9th place

Results current as of Nov. 7

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incolor

November 2011

Adoring the Arts

Performing arts and visual arts students show skills during annual Fine Arts Potpourri

The BV drumline performs for students at the Fine Arts Potpourri. The drumline features 10 students. “I love how we are so close to each other, almost like brothers and sisters,” junior Bingjie Li said. Photo by Olivia Roudebush.

Junior Mikayla Foss belts out powerful notes during Chambers’ performance of Journey’s “Any Way You Want It.” The singers put on a choreographed performance with red outfits and familiar songs. “It was nerve racking because it is in front of all of my peers,” Foss said.

“If I have a good time, then that is all that matters.” Photo by Dakota Behrman.

Senior Danny Theisen explains the benefits of asteroid detection in the debate demonstration. With a short time limit, the debaters used persuasive arguments and a touch of comedy to win the students’ votes. “You can use more humor when you are talking in front of students,” Theisen said. “It differs between whether I’m talking to a parent or a student and joking about dying in fires.” Photo by Dakota Behrman.

Check out bvtigernews.com for more photos from the event.

Orchestra member senior Gabi Fordiani concentrates on her performance at the Fine Arts Potpourri on Nov. 3. Along with the orchestra, the jazz band and the drumline performed for BV students. Photo by Olivia Roudebush.