April 2019 Issue

THE

SURVEYOR

Volume 62 Issue 4

22 APRIL 2019

Cover photo taken by Gabe Greco, edited by Van Novak

Letter from the editor This issue is Mr. Phillips’ last regular issue, so on behalf of all of the students who he has taught and advised, thank you.

I would like to introduce the 201920 Surveyor Editors! This issues staff box features the current editors posing with their successors.

In this issue you can read the feature about accommodations given to students during different exams.

In the profiles section we revisited three previous FBOMS in their senior year. In A&E you can read about Wash grad, Billy Lemos’, success in music industry. In the news section you can read about two under appreciated warrior teams, the Academic Decathlon team and the Robotics team. This month’s editorial discusses George Orwell’s book “1984” and its effect on the interpretation of government. In the sports section you can read about Keaton Woods’ return playing soccer for Wash.

-Benjamin Janssen

2018-2019 Surveyor Editors

Editor-in-Chief- Ben Janssen Business Manager- Bryan Ennis Webmaster- Miguel Jacobo Multimedia Editor- Kaden Fields Chief Photographer- Gabe Greco A&E Editor- Seth Keppler Profiles Editor- Sophie Lindwall Sports Editor- Isaac Gomez News Editor- Abby Throndson Co-Opinions Editor- Matthew Gearhart Co-Opinions Editor- Jaydin McMickle Copy Editor- Jessie Koozer Copy Editor- Grace McKinstry Copy Editor- Paris McNutt Adviser- Kyle Phillips, CJE

News Editor- Jessie Koozer

Profiles Editor- Sophie Lindwall

Opinions Editor- Matthew Gearhart

A&E Editor- Grace McKinstry

Sports Editor- Isaac Gomez

Copy Editor- Lindsay Gordon

Buisness Manager- Jared Barger Multimedia Editor- Kaden Fields Web Master- Jared Barger 2

Staff Box

Editor-in-Chief

Benjamin Janssen

News

04 07 11 14 17 20

Opinions Feature Profiles Sports

A&E

Benjamin Janssen

4 - Staff Buds to Berate Berate Behavior - Farley’s Leave Won’t Stop the Music 5 - April Showers Bring May... Floods?

6 - Robots - Academic Decathalon 7 - Editorial: George Orwells 1984 and Its Interpretation of Government 8 - How to Rock the Croc - Computers for All 9 - Review on Blocks 11 -Accommodations Available 14 - Wash’s Golden Page - Piano Progidy 15 - FBOMs 16 - FBOMs Revisited 17 - Hannah Heading to Hawks 18 - Keaton Playing For a Purpose 20 - Music Technology - Billy Lemos 21 - Edith Lucielle’s Food Review 22 - Washington Steppers - So You Just Turned 18?

- An American Treasure

Editor-in-Chief

Table of Contents

3

Staff Buds to Berate Behavior

New Security Staff Hired to Help Behavioral Issues at Wash

Jessie Koozer Copy Editor

Recently at Washington High School a decision was made to add more security guards to ensure student safety. The addition brought two All Event Security (AES) guards and two guards provided by the district. Two other schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School district that also have security guards, Jefferson and Kennedy, have three and two, respectively. Neither Jefferson or Kennedy have AES guards.

According to associate principal Darius Ballard, the AES security was brought, not because of specific incidents at Wash, but for prevention of altercations before they escalate into violence.

“We’ve tried to increase our presence so there’s higher visibility, so if things are going on we know about it. But equally important if there’s things that are boiling underneath the surface they [security guards] will know about it so we can do something about it before it becomes an actual fight,” said Ballard.

During 2019 alone there have been 11 arrests at Wash, but Ballard says the arrests were not the reason why more security was hired.

“We had three security guards a few years ago and then we had to cut down to one.

But after a fight that occurred we got the greenlight to have three more, which we felt we needed. It’s really just one more than what we used to have.” said Ballard.

Although they seem different to students as they have different attire, the AES guards have the same responsibilities as the guards hired through the CRCSD. “Our school security responsibilities really haven’t changed. They (AES guards) will fill the same role that the school security has always filled at Washington High School.

We want to have four full time people here to promote a safe and orderly environment for students that is conducive to learning for everyone,” said principal John Cline.

New AES guard in the Wash Cafeteria.

Photo By Gabe Greco

Farley’s Leave Won’t Stop the Music Kaden Fields Multimedia Editor The Slice of Jazz program at Washington High School has always been recognized for its participation in the art media. The symphony of students express the genre of jazz with a high rate of success and skill. But with their director Amy Farley on leave due to her pregnancy, it’s wondered how her absence will affect the group’s upcoming championships.

“My colleague, Mr. Westphalen, will be taking over Slice of Jazz while I am gone. He will finish out the vocal jazz season with them. This will include All-State Jazz auditions and the Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships,” 4

News

said Farley. “I will be gone for 8-9 weeks. I am due February 25th and will return at the beginning of May. Mr. Westphalen and I are working together to create deadlines which will secure great success for Slice. Ms. Rachael Demaree will be my long term sub during my leave. I am very excited to see how the leaders in our program step up while I am gone and take on new responsibilities. I am also thrilled to let our students work with another outstanding female choir director and to learn from her. What a great experience!”

Continuing, the students are going

to be greatly affected by her leave and will have to workaround their teachers absence.

“I think the biggest challenge will be getting the styling and details perfected. Mrs. Farley keeps the ensemble honest and always pushes us to the next level on each song we do. Without that kind of leadership, we will have to work a lot harder on our own, said Ian Wolverton-Weiss, ’21.

On Mar. 27, the Slice of Jazz group won the Iowa Jazz champs and gained praise for their performances, which occurred during Farley’s absence.

News Editor

Abby Throndson

April Showers Bring May...Floods?

Jaydin McMickle Co-Opinions Editor After the treacherous winter of extreme cold and endless snow storms that accumulated a lot of snow. Cedar Rapids finally came to an end we faced another problem we are so familiar with. Flooding.

Warm weather and rain caused the snow to rapidly melt and go down stream.

Paul Linville ‘19 wasn’t scared and didn’t think Cedar Rapids was really going to flood.

The news and weather channel kept citizens on their toes the week of spring break, because the Cedar River was rising rapidly.

Within the morning of the March 18th, the water was rising fast and the city was preparing sandbags and barriers just in case the flood waters exceeded their expectations.

Mid-afternoon of March 19, the Cedar River was predicted to crest at 18.5 feet according to KCRG, but did

not do a lot of major damage.

A good majority of people didn’t know the circumstances of the weather forecast. “We were flooding?” Mariah Rodriguez, ‘19 said.

The crest of the river happened to fall on the first day of spring break for the Cedar Rapids Community School District, any people weren’t even in town to witness the flood.

The flooding isn’t getting better either. As of March 31 the Mississippi River is on the rise and is about three feet above moderate flood stage and it is projected to go up to major flood stage on April 2.

The big question is what caused the flooding to increase so quickly? This spring the Cedar River has 24% more to reaching its major flood stage.

Also the river is three times more likely to cause a major flood this spring. The flood risk is the amount of snow we’ve had during the winter

months, and how it accumulated in such a short span of time that the city couldn’t remove the snow fast enough.

With the immense amount of snow that couldn’t be cleaned up in a timely manner due to more snow falling.

The city only had so many places to put the snow besides creating giant snow mountains, which melted and caused more problems. In the light of this story, Governor Kim Reynolds has been talking about flood preparation and a bill (which has been passed to be stopped) that would allow Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to use a state loan to purchase land for water quality projects to protect homes in Iowa from flooding.

The flooding in the past weeks has closed roads in Cedar Rapids cancelled school in some areas including Dubuque, but the flood ended up not being as major as predicted.

Flooding occured near the 2nd Avenue Bridge, due to snow melting and excessive rain.

Photo by Jaydin McMickle Abby Throndson

News Editor

News

5

ROBOTS Abby Throndson News Editor As robots take over our lives, the Washington robotics team is hard at work building their own.

Robotics team had a surprising season this winter. The team is comprised of freshmen through seniors, led by Senior Co-President, Chloe Hamer, and Junior Co-President, Paiton Pumroy.

The Warrior robotics team is part of the First Tech Challenge (FTC) league, which is a league that hosts competitions for middle school and high school Lego League and robotics teams across the nation.

This year, the co-presidents decided to divide and conquer. The students were separated into groups to better

Jared Barger Staff Reporter

suit everyone’s skills and keep the team efficient. The groups of students work on specific tasks, such as building, design and programming.

They even have a finance team. While the team doesn’t receive very much funding, this year they were able to have fundraisers and apply for grants to help them with supplies to build their robot and entrance fees to the competitions. Because of their lack of funds, the team is constantly having to reuse parts from previous robots and are even having to hold together the parts with duct tape sometimes.

Something that really threw a curveball for the students this year was that their adviser, Joshua Eaton,

was gone for six weeks during the competition season due to a military training program. All of the leadership fell onto the students, and in November, Wash students might have seen Hamer walking around with a clipboard asking people to volunteer when Wash hosted a robotics meet.

Whatever they did this year really made a difference as the team did qualify for the Super Qualifiers Regional competition in Iowa City, something that hasn’t been done in the time that Hamer has been at Wash.

They didn’t perform as well as they hoped, but they all walked out proud of the work they had put in.

Academic Decathlon

Alongside of sports, music, dance and other clubs, one of the groups that succeeded this year for Washington was Academic Decathlon, coached by Jordan Hill.

This academic club competes in many events to showcase their knowledge in many categories, as well as critical thinking and preparation skills.

They competed in multiple academic events including science, social science, language arts, math, music, arts, interview, speech, and essay.

Washington placed fourth in the state in their large competition which was one of the better outcomes they’ve had. Hill has been doing Decathlon for five years and lead the team to success this year along with longtime members Jonah Gray and Walker Ochs among others.

“There are 10 events in the 6 News

competition, seven being multiple “It’s pretty fun and not too difficult,” choice. There is also a play, an interview, said Hagen. and an essay portion,” said Hill. “The If you are looking for something else events are scored individually and the to do at Wash next year, Academic overall rating is the whole team.”

Decathlon may be for you.

Every member of the team The Academic Decathalon team yearcontributes to the outcome, so be sure book photo. to congratulate our fellow Warriors.

Photo by Jordan Hill Freshmen E s t e l l e Schneidermann and Asle Hagen enjoyed being a part of the team and the experience this year. They look forward to continuing to represent Washington in their remaining years at Wash.

News Editor Abby Throndson

Editorial:

George Orwell’s 1984 and Its Interpretation of Government

What are the government’s intentions? Are the values our society upholds just? You might answer these questions with a remark of absolute certainty. That we live in a prosperous and free democracy with societal and governmental doctrines that better us as a people. Maybe so, but how can you prove this? Do you know this from an evaluation of commonly held beliefs or because civilization told you so?

The truth is that we can’t accept everything as a given, no society is truly free, and to think so is redundant of what freedom truly indicates. You must constantly question whether the morals, values and opinions outlined in popular culture are right and justified through your own moral compass. It requires skepticism of what the news, the government, and your school tells you.

of Ingsoc. He inquired the true intentions and reality behind the overbearing regime.

The one key understanding of existing power structures is that the end goal is ultimately absolute power over their subjects. Because, like any institution or individual, they themselves are of high (if not top) priority. They have aspirations of money and power.

A byproduct of understanding this concept should be one of increased perceptual awareness of schemes or propaganda from existing institutions of authority and the realization that a government incentive may be a ploy to increasingly infringe on your individual rights.

the capacity of our society and its filter on our perception. In 1984, the population’s entire reality and history is under complete control of the government. The government has authority over historical documents, meaning they create their own history in a way to which occupants of Ingsoc are completely submissive and reliant to their beuruacracy. Fake wars, false crimes, imaginary enemies, backwards morals, limited language. The people don’t know any better.

“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street “We know that no one ever seizes building has been renamed, every power with the intention of relindate has been altered. And the quishing it. Power is not a means; it process is continuing day by day is an end. We know that no one ever and minute by minute. History has seizes power with the intention of re- stopped. Nothing exists except an linquishing it. Power is not a means, endless present in which the Party it is an end. One does not establish a is always right.” ‘1984. dictatorship in order to safeguard a It is clear that our society is far from revolution; one makes the revolution this dystopia, but Orwell’s intent was a warning to avoid the use of in order to establish the dictatorideologies that lead to government totalitarianism. And an opinion, that ship.” ‘1984.

The book “1984”, written by English author, George Orwell, is a fictional novel about a dystopian future in which the world has fallen to the reigns of absolute totalitarianism.

The story takes place under a collective government called “Ingsoc.” One where basic human rights are absent and the powers that be have unchecked power. Where an organized collective hatred for an imaginary enemy is constructed in order to keep the civilians dull and unaware. This novel was more than just a warning to the people of the potential for totalitarian oppression within the contemporary political organization of government, but a sort of analysis that any society or government can create propaganda, and modes of Ingsoc is an example of heightrelinquishing power from individuened authority over a population. It als. Throughout the entire book, you is a construction of the prime modes follow the story of Winston Smith, a of control and submission within a man under the absolute hegemony society. The utter extremes to which of Ingsoc. Your average individual, a government can dictate and mahe works as a records editor within a nipulate the populace and their department under the government. mind. Many times we often forget Although, there’s one peculiarity our governments sheer capability of about him compared to other citizens coercion. But we must understand Matthew Gearhart Co-Opinion Editor

the government requires constant inquiry. Because politics evolves, and devolves. This is what it can become, at its worst. So question and critique your government and society. Rethink what’s been told to you. Have an independent mind. Be a Winston.

7/8 Editors Agree Opinions

7

How to rock the Croc In the early 2000s, slide on rubber clogs hit the fashion scene, people had mixed Jaydin McMickle feelings about the Co-Opinions Editor clog and what the purpose was. People would wear crocs if they worked in a kitchen or saved children when in danger of drowning. Crocs easily left the scene and instantly became grotesque in the fashion world, leaving the rubber clogs unloved. Leaving the question, are crocs coming back and staying or should they be left for Mario Batali.

But within in the last two years the rubber has made a comeback within athletes, and everyday people who enjoy the comfortable casual footwear. Even Celebrities have gotten into action. In early November, Rapper Post Malone collaborated with Crocs and came out with his own pair of custom crocs with barbed wire and charms for fans to buy, and according to footwearnew.com the special edition crocs sold out within 10 minutes of being put on the web and had a second release and sold out again within the first 10 minutes also.

Yet people still don’t get the point of the shoe and that it is the ugliest footwear to be put on the market.

Senior Nicholas Garrelts gave it a big thumbs down and so did Kaylea Staab, ‘19, “If you are a television chef or a five year old you are allowed to but otherwise no you shouldn’t wear them, they are ugly.”

But the people on the other end find the holey shoes comfortable and stylish (in their own way) and are back on trend for good. “I have a bunch of pairs.” Lily Palmershime ‘20 said.

It isn’t the fashion, people just think they are comfortable and are easy to put outfits together with them. “I wouldn’t wear them, but if you want to why not?” Madison Bartlett ‘19 said.

On the other side people adore the rubber shoes. “They are comfortable, and not as ugly as people say, and you can wear them to WalMart at one A.M. and to casual events and they have charms you can put on them,” Hunter Bartlett ‘19 said.

“They are relatively cheap, for a shoe that will last you 10 years.”

Bartlett ‘19. said.

Despite all the hype of Crocs coming back, the Crocs company did close their last manufacturing plant in June of 2018 to “simplify the business and

improve profitability” the Crocs company said in regards of closing the plant, but they made it very clear they are not going anywhere.

Crocs have came a long way in the past five years, and completely made a comeback. All though the shoes may have haters, the comfort and price still will win over forever Croc fans.

Katiana Arnold, ’19, posing in her yellow Crocs. Photo by Jaydin McMickle

Quick thought: Computers for all Jessie Koozer Copy Editor

The 2019-20 school year will be quite different than usual with the promise of laptops being given to each student at WHS at no cost. For the most part, students who I have talked to are excited whereas teachers are less enthusiastic.

I believe that while there are many pros, some of the cons are substan8

Opinion

tial. Since many papers, projects, and homework assignments that students do require technology, these laptops will tremendously help students who don’t have a computer or electronic device of their own.

Also, class activities where computer or technology access was limited will no longer be a burden to students.

Although there are some great benefits, a problem I concur is that

if most schoolwork will be moved online, handwritten assignments and notes will likely not be as common.

But for many students handwriting notes is essential for learning new material.

The laptops will definitely be a different experience but I am intrigued to see how it will go.

Co-Opinion Editor

Jaydin McMickle

Review on Blocks

After a small taste of block scheduling, this is how we feel.

During the school-wide standardized assessments this year, the schedule was different than what Abby Throndson students had seen in the News Editor past. After assessments were over, the classes for the day were each 86 or 87 minutes, and students only went to two classes a day, a taste of block scheduling.

But it wasn’t a pleasant taste. Sitting in a class for a hour and a half wasn’t ideal to many Wash students. I wasn’t the only one who was caught thinking, “When is this going to be over?” in some of my favorite classes. This sample of block has really put me off of the idea of it being implemented here.

In a block schedule, students go to four classes a day. Some schools alternate classes on A and B days, and some switch classes in semesters. Either way wouldn’t satisfy the high school students, teachers, and administrators.

Teenagers get bored easily, and their attention span doesn’t last very long. Sitting a group of students down, some of whom don’t want to be here, will just dissuade those students from doing better in school. They will fall asleep, not pay attention, and earn lower grades, which is something the administrators are trying to combat on our “normal” schedule now.

Some teachers at the school also can’t make plans for an 80-minute period. There are days that I find myself and my classmates starting our homework early because we got through the teachers lesson plan quicker than he thought we would. Doing two days of instruction in one class period would give students more downtime in classes, which doesn’t serve any purpose to either party involved.

Block also doesn’t work efficiently for Advanced Placement classes. There is a certain Jaydin McMickle

Co-Opinion Editor

amount of material that needs to be taught before the AP exam in May, and no matter what modified block we are on, some of that material won’t be covered in an efficient manner.

Seems like it isn’t a good choice for a school that’s pushing people to take AP classes and exams.

One beneficial point to block is that there are less periods in a day, giving kids less homework per night. There is also more focus on each class because there are less of them, and teachers have longer planning periods, but there is a big downside to that. When students miss classes due to being sick or extracurriculars, the students actually miss two days of instruction.

This also applies to snow days, which we have seen a lot of Test Block Schedule this school year. Wednesday, April 3 – Same bell schedule We would have to cover more 8:00 – 10:30 ISASP Testing (150 minutes) material in less time. Adding 10:35 – 11:57 Period 4 (82 min) time to school 10:35 – 11:15 A Lunch (40 min) days wouldn’t be an efficient 11:19 – 11:57 A Class (38 option, causing Minutes) more time at the 10:35 – 11:13 B Class (38 end of the year.

Minutes) Block schedul11:17 – 11:57 B Lunch (40 ing just doesn’t Minutes) work with the environment at 12:02 – 1:28 Period 3 (86 min) Wash, and es1:33 – 3:00 Period 5 (87 min) pecially doesn’t coincide with the goals for the high school administration.

Opinions

9

ADVERTISEMENTS

Check out our website @ CrWashSurveyor. com!

Our website includes: -A link to a digital version of our latest paper -Stories that are only found online -Weekly Polls -Links to all our social media pages -A calendar of key events going on -And more!

10

Ads

Want your ad featured here?

Talk to Kyle Phillips or Bryan Ennis, or email us at CRWashsurveyor@gmail.com to claim your spot in our next issue!

“Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.”

-George Orwell

Thanks to the Social Studies department for sponsoring our digital issue.

3234 Center Point Rd. NE Sun – Thu: 11:00 am – 8:30 pm Fri & Sat: 11:00 am – 9:30 pm 319-364-4313

Business Manager

Bryan Ennis

Accommodations Available Benjamin Janssen Editor-in-Chief

As students start preparing for the onslaught of upcoming tests, some will face additional hurdles to overcome. For some of these barriers, the testing company will give people various accommodations, with an extended time being the most common. Some students may even qualify for large font tests and answer sheets, or even having an aide to help read questions or write down responses. “We offer a number of different types of accommodations to students with documented disabilities.

The most common accommodation that we provide is extra time. Our national extended time testing, which is offered on national ACT test dates, provides students with time and a half (standard time plus 50 percent) on each test. There are more extensive options available for students who need more time,� Edward Colby, an ACT representative, said.

In order to receive accommodations students must provide documentation of their impairment, proof that it will affect test taking, and in some cases, an evaluation from a qualified professional.

Below are some of the things that may qualify a student for an accomodation during the ACT or during AP testing.

Benjamin Janssen

Editor-in-Chief

Feature

11

the test because you don’t really have time to just take a break,” Phillip* said.

Test Anxiety Test anxiety is when people get especially anxious during a test or while preparing for one.This can cause panic attacks and severely slow down test preparation and test taking. This can be caused by any number of things, but the majority time, test anxiety is due to nerves and frustration caused by any of these other things.

Test anxiety can also be caused if a student is feeling a tremendous amount of pressure to perform well during a test. This pressure seems to be amplified for students at Washington.

“When you’re taking the test you get test anxiety so you get really shaky and you can’t really focus as well as other people can during tests because you’re not focusing on the test, you’re focusing on trying to calm down and that makes it really hard because you run out of time,” Phillip* said.

Washington has sat atop the Iowa AP Index for the past 9 years and has been in the top three every year since the creation of the list in 2005. This shows how much pressure is put upon our students every year to not only take as many exams as possible, but perform better than anyone else at them.

As test season approaches quickly, students are scrambling to prepare for their ACTs, SATs, PSATs, AP tests and finals, this pressure builds up and creates a tremendous amount of stress in the students. “It makes test anxiety worse because there are more people

counting on you other than yourself.

You don’t want to disappoint anyone, especially your teachers. So my anxiety gets worse when I take tests because it feels like so much is riding on a single test,” Phillip* said.

Some people believe testing accommodations are going too far.

Recently the College Board made their system for approving accomodations faster and much more lenient.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the College Board for ACT and PSAT approves of about 92 percent and the SAT approves 85 percent of applicants with less than 10 percent of those for physical disabilities. This acceptance rate has increased the amount of applications for accommodations so the amount of students who apply for, and receive accommodations has drastically increased. In 2010-11 80,000 students applied for accommodations during the AP test, in 2015-16 that number doubled to 160,000. The accommodations make testing easier by allowing more breaks, use of a better calculator, or use of a computer to write essays.

Some critics say this creates an uneven playing field. This allows

some students to get accomodations when they don’t necessarily need one, giving them an unfair advantage over their peers. Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, a special education and disability attorney told the Wall Street Journal. ““If the test is no longer standardized, then what are we paying for?”

Recently these accommodations were exploited allowing students to cheat during tests. These students pretended to have learning disabilities in order to take a test in a secluded room. Then the proctors were bribed to help the students answer the questions correctly.

There are other impairments that may qualify a student for accomodations.

If you think you qualify for a testing accommodation, visit the website for the test you’re taking to see if you qualify and what accomodations can be given.

Feature photos taken by Gabe Greco

Benjamin Janssen

Editor-in-Chief

Feature

13

the test because you don’t really have time to just take a break,” Phillip* said.

Test Anxiety Test anxiety is when people get especially anxious during a test or while preparing for one.This can cause panic attacks and severely slow down test preparation and test taking. This can be caused by any number of things, but the majority time, test anxiety is due to nerves and frustration caused by any of these other things.

Test anxiety can also be caused if a student is feeling a tremendous amount of pressure to perform well during a test. This pressure seems to be amplified for students at Washington.

“When you’re taking the test you get test anxiety so you get really shaky and you can’t really focus as well as other people can during tests because you’re not focusing on the test, you’re focusing on trying to calm down and that makes it really hard because you run out of time,” Phillip* said.

Washington has sat atop the Iowa AP Index for the past 9 years and has been in the top three every year since the creation of the list in 2005. This shows how much pressure is put upon our students every year to not only take as many exams as possible, but perform better than anyone else at them.

As test season approaches quickly, students are scrambling to prepare for their ACTs, SATs, PSATs, AP tests and finals, this pressure builds up and creates a tremendous amount of stress in the students. “It makes test anxiety worse because there are more people

counting on you other than yourself.

You don’t want to disappoint anyone, especially your teachers. So my anxiety gets worse when I take tests because it feels like so much is riding on a single test,” Phillip* said.

Some people believe testing accommodations are going too far.

Recently the College Board made their system for approving accomodations faster and much more lenient.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the College Board for ACT and PSAT approves of about 92 percent and the SAT approves 85 percent of applicants with less than 10 percent of those for physical disabilities. This acceptance rate has increased the amount of applications for accommodations so the amount of students who apply for, and receive accommodations has drastically increased. In 2010-11 80,000 students applied for accommodations during the AP test, in 2015-16 that number doubled to 160,000. The accommodations make testing easier by allowing more breaks, use of a better calculator, or use of a computer to write essays.

Some critics say this creates an uneven playing field. This allows

some students to get accomodations when they don’t necessarily need one, giving them an unfair advantage over their peers. Miriam Kurtzig Freedman, a special education and disability attorney told the Wall Street Journal. ““If the test is no longer standardized, then what are we paying for?”

Recently these accommodations were exploited allowing students to cheat during tests. These students pretended to have learning disabilities in order to take a test in a secluded room. Then the proctors were bribed to help the students answer the questions correctly.

There are other impairments that may qualify a student for accomodations.

If you think you qualify for a testing accommodation, visit the website for the test you’re taking to see if you qualify and what accomodations can be given.

Feature photos taken by Gabe Greco

Benjamin Janssen

Editor-in-Chief

Feature

13

Wash’s Golden Page

Olivia Kennedy Serves as a Page at State Capitol

Grace McKinstry Copy Editor While many of us follow the conventional high school path of balancing mandatory classes with electives and participating in a few extracurriculars, Olivia Kennedy, ‘19, chose a unique way to conclude her high school experience.

Kennedy currently resides in Des Moines. She works at the State Capitol for the Legislative Service Agency, a nonpartisan division of the government that drafts legislation, redistricts, and provides assistance to legislators. “I mainly deliver bills, staff some committee meetings, and do other clerical work for LSA,” said Kennedy.

As a page, Kennedy has also received the opportunity to partake in “lunch and learns” with prominent figures in the Iowa government, including Governor Kim Reynolds.

“I’ve had the chance to meet a lot of influential people in the state and federal governments, and there is a group of about 30 other like-minded high school seniors from all over the state who also page,” said Kennedy.

In addition to her busy schedule in Des Moines, Kennedy is still enrolled at Wash, taking three online classes. She remains president of Wash’s Amnesty International club, and is co-president of orchestra. According to Adam Witte, Amnesty adviser, it is no surprise that Kennedy is able to successfully juggle all of this at ease.

“She has been deeply involved in the #MarchForOurLives movement for more than a year, and her leadership in Amnesty International here at Washington both go to show that Olivia is not just interested in learning, but in doing,” said Witte.

Kennedy’s experience has reinforced her goal of entering politics.

“My dream is to work for the Equal Justice Initiative or a different organization that works to bring equality to the criminal justice system,” said Kennedy.

“It is the best of both worlds for her: she is learning by doing,” said Witte.

Photo by Victoria Fillipi

Piano Prodigy

Seth Keppler A&E Editor Among the many students walking through the halls of Washington High School is a musical prodigy. Fifteen year old Grant Lapointe ’22 has been playing piano for 11 years and also can play drums, tenor saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. At Wash Lapointe is part of Wind Symphony and Jazz Band.

Lapointe has played in Jazz bands at Franklin Middle School and since seventh grade Lapointe has been part of the Jazz bands at Washington. In seventh grade he was a part of Jazz Also. As an eighth grader he joined Revs and has been playing with them since. At a jazz competition Lapointe was recognized as a 4A Liberty Jazz Fest Outstanding Soloist.

Outside of school Lapointe is 14

Profiles

Grant Lapointe

heavily involved with music. He is the drummer for a band at his church and is frequently writing songs or making music of some kind. His favorite kind of music is Jazz., “Everytime you play jazz with another person it’s always different,” said Lapointe, but he never gets bored of jazz, “ When I’m tired of one style I just take a break and try out a another,” At 9 years old Lapointe started playing blues piano, learning different styles and techniques via YouTube.

Later he took piano lessons from Steve Shanley at Coe College. All years combined, Lapointe estimates he has won around 14 awards performing with different jazz bands. As for the future, Lapointe will continue with

his school work and he plans to stay in Revs until he graduates. After high school Lapointe dreams of becoming a film scorer or composing music for motion pictures.

Photo courtesy of Grant Lapointe

Profiles Editor

Sophie Lindwall

March FBOM* Taye Fields

Sophie Lindwall Profiles Editor

It’s a cool summer night. You’re in front of a crackling campfire. You look up at the night sky constellations are shining down on you. A handsome boy’s arm is wrapped around your shoulders. That boy? None other than freshman Taye Fields. Fields is on the market and is looking for someone that will put up with his bad jokes and is down to Earth.

“I try to be myself. I don’t like it when others hide behind a mask of fake emotions, so if someone wants a person that doesn’t pretend to be someone they aren’t, I’m that person,” Fields said.

Fields participates in cross country, loves weight-lifting, skateboarding

Photos by Gabe Greco

Favorite Movie: It/ Logan Favorite Song: Panama by Van Halen Favorite Music Genre: Classic Rock Favorite Animal: Markhor Favorite Subject: LA with Hilton Favorite TV Show: Parks and Rec Pet Peeve: “When people ask me to do tricks on a longboard.”

April FBOM Alim Penn

Jessie Koozer Copy Editor

Favorite Movie: Rush Hour Favorite Song: Giant Steps by John Coltrane Music Genre: Hip-Hop Favorite Animal: Penguin Favorite Color: Purple Dream Vacation: Japan Favorite Subject: Japanese Favorite TV Show: Atlanta

* Freshman Bachelor of the Month Sophie Lindwall

and longboarding, as well as making music. He loves to be out in the woods and exploring. If the idea of an adventure with this boy makes you blush, don’t be afraid to hit him up!

Are you a lady who’s looking for a nice guy and a chess partner? Well, you should check this boy out! Alim Penn is a tall, kind, athletic freshman who enjoys having fun. His ideal date is to spend a full day at an amusement park.

Penn is looking for a girl that treats others well, has a good sense of humor and common sense.

“My dream girl is someone who loves me with their fullest,” said Penn.

Alim plays baseball and is in Brothers to Brothers, and in his free time, he likes to cook and play chess.

If you’re a kind and funny girl who has common sense, consider making a move on this cutie before someone else does.

Profiles Editor

Profiles

15

FBOM REVISITED Ben Janssen Editor in Chief

Freshman to Senior Year

David Hebrink, ’19, was the FBOM for the Surveyors October 2015 issue, and that story helped his personal life. You may have seen Hebrink playing snare drum the past four years or helping lead the JV 2 bad boys soccer team. Hebrink is no longer single and would describe himself as “very taken”.

Hebrink now has a girlfriend to go with him on his ideal date “I like hiking”.

Thanks to the Surveyor story, Hebrink is no longer alone. “David being a freshman bachelor of the month made me want to date him because it gave me a good first look at what it would be like to go out with him. I kind of got a pre-first date by reading about what he likes and what he was looking for.

Also, I thought he was pretty cute,” said David’s girlfriend Rachel Girman, ’20.

Bennett Cooper ’19 was the last FBOM of the 2015-16 school year, and was featured in the April issue. This member of Momentum would describe his relationship status, at the time of this story, as “kinda complicated.” If Cooper finds time in between partying with friends and playing FIFA he’d take his girl on a date. “My dream date is the Champions League final, or maybe in space, in space would be pretty cool, just have a nice steak dinner on a satellite,” said Cooper.

A lot has changed for Cooper since April 2016. One of these changes is that he no longer seems obsessed with identifying insects. Another thing that has changed is the interest Cooper has received from the ladies, “the girls have been flocking.”

Photos courtesy of the students

Ella Peckosh, ’19, was the lone female FBOM of the 2015-16 school year.

Peckosh was featured in the February2016 issue. Peckosh, a member of Momentum and the Interact social chair, would describe her relationship status as “currently in a relationship” and the Surveyor story must have played a large role in this.

Peckosh recanted the epic story of how the small profile on her four years ago led to so much happiness as she is now in a relationship.

“I guess I’m not single so it must have helped a little bit at least,” Peckosh said.

16

Profiles

Profiles Editor

Sophie Lindwall

Hannah Heading to Hawks Miguel Jacobo Web Editor With colleges and universities in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa looking at the young freshman, Hannah Stuelke, ‘22, has committed to the University of Iowa on a full ride scholarship for women’s basketball. Stuelke’s skills came to the attention of Iowa last year when she was an 8th grader. It was at that time that they had first offered her the scholarship. Throughout this season, Stuelke has scored well over 300 points and has made more than half of her shots, catching the attention of many schools around the country.

“It took me a while to decide, but just being there and getting to know the coaches, I knew I wanted to go there,” said Stuelke. “They (Iowa) contacted my coach and they gave me their number and I made the call.”

Stuelke’s teammates were very excited to hear about her opportunity.

“I’m very proud of her. She’s very hard working and it’s very well earned,” says Isa Truemper, ‘20. “On the court, she always gets us going!”

Joel Decker, Assistance Varsity Women’s Basketball Coach,

as well as the rest of the coaching staff was very excited to hear about Stuelke’s commitment to Iowa.

“First and foremost, the University of Iowa is an outstanding educational institution where Hannah can get a world class education. The women’s basketball team at Iowa is consistently near the top of the Big Ten, one of the best women’s basketball conferences in the country,” said Decker.

This basketball season backs up Decker’s statement about the women’s basketball team. Their season record was second in the Big Ten (29 wins to 7 losses) and their outstanding performance in the NCAA Tournament this year shows that they will continue to be a strong team within the league well into the next few years.

“I’m not sure what the future holds,” says Stuelke, “but I know I have to keep getting better and working hard.”

Girls who play high school basketball, scholarships that are handed out, and girls who will play.

Photo by Aamillaya Green Isaac Gomez

Sports Editor

Sports

17

Keaton Playing Isaac Gomez Sports Editor

Keaton Woods ‘19 has had the opportunity not many other people get in their lives. This past fall, Woods attended “Real Salt Lake Academy” in Utah. The academy prides itself on their one of a kind soccer program that hosts some of the best soccer players in the nation.

Woods was given the opportunity to attend their school because of a past tournament he participated in. At the tournament he was scouted by their coaches, and after that they reached out to him.

The decision to attend school in Utah during his senior year was a hard to choice, but ultimately a choice that had to be made if he wants to play soccer professionally, like he intends. “My ultimate goal is to play in the World Cup for the USA,” said Woods.

“The competition is a lot different because of how talented some of the players are. It’s amazing what they can do with a ball,” said Woods.

With that goal in mind, comes the doubters but Woods is able to focus on his career and being the best player he can be. “Knowing that people doubt me and even more so that people believe in me, makes me want to be the best I can,” says Woods “I have an amazing support group who has been there for this whole journey. So, I’m doing it for everyone who’s helped me.”

When it comes to a decision like that, sacrifices will have to be made.

For student athletes with those kind of opportunities, it can be hard to comprehend that these are just kids and not the professionals

18

Sports

Sports Editor

Isaac Gomez

For a Purpose who are away from home every single day.

“It was extremely hard to be away from everyone for senior year, which strongly influenced into deciding to come back home for the second semester,” commented Woods.

Wood has always had that special connection to soccer since he could first remember, and that has always stuck with him throughout his playing years. “Soccer was always easy to play. All you needed was a ball and you could literally play anywhere. Its had a special place in my heart since the first time I ever kicked it.”

He will continue to work hard to pursue his professional career as he focuses on the upcoming season for the men’s varsity soccer team.

Photo by Scott McWherter

Photo of Keaton Woods playing against Dubuque Hempstead.

Isaac Gomez

Sports Editor

Sports

19

Music Technology

Bryan Ennis Business Manager With just my computer and keyboard, I have the ability to conduct an entire orchestra. In fact, I can conduct whatever I want. Whether it’s a brass quartet, an ensemble of West-African Percussion, or even an entire virtual modular synth rack, everything is at my disposal with a click of a button.

All Apple products come with a pre-installed program on it called GarageBand. GarageBand is one of many different DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) out there that are available to all sorts of musicians. Musicians use DAWs for all sorts of different purposes. My band uses it to record live instruments such as a guitar, bass, keyboard, and a drum set. Others may use it with a keyboard to play virtual instruments through plug-ins like a string ensemble, a thick synthesizer, or anything else you could imagine.

With the incredible advancements in music technology, a whole new line of

From the Studio to Your Home Computer

Example of a music producing software plugin for computers

work has been created- the “stay-athome” composer. Through computer technology, people are now able to compose music for films, video games, television, and any other sort of digital media all through their home studio.

They don’t have to hire local musicians or be in a certain location. All they need is their computer and a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) keyboard controller.

Recently, I tried to go into the world of digital composition to get more insight on how the whole process works, reaching out to different game developers and companies to try and

make music for their projects. I went to all sorts of different platforms, from Twitter to Twitch, looking for potential jobs. I was able to connect with a few developers and showed them a small portfolio I had uploaded to my SoundCloud account. From there, the developers listened to my work to see if they saw me as a good fit for their project. If they liked what they heard, we further connected and talked about what they needed and when they’d need it finished. I was able to land a few jobs, even though we lived on the other side of the globe. When I was finished and the developer was satisfied, they would pay me and I’d send them the music files so they could download the music onto their computer. That’s how easy it was. I made all of the music with my computer and just sent the files over all from my desk. All because of advancements in music technology.

Billy Le Wash Alum Making Tracks in mos the Music Bizz

Kaden Fields Multi-media Editor The mindset of an artist is one of the most persistent indie pop-influenced music world when he was just a kid yet chaotic. The students who are prescribed with without intention. “I started off by making EDM music when such go on to have inspiring stories and lessons from their I was in sixth grade. I never knew I wanted to be an artist, I creative expression. Twenty year old Billy Lemos, a 2017 just stumbled into this position and fell in love with it,” said Washington High School graduate now Lemos. lives in Chicago. Lemos spends his time Now I must say the music that Lemos has proproducing beats, touring with his friends, duced is quite good. With elemental waves of and traveling across the country showcasjangly guitar riffs and psychedelic mixes of sound, ing his talent for music composition in the it compliments the genre and vibe of the style of indie pop scene. Lemos’ time at Wash had music itself. Songs like “Rain,” “12:34,” and “Wait” greatly influenced his passions for pursuall have groovy and unique beats that reverberate ing music. in the system of Lemos’ style of producing. Artists “While I was at Wash, I would spend my who similarly sound like Lemos are people such as weekends working on beats and A&R’ing.

Mac Demarco, Michael Seyer, Black Pool, Yeek, and AP music theory taught me essential many more. The community of the indie pop and information that I still use today. Washinglofi hiphop is greatly underrated and underappreciPhoto Courtesy of Billy Lemos ton High School kept me disciplined and ated, exemplified in work such as Billy Lemos’. taught me how to maintain a solid work ethic,” said Lemos.

“I don’t really have advice for aspiring artists other than Every artist has some kind of inspiration, and when asked only do this if you actually enjoy it. There’s no point in creatwhat musicians inspired him, Lemos replied, “My major ining music for attention or with intentions of popularity. It’s fluences are Knxwledge, Steve Lacy, 9th Wonder, Brian Eno, counterintuitive, and you’ll just copy other artists and have too many to name!” no longevity. You have to love this s---,” said Lemos.

Continuing, Lemos had started his experiment into the 20

A&E

A&E Editor

Seth Keppler

Seth Keppler A&E Editor

In the greater metro area there are an overabundance of greasy bars claiming to have the best burger, fried foods, or grub around. One place you can always count on to have the appetizers, drinks, wings, and bar food you need is Edith Lucielle’s Bait Shack and Wing Depot. On the side of long windy Mt. Vernon Rd at 6913 SE, Cedar Rapids, resides this rustic classic American bar that is the epitome of restoration. Rusted steel sheet roofing and dark grainy wood walls plastered with street signs and symbols of American culture hold the outside of this hole in the The Sampler Platter wall together. Formerly a run down bar called ‘The Rut,’ Edith Lucielle’s was transformed into a groovy diner that could just as easily become a disco late at night.

The interior can most easily be described as cool. Everything inside seems to have been recycled and repurposed as decoration. The ceiling is layed out with record sleeves from about every classic rock, funk, or jazz artist you could name, walls are lined with old street signs and license plates, a slick black and white tile floor

shines in the blue and green hues of colorful disco lights that shine in from the corners, and perhaps the coolest repurposed item of all is the old beer keg turned urinal in the men’s restroom.

Their menu boasts just as much variety and charisma as their interior design.

With plenty of classic appetizers, soups and salads, just the right amount of main courses, a kids menu, and a couple of desserts available, Edith Lucielle’s has the perfect amount of options to keep a smile on your faces from your arrival to your exit. Provided at each table is a deck of cards, and with enough people a game of hearts is just the thing to distract your grumbling tummies while waiting for your food.

For an appetizer my group ordered the Sampler Platter which has a little bit of everything. It came with crispy fried green tomatoes, gooey slabs of fried mozzarella, spicy stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon, and hushpuppies, just the perfect warm up for the main course. The Cowboy Burger was

stacked two succulent patties high, with picante pepper jack cheese, grilled jalapenos, onions, and the best pecan bacon. The bun was soft and spongy and kept its shape through the entire meal. The bacon had a very strong smokey flavor that counteracted with the tender meat of the hamburger. Every bite or so a jalapeno would throw a few jabs of heat into the mix, but it was always just the right amount of spice to go with the sweet onions and savory cheese. The fries on the side were crisp outside and soft inside, they made great in their homemade ranch. The Cowboy Burger deserves 9/10 for its juicy flaThe Cowboy Burger vors and textures, the only thing needed was a napkin.

Edith Lucielle’s Bait Shack and Wing Depot great place to take your family or friends for a bite to eat and a quick game of cards. Their menu has just enough variety for everyone and their staff is there to make sure your visit all goes smoothly. They’ve got great pickles too.

Photos by Seth Keppler Seth Keppler

A&E Editor

A&E

21

The Washington Steppers

Jessie Koozer Copy Editor

The crowd goes crazy when the Wash step team comes out during assemblies.

Stepping, an African dance where the body is used as an instrument, has been on and off since the late 1990s and but was recently brought back in 2017. The steppers use their bodies to produce intricate rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, hand claps, and spoken word. The team consists of ten students and performs at elementary schools, colleges, and will be competing in May. The two coaches, Sarah Swayze and Christina Wright, are motivated to help those on the team in other ways than just step.

“The purpose of step team is to give those in the community and Washington another part of black history. In addition to this, stepping builds self-esteem and gives students a sense of belonging.

The goal of the step team is to decrease the dropout rate and to encourage and motivate students. [Christina] Wright and Isaac Gomez Sports Editor

I wanted to bring out the artist and creative parts of our students.” said Swayze.

The step team performs many times throughout the year, and some of the students currently on the team saw the step team perform earlier and were inspired to join.

“I don’t do sports so when I saw step at the first Black History Month assembly I told myself that’s what I wanted to do.” said Mylonna Douglas, ‘21.

Many of the steppers have a cultural connection to step, and they saw joining the step as something they had to be a part of.

“I love step so much, it’s an opportunity to practice something from our culture that was lost, a lot of people think of black fraternities and sororities when it comes to step which is great but the meaning of step is deeper than a Greek organization, it’s a part of African American culture and I’m so thankful we get to have the opportunity to practice that,” said Diamond Roundtree, ‘20.

A&E

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Here’s what you can do now:

Vote!

Join the military Work full time Play the lottery or gamble Buy tobacco products (to throw them away) Have consensual sex File lawsuits Change your birth name Move out of your parents’ house Write your will Contemplate your future!

Pawn items in a pawn shop Buy a house Get some sick tattoos and piercings!

Adopt a kid!

Drive without a curfew Apply for a credit card

List Compiled by Miguel Jacobo

An American Treasure

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers alternate versions of songs like “Rebels” have engraved their names into musiand “Louisiana Rain”, and live songs like cal history with their instrumental talent “Even the Losers” and “Into the Great and lyrical greatness. The Heartbreakers Wide Open.” have some of the most iconic songs like Live performances of “Even the Los“American Girl” and “Free ers” and “I Won’t Fallin”. With one strum of Back Down” are the guitar or one beat of the slower songs, allowing drum, the listener can recoggreater emphasis on nize the song immediately. the lyrics. In “Even the They also have a unique Losers” Petty paints a sound showcased in songs perfect summer love like “Into the Great Wide story, and because of Open” and “Don’t Come those slowed down Around Here No More.” lyrics, the listener can With Petty passing away Illustration of Tom Petty by Reprise Records really get that clear on Oct. 2, 2017, his family and band picture in their head. Petty had the abilmembers put together a unique album ity to produce clear but yet complex lyrconsisting of unreleased songs, and ics that always had more meaning to it. songs that had lasting memories on Petty lost his mother in 1980, five years the band members. The album includes before the release of “Southern Accents”. previously unreleased songs like “Keep There is a beautiful live version on the a Little Soul” and “Keeping Me Alive”, song in the album. In the song he talks 22

So You Just Turned Eighteen?

about having a perfectly clear dream that it felt like it was real. He talks about a lady standing there with him and her saying a prayer. It’s such a beautiful song, and the passion you can hear it in Petty’s voice shows that the song means a great deal to him. You can hear about the relationship he had with his mom.

How much he wishes he could be with her. He talks about his roots down in the South, and life in Gainesville.

The album includes songs from concerts from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s. They have multiple songs from each concert that transition nicely into each other. In this album you can hear the band evolve from their beginning years, to the later years. Throughout all the years they were able to stay consistent with their sound, they were able to produce fascinating music, and kept the same level of respect for the music in their 40 years of greatness.

A&E Editor

Seth Keppler

mission

& Thorns

-33 days until graduation (as of April 22) -music department Spring break trip -March Madness -Duke lost

-getting a yearbook -when the pizza rolls are done -the sun -best jazz school in the state -Revs -Slice -Spring break -Spencer Lee -Spring sports -JV2 bad boys -cool roses and thorns graphic -Prom -not being a Freshman -Losing Hope (Connor Wilsons album) -Baseball season -Megan Gustafson -thunder -70 degree weather -roses -Mr. Phillips -reciprocity

crwashsurveyor@gmail.com

@washsurveyor The Surveyor Benjamin Janssen

-everyone on the music department Spring break trip coming back wearing Ron Jon shirts -really cold -when your stomach growls during a test and everyone stares at you -floods -making eggs in a toaster -long Fridays -chewing with your mouth open -anything with the suffix -ometry -running out of story ideas -really big puddles -new Iowa tests -Linn Mar -muting group chats and missing important conversations so you feel really left out -lightning -new name for Iowa Assesments that doesn’t make sense -ISASP’s if your not a senior -mr phillips leaving -people who think Mr Phillips makes us make him a rose

@CRWashSurveyor

The Surveyor is established as a schoolsponsored designated forum dedicated to informing and entertaining its readers.

The staff will report as fairly and wellbalanced as possible. All activities and news will be covered to the best of the staff’s ability. The Surveyor accepts the Society of Professional Journalist’s Code of Ethics as the basis for good journalism.

Readers are encouraged to express their viewpoints through guest editorials.

The Surveyor also welcomes letters to the editor, with these guidelines: it is not libelous or obscene, it explains the material clearly, it is not longer than 500 words, and that it is signed.

creative commons

“CC by” represents that our staff has taken content from Creative Commons, a nonprofit that offers an alternative to full copyright, and that we have done our best to correctly attribute the author to their artwork in order to avoid copyright infringement.

non-discrimination policy

It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (employment only), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (students/ program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. District employees with questions or a grievance related to this policy should contact the Executive Director of Human Resources, 319-558-2000. Students and others should contact the Manager of Student Equity, 319-558-2000. The District mailing address is 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405-1015.

affiliations www.crwashsurveyor.com Roses and Thorns graphic by Audrey Fashimpaur ’19

Editor-in-Chief

Iowa High School Press Association, Journalism Education Association, Quill and Scroll. IHSPA 2018 News Team of the Year Finalist

Backpage

23

Jacob Cacioppo ’19 performs at Warriors on Broadway.

Photo by Scott McWherter