Everything Spring by Ben Graeber

Volume 110, Issue 5 April 2015 Issue

The Oracle

Everything

Spring

Pll Star brandon jones: page 9

All about Blithe Spirit: Page 10

North High School 501 Holcomb Ave Des Moines, IA 50313. A public forum for student expression

TOC

THE

Everything Spring

THE_SNAPS

IssUE 3

In_case_you_missed_it

Students pie teachers for raised grades - Makayla Patterson, Hannah Varela The Office Boss: Ginny Kruger - Kristen Niblo

Opinions_

4-5

A Jones: Adoption doesn’t make you abnormal - Tanna Jones Dear Future Child - Reagan Clay The Definition of Feminism - Hannah McNichols Female Fears - Sammi Linebach

Middle_sPREAD 6-7 End of the year snapshot - Sammi Linebach, Cheyann Neades

Features

8-9

First Admendment meets matter of opinion -Kelsey Ambrose Brandon Jones - Hannah McNichols, Reagan Clay

Creative_arts 10 Blithe Spirit Preveiw - Jasmine Moreno

SPORTS

Senior signing - Rayshawna Collier Boeshart, junior journalism COVER_PHOTO_CREDIT: Chris student, depicts spring emerging at his grandparents house in Altoona.

oracle staff

Cover_Design_Credit:

Rachael Nash

Executive Editor & Chief Storyteller – Tanna Jones Executive Editor & Master of Design – Cheyann Neades Managing Editor – Hannah McNichols Copy Editor - Michael Xayavong Social Media Director – Jasmine Moreno Sports Editor – Madison Houska News Editor – Kelsey Ambrose Features Editor – Sammi Linebach Opinions Editor – Reagan Clay Creative Arts Editor – Jasmine Moreno Photography Editor – Taj Milton Cover Guru- Rachael Nash

Photo 1: Spring is here. PHOTO CRED: taj Milton Photo 2: Flower in its natural habitat. PHOTO CRED: Taj Milton Middle photo: Brandon Jones takes a picture with the oracle staff before leaving. Photo CRED: Rachael Nash

Reporters: Hatte Kelley Iliana Castillo Aminah Lothi Hannah Varela Makayla Patterson Alexis Barnes Somerle Rhiner

Photo 4: Mr. Graeber fangirls over PLL star Brandon Jones. PHOTO CRED: jennifer Dryden Photo 5: Brandon Jones poses with one of his hobbies, reading. PHOTO CRED: Denine Taylor

Austin Pitts Kyle Siberz Ariel Wilson Kirsten Niblo Adrianna Dedmond Rayshawna Collier

IN_CASE_YOU_MISSED_IT Students pie teachers for raised grades Makayla Patterson & Hannah Varela

Students have that one class that they don’t care for. They dread going to it and a score of two is good enough for them.

THE OFFICE BOSS Virginia Kruger Q&A

Kirstin Niblo

Even if the grade wasn’t fantastic students still don’t care. Well the algebra l teachers, Kayla Ramirez and Michelle Brackemyer thought of a way to encourage students to raise their scores and grades. Ramirez said, “the first test went really bad, like 50 percent of the kids had F’s. We knew just asking the kids to come in to raise their scores wasn’t going to get them to come in.” They decided to encourage the students to raise their scores by getting a chance at throwing a pie in their faces. Each block, the teachers would put all the students names that raised their scores into a raffle and draw one name for each block. On Thursday, February 26 after school in Ramirez’s room the pie smashing took place. Chrystal Seger, freshman, was one of the students drawn to do the event. She raised her grade by upping her game in class. “Paying more attention in class, getting all my work done and not giving up,” she said as to how she increased her grade. “I was encouraged to get my grade up for my grade’s sake, but also the pie throwing was certainly an encouragement.” Emma Mates, freshman, was another one of the many students who got to participate in this event. She was encouraged to improve her grade. Mates said she did this by “getting my work done and asking questions.” While the students had some fun after all the hard work, Ramirez’s reaction to the pie smashing was somewhat nervous. “I was fine until the pie was right in front of my face; after the first hit it was fun,” she said. Brackemyer had a much different reaction than Ramirez. Brackemyer was “nervous about the pie smashing on my nose too hard, and I was really flinchy.”

Ginny Kruger busy in the North High office. Photo by Tanna Jones 1.) How long have you been an administrator? A. I am NOT an administrator. I am the Office Manager & Executive Secretary (secretary to the principal). I was an Office Manager for 10 years in a previous job. 2.) How long have you been at North? A. I started at North High School on November 12, 2012. 3.) What does your job description ask that you do? What do you do that isn’t required? A. I work on projects as directed from the Principal, scheduling his appointments, keep staff informed of upcoming events, send out messages to parents, assist with employee time-sheets, back-up bookkeeper, order supplies, maintain machinery, answer phones, assist parents & visitors to North, maintain staff files as well assist in keeping student files updated, organize events like early registration, awards assembly, open house, etc… Each day is different. There are probably several things that aren’t required, like, for instance, getting someone a cup of coffee. It’s the little things that can make a difference to someone else. So although not “required” it’s just what I do. Be kind to others and they’ll be kind to you. 4.) With so much going on within the school day how do you keep everything together? Does it ever get hard/frustrating? A. I am a very organized person. I keep my calendar up-to-date and also use my “tasks” list as needed so I can stay on top of what needs to be done and when. I try to keep things filed and categorized so I can easily retrieve important documents as needed. Sometimes it gets busy and you can get interrupted often but that’s just part of the everyday life of a secretary. You learn to roll with the punches so to speak. 5.) What I’d your favorite part of your job? Why? A. I love being able to help in whatever capacity that happens to be in. It could be assisting a parent with setting up a parent portal or a staff member with a project or as simple as a student needing a schedule. I love to help in whatever way I can. Why? Showing a simple kindness, even as small as a smile, can help improve someone else’s day. Kindness should be thrown like confetti.

Algebra 1 student pies Michelle Brackemyer in the face during class. Photo by Chrystal Seger

6.) Would you consider yourself a big part of regulating/maintaining things in the building? A. One of the things I do is manage space in our building. I reserve areas like the conference rooms, auditorium, library, cafeteria, student center, gym, etc… for use by different groups. It’s a big responsibility in making sure events are scheduled correctly so they don’t conflict with other events going on in the building. I also help manage the principal’s calendar and appointments. The job I do is important in keeping things running smoothly. 7.) How would you separate yourself from other staff members in the office? A. I work as a team member and I’m part of the big team that services North High School. We work together to create a positive working environment and support each other in our daily roles. We all are working as a team to provide the best educational experiences possible to our students. Everyone here has an important job to do to reach that goal. I may not be on the front lines of that mission but there is a lot of “behind the scene” things that need attended to that we, the office team, take care of. There are a lot of little teams within the big team. We interact with one another and assist each other as needed. 8.) Would you ever say that you “take work home?” A. Not really. I don’t connect my work emails to my cell phone like a lot of the staff do. I try and leave work at work. On occasion there is something I have to do outside of work but not very often. Occasionally I also do some shopping for supplies. We especially have to make sure we have “coffee” supplies. 9.) What are some of your hobbies? How do you “get away” from work? A. Some of my hobbies are scrapbooking, photography, reading, movies, getting together with family, crafts, shopping and doing things with my husband and kids. We use to do a lot of camping but as the kids got older and had erratic work schedules we had to let that go and sold our camper. 10.) Is there anything that you would like to add that you would like people to know? A. My birthday is on the only day of the year that gives a direct command… (March Fourth!) And that’s what I’m doing… marching forth every day, one day at a time. A2. My real name is Virginia but I don’t like being called that. It feels so old. I go by “Ginny.”

Teachers Michelle Brackemyer & Kayla Ramirez after being pied in the face by Algebra 1 students. Photo by Chrystal Seger

For More Updates Visit Us At: Twitter: @NorthHighOracle Website: Northhsoracle.com Facebook: Facebook.com/NorthHighOracle

Opinions

Dear Future Child,

By: Reagan Clay

I would first like to say that I hope I do not meet to learn and experience so many different things and you for a long time. I mean this in the most sincere that is exactly what you will do. way possible. I want to provide for you. I don’t want You’ll have people come in and out of your life, you to struggle in your beginning life all because I some harder to lose. But you have to keep in mind made a decision I wasn’t ready for. I promise that your ultimate goal then you have to question if that I will only have you once I am ready for all the individual was helping you succeed that goal. I can responsibilities that come along with you. tell you that I have a couple life long friends and I promise to provide for you in any way I possibly they have not once brought me down. I just hope can. I want to see you succeed in life and I know I that you will differentiate those types of people and am a big part for that to happen. keep them around. You need help in school? Come Even though I hope “I know what it’s like to be a teenager to me. I will spend all night with you become a softball and I know what it feels like to have star one day (only if you you at the dinner table trying to everyone against you but I promise you are a girl might I add), I solve that one math problem until you understand it. I’ll go out late will be open for you to things will get better.” at night when you procrastinated join groups and do the your science project to buy your markers and glue. sports that you want. I promise that I will go to all of I promise to be there after a rough day. I’ll give your after school activities, cheering you on. I want you the space you need to calm yourself but when you to learn from your mistakes. It’s important that you want to talk, you can always come find me. you are independent but also have individuals in I know what it’s like to be a teenager and I know your life that will be there to help you. what it feels like to have everyone against you but I I promise all of these and so much more that I promise you things will get better. You live this life can’t fit into an article but I just hope that you can

4 promise me a few things too. I want you to promise me that you will do whatever makes you happy and whatever will help you prosper in life. Watching ones you care about so much fail is a big fear of mine. Therefore, try your hardest in whatever you do. I will push you along the way, probably so much that it will annoy the crap out of you cause let’s be honest, that’s what parents do. But the outcome of your life all depends on how hard you push yourself. Once again, I hope I do not meet you for a while not because I don’t want you but because I am only a senior in high school. I have my own life to live still. I have my own dreams to chase: my own goals to accomplish. But one day in the future, I hope to be your role model, the person you want to make proud even though you have nothing to prove to me. But until then,

With great love. Reagan Clay

Family trip to Florida with the first Trip to the park with the second generation. generation of siblings.

A Jones:

Father Kelley Williams and daughter on Tanna’s first day.

By Tanna Jones Normal; we all spell it the same way but we give it different meanings. Me being a middle child of 15 is never considered of being in a “normal family”. My parents have been involved in foster care and have adopted children in need for the past 20 years. I was the first. I was never involved in foster care

but that doesn’t mean my biological parents were perfect. I currently have three half blood brothers I will never know and an older sister I will never be able to ask for advice. Growing up, my parents have always told me that being adopted was never something I should be ashamed of. With that being said whenever I held my head high I would get shot down with rude, unnecessary comments about how “normal” to me was different from how other people thought normal should be. Little by little it tore my confidence down. In seventh grade a project in Family Consumer Science was assigned; we were told to write down the traits we’ve gotten from our parents. Not knowing my own biological parents I found this project impossible. While I explained my reasoning to our adviser I heard a side comment from a student that struck me. He said, “That must mean no one wanted her.” No one ever wants to hear that they’re not loved, nor wanted. I went home crying that day because of something I was told I should’ve been proud of was

First birthday baby pictures. All photos special to The Oracle: Tanna Jones

Adoption doesn’t make you abnormal.

actually being negatively held against me. Getting older I’ve grown and matured about what has happened. Also, I have come to realize a few things. Everything I’ve completed in my short lifetime wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for this. My parents might not be blood, but that only shows me that you don’t have to physically have a child to call them your own. Being a mother doesn’t consist of having a child but actually raising one. I am loved. These two people that just so happened to want a little girl ran into someone who didn’t want hers. Yes, my biological mother most likely considers me a mistake but I’m not. My parents raised me to believe that everything happens for a reason. I will be the first person in my household to go to college. I am proud to say that a situation I had no control over made me who I am today. I have five brothers, seven sisters, a mother and a father who love me unconditionally no matter the circumstances, a few friends that support me. I can’t picture things being any different. I’m completely

comfortable in my own skin and where I stand in the world as an individual. A Jones.

Family night with four of the 15 Jones silbing: Tanna, Samantha, Jennifer and Shaina Jones.

Opinions The Definition of Feminism or called an embarrassment because of how some feminists respond to discontents. The modern feminist movement in the United States is tackling many important issues. One of the most critical gender equality issues today is rape culture. Activists believe that our society condones, normalizes, and excuses rape because we consider factors such as what the victim was wearing, blood alcohol level, race, and/or demeanor of the victim. Also, cultural clichés make some women feel objectified as vehicles for pleasure and reproduction; this is referred to as the “sexualization of women.” If guys talk to a lot of girls they are viewed by society as masculine and successful. If I were to do the same I’d be called trashy. Skeptics write off these issues because of their Hannah McNichols mildness compared to feminist campaigns of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Regardless Any high school student could probably tell you of the public’s opinion of feminism in the U.S. tothat males and females are set apart by a single X or day, Americans rarely dispute the need for attenY chromosome. It’s difficult to fathom that such a tion to women’s rights issues in other countries. small difference decides gender. While American women fight against the concept of acceptable rape, women in India may be fightGender once determined who could vote and ing for their lives over dowry. Dowries were made serve our country, whether a person could enter illegal in 1961 under Indian civil law; however, the workforce or stay at home and tend the house many still practice this tradition, where the family and family. Today, a fraction of the population is of the bride gives money and/or gifts to a groom’s dissatisfied with the political, social, and economic family. If the groom’s family is dissatisfied with rights of American women. This societal want is the dowry, a wife may be abused by her husband known as feminism. and viewed as not worthy. The other day I was at work, and a customer asked According to the World Bank, 32.7 percent of for two fifty pound bags of bird seed immediately India falls below the international poverty line followed by, “Is there a strong guy around to help?” and cannot afford the traditional practice of Why does it have to be a guy? Why is strong associ- dowry. While American women fight for equal ated with a male? Why can I not say I am a strong pay, female babies in China and India may never female without smirks and giggles? experience the gift of life. For a poor family, the Feminism is not a white girl drinking Starbucks birth of a girl can be viewed as a financial burden, on her MacBook pro, that’s a stereotype. Feminism which has contributed to the prevalence of is any gender fighting for the X chromosomes gendercide. Female gendercide – the termination to have rights and a place in the world of male of a fetus or infant solely because it is female – is dominance. I often hear feminism being ridiculed shockingly prevalent in China and India. If an

Indian family cannot afford dowry, they may choose to kill their baby girl soon after birth. Even with the loosening of the one-child policy in China, it is still common for a family to have prenatal tests to determine a fetus’s gender. Females that are born to underprivileged families are often neglected or abandoned because of the financial burden they bring to their families. Some believe that women have already won the war for equality and that no more battles are necessary; however, for many women – in America and around the world – the war has just begun.

You_don't_have_ to_be_anti-man_ to_be_pro-woman Jane_Galvin_Lewis

Female Fears Sammi Linebach

“As little girls, we weren’t taught about how to be independent or how to survive by ourselves—completely on our own.” -Sammi Linebach

If I were to ask you what you were afraid of, am I right to assume the normal phobias such as heights, snakes, and small spaces? Could you come up with a list of your fears and share them with someone? Or are you afraid to share as well? For the average female, one of the most prominent fears in life is the fear to be alone. Autophobia is the specific phobia of being isolated or alone. Sufferers need not be physically alone, but believe that they are being ignored, unloved, threatened by intruders, and so on. Sure there are other fears that coincide with this. For example, some women fear that they will get knocked up and then abandoned. Some women fear falling so deeply in love and then losing it all due to death, adultery, or just losing the spark. But of all situations, the average female cannot comprehend such a feeling. We grow up being loved and are taught to love. As little girls, we weren’t taught about how to be independent or how to survive by ourselves—completely on our own. We were shaped by society to believe that we will meet someone who will

cherish us as much as we do them and they will never abuse or abandon us. We all dreamed of that happy ever after and the happy ending with Prince Charming. And what about that big beautiful wedding…how’s that going? We love and we lust. We dream and we want to soar. We are women and we need affection. We crave that lovey-dovey, charming, and irrestable feeling that is love. But hey, who are we kidding? We are all alone in this world. Friends come and go, boyfriends lust and then leave, family loves and dies. We are on our own; learning how to become more independent day by day. Crying and dying everyday because we cannot have someone who loves and accepts us. We cannot find someone who cures our fear of being alone. Are we going about his all wrong? Do we have to start off completely alone in order to achieve happiness in life? If we start off alone, and stay alone, we will never learn about the gaping hole that creates this fear in the first place. But once we feel the comfort of another being, we are screwed.

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Features

F i rst a m e n dm e nt

meets matter opinion

By: Kelsey Ambrose “Being offended by freedom of speech should never be regarded as a justification for violence,” -Alan Dershowitz Charlie Hebdo is a weekly news magazine in Paris, France. Popular for their cartoons, publications and humor on different political, religious, cultural topics and others around the country. They speak on many controversial topics, and with that they’ve had many attacks on their company. As one BBC News article states, “Charlie Hebdo’s past is full of splits and ideological betrayals.” On January 7, 2015, two armed Islamic terrorist made their way into the weekly newspaper company. That morning, fifty shots were fired, killing 12 people and injuring 11 more. The two gunman were later killed. Over three days, three separate attacks occurred. In total killing 17 people. This incident was reportedly brought on by a cover image, showing a cartoon of the religious figure Muhammad, which in Islam tradition should never be depicted. This attack on such a known publication leads some to wonder what effect, if any, this has on the future of journalists, which leads to several amendments. Those amendments give us the rights and freedom we have, The First Amendment gives us the freedom of speech. Without it, we would be restricted to what we could and could not say. For example, if the The North High Oracle wanted to write a story on a religion we may not able to publish it due to being so restricted. The First Amendment gives us that right of press. Not only did this event alter the future for Charlie Hebdo, it alters events for all other journalistic views as well. Every article a journalist writes is a risky one, not just opinions either. Anyone who has ever written anything in his or her life can tell you, not everyone will always agree with you. “Speaking your truth always has had risks, and the risks continue today. Maybe the greatest risk to journalists is going forward, though, is the risk of self-censorship related to fear of the government or powerful monied interests. This is not the Charlie Hebdo kind of intimidation, but it’s as serious,” Said well-known First Amendment activist, Mary Beth Tinker. Tinker is very familiar with the First Amendment, while she was attending Harding Middle School in 1969 she fought to be able to use her right for the First Amendment. The Second Amendment gives us the right to bear arms.

That being said, you can’t just take a huge gun into a store just to say you have it. You have to take the needed steps in order to have those privileges. It’s a right to earn not just to be given. When you put those two amendments together, that’s a whole lot of power. Charlie Hebdo has had prior attacks on them, even causing one of the editors to be under police protection due to death threats, this January attack has just been the worst yet. Questions arise whether this publication should have all the power that it does, although what was published was published, should it have been? If it wasn’t would these lives that were lost, still be here? This attack has altered lives. Co-workers, families, friends and even strangers across the globe are left wondering about what if’s, and questions that may never be answered. It’s hard to imagine something so drastic actually happening, but was it expected? It had to have been thought of, in the very back of minds but the shock of it happening is what’s at large. How can one go back to a job they fell in love with, after such a tragedy? Nobody wants to hear of an attack so tragic happening, but the truth is, is that it does. “My reaction to the Charlie Hebdo attack was, and is, extreme sorrow. It’s a frequent feeling, living in this violent era, when it’s common to express oneself and navigate the complications of life through violence. Pervasive violence is a great tragedy of our time, but I believe we will evolve eventually toward a more peaceful way, so I have hope,” Tinker said. The reasoning, regardless of the real meaning behind this tragedy was nothing more than a set of individuals who found it necessary to take action for opinions they didn’t agree with. This event cannot be taken back, it cannot be redone, and lives cannot be brought back. But, it can be learned from. Not in the sense in which we don’t speak our minds or say what we believe, but instead we take into consideration how others will react, although everyone has the choice to filter what they read, not everyone will do that. In the generation we live in, we’ve got everything in the palm of our hands, one wrong move and things will go down just as quickly as it was said. As a society, it’s important to set the standard high - we’re lucky to have

the freedom we have with words, to be able to process and publish the things we can and to overuse that privilege may mean losing that privilege. Tony Leys, a reporter for the Des Moines Register has firsthand experience with being in the journalism world. Since 1988 he has worked as a copy editor, state editor, politics editor and night city editor. Since 2000, he’s been a reporter, mainly covering health care issues. Leys said this event surely will add some intimidation to the journalistic side of things, but that’s just a small part of the problem. “The intimidation of journalists in places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Russia and Mexico. Government authorities, religious zealots and criminal cartels routinely threaten, beat or kill journalists in many countries. Too often, those actions silence critics on the ground in those places. That’s a bigger threat than occasional attacks in a place like France, as horrific as the Paris attacks were,” Leys said. There is never justification for taking away lives for giving the world information, no matter how they’re giving it to us, whether as a person they’re being insensitive or overly sensitive. They’re doing their job. As readers, you’ve got the choice to pick what you want to know, and what you don’t. In some of these countries, publishing isn’t even an option, it’s life or death. Here, we have the opportunity to post and publish things that other countries will never be able to even consider talking about. Leys doesn’t think we have too much freedom in America. Under the First Amendment, a person can publish just about anything, as long as it’s true. People need to know the truth. So is it true? Do we overuse our authority to push the minds of others, or are some too sensitive and need to learn to leave things alone that they don’t agree with? It’s hard to say. Everyone has their own opinion, and you can’t just change that because you don’t agree with their mindset. The truth is hard to handle and think about, but whether you like or not - it’s always going to be around, published or not.

Features

Brandon Jones Early Years of “Andrew Campbell” By Hannah McNichols “I got my hat at a gas station,” says 26-year-old Brandon Jones. From just hearing his name you probably don’t know who he is, but if you’ve watched ABC Family’s hit show Pretty Little Liars recently, he is possibly “A”. Jones plays Andrew Campbell, a nerd in season one but now Aria Montgomery’s (Lucy Hale) hunk of a boyfriend. Born on May 7, Jones grew up in North Carolina. He was raised as an only child in the town of McLeansville. At Northeast Guilford High School, Jones was involved in sports as a member of the football, track and wrestling teams. In high school Jones was the stereotype of a jock. Jones said he hated reading but now that’s all he does, it’s what his job requires. His original plan coming out of high school was to go to college on a football scholarship but when an accident happened his scholarship was taken and he was left clueless.

In early 2009, Jones drove cross country from his east coast home to move to Los Angeles and began acting soon after. In 2009, Jones starred in 90210 as his first time considering himself an actor. His first big role was Pretty Little Liars followed by The Fosters, which he was scripted out of before this season’s end. On Wednesday, March 25, our newspaper advisor, Jennifer Dryden was at the Capitol rallying for our education when she ran into Jones. Recognizing him she “fangirled” over the recent season finale of #BigAReveal where he is assumed to be “Charles”. Jones was working on a political show for a Des Moines station that will involve Joe Biden. Jones says he doesn’t know who “A” is and won’t until the directors and writers are ready. The cast of Pretty Little Liars gets their scripts for four hours at a time and after that they disappear. “A” has an identity that only a select few know and until the season premiere starts back this summer, that’s how it will remain.

Pretty Little Liars star speaks about “A” By Reagan Clay Five seasons in, 120 episodes later, we finally know who “A” is. A very long, overdue wait is finally over, but is it? The winter finale was on Tuesday, March 24, and many fans were left with new questions. Brandon Jones, known as Andrew Campbell from Pretty Little Liars, came to Des Moines North High School on March 26. He discussed many topics, one including his role on the hit TV show. Of course the first question the students asked was, “Do you know who ‘A’ is?” Jones responded with, “You guys are not going to believe me when I say this but nobody knows. I think the writers are the only ones that know. But I hope I’m ‘A’ because that would be pretty awesome.” Jones has had a “minor” part in the series thus far but talk over night from fans has made him a possible suspect for “A” or whom people are calling “Charles”. “Everyone believes it’s me but I honestly don’t know,” explained Jones. In fact, Jones shared that the script is a big secret. “We get one script at a time about three days before we start shooting. It’s online and we can’t print it out or anything. We have about four hours to memorize it.” The #BigAReveal has left the Internet crazy. Who’s Charles? Since when did Jason have a twin? Is Andrew part of the “A

Life advice for high schoolers: “When you get out, that’s when your life begins.”

Team” or just an eavesdropping creep? There are far too many theories out there to comprehend. One theory is that Andrew is actually Jason’s twin and thus Charles. It could also be one of his costars. Speaking on his closest costar, Jones mentions the character of Spencer, played by Troian Bellisario. “Troian is super nice and well-educated. She knows about a lot of things and that makes her interesting to talk to,” said Jones. Jones described the cast as nice but also explained how they have to be in a career such as TV acting. “You have to be nice and flexible because if you’re not, you’re out.” Los Angeles, California, has a population of about 10 million people, all trying to pursue the same occupation, stardom. So you can imagine how hard it is to maintain a job in LA, right? Jones has been acting for six years now but has been the most successful the last four years. He has been casted in Killer Reality, Born to Race, The Fosters, and Pretty Little Liars, of course. You can find out if Andrew Campbell, aka Brandon Jones, is “A” in the summer opener in mid-June. But as the past five seasons show, plot twists are common and the supposed “A” identity can be passed on to someone else.

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An improbable farce in three acts Michael Xayavong & Jasmine Moreno

Are the words being cried from the North High Auditorium. Blithe Spirit is a comedy about a man, Charles, and his wife Ruth who want to get more information for his new book making fun of psychics. So, he invites a medium (Madame Arcati) to do a séance and in this process he accidentally ends up summoning his diseased wife, Elvira. The show is a delightful comedy that will surely make you laugh. The cast and crew have worked hard and expect this show to cause a lot of laughter among the audience because of their antics and great chemistry. They’re constantly working in and out of class, memorizing lines and going through blocking. For some, this is their last show at North, for others this is just the beginning. With the two seniors, they’re working hard to end their last show with a BANG! “It’s always sad, especially when they’ve worked very hard,” is what theater director; Mark Rixner had to say about all the graduating classes that he’s had. Even though Blithe Spirit is a great show there is always room for improvement. “I would change the amount of time we’ve had to prepare with the set and also the amount of lines I have.” Michael Xayavong says on what he would change about the play. Even though things don’t go the way they want it, it is possible to put on a great show. But luckily for them, being apart of the theatre arts program is their home away from home. “I’ll miss having my 2nd family… and Michael.” Esperanza Vargas commented on what she’ll miss the most. “I think this is the one I wanted to do, there was no other show.” Rixner believes that this will be a great hit among the audience. A positive thing about having a small cast is that the show really depends on every character to make the story entertaining. In the end Blithe Spirit will leave the crowd in awe after the final monologue. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Show dates: April 9 - 11 at 7:00 pm April 12 at 2:00 pm $7 for adults $5 for students

Graphic by Michael Xayavong

Sports SENIOR SIGNING

Photo credit and story by Rayshawna Collier On Wednesday, March 11 at 3:30 p.m. former football player, Trey Warrick signs a letter of intent to play football next year at Ellsworth Community College in Ellsworth, Iowa. Q: How do you feel about going to Ellsworth college? A: “I feel good about going to this college, because I feel wanted.” Q: How did you get to where you are now? A: “I waited a week before I decided to sign with them and they offered me a scholarship. But originally it was last on my list of colleges I wanted to go to, before the coach reached out and showed that he really wanted me to play for them.” Q: What are you most excited for, going to this college? A: “Being on my own and getting to where I want to go and getting closer to going D1.”

GATEWAY TO THE WORLD NORTH HIGH SCHOOL PROM

TICKETS: $30 FOR ONE $50 FOR TWO THEME: GATEWAY TO THE WORLD WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2015 8:00PM-11:00PM WHERE: KUM & GO THEATER 900 Mulberry Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 AFTER PROM: NORTH HIGH SCHOOL 501 Holcomb Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50313 12:00AM-5:00AM to Find FASHION TIPS FOR PROM visit our website northhsoracle.com