Eagle's View: Volume 2 Issue 1

(VIEW( LIBERTY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL EAGLE’S

Volume 2

Issue 1

August 18, 2011

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Eagle’s View

CONTENTS 3

Technology In The Classroom The use of cell phones and computers have grown in popularity in school.

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School Comes Early Starting school in September rather than August has become a thing of the past.

End of an Era The release of the final Harry Potter film puts an end to the massive franchise.

11 Return of North’s Football Liberty North’s football team prepares to make a come back.

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OUR STAFF Haley Richardson Dylan Sanchez Ceci Kuron Kevin Page Savana Morrison Cassidy Warne Bailey Reardon Kelsea Graham

Editor-In-Chief Editor-In-Chief Photographer Photographer InDepth Editor Student Life Editor Spotlight Editor A&E Editor

Arianna Skindell Summer Prather Timmy Falleri Katelynn Downey Shelby Grego Jessica Griffith Chris Kandlbinder Ally Payne

Opinion Editor Sports Editor Sports Writer Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter Reporter

Katelen Permenter Reporter Emily Rhew Reporter Madi Saunders Reporter Cortney Snyder Reporter Benjamin Whalen Reporter Payton Wolff Reporter Brock Mitchell Webmaster Jennifer Higgins Adviser

OUR MISSION Our mission for the 2011-2012 school year is to create a quality magazine that informs our readers as well as provide a professional journalism experience for all members involved. The Eagle’s View is a public forum of student expression.

www.eaglesviewonline.com FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION As technology evolves, cell phones and computers are finding their niche in classrooms STORY BY ALLY PAYNE

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student’s phone blares out, “Say A Command,” in the middle of math class. A few years ago, this might have been a huge deal, but now it is just laughed off. Since then, many technology tools have been added to the classroom for teachers and students.

This has made teaching a little easier and made it a little easier for students to learn.

“I use computer, videos, and PowerPoint in my classroom to teach my lessons,” psychology teacher Doug Davis said.

Technology has become a huge part of our classrooms today. Whether it is using computers or tablets, you can take notes or learn a difficult math lesson.

“Technology I use in my classroom includes calculators, ‘clickers’, and I

also use my tablet to ‘ink’ notes for my students,” math teacher Jamie Jacob said.

Technology may be taken for granted, but without it, students could be sitting through long lectures to learn their lessons. In many ways, technology makes things a lot easier in the classroom.

“I think technology helps because when teachers use Tablets or Interwrite pads to write notes on the screen for us, it helps so everyone can see the notes and examples,” sophomore Yesenia Gomez said.

Students can typically understand the notes better from a teacher rather than a textbook. The technology available makes teaching and learning a little easier.

With the way technology is a part of our school, cell phone restrictions

have changed.

“AP classes have their own rules for cell phones/iPods, so I follow those… but I allow students to use their cell phones to set reminders, and for assignments I give,” Davis said.

Cell phones are now being used for projects, while few years ago, they were not even allowed in the classroom. With the technology used in our classroom now, cell phone restrictions have changed.

Technology has become such a huge part of our classrooms and schools, making it a little easier for teachers and students. With the technology now used, it has affected cell phone and iPod restrictions. As to whether or not all the kinds of technology are a help or a distraction... that is a personal choice.

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Pam Barrett enters data into an iPad.“I think technology in classrooms has potential to open doors for today’s students that people in my generation didn’t get to explore,” Barrett said.

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Junior Dayzian Robinson updates his Facebook on his phone. “I think that no matter how many rules you make to ban cell phones from the classroom, there’s always going to be students who have them,” sophomore Emily McFadden said. Photos by Ceci Kuron.

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STUDENT LIFE Eagle’s View

GOING, GOING...

GONE GONE GONE

The dog days of summer are now spent in school instead of at the pool

STORY BY SHELBY GREGO une, July, and August- the three months of summer. The three months that kids looked forward to most, have been cut short in the past few years. Three months of fun, sun, and family vacations are becoming shortened and rushed. Going back to school after Labor Day is now a thing of the past for Liberty Public Schools.

Many students feel that summer is speeding by too quickly, however others are quite anxious to return to Liberty North for another year of learning.

“I am kind of looking forward to returning to school because last year was fun, and this year should be even better,” junior Jake Hanson said.

There are many reasons for starting school in august. One reason being that the earlier the school year begins, the earlier the school year can end. Also, it allows for the lengthening of breaks during the school year.

“I have mixed feelings about returning to school in August. Although I would like more summer, it’s really better to begin in August because it is what I have become used to,” junior Alexis Spiegel said.

One downfall to beginning school in mid- August is the fact that it is the hottest month of the year. With record breaking temperatures, many air conditioners fail, which leads to an unhealthy learning environment for students as well as faculty.

“I would rather begin school at the beginning of September because I feel like I always have so much left to do in the summer, but not enough time to do it all,” sophomore Maizey Denton said.

Many students agree that starting school in the beginning of September would give them a much longer break, as well as more time to get ready for the following school year.

“I think it would be better for school to begin at the first of September because it feels like every year summer gets shorter and shorter,” senior Zach Stark said.

Though three months of summer does sound good to some students, for now we will be returning to start the new school year in mid- August.

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AVERAGE

HIGH TEMPERATURES June- 83 F

August- 92 F

July- 88 F

September- 79 F

Sophomore Darren Dillard shops the aisles in search of his school supplies for his upcoming school year, beginning in August. Junior Josh Koch went back to school shopping over the tax free weekend. “School always starts around tax free weekend so it is always packed.” said Koch. Many families take advantage of the tax free weekend to save money on school supplies. Photo by Ceci Kuron.

STUDENT LIFE 08/18/2011

BLACKLIGHT

BLOWOUT North starts a new tradition with the first annual Neon Dance

STORY BY MADI SAUNDERS

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he music is pounding, getting louder and louder. People everywhere are dancing to the rhythm of the music. Blacklights and glow sticks light up the dance floor. All this happens when a new tradition starts at Liberty North High School this year. It is called the Blacklight Blowout.

“The senior class members of Student Council decided they wanted to start a new tradition of hosting a dance at the beginning of the school year as their gift to all LNHS students,” Student Council Advisor Lindsey Plaster said.

The Blacklight Blowout will be held in the gymnasium on Saturday August 27, 2011 from 8:00-10:00pm. The gym will be transformed with blacklights, music, and entertainment. The entry fee to the dance is $5.00 and students will receive a free glow stick. The dance committee includes Student Council members Emma Barry and Shannan Sanderford.

“The seniors are planning it as almost a ‘welcome back’ for juniors and welcome for sophomores at North to start the year off right at the high school! The dance will be held in the

gym with great music, including some dubstep, and blacklights,” senior Emma Barry said.

The Blacklight Blowout is not only a new way to say welcome to Liberty North, but it is also the start of a new tradition.

“Our senior class is very excited to start this back-to-school dance tradition and we hope it will be carried on through the years. We think this dance will be a great way to get the student body pumped-up for all the upcoming events this school year,” senior Shannan Sanderford said.

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SPOTLIGHT Eagle’s View

HOT MAMA The story behind North’s head chef, Michelle Dobberstine

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hat does “Mama” have cooking?

Michelle Dobberstine’s lives an exciting life consistsing of all kinds of things that range from cooking to weight lifting.

“I have always loved preparing meals for my family when I was growing up,” Dobberstine said Dobberstine has not always been into the food industry. Her first major was broadcasting at Northwest Missouri State University and then Early Childhood Education at University of Missouri Kansas City. Then she realized that cooking was her passion and she changed her major a third time to Associates in Hotel/Restaurant Management.

Dobberstine has been in the food business for 22 years, ever since she graduated college.

She started her own private catering company called “Michelle’s Elegance.” Its motto, “We all eat with our eyes”, is still her motto to this day. She shut down the company last year so she could focus on Liberty North and ensure its success.

Outside of the cafeteria she does more than cook.

“In my spare time I enjoy weight lifting/bicycling with my family, cooking pastries and reading sci-fi books!” Dobberstine said.

This summer she worked for a few weeks at the Liberty North Cafeteria for summer school.

Dobberstine also wound up in the hospital because she had to get a gall bladder removed.

She finished her summer by working at the Nutrition School Services Offices re-vamping the entire Liberty North High School Eagle Cafeteria Menu.

“I am looking forward to this year! The menu totally rocks!” Dobberstine said.

MAMA’S MENAGERIE BLOODHOUND Petunia GUINEA PIG Twitch CAT Spike CAT Abigail (Spike’s mother) CAT Medea CAT Pandora CAT Persephone 5 GALLON fish tank 55 GALLON fish tank 39 GALLON fish tank LNHS’s head chef, Mama, poses in the kitchen of the cafeteria. “I love Mama because she makes buying lunch better than it should be. Every time I buy lunch I get a good giggle,” junior Jadin Nardella said. Photo courtesy of Michelle Dobberstine.

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PLANKING

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INDEPTH 08/18/2011

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STORY BY EMILY RHEW

find an interesting place to plank

In the past year an array of odd new trends have become increasingly popular among teens. Perhaps the most famous of these is the unique art of planking.

make sure your location is safe to plank on

OTHER ODD TRENDS

lay down on your stomach

random objects in a crouching position, while holding your knee

put your arms straight out to your side make sure your body is completely flat

Owling- The act of posing on top of

Coning- The act of buying an ice cream

cone at a drive-through and grabbing it by the ice cream itself, leaving the employee with the cone

Getting Feathered- The act of putting feather extensions in one’s hair

Senior Zac Miller spends his free time planking on the bookshelves in the library. “It is great. Basically the best idea ever. Though, I do wish I had the abs to do it,” junior Kenny Tran said. Photo by Ceci Kuron.

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A&E Eagle’s View

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THE MAGIC LIVES ON

HARRY POTTER MAKES BANK

BOX OFFICE $7 Billion

VIDEO GAMES $1.5 Billion

CONSUMER PRODUCTS $7 Billion

TV AIR TIME $1 Billion

The beloved Harry Potter series comes to a close STORY BY PAYTON WOLFF

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VIDEOS $3.9 Billion

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Imperio! There are people all around dressed in their wizard attire. The final movie of the biggest series of a generation is about to be released, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows, Part 2.

“It was extremely crowded at the premiere and loud. Everyone was so excited to see the movie and most people were wearing Harry Potter glasses and capes,” sophomore Sabrina Wallace said.

An era that has been a huge part of many students’ lives has come to a close. The series of Harry Potter was officially put to rest July 15th, when crowds of people rushed to the theatres to see Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows, Part 2.

The first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was released in 1997. From there the books grew in popularity and eventually became a better seller than the bible. There have even been 13 colleges that have taught classes on Harry Potter.

After 450 million copies of the seven-set series were sold and the fantasy world that kids and adults have been stuck in for years was over, many people were wondering if the final movie would be a letdown or successful.

“Honestly I don’t think they could have done it any better! It was more than I thought it would be,” junior Mckenzie Simon said.

Many people are upset that their childhood series has officially come to an end.

Years of spells and adventure have finally ended.

“It’s depressing. I cried basically the whole last movie. It’s not really over though.

We can still go back to the books and the movies,” sophomore Emma Allman said.

There are still many ways the phenomenon will last much longer. With all of the products and books it’s never too late to reach back into the story of Potter.

“I think the phenomenon will continue. The Harry Potter series was a huge part of our generation and will continue to be a classic. The books and the movies will still be just as popular years from now,” senior Macy Angle said.

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Juniors Taylor Nelson, Haley Barbour, Natalie Canuteson, and Mac Elliott dressed for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 premire. “I think that the last Harry Potter movie was the best one yet! I wish there were more to come, but at least it went out with a bang!” Nelson said.

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Taylor Nelson dressed as Hagrid, Haley Barbour dressed as Harry Potter, Natalie Canuteson dressed as Hermoine Granger, and Mac Elliott dressed as professor Trelawney on the night of the premire. Photos courtesy of Kelsea Graham.

OPINON 08/18/2011

PRO

NOT-SO-GREAT LATE START?

It is well established that because of teenagers’ lack of an early bedtime, late start classes are appreciated by high school students and teachers. Liberty North High School enjoys a late start day every Tuesday at 8:15a.m.

This leaves the question: is late start Tuesday worth looking forward to?

Here are the good qualities about late start.

Good things come to those who wait; students wake up early one day, then they can sleep in the next morning.

CORTNEY SNYDER Late start also benefits students who REPORTER originally get the needed amount of sleep by being able to stay up an extra half hour Monday night. An additional positive aspect is sleeping in Tuesday helps teenagers get into the mind set of learning for the rest of the week.

Having a late start day on a bad day of the week would still be better than not having one at all. It is not easy to complain about sleeping in an extra thirty minutes during the week. Although the question still remains, is late start Tuesday worth looking forward to?

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CON

Who doesn’t like the weekend?!

Someone insane-- that’s who. After all the merriment, Monday is always there to greet us with a special gift: school.

But since that special gift isn’t always welcome, we’ve had late start. Until now. Our beloved late start Monday is gone. We are now presented with late start TUESDAY instead. Awesome? No. First off, our weekends are packed with things to do. Who has time to sleep? We normally enjoy the extra half hour on Monday mornings to catch KATELYNN DOWNEY up on those “z’s” that our bodies are REPORTER lacking. But now, we will all appear even more sleepless.

Secondly, late start Mondays were often used as a time to catch up on late work from the previous week. Now, all of the work we used to do on late start Mondays will be turned in and sitting on the teachers desks while we work on leftover homework from Monday night.

Lastly, changing late start to Tuesday will simply mess up the flow of the week. Mondays are for late start and football, Tuesdays are for tacos, and so on. Moving late start to Tuesday will just be rough waters. Tuesdays will start to feel like Mondays all over again.

“CATHERINE” THE GREAT It is an unquestionable truth that my obsession with chainsawwielding things permeates the vast majority of my interests.

My fascination with chainsaws rivals both Leatherface and the most ARIANNA SKINDELL bearded of OPINION EDITOR lumberjacks.

Thusly, it only makes sense that the best thing that has ever happened to my life happens to be the release of a new video game where one of the boss levels includes a baby chasing you with a chainsaw.

I’m talking, of course, about “Catherine,” the most recent project by developer Atlus. “Catherine” tells with cinematic finesse the story of Vincent Brooks, who must decide whether he wants to marry Katherine, his girlfriend of five years, or start anew with Catherine, the bodacious blonde who keeps turning up in his bed.

It makes perfect sense that with a storyline like this, “Catherine” should involve things like babies with chainsaws, right? Obviously; and that’s what I love about this game. “Catherine” takes all of the conventions of modern gaming (zombies, arbitrary point-systems and achievements, buff soldiers endowed with more bullets than the Department of Defense could ever afford, lack of discernible storyline, et cetera) and snaps them in half. The storyline delves into moral territory, exploring themes of relationships and adulthood with horror and religious imagery. The ending you receive (and there are eight different ones to choose from) depends on a morality meter, which changes based

on the way you act in different situations. In this sense, “Catherine” forces the player to become Vincent, instead of just asking you to control him Take that, Call of Duty.

In addition to the social-simulation elements, the player must also conquer Nightmare stages, which is where the puzzles come into play. These puzzles make the gameplay of “Catherine” just as refreshing as its story. Beating this game is an intellectual accomplishment. In the Nightmare sequences, Vincent must pull blocks from a giant wall, and create staircases that will reach the summit and lead him on to the next level. These logic puzzles are nowhere as easy as they sound. In fact, they are so not easy that if you choose to play the game on hard mode, it will ask you if you are a masochist. It’s not exaggerating.

Even with all that description, “Catherine” cannot be done justice by the written word. You must experience all of its terror, frustration, and genius for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll

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SPORTS Eagle’s View

NORTH’S

SECOND GO Liberty North’s first football season leaves many questions unanswered STORY BY TIMMY FALLERI truggles through heat, the will power to continue long practices, and the expectations of just getting back on the field when game time arrives, are just a handful of thoughts racing through many of Liberty North’s football players this year. Liberty North›s football team has been practicing hard over the summer and players feel they have a very large chance of improvement going into their second season.

“I expect for Liberty North Football to go through this season with a big bang, because as most of the school knows, we have a lot of anger built up from last year.

And from the work ethic that we have had recently, I know that we will be a better team than last year,» junior Michael Smith said.

With a record of two wins and eight losses last season, many North players were left with the feeling that they have plenty to prove to awaiting fans this coming season. Not only do players feel they have yet to reach their full potential, but they also feel they are better off with one year under their belt.

“I think there is going to be a huge improvement compared to last year because we all know what to expect and we are all stronger,” junior Alex Westhues said.

Though the players have been ready for this season to start for quite some time now, North students hold high expectations for this season as well. Even if you are not a player, there is a certain amount of anticipation held for football this year.

“I think that North will do better than what everyone expects, and what everyone knows from last year,” junior Kenny Tran said.

As the summer weather falls behind, there is Liberty North Football in the horizon. North participates in a jamboree August 19th,and are off to face Oak park August 26th. All eyes drawn to North’s Football team, this years Liberty North Football season is coming on faster than fans may expect.

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2011 EAGLES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 8/19

Jamboree

8/26

@ Oak Park

9/02

KC Central

9/8

William Chrisman

9/16

@ Staley

9/22

Grandview

9/30

@ Platte County

10/7

Raytown (Homecoming)

10/14

@ Excelsior Springs

10/21

@ Smithville

10/27

Kearney

Liberty North football players have high hopes for the 2011 season. “Football is a lot better. We have gotten a lot better than we were last year. Practices are different, we don’t have 2-a-days this year. I would rather that because it is two short sessions instead of one long one,” junior Jase Whillhite said.

Photo by Ceci Kuron.

SPORTS 08/18/2011

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HOPE FOR THE ROYALS As the Royals grow as a baseball club their wish to be playoff contenders, once again, may come true in the near future

STORY BY BEN WHALEN ’mon Chen!” That’s what a fan at a recent Royals game yelled. Now it might be the saying on all of Bruce Chen’s t-shirts, but this wasn’t a happy fan. The Royals were down 4-2 and just gave up another run. This was a typical loss for the royals. Good defense, good relief pitching, good hitting, and terrible starting pitching.

Every year Royals fans ask the same question- Could the Royals actually be good this year? And the answer may actually be different soon. With the Royals’ young talent and the best farm system in Major League Baseball (according to ESPN and SI) they could soon be a playoff contender just like they were in the 80’s.

“I think the Royals are going to need more playmakers than just Alex Gordon to contend for the playoffs,” senior Trevor McNeal said.

The Royals might just be getting some more playmakers. Eric Hosmer was the Royals number one prospect and is expected to be an all-star first baseman in the future. He has been in the majors since June and has already hit an incredible 10 homeruns.

“The Royals have talent. They just need some starting pitching and then I think they are playoff contenders,” sophomore Alex Pohl said.

The Royals have one of the best overall team batting average and one of the youngest, most talented bullpen.

The Royals best ERA in their rotation however is 4.48

by Jeff Francis. The oldest field player on the Royals is 27. The oldest player in the bullpen is 27. The oldest starting pitcher on the royals is 34.

“Hopefully the Royals will do good next year, but they will probably do the same as every year. They will start out good and everyone will think it’s their year but die out and do terrible,” junior Josh Koch said.

The Royals are getting some more playmakers and they already have the best farm system in the majors.

They are getting some starting pitching and they are a very young ball club. The future seems bright.

People are always asking the question- Could the Royals actually be good this year? And according to some LNHS students and the baseball experts they will be soon.

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Many fans go to Royals games solely for the atmosphere. “It’s really nice going to games now that they remodeled the stadium. It was fireworks Friday, which always makes the game better,” junior Ali Hagen said.

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Ketchup, mustard and relish race around the bases, as they do every game. “I love seeing the ketchup, mustdard and relish race at the Royals game, it is very entertaining watching them fall flat on their face because they are racing for a hot dog,” sophomore Gabby Bridgeman said.

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