Issue 5

Scroll

East High School 815 E 13th St. Des Moines, IA 50317 Des Moines Public Schools

Vol 82/Issue 5

See what’s trending this season!

Hallway,

pg12/13

runway

Gentlemen, get your wallets ready, prom is here!

Attendance turns into a sentence pg20

pg24

photo/Z. Aleman

E

easthighpublications.com

/EastScroll

@EastScroll

IG: EastScroll

Issue #5

Co-Editors in Chief Natalie Flores Tyler Vail

Editors

Jordan Gerke Kendrew Panyanouvong Ethan Rustan Aron Mota Robles Jeilah Seely Krystalann Rand Alex Underwood Brian Rivera Chelsie Smith Staffers Emma Stanley Shareece Burrell Blake Sunkle Samora Clay Jazmin Torres Taylor Davis Vacengleng Vang Jackie Gabriel Keesha Gaines Photographers Lane Galvin Brian Chang Dezejanee Hall Zaira Aleman Austin J. Haus Adviser Samuel Hansen Jaylin James Natalie Niemeyer Jessa May Principal Summer Mills Steve Johns

page 2 / contents

DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL LETTER POLICY The Scroll welcomes letters but reserves the right EQUALITY STATEMENT The Des Moines Public Schools prohibits discrimination in educational and employment prog rams and activities based on age, race, creed, color, sex, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

In addition, the District prohibits acts of intolerance or harassment toward employees or students that are not related to the individual’s employment or education.

ADS POLICY

Ads are available in quarter page, half page and full page sizes. Ad inquiries should be directed to Natalie Niemeyer at natalie.niemeyer@dmschools.org.

The Scroll reserves the right to reject ads deemed not in the best interest of East students. The paper is printed every four weeks by Wilcox Printing in Madrid, IA.

April 18, 2014

to edit for space as needed. Outside contributions are subject to the usual restrictions of libel and obscenity and must conform to general paper policy, which is available upon request. Signed commentaries represent personal opinions, not views of the staff. Also, your letter needs to include your full name and grade. Unsigned letters can not be printed. You can deliver your letter to Natalie Niemeyer in room 3060N.

NOTE: All contents are the product of the EHS newspaper production staff. Occasional stories are contributed from the Journalism Intern program.

The Scroll is a public forum for student expression.

Page Editor/ N. Flores

what’s inside... p6/7

Progress over the years for the Iowa Assessments

p8

p6/7

photo/N. Flores

A closer look at Principal Johns

p10/11

Take a look at the trending spring fashion at East

p12/13

Girls vs Boys: Who spends more on prom?

p17

photo/N. Flores

p15

Q&A with girls soccer coach Oscar Meza

p20

#ScrollPromposal winners

photo/N. Flores

April 18, 2014

p20 Pages Editor/ N. Flores

photo/Z. Aleman

p10/11

page 3 / contents

page 4 / ads

April 18, 2014

Four years in high school

Is that enough to prepare you for your future? story/ J. Seely our high school years, especially your senior year are supposed to prepare you for the journey ahead. They are meant to equip you with the skills and knowledge that you will need to get through college and survive in the real world.

Or at least that is what schools like to tell you.

“I don’t think that high school has prepared me for the real world because I am in my junior year of high school and I still don’t understand the basics of life. Like the different ways to pay bills, or how to manage

Y

photo/ N. Flores my money so I can pay bills and grocery shop, and even just to know how to write a check,” said junior Izak Yaw. More and more you find that teachers are “teaching to the test.”

Meaning that they are only trying to get you to hold information long enough to pass a test (whether that be ITEDs, District assessments, finals, etc.) rather than teach you information in a way that you will keep it for a lifetime.

“High Schools are not as good as they used to be, today schools provide so much leeway, with

page 5 / features/ ads

attendance and absences, and also home situation aren’t like they used to be, and students who don’t have that strong of a foundation aren’t as motivated as though that do,” said administrative assistant Kim Smith.

However there are others who feel different about this, for example administrative assistant April Harper-Gill believes that high school does prepare you in some ways.

“Yes, high school does prepare you in the way that you have to multi task a lot in high school so that is one skill you develop that stays

with you. So if you’re successful with it now you will be successful at in life as well.”

No matter what side you’re on there is always room for improvement.

“One way we can improve is to be very consistent, and have a different place for our ninth graders to start off, because it is hard to get back up when you fall off your freshman year,” said Mrs. Harper-Gill.

Mrs. Smith said that one way we can improve would be to change the attendance policy.

“A stricter attendance policy would eliminate

the students who aren’t here for the right reasons.

But we could also help students by offering more trade classes, and classes that work on job skills,” said Ms. Smith.

But from a student’s point of view it’s all about the classes and when we have to take them.

“I feel like we could be better prepared if the school would stop letting freshman and sophomores take classes like financial literacy, because they just aren’t ready.”

April 18, 2014

Page Editor/ N. Flores

By the numbers

East High test scores

ITEDS

[Iowa Test of Educational Development]

Last year, East ranked

THIRD out of the FIVE schools in DMPS in

reading, math, & science. page 6 / features

April 18, 2014

Page Editor/ K. Panyanouvong S. Clay

Average score percentage

page 7/ features

April 18, 2014

Page Editors/ K. Panyanouvong, S. Clay

illustration/Mr. Soliday

story/Kendrew Panyanouvong

M

r. John’s has been the principal of East High School for three years now. With 24 years of head principal experience, he explains how much of a difference it is teaching in the Des Moines Public School district. Prior, John’s was the head principal at Williamburg High School for 20 years. Before coming to East, he was an assistance principal and the athletic director at neighboring North High School. Mr. John’s is the 14th head principal of East.

What influenced your decision to become the principal at East?

Once I got down to Des Moines, I was amazed by the diversity. Every day is super active and I like that stimulus. I wanted the oppurtunity to become a head principal again. I enjoy making decisions.

What are some incentives/goals you would like to see East accomplish in the next couple years?

We want to increase our students ability to be successful when they leave us. That breaks down from attendance, reading scores, to test scores all together. We want to get students here and simply teach them. We want our students to be just as capable of going to postsecondary school than any other student at any other school.

What’s your favorite part about the students here at East?

photo/Kendrew Panyanouvong

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The rich diversity. I graduated in a class with no minorities. The school I taught and have been a principle at had less than 5 percent. I wanted this oppurtunity to be in a school that had rich diversity. I love it here, so many people bring so many different things to this school.

April 18, 2014

A closer look

[ [ [

He has a passion for aviation. He aspires to be a pilot instructor after retirement Mr. Johns was a javilon thrower for Iowa State University

] ]

He was a quarterback for his high school. Johns also played basketball, ran track, and played baseball

Page Editor/ K. Panyanouvong

]

THE LOW DOWN ON CENTRAL CAMPUS

Urban Leadership 101

I

n UL 101 full of new excitement and cultural learning about minorities. “You can say what you feel, and don’t have to worry about being judged for it,” said sophomore Dazunear Riddle.

The class is very multicultural class, with many opinions on the material studied. Women’s Rights’, LGBT (Lesbian/ Gay/Bisexual/Transsexual), Black Panther Party etc.

Deep discussions happen in this class, but there’s always someone that will listen.

story/ D. Hall

photo/ D. Hall

Broadcast & film

A

re you into the settings of movie scenes, Behind the scenes studio etc.? Well, Central Campus has all hands-on material and curriculum being taught. In this class, you’re experiencing the on-camera takes, audio and recording, directing and much more. You can create your own projects and get in front of the camera.

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photo/ D. Hall

What is Central Campus?

C

entral Campus complements and extends the programs of Central Iowa schools, offering unique academic and career opportunities that direct, inspire, and motivate a diverse group of students.

Central Campus offers students all types of classes that schools don’t in DMPS. Taking the opportunity to take classes Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management, Marine Biology, Urban Leadership, and Broadcast and Film.

Central Campus gives kids’ through-out the state of Iowa a chance to learn a lot of new knowledge in many unique ways.

photo/ D. Hall

April 18, 2014

Page Editor/ D. Hall

Clothes, kicks, and fashion tips Tank tops are a great way to get some sun in a flashy, easy and cute way.

Jean ts e k c a J

Bright colors resemble the colors of spring, expressing your friendliness and readiness for warm weather.

Tank Tops

Sandals are a great fashion statement without the hassle of laces and they match nearly everything!

Camo

April 18, 2014

Boat Shoes

Shorts

Kelsey Vail, 10 Dametria Hamiliton, 10 page 10/ news

Socks aren’t what they used to be they are now a huge accessory in fashion. Adding individuality and character.

Page Editor/ B. Rivera, E. Stanley

Gerald Sama, 9 April 18, 2014

PJ Graham, 12

Page Editor/ B. Rivera, E. Stanley

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The price of an enchanted evening Ladies

Hair

$50-100

Corsage $10-15

*Traditionally the guy purchases the corsage

Nails

$30-50

Dress

$400-600

Shoes

$75-120 photo/ K. Panyanouvong Senior Ashley Herrington and Evan Mom before prom last year.

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April 18, 2014

Page Editor/ T. Vail L. Galvin

Fun fact!

A survey done by Visa shows that the average cost of going to prom nationwide is now $1,139. But the average cost of the West North Central region (which includes Iowa) is only $722.

Gentlemen

Boutonniere $10-15

*Traditionally the girl purchases the boutonniere

Tuxedo $150-200

Tickets $50

Dinner $50-75

Swagger Priceless

Shoes

photo/ R. Galvin Seniors Skyler Knutzen and Kathryn Garcia before prom last year.

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April 18, 2014

$50-75

Page Editor/ T. Vail L.Galvin

Dear Keesha, ey?

mon e v a s ou w do y

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e n I hid e h t , o I dt s I nee t more s e e l g n I U gI ey! nce e mon nvelope. O for the thin v a s t ’ e w t I don in an need i lf a really lo y I e l i n t o n e u my m rest e mys k to last me v e i h g t I , o t e o add it ng it for. Als g of the we se it stops n i i v au n was sa t the begin elps me bec hen I go to h w ta budge Friday. This thing I want count from c h ry throug buying eve t a savings a e m me fro u can also g r bank . o Y you lunch.

What do you think girls pref with swa er? A bad g and tre boy ats their good guy lady wron that’s too g or a clingy bu will treat t c la ssy and their lady r ig h t ?

Ever y g

How do I ask a girl to prom?

You have to know what she likes or her personality. If she has a serious personality, you should do something more romantic. You should use candles, flowers, balloons, and/ or a song. If the person you’re trying to ask has a sense of humor, then you have to put a little more thought into it. You should find or make up (even more creative) a phrase to say or write down on a board. You could also sing it to them. But whatever you think of you should try and find props to use or act out.

EXAMPLES BELOW

Kelly Tieng k

ham & Bria

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n Chang

Laurie Cus

irl is diffe rent and with their some type of gu y. That’s kin girls aren’t constan choose I w t d of hard, ould pick but if I was a bad boy attracted to . I believe to guys th most girls at are natu those nice are rally bad. guys will Even thou do a lot m bad guys gh ore for yo will, but w u than th e still cho are more e ose the b outgoing. ad ones. T We don’t guys ever h e y like when y move it we know takes the times. Bad a fun out th guy also k ings some eep a girl us guessin on her toe g and sur s, they lea prise us e ve ver y now and then.

tard & Jaso

n Jeffries

April 18, 2014

Cody Wort

hington &

Julia Casas

Page Editor/ K. Gaines

Meza takes charge After finishing last season with a record of 5-12, the Lady Scarlet’s soccer team was in search for a new head coach. The familiar face of Campus Monitor, Oscar Meza, has taken over on the field and has big plans for the future of East soccer. story/ J. Torres

E

ast High girls’ soccer is not only off to the start of a a whole new season but also a whole new learning routine. East High’s campus monitor and assistant Athletic Director is now carrying a new title to his name; the girls head soccer coach.

Former coach Guy Kesavadhana of three years was replaced by Oscar Meza who has wasted no time taking

the girls’ soccer team under his wing, with every intention to fly them to the top. Meza constantly speaks of his team having beyond enough talent, and the full potential to not only win many games, but also make it to the state tournament. He believes in his team entirely, and does everything in his power to have the honor of witnessing his players’ progress and improve, above and beyond.

Q&A With Coach Meza

Q: A:

What motivated you to become the East High girls’ soccer coach?

Q: A:

What do you expect to see this season from the girls’ soccer team?

This is my seventh year working at East and I have been following the program the last four years. When the opportunity came up, I knew it was the right time. It gives me the opportunity to have a successful program since I am in the building and I can monitor grades, attendance, behavior, and meet with students when needed.

I expect to see their best; I want dedication, commitment, and hard work. I expect them to perform their best at every practice and game no matter what the outcome of the game may be.

Q: A: Q: A:

What do you want to change or see improve from the girls’ soccer team?

Discipline. In order to become more successful, we need discipline.

How are you going to go about this season, with being the new coach?

I want people to follow my plan and rules. As long as everyone is committed to the team 100 percent there is no reason for us to do nothing but succeed and progress. I am going to hold team bonding’s, keep my team in great shape, work on skills, and make it hard to fail. The skills are here but now it’s about coming and putting it together as a team, that’s my challenge; for the team to understand we are one team, one family, one school, and together we will be the best.

photo/ Z. Aleman

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April 18, 2014

Page Editor/ A. Underwood

Need for speed, or need for action? story/ T. Davis

T photo/ B. Chang

Divergent, does it diverge?

story/ S. Burrell

T

he new movie “Divergent” is filled with excitement. It is about finding your life and determining how you fit in the world as you grow into an adult. A young woman named Beatrice (Shailene Woodley) is the main character and she struggles to choose who she really is. There are five choices to choose from and her family all wanted her to choose to stay with them. She chose to go with people that are wild and take a lot of risks.

Everyone has a purpose in Chicago except for people that are divergent. If you are divergent you are more likely to be killed if people find out, so most of them are either are in hiding or dead. She hid from everyone that she was divergent, because there are very little divergent people left in their city and they are not wanted.

This movie has so much action and there is always a twist. I really enjoyed the movie. It was good from the beginning to the end.

The best part was when Beatrice found out her mom was Divergent and saved her life. The movie is way better than the book because you can actually see what is going on. The acting was great because the movie seemed like real life and Woodley did a great job changing her personality a lot. This is a must see movie if you love drama and action. Also this is a love story too, so if you like romantic stories then you have to see this movie.

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here was much hype over the movie Need For Speed considering it is based off the most successful racing video game franchise. Need For Speed was released on March 14th. Did it live up to its name?

Aaron Paul plays as Tobey Marshall, a bluecollar mechanic who in order to save his garage has to build and race muscle cars. He partners

with Dino Brewster, (Domonic Cooper) who together they build and race muscle cars. Things go wrong and Dino ends up framing Tobey sending him to prison. Tobey is out for vengeance and nothing will stop him.

While the concept seems exciting enough it’s not what I expected.

It gives you a thrill in the beginning but after a while it starts to slow down and gets boring.

The action sequences weren’t intense enough and there wasn’t enough explosions. By the end I was very disappointed.

It tries too hard to be like the old school 1970’s racing movies.

If you’re looking to be entertained you won’t find much here unless the only thing you’re looking forward to is the racing. You would be better off sticking to the Fast and Furious movies.

A new beginning to an old war story/ V. Vang

photo/ B. Chang

T

he movie starts with a big bang with Chris Evans as Captain America kicking butt with Scarlet Johansson as Black widow electrocuting people on a hijacked S.H.I.E.L.D. ship.

S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention,

April 18, 2014

Enforcement and Logistics Division) protects the world from devastation. The movie takes place in a modern day Washington D.C. where the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters is located.

Captain America has a lot of flashback of friends and enemies. This movie puts the first movie in

shame and is completely better than The Avengers.

If you haven’t watched Captain America: The Winter Soldier, you are missing out on what could be the best Marvel movie of all time!

Page Editor/ T. Davis

photo/ J. James

TIT NF LL Life’s better with a Titan story/ A. Mota, J. James

O

utstanding, f l a w l e s s , breathtaking, award-winning, and a completely new generation of firstperson shooting. These are all ways to describe this amazing new game.

Titanfall is a firstperson shooter game developed by Respawn Entertainment, and published by EA (Electronic Arts). The game was released on March 11 for Windows and Xbox One. The game won over 60 awards at its E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) reveal. Titanfall is a six on six online matchup based on a war-torn planet where players can fight as pilots, or mechstyle walkers known as, Titans. It is a different, spectacular and new way to experience a firstperson shooter game.

This game blows any of the previous firstperson shooters out of the water. The game is perfectly balanced. It doesn’t give too much

power to the Titans over the pilots. Also, it’s the perfect mix between Call of Duty and Halo.

It’s simple and easy to play if it’s your first time playing. The first time you get into that Titan you feel like a Justin Bieber fan girl screaming at his concert. Yes, it’s that awesome. When you destroy an enemy Titan it’s the most exhilarating sensation. This game is in a class of its own.

If you enjoy giant robots blowing each other to bits while ground forces help annihilate the other team, then this is the game for you. You won’t have to worry about people who sweat over a video game. The arsenal they have to choose from is balanced. The automatic targeting pistol will make even the worst player seem good. If you don’t have this game yet, then you are missing out, so go buy it. If you don’t have an Xbox One don’t worry, Titanfall is also out for the Xbox 360.

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Thumbs Up

70%

Thumbs Down

30%

*20 gamers polled

photo/ J. James

April 18, 2014

Page Editor/ J. James

East High Scroll Behind the Scenes

Jessa May I joined Scroll because I love to write and design things. I wanted to have everyone read what I write and share with everyone what’s going on. I plan on going to college after high school and play softball also.

Sam Clay The reason why I joined Scroll was to experience something new. I am a science and a math person and I just wanted to do something non-numbers. I am going to the University of Iowa for an open major.

Samuel Hansen I joined Scroll because I like being in publications and being on the yearbook squad was lame. I am going to DMACC Ankeny because it is inexpensive and I am undecided on my major.

Taylor Davis I joined the Scroll because I wanted to try something new.

After I graduate I’m going to the University of Iowa to major in art.

Lane Galvin I joined because I wanted to show the students of East the horrors that happen bhind the walls of this school. I am going to ISU to major in Political Science and maybe one day be a senator.

Natalie Flores I joined the Scroll because I loved my journalism class. I plan on attending the University of Iowa after high school and study Biology.

Blake Sunkle I joined newspaper because I thought writing about current events would be fun. I plan on entering into the Marine Reserve system while I get my degree in psychology at Iowa State.

Jaylin James I joined the Scroll because I find designing and writing stories pretty fun! It’s a cool class with a lot of cool people and I really get to know the school and the people in it.

Tyler Vail I joined the Scroll after I watched All the President’s Men with Robert Redford.

And who doesn’t want to be like Robert Redford?! Next year I am attending DMACC Boone and my major is currently undeclared, like most community college students.

Vacengleng Vang I joined Scroll because it sounded fun. After high school I plan to study kinesiology at Iowa State and maybe get a teaching degree for middle school or high school.

Emma Kate I joined Scroll because I wanted mine and your words heard and seen. I plan on majoring in psychology and minoring in literature.

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Aron Mota I joined Scroll because writing stories and having the faculty and student body read them is awesome. I’m thinking of going to college and go into business.

Krystal Ann Rand I joined Scroll because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try something new and let my voice be heard.

After school I’m going to La James for beauty school.

Dezejanee Hall I joined Scroll because it was something different and I was convinced that it was fun. After high school I want to take my savings, move out of Iowa and get a four year degree.

April 18, 2014

Jazmin Torres I joined the Scroll because the class and the people in it seemed super chill, and I was right.

Austin Haus I joined the Scroll because it is something I’m truly interested in. I actually plan on going to school for journalism.

Page Editor/ J. Gerke

Breaking the silence against the sterotype Story/ K. Rand

A

re you ready to be a parent?

Teen pregnancy always seems to drag attention.

Honestly what’s so interesting about it? People have babies all the time, it’s natural. If you’d stopped to think about teen parenting it’s really not that different from parenting itself. The only difference is the age. Both want the best for their babies, to give their child a better life, to provide and protect their kid as much as possible, both want them to look at life with joy and be grateful. Parents want to raise their kids “the right way”. In my opinion teen parenting isn’t bad at all.

If you’re a teen parent I salute you. Not only

amazing.

Taking care of a kid isn’t easy at all. You have to be there for all of their tears, accomplishments, fears, and much more.

Attendance policy starts a rage in student body

Story/ B.Sunkle here is the logic in the attendance policy? If a student is a couple minutes late in the morning a few times, they are punished with a three hour mandatory Saturday school. Now if that student misses Saturday school they are suspended, all that trouble for only a couple minutes of school. Is there logic in being suspended from school for being a couple minutes late to school?

No. The attendance policy is less forgiving than the tardy policy. A student isn’t punished for being late to class until after being late for 6 times. Some students face more trouble arriving to

W

Teens always get the cold shoulder for being a parent because everyone thinks they’re too young and can’t handle the responsibility.

Instead of knocking teen parents, we should support them because they already have to worry about how to juggle their life and a kids they don’t need any more stress.

I’m totally supportive of teen parenting as long as you’re doing the best you can. If you’re trying to be a great role model showing your kids, “Hey, I had you at a young age but I’m still keeping up with

do you have to make time to take care of your child and their needs and wants, you also have to keep up with school and work. You also have to deal with your own personal life too. For you to multitask all those and still be able to hold yourself together at the end of the day, yo u ’r e

school on time because of specific circumstances, for example, being responsible for taking siblings to school or having to drive in bad weather, but how hard is it for a student to be on time for their next class when they’re already in school? Or why would you punish a student for not being in class by taking them out of class again?

To quote the Saturday school policy “Students who fail to serve assigned Saturday school will only return to school after a parent conference has been held with the grade level administrator” This policy is very backwards and in need of serious revision.

page 19 / opinion

school, work, getting a career, and taking care of our family,”then that’s fine. Now, if you have a child and you’re still acting like a child then I don’t support it. If you have a kid and you’re still putting everything but that child first you’re not a parent and you should have thought about the repercussions before you had sex. Then you shouldn’t have had you child at all. When it comes to teen parenting there are a lot of responsibilities to take on. You’re going to be judged, and pushed to your limit, don’t worry about how others see you.

Worry about your kid and meet your standards.

Yes it’ll be hard but you brought a new life into this world and now it’s your responsibility to raise that child.

A few minutes late, students miss more class

3 6 2 ANY

tardies to school will cause a sentence to detention

“Tardies should not be a big concern. I believe that there shouldn’t be a big punishment for being late.

It should be less harsh,” sophomore Erin Kelly said.

April 18, 2014

tardies will send you to saturday school from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. minutes late to a class can sentence senetence to detention and/or saturday school students that don’t attend Saturday school will be suspended from school for a whole day

Page Editor/ P. Graham

#ScrollPromposal #2

#1

#3

Kendrew Panyanouvong & Emma Smith

#4

Alex Underwood & Jade Peters

Connor Enochs & Cheyenne Lindsey

#5

Connor Enochs (11) and Cheyenne Lindsey (11) win free tickets to prom!

Oscar Tavera & Ellie Youngwirth

Michael Toruno & Natalie Flores

Prom 2014 / Enchanted Evening / Saturday, April 26, 2014 / 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm

page 20 / features

April 18, 2014

Page Editor/ A. Underwood