Dec 17

Page 1

Construction Chaos Update on construction plans, timeline of bond issue projects

Keeping pace Runners train during winter for upcoming season. Sports

News Women in healthcare Students travel to KU Medical

News

Students concerned about access to technology, school looks to improve availability

Technology

The

Booster

Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762

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Friday, Dec 1, 2017 Vol. 100 Issue 4

@ @PHSStudentPub

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Drafting plans: Words by |

The safety of Fourth Street outside the high school has been under review after a crosswalk accident back in September. As a state highway, changes to Fourth Street must be approved by Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) before implementation. The issue of creating a school speed zone from Water Street to Free Kings Highway has already been considered and rejected. “Everything gets safer if you put in a school speed zone, and that’s 20,� city manager Daron Hall said. “As much as everybody’s like, ‘Yeah, that works,’ we can’t just drop in a school speed zone.� Hall, however, did say a change in speed limit is still on the table. “[Reducing the speed] can happen and it will happen. The important thing is I don’t

want to reduce it three times, so let’s figure out what the final solution is and then we’ll reduce that speed appropriately. It may go down to 25 or 30, but it’s definitely not going to be 40 in a year from now.� Reconfiguring the bus loop to exit onto Free Kings has also been a topic for discussion. That way, school buses could spill onto Fourth easier. “The only way that works is if you signalized Fourth and Free King, but you can’t without a warrant,� Hall said. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are nine warrants to determine whether safety issues would justify the implementation of a traffic control signal. Warrants range from pedestrian volume to crash frequency. “Right now that intersection doesn’t meet any warrants, so KDOT can’t approve putting a signal in there,� Hall said. “We’re not going to be putting a signal and

stopping traffic on their highway without their blessing and that’s where the warrant comes in.� According to public works director Cameron Alden, a standard stoplight costs roughly $300,000. “The only reason to put up signals is because of safety and congestion,� Hall said. “My recommendation would be a signal because the traffic’s just that busy. I think a signal’s in our future, it’s just a matter of KDOT’s approval.� But that signal will have to wait. According to superintendent Destry Brown, KDOT did not fulfill their request An email sent to Alden on Nov. 28 rejected the proposal of a signal. “We just got word from KDOT that they won’t approve a light out here on Fourth and Free King, which kind of blows up the plan because that was an integral piece of what we were planning to do,� Brown said.

“We were disappointed in that because we thought we had a solid plan, but the big guy in Topeka decided that we didn’t.� KDOT did propose, however, that a roundabout may be a possibility. The cost might pose an issue, however, with Brown estimating it at roughly $1 million. Future discussions on changing that intersection are on the horizon. “We’re going to go back to the drawing board and see what we can come up with, but we may also try to appeal the decision. Daron just sent an email, so we’ll get together sometime and see what we can do.� Hall predicted the speed reduction would occur within a year. His timeline rests on starting the project before Brown retires. “Destry announced his retirement,� Hall said. “We’ve got to get this thing inked, planned and designed so it can happen probably over the summer.�

Departing from the district

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Destry Brown announced his retirement on Nov. 13 after nine years as superintendent of USD 250. Assistant Superintendent Ronda Fincher will also be retiring following the 2017-2018 school year. Fincher has been in the district for 18 years, including the last four as the assistant superintendent. Brown has led multiple initiatives within the district, including a $31 million bond to add storm shelters and classroom space in all district buildings. Brown wants to be remembered for always supporting the students and employees of the district. “I always stood for kids,� Brown said. “I care deeply for the people of this district, the staff, I have great relationships with them and I want people that at least work here to think that I did care about them as individuals as well as employees of the district.� Another initiative Brown has implemented are dual credit courses. “When I came there were none, now there we have quite a few —21 or 24 hours— for dual credit.� Fincher hopes her impact on student breakfast and lunch programs will continue even after her retirement. “The thing that I’ve been the most proud of, I think, is the breakfast in the classroom program that we have. We are now in our second full year at all four elementary schools and we’ve started now at the middle school and I hope down the line it comes to the high school. I’d like to see K-12 free breakfast for everybody and hopefully someday free lunch,� Fincher said. Fincher is not yet sure what she wants to do after her retirement, but she knows that there is something that she will find. “I feel like there’s something out there that I want to do different but I’m not sure what it is. The number one thing I want to do is spend more time with my family,� Fincher said. Brown also expressed his direction following his retirement from the district. “I have no plan except that I’m going retire from the district. I may decide to do this again somewhere but right now I have so many things happening here that I have, I don’t want to be distracted from finishing what I need to do here,� Brown said. For the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year, Brown and Fincher are focused on seeing the year through. “We have a job we need to complete through June and I think we are both on the same page that that’s important to us too and not go ‘okay we’re done’ but to finish it out and do it the way it needs to be done,� Fincher said.

Bobby Strong, AKA Matthew Buck 12, leads the rebellion against [WHO] in the show ‘Urinetown’. “This script is unusually full of satire that isn’t normally on shows,� Buck said. “This show makes fun of other musicals and requires everyone to buy in and be fully invested in the show to get the humor across.� The ‘Urinetown’ cast rehearsed everyday after school for nearly two months and during their music repertory class up until the opening night of the production. Photo by | # $% !

‘Urinetown’ is statebound

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! Words by | & " On Jan. 4, the music repertory class will be performing “Urinetown� in front of an audience of 1,800 thespians on opening night of the Kansas Thespian Festival. When sophomore Addy Campbell heard the news, she was filled with excitement. “I actually kind of flipped out. I almost started crying a little bit,� Campbell said. “It’s really great. For me, opening night is the show that is going to give you the punch. This is the big show that really is going to show everybody how much talent is in the state of Kansas.�

Theater director Greg Shaw was also grateful that “Urinetown� was one of the three main-stage shows to be selected. “Obviously [I was] very pleased that we were selected,� Shaw said. “We have qualified for each of the last ten years, but this is only the third time out of those ten years that we have been selected.� Senior Matt Buck is looking forward to performing in front of an audience of thespians. “I got to go and be backstage during Band Geeks when they performed, and it was a great experience to feel the excitement from everyone

and from the audience,� Buck said. “It is a great audience full of people who know the experience of being on stage and know what we’re going through. It’s just the best audience.� In the commotion of his first musical being performed at state, junior Aidan Harries plans to focus on handling his emotions. “[It will be hard] having all that energy and making sure it is controlled and not getting too overwhelmed with the excitement of being in front of so many people,� Harries said. The cast will be performing “Urinetown� again Jan. 2 at

Construction Chaos

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The community of Pittsburg approved a $31 million bond issue for the USD 250 district 263 days ago. Since then, two projects have been in the process, while others remain in the design phase, according to superintendent Destry Brown. The high school heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system installation, which began in the summer, is projected to be completed by the end of the fall semester, as well as the Family Resource Center storm shelter installment, which was set to

begin construction the week of Nov. 27. “When we started, I thought we would be in construction by now and we are still working on drawings,� Brown said. “But, that is okay, we are making sure everybody has a chance to give input and we are trying to make sure every space is the way everybody wants them.� Construction is proposed to take off in January 2018 as long as all of the projects are approved by the board and get on budget.

Continued on Page 2

Memorial Auditorium at 7 p.m. Tickets are not required, but donations are appreciated. Shaw is grateful for the support shown by the community. “Thankfully we have a school district and an administration that supports success,� Shaw said. “We are appreciative of all the people that help us put a program together like this. Lots of people give their time, resources and money. This is the payoff, and hopefully it is a payoff for all those people as well to see our kids succeed at this kind of level. This is truly a state championship in theater and that is how we’re trying to approach it.�

Upcoming Renovations:

Band room Scene Shop Administrative Offices Cafeteria Library Rooms Landscaping *This is not including classroom location changes or renovations at other USD250 community schools.

Graphic by | !

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News The

Booster+ *

Friday, Dec 1, 2017

Design by | 1 '

Managing menstruation

www.boosterredux.com

Info and Photo by | +

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F

or girls on their period at PHS complications may arise when attempting to go to the restrooms during their classes and in between their classes. Ten years ago, PHS offered sanitary items in dispensers for ten cents in the women’s restrooms, but due to vandalism they were taken out. “People would tear them off the walls or break into them especially because there was money in them,� Lisa Schwob, the school nurse, said. Now, the only bathroom containing sanitary items is in the nurse’s office. That bathroom goes through approximately 5,000 sanitary items every year. “We have girls come use the restroom three to four times a day. The bathroom is restocked twice a day,� Schwob said. Another resource available in PHS is Communities in Schools. Coordinator Reannon McCoy offers sanitary items, but she does more than that. McCoy buys boxes for the girls that cannot afford sanitary items. Finding time to get these items can be challenging for students like freshman DesiRay Laidler. “It [getting sanitary items] does affect

[girls] because we only have five minutes in between [classes] especially when you’re in the 600 hall and you have to go all the way across the school,� Laidler said. When junior Arely Hernandez is on her period she prefers to wait to use the restroom, but she sometimes cannot find time during class. “It takes a while to go to the restroom to go change, so that’s why I’d rather do it during class,� Hernandez said. “But that takes class time and sometimes the teachers don’t even let you go.� Some of Hernandez’s teachers offer extra credit hall passes that can be used up to five times. Hernandez says it’s hard not to use them when she’s on her period. English teacher Melissa Johnson says she usually lets students go to the nurse’s office or restroom if necessary. “I am someone that does not like students leaving if there’s not a good reason to leave. If I thought someone was leaving was just trying to get out of class it would really bother me,� Johnson said. Junior Hannah Casper also faces challenges when going to the restroom when she is on her period. “I know passing period may seem like a lot of time,� Casper said. “But it’s not if you have to go to your locker get a feminine product go all the way back to the bathroom change it then get to class.�

@ @PHSStudentPub

Graphic by | 1 '

Q &A

Kyra Ketcham WITH

Q: Do you think sanitary dispensers should be provided in girls bathrooms? Why or why not?

A: Yes, because it can be embarrassing to have to ask for a tampon or pad from a friend or the nurse.

Q: Do you think girls are unfairly punished for being tardy to class due to their period?

A: Yes, It is a hassle to be able to get to the bathroom in between

classes and it can be embarrassing to ask a teacher in the middle of class.

Q: Do you think that girls are shamed for being on their period? A: Yes, some teachers do not let girls use the restroom when it is an

emergency which is unfair.

Continued from Page 1:

Update on construction plans, timeline of bond issue projects “Right now, none of them are on budget, but that is normal,� Brown said. “When they do the first phase they are listening to everybody’s input and putting everything in that everybody wants, so the amount of money tends to be a little bigger than what we started with.� The total cost for the high school construction is $18 million. The project is over by about $1 million. All of the other locations are over by a couple hundred thousand dollars, according to Brown. “When the plans are over budget, they take [the design] and

do some more work on it to get the cost down to meet budget or we can not put it for bid,� Brown said. “The projects all start out over, but part of the process is trying to be very transparent. Every step we have [the architects] put the plans out on board meeting nights. They share so everybody kind of knows where we are at, but by the time we get done they have to be on budget or we have to start over.� After the Jan. 8 board meeting the timeline of the construction will start with breaking ground for three of the elementary schools including, George Net-

tels, Meadowlark and Westside. The Middle School will be the next project to commence followed by Lakeside elementary and finishing off with the high school. “I expect that we will have construction happening at all buildings simultaneously this spring,� Brown said. “Several should be completed by the end of the summer. Others will continue throughout the next school year.� At the high school, students, staff and visitors will be affected by the construction starting this spring semester when the front

offices begin renovation, according to principal Phil Bressler. “When they start construction on the front of the building this spring we will have an alternate entrance in the 600 hall,� Bressler said. “After some time in March I am expecting, [secretary] Mrs. [Susan] Russian and I will move down to room 609, and that will be the office for the rest of the construction until they get the administration wing open. With them building in the front we can’t have students walking through it, so everybody will have to come through the 600 hall entry to get in the

building.� All of the construction is proposed to be completed by August 2019. Though the bond issue encounters obstacles along the way, in the end the finished product will be a lasting investment for years to come. “We are building for 40 years from now,� Bressler said. “You do not want to build something cheap that you are going to have to redo in 15 years. Do it right the first time and when we have it done it is going to be very nice. It will be functional for our kids, which is the important part.�

Journalism brings home 17 national awards ! * 2 - 9 ! : * 2 ; •

magazine: Layout •

• •

Nicole Konopelko- Superior in Commentary Writing

•

•

Shannon O’Hara- Excellent in Feature Photography

• •

•

•

vironmental Portrait NSPA Photo of

Feature Writing

the Year

Myla Turner- Honorable Mention

•

ronment Portrait NSPA Photo of the

Maddy Emerson- 1st place for

Year

Year

Life Savannah Jones- Honorable Men-

•

Staff- 8th Place for NSPA Best of Show for Newspaper Special Issue

Staff- 1st Place for NSPA Best of

•

Isabel Hendrickson- Superior in Yearbook Layout: Inside Pages

Alivia Bendict- Honorable Mention for NSPA Best of Editorial Cartoon

Newspaper Design •

Maddy Emerson- 3rd Place for Envi-

Photo Portrait

in Sports Writing •

Maddy Emerson- 2nd place for En-

Kali Poenitske- Honorable Mention in

Sports Reaction NSPA Photo of the

Harleigh Drake- Honorable Mention

Maddy Emerson- 1st place for NSPA Sports Reaction Photo of the Year

Gina Mathew- Honorable Mention in

Maddie Baden- Honorable Mention

in Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student •

•

Newswriting

Isabel Hendrickson- Superior Yearbook Layout: Inside Pages

•

tion in Photography Portfolio

Grace Palmer- Superior in News-

•

Aubrey Bolinger- Honorable Mention for NSPA Feature Photo of the Year Graphic by | 1 '

2017 PHS District Instrumentalists '* $$ &

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*Dec. 2, 2017 - High School Band, Choir and Orchestra Concert* Graphic by | &

Opinion The

Booster

Friday, Dec 1, 2017

Abusing Power

www.boosterredux.com

@ @PHSStudentPub

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.S. Sen. Al Franken has placed women’s issues at the top of his agenda for nine years. He wrote a bill guaranteeing emergency contraception on every U.S. military base. He reintroduced legislation to help ensure safe housing for sexual violence victims. Ultimately, he has been a male champion of women’s rights. But now, people are rightfully turning their backs on the Minnesota-based democratic senator after four women accused him of engaging in physical contact with them without their consent. Radio anchor Leeann Tweeden was one of these women. She accused him of force-kissing her to “rehearse� their scene for a military show and later groping her breasts. She said she felt “disgusted and violated,� according to TIME Magazine’s coverage. The allegations are obviously detrimental to Franken’s career. Both parties have agreed on allowing the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate him. But instead of narrowing our focus to the impact on his career, we have to look at the societal issue that his actions represent — a growing degradation of females. Franken’s political prominence shows that anyone can engage in sexual misconduct, regardless of their status or beliefs — even a senator who tirelessly fought for women’s rights. Throughout these past few weeks, sexual assault allegations against well-know, authoritative males have proliferated. Sexual misconduct among males in high positions has occurred for a long time. We all remember when Bill Clinton lied under oath, denying that he had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky or when eight women accused former president George H.W. Bush of groping them.

But now, light is finally being shed on the widespread issue and males are finally being held accountable for their abuse of power. Recent events show that we have to put an end to this hidden issue. First, pro-life Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania asked a women he was having an affair with to get an abortion when he thought she might be pregnant. Next, it was the then district attorney and current Alabama Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore, who was accused of sexually assaulting or molesting eight women — of which six said he pursued romantic relationships when they were teenagers. Then, it was Franken, who released an apology and at least took responsibility. Then, it was Senior Democratic Congressman John Conyers, who was pressured to resign from the House Judiciary Committee over allegations that he had sexually harassed multiple female aides. Then, just when I thought the number of accused males could not increase any more, a journalist who I had looked up to for years —Matt Lauer — was fired from the Today Show and accused of sexually harassing a female NBC staffer during the Sochi Winter Games as well as multiple others. How could a broadcaster who covered sexual assault on a daily basis be accused? The fact that people like Franken, Clinton, Bush and Lauer — people who I once looked up to — were accused of committing actions that entirely degraded women and got away with it is atrocious. I am truly disappointed and so are many other people. Following over 60 sexual harassment allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein, #MeToo went viral on social media. Thousands of people shared their experiences with sexual assault and harassment

Did You Know? every

8%

98 seconds

& " "

an American is sexually assaulted

9 out of 10

of sexual assaults occur on school property

online. Although the hashtag showed us the magnitude of the issue and instigated awareness, it did not solve the problem. Further initiative should be taken. Firstly, we have to realize that the problem does not lie in the victims, but in the assaulters. According to Southern Connecticut State University, boys often say things like “She asked for it,� and “Boys will be boys.� Comments like this could not be more wrong. A woman does not ask to be assaulted. Why would any female want to be degraded? A male’s gender does not make him any more powerful than a woman. Although it is perceived that way in our society, we were all created equal and women should be treated as such. Males think that just because they have power and money — such as Franken, who has a net worth of $9 million — they have the right to be sexual assaulters. They think they have the right to disrespect another human being. Simply put, males have to keep their hands to themselves and respect their space. Just because a woman is a different gender does not mean there is some type of tag on her saying she can be assaulted. Sexual assault is a nonpartisan issue and both sides of the political spectrum should create legislation to prevent and end it. It took 11 years for Tweeden to share her story. If sexual assault continues for another 11 years, then we will have a society where males’ abuse of power is as normal as waking up each morning. If President Donald J. Trump, the commander-in-chief of our very own country, was accused of sexual misconduct a dozen times and if congressmen who pushed legislation addressing sexual assault, as well as a broadcaster who covered sexual assault were also accused, then who will be accused next?

rape victims are female

2 out of 3

sexual assaults go unreported

60,000

children are victims of sexual abuse each year

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Staff Editorial: # " 4 Words by | & 44 When the school year began, we had a lot of success to live up to. We were nervous about whether or not we could maintain our status. Luckily, our nerves were unfounded. Our students have continued to thrive. PHS has had great success and we want to reflect on it. Our teams and individual students have achieved a number of feats. Seniors Maddie Baden and Madison

Vogel qualified for the state tennis tournament in doubles. The girls golf team placed third in the state of Kansas. Students committed to colleges to continue athletics. Athletes have broken records and represented PHS extremely well. Juniors Madison Nagel and Maddi Davis were one of 16 girls in Kansas selected to attend the University Of Kansas Medical Center Area Health Education Center’s camp, a huge honor. Our music program has also

exemplified success. 52 of our students will be performing at the District Honors Choir tomorrow. Six orchestra students and ten band members will also be performing. Our student publications traveled to Dallas for the National High School Journalism Convention and received a number of awards, including three superior ratings and five first place finishes. As displayed in our issue, PHS does not have one activity dominate over the other. We have a wide range

of programs excelling in what they do, a triple threat, as some may say. Academics, athletics and extracurriculars are all equally important to the culture of PHS. Many students participate in more than one, or even all three. Yes, the semester, is wrapping up, but the year is far from over. We are eager to see what our fellow students will accomplish during the spring semester. Let’s keep up the good work, Dragons.

Booster Redux Staff & Policy Editors-in-Chief

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Techn The

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Friday, Dec. 1, 2017

Students concerned about access to technology, school looks to improve availability

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s senior David Seeley opens his chromebook to begin an assignment American Government, he uses the opportunity to check Canvas and Power School, as well as his email. Over the past four years teachers have been incorporating technology in their teaching methods. Seeley, who does not have everyday access at home, relies on school computers to complete his online assignments. “We could get assignments done easier with more access in classrooms,� Seeley said. “We wouldn’t have to worry about having internet at home and trying to find ways to get that done.� Principal Phil Bressler feels that access is restricted. “It would be nice if every kid had access. However, the accessibility is very limited here, whereas, you only have access in certain classrooms,� Bressler said. The school uses several forms of devices: ipads, laptops, and desktop computers. There are currently five classrooms sets of chromebooks adding to 200 altogether. There are 180 desktops including the 50 in the writing center and 180 iPads and laptops. However, not all classrooms have access to this technology every day. When educating students in this generation, English teacher Emily Rountree believes technology should be an everyday learning tool. “Jobs [that] kids are going to get currently use computers in some way and a lot of them do not have access to computers at home. Not being able to work on computers is a huge detriment to [their] education,� Rountree said. “If we do not have [more] access to technology, then we are not providing them with a 21st century education.� Though there are a number of devices in the school, English teacher Melissa Fite Johnson still feels the building lacks quality in some technology. “We have laptop carts but the batteries are always dying. They take forever to connect to the internet and no one wants to use them because they are more trouble than they are worth,� Fite Johnson said. Instead of using the available laptop carts, teachers prefer to use the library or writing center. When using these areas, a teacher must schedule the room in order to occupy it. Fite Johnson sometimes clashes with the rule when she has a class assignment or activity that requires computers. “The best benefit to more access would be not having to fight other teachers for them. I do not have laptops or chromebooks, so I schedule the writing center a lot,� Fite Johnson said. “It can be a little stressful if it’s taken then I have to go back and change plans. I plan very far in advance so I often get it but it makes it hard to do a lesson improvised.� As far as monitoring sign ups for the library and writing center, librarian Samantha Warren is in charge. With many teachers not having classroom access, sign ups are a regular thing. “I have a google calendar published on the library website so [they] can see when there is availability but I still schedule [them], so they have to talk to me so I can sign them up,� Warren said. “During testing the rooms are used, so no one [else] can use them.

And sometimes there is just not enough space for everyone.� Due to this, Seeley feels it would be more efficient to have several access points in the building. “It would be nice to have a set of chromebooks in every classroom, that way the library and writing center are not as crowded,� Seeley said. At schools in the surrounding SEK area, students are able to experience different technology use. Both the Girard USD 248 middle school and high school use the oneto-one computing method to provide access. One-to-one involves each student having their own device. Ipads in this case are checked out from the school or from home and used on a daily basis throughout the year. Girard High School principal Todd Ferguson believes having more access to technology for each student has been a valuable experience for the school and the students. “Our school benefits because it allows for online, interactive textbooks and for teachers to record their lessons for students to watch the lessons again or maybe watch a lesson from when they were absent,� Ferguson said. “It makes communication much easier too, like through Canvas messages. There are more opportunities for writing with everyone having their own devices. They have a research tool always within reach. Most importantly, I think it provides a more enticing tool for the 21st Century learner.� Like Ferguson, Rountree feels more devices would be best for the school and students. “I think either having classroom sets of chromebooks for everyone or going one-to-one would be the best way to handle the chromebook situation,� Rountree said. “What makes it hard is that we do not have unlimited funding and, of course, if the district had the funding for chromebooks then they would do it.� According to Bressler, funding is a factor that will be considered before beginning the process of increasing availability and access. He believes another factor is staff support. “We are not ready [for one-to-one], but at some point in the near future, meaning five years or so, we will have to make that leap,� Bressler said. “I have to have a staff that buys in and I’ve got to have a board that says ‘we are willing to pay for this.’ Those two things have to exist first.� Bressler feels that if the school were to use the one-to-one method, students could find a way to benefit from the access in each class. “We want kids to reflect on what they are learning, and maybe that’s done electronically and maybe it isn’t. [Devices] will not be used in every class. However, a lot of schools use technology in music programs, art programs and others, not every day, but they do,� Bressler said. “I’m not saying we have a computer in every kid’s hand every period of the day or even every moment of every period. There’s a time when you shut them and have real interactions.� Bressler also feels that with more technology comes more opportunities and educational experiences. “If we can make it where everyone is on the same level playing field in terms of accessibility, I think [students] would find ways to do things that would boggle the minds of the adults in the building.�

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1-2 Times A Week

Maybe

3-4 Times A week

No

What are you hoping to get for christmas this year technology wise? “I got an Iphone X for christmas this year, I already got it because my parents gave it to me early� - Freshman Ela Hendrickson

“Either a new TV or a new ten foot long charger.� - Senior Willow Williams

“I want the newest IPad for my schoolwork so I don’t have to do it on my phone and I can have a bigger canvas for what I’m supposed to be looking at� - Sophomore Faith Turner

“I want an Apple Mac Book because the computer I use for school work is very slow and outdated� - Freshman Cole Jamison

“I want a programmable soundpad that I can make music with � - Senior Miranda Madden

Techy teens S Words by |

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n the tech lab, students can be found building an elaborate bridge, using a laser to cut a piece of plywood, and even designing a website depending on the class going on at the time. The technology department offers six elective classes activities intended to cover nearly ever y field related to the applied sciences. Students are introduced to the curriculum with Foundations of Technology before being given the choice of five other var ying courses ending with Applications of Technology as a repeatable capstone class. Instructor Andrew Brennon teaches classes concerning design, engineering, power, energy, transportation, communication, production and construction meant to narrow down specific branches of the program. Growing up in the technological world, Brennan was intrigued by technology and he values that his job allows him to work in a lab environment as opposed to lecturing in the classroom. He finds it important to share his knowledge with his students so that they can have a technological advantage outside of school. “I want my students to leave my class with a better understanding of how technology works. I will never be able to teach them ever ything about technology as the field grows more ever y day.� Brennon said. “I want my students to have the skills to be able to learn about new

technologies and to u technology will have future.� Junior Jakob Cupp and Construction wi learned more than he joined the class. “In Production and built a toolbox out of we could get started important tool, the p were are in an upperto fix it. So not only d and I learn more abo learned about the me how to repair tools,� Jakob’s favorite pa classes is the constan associated with work “The technology c problem solving and lab, which are two of to do. The problems w always interesting an with a solution and f manufacture it in the According to Brenn updated consistently advancements that d school’s curriculum. “My favorite part a technology is the rap goes through. I have and always open to n

nology

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ch of a Christmas What technology do you think kids will be asking for in ten years?

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PHS Christmas Playlist All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

“What if jetpacks were a thing available to everyone? And they weren’t super bulky, but just like an anti gravity belt. That would be cool.� - Senior Kylee Barnhisel “I want a remote starter for my flying car.� - Junior Tayten Kelsey

“I would want a hovering four wheeler.� - Junior Ben Blessant

“A smartphone that would have holographic calls, like the one in that Hannah Montana episode.� - Senior Haley Eshelbrener

“A camera that changes the makeup on your face.� - Sophomore Mona Este

“A Microwave Food Hydrator.� - Senior Blake Cunningham

Santa Baby - Erma Kitt Carol of The Bells - Pentatonix White Christmas - Bing Crosby Winter Wonderland - Jason Mraz Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee Baby It’s Cold Outside - Bing Crosby and Dorris Day I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause - Jackson 5 Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms

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Students explore tech classes

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d Construction we f sheet metal. Before though, our most pan shear, broke. Since -level class, we had did my teammates out metal working, we echanisms of it and Cupp said. rt about his tech nt problem solving king on new projects. lasses are all about working out in the f my favorite things we have to solve are nd I love coming up figuring out how to e lab,� Cupp said. non, tech classes are due to technological irectly affect the

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technologies,� Brennon said. Students get hands-on experience with most of the lab’s equipment in their courses. “The freedom in my classroom varies from class to class. My capstone class offers the most freedom as students are working on individual projects and have all shown the ability to work safely with the freedom,� Brennon said. Cupp is in the lab as much as he can be as he loves the freedom of working on anything he can come up with. “I love the freedom of building. Anything that I can imagine, I can build.� Senior Luke Spillman has taken tech classes since freshman year and has successfully taken ever y one of his courses throughout the last four years. “I’m interested in becoming a technology educator and I would say Brennon is an inspiration for me,� said Spillman, “Brennon gives his students a lot of freedom and it makes the classes really fun.� Brennon’s tech classes are Cupp’s favorite because of the fun of working on new projects and it has made him sure that he wants to go the whole way through his courses. “I plan on going through ever y technology class that Mr. Brennon offers,� Cupp said. “He is a great teacher and ever ybody has lots of fun in ever y class.�

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Get Busy Livin’ Club

Singing during “Urinetown,� which was selected to perform at the annual thespian conference in January, sophomore McKenna Shaw belts out a tune. Shaw was invited to perform alongside Broadway performer Janine DaVita at New York’s Feinstein’/54 Below, a famous cabaret club for Broadway actors. Photo by |

Taking center stage Shaw invited to New York City for prestigious performance words by |

One day before opening night of “Urinetown,� sophomore McKenna Shaw boarded a plane to New York City. On Nov. 15, McKenna per formed with her vocal teacher and mentor, Janine DiVita at Feinstein’s/54 Below, a cabaret and restaurant in N.Y. “To get to be in this place I’ve heard so much about was really cool,� McKenna said. “It is so rare to be given oppor tunities like that at all, let alone as a sophomore in high school. It was an experience I’ll never forget.� McKenna joined DiVita onstage to sing the finale, “Find your Grail� from the musical “Spamalot,� of “Lit,� a set of songs from DiVita’s favorite musicals. “It was a neat experience, but it was also about meeting people and getting her face and her name in the minds of some people who do this professionally,� Greg Shaw, McKenna’s father and drama teacher said. “Getting to see professionals and how they work and rehearse — that’s really the value in doing a project like that because they’re showing the ways professionals do business.� DiVita became McKenna’s mentor by chance. “She is from Kansas City, so she was coming into town to do a master class and it just so happened that, on that day, there was a big snow storm,� McKenna said. “I was the only one who showed up, so I had a private lesson. We exchanged contact information and the rest is histor y.� A veteran per former, McKenna has been involved with approximately 40 shows in the community since she was four years old. She has also par ticipated in numerous per formances outside of Pittsburg.

For the past two years, she was selected to attend the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute in Hilton Head, S.C. “Once we get the cast list, we receive a script and the music and we are expected to have it completely memorized by the time we get there,� McKenna said. “We stay there for a month working 12 hours ever y day. Then, in three weeks, we put on a show.� Based on an audition, this program only accepts 25 students worldwide. This year’s play was “Young Frankenstein,� with McKenna playing the lead character, Inga. Currently, McKenna is slated to play Elle Woods in Theatre in the Park’s “Legally Blonde� and Laura in Faust Theatre’s “Band Geeks,� both based in Overland Park. McKenna will also be traveling to the Kansas Thespian Festival with “Urinetown� in Januar y. To reach the Broadway stage one day, McKenna focuses on stor y telling during her per formances. “One of the number one things I’ve always been told while working on per forming is that you have to tell a stor y,� McKenna said. “I think that’s what sets per formers on a high-school stage apar t from a Broadway stage.� For now, oppor tunities as these ser ve as a stepping stone to her goals, one of which is to attend University of Michigan’s musical theater. “I hope that this will open doors for me,� McKenna said. “But even if it doesn’t, this is something that no one else gets to do, and that makes it really special to me.�

Singing in the spotlight Hurt-McLarty wins vocal music awards words by |

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rowing up, senior Cassie Hur t-McLar t y knew she wanted to major in music. “When I was five years old, I was doing a public per formance downtown on Broadway [Street], and I told my mom, ‘This is not the Broadway I meant,’� Hur t-McLar t y said. “At 12 years old, I decided I wanted to be a vocal per formance major. I’ve always loved per forming, so all the vocal camps seemed like what I was supposed to be doing.� Hur t-McLar t y has been selected for two different camps for the last two years, both based on auditions. One is at K-State, which only admits 40 students, and the other at Westminster College in Salt Lake Cit y, admitting 25. Hur t-McLar t y has been involved in vocal music for most of her life, but she has been taking lessons with Pittsburg State Universit y professor and professional opera singer Lisa Gerstenkorn since she was 11. “Ever y year at Pittsburg Idol, [Gerstenkorn] gives out coupons for a free lesson,� Hur t-McLar t y said. “I tried it out and ended up really liking it.� Throughout her years of per forming, Hur tMcLar t y has won numerous awards. On Oct. 21, she competed in the regional National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS), in Bolivar, Missouri. Hur t-McLar t y has competed in NATS for the past four years. This was the first year she won both categories for high school women — classical and musical theatre. “When you win first in a categor y, you get to per form in the winners’ recital. That’s really cool. I got to per form pieces from both of my categories in front of ever y judge and contestant,� Hur tMcLar t y said. “It is a good chance for exposure because you are per forming in front of music professors for a lot of different colleges.� On Nov. 4, Hur t-McLar t y per formed in “Trial by Jur y� which was put on by Opera Kansas, a Wichita-based company. Hur t-McLar t y auditioned in September and spent her Sundays rehearsing with the cast as the only high school student in the production. “I was the youngest by four years, so there was a big age gap,� Hur t-McLar t y said. “But it was really cool to work with professionals in the business I

The Get Busy Living Club, recently created in Dylan Meier’s memory from the Dylan Meier’s foundation is sponsored by English teacher Abbey Cummings. “We are planning to do many community service projects and be an active role in students lives,� Cummings said. “We want to start ‘Dragons helping Dragons’ which is like what K-State is doing with the ‘Students helping Students’ and do fundraisers to raise money in an account that is there for students that need something urgent.� The club has plans to go clean up the YMCA on Dec. 6 and schedule those cleanups once a month or every other month. They also are participating in a food drive for the Wesley house through Pitt State on Nov. 11. Senior Chase Johnson was elected as president, Junior Ben Boekhout elected as vice president, Junior Joel Kafka as Treasurer, and Sophomore Shay Mahnken elected as secretary. “This club is a way to get students to explore new boundaries and try new things,� senior president Chase Johnson said. “We plan to do many community service projects, increase student involvement and build new relationships with each other.� During the year, the club has plans to do something new together that nobody has done before. “After the members get 10 hours of community service each, they want to go on some adventure doing something not many have done before because Dylan Meier’s was a very adventurous person and this was created in memory of him,� Cummings said. They meet every other Tuesday at 7:30 am in Cummings’ room. New members are still welcomed.

American Sign Language Club The Sign Language Club is sponsored by English teacher Victoria James and meets every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. “The goal of this club is to teach students to communicate in different ways that isn’t often taught,� James said. “So far we have done a few things to get to know each other and went over the alphabet, but anyone could still join.� The club has plans to have Debbie Burke, the Sign language teacher at Labette Community College come and speak to them about sign language and teach them a few things some time at the beginning of 2018. “I think this club will benefit the school because we don’t have any sign language classes here and I think if anyone deaf came here, they would be really lost so at least with this club then there will be some students that know how to talk to them,� freshman Emily Wachter said. Members are still welcome.

Pokemon Club

Senior Cassie Hurt-McLarty performs during the annual spring social issue play. Hurt-McLarty hopes to major in vocal performance at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. “I’ve sang my entire life,� Hurt-McLarty said. “I would like do something performance-based after college.� Photo by |

wish to go into. “Trial by Jur yâ€? is the fictional stor y of a girl who sues her ex-fiancĂŠ for expenses of a wedding that did not happen. Hur t-McLar t y played a juror and was par t of the ensemble. “It was a really great experience because I got to work with people who have already established their career in opera,â€? Hur t-McLar t y said. “Music is the most impor tant aspect of my life because it allows me to express emotion in a healthy environment and learn about humanit y.â€?

The PokĂŠmon club is sponsored by special education teacher Debi Lopez. “This is a club for people who like PokĂŠmon and like to play and is a way for them to meet others that like to as well,â€? Lopez said. “So far we have been doing small activities to try to get to know each other and forming as a club.â€? They meet every other Wednesday opposite from the Japanese Anime club in Lopez’s room. “So far we have done online PokĂŠmon and have also brought our cards and played the real version,â€? sophomore Haylee Skinner said. “I have already gotten to know more people and others should join because it is a fun time and if you don’t know how to play the cards yet, we could definitely teach you.â€? They are still accepting more members.

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Original piece commissioned for Vespers

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A

s the Holiday Vespers concer t gets closer, all choir members are learning a new song. The song, called Vespers Movement 3, has been in the works since summer star ted. New lyricist and poetr y writer Ms. Johnson, has worked for two months over summer to per fect the lyrics. “The whole piece is about this idea about how winter is really happy for lots of people but for [others] it is a melancholy time, people are depressed and sad things happen,� Johnson said. “I ended up writing about death, which makes me feel really dark, but I wrote about my father and about a friend of mine who recently died.� Johnson sur veyed some people to get inspiration for this new song. “I sent out a questionnaire to all the students not in the multigenerational choir and I got one response, and hers was super light-hear ted, it was about having a snowball fight and then drinking hot chocolate with her cousins,� Johnson said. “I also made a facebook post and almost all the responses I got were really sad and dark and about like missing loved ones etc etc.� Johnson has been a poet for 16 years and just recently defended her thesis in poetr y. “I’ve never really written a song before and I guess I still don’t know how to write a song even though I’ve written one,�Johnson said. “I asked ‘I don’t have to tr y

Members of the multigenerational chior rehearse for the annual concer t they prefor med in the fall Photo by |

to rhyme it do I?’ He said ‘no, just write how you write’, so I just wrote it how I’ve been writing my poetr y and he adapted it to the music.� As for the actual music, the music fits well with the lyrics,

thanks to composer Dr. John Ross. “For me, writing music begins with a musical idea [and] that forms the basis for the composition, then elaboration is the key to creating a whole piece of music from that initial music

idea� Dr. Ross said. Sophomore girls glee member Felicity Kramer is one of the per formers for Vespers. “I think [the song] is definitely a lot harder than we are used to,� Kramer said. “It’s kind of depressing at times, but I actually really like it.� Dr. Ross is a music professor at Pitt State University. “My music is sometimes difficult, but that is merely a side effect of me tr ying to create sounds that express the feelings that for this work, I find are expressed in the text,� Dr. Ross said. “I also know from my experience that music does things to the human spirit that nothing else seems to do.� Finally, the piece came together after some minor changes. “The music is beautiful, I listened to it for the first time and I didn’t know what to expect,� Johnson said. “Dr. Ross sent me the music but I can’t read music so I didn’t know what it was going to sound like.� The song was commissioned by choir director Susan Laushman. “We paid the composer and the lyricist, it’s amazing that we found both here in Pittsburg,� Laushman said. “I hope that this song will be well received throughout the crowd [because]it’s not like anything we’ve done before.� The singers will per form on Dec. 13, at the Memorial Auditorium. “It’s a ver y vulnerable feeling, to have people per form something I wrote,� Johnson said. “And I just really hope people like it.�

Women in healthcare Juniors selected for KU Medical event Words by |

On Nov. 1st t h rough 3rd, junior s Maddi Dav is and Madison Nagel, a s well a s s enior Luciana Her nandez t ravele d to Kans a s Cit y to at tend an event hoste d by t he Univer sit y O f Kans a s Me dic al Center A re a He alt h Educ at ion Center. T he event wa s desig ne d to t a ke upp ercla ssman females who have show n a st rong interest in he alt hc a re and g ive t hem t he opp or t unit y to interac t w it h st udent s and facult y involve d in t he KU Me dic al Center, in order to encourage more women to b e come le ader s in he alt hc a re. “T hey s ele c t ab out 10 g irls f rom across Kans a s,� Nagel s aid. “A nd g ive t hem an inside lo ok at how t hings work at KU Me d Center.� To b e s ele c te d to at tend t he event, t he g irls were re quire d to go t h rough an applic at ion pro cess. “We had to answer t h re e ess ay quest ions, have t he pr incipal’s sig nat ure and get te acher re com mendat ions,� Dav is s aid. O f 40 applic ant s only a s ele c t few were s ele c te d to at tend t he event. “T his wa s definitely s e en a s a big de al,� Dav is s aid. “Only 16 young women out of t he whole st ate of Kans a s got chos en to do t his.� T he t h re e g irls had t he opp or t unit y to v isit a res e a rch lab to prac t ice s ew ing up a wound w it h a row of st itches on sw ine.

606 N Broadway St, Suite B, Pittsburg, KS 66762 (620) 704-7860

Dur ing Health Science class, juniors Maddi Davis and Madison Nagel prac tice CPR on a dummy. Photo by |

“We went to t he or t hop e dic res e a rch lab and got to prac t ice sut ures on pig’s fe et and s e e c adaveres,� Nagel s aid. “Wit h t he c adaveres we got to ac t ually g rab t he tendons in t he hand and move t he finger s by pulling t hem. It wa s re ally interest ing and not a s g ross a s I t hought it m ight b e.� T he g irls to ok advant age of t he opp or t unit y to exp er ience t he s et t ing a round he alt hc a re and de cide what wa s r ight for t hem. “T his exp er ience showe d me t hat I am not intereste d in all of t he facet s of t he me dic al

field I t hought I m ight b e, and op ene d some do or s to facet s t hat I hadn’t even considere d.� Nagel s aid. T he g irls were able to get inside lo ok s into numerous me dic al field s t hey may have not even k now n ex iste d. “I le a r ne d t hat t here were more jobs available in t he me dic al field t han I t hought t here [were],� Dav is s aid. “It broadene d my interest s in what c a re er I want to pur sue.� Dav is s aid. “After at tending [t he event] I want to pur sue a c a re er in nur sing, sp e cializ ing in t rauma/ER.�

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Sports The

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Boys Varsity Basketball Date 12/1 12/12 12/15 12/16 12/19

Opponent Louisburg Independence Parsons Harber AR Chanute

Location Louisburg Pittsburg Parsons Webb City Chanute

Senior Abbie Casper

Time 4:30 4:30 4:30 2:30 4:30

Girls Varsity Basketball Date 12/1 12/12 12/15 12/16 12/19 12/20

Opponent Louisburg Independence Parsons Walnut Grove Mo. Chanute Joplin

Location Louisburg Pittsburg Parsons Webb City Chanute Pittsburg

Time 4:30 4:30 4:30 11:30AM 4:30 4:30

Varsity Wrestling Date 12/2 12/7 12/8-9 12/12 12/16

Opponent Gardner/Edgerton Paola Council Buff Classic Webb City/ Nevada Ottawa

Senior Chase Curtis

Location Gardner Paola Council Buff IA Webb City Ottawa

Time 9AM 5:30PM 1PM/10AM 5:30PM 9AM

Sophomore Will Jameson

Committing to the future

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Words by | ) * Senior Madison Vogel signed to Pit tsburg State Universit y (PSU) to continue her softball career. “I chose [PSU] because they have a really good nursing program and that’s what I’m wanting to pursue,� Vogel said. Vogel is also looking for ward to having the suppor t of her family along the way. “It’s going to be really awesome to be playing in my own back yard and have people I know watching me,� Vogel said. “My family will be able to make all of my games.� Vogel has been working hard to get in shape for her upcoming softball season. “I’ve been working out a lot with my sister to get stronger and I have been r unning,� Vogel said. “I also have softball tour naments that get me in shape and in the mentalit y of what I need to practice on.�

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Senior McKenzie Wilks signed to The Universit y of Kansas’s (KU) track and cross countr y program. “I really fell in love with the team and the coaching staff, and being up in Lawrence,� Wilks said. “I really felt like it was going to be a good fit for me.� Wilks said track has always been a big par t of her family. “I star ted track in 7th grade. [The reason] I am so passionate about it because my dad and I have it in common,� Wilks said. “He was a three time AllAmerican in college.� Wilks said she is eager to get her track career star ted at KU. “I’m looking for ward to being a par t of a team and being in a program where I always have people constantly pushing me in improving and being the best that I can be,� Wilks said.

Senior Reese Willis signed to Missouri Southern State University’s (MSSU) track program to throw discus and shotput. “I liked the campus, and I really liked the coach and the team,� Willis said. “As soon as I got [done with a visit] I realized that I wanted to go there.� Willis started his track career his freshman year and has enjoyed it ever since. “It’s an individual sport within a team sport,� Willis said. “You can contribute to the team while improving yourself.� He has multiple goals for his career at MSSU. “I hope to impact the team in a good way,� Willis said. “I hope to be a leader and influence a lot of people.� Due to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, Willis is unable begin preparing for his track career until Jan. or Feb, he says. “I lift five days a week and I throw four days a week and during the season I lift and throw five days a week.� Willis said.

Senior Myla Turner signed to continue her volleyball career and education at Highland Community College (HCC) in Highland, Kansas. “I chose Highland because it’s far away,� Turner said. “It will give me the opportunity to go to a different college. Highland is only a JuCo so my goal is to go higher to a Division I or Division II.� Turner said she loves the sport and the opportunities it has provided her. “The fact that I have had so much success through the sport makes me appreciate it even more,� Turner said. Turner is ready to begin her volleyball career at HCC. “I am looking forward to meeting people and being with a new team.� Turner thinks of her new team like an extension of her Star Aquila team — a traveling volleyball team that she has been a part of for three years. . “Star Aquila has people from all over the Southeast Kansas and so I think of Highland that way. I am going to be going to college with people all across the country and playing volleyball with them.�

Keeping pace Words by | After school every day senior Seth Hoffman and Cade Southard get together with a few other runners and meet at the track to better themselves. They run during the winter to prepare for the upcoming track season. As the season rolls around Hoffman doesn’t change his workout schedule because it’s similar. “Usually I just follow the workouts that Coach Gary Ausemus gives us unless it’s that cold or if we don’t run as far,� Hoffman said. He trains like he would during season to get his body use to running. “Usually it’s the same thing we do normally but just more speed based during the winter than it would be during the season,� Hoffman said. They run up to 6 miles a day to get them ready for track season. Seth has been running winter runs for three years now. When he runs in the colder weather it doesn’t affect

him. Actually cold are runs better but for some people it affects their lungs. When it’s cold outside he just puts on more layers just to make sure he is warm. “You have to put extra layers on but a lot of it’s just mental toughness you’re going to be cold no matter what but all that matters is that all the hard work you put into running in the winter pays off during the season,� Southard said. He runs because he enjoys it “My freshman year I did wrestling and track and in track i didn’t really get to do what I wanted to do as far a compete with the bigger schools I found that I wasn’t in the best shape to compete with those people and I knew that I wanted to stick with running and so I decided to quit wrestling and focus 100% on track and cross country year round so I decided to run in the winter,� Southard said. As the colder weather rolls around he finds it easier and more suitable to run in. “I personally find it easier to run in colder weather

Seth Hoffman and Cade Southard, seniors, competing at regionals at Blue Valley Southwest on Oct. 21. Photo by | ' (

because your body is not over heating you find it easier to keep a hard pace,� Southard said. “But it can also make it harder to breath because the air is denser and your throat starts to get sore to.�

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