Free Press Issue 8

the

Free Press

Masters of Music Page 3

edition 13 issue 8 February 17, 2010

Anton Bovin and Natalie Edmondson Go on Blind Date Page 8

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4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66049

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(785) 832-6050

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fsfreepressonline.com

Lost in Translation Page 4-5

Open Letter to Free State

Free Press Staff

Dear Free State, When I ďŹ rst entered Free State last March, I was extremely nervous. I had no idea how I would ďŹ t in and what it would be like compared to my old high school in Illinois. I had hoped this school would be similar and it would be easy for me to adapt. I soon learned that it was completely different.

Each school has its own set of traditions, rules and customs that make it special. If they were all the same it would be extremely boring. Having moved around a lot throughout my childhood, I have experienced a ton of diversity and seen a lot of variety in the American education system.

There are many things about Free State I have enjoyed and there are other things I did not enjoy, but each experience has helped me grow to be a better person with patience and the understanding of others.

I think the students here are unique. I like that

each individual has something special about them that they can contribute. I learned that diversity is not just about race, but that it can stem from other areas such as religion, political ideas and even fashion choice. I think this school accepts and embraces the diversity in these categories. I met a lot of good people and learned a lot from the students here.

One of the tough things is learning from your experiences. I learned that sporting events are run differently here. I learned that everyone has their own traditions and rules. I learned that you might not agree with some of those traditions but you need to respect them anyway because they can be important to others.

This is a beautiful school with a great staff. All of the teachers I had were great. Students here are lucky to have teachers that care about their development.

Every student has the potential to leave with a solid foundation of knowledge to help in their future.

Everyone should make the best of the opportunity and get the most out of their three years of high school.

Even though I am hanging up my green and silver gear and moving on to a new high school and putting on their maroon and white colors, I hope when I look at the photos of Free State events on Facebook I will see my fellow Firebirds having fun, wearing their school colors proudly and enjoying their classmates and their school! I want to hear that this is the school with a bunch of tradition and school spirit! I know it can happen and I hope it does.

I will miss many things about Free State and I will miss friends that i've made. I wish Free State students the best of luck and I will not forget the experiences that have happened to me since coming to this school.

Farewell Free State,

Jeff Carmody Editor in Chief

Jessica Jacobs Photography Editor

Kim Carter Webmaster

Ryan Loecker Reporter

Sydney Sims Birds Word: What Is Your Least Favorite Thing About Free State?

Amani Safadi Reporter

Bailey Schaumburg

Managing Editor

Jake Frydman Reporter

Sydney Sims Reporter

Emma Machell Photographer

Allison Morte

Emily Johnson Copy Editor

Alex Santos

Photographer

Katherine Corliss Reporter

Allison Harwood Designer

Miranda Davis Reporter

Editorial

/

Staff

[The design] is mildly based off a prison and the hallways are really long.

If it were based off a circle that would be really cool.

Bobby Nichols Social Studies Teacher

Alek Joyce Senior, StuCo President

Ummmm....all of the homework they give us.

The parking rules.

Making juniors park out so far and you can't pull through.

Chase Westheffer Junior

Haley Hanson Sophomore

Reporter

How dedicated the students are to education. I wish they would goof off a little more...

The Free Press is an open forum that accepts letters to the editor and guest writings. They must include the writer's name and telephone numbers.

Articles may be edited due to space limitations, libel or inappropriate content. Letters may be submitted to Room 115, sent in care of Free Press to Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66049 or submitted online at fsfreepressonline.com.The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Free Press staff, the high school administration, nor that of the USD 497 Board of Education

Feb 17, 2010

Feature

Feb 17, 2010

Peter Lesslie

Liesel Ruessner

Experts say the cello is the closest instrument to the human voice. Senior Peter Lesslie will solo on this instrument in the Concerto Concert.

"It's my senior year so I wanted to do something special," Lesslie said.

Lesslie has been playing the cello since sixth grade.

He chose that particular stringed instrument due to his mother's encouragement.

"She likes the sound of [the cello] and I liked the

sound of the cello so that's why I chose [to play it]," he said.

He has been practicing for this solo for a year to get the sounds of "Haydn's Concerto in C major" just right.

Lesslie was basically taught as a soloist but he says that he also enjoys playing in chamber groups.

"I enjoy chamber music. There's more intimacy in chamber music: it's more of a conversation," Lesslie said.

Jenny Loewen While you may not know the song by name many people have heard at least the beginning lines to the first movement of "Concerto in A minor" by Vivaldi. Senior Jenny Loewen will play it on violin in the Concerto Concert. "[Playing solos] is what I love to do," Loewen said. "Although it can be scary up there, it's just being able to express in the form of music I think is so neat."

Loewen has been playing violin since third grade. Her family is very musical and they always encouraged her to play.

She says her sisters inspired her the most.

"A couple of my sisters started to play the violin because of school and I wanted to join after they did," Loewen said.

To prepare, Loewen plays her solo over and over and she focuses on trouble spots in the music.

"After getting it memorized and getting all that and the notes ready I kind of just work on expression and the other details," she said.

This is not Loewen's first time performing a solo in the Concerto Concert and she knows it definitely won't be her last time soloing in a concert.

Junior Liesel Ruessner plays the oboe as well as the mellophone and the piano. "[The mellophone] is like a marching french horn," Ruessner said.

Ruessner has been playing the oboe for eight years and will solo in the Concerto Concert this month. She is performing "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission."

"I thought I'd give [the solo] a try. It could be kind of fun," she said.

Fantastic Four Meet the Four Soloists For the Upcoming Concerto Concert

by Emma Machell

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 

from left: Peter Lesslie, Jenny Loewen, Liesel Ruessner, Emily Paulsen

Emily Paulsen To some a broken instrument on the first day of band might be taken as a sign that playing an instrument was not for them, but it only encouraged senior Emily Paulsen to keep trying.

Paulsen began playing in sixth grade on a clarinet, but things took an unexpected turn.

"My best friend broke [my clarinet] on the first day of band," Paulsen said, "so I went to the pawn shop, and all they had was a flute so that's why I play flute."

Now, six years later, Paulsen is playing a solo for the Concerto Concert on February 23. She is performing "Suite in B Minor" by Bach.

"It's just a great experience to get out of playing with the band, and you get to go play with the orchestra," she said.

Paulsen also plays small ensembles like trios and quintets.

"But solos are fun," she said.

She began practicing for her upcoming solo about six months ago, and she had to sign up and audition in front of a panel of judges. The music she will play at the February concert is also the audition music for state band, but for now she's focusing on the concert. photos by Jessica Jacobs

Mar. 8, 2010

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JUICE FOR THE JOURNEY

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Ruessner chose the oboe in fourth grade because she liked its mellow sound.

"I knew I was going to play an instrument because my family's really musical, but I just liked the sound of [the oboe] a lot," she said.

She practices about 15-20 minutes a day with her mom, who is accompanying her on piano.

"You have to work hard but everyone gets to hear you," Ruessner said. "It's a lot of fun."

Go Firebirds!! Bring in this coupon for 20% off any size smoothie and pretzel combo.

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3 Locations to serve you:

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Feature

Feb 17, 2010

Lost In Translation Hosting Exchange Students Cause Revolution in Routines

by Allison Harwood

Living in a foreign country for a whole six weeks can be difficult, but people often overlook the difficulty of hosting an exchange student.

There is a great deal of planning involved in preparing to host. Having another person live in the house for over a month calls for adjustments which can be hard on a family.

Sophomore Ashley Rasmussen, who is hosting Maria Jose Espinoza from Paraguay, said communication can be difficult because she is only in Spanish III. Rasmussen also said her family spends a lot more time together doing things with the exchange student.They eat dinner together every night.

Increased family time is common in host families. Hanging out with friends also has to be planned more in advance than usual in order to make sure the guest has plans as well. Rasmussen said her schedule is not as flexible with an exchange student.

“On the weekends I only hang out with my exchange student and the other Paraguayans,” junior Harrison Helmick said, who is hosting Yanina Real.“It’s really fun, though.”

In contrast, signing up to host an exchange student is simple.

“My Spanish teacher mentioned it to us one day and I expressed interest, so they gave me a form asking questions like ‘Does anyone in your family smoke?’ and my parents had to sign it,” Rasmussen said.“A few weeks after I turned it in I got a form Maria Jose had filled out with all of her information.Then I started e-mailing her and found her on Facebook,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen wanted to host a Paraguayan exchange student because she thought it would be a good opportunity to improve her Spanish and explore another culture. She has also found that she is learning about her own culture.

“I’m learning that I say a whole bunch of unnecessary words instead of just getting the point across,” Rasmussen said.

The language barrier can be entertaining to both the hosts and students.

“I was writing down my address and it is Fox Chase Dr., and so she was reading my address as Fox Chase Doctor,” junior Hillary Yoder, who is hosting Betsa Insfran, said. “Little misunderstandings like that have been fun.”

A big benefit of hosting an exchange student is the learning experience. Experiencing a new culture is unique and enriching.

“One of the things I’ve learned is that their food is a lot more bland in Paraguay,” Helmick said. “She also eats about a third of what I eat, if that.The stereotype that Americans are fat is definitely true.”

Paraguay At A Glance Languages: Spanish, Guarani Population: 6,995,655 Life Expectancy: 75.77 years Ethnic Groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5% Religion: Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% Source: CIA World Factbook

Foreign exchange students from Paraguay (Julieta Goméz, María Jose Espinoza and Maira Benitez) perform a traditional dance for fifth hour Spanish class. The Paraguayan students showed the Spanish classes a presentation about their culture. photos by Jessica Jacobs

More online at (785) 832-6050 ext. 4932 freepress@usd497.org fsfreepressonline.com

PRESS PRES Sfsfreepressonline.com FREE

Feature

Feb 17, 2010

Slicing Through

Schools

State budget cuts have district looking at options to save money

By Ryan Loecker

"It takes a lot of numbers to add up to four million. [Even though we are already seeing some effects of budget cuts] the worst of the decisions are being made now, but the impact won't be felt until next year," principal Ed West said.

While the board is looking at many solutions, the answers to the district's $4-5 million dollar shortfall will involve program cuts, stafďŹ ng reductions and closing schools.

For a while board members considered moving ninth graders up to the high schools next school year. However this idea does not seem to have support amongst board members.

The move is seen as moving too quickly without time for staffs to plan and prepare to transition students.

While some complain they do not want freshmen here because they are obnoxious and immature, most people are opposed because they would not have wanted to be here as freshmen.

"When I was a freshman, I don't think I'd have been able to go to high school," sophomore Hannah Markley said. "I don't think I'd have been ready."

Moving the ninth graders up could make it so the same classes wouldn't have to be taught at the high school and junior high, which would save money.

Besides the economic aspect, Markley feels the only beneďŹ t for freshmen moving up would be athletics.

On the other hand, West says it is an important part of their high school career. Almost every other school district has freshmen at the high school.

Moving the ninth graders up could could be a good solution because regardless of its pitfalls, the alternative, faculty cuts, would take educational opportunities away from students. There would be less classes to choose from. Ninth graders may be annoying, but most would agree not being able to choose from a variety of courses would be worse.

"I'd choose freshman being here, because it's more important to me to have more options of what I can learn, than having less space to do it." sophomore Jon Fitzgerald said.

A Facebook group has even been started to protest the idea of moving ninth graders to the high schools. The group has over 600 members and the students who are members clearly don't want freshmen here.

Ideally, things would just go on the way they have been for years, but the district is pinching pennies and only one thing is for sure the impact of $4 million in cuts will be felt by everyone.

Above: Comic by sophomore Candice Meiners Left: Comic by sophomore Ian Patterson Have a comic strip idea? Submit your creation to room 115 and have a chance to see it in the paper or on fsfreepressonline.com.

Nov 4, 2009

News

Feb 17, 2010

Student Life

4: number of

students surveyed who spend $250 or more each week

Feb 17, 2010

MONEY MONEY MONEY Results of Recent Student Poll Reveal How Students Spend Money

by Katherine Corliss

Money seems to be everywhere. On the news talking-heads discuss the plummeting stock market and at school teachers remind students that each white board marker costs 75 cents. But it appears the slowing economy is not slowing student spending. According to a recent survey of three sophomore, three junior, and three senior seminars the student body is able to spend an average of $50,000 dollars per week.

The median student expenditures each week total $26-75 and most of that is spent on food or drinks, the Free Press survey found.

Many are concerned for the Lawrence economy because consumers can travel a short distance to Kansas City or Topeka for

greater shopping variety. Our survey shows, however, that most of the $50,000 spent per week seems to be staying in Lawrence. Of the ~100 students polled, 60% said they shopped locally, 12% in Kansas City or Topeka, and 7% shopped online weekly or more often.

The high school years may be the easiest part of life financially. For most students, rent is paid, food is provided and every time a check bounces parents are there to cover the student’s financial faults. Sixty-eight percent of students, even those who have jobs, stated that a majority of their income came from their parents. Students represent a vital part of the economy: those who can spend freely without worrying about the consequences.

Top Ways FS Students are Spending Their Money 1. Food/Drink 2. Entertainment 3. Gas 4. Music 5. Clothes 6. Education

58: percentage of

students who get most of their money from parents

49: percentage of

Sophomore Matthew Hamm takes advantage of having extra spending money by purchasing a soda during lunch. photo by Alex Santos

students who never shop online

Junior Harrison Longhurst works the Birds Nest during lunch. Buying snacks is a popular way for students to spend their money. photo by Alex Santos

Feature

Feb 17 2010

Enchi-lotta Love

by Amani Safadi and Allison Morte

What did they say BEFORE the date?

What do you want your

first date to be like?

Anton: "Peaceful."

Natalie: "Romantic and cute I guess."

Are you

excited to go on this date?

Anton Bovin, senior

Natalie Edmondson, junior

The student body chose one male and one female from an original 12 candidates to go on a date. It was truly a blind date as the winners, Natalie Edmondson and Anton Bovin had never met each other. It was also the first date for both of them. Although a potentially awkward situation, the date at El Mezcal on February 8 seemed to go well and even ended in a goodbye hug.

Anton: "Apprehensive I suppose, and a little confused. It'll be interesting."

Natalie: "Um, kind of nervous."

What did they say AFTER the date?

1.What did the person

do right on the date?

Anton: Umm...hmm. She talked. I think that's all you can do right really.

Natalie: He made eye contact with me and kept the conversation going.

2. Did you think this was a

good date or a bad date?

Anton: Good. Uh, good on my entire scale of good dates.Yeah, it was fun.

Natalie: It was definitely a good date.

3. Were there any

Left and below: Bovin shows Edmondson a coin trick on their date at El Mezcal.

awkward moments?

Anton: Well, yeah. Sometimes I found myself with nothing to say and she carried the conversation; sometimes it went the other way I think.

Natalie: Yes a lot of them, but we pushed through.

4. Did you learn anything

interesting about this person?

Anton: Maybe. I don't know. I don't remember my conversations. She's a nice person.

Natalie: Yeah. He's really, really smart.

5.Would you want to go on

another date?

Anton: Um, I don't know. It's hard to decide. I'm not really ready to commit to anything. Maybe, maybe not.

Natalie: Well probably... I don't know what to say. Probably not, because we're not really the same at all.

6. If you don't want to go out again, would you want to be Natalie: Yeah definitely. Being friends is good.

Anton: Mm. I don't hang out much. Umm, maybe friends. Associates.

Check out the Free Press Online at fsfreepressonline.com photographs by Amani Safadi and Allison Morte

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