News 'R' Us

News “R” Us iowa city west high school

2901 melrose ave.

iowa city, IA 52246

wsspaper.com

Volume 1 issue 1

June 4 2014

T T w o r ut hs &

1L ie. P 6

H ealthy Bu tT a st y

- Sm o

Academic Pressure See how students deal with stress as finals week begins and the year winds down.

{Design by KEVAN PATEL}

ot

hie

s. P3

PICTURE

03- Healthy but tasty - Smoothies!

04- App Reviews 05- Year-round Schools 06- 2 truths and 1 lie

TABLE OF CONTENTS 07-09- Academic Pressure 10-11- Athlete Profile

12- Freedom of speech 13-Teacher 1 in 2000 14- Summer Bucket List!

Zach Frisbie ‘17, goalie for the West High Sophomore and Varsity soccer, attempts to stop a goal against a City High player.

Learn more about him on page 10. (Above)

Jiung Jung Writer Editor In Chief

Kevan Patel Designer

Learn about these helpful and fun apps, and more on page 4. See what we think about them too!

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Carter LeaVessuer Photographer

{Design byJIUNG JUNG}

Healthy Tasty:

BUT

Smoothies Recipes

By JIUNG JUNG

jjjiung@gmail.com

It’s that time of year again. School is winding down and the weather is getting warmer and warmer. People are (hopefully) getting more active during the summer time.

Nothing is better than a cool, refreshing smoothie on a hot July day. The great thing is, smoothies are simple and fun to make. All you need is a blender and a few simple ingredients.

In order to make a healthy smoothie, you need three components. You need a base, ice, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables. A base can consist of either milk, juice, or water. Depending on the smoothie you want to make, you can add different types of fruits and vegetables.

For example, a green smoothie will usually consist of dark green vegetables such as spinach; while a fruit smoothie will usually consist of fruits (obviously).

Smoothies are a great option compared to things such as sodas, energy drinks, starbucks frappuccinos, and sugary juices. If done correctly, a smoothie will give you your daily allowance of fruits and vegetables while providing calcium, vitamins, and other nutrients. Let’s not forget that these smoothies are very tasty as well.

Watermelon coolers: 8 cups seeded 1/2-inch watermelon cubes 2 cups chilled ginger ale 1/4 cup water 6 ounces frozen limeade concentrate Directions: Arrange watermelon cubes on a baking sheet.

Freeze 30 minutes, or until solidly frozen. Working in batches, blend frozen watermelon, chilled ginger ale, 1/4 cup water and frozen limeade concentrate in a blender until smooth. Serve in chilled glasses.

Raspberry Avocado smoothie 1 avocado, peeled and pitted 3/4 cup orange juice 3/4 cup raspberry juice 1/2 cup frozen raspberries, (not thawed)

Strawberry Banana smoothie 1 ¼ cup fresh strawberries; diced (frozen strawberries may be used) 2 ripe bananas, sliced (for extra thickness use frozen bananas) ¾ cup milk or substitute soy, rice, almond or coconut milk ½ cup ice cubes

Strawberry, Mango, and Yogurt smoothie 1 1/4 cups apple juice 1 cup low-fat plain yogurt 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries 2 cups fresh or frozen mango chunks

Scan this for more coverage on wsspaper.com {Photos Taken from Creative Commons}

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JUNE 2014 SECTION 3

The Fantastic Four Apps You Need for Your Phone By carter leavesseur cleavesseur@gmail.com

Clash of Clans- IOS & Android - 4.5 out of 5 Stars This app grabbed my attention with gold and elixir. This game may sound because of the constant advertis- nerdy, but bare with me. Upgrades aren’t ing, luckily it lives up to its hype. instant, and they can take anywhere from This is a strategy game, and doesn’t take up minutes to hours, so it’s doesn’t distract all of your time. You raid other villages with you from your work very often. your troops, and you upgrade your village

Make

it Rain - IOS & Android - 2.5 out of 5 Stars

If you enjoy wasting your precious time playing a game where you throw money in the air, then this game just might be for you.

You start off throwing one dollar per swipe, and from there you can buy ridiculous de-

nominations of paper bills, but you have to buy the upgrades with money you swiped in the game. This game is a waste of time, but it occupies you until you see there are no real life rewards and that it just kills your phone battery.

Spaceteam - IOS & Android - 4 out of 5 Stars If you’ve ever desired to operate a spaceship with your two to four closest pals, then this is the best simulator for that. Before you embark upon your journey through the depths of space, make sure you are all on the same wifi, or share a connection via bluetooth. Once that has been completed, you are ready to venture on. As you go through space, you need to tell your friends on other controll boards what to do. The game gets harder and harder as you go, giving less time to give commands and other various challenges.

Google Translate - IOS & Android - 4 out of 5 Stars Translate allows you to type what you would say in your native tongue, and

translate it to a different language, be this English to Spanish, or French to German, the possibilities are endless! For example, I can say my firetruck is on fire in 4 languages. The only problem with this app, is that it doesn’t conjugate words and it usually doesn’t have correct grammar. This app can be used for those tricky words that you can’t figure out on world language essays, or to type the whole thing in English and cheat your way through it and get a B-. However you decide, this is a mighty fine app.

4 REVIEWS JUNE 2014 {

Fear the Year Round School Summer is very close and for some of us, it could not come any slower. But what if it never came? This is the case for many schools across the country and these schools have a special name. Year round schools.

Some may argue that a year round school will provide better education. However, according to an Ohio State University research, a study finds that year round schools do not boost learning. Students in year round schools will learn more during the summer but will learn during the rest of the year.

What do you think about Year Round Schools?

{

The idea of a year round school may seem like the end of the world to some of us and guess what? We feel the same way. School seems to drag on and on and the one thing we need is a break. Winter break and spring break is nice, but it does not seem to cut it for most of us. Nothing would seem more ideal than a nice 3 month vacation.

on the spot (Teachers)

David McNair “I would be in favor of it because I think 10 weeks off in the summer in too much.”

Also, we have to take in consideration those who will be working in the summer. Some students will need to work in the summer in order to support their family or to support themselves. Taking away summer vacation will take away this opportunity, which would be a grave mistake. This may lead to students having to work during the school year, which would shorten time to focus on academics.

Personally, I see summer vacation as a reward for all of our hard work throughout the school year. With more breaks implemented throughout the year, (which is what year round schools do) I feel as if there is not one break we are looking forward to and the incentive declines.

Do you support year round schools?

0-3 The News ‘R’ Us editorial board voted against year round schools

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2014-2015 Editorial Board

Garrett Hartwig “I think it has more legitimacy than it has had in a long time, summer is no as needed any more.”

Carter LeaVesseur Jiung Jung Kevan Patel COMPILED by//jiung jung

5 JUNE 2014

{Design by kEVAN paTEL}

2 Truths 1 Lie

&

By KEVAN PATEL

kevan.patel525@gmail.com

News ‘R’ Us asked students and a teacher to tell 2 truths & 1 lie...try to find out which one is which!

1. I swam in High School 2.I am from New Berlin, Wisconsin.

3.I eat pizza at LEAST twice a day.

Byron Butler

1.I was born in Des Moines 2.I played Varsity Football and Swimming.

3.I bench 350 lbs.

Oliver Martin ‘17

1. I’m in trap club.

2. I’m 5 foot 9.

3. I have Scoliosis.

Tommy Connolly ‘17

1. I was born in the USA. 2. I’ve never been to Disney World.

3. I’ve never broken a bone.

Sandra Amouzou ‘15

1. I was born in Hawaii.

2. I have 0 cousins.

The lies!

Byron Butler-1 Oliver Martin ‘17-3 Tommy Connolly ‘17-2 Sandra Amouzou ‘15 -1 Ashlynn Dale ‘16-3 JUNE 2014 6

3. I have 4 dogs.

Ashlynn Dale ‘16

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Academic Pressure

As the year winds down, more and more students have to deal with the academic pressure that comes with finals. Learn about this struggle and how students deal with it.

So many tests, so little time...

JUNE 2014 7

ACADEMIC PRESSURE By jiung jung

jjjiung@gmail.com

while summer is oh so close.

We’ve all been there. It’s the day before a test and stress begins to hit you.

Thoughts doubting your success begin to flood your brain. “If I don’t do well on this test, my future is over!”

School nowadays has been more pressure-filled than ever before.This pressure can come anywhere; which can range from parental pressure, a need for perfection or a worry over your grades.

Even freshman will feel academic pressure, even though some will argue that it may be the easiest high school year.

“It’s especially hard towards the end of the year,” said Yuxuan Zhang ’16. “There’s much more information to cover and I don’t have much motivation because summer is close.”

For others, finals are a breeze.

“I usually don’t study,” said Max Hill ‘17.

“I make sure that I know all the information by asking others and if I don’t know something I’ll study.”

So how do you prepare for these finals?

In order to prepare for finals, Kylie Smith ’15 takes a traditional approach.

Ahmed Awad ‘17

“I mostly get stress from my dad and myself,” said Molly Howes ’17.

“I rewrite notes and try to go over big concepts,” Smith said.

Alex Walton ’17 says “keeping grades up” is the most stressful part of school.

However, others take a quite different approach.

“I feel a lot of stress because after school you’re on your own,” said Walton.

Yiwen Gao ’17 agrees with Walton’s point of view.

“I place a gummy bear after each paragraph when I’m reading. When I’m finished reading the paragraph, I treat myself to to the gummy bear at the end of the paragraph,” said Ahmed Awad ’17. “Sometimes I use Sour Patch Kids.”

“I feel a lot of stress to succeed in school because afterwards I’ll be on my own,” said Gao.

Garrett Hartwig, an English teacher at West High, believes that students should approach finals with all intentness.

Right now, school is more stressful than ever. Finals are coming around

“[You should approach finals] with seri-

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{Design by kevan patel}

ousness and an expectation to do much of a workload when you well,” said Hartwig. “Also make get home. sure that you get a good night’s sleep the night before.”

Lastly, stay away from procrastination. Procrastination Everyone has a class they get espe- will get you no where and will cially stressed over. When speaking stress you out. Waiting until of most stressful classes, Abdalla the last minute is the worst Ali ’15 stresses out when thinking thing you can do. When it of AP Chemistry. comes to studying especially, waiting until the last minute “[AP Chemistry] has a big work- can be costly because you are load. There’s a lot of notes and a lot less likely to recall the inforof homework,” Ali said. “There’s mation you have been taught also the chem labs which are stress- while the stress keeps loading ful.” on.

What can we do about this aca- Also, stay away from stupid demic pressure and stress? ideas such as cheating. Let’s be real. We have all cheated In order to relieve such academic before in some way and if you pressure, we must realize tests will haven’t, you’re lying. Howalways be around and it is some- ever, realize that the cons of thing we must get used to. The cheating heavily outweighs first step you must take is to realize the pros. You could risk your where you work best and efficient- grade if you get caught and ly. If that place is home? Great. If it’s more importantly, your repunot? Go where you need to, wheth- tation and trust within your er it be the cafe or the library or teachers. your next door neighbor’s house.

“

According to a CNN poll of 4,500 high schoolers, around 75% engage in “serious cheating,” and about 50% believe that copying is not real cheating.

UK, Oakgrove head teacher John Harkin told The Guardian that anywhere between 600 to 800 students between the ages of 15 and 24 commit suicide annually. A poll of 804 teachers revealed that 73% considered school (and life in general) far more stressful for students than in the previous decade, which more than likely contributes to the climbing suicide rate. Eighty-nine percent believed highstakes classroom assignments and exams played a major (if not the premiere) role in nurturing anxiety.

I place a gummy bear after each paragraph when I’m reading.

When I’m finished reading the paragraph, I treat myself to to the gummy bear at the end of the paragraph...Sometimes I use Sour Patch Kids.

-Ahmed Awad ‘17

“

Next, use your time wisely. Take a break every now and then, but when you’re working, focus in and work efficiently. Use class time efficiently to get as much homework done in class so you don’t have as

Fun Facts!

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PIC

By JIUNG JUNG

Zach Frisbie ‘17 has been training hard for 7 years and his hard work has paid off. Being a goalie on a back to back state championship team is a great feat.

News ‘R’ Us asked Frisbie a few questions.

10 JUNE 2014 {

jjjiung@gmail.com

When did you start the sport?

I started soccer in preschool, but started competitively in 2nd grade What is your motivation?

My soccer friends and coaches motivate me a lot. But I am also very self-motivated.

Have you won any awards? What is your greatest achievement?

I don’t really know a specific numbers but a lot from tournaments over the years. I have a bin full of medals and a lot of trophies. My greatest achievement is making Varsity as a freshman.

How many times a week do you practice?

In season 5 times a week for school, and for club 6 times a week.

What is your favorite memory of the sport?

This season because it is very different in a good way. Also because I got to meet a lot new people and it pushed me a lot, playing with varsity.

What is your team like?

My team is really funny. Everyone likes to have fun and mess around but everyone still wants to get better.

Do you enjoy practice? why or why not?

Yes, it is serious and competitive but at the same time it is fun and people have fun.

Why did you start the sport?

My older brother and sister both play soccer and had started before me so I decided I would play also.

What other sports do you play?

Basketball, for West also.

How does the sport you play compare to that one?

The practices are both very intense and fun but overall they aren’t much alike because soccer is played much slower.

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JIUNG JUNG Abby Jans By jjjiung@gmail.com ‘17 works When did you start the sport? hard almost I started tennis when I was 5 or 6 years old. daily to work What is your motivation? at her serve, My motivation is it being my favorite sport, I backhand, love playing it. and more. Have you won any awards? What is your greatachievement?

As a fresh- est I’ve gotten trophies from tournaments and man on Var- awards from the season. My greatest achievesity tennis, ment was making varsity freshman year. it’s hard to How many times a week do you practice? to practice every day, but sometimes I am keep up with Itootrybusy and I don’t get time to practice. the upperis your favorite memory of the sport? classmen. What My favorite memory of the sport is the moment News ‘R’ Us I had found out i was going to make varsity my asked Jans freshman year. a few questions. {Design by KEVAN PATEL}

What is your team like?

My team is awesome I love having them as my teammates. They’re all talented players and hilarious.

Do you enjoy practice? why or why not?

Yes i do enjoy practice! It’s fun to be improving my game and it’s better when it’s with friends.

Why did you start the sport?

I started the sport because my sister had started and it seemed interesting.

What other sports do you play?

I played volleyball 7th-9th grade for the school but I’m not going to continue it in order to focus on tennis.

How does the sport you play compare to that one?

I like tennis a lot more than volleyball

} JUNE 2014 11

Is the Legal Drinking Age Too High?

BY CARTER LEAVESSEUR cleavesseur@gmail.com

When you are old enough to fight and die for your country, shouldn’t you be able to drink a beer? Apparently, I am not the only one who thinks so. Every year, the United States government pays for every state’s road budget. That sure is nice of them, until you find out that they do this for a reason. Every single time the 18 and older bill comes up in congress for every state, it gets shot down. This is because states don’t want to lose their precious road money.

That being said, the money the state for not allowing 18 year olds to purchase and consume alcohol is used for many things besides roads.

States will use the money for remodeling government buildings inside the state. While that sounds great and all, the money that is earned from denying this freedom to people serving across the ocean. Every single day they are out there, they risk there lives, for a government that bribes states so it can be just be a puppet pulling the strings. The reason the government doesn’t just out right make the drinking age 21 and older? They don’t have the power. It wasn’t even fathomed when the constitution was made, and unless they want to make the dumbest ammendment ever to one of the worlds strongest artifacts, there hands are still tied. So instead of looking stupid for ammending the constitution, they just bribe all 50 states.

More expensive sure, but it does get the job done just as well. So far, nobody has opposed this system of just taking the money and doing what the government says.

There is a counter argument that is very weak, and strong at the same time. 18 year olds are irresponisble and do reckless things. It’s strong becuase it’s true, but it’s weak because how poor of a reason it is. At 18 these “irresposnisble children” can drive 4 ton death machines, smoke cigarettes

12 JUNE 2014

and live on their own. Not to metniton be put into a situation where they will fight and die for their country. So tell me this, how irresponsible do these soon to be or already graduated “children”.

Another argument to be made is that drinking could mess up their futures. At this age, drinking won’t determine anything for them, besides wether or not they drink. At 18, your future is already screwed up, or you’re doing just peachy in life. It’s that simple. The kids that are already messed up and have no futures, will drink and possibly do drugs. The kids who got 4.00s in school and have always dreamed of going to Yale, will most likely not be drinking. And if they do, and have been drinking illegally? That proves drinking has no effect on these kids. And the people that become drunks and ruin their lives at a young age when they were so smart and good at school, are the exception that proves the rule.

Still think you should be 21 to drink a beer? It was 18 and older back in the day, and it was that way until July 17, 1984.

That’s the day drinking was banned. If you’re and adult and reading this, you know all of the crazy things that can happen with alcohol. That’s why we should be preparing today’s children with how to not be in these situations, but just because as parents, people just want the whole situation to be unavailable for them. If a kid wants to drink, they are going to drink. Be it illegally by buying it from a shady man, or legally from a friendly gas station attendent.

{DESIGN BY KEVAN PATEL}

By JIUNG JUNG

jjjiung@gmail.com

BEN GAST

Ben Gast, or as most people know him, Mr. Gast, has been a business teacher at West High for a whopping 15 years. You will see him around West High with a joyful, friendly look on his face near the Pump it Up coffee shop. While growing up in Osage, Iowa, teaching was always a familiar occupation for Gast.

“I’ve always been around teaching. My dad was a teacher as I was growing up,” Gast said.

“It was always something I had wanted to do.”

Gast teaches many different types of business classes and loves teaching every single one.

He believes that in some aspect, everyone is related to the world of business.

“It’s easy to connect to. Everyone can get valuable informa-

tion from a business class,” Gast said.

Gast’s favorite part of teaching is the accomplishing feeling of seeing freshman develop until they are seniors and seeing them go out into the real world.

Gast says, “It’s a great feeling. It’s good to see that you have taught future leaders.”

Not only is Gast a teacher, he is also a wrestling coach for West High. Gast has coached wrestling for 14 years, and has always loved the sport.

“I have wrestled since I was a little kid. My grandfather was a state champ, and so was my dad. It’s always been a part of me.” Gast said.

Outside of teaching and coaching, Gast is married and is currently raising two sons, Colby and Ethan.

He loves reading, playing golf, and being outdoors.

Fun Facts!

1. Lucky Charms is his favorite cereal.

2. He hates slow drivers.

3. Sausage pizza is his favorite food.

4. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa.

5. His favorite app on his phone is the Nike Running App.

Teacher 1 in 2000 GARRETT HARTWIG

Garrett Hartwig was born and raised in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After graduating high school, he played football for four years at South Dakota University while majoring in English and business. Today, Hartwig is an English teacher at West High School.

“I wanted to become a teacher because of my parents. My father was a teacher and later on became a principal so I was always around it,” Hartwig said.

“They were my inspiration.”

Hartwig chose teaching English because his mom was an English major and he had always loved reading.

“I went into college with an English and business major.

English was much more appealing to me.” Hartwig said.

{Design by KEVAN PATEL}

Hartwig loves teaching because of the great relationships you can build with students; however, he dislikes teaching when people outside of a classroom dictate what goes on inside a classroom.

Outside of teaching, Hartwig is also an assistant football coach for West High.

“I love the competitiveness and I like working with young athletes,” Hartwig said. “It brings out my competitive nature.”

Hartwig has not failed to help the football team. Hartwig led the Trojans to the postseason before barely coming short against Bettendorf High School in a 24-27 loss.

Outside of teaching and coaching, Hartwig is married and is raising a 2 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. He enjoys reading, wakeboarding and coaching.

Fun Facts!

1. His favorite food is steak.

2. His favorite app on his phone is Pandora.

3. He’s climbed Mount Kenya.

4. He’s been to the bottom of the matterhorn.

JUNE 2014 PROFILES 13

Summer

Bucket List I’m going to China to visit my relatives. It’ll be exciting!

David Wu ‘17

I’m going to Los Angeles to visit my sister.

Ethan Esgate ‘17

I’m going to Florida for vacation and I’m going to be playing in a lot of basketball tournaments.

Abraham Pepic ‘17

I’m going to Colorado to go to the mountains.

Connor Hird ‘17

{Design by Jiung Jung {PHOTOS FROM CREATIVE COMMONS}

JUNE 2014 14