MT. AYR’S
HOMECOMING HEROES
“Watters is Your Low Overhead Leader!” 3001 N. Jefferson Street, Indianola, IA 50125 www.wattersautoland.net • (800) 322-8888
Table of Contents
Homecoming Moments and Memories By TIM WEIDEMAN - High school assembly Editor
Student Life | Know How To Handle Cyberbulling 5 Student Life | Mt. Ayr Tackles Cancer
6
Student Life | Mt. Ayr Homecoming Photos
7
Homecoming Celebrations
8
Student Life | Toy Story 3 DVD Review
11
Academics | Study Tips for Taking Down Your
13
College Prep | Preparing for the ACT
14
College Prep | Make Your Senior Year Count
15
One of the highlights of high school football season is
Homecoming Week. Every high school’s different traditions
create lifelong memories for students. From the dances,
interschool contests throughout the week, dress up days, pep
rallies and, of course, the football games, Homecoming has a
something for all students to enjoy.
My Alma Mater, Anamosa High School, would have excellent
activities throughout the week, including dress up days,
relaxed-rule days and the always enjoyable Pan Ana games—a
school-wide competition involving awesome games such as
“Tug o’ War,” “Egg Toss,” “Bubble Gum Bubble Blowing Contest,” “Water Balloon Volleyball” and the favorite, “Pie the Principal.”
After the football game on Friday, Homecoming Week
wrapped up with the dance on Saturday. Homecoming was
definitely a week full of memories at Anamosa.
Check out the center spread of this issue to see snapshots of
some of the fun being had and memories being made at schools from across Iowa.
The front cover of this magazine features students from
Mount Ayr High School, which has had a “Tackle Cancer” theme
for its homecoming for a while now. Not only are these students
creating memories with fun activities, but they’re no doubt
benefiting from the rewards of participating in activities that have a very real meaning and very real impacts on all of us.
1063 14th Place, Suite #1 Des Moines, IA 50314 PH: 515.283.1933 FAX: 515.283.1646 isc@iowasportsconnection.com
Volume one | Issue FIVE Mike Rickord | President
mrickord@iowasportsconnection.com
John Streets | Business Consultant jstreets@iowasportsconnection.com
Joe stasi | Account Executive
The Iowa Sports Connection and High School Assembly staff
would like to congratulate Mount Ayr on putting together a
successful week of activities that raised money to go toward
supporting the fight against cancer—a very worthy and noble cause.
We would also like to remind all high school students that
it doesn’t take a large group to make a difference. The more the merrier, but even you and a few friends can change your
community a little bit at a time or in bigger ways. Volunteer at a
tburke@iowasportsconnection.com
soup kitchen, pet shelter or even your church. Volunteering to
Tim Weideman | Editor
a great person.
Ethan Clevenger| Student Writer ADAM OESTREICH | Graphic Design Intern HUNTER PETERSEN| Graphic Design Intern 4
Volume 2 Issue 1
help out is addictive, and it goes a long way towards becoming
Sincerely, Tim Weideman Visit us on the web @ www.highschoolassembly.com
Student Know How To Handle Cyberbullying Cyberbully411. org Bullies have found a new way to attack students at schools across the country. Cyberbully411.org walks through how to handle this new breed of bullies.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyber bullying is defined as: threats or other offensive behavior sent online to a victim or sent or posted online about the victim for others to see. (Wolak, Mitchell, Finkelhor et al., 2006). * It can take the form of a message on email or IM or a social networking site from someone who is threatening to hurt you or beat you up. * It might be rumors posted on your profile or spread online for others to see. * It might be the deletion of you on a friend’s “buddy list” to make you feel left out. * It could be a profile made by someone pretending to be you. * Or, someone hacking into your profile and writing comments pretending they’re from you. In general, cyber bullying is bul-
lying or harassing that happens online. Much of it is similar to what teenagers experience offline in schools, homes, or the community, but has the additional aspect of the Internet. Cyber bullying occurs in many different places online including instant messaging, social networking sites, email, and chat rooms. The most common place bullying occurs online is over instant messenger, but it also can occur via other new technologies such as text messaging and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
What to do if you’re cyberbullied
If you are being cyberbullied, there are things you can do to stop it: * Ignore the person. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to ignore the person and go on about your business. * Log-off if the harassment is bothering you. * Block or delete the person. If it is happening on Instant Messaging or some other place online that requires a ‘buddy list’, you can block certain users based upon their username, or delete them if they are in your buddy list. You can also block emails that are being received from specific email
addresses. * Change your information. If someone has hacked into your profile, change your password. If someone repeatedly sends you messages (like, ‘add me to your buddy list’ over and over), consider changing your username or email address. * If there is a profile that was created about you without you knowing, contact the company who runs the site to have the profile or language taken off. * If you are upset about what is being said, talk to someone you trust. Don’t feel like you’re alone.
When to talk to adults
Many times, teens are able to take care of the cyberbullying on their own. Sometimes, it gets out of hand though, and it’s helpful to talk to an adult about what is going on. If you feel scared or overwhelmed, maybe even trapped, it’s definitely time to talk to an adult. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with a parent, seek out other adults or authorities like a teacher, coach, school counselor, a youth group leader, or other adult family member such as an aunt or uncle.
Who cyberbullies?
Between 21-30% of youth have harassed others online in the last year4,5: * Between 18-28% have made rude or nasty/mean comments to another person online. * 11% say they’ve spread rumors about another person online * 5% say they’ve made threatening or aggressive comments to others online * 9% have harassed or embarrassed another person online on purpose According to teens who admit being a cyberbully or Internet harasser: * The results are mixed. In general, boys and girls appear to be equally likely to harass others online. In the Youth Internet Safety Survey -2, boys were more likely than girls to harass others a lot (frequently). On the other hand, boys and girls were equally likely to harass others a lot or just once or twice in the Growing up with Media survey. 3,4 * Teens who harass others a lot (frequently) also report depressed or withdrawn behavior twice as often as teens who don’t harass others online 4. * Their harasser tends to be older teens (like 13-17 instead of 10-12).
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Volume 2 Issue 1 9/10/2010 10:13:52 AM
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Student Mount Ayr Goes Pink for Homecoming 2/ 16 Ethan Clevenger
Staff Writer
The Mount Ayr Raider high school football team geared its homecoming festivities this year to raise money and awareness Usher for the fight against cancer. The Raymond Raymond football game Oct. 1v.against West Central Valley was designated the 2/ “Tackle Cancer” game and the 23 wore pink jerseys and gear players custom-made for the event. Every year the football team also hosts a jersey auction as a main fundraiser for the team. Fans bid to wear a player’s jersey on the day of the homecoming day. This year, however, the fans bid to become owners of the pink Lifehouse jerseys, which were and washed and Smoke Mirrors handed out to the highest bidder after 2 the / game. Area businesses sponsored jerseys, footing the 23 $45 purchase price so that all the proceeds from the auction could be donated. The idea caught like wildfire. In addition to the jerseys, players donned pink socks, mouthpieces, and helmet decals. Raider Stadium featured pink field markings for the event. The localAlkaline hospitalTrio even
2/
got involved, supplying cheerleaders23 with pink pompons and pink footballs to toss into the crowd after scores. The hospital also offered specials on mammograms during the week. The football team also sold TACKLE CANCER t-shirts and pink Raider football hats to raise money for this worthwhile The cause. The Summer school’s Rocket student council chose “Fight Like Of Men and Angels a Raider” as the 2010 homecoming which spread to hall 2 theme, / decor and floats for the week’s 23 celebrations. Co-Head Coach Delwyn Showalter talked about the idea. “Last year several players approached us about the possibility of doing some sort of a cancer awareness activity that have [sic] become popular with colleges in Daniel recent years. TheyMerriweather thought wearing pink jerseys would be aWar great Love and way that we could help draw at2 / to the issue of cancer.” tention “We looked around and dis23 covered that pink jerseys are not easy to find! But Bill Beck and Pat Venteicher at The Graphic Edge were great, they found a source to custom make the jerseys for us and convinced the vendor to give us a price that made the project feasible.”
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“The jersey auction is our The event raised just over primary fundraiser each year, 2 5 $30,000, $26,000 from the jersey raising an average of about $4000 auction alone on just 49 jerseys. annually for the football program. That’s an average of $530 per jerLike everyone else,our budget is sey. Where the money is headed tight, but we have committed to is still up for discussion. Showaldonate 100% of the profit from ter said the team will be meeting the pink jersey auction to the fight shortly to discuss that, and that against cancer.” the goal is to try to keep it local. “We are proudLittle of this unselfShowalter talked about the Boots ish idea that came from Hands Raider event’s success in an e-mail corfootball players, and we think it is respondence. a3 great “It was a hugely successful / way for us to give something back to the community. event...The pink jerseys and all 9 have been incredibly sup- the pink gear looked awesome, People portive of our program and this and the entire school and commuis a way for us to return some of nity picked up on the theme and that support.” ran with it for all of the home“Many of our players and coming activities, and we capped coaches have have had family and it off with a nice win Friday night.” friends impacted by cancer, and “It was a hectic and tiring this dreadful disease touches all week but it made a tremendous of us in some way.” Gorillaz impact on all of us. Our team carShowalter said at the beginried a lot of emotion with them as Plastic Beach ning of the week the team took they reflected on loved ones who 3 /index cards and wrote down have battled cancer. It certainly pink the drove home the idea that there are 9 name of someone they were playing for, which had a big imthings much more important than pact on many of the players. One a football game.” player approached him after the “It was a homecoming week game, saying when his grandpa that none of us will ever forget!” had been diagnosed with cancer he had felt powerless, but that night he felt he’d done something.
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Student Mount Ayr Homecoming Photos
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Student Summer Hit Toy Story 3 Sure To Please on DVD Ethan Clevenger Staff Writer New to DVD this month is one of the summer’s biggest hits, Toy Story 3 starring Tim Allen and Tom Hanks. With the return of the entire voice cast except Bo Peep, this film really takes you back, and if you didn’t see it in theaters, I strongly suggest grabbing the DVD or four-disc Blu-Ray pack on November 2nd. The Blu-Ray pack is currently on special at Amazon.com for just $24.99, which includes the film on both BluRay and DVD, a second Blu-Ray of speical features, and a digital copy. If you’re feeling especially ambitious, a 10 Blu-Ray disc set of all three Toy Story films also releases this day in the form of a toy chest, selling for $65.99. The story begins with Andy, owner of famous toy duo Woody and Buzz Lightyear, moving off to college. He finds himself struggling with letting go of his old toys, and through a series of events, the toys end up donated to Sunnyside Daycare where they meet Lots-O-Huggin’ bear, voiced
by Ned Beatty, and are assaulted by toddlers. Once again, it’s up to Woody to save the day. Especially for high school students today, this movie is powerful. It might only be a cartoon, but for those of us who grew up with Woody and the gang, the timing for this movie couldn’t be better. You feel a connection with Andy and his toys, reflecting on changes in your own life. I saw it as a senior in high school this summer, and growing up with Andy, and moving on to college with Andy, it’s was impossible not to cry in the last 15 minutes.
already heard all about how great this movie was. So whether you haven’t seen it yet or you’re already aware that it’s a must-own in your collection, this is the DVD to grab this month.
Sequels are often disappointing, but this one may, in fact, surpass its predecessors. Disney and Pixar retain all the magic of the original Toy Story in a spectacularly hilarious and emotional display. But don’t take my word for it. Toy Story 3 currently has an unheard of 99% approval rating on Rottontomatoes.com and an 8.8 on IMDB.com, ranking number 18th on its top 250 movies of all time as voted by its users. But unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably
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College Saving Money in College Howstuffworks .com College can be an expensive endeavor, even with scholarships and other kinds of financial aid. It’s difficult enough balancing a class schedule -- the thought of balancing a check book, on the other hand, can strike fear into the hearts of even the most studious mathematicians. Everything from textbooks, food, transportation, supplies and entertainment -- these will all cost you money. There’s no getting around it.
New textbooks from university bookstores can be very expensive. Brand new editions of chemistry books, for instance, can cost as much as $300, and that’s not including any lab material. However, you can cut costs on reading materials and not starve. Look around for used bookstores. Most college campuses should have several -- the prices are heavily discounted, and book conditions are usually good. If you have enough time before classes start, check out the Internet for your books. Even with shipping charges, prices can turn out to be cheaper from online bookstores. And don’t forget -- some of your friends might have taken a course in the past. Ask around and see if you can borrow from someone. 2. Seek Alternative Transportation Instead of driving to class and spending money on gas, parking passes and possible tickets, look into a local bus or subway system. If the system is run by your un¬iversity, you’ll probably be able to ride for free with a student ID. If a transportation system doesn’t exist (or the existing one isn’t safe or reliable), try to work out class schedules with friends and carpool. If you’re close enough, walk or bike to class and get some muchneeded exercise.
However, there are easy ways to save. Here are several ways to avoid the constant panic of going broke. 1. Buy Textbooks From Used Bookstores
3. Choose The Right Meal Plan Campus meal plans vary depending on the university -- food quality, how often you eat, how much you eat, and location can all factor in. A meal plan can be a good deal, however, so do a little research and see if it’s worth it. Grab a brochure; ask meal plan veterans; anything to get a little taste. Some univers¬ities offer off-campus meal plans, too. These usually involve deals with food chains, so make sure the plan is appealing to you. If you decide to skip out on a meal plan, it’s possible to eat enough and eat healthy on your own budget. Cut out coupons, buy in bulk and sign up for a shopper’s discount card. Be creative and plan dinners with roommates and friends instead of going to more expensive restaurants. 4. Set Up A Student Checking Account Bank’s usually cater to college students by offering free checking and savings accounts, allowing you to avoid fees on withdrawals, fund transfers or the minimum amount allowed in the account. Make sure online banking is an option, as this makes it easier to follow your activity. Keep track of your account -- overdrafting will only cost you more in fees. So, do what it takes to stay out of the red as much as possible.
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Academics Test Taking Strategies for High School Students Testtakingtips.com Midterms are coming up, and for many students that means tests. For some students, tests are no sweat, but for others, they can be the source of overwhelming stress. For those of us who aren’t so fortunate, here are some tips for taking tests.
Before the Test: - Attend every class period. Take notes, ask questions, and study from day one. It’s much easier to retain knowledge if it is impressed over a longer period of time. - Budget your time. Make sure that you have time every week to study. - Budget your time. This does not mean you should spend every waking moment studying. Be sure to spend some time on yourself to relieve stress. - Use your teacher. Many teachers will be happy to talk about what will be on the test, so be sure to ask. In addition, many teachers will hold study sessions, either planned or by request, so never be afraid to ask. Also, many teacher will use practice tests, and if they don’t, you might ask if it’s possible to get an old test to practice with.
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- Create a study sheet with main topics or formulas that can be reviewed quickly, like when you’re walking from class to class. - In the final moments, make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat a good breakfast, and go to the bathroom before beginning the test.
During the Test: - Bring two pencils with good erasers. - Stay positive and relax. Take deep breaths if you need to. - Pace yourself. Don’t rush, but don’t drag, either. - If different questions have different point values, make sure you hit the ones worth the most first. If you don’t know the answer, don’t spend a lot of time on it. Get points somewhere else, and come back with any extra time you have. - If you have questions about a question, ask. Additionally, always read the question entirely. If you miss a direction, it could be easy points down the drain. - Finally, make sure you put your name on the test.
grading mistakes. - Look over the test and make sure that you understand your mistakes. If you don’t know the answer to a question, look it up, ask a classmate or ask the teacher. - If the teacher reviews the test in class, be sure to take notes on what the teacher wanted for an answer on the questions/ problems that you got wrong. - If you aren’t satisfied with your grade, go to your instructor and see if there’s a make-up exam or any extra credit you can do. - Save the test as study material for future cumulative tests. - By following these guidelines, you can be on the fast track to academic success. For even more information, including study strategies and more, check out www.testtakingtips.com
After the Test: - When you get your test back look it over and make sure that there are no
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College Preparing for the ACT eHow.com The ACT test assesses the skills of high school students as they prepare to enter college. Higher education institutions use standardized tests like the ACT to determine if students are ready for college-level work. This multiple-choice test examines whether high-school students have gained general knowledge of English, mathematics, reading, and science. On the writing section, students must compose a short, well-planned essay. The maximum score on the ACT is 36, but the national average score is 21.1, the score accepted by many colleges and universities in the United States. Test prep for the ACT includes online resources, classes and workbooks.
Register for ACT Online Prep High school students can register for ACT Test prep online, a program developed by the ACT Corporation. This program offers practice tests containing real test questions; practice essays with real-time scoring; a complete review of English, math, reading and science; diagnostic tests; and a personalized Study
Path. The Study Path helps students define their strengths and weaknesses so that they know what subject areas need the most attention. Students receive instant scores from their practice tests. A one-year subscription for the single-user Personal Edition is available at the ACT website. This program includes one practice essay with real-time scoring. The cost as of July 2009 was $19.95 for one year.
Attend Test Prep Classes and Workshops Test prep for the ACT includes attending classes and workshops that improve study skills and provide test-taking strategies. These classes eliminate test-taking anxiety for students who are not good at testing under pressure. Many high schools offer free afterschool or weekend ACT Test Prep classes for students. Teachers volunteer to help students be successful on their tests, and students take practice tests. High school students can also take classes through test prep companies like Kaplan or Princeton Review. These classes and workshops usually last six to eight weeks but can be expensive, costing more than $1,000.
Purchase ACT Test Textbooks, Workbooks and Interactive Programs Students can purchase ACT Test Prep textbooks, workbooks and interactive programs. Textbooks and workbooks teach learning strategies, have skills lessons and even guide students on how to use the process of elimination to find the correct answer. Students who are deficient in a particular subject can buy books that focus only on that area. Some textbooks and workbooks deal with building vocabulary and grammar. Students can make flashcards of words and have someone test their word identification skills. Many of these books include interactive CDs to complement lessons. Read more about preparing for the ACT on eHow.com
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College Prep Make Your Senior Year Count: Avoid Senioritis Collegeboard.com Make Your Senior Year Count
Seniors have worked hard for three years, taking tests, completing projects, and preparing for college admission. When senior year rolls around, some students just want to get through college applications and relax before they head off to the college of their choice. Also known as senioritis, taking it easy senior year may seem like a nice break, but is likely to do more harm than good. Not only does senioritis jeopardize your chances for success later on in college, it can also affect your grades—and college admissions officers pay close attention to your performance senior year.
Senior-Year Grades and College Admission
Many students mistakenly believe that prepping for college ends after the eleventh grade. However, the senior year—the entire senior year—is actually of particular interest to colleges.
Applying
Many college applications (including the Common Application) require you to list your senior courses, including information about course levels and credit hours. It will be very
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obvious to the admissions officers if you’ve decided to take the year off. Many colleges also include as part of the application a form called the mid-year grade report. Your counselor completes this form with first-half grades and sends it to the colleges to which you’ve applied. It then becomes a crucial part of the application folder.
If You Are Accepted
Many college acceptance letters include warnings to students such as “Your admission is contingent on your continued successful performance.” This means colleges reserve the right to deny you admission should your senior year grades drop. Mary Lee Hoganson, college counselor for Homewood-Flossmor Community High School, Flossmor, Illinois writes: “It is not at all rare for a college to withdraw an offer of admission when grades drop significantly over the course of the senior year. (I have a folder full of copies of these letters.)”
How to Make the Most of Your Senior Year
Senior year is your opportunity to strengthen your skills and broaden your experiences, in school and out, to prepare for all of the challenges ahead. A successful senior year can help launch you on the path to a successful future.
Maintain a Challenging Course Load
available, and be sure to continue taking college-track subjects. Consider AP® courses, which can also earn you credit at many colleges.
Stay Active and Involved
Your continued involvement in activities, sports, and volunteer work will help you stay active and focused throughout your final year. A great internship or career-focused job opportunity can help motivate you to start considering your career options. Meaningful and significant experiences will help prepare you to make informed decisions about your education and career goals.
Try College Early
If you’re interested in pursuing a subject further, and have excelled at your high school classes so far, consider taking a class at a local college. This challenge can help you avoid sliding into an academic slump, and stimulate your interest in the possibilities of college. Another option in many areas is middle college or early college high schools. These schools, normally located on community and four-year college campuses, allow students to spend their last two years taking classes in both college and high school. Early exposure to college classes introduces you to the rigor of college work while easing your transition from high school.
You should take the most rigorous courses
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