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Red & Black Newspaper 04.13.17 • Volume 86 • Issue 8 Jefferson City High School Jefferson City, MO
JCAC: Explaining a world of misconceptions Red & Black goes in-depth in to the inner workings of JCAC to clear up all the confusion p. 18-19
CONTENTS12 04.13.17 NEWS
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SPORTS JCHS Golf: Earning their bread and putter this season Lady Jays Soccer already ahead in the new season Coaches reflect on their own sporting days
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Class of 2017 takes on Six Flags
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FreshmanSophomore mixer cancelled
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Rec. basketball wraps up season
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Meet JCHS’ newest track coach Featured athlete: Cole Biesemeyer
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Pick ‘Em: Baseball Jays vs. Rolla
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Fairy Tale Theater brings magic to the stage
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Seasons change: when, where, and how?
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Capital City Classics annual ice skating competition
SPOTLIGHT
10-11
The ABCs of the ACT
IN-DEPTH
look at the inner 18-19 Aworkings of JCAC
FEATURES
behind the 20 Working scenes: The story of student directors
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A “scoop” of hometown history in Jefferson City
KidsFirst 22 Missouri takes big steps for
There are 24 Editorial: no substitutes for
respect Students run 25 rampant on school buses bathroom bill 26 The weighs heavily
credit is more 27 Dual reliable than AP testing
to do during 27 What your time in FAST
A&E 28
Ambassadors 23 Academy have less to do gloomy to peppy: 23 From the transformation of
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Cartoons that are still cool when you are in high school
28-29
Read All Over
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DIY: Easter Egg bath bombs
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Reviews: Pita Pit, Beauty and the Beast, and Zelda; Breath of the Wind
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What to wear when it rains
little feet
spring fever
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OPINION
Boys tennis team takes on 2017 season
never discovered my passion for journalism. On top of that, I would have never found my home at JCHS for the past three years. It’s been such an honor to watch everyone on staff grow along with me. I’ve learned so much from this program, and I know it’s something I’m going to carry with me past high school. As sad as I am to go, I’m excited to see what lies ahead for me and the other seniors. This isn’t the last you’ll see of Red & Black this year; after all, we’ve still got the half-andhalf issue, but it’s time for the seniors to focus on finishing out our high school career after this issue. I’m so excited to see what our staff will do next year, and I hope you are, too. After all, as long as you keep reading, Red & Black will continue to take pride in serving the JC community. - Madi Baughman
FROM THE EDITOR
As you may know, this will be our last regular issue. The ride has been a wild one, and there have been bumps along the way, but I’ve had some amazing people here with me to keep the car between the lines. I’d like to thank our staff reporters for always keeping our lives interesting with their amazing ideas, my fellow editors for their expertise and motivation (and for always knowing how to make me laugh), but most of all, I owe thanks to you, the readers. You all are the reason we write, photograph, design, and edit like crazy. You provide us with the motivation to fund and print our issues every month. After all, as much as this paper is for us, it’s even more for you so thank you for that. The last thing I want to be thankful for is the Red & Black itself. Without it, I would have
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April 13, 2017 Volume 86, Issue 8 Red & Black is a student led newspaper that serves as a public forum for the school and the community. Opinions expressed in the paper are not necessarily those of JCHS nor the faculty, staff or administrators.
Editors: Madi Baughman Abbi Gierer Gillian Burks Veronica Townsend Staff Reporters: Ali Beza Kelsie Backues Megan Cassels Sidney Johnson Matt LeCure Devan Palmero Emily Rush Salem Sanfilippo Solindas Adviser: Timothy Maylander
WEB EXCLUSIVES
Check out all of these stories and stories from past issues exclusively at jcredblack.com!
• Power Rangers review
• Upcoming senior events
• Photo gallery: How JCHS spent spring break • A look back at old Red and Black writers • An inside look into JCHS English classes
• Epple wins March Madness tournament • Top Tweets • Principal Bob James’ Spotify picks
Jefferson City High School 609 Union Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 659-3050 redblack.jchs@gmail.com
@jcredblack
www.jcredblack.com 04.13.17//NEWS
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NEWS
[photo by Megan Cassels]
Members of the class of 2017 anticipate the starting of a new tradition, going to Six Flags with all of their senior friends. From left to right, Aidan Gallagher, Devan Feeley, George Oesterly, Ben Scott, Will Christgen, and Kelsay Prenger.
The class of 2017 takes on Six Flags Megan Cassels
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oller coasters, wind blowing through hair and sunkissed skin. These are all of the things that will be happening to close to half of Jefferson City High School seniors and seniors from other Missouri schools flooding to Six Flags on April 19. 2017 is the first year ever to have a senior trip. Seniors will leave to Six Flags at 7:30 in the morning and come back nearly around 5 that night. Six Flags will be shut down from the public set out specifically for seniors across the state to attend and have fun. April 19 is the state wide mass testing day where all sophomores and juniors in the state of Missouri prepare for the ACT or take the ACT. During this day, the seniors do not have to take the tests anymore, being that they have already taken them in years prior. This day is when the schools are quiet and seniors are given a whole school day full of free time. Jefferson City High School counselor Teshura Rogers proposed to JCHS
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principal Robert James to have a senior trip, who liked the idea and agreed with it. With the proposal, he made a way to get the funds and in a week’s time, him and Rogers made this happen. “In the last two years all districts in the state of Missouri have been required to do a mass testing, which means that our juniors are doing the ACT, and our sophomores are doing the ACT prep or the aspire exam or that sort,” Rogers said. “Which means that everyone else has to figure out what to do with the seniors.” Being the first year ever that JCHS has had a senior trip, students see the prices being pretty affordable for the common student. James and Roberts have even made ways for students who can’t go because of financial problems. “The price ended up being pretty reasonable, fifty bucks of the transportation here and back, you get a snack on the bus you get your senior shirt and admission to the park. And
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for kids that can’t afford it, I have all type of resources.” Rogers said. T-shirts are covered in the $50 fee the seniors paid in order to go. Food and snacks are going to be funded, and the bus rides are supposed to be hype. Seniors all around JCHS are excited for the trip and what it has to bring. “I’m looking forward to spending time with my best friends and joining their company and just having fun with my friends before we all go our separate ways,” senior Ben Scott said. “The trip is supposed to be lit as far as I’m aware. I shouldn’t have to worry about not having a good time because we’re going with the school. You shouldn’t worry about how you get there, but have fun while you are there.”
Freshman-Sophomore mixer cancelled O Abbigail Gierer
n Saturday, Apr. 1, there was supposed to be a Freshman and Sophomore mixer dance. The dance was cancelled due to a lack of interest. The dance was only for freshman and sophomores, giving them another dance, as the upperclassmen have prom. The dance was to be held at Capitol Plaza, where prom has been held at up until this year. Only around fifty students had bought tickets to the dance, and many were not too upset about it being cancelled. “I wasn’t really surprised. As it got closer to time I kinda regretted buying a ticket because no one else was going besides a few of my friends. I actually considered trying to get my
money back, but they cancelled it anyway,” freshman Emily Hunt said. For the students that did purchase a ticket, they would be able to get their five dollars back from the Nichols Career Center office for sophomores or the Simonsen office for freshmen. The hope for this dance was to start a new tradition at the school, and get the freshman and sophomore classes to, as the name suggests, mix. However, some students did not find the idea to be a fun opportunity. “I just thought it wouldn’t be very fun with only the freshmen and sophomores, because a lot of the juniors and seniors are the ones who make it fun,” freshman Abby Baughman said.
Want to join Red & Black? We are always looking for talented writers, photographers, designers, business managers, social media experts and others to join our family. Preference is given to those who have taken Journalistic Writing or an Honors English class, but experience in photography, web design or a general interest in reporting is considered. Stop by Room 141 or email us at redblack.jchs@gmail.com today!
While the dance was cancelled due to a low amount of people buying tickets, some were disappointed by the dance being cancelled. “It gave me another excuse to spend time with my friends and my boyfriend,” freshman Elsa Stickann said. “I also really enjoy going to dances because it gives me a chance to feel pretty and dress up, which I don’t get to do everyday. Even though it wasn’t a formal dance I still would have loved to dress up and spend the night dancing and hanging out with people I care about and love.” This year the freshman-sophomore mixer did not work out, but there is always next year.
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“[Fairy Tale Theatre] is going to be very fun. I think it’s going to be very colourful, definitely something you want to bring your kids to,” said Alexandra Arand (pictured left) [photo by Salem Sanfilippo Solindas]
Fairy Tale Theater brings magic to the stage
Salem Sanfilippo Solindas here can you find sassy genii*, fifty-foot hair, and talking woodland animals? Fairy tales, of course! If you are looking for your fix of wishes and princesses, look no further than Fairy Tale Theatre, Jefferson City High School’s 2017 spring play. “The show is split into thirds: Rapunzel, Aladdin, and Sleeping Beauty,” sophomore Alexandra Arand said. Arand plays the snow queen, an Elsa-based narrator who takes us through the play. Arand was in last year’s spring play, Alice in Wonderland, and says the two are very different. “Last year, we had a very dark show… it was very edgy,” Arand said. “[Fairy Tale Theatre] is going to be very fun. I think it’s going to be very colourful, definitely something you want to bring your
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kids to.” Senior Tim Campbell, who plays Prince Henry in Rapunzel and inevitably saves the day, agrees to the sentiment. “It’s very Disney, but not copyright infringed,” Campbell said. The cast is, as a result, very lighthearted and playful, and sure to keep things fun for audiences. Unlike last year’s, this play is more child-oriented, with classic storybook scenes and well-loved characters the entire family will enjoy. Throughout the cast, there is a playful energy the actors put into their characters even during rehearsal. Sophomore Colleen Beck is in the Sleeping Beauty portion of the play as a fairy along with several others. As fairies, the actors are very jovial and exciting, adding a bit of magic to their performances. “I love practice, it’s so much
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fun!” Beck said. Last year’s play had a large focus on giving its original source a darker twist, but this performance is a little different. While the scenes do seem similar to some portrayals by Brothers Grimm, even those are lighthearted and fun. “Who doesn’t like a good Prince-Saving-a-Princess story?” Campbell said. While this year’s play promises to be more of a classic fairy tale, the cast is putting interesting and modern twists on all three stories in ways we’re sure to love. If you’re interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, you can watch Fairy Tale Theatre April 28-30 at the Miller Center. For more information, you can contact Mr. McKinney or stop by the Little Theatre during practices. *genii is the plural of genie, you learn something new every day!
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Students compete at Capital City Classic Devan Palmero n March 17-19, after months of practice, figure skaters from all around Central Missouri arrived at the Washington Park Ice Arena for the Annual Capital City Classic Districts figure skating (ISI) competition. This competition puts rankings from preschool ages (5-7 years old) to high school ages (14-18 years old). Every competitor had been training through the winter doing onice form exercises and off-ice endurance and strength exercises. As one of the biggest tournaments of the year in the Jefferson City area, the WPIA was packed with people from all over Missouri as skaters demonstrated spins, jumps and synchronized
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dances to popular songs. One skater from Helias Catholic High School, Sierra Foster, gives insight into the preparation involved. “I have lessons twice a week with [coach] Brent Echols,” Foster said, “And after that, I come other days to practice. I just to run through my program, work on my jumps and spins.” Some skaters at the ISI District competition may find it hard to perform in front of a crowd, but their performance must be perfect in order to win the selected judges’ approval. Part of the training includes rolling with the punches, so to speak. When a skater falls, they must pull it off as though it’s just another part of their routine. Coaching the team, Brent
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Echols has to find ways to motivate the skaters and prepare them for tournaments like the ISI competition. “Stay positive. Positivity is definitely the key to skating” Echols said. Skaters who scored well by the judges in the ISI Districts competition will move on to the National competitions in synchronized, solo and freestyle ice skating next year. The Washington Park skating team came first in the ISI Districts competition, and as of March 31, also won the ISI Nationals competition in Pleasant Prairie, Wyoming.
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The ABC’s of What is it?
The state-mandated American College Test (the ACT), is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States.
Scoring - Scores from
Acceptance by popular schools:
the test are measured on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest one can get. The sections tested over are English, Reading, Math, and Science. There is also a Writing portion that is optional when taking it on your own, but is mandated for the statewide test. The graph to the right shows acceptance statistics based on scores.
How to study:
• One common way to prep for the ACT is going to a local bookstore (or our friend the internet) and buying an ACT prep book with practice problems inside. These books provide useful study tips, while also explaining the questions the test may be asking. Many also provide practice tests, complete with an answer set so that you can see your projected score. • Another way to study comes straight from the company itself - the ACT app. On this app, you practice different questions daily, and the results from your answers funnel directly into a projected score. What’s even nicer is that the app will not only tell you when you get a question wrong, it will also tell you why it is wrong, and set you on the right track to doing it correctly. This method is quick and portable, but you may want to set yourself some reminders to stop binge-watching “Friends” on Netflix so that you’ll actually open it up. • An alternative option is to take a prep class. These classes are usually over $50, but are packed with information over the course of a couple hours for one or two days. You can take classes for any subject on the test, even writing. Another style of prep test includes free ones held at school during FAST, which you can sign up for in the office as they become available.
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Madi Baughman Devan Palmero
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Strategies for taking the test:
English: • Read the sentence or paragraph carefully, listening in your head; usually the word or phrase that contains an error will sound wrong Math: • As soon as you find the right answer, mark it and move on • The questions mostly focus on reasoning, not performing calculations; if you’re spending too much time on a problem, you’ve probably overlooked a simple shortcut. Science: • Use a 3 stage method (previewing, reading, reviewing) for each science reasoning passage • In data passages, focus on what is being measured and relationships among variables/trends. Try not to get hung up on irrelevant info or technical terms Reading: • Focus on the big ideas in each passage, not the small details • Look for connections among ideas in each passage Writing: • Be sure to organize your ideas into a standard essay format. A wellorganized essay consists of 4-5 paragraphs, including an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion
Your brain while taking a test:
tactile (touch) problem solving
When taking any test, including the ACT and SAT, your brain becomes a problemsolving machine, compartmentalizing different tasks and calling back all that late-night studying you did the night before. Because of this, it’s important to keep in mind which parts of your brain are associated with what processes. The sense of smell, for example, has been strongly associated with memory because of its proximity to the frontal lobe, as shown by the diagram. Different areas of your brain are also active at different levels during a test. Fun Fact: taking a standard test can burn up to 60 calories; about the same as walking a quarter mile.
reading, language
beleive
vision
smell hearing, sound
• • • •
high activity moderate activity less activity little or no activity
coordination motor skills
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SPORTS
Jays tennis hopes to serve up wins Emily Rush
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he boys tennis season for Jefferson City High School is in the springtime, but athletes begin their training long before the actual season starts. The team does off-season training together. The boys meet at the YMCA at 6 a.m. to play tennis before school. Having training before the season starts is a great way for the team to bond and get to know everyone. Seniors Jarrod Henry and Joshua Sabala have been playing for a total of three years each. They both started playing their freshman year and stuck with it all through high school. “I enjoy playing tennis for JCHS because I am super good friends with most of the team,” Henry said. “It’s just a close knit community.”
Sabala agrees with Henry that playing with his friends is one of the reasons he enjoys tennis at JC. “I love that it is a really fun and chill sport to play with my friends,” Sabala said. In most sporting events, there is some type of competition or a rivalry that the team looks forward to playing every year. The boys tennis team also has multiple away matches this season along with all the home matches. Some of the teams they will face on the road are Waynesville, Marshall, Springfield, Bethel Park, Ladue, Hickman, Edwardsville, and Rockbridge during their season. “I am really looking forward to going to our away tournaments and taking the W against Helias later in
the season,” Sabala said. Henry also says that one of the things he is really looking forward to the most for the upcoming season is beating Hickman and Helias. The first match for the varsity team was on March 27 and the last scheduled match is set for May 6, which is a home match. Even though that is the last match listed on the schedule, the JCHS team could end up at districts and there could potentially be more matches. The JCHS boys tennis team practices very hard to prepare for all of their matches, and the team would love to see some school spirit at their matches this year.
The JCHS Boy’s tennis team practices at the Washington Park tennis courts for their first home game on April 10th. Top Left: During practice, senior Adam Walker makes an overhand shot. Bottom Left: Senior Joey Mendez practices a simple underhand shot. Top Right: Senior Josh Jay jumps into a serve.
[Photos by: Veronica Townsend]
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Jays golf swings into their season
Sidney Johnson
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he Jefferson City High School Boys Golf team is currently in the start of its season. With five boys on varsity and five boys JV, head coach Randy Bickel and new assistant coach Levi Elder are hoping and planning for a successful season ahead of them. The top five ranked golfers are Austin Siebeneck, Nathan Erickson, Brett Trowbridge, Michael Davidson and Burke Craighead. Elder and Davidson are two new members of the JCHS golf program. Trowbridge, a junior, is pleased with the new members of the team. “I think they are both really good assets to the team,” he said. Trowbridge has been on the team for all three years of his high school career and is particularly excited for this season
now that he’s ranked in the top five. Another golfer on the team ranked in the top five is Erickson, a junior. He has also been on the team all three years of his high school career. When preparing for season, the team goes through a tough training regimen. Weightlifting is required a few times a week and personal training outside of practice is very much advised but not required. On the first day of practice, depending on the weather, Bickel will send golfers out to play the first qualifying round. There are three to five qualifying rounds and that will determine who will become apart of the team. Erickson is ready for the season to get started. “We have a lot of potential for this year, both individually and as a team at districts,” Erickson said.
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Girls soccer kicks off their season 1996
Kelsie Backues
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s the new spring season brings sunshine and unfortunately rain, the Jefferson City Lady Jays Soccer team are gearing up for their new season. Despite all the bad weather, the Lady Jays are starting the season hot, coming off a 7-0 win against Osage High School on Monday, March 21. Sophomore Maddie Jones has recently joined the Lady Jays, as this is her first year on the team. To get ready [for the season] we’ve been practicing every day and some Saturdays,” Jones said. Head Coach Thomas Guinn also expressed his high hopes for the new season. He says the goals range from things as simple as winning a certain number of games to as complex as having a certain number of shoutouts “At the beginning of our season, every team member creates both individual and team goals,” Guinn said, “So as a coaching staff, our hope is that is that as many players as possible meet or exceed their expectations as it relates to the goal setting process.” Each team faces challenges, and each team handles them differently. Guinn is optimistic that his team will be able to overcome whatever
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they may face. For example, Missouri weather never seems to cooperate, but this isn’t anything new for the team.
“A lot of times in the spring season the biggest challenges come from factors that are out of our control.
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The weather is unpredictable, which many times causes changes to the game schedule, or worse, we can’t get practice time in,” Guinn said, “The spring season also doesn’t end until the middle of May, with the potential of extending into the second week of June. It can be difficult to hold the attention of athletes during yourW season while they have already been dismissed for summer break.” Jones agrees with Guinn that weather caused commotion for the season. Jones says that the bad weather has caused for several game cancellations for the Lady Jays. “So far this season, the weather has been our biggest problem. We have to find gym space on rainy practice days, which are to help us get ready for games,” Jones said. With the beginning of the season just barely started, both players and coaching staff have a positive outlook for the continuation of the season. Left: Sophomore Greta Haarmann puts the ball back into play at the Lady Jays soccer jamboree on Tuesday, March 16. [Photo submitted by Karri Gourley]
Veronica Townsend
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Rec basketball wraps up its season
Veronica Townsend The rec league basketball teams finished playing in February. Two Jefferson City High School teams boasted records which were polar opposites, but all the players had some fun on the hardwood. [photo submitted by: Joshua Sabala]
Wombat City is one of the few teams which personalize each of the players’ jerseys. [photo submitted by: Joshua Sabala]
[photo submitted by: Bailey Conrad]
Wombat City takes a selfie after their first and only win to commemorate the season.
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Seniors Megan Williams, Bailey Conrad and Abby Zoellner of Alley Oops are ready to play.
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[photo submitted by: Joshua Sabala]
In three seasons, Wombat City’s record was 2–18, but that doesn’t matter much to the players.
FEATURED JCHS welcomes Logan ATHLETE JCHS Track & Field names Blake Logan as the new sprint coach Devan Palmero
Q: How did you become a coach for track?
Track and Field
Grade: Junior How long have you been running track: “I’ve ran track for six years now.” Why did you get into track: “My sister inspired me to run track.” Background: “I’d describe myself as easygoing and funny.” Favorite part: “My favorite part about track is racing. It’s the competing spirit and drive to win that makes it fun.” Least favorite part: “My least favorite part of track is off day warmups and full of sweats”
Q: What is your coaching experience? A: I was the head track coach for Van-Far High School for the past five years. I started out with zero boys the first year, finished with zero boys.
Pick ‘em:
Q: What do you bring to the team as a coach? A:I’m just really passionate about the sport. I love coaching track because it is about improving each day. It is probably the only sport in which the person in last place gets cheered on more than the winner.
A random JCHS student, faculty member and Red & Black staffer are asked who they think will win the sporting event. Jays Baseball VS. Rolla Sr. HS
JCHS Student
Cole Biesemeyer
A: I was going to be the head track coach at Thomas Jefferson [Middle School]. Coach Meyers came to me and wanted me to move up to Varsity sprint coach.
Finished the next year with forty-five and ended up winning two district titles and sectional titles. We got fifth in state as a team.
Interesting fact: “I’m the only red headed distance runner at JCHS.” Awards: “I’m three times a varsity athlete.”
JCHS Staff
Erica Dunn
Andrew Neuenswander
Describe your shoes for track: “They are red and black Saucony’s.”
Red & Black
If you could be any animal what would you be: “I would be a bear.”
Matt LeCure
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An alternative way to learn: J
Sidney Johnson & Emily Rush
efferson City Academic Center is surrounded by misconceptions. “It’s for kids who are failing, only dumb people go to school there, that school is filled with dropouts” are the things that filter through the halls of Jefferson City High School. However, few of these rumors hold any truth. About 180 students attend JCAC, grades 9-12, almost all of them being transfers from JCHS and other schools in the area. With the mission “to provide an alternative educational setting for student to graduate from high school,” JCAC provides a similar curriculum in such a way that fits the students needs more individually. Some students need more one on one time with their teachers. Most students that transfer to JCAC simply need a school where the classrooms are less cramped. Deanne Fisher has run the school for 10 years. She knows the rumors that are spread about JCAC. However, Fisher addressed the fact that the curriculum is the exact same. Students choose to attend JCAC for many reasons. Some students struggle with anxiety in large groups of people. “All the students that come to us
need a smaller environment,” Fisher said. The small environment allows teachers to better share their time with their students. Communication such as this is something that would not be available by a school with a much larger student body. As principal, Fisher makes an effort to have “drive by talks” with every staff member and student in attendance. These little talks range in time and depth, but are part of the friendly personal environment that makes the school what it is. “Communication is something we will never be perfect at, but can strive to be better at,” Fisher said. The school may sounds like a dream come true to some, but the process to apply and be accepted into JCAC is anything but. First, students must have a counselor or administrator’s recommendation. Then, students will take a test to see where they are academically. After they take the test, they have to go through an interview with Fisher. A parent or guardian is required to come. Then, the rest is up to the student. They have to take
[photo by: Sidney Johnson]
Teacher Carla Brown reads aloud to her class.
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ownership of their situation and take the guidance that is provided by the teachers and staff to be successful. For senior DeAndre Webster, this is his first year at JCAC and the environment to him is like a family. “Most teachers here are like a mom to me,” Webster said. Within 45 years of teaching, Jennifer Milne says JCAC is her most rewarding job she has had. According to Milne, class size is a huge advantage because teachers can have a lot more one on one time with a student. “Class size is the difference in teaching,” Milne said. The smaller environment at JCAC is a great way for kids to focus on graduating on-time, and if not earlier. The staff at JCAC works with students on a lot of social and emotional skills. No matter what the students have done or where they have been, JCAC welcomes them with open arms, just like they did with Webster. “School is school, everyone goes for the same reason, to get an education,” Webster said.
[photo by: Sidney Johnson]
JCAC senior DeAndre Webster works in class to get all of his credits in by the end of the year.
The real truth behind JCAC Students at Jefferson City Academic Center recieve an education from teachers in a smaller enviorment. Outside of that difference, the students, teachers and classrooms of JCAC are remarkably similar to those of Jefferson City High School.
[photo by: Sidney Johnson]
[photo by: Sidney Johnson]
Senior Triston Nanney types away on some homework at one of the computer stations.
[photo by: Sidney Johnson]
Students David Maire, Makayla Huffman and Jordan Bryan study in biology class.
Teacher Lucinda Hampton works with students Lindsey Herny and Deante Wilder in class.
[photo by: Sidney Johnson]
All the names of students who attend JCAC are placed on a mural near the entryway.
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FEATURES
Students take the lead as directors this spring Abbi Gierer
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very year at Jefferson City High School, we have a spring play. This play is usually less formal than the operetta in the fall and allows students the opportunity to try their hand at directing. This year’s spring play, Fairy Tale Theater, is a magical combination of three stories: Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin. The stories are skewed into different forms to give the plot some dynamic and engaging energy. The student directors in this years productions are Matthew Raymer, Finn Stout and Natalie Schaefer. “I assist Mr. McKinney in making decisions on costumes, set, lines, etc.,” junior Matthew Raymer said. “Mr. McKinney also makes it a point to
let us do some of the directing of our plays.” Raymer is directing Sleeping Beauty, Stout has Aladdin and Schaefer is in charge of Rapunzel. This is an exciting opportunity for students to take on a leadership position and to work in a team to put together a fantastic performance. They handle everything from running lines, choosing costuming and designing the set. “(I enjoy most) getting to direct a group of talented actors,” Raymer said. “My cast has been great so far.” This experience is not only valuable to the directors, but to the cast members as well. The students get to enjoy interacting with their peers in a new and rare form. “Having a student director offers unique insights into the script that I never would have thought of before,” said senior Stephanie Scott, playing Princess Anna in the play. “They add a
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level of kinship to the whole process because they come from our own classes.” It is a wonderful opportunity to let young people express their creativity in an uncommon way, and to engage the audience in a different way than what a teacher may have come up with. “It gives a more youthful view point to the production.” said senior Tim Campbell, playing Prince Henry from Rapunzel. “The director knows how to pander to younger audiences and it’s great to work with a peer instead of a teacher.” Undoubtedly it is an exclusive experience presented to the students of JC. If you are interested in working with a student director or applying to be one next year, be sure to contact Mr. McKinney after winter break.
“Scoop” of hometown history in JC Emily Rush
[photo by Gillian Burks]
C
entral Dairy is an ice cream parlor that is unique to Jefferson City. Their first location was in Columbia, but then they moved the business here in 1934. Central Dairy is not only a favorite spot for locals, but is also a tourist attraction. When people come to visit Missouri, there is a good chance they make an effort to visit Central Dairy. The ice cream parlor has many different items for customers to buy. There a variety of ice cream available, with over 52 flavors to choose from. You can also get malts and shakes made with any flavor you would like. There is also the choice of ice cream soda which has flavors as basic as a root beer float, but also as exotic as pineapple and orange freeze. They also have local favorites like their Banana Split, Hawaiian Split, and the Rock and Roll. If a customer is not interested in ice cream, they also have fountain drinks and snacks that people can purchase. Junior Syleste Martinez has worked at Central Dairy for a year and enjoys her experiences there. “I love working at Central Dairy,” Martinez said. “I have made so many friends and we eat a lot of ice cream.” People from many different backgrounds work there, from
employees that are in college and high school to people who have long since graduated. There is a job for everyone there. Catie Dampf is a junior at Blair Oaks High School who started working at Central Dairy at the beginning of last May. “I love working there,” Dampf said. “All of my co-workers have become my best friends.” Central Dairy is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sundays they are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. These can potentially be very
nice hours for college and high school students. High school students can go straight there after school around 3 p.m. and can be out by 6 p.m. Instead of working late hours, students have time to go home and work on things for school and spend time with their family. “The hours at Central Dairy are great and very flexible too,” Dampf said. Central Dairy has been a landmark in Jefferson city since 1934 and will most likely continue to be one throughout the years.
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Missouri KidsFirst takes steps for little feet Madi Baughman
S
itting inside a small room filled with dozens of empty boxes, seniors Ally Robinett and Rachel Ulm are surrounded by thousands of blue and silver pinwheels. The goal? Sort them into boxes by the hundred, where they will then be sold to businesses and sponsors wanting to participate in the annual Pinwheel Garden on the Capitol lawn. April is Child Abuse Prevention month, and every year, Missouri KidsFirst, a small nonprofit organization, organizes the setup of the thousands of pinwheels to raise awareness for their cause. “I strongly believe that KidsFirst is a fantastic program filled with amazing and talented people who are helping children deal with the abuse they have had to struggle through,” Ulm said. The history of Missouri KidsFirst traces back to the Child Advocacy Center movement. Child Advocacy Centers, often referred to as CACs, provide services to children who are suspected of being the victim of sexual or serious physical abuse. These services include forensic interviews, medical evaluations, advocacy, and mental health treatment. Missouri KidsFirst was founded in 2005 to serve as the statewide association for Missouri’s CACs by coordinating state and federal funding, providing training to child protection professionals, and pushing for sound public policy. It is also now the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America.
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The executive director of Missouri KidsFirst, Joy Oesterly, began working for the organization in April 2007 as the preventive director, then became executive director in February 2011. Her duties include directing things such as fund development, public policy, and governmental affairs, as well as providing resources and training for others in the field. “My favorite things about working at Missouri KidsFirst are working with the other staff at the agency and the outcomes we have achieved as a team,” Oesterly said. The staff at the organization is very small, consisting of seven members and a handful of volunteers. This has helped the group become very closeknit, as well as encouraging members to learn more from one another. “I’ve learned a lot from working with the people at KidsFirst,” Robinett said. “The people there are so dedicated to helping children and families overcome sexual abuse.” In 2016, Missouri KidsFirst was able to get legislation passed that would require all investigations of children three and under to get an evaluation from a trained professional. This is a big step, especially because abuse to young children is hard to identify because they have no or little ability to tell what has happened to them. “It sounds very technical, but it has helped save many children already,” Oesterly said. “In one case, an infant
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just a few months old had a small bruise on the forehead. Upon further review, the doctor found broken bones and other internal injuries. Had this law not been passed, those injuries would not have been discovered and the child would have been left with abusive caregivers.” From education to passing legislation, Missouri KidsFirst is taking big steps in our community to protect children of all ages. “Working with KidsFirst, I have learned how to identify abuse and the steps to take the help that child get out of their situation without causing more trauma to the child,” Ulm said. “It has been an extremely humbling experience spending my senior year working on different projects, affecting my future and what I plan on doing with my life.” If you’re interested in getting involved, visit the Missouri KidsFirst website for tips on how to get started preventing child abuse in our community, or a way to donate to the organization. “I’ve learned how to detect signs of abuse, but most importantly, I have learned how important it is to give back to my community,” Robinett said. “Every little thing helps, even if it’s just shredding papers. I’ve also learned that there are people out there that care about you and want to help you, even if they don’t know you personally.”
The Academy Ambassadors have less to do Megan Cassels
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n 2014, Jefferson City High School took a new turn on the direction education is formatted. JCHS started academies. The academies were separated into seven different sections: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business, Management and Technology, Health Services, Human Services, Fine Arts and Communications Industrial Technology and Engineering and finally, Global Studies. These academies sectioned off which classes students were able to take. For example, if the student’s academy was in the Health Services academy, then the student would take different health classes, also if the student wanted to be in the Human Services academy, then the student should varieties of social study classes and etcetera.
These courses were advised by counselors, teachers and even student academy ambassadors. The academy ambassadors were a representative from each of the four academies who go to the middle schools Lewis and Clark or Thomas Jefferson here in Jefferson City and they tell them about the academies and what they would lead to. Such as something they would want to do as a job. The ambassadors would also give tours to the different officials around their school to tell them the different benefits from the school and about the program that JCHS has using the iPads the school were given. Though these courses went well while they were being thoroughly enforced, they aren’t a very big impact on 2017-2018 graduates and lower generations now.
“It’s kind of the same thing, but a little bit less, basically,” JCHS academy ambassador junior Mitchell Huston said. In order to be chosen, students must be able to have good communication skills, be able to think on the spot, and also be able to learn quickly. The FAST teachers nominate which student would be the best candidate and the counselors vote on who should represent the section. Now that the academies aren’t really in play, the ambassadors still give tours, but give them a condensed version of the academies. They also talk about how they’re different from last years academies but still encourage students to decide which section they want to be in.
Spring fever shows itself in student moods I
Matt LeCure
magine a peer who walked into class in the beginning of 3rd term, slouching with a depressed look on their face. Then, on March 20, they begin to smile and stand confidently. That person’s attitude changed drastically from January. This is what’s known as spring fever. Spring fever is described as a sudden change in behavior of someone once winter’s over. A person may seem more energetic, optimistic, and productive. This trait is common with adolescents and young adults. Psychology Today states that the occurrence of spring causes some biological systems to act up, resulting in an increase of energy. Spring fever is common in people who have seasonal depression, where in the wintertime, one seems to be more tired, introverted, cranky, and stressed than normal. Emotions activated by spring fever
can vary. Positivity from pessimism, activity from laziness, productivity from procrastination, and friendliness from exclusion are some common examples of emotional change spring fever creates. There are many theories as to why spring fever occurs. One of these is the effect of weather on the attitude of people. In winter, the dark and cold atmosphere causes one to be slow and pessimistic. On the other hand, spring’s bright and warm days have an uplifting effect on people. ScienceNordic states that, like plants, humans gain somewhat of a boost in energy when in a bright environment. Another theory applies more to students: Since the school year reaches its end in the springtime, students become confident and optimistic. They are filled with anticipation as they head towards the end of the year. School
can be stressful, and knowing it will end soon, one will be more active and energized. Spring fever does have its negative effects. It may cause productivity in some people, but the energy boost can also cause people to be too energized. This is a problem people who work with a large group may come across sometimes. Another issue is the boost in self-esteem. It is healthy to have some self-esteem, but too much can make one selfish and prideful. In conclusion, spring fever is an interesting subject. The existence of spring gives a boost of energy to people. Many people who posses the trait also have seasonal depression. So when someone seems more upbeat than usual in the springtime, that would mean spring fever might be at play.
www.jcredblack.com 04.13.17//FEATURES
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OPINION
The Red and Black Editorial:
There are no substitutes for respect
O
ne of your teachers leaves within the first week of school without notifying your class. This is what happened with to me in my ninth grade year. For the next 35 weeks, the students in my class had to develop a bond with not one but many different substitutes. Through those 35 weeks, I gained respect for all the substitutes that walked through the door. Constantly building relationships with them helps the Jefferson City Public Schools student body succeed. When teachers are in class, students have the confidence in them to have expertise in the subject area. The school district trusts the teacher to educate students on the subject. With substitutes, math teacher Henry Thompson believes consistency matters. “Consistency helps when having subs,” Thompson said. “They get to know the kids, and the kids get to know them.” With consistency, some substitutes have subbed for the district for many years. As a student, I am comfortable with substitutes like John Meyer and April Thornsberry because I have known both of them throughout my educational career. Meyer is always reliable and creates a great learning environment. According to him, he tries not to yell and to make sure students follow directions and are safe. “From my experience, whether or not I am respected depends on the
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students,” Meyer said. With substitutes, students have a choice either act up or treat the substitute with more respect than their regular teacher. It is a two way street. If substitutes walk into a class with a bad attitude, students are bound to disrespect them. According to senior Chris Alhalabi, he experienced a disrespectful substitute in one of his
classes. “The sub propped her feet up and was on her phone,” Alhalabi said. “I found that unprofessional and irresponsible.” For the most part, I believe substitutes are wanting students to have a good learning environment, but sometimes students receive a
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bad substitute. Even with the bad substitute, students should still respect them. Some substitutes have bad days, but students should work to brighten the substitute’s day. For the most part, students will have amazing substitutes. According to senior Katie Renkemeyer, she has never had a problem with a substitute. “A good experience [with a substitute] is they know what is going on, but doesn’t get on us a lot,” Renkemeyer said. “It helps if they are nice, and don’t treat us like second graders.” With good experiences and consistency, substitutes gain a positive relationship and reputation. Although some substitutes sub for one day, some substitutes take on long term assignments of 20 days or more. According to Thornsberry, she does what the normal teacher would do, and enjoys her long-term substitute assignment. Even though some students are disrespectful to substitutes, she offers students a new chance each time she substitutes. “Every day is new,” Thornsberry said. “I treat each assignment as a fresh start.” Students have a choice of how they treat the substitutes. When substitutes are willing to give students a fresh start, students should also give all substitutes a fresh start. For every substitute, I respect and thank you for your hard work.
Students run rampant on the school buses Matt LeCure
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espite recently turning 17, I still don’t drive. Because of that, I take the school bus. I’m usually silent, but all the immature behavior from the students around me is clearly visible. I’m not saying that all bus riders are like that, because I do see some maturity with some riders. However, it’s very easy to see the immaturity of some people. From insults to fights, the behavior of some riders could be worked on. A good reason as to why there’s so much disrespect on the bus could be because of the amount of busses we have. It’s hard to stay calm when the bus is crowded. I sometimes get headaches with all the racket going on, and the headaches are even worse than what I get in a math class. A big problem I see on the bus is the language from students. I’m not
worried too much about swearing as I am about the kinds of things I hear on the bus. It’s just incredibly immature and offensive to some people. Fights don’t happen too much on my bus, but they are occasional. Most of them do not even look like actual fights, they just look like a game of patty-cake on steroids. Junior Colton Dulle states that his bus occasionally has fights, but he usually ignores them. “I usually listen to music or look out the window,” Dulle said. While it’s nice to relax on the ride home with your friends, you need to remember that the school knows what’s going on. The busses have security cameras, and the driver can contact administration if there is an issue. Remember that you are not the only one on the bus, and others have feelings, too. A big problem I face is maintaining a
positive attitude. Bus riders should all work on enjoying the ride home rather than making others’ lives miserable. I think we should act like the teenagers and adults that we are, and realize what is considered acceptable. Junior Juquon Terrill notices the good aspects of his bus. “The bus I ride on is fairly quiet,” Terrill said. “I enjoy riding the bus and seeing my friends. The only thing I would change is the number of busses because they can be a bit crowded.” Riding the bus can be a bit overwhelming. The behavior I see from the students can be immature, but I feel that it can be changed. As high schoolers, I believe that we are able to do better, and that we can become people the younger generation can look up to.
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Bathroom bills weigh heavily on students Salem Sanfilippo Solindas
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ou just drank twenty-four ounces of grape soda in three [photo by Salem Sanfilippo Solindas] minutes on a dare. Though you may get $5 out of it, when you’re running to the nearest public restroom, it doesn’t feel like enough of a reward. You have two options: go to the boys bathroom, risking the possibility of someone especially violent coming to beat you up, or try the girls, earning accusations that you’re there to hurt a woman or child. This may sound like a horror story to some, but for many transgender people around the United States, it’s an unfortunate reality. Since President Donald J. Trump revoked protections for trans kids in schools this February, faculty are no longer obligated to allow us the freedom of choice. In many schools, openly transgender students are given the option to use the nurse’s bathrooms, the stalls of their biological sex, or not go at all. Not only is this time consuming and emotionally damaging, but the ruling is also a threat to our physical safety. Unfortunately, this is not where the problems end. According to a poll of fifty students and staff around the school, 18 percent of the student body believe transpeople do not need protections, while 10 percent believe they do not exist at all. Ideologies like these occur when discrimination is so common and normalized over the years that future generations fail to see the problem. The same has happened with racial minorities and women’s rights, and it is why people mistake feminism for hating men or Black Lives Matter for terrorism. When we are provided a reason to think a certain group of people are the enemy, we are able to dehumanise them. This may all sound like unrealistic ranting, but there is proof in numbers. According to a survey by The Task Force, over 75% of transgender students report being harassed by other students, while 35% have been physically assaulted. With such a large demographic of transgender students at Jefferson City High School, it is clear they face a serious problem of bullying, transphobia, and neglect Sophomore Ace Uhlmann, an openly throughout the halls. transgender student, sits below a men’s restroom The solution sounds like it should be more complicated and tedious sign. than it is, but to solve the issue of slurs and jeers being thrown at the teans commnity, JCHS just needs to protect its transgender kids. First, allow them to go to the bathrooms of their choice. If this is normalised, the myth that they try to go to the right bathrooms to harm women or children can be erased. Second, do not tolerate harassment of any kind on the basis of gender or sexuality. Give those who spread hate speech real consequences. Bring this ad for $50 Lastly, stop objectifying the transgender community. Transgender people are not a rare off a regular priced minority: we are all over Jefferson City and the prom dress in store! rest of the world. Everyone wants peace and equality, and the first step to that is accepting Come visit us at those who are different from us. Together, we are stronger, and together, we can 223 E High Street. work for what we believe in. All we need to do is try to understand each other a little bit better.
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Contact us: 573-636-1060
04.13.17//OPINION
Dual credit is more reliable than AP testing Madi Baughman
A
t Jefferson City High School, some classes offered to students give the option of earning college credit hours ahead of time (and generally, at a lower cost). There are two ways a student can go about this: AP, or dual credit. Both are good ways to go, but some classes offer both. So what do you choose? I, personally, would always go with dual credit when it’s offered. Though it costs more than taking the AP test does, dual credit gives you the certainty that you will have credit. Taking the AP test means taking the risk of getting a lower score, which then wouldn’t get you any credit at all - making the AP test a waste of $90. On top of that, while most colleges
Dual Credit accept scores of three and above, some colleges may only accept four or higher, or even five, which is a tough feat to accomplish.
However, with dual credit, there’s not the risk of doing badly on a onetime exam. Doing well in the class is a must, since it factors into your college GPA, but it’s basically a way to take a college class at a much lower price. Plus, while some AP scores may not transfer based on the school’s score requirements, most dual courses can usually transfer between schools easily, since they’re already an existing class in the system. While both are good options, dual credit is the safer of the two and definitely my preferred way to go. Maybe it’s a little more pricey, but in my opinion, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when dealing with college credit.
The Do's and Dont's of F.A.S.T.
Kelsie Backues
DO:
DON'T:
1. Homework
1. Play games
The main purpose of FAST class is to give students the opportunity to complete thier homework and/or study for upcoming tests or quizzes.
A lot of us are gulity of this, but you shouldn't necessarily spend 45 minutes of your school day playing games when you could be productive.
2. Read a book
2. Talk
If you have absolutely no homework to complete and you have already studied for your upcoming tests; read a book on your phone, iPad, or another device.
Again, all of us are somewhat gulity of this, because you can talk, just not so loud that no one around you can focus on their work.
www.jcredblack.com 04.13.17//OPINION
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Arts & Entertainment
Check out more Red & Black staff suggestions on our website at www.jcredblack.com
Read All Over No. 06 Remember, incubate him twice a day, bath time at six… oh, and no sweets!
Okay, I’ll be back soon!
Everything will be fine. I know what I’m doing.
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04.13.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Devan Palmero
Honey, I’m ho–
What? He wanted to play dress-up...
www.jcredblack.com 04.13.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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REVIEWS Ali Beza
Did you see a good movie? Read an interesting book? Hear a great song that’s stuck in your head? Stop by room 141 with your suggestion.
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any restaurants have been coming and going here in Jefferson City lately. One of the latest additions is Pita Pit, a restaurant not too many people in this area are familiar with. While it is not a traditional dine in, or fast food, it is the perfect combination of both. You receive fast service with the option of eating in or taking out. Unlike other fast food places where the food is frozen and simply reheated upon order, the food is cooked fresh. Eating fast food also welcomes room for error in your order. At Pita Pit you watch them
I
Abbigail Gierer
am a Disney enthusiast, so when I heard they were coming out with a live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast I was thrilled. Then, I heard that one of my all time favorite actresses, Emma Watson, was playing Belle, and I was sold. I was very excited for the movie and it lived up to my standards, which is not always an easy thing to do. The singing was wonderful, although I will admit Watson was a bit auto-tuned (yet to be quite frank, she can do no wrong in my eyes). I
Matt LeCure
T
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he latest entry in the Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda; Breath of the Wild, was recently released for the WiiU and the Nintendo Switch, the company’s newest console. Breath of the Wild has a pretty interesting story. Link, the main protagonist, wakes up from 100 years of stasis, and enters the world of the ruined kingdom of Hyrule, deprived of his memory. He soon finds out that Hyrule was attacked by Calamity Ganon, a pure evil. Zelda, the princess of Hyrule, has been holding Ganon back for the past 100 years alone, and Link needs to defeat it. There are many ways to go about the story, and all are fun. While playing the game, I found myself getting easily distracted from the main story, as the world is gigantic. The only other Zelda games that had
make your food, so it will be made to perfection. How does this work? Kind of like Subway. You pick your meat, cheese, vegetables and sauces just the same way. But there are a few differences that set it apart. Instead of the traditional sandwich, a pita bread is cut in half and all of your desired condiments and meats are stuffed inside and rolled up. This allows for no messes! It’s all-in-all a great place to go if you’re looking for fast service, exceptional food, unique flavors, and no mess.
was blown away by the visual effects: cutlery dazzlingly flying through the air, a charming singing candle stick, and an opera singing dresser came to life for me and the rest of the audience. The characters were beautifully dressed and well developed. I could not have gotten a better cast to bring the “tale as old as time” back on the big screen. I would highly recommend the movie to anyone who enjoys happily ever afters and singing beasts like I do.
a giant world are The Windwaker and Twilight Princess, but in The Windwaker, the majority of the world is just ocean, and the Twilight Princess world was pretty barren and limited based on where you are in the story. In this game, the entire world has interesting secrets to be found. Not even joking on this one: you can go fight the final boss right after the tutorial! This is the first game that I have never felt any sort of boredom playing. Overall, The Legend of Zelda; Breath of the Wild is not just the best Zelda game I’ve ever played, but the best video game I’ve ever played. If you like adventure, mysterious story, fantasy, action and humor, get this game as soon as possible. The Legend of Zelda is a fantastic series, and this game shows that better than anything else.
04.13.17//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
What to wear on a rainy day Ali Beza
All outfits from polyvore.com
Staying dry on a rainy day can be difficult and confusing. Here are some ideas on how to dress for the weather this sping.
You’ve been waiting to throw on your popping rain boots - and they just so happen to match your favorite flannel! Still too boring for your style? Add a sleek puffer vest and a shiny gold watch, that should do the trick.
I know, rain boots just aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. With their leather material, combat boots are an option for you in the rain. Throw on a comfy tee and a beanie and you’re all set. Just make sure you take the hat off in school.
If you are one of the people that rainy days don’t strike the energy to dress up, this outfit is just for you. Pull out your monogrammed rain jacket that you paid a fortune for and style it with your favorite rain boots! You’ll be dressed for the weather in no time at all.
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