March 2016

&

Red & Black Newspaper 3.08.16 • Volume 85 • Issue 6 Jefferson City High School Jefferson City, MO

Out with the old...

In With the new See next year’s schedule and what students, faculty think of the changes

p. 18-19

CONTENTS

SPORTS

3.08.16

NEWS

OPINION 24

Editorial: Should we have off-campus lunch?

25

Head to Head: Local vs. Chain

12

A new start for Jay Tennis

3

JCHS prepares for choir districts

13

Becoming a college athlete

4

A guide to understanding gas prices

13

Pick ‘em

26

Can guys and girls be just friends?

5

Dodgeball tournament for Special Olympics

14

Wrestling goes to state

27

6

16

Polar Plunge: a reason for freezin’

The fun of ultimate frisbee

A new way to handle announcements

17

27

7

Students react to shorter spring break

Featured athlete: Lexie Stull

Lafayette construction causes commotion

7

17

Four new English classes come to JCHS NCC holds open house for new industrial kitchen

March Madness: what is it?

8 9

A recap of the political primaries

SPOTLIGHT

10

What should you do over spring break?

We have some ideas.

IN-DEPTH 18

2

A rundown of the new schedule for next year

A&E

FEATURES

28

Guys’ thoughts on girls wearing Jordans

20

Freshman athletes make their mark

28

20

Learning a foreign language

Students choose their favorite JC restaurants

29

Alice in Wonderland Preview

21

Students at JCHS with tattoos

29

Should minimum wage be raised?

hidden 22 Teachers’ talents

30

Reviews: Shamrock Shake, Deadpool, Oscars

Saving 23 Daylight Time explained

31

Don’t sweat it: Gyms in Jeff City

3.08.16//CONTENTS

agree, as it is an opinion, but it is good to respect what people think. Sometimes it can even be good to reflect and try to reason out why someone else might feel the way they do. If you have some good rebuttal points that you wish to make known, write them down and send them to us. You can send them through email to redblack.jchs@ jcschools.us or to our advisor.

Everyone has an opinion; share yours! Or better yet, join the paper!

This final semester of the 2015-2016 school year is flying by. The Red & Black only has two issues left to print.

However, we still have many events to look forward to for the next two months. For the March issue we cover many things that have been happening so far throughout the beginning of this semester. Enjoy and have a good day! Let us know what you think.

-Jacob Worsham

FROM THE EDITOR

Hi there. For my “from the editor” this month I wanted to discuss a feature of the newspaper that many people may not know about. If you ever have an issue that you want to talk about or you see an opinion in the newspaper that your disagree with, you can write a letter to the editor and have your voice heard. We will edit it and publish it with your name on it, likely in the opinion section. This is a good option if you disagree with something that you read that is published.

As a newspaper with an opinion section, there are often controverisal things that we cover and not every person has the same thoughts about a single issue. In fact, not everyone on staff has the same opinion as what is published.

However, the point of the articles is for individuals to say what they think about things going on in the school and in the world. Not everyone has to

Choir prepares for districts Claire Shipley

T

he annual MHSAA choir districts are quickly approaching with the vocal solo and small ensemble festival on Mar. 12 and the large choral festival on the Mar. 19. The solos and small ensembles will be held at JCHS, whereas the large choral will be held at the Miller Center.

Any student may participate if they are involved in a choir, but only 36 soloists are allowed per school.

The scoring system for choir districts is more complicated than one would think.

“You are scored on a ranking system of 1-5,” choir teacher Beth Dampf said. “The 1 rating means exemplary performance that consistently demonstrates true musical expression and a few technical errors. The performance is worthy of distinction of being recognized as among the very best. The 5 rating is ‘ineffective’ performance indicating an obvious

lack of preparation. Students are adjudicated on technical skills.”

JCHS’ choir will participate in the large choral ensembles on March 19, as the concert choir consists of 156 people and chorale consists of 35. Soloists and small ensembles have the opportunity to participate as vocal soloists, or members of the men’s and women’s sextets, women’s trios, men’s double quartets, and mixed sextet or mixed double quartets.

“The students have been working with Miss Daulton, Mrs. Eckles and myself since January, both before and after school,” Dampf said. “The large choir ensembles have been meeting once a week as a full ensemble after school since the end of January, since the ensembles don’t meet together as a class. The students are doing great and working hard.”

www.jcredblack.com

&

March 8, 2016 Volume 85, Issue 6 Red & Black is a student-led newspaper which 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. These entities do not exercise prior restraint, nor do school funds go towards printing costs of the paper.

Editors: Jacob Worsham Madi Baughman Erica Overfelt Mackenzie Allen Website Manager: Brooklynne Propes Staff Reporters: Abbigail Gierer Ainsley Grey Ariana Pauley Brandon Eigenman Brenna Duncan Claire Shipley Dalton Wheeler Gillian Burks Kaylee Klosterman Maddy Bergstrom Madeline Moats Makenzie Baldwin Megan Cassels Megan Newton Taylor Johnson Veronica Townsend Advisor: Timothy Maylander Jefferson City High School 609 Union Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573)659-3193 redblack.jchs@gmail.com

@jcredblack 3.08.16//NEWS 3

NEWS

[photo by Madi Baughman]

[photo by Madi Baughman]

Prices for fuel, which dipped below $1.50 for regular unleaded earlier this year, have begun to climb back towards $2.00 at most area pumps.

Gas prices: A guide to highs and lows Taylor Johnson

G

as prices are changing once again, but it is a change that benefits many. Having a history of ups and downs, the prices are in their deepest slumps since the 1990s, with the price of a barrel of oil dropping 70 percent since 2004.

This seemingly complicated situation can be simplified down to a simple equation: supply and demand.

Saudi, Nigerian and Algerian oil that once was sold in the United States is suddenly competing for Asian markets, forcing the producers to drop prices which benefits many. Since this time last year, the estimated price of gas has dropped about 43 cents.

In a larger sense, as a country, we are no longer a high-priced energy producer, but a medium-priced energy

4

3.08.16//NEWS

producer. Just a year or two ago, we were considered high-priced, but the industry has changed due to its competitiveness. Overall, energy is a relatively small piece of the U.S. economy.

When you talk about what drives the U.S. economy, you are talking about financing. Low energy prices are still positive for the national economy from the perspective of an average taxpayer. At the pump, paying significantly less is a huge tax break for most working-class and middle-class Americans.

“Like many economic trends, gas prices rise and fall, so the low rates are great at the moment, but it won’t last,” sophomore Bailey Patrick said. “Since I’m busy with all my activities, I do not

pay for my own gas, so this does not directly affect me.”

The price of gas is predicted to change later in the year rather than now because oil production is not declining quickly in the U.S. and other countries. However, there are signs that supply and demand could recover some balance by the end of 2016.

Demand for fuels is recovering in some countries, and that could raise prices in the next year or two.

“The gas prices dropping low makes me happy because I get to spend more money on food,” senior Joel Breedlove said. “Most of the time, I have to choose between Chipotle or putting a little in the tank.”

Dodgeball raises money for Special Olympics Brenna Duncan

T

hroughout the month of February, the Fundraising committee of Student Council focused on raising money for Special Olympics with three different events. On Feb. 1, they held a fundraising night at McAlister’s Deli where they raised $290. On Feb. 20 members of student council participated in the Polar Plunge and raised $2000. But the end of the month brought a more active way to fundraise.

“Most of the work that goes into dodgeball is a lot of fun. We advertise and try to pull teams together. The more the merrier,” Athira Nambiar, head of the fundraising committee, said. “After it’s all done, it’s just good knowing that everyone had a good time and that the money raised will be going to charity.”

On Feb. 23, as a way to get the whole school involved, StuCo held a dodgeball tournament. Seventeen teams completed in a doubleelimination bracket to determine the champion. Team The Wrestlers and Cole came from the losers bracket and beat team Vicious and Delicious in the final match. The Wrestlers and Cole had to win two games in the final before they could be declared the winner.

“I think the boys were a lot more upset about it than the girls,” Shelby Clark, member of Vicious and Delicious, said. “They really wanted to beat the other team.”

Vicious and Delicious was made up of six sophomores and two freshman.

Four were girls, and the four boys were all on the wrestling team. Their final match opponents were seven wrestlers

[photo by Brenna Duncan]

and one non-wrestler.

“Throughout the off season we play dodgeball and usually it’s us getting pelted with dodgeballs,” Reece Neighbors, member of Vicious and Delicious, said. “I don’t look at this tournament as a loss, rather we just got out cheated.”

The dodgeball tournament for Special Olympics raised $695 and was the second and last dodgeball tournament for the year. In the first tournament members of the team LOB were on the winning team. This time these players got fourth place, and as their name says, Third String got third place.

“It was our third tournament that we’d won as a team, and it was nice to go out with a win,” Jalen Laughlin, member of Wrestlers and Cole, said.

[photo by Brenna Duncan]

Left: Members of team Wrestlers and Cole sprint to the line to pick up their three starting balls.

Right: Sophomore Peter Kuster from team Vicious and Delicious throws the ball at team Wrestlers and Cole in the final game.

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//NEWS

5

[photo submitted by Emily Rackers] Seniors Michaela Thomson, Erica Overfelt, Mara Busch, and Haley Watson pose with their Pac-Man ghost cutouts for this year’s Polar Plunge.

Polar Plunge: A reason for freezin’ Megan Cassels Madi Baughman

O

n Feb. 20, JCHS students and teachers traveled to Columbia and took to the water at Bass Pro Lake to raise money for Special Olympics. The Polar Plunge is an annual event where people jump, dive, crawl, or run into water in ridiculous costumes, despite the freezing cold temperatures.

The only rules to participate are that you must be at least 10 years of age and raise a minimum of $75 by the day of the plunge. Around Missouri, the Polar Plunge is practiced at 14 different official times and places and takes place from January to March.

6

3.08.16//NEWS

The event is a project of various local police departments, highway patrols, correctional centers and other law enforcement agencies around the state.

The event in Columbia was hosted by the Columbia Police Department.

“My mom was in the Polar Plunge.

She said it was chilled down to the bone and it instantly takes your breath away. Your muscles tense up and you can’t control it no matter how hard you try,” sophomore Andy Trillo said.

This year, JCHS StuCo recruited 25 team members and raised $2,376 for Special Olympics. Overall, Missouri raised $51,725. The proceeds help

Special Olympics to provide community members with year-round sports training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This is the 11th year the event has been held.

Everyone who participates has a different motivation for pledging to jump in. For many people, it’s a way to have fun with friends and raise money for a good cause at the same time. “[I decided to] because I had fun at the Polar Plunge last year, and the money goes to a great cause,” junior Josh Sabala said. “The Polar Plunge puts the ‘fun’ in fundraiser.”

Students react to shorter spring break Madi Baughman

A

s winter draws to a close, Jefferson City High School students have been increasingly excited for the annual spring break.

Spring break usually marks the end of third term, and the beginning of the final stretch of the school year. For many students and teachers, the break presents an opportunity to get away from their academics for a while and enjoy their downtime.

However, this year, the length of the break has drawn some mixed emotions instead of the usual excitement.

Instead of the normal week given for

spring break in the past, students have been given a five-day weekend over Mar. 24 - 28 to fit their usual break activities into.

“I don’t like the shorter break because I have less time with my family and less time to look at colleges,” junior Rachel Ulm said.

For some students like Ulm, spring break can be a time to check out perspective colleges or have fun with family and friends, and with the shorter break, their time becomes limited. However, with the shorter break now, getting out of school

earlier in the year becomes a greater possibility. If the school does not have any snow days, the last day of school will remain May 19.

“One pro of having a shorter break is that we could have more summer,” junior Ally Robinett said.

Even though there have been mixed feelings about spring break for a while, no plans have been made to alter the schedule. Because there are both pros and cons to the shorter time frame, it is just a matter of how one looks at the situation for students and teachers alike.

JCHS expands English classes offered next year Maddy Bergstrom

2

1st Century Communications, Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and World Literature are being introduced as new English courses for the returning and incoming Jefferson City High School students of the 2016-17 school year.

“Hopefully students will find English classes that will be a better fit for them yet allow them to meet the criteria for graduation,” counselor Debbie Schmidt said.

All of the new classes will be worth 0.5 credits, but each provides students with something new and worthwhile.

“I think that these classes will expand horizons as well as my mind,” junior Heaven Chavez said. “I feel like it will give me opportunities to learn English and literature in a way I would

actually retain information and enjoy learning.”

21st Century Communications is a class that teaches students how to better interact with the modern world. During the course students will analyze and present ideas using the modern modes of communication including blogs, infographics and online discussions.

Children’s and Young Adult Literature will better students understanding of the psychology, development, and education of children and young adults.

“These classes will better my education because I can learn different literature around the world and the messages in the children’s books,” junior Ally Robinett said. “I would [also] love to take a civil disobedience

class. I live for civil disobedience.”

Creative Writing seeks to give students a way to interact with an ever changing world as they learn about current and historical events and learn how they apply to themselves and others.

Finally, World Literature is a course designed to allow students to dive into language and literature of other cultures and also provide insight into other cultures, time periods, and societies.

“Good teaching and a good education has always prepared students for the ‘real world,’” Schmidt said. “Critical thinking, critical reading, and effective writing (all of which the study of literature does) are the skills everyone needs to be successful in world.”

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//NEWS

7

[photo by Abbi Gierer] [photo by Abbi Gierer]

[photo by Abbi Gierer]

Left: Superintendent Larry Linthacum cuts the ribbon for the new kitchen.

Top: Students serve up tasty treats they cooked in class.

Bottom: Students artfully place tarts on a marble for guests.

Culinary Arts cooks up opportunities Abbi Gierer

O

n Feb. 24, Nichols Career Center’s brand new industrial kitchen hosted an open house to celebrate its completion. Students enrolled in the culinary classes taught

by Amber Moore were also able to present samples of food they make in class. Many people who played major parts in the creation of the new kitchen, including Superintendent Larry Linthacum, got to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Everywhere you looked in the halls of Nichols Career Center, there were smiling students dressed in chef coats and hats eager to serve up samples of their hard work. From creme brulee to chocolate chip cookies, prime rib to pastas, the halls were filled with the aroma of tasty food. All of the students

8

3.08.16//NEWS

in the program have an obvious passion for cooking.

“I liked to cook and I was bad at it, so I figured it was a great opportunity,” junior Jayden Walker said. “It’s a good opportunity and a very nice kitchen, well worth the time and effort.”

Students are not only learning cooking skills, but also things that will serve them well later in life.

Cleanliness, responsibility and consequences for their actions are only some of the many other life skills students gain from this program.

“Cooking under pressure, safety and organization are skills [that I’ve learned from the program],” sophomore Mason Pippin said.

It is clear that the new program and kitchen are paying off in the lives of

all of the students involved. Through the program, students can earn the ProStart certification. To rise to this opportunity, they have to pass at least two national exams, demonstrate their skills and work 400 mentored hours.

This certification gives the students scholarship opportunities through the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation. Students also can earn course credits at universities all over the country. This program is a recipe for an exciting and innovative learning experience.

“I like that they created a program to let the kids that want to go into the culinary field someday do what they love to do and learn new techniques all the time,” junior Rachel Cooley said.

Road to the White House begins with primaries, caucuses Claire Shipley

O

n Feb. 1, the caucus in Iowa kicked off the first big voting event for the 2016 presidential election. After that, the primaries began so people could get a sense of where the election was going.

A caucus essentially functions like traditional primaries, but instead of just casting your ballot and leaving, there are more events like dealing

with state party business and different discussions. The results of the Iowa caucus ended with an extremely close win with Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the Democratic party and a win for Ted Cruz in the Republican party.

After the Iowa caucus, several states with primaries voted. Most recently, residents from 11 states cast their

ballot in the Super Tuesday elections on March 1. Currently, Donald Trump leads Republicans with 338 delegates, while Clinton leads the Democrats with 577 as of March 3.

Missouri residents over the age of 18 can cast their primary ballot on March 15. However, in order to vote in the upcoming election, you must have registered before February 17.

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//NEWS

9

fun things to do in

Missouri

Spring break is the time of year where many people go on vacations with their family across the country or even across the world. However, many people are forced to stay home for the break due to many different circumstances. This does not mean that those who stay in Missouri have to simply accept that they are going to have a boring spring break. There are many things to do in the Show-Me State that many people may not even think of. Hidden fun gems are spread throughout the state, from Jefferson City and beyond. Below, we explore different things to do. Grab your friends and take a road trip one day on your spring break this year! Match the color coded locations on the map with their descriptions to the right.

Arrow Rock Historic Landmark Ragtag Cinema

Mark Twain Museum Bike to Hartsburg

Hannibal Arrow Rock Sea Life Aquarium

Forest Park Columbia

Kansas City Hartsburg

St. Louis

Elephant Rocks State Park

Jefferson City Leasburg

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Camdenton

Belleview

Strafford Ha Ha Tonka State Park

Wild Animal Safari

Branson

Titanic Museum

10

Puxico

Walnut Shade

3.08.16//SPOTLIGHT

Branson Zipline

Onondaga Cave State Park

Mingo Wildlife Refuge

Near (0 to 2 hours) Ragtag Cinema

-30 min.

-Ticket cost: $7 to $9 -Ragtag is not just an average movie going experience. They often show movies that are not mainstream and are more “artsy” or Oscar-worthy.

The theater offers a unique experience that cannot be matched.

Bike to Hartsburg

-1 hour bike ride -Free -Start on the Katy Trail in Jefferson City and bike the trail all the way to Hartsburg and back. Eat at Dotty’s Cafe before you make your trek back home.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park

-1 hour, 10 min.

-Free -Scenic park featuring the ruins of a 20th-century castle, plus trails, caves & more amid lake views.

Arrow Rock Historic Landmark

-1 hour, 15 minutes -Free -The entire village of Arrow Rock has been designated a National Historic Landmark recognizing its association with Westward Expansion, the Santa Fe Trail and artist George Caleb Bingham. Explore the town!

Onondaga Cave State Park

-1 hour, 40 min.

-Tour cost: $15 -Descend into the depths of Onondaga Cave State Park and drop into a world of wonder. Trained guides will lead you over electrically lighted paved walkways and provide information about geologic wonders.

Mark Twain Boyhood Museum

-1 hour, 55 minutes -Ticket cost: $11 -The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum takes you into the early years of Mark Twain, a famous Missiourian. History can be fun, too!

Wild Animal Safari

-2 hours -Ticket cost: $18.45 -At the Wild Animal Safari in Strafford, Missouri, one can ride the 5 miles through 250 acres in their own car or in a bus tour in order to see wild animals running free.

FAR (2 to 5 hours) Forest Park

-2 hours, 15 min.

-Free -This 1,300-acre park in St. Louis is an amazing destination with plenty of natural wonders to gaze at as you stroll.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

-2 hours, 30 min.

-Free -Visit this art museum in Kansas City if you are looking for a more intellectual experience. This museum is known for its architecture and its extensive collection of Asian art.

Sea Life Aquarium

-2 hours, 30 min.

-Ticket cost: $20 -Explore the world under the ocean in this Kansas City aquarium full of wonderous sights.

Branson Zipline

-2 hours, 40 min.

-Tour cost: $20 to $100 -Branson Zipline is described as a world-class eco-adventure. The ziplines provide a birds-eye view of the Ozark landscape. This is also one of the only themed zipline courses in the world.

Elephant Rocks State Park

-2 hours, 40 min.

-Free -Elephant Rocks State Park is famous for their giant elephant-shaped granite boulders. Take a stroll through the winding trail and climb over and through the rocks as you spend your day in nature.

Titanic Museum

-3 hours -Ticket cost: $25 -This museum (located in Branson) lets visitors experience the Titanic in ways in which only the passengers did. You will be able to walk the hallways of the third-class rooms, climb the grand staircase, view artifacts and hear testimonials, and even put your hand into 28-degree water.

Mingo Wildlife Refuge

-4 hours, 30 min.

-Free -The mixture of bottomland forests, wetlands and swamps creates great waterways for canoeing and kayaking while also being great wildlife observation areas.

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//SPOTLIGHT 11

SPORTS

The first pitch of the season Taylor Johnson

Top: Kyle Irwin gets ready to be the cutoff man at second base.

Bottom left: Coach Simmons rounds up the boys before tryouts start on Feb. 29.

Bottom right: Brandon Williams practicing his swing in the cage at Vivian Fields.

A hole in the net for the Jays’ tennis team Brandon Eingenman

L

ast year, the Jays’ tennis team was full of amazing senior varsity players that led the team in wins for most of the season, with hardly any losses. However, this year those seniors are gone, leaving not only friends behind, but potentially a massive hole in the ranks of the team. The absences have the potential to make the team a whole lot less experienced.

“Seven out of our top nine were seniors last year,” Coach Henry Thompson said.

The seniors last year had a record of 17-4, and Thompson states that he

12

believes last year’s team was probably one of the top three teams in the state.

The team only lost to one other school in Missouri.

“We finished districts as runner-ups, next to the eventual second place state winners, Rock Bridge,” Thompson said.

“I feel like we were a very good team we just got a tough district draw.”

The skill was not the only thing those seniors will be missed for.

Several players and the coach had fond memories to retell, with Thompson having pictures of them all over his room.

“When we played Hickman, our district rival, Dane Biesemeyer was the

3.08.16//SPORTS

last person to play and he was down two games,” Junior Varsity player and senior Sam Geoke said. “Both teams were on each side yelling. Dane came back to win and the whole JC team stormed his court, tackled him and we doused him in Gatorade. It was amazing.”

Although the loss of these seniors leaves a great gap in leadership experience, the team is not cutting back on their practice times and players are still pushing themselves just as hard if not harder - than last year.

“We’re gonna snap some necks and cash some checks,” Varsity player and senior Joe Willoh said.

Taking things to the next level W

hat many people dream about as children is becoming a reality for students at Jefferson City High School. College for most high schoolers is just something that everyone goes to in order to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their life. For others, it is an opportunity to take their athletics to the next level. Committing to play a sport in college is a great accomplishment for high school students, but there’s also a process behind it that many people might not know about.

Most athletes who have committed to play in college didn’t just decide last minute that they wanted to play at the collegiate level. Senior Katie Tambke has known her future and the Columbia College soccer coach for a long time. She contacted the coach starting in January of her junior year.

Tambke also took interest in SEMO, Truman and Mizzou, but decided on Columbia College.

“I chose Columbia College because it was closer to home, it was a small

JCHS Student

Pick ‘em:

school in a big town, but mainly because I was going to be able to play the game I love for four more years,” Tambke said.

Some coaches are easier to get in contact with than others, but if you show interest in a school and reach out to schools, good things will happen.

For senior Mekhi Burnley, things were different. Burnley signed to play football at Missouri Valley for the next four years. He first came into contact with his coach when the coach came to the high school specifically to recruit Burnley and other players.

“I first met coach when he came to JCHS to recruit me and some of the guys,” Burnley said. “After he came to JCHS that next week he gave me a call to set up a visit date to come visit the campus.”

Although you have a certain window that you commit in, some athletes commit a lot sooner than others. The dates range for sports and the division that you plan to play in, but a college coach can only talk to someone at a certain point in their high school

Megan Newton

career. Junior Gabi McGinty committed a lot sooner than most. McGinty recently verbally committed to play softball at State Fair Community College. McGinty was really glad to have the opportunity to find her school and softball program so early.

“I had the opportunity to be a senior with no college stress on their shoulders,” McGinty said. “Everything fell into place and it just seemed like it was meant to be.”

Tambke is very excited to be furthering her soccer career to the collegiate level. College athletics isn’t for everyone, but if you think it is what you are interested in, you should really get your name out there and start doing your research on schools with plenty of time.

“Get your name out there, send emails, go to camps, talk to coaches,” Tambke said. “My biggest thing is visit the campus and meet the players, you have to find the right fit for you and those players will be your family, you wanna make sure it’s where you wanna be.”

Each issue a random JCHS student, faculty member and Red & Black staffer is asked who they think will win the sporting event. The record is kept all year to see which group wins overall.

Lady Jays Soccer VS. Osage

Jays Track VS. Hannibal

Student Record 6-4

JCHS Staff

Natalie Vance Staff Record 6-4

Red & Black

Joy Cowin R&B Record 4-6

Makenzie Baldwin

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//SPORTS

13

JCHS finishes 2nd at state wrestling tourney

[photo by Taylor Johnson] Jay Wrestlers pose with the State Runner-Up trophy in Mizzou Arena on Feb. 20. About 880 wrestlers competed in the two day tournament.

Erica Overfelt

A

s Jefferson City High School waved goodbye to the 11 state qualifying wrestlers, a sense of pride washed over the school. With high hopes and years of support, the JCHS wrestling team brought home a State runner-up team trophy from the meet at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The two-day tournament concluded with the awards ceremony on Feb. 20.

Five wrestlers earned medals at the tournament: senior Tanner Irwin took 4th place in the 132 weight class, senior Jacob Brune took 3rd place in the 160 weight class, senior Jalen Laughlin took 3rd place in the 195 weight class, senior Gavin DeWitt took 2nd place in the 145 weight class, and senior Logan Moriarity won the state championship in the 170 weight class. The team also had six state qualifiers: Senior Zach Hurley, senior Tekoah Sage, junior Christian Mayberry, junior Dennis Barnes, junior Rashuan Woods and sophomore Peter Kuster.

Sadly, the Jay wrestling team will

14

[photo by Madeline Moats] Senior Jalen Laughlin puts his opponent in a leg turk. Laughlin wrestled at the 195 weight class.

be saying goodbye to a great senior class. The senior class finished with three consecutive undefeated dual meet seasons, three district champions, second place at state, and last but not least a dodgeball championship in the last tournament hosted by Student

3.08.16//SPORTS

Council.

“They have done an outstanding job at Jefferson City High School,” Head Coach Phil Cagle said. “These kids really remind me of what being a Jay is all about: average guys that overachieve.”

[photo by Madeline Moats] Senior Jacob Brune takes down his opponent in the quarterfinal match at state. Brune took third place in the 160 weight class. [photo by Taylor Johnson]

[photo by Taylor Johnson] Senior Gavin DeWitt prepares for his last high school wrestling match ever in the state finals for the 145 weight class.

[photo by Erica Overfelt] The band escorts the Jay wrestling team throughout the school for their send Logan Moriarity walks with his Assistant Coach, David Ganey, after winning the State Championship in the 170 weight class. off to the state championship.

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//SPORTS

15

What is ultimate Frisbee, anyway?

W hen you think sports, the first words that come into your head are usually football or baseball - the basic stuff. Sports such as dodgeball, racquetball or horseshoes tend to be overlooked, even as they have a large fan base which enjoys the activity. A sport that is both enjoyed and overlooked in Jefferson City is ultimate Frisbee.

There is a local group that practices ultimate frisbee on a regular basis.

They meet once or twice a week, weather permitting, at the open space near the Jefferson City Capitol after school. It’s more of a group than an official team. Casual teams for the current game are chosen by captains as the group arrives to the open grassy area.

“The ultimate Frisbee club from the high school is very casual,” senior Daniel Gernander said. “We don’t

16

follow all the rules and regulations; it’s basically just pick up games,” The sport is played much like football, with the same basic rules of attempting to reach an end zone at the opposite end of the field by passing the frisbee across the area through multiple teammates until you can reach the opposite team’s goal. Just like other popular sports, it incorporates many skills: teamwork, agility and aim (to name a few).

“It’s really enjoyable because it combines a lot of elements from other sports,” senior Kyle Craft said.

Ultimate Frisbee is a fun activity available for those wanting something casual but still sporty to do after school.

It is a way to hang out with friends, and a good cardio work out. It is also a nostalgic reminder of the games of ultimate frisbee that were played in middle school PE classes.

3.08.16//SPORTS

Gillian Burkes

“The people are all friends and they are there because they enjoy throwing disk on a nice day,” Craft said.

The atmosphere is friendly and just a fun-for-all experience, offering some old-fashioned excitement for all the players.

“The people who play ultimate also know how to have a lot of fun with the game, so that’s a huge bonus,” Gernander said.

Ultimate Frisbee is enjoyed by many in Jefferson City for different reasons, whether it be a good cardio workout, to hang out with friends or to just enjoy the good weather. It brings together people to get out and get active in a fun way for everyone way.

“I can’t really describe why tossing a Frisbee around is so enjoyable to me, its just become one of my favorite hobbies,” Gernander said.

FEATURED ATHLETE:

Lexie Stull

March Madness: A 1 in 9.2 quintillion shot Veronica Townsend

T Sport: Track & Field Grade: 12 Years on team: 4 Background: “I ended up joining track and field as something to do and to keep me in shape for basketball. I ended up trying triple jump and long jump and I loved it. My junior year I gave up basketball and now I only do track.”

Favorite part: “On the bus ride home from a big meet we are happy and feel a sense of accomplishment when we are going home from the long day. It rewarding when the coaches hand out medals and celebrate a win with your teammates.”

Role model: “My role model is Kezia Martin. She was the state champion in triple jump her senior year. She took me under her wing my freshman year and we became really good friends. I strive to jump like she does.”

Favorite memory: “Lindsey Biesemeyer, Haley Watson and I have called ourselves the “three amigos” since 8th grade track. We always run the warm up together really slow and say we are ‘bringing up the rear.’

Least favorite part: “Running the tough workouts like 400s.”

Fun fact about the team: “The only team the Lady Jays lost against in the regular season the past three years is East St. Louis.”

Interesting fact: “On big meet day, we normally don’t eat a full meal until after 7 pm. We just snack throughout the day.

Awards: All District 2014 (4th place), All District 2015 (1st place), All Sectional 2015 (3rd place), All State 2015 (7th place). Captain, Most Improved Athlete, Scholar Athlete Best game: “My best performance was at the District meet last year. I jumped a personal record in triple jump. Also, I received 1st place medal advancing me onto Sectionals. It was neat because the girl that I beat was over 6 feet tall.”

Future: “I have the opportunity to run track in college at William Jewell College. I have not decided yet if I will go there or attend Butler University next fall.”

he Cinderella stories, the underdogs, the repeaters, and the undefeateds are all story lines that play out in the biggest Division I college basketball tournament of the year, March Madness. Teams compete for the national championship through a single-elimination tournament to see who wins big and who goes home.

The tournament is composed of 68 teams for the men’s bracket and 64 teams for the women’s bracket. Teams can receive an automatic bid, which is a guaranteed tournament entry into March Madness. Teams can get an automatic bid by either winning their conference tournament or the regular season conference championship. The NCAA committee chooses the other teams by strength of schedule, quality wins, overall record and more. Then, they will seed the teams in one of four regions ranking them from 1 (best) to 16 (worst). The tournament is six rounds: the first round, second round, sweet sixteen, elite eight, final four and national championship. The men’s bracket has four play-in games at the start of the tournament so four additional teams make the cut.

“You earn your seed depending on how well you play during the regular season,” senior Zach Brooks said. “There are conferences who will always have an edge over the smaller conferences based on the competition they play.”

Each team has their role in the tournament, and there are no clear-cut winners. The Cinderella team comes out of nowhere and makes it really far. The underdog team beats a higher seeded team.

The repeaters are last year’s winners that try to regain their title.

The undefeated team won all of their games in the regular season and are trying to keep their record perfect.

“March Madness is the most competitive tournament in sports,” junior Max Kroll said. “There are almost eight games a day in every time slot, and you never get bored.”

The chances of filling out a perfect bracket mathematically is 1 in 9.2 quintillion. Picking the top seeds is one strategy, but does not always work. Other strategies include picking a favorite team to win, picking a favorite conference to win or going by rankings with a couple upsets.

“It depends on how serious you want to take it,” junior Bailey Conrad said. “If you to want to have a good bracket, it could be stressful because you want the right one, but if you are doing it for the fun of it, it is pretty laid back.”

Due to a post-season ban, the Missouri men’s basketball team will not have a tournament bid. On the other hand, the women’s team started their season with a 13-game win streak and was ranked in the AP Top 25 for six consecutive weeks. The Missouri Women’s Basketball team has a chance to not only make it in tournament, but to go far.

“I am pulling for the Mizzou women in the tournament because they built their program the right way,” Simonsen teacher Tyler Clark said. “The women will likely go far, and I would not be surprised if they make it to the Sweet Sixteen.”

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//SPORTS

17

IN-DEPTH

sCHEDULE CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR

Jake Worsham and Madi Baughman

N

ext year at Jefferson City High School, a new schedule will be put into place. After testing out the 10-block schedule with alternating days for the 2015-2016 school year, the decision has been made to change the schedule again.

For the 2016-2017 school year, there will be five blocks with no alternating days, meaning that there will be separate fall and spring semesters.

This is a lot like the schedule that was in place at JCHS before the 10-block schedule was implemented. In addition, FAST will be a class every day during third block, but it will be shorter than the other four classes.

The 10-block schedule was put into place for the 2015-2016 school year in order to accommodate the academies.

However, as the academies are evolving, the schedule will follow suit.

The 10-block schedule came with a lot of controversy and confusion, leading to the decision to change the schedule for next year. The goal for both the academies and the schedule to change comes down to one thing: how well students can function under them. “[One reason for the change] is our APR results,” James said. “Whenever you look at how we have done as a school academically, we are 511 out of 518 school districts, which is not

18

representative of the capacity that we have as a student body and as a campus.”

James said that the performance report of the school made the administration take a step back and recognize that the 10-block schedule significantly reduced the amount of time a student has in a classroom to obtain a credit. With 75-minute class periods, there are about 18 to 19 days less of class time for students to learn the same amount of material.

The decision to change the schedule was made through the fall up until just a few weeks ago. The decision involved the department chairs, several independent teachers that had experience with master scheduling, assistant principals, principals, directors and central office staff. “[When you create a new schedule] you have to take in so many different ideas,” English department chair Joy Corwin said. “You have to take in things such as lunch shifts and passing times. You have to take in a lot of details that is a lot more than how many classes you are going to have.”

In addition, James sought to informally have students share their opinions throughout the first semester.

He often asked students what parts of the schedule were not working for them and how it could be improved to help them. James also said that not all students were against the 10-block

3.08.16//IN-DEPTH

schedule with alternating days, but that there was a tipping point for him when he noticed that a large percentage of students wanted to make a change.

“When 9 out of 10 kids that walk into your office say ‘this is not really working out for me,’ you have to take a look at whether you are doing the right thing and make a decision,” James said.

The new schedule includes four block classes with a FAST class. The timing of these will weigh out to four 85-minute block classes with a 45 minute FAST class. These will be everyday, which means that there will no longer be A-days or B-days. Instead, there will be separate fall and spring semesters.

One thing that will be different is the structure of the FAST class. During this daily 45-minute period, which will be the same block for everyone, students will have the opportunity to do one of five things. Students may use this period just for studying or to do their homework from their four block classes. In addition, students may use the time to go to an academic lab for a subject that they need help in. This is referred to as self-selective tutoring, but for the third option there will also be mandatory tutoring. This mandatory tutoring will be referred to as RTI, which is an acronym for Response to Intervention.

“Most students who struggle aren’t necessarily the most motivated to come voluntarily after school or to go to an academic lab,” James said. “So for two days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, those students who are identified as needing RTI will not go to their FAST class, they will go to a different classroom to receive tutoring, help or intervention from teachers.”

Another option for students will be enrichment courses twice a week. These will not be credit-based courses, but will cover things such as how to write a DBQ, how to prepare for an AP test, or even more specific things such as a course in something in the medical field or a literature course. Like the RTI, these would be twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a set amount of weeks.

The last option for this FAST period will be academy-based business partner events, in which career professionals will speak to students in their specific academy.

FAST will be during third block for every student and will be a very controlled time. Students will have a lot of options, but they will have to do some prior planning.

All of these changes may come as a surprise to many students and teachers after they are just now getting used to the ten-block schedule, but there are many reasons for the switch. The recommended number of minutes for a 1.0 credit course in Missouri is 7,800.

Right now, with the 10-block schedule, the school is at about 6,340 minutes per 1.0 credit course.

In order to bridge this gap to reach the recommended number of minutes, there is more that needs to be done rather than just to change the schedule.

Therefore, next year every school day will begin at the same time at 7:50.

There will be no more academic labs in the mornings, which was the purpose of the Wednesday and Thursday late starts this year. These academic labs can be accessed during FAST class instead, which will be every day instead of twice a week.

The schedule will also affect Simonsen, so James is working with the administration at the ninth grade center.

There will have to be some adjustments, as JCHS has 5 lunch periods while Simonsen only has 3, but the schedule

will look roughly the same.

Lunch at JCHS will be during 4th block with a slight overlap like it is this year.

There is no room for improvement with lunches with the current facilities, and there cannot be until changes are made through the bond process.

In terms of the new schedule’s benefits to students, James likened scheduling to juggling. It is much easier to juggle 4 balls at a time rather than 10 at a time.

“The main benefit for students is that they will be able to concentrate on 4 classes at a time rather than 8 to 10 classes at a time,” James said. “In addition we will have added more 1,000 minutes in a classroom for a student to learn the material. I think it simplifies things for students with a consistent start time and a non-alternating schedule.”

The benefits to the teachers will be almost the same, and in particular more minutes in the classroom will help them teach and simplify their school day.

“One thing I absolutely expect teachers to do is to give an individualized educational experience to each student,” James said. “That is much easier to do with less students. It is a quality versus quantity type approach.”

Despite the benefits of the new schedule to both students and teachers, there will be some things lost with the 10-block schedule that some might miss.

“When you have the opportunity to take 10 courses, you are not having to choose which courses you have to give up,” James said. “There is just not as much selection. For students who like the pace of the 10-block schedule, the new schedule might be boring to them. Like anything, there is an opportunity cost. You have to pay a price on one side or the other.”

Although some students might not be as happy with the switch, James was charged with making a decision that will impact the greatest good in the school.

Overall, most like the new schedule.

“I think the administration changing the schedule for next year shows the power students and teachers have when they speak up about a problem they see,” senior Brandon Christian said. “Although the schedule for next year has some negatives, such as starting earlier, the change to a FAST class everyday and only four blocks will correct many of the problems students and teachers faced this year.”

What do you think of the Change?

“I think it is going to give our students the time they need in the classroom.”

-Amanda Wehrle, teacher “The new schedule does not work for me because I have band first block, then I have second block which is the only block I can plan.

Next I have the madatory FAST, and fourth and fifth block are going to be spent in NCC becaue I got into the Culinary program.”

-Samantha Gierer, Soph.

“I think the school schedule for next year will benefit all, both students and teachers. I believe it will ease stress. With more time with each teacher I believe you will be able to not fall behind as easy and stay up to date with all of your classes.”

-Reece Neighbors, Soph.

“I honestly enjoy the change, I hated the 10 block because I am personally very forgetful so with the 10 block classes, I would always forget what classes I had when and what was due each class.”

-Liz Lehmen, Junior “The incoming freshman will be able to transition into high school easier with how the 5-block schedule is set up.”

-Cayce Heiberger, Senior

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//IN-DEPTH

19

FEATURES

Freshmen athletes make their mark Makenzie Baldwin

A

s a freshman, trying out for a school sport can seem like a completely nerve-racking thing. It can seem like a lot of pressure being one of the youngest on the team, making it an even bigger challenge to perform at their best.

“It was all new and I didn’t know what to expect,” freshman Sami Swinfard, a varsity golf player, said.

Swinfard started her season feeling a bit out of place, but once she got the hang of things she was very optimistic for the season.

“Even if the scores weren’t the best, I knew I was getting better with improved aim and accuracy with each shot,” Swinfard said.

Although the atmosphere can be

uncomfortable and overwhelming, being a freshman on varsity can come with benefits. One of these benefits is that the age diversity can lead to bonds and friendships that may not have developed if it weren’t for these teams.

“It was fun to be around role models that share the same interests as you,” Swinfard said.

Bonds like these don’t just have to be made on the golf course, though.

Landon Dunlap, a freshman who runs varsity cross country, has made plenty of friends from his time on the team.

“I always spent time with my teammates and it helped me learn more about them and helped us bond together,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap plans to continue working hard on the team and help the new freshman for next year.

“I think some advice would be to work hard and never be lazy,” Dunlap said.

“During this season I was fortunate enough to get help from the upperclassmen, so I will try to do the same for the freshman next year.”

That being said, having a freshman who fits the qualifications for being on a varsity team is something that coaches look for as well.

“You have this athlete that is just as good as your experienced athletes, but it’s their first year doing the sport.

That means you have a great player for four years instead of just two,” Lerone Briggs, offense coordinator and quarterback coach for varsity football, said. “The way I see it, you have to be pretty darn good to be a freshman athlete on a varsity team, regardless of the sport.”

Words of wisdom on Foreign Languages Ariana Pauley

M

any foreign language classes are offered at Jefferson City High School at varying degrees of difficulty to allow students a better understanding of the world and its multiple cultures. While some view foreign language classes as electives that result in credits, the real world applications of these languages are advocated for strongly by others.

Melissa Zeiger has been a foreign language teacher with JCHS for 15 years and is currently teaching Spanish I. Zeiger finds great joy in helping her students take the steps necessary to learn about language.

“I like opening up a new world for my students. They often know nothing of another culture or another language when they come to me and getting to experience that for the first time with them is great,” Zeiger said.

Zeiger says the benefits do not stop there.

“It helps them understand English and improves their overall literacy,”

20

20

Zeiger said. “It opens their eyes to a more diverse world.”

Spanish II & IV teacher Christopher Johnson has taught with JCHS for the past four years and became involved with Spanish through the real life experience of a church mission.

After returning from his two-year missionary experience in Mexico, Johnson decided to become a Spanish teacher to impart the knowledge he gained to his students. “[Languages] help students broaden their perspective of who they are and what they’re doing,” Johnson said.

Johnson says that students should use their foreign language skills learned in class to help them in real world positions as well.

“You’re always going to run into people that speak another language and when you speak the same one it is almost an instant friendship,” Johnson said.

Taking the time to learn a new language is also seen as a means of self reflection.

3.08.16//FEATURES

“[Students] get a more sophisticated view of what language is and what makes us us,” Spanish II and III teacher Shane Williams said.

Williams has taught at JCHS for 15 years and stresses the benefits of an education in foreign language.

“If you want to be prepared, not just for yourself and your career, but for your kids then I think it is highly important to speak and understand these other languages,” Williams said.

Classes like English and mathematics are thought to take precedence over elective foreign language courses. With the use of foreign language becoming more prevalent in the workplace, the preparedness of students for the bilingual workplace has come under question.

“Everything is important, but when you only have so much money the core classes take priority. I hope that when we look at ways to improve and expand programs that we see language as another necessary skill set,” Williams said.

A canvas of skin

“It feels like looking at an old picture, I remember all the good times and how blessed I was to know them.”

-Haley Bloebaum, senior

Brandon Eigenman

T

he Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines art as “Something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings.” Art can include paintings, drawings and even sewing. One form of art that seems controversial and occasionally forgotten is the tattoo. Tattooing is done by using a needle to inject pigments of ink into the skin to form a picture, which will last forever.

“I got my tattoo done up at Iron Tiger in Columbia,” senior Haley Bloebaum said. “I had been wanting a tattoo since I was 15.”

“It is for how close I am Of course, getting a tattoo is not a with my sister.” decision that should be taken in stride.

-Taylor Hartman, senior Tattoos are permanent, even though they may fade a bit as time goes on.

If you want it removed you must have laser surgery, which is far more painful than getting the tattoo in the first place and can take up to ten different sessions just to get the tattoo removed.

There is also the threat of getting an infection, whether it be from the needles and the artist themselves or insufficient care that could seriously damage your skin as well as completely ruin the art you just put on your body.

“A person should put a lot of thought into this,” senior Rhylin Spence said.

“It is permanent, and you don’t want to regret getting something dumb done.”

While there are dangers to getting tattoos, there are always benefits as well, such as for Bloebaum, who got the names of her two best friends who recently passed away in a fatal car accident. While the health concerns of getting a tattoo were relevant, with the proper care she was able to honor the thought of honoring her friends with something that will forever be imprinted on her.

“It means the world, they’ll always be with me no matter what now,” [photos by Brooklynne Propes] Bloebaum said.

“It is a daily reminder that I don’t have to change for anybody, because I am indeed enough the way I am.”

-Madison Bell, junior

“The wave represents a bible verse that says, “When you go through deep waters. I will be with you,” then my mom’s birthday is under it.

I always know that she will be with me through anything.”

-Madisyn Stone, junior

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//FEATURES

21

Elizabeth Hood Lerone Briggs Chad Rizner

Jordan Hart

Teachers talk about their hidden talents Ariana Pauley and Makenzie Baldwin

T

eachers are often correlated with things like math, science and social studies, but there is more to the teachers of Jefferson City High School than what meets the eye.

Teachers all around the school have different talents that not many people may know about. From ice skating to refurbishing houses, the teachers of Jefferson City High School have a wide variety of hobbies outside of teaching.

Ice skating has been something that world history teacher Elizabeth Hood has done since she was 5 years old.

She skated actively from the time she was in kindergarten until she was 17 years old, and was even involved in competitions. She took a break through college and started coaching the sport three years ago.

“I like being able to be involved in a sport that is more graceful, but also takes more strength and a different skill set than a lot of other sports,” Hood said.

She still coaches ice skating today and she encourages anyone who is interested to come join the team.

Another member of faculty that has hidden abilities is Lerone Briggs, Assistant Coach for varsity football and Quarterbacks Coach. Briggs has recently taken a liking to refurbishing houses. He has done a total of three houses, and is currently working on one

22

for his own family to move into.

“It is fun to take something that everyone else looks at as trash and remodeling it to where everyone wants to live in it.” Briggs said.

The house that Briggs is currently working on is something that he is very excited about. He enjoys working with it and seeing the progress he makes.

“If you would’ve seen this house a month ago, you probably would’ve said to just bulldoze it down. Today, if you were to look at it, you would probably say that it is going to be an awesome house.” Briggs said.

Chad Rizner, a sociology teacher with JCHS, also has a hidden talent that he has enjoyed consistently for over 10 years. Beginning close to his junior year at JCHS, Rizner took a ceramics class and fell into wheel throwing.

Rizner fell out of the practice and did not pick it back up until after he graduated college. Rizner has now put a throwing wheel in his basement and even purchased his own kiln.

“It is unique and I can create things that people think are neat. I enjoy being able to give them stuff.” You can also see and purchase Rizner’s work at the local shop, The Art Bazaar.

Rizner’s love for pottery is an example of the things we carry with us from high school.

“It all goes back to Jefferson City High School. I took one year of ceramics and I took an interes. From there it grew,” Rizner said.

3.08.16//FEATURES

Speech and debate teacher Jordan Hart has been very involved in singing for most of his life. Hart started singing in his childrens’ choir at church when he was in kindergarten. Ever since that point, he says he became more and more involved in singing. Hart started doing church musicals, playing major roles in those shows, and started practicing more frequently.

After graduating, he moved to Lyons, Kansas, where he volunteered to be a part of a praise and worship band. As a result, Hart served as the lead male vocal for First Baptist Church.

“I find music to be an escape from the hustle and bustle of teaching. Music provides me a sense of release, and I thoroughly enjoy using my voice to bring others joy,” Hart said.

After moving to Jefferson City in 2014, Hart knew he wanted to continue with music. In the summer of 2015, Hart decided to audition to be in a local rendition of the hollywood hit musical “Into the Woods,” where he was cast as the Big Bad Wolf.

“This was always a dream of mine, and I was so happy that I was able to harness the skills I have learned throughout my life,” Hart said.

Although Hart is a speech teacher, he says he is very shy when it comes to singing in front of others.

“If you catch me from the outside of my room, you may hear a few notes traveling down the empty hallway,” Hart said.

Daylight Saving Time Jake Worsham Daylight Saving Time is the process of advancing clocks by an hour so that daylight is experienced an hour longer in the evening for the summer months. In this process, we also sacrifice the normal sunrise times.

“Spring Forward” Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 a.m.

“Fall Back” Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 a.m.

Why do we do this?

How did this begin?

Why should you care?

Daylight Saving Time (yes, we thought it was savings with an “s” as well, but it is just saving) is mainly rationalized as a way to make better use of the daylight.

We move an hour of the daylight from the morning to the evening.

In addition, studies have shown that DST trims the entire country’s electricity usage by a small but significant amount because less electricity is used for lighting.

Ancient civilizations were known to have adjusted their daily schedules to the sun’s schedule. In 1784, Benjamin Franklin was the first to conceive the idea of modern DST in an essay titled “An Economical Project.” In the United States, DST was introduced in 1918 and Woodrow Wilson signed it into law to support the war effort during World War I. This was repealed but was brought back by FDR in 1942.

Although people think it might be a pain to have to remember to change their clocks twice a year, many appreciate DST because there is more light in the evenings, and therefore they have more time to do things they need to do. However, on Mar. 13, everyone will lose an hour of their sleep. Although this is a temporary discomfort, some do not think DST is worth the trouble.

212 Madison St. (573) 634-3737 www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//FEATURES

23

Opinion

The Red and Black Editorial: Should we have off-campus lunch?

A

have around an hour to eat and come s Jefferson City High School back to class. Instead, we eat lunch students come home from and go back to class still hungry. school each day, there is This makes students not focused in usually one thing that is on their class, especially when it gets towards mind: food. This is most likely the end of the day. Open campus because we do not eat that much during the school day.

Students are usually at school [Cartoon by Ainsley Grey] for around six or seven hours per day. Some would say we have more than enough time to eat with more than enough options to pick from.

But for most of the JCHS population, the lunch food just isn’t that good. Whether it is a piece of pizza that gets all the toppings pulled off when you take your first bite, or the chicken sandwiches we have almost every day as an option, it just isn’t worth the money. But yet, we eat it because we do not have any other options.

This being said, we cannot blame the lunch staff, because they feed a whole high school each day, and they simply follow the rules for cooking the food that they have to serve. Students have another option to go to the vending machines and get a snack, but no one is really that eager to eat a low-fat Pop lunch would allow students to have a Tart or Special-K chips that cannot variety of meals each day instead of compare to a bag of Lay’s or regular the usual lunch cuisine. They would Doritos (not the low-fat ones we are also have the option to go home and given). A question some students take a little break before your next might want to ask is why isn’t it an class. option to go off campus for lunch?

Although having open campus We get 25 minutes per lunch period, lunch is convenient in several and our school is located in a pretty different ways, such as getting a good area with many places to eat break from school for a little bit, soon nearby. This way we could all eat this hour will turn into the rest of what we wanted, if we choose to the day. This is a concern for many leave, and would come back ready schools that do not have off campus to get back to class. Students could

24 3.08.16//OPINION

lunch. Of course, there will always be the students that are responsible and will come back to class. If you can’t get the motivation to come back to class after lunch, that is no one’s fault but your own. High school students should be responsible enough to handle this freedom.

Having open campus lunch would mean having roughly 1,800 students leaving the building to go to lunch. This would be like having two dismissal times each day. When students at JCHS get dismissed at 2:55 it usually takes the average student at most 15 minutes to leave the building.

So if we had to do this everyday for lunch, it would be a huge mess and not all that necessary.

Not to mention, giving students this option wouldn’t require a cafeteria staff. This would mean several lunch ladies/ gentlemen would lose their job.

The cafeteria staff does so much for our school; it wouldn’t be fair to cut them out of the schedule completely. After all, they do feed all JCHS students and staff every single day.

As shown, this argument is pretty equal on both sides. Open campus lunch gives students the freedom they should get and an unlimited amount of options to pick from each day, not to mention JCHS is in one of the best locations to go get something to eat. Oncampus lunch would make things less hectic and it keeps all students on campus making things much smoother. We would also get to keep our lunch staff that works so hard for us each day. Either way, there is not a side I could lean more towards even though I believe it would be nice to get my own food each day.

head TO head Shopping locally is the right thing to do

Local Stores vs National Chains

Jake Worsham

I

t is a common and well-established thought that shopping locally is a good thing, both morally and practically. However, the act of shopping locally itself is not something that many people actually do. Chain stores offer many things that modern Americans desire, such as convenience and quick service.

Despite this, there are many reasons why shopping locally has always been viewed as the “right” or progressive way to obtain goods. First and foremost is the local economy. Each dollar you spend at a local business returns three times more money to the local economy than that same dollar at a chain store would. Whichever town you call home is where you live, so why would you not want to continue to strengthen the economic base of that community?

Shopping locally keeps our community unique.

Local businesses and restaurants are what make every town a home to different people. If you had to shop at a Wal-Mart and eat at an Applebee’s every [Photo by Brooklynne Propes] vacation you went on, it would be quite bland.

Everyone would experience the same things. Local businesses build character. Each town should stand out in unique ways rather than just conforming to the big box stores.

Shopping locally creates local jobs and supports the small business owners that often find themselves competing with the chain stores. Not only do you help people, you help the Earth: shopping locally conserves energy and resources by using less fuel and packaging for transportation.

In addition, would you rather eat food that was grown in a local garden, or food that was pumped full of preservatives, packaged and shipped to your local chain store? Local foods are often the healthy choice.

Shopping locally is truly the best choice: you help yourself, your local economy, your health, your local business owners and even the environment. Stand out and be different from the rest of the world. Embrace where you live and shop locally.

J

Big chains are reputable for a reason Erica Overfelt

essie J’s would have us believe “It’s not about the money, money, money.” But I often sit back and wonder, is it really not about the money? Everyday I have a decision to eat local or chain, to keep my money in the local economy or to shop at a nationally known retailer. In the end, my decision is always about the money.

Chains such as Old Navy will always be cheaper than any store downtown. It’s not because the clothing quality isn’t as good, it is because of quantity, consistency and many more factors. One thing a local store does not have is selection. A store downtown or just about anywhere that is locally owned only has a selection geared to one style. However, a chain retailer has a varied selection from athletic clothes to makeup to swimwear and even furniture in some cases.

Everyday the fashion world finds something new to “rave” about. It is much easier for a national chain such a Nordstrom, Dick’s or even Target to keep on top of these trends. It is much more difficult for a local store to constantly be ordering in new styles, since they do not have the budget a corporate retailer would.

Thanks to corporate retailers, over 3 million Americans are employed.

They not only help our national economy, but reach out to foreign countries. Many American chain stores are located widely through Europe and Asia. There are hundred of chain stores out there, and prices will always be competitive.

McDonald’s, Panda Express and Panera are only a few of the hundreds of chain restaurants Americans eat at every day. Sure, it is always good to get a burger from the local diner, but it never really comes out the same each time.

One thing a local restaurant does not have is consistency.

Let’s compare our two hometown favorite places for a sweet treat: The locally owned Central Dairy, and the franchise Coldstone. No one has ever came out of Central Dairy unsatisfied, but with Coldstone every visit a new item has been added, leaving customers even more satisfied.

In the end, it is about the money - especially as a broke teenager.

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//OPINION

25

Minimum wage: Suitable or awful?

Kaylee Klosterman

A

s the years go on, people continue to argue whether or not the minimum wage should be raised. A lot of people have gotten their way since the minimum wage is not the same across the country. Many states have followed through by raising the minimum wage to the outrageous amount of $15 per hour. In Missouri, minimum wage has gone from $7.25 to $7.65 per hour over the span of just four years. While a lot of teenagers who make minimum wage would probably love the extra money filling their pockets, it only causes economical problems.

“You get paid a small amount and you don’t get very many hours at your job,” senior Ethan Podorski, employee of Washington Park Ice Arena, said. “The effort that I put in, I dont feel like I get paid enough every two weeks.”

As minimum wage increases, so does the cost of living. If those who legally make the least amount of money begin raking in cash, the cost of living will simply increase, making it harder to live comfortably for those who currently make more minimum wage and would not get a pay increase.

Most minimum wage jobs are meant for teenagers that are still claimed by their parents. Having two jobs or find-

ing a new job that pays better would be a good fix if you are not happy with the amount you make. If you do not like how much money you make, then that is not the government’s fault.

Raising minimum wage would not help with poverty. If anything, poverty would increase due to the amount of people who would become unemployed.

A lot business owners hire people to work for them allowing them to make

forcing some employees to be let go of resulting in the store having a lot less coverage. This wouldn’t allow stores to maintain good customer service.

It is understandable that many people try to support their families off of a minimum wage income, but that is also not the government’s problem. It is expected that most people grow up to get a well paying job and make enough money to support themselves and their family. Nagging the government to raise minimum wage won’t fix the fact that some people can’t make ends meet with a minimum wage paycheck.

Think of minimum wage as a value, not just a number. In this, we would still be making the same value because everything would simply cost more to fit with the lowest income. If everyone makes more money, then the actual value of a dollar will not be the same. Instead of $15 be[photo by Erica Overfelt] ing worth $15, it would be worth money without having to work all of the $7.65 causing everything to be time. However, if small business ownhalf the value of what it originally was. ers are forced to pay employees more, This is why we would only be making then they would be left to work on their poverty worse. We all have to start own and be forced to let go of half of somewhere and raising minimum wage their staff. Chains would be given less isn’t going to fix any of our problems as hours to work with so that it doesn’t a state or a country. cost an arm and a leg to run the store,

26 3.08.16//OPINION

A new way to handle announcements Mackenzie Allen

W

ith attending such a big high school like Jefferson City, there is always a lot going on. With everything from events, games, rehearsals, and practices, there is always news to be heard. This makes it all the more important to have announcements each day.

Without these announcements, it would be hard to know what goes on and when. Yes, you have your peers to hear from, but they might have missed the news as well. Mornings are pretty hectic at Jefferson City High School. Getting into your class each morning and getting settled is dificult enough, not to mention you are digging through your backpack for homework and preparing for class. Since there is so much to be said, it is hard to get them all in within a few minutes, and it’s hard to listen to so many announcements at once.

In my four years of attendance at JCHS, this year has used one of the best systems for handling announcements by far.

They start out the day with a song to get everyone’s attention, and then they have a list of events that are very easy to follow. Another new feature we have the privilege of this year is having our administration on social media. Being teenagers, we are on our phones very often. This means any important news that we might need to know will be posted on the internet that is only a few clicks away. Some could say we are too social media based, and I think sometimes that is true. But when it comes to information and getting the word spread, that’s what social media was designed for.

While the system currently in place is not without its flaws, I am sure it will keep advancing.

Layfayette construction causes commotion Veronica Townsend

T

he Lincoln construction can be described in two words: Holy cow! Students should buckle up and put on hard hats as we experience the construction of Lincoln University’s Wellness and Parks Multi-Purpose Recreation Building.

Lincoln University’s construction is causing Jefferson City High School to limit student parking on Lafayette Street. This is definitely not a Lincoln problem, but a JCHS problem with the new reserved parking system and not being able to convince voters to pass a new high school bond.

In order to deal with the issue of not having enough parking, JCHS’ administration established a reserved parking system where students could pay $40 for reserved parking in one of the JCHS campus lots. Parking on the streets is still open for students who did not reserve a spot. Those students have to come

earlier to find a spot, which is farther away from the school. Students with their own spot aren’t out of the woods - there have been many reports of people illegally parking in reserved spots without paying for them.

As I sit in my car, I see that Lincoln is improving the quality of their

buildings rapidly. It makes me wonder when JCHS will follow their lead. Our school is long overdue for an upgrade. Hopefully, Lincoln’s construction will motivate JCHS to join the 21st century. Until then, enjoy the daily earthquakes from the blasting crews next door.

[photo by Veronica Townsend]

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//OPINION

27

Arts & Entertainment Guys thoughts on...girls wearing Jordan’s

“I dont know. As long as they’re not fake they’re fine.” -Trent Sigmund

“I think they’re trying too hard. Some girls can pull it off and some can’t. It just depends.” -Dave Rogers

Megan Newton

“Only wear them if they’re in the series.” -Cole Heidbreder

Students choose their favorite JC restaurants Makenzie Baldwin

W

hether it’s for a nice dinner with your family or a quick meal between school and work, Jefferson City provides a variety of places for people to eat. From Burger King to Madison’s, the residents of Jefferson City have several options in order to find something they are in the mood for. Although there are many options, people tend to pick one or two places that they enjoy above others.

“My dad used to work at Dairy Queen and we would always get ice cream together,” sophomore Benjamin Dixon said. “That’s my favorite fast food place by far.”

Dixon also spoke highly of places like Mel’s, Ria’s and Arris’ because he associates them with good memories.

“I’ve been going to Mel’s almost every Sunday after church for the past 10 years or so,” Dixon said.

Another reason why restaurants become popular is because they are

affordable and convenient for the majority of people. This includes families, students and state workers.

These places are typically fast food restaurants, making them quicker and easier to get on-the-go meals for the busier people of Jefferson City.

“I think places like Sonic or McDonald’s are some of the most popular places to eat in Jefferson City because they’re cheap,” Dixon said.

Since students at Jefferson City High School typically only have as much money as part time jobs can offer, they tend to appreciate the less expensive places to eat in town. People also want their food as quickly as possible, so fast food places are typically the way to go when it comes to high school students.

“I like Taco Bell because it’s a quicker and cheaper alternative to places like El Jimador. I don’t have to go in and sit down to eat,” sophomore Max Allen

28 3.08.16//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

said.

Although a quick and affordable meal is something that a lot of people in Jefferson City are looking for, others enjoy certain places because they have a specialty food item or a good atmosphere, while still being affordable.

“El Espolon is my favorite because it’s quick and I love their cheese dip,” junior Alexis Hudson said. “I go there once a week with my neighbors for neighborhood ‘fam night.’”

Survey (100 people): Freddy’s or Steak n’ Shake 26% 74% Arby’s or Chick-Fil-A 32% 68% Jimmy John’s or Subway 16% 84%

Preparing for the jump down the rabbit hole Maddy Bergstrom

J

efferson City High School will present Alice in Wonderland for its spring production, starring some of Jefferson City High School’s finest actors and actresses, including Lucilia Kasoff as Alice.

“I’m really excited too see the new play because the cast seems like a very energetic and upbeat group,” junior Ali Robinson said. “Mr. McKinney’s plot twist brings an added amount of excitement to the show.”

The first performance is scheduled for Apr. 22 and will be showcased at

the Miller Performing Arts Center for parents and students to enjoy.

“I chose Alice in Wonderland because I have always loved the story and wanted to do a show that the kids all knew and loved so they would want to take part in it,” director Zachary McKinney said.

Auditions for the play took place on Jan. 25 and students were able to find their results the following Thursday by the Little Theater door.

“I think auditions went well but I did stutter a bit, mostly because I was

nervous,” junior Tony Baffa said. “I think the play will be great.”

The performers began practices Feb. 16 and will continue with reading through their lines, memorizing, and finally dress rehearsals so as to give the community the best possible performance.

“So far we’ve learned blocking and dance steps, and I’m really excited about the script,” junior Stephanie Scott said.

Can guys and girls stay in the friend zone?

Brooklynne Propes

[Cartoon by Ainsley Grey]

H

igh school is the age where if you look in the general direction of someone of the opposite sex, you’re obviously dating. This makes it tough to be friends with about 50 percent of the school. I have a couple close friends that are guys and I couldn’t imagine high school without them. Who better to go to about my boy problems than someone who’s mind works the same way? Also, guys: if you can’t figure out if some girl you’re “talking to” likes you, you might want find a female friend to help you out. It can also be way less drama for the two of you. Let’s face it: two girls are going to get into fights over some pretty dumb stuff.

Another advantage of having guy friends is that my guy friends and I will never be crushing on the same people. Also, if you don’t have a brother (or even if you do) it’s good to have someone like a brother/ sister around when you are sad or need someone to be protective of you because that feels good every once in awhile. Not to mention, when I don’t have a boyfriend, I never have to go to any dances/important events without a date because my guy friends are awesome.

Even if they don’t want to go with you when you first ask, you can just fake cry a little and boom, you’ve got yourself a date you can have fun with.

So, if there’s a girl in you first block that seems pretty cool that you couldn’t see yourself dating (because that would be awkward in the end anyway) or maybe a guy you work with that doesn’t gross you out too much, try asking them to hang out as friends. It could work out great for the both of you.

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

29

Did you see a good movie? Read an interesting book?

Hear a great song that’s stuck in your head?

reviews

Stop by room 141 with your suggestion.

Brenna Duncan

E

ver since the spring of 2012, the Shamrock Shake at McDonald’s has became a famous item on the menu. From about mid-February through the end of March, the treat is made in the McCafé and, as usual, it was as delicious as ever. Its green appearance lets you know it is full of minty-goodness, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry, it looks like a classic McDonald’s shake (even if the green coloring is basically due to the Shamrock Shake

syrup put in the vanilla ice cream).

A medium size is a whopping 660 calories, but it is totally worth the workout you’ll want to do later.

For a month or so at a time we get to experience this wonderful drink while for the rest of the year we are all undeservedly deprived. While it is entirely possible to make your own green, minty shakes at home, they really just do not taste the same, and probably do not pack the same amount of calories into one cup. Spring has easily become my favorite season because of this wonderful treat.

Brandon Eigenman

V

iewer be advised, while this is one of the greatest movies of this year and one of the most accurate portrayals of a comic book character ever, the Deadpool movie isn’t for the faint of heart. This is not your regular superhero movie about the completely moral man in the cape who saves the day. This movie is about the now crazed and mutated assassin filled to the brim with gore, sexual innuendos and slapstick humor with plenty of action and even some genuinely emotional moments strewn in the mix.

Having read the Deadpool comics, the movie follows the lore almost

perfectly, except for a few small tweaks to make it onto the big screen itself. The characters are diverse, ranging from deadly anti-hero who enjoys mindless jokes and references, the gentle giant Colossus, the sassy Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and the downright despicable Francis (or Ajax for all you comic book nerds).

These characters come together to make a great cast of very memorable characters that you either love, or love to hate.

The movie is utterly hilarious, leaving the entire theatre in tears from laughing so hard on my first viewing.

Jake Worsham

T

he Oscars are the time of year where everyone dreams in gold... or at least movie stars do. Even though most of us only view the Oscars on televsion, the night can still be a very enjoyable exeperience. Every year I try to watch all of the movies nominated for best picture, as they are not usually mainstream. I am happy with how the nominations turned out. Brie Larson definetely deserved her best actress win for “Room,” and I was estatic that “Spotlight” beat out its fierce

30 3.08.16//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

competitors for best picture. “Mad Max: Fury Road” was deserving of all of the techincal awards it got, but I was hoping it would have won out best director for George Miller. Chris Rock’s monolouge was funny and I think he handled the controversial situation fairly well. He dragged it on for a little long, but the Girl Scout part made up for it. Lady Gaga’s performance was a highlight for me, and it is absolutely ridiculous that it did not win best original song.

Don’t sweat it: Gyms in Jeff City

INSTAGRAM CONTEST

Gillian Burks

H

ealth and well-being have been popular topics for quite a while in America with the rising obesity rates. According to a 2015 study, all states have an above twenty percent obesity rate, three of which exceed thirty-five percent. Health risks also include various other issues such as cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes and even depression.

What do all of these illnesses have in common? They can all be halted or even reversed by exercising regularly.

Working out has become a recreational activity for some people. With its health benefits and the fun of exercise, working out drives people to be frequent visitors of their local gym. There are multiple gyms in Jefferson City that are available to the community, each one unique in price and services offered. Some of the more popular gyms include the various YMCA’s located in the area, Wilson’s Total Fitness, the Planet Fitness that was added just about a year ago and many other locations.

Sometimes one of the best reasons to go to a certain gym is simply its closeness to your home. The YMCA that sits just beside Ellis Blvd is near quite a few sections of suburban housing, so it provides an easy to access gym to all those living in the area.

“It’s 1.3 from my house,” Scot Stout, a YMCA member said. “The free weight room and the cardio area has plenty of choices.”

Not only does the YMCA off of Ellis Blvd have the benefit of proximity, but it also holds a varied amount of exercise equipment, alongside an indoor track that is great for cardio.

“I prefer Knowles, because it’s quiet,” Cole Berhorst, an employee at the Firley YMCA and a user of three of the available YMCA gyms, said.

One of the downsides of the YMCA, however, is the price. With a joining fee of $40 and a monthly membership fee of $37.50 for adults over the age of 19 or a monthly membership fee of $30 for youth 18 or younger, the cost can be a bit high for someone looking for a more budgeted work out.

Another popular destination for your work out needs is Planet Fitness, which is located directly off of Missouri Boulevard. Planet Fitness sells their memberships for a much lower price at only $10 for a joining fee and an additional $19.99 a month.

“There is no judgement. You get to watch TV and just kinda hangout,” Christian Finch, a member of Planet Fitness, said.

Planet Fitness layout provides easy access to different categories of workout equipment with the varying options of television channels to watch over head, along with enthusiastic high energy music playing.

Although Planet Fitness has many positive aspects of the service it offers, it has some cons as well. It lacks in open space and specialty classes, such as Zumba or a cycling class. Planet Fitness may have a good number of exercise equipment pieces, but that leaves no free space in the facility for free range cardio, or organized group activities.

The YMCA provides multiple rooms and open spaces for activities such as racquetball or basketball, and at some gyms even swimming.

Planet Fitness provides the use of hydro massage beds and tanning beds for its members to use as they want.

Jefferson City offers many choices for gym goers to exercise and work out, each one providing different benefits and having different weaknesses. If you’re looking to find a gym that’s perfect for you then it would be best to do some research and go look at the places that fit in your budget so you can find somewhere that fits in your wanted exercise plan.

Just tag @jcredblack and #jcredblack on your photo to enter Theme: Your lucky

charm

1st

@arielle_guitard

2nd

@isthatfitch_

3rd

@athira_ace

Next Issue: Spring Break

www.jcredblack.com 3.08.16//ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

31

Thanks to our sponsors!

Silver Sponsors: Canteen Vending Services, Candlewood Suites, Castleparke Properties

Bronze Sponsors: Louis & Kaeleen Maylander, Mainline Fire Protection, The Hatfields Basic Sponsors: Joe Machens Capital City Ford Lincoln, The Boyz, Thomas Hatfield Productions, 5-6-7-8 Dancenter

The Jefferson City Public Schools want to stay in touch with you!

Search “Jefferson City Public Schools” on Facebook and “like” our page. You’ll see photos, videos and the latest updates in FACEBOOK your news feed, plus you can share your thoughts on school issues and programs.

Twitter

Follow us on our Twitter account @

EMAIL UPDATES

KEY COMMUNICATOR UPDATE

TEXT ALERTS

Get text updates and alerts through ” site. our “Text Go to our website and click on TextJCPS. Sign up for messages from your child’s school, specific sports and programs, and get special district-wide updates.

JCPS

Follow us on our Pinterest @ pinterest.com/jcschools

JCPSTweets

District Website:

Each h weekk d during i the h school h l year, the District posts a subscriptionbased newsletter. Sign up for news from across the district as well as emergency updates. Visit the JCPS Key Communicator page, click “Subscribe.”

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @ youtube.com/JCPSVideos