b&w
BLACK AND WHITE MARCH 2018 VOLUME 26 ISSUE 6
PAGE 10
GETTING SCHOOLED ON SUBSTANCES by Joe Kronberg & Will Reiher
b&w march
When Jay Rice ‘94 brainstormed the name of our paper in 1991, it was not because of the ink color. For the last 26 years, our mission has been to bring our audience stories from the school, community and nation, told clearly and without exaggeration--in black and white.
editorial board
editor-in-chief kathryn ikeda online editor nick irwin print editor andrew maresca copy editor katelyn kempkes design editor will reiher sports editor jack lucas
inside look
staff writers
04
obsee abbajabal, kennady anderson, ada basic, emi-
hauser, taryn kauffman, jacob kim, joe kronberg, gretchen lagerblade, erina lee, abby nichol, sarah nelson, evan newcomb, ethan richards, sabrina romero, taylor siebert, brandon spraggins, kennedy stone, rachel vaughan, megan walker
fine print
News flash
FEATURE
ly chambers, jacob chapline, kyle deutsch, brooklyn dilley, will gavin, kara green, shabana gupta, molly
NEWS
The voices of Johnston Featuring finstas 10 Getting schooled on substances 14 1/1600: Joseph Haggerty ‘18 16 The world according to Dave Oldham 06
OPINION
Black & White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. It is an open fo-
18
rum. In accordance with Iowa law, students assign, edit material and make all decisions of content.
Scholarships a wasted effort 20 Why we need field trips
Editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do
22
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the advisor, school officials or the district.
08
SPORTS
Girls hit back in rugby
Letters to the editor must be signed. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. To write a letter to the editor, or report an error in the issue, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com.
say hello
twitter: @jhsnewspaper www.jhsblackandwhite.com
Hips Don’t Lie
BROWSE
MARCH PLAYLIST 2018
RADIO
YOUR MUSIC Daily Mix Songs
Each issue The Black and White compiles a playlist of our favorite songs to share with the student body.
Albums
...
PLAY
Artists Stations
SONG
ARTIST
Local Files
Sinking Ship
Wild Child
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
Selena
PYT
Michael Jackson
November & December
Cheating
John Newman
January & February
Teenage Heart
Lady Antebellum
Supercut
Lorde
Dinero
Trinidad Cardona
One foot
WALK THE MOON
Belong To You
Sabrina Claudio (ft. 6LACK)
JELLO
BROCKHAMPTON
Hips Don’t Lie
Shakira
Pray For Me
Kendrick Lamar & the Weeknd
IT WASN’T ME
Shaggy
lUcOzAdE
ZAYN
Lights On
H.E.R.
Make It Up To You
Julia Michaels
Carolina
Harry Styles
Maddy Brown
My Brothers and I
She Won’t Go Away
Faye Webster
PLAYLISTS
Groovy Smoothie Spicy Bops March
Playlist compiled by the Black & White staff LAYOUT
ANDREW MARESCA
Listening at JHS
BRIEFLY GIRLS BASKETBALL
TRACK
The boys and girls track season began on Feb. 27 as they kicked off their season at Wartburg. The varsity teams have run at Wartburg, University of Northern Iowa and an option meet at Iowa State University. The JV team participated in its first meet at Johnston on March 22.
The girls’ basketball team finished
The regional Mock Trial competi-
their season with a 21-4 record. The
tion took place on Feb. 27 and Feb.
team made their third consecutive
28. Nine teams went to the compe-
state tournament. They beat Wau-
tition with three advancing to the
kee in the state quarterfinals 73-48,
state level. The state competition
but had their season come to an end
took place March 26 and March 27.
losing against Iowa City High in the
MOCK TRIAL
state semifinal.
JACK MARREN
Jack Marren ‘18 spoke at Drake University on March 14 for the Spread the Word to End the Word conference. Marrren. The speech entitled “Dream, Dare, Do” was the same speech he gave at the est Buddies International Leadership Conference on July 23, 2017.
DANCE MARATHON
BOYS BASKETBALL
Dance Marathon was held on
The boys’ basketball team finished
March 3, consisting of around 100
their season with a record of 20-4.
participants. The event was put on
They made their first state tourna-
by National Honors Society, and
ment since 2009 with a 87-79 win
partnered with the Iowa State Uni-
against Des Moines North in the
versity dance marathon team. The
substate final. Their season ended
proceeds raised go to the children’s
in the quarterfinals of the state tour-
miracle network.
nament when they lost to Waukee.
WHAT IN THE WORLD?
SPORTS SCORE TIMELINE District boys swimming meet
Feb 3 Girls basketball wins against Cedar Rapids
MARCH FOR OUR LIVES Protests were held in mulitple cities around America on March 24 advocating for stricter gun control policy after the Parkland school shooting.
HOLIThe Festival of Colors The Hindu holiday was celebrated on March 2
68 - 48
Girls baskeball win against Waukee
73 - 48
Boys and girls varsity track meet at Warburg
Feb 27
STEPHAN HAWKING
Boys basketball lost against Waukee
died on March 14 at the age of 76.
Norway Germany Canada
Medal Count 39 31 29
Black Panther
premeired Feb. 16, earning
$192 MILLION in it’s opening weekend
At least 64 dead MARCH MADNESS after mall fire in Russia
60 - 58
started on March 15, and will end on April 2
Boys and girls track meet at Johnston
Mar 22
State boys swimming meet
Feb 10 Boys baskeball win against Fort Dodge
61 - 48
Boys baskeball win against Des Moines
87 - 79
Girls varsity track meet at Cedar Falls
Mar 5
Boys varsity track meet at Cedar Falls
Mar 6
06 MARCH 2018 FEATURE
THE VOICES OF JOHNSTON
words | Taryn Kauffman & Emily Chambers layout | Kathryn Ikeda & Taryn Kauffman photos | Andrew Maresca
A
FTER WAITING FOR HOURS IN A line with hundreds of other people waiting to audition for ‘The Voice’, Jill
Hess ‘20 was finally brought into her audition. “I was called into a room with about 10 other people, and a producer. The producer then called out random names to sing and they would get about 30 seconds to sing their song,” Hess said. “It felt like I was dreaming, I had to keep asking my mom if it was actually happening.” Hess is just one of the many students who have auditioned for the hit reality television show ‘The Voice.’ Tahj Neely ‘18 and Morgan Wolfe ‘19 are also students who have auditioned for the show. In 2014 Grant Ganzer ‘16, was featured on the show. Ganzer made it to the knockout rounds for Blake Shelton’s team on the seventh season of ‘The Voice.’ ‘The Voice’ is a singing competition where famous musicians like Adam Levine and Blake Shelton build teams of contestants in hopes that someone from their team will win the show. The winner is awarded $100,000 along with a record deal with the Universal Music Group. To sign up for ‘The Voice’, the performer needs to sign up for an open call audition in a city near them. After they are signed up, all they need to do is print their ‘Artist Audition Pass’ then come to their audition. The audition process is a lot longer than just singing in front of a couple of judges once. First the performer is required to sing in front of a producer along with other people who are auditioning. The performer must have two songs prepared to sing without any accompaniment, though they may only be asked to sing one of the songs.
If the performer can impress the producer in the open call auditions, they will be asked to come back in a few days for a callback. At the callbacks the performer must have three songs prepared, all with accompaniment. If they can make it past the callbacks, the performer will have a few interviews with scouts, then they will get to move onto the blind auditions for the show. From there, it is all up to how the coaches and the audience respond to them. Neely was a freshman when his friends gave him the courage to audition. “I was trying it for the experience because I thought it was something cool and that I could potentially get something out of,” Neely said. Neely practiced daily. He sang his song at home and in front of his choir. Neely even sang in front of his social studies and math classes. All of that practice led to the first audition. After hours of waiting in line on a cold day in Chicago, multiple security checks and sitting in a waiting room, Neely was called into a room with 11 other singers. Neely unfortunately did not receive the results he had hoped for as he did not make the first round. “I didn’t do so hot because I was so nervous and jittery,” he said. “I was so nervous that my voice started to shake.” Hess does not know if she has made it onto the show yet. She says her and her family are trying to not get their hopes up for what could happen in the next few months. “My family and I are trying to not get too excited because we don’t know what will happen, but we definitely are excited.”
08 MARCH 2018 FEATURE
Featuring words & layout | Sabrina Romero
finstas
S
TUDENT A CREATED A SECONDARY privacy filter to suddenly become public,” he said. Instagram account that they keep pri- “The social media platform might change their vate. Called a ‘finsta,’ or fake Instagram privacy settings without you realizing, and bam,
account, they wanted to have a place to share with all of those incriminating and embarrassing pics only close friends. “I saw people having them and are available.” I thought they were funny and I wanted to post
Many users post more frequently on their finsta
about stuff without it going on my main (account),” accounts than on their public ones. “On my reguthey said.
lar I have 15 (posts) and then on my [finsta] I have
Unlike main Instagram accounts, where the 100,” Evelyn Avalos ‘18 said. photo is the focus, on finstas often the captions are
Teachers are aware of the trend. Psychology
the important piece. Usage of the accounts can be teacher Emily Bowman thinks that teens need to broad, with students posting selfies, inspirational express themselves and that finstas are just one of messages, rants or life updates. “I use it regularly the forms they do. “A lot of teens realize they need when I’m upset or when I have something to say,” a social media that’s presentable and then they use Student A said. “I use it for b*tching about people the finsta as an outlet,” she said. or things that are going on in my life that I have
Other factors that may lead to students mak-
control over but I don’t want to fix or that I have ing finstas are having family as followers. When something that shouldn’t really be seen by adults.” an aunt or grandmother is following the student, Student A avoids posting things on their main some start to feel censored. “It also may depend on Instagram account that would make other stu- the parents and their parenting style, it seems like dents upset. “A lot of things I post on finsta are me more and more your family follows you on social b*tching about people that it’s not that I hate them media so maybe some teens feel like ‘oh I need a it’s just that at that moment I was annoyed by that separate place to hang with my friends or I have soperson so I don’t want them to think that I hate cial media for my friends because now I have one them,” they said. Paul Booth, associate professor at DePaul Uni-
with family,’” Bowman said. A privacy filter does not prevent screenshots,
versity’s College of Communication and social me- however. “Someone could also share it, or maybe a dia expert, says that’s one of the big reasons some friend gets angry at you and sends it to everyone,” students are creating finstas. “Any social media ac- Booth said. “You can also get hacked. Nothing that count is a reflection of ourselves and they’re very is online is ever private, that’s why it’s important curated,” he said.
to make sure everything you put online you’d be
Booth warns that anything that is posted pri- comfortable with your grandparents and teachers vately could turn public. “It’s very easy for the seeing.”
10 NOV/DEC 2017 FEATURE
All models are 18+ and non JCSD students.
GETTING SCHOOLED ON SUBSTANCES words | Joe Kronberg layout & photos | Will Reiher
O
VER 27% OF SENIORS VAPE IN
gebra. I’ve never drank at school but I know
THE US, according to a survey
people who will get drunk and or tipsy in class.”
taken by Psychiatric News. Mean-
Student A gets high frequently. “I smoke
ing that two or three out of every ten students
[weed] at least twice a day probably, maybe
in this building may be vaping, possibly un-
three times if I get lucky,” they said. “I don’t
derage. Student B is one of these students, who
really do it on school grounds because I know
despite being over the legal age to possess
it’s not the best place to do it, but I have before.
any type of tobacco product, was pun-
I’ve also smoked at the State Fair, parks, theme
ished after recently being caught in
parks, parking lots at malls, at work and basical-
a classroom vaping. “In my opinion,
ly anywhere if I find 20 minutes of spare time.”
there’s a lot of people that do it, a
Despite users knowing that school grounds
lot of which are underage,” Student
are not the best place, there are some who are
B said. “I’m more of a guy that likes
still willing to cross that line. “I usually drink
flavor over nic (nicotine), if I want to
around third and fourth period and take edibles
have
it
around
I’d have just flavor which is just vegetable glycerin. That’s what I
got
caught
with.”
Hall monitor Eric Irwin
believes
students
some
“
overestimate
the number of kids who
vape. “I’ve talked to kids who have told me that almost 60 or 70 percent
before school,” Student
THE MORE YOU TRY TO STOP SOMETHING THE MORE ATTENTION IT WILL GET -Student B
C said. “I try to bring as many different types of alcohol as possible, but I usually end up bringing the same stuff. I end up drunk when I’m drinking at school most of the time because I don’t eat anything
beforehand.”
The Student Handbook lists many mis-
of kids here vape, I think that’s kind of high,”
demeanors,
Irwin said. “I don’t think that more than 30
of Smoking Materials and the Use of Drugs/
percent of students vape. I think about when
Alcohol/Paraphernalia
including
Smoking/Possession and
Lookalikes.
I was high school and there was a lot of smok-
Assistant Principal Jerry Stratton explains
ing and I don’t think there’s much difference.
the consequences of using substances on
in the percentage of students then and now.
school grounds. “If a student were caught va-
I think that there might be more vaping be-
ping in the bathroom, they would be given
cause it’s such an easy way to do it in school.”
due process. Consequences would be handed
According to the National Institute of
out, and could involve potential police in-
Drug Abuse,
teens are more likely to use
e-cigarettes than cigarettes, and teen
volvement, because if you’re under the age
e-cig
of 18, you can’t possess cigarettes, e-cigarettes,
users are more likely to start smoking.
tobacco products, period. If you’re over the
Vaping is not the only substance being
age of 18 you’re still not allowed to have it on
used by students however, let alone outside of
campus. Discipline can range between any-
school property. “I’ve vaped, smoked pot and
thing from Saturday schools or suspension.
taken edibles at school,” Student A said. “I also
It’s not the same each time and every time
had two edibles last week, in the middle of Al-
could be unique based on the circumstances.”
“For example, there was an adult yesterday
had one person say something to me about
who was outside of my office who had dropped
it, but others haven’t said anything about it.”
somebody off and they were smoking on cam-
“I like being social and learning while
pus,” Stratton said. “Even as an adult you can-
I’m high. I like talking to people and engag-
not have tobacco products or smoke on cam-
ing in conversation and asking questions,”
pus, because school zones are tobacco free.”
Student A said, “I feel like my anxiety has
Student A believes that students should
gone down a lot since I’ve started smoking,”
keep in mind that consequences for vaping or
said Student A, “I get really happy and start
using illicit substances at school can be harsh.
talking a lot. I’m making more friends this
“I feel like everybody that decides to do stuff
year than I did last year because I’m not afraid
at school should have the mindset of knowing
to be outgoing. I’m very social and thought-
that they might get caught,” Student A said. “It’s
ful now, which started because of pot, but
not the smartest thing to do, so I usually keep
now I’m comfortable meeting new people.”
an eye out for teachers or the hall monitors. If
While Student B believes that underage
worse comes to worse I would ask for a war-
students should be punished, they think it
rant because I wouldn’t want to be searched.”
would be better to give lesser punishments to
Student C believes they can mask their ine-
those of legal age. “I feel like people that are of
briation. “Action wise, I don’t think people can
the age should not be punished,” said Student
really tell that I’ve been drinking, but if they
B, “Maybe they could confiscate it for a few
studied my movements they probably could,”
days but we are of the age. Even if it is against
Student C said. “There’s also little differ-
school rules it’s our choice to do it.”
ence when I’m high, I just eat more.”
“The more you try to stop something
Student C feels anxious about getting
the more attention it will get,” said Stu-
caught, however. “If
[a hall monitor]
dent B, “maybe the school should loosen
made eye contact with me right after
up their regulations a little bit. If you’re
letting out a cloud in my car, I’d just
18 you could leave it in your car or some-
throw up a peace sign, get super ner-
thing like that. As for people that do it
vous, and own up to it, because there’s
underage, it should not be tolerated.”
not much you can say after that,”
While Student C is still a user, they
“I don’t usually do it at school,
do not believe that others should en-
I’m not dependent on the stimu-
gage in the same actions that they do.
lant,” said Student B, “I never even
thought
about
getting
“I never drink or take edibles while I drive, so I think I’m relatively safe,”
caught, but I (was caught) the
said Student C, “but I don’t condone
first time I did it at school.”
these actions. I don’t think people of
Contrary to what others
age should be able to drink or vape
may believe Student A does
on school grounds. I don’t know why
not see themselves as ad-
I do it, I guess they say high school
dicted. “I would not define
is the best time of your life, but you
myself as an addict,” said
don’t realise that until after. I don’t
Student A, “I could stop at
know if I want to ‘make the best of
any time. My body doesn’t
my time’ here, but I want to have fun.”
act like I need it. I’ve only
14 MARCH 2018 1/1600
1/1600
JOSEPH HAGGERTY FROM SOPHOMORE TO SENIOR, ONE STUDENT WAS RANDOMLY CHOSEN TO TELL THEIR STORY
[Left to right]: Joseph Haggerty ‘18, Angela Cai ‘19, Libbie Smith ‘18 and Sophie Van Zee ‘19 stand by the pond behind the high school. The four students worked together for the Project Green Challenge.
I
t’s 3 a.m. and Joseph Haggerty
teams from all 50 states and some coun-
‘18 is furiously working with his
tries.”
team. They are fighting to finish
Van Zee was even able to travel to Cal-
the projects before the due date the next
ifornia to compete. After the trip Van Zee
day. “Working with Joseph was awesome,”
realized that the four of them had gained
Sophie Van Zee ‘19 said. “It was a little dif-
many opportunities. “Now we can have a
ficult though because it was in the middle
ton of internships and there are a ton of
of marching band season and we would
companies we can talk to,” Van Zee said.
“
get home at midnight and work until two or three in the morning.” This just
is
one
of
the things the Project
Green
Challenge did. Haggerty wants to continue to work with environmental politics even after the
challenge
ended. Oct.
In the next 10 years Haggerty wishes to integrate him-
I GOT INTO POLITICS WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WE STARTED WRITING PERSUASIVE ESSAYS AND THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY FIRST TWO YEARS IN IDAHO, I WAS IN DEBATE AND THAT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THINGS I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT - Joseph Haggerty ‘18
2017,
self into politics and attend graduate school. The Project
Green
Challenge might help him accomplish just that. “I got into politics when I was in middle school and we started writing persuasive essays and then in high school, my first
Haggerty worked alongside Libbie Smith
two years in Idaho, I was in debate and
‘18, Angela Cai ‘19 and Van Zee for the
that gave me the opportunity to talk about
Project Green Challenge. The challenge
things I was passionate about,” Haggerty
consists of writing papers about and doing
said.
things to better the earth such as raising awareness on environmental problems.
Haggerty wants to pursue politics at the University of Iowa and focus on the
The four students worked on their
environment. “I’m really passionate about
projects every day. They did three chal-
fighting climate change and helping the
lenges every day for an entire month. “In
environment,” he said. “I’ve had the op-
the end we did really well,” said Haggerty.
portunity to go to protests and stuff like
“We placed third in the world out of 4,600
that which I enjoyed.”
16 MARCH 2018 FEATURE
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO words, photos & layout | Kathryn Ikeda
IT’S NO QUESTION DAVE OLDHAM HAS CAPTURED KIDS’ HEARTS. THE SCIENCE TEACHER, RUGBY COACH AND DRAGON TV WEATHERMAN IS CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE.
INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS Ed Walker (English teacher): We’ve gone out several times, along with his wife. Once we were at the restaurant, it was clear that Mr. Oldham has married an amazing person. And it’s also clear that she’s a little farsighted, since she’s married to him. We got to talking about Mr. Oldham’s nose. Have you noticed his nose? It’s kind of, it kind of looks like it’s been broken several times, so we were talking about the possibility of him getting plastic surgery to fix his nose, which his wife seemed to support. I think he received it in the spirit in which it was intended, which of course was to insult him. Oldham: Just cause you don’t have me in class doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about you. That’s the one thing I do miss, is having lunch duty, because you can go around saying hi to everybody – sup Kimmy Jacob Kim (‘19, walking past in the hallway): Sup. Oldham: – but I think it’s just, so when I was going overseas, my dad gave me some advice. He said, ‘smile, and look people in the eye. And if you do that, you’ll be okay.’ And he’s right.
BEHIND THE SCENES “Can I take one with Kimmy (Jacob Kim ‘19),” Oldham said. “Kimmy, don’t blink.” Kim was in the classroom working on A.P. Chemistry problems.
DAVE OLDHAM
Nika Silkin (‘19): He treats his kids like they’re people.
to anyone else, here’s my number they can meet us for
And they’re humans who have their own lives and also have
dinner.’ And so Mr. Oldham showed up.
their own emotions. Grace Chow (‘19): I think he’s probably one of the easier teachers to talk to and that he’s good with communicating with students and being on their level, but still commanding respect, even though he can be a bit of a child along
Oldham: She hated me, I didn’t like her either. Meghan: It’s not that I hated him, it’s just that he was a little immature. When we finally moved to Germany we became really good friends. He was always making me laugh.
with his students.
Oldham: One thing led to another and now we’re married.
Oldham: I always felt like when I was going through high
GO BIG
school and college and my graduate work, I always resonated best with the teachers and professors that treated
Walker: He’s a classic Texan.
their students as peers. I was never my teachers’ or my
Chow: Every day when you walk in, he likes to play some
professors’ equals, but they treated me as a peer. And I
song. At the beginning of the year, it was some song you
really like that. And I think that’s something where if you
sent him and you had to guess what it was, but now it’s just
can treat students as humans and how you’d actually treat
whatever he feels like listening to so a lot of days when you
your friends, you’ll get a lot more out of them.
walk in its German (electronic dance music).
Dale DeJong (social studies teacher): The first time I met
Walker: I love when there’s dress-up days and he wears
him was in Colombia, we were both teaching. Course he
those lame Boba Fett pajama bottoms, that’s a good look.
took the job (at Johnston) then I moved to Japan and I
I tell him that all the time, ‘that looks ridiculous.’ And he
came to visit Dave here and he showed me the old high
said, ‘you’re just jealous,’ and I said, ‘yeah you’re kinda
school and walked around. Long story short, there was a
right.’
job opening here and I interviewed for it. And, the last time I saw Dave I was visiting him at the old Johnston High School building, and then the next time I saw Dave he was bringing over a couch, a bed, a dresser, a desk, just helping me move in. He’s always helping, just wants to be a part of the action really.
BE OPEN TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Oldham: I went to the UNI job fair, which is really awesome, and I got a job in Egypt, Brazil, and Germany. I didn’t want to go to Egypt, so I was like Brazil or Germany, so I kinda did a coin flip and I was like, Germany. While I was there, I accepted the job. The guy who hired me was like ‘here’s the number of this girl, she’s a young woman who we’ve hired at the same school as you, she said give you her number because she’s from around here, she’ll show
DeJong: Dave is always going to be Dave. We called him ‘Turbo’ because he’s always doing something.
CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY
Oldham: If you are genuinely happy, people want to be happy. And if they don’t, that’s even better because then you can see them coming. You know as well as I do that there are people at this school, student, teacher, whatever, who are not happy. But you can see them and think ‘hey, I’m going to be happy no matter what.’ Cause i mean, what’s there not to be happy about? Walker: He is optimistic and positive to a fault. It’s real irritating. Meghan: If we have an issue or a situation he sees the
you around.’ And that was the first night I met my wife.
positive in it, even if I’m stressed out about something.
Walker: [Meghan Oldham]’s very patient. And she has to
that could happen, or if he just internalizes the negative
be. You know that he’s like a 12-year-old, right? I mean, he’s like 11 1/2-years-old in this huge grown up man’s body. So I’m sure that when she thinks to herself about her
I don’t know if he just tries to ignore the negative things just so I don’t stress about things. Oldham: Even if I don’t have you in class, you know who I
children, she includes her husband.
am. Because hey, ‘who’s that stupid happy bald guy who’s
Meghan Oldham: We met in Cedar Falls. He was teaching
don’t know, cause he’s bald?’ Or, you know, kids that play
in Texas and I was teaching in Arizona, and we both were offered a job at a school in Germany, and we had separate interviews, so when I was hired, I said, ‘if you offer a job
always screaming?’ ‘Oh, that’s Oldham.’ ‘Why’s he so –’ ‘I rugby for me. Why do kids want to play rugby? Cause we have fun. And in life, there’s a lot of pain in life. Life sucks. So why not make it the best you can?
18 MARCH 2018 EDITORIAL
$
CHOLARSHIPS ARE
scholarships (those you receive
from a group or organization rather than a college or state/federal government) are typically only for one year towards your tuition. Your chances are often very low because too many people sign up for the small awards handed out. The money also comes in to play, compared to other options it falls flat. Scholarship Owl offers match results based on a survey, but then charges for the rights to apply to them. They make money off of memberships that range from $10/month to the elite which requires you to contact them for a price that is not listed. It overall does not feel reliable. Some of the scholarships are sweepstakes or come from wealthy individuals. Barbizon Modeling promises $100,000 to one lucky winner by providing personal information and agreeing to receive emails and text messages. Another program called Honor Society promises “membership benefits” which includes travel discounts, dining credit, health discounts, career insider, $100 visa gift card and most importantly scholarship opportunities. These benefits are vague, and they do not feel worth the $50 membership fee. “It feels sketchy like a scam. Why would they only charge a fifty dollar fee if they give you gift cards that are well over that amount?” Haley Radke ‘18 said. “I didn’t think it would be worth it, especially since I didn’t know where my money was going.” Scholarships can sometimes benefit col-
$
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SCHOLARSHIPS
a waste of your time. Outside
$ $ $ $ $ $ $
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OST
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A WASTED EFFORT
leges more than their students. Once the finan-
ment or student involvement, that also pro-
cial award is verified by the college, they sub-
vides many opportunities. The best option and
tract the amount you receive from the overall
easiest option for Johnston students is of course
financial aid they provide.
the Dragon Scholarship. It is very easy to apply
Because of this, colleges save more money and the student’s cost stays the same despite
and every student who meets the requirements and applies receives financial help.
the effort gone into several applications. Al-
Stay away from online match services. They
though if a student receive enough scholar-
are only in it to profit off the money that should
ships this can be counteracted, but that would
be yours. Counselors are also here to help, and
be unlikely for the average high schooler.
they are dedicated to students’ post-education.
Do not be discouraged though, these schol-
They have huge lists of scholarships and grants
arships still contribute to your education fi-
that are local and apply to Johnston students.
nances and do not require repayment. There
They can also offer help in completion ques-
are plenty of better options rather than scour-
tions, essay tips and preparing for interviews.
ing the Internet. Merit-based scholarships, as
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sonal connection by family member involve-
was 4-2. To contact the editorial board, please email us at jhsblackandwhite.
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most cases help the chances. If there is a per-
collaboration of the board. It needs a simple majority to pass. This month’s vote
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They often include interviews, which in
The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper and is a
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They are more reliable and commutative.
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well as local organizations, are better options.
20 MARCH 2018 OPINION
WHY WE NEED FIELD TRIPS (Above) Teacher Kyla Burns shows a minnow bluegill to Sarah Nelson ‘18, Evan Degeneffe ‘18 and Tabitha Doherty ‘18. The A.P. Environmental class worked to locate and identify organisms in the pond last fall. Photo by Kyle Deutsch
I
words & layout | Katelyn Kempkes
t was my first high school field trip.
me. It is not something I would have been
We visited the Iowa State Capitol
able to do simply through the letters we
Building where I would speak with
wrote in class.
Jake Highfill. My language arts class had
Field trips are beneficial. Each time I
spent weeks writing persuasive essays re-
have been on one, my teacher has found a
garding bills in the House and Senate we
way to teach beyond the textbook, and I re-
believed should be passed or not to our rep-
alize the importance of the content and how
resentatives Brad Zaun and Jake Highfill.
it applies to me.
I remember thinking that it would be so
A.P. Environmental Science teacher Kyla
cool to have them actually listen to us and
Burns takes her class on field trips through-
consider our opinions. The idea of being
out the year, both full-day ones and mini
able to make a difference was exciting.
ones. Her class drives themselves to nearby
Going to the Capitol Building and speak-
locations during block periods and takes
ing with my representative could not be
full day fieldtrips to places including the
duplicated in the classroom. Being able to
Blank Park Zoo and the Des Moines Waste
speak with him helped me to gain the ex-
Water Reclamation Facility.
perience of talking with and trying to convince legislators that represent me. This is something that I will carry with
A.P. Biology goes to Iowa State University to do a DNA lab for the Biotechnology unit. Ceci Hodson ‘18 attended the field trip
“
“An easy way to make people passionate about something is to show it to -Burns them.”
to Ames. “It really visualized the stuff that
get a field trip approved with cost being one.
we were learning from the book because the
“Every department gets a budget so let’s
textbook would describe all of these things
say science, as a department, they get ‘x’
and would show you pictures but half the
amount of dollars, they then, need to decide
time [I’d] have no clue what was going on,”
as a department, say there’s 10 teachers, how
Hodson said.
to spend that money,” principal Ryan Woods
In my case, going to the Blank Park Zoo
said. “For the most part field trips are a part
with my A.P. Biology class and talking with
of the learning curriculum, just like books
kids about environmental issues for our
and supplies.”
environmental unit helped me to gain a
Class size is also a problem. “With biol-
deeper understanding. I also realized my
ogy, we think about how fun it would be to
passions are more communications based,
take all of the biology kids on a field trip
rather than science based – something I
but that’s [about 500] students,” Burns said.
may not have discovered until later.
However, this is not possible because of
Anatomy teacher Rachel Jensen believes
transportation issues and it would not be
a human cadaver dissection field trip con-
fair if only one class got to go. “It really be-
tributed to some students determining
comes challenging when you have courses
whether or not medical school would be for
that everybody’s taking and how to organize
them. “A lot of times kids get all the way to
field trips for those and the cost of those be-
medical school and realize, ‘I don’t know if
comes really, really expensive to bus those
I can do this anymore, I can’t dissect that
students and have that many subs.”
cadaver,’” Jensen said. “It would have been
Teachers also have to think about if
nice to know that before that schooling that
the field trip is worth the cost of students
you couldn’t do that.”
missing other classes. “There are some field
Burns believes field trips help some stu-
trips that are probably excellent learning
dents find a passion. “I think the culminat-
opportunities and some that maybe aren’t
ing experience of going outside, going plac-
as good, so that’s something we ask teach-
es, experiencing things first hand versus
ers to consider,” Woods said. “If we’re going
reading about them has caused a lot of the
to take students out of school, we want that
Environmental Science students to think
experience to be very valuable, something
about career options in this,” Burns said.
that they couldn’t get here in the building.”
“An easy way to make people passionate about something is to show it to them.” However, there are multiple barriers to
It is worth the effort to offer field trips. All of the field trips I have been on have been an enhancement to my learning.
1.
2.
Photo provided by Kyla Burns
Photo by Kyle Deutsch
1. Burns gives instructions to her last year’s class on howtoconductwatertestsatBeaverCreek.Different groups tested for different things such as dissolved oxygen,nitrates,phosphates,bioticindex,andstream flow. 2. Isla Chowanec ‘18 helps Libbie Smith ‘18 put her wader on to go into the pond. The wader prevents the wearer from getting wet despite being fully submerged in water. The class spent a block period using nets to search for living things in the pond on the west side of the high school.
Girls hit back Girls Rugby rugby is a thing“Hey, Oldham.” now i guess 22 MARCH 2018 SPORTS
words and layout | Abby Nichol
“What’s up Olivia?”
“I heard you’re starting a rugby team.”
“Yeah I am.”
“In rugby, do I get to just hit girls and it’s completly legal?”
“Yeah sorta.” “I’m in.”
in
B
efore last year, girls and boys had
For years, girls have been able to get the
been offered the same sports un-
experience of playing a more physical sport
til the rugby team was created.
during only the week of homecoming or
Rugby is a sport relatively similar to foot-
Powderpuff. However, this is only one game
ball. Next fall, through much persuasion,
in the entire school year and it is flag as
the girls are receiving the same opportunity
opposed to tackle. “It is an opportunity for
as the boys, a chance to play rugby. An op-
some of our girls to go out and play a sport
portunity they have wanted for a while. “If
they would actually be good at,” Oldham
rugby had been offered to girls last year, I
said. “So some girls are like ‘Hey I really
definitely would have played. It would have
like running and I like hitting but there’s
been really fun,” Aubree Sanders ‘18 said.
nothing for me to do.”
Despite its rough and physical nature,
Throughout the athletic department,
many girls are excited for the opportunity
sports that girls have access to tend to be
to compete and do what began being of-
less physical, while the boys are offered
fered to the boys last year. “I want to do rug-
the more traditional sports, such as foot-
by because it’s more of a fun aspect and you
ball and baseball. “There were some girls
get to learn in the process,” Olivia Arnold
who showed interest and I felt bad because
‘19 said.
I thought, in my ignorance, I didn’t realize
Ankeny, Valley, and Dowling have offered a team to girls and boys for years, with
that girls rugby was in the fall, during football season,” Oldham said.
statistics and schedules shown on the Iowa
Many girls have shown interest in rugby,
Youth Rugby Association website. Offering
not only because of the chance to try some-
both contact and non-contact options. Many
thing new, but also because they believe it
students have reached out to boys’ rugby
will be more relaxed compared to the other
coach Dave Oldham, showing interest in
sports. “I hate Johnston sports because it’s
the sport.
all about competition and nobody can actu-
Compared to other metro schools, the introduction of the girls rugby team is
ally have fun and the coaches just make it awful,” Arnold said.
starting late. According to the Iowa Youth
She, along with others believe that it
Rugby Association, girls have been playing
will be simply something that they can go
contact rugby since 2013.
out and have fun with, despite the fact that
Similar to the boy’s team, girls participating will be coached by Dave Oldham
other teams are experienced and have been playing for years.
and will play competitive games against
Through increasing the alertness around
other schools this fall as opposed to the
rugby, Oldham has hopes of changing rug-
boy’s team which play in the spring. “In my
by from just being a club to a full fledged
ignorance, I didn’t realize that girls rugby
sport. “The sooner we get more spotlight
was in the fall, during football season, until
on rugby, the sooner it becomes a school
this year,” Dave Oldham, teacher and rugby
sport,” Oldham said. “That’s my real goal,
coach said, “Or I would have started it ear-
to have it as a girls and boys sport where
lier because I really wanted (senior Alisha)
it’s school sponsored and everything goes
Rusch on the team.'
through the school.”
UGLY LOCATION PHOTOSHOOT CHALLENGE words, layout & photos | Andrew Maresca
model | Logan Haller
After the ugly location photoshoot challenge blew up on Twitter, many photographers took to the streets to find the ugliest locations in their town. The goal is to turn these run down areas into appealing photographs. With Johnston’s various unique locations, the Black and White decided we would find some local areas to showcase.
Water Gutter
Walgreens
Casey’s Gas Station
Mobile Classroom