March 2018

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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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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com or visit us in room 622.

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sonal connection by family member involve-

was 4-2. To contact the editorial board, please email us at jhsblackandwhite.

$

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

$

They often include interviews, which in

The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper and is a

$

They are more reliable and commutative.

$

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