November 2019

Misconceptions

b&w

BLACK AND WHITE NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 28 ISSUE 2

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Print Editor Online Editor Design Editor Copy Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Social Media Manager Content Manager Content Manager Ad Manager

Ada Basic Brooklyn Dilley Kylie Emery Taylor Siebert Marandah Mangra-Dutcher Joel Kellar Cameron Deroos Charlie Pattinson Liz Jones Caroline Christensen Ethan Burgett

NOVEMBER

CONTENTS

When Jay Rice ‘94 brainstormed the name of our paper in 1991, it was not because of the ink color. For the last 28 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.

News

Feature

6 A Leap of Faith 8 Left Out Learners 10 World According to...

Melissa Dale 12 Rewriting the Rulebook

STAFF WRITERS Nolan Akins Parker Anderson Riley Anderson Payton Blahut Savannah Dennis Noah Gilbert London Heim Alex Heron Avery Heun Matthew Hickman Emily Irlbeck Teja Jetty Akshaya Kumar Zachary Kehoe Tate Larsen Ethan Le

4 Underclassmen on the Rise

Hank Lucas Hoa Ly Define Mansour Jay Marren Sabrina Mcguire Nathan Metzger Collin Minear Ben Pegg Leven Petersen Ainsley Proctor Ciaran Rigby Lily Simpson Ethan Ung Max Wilson Kaya Young Stella Zeng

Profile 16 1/1700: Austin Jordan

Editorial

18 Give Guidance some Grace

Opinion

20 All About U.S.

Entertainment

MISCONCEPTIONS

22 Don’t Dis(h) the Diet

People often fall victim to misconception, as is the case all around us. First with the belief that upperclassmen are always superior and the underclassmen on the rise who are proving them wrong. Then with the misconception that cheerleading and dancing are activities solely reserved for females. To the misconception that a classroom must remain standard and how our teachers are defying that idea by implementing new and various learning environments.

FINE PRINT Black & White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law, students assign, edit material and make all decisions of content.

Editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board.

Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the advisor, school officials or the district.

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.

-Ada Basic Editor-in-Chief

@jhsblackandwhite

@jhsnewspaper

JHS Black and White

Underclassmen on the Rise Anna Gosling

Faith Nead Words | Joel Kellar Layout | Cameron DeRoos Photos | Tate Larsen Evan Newcomb, Cameron DeRoos, Shay Polson

Anna Gossling ‘22 played on the varsity

Faith Nead ‘22 joined varsity

girls’ basketball team last year and is set to

cross country late last year and

start this year. Gossling played in 24 of the

solidified her spot as the number

25 regular season games and averaged 6.0

six runner on varsity during her

points per game. Gossling shot 38.6% from

sophomore year. Nead also ran

the field and scored a total of 143 points,

varsity track last year. Nead ran

good for fifth on the team. Gossling shot

a 5:26 1500m run, a 2:26 800m

73.3% from the charity stripe which was

run, and a 11:44 3000m run.

the second best on the team. Along with

Nead looks to drop a lot of time

all the scoring, she dished out 21 assists and

heading into her track season.

stole the ball 17 times. She had a total of 37

Nead had a great performance

rebounds, averaging 1.5 rebounds per game.

at state.

Gossling showed some great offensive talent last year along with great under the radar defense.

Molly Trachta

Noah Storts

Aleah Tenpas

Molly Trachta ‘23 is a freshman

Noah Storts ‘22 took over as

Aleah

that played the second-most sets on

the starting quarterback at the

running varsity cross country

varsity. In her first season of varsity

beginning of this year. While there

early last year and has only been

volleyball, she had 59 kills for a kill

have been the usual mistakes

improving since then. Tenpas is

efficiency of .264. Trachta averaged

early in his career, Storts has

now the number two runner on

.69 kills per set. Trachta was a great

done a good job from a statistical

varsity. Tenpas also ran varsity

server this year, as she had a team

standpoint leading the football

track last year. She qualified

high of 52 aces and averaged .60

team to a 4-2 record while starting.

for the Drake Relays which is

aces per set, which was the second

Storts has a 119.3 QBR (quarterback

an amazing accomplishment,

highest on the team. She was by far

rating) while throwing for eight

especially for a freshman. In

the top player in terms of assisting

touchdowns to three interceptions

track, Tenpas ran a 4:52 1500m

this year with 570 assists on the

and completing 48% of his passes.

run and a 10:38 3000m run.

season for an average of 6.63 assists

He has accumulated 925 yards of

These are outstanding times

per set. This average was over five

total offense, which includes 336

for a high school runner, much

assists higher than the second best

rushing yards and 589 passing

more an underclassman. Tenpas

assister on the team. Trachta also

yards. Storts is a great dual threat

ran an 18:41 at the 2019 State

had the third highest dig total

quarterback who will attempt to

Cross Country Meet. Tenpas

with 140. Trachta will have high

lead his team to some great seasons

placed sixth overall and was the

expectations going into next year,

while he is at the helm.

number two runner on the team

after her outstanding year as a freshman.

Tenpas

‘22

that won state this year.

started

6 | Feature

Words | Brooklyn Dilley Layout | Marandah Mangra-Dutcher

A

s Aidan Santiago ‘21 prepared to step onto the football field, thoughts were racing through his head. What would people think of him? As the only guy on color guard, how would everybody react?

Santiago pushed his thoughts aside as their performance began. It was over before he knew it, and Santiago walked away feeling great about himself, not caring what people would think.

The lack of male participants in activities such as dance and color guard is no secret. The varsity dance team has only ever had one guy participate, and this year is the first that color guard has had a male member since 2016. Despite such activities claiming they are welcoming to both genders, participation from males has shown no signs of increasing.

Santiago joined color guard at the beginning of this year. He had heard great things about marching band, but did not play in instrument, so he decided to join color guard in order to still play in important role in the band. “It’s just a sport, so I don’t know why people judge or gender stereotype,” Santiago said. “It doesn’t matter if boys do something or if girls do. When we performed at the first football game, I thought people would be talking about it. But nobody really cared. It didn’t matter.”

Neil Lagerblade ‘21 has done studio dance for the past 11 years, but has no time nor interest to join the school dance team. “It’s not just for girls,” Lagerblade said. “And I don’t think of it as a sport, I think of it as a career.

The guys that really try, they want to go to LA and do music videos and tours, or they want to go on Broadway and do theater. So I’ve never thought of it as competition, and that’s all it is to dance team, I feel like.”

There are numerous studies showing that dancing is beneficial to athletes, specifically football players. According to Ballet Barres, “Ballet provides a number of benefits to athletes. Some males are uncomfortable taking ballet classes due to the stigma and stereotypes associated with men in ballet.

These men often choose to set up a home studio with a portable ballet barre. Whether it is in a professional dance studio or at home, football players receive significant benefits from ballet.” These benefits include focus, flexibility, speed, strength, endurance, and balance.

Marshawn Gunn ‘20 plays offensive right guard on the varsity football team, and is aware of the numerous benefits that come with dance. “I don’t know if I’d consider doing a form of dance,” Gunn said. “I do show choir, but I don’t know if that really counts.

If it really were to help me and I saw a change in it, then yes I would do dance, but if I didn’t see a change then I wouldn’t do it, or I would quit.”

Lagerblade found that dance offers a unique, strenuous workout that is hard to get from other activities. “It’s nonstop cardio,” Lagerblade said. “When I dance on Tuesdays, I dance from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a 15 minute break for dinner....Monday’s I have show choir, and Thursdays I have tap and hip hop. It’s a lot of stuff. I was in Florida this past weekend, and the three days I was there I danced probably 18 hours. And that’s jumping, landing, bruises all over, dancing.”

He has also realized that doing dance helps him greatly with the choreography that they do in show choir. “Your rhythm is better, and fluidity,” Lagerblade said.

Varsity dance has not had a boy on the team in many years, which sometimes can put them at a disadvantage when it comes to competitions. “It would be cool to have a guy, because we could do partner work. It would be awesome,” captain Kyra Theisen ‘20 said. “Ankeny Centennial had a guy in the past years, and they were able to do so much more. Girls lifting girls isn’t as easy. We would find costumes for guys to match us. We would love to have them on our team.”

A Glimpse Into

8 | Column

the Grey Space

PDA

You Drank Lincoln’s Pee

T

he water cycle is one of the first

drank some water because he was parched

Then, going into a much broader idea, we

ideas taught to kids in elementary

after doing some presidential stuff . It

are drinking water that was once in someone

school. It is the idea that new

went through his digestive system and he

else’s body. Someone drank and then expelled

water can not be created, water just goes

eventually expelled it from his body into a

through different processes but all in all the

hole in an outhouse. From there, the water

water is the same water. In other words, we

N

ow we all have seen it, we have

keep it PG when you are in public.

felt the awkwardness from being

I looked into how others perceive PDA by

around it and yet it still happens.

asking around and doing some research. My

the exact water you are drinking. The water

Public Displays of Affection, often referred to

findings show that there are two top opinions

has been throughly cleaned and cleansed by

as PDA, is a common action that occurs in

about PDA; ones similar to mine and ones

soaked into the soil or eventually made it’s

water filtration plants before the water got to

stereotypical high schools from movies and

that rival it, people who are with the thinking

could drink the same water Abraham Lincoln

way to the ocean. As time passed it evaporated.

you. However, it is just gross to know that my

shows. I can say I see very little of it at John-

that it is unhealthy for a relationship if it is

drank in 1865. Or the same water Beyoncé

The water then reached the atmosphere and

water was once pee and sweat.

ston, like the occasional hand-holding, a hug,

not openly affectionate. Thinking about this,

drank during her Coachella perfomance of

condensated, creating clouds. Once those

“I’ve never thought of it that way,” Trevor

or the arm over the shoulder thing. Howev-

I have decided there are levels of PDA. People

2018. You could be drinking legendary water.

clouds got heavy with moisture, the water was

Fizpatrick ’22 said. “You aren’t wrong.” Indeed

er, as a sophomore with extremely unsocial

making out in the hallway compared to hold-

Just to be sure that my thinking was

released in the form of precipitation, or rain.

I am not wrong, how has no one thought of

friends I am a bit sheltered.

ing hands seems absurd to be considered the

correct I did some research and asked biology

The water fell into the soil or bodies of water.

this before? You could be drinking the pee of

I know that more things then that happen

same degree. I agree that is is okay to show

teacher, Lisa Horsch. “You could be drinking

The water in the soil just got evaporated

royalty or of Hitler. Water has connected you

though, as I hear from others about people

some affection for each other. It just depends

water that was in pee,” Horsch said.

again, however the water from the bodies of

with thousands of different people that you

seeing a kiss in the hall or canoodling in a

on the way that affection is portrayed.

Of course only giving a response after a

water went to filtration plants and was made

do not know, and have never met.

cars, etc. So this is a little public service an-

Again as I said, just read the people and

few awkward moments and a questioning

back into drinking water. The same process

That makes me feel uneasy, and that

nouncement for those PDA couples.You can

environment around you before you do

expression.

happened with the Beyoncé water, just a little

sentiment is shared among the student body.

make the people around you uncomfortable

something. Keep it PG and child friendly, oth-

more modern. That overall is just wack.

“I’m uncomfortable,” Jackson Ramaekers ’20

with your actions. Sometimes things are just

erwise you will make the people around you

said.

better left for when you are in private. Just

uncomfortable. Be considerate.

Think about it this way, Abraham Lincoln

For more of Marandah Mangra-Dutcher’s weird thoughts check out her column on the JHS Black & White’s Website!

10 | feature

high school and college age at a youth development center in Bangladesh. I taught English classes, I got training on HIV/AIDS prevention, so I did classes on that, women’s health stuff, and I did that for two and a half years after college.

Teaching It Is Dale: If I wasn’t gonna be a photojournalist maybe I’d be an English teacher. I decided that staying in Iowa wasn’t all bad. Teaching was not it initially, but it became it after some more life experience.

She’s Not Real

The

WORLD According To...

words | Ada Basic layout | Stella Zeng & Akshaya Kumar Sister Dale?

Melissa Dale: I wanted, at one point, to be a nun. I wanted to be a nun and I wanted to open a homeless shelter and I said I wanted to serve good food for homeless people, like food that they would like, good stuff. I don’t want to be a nun anymore.

Chelsea Stone: That is hysterical, I did not know that. She likes her Banana Republic and Athleta clothes too much to cover them up with a habit.

Off To Texas Emma Heitritter: She went to her college and she didn’t even visit it first. The first time she went there was when she moved in.

Dale: I went there solely because I wanted to get out of Iowa, I had never visited the state of Texas before my parents dropped me off for my first day.

Dale: Colleges would come visit at my high school and I remember I went and listened

to the TCU (Texas Christian University) presentation, I thought ‘Oh that sounds cool and Texas is pretty far away’ so I decided to go to Texas.

Stone: That seems unlike her since she is so picky and thorough, but she also has a spontaneous streak so I guess that’s still “on brand” for her.

Dale: After four years and tens of thousands of dollars, I realized I didn’t just want to sit at a desk in a cubicle and stare at a computer screen. I was like ‘Well I just spent a whole lot of money on that and I don’t want to do that’.

Peace Corp Here She Comes Dale: So I did join the peace corp then after college, instead of using my advertising public relations degree. I got slated as a community and youth development volunteer, I worked with young people

Kenny: She’s not a real person. She doesn’t really like chocolate or any sort of junk food.

Her tastes are very different, she comes in with like a bowl of greek yogurt, and piles a bunch of different things in it, she’ll have salmon for lunch. She’s also a very good cook.

We’re just like, ‘Who are you right now?’ We went to a dinner a couple of weeks ago at a restaurant downtown, and it was like a plated meal and at the end there was a dessert and it was like a little dutch donut and she’s like ‘mmm no thanks I don’t really eat fried food’ We were both just like ‘Who are you?’

Stone: I love that she brought that up. Melissa eats SO healthy and is SO disciplined and Mrs. Kenny and I do not understand it. She has no qualms about skipping out on a staff potluck and eating a salad she brought from home.

Heitritter: She doesn’t eat candy or anything, like there’s candy in the break room and I’m like ‘I’m so terrible eating all these donuts’ and she’ll be like ‘I just had my salad’. I’m like ‘What the heck, Melissa?’.

Coming To Johnston Emily Kenny: We were at a work party for our husbands’ work and they talk about boring stuff so her and I were just eating cheese in the corner and I was like ‘Hey maybe you should do this’ and then it worked out.

Stone: I have a memory of her saying something to-the-point like, “You seem fun, we should be friends.” Melissa is one of my closest friends both in and outside of school.

This Blonde Lady Heitritter: I think that’s a misconception, you’d look at her and think she’s this blonde lady but she cares deeply and thinks really deeply.

Angel Nyaga ‘20: She’s really good at making people feel like their background and their culture is important. Going to a really homogenous high school, it’s hard to look at yourself and be like “It’s okay to express these different parts of me” but she really encourages that.

‘here’s somebody who can get it a little bit’ so that makes me feel good. I’ve enjoyed working as the moderator of that. I mean I don’t have to do anything, they’re very self led, I just give them my room. I haven’t really done m u c h so they really shouldn’t say I’m m u c h help.

the..?’ it was at Howells and she was like “My mom’s friend whatever owns Howells’ so she was there too. You just never know where she’s gonna pop up.

Nyaga: She helps m o r e Dale poses with her Bangladeshi colleagues. than she Photo Provided by: Melissa Dale thinks, I feel like there’s a lot of people who wouldn’t be as comfortable in school or C.O.R.E. or all of these different An Example of An Ally Nyaga: I feel like she’s the perfect example situations if she hadn’t been the person of what it looks like to be an ally. She’s that was there. I honestly don’t know what white but she takes into consideration other core would be like if she wasn’t the peoples’ culture and she doesn’t make them facilitator. feel ashamed about it. She goes beyond just telling people that there’s an issue, and telling Heitritter: She’s like ‘I just let them sit people there’s a difference, she encourages in here’ and I’m like ‘I feel like you do more than that but that’s ok.’ difference.

Stone: Can you just tell her that I’d like her to return the favor and hit my car like I did hers? I need a new one.

Kenny: She wants them to share their stories and she has, she’s been to a couple of different events and things with me that are cultural for different students, so she has an interest in them not just as students in her classroom but as people. And wanting to make sure that they feel represented and comfortable here.

Dale: I think we’re afraid to be vulnerable with each other, and I get that because I was that way in high school too. I think it’s important for people to share their stories and that’s because I think you don’t realize how many other people are coming from maybe not the same situation, but everybody’s got their stuff.

Stone: I know it’s probably an absolute nightmare for her being around all that fried stuff. Again, she is not real.

Kenny: She will refill your beverage for you for free. She’s always good for that.

Bumper Car Fanatics

Dale: Nothing too exciting or dramatic took place. It was an icy day a few years back. I was at the stoplight waiting to turn onto 100th from 62nd. Mrs. Stone slid on ice into my stopped car. Mrs. Stone stated something along the lines of, “Oh, Melissa, thank god it’s you.”

Side Hustles

Heitritter: Her family owns at the fair, the veggie table, which is deep fried vegetables and veggie corn, which is Dale celebrates a festival alongside other Peace the most Melissa Dale food ever. Except Corps volunteers. we’re at the fair and they give us free Photo Provided by: Melissa Dale food and she’s like ‘Oh I brought a salad.’ I’m like ‘You brought a salad?

We’re at the fair! The Stone: I slid straight into her car last winter, fair is one week! You trying to stop at the stoplight on 100th right Nyaga: It’s one have to go eat a corn by the school. I was worried I’d hit a student thing to tell dog!’ and she’s like ‘No but when I saw it was her, we were both like, people about it I brought my salad and “Meh, let’s just go to school and figure it out and have them my LaCroix’. So yeah later.” learn about she eats very healthy, it it, but it’s makes the rest of us feel Dale: Neither of us wanted to be late for work, another thing bad. it was pretty close to 7:30 at that point and to be actively both our cars were driveable, so we went to encouraging Kenny: They have all school. them to make sorts of like deep fried that change.

Guiding her students through a reading of The veggies. I’m not really Stone: She ended up getting a new car out It’s kind of Crucible, Dale performs the part of narrator. sure if she eats any of it, of the deal, I still have a banged up front the whole but she works there. She bumper to show for it. bystander probably brings her own thing too. If you’re aware it’s an issue but you don’t do salad. I’ve never observed her eat anything Dale: I was in a rental car for a few days which anything about it, you’re not helping. And there, but that would be my guess, that she’s my 4-year-old daughter still talks about tried everything but she probably brings her “Remember when Chelsea hit your car and she’s definitely helping. own food there. And then one year we were we had to drive a white car?”

Dale: It makes me feel good that students of at the pumpkin patch and she was working color feel like I could be an ally for them. Like at the food stand there and I was like ‘What

12 | in-depth

On average, high schoolers are excited...and that creates chaos, honestly. And sometimes it’s easy to lose focus and play incredibly bored. According to a rather than learn.”

Gallup poll released by Harvard, 60% of high school students Organized Pandemonium: “Sometimes if people come into my room felt unengaged and bored with they might think it is chaos, and then they go their studies, and almost half of to another classroom and there are students quietly at their desks listening to high schoolers surveyed said sitting somebody talk. But to me, having an active they would describe themselves classroom makes it easier for me to connect as tired. Tedious homework to my students.” assignments and studies can be Words of Wisdom: draining, but little acknowledged “It is easy to sit down and make lectures for are the educators who step everyday and to teach around a textbook or to just have worksheets. It is just an easy way outside the box of a traditional out.” classroom, and dare to make high schoolers excited about Student Perspective: AP Enviornmental Science student Casey education.

Monson ‘20 prefers Burns’ teaching, as she

Kyla Burns

Controlling the Chaos:

Rewriting the Rulebook words | Kylie Emery & Caroline Christensen layout | Payton Blahut

What are your teaching strategies?

“One of my goals is to try to turn as many things as I can that we would normally be teaching into something that you can touch, hold, see or do. I think that learning has to be kind of interactive. And sometimes lecture is nice, you can get a lot out of lecture. But unless you guys have some sort of activity, or lab, or some type of engaging item, sometimes it just doesn’t stick in your memory as well.”

Are there any drawbacks to teaching hands on experiences?

“It can get frustrating when you have activities that students do not take seriously... it is a lot of work on my part that gets overlooked. So, that’s why I think it is easy to navigate towards lectures and books. One, it’s easier on the teacher. Two, it is a controlled setting.”

Feel the Burn: Zoology and environmental science classes enjoy doing the hands-on activities Burns creates in order to make learning more interactive. “Zoology students really like the dissections. They are looking at things that they have never really thought about before, like there are organs inside of grasshoppers.

We also look at a human parasite.”

What are some classroom ground rules?

“You cannot distract the learning of others.

Sometimes it is hard. When you have kids moving around, and you have kids outside and having new experiences, kids get

makes class exciting. “She really knows how to make kids understand what they are trying to learn, and she makes it interactive with the students so it’s not just a boring lecture the entire time,” Monson said. “It’s a lot of doing labs and interesting stuff like that so you usually learn what you are doing.”

Zoology student Finn Eschilman ‘22 loves caring for the animals in Burns’ room, and the teaching approach Burns uses. “She genuinly cares about having students learn, it’s just frustrating when kids don’t put forth the effort, and the treat her class as an easy A, but you still have to show up to class and pay attention,” Eschilman said. “She’s really caring, and when you are struggling in class, she will help you. She’s really good about understanding students and animals.”

Ben Knight

Diving Deep into Discussion: “I like to make it relevant and use current events. I like to use discussion and push kids on their answers. I also put some things out there that are controversial so students can ponder them and see how they fit in the grand scheme. Part of my strategy is just kind of being up, moving around, pushing discussion, and pushing some controversial ideas from time to time...Especially in history, and definitely in politics, a big part is knowing how to discuss. So, I try to model that in class.”

Ground Rules: “I’m relaxed to a point. I always try to tell the students that they don’t want me to become authoritarian.

14 | in-depth

So one way to keep me from being authoritarian as a teacher is that I should be able to expect that you know how to sit in class. I try to call kids out when appropriate and then I have a whole class discussion on maybe discipline and how to behave as a group. I try to keep the lines of communication open.”

Words of wisdom: “Sometimes it is easy to get bogged down with the weight of school and all you have to do, but I think if we can just remember that we are together for 40 minutes or 80 minutes, that the more you get involved the that we are together for 40 minutes or 80 minutes, that the more you get involved the better the class is. So, if you want to sit there and be passive and not present, then yeah, the class is not going to be much fun. If you get involved in the class, you are probably going to have a lot of fun.”

Student Perspective: Government student Raegen Matthews ‘20 appreciates Knight’s unbiased teaching style.

“I like how even though he teaches a class that centers around a lot of controversial subjects and would normally cause a lot of fighting, he doesn’t facilitate one viewpoint and instead allows his students to develop their own opinions based off of facts.”

Ed Walker

Keepin’ It Real: “I am good about talking to young people about literature, so that’s what I tend to put at the center of things. I’m never going to be one who has a bunch of fancy, shiny activities.

That’s just not me.”

Honesty is the Best Policy: “I think young people can smell inauthenticity a mile a way. So, I just try to put myself out there and be honest about who I am and what my priorities are.”

How do you keep students awake during class?

“It’s not that everyone in the room has to be on the edge of their seats. Students have to be engaged enough, for them to learn what you need them to learn. That’s my goal. For them to be engaged enough. I understand that not

everyone is going to love English. I didn’t when I was a teenager. So, what I try to do again is to be authentic, be honest. I try not to make it seem like I am against my students, which I think my colleagues do too.”

Ditching the Rubric: “I try to make it as much as I can about ideas.

I am much more interested in ideas than I am in standards. All my colleagues who know me will agree here when I say that’s who I am. When I plan what I want to do in class, standards are way down the list. I think of ideas and experiences, and then I find a way to make the standards work. That’s just my thought process.”

Number One Rule: “For me, the central non-negotiable is people have to have their voices heard. The classroom has to be a place where someone’s story can get out there. Whether that story is ‘Wait, I have a question,’ or whether the

I think really understanding what’s going on in a school and being able to really take advantage of it...we just have to listen to one another.”

Student Perspective: AP literature student Willow Applegate ‘20 enjoys Walker’s teaching style. “My favorite thing about the way he does stuff is the class discussions,” Applegate said. “I find them really helpful...he uses the classic answer a question with a question teaching style.

If it were any other class it wouldn’t work very well, but since it’s the AP lit class I feel he does a really good job at giving you a question to think about and it still somehow answers your question.”

Tyler Kirkholm

Words of Wisdom: “All of us need to take time to really listen to each other and try to understand the problems that come up in classes like if engagement isn’t happening, or when the voices aren’t getting out. We all have the same goal. We want everyone in the building to emerge better. I get it, there’s personality conflicts and there’s miscommunication, but

Collaboration is Key: “Naturally art shouldn’t look [like a traditional classroom]. In high school, there is always a degree of ‘These are the skills we are trying to teach you.’ However, we don’t want cookie cutter art. That’s what you get when you have students sitting in a row doing the same specific tasks. We have to have more open-ended types of things.”

Switching Up Seating:

“I was taught by all kinds of well meaning people. I think that’s what is really important. I think students need really authentic teachers, and all kinds of approaches.”

-Ed Walker story is, ‘I think I know exactly that this text means,’ or ‘I’m having a bad day,’ or whatever it is, we have to value each others’ voices.”

students to be able to demonstrate the skill that you’re teaching them, but then the end product should look like something that they made and care about. If they don’t care about it, it’s going to be boring because they lose interest in it. It’s really important to provide students the opportunity to do things that are of interest to them.”

Choice-Based Learning: “I’m a big proponent of choice-based learning, which is a theory where you have a certain set of skill sets taught, but then the end product is the students’ choice. In art, you want people to have a voice and a point of view. You want people to be able to say something through their art, and you can’t have that if you’re expecting the same outcome from everyone.”

Importance of Passion: “In choice-based learning, you want the

“We usually don’t have the strict seating in rows. We have a more collaborative or group seating. This gives the students more opportunities to discuss and witness each other’s works, and it’s important that we see each other’s works. It’s important that we all collaborate and work together.”

Ground Rules: “We push a lot more of open mindedness and empathy. We look for more kindness and empathy definitely. Just because you see something that’s not your point of view doesn’t make it wrong. It’s important to work with others, whether it’s a conversation or actually teaming up and doing something together.”

Sue Cline

Finding Students’ Interests: What is her teaching strategy?

“History is one of those things that a lot of kids don’t necessarily grab onto right away, it’s something that maybe they haven’t studied or didn’t enjoy in the past. So I do try to appeal to different interests that kids might have that then get them into the

“Art is not about following the status quo, art is not about generating a product. Art has always been kind of anticapitalistic...

We’re trying to create new thoughts and new ideas.

Special thinking is a hard thing to turn into a procedure.”

-Tyler Kirkholm

history world. Art for example, there’s a lot of kids that are really big on art, which helps them access history. We do generally try to talk about literature briefly when we can so that kids who are interested in that can get into the history.”

Accepting the Challenge: “If [students are] sitting in APoW, they’re doing 95 percent of the work themselves. My job is to give them experiences that will help them practice their skills and stuff. We do a lot of work, there is a lot of scoring outside of class. [The class] is going to be hard, there’s no way around it, but I’m hopeful that they feel safe enough to try even though it’s going to be hard. That’s what learning is. It’s not learning if you’re continually repeating something that you already know how to do.

It’s only learning if you’re moving forward, and that’s risky for everybody.”

Ground Rules: “The major ground rule is be nice to everybody. That’s my rule. If you keep that in mind, I think that basic rule really translates to everything else.”

Having Passion: “I think it’s important to the kids that the teacher has a level of enthusiasm for what they do. It’s obvious when a teacher is excited about what they’re doing.”

Student Perspectives: AP World students Jaida Mitchell ‘22 and Colin Chau ‘22 both admire Cline’s dedication and love for her students. “She spends hours after school to create the best tests and quizzes, just to help us out.” Chau said.

“When you come to the high school you actually have to study for stuff,” Mitchell said. “Cline spends so much of her own time, so we actually know what we are doing. She is just really nice and cares for us.”

16 | profile

1/1700 Austin Jordan From sophomore to senior, one student was randomly chosen to tell their story.

Austin Jordan ‘21 pulls the string to make the knot disappear.

Photo by Cameron Deroos

words | Brooklyn Dilley research assistants | Ciaran Rigby & Avery Heun layout | Staff

itting in US History, Austin Jordan ‘21

S

here, and experienced his lively personality

suddenly reached into his backpack

firsthand. Nyaga would give Jordan a room

While Jordan may not immediately come

and pulled out a string with two knots

number to go find as a way to test him, and

off as the ‘talkative’ kid, it does not take much

in it. His interest piqued, Griffin Karazija

he immediately took off running to the

for him to open up to those around him. “My

‘21 watched as Jordan tugged on the ends

classroom. “He had a lot of energy,” Nyaga

first thoughts about him [when we met] were

of the string and the knots seemingly

said.

that he was sitting by himself, so I sat next to

sad with you.”

disappeared. The two met in history teacher

Teacher Christine Wolford has also come

him and talked to him,” Karazija said. “I didn’t

Emily Bowman’s classroom in August, and a

to find how much of a people-person Jordan is.

know much about him until more classes. He

connection began to develop.

is very talkative, he has a real entertaining

Jordan moved to Johnston from a small

personality unlike anyone else. He likes

town near Algona at the beginning of this school year, and was shocked to find that every class size at Johnston is bigger than the entirety of his previous school. “I moved to a lot of new schools, but this one is bigger than any other school I have been to,” Jordan said.

“I was really overwhelmed.”

to beat to his own drum.”

“He’s definitely not shy. He’s very good at seeing the best in a situation.”

He got his first job as a checker at Hy-Vee. Jordan loves the social aspect of the job, as

Jordan is meeting more and more of his 600 classmates as the school year progresses, and Wolford wants to make sure everyone knows about his “He

-Griffin Karazija ‘21

authentic helps

character.

every

kid

around him,” Wolford

he is able to talk to whoever comes through

said. “Don’t take his

his line. Due to his outgoing personality,

kindness as a weakness,

Jordan even won a contest amongst his

because it isn’t. He is

coworkers selling items to customers. “We

“When I first met him, he had big smiles and

capable of being such

were supposed to see how many bakery items

wanted to make sure I knew he was excited

a great man, and

we could sell in a day, and I sold 84,” Jordan

to see me and know me,” Wolford said. “He

I want people to

said. “The closest someone got to me was 12. I

just has a lot of love, that is Austin. He just

know he is going

like sales, I like the competition.”

wants to be happy...He has great empathy

to be something

Angel Nyaga ‘20 was in charge of showing

for everyone and anyone. If you are feeling

someday.”

Jordan around the school when he first came

happy, he’s happy. If you’re sad, he will feel

Austin Jordan ‘21 demonstrates his magic trick using his strings and knots.

Photo by Cameron Deroos

Baker said. “We are very fortunate to have five

that seek out the counselors. Unfortunately, the

time to make sure every student completes

here and we can make it work.”

majority of students do not make an effort to

the assigned tasks. “We have to report that we

make connections with their counselor. School

have provided these opportunities to learn

to make connections with 1,700 students, yet

counselors are a resource designed to form more

this information,” Baker said. “And so some of

the department has established many positive

personal relationships with students. Counselors

it is boring, but for state reporting we have to

relationships with individuals who reached out.

are not being utilized to their full potential.

document that this was taken care of.”

For the counseling office, it is very difficult

Not all students make the effort to connect with

Another frequent complaint about the

The school guidance counselors are here to

the counselors. “The counselors helped me set

counseling office is the advisory lessons. Many

help students. They are not out to make students

up my medical excuse from P.E,” Reno Mulic

students feel that the lessons taught in advisory

miserable. They are trying their best to help

‘22 said. “They allowed me to have my very own

are a waste of time. “Advisory and their lessons

students succeed socially, academically, and

study hall in their office, and they were really

are to help you grow as a person, and to provide

emotionally. The counselors work incredibly

helpful. I would say they had a positive impact on

a time for some house cleaning things. Like

hard to try and make the school the best place it

my school experience.”

selecting classes for the following school year,”

can be, so it is time for students to stop whining

Baker said. Most lessons in advisory are also

and start appreciating their hard work.

The students that have a positive relationship with the school counselors often are the kids The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper and is a collaboration of the board. It needs a simple majority to pass. This month’s vote was 10-0.. he guidance counselors get a lot

to seven years of schooling. The curriculum

other classes.” While this was not the solution

of hate for some of the decisions

taught throughout those years of schooling goes

Butin desired, the counseling office resolved the

and policies that they implement.

towards educating counselors on how to interact

problem.

T

However, everyone seems to forget the

and connect with their students. This intensive

counselors’ number one priority is student well-

college degree helps counselors make educated

schedule is an understatement. The school has

being. Students often whine and complain about

and informed decisions about student well-being.

over 1,700 students, and those students are

the activities that are assigned to complete during

However, not every student has had positive

Saying the counselors have a full and busy

split between five guidance counselors. Every

advisory, but every task is designed to help

counselor is in charge of over 340 students.

students succeed. When guidance counselors

There is no possible way the guidance counselors

fail to meet certain students’ needs and

can get to know all 340 students on a personal

expectations, it can be infuriating. However, give

level. Logistically, it seems impossible for the

the counselors some grace; they have a lot on

counselors to have their desired impact on every

their plate. The implementation and execution of

student. “I like to say that I know every single

some of the guidance counselors’ programs and

one of my students, I think all of the counselors

policies may not be the best, but they are doing

would love to be able to say that,” Baker said.

their best to help all students succeed.

“But that’s not always the case.”

Guidance counselors have many broad and

Due to the counselors being overloaded with

diverse tasks they need to accomplish. “My

students, some students feel forgotten. “I have

responsibilities at JHS are to look out for the

never talked with the guidance counselors,”

welfare of students,” counselor Susan Baker said.

Zach Corsbie ‘22 said. “I don't really feel like I

“That includes not only academic [assistance]

need them. I don't really care about the guidance

but personal, social, and emotional [assistance].

counselors.” Students like Corsbie are fairly

I also help students prepare for life after high school.” Clearly this is a long list of assignments, and lengthy training is required to help students

The five guidance counslors work to ensure the mental health and success of the student body.

in these areas.

common, as many students have never interacted with their counselors. The root issue counselors face are budget issues. Counselors could be making much more genuine connections with

Preparing guidance counselors for the

their students if more of them were on staff.

rigorous tasks they have to accomplish requires

experiences with the counseling office. “When

intensive schooling. “I have a master’s [degree]

schedules came out for second semester last year,

budgets. While the student body would

in education for school counseling, from the

I emailed the counselor and told her I did not

appreciate more counselors to form personal

University of Northern Iowa.” Baker said, “All of

have lunch with any of my friends, which gave

connections, at this point in time a bigger budget

the counselors have a master's degree, you can

me really bad anxiety,” Kendal Butin ‘21 said.

is not realistic. “Schools have tight budgets, and

not be a counselor without a master’s degree.”

“So [the counselor] changed one of my classes

therefore they have to be very selective in where

In order to get a master’s degree, it takes five

and said she couldn't do anything about the

their money goes and who they are going to hire,”

School districts do not have unlimited

state mandated, and advisory is just a convenient

20 | opinion

All About U.S. words | Savannah Dennis layout | Alex Heron

T

he history path at Johnston is one with limited choice. A majority of students take one semester of U.S.

History freshman year and some version of World Studies sophomore year. Junior year involves a type of U.S. History course and senior year consists of American Government and Economics. Everyone essentially follows the same path. “I think it’s hard with the way our graduation requirements are set up right now,” World Studies teacher Tyler Miklo said. “When you have to take World Studies all sophomore year, U.S. History and Government and Econ, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for electives.”

Not only does this restrict other classes, it restricts what students learn. “I think most of our curriculum for 9-12 is very focused on American,” Extended Learning Program (ELP) and AP World Studies teacher Sue Cline said. “For a while there were two other years in kids’ backgrounds where they were getting world history exposure, I don’t know if that’s still true.”

Of the three-and-a-half years of history that students take, two-and-a-half have an emphasis on the United States. “Since I teach government and economics, I am very much focused on domestic,” Government and Economics teacher Ben Knight said.

“Which is in line with what the state requires, which states that high school students must be educated in the American and local governments.”

Requirements for what public schools have to teach in the classroom are broad. In the Iowa Administrative Code, it describes what high school social studies education must include, “Instruction shall encompass

the history of the United States and the

It provides a critical foundation. “You need

about George Washington crossing the

history and cultures of other peoples and

to start from ancient civilizations all the way

Delaware for the fifth time but now you have

nations.” Beyond that, it is up to the school

to now to really understand why the certain

to write a poem about how rough the water

board to decide what is taught and how.

set of events have occurred,” Shreya Shrestha

was,” Vahdat said.

Contrary to popular belief, the standards provided by the state for social studies require

‘20 said. “World history broadened my view in a different way.”

The school board does not represent the students taking the classes. “I know particular

that students learn about the governments

This can be prevented by introducing a

kids who would just love to do a semester on

and cultures of other peoples and nations.

broader selection of history classes. “Being

Africa or a semester on Latin America or

“The history standards can be met in U.S. or

aware as a member of the global society is

something like that,” Cline said. “That would

World,” Cline said. “We could do whatever we

something we’re missing out on by mainly

be a really great opportunity to broaden

wanted and we would still be able to meet the

focusing on the U.S history,” Jake Wicks ‘21

people’s horizons.”

standards.”

said.

Demand for new history classes and

Imagine a school where the students

Learning the history of the world does

opportunities is likely not at the top of the

decided what parts of the world they learned

more than provide a bigger view, it provides

hierarchy, but it does exist. Some students are

about in World Studies, or a school in which

background of those around the school, the

asking for European History and Geography,

the students chose the time periods they

nation, and the world. “There are several

others want to learn about smaller, less

learned about. Turns out, that is not far from

others that are first generation Americans

recognized countries or religions.

what Johnston’s history department used to

like myself that would like to know about

Learning history is a rewarding experience.

be. “We started with one broad world studies

other countries’ histories,” Ameen Vahdat ‘21

“It is the one subject that encompasses all

when I first got here,” Cline said. “After a

said.

other subjects,” Wicks said. “You can learn all

year of that, I talked them into switching it

Students can agree on one thing: history is

of math, you can learn science, you can learn

to four options and you need two semesters.

not a popular subject. “I think that the average

English but all of that happened throughout

So I taught Ancient and Classical, the other

student wants an A in their history class and

the course of history, it’s the most in depth,

world history teacher taught Early Modern

wants to never think about history ever again

all-encompassing subject.”

and Modern.”

and I think part of that has to do with how

Students

find

that

learning

history

Limiting the exposure students have to

history is taught,” Cole Meyer ‘20 said. “It’s

provides a new understanding. “History lets

cultures and history that is foreign to them

very textbook. You read all the information,

you understand the way the world is,” Meyer

can create uninformed adults. “You can’t

you memorize all the information, you

said. “I think of it as one grand experiment

understand current events without a general

regurgitate all the information. That’s not

that helps you predict the future, that’s why

understanding of the historical pattern that

really what history is.”

we do experiments. History is the same

has gone on in areas of the world,” Cline said.

The call out for more history opportunities

“We are a unique country, being essentially

can also be traced back to the repetitive

thing.”

At the end of the day, the students need

a country of immigrants, and that makes it

nature of the courses taken. “We learn about

the opportunity to broaden their horizons

very difficult for us to have any perspective

the same topics from elementary to now,

and discover new perspectives before they

at all of the stuff that happens in other areas

those topics get more in depth as we go on,

leave high school. “I think history is best

of the world.”

but it gets boring because you’re learning

viewed in its entirety,” Meyer said.

22 | entertainment

Since the paleo diet limits the use of a

Whether it is the Paleo diet or another

majority of pre-packaged food, Dunn advises

diet, Dunn stresses the importance of

people who plan on going on the diet to

understanding how to make it a healthy diet.

plan ahead. “It is hard to find that kind of

“Make sure you’re being balanced about it,”

For some, a medical diagnosis makes

food when you’re in a rush,” Dunn said. “So

Dunn said. “Don’t only eat lettuce or whatever.

dieting unavoidable. Sylvie Heard ‘22 is one

make sure you have enough time set aside

Be mindful about what you’re eating, but also

of those people. Ever since she was diagnosed

to prepare everything. And maybe at the

don’t take it too far.”

with celiac disease, Heard has been restricted

beginning of every week, you put a bunch of

to a gluten-free diet which means she cannot

carrots in individual bags and like different

eat glutens which includes barley, rye, oats,

fruits in individual bags then you can just

and wheat.

grab a bag and throw it in your lunch box or

Gluten-Free

For Heard, the transition to a gluten-free

something and bring it to school. Initially, it

diet was not easy, especially when adapting

is a lot more time but it is more convenient

to school lunches. “The first time I ordered

up before and mark which months you want to eat. And then that first time, I don’t know why, but they forgot that I signed up for that lunch so I didn’t really have lunch that day.”

Despite the mix-up, Heard did not have any more issues with ordering school lunch.

However, class snacks have proved to be

words and layout | Taylor Siebert

A

so much. And now I don’t really think about

common component of giving

part. “People think that going vegan is really

it as much, but I’m still trying to get over ice

up certain foods and ingredients,

expensive, but it really is not if you actually

cream and some other dairy products that I

students’ diets can range greatly from the

plan out your meals,” Mandava said. “People

can’t eat anymore.”

restrictions they place on students to the

think that you literally cannot eat anything,

One of the most common things people

motivation each student has for starting one.

but once you start planning out your meals

want to know about someone’s diet is their

Some of these diets include vegan, paleo,

and think about what you’re eating it is much

reason for starting it. For Mandava, being

gluten-free, and vegetarian although there

easier to get the protein and everything you

vegan was a choice she made. “I read this

are far more than four diets followed by

need.”

one article about how being vegan helped

students.

While being vegan comes almost naturally

decrease climate change and how if everyone

to her now, Mandava does acknowledge that

in the world turned vegan, you would be

the diet does not come without struggles.

able to save 5.6 million people,” Mandava

“During my birthday I really wanted to have cake, but I couldn’t so I guess that was

The makeup of a vegan diet is fairly simple:

‘20 made the transition to a vegetarian diet in April of her freshman year. “My original

Varies

Calories

2,200-2,800 % U.S. Statistics

Consumers incorporating

I know for advisory class, my class brings

plant-based foods in their diet 39%

snacks every time and no one really asks

Vegan Diet

about dietary things. So I know last week was

Paleo Diet 7% Wheat-free or gluten-free diet 8%

my own things.”

motivation was an ethical one,” Renaud said.

“To me, it has always felt wrong eating meat.

Average Expected Daily Intake

when kids bring food,” Heard said. “Like

36%

6%

It never felt right. It always felt like even though I didn’t kill the animals, it felt like I took part in that system.”

While Renaud is passionate about being a vegetarian herself, she stresses that the decision is up to the individual. “I feel like when people find out you’re vegetarian and find out you’re vegan, they automatically assume that you’re going to start pushing them to do the same thing. I’m in a relationship where my boyfriend eats meat

Increase in vegans in U.S. in the

and I’m perfectly fine with that. The rest of

of the levels of severity when it comes to diet

past three years

restrictions. “Well, there’s a big difference

U.S. consumers choosing products

between having celiac disease and being

other people’s decisions. It is just my own

with no artificial ingredients

personal decision.”

gluten intolerant because with celiac disease thinks her diet is easy to follow for the most

3 meals per day Serving Size

Following a specific diet

One thing Heard wants people to be aware

lthough all diets share the

pertains to all animal products. Emma Renaud

Teen Diet Facts

another issue. “In some classes, it is hard

cosmic brownies, and so I usually just bring

Often mixed up with a vegan diet, a vegetarian diet limits the consumption of only meat compared to a vegan diet that

gluten-free lunch through the school was in 8th or 9th grade,” Heard said. “And you sign

Vegetarian

you really have to worry about the crosscontamination and if the food has been

600% 69%

*Statistics provided by healthychildren.org, food revolution network, food business news, and statista research department

in the same area as gluten,” Heard said.

“And like whether it [gluten] has touched it because then I still have to worry about it and sometimes gluten intolerant people do not have to.”

Paleo

my family eats meat. I have no problem with

Renaud’s decision to switch to a vegetarian diet has come with some difficulties with school lunches. “It started happening that multiple days per week I would not be

throughout the week since it’s already there.”

able to eat lunch because there were not

Dunn

nutritious, filling options available to me,”

acknowledges that she did not always feel

Renaud said. “Something that a lot of people

a need to follow the diet exactly. “Usually I

say is ‘oh you could just go to the salad bar

would bring my own lunch to school, but I

and get something.’... I guess that’s another

wouldn’t necessarily strictly follow the paleo

misconception that is all we eat is rabbit food.

diet cause like it was only really for my mom

And we really can’t.”

Even

with

preparation,

and my brother,” Dunn said. “So if I went

Renaud did reach out to the director of

No sugar. No dairy. No grain. Madison

out with friends I would just get whatever

food services for the high school, however,

said. “I know that as a person myself that I

Dunn ‘20 and her family went on the paleo

I wanted cause that was also what I would

she still sees room for improvement in

am not going to be able to make that big

diet for almost two years, following those

consider my cheat time. And then I would

vegetarian options offered for students. “I

a struggle,” Mandava said. “I guess in the

of a difference, but I guess me being vegan

restrictions. “Basically the Paleo diet is like

have a stash of food at home in my room that

expect the school to provide me with the

avoid all animal products. Siri Mandava ‘21

beginning I struggled with giving up meat

shows other people what my beliefs are and

what like cavemen ate,” Dunn said. “That’s

I hid from my mom so she wouldn’t find it

nutrients I need if I’m going to be stuck here

has been vegan for four months now and

cause like I used to eat fish and other meats

what I stand for.”

supposed to be the idea.”

and get mad at me.”

legally during the day,” Renaud said.

Vegan

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