October 2013

B&W

the black and white. oct. 2013. volume 22 issue 3. 5152780449. 6501 NW 62nd ave. johnston, ia

the black and white october, 2013

Five things to do around Des Moines Visit five unique locations around Iowa’s beautiful capital city

page 6

Catching air with cyclists

Advisory suggestions

The editorial board proposes a new advisory

page 3

Students and teacher cyclists share their stories

Athletes weigh their options

Students active in sports explain advantages and disadvantages of playing multiple sports in high school

page 7

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index

the b&w p.2 layout Eileen Lagerblade

Staff

Biking through Johnston

Head Editor in Chief Laura Scieszinski

Print Editor in Chief

Learn about JHS students and staff who cycle through Johnston and about the new Johnston trail being implemented

Mollie Greenwood

Online Editors in Chief

4/5

3

Sub Design Editors Sarah Ross Zoe Wilson

Sub Editor Carly Kinning

5 Things

5 things to do around Des Moines

6

Athletes diversify their direction Students athletes begin to see the benefits and drawbacks of playing multiple sports in high school

7

Apps in Class

Feature on apps that are used in classes at JHS

Online Teasers Provided/ Laura Schwartz

SAIL does not sail

Meredith Gwennap/ BW

Rivals come together to raise cancer awareness

Vist jhsblackandwhite.com to read more

Anne Rogers

Kenzie Foldes

The benefits and negitive effects of coffee and tea

A new approach on advisory

Sports Editor Design Editor

The skinny on coffee and tea What advisory needs to be

Jeremy Caracci Mallorie Goodale

8

Staff Writers

Ellen Bennett Senad Besic Carly Campbell Sarah Caporelli Clare Farrell Myles Glandorf Aaron Grey Meredith Gwennap Medina Jusufovic Eileen Lagerblade Natalie Larimer Anna Larson Sarah Margolin Daisha McAvaddy Courtney Mithelman Elizabeth Schraeger Evan Trainer Kevin Wu

B & W Philosophy

The Black and White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain Johnston students. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law and board policy, students assign and edit material and make all decisions of content. The paper is published ten times per school year. The paper will avoid material that is libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. The law does not require parental permission to use student quotes.

Ethically, we believe students can speak for themselves. Staff editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, 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. Bring letters to room 413 within one week after publication to be considered for the next issue. The Black and White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been printed, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com. The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the paper earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association First Class rating, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA state placings and sixth in the National Best of Show.

editorial

the b&w p.3

What advisory needs to be TheProblem

Advisory gives students a chance to bond once a week for 20 minutes. “It’s basically to help teach kids 21st

century skills but we also want to build community, build advocacy and provide students with an adult they can

go to if they have questions about anything that’s going on that’s a non-threatening environment,” advisory committee member Isaac Rodenberg said. Include start up and sometimes clean up time, and that winds up being 10-15 minutes. “There are definitely some difficulties to try to create [a sense of community] in just 20 minutes a week,” Rodenberg said. “I think it’s possible but it takes a while.” A small amount of time is not enough time to

get to know 15 students in a class, even if it is weekly. “I don’t think I’m bonding with my teacher... because we don’t do fun activities and we don’t really have the opportunity to open up,” sophomore Anna Toot said.

TheSolution

Instead of dedicating a lot of small sections of school time to advisory, dedicate large chunks about once

a month. Every three hour early out should be advisory project day. Students should sign up for an advisory “project track” when they request their schedules, in a similar way that we choose tracks for P.E. One would pick

the track they would prefer, then, a group of teachers interested in that track would team up to lead it. Currently,

advisory is randomly selected. “(We should have more) games and bonding activities,” junior Gabby Ledesma

said. “I personally like more hands-on stuff where we’re talking to each other... it gets us all loose and we’re talk-

ing to each other and then we can move into a topic and start talking about other stuff.” Choosing tracks would allow everyone to have one common interest to build a relationship on. Every early out day would be project

day, and students and teachers would bond by completing these projects and, in turn, bettering the community.

State requirements

Advisory contains required pieces that would have to be adjusted in this new plan. “The career-planning

piece, the bullying harassment piece- those are the two pieces that are really going to be the big ones that are state mandated,” principal Brent Riessen said. “The other thing we need to have is... a place to do scheduling

and we do that through the advisory time.” Professionals of each topic should address bullying/harassment and

career planning. For example, a professional motivational speaker would come with an impacting speech about bullying. After these professionals speak, advisors would be encouraged to discuss the presentations with their

students the next advisory time. Set-times on Wednesday early outs or perhaps one three hour early out would

Provided/Anna Lam

Then juniors, Maren Bettis and Audrey Kaus finish tying their blanket in advisory last year. Student council set up this activity in order to provide free blankets for the Partnership Place. A new advisory track consisting of volunteer activities such as this would allow students and teachers to bond with a common goal while also helping the community and making a difference.

be set aside for scheduling and the state-required iHave a Plan.

The staff

There needs to be a member of JCSD with one job — organizing advisory. “That is honestly a bit of an is-

sue,” Rodenberg said. “If we’re planning something for the entire school and we’re trying to basically do this on a volunteer-basis, I don’t know of any other program that involves 1,200 people that is volunteer led.” Preferably

this would be a full-time position, but if it was part-time, it would need to be this employee’s one and only position with JCSD. This would provide more structure and planning to advisory if it was one person’s sole purpose.

Teachers would sign up for each track of advisory and be the leaders, but the plans would be set up and given from this new employee.

Suggested track options for advisory

Landscape

Volunteer- Hands on

or just the landscaping in general. They could plant flow-

ect each day. The projects can range from organizing a

include life science teachers, biology teachers, or any

tary personnel. Advisors could be any teachers who enjoy

Artwork

Elementary

Volunteer- Community

around the entire district. They could paint a new mural

to read to the elementary students. The advisors would

meaning there would probably be an administrator along

district. Advisors could be art teachers as well as teachers

teachers or enjoy working with elementary students. The

Students in this track would contribute to artwork

for the school or create artwork for schools throughout the that work with other schools in the district, so they could help organize the projects.

Students would tend to a school garden, swamp area,

ers, test water levels, or clean up trash. Advisors could teacher interested in spending some more time outside.

Students in this track would go to Wallace or Lawson

best be teachers who have connections with elementary students could also help tutor the students or even aspiring teachers could help teach.

Students in this track would have a specific craft or proj-

food drive to making thank you cards for veterans and miliarts and crafts and helping the community.

This track would involve students going off campus,

with the teacher advisors. The students would stay close to the school and go places like the nursing home nearby to

volunteer or go to local businesses and help pick up trash or clean up.

The editorial is an opinion held by the editorial board of the newspaper. It needs a simple majority to pass. This month’s vote was 6-0.

biking

october 2013

the b&w p.4&5

words Sarah Caporelli and Ellen Bennett layout Kenzie Foldes and Sarah Ross

Nicole Davis: The Cross- Trainer Senior Nicole Davis rolls up to Trestle trail in Madrid.

Biking through Johnston

The twenty-minute drive built up her anticipation for the

ride. While unloading the bikes from the rack behind the

citement in the community continues to rise as the project gets finalized.

“We are really excited to start construction on the

tions so as not to disrupt too many parts of NW Beaver Drive.

“We really are doing this for the community,” Mayor

ed yard. A dirt path worn overtime is the foundation of down was amazing,” Andrews said. “There was this his summer rides.

VE 90th A

one part we were riding on, that there was a cliff side

The trail neared completion; it just needed a stand- to my right and a drop off to my left. It was definitely a

of Johnston Paula Dierenfeld said. “What we did was go

out feature. Andrews decided on a rock garden (portion rush.”

out and ask the community what they wanted us to do

of a trail that is rocks pieced together in the middle of a

and what we got was a reasonable response to build a

trail to ride over and do tricks).

trail along Beaver.”

While in the process of making the rock garden,

In response to the trail being built, a Facebook page

Andrews uncovered the remains of a small tractor snowplow. The rusted slip of metal was exactly what he

features regular updates of meeting times and progress.

needed to complete the other side of his bridge.

Junior Seth Andrews jumps off his bike to bring it over a fallen tree while crossing his homemade bridge.

project and that makes us happy to be doing it,” Schmitz said.

On-Street Route Recreational Routes Sidewalks

prove to be beneficial. “I don’t think I’ve been doing it

hooks Johnston and Madrid. “My favorite part of the

long enough to see a big change yet, but it’s helping,”

ride is the bridge,” Davis said. Davis usually hates

Schmitz hopes this trail bridges the community. “The

to the bridge he made, that spans over a creek, and

trail will be a safer way for people in that are in that area

Terry Hatfield: TheCommuter

get around and will eventually connect us to the NeilSmith trail,” Schmitz said.

ve

eav

ri er D

teacher Terry Hatfield makes his way to school through the use of the Johnston and Des Moines bike trails.

Hatfield began riding a few years ago as a way to get

in some more fitness and to work off the stresses from work and his daily life. He also estimates that through his riding, he saves about three dollars everyday.

“I wanted to move away from relying on fossil fuels

to get to work,” Hatfield said.

and have had a snapping turtle in the middle of the path

Andrews used to ride daily on the trail in the summer

during my ride,” Hatfield said.

but has not been on it very much lately because poison

Hatfield leaves his house at about 6:30 in the morn-

ivy has sprung up around the trail. “I used to ride all day

ing to allow him time to get ready for the day once he

and then get poison ivy so I would take a break for the

arrives.

“When I come to school in the morning, it’s dark a lot

The mini bike trail is up and running in at the An-

of times,” Hatfield said “It makes me feel safe to know

drews’ equipped with turns, ramps, bridges and a rock

that there are familiar faces on the trail with you and

garden. The trail is great practice for times when An-

able to assist you if anything went wrong.”

drews gets to ride in more exotic places.

The trail Andrews’ built prepared him for “the real

Cruising down the trail on his bike, ninth grade

“I have had deer run in front of me, run beside me,

installed the new ramp.

He enjoys seeing other people in the community

Sarah Caporelli/BW

Davis said.

bridges because they make her nervous. “The bridge

have occurred.

week and then go again,” Andrews said.

NW Beaver Drive

She and her father frequent the Trestle trail that

Davis said. The rides are tough but the payoff may

gest fear is running into a wild animal, but no accidents

it was all the way out,” Andrews said. He took the plow

Davis started cycling to better her swimming abilities

Swimming is Davis’ main sport and she has been

times has seemed frightening to Hatfield and his big-

a portion of the (plow) edge and just kept digging until

“We go eight miles down and then we turn around

swimming about 10 years.

Riding on a trail alone early in the morning some-

“I was just digging around for rocks and uncovered

B NW

NW

Junior Seth Andrews rides through the forest beind his house on his dirt trail.

bridge is considered a standout feature according to

but found she enjoyed it. “It’s sometimes a challenge,”

project. The trail snakes through Andrews’ lightly-wood- was really steep so it was hard to get up, but the ride

“The community is showing a lot of support for the

year and plan on completing it in eight different sec-

the many trails throughout Iowa to cross-train for swim-

and go eight miles back,” Davis said.

Transforming junior Seth Andrews’ five acre back- deal”. This summer while staying with his brother in

million and is expected to be complete some time in

The plan that is set that was approved in Aug. of this

Iowa Public Televison.

yard into a personal biking trail became a summer long Montana, Andrews rode on a more challenging trail. “It

named ‘Friends of Beaver Trail’ was created. The page

2015.

keeping to tradition. Then they are off.

ming.

trail,” Parks Director of Johnston John Schmitz said.

The long asked for trail has an estimated cost at $2.6

itself is really really cool,” Davis said. The Trestle trail

Davis has recently joined her father in biking through

The New Beaver Trail new trail in Johnston along NW Beaver Drive and ex-

car. Once situated she turns to her father waiting, “Are your feet hooked in the pedals,” Davis’ father asked,

Seth Andrews: The Adrenaline Rider

In March this year the budget was approved for the

Senior Nicole Daivs

being active on the trails during his rides and is now

seeing some of the same faces every day, giving him a sense of security. Although, Hatfield doesn’t see many students on the trails in the morning.

“I think we have this idea that we have to have a car

and the car is a social status thing and if you ride a bike to school you are poor or not cool,” Hatfield said.

Over the summer, Hatfield traveled to Colorado and

enjoyed the atmosphere relating to riding your bike.

“Riding your bike is the cool thing to do and your

bike is what identifies your social status there,” Hatfield said.

Hatfield commutes to school on his bike almost ev-

ery day that it doesn’t rain and when the temperature is above 25 degrees. He figures that he saves about

three dollars every day that he rides his bike. The com-

mute takes him about 20 minutes in comparison to the 12 minute car ride.

“At the end of the week I look back at how many

miles I rode, there is a sense of accomplishment when I am motivated to get up and ride my bike to school,” Hatfield said.

health

the b&w p.6

The skinny on coffee and tea coffee

with Urbandale dietitian Heather Illg

Between coffee and tea, which one is considered healthier?

People use coffee and caffeine as their energy when they really just need to be eating healthy food. Food provides energy and if we’re eating regular meals and making healthy choices then you’re going to get your energy from food rather than caffeine, which is only going to last for a short time.

Boosts “regulatory T-cells” which boost the immune system

5

May reduce risk of heart disease due to antioxidants

5 things to do around

Des Moines

words & layout Clare Farrell

3

top

negative effects of

tea

3

top

tea

top

Green tea fights prostate cancer tumor cells

Things

“[I like tea because] it’s refreshing and it doesn’t make you as thirsty.

With tea, some have lots of antioxidants and some are really good at flushing your system.”

Liera Bender, junior

I know [green coffee is] popular right now, but there’s not really research to back it up. It’s not something, as a dietetic professional, I’m recommending.

There isn’t a body of research to make any recommendations from.

Oftentimes, people forget to consider the calories that they’re getting from the coffee. Here again it goes back to when we’re adding in the sugars and the syrups.

3

“I like the taste and the extra pick-me-up of coffee.

I get the iced vanilla coffee [from Starbucks].”

Blake Singbush, senior

tea

What’s your take on the recent green coffee craze?

What is the biggest misconception about coffee?

health benefits of

coffee

What is a more natural source of energy than coffee or tea?

Tea [is healthier] because there’s possibly more research talking about the teas. And in our society we tend to muck up the coffee with sweeteners and syrups and they can be higher in caffeine. Whereas (with) the teas there are a lot more flavors to choose from and there’s a lot more options for drinking tea without getting the calories and the excessive added sugar.

health

benefits of

3

coffee

Qand Aabout coffee and tea

“I’m sure the little bit of caffeine gives me a boost in the morning. I think I just like the warmness of it. I don’t know why that should wake me up, but I’m in the habit and it’s comforting and it’s a nice way to start my morning.”

Alicia Rollison, social studies teacher

top

A dietitian’s view on tea and coffee

coffee

words Mollie Greenwood layout Sarah Ross

Mug shots

negative effects of

May contain fluoride which can be harmful to health

Makes you more awake and alert

Causes dehydration

Contains aluminum which in large quantities can cause Alzheimer’s disease

Helps lower risk of type two diabetes

Regular coffee drinkers may go through “withdrawal” if they do not get their coffee

Can stain your teeth

Drinking four cups a day or more may reduce risk of depression

Heartburn and acid reflux can be caused by coffee

Downtown Farmers’ Market

Des Moines Art Center

Wooly’s

by Iowans and support the local food market. You

rose garden. Here you can take a look at the Three

place for you. It is a small place to

breakfast burritos to cinnamon sugar almonds.

There is also free admission.

Historic Valley Junction

Historic East Village

can get right up close to the stage.

Junction is the Des Moines Theatrical Shop. Since

it is beginning to become cold outside visit the

ones at huge arenas because you’re

get all of your masks, face paint, hats, costumes

skating. You can also check out the unique shops.

just more intimate that way,” junior Aly

One can purchase hand crafted goods made

can try delicious foods from mango on a stick to

One of the most popular businesses in Valley

Spend an afternoon taking a stroll through the

Cairns sculpture which is one of three in the nation.

Check out the Historic East Village. Since

If you love concerts, Wooly’s is the

go to for concerts. If you arrive early

enough before the concerts start you “The concerts are way more fun than

Halloween is just around the corner come here to

Brenton Skating Plaza and have a fun evening of

so close to the stage and I guess it’s

and more.

One being Found Things, which has one of a kind

Bowen said.

vintage decorations and more.

sports

the b&w p.7

Athletes diversify their direction

words Anne Rogers

layout Zoe Wilson

Senior Nick Stitzell takes advantage of the three days

between the end of baseball season and the start of

football season. He knows he will not be able to get that

Nick Stitzell SENIOR Macall Campbell JUNIOR baseball, football, basketball, track&field gymnastics

offseason again for at least a year. “Those three days

were basically me sitting on the couch wondering what to do with my life,” Stitzell said.

Stitzell is one of many athletes who play more than

one sport in high school. He is a varsity athlete in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. “I guess I have

just stuck with those four, and it’s been hard to give them up,” Stitzell said. “They’ve pretty much become part of who I am.”

According to Iowa High School Athletic Association,

there are many benefits to playing multiple sports. One of those is that multiple sport students show improved

athletic performance. Cross training leads to becoming

a well-rounded athlete, better leadership and teamwork skills, and better mental development. It also makes it

easier for multiple-sport athletes to pick up on new skills.

Head baseball coach Michael Barta agrees. “There is

no training that I can give an athlete that is going to be

better than them running, jumping, cutting, every day at a sport, in a practice,” Barta said. “Kids are young, they’re

Anne Rogers/BW

Provided/Feriagrafix

Taylor Joens SENIOR volleyball, basketball, track&field

16 and 17 years old, and their bodies are in great shape to be able to do all the things coaches ask them to do.”

Senior Taylor Joens, another multiple-sport athlete,

sees the advantages of playing volleyball, basketball, and track and field. “Basketball helps me transition to track

because a lot of track athletes don’t do anything during

the winter, and I’m running all the time during basketball,” Joens said. Even though the transition from volleyball to

basketball can be difficult, Joens has learned to adjust to

it. “You just have to switch your focus from sport to sport, and I’m pretty used to it by now,” Joens said.

Anne Rogers/BW

There are disadvantages as well. “When I’m in a sport

I don’t get to go to preseason practices for the next sport,” Stitzell said. “It frustrates me that there are other kids that

are able to put in much more effort than I am for that sport during preseason.”

Barta, however, knows playing multiple sports will pay

off in the end. “I know a share of college coaches,” Barta

said. “And one of the first questions we get asked as head coaches is, ‘What other sports do they play? Are they a well rounded athlete?’ A college coach wants to take a

good athlete and develop them into a baseball, basketball, football player. They don’t want a kid who has just done baseball all his life, who has reached his peak, and is probably done growing.”

Playing in more than one sport has prepared athletes

for college in more than one way. “I think playing in more than one sport at a time is a good preparation for what

college is like because there will be some nights where

you have to stay up late studying,” Joens said. “I’ve done

Despite the disadvantages, Campbell thinks the

that before, like when I get home late from a practice, and

advantages outweigh the disadvantages for her. “To me,

Junior Macall Campbell only participates in gymnas-

athletic needs, gymnastics is all I need.” She knows that

I know what to do and what works for me.”

tics, and she notices the advantages and disadvantages of specializing in one sport. “Gymnastics is one of those sports that you can’t really slack off in,” Campbell said.

“No one on my team, including me, does anything besides gymnastics because we have to really focus on the sport.”

Campbell has been doing gymnastics since she was

gymnastics is my sport,” Campbell said. “To fulfill my own every person is different. “I know some people really did have to pick between two sports, so maybe doing one

sport is holding them back,” Campbell said. “But for me, gymnastics is my sport, and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”

Even though Barta believes playing multiple sports is

little, and has only tried one other sport, softball, for two

beneficial to most athletes, he understands the other side.

something happens and I wouldn’t be able to do gymnas-

sports,” Barta said. “If you decided to do one sport, the

years. “Gymnastics is all I know,” Campbell said. “So if

tics anymore, it would be hard for me to find something

else to participate in. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t do gymnastics.”

“At Johnston, the coaches have great backgrounds in their coaches would be able to put a plan together to help you

become athletic, get stronger, all those things. It just takes so much devotion.”

backpage

the b&w p.8

MyFitnessPal MyFitness Pal is an app that is used in health

classes to keep track of students’ food intake. It

tracks calories, fat, fiber and sodium in foods. It also logs exercise, and give you an estimate of calories burned during exercise.

“We don’t use it as a weight loss plan at all, we

just want students to know what they’re putting into their body,” health teacher Lacey Fulton said.

UberSense UberSense is an app that is currently

used in Track 4, and could also be used in

other PE classes.

“We [the PE department] think that Uber-

frame-by-frame viewing options. This helps

students see their mistakes so they are able to correct them.

There are also drawing tools that can be

Sense could help students better learn the

used to highlight and circle what is being

class,” P.E. teacher Brian Lutter said.

the angles of your body parts or limbs are

physical skills that we want you to learn in UberSense shows students their cor-

rect form for various activities. Students can

recorded. Angle features that can measure also available.

record themselves lifting to analyze their technique.

Different features include a coach-

ing review that has slow motion and

DropBox

DropBox is essentially

a flashdrive over the Internet.

APPS in class

Band director Patrick Kearney uses

DropBox as a way to get large media files out to his students quickly, since large

amounts of audio and video do not send through email.

DropBox also helps save time and

money when it comes to showing the

marching band students their performance.

the students have 24/7 access to the audio and video,” Kearney said.

Sending out videos through DropBox also

helps the marching band students by allowing them to see their show differently.

“Video on DropBox allows the students

have the ability to see what it looks like from where the audience sees it.”

“We used to have to burn a bunch of CDs

words Courtney Mithelman layout Zoe Wilson

Socrative is an application that can be

used as a formative assessment for teachers.

Teachers can set up “virtual classrooms”

and send out quizzes to students. After the

“The feature that is the most important is

the ability to get graphical results from student feedback immediately,” social studies teacher Jeremy Yenger said.

Socrative allows teachers to show stu-

dents their answers anonymously, so they

ments that teachers send out.

themselves to other students.

Students can take these assessments at

their own pace.

Your picks

Socrative

students log into these “classrooms”, they are allowed to access different assess-

Kahn Academy

or show it to everyone all at one time. This way,

can see where they are at, and compare It also helps teachers figure out what

subjects they need to re-cover in class.

Turnitin

“It checks for the percentage of direct quotes “It has videos of things that “You can plug in data and the in your paper. As a genyou have learned in the past. app graphs it for you. It also eral rule, you want 25-30 During the beginning of pregives you the equations of the percent to be direct calc, you have to go back lines. It also has built in cenquotes, and it gives you to a lot of Algebra 2 and sors that helps you graph the that number. It helps to Trig, so I watched videos to velocity, position and accelcheck to for plagiarism refresh my memory.”

Megan Buckallew, eration of certain objects.”

Stephanie Mark Schillerstrom, issues.” junior Graham, junior teacher

Graphical