torch the
John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
“ T h e to r c h h a s b e e n pa s s e d to a n e w g e n e r at i o n ” - J o hn F. K enne dy
left
BEHIND:
The truth about dropping out of high school revealed Have you ever noticed that guy or girl in your class that had been there but has simply disappeared? You no longer see their face in the halls or walking in from the south lot. They have just simply vanished. Murmurs start to surface that they dropped out of Kennedy. When people hear the word ‘drop-out’ they have some inclination that this simply means they ‘failed.’ This is very much opposite the truth. Torch goes to the inside to track where these students have gone and what they are doing now to shed a light that most have situations that the majority of students here couldn’t imagine having. CON T IN U ED ON PAGE 9
graphic by Craig Aucutt
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PA G E B Y M A C K E N Z I E S H E E H Y
PowerSchool issues cause problems with new term scheduling
Lately problems have been occurring with the PowerSchool scheduling and grading system, and have been affecting students scheduling for the new term. Mic Herrity, freshman counselor, believes the process of changing classes wasn’t wrong; it was PowerSchool that had problems with course numbers. “When PowerSchool went down, students and parents were very frustrated with the PowerSchool system,” she said. PowerSchool problems have been occurring due to the building of the process of PowerSchool back during the first term. However, the problems have been fixed, and it should continue to work through the following years,” she concluded. Sam Nordstrom
District in talks about redrawing school lines
There recently has been talk about redrawing district lines in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. The district school lines are boundaries of school attendance according to neighborhoods. Redistricting these school lines would make schools in the district more similar in the size of students attending the school. When asked if redistricting should be done, Mary Wilcynski, principal, said, “I think it’s more important we look at the population, social economic issues, population, and enrollment in all schools and try to make them as adequate as we can, and that’s challenging.” This has been talked about before, and may be soon reactivated. As of now there are no direct plans of redistricting happening, although it may soon be possible. Mohammed Cheetany
photo by Abby Gilman Surveillance. If a driver ran a red light at this intersection, they would be recorded by the camera and a citation could be issued. The red light cameras were installed on Feb. 12 and after a 30-day grace period, are now officially capturing evidence of traffic violations.
Red light cameras installed at city intersections Routine red light runners in the Cedar Rapids area should think twice about their dangerous habits; as of now, three operating red light cameras will be issuing citations for anyone violating traffic rules in busy intersections. The city has plans for installing ten cameras by this summer. The city began installing the red light cameras back in Feb. “The first one [red light camera] was put in on Feb. 12. And on Feb. 12, we started a 30-day grace period,” Cedar Rapids Police Public Information Officer, Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, said. The grace period ended on Sunday, Mar. 14, and since then, the city has officially begun issuing citations. “Red light violations are going to be $100. They also monitor speeding. If you ran a red light and were going 50 miles per hour in a 30 miles per hour zone, not only would you
Language students headed for France
Twenty-two Kennedy students, teachers and parents affiliated with the five French language sections will be traveling to France over spring break. The group will leave Sat., Mar. 20 and return on Sun., Mar. 28. They will visit a plethora of cities, spending time in Paris and southern France. The French department usually takes a trip biennially, but it has been several more years since the last trip—and this is usually the culminating aspect of the program for students. This will be the first trip that McKenna Feltes, sr., has ever taken out of the country. And although she still does not feel comfortable enough with the language, as an AP French student, to communicate with the natives, she is excited. “I can’t wait to see a different culture,” Feltes said, “because the American culture is all I’ve ever known.” Emma Lehmann
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receive the red light citation, but you would also receive one for speeding,” Hamblin said. While the red light camera concept makes sense, there are several concerns and misconceptions when it comes to what counts and what doesn’t count as a violation. For example, what if the light turned red while a vehicle was in the intersection or what if somebody wants to take a right on red? “You have to break the stop bar or crosswalk before it is considered a violation. So if it is yellow and I cross the stop bar, it is not a violation. If it is red when I cross the stop bar, then it is a violation,” Hamblin explained. As for a right on red, Hamblin says one must come to a complete stop before making a right turn so it is not considered a violation. Although camera installations have the potential to make driving safer for everyone, many
are not convinced it was the best action. “I don’t like the red light cameras because there are certain circumstances that are out of your control, especially during winter when it’s snowy and icy,” Amanda Brause, jr., said. While some people are still uneasy about the idea of red light cameras, the Cedar Rapids Police Dept. is moving forward with its plans to install them. Locations for the three light cameras are: 1st Ave. & 10th St. E, 2nd Ave. & 10th St. SE, and 2nd Ave & 6th St. SW. However, even though there aren’t cameras at every intersection, running a red light is a dangerous and illegal choice wherever one may be driving. The red light camera initiative aims to cut back on the occurrence of this risky decision and to make the city a safer place to drive. MICHAEL NORDSTROM
Students speak out:
What do you think of the red light cameras? “I think they will help stop people from running red lights, but on the other hand, I don’t think it’s right to penalize a person for something you didn’t actually catch them doing.” - Jasmine Butler, jr. “I think they are a good thing because the places that they are putting them are dangerous spots to run the light.” - Kristi Roehr, sr. “I think they are stupid because it is taking the job away from the cops.” - James Odegaard, jr. “I am against those.” - Chloe Evans, sr.
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PA G E B Y M A C K E N Z I E S H E E H Y
The Ultimate Spring Academic Checklist
No matter what grade you’re in, spring is a great time to start your planning and decision-making for next year. These checklists can help you keep track of what you’ve accomplished and what you need to do to have the best school experience possible.
Freshman to Sophomore
Sophomore to Junior
Junior to Senior
Senior to College
Participate in extracurricular activities, and plan for the ones you want to continue next year. Start developing your organizational skills now. Get in the hang of using a planner or agenda to keep track of your schoolwork and activities. Think about AP coursework for next year and beyond. Talk to your counselor about your AP or advanced options when registering for classes. Start a portfolio of all of the honors, awards, and certificates you've received in high school. Also keep a list of your activities and leadership positions, and update every year. It may seem like a long way off, but this will come in handy when you're applying for college in a few years. (And it'll come faster than you think!) In addition to participating in extracurricular activities, find a volunteer or community service activity you enjoy, and do it often. It's a rewarding, fulfilling experience that also looks great on college and scholarship applications.
Initiate the conversation with your parents about college, if you haven't already. You certainly don't have to decide exactly where you want to go or what you want to do now, but it's a great time to start thinking and talking about the size of school you'd like, distance from home, etc. This is also a good opportunity to discuss payment and financial aid options with your parents. Go for leadership positions in your activities. Make yourself heard and seen, and show off your talents and skills. Teachers, advisors, and coaches will notice. Start thinking about college entrance exams you'd like to take next year or senior year. Do you want to take the ACT, the SAT, or both? When do you want to register? (Remember: The sooner you take your first exam, the more time you'll have to retake it and potentially improve your score.) Sign up for a summer camp or workshop centering around an interest of yours (such as a journalism or engineering camp). Many are offered through local colleges and universities.
Now's the time to do your college visits. You can attend a large prospective student day or set up a private visit. Don't be afraid to visit a school even if you're only somewhat interested. The more schools you visit, the more you'll recognize what you want and don't want in a school. Along with college visits, attend college and financial aid fairs in and around your school. Register for the ACT or SAT, if you haven't already. After registering for senior year classes, double-check with your counselor to make sure that you have all of the requirements for graduation and any special honors you'd like to receive covered. Dig up that list of activities, honors, and awards and ask a parent or adult to help you write an awesome resume. This is a fantastic way to keep track of your accomplishments and will look great when you’re applying for colleges. You may want to considering registering for a summer class at a local college.
Talk to your counselor to make sure you’ve totally fulfilled all graduation requirements. Remember your PE requirements and those library fines! By spring, you should have filled out your FAFSA, applied for most scholarships, and taken the ACT and/or SAT. Many colleges require you to send in your acceptance of admission by May 1. Along with that, you'll need to review your housing options, meal plan, etc. Talk to your parents and finalize a financial plan for college. Find out what options and opportunities are available at your school of choice and get organized. Even though you're getting antsy, it's still important to keep your grades up. You'll need to ask your counselor to send in your final transcript to your college of choice in May, and you're eligible for awards and honors for excelling throughout your entire high school career (yes, even spring term of senior year!). Enjoy your final months of school, and...congratulations! You did it!
Arranged by Mackenzie Sheehy, information and insight provided by counselor Deb Snook and the Iowa College Access Network
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06entertainment
PA G E B Y A B B Y G I L M A N
Torch took a look at the Prom faux pas, and came up with ways to help you look and feel your best on the big night. by Abby Gilman, with commentary by Zachary Lindo, stylist and ‘07 Kennedy graduate The lookin’ fine The not-so-good Dress mess Princess dress Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks
DO show your style. You don’t have to subject yourself to other people’s likings. DO try on a lot of dresses, all of different shapes, styles, and colors. It can be intimidating to try to figure out what you want in a dress. DO let the dress speak for itself. Keep the dress at the center of attention. You’ve spent a lot of money on it, so show it off! DO keep your accessories to a limit. You don’t need to go overboard. Accessorizing with some simple earrings and a dainty bracelet will add just the right amount of pizzazz. DO make sure you feel comfortable. No matter how much you may love a dress, if you aren’t comfortable in it, the night won’t be quite as much fun. You don’t want to be self-conscious all night long.
DON’T over-accessorize. It might seem like a good idea to pile those bracelets up on your arm at the time, but adding too many accessories makes you look messy. DON’T follow trends. Just because someone else may love it, doesn’t mean it is right for you. DON’T latch on to the first dress you like. Try out your options. If you are positive it is the perfect dress, don’t second guess yourself. Go with your gut, but test out the waters. DON’T overexpose yourself. We don’t need to see the extremes of your body. DON’T stress out. It is a big night, and you want to look good, but don’t freak out. Everything will work itself out. Stay calm and collected; there is a right dress for everyone, but it may take some digging. Brooke Skaggs, sr., demonstrates the looks.
Lovely locks
“The
Tips & Tricks hair should DO go formal. Prom is a big night, and your hair should measure up to the occasion. DO bring a photo of your dress to your hair appointment. It will help your stylist visualize the whole look to keep a consistent theme. DO consider the shape of your face. Different styles look good on different shapes. DO match your jewelry with your hair style. If you have pretty, dangly earrings, show them off!
always complement the dress. Meaning, if the dress is more elegant and soft, I think you should do more of a soft, elegant style to go along with that dress.”
Kate Schafer, sr., demonstrates hair styles by Zachary Lindo.
Fresh face
Tips & Tricks DO keep the makeup natural and fresh. It’s okay to experiment with colors, but don’t go to extremes. If you decide to go with color, keep it toned down, and below your crease. DO keep your makeup looking fresh and clean, not clogged up and overdone. DO pick your best feature and play it up. Adding a little color can make a big difference. DO look natural; it is the best way to go, and it doesn’t take away from your natural features.
“The makeup, the hair, the dress, everything you wear, they all should really collaborate and go well together. You want to be elegant.” Ashley Harris, sr., demonstrates the makeup.
Hair scare
“[The hair] can’t Tips & Tricks just be DON’T go too casual. rocked out, Make sure that your hair like edgy fits the occasion. DON’T have a cluttered and crazy hairstyle. There shouldn’t when be too much going on you’re up top. wearing DON’T put too much atmore of a tention to your head. You proper, for- don’t want to take away your beautiful face mal dress. from (which you have acquired This [style] via these awesome tips) is more and dress. what you’d DON’T go sky high. No see on the one wants flat hair, but there is an altitude limit runways, to your ‘do. not prom.”
Freaky face
“You don’t want to have heavy makeup with a more elegant look, because then your face will pop out. You can’t just have [a nice look] and then crazy makeup.”
Tips & Tricks DON’T go Gaga; she might be able to rock the look on stage, but it is not advised for use at home. DON’T play up more than one feature. If you want to go for a bright, dramatic eye, make sure to tone down the rest of your makeup. DON’T cake on the foundation. Sheer foundation can create a natural, even skin tone. DON’T pile on the blush. A little can add a nice splash of color, too much can make you look like a clown.
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PA G E B Y A B B Y G I L M A N
Album Reviews [BY MACKENZIE SHEEHY]
ABOUT ALBUM RATINGS: Albums were reviewed on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst, 5 being mid-range, and 10 being the best.
Kennedy’s newest production rocks the drama dept. The sight of blood makes some people queasy; if that’s you, beware of Kennedy’s upand-coming production, Sweeney Todd. Based on the Broadway hit, this daring musical is a deep, dark, murderous story of a hopeless romantic turned murderer posed barber. “Sweeney Todd is one of the most challenging musicals a high school could do because of things like the set and the music that’s involved,” Danny Yuska, drama director, said. Set construction has been in action since day one off of holiday break and has a ways to go before it’s called completed. For a massive production a massive cast is expected. Over one hundred students auditioned for a part. “This play tried to get a lot of people involved, since past plays had a smaller cast,” Lars Lee, sr.,
said. Seventy five people make up the cast of Sweeney Todd; ten are main characters that add to a sixty-five person choir. As a comparison, there are forty-eight singer/dancers that configure Happiness, Inc. That is already a tight squeeze on stage; now add twenty-plus more able-bodied singers doing their thing to pipe out some notes, and Yuska is making miracles happen. “I’m really excited,” Lee said. “This is a pretty popular play. The story is awesome along with the music. Yuska is really working hard.” Not only are the set and the amount of people involved a difficult situation but also the play itself will be challenging to portray the correct way. For people that have seen the movie, starring the witty and debonair
Play practice. The cast of Sweeney Todd practices being drunk. photo by Laura Pochobradsky
BROKEN BELLS - BROKEN BELLS
A bloody good time. Members of the play run through their lines. photo by Laura Pochobradsky Johnny Depp, the movie is a very dark and bloody depiction of the Broadway production. Necks are slit and blood gushes and oozes from their nearly decapitated heads. Lee comments that the movie is a real exaggerated version of the play. “They are really different from each other,” says Yuska. However, if you liked the movie, the play will not be a let down. They follow the same story and with the set being built up to something no less than amazing and costume design to die for, it will be a sight to see. Makeup artist, Jason, who has worked with the drama department before along with speech team, will be putting all his skills to test with Sweeney Todd. Jason has also done makeup for Hollywood productions such as The Grinch and Planet of the Apes. In addition to the cast, Yuska, Steve Tolly, tech director, his
assistants and parent helpers, costume, hair, and makeup personnel, one hasn’t even accounted for the people in charge of making the noise for this masterpiece. All the music is done by award winning composer Stephen Sondheim. Yuska calls it, “very, very challenging.” In the end, this is a musical, so why not go for it all with music that will put instrument veterans to the test? The opportunity for this production to be truly outstanding has all the right components. Sweeney Todd premieres April 22 and plays the 23 and 24. “The message behind the play is really the most important part,” Yuska said. To experience a production nothing short of Broadway, make sure to get out and see what Sweeney Todd is all about. morg an gu g e
How did you ask your date to WPA?
“I wanted to do something different and creative that no one else had done. I went to Pizza Hut and had them write out ‘WPA’ onto the pizza with pepperonis and send it to Adam [Lloyd’s] house. The Pizza Hut people said they had never done anything like it before.” -McKenzie Drahn, so. information gathered by Rachel Gilman
“It is Ryan [Dusil’s] senior year, so I wanted to do something special, different and creative. I thought that the T-shirts were good because it was a public display and other people could be there to see it too. Olivia Meier, jr., Val Ross, jr., and Shannon Beck, jr., wore the shirts. Each wore a shirt to the basketball game that had the letters ‘W’ ‘P’ and ‘A’.” -Kristen Huebsch, jr.
It’s a collaboration that would make any indie afficiando quiver in their American Apparel undies: the Shins’ James Mercer and uberproducer Dangermouse joining forces to create dreamy funk-pop outfit Broken Bells. Though Mercer and Mouse emerge from opposite ends of the musical spectrum, the conglomeration works impressively; however, fans may be left searching for more oomph amidst the extreme chillaxitude. Mercer's signature hazy folk-rock vibe pairs pretty damned perfectly with Mouse's groove-focused producing style; the album's most notable tracks, such as 'Vaporize' and 'October', are saturated, soulful, and satisfyingly sweet-and-sour. However, all of that chill can start to feel a little chilly; halfway through the album, even the most laid-back listeners may find themselves wanting something a little more grimy and heavy. Nonetheless, there's a lot of chemistry between Mercer and Mouse, and the two definitely know how to play off of each others' strengths. Too bad it nearly floats away in its airiness. Take Broken Bells as proof that you need some rough to keep it smooth. [6.1] DOWNLOAD: 'Vaporize', an organ-laden, Beck-esque stunner that takes full advantage of Mercer's strikingly clear voice.
GORILLAZ - PLASTIC BEACH Cartoon characters growing up? If Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn has anything to do with it, the unconceivable can be achieved. And with their third LP, Plastic Beach, everyone's favorite animated band manages to mature and glamourize, yet still retains the prodigious, progressive bizzaro-cool that captured our ears and minds from the get-go. For starters, there's the insane load of guest artists; everyone from RZA to Mos Def to Bobby Womack to Lou Reed to the Arabic National Orchestra. The collaborations are fascinating and unexpected, and definitely one of the coolest features of Beach. Also, the album takes on this really glamorous, South-Beach-from-the-future feel, as is especially evident on first single ‘Stylo’, which is potentially the greatest Grand Theft Auto commercial song ever. Overall, this album makes me want to cruise through Miami, wear a white leisure suit, and be named Tony Montana. Say ‘ello to my li’l friend Plastic Beach. [8.1] DOWNLOAD: ‘White Flag’, a furious, drum-soaked romp on the sand highlighted by Middle Eastern strings.
graphics by Craig Aucutt
“To ask my boyfriend, Chase Fifield, to WPA I sent him on a scavenger hunt all around the city. All of the hints rhymed and most had an inside joke unique to our relationship. It ended at Noleridge [Park] where I asked him on the playground. It was a more unique way to ask than I have done in the past.” -Amanda Brause, jr.
NNEKA - CONCRETE JUNGLE It's been a while since R&B has seen a strong, gritty female voice, but those days may well be over. Freshfaced Nigerian soul powerhouse Nneka's flawlessly constructed world beats and socially conscious lyrics have launched her onto the radar, and judging by the sound of her phenomenal new album, Concrete Jungle, she's more than lived up to the hype. Girlish, raspy, and capable of belting and rapping, Nneka's one-of-a-kind voice transcends soul, hip-hop, rock, blues, and, such as on the phenomenal tracks ‘Africans’ and ‘Suffri’, even reggae and jazz. The haunting, heavy beats on ‘Showin' Love’ and ‘Walking’ recall Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, whom are two apparent influences of Nneka's. However, she's very much her own musician; her intense, unrelenting cries on the chorus of «Heartbeat» are essentially announcements of her arrival as the newest queen of R&B. And you'd better listen up. [7.8] DOWNLOAD: ‘Showin' Love’, an infectious accordionpowered hip-hop anthem about, well, showin' love.
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torch
08 editorial
PA G E B Y E M M A L E H M A N N
Hallway etiquette
F r i d ay, M a r c h 1 9 , 2 0 1 0 John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
Have you ever had that feeling? When you are walking down the halls and then suddenly it feels like a bowling ball hits you in the stomach? This happened to me just the other day. I was walking to class with a friend when all of a sudden a freshman swung around and smashed me in the stomach with his backpack. It hurt a lot, and made me realize something… We walk in the halls everyday. Actually, multiple times a day. Sometimes I get the feeling that we really don’t know what we’re doing. Therefore, I came up with the following hallway guidelines:
1
When walking down the hall, please refrain from randomly stopping. This causes both blockage and annoyance. The only excuse for you to randomly stop while walking is if it is Random Stopping Day (April 12).
THE FIVE COMMANDMENTS ...of thy Hallway
2
When walking down the hall, please refrain from randomly stopping and kissing. I’m not sure if you realize, but we CAN see you.
3
When walking down the hall, please keep speeds above 3 mph. I plan on posting minimum speed limit signs as soon as I can.
4
If you text while walking down the hall, all other students reserve the right to “bump” into you, knocking the phone from your hand. Sorry! If these rules are not followed strictly, I will be forced to start up a Hallway Police Club. Our mission: To protect and preserve the hallways of J.F. Kennedy High School to the best of our abilities. Watch out.
I. Thou shalt not maketh out in front of all thy fellow students (and thy faculty). II. Thou shalt waiteth until lunch to dawdle with thy friends in said hallway. III. Thou hast full permission to shove those who be too $%@!ing slow. IV. Thou shalt not stall in the middle of thy hall as if thou hast forgotten where thou is. V. Thou shalt not start a beef with one who shoves thee; thous shalt not taketh this personally.
Yearbooks fall short of expectations Students share opinions on Profile Like everyone else when the yearbook came out I totally ignored all of my teachers and was engaged in looking through every page. But as I kept turning the pages of the highly anticipated yearbook, I soon became very disappointed. With the amount of time that the staff had, every page should have been flawless. But this yearbook was far from it. Pages were left without titles, certain quotes were totally made up, and some story lines were very poorly chosen. The band must have really appreciated their yearbook page being aa student not even in band, and the tennis team
The Torch’s Opinion
Shop, support local patrons Last month Theater Cedar Rapids reopened its doors to a packed house. This was just one of a long list of downtown flood recovery stories. Yes, downtown Cedar Rapids is coming back, slowly but surely. It is not certain when it will be fully alive again; it may not be before the seniors graduate and move away, and it may not even be before the freshmen are done with Kennedy. But if one thing is certain to the Torch editorial board, it’s that the business of downtown can’t do all of the work alone. Now, we’re not suggesting you donate any significant amount of money or time...we understand that Kennedy students are busy. But we are asking, or really urging, you to give your business to downtown patrons. It is essential to show the business owners of downtown that we still believe in them; they need to know we care. So, buy a ticket to see a TCR play, stop by a shop and buy a sandwich, or just park and pay the meter. Every little bit will help in eventually restoring downtown.
“I didn’t really go through the whole thing, but people were telling me that there was a bunch of mistakes in it.”
probably really enjoyed reading quotes from players talking about how hard they worked the whole season, when the reality of it was, they only played in one meet. With $70 being paid for each yearbook, the students deserved a more carefully put together and more accurate memory log. But let’s be careful where we place our blame. The current yearbook staff is certainly not to blame. They were the ones who stuck it out through all of the troubles. When things started to get tough, most of the staff bailed and left them out to dry, but they stuck through it and got us a yearbook; better late than never.
But the blame should go to the seniors who walked out on the staff. In fact one unnamed person left with all of the yearbooks all ready finished work, and went off to college without the consideration to think of the hard work of his peers. And a special thank you needs to go to advisor, Kara Asmussen.
She is the main reason you have any yearbook at all right now. I personally witnessed her spending some of her nights vigorously working, trying to fix the mess left by a few people. So thank you to that senior that walked out on everyone. You really left your mark at Kennedy. Too bad it was a bad one.
totally disowned by Kennedy High School. Forget any of that “learning for the sake of gaining knowledge to make yourself a better person” crap; stressing yourself to the brink of craziness in studying for the AP tests…that is what high school is really all about! So go ahead, have your parents write the check: $86, $172, or maybe even $516, (Don’t scoff, that last number is only five tests!) and, get to work! Barnes&Noble has a wide selection of $18.99 study materials (per subject), and an hour a night (per subject) should suffice..if you want to get a three. Now spend
the next three months studying this, and then spend four hours of your life filling in a Scantron sheet at the KTOS center. This will certainly help you as you go to college…right? Oh wait, you said you’re going to the University of Iowa? Well, hopefully you got at least a four on the AP Lang test, so you can get your four credit hours. I also hope you got a four on that AP Spanish test, otherwise you don’t get anything. Or maybe you’re going to the University of Northern Iowa? Wow, I hope you got a five on that AP French test, otherwise you have to take an extra CLEP test to get credit. And I hope you didn’t waste your money on that AP Computer Science test, seeing as it is not required at all and won’t get you out of anything! Oh, but you say you’re going
to Iowa State? Well that sucks if you spent the year in AP Studio Art…Iowa State doesn’t seem to give any credit for drawing, 2-D design, or 3-D design. Maybe you were going to go crazy and become a Northwestern University Wildcat in Chicago…well, 16 of the 32 subjects allow you to get a four and still receive credit, but the other 16 require a five. So I hope you did really well. But don’t let this discourage you! The administration heavily supports AP tests. Our principal, Mary Wilcynski, even said that she supports AP tests because they bring “credibility to the program”which I suppose is an almost valid reason. So take your chances…it’s not like we’re in an economic downturn right now!
Dax Sunkten, sr. “I thought it was better than the year before, even though it was way later, but I still thought it was better.” Brett Herr, sr.
Maggie Schatzle, sr. “I thought it was boring and...and there could have been better pictures because some of them were really blurry.”
The thrill of AP-ness AP-ness in my backpack; APness on my laptop; AP-ness on my kitchen counterwith May AP tests right around the corner, AP-ness is officially everywhere. Yes, the much-anticipated AP tests: if you haven’t noticed, they’re kind of a big deal. AP tests are what every AP student has been working for since August; they’re the reason we have all been studying (aka google-ing “AP multiple choice answers”), reading (aka CliffsNotes.com-ing), and listening (aka perfecting the skill of sleeping with our eyes open) all year long! AP tests are what every good AP student absolutely needs to take…to avoid being
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09profile Co ntin u ed fr o m page 1 After the dissaperance, murmurs start to surface that they dropped out of Kennedy. When people hear the word ‘drop-out’ they have some inclination that that simply means they ‘failed.’ This is very much opposite the truth. Becca Vogl would have been a senior at Kennedy this year. Due to some personal situations she had to leave. “Personal conflicts and other distractions at Kennedy were making it difficult for me to really focus on school,” Vogl said. Kennedy has an administration and staff that is recognized as one of the best. The counselors and administrators here are not going to let go easily and they will find the best place for their students if Kennedy is no longer an option. If a student wanted to leave Kennedy, there are three options: Metro High School, obtaining your GED certification at Kirkwood Community College, or receiving your GED through an online option; although this is not pushed. Brian White, attendance facilitator here at Kennedy High School, handles Metro and Kirkwood transfers from Kennedy. White also has a background from Metro High School that allows him to help the students further in their decision-making. There is a process a student must go through in order to not attend Kennedy any more. When White notices that
PA G E B Y J O N AT H A N C H A D I C K
there are a large number of absences that are unaccounted for he will call the student in and ask them one question, “Do you want to stay here at Kennedy High School?” If they answer no, the three options are discussed. They must decide between Metro, Kirkwood’s GED program, or the online segment. According to White, the online courses do not simulate a true high school education so they are not recommended. Metro holds a maximum of 600 students and they come from all over eastern Iowa, not just from the Cedar Rapids Community School District. For this reason there is also a waiting list. For this one to two month gap in-between schools, the student has the option to either return to their original school or to just simply work until they are able to start attending Metro. Metro does what they can to follow the same curriculum that follows what the Cedar Rapids Community School District requires. However, there are some major differences between Metro High School and other high schools in the state of Iowa. Metro students only attend school Monday through Thursday. For our school, half days are celebrated, but for Metro High kids they are every day. Students choose between an A.M. and P.M. halves of the day. They also gain high school credit for having a job. The goal of the Metro High School staff is to get these students a
high school diploma. “A lot of students have been dealt just a bad hand with a lot of the things they go through,” White said. “The students can’t control what they are brought into. Metro High School serves as a second chance. Without it many could end up in a direr situation or heavily involved in drugs and alcohol.” When asking White if he usually agrees with the decision the student has made about leaning towards Metro he replied that the majority of the time he did think Metro was the best decision for the student. Kennedy has one of the lowest Metro transfer rates in the Cedar Rapids area. Sixteen have already headed for somewhere other than Kennedy now and that number usually reaches twenty by the end of the school year. Only 20 students of the 1800 students that attend Kennedy drop out each year. Administrators know that staying at Kennedy is almost always the best option for the students, though. They do everything in their power to try and have the students remain here. Kennedy principal, Mary Wilcinski, has paid for student’s gas and even bus tickets to ensure that they are arriving at school. However, once the student makes the decision that they no longer want to be at Kennedy, there are options in place to help them continue their education. M o rgan G u ge graphic by Craig Aucutt
Hollywood Bound: Torch editor Michael Nordstrom, jr., named finalist in filmmaking contest
photo by Emma Lehmann Browsing. Michael Nordstom, jr., surfs the internet during newspaper class. Nordstrom, the News Editor for The Torch, recently was names as one of the students that was being flown to Hollywood. He wrote two essays and had a brief phone interview. A few days later, he was told that he had been chosen to receive an all expense paid trip to Hollywood.
Torch: What contest did you enter? MN: I entered the Reese’s Puffs Extraordinary Cinema Project, Spring Break Edition. Torch: How many people entered the contest? MN: The program director told me that over 2,000 teens entered the contest. Torch: Where are you going for the contest? MN: For the contest Reese’s Puffs Cereal will be flying my father and I out to Los Angeles, CA. Torch: What were your thoughts when you entered this contest? MN: I was just thinking, ‘Man, this would be really cool if I win. And I don’t think that I am going to win, but it’s only going to take 20 minutes to apply, so why not?’ Torch: What are you most looking forward to? MN: I am really looking forward to learning more about filming and editing and working with an actual director. I am also looking foward to looking for celebrities. I really want to meet Ke$ha. Torch: Will you be working with any famous actors? MN: Yes, I will be working with Dominic Monaghan from Lost and Bobb’e J. Thompson and he is from 30 Rock and the movie Role Models. Torch: What do you think you will gain from this experience? MN: I think I will learn a lot more about movie directing and the whole production process and a better understanding for what I really want to do when I am older. Filming and directing is really my thing. D A R C E Y A LT S C H WA G E R
10health
photo provided by Joe O’Leary Thanks. A group of Haitian children pose with ‘Thanks Kennedy’ signs after receiving the food packaged here two years ago.
Food for hungry Haitians For people in Haiti, having a ‘cookie’ does not mean eating dessert, but rather filling your stomach to survive starvation. Dirt cookies are “Starving peo- made of dirt, salt, and shortening, ple can’t digest vegetable and are anything but regular food like sweet. For generations, we can. So the dirt cookies have served food is specifi- as a source of income and food for millions of cally designed hungry Haitians. The ONE Campaign for bodies that and Kids Against are starting to Hunger are making shut down from it possible for 40,000 malnutrition Haitians to enjoy a difand starvation.” ferent kind of meal this spring. -Joe O’Leary Students and faculty are currently in the process of packaging food with the $10,000 raised last month from the ONE Campaign. Packing will take place today, second through fifth hour, in the west gym. The food being packaged is a
precise blend of nutrients. The recipe was devised by the world’s leading food scientists at Cargill, Pillsbury, General Mills, and ADM. “Starving people can’t digest regular food like we can. So the food is specifically designed for bodies that are starting to shut down from malnutrition and starvation,” Joe O’Leary, Kids Against Hunger employee, said. Each serving is rich in protein and carbohydrates. The ingredients – rice, minerals, chicken flavoring, soy, and vitamins – provide benefits non-existent in the dirt cookies. The food is projected to reach Haiti two weeks from today. O’Leary has confidence that the shipment will reach those in need because Kids Against Hunger only sends to a network of long-established churches and schools. This is the third consecutive year Kennedy has contributed
40,000 meals to Haiti, and according to Patty Walsh, the ONE Campaign coordinator, this year’s contributions couldn’t have come at a better time. “There were lots of funds when the earthquake first hit, but there isn’t as much now. They’re still in dire straights, so this will be a good time for the food to go,” Walsh said. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that stuck Haiti last Jan. only amplified the country’s preexisting need for help. Approximately 55% already lived below the poverty line (living on $1/day) and 3.3 million of the country’s 9 million were already food insecure. Women and children remain most vulnerable; nearly half the women have anemia, and one in three children die before the age of five. “The whole country, they live in poverty,” Walsh, said. “They need the food.” Allison kindig
PA G E B Y A L L I S O N K I N D I G
Wednesday, March 24 is national Kick Butts Day. This day is designated to end cigarette smoking. In recognition of this day, Torch took an inside look at smoking here. Currently, Iowa has adopted the Smokefree Air Act. This law prohibits smoking in almost all public places and enclosed areas within places of employment. Kennedy has a strict no-smoking policy. This means that no student or employee is allowed to smoke on Kennedy property. If anyone is caught smoking on campus, they are issued a $50 ticket by a police officer. The legal age to buy and smoke cigarettes is 18. Shelby Bearrows, an 18-year-old senior, said she sometimes leaves campus at lunch to
smoke a cigarette. Bearrows smokes four to five cigarettes a day. She hopes to quit in the near future. Bearrows did stop about a month ago, but that lasted about two days. For underage smokers, a supervisor must see the student smoking to have them arrested. Smelling smoke on a student isn’t enough to warrant their arrest. “As to smoking, the student body as a whole is a lot better than last year.” Carl Barton, campus security, said. With student smoking on the decline, there should be less “butts to kick”. This means national Kick Butts Day’s mission is being accomplished. Allie Sindlinger
photo by Elise Krivit Puff. Shelby Bearrows, sr., smokes a cigarette in her car.
graphic by Craig Aucutt
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THIS not THAT in the JFKafé With six food lines to choose from, Torch analyzed* five to determine the to cafeteria healthiest pick offered by each based on calories, fat content *according staff and food labels
PIZZA LINE
MAIN LINE
SPECIALITY LINE
VENDOR LINE
THE CLOSET
Choose this: If you are craving some meat, sausage is the way to go. Sausage pizza contains 280 calories. It’s fatty, but not nearly as concentrated as the fat in pepperonis. Not that: Pepperoni pizza contains 298 calories, 109 of which come from fat. Pepperonis are 78% fat, making it the worst slice served in the pizza line. Plus, sausage pizza offers more meat per serving.
Choose this: When the famous ‘turkey gravy day’ rolls around, be sure to get it. One serving contains 195 calories. Turkey is one of the cleanest meats available, high in protein, and low in saturated fat. Not that: Avoid the teriyaki dippers, a ground beef product. More than half of the calories in ground beef come from fat. It also contains lots of saturated fat and grease.
Choose this: The walking tacos are healthy because they contain turkey meat, not ground beef. Ground turkey contains 130 calories, only 4% from fat. Not that: If you are counting calories, avoid the burger basket. Although the burgers are steamed and not grilled to cut down on the grease, the fries are deep-fried. This delicious but unhealthy duo contains 469 calories, 54% from fat.
Choose this: Because it’s oven-cooked, King chicken is the healthiest vendor option. Ovencooked chicken is healthier than deep-fried chicken. Chicken contains fewer calories than beef. Not that: Avoid the potato bowl. After you add the corn, potatoes, gravy, and popcorn chicken, the potato bowl contains close to 400 calories. This makes the potato bowl one of the highest calorie dishes offered.
Choose this: If you opt for a snack, go for the salad. The salad contains one cup of lettuce and your choice of two sides. Not that: Don’t be fooled by foods that seem healthy. A parfait and a bag of popcorn amounts to 630 calories. While the parfait is high in protein, it contains 500 calories. The popcorn contains 130 calories, 56% from fat. Da r c e y a lts c h wa g e r photos by Emma Lehmann
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11sports
PA G E B Y A L E X B U S B E E & R I L E Y G A L B R A I T H
Girls’ track team starts injury-free
Crawley out, boys’ track team runs on
The girls’ track team has started off the season, and head coach Joe Bunch says the girls are doing better than he expected. Bunch believes the girls’ team is going to have a very successful year, partly because the team isn’t suffering any major injuries. “Our team hasn’t had any difficulties this year,” Bunch said. “We have 60 girls that went out and it is going to be a good year.” Bunch believes his team has a lot of talent and will have a good year if they work hard. “However, I do believe the things the team needs to work on most this season is to believe in themselves more and also they need to have more confidence,” Bunch said. “I plan to accomplish giving them more confidence and belief in themselves more by coaching them.” Mackenzie Welsh, jr., is a varsity track athlete and she believes the team will have a very good season, even though the team has lost some very good seniors from last year. Welsh thinks that the coaching staff is as strong as it has ever been this year because there is a lot of coaches, including a new hurdling coach. “We are all trying our best and we all want to do well,” Welsh said. “We need to make it to every single practice and when we are at practice we need to do our personal best and not get distracted.” C a h l e Co r r e l l
The boys’ track team has started off the year with a few injuries but the coaches say they still have a lot of faith in the team. The team’s two-hundred, fourhundred, and eight-hundred-meter-runner Anthony Crawley, jr., has been out the entire season an injury to his knee. But Crawley is planning on coming back before the Drake relays. “The team is still going to be very successful without me,” Crawley said. Head varsity coach, Dennis Roloff, said that the most difficult thing about this season has been all of the injuries, with Anthony Crawley and Royce Bell out. But they are still optimistic about having a tremendous year. “Last year we placed fourth in state but our team is still looking to improve even with the injuries,” Roloff said. Roloff believes the track team will still be strong, but there are some spots in the team that need to be filled. “Crawley’s injury will still hurt the team though, because he was a tremendous runner and he has some of the fastest times in the school’s history,” Roloff said. Sprinter coach, Troy Elliot, feels the team is doing well, but he also says this team could do a little better than last year’s runners. “The freshmen and sophomores have a lot of talent and there are a lot of athletes, so we feel the future track team will be very good,” Elliot said. C a h l e Co r r e l l Sprinting. Max Martino, sr., and Vinessa Schmitz, jr., run on the track during track practice.
photo illustration by Elise Krivit
Coach Julie Bush leads young Cougar golfers
photo by Laura Pochobradsky Reading the green. Coach Julie Bush instructs one of her golfers on her swing during a team putting practice in her classroom.
The Kennedy girls’ golfers are given a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from a former high school and college golfer, as well as a four-time city amateur champion. Coach Julie Bush began golf at the age of eight. She was taught by her dad and a variety of other coaches. Golf became not only a place to meet new friends, but also a passion. “My greatest accomplishment in golf was qualifying for the U.S. Public Links golf tournament,” Bush said.” The year that Bush qualified, Michelle Wie won the tournament at the age of 14. Bush enjoys teaching high school boys and girls the game of golf. “No matter how skilled you are or your experience, golf is a way to meet new people and have fun doing it,” Bush said. Bush has been apart of the golf program here for 11 years. This year presents new challenges, including the loss of Alex Zenor, a four-time letter winner, to the University of Northern Iowa. “Alex was the only Division 1 golfer ever to play for me,” Bush
said. “She meant a lot to the team. Alex inspired the girls to play their best. She will be missed this year.” This year the girls’ golf team has 11 golfers. They are a young team, composed of five freshmen, five sophomores, one junior, and no seniors. The team lost five of their six varsity starters from last year. The only one that will be returning is Paige Ermer, jr. The teams to watch in high school girls’ golf this year are Iowa City West and Waterloo West. There is a lot of uncertainty to the skill level of the Kennedy team because they are young and continue to improve every year. The key tournaments for the year include the CRANDIC, MVC Super meet, and MVC Divisional. The girls’ team has had a much lower turnout compared to the boys. The boys had over 70 kids out, but this girls’ team has only 11. That is an improvement from the seven last year. “I think the reason we don’t have as many girls out is the competition with other sports,” Bush said. J o n at h a n C h a d i c k
12sports Winter sports recap
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PA G E B Y A L E X B U S B E E & R I L E Y G A L B R A I T H
Girls’ basketball
Boys’ basketball
The Kennedy girls’ basketball team’s thrilling, and historic season came to an end, as they lost to the future state champions, Linn-Marr, in the semifinal game of the state tournament. Although the ending may not have turned out the way the Cougars would have liked, the team is still happy with how their season went. “A state championship would have been nice, but we accomplished a lot of goals,” Jade Rodgers, sr., said. Rodgers was also selected to the all tournament team. Looking back on the season, the team believes there is not much more they could have done. “The only thing we could have done would be to have made a few shots in the third quarter,” head coach Dennis Roloff said. Although the team will lose a lot of seniors this year, both Rodgers, and Roloff believe that the underclassman will step up. “They just have to develop their team chemistry,” said Rodgers The final chapter has been written for the senior basketball players, and we can surely call it a happy ending.
The Kennedy boys’ basketball season has ended and we take a look at the team’s success on and off the court. While the team didn’t make it to the state tournament this year, they had another successful year. The Kennedy Cougars were the conference champions for the fourth year in a row. They became the first 4A school to win four consecutive titles and the boys finished the season with a 14-8 record. “The unity of the team improved a lot by the end of the season, both on and off the court,” boys’ basketball coach Larry Williams said. After all, because basketball is a team sport, getting along on and off the court can make a difference in the win-loss record of the team. “At times we feel apart and got a bit frustrated, but we worked it out and found good team chemistry,” Max Martino, sr., said. This year’s team continued the Kennedy boys’ basketball tradition of being a hard playing, competitive, and successful program.
R i l e y G al b ra i th
Girls’ Baskteball Ranking: 5 Record: 19-2 Seniors graduating: 7 Lost in: State Semifinal Team stats leaders Points per game: Jade Rodgers - 18.3 Rebounds per game: Jade Rodgers - 11.4 Assists per game: Mariah Duke- 5.0 Steals per game: Kristen Hahn - 4.5
Graphic by Elise Krivit Looking Back. Jade Rodgers, sr.,(top left) goes up for a shot during the state semifinal. Jake Misener, jr. (top right), drives to the basket during the second Kennedy-Washington game. Kameron Beets, sr., (bottom) goes for a headlock in a wrestling meet vs. Jefferson.
Wrestling season in review Now that the season has come to a close, the Cougar wrestlers can begin to look forward to their next season, while cherishing the successes and failures of the 2009-2010 season. The wrestlers made it to the regional dual finals before losing to the eventual state champions Waverly-Shell Rock. They sent six wrestlers to the individual state
tournament, where Luke Kremer, so., placed in sixth and Ryan Sheldon, jr., place eighth. “[This season] was a lot more fun because I actually won and placed, and this was the most guys we’ve had go to state since I’ve been here,” Sheldon said. Craig Mallicoat, assistant coach, has an optimistic view for next season.
Team Stats Dual record: 9-5 MVC dual record: 6-2 Lost in: Regional dual final MVC tournament: 4th place finish
“For goals for next year, we want to continue moving f o r w a r d , ” “[Next year] We’re M a l l i c o a t returning five state said. “We’re qualifiers, which is returning five more than the year state quali- before.” fiers, which Coach Craig Mallicoat is more than the year before. We’re looking to improve based on that performance.” Alex Busbee
Individual Stats State qualifiers: Taylor Moss, fr., Ryan Rodriguez, so., Luke Kremer, so., Shane Williams, so., Ryan Sheldon, jr., Zach Parsons, sr. Top Finishes: Luke Kremer-6th place(38-7) Ryan Sheldon-8th place (33-13)
A ll i e S i n dl i n g e r
Boys’ Basketball Ranking: 13 Record: 14-8 Seniors graduating: 4 Lost in: Substate Semis Team stats leaders Points per game: Kyle Lamaak - 12.5 Rebounds per game: Christian French - 5.7 Assists per game Jake Misener - 2.9 Steals per game: Max Martino - 1.2