BLHS Express May 2012

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EXPRESS

Issue 4 | Basehor-Linwood High School | May 4, 2012

EXPRESS GUIDE TO THE SUMMER

PROM 2012

Summer Books - Page 4 Summer Movies - Page 5 Summer Hot Spots - Page 6 Summer on a Budget - Page 7

Page 8

Prom Etiquette - Page 8 DRESSed to the Nines -

Important DATES

THE REST OF THE YEAR! Plant-a-monium!

From April 30-May 4, BLHS’ horticulture class will be holding their annual Mother’s Day plant sale after school from 3-5. A variety of plants are available from petunias to tomatoes.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES May 8 | Choir Concert May 12 | Prom May 13 | Baccalaureate May 14-16 | Senior Finals May 15 | Band Concert May 16 | Orchestra Concert May 17 | Commencement May 23-25 | Finals for Grades 9-11

10 Questions with...BLHS Senior Alex Bright

Alex is involved in many activities at BLHS, but has most recently found success in the music world. Alex was recently selected to the All-State band for her talents on the clarinet and has participated in competition with choir, band, and jazz band this spring.

1. How long have you been playing the clarinet?

I’ve played since 5th grade.

2. What do you love about playing the clarinet?

Playing the clarinet allows me a way to express

myself, but at the same time it’s an escape.

3. Do you play any other instruments?

I play the alto saxophone in the jazz band.

4. Explain All-State Band.

You have to audition for a spot in the district

band, and if you make it, you have a chance to

audition for the state band. If you make it, you

rehearse with the other state musicians over 3

days for 15 hours for a concert.

5. How often do you practice?

I usually practice three times a week for about an

hour, but I really need to start practicing more.

6. Where is your favorite place to practice?

I practice in my kitchen because it has great

acoustics.

7. Do you plan on doing anything in music later in life?

I’m planning on attending K-State for music education and then teaching abroad for a while.

8. What was your reaction when you were chosen as the BLHS courtwarming queen?

Shock, excitement, and gratitude for everyone who voted for me.

9. What other activities in school are you involved in?

Powerlifting, a few theater productions, and choir.

10. What is one thing people don’t understand about musicians?

We do, indeed, have social lives.

The Express Guide to...

Summer Reading

by Maddy Mikinski

With its long car rides, lazy days, and total lack of structure, summer is the perfect time to strike a few books off your ‘To Read’ list. If you don’t have a ‘To Read’ list, then we’re here to help.

A Separate Peace By: John Knowles Set at a boarding school during World War II, A Separate Peace follows two best friends and a dark secret harbored by one of them.

Thirteen Reasons Why By: Jay Asher A few days after classmate Hannah Baker commits suicide, a box of cassette tapes arrive at Clay Jensen’s house. Little does he know that they contain the thirteen reasons why Hannah decided to end her life.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies By: Jane Austen and Seth GrahmeSmith Everyone knows the story of Pride and Prejudice. Well...everyone thinks they know the story. What if Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy were actually highly trained zombie hunters, set to free England from a zombie meance? What if Lady Catherine was a ninja overlord? Grahme-Smith sets everyone straight as to the real events surrounding the Bennett family.

The Hunger Games Trilogy By: Suzanne Collins Once every year, two teenagers–a boy and a girl–are chosen to compete in the prestigious but deadly Hunger Games. The Games are changed forever when Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself to save her sister’s life. Katniss is thrown into an arena with 23 other competitors out for blood and desperate to survive.

The Express Guide to...

Summer Movies

by Shelli Brannan

Don’t know what to do this summer? Check out these movies that are coming out!

Rock of ages

June 1

Prometheus

June 8

Set in 1987 Los Angeles, Drew and Sherrie are two young people chasing their dreams in the big city. When they meet, it’s love at first sight, though their romance will face a series of challenges.

ABraham lincoln: Vampire hunter June 22

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

GI JOE: Retaliation June 29

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.

TED

July 13

When Cobra spy Zartan has most of the Joes assassinated, the remaining Joes band together to strike back.

The Dark Knight Rises July 20

A story centered on a man and his teddy bear, who comes to life as the result of a childhood wish.

Information gathered from IMDB.com

Eight years after Batman took the fall for Two Face’s crimes, a new terrorist leader, Bane overwhelms Gotham’s finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that brands him an enemy.

That’s my boy

June 15

While still in his teens, Donny (Adam Sandler) fathered a son, Todd (Andy Samberg), and raised him as a single parent up until Todd’s 18th birthday. Now, after not seeing each other for years, Todd’s world comes crashing down.

The Amazing spiderman July 3

Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father’s former partner.

The Bourne Legacy August 3

A story centered on a new CIA operative in the universe based on Robert Ludlum’s novels.

THE EXPRESS GUIDE TO...

Summer Hangout Hot Spots

by Trey Kincheloe

It’s time to start shopping for your tanks, shorts, swimsuits, and all your other summer attire! Summer is right around the corner. Students here at BLHS are going to have to start their summer routine once again, with getting their summer jobs, going to weights, and most importantly, hanging out with friends!

One of the most popular hangout places this summer will probably be Schlitterbahn. There are a lot of kids from our school working there, and it is a really fun place to be when it’s hot outside. Anyone that is looking for a job this summer can send in an application to them. They are currently hiring! If its not that water park, another popular one is the Bonner Springs Community Pool.

If you’re not in the mood to swim, you can always go see a movie. There are a ton of good movies that are going to be coming out at the beginning of summer. For example, “The Dictator,” a comedy starring the actor from “Borat” and “Bruno” Sacha Baron Cohen.

Another popular thing students do over summer is go on vacation. Digging your feet in the sand on a beach is much more exciting than sitting here in Kansas. Even if you’re not leaving the state, kids go on trips to go see their families in different locations which is still fun, because you get to go out and do something different from what you usually do.

Finally, there is the summer weights program. This program is run by Coach Schwisow. It is meant to keep you strong, in shape, and make you a better athlete for the next school year.

This is held almost every week over the summer Monday through Thursday in the mornings as well as Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Fall varsity athletes are required to go to weights over summer.

Seniors here at BLHS get out of school May 16th, and everyone else is finished on May 25th. Everyone keep your countdown going! There are only a few weeks left!

The Express Guide to...

Fun (on a budget)

by Drew Potter

In today’s economy, more people find it harder to find extra money in their family budgets for extracurricular summer activities. When kids are out of school, it only takes a week or two before parents hear the dreaded words, “ I’m bored.”

There are several cheap activities which require little money but require a big imagination. Overnight campouts or picnics at the park can be a cheap and easy way to enjoy a summer day. Going on nature hikes and making scavenger hunts are imaginative

way to have kids expel their energy.

Parents need to be looking for area advertisements where local business try to entice customers for the entire summer. For example, one summer my mom found an area bowling alley that allowed kids to bowl two games each day including shoe rental that only cost $5 for the entire summer. Wow! What a deal!

Summer fun doesn’t have to be expensive it just takes some research and some imagination.

Top 10 Free & Cheap Things To Do This Summer

1 Crown Center Friday 2 Night Flicks Go Camping 3 4 Plant a Garden 5

Make a YouTube Video

Rent a Paddle Boat at Shawnee Mission Park

6 Go to a T-Bones Game 7 Go to the Leavenworth 8 County Fair Attend “Live at the 9 Legends” Have a Picnic 10

Go Garage Sale Hunting

Everything You Need to Know for Prom 2012 Prom Etiquette

by Drew Potter

As long as there have been high schools, there has been both friendly and not so friendly rivalries. Rivalries are good to keep sports competitive with everyone wanting to represent their school and be the best they could be. Rivalries can also be dangerous if tempers get out of hand and teams make rash decisions with consequences that could change their lives.

Basehor-Linwood High School has a unique location to its connecting town rivals.

BLHS has five rival high schools in less than a 20 mile radius. To the north there is Lansing High School, to the south is Mill Valley, to the east we have Piper, to the west the Chieftains of Tongie. Somewhere in the middle there is Bonner Springs. With common area such as the Legends, Live Strong Sporting Park and Community America, students are bound to run into each other and have to interact with one another.

With five are schools being in each others backyards, should each school make their junior-senior proms closed to other area students? Junior Olivia Simmons said, “I say no because there are a lot of people who don’t have dates at our school because the guys and girls are bringing outside dates, unless they’re actually dating then I understand.’’ When asked the same question Junior Tanner Garver said “ I don’t think so because a lot of people hang out or date people from other schools.’’

When schools are fierce sports rivals do you think that social functions such as proms can be compromised? Junior Alec Otting said, “ I think there’s always going to be tension and you have to realize that when you come to a social event at a rival school. Not to say we still can’t get along.’’ Tanner Garver said, “ Yeah they do because everyone knows sports and wants to be the best, and it runs off into real life.’’

Would you attend a rival’s prom? Junior Ben Johnson said, “Yes, only if I knew a few people.’’ Olivia Simmons said, “Yes, except Tongie, because we don’t like each other.’’

So with prom season approaching and with an open invitation to all students everyone needs to be on their best behavior and try to put any rivalries to rest at least for the one night.

DRESSed to the Nines

Prom, one of America’s most iconic high school dances, got its start in the late 1800s.The original idea for prom came from debutante balls. When a daughter from a wealthy family reached the age of 18, her family threw a huge party for her to announce her entrance into polite society.

High schools took this idea and developed proms for graduating seniors.

These were fairly small, simple “tea dances.” When the ‘80s rolled in, they gave prom a makeover. The dance soon became the party we know and love today–not small and not simple.

As the meaning of prom evolved, so did its dress code. At the original debutante balls, the girl “debuting” would wear a huge, eye-catching dress, hoping to steer the attention away from everyone else.

Nowadays, that’s still the basic idea. So how does one find the perfect dress?

Usually, there’s a huge push to pick out your dress early. Many BLHS students began their dress searches last semester.

Where you pick out a dress is important, too. Zona Rosa is a popular place to go. More than one student cited the Watercolors boutique located there. This store is popular because they won’t sell the same dress to two girls from the same school. Deb was also mentioned as a place to find your perfect dress.

by Maddy Mikinski

Going to the stores is pointless if you don’t know what you want. A majority of the girls interviewed said that they wanted a bright dress. In the prom world, bright dresses aren’t too hard to come by.

So now you’ve picked out your gorgeous dress. It’s perfect. You pick up the price tag and...is that a four digit number?

To avoid the disappointment of a dress outside your price range, set a budget before you go and check the price tags before you try anything on.

Finally, it’s the night of prom. You put on your dream dress and get to the dance.

You walk in and....oh, no. Someone’s wearing the exact same dress as you.

Generally, this doesn’t happen, but nothing’s foolproof. The threat of unintentionally being someone’s twin for the night doesn’t really faze the girls we interviewed. Almost all said some variant of, “I’d wear it better”.

The only thing to do, really, when you walk into prom and see someone else modeling your dress is to keep up the confidence.

Prom’s over and now you wonder what to do with your wonderful dress.You could tuck it into your closet for you kids to look at–and laugh at–later. (You know it’s going to happen) You could do as junior Nikki Hawthorne is considering and swap with a friend. Or you could donate it to a charity for another girl to enjoy. The website donatemydress.org is a good resource. Don’t let your dress dominate prom. Just follow these tips and have a wonderful prom!