LHS Newspaper February Edition by Liberty Public Schools

SCAN & VISIT

LHSNEWS

THE BELL

Volume 88, Issue 7

Febuary 24, 2012

Liberty High School

SPORTS: Despite the plunge in membership, the swimmers dive into a successful season

see page 21

NEWS

FEATURES

A&E

Breeze through the Windy City with LHS’s future world leaders: Model UN’s Chicago Conference.

Hungry to know how healthy your lunch is? Get the dish on the food the cafeteria is serving up.

Easy as 1-2-3: The choir kids belt it out for the State competitons at the University of Missouri.

ON THE COVER Junior Kathrine Kuhlman swims the butterfly down her lane at an LHS swim conference. Kathrine is one of the few girls at LHS who competed at state during the weekend of February 18. photo courtesy of Kathrine Kuhlman Also featured on the cover (from left to right): photo courtesy of Kurt Gates, photos by Lucas Carrel and Mackenzie Spencer

THE BELL STAFF Editor In Chief Ashley McGee Managing /Opinion Editor Amanda Fisher Features/Design Editor Chris Mohr Sports Editor Mat George News Editor Nathan Hunt Copy Editor Haley Sheriff Ads Manager Shelby Curtis Online News Manager MacKenzie Sackett Twitter Convergence Cody Clawson Website Technical Support Cody Kesler Adviser Lori Oyler Reporters: Mat George Jacob Boese Ben DeHart Madison Denton

Michaela Lamb Molly Meeks Diana Timmermans Kayla Hammer

Photography Staff: Rachel Bower Lucas Carrel Emily Houck Breann Koch Samantha Novak

Clarissa Parker Lauren Pouliot Kelley Rowe Kyle Rutliff Mackenzie Spencer

OUR MISSION Our mission for the 2011-2012 school year is to bring together a variety of people and ideas to produce one collective body composed of articles, photographs and commercial messages. In this manner, we strive to provide a reliable, first-hand news sources that not only represents the Liberty High School community, but is created for them, by them, and about them. The Bell is a public forum for student expression.

The Republican canidates for 2012 are (from left to right), Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. Each man hopes to compete against President Barack Obama in the Fall 2012 election. photos courtesy of The South Florida Sun Blog

COULD OBAMA BE OUT?

by Molly Meeks The Republicn party races to find a presidential candidate to represent their party in the 2012 election. The 2012 election marks the end of President Barack Obama’s first term, and the Republican party wants to push their way back in. Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are all determined to become the Republican candidate for the upcoming elections. According to mittromney.com, Romney met his wife in elementary school; they have five sons and 16 grandchildren. He plans to reduce taxes and government spending while increasing trade and energy production. When it comes to education, he would like to put emphasis on family values in schools. However, the current job situation is where many Americans will be looking to make their decision. Romney, with his background in business, is going to try to provide new job opportunities through upcoming entrepreneurs. He believes in the Right to Work Act, which allows workers the choice to join a union. Conservatives are often known for their stances on abortion and same-sex marriage. Romney views abortion as wrong and planning to set up laws against it. As for same-sex marriages, Romney is completely against both same-sex marriage and civil unions. According to ricksantorum.com, Santorum is the former Senator of Pennsylvania, and the father of seven children. Santorum plans to personalize learning in school. He believes that a child’s education is the responsibility of the parents, so the parents should play a role in the school. Santorum has an economic plan to lower taxes through a balanced budget, and create jobs. Santorum has said his views on marriage are almost the

exact opposite from President Obama’s. He strongly believes marriage was meant to be for a man and a woman, and that children should have both a mom and a dad. Santorum also has strong beliefs against abortion, he sees unborn children as much more than just cells. He see them as human beings who have rights. “I think Santorum would be the best candidate, he seems like a good father, which is a good quality to have,” sophomore Caroline Craven said. According to ronpaul2012.com, Paul is the congressman of Texas, and has spent many years in the medical field where he helped deliver over 4,000 babies. Paul’s focus will be eliminating the Department of Education. Paul has similar beliefs to Santorum in that he also thinks parents should have the freedom to choose the best educational road for their children. He can see that school programs need to be more personalized to meet all different students’ needs. Paul, like Romney, approves the Right to Work Act. Paul has a pro-life stance on abortion. According to newt.org, Gingrich is the son of a soldier who taught him to take pride in and protect his country. Gingrich believes parents should have the right to decide where their children go to school and given the opportunity to leave a failing school. Gingrich’s idea is to balance the budget and begin creating jobs, he would like America to be a good place to start a business investment. Gingrich also is planning to take funding away from promoting abortions. “There’s a chance Romney could battle it out, but there’s an 80% chance Obama will win.” senior Abby Bland said.

The old saying is, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. Eager for the month of March to start, a ferocious lion jumped into this issue of The Bell. The first person to find and tame our lovley lion friend and escort him back to room 101 at the beginning of sixth hour will recieve a prize courtesy of The Bell Staff.

ARE YOU UP TO THE STANDARD? by Michaela Lamb

Liberty is moving toward standard based grading.

Algebra II teacher Candace Cole grades students’ tests they have just finished. photo by Clarissa Parker

French teacher Jessica Lumetta updates her students grades on PowerSchool. photo by Clarissa Parker

THE BELL

Standard Based Grading? What on earth is that and why does it sound so scary? In reality, Standard Based Grading is nothing more than a new manner of monitoring student productivity. This new system is similar to those used on MAP tests. Instead of a traditional grading system like Liberty uses now, grades will be determined on a 4-3-2-1 scale, with a score of ‘4’ being advanced and a ‘1’ meaning that there is a lot of room for improvement. The Standard Based Grading System is supposed to award credit based on a student’s ability to perform a certain learning goal. When a student is tested over that task or skill they receive a grade ranging from one to four. Liberty’s goal is to get most, if not all of the students tested to a score of ‘3’, meaning that they are proficient in

performing the assigned goal. Frequent, informative feedback for students along with reflective practice on the students’ part will also play a big part in this process. Clear rubrics and guidelines will help guide students toward the learning expectations that will come from this system of grading. This feedback embraces the importance of the idea that people learn at different rates. Pre-tests and post-tests, which are already commonly used in classrooms, will be used to gauge the student’s grasp of the subject being taught and if they have achieved mastery of it. Pre-tests would allow teachers to see where students are at before teaching a unit and allowing them to focus on specific areas of concern. The journey toward this decision has included a staff survey focused on the Principles of Learning,

looking not just at the effort the student has put into learning or reaching a goal, but how well they have achieved what they set out to do. Teaching and learning is a partnership and students should be as involved in their learning as possible. A high quality education in a supportive environment where growth and goal mastery is promoted by both students and teachers is the goal of these changes. Teachers are talking about learning, and exploring new curriculum. They are making decisions about what students will be learning and how they will be involved in the classroom. For those people who are concerned about the idea of Standard Based Grading, rest assured, these changes are far in the future.

Standard Based Grading will be phased in at LHS over time for better monitoring of student learning. photo by Amanda Fisher

NEWS

Those with a love for debating, politics, foreign affairs or traveling are encouraged to join Model United Nations for an enriching experience. “Regardless of joining MUN, if you love to travel or are taking the time to learn another language, it’s important to experience the world and different cultures,” sophomore Haley Ferguson said, “The more we understand one another, the better the world will be.” photo courtesy of BestDelegate.com

DECORUM, EH? by Haley Sheriff Liberty’s MUN students bring the smack down to Chi Town at the National Conference. During the first week of February, 24 students participating in Liberty’s Model United Nations program were able to attend the 24th annual MUN conference in Chicago, Illinois. Completing their eighth year of attending this event, Liberty did not leave disappointed. “We’ve been in the Top Five the last two years, but this is the first year where we were the most recognized team, receiving three Outstandings, five Honorable Mentions and two Verbal Communications,” MUN advisor Kurt Gates said. “After four days of debate, Liberty finished as the top team at the conference, an amazing accomplishment.” In accordance to the group’s size, Liberty was assigned to represent Canada. Having researched for the past month on the country to familiarize themselves with its political stances and motivations, the students were then paired and further sorted into committees pertaining to specific issues. To aid their decision-making in topics varying from drug trafficking, increased nuclear production, contraception and reproductive rights and the rights of indigenous people, students were able to meet and interview the Canadian Consular to enhance their understanding of Canadian foreign policy.

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With the information collected, students were expected to argue in committee for a solution that would not only solve the problem at hand, but one that would most benefit Canada. “My partner [sophomore Haley Brown] and I were assigned to the Organization of American States committee, where we discussed the social effects of cocaine and the improvement of the equality of women in the work force,” sophomore Haley Ferguson said. “There were delegates from all of the countries in the Americas, and as a cohesive group with our own specific viewpoints of the problems, we tried formulating solutions that would benefit the entire hemisphere. The United States and Canada alone are the two largest trade partners in the world, and with their shared border and focus on controlling disease and the drug war, it’s important to cooperate and maintain international security.” With hoards of students from over 100 schools nation and worldwide, it would be expected that in defending the perspective of a country that they are more than likely not native to, that conflict would arise in successfully persuading the country’s beliefs over students’ personal morals. “Luckily, because Canada and the United States are

pretty much politically aligned, it did not cause such an issue with our group,” junior Helen Alpern said. “But I could definitely see this being more complicated for a group to support the ideologies of China or North Korea.” Students spent at least three hours in committee per session. With roughly two sessions each day, the group accumulated a whopping 20 hours in discussion alone. When they were not in committee, the group spent their freetime venturing into town indulging in an improv comedy performance as well as Chicago’s world-renown deep-dish pizza. Students also had the option to visit either the Field Museum of Natural History or the Art Institute. “During our down-time Thursday, we decided to see the Art Institute,” senior Scott Prewitt said. “It was incredible; there are so many famous paintings, like Nighthawks or the American Gothic. It took almost three hours to walk through the entire gallery.”

NEWS

SPOTLIGHT KELSEY NETH

by Madi Denton

KN RR

“Kelsey Neth is the kind of person you can joke around with and say anything to and you know she won’t judge you. You can always count on the fact that she’ll have your back,” sophomore Kaylie Botello said.

Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

What do you do for yearbook staff?

I designed a couple of pages, and I have been designing some of the senior ads, as well as writing stories.

What got you the position?

I took yearbook last year and I’m pretty good at designing. I think [yearbook adviser] Rhonda Dempsey saw that I was ready and so her and the editors gave me a little more responsibility.

How long does it take to design pages?

To make a normal yearbook spread would take about three hours.

Neth is one of the only sophomore writers on yearbook staff who also design pages. photo by Kyle Rutliff

Q: A: Q: A:

What do you do in your free time?

My big thing is yearbook, but I also did softball this year and I mostly just hang out with my friends.

Q: A:

What’s your favorite spread you created for yearbook? My favorite was the Spanish class spread. The elements all came together nicely.

Is there any other design work you do? My dad is the state rep, so I’m designing all his campaign stuff this year.

“Kelsey is a very organized student and very creative in class,” Communication Arts teacher Taryn MacGee said.

RANDI RICHARDSON

by Diana Timmermans

“Randi is very down to earth; she’s very honest with the people around her and has a very passionate personality, especially when it comes to music. She is easy to talk to and fun to be around,” senior Jordan Tanner said.

Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

What do you bring to a concert?

I always have my camera, fully charged, my phone, in case I lose my friends, and money, because I always seem to be buying merchandise. Who is the coolest person or band you have ever met? I would say All Time Low was pretty cool.

What was your first concert?

I think it was a Red, White, and Boom, but I can’t remember who headlined.

Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

Can you name everyone you have seen?

I have gone to 75 concerts, there are way too many.

Who are the biggest stars you have met? To me, the Jonas Brothers.

Do you get star struck easily?

I used to, I don’t do the whole crying or freaking out thing, I just don’t know what to say and I just am really polite and thank them a lot.

“She is very nice and a wonderful student,” Mathematics teacher Joyce Boike said.

THE BELL

Richardson has had multiple once in a lifetime opportunities with meeting famous performers. photo by Sammi Novak

FEATURES

SPOTLIGHT KANG SAN LIM

by Jake Boese

“He works very well with others. He is very intelligent and friendly in class,” senior Todd Hinkley said.

KSL Q: A: Q: A:

Why did you move to America?

For a better education, like college-wise.

What do you plan on doing in your future college and career wise? Mizzou accepted me and I am waiting for other out-of-state schools. I want to do international relations when I get older.

Q: A:

Do you plan on living here for the rest of your life? No, I am going to hopefully go back to South Korea after college.

Kang San Lim has attended LHS for three years because his parents want him to have a better education in the United States. photo by Emily Houck

Q: A: Q: A:

What is it like living alone?

The responsibility is tough, you have to pay bills, cook, and clean. Sometimes my father comes to my house and helps.

Q: A:

Is it hard is it to be away from your family?

Yes, they sacrificed for me to come here and study, they paid for everything.

How hard was it to not only be the new kid, but to learn English? It’s not too hard. I’m not here to have fun, I’m here to reach my goal, and so I concentrate on that.

“Logan has also been an awesome example of what it’s like to try to assimilate to a new culture, while at the same time maintaining one’s own sense of identity,” English Language Learners teacher Daisy Myrick said.

DON JOHNSON

by Ben DeHart

“Mr. Johnson is the man! He’s one of those teachers that I can talk to no matter what,” senior Luke Adams said.

Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

What made you want to become a drama teacher?

When I was a junior in high school, I decided that I wanted to take my theatre teacher’s job. Twenty years later, I did just that. Do you find yourself leaning more towards comedies or dramas? I like comedies; everyone thinks that comedies are easy . . . they’re not. You can teach someone about a dramatic pause, but you can’t teach someone the comic type to be funny.

Why pick such a serious play like “Medea”?

It’s educational theatre and I think that it’s definitely something that high school students need to see. We’re doing it post-apocalyptic so it’s not like any other Greek tragedy.

Q: A:

What is your favorite memory from being a drama teacher?

I always answer this the same way, every time. It’s when that one student that you’ve been working so hard with to get something, finally gets it. My job has been done at that point.

Q: A: Q: A:

Where did you go to school to become a drama teacher? I got my BSE in speech communication and theatre at CMSU, and then I got my masters at UCM in theatre. What is the run list for next year’s schedule? We’re planning on doing “The Christmas Carol,” possibly “The Boys Next Door,” and “Everybody Loves Opal.”

“Mr. Johnson is the most unique teacher I’ve ever met. He carries himself with a certain charisma that is unbeatable,” debate and forensics coach Staci Johnson said.

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Johnson pursued his junior high goal to become a drama teacher, studying at CMSU and UCM. photo by Kelley Rowe

FEATURES

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GRADUATION COUNTDOWN

DAYS

THATS...

3.5 MONTHS 3960 HOURS 237,600 MINUTES 12,256,000 SECONDS

Sophomores Kaitlynn Norton and Johnna McGlaughlin bring their own lunch as an alternative to school lunches. photo by Lucas Carrel

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT by Michaela Lamb

Students may be unaware of the calorie contet in their daily school lunch. Assuming that one child eats one meal a day at lunch, with no additional sides or extras, $50 will only last approximately 22 days in the cafeteria, whereas a parent can purchase groceries from the store and students can bring whatever they want in their lunches. “I bring my lunch from home everyday. It’s not a hassle for me, and I think that I am probably eating healthier bringing my lunch than I would be if I ate here everyday,” junior Alexandria Donovan said. This is not something that is particular to the Liberty School District. According to The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service’s Website, “appropriate nutrient and calorie levels [are] determined by averaging school lunches

planned to be offered over a school week.” This approach works if you have only one meal choice for every student who will be eating hot lunch at school, but when you get up to the junior and senior high level, you have more than three choices and the ability to buy double lunches or choices like pizza and French fries everyday, all week long. Options are good. They take the monotony out of life and can spice up someone’s day. The school cafeteria provides many different options. With five or so different meal options a day, it seems like it would be easier to find something healthy to eat. Veggies and salads, along with fruit and low-fat milk, are available every day.

The pepperoni pizza at this school has 410 calories, according to the nutrition information available on the school’s website. The nutrition information for frenchfries was not provided. If you would like more information on the food you are eating at school, like nutrition information, allergens and the suppliers the food comes from, log onto the Liberty Public School’s website and search for ‘nutrition’. For more information on national school lunch regulations check out http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/ lunch/.

HUNGRY FOR INFORMATION PEPPERONI PIZZA

410 calories

POPCORN CHICKEN

190 calories

PASTA WITH MEAT SAUCE

383 calories

SWEET AND SOUR SHRIMP

220 calories

GENERAL TSO’s CHICKEN

271 calories

CHEESEBURGER

389 calories

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

363 calories

CINNAMON ROLL

523 calories

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FEATURES

GREEK MEETS GRUNGE by Kayla Hammer

Cast and crew create another world on stage in Medea. Picture this: The world in ruins, leather, and a life style of barbaric proportions. You’re probably thinking that this is a preview for another Resident Evil film. No, these are descriptions of the spring 2012 LHS play Medea presented on February 8-10 in the LGIR. None of the above descriptions are what you would have expected the Greek play by Euripides to be like. Based on Greek mythology, the grudge-post apocalyptic set, built by Medea cast and crew, really sets the tone for the anger rooted in the story. “There was still Greek influences with the columns but they were also really gritty and metallic,” said junior Jimmy Sitzman. As an audience member who understood the mythology that inspired this play, there were some mixed feelings in what to expect. But once the red lighting hit the stage, an uneasy feeling was felt. There were no possible signs of what might be considered peaceful Greek landscaping, but twisted metal. Instead of a handsome Greek god sculpted out of marble, there was a sculpture of pipes that looked unstable. “I give everything the old Johnson-Test, which means if I can climb it then they [cast] can,” Speech, Forensic, and Medea Director Don Johnson said. Another interesting special effect in the play was the home of Medea’s character. Metal shingles as part of the door, it was believable and futuristic, once again taking away from the Greek and making the set original, fresh, and grunge. “There were ropes rigged for a crew member to pull them up and down,” senior Libby Hill said. A simple effect, yet it drew the attention to the house. An even more spectacular feat was when Medea was preaching to the gods on a platform. As Medea prayed, an audio replayed demonic voices over the speakers and smoke seem to come from no where beneath her, when in actuality, she stood over a hole from which the smoke poured out of. Worried about senior Kalyn Brown who starred as Medea? No need, it was approved and completely safe for audience members and cast. “The play had a shock factor to it and was still appropriate. Guys had their shirts off with some bondage. Luke (Adams) was covered in blood. I don’t want to give away what happened but you’ll feel uncomfortable in a good way,” senior Kalyn Brown said. All shock factors aside, one walks out with an impressed feeling, not just given by the words of the actors, but the hard work the crew put into Johnson’s design. “It takes usually about four months to do a play and we did well as far as being on time. We worked up till the day of the show,” Johnson said. Pressure for time doesn’t go just for the crew but also the actors. “The set we worked on really brought out the characters we had to play. The audience has no idea how much work is put into the set. There is more to theater than just the acting,” junior Robert Louthain, who played Creon, said. The cast, the crew, the director, and even the stage were essential in making a successful production, but to take a play that’s been done many times and make it original is a challege. A challenge that everyone working on Medea nailed.

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The crew of Medea put in long hours to build a set that defied the imagination, transforming a traditional Greek setting into a gritty, futuristic playground for the cast. photos by Lauren Pouliot.

A&E

“IT’S ELECTRIC” COURTWARMING 2012

Senior Jordyn Siegfried dances at the assembly with the rest of the Sapphires.

Senior Tristan Starner sports a green robe for his Smarty Pants costume

Junior Justin Bryan goes all out on Smarty Pants Day with his calculator and pocket protector.

Sophomore Addie McKee dresses up in suspenders for Smarty Pants Day.

Courtwarming candidates wait anxiously during the announcement of the top three. Seniors Cody Clawson and Mackenzie Spencer won king and queen on Friday night.

Senior Mackenzie Spencer, Courtwarming queen, smiles during the announcement of the top three.

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The Lady Jays Dance Team performs during the assembly. photos by Photography Staff

Cheerleaders show their moves during the assembly.

FEATURES

WELCOME TO

SCHOOL story by Nathan Hunt and Kayla Hammer design by Chris Mohr

Is the school going up in fumes?

ett hr ck Sa Mo ie is nz Chr Ke ac by M on by rati oto ust ph o ill ot ph

In the world of high school, students tend to be bombarded with pressures on a daily basis; the pressure of taking the right classes, deciding the future and trying to fit in. Fitting in can be a big deal to students, and along with that need to fit in comes an attraction some young adults find they cannot pass up: drugs. With that all said, the elephant in the room here at Liberty High School is the question of drugs being a substantial problem. A state-wide survey was taken by Missouri teens funded by the Missouri Substance Abuse and Prevention Network (MSAPN). According to their results, about 70% of young adults believe it is “very wrong” to use marijuana. These results conflict with some of the students’ perceptions of drug usage at Liberty High School. “[There is a] pretty big drug problem. There are just kids that do it; and teachers know that kids walk around and talk about it and they know they do it...The reason everyone does it is because it is accepted and it gains you acceptance. If you do it, you have more friends,” senior *Thomas said. Students walking down the hallway of LHS overhear many conversations, some comical or some even just plain weird, but many conversations involve or are about drug usage or underage drinking. “This is what we hear about in the hallways on Monday mornings. It isn’t the people in the hallways saying, ‘yeah, me and a couple of my girlfriends went and saw this great movie.’ That is not what people are screaming down the hallway; it’s, ‘hey man! Did you hear about that party? Did you see the dude who was so tore up?’ So that changes our perception; it makes us think, ‘oh, I was the only person who did not go or was not invited to that party.’” Prevention Counselor Amy Tuso said. “Well, actually it was you and about 90 something percent in the building were the only people who did not go to that party. But because that is what we hear, it changes our perceptions.” Even with prevention, there is only so much the Administration can do about student drug usage; this includes punishment. There have been numerous cases where students involved with athletic programs have gotten caught with drugs, an example being marijuana. Sometimes the student must take classes on substance abuse before getting back into their extracurricular activity. Yet, when faced with possession on school grounds it can result in an automatic suspension or in extreme cases, expulsion. The

challenge Administration is faced with is how to rule on each case, knowing the severity is always a bit different. “I personally believe that it should not have to deal with the law, or at least not as much. It makes more sense to me if Administration recognized it as more of a medical issue. If you get caught with weed, for example, you should be fined and get sent to rehab; but not have it put on your permanent record,” senior *Joey said. Using drugs, illegal or not, can cause many problems with a young adults’ mind and body. Regular marijuana users have a 40% chance of becoming addicted, which are two in every five users according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Addiction, however, is not the only problem that a high school student should be worried about from using and abusing drugs. Drug abuse can also cause damage to the mind. NIDA also states that kids 12 to 17 who use marijuana weekly are three times more likely than nonusers to have suicidal thoughts. The drug also impairs the brain’s effectiveness, ability to concentrate, coordination and ability to retain information by changing the way information reaches and is then processed by the brain, NIDA says. Knowing this, some students at LHS have been offered drugs, but purposely refuse to use them. “I don’t like drugs because they change the way you would react to situations and I don’t think that is a safe way to live your life,” senior Jackie Neidholdt said. A rumor and complete misconception about marijuana is that it is not addictive and cannot cause any harm. “One day [when I first moved to Liberty] on my bus, these kids asked me if I wanted to hang out; they said they were going to go smoke. I didn’t know anybody so I said, ‘yeah sure, why not?’ So I smoked with them for a little bit. It is non-addictive so if, for whatever reason I need to stop smoking it, I could. It was just something to do when you had nothing better to do,” senior *Rex said. In fact, smoking marijuana can be extremely harmful to the body. MSAPN states that marijuana has more carcinogenic compounds than cigarettes, in other words, marijuana is more likely to cause many kinds of cancer than cigarettes. LHS students can talk about drug problems or friends’ drug problems with staff members, like social workers, counselors, nurses, teachers, administrators or the school

PASS ME A FACT 82.6% 81.4%

do not use tobacco products

do not use alcohol

INDEPTH

59% 91.5%

have never tried alcohol

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do not use marijuana

resource officer. “Some weeks, I see students’ everyday about their drug issues, other times I only see kids two to three times a week. It could be different students for different reasons. I am the person the Administration calls when they believe somebody is impaired; so I would perform a sobriety test on them to see if they are under the influence of anything. Sometimes I do have students who come to me concerned about a friend that may be using or abusing,” school resource officer Janice Corum said. The Administration takes many steps to prevent drugs from coming into the high school. Students may see drug dogs roaming the hall as a sign of a “ghetto” school, but these types of precautions are necessary. “We try to, this year especially, get students more involved within the school so they can have better resources to help cope without the use of drugs and alcohol…We do bring drug dogs through the school once in a while; we have already been to North. It will be scheduled for here sometime soon. We do things that are a little covert as well,” Corum said. Drop-out rates for high schoolers are also affected by the use of marijuana and other drugs. NIDA states that a young adult who uses marijuana before the age of 15 is three times more likely to drop out of high school by age 16. According to NIDA, a young adult who has used marijuana is also more likely to be exposed to and urged to use other, deadlier drugs. There is a lesson to be learned for all of Liberty; not just its’ students. No matter what a student in the hall is screaming, one fact remains very true: drugs are harmful and they can kill. No student needs drugs or alcohol to fit in, because using drugs and alcohol is not the way to popularity. Even if the sayings are cliché, they ring true, hugs not drugs, crack is whack and coke is no joke. “I graduated from this high school back in the 70’s; we had a drug problem then and it has not gone away. Drugs will always be a challenge for high school kids; I would not say a problem, but a challenge,” Corum said. *Names have been changed to protect the individuals in the story. *Data below based on the 2010 Missouri Student Survey.

83.8% 98.8% 13

have never tried marijuana

have never abused steroids INDEPTH

GRADUATING EARLY PRO

CON

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

photos by Rachel Bowers

SCHOOL’S OUT?

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Molly Meeks

Nathan Hunt

High school, often they are called your golden years. Yet, these four short years seem to drag on for ages. So if given the opportunity to get out early, why would you say no? Walking through the hallways, you are constantly hearing people talking about getting out of high school, and looking forward to the day they will walk out and never have to come back. For some, this problem can be easily solved, by graduating early. If you have the credits and think you are ready to graduate, then go for it. This gives students the opportunity to begin earning money for college, or go straight into the workforce. Many times, teenagers come out of high school being extremely immature, and are eaten alive by the real world. Graduating early is one sure way for people to be forced into maturity, instead of continuing to be babied through high school. This way you’d have time to grow up and be better off when you continue on to college or to a real job. Students would have the opportunity to be on their own for a while, while also getting some real life experience, perhaps in the field of their choice, while learning what it takes to be an adult and work every day to earn money towards paying for college tuition or possibly paying bills. There have been many times that students in advanced or college classes have taken a course all to have it denied by their college of choice. So, if people are spending their time in classes that they will end up retaking in the long run, it seems more logical to go on and take the class in college. The college class could be different than the class offered in high school. College classes could challenge kids to do better, pay more attention in class or in what they read. Another good reason to graduate early is sports. You can get a head start on some of your needed college classes. That way when the season comes around, there will be less of a need to prioritize between sports and school. Graduating early could be the difference between someone being a star on their team because they have some of their classes out of the way and someone trapped in a dorm with a bunch of classes on which to be working. Yes, I will admit there will be some stuff you will miss out on, but nothing that should be worth an extra semester or year in school. Walking across the stage at graduation or going to your prom, while they are memorable experiences, are not worth an unneeded extra semester of school. Getting real world experience, avoiding having a credit denied, or having the opportunity to be more active in your college’s sports team, will all be more memorable and life-changing. Do not sit around complaining about having nothing to do when you have all the needed credits. Instead, buckle down and make the day you walk out of this school never to return a lot closer and graduate early.

The month of May is approaching and there is a sense of anticipation coming from a particular group of students. Graduation is almost upon us; you can taste the excitement in the air coming from the class of 2012 as they eagerly wait for the moment when their high school careers will come to a close. Although, for some seniors, and select juniors, there will be no counting down to that certain day in May when the goodbyes to fellow classmates and teachers will be said and the feeling of relief will wash over them. The reason? They have graduated early. High school has been the best and most enjoyable time of my life; and I am only a junior! LHS, I must brag, has a certain atmosphere that screams relaxation and fun. So, it is very difficult for me to hear or even understand why some students want to graduate early. Graduating early would make you miss out on all the experiences high school has to offer, for example all the high school dances and specifically for a senior who graduated early, prom. I always thought seniors looked forward to prom and all the glam that comes with it. It is a huge privilege to be able to go to prom, so why miss out? Another thing being missed out by graduating early would be the infamous senior-skip day or the annual senior class prank. Wouldn’t someone want to be a part of something as memorable as that, so they can look back on it one day and tell their kids about how wonderful of a time they had? Another reason why no one should graduate early is because of all the memories you have the honor of making with your best friends. I have always been one for making the most out of a limited time offer, and high school is a students’ limited time offer, and runs out way too quickly for my taste. A student should embrace every second they can get of free knowledge before they go off to college where each second is paid for in thousands of dollars, so much so that the debt may haunt you for the rest of your life. I do understand that for some kids, classes are not enjoyable or there are those teachers that you struggle to get along with; trust me I’ve been there. And some are not as social as I am so dances are not their thing, yet they should still stick it out for the full year so as to gain knowledge and valuable memories. If presented with the option of graduating early, I would never take it. I value this time way too much to ever pass it up for anything else. I want that day where I can sit in class and bawl my eyes out while hugging my best friends because it is the last day we will see each other. I want to learn as much as I possibly can before being sent off to college where I have to pay to be educated. In the end, time goes by too quickly; don’t blink because if you do, you might miss it.

OPINION

photo by Jordan Tanner

STAFF EDITORIAL Our GPAs are supposedly mirrors of our high school career, dually reflecting our triumphs and failures within the curriculum. However, this reflection will be warped with the use of Standard Based Grading, which will snatch recognition from deserving students and hand it to those less than worthy. We, the Bell Staff, cannot condone such a system. Standard Based Grading will reduce the product of these students’ efforts to peanuts unless LHS also adopts the option to weight grades. Advanced Placement and Advanced College Credit courses are significantly above the average high school level class. Comparable more to an actual college course taken in a high school setting, the work and time demanded from and given by students enrolled in these courses is much more rigorous and consuming. Though a B in a college level course is equivalent to an A in a regular high school course, it will be recognized no higher than a three-point B. Otherwise, the likelihood of these students to lose their class rank

to someone who is not taking as difficult of a class, but receiving an A, will be increased. A student’s grade should not solely depend on a test grade, even with the option of redoing tests given a poor score. This does not give incentive to learning, but encourages regurgitating information for the sake of passing. Homework, group activities, and participation are key to helping students understand the material in their coursework, and their progress can gradually be monitored through these ‘fluff ’ points. Therefore, if the goal of this system is to display what students have learned, they cannot honestly do so without including these additional points. Liberty attempted a similar system in the 1980’s known as Mastery Learning. If this did not work thirty years ago, what makes LHS think that it will work now? How does LHS define the excellence it says it empowers?

in favor of standard based grading at LHS.

not in favor of standard based grading at LHS.

The articles on these pages do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the entire Bell staff. Please feel free to comment in a Letter to the Editor at thebell@liberty.k12.mo.us

STAFF COLUMN

CODY CLAWSON TWITTER CONVERGENCE

Dear Kansas, First off, I would just like to apologize for any physical harm I have done to you. Like when we burned

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Lawrence, we didn’t mean it personally. I also want to apologize for leaving the Big 12. I know you think we were just chasing money and being a gold digger, but the stability of the conference was not okay. Nebraska and Colorado had already left, Texas A&M was leaving and Texas was just being a bully. We had to go to a conference with stability and one that could promise they would stick with us through thick and thin. I know you are bitter about us leaving but it is for the best. If anything, you guys should be happy! In the three major sports, basketball, baseball and football, we are winning the overall record 364-348. You should not want to play a team that constantly beats you. This may be asking a lot, but we had a lot of people who were rooting for our relationship to last forever. When we left we disappointed all those “fans” and that is not something I like. So if you wouldn’t mind just

going on a date with us once or twice a year to please the “fans” that would be greatly appreciated. We would even be okay if you picked when, where, and in what sport we played. You could even pick basketball, where you are leading the series 171-95. I just hope you do not hold a grudge for too long. I still love you and truly am sorry for leaving. Yours truly, Missouri P.S. What do you call a good-looking girl at the University of Kansas? - A visitor! P.S.S. What is the only sign of intelligence in Lawrence? - “Columbia: 187 miles”

OPINION

EDITOR COLUMNS

ASHLEY MCGEE EDITOR IN CHIEF

Livin’ in a Material World Material goods dictate so much of our lives; the need to possess the best clothing, beauty products or technology is considered normal and even acceptable in our society. And yet things aren’t always what they seem. When we look at someone, we see these materialistic qualities, but some of these possessions, in reality, may hold a deeper meaning than what meets the eye.

AMANDA FISHER MANAGING EDITOR

You Had Me At...”Hey :)” Miserable and alone, Carrie lays on her bed thinking of past regrets with the love of her life, Aidan; words that were said, and never said for that matter, and all the things that went wrong that she could have prevented. Tiny rocks hit her window, startling her. She gets up and looks out of her window to see Aidan, with flowers, giving her another chance at their relationship.

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I never really understood the importance of these objects. I laughed at the idea that a tiny object could possibly encompass the meaning of a larger idea. That changed when one of my closest friends presented me with a homemade, hemp bracelet. Having fit it to his own wrist, the bracelet didn’t fit me. In a way, that made it even more special. As it turned out, all his hardwork didn’t go to waste. It fit my ankle perfectly. And so now, hidden from view, that’s where I keep it. I wear it every day to remind me of the times we’ve spent together, the hardships we’ve survived and the friendship that has managed to stay strong throughout. I look at this small, seemingly insignificant object and it’s like being transported to another time. This bracelet I’m sure would have little monetary value, but I hold onto it because of the personal value it has to me. While I know the material goods I own now will come and go along with new styles and trends, I want to keep this small token of the friendship I have with me always. I feel like now that I have it, I’m connected to it. Seperating me from it would almost be like separating me from a part of myself. My strong feelings regarding it have nothing to do with the object itself, but what it symbolizes: moments and memories frozen in time; the days and nights to which we wish we could return. This right here, this is romance. This is love. I may not be in a relationship, but I will be the first to tell you that romance is dead nowadays. Girls my age are more thrilled to see a “good morning” text rather than an actual in-person “good morning.” What I can’t help but wonder is who is to blame? Is it guys’ fault for being lazy? Is it that technology has made romance more convenient? Or have girls lowered their expectations for romance, and more specifically, relationships? Of course, being that I’m not a guy, I can’t fully understand what it’s like to be in their shoes. However, I can empathize. I’m sure that there must be a ton of pressure placed on them in terms of romance. Then again, that could be a pretty big crutch in which they can all lean on as an excuse. Plus, with technology, how much easier could it get? These days, guys don’t even have to talk to their girlfriend on the phone! They can just text them, tweet them or Skype them. Now, let me be clear. As a girl, I don’t have high expectations on love. I know that my dream guy won’t show up, proclaim his love for me and rescue me at the airport as I’m about ready to leave. I know that he won’t show up at my house and throw pebbles at my window begging for me to come out and kiss him in the rain. I also know that he won’t write me 365 letters telling me how much he loves and misses me. But, if this were to happen, that’s perfectly okay with me.

CHRIS MOHR DESIGN EDITOR

What’s in a Name? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term ‘nickname’ is a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name. I, myself, have accumulated numerous nicknames over the years, ones that have more or so completely replaced my name. Although not all are positive in connotation, they are all so fitting. Last year in Mrs. Figg’s Spanish class, there just happened to be two Chris’. To differentiate between the two, I volunteered to be called something different. Figg thought it would be humorous for my name to be Más. Más means ‘more’ in Spanish hence my last name being Mohr. This has been a name that to this day, still sticks. My more commonly known nickname that almost everyone calls me is Tin Tin. For all who do not, Tin Tin is a fictional character in a series of Belgian comics titled The Adventures of Tin Tin. For all who know, I used to have long hair. When I walked into work one day with my new haircut, my boss, Cole Lindbergh, told me I looked like Tin Tin. I never heard the end of it after that. He now makes me talk in a British accent and strike the pose of Tin Tin there and again. My other nickname I have was given to me freshman year. I was at a tee-shirt table at school and they only had sizes small, medium and large. I asked if they had a XXL and they said no. I thought it would be rude for a person who wears the size XXL to not be offered a tee-shirt. Ever since then, Simone Stewart calls me XXL for that remark. I get the occasional Chrissy, Chrisaroo, Christoff, Christopher Robin and Christopher Columbus here and there, but the ones that stick are the ones that define you as a person. So call me what you want, but it’s what’s in a name that really counts.

OPINION

TIME TO SHINE by Shelby Curtis

Contest is to Choir what the Super Bowl is to Football. In early spring, talented singers throughout our halls participate in what is the equivalent to Homecoming week for football players, or Courtwarming when it comes to basketball. This competition is known as contest. Students either prepare a solo or form a small group called an ensemble and go through three stages of performing in front of a judge in order to try to achieve a superior rating, which is marked as a one. “First, you have to do sing-offs. If your teachers and the judges feel you are prepared, you get to move on to districts. You have to get a one rating at districts in order to move on to the last competition, which is state,” sophomore Turner Staton said. A lot of preparing and practicing goes into getting ready for contest. Students put their time and effort into rehearsal to insure they are able to perform to the best of their ability. “Mrs. Parker and Dr. Heruth give us CDs with our song and voice part on them, and I practice with that about four times a week. That’s in addition to

voice coaching with my private teacher and my choir teachers here at Liberty,” junior Hanna Bruns said. Other students get their head in the game by trying their best to be focused and ready. “I prepare with lots and lots of practice. You have to make sure everything is memorized and perfect. Also, you have to be mentally prepared to perform in front of the judges,” Staton said. Students enjoy the process but know that their main goal is to get to state. If the soloist or ensemble gets a superior rating at the districts, then they get to travel as a school to the University of Missouri in Colombia for the day and strive to get a one rating there as well. “Basically, the goal is to get to state because it’s fun to spend the day singing at Mizzou. I try to enter multiple things, like a solo and one or two ensembles, to increase my chances of getting to go,” senior Renee Kiefer said. Whether going to state or just getting to sing is why students love to participate, choir kids love multiple things about the process of competing in contest.

“It’s nice to represent Liberty in contest because we’re one of the top choirs in the area and it’s a lot of fun,” senior Steven Untch said. While this experience is rewarding to the choir, it is also rewarding for the teacher’s to see how independent the students have become and how much they have grown throughout the years. “It’s a chance for students to develop skills individually and learn the dynamics of working in a small group,” choir teacher Sharon Parker said. Contest is a chance for teacher’s to show off the accomplishments of their students and to let them know how proud they are of their whole choir. “I think the neatest thing is when you see a student that works hard and succeeds. They often surprise themselves by doing something they didn’t think they could do,” choir teacher Dr. Heruth said. The dates for all three stages of choir contest are as follows. The sing-off was February 7, districts will be held March 30 and state is on April 27.

Senior Shaunika Leonzon performs with other members of the choir at their Christmas concert. photos by MacKenzie Spencer

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A&E

ACADEMY

HUGO CABRET

MONEYBALL

I remember seeing posters for it at my work, but had no idea what the plot was about. The movie really surprised me. The opening was a little slow at first and I thought to myself, “This movie will be the death of me.” But it picked up and had such a cool and different story line. I would recommend this movie for anyone looking for a fun, heartwarming movie. Even though it is not my first pick, I will still be happy if it wins.

I was so skeptical about seeing Moneyball because I am not a Brad Pitt fan. However, I tried going into the movie being unbiased. The movie was quite entertaining, but being a girl who knew almost nothing about sports, it was confusing as well. Like with The Help, I was also surprised by this film being up for Best Picture. To me there were so many more filmsthat to me should be up for Best Picture instead.

Online News Manager MacKenzie Sackett gives her predictions for who will take the Oscar for Best Picture.

OUR TOP THREE PICKS based on a survey conducted by The Bell Staff.

WAR HORSE

THE HELP

THE TREE OF LIFE

I do not even want to talk about War Horse. This was the movie out of all the Best Picture nominees that I was absolutely dreading to see. I have never been a big fan of war movies. It is just not my cup of tea. It was just so long and every single scene just dragged on and on. People, who have a true interest and love for war movies, will probably really enjoy War Horse. But for me, it was the worst movie out of all of the nominees.

I saw The Help back in August when it first came out into theatres. My mom dragged me along to see it when I really did not want to. The movie was surprisingly not a total bore as I thought it was going to be. It was very entertaining and heart-warming but to me was not a memorable movie. I have absolutely no interest in seeing it again. I was really surprised when I found out that it was nominated for Best Picture because to me, I just did not think it was such an outstanding movie like others have been thinking. I really hope it does not win Best Picture.

I had never heard of the movie The Tree of Life so I was very surprised to hear the it was up for Best Picture. The movie was only okay in my opinion. It was the typical fluffy, weird Oscar nominee kind of movie that did not make much sense at times and left you wondering at the end, “Why was this necessary to be into a movie?” I highly doubt that this will win Best Picture but if it does, I will be very disappointed in the Academy’s decision.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this movie. The film had me laughing at one point and crying the next. It was a movie that I feel like anyone can relate to because the issues dealt with in the film are emotions that everyone faces at some point in their life. George Clooney does an absolutely outstanding job playing a husband and father, especially considering he is not married and has no children. Shailene Woodley who plays Alex, George Clooney’s daughter in the film, holds her own next to George Clooney and gave such an unforgettable performance of a hurt and confused teenager dealing with losing her mother and growing up. Hands down, best movie of 2011.

Extremely Loud and Inceredbly Close

A&E

37% 3% 4%

Midnight in Paris

I had heard about all of the buzz about The Artist since it has been winning a lot of other awards recently. I was quite excited to see it because I have actually never seen a silent film before. I went in thinking it was really cool that it is 2012 and they are releasing a silent film. The movie was really funny and entertaining especially since I had never seen a silent film before. I would recommend it to anyone who has never seen a silent film. It is worth seeing.

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14%

The Help

THE ARTIST

I was beyond excited to see Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and had just been dying to see it for months. I was really surprised by this movie, but unfortunately, not a good surprised. The movie was out of place and there were certain parts about Thomas’s death that you only find out throughout the movie. I personally thought the little boy in the movie was annoying and was not at all impressed by this movie like I thought I would be. I was also disappointed that Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock were barely in the movie at all! Maybe it was my fault for having too high of expectations for the movie, but I have no desire to ever see it again.

18%

The Descendendants

Hugo

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE

Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse

12% 0% 9%

Liberty High School students & staff pick the best.

THE DESCENDANTS

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The Artist

I had been wanting so see Midnight in Paris for such a long time since Rachel McAdams is one of my favorite actresses, but the movie was a limited release movie and never came to any of the theatres I go to. The movie was interesting but I would have liked it better if another actor played Gil. Owen Wilson just needs to stick to comedies. I cannot take him seriously. It is not a movie really worth seeing again.

*78 students surveyed

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

AWARDS 19

A&E

ACADEMY

Online News Manager MacKenzie Sackett gives her predictions for who will take the Oscar for Best Picture.

OUR TOP THREE PICKS based on a survey conducted by The Bell Staff.

THE HELP

THE DESCENDANTS

Words cannot describe how much I loved this movie. The film had me laughing at one point and crying the next. It was a movie that I feel like anyone can relate to because the issues dealt with in the film are emotions that everyone faces at some point in their life. George Clooney does an absolutely outstanding job playing a husband and father, especially considering he is not married and has no children. Shailene Woodley who plays Alex, George Clooneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter in the film, holds her own next to George Clooney and gave such an unforgettable performance of a hurt and confused teenager dealing with losing her mother and growing up. Hands down, best movie of 2011.

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE

I was beyond excited to see Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and had just been dying to see it for months. I was really surprised by this movie, but unfortunately, not a good surprised. The movie was out of place and there were certain parts about Thomasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death that you only find out throughout the movie. I personally thought the little boy in the movie was annoying and was not at all impressed by this movie like I thought I would be. I was also disappointed that Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock were barely in the movie at all! Maybe it was my fault for having too high of expectations for the movie, but I have no desire to ever see it again. THE BELL

A&E

HUGO CABRET

MONEYBALL

WAR HORSE

THE TREE OF LIFE

18%

The Descendendants Extremely Loud and Inceredbly Close

14% 37%

The Help Hugo

THE ARTIST

3% 4%

Midnight in Paris

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Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse

12% 0% 9%

Liberty High School students & staff pick the best.

The Artist

*78 students surveyed

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

AWARDS 19

A&E

HANTIS IS HOT by Diana Timmermans

A team of professional Hantis players go around to schools to teach the students about the game.

photos courtesy of HANTIS.NET

Hantis is the full body fulfillment of table tennis. Fun and inclusive by design, players of any fitness level can learn in under 20 minutes. Your favorite sport is about to change. Hantis is a high-energy sport consisting of four players, four tables and one tennis ball. A few high school students in Georgetown, Kentucky created Hantis in 2005. The game has been sweeping the nation ever since then. The four co-creators are Thaxton Marshall, Ben Fatherree, Jason Johns, and Joe Wallin. The Hantis creators, or “Craters” as they call themselves, have been visiting Kansas City metro schools, doing demos and starting the addicting spark, which is Hantis. “The way the game is designed and the way it plays out you don’t have to be super huge and muscular or really tall to play,” said Hantis co-creator Thaxton Marshall. There are two styles of Hantis, Competition and freestyle. Freestyle Hantis is for four or more players. This type of game play is sort of like four square, when a player gets out, they go to the back of the line. The first person in line goes to the first table and the other three players rotate toward the serving table. The rotation gets everyone involved and allows for

teammates to change. Each player is allowed one table hit and you are allowed to hit the ball twice with your hand. This is great for parties or just hanging out with some friends. Competition style Hantis is a bit different; it is two versus two and the first pair to have 21 points wins, and must win by two points. You score points by getting an out. There are the five total ways to make an out. An out occurs when the ball hits the player’s table then hits the ground, the ball hits the player then hits the ground, the ball is cupped in a player’s hand, the ball hits the player’s table twice, or if the ball hits the player 3 times. Outs apply to both types of play. Hantis has caught on so much at Liberty High School that for a section of the KLHS telethon on April 13, there will be a competitive Hantis tournament. There will be 64 teams of two. “We are going to host a Hantis tournament at Liberty North for our annual telethon. It’s going to be a March Madness style event. The students love the game, and we know it will attract a lot of students to the telethon. We couldn’t be more excited to have a new sport be a major event for our telethon. It really is amazing how popular the sport is with Liberty students,” senior Tommy Kackley said.

Introducing The Bird House Open Late Start Tuesdays and Monday-Friday during 5th Hour! Located off of the Cafeteria The Bird House has everything a student could possibly need throughout their school day! Including: School Supplies, Hair Ties, Gum, Candy and Apparel!

Junior Kathrine Kuhlmann competed at state after a season of leading the team as a captain, along with seniors Abby Donaldson, Laurel Shoger and Alana Raymond. photos courtesy of Kristina Kuhlmann

POOL PAY-OFF by Jake Boese

Off-season work translates into new school record and third-place seed at state. Going into the season, girls’ swim team had a tall task trying to maintain their success from last year. With fewer swimmers this year and the loss of five state qualifying team members from last year, the pressure of this season weighed heavily on the leaders to keep the success going from last year. With fewer swimmers this year than last, returning swimmers have had a big part in the team’s success. “We returned a very solid group of girls that have led the way this year. We also got several new girls who have become a big part of our varsity team,” Coach Chris Murphy said. The team did something they had not done for a while this year. “For the first time in years, we voted on team captains. I think this helped the new girls learn what it takes to be a high school swimmer. A lot of girls had only been on a summer team, if any team at all. The captains and other returning swimmers have done a good job

helping bring the new swimmers up to speed,” Murphy said. The captains have played a major role in this team’s success. “The leaders are Abby [Donaldson], Laurel [Shoger], Katherine [Kuhlmann], and myself. We are the captains. The captains were elected this year, it gives the younger swimmers someone to look up to,” senior Alanna Raymond said. The leaders on the team help the younger swimmers find their own success. “It’s nice to have seniors to look up to, they are always there for you,” sophomore Brooke Popejoy said. Having a tight knit group also helps keep the team successful. “We have a really good bond, we push each other and we have gotten much closer throughout the year,” Popejoy said. “I didn’t expect to be as good this year since five

Junior Kathrine Kuhlmann placed 20th with her relay team at the state competition during the weekend of February 18.

state girls left. We did well because we are dedicated and motivated. I am extremely proud as a team and with individuals because it is and individual and team sport,” Raymond said. Coach Murphy has been more than satisfied with the team’s progress. “I think we are a little better overall than people thought we were going to be. I knew we would be pretty good but we already have one school record in a relay and we are working towards getting another. A lot of girls worked really hard in the off-season and it has paid off in the pool this year,” Murphy said. The girls hope to improve this already successful season at state on the weekend of February 18. “We are seeded third in state in 400 relay and we hope to keep that or even improve that at state,” Popejoy said.

SPIKE IT UP by Mat George

Juniors

VS.

Student Council raises funds for Special Olympics.

Seniors

The junior and senior student sections cheer their teams on during the competition.

photo by Breann Koch

“The most stressful part about putting the Spike it Up together was getting all the players registered and to pay their money to play,” senior Jordan Tanner said. “The entire event was worth it because we raised over 1,000 dollars for the Special Olympics and I was really proud of that.”

photo by Clarissa Parker

The teams’ starters run through a tunnel at the beginning of every game.

photo by Clarissa Parker

“The part that I liked most about spike it up was the fact that a bunch of people from different groups of friends came together to win,” junior Spencer Hurla said. “I think the juniors won because we had the most school spirit and Spike it Up is all about school spirit.”

After ending the regular games with two wins for each grade, a final game was played. Juniors took the lead from the beginning and ended the final game with a score of 25-8. photo courtesy of Ally Wepler

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SPORTS

“My favorite feeling is the feeling and sound of taking a good, hard stride and cracking the ice,” sophomore Preston McConnell said. photos courtesy of Preston McConnell

ICE BREAKERS by Mat George

Students skate to play the sport they love. There are many sports offered at LHS, but ice hockey isn’t one of them. For some athletes, hockey has become an addiction they have to fulfill outside of the school system, no matter how far from home it takes them. Since there are not very many people in the Midwest who play hockey, these players have to travel for their practices. “When I played, I traveled 45 minutes away, three days a week for practices. They were played at the Pepsi field,” senior Bryan Downer said. When people play on any team, they create a special bond for their teammates. “My favorite part about hockey is the competitiveness and building a bond with 19 other guys that become

your brothers in a matter of weeks. You know you have those 19 guys who would sacrifice anything for you,” sophomore Preston McConnell said. Another thing that hockey players have to do is travel a lot for their games. “For games we go everywhere; from Boston to LA and Wisconsin to Dallas. We get to take a team bus,” McConnell said. Although there is not a specific team for Liberty High School, there is a team in the area. “I play on the Kansas City Fighting Saints. It’s a local team. There are players from Staley Oak Park and everywhere around this area,” senior Alex Steinman said.

Playing any sport will have both up and downsides. “I stopped playing because there is a lot of traveling. I didn’t have very many friends. I missed a lot of school and I was always away from home,” Downer said. People get started on hockey for many different reasons. “My dad was into hockey and he was never able to play, so it was up to me. I started when I was four,” Steinman said. “The early morning skate with the rink and the feeling of the cold air on your face is unbelievable,” McConnell said. “It’s crazy to think, but to us hockey is an addiction. We can’t go with out it.”

“It really teaches a lot of discipline, commitment, and excellent physical conditioning. In hockey, the players are so tough. I really like the code of ethics; good sportsmanship and how you compete so hard,” parent Scott McConnell said.

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