Liberty High School March newsPaper

SCAN & VISIT

LHSNEWS Volume 88, Issue 7

THE BELL March 30, 2012

Liberty High School

NEWS

Dress for Success: Liberty students ensure Joplin is properly attired for Prom as they recover from disaster.

4

INDEPTH

What You Never Knew About District Security: The truth behind the high school’s safety.

14

A&E

SPORTS: Golfers find a new place to play at the Shoal Creek course.

Sound your horns and blow your whistles! The band goes marching in to the state competitions this weekend. see page 21

17

ON THE COVER Senior Eric Lester swings the driver to propel the ball down the course at the Shoal Creek Golf Course. This is where the team now practices after Liberty Hills Country Club burned down. photo by Mackenzie Spencer Also featured on the cover (from top to bottom): photos by Mackenzie Spencer and Rachel Bower

CORRECTIONS The Bell staff would like to acknowledge students in the previous issue that did not get photo credit. On page 10, the students pictured in “Greek Meets Grunge” are (clockwise starting at the top), sophomore Austin Jones, senior Montana Tyler and sophomore Jessica Rawie. On page 17, the students pictured in “Time To Shine”, (from left to right) are juniors Kelsey Lewis, Cassidy Mathys, senior Jerri Campbell, juniors Mattea Myers, Sam Nguyen and sophomore Abby Schott. On page 21, the student pictured in “Pool Pay-Off ”, (on the bottom) is sophomore Kendal Lauer.

The Bell is sorry for not giving these students the credit they deserved for their hard work and dedication.

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.

CONTACT US 200 Blue Jay Drive Liberty, MO 64068 thebell@liberty.k12.mo.us (816) 736-5353

The Bird House was started by the Entrepreneurship students. “I think overall the kids have a good time, you know it’s a neat opportunity for them and something that they can do that sets them apart from other students,” Howard said. photo by Breann Koch

WELCOME TO THE BIRD HOUSE

by Molly Meeks

The new school store, The Bird House, opens up new ways for students to purchase merchandise.

The Bird House is not just a home for our feathered friends, but also the name of the recently unveiled school store located off the cafeteria.

“Right now, we are [open during] late start mornings and then all of fifth hour. That’s one question we will put on the survey too, to see if students need us to be open more at different times,” business teacher Scott Howard said.

Though the Bird House has only had its doors open since February 28, business has never been better.

Stocked with almost every item a student might need or want, it is the perfect location for anyone to mosey around during their free time.

“So far it’s been going well. We have some different apparel items, t-shirts and long sleeve shirts and sweats, some hooded sweatshirts and some hats, lanyards, some basic school supplies, candy and some water bottles, too. We’re going to be adding some coffee mugs and travel style coffee mugs and possibly some drink items,” Howard said.

The store is run by the Entrepreneurship students and those earning A+ hours. The students working in the shop learn the basics of running and maintaining a business by manning the registers, taking inventory and ordering new merchandise.

“The intent of the store is to give students the opportunity to have a place to get things that they might need or want. The ultimate goal isn’t to be some business that makes a bunch of money and expands; the goal is to be an educational opportunity. We just need to make the money to keep it operational,” Howard said.

The creators of the Bird House want the store to be as helpful as possible for students. One way they plan

to learn what the school wants from the store is by conducting surveys on potential merchandise.

“A lot of kids have been in there at least once to check it out. I think as we start to get more things in there, we’ll probably see some more kids coming in. We will probably do a couple advertisements on KLHS over the time and I think one thing we need to do is get the parents aware of it. We do have a Facebook page, but that’s just getting started. We’d like to have a little bit more of a web presence so parents can see what we have,” Howard said.

Having a school store has been an idea that has been on the minds of students and teachers for a long time. The space the Bird House currently resides was originally made around 1996 for the intent of a school store.

Two names were chosen by last year’s entrepreneur students, but as the store gradually developed, the Bird House just seemed to be the right choice.

Though there has been much curiosity as to where the profits of the merchandise go, it is not that big of an issue; the money the store has earned is simply used to keep it constantly stocked.

“The money we make from the store goes to buying new merchandise, then everything pretty much goes back into the school. We have had kids that come in and say ‘Man that’s kind of expensive,’ but the things aren’t marked up too much. There is no sales tax on top of what we sell, we’re probably a little bit less than others. I know it’s hard for kids sometimes because they’re spending their own money so it seems like a little bit more. I think when you compare us to convenient stores and other clothing places, we are competitive,” Howard said.

Features/Design Editor Chris Mohr gave Managing /Opinion Editor Amanda Fisher a Spring tulip to celebrate the warm weather! But sadly the pretty little flower ran away to try to get out into the sunshine and found its way into this issue of The Bell. The first person to find and pick Amanda’s tulip for her and plant it back in the room 101 at the beginning of sixth hour will receive a prize courtesy of The Bell Staff.

FLY ME MOON TO THE

by Ben DeHart As Liberty High Schools’ Prom looms closer, the Student Council juniors take charge of the tedious work that goes into planning the event.

StuCo adviser Melanie Prince talks about decorations regarding the theme for Prom. photos by Clarissa Parker

StuCo advisor Erin Ramsey helps the juniors come up with ways to make this year’s Prom an unbelievable success.

THE BELL

Prom is considered to be the gift to the seniors from the juniors every year. This year, Prom is being held on May fifth and juniors Alex Zaborac, Tyre Russell, Nathan Hunt and Tyler Hannsz are taking control of it.

“The theme is always the most important part of the dance,” junior class president Alex Zaborac said.

“This year we chose the theme Fly Me to the Moon.”

A lot of thought and effort went into choosing this theme, wanting to make it the high school’s coolest Prom to date.

“We could have gone with the obvious Cinco de Mayo theme, but we decided that Fly Me to the Moon would be a lot more involving,” junior Tyler Hannsz

said. “I really think that the theme will pull everything together. I can’t say much about it but it will be great.”

Every year the complications of Prom seem to be a little more stressful than the year before.

With new rules and restrictions, this committee has gone through special planning to make sure everything is going to work out.

“Last year, the committee had a couple of hardships with the DJ and his equipment. We have checked and double checked every aspect we have so far,” junior class vice-president Tyre Russell said.

The DJ for Prom will again have a list of songs deemed “okay” by the administration.

“The song list always gets a really

bad rap; all of the songs are still good,” Zaborac said. “A lot of the time, the DJ is always great no matter what he plays. We have asked the DJ to play songs that are widely accepted by a large group of people.”

Accompanying this year’s new theme, the Administration has also presented new disciplinary procedures for Prom. If a student is removed from the dance for any reason the following consequences will ensue: if the student is a senior, they will not be allowed to walk at graduation. If the student is a sophomore or junior, they will not be allowed to attend the Homecoming dance next year. So be safe, make smart choices and have a great time.

Juniors Tyler Hannsz, Alex Zaborac and Tyre Russel meet with Stuco adviser Marla Badalucco to plan the 2012 Prom; this years theme is “Fly Me to the Moon”.

3

NEWS

JOPLINS’ DREAMS COME TRUE

by Nathan Hunt

Students help give the teens of Joplin a Prom they will not soon forget.

Many remember the tornados that hit in early May of last year. One of the hardest towns hit from those horrendous storms was Joplin. About a year after the tragedy as the pieces are still being picked up, a new issue has arisen for students of Joplin High School: how will they afford Prom when all the money is going towards the town rebuilding itself? One solution has come to light that many had not expected. A national project has sprouted up into the lime light; Project: Joplin Prom.

This was first introduced when celebrity Katy Perry unveiled the project via a video telling the students of Joplin about the plan.

“I’m so proud of each and every one of you,” Perry said in the speech, “Especially in this past year, I know that there have been some challenges, and you have been through a lot.” Perry went on to say that Project: Joplin Prom was going to be created to help give students the Prom of their dreams. This project is donating dresses, shoes, jewelry, tuxes and other Prom wear for the young adults of Joplin to wear for free to their Prom this Spring. People all over the country are becoming involved, including the teachers and students of Liberty High School.

“I saw the news broadcast from Channel 41 online, I actually did not see it on the T.V. When the teacher was crying and talking about how she was worried about her kids and Prom for them; I could understand that kind of connection to your students,” communication arts teacher Briday Ware said. “Her getting emotional got me emotional and I instantly went online and looked up her name and sent her an email asking how I could help. I do not think I

have ever been quite so motivated to do something like that.” Ware has now been a major activist for the Project: Joplin Prom.

“Melissa Blakeman is the lady who started the ‘Joplin Prom Project 2012,’ which you can find on Facebook.

Basically, we are just jumping on the band wagon with them; collecting dresses and other ready to wear clothes for the kids who have nothing so they can walk in on March the 10th and pick out something to wear to their Prom,” Ware said. Yet not only dresses are needed, but monetary donations to help with the expenses of Prom.

One of these expenses is the After Prom party, which gives students a safe event to go to after Prom.

“We are also collecting financial donations to help them buy and purchase whatever they might need for Prom. Knowing that they have the After Prom party that is safe, so maybe this money will buy prizes for those kids. I am not sure exactly how those donations will be used but it is all for student use. I have checked to make sure that is valid because I want to make sure that what we are doing is right. Just knowing that we do not know what kind of needs they have and will continue to have in the future. They are going to have needs for years to come,” Ware said.

“Amber Travis, the teacher at Joplin, started a letter campaign to try to look for what to do for her kids for Prom. That is actually how Katy Perry got involved in doing the Promo video. There have been organizations that have donated to this project also,” Ware said. Ware organized a group of students to help her collect the donations and dresses from around LHS. “I really like Mrs. Ware and just the way she was inspired to do it; it made our whole class want to help.

I don’t think anyone decided not to help,” junior Jessie

Adams said. The fifth hour British Literature II class that Ware teaches helped work a table at lunch to help get the word out and make it easier for students to donate.

“I work the table at lunch; I also talk to my friends and inform them about it. Whenever we work at lunch, we just harass people so they know about it,” junior Tyre Russel said, “Since Student Council juniors are planning Libertys’ Prom, I know how much money goes into that.

I know how much it is needed in Joplin.”

With the Project: Joplin Prom being advertised throughout the halls and also on KLHS, many dresses have been donated to the cause. Yet, there have been many other items donated by the students of LHS as well.

“I donated a pair of shoes and I feel good because they are nice shoes but they are really more Prom-y. I feel like someone who has big feet and maybe 5’11 may get to wear some nice shoes now. Hopefully they will have a good night because of me,” senior Alexis Borchardt said.

However, some are feeling a bit reluctant to donate their used Prom clothes to Project: Joplin Prom.

“I understand why you would not want to give away your first Prom dress or something; but fashions are going to change anyway. Right now that Prom dress is still relatively new and you might as well give it back to someone who is able to wear it; especially since everything can be reused,” Borchardt said. Even if some students do not donate their used Prom wear, all the donations given will make a big impact on the students of Joplin and their one special night.

“This one night could make a really big difference for them because no one wants to spend money when you already have a catastrophe that has gone on,” Borchardt said.

ell of yle B y s rte y St cou M o ot ph

“I think it is that giving spirit; we have not forgotten what has happened in Joplin and that is really good because students look at that devastation everyday and we sometimes forget that, but they cannot forget. I think, especially, people identify with Prom because Prom is that one special night; you want to make it very special for them,” Ware said. photo by Sammi Novak

THE BELL

4

NEWS



 

No School Friday April 6th.



 

 





Happy Easter, Jays!



816-792-9911 1917 Star Dr. Suite A

Ryan R. Snyder, M.D

816-792-9911 1917 Star Dr. Suite A

66

DAYS

THATS...

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

SPOTLIGHT BRANDYN MOULTRIE

by Michaela Lamb

BM AT

“He’s really athletic, I’ve always looked up to him on the basketball court. He had the potential to be a varsity basketball player from day one,” sophomore Nick Espinosa said.

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

How did you like all the attention you got after shooting the winning basket at the Court warming Game?

At first people kept coming up to me, and it was really cool. After a while though, I don’t want to say that it was annoying, but it was alright… I liked it.

How did you get started playing basketball?

I just picked up a ball when I was a kid. I’ve been playing forever.

Do you plan on continuing your basketball career?

I do. I plan on playing it wherever it takes me. If I don’t play for a college, I’ll still play somewhere.

Brandyn Moultrie basks in the afterglow of making the winning basket of the courtwarming game. photo by Breann Koch

Q: A:

What is your favorite part of playing basketball

I like playing with friends; my sophomore class is really good. My least favorite part is practice, if I could just play games and be good, that’s what I would do. But practice is important.

Q: A: Q: A:

Do you like your coaches?

Yeah, they’re great. They make basketball fun and make it a looking forward to experience for me.

What was going through your mind when you shot the winning point at court warming?

I found out that I had the free throws and I freaked out. They called a time out; I went out to take the throws and I wasn’t nervous when I got to the line.

“Moultrie is one of the best ball handlers on the team, [my colleague] Coach Stirtz thinks he’ll be one of the best passers the program has ever seen. Coming in as a sophomore and playing some of the big minutes and hitting those free throws, it shows you the kind of heart and toughness he’s got,” Coach Brady Hammond said.

ARTY TUGGLE

by Jake Boese

“Having Arty as a teammate is challenging yet fun because he is a goofy kid but he doesn’t always think everything through. I love him though,” senior Kyle Rutliff said.

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

You record your rap music, how did you become interested in rap?

I got interested because my brother did rap around my age, I was about eight, and I saw him and I looked up to him.

How long have you been rapping?

I’ve been rapping since I was 14 years old. It started as a rap at South Valley (Junior High) for Mr. Deaver’s class. I had to make a song about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

What is the process of creating a rap song?

First you have to know how you want the song to sound in your head. You have to know your lyrics and you have to get the flow.

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

When did you get started in basketball?

I’ve been playing basketball all my life. My brothers and sisters all played for at least four years and I saw them doing it.

What do you do in the off-season?

I work out everyday to get bigger and stronger for next season. Everyday after school I take at least 100 free throws.

What do you have to do to help the team next year?

I think I’m going to play a major role next year. There will only be three seniors coming back so I will have to step up. I have to learn from this years seniors’ leadership to continue success.

“Arty is learning that hard work pays off. He’s having a great offseason and he’s going to do well next season,” Coach Roger Stirtz said.

THE BELL

6

Arty Tuggle experiences success in basketball and in rap. photo by Lucas Carrel

FEATURES

SPOTLIGHT BROOKE MCPHEETERS

by Kayla Hammer

BM AB

She is a truly amazing person; I‘ve grown up with her for so long that I have seen her improvement. She will be able to accomplish whatever she does for the simple reason that she is a wonderful person,” senior Jordyn Siegfried said.

Q: A: Q: A:

Brooke McPheeters made the Chiefs cheerleading team on account of her enthusiasm and perserverance. photo by Mackenzie Spencer

How were the Chiefs Cheerleader tryouts?

They started on Friday and there were around 300 girls trying out. I was very intimidated by the people around me but I kept my cool and decided it was all for fun.

In general, what did you do for the three-day tryouts?

We learned multiple dances, including the pregame dance the cheerleaders always do. We have some photo-shoots and public speaking sessions since we will do a lot of public relations if we make the team.

Q: A:

What was your reaction when you learned you made the team?

I was wondering if that was me because there were two different Brookes. I cried and I was so crazy, it was surreal.

Q: A: Q: A:

What was the most exciting thing about tryouts?

It was trying on the uniform but I didn’t get to see myself because there were no mirrors.

Are you going anywhere special?

I’m going to Aruba, which is really cool because I haven’t been outside of the states before.

“Brooke is an individual that you will never forget. You can always count on her because of her admiring qualities; she’s caring, giving, deserving and fully grateful for the opportunity,” Coach Maggie Willis said.

ANN BERTOLDIE

by Ben DeHart

“She develops a relationship with all of her students, she really grows close to the students and really listens to them; that’s something that is very hard to find,” senior Tom Kackley said.

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

Where did you receive your education?

I got my under-grad degree from Northwest Missouri State University, and I have a Master’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Kansas. Rock Chalk!

What got you into broadcasting?

I was a broadcast major in college, but I hated the way my voice sounded so I changed to print and English education. When the broadcast job opened up here I was approached by C.W. Stessman and he asked if I would be interested in taking the position.

Had you had any prior broadcasting jobs?

I had taught student publications like yearbook and magazine. When this job was presented to me, I snatched it up!

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

What was your reaction to winning the Pacemaker National Broadcast award?

We were one of the first schools to win the award with a daily show. Most of the schools that were winning the Pacemaker had a monthly show.

What are some of the upcoming events that KLHS is putting on?

The 11th annual telethon is taking place on April 13th. The telethon is our biggest moneymaker and it is an incredible experience for all of our broadcasters and the community.

What was it like winning the Pacemaker award for a second time?

Well, I considered myself a pro at the time so it wasn’t that big of a deal. I’m kidding! I was still so honored and so humbled by the experience.

I was so proud of that group of students.

“I have a lot of respect for Mrs. Bertoldie. How much she cares about her students in the classroom is absolutely outstanding. She always keeps things interesting and you always have to be on your toes around her!” Broadcasting Assistant Katie Dennison said.

THE BELL

7

Bertoldie has confidence in her staff that they will win the Pacemaker again. “We are attempting a back-to-back title reign and I think we’re a shoe-in!” photo by Kelley Rowe

FEATURES

SMALL SCHOOL, BIG SUCCESSES

by Jake Boese

There is a negative perception surrounding the Academy, but our two schools are in many ways the same.

THE BELL

safe environment so students will be successful and productive citizens.”

The environment the poster refers to is different to that of LHS. The first thing a visitor at the Academy will notice is how quiet it is while class is going on which seems to be the best possible atmosphere to concentrate in a high school.

Another thing that separates the Academy from a traditional high school is the teacher-student relationship.

“The key thing is caring adults to help guide students to success…There are about ten students per class which enables the teacher to have more sustained support with the students,” said Cordell.

This environment helps students who usually get distracted stay on task.

“It’s a lot different learning experience with maybe ten or 15 students… so you can talk to the teacher easier. It helps for students who get side tracked in big classes,” senior Austin Moore said.

Also because it is a choice for many, students attending the Academy usually enjoy the experience.

“I love it because it’s a little environment, you can ask a question

without being interrupted. You get helped quicker,” sophomore Brittany Yurisich said.

The different atmosphere and improved teacher to student relationship can lead to better grades and greater success.

“I like it a lot because it’s a better learning environment, you get more help, they make sure you keep up your grades,” senior Marisa McFarland said.

The process for deciding if a student needs to be in the Academy is not that extraneous. First, the high school intervenes and the counselors decide what is going on with the student’s schoolwork. Then, the student and their parents meet with Dr. Cordell and decide if the student’s success would increase at the Academy. If the student decides they believe this opportunity will help them be successful, they make the transition to the Academy, usually attending for one to two, and sometimes three semesters.

The success of the Academy is evidenced by the improving graduation rate.

“Last year 28 students graduated with us which was our highest ever,” said Cordell.

The Academy hopes to continue to increase the success they have been experiencing throughout this school year and for years to come. mermans Diana Tim photo by

There are many misconceptions involving the Academy spreading around Liberty High School that are based on rumors and a lack of actual knowledge.

The Academy, although an alternative high school, shares all the same goals as LHS but with a different atmosphere.

The Academy puts their focus on a specific group of students.

“Our focus is on traditional students who are not experiencing traditional success,” Academy Principal Dr. Robert Cordell said.

The reasons these students do not experience usual success in a traditional school are not those most would assume.

“Usually, kids only act out because they are struggling learners…they struggle with learning because they are having trouble with reading,” said Cordell.

Students, however, are not always ordered to the Academy, they can choose this path because they realize they are in need of the extra guidance the Academy provides.

“Students choose to come here because they want to be successful,” said Cordell.

The Academy has a poster at the entrance that explains the mission statement of the school.

It reads, “The Liberty Academy provides educational alternatives in a

9

FEATURES

ROBO REGIONALS

by Kayla Hammer

With Safety and Entrepreneurship awards under their belt, The FIRST Robotics team heads off to Denver.

The preparation, the sweat, the tears…okay, well maybe not tears, but the rush that you get from watching the machine come alive in a battle for the fittest is one that is hard to explain. Liberty’s FIRST Robotics team is a group that often does not get as much recognition as others.

Do not get confused with the typical idea of nerds pushing up their glasses behind a computer. The team consists of 35 members who go beyond the shop class by competing and reaching out to others.

March 1-3 was the FIRST Kansas City Robotics regional’s competition, where Liberty scored 52nd place out of 64.

“Our robot just wouldn’t work…but we will do better next time,” sophomore Josh Ritter said.

It was slightly disappointing for the team that worked on building the robot six weeks prior. Because of these time constraints, the team spends many late nights and even weekends trying to perfect their machine.

“Balancing school and Robotics isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. We have an hour of homework time before we start. If you don’t have good grades, you can’t go to competition,” junior Morgan Hayter said.

Even though they did not win an award for their performance in the general competition, all this hard work was not for nothing; the team manaaged to walk away with awards in Safety and Entrepreneurship.

“We wait till we are given our prompt to base our robot off of and then we go right into building it,” said junior Daniel Franz.

Before the team spends all their energy on designing and building they still meet to prepare for the competition season.

“Before competing we all prepare by practicing our skills during our meetings. We all take or have taken some sort of shop class, and during meetings we train our new members,” Franz said.

Some people believe their competitions are even comparable to sporting events, an ironic statement since this year’s competiton was a basketball tournament.

“It’s very exciting with lots of screaming from the crowd and the crowd isn’t necessarily for separate teams; they are just screaming for the best to win,” senior Andrew Kitahara said.

Robotics is not just work and play, though. The team has a lot of fun together; head coach and

Conceptual Physics teacher Mr. Pierson makes sure of it. Watching him go through announcements, one sees his sense of humor blossom as he jokingly teases his club members. These announcements can last up to 20 minutes; even though they could go by faster, the group prefers to have fun before the practice.

“Last year, at the International Championship we had a halftime where the Black Eyed Peas were performing but we all chose to go to the City Museum instead,” said Kitahara.

The team went to the next regional’s in Denver over Spring Break, where they will continue to have a blast even through the pressures of competition. Part of this is a mixer hosted by the competition sponsers where the opposing teams to meet each other with tons of food and entertainment.

As the team considers what changes they’ll make to their robot when they get to Denver, they continue to go above and beyond the barriers of engineering, but create a positive environment for students to grow in.

“Knowing how to work effectively as a team is a major part of Robotics,” Dallas Blackburn said,

To the left: (pictured from left to right) Ryan Anesburger, Shane Busch and Dallas Blackburn race against the clock to make the final changes on their robot after seeing it for the first time since they sent it in to be approved for the competition. Below: Dallas Blackburn, sporting the Team 1764 black and blue uniform, loads the balls before a match. Above: The robot takes aim in a round of one-on-one basketball. “The most nerve-racking part is preparing for a match, not knowing if all the hard work will pay off,” Dallas Blackburn said. photo courtesy of Liberty’s Robotics Team, Team 1764

THE BELL

10

FEATURES

BEWARE: THE UNAWARE

by Haley Sheriff

American students further slack in international rankings due to their lack of worldliness.

Known for being the world’s most powerful nation, it could easily be assumed that American citizens are up to par with such a status. But according to the results found in a recent National Geographic survey conducted in 2006 with young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, it is a wonder Americans can even navigate in their own backyards. Despite having troops in the Middle East since 2001 for the war on terror, 63 percent are unable to locate Saudi Arabia or Iraq on a map, whereas 75 percent can find neither Israel nor Iran. A whopping 88 percent are clueless of Afghanistan’s location and regardless of nuclear tensions with North Korea, 70 percent do not know its whereabouts. Though all of these nations are still headlining today’s news, Americans students fail to grasp the importance of taking note of events outside the 50 states.

“Everything the U.S. does affects everyone else in the world, and vice versa. For instance, when oil prices rise here, our economy goes down due to the lack of money people have from the demand of gas, which then destabilizes the world economy,” senior Derrick Eggleston said. “When the U.S. doesn’t have enough money circulating, other countries will lack currency to circulate as well. All of the major world powers are intertwined.”

Students should be informed not for information’s

sake, but for their own survival, seeing as they are the future of this country’s well being. From studying foreign languages or history to just keeping updated with news on the television or Internet, every effort should be taken to learn and interact with different cultures.

“It’s better to know about the world around you so that you can infer the actions and stances your own country would take against international issues,” junior Bethany Nelson said. “Like with Libya, you could decide whether or not the U.S. would take military action in such a situation.”

Most students believe the reasoning behind their lack of knowledge of the international community is due to an equal lack of caring. Being teenagers, they are preoccupied with numerous tasks, from classes to extracurricular activities to a social life, and simply do not have the time in their schedules.

“I find this idea of teenagers being apathetic to be incorrect, because really the more we hear it the more we become adjusted to the idea,” social studies teacher Mike Hammer said. “I don’t think they’re as apathetic as they think they are. It’s like with politicians and the media—you only see the radical sides of the spectrum and never really the people in the middle. So like teenagers, in calling themselves apathetic, it is only counter-productive.”

As with the American healthcare and educational systems, our youth’s fluency with the world is inferior to the likes of European nations. Having always been compacted between multiple cultures and languages, this serves as an advantage for them as players in the global market.

“Foreigners are considerably more informed [than Americans],” sophomore Ruby Dumrauf said. “I hosted a German exchange student one year, and they knew more about what was going on [in the world] as well as in the United States. But it’s normal for them, and then [when compared to Americans] it only proves the stereotype of our stupidity.”

Americans have indeed developed a reputation for ignorance, but there is still much debate of whether or not this situation is a matter of intelligence or plain common sense.

“It’s not a matter of intelligence, but being informed; being aware is more related to wisdom. Those interested in global issues show curiosity, a desire for something beyond themselves. This desire to know more is an emotional concept which enhances the ability to see and understand how people feel and think in certain situations,” Hammer said. “But that’s it. Everything is a world issue. We cannot live in isolation anymore.”

Tim Fritson talks to students about Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 campgain on Tuesday, March 13 2012 at Liberty Christian Fellowship. The Invisible Children campgain has taken the school by storm the past few weeks and has got students involved with world issues. photo by Kayla Hammer

THE BELL

11

FEATURES

"I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE

NOBODY'S

WATCHING ME"

by Madi Denton; design by Chris Mohr

We have all seen the white car in the parking lot, but does it really benefit our safety?

Liberty High School is one of the highest-ranking schools in Missouri. Our ACT scores rank us one of the best in the state, and that is something that brings pride to the school district. The school’s security is also very well known, having been featured on NBC Nightly News and the front cover of USA Today. But how safe is our school, and is it worth all the hype?

Among things like monitoring student behavior and investigating crimes within the building, it is the job of district security to “monitor student behavior during and between assigned class periods,” according to their job description. Liberty School district goes through many different measures in order to keep the high school safe.

“Security systems, including monitored doors with doorbells, alarms, locks, and badge entry systems have been installed to limit access to only necessary individuals.

We have hired nearly 20 off-duty police officers to work part time and to serve on our security team,” Safety and Security Director Rick Fletcher said.

Police officers are not the only ones on duty during the day. The officers who sit in the parking lots during the day are off-duty State Troopers. They also take security one step further with the doors during the day.

“All exterior doors are locked at all times during the day. We have camera systems.

At the high schools we have a monitor/ security person that sits at the front that monitors the people coming in and out,” Fletcher said.

Just because there are all those security obstacles set up, does not mean that skipping class, or even leaving the building is impossible.

“The majority of the time that I’m skipping, I will skip advisory and go to McDonalds and get breakfast, and I might end up missing part of my next hour also. Or Wal-Mart. If my friends and I are planning on being gone for a while then we just go to Wal-Mart,” junior Katie* said.

She is not the only one who makes it in and out of the building during the day.

“If I leave, I usually go to Taco Bell because it’s lunch period. I don’t leave often, just when I don’t have lunch money or something I’ll go out, get food, and come back,” junior Sean Moore said.

Even with all the measures the district takes to keep students inside the building and in class, there are still ways to get in and out.

“I park in the side parking lot, so I just pull a rug between the side doors so it’s kind of propped open, and when I come back, it is usually still open. If it’s not, I just time it so when I come back during passing period so there are other kids in the hallway and you just knock on the door and they’ll open it for you,” Katie* said.

In the parking lots, there is always one assigned district security officer, as well as two other officers who patrol the whole district. They have specific protocol for seeing students in the parking lots during school hours.

“If it is during school hours, and they appear to be a student, we will stop, talk to them, and find out where they are going, if they are supposed to be in school, and then we will confirm that within the building,” Fletcher said.

This rule may not always be enforced though, according to some.

“The only thing that scares me is when I’m pulling out of the parking lot and District Security is out there. But they normally won’t stop you and if they do, you

THE BELL

12

can just say you’re with A+ and they will let you go,” Katie* said.

There have also been some rumors going around about district security.

“I heard that someone saw the district security sleeping in the parking lot. That really shocked me and surprised me because our school says security is so important, but they’re sleeping on the job,” sophomore Olivia Clemens said.

The chances of this are very slim, because the officers are constantly on call and are required to be aware of their surroundings. That does not mean they don’t have some extra time though.

“They do not get an assigned break. We have somebody on duty from [early] in the morning until [late] in the evening that provides everything pretty much anytime the busses are out, picking up kids or anytime the busses are out in the afternoon if we were to have an issue on the bus, an issue with the bus, or anything like that, some body is on duty. As far as breaks, they get lunch, but it is not a scheduled lunch.

If they are not busy, they drive through and try to get a sandwich, but obviously they are still subject to call,” Fletcher said.

Since there is no assigned break, the security officers must let the administrators know they are leaving, and then they can go to lunch.

Overall, there is a lot of work, thought and technology that goes into keeping LHS security at its best. The administrators are not just concerned with ditching out on fifth hour. They also want to make every student feel safe during their time at Liberty High School.

“I encourage people that if they have issues, whether its bullying, threats, harassment, anything safety or security related to give us a call. We have the hotline here to call at 736-7331. We also have the state hotline they can call anonymously or they can text anonymously, where everything is all scrambled up so all we get back is the report, so no one’s name is ever given to us,” Fletcher said. *Student names have been changed to protect the identity of the individuals.

It may look as if this man in the District Security car is not paying attention, but these off-duty State Troopers are allowed to spend their time as they like as long as they respond to calls. photo by Mackenzie Spencer

INDEPTH

THE BELL

13

INDEPTH

CELEBRITY DEATHS:

ARE YOU SO OVER THE PUBLICITY?

PRO

CON

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

photos by MacKenzie Sackett

Diana Timmermans

THE BELL

When someone dies, those who knew him or her well will mourn their lost friend or relative. But when a celebrity dies, everything about the late celebrity is amplified to maximum capacity and is displayed on the national stage for weeks on end.

When I am checking out at my grocery store and see the latest celebrity death on the cover of magazines with pictures of mourners, I can’t comprehend why fans are crying over one person. Yes, their music, movies, and/or career have had an influence on your own life. But let’s take a step back from the emotion of the situation to think with a level head and clear mind. Have you met this person?

Chances are you have not. So, why are you treating them like you have spent every day of your life with your favorite celebrity? It is not like every part of their being is wiped off the face of the planet. No one will frown upon you if you listen to your favorite late singer’s song. Old movies aren’t banned from existence because the main actor passed away.

The movie posters on your wall won’t fade.

Once a celebrity dies, every media station researches everything they can about the late star. They call them interest pieces, but I am not interested in dirty laundry. If it were my favorite celebrity, I wouldn’t want to know all of their scandals. The star’s family also gets intertwined with these scandals and don’t get to mourn their loved one’s death like normal people. Since celebrity death airtime drags on so long, we get to hear about all the little mistakes they made years back. Really? Celebrities are people, just like you and me.

Celebrities should not be idolized for who they are, but what they have done. Everyone has high times in their lives and low times in their lives, but what you do and the decisions they make, defines the type of person they are and their character. Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, or Charlie Sheen’s train wrecks of lives are fun to watch sometimes but I would not let my child look up to them or even touch them.

Instead of celebrating people who lack morals, which is many in Hollywood, we should look up to the men and women in uniform, the people who are selfless and give their own lives to make the world a better place.

The celebrity deaths from 2001 to 2012 compared to US casualties in the War on Terror are no comparison. The difference is staggering. Our casualties, including American civilians, are the roughly estimated at 54,000 people dead or wounded. You don’t see these heroes’ lives celebrated on television nightly.

14

RESPECT THE DEAD Nathan Hunt

Whether a person likes it or not, celebrities have a huge influence on today’s society. Through their music and acting, they translate emotions and social controversies to the audience. Therefore, losing one is a crushing blow to pop culture. Take for example, the recent death of Whitney Houston. When I heard that she had passed away, I literally felt a bit of my soul die. Her voice and music was so inspiring; knowing that I will never hear her voice sing those beautiful notes of her most famous song, “I Will Always Love You”, is so saddening.

According to Capital New York, Houstons’ death was the third biggest topic in American news between February 13 and 19, taking up 10 percent of all coverage in the news media. Think about losing a celebrity you hold dear to your heart, how you would never see them act or sing ever again.

This is why there is a media storm around every death, because people are shocked and want answers as to why their hero is no longer here inspiring them.

If you look back on past celebrity deaths, it is society that brings on the media storm that follows, not the media forcing it upon everyone. People call for investigation and want the facts about how their beloved star met their untimely end. For example, when Michael Jackson died, there was an outcry of shock and mourning around the world because he had done so much to influence the generations of the world. The media storm that followed soon uncovered a scandal involving his doctor. Without the coverage of the trial, his fans would not be able to feel the closure or justice of Michaels’ death they were rewarded with when they heard the sentencing of his doctor.

There is no reason to become upset about the coverage of celebrity death in the media when the majority of society wants to hear. In my opinion, I want to hear every bit about a celebrity that I loved. I want to hear and see all the amazing work they have done throughout the years.

Also, if a celebrity died and during their life they abused drugs or or alcohol, do not remember them for the bad, but for the good. Remember that star for who they were when they were at their peak; for all the triumphs they made and all the obstacles they overcame to get where they were. No one should be remembered for the downfalls they had.

An example, like I mentioned above, is Whitney Houston.

She abused drugs and lost some of her angelic voice, but remember her for all the incredible songs she sang; her voice that defined a generation; the voice that was the greatest voice ever to be heard.

Celebrities deserve all the media and coverage because they gave all that they could to our culture; they inspire generations and will always have an influence long after they are gone.

OPINION

photos by MacKenzie Sackett

American students know little about what goes on outside the boundaries of our country. Classes like World History and Contemporary Issues are working to change this. “The majority of students do not have a real interest in global events. So it is our jobs, as history teachers, to promote these events through class discussion.” history teacher Mike Hammer said.

STAFF EDITORIAL America’s students are constantly slipping lower in their knowledge of the world. America is known for its ignorance and American teenagers are proving this stereotype to be accurate.

All of the world’s issues are related and all of the world’s economies are intertwined. A crash in America’s stock market could send Europe’s economy spiraling into a recession.

Studies show that a majority of young adults in America cannot locate countries that have been making world headlines for years. Eighty-eight percent of students were unable to find Afghanistan on a map. This is a country that has been at the center of the one major war in our lifetime.

While teenagers in Europe and Asia are exposed to a variety of cultures and countries, America is an ocean away from most of the other world superpowers. While students have access to the Internet and news, issues can

seem less pressing when they are not in one’s backyard.

It is not just that Americans cannot find other countries on a map. It is a lack of understanding about what is happening outside of the United States and how those things might affect our lives.

Ignorance is not bliss. Without a firm understanding of how the world works, Americans will continue to slip through the ranks until we are no longer a respected world power. The people in high school today will be leading the nation in the near future and those leaders will need to know the world in which they live and work.

We, as The Bell staff, feel that American teenagers should care more about what is going on in the world around them and take a stand against the problems that we are facing today. There are a lot of issues out there in the world that need to be addressed and it takes just one person to bring attention to something that has been going on for years.

10 believe students should know about world issues

4

do not believe students should know about world issues

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

SHELBY CURTIS ADS MANAGER

Proud To Be An American THE BELL

A few days ago I received an e-mail from a friend. I was dumbfounded as I read about a lady who was on the show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and got the simplest of questions wrong. When asked, “what object is bigger, a peanut, an elephant, a car or the moon?” she actually took a minute to think about it, then proceeded to use all three of her lifelines. Even after her friend and the audience told her to choose the moon, she went with her gut instinct and chose an elephant.

This got me thinking about our American culture.

If someone was visiting from a foreign country and that was the first thing they saw on TV, what would they think? Is it possible that because of what we’re constantly showing on television, things like Jersey Shore and Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader, that we could be the laughing stock of the world?

Think about it. I have met many kids my age from

15

Germany, France, and even Brazil, visiting America, and every time I speak to them it’s in English. I then find out that in almost every case, they not only speak their native language, they speak three other languages.

Why is it that I have had three years of Spanish and all I can say is hola and gracias or that one of my best friends didn’t know if the president was a republican or a democrat? Something is terribly wrong here. We’re a major world power and our general intelligence level does not seem to reflect that, especially as shown on TV. Maybe the problem lies in the fact that the phrase “ignorance is bliss” is really common in America, and maybe we’ve been living by that standard for too long. Let’s just hope that if other people are judging us Americans based on what they see on TV, they watch Big Bang Theory before they find out who Snooki is.

OPINION

photo courtesy of Ashley McGee

EDITOR COLUMNS

ASHLEY MCGEE EDITOR IN CHIEF The True Cost of Equality I never really thought much about it until it was me – until I was the one expected to pay for the honor cords, sashes and who knows what else for my senior graduation. At this point, I’m just frustrated at having one more expense to deal with on top of everything else I want and need to make my senior year everything I want it to be.

After how hard we’ve worked to succeed in academics,

AMANDA FISHER MANAGING EDITOR “She Doesn’t Even Go Here!”

Liberty High School, I need your attention. I have a huge question to ask and desperately need the answer: “Is butter a carb?”

I’m not even going to lie to you, I spend 75% of my day quoting Mean Girls. Whenever anyone brings up someone my friends and I know very well, we begin reciting all of the Regina George quotes. Such as, “MacKenzie Sackett is flawless” or “I heard she does

THE BELL

community service and athletics, it’s awful to think that all it will boil down to is money – that to get the acknowledgment we deserve on our big day, we’ll have to dish out a bunch of cash. Now, it wouldn’t be so bad if everyone only had to pay the $10-$15 for one of these, but once you go above two or three, you’re paying $50 or more just to have your achievements recognized. And I don’t even want to think about having to choose between everything I parcipated in, to say my academic success is more important that my community service or vise versa.

This only adds insult to injury when you consider all the other financial stressors seniors already or will have to worry about in the near future, which may include, but is not limited to car insurance, gas, food, college tuition, room and board, dorm necessities, school supplies and laptops. All this adds up and with the average high school student only being able to take on a part-time job, even with your parents’ help, there’s just not enough money for everything that you’re now expected to do.

I know there’s not much the school or I can do about it. It costs money to make these cords and creating them is a business in itself. But it says a lot about our society when we’re expected to pay money to receive recognition for our work. We’ve been told all our lives we can do anything we set our minds to, but so often we fail to realize, not everyone can afford it. car commercials…in Japan.”

I know, this easily gets annoying. Especially for those who have not seen Mean Girls, which, hello, why haven’t you seen it? Or to those who have seen it but think it’s all old news, I have one thing to say to you: “You can’t sit with us.”

Told ya.

The reason why I quote it so much, aside from the fact that it really is a great comedy and was perfectly written by Tina Fey, it brings so many people together.

I met my really good friend, Nathan, by quoting it so much. Now, he and I are really close friends, all because I said, “Oh honey, what kind of mother do you think I am? Why? Do you want a little bit, cause if you do I’d rather you do it in the house.”

Not to mention, this film creates great times with my best friends. We always gather at one of our houses on a typical Friday night and watch, laugh, and quote the whole film.

So, to every one out there, especially the skeptical ones who look down upon my friends and me, “do you even go to this school?” no, just kidding. But, you really should be more open. You can’t lie and say there isn’t one movie you quote all the time. Mine just happens to be Mean Girls and I happen to quote it at all the appropriate times.

16

CHRIS MOHR DESIGN EDITOR Working for the Weekend Over the past four years, I have spent every waking second of every summer at Worlds of Fun. I have pulled sixteen-hour shifts, worked 34 hours in one weekend during the months of September and October and exceeded the 52 hours maximum limit in one week. And if that isn’t enough, I have had my share of peeling sunburns, cuts and bruises and of course, the irate guest who will not shut up. But beyond all of these concerns is the reason why I show up to work every day with a smile on my face. After reading this, you are probably wondering how this is possible. To answer this question, it’s being with the people I love while doing what I love to do. There isn’t any other job where you can have fun without actually feeling like you’re at work. For example, playing hide and seek in a warehouse the size of a football field or recreating baseball with a hi-striker mallet and a giant bouncy ball in the back of the arcade. I would not choose any other job over this one.

I am a Games Lead. Games is what I do. With my enthusiasm and hard work, I was promoted to lead a section of kids. Not only do I make sure everyone is doing there job, but I make sure they are having fun doing it at the same time.

Amidst everyone’s perceptions towards Worlds of Fun, it really is not that terrible. Yes, there will be the days where the heat index is over 100 degrees and the humidity is 100 percent and you are drenched in you own sweat. And yes, there will be days where you are caught in a sudden downpour, but we all make the best of it.

So the next time you are looking for a job, consider Worlds of Fun or Oceans of Fun. The benefits are great, the management staff is spectacular and you will make countless number of friends all while making some money.

OPINION

SHOOTING FOR STRAIGHT ONES

by Molly Meeks Liberty High School’s band soars for great scores at their upcoming band contest.

Miranda Doodley, Erin Martin and Hannah Proteman prepare to perform their trio at contest. photo by Rachel Bowers

Early Saturday, March 31 until late that night band students from all over the district will be playing a solo or in a small ensemble for a rating and a chance to compete at state.

Practicing for contest requires a lot of time and effort on the students’ part. Music played must be at least five minutes or more, and soloists must play with

an accompanist. Finding time to rehearse with an accompanist or other ensemble members poses an issue; students have to work around conflicting schedules and busy lives. If someone is expecting to score a one then they must play their music almost perfectly. Hitting all the right notes and rhythms, playing the correct speed and volume, and blending perfectly with all other instruments, including the accompanist.

“I need to work on my second piece, I haven’t practiced either enough. Enough is when I can play the whole thing perfectly without making any mistakes,” sophomore Paul Spring said.

From the moment a student walks into the room to until they are done playing, the judges will be scoring every part of the performance.

“People going to contest, especially for the first time should practice, make sure that they are completely prepared and definitely be sure to introduce your accompanist. Make sure you practice with your accompanist as much as possible to get used to the way they play and hear where their music fits with yours,” Vroom said.

Before March 31, people will spend hours practicing; becoming experts at their music.

“You should be comfortable with the piece, also I’d say you should enjoy it. Last year we were stuck with a piece that was awful and none of us really liked it so

we ended up getting a different piece and we did well,” Garrison said.

While rhythm and correct notes are a large part of a good rating, having a good time while playing is another huge aspect. More likely than not, someone will be more inclined to practice and work out problem spots if they genuinely enjoy their music.

Some students have been working on their solo or part of an ensemble with a private teacher. A private teacher chooses music they know their student will do well with because they have spent time teaching and playing with their student. However, the band director has some other useful knowledge.

“It is a good idea to work with a band director as well as your private teacher. They can give you more advice about musicality. Your teacher might be good at playing music but the band directors know more about technical stuff and how you will be judged,” senior Jessica Gehrig said.

Just like with any sport or activity, making it to state contest is a big deal. Students will play for a whole new group of judges and be scored even harder than the first time. Achieving a one at district level is one feat, but a one at state means that the students are some of the best the Liberty School District has to offer. March 31 is coming quickly, and the band kids are setting their sights on making it all the way to state.

Welcome back, Jays!

Seniors, you’re almost there!

HAPPY TIMES T-SHIRT CO. “Our advertising is just tops!”

400 NE HWY 69 CLAYCOMO, MO 64119 816-455-2615 Ask for Richard!

1317 H Highway, Liberty

.

816-792-4800

sculpture,” art teacher Julie Miller said.

As evident in their pieces, the Advanced Creative Photography students have taken their pictures to a whole other level, revealing the magic of ordinary objects.

“Rather than just a chair, I actually used this old-fashioned desk and worked with the ballet studio paintings of Edgar Degas.

I made the shelf of the desk look like a studio floor with marking tape, for dancers to trace their steps, and the actual desk was an entirely different studio with a girl looking at her reflection.”

3

“I chose Dorothy Lang, a photographer who took pictures of people living on the street during the Great Depression. I liked how everything in her work was black and white and how she was able to capture the emotion of the era. For the seat of my chair I made two copies of this photograph of people sitting around a gas station; one copy I made into a ‘loom’ and the other I cut into strips so that I could literally weave the photograph together.”

2 4 “I liked the fact that Leonard da Vinci wasn’t just a painter, but also an inventor and scientist...For the base I featured his Mona Lisa and Virgin of the Rocks and incorporated a few of his inventions and sketches to convey that art is everywhere and not just in paintings. I wanted to make the chair look more rustic—older and more neutral—so I used a lot of browns and dark greens.”

Artists Anonymous: Name Game Match the photographers with their selected works.

8. Emily Stockwell 9. Abby Bland 10. Lexie Browning

Student photographers capture the extraordinary in the ordinary.

1

Brooke Braken Samantha Flynn Laurel Shoger Brooke Bracken

design by Nathan Hunt compiled by Haley Sheriff

PULL UP A CHAIR:

Students had to choose multiple works created by one artist and make them into one three-dimensional piece: a chair. “They based their designs on the concept of formal and informal balance, used by artist Rodney Smith, who often featured chairs in his work...[which] became props in the students’ photo-shoots,” Miller said.

5.

6.

7.

8.

THE BELL

“Photography is more than just taking pictures; it’s creative problem solving. There is no one answer and it is never easy. There are multiple ways to take a picture, multiple compositions—it’s more than a straight shot at say a flower or an antique—and through these different angles and viewpoints, the photographer is able to share a passion relating more to painting and

1. Ashley Rhoades 2. Jamie Harrington 3. Breann Koch 4. Justin Collins

THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS

Twist, set and click: the three simple steps to capturing a moment. Too simple, according to some, of a process to consider photography as an art. Without the need of a rare talent or laborious effort, as accompanied with painting and sculpture, photography has been downgraded to a skill that anyone with a disposable Kodak can accomplish. But this is not necessarily true.

18

“I picked Paul Klee and used five to seven of his different artworks to create my chair. His style inspired me; it looks childish, as if it were actually drawn by a child rather than an adult...I love how silly it is; it’s meant to make you laugh,” senior Jamie Harrington said.

A&E

8

7

“I focused my framing on either dead flowers or flowers with a lot of color; I wanted their brightness to represent happiness. As I find roses to be one of the happiest flowers, my favorite of my prints is of a bright, beautiful pink rose bush,” senior Brooke Bracken said.

3

“I love nature, so I looked for parts that looked either pretty or different. When taking pictures of flowers, if you were patient enough, you’d be able to capture an image with bees or other bugs (and then, soon after, you’d probably hear a scream.) After actually photographing, we had to write a paper on our personal take on boundaries in our own lives and how far we think we can go,” junior Samantha Flynn said.

9

10

“The idea for my shoe was to create it into a pirate’s treasure map, having the X that marks the spot on the other side. I put a glittery, golden ribbon along the bottom to show my aspirations as my ‘pot of gold.’

It shows my involvement in dance and choir and the little goals I have in life, like getting married and having children. The red and white ruffles on top represent the college I want to go to, and the little scissors show how I want to go to beauty school after I’ve graduated from college,” senior Lexie Browning said.

“It’s one thing to plan your destination, but a completely other thing to map out your journey. I’m rather flexible as to where I end up, but I wanted to focus my shoe on a journey to a life of Community, Sabbath and Ministry—a Christian life incorporating peace and rhythm,” senior Abby Bland said.

“Currently, students are working on a project inspired by war photojournalist Dan Eldon, known for his personal philosophy that, ‘the journey is the destination.’ After being stoned to death at 22 years old while reporting in Somalia, some have said that Eldon was never able to finish his journey—that he never reached his destination. The students then, are designing a shoe however they wish (except they can’t mutilate it) depicting the journeys they see themselves taking five years from now, and the destination they hope to reach,” Miller said.

THE BELL

“One of the first projects students completed was focused around the concept of boundaries; they were required to choose a specific item to be emphasized within a picture frame. This one subject was their limit—their boundary— within that frame. It represents the idea that we are not truly free, that people are limited by the boundaries they set for themselves as well as those set by society and other people,” art teacher Julie Miller said.

“When we were walking across the street [for our outdoor photo-shoot], I saw this cobweb next to a post. It was hard to photograph because it didn’t show up very well at certain angles because of the lighting. I wanted to find something that was more unique, as you don’t normally see people taking pictures of cobwebs because most think they’re gross,” senior Laurel Shoger said.

5

A MILE IN THEIR SHOES

FRAMED

19

A&E

5

7

FRAMED:

“This one subject was their limit—their boundary— within that frame. It represents the idea that we are not truly free, that people are limited by the boundaries they set for themselves as well as those set by society and other people,” art teacher Julie Miller said.

“I focused my framing on either dead flowers or flowers with a lot of color; I wanted their brightness to represent happiness. As I find roses to be one of the happiest flowers, my favorite of my prints is of a bright, beautiful pink rose bush.”

“[The cobweb] was hard to photograph because it didn’t show up very well at certain angles because of the lighting...you don’t normally see people taking pictures of cobwebs because most think they’re gross.”

6

“I love nature, so I looked for parts that looked either pretty or different.

When taking pictures of flowers, if you were patient enough, you’d be able to capture an image with bees or other bugs, and then, soon after, you’d probably hear a scream.”

A MILE IN THEIR SHOES: This project was inspired by war photojournalist Dan Eldon, known for his philosophy that, ‘the journey is the destination.

“After being stoned to death at 22 years old while reporting in Somalia, some have said that Eldon was never able to finish his journey—that he never reached his destination,” Miller said.

The students designed a shoe depicting the journeys and the destinations they hope to reach.

8

“It’s one thing to plan your destination, but a completely other thing to map out your journey. I’m rather flexible as to where I end up, but I wanted to focus my shoe on a journey to a life of Community, Sabbath and Ministry—a Christian life incorporating peace and rhythm.”

9

“The main focus of my shoe is a heart, representing death. If I have only one main destination and complete it, my life is basically over; I’m dead.

You never want to come to a final destination; you always want to be working towards something because the experience of reaching the destination is better than the destination itself.”

THE BELL

10 “The idea for my shoe was to create it into a pirate’s treasure map, having the X that marks the spot on the other side. I put a glittery, golden ribbon along the bottom to show my aspirations as my ‘pot of gold.’ It shows my involvement in dance and choir and the little goals I have in life, like getting married and having children. The red and white ruffles on top represent the college I want to go to, and the little scissors show how I want to go to beauty school after I’ve graduated from college.”

19

A&E

THE HUNGER GAMES

by Madi Denton The world will be watching.

When I first heard about The Hunger Games, I was very skeptical. I had a few friends recommend it to me, and I tried once or twice to read it, but kept getting caught in the first few pages, not being able to make myself focus. Eventually the time came when I needed a book to read, and The Hunger Games popped in my head. What says six hour road trip more than a regular teenage girl living in a place where once a year the government forces young boys and girls to fight to the death for the entertainment of the Capitol, and glory of their district.

There’s suspense, romance, and who doesn’t love a good action scene? It turned out that The Hunger Games is one of the best books I have ever read, and I completely recommend it to anyone in need of a good book. The movie comes out March 23, so be sure to go see this amazing story come to life on the big screen!

R E L I SPO ALERT!

For the second book of the series, Catching Fire is a very appropriate name. Everything goes haywire. Peeta and Katniss must continue on with their façade after the games in order to appease the Capitol and to keep their lives. The biggest, and I mean biggest, curve ball gets thrown, and everything, as the title says, catches fire. I won’t give away all the details, but I will say that the world they live in will never be the same. I absolutely love this book.

Everything is there. It has more romance, more suspense, and so many twists and turns that it is nearly impossible to lose interest. If you read the first book, then I’m positive you’ve read this, and if you’re interested in Catching Fire, read The Hunger Games first. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Mockingjay is the best possible way to finish the attention-grabbing saga of The Hunger Games. Picking up where the cliff-hanging Catching Fire left off, Katniss’ life will definitely never be the same. She’s now a rebel, and a major part of a secret society within Panem, and she must fight once again to save the people she loves. Whether she fights in an arena, or just within herself you’ll have to read to find out, but I promise you that you won’t regret it.

Overall, this series is by far the best I have ever read, and Mockingjay is well worth the wait of reading at the end. All your questions will be answered, and everything is resolved. You’ll only shed a few tears along the way.

ghvalleylive.com photo courtesy of www.lehi

THE BELL

20

Madi reads and reviews the trilogy in anticipation for the new movie. How long do you think it will take her to realize it’s upside down?

A&E

A NEW COURSE OF ACTION

by Cody Clawson

Golfers have to adjust to playing at a new home course.

After many seasons of playing golf at Liberty Hills Country Club, the Men’s Golf team is moving to Shoal Creek Golf Course. On January 6th, 2012 the country club burned completely to the ground, forcing the team to move courses. Although it is sad that the tradition of Liberty Hills is now gone, the team is not letting it get them down.

“This course [Shoal Creek] allows us to only be a couple miles from the high school so driving time is reduced and our safety is increased,” head coach Forrest Bertoldie said.

Not only is it easier for the players to drive to the course, it is much nicer to play at. Shoal Creek Golf Course is ranked second in the state.

“I like playing at Shoal a lot more than Liberty Hills because I am used to it more and I think it is easier.

Shoal is a nicer course and it probably suits our team better because it creates unique advantages for us,” junior Sam Sutton said.

These advantages include knowledge that can help them drastically during tournaments there. No other course can offer such advantages, so this change will help the team in the long run.

“I love playing at Shoal. Eric Lester, Zac Dittmer, Jordan Walton and I all work at the course so we know it very well. I feel this gives us a great advantage over other teams,” senior Brian Downer said.

With these advantages the team looks to experience high success this season.

“I am very excited for what this season has to offer,” senior Eric Lester said. “I think our team is very solid top to bottom and our varsity is going to compete at

a high level. I honestly believe we can make a run at state.”

With such a solid team, the Jays aren’t looking at what could have happened at Liberty Hills and are now looking forward to the great things that are going to happen at Shoal.

“We really feel like we have a chance to have an excellent season this year with both varsity and junior varsity. We feel like we have a chance to compete for a state championship if we get there because we have the ability to go low and that’s what it takes to compete,” Bertoldie said.

Seniors Jordan Walton, Eric Lester and Brian Downer practice their putting and driving on the Shoal Creek Golf Course. “I feel like we are going to do very well this year because we have a good varsity so we will be able to compete with whoever,” junior Sam Sutton said. photos by Mackenzie Spencer

THE BELL

21

SPORTS

SPORTY SUPERSTITIONS

by Mat George

Students share their sports superstitions.

“

I keep my old state ring in a box because it’s a new season.

-Coach Thomas Rottjakob

“I don’t step on the chalk lines before the games because I believe that if you do you will lose the game.

I have done this ever since my coach told me this in third grade. Also, I wear my shin guard straps one upside down and one right side up,” sophomore Bret Schoenebeck said.

22

photo by Mat George

THE BELL

“I wear two pairs of Nike socks under my game socks. I do it because it’s comfortable. I feel like if everyone did it then we would have a winning tradition for our men’s football team,” junior Justin Tucker said.

photo by Mat George

photo by Rachel Bower

“For basketball, I use to always put a 20 dollar bill into my right shoe. For softball, I would always twist my back foot, swipe it and tap my bat across home plate,” senior Morgan Osborn said.

”

photo by Lucas Carrel

Michael Jordan, a graduate of North Carolina, always wore his blue North Carolina shorts under his Bulls uniform for good luck. Jason Terry wears the shorts of the next day’s opposing team to bed and Serena Williams brings her shower sandals to the court. These are just a few of many players who do strange things because of their belief in superstitions. They participate in the rituals because they believe their behaviors will have a specific power that will help them win games. Students and staff members also have beliefs that certain things will help their team win the game.

“I wear Under Armour pants under my softball pants. This started when I was 13.

I wear them all year round and I only wear them in black. I’ll probably even wear them when I go to college at Oklahoma State, even though it’s sponsored by Nike,” senior Chelsea Ross said.

SPORTS

FAMILY MATTERS

by Diana Timmermans

Rugby: A thug’s game played by gentlemen (and ladies.)

Rugby is a game of contradictions. In order to move the ball forward, you must pass the ball backwards; it is a full contact sport but you wear no extra padding and you spend 80 minutes roughing the other team up only to hang out and eat a meal with them afterwards.

“Rugby puts 15 players against another 15 for two 40 minute periods of continuous play. The ball must be ran or kicked forward and whoever has possession of the ball may be tackled. There is no blocking. Points are scored by touching the ball to the ground in the ‘try’ zone at the end of the field, or by kicking the ball between the uprights,” Liberty United Girls Rugby Coach Krista Kastler said, to sum up Rugby.

Though many people have never heard of it, Rugby is continuing to grow in the United States and the rest of the world. Some people consider it to be a cross between American football and soccer, or football without pads, but it is nothing of the sort. Rugby is what made the foundations of football and like football, it has a line of scrimmage that the offensive team cannot pass unless they have the ball (which must be passed backwards.) Rugby is most famous for its scrum similar to hiking the ball on the offense and blocking the defensive line in football.

“Rugby is a lot better than I thought it would be.

I wasn’t so sure going into it but I love it now. I was nervous about going into it not knowing many people but I love how everyone is so close because of it. It has brought a lot of people together,” sophomore Sammi Siegel said. “We may hurt each other tackling, and yell

at each other to get it together, but at the end of each game it only brings us closer together as sisters and a team.”

It is true; Rugby is more than what meets the eye.

Delving deeper into the game there are so many different techniques used to roughen the opposing team. For instance, tackling above the shoulder and leaving your feet to make a tackle are prohibited.

“Rugby is a very family-oriented sport; we are all a team. We are all friends, even though we hit people on the pitch and act like we hate them. In actuality, after the game we are pretty cool with each other,” sophomore Delaney Cazel said.

Just like every team sport, coaches want players to play like a team, but for Rugby it just seems to come naturally to every player of the game.

“Everyone is such a good sport and people don’t snap at each other; you keep in mind that these are your sisters or your brothers. It is not an ‘I’m in this for me’ thing; it is a ‘you are playing for your team’ thing,” senior Jacque Stichnot said.

Rugby’s philosophy is most definitely based upon sportsmanship and mutual respect; Liberty’s Rugby coaches are not the stereotypical coaches who get up in your face and yell at you. They treat you with the utmost respect.

“The concept of hosting the opposing team for food after games definitely enhances sportsmanship. You don’t want to do anything in the game that you’d have to face up to after the game when chatting with that

person over dinner,” Kastler said.

Almost every American dad wants his son growing up to be a football player or at least a football fan, but when American parents hear about Rugby having no pads they tend to worry about what their child is getting into.

“There are not misconceptions about Rugby in France because it is the second main sport, so we don’t have people saying ‘it’s very violent’. My father was very happy when I said I was going to play Rugby. He didn’t say ‘you shouldn’t play rugby, you will hurt yourself,’” senior Stan Girard said.

Rugby is always welcoming new players throughout the spring season to become a part of this great game.

“Going into Rugby as a new player is scary at first because I didn’t know how to play Rugby at all. I later figured out from the more experienced players. Even hearing about all the injuries, I still thought it sounded fun,” junior Mike Spero said.

Boys and girls don’t play together on the same team but nevertheless they are a family. For those interested in coming out to play Rugby, you can join the boys team on Tuesdays and Thursdays from four to six or the girls team on Tuesdays from four to six and Saturdays from 9 to 11 on the practice fields.

Players practice rucking and scruming so they are better prepared for the games. “I enjoy it because it’s a new esperience and a new challenge. I think it’s cool that it’s played internationally and that it’s a full contact sport,” junior Mike Spero said. photos by Breann Koch

THE BELL

23

SPORTS

SPRING SPECIALS!!!

1 MONTH

UNLIMITED $25.99!!

LEVEL 1 AMBITION 250 32 BULBS 3 FACIALS must present coupon for specials

Buy any bottle of lotion ($40 or more) and get one free tan $5 Off Our on our high Rhinestone Jeans pressure bed.

And Tops. must present coupon for specials • valid through APRIL 21st, 2012

•valid through April 21st 2012

LEVEL 2 1 MONTH UNLIMITED $39.95 ADVANTAGE 400 40 BULBS

For Liberty High School Students

For Liberty High School Students Only

must present coupon for specials • valid through April 21st, 2012 For Liberty High School Students

3 FACIALS

For Liberty High School Students

must present coupon for specials • valid through APRIL 21st, 2012

VENETIAN TAN “The Innovative Tanning Experience” Come in and check out our new Rhinestone Bling T’s and Jeans!!!

NEW location at 9768 N. Ash Ave. Kansas City, MO 64157

- or -

Great convenient hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-10pm Fri & Sat 7am-7pm Sun 10am-6pm

152 Hwy & N Brighton Next to the Brass Rail 4920 NE 81st St

Kansas City, MO. 64119 816-436-2901

FOR LIBERTY STUDENTS ONLY