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Volume 89, Issue 6
the Bell
Liberty High School March 15, 2013
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Table Of Contents on the cover: Seniors Sarah Hassan and Courtney Gartner celebrate a basket at the Courtwarming game on February 8. Read more about Courtwarming week and other happenings of the month of February on page 10. photo by Breann Koch
Sophomore Ellie Engler prepares for her AP test in AP World History, coming up in May. photo by Sarah Andrews
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page 22 Senior Cheyenne Ogden poses with her cat. See more cat-tastic pictures on page 22! photo courtesy of Cheyenne Ogden
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The cheer team ventured to Nationals in Orlando, Florida in February. While there, they visited Cinderella at Disney World. photo courtesy of Michaela White
the bell staff
our mission
Editor In Chief Nathan Hunt Reporters Features Editor Michaela Lamb Haley Vickers Sports Editor Lauren Kenney Mat George Alix Messer Opinion/A&E Editor Preston McConnell Diana Timmermans Nick Palmarine News Editor Meredith Crouch Madi Denton Amanda Kovac Ads Manager Grace George Shelby Curtis Aly Copp Online News Manager Zach Kilgas Jake Boese Sydney Perkins Managing Editor Sarah Hartley Madi Hayter Molly Meeks Website Technical Support Tyler Eggleston Photo Journalism Adviser Photo Editor Sammi Novak Lori Oyler Assistant Photo Editor Breann Koch
Our Mission for the 2012-2013 school year is to unite a diverse group of people and ideas to compose an informative and entertaining magazine using articles, photographs and commercial messages. As journalists in training, we endeavor to give the best representation of the community of Liberty High School. The Bell student newspaper is a public forum for student expression.
COntact us Address 200 Blue Jay Drive Liberty, MO 64068 Email thebell@liberty.k12.mo.us Phone (816) 736-5353 Twitter TheBell_LHS
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news
jays’ jabber national leadership forum Seniors Emily Lorei, Melanie Kieffer and Hannah Scholes were invited to present at CADCA’s 23rd National Leadership Forum on implementing effective youth-led school based prevention campaigns. While at the Forum in Washington D.C, they, along with senior Hannah Dawson, Prevention Coordinator Amy Tuso and two other coalition members, accepted the Got Outcomes! Coalition of Excellence Award on behalf of Liberty Alliance for Youth, Inc. photo courtesy of Amy Tuso
NCWIT awards
photo courtesy of Angela Klein
Hide and seek!
mr. liberty The Mr. Liberty male beauty pageant will be held on April 10, in the Little Theater at 7:00 P.M, put on by Student Council. Come and enjoy the show, all proceeds go to benefit local scholarships for senior LHS students.
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Help find Britney, the St. Patrick’s Day shamrock! In anticipation for St. Patrick’s Day, she went to Target to stock up on her good luck charms! But now we need to find her so St. Patrick’s Day can happen. The first person to find Britney and bring her back to room 513 at the beginning of seventh period will receive a prize courtesy of The Bell Staff.
Sophomore Sarah Hartley (left) won an Aspiration Award at the Computing Award Ceremony, held Friday, February 8 at UMKC. Fifteen young women from Kansas and Missouri high schools (two were home-schooled) and representing grades 9 – 12, were honored as winners of NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Awards.
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news
compute a solution by Lauren Kenney
Project Lead the Way classes take on a new course, Computer Generated Manufacturing.
Senior Eric Greely, Jr and teacher Dennis Blochlinger work on the computer to determine measurements.
the bell
photos by Shelby Springer and Nathan Soeum
A grant is a sum of money given by an organization for a particular purpose, so what if someone were granted thousands of dollars? What would that person do? Last spring, the Industrial Technology program wanted to offer a class that involved more machinery work. They were awarded $181,000 dollars. “We had a 75 percent state match, which was a good deal for us,” technology teacher Mark Blakley said. With the money, they bought five new CNC machines, which stands for computer numerical control. This includes a router, mill, lathe, plasma cutter, and a laser. With all this new equipment, students have been able to do more projects. “Right now we are working on writing codes on the computer so we can engrave our initials into a block of wood,” sophomore Gavin Stark said. Plans for this new class came together at the very beginning of August, so teachers made contacts with students to see who might be interested in joining the class. “We had to call and get people to join the class. Right now, we have two classes
and there are 10 students in each class,” teacher Dennis Blochlinger said. “The class is called CIM, which stands for Computer Integrated Manufacturing. It is a high tech class, very hands on with lots of problem solving and making things.” Around the school, students may have seen that all the teachers have wooden plaques. The CIM students made around 180 plaques. “It took about 40 minutes from designing to engraving,” said Blochlinger. One of the hardest parts was to make sure no errors occurred. A few mistakes were made and they had to remake about eight. On the plaques, students etched teacher’s name, almamater, and mascot. “The plaques were one of the nicest gifts to get from teaching. I was surprised because I know it took so long to make and they were done so well,” teacher Briday Ware said. “I know a lot of teachers are proudly displaying them for everyone to see. Its also a good way to show how education is important outside of high school.” Another project they are working
Senior Ben Laughlin works on cutting wood so make into the plaques for the teachers.
on right now is, “Writing codes so we can write out initials into a block of wood,” sophomore Gavin Stark said. “I’m excited about this class and it has a lot to do with what I want to do when I’m older.” “My favorite part about this class is all the new machines we get to work with,” senior Nate Carl said. “So far, my favorite thing we made is the transporter system. It turns motors and gears. If you like working with computers and it all makes sense to you, then this would be a great class to take.” This is just the beginning of what hopes to be a successful class. Juniors Kyle Bowers and Connor Mcneil both agreed that they enjoy all the hands-on work. Their next big project in the class is going to be where students take the statement, “I hate it when…” and come up with a solution for that problem by creating something with the new equipment. These are just a few of the projects they do. If any of these projects sound interesting, then this would be the perfect class to join!
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news
Testing: Ready, Set, Go! by Alix Messer
Advanced Placement students prepare for the incoming AP tests. There are many different Advanced Placement, AP, courses, ranging from art to biology to world history. Each AP course aims to get their students ready for the AP tests in May. “[AP classes are] preparing you for the rigor that you’ll face in college,” counselor Melanie Prince said. The AP art class, though, has a different kind of test to take, and is just one class that does not take a classic paper and pencil exam “AP Studio Art is a class that requires students to complete a portfolio of 24 pieces to be judged by a committee of AP Art “Readers” in categories of breadth, concentration and quality,” art teacher Debra Martin said. Art students prepare their art throughout the whole year in order to have it ready to be judged in May. “The quality works are the five best works shipped to New York for actual judging,” Martin said. AP art has a very different test than other AP classes. But the rigor of coursework in all AP classes is very similar. One class, AP world history, is one of the first classes that can be taken
by a sophomore. is generally taken by sophomores as their first AP class. “I think that it, especially taking it in the tenth grade, is preparing me a lot for classes that I’ll take in the future,” sophomore Stefanie Flood said. “It also helps me in other classes.” AP classes set the achievement bar high, and the more AP classes you take, the more work is involved. But one thing all AP students can agree on is the abundance of essays. “We usually work on essays as a class and then he’ll have us do one during a test one week. We work on the structure of essays because there are three different types of essays we do in the AP World exam,” Flood said. The amount of essays written also depends on how many AP classes a student is currently enrolled in. “AP Gov essays are always relatively short (about five sentences) and aren’t worth many points. With AP Bio, though, it’s expected that essays are about a page long. However, grammar isn’t nearly as important as having an abundance of information,” junior Caroline Abbott said. “The longest and most challenging essays I write AP World History Student Jessica Seaman takes a practice test, preparing her for the test she is to take later this
Each Tuesday and Friday, all AP World Students will take a chapter test with questions
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photos by Sarah Andrews
are definitely in AP English, where we complete five paragraph essays (usually in class) once or twice a month.” As many AP classes as there are, there is bound to be one for everyone where they can excel. “If someone doesn’t do well with one AP class, there’s a good chance they’ll have better luck with a different subject,” Abbott said. AP classes are not always fun and games. But as much work as there is, students enjoy their AP classes. “This class is much more challenging than I thought it would be, but it’s certainly rewarding and definitely one of my favorite classes during the day,” Flood said. It is good for a student to have an AP class in their belt, though. “Taking [AP] classes and having less than perfect grades is better than not taking the advanced classes and having perfect grades,” Prince said. Despite the workload of an AP class, it is worth its weight in gold to help prepare students for their high school and college career.
Save A Life...
Give Blood story by Haley Vickers
photo by Madi Denton
Listening to whispers through the hallways, it is evident that many students are anxious, nervous and excited about the upcoming AP blood drive. Many students are giving blood and all three of the AP Biology classes run, help and cater to the individuals choosing to give blood to the community. But, do not listen to the rumors being passed around, the students will not be sticking needles in anyone or dealing with anything medical. The AP blood drive was scheduled for February 21, but due to the weather, the AP blood drive is to be rescheduled for a future date. “Liberty’s blood drive is very well known by its host, the Community Blood Center, because of the amount of flood it brings in,” Ty Fowler said. “This is an old tradition,” AP Biology teacher Rick Knowles said. “The last date that I have is 1978. That is a really long time. It has been part of Liberty tradition but, most importantly, each pint we raise saves two lives.” Each year the AP biology students choose a theme, plan the event and sign up every
single student who wants to donate. Seniors Ty Fowler and Cheyenne Ogden were voted to be co-chairs for the blood drive. They organized the schedule and organized when every person donates. “The theme this year is The HemomobileLet’s go for the blood drive,” Fowler said. “We have signed up almost 500 people.” Students who are giving blood are curious to know what the process will look like when they do donate. The blood drive will be set up in the auxiliary gym and will be open from 7 a.m. till the end of the school day. “Students will be escorted to a place where they will put their stuff in a safe location and show I.D. Then fill out history forms in a completely private room where they will sit in a waiting area until motioned by a nurse for a little closer inspection,” Fowler said. “They are not permitted to share any information outside of the small cubicle… they will go to give blood after drinking a bottle of water. Then they will eat cookies and drink soda until they feel completely fine and they return to class.”
Also, a friendly competition has emerged between each graduating class to see how many people can donate. Students enjoy participating in this event each year. “I always want to do better than the previous year…I just want the students to enjoy helping other people,” Knowles said. “I like seeing students outside of the classroom. They have so many talents that I never get to see. I like to see them come together and problem solve different issues that come up. I like to see them volunteer themselves.” Senior Bobbie Henderson is excited to be giving blood this year. She has high expectations for the blood drive this year. “I gave blood last year,” Henderson said. “I’m pumped to save two lives! I expect it to go fast, because if you drink water, it goes faster.” The AP biology students are hoping for the chance to show up last year’s drive and save multiple lives with this event. The community of Liberty is anxious to see this event unfold, and help give back to the community.
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news
Liberty! And Computers For All by Madi Denton
Liberty Public school students are chosen to pilot laptops during school.
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“Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.” -Hebrew Proverb
Technology is the way of the future. Any direction you turn, there is some kind of technological imprint. From iPhones to HD televisions, the world is on the fast track, and Liberty Public Schools is no stranger to the thought. Rather than turn their heads and ignore the obvious, they have decided to attempt to upgrade our current learning environment for something more resembling of the 21st Century. “Providing more access to students is not a new idea and it is something we have talked about from time to time. However Dr. Jungmann, our Deputy Superintendent, wanted to start with this small pilot to get the idea moving forward,” Director of Technology Trey Katzer said. “We know just providing students with laptops does not change much. However, when it is done in a way where curriculum becomes more engaging and the devices are utilized appropriately, the result will be a much improved learning experience for the students.” The pilot to kick-start this transition is currently under way with 220 students, spread out between both high schools and junior highs. There are three testing groups made up of both 9B teams at the junior highs, a Theoretical Chemistry class at Liberty High School,
a Communication Arts class at Liberty North, as well as hand selected students for an online course. These students have 24/7 access to computers and are only required to pay for them if they are lost or stolen. “It helps with a lot of my classes. Like my history classes, I can look up the information that I need to know, and of course my Theoretical Chemistry class that I got it for. We look up youtube videos, and I do a lot of my homework on it. He will email us things and we have to email him back with our answers,” sophomore Tori Fowler said. Even with most of the sites considered distracting blocked, some kids still find ways to be side tracked. “ I sometimes find it distracting, but most of the sites are blocked when you’re at school,” freshman Satchel Manely said. On the financial side of things, these computers come at no cost to the student. “The units were purchased out of the existing technology budget for the 20122013 school year. The District went with a different vendor that had a lower cost for our replacement computers and cart laptops. By doing so we were able to save enough money to purchase the laptops for the pilot,” Katzer said. Currently, the cost to purchase all 220 computers is $275,000. The students will
be switching laptops in a couple weeks as well, since some got MacBooks and some were given HP’s. So far, student reaction has been fairly positive. “I think it’s helpful. It’s good to incorporate that kind of stuff and that’s the future of education. That’s how college is based too,” Gabrielson said. It isn’t all work and no play, though. The students can still take advantage of some of the fun aspects of the laptops. “At home there’s no filter, so I can FaceTime and Skype. I can do that during school. I can Photo Booth with everyone too, and that’s fun. But they blocked the app store. iTunes doesn’t work either,” Gabrielson said This pilot is just the beginning for Liberty Public schools. According to information posted on the district website, there are other ideas being discussed, like the thought of giving all of the incoming freshmen laptops next year. It would cost the district $775,000 to accomplish this goal. There is also a very distant idea of perhaps using these computers in the 6-8 grade classrooms. Some computers may be used during upper level elementary summer school as a tool for foreign language and Rosetta Stone. But for right now, LPS is just focusing on the current plan.
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Nationalism Gone Simulated by Grace George
Coach Werner puts a creative spin on learning in his history classes. “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” –William Arthur Ward. History teacher Zach Werner aspires to inspire. To keep students interested in what they were learning, Werner had an idea six years ago. He decided that for one unit he was going to try something different. Instead of having his class take notes and read out of the textbook he wanted his students to experience history for themselves. Hoping to do just that, Werner created the Nationalism Simulation. Students will start playing the game toward the end of March. “The rules of the game are simple,” Werner said. “It’s basically a war between the students. The class is divided into about five countries. Each country chooses a leader and an ambassador. The ambassador goes around the
room quizzing people with questions from the unit they are learning about. If the student who is asked gets the answer wrong, they must go to the ambassador’s country who quizzed them. The Nationalism Simulation lasts a week and a half and by the end there are usually only three teams left. A lot of the students really enjoy it. ” The game is enjoyable to most students because it encourages them to study hard. If you don’t study, you’ll be kicked out of your country. According to Werner, junior Maddie Bowlin was one of the better players in the Nationalism Simulation. “I think I was good at it because I knew which kids in the class probably didn’t study so I asked them the questions and I made sure that I knew the information myself,” Bowlin said. “My favorite part of the activity was when people answered wrong and my group became
really big.” While the game was a simple and fun activity for Bowlin, other students struggled a bit more. Junior Sam Griffin was one of the students who according to Werner had some struggles with the class war. “I think the thing that made it difficult for me was that I did not study as much as I probably should have,” Griffin said. “If I could change something about how I went about the class war last year I definitely would have studied more than I did.” While there are other teachers who have done the Nationalism Simulation in the past, Werner is the only one who currently has his class do the activity. Werner plans to continue the game for years to come as he thinks it is a great way for students to learn and have fun at the same time.
Shelby Erskine collects and records data for her country, so that they might be able to “conquer” the other groups.
photos by Cody Winters and Jordan Wheelhouse
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Students also gain important skills in teamwork, Strategy, and research throughout this project.
photos by Breann Koch, Ashley VanBlack, Spencer Hurla and Spencer Hausman
The 2013 Top Ten Courtwarming candidates are presented to the rest of the student body.
Junior Ray Pottios, surrounded by students, shows off his dance moves at the Courtwarming dance.
Courtwarming King senior Eric Greely poses with Queen senior Marie Taylor after being crowned at the Courtwarming game.
“Cade Crow came up to me and asked me if I wanted to crowd surf, then he got everybody to start chanting my name. I made it to the bottom and I thought I was going to fall but all the seniors grabbed me.� -Sophomore Griffin Turnage
Students get competitive during the Spike it Up event, put on by Student Council, fundraising for the Special Olympics. StuCo raised $1000 for local Special Olympic athletes.
A Month In Pictures story by Zach Kilgas, design by Madi Denton
Seniors Shawna Kingston and Ty Cogdill lead the train of top ten Courtwarming candidates into the dance.
Junior Nyshele Posey dances with friends at Courtwarming.
“I really like performing the hip hop dance because students actually like it, and get into it instead of just staring at us. I even sprained my wrist during the hiphop dance” -Sophomore Tori Fowler “It was Michael Hidy’s and my job to make sure [Liam Pierson and Jillian Taney] didn’t run away, but the little boy just got up and ran across the gym.” -Senior Sami Cintron
Ryan R. Snyder, M.D.
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Full Set: $20 White Tip $25 Pedicure: $23 Mani & Pedi: $35 (For Liberty High School Students Only)
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Features
Luck OF the Irish By Alix Messer
See how some Liberty students and teachers celebrate this lucky holiday. recommend trying it!” history teacher Ellen Meade said. Some students have their own traditions on St. Patrick’s day. “I go to my grandma’s and she makes us wear elf ears,” Collins said.
Despite all the traditions of gold, green, and four-leaf clovers that surround St. Patrick’s day, how did this holiday come about? “St. Patrick’s Day is the commemoration of the death of Patricius, a.k.a. Patrick, the Catholic patron saint of Ireland,” Meade said. “Patrick was born just a few hundred years after the birth of Jesus and Christianity. When Patrick was 16 he was kidnapped and forced into slavery by Irish bandits. During his captivity, his religious convictions grew strong. After
he finally escaped, he became a priest and went back to Ireland to convert the polytheistic pagan Irish to Christianity. Converting Ireland to Christianity gave Patrick his notoriety and Sainthood.” There is also a show on the History Channel each year on St. Patrick’s day about St. Patrick and the day devoted to him. “I usually watch the history channel about the origin of it because I forget every year. I relearn it when I watch it,” Hemphill said. With this history lesson, there is still another question: why do clovers and the color green symbolize luck? “It is said, St. Patrick would use the green three leaf clover to explain the Catholic concept of the trinity- or the belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one entity,“ Meade said. “The shamrock is also the national flower of Ireland- thus the reason we wear the color green on St. Patty’s Day.” So when March 17 rolls around, remember St. Patrick and be wary of green eggs and ham.
The Bell
It is better to be prepared on St. Patrick’s day by wearing green than risk getting pinched or poked, and there is no Coke involved in these pokes. Besides green, common themes that center around St. Patrick’s day are lucky charms, gold, and magical creatures. “My lucky charm is a four-leaf clover that I got in fifth grade from my teacher and it is very lucky,” sophomore Ali Collins said. Not every student has a lucky charm, but they keep a magical creature close at hand. “I actually have a pet leprechaun. I keep him behind my closet,” junior Alex Hemphill said. St. Patrick’s day is not just about the lucky charms and magical creatures, though. There are many traditions around the city on St. Patricks day, like eating corned beef and cabbage, going to the Snake Saturday parade, or even trying green eggs and ham. “Once, my roommates and I did make a ham and egg meal and coated it with green food coloring. It turned out to be slimy and disgusting. I do not
Senioritis story by Haley Vickers and Lauren Kenny
Seniors graduate in about three months and will set off into the world to start their lives. These last three months can be the most stressful, but exciting time of the school year for seniors. Graduation parties are being planned, preparation for college has begun and seniors cannot wait to walk across the stage and grab their diploma. But, before that moment, senioritis may strike. Even though seniors are so close to finishing, many have become unmotivated, lazy and start to just not care anymore. The only known cure is graduation and planning for the future. “Senioritis to me is just feeling unmotivated and my mind often drifts to graduation and the future instead of focusing on my work,” senior Randi Richardson said. “I started to have senioritis at the end of first semester, but this semester, I really have senioritis. I will have it even worse in April and in May, it will be really bad,” senior Madison Allshouse said. Many juniors throughout the school claim they have experienced symptoms of senioritis, also. Although, through the seniors’ eyes, juniors cannot experience this until they are actually seniors next year. “I think juniors can have senioritis, but I wouldn’t call it that. The closer students get to the end, they just get burnt out,” counselor Melanie Prince said. “They see their friends leaving and they see how close they are to the end and they just want to be done. They just start shutting down.” By now, some students already know where they are going to college, which makes senioritis much worse. According to the powerpoint shown to seniors in Advisory, colleges look at the courses taken student’s senior year, along with the course level and credit hours to determine admissions. It also includes how colleges have the right to deny acceptance if student’s senior grades drop. “I’m going to UCM to major in business and to play football. The only way I keep motivated is by thinking about my goals and aspirations in life after school,” senior Matthew Zombo said. “My grades have actually improved this year because of my motivation, but it’s just more of a hassle for me.” Students sometimes have their future completely planned out, but are still struggling with the rest of their senior year. “I’m looking at going to Missouri Southern for soccer and I plan to land a career working with younger kids,” senior Alexa Wright said. “I’m just ready to start the next chapter of my life. On a scale of one to 10, I am an 11.”
Senior Justin Tucker plays on his smartphone during class instead of taking notes. photos by Jake Stansbury
Senior Colt Albritton sleeps after finishing his snack in class.
Seniors Keaton Day, Cody Winters and Nick Ellermier hang out in the commons instead of going to class.
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In the Courtwarming Advisory competition, some senior classes simply gave up. photo by Cody Winters
Senior Micayla Witt performs during half time at a basketball game for the Sapphires. Witt uses extracurricular activities to not let senioritis get to her. photo by Ashley Van Black
If senioritis is an illness, there must be a cure. The Bell staff searches for an answer.
It is a struggle for every student in the school to stay motivated and keep up with the heavy load of work. “I’m late every day for first hour because getting up is not easy, especially when you know it’s your last year and you’re so close to being done,” Wright said. “I’m just ready to start the next chapter of my life.” As students come to the end of the high school journey, it is easy to get off track when the next chapter of life is right around the corner. Seniors are just a few months away and all this hard work will be paid off. “My best advice would be for each student to remind themselves how far they have come,” Prince said. “At this point for the seniors, you have been at this for 12 and a half years and you have a little over three months left. Just put it into perspective and push through the three months.” This year, 26 students graduated at semester. The students that are still attending school will have to persevere through the rest of the school year. “My grades haven’t really been affected by senioritis, but I do find it harder to do my work due to lack of focus,” Richardson said. “I hope my senioritis doesn’t continue next year, but it probably will.” Students have been noticing their progress in classes is dropping due to their senioritis and motivation. “My grades have definitely been affected by my lack of focus and the homework that I don’t do,” senior Liam McCarrol said. Even though many seniors experience some symptoms of senioritis, some haven’t felt anything and are finishing strong. “I don’t have senioritis at all. I’m usually in EBLC all day working with little kids so that takes up most of my time,” senior Macayla Witt said. “I haven’t decided where I want to go to college yet but, I am excited for it along with the freedom you get.” Seniors cannot wait for graduation and to move forward with their lives, but there is just a little bit longer to go. Seniors just need to keep going and stay motivated, and try to not let the contagious senioritis get to them and affect their last months as a senior.
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Spotlight on Sophomore
noah adams The Last Time
by Grace George
i made a new friend “I make new friends all the time! I made a new frined just now named Staci [Gann] and we are great friends. Me and my girl Staci, we’ll probably hang out this weekend. Oh I love Stace. That’s the nick name I gave her, oh Stace.”
i was sassy “HA! People tell me I’m sassy all the time! Every single day. Like I could honestly not tell you the last time someone called me sassy. Probably last hour.”
I listened to my Brother’s band
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ot uli Po
“Having Noah in class is a pleasure. Noah is always nice to everyone and is making the class laugh daily,” history teacher Vince Armillio said.
ren au
Thoughts on Noah
L by oto ph
“Um it was probably over the summer. I was with Brooke McPheeters..or Darcy Loomis..no I think I was with Jacey..Lauren was there, Alexa was there..they were all there. Um I was at some Club 906 place and it was so loud and so scary. The place was so ugly. It’s like a checkered board like black and white? I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t like his band.”
Spotlight on junior
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Paul Spring by Molly Meeks
The Last Time
I built something “National History Day, we had to create a project on the theme, it took a lot of time to do it. NHD competition, I won this competition on the Magna Carta with my brother. We got second place so we’re going to state.”
I played a game “Last night, I was electrocuted lots of times, except apparently I can’t feel electricity according to everyone else because I don’t move. So there’s four handles, four people hold it and there’s a light in the middle and music plays then the light turns green and everyone pushes their button and the last person, or the last three, to push it gets electrocuted. Once [Jacob] Shipley put it on the highest power and we were only doing three people, so I got both hands shocked. Ashley [Stuck] got one hand shocked and was screaming and I was just standing there like okay.”
ph ot ob yS
am m iN ov ak
I had fun “I ran at Stocksdale with my brother on Saturday. It was fun, I went with my brother and we ran these trails. And I ate chocolate cake on Sunday, because chocolate cake is good.”
“Paul is one of those students with a fantastic and inate ability to be able to instantly make connections not only with the content but with the teacher and all of his fellow students. It’s incredible to watch his interact with all types of students and excel at everything he puts his mind to,” Chemistry teacher Stuart Jorgenson said.
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Thoughts on paul
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Spotlight on Senior
alex neely by Sydney Perkins
The Last Time
I played soccer “I elbowed a girl kind of hard going for the ball and made her cry…Oops!”
I had a good game “We were playing in St. Louis for school soccer and I had a really good game. My college coaches were there and I got recruited.”
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“It was the new James Bond movie. Daniel Craig is quite the looker for being 44.”
Thoughts on alex “Alex Neely is an extremely hard working player and an intense competitor,” girls soccer coach Thomas Rottjakob said.
man Haus
I saw a good movie
cer Spen
“Was my birthday a couple years ago. My friends took me to BWW. Our waitress made me stand on a chair while every person in the building sang happy birthday to me.”
by photo
I did something embarrassing
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Spotlight On STAFF
rebecca Burnett by Mat George
The Last Time
i had an injury “I tore cartilage in my knee. I had surgery in December. It had probably been torn for a long time before I noticed. It’s from being an athlete in college and is common as you get older.”
I went to school with someone famous
i left the country
n gsto Kin na aw y Sh to b pho
“I went to Scotland to the University of St. Andrews in 2004 while Prince William and Kate Middleton attended there too. We’re all the same age. They were dating each other and living together at the time. I would see them at parties and I even attended a study group with them.”
“This past summer. We went to the British Virgin Islands on a Disney cruise with my brother’s kids.”
“Mrs. Burnett is honestly one of my favorite teachers. She is super down to earth and is really one of those teachers that I feel anyone can come to. She really cares about her students and I think that that’s what makes her a great teacher. She challenges her students but also is very understanding. I’ve really been lucky to have Mrs. Burnett as an ASLC teacher this year,” senior Lauren Holm said.
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Thoughts on Mrs. Burnett
w
Level UP For many high schoolers, this is when they figure out who they are and what they want to do with their lives. Students make and lose friends and many fall in and out of love. They find out a lot about themselves and how they interact with others during their time in high school; they are slowly being molded into adults. An issue among teens who are dating is that they may lead to the risk of being involved in an unhealthy relationship. “I think a lot of times we think about domestic violence and abusive relationships as being adult relationships, we think of abuse as hitting. We don’t think about it necessarily as teenagers,” Prevention Coordinator Amy Tuso said. An unhealthy relationship can fall under many different categories. It could be physical, emotional or even mentally harmful to one or both members of the relationship; there is a continuous circle of violence that occurs. Because of the never-
story by Meredith Crouch and Sydney Perkins design by Michaela Lamb
ending highs and lows, it can sometimes be hard to realize and admit that you are, in fact, in an unhealthy relationship. “If you cannot connect, or are just butting heads all the time, or are always fighting, [you are in an unhealthy relationship] if you start fighting within the first week you know its not going to last,” sophomore Savon Hays said. According to Tuso, teens may experience being in unhealthy relationships and every relationship is different. Teens will often be in denial, telling themselves it will get better and to just stay with the person because they love them. They might tell themselves there is no one else they would rather be with or that no one else would love them like this person. “In abusive relationships there is a stage of normal, then tension builds, then something happens, not necessarily always violence but some type of controlling behavior, something mean said. Something yuck.” Tuso said. “And then there’s the honeymoon stage, ‘Oh I love you, let me buy you flowers.’ Then there’s the stage
of normal, then the tension builds again. It’s important to know that in abusive relationships, it’s not always this constant state of mean because nobody would stay.” First, Tuso says it is important to be able to recognize when things are not going well. There are some big warning signs. Tuso said in adolescences most dating violence is not punching and hitting, most dating violence is centered more on control. “My boyfriend was very controlling, he had to know everything I did and basically wanted me to ask for his permission. He would tell me if I needed to change if I wore something he didn’t like and didn’t like when I participated in spirit days,” Jenny* said. “He did not get along with a lot of my friends, so we could never all hang out in a group. Towards the end, everything to him became about one thing. He always wanted to push me trying to get me to do things I didn’t want, and became obsessed with it. Every time we hung out it eventually became all about trying to get me to give in, and [he] would become very aggressive when I wouldn’t,” Next, when problems occur, Tuso says it is important to first talk to the other person about the problem first.
relationship warning signs • Bad communication • Constant arguments • No trust • Control issues • Jealousy • Unequal balance of power • Emotional harm/abuse occurring
Game Over photos by Michaela Lamb
“Talk to the person about it first and see how it goes, maybe set some boundaries with them,” junior Noelle Prideaux said. “Tell them, ‘When you do this, I feel this,’ and if that doesn’t work try to talk to an adult about it and weigh the pros and cons of if this is the best relationship to be in right now.” Teens involved in these relationships are often stereotyped as weak or naive, when in reality, these situations can happen to anyone. “I know a lot of girls say, “I’m just fine” when they are not, so you really do have to be honest,” senior Julie Staszko said. “You have to be able to understand each other’s wants and priorities and you have to be able to communicate your emotions.” Finally, if things do not get better after talking with the other person, Tuso said it is important to recognize when enough is enough. Sometimes it takes someone else’s point of view to get a person to realize their problem. “I would just listen to them and let them talk it out and give them as much advice as I could,” junior Serena Baker said. “I
Have you ever been in an unhealthy relationship?
42% say yes 58% say no *102 students surveyed
would tell them to open their eyes and look at the situation from another person’s perspective.” No one enjoys the sadness and awkwardness of a break up, but sometimes it is the only option and is best for both members of the relationship to move on. “Towards the end there was a lot of talk of breaking up, and getting back together and constant back and forth. But finally one day I was done, and I think he knew that. He didn’t make me happy anymore, so it was time to be done once and for all,” Jenny* said. There are many different opinions circulating about teenagers dating in high school. It might be said it is a distraction to academics or that teens are too young to make safe decisions. “I have seen relationships greatly diminish student success,” chemistry teacher Stuart Jorgensen said. “Be it distracted students in class, or unfinished homework from the night before, it is incredibly important to keep relationships, school, and extracurricular activities balanced to be successful.”
But healthy high school relationships can also be beneficial. “I feel it’s a good thing for teenagers to learn commitment but it shouldn’t be at a really young age.” junior Mikaela Vittoria said. “They should experience different situations in life and different people and have fun.” One mistake teenagers make in unhealthy relationships is thinking there is no way out. When problems occur, it is always a good idea to turn to family or a close friend for advice. If that is not an option or the problem becomes very serious, Tuso said school counselors can help. “The counselor would talk with the student about how they would set better boundaries.” Tuso said. “Maybe choose different partners or how do they have conversations with their significant other about what they like or don’t like, or what they want or don’t want and things like that. It really just kind of depends on the situation and where in that continuum of abuse of unhealthy it is.”
Have your friends been in an unhealthy relationship?
74% say yes 8% say no 17% are unsure *102 students surveyed
The story by Aly Copp and Madi Hayter design by Michaela Lamb
below. Tim Martin’s cat has blue eyes, something rare in most cat breeds. photo courtesy of Tim Martin
‘ CATS What’s the cutest thing pawing over the nation? Cats. That’s right, Cats. These furry little felines find their way into the lives of LHS students and faculty, whether it’s through fame, art inspiration, Girl Scouts or childhood memories.
right. Lauren Taylor’s cat’s picture has circulated the Internet and is famous thanks to Ellen DeGeneres. photo courtesy of Lauren Taylor
below. Kathrine Kuhlmann cuddles her new kitten. photo by Sammi Novak
In fact, 95 students out of 236 stated that they were a “cat person.” Also, a group of 119 people said they love the cat they have. Only 15% of the people who took the poll said they hate their cats.
Amy Hartgrove Junior Amy Hartgrove worked with cats at the local Liberty Animal Shelter to earn her Gold Award for Girl Scouts. “It’s the highest goal you can reach in Girl Scouts,” Hartgrove said. She volunteered at the Liberty Animal Shelter and encouraged people to adopt. Hartgrove also got to name some of the cats, and gave them funny names. She even named some after herself. “I loved working with cats,” Hartgrove said. “We would go into this room and they would jump all over me. Cats are amazing.”
Liberty Animal Shelter
A good place to adopt cats locally is the Liberty Animal Shelter, located off of old State Highway 210. To adopt a cat, you have to pay $80 for shots and medications. The adopter has to fill out a pet compatibility form to see if they can provide a good home for the feline. This sheet makes sure the adopter has the proper living conditions for a cat. It is important that the adopter lives in a suitable home, and not a living space where animals are not allowed, like an apartment. The cat then has to get spayed or neutered. “A lot of the people coming in to adopt cats were either single adults or children,” Hartgrove said. Lots of children come into the shelter wanting to adopt a little kitten. Cats are a good low maintenance animal for people who don’t want to have their time consumed by their pet. “Compared to a dog, cats are easier to take care of. There is less training involved and they are more convenient,” Liberty Animal Shelter spokesperson said.
Meow Junior Amy Hartgrove snuggles an adopted kitten at Petsmart for her Girl Scouts Gold Award. photo courtesy of Diana Timmermans
How do you feel about cats?
*242 students surveyed
Hate them.
15% 37%
They’re okay...
51%
Love Kitties!
0
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above. Sophomore Isaac Knopf ’s cat glares, but is super friendly. photo courtesy of Isaac Knopf
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Joyce Gilmore Math teacher Joyce Gilmore also has an obsession with kitty cats. “When I was younger I was always a cat person,” Gilmore said. When she was in fifth grade, her family rescued four kittens from a farm. The kittens were born later in the year than cats normally are and did not have a chance to survive in the outdoors. Gilmore’s family bottle-fed the kittens. Unfortunately, two of the little guys died within the first 24 hours of being rescued, but the other two survived. Now, Gilmore is still a cat lover and has one cat named Bella. “She is playful and loving, but also has a stubborn streak,” Gilmore said. “She drinks directly from the faucet and she does somersaults when she plays with her toys.” Gilmore says she is a cat and a dog person, but she will always love cats a little more.
Pheonix LeJeune Senior Phoenix LeJeune is an artist here at LHS and she has a deep love for her cats. She finds creative ways to feature them into her artwork. “I like to either place the cat in a strange, unique environment, sometimes pull inspiration from classic artists, or completely warp the cat into something completely surreal,” LeJeune said. To have a cat is one thing, but to love it another. “I find the beauty in cats because they are graceful and all quite beautiful in their own unique ways,” LeJeune said. LeJeune’s favorite thing is to have her cats purring as she falls asleep.
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96
120
left. Sophomore Maddie Kelly’s cat is surprised by the camera. photo courtesy of Maddie Kelly
below. Social worker Cathy Mendez cuddles her cat with a blue bow on it. photo courtesy of Cathy Mendez
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arts & entertainment
what’s trending? beware, they bite by zombie Zach Kilgas The undead are coming! Beware zombies are invading. Nothing is safe. There is no going back now. Calm down. Wait a minute, take a deep breath, and put down your survival gear. The undead aren’t reality just yet, but zombies are still everywhere. Everywhere. A few short years ago, vampires took the world by storm, and suddenly every channel had their spin on the Twilight saga. Tween girls fell in love with Edward and the idea of an eternal relationship. However, the new zombie fad has more elements than the simple human obsession with the supernatural. My first run-in with the undead came from “Zombieland.” The gore and humor caught my attention and after watching the movie more than 10 times, it was still hilarious. Little did I know that my life would soon be overrun with the undead. My life was altered after a single weekend. A weekend of watching a full season of “The Walking Dead” changed me forever. What fueled my captivation was the idea that I could survive the attack. I began to make my “zombie apocalypse” kit. My brain became wired on the idea that if I am prepared, I could survive. After finishing my kit containing water, a change of clothes, fire starters, maps of the city and everything else I could jam into a backpack, I made plans to steal my father’s Japanese style sword to wield against the undead, much like my favorite
“Walking Dead” character Michonne. It was then I realized I had an addiction, and my drug was 1,000 times more accessible than anything on the market. In one week, I could watch five different shows, one on every night after the school day. It seemed as if every person had their choice between the books like Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan or World War Z by Max Brooks, movies such as “Warm Bodies” “28 Days Later” and television shows like the indisputable series, “The Walking Dead”. It appears that every human being alive has an inner survivalist. Like me, each person who watches a zombie show can make plans to survive, to fight. The human instinct, fight or flight, formed during the time of the cavemen, which we now call survival of the fittest, is reawakened when the fictional zombies invade our lives. We love the adrenaline rush. Let’s all hope that zombies are here for a long time. With each new show comes a new element. Each story is unique in its own way, telling the story of the human race after the invasion. If some unfortunate fate should befall zombies and vampires, the next generation of fads will be half as influential.
the bell
The undead, a fad or fab? “I like zombies more than vampires or twilight because it’s more about the survival than the sparkles or the romance.” junior Kayla Ford said.
“I love zombie shows especially “The Walking Dead.” I have several students who also love zombies and love to discus them. It’s always interesting to think about what zombies might symbolize.” French teacher Jessica Lumetta said. photos by Diana Timmermans
Hours: 7:00-8:30
We Serve... Iced Coffee ($2.00) Coffee Hot Chocolate Hot Tea Apple Cider (All $1.00)
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arts & entertainment
design and review by Diana Timmermans The Bad Seed was bad in every good way possible, this was another knockout from the Liberty theater department, to say the least. I did not know the plot of the play, so the ending really threw me through for a loop.
Clockwise. Junior Katie Corum holding the shoe used to kill Claude Daigle. Juniors Alex Hemphill and Ashley Stuck talking about how Rhoda is not a normal little girl. Senior Christine Conge yells at sophomore Josie Emory for trying to cover up Claude’s death. Senior Bree Patterson compliments junior Ashley stuck on her adorable smile. photos by Breann Koch
arts & entertainment One of the two main characters of this play is little Rhoda Penmark, played by junior Ashley Stuck. Stuck’s performance of an eight-year-old psychopath was phenomenal. Even after the play, I was still questioning how she didn’t die and how much creepier a little girl can get. Even with the ending of her mother, Christine Penmark played by junior Katie Corum, committing suicide and Rhoda surviving a fatal dose of sleeping pills, I still wish Rhoda had not survived because of all the people she killed in only her short eight years of life. The second main character is Rhoda’s mother, Christine. I absolutely loved all of her costumes, Corum looked grown up and mature. I was so upset in the end when she shot herself and that her life had gotten so out of control. All of the killings occurred off stage, which allowed viewers to use their imaginations. One of the first few people you meet is Monica Breedlove, the owner of the apartments the Penmark family lives in, played by senior Bree Patterson. I like watching Bree perform as any character she is cast as. It is evident that she loves acting and she makes every character come alive while adding her own flavor. Monica Breedlove was like Rhoda’s grandmother of sorts, giving her gifts, making her dinner
and comforting Rhoda when she was “scared.” Next, Leroy appears, the janitor of the apartments the Penmarks’ live in, played by junior Alex Hemphill. Hemphill provided an even extra creepy vibe along with Rhoda’s. The scenes where Leroy and Rhoda were alone on stage were also the ones that put a shiver up my spine. Rhoda
Clockwise. Sophomore Noah Pozel and junior Ashley Stuck after the funeral, Pozel and Stuck before he leaves for work. Juniors Katie Corum and Stuck discussing what is in the brown paper bag. Senior Christine Conge embraces Corum for comfort as senior Mason Macey watches with concern. photos by Breann Koch
27 eventually ends up killing Leroy, because Leroy knows she killed Claude Daigle and he can tell that Rhoda is different than normal children. Another stand out performance was from senior Christine Conge who played Mrs. Daigle, who was drunken and distraught after her only child, Claude Daigle, drowned in a lake at a school picnic. Mrs. Daigle, although you feel terribly sorry for the woman, she added a bit of comic relief because she was “a little” drunk and disorderly along with her sweet-hearted husband Mr. Daigle, played by senior Mason Macey, who just wanted her to be alright and be at home. But Conge managed to tie in the seriousness of her thoughts along with her actions brought on but a little liquid strength. Mrs. Daigle was one of my favorite characters because she spoke her mind and she made the audience and me truly feel her emotion. Overall, The Bad Seed was a fantastic play, even though it wasn’t as big of a cast as A Christmas Carol. It was even more intimate and you felt emotionally closer to the characters. The hair, make up and costumes really brought you back in time to around the 1950’s. The cast and crew of The Bad Seed deserve a basket of hugs for another great performance.
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arts & entertainment
Super subs?
Design and photos by Diana Timmermans
Planet Sub
Reviews of sandwich shops by The Bell reporters Nick Palmarine and Preston McConnell.
the bell
Nick: Originally founded in
good ole Kansas City, Planet Subs is a perfect combination of all our hometown flavors. All of those flavors are surrounded by their fresh, made from scratch bread making it very difficult to go wrong when choosing Planet Subs. When you first walk in the building, conveniently located directly across 152 from LHS, you smell the fresh bread and their famous warm subs. You then take a look at the large and widely varied menu and make your order. Although you do not receive your order as fast
as you would at Jimmy Johns, the wait is well worth it. Unlike most sandwich shops, Planet Subs serves their subs warm and toasted, making it a unique yet fantastic place to grab a bite to eat. Being a Kansas City based sandwich shop, Planet Subs uses Kansas City flavors in their subs like the Planet BBQ. Planet Subs is one of the best sandwich shops in the city, and there is nothing that can compare to its homegrown feel and taste. On a scale of 1 to my mother’s sandwich, I would easily give Planet Subs a 9.
Preston:
Mmmm.. Toasty. The smell of freshly baked bread attacks your nose and hits you right when you walk in the door of Planet Sub. This is a big restaurant chain with a small town college feel. Originating from Yellow Sub, located in Lawrence, this place knows exactly how to market to young kids just our age at LHS. I went with the Meatball Sub, that comes with great
big meat balls drizzled with marina sauce and slices of melted cheese over the top, sitting right in between two warm pieces of the freshly made bread. I must admit though, the sub is a very healthy length but I do think it is just a little bit over-priced. I came to the conclusion that the ranking of Planet Sub is a solid 6-7, on my zero to mother’s sandwich scale.
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arts & entertainment
Jimmy john’s Preston: Freaky fast is their
slogan, and that is exactly right. You can’t find a place that hand crafts faster sandwiches at the quality of Jimmy Johns. With them making fresh bread every day, with fresh ingredients and so many options of sandwiches, this place is a must eat in the town of Liberty. The price is extremely reasonable also, making it very
attractive to teenagers who don’t have too much money of their own to spend. Another great thing that really caught my eye about Jimmy John’s, that makes it more appealing is the cleanness of the restaurant. I rank this sandwich joint at an 8 out of my zero to mothers sandwich scale. I got the plain old BLT sandwich.
Nick: Jimmy Johns puts a whole new meaning to fast food.
order. As soon as you make your order, the line of sandwich makers behind the counter go to work and soon (very, very soon) your order is ready, living up to their motto “Freaky Fast Delivery.” Overall, a fantastic place to grab a quick bite to eat and at a reasonable price. On a scale of 1 to my mother’s sandwich, I would give Jimmy John’s a solid 8.
Nick: Looking for some variety in your sandwich shop? Mr. Goodcents is the place to go. They not only offer the classic subs; they offer soup, pasta, and toasted subs as well. Located next to Godfather’s Pizza, Mr. Goodcents is the classic sandwich shop in Liberty. When you walk in the door you are embraced by the wonderful smells of all the menus options; pasta, soups, and subs. With an Italian style deli feel, Mr. Goodcents has perfected their Italian style options such as their Meatball Sub.
You then make your way to the counter and place your order, the great food makes it nearly impossible to place a bad order. As soon as you receive your order, whatever it may be, you can bet it will be well worth your wait. Whether it’s pasta, subs, or soups, Mr. Goodcents is a great, reasonably priced place to eat. On a scale of 1 to my mother’s sandwich I would give Mr. Goodcents an 8.5.
With their “freaky fast” sandwiches, you cannot find a faster meal in town. When you first walk into the sandwich shop, which is within walking distance of LHS, you are overwhelmed by the wonderful smell of fresh bread. Immediately the two huge menus, one above the register and one on the wall, catch your eye and you find what you want and quickly make your
Preston: When I go to Mr.
wrong at Goodcents. Located in the older parts of Liberty, Mr. Goodcents has the good solid character any good tasting restaurant would have. On a scale from Zero to my mother’s sandwich, Goodcents is at about a 7-8. With, a very reasonable price, Mr. Goodcents is a restaurant you must stop by.
Mr. Goodcents
the bell
Goodcents it takes me back in time when sandwiches were made out of love and care. Sometimes the best sandwiches are the old school, simply thrown together ones. With the good old white bread, with Hellman’s Mayonnaise, and a little ham and cheese, there’s really nowhere you can go
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opinion
Ace the Act? achieve with the Act These days, most colleges in the United States require applicants to take a college entrance exam to be considered for admittance. To high schoolers, these college entrance exams are more commonly known as the ACT and the SAT. Although different regions of the country once required one test over the other, the majority of colleges now accept either. Therefore, teenagers now have to decide between the two and pick the one to take that will let them show off their full potential. I am personally against all standardized tests, especially college entrance exams, for many reasons that I will summarize. First, as some areas are poorer than others, many people do not have access to the same education as wealthier areas. These people are at a disadvantage when it comes to such tests because they did not have the chance to learn the same material. Second, these tests prohibit students from being able to convey skills such as leadership, motivation, and even wisdom, which are vital to having success in college. Third, there are many factors that can prevent a student from performing as well as they have the ability to do on one of these tests. A common factor is test anxiety. However, the matter still stands that for the most part these tests are required to be accepted into college and so complaining about them does no good. For those who are looking into a college that will accept either test, I would recommend the ACT over the SAT. The ACT was designed to measure what a student has learned in school and the material is therefore more specific and relevant. From personal experience, it is much easier to study for the ACT than
it is for the SAT. According to “About. com: College Admissions,” The SAT was designed to measure a student’s reasoning and verbal abilities, and is supposed to be a test that one cannot study for at all. One of the biggest reasons I am more for the ACT is because it has four general sections that allow you to remain in the same mindset throughout the entire test. The SAT on the other hand has 10 sections, so your brain is constantly switching gears to adjust to the new style of questions. Another reason I prefer the ACT is that the ACT does not have a “guessing penalty.” On the SAT, students lose ¼ of a point for every wrong answer. This was implemented so that students do not get extra points for guessing randomly. I like that the ACT does not have this penalty because sometimes one just does not know the answer to a question and that could be out of their control for a few different reasons. Another strong feature for ACT is that our district pays for us to take the test and gives us time to take it during school. This year’s test is April 23. To conclude, the SAT and ACT measure different abilities and will therefore benefit different people in different ways. Those that are good with vocabulary and critical thinking will perform better on the SAT and those that are good at scientific reasoning and rhetorical strategies will perform better on the ACT. It is really a personal matter and people should research both tests to decide which is best for them. Most colleges do require them for entrance so students should prepare and study accordingly.
the bell
V
Sarah Hartley Reporter
31
opinion
or succeed with the SAT? score with the SAT What is one thing in school that everyone hates, but has to do anyway? Testing. Tests can be hard to deal with. Tests involve studying and cramming for hours. Standardized tests involve preparation for months in advance. All the preparation is pointless if you’re not taking the test that will benefit you the most. The test that highlights my personal strengths is the SAT. For me, one benefit of the SAT is that it doesn’t test such advanced math concepts. Princeton Review claims that the ACT tests a student’s knowledge on Geometry, Algebra I and II, and also over trigonometry, whereas the SAT does not. I have found that once I’ve taken a math class and passed, I lose everything. I can never remember which formula to use when, and when it comes to memorizing reasons for proofs, forget it. It’s not happening. Math is not my strong suit, and because of that I would most likely choose to take the SAT. Another thing I like about the SAT is that it is split into more parts than the ACT. Aside from regular math, English, and reading, there are ten segments that split the original sections up even more. For some it is best to tackle bigger sections at once, but I like little breaks in testing so that I don’t get so bored with one subject. I’ve found that I have a shorter attention span than most and that I don’t like tasks that take forever. When I have a test that is hours long I would like to give my brain a break, even if it’s only for a minute or so. Many people believe that the ACT is better because the essay portion is optional. Numerous colleges still require
for the writing portion to be taken. I don’t mind writing at all. I mean, I’m on newspaper, I got this. The SAT doesn’t make an essay optional, but personally, I don’t think the ACT should either. Writing is a skill that every person uses daily. Being able to write a good paper or essay is a skill that many colleges look for. If I had to choose between you and someone else with the same score as you, but you didn’t take the writing portion and they did, I would choose the person who wrote the essay. An additional benefit of the SAT for me is that it doesn’t have a science section, according to the Princeton Review. I’m not terrible at science, but it’s not my favorite subject. On a test that I’m already stressed about, I wouldn’t want to deal with charts and tables. When I took the ACT I saw that the science questions were not over actual science knowledge, but over your ability to answer questions on the information you see in the chart. Even so, my observational skills aren’t the greatest, and I would surely do poorly on that section. Certain colleges may not require for the SAT or ACT to be taken, but it is always good to double check with the college you would like to attend. Testing might not be fun, but most colleges require it for entry. Overall it depends on your strengths and weaknesses to determine which test is best for you, but I prefer the SAT due to the fact that it plays to my personal strengths. Whichever test is chosen should be properly prepared for, even if it’s not any fun.
s.
Reporter
the bell
Amanda Kovac
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opinion
Staff editorial Should the district Provide laptops for students? Since the beginning of second semester, students from Stuart Jorgensen’s theoretical chemistry class have been using mini Macbook Airs supplied by the school district. This class, along with a group of selected freshmen and one at Liberty North, are guinea pigs for the district as they consider the introduction of laptops for every student. Other school districts, such as North Kansas City, have provided students with Macbooks for academic purposes too. As The Bell Staff discussed the pros and cons of this movement potentially taking place in our district, there were many interesting views upon the subject. One staffer mentioned she has two siblings, who all share one computer. This becomes an issue when it comes to homework time in their household, waiting
and taking turns results in staying up late. Another member mentioned they would find themselves distracted by computer features during class, therefore not benefiting from this privilege. To avoid this issue, apps such as iTunes and the App Store have been blocked when students are at school. The laptops are clearly for academic use, but they will teach more than that, including self-responsibility and college preparation. If the trial run works out, the freshman would receive their laptops and they would keep them until they graduate. The laptops would then recycle through to the incoming freshmen. Overall, a majority of The Bell Staff sees this trial introduction as beneficial to our district. We only wish the district had done it sooner.
what the bell thinks...
16 Yes, The district should provide laptops.
5 No, the district should not provide laptops.
The articles on this page do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the entire Bell staff. Please feel free to comment, criticize, or condemn anything you see on this page in a Letter to the Editor at thebell@liberty.k12.mo.us
staff Columns
the bell
road to love In the month of February, I learned a very valuable lesson. I was given the opportunity to go experience the phenomenon that is Lady Gaga. This column is not going to be me gushing about how fabulous she is, I could write a whole paper on her and her greatness. Instead, it will be about something I learned while at that concert. Lady Gaga, with her numerous outrageous costumes, insane acts and musical numbers, is what people could classify as just plain weird. Many people look at her and think she is in it for the attention or that she is just a freak. But what is funny is that until you go experience Gaga in concert, her over the top outfits and controversial musical numbers, you just will not get it. Any of it. What I learned at that concert is the concept of not caring what anyone thinks. Lady Gaga may have put it more vulgarly, “Oh my, even Black
Editor in chief Nathan hunt
Jesus has ‘none’ to give,” when asking her dancers if they care when they hear mean comments made to them. But the message still rings true; she does not care in the slightest what people think. What people do not understand is that she does not dress funny or act crazy for the attention, that is just what she wants to do, so she is going to do it. It is as simple as that. I believe more people should practice this philosophy. Why be so worried about what others think about you when you wear that shirt you may think is so cool? Or when you really like that song that everyone else finds annoying or just noise? I challenge you to go just one day embracing the attitude of not caring what anyone thinks, and if you like it, go one more day, and another day, and another. I have been embracing this concept and it has allowed me to do what I want and be who I want to be,
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opinion
Something ‘bout a truck I’m an addict. I got hooked about a year ago. It is really crazy how much your life can change in a year. I have an addiction to… trucks. If I am not cruising around in my beat up little Chevy, then I am checking out other trucks on LiftedTrucksUSA.com. I probably need an intervention, but I think I am too far-gone now. You laugh now, but you don’t truly know the hypnotizing power of a truck until you hop up in a cab and give her a test drive. With a little help from my parents, I got my 1996 green Chevy K1500. I will be completely honest and say my first impression wasn’t that great. First off, it wasn’t a Ford and I live in a family that primarily is Ford. Second, it was hunter green, which isn’t my favorite color in the whole world. Third, it was very beat up, it is an old farm truck, so it has been through a lot since ’96. It even came sporting a great little beauty mark on the passenger side from a deer who didn’t understand the concept of “yielding,” but don’t worry,
he knows better now. Driving my truck is 110 percent better than driving my mom’s minivan. My family believes in “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit” and this time was no exception to that motto. So I drive my truck and I’ve made it my own. It would be safe to say I love that old bucket of rust. I take every opportunity to drive it and even with these gas prices, I cruise around town and on old back roads whenever I can. It’s true she might not be the biggest or “baddest” truck in the parking lot, but she is mine. I’ll defend her until the day she dies. My truck even saved my life once, but that’s another story entirely. I will from now on drive a truck wherever I go. Some people think a vehicle is a vehicle and if it gets you from point A to point B, it is all fine. Trucks are a part of a state of mind and a way of life. Once you’ve been hooked, you just can’t get enough. So yes, I’m an addict and love trucks.
Mad cow disease ?
Ads Manager Shelby Curtis
So the baby calf is slowly moving towards us, when we all look up. There was a dull roaring sound, like a motorcycle in the distance or someone weed-whacking nearby. I pointed out that in the distance, a lady was four-wheeling. We shrugged thinking nothing of it. Next thing I know, Jacob takes off running, and the lady is barreling towards the gate. Without thinking, we just take off running too. We all run to my house, and this lady gets off her four-wheeler and chases us to the house. She scolded all of us for tormenting her cows, and told us to never do it again because they’ll trample their babies or something. Moral of the story is, never moo at a cow. Apparently they are not scared of giant, loud four wheelers plowing through the middle of them, but they are afraid of mooing 12-year-olds.
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Once upon a time...I was chased by a crazy cow lady. I had just moved to Liberty from Lee’s Summit a year before, and was hanging out with some of my new friends. I would say there were about five of us. Becky, Lauren, Austyn, Jacob and myself. I live by a cow field, and almost every weekend that the weather was nice, we would all sit by the fence and try to get the cows to come near us. No we were not boring, we were 12 and couldn’t drive anywhere. Anyway, one weekend the cows were particularly close to the fence, so we start mooing at them. We mostly were trying to coax the baby cow over because he did not know that people were scary yet. Keep in mind we were not vandalizing anything, we were not going into the field, we were not being mean to cows. We were just mooing, that is it.
opinion editor diana timmermans
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Sports
signed away by Preston McConnell
Several seniors prepare themselves for college athletics.
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The Athletics Program puts many kids into college sports every year. With the great coaching staffs and hard work and dedication from all the players, it is only bound to happen. “To play college sports you have to be able to compete at the varsity level, have good grades, have the passion for the sport, the want to succeed and the skill level,” Football Coach Chad Frigon said. Many students of LHS just signed their rights to play collegiate sports on National Signing Day, February 6. Many students are excited about what their futures hold and where they could be in the upcoming years. Senior Haley Baldridge, who is a twotime winner of the state championship for soccer, committed to Western Kentucky University “I’m excited about my what my future holds for me.” said Baldridge. “I report to them sometime in August.” There are many ways to be seen and noticed by colleges. First, they can be seen through sport showcases around the country where athletes go show the scouts their abilities and talents. Showcases are typically done through
Haley Baldridge, Western Kentucky University
Club Teams in the off-season of the school season. Another method is when athletes get seen through their performance during the school season. Scouts and coaches may email the athletes, call or come visit them during school. “They came and talked to me at the high school,” senior Eric Greely Jr. said about coaches from Missouri State. He committed to Missouri State for football. He received an athletic scholarship. “The coaches found me and emailed me about my times and said I would be competitive in their conference and asked if I would be interested,” senior Katherine Kuhlman said. Many athletes from LHS revived multiple options for which colleges they could attend, making this decision can be a struggle and for sure life changing. Although, the LHS bunch did not have much of a problem. “It was a pretty set decision.” Kuhlman said. “Peperdine had the major I wanted and the location I wanted. It’s in Malibu, California,” “It took me about a month to make my final decision, over the summer I
went and visited,” Winfrey said about Wichita State. Becoming a college athlete can be a tough step for some athletes but the students from Liberty aren’t too worried about it. The schools give some summer workouts and/or goals for the athletes to try to reach by the end of the summer or before the season. “I have a summer weight lifting program (the coaches) want me to do.” Greely Jr. said. “It is a big jump because everyone is stronger and faster at the college level.” Others are aware of the jump and the different location the players are from that they will be playing. “The jump will be pretty big, kids from the southern coast and everyone else will just make it harder,” Winfrey said. Each one is looking forward to the higher level of competition. “Going to a D1 school, everyone will be on my level and everyone will be able to compete for a spot,” Kuhlman said. Keep up the good hard work Blue Jays! Congratulations!
Eric Greely Jr., Missouri State photos by Sammi Novak
Sports
College Signings
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Student Sport College Staci Gann Rowing K-State University Madison Allshouse Soccer William Jewell College Haley Baldridge Soccer Western Kentucky University Regan Lawler Soccer Fort Hays State University Alex Neely Soccer Lindenwood University Morgan Perkins Soccer University of Missouri-Kansas City Cade Crow Soccer Presbyterian College Allison Easley Softball Southwest Baptist University Bobbie Henderson Softball Hannibal-LaGrange University Heather Glenn Track & Field Pittsburg State University Marie Taylor XC & Track & Field K-State University Nathan Winfrey Baseball Wichita State University Andrew Fishel Football Lincoln University Jackson Gilley Football University of Central Missouri Eric Greely Jr. Football Missouri State University Ben Laughlin Football Midland University Kolton Shindelar Football University of Tulsa Matthew Zombo Football University of Central Missouri
Kathrine Kuhlmann, Pepperdine University
The Spring Athletic Signing Ceremony for LHS will be 5/7/2013 from 3:30 to 5:30 in the LMC on the Main Floor.
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Nathan Winfrey, Witchita State University
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Sports
Athletes of the Month by Jake Boese
Trystan Brown Keyen Braughton “I really like sapphires because it gets me involved in the school more. We bond really well, we’re like a family, it’s a really great experience getting to perform in front of the whole school,” sophomore Trystan Brown said.
“The season’s been long; it’s been fun and stressful. It had a bad ending though, I wanted a bit more. I expect to place at state next year. I want to work harder and stay more focused,” sophomore Keyen Braughton said.
“Trystan is the most beautiful, graceful dancer you will ever get the experience to watch. She has the personality where when she talks everyone stops and listens. She’s a star.” -senior Macayla Witt
“He’s one of the most hard working guys on the wrestling team. He really fights to the end.” -senior John De La Torre
“Trystan Brown is a natural leader, and the Sapphire program is blessed to have her as a member of the team. Trystan is very knowledgeable about dance and when she has something to say, everyone listens because what she says is profound and meaningful. She is sincere and compassionate to others, yet she still has that inner drive to learn, grow and perfect her own talented skills. She genuinely wants what is best for her teammates and will do anything to help them out. Trystan faces a challenge head-on and stays calm under pressure. She is a delightful, young lady who I respect and admire dearly.” - Coach Maggie Willis
“Great kid, hard worker, respectful. He’s a good model for most athletes to follow.” -Coach Michael Hammer
Height: 5’11” Weight: 205 pounds Favorite Food: Chicken
photo by Lauren Pope
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photo by Shelby Springer
Height: 5’7” Favorite Dance: Hip Hop Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo
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The brightest of Gems by Jake Boese The Sapphires finish another successful season, claiming first place at state. The Sapphire Squad recently capped off another successful season with yet another state title. The Sapphires had mixed emotions heading into the state competition. “I’m nervous because we have worked so hard and excited because we get to show what we’ve worked for,” senior Kelsey Buehler said. “I’m excited because I think we will perform well. We have two dances we performed at regionals that took a lot of preparation starting in May of last year up until now,” junior Bailee Day said. Going into the performances, the team expected a lot of competition from unseen teams. “I expect a lot of competition from St. Louis teams that we haven’t seen,” sophomore Madison Jones said. There are a lot of differences between being a senior and sophomore on the team. “I’ve been on since freshman year and it’s a lot more different as a senior because you have to step up and be a leader,” Buehler said.
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Junior Haley Klein perfects one of her state dance numbers at a Liberty basketball game. photo by Shawna Kingston
“You’re not really a leader as a sophomore,” Jones said. “It’s a lot harder the first year. Kelsey and Macayla are really good at getting people together through troubles.” The team contributes some of their success to chemistry. “I really like the team. We work really well together,” Buehler said. “If we perform like we’ve been practicing we should get the result we expect.” The team had high expectations going into the competition. “I think we’ll win,” Jones said. “We are really prepared compared to other teams. We know we are there to do our best no matter if we get first or second.” Jones’ prediction was proved correct when the team received first place honors at the competition. “They had top three stand up,” senior Macayla Witt said. “For third place they started saying the L sound and everybody’s heart sank but it was Lee’s Summit. Then they said Eureka for second and we got really excited, and started crying because we knew we won. It felt like getting something really great that you didn’t expect for Christmas.” The emotions were overwhelming after the realization of victory from the performers to parents to coaches. “The emotions I feel when the Sapphires win are that of any parent, pride for what they have accomplished,” head coach Maggie Willis said. “The “wins” are Sapphire wins. I simply guide the girls to get them to where they want to go, but they are the driving force behind the success. As a team, their goal is not the trophy or the plaque but rather the feeling they get walking off of the court when they know they have given their best. That sense of self and team accomplishment is overwhelming and is truly the best victory of all.” The team has had a strong run of success as of late. “With or without state titles, all of my Sapphire teams have been successful,” Willis said. “I appreciate the passion, drive and self-motivation I have seen from all of my dancers throughout the years. The Sapphires take great pride in all they do, and I am honored to have the opportunity to coach such wonderful, young ladies.” The team will look to continue their success next year even with losing two key leaders. “I think the girls will do amazing next year, they’re great girls and they’ll grow into great women without Kelsey and me,” Witt said. Next seasons’ squad already has their sights set high. “Each Sapphire team sets their own goals, so I am looking forward to seeing what the 2013-14 Sapphire team brings,” Willis said.
We’re going to Disneyworld! by Mat George
Cheerleaders place 15th at nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Cheerleader Tweeters
Nationals Memories
photos courtesy of LHS cheerleaders
***The cheerleaders performance will be aired on ESPN on March 24th.***
Once upon a time, 26 cheerleaders went to Orlando, Florida to compete in nationals for cheerleading. They met a few princesses, a couple of celebrities and placed 15th in the country for cheer. This is no fairytale. This is what the Liberty High cheerleaders experienced as they participated in their second national competition. “Last year we placed 17th at nationals. It was an especially great experience for the returning girls because we saw first-hand how hard we had to work, this year, in order to compete with the other teams down there,” senior Allie Holyfield said. While the team was down there, they were able to meet a lot of new people. “At the KCI airport we saw Sporting KC players, more specifically, Jimmy Nielsen. When we were at nationals warming up, we saw Shawn Johnson and she waved at me,” sophomore Macy Rich said. “At Magic Kingdom we saw Honey Boo Boo and her family. I also met Cinderella, Prince Charming, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Daisy the Duck and Minnie Mouse.” The girls take away a lot of good memories from the whole thing. “My favorite part would be reaching our
goal and making it to finals,” junior Hailey Davisson said. “There were a lot of funny things but the funniest one would be when our coach bought stitch hands and wore them around.” Liberty’s cheerleaders felt like they had all of their wishes granted by a fairy godmother. “Making it to finals was a dream come true for everyone. I wish that everyone could experience the bond our team has, that’s what made an ordinary trip spectacular,” senior Maria Esparza said. The excitement was running high but the girls needed to make sure they kept the energy high when they got on to the mat. “When we were waiting backstage to go on it was my job to start the chant, it’s my favorite part because the girls start with a slow clap and I get to yell things like ‘who are we’ or ‘what are we going to have’ all the girls respond by yelling the answers,” Holyfield said. “It’s a great way to pump up the energy and keep the girls focused on what needs to happen.” For some of the girls, it was the last time to ever compete at nationals in high school so they wanted to make sure it was a good one.
“I wanted to make sure everyone was as confident as possible because I knew as soon as we walked off we would want to do it again so I knew we would have to leave it all on the floor at that very moment,” Esparza said. The ladies were overcome with emotions throughout the whole competition. “When they were announcing teams that would advance to finals, I was more nervous/excited than I can ever remember being,” Coach Brenda Moats said. “The girls did such an incredible job in semi-finals, I knew they deserved the opportunity to advance, but you just never know what the judges see.” “However, when Liberty High School was read as advancing, words cannot describe the emotions of pride, excitement, and overall feeling of accomplishment I had for them,” she said. “Finals were just surreal. From everything to the warm up room, to watching the team perform, to waiting on the mat for the announcements. To be a part of something that you’ve always dreamed about was pretty amazing.”
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