Des Moines North High Oracle - In's and Out's Issue 4

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Adviser: Jennifer Dryden Table of Contents

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What’s G nhs_oracle

@northhighoracle

North High Oracle

04-20 vs. AHSTW 6:00 04-24 vs. Hoover 7:30 04-27 vs. Lincoln 7:30 05-1 vs. Ottumwa 7:30 05-3 vs. Grandview Christian 6:00 05-8 @Roosevelt 6:00 05-11 @East 4:45 05-18 @Marshalltown 7:30

@northhighoracle

Girls: 04-23 @Saydel 4:30 04-24 @ADM 4:30 04-26 Drake Relays 3:00 04-27 Drake Relays 3:00 05-3 @East 4:30

GIRLS/BOYS TRACK

04-24 @Hoover 7:30 04-26 @Urbandale 7:30 04-30 vs. Winterset 7:30 05-1 @Ottumwa 7:30 05-4 vs. Ankeny Centennial 7:30 05-8 vs. Roosevelt 7:30 05-11 vs. East 7:30 05-15 @Ames 7:30

GIRLS SOCCER

04-19 @Ottumwa 4:00 04-23 @Newton 4:15 04-24 vs. Mason City 4:00 04-26 vs. Roosevelt 4:00 04-28 tournament @ North Polk 9am 05-1 vs. East 4:00 05-3 @Ames 4:00

BOYS TENNIS

GIRLS TENNIS

04-24 @Mason City 4:00 04-26 @Roosevelt 4:00 05-1 @East 4:00 05-10 vs. Ames 4:00

BOYS SOCCER

UPCOMING GAMES

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Boys: 04-19 @Urbandale 4:30 04-23 @North 4:30 04-26 Drake Relays 4:00 04-27 Drake Relays 4:00 05-1 @East 4:30

Design: M. Bohall/L. Christenesen

The third annual Polar Bear Gala met everyone’s expectations. The night was named, “The Trifecta.” The purpose of the gala is to raise money to support all North High Activities. Staff, community members and alumni come together to root for one thing; success for North High students.

There is an evident oppurtunity gap be-

tween North High students and students from say, suburban schools. The gala gives the necessary support for students to be just as good as any other school.

With money still rolling in, the gala committee aimed to earn $75K, a hefty goal that they made possible.

$100

Ben Graeber

, News

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Design: J. Inthabounh

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Caleb Slater, Editor in Chief Across the country, people are gearing up for the next set of elections on November 6, 2018. While this date may seem far off, candidates are already campaigning to win their party nominations—and Iowans will have to decide whether they want to re-elect Governor Kim Reynolds, or if they want to send someone fresh to our gold-plated capitol building.

However, the candidates this year are not just Democrats and Republicans. A third party, the Libertarian party, received enough recognition in the last election to appear on ballots in 2018 and to hold a primary for their supporters.

The Oracle reached out to the two candidates seeking the libertarian nomination for Governor and asked them questions about how the election effects high schoolers.

Jake Porter, a former nominee for secretary of state, and Marco Battaglia, a musician and banker, gave us their thoughts on the upcoming election and the state of the education system in Iowa.

Q: As someone who plans on voting for the first time this fall, why should I (or other high schoolers my age) vote for you?

Porter: The libertarian philosophy is very simple. We don’t hurt others and we don’t take their things. We see the failures of the Democrats and Republicans. We pay more in taxes each year to get fewer government services and more of our rights violated. Why should you pay more to be told you can do less?

Battaglia: I have a plan to phase out the income tax for all Iowans while increasing funding to mental health funding and education. I would be able to easily work with elected officials from all backgrounds to accomplish my platform items. My platform will leave us with new markets for our counties that have been declining in population and revenue to keep up the services that dependent and vulnerable Iowans rely on while decreasing the size of government and spending overall.

News

Q: Will your administration benefit/affect the lives of high schoolers, and if so, how?

Q: How will your administration affect funding for school districts across Iowa?

Porter: We plan to make education better by opening the schools up to using better technology. Allow more individualized learning and students more opportunities to learn.

Young people should have a voice in government and should be listened to. Any government board that impacts the lives of students should have students serve on that board.

Porter: We are not going to cut funding to anything that benefits students or pays teachers. The state should quit overspending and stop borrowing from the state’s emergency fund. Proper budgeting would stop mid-year budget cuts that make things such as education funding unstable.

Battaglia: My administration will benefit the lives of those that are school age. Phasing out the income tax will allow more and more families to decide how they wish to spend their money. People will be more inclined to save, volunteer, and donate to others or causes, when they actually have money to do so with. Maximizing medical, and agricultural freedoms will be a positive to all Iowans.

No matter if a child, a senior, or anyone in between gets sick, I want all Iowans to be able to choose what medicines are right for them.

Q: Do you plan on making the improvement of Iowa’s education system a priority in your administration?

Porter: I do. We should cut the waste from the education budget and use it to fund actual learning. We should get government out of the way of educating students by mandating tests and standards that have dropped our education ranking.

Battaglia: A vast majority of Iowans believe that every child in all parts of Iowa should have access to quality education. I believe that my vision is best suited to ensure us a path there and that it ensures that we are improving on education for years to come. I believe that we can work smarter to improve education and actually save significant amounts of our money while returning Iowa to being a state that churns out people with world-class educations and skills.

Battaglia: Iowa is the only state in the nation that hasn’t made significant progress in early math education since 1992. Iowa now ranks in the bottom ten states in the percentage of seniors who take and pass an Advanced Placement course. I am certainly not opposed to increasing funding to education, however, I believe that we are in a position to work smarter and not harder. We have an opportunity to spend less money and get a better return on our spending.

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Q: What advice would you give to students who may be too young to vote, but still want their voices heard?

Porter: When I was 16, I became involved in politics. At 22, I ran for Secretary of State and had already managed a third party presidential nominating campaign. Start to question your beliefs, do a lot of research, and find candidates that you like and agree with to support. Never be afraid to change your position on things when new information causes you to reconsider your beliefs. High school is also a good time to start participating with non-profits and in school government.

Battaglia: You can write emails or letters and comment on social media. You can attend public meetings or town halls, or even visit the capitol. At any age, you can get active in the press or politics of your neighborhood, planning regular meetings to work towards change, even if in a public library or a coffee shop. We all can write emails or letters to the media outlets in our area. At the end of the day in our current system everyone has the power to peacefully protest and to vote with the way that they spend their money.

WANT TO REGISTER TO VOTE? To register to vote in Iowa, there are a few requirements set by the Secretary of State. You must be a U.S. citizen, and you must be at least 17 and a half years of age.

You must also be a resident of Iowa, and you cannot be registered to vote in any other state.

You also may not register to vote if you’re incarcerated, on parole, on probation, or owe the state money from a felony conviction.

You can submit your voter registration at the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), at the Driver and Identification services.

You may also register to vote through mail by sending your voter registration form to your county auditor (Jamie Fitzgerald for Polk county) or the DMV.

Design: C. Slater

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We sat down with superintendent Tom Ahart to talk about weather cancellation procedures and other superintendent duties.

cancel during an extreme cold warning, but cancelling due to snow or ice really comes down Due to the especially unpre- to a lot of different factors.” dictable weather this year, many Ahart explained that Des students and parents alike have Moines is a special case when questions about what exactly it it comes to delays or cancellatakes for school to be delayed or tions for a variety of reasons, like canceled in the DMPS district. road conditions. “Des Moines Some may not know that the roads are different than rural person who makes this decision is ones. We have trucks that can get superintendent Tom Ahart. When out there and clear streets in less asked about how he makes this time than it takes to clear out call, Ahart explained, “There isn’t country roads. That’s why we’ll a set in stone policy. I’ll always still have school when everyone around us might cancel,” Ahart said.

In addition to that, it can also be tricky to coordinate a delay or early release with the DART system, which is how many students get to school.

When asked if he thinks that parents calling their students in due to weather should be counted as an excused absence, Ahart replied, “I think that’s a slippery slope. It could potentially lead to parents calling their kids in just because they don’t want to Pictured above, Superintendent Tom Ahart visits North High drive them when it’s School for an interview with some of the Oracle’s students cold or snowing out.” and stops at the polar bear for a picture. Photo Credit : Mya However, Ahart said Alexnader.

Jenna Post, Reporter

News

Building Condition Ex. water main breaks , power outages

Student Impact Ex. student transpor tation, finding other meal source s

Daily Outlook

Road Condition Ex. Plow mobility, crews out early enough

Temperature Ex. wind chill warning, excesive heat warning

Ex. weather predic tion for the day, clean up crew s

D.A.R.T.

DMPS has a contra ct with D.A.R.T. that fines with ever y late sta rt and early ou t

During the interview with Ahart, he explained how diciding to cancle school is like putting together pieces of a puzzle. Represented above are the different pieces to that puzzle and an example of why that piece might cause a school cancellation, delay, or early dismissal.

Graphic Credit: Mya Alexander.

that he sees valid arguments on both sides of the issue.

Ahart also stated that a very big reason that DMPS rarely cancels is due to the free and reduced lunch program. “About 75% of our students have lunch and breakfast at school. For some of them, it’s their most reliable source of food, so we really try not to cancel unless we have to.” His top priority is the well-being of the students.

As superintendent, Ahart makes changes that he believes will help the students of DMPS. When asked about upcoming start time changes, he replied, “I think they’ll be a good thing. The research backs it up. High schoolers are biologically programmed

to stay up later.” He’s also excited about the Schools for Rigor program. He’s already seen improvement in the schools that have taken on SRA, but he hopes to refine it even more in the near future.

Finally, Ahart gave some advice for high school students: “Learn us much as you can, chose your friends wisely, and make sure you make wise decisions about who you are and what you’re doing.”

Design: M. Alexander

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Emily Dykes, Reporter At North, the four counselors are here to help the students through whatever they need.

They can help with social and academic issues, ranging from helping with picking out classes, to helping with family issues the counselors here can help.

Choosing the Right College If you’re looking for a college, stop by your counselor’s office for some extra help. They’ll help you pick the college best for you and your needs. They’ll listen to your specific needs like cost, location, major or any other factor that is important to you and your family. They’ll help you pick a college by designing skinny, lessons and having one-on-one interviews with the student and their family. If you’re still having a hard time picking a college best for you, they will also set you up with outside community recourses such as local colleges and universities, Upward bound, ETS programs (Educational Testing Services), and much more. They recognize that for students to make the best decision they need multiple choices to pick from.

Financial Aid They can also provide financial aid for those who need it. They’ll provide available scholarships, presenting a financial aid night (for example the Polar Bear Plunge events), and offering assistance in filling out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or give them information about somewhere that can. It’s also important that the student has a job so they can support themselves through college. They can help with this by telling the student about local job openings, and writing reference/recommendation letters when asked.

Polar Bear Plunge The Polar Bear Punge is a series of sessions offered during the evening that the counseling

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department hosts to help establish college/ post-secondary preparation including both the parent and the child. They provide information on college applications, college visits, scholarship applications, writing resumes and essays, Exploring alternative pathways such as apprenticeships, Job Corp, and DMACC Workforce Academy.

Personal Counseling Help They help with a large range of social issues, like friend and family relationships, substance abuse issues, teenage pregnancy and much more.

Teenage Pregnancy Teenage pregnancy is nothing to be ashamed of, the counselors and nurse here can help. If you think you’re pregnant, head to the nurse’s office and she can help you figure out if you are or not. The counselors will listen to your questions and concerns and help you figure out your best option and help you every way they can. They also partner up with Young Women’s Resource Center (a non-profit group that provides a large range of perinatal help for girls 13-21) and provide a young mother’s group. Lastly, they provide extra academic help so you can stay on the path to graduation while carrying a child.

Abuse at Home Abuse at home is a very serious problem and needs to be taken care of right away. Your counselor will contact CPS (Child Protective Services) where they will give them the information you give them to insure everyone is kept safe. If CPS doesn’t take up the case they will contact the parent/guardian (if they believe it is safe and will not cause more harm to the student) and set up a meeting to talk about the family’s struggles/crisis. During the conversations they will offer outside agencies who can help families with in-home counseling

and skill building. They also offer check-ins with students to monitor whether the abuse is getting worse and to make sure everyone feels safe at all times.

Problems They Run Into There is a large range of problems depending on the problem and the people they’re trying to help. The problem they run into the most is the resistance to change, not only with students but also adults. All change is difficult even if it’s a positive change. As counselors their role in the school is to help you, but they can’t do that if the students and adults they work with don’t keep an open mind to change.

Times: ey are Counselor Typically th

uch earlier

here m uch Counselors and stay m d le u d e h c ese are s later than th S ing at North H es, depend m ti , y da and Monday-Fri on the day occur.

7:25-3:10 events that

Design: E. Dykes

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Student

Spotlights or rst, Edit o h t a n h Sc sa Kenzie student

or so 0 2 g n i are the k s e a s e r e h t ft , s A uestion q f o cieved. e s r e i s e r ser e t answ spotligh

If you were one flavor of ice cream, what would you be?

1. Blueberry: Emilio Coronel-Schakel, 11th.

2. Butter Pecan: Tony Voss, Staff.

4. Strawberry: Jayda Negrete, 11th.

What was your favorite thing to If you could be any animal, what do at recess? would you be?

1. Play Soccer: Raymond Abwe, 10th.

5. Chocolate: Conner Baxter, 9th.

2. Four Square: Max Dressic, 9th.

3. Neopolitan: Lilly Pahl, 11th.

6. Moose Tracks: Mary Cecil, 10th.

7. Mint Chocolate Chip: Max Dressic, 9th.

8. Cookie Dough: Eriyion Brown, 12th.

9. Mango & Chili Powder: Heden M. Perez, 12th.

10. Birthday Cake, because then everyday

would be my birthday: Darrick Burrage, 12th.

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3. Basketball or Football: Jermaine Daye,

1. Baby Mini Pig: Delicia Oxenreider, 9th.

2. Flamingo: Safi Nitanga, 12th.

11th.

3. Lion: Raymond Abwe, 10th.

4. Eat: Eriyion Brown, 12th.

4. Pitbull: Emilio Coronel-Schakel, 11th.

5. Take Over the World: Caleb Slater, 11th.

5. Tiger: Tony Voss, Staff.

6. Tether Ball: Dillon Rover, 12th.

6. Butterfly: Ungwa Itabelo, 12th.

7. Kickball: Hilario Callejas, 12th.

7. Panda Bear: Lilly Pahl, 11th.

8. Chase friends around: Mary Cecil, 10th.

8. T-Rex: Jayda Negrete, 11th.

9. Watch Spongebob: Conner Baxter, 9th.

9. Donkey: Caleb Slater, 11th.

10. Hula Hoop: Delicia Oxenreider, 9th.

10. Lynx: Dillon Rover, 12th.

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If you could be anything in the world, what would you choose?

1. Plane: Raymond Abwe, 10th.

2. Me: Tony Voss, Staff.

3. Normal: Conner Baxter, 9th.

4. Peace: Mary Cecil, 10th.

5. CEO of Google: Eriyion Brown, 12th.

6. Sword: Heden M. Perez, 12th.

7. Happiness: Dillon Rover, 12th.

8. Pencil ( Object of Expression ): Delicia Oxenreider, 9th.

9. Magician ( Welder of Actual Magic ): Emilio Coronel-Schakel, 11th.

10. President for the Rest of My Life: Caleb Slater, 11th.

If you were a car, what type and If you could be any food, what would you be? color would you be?

1. Silver Mini Van: Delicia Oxenreider, 9th.

1. A Donut: Safi Nitanga, 12th.

2. Blue Thomas Train: Conner Baxter, 9th.

2. Chilidog: Emilio Coronel-Schakel, 11th.

3. Black Bugatti: Jermaine Daye, 11th.

3. Prime Rib: Tony Voss, Staff.

4. Black Acura TL: Heden M. Perez, 12th.

4. Fufu: Ungwa Itabelo, 12th.

5. Yellow 68 Corvette: Dillon Rover, 12th.

5. Lava Cake: Delicia Oxenreider, 9th.

6. Blue Mercedez Benz: Terriance Foster, 12th.

6. Apple: Conner Baxter, 9th.

7. Black Dodge Charger: Eriyion Brown, 12th.

7. Swiss Roll: Max Dressic, 9th.

8. Black Caravan: Jayda Negrete, 11th.

8. Gumbo: Jermaine Daye, 11th.

9. Yellow School Bus, because i’m a good student: Darrick Burrage, 12th.

9. Fried Chicken: Terriance Foster, 12th.

10. Pupusa: Hilario Callejas, 12th.

10. Rusty 2006 Honda Accord with a dent in the door: Caleb Slater, 11th.

If you were a bird, how many If you could star in any movie, What occupation do you want worms would you eat in one what movie would it be? day? to have?

1. Rush Hour: Terriance Foster, 12th.

1. Forensic Scientist: Delicia Oxenreider, 9th.

1. 26: Dillon Rover, 12th.

2. Deadpool: Hilario Callejas, 12th.

2. Journalist: Safi Nitanga, 12th.

3. Toy Story: Darrick Burrage, 12th.

3. Engineer: Raymond Abwe, 10th.

2. As Many as I can Find: Darrick Burrage, 12th.

4. The Room: Caleb Slater, 11th.

4. Lab Technician: Jayda Negrete, 11th.

5. Star Wars: Max Dressic, 9th.

5. Actor: Conner Baxter, 9th.

6. Juno: Mary Cecil, 10th.

7. Spongdebob: Conner Baxter, 9th.

6. Professor: Max Dressic, 9th.

7. Something Sports Related: Jermaine Daye, 11th.

8. Black Panther: Raymond Abwe, 10th.

8. Game Designer: Eriyion Brown, 12th.

9. Finding Forrester: Tony Voss, Staff.

9. Sports Commentator: Terriance Foster, 12th.

10. Moana: Jayda Negrete, 11th.

10. President of the United States: Caleb Slater, 11th.

3. 5 + Bread Crumbs: Heden M. Perez, 12th.

4. Exactly 27: Caleb Slater, 11th.

5. 150: Jermaine Daye, 11th.

6. Only 1: Max Dressic, 9th.

7. Pace Myself, dont want to get fat: Mary Cecil, 10th.

8. ALOT: Conner Baxter, 9th.

9. Too Many: Emilio Coronel-Schakel, 11th.

10. None Ewww: Delicia Oxenreider, 9th.

Design: K. Schnathorst

12 Laura Christensen, Edior-In-Chief Have you ever wondered what it’s like to marry your high school sweetheart; being in high school together and then graduating and continuing life together? It seems as if every person thinks they want to achieve that at least one point in their life, even if it’s only once.

Relationships seem to be a very controversial topic. Relationships aren’t always easy and filled with “lovey-dovey” moments, there are some times when things get difficult and you may wonder: Will we ever break up?

Let’s look at some of the key features that will bring together a relationship, and signs that you’re in a healthy relationship. There is a class at North called “Relationships” that Heather Rosewall, FCS teacher, teaches.

She offers advice about being in a relationship.

“The biggest thing I tell my students is, communication. You must tell them when

Get some advice on dating in high school and two teach sure you have common interests, you don’t want to be dating someone who isn’t going to support you in what you want to achieve in life. If you have big goals for yourself in the future, don’t just throw away your dreams because the person you’re involved with won’t support you.

“I know it’s scary to hear things we don’t want to hear. You must communicate if you want to save the relationship. If you go behind their back and/or start avoiding it.

You have already doomed the relationship,” Rosewall said.

Although relationships can be a good thing, they’re not for everyone, at least in high school. If you are in a relationship but you don’t think it’s working out, then trust your gut. You can’t go off of what other people are saying because they could possibly be lying. You need to go talk to that person about how you’re feeling. Again, communication is key.

you are upset in a calm way. You can’t yell and use hurtful words. You must let the past be the past,” Rosewall said.

If you’re holding a grudge from something that happened a while ago, or even in a past relationship, then that’s going to hurt your current one.

Do you ever ask yourself the question: What are some good qualities to look for in your significant other? The answer is, everyone is different, and we all have an ideal perfect person for us. The easiest way to find out what you want in someone else is make a list, and your expectations should be high, if that person can’t meet them then maybe they aren’t right for you.

“Knowing what you want from a relationship is important...It’s okay if you set yourself up with high expectations. You are the best version of yourself, so you deserve the best version of them too,” Rosewall said.

In a relationship, you also need to make

PROM. During their time dating, they attended Jeff ’s senior prom in April 2006.

Amy was a sophomore and he was a senior.

2010

2006

SENIOR YEAR. For Amy’s senior pictures, she was an NYC kid and part of the package was “Get a free photo with a friend” so Jeffery and her got a professional picture taken together in July 2007.

2007

2006 Opinions

FIRST DATE. Jeffery Rost and Amy Rost went to the Civic Center to see a muscial on a date about two months into dating. This is there first picture together and came out as an official couple in Februrary 2006.

PLANE RIDE. In college they went to Disney and this was taken on the plane on the way there, being Amy’s first plane trip. They ended up getting engaged while being there but this photo was taken preengagement.

13 teachers at North who are high school sweethearts.

In North High School, there are a few teachers that married their high school sweethearts. Two of them work here together, and are both North High alumni. Jeffery Rost and Amy Rost otherwise known as Mr. And Mrs. Rost, have been together since 2005; 12 ½ years. Theyhave been married for nearly six of them.

They met while setting up musical at North, and were the only ones working on the play for nearly an hour. They instantly clicked and became “official” shortly after.

Q: What was it like maturing together as your relationship kept growing?

A: I was awkward…had braces, bangs, acne, odd sense of clothing, tastes that I thought were cool that just weren’t. We grew together. We grew UP together. We have similar backgrounds and family struggle stories which helped us bond together and want to grow together. This only further strengthened the trust, friendship, and love for one another.

J: I truly believe that maturing together and growing through these thirteen years of relationship has made me grow, love, and appreciate her even more. I feel that we have a much deeper connection because of all that we’ve experienced together.

Q: How did you know that the other person was worth the time, even through the rough parts?

A: Love is worth hardships. Love takes work. But I fully and honestly believe that people are placed in our lives when we need them and it is our responsibility to foster the relationship. Jeff was placed in my life for a reason and the relationship we have is worth all and any rough parts.

J: My life has had a lot of rough parts, and when someone stays with you through those rough parts and continue to support you…you just know. I do believe that our high points in life and successes together are made ten times better because of the storms we weathered during those rough parts.

Q: Did you think after a year or two of dating that your relationship was going to last? Was there ever any doubt?

A: I knew it would last. We talked as best friends, responsible young adults, and planned our future even when we were young. I do think we are both old souls and planned a lot.Goals are important to us and we did not see the point of dating if it wasn’t for a serious commitment. Sure we had hard times, especially while we were at two different schools, but we always worked them out without any fear or doubt of ending the relationship.

J: I knew after the first year or two that we would stay together, even though I would barf if my students would say that today.

We went through significant struggles with our families the first couple years of our relationship and I just knew that if she stayed by my side and I stayed by hers through all of that, that we could conquer so much together. And I believe we have.

FRIENDS. This past year in 2017, they sent “Thanksgiving selfies” to their friends who they normally spent Thanksgiving with because they were out of town.

2012

2017

WEDDING DAY. Jeffery and Amy got married on May, 12, 2012. They’re anniversary is December 12, 2005 so they picked that special day to get married.

SURPRISE. This was while they were in Disney and this was the morning of their engagement.

Amy had no idea he was going to purpose that day so she was completely surprised.

SCHOOL SPIRIT. This photo was taken this school year during homecoming week. They were excited to show school spirit at their alma mater.

2017

2010

Design: L. Christensen

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Feature

15 These PVC pipes run through the walls and provide water. They got out to drinking fountains, sinks, and eventually the sports fields surrounding North High.

Photo Credit: Mya Alexander

North High Custodian, Ron Carpenter, takes students from the Oracle down to the tunnels for a tour. Photo Credit: Megan Bohall

Door by the chalkboard calendar in the main hallway

Door between the wrestling room and weight room entrance near the main doors

Door in the boiling room near the silver halllway

These heat ducts push out heat to the entire school.

Photo Credit: Mya Alexander

Since the roof of North High is flat surface, water could easily build up. The pipes shown to the right connect to the roof to drain the water, transferring the water to the sewer systems. Photo Credit: Megan Bohall

Door across from the choir and band room

Mya Alexander, Editor While you walk the hallways at school, do you ever think about what’s beneath you?

Maybe if you’re on the second floor, it’s easy to imagine what class is directly under you; but there is something under the main floor as well, and that’s the underground tunnels.

Typically, when people hear the term “underground tunnels,” they envision secret exits and ways out of class like in the movies.

This, sadly, not like the movies. The tunnels were built with the building in 1957, in the middle of the cold war. They were made for protection from potential nuclear attacks.

There were even drills for how students got down there to protect themselves. In addition, canisters of food and water rations were all along the walls in the event the students and faculty got stuck there.

Thankfully, we do not have the current imminent threat of nuclear attacks to be using the tunnels as shelter. Also, there are other situations we could use the shelter for; “If we truly thought there was a tornado to hit North High School, I would be silly not to put kids down there,” Principal Graeber said.

A tornado is one of the only probable uses of the underground tunnels now, and in the future. The other purpose is access points and maintenance.

The only people allowed down to the tunnels regularly are the custodians. From there they can do quite a lot more than some might think. They can fix the pool, fix the main boiler and the main water supply. Other than that, the underground tunnels are rock filled, dark, musty, and low hanging, therefore not holding much potential for anything other than maintenance and emergencies. How many other things do we have yet to discover about school?

Design: M. Alexander

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Period products should be free, it is a part of human nature.

Sabrina Lam, Reporter If you are a girl then at some point in life you will get your period. It’s nothing to be ashamed about, it is a natural thing. So why do girls have to pay for something that is a part of our human nature? “Women will have an estimated amount of 450 periods in her lifetime,” stated the Association of Reproductive Health Professional.

Women don’t have control over it or when a period comes (unless they are pregnant). That means that they have to spend hundreds of dollars on period products.

An average box of pads cost about $3.27 or more. While an average box of tampons is $9.29 or more. Food stamps do not cover period products, because they are said not to be a necessity. That means women who are ‘lower class’ would have to go each week of every month without the proper period products.

Some might argue and say, “Just keep it in longer.” According to quora.com keeping a pad on or tampon in longer than meant to be, is unhygienic and unsafe. Menstrual blood is contaminated so having that old blood touching your vagina could lead to vaginal infections, urinary tract infections and skin rashes.

A trip to the hospital cost a lot more than a box of tampons.

It is not just the average women having trouble paying for period products, what about the ones behind bars? Everyone knows that prison is not the best place on earth.

Just like the outside world, you have to pay and work for your things. But in prison you

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don’t get paid as much and the women are more likely to suffer than men.

Truth-out.org is a website that seeks truth in political issues. “In prison, costs range from $2.63 for 24 pads to over $4 for eight tampons.

That means giving up more than three days of wages for pads and nearly twice that much for tampons.” Truth-out.org said.

Those women are stuck between using that earned money for food or for their menstrual product. Most women in prison decide not to use their money for pads or they just decide on keeping it in longer.

“Wearing an individual tampon or pad for more than the recommended maximum of eight hours increases the risk of bacterial or fungal infection as well as toxic shock syndrome, a rare but serious illness that can lead to death,” Truth-out.org said.

In prison inmates are treated badly by the guards and making period products high for women is a punishment. “Limiting access to feminine products in prisons is a form of abuse used to wield control over inmates and dehumanize them,” Truth-out.org stated.

Periods don’t just consist of blood flow, it also has cramping, migraines, tender breasts, bloating and the constant worry of losing too much blood. Heavy blood flows can cause you to halt everyday activities but, if you have medication, it can help. How much is a prescribed medicine? To get medicine you would have to go into the doctors first.

Usually women who are struggling don’t have insurance and that trip to the doctor’s office could cost you a lot. “Approximately 10

minutes with doctor - $68 and approximately 40 minutes with the doctor - $234.” Debt.org stated.

That is a lot more than buying a box pads.

Instead of spending that $200 some people might go to the local convenience store and buy a bottle of Advil. The average bottle of Advil cost $7, and with tampons that would cost around $16. That is more than a having a sufficient meal.

The women who can’t afford these thing have to go around in pain and with probably unsanitary vaginas.

Being able to have period products is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Women already have to deal with the unfair treatment in the work place, but taking away something that they truly need could be a life and death situation.

Period products should be free, if not lower the prices down so everyone can afford it.

Periods are a part of human nature so women should not have to pay for menstrual products.

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1. When girls are on their period they not only bleed from their vagina but, can also bleed from their eyes, noses, and lungs. This is called vicarious menstraution and it happens when blood capillaries soften through out her body when she is on her period.

2. Periods in the winter are more painful and last longer than usual.

3. Menopause only happens in humans, humpback whales, and elephants.

4. Somen women have longer periods because their eggs take a longer route.

5. Blood clots are created by contractions.

6. You can actually get pregnant on your period.

7. During the Middle Ages redhaired people were thought to be conceived during a woman’s period.

1. Walt Disney created a movie about periods in 1946 called “The Story of Menstruation,” and it was the first movie to use the word “vagina.”

2. The lunar calendar used to be based on how long a women’s menstrual cycle.

3. In some cultures periods were known as cures to things like headaches and birthmarks.

4. In addtion to periods being a cure, they were used to ward off demons and to create love chains.

5. A femlae’s egg is the biggest cell in the body and the only things that can be seen with a human eye.

6. Up until women reach the age of 18, they will most likely have irregualr periods because the body is still adjusting the system to make it perfect.

- factretriever.com

-betty.me

Design: S. Lam

18

Abbie Primrose, Editor Prom: That word is so simple but has so many meanings. It can mean perfection, how everything surrounding prom needs to be perfect, the perfect dress/tux, the perfect hair, and the perfect shoes. It can also mean a rite of passage.

You can see in certain movies that prom is a big event and can be one of the biggest parts of high school. Somehow they make it seem like you can’t truly can’t graduate until you go to your senior prom, but is it really that serious?

Prom can be the greatest moment of high school if you want it to be, but it can be daunting. Either you can’t find the perfect dress or the perfect shoes or you don’t have anybody to go with. But it doesn’t have to be stressful. Prom isn’t meant to be perfect or meant to be the most daunting part of high school because if one little thing goes wrong that little thing shouldn’t ruin your entire night.

Prom is meant to be fun and energetic and everybody having a good time and making memories. Some may see it as just a dance, and it isn’t worth it, but it can become one of the greatest memories you have of high school, just you having fun with your friends, dancing, hanging out, and going to after prom to have even more fun.

If you’re not planning on going to prom, just think about it, I think it will be worth it. If you are going or plan on going then don’t stress about the little things. Just enjoy the night, enjoy getting ready, and make sure that you can have the time of your life without stressing about the perfect shoes, because you’re probably going to take them off when your dancing anyways. Be yourself and don’t try to impress anybody but you. Try and have fun. Even if you don’t go to prom, come to after prom here at North. It’s free and can also be an amazing memory.

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Design: A Primrose

19

Photo Credit : Beauty and Fashion

Although this mismatching of patterns is very daring for spring, it can be overwhelming in some cases.

But it is certainly an eye catcher.

Photo Credit: Phillp R.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Photo Credit: Popsugar

Photo Credit : Pinterest

Alizia Guzman, Reporter

This is floral dress is perfect for spring. It’s perfect for barbecues and family outings. Another plus is it’s not too overwhelming because it’s the same pattern. Lastly, you can throw on a cardigan on top it off.

On an exciting note, designer Westly Austin is creating unisex pieces to show equality between men and women.

Design: A. Guzman

20 Delicia Oxenreider, Reporter

A former student, JJ Foster was one of Jeremiah’s biggest music idols. He always helped Jeremiah with his writing and Foster was always making music even if it was not fan based. His biggest famous idols consist of Kendrick Lamar and Tupac because they are very poetic writers, he can really feel what the artists went through and wants to do the same with his music.

Throughout his time making music he has heard a lot of people say that he wasn’t going to make it in the industry. There were even times that he would listen to them because he thought it was true, but then he thought, “I’m just going to keep doing me, like I don’t need their support. I’ve got other people supporting me so it doesn’t matter”.

His biggest supporter has always been his dad. Mr. McGregor had even built Jeremiah his own sound room in his basement. Jeremiah’s father has helped him with the poetry, beats, and grammar of his songs and has been with him every step of the way.

Add him on

and follow him on

ant to w u o y if

listen c i

his mus o t

or

any m i h k s s a LilJayFromTheIA further question Arts & Entertainment

He appreciates the school’s efforts in giving him opportunities to perform. The staff have worked together with him to make sure that he works for his performance time. They let him perform in the poetry slam and on Wednesdays as long as he keeps the lyrics clean and goes to class and does his works.

When the crowd went crazy for him at the poetry slam he felt really good and said, “I felt pretty good about it because I’m just a sophomore in high school and still I have a lot of years ahead. So, if I can get this crowd hyped just imagine what other crowds I can get hyped like that”.

Not only has he performed for the school, but also at parties. One of which got him more noticed.

Rap is what he mostly listens to, but he also listens to rock sometimes and a little bit of everything else because he feels that listening to some of everything will make him a better artist.

Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Prince, and Michael Jackson are his favorite artists.

There were times that he would stop writing because of writers block. In times that he is in doubt about his music people on snapchat would say that they were there for him and that he just needs to push forward.

He usually writes about things that happen to him and when he has stronger feelings so that he can write a better song.

Business is what he wants to go into college for. Might shock all of you but he mainly wants to go and study business for and do music in his free time.

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We all know who he is, the one, the only; Jeremiah McGregor, or his stage name Lil Jay. He is a sophomore here at North High School and has performed for us a great number of times. So, if you didn’t know him or of him now you do. For those of you that do know him and have heard of him here is a little more about him that you may not have known.

Ever wanted to know how he got into music?

Well, your wait is over here lies all the answers.

Jeremiah first started getting into music in 5th grade. He started doing poetry then put those words into songs by 8th grade.

In 5th grade he met a man in a 21st century program and asked if he wanted to do poetry but turned down the offer at the time. However, this man did not want to leave with just a no, so he made him agree to write poetry in his spare time. After a while he started enjoying it and by 8th grade was freestyling and writing songs.So far, he has written about 100 songs.

His favorite out of all 100 is The Future A

Lot Better For Me. It is

his favorite because

it reminds him of

his grandma, grandpa, and all

of the other peo ple in his life that

have passed. He

wrote it after hold ing all of his feelings back

and thought to himself “w hen you think about it the

past is the past and

the future is better

for me and i just

took those feeli ngs from the pa st and just drove

for a better futu re.”

Design: D. Oxenreider

21 A Behind the Scenes Look at the Challenges of School of Rock Jenna Post, Reporter This year, North High’s theatre program is putting on School of Rock, the musical.

This production has faced a few new behind the scenes challenges that previous shows haven’t. One of these challenges is the use of live instruments. Students who play characters that are musicians will actually be playing their respective instruments during the show.

For some students, like freshman Sara Perdue, this isn’t too out of their comfort zones. During her free time, Perdue participates in a real band. When asked how playing bass in the play is different from playing bass in her band, Perdue replied, “The show [School of Rock] is easier. I’ve been playing for about a year, so it’s not too hard to learn the music for the play. I think it’s fun.”

Others, however, aren’t as experienced at performing their instruments live. Sennior Darrick Burrage is a self-taught pianist, but he usually plays alone and by ear. When asked what it’s like to be playing live onstage, he said, “I usually play by myself, so I’m glad I have an opportunity to showcase my skills.”

When asked about the biggest challenge, he said, “I have to make sure I play my part perfectly, because if I make a mistake it could mess up the entire band.” So far, Burrage feels that it’s going well, and he enjoys the music.

Another member of the onstage band, Wyatt Evans, has no drumming experience at all.

Initially, he was worried about having to learn in such a short amount of time, but he quickly caught on: “Once I got started, it wasn’t as bad as

I thought it would be,” Evans explained. This is Evans’ first production, and he plans to continue preforming. “I’m surprised I didn’t do it last year,” Evans said. “It’s nice to meet new people.”

In addition to the new challenge of instruments, there’s also a new stage manager. Camille Gervais was the assistant stage manager for the last play, but this is her first time stage managing. When asked about what it’s like to stage manage such a large production, she replied, “Scary. You really have to be reliable.” As stage manager, Gervias is responsible for overseeing set changes, staying on book during the show, helping the light booth, and writing down all blocking. With this show specifically, she also has to make sure that the instruments are safely transferred on and off stage in a timely manner. Gervais knows it will be a little challenging, but is confident that the show will go well.

The cast also faced an unexpected challenge a month before the show: Their choreographer’s employment was unexpectedly terminated by DMPS. Luckily, most of the major dance numbers were already choreographed, but some of the smaller numbers weren’t. When asked how they were going to handle this challenge, director Amy Rost replied, “Both Ms. Brady and Ms. Brackemyer have a dance background. There’s also a North alumni from Wichita State who majored in musical theatre that’s going to help out.”

After all, the show must go on, and the cast of School of Rock is no stranger to overcoming new obstacles.

Tasha Brown, Aline Moreno, and Kim Ngoc Deo rehearse their dance routine for the finale. Photo Credit: Jenna Post

Arts and Entertainment

“The musical could not have had a better run. I was brought to tears from the love, talent and pride my students portrayed.” - Amy Rost, Director

PK Wah and Hailey Curtis study their lines together at rehearsal. Photo Credit: Jenna Post

Jake Mentzer, who plays the lead in this production, learned some guitar riffs for his role. Photo Credit: Jenna Post

Design: J. Post

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Kenzie Schnathorst, Editor As some have noticed, North has made a few changes to the way the school looks. If you haven’t noticed they have put up a mural in the cafeteria, along with a photo wrap across the windows of the athletic hallway doors, leading outside.

After an interview with Jon Johnson , the althetic director at north, about the renovations happening at North we learned there are some new renovations to be expected.

There had been talk about a new locker room being built for the girls’ spring sports teams, considering they have nowhere to change before games or prac-

tice. Although there isn’t a new place being built, they will just be sharing with boys’ fall sports, at the current boy’s football locker rooms at the Grubb Stadium.

The current setup over at the stadium only has two locker rooms.

So, in the fall, fall sports teams will be using them. In spring they will use the space for the Spring girls’ sports teams.

Such as girls’ soccer and girls’ track.

Why are they just now receiving this space to change? Well the girls’ soccer coach brought it up in a meeting with Johnson when discussing practice areas.

Also, they are updating spaces that their programs use for both competing on, like courts, and fields to places they use for

“I don’t hide from those criticisms. I just don’t always know what they are.”

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meetings and changing. Those are things Johnson would like to look into. It’s not about building more spaces it’s about taking the buildings they have and renovating them.

This space for the spring g i rls’ sports teams w a s never really planned or asked for.

“But, when you do ask for things and you’re an advocate for your program, then you get these sorts of things that you ask for, for your program” Johnson said.

It’s hard for him as an athletic director to know what everyone needs or wants if they don’t go to him and ask. Funds for these

things come from a few places.

They can come from the Gala, they help with projects like this quite often. The district helps out with making sure spaces are updated.

“It’s like a threepronged funding stream, in a perfect world that is,” Johnson said.

They also plan on doing another mural out in the locker rooms at the Grubb Stadium, similar to the one in the school cafeteria.

Johnson has just recently started an activity panel, where they meet once a month. This panel will provide an opportunity to share students’ thoughts on the good’s and bad’s going on, activity wise.

“I would never leave a program out, or make a program feel like they weren’t as valued.”

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Above is a picture of the new photo wrap that was applied on the athletic hallway doors leading out to the parking lot at the front of the school. Below is a picture of the mural that was put up in the athletic hallway with pictures from the 2017 school year activities. To the right is North High School’s Athletic Director Jon Johnson, who was given this position at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. Photo Credit: Kenzie Schnathorst.

Design: K. Schnathorst

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