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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
3
NEWS:
No more Courtwarming
7
FEATURES:
Student publishing at Northtown
12
Opinions:
The Dirty Truth about the bathrooms
13
A&E: “The Tempest” on stage
COVER PHOTO BY CAROLINE BATES Sweetheart Candidates at Winter Assembly: Elliot Wartick, Julian Terrada, Nicholas Anderson, Enoch Berhanu Joel Roney, Greg Tluscik, Christian Folsom
2|news
The Hornet’s Buzz
New additions at Northtown Ryan Welliver staff writer
ENDIA MOORE
Thanks Northtown Alumni! The new trophy case on the second floor of Main is a gift from the North Kansas City Alumni. The case contains an original hallway class bell that still works, two plasma screen televisions, interesting facts about the school when it was first built, a letter sweater that belonged to a former student named Terry “Tex” Fry, a painting titled The Old NKC painted in 1997 by Rhonda Seymour, a music letter, and nine alumni bricks that will eventually be placed in the school’s brickyard.
Northtown is getting a makeover. We will be getting a total of six TVs, new lights in Gym II, and a new outdoor school sign. “There will be two 42-inch LED TVs that will be placed near the auditorium. One will show the history of Northtown dating back to its opening to now. Pictures of what Northtown was like - the students, and what they dressed like - to what it is today. The other TVs will be showing announcements during the day, and highlights of events at night,” Assistant Principal Bart Bates said. “The four other TVs: one inside and one outside of the Student Service Center, one next to the Field House gym, and one in Norclay, will also be showing announcements during the day, and highlights of events during the night,” Bates said. These TVs may seem awesome, but why are we getting them in the first place?
“The reason that we have the TVs is to celebrate Northtown’s history and inform students of important stuff coming up,” Bates said. Northtown students have a wide range of opinions about the new TVs. “I have not seen them, but it’s better than cafe TVs,” senior Jeremy Bain said. “It’s good that we are finally getting new technology around our school,” freshman Randy Rice said. Junior Kristin Regan disagreed. “The school needs to use the money on better stuff. Why don’t they use the money on something useful? I can watch TV at home,” she said. “We need more tubas and trombones; we don’t need flat screen TVs,” an anonymous junior said. Mixed feelings from students about our new additions. Exactly how is Northtown able to get the TVs? “Two of the six TVs - the two near the auditorium - were paid
for by the selling of the bricks which former assistant Principal Bob Hiatt organized,” Bates said. “The other four were paid by a Title 1 fund.” Why did we get a new school sign and new lighting in Gym II? “The school sign is a communication between the school, community, and parents. It will show more events on what’s happening and celebrations,” Assistant Principal and Activities Director Dr. Chad Evans said. “We have a lot of activities in Gym II, and the lights had the help of sunlight. Now that the gym is enclosed, we need new lighting,” Evans added. A combination of school district money and donations funded the gym and sign updates. “The school district is providing the money for the lighting in Gym II, and the school sign was funded by the alumni association, and it was a gift from the class of 2011,” Evans said. Northtown may be old, but it is keeping pace with technology.
Congress introduces PIPA, SOPA bills Matthew Howerton staff writer
On Jan. 17 at 11 p.m., Wikipedia and Google protested the Federal Government by blacking out sites, articles, and logos. According to Wikipedia, House of Representatives’ Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Senate’s Protection of IP Act (PIPA) threatens the Internet and its users. The main goal of SOPA and PIPA is to stop copyright infringement by shutting down sites and users that host pirated content. Wikipedia believes that they and the Internet are in danger of violation of free speech. To protest, Wikipedia owners shut down their website for a full day on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to get the nation’s attention. Also, Google participated in the same protest and blacked out the Google search logo. Other websites such as blogs, online sharing, and personal
online memoirs shut down or froze in the same manner. The popular sharing website MegaUpload was removed from the Internet on Jan. 20 based on an indictment of copyright infringement. All content, users, and server addresses have been ceased or frozen. The creators and owners of the site were arrested on the same day. Other websites are considering policy changes based on similarities with MegaUpload and the fear of indictment. Google believed that their business would limit their profit by removing pirated websites from their search engine. Some experts believed this would cost into the hundreds of the thousands and maybe even beyond that. But others suggested the real reasons of Google opposing SOPA/PIPA. “Google — as the world’s dominant navigation tool to find pirated content and dominant monetization engine to monetize pirated content — could unilaterally reduce piracy of
American intellectual property if it wanted to. However, Google does not want to reduce piracy,” said Scott Cleland of Forbes Magazine. Also, the intention of the bill on copyright infringement is targeted more towards foreign websites rather than those of domestic websites. It would get rid of pesky false internet ads from foreign serves, but it would come with a price of slowing down data transfers and IP recognitions. “I think that it is unnecessary and it will slow down the Internet down. Especially businesses like shopping sites. I say ‘No!’ to it because it is ridiculous,” said junior Maddy Marrs. Northtown teachers have their opinions on PIPA and SOPA as well. “The only thing it is, it’s a bad road to censor the internet. And it’s not the government’s job to censor what people search on the interwebs,” history teacher Corey McCune said The bills of Congress have currently been on hold starting Jan. 24.
SCREENSHOT BY MATTHEW HOWERTON
Google Censored Google blacked out its name for a full day on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to gain support and inform people of the potential censorship of Google searches.
SCREENSHOT BY MATTHEW HOWERTON
No Wikipedia? Imagine if you typed something into Wikipedia, but nothing happened. This could have been a reality if the SOPA bill had been passed. SOPA stands for “Stop Online Piracy Act” and it was almost put into action.
news|3
Feb. 1, 2012
District adds new snow day ‘late start’ option Lauren Williams editor-in-chief
With the air getting colder and the sky getting gloomier, all that is missing is snow. Or more specifically, a snow day. However, if the district issues a snow day, the schools now have the option to have a two-hour late start instead of automatically not coming to school. Keep in mind, an actual snow day is possible, but the weather must be extreme. “I think this will help Northtown because it will help students get to school and not have so many snow days to make up in the spring,” said Assistant Principal Bart Bates. Some students, however, are upset by this decision. “I remember my sophomore year when we had a whole week’s break due to the snow days. Not having snow days makes me mad. I’m a senior. Every senior deserves at least one snow day,” said senior Emily Denison. Other students are looking at the schedule from both sides. “I could see why they would do this. I like it because that means the snow would be able
to melt and we could still go to school. But it’s no help if it snows all day,” junior Joy Branch said. The late start means that the school day will essentially be shorter. Buses will be available and the pickup times will change. The drop off times will not. All school days will end at regular time. However, if the late start is on a Thursday, the original early release will not occur. Initially, the School Board of Education sought to fix the problem of kids having to make up so many days at the end of the school year. Last school year, students had nine snow days, and the last day of school pushed back to June 1. Superintendent Dan White asked a committee to be formed to look into it and late start was created out of that work. “It makes sense for schools. It also allows the city time to clear the streets and re-freezing from overnight without costing students a day of school,” said Bates. While the new schedule allows for time for the roads to be cleared, many students walk, get rides from other people, or drive to school.
“If a late start occurs, I literally cannot get a ride. I don’t ride the bus. So, either I would try to catch a ride from my neighbor or not show up. And not showing up while being in the IB program would be awful,” senior Roxanne Burger said. If students are unable to get to school, the absence will count against them and they will miss lessons and activities in their classes. Some students are more positive about this new schedule. “I honestly didn’t know about it. I think it’d be good for us though,” junior Forrest Walker said. Overall, all students are considering what this new schedule would mean for them. Students all agree snow days are fun while they last, but no fun in spring when it comes time to make them up. This new schedule option might allow freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to have their last day of school on May 25, as originally scheduled. Graduation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16. That date should not change for seniors, regardless of any possible snow days or late starts.
FILE PHOTO/MEGAN RUCKH
DELANEY HALL
Let it Snow Top photo: On Friday Feb. 4, 2011, Northtown students battle to get through the snow drifts to walk to class. Bottom photo: This 2011-12 school year has brought just a fourth of an inch of snow on Thursday, Jan. 12, and no snow days.
Courtwarming a no-go this year Endia Moore staff writer
Northtown will no longer be holding a Courtwarming game for multiple reasons. These include matching the dances with the royalty honors and the lack of girls’ and boys’ games scheduled on the same day. The three royalty recognitions at Northtown will now be for Homecoming, Sweetheart and Prom. The senior basketball girls are not happy about this. It is upsetting to not only the girls’ basketball team, but also to the people who come watch the varsity and JV girls play often. “I don’t thinks it’s fair because they had it all the previous years, why change it now? What’s so different?” said senior Yonnie Manning. It is upsetting to the few seniors on the girls’ basketball team because it is one of the things they look forward to. “Basketball girls don’t really
get recognized for anything, so getting dressed up and showing a different side is fun for us,” said Kyaunna Robinson, a senior varsity player. When asked about the reason behind canceling Courtwarming, NKCHS athletic director Chad Evans said it was a matter of logistics. “We have three dances per year, so we’re going to match the candidates and there is no place on the schedule for a girls’ and guys’ game on the same night,” he said. Manning said her favorite part of Courtwarming was finding out the nominees and later finding out who won. “They need to fix it and get it back for the upcoming years because there is nothing they can do about it for us anymore,” Robinson said. However, Evans said it’s a matter of being fair to all teams. “The way I look at it is they already have Senior Night and we have other sports, so we can’t give everyone a Courtwarming.”
FILE PHOTO/ALIJA OMEROVIC
Queen of the Court At last year’s Courtwarming basketball game on Dec. 17, 2010, senior Ashly Stevenson is crowned Courtwarming Queen with her mom as her escort. Tyler Earle was also crowned Courtwarming King that night. Stevenson and Earle were the last Courtwarming Queen and King Northtown will have because the Courtwarming game has been canceled for good. “We can’t give everyone a Courtwarming,” said athletic director Chad Evans.
Renaissance Council STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
4|news
The Hornet’s Buzz
SCIENCE:
Jamie Cone (11) “I like AP Biology, because I find the labs fascinating.”
COMMUNICATION ARTS:
Ogo Agali (9)
“I like reading the new books, and I love to write.”
Business and Technology:
Chris mcCloud (9) “I like Business and Technology, because you can use your imagination and artistic vision to create things.”
FOREIGN LANGUAGE:
Kerianne Chen (12)
“I watch French films, so I can pick up on it well. I love learning new languages.” ALL PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH CRAIG; NOT PICTURED: MALLORY MCCUTCHAN
news|5
Feb. 1, 2012
What graduates miss about NKC Ryan Welliver staff writer
High school is an excellent time to meet new people, make new friends, and really discover who you are as a person. After you graduate you have the option to go to college and get a degree, get a job, and maybe start a family. Once you start to settle in, you reflect on how you got to where you are, and it goes back to what you did in high school and college. What do Northtown alumni miss about their high school experiences? “I miss the teachers, performing with the Harmonaires, and the dance team,” said Morgan Thompson, class of 2010.
“I miss dancing at the games and assemblies,” said Lauren Magary, class of 2011. “I miss the good times with my friends. High school is a time when you have more free time and less responsibilities than you will when you start college or get a job. Your high school years are the best time to make friends and enjoy hanging out with them,” said Kirk Dowell, class of 1982. “I was a Bannerette (carried a flag and marched with the band). What I miss most is being in Pep Club, going to games, watching the pom pon girls perform and the cheerleaders leading us in cheers. It was always fun to wear our Pep Club uniforms, bobbie socks and clods. When I went to Homecoming a few months ago,
I noticed that it transforms you back in time. You see the lights, the rock wall, the people walking by, and the smell of the night air. I’m 58 and when I’m there, it’s like I’m 17 again,” said Mary Margaret De Shon, class of 1971. Some former Northtown students never truly left the district, returning as staff members. “I miss cheerleading with Coach Knipfel, open lunch, the Little Store, debate and forensic tournaments, and all school assemblies,” said Oakwood Manor Elementary School kindergarten teacher Ms. Amanda Maybrier Wolfe, class of 1995. “I don’t miss much, just being in the plays,” said NTV, forensics, and theatre teacher Mrs. Amanda
Gates Dolinger, class of 2005. “I miss going out to lunch, and my parents paying for it,” PE and health teacher Colette McQuillen Clemens, class of 2003. What does it feel like for these two teachers to be teaching at the same high school that they graduated from? “It’s nice that it is familiar and it’s like being at home,” Dolinger said. “It’s nice to have my own classroom and to meet different students. It is awesome that I get to be the boss of children and I get to know the inner workings of the school,” Clemens said. Everybody has different memories about their high school experiences. What will you remember about Northtown?
EMILY ANTHONY
Ghosts of yearbooks past Owning a High School yearbook is a bond that all graduates share.
KCPS district accreditation issues continue Tierra Samuel staff writer
As of Jan. 1, Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), formerly known as the Kansas City Missouri School District, is no longer accredited by the Missouri State Board of Education. With the loss of accreditation, many other disputes have erupted, particularly for students who wish to leave the nowunaccredited district to attend other nearby accredited schools, such as North Kansas City School District (NKCSD) schools. Five school districts, including NKCSD, have requested the courts rationalize the transfer laws for unaccredited schools. In a preliminary hearing held
on Dec. 30, attorneys for KCPS admitted that the KCPS Board of Education student transfer policy did not align with state statutes. The attorneys representing NKC, Blue Springs, Independence, Lee’s Summit and Raytown school districts agreed that the transfer policy did not align as needed. According to a NKCSD press release, the transfer law states that there are two primary limitations in this section: (1) the payment of tuition by the unaccredited district in the amount set by the accredited district’s board of education; and (2) the provision of transportation by the unaccredited district. The attorneys representing NKCSD and the other area school districts prepared motions for summary judgment at the end of
January, and are waiting for the next court hearing. An important situation regarding the transfer law is the cost of tuition and the amount of money KCPS is willing to provide for students who wish to attend an accredited school. The five area school districts have board policies that require tuition in full and in advance before a transfer student can be enrolled. KCPS is only willing to give $3,733 for transferring students, paid in monthly installments. The district is also willing to pay for transportation. Yet the tuition for out-ofdistrict students to attend North Kansas City Schools is $9,508, paid in full and in advance. The five districts said they
won’t admit students until these tuition issues are resolved. “If the receiving districts accept KCPS students without payment of tuition upfront, then they will be assuming additional obligations without a specific appropriation by the state, and the individual taxpayers will have their constitutional rights violated under the Hancock Amendment,” attorney Duane Martin stated in a NKCSD press release. Besides the money and the students, the last but most important factor is the Missouri Supreme Court case Turner v. Clayton, a lawsuit that may possibly change transfer laws. The results of this case may determine if and how students will be able to transfer to accredited school districts. The case has been
ongoing for the past several years, and is currently scheduled to go to Missouri Supreme Court trial on March 5. Like the KCPS district, the St. Louis Public Schools district lost its accreditation in 2007. Students from that school district have had little movement to other school districts because of resistance of neighboring schools, including Clayton School District. Assistant Principal Bart Bates said it is disturbing that students in Kansas City are being denied appropriate education, and NKCSD wants to help those students, but they also have to put NKC students first. “The district and school has done a great job preparing for the situation,” Bates said.
Wanna be on Buzz staff? Or make the yearbook? Be in charge of updating www.NKCbuzz.com? Sign up for “Journalism 1 Multimedia” class next year! Be our friend at www.facebook.com/NKCmedia & www.twitter.com/NKCbuzz
6|features
The Hornet’s Buzz
Two Northtown students play in prestigious festival Erin Niederberger copy editor
Northtown seniors Sam Riley and Corrie Gibson were recently selected to join the prestigious Winter Festival for Winds and Percussion held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Winter Festival, according to the website, “is a unique concert band and chamber ensemble festival for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. The festival is designed to give participants an outstanding and comprehensive playing experience.” Gibson and Riley, who play clarinet and alto saxophone respectively, sent recorded auditions in during November and recently heard the news. In the group of 64 high school students, they are the only students selected from the state of Missouri. “I was surprised because kids from all over auditioned,” Gibson said. “I wasn’t really expecting to make it.”
Riley added, “I was pumped. To be picked was an honor.” Carrie Epperson, one of Northtown’s band directors, agreed. “It’s a very big deal,” she said. Epperson had words of praise for Riley and Gibson. “They are very self-motivated, talented, and hardworking.” Once they got in, the students attended a festival weekend on Jan. 20-22. While at UNL, they participated in three ensembles: an honor band, a smaller group, and a large symphonic band where they played along with the University Wind Ensemble. These groups were directed by university music faculty, giving the young musicians a valuable experience. Gibson enjoys playing the clarinet because “it’s an easier way of expressing things than talking or writing.” She also enjoys being around the students involved in music.
Riley likes the way the saxophone sounds. “It has its own distinct feel,” he said. Both seniors have been playing their instruments since sixth grade. Both also have future plans in the world of music. Gibson intends to major in music education and eventually become a band director. “It’d be super fly to be in a military band,” she added. Riley agreed that he wants to “teach music and play forever.” UNL held the Festival Finale Concert on Sunday, Jan. 22. All three ensembles performed. “It was exhilarating,” Riley said. Gibson added, “I was expecting it to be hardcore and intense, but really it was laid back and relaxed. It was more about us learning stuff than putting on a good show.” If students are interested in participating next year, they can find application information online at UNL’s website.
ERIN NIEDERBERGER Music to her ears Corrie Gibson practices her clarinet in band class. On the same day, Sam Riley, a saxophone player, participated in State Honor Band out of town. Both seniors are drum majors this year. Drum majors are responsible for helping out the directors and the band, even when they’re not conducting during the marching band season.
Profiles: Meet Hellevang and Nguyen New CA teacher happy to be here Katie Golovenkova staff writer
She is new to our school, but she already has extensive teaching experience. Her biography is rich with amazing facts. She was the captain of her school dance team. Her other sports experiences include swimming, playing tennis and soccer. She used to work in Hollywood for Warner Brothers studios as the president’s assistant. She is one of the new teachers in Northtown. All this is about Communication Arts teacher Jill Hellevang. “I never thought I would be a teacher,” said Hellevang. Indeed, first she got her Master’s Degree in business in Wyoming. After that she worked in sports marketing for a while. It took some time for her to understand that teaching was what she really wanted to do in her life. So, she got her second Master’s Degree in teaching from Rockhurst University.
She taught at William Jewell College, Park Hill High School, New Mark Middle School, and now at North Kansas City High School. The last one is her favorite. “I love it. The kids are great, and my fellow teachers are very helpful and supportive,” said Hellevang. But it’s not the only thing she likes about our school. “I really like open campus, the IB programme, and the diversity in Northtown,” said Hellevang. “There is so much culture. I love to hear different stories about it. There is also a big range of students’ interests. All the students are very different.” One of her main goals is to help students experience success. She encourages them to be responsible citizens for themselves, with others, and with technology. Humor, energy, and enthusiasm help her in achieving these goals. As to her future plans, she wants to stay in education. “I’ll be glad to take any IB or pre-IB programmes. I want to see my students being challenged,” she said.
French teacher reflects on heritage Nam Vu guest writer
KATIE GOLOVENKOVA New Communication Arts teacher Jill Hellevang poses for a photo holding a novel, “Room.” This is her first year teaching at Northtown.
NAM VU French teacher Tuan Nguyen uses a meter stick to emphasize his point. He teaches both regular and IB French classes.
Tuan Nguyen’s French is more part of his life than most French teachers. “When you speak a different language, you see the world in a different perspective,” he said. “French is a very beautiful language filled with rich tradition and culture. Also, when you are speaking a different language, you take on a different persona.” Nguyen was raised by Vietnamese parents but was taught both Vietnamese and French. He also learned English when he arrived in America. He teaches French at North Kansas City High School. When kids ask why they have to learn another language, Nguyen says: “Learning a new language is hard, but the rewards are plentiful. It is also very helpful when traveling, and a good brain exercise. Come on, who doesn’t want to speak a different language?”
His favorite memories of living and going to school in France were exploring the cities with friends and all the food and architecture. He also likes the French lifestyle because “it is more family-based and it is much healthier then America’s.” “The education system in France is more rigorous than America’s. French kids start to learn English at a very young age instead of in high school like here with other foreign languages,” he said. “Once you learn one language, it is easier to learn others,” Nguyen said. “I believe that languages shape our thoughts and opinions. If I had kids I would teach them all the languages that I speak and then some!” Five words that Mr. Nguyen would describe himself as are: thoughtful, passionate, intellectual, curious, and openminded.
features|7
Feb. 1, 2012
Extra Extra: Read all about it Northtown students make writing dreams come true
Tabris Thomas: Up-and-coming author
Erin Niederberger copy editor
While many high school students write tweets or Facebook status updates, three Northtown students have set their sights on something a bit more ambitious. Senior Cynthia Hulé, junior Mark Best, and sophomore Tabris Thomas are in the process of writing their own books... and they’re planning to publish them.
Sophomore Tabris Thomas poses with his “weapon of choice”, a no.2 pencil. “Is it deadly?” he said. “I can slay any character I choose with it.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TABRIS THOMAS
Sophomore Tabris Thomas recently experienced a huge success. Through nightreading. ning.com, he posted a short story for other people to see. On the site - created by Tim Roux of Night Publishing - writers post short stories or first chapters for other people to comment on and vote for. At the end of the month, 20 popular projects are placed in a poll and voted on. The top project receives a publishing contract. Thomas’ story was featured on the poll in November. Unfortunately, it finished second. Then it appeared again in December. “On Monday at about four in the morning I got an email saying I
Thomas rearranges notecards on the carpet, laying out the three central plotlines of Rynn. He plans to flesh out the center of the story, which many writers find the hardest to perfect. “Jim Butcher, a major role model for me in writing, would refer to it as the ‘Great Swampy Middle’”, Thomas said.
won, and I’ve been walking on air ever since,” Thomas said. He wrote the original story “Rynn” in a single night in a “moment of inspiration.” “It all came together and flowed out of my fingers,” Thomas said. “You don’t think about coming up with all the stuff. It just comes.” One of the main themes of his story centers on the idea that strength isn’t always the best way to solve a problem, inspired by the story of King Arthur drawing Excalibur from the stone. Once the story was finished, he went asking around for a place to publish it, eventually finding the web site through the advice of Northtown Communication Arts teacher Jill Hellevang. “I’m very proud of him,” Hellevang said. “He’s a brilliant young writer.” Thomas now faces the task of expanding his short story into a novel, which he hopes he’ll finish by the end of summer. He hopes
Mark Best
From the kitchen of Cynthia Hulé
Senior Cynthia Hulé is publishing a vegetarian cookbook containing 150 original recipes. The project started as a blog - www. gangybuffet.com. “My idea for making a blog was to share recipes with family and friends who like to cook,” Hulé said. She’s been cooking since she was a child, but only consistently for the last two years. Now she makes her own meals every day.
The positive responses of her blog’s readers gave her the idea of publishing a collection. Hulé intends to self-publish, as it’s the cheaper option. When self-publishing, an author doesn’t work with a publishing house. Instead, they control the production of their book - usually through some sort of company - and then sell their book themselves. Although it isn’t for everyone, self-publishing is often the best option for niche books like Hulé’s cookbook.
The cookbook - titled Gangy Buffet: A Celebration of Seasonal Eating - is almost finished. A draft has been sent off to be corrected, and Hulé only needs to edit the cover and interior pictures. She hopes to publish the book by the end of the school year. People will be able to purchase it on Amazon. com. Hulé hopes that her book will make more people familiar with the recipes, as well as giving her site more traffic.
Visit www. gangybuffet. com to see Hulé’s original recipes.
Hulé prepares apple slices for her favorite fall treat: dehydrated apple chips. “These are tangy, and crisp, and perfect for breakfast on a fall morning,” she said. She likes both this picture and the one on the left, and they will be included on the cover of the book.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CYNTHIA HULE
to publish other stories, either through this contract or others with better-known companies. Thomas has been writing seriously since fifth grade. He was given a writing assignment and told he could write anything he wanted. He’d always hated writing because he had to follow a prompt. Now, his “head exploded with all these ideas.” He’s been writing ever since. “It’s something I could gladly do every day of my life and not go insane,” Thomas said. He has plenty of advice for other young writers. “When you’re writing, figure out your beginning and end first - they’re the most important,” he said. “Keep going,” Thomas stressed. “You’ll be slapped down a lot; that’s how the world works. It’s like you have an ax and you’re trying to chop through a very large tree. The first hit won’t knock it down. You have to keep trying.”
Senior Cynthia Hulé chops almonds for a recipe. One cup of raw almonds has a little over 30 grams of protein, while an egg provides only six. “Nuts are a great source of protein in the vegetarian diet for any season,” she said. “A great way to start the day!”
In the realm of fiction, sophomore Mark Best is in the process of writing a novel. In his words, “It’s getting there.” “I’ve always liked to write,” he said. “Someone I know has read my writing and said I should get it published. So I’ll just see where it goes from there.” He’s still working on the manuscript, which he’s been writing for around three months. Although he’s not finished, he has looked around for publication options. The library contacted him with a local author and other ways to look for publishing options, including websites and local groups. Best’s motivation was “to give people an entertaining book to read. If it works out well, sure I’ll make another one. If it doesn’t, I can always keep trying.” Best has a few succinct pieces of advice for teen writers. “Never stop. Always look higher than where you are.”
8| sports
The Hornet’s Buzz
Girls’ swim works on rebuilding Five girls and their new coach are keeping the Northtown swim team alive Katie Golovenkova staff writer
This winter season is a rebuilding period for Northtown’s Girls’ Swim and Dive team. There are only five people on the team this year: sophomores Hannah Leach, Erin Parra and Carlen Fidler, and freshmen Elly Lewis, and Rebekah Best. All the girls are very young, but their desire to win is enormous. They learn more and more with every competition and use new knowledge in practice. “We are a very small team. Other teams have about 30 people. But the atmosphere in our team is great. We are getting more like a family. We spend a lot of time together; we encourage and support each other before each competition,” said Best. Some of the team members like that there are not a lot of people on the team.
“I like that we are not a very big team, because in this way we are very close and bonded,” said Parra. Their new coach, Bob Barth, inspires positive attitude, dedication, and team spirit in the girls. “He is my favorite coach I’ve ever had. He not only coaches, but helps us do our best, gives positive attitude and motivational speeches that always help us in different aspects of life,” said Fidler. Not everyone knows a lot about him, though. He was coaching for 23 years, 10 of them in the district. Now he teaches Social Studies at Staley and coaches three teams at the same time. It even became one big group - called Stoak Town - which comes from Staley, Oak Park and Northtown’s names. “On the one hand, it’s hard to practice with everyone at the
same place and time, but on the other hand, we have lots of good friends from the other two teams,” said Fidler. Talking about Northtown’s team, Coach Barth said, “We are doing really well. All the girls work hard. Our times are dropping. I’m expecting good results at the end of the season.” This swimming season isn’t over yet, and both the coach and his team have their own expectations for the successful ending and even next season. “Our work will be built on success. We’ll get more girls on our team and improve the skills we have. We are going to be really good in a couple of years,” said Barth. The girls are also very motivated to do their best. “I’m going to the varsity conference by myself. I’ll be representing our school, and I won’t let it down,” said Leach.
KATIE GOLOVENKOVA
Dive right in Freshman Rebekah Best, a member of the girls’ swim team, prepares to enter the pool in the 200 meter freestyle. ”My favorite part about swimming is competing against people you don’t normally see,” said Best. This year, the team has focused more on rebuilding as they adjust to their small size. However, coach Bob Barth predicts good results by the end of the season.
Basketball players continue their seasons Varsity Girls on a roll with win-loss record of 12-5 Elizabeth Craig design editor
LAUREN MULLINS
She shoots, she scores! Sophomore Maggie Brooks sends the ball flying across the court. The girls’ basketball teams have had a successful season so far, winning far more games than they have lost.
LADY HORNETS FINDING SUCCESS ON THE COURT This year, the girls’ basketball teams have stung their opponents. The Varsity team is 12-5 and the JV team is 13-5 as of Jan. 27. “The season is going well so far, but we’re not satisfied. We want to do better and go farther,” said junior Taylor Thompson, a varsity captain. The team captains for the varsity team this year are Thompson, who has been on varsity three years, junior Lauren Austin, who has been on Varsity three years, and sophomore Aries Washington, who has been on varsity two years. The JV team captains are junior Jenny Sanchez and sophomore Stacey Kitchen. “Being a team captain is just a responsibility I had to take on,” said Washington “I set a team goal for 10 wins. I also have visions of us playing well enough in practice
against our varsity to get them kicked out of the gym...that hasn’t really happened yet, but we work on it every day,” Coach Todd Beaulieu said. BOYS TEAMS KEEPING HIGH HOPES FOR NKC HOOPS The boys’ teams are keeping high hopes for the season. The boys’ varsity team this year has won five games as of Jan. 26. JV has won two games. The varsity captains this year are junior Roy Clayter and senior Sam Vollbrecht. The JV captain is sophomore Aaron Garcia. “This season we have really been coming together as a team and a family. I have really high hopes for us as we go forward in the season,” said Vollbrecht. The boys’ basketball team is headed by Ryan Fuger, who has been head coach for the Hornets for three years. Coach Theo Fundermann also returned this year; he previously coached in the 2007-2008 season. Corey McCune is the JV coach.
“I always enjoy getting to know the players and interacting with them on a daily basis. I also enjoy seeing the players bond into a cohesive unit throughout the season. However, the goal every year for the JV squad is to work hard and improve so that each player can work their way onto varsity,” said McCune. The goals for both JV and varsity this year are to win district at the February tournament. Fuger said of the team: “I really enjoy working with the guys this year. They are a very unselfish team who really likes to work together.” He said the boys have improved a lot since the season began. “We don’t have a lot of varsity experience and so we have struggled through the beginning of the year, but have improved drastically and are starting to become much more comfortable with the speed of the game,” Fuger said.
sports |9
Feb. 1, 2012
Wrestlers make their moves MINI WRESTLING
MATTHEW HOWERTON
Pretty princesses Seniors Katie Allen, Courtney Zimmerman, and Analyssa Lopez were the three wrestling princess candidates. Zimmerman was crowned Princess on Jan. 7 at the Northtown wrestling tournament.
Emily Anthony staff writer
NKC WRESTLING
In the coldest months of the year, Northtown’s wrestling team has been dedicating themselves to the sport. The team, lead by senior Kole Hanna, has been practicing to become a better team. At the Joe Crouthers tournament, hosted at NKCHS, the team placed third overall. On the last day of the tournament, Jan. 7, senior Courtney Zimmerman was crowned as the Wrestling Invitational Princess. “It was an exciting moment,” Zimmerman said. This has been a tradition since the 1960s.
Zimmerman has been a wrestling manager for four years and dedicates her time to taking stats, filming, and doing anything else to help the team. “My friend asked me to do it with her freshmen year,” Zimmerman said. “It’s a fun sport to get involved in. Not many people understand wrestling, and don’t think its a hard sport, but our boys work very hard, and I’m glad I’ve stuck with it all four years.” The wrestlers still have some more meets left in their season, including Districts on Feb. 10. Coach Walker said, “The team is young this year and we’re not winning as much as we’d like, but the wins will come as long as they stick with it.” The team has a lot of freshmen
who are having to take on varsity roles. Blake Howerton is a freshman in a tough 113lb weight class. He said, “I’m in a lightweight class, so it would seem I would go against other freshmen but that’s not the case. I have to go against seniors.” But Howerton is not too worried about it this year. “I’m still getting a hold on things and getting to know my coaches,” he said. His personal goals this year include lettering as a freshmen, qualifying for state, and “to get bigger, better, and stronger.” Senior Skylar Austin placed fourth in the Crouthers tournament and Coach Walker thinks that both he and Hanna have a good shot at making state.
Even on cold winter evenings, Northtown is not empty. Miniwrestlers practice in the weight room, developing skills early. NKC youth wrestling is lead by head coach Adrian Doolin, who was a successful wrestler for Northtown in high school and graduated in 1991. His goal is to build a strong team early on for the high school. The team is made up of about 25 kids, ages 4-14, who attend practices multiple times a week and participate in tournaments. The team’s motto is “beat somebody.” They have had two first year wrestlers who have only lost two matches. The team has a returning state champion from last year, Seth Mattley, and Xavier Doolin, who
placed fourth. Mattley, age 9, said, “Tournaments are my favorite part. It’s the time to show what you know.” Didar Ameen, age 12, says his favorite part is hitting. “It takes the pain out of your body,” he said. He also says he does plan to wrestle in high school and possibly even college. “Wrestling helps me lose weight and get stronger.” Another wrestler, Jacob Kuy, age 11, says that “wrestling helped me get tougher.” He plans to wrestle all four years of high school. Northtown’s mini-wrestlers are working hard to be successful at what they do. If they stick with it, the practice will pay off in the future.
EMILY ANTHONY
Ready, Set, Wrestle Two mini wrestlers square off at a wrestling practice. The team is made up of 25 kids varying from ages 4- 14.
February Sports Calendar JV Boys’ Basketball
FEB 03 VS. Park Hill 5:30 PM at Park Hill FEB 07 VS. Ruskin Mills 5:30 PM at NKCHS FEB 10 VS. Kearney 5:30 PM at Kearney FEB 14 VS. Lee’s Summit 5:30 PM at NKCHS FEB 17 VS. St. Joe Central 5:30 PM at NKCHS
Varsity Boys’ Basketball
FEB 03 VS. Park Hill 7:00 PM at Park Hill FEB 07 VS. Ruskin Mill 7:00 PM at NKCHS FEB 10 VS. Kearney 7:00 PM at Kearney FEB 14 VS. Lee’s Summit 7:00 PM at NKCHS FEB 17 VS. St. Joe Central 7:00 PM at NKCHS
JV Girls’ Basketball
FEB 06 VS. St. Joe Central 5:30 PM at St. Joe Central FEB 09 VS. Truman 5:30 PM at NKCHS FEB 13 VS. Ruskin 5:30 PM at NKCHS FEB 16 VS. Lee’s Summit West 5:30 PM at NKCHS
Wrestling
FEB 04 VS. Lee’s Summit North JV Tour at Lee’s Summit North
Varsity Girls’ Basketball
FEB 01-03 Northland Classic TBA at NKCHS FEB 06 VS. St. Joe Central 7:00 PM at St. Joe Central FEB 09 VS. Truman 7:00 PM at NKCHS FEB 13 VS. Ruskin 7:00 PM at NKCHS FEB 16 VS. Lee’s Summit West 7:00 PM at NKCHS
Girls’ Swim and Dive
FEB 04 Varsity Conference TBA at Henley Aquatic FEB 07 Varsity Conference Prelims 4:00PM at GCC FEB 08 Varsity Conference Finals 4:00PM at GCC FEB 17 State Championship Prelims TBA at St. Peter’s Rec Plex FEB 18 State Championship Finals TBA at St. Peter’s Rec Plex
10| opinions
The Hornet’s Buzz
Valentine’s Day: Love it or hate it? Endia Moore staff writer
Valentine’s Day: the trademark day of love. Is it a day when people take time to tell others they love them or buy gifts? Or is it the time to go the extra mile to show signs of appreciation, dress in red, and maybe even tell a crush how they feel about them? Or is it just an excuse to buy unneeded presents and be sweet to someone for one day the whole year? Most people would say it is a day dedicated to love and everything about it. However, there are people that feel it is unnecessary. “If I could have the perfect Valentine’s Day, I would wake up to flowers and breakfast in bed. Throughout the day, I would get little sweet sayings, then I would get taken to dinner in a limo and proposed to,” senior Jessie Connor said. When asked why she liked Valentine’s Day she responded, “because I like the color red and seeing people being nice to each other.”
Most people’s ideal Valentine’s Day consists of different loverelated things like chocolates and flowers. Others feel the complete opposite. “I don’t like Valentine’s Day because it’s a waste of time and money. It’s just about spending money and girls always make a big deal out of it and expect more,” said senior Erick Arellano. Some may see it as a day just for a significant other. Others, such as junior Marty Melia, feel differently. In his case, it is deeper than just a girlfriend or crush, but for a loved one that some of us may sometimes tend to take for granted. “I like the day because it’s a day for the ladies and for my mom because I love my mom,” he said. “It’s another day to spend with the ones you love,” said senior Eddie Caldwell. He plans on spending his Valentine’s making 125 Valentine’s Day cupcake orders. Whether you spend your Valentine’s Day making cupcakes, spending money on someone, or hating the day, remember it is only what you make it, so make it good.
ENDIA MOORE
I’ve got your back Smiling for the camera are seniors Evan Kinney and Alex Grant. The couple has only been dating for a month, but they’ve been good friends since sophomore year. “Being good friends before dating has really helped because we’re more comfortable around each other. It’s cool to have her as not only my girlfriend, but my best friend too,” said Kinney.
ENDIA MOORE
ENDIA MOORE
How do you feel about Valentine’s Day?
buzzline
Be my Valentine? Showing off the valentine she created for the homeless is senior Kelly Andrews. A group of students worked together during Advisory on Jan. 25 to create nice valentines as part of the library’s valentine project.
“Valentine’s Day is a special day to stay inside, eat comfort food, and watch love movies.” -Junior Jazmine Jones
Looking after you Gazing into each other’s eyes are sophomores Breanna Warnes and Jairo Mendez. The couple have been together for about eight months and it will be nine months on Valentine’s Day, February 14. “My favorite part about dating him is probably how comfortable I am around him. I can be silly, goofy, and immature and he doesn’t think I’m completely insane. At least I hope not. I also like how he can tell me when I do something that I shouldn’t, like if I’m rude to someone, he’ll call me out on it. He keeps me in check,” said Warnes.
“I think it’s stupid because if you’re “I think it is dumb and pointless.” single, there’s no point of it.” -Junior Maddy Marrs -Sophomore Branislav Tadic
“I don’t see the point of it.” -Junior Forrest Walker
opinions |11
Feb. 1, 2012
Making the grade Endia Moore
Black History Month
Tierra Samuel
staff writer
staff writer
No Courtwarming: F - Extremely disappointing to the girls’ basketball team and other girls’ winter sports. Snow: D - If we’re going to get snow, at the very least it could snow enough for us to have a snow day. Victoria’s Secret sweats and yoga pants: A - You can never go wrong with these sweats; they are incredibly comfortable. New Televisions: D - No one really understands what these are for, where the money is coming from, or why the display case on the second floor of Main is so inconveniently placed.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements African Americans have made. It is also a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has legitimately designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history. When you hear about Black History Month you think about Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, or even Malcolm X. Though these figures play a huge role in black history, there are more inventors, artists, writers, and others who get overlooked. African Americans have a
month to celebrate their history, but Black History Month does not get a lot of recognition. Certain factors determine how much recognition Black History gets, such as where you are and what school you attend. In the inner city, being more urban, Black History is largely recognized. In elementary school, Black History Month is addressed. During junior and senior high school, the acknowledgement decreases. In my three years at Northtown, Black History Month has never been recognized. Northtown is a very diverse school and we learn about different cultures every day. Other nationally recognized months should be recognized in our school also, not just Black History Month. NKC students and staff should take action and inform each other on other cultures, including African-American culture.
Hats: B - Hats are convenient when you’re outside trying to keep warm, but are not meant to be worn inside buildings. Girls’ basketball team: A - Congratulations to the Varsity girls’ basketball team on all your success. Singers John Legend, from left, Smokey Robinson and Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. take part in an interactive student workshop event hosted by first lady Michelle Obama, not pictured, called “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House,” a concert celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown Records, Thursday, February 24, 2011, at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
z z u
B e Th ff a t S
Editor-in-Chief Lauren Williams Copy Editor Erin Niederberger Design Editor Elizabeth Craig Staff Writers Emily Anthony Katie Golovenkova Alexandra Grant Matthew Howerton Endia Moore Tierra Samuel Ryan Welliver Adviser Mrs. Mary Prichard Student Teacher Adviser Mr. Austin Bell
Policies of the Buzz • The North Kansas City High School newspaper, The Hornet’s Buzz, is part of the educational curriculum of North Kansas City School District. Although the paper is a class activity, NKCHS students may submit materials, such as stories, photography, or art, for publication consideration. Students should bring any submissions to Room MN-219. Submissions may be edited for content, length and grammar. • The Buzz is a student publication that is published in accordance with Board of Education Policy IGBDStudent Publications. School-sponsored publications and productions are part of the curriculum and are not a public forum for general student use. School authorities may edit or delete material
which is inconsistent with the district’s legitimate educational concerns. All student media shall comply with the ethics and rules of responsible journalism. • Any person with an interest in the NKCHS community is encouraged to submit letters to the editor. All letters must be signed. All signatures will be verified through a phone call or personal interview. Letters should be fewer than 400 words in length. The Buzz reserves the right to edit any letter for grammatical errors, libelous content, or space limitations. Letters to the Editor may be emailed to lauren@nkcbuzz. com, or mailed to North Kansas City High School, 620 East 23rd Avenue, North Kansas City, Missouri, 64116.
• If written, staff editorials will not be signed and will reflect the opinion of the majority of the staff members. Commentaries and columns, on the other hand, will be signed and reflect the individual writer’s views. • The Buzz is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, Missouri Interscholastic Press Association, Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City, and Journalism Education Association. Some material is courtesy of MCT Campus HS Newspaper Service. • If you are interested in advertising with The Buzz, please contact us at (816) 4135970 or email lauren@nkcbuzz.com. • The Buzz is printed by The Sedalia Democrat of Sedalia, Mo.
12| opinions
Lauren Williams
The Hornet’s Buzz
The bathrooms: Uncovered
editor-in-chief
Uneven, chipped paint on the walls. Smells you try to ignore. Shredded paper everywhere. Doors missing or not able to lock. Soap all over the sink. That’s right, you guessed it: the bathrooms. This story will uncover the dirty, grimy ways of the bathrooms. Everyone quoted here is a real student and will remain anonymous. However, some things you read will ring true to yourself. Students have many concerns about the bathrooms here. “I’m always worried that my stall door won’t lock- almost every bathroom has a minimum of one stall that doesn’t work. And it’d be nice if I could have some privacy,” said a senior female. “I’m always scared to go into the bathrooms - I don’t feel comfortable going to the bathroom when another guy is in there. It’s too cramped,” said a sophomore male. No matter how old you are or what school you go to, there is a set of unwritten rules while in the bathrooms. For guys and girls, they differ. “The one rule every guy should know: don’t stand so close to me. We should have a stall’s distance in between,” said a male junior. “I refuse to hold a conversation while I’m going to the bathroom, so stop trying. It also ticks me off when girls stand in the mirror for long amounts of time,” said a junior female.
Not only are there unwritten rules, but students have their wishes for improvements. The consensus is that it’d be nice for the toilets to stop leaking, all the sinks to actually work, stall doors to close, and to have tampons and bigger mirrors for the girls. Everyone uses the bathroom, I get it, but is it really necessary to show proof that you did?
Flush, people. That’s the important thing. And please, wash your hands. I think this goes for everyone when I say that the bathrooms are gross. Which is the dirtiest girls’ bathroom? Take your pick they are all equally gross. I can guarantee that at least every building has one putrid, vile bathroom. Dirtiest boys’ bathroom? I only went into one - not going in another. I’m sure they have their days. Boys are stereotyped as being messy, so I am assuming their bathrooms are just as disturbing. “Don’t use the bathrooms on the first or second floor,” said a sophomore male. “Or the third floor bathrooms,” added a junior male. Thus begs the question: if none of the bathrooms are decent, and everyone can acknowledge that, why are people not flushing? Or following the unwritten rules? Despite the disgusting conditions in the Norclay girls’ bathrooms, girls are leaving one another notes of positive encouragement. “The notes are a little weird, but cute. They make people feel better about themselves,” said senior Diamond Wagner. It’s your decision whether you make your nose or bladder suffer. Which will you choose?
Badezimmer. Les Toilettes. El baño.
VS
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BATHROOMS EXPOSED! (Top center) Girls’ toilet on 2nd floor main. 1. Girls’ bathroom on 2nd floor Main. Already there was soap on the sinks. By the end of the week, paper towels were all over the floor and the toilets were disturbing. 2. Boys’ bathroom on 2nd floor main. I didn’t look too closely at everything, but soap wasn’t everywhere-which makes me wonder... 3. Inspirational note in the bathroom in the Norclay bathrooms by the gym. 4. Another note in the girls’ bathroom in the math hallway bathroom. 5. The girls’ bathroom in Norclay. Girls would leave one another nice, inspiring notes. ALL PHOTOS BY LAUREN WILLIAMS
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opinions |13
Feb. 1, 2012
Program wars: IB vs. AP
Why IB is the choice for me AP allows students to focus on specific interests Erin Niederberger copy editor
I’m an International Baccalaureate (IB) student, and proud of it. Usually, at least. I suffer from the occasional bouts of exhaustion, frustration, and depression. Most of the time, though, I’m proud. From my freshman year of high school, I knew that I was going to do the IB Programme. Why did I choose it over AP (Advanced Placement) classes? To me, IB seemed to have more advantages, and was better suited to my needs. International Baccalaureate is a full diploma program. At some schools it's possible to take individual classes, but at Northtown you're either in or you're out. If you're in, you test in six prescribed subject areas, along with completing additional requirements. Obviously, this is very different from AP classes, where you can pick and choose subjects at your discretion. However, I believe that the community mentality that develops is one of IB’s best aspects. As IB Coordinator Jane Reed said, “It’s a way of life.” Set apart from other students in a “school within a school,” many IB students bond and form a tight knit - and generally dysfunctional - family. We know what our fellows are going through, because we’re taking the same classes, working with the same teachers, and struggling with the same tests. Everyone does their best to help each other out. Additional requirements also set the IB programme apart. IB students must complete extras: community service, a presentation, and an extended essay, to name a few. These components are required, along with high enough test scores, in order to receive the diploma. Combining them with the necessary subject areas ensures that IB students receive a well rounded education - whether we like it or not. Though many
of us may complain about it, the requirements ensure that we’re prepared for whatever college throws at us. A current major disadvantage of the IB programme is recognition. It’s true that AP name recognition is much higher in America. Some colleges don’t recognize IB and don’t give credits for it. However, AP is confined to the US and Canada. IB exists around the globe and is recognized in 75 countries. If you want to go to college in Austria, you’re all set. As a student who has taken both AP and IB tests, I definitely prefer the IB version. AP tests are taken all at once, and the multiple parts combine into a grueling session that can last more than three hours. IB tests are split into two or three shorter “papers” taken in separate sessions that may be a few hours or even days apart. This helps stave off burnout, and allows students to make up for a poor testing day. IAs (Internal Assessments) - individual research papers or presentations students do over the school year - also contribute to their final IB grade. IAs can be a buffer for students who don’t test well, and give students a chance to completely control one aspect of their grade. The community aspect comes back into play during tests as well. On testing days, senior IB students bring food, while the coordinators bring the programme’s famous mints. Everyone eats, studies, and freaks out together, which is a welcomed way to de-stress before the exam. Overall, both the IB and AP programs offer challenging classes - often compared to college courses of differing levels - and prepare students for higher education. Members of both should be proud of their accomplishments. However, I’m satisfied with the IB programme and - no matter how much I might complain when testing time rolls around - I would never consider leaving.
“No matter how much I might complain when testing time rolls around - I would never consider leaving.”
Matthew Howerton staff writer
Get those pencils ready. And medical treatment for your resulting carpal tunnel. The Advanced Placement and Dual Credit routes are two of the many options to take at North Kansas City High School. A person is not defined by their education, and the worth of a man is not determined by the size of their brain. As a human being in a free nation with liberal opinions, I think the best choice of curricula is AP. During my attendance of Northtown since freshman year, I have changed my diploma three times. From the NKCSD Diploma my freshman year, to the College Preparatory my sophomore year, to the current change of Gold Medallion, I have always been a student who decides something without reassurance. This was the initial reason why I did not join the IB Programme. Last year, I decided to go into the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, chemical and biochemical engineering, and biotechnology. All I wanted to take were science classes my junior and senior year. A quality I love about IB are the HL (Higher Level) classes. And I wanted to take HL Chemistry and HL Biology, badly. But, I would not have the same options like I do in AP. There are six required courses in six different class areas that come with the IB diploma. Some of these classes are chosen for
you. With AP, I earned the merits to take Independent AP Chemistry, AP College Biology, AP Physics, AP Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, 2D Design and (required) Research Methods and Exhibition. These courses couldn’t all be acquired with IB and would conflict with my desires. So I feel like I get more individual freedom with my studies and choices for my high school life. Students like me are introverts. We don’t necessarily enjoy the company of society, nor do we like doing what’s popular. Lastly, we definitely don’t like being with people we don’t want to be with. It’s just a personal thing of some people and being forced to share a network of separated education is dreadful and a severe form of torture. To be alone and independent when able is music to my ears. The IB Programme is great, and I love it. It should be recognized more throughout the country because there are many smart students currently enrolled. Unfortunately, IB is overhyped at Northtown. A lot of teachers think IB students are the cream of the crop and the future of this generation. When really, they’re just like any other student, equal in value, and we have the same opportunity as a whole. Let’s face it, there is a small chance of getting into Oxford, where only 9 percent of those 11 percent who get accepted after applying are from the United States, according to USA TODAY and I’m pretty sure those 300
ELIZABETH CRAIG Thumbs up Deana Mason and Jane Reed show support for the others’ program by showing off their shirts.
students are not all from the IB Programme, and definitely not from Northtown. Plus, the IB intercom announcements are annoying. No one wants to hear them, not even the IB kids. I wouldn’t want my College Chemistry class announcing that our 12-page lab is due the next day. Don’t get me wrong, Advanced Placement isn’t the best thing in the entire world either. What we don’t have is a criterion for judging or a common standard to learn by. Each AP class varies in difficulty and each teacher’s method of teaching is a little bit different. It can get confusing for students and it can be a difficult change from college (Dual Credit) classes. What we do need is a common ground for curricula like IB with a freedom of choice in classes. The perfect diploma to me would have open IB classes and AP classes. Together, we would have the best prepared students in our region. In the end, both AP and IB classes are both rigorous and are great for learning in high school. Both classes give a good start for college and they both cause health problems from studying, lack of sleep, and stress. In my opinion, if you want a broad challenge covering many subjects, IB is perfect for you. On the other hand, if you want a concentrated challenge focusing on a certain field of subjects, AP is the greatest fit.
ELIZABETH CRAIG Reed vs. Mason Jane Reed and Deana Mason duke it out over IB versus AP. “We really love one another,” said Reed.
14| arts&entertainment
The Hornet’s Buzz
MOVIE REVIEWS Matthew Howerton staff writer
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY You’ll be on the edge of your seat, figuring out one of the greatest Cold War novel mysteries of the British Secret Intelligence Service- who is the Russian mole? This movie is a must see. George Smiley, played by Gary Oldman, faces retirement until he has a new MI6 case during the Cold War. A Russian spy has made his way to the top of the elite British Secret Intelligence Service known as “the Circus” and the spy is about to wreak havoc in World War III.
People are losing friendships, trust, sleep, lives, and their minds over who is who and who is the mole. Every person is paranoid from Russian-marked deaths, gruesome torture, espionage, and secret betrayal. With over two hours of mindblowing mystery, it is a true
CONTRABAND Lights, camera, shoot. Literally.
MCT Action!-Giovanni Ribisi stars as thug Tim Briggs in “Contraband,” a white-knuckle action-thriller about a man trying to stay out of a world he worked hard to leave behind and the family he’ll do anything to protect.
Contraband is centered around crime, drugs, death, and hate. The main character, Chris Farraday, played by Mark Wahlberg, is a former top-class drug smuggler who has to redeem his brother-inlaw’s debt for dumping a “deal”. Farraday goes beyond his strength to cross borders into Central America in order to obtain counterfeit money which he needs to pay off the debt for the sake of his family’s health and safety. His struggles include smuggling, lawlessness, immorality, harassment, threats, death, assault, and murder.
“follow-along” that requires careful listening and close attention. The scenes jump from images to explanations. Do you dare to figure it out? With a big opening and jaw dropping ending, this movie cannot be missed. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy deserves four out of five stars.
MOVIE POSTER Who dunnit?- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a mystery set in the Cold War about the British Secret Intelligence Service
THE IRON LADY
No, this is not a sequel to the movie Iron Man, but a drama film about one of the greatest women in world history, Margaret Thatcher. Meryl Streep plays a scarygood portrayal of the first female British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. The makeup on Streep gets every detail of her image, and her voice is almost an exact replication of the actual historical figure’s. The movie is based off of a fictional point of view from modern day Maggie reflecting her past. She suffers from dementia with symptoms of flashbacks and conversing with her deceased husband. The flashbacks show little
history of what Thatcher’s office was actually like. Showing Maggie with this disease is not showing the Conservative Revolution, or even the actual Margaret. The movie seems to get better as it progresses, but the progression misleads the viewer. To accuse Maggie of hallucinations is an absolute insult and it is repulsive. The Iron Lady magnifies controversy over her legacy and the entire film seems to be a cheap liberal Hollywood shot at the Conservative Party. They portrayed her as a bitter woman
who regretted her choices when she needed to be straightforward. It is also a personal attack at Thatcher when the makers of movie showed her as a neglectful wife and mother during her campaign and office. This film is utterly disrespectful to the Minister, her deceased husband, her family, and to England. The Iron Lady is one of the biggest disappointments for a movie and it fails to tell the truth. It should be ripped from the big screen as I give it zero out of five stars. Hands Up- Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher and Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher.
More like cliché, cliché. This movie has no protagonist and barely any plot. The camera work and graphics are up-to-date and state of the art, but a suit on a monkey is still a monkey. This movie is not that good. Don’t waste your money seeing it if you are looking for a blockbuster, but on the hard-core entertainment side it can pack a punch. The entire movie is a pointless depiction of “thug life” complete with constant f-bomb. I give this movie two stars out of five.
LOOK ONLINE FOR A SPECIAL REVIEW OF: THE WOMAN IN BLACK
www.nkcbuzz.com ALEX BAILEY / COURTESY OF PATHE PRODUCTIONS LTD.
arts&entertainment |15
Feb. 1, 2012
s d r o W
What do you think of “Words with Friends”? FRESHMAN SYDNEY BLEAM:
with Friends
Emily Anthony staff writer
Words with Friends is a phenomenon sweeping the Northtown campus. This Scrabble-esque game pushes your vocabulary skills and wordplay to the brink. The popular social app allows you to select an opponent from
Facebook, Twitter, or even at random to play a competitive game of words. Words with Friends allows you to play against anyone, anywhere, at any time. The app allows you to play up to 20 different games with friends all at once. With this function, it’s hard not to become addicted. On the plus side, an addiction
to Words with Friends is much more healthy than one to drugs or alcohol. Being successful at Words With Friends centers around the placement of letters on the bonus point squares. If you can capitalize on those squares, the game is yours.
“It’s fun. It’s challenging and addicting. It’s competitive and I can play with people I know.”
JUNIOR KEVIN CHAVEZ:
“Words with Friends is a fun and entertaining way to pass time. I hate when people play dumb two letter words. I didn’t even know ‘za’ was a word.”
SOPHOMORE HANNAH LEACH: SENIOR MICAH MCQUERRY: “I haven’t played it but I want to and I’ve heard it’s really fun. I’ve heard lots of people talk about it.”
“When I play Words with Friends, I feel like I’m in love. I feel obligated to continue embarrassing others of their lack of knowledge of spelling words.”
Buzz Games
www.mazes.ws
Words to find:
candy, chocolate, cupid, date, February, flowers, friendship, gift, happy, heart, hug, kindness, kiss, love, pink, red, romance, roses, sweetheart, sweetie, valentine
16| arts&entertainment
The Hornet’s Buzz
‘The Tempest’ no challenge for cast Alex Grant staff writer
Shakespeare’s plays have been performed many different times in many different places. Some performances might even include different interpretations to go along with the modern times. All of us know his famous works such as “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet,” and “Othello”. Other Shakespeare plays are not as well known. One such play is “The Tempest,” which was performed as the winter play at Northtown on Jan. 26 and 27. “The Tempest” is like any other Shakespeare work, with conniving characters imagining up schemes so others can be put in their rightful place. “The Tempest” is set on a remote island with Prospero, played by senior Joel Roney, dreaming up a plan so that his daughter Miranda, played by freshman Bree Hernandez, can be redeemed. Along the way, Prospero’s conniving brother Antonio and Alonso, the King of Naples, are brought to the island. Antonio was played by sophomore Matthew Gutierrez and Alonso was played by senior Michael Donahue III.
Once on the island, Prospero’s plans bring to light Antonio’s scheming nature and brings about a marriage between Miranda and Ferdinand, Alonso’s son, played by junior Max Irby. The first performance of “The Tempest” was Thursday, January 26, with a second performance following the next night, January 27. Although the cast was nervous, the performances went great. “Rehearsals went really well and the performances were amazing,” Irby said. The performances were like any other Northtown production, except for a few things. One thing that was different about “The Tempest” was some of the makeup. Shakespeare’s works can sometimes include different plot lines and this show was no different. Not only were there two people falling in love, but there were also fairies, spirits, and reapers in the show. Senior Nicki Grant, who was part of the makeup crew for “The Tempest,” helped apply some fascinating looks to certain characters. “The fairy and reaper makeup was harder to do because you had to be more intricate with designs, whereas the regular makeup was just blush and eyeliner,” said Grant. Another difference between
“The Tempest” and other Northtown productions were some of the lighting cues. The stage lights are always shining bright to illuminate the stage, but this production included a different kind of light: strobe lights. Strobe lights are very fast and much brighter than regular stage lights. The strobe lights brought a different energy to the show, for both the audience and the cast. Senior Juliana Johnson, who was stage manager for “The Tempest”, didn’t mind the new lights. “I think they added a nice effect and added some intensity to the scenes,” said Johnson. Although the makeup and some of the lights were different, the cast and crew worked just as hard to bring a good show to the audience because it was not their first go-around on Northtown’s stage. Most of the kids who acted in “The Tempest” have been in at least one production here at Northtown, with each production different than the last. “[The Tempest] was much more difficult. Not only did you have to memorize lines in almost an entirely different language, you had to then interpret them and put that into your acting,” said senior Joel Roney. If students hadn’t been in
NICKI GRANT
Love Me, Love Me Falling deeply in love with one another while stranded on an island are junior Max Irby, who played the role of Ferdinand, and freshman Bree Hernandez, who played the role of Miranda.
NICKI GRANT
Talk To Me Prospero, played by senior Joel Roney, converses with the conniving character of Antonio, played by sophomore Matthew Gutierrez. Both boys were in the fall musical, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and they know their way around a script, even if it’s written by Shakespeare.
a production before, they had helped out on a production backstage with costumes or makeup. Junior Elizabeth McManus was in charge of creating the costumes for the fall musical, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and has now tried her hand at being on stage instead of backstage. Being on stage and being backstage differ in many ways, but both take a lot of work and can be stressful. “In both situations, you are appealing to the audience. However, when you’re on stage, you see the reaction of the
audience which builds energy to make your acting better. The stress level is equal for both situations,” said McManus, who played the role of Ariel in “The Tempest”. Now that the shows are over, the cast and crew are ready for their next adventures in theater because they know that they will have a support system to lean on in their next endeavor. “It was a good play, but not only that, it was a wonderful cast which I have become so close to,” said sophomore Branislav Tadic. Both performances were excellent. Cast and crew should be proud of what they have done.
ARMAND CLEMOENS
Poster Promotion The winter play at Northtown this year was Shakespeare’s, “The Tempest”. The poster for the show was displayed in the glass case outside the auditorium so students and teachers would easily see it as they passed by. The poster was used to promote the show.
NICKI GRANT
The Jokers Earning a laugh from the audience by their antics and behaviors are sophomores Darian Johnson, Trevor Tournear and freshman Lorenzo Mortelli. The three boys were the “comic relief” of the show and they brought about many laughs with their discussions amongst one another.