september 18, 2009
}
View
from Park Hill South
}
pg. 8
Spare Change? >>
Wondering what brought on all the change around school? The View takes a look from all sides at the many alterations made to South policy this year.
A GROWING PROBLEM
[5]
SAVING GREEN BY GOING GREEN
[4]
HYPERFUELING
[12]
issue 1, volume 12
the
what’s
In
>>Store
september 18, 2009
issue 1, volume 12
what’s Up
SAVING GREEN BY GOING GREEN [4] district Energy Specialist turns down air, lowers costs GET PUMPED, GET MOTIVATED [7] head Inside the locker room for motivation
what’s Hot
hate to lose before you can want
you have to
“
“
to win -Valerie Pollan, senior
FANTASY FOOTBALL [12] living the Dream THE WORD [13] the Pathetic Gatsby ROID RAGE [15] greinke: Underpaid and Underrated
what’s The Big Idea CHA’ CHA’ CHA’ CHANGIN’ [8] an In-depth look at changes in policy and procedures
what’s What
MILK GONE BAD [3] the View Staff takes on nutrition restrictions
Editor The From
letter
“ 2
“
pg
Being a journalist is about getting the facts, getting both sides, and overall, getting a good story. Journalists travel all over the world getting a good story people want to read and know about. And that's what we try to do here at the View: bring the students of South stories they want to read. We try our hardest to bring the student body everything they want to know about our school and everything that's going on inside of it. We push ourselves to give you an attractive and hard hitting newsmagazine. And we never let being put on the backburner bring us down. In my opinion, the View is a very independent publication; we sell ads to pay for our paper. We write and design everything on our own, with only nine people on our staff. Under those circumstances, I think we should be able to write about anything, but that's a whole different story. So to the student body of South, please read and enjoy the product of our hard work and man hours, and please continue to appreciate the stories being brought to you.—LAUREN MOORE
milk gone bad >>
this year South has made some new changes. One in particular happens to be the change in our meal and diet plans.
what’s What
South tried to make our food choices healthy so that cafeteria. But the reason for the milk is you need we, as a student body, can be more healthy. But we, three components to your meal at lunch, and the the View, find this change an insult to our personal milk is the closet thing to the register. Most students decision making. usually throw it away. That's a waste of milk for one, The school's new menu consists of smaller food so who are you really portions, wheat noodles on hurting? It goes back to pasta days and breakfast the fact that if we don't smoothies which you can bring take it we don't want it. to class. One of our questions You know when your is if you can bring a breakfast parents tell you to eat smoothie to class why not all your dinner because coffee or an energy drink? You there are starving can spill a breakfast smoothie children in Africa? This and make a mess just as much is that kind of situation. as the rest of those drinks. It is There are starving a student's responsibility to be children around the world careful when they have a drink and we are throwing outside the cafeteria, and it is away milk because we also their responsibility to look don't want it. So please, out for their own well being, not help the starving kids Senior Logan Weaver throws away his the school's. and don't send us back to get a milk after being asked to go back in line High school students typically milk. to get a third component for his lunch. range from 14-18 years old. One But it isn't the administration's would think that is old enough fault why we have to go back. to watch their weight and what they consume. The The cafeteria and the school itself are completely school sees it differently. We're sure they think that separate. The changes in food that were made this watching what the students eat while at school will year weren't the school's idea, more the state. But lower the rate of over weight kids and help them the state does have a point about making people make better choices in their diet. But what they didn't more healthy and making good decisions. Childhood think of is someone's eating habits at home or during obesity is on the rise and does need to be put under the summer. Most people can't just all of a sudden control, but that shouldn't have to be the state's job. eat healthy when they haven't their entire lives. And It's more about home life and making good decisions you can't try to make someone eat things they don't on your own. enjoy like wheat noodles or diet soda or even milk. So please make good decisions about your own Some people don't like milk. Some people can't diet and say you're lactose in tolerant; don't throw even drink milk, and yet you are asked to get one away milk someone else can use.—THE VIEW with your lunch everyday if you buy it from South's STAFF EDITORIAL
pg
3
>> SAVING
*
GREEN by
GOING GREEN
A
merican journalist Heywood Broun once said, “sweat is the cologne of accomplishment.” This year, students and staff at South can relate. As our thermostats are turned off, the school's carbon footprint has begun to diminish with the aid of Park Hill School District’s new energy education specialist, Bridget Kellam. She manages bills and completes audits for all of the 18 buildings she oversees in the district. But the effect of her job that everyone feels is the rising temperature in the building. All rooms at South are to be regulated so their temperatures are between 74 and 78 degrees. The air conditioning is shut off at around 3 p.m. (instead of last year’s 7 p.m. shut off time) every day and over long breaks like weekends. For the students that participate in activities after school, this new program has proven to be a sticky situation. “At debate work nights I start sweating like crazy. Especially when we’re running around trying to help the new kids. Some of our kids don’t even want to stay because they know it will be miserable,” said senior Andi Fink. “Then, on Fridays we have indoor tennis practices and I have to bring extra water because I sweat more because inside is so much hotter than outside.”
Though the difference in climate may take some getting used to for everyone in the district, other ecofriendly changes are not as difficult to maintain, and Kellam said her job is to make sure the staff knows what she's doing. “Making them aware of their part; whether it be turning their lights off, their computer off, unplugging fans and heaters and things like that for any long term breaks— anything over a weekend, “ she said. Kellam said her methods for going green show great promise for the district’s wallet. Last September, the district saved a total of $3,000 from a monthly electric bill because the lights were turned off in the gym while not in use. Park Hill is expected to save more than $5.6 million dollars in 10 years. Kellam said these are “realistic expectations…most clients actually exceed projected savings.” While the rest of the country is going green in an effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle, the Park Hill School District is catching up. Kellam said, “If everyone just does their part—tires to go green a little, we could all get there a lot easier if everyone would just take a little step in the direction.” As far as the heat wave in the school goes, if it’s between being a little warm and helping out the planet, being uncomfortable is really no sweat. —JULIA SUMPTER
UCE *REDRE USE
RECYCLE
Artwork by Bennet Potter and Austen Ortiz
--how can you help out-TIPS ON HOW TO BE MORE ECO-FRIENDLY
b
Unplug unused electronics- 25% of the electricity used to power a home is used when electronics are turned off . Wash clothes in cold water- using cold water can avoid emitting 1,281 pounds of carbon dioxide annually
c
Skip rinsing your plates before putting them in the dishwasher- 15 gallons of water per load can be saved.
d
Print on both sides of the paper- this reduces paper costs and usage by 50%
a
pg
4
a
b
c
d
E
G r o w i n g Problem
Norfleet, along with the other nine seniors on the team, said she still has some expectations for everyone on the team. “The seniors want to see everybody setting personal goals and achieving them and having fun at the same time,” said Norfleet. Junior Lauren Black, a three-time varsity runner for the cross country team, gave her opinion on why there are so many girls out for the team this year. “The freshman come in, and they want to be a part of something. With cross country, the atmosphere is friendly, and it helps to know a lot of girls once you get to high school,” said Black, who originally started her cross country career to stay in shape for soccer, and now finds herself in a position to be a prominent runner. Whether or not another star is waiting to be seen, there is something that Norfleet believes will be seen this year, and that is more team comradery. The improvement is already being seen, and it’s the team comradery that Lerch said she thinks will bring out the best of her runners. Lerch believes that inner-team competition makes the team faster, and said it is easier to have that competition with someone who is close to you.
COVER UP
Miranda Henderson, sophomore, is one of 52 girls that went out for cross country this year.
This is a great motivator to have in cross country, where “you’re only as fast as your slowest time,” according to Lerch. With all of the benefits of a 52 girl roster, there is really only one problem in Lerch’s eyes, and that is deciding which of the 52 girls to put on her seven varsity spots. “It’s a good problem to have,” said Lerch, and she is hopeful the problem leads to the team’s ultimate solution: a conference title. Lerch would also like to see one girl make it to state, after not having anyone in attendance the past three years. Black said she thinks it will be tough, or that she may not even be ready. After all, it is a game of numbers. — MATT SWIHART
what’s Up
very sport is a game of numbers: football, baseball, basketball, even swimming. All of these sports have a magic number: seven points for a touchdown, one run, three point shots, and many more. For the girls' cross country team, the magic number this year is 52. With 52 girls on the 2009 squad, coach Pamela Lerch said she had to do something that she had never done before in her coaching career: she had a timed trial with cuts. This two mile, 20 minute marker was the separator between those who would attend the first meet, and those who would not. According to Lerch, some veterans from last year did not make the cut for the first meet. But to Lerch, cross country is something more than a time trial or a meet, it’s a “lifestyle.” “I think [we have a big team this year] because we had a big team last year, and girls see running as a lifetime sport and may be fearful to try other sports such as volleyball or soccer.'' said Lerch. ''Word got around that the girls have fun, make friends, and even with big numbers we have a close team.” Even with the variety of girls on the team, senior Miranda
PHOTO BY: STEPHANIE GRIFFITH
A
Dress code discipline unfair
What is something a female has two of and
is considered to ''disrupt the educational process'' if showing? According to the Student Handbook, the answer is shoulder blades. The Student Handbook prohibits girls from wearing tank tops, halter tops or anything that shows midriff or is over exposing. The school as a whole might say they will make a person cover up if that person is on display, but it happens too often at South for someone to believe that. What is puzzling is that there are no consequences to any girl who has her lower half hanging out of her shorts and her upper half hanging out of her low cut top. Not saying that exposing your body is wrong; it’s a person's prerogative. But not having punishment for a girl’s boobs out in the open is a little deceptive. There are many girls who show parts of their bodies that are considered questionable. When it happens, they don't have to go to the nurse’s office and put a t-shirt over what they are wearing. But if the body part showing happens to be someone’s shoulder blades or back, they do. Someone this year has already been sent home for wearing a dress with spaghetti straps when she was dressed up for softball, with nothing but her shoulders being revealed.
This is not even just about tank tops versus cleavage. We can also discuss the fact that according to school policy, bandanas promote gangs and violence and clothing with pot leaves promote the use of drugs.Then that would mean girls baring their bodies would promote sex, right? It doesn’t make sense. The school dress code is contradicting to what goes on at South every day. Anyone would be more distracted by someone's cheeks hanging out of their shorts than a piece of cloth hanging out of their back pocket or a hat on their head. The point is that there should be equal enforcement, like the punishment the higher power says there is, or we should do away with the dress code altogether. Dress is a part of freedom of expression. But who really has the right to freedom of expression anymore? Not the students, apparently. I think my feelings are shared when I say that if someone’s breasts can hang out of their blouse, then I should be able to wear a hat or something that shows my shoulders and back on a hot day. pg So I put this to the school: give the students the right to dress how they would like, or make everyone cover up. —LAUREN MOORE
5
pg
6
Get Pumped
T
Get Ready Get Motivated
he sight of heads down in prayer, jumping up and down in traditions of his own aside from the motivational aspect. “After the pregame meal, I get all my stuff together and angst, breathing heavily full of rage, or sitting in silence just sit and listen to music,” said Latteman. concentrating on their task at hand. This is the sight of Latteman said this helps him prepare for the game and the South football team before a Friday night game, each assignment at hand, which is winning. player doing what they can to get ready for the next 48 Other sports like soccer and minutes of their life. volleyball also have pregame “Everybody has to be alive,” rituals that help them to be said Ron Litchfield, head coach. ready for the game ahead. Before each game the “I usually stay focused, be football players sit on the quiet and envision the game benches behind the Aquatic in my head,” said Joe Sbarro, center, if it is nice outside, at senior. the district stadium and listen to Before a game, the South their coach’s instruction before soccer team starts with the the game. The seniors on the “Lord’s prayer” then they scream football team also nominate a and someone gives a speech to staff captain, which happened get everyone ready. The goal of to be John Carr, assistant a pre-game spiel is to motivate, principal, the first game of the inspire and prepare, and at season against Fort Osage. South, inspirational speeches “Seniors, I’ve got a challenge are a common denominator for you. Each and every down Senior Ben Latteman makes a cut against Staley in the Jamboree hosted by Park Hill South on Aug 21 at between sports. you challenge yourself to give Park Hill District Stadium. Photo By Alex Edwards “We prayed before our games 100 percent on each and every last year and coach usually gives play,” said Carr during his speech us a pep-talk,” said Bridget Paulk, Junior. to the team. “Juniors, I challenge you to do the same. The girls' volleyball team can also be put in the pre Sophomores, the same. If you do that they will not pep talk category. The speeches and talks seem to be a beat you.” characteristic in sports because it gets the players ready According to senior Ben Latteman the staff captain and focused on what needs to be done. So whether it is a “motivational thing” and also a tradition among the be prayer, silence, or a pump up speech, all sports alike football team that helps them to “play hard.” The team gets do something to get ready for each and every game. motivated and in the zone during these talks concentrating on the game ahead and hanging on every word their coach —LAUREN MOORE and staff captain had to say. Latteman also does pregame
COLD- HARD- FACTS
The following is a Top 5 breakdown of metropolitan ACT scores from the 2008-2009 school year on the Missouri side. The number in parentheses is the school’s rank withink the whole metropolitan, and the decimal number is the school’s average ACT composite score. The cold hard fact is we are the best.
1. (5) Park Hill South 24.0
2. (8) Lee’s Summit 23.6
3. (11) Lee’s Summit North 23.5 5. (18) Kearney 22.9
4. (12) Park Hill 23.4
pg
7
Cha’ Cha’ Cha’ Changin’ the View looks in-depth at the many policy and procedure changes at South this year
Race for a space
Students hurry to school each morning for somewhere to park
R
pg
8
ushing to school every morning just to fill a parking place or leaving the house ten minutes earlier than normal just so they can find a spot—this is what students who park in the Athletic parking lot at South have to endure now that almost a fourth of it cannot be used. “We would love to not have to do that, however our current field would cause injuries,” said Dr. Craig Miller, band director. .....For the last two school years during football season, the South marching band has had part of the Athletic parking lot blocked off to practice for football games. The band used to practice on the Academic lot but it was on a hill. The amount of space blocked off in the Athletic lot is more than last year because the band had to deal with marching around cars and that can cause injuries, according to Miller. But some students, like seniors Cody Mortensen and Corey Parker, do not agree with the loss of parking places. “I’m against it,” said Mortensen, “because there are so many other fields the band can practice on, and if you come to school too late you’re screwed and late for class.” But according to Miller, there is an explanation for not using the two fields that South has to offer. The football field would cause injuries and being in a parking lot is similar to turf. Miller said the soccer field is not an option because it is a “one purpose” field and does not have the correct markings for practice. There are other activities that have to deal with not having the appropriate space for their practices. The cheerleading team is forced to practice in the cafeteria during basketball season because the gyms are full and the dance team is not given enough space to practice on a full competition floor. But the band is trying to get additional facilities so they can use the lot less. And even when the band is not practicing the lot will still be blocked off, confirmed Miller. “It is blocked off everyday so that people are used to it,” he said. But with the parking lot filling up fast, to students like Mortensen, it seems “out of control.” “It’s like a jungle out there,” said Mortensen. According to students, the lot usually is full by 7:15 a.m. and students, like Parker, who get here late, try other options of parking. “I tried to park in the staff parking lot that never gets used but ‘Row Cat’ made me move,” said Parker. Laura Heflin, known as Row Cat, said she has had four to 15 people parked in the staff parking lot each day and tickets for no parking sticker or being in the staff parking lot are now $10 each instead of five. Heflin said the reason for people parking in the staff lot is not because of the lack of spaces. “There are places to park, it is just not where students want it to be,” said Heflin. According to Heflin, when she asks a student to move from the staff lot the response is usually “there is nowhere to park,” which she said is not the case. “It is not that hard to walk thirty or forty steps,” said Miller, “we’re spoiled like that.” Miller said that the “education of his band” comes before the parking of students, even if it seems the students in band are getting blamed more than Miller. “Everyone complains to me because it is my fault since I am in band,” said Matthew Gehrke, senior. “I think people are over reacting. It’s not that big of a deal.” However, students will only have to complain for one more month, as the Athletic parking lot reopens Oct. 15. —LAUREN MOORE
NO SUGAR on top
day in tutorial? A few teachers think so. “I think it would be fine unless it’s in a computer lab,” said Tina Bacon, business. Others felt they were capable of determining their own class rules. “I don’t think there should be any guidelines,” said Terry Becker, communication arts. —EVAN WHITE
Tutorial Takeover
ust when all the seniors thought tutorial would finally be limitless after three years of restrictions, surprise surprise, sophomores are there cramping their style. This year seniors and sophomores were combined into one tutorial and freshmen were paired with juniors. Many of the upperclassmen have negative comments about the new way tutorials have been switched up, like senior Matt Mitchell, who does not think the underclassmen are nearly as “mature’’ as the seniors. “I wish the administration would just go back to the old way,” said Mitchell. “Don’t fix something that’s not broken.” The tutorials were changed because of negative feedback from some teachers and students. The teachers took a survey and the leadership council changed the tutorials based on the results. Teachers wanted to keep their same students all four years and they didn’t like the way PAC labs were being handled. Jennifer Wilson, science, is on the leadership council and voted on the changes. “We’re hoping that the kids won’t fall through the cracks that aren’t doing well,” said Wilson. The leadership council is trying to keep students with the same tutorial teacher all four years to encourage a
“
strong relationship. They are hoping that by meeting with the same teacher twice a week for four years, it will make the student close with a teacher that has nothing to do with their grades according to Wilson. Wilson said students should be close to their tutorial teacher so they can feel free to go to them with questions and to get additional help. Relationships that are not going to be helped are between the underclassmen and upperclassmen, according to freshman DeeDee O’Toole. “The teachers should have the freshmen sit next to the juniors, not across the room from each other,” said O’Toole. Students think they have a better way to fix tutorials than what has already been done. O’Toole said she thinks juniors and seniors should be together and the sophomores and freshmen should be placed together. She said this would cause less intimidation. On the other hand, Mitchell would prefer for the students to pick their own tutorials. He also knows that this would never happen. pg Although there have been many complaints about the new tutorials, the main purpose was to help the students.—AMY WILLSEY
Don’t fix
“
J
Many students were curious as to what the teachers would be willing to do for food days and if they will have less food days because of the new rules. “I think this will cut down on the food days because the teachers won’t want to do the extra work,” said Chambers. Another possible food day issue could be what the kids are bringing. “I bring homemade brownies, cookies or cakes,” said Kyle Kelley, senior, describing his normal food day repertoire. On the food day permission form, it states that the kids ca “I think that kind of defeats the purpose. Food days are about bringing things high in sugar,” said Steffen, who said he likes to bring items that are not particularly healthy. “I usually bring some chips or candy. Something everyone can snack on.” Since Tutorial isn’t necessarily a curricular class this brings up another issue. Is it okay to have a food
what’s The Big Idea
In the past, food days were used as a reward for students; it seems now that will change this year. The new food day guidelines explain it clearly: teachers need to fill out a sheet explaining why they are having a food day and that it needs to be based on what they are teaching in class. “We just need a reason for a food day. It has to tie into the curriculum,” said Dr. Dale Longenecker, principal. Members of the student body, such as Labron Williams, senior, were not positive about this new change. “These new rules are stupid,” said Williams quite bluntly. Tyler Chambers, junior, had another idea for why the school made changes to the food day rules. “The administration doesn’t want fat kids at school,” he said. Jennifer Mattson, social studies, had her own idea about the new procedure. “This way there’s not always a mess out in the hallways,” she said, adding that the new rules would not affect the number of food days she gives. Longenecker verified Mattson’s statement when he said, “[Less food days] will keep the halls clean.”
something that’s not
broken
9
Big
E
South gets new equipment teachers have yet to use
Small
very year South improves in some way, shape, or form. This year it is with the installation of brand new compact technology. Students can find the eInstruction MOBI boards and AverMedia document cameras in every classroom at South, but because of a software installation delay, many students have yet to see them in action. According to Judy Boutz, Technology Instructional Coach, the cause of the delay lies with the MOBI boards’ “out of the box” software installation requirements. Teachers' U: drives redirect to the district computer network so the software must be adjusted upon installation to work with this network. “In addition, the district technology department has adopted a new system of pushing out software to district computers,” said Boutz. “The new system, by design, does not distribute the software when teachers are on a wireless connection in order to keep the wireless network working as efficiently as possible.” When these issues are reported, Boutz said a district technician can fix the problems within 30 minutes.
SMART Boards versus MOBI Boards
The eInstruction MOBI boards, unlike the SMART boards, give teachers mobility in the classroom and are also cheaper. According to Boutz, with SMART boards, it would take the school district seven years to have them installed in every classroom at every school. MOBI boards only take three years at 20 percent the cost of the SMART boards. “In addition, student MOBIs can be added at a later date to enhance interactive collaboration,” said Boutz. Both the document cameras and MOBI boards were purchased with the federal stimulus funds.
A Helping Hand
The document cameras help classrooms by acting similar to the way projectors do: place a paper in its line of sight and it appears on the white screen. Unlike projectors, the paper doesn’t need to be see-through, so the document cameras prevent a waste of paper and can even project objects, such as a calculator, onto the screen. “So far, they’ve been great,” said Darcy Austin, foreign language. “Instead of passing around pg papers, everyone can see it on the document camera.”
10
Changes,
Technology
Students, on the other hand, said they prefer to use the AverMedia document camera for entertainment purposes. In order to use the document cameras, teachers participated in a two hour training session over the summer where they were taught the basics of how they functioned. “The goal of the training was to give teachers the basic skills to get started with both devices and to not overwhelm them with all the features available,” said Boutz. “We’re hoping to get more training in October,” said Austin. The school district does plan on providing “additional support,” according to Boutz, “through sessions on [their] district Professional Development Days.” The eInstruction MOBI boards also required a 90minute basic training session where teachers were told the basics of how to operate the boards and then allowed to experiment with them on their own.
Superhuman MOBI Boards
However, the eInstruction MOBI boards, compared with the document cameras, are far more complex. Several things can be done with them including: PowerPoint presentations with an erasable feature, navigating through the computer without having to actually touch or be near it, saving notes put on the screen and adding them to Blackboard for students to see, and even simply writing on the boards. “It makes your lesson more interactive,” said Marcia Talley, math department. Talley said she can set up a lesson activity and show students how to operate the board. Then, Talley hands the eInstruction MOBI board to students and lets them take over to learn from experience while she sits back and monitors the entire classroom. “I think they’re fun,” said Chase Jones, freshman. “It’s easier for the teachers to teach us.” Teachers have only had the new technology for a short period of time, but they have already developed their own methods for using the boards and making students behave well. “The MOBI board acts as a positive reinforcement and when students misbehave, okay it’s a punishment, I’m taking it away,” said Talley. — JENNIFER COLOMA
U
dirtyPOP
pon return to school this year, students may have realized that something was missing other than their summer clothes or daily dosage of sleep. It was in fact the vending machines that used to satisfy South’s commons area. Now reloaded with diet soft drinks and other zero calorie drinks, students such as senior Brandon Bowman are having to change their lifestyle. “I don’t like how they took out all the good pop,” said Bowman. “I used to have two or three a week, and I’m still healthy because I eat fruit and stuff that’s not bad for you.” Fact: soft drinks are not the healthiest drinks a person can have. Dr. Dale Longenecker even called them “empty calorie drinks,” but who’s to decide for young adults and adults that are at the school every day? The answer may be surprising; it was the parents. According to Longenecker, Pepsi and other soft drink companies were under heavy fire from school boards and parents to pull their pop machines out of schools. To Longenecker’s knowledge, there started to be a stir in congress about these companies' presence in schools, until the companies made a voluntary agreement with schools across the nation. The result: low calorie drinks that are healthier for all. There is no question that these drinks are healthier, but the true debate is whether or not it’s really necessary. Dan Joiner, health, finds the new tactic a good thing for everyone. “The spike in insulin that goes along with sugary carbonated drinks leads to a crash,” said Joiner. “Without these disruptions, students should be able to learn more efficiently.” Kirk Henry, social studies, went another route with his logic. “There was an issue about raising taxes on cigarettes in 2006, and I voted no because I’m not a smoker and I didn’t want to make a decision for someone else when it has no effect on me,” said Henry. “But if the policy makers have decided that soft drinks are unhealthy, then I of course will respect and abide by that decision.” The decision makers have not forgotten about students completely. According to Longenecker, a new snack machine will be put into the commons once again. A more convenient, high tech and healthier snack machine will have items such as yogurt or sandwiches refrigerated within its walls that students can pay for with their lunch code. The addition of the Switch drinks also provides a satisfactory alternative to the absence of pop. —MATT SWIHART
nts Protein e n o p om c 5 e al h e T m s u o triti u n a f o Vegetables Fruit According to the South cafeteria, three out of the five nutritional components must be incorporated into a lunch.
Dial S For Suspension The student handbook states that “items such as cell phones, pagers and electronic devices should not be seen, heard, or used in the school building during school hours.” However, student noncompliance with the declared rules has prompted the administration to instill a new policy regarding cell phone usage at South. Last year, the policy was fairly lenient. Students’ mobile phones were confiscated from the teacher and then held in the discipline office awaiting parent pick up. This year, that is just the disciplinary action for the first offense. The student handbook says that following the confiscation, on the second offense the “student will receive 2 days ISS and electronic device will be confiscated and held in the Discipline Office for parent pick up.” On the third, “student will receive 2 days OSS and electronic device will be confiscated and held in the Discipline Office for parent pick up.” The students’ negative response to the new policy was consistent throughout the school. “Is it a reasonable policy? Heck naw! Possession of cell phones isn’t like possession of drugs,” said senior Jenna Disselhoff. Fellow senior Andrew Reith shared the same sentiment. “OSS is [a] ridiculous [punishment] for cell phones.” Though the response from students was generally less than supportive, the new cell phone usage policy encourages hope in the teachers that view the mobile devices as a distraction. “The old policy obviously wasn’t making a difference with repeat offenders,” said Elizabeth Brockhoff, choir director. “Cell phones take [the students’] focus away from the classroom. And it’s not just one person’s attention that is being taken away. It distracts me to deal with it.” The faculty is hopeful the new policy will be effective. Assistant principal John Carr said that he has already seen a decrease in cell phone abuse since the course of action was started this school year. Yet, some students seem to doubt its success. “If there’s a chance they can use it, they’re not going to pass that chance up,” Reith said. Though some students hesitate to consider the power of the policy, others, like senior Chris Schisler, remain optimistic. Schisler said, “If my phone gets taken, I’ll just have a double to turn in. Works on Mr. Henry every time.” —JULIA SUMPTER
Dairy
Grains
pg
11
Hyper Fueling With gas looming around the $2.50 mark, maybe people aren't as conscious about conserving gas as they used to, and 50 mpg is a tough mark to hit, but with these three techniques, you can begin “hyper fueling” to save gas. —SAM PETERSON
reducing drag
Another way that takes a bit more skill is reducing drag of any sort. One way of doing this is keeping your windows up at high speeds. Preventing drag is as easy as taking excess weight out of your car. This could also mean emptying your trunk, or taking out your back seats. Another way is called drafting, otherwise known as tailgating. Not as much air is hitting your car, but the chance of hitting another car is higher.
regular maintenance Keeping spark plugs and air filters changed will help your car save gas along with regular oil changes and inflated tires.
driving slower
Using your brake and gas pedal often seem like they have no repercussions, but accelerating in between stop lights, and accelerating quickly uses up gas. Also, driving between 55-60 is the fastest most cars can go while still being fuel efficient. It will make people angry if you are rolling off from stop lights, or if you are doing 60 in a 70, but your wallet will be very grateful.
Living theDream
Fantasy Football invades South
Fantasy football drafts are a vital part of anyone's success in a Last year, players who drafted Tom Brady were devastated fantasy football league. All the trash talking builds character and when he got injured the first game of the season and was leads to be some interesting arguments and games between out the rest of the season. The biggest surprise was Patriots teams. Team names are creative and funny things like Vanilla backup quarterback Matt Cassel. Cassel turned out to be a “Thunda,” “Clete” and “the dude.” Yes, it is that time of year; top fantasy quarterback and his performance got him a 60 fantasy football season is here. million dollar contract. In addition, Kurt Warner got his name Fantasy football is divided up among leagues and divisions. among top fantasy quarterbacks after a time when Warner For some football lovers one league isn't enough, like selfwas unheard of. proclaimed fanatics Dylan and Drew Berry, seniors, who play Students have a variety of opinions about draft picks and in multiple leagues. “I like to play in at least two leagues. That way, if one team is strategies, including Matt Gandy, sophomore. He has his own opinion about who should be the top draft pick. bad then you can focus on the better one,” said Drew Berry. “Adrian Peterson is overrated. For fantasy football “junkies” there [fantasy football] You need a reliable quarterback that are several reasons to get excited gives you a reason to doesn't have a good running back so about their fantasy football teams. he throws a lot,” Gandy said. For some it is an “escape” from other than Those who are old enough to having to root for other people other gamble play for money in a prize than their favorite NFL franchise, league. There are also leagues in giving participants a taste of victory. which participants just play for fun, no money or anything else. “It gives you a reason to root for a team other than the “I make bank,” said Dylan Berry. Chiefs,” said Dylan Berry. Some leagues can play up to several hundred dollars. The population of fantasy football participants grows every According to acronymfinder.com, fantasy football is a billion year. There can be 10 or more teams in a league, multiple players on a team and a website can host an unlimited amount dollar industry due to gambling. It can be a fast way to make money–or a fast way to lose it. of leagues, so it is difficult to count how many people really For some, fantasy football is a way of life, like Drew and participate. Dylan Berry who said they cannot live without it. For others, The preseason is normally used by fantasy football it is a dollar sign. Fantasy football is growing in popularity participants to choose players for their teams. A big part of all over the world, and especially among students. Fantasy anyone's draft is the sleeper pick–a player that everyone football is all over the sports networks and isn't going passes up on because they think that they will not pg be very productive this year. Fantasy football anywhere soon. “It's a more fun way to watch football,” said Drew Berry. participants pick up the sleepers in the later rounds. Sleepers are the picks that could make —EVAN WHITE & CODY MEADE you a stud among the league you are playing in.
12
“
“
root for a team
the chiefs.
RUNWAY from to REAL WORLD The View’s Amy Willsey takes an expensive designer look and brings it back to reality using affordable alternatives she found at local stores.
The
Pathetic
Gatsby
The Word
Balmain runway, spring 2009 collection
$1000+
The Deals
$24.80 Forever 21 gray wool jacket
$11.50 Forever 21 plaid button-up shirt
$17.99
what’s Hot
Pretty much all high schoolers at some point will be required to read ''The Great Gatsby'' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The book is pitched as a great American novel; it has murder, adultery, cigarette smoking and a mansion. I expected, as the title suggests, that Gatsby would be a really cool guy. Instead, he ended up having the emotional maturity of a needy fifth grade Jonas Brothers fan. The novel revolves around Gatsby’s obsession for this girl, Daisy. His plan of action to ''woo'' her really left something to be desired. He went for more of a stalker-esque approach made famous by Ted Bundy and just kind of watched her house from across the bay and ''trembled.'' He then, in true tween fashion, asked his buddy to ''please please please PLEASE'' invite Daisy and himself over at the same time so maybe they could hit it off and be together forever and ride off into sunsets and star in a nice romantic comedy with Jennifer Aniston. Nicely played, emotionally stunted Twilight fan. It really didn’t work out too well in the end, as very few obsessive relationships do; and really the only interesting part of the novel was when everyone dies an incredibly violent death. Deserved? I think so. I generally have faith in the literary community's choice in good literature, but the fact that this sub-par whinefest was so widely acclaimed is just crap. Was there some kind of shortage of good books at the beginning of the century to choose from? Are other novels on the Modern library's list of 100 best novels also 50-year-old cat-loving emotional woman books like ''Pride & Prejudice'' and the ''Truth About Forever?'' Probably. Because apparently, that's what it takes to become an American classic and a role model. All you have to do to win a big fancy award is gripe about your pathetic life. On the positive side, however, I’m grateful the book was only about 200 pages. It made the tedious task of reading it slightly less lengthy. — JULIA SUMPTER
The Look
Target sandals
$12.50 Forever 21 jeans
pg
13
pg
14
>>
ROID RAGE
Greinke underpaid and under rated
When your team against the Royals organization for cruel and experiences six years unusual punishment , he would have a case. of underachievement, Here’s why: C.C. Sabathia, the American the glass does not look so half full. For the League leader in wins, pitches for the New Royals, the only water left in that cup is Zack York Yankees. He has a 16-7 record, 3.40 Greinke, the Royals lone all-star. Earned Run Average and 177 strikeouts. He Greinke is what attracts the fans out is currently being paid $15,285,714 just for to Kauffman Stadium, not the “New K” the 2009 season. Greinke has a 13-8 record, experience. It’s not the new Royals Hall of 2.22 Earned Run Average and 210 strikeouts. Fame or the restaurants or anything about the Based off of these figures, any normal stadium; it’s Greinke. Not to bash the newly person would not guess that the Royals are renovated stadium, but the renovation should paying Greinke only $3.75 million. That’s a have been Greinke’s personal decision just difference of 11.5 million dollars, which is a to make him feel like he is pitching at Yankee little more than Gil Meche’s salary, who has a *Statistics and photo Stadium where he belongs. It’s definitely not 6-10 record, 95 strikeouts and a 5.09 Earned from espn.com any of the other players on the Royals that Run Average. This is not only absurd, but attracts fans. I can’t remember the last time a inhumane. got a thrill from watching yet another Mike Jacobs strikeout. Even looking at the little facts, Greinke still stands Granted, there are players on the Royals that everyone out from all American League pitchers.He leads the AL loves, but David DeJesus and Billy Butler aren’t making the in complete games with six, shutouts with three, and is big money for the Royals. Greinke is. second in the AL in innings pitched. This 25-year-old, Now I’m not saying that I don’t want Zack Greinke on baby faced pitcher is a straight up man in the MLB, and he the Royals. That would be an utterly stupid and arrogant deserves to be treated like one, paid like one and to win statement. I’m only saying that the Royals should feel bad World Series’ like one. As much as it hurts to say, this is about keeping him on the team. I love my Royals, I still love nowhere in the Royals near future. Just like Tony Gonzalez going to games knowing that we will more than likely lose. deserved a shot to win a title in Atlanta, Greinke deserves All I’m saying is that if Zack Greinke were to file a lawsuit to have a chance elsewhere. —MATT SWIHART
the Finaldestination
Blood and gore pop out in 3D while plot falls flat
There have a been a slew of new 3D movies this year. Many animated or family movies have used this newly advanced technology and James Cameron is about to release his 3D masterpiece, ''Avatar.'' The most recent movie to capitalize on this wave was the fourth installment in the Final Destination series, ''The Final Destination''. ''Final Destination'' was a horror movie that came out in 2000. The movie received mixed reviews, and the quality fell off in the next two installments. But there has been one shared trait in all of these movies: crazy death scenes. The basic premise is that a group of young people cheat death. One person is minding their own business in an everyday situation then everything goes haywire and hundreds of people die. Then the person wakes up from a day dream and realizes that they can stop the accident from killing themselves and the people around them. Slowly, everyone who was saved in the first place dies a horrible and complicated death anyway. ''The Final Destination,'' released Aug, 28, was by far the most heinous of these movies. For instance, instead of being an everyday situation the initial accident was a grizzly NASCAR wreck that destroys an entire stadium, and from there the movie just gets slowly crazier and less believable. Unlike the first movie, which is a shining example of characterization in scary movies, this movie abandons the plot and just spends most of the movie killing people in crazy ways and using the 3D to its full extent, shooting rocks directly Rating: R at the camera and even sending random floating leaves towards the audience. Release Date: The 3D is used very well in the movie. In the AMC theater, it sometimes felt fuzzy and Aug. 28 blurry, but the director, David Ellis, said in a recent interview that he wanted the movie to have a lot of depth instead of popping out at the audience every four minutes. He definitely Made in Box did his best to do that. Office: All in all, The ''Final Destination'' is a very good movie and worth seeing in 3D. It marks $28.3 million a return to the '90s way of doing horror movies, instead of the dark, psychological movies that Rob Zombie has brought into vogue, and when they were released on the weekend of Aug. 28, ''The Final Destination'' brought in more money. The movie pg has been called death porn by one reviewer and I have to agree, but I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Watching a woman being ground up in the innards of an escalator was just what I expected out of this movie. —SAM PETERSON
15
1st issue of the View
homecoming weekend
september
18
26
20
october
8 9 ac/dc 8:00 p.m. at Sprint Center
4
7 next issue of the View
retake day for class pictures chiefs v. New York Giants 12:00 p.m.
important dates: parent/teacher conferences- sept 24- 25 homecoming parade- sept. 26
[
>>
LAUREN MOORE editor-in-chief
>>
SAM PETERSON copy editor
>>
MATT SWIHART
managing editor
>>
JULIA SUMPTER art director
>>
NICK WORTH
[
chiefs v. oakland raiders 12:00 p.m.
the View
business manager
>>
EVAN WHITE reporter
evan
>>
AMY WILLSEY reporter
>>
JENNIFER COLOMA reporter
>>
CODY MEADE reporter
>> MEGAN HUGHES adviser
The Park Hill south High School newspaper, the View, is part of the educational curriculum of the Park Hill School District. Although the paper is a classroom activity of newspaper class, material may be submitted for consideration from students who are not enrolled in the course. Students’ submission should meet guidlines set forth in the board policy and regulation IGDB, copies of which are available in all buildings and Central Office. Students may also submit letters to the editor which are 500 words or less on timely issues. Editorials must be published with the name of the responsible individual. Bring any submissions to room c200 or e-mail them to the adviser at hughesm@ parkhill.k12.mo.us. All submitted material may be edited for content, length and grammar. The View is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association. The View is printed by Osage Graphics in Olathe, Kan.