THE
T-BIRD TIMES
Volume 39, Issue 3
Skyline High School November 21, 2014
tbirdtimes.com
Juniors Hanna Baird and Betsy Giles go up for a block at State. The volleyball team went 0-3 that day. photo by Rance Tucker
School Spirit by Caden Patterson Reporter
After an exciting week for all of the fall sports teams, the Pep Club decided to take their school spirit a little bit further. On the week of SubState Volleyball, the Pep Club decorated the high school hallway with balloons and streamers coming down from the ceilings. The following week, they made posters for all of the teams. “We decided to hang posters in the halls to build school spirit,” Pep Club sponsor Meagan Householter said. “We were at the school decorating for two and a half hours.” The sponsors hoped to get the students excited about what was happening at Skyline. “I feel like Skyline has room for improvement,” Householter said. “Anything we can do to boost and generate excitement is good.” Skyline doesn’t have many people willing to step up and lead the pep
continued on page 6
T-Birds lose in post-season by Mason Brack Reporter
All three of the fall T-Bird teams made it to post-season play, but unfortunately failed to come out victorious. After losing some of the runners due to breaking a team policy, cross country still took both their teams to State in Wamego. The girls placed ninth out of 10 teams and the boys placed eighth out of 12 teams. “We did phenomenal and I’m proud of how we did this year, even when we had great losses to the team,” junior Bryce McKennon said. For the first time since
1999 the football team went to the playoffs. They had a close to perfect regular season, only losing to Attica-Argonia earlier in the season. The boys made it into post-season and had their playoff game at home against Little River. They lost 62-14 and finished the year with a 8-2 record. “It was good to be a part of the team and to have a winning record,” junior Brady McComb said. After losing a majority of last year’s starters, this season was supposed to be the volleyball teams rebuilding year. The girls won their Sub-State to go to 1A State in Hays. The team went 0-3
and did not advance out of pool play, but they were still proud of how they did this season. “We played really well for having such an inexperienced team and overall I’m just really proud of us, even though I think our nerves got to us in post-season,” junior Hanna Baird said. Pep assemblies, banners and hallway decorations during the final weeks of the season made an exciting week for fans and players alike. “The school spirit was awesome,” Baird said. “It was cool how everyone came together to show their support for all the sports teams.”
November 21, 2014
Page 2
Opinion
Kansas schools win on Election Day by Austin Gilpin Editor
TV’s have stopped playing attack ads, phones have stopped ringing, and doors are no longer getting knocked on. The elections are now a few weeks behind us. Now is the time to look back and see how the results of that election are going to affect us, especially here at school. Kansas schools, and Skyline, won big two ways on election night. Governor Sam Brownback was re-elected, and a constitutional amendment was passed allowing schools and other nonprofits to hold raffles. Education was a big issue
Staff Reporters ......Mason Brack Jenessa Corbet Madison Golden Justin Hampel Justin Holtz Layton Kenworthy Landon Lee Colin Little Caden Patterson Kamryn Stark
during the gubernatorial race. Education certainly should be an issue when voters decide who they want to represent them in Topeka. However, Brownback’s opponent, Democrat Paul Davis, used the issue to deceive Kansas voters. Davis told Kansans that Governor Brownback “made the single largest cut to education funding in state history.” That simply could not be more wrong. When Brownback took office in 2011, state aid to schools was $6,983 per pupil. For this school year, the Kansas State Department of Education is estimating that to increase to $8,604. That is a 23.2% increase in just three
by Layton Kenworthy
Editor ................. Austin Gilpin
Adviser................ Judy Hampel
and other groups have been using raffles to raise money for projects or trips. Until Election Day, that practice was illegal. The law had rarely been enforced, but organizations had to consider the consequences. It was about time Kansas voters made it legal. Nonprofit organizations shouldn’t be breaking a state law for holding a charitable raffle. Schools and other groups can now raise money for good causes, without fear of punishment. Election Day 2014 was a good day for Kansas schools. Voters made the right choice re-electing Governor Brownback and passing the amendment.
TVs won’t bother to stop if you are in their way. Sophomore Jarod DeWeese thinks Black Friday is ironic because people go from giving thanks to taking every deal they can for themselves. The ridiculous amount of people who are injured on Black Friday totals to 90 unfortunate people looking
for a good deal. Even more unbelievable, since 2006 seven deaths have been recorded due to Black Friday shopping. The causes of the deaths are everything ranging from car wrecks to being trampled by hundreds of inconsiderate people. Online shopping is a safer way of getting deals without the wait in lines and hassle of getting what you need for the holidays. If you are one of the thousands going out for Black Friday, just know that getting what you want is not more important than being safe. Unless risking your life is worth the cheap TV, shopping on Black Friday should be postponed for Cyber Monday when computers and devices are discounted. There has been no known injuries or deaths directly related to Cyber Monday.
Black Friday potential health hazard
Reporter
Photographers........Lucas Cason Lexie Maloney Sheldon Miller Logan Reece Rance Tucker
school years. Funding for education is at record levels in Kansas. Total funding for Kansas schools is more than $6 billion for fiscal year 2015. When Brownback took office, that number was just $5.6 billion. Kansas schools aren’t only receiving more funding under Brownback, but test scores are very strong. Kansas ranked 10th in fourth grade math test scores and eighth in eighth grade math scores. Also relating to money and schools, Kansas voters passed a constitutional amendment, three to one, allowing charitable gaming by nonprofit organizations. For years students, schools
Black Friday is known for the sales and shopping for Christmas, but in larger cities the shopping can easily turn into a crazy shopping spree. People who are willing to do anything to get to the discounted plasma screen
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November 21, 2014
News
Students test academic knowledge by Austin Gilpin Editor
Courtesy Photo
The varsity Scholars’ Bowl team listens to the moderator read the next question and prepare to answer. The team placed first at Macksville.
Academic competitions play a big part of extracurricular activities in high school. Whether it be Scholars’ Bowl, Math Relays, Academic Olympics or Science Olympiad, many students find a way to put their brains up against students from other schools. Scholars’ Bowl coach Brenda Piester and Math Relay sponsor Kim Lee think competing at academic events is important to high school. Lee said it contributes to having a well-rounded high school career, and helps in college. “They gain confidence going into college,” Lee said. “It makes them realize academics is important too.” The Math Relay team competed at Fort Hays State University on Nov. 13, and placed second in the 1A division.
“I feel really good,” Lee said. “Every person that went scored points for us.” The only team that outscored Skyline was St. John’s-Beloit. The third place team, Rock Hills, scored only 36 points. Students have also been competing in Scholars’ Bowl. Coach Brenda Piester said she is proud of the students, and that they are doing very well. The team has won three meets, including Macksville, Stafford, and yesterday here at Skyline. In their last three meets, the team has lost only one match. To prepare, the students practice during seminar in the TARGET room. “It’s hard to find time, but when we can, we practice during seminar,” Piester said. “Students are best prepared in classrooms.” The team has high hopes for the rest of the season. “I think we should be able to go to State,” junior Colin Kumberg said.
Girls get new uniforms Used backpacks can by Kamryn Stark Reporter
To start off the basketball season, for the first time in seven years, the girls will be wearing new uniforms. “I felt like our older uniforms were getting in pretty bad shape, the numbers were hard to read, and the fabric and stitching were becoming unstable,” basketball coach Charles Young said. Many other schools have recently also purchased new uniforms since companies have came out with the new and improved material. Over the summer, basketball coach Chuck Young decided that it was time for the girls to receive new uniforms too. “I think we have more than one reason to get them,” junior basketball player Betsy Giles said. “The
previous uniforms didn’t fit the best and the high school girls have been using the jerseys for quite a while.” Besides the material being lighter, there were also some other pros that came along with the new uniforms. A few weeks ago Young called the girls who were going out for basketball into his room. The girls then got to try on uniform samples and chose their size and the number they wanted. “I’m excited to wear the uniforms because they are a big change from the middle school uniforms,” freshman Hallee Burgardt said. After the team decided on a uniform design, the uniforms were ordered. When the uniforms arrived at the school, Young kept them locked away until yesterday so that none of the girls on the team could see them.
help the homeless
1Spark.net
The One Spark Foundation out of Wichita is hoping to get essential items to the homeless for the winter. They are in need of old backpacks to put these items in. If you would like to help, please bring your old backpack to school before Thanksgiving break and put it in this red box located by the front office.
November 21, 2014
Flappers Missionaries & Gamblers
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by Jenessa Corbet Reporter
High school actors took it back to the 1920s in New York City with gamblers, missionaries and flappers in the musical “Guys and Dolls.” The gamblers in New York were depending on Nathan Detroit to put together the crap game. Detroit’s fiance of 14 years, Miss Adelaide pushes hard to finally wear that white dress. Detroit, needing money for the game, bets Sky Masterson that he can’t get a certain doll, missionary Sarah Brown, to go to Havana with him. “I love being able to act as someone different than myself,” junior Briana Neifert said. Neifert’s favorite part of playing Sarah Brown was acting like she was drunk. “The hardest part was pacing the students so they’re prepared for opening night,” director Steven Novotny said. The play creates a roller coaster of emotions, hearing roars of laughter from the audience and leaving some touching moments in between. Novotny was excited for the audience to watch the scene in the sewers where the gamblers played their crap game. “We were fortunate to have a couple of strong guys in the choir and we showed their talents,” Novotny said.
3.
Feature
Favorite Scenes
Cast & Crew
Trent Adams.................... Lieutenant Brannigan Garrett Bell............................................ Spotlight Star Boley......................................... Agatha, Doll Khaleb Cason............................ Nathatn Detroit Kendall Davidson..........................Rusty Charlie Jarod DeWeese.............................Stage Manager Jade Downs............................ Benny Southstreet Kellie Dubendorf................... Crapshooter, Doll Katherine Ghumm............... Harriet The Horse Miranda Ghumm.........................Miss Adelaide Betsy Giles..............................Arvide Abernathy Montana Kocher............................. Crapshooter Cara Konkel................ Farmerette, Crapshooter Blake Lee.......................................Sky Masterson Carson Lee......................Nicely, Nicely Johnson Bryce McKennon............Master of Ceremonies Brynn McKennon.....................Farmerette, Doll Ashley Mead............................................Big Julie Briana Neifert..................................Sarah Brown Joshua Nelson..................... General Cartwright Ashley Niblett..............Mimi(Farmerette), Doll Payje Orler.................Angie the Ox, Farmerette Dallas Wickham.................... Crapshooter, Doll Linda Bishop.................................. Accompanist Steve Novotny........................................ Director Bob Lee......Assistant Director, Sound & Lights
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November 21, 2014
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“When we were all in the sewers. It was one of the funnest scenes.” Kendall Davidson, 10
“I liked when everyone was in the mission for the prayer meeting. There was a lot of choreography. It was really fun.” Star Boley, 10
5.
“Nathan unexpectedly plans to elope. It was the scene where I had the most lines in.” Trent Adams, 10
1. The play Guys and Dolls Jr. starred junior Miranda Ghumm and senior Khaleb Cason. The duo performed last Thursday and Friday at Skyline. 2. Leading a prayer meeting at the mission during the play, juniors Briana Neifert and Bryce McKennon and freshman Josh Nelson sing a song. They played missionaries who were a big part of the production. 3. Senior Katherine Ghumm and freshman Carson Lee discuss that night’s plans for the crap game. 4. On a date in Havana, gambler Blake Lee and missionary Briana Neifert talk over dinner. The unlikely couple ends up getting married. 5. Crap shooter Jade Downs tries to smooth talk police officer Trent Adams. 6. Performing the final number, Khaleb Cason and Miranda Ghumm sing about their upcoming marriage. Ghumm’s character had been wanting a marriage for 14 years.
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November 21, 2014
Friday morning stampede by Madison Golden Reporter
One of the busiest shopping days of the year is the day after Thanksgiving. For most stores it starts Thursday night and extends through Cyber Monday. Walmart breaks their Black Friday up into three different events, so it is not so crazy. “I go to Walmart and Kohl’s,” teacher Pat Brant said. “I am going for a television and anything electronic for my grandkids.” Brant said it is great entertainment to go and see people go crazy over things,
even if she does not buy anything. Some students think that it is dangerous and people should just stay home, on the other hand, some feel like it’s smart to brave the crowds. “I think people get amazing deals and they get to hurdle people,” senior Khaleb Cason. Most stores also participate in Cyber Monday, which is basically Black Friday, but stores post sales online instead. For all the students about to graduate this is a great time to get all the items you will need for college,
Favorite Thanksgiving Foods Emily Estes, 10
I like turkey, cranberry salad and cream corn.
like pots and pans, pillows, towels, bedding and lots more at a great and reasonable price. It is also a great time to stock up on movies, as they are less than $10 at Walmart. Kim Lee said the After Prom committee has done a lot of online shopping for After Prom. “It is better for the school’s budget if we spread it out,” Lee said. Jenny Hacker, Dee Weber and some other parents are going Black Friday shopping for After Prom prizes. They are going for the electronics, since those are the best deals.
Favorite Thanksgiving Activity Jacob Amerine, 10
My favorite activity during Thanksgiving is watching football.
News
Amazing deals and store hours in Pratt on
Black Friday Maurices Hours Thursday 7p.m.midnight Friday 8 a.m.-9 p.m. buy one regular priced item get one half off Cross Roads Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Storewide Sale Hibbett Sports Thursday 6 p.m.- midnight Friday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Orscheln’s Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Sears Thursday 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. continued from page 1
Rance Tucker, 10 My favorite Thanksgiving foods are smoked turkey and mashed potatoes.
Jacob Shipley, 10
My favorite Thanksgiving foods are turkey, sweet potato pie and green bean casserole.
Justin Brown , 9
Eating is definitely my favorite Thanksgiving activity.
Sheldon MIller, 10
My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is eating with family.
section. Senior Blake Lee tries to take the lead for the crowd. “I enjoy showing school spirit and I feel if I don’t take the lead, nobody will,” Lee said. Pep Club members hope the basketball pep section will be better than the volleyball pep section. “School spirit is important to show your classmates and school that you support them no matter if you are on the team or not,” Householter said. “Being an active participant in things going on instead of just being a spectator (is important).”
Sports
Page 7
November 21, 2014
Kansas teams get ready for season
by Colin Little Reporter
With the Kansas Jayhawks going 23-8 with last years group of guys, the Jayhawks finished the season with a second round upset loss to the Stanford Cardinals 60-57. The Jayhawks had some big-time players leave the team for different reasons. Some decided it was time to enter the NBA draft. Others transferred out for their own reasons. Andrew Wiggins was the first overall pick and Joel Embiid was the third pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft. Naadir Tharpe and Connor Frankamp also transferred out of KU. After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, Tarrick Black joined the Houston Rockets for the 2014 NBA Summer League. Later he signed with the Rockets. Coach Bill Self had some big shoes to fill, so he went out and got some recruits. Power forward Cliff Alexander was one of KU’s best recruits along with point guard Devonte Graham, shooting guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, and small forward Kelly Oubre. “I am really excited to watch them play,” sophomore Jared Shriver said. “It is just exciting to watch a good young team to get better and grow up.” With all this talent the Jayhawks have, there is one problem, their youth. They have one returning starter from last year’s squad, junior power forward Perry Ellis. “I think that one of their big problems will be that they will have a new core group of guys to learn how to play together,” English teacher Morgan Ballard said. The Jayhawks are the returning Big 12 regular season champs. They have won the Big 12 for 10 consecutive years. They have also made an appearance in the NCAA tournament for 25 straight years. That is the longest active streak and second overall in the history of the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina holds it with 27 consecutive years.
by Justin Hampel
by Landon Lee
Reporter
Reporter
Following a 20-13 season which ended in an loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament to the national runner-up Kentucky, the Kansas State Wildcats mens’ basketball team has high expectations for this year. K-State is predicted to finish fourth in Big 12 and are led by preseason first team All-Big 12 guard Marcus Foster. The Wildcats have welcomed in two new recruits and three transfers, while graduating four players, including three rotation players. K-State has big non-conference games including Tennessee, Texas A&M, Georgia and the Maui Invitational. They open up conference play on Jan. 3, at Oklahoma State. “I expect us to finish at least third in the conference,” freshman and KSU fan Cooper Gates said. “We have a pretty solid lineup even though we are still pretty young and we do not have top recruits.” The Wildcats starting lineup currently consists of Foster, fellow guards Jevon Thomas and Justin Edwards, and forwards Thomas Gipson and Stephen Hurt. Six bench players are expected to play a lot of minutes as well. “I expect them to have at least 20 wins and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament,” junior Brady McComb said. K-State won their season opener against Southern Utah 98-68 at Bramlage Coliseum on Nov. 14. The Wildcats open play in the Maui Invitational on Monday at 1:30 p.m. against Purdue.
The Shockers are currently No. 11 in the nation and have opened with a 2-0 start. Stakes are high as many are skeptical of the true talent of WSU. “I think they’ll have a couple problems in the paint but they will overcome them and score a lot of points,” senior Joaquin Corona said. Wichita State has received two players from junior college transfers and five players from high school. The Shockers have departed six players since last season, including Nick Wiggins and standout Cleanthony Earley. Last year the Shockers finished with an overall record of 35-1. This was the greatest season in their 108 year basketball history. After defeating Missouri State on March 1, 2014, Wichita State became the first Division I team ever to finish the regular season 31–0, the first team to finish 18–0 in conference play in the Missouri Valley Conference since the 1985-86 Bradley Braves, as well as the first to finish the regular season undefeated since Saint Joseph’s in 2003-04. They spent most of the season in the top 10 of both major polls, rising as high as No. 2 in late February. They continued their run by winning their first MVC tournament title since 1987, and were ranked second in both final major media polls. The Shockers finished No. 2 in most major polls, the highest final national ranking in school history. “I plan on them making it to the Final Four,” Industrial Technology teacher Sebastian Huelskamp said.
88 Skyline High School students and staff were surveyed about their favorite college basketball team
36%
31%
33%
November 21, 2014
Page 8
Feature
Daughters battle over who knows mom best
by Caden Patterson
Miranda Ghumm, 11
Kim Ghumm
Waking Up Late
People Running Late
Ireland
Chile
Biggest Pet Peeve Dream Vacation
After School Activity Favorite Drink
Sleep Vanilla Coke
Katherine Ghumm, 12
Whining Chile
Watch Movies
Take a Nap
Netflix
Coffee
Coffee
Favorite App
Find My iPhone
Netflix
Favorite Instrument
Flute
Piano
Flute
Favorite Movie
Sleepless in Seattle
Princess Bride
Sleepless in Seattle
Favorite Snack
Ritz Crackers
Favorite Band
U2
Cheez-its
Coco Covered Almonds
U2
U2
New releases begin to set higher standards Photos Courtesy of Tribune New Service
Assassin’s Creed Unity is a historical adventure game developed by Ubisoft. The game is set within Paris during the French Revolution. The game was released Nov. 11 as the seventh game of the series.
343 Industries and Bungie combined to recreate the story of Master Chief. The game includes Halo 1, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4. The games were remastered for the Xbox One and released Nov. 11.
Infographic by Justin Holtz
I’m most excited for Assassin’s Creed and The Division. I’ve played these games almost my whole life and I just want to know how much better they’ve gotten. Tristen Hogan, 12
Dumb and Dumber To is the sequel to the first dumb and dumber. The movie is directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly and stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. The movie was released in theaters Nov. 14.
Mockingjay is part one of a two part finale to the Hunger Games series. The movie is directed by Francis Lawrence and stars actress Jennifer Lawrence. The movie is released in theaters today.