Volume 39, Issue 8
Exclusively Online
April, 17, 2015
School picnic brings all ages together for activities by Kamryn Stark
Reporter Junior Avery Jones produced a video covering the picnic. See it online next week.
What’s Inside?
Opinion...............pg 2 News...................pg 3 Feature....pg 4-5, 6, 8 Sports.............. pg 7
tbirdtimes.com
For the first time on Tuesday, Skyline held an allschool picnic that was enjoyable for staff and students. Since the state legislature made budget cuts, Skyline no longer could afford to send elementary classes on field trips. After a few parents realized that their children wouldn’t be attending any more field trips, Anita DeWeese and Diane House got together and came up with the idea of having the picnic. “My favorite part about
the school picnic was spending time with younger kids and eating the ice cream,” junior Lexie Maloney said. The picnic started at 10:30 a.m and ended for the high school students at 1:30 p.m. Not only were there hamburgers, beans, chips, cookies and ice cream to eat, but there were many exciting things to do. The entire school was split into 26 groups with varying ages. Throughout the day, the students and staff had a schedule with a list of activities to do, such as inflatables, face painting, kickball, photo booth, blow-
ing bubbles and visiting the petting zoo. “I enjoyed all the fun I had with my group and also helping the little kids out in the fun activities,” seventh grader Corey Crouch said. The purpose of the picnic was to take a day to have staff and students come together to have a good time. Even though there were many exciting things to do, there was no cost for the school. The T-Bird club donated 500 cups of ice cream and popcorn for the elementary and supplies for the photo
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April 17, 2015
Be smart, clean, clothed by Madison Golden
Reporter
Many teens do not know how to use the internet and their apps responsibly. Abuse is common with apps that share photos. One of the most common apps teens use to share images is Snapchat. “Snapchat gets hacked quite often, so it’s not very safe or smart to use it inappropriately,” junior Tracy Stimatze said. The problem with Snapchat is users can send embarrassing or risque images, thinking the image will disappear in 10 seconds. However, they are wrong. Anyone who receives a snapchat has the option to screenshot the image with
the sender being notified. They can also use another app to help save the image without the sender knowing. “I think that sending inappropriate pictures is a bad idea because if people find out they will get a bad image about the person,” sophomore Jared Shriver said. SnapSave is an app that anyone can log into with Snapchat information and can save the pictures secretly. Often times these secretly saved images can be used as blackmail or distributed to whoever or wherever they want. Another way pictures can be saved without others knowing is a photo vault app. It lets users lock their pictures with a password. It
seems though, that if someone is needing to hide an image they shouldn’t have taken it in the first place. “I would feel mad if someone saved my images without me knowing about it,” senior Tristen Hogan said. The point is, DO NOT send inappropriate pictures out because they can get around and could possibly become a problem in your future. Nobody wants a dumb decision made in high school to ruin future career or relationship chances. Good things can come from social media if it is used in the right way. Snapchat is a fun way to stay connected with friends, just don’t do anything that you may regret later.
days and to save money. “I’m glad the board made the decision because I’ll have more time to sleep in and spend more time with my friends,” freshman Sydney Koirth said. People aren’t just excited for the fun times, sleeping in and staying up late. Some are excited to have another year of school finished. “I’m excited for the end of the year because then it’s one year closer to graduation and moving on to college,” sophomore McKenzie Cason said.
To everyone but the seniors, the end of the school year means coming back next year. “I think it will be extremely exciting and at the same time nerve wracking, but there will also be some sadness,” senior Blake Lee said. “It will be sad to see that chapter of my life end.” To meet the hours required, seniors need 1,086 hours of instruction and everyone else needs 1,116. The state sets the number of hours required for public schools.
BOE approves early dismissal date
by Mason Brack
Reporter
It is the time of year where the end of school is approaching fast and everyone is ready for summer. Seniors get out May 6 and everyone else May 12. The original day school was supposed to be out was May 14. The decision to get out two days early was decided at the Board of Education meeting last Monday. The board changed the last day of school because the district hadn’t used all of its snow
Staff Reporters ......Mason Brack Editor ................. Austin Gilpin Madison Golden Justin Hampel Photographers...... Cooper Gates Justin Holtz Daniel Hacker Layton Kenworthy Sydney Koirth Colin Little Tyler Tobin Caden Patterson Andrew Withers Kamryn Stark Adviser................ Judy Hampel
Opinion The T-Bird Times is an open forum for student expression. The mission of the T-Bird Times editorial page is to engage all students and patrons in a search for democratic solutions. The T-Bird Times’ editorial voice, expressed in the form of editorials, columns and articles, is a part of that search, but only one part. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of other students, the adviser, faculty, administrators or the Board of Education of this district. The T-Bird Times, a member of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and the American Society of Newspaper Editors, is published by the 21st Century Journalism class at Skyline High School, 20269 W. Hwy. 54, Pratt, Kan., 67124. The T-Bird Times is printed in-house and distributed to high school students and staff. The pages can also be found online at www.tbirdtimes.com. The T-Bird Times will strive to live up to the highest standards of professional journalism. The T-Bird Times endorses the First Amendment of the Constitution and will not publish material that could cause disorderly conduct or invade the rights of others. Any material that is not original will be given full credit, and The T-Bird Times will acknowledge any mistakes by correcting any errors that are brought to the attention of the staff. The staff welcomes letters to the editor from patrons and students. Letters to the editor must be signed and the staff reserves the right to edit letters for libel and grammar.
News
April 17, 2015
Students give blood to save lives
by Caden Patterson
Reporter
The semi-annual FCCLA blood drive will be held on April 20, 2015. “I think that it is a good habit to help others,” FACS teacher Pat Brant said. A person can donate blood if they meet a series of requirements. The age requirement is 17 years old, or 16 years old with parent permission. Donors must also weigh at least 110 pounds. “Some years we have kids that cannot give enough because they are too weak,” Brant said. If a person is having trouble breathing due to asthma related issues, they are advised not to donate.
People with leukemia, lymphoma or Hodgkin’s disease and other cancers of the blood are not able to donate. A person with other forms of cancer may be eligible if 12 months have passed since the last treatment. The patient can not have recurrences and the disease can not be active. A person with a fever, productive cough, or other acute cold symptoms should wait until he or she feels well enough to donate. A diabetic person is eligible to donate if the disease is well controlled by diet, non-bovine insulin or oral medications. However, a person who received bovine insulin manufactured in the United Kingdom is perma-
Forensics kicks off year by Layton Kenworthy
Reporter
The Forensics team began competing in contests in March. Forensics is a competition between students who are judged on their ability to present themselves in front of an audience and how well they speak or debate. The purpose of forensics is to prepare students for the real world and improve their public communication skills. Presenting the speeches teaches students how to overcome the anxieties of speaking in front of a large audience. “I compete in interpretation of poetry,” senior Katherine Ghumm said. “That is when I read poetry in a way that expresses my ideas through the pieces I read.”
Regionals are next Saturday at Ellinwood. League was April 7 at Stafford. The last chance meets are at Coldwater and Pretty Prairie. Members have been practicing reading different types of poems, acting and giving speeches for their events during seminar. Events that are in the forensics meet are original oration, informative speech, oral interpretation of poetry, oral interpretation of prose, humorous solo acting, extemporaneous speech, serious solo acting, prose, duet acting, and improvised duet acting. “I like making scenes on the fly and performing them,” sophomore Jarod DeWeese said. Most importantly, forensics improves college and career resumes and can help in future jobs.
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courtesy of Tribune News
nently ineligible to donate. Double red-cell donors may donate every 112 days. A platelet donor may donate every seven days, up to 24 times a year. One out of every 10 people that enter a hospital
need blood donations. “I think that it is a really cool how people can donate for a good cause,” sophomore Ashley Niblett said. Skyline usually collects about 16 units at each blood drive.
Forensics Events Original Oration - competitors deliver an original factual speech on a subject of their choosing. Informative Speech - uses descriptions, demonstrations, vivid detail, and definitions to explain a subject, person, or place the audience wants to understand. Oral Interpretation of Poetry - vocally expressing the meaning of written compositions, especially of literature. Oral Interpretation of Prose - a non-memorized event which competitors choose a piece of work that is a sad or humorous solo that is done in first person. Duet Acting - an acting pair performs an eight to twelve minute scene, typically using only two characters. Serious Solo Acting - a cutting from serious drama or other literature adapted to the dramatic format with narrative transitions. Humorous Solo Acting - a humorous or funny drama or literature that is acted. Improvised Duet Acting - improvised acting duet that is intended to be improvised by the duet. Extemporaneous Speech - spoken, performed speech that was made without planning or preparation.
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April 17, 2015
AFTER PROM
CARNIVAL GAMES Trying to put an M&M on a straw, junior Alex Lutz focuses hard on making sure it stays on. This was part of the Minute To Win It game. After a winner passed each phased he or she was able to win a $5 to $25 gift card. Alex Lutz, 11
Rolling the ball, junior Avery Jones plays the carnival game Bank Shot at After Prom. There were seven games that people were able to play and win tokens. All guests were not able to win tokens. Avery Jones, 11
Jousting each other, freshman Sydney Koirth and sophomore Emily Estes find out who can knock the other person off the balance board first. This was one of many things that kids were able to do while at After Prom.
Sydney Koirth, 9 & Emily Estes, 10
Sliding down, senior Colin Little makes his way out of the inflatable course. The senior class was grouped into four groups and each of them had to see who had the fastest team. The winners got a $5 gift card from Sonic.
Colin Little, 12
Getting the Ping Pong ball, junior Ashley Mead tries to get them in two cooking pans. The contestant had to get four in a row in one pan and then three in a row for the other pan. Ten balls were given to each player to win.
Ashley Mead, 11
Feature
Masquerade Prom by Colin Little
Reporter
Prom was hosted by the junior class and the sponsors were Jane Melroy and Summer Younie. The event took place on Saturday and the theme was Mardi Gras. The junior class had Friday to decorate for Prom. The Promenade started at 6 p.m. at the Elks. When people first walked in to the Elks they had to vote for Prom king and queen. The dinner followed. Chicken Alfredo, green beans, shrimp, and cornbread muffin with honey butter were for supper and chocolate mousse pudding was for dessert. When they finished eating junior class president Betsy Giles announced the Prom king and queen. Seniors Dustin Weber and Madison Golden were the winners. Principal Herb McPherson gave out the senior prophecies, and senior Katherine Ghumm read the junior wills. After that was done, juniors and seniors took class pictures and then the dance started. “I enjoyed Prom because I was able to hang out and see everyone,” sophomore server Matthew Giles said.
At 11 p.m. Prom was over and it was time for After Prom. Everyone was able to go somewhere to change cloths while the juniors and sponsors cleaned up before going out to Skyline. There were inflatables, name that tune, Hungry Hungry Hippos and Minute to Win It. There were four colors of bracelets the guests were able to wear. Each color put a person in a group and they were assigned a specific station for 25 minutes. Then the group got to play carnival games and tried to win tokens that could be exchanged for prizes. There were three levels of prizes “I liked being able to do the inflatables,” junior Alex Lutz said. “Jousting Hallee and running the inflatable obstacle course were my favorite things to do.” At the end of After Prom people were able to get big prizes like a laptop, Keurig, televisions, headphones, iHome devices and luggage. “I was hoping to either get the Xbox One or a laptop,” senior Levi Johnston said. “Instead I got some nice red luggage that will come in handy in the future.”
Rolling a tennis ball, senior Khaleb Cason plays skeeball. The object of the game was to get the tennis balls up the ramp and land on the targets. The higher the score you got, the more tokens you were able to receive. Khaleb Cason, 12
Blowing off balloons, junior Payje Orler tries to knock off all the cups before her minute is up. Each person had to get a new balloon and blow up and fill it with as much air as he or she could, then knock off all the cups before a minute.
Payje Orler, 11
photos by Rance Tucker
Admiring the new luggage he just won, senior Levi Johnston goes through the different bags. He had his name drawn to select a prize when After Prom was done.
Feature
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April 17, 2015
Dancing at Prom, sophomore Jared Shriver and junior Payje Orler wrap their arms around each other. The two did not go with each other, but danced as friends. Doing the Cupid Shuffle, all the attendants line up and dance together to the song. The DJ for the dance played a variety of music that got everyone dancing.
Enjoying a dance together, junior Jessica DeWeese and senior Daniel Hacker slow dance to a song. This was the couples second year going to Prom together. Passing out drinks before the meal, sophomore server Matthew Giles asks whether students would like to have iced tea or water. Other servers were sophomores Emily Estes, Brynn McKennon, Mason Brack, Garrett Bell and Jarod DeWeese.
Asking for a refill, junior Lucas Cason has sophomore server Garrett Bell give him more water during the meal. The students were served chicken alfredo with green beans and cornbread.
photos by Rance Tucker
Feature
April 17, 2015
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Pictures from the
Photo Booth
photos by Andrew Withers, Daniel Hacker and Tyler Tobin
booth. Everything else donated came from individuals or other businesses. Parents also volunteered time and resources to help with all of the stations to help make the day successful. “I thought the picnic went really good but we couldn’t have done it without all of the volunteers and the sponsors that donated products, food and money,” event organizer Anita DeWeese said. “I heard lots of giggling and laughing so I hope everyone had fun.” First grade mother Diane House assisted DeWeese with the planning of the event. DeWeese said the committee and parents hope to make this an annual event for all the Skyline community.
1. Grade school students chat over lunch at the all-school picnic. Hamburgers were served along with chips and beans to students and staff. 2. Three students pet and play with baby chicks. The chicks were part of a petting zoo set up near the home bleachers. 3. Waiting for their balloons to be aired up, first grader Caitlin Culver and fourth grader Kadi Anschutz watch Tonya Harrison make balloon figures. 4. Juniors Betsy Giles, Alyssa Allphin and Hannah Baird paint faces for the all-school picnic. Students could choose from several designs. 5. Stopping at one of the events at the picnic, two students watch the farm animals in the pen. There was a horse, a sheep, a cow, a pig and two alpaccas in the enclosure. 6. Feeding her lamb, junior Jessica DeWeese tempts it with its bottle. DeWeese is raising this sheep, Pickles, for 4-H. 5
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April 17, 2015
Sports
Track attends first meets of the year
by Justin Hampel
Reporter
The Skyline track team attended their first two track meets of the year at Kinsley, and then Pretty Prairie. At Kinsley the boys finished seventh out of eight teams and the girls finished second. Three girls earned a first place finish and four athletes achieved a second place finish. The girls 4x100 team also finished first and the girls 4x800 team finished second. Junior Betsy Giles won the 100 meter hurdles, junior Jessica DeWeese won the 200 meter dash, and freshman Sydney Koirth won the 100 meter
dash. “I was very pleased with how we started out the season,” coach Summer Younie said. At Pretty Prairie the boys finished second out of five teams and the girls also finished second. Two boys and two girls received first place medals. Senior Blake Lee won the discus competition and senior Dustin Weber won the 110 meter hurdles. Freshman Madison Tyler won the high jump and DeWeese won the 100 meter and 200 meter races and she also placed first in discus. Both the boys and girls teams won the 4x100
Senior Daniel Hacker competes in long jump at the Pretty Prairie track meet. Hacker did not medal in the event but he medaled in javelin and shot put. The boys placed second overall.
photo by Andrew Withers
and the boys also won the 4x400. Three more boys and three girls received second place finishes. “I thought we worked hard and did the best we
could in the cold weather,” sophomore Kamryn Stark said. The T-Birds next meet is at Norwich on March 24. The first events begin at 3 p.m.
Junior Miranda Ghumm
Junior Bryce McKennon
Why are you doing track? It’s a way to get out of school and stay in shape. I also like socializing.
Why are you doing track? I am doing track because I like to stay in shape for other sports.
What is your favorite part about track? My favorite part would have to be everyone cheering together for our teammates.
What is your favorite part about track? Socializing with friends.
How long have you been doing track? I’ve been doing track since freshman year.
How long have you been doing track? I did track for two years in middle school and I’ve done track for three years in high school.
What events are you in? I do high jump, long jump, 2 mile, 800 m, and 4x8.
What events are you in? Triple jump, 4x8, 200 m, and 4x4.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is either high jump or the 800 m.
What is your favorite event? Triple jump.
What is your goal for this year? To jump high, long, and run fast.
What is your goal for this year? My goal this year is to PR at every meet.
April 17, 201
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Feature
Brothers battle over who knows Golden girl best
by Mason Brack
Austin Gilpin, 12
Madison Golden, 12
Favorite Drink
Dr Pepper
Cherry Dr Pepper
Favorite Color
Blue
Purple
Favorite Food Favorite App
Mexican Instagram
Criminal Minds/Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy
Tropical
Hawaii
Bahamas
The Purge
Pretty Woman
Favorite TV Show
Criminal Minds
Dream Vacation Favorite Movie
Dill Pickle Chips Sonic Wichita State
Favorite Place To Eat
Slurping Fingers
Being Touched
Favorite Snack
Mexican
Cherry Dr Pepper Purple Mexican Instagram
Not Finishing a Sentence
Pet Peeve
Favorite Team
Kasey Gilpin, 11
Wichita State Dill Pickle Chips/Mozzarella Sticks Sonic
Wichita State Mozzarella Sticks Pretty Woman
Taco Bell
NBA role playing game catches on by Austin Gilpin
Editor
The graphics and movements are better and the rosters are updated. - Andrew Withers, 10
NBA 2k15 is the newest version of the popular sports game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2k Sports. The game has taken off across the country, including here at Skyline. As of February, the game had shipped more than 5.5 million copies. One of those copies was sold to sophomore Andrew Withers who has been playing NBA 2k games for four years. “The graphics and movements are better and the rosters are updated,” Withers said. He said the 2015 version
is better than past iterations of the game. Other improvements were added to the MyCareer mode including speaking to the team leader before and after the game, and a mentoring system where Clippers head coach Doc Rivers will tell the gamer how his player is performing. Another addition was the ability to scan the gamer’s face into the game. Using the camera on the PlayStation 4 or Kinect on the Xbox One, player’s can scan their face into the game to put on a player and make the game as realistic as possible. Students have been enjoying the MyCareer mode because it gives them the chance to better a team and
player and get a small experience of what life is like for an NBA player. “I’m in the finals with the Cavaliers in my second season,” Withers said. “My guy’s nickname is Prime Time.” Even though many have been enjoying the game, there have been a few complaints. One common complaint from professional game reviewers was the inability of defensive players to keep up with the offense. “I wish the online servers were better so I could play online with friends easier,” senior Daniel Hacker said. Even though there have been a few problems, many students felt like Withers, who said it was his favorite sports game.