Volume 40, issue 4

the

T - B ird Times Skyline High School | Volume 40, Issue 4 | April 14, 2016

photo by Sheldon Miller

Junior Ty Montgomery plays Minute to Win It games at After Prom. When a students successfully completed two of the challenges they got gift cards.

See Story on Pages 4 & 5

Page 2

News

April 14, 2016

Brothers help promote farming through video

by Caden Patterson

also been on national television.

For the videos Greg Peterson writes the lyrics, Nathan Peterson and Kendal Peterson help with the filming ideas, and Laura Peterson, their 15-year-old sister films.

Science teacher Diane House was the person who made the initial movement to get Greg here.

“I actually didn’t have any connection to them initially,” House said. “Jereme, my husband, heard them at a conference and shared what a powerful message they have for kids at a rural school such as ours. I made contact with Greg via his email.”

Getting one brother to present usually costs $1,500, but Greg graciously reduced his price to $500. A private donor, via the foundation, covered the entire cost, so it didn’t cost the school a dime.

Editor A fifth generation farmer from Assaria, Kans., came to Skyline for an assembly.

The Peterson Farm Brothers make parody videos to promote the impact that farmers have on everyone around the world.

The brothers primarily raise beef cattle and grow corn, alfalfa and forage sorghum to feed to their cows.

They decided they needed to start promoting agriculture and decided to do it on YouTube. Initially, their video was for family and friends, but then it took off on YouTube and many people around the world started watching.

The brothers have traveled all around the world to talk about farming and where food really comes from. They have

One of the main points that Greg covered in his presentation was the accurate way things are ran around their ranch.

“We are a rural district and most of our patrons are connected to agriculture either through the family farm/ranch or with a family member working in ag service,” House said. “It’s imperative that we are telling the story of farming and ranching. If we don’t, someone else will, and most of the time their version is inaccurate and a negative portrayal of agriculture.”

Hoping to help students sharpen their skills on agriculture, Skyline has decided to convert the current shop program and start a vocational agriculture program, along with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. To be a member of FFA, you must be taking at least one agriculture class.

Upcoming Events All-School Picnic April 20, 2016 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

High School Achievement Banquet April 21, 2016 6 p.m.-8:30 a.m.

K-6 Play Day May 5, 2016 12:30 p.m.3:30 p.m.

School Carnival May 5, 2016 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

High School Graduation May 8, 2016 4 p.m.

Last Day of School May 11, 2016 11:30 a.m.

Congratulations to the 2016-17 Cheerleaders Madison Adams, 9 Abby Ailstock, 9 Kayley Cook, 9 Kami McComb, 9 Katelynn McGraw, 8 Erik Ghumm, 9

April 14, 2016

News

Page 3

Science students compete at Fort Hays State

by Andrew Withers

Reporter In Science Olympiads, students represent their school by putting their skills into use through 13 different tests against other Kansas schools.

The competitions are conducted through tests and the event was held at Fort Hays State University. Students involved were seniors Colin Kumberg and Kasey Gilpin, junior Jarod DeWeese, and sophomores Carson Lee and Madison Tyler.

TARGET teacher Brenda Piester was proud of the performance due to the fact that students had little time to practice and the high school

science program had been in a different format this year. The results included 11 events placing within the top ten. The highest place being second in Chemistry Lab. “I’ve done Science Olympiads all the way through middle school and high school and I chose to be in it because it looks good for scholarships,” Kumberg said.

Like many other academic competitions, experience pays off, which was the case for Kumberg, as he brought home second place in Chemistry Lab. “I like Science Olympiads a lot because it’s a good challenge and it’s nice to see how you compare with other schools,” DeWeese said.

Final Results

Anatomy and Physiology - 7th Place - Carson Lee Cell Biology- 6th Place - Colin Kumberg, Kasey Gilpin Chemistry Lab - 2nd Place - Colin Kumberg, Kasey Gilpin Disease Detectives - 6th Place - Carson Lee, Madison Tyler Dynamic Planet - 7th Place - Jarod DeWeese Experimental Design - 11th Place - Jarod DeWeese Forensics - 11th Place - Carson Lee Fossils - 7th Place - Colin Kumberg, Kasey Gilpin GeoLogic Mapping - 6th Place - Jarod DeWeese Green Generation - 5th Place - Jarod DeWeese Hydrogeology - 9th Place - Jarod DeWeese, Madison Tyler Invasive Species - 8th Place - Colin Kumberg, Kasey Gilpin Write It- Do It - 6th Place - Carson Lee, Madison Tyler

Forensics team battles to make its way to State meet

by Hallee Burgardt

Reporter The last opportunity for students to qualify for State Festival was Monday and Tuesday.

The last two regular season meets were at South Central

Monday and Pretty Prairie on Tuesday this week.

Forensics has a total of seven participants. Juniors Brynn McKennon and Trent Adams started off as first year members. Sophomores Jade Downs, Sydney Koirth and Carson Lee were out for their second year.

photo by Jessica DeWeese

Sophomore Jade Downs practices for his Prose event. Downs was one of only three participants that worked to compete at State.

Junior Jarod DeWeese was in his third and senior Jessica DeWeese participated in her fourth year. The team was sponsored by Anita DeWeese.

The team competed at Bucklin last Monday and went to the HOPL meet at Fairfield last Tuesday. They had two entries at Bucklin and six at HOPL. Anita said some teams had as many as 35-40 entries, which made it tough to compete.

Flexibility was a key component. With the students involved in so many activities it was often hard to find times to practice and meet. Many students were trying out new categories for events.

Impromptu Duet Acting, solo acting, impromptu, duet acting, prose and poetry were just a few events students participated in.

“My main focus is for each student to compete at the best

of his/her ability,” Anita said.

“All I ask of each student is to go and do his/her best every time.”

Another focus for students was to build confidence and public speaking skills.

“Everyone will have to speak in public at some point,” Anita said.

The team hoped for a successful season.

Downs and Jessica placed 5th in IDA and Jessica placed 6th in Informative with a speech about 4-H at the HOPL meet.

At the Pretty Prairie meet the team placed eighth out of 11 teams. Jessica and Jarod placed fifth in IDA. In Informative, Jessica placed sixth.

Three members qualified for State. Lee and McKennon placed third and qualified for the State competition. Downs placed third and also qualified for State in Prose.

April 14, 2016

1 3

2 4 1) Getting down, seniors Bailey DeClue, Miranda Ghumm and Hanna Baird dance the night away. The girls went to Prom for the past two years. photo by Lexie Maloney 2) Toasting to the night ahead of them, freshman Madison Adams and juniors Montana Kocher and Raul Rios clink their glasses together. They were served virgin margaritas. photo by Sarah Biettel

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3) Rocking away, senior Lucas Cason moves to the music the best way he knows how. Cason had done the worm to impress everyone with his skills. photo by Lexie Maloney

4) Enjoying the night, senior Alyssa Allphin smiles at the activities at Prom. This was Allphin’s last year attending Prom as a student. photo by Lexie Maloney 5) Dancing to the beat of the music, junior Mason Brack jives to the beat. Brack was one of the juniors who helped start the night up. photo by Lexie Maloney

A Night in Paradise

6) Doing the wobble, juniors Emily Estes and Jarod DeWeese and sophomore Brittaney Smith kick off the dance with one of the first songs of the night.

DeWeese and Estes helped set up Prom, while Smith was one of the servers photo by

Lexie Maloney

Senior Kasey Gilpin and his date Madison Golden. photo by Raul Ramirez

Junior Drew Thornburg and her date Jacob Amerine. photo by Raul Ramirez

Seniors Betsy Giles and Colin Kumberg. photo by Raul Ramirez

(

Feature

Page 5

Racing to finish, junior Brynn McKennon uses her facial muscles to complete a Minute to Win It challenge. The challenge was called Cookie Face.

Bouncing back, sophomore Brittaney Smith struggles to place a bag down on an inflatable.

Smith was competing her cousin.

Getting a beat down, freshman Kayla Flora gets pummeled by freshman Kami McComb. The two were dates to attendees.

Struggling to hang on, sophomore Jade Downs clings to a mechanical bull’s rope. This was his first year attending After Prom.

After Prom photos by Sheldon Miller

)

by Miranda Ghumm

After

Prom

Prom is supposed to be a Reporter magical time for every high schooler, and the juniors decided that “A Night in Paradise” was the theme to make it so.

A lot of the students brought dates from outside of Skyline, but they had as good a time as anyone else.

“Considering it was my first Prom, it was just as enjoyable as taking someone from our school,” junior Kendall Davidson said.

Among all the new faces were Skyline’s own newbies. Several of the attendees took freshmen as dates.

“I didn’t get to go to the dinner, but the dancing was fun,” freshman Kami McComb said. “Dancing with Bailey was really fun.”

McComb’s date was sophomore server Jade Downs.

Amidst all the festivities of Prom, there was also the crowning of the Prom King and Queen. Seniors Kasey Gilpin and Betsy Giles were chosen by the juniors and seniors as their royalty.

“It was the best moment of my life,” Gilpin said. “I really felt like royalty.”

Giles said that the moment was almost as good for her as it was for Gilpin.

After all the dancing, the juniors took down decorations and all those that attended had 30 minutes to make it to school for After Prom.

A big part of After Prom was the prizes that students could win from playing games. At the end of the night, sophomore servers, juniors and seniors all got a big prize.

Page 6

Sports

April 14, 2016

Track kick starts season with new coaches

by Justin Hampel

Reporter The track team began their season this month with meets at Kinsley and Pretty Prairie.

The girls have one more girl than last year with 14, but the boys have way fewer athletes than last year, dropping from 21 to 11 kids. Out of the 11 boys, there is only one senior, while the girls have four seniors.

The Kinsley meet was a strong beginning meet with the girls’ team claiming first place overall and the boys’ taking sixth. Seniors Jessica DeWeese and Betsy Giles led the girls with DeWeese taking

three first place medals and a third place, and Giles took a first, second and third medal.

Two other girls placed in the top three, along with the 4x100 meter team. The boys had three guys place in the top three as well.

They followed the Kinsley meet up with an even stronger outing at Pretty Prairie. The girls’ took first again and the boys’ improved with a second overall finish. DeWeese led the girls’ team again with four first place finishes while four other girls also placed and the 4x100 and 4x400 teams placed as well. The boys’ drastically improved in their second meet with six boys placing, along with the 4x100 and 4x800 teams.

“The first meet was a little hectic with people not know-

ing how it all worked, but we got it all figured out and it went well after that,” sophomore Sydney Koirth said.

The team had multiple coaching changes, including the previous year’s assistant, Steve Little, taking over as head coach.

“I was a track guy in high school and I was already coaching as an assistant, so when coach Nation asked if I would like the head job, I told him yeah, I’d love to,” Little said.

Along with Little, volleyball head coach Kathryn McAllister took over as assistant coach. Jason Ghumm and English teacher Morgan Ballard are helping out as well.

The next meet is April 22 at Norwich. Events start at 3 p.m.

Track Profiles

Madison Tyler, 10

Kendall Davidson, 11

Q: What are your events?

A: The three events I do regularly are high jump, 4x1, and 4x4.

Q: Why did you decide to do track?

A: Doing track was never a question. I always just knew I wanted to do it.

Q: What are your goals this year?

A: My goal this year is to place at most, if not all meets.

Q: What are the biggest challenges this year?

A: The biggest challenge this year is probably change in coaching.

Everyone is adjusting well, but it’s still a major change.

Q: How do you feel things are going with the new coaches?

A: Coaching hasn’t changed as far as throwing goes, but jumping events....

Q: Would you define track more as an individual or team sport?

A: Track is more individual because you have the opportunity to excel more in events you do individually. When you’re on a relay you have to rely on your teammates, but you’re personal performance makes a huge difference.

Q: What are your events?

A: This year my events range from long jump to the hurdles to the two mile.

Q: Why did you decide to do track?

A: So I could do something to stay in shape for cross country.

Q: What are your goals this year?

A: I want to medal at my events at least every other track meet.

Q: What are the biggest challenges this year?

A: The biggest challenge is the size of the boys’ team. We don’t have a lot of guys, which is not a good thing.

Q: How do you feel things are going with the new coaches?

A: They are way better than last year. I feel like I get more help with my events.

Q: Would you define track more as an individual or team sport?

A: Definitely a team sport because you don’t win if you don’t have a good team.

Kinsley

Cade Swonger- 3rd- 100 m Jared Shriver- 2nd- 800 m Brady McComb- 2nd- Shotput Jessica DeWeese-1st- 100 m

-1st- 200 m

-1st- Long Jump

-3rd- Discuss Sydney Koirth-3rd- 100 m Betsy Giles-1st- Triple Jump

-2nd- 110 m hurdles

-3rd- 300 m hurdles Madison Tyler- 3rd- High Jump Girls 4x100 m (Giles, Koirth, Tyler, Kayley Cook)- 2nd Girls- 1st overall Boys- 6th overall

Pretty Prairie

Cade Swonger- 3rd- 200 m Jared Shriver- 2nd- 800 m

-2nd- Triple Jump Brady McComb- 3rd- 400 m

-3rd- Shot Put Matthew Giles- 1st- 300 m hurdles

-2nd- 110 m hurdles Kendall Davidson- 2nd- 300 m hurdles

-3rd- 110 m hurdles Carson Lee- 3rd- Javelin Boys 4x100 m (Swonger, Shriver, McComb, Jon Wiltshire)- 1st Boys 4x800 m (Davidson, Garrett Bell, Colby Shriver, Dalton Kenworthy)- 2nd Jessica DeWeese-1st- 100 m

-1st- 200 m

-1st- Long Jump

-1st- Discuss Sydney Koirth- 1st- Shotput

-2nd- 100 m

-3rd- Javelin Betsy Giles- 1st- 110 m hurdles

-1st- 300 m hurdles Madison Tyler- 3rd- High Jump

-2nd- 400 m

-2nd- Triple Jump Miranda Ghumm- 3rd- High Jump Girls 4x100 m (Giles, Koirth, Tyler, Kayley Cook)- 2nd Girls 4x400 m (Bailey DeClue, Kamryn Stark, Hallee Burgardt, Kayla Flora)- 3rd Girls- 1st overall Boys- 2nd overall

April 14, 2016

News

Page 7

Wildfire creates chaos in surrounding areas

by MiKayla Hager

Reporter A massive fire ignited on March 27 in Oklahoma and it continued to spread all the way into the state of Kansas.

The fire lasted three days.

About 450,000 acres were burned in both states. There were approximately 1,000 structures threatened by the fire.

Twelve people were sent to the nursing homes and two people were sent to the hospital. There were no human deaths in the fire, but there were many cattle that died.

Most of the cattle died of pneumonia from breathing in so much smoke.

Freshman Gracie Bricker

was a member of one of the families that had to evacuate her home because the fire got so close.

“A lot of people have pitched in with moving the cattle and hay and horses and belongings to try to save them from the fire,” Bricker said.

About five miles of fences were burnt around the Brickers’ farm. Around 1,600 acres were also burnt near their farm.

Several homes and bridges were burned in both states.

The strong shifting winds made it very hard to control where the fire traveled to. The enormous fire was the biggest recorded in Kansas and one of the biggest in the entire United States. Towards the

end of the fire, the governor of Kansas finally declared a state of emergency.

Sophomore Logan Clifton was one of the volunteer firefighters that helped out with the fire when it came near Pratt.

“Many of the fire departments were mad because the government wasn’t even trying to help with the organization of putting out the fire,” Clifton said.

He helped build fences back during and after the fire.

Although there was much chaos during the fire, the firefighters, with the help from other firefighters from surrounding counties in both states, managed to put out the fire with great success.

photo courtesy of Cathy Colborn

photo courtesy of Cathy Colborn

photo courtesy of Gracie Bricker

photo courtesy of Gracie Bricker

Page 8

News

April 14, 2016

Band, choir advance to State Music Festival

by Kamryn Stark

Reporter

SHS Band & Choir Dallas Itinerary

The Skyline High School band and choir have both competed and performed many times for the school year.

On March 8, band and choir both traveled to League Music Festival held in Norwich. The band performed two songs, “Rough Riders” and “Symphonic Journey.” The pieces received straight ones.

The choir sang “Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind” and “Go Ye into All the World” and those received straight twos.

There were also students who performed solos as well as

ensembles that day.

“We did good at League, but I wouldn’t say exceptional,” band and choir instructor Bob Lee said. “We like to look at League as a stepping stone for Regionals.”

The band and choir both traveled to Larned on April 2 to compete in the KSHSAA Regional Solo and Ensemble to try and advance to State.

Band and choir combined had a total of 30 entries at Regionals. Forty-five people went, which was 40 percent of the high school that participated.

Twelve of those 30 entries qualified for State.

The soloist who qualified

were senior Betsy Giles on Flute and junior Brynn McKennon on Trumpet.

Vocal soloist were seniors Briana Neifert and Miranda Ghumm, juniors Ashley Niblett and Trent Adams, sophomores Carson Lee and Jade Downs and freshman Cassidy Corbet.

The Trumpet Ensemble of freshmen Adison Hampton, Cassidy Corbet and Dalton Kenworthy, sophomores Hallee Burgardt and Joshua Nelson and junior Brynn McKennon also qualified for State.

The Trombone Ensemble of senior Bailey DeClue, ju-

Friday, April 15th 6 a.m.

Depart for Dallas, Texas 12 p.m.

Lunch Stop 2 p.m.

Arrive Dallas- Hotel Check-in 3 p.m.

Depart Hotel 3:30 p.m.

AT&T Stadium Tour 6:15 p.m.

Texas Rangers Baseball Game 10:15 p.m. Depart from Stadium Saturday, April 16th 7:15 a.m.

Breakfast at Hotel 8:30 a.m.

Depart for Six Flags over Texas 9 a.m.

Arrive Six Flags over Texas 11 a.m.

Band Performance in Six Flags 11:30 a.m. Choir Performance in Six Flags 8:30 p.m.

Depart for Hotel Sunday, April 17th 8:30 a.m.

Breakfast at Hotel 9:15 a.m.

Load Buses 10 a.m.

Dallas Aquarium 11:30 a.m.

Depart for Galleria Shopping Center 2:30 p.m.

Depart for Home 6 p.m.

Supper Stop 10:30 p.m.

Arrive Home

niors Matthew Giles and Jared Shriver, sophomore Corbin Keeling, and freshman Kayla Flora also qualified for State.

Lastly, the all senior Flute Quartet of Betsy Giles, Miranda Ghumm, Briana Neifert and Payje Orler made it to State for the fourth time.

“I feel accomplished and excited to be going to State for the fourth time in high school,” Neifert said. “We are very self-sufficient and hardworking, so it’s nice to see all of our hard work pay off.”

The students who qualified for State individually and in ensembles will perform on April 23 in Salina.