February Issue 2014

1000 Borgia Drive

Going deutsch outlining the exchange of borgia, german students

A New Way to Make the Grade Pg. 11

www.borgianews.com

“Borgia really taught me how to survive in the real world!”

Students, Borgia alums weigh in on how Borgia helped them succeed on page 19!

If You Liked It Then You Should’ve Put A Ring On It Pg. 7 March Issue-Volume 1-Issue 32 December 2013-Volume 1-Issue

news magazine

The Outlet

CONTENTS {this just in 3 5 6

1818 classes Borgia fest quickly approaching Behind the scenes

11 A new way to make the grade 19 Succeeding starts early

{entertainment 7

If you like it then you should’ve put a ring on it

6

Adviser

Mrs. Dana Marquart

13 The Outlet iPod

{sports

20 Book reviews

15

{feature 8

Schooling in the new world

10

Zhea wanders the globe

14

Building a career, one rubber band at a time

16

15

The road to nationals

Editor in Chief Emily Price Design Editor Emma Darling Business Manager Katelyn Skaggs

Ballin’ Walton

Copy Editor J.T. Buchheit

{opinion 23 Not dead yet

Staff Writers Natalie Baker Don Engemann Jacob Grellner Chelsea Hill Cameron Rolf Nathan Snodgrass

The Outlet is published quarterly by the students of the Newspaper Journalism class at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School, 1000 Borgia Drive, Washington, MO 63090. The purpose of the newspaper is to provide the school community with information concerning school news and events and to provide a practical journalism experience to the students enrolled in the class. The Outlet is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and Sponsors of School Publications.

Editorial Content All editorials, known as columns, receive a byline and are the opinion of that writer. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper jounralism class or the administration of SFBRHS. Any suggestions for guest commentators should be directed toward Emily Price, Editor in Chief.

Advertisement Advertisements are paid for and purchased by companies. They are solicited by The Outlet staff. Advertisements fund production costs and Web site maintenance. Advertisments vary in price, depending on the size. The Outlet staff can design an ad if needed. If you would like to advertise in The Outlet, please contact Dana Marquart, adviser.

JUNIORS, SENIORS GET A HEAD START ON COLLEGE Katelyn Skaggs

Outlet Business manager

For more than 25 years, Borgia has offered a way for its juniors and seniors to get a head start on college classes.

Juniors and seniors are given the option to take “1818” courses though Saint Louis University for college credit.

Upperclassmen at Borgia are offered 14 different 1818 classes. If students want to take one of these college classes, they must maintain a 3.0 GPA and be accompanied by a teacher recommendation.

The 1818 English classes offered are Process of Composition, Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research, Introduction to Literary Studies and Introduction to Drama.

The history classes are American History II and Honors American History I and II. Science classes are Honors Biology II and Honors Chemistry II. The foreign language classes are Spanish III and IV, taught by David Stores. Also offered are German III and IV, taught by Manuela Schmitt. Calculus is the only 1818 math class offered.

Mrs. Patty Russell has been in charge of helping students sign up for 1818 classes for the past five years at Borgia.

Russell also teaches the 1818 classes Introduction to Literary Studies and Introduction to Drama.

“They are very popular. We probably have close to 200 students each year who take college credit classes,” noted Russell. “It’s a good way to get a start on their basic requirements for college.”

Every 1818 class follows the honors grading scale and has a set of rules established in the course syllabus. Mr. Andrew Allen, who teaches Honors Chemistry II, holds his

1818 students to a higher standard than his normal classes.

“I think the biggest difference is there is no mandatory homework for the 1818, because typically you wouldn’t have mandatory homework in a college chemistry class. We cover more material and go more in-depth on material,” he said.

During first semester Allen only gave his students three tests that accounted for 50 percent of the students’ grades.

“I like them to get a sense of what college is going to be like in the classroom before they get there,” commented Allen.

Austin Gildehaus, senior, is currently taking Honors Biology II, taught by Mr. Jon Noelker. This is Gildehaus’ first time taking a 1818 class.

“I decided to take Honors Biology II because when I went to Mrs. McGowan last winter to discuss classes for my senior year, she recommended it because of me wanting to major in teaching,” said Gildehaus. “I also wanted to take it to make my schedule in college a little bit easier.”

Senior Carissa Kulpa is currently enrolled in Honors American History II, Honors Biology II and Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research. In preparing for college, Kulpa decided to take 1818 classes.

“I will be attending Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. next fall, and because of my 1818 classes, I will be going in as a second-semester freshman,” Kulpa shared.

Students are not required to take any 1818 classes while at Borgia; however, they are encouraged by many teachers.

The , Outlet | 3

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BORGIA FEST Quickly

APPROACHING

FBLA Ted Drewes Ice Cream Music Association Soda Athletic association bbq art club face painting

NATHAN SNODGRASS

Outlet Staff Writer

For example, Mike Kruse, director of Borgia Fest will soon own the cammaintenance, is responsible for electricity pus of St. Francis Borgia Regional High on campus during the event.

School. Behind the scenes, an entire year “It’s almost down to an art,” said Wingof planning and coordination smoothly bermuehle.

“Everyone pretty much knows unites into the trademark community what they have to do.” event.

A couple weeks following Borgia Fest, Borgia Fest is one of the school’s the committee books and coordinates the premier methods of reaching out to both musical performances for the next Borgia alumni and the Washington community. It Fest event. This year, the Healthy Lifeinvites local parishes, schools and commustyles band gSilentG will nity organizations to get involved. make an appear“Borgia Fest is something families and ance on people can the Borgia come back to “It’s almost down to an art. Fest stage, Borgia for because it is not Everyone pretty much knows along with other bands. tied to any what they have to do.”

Musical single event,” accompanisaid president - George Wingbermuehle ment is not the George Wingonly highlight of bermuehle.

Borgia Fest. The Borgia Theatre An entire Department will host an improv show, year’s worth of planning and design is which consists of certain Borgia thespirequired in order to host a Borgia Fest. ans performing improvisational acts. The Wingbermuehle continued, “We start Athletic Association also organizes the planning for next year’s Borgia Fest the “Duane Haddox Memorial Soccer Game.” day after this year’s.”

Grade schools, parish organizations A committee of approximately 20 and the clubs of Borgia have the opportumembers are responsible for Borgia Fest’s nity to host their own fundraising booths success. Each member is delegated an area at Borgia Fest. of responsibility.

For instance, every year the Athletic Association hosts a barbecue booth accompanied by the Music Association, which hosts a soda booth. FBLA sells Ted Drewes Ice Cream, and the Art Club provides face painting. Local parishes also have an opportunity to participate.

According to Wingbermuehle, “About half of our partner schools have a booth.”

The location of these booths and musical accompaniment will have a change of scenery as well. With the installment of the new parking lot on the east side of the school building, the two-day community event will no longer be on grass, but blacktop.

Wingbermuehle believes this will wildly improve the atmosphere and feel of Borgia Fest. In the past, April showers annually paid a visit to the event. Rain would saturate the grass where the booths and performance stage were located.

The newly constructed pavilion and parking lot will be utilized to their full potential this year, even if April showers show up. Wingbermuehle said, “There will be no more ‘Mud Fest.’ We used to have to set up the big tent, but now with the pavilion, we don’t need to worry about that.”

Borgia Fest 2014 will take place April 26-27 on the campus of St. Francis Borgia High School.

The Outlet | 5

BORGIA THEATRE:

Behind the Scenes J.T. Buchheit

Outlet Copy Editor Four times a year, Borgia puts on a play. The students who act in the plays are featured prominently and congratulated heartily at the end. But the parts of the plays that many students aren’t exposed to occur behind the scenes.

The students who work the technical facets of a show, often affectionately referred to as “techies,” make sure the play runs smoothly for both the actors and the audience.

“They make sure everything goes perfectly,” said sophomore actor Ethan Kleekamp, “and it’s great because they make the sets and it’s cool going into the theater and seeing how much they’ve done.

It’s pretty awesome.”

Many students who work in the technical part of theatre don’t mind the audience not focusing on them.

“If I wanted to be in the spotlight, I’d be an actor,” said production stage manager Tyler Jacquin, junior.

Jacquin oversees most of the technical work in the theater.

“I have to keep track to who comes to tech rehearsals, help with anything and keep people on task,” he said.

Not everybody who is in tech works on the same things. There are multiple categories. One of the technical categories

6 | The Outlet

involves costumes and stage makeup.

“The costumes crew has to order the costumes if we’re going to be renting them or buying them, or collecting them if we are getting them from our closet. They also control makeup, which includes stage makeup and special effects makeup, such as scars, bruises, etc,” said junior Lauren Lochirco.

Another technical role is the props department. Brenna Michels is one of the students who works in this category.

“We look at the things we need throughout the script and see what different things we need to use and ask people if they have certain items or if they need to go to thrift stores,” said Michels. “Sometimes we’ll have to decide if we’ll actually have to make them. It’s a lot of collaboration and creative thinking with other people in your crew,” she explained.

Two closely related technical aspects are the light and sound departments. Senior Andrew Feltmann has a lot of experience working the lights.

“We hang different types of lights and focus them and gel them,” he said. “We also cut the lights if needed. There are levers on each side of the light called shutters, and if you push them in, it will cut the light’s image to a square instead of a circle.

One light technician, usually the production stage manager, usually designs the lights.”

The sound crew, fittingly, works on the sounds. But there are also specific duties they must perform.

“We have to figure out what sounds we need, then figure out where they have to go in the script,” said junior Brendin Rogers.

“Some productions have pre-made sounds on a disc. If they’re not pre-made, we have to find something to either generate the sounds or get them ourselves. Then we fit them in the order they need to go in the script.”

Finally, there are the people who work construction. They mold the whole set and form the physical base for the show itself.

“Our tech director tells us what image Mr. Buchheit is going for with the script,” said sophomore Elona Ratcliff. “We start with the basics of the set, like measuring and cutting, and after that we just keep adding more and more. Then the last thing we do is the painting.”

Tech is a vital but often overlooked part of theatre, and many students are hesitant to participate in something they know little about. But the crew would be eager to receive new blood.

“Just apply,” said Lochirco. “We can use as many people as we can get.”

Emily Price

Outlet Editor-In-Chief

IF Y U LIKED IT THEN Y U SH ULD’VE PUT A RING N IT Borgia has many age-old, honored traditions. And like any was in school. He then elaborated on the traditions of class rings other, the tradition of receiving class rings as a junior at SFBRHS at Borgia during his high school career. has been going on here at Borgia for decades. And decades ago,

“When I received my class ring, the ceremony

it was Borgia’s very own teachers who were receiving their class was held in the evening and called rings. This tradition has truly been one through the ages, and our ‘Ring Night.’ A tradition of getting a class teachers and other Borgia alums on the staff are proud to

ring was that you tried to have your ring share what has become of their class rings. turned on your finger by other people the One of Borgia’s youngest teachers, Kayla number Kimminau, graduated Borgia not-so-many of times that corresponded to your years ago and is already back. Except

class year (in my case, that was 81 times as I this time she’s teaching. Teaching

was in the class of 1981).” math class, to be exact. And Rob Struckhoff, another of Borgia’s sciKimminau revealed she does indeed ence teachers, shared that he too purchased a still have her class ring.

Borgia class ring.

“Although I don’t wear it any “Yes, I did receive a class ring. It was the more, I still have it,” said Kimm traditional thing to do and almost everybody inau. “I got a class ring from Borgia

got one,” reminisced Struckhoff. “I actually because I felt like it was a nice way

don’t know where it is now,” Struckhoff to remember my high school years.”

laughed. “Probably in my parents’ basement - Ray Meyer At the opposite end of the staff at somewhere.”

Borgia, a little farther out of high school, is

History teacher Judy Kandlbinder is another Ray Meyer. Mr. Meyer too is a faculty member

Borgia alum who no longer has her class ring that she who is a Borgia alum who still has his class ring. received; however, her reason is different.

“I only wore it for about a week, then I gave it to my girl“I got a class ring when I was a junior at Borgia,” said Kandlfriend,” laughed Meyer. He continued, “And now she’s my wife. binder. “I am glad I got a ring because when my oldest daughter So she still has it.” was a junior here she asked to have my ring. I gave it to her and While Meyer gave his ring on to his wife, science teacher Jon she used it as her class ring. So that was kind of neat.”

Noelker still has his.

No matter what has become of their rings, most Borgia alums “I did receive a class ring and I still have it,” said Noelker. He are very glad they chose to purchase a class ring as a memento went on to tell that almost everyone received class rings when he from their high school careers.

The Outlet | 7

“I only wore (my ring) for about a week, then I gave it to my girlfriend...and now she’s my wife. So she still has it.”

GOING Chelsea Hill & Tommy Ruether Outlet Staff Writers

Over 4,680 miles, seven time zones and one ocean away, two Borgia students continue their education. Francesca Schmitt and Claire Stites, juniors, are spending their third year of high school in Washington's sister city, Marbach am Neckar, Germany.

The school the girls attend is known as Fredrich-Schiller-Gymnasium International Fellowship Class, or IFC. “Each year, IFC specially reserves places for exchange students from Washington, because it is their sister city.â€? Mrs. Sandy Siess informed. %RUJLD VWDUWHG VHQGLQJ NLGV RYHU LQ WKH ÂżUVW ZDV 7DUD 3DN 2YHU WKH \HDUV WKH SURJUDP KDV EHHQ OLPLWHG MXVW WR students in their third year. Âł:H WULHG VHQGLQJ VHQLRUV RYHU ´ 6LHVV FRQWLQXHG ÂłEXW LW EHFDPH WRR H[SHQVLYH ZKHQ WKH\ WULHG WR Ă€\ EDFN DQG IRUWK IRU Christmas, prom and graduation.â€? )UDQFHVFD DQG &ODLUH OLNH DOO H[FKDQJH VWXGHQWV GLG QRW MXVW WDNH WKH ÂżUVW SODQH RYHU WR *HUPDQ\ WKH\ ÂżUVW ZHQW WKURXJK an application process. According to Siess, the girls applied in winter. They were then interviewed by the IFC's principal and another teacher that travels over to Borgia with the German students in the spring. Along with the girls, Siess is interviewed by the director of the school.

2QFH WKH\ SDVVHG WKLV SURFHVV WKH JLUOV WRRN ÀLJKW LQ 6HSWHPEHU DQG HQWHUHG D QHZ ZRUOG HTXLSSHG ZLWK LWV own obstacles and transitions.

Surrounded by 2,500 students coming from countries as far as Finland, Tanzania, and Argentina, ,)& LVQ W TXLWH OLNH WKH VPDOO %RUJLD FRPPXQLW\ WKH\ DUH XVHG WR "In our school here," said Stites, "there are kids from the 5th grade on up, and they are always running around and climbing on things!" $ORQJ ZLWK D ODUJHU QXPEHU RI VWXGHQWV ,)& DOVR GRHV QRW KDYH D Âż[HG VFKRRO schedule. That, however, may not be a bad thing, according to Claire.

"The school schedules here allow for more time to pursue what I'm interested in and spend time getting to know the interesting people around me," Stites shared.

Minneapolis

Chicago

St. Louis 8 | The Outlet

Boston new york city

Philadelphia

The United States

Deutsch Hamburg

School work isn’t the only change. The time difference is another major adjustment.

"By the time Borgia gets out of school, it is 10 p.m. here," says Schmitt. "This makes communicating with people back home a little complicated.

However, it has forced me to get out there and integrate myself into my new community."

Berlin

Deutschland Dortmund

Brandenb

Duesseldorf

Frankfurt

Bayern

Homesickness, presumably a major obstacle, doesn’t stop these adventurers. “Everyone was so welcoming that I didn’t have a chance to be homesick,� Stites revealed.

Stites and Schmitt are often asked what motivated them to take this big step and both unanimously agree that the idea behind the exchange and the experience offered intrigued them.

Schmitt recalled, "I had the hope that I would be able to experience life from a different perspective. At the time, , KDG SHRSOH WHOOLQJ PH WR XVH P\ \RXWK WR ÂżQG P\VHOI DQG , FDQ W VD\ WKDW , KDYH KDG DQ\ deep revelations yet, but I have recognized myself as a different person."

Stites had a different motivation. “For me, the biggest motivation was the program itself that I applied to. I think the idea of bring several cultures all WRJHWKHU LV VXFK D XQLTXH FRQFHSW LQ D IRUHLJQ H[FKDQJH , KDGQ W KHDUG LI DQ\ SURJUDP OLNH LW ´ Bringing their American ways into a classroom of world cultures is exactly what these girls have done, and both agree it is the best decision they have ever made.

"This experience forces you away from your rut,� Schmitt explained, “and challenges you to explore all that you have to offer the world and all it has to offer you,"

Marbach

Baden wuerttemberg

Muenchen

The Outlet | 9

LIKES Zhea likes playing chess, surfing the web and spending time with friends and family. She loves Facebook!

DISLIKES Zhea hates raisins and when people disrespect elders.

Zhea Wanders the World Natalie Baker

Outlet Staff Writer

Differences Zhea says that America is colder than the Philippines and people are more casual to each other.

10| The Outlet

MEMORIES “The other night, I made dinner for my host family.

They really liked it!� Zhea exclaimed.

A NEW WAY TO MAKE THE GRADE Complete grade overhaul on the horizon J.T. Buchheit

Outlet Copy Editor

Students have always worried about their grades, and getting a paper back can result in people pumping their fists in victory or sobbing in despair. But the specific reason for one receiving a low grade was never obvious. Principal Kevin Mabie aims to change that.

Mabie arrived at Borgia armed with a plan to improve the school. He is working to overhaul the grading system in order to help students learn more efficiently.

“Instead of putting assignments in the gradebook, the teachers will put learning goals in the book,” Mabie explained.

“The grades will be based on a rubric that describes what it looks like when a student knows or is able to do a skill very well.”

Not all subjects contain the same requirements. Different skills are needed in order to improve grades in different subjects.

“Let’s say you got an 89 on an essay. You got a nine out of 10 on how to use quotes and an eight out of 10 on how to write a thesis. It’s not a single grade for the entire assignment,” said Mabie.

Mabie’s reason for implementing this concept is for students to be more aware of precisely what they need to personally work on in a given subject.

“There’s no guarantee of what students learn in a course.

We know they’re learning, and we’re confident we’re sending well-prepared students on to college,” said Mabie. “However, I want guarantees, and this system will guarantee that students are learning. It sets up a school-wide system.”

“For instance, if a student has a low grade in a class, I can look at the gradebook and say ‘OK, you had a bad quiz.’ In the future I’ll be able to look at the gradebook and help them with that specific skill. It’s about learning the skill more than it is completing the assignment.”

The system will not be used by the entire school until 2016; currently, only freshmen use this grading system. One of the teachers who uses it is English teacher Lindsay Riegel. “The first quarter was a bit of an adjustment,” said Riegel, “but overall, I feel it more accurately tells the abilities of students.”

Mabie is not going into this blindly. He has six years of experience teaching with this grading system.

“My students loved it because it was very clear what they had to learn and what they had to do to get an A,” said Mabie. “I found that conversations changed. Students used to come to me and ask how to get an A. Now people would come to me and say, ‘Mr. Mabie, I don’t have an A because I don’t know how to embed

a quote or construct a thesis statement.’ I think that students will learn more because of it.”

This new grading approach isn’t without its detractors, however.

“It can be a positive thing, but does require a lot of work on the teachers’ behalf,” said math teacher Rosanne Snider. “I think it also can make students lazy and irresponsible given the opportunity to redo things.”

Borgia is undergoing an educational transition like never before, and its results are yet to be seen for most of the students.

Will this be a success? The principal can answer that with his surname alone.

“There’s no

guarantee of what students learn in

a course”

The Outlet | 11

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Emily Price

Jacob Grellner

1. “2 Reasons” Trey Songz ft. T.I. 2. “Heroes” David Bowie 3. “Nobody’s Perfect” Hannah Montana 4. “You’re Gonna Miss This” Trace Adkins 5. “My Medicine” The Pretty Reckless

1. “shred or Die” Dog’s Blood 2. “Beware” Jay Z 3. “Alpha Beta Parking Lot” Cake 4. “Hurt” Johnny Cash 5. “Smoke On the Water” Deep Purple

Nathan Snodgrass Chelsea Hill 1. “Ships in the Night” Mat Kearney

1. “505” The Arctic Monkeys 2. “Show Me What I’m Looking For” Carolina Liar 2. “Let It Go” Idina Menzel 3. “Gone, Gone, Gone” Phillip Phillips 3. “Youth” Daughter 4. “Waka, Waka” Shakira 4. “Slow It Down” The Lumineers 5. “One Day” Matisyahu 5. “Teenage Dirtbag” One Direction

Tommy Ruether

Cameron Rolf

1. “Everybody’s gotta Learn Sometime” Beck 2. “Bones” the Killers 3. “1979” Smashing Pumpkins 4. “Wonderful Tonight” Eric Clapton 5. “Degausser” Brand New

Emma Darling 1. “Come Together” The Beatles 2. “Dare You to Move” Switchfoot 3. “I Don’t Want to BE” Gavin DeGraw 4. “Walk” Foo Fighters 5. “Don’t Stop Believing” Journey

Natalie Baker 1. “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” Bruce Springsteen

2. “Symphonia IX (My Wait is U)” Grimes 3. “Queen Jane Approximately” Bob Dylan 4. “Year in Silence” Crystal Castles 5. “No Wow” The Kill

Katelyn Skaggs

1. “Girls” The 1975 2. “Gimme Twice” The Royal Concept 3. “The Walker” Fitz & The Tantrums

1. “I almost Do” Taylor Swift 2. “Wanted” Hunter Hayes 3. “Downtown” Lady Antebellum 4. “Changing of the Seasons” Two dOor Cinema Club 4. “Give Me Back My Hometown” Eric Church 5. “Mr. Maker” The Kooks 5. “Timber” Pitbull FT. KeSha

t he

Ever Wonder what your favorite Outlet Staffers listen to as they tap away at their keyboards? Well, Here’s their top five favorite songs right now.

utlet iPod (in no particular order, of course)

The Outlet | 13

Building a Career, At a Time

Don Engemann

Owen Struckhoff, son of faculty member Rob Struckhoff, has begun a “career” of selling colorful bracelets made out of rubber bands, woven on a device known as a “Rainbow Loom.” He started making and selling the bracelets before Christmas and currently has made and sold about 40, some of which were sold to Borgia students.

According to Rob Struckhoff, Owen’s idea was inspired by his cousin making objects out of duct tape. He thought it would be a good idea to make and sell something to make a profit. He also wanted to impress his friends and family members, according to his father.

Owen received a Rainbow Loom from his mother as a Christmas gift. She bought it from Michaels, an arts and crafts store. A Rainbow Loom is a board with a pattern of specialized pegs that enables kids to make bracelets out of colorful rubber bands. Children can weave and crochet their own designs, along with example designs on the Rainbow Loom website. It has become very popular, according to Owen.

Owen’s mother not only purchased the loom for him, but also taught him how to use it. This provided the means and the knowledge that Owen’s idea turned into a business.

14 The Outlet

Outlet Staff Writer

Owen used this Rainbow Loom and colorful rubber bands to make his bracelets. He has sold his bracelets to friends, family members, classmates and even some of Rob Struckhoff’s very own students here at Borgia. Some of his popular designs include blue and gold for Borgia, red and white for St. Vincent’s (the school he attends) and a camouflage design for hunting enthusiasts.

Due to basketball season, Owen took a break from selling bracelets, but plans to sell more in the future. He has made a total of $150 (having charged $1-5 for each bracelet) over the past three months.

Later, his five-year-old little sister followed in his footsteps and took over the job as a new hobby.

“I think we need a reality TV show based on our family business, similar to Duck Dynasty,” joked Rob Struckhoff.

Only time will tell if Owen stays with his bracelet business. His father thinks he may have other plans besides bracelet-making, considering he is only in fifth grade.

“I think he’s going to be a banker someday,” Rob Struckhoff said. “I am proud of Owen. It’s always cool to see your kids have the ambition to start something and be productive at it. It’s a good experience for him.”

Cheer

They came. They saw. They...fell just short.

But winning wasn’t the only point according to senior cheerleader Hanna Michels.

“It was an awesome learning experience,” smiled Michels. “We went mostly for the experience.”

Of course, she’s talking about the Borgia cheerleaders’ recent trip to nationals from February 8-9 in Orlando, Florida. The excursion saw the Knights narrowly miss out on advancement to the semifinals (a team goal) by a gut-wrenchingly slim margin: two points.

As somber as that sounds, the cheerleaders nonetheless enjoyed the experience; one that included an entire day of full access to the Disney parks.

“There’s also a ‘Party in the [Disney] Park’ from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. for all the teams when nationals are over. Space mountain is calling my name,” Michels joked.

However, the journey to nationals hasn’t all been a walk in the park for the cheerleaders. From rummage sale collaborations with the Washington cheer team to restaurant fundraisers, the Borgia cheerleaders worked hard to make it to the big stage.

“A big [fundraiser] was ‘pomming’ where people paid to Pom others’ yards,” said Michels of the team’s signature fundraiser.

In the end, the national competition in Orlando was a historic mark for the Knights.

“This was the first time in Borgia history that our cheer team has ever gone to nationals,” stated Michels.

The squad exited the competition an impressive 12th in their preliminary pool.

Dance

However, the cheerleaders aren’t the only ones looking to make a statement in Florida. After an unprecedented sixth consecutive state title, members of Borgia’s Starry Knights Dance Team are looking forward to competing nationally on March 7-9 in Orlando, and they are no less excited. r te i “Being able to have this opportunity is beyond amazing,” explained senior r W dance team captain Abby Wurdack. “It’s been a dream of mine and it’s finally coming f af t S true.” et l

But this dream hasn’t been a quick realization; it’s been a long time coming. After qualifying lf Out o back in early summer at National Dance Alliance (NDA) Camp, the team has been vigorously raising r n o funds through car washes, restaurant fundraisers and, Wurdack’s personal favorite, the Starry Knights’ Dance er m Extravaganza. ca “We get to show off not only our dances, but local studios as well,” said Wurdack of the fundraiser.

Raising the money to make it to Orlando won’t be the only challenge, however. Wurdack raved about the lofty talent and high level of competition bound to grace the dance floor at nationals. But that hasn’t stifled high aspirations.

“Our dream is to make it to finals, but honestly we are just happy to have the opportunity,” she stated. “If we know we did the best

we could, then that’s good enough.”

The Outlet Outlet || 15 15

Ultimately, Wurdack said that the Starry Knights hope “to kill it on stage and walk off with no regrets.” The

Ballin’

Walton Cameron Rolf

Outlet Staff Writer

“Ballin’ Walton!” *clap clap clapclapclap* It seems to be the battle cry of this year’s installment of King Neier’s Cavalry, Borgia’s annual basketball student section. These eponymous cheers lend their name to the newest craze to hit the varsity team: sophomore sensation Walton Eckelkamp. And even though Walton’s ascendence to student section plaudit has bordered on “linsanity,” he also remembers a time when he wasn’t so sensational: growing up and playing pick-up with his brother Grant Eckelkamp, class of ‘13.

“Honestly I can’t remember when I started playing,” recalled Walton. “I try to forget because I don’t think I have ever won. Grant always did.”

Needless to say, Walton has raised the quality of his play over the years. But perhaps no one has been as impressed at the improvement than varsity Knights’ head coach, Dave Neier.

“Walt’s been our most consistent outside shooter and scorer,” acclaimed Neier. “When he gets hot, he’s very hard to stop.”

Those on the inside track, however, saw it coming all along. One such insider is Walton’s teammate and senior center, Joe Helfrich.

“It’s no surprise [Walton]’s already playing on a high level,” said Helfrich. “He put a lot of work in over the summer and put himself in a great position to succeed.”

Even Neier’s acclaim was tinged with expectancy.

“Walt wants to work hard, sees what he can be as a player and just keeps striving to reach those goals in his mind,” said Neier.

But regardless of the laud, Walton’s maintained a humble disposition and has kept his eye toward improvement.

“I hope to improve on being a better all-around player, but I really want to become a better defender.” He continued, “I just feel honored to be on the team and have the opportunity to wear a Borgia uniform.”

Aside from Walton, Neier believes that, in large part, the varsity’s success this year has been a team effort.

“We have great team chemistry; we work well together and pull hard for each other,” said Neier of his squad.

“We work hard and make that a priority.”

Neier also lauded defensive tenacity as the team’s greatest strength, a nice complement to impressive offensive ball movement and screening.

But that’s not to say the coach doesn’t see room for development and continued improvement.

“I think we need to work on rebounding,” Neier pointed out. “We can’t get stagnant and must continue to work on free throw and outside shooting.”

Individually, however, he pointed at senior guard Zac Schweissguth and senior forward/guard Kevin Birk as the leaders on and off the court.

Of the two, Neier stated, “Zac does really well handling the ball on offense, while Kevin communicates well, plays tough defensively and helps others get in the right position.”

In addition, Neier raved over senior forward Adam Meyer’s job of “pointing our [defensive] press,” and Helfrich’s contributions as the squad’s top rebounder and inside presence on offense. As for the sixth man, Neier tipped his hat to junior center Spencer Juergens and junior guard Jake Neier’s off-the-bench efforts among others.

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But where does the team hope to take all of this success?

“As a team, we just want to be playing our best towards the end of the season to give ourselves a chance to do something in the postseason,” said Helfrich.

Walton agreed with Helfrich’s sentiment while holding the door open for improvement.

“Obviously we would love to go to state, but we just have to take it one game at a time and keep getting better,” he said.

Whatever’s in store for the varsity Knights, much of the team’s success will continue to depend on if Eckelkamp and his teammates keep on “ballin’.”

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Good job, Speech team!

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you did great at finals and all year long!

Excellent work

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Andrew Alfermann works on a laser in his Physics classroom.

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It is widely known that SFBRHS is a college prepatory high school. But how useful is it? Some current students and graduates weigh in on the tools Borgia provided them to help them succeed in college, in relationships and in the real world.

Borgia alum Jodi Hellebusch, class of 2012, said that she indeed was given many tools in high school that help her still today.

“Borgia gives you a lot of opportunities.

Opportunities to go to Mass, to join tons of clubs and sports, to write resumes and papers and to actively participate in class or else you would be called on when you’re not paying attention (like in Mrs. Hertlein’s class),” Hellebusch remembered. “Borgia instilled in me the desire to make that effort to seize opportunities, and now that I’m out there in the ‘real world,’ I’m not afraid to do that.”

Seniors are the students of Borgia who are closest to entering the less-protected real world. They’re about to hit college and the world of careers, if they haven’t already.

Lindsay Birke, senior, feels that Borgia has helped her as she enters the unfamiliar world outside of school.

“I’d say that Borgia taught me to be individual and to challenge myself,” said Birke.

“I can apply that to the real world by being confident as I showcase unique talents and interests or pushing myself to experience new opportunities and people.”

Christian Sullivan, Borgia graduate of the class of 2013, agreed that the skills Borgia have taught him have helped him now that he has graduated.

“Borgia taught me the basics of life: being punctual, knowing a deadline, being active and persistent, and with that also taught

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Joe Bitzer consults Ashton Dietrich.

Emily Price

Outlet Staff Writer

me one of the most important aspects of life: to relax and have fun along the way!” exclaimed Sullivan. “They really taught me how to survive in the real world!”

Senior Parker Wehking agreed that Borgia has instilled qualities in her that help her in other aspects of her life outside of Borgia.

“Borgia has taught me to become confident in leading and has helped me learn to voice my my opinions more freely,” Wehking explained.

Even younger students already have acquired life tools from SFBRHS. Shana Terschluse said she feels that many of Borgia’s teachers strive to help students succeed. She outlined the characteristics she finds most beneficial for her success in Borgia’s teachers.

“The best teachers are ones who care a

Stan Westhoff administers a quiz to students. lot about their students and go beyond the curriculum to prepare us for the real world,” Terchluse shared. She noted how Borgia does an outstanding job of supplying such teachers to Borgia.

Borgia alum Joan Roubian, a graduate of 2013, also weighed in on the benefits Borgia teachers have had on her in college today.

“I won’t lie, it’s hard to remember what skills your high school has taught you when you’re thrown into a completely new situ-

ation with an entirely new set of standards and values,” Roubian revealed. “But as I look back and try to think of how Borgia prepared me for the ‘real world’ (although it’s a far stretch to call college the real world), I have to say that the most important skills I have taken away from Borgia have been from the stories and advice that teachers hand out almost daily.”

Neal Alfermann, senior, also feels that Borgia provides many tools for success.

“The activities Borgia offer really help make you a good person,” said Alfermann.

“Luke 18, Healthy Lifestyles, Kairos and many other traditional Borgia activities really help to cultivate us students into the best people we can be.”

Roubian feels that teachers also aid in making students the best they can be.

Whether that is through direct advice or just a story told during class, Roubian said teachers are full of helpful life advice.

“This is going to sound silly, but I specifically remember Mrs. Hertlein telling a story about how important it is to keep in touch with your parents while you’re away from home,” Roubian remembered. “So while I’m away, I send my mom flowers.

Just because. It’s the little things like that that everyone should keep their ears open to.

The little bits of advice really do help.”

These students all feel that Borgia provides its students with much more than just book-smarts.

“Borgia teaches all sorts of classes and life lessons to help students grow,” said Wehking. “But I think the biggest thing Borgia does is lead by example. And its example is an excellent one.”

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PAGE-TURNERS FOR EVERY Chelsea Hill & Katelyn Skaggs

Outlet STAFF WRITERS

Thriller - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Set in a futuristic version of America, the lone hero, Guy Montag, fights with his contradicting thoughts on society portrayed in the book. In this society, discussions and company is replaced by television and radio, and feeling free and intellectual is replaced by driving hundreds of miles per hour down dangerous roads. But worst of all, books and literature are completely illegal due to the society’s way of thinking that happiness is going to be caused by the elimination of all contradictory and depressing opinions.

Montag is a firefighter that is completely different than the heroic and brave men and women we see today. Instead of eliminating house fires, Montag and the other firefighters create fires to burn books and sometimes even the people that own them inside of their fireproof homes. After meeting an “insane” girl that opened his eyes to much of his world and creating a dangerous plan to override the government with a retired English professor, Montag is faced with difficulties such as his own wife’s betrayal, firefighters discovering his book collection, and mechanical, dog-like killing machines that are set on ending his life.

Bradbury uses a suspenseful novel to convey a more extreme version of common fears for society today. He strains on the fact that books are a dying enjoyment and that there is more to learn in the thousands of books in the world than people like to admit. Reading Fahrenheit 451 can motivate the reader to simply pick up a book instead of messing with the common technology, which is a habit that seems to be more common every day.

BOOK PIC WILL GO HERE

20 | The Outlet

Classic - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott This American classic has been made into movies and plays and has been praised for centuries. This book takes us through the lives of the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. It begins in childhood and ends when they are all adults.

Set during the Civil War, this story gives the reader a clear picture of how women run a house without a husband or father. Any girl who grew up with sisters can identify with this book. We see these four sisters go through hard times, death, happy times and falling in love. Alcott did a wonderful job of making each sister different in their own way.

Anyone who reads this can connect with at least one of the sisters.

After reading the beginning of this book, it is hard to stay interested with it. The author prolongs the start by giving us information that is irrelevant. The story begins to pick up and really stole my interest near the middle. However, my interest was lost when nearing the end of this lengthy 520-page book.

Up until the end the story was very predictable.

Then the book took a disappointing turn and has a very upsetting ending. I was hoping for something in the end that did not happen, so I found it very disappointing and a little heartbreaking.

The book is extensive in length, very descriptive and focuses on the role of women during this time period. It is a touching and a heartwarming classic, but the Old English is challenging to get through at parts. This classic is one that I would not put at the top of your reading list.

STUDENT

BOOK REVIEWS

Action - The Maze Runner by James Dashner In this post-apocalyptic book, a teenage boy named Thomas is transferred to a strange and fairly strict community comprised of boys ranging from the ages of 12 to 18.

In his new home named “the Glade,” Thomas is faced with many challenges and villains. Those include other members of the community, the Creators (the scientists who sent the boys into the strange world) and the most terrifying of them all: the Grievers.

At night whenever the mysterious stone “doors” close to the ever-changing Maze outside the Glade, the mechanical and disgusting Grievers come out to play.

As the book rages on, new obstacles come about, such as Thomas’ fascination with the Maze and exploring it, the want and need to get out of the constricting Glade, attempts to solve the Maze’s puzzle and the delivery of the first-ever girl to the Glade: a harbinger of the “Ending” of the society. Plus, Thomas and the new girl, Teresa, have met before, but because of the Creator’s memory swipe they don’t remember how.

Dashner uses confusion to his advantage throughout the book by allowing all information that the reader gathers to be at the same time Thomas accumulates them, thus helping the reader to better relate to the infamous hero as the book comes along.

Though the book could be classified as a suspense novel, its gruesome fights, mysterious creatures and occasional hints of a past love life between Thomas and Teresa give the book the edge to become more than just your average nail-biter.

In September of this year, readers can expect the novel to be shown on the big screen starring Teen Wolf’s Dylan O’Brien as Thomas and Skins’ (the UK version) Kaya Scodelario as Teresa. An added bonus is that Maze Runner is the first of a trilogy written

by Dashner following Thomas and Teresa’s troubles, along with a prologue book written to help explain why the Maze was created.

Romance - I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella This No. 1 New York Times bestselling author breaks into the 21st century with her technologybased romance. The book is set in London and focuses in on the love life of a girl named Poppy Wyatt.

The novel opens with Wyatt losing her engagement ring and having her phone stolen. The book takes us on her journey of her upcoming wedding to Magnus Tavish. Soon she finds herself getting to know the businessman Sam Roxton through his assistant’s phone, which she found in the trash.

Poppy is an average girl that is just looking to settle down and be happy. She goes through many embarrassing moments that the reader is about to have a good laugh over.

This book takes us through Poppy planning a wedding, looking for her lost engagement ring and back-and-forth texts with Sam. With a lot of bumps along the way, Poppy is forced to choose between a safe future with Magnus or an unknown future with Sam. This book is a page-turner that should go on the very top of everyone’s reading list. It is a new and upbeat romance that anyone with a cell phone can identify with.

The Outlet | 21

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////////////////opinion the expectations of perfection that make for a poor reality.

Now that Valentine's day is past us, the love in the air will fade and the bouquets of flowers will wither. The question we have to ask ourselves is whether or not chivalry could really be considered "dead" as well.

On Feb. 14, I was surrounded by stuffed teddy bears and overly priced boxes of chocolate, and I absolutely loved seeing so many people smiling. Chivalry is clearly

Not Dead Yet

alive on Valentine’s day, so what about the other 364 days

Emma Darling

Outlet Design Editor

by telling people once a year that society has lost its sense

Chivalry is often a word associated with suits of armor, the Renaissance and, of course, knights.

However, chivalry doesn't just have to exist on Valentine's

The most generic definition of chivalry is stated through

of the year?

My theory on the whole ordeal of chivalry being dead is that advertising companies promote it only around Valentine’s day for a greater income. I believe that they do this of courtesy, and it should take one day to reawaken it. day, and if you really look around at your peers, you too will notice that love is around all 365 days of the year.

I think men, as well as women, should always treat each other with the historic definition of chivalry. Men shouldn't

a code that dates back to the Middle Ages when William

be the only ones to be loyal and courteous. Women need

the Conquerer ruled England.

to also take the initiative, because as much as girls every-

The Knight's Code of Chivalry declares that one must

where wish it to, chivalry isn't going to come back in a

learn to speak and act with truth, honor, justice, valor,

day. Just because he's chivalrous on Valentine's day doesn't

prowess, loyalty, courtesy, largesse, noblesse and humility.

mean he is a changed man. It will take some time for soci-

Society has continued to hold onto this belief of chivalry well into the 21st century; however, today, many can often be heard using the age-old phrase "chivalry is dead."

Nowadays, the extent of chivalrous actions are holding the door open for another or pulling out the chair at dinner for a date.

The fantasy that all men should act with courtesy and that all women must expect them to is one reason why these "chivalrous actions" have become a dying dream. It’s

ety as a whole to shift into a more chivalrous one.

For now, we must realize that chivalry isn't entirely dead. The reality of it is that chivalry does exist in our everyday lives.

Every time a door is opened for someone or every time a man takes the extra time to pull that chair out courteously for his lady, a glimpse of this respectful tradition can be seen, if only for a second.

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