The Northmen's Log, Issue 7

Log

The Northmen’s

Friday, February 25, 2010

Students write to soldiers in Afghanistan pg. 8

Oak Park High School

Issue 7, Volume 46

Students learn from dissection process By: Jessica Nichols Features and Sports Editor Glancing down at her anatomy and physiology textbook, junior Jasmine Scott helps her lab partner, senior Devon Whitton, identify the muscles of their cat. The smell of formaldehyde fills the science room and students stand side by side, scalpels in hand, awaiting instructions for the next step in the dissection process.

Students spend a large portion of second semester dissecting cats in order to acquire a more hands-on experience with the body systems they have been learning about.

They started at the beginning of the semester.

“We have removed the skin and started identifying muscles,” said junior Janet Meier.

Using scalpels, probes

and dissection scissors, the students skin the cats in order to see into the cat’s body.

“Skinning was the hardest part because there are a lot of delicate structures in areas like the face that need to be cut around,” Whitton said. “You don’t want to cut too deep.”

Once the cat has been skinned, the students examine the muscles.

“We’ve learned a lot about muscle structure and identification so far, which is ultimately the primary objective of the project,” Whitton said.

During the process some students choose to name their cats.

“We named our cat Dr. Schrödinger after the famous physicist who used an example of a cat in a box to explain a property of physics,” Meier said.

They also write the names of the cats on the outside of the carrier boxes. Cats may only be named after people with the person’s approval.

While the dissections may look like a fun learning experience, it provides a challenge to the students.

“It’s a lot more difficult than it looks,” Meier said. “It can be somewhat disturbing at times and the smell is unpleasant.”

Pushing through the stench of formaldehyde, the students are able to learn quite a bit with the hands-on activities that come with the cat dissection.

“It helps to actually be able to see the parts of the body in person, rather than in a textbook,” Meier Carefully guiding a scalpel, senior Devon Whitton continues her cat dissection on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Whitton takes anatomy and physiology second block on B days. “We’ve learned a lot said. about muscle structure and identification so far, which is ultimately the primary objective of the Next up, organs. project,” Whitton said. Photo by Jessica Nichols, Features and Sports Editor

Juniors create prom plans By: Aggie Rieger Editorial Editor The students filed into Prom sponsor Maureen Daily’s classroom Wednesday morning to discuss the highlight of many senior’s year. The one, the only: prom.

“I’m just excited about picking out a dress and getting all dressed up and getting to go to the dance and seeing all my friends and the teachers,” said senior Kaitlyn McManus, who was a member of the Prom Committee last year, “It’s our last year and the last school function we get to be a part of.”

Prom Committee is composed of about 10 juniors, according to Daily.

In the past, members of the committee were junior class officers. This year, however, things changed.

“Last year with Mrs. [Carrie] Marcantonio [former sponsor of Student Council] leaving and student council changing hands we had teachers recommend juniors this fall,” Daily said.

The size of the group is about half of what was originally nominated.

Because of time commitment and lack of interest, many did not stick with the project.

“Usually we have five, so it’s been great having 10,” Daily said.

Junior Katie Retschulte is among those who are happy to be a part of planning prom.

“I love it, I love planning things out for the school,” Retschulte said.

The committee has quite a task set before it.

“They need to come up with decorations and music,” Daily said, “It’s really what they want to make of it.”

Daily has been the advisor for Prom Committee for nearly two decades, and was recently joined by band director Adam Farley.

“Mr. Farley is very well versed in extracurricular activities and planning events. He is a younger, fresher eye and much better with technology,” Daily said.

Prom Committee uses technology with planning. However, they will not be using it for voting, a change from previous years.

“Now it’s just no one likes the computers any-

more and it’s just more time to get them out and log onto eCampus,” Retshulte said.

Instead, voting will be done through traditional ballots, a change discussed at the meeting Wednesday, Feb. 9 morning. Also discussed was a change in the theme from New York Times Square to a French theme, because it will be easier to decorate for. Students need to come up with a name for this new theme, order tickets, plan nominations for King and Queen, choose a DJ, plan an assembly, and start ordering decorations. Projects like these are accomplished by members of committee breaking into groups and even meeting after school.

Snow days have presented a set back to planning, but the committee continues forward.

“It really hasn’t been bad yet, but as time gets closer it’ll catch up to us,” Retschulte said.

McManus, who has experience in the committee, is not concerned about her personal prom plans. She said that because snow days happened earlier in the year,

By: Courtney Kelley Editor In Chief

Juniors Katie Reschulte and Lanisha Caldwell plan this year’s prom on Wednesday, Feb 16 morning. “We came up with a lot of cool stuff to go with the colors [we picked]. The Prom Commitee meets every Wednesday mornings from 6: 50 till 7:20 a.m. The commitee members were recommended by teachers this year.

Photo by: Kim Green, Photo Editor

overall planning will be fine.

“Everything works out in the end,” she said, “They’re all creative and know how to be well organized and take charge.”

Juniors are feeling the pressure of hosting prom for the seniors.

“They joke with me to get it right, but they’re just joking. Probably,” Retschulte said.

Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Rlatt, circled the track at Baker Stadium for 24 hours.

Rlatt raised $27,000 for cancer research.

This year, Oak Park’s goal is to raise $25,000. Relay takes place, Friday, May 6 to Saturday, May 7 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The first captains meeting takes place Monday, Feb. 28 during advisory.

“I would like to raise more money then any of the schools in the district and help support students and family fighting cancer,” said senior class president Haley Cope.

StuCo spreads word of Relay 4 Life during lunch this week along with an assembly today.

There is also a survivor dinner Friday, May 6.

Talking Northmen argue across the Midwest for multiple competitions By: Lauren Grace Lifestyles Editor Teenagers argue, a circle or life if one can handle the truth. Though these students get graded on how well they present themselves in an argument.

Walking into the classroom they pull out their research and prepare to test one who once was a classmate and now an adversary.

They call themselves the Talking Northmen. A class where students present premeditated arguments over worldly topics or perform a piece eightminutes long capturing judges imagination. For debate, students work hard to do well in the class and have to have prepared research.

“There are three research types,” said senior Carly Evans. “We do practices; have a pretend round. Eight speeches prepared and individual strategies.”

One debate round starts out where one side is affirmative and presents the case. After they are through, the opposing side asks questions to make the other side look bad, then negates everything that the other said. Afterwards, the negating side will present their case.

At the end the affirming side will try

During class, senior Carly Evans talks about debate to her peers. “We do practices; have a pretend round. Eight speeches prepared and individual strategies.” Photo courtesy of Jordan Cook

once more to persuade the judge that their case is the way to go.

This year the team has been traveling from Jenks, Okla., to Springfield, Mo., and Maryville, Mo. Not only having a swell time, but also adding on to the trophy case, as varsity placed third in sweepstake trophies and novice placed first sweepstakes in Jenks.

“There are a lot of tournaments this month, with districts and conference,”

Evans said.

Another part of the Talking Northmen would be forensics, where one prepares a dramatic soliloquy, a story or a speech in a number of categories. On Thursday, Jan. 27, the day before the team went off to Springfield, freshman Dominic Hernandez practiced his humorous interpretation. Varying from an evil genius obsessed with a hamster to a singing fashion model.

“I usually hit the high notes, but I am scratchy tonight,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said that it took him two days to recite his eight-minute piece and has little hesitation with reciting new things that come his way.

Working with freshman Peyton Wetz, they did a piece about a guy who always ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time, though reciting it together took an effort.

“It takes 10 minutes to perform. I had a different person last time, and took first. And we argue a lot,” Wetz said. “We don’t take it personally.”

It might seem like a challenge to work with everyone on late night, with the anticipation for the next day’s tournament. “[Last year] I thought it was embarrassing to practice outside of the classroom. But then I would go to the tournaments where seniors were yelling at the wall,” said sophomore Tyquan Baskin, the guy who got the whole crowd to do the fist pump in Jenks, now on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=JwDW1h-ODsI.

2 Under the radar, beneath the surface

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

page sports By: Aggie Rieger Editorial Editor

usual occurrence for the athletes.

“I can’t help it. I’ve invited people. Like, I invited a friend to come Saturday [to Conference] and she said she would but never showed up,” Bartholomew said.

Diving returns

“A diver is a person who is not afraid of heights, who has nerves of steel and a great deal of athletic ability,” said diving coach Jim Jrolf.

The dive team has been successful, with all competing divers placing at Conference and senior Laurel Bartholomew qualifying for state competition the fourth time.

“Last year was not as good as I was hoping but this year I have a new approach and I’m hoping the boards will work in my favor,” Bartholomew said.

More than qualifying for state, Bartholomew made All American.

“You made All American, congratulations. I’m so jealous of you,” said sophomore diver Kylie Hess when the news came after Conference, “That’s incredible. Only a couple make it. She’ll put it off like it’s not a big thing, but it is.”

practice together, Monday through Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Gladstone Community Center.

“We put together a practice plan that breaks down certain techniques for certain days of the week, and the last half of practice put together that technique,” Jrolf said. “The girls will get 60 dives done in an hour and half of practice.”

While different teams practice all together and under the same coach, the atmosphere is not competitive.

“They help each other out a lot. It’s surprising because in a lot of sports people don’t help each other out, but in diving, it’s very supportive,” Younger said.

Low fan numbers

“It’s really surprising because I thought there’d be more fan and school support than there is now,” said Winnetonka parent Dan Younger, “[It is] disappointing. They don’t have publicity or support as they should as an activity.”

Not only is the lack of support and recognition a let down to the athletes, it can hinder communication.

“If you want to pull up dive [on the website] you just get ‘under construction’. So if I need information I usually go to Liberty’s page,” said Joy Bartholomew, Bartholomew’s mother.

Parents Marsha and Jeff Hess agree.

“The coach doesn’t get the right information anymore,” said Marsha Hess.

This problem in communication is not, according to parents, Jrolf’s fault.

“It would be nice to have more information, the freshman have no idea what’s going on,” said Jeff Hess.

Divers do not see things changing in the

Placing at Conference

At Conference, sophomore Kyla Odle took fourth place, Hess third and Bartholomew first. “[We are] so excited that we made it here and placed in the top four, that’s freaking awesome,” Hess said.

Parents were proud, but few were there to witness the competition - a

Diving with team support

Senior Laurel Bartholomew prepares to dive on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at a meet located at the Gladstone Community Center. Courtesy of Derek Byrne

near future, but have hopes.

“Once people see it’s a sport like football and soccer they might give us more recognition,” Bartholomew said. “I think maybe if we were bigger we’d get more recognition, but because the team’s small, we’re more of a family.”

Practice makes perfect

Most of the divers in the district have known each other since their young gymnastic days and encourage each other throughout the season.

All of the teams in the North Kansas City district

Divers manage to find support in each other and their coach.

“It’d be nice to get more kids out to see diving meets. They’d be really impressed with what these girls are doing,” Jrolf said.

Diving is important because at swim meets, the points from divers goes towards the swim team as well. Also, as Bartholomew said, with more team members comes more support.

“It’s really hard, it’s mind over matter; you have to convince yourself to stick with it,” Kylie Hess said.

The sport can be in-

timidating to some.

“You take a lot of risks,” Odle said.

This is one of the many reasons the team is so small.

“A lot of people tried out; they came to [tryouts] and were afraid. That’s one of those things,” said Anita Scruggs, Odle’s mother.

Lack of commitment is also a frustration to athletes.

“A lot of people that could be good divers don’t stick with it,” Laurel Bartholomew said. “It kinda sucks, but it’s not my decision. I’m going to still dive whether they do or not.”

Girls keep positive

Laurel Bartholomew’s attitude of continuing on in the face of adversity is consistent through the remaining divers and their parents, and is the driving force.

“They do this more for love of the sport, not popularity,” Jeff Hess said.

State competition was Friday, Feb. 18 and Saturday, Feb. 19.

“I’m still going to do my best and try my hardest even if you’re not there to see it,” Laurel Bartholomew said.

Laurel Bartholomew earned Honorable Mention All-State Honors with an 11th place finish in the one-meter diving competition at the State Swimming & Diving Meet in St. Louis this past weekend.

Flags twirl as competition approaches By: Stephanie Agabekyan Writer When it comes to sports, many would start thinking about the competitiveness of football, or basketball, but one would never expect a sport that consists of six-foot flag poles or weapons you meticulously toss in the air to construct an elegant performance such as Winter Guard.

It’s competition season for these ladies and they have a lot on their hands especially, head coach, Stacey Stowers.

“Our goals are pretty much the same as every year; to bring our rookies up to speed and to continue increasing and expanding the skills of the veterans in order to be the best team possible,” Stowers said.

Having the countless snow days the district did, it has put the team way behind, and since competitions don’t wait, it has put a relatively high frustration level amongst everyone.

“Sometimes the guard members are a little too good of friends; and I have to really crack down to make sure that we’re practicing and not socializing” Stowers said.

Practice for these girls is hours of repetitiveness, hard work and dedication. Someone who would know this best would be junior Brittany Burge, who has been a member of this sport since her freshman year.

“Fifty drop spins, 10 right-left wind mills, usually a series of 10 singles, doubles and parallel tosses,” Burge said.

One of the three captains, junior Mackenzi Verhulst, holds a ground-taking position.

“Making sure the teams knows the whole routine, making sure we’re always on task, leading practices, writing the routines, and making sure the girls are where they’re supposed to be,” Verhulst said.

She has specific responsibilities as captain, which is different from solely being a member because the responsibility is much higher and you take on more duties.

“The transition wasn’t that hard, I just had to learn how to write the routines and teach it, the rest I already knew,” Verhulst said.

The team has been working extra hard lately to make up for the missed practices due to the snow days, but all hope and expectation is for that work to pay off in scores as good or better than received last year.

“I just like how we’re all really close, like a family,” Burge said.

The members are supportive and welcoming.

“It made me become more myself; I used to be really shy, and now, I’m just out there,” said junior Shelby Walker.

The girls are practicing for regionals at the end of March. They will also be performing at the Relay for Life assembly today.

One of this year’s Winter Guard captains, junior Mackenzi Verhulst twirls her flag on Monday, Feb. 7. Along with flags, some of the team members also spin rifles or sabers, Verhulst included. “Over the course of the season the team is able to do more things together and we grow stronger the more we are into the season,” Verhulst said. Photo By: Kim Green, Photo Editor

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page 3 opinion

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

Oakie Opinions

“We go bowling sometimes or see movies.”

“Hanging out with my friends, bowling, seeing movies, going to church.”

- senior Erin Madsen

-junior Jacob Sullivan

“Hang out with my friends and go shopping.”

- sophomore Miranda Holden

“I usually like to hang out with friends, skateboard.”

-freshman Payton Wetz

What do you like to do for fun in the North Kansas City area?

From the Newsroom: Four-year plan fails Oh look, it’s enrollment time again. Counselors and flex time teachers pass out the blue Plan of Study booklets to students, explaining some of the information it holds. Then the dreaded four-year plan papers are handed to each student.

Separated into four main sections with more sections along the top, bottom, and small boxes inside the four main sections, the paper seems slightly intimidating. Going through the book as an eighth grader, one must pick out the classes he or she wants to take through their entire high school career. They must also name what colleges they are interested in going to and what occupation they want to go into after college.

These things are almost impossible to wrap your mind around as an eighth grader, getting ready to enter the world of high school. Many people don’t know

who they are; let alone what they want to be when they’ve finished their education. But students go along with the idea because they have to, picking a random career and filling in random classes for sophomore, junior and senior year.

Enrollment rolls around once again and students must fill out another four-year plan. This time, freshman year has already been filled in. Students try and remember what classes they wrote down for the other years of high school. Unfortunately, the classes don’t come back to their memories and they must fill out new classes for the next three years.

As a teenager goes through high school, their feelings and ideas change drastically. One day someone wants to be a teacher and the next they want to be a surgeon. One finds a passion in art, but also enjoys math. These differing ideas cause conflicting visions

Log’s View

of the future. With this constant change the four-year plans become futile, merely a waste of time that could be spent working on homework or spending time with friends.

Starting junior and senior year, planning for college and the future becomes more important. This is the time students begin to fine tune their ideas. Some may even decide what they want to do with the rest of their lives. That would be a more beneficial time to implement the four-year plan. Students have narrowed down their choices and have a better idea of where they want to go to college or if they want to continue their education after high school at all.

However, until then, students shouldn’t feel forced into making decisions for their future. We, as high school students, still have time to figure out what we want with our future and deserve to find our niche without a four-year plan.

Valentine’s Day disappoints, bores many students By: Jessica Nichols Feature & Sports Editor

Missionaries junior Caleb Eissler and Liberty High School junior Cody Clawson take a break from playing ball with a group of Haitian children to pose for a quick photo. The photo was taken during a mission trip to Haiti with the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church Youth Group. The team helped host an athletic Bible camp and reached out to the people along the way.

Photo courtesy of LHS junior Brandon Chapman.

Student follows a call By: Caleb Eisler Writer

These past few weeks have been terrible for my concentration. One second I’ll be staring half heartedly at a whiteboard covered in various letters, numbers and symbols that I should be putting in my mental notebook, and the next I’ll be in another world spacing off.

In my defense, I’m filling up that mental notebook, just not with the calculus on the board. Instead, I’m penning in all I possibly can from another educational experience.

No, this experience didn’t happen in a typical classroom, and the teacher wasn’t anything like one would expect. My textbook wasn’t like the ones I’d grab from my locker during passing period.

None the less, this experience was extremely informative.

My classroom is a barren land covered in rocks, thatch huts, and poverty. My textbook has words that are living, breathing, and still very relevant even 2,000 years after it was written. My teacher, well let’s just say you’ve heard of Him before.

He’s incredible! He knows everything I’m thinking and teaches me in ways I never knew were possible.

He’s very personable and has one

awesome son. My teacher speaks to me all the time and lately he’s been saying one word: “Follow.”

That one word has been echoing through my thoughts constantly and finally I decided to take it to heart. I decided to leave the confining walls of the typical classroom and I stepped (actually flew, drove, and boated) over to a new one. The room had been pretty shaken up by an earthquake (yes, pun intended) a year ago. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. My studies abroad took me to the forgotten, little country of Haiti. Believe it or not, there’s a lot of work to do in this classroom and it’ll take all the students it can get.

When most of us think about Haiti and all the destruction and poverty there we don’t usually think of anything more than, “Wow, someone should help those people.”

I said the same thing. After the earthquake a wave of care, love, and lots of volunteers went to Haiti.

The tiny speck of a country was all over the news and for a brief moment in time, the whole world was there for Haiti.

But just a month or two later all of that compassion and urgency was gone. Haiti was just another country in ruins, filled with poverty and political corruption. While

this loss of love may not mean a thing to us here in the states, it’s a different and painful story for the people of Haiti.

You see, when it’s all said and done, we get to live comfortably here in the states, with our biggest worries being what we’re wearing tomorrow or who’s gonna win the big game this weekend.

For the people of Haiti it’s not like that. Their thoughts aren’t filled with the newest hit on the radio, but with how they’re going to somehow feed their family tomorrow. The children there don’t long for school’s end in the summer, but instead they long for even just a chance to become educated.

The Haitians wish for clean water and some way, any way to obtain a source of income. Granted they’re not worried about the clothes they’re gonna wear tomorrow, but that’s because if they actually have clothes to wear it’s the only pieces of clothing they own and it’s usually ripped half to shreds. Shoes are a luxury in Haiti and foot infections run rampant due to frequent cuts and scrapes they get from the rocky terrain they traverse over.

CONTINUED ONLINE: To read the rest of the article, visit www.northmennews.com

Who’s that small cherub flying through the air with his bow and arrow? Why, it’s Cupid and with Cupid comes Valentine’s Day: Feb. 14, red roses, red hearts, candlelight dinners and plenty of romance.

Every year couples spend Valentine’s Day together, whether with a dinner date or a movie night, exchanging gifts that show their affection for one another. They make dinner reservations a month in advance in order to assure entrance into the best restaurants.

Flower orders have been placed and will be delivered to the office, home, or school.

Stuffed animals line the store shelves with cute little sayings like “Be Mine.”

However, some couples see Valentine’s Day as the only day for this showering of affection. They spend the remainder of the year being a couple, but the sweet, romantic thoughts and ideas that go into Valentine’s Day never take place. This idea in itself is a sad one. People shouldn’t need a day to show each other just how much they love one another.

Valentine’s Day should be every day.

And as for those of us single ladies, Single Awareness Day fits the holiday much better than the true name.

Sitting at home sulking, with a big tub of ice cream, we wonder why we can’t seem to find

the love of our lives.

This mental attitude poisons a day that has been dedicated to love because, in truth, those single people should be out celebrating and loving themselves, instead of stuffing their faces with chocolates they purchased for themselves.

Also, Valentine’s Day has lost its original meaning. Elementary school classes are littered with valentines and chocolate after their parties. Children have been incorporated into the holiday, getting spoiled by their parents with stuffed animals and boxes of heartshaped candies. When Valentine’s Day first came into existence it was meant to celebrate love and affection between intimate couples.

So next year, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, let’s make it about couples only. Encourage parents to go out for a night on the town and stay at home with your date watching a movie and taking care of the younger siblings. Single people should go out with other single friends instead of mopping around the house. One never knows who they could meet on a night out with friends.

But most importantly, keep the romance all year long.

Don’t lose the adoration and plan special events throughout the year. Valentine’s Day should just be another day for couples to show one another how much they care.

The Northmen’s Log Staff &Policies “The Northmen’s Log” is published 10 times during the school year. “The Log” is a student forum for expression; it is produced by students for students.

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Editor-in-Chief Courtney Kelley Photo Editors Kim Green Editorial Editor Aggie Rieger Entertainment Editor Tatyana Pekarsky

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Photographers Dylan Kinder Adviser Christina Geabhart

4

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

FINE ARTS

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LONERS

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CLIQUES: The high school experience

EMO

FLOATERS

One step into a typical Hollywood-portrayed high school would give heavy light on the cliques of the school. The mental image is probably pretty clear for most. Terribly exclusive groups of friends from all walks of life would be huddled together talking specifically about a single topic that their clique is obsessed with. One step in a real high school would be fairly different but there would be some distinct similarities. The groups would still be there, but they wouldn’t be near as exclusive. The conversations would be fairly varied, but topics applying to the group would be more reoccurring than others. Cliques may be exaggerated by Hollywood, but they do still exist in high school, and they’re an important part of one’s high school experience.

Cliques create social placement By: Tatyana Pekarsky Entertainment Editor Throughout the hall, herds of students crowd together like zebras in the savannah. Students avoid certain clusters, and instead group with others. Cliques are everywhere in high school, but why is that?

“It’s human nature that people want to belong to a group,” social studies teacher Sarah Reynolds said. “Even if it’s just one person.”

Cliques are a way for students to interact with others who are like them.

“Cliques form because people naturally look for places they fit in,” social studies teacher Mark Faubion said. “We kinda figure out where we fit in the social spectrum.”

Groups themselves are

necessary and always exist. It depends on the individual to define a clique. “[Being in a clique] doesn’t define who you are,” Faubion said. “It could define your social makeup.”

Essentially, cliques exist to help students find out who they are, what they like and even who their friends are.

For some, experimenting in different cliques is necessary.

These types of people are referred to as “floaters.”

“Floaters are looking for a group to identify with,” Faubion said. “It’s kind of like a buffet.”

Of course, there are those students who try to not associate themselves with any clique, or any one. Loners are the kids who one may see sitting alone at lunch or in the furthest reaches of a classroom, quiet and anti-

social.

“Loners scare me,” Reynolds said. “Those are the kids you typically worry about.”

Faubion agrees that loners are missing something.

“Having relationships is an important part of society,” Faubion said.

Cliques aren’t exclusive to school, however. Cliques exist everywhere, inside and outside of high school. Typically, those outside of high school aren’t as exclusive or negative.

“If they’re exclusive, then they’re negative,” Reynolds said.

In the end, it depends on the individual to make a clique positive or negative.

Cliques may not define students, but students define cliques.

Cartoon by Kaylan Ballard

Cliques survive the test of time By: Lauren Grace and Jessica Nichols Lifestyles Editor, Features and Sports Editor

High school: a time to live it up and be young before the final hour of senior year. The Northmen, even before cell phones were invented, have gone down the same trail that students follow now. Memories of OP have been stored in the backs of their minds.

Today, roaming through the school, people may see the goths, the jocks and theater geeks among the many other cliques which make up the student body and if

one were to step out of a time machine and into the past some of the same cliques would still roam the halls.

“There were popular kids, mostly jocks,” said 1994 alumna Michelle Spinola. “The theatre/ music crowd. Being in Student Council, Pom, theater and choir, I was sort of friends with everyone, but not super close to everyone.”

Chemistry teacher Katie Gerhold would place herself in the goodie-two-shoes crowd during her high school years.

“I was a choir kid and science nerd and part of the good kids,” she said.

To some the popular students who would compare to today’s “preps” are easy to recall.

“The popular crowd sticks out the most in my memory,” Spinola said.

“They tended to be the most involved, most seen, or some of them just best dressed or most intimidating. I’ve found that my classmates’ memories of who was in that crowd varies. It’s all about perception.”

However, some of the cliques present today would not be found with early generations of students.

“We were definitely pre-Goth,” Spinola said.

Music provides bonding through passion By: Caleb Eissler Writer Of all the cliques these two groups are by far the most musically talented. These cliques have won numerous awards at city and state competitions.

Many times they are found walking down the hallways singing a song from their latest show or discussing marching arrangements for their next game. Choir kids might be compared to “Glee” and band geeks might get teased, but these cliques work hard

for their respect with many early morning and after school practices and tons of weekend competitions. It’s the same for the Liberty musical cliques. Senior Courtney Gibson, a member of the Liberty marching and concert band, is a veteran in her respective clique. She recognizes the many pros and cons of being a “band nerd.”

“My favorite part is getting to know people I wouldn’t see in packed hallways otherwise,” Gibson said.

“My least favorite part

is the stereotypes and how under-appreciated and fine arts in general are in comparison to sports.”

At times, both cliques get tongue lashings from classmates, but many times there is also an unsaid level of respect. Imagine high school without the band or the choir. Who would be there to help fire up the crowd at football games or sing the national anthem? High school just wouldn’t be the same without the band geeks and the choir kids.

Looking back, some no longer see the differences that separated students in their high school days.

“High school felt very clique, but looking back it seems like we had more similarities than differences,” Spinola said.

“Especially compared to now.”

Coach Tana Stock has a different opinion towards the cliques she sees in her classes today.

“A lot of people say they have seen some big changes, but I have seen the same kind of kids throughout the years,” Stock said. “Still have the same cliques as before just

different names. They use to call them the jocks, freaks and the preps.”

Though, the types of people may not have changed, how Stock teaches has had to be adapted for the generations.

“For 29 years I have had some great students and some challenging ones. Maybe the biggest change is the amount of commitment,” Stock said.

“Students don’t seem to care about their grades as much as they used too. Homework, etc. I think the biggest change is through the use of technology. Students want to be entertained more by

the teacher. Many don’t know how to study and have a hard time when they go off to college.”

Overall, the cliques have not changed much throughout the school’s 46 years.

“The longer I am here the more it seems the cliques are the same as they have always been,” Gerhold said.

“I think now the cliques are more likely to intermingle than they used to. I do think kids are growing up a little faster than before in some of the decisions they are making but they have become more immature in other areas.”

Students drift between groups By: Courtney Kelley Editor-In-Chief Floaters in school are the kids that hangout with anyone and everyone. They have a variety of friends and do many things and activities. For instance, one day one could hang out with a jock and go to a basketball game, then the next day hangout with a thespian and go to the play. Many students say they fall under this category.

Senior Andrew O’Neil describes himself as a floater, by hanging out with all types of people.

“My best friends are kids that play sports and some that are not involved in anything; also I hang out with a lot of kids from other schools,” O’Neil said.

Every school has a different definition of a floater at their school, along with other cliques.

At Platte County High School, students know everyone because of the small town and usually do everything together.

“Our school is really close and have known each other for years, meaning we all hang out together and do the same

things,” said PCHS senior Lauren Regan.

Whereas at Staley High School, students hear the word “clique” everywhere.

Just like a typical high school there are many types and groups of people that hang out.

“Kids at Staley typically do not expand their horizons and hangout out with people outside their cliques. And since the split Staley and Oak Park students are all very close and all still hang out. Unlike Tonka or Northtowne students,” said Staley sophomore Paige Britz.

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

Loners decide to keep to self Students may be uncomfortable with new people

the hallways, they see cliques to the left and right. Scattered in between the groups of friends and enemies alike, one can see singular people sitting alone.

“I don’t usually notice them at all,” said freshman Chris Dykes.

By: Lauren Grace “If I wanted to I could, Lifestyles Editor usually depends on the As one walks down day.”

Many students like Dykes, shy away from the individuals.

“People cause problems,” said sophomore Alan Gibbs. “Not really [feel excluded] I have friends but I am not really excluded by things.”

Varied factors force these students to spend their high school days alone.

“I am shy and I don’t always know what to talk about. The people I do hang out with talked to me first,” said freshman Angelica Kelsey. “I kind of worry because I don’t know what their likes or dislikes are and I don’t want to sound awkward.”

A misconception of these students is that they are always alone by

Kicking their way to brotherhood By: Aggie Rieger Editorial Editor The fresh green of varsity boys soccer season has long since faded, but their friendship has yet to deteriorate.

“They’re just really close. They are willing to work with each other, for each other and work with the JV guys to get them to be varsity,” said varsity soccer coach Derek Noll, “They’re really driven to win and win for each other.”

Sophomores Maci Milic and Ray Saari have been members of the varsity team for two years and described the atmosphere of the team as like a family.

“Every now and then we’ll hang out, go to a friend’s house and watch TV,” Milic said.

Before games during the season, the boys play video games together.

During practices they get to know each other, and in the off season the boys play indoor soccer, something recently formed by varsity players to prepare junior varsity members and underclassmen for the rigors of varsity.

“There’s no one person that’s not included,” Saari said. “It makes our team a lot better on the field.”

Milic and Saari accredit most of the bond

on the team to Noll’s coaching.

“He’s more like another player, like a brother in the team,” Saari said.

Milic agrees. “[There is] no screaming or yelling,” Milic said.

According to Noll, coaches from other schools, including Staley, have approached him stating they want a bond on their team like the one found at Oak Park.

“Our guys are pretty much 100 percent dedicated to soccer,” Noll said, “We have our certain sets of guys [from different stereotypes] for sure, but when it comes down to it, we win and lose as a team.”

page 5 features

choice.

Kelsey and freshman Emma McAdams prove different.

“Totally [nervous]. I kept the friends I had before and made some new ones,” McAdams said.

“Now I have signed up for ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ and was thinking about maybe joining Student Council next year.”

”

“I am shy and I don’t always know what to talk about. The people I do hang out with talked to me first,”

freshman Angelica Kelsey

“Emo” kids stand out Students break away from, ignore stereotypes By: Tatyana Pekarsky Editorial Editor When one imagines an “emo kid”, they think of a teen dressed in black, baggy clothes with dark hair and a depressing demeanor. But are the stereotypes fair to those students?

“It doesn’t matter what other people think,” junior Mariah Long said. “It matters what someone thinks of themselves as.”

The stereotypes tend to mix goth and emo together, though both can be considered very different.

“I think it depends on how you look at it,” junior Makala Mobley said.

To some, goth kids are the de-

“

pressing and dark-clad students.

Emo is often considered a step towards goth, but not as depressing.

“They think we’re dark and depressing,” Mobley said. “We’re normal, but weird.”

According to the girls, emo has taken a step from sad and gloomy to eccentric and crazy. They can be friendly and fun, even if their humor tends to take a step too far.

There are even some who may be considered emo, who’d rather just be left alone.

“I try to avoid classifying myself,” senior Megan Krone said. “I just think labeling yourself is stupid.”

Despite being labeled by other students, those who consider themselves emo, or those who don’t, tend to just hang out with friends and not worry about their labels. For them, it doesn’t matter what way you dress or act, it just matters who you are.

Techies, nerds provide useful skills By: Tatyana Pekarsky Entertainment Editor In old movies and TV shows, nerds were always the kids with thickframed glasses, no date to prom and bad acne. Nowadays, while one could consider “bookworms” as nerds, most nerds are associated with technology.

Today, techies or geeks are seen as the kids

always on their mininotes, staying up all night playing video games and even fixing up old computers.

“I think that to make a nerd you’d have to have a better knowledge of electronics in terms of video games, things online and the computer,” junior Anthony Vorngsam said.

When it comes to what makes a geek, senior

Richard Borsella agreed.

“I’m knowledgeable on how a computer works,” he said. “I use technology every day.”

Despite the converging of the stereotypical geek and nerd, those who wear these titles are aware of their skills and talents.

Whether it’s fixing computers or scoring high on gaming boards, geeks are truly unique in their tal-

ents.

“I fix things and computers,” Borsella said.

“It’s not that hard.”

Of course, despite the many talents and skills geeks possess, those in this clique have their own faults.

“Nerds are lazier than an average person due to late nights of gaming or being online,” Vorngsam said. “Well, for me any-

Cliques congregate

way.”

Nowadays, geeks and nerds aren’t as badly ostracized or rejected as they were once portrayed to be, or were decades ago.

“I usually can hang out with many varieties of cliques, but I preferably hang out with other people who enjoy gaming, funny YouTube videos and are not totally

Gs incur judgement Students ridiculed for appearance, partying By: Aggie Rieger Editorial Editor

Graphic by Kaylan Ballard

strange,” Vorngsam said.

Geeks and nerds have something to offer, as with most other groups.

Some feel the talents of this clique are a bit more helpful or realistic, being more suited to the real and growing world.

“Without geeks, who would know how to work technology?”

Borsella said.

“We’re ****ing Gs,” said freshman Destiny Huber, her mini-note held up to her ear, playing a rap song.

Some call her stereotype “wanna be gangsters; sophomore Marvin Byas would use other words.

“I would call them ignorant humans who are a disgrace to our country as well as mankind,” said Byas.

“Gs” are often stereotyped by their clothing style. Baggy shirts, sometimes long chains of flashy jewelry and low riding pants often characterize these students.

“What annoys me the most is the way they dress because they are ignorant to the way this style originated. And what I mean by this is ‘sagging’,” Byas said.

According to Byas, wearing baggy clothes originated in the South from slavery. Slave owners would force slaves to wear large clothes as a form of embarrassment.

This clothing then moved to prisons - and is now worn by some Oak Park students.

“From an African American perspective, it’s an embarrassment,” Byas said, “They’re ignorant to

the history of that style.”

Another stereotype of “Gs” are their party habits. “[We are] hella cool, fun people to kick it with,” said sophomore Cliff Hansford. “Just hangin’ out we always find fun things to do.”

For this stereotype, weekends are something to look forward to. “[What we do] depends on what that night brings, every night’s a new night,” Hansford said.

According to Hansford and Huber, partying is not a big problem with their parents.

“They don’t care [because] they don’t know about it,” Huber said.

Many students judge their peers, like Huber and Hansford, based primarily on such behavior.

“I don’t like them very much, I think it’s obnoxious and the person they’re trying to be isn’t exactly the most admirable,” Byas said in response to “Gs.” Counselor Micky Conway warns students against limiting themselves within social groups because they would miss out on meeting new people and finding opportunities.

“I limit myself because I have dealt with people like that in the past and they’re not the people I like to associate with,” Byas said, “I associate with the more polite and intelligent students.

Not to say that they’re not, they just don’t behave as such.”

6lifestyles

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

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Upper language classes have an up side By: Jessica Nichols Feature and Sports Editor Walking past the foreign language classes during second block on an A day, one might hear senior Elizabeth Garnos yell, “Vas,” as the students in the French III and IV class have a verb race on the white board, trying to be the first group to successfully conjugate their verb and write sentences with the verb in the correct tense.

“Take French III/IV,” Garnos said. “You can get college credit for it and it looks good on transcripts.

Plus, it’s fun.”

As students continue their high school educations they must make choices between certain classes. Those who have already taken or are currently taking the lower foreign language classes are encouraged to continue taking classes to improve their language skills in order to prepare them for life.

“Depending on what their future plans are, taking four or five years

of Spanish can help students meet admissions and sometimes graduation requirements for their preferred university,” said Spanish teacher Stacey Stowers. “For those who are interested in completing required courses early, or earning a minor in the language it gives them a huge head start. For students going directly into an internship, apprenticeship, or job training, being able to list their Spanish studies on their resume may mean that they are the one who gets hired because they have this additional skill.”

Taking more than two years of a foreign language can also affect a student’s future life socially.

“It helps students be more prepared to interact effectively with people of diverse backgrounds,” said French teacher Nicole King. “They develop a broader world view with interest in and respect for other cultures.”

The classes bring students together, as well.

“The best part about Spanish IV is the people,” said Spanish IV student, junior Lanisha Caldwell.

“They make the class more interesting because the different personalities mesh together while trying to speak the same language.”

Spanish III, IV and V can be taken for dual credit, meaning a student can earn college credit while taking the classes in high school. French III, IV and V can also be taken for college credit through Maple Woods.

German III, IV and V classes count as well.

“I heard if you take four years of a high school foreign language at most colleges you can test out of it, like you won’t have to take more Spanish,” Caldwell said.

For students who continue taking a foreign language after required classes for graduation have been filled, the classes build upon the skills students have already learned as they continue to develop their speaking skills.

On Monday, Feb. 22, sophomores Bryce Tafolla, Allyson Ng and Megan Jeffries practice their Spanish on eCampus in Spanish III. “We are learning how to say commands; and it will help me boss people around,” Ng said. Photo By: Lauren Grace, Lifestyles Editor

“Most of the curriculum is review and application with just a few additional vocabulary and grammar components,” Stowers said.

The foreign language teachers try to keep the classes interesting, incorporating activities into the classes.

“We play carreras de pizarra and matamoscas,”

Caldwell said. “It’s a dangerous, intense game.”

Carreras de pizarra means “board race” in Spanish, while matamoscas is a flyswatter game. Students also use websites, exercises and speaking games.

“We have food days, singing days and French Bingo,” Garnos said.

Whether one wants

college credit or enjoys the language, the upper level classes should not be overlooked.

“I continued French because I love learning about the French language and because it speaks to me,” said French IV student senior Hannah Horowitz. “And because I love Madame King.”

Power School makes the decisions for enrollment By: Lauren Grace Lifestyles Editor Anticipation fills the air as the counselors hand out the sheet of paper for students to draw out what classes one wants next year. For some it’s as easy as following the yellow brick road, for others it might be as difficult as trigonometry test.

By now people have enrolled for 2011-2012 school year. Students can guess which teachers they may have and what activities they will participate in.

Though, knowing what block one will have for their classes is a mystery. Power School does all the hard work deciding peoples’ schedule one at a time and then officially building the master schedule where the cycle of classes is born and teachers are chosen. Then it goes through a run-through to make sure it works and students have the classes they wanted.

“We do our best to place students in sections so that they can have every-

thing they have requested,” said assistant principal Gary Miller. “However, there will be some students for which that is just not possible. And at that point counselors and I have to work individually to try to correct the problems with those conflicted schedules. Sometimes that involves placing a student in an alternate choice; sometimes it involves actually working directly with the student.”

Power School tries to avoid any conflict of classes a majority of people want from being placed at the same time. Internship, AP classes, practical arts and fine arts may hold a conflict because some classes are set at specific times.

If people want more than one of these classes, sometimes it is a fear that they might have to pick one or the other.

This is nothing compared to what administrators would do before the age of computers. They would use a magnetic board and place dots around to see what worked, though Miller said there

where ups and downs with the system. “[We would] try to avoid conflicts by looking visually at it and you would build by hand that conflict matrix that the computer built for us now. You would start with classes that only one section each; you would look at those to see the potential conflicts that might arise,” Miller said.

The problem with that system of organization was that it would not only be time consuming but also one would not know students’ request, for those courses were simply operating through one’s knowledge of what courses students would often choose in the past. The advantage of the computer is it looks at the actual student course requests while it is making sure everything works.

Choir students have a dilemma; for they enroll for a specified choir and either make it or do not. They audition for choir in April while the computer has kept track of their schedule long before, and some have to change it. Choir

teacher Chris Droegemueller said the reason he waits until spring to tryout is because the students voices still change especially during February when they have competition.

“The week later people find out and it’s exciting. There are tears and there is laughter,” said sophomore Roxy Whitaker.

With course changes, Miller said there will always be situations where a student has a significant situation. For instance, a student did not pass a prerequisite class, and has to have something changed for balance. Though sometimes they build the master schedule and the type of request change might be simply a student changing their mind and might not be allowed because it could lead to an overloaded section or have some other impact affecting other students. In conclusion, Miller said it is important for students to select their class request and other choices, very carefully.

page 7 entertainment

Friday, Feb. 25, 2011

Entertainment event calender

By: Lauren Grace Lifestyles Editor

Concerts Sunday, Feb. 27, BMF Tour: Rick Ross, Soulja Boy, Monica & Ron Ron @ Sprint Center Sunday, March 6, Rascal Flatts @ Sprint Center

Games March 6 “Pokemon Black/White version” March 8 “Dragon Age II” (X360, PS3, PC) March 15 “Okamiden” (DS) PC)

Love triumphs over all

March 22 “Crysis 2 (Limited Edition” (X360, PS3,

Movies Feb. 25 “Drive Angry 3D” “Hall Pass” March 4 “Rango” “The Adjustment Bureau” “Take Me Home Tonight” March 11 “Battle: Los Angeles” “Red Riding Hood” March 18 “Paul” March 25 “Sucker Punch”

Books March 1 “Twilight’s Dawn (Black Jewels Series)” by Anne Bishop March 7 “Afterlife (Evernight Series #4)” by Claudia Gray March 15 “Midnight (Vampire Diaries: The Return Series #3)” by L. J. Smith

February can be depressing for single desperate women. Dreaming when and how they would meet the right guy and he would sweep her off her feet.

The winter play, “Triumph of Love”, tells the story of a Princess Leonide played by senior Rachel Perkins, who discovers a prince from another land, and desperate to meet him. Though she could not be herself to meet Prince Agis played by junior Ty White, for he is the true air to her throne as well as that his relative to Hermocrate played by junior Alex Stompoly, who does not believe in love. She with her lady in waiting, Corine played by freshman Mariah Studebaker, and impersonate as men to meet the prince in his secret garden. Though, to break through, she entices Hermocrate and Leontine, the sister played by junior Shelbi Arndt, to fall in love with her. When everyone starts to commit himself or herself to Leonide, the plot thickens.

“It was difficult and fun to make out as a guy, and imagine what a guy would do and dramatize a guy character,” Perkins said. “I auditioned and read the lines as the princess, and then did monologue as a guy with Ty and Eric.”

The first opening night Thursday, Feb. 10, the crew gathered in a circle to commemorate and prepare themselves as a unit. When they were done, they hugged each other so tightly one could have broken a leg.

Though the night was not as in sync as they hoped, for the clear-com, used for each crew to communicate to each other failed

Justin Bieber dies at young age of 16 By: Zach Lancaster Writer After a string of celebrity deaths in the last year, the internet and online social networks killed a few more stars. Some victims of these hoaxes include Bill Cosby, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Adam Sandler, Owen Wilson, Jared Fogle and Charlie Sheen are among the few celebrities who have all been killed off in cyber space.

Cosby, an actor who played the role of the father in “The Cosby Show,” was rumored to be dead last February. Cosby went on the “Larry King Show” to tell the pranksters on the internet to

stop, according to www.

FoxNews.com.

Polizzi, a star from the MTV reality show “Jersey Shore,” there was talk going around that she had passed away from a drug overdose. Polizzi’s fans sent overwhelming messages through her Facebook fan page claiming she had died, TMZ says.

During the month of December, gossip was spreading rapidly that three actors, Wilson, Sandler and Sheen had tragically died separately in snowboarding accidents in Zermatt, Switzerland. A blog on the internet claimed Wilson was reported dead, followed

by Sandler and Sheen ac-

cording to www.Latimes. com.

Last, Fogle, the Subway spokesman’s death rumor was quickly spreading through the news, and became one of the top 10 hottest treading items according to Yahoo. The gossip with Fogle was that he passed away January 2011 from his gastric bypass surgery he underwent in 1997.

Large numbers of these rumors were spread through the internet, according to www.msn.com.

According to www.

Nbcnewyork.com, “A big amount of these hoaxes came from Twitter. You cannot tell who’s a real live celebrity and who’s not.”

other. It is not long before their feelings get the best of them and end their charade, leaving them to deal with their weak, fractured relationship and each other.

The two well-known, successful actors have fantastic chemistry. Their interactions with each other are sweet and funny, leaving audience members smiling.

Kutcher and Portman are joined by a hilarious cast, notably musician Ludacris and Mindy Kaling, “The Office.” Supporting actors add a diversion to the relationship of Emma and Adam, and relieve tension. These members

of the cast make the movie enjoyable and memorable. Without these layered, diverse and unique characters, “No String Attached” would be just another romantic comedy.

Acting in the film is wonderful, but the script itself can be a personal concern. The film does not receive an “R” rating for nothing. Language is often vulgar, drugs are casually used, sexual interactions are frequent and many jokes are directed to mature adults.

In the end, “No Strings Attached” is a warm, hilarious romantic comedy.

Movie Review: “No Strings Attached” By: Aggie Reiger Editorial Editor “No Strings Attached,” written by Elizabeth Meriwether and directed by Ivan Reitman, revolves around trashy premises.

However, leads Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher manage to make scenes sweet, and a light hearted supporting cast creates dynamics and brings a sense of quirkiness to the film.

In the film, screenwriter Adam, Kutcher, and residency doctor Emma, Portman, decide to have a purely physical relationship with one an-

to work and they had to result to cell phones.

“I was panicked because I was supposed to open and close the curtains and I couldn’t talk to Aggie [Rieger, stage manager] and get the cues right; I was really worried,” said freshman Sierra Sheppard.

Leonide is not the only character who has a multi-personality, Uber crew also acts as stage crew. Originally in the play, the opening was to show the actors getting ready for the play within the play. The first night they showed it that way, but with it taking so long to transform to late Victorian, they cut it the second night. Though the Uber crew still added humor dressed as Gothic punk and assisting characters.

“Uber crew was fun because we got to be goofy and express ourselves without the pressure of learning lines and everything. So we kind of just got to be a family and just doing really random stuff on stage,” said Uber member sophomore Emma Kitelinger.

Junior Eric Callicoat portrayed Harlequin, the wingman to Hermocrate, an awkward man, Charlie Chaplin style who was madly in love with Corine.

“The most fun I had with my character was that I could go above and beyond with everything, whether it be facial expression, emotions, or my crazy walk,” Callicoat said. “I watched some Conan O’Brien, suggested by my director, and I just went outside the box and stepped outside of my comfort zone.”

A number of the audi-

Freshman Mariah Studebaker rehearses with one of her cast members, senior Rachel Perkins, on Monday, Feb. 7. “As a freshman,” Studebaker said, “it was great to be given the same chance.” This is Studebaker’s 18th production. Photo By: Kim Green, photo editor.

During dress rehearsal, on Feb. 7, freshman Mariah Studebaker rehearses her part as Corine in the production of “Triumph of Love.” “I like making people laugh and entertaining them,” Studebaker said.

She has participated in ballet, the Christian Youth Theater, Act One and the production of “Hairspray.” Photo By: Kim Green, photo editor.

ence members said it was hard to keep up with, due to the fact the dialogue has high intellect, almost Shakespearean in its own way.

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Friday, Feb. 25 , 2011

page photo essay

Writing to soldiers earns students a flag The special education class has been writing letters to soldiers in Afghanistan throughout the year during their self development blocks. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the students received a donated flag from Capt. John C. Schilling, U.S. Air Force. Recently the students sent thank you cards and Valentine’s Day cards. All photos by: Kim Green, Photo Editor Veteran Louis Kadera has been teaching the students the rules of etiquette for American flags. For example, it is now acceptable to wash your flag. And a flag should never touch the ground.

Rita Richards, the special education teacher, holds one end of their received flag, while veteran Louis Kadera folds it from the opposite end.

Special education teacher Rita Richards helps World War II and Korean veteran Louis Kadera fold their newly received flag. According to Kadera, to fold an American flag, one folds lengthwise side twice with the blue field on bottom. Then fold the flag in a triangle shape, like a paper football, first from the striped end toward the field. Lastly, fold the tail 45 degrees, and stuff the end.

In one of the letters to the special education students, a sergeant talks about a staff dog who sniffs out bombs for the soldiers. So, in response the students wrote to the soldiers about their own dogs.

“I’m just real proud of our students,” special education Rita Richards said. The flag the students received was flown on a C-17 over Afghanistan.

Veteran Louis Kadera said, “It was an honor [to see the special education students receive the flag].” Kadera has been a Youth Friend for the community for 16 years.