The Pirate Clipper- Oct. issue

PC

The PIRATE CLIPPER Magazine Issue 1 Vol. 26 Platte County High School

LIFE IMITATES ART Students participate in creative art outside of school

Fallin' into Autumn These attractions will have you starting autumn with a bang

Your Nation, Your Vote Voting should reflect individual's beliefs, not bias from other groups

How to Succeed in Rehearsal

Students prepare for fall musical

Contents

Sports Conference Calls News

4 5

Turn-Up for Turnout

In-Depth

6

Life Imitates Art

Feature

Behind the Challenge 8 Fallin' into Autumn 10 How to Succeed in Rehearsal

Opinion

11

Your Nation, Your Vote Taking a Stand

14

12

Follow the Pirate Clipper on Twitter:@PCClipper

The Pirate Clipper is a member of the Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Missouri Interscholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll.

The Pirate Clipper Staff

Mara Tharp

Ashley Tohm

Zoe Mayne

Jake Nicholson

Editor-in-Chief Magazine Managing Editor

Emma Hessefort

Website Managing Editor

Staff Writer Staff Writer

Lauren Sherwood Staff Writer

Lauryn Masters Staff Writer

Kevin Burns

Danielle Boyle

McKennah Houlahan

Katie Zoldos

Kianna Castro

Savannah Rottinghaus

Sports Editor News Editor

Feature Editor

Alysse Maxwell Opinion Editor

Staff Writer Staff Writer

Photographer

Jalisia Lay

Photographer

Letters to the Editor: The Pirate Clipper will strive to meet professional journalism standards. We report news accurately, objectively and fully in-depth. We will acknowledge mistakes and correct errors in content when brought to our attention.

Letters to the editor are subject to be condensed for space and grammar. They will not be subject to editing for content. Anonymous letters to the editor will not be accepted. To contact the Pirate Clipper, email PCHSpirateclipper@gmail.com or deliver letters to Room 23.

Who We Are:

The Pirate Clipper is a student-run newspaper dedicated to informing students on current local, national and worldwide issues without bias. Opinions and editorials do not reflect the views or opinions of the Platte County staff, school, administration or adviser. For questions or concerns, contact adviser Kari Johnson at johnsonk@platteco.k12.mo.us.

Conference Calls Photo by Hannah Burger

Photo by Kevin Burns

Photo by Hannah Burger

Bi-annual conference realignment creates new competition

Kevin Burns

Sports Editor

T

he committee responsible for the Suburban Conference scheduling reorganizes schools every two years. Those changes were made this year, and consequently, some of the fall sports teams ended up with tougher schedules than they have had in the past.

“I think it’s the hardest schedule this year because we have [Rockwood Summit], because we don’t ever play them,” freshman Carter Hays said. “I think it’s good to face a team like that.”

The most prominent change from the conference realignment is that Kearney joined the division Platte County is in, according to senior Sam Stuteville.

“Our overall record really does make a difference this year with Kearney making it into our district,” Stuteville said. “It’s going to affect the seeding. The team with the best record gets the first seed which is what we want because we’ll play Lafayette, and in years past Lafayette has been a pretty easy team.”

4 Sports

Photo by Kevin Burns

Boys soccer is not the only team with new opponents they have not played in a while. The football team is playing teams they have not played in five years, including Staley and Harrisonville.

“We’re taking it one game at a time,” head coach Bill Utz said. “Our schedule is tough, which in a way gives us the opportunity to focus with what’s in front of us right now. We can’t afford to look ahead to [a game] against anybody, so it does keep us grounded in that sense.”

According to junior Matt Blaha, the schedule has helped them become a better team as a whole.

“It’s probably the toughest schedule we’ve had in awhile,” Blaha said. “There’s nothing bad about playing teams that possibly have more skill than us. I have full faith in our coaches, that our coaches are better than them.”

Turn-Up

For

Turnout

Social studies students work to achieve goal of 100 precent voter turn-out Danielle Boyle Staff Writer AP Government teachers and students are setting up a voter drive to encourage 100 percent of eligible faculty and students to vote in the presidential election on Nov. 8. AP Government teacher Bevin Schmer is one of the lead teachers on the drive.

“Ultimately, it is just important for every single person who is eligible to vote,” Schmer said.

People in and coming out of high school are the least likely to vote. According to civicyouth. org, only 19.9 percent of the voters in 2014 were 19-29 years old.

This statistic is what spurred the idea for a voter drive.

“18-24 year olds voters are the least likely to turn out,” Schmer said.

The teachers want to spread awareness on how and where students can vote.

The students have been split into groups of their choosing to work on different parts of the drive. AP Government teacher Callie Beaver explained how the groups are going.

“So far we have assigned groups of everything that needs to be done,” Beaver said.

There are several groups including mock election, registration, rewards, and public outreach. The mock voting group was suggested by junior Hannah Richardson.

“We had one (mock election) at Barry," Richardson said. "It was rewarding to feel that you

were putting something in."

To figure out if there was 100 percent voter turnout, there is no way to accurately identify who voted and who did not.

“It’s an honor code sort of thing; we’re still discussing how we will measure our success,” Schmer said.

While this drive’s goal is 100 percent voter turnout, the real lesson is teaching students about how they can make a difference in their future. It is showing people how they can be part of their government and help with their democracy.

“Democracy is guided by those who show up, so the more of us that show up, the stronger our democracy is,” Schmer said.

Voter Turnout Ages 18-19

Graphic by McKennah Houlahan and Piktochart

piratestudentmedia.com 5

Life Imitates

Art

Students participate in creative arts outside of school

Photos contributed by Rylie Lawver, Luke Hodson

Jake Nicholson Lauryn Masters Staff Writer

On

Staff Writer

any given day, the high school is bustling with activity. Music floats down the hall from the band and choir rooms as the sound of sneakers hitting hardwood echos from the gym. Posters hang from lockers as evidence of club meetings and activities, while teachers lecture in classrooms. All of these things seem to define an average high school, but what sets PCHS apart is the creativity displayed from students outside of the halls.

Many students partake in artistic activities on their own time; activities ranging from traditional drawing and painting to rap to photography. Through these activities, students are able to express themselves in a way that influences those around them. Senior and studio artist Rylie Lawver wants to draw attention to issues important to her through her drawings.

“Art to me is really just a place to go when I need a break from the real world,” Lawver said. “It’s also a way to tell others and show others things that are important to me and things that I want to change in society.”

While changing the world may not be an easy task, students involved in the creative arts are able to contribute a piece of themselves to society. Through his photography, junior Luke Hodson strives to convey a message to which his audience can connect.

6 In-Depth

“Looking at a picture is a one-way ticket back to the moment you took it,” Hodson said. “I think that’s really important. I feel like photos capture so much without words. You can tell that a picture says a thousand words and some pictures just kind of speak to you.”

Creating something that speaks to a specific audience takes more time than many would expect.

“Every spare moment I’m not working or doing schoolwork, I’m doing art,” Lawver said. “It varies for each piece, but on one piece it could be up to 15 hours outside of school or more.”

Students know that if they want to create something amazing the time commitment is worth it. Junior Rockey Chambers says this time commitment directly correlates with a change in her character.

“It has inspired me to be a better person and to know that I have to work hard to get something that I want to achieve,” Chambers said.

The hard work these students put in now is setting them up for a future of creativity.

“In a perfect world I would love to get my degree and major in videography with a minor in photography,” Hodson said. “Maybe while I’m in school get a job as an amateur photographer or a paid internship or something like that, just to get my portfolio built up."

This black and white drawing of a girl done by senior Rylie Lawver is one of the many pieces created throughout her high school career.

Lawver is building her portfolio and plans to attend the Kansas City Art Insitute.

Focusing on air hockey, 2016 graduate Ethan Karsten awaits his opponent's next move. Hodson photographed prom and afterprom because he was a member of yearbook staff.

Lawver plans to build her portfolio through college artists strive to find their distinct style and create someas well, getting a Master of Fine Arts degree. thing original.

“I want to go to the Kansas City Art Institute and get “I think it’s really important to find your own style my MFA,” Lawver said. “I would either be a professor, because if you’re happy with your art and your art is deor maybe a K-12 teacher, picting you as a person, then or possibly even a graphic other people will be able to designer. I just want to see that,” Lawver said.

I think it's really important to find Often, creating something keep my options pretty open.” your own style because if you are original means breaking out While colleges are setof one’s shell. happy with your art and your art ting students up with great “In this day and age when opportunities to thrive in is depicting you as a person, then everyone has a phone or a their respective arts, the camera at their disposal it other people will be able to see internet is allowing them kind of puts people like mythat. to create their success self in a position where you Rylie Lawver without a degree. have to get really creative “Honestly, if I didn’t with your shots if you want to have to, I wouldn’t go to make something different,” school for photography,” Hodson said. “I feel like you Hodson said. “If you want to make something unique can make it pretty far with just your know-how. Espeyou have to get out of your comfort zone and adapt to cially with the internet nowadays you don’t really need the situation that you’re in.” a degree.”

The different situations and opportunities the creThrough self-taught aspects of their craft, the stuative arts bring to students continue to let them express dents are able to set goals and achieve them based on themselves in a way that is anything but stereotypical. their own morale.

Art allows students to open new doors and leave their “My goal is to make it as far as I can,” Chambers mark on the world. said. “I think rapping would be a cool career, and I “Art to me is just the possibility of showing people would be able to collaborate with artists that I look up your own world and changing the world because of to.” that,” said Lawver.

In order to achieve their goals, some of the teenage

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piratestudentmedia.com 7

Behind the

Challenge

Pirate Mentors attempt to go 21 days complaint-free

Ashley Tohm

It

all started with an idea and a box of purple wristbands.

Written on each are the words “A Complaint Free World.�

They describe a place free of negativity, where obstacles are just that and nothing more. With this idea in mind, Freshman Mentor Advisor Ellie Lightfoot set out to change the world. Specifically, the world inside of these walls.

On the second week of school,

8 Feature

Staff Writer

Lightfoot challenged the Pirate Mentors to complete the 21 Day Complaint Free challenge, meaning they had to give up complaining, criticizing and gossiping for 21 days straight.

The mentors, seen as leaders of the school, have a certain expectation of positivity from their peers.

Their job is to guide freshmen into high school life while leading them along a path bound for success. De-

spite being held to a higher standard, the mentors can fall victim to the stresses and everyday struggles that nearly every student faces.

However, great leaders often express positive attitudes, and this is no different for the mentors. For them, the ability to overcome difficulties without dwelling on negativity is a crucial skill.

Graphics by Ashley Tohm & Piktochart

“One of the things that gets in the way of being a good leader is being negative or being problemoriented,” Lightfoot said. “This challenge gets you to focus on being more positive and solutionoriented.”

Lightfoot’s primary goal was to create a more positive, collaborative community. With the average person complaining 15-20 times a day, such a community is difficult to create. The first, and for many, the hardest, step of the process was for the Mentors to simply recognize when they were making complaints.

“It has made me realize how much others complain and how pointless it is,” junior Bailey Bologna said. “It’s changed my attitude positively towards others.”

The boost in positivity felt by Bologna was not uncommon

amongst the rest of the Mentors; nearly every Mentor attested to having a more positive personal attitude, and they have even helped each other to complete the challenge. Others said the challenge helped to improve their relationship with their peers and even their freshmen.

“The challenge has made me a more positive leader towards them [the freshmen] and has helped me make any situation better,” senior Lauren Polson said.

Though the mentors have participated in the challenge nearly as long as they have worked with the freshmen this year, the shift towards a more positive environment was quite obvious, even to those outside of the program. The freshmen, widely unaware the challenge even existed, were part of an even more welcoming environment.

“We should have a school-wide challenge,” junior Julian Palmore said. “It’ll promote positivity throughout the school, could lead to better grades and hopefully help the next generation of leaders coming from PCHS.” Though beneficial, the challenge was difficult for most of the mentors. Small, meaningless complaints seemed to break even the longest complaint-free streaks.

However challenging, though, the step towards positivity ultimately influenced the overall spirit of the Pirate Nation.

“This sounds cheesy, but the challenge just makes me happier,” Lightfoot said. “It’s made me worry less, because it’s hard to worry about things when you can’t complain about them.”

piratestudentmedia.com 9

Fallin'

into

Autumn

These attractions will have you kicking off autumn with a bang

Alysse Maxwell Opinion Editor

Quay Coffee

Cooler weather equals warmer drinks. When looking to step outside the Starbucks box, Quay coffee is the hotspot.

Located right outside the City Market, their diverse menu ranges from cheap mochas and macchiatos to specialty drinks that depend on the present barista. On the inside is an open and inviting space with a stage for live bands. Quay is a simple but enticing coffee shop with it is very own personality.

This shop is located at 412 Delaware Street.

10 Feature

Prospero's Books

The Beast

Fall is a time to enjoy the cool weather with a good book, movie or record. Prospero’s books is the perfect place to go for new books, DVDs and albums for a low price. On the top floor there is a relaxing setting with desks and lounge chairs amidst the array of obscure vinyls and books divided by subject and genre. The second floor opens up to many books about an array of subjects. This store is located on 1800 W. 39th Street.

The Beast is one of four haunted houses located in the West Bottoms, open throughout the Halloween season.

Their setup and performance has earned it the spot of 13th haunted house in the nation for a number of years according to americanhaunts.com. It opened Friday, September 11 and is open through November 7. This haunted house was made only for those looking for a good scare. You can find it at 1401 W. 13th Street.

Photos by Alysse Maxwell

“I usually don’t act well at all so it’s hard to just act like you are busy and doing something rather than just standing there on the stage and mouthing words,” freshman Henry Lange said.

With a diverse cast, there is a surplus of talents and personalities.

“This is one of strongest musical theater classes we’ve had in a while, and the show should shape up to be really good,” Mendenhall said. “It’s just one of those things that if you haven’t seen a musical yet, this is the one you should come to.”

The show runs Nov. 10-12. The show starts at 7 p.m. and the tickets are $7.

Main Cast

On stage, senior Spencer Kunz reads lines from J.B. Biggley, the boss of the World Wide Wickett Company in the production. This is Kunz's fourth performance in Photo by Katie Zoldos the annual fall musical.

Infographic created by Kianna Castro, Alysse Maxwell and Piktochart

How to Succeed in Rehearsal

Students adjust to changes in choreographer, music while preparing for fall musical Katie Zoldos Lauren Sherwood Staff Writer

Staff Writer

“How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying," is this year’s fall musical. It is set in the 1960s, poking fun at the business men and the general mentality that women were not highly regarded in social circumstances.

This particular show differs from previous ones in a sense of both content and performance.

“I feel like this musical is a little more intelligent than past,” senior Connor Mendenhall said. “Musically speaking, there is more jazz music in it.”

The process of creating the show has also changed. With the addition of a different choreographer full of new ideas, the cast has been required to push themselves with the unfamiliar moves.

“This is the first year ever with a student choreographer and she is really going to challenge them with choreography,” co-director Kim Foster said.

However, instead of dancing, the most challenging part for some so far is blocking. Blocking is determining where extras stand and what they do in order to make the scene more convincing.

Practing a fight scene, junior Joel Rodriguez and senior Skylar Spell practice a fight scene following the song "A Secretary is Not a Toy." The song focuses on the treatment of women in the workplace.

Photo by Zoe Mayne piratestudentmedia.com 11

12 Ads

Your Nation, Your Vote

Graphic by Ashley Tohm

Voting should reflect individual's beliefs, not bias from other groups Zoe Mayne

Managing Editor

I

dentifying with a specific political party because of family beliefs does not mean one is bound to solely that group. Coming of age means more than just discovering one’s personality; it means developing original moral and political opinions.

Political beliefs are not a hereditary trait passed down from generation to generation. The political parties are constantly changing and evolving, so much so that the Democratic and Republican parties expressed in the 2016 presidential election are not the same as they were when President Obama was elected or before that in 2000 when George W. Bush was president.

The ideas expressed by the previous generation were based upon key events that happened during those years that were memorable enough to change the way people viewed themselves, their lives and the world.

The world today is definitely not the world it was yesterday nor the world that was present when our parents were growing up.

Having the right to vote and the right of free speech grants citizens the right to have a voice. The policymaking system is set-up to allow for the people to have a large say in what our country does. This is why it is im-

portant to vote; it is our future and the future of America that is altered by whomever is elected into office.

The future is longer for our generation than the generation before us, that is why it is crucial one votes on what they believe will truly make America a better place for them, and not what their parents are voting for, or what they feel they should vote for out of obligation.

Labels are a dangerous game simply because one has registered or has publicly said they are a Republican does not mean they can only ever express Republican ideas, and the same goes for Democrats or other parties. Labels constrict people and confine them to one mindset. They can close people off and lead to votes being cast for a candidate in whom they do not wholeheartedly believe.

When November rolls around for those eligible to vote, and in the future for those who aren’t yet 18, when casting a vote, think about which candidate expresses your views the best. Do not think about who your family is voting for, or who belongs to a certain political party. Vote for the candidate you believe will continue to pave the path to a future America that is better than the one we have today. piratestudentmedia.com 13

Taking a

Infographic made by Mara Tharp

Stand

Clipper staff members discuss personal reasons for standing, sitting during pledge

14 Opinion

Why I Stand Kianna Castro Feature Editor

Every school day since kindergarten I have started with my right hand over my heart, reciting the words of the Pledge of the Allegiance. When the final bell rings at 7:30 a.m., we stand up and face the flag. As the words ring through the halls, murmurs of the kids not wanting to be the standout character in the class can be heard clearly.

Sometimes, I begin to think about why I stand there; what my purpose is behind honoring the flag.

My purpose is to honor the veterans who lost their lives while defending this country. It is for the men and women who left the comfort of their homes and went to foreign countries to fight for you, for me, for us.

As I enter into my senior year, the topic of not standing for the flag has become more prominent. I do not believe that standing for the pledge has anything to do with your race or how you feel about the

mistreatment of minorities in America. The mistreatment is very real and undeniable, but standing for the pledge in my world has to do with pride and respect.

Respect for the American men and women who fought for your right to disagree with our government. Respect for the liberties the people before you had to give up for you to have the opportunities which are presented to you and me every day.

I believe that honoring our country has little do with our own personal battles but everything to do with the people who have allowed us to voice our feelings about them. The people who gave us the privilege to drive our cars to school today and walk through the doors eager to learn. In tough times, on the battlefield, those Americans never gave up on the chase for freedom, so what gives us the right to give up on them, in the tough times at home?

Why I Sit Zoe Mayne

Managing Editor

Every morning students stand for the pledge; some by force and others by choice or simply because it is a force of habit. Since the first day of kindergarten the Pledge of Allegiance has been a step in our daily school routines. It would appear at school most students stand for the pledge. It is a rare occurrence when a student does not, and when that happens, to some it is a big deal.

I have felt judged when I do not stand. Confrontation is something I avoid, so I pick and choose the situations in which I feel comfortable expressing my right not to stand. Doing either one, standing or sitting down, does not dictate the amount of patriotism one has.

I have been threatened punishment for not standing by a teacher. In previous years however, there have been certain classrooms I felt I could express myself freely and was encouraged to explore and define my beliefs. By not standing it does not mean you hate America.

It is guaranteed in the Constitution, under the First

Amendment, that the citizens of America have free speech which enables them to stand or not stand for the pledge. If one does not stand they risk being labeled disrespectful, hateful, ungrateful to the soldiers fighting for our country, etc. How can not standing for a pledge instantly label someone with such harsh sentiments?

The political term, socializing the young, is the idea that supports the Pledge of Allegiance. Teach children young to love their country and have undying loyalty, and then they will grow up to be contributing members of society. However, saying a pledge in no way has taught me to love my country, it is learning in history classes that have garnered my loyalty.

Everyone has the right of choice in the matter and students should be allowed to make their own decisions. My patriotism and love for my county does not stem from the action of standing up for the pledge every morning, I sit down and support my own beliefs. piratestudentmedia.com 15

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