The Signal May 2014

Buzzing for more news? www.cbjacketjournalism.com

Look for important Senior Info!!

Follow us!

Twitter: @TJHSJournalism Instagram: tjhsjournalism

LICE LICE BABY

By Isabella Moore Copy Editor LICE IS GROSS AND IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. Many of you already know about lice, but you may not know how our school deals with it.

“Our policy as it stands right now is that we do not send students home with lice. Parent contact is made,” said the school nurse Lisa Kaufman. “The parents are notified that their son/daughter has lice, what the treatment protocol is, and the student is allowed to finish out the day and then get treatment after school.

And as long as they’ve had the treatment, they can return to school the next day.”

Senior

Checklist - Check with Lori in the main office about any possible fines.

- May 19th, Senior meeting at 9:15 AM; must go.

-May 19-23, students need to get the signout sheet filled out.

-May 28th, seniors bring clearence slips to the TJAC and recieve a ticket for their commencement cap and gown.

-May 29th, the Commencement reheasal is at 8 AM. If students do not attend, the student will not walk at graduation.

-May 31st, Graduation is at 10 AM at the MidAmerica Center.

Students will meet at 9 AM.

Hearing this news has made some students at TJ ask why our policy is like that. The news of how our school feels about this is spreading faster than lice.

“It was done on the recommendation on the public health department because they were finding that classroom checks and classroom screenings really weren’t eliminating the problem,” said Kaufman. “It was just a time consuming task that wasn’t identifying a whole lot of cases so they decided that it would just be handled more on an individual basis versus doing all the classrooms on a given day.”

The probability of getting lice is very unlikely,

but there is always a chance of getting it. So here are some tips to stay clean.

“The best way to not get head lice is to not have head to head contact with people: don’t share combs, hair brushes, or stocking caps,” said Kaufman.

By Drake Neal Reporter

Jacket Backer breakout year

By Drake Neal Reporter This year Jacket Backer made over $22,000. The activity team with the most in donations this year was softball, making over $2,000; baseball followed right behind them with $1,800.

“I’m pretty stoked,” says softball coach Shannon Stusse.

With their winnings they bought lots of equipment, including bats, more balls, shirts,

tees, pitching plates, and wrist-bands for play calls.

“We’re pretty happy with each other. We're like a second family,” says Stusse.

TJ has been doing this event for eight years now. This year, students, staff, parents, and alumni, were provided with dinner and silent/live auctions. In total, they had about 250 people attend this year’s Jacket Backer.

Page 1

The best way to find out if you have lice are to notice the signs. A n itchy scalp can mean lots of different things. If the itching starts to get annoying, you should probably get under a bright light a nd have somebody use a magnifying glass to look at

your scalp.

If you end up getting these unfavorable pests, there are always some home remedies which you can use, or you can stick to over the counter medicine as well.

Just remember, prevention is always the best cure.

Inside the yearbook

By Dylan Montgomery Reporter sma App is included This year, Thomas on some of the pages.

Jefferson’s yearbook With this, you will be theme is “Diary of a TJ able to get more insight Kid” based off of Dion a person, place, or ary of a Wimpy Kid . In thing. You can scan the this edition, the Auraphoto that is next to a purple triangle with a smartphone and it will play a video.

Pretty cool huh?

May 21st is the distribution party for yearbooks. There will be free pizza, pop, and music. Hope to see you there after school.

If you missed out on purchasing a book early, you can still get one during the distribution party in he commons.

Getting back on TRACK

By Megan Carroll Reporter Ju st like any other high school athletic program, having top notch equipment can really make a difference in participants performance. For TJ, ideas for renovation for the city track has been brought to attention.

The city’s track is located next to Woodrow Wilson Middle School, and over the years, it has become worn down and unusable. The area is unsafe for kids to run on it, let alone hold meets. Due to this, it has been closed to access.

Having this disadvantage, TJ is not able to have home track meets.

TJ seniors are unable

to have a Senior Night.

Fans cannot see the success that the seniors have made through the years of the sport. It is also discouraging for some track members.

“A lot of schools get to host their own track meets, but with the conditions that our track is in, we don’t really have an option,” said junior track runner Cassandra Warner.

Not only do the high schoolers get affected by a run down track, middle schoolers located by the track are effected.

Lane one is being avoided to run on due to concrete in various areas. The only material left is little to no rubber/ asphalt.

The only feesable option at this point is the creation of a brand new track for the city.

“It would give us a great opportunity to start our track program at an early stage for the middle-schoolers.

And, we would be able to host our own track meet, which would be awesome,” said Warner.

With more upgrades down the road, TJ has begun their first step by taking action for the city’s track.

Rest assured, the district is looking into making upgrades, and plans are in place to get things moving as soon as possible.

Watch for more information in the Signal.

TJ’s current practice track has six lanes. Photo by Megan Carroll.

IT-Olympics

By Dylan Montgomery Reporter

Kendall Cedarbloom watches as his Robot named CL4P TRAP gets ready for battle. Programming of the robot is autonomous.

On the campus of Iowa State University, at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, Thomas Jefferson just recently attend the IT-Olympics.

IT-Olympics is a twoday competition that features high school students showcasing the technology knowledge they have gained during the year in competitions and presentations. This year, 48 Iowa High School's participated along with 680

students from around the state.

The multimedia team consisted of Jonathan Ybay, Dylan Montgomery, Trevor Long, Alex Powders, Hanna Reed and Josie Malone.

These six individuals completed a film, website and logo promoting the DECA program at TJ. They presented it to the judges during the competition.

During the Olympics, this group was con-

Making light of the situation

By Morgan Wooten Reporter Earth Day was on April 22nd, in honor of this day, the government replaced and stopped the manufacture of old traditional 60 or 40-watt incandescent bulbs. They can no longer be made in or shipped to the United States.

But, in order to use our resources, we need light. Without manmade light sources, houses would be like caves.

These kinds of incandescent light bulbs use three times as much energy as they are suppose to, as it releases more heat and not light.

Many social environmental groups have protested against this as well. The govern-

ment has found out that they are losing more than they are gaining when it comes to these light bulbs. The plan was to make bulbs more efficient.

Now, the government will only allow 100-watt and 75-watt bulbs to be manufactured.

Also, these types of light bulbs may potentially be hazardous to your household. Mercury that is inside of the light bulb will be released when the light bulb breaks, or when the light blows out and it is not changed.

The regulators have made a new energy and environmentally friendly light bulb; a swirled compact fluorescent, LED, and halogen bulb.

It uses half the energy and gives off twice the

light as a standard light bulb. This type of bulb also lasts a lot longer, some are made to last up to 10 years.

Most of these light bulbs have a cost range upwards of eight to almost $13 depending on the voltage and brand of light bulb you buy.

Energy Star (a brand of the new bulbs) statistics show that if one light bulb in every American home were

Page 2

replaced with an Energy Star-approved compact fluorescent, enough energy would be saved to light three million U.S. homes a year. It will reduce energy costs by about $600 million and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. (The amount generated by about 800,000 cars).

As a 4A school, TJ uses a lot of light during the day to keep the

Continued on Pg. 4

school bright.

“Our school uses so much energy in a day that energy efficient lights would do us a lot of good,” says school SAM, Dan Merriam. “I’d be all for switching. If they last longer and save more energy, why not, right?”

As new ages of technology come, so have new ages of environmental safety.

Senior Scholarships

By Parker Raes Reporter

Seniors at TJ have set another high with the amount of money earned in scholarship offers this year.

So far, 50 out of the 250 seniors have turned in scholarships, totaling in $3,915,622.00. In the past four years, this is the second highest value of money received, right behind last years seniors with $4,235,207.67.

You can receive a scholarship many different ways. One way is just by doing good in school and pushing yourself to be an

Non-stop movie review

above-average student.

“I got a scholarship by maintaining a 3.5 or above GPA every trimester in school and being involved in many activities,”says senior Faye Arthur. “Schools love it when you can be involved in a lot, and still have good grades.”

You can also earn scholarships by being very good at extracurr icular activities. It is not just about being good inside the classroom, but outside as well. Some students received scholarships for their excellence in the fine arts and

sports.

“I received my scholarship to Morningside by being a good student in the classroom, and a good athlete on the field. I had to push myself everyday to achieve these expectations,” said senior Trevor Ceder.

Earning a scholarship is simple, it is about putting in work and trying your best.

This is how our seniors have earned such a vast amount of money. TJ is proud to have such a great variety of students, leavThere’s still room for ing high expectations for the years to come. more scholarships.

many opportunities and has accomplished most of them. Elementary school visits is one of the things in the process of being accomplished. During these visits, a few members get together and go to elementary

schools and read aloud to these students. Everyday, teachers read to their students and it is good for students to hear somebody else’s voice reading.

So far, New Era members have visited two elementary schools and had a great time interacting with the classes they read to.

“I really enjoy visiting elementary schools because I plan on being an elementary school teacher one day and besides, it’s really fun and exciting to see their faces as you walk in and tell them you came to visit and read them a book. I just really love doing that,” said Bibiana Lemus, member of New Era. Once they got to the school, members were split up to read amongst different

Non-Stop stars Oscar winning and Golden Globe nominee, Liam Neeson, who plays Bill Marks, a U.S Air Marshal. This film came out February 28th, 2014.

It was packed full with both thrill and mystery, with the intensity taking place on an airplane.

I thought this movie was good myself. I really enjoy murder mysteries. With over 150 people on the plane, it is hard to determine who is good and who is bad.

The website Rotten Tomatoes, where most critics compile their thoughts on movies, stated Non-Stop “wastclassrooms. During the ed its cast” and had an Walnut Grove elemen- “unbelievable final act” tary visit, five New Era but I thought it was just members were split up bad. I disagree on the wrong cast statement. I into the grades kinbelieve that Neeson was dergarten, first, and second to read books perfect for this role, it fits his movie persona, aloud to them. such as the Taken mov“Everybody was ies. excited. It gave me the I also disagree that feeling of being a little toward the ending was kid again,” said Cecelia “unbelievable.” Innocent Yale, member of New passengers fought more Era. to protect themselves. It Elementary schoolwas more suspenseful, I ers enjoyed having our found it better to watch members read aloud at the edge of my seat. to them so much, we Overall, my movie were offered to go to experience was great. recess with them and There were many surspend more time with prises, and the susthem. pense of not knowing “I had very positive who will be killed next feedback,” said Mrs. kept me on edge. With Storey, New Era Spon- people continuously dysor. ing, Bill Marks will have TJ’s program New to fight and be couraEra, has had a great geous to save the plane year so far, and is look- and the passengers. ing forward to next year’s turn out.

New Era presents to elementary schools

By Kelsey Nelson Reporter

There are certain programs offered at TJ to all grades. New Era is one of them. New Era is a program that offers many of great things.

New Era has had

Page 3

By Alejandro Veiyra Reviewer

Awkward S3 recap & S4 predictions

By Alejandro Veiyra Reporter

Season four of the MTV show Awkward premiered April 15th, and drama at their school increases more and more everyday.

Last season on the show it left us with Jenna, the main character in the series, confronting Collin, about the terrible way he had been treating her. From the drugs and alcohol he gave to her, to lying about the relationship Jenna thought they had.

After all the conflict last season, Jenna now is trying to apply for colleges and be a better friend and make amends with her

best friend Tamara, her friend/ex-boyfriend Matty, and the counselor whose life she almost ruined by a bad paper she written and was leaked to the entire school.

“I think Jenna is going to be a better friend by being there for her friends and not getting twisted up with boys,” said sophomore Sara Hunt.

Not only is tension rising but there are also a few characters that have left Awkward, such as Ming, one of Jenna’s and Tamara’s best friends who had left the show. Also Bailey the one who was seen last with Matty, dancing at homecom-

ing who later was said to had broken up with Matty.

But with characters leaving others will come like the new character Eva, who is beginning to become friends with everyone at the new school. Also a familiar character Sadie is starting to have a new attitude, now becoming more conscious about her feelings toward people.

With all the new conflicts and characters, there is no telling how the rest of the season will go. Tune in to MTV on Tuesdays at 9:00 to find out what will happen next on season four of Awkward.

from the Council Bluffs School District, Faith Barnard, Anthony Maron, and Angela Gardner from TJ, Nickolas Kolo from AL, also Kourtney Hanson from Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

The former NETA president, Dr. Bob Goeman greatly appreciated these students, for coming in and presenting on this topic.

“I’m happy you were all able to come and present and I’ll wel-

come any future presentations from you.”

Goeman stated.

“NETA conference is an incredible place to bring K-12 students to showcase what they know as well as learn new technologies that will further their future learning.”

About 30 people, a mix of Teacher’s, NETA board members, and representatives from other schools came to watch the five students present. All of the Stu-

IT-Olympics continued

tinuously asked to work additional multimedia projects. They were given approximately two-hours to complete the task before the next real-time challenge was presented to them.

The Robotics team of Anthony Rea, Kendall Cedarbloom, and Paris Hoang completed a robot that competed with other robots in Sumo Wrestling.

There was also realtime challenges where students were asked to design parts or programs for an additional base robot.

The Game Design team of Cameron Campbell and Brandon DeVoll completed the primary challenge by creating an educational game of consumer math for middle school students. They wrote this program prior to the two-day event

and brought it to the competition for judging. During the Olympics, the game design team were continuously given base-programs

Cameron Campbell (front) and Brandon DeVoll working on Game Design instant challenges and brain teasers.

and was asked to turn them into a completed game. Only given approximately two-hours to complete the task before the next realtime challenge was presented to them.

The Game design team placed fifth overall in the competition.

District students present at NETA

By Angela Gardner Reporter

On April 25th, a Nebraska Educational Technology Association (NETA) conference was held. District students were asked to go to NETA and present on having a student tech center in their school.

Deb Lampman District Computer Technician, and John Stile Supervisor of Technology brought five student technicians

dent Tech’s thought this experience was fun and great all people who attended.

“I love working in the tech center and getting all these opportunities, and Ilike that there was college stuff there for us,” said sophomore Faith Barnard.

She’s been involved in the tech program for two years now and plans on continuing to learn through this for the rest of high school.

“I liked presenting

and I think the other schools took a lot from it.”

This conference was very successful, and TJ was invited back for the following years to present about different topics.

Many students enjoyed this experience and are looking forward to be attending in the future.

The Signal is a school-sponsored publication of Thomas Jefferson High School 2501 W. Broadway Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501. The Signal’s office is located in room C128. The Signal is printed by OH-K FASTPRINT in Omaha, NE. The Signal is a school-sponsored-publication and therefore recognizes its responsibility to stay within the boundaries that the school administrator sets. The Signal will therefore inform its readers using a high standard of morals and ethics. The Signal encourages readers to respond in the form of letters to the editor, which can be sent to room C128. The Signal’s editorial staff reserves the right to edit the letters for grammatical errors and to remove any profanity. The editors also reserve the right to exclude letters that are false in their statements or accusations.

The Signal will not accept advertisements that promote activities illegal to minors. Advertising rates are available upon request.

Page 4