THE
Sept. 2014
Volume 90
Issue 1
Attendance on the big screen Kelsey Nelson Reporter
The Council Bluffs Community School District is trying out a new grading system this school year that could potentially fail students for absences. If you are absent from class it can affect your grade point average. The new grading system states that if a student misses ten or more days of one class, the teacher has the option of putting them on pass/fail. If able to pass, the highest grade a student could get is a 1. This change is an attempt to lower the amount of skipping and to help kids receive the education provided to them.
“I believe that over the next year our school will see a raise in academic skills and average daily attendance,” Said Corey Mulvania, Junior. The hope is that students will be more focused and test better on District Assessments and even Iowa Assessments. Other changes includes that teachers of the same subject departments (like math or science) can change the weight of practices and performances as long as every teacher agrees and the performances are weighted more. If no agreement can be made then the weight will continue to be 70% performances, 30%
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practice. Performances will only be able to be redone once and a one point reduction
will be taken from all retakes. Plus, there will be no retakes for practices depending on your specific
season went on the team really came together”. Athletic Director Jeremy Stukenholtz is conducting interviews for the new head coach. The Jackets baseball
program had a lot of success in their 2014 season, while going to State, having a 15-24 season, and also beating Ankeny for the first time in 8 years. Even after losing 13 seniors, junior Brian Krug still has high hopes for next year. “The baseball team has a lot of potential and I know we can pull off an even greater season next year.” All the guys are
Summer wrap up
programs head coach Shannon Stusse, finished out her last season with Thomas Jefferson and Morgan Wooton moved to Des Moines, IA Reporter . Before leaving, she held the Jackets record of The summer sports 2-26. of 2013-2014 school year Varsity player and included softball and baseball. They both finished junior, Megan Corey said “Even though we didn’t the season with successes and failures, ready to fix for have a lot of successful games, we had a lot of the next season. fun this season and as the The softball
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teacher’s policies. It is obvious that some students are not taking classes as serious as they should be. Receiving an education is one of the best opportunities teenagers have and it’s going to waste too often. “If my students show that they are dedicated to class, if they come to me, and they aren’t just skipping my class, there are situations which I wouldn’t place them on pass/fail,” Said P.E teacher, Daniel Liggett. With this program being introduced to TJ this year, staff is hoping to see many improvement from all the students. already excited and will be working a lot on batting during the off season.” The baseball teams head coach, Keith Midkiff won coach of the year for his improvement over last season. The 2014-2015 summer sports is promising of a better season, and coaches strongly encourage doing off season work.
Homecoming Fever Megan Carroll & Parker Raes Reporters
With the spread of Homecoming fever, TJ staff and students are buzzing with excitement. This eventful week will begin Monday, Sept 22nd and end the 26th. A different theme is set for each day, which will allow students to express their creativity in unique ways. Monday is Character Day, allowing everyone to dress as their favorite character from any show or movie. Tuesday is Twin Day, so grab a friend and be as identical as you can be! Wednesday is Generation Day allowing
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each grade a different age level. Freshmen dress like babies, sophomores as toddlers, juniors as adults, and seniors dress up as senior citizens. Thursday is celebrity day, having the opportunity to dress up as your favorite celebrity. Finally, Friday is spirit day so you can show your school pride with wearing The Big orange and black! Along with the fun fullied school days, the parade and carnival will also be a part of Homecoming week. Friday night, TJ goes head to head against Sioux City East. Jacket’s Homecoming Dance will be held Saturday, Sept. 17th. This year’s theme is “Beehamas
Beach Bash.” The dance will be from 7 to 10pm. Tickets are $5 a piece and can be found in the Main Office or the commons before and after school. With a a new vibe of excitment, the theme causes various opinions. “I like it I feel as if it was kind of cleche´” says TJ senior, Cody Viselli. Other students agree that this years homecoming is going to be a blast. Other activities include a bonfire and dodgeball tournament. Be prepared to show your Jacket Pride! Create new memories and celebrate with your classmates to make TJ’s homecoming week the best!
Apple announces new devices Football Friday Morgan Wooton Reporter
Down to second over-time and one field goal kick away, Thomas Jefferson plays their second game and takes their first win of the season against Glenwood, 41-42. Varsity player, junior Gage Surita, scored 21 of the 42 points had 1 interception, and 2 fumbles. When asked how he felt about the big victory, he said “It was an awesome feeling to help my team bounce back from a score of 14-0, and be in the lead (21-14) by half time”. Surita also added “it was an intense game but our student section and our cheerleaders helped us keep going.” Varsity player, Griffin Koletzke scored the winning touchdown for Thomas Jefferson. He also had 2 tackles along with assisting Surita for a strip. “It was an incredible feeling to score the winning touch down,” said Koletzke. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without our offense as a whole.” Both Koletzke and Surita stated that “If our team communicates, plays as a family, and strives to do our very best, we’ll have more victories just like this one.” Head football coach Mark Puev, says that the motto this year is “Help your family. Treating each other like family, and falling back on your family through the good and bad times has really helped us work out some problems this year.” Puev also added that “every game is important, but coming out on top this week is really going to help push my players for the Abraham Lincoln game this week” As for the Thomas Jefferson vs. Abraham Lincoln game this friday (9-12), Surita says “If we work together as a family, while playing intensly, we have good chances.”
Derrick Johnson Editor and Chief
Early September, Apple announced two new products that are set to drop within the next few weeks. The highly anticipated iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus will be the next set of phones in Apple’s progression towards better technology. The iPhone 6 will have a bigger screen and titanium casing starting at $199 for a model with 16 gigabytes (GB) of memory, $299 for the 64GB phone and $399 for 128GB. The Iphone 6 plus is priced at $299 for 16GB, $399 for 64GB and $499 for 128GB.
Both Iphones will also have enhanced cameras with image stabilization functionality, with a 1080p video camera, and has 1.5 micron pixels. The new Apple Watch was also also announced September 9th, and will come out in three versions. The Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. None of these products have a definite cost but sources say the prices may start at $349. Senior Jon Ybay is actually very excited for the new Apple products and can not wait for them to come out. Ybay is a
Splintered; Book review
Wonderland. Perhaps she Is not mad, though. And perhaps Carroll’s stories are Hannah-Grace not as crazy and made-up Northem as they seem. Reviewer The story starts out The book Splintered, with Alyssa collecting written by A.G. Howard, is bugs and storing them a complicated, grotesque in jars. She does this to twist of Lewis Carroll’s use the dead insects to Alice’s Adventures In make up her beautifully Wonderland. gruesome mosaics, such as Alyssa Gardner, the a night sky filled with “a main character, hears the thoughts of plants and bugs. constellation that coils like feathery bolts of lightning,” At first, she hides what as Howard writes. she thinks to be delusions, As the story since her mother ended up continues, Alyssa ends up in an institution. Insanity in Wonderland, led there has run in her family ever since her great-great-great- by a netherling named grandmother, Alice Liddell, Morpheus who disguises himself as a moth. told Lewis Carroll her Morpheus then proceeds to strange dreams, inspiring his classic and well-known give Alyssa her memories back, showing her that she Alice’s Adventures In
follower of the Apple brand and thinks the company is taking great steps in the right direction. “I’m stoked dude, it knocked my socks off,” said Ybay, when hearing the announcement. “I’m gonna ask my dad for a iPhone 6 for Christmas, and I’m gonna buy an Apple
Watch.” Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc. has promised that these devices are “the biggest advancement in the history of the iPhone”. With these various promises of advancements, Apple Inc. has left many customers anxious and waiting.
had gone to Wonderland before as a young child. Morpheus taught her all of the secrets about Wonderland and what was required of her to carry out her quest. Alyssa then finds out that her family is not, and never has been, insane, and that she needed to come back to Wonderland to save her family from their lifelong curse which was caused by Alice Liddell.
Howard’s novel effortlessly flows together, filled with detailed descriptions that make the reader imagine the fictional land of Wonderland as though they were there. In my opinion, Splintered gets four out of five buzzes. Mixed with equal amounts of adventure and emotion, Howard’s book is definitely worth taking the time to read.
Friendly reminder to pick up your student ID and pictures
If I Stay; Movie Review Alejandro Vieyra Copy Editor
Over Labor Day weekend, I saw the movie “If I Stay”, based off of the book written by author Gayle Forman. I can safely say this is in my top 10 saddest movies I have ever seen. The book/movie is about a high school girl named Mia, who has a crazy musical family, and dreams of being a very good cellist. These dreams are nearly shattered after she gets in a car wreck and becomes a comatose patient. But, in her coma,
her spirit is trapped outside her real body, witnessing everything that is happening around her. It brought many
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emotions, from heartwarming to heartbreaking, in a matter of minutes, making this a very satisfying movie.
in the main office.
One of my favorite actresses Chloe Grace Moretz, stared in the movie aswell. Meeting every expectation I had from her, having seen previous movies with her in it. It also introduced a couple of actors I am not familiar with, like Jamie Blackley playing Mia’s lover Adam, and Liana Liberato playing her best friend Kim. These two also played very believable roles, and I would look forward to seeing other movies featuring them as well. Overall a very good movie, I give it 4 out of 5 buzzes. A mix of laughs, tears, and a love story all in one setting, it was worth a couple hours to sit and watch.
“Bee”ing involved in school Ana Aguilar Reporter
Now at TJ, students can take advantage of what TJ has to offer, a diverse variety of clubs that are before and after school that any student can join. Joining clubs and participating in community service in high school provides opportunities to meet people with similar interests and passions, as well as expanding leadership skills, and spending time doing activities that students might enjoy. At TJ there are many current clubs from years before as well as new clubs that meet the interests of all students. “I wanted to become connected to the school, and be more informed of what’s going on and not miss opportunities,” said
New Counselor
junior Marbella Avalos. Clubs allow people to get to know their school better as well as other students and being more involved and have school spirit. There are clubs like Student Council that allows
Start out right with START
Sabrina Scott Reporter
Ms.Kinsley started her job as a new counselor during the fall of 2014 at Thomas Jefferson High School. This was after TJ’s previous counselor, Mr. Nepple, transferred to Lewis Central High School. She will be covering the students with the last names O-Z just like Nepple did last year. Kinsley is responsible of all schedule changes and any questions. With her new position, there was a lot to learn. “Interacting with students, it’s different than being one on one rather than a classroom.” Nepple told Kinsley he thought she would be great for the job and a great opportunity. After being recommended, Kinsley received the new position for the 2014-2015 school year. Kinsley majored in Biology at Dana College, Secondary Counseling at University of Omaha and Education Technology at Peru College. Kinsley previously taught Biology, Integrated Science, and Forensic Science here at Thomas Jefferson. Let us make Ms.Kinsley’s first year as counselor a great one. Visit the Counseling Center and schedule your appointment today.
students to participate in creating the school dances and be involved in the homecoming parade and other clubs like College Bound that not only students prepare for college, they also help them
get scholarships for college. Plus, there is a variety of clubs for people with specific interests, such as the film club where students get to learn the different things they can do with films and how they are made. People can also join the Aerospace club for students who are interested in building rockets and launching them as well as the Mock-Trial Club which is for people who are intrigued in the justice system and legal field. It does not matter what club students want to join; what matters is being involved in school activities. There is still plenty of time to join a club and find new friends and opportunities that relate to your interests.More more information you can visit the main office.
Kelsey Nelson Reporter
Last year, Thomas Jefferson had Advisory and TJ reads that failed to meet expectations of some teachers and students. This year, changes have been made to have a more efficient outcome. TJ has created a new class after students’ second hour. The new program is called “START” and is a combination of Advisory and TJ reads. Students are expected to go to this class for 10:18 til 10:45 every Tuesday through Friday. When in your START class, you are expected to read a certain number of pages and books, make goals, and make sure you are on the right track to succeeding in high
Spread the word, not the bug Taylor Stanfill Reporter
Along with the new school year beginning, a new sickness is spreading around TJ. During this flu season six to seven students have been sent home almost everyday explained school nurse Lisa Kaufman. This new “respiratory bug” is keeping kids at
school. “I’ve done this before in another school, and it helped the students to have another pair of eyes looking out for them,” Said math teacher, Mary Lee. While in START,the teacher and student can create a relationship in
which they feel like they could get help and learn from. Many are hoping for great changes in this years programs. “We get more accomplished, but advisement seems to be left out this year,” Said Junior,
home and attendance has been greatly affected. Some of the illnesses have been summer colds, allergies, and quite a few fevers. It’s very crucial to take attendance seriously because of the new 10-day pass/fail rule added by the administrators. 10 missed days goes by very fast and with days missed because of various activities and appointments added to it, it’s important to be at school whenever you can.
In order to stay healthy and at school, it’s important to take precautions such as washing hands, not sharing drinks and coughing or
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Acing our way into the new year Megan Carroll Reporter
Starting the season off with a sting, the varsity volleyball has a record of 5-2. Dedication along with the crazy student section, the lady jackets have started the season with an successful ace. Recently, varsity pulled through with two wins against both Roncalli and Omaha South at their home triangular. Starting off the first set with 25-17, Roncalli with the lead, TJ comes back defeating 26 and 9 for the last two sets. Coming short against South in the first set, 25-23, TJ smashes South in the final sets 29 and 15. Following the varsity, the junior varsity and freshmen teams planned to make big accomplishments for the jacket’s athletics. “I think they’re going to kill it, because they have really been working on themselves and together as a team.” said Freshman vollyball player Kourtney Hanson. As a team, all of the girls have really showed great progress throughout the years. Even though they’re playing so well, do not forget to go support all three teams to andsee their improvements! Claire O’Donnell. Being a new program this year, nobody knows how it is going to go, but TJ hopes for the best results and to see improvement in connections between teachers and students.
sneezing with a closed forearm. Last but not least, it’s crucial that if you’re sick that you stay home to avoid spreading germs.
Cross country Morgan Wooton Reporter
The Thomas Jefferson girls and boys cross country have had an exceptional week, with many of our runners, either having a new personal record (PR), or winning races. Eleven junior varsity(JV) boys PR’d, along with two varsity boys. Senior Eldon Warner, took first place in the varsity boys race. The junior varsity girls had five PRs following with four varsity runners also receiving PRs. Cassie Warner also beat Graduated varsity runner Emily Dickinson’s’ record, by nine seconds. Four new junior varsity girls (Hannah Santay, Georgia Blanco, Martina Weaver, and Breanne Walter) had just joined the team, and finished the meet, all of them under twenty-five minutes. Both the boys and girls teams hope to continue and improve for the rest of the season, and keep trying to be the best.
Your right to dress Morgan Barth Reporter
Dress code is something that some students of Thomas Jefferson dislike very much, and don’t appreciate it being enforced. All students of the Council Bluffs Community School District know that there are only certain things that you can wear. If you wear something that doesn’t stretch out to your fingertips, then it is considered short. You either have to have something to cover it up, or the administration gives you something of their own for you to wear. If your shoulders are showing, or if you have too much skin showing, it is against the code. “I don’t like it, I feel
like I have to wear long sleeves in the middle of the summer, but I also feel like it is appropriate. There are certain things that people should and should not wear to school.You should be trying to look professional.” Said Jamie Belback The dress code has been inforced for years, it is in the Code of Conduct manual . Dr. Plourde stated that the only reason he enforces this rule because he cares. There was a lot of talk about the Cheerleaders outfits showing shoulder blades. Little did people know that the full uniform did not come in. Cheerleaders are not enforced to wear a long sleeve under their outfit. “People in our
community personally call me, and thank me for holding our students to high standards.” Said Dr. Plourde. Other things he had stated students should not only be wearing appropriate outfits to give Thomas Jefferson a good looking reputation. Inappropriate clothing can not only give you selfdisrespect. He also stated
It gives everyone in our school a bad look. What students need to understand isthat TJ is doing better this year than they are last year. There are people from other places transferring over here because we are a well-kept school. So lets keep our rep going. And begin to wear the right things. Don’t dress inappropriately. Do the right thing.
Fall sports preview Morgan Barth Reporter
Hysteria has started in all high schools , including this one. Thomas Jefferson. Football Thomas Jefferson Jackets, practiced hard this year, getting ready, and are set for the first football game of the season. TJ’s varsity team took a trip to Lewis Central to face off St.Albert, ending with a score of 20-13. TJ’s was in practice mode, worked harder to be better, for their game, that took place at Wilson Friday, Sept. 5th a game that was set against
Abraham Lincoln High. Ended in a victory, with a score of 42-41. “I feel that everyone on the football team wants to prove to everyone that we have something to offer.” Said senior Devon Kermoade, ”In the past we haven’t had much support with our football team. This year everyone is focusing on coming together and working to get the job done.” Cross Country There are many games, the first one was at IWCC Saturday Sept. 6th, against 19 other schools. Cross Country has been working hard, running for
Boys Golf Morgan Wooton Reporter
The Jackets boys golf team had a meet at Dodge Riverside, on Monday, September 15th. Taking sixth, with a total team score of 466. Sophomore Chris Whitney had the best score on our team, with 98. He is also the first boy to get under 100 at a meet this year, for Thomas Jefferson. Junior, John Poldberg was second on our team, with a total of 103. The Jackets golf team continues to practice and hopes to get better for their upcoming meets.
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miles, gaining speed, and pushing themselves to run up hills. “Some of the kids are embarrassed to run, they are afraid that they will not make it. And all I have to do as a coach is encourage them.” Stated Coach Muehlig, “It was good to hear that my team has been practicing throughout the summer.” There are specific people on the team, that had suffered injuries, and pain, but still pushed through the race. Volleyball Players have been coming in, practicing hard and working to the
best that they can. With a game upcoming Saturday, Sept.13. The players will be away, heading up against St. Albert, Abraham Lincoln, and Lewis Central. “Working hard, to be better than what we can be. Everyone struggles, so we make sure that we get over it, to get better, to be stronger. It’s not always about winning, it’s about trying. And that is what our teams does.” Said Coach Bond. Something running through all the school is TJ pride. Something, not only coaches have, but players too.