Holiday Edition 2012 - Cimarron High School

WHAT’S INSIDE?
Page 3
Cimarron High
School
Cimarron, KS 67835
Holiday 2012
Volume 10, No. 2
Page 6
Page 8
Non-profit
permit #41
Cimarron,
KS
67835
The Bluejay Post
Construction shakes up grade school
By Kelcey Baker
Everyone knows that construction has
been going on at the grade school since
school started, and there is a big reason
why the grade school needs this add-on.
“The list goes on and on…mainly
the problem is we are out of room,” said
Secretary Jessica Nestor.
The staff at the grade school thinks
that the decision to build an addition was
a good one.
“The student population at the grade
school is growing, and those trailers are
a temporary solution,” said sixth-grade
teacher Kelli Buehler.
Unfortunately, teachers on the east
side of the school have been having some
problems with the noise from construction
machinery.
“It was hard to teach at first, but
after a while you get used to it. I just talk
louder when the construction starts getting
louder,” said fourth grade teacher Erika
Edmondson.
Principal Rocky Stewart said that the
grade school has encountered a few problems, but they have been minimal.
“Fire alarms have gone off unexpectedly a couple of times because of the vibrations from the construction; a couple of
times the breakers have been thrown; and
part of the classes were without electricity,
but not for long,” Stewart said.
The construction is scheduled to be
complete by Christmas vacation, 2013.
add some cement: Construction workers pour cement for the foundation
of the new addition to the grade school. (Pena photo)
2013 Timeline of Grade School Construction
Classroom Building Pad
Plumbing Rough-in
Classroom Foundation
Jaunary March
Exterior Windows
Electional Rough-in
May
Tile
June
August
September Flooring
October
2
Opinions
The Bluejay Post
Holiday 2012
What is the one thing you want for Christmas?
“My golden Labrador Retriever
back.” - Senior
Deisy Galaviz
“For K-State footaball to win against
Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.”
--Paula Thompson
“All my family together.”
- Senior Elizabeth Sharp
“Ted, the unrated
version.”
--Sophomore
Anthony Scott
“A money tree, so I can pay all my bills.”
- Ashley Hubbell
“Seat covers for my
jeep.”
-Junior Alex Rascon
The Bluejay Post
You’ve Got Mail - Letters to the Editor
“To spend time with my
mom.”
- Senior Eric Rodriguez
“A Scooby-doo colored
Great Dane.”
- Senior Karina Zamora
John Mowry got the ball
rolling...
Levi Lacy picked it up and
ran with it....
Then all of the students
at Cimarron Schools from the
grade school, junior high, and
high school got behind the effort, collecting enough items
for our military troops from
southwest Kansas who are
deployed all around the world,
to fill 39 boxes.
I had the privilege of helping Mr. Mowry’s classes fill the
boxes and fill out the customs
forms to go with each box.
But the giving did not stop
there. When I took the boxes to
the post office, postal patrons
helped unload my car, then
donated funds to help cover the
postage and spread the word
until all of the $526.55 postage
was covered by members of
our community.
A huge thank you to each
and everyone involved. You
helped give some of our military service members a very
merry Christmas.
--Bonnie Swartz and
the Blue Star Mothers
of Southwest Kansas
2012-2013 Staff
Editor: Hunter Exum
Sports Editors: Jessica Garcia and
Erikah Pena
H.S. Organizations, Arts, Music
Editor: Taryn Valentine
Copy Editors: Alex Adams and
Tori Trahern
Advisor: Lynne Hewes
Cimarron High School
Holiday 2012
Volume 10, Issue 2
News
The Bluejay Post
Holiday 2012
3
Veterans’ assembly held in November
By Robert Hoskinson
Cimarron High School presented a Veterans’ Day celebration on November 12,, and local
veterans were invited.
“We were honoring all those
veterans, dead or alive, for their
sacrifices for our country,” said
Principal Bill Brown.
Social Studies teacher John
Mowry first came up with the
idea, and the CHS band and vocal
group performed.
Area Boy Scouts, led by CHS
graduate Shay Zielke, presented
the American flag and the Kansas
flag.
Marine and CHS graduate
Roman VanNahmen spoke about
how soldiers fight to keep the
peace.
“I’m proud that I served for
our country, and that they served
with me,” said Custodian Diane
Exam, wo did military training
in the army.
Veterans’ Day
Assembly:
Cimarron High School students
and proud veterans enjoy watching
local Boy Scouts carrying the
flags to their posts as Shay Zielke,
former CHS graduate, leads them
in the ceremony. (Hoskinson
photos)
Organizations
updates
Vocal
Eight students in the vocal program
have been selected for the District Honor
Choir.
Alex Neuschafer, Kaleb Neuschafer,
Caleb Fischer, Seth Pachner, Levi Lacy,
Jessica Ast, Jackie Byer, and Charise
Friesen all auditioned and made it into
the choir.
Three students made it into the state
choir. Alex Neuschafer, Levi Lacy, and
Kaleb Neuschafer made it in, with Jackie
Byer making first alternate.
selected for Honor Band are eligible for
All-State band in January.
StuCo
Band
On December 1, eight students in the
band program attended the annual Honor
Band at Dodge City High School.
Cimarron students that attended were:
Kailtyn Rempel and Char Fleeman for the
flute section, Janee Osborn for the clarinet,
Kylie Rempel for the oboe, Paige Spurgin
for the tuba, and Nick Franzitta, Christian
Fischer, and Juan Ramirez for trombone.
Franzitta was recognized as being
selected for three years, and Fleeman and
Rempel were recognized as four-year
members. The 10-12th grade members
Gifted
StuCo members set up a Christmas
tree in the commons area to spread holiday cheer.
Gifted students Alex Adams, Aubri
Krosschell, Jacey Williams, Owen Waters,
and MacKenzy Meis all completed a jobshadowing program.
Adams shadowed at the Wichita
Public Library, Krosschell at the Wichita
Police Department, Williams at the Eric
Fischer Academy, and Waters and Meis
shadowed at Garden pharmacy.
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The Bluejay Post
Holiday 2012
Junior Anna George
Junior Alex Rascon
Rocking around the Christmas. . . TV?
By Alex Adams
What’s Your Favorite Color? Elf was the definite favorite Christmas movie
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Turn on almost any TV channel
this month and you’ll see a Christmas
special.
It’s the time of the year when everyone
is flled with Christmas cheer. A perfect
night is curling up on the couch in front
of the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and
marshamallows, watching your very
favorite Christmas movie.
So what is the best Christmas movie
of all time? Well, that depends on who you
ask. If you were to ask Freshman Chantel
Lacey, she’d say it is Elf.
But if you asked Junior Katie
McDowell, she’d say The Nightmare
Before Christmas.
There are some people who don’t
watch Christmas movies at all.
Van Kenton, math teacher, said, “I
don’t watch movies... but that one movie
that’s playing twenty-four seven, The
Christmas Movie, that gets old fast.”
Some Christmas movies don’t bring
cheer to people though.
“I hate the Grinch,” says Junior
Reagan Hawley.
She’s not the only one who has a
movie she can’t stand. “I didn’t like The
Christmas Shoes,” said Freshman Bailey
White.
No matter whether you like them or
not, Christmas movies will be playing
almost non-stop until Christmas Day.
So catch your favorite, ignore the ones
you hate, and brace yourself for Valentines’
Day.
Features
The Bluejay Post
Holiday 2012
5
Lollipops and Candy Canes…Foods Galore
By Jessica Garcia
Picture yourself at home. It’s
Christmas time. Twinkling lights. Millions of
smells coming to your nose. Seeing desserts
everywhere! You have the biggest smile on
your face. What to choose?
For some it’s sweets.
Candy canes!” says Freshman Paige
Grasser, is her favorite Christmas food.
Besides the candy, many people love
the desserts.
“My favorite Christmas dessert is
my mom’s peanut butter cookies. They are
fantastical!” says Senior Austin Flores.
There are many different kinds of
desserts.
Senior Tanner Smith says his favorite is, “The cheesecake, good cheesecake.”
Besides the dessert there are also
traditional foods.
Junior Kali Redburn says her traditional food is, “Some turkey, ham, mashed
potatoes, green bean casserole, oh, dinner
rolls and lots of other yummy stuff!”
Other cultures eat more exotic foods.
Sophomore Eva Koopman, who is
from Germany, says, “Dutch food, usually inbetween breakfast and lunch is when we eat.”
Food from Mexico is different from
the food in Germany and in the Untied States.
“Tamales,” is what Freshman Juan
Ramirez enjoys eating on Christmas.
Freshman Cassie Ortiz agrees
with that choice.
“What I eat on Christmas are
tamales and menudo,” she says.
So no matter what you
choose, you will always be full and
happy, spending time with friend,
family, and good food over the
holidays.
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The Bluejay Post
Holiday 2012
Features
6
Holiday giving means giving back
By Taryn Valentine
‘Tis the season for cookies, mistletoe,
and giving back. Operation Christmas
Child, Stockings for Soldiers, and Adopt
a Soldier are popular charities at Cimarron
High School this year.
Social Studies teacher John Mowry
is a fan of Adopt a Soldier. “There are
many young men and women serving our
country that do not have the opportunity to
be home with their family and friends,” he
said, “My son was deployed to Afghanistan
so I understand what soldiers and families
go through during tours.
“I also understand how much this drive
helps with needs and how it is appreciated
by those protecting our country. There are
many people that do not have anyone that
HELP THEM OUT!
1. John Mowry, government teacher, helps box up gifts for the
Adopt a Soldier Foundation.
2. Juniors Alex Rascon, Garret Lacy, and Thomas George
sort through a box of supplies to send to soldiers.
3. Bonnie Swartz a Blue Star Mother, Jackie Jantz,
accounting teacher, and KAY Club President Levi Lacy
discuss where they will put all the donated gifts.
(Courtesy photos)
sends packages or letters of support.”
KAY Club and Mowry’s class teamed
up to collect items such as toiletries, food,
and games for soldiers overseas.
Levi Lacy, KAY’s president, played a
key part organizing and helping with this
project.
“I put up signs around town and got the
grade school to help,” Lacy said, “I think
it’s important to give back because others
don’t have as much as we do.”
Thirty-nine boxes in total were sent to
soldiers from Southwest Kansas who are
stationed overseas.
Sports
The Bluejay Post
Holiday 2012
7
Taking it to the mat
By Hunter Exum
Going for the Pin: Senior Aidan
Shaughnessy goes for the pin against an
opponent during a wrestling meet.
Trying for a take down: Senior
Tanner Smith begins his match against an
opponent, wishing for a pin to win the match
In a headlock: Junior Iker Aquirre
gets his opponent in an intense headlock
hoping for a take down.
Wrestling Coach Lance Walker sees
big numbers in his wrestling program
this year and quite likes it.
“I love it,” says Walker. “It gives us
more competition in meets.”
With a bigger team comes the ability
to have more competitors compete in
tournaments.
“I like the bigger team because there
are more people to practice with,” says
Senior Tanner Smith.
Although Walker has many returning
wrestlers this year, he also has a few
new wrestlers.
“Being surrounded by returning
wrestlers, it make me try harder
because they are more experienced
than I am,” says Junior Omar Garcia.
The wrestlers have already been
to two tournaments, and at both they
placed fifth over all as a team. The
boys not only like competing against
others, but they also enjoy getting
physical.
“I like that I can throw people
around,” says Junior Iker Aguirre.
Ballin’ it Up--Bluejay Basketball Teams start season
With back-to-back
wins against Ulysses
and first and second
place finishes in the
Bluejay Invitational,
the Bluejay
Basketball teams
manage to start off
the season on the
right foot.
8
The Bluejay Post
Holiday 2012
Administrative News
The Principal’s Perspective
Participation Achieves All-Time High
Almost two decades ago, a highly respected counselor stated, “Activities is the
other half of education.” Since that time, I’ve had repeated opportunities to observer
how athletics and activities play an important role in education and the lives of young
people.
Recently, I read an article that cited the fact that high school participation in high
school athletics had reached an all-time high in the United States. In particular, the
report stated that a total of 7,692,520 students were involved in sports - an increase of
almost 25,000 students from the prior year. This means that roughly 55% of all high
school students are participating in the school’s athletic program.
When considering gender, participation amongst female students continues to
increase each year. In fact, female participation has increased for the last twenty-three
years to an all-time high of 3,207,533 females participating last year. However, male
participation has dipped slightly last year – the first time since the 1992-93 school
year.
For female students, the most popular sports continue to be volleyball, basketball,
and track and field. Even though the top three sports for males were eleven-man football,
basketball, and track and field, participation in these three sports declined.
One interesting fact that was revealed in the study sponsored by the National Federation of State High School Associations was that more and more females are participating in wrestling. The recent data from last year revealed that 8,235 females were in
competitive high school wrestling programs.
What impresses me the most about these statistics is that these students continue to
participate in high school athletic programs and fulfill their academic responsibilities
as well.
When we consider the hours devoted to athletics, it quickly becomes apparent
that these students are required to properly balance their lives to accommodate these
responsibilities.
--Principal Bill Brown
Listen To Alex
Stop Gangam Style
By Alex Adams
For months now, Gangam Style by
PSY has been sweeping the nation. It’s
the start of the K-pop invasion of America.
Which is all good and well, except...
It has been played so many times
that every single time I hear it I want to
go slightly more insane. The song itself,
whose lyrics are in Korean, is popular
more for the beat, the dance, and the
crazy music video that came with it than
anything else.
Yet for some reason it’s still being
played almost non-stop. It’s been played at
both of our school dances this year and on
the radio almost every time I turn it on.
If that weren’t enough, the Gangam
Style video is the most viewed video on
YouTube. PSY, although currently only
a one-hit wonder in America, is going to
award shows and getting interviewed on
entertainment news shows... he even got
an article in Rolling Stone!
This song has had its time in the
spotlight. Its fifteen minutes of fame have
run over into almost thirty.
So give Gangam Style a break already and move onto something else. I’m
begging you.
Counselor’s Corner
I am often asked what parents can do to help support their child’s education.
Parents are the first teachers of their child. I recently read an article that stated, “Parents
attitude about education can positively or negatively affect a child’s success in school
from an early age.” It is important for teachers and parents to work together to assist
a child to succeed in school.
Parents can help their child succeed by doing the following:
*Be a role model for learning
*Pay attention to what your child loves to do such as hobbies
*Tune into how your child learns
*Practice what your child learns at school
*Read together
*Help your child learn to take responsibility
*Provide a quiet place for doing homework
*If needed, hire a tutor to help older children who struggle
*Monitor grades
*Communicate with your child’s teacher about concerns
*Attend parent-teacher conferences
A critical factor in determining if a child will succeed in school is attendance.
A child must be in school to learn!!!
Teachers and parents are partners in education, therefore, please let us know if
there is something going on outside of school that affects your child’s ability to focus
at school.
As always my door is open please stop by or call me if there is anything I can
do.
--Mrs. Millershaski
Feeling Infinite
By Alex Adams
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a
movie that is being called “the Breakfast
Club of our generation.”
The plot centers around a boy
named Charlie who starts high school
alone after the suicide of his best friend
in middle school. Stephen Chbosky, who
wrote the 1999 novel that the movie is
based on, also wrote the screenplay.
The movie picks off with Charlie
writing letters to someone he calls a
friend but doesn’t know. During the
entirety of the movie, Charlie writes to
this friend, telling him the story of his
life that’s playing out before him, and
the two people that change everything,
Counselor
his friends Sam and Patrick.
The movie was first released at film
festivals and then was released in select
cities in September. It wasn’t released in
small towns like the ones in Southwest
Kansas until much later.
If you see one movie, or read one
book, I highly recommend The Perks
of Being a Wallflower. It’s a coming-ofage story that hits almost every aspect
of teenage lives, even the controversial
parts.
The DVD was scheduled to come
out in January but has been pushed back
to February 12, 2013.
Read the book, buy the movie, and
enjoy your life a little bit more.