BOOSTERTHE

PITT

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Pittsburg High School ■ 1978 E. 4th Street ■ Pittsburg, KS ■ 66762 ■ www.boosterredux.com

Fresh changes for freshmen

Friday, August 16, 2013 ■ Vol. 98 ■ Issue 10

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BY ALLI BADEN The Booster Redux

As the new school year comes into action and the freshmen

class makes an entrance, administration has added new programs to help ensure the success of these new freshmen.

Dawn Miles helped child care providers in the Southeast Kansas area obtain training and assistance to make sure children are ready for kindergarten, but this year she is taking on the role of the Freshmen Advocate at the high school.

“I have two main goals as the Freshman Advocate. The first is to make sure that all freshmen and their families have what they need to be successful at PHS.” Miles said. “The second thing that I am doing is helping freshmen and their families begin thinking about what they need to do in order to be successful as adults. I am going to help them think beyond their high school diploma so that they

have what they need to be successful after graduation.”

The idea came about when principal Jon Bishop visited McPherson High School last winter.

“[McPherson] has really taken on this college career readiness standards to a whole new level. They have advocates for all grade levels and even student advocates.” Bishop said. “We realized that the freshmen year experience is one of the most influential experiences that either leads to positive progress for students or can lead to the downfall. And we wanted to make sure they got on the right track.”

And to help the freshmen stay on the right track, Miles will require each to attend two meetings during the school year; one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester.

“The meetings will allow us to get to know one another, identify anything that they might need to make life as a freshman easier, and figure

Students granted a new opportunityNew program gives students tools for successDistrict makes transition

into high school easier

BY EMILY BADENThe Booster Redux

Each school year brings something new: a new backpack, new classes or new teachers. This school year, however, brings an abnormally high number of fresh faces.

Compared to last year, the number of students enrolled jumped fifteen percent, or about 100 students, according to principal Jon Bishop. With the numbers this high, it leaves the district to make some adjustments to welcome the larger student body.

“I feel great [about the large number of students enrolled.]” Bishop said. “It means more and more patrons/parents trust our school district to educate their children. That runs from elementary, middle school and all pre-Kindergarten supports.”

Bishop says the enrollment numbers are higher due to the city of Pittsburg growing in general. Another factor being there are more opportunities at USD 250 schools and Pittsburg High School because they “have a lot of programs that a lot of other schools just do not have.”

The only disadvantage however, is that the high school is getting full.“It is a great problem to have,” Bishop said. “We have been very

creative in creating space and scheduling. We will and do need more room to accommodate our student body.”

The school is rearranging to make space and moving some programs, including teachers, who have been moved around to attain space to teach from. Bishop said they do not like having to do this but it is what’s best for the students. He also adds that the staff has been very understanding of the new changes.

Gifted Resource Teacher, Beth Gilbert is one of the many teachers who were relocated.

“I do not mind changing spaces,” Gilbert said. “Everyone needs to be flexible and some sort of compromise is required by everyone with our building situation this year. Improvement requires changes and with the increase in our student population as well as additional

Class sizes increase, enrollment numbers are predicted to climb

SEE FRESHMEN CHANGES 2D

BY KATIE PHALEN The Booster Redux

Thanks to a new grant, this year the high school

is introducing a new program to students and families called Communities in Schools of Kansas. The goal is to surround students with a community of support and encourage them to stay in school. Communities in Schools helps students by giving them access to the “Five Basics that all young people need: A one-on one relationship with a caring adult; a safe place to learn and grow; A healthy start and healthy future; a marketable skill to use upon graduation; a chance to give back to peers and community.”

Deanna Miller, will be coordinating the new program from the Career Center at the school. As the Site Coordinator, she will assess school and student needs and provide needed resources. With a caseload of approximately 65 students at the school,

she will be coordinating services for students and families, as well as implementing programs and activities based upon the specific needs of the school. The grant will also create a new class at the school called Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), which will be taught by Nidia Lopez.

“I think it will be a very positive experience for all involved,” Miller said “I am looking forward to working with the school administration, the JAG Specialist, teachers, students and community members.”

There will be three JAG classes held throughout the day, in which Lopez will teach her students career and leadership skills, as well as help them decide what they would like to do after graduation. Students participating in JAG are selected by an advisory committee which consists of a few teachers and administrators, and the counselors.

“Most of our kids will probably go into the

workforce,” Lopez said. “This program is geared more towards taking care of those students that may not necessarily be thinking about college.”

JAG students will also get the opportunity to work on several community projects throughout the year as a part of the program. The Career Association will be a club ran by the students that will organize and participate in service projects, such as teaming up with Habitat for Humanity. The goal of this is to teach the students about giving back to the community, while giving them the opportunity to participate in a school organization.

“We are very excited to be here at PHS,” Lopez said. “We think that a lot of the students are going to be able to benefit, specifically maybe some of the students that are not involved in certain activities, this would give them an opportunity to be involved and be president of a club and give back to the community.”

staff and programming, the move was necessary.”

Along with some teachers being moved to different rooms, all of the teachers have been gearing up in some way for the 2013-2014 school year to adapt. These preparations including: requesting more tables and desks, adjusting schedules so student

choices are accommodated’ with regard to class choice and making sure they have enough textbooks for everyone.

“I think it will be a great opportunity to see PHS from a new perspective,” Gilbert said. “I am excited about the increase in our school population this year. My outlook on the situation is really a positive one. We have

many opportunities for students at PHS and this increase is a positive reflection of our programs and teachers.”

Not only does the expansion of the school affect the teachers and the building, but it also has an impact on the students. More students means

larger classes, and for some that can cause some worry or excitement. Either way, Bishop says they are making sure that the school keeps its number of students to teacher ratio as even as possible. There will be some elevated numbers, however, if they see it as a problem they will make adjustments.

“I prefer one on one with my teachers that’s just

my way of learning so having bigger classes makes this more difficult to do so,” senior Carly Johnson said. “In my opinion I prefer a smaller class. Having a bigger class has its advantages but the reason of my favoring smaller classes is I get to know everyone so much better and you can have longer class discussions, which I learn from the most.”

Johnson says she doesn’t mind the substantial increase, and feels the bigger classes will help kids’ skills on working with other people and seeing another person’s point of view in difficult situations.

On

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015*

2015-2016*

725

720

733

794

848888

CRUNCHING THE

NUMBERStherise

*Predictions of future enrollment numbers

NEWS◗ Page 2D

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Friday, August 16, 2013

out how to obtain their goals after graduation.” Miles said. Miles decided to take the job because she wanted to get back

working with teenagers again.“I recall working with teenagers as one of the most fulfilling

things I have done in my career and wanted an opportunity to work with them again.” Miles said.

Another change coming to the freshmen class is two days every week, they are required to attend Dragon 101 during Dragon Time. During this time, every freshman student will work on organizational and educational skills. They will also have the chance to have an upper classmen mentor.

“Not all kids have someone who has had the high school experience, senior and juniors of all walks of life will be mentors to bridge gaps about high school.” Bishop said.

Freshman Coral VanBecelaere thinks having a mentor will really help her throughout the school year.

“If I have any problems or questions about something I can just ask the mentor instead of asking other classmates or teachers.” VanBecelaere said.

The main focus of these new changes is to keep the freshmen in touch and informed during the school year. Bishop feels that having the Freshmen Advocate and Dragon 101 will prove beneficial to all freshmen.

“It will be a work in motion. We will learn from it this year, we are going to see what all we can do, and then make tweaks to it as it goes along.” Bishop said. “We feel like it’s a really good positive move.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1D

Fresh changes for freshmen: district makes transition adjustments

NameRoom numberClasses taught

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KEY:*Returning teachers that moved rooms

2013-2014 School YearBell Schedule

1st hour 7:40 - 8:30

2nd opportunity breakfast 8:30 - 8:40

2nd hour 8:40 - 9:30

3rd hour 9:34 - 10:24

4th hour 10:28 - 11:18

5th hour 11:18 - 12:33 (lunch)

6th hour 12:37 - 1:27

7th hour 1:31 - 2:21

Dragon Time 2:25 - 2:55

1st lunch - 11:18 - 11:432nd lunch - 11:43 - 12:083rd lunch - 12:08 - 12:33

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Dragons in the crowd

Montrel Matthews FreshmanMontrel Matthews Freshman

“I’m excited for sports and am looking forward to playing wide receiver in football.”

Caleb Dial Freshman

“I’m looking forward to having fun in debate.”

Lupita Sanchez FreshmanLupita Sanchez Freshman

“I’m looking forward to the extracurricular activities. I plan on getting into clubs and sports.”

Kris Mengarelli Faculty MemberKris Mengarelli Faculty Member “I’m looking forward to it being

my second year and I can focus more on the kids.”

Q: What are you looking forward to this year? Edgenuity edges over old alternative learning methodsNew program prohibits early graduation and failing

BY ALLI BADENThe Booster Redux

A+ Academy was an online learning program where students could recover credits, prepare for the ACT, or earn credits to graduate early. But this year, all that has changed. The school has abandoned A+ Academy and started a new program.

Edgenuity is the new online schooling that the high school has adopted to replace the A+ system. Students who need credit recovery will be the only ones eligible to take Edgenuity. Edgenuity does not allow students to take courses in order to graduate early. If students want to take classes to graduate early, they will be directed to the Crawford County Learning Center. Students enrolled will be in the classroom one or two hours a day working to complete the class.

“As a teacher I will track the students progress, answer questions and assist with what problems they face, and communicate with the administration how the students are progressing.” Edgenuity teacher Keith Matlock said. This will be Matlock’s first year teaching at the high school along with being the first to teach Edgenuity.

“We are hoping the kids gain more academic cur-riculum out of it.” counselor Jessica Stegman said. “We liked A+ but a lot of the students really weren’t

gaining the academic piece that we wanted them to gain. We are hoping with the new Edgenuity program they will learn more of the content and be able to learn more about the information and prepare them for the next class they need to go into.”

Edgenuity will offer a teacher that lives in the state of Kansas to answer questions students may have on lessons. The teachers have to get back to students within 24 hours with the answer. There will also be videos of teachers lecturing and providing examples that students will be required to watch. As a coun-selor, Stegman checks credits to see what classes stu-dents need to retake. The counselors will then notify Matlock of the classes.

“The program is completely different. From what we have seen is that it is more time consuming than A+ was.” Stegman said. “Students are going to have to adjust that they are going to have to work through every lesson. It doesn’t allow them to skip the lessons if they already know it.”

Both Matlock and Stegman believe that switching to Edgenuity will have a positive effect on students.

“Edgenuity offers an alternative setting to a tradi-tional classroom.” Matlock said. “It also allows those students who are behind, to get caught up, and back on track to graduate.”

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Abby Blansett FreshmanAbby Blansett Freshman

“I’m excited about learning about English and making new friends.”

Caleb Dial Freshman Caleb Dial Freshman

“I’m looking forward to having fun in debate.”

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Assaults hit the streets

BY ABBI EPPERSONThe Booster Redux

Criminals have been roaming around the streets of Pittsburg. Two assaults took place early on the morning of Monday, Aug. 11.

According to a report given by High School Student Resource Officer Dave Petrie, the first attack allegedly occurred at 2:55 A.M. in Pittsburg around the 200 block of West Washington. Joshua Mize, 21, was walking along Quincy & Broadway when he was approached by four African-American males in a silver sedan asking if he wanted a ride. He got in and they started driving in areas he had no connection with. When he exited the car, he was beaten by all four of the men. The Pittsburg Police Department found him walking around several minutes later.

The report also states that the other inci-dent occurred at 3:47 A.M. Husband and wife, Tiffany and Curtis Mays, were walk-ing along 69 Highway after their car broke down when four males yelled something at Curtis from inside their car. Curtis then yelled something back. The males proceed-ed to stop the car, get out, beat Curtis and leave him on the highway. Crawford County Sheriff Dan Peak found the couple on the Highway just north of 520 Avenue. Curtis had been severely hurt and was immedi-ately life-flighted to a Joplin hospital.

For one student, the assaults hit close to home. Junior Shaun Mize is the cousin of the first victim. Shaun feels that the attack was uncalled for.

“I’m looking forward to the guys being caught,” Mize said. “It wasn’t right and something needs to be done besides my family just sitting waiting for a call to find out something.”

In regards to the current overall safety of the area, Petrie feels that both attacks were isolated incidents. He also believes that there is a lesson to be learned with these attacks in relation to personal safety.

“I think the lesson to take away from all of this is when you’re put in this type of situation, assess what is going on and try to think soundly before you get yourself in a bad situation.” Petrie said. “We have an old saying, ‘There are only two things out at night, thugs and bugs, and you don’t want to get yourself caught up with either one.’”

Both the Pittsburg Police Department and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department are currently following leads on the cases.

The city of Pittsburg looks into recent criminal activity

BY REECE BURNSThe Booster Redux

Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University, is widely known for her triumph

over autism. As a child, Grandin’s case was considered so severe that doctors recommended she be institutional-ized.

Grandin, now 66, spoke at the Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday night, and the focus of her presentation was clear: students must develop their skills and get jobs at earlier ages.

Health sciences teacher Jim Foresman shows the HBO movie, star-ring Claire Danes, based on Grandin’s life to all of his health science I stu-dents. Foresman attended her pre-sentation and hopes that the concepts shown in the movie were reinforced for his students who also attended.

“I liked how she emphasized differ-ential instruction because kids learn differently,” Foresman said. “I show her movie following the nervous sys-tem unit [in Health Science I] because I think it has a good message; different but not less.”

Junior Priscila Ruiz was one of PHS’ students who attended Grandin’s speech and, like many others, found it incredible that Grandin has come so far.

“I thought it was fascinating what she has become and how she over-came what she has,” Ruiz said. “She used her autism to be be successful.”

Grandin is concerned with the passive lifestyle that many children and adolescents assume today. She believes that students, autistic or not, must develop job skills early in life to be successful after college.

“At age 12 they need to be find-ing paper routes, walk dogs, main-tain a website for small business, mow lawns, work in a friend’s shop,” Grandin said. “When I graduated high school I had tons of job skills; I man-aged a horse barn and I had a sewing job when I was 13.”

Ruiz agrees on this philosophy. “I think what she said about jobs

was very helpful because a lot of peo-ple are lazy in high school and don’t know anything about jobs,” Ruiz said. “Our mom always said the same thing and that’s why we babysat or mowed lawns.”

Grandin believes that if kids learn the discipline of having a job early

Grandin delivers grand presentation to public

they will have an easier time when they start their careers after college.

“Not ever having a job before is a big part of why college graduates have trou-ble finding or keeping jobs,” Grandin said. “Graduates also have trouble keeping jobs because they never get up in the morning and get their butts to work on time.”

Grandin emphasizes the importance of focusing on skills that the kids excel in.

“If they’re good at math, focus on math. If they’re good at art, focus on art,” Grandin said. “Then apply that skill and use it to give people what they want.”

Shared interests were important to Grandin when she was going through school and she claims she never would have made it through had she not had horseback riding or model rocket building.

“I would encourage kids to find a shared interest like band or art,” Grandin said. “The worse thing you can do to a kid is take them out of their shared interest class;

Vocalizing her story and her opinion on students in the workplace, Temple Grandin speaks to the crowd

at the Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday, Aug. 14 during a special presentation. Grandin has been

traveling the United States and telling her story and successes to educators and communities. PHOTO

BY REECE BURNS

that’s the only reason they come to school.”Grandin started her career in the 1970s

designing and improving stock yards and meat packing plants. Her sellpoint was her own drawings which illustrated methods that would make cattle handling not only more efficient but more humane. Besides playing a part in autism activism, Grandin still consults for meat packing companies to this day.

Senior Jeff Dunford, a health science stu-dent, thought Grandin had great points and can even use her as a role model for himself.

“She is someone everyone can look up to and is an example of how nothing can stop you from being what you want to be,” Dunford said. “She was very thoughtful and had great motives on how to succeed with autism and I think that’s great. It was very interesting.”

Grandin highlights several points that helped her become successful that she hopes to pass on to all students.

“Find a mentor. Sell your work, not yourself. Emphasize area of strength and turn it into a

Widely known autistic professor speaks at Memorial

Fine arts seek upgrades in auditorium

BY ASHLEY HALLThe Booster Redux

Pittsburg High School was constructed in 1980. Since then, numerous programs throughout the school have grown; ranging from the stage, the court, and the classroom. This growth in the students and teachers is bringing improvements to the building. These improvements are in the form of the auditorium renovations that have been taking place since late this summer. This need for renovation is becoming apparent to all involved.

“I think there was a need for a change because not only do the students need them but the audience and the public as well. I think it will make the students performing and public coming to the events more comfortable and the experience more pleasurable for everyone,” Senior Erin Simons said.

The necessity for these renovations is anything but new. From its construction, the auditorium has lacked amenities that would have made the past 33 years of educating and performing easier for everyone. When the school was built, the country was struggling through a recession. As a result, less money was available for the high school. Certain things, such as a catwalk for adjusting the stage lighting, were cut. Denise Williams, auditorium technician, explains that this

had made her job more difficult because there are particular places where it is unsafe for students to go, giving students, in her opinion, an incomplete education.

“We had to balance safety with cost, to try and find a way of maximizing our teaching responsibility in the space we had,” Williams states.

To enhance the safety as well as comfortability of the auditorium, the renovations include: an updating of the house lights to LED lights - making the entire facility significantly brighter, a replacement of all the seating, new acoustic wall panels, bringing the entire electrical bar to the ground, as well as making the entire auditorium handicap accessible. The money for the replacement of the chairs and the aesthetic changes to the wall and panels have been raised by the Friends of the Performing Arts. Money for the lighting changes has come from the school district.

Greg Shaw, theater instructor and director, sums up the purpose for these renovations.

“Its a fresh start for the school. We are making sure the facilities match the talent and effort of the performing art students. When the community comes to the school, our school will be appropriately represented,” Shaw said.

Striving to improve accessibility and quality

Rules of the RoadMaximum Speed Limit LawNo person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit. If the speed limit is posted at 55 mph, you can’t legally drive over 55 mph

What if you’re wanting to pass?If you want to pass someone then they must be going at a speed slower than the posted speed limit, because you legally cannot drive over the speed limit to pass another vehicle

Did you know?The fi rst speeding ticket was issued in 1904 when the driver was traveling 12 mph

*Info compiled by Kansas Highway Patrol

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BY THE BOOSTER REDUX EDITORIAL STAFFThe Booster Redux

No matter if you are a freshman, senior, teacher or custodian, if you spend your day at Pittsburg High School, you are aware of how crowded the hallways are. Especially this year with the substantial increase of the student population, hallway etiquette is vital. The flow of hallway traffic can easily be interrupted by a freshman straggler or a clumsy kid who dropped his pencil, so as a staff we have decided to outline basic guidelines for navigating the hallways.

Think of walking in the hall as driving in rush hour traffic. Everyone has a destination they are determined to get to and most of these people are experiencing some level of road rage. The basic rule of walking in the hallway is stay to the right. No matter what side of the hall your next class may be on, walk on the right side as long as you possibly can. No one wants to shoulder-check someone trying to swim against the current, and this is the best way to prevent a head-on collision.

If the high school was a map of Pittsburg, the intersection of the main hallway and the English hallway would be like the intersection at Quincy and Broadway. No matter what passing

period it is during the day, this intersection is always clogged. The key here is get out as soon as possible. Do not stand around and talk to your friends. Do not give your girlfriend or boyfriend a 30 second hug in the middle of the hallway. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Always be weary of swinging doors. All doors in the high school open out into the hall, and have been known to be a danger for unsuspecting students. If you choose to walk close to the wall, just make sure to keep your head up and pay attention. Like it’s a rule on the road, texting and driving could lead to an accident, so if you are walking close to a door, put your phone down stay alert.

Everyone wants time to socialize during passing periods, but that does not mean you get to walk in a straight line four or five people wide, creating a massive road block. The best way to talk to multiple people at a time is to double up. So instead of walking in one large row of four, walk in two or three rows of two.

All in all, just be heads up and considerate to all other students and staff using the hallways. If you follow these instructions, there is a chance that you will have a safer and more pleasant experience during passing periods.

Booster Redux staff and policy

The Booster ReduxPittsburg High School

Student Publications

1978 E. 4th St.

Pittsburg, KS 66762

Editors-in-Chiefs

Emily Baden

Reece Burns

Bethanne Elliott

Parker Matthews

Katie Phalen

Photo Editor

Miranda Moore

Graphic Designer

Reagan Rink

Cartoonist

Erin Simons

Staff

Alli Baden

Shelby Bicknell

Katy Brown

Kylynn Collins

Aspin Durbin

Abbi Epperson

Molly Graham

Ashley Hall

Joban Mendpara

Megan Munger

Morgan Plank

Rachyl Russian

Erica Seal

Caden Yantis

Abagael Felter

Adviser

Emily Smith

PHS Student Publications

Department and newspaper class

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appropriate section of the next issue.

Students enjoy a summer of blockbusters

Steer clear of hallway traffic

BY CADEN YANTISThe Booster Redux

In the world of popular blockbusters movies, this summer has been filled with must see hits. Movies such as the

The Conjuring, Man of Steel, The Purge, World War Z, and many more have been released over the course of the summer and each had both positive/negative reviews among fans and critics alike.

With the recently lowered movie price at the Starplex Cinemas theatre at the Pittsburg Mall, not only have the movies gotten so much more reasonable to go to, but recent renovations have made them more comfortable to watch. As a result, the theatre at the Pittsburg Mall has been a summer hot spot.

The Starplex Cinemas theatre, formerly the Dickinson Mall Cinema 8, has recently installed new comfortable seats that allow you to raise the arm rest whenever you please and even a self serve butter station for popcorn has been added. As of this summer, the movie price for a student/child/senior/military is $3.50 and the price for an adult is $6.00. If you arrive before 6 p.m., you will be charged $3.50. Unfortunately, the prices of the popcorn/snacks and drinks have been raised at the theatre.

To start off the summer, the anticipated suspense movie, The Purge, premiered on June 7th and was not as successful as originally sought. The Purge’s plot is about a futuristic America where the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period where all crime, including murder, is legal. All emergency services are rendered unavailable. The plot of this movie was very intriguing but it was not as good as I thought after seeing it. Despite the movie’s plot holes, the Purge made over 60 million dollars and a sequel is in the making.

One of the more popular movies released this summer was the anticipated return of DC Comics superhero Superman in Man of Steel which opened on June 14th. Man of Steel is the first rebooted Superman movie but it was completely different

Malayna Brown hands the movie theater cashier her money in exchange for a ticket to Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Students

took advantage of the reduced ticket prices this summer after theater goes under new management. PHOTO BY KATY BROWN

than the original released in 1978. The movie starts off with the origins of Superman and over the course of the film, shows him discovering his powers and slowly transforming into the superhero that the world knows him as today. Man of Steel was action packed from the beginning and filled with many spectacular effects. I am looking forward to seeing a sequel and I am hoping that this will turn into a successful trilogy like The Dark Knight Trilogy.

Next in line is the action filled zombie flick, World War Z, which was released on June 21st. The film revolves around United Nations employee Gerry Lane and his race against time to save humanity and discover a cure as the zombie pandemic takes over the

entire world. In order to maintain the PG-13 rating, World War Z is nowhere near as bloody as most zombie flicks are nowadays. I admit, I was taken off guard when I went to the theatre to see this but I believe this movie delivers with its suspense and its very well written plot.

As always, I saved the best for last. The low-budget horror film, The Conjuring, which was released on July 19th, was one of the bigger hits this summer. The Conjuring is based on a true story about the Parren family in 1971 when they move into a Rhode Island farmhouse where paranormal activity starts to happen with escalating terror. As the family grows desperate, they call in paranormal investigators to examine the house and soon discover

that the house is not what it seems. The Conjuring is mostly like The Exorcist/Paranormal Activity type of movie. The suspense as the film progresses escalates very quickly and I found it to be very enjoyable. I highly recommend that you watch it. Don’t watch it alone.

Just like every summer, from the very beginning to the end, many movies have been released that either bombed or did very well at the box office. Nevertheless, we all have our own different opinions on movies, whether they are good or bad. Being the movie fanatic that I am, I will be looking forward to seeing what films are released in the future as there is much more lying in store for us for years to come.

BY MOLLY GRAHAMThe Booster Redux

The school year is starting again, which includes new students, teach-ers, classes, friends, and changes in the dress code; which seems to hap-pen almost every year. This year’s version is a variation we’ve all come to know and love--not. The most drastic change to this year’s dress code has got to be the new leggings rule: “Spandex pants or leggings must be covered by skirts, dresses or long designer shirts/sweaters.”

Last year, talk of a ban on leggings found its way into many student’s conversations at one point or anoth-

er. While some girls had been against this new rule, others supported it completely.

“I feel like wearing leggings as pants is not okay because leggings are meant to go under your clothes.” sophomore Madison Spencer said.

Junior Kaylin Holmes feels differ-ently. Holmes feels so strongly about the situation that she even started a petition, getting signatures from almost 200 people. Holmes was later told by one of her teachers that her petition would not accomplish any-thing and would not make a differ-ence. She ended up not turning it in.

“They’re pants. As long as people

wear them appropriately and buy sizes that actually fit them, they don’t look bad,” Holmes said. “When we wear leggings, it’s not like we’re show-ing any skin, like when girls wear short shorts and tank tops. How are leggings different opposed to skinny jeans?”

According to Assistant Principal Chris Garzone, there have been issues involving leggings nationwide.

“When wearing leggings, we want girls to make sure that they have good taste,” Garzone said. “We want a non-distracting, learning environment.”

“It’s almost as if some girls are

wearing tights or pantyhose instead of actual leggings,” Spanish Teacher Angie Garner said. “Sometimes it’s even tacky distracting.”

It’s unfortunate that teachers and principals must become the “fash-ion police”. If the leggings are not thick, they can easily be see-through. If see-through leggings are not cov-ered by an appropriately sized top they can give other students a full-on view of your body. This is not a fash-ion statement that most girls want to make, which is the bottom line of the problem. So, girls, look in the mirror before you walk out the door. If you are showing too much, cover up!

You can express yourself without exposing yourself

What was your favorite summer movie summer?

“Now You See Me”“The Great Gatsby” “The Conjuring”“Despicable Me 2”

Delaney Burton, fr.Erin Simons, sr.Will Jewett, soph.Ethan Hawn, jr.

Cheaper prices at local movie theater draw interest

Editorials represent the institutional voice of the Booster Redux and are written by the members of the Editorial Board

CARTOON BY ERIN SIMONS

FEATURE■ Page 6D

SECTION D

BOOSTER Friday, August 16, 2013

Foreign languages open opportunities around the world

Advisor Susie Dalton (far left) poses with her former seniors Malory White (second from the left) and Christian Rossback (far right) and her sophomore Ailie Foresman (second from the right) during a national FCCLA ceremony. COURTESY PHOTO

French and Spanish classes travel to discover more heritage

BY KATIE PHALENThe Booster Redux

Several high school students participated in summer activities this year, and not just

athletes. High schoolers from Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), and Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) kept busy with competitions and conventions during the summer months.

At the end of June, former senior Lizzy Willis and current seniors Reece Burns, Joban Mendpara and Caden Yantis attended the HOSA national conference in Nashville, Tenn. In order to attend nationals, the students had to first qualify at a state competition, which in their case, was held in Hutchinson, Kan.

While at the conference, the students participated in workshops, listened to presentations and competed in their events, which included medical photography and medical spelling,

an event that Mendpara made it to the second round in. The keynote speaker of the conference was Dr. Ben Carson, the first doctor ever to separate conjoined twins, but Burns says the best part of the event was the building it was held in.

“My favorite part was seeing the Gaylord Opryland with my friends,” Burns said. “It was a really cool building, it had about everything you could ever want inside of it.”

Though none of the students placed in their events, Burns believed that the trip was still worth it.

“It was a success, we had a good time,” Burns said.

HOSA sponsor Jim Foresman agrees that this years trip to Nationals was a successful one. He said that the students took the event seriously and worked hard, which will set the tone for this next year’s competitors and motivate them to do well in their events.

“It provides the motivation for

the club this coming school year to really buckle down and focus on their events and do even better,” Foresman said. “I’d really like to see a student from Pittsburg High place at nationals.”

Foresman especially enjoyed listening to Dr. Carson speak because Foresman shows the movie of the motivational speaker’s story in his class as a part of his lesson plans.

“Very motivational and a very inspiring person,” Foresman said. “Those students had seen the movie and for them to see the actual person and to hear him, that was a neat experience.”

Ailie Foresman, daughter of Jim Foresman, also went on her own trip to Nashville, but this visit was for FCCLA. Ailie, along with former seniors Malory White, Christian Rossback, and club sponsor Susie Dalton, attended the annual FCCLA National Leadership Conference. Though all three students attended

the conference, Ailie was the only one who competed a star event.

For her event, Food Innovations, Ailie had to create an original recipe that fit a given category, create a display to go along with it and give a presentation that explains the process of creating the recipe and demonstrates her knowledge of food science. She received a silver medal at her regional competition with a score of 88 out of 100. In the time between regionals and nationals, she improved her presentation and received a 98 out of 100 in Nashville, which earned her a gold medal.

While they were there, Ailie said the experience moved her to be a better leader and FCCLA member.

“I know that the leadership conference has really inspired me to become more active in the club,” Ailie said. “Being the vice president I’m going to try to get as many other people involved in FCCLA as possible.”

BY SHELBY BICKNELLThe Booster Redux

The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Frida Kahlo’s paintings were only a few of the sights French and Spanish students were exposed to this summer.

At the beginning of June, French club students traveled halfway around the world where they saw several attractions in France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Before the students could go on the trip, there were several preparations that had to be taken. Members of French Club had to pay the majority

of money themselves, working and asking for donations were a few of the ways to do so.

Senior Josh Schooley is one of the French Club members who experienced this “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“The food was really good,” Schooley said. “One night we were on the Arc de Triomphe and there was a storm coming in and we were watching the light show on the Eiffel Tower. There was also lightning in the background so that was probably the best part.”

Chris Colyer, French Club sponsor, was one of the supervisors that went on the

trip. “The trip was fabulous, it

was a great group of kids,” Colyer said. “They were always on time, everybody was very enthusiastic. We saw a lot of things, even in Paris that I had never even seen before. It wasn’t just all museums it was shopping, it was churches, it was different things.”

The activities the students went on ranged from going on gondola rides in Venice, to going up in the Eiffel Tower in France. The students arrived back on June 18, after being away for two weeks.

“It did [benefit me],”

Schooley said. “I think that after that I want to do stuff more in other countries and getting that opportunity opened my mind that I want to work in other countries. It was a lot more laid back in Europe. Everything there, this sounds bad, but I like everything there ten times better than America. The buildings actually had some soul to it.”

French Club members weren’t the only students to take a trip this summer. On June 12th, some of the students from last year’s Spanish III class visited the

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City to take a closer look at Frida Kahlo’s paintings. Frida Kahlo was an artist of the Mexican heritage that the class studied. The students were supervised by spanish teacher, Angie Garner.

“I think it was fun from the beginning to the end, it was a great group and we were all really close.” Garner said. “I mean we have been through three years together. I just really like that they could see in person what we had studied, I think that was my favorite part.”

Club nationals in NashvilleHOSA and FCCLA students traveled to compete in fi ve events From left to right: Seniors Joban Mendpara and Caden Yantis, former senior Lizzy Willis,

and senior Reece Burns spend their fi rst day at the Gaylord W resort. COURTESY PHOTO

1206 S. Broadway

Pittsburg, KS 66762

(620) 231-4200

ACTIVITIES■ Page 7D

SECTION DBOOSTER REDUX

Friday, August 16, 2013

BY REECE BURNSThe Booster Redux

Junior Alex Barnes raced through the forty-yard dash

this summer a mere .22 seconds behind the National Football League wide receiver Reggie Dunn. Barnes ran through the finish-line at a record-breaking 4.48 seconds. Barnes and his fellow teammates broke several records this summer. Barnes also broke his weight class’ squat record at a whopping 505 pounds as well as surpassing the previous vertical jump record with 37 inches.

“You really have to work hard at your strength and running by constantly working at it and not taking days off,” Barnes said. “I feel honored that I broke the records because I know about all of the great athletes who have come through PHS.”

Barnes is not the only athlete to break a weight record over the summer. Senior Ethan Paul-Davis broke the 40-yard dash record in his weight class with a time of 4.52 seconds. Junior Erik Lindsey broke his weight class’ vertical jump record with a measurement of 28 inches. Freshman Elijah Harris broke his weight class’ 40-yard dash record with a time of 4.68 seconds. As a freshman, Harris was ecstatic that he was able to break a record before he officially started his first year of high school.

“It felt really good because I was a freshman,” Harris said. “I could be even faster than I already am when I’m a senior.”

The girls also made strides during summer weights and conditioning. Senior Chelsea Baker tied up with alumni Skyler Muff’s power clean record at 135 pounds. Baker and her coaches feel confident

Raising the bar for athletes via weight training

Students jump start their season with outside instructionBY MORGAN PLANK

The Booster Redux

This summer, five debaters traveled to Lawton, Oklahoma for the 39th annual debate camp at Cameron University to get a jump-start on their season. The five students included four third-year debaters: juniors Ethan Hawn, Joseph Matthew, Haley Uttley, and Miranda Moore, and second-year debater sophomore Sebastian Johns. The camp took place during the week of July 21-26.

During the week long camp debaters had the opportunity to hear different lectures on topic analysis and paperless debate, participate in group research, and compete in a mini tournament to practice their newly-learned skills. On the last day, they served as judges for the novices, or first-year debaters, and assisted them in their first round.

“What I really like about debate camp is that it gives the kids an overall view of the

topic for this year so they get a heads up on other kids who aren’t even beginning to research until school starts,” Laflen said. “It also gives them a chance to further their debating skills and work with instructors besides myself, and I think it’s good that they learn other debating styles so that they can debate with people from all over the state, not just southeast Kansas.”

The camp has had a positive effect on the debaters and has helped the debaters become more familiar with other debating approaches from around the region.

“Debate camp has improved my research and speaking skills, as well as learning about other debate styles from around the country,” sophomore Johns said.

Uttley also enjoyed learning from others. “I really liked the camp. It was a whole

bunch of debate kids all together bouncing ideas off each other for the upcoming season,” Uttley said.

At the end of the camp they present the Outstanding Debater awards and two of those recipients included Ethan Hawn and Haley Uttley.

There is also another camp they attend during the summer and it is a one-day camp held by Laflen called “Little Beast Debate Camp.” The debaters go to this camp every year to get a better understanding of the topic for the upcoming season. They listen to and talk about case opportunities.

With 30 novices enrolled for the upcoming school year and 20 debaters returning, this brings the debate squad total to 50, and it will require three classes this year instead of two.

“The program is growing and we may not have any seniors but our juniors will do a good job of leading those novices to the right path of dragon debate and I am looking forward to it,” Laflen said.

Debaters attend Oklahoma camp

BY ERICA SEALThe Booster Redux

PHS cheer squad has a new sponsor and a new but familiar coach. Coach Diana Ortle and sponsor Lindsey Worley are prepared and excited to make 2013-2014 cheer squad its best it can be.

Coach Ortle has returned as PHS cheer coach after being gone for two years. Ortle used to coach Pittsburg Middle School and high school cheer. She gained interest in cheer because of her daughter, who was a PHS cheerleader before she stopped coaching.

“Well I have coached before and I missed it a lot so I was glad to have the opportunity to come back.” Ortle said.

Worley is new to PHS but is looking forward to the year with the squad. Worley has a background of experience in cheer; she has cheered for over 10 years and has also cheered for Pittsburg State University.

“That was always one thing I wanted to do was coach cheer” Worley said.

Worley also has coached a sixth grade cheer squad in the past. Both coaches agree that this year’s cheer squad will be successful.

“I think they’re going to go really far because they’re all really hard workers and will do anything to make the squad better as a whole.” Worley said.

Ortle says she is excited to watch the squad at games to see what they can do. The coaches began the squad with practices before camp and were very pleased with the chemistry of the squad. Their preparations for camp included learning a home pom to compete at camp which they received 3rd place. The camp lasted a week at Missouri State University in Springfield ,MO

At the camp, Brittney Dutton made All-Star cheer which was open to any girl at the camp interested in going to London to perform at a parade .To end the camp they learned a dance routine and a cheer to compete against all the other squads in the camp. After the camp, the girls took a two week break then came back ready to prepare for the fall season. One of the squad’s many goals is to keep the spirit in the home of the Purple Dragons.

Although the coach and sponsor are new this year they are both prepared, having past experience of coaching and cheering they are ready for the year to start to show off the cheer squad of 2013-2014. They also hope to bring in more numbers to the squad in the future.

Maxing out during summer weights, junior Katy Short pushes her limits on the squat rack. Short broke the squat record in her weight class with a squat max of 269. PHOTO BY ABBY HARRIS

Cheer, cheer for Dragons on high

that she will claim the record for herself soon.

“I have worked really hard this summer,” Baker said. “I worked out with my volleyball girls and then right after I would go to MAC to workout again. Power clean is my favorite thing to lift; I know if I work hard I can get it [the record] soon.”

Senior Nicole Striplin broke two records over the summer while tying for a third one. Striplin ran her 40-yard dash for a record-setting time of 5.07 seconds. She also set a record for vertical jump at 27 inches. Striplin tied the squat record in her weight class at 240 pounds.

Junior Katy Short vastly improved her squat weight and vertical jump from last year to this year. With her efforts, she was able to set a squat record at 265 pounds while increasing her vertical jump six inches from last year leaving the weight room with a record of 27 inches.

The all-time record being set by alumni Andie Casper at 28 inches.

“I felt accomplished because I’ve worked really hard over the past three years to break a record,” Short said. “I was overjoyed.”

The girls had a freshman of their own who tied with a record over the summer.

Taylor Muff attended weights all summer and ended with a vertical jump measuring 26 inches, tying with Casper and Striplin’s records set two years ago. Girls’ volleyball coach and summer weights coordinator Mary Packard reports that Taylor is anxious to break the record and will attempt to do so after volleyball season has concluded.

“It’s difficult but also very exciting. It makes it easier knowing that my coaches and teammates are there to cheer me on,” said Taylor. “I have been to weights and conditioning every

day that I could this summer, and my coaches have been there the whole time pushing me to be the best I can. Volleyball will be my training for the test but I think I’ll be more focused on volleyball rather than increasing my vertical.”

Short also gives credit to her coaches for helping her get stronger and pushing her, as they pushed Muff, to break the records she has.

“They [my coaches] have pushed me to keep coming to weights every year,” Short said. “Putting on more weight with less reps, pushing yourself to your full potential. The key to getting stronger is to keep pushing yourself. Don’t give up.”

The success of PHS weightlifters seems self-explanatory when coach Merle Clark adds up the time spent in the weight room. On average, the boy football and basketball players spend up to 220 hours in

the weight room at school. This does not include the time spent working out in outside gyms.

Both Packard and head football coach Tom Nickelson are very pleased with the time their players have put into the weight room over the summer.

“This year’s senior class has been very dedicated with summer weight attendance,” Packard said. “With that dedication to common workout comes the ability to compete in high school sports.”

Nickelson and his coaching staff also feel that the dedication their players have put forward this summer can only mean good things.

“We are very happy with participation and commitment of our players this summer,” Nickelson said. “Attendance has been as good as ever this summer; they have prepared themselves for success.”

Summer conditioning participants set multiple weight room records

PHOTO BY MIRANDA MOORE AND ABBY HARRIS

Spirit squad acquires new sponsor, competes during summer

SPORTS■ Page 8D

SECTION DBOOSTER REDUX

Friday, August 16, 2013

DID YOU KNOW

NEW FRESHMAN VOLLEYBALL COACH

NEW DANCE TEAM SPONSOR

BY PARKER MATTHEWSThe Booster Redux

After 11 years of coaching Mary Packard the softball team, she resigned after last season and the team has acquired

a new head coach. Megan Burleson, the most recent addition to the PHS coaching staff, has been enveloped by softball for the majority of her life.

An award-winning high school athlete in both basketball and softball, Burleson had a choice to make. She decided to continue on with both basketball and softball at Northwest Missouri State. Two years into the Bearcat regime and Burleson had a change of heart; she then relocated to Oklahoma Panhandle State University and finished out her collegiate play as an Aggie.

Directly after graduation, Burleson- then maiden name Hamilton- was hired on to the OPSU staff as an assistant coach for the softball team, beginning her coaching career right off the bat.

More fond of coaching at the high school level, Burleson looked to the job offer from PHS because she would like to get the players “before

they have the wrong habits.” Furthermore, she enjoys the Pittsburg community and wants to further apply that to the team.

“I’m excited to be in this community and excited to reciprocate that [feeling],” Burleson said. “I think softball can teach a lot of life lessons, which I would like to be a part of.”

Burleson was hardly the sole applicant of the job. Athletic Director, Doug Hitchcock, led the search for a new coach. He personally was interested in Burleson for several reasons, some of which were her credentials and fervor.

“She talked about building relationships with the players, coaches, and the community. [The team] needs a passionate coach that will commit,” Hitchcock said.

The administration are not the only people excited about the addition of Burleson. Players see the change in coaching staff as a fresh start.

“I’m looking forward to Coach Burleson to bring a new, fresh outlook and motivation for the team,” senior Mercedes Vogel said. “[She] strikes me as someone very competitive with a lot of passion for the game, and I believe she’s here in the best interest of helping us become better players as well as people.”

In addition to having 13 girls on the dance team this year, they have also added a new sponsor. Cathy Ratzlaff, a 2nd grade teacher at Lakeside, has taken the position of dance team sponsor alongside Kerstin Womble. Ratzlaff started off the year by attending dance camp with the team. She is looking forward to working with a great group of talented dancers for the season.

Head baseball coach Keith Matlock will now be taking on another coaching job; the freshmen volleyball coach. He was first introduced to the sport seven years ago by his wife and a good friend of his. Even though he has never played competitively, he has been around the game for seven years now and he often plays with a group a couple times a week. He found out about the job opening from head coach Mary Packard. Matlock figures he can learn important lessons he can take with him in other sports he coaches. He is looking forward to being around the game everyday and working with a good group of kids and coaches.

NEW STUGO SPONSOR

Emily Smith and Bridgett Lancaster have taken the reigns from Rhonda Willis and Melissa Fite Johnson as the sponsors of Student G o v e r n m e n t . Johnson sponsored the organization for six years with Willis as her co-sponsor for the past three years.

Although Smith and Lancaster are the new sponsors, the duties remain the same: StuGo sponsors head the meetings and administer the students to their specific tasks, everything else is carried out by the students themselves.

BY PARKER MATTHEWS RACHYL RUSSIANThe Booster Redux

Along with the upcoming freshmen, the soccer team will also be accompanied by two new additions

in the coaching staff. Sean Lauderdale has taken the reins as new head coach. He will be assisted by Mary Myers.

Both coaches have coached regional competitive soccer teams. Lauderdale, with the aid of another coach, founded the Midwest Select Soccer program. Myers has coached several different competitive teams, most recently she began helping the Southeast Kansas Soccer Academy.

“She brings a tremendous resume to the pitch as she has played competitive soccer, is a certified referee, and has extensive formal training as a soccer coach,” Lauderdale said. “I’m excited about our partnership given her wealth of knowledge and experience.”

Albeit Lauderdale has never personally played soccer, he has extensively researched the sport and developed the “appropriate knowledge” to coach athletes ranging from 5 to 18 years of age. He believes his knowledge and experience will be a good addition to the soccer team that will in turn result in more success.

“I have a history of success in leading a competitive club and teams and believe that I can translate that success to coaching high school players,” Lauderdale said.

On the other hand, Myers has played soccer competitively since high school on both school and intramural teams. She has her sights set on a unified soccer program circled around respect.

“[We envision a program] where the players have a strong work ethic and mutual respect for each other as well as [other teams] and coaches,” Myers said. We are confident that our soccer players who are willing to put forth the effort will experience success on the soccer pitch and hopefully grow in other areas as well.”

A switch in coaching staff

Megan Burleson hired as softball coach

Speaking about thier positions, juniors Hannah Drenik and Allie Casper talk to the new head softball coach Megan Burleson.

At the meet and greet Burlenson spoke about her eagerness to see the girls at winter weights. PHOTO BY MIRANDA MOORE

Anticipation surrounds the spring

Soccer team shakes things up

BY PARKER MATTHEWSThe Booster Redux

The senior class contains 172 students, making it the smallest of the four grades. Out of the 172, only nine are playing football. In retrospect, the 2012 class had 14 players from the 160

students; the 2011 class had 13 players from the 150 students.

The small senior class has created an opportunity for the underclassmen to earn more playing time and step up to leadership roles. A set starting roster will not be known until the purple and white game set for Aug. 30.

“We’ve had some good team chemistry this summer. I’m real happy with how the team bonded together,” Head Coach Tom Nickelson. “The juniors have had to step up and assume leadership roles. The seniors know they need the underclassmen behind them.”

Harley Burch, Leigh Brantley, Blake Brinegar, Dylan Brizzee, Riley Cunningham, Ethan Paul-Davis, K.J. Shaw, Zach Stewart, and Calvin Thyer make up the senior class.

The senior class more than makes up for their small numbers in passion for the game.

“We might be small and there may be few of us, but we never give up,” Paul-Davis said.

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will have to step up and fill some of the holes left by the small senior class.

“They work hard, they jump to the front of the lines during workouts, and they are always outspoken during team activities,” junior Josh Jarvis said. “I think they don’t get enough credit for their hard work and how much they care.”

It is this passion that what leads the Dragon football team. Underclassmen, ranging from freshmen to juniors, use the seniors’ passion, leadership, and reliability as a motivator and inspiration.

“My first impression of the senior class was ‘man these guys have a lot to live up to’ but they sure as hell can.” said junior Jaden Patterson. “All that is needed to be said is quality of quantity.”

it

DANCE CAMP

T h e 2 0 1 3 -2014 dance team attended dance camp June 11-13. They brought a home routine they competed against other dance teams. The team received multiple blue superior, s h o w m a n s h i p , technique, and spirit ribbons. Sophomore Alli Baden was awarded All-American.

inSmall senior class fills leadership roles

taking

Harely Burch Lineman

Blake BrinegarSkill player

Dylan BrizzeeLineman

Riley CunninghamSkill player

Ethan Paul-DavisSkill player

Zach StewartLineman

Calvin ThyerLineman

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