SIP/Seminar changes again

WaKaller
SIP/Seminar changes again
October 2010
Volume 46
Issue 3
OTHER STORIES
IN THIS ISSUE...
Picture Picture Picture
Picture Picture Picture
Picture Picture Picture
Picture Picture Picture
Drama Class
A usually busy hallway is empty during seminar
Photo by Zach Johnson
By Zach Johnson
Senior
Seminar, a period valued
by many students, is used for
the sole purpose of catching up
on schoolwork. What would
school be like if we didn’t
have it? Students spending
countless hours after school
with teachers trying to fix
their IPs and AWs. Some
students say school would be a
serious struggle without a class
designed to keep themselves
eligible. Wamego has made a
step toward keeping this class
period.
Students running the halls,
talking loudly, roaming with
SECTIONS
no intentions is what seminar
used to be. In September a
new schedule was put in place
during this block. It involves
two time frames for students
to go to classes and make up
assignments.
Quickly students bickered
at the teachers about the new
policy. Students are angry
because they can’t make it to
all of their teachers in time, an
alternative option should be
brought upon the students who
have multiple teachers to see.
“If a student only needs
to pick up an assignment, then
they shouldn’t be roaming
the halls to do so; they should
be getting those assignments
Student Showcase..................................3
Community............................................5
Sports....................................................7
in between their classes,”
Prinicipal Tim Winter said.
From an academic
perspective, this should help
students in the long run.
Instead of wasting time by
going to every teacher on their
list of IP’s, a student is now
forced to spend time doing
the assignment while in that
classroom. This will eliminate
IPs every time students have
seminar, instead of every three
or four seminar periods.
The school isn’t
technically going to lose the
class of seminar, but it was
starting to lean that way. With
all of the budget cuts that were
See Seminar, pg 2
Feature.................................................8
Movie Reviews..................................11
Music Reviews..................................13
New class offers another way to
earn fine arts credit. The class
involves the exploration of different genres of theatre. Students get to act themselves and
even direct the scenes, they also
get to participate in the designing of sets for the fall play.
See Drama, pg 4
Heavenly Hats
Heavenly Hats was an event
where students could purchase
a sticker to wear a hat or could
donate a new hat for cancer patients. The broadcasting class
sponsored this fundraiser.
See Hats, pg 6
2
Editorial
Missing: the ‘budget crisis’
By Grant Cragg
Junior
It’s hard to believe
that five months ago our entire
school’s population including
teachers, students and parents
of students were pulling their
hair out worrying about budget
cuts. Yes, I said it, budget cuts.
The phrase may still send resonant shivers down the spines of
many people. However we have
to wonder, what happened?
We all can remember back
just a few short months ago to
a time where everyone in our
school was worried sick about
whether or not their sport, their
club or their project would continue into this year. These personal efforts may have seemed
selfish to some; however, it was
necessary for people to take
on specific issues, for some of
the cuts still had to be made,
including the loss of two and a
half teaching positions. Strangely, however,
few of the proposed cuts were
actually made, or at least go
nearly unnoticed, leaving our
school much the same as it has
been in years past. Even odder,
however, is the fact that not only
have few cuts been noticed, but
we have recieved a few expensive gifts since.
These ‘gifts’ include; the
new Promethean boards clearly
visible in several classrooms
throughout the district, an entire
lab full of brand new computers
in the south computer lab and
the Central Elementary remodeling project. Now, I know that
this funding came from outside
of the district (through taxes,
grants and bonds), but still,
we have to wonder…how can
we go from the chaotic frenzy
of last year’s “budget scare,”
to the perhaps less-than-frugal
spending of money on new
technology?
The promethean boards
are nice and all, don’t get me
wrong, but does an interactive
board that projects the computer screen replace a teacher
(of which we have lost a few)?
This is an arguable question that
if asked, may receive vastly different answers.
Hopefully, with the next
round of anticipated budget
cuts come rolling through, people will remember the past few
months and how much stress
everyone was under. It is good
to know that most of these cuts
did not take place; however,
during the next “budget crisis,”
we need to remember that there
is a good chance that the cuts
(at least most of them) will not
be made. Therefore, let’s not
stress ourselves too much; it’s
just not worth it.
And personally, I am of
the opinion that these purchases prove one thing: If we as a
school (whether with assistance
from outside sources or not)
have found ways to fund extravagant buys like these, then
we can afford to keep some of
our clubs, organizations, sports,
activities and projects that keep
so many of our students involved.
October 2010
Seminar
Continued from page 1
made, the school has
started managing money
better. If there is going to
be a class, then the money
needs to be spent wisely,
and roaming the halls
and getting nothing done
usually isn’t productive.
When it comes to being
successful, organization
is key. Teachers Mary
Lonker and Lori Stratton
both enjoy the organization
that comes with the new
policy.
“Instead of having
thirty kids in my room,
I get to work one on one
with students. It is so much
easier for [students] to get
off Academic Warning.”
So
students
of
Wamego High School, will
you embrace the change?
Want to see us add something to
the paper? Drop a letter to the
editor in room 217.
October 2010
Student Showcase
3
Woodward trains to be Navy SEAL
By Luke Hannan
Sophomore
Wamego High School’s Riley Woodward is planning on
becoming a Navy SEAL. He
has been preparing on becoming a Navy SEAL ever since the
seventh grade. He just decided
on it because he thinks Navy
SEALs are hardcore and Woodward wants to be even more
hardcore just like the Seals.
But what Woodward is getting into may be harder than he
thinks, because the basicphysical requirements to start Navy
SEAL training is extremly rigerous. Including including being
able to Swim at least 500 yards
in 12.5 minutes or less followed
by a 10-minute rest. After that
they do 42 push-ups in less than
two minutes, followed by a
two-minute rest, and then after
that they have to do 50 sit-ups
in less than-two minutes, with
another two minute rest then 6
pull-ups with a long 10-minute
Woodward is anxious to be a
SEAL.
Photo by Luke Hannan
rest afterwards. Once they get
rested up the soldiers have to
run 1.5 miles in combat boots
and long pants in less than 11.5
minutes. The last requirement
is not a physical requirement, it
is just that to be a Navy SEAL
the trainee’s have to be a man
(women are not allowed to be
Navy SEALs.)
After the preliminary requirements are passed, the real
fun begins.
It takes over 30 months of
The WaKaller is the official newspaper of Wamego High
School. The mission of the WaKaller is to inform and to express student opinion while raising awareness and giving
recognition. The newspaper staff is also a member of the
Kansas Scholastic Press Association.
Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters need to
be signed. The WaKaller reserves the right to edit all work
received. The mailing address is 801 Lincoln St., Wamego,
KS 66547.
Views expressed in the WaKaller are not meant to represent those held by the faculty, administration or the USD
320 Board of Education.
STAFF
Laurina Hannan (editor) Olivia Divish
Grant Craig (assistant editor) Brennon Briggs
Kyle Weishaar Shellsea Holmes Marcus Collins
Amber Christian Luke Hannan Nick Webb
Michael Moman Ashton Butler Austein Lofton
Zach Johnson Cat Wethington Tyler Divish
Alison Burton Tyler Douglass Beth Scott
Lori Goodson (advisor)
rigerous training to become a
SEAL. Some of their training
includes a five day and five
night high intensity non stop
training with a maximum of
four hours of sleep.
For all of this intense training, the drop out rate of Navy
SEAL training is usually 70
percent to 90 percent. Facts
from science.howstuffworks.
com. Woodward is doing some
training of his own so he can be
prepared when training starts.
Whenever he can, he does cardio work-outs and weight-training to bulk-up.
During the summer time,
he does a lot of swimming. He
can hold his breath under water for two and a half minutes.
Woodward believes that he
will be the top of his class both
physically and mentally.
Woodward said, “I am
looking forward to completing
training and becoming a Navy
SEAL because I am ready for
the combat.”
Woodward is already a
prestine shooter so hopefully
that part of combat will not
challenge him.
A Navy SEAL is different
than any other Navy soldier
because they are the ones put
into the most difficult situation
that ordinary soldiers could not
handle.
The only thing that Woodward fears about becoming a
Navy SEAL is dying in an unavoidable situation. for example if he were rescuing a POW
and the helicopter that was supposed to pick him up exploded
or was unable transport the
men. The Navy SEALs would
just be sitting ducks for the enemy, and would most likely not
get out of the situaton alive.
Woodward will be leaving
for training the summer of 2011
to begin the journey he has been
planning for five years. Woodward is planning on being the
top of his class.
4
News
October 2010
More drama at Wamego High School
New classes
now offered
for fine arts
By Cat Wethington
Senior
Students at Wamego High
School are required to have
one credit of fine art. Many
students go above and beyond
and receive six or seven credits
in fine arts.
However,
there
are
those students who do not
necessarily have a musical or
artistic ability and this is where
the new Drama Classes comes
in.
Jennifer Topliff is the
speech, communications and
now drama teacher at WHS.
Her new classes consist of
Drama I and Drama II.
The new classes differ
from Topliff’s speech and
communication classes like
oral communications because
the drama class allows the
students to explore theatre
history
including
Greek,
Elizabethan and Shakespearean
theater.
Topliff is also having
her pupils experiment with
various styles of theatre and
perform them. The students are
currently performing Taming
of the Shrew in small groups.
This allows the groups to act
and direct scenes from classic
theater. The class also requires
that students help with set
design and set-up for the fall
play, Auntie Mame.
Topliff commented that
Wamego had, “fine arts like
music, choir and art but no
Steven Fox and Maggie Blanchard rehearsing for Taming of the Shrew.
Photo by Cat Wethington
drama.”
She said that WHS used to
have a drama class and in the
first year, there were roughly
25 students but the next time
around the class dropped to
five and it was removed from
the schedule. After drama
class was discontinued, Topliff
created
Non-competitive
Debate and Forensics to
“expose kids to competitive
debate and forensics.” Her
debate and forensics students
spend their class preparing for
competition and then compete
on Saturdays.
The drama class lets kids
participate in a class that is fun
and educational in the fine arts
without them needing other
talents. Students do not to need
to be dramatically gifted to
be in drama. All they need to
bring is an open mind and be
willing to try new things.
Topliff said her current
class has been awesome.
They are “willing to try and
be patient.” The class is as an
experimental stage, so each
day brings something different
and everyone learns something
new.
Sertrice Grice, a senior,
commented, “When I signed
up for drama, I was expecting
to learn about how theatre
started and how it has turned
into the theater we have now.”
Another student, Eion
Blanchard, a freshman added
that, “it teaches us about theater
and how it started out, versus
just doing it, like forensics.”
Both
students
also
commented that they were
ecstatic for next semester’s
Drama II class, especially
seeing live shows and moving
on to modern theater.
Grice shared her favorite
part of the class, “when we get
to put on mini shows.”
Blanchard added, “I like
how close we all are.”
Drama I currently has 24
students who have covered
Greek theater and made plaster
masks and decorated them.
They also covered Medea, a
Greek tragedy and they have
moved on to Elizabethan
theatre and are wrapping
up, Taming of the Shrew
performances.
Blanchard
concluded
saying next semester in Drama
II he is looking forward
to “learning about modern
theater and/or humor instead
of tragedies like now.”
October 2010
News
5
Residents attend the OZtoberfest
By Ashton Butler
Sophomore
Wamego recently hosted
their annual OZtoberfest on the
weekend of Oct. 2 and Oct. 3.
Downtown was transformed to
accommodate festivities by attracting many Oz-lovers from
all over the country to our small
town.
The pre-festival began on
Friday Oct. 1 with a dinner and
the first showing of the “Wizard of Oz” stage production at
the Columbian Theatre. On the
following morning, the events
started at 8:00 a.m. with the
10k Red Ruby Slipper Run followed by the two mile Scarecrow Fun Run. After the races
finished, the information booth
opened and tickets went up for
sale for the days’ activities.
The roads from Sixth Street to
Fourth Street on Lincoln Street
then cleared out for the childrens’ “Munchkin for a Day Parade” and then the Red Carpet
Ceremony with the some of the
original munchkins from the
1939 “Wizard of Oz movie”.
The munchkins, Margaret Pellegrini, Karl Slover, Jerry and
Elizabeth Maren and Myrna
Swenson, signed autographs at
the Columbian from 2:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m. that afternoon.
However, before the signings
commenced, the day was full of
activities for the whole family.
Parents were free to watch their
kids play at the Munchkinland
inflatable play area hosted by
the American Legion. Also, all
day train rides were available
throughout downtown Wamego
for $2 per ride. The Emerald
City Entertainment stage was
busy all day with many different, quality performances
including Wamego Community Band, square dancing,
Kaw Valley Cloggers, Dorothy
Look-A-Like Contest, ASAPA
Club Dog Show and Costume
Contest, American Idol Contestant Jessica Furney, K-State
Tap Dance Ensemble, Wicked
Wheels Car Show awards and
the Wizard of Oz Cast singing
and jokes. At around 6:00 p.m.
all of the festivities for the day
came to an end, and the second showing of the “Wizard of
Oz” at the Columbian began.
The next day, Sunday Oct. 3,
was Military Appreciation Day
and the final day of the OZtoberfest. It was filled with many
Some of the original munchkins give Wamego a visit during the
OZtoberfest.
Picture taken from cjonline.com
of the same activities such as
the Munchkinland inflatables,
train rides, Munchkin autograph signings from 11:00 to
1:00 and movie showings in the
Oz museum. The Emerald City
Entertainment stage was also
filled with shows throughout
Sunday. The schedule includes
the re-signing of Community
Covenant with Fort Riley, recognition of local veterans and
awards, POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony and patriotic
music. There were also special
performances from Tyler Gregory and The Bootleg Bandits
and the Wamego Community
Band. As the OZtoberfest drew
an end, the Columbian showed
its final stage performance of
the Wizard of Oz for the weekend, the Oz museum closed
for the night and the following
day.
Although the outcome was
not quite as high this year as it
was in 2009, according to sales
from the Oz museum, the OZtoberfest was brilliant and fun
for the whole family. If anyone
missed it, then they should be
sure to come to next year’s and
they won’t be disappointed.
Want to read more?
Check out the newspaper
online at usd320.com/
HighSchool/News!
6
Feature
October 2010
Heavenly Hats comes to WHS
By Brennon Briggs
Senior
This year’s broadcasting class
is participated in the Heavenly
Hats Foundation. Heavenly
Hats is an organization based
on helping people of all ages
cope with cancer. Heavenly
Hats was founded in 2001 by
Anthony Leanna when he was
just 10 years old. The group
sends hats to people all over
the United States. Since it’s
founding, Heavenly Hats has
distributed more then onemillion hats to cancer patients.
Jennifer Topliff, teacher, organized Hat Day at WHS and
was excited about it. “[What
they do] is they ship a big box
of all kinds of different hats
to these people and it’s just
kind of … you know, a morale booster, and it’s a way to
let people know they are loved
and cared for,” said Topliff.
From Oct. 1-14, members
of the broadcasting class sold
stickers to students for $1 each.
On Oct. 14, Hat Day, anyone
who had purchased a sticker
was allowed to wear a hat of
their choice. In accordance
with the school policy, the
sticker had to be worn all day.
For those who wanted to help
even more, the class has also
accepted new hats. It’s important that the hats are brand new
though, said Topliff, “they [the
hats] have to be new because
if they carry any kind of bacteria or germs on them, people
whose immune systems are
weakend due to the medical
treatments, can get very sick.”
“I’d like to
see a hat on
every head in
this building
on Hat Day.”
All proceeds from the stickers
and donated hats will be given to
the Heavenly Hats Foundation.
Mrs. Topliff believes Hat Day
was a great way to help other
people in need. “I’d like to see a
hat on every head in this building on Hat Day,” said Topliff.
Anthony Leanna and his mother, DeeAnna Leanna, posing for a picture.
Picture provided by heavenlyhats.com
Check Out the Extra Issues
Online!
Just follow the links from the school website!
October 2010
Sports
Tennis team serves up some wins
By Brennon Briggs
Senior
While football may get a lot
of the attention when it comes
to sports, Wamego has other
sport teams that also deserve
some spotlight. This year’s tennis team is a young one that has
worked diligently in the hopes
of being able to go to state. Their
coach, James Page, is a dedicated returning coach that radiates enthusiasm for the team.
The tennis team consists of
16 girls. Most of them are going out for their first or second year, although there are
some
experience
players.
“We have 15 or 16 girls on
the team, said Page. “The varsity team for most of the year
has been Brooke Powers, a
senior, she’s played some singles for us as well as doubles;
Mariah Ekart, senior, again a
first-year player who has come
out, and her athleticism and
work ethic has really shone
through; Laura Furney, sophomore, who played last year
for us; Maggie Blanchard, junior, who also played tennis
last year, she’s played some
varsity for us; Rikki Alderson, sophomore, she’s also a
first-year tennis player; Kaylee
Page, freshman, who’s a first
year tennis player; and BreShawna Briggs, sophomore.
Most of these people have
played varsity during the year.”
Page is an experienced
coach who seems to love
coaching the tennis team.
“I have coached here once
before [at Wamego], commented Page. “I coached three
years of girls’ tennis and three
years of girls’ basketball. This
is my first year coming back
and coaching both teams,” .
Even though it is Page’s first
year back coaching, he is raring to go and looks forward to training the girls so
they can make it to state.
“I think every coach says
“wow”, we work super hard,
said Page. “I think we work
hard, but I believe the biggest
thing for us is that we work
smarter… There’s no sense for
a tennis player to go out and
run two miles or they would be
running cross country. So a lot
of things we do are focused on
short, quick bursts and strength
building; things like that that
prepare them for tennis. As tennis players I think we work very
hard, although maybe not hard
compared to different sports.”
“I think the kids
work very hard
out there and
should be recognized for that”
7
meets and things like that is.
very impressive and I think it
shows a lot for their athletcism
I really think everyone has
improved a lot. I focus a lot
on fundamentals, and so
those fundamentals have carried through out the year for
a lot of kids. I think the kids
work very hard out there and
should be recognized for that.”
Overall, Page said he is very
proud of his team and believes
they are very good. “The kids
that are out for their first year,
Rikki and Kaylee, I think they
have improved a lot because
they have only been playing
tennis for maybe eight weeks
now, said Page.
“So for them to medal in
Kaylee Page and Rikki Alderson posing for a picture.
Picture provided by James Page
Check out the WaKaller in color!
Follow the links from the school website!
8
News
October 2010
The busy life of high schoolers
By Amber Christian
Sophomore
From generation to generation schools, all around the
nation have changed dramatically.
And it isn’t just about the
school drama, high school relationships, gossip, school lunches and other subjects that aren’t
important to the high school
education.
There have been changes
with technology, extra curricular activities and more.
Block scheduling is a
huge advantage that we have
in school today. It gives us a
chance to comprehend the work
better and prepare us for our
quizzes, tests and exams. Back in the day according
to Karen Hynek, Wamego High
schools business teacher, who
graduated in 1982, students
didn’t have the privileges that
they have today.
“You either get it or you
don’t,” said Hynek.
According to Hynek, students were given at least two
hours of homework every night
. There was no block scheduling or special grading policies
that exist today.
Paula Cobb, Wamego’s
volleyball coach, graduated in
1987 and her thoughts about
what has changed the most
since she has been in school are
the technology. She stated that
they didn’t have the technology
that they have today and since
Heather Peterman helps sophomore, Greg Yoxall
Photo by Amber Christian
then, everything has advanced
considerably.
“They only had one computer throughout the whole
school, with no special rooms
filled with programmed computers,” said Cobb.
“When you were given
free time, that is when students
would go to the one computer
and try to program it themselves,” she said.
Today at Wamego High,
students have seminars, study
skills, H.E.L.P classes and 90
minute class periods. Students
have more time to focus on
what’s important and what is
going to help their futures.
Troy Hemphill graduated
in 1980 and, according to him,
the most obvious difference is
the technology.
“I would really like to convince the students that what is
being taught is important and
to put school at the top of their
priority list,” said Hemphill.
Senior, Sophia Grothe is
involved in Future Business
Leaders of America (FBLA),
Students Against Destructive
Decisions (SADD), National
Honors Society (NHS) and basketball. Students have a greater
variety of extra curricular ac-
tivities today including clubs
and sports.
Dexter Walsh, senior, is
involved in yearbook, High
Voltage, Link Crew, track, Peer
Counseling and BIGS.
He has a part-time job
at Dyers and believes that all
the activities that he has been
working on all throughout high
school will affect him greatly
later on in the future.
All these activities will
have a positive effect on
Walsh’s future.
“I think that the extra activities that you do in high school
See Students, pg 9
Submit your ideas too the Wakaller Newspaper! Submissions are accepted in Goodson’s
room, 217.
News
October 2010
Students
Continued from pg 8
look excellent on a college application,” said Cheyenne Nigus, senior.
Nigus in currently involved
in cheerleading was involved in
Dazzlers for three years, FBLA,
BIGS and Link Crew.
“All the activities I do help
me in a positive way” Nigus
shared.
“They keep me out of
trouble and help me learn new
things while exploring what all
is out there.”
Senior Macy Ebert,is involved in NHS, Family Career and Community Leaders
of America (FCCLA), BIGS,
cheerleading, track, Link Crew,
Peer Counseling and is a class
officer.
She handles a part-time job
at CATTS Gymnastics ,where
she teaches younger children
gymnastic skills.
“I think that all the activities will help me in a positive
way and send me along to getting a degree in Childhood Education,” said Ebert.
Career/Planning is very
important today.
There are more options, so
students have more opportunities to be able to have the career
of their dreams thanks to the
activities offered in high school
and mentors that are available
to students.
Today students have more
advantages and variety of career choices.
High school has changed
not only with the rumors and
regular high school drama, but
education wise it has changed
to where things are easier for
students because of the advantages that students are offered
now according to teachers.
Today schools are able to live
their dream due to the elective
classes that high schools all
around have to offer today.
FFA to judge in land,
and horse competition
By Michael Moman
Junior
There are many things to
do in Future Farmers of America (FFA). Some of these activities are local and state meetings
for judging or for the Kiddie
Barnyard, which happened in
late September. For the Kiddie
Barnyard quite a few members
of FFA brought animals such
as farm dogs, cows, sheep and
a lot of other animals. After the
members set up all the pens and
trailers to hold the animals, the
students from Central Elementary came to pet and see the variety of animals on display.
9
One of the things that FFA
does is land judging, which
may seem easy, but it’s not. To
judge the land, a student has to
tell them the exact texture of
the soil, the depth of the soil,
the slope of the soil, the amount
of erosion of wind and water,
and permeability which is the
measure of the ability of a material to support the formation
of a magnetic field within itself.
Along with those, members
have to decide what vegetative
land treatment would work,
what mechanical way would
treat the land and what fertilizer and soil amendments would
help the soil.
A recent judging event
was the horse judging event,
in which members looked over
a horse and made evaluations
over the health, size and any
defects like aged geldings. The
FFA member is given four horses to grade from best to worst,
and is given a score from zero
to 50, with 50 as the best.
The most important thing
in FFA member minds is coming up: regionals. This is where
the members will compete in
all of the competitions and find
who the best is. If a student does
well enough, they can make it
to state and win awards and be
called the best in what ever they
placed in.
It is very important
that when a student shows
up to their appointment,
they have the proper
identification.
Forms of identification
can include “either your
donor card, driver’s license
or two other forms of
identification,” according to
redcrossblood.org.
After giving blood,
students are escorted by
an NHS member to the
provided refreshments.
Eating after a donation
is an important step in the
process because it helps to
boost the blood sugar level
back up.
After
donating,
students should not exert
themselves for the rest of
the day. It is best to plan an
appointment during classes
where students will not
be missing a test or other
important lesson.
By donating the one
pint of blood students can do
something to truly help the
life of someone else.
Prep for the blood drive
By Olivia Divish
Senior
On Nov. 10th National
Honor Society will be hosting
the annual blood drive. As in
past years, students will be
able to set up an appointment
time and go to the upper gym
to donate blood to the Red
Cross.
The Red Cross has
certain criteria students
must meet to be eligible to
donate. The
qualifications
include basic criteria such
as height, weight and age.
Also, a student must prepare
properly if they meet the
criteria.
Redcrossblood.org
reports that some ways to
do that are to drink plenty
of water beforehand and eat
iron rich foods in the week
before the blood drive. They
also advise to “wear clothing
with sleeves that can easily
be rolled up above the
elbow.”
10
Meet
October 2010
Feature
the Writers Auntie Mame cast
By Shellsea Holman
Senior
Grant Cragg, junior at
Wamego High, believes that
the school policy of using
phones in the hallways and during lunch should be changed to
allow them to be used without
the threat of the phones being
taken away. He also thinks that
Wamego should have an Outcast club for students who can’t
fit in the normal clubs like FCCLA and other sorts. Cragg’s
dream car is a Porsche and his
favorite flavor of lollipop is
grape.
Brennon Briggs, senior at
Wamego High School, wants a
food club, different than the culinary arts team already in place
at Wamego. He would rather
have the seminar policy back
the way it was before and he
would like a Mitsubishi Spyder
for his dream car. His favorite flavor of lollipop is green
apple.
Grant Cragg is proof-reading his
article.
Photos by Shellsea Holman
Brennon Briggs is working diligently on his article for this
issue.
By Olivia Divish
Senior
passes away. After his death she
inherits her nephew and is left
to raise him” he explained.
Auntie Mame is used to
being a single woman living
her life the way she wants.
“Always dressing to the nines
from the moment she wakes
up,” as Roberts put it. It’s a story of going from
riches to rags.
According to Wikipedia,
the story of Auntie Mame was
originally a novel written by
Patrick Dennis in 1955, inspired
by his own aunt.
The novel was then
Auntie Mame- Alicia Kilian
Norah- Sertrice Grice
Young Pat- Noah McManus
Patrick- Conner McManus
Vera- Hannah Conroy-Philbrook
Ito- Shin Han
Lindsay- Steven Fox
Beau- Micah Klein
Mr. Babcock- Andrew Shermone
Shopper/Maid- Hannah Pierce
Paper Hanger/ Theater Man-
Ashton Butler, a sophomore, feels the Wamego High
needs to have an environmental
club and open lunch for everyone. Her dream car is a “hippie
van.” and her favorite lollipop
flavor is cherry.
Ashton Butler is excited to be in
newspaper.
Fall play sure to dazzle
Every year the Wamego
High School theater puts on
two shows: the fall play and the
spring musical.
The spring musical has yet
to be decided, but the fall play
will be Auntie Mame.
It will show on Friday, Nov.
12 and Saturday Nov. 13. There
will also be a Sunday matinee.
Co-director
T-Shane
Roberts explained what the
play is all about.
“It’s the story of a very
eccentric woman whose brother
adapted for the stage and went
on Broadway. In 1958, Warner
Brothers released a movie based
on the play.
There was even a musical
version of the show called
Mame that was on Broadway
in 1966, which was turned into
a movie of the same title in
1974.
This year’s high school
show contains over 30 students
doing everything from being
a lead actor to stage manager
to props and sound. Just like in past years,
Catholic Forensics League will
ager- Chris Alexander
M r. L o o m i s / E m o r y - N i c k
Webb
Radcliff/ Stage Manager- Josh
Nider
Man (scene 3)/Butler/GroomLuke Hannan
Ralph Devine/ O’BannionClay Massingil
Cousin Fan/Pegeen- Britta
Seljestad
Cousin Jeff/ Mr. Upson- Dexter Walsh
Woman in shop/Gloria- Taylor Roberts
Girl (scene 3)/ Sally- Katelyn
Landers
Vet/Ms.Gooch- Maranda Hale
Mother Burnside/ Mrs. Upson- Michaela Seivers
Stage Manager- Cat Wethington
Assistant Stage ManagerMolly Delay
Props-Britta Seljestad and
Monica Devora
Tech/understudy-Laura Furney
Techs- Beth Huddleston,Amy
McMillin and Wes Gately
Auntie Mame’s Dresser- Victoria Buss
Costumes- Emily Mullins,
Laurina Hannan
Makeup- Alex Clutter
Understudy- Sean Parrish
be serving dinner before the
show to those who buy a dinner
ticket.
Wamego High School
theatre director Jennifer Topliff
commented,
“The show has a lot of
opportunities for actors and
actresses. It’s something I think
high school students would
really enjoy, and it’s something
you really don’t want to miss.”
When asked what three
words would describe this show
best, both Topliff and Roberts
agreed that the show will “be
big, fun and exciting!”
October 2010
Reviews
11
Legends of the Town
Movie
Review by Beth Scott
Synopsis
Review
In The Town characters
Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck)
and Janes Coughlin (Jeremy
Renner) are the leaders of a
group of bank robbers from
Charleston, Mass. MacRay and Coughlin know
the ways of the trade but
the most important rule:
do not, under any circumstances, take hostages. But
when Coughlin takes Claire
Keesey (Rebecca Hall),
the manager of the bank as
a hostage, MacRay takes
things into his own hands.
I thought “The Town” was
a very good and an intense
movie that will leave you
wanting more. Ben Affleck
and Jeremy Renner play great
protagonist in this movie.
I did enjoy this movie,
but I dont like the way it
ended. If you want to see
an amazing action-thriller
this movie is perfect for you.
The Town
When Soren and his
Brother Kludd decide to go
branching to see who is better, Soren and Kludd fall out
of the tree to the dangerous forest floor. Right when
they think they are going to
be eaten by a savage creature, they are picked up from
the ground and are safe.
They soon realize that
the owls that saved them are
not their friends and are in
fact soldiers under the order of Metal Beak. Soren
stands up for the other owls
and Gilfie his new friend
and along his journey he
makes a family of his own.
Legends of the Guardians
This is a wonderful movie
about doing what you believe
in and making friends along
the way. It’s a good family
movie kind of like Lion King
but in 3-D. This is a great
kids movie and has a good
basic story line. This movie
is almost as good the books
the movie originated from.
Rating
12
Review
October 2010
The Bookshelf
By Alison Burton
Senior
Beautiful
Creatures
by Kami Garcia
and Margaret
Stohl
This book deserves:
Ethan Wate has been in
Gatlin County his whole life.
The Ghosts of
Ashbury High
By Jaclyn Moriarty
This book deserves:
When two ghosts enroll
at a school as students, com-
Nothing changes in Gatlin
County, and everyone is the
same, until Lena Duchannes,
niece of the town shut-in, comes
to town. Strange events start
to occur throughout the town;
windows shatter in the school,
and bizarre storms begin to take
place at odd times.
When Lena is deemed
the weird girl of the town and
blamed for all of the mysterious
mishaps, Ethan goes against his
town’s judgment and befriends
her. When Ethan learns the
truth about the Duchannes family and their past, he isn’t sure
he can handle it.
This book is fantastic. It
is one of the most well-written
books I’ve ever read. The storyline keeps you guessing until
the very end and finishes marvelously.
The second book in the series, Beautiful Darkness comes
out October 12. It is on my
reading list and I am counting
down the days to its release!
plications will arise. People
will want to take your picture,
and when you don’t show up
in them, suspicions may occur.
This book follows two ghosts
through their trials of going to
school like normal people every
day. Ashbury is in for a surprise.
I have read books by Jaclyn Moriarty before and have
always liked them. I was very
disappointed with this book.
The set-up of the story does
not make it an easy read. The
plot is introduced as a writing
prompt for a high school essay. The story is told through
all of the students writing
the essay, so it is really disjointed. Not everyone’s story
starts where another leaves off.
I would not recommend this
book due to the way the story is
told. I couldn’t finish this book
for it did not hold my attention.
Wildthorn
by Jane Eagland
This book deserves:
Louisa Cosgrove has always been a dreamer. She aspires to be a doctor and has the
skills for the career. But, the
story is set in the late 1800s,
and women having jobs is socially unacceptable. After the
death of her father, who always
encouraged her dreams, Louisa
is more determined than ever to
become a doctor. When Louisa
is applying to colleges in London; the next, she is stuck in an
insane asylum because everyone thinks she is crazy. This
book provides an abundance
of insight into the living conditions in which patients were
expected to survive during
this time period. Battling the
struggles of everyday life in the
asylum, Louisa is determined
to get out.
I was drawn to read this
novel because of the cover, it
is beautiful! Additionally, the
story did not disappoint. Jane
Eagland does a wonderful job
of depicting the restraints and
social expectations for women
in the Victorian era. Usually, historical fiction isn’t my
forte, but I was pleased with
this book. I enjoyed this novel
and am excited to read her next
novel, Whisper My Name.
Want more
book reviews?
Check out the online
newspaper at
www.usd320.com
under the WaKaller
heading.
Music
October 2010
Artist: Tech N9ne
Song: Worst Enemy
“Because it is about
Vincent Van Gogh.”
“Because I can relate to it.”
Artist: Hannah Montana
Song: Any song by Hannah Montana
Artist: Justin Bieber
Song: Baby
“I like ‘her’ voice, and
‘she’ puts me in a good
mood.”
Artist: Mario
Song: Let Me Love You
Artist: Sugarland
Song: Stuck Like Glue
“Expresses our feelings
for each other.”
“It’s catchy and has a
good beat.”
Artist: Josh Turner
Song: Would You Go With
Me
Artist: Trace Adkins
Song: This Ain’t No Love
Song
“It makes me smile.”
“Because it ain’t a love
song.”
Compiled by Nick Webb
Sophomore
Ashley Rodgers
“She is hip and cool.”
Ashley Maike
Courtney Carley Broderic Peddicord
Artist: Don McLean
Song: Vincent
Emily Stratton
Chelsea Boatwright
Picks
Music
Jake Christie
Cindy Rodgers
WHS
13
14
Games
Riddle Time!
October 2010
Compiled by Tyler Divish
Sophomore
What has wheels
and flies, but is not
an aircraft?
What is so fragile even saying its
name can break it?
Answer: A garbage truck.
Answer: Silence.
How far can a
dog run into the
woods?
Two fathers and
two sons went
duck hunting.
Each shot a
duck but they
shot only three
ducks in all.
How come?
Answer: The hunters
were a man, his son
and his grandson.
What's white when it’s
dirty?
Answer: A blackboard.
Answer: Halfway through
the woods. After halfway the
dog would be running out
of the woods, not "into the
woods."
Six glasses are
in a row. The
first three are
full of juice; the
second three
are empty. By
moving only
one glass, can
you
arrange
them so empty
and full glasses
alternate?
All riddles from: http://www.
etni.org.il/farside/riddleanswers.htm
Answer: Pour the juice
from the second glass
into the fifth.
Calendar
October 2010
15
November
Compiled by Kyle Weishaar
Senior
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
2
Football Bi-Dist.
Junior Mentoring
3
FCCLA District D
Fall Leadership
Conference
4
5
WHS Varsity
No school
scholars meet (H)
Sophmore
Mentoring
Cookie Monster’s
Birthday
Friday
Saterday
6
KMEA NC district
band and choir
auditions
Football
Regionals
7
Daylight Savings
Time ends
8
No school
9
10
FFA leadership
school @
Sabetha
11
12
WHS JV scholars Fall Play
meet (H)
Football
Veterans Day
sectionals
13
Fall Play
14
Fall Play
15
FBLA American
Free Enterprise
Day
16
17
18
7:30p.m. jazz
night
19
Football Substate
20
24
Thanksgiving
break
No school
25
Thanksgiving
break
No school
26
Thanksgiving
break
No school
27
State Football
21
28
First Day of
Basketball
practice
22
23
Senior Mentoring
29
6:00pm
Basketball
Scrimmage
30
16
?
By Austein Lofton
Sophomore
October 2010
?
?
?
??
Feature
Questions
of the
Month
What are you most excited about for Wamego High School this
year?
Mr. Winter- “Working with
students and teachers to make
Wamego the best school.”
Dionna Lankard- “To get out
of here and graduate.”
Macy Ebert- “Excited for track
season because hurdles and
high jumps are the best.”
Micah Klein- “Forensics class
because I get to give Topliff a
massive headache.”
If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
Darby Comer- “Europe, just
to see what it’s like.”
Mariah Mussetter- “Rome,
because they have triangle
pyramid things.”
Mrs. Rickstrew- “Australia,
because I always wanted to go
there because they speak our
language.”
Clayton Peyton- “Mexico,
family heritage.”
Cody Wilson- “Rickstrew,”
She is always there for us.”
Wes Gately- “Mrs. Sylvester, because we like to make
fun of each other in class.”
Who is your favorite teacher, and why?
Nathan Clark- “Mrs. Petermann. She is an awesome
teacher and teaches us nice
things.”
Katelyn Landers- “Mrs. Weeks
because she is fun and she
likes to get work done. She is
helpful.”