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HE Jefferson HighEACON School March 2014 T B Volume 2, Issue 3 A foot of snow and a week off school Let’s call it a day! Administrators explain the proves no match for school spirit considerations and procedures for canceling school by Samantha Westhoff Staff Writer There’s always a certain energy in the air when the weather forecast is calling for snow. Students, and even teachers, are comparing how much snow they heard will come that night, then wait for the sound of all the phones in the house ring- ing simultaneously to indicate that school has been called off. But, behind that one simple phone call is great consid- eration. The weather forecast is monitored three days prior to the predicted day of snowfall. If it begins to snow, Mr. Clint Johnston, superintendent, Mr. Jim Almany, transporta- tion director, and the maintenance staff begin by evaluating the condition of the parking lots. After the parking lots have been checked, they check the condition of the roads, keep- ing in mind that students and buses will be on these roads. If the roads and parking lot are not safe, school is called off. “The decision to have or not have school is based on one statement: better days in May,” said Johnston. If snow is predicted to fall overnight, this team of people start driving the roads as early as 3 a.m. to ensure the safety of the students. If they decide to cancel school, Johnston will make the call no later than 5 a.m. “I try to make the call by 6 p.m. the night before, so Photo by Eva Govreau parents can make other arrangements for their children, but sometimes that’s just not possible,” said Johnston. Junior Jared Schneider gets the crowd going with his “enormous” school spirit at the courtwarming game. School can, in fact, be called off because the tem- by Kaylee Morrison perature is too cold. Johnston said he looks at the National lights were placed around the gym, so students would glow Weather Service temperature chart. If either the wind chill Staff Writer when the Tekno Bubbles popped on them.“I don’t think there or the air temperature is 25 degrees below zero, school will After two months of stressful planning, Courtwarming was still is any reason why we wouldn’t do it next year,” said Marlow. “We be canceled for the day. Even slightly above that is still un- a great success despite all of the snow days for our district. To raised more money for Special Olympics in that one week than bearably cold, but the school has taken this into consider- kick off Courtwarming, Student Council planned a spirit day for in the past three months. It was a super easy event. In addition ation. The Jefferson R-VII school district recently received each week-day which included ‘Merica Day, Camo Day, and also to being a successful fundraiser, it helped to increase attendance a grant allowing the district to equip the buses with heaters PJ Day. Students went all out for these spirit days in order to get and school spirit at the week’s basketball games.” Altogether, that start early in the morning, so the bus is warm for the beads from teachers to win spirit king or queen. Although it was the profits from the spirit week, basketball game, and dance students. Students are also allowed to wait for the bus inside a close race, Senior Maddie Marlow and Senior Cole Lankford amounted to over $1,000 that Student Council is going to do- their house as long as they can see the bus coming from their came out on top and were named spirit queen and king at Fri- nate to Missouri Special Olympics. All in all, courtwarming was door. day’s courtwarming game against Bourbon. The Jefferson boy’s a smashing success as both a fundraiser and a way to energize If students have ever looked at their Facebook news- basketball team defeated Bourbon 76 to 39. After the game, stu- school spirit in the middle of winter. Student Council is looking feed during a snow prediction, they often see statuses like dents headed straight to the Tekno Bubble dance where black forward to hosting it as an annual event. “Come on R-7! Festus and Crystal called off!” When Jef- ferson was only a K-8 school, the decision to cancel school See more courtwarming week pictures on page 2 Story continued on page 2 Law class makes an impressive showing in mock trials al-life trial, with opening statements, witnesses, by Aaron McInerney cross-examination and closing arguments. Staff Writer Junior Lauren Rundel was impressed at how the trial ran. “It was very realistic in a real On the evening of June 28, 2012 Elliott courtroom with a judge,” said Rundel. “We Grantham was performing routine bed checks even took the oath prior to beginning.” at Earhart County Jail where he worked as a After each team completed its closing guard. Officer Riley Lehn, the guard in the statement, the jury met to discuss and give a control room at the time, noticed commotion verdict. JHS’s defense team went up against coming from cell block C on his monitors. A MICDS and the plaintiff team went up against couple of prisoners were outside of their cells a home-schooled team through home link. assaulting Grantham. By the time Lehn and The trial was based on a 120-point scoring sys- others went to aid Grantham, he had already tem, which evaluates multiple categories. The suffered critical injuries. Grantham is now su- points are awarded by the jury. In the end, the ing Earhart County alleging that the county plaintiff team won against the home-schooled was negligent in the way it staffed and secured team’s scoring a 93 over the opposing team’s the jail. The county denies these allegations 89. The defense team did not win, however, claiming that Grantham failed to follow jail they still posted an 89 against MICD’s 99. protocol which caused him to be injured. All the students who participated en- Sounds like something on Court TV? joyed the trial, win or lose. Junior Lauren This was actually the case taken on by Ms. Photo by Aaron McInerney Rundell, who was already interested in pursing Trish Baumgartner’s 5th hour Law class. This law said, “It was a really fun experience. Being Seniors Jared Yglesia and John Duerr and Junior Matt Haws discuss the plantiff team’s is Baumgartner’s second year participating in plans. Their team beat a home-schooled team, as well as Ladue High School. there made me want to become a defense at- mock trials. For the mock trial, the class divides torney even more.” into two teams, the plaintiff, in favor of Eliott quently to instruct and give advice to the stu- ability to perform.” Students continued to prepare for the Grantham, and the defense, in favor of Ear- dents on their court skills. The mock trial was Baumgartner also felt that her students next trial, which took place on Feb. 25. The hart County. Each team is comprised of four held at the Clayton Courthouse at 6 p.m. on were ready. “I thought both teams had a good only difference in this trial was that the defense attorneys and three witnesses. The students Jan. 28. The students had the unique opportu- chance of winning even though Mary Institute team and plaintiff team switched sides. The only had about nine school days to prepare for nity to argue a court case in front of a practic- and Saint Louis Country Day was very good.” defense team beat Ladue High School and the the trial due to snow days; some came in on ing attorney acting as a judge, as well as multi- MICDS won state in 2011 and ranked second plaintiff team lost to Saint Louis University weekends to practice ple practicing attorneys serving as the jury. in the nation that same year. High School. Baumgartner was thrilled with During their preparation, two lawyers, Senior Jared Yglesia felt his team was The courtroom was a typical circuit their overall performance. Jefferson placed 13 Adam Breeze and Mike Lowry, came in fre- well prepared. “I felt confident in our team’s court courtroom and the trial was run like a re- out of over 50 schools in the St. Louis area. [email protected] March 2014 2 NEWS Grab-n-Go breakfast gains great FBLA chooses to support local popularity among JHS students organization, Kade’s Playground by Samantha Westhoff So, how did something of this magnitude Staff Writer end up in the small city of Herculaneum? “The city wanted to build a playground so why not Kade Bauman was five months old when he first build one of this caliber?” said Herculaneum started having seizures. He stayed in the hospital Councilman Chris Baker. for a month and upon numerous tests, Kade was Every year, the Future Business Leaders diagnosed with epilepsy (a seizure disorder), hypo- of America club chooses at least one organiza- tonia (decreased muscle tone), and cortical vision tion to support for the year. This year, the club impairment (abnormal vision due brain deficien- decided to keep their support local and help cies). Although he went through several hours of raise money for Kade’s Playground. physical therapy, his muscles were not able to sup- The club is thinking outside the box port him which confined him to a wheelchair.

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