Local Pantry Accepts Donations

Learn more about Native American culture,

The life of senior Sylvain Akakpo, page 4

Theater goes to Play Production, page 12

pages 6-7

BELLEVUE EAST HIGH SCHOOL

1401 HIGH SCHOOL DRIVE

(402) 293-4150

BELLEVUE, NE

ISSUE 3

VOLUME 68

DECEMBER 2018

Local pantry accepts donations

Helping Hand. Linda Sema, a Bellevue Food Pantry staff member, takes canned food items out of a box on Dec. 12 to store into containers that can later add to the pantry’s inventory. The food pantry received donations all year round from locals in Bellevue. “I do this because I love feeling helpful to the community and giving back,” Sema said. Photo by McKenzie Gandy

for receiving the greatest amount ishable and nonperishable food food pantry every month. of donations. Special events such items. Food items collected dur- “We serve approximately 250 to tant that there are sources for peoas the Bellevue East and Bellev- ing a food drive in one county may 300 households in Bellevue month- ple to get food and not worry about or for their families, so it’s impor-

Cam Smith

Reporter

The Bellevue Food Pantry is ue West games also impacts the beneﬁt a child or family living ly. In 2017 we had more than 4100 all the bad things,” Watson said. in a constant need for donations amount of donations we receive.” in another county,” Communica- individuals impacted by the Bellev- The Bellevue Pantry is open to throughout the year and with the Mobile food pantries are also an tions director of Food Bank for the ue Pantry. When donations are low donations every Monday-Thursday holidays coming up, donating is effective way to get food on the ta- Heartland Angie Grote said. “In that reduces the number of meals from 1-4 p.m.. They accept canned makes sure every family has food bles of families in need. Food Bank our service area, approximately we are able to provide in each pan- food and non perishable food items.

on the table.

for the Heartland has food drives 209,000 people are considered food try,” Bradley said.

The Mobile Food pantries once a

“The Bellevue Pantry is totally at Mission Middle School. Non- insecure and may not have regular

Making sure there’s enough month and every other month at

supported by the Bellevue commu- perishable food items and cloth- access to the meals they need to be food is important to both the work- Bellevue East. nity. We receive both monetary and ing donations happen every third healthy,” ers and volunteers of the varying “Keep in mind there is approxifood donations. Schools, churches, Wednesday from 5-6:30 p.m. These Households across Bellevue are food banks, but also to the Bellevue mately 10 families in Sarpy County businesses and individuals donate food drives are held all around Ne- in need of food. Donating to the community. that don’t know how they will feed to the pantry,” director of the food braska and depend on citizens. food pantry allows people unable “People who are hungry tend to their family tonight. With out placpantries in Bellevue and Omaha, “Food Bank for the Heartland to afford food are able to put dinner lean towards crime and basically es like the Bellevue Pantry we can Carmen Bradley said. “The Holi- serves 93 counties across Nebraska on the table. Over 200 households anything they can do to get food on ﬁll that need for emergency food,” day season tends to be our season and western Iowa. We source per- are in need of food and rely on the the table, whether it’s just for them Bradley said.

TOM TOM
PAGE 2

NEWS

December 21, 2018

Bellevue East High School

Rusty Hike;new mayor of Belleuve

ter resources than most cities and I want to exploit those.

McKayla Vermeer

Co-Editor in Chief

Q:

What do you most hope to accomplish in your career in politics?

Q:

How does it feel to be elected as Bellevue mayor?

A:

Making a difference by mak-

A:

It is an honor to represent our ing Bellevue more competitive in

the metro area when it comes to attracting new jobs and opportunities. city. I am a 4th generation resident, local volunteer, business owner and investor in Bellevue and I feel I have the city’s best interest at heart.

Presiding over my ﬁrst meeting last

night felt like I belonged there - it was a good feeling.

Q:

What are you most excited for in this term?

A:

To bring the community closer together and create a new sense of pride.

Q:

What are the main policies you are focused on for this term?

Q:

When did you decide you wanted to be involved in politics? Why?

A:

There are several policies; roads (infrastructure), being growth friendly to expand our tax base, and make sure our city workers are doing the best job they can and enjoy working for the city.

A:

My father was a county commissioner when I was in my teens and I was able to see that a normal citizen can make a difference. My

ﬁrst public ofﬁce was in 2008 when

I won my father’s same commis-

Q:

Why did you decide to run for mayor?

sioner seat. I felt like I was very Hike to the top. Rusty Hike was elected as mayor of Bellevue on Nov. 6. Hike has ideas to help change Beleffective in that role at the time levue in positive ways. “If I have made Bellevue a better place to work, live and play, I have accomplished my and now I feel I can be effective as goal,” Hike said. Photo courtesy of Joanna Hike

A:

I was frustrated with how stagnant development is in our community. I think we have betmayor.

Dunkin’ Donuts changing intersection

Owner Bryce Bares proposes modernization on Galvin,Harlan

“We’re excited to build a Dunkin’ on the corner of Harlan

The plans are for Dunkin’ Donuts to begin building in

Brooklyn Anderson

and Galvin,” Bares said. “This store will be a ‘Next Genera- the spring and have the store open by the fall of 2019. This tion’ Dunkin’.” store will be a “Next Generation” Dunkin.’There are not that
The Dunkin’ Donuts team and the City of Bellevue study many open in the U.S.

News Editor

the morning trafﬁc counts on the roads and evaluate the de-

“It will incorporate a lot of new technology and have a mographics of the area, such as median income, number of different look than our other restaurants,” Bares said. “We’re households, and daytime population. After evaluating all of exploring technology like ordering kiosks and a dedicated the factors, they start to determine whether to take the risk mobile-order drive-thru lane where you order from your

and build at a location.

phone.”

The city and the Dunkin’ Donuts team will be paying for

“We spent about six months working with the City of Bel-

levue to improve access to the site which was the big hurdle the project which is roughly around $1 million for a typito development,” Bares said. cal freestanding Dunkin’ Donuts in a neighborhood. The

There are medians on Harlan Dr. and Galvin Rd. which Dunkin’ Donuts team puts funding into it in the beginning

Dunkin Donuts will be replacing the old gas station on the

corner of Galvin Rd. and Harlan Dr. and is projected to be currently prevent left turns to the site of the future Dunkin’ and then has a loan with the bank that gets paid off through-

open by the fall of 2019. Donuts. Those medians will be modified which will allow out the years.
Bryce Bares, the owner of the Dunkin Donuts in Oma- for increased traffic flow and easier access to Dunkin’ Do-

ha, has proposed a plan to the City of Bellevue to build a nuts and Walgreens.
“It feels really good to bring a modern and sharp looking building to that corner and the old gas station was an eyesore
Dunkin’ Donuts on the corner of Galvin Rd. and Harlan Dr. which have been accepted by the Bellevue City Council on revitalization,” Bares said. “So much retail has moved away Old Town Bellevue, and we’ll be very proud to have helped Sept. 24 to continue on with the plan. from that area that it’s left Old Town Bellevue under-served.” reshape that corner,” Bares said.
“I think that the Galvin Rd. corridor is on the verge of a but Once completed, that corner will serve as a gateway into

TOM TOM

PAGE 3

NEWS

December 21, 2018

Barclay Knapp offering sense of direction

credits were in art history and the ful career can start here,” business history department there was fab- instructor Dawn Danauskas said. ulous,” Knapp said.
The district partnership facili- for the remainder of the time they tator, Garrett Simms, was key in had with him.
Barclay attended Bellevue Knapp returning to Bellevue. He “It was overall very informa-

Abbie Deng

Opinion Editor

Barclay Knapp, creator of In-

Business students and teachers East when it was known as Bel- created the itinerary and planned tive because of how he viewed the ternet of Things Access (IOTA), took their seats in the auditorium levue High. After he graduated in the day with both East and West Virtual Enterprise program from a

is a Bellevue High graduate that and listened to Barclay as he re- 1975, he got accepted to Johns high schools.

business person perspective and

told his story to aspiring business told his path to success. Teach- Hopkins University in Baltimore,

“I contacted Mr. Knapp ear- as graduate of East,” junior Breck

students on Nov. 14. ers and faculty members listened Maryland, studying mathematics. lier this year and began a series O’Grady said. “I think he very

“I think thing the most impor- in as well, a rare opportunity for From there he continued his edu- of conversations. Knowing ev- well did give students a chance

tant thing is in your academic ca- them also.

cation and got his MBA at Har- erything that he has experienced [to engage] because of how he

reer; in your career you need to

“Since Mr. Knapp has literally vard Business School.

in the business and ﬁnance world, opened up to questions.”

continue to be open to new things walked the same halls of Bellevue

“My favorite quote is by Louis we started talking about him re-

Knapp took the time to visit

and I think this part of my suc- East, just like the students today, Pasteur and he said ‘fortune fa- turning to Bellevue to speak with the various student-run business-

cess is because I did get a well- he is easy to relate to and students vors the prepared mind,’ and I our high school business and eco- es in the school, like the school rounded education. I went to a can see themselves being success- think I was very fortunate - from nomics students. Hearing from store operated by the DECA chap-

very highly scientiﬁc school, ful in the future as well. It helps Bellevue, to Johns Hopkins, to someone who has ﬁrst-hand busi- ter, Beast Brew by FBLA and the Johns Hopkins University, and I drive home the point that the Harvard. I learned how to learn. ness experience is great, but when new class, Virtual Enterprise’s No was a math major, but my second starting point of a happy success- I learned how to observe, and so that person is also a graduate Coast Soap company.

when luck came my way, I learned from the same town? It was a very

“Any chance to build relation-

how to spot it,” Knapp said.

unique opportunity,” Simms said. ships in the community is a must.

Knapp’s success story started

Knapp presented his story us- The closer these are between stu-

off when he was really young; he ing a PowerPoint emphasizing dent and community leaders, the became an entrepreneur in his late lessons he learned on his journey better. Learning increases 10 fold

20’s and continued to work from to success; he wanted the students with their help and experience,” there. Knapp’s current business to understand. Senior Ellie Foral business instructor Andrew Werventure is IOTA, which is giving was one of the students who lis- ner said.

internet or connectivity to every- tened to Knapp. Foral found his day devices. From there, IOTA words encouraging.
Knapp ﬁnds a successful education as important as a diverse

connects those “things” to their

“Hearing Mr. Knapp’s story background and having diverse

network and allows for services just kind of reafﬁrms that where intellectual abilities.

like tracking and other applica- you’re from doesn’t matter be-

“I ﬁnd the most successful

tions that let their users work with cause you can go anywhere. It’s people, my colleagues, who are them technologically.

encouraging for me to know that well rounded and have had life
“I was fortunate because I was just because I don’t go to the best experiences, have taken history,

successful young. I started one of school in the country, doesn’t English, philosophy classes as
Billionaire Barclay Knapp visited East to talk about his life successes and the first cellular phone companies mean I can’t be successful in my well as math, science, and engilessons on Nov. 14. Barclay Knapp is the creator of IOTA and graduated from Bellevue High School. “Being open to new things allows the opportunities come to you.” Knapp said. Photo by Hailey Hendry when I was 26 years old, and by own right someday,” Foral said. 27 I was the chief financial officer After ending his presentation, to be prepared; it will show out. of a New York Stock Exchange Knapp allowed the students in the You’ve got to be able to recognize

listed company,” Knapp said. auditorium to ask him questions it.”

neering,” Knapp said. “You have

School board members discuss changes to BPS

as an active participant in seeking solutions for plan time issues, I experienced numerous attempts at resolutions. Committee members

Hailey Hendry

Co-Editor in Chief

The current Bellevue Public Schools researched practices across the metro and na-

board members were elected on Nov. 6.

tion, surveyed staff and worked with the BEA
The elected candidates are Nina Wol- to ﬁnd the solution to continuous year-round

ford, Maureen McNamara and Frank Kumor. plan time.”

These ﬁve board members spoke with the

Though the district has many strengths, a

Bellevue Education Association and have common problem the board members see for come up with new ways to better the BPS the school is the behavioral issues of the studistrict for the staff and students.

dents throughout all grade levels. Many ideas
“The board’s role in curriculum develop- have been given thought to try and cease the

ment is to make sure the administration is epidemic. Along with the behavior, budgetasking teachers what works in their class- ing for the schools and building maintenance rooms,” Wolford said. “We should formu- has also been a reoccurring issue.

late our grading philosophy, our approach to rasing test scores, etc. based on direct input would be additional resources, and yet with

from teachers.” limited funding sources, this has forced the

“Ultimately, it appears the only solution
In addition to the concerns listed by Wol- district to explore the best options while maford, board members are also concerned nipulating schedules, specialists, etc., knowabout the amount of plan time teachers are ing we are limited by the minutes in the

given.

school day,” McNamara said. “This model

“I would like to see us move towards a has been funded in school districts across

better and full plan [time] of all teachers,” the nation. Again, the district staff has done a Kumor said. “We are looking for ways to ac- good job of seeking solutions; it is a tedious complish this so we move forward with our process that has plagued school districts for strategic plan. This is a high priority for our decades.”

district.”

The candidates ran for many different rea-

Each board member brought to light the sons, but all had a similar desire to serve the

amount of plan time the teachers in the dis- adults and students within the schools.

trict have. It has been said that many elemen-

“Thirty-ﬁve years of experience as a class-

tary staff members feel they do not have room teacher, principal and director have proenough time to plan out an entire days’worth vided numerous opportunities to learn from

of classes.

others and acquire skills for working with a

“First, I would want to know if the district multitude of individuals in a positive man-

needs to consider common plan time while ner,” McNamara said. “Those skills, which exploring continuous year-round plan time have been attained, will serve the board well options. If so, this adds another dimension as we move forward collaboratively supportto scheduling,” McNamara said. “After years ing the students, staff and families.”

PAGE 4
TOM TOM

FEATURES

December 21, 2018

Hitting all the right notes

voices blend together in a harmony sophomore Julia Cheek said. as they reach the audience’s ears. The choir department has four check off, they are not allowed to check off. I just really want to get it

“I joined choir because I love different groups with different perform at the next performance; if right so I can perform with all my well enough. If someone does not to make the audition or if I won’t

Madie Ybay

Features Editor

Up on stage vocalists take their singing, I always have, and I cannot purposes. The groups practice with they miss two performances, they friends,” junior Chloe Johnson said.

place. After the months of practice, imagine life without it. I’m so glad check-offs. Check-offs are when will get kicked out of the group. East High Singers is also a

the choir department has ﬁnally I did because I now have this whole section leaders check their sections

“Freshman Chorale is a lot easier varsity choir group. Singers is an

perfected each song carefully. Their other family I can always count on,” to make sure they know the songs for me than Take II, but I’m glad that actual class during the school day.

I have to take the class because it They are the singing group that

helps me ﬁne tune skills like reading wear purple robes. They perform for

sheet music and being able to hit just many occasions such as graduation,

the right notes,” freshman Jordan concerts, and more recently

a

White said.
Freshman Chorale is a choir class wedding.

“I love singing, so whether it’s for

with all freshmen. All students that Singers or Take II, I love performing want to be in choir in the upcoming and showing off what I and my

years are to tak Freshman Chorale as friends have been working so hard to

a class. Mxied Chorus is also a class perfect over the past couple months.

that is not freshman nor a varsity Especially in Take II, I get a rush choir. These groups participate in from performing and competing that

concerts such as the fall concert and makes all the hard work pay off,” Candlelight. E Street is a chorus sophomore Cullen Krishna said. group that is a extra-curricular. It is

Take II is the only show choir not actually a class that takes place that East has. It is also the group during the school day, but instead that competes against other schools. they meet after school during the Take II is varsity choir that combines week. To get into E Street, students both singing and dancing. They have have to try out since it is a varsity competitions and have events such

choir group. E Street participates as senior night, concerts, Chickin concerts at the school and more Fil-A night and so on.