The Colors of Congress Inside this issue: So Many Years, So Many Memories Summer Camps & 2 Byline: Allison Deeter & Gracie Link Safety As all the kids at Congress know, our and was a bank teller. Mrs. Wyrick definitely will come Hip & Cool 3 one and only, Mrs. Wyrick, from the back to visit Congress! She also said “ Everyone knows Congress will miss Titans team is retiring after 35 years not being with kids all the time is Trends? Mrs. Wyrick a lot. We asked the of teaching. We all know Mrs. Wyrick going to be the most difficult part.” question, what Mrs. Wyrick will miss as our crazy, funny, and awesome sci- She is LOVING, LOVING her last most about Congress? “She said, ence teacher. She is the funniest and year! Mrs. Wyrick has taught here Concerned? 4 “Everybody, watching the kids grow most wonderful teacher ever. We since 1998, that’s when Congress was emotionally and more intelligently!” decided to ask Mrs. Wyrick some ques- established. If she had another full Mrs. Wyrick won’t miss the faculty tions that a lot of kids are dying to time job she would be a travel agent. meetings and testing. What were know the answers to. Music News 5 some of the memorable memories and Well, that was all the questions and Knowing Mrs. Wyrick won’t be teach- craziest thing that happened? “ I will the answers the students wanted to ing anymore, what will she do? She told miss the good friends I worked with, know. Mrs. Wyrick’s with her humor, Congress,“ I will travel, sub a little and team parties, and rocket building.” singing in the hallways on Fridays, and RELAX!” That sounds like an amazing “The craziest thing that happened her advice. Mrs. Wyrick learning fun YouTube 6 plan! Everyone wants to have fun in the was during rocket launching one of the and interesting will be missed. Thank Phenomena summer, so what is Mrs. Wyrick doing? eggs landed on Coach Dorrell’s truck you so much Mrs. Wyrick, The stu- She will boat, swim and barbeque! She and we watched it fry before we could dents of Congress will miss you. is not moving she is staying right here wash it off. Hot day + black truck= Entertainment 7 in Kansas City with us! Even though she fried egg.” Mrs. Wyrick has always has taught most of her life, she said taught science even high school stu- she worked in a research laboratory dents. Sports 8 Reflecting Back An Interview With Mr. Coughlin By. Nani Welsh Special points of We all know Mr. Coughlin, the loved Social Sears and Roebuck, KC Star, and some interest: Studies teacher from the Varsity team. school teaching.” When Mr. Coughlin does for his embarrassing, “I was helping a This amazing teacher is sadly retiring this retire , he plans on, “Being a grandpa, student with homework and was seated on Safety of SeaWorld year. This may be a depressing thing for gardening, exercising a lot, and substitut- a plastic trash can when it buckled and I for animals pg. 4 the students. It’s time for Coughlin to ing at Congress. fell.” “Maybe it was defective or I was too depart from his Congress family. The YouTube trends pg Through all those years, the old man heavy. I’d like to think it was defective.” point of this paper isn’t to disappoint you Coughlin, has obtained many memories. Finally, Coughlin’s worst memory is when 6 though! Mr. Coughlin was interviewed Through the goofy ones to the heart- he had to attend a student’s funeral. answering some questions about his time breaking ones, these were the ones that What are the music at Congress. As this teacher reflected Now, getting to the very deep and poetic stuck out to him. Coughlin’s all time favor- back on his most memorable memories, he part of this interview, reflecting back on trends really say- ite memory was, “Getting hired at Park also shared his teaching lifestyle and all those years. He states how it was like ing? Pg 5 hill and Congress Middle School.” When future plans. Now, presenting to you, Mr. to teach at Congress for so long, “It asked about his most down-right hysteri- Coughlin! changed a lot, procedures and outcomes.” Congress loses two cal memories, he replied. When teaching— When asked what he plans on missing the of their finest pg. 1 Mr. Coughlin has been teaching for a ”A boy put his head on my shoulder (I was most at Congress, he said, “My colleagues while, a long while. When asked how long being nurturing, who knew I was capable), at Congress, my team Varsity, and the What’s cool in foot he has been teaching, he answered twenty then announced he was going home be- students.” Coughlin would like to add that, years (thirteen at Park hill). With all cause he had bad head lice.” Then, with “I will miss the fact that I cannot say I am wear? Pg 3 those years come different classroom staff, “I had a young man (fellow teacher) a teacher. I am proud of that, I really Summer sports experiences. Mr. Coughlin has taught at put a dead fish in my file cabinet, he also liked it. Retiring saddens me, but there is different schools such as, Roosevelt stapled (with a staple gun, not a stapler) a time to move on. I will miss my family at camps pg 2 Elementary, Elkhorn Elementary, and my shoulder.” school.” Congress. He also has taught the grades Mr. Coughlin is a pretty crazy teacher, of, “4th—5th grade,” and subjects of, From the beginning to the end, and the best but his craziest experience is, “I once “Language Arts, Reading, and Social Stud- to the worst; Mr. Coughlin will always be had to do work on a student’s artificial ies.” When asked what he did before one of the coolest teachers here at Con- foot.” When questioned about his most teaching, he told that he had a bunch of gress. Congress wishes you the best in the embarrassing and worst memory, he said, jobs, including, “Midland INT, Electronics, future. We will miss you very much when you retire. Slather on the Sunscreen! By: Sarah Storm Summer is right around the corner and risks like the use of tanning beds, and in children is contin- soon everyone will be spending their smoking. In fact those who have used uing to rise three percent each year. time outside. Summertime is known for tanning beds are 74% more likely to Skin cancer is the most preventable type it’s nice weather, but everyone needs develop a malignant form of skin cancer of cancer but the cases are continuing to to remember one thing– sun safety. (skincancer.org). With awareness of rise. There are multiple ways to lower According to sunsafetyalliance.org Ul- what causes skin cancer, many cases the chances of skin cancer. Fist of all, tra– Violet rays are at the strongest could be avoided. apply sunscreen thirty minutes before between May and August. Spending Many people don’t realize how serious it heading outside. For adequate protection time in the sun without sun protection is to develop skin cancer. According to choose a sunscreen with a SPF 30 or means one thing, sunburns and skin epa.gov statistics have shown one in higher. Also avoid being in the sun be- damage. There are many negative ef- five Americans will develop skin cancer tween 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when the fects to prolonged sun exposure. Prem- in their lifetime. Those who develop U.V rays are the strongest. Don’t forget ature aging and skin cancer are only a skin cancer don't always overcome it. to reapply your sunscreen and stay in the few to name. Statistically one American dies every shade! According to sources, there are many hour due to skin cancer (epa.gov). As you can tell there are many things to risk factors for developing skin cancer. People also don’t realize that skin can- consider before stepping out into the The American Academy of Dermatology cer doesn't only affect older individu- summer sun. Remember to slather on the states that there are several inherited als. Skin cancer is more common in sunscreen and to reapply it often. Stay risks for developing skin cancer. Having adults but children are still susceptible in the shade when possible, and wear fair skin, light colored eyes, or freckles to it. In fact ninety percent of melano- protective clothing. Sun damage is dan- all show you are more prone to skin ma that occurs in children is between gerous for people of all ages! Stay safe cancer. There are also un-inherited the ages of ten to nineteen. Melanoma in the sun! Park Hill School District Summer Sports Camps By: Avery Meier Basketball. Grades: 9th-12th. Dates: 5/27-5/30. Have any plans for the summer? If not, then you site for more information. Times: 3:00pm-5:00pm. Grades: 3rd-8th. Dates: can sign up for the Park Hill School District Sum- 6/9-6/12. Times: 3:30pm-5:00pm. 10. Speed and Conditioning. Grades: 6th-12th. mer Sports Camps! They are all sponsored by Park *Many dates and times for this specific camp. Hill High School and they have camps for grades 2. Girls Basketball. Grades: 8th-12th. Dates: See website for more information. 3rd-12th. They will be during the months of May, 5/27-5/29.