90’s Mania Obama goes techno You know your a child of the 90’s... p.12-13 Editorial Cartooning at its finest p.8 THE PAWPRINT 200 North Center, Clay Center, NE 68933 CLAY CENTER PUBLIC SCHOOL 402.762.3231 February, Volume 5 Issue 7 Revallo steps into line of fire By: Jesse VonSpreckelsen Revallo passed this test on his way to will take approximately a year for Staff Writer being a fully certified firefighter. Revallo to complete all of his train- Four to five minutes, that is the Revallo’s task of become a Vol- ing. amount of time it takes the average unteer Firefighter while still in high “I think it will be a fun learning American person to get dressed each school is very rare and difficult be- experience, and it will help me also morning before beginning their day. cause of the amount of time spent when I train for the armed forces. Thirty seconds is how much time balancing training and schoolwork. This will help me get a jump start on Clay Center’s newest volunteer fire- Clay Center Volunteer Firefighter my way if I want to make a career out man has to get boots, bibs, jacket, and Clay Fisher said, “It is pretty cool of firefighting,” said Revallo when Nomex fire resistant hood on. to see a kid step up to the plate for asked just why he was becoming a Another 30 seconds to pull on his something like this, it is impressive volunteer fireman. air mask, oxygen bottle and regulator, when you step into the fire hall and Valiant, motivated, gritty, dogged gloves and helmet is all the time Ma- see only older men with Mateo stick- or determined, these might be a few teo Revallo has to be ready before he ing out, not with oddness but with words that come to mind when most has to leave for the fire. bravery and passion.” people think of firefighters. Firefight- In this situation, the fire is actu- After all the training is through, ing is a task that calls for more than ally a stopwatch timing his progress Revallo will have completed six dif- just the average person to accomplish jesse VONSPRECKELSEN/The PawPrint before he meets his limit to pass this ferent sessions of training, he attends and Mateo Revallo is just that person Senior Mateo Revallo listens intently to advice from a Clay Center Volunteer step in his training. Without a doubt training each Monday in Grafton. It for Clay Center. Firefighter during training. Revallo must complete six different sessions of train- ing before he can become a Volunteer Firefighter. Art class has kids all

Art I/II class goes outside the box with unique tape sculpture project

By: Kayla Essink Staff Writer

“Why are those kids taping each ment is to make tape sculptures of other?” You may have asked yourself their own figures, which are to be this question after being in the art posed in a certain environment, and fit room recently. Mrs. Haasenstab has into their chosen theme. They start by started her Art I/II class on a figure selecting the environment they want unit. In this unit, they start by draw- their “scene” to take place. Then they ing the human figure, which was prac- decide on how to pose appropriately ticed by students posing in the middle to accommodate that scene. Finally of the room, while others used 30-60 they take turns taping different sec- kayla ESSINK/The PawPrint second timings to get the position and tions of their body to create the basic Sophomore Mersaydes Tessman form drawn. “I liked being a model,” form. They then carefully cut the tape wraps tape around Sophomore junior Blake Whitcomb added. The forms off and fix them to their origi- Brooke Yates to form the shape of her body sculpture for their “Athletics” purpose of these particular lessons, nal shapes. “It was pretty interesting. scene. are to get the students to pay attention Taping the shape of my body was to the propor- cool because I kayla ESSINK/The PawPrint tions and cap- see what I look Senior Jair Perez works on wrapping Senior Jessie Sorensen’s lower body for ture movement. like to other her tape body sculpture. Groups worked together by taping different sections of After several people,” senior their bodies to create the basic form, then cutting the forms off and fixing them sessions, the Nick Neuwirth. back together. Each group came up with their own unique scene to put the timings begin T h r e e figures in. to get longer, themes were to give the stu- chosen by the dents more time students for the to apply shapes project. “Ath- and details to letics”, “Ran- Vlk “Czech’s” into US their drawings. dom blind man By: Mat Nolan At first, Vlk had doubts about “Figure draw- at Emergency” coming to America, “I was scared of ing seems easy, and “When hor- Staff Writer flying because I almost got lost at the but it is actually ror attacks” When all the students came back airport,” Vlk said. He really wasn’t tough to under- are the various from Christmas break, they discov- enthused about coming to America at stand how to scenes you can kayla ESSINK The PawPrint ered a new face in the halls. first. Vlk, like many people traveling draw in that / see displayed Kalib Faltys, Blake Whitcomb, and Gar- That face belonged to the foreign to a different country, was worried. way,” senior in the school rett Calhoun connect a leg onto one of exchange student, Filip Vlk, who is After he got here, however, his Jessie Sorensen hallways.“The their tape sculptures in Art class. staying with host parents Bill and Do- doubts were put to rest. “I don’t miss said. “But it is kids always ris Hoyt. Vlk came here from Liberlc, anything from my town because it fun once you get used to it.” seem excited when I start this project. Czech Republic. was so big and Clay Center is nice The latest project is an idea based They like to see life-size figures of Many of his hobbies back home and small,” Vlk said. Take that back, off of the life-size plaster sculpture themselves,” Art teacher Mrs. Haas- kayla ESSINK/The PawPrint include playing soccer, being on the there is one thing he misses, and that’s work of George Segal. The assign- enstab said. Filip Vlk carefully works on a figure computer and being with his pets. all the good Czech food. drawing project in Art class. 2 February NEWS The PawPrint Speechers speak well Singing Along

By: Vanessa Ponder Business Manager

The speech team is off to a great start. The students have been up at the school night after night working their hardest to get their speeches perfect so they can be the best. There are 22 dedicated students out for speech. At the Deshler meet on January 24th Mat Nolan placed 2nd and Jesse VonSpreckelsen placed 4th in Extem- poraneous. In Poetry Ceirra Tompkin placed 4th. Brooke Yates placed 5th and Sara Slater placed 2nd in In- jeremy CHEVALIER/The PawPrint formative. In Persuasive, Jill Baxa Morgan Woodbury gives her Entertainment speech on Edward Cullen in finals placed 2nd. at the Sandy Creek meet February 14. At the Sandy Creek meet on Feb- formative. Working his hardest Chad jeremy CHEVALIER/The PawPrint ruary 14th Slater placed 6th in Serious Veik placed 7th in Poetry. Sophomore Kalib Faltys signs a duet with senior Jessie Sorensen at and 5th in Informative. Baxa placed “I’ve never placed at a meet be- the Winter Concert on January 8th. The two sang an acoustic version of 4th in Persuasive. VonSpreckelsen fore in an individual event. When “Swing LIfe Away” by Rise Against. The UNK honor clinic was held January 26 at the UNK Health and placed 4th and Nolan placed 2nd in I placed at the Deshler meet it was Sports Center in Kearney. Sophomore, Kalib Faltys was the only student Extemporaneous. In Entertainment, exciting to be rewarded for all of my to tryout from Clay Center. “I wanted to try out for the honor choir so I Morgan Woodbury placed 6th. hard work and effort I give to speech,” could get a better chance of singing in a choir at college,” Faltys said. The “It’s a really short season, but our sophomore Brooke Yates said. tryout included recording a scale and the first verse of America the Beau- kids are making excellent progress. Clay Center will be hosting the tiful. There were three choirs, women’s choir, festival choir, and honor Those that are working are seeing Conference speech meet that the choir. Faltys was in the honor choir. Over 106 schools were at the event many awards and are also encourag- speech team placed 2nd at last year and around 720 students participated. After rehearsing the entire day, they ing others to work hard too,” Speech on February 25th. performed five songs that night. They sang songs such as: Sing, ye Righ- Coach Jeremy Heneger said. Then the team will go to districts teaus by Viadana, Agnus Dei by Halley, Arise my Love and Omnia Sol, In Sutton on February 21st Nolan on February 28th and hoping for a bit jeremy CHEVALIER/The PawPrint both by Stroope, and Stomp Your Foot by Copeland. “There were really placed 5th in Extemporaneous. Slater of luck they will be district champs Aaron MacArthur gives his Humorous cool students there and I think it really pushed my limits vocally,” Faltys placed 3rd in Serious and 7th in In- like last year. Prose titled Seafood Science Lab. said. Foreign newcomers experience speech By: Ceirra Tompkin on February 14 in Sandy Creek “I entertainment speech on the four rea- Staff Writer was very nervous for my first speech sons you shouldn’t be an exchange Foreign exchange students go meet because there were judges lis- student. outside the box and away from what tening and they determine how well Weiler also placed well for his they are used to and give speech a we do,” Weiler said. first time, placing fourth and fifth on try. While Chevalier presented his his informative speech about the au- Speech season just started and speech at the Deshler meet, which thor JRR Tolkien, who is the author two foreign exchange students, Jer- was on January 24. “I was really ner- of Lord of the Rings. “Speech is very emy Chevalier and Stefan Weiler, vous to do my first speech because I interesting and I enjoy doing it. At are prepared to perform in their first thought people wouldn’t understand first I didn’t think I would do well speech season. me and I wouldn’t do very good. But but it wasn’t bad and I also made new “I have never really done any- after I did it the first time it wasn’t so friends from this experience,” Weiler thing like speech before, just presen- bad,” Chevalier said. said. tations in front of the class,” Cheva- Chevalier also performed in the Both were nervous but surely lier said. Sandy Creek meet, but found it eas- they have a good reason for going He has never done anything like ier since he already experienced this out for speech. “I decided to go out this before but that is a different story at Deshler. “It was easier to do my for speech because it allows me to for Weiler. “I have done things simi- speech at this meet. I wasn’t as ner- express my point of view and that is lar to speech before, with my piano vous because I knew what to expect what I like about it,” Chevalier said. kayla ESSINK/The PawPrint performances and it’s also just like and what was going on,” Chevalier “I decided to go out for speech be- Belgian exchange student Jeremy Chevalier gives his Entertainment speech doing a play on stage,” Weiler said. said. He placed third and fourth in cause I thought it might be a good on why people should not go on an exchange trip to an audience at the Sandy He performed in his first speech meet his rounds at Sandy Creek with his experience for me,” Weiler said. Creek meet. Students learn careers while designing to impress

By: Jill Baxa designed a pizza product by coming riculum that was put together this Assistant Editor up with the pizza related food item, past summer. Schlautman also uses box with the name of information from the Nebraska Ca- “First of all, how good-looking the product along with reer Connections website to look up is my wife?” These were the first nutritional facts and career pathways for each job. words stated by the 44th President of any other informa- To go through all of the careers in the United States, Barack Obama at tion. They also made one quarter is virtually impossible, the beginning of the Inaugural Ball a commercial skit so Schlautman picks out a few ca- on January 20th. Michelle Obama while being paired reers to touch on. Fashion design- revealed her second stunning outfit in partners for the ing seemed to be a great profes- which was a white chiffon one-shoul- assignment. sion to consider because of the der gown designed by Jason Wu. “We try to huge production that is made But what does this hoopla of fan- do a lot of hands by the many choices of for- cy dresses and star designers all have on projects to mal wear for the First Lady to do with high school classes? Fam- see what they during the Inauguration ily Consumer Science teacher Mrs. are good at,” Ceremonies. Schlautman took the opportunity of S c h l a u t m a n To incorporate the events of the President’s Inaugu- said. The mul- fashion designing into ration and ran with the idea to explore tiple projects the career class, Schlaut- Designed by: Brett Peshek Designed by: Dakota Hoyt the world of a fashion designer in her s h o w e d man got the inspiration for Michelle Obama’s first Inaugura- did compliment the students on their freshman careers class. strengths students designing a formal tion attire featured a jewel-collared, work and creativeness. Studying career paths as part of a n d gown for Michelle Obama pale yellow-gold lace coat, sweater From colorful exquisite dresses the second quarter, Schlautman in- weak- to wear from an emailing list and sheath dress which resembled to a Texas Longhorn gown, the stu- troduced many ideas for students to for FCS teachers that she is the gown that freshmen Brett Peshek dents had fun using their creativity. study to spark an interest in a career Designed by: Bethany VonSpreckelsen part of. The students were al- designed. However, no one else’s “I like to be creative with this class,” that they could be interested in pur- nesses in the students’ career fields. lotted one day to design their formal gown design was a look-a-like of her Schlautman said. “The students had a suing. Earlier in the quarter, students The class is based on a new cur- gowns for the inaugural events. fancy evening ball gown. Schlautman blast!” The PawPrint READING February 3 Encouraging reading skills Students’ Instructional Recommendation In The Fall Across School Years

During the summer break students often loss skills they have gained through out the school year. The graph above shows that Clay Center students came back with little loss after one year of the At the end of the 2007-2008 school year Clay Center students made a 20.2 % growth compared to new program and instruction. the pervious year. This was after the first year of implementation of the new reading program. By: Mat Nolan students the skills they need to be These groups are changed every the same,” Heneger said. come in the form of late starts Staff Writer successful readers, each year is two weeks, based on needs and After putting in the program and early outs. aligned to the years before it so curriculum. last year, there have been ex- Late starts are used for plan- Last year, Clay Center Public that students can build on previ- When they are working in cellent results. “We had a 20% ing. School instituted a new reading ously learned skills” Heneger small groups the teachers plan growth in the students just last Teachers are now being asked program in grades K-4 and added said. instruction for all three groups. year compared to the previous to plan a minimum of four lesson 5th and 6th grade this year. The way the program is set up The para-educators come in dur- two years,” Heneger said. plans for each 90-minute reading This program is designed to is that each class has a 90 minute ing the small group time to run According to the data, stu- block. The early outs are used help teach the K-6 students what reading block that is being used small a group that the teacher has dents only lost 4% of their skill for going over data. The teach- they need to learn according to to teach the students at their lev- planned for. level over the summer. ers look for trends and growth of data, not just what the teachers el. For a half hour, the students “We group the students by The students are benefitting each students’ growth. This data think they need to be taught. work in a whole group and then their interests, skill needs, skill from this program in many ways, is then used to inform instruction. Literacy Coach and Title I in- for the remaining hour, they are strengths, and also grouped with not in just developing their read- “It is definitely worth the extra structor Kaela Heneger said. “The split up into small groups, which their peer models. Groups change ing skill levels. time and effort to see the students program is designed to teach all are rotated every twenty minutes. often and are seldom ever exactly Other additional changes have benefit,” Heneger said. One-on-one reads Literacy done right By: Jesse VonSpreckelsen Pallas said, “The paras are skilled By: Abby Sorensen Staff Writer at adapting lessons to the needs of Staff Writer The new reading program has the students. They add so much resulted in drastic gains in reading to our ability to meet each kids “During a data meeting one skills in the elementary students. needs.” afternoon, we were trying to fig- These gains would not be The kids receive more read- ure out ways we could get the possible without the assistance of ing instruction that results in im- community more involved with the para educators. Mrs. Heneger proved reading. Now instead of the students and the reading pro- said, ”We could not provide the receiving instruction from one gram,” Literacy Coach and Title I current level of education without teacher they now receive three teacher, Kaela Heneger said. para educators. They allow us to opportunities to improve their A few times a year, a team of differentiate instructions for all reading skills. teachers from the elementary or- students and we are able to have “The teacher instructs the ganizes a program that is called more one on one interaction with whole group lesson or the main Literacy Night. Every session has each student.” lesson, then we split into three a theme with different activities. The paras are a vital factor groups. In these groups we can Some past Literacy Night in the implementing of the new focus on specific skills. It is a reading program, Mrs. Koohma- great program,” explained Mrs. themes have been Dr. Seuss, Pa- abby SORENSEN/The PawPrint triotic, Halloween Story-Telling, Carson Jones plays presidential bingo with smarties during the February Fam- raie said this, “It is great for the Paulson. where the children got to dress ily Literacy Night. kids. We can use phonics, word The reading program has been up, and Olympics are just some A Literacy Night is held about Wilkerson said. “It was Fun!” structure, comprehension, and a great addition for our school of the themes. every six to eight weeks. “I drew The next Literacy night will even sight words throughout this and the data has shown just how Five to seven stations are set hearts for the Valentine’s day be held on April 20th at program.” Ms. important it is for our students. up with different activities for the one,” first grader Dominic 6:30 p.m. children to do, some things that both preschoolers through sixth graders can be involved with. “Chainey, my sister, came with me. I read books and we made hanger thingies,” first grader Cassidy Tompkin said. “This is a way for the students to show their parents what they have been learning in school,” Heneger said. “We have such a strong, supportive commu- nity. We wanted to involve them more and Family Literacy Nights are a great way to do this.” The teachers try to hold a Literacy Night at least a couple times a year. It is sometimes dif- ficult to work around other things that are going on such as high school sports, league teams, and community events. Clay Center Elementary Schools February Volume 2 6th Grade PawPrint Issue 2 Class says no to drugs, yes to DARE

by JASMINE HARRIS and He is the nicest D.A.R.E. officer you drink alcohol every once and don’t you think? Drugs are aw- acts against you so that you will DEEON WILKERSON in the whole wide world. We start- a while in moderation, but some- ful things. If you take them they do something, and it is by peo- ed on Monday the ninth of Febru- times you overdo it and get intox- will take control of your mind and ple your own age. These people We feel that the D.A.R.E. pro- ary. We have learned to say no icated and do things you normally body. No matter what you do after are called peers. This is one of gram is a good source of educa- to drugs and to avoid the wrong would not do. Some people drive the first try with drugs, they can the main reasons that drugs are tion about how to stay drug-free kinds of people such as a gang, after and while drinking alcohol take over and become the ruler of abused but if you know how to and violence-free throughout a drunk, a liar or people that try and they have hurt themselves or you. Drugs kill people and every- say no to drugs when people of- your life. We liked the video that and start fights with us. We have killed themselves and even oth- day teens and adults are getting fer them you will have a better taught us how to say no to drug learned that friends can put pres- ers. Over 100 people die each year hooked. Any kind of drug like a chance of living a wonderful life. and alcohol offers. We think Jeff sure on you to make bad decisions because of this. Can you imagine stimulant (which speeds you up), Even though it is hard to say no to Franklin is an excellent teacher and that we should choose things how many lives could be saved a depressant (which slows you drugs and even causes you stress, and knows a lot about the way to that will be good for us and not each year if people didn’t abuse down), or a hallucinogen (which you should still say no. Your stay drug free and violence free. bad for us. Alcohol is a drug and alcohol? People that drink alcohol affects the way you think, hear, friends and family are counting is the most abused drug in Amer- are not able to learn, remember, and speak) is dangerous and may on you to say no and you know ica. When you drink alcohol you think, or even walk in a straight hurt you and all the people around deep down inside of you that it is Cougars might get addicted. It’s okay if line. Gosh, that must be awful, you. Peer pressure is a force that the right thing to do. vs. Cardinals Are video games unbeatable?

What will you by ZACH FALTYS be in 2010? A wise man once said practice makes perfect. As far as we know some of the internet gaming by RACHEL SHACKELFORD companies could be taking that and DEIDRE FREITAS away from us. As you may know What school are you going to some games use the internet as a in 2010? That is a question being memory device on your computer asked a lot right now. Because to auto save how far you are in a of a decrease in the number of game, but are the most popular students, Clay Center will most video game titles using this ad- likely not have a high school and vantage to make the game harder possibly a junior high by the fall the more you retry the game? I’ve of 2010. Nebraska law states that suspected this by playing games if a high school has less than sixty that seem to have more opponents students enrolled for two years the more times you retry. in a row then the school could To solve this question I se- either lose tax money or close lected three popular titles, Curve the school down. One option the Ball, Cube Field and Pen, list- school has is to have a levy over- ed the scores from each game, ride. With that the school would rounded the highest score to the have citizens vote and if it passed next greatest power of ten, divid- the taxes would be raised on land. ed the next greatest power of ten time through to the second time for the best and takes a lucky turn the scores all seem even along the “The problem with this is that if and one hundred to find out what through, but quickly ascends and upwards but quickly crashes and graph. Cube field I am still unsure the taxes go up too much, farmers number I need to divide each descends and repeats causing a burns at the bottom of the hill of because of all the fluctuating. may take their land out of payment score by to get a percentage, di- fluctuating affect and levels out. where it started and creates a stair Curve Ball also seems clear, be- for Clay Center. Our best choice vided all the scores into percent- The second selection Cube Field like affect and ascends. In my cause of the hill-like bends of the would be to consolidate with ei- ages and graphed them. fluctuates to, but only more radi- opinion for the conclusion of this line. These three games, in con- ther Sandy Creek or Harvard As you can see on the chart cally. Lastly, Pen at first continues mystery, Pen seems clear. The clusion seem clear. I will continue Public School. Harvard would below, the first selection, Curve forward with a few small bends, reason I say this is because alto- my research and perhaps find if give Clay Center a little more say Ball, begins to drop on the first but next everything takes a turn gether, besides the lucky turn up my hypothesis is correct. in what happens. Harvard might get the reading program and they already have Saxon math, the Steelers claim Kindergarten same as Clay Center does. Other reasons for going to Harvard could be like Deeon Wilkerson who said, “My mom title again celebrates 100 works in Harvard, so it would be easier.” by DEVIN CALHOUN and Steelers to win, and at halftime by PAIGE GOSSER and As you know our other choice NICK HANKINS I was pretty sure the Steelers KRISTA JOHNSON is Sandy Creek. Most people seem Super Bowl XLIII was played would pull it out. At the end of the Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred! On January 28th 2009, the to want to become cougars. The on February 1st in Tampa Bay, game I thought the Steelers had Kindergarten class celebrated 100 days of school. They were to bring advantages of Sandy Creek are Florida. It was played between an awesome come back and was 100 of something, They could bring little things like paper clips, cheer- that we will keep our elementary the Pittsburg Steelers and the Ari- very happy that they won,” Dane ios, or crayons. We asked two of the Kindergarteners a few questions. in Clay Center and our gyms may zona Cardinals. Meese said. Sam VonSpreckelsen brought 100 buttons while Derek Story brought be used. Another reason people The Pittsburg “I wanted the 100 nails to school. Their favorite part was making necklaces out of may be choosing Sandy Creek is Steelers came Cardinals to cereal and straws. They learned many crafts and both had a lot of fun! for social reasons. “I feel it would out with the win. At half- be easier to make friends,” Ka- win with their time I was tie Bell said. Some people might rookie head thinking that be going for friends that already coach Mike the Cardinals go there. “I want to go to Sandy Tomlin. Before coach would Creek because my friends are the game was played a couple of come up with a big plan to stay there,” Jacob Veik said. The last Clay Center students had their in the game. Then at the end of advantage is Sandy Creek is a lit- opinions about the game. Here the game I felt dejected and de- tle closer to Clay Center. So now are some thoughts from a student pressed but was still happy for can you say “I am a cougar or I and a teacher; Dane Meese, a 4th the Steelers,” Mrs. Briggs, the 6th 1 0 0 am a cardinal?” grade student said, “I wanted the grade teacher said. DAYS OF SCHOOL The 6th Grade PawPrint NEWS February 2 May the force be with you by WYATT SIMMERMAN and of the computer generated special short leaps, Ewoks do some major CHANDLER FRAZIER effects. Other people like find- damage with super catapults, and Are you crazy about Star ing out how Anakin Sky walker Chewy will pop the Lego arms Wars? Some kids are. “It is a pas- become Darth Vader, and how off Stormtroopers. If the games sion for me,” fifth grader, Chris- he lost Padme, and it’s always and movies aren’t enough to fill topher Dyer, said. “I like the good to see Yoda in his younger your Star Wars needs, a new video big explosions and the battles,” years. Nobody does a back flip game, The Force Unleashed, for sixth grader, Chandler Frazier, through the air like the little green PSP will be available very soon. said. Different people find dif- Jedi Master. Star Wars isn’t just You can use moves such as force ferent reasons to like Star Wars. a movie anymore. There are sev- maelstrom, and force push which Some people enjoy the light saber eral different video games that sends your opponent crashing battles, but some think the space are based on the movies. You can through walls. In addition, there and battle scenes are better. It enter the world of the Jedi, and are rumors about Episodes 7, 8, was said that when Star Wars first battle with the Sith, or you can and 9 being in the works. George came out thirty years ago that it become a Stormtrooper and fight Lucas and his crew never seem was “cutting edge” for special ef- the Rebels in places like Hoth, to get tired of visiting a galaxy fects. People also like it because Endor, and Bespin. If you’re feel- far, far away. So grab your light you knew who was good and who ing a little sad, just pop Lego Star saber, get a droid for a sidekick was evil. It was pretty obvious, Wars Two in your game system, and watch for the new movies, by the way Darth Vader dressed and enter a world of comedy and and if you haven’t had a chance, excitement. In the game you’ll see watch the first six and brush up on Sharin’ the love and talked that he was the bad by BAILEY JONES and Gamorrean Guards play air guitar your Star Wars Knowledge. Until guy. Some people like the new JAKE VEIK movies (Episodes I, II, III) better on their battle axes, Stormtroop- the new films come out, may the than the original trilogy because ers will make face plants after force be with you. On February 13, 2009 there was a blizzard outside. So the whole public school had no school. The elementary had their Valentine’s Day party on Monday but the first graders, which had theirs on Tues- 5th, 6th graders show day because Ms. Pallas had a work shop. What does Valentine’s Day mean to you? “I think that it means my family loves me,” first grader, Riley Krager said. “I think Valentine’s Day is a great day because it’s improvement under nice to be loved by my family,” first grader, Josh Bertrand said. Baxa’s guidance by KATIE BELL es,” Deidre Freitas said. “I think that we had him for our coach this I have the latest on the 5th and he is really nice to be willing to year. It means a lot to me and the 6th grade girl’s basketball and I coach us,” Krista Johnson said. girls that play with him. am going to share the informa- I think that Mike is an awesome So my big shout goes out to tion with you. The 5th and 6th coach because he helps us when Mike Baxa for always helping us graders have practice on Tues- we ask him to and he is always with basketball and being there day and Thursday nights at 6-7, explaining things that all of us when we needed a coach. Thank and sometimes till 8. The girls don’t understand. I am just glad You! play on Saturday in the morning around 11 a.m. but they played a tournament at Blue Hill coming in 2nd place. The team contains ten girls, there are five starters and they have subs. The starters are Devin Calhoun, Krista John- son, Bailey Jones, Rachel Shack- leford, and Katie Bell. The other five join during the 2nd period or even before it depends on the team they are playing. I asked some of the girls what they like about basketball practices and about their coach, and this is what they said. “It’s fun most of the time but some of the time we just do the same thing the whole time. I think our coach is the best, he works with us great, and he really knows what he is doing,” Rachel Shackelford said. “I think his coaching helps us physically, and we learn basketball better by what he teaches us. I really like Mike Baxa and the way that he coach- 6th Grade PawPrint Staff Katie Bell Devin Calhoun Zach Faltys Chandler Frazier Deidre Freitas Paige Gosser Nikolas Hankins Krista Johnson Bailey Jones Tristan Kalvoda Elsa Knight Rachel Shackelford Wyatt Simmerman Blake Skolaut Jake Veik Krista Johnson, defended by classmate Katie Bell, looks Deeon Wilkerson for an easy shot in the lane during the Elementary Girl’s Adam Woodbury basketball scrimmage at halftime of a High School Girl’s See insert in this issue of The PawPrint Jasmine Harris Varsity game. 6 February ENTERTAINMENT The PawPrint Just not that into new flick

Movie by Ashley Review Boman

Walking out of the theatre after watching He’s Just Not That Into You, many thoughts consumed my mind. First, why did I just waste seven dol- lars on a movie that basically bashed women the entire time, and second, I hope to God that I never act like the women in this film. The movie follows a group of Baltimore adults, ranging in age from their early twenties to their mid thir- ties, all interconnected in some way or another, trying to figure out their relationships. We first meet Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), the film’s narrator, who spends entirely too much time read- ing into her various relationships with men. Of course most of her re- lationships crash and burn because of her compulsive ways when it comes to the “signs” she gets from men. She eventually finds herself relying on, and falling for ex-fling Conor’s Alex, played by Justin Long, gives much needed advice to Gigi, played by Ginnifer Goodwin, at his bar in the film He’s Just Not That Into You directed by Ken (Kevin Connolly) best friend, Alex Kwapis and based off of the book by Greg Behrendt and Lis Tuccillo. (Justin Long). Conor has been longing to be living his whole life with Beth just as to this film, because they convinced The creator of this story definitely watching. with Anna (Scarlett Johansson), who a girlfriend. Last but not least is Mary me to spend seven dollars hoping to has the complete wrong interpretation Not every woman in this movie can’t decide between the boring, (Drew Barrymore), who can’t keep watch a cute, chick-flick, filled with of what women are like in relation- was entirely ignorant when it came to settled-down Conor, or Ben (Bradley track of the five different technolo- talented, popular celebrities. ships. their relationship. Like I said before, I Cooper), the hot married man. As for gies she’s using to keep in touch with Little did I know, the trailer had Okay, he’s probably got a few of seriously hope I never act like most of Ben, he’s dealing with the fact that he her men. the movies only good scenes in it, them figured out but honestly, what the women in this film when it comes can’t trust himself with free-spirited In the end, each character goes making it seem like the perfect fai- kind of women is this guy hanging to my relationships I will encounter. Anna and his wife Janine (Jennifer through their own triumphs and dis- rytale love story. around? Not the normal ones that’s I guess if I had to muster up a Connelly) can’t trust him. Janine’s appointments before it’s over. I wouldn’t be surprised if all the for sure. positive thing about this movie it co-worker Beth (Jennifer Aniston) This film, directed by Ken Kwa- women who have seen this movie felt Now before I make this sound would be that it made me take a good can’t quite figure out what she has pis and based off of the book by Greg a little low after watching it. Maybe like it was a complete waste of money look at myself and promise myself to do to get her boyfriend of seven Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, is in my some women are compulsive freaks to make this movie, I do have to add that I will never be one of those neu- years, Neil (Ben Affleck), to pop the mind, a huge disappointment. Give like some of the women in the movie that there were a couple (yes, only a rotic, obsessed girls that always has question, while Neil has no problem credit to who ever created the trailer but I certainly am not. couple) proud moments I had while guys running away from them. Twisted for The Unborn session. cially when she’s in the bathroom and Now, as the curse is unleashed, these bugs come crawling out of the by the frightened girl realizes that her wall all over her. Movie Vanessa only chance for survival is to close Then she was throwing up in the a door that was pried open by some- bathroom and in the end she found Review Ponder one who was never born, and prevent out she was pregnant. In the end it the force from crossing over into the all tied together and everything made David S. Goyer writes and directs physical world. sense. this supernatural thriller about a 19- Though her sympathetic boy- It wasn’t really scary it was just year-old girl haunted by a “dybbuk” friend and best friend do everything more startling. Watching the previews a malevolent wandering soul of for this movie Jewish folklore that was once really caught a young boy ruthlessly slaugh- my attention. tered in Auschwitz called The The part Unborn. There are a lot of twists to where she goes Casey Beldon was just a to a nursing young girl when her mother home and talks vanished out of her life. the movie especially when to this elderly And though Casey has lady and the never forgiven her mother for she’s in the bathroom and lady freaks out abandoning their family, she on her. begins to understand why when these bugs come crawling Then later a tortured ghost begins stalk- in the movie ing her by day, and horrific out of the wall all over her. she calls her “ saying she nightmares make her scared of falling asleep at night. Hoping -Vanessa Ponder needs to visit that her spiritual advisor, Rabbi with her. Casey Sendak, possesses the power to finds out then make these awful visions stop, ,, that the elderly Casey enlists his aid and gradually they can to help, Casey is ultimately lady is her grandmother and the so uncovers a family curse that stretches left to face this otherworldly horror called “dybbuk” that is haunting her all the way back to Nazi Germany. on her own. is her Great uncle. An entity with the ability to pos- I really liked this movie, it was The graphics were gruesome and sess anyone or anything that it comes hard to understand at first and you re- the random clips throughout the mov- into contact with is stalking Casey ally had to pay attention in order for ie were attention getting. from another plane of reality, and its you to actually understand it. There If you’re into horror movies then gaining strength with each new pos- are a lot of twists to the movie espe- this is a movie for you. REMINDER There is NO SCHOOL on March 5th and 6th! The PawPrint February ENTERTAINMENT 7 Senses do not fail head bangers playing locally building a fan base Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos tour tual agreement, guitarist Dave Miller the way the band wants it to be. They and shortly after they entered a stu- playing with bands like The Used, My left the band and was replaced with want the fans to be able to relate dio and started to record. Their first Chemi- cal Romance and Kills- Heath Saraceno. They took a break through their words. After they fin- album, From the Depths of Dreams, witch Engage. But, in from touring for awhile and started ished Still Searching they began tour- was recorded when they were signed 2005, by to write their next studio album, Still ing again. This album is probably my with Drive-Thru Records. I really mu- Searching. This album eased up on favorite of their four so far. I could like the album cover artwork, it is the aggression of the two previous listen to it over and over again and peaceful compared to their other cov- albums and focused more on not get sick of it. It is one of those ers. Let It Enfold You was their debut emotion. The lyrics are albums where you can sing every album when they signed with Vagrant open for interpre- word, lyric, and chorus while head- Records in 2004. The title of the al- tation and banging in your room and just feel so bum is taken from a poem written by that’s free from everything. They have cur- Charles Bukowski. “We just love rently finished their follow-up album making music and writing good to Still Searching with Life is Not songs. I feel like I’ve got a lot a Waiting Room and it is “Punk was more to say and we’ve got a lot just Senses Fail be- always about be- more to contribute.” Nielsen ing Senses Fail. ing yourself and said of the album. This al- They are not caring what bum cover is a little differ- g o - other people ent than the first, it’s a lit- thought. Today tle creepier but they are the most punk just expressing how thing you can they feel and that’s i n g Jessie do is be yourself fine with me. Don’t t o Sorensen and not have an judge a book by p l a y image,” Lead vocalist of Senses Fail, its cover right? at The Buddy Nielsen, said. After their first S a i n t s I love this band, Senses Fail, and album they & Sinners a friend of mine who also loves them started tour- F e s t i v a l introduced me to them awhile ago. ing but by and have They are unlike anything I have heard. now they also been They make their music for them, no were on asked back to one else, not to make other people Warped Tour happy but to make them happy. They and Bamboozle don’t worry about their image and Left. they are honest about their in- They are defi- spirations. You can hear nitely different, but the passion in their to me that is a breath music through every of fresh air. I’m sick word, every hit of the of hearing the same old drum, and every guitar boring lyrics through riff. They are absolutely mainstream music. I relate amazing to me, you can more with bands who want to feel what they are feel- relate with me and other fans ing and that’s what music through their passionate lyrics should be. about truth. Everyone has prob- Senses Fail formed in 2002 lems, but when you listen to some- when Nielsen put an advertise- one singing about the same problems ment on the internet and started you have, you can feel reassured that recruiting members. Dan Trapp, you aren’t the only one feeling how who was fifteen at the time, read you are. Through self examination the article and brought his friends and exploration you can get over a lot from his previous band, Dave Miller Two of Senses Fail’s CD covers are featured above. of the things that hold you down in and Garrett Zablocki who both play Above Left: From the Depths of Dreams. Above Right: Let life and that the past is something to lead and rhythm guitars. They started it Enfold you. learn from, not to be buried by. Warm sense of pride fills heart quite intrigued when finding out about back on white man once and for all. her new house guest and decides for With all her effort Esther finds Book herself that they will become the best her way into King-Roy’s feelings and of friends. organizes a plan that blatantly causes Review Only, King-Roy has an opposite him to discover what freedom and taste for Esther and tries to keep his unity are really all about. by Sara Slater distance while figuring out that stay- This powerful and uplifting book In a time of discrimination and ing away from this mischievous four- deserves two thumbs up for such a the will to fight for what’s right, a teen-year-old girl is impossible. true and unbelievable plot. Not only young man finds himself in the midst Soon these two start up an un- did this book draw me in through its of an age of freedom, yet freedom heard of friendship that dangles on pages, it gave me a new-found appre- hides itself behind ciation for civil rights closed doors. and what our country is “A Summer of made of today. Kings”, a novel written I recommend this by Han Nolan expresses This powerful and uplifting book to anyone who is the time of partial unity fascinated and want- between two sides of book deserves two thumbs ing to learn more about the pendulum, blacks what exactly our great and whites, during the up for such a true and democracy is known 1960’s. for and how Martin Lu- King-Roy is a pro- ther King Jr. changed found young man with unbelievable plot. this country’s ways. only one thing on his -Sara Slater It makes me proud mind, to prove his in- “ knowing what an in- nocence against murder credible country Amer- of a white man. He is sent to live with the edge when King-Roy,, expresses ica is and how it has evolved through the Young family, long-time friends his hatred for white man and the non- the years. of his mother who was once a house violent teachings of Martin Luther Discrimination has been thrown maid for Mrs. Young during child- King Jr. But of course Esther cannot out the door and unity is being hood. keep away from her new friend and brought forth and placed on our door- Upon his arrival King-Roy is tries desperately to pry King-Roy step for this country to share once and faced with the obstacle of living with away from a man, Malcolm X who for all. Martin Luther King Jr. had his a white family when his views are advocates black revolution. dream on that faithful day and now much different than thought of. But confronting King-Roy is we the people of the United States are Esther, the child of Mrs. Young is harder than it looks as he turns his living that dream. 8 February OPINIONS The PawPrint Techno no-no Leader of free world should have access to latest technologies going to be able to keep his phone. That phone isn’t just a normal one, it’s a special spy-proof, anti-hack- able phone worth over $3500. Now if they can do that, why can’t they put all that anti-spy stuff on laptops and other things? We live in the 21st century, and that means that we are almost depen- dent on technology. Everyone uses some form of it everyday and we are When you only going to grow more dependent become the head on it. of something, So how are we going to change it you usually get so the President can be like everyone all the bonuses else in being dependent on technol- you want. More ogy? money, better One way we could go by that is to Mat travel, but one maybe have an official go through all Nolan other perk is that the transcripts of phone calls, e-mails, you get the latest text messages, etc. and decide which technology. of them are personal and business. CEOs get all the fancy gadgets, The way I see it is that if it makes including advanced phones, etc. Well, no mention of any business at the it always happens when you get a job White House or any governmental like that, right? WRONG! business, it shouldn’t be put on file The President of the United States for everyone to see. is not one of those people. To me, that And also, they need to put all the doesn’t make any sense at all. anti-spy stuff on all electronics that The President is the most power- the President wants to use so he can ful person in our country, but is de- be like everyone else in the country. nied access to basically all technol- ogy? There is something wrong with that. Obama Pushes Technological Envelope As the President, you get almost every bit of technology you rely on taken away. No cell phones, no per- sonal laptops, nothing at all. You know why that is? It’s all because those items are easily hacked into, and that poses a security risk. Also, anything that the president sends or says on the phone are re- corded publicly and put into file after he leaves office. Everything they say. I can see why they do that, to make sure that President isn’t say- ing anything wrong or contacting the wrong people. But what about their personal lives? They have none. That’s a big turnoff for people want- ing that job. There is hope though for the president. That hope comes in the form of President Barack Obama and him wanting to keep his Blackberry phone. Yes, the President is actually jair PEREZ/The PawPrint Staff Editorial Through the eyes of the students

While the rumors continue to stir D-1 school, just slightly larger than the individuals who this change is We all agree on the fact that it remember things like the activities and the fate of our school remains Clay Center. Sutton is a C-2 school going to affect in many ways, don’t will be “weird” knowing Clay Center available to us, creating a new iden- unclear, students are left in an unfa- approximately 15 miles northeast of we get some say in this before it is all High School will no longer exist. We tity, and keeping traditions such as miliar place, not knowing what the Clay Center. said and done? aren’t the biggest fans of the merger senior sneak when deciding our fu- future holds. However, one thing is No decisions have been made as Often, we find ourselves discuss- but we know we can’t change it. Se- ture. We would love to see as many certain; after the next school year, far was the future of niors and Juniors who of Clay Center’s traditions in our new Clay Center High School will be our school goes, but won’t be affected by the school as possible. banished and only a building full of students are constantly merger feel for the under- Sure, we want our voice heard, memories will remain. hearing new propos- classmen and agree that but in the end we know whatever de- It’s common to hear several con- als brought up by the ...in the end we know what- it just won’t be the same cision is made, it was done in the best versations in the hallways before Boards and Adminis- coming home from col- interests of us, the students. With the school or at the lunch table during trations. ever decision is made, it was lege and not being able to negatives, our town possibly losing noon break, discussing what we, the While our Admin- visit our former teachers, its identity and missing the idea be- students, would like to see happen to istration and Board are done in the best interest of or drop in to watch our ing a Clay Center Wildcat, floating in the school that many of us consider a doing their best to edu- former team and coaches. the back of our minds we constantly second home. cate the school as well For some of the upper- try to replace those thoughts with the Administration and School Board as the public on the us, the students. classmen however, they positives of starting fresh and gaining are currently discussing and explor- progress of the merger, are still affected because more opportunities with this merger. ing options with county schools San- it’s inevitable that we “ they have younger sib- In the end, despite the uncertainty dy Creek, Harvard, and Sutton. San- are going to be hearing ,, lings who will go through of the merger or consolidation, we dy Creek, a C-2 school is located just things “through the grapevine.” In the merger. They agreed believe one thing will always remain six miles south of Clay Center and is most cases, this leaves students with ing what we would do if the deci- that they want what’s best for their crystal clear; each and every one of made up of several small towns simi- a bad taste in their mouth, mainly due sion were up to us. As odd as it may younger siblings. us will hold on to that Clay Center lar to Clay Center. Harvard, located to the fact that their voice isn’t being sound, most of us have the same gen- As a whole, one important thing Wildcat pride that has been instilled ten miles north of Clay Center, is a heard. As many of us see it; if we are eral consensus. we ask is that the School Board to in our hearts forever. The PawPrint February OPINIONS 9 The horror: Parents log in to new fad of social networking taken away from me. So, under fear of losing privileges, I out of. The infinite virtual world of dence. Now that my mom can see my It all started a couple years ago pressed that cursed Accept button and the internet that once used to be the profile I can no longer put my status when divine intervention brought sat there as my world crashed around only place teens had to themselves is as something that mentions how I Facebook into my life. It didn’t take me. now, like everything else, being in- hate my life, how much of a “jerk” my mom long to realize some girl is, or some long tragic story that something was differ- about how ticked off I am ent and to see that I was and why I wish I had never spending considerably been born, for fear that my more time online. She mom will pull me aside and was curious and slightly I came home from school one day to hear want to discuss feelings. It skeptical about privacy takes away all the fun of an Until recent- but I calmed her fears and the catastrophic news...she had set up an online profile. I can no - lon ly, I have been a that was the end of that. ger pretend to have a tragic, fan of Facebook. She bugged me a cou- account, and had added me as a friend! dramatic life to get attention I used to get on ple of times after that for from the online community; a couple times me to set her up a Face- I now have to be normal and a day and stay book account, but I obsti- -Morgan Woodbury boring. on for a couple nately persuaded her from This introduction to a Morgan hours at a time such a course of action. I “ ,, harsh cruel reality has been Woodbury but because of never once dreamed that tough for me. Deep down certain recent events, I have been she would try to navigate I know it’s for the best but forced to get a life. Yes, this is true, the unknown world of the it still makes me ask: Why? I now have to actually talk to people internet and set up one herself, but Why must parents do this to to find out what is going on, instead I underestimated her. I came home My case is not a unique one, this vaded by parents. their children? Life was peachy when of relying on the most convenient from school one day to hear the cata- has happened to many unfortunate Saying that makes it sound like I had an alternate reality every time I Facebook 411. You might wonder strophic news…she had set up an ac- teenagers out there as parents, slowly I’m doing naughty things online and logged in, now my one source of un- what sort of tragic experience could count, and had added me as a friend! but surely, discover the incredible have a guilty conscience but that is restrained expression is taken away. It have caused such a dramatic shift in I couldn’t deny my mother, the world of Facebook. They don’t see not the case. There are just some parts has left the world dull and gray and I interests, and that is what I am here person who gave me life, my Face- it in the same light as their younger of your life that you don’t want your am left wondering what to do to stay to tell you. This is my story of how book friendship and putting her on a counterparts, no, they see it as just parents to be a part of. It’s all about up with the high school scene. Wait! I something I enjoyed immensely was limited profile just seemed immoral. one more thing they can suck the fun a teen’s need to assert their indepen- know…I’ll get MySpace! Student vents on ‘touchy’ subject

sports, academics, and student orga- practice habits that won’t be tolerated this policy to that extreme, they do public, because even if one person nizations. You know, the usual stuff. in other areas of life. For example, if encourage students to be respectful sees it happening and feels shocked Another common trend you are likely a person was to touch a co-worker in- of those around them and focus more or embarrassed, then you may have to see is the relationships students appropriately in the workplace, even on their school work and activities, made someone’s experience at that Short have with each other, either as friends in a joking manner, they can be filed than a significant other during school activity unpleasant. Families who are or as “significant others”. But how with sexual harassment charges. Even hours. What you do on your own time looking for a night out don’t need or far is too far when is your business, and no want to see you canoodling (kissing Fused it comes to the lev- one has to see it but you. + cuddling) as they go to the movies Kayla Essink els of affection stu- I think the same rule with their young children. dents are allowed should apply at school Common sense is the best option We’ve all to express towards Fast sponsored activities. Stu- here. Think first about what type of seen it. You know, one another? After dents who choose to par- character you want to display. Next, that couple that surveying grades 9- 67% of High School girls ticipate in or attend these decide whether those actions are ap- just can’t seem to 12, I have come to a agree that PDA should stop activities are expected to propriate for that time and place. Fi- keep their hands a conclusion on this demonstrate good exam- nally, be respectful to those around off each other and issue. at hand-holding and walk- ples to younger children, you, who probably, and most likely therefore leaves You probably c other fans attending, and don’t want to witness your PDA. friends embar- wouldn’t be sur- ing arm-in-arm. their peers. It is simply With these simple steps, you should Kayla rassed and feeling prised to find that considerate to keep your be able to determine whether or not awkward to be only 33% of our t actions G rated when in your behavior is acceptable. Essink around or witness males agree with such displays of the school’s rule, affection? Well regardless of how stu- while 67% of the girls think it is com- if the recipient didn’t have a problem dents feel about it, PDA is an issue, pletely acceptable. This is true be- with it, the boss might. It is just bet- Opinion Page Policies one of which I’m going to address. cause boys are much more comfort- ter not to risk such consequences, The opinions expressed on the Opinion Page reflect the views of the authors and The student handbook states that able with PDA and less aware of who because if at any time a student feels are not necessarily those of the PawPrint Staff. All letters submitted must be received “public display of affection on school is watching. Girls however, pay more even a little bit uncomfortable, then in the PawPrint office (English Room) the week before the monthly publication date. grounds is discouraged and in no in- attention to their surroundings. something is wrong. The PawPrint reserves the right to reject letters to the editor. All letters to the editor must be submitted with the name of the individual or group responsible for stance shall be permitted beyond hand By allowing more than hand In some Arab countries, you reasons of verifying authenticity. Letters with inaccuracies will be corrected by the could be arrested for kissing in pub- holding or walking arm-in-arm”. holding and walking arm-in-arm, the staff, returned to the author or rejected. Letters must be limited to 200 words or less. In a typical high school you have school would be allowing students to lic. While our school doesn’t take If the author of the letter wishes to remain anonymous, the editors will decide if it is pertinent to do so. No letters will be printed with the author’s name against his/ her will, but the staff may not print the letter if it decides the name should be printed and the author still wishes to be anonymous. Anonymity is a privilege granted to the author of a letter who may be persecuted or discriminated against as a result of the letter. PawPrint Staff PawPrint Editor-In-Chief...... Ashley Boman PawPrint Assistant Editor...... Jill Baxa Business Manager...... Vanessa Ponder Graphic Editor...... Jeremy Chevalier Staff Writers Kyle Knight Kayla Essink Ceirra Tompkin Abby Sorensen Morgan Woodbury Jesse Vonspreckelsen Sara Slater Mat Nolan Jessie Sorensen Adviser...... Jeremy Heneger 10 February FEATURE The PawPrint Zoning in on the options By: Kyle Knight to make the right choice that gives Staff Writer our students the best opportunity to Up for grabs learn,” High School Principal, Jim Clay Center Public Schools will Bovee said. look much different in the 2010–2011 The unification of the school school year. Due to decreasing enroll- means that the schools combined ment, school officials are looking for would share a common identity. reorganization options for the 2010- Whereas the merger of a school 2011 school year. means that one school just becomes Initially the School Board and Ad- a part of another school. ministrators have had several meet- The schools’ combining also ings with Harvard, and Sandy Creek means school boards combine. School Districts. But after the first If Clay Center consolidates with public H a r - m e e t - v a r d , ing to t h e discuss t w o the pos- No options are on or off boards sibility w i l l of re- the table. Everything is m o s t organi- likely zation, up for consideration right b e t h e joined Sutton t o - School now. gether District -Jim Bovee for the to be f i r s t a s k e d “ y e a r includ- c r e - ed in the talks about reorganizing. ating a six member board. After the Three options have been openly first year it is undecided how things presented. will look. One is to merge with Harvard. In If Clay Center consolidates with jeremy CHEVALIER/The PawPrint this scenario, two possibilities were Sandy Creek, the boards will look presented. much different. Since Sandy Creek The first proposal would have is unified with Lawrence-Nelson, a each town hosting a K-6 elementary school board” would consist of several Change in the wind school. The second option presented elected members from Clay Center, had both schools with a K-3 elemen- Sandy Creek, and Lawrence-Nelson. Clay Center to reorganize by 2010-2011 tary and all 4-6 graders attending The Clay Center School Board Clay Center. In both options the high has had two public meetings to an- school would be located in Harvard. swer questions and address concerns By: Jill Baxa Another option is to join the San- of the community. The first was held Assistant Editor dy Creek School District, which is on January 12 and the second on Feb- six miles south of Clay Center. In this ruary 22. Change is inevitable, sometimes case, the two schools will consolidate The Clay Center School Board is it’s easy, but sometimes it’s hard to and become one school. In this sce- having another meeting on Monday overcome. No matter what, it will nario Clay Center would keep a K-6 March 2 where they intend to vote on come whether you are ready or not. building and the High School would which district they plan on reorganize Clay Center Public Schools is go to Sandy Creek. with. faced with the crucial moment of A merger with Sutton would look The Clay Center school board decision making. The school will be similar to the merger with Sandy consisting of Jeremy Anderson, undergoing a transformation that will Creek. Donita Furman, David Powell, Kim not only affect the school district but “No options are on or off the Story, David Walker, and Bryan the community. table. Everything is up for consid- Woodbury. As the school board is looking eration right now. We’ll do our best at options for a reorganization of the school district, many people are prob- ably asking themselves, “How did we jeremy HENEGER/The PawPrint get to this point?” School Board President Donita Furman addresses an issue to the public at a Due to the decline in enrollment community meeting on January 12. Fast and pressures of budgeting, Clay Cen- to the system every year due to the funds fluctuate so it’s hard to make ter is looking into plans for the future. changes in laws and the larger school a guess on what the district can re- In the 2000 school year, Clay Clay Center’s enrollment numbers a populations. ceive from taxes each year. Center had 229 students in peaked in the 2000 school year with These numbers are never consis- Decreasing enrollment, land a total number of 229 in elementary tent from year to year. valuation, and state and federal aid c the elementary and high and high school combined, but since The school district received 13 uncertainty are all factors that fig- then the figures have dropped signifi- percent through the federal govern- ure into the many decisions that the school. cantly. ment. There are two areas for aid Clay Center School District will t This school year, there are only through federal face soon. 54 students in the high school. For more in- funding. The three major sources of tax formation about All schools income that a school district obtains school finance receive assis- funding from include state, federal you may go to tance through High School Enrollment and local receipts. the Nebraska title one, special Department of In the 2006-2007 school year, education and Education’s 99.43 percent of the school’s income website, www. free and reduced came from these three financial rev- nde.state.ne.us. lunch programs. enues. The other Sixty-four percent of the funding type of federal was generated from local taxes. Local assistance is impact aid. This type of funds also account for the levy over- aid is unique. ride that was last passed in 2007 and Harvard, Sandy Creek and the was set at $1.43. Clay Center school districts are eli- To figure the levy amount, the gible to receive this type of aid be- amount of tax dollars required for a cause of the government land in their district is divided by its total assessed respective districts. valuation. It was designed to support school State aid is based on need and the districts that have lost property tax enrollment of the high school. Twen- revenue due to the presence of tax- ty-three percent of the funding was a exempt federal property. result of state aid. The Meat Animal Research Cen- In truth, there are a total of 25 ter is an example of tax-exempt fed- factors figured into the state aid for- eral property. About 10,000 acres of mula to find what the need is for the land belonged to the school district district. and generated taxes before it was “This is a complicated system,” usurped by the federal government Superintendent Lee Sayer said. before World War II. There are modifications made Because of valuation changes, tax The PawPrint February FEATURE 11 Holding up future Schools suffer from I-80 By: Ashley Boman together,” Clay Center Principal Jim By: Mat Nolan the current numbers show, which is the I-80 and from Lincoln to Omaha Bovee said. Editor-in-Chief Staff Writer around 254. and farther north is known as the “J” Clay Center School Board Presi- One of the reasons for this was Corridor and that’s where many peo- It’s inevitable; after the 2009- dent Donita Furman agreed with Bo- For many students, the number that farms are now much larger than ple are living now. 2010 school year, changes will be vee. of school districts has relatively been what they used to be because of the Many schools just off of the Cor- made to Clay Center Public School. “The freeholding law is, in my the same, with the exception of a few increase of technology and farms ridor are experiencing booms in there Many factors, one being Nebras- opinion, a law not fair to small school school mergers here and there. What not needing as many people to work, student populations. According to ka’s ‘freeholder law’, have led Clay districts,” Furman said. they don’t know, is that all the dis- there are less people living in the ru- Nebraska Department of Education Center’s Administration and Board In an article by Paul Hammel tricts that exist now are only a frac- ral areas and that leads to less kids website, www.nde.state.ne.us/, Gret- to explore further options which will published in the Omaha World Her- tion of what used to exist. going to the rural schools. na School District has gone from ap- later determine the school’s future. ald on January 9, 2009, the require- Yes, a small fraction. Also, with Interstate 80 going proximately 1000 students in 1993 to The freeholder law allows a land ment for a freeholder of having land It’s hard to believe but there are straight through Nebraska, many nearly 2500 in 2008. owner to transfer their land out of a that must border another district be- many reasons behind the declining people are moving towards it because Of course population is just one district and into a neighboring dis- fore they can transfer out was upheld trend of school districts. if they have to travel, it is faster, and factor that influences budgets and the trict. by the Nebraska Supreme Court in a From 1890 to 1940, there was the people moving into the state settle decisions schools are forced to make. The law is intended to apply pres- case dealing with the Wynot and Har- biggest number of school districts in there because they don’t have to go State Aid, Rule 10 and other State sure on districts to keep their taxes tington School Districts. Nebraska. That number was as high searching far for a place to stay. and Federal factors figure into the low and give landowners whose land The case in northeast Nebraska as 7264. That is much more than From North Platte to Lincoln on complex issue. borders another district a right to seek was challenged because the land was lower taxes. not “contiguous” to the other district, According to the Nebraska As- which is required by the law. sociation of School Boards’ web- Wynot taxpayers filed a suit to site, www.nebr-schoolboards.org, a stop the transfer, because they be- “freeholder” is someone who is in lieved the law was not planned to possession of land and whishes to allow “huge” amounts of land out of remove his valuation from his or her a district, eventually wiping out that current school district. original school district. However, the For a freeholder to pull land out Supreme Court rejected their argu- of a district, three requirements must ment. be met. “It just shows that in true legis- First, the school which they want lation, there are those who are deter- to pull from must have less than 60 mined to close small schools,” Bovee students enrolled in high school for said of the Wynot/Hartington case. two consecutive years. As if schools and small towns Second, the tax levy must be 15 already have enough on their plates, cents greater than the legal limit of they are now forced to deal with the $1.05. Clay Center’s tax levy is cur- Legislation’s attempt to close Nebras- rently $1.43. ka’s small school districts. Third, the land must border an- “It makes it almost impossible other district and has to have a lower to provide the best education for stu- tax than the district they are transfer- dents of the school district affected ring out of. because of the loss of property val- “It is an extremely unfair law to ue,” Furman said. both small school districts and land In most cases, even the strongest owners because it creates a situation fight put up, won’t be able to stop the where both sides are not able to work Legislation.

Everyone is invited to learn about the future of Clay Center Schools! Special School Board Meeting March 2nd 2009 at 7:30 pm High School Gym 12 February FEATURE The PawPrint I CRACKNG OPEN

t w i s t e d Twister was the most popular Comeback of the ages game amongst Clay Center By: Ceirra Tompkin games during the nineties on their You can download them to your students in the Staff Writer Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Dream phone, put them on your MySpace Cast, and PS1. or Facebook, or play it on your new 90’s. “Well finally, he’s here for you. That percentage of teenagers also PSP. He’s the leader of the DK crew. He’s said that they have played them in the “I like to play the classical games stronger, faster, and smarter too. He’s past five years on their X Box, PS2, because they are the best and you can f a c t ! the first member of the DK crew. His Wii, Game Cube, and Computer. enjoy them no matter how old you coconut gun, can fire in spurts, if he “I still like playing the classi- are.” Chad Veik said. shoots ya, it’s gonna hurt! cal games because it is amazing to They have also developed emula- A HUH! DK, Donkey tors for certain devices Kong is here!” which makes a virtual Video games that were copy of that device. once a hit in the 90’s are now I still like playing the Emulators allow us making their way back to the to virtually copy any- top with a new look, but the classic games. thing that we may want same old objective. and with the memory These games do not only -Broddrick Dillon capacity of the elec- have a new look but are now tronics today we could appearing in most of the com- basically download mon electronics used in everyday see how each game graphics have all of the nineties games to our cell life. evolved from the nineties to the pres- phones or iPods. Games like Super Mario, Mario ent,” Broddrick Dillon said. With the rapid increase of new Cart, Crash Bandicoot, Final Fantasy“ These games and many more technology emulators come in handy IV, Donkey Kong 64, NBA Live 99, from the 90’s have evolved and made by permitting us to update all of the and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a major come back. games to the software on that device. can now be downloaded from the in- Technology has evolved so much The future holds ahead remark- ternet. in the last fifteen years making it ”easy able inventions but the electrifying Forty-four percent of teenagers to take these games just about any- games of the past will stay active stated that they have played these where. with the creation of today.

Quote that 90’s Movie

“I took a shower washing every body part with actual soap; including all my major crevices; including in between my toes and in my belly button which I never did before but “Ever since I was old enough to skate, I loved sort of enjoyed.” hockey. I wasn’t really the greatest skater though.” A: The Sixth Sense A: The Nightmare Before Christmas 1B: The Green Mile B: Babe C: Home Alone 2C: Beauty and the Beast D: Toy Story D: Happy Gilmore

“I’m gonna be King of Pride Rock.” “My momma always said, Life was like a box of A: Jurassic Park chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” B: Lion King A: Braveheart C: Flubber B: Forrest Gump D: Toy Story 2 4C: Saving Private Ryan 3 D: I Can’t Drive 55 “These are s’more’s stuff! Alright now pay attention. First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate “But mostly I hate the way I don’t on the graham. Then you roast the ‘mallow. When the hate you. Not even close, not even ‘mallows flaming... you stick it on the chocolate. Then a little bit, not even at all.” cover with the other end. Then you scarf.” A: Lonesome Dove A: Sandlot B: Boogie Nights B: Aladdin 6 5 C: 10 Things I Hate About You C: Groundhog Day D: Ever After D: Mulan “I’ll have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, peanut butter on top, smooth, but not crunchy and “Oh, it reeks of taste!” cut off all the crusts please.!” A: Fargo A: To Grandmother’s House We Go B: The Sixth Sense B: Titanic C: Unforgiven 8C: The Straight Story 7D: Mrs. Doubtfire D: Before Sunrise

ANSWERS 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (B) 4 (B) 5 (A) 6 (C) 7 (D) 8 (A) 8 (D) 7 (C) 6 (A) 5 (B) 4 (B) 3 (D) 2 (C) 1 ANSWERS jeremy CHEVALIER/The PawPrint The PawPrint FEATURE February 13 T E V H 9 ’S AULT 90’s tunes still rockin’ By: Kayla Essink did these great bands have to come to to them. They are really fun to dance 98 ˚. “I re- Staff Writer an end? Maybe it was just the essence to,” senior Chrissy Slepicka said. m e m b e r of the 1990’s era. After New Kids N Sync’s biggest rival was The the first Everyone reminisces about their on the Block broke up in 1994, they Backstreet Boys (1997-2002). The time I saw a clip from an 98˚ concert childhood days at some point or an- made a few attempts to regroup. on the Disney Chan- other. You probably think of your Those efforts finally paid off in nel, that was where favorite toys, or what shows were 2008 when the band got back to- my infatuation be- popular. You may even remember gether and released a new album N Sync was my favorite gan,” senior your very favorite outfit that you con- in September, 2008. O-Town A s h l e y vinced your mom to let you wear at was popular in the late 1990’s to band because I could dance B o m a n least 3 times a week. But have you early 2000’s, but disbanded in r e m i - ever stopped to think why your favor- 2003 after facing some financial to them. nisced ite bands have faded away? problems. N Sync was popular Boy bands were all the rage in from 1995-2002 but eventually -Chrissy Slepicka the 1990’s. The catchy tunes of many split because Justin Timberlake bands could be heard from little girls’ and JC Chazez wanted to pursue solo band broke up in 2002 but in 2005 Boy bands homes across America as they made careers. made a comeback and released an- started, thrived, up their own “dance” to their favorite Meanwhile, Lance Bass produced“ other album. and slowly died songs. a movie called “On the Line” in which Hanson (1992-1996), was made out for many dif- From New kids on the Block (late Joey Fatone had a role. N Sync’s last up of three brothers. Clarke, Issac, ferent causes. 80’s-early 90’s) to 98 ˚ (1997-2002), performance was at the annual Chal- and Zachary were the members of this Some wanted to chase a there was always a drooling fan club lenge for Children in 2004 where they pop rock band. Not to be confused solo career, others wanted a behind every boy band. Now the Jo- sang the Star Spangled Banner. with today’s Kevin, Joe, and Nick aka “normal” life. Whatever the nas Brothers are one of the only boy So far, there has been no men- The Jonas Brothers. Apparently fam”- circumstances, they played bands girls can obsess over. tion of a reunion. “N Sync was my ily bands were in style because Nick a major role in society, espe- So you may be wondering, why favorite band because I could dance and Drew Lachey were both a part of cially for kids of the 90’s. Remembering yesterday By: Vanessa Ponder you got older, you wanted to dress Then there was the light up shoes. to do it. Now all of the multi- Business Manager yourself. They were so cool! When your friend colored clothes people are actu- You wanted to wear bell bottoms would get a pair you would go home ally going to a store, buying them Back in the ‘90s remember when like the older kids because you want- and ask your mom if you could get and then wearing them. It’s crazy, you use to wear multi-color clothes ed to be cool like everyone else. a pair too. The best thing about them when you were younger you refused when you were a kid and everyone “I use to have this wind suit with was when you were playing hide and to wear those ugly looking clothes thought you were so cute. There were a bunch of circles and triangles that seek and you were it and the person and now you’re going to the stores to so many popular things that everyone were different colors I loved it so would move a little bit the shoes buy them so you can wear them. was doing or wanting to do and it all much that I wore it every day and I would go off and then the person was You use to hate to wear those died out. never took it off,” Ra’von Hudson busted. straight legged pants and now there What happened? said. What happened to the crazy Then there were the fake tattoos. are people everywhere w e a r - The ‘90s style was just a mixture style when everything was glitter? All the younger kids would scrounge ing them. Now that of a bunch of different styles from the That was the most popular style back up their change and go to the vending it’s a new century and ‘50s ‘60s ‘70s and ‘80s. in the ‘90s. If it wasn’t your shirt that machine and get fake tattoos. Then new styles have come At first when you were a kid your was glittery then it was your pants, they would go home and put them on and gone out, what seems to parents would make you wear just and if you could you would put glitter and go show their friends what they be happening is the ‘90s crazy plain old regular jeans and then once in your hair or on your face. got and then their friends would want styles are coming back. 90’s craze stays fresh still today By: Sara Slater more. So what happened to these be- shows of the 90’s included “Hey as the Backstreet Boys and N’sync loved fads? Well, as far as we know, Arnold”, the boy with the football- had girls blind sighted and sing- Staff Writer they are still around, replaced by the shaped head, and “Recess”, a show ing every word to every song. Now Oh the good old nineties, when next generation of fads. about a group of fourth grade friends these pre-twentieth century pop acid-wash jeans were in style, light- Being a child of the 90’s my- just trying to overcome bullies, the stars have been replaced by the up shoes were a fashion statement, self, I remember some of the big Ashley’s, and the territorial tribe of trio of brothers known everyone owned a pet tamagotchi, obsessions. Tamagotchies were a kindergarteners. as the Jonas Brothers and cartoons contained no hint of hit among the young audience and Oh my, and talk about the fash- and the young Britney violence. These were the simple days sold like hotcakes. Containing a vir- ion of the good old 90’s. Big hair, big Spears has been stopped of our childhood, carefree and fad- tual pet, these hand-held, egg-shaped pants, and crazy patterns, this was the in her tracks by Miley Cyrus. orientated just like any decade. electronic toys taught children how to age of grunge and laid back styles. The Macarena was also a mu- As young children we all re- care for an animal and watch it grow, Women from all around had nearly sic phenomenon that still has wed- member the “cool” fads that no one only finding out it’s a lot harder than the same frizzed-out and volumized ding parties to this day scream- could live without. These included it looks. Game Boys and Nintendos hair cut that used the most cans of ing for more along with the more everything from board games and also traveled their way through the hairspray known to man to lie just recent dances such as the Cupid hand-held electronic toys to fashion hands of the young generation with a right. Both men and women alike Shuffle. accessories and styles. Some of the colorful variety of devices and simple also sported the acid wash jeans and So, where exactly has most popular board games played in yet fun games like Mario Brothers. t-shirt style popular all throughout the the 90’s gone? No- the 90’s included Don’t Wake Daddy, Television also played a large 90’s, and elementary children were where to be exact, the Shoots and Ladders, Sorry, and Trou- role in the 90’s decade. With family- never seen without their Osh Kosh fads of this past decade ble which can still be found on store orientated shows such as “Saved by B’Gosh. Slap bracelets were also a are still around as far shelves to this day. And who can for- the Bell”, “Full House”, and “Fam- frequent fad, with a flimsy metal core as we know. They evolved get the electronic toys that children ily Matters”, one could find a reason and wrapped in a funky material, and took a change for the better, or drooled over? Tamagotchies, Game to get up on a Saturday morning to these fashion accessories were fun worse. But even if the 90’s are not Boys, walkmans, and furbies came watch as teens faced everyday prob- and collectable. Boy bands, now who here anymore in reality, they will be in all different colors and styles that lems and families come through for in their right mind could forget these long lived in our hearts and minds for had the young generation begging for each other. Some popular cartoon girl-crazed obsessions? Such bands years to come. 14 February SPORTS The PawPrint No Love: The Wildcats fall to T-Wolves on Valentine’s Day PawPrint By: Jill Baxa Sponsors Assistant Editor

There was no love for the Clay Center boys’ basketball team as they The PawPrint took another hit on the road to Exeter- would like to thank Milligan at Exeter on February 14, 2009. There was more to the 46-68 these sponsors for loss than just the score on the score- board as the Wildcats proved that their support. Valentine’s Day is more than just the day of hearts, chocolates and roses ~Platinum Sponsors~ because of the Wildcats’ aggressive attack that they possessed in the first *Clay Center half. Community Club The Wildcats jumped out to a 7-6 *Clay Center lead, but a Jair Perez three-point shot Booster Club ignited the Wildcats with 2:43 left in *Clay County the first quarter. The team was hin- Mutual Insurance Co. dered by foul trouble as Jordin Frank- *Clay Center lin and Phillip Gosser each picked up Alumni Association their second fouls within seconds of *Big Daddy’s Diner each other. Gosser’s debatable call was *Judy Barnes frowned upon by the Clay Center State Farm Insurance fans as many of them questioned the *DataCC foul. The Wildcat team was in foul *Super Seniors trouble the whole game. “Our incon- *Clay County Development sistency on offense and rebounding Corp. has lead to our missed opportunities *First Bank and Trust. this year,” Head Coach, Rick Rath *Friesen Chevrolet. said of the team. *Hydro Tech. Freshman, Dakota Hoyt then abby SORENSEN/The PawPrint came off the bench to hit a three-point Junior Phil Gosser looks to make a pass while an Exeter-Milligan defender applies pressure on Saturday, February 14 in *Edward Knight. buzzer shot to end the first quarter Exeter where the Wildcats suffered a 46-68 loss to the Timberwolves. *Connecting Point. with a Wildcat 15-14 lead. Kyle Knight to complete an impres- of the court Franklin was fouled in about a month. It is very encouraging The second quarter began the sive ally oop pass to make it a 24-30 the act of shooting a completed two to have our bench come off and play ~Gold Sponsors~ same as the first ended with tough game. Exeter-Milligan’s Josh Sluka point shot and then capped off with well,” Rath commented. *Clay Center Lions Club. head to head competition. Wildcat then hit a three point shot with 6:25 the three point conversion on a free Knight lead the Wildcats with *Andersen Lawn Care. hacks kept the Timberwolves ahead on the game clock. Nevertheless, throw. The Timberwolves then hit 12 points, and two rebounds. Perez throughout the rest of the first half. Perez answered back with a three two three point shots to extend their followed with nine points and four ~Silver Sponsors~ Two Timberwolf fouls put Garrett point shot of his own two minutes lead. “We have struggled all year to assists. Franklin scored five points *Clay Center Market Calhoun and Gosser on the charity later. With the score at 29-34 Franklin put a complete ball game together,” and pulled down five rebounds in the stripe tying the game at 22. However, committed his fourth foul on the shot Rath said. loss. *Aurora Co-op those points were not enough to hold to send Dillan White to the foul line With a score of 40-68, the Clay Cupid’s arrow shot through the *Superior Tour and Travel, off a last minute 6-0 run by the Tim- to complete the three point conver- Center bench was put out on the court hearts of the Wildcats as the buzzer INC. berwolves sending the Wildcats into sion. The quarter ended with a 31-50 to play a vital role in the game as sounded with the heartbreaking loss *Scott and Robyn VonSpreck- the locker room trailing by six with a deficit as the Timberwolves started to they kept the Timberwolves scoreless to the conference rivals. “I was not elsen and Family. score of 22-28. pull away. within the last minute while sinking disappointed with our 46 points,” *Cornerstone Bank. Exeter-Milligan started off the Exeter-Milligan’s Shane Man- two three point attempts by Brett Rath said. “It was giving up 68 points *Harding & Schultz. third quarter where they had left off ning sunk a three point attempt to Peshek and Matt Johnson. “I’m proud and the many fouls we had in the act *Loren and Helen Boman by pulling away from the Wildcats. make the score 31-53 to start off the of them, since we haven’t been able of shooting. That was disappoint- Gosser then connected with senior, fourth quarter, but on the other end to have any junior varsity games for ing.” ~Premium Sponsors~ *Jim and Vivian Cook *Jim and Susan Bovee *The Heneger Family A-Rod’s reputation gets juiced *The Shackelford Family *Bert’s Pharmacy ple got tired of hearing about Brian *LAW Publishing (LuAnn McNamee accusing Clemens of us- Womach) ing steroids. The sooner it gets over *Crooked Creek Country Club the sooner people forget about it. *Ken and Judy All this steroid talk just really Kalvoda grinds my gears. Some unknown per- Kyle and Cole Knight son is trying to get his name in the paper by saying that he injected some *For All Seasons. professional athlete with steroids. *Clay Center Critter Care. If you’re going to accuse a pro- *Clay Center Lumber. fessional athlete of taking steroids *Seiler & Parker, P.C., L.L.O. you better have cold hard evidence to * Central Nebraska Collec- back it up. tions, LLC. What is the first name you think And I think our congressmen *Hamilton Manor. of when you hear the word steroids? have a couple things better do than *Freitas family. Barry Bonds? Roger Clemens? Alex to hold hearings about if someone Rodriguez? Wait what was that last took steroids. With our country going one? It can’t be true. There’s no way. down the toilet our congressmen need Major League Baseball’s poster boy to be focusing on figuring out how to a steroid user? get us out of this mess instead of in- Well it’s very much true. In fact vestigating if Joe Blow got a needle Your Name he admitted it himself. Instead of in his butt. tainting his legacy, and going to trial It’s pathetic how this whole ste- for lying, he just came out and said it roids thing came about. First Mark Could be during a teary eyed press conference. McGuire was accused of it, then Jose Courtesy of The Inquisitr And look what happened. Every- Canseco wrote a book about how he New York Yankee Third-baseman Alex Rodriguez admits to using steriods at a press conference at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa held on February 17. Here! one is calling him a hero. No drama, took steroids and tried bringing other no lies, just the good ole truth. And people down with him. his career. Clemens on the other hand denied the I believe a lot of people will respect After the book came out, Barry If you would like your family Then a year later, a man named whole thing. He denied it to everyone him for telling the truth. Bonds starting getting questioned. Of Brian McNamee came out of no including congress. or business to be a PawPrint Roger Clemens ruined his repu- course, he denied the whole thing. I where accusing Roger Clemens and Where’s the passion in sports? Sponsor contact Jeremy tation by denying an on going inves- guess it’s just a coincidence that he’s Andy Petite of taking steroids. Petite Most athletes just play for the name Heneger at the school (402)- tigation into his alleged steroid use. completely bald, has a high voice, a admitted to taking steroids to help re- on the back, not the name on the 762-3231 Dragging on for several months peo- lisp, and smacked 761 home runs in pair a torn ligament in his shoulder. front. The PawPrint February SPORTS 15 Godtel preaches team- Sub-District blues work to Junior High Boys Defending runner-up Bulldogs end Ladycats season By: Abby Sorensen The boys worked hard to improve By: Vanessa Ponder Staff Writer skills that they will use and High Business Manager In the third year combining with School sports and even in life in gen- Harvard boys Junior High basketball, eral. “Their abilities as individuals On their way to Sub-Districts the new seventh and eighth grad- grew stronger as the season went on. the Ladycats had a lot of potential to ers learned how to play together and They will be able to use those abili- prove to the crowd. The team went work as a team. ties in real life,” Godtel added. into the beginning of Sub-Districts This did not come without help They played in their last tourna- with 7 wins and ended with a win on from Anthony Godtel, the Clay ment on Saturday, Feburary 28th. February 16th to give them a total of Center High School assistant boys “We all got a long with the Harvard 8 wins. basketball coach, and now the Har- boys pretty much from the start. It The Lady cats had an exciting vard-Clay Center junior high boys has been fun playing with them,” 8th victory against Heartland-Lutheran basketball assistant coach. “The grader Cole Knight said. with an ending score of 40-32 and boys got along really well totals of 37 rebounds, 10 steals and pretty much right from the 10 assists. get- go. They learned how Junior Abby Sorensen led the to play as a team with both team with a running total of 19 points new boys and boys that and 8 rebounds. Following her with they had been playing with a total of 7 points and 8 rebounds is since they were younger,” Senior Stephanie Hoyt. Anthony Godtel said. The The Lady cats flattened the Hor- boys have had to learn to nets, but fell victim to the Bulldogs play and work together this with an ending score of 36-57. Still year. putting up a fight the Lady cats had a With fourteen Players total of 36 rebounds, 15 steals and 7 from Harvard and six from assists against the Bulldogs. Clay Center, there were “We had to overcome a lot of enough boys to have both A adversity trying to get use to a new and B teams. technique of practicing with our new Harvard and Clay Cen- coaches. There were moments like ter both being D2 schools, the Clarkson and Meridian games they face some tough com- where we played exceptionally well petition, playing mostly C2 and then there were other games schools such as Blue Hill, where we didn’t play very well when Kenesaw, Sandy Creek- we should have won,” Jill Baxa said. Lawerence Nelson, Sutton, Sorensen led the team with 264 and Heartland. points in the season. Following be- “I saw improvement hind Sorensen is Hoyt with a total of jeremy HENEGER/The PawPrint throughout the season. 164 points. They were able to find the The senior leaders for the team this Senior Jessie Sorensen is met by a Heartland Lutheran defender as she goes ashley BOMAN/The PawPrint up for a lay-up in the first round of Sub-District play at Doniphan-Trumbull open spots and they became season are Ashley Boman, Stephanie Seventh grader Gage Davis looks for a team- on Monday, February 16. The Lady Cats advanced into the second round by more relaxed,” Coach God- mate while being hounded by a Sutton defender Hoyt and Jessie Sorensen who have defeating Heartland Lutheran 40-32. tel said. on January 19 at Clay Center. all been 4 year starters for the Lady Cats basketball team. “Our record did a great job,” Boman said. bounds. “We struggled a little bit, but may not show it, but we made huge With only 14 players the team I feel we overcame a lot throughout progress this season. “Our schedule pulled out a great amount of efforts the season. I love all the girls and I’m was filled with quality teams and go- to win their games. They fought as so happy they were there with me for ing up against them every night put a team and had fun as a team. The my senior season,” Jessie Sorensen us in a position where we had to show Lady cats have gave a great amount said. With the aggressiveness of the up everyone. The team made huge of effort this year and have improved team all together they had a total progress throughout the season. With enormously throughout the season. of 219 steals. The Lady cats ended my injury, people were forced to fill Totaling up all of their games the their season with a great total of 830 new roles and they all accepted it and team had a great amount of 652 re- points. Freshman Zoucha finds passion on mats

By: Jesse VonSpreckelsen While he could not compete in the district meet be- cause of his junior varsity status, he finished with a solid Staff Writer fourth at the Twin Valley Conference meet January 22nd. The Lone Ranger. The Mighty Mouse. The One and “I really enjoyed wrestling this year; it was a lot more Only. The single wrestler from Clay Center this year was fun as a high schooler rather than wrestling at junior high Jake Zoucha. meets,” Zoucha said. Weighing in at 112 pounds Zoucha debuted this year When asked about his fondness for wrestling, Zoucha as a high school wrestler for the Harvard Clay Center replied, “I love being able to wrestle many different peo- Wildcards. He competed for the Wildcards on the junior ple and being able to build strength throughout the sea- varsity squad this year. son.” Hopefully his passion and his drive will help Zoucha “This year reach his goal that most only dream of. went better than last year, espe- cially being in high school. Next year hopefully I will improve to the varsity level and make it to the state champion- ship as a sopho- more,” said Zou- cha when asked how he felt about his entire career in wrestling and what he thought the future held. With any luck Zoucha will find himself lead- ing the Wildcards force as the only Clay Center par- ticipant again next year as he ashley BOMAN/The PawPrint progresses as a Freshman Jake Zoucha tries to escape from a Blue Hill/Red Cloud grappler in the Twin Valley Con- better athlete. ference wrestling meet held at Clay Center on January 22. 16 February SPORTS The PawPrint A gift that goes beyond any record

By: Kyle Knight points before suffering an ACL tear it’s sad because she could’ve easily the other senior basketball players, eight points needed to reach 1,000. Staff Writer on January 10th against Silver Lake. made it. But that doesn’t take away Jessie Sorensen and Stephanie Hoyt, Senior Jair Perez, with the help of “This is the truth. Sometimes, “I was devastated but I kept an open from the fact that she had an amazing came up with the idea of the varsity Sorensen and Hoyt, did most of the people pick a sport. Other times, the mind about the whole thing,” Boman career here at Clay Center,” Haasen- players giving her the 48 points she work behind the video. “I wanted to sport picks them. And the minute you said. Being left a mere forty eight staab said. needed. “We did it because we really make it because I thought that was start playing you know you’ve found points shy of 1,000 was devastating At the time of her injury, plans care about Ashley and it was the least the least I could do after her tragic ac- each other. From that moment on, not only to Boman but to the team were already in the works for cel- we could do for her after everything cident and she deserved her thousand everything else point career in becomes recre- the minds of ev- ational.” This erybody,” Perez quote was on said. a gift made by The video Co-Head Girls was shown during Basketball coach a reception for the Crystal Haasen- senior girls after staab for senior school on Januray Ashley Boman. 23rd. “I was re- B a s k e t - ally surprised; it ball has always makes me feel re- played a major ally good know- role in Ashley’s ing that so many life. She started people have my playing com- back,” Boman petitively when said. she was in the Boman had third grade with her surgery on teams in Hast- January 30th at ings. Since then the Lincoln sur- she has had big gical hospital. dreams of play- She plans to play ing basketball in basketball in col- college. “Ashley lege but is still always said that undecided where. she wanted to “Tearing your play for Pat Sum- ACL is the most mit at Tennes- common injury see, that was if in women’s bas- she couldn’t play ketball, so when with Michael I talked to college Jordan and the coaches it didn’t Bulls,” Ashley’s really phase them mom Darcie Bo- because they see man said. One jill BAXA/The PawPrint it so much” Bo- of her dreams Ashley Boman embraces fellow seniors Stephanie Hoyt and Jessie Sorensen at the Senior Basketball Reception on January 23rd. Hoyt and Sorensen, along with man said. After included a 1,000 the help of others, surprised Boman with a video which showed clips of her teammates donating their points towards Boman’s goal of 1,000 career points which surgery she will point high school was cut short due to an ACL injury suffered on January 10th. be in rehab for career. This goal three months. was brought into sharper focus when and even the entire school. “I know I ebrating her milestone. “After she she has given us,” Hoyt said. It’s easy to see that basketball Bryson Studnicka made it to 1000 didn’t reach my goal but it really feels got hurt we knew she deserved some- They made a video which showed definitely picked Boman. And it’s during her sophomore season. Boman like I did,” Boman said. “It’s pretty thing to celebrate her career,” Haas- clips of them making points during clear that it’s not finished with her was well on her way to 1000 career amazing the she was that close, but enstaab said. The coaches along with games. Each adding up to the forty yet. ACL injury tears into athlete’s career

By: Jeremy Chevalier iess stay in the ground or as the grip frequent but I was really hoping for ogy evolved. When you had to almost athletes usually do not play during the Graphic Editor hangs the floor too much, all the body Ashley that it was not that,” co-head make a cross on your athletic career current season anymore. It includes will turn around the knee, involving coach Hassenstab said. in the past, now, it is only the season the wearing of a brace along all the High School sports have many a tear of the ACL. Coaches and play- You could be surprised to learn that is ended. injured leg positive aspects but as always, there ers are often aware of that risk even that a lot more of ACL tears occur on H o w e v e r , and many is an inevitable downside, as the though they usually hope that the in- girls. Indeed, it happens eight more it remains e x e r c i s e s students run the times for the girls than s o m e t h i n g destined to risk to be injured. for the boys. The most hard to take strengthen Ashley Boman has common explication for the ath- the knee and unfortunately expe- is the anatomy differ- letes : “When the muscles rienced this draw- ence between the girls I found out around it. back as she tore her and the boys, the girls that it was an People are left ACL (Anterior having a wider pelvis. ACL tear, I usually able Cruciate Ligament) The pelvis weakness was in shock to be back during the basket- appears to be the major and I didn’t at their pre- ball game against reason for this differ- want to be- vious level, Silver Lake, and it ence between boys and lieve that I even if the is probably neces- girls, because it brings would have way to reach sary to explain what extra pressure on the to sit on the this goal is this common injury knees. The anterior cur- sideline the not easy but in the world of the ciate ligament makes rest of the coach Has- sport is. a cross with the other year,” Bo- senstab is Indeed, an ACL cruciate ligament, the man said. A o p t i m i s t i c tear is one of the posterior one. They surgery is about Bo- most frequent in- make the junction be- n e c e s s a r y man’s return jury in the world of tween the femur and the after the de- . “It will the sport, because tibia, and make impos- tection of the take time but of the demands sible the forward move- injury, in or- she has the still bigger that the ment, as much as a big der to recon- strong men- competitions ask, rotation of the knee. So struct the lig- tality nec- involving a lot of when the ACL is torn, ament, which essary, she twisting that the the tibia can slide on is removed will work knee needs to bear. the femur, leading the and replaced hard to be Photos courtesy of www.aclsolutions.com It often happens in basketball, soc- knee to give away. by another one. back where she cer or football because the shoes are jury is not as heavy as an ACL tear. “I The recovery of such an injury has The rehabilitation after this surgery was.” Boman hopes to be back where made to avoid sliding. So as the stud- knew what happened and that it was become much easier as the technol- takes a lot of time and that is why the she was by June.