december 19, 2008 [email protected] LSHS alhallaVolume 81, Issue 4 Australian invasion Exchangev students from Down Under heading for Lake Stevens There are 27 Australians due to en on a tour of Seattle, including photo art by Amelia Dickson Nate Shipe arrive in Lake Stevens on Jan. 9 for an Pike Place Market and the Se- News Editor 11-day stay with Lake Stevens hosts, attle Underground. They’ll also after spending the previous week in see the EMP (Experience Mu- “I wish I could do it again!” such exciting locales as Los Angeles, sic Project) on a different Senior Heidi Smith, who hosted Disneyland, and even a day in Ti- day. The exchange three Australians at one time two juana, according to band director and students will years ago, said her only regret was Aussie exchange program coordina- also visit the not being able to host any more. “It tor Mr. Neil Proff. “We usually have was amazing!” she said. Her favorite about 45, but we’re really short part of hosting exchange students? on hosts this year,” he said. “Their accents,” she said with a laugh. While about 50 Aus- “Everyone loves Australian accents.” tralians are coming More seriously, Smith said, “Their to Washington culture really comes to you. It’s amaz- this year, the rest ing!” are being hosted “I had three lovely girls,” she said. in Auburn due to our “I really loved having them.” lack of willing par- Junior Clara Kurtenbach, ticipants. who is hosting an Aussie this The whole For Smith particularly, though, year, had to agree. “[I’m] re- program is run Cascades and the Supermall, as well it paid off. “I did spend a month in ally excited. I like ex- through an organi- as going to a special basketball game, Australia, the summer after I hosted change students,” zation called Educa- where the pep band will play the Aus- them,” she said. She spent about a she said. “They tional World Travel. tralian national anthem as well as our week with each of the three students bring a lot of Proff has been run- own. she hosted. new ideas, ning the exchange Kurtenbach plans to go even be- “I really want this to become a big they re- program for five years, yond that. “We usually take [Aussies] event,” Proff said. “I hope we can get ally open since before he came to a Silvertips game, and maybe out to up to hosting 90 or more. In a school up the to Lake Stevens. His Whidbey Island,” she said. “We need of 1600, that’s not that many. People world to predecessor at a pre- to show them the sights of Seattle.” need to sign up!” you.” vious school started It isn’t all fun and games, howev- Smith and Kurtenbach both sup- it, and Proff just kept er. On days when the Aussies are due port that idea. “It’s really fun,” said it going from there. “I to stay with their hosts, the pairs go Kurtenbach. brought the tradition with everywhere together. So when Aussie time rolls around me,” he said. The Aussies “We need to show them our cul- next year, be sure to sign up and come from a different re- ture just as much as they show us host. You might end up with a trip gion every year. theirs. It’s a really big time invest- to Australia yourself. As Smith puts “Their itinerary is ment,” Smith said. “I had Jazz Band, it, “JUST DO IT!” packed,” Proff said. The they came to Jazz Band. I had swim Aussies will be tak- practice, they came to swim practice.” In this Issue: Solon The Crowd Scott: “history” adores the man of a well- play you loved pg. 14 wanna game meet Ms. Kotlarov: Hockey, pg. 12 pg. 9 math and more pg. 11 volume 81, issue 4 page 1 news LSHS december 19, 2008 valhalla Sometimes pain’s a good thing Shots every teen should get this winter Blaine Bowman not required for those eighteen and older, but that then you definitely should now, and if you got the doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make sure you’ve got- old version of the vaccine (MPSV4) three years or S t a f f R e p o r t e r ten it. more ago, then you should get the updated version The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot (MCV4). Nobody likes getting shots. Ever since child- is also required for all students, and if you haven’t Mrs. Sheryl Aubol, chemistry teacher and moth- hood, there’s probably nothing worse than that ter- received it previously, you should get two shots over er of two teenage children, recently had to face these rifying doctor, coming towards your defenseless arm a period of four or more weeks. decisions herself. “I am definitely for vaccinating my with a needle full of pain. But, that doesn’t mean The varicella, or chicken pox vaccine, is also children. I leave it up to my doctor to make sure that you should let a little sting get in the way of recommended. Anyone who has had the disease is that they are on schedule, when they go in for check- staying healthy. immune, but since chicken pox becomes more deadly ups.” Her daughter, who is now in college, is in the It’s incredibly important that teens keep up to the older the victim is, the risks should be carefully middle of the series of HPV vaccines, and her son, date with their immunizations. Not only do immuni- weighed. a tenth grader, recently received his meningococcal zations keep you healthy, but they are important for Besides these five vaccines, there are also sev- update. the people around you: you don’t become a carrier eral shots that aren’t required, but that doesn’t mean Mrs. Shannon Porter, the school nurse, said that, of the disease. Especially in school situations, where you shouldn’t get them. “What [vaccines] everybody needs to get sometimes everyone is jammed in together breathing the same Number one on everybody’s list is the influenza isn’t needed for you at that time, and other times air for hours on end, vaccinations are one of the most (flu) vaccine, which is recommended for all people there are some things that may be more important important steps you can take to stay healthy this this year, not just those who are already compro- for you…Those are things for you to discuss with winter. mised by age or illness. Healthy people can be car- your doctor and with your parents, to figure out And, of course, students’ immunizations are re- riers for the virus, so it’s important that everybody where you fit in, and if you want to take that risk.” quired to stay up to date for the student to remain in develops some immunity to keep the whole commu- Local Flu Vaccine Locations school. 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If you didn’t get it before, Infection protection How to stay flu-free during this year’s season Andrew McCrea The CDC website tells people sen to assist each other in forecasting ter. So to keep yourself clear of the what exactly is in the annual flu vac- what strains of the disease will flour- flu, wash your hands as often as situ- S t a f f R e p o r t e r cine. “Each year, the seasonal influenza ish in the upcoming months. These ations will allow. Nutrition allows a vaccine contains three influenza virus gatherings takes places in the late person’s immune system to stay at full Influenza, more commonly known strains – one influenza A (H3N2) virus, summer or early fall. strength. Vitamins C and D are vital as the flu, is one of the most conta- one influenza A (H1N1) virus, and one “There are many ways to not con- for a healthy immune system to oper- gious viruses to thrive in the Ameri- influenza B virus.