December 12, 2008 - Vol. 37. Issue 6

Clubs help with holiday gift-giving
By Crystal Crays
Business Editor

Christmas is a time of joy for most people. However, for others who do not have as much to give, it can be a time of hardship and stress.

To help relieve some of that stress, some of Humboldt High School’s organizations and clubs have decided to sponsor children in the Adopt-a-Child program. Among these clubs are the publications department, LEO’s Club, FCCLA and FFA. Each member of the clubs donated two dollars to go toward purchasing the presents for the children.


Photo By Bailey Myers
Senior Crystal Crays picks out a child from the tree for the publications department.
The child was a 5-year-old boy who wanted movies,toys and clothes.

The publications department has three areas that helped with the Adopt-a-Child program.
The newspaper members chose the child: a five-year-old boy. The yearbook members picked out the presents, and the photography members then wrapped them.

Juniors Kassidy Young and Baylie Morris went shopping on Dec. 6 to buy the presents for the child.

“ It was nice to participate in getting gifts for a child that will not receive as many for Christmas,” Morris said.

The LEO’s Club is also adopting a child in the program.They chose a nine-year-old girl. Senior Bailey Myers went shopping for the child on Dec. 6.


Photo By Bailey Myers
Senior Shelley Herder searches for the Adopt-a-Child program.
She is a member of FFA, LEO's and publications

FFA is adopting two children, a girl and a boy, and Matt Kerr will be going shopping for the children’s presents.

“ The chapter enjoys giving back to the community,” Matt Kerr, club sponsor, said.


Photo By Kim Isbell
Sophomore Kasey Mitchell and senior Erica Webb wap a present for the
Adopt-a-Child program during their photography class on Dec. 11

FCCLA is also planning on participating and adopting a child for Christmas. However, they are not positive on the details of how many children they are adopting or when they are going shopping.

Anyone wanting to be involved in the Adopt-a-Child program can sign up at Emprise Bank.

 

Prom planning begins for juniors
By Bret Hauser
Reporter

The juniors who sold all their magazines or paid their dues had a meeting on Dec. 2. At the meeting they discussed their prom ideas, and they settled on two themes. The first theme is a Hollywood theme titled “Tinsel Town”.

“ I think our first theme is awesome, and I’m looking forward to prom a lot,” Danner Naff, jr., said.

The class also has a backup theme called “Tonight’s Tonight” due to a possible low budget.

“ I am very excited about our first theme,” Glendolyn Neely, class president, said. “I think our second pick will be just as good as the first, though.”


Photo by Kim Isbell
Juniors Nick Miller and Danner Naff look at a prom magazine at the junior meeting
on Dec. 2. The class has decided the theme but is still collecting money to pay for it.

The class has around $3200, and $1000 of that will go to the DJ. Juniors or seniors who did not sell magazines or pay their dues had until Dec. 5 to pay, or they will not be able to attend Prom 2009.

“ Even though we do not have as much money as the previous years, I still think the prom will turn out good,” Neely said.

The week before prom the juniors who sold their magazines and paid their dues will be able to get out of school to set up decorations.

“ There is a group of us who are very dedicated and care a lot about what the prom is going to look like, not only for us but also for the seniors,” Neely said.

Students of the Issue
Todd Hauser, sr.
By Crystal Crays
Business Editor

Todd Hauser is a senior at Humboldt High School. He has lived in Humboldt all his life and gone to Humboldt schools since pre-school.

Hauser is the president of National Honor Society. He has also been involved in FFA for four years, Scholar’s Bowl for four years, LEO’s for four years, and FCCLA and Youth Friends for two years.

Outside of school, Hauser works a part-time job at Pizza Hut and has been working there since the summer of his junior year. He has also been raising cattle since he was seven and raises beef cattle and bucket calves to help earn money for college.

“ I have learned a lot about cattle and managing my money efficiently,” Hauser said.

For as long as he can remember, Hauser’s hobbies have been working on the farm, hanging out with friends, and going to the movies.

Hauser’s favorite types of movies are horror, comedy and action. His favorite kinds of music are rap and rock.

In the future, Hauser plans on attending a four-year university; he is undecided at the moment about which one. He plans to major in biochemistry in a pre-med field and become an anesthesiologist.

“ I’m interested in a health related field and helping people,” Hauser said. “Plus they make good money.”

Kassidy Young, jr.
By Valerie Weilert
Opinion Editor

Kassidy Young is a junior at Humboldt High School and is involved in many school activities. Among them are FCCLA, Youth Friends, photography and co-editor of the yearbook.

“ I like participating in activities and clubs because I feel like I can make a difference,” Young said. “I feel like I’m helping students remember their high school lives.”

As well as participating in school activities, Young enjoys cruising with her friends, taking pictures with her camera, going to Oklahoma Sooners football games with her dad, and working at a daycare. At the daycare, Young helps children learn manners and how to use them in everyday life.

“ I like to be around little kids,” Young said. “They make my day go a little bit better.”

Young also enjoys watching movies. Her favorites include Save the Last Dance, Remember the Titans, and Ladder 49.

When asked who her role models were, Young said that she looks up to her family members more than anything.

“ We have been through things recently that make us want to give up, but we always manage to make it through,” Young said.

Young plans to further her education by attending a junior college and then transferring to an unspecified four-year college. She intends to pursue a career in speech therapy.

Nurse hired, new program adopted
By Alexis Hosack
Feature Editor

During the Board of Education meeting Monday night, motions were made to hire a school nurse within the district and to adopt the Allen County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Megan Anderson will fill the position of school nurse beginning in the second semester. Her salary will be covered by a grant from the Reach Foundation.

Also discussed was the adoption of the Allen County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Program. Adopting this program will allow the district to have access to federal money in the case of a natural disaster, and there will be no up-front cost. The adoption was approved 7-0.

Don Hauser gave the ANW Co-op report.

Dan Weilert, Curt Mueller, Don Hauser, and Chris Bauer gave reports on the KASB Convention they attended Dec. 5-6 in Wichita.
Kay Bolt, elementary school principal, talked about the success of the kindergarten through third grade’s Christmas program held last week. Greenbush had been to the elementary school earlier in the evening to evaluate progress on the Charter School’s technology and student’s learning.

In the superintendent’s report, Bob Heigele explained that the State Budget is in crisis with a deficit of approximately $141 million for this school year. More information regarding budget cuts within the district should be available after the next meeting.

The Board will hold their next meeting on Jan. 9.

Band, choir see flurry of events
By Bret Hauser
Reporter

Band and choir members have had a busy month taking part in concerts, banquets, and district events.

The choir had its annual winter concert on Dec. 4. They started off the concert with the middle school choir preceding high school.

The first song the high school choir performed was It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. It was followed by Christmas Spectacular, Snow Begins to Fall, Where are you Christmas, Always Believe and Give the Gifts of Christmas.


Photo by Kassidy Young
Crystal Crays, sr., Chelsea Maxson, so., Megan Dewey, so., Lauren Habiger, so., and Amber
Tull, so., sing during their choir concert on Dec. 4 in the high school auditorium, directed by Terry Meadows.

“ I thought the concert went well,” Amber Tull, so., said. “I had a lot of fun with it, but I was very nervous.”

In addition to the concert, Megan Dewey, so., traveled to Altamont for District Choir on Dec. 6. While at this event Dewey performed with people from other schools after having only one day to practice together.

“ It was harder than I thought, and it was awesome,” Dewey said.

On Dec. 8 the band performed at their winter concert. They played Jazzy Merry Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Cartoon Christmas and Santa Rocks the House.

“ Everybody had seen better days individually, but as a whole, we blended nicely and put on a pretty decent show,” Riley Herder, so., said.

The band had their annual banquet on Nov. 20. All band members and their families were invited to attend.

Setter recognized for creative logo
By Tyler Gean, jr.
Reporter

Senior David Setter volunteered to have the opportunity to create a logo for the United Associations Conference. He created the logo around a month and a half ago in computer graphics class.

It will be used for the registration materials that are put on the United Associations Conference website in the first part of January. It will also be on the schedules, registration packets, and a letterhead used for the conference. Setter received a $20 Johnson’s gift card for creating the logo.


Photos By Tim Osborn
Senior David Setter is presented with a $20 gift card to Johnson’s General
Store for creating a logo for the United Associations Conference.

“ This gave me an opportunity to apply the skills I have learned in computer graphics,” Setter said.

The United Associations Conference is for FACS teachers, Extension agents, professionals that are in FACS related fields, and college students that are FACS majors. The conference will be held March 5 and 6 in Wichita at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center.


Click for larger view.

“ I feel the logo turned out good,” Setter said. “I would have liked to have more detail in it, however.”

Club Briefs

FFA

FFA is selling poinsettias for $5 per pot. The sale started on Dec. 4 and will continue through Dec. 18.


Click for larger view.

Jackson Smith, so., is pictured positioning the poinsettias.
Anyone interested can buy the poinsettias during the school day in the FFA greenhouse.

LEOs club organizes basketball fundraiser
By Bailey Myers
Editor-in-chief

In order to raise money this year, the LEO’s club has decided to start a new fundraiser.

The fundraiser involves selling raffle tickets at basketball games. Whoever is chosen for the raffle wins the chance to shoot either a free throw or a three-point shot.

If the person makes the shot, then he or she win a prize. Prices of tickets and prizes differ for each shot and range from movie passes to cash.

The LEO’s club will also be helping Erin Kepley with her Food and Fitness Expo on Jan. 20 for elementary school students and their parents.

LEO’s members will be helping set up and take down stands and tables. They will also help run sign-in and game stations.

“ We accomplished a lot at the meeting,” Chris Coronado, jr., said. “We are looking forward to all of the upcoming events.”

NHS raises money for pins, medallions, possible trip
By Valerie Weilert
Opinion Editor

National Honor Society will be active doing fund raising during the basketball season.

They will be selling suckers and holding a cake raffle all throughout the season at every high school home game.

“ I thought the cake raffle at the first home game went very smoothly,” Shelley Herder, sr., said. “It is a pretty easy fundraiser, and we get a decent amount of money from it.”

NHS will also be selling candles as a fundraiser. They will use the money made to buy pins and medallions, which all members will receive the honors banquet in the spring.

If enough money is generated, members may also schedule a trip for the end of the year.

“ Hopefully our fundraisers are successful this year,” Robert Myers, NHS sponsor, said. “I think all of the NHS members will do their best and work hard.”

Outside these walls
Information by Randi Barnett
News Editor

Local
 Elementary concert successful

The elementary school put on a concert on Dec. 2 in the Fieldhouse.

“ The students truly gave an outstanding performance. Each group gave 105% to get to this level,” Orville Walker, elementary music teacher, said.

The theme for the concert was “Jingle all the way.” The students began preparing in October
.
“ Preparation for the Christmas concert began the first week of October in all classes. The third grade held tryouts for speaking parts the first week, and then began learning choreography, the music, and clocking the scenes,” Walker said. “The concert was truly an exciting experience for all involved.”

State/National
Most Inspiring Person: Greensburg Superintendent

After the tragic May 2007 tornado hit Greensburg, KS and wiped out most of the town, the school superintendent Darin Headrick kept a positive attitude, saying the school would be reopened within three months. He has now been recognized for his efforts by being named the Most Inspiring Person.

Headrick has been present through the reconstruction of the school and has done everything in his power to keep his staff positively motivated.

Friends of Headrick say that he has done wonderful things for Greensburg, but he does not do it for the recognition. They were not at all surprised when he was nominated for the Most Inspiring Person Award.

World
 Protesting in Athens turns violent

A 16-year-old boy was shot by a police officer on Dec. 6 after he attempted to throw a fuel-filled bomb at police officers. The incident began when a group of young protestors started throwing stones at a police car.

Athens citizens were still protesting the next day. Some protestors barricaded themselves behind a university fence. Other protestors set the bottom floor of a car dealership on fire, leading to the evacuation of an apartment building in central Athens. Tourists staying in hotels were advised to stay in their rooms.

The police officer that shot the young boy was suspended and is being charged with “manslaughter with intent.”

Activity Calendar


Click on image to download calendar as a PDF file.

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