THE
Jef fer son High School
May 2016
BEACON
Seniors soar to
new heights
Volume 4, Issue 4
In this issue:
• Oh
the places they’ll go...check out the
Class of 2016’s plans after high school.
• Tips to avoid being that creepy alumni.
• JHS girls track team wins their first ever
Conference Championship.
JHS puts on its very first play
Kassen & Tautphaeus
earn top Scouting honors
as Eagle Scouts
Senior Colton Kassen is awarded his Eagle Scout honor
from his grandfather, Ray Kassen, at a ceremony held at
Jefferson High School on March 6.
by Lindsay Recar
Staff Writer
When thinking of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the image that
comes to mind is usually of a child selling cookies or learning to tie knots. However, some have chosen to go above
and beyond, sticking with the program throughout their adolescence. This can be said for Seniors Colton Kassen and
Michael Tautphaeus, who recently achieved the highest and
most prestigious rank in Boy Scouts: Eagle Scout.
Both Kassen and Tautphaeus have been a part of
Troop 405 since first grade. Kassen first joined “because
of friends,” mentioning several students who have gone to
Jefferson R-VII, including Michael Tautphaus, Hunter Darnell, and Jacob Schweiss. Despite staying a Scout for such a
long time, Kassen never considered quitting at any point. “It
looks good on my job resume,” said Kassen, “and it was fun
to do.” In fact, in a recent job interview, Kassen said it was
the first thing the interviewer asked him about. Kassen said
he received a lot of encouragement from his grandparents.
His grandfather earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1954 and was
proud to participate in Kassen’s ceremony. His cousins and
brother are also active in Boy Scouts. Tautphaeus had similar
motivations and said his dad encouraged him to continue.
Both Kassen and Tautphaeus say their best memories
come from many camping trips with their friends. “My favorite trip was going to New Mexico for a two-week hike,” said
Kassen. Tautphaeus also fondly remembers the 70-mile hike
through the mountains their freshman year.
Kassen has done plenty of community work as well.
During R-VII’s many Veterans’ Day assemblies, Kassen participated in the Color Guard, setting up the national and state
flags, as well as leading the other Scouts.
To achieve the rank of Eagle Scouts, members must
earn over 20 Eagle-required merit badges and submit a proposal for their final project. After the proposal is approved,
Scouts must fund and complete a project that will benefit
their community. The work and time must be meticulously
logged and documented. This entire process begins in 5th
grade and must be completed before the age of 18. Kassen’s
project involved making the picnic tables that sit just outside
of the high school cafeteria. Because of the unusual shape,
they posed more of a challenge to build than a standard picnic table. Kassen felt there was a need for the benches. “Last
year, kids would eat outside and sit on the concrete.”
Tautphaeus chose to fix up the playground at the Conservation Club. He spent over 40 hours repainting the fence,
scraping rust, weeding and repairing the swingset.
Once reaching Eagle Scout, Scouts still have the opportunity to participate. “I’ll still help out in places when I
can,” said Kassen, “but I won’t be as involved as I used to
be.”
Putting on your first play with a small cast, limited budget and no theater can be a daunting task, but the
Page to Stage Players successfully did just that. The performance consisted of three short vignettes centered around the theme of technology and featured minimal costuming and sets. Instead, it relied on strong
acting. The Friday night performance sold out and received outstanding reviews from students, staff and
community members. The Page to Stage Players are under the direction of Ms. Cassie Peterein and Ms.
Tessa Peterein. See complete story on page 3.
Emptying our pockets, filling our closets
and warming our hearts
by Jordan Shockley and Ellie Steller
Staff Writers
A hidden expense in the pockets of many high school students (and
parents) is the school t-shirts they purchase for clubs, events, activities
and sports. Ranging from football camp to National Honor Society,
JHS gear fills up the closets of over 50 percent of students. The t-shirts
students buy express who they are and what they love. The average
jock’s closet will be overflowing with team gear they have bought over
the years. Those students that bleed blue and white tend to have Homecoming, Student Council, pink week, and class shirts cluttering their
rooms.
When surveyed, 60 percent of JHS students said that they buy
three or more shirts a year, while only 9 percent do not buy any. Averaging $15 a shirt, these expenses add up as quickly as students’ closets
fill up.
Junior Morgan Govro says she probably has 15-20 shirts from
high school. “I order them all the time. I like to have t-shirts because I
can wear them anytime.”
What to do with all these shirts after graduations? There is a
creative solution to give them a different practical use. Mrs. Theresa
Williams, high school lunch lady, has been taking old school t-shirts and
repurposing them into quilts. Williams was first introduced to the idea
when her daughter’s college roommate showed her a t-shirt quilt she
had previously made. The roommate explained to Williams how simple
it was, so Williams decided to attempt the project. “I’m kind of crafty,”
said Williams. The first quilt she made was of all of her daughter’s extracurricular shirts. The quilt was so big it fit a king size bed!
Altogether, Williams has made four t-shirt quilts. In order to
make a nice-sized quilt, Williams needs a substantial collection of shirts.
“A good body size is twenty-five to thirty shirts,” said Williams. She
charges $125 for each standard size quilt. In all her free time, each quilt
takes Williams anywhere from ten days to two weeks.
According to Williams, kids hold on to their shirts because it
is a cool way to reminisce. “The shirts bring back fond memories and
experiences,” said Williams. Rather than letting school t-shirts collect
dust in closets or drawers, they can be repurposed into a practical quilts
that allows one to reminisce high school while staying warm.
Pictured above is a quilt Mrs. Williams made for her daughter. It is
made exclusively from Student Council shirts. Below is a collection of the many shirts that a JHS student might have accumulated
throughout their high school years.
2
[email protected]
News
Meet the candidates
A closer look at who’s in the running to be the next POTUS
Complied by Campbelll Ebersoldt
Co-News Editor
The 2016 Presidential election features a variety of views and opinions, ranging from building a wall along the Mexican border to free
tuition for anyone attending public universities and colleges. Before
the final tally comes in for each party’s presidential nomination,
here is your chance to see all of the candidates who are in the running and where they stand in the delegate count (as of 5/1/16).
The Democratic nominee will need to win 2,383 delegates for nomination, and the Republican nominee will need to win 1,237 delegates for nomination.
Democratic Candidates
Former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
Climate Change: “Climate change is a huge
problem.” Clinton supports and plans to
further on the actions President Obama has
implemented to combat climate change.
ISIS: Clinton says that she “would arm Syrian rebels and would
Republican Candidates
Senator Ted Cruz
Climate Change: “There has not been a
meaningful warning in weather patterns for
years.”
ISIS: “President Obama has a photo-op policy-
drop a bomb here, a missile there. The US
needs a president who will do what’s needed to keep the country
safe.”
Fun Fact: Cruz enjoys playing games on his iPhone.
Current Delegate Count: 562
Governor John Kasich
Climate Change: “I think it’s real, it’s here, but
let’s not overreact with coal regulations.”
Immigration: “Shipping illegal immigrants
back to Mexico is a ‘silly idea.’”
never have sent ground troops to the Middle East.”
Fun Fact: Kasich is friends with Bono.
Fun Fact: Clinton used to have a job sliming fish in Alaska.
Current Delegate Count: 153
Current Delegate Count: 2,156
Senator Bernie Sanders
Donald Trump
Health Care: Senator Sanders thinks that
Immigration: Would build a wall along the
Obamacare does not go far enough.
American-Mexican border and ban Muslims
from entering the US.
Education: Sanders wants to implement a
plan for free tuition at public colleges and
universities.
Trade: “The Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership
Fun Fact: Last year, Sanders’ brother Larry ran for a seat in the
United Kingdom’s parliament.
Fun Fact: Trump has been the star of The Celebrity Apprentice for
8 years and made a cameo in Home Alone 2.
Current Delegate Count: 1,357
Current Delegate Count: 992
‘stinks’ and China is ‘killing us in trade.’”
May 2016
Don’t forget to
add community
service to your
resume
by Dean Carter
Staff Writer
Volunteering is a system of service that many
perceive as something only nice people do when
it is, in fact, a critical service that has an enormous
impact on the health and well-being of communities worldwide. But many students may not be
aware of the enormous advantage community
service gives them over their peers when trying to
get into college and get scholarships. Community
service can add to one’s resume, filling in any of
the blank spots one might have, making a student
more appealing to employers and colleges.
Mrs. Debra Runzi, guidance counselor,
added, “Volunteering and community service
are as important as taking rigorous courses and
participating in school activities while in high
school.” Colleges don’t just look at the courses
students are involved in, but also how involved
they are in their community,” said Runzi. “Service
is what scholarship committees look for and what
some colleges and universities consider when
making admission decisions.”
Volunteering has other great benefits. With
each volunteer activity or program comes training
and gaining new skills. These skills may seem basic or trivial at the time of training, but may provide building blocks for future success. Students
can even earn credits through volunteer work.
Many volunteer opportunities and organizations
can translate to high school or college credits.
Lastly, it shows responsibility. Just like going to
a job, committing to a volunteer position shows
responsibility and makes you seem more reliable.
There are many different ways to get involved in the community. Runzi suggested reverting back to different programs students participated in as children, such as Scouts, Little League,
or YMCA programs. “You could also ask your
high school coaches if your teams can take on a
group volunteer project to do over the summer,”
said Runzi. Mercy Jefferson is also offering a Junior Mentor volunteer program.
For inquiries about volunteering opportunities, see Mrs. Runzi in the counseling center.
Go Blue Jays!
And Cheer Bows!
The Beacon
1
May 2016
News
Play receives rave reviews
5
2
3
3
4
1. Junior Justin
Huffman’s character,
Micah, is surrounded
by manipulative social
media who tries to lure
him away from the
task of completing his
English paper over The
Great Gatsby.
2. The Jefferson Page
to Stage Players pose
for a picture during
rehearsal.
3. Sophomore Ana
Green
4. Sophomores Haylee
Gross, Ana Green, and
Samantha Anderson
5. Sophomore Evan
Dierker angrily
expresses the stress
that school creates for
him, accusing teachers
of conspiring to make
him miserable.
Pictures courtesy of
Ms. Cassie Peterein
by Ellie Steller
Co-editor-in-chief
On March 18 and 19 Jefferson High School’s Page to Stage players
put on their first drama performance at Good News Community Church. With minimal scenes, costumes, and props, each play
relied heavily on dialogue and the acting of the cast. The Page
to Stage Players performed not one, but three separate vignettes
both nights.
The first play, “ths phne 2.0: the next generation,” was
a vignette written by Lindsay Price. It consisted of a collection
of brief scenes that centered around the theme of technology
and communication and contained a combination of monologues
and dramatic moments. Four of the seven actors in this play had
monologues that dealt with specific things they disliked about
technology: over-the-top phones that can do too many things,
texts that completely throw out the English language, emails that
do not follow proper etiquette, and tones that are hard to read
through technological communication. The stereotypical behaviors and thoughts portrayed in this play are how I imagine other
generations see Generations Y and Z.
Following the dramatic and technologically-equipped
next generation was “Stressed: A Teen Symphony” by Alan
Haehnel. Four Page to Stage Players portrayed four very different
characters with one thing in common: stress. As each character
delved into the causation of their relateable stress, things escalated quickly. In the midst of their outbursts, it was challenging to
remain calm. I found myself becoming flustered and stressed as
their dialogue and stresses heightened. The subname of this play
was really rather fitting. Like a symphony, it began at an andante
tempo, intensely crescendoed into its climax, and followed with
a ritardando that signified the piece had come full circle—only
Spotlight Musician
Senior Wyatt Self
What is your best musical
experience?
“Going to MMEA my Junior year and
earning All-District choir three years
in a row.”
What is your worst musical
experience?
“Preparing to audition for All-State
choir.”
with characters, dialogue, and plot rather than notes, rhythms, and
tones. As everything built up, it did so in a quite unifying manner.
While the actors had their individual monologues, their group dynamic was magnificent with speeches that sprung off and overlapped one another.
The third and final play of the evening was “The Internet is a Distract...OH LOOK A KITTEN!” by Ian McWethy.
For me, this was the most entertaining play of the evening. While
the main character, Micah, played by Junior Justin Huffman, is
trying to finish up a paper on The Great Gatsby, he gets sucked into
the black hole that is technology. In this play, the Page to Stage
Players personified media in a way that was terrifyingly brilliant
and made for an interesting new perspective. It was easy to relate
to the distracted main character. When trying to accomplish tasks
and get work done, being distracted by the Internet is effortless. It
is a domino effect, meaning one thing leads to another. Suddenly,
you realized that you have veered so far off course that it takes a
lot of self-control and effort to get back where you started.
While all actors were outstanding, the evening’s star
was undoubtedly Sophomore Evan Dierker. His dramatic facial
expressions and exuberant acting sold his performances. Energy
oozed from every inch of his body, rendering the audience spellbound. From ranting about the tons of emails to the stresses of
school to a creepy personification of Google, Dierker singlehandedly stole the show.
Although, for most of the Page to Stage Players, it was
their first time performing, they did an amazing job. Every single
spectator was laughing and enjoying themselves. The plays were
really entertaining, but they also allowed everyone to reflect on
how technology has changed, and continues to change, as well as
how technology influences our lives.
What did you think of the play?
“It was very good, I was surprised with how good it was.
They knew their lines well.”
–Freshman Steven Needy
“They picked really good characters for ‘Stressed,’ Evan was
perfect.”
–Sophomore Jill Akins
“Evan Dierker is the G.O.A.T.”
–Sophomore Tennesse
Ervin
Senior Wyatt Self impresses with an
outstanding musical career
by Marissa Nahlik
Staff Writer
Senior Wyatt Self is an accomplished musician and artist here at
Jefferson High School. He has expressed his commitment to the
arts and music by getting involved in art, choir, band, and Tri-M
music honor society.
Self began playing the alto saxophone when he was in fifth
grade and worked his way up to the baritone sax beginning his
junior year of high school. He said, “There was an opening when
graduate Sahd Malik left. I like the sound of the bari-sax much
more, and I think it’s cool.” He had one of his most memorable
experiences his junior year when he went to MMEA with all of the
band members.
Self ’s mom prompted his choir career, which begain his
sophomore year. One day he was singing in the car, and his mother was listening to him and said he had a nice voice and should
join choir. “It’s what I have the most fun in and perform the best
in,” said Self. He is a bass singer in concert choir and in all-district
choir he sings tenor. “Preparing to audition for all-state choir is the
hardest thing to do in choir,” said Self. Even though singing can
sometimes be difficult, it seems to fill him with joy.
Wyatt also enjoys art. He took Art I his sophomore year,
skipped his Junior year but was back in Art II his senior year. Art
has been more prominent in his high school career because it was
a way he could express his creativity. While taking art a student can
do different things like painting, drawing, or watercolor painting, which is Wyatt’s favorite. “Usually when I am drawing, I’m
nitpicky, but when I use watercolor, I don’t have as much control
over it because I have to work with the water, which makes it
challenging.” Other accomplishments in art include his mask that
won 1st place in the Eco Art contest. The mask had to relate to
nature in some way. “Mine was my interpretation of a woodland
nymph,” said Self. “The hair was long and luscious that was made
of flowers and her face was painted smooth like treebark.”
Being an artist in both music and art has helped him express
his creativity and showed him that he wants to pursue a career in
music. There was a certain moment that he realized he wanted to
follow his passion in music: making it to all-districts his first year of
choir.
In the fall, he plans on getting an Associates of Art at
Jefferson College with an emphasis in music. During college he will
sing in the concert choir and community choir. Once he gets his
associates, he will transfer to Webster to maintain his Bachelor’s in
Audio Production.
“Knowing I have made it this far and made this huge accomplishment makes me feel fulfilled.”
On Monday, April 25 at the band and choir concert, 24 members were
inducted into JHS’s first ever Tri-M Music chapter. Pictured above from
back to front: (Back Row) Ali Batts, Claire Ackerman, Evan Dierker,
Megan Boulicault, Kristen Reese, Brendan Reese, Tennessee Ervin,
Ridge Bickel, Jackson Henderson, Sarah Handrahan, Megan Sullivan, Frankie Paar, Samantha Cadenhead, and Wyatt Self. (Front Row)
Maddie Brown, Megan Reed, Morgan Shelledy, Kylie Binz, Josey Paar,
Cassidy Broman, Julianne Price, Hannah Declue, Breanna Cheung and
Lauren Beckham.
4
[email protected]
May 2016
Opinions
Squawk Loud, Squawk Proud!
by Blain Prater
News Editor
JHS is a great school whether you like it or not
If you have any form of social media, you have seen some
sort of outlandish diss directed toward our very own Jefferson High School. Anywhere from blasting administration to calling out the various sports teams, they all share a
common theme: JHS is awful, terrible, or unfair.
Now, when facing the reality of this heresy, this
claim is highly inaccurate. We have all been told about how
lucky the students at Jefferson have it with our Chromebooks and amenities available to us. These things are absolutely true. What other school gives free range to student
for their learning? We are literally handed the world’s best
and smartest teacher to ever exist in the form of a shiny
grey box. Chromebooks have all but surpassed pencils and
paper on the school supply power ranking.
Want some fun, stress-free time during the week?
Hello advisory games! How many more spirit weeks can
one school fit in before everyone starts to dress in morph
suits and camouflage every day? The endless amount of
support from the teachers and administration is unparalleled to any other school in the area. Our sports teams receive the best coaching from the top coaches in this area. In summary, JHS is incomparable to other schools.
Some of the complainers out there may feel the need to
transfer, and that can happen, but what happens when another school has the same “problems?” We are set up for
success and nothing less. If you feel otherwise, please feel
free to explore the other options.
Will another school present the same level of
opportunities for you? Probably not. I am not trying to
demean the value of education from other schools, but
no school compares to JHS. Students here are given everything they need in order to reach their full potential. So,
the next time you feel the need to spread nonsense about
how “unfair” or “stupid” something is at school, take a
step back and open your eyes to the privileges here at JHS.
SpeakOut
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Dear Millennials,
Not long ago, it was common to
glide pens across stationery to communicate your thoughts, feelings, and
ideas to others. Whether they were formal , romantic, or platonic, these articles of writing were elegantly composed .
This beautiful medium of communication is known as letter writing. It
was commonplace for people who were
literate to write letters, but whatever
happened to the marvelous art?
For some unknown reason , the
very sight or mention of a letter provokes a cringe of disgust from you. You
may think , “Why write a letter when
I can compose an email , send a text,
or even chat via Skype or FaceTime .”
If at some point you have had this
thought, you have succumbed to technology’s glittery facade . Don’t be fooled .
In contemporary society, technology has
an iron grip on just about everything.
It controls how we learn , communicate , and even function in our day to
day lives. However, rather than resist
its alluring appeal , you have easily
embraced this technology-driven age
where you feel comfortable letting electronics manage your life . But why, because it is easier? Let me be the first to
tell you, the easiest things in life are
not always the best things.
Somehow in this fast-paced ,
technologically advanced world we live
in , letters have acquired a terrible connotation that they undoubtedly do not
Staff Writer
How does JHS compare to
your former school?
“It is a hard question, but I feel deep down inside
that it is better. There is a lot more that I can do
here. A lot more opportunites. The people here
are A1.”
--Sophomore Jace Duncan from Kansas
“There’s better learning quality. The people here
are friendlier. I get a lot more one-on-one attention.
It’s less boring.”
--Freshman Abbey Bates from Sunset
“I think the staff members really care about the
students, and a lot of people helped me the first
day. This school prepares kids not only for college,
but for life. I think that’s really cool.”
- Senior Bruna Mazetto from Brazil
“This school is more academically challenging, but
it is also a lot smaller. People here are a lot nicer
and easier to get along with.”
--Junior Dylan Crump from Hillsboro
Letters have become a thing of the past, replaced with
digital shadows of the once-personal messages
deserve . You have deemed them as inferior methods of communication that
have no purpose . Despite the lies that
technology has unknowingly implanted into your mind , it is crucial you
realize that letters are not the enemy.
They will not render you a laughing
stock , be the causation of your untimely demise , or any other horrible thing
of the sort. In fact, letters are the complete opposite .
First of all , writing letters tends
to be a therapeutic experience . Sitting
down and letting the pen in your hand
scroll across a crisp piece of paper allows stress to ebb away. The action of
writing down words forces you to slow
down and ponder what exactly you
want to tell the recipient of your letter,
which is important in a world of instants and high-speed .
Secondly, writing a letter takes
time and effort. You can’t just write a
letter in thirty seconds; it deserves more
thought and attention . When a person
is willing to put in the time and effort
that it takes to write a letter, it speaks
volumes of their character. Rather than
sending you a message , they go the extra mile to handwrite you a letter. They
didn’t have to write you a letter, but
they wanted to.
In addition , letters are more
thoughtful than technological communication . Conversations through
technology are usually back and forth
as if you are sitting in a room togeth-
Why do Americans
spend so much?
by Elisa Pezza
What ever happened to letters?
by Ellie Steller
It’s not about
that money
er. Those types of conversation are dull
and fade rather quickly. Contrastingly,
conversations through letters require
more thought as they do not receive
immediate responses. You might ask
more thought-provoking questions or
tell them a long story about the past few
months of your life . Either way, there is
more time spent considering what the
letter will contain .
Lastly, writing a letter is much
more personal than a text, email , or
direct message . Anyone can contact you
through technology but not many people will write you a letter. When you
communicate to others through electronics, your personality is lost in the
binary code of ones and zeros. In hand
writing a letter, you are putting a piece
of yourself in the letter as you write .
The letter recipient can see all of your
mistakes and incomplete thoughts,
which gives way to who you are as a
person . No letter is perfect but neither
are people . A letter has much more significance than any communication via
technology.
Call me old-fashioned , but I appreciate a handwritten letter more than
an electronic text that took you all of
ten seconds to type and send . Newer
may be more efficient, but it doesn’t
necessarily mean it is better.
Ad meliora,
The Beacon Staff
Staff Writers:
Dean Carter
Hilah Fish
Sarah Handrahan
Emily Thomas
Macy Hill
Marissa Nahlik
Jordan Shockley
Lindsay Recar
Alyssa Becherer
Casey Hines
Elisa Pezza
Editors:
Blain Prater and Campbell Ebersoldt, news editors
Mackenzie Null, sports editor
Allison Griffard, opinions editor
Holly Welker, features editor
Ellie Steller, co-editor-in-chief
Molly Hill, co-editor-in-chief
Christy Hueter, advisor
Yes, it’s again me. I know, I know what you are thinking.
“Seriously? Another boring article by an Italian about America? I am so done!” I’m sorry to make you sick, but yes it is
me, again, but I’m not going to tell you another story about
American Patriotism. Instead, I’m going to talk about something that everybody is always thinking about: MONEY.
At this point, prom has come and gone, and everybody has already bought their prom dresses or suits. While
I was asking a lot of girls in our school how much they paid
for their prom dresses, they answered, “Oh not a lot, only
$200.” Maybe for American girls 200 bucks is not a lot, but
for me, paying more than 100 bucks for a dress is crazy. You
should know that my starting price for my prom dress was
$50, but unfortunately, I fell in love with a dress that cost
$72 (including taxes and with the 20% off coupon).
But it is not only dresses and suits, you Americans
pay a lot for everything such as grocery shopping. I will never forget the first day I went to my first Walmart. It was 8
o’clock in the evening, and I was confused to find the grocery still open (in Italy the supermarkets close at 7 p.m.). I
went inside, and the first word to explain what I was looking
at was: HUGE. There were like 26 different kind of chips
and sodas, and you could find dresses, ipads, computers,
hunting stuff, or just buy a fish or another kind of animal.
In the supermarkets of my country, you can only buy food
and NOTHING else. Don’t get me wrong, the problem was
not about how many choices you can spend your money on,
but the price you pay. When I arrived at the cashier with my
host family, our grocery total was more than $300. OH MY
GOSH. Wait a second. How many things did we buy to pay
so much? Usually my grocery shopping is like $30-40, which
I consider to be A LOT! I promised myself that the next
time we would go to the grocery store I would try to buy less
food.
Another thing that America has that is super expensive is the cost of colleges. They cost like $20,000 to
$30,000 per year, and that is only for the in-state colleges.
The average tuition fee for a higher education in Italy is between $1,000 to $1,300 per year, depending on the university and course of study.
But not everything is expensive in America. For
example, one thing that I found is very cheap here is the
gas prices. You pay like $1.59 for one gallon (4 liters), but
in Europe we pay $1.86 for ONE LITER (0.25 gallon). I
have even thought of bringing some American gas back
with me to Italy, but I would probably have some problems
with transportation on the plane. Another thing that America has cheaper than my country is the price for a driver’s
license. You guys pay like $4.00 to $6.00 max. We, on the
other hand, pay $1,000, and it is very hard to get one at that.
In Italy you have to take a lot of private lessons, and then
every time you fail the actual test, you have to repay another
$80 on top of the $1,000.
Another thing that drives me crazy it is how much
not environmentally friendly you Americans are. I have seen
people use 30 bags at the grocery for their acquisitions, but
it is not only that. I am okay if you like to spend a lot of
money, but please do not throw away the food, especially
in the same bin of plastic and paper. That really makes me
cry. Next time America, please try to do not throw away
everything, and ask at me if I want your apple during lunch
instead to throw it in the trash. I LOVE FOOD, so you will
make me really happy.
Returning to talk about prom, girls spend more
than $800 for hairstylist, manicure, dress, pictures and limousine. I’m going to tell you since I will only participate in
one prom in my entire life, I let myself spend something
more than 50 bucks for “girls stuff.”
The award-winning Beacon is produced 4
times per school year by the newspaper class
of Jefferson High School, #7 Blue Jay Way,
Festus, MO 63028. The Beacon strives to
inform and entertain students, staff, and
community members while upholding professional standards of accuracy and fairness.
Unsigned editorials represent the majority
opinion of the staff, not necessarily the
school or district. Signed editorials represent
the writer’s opinion.
The Beacon welcomes and encourages
letters to the editors. Signed letters of 250
words or fewer should be emailed to [email protected]. The Beacon reserves
the right to edit as long as the intent remains
unchanged.
The Beacon
May 2016
Opinions
2, 4, 6, 8, who do
you appreciate?
Seriously, don’t be the creepy dude
Alumni do’s and don’ts
by Alyssa Becherer
Your parents!
Staff Writer
by Hilah Fish
Staff Writer
We all know of the countless times where you have had a disagreement with your parents or have been forced by them to do
something that you did not want to do. Whether it was about
getting a cell phone, brushing your teeth, or just saying thank
you, we always found a reason to disagree and bicker. After finally outgrowing the tears, tantrums, and timeouts, we have learned
to appreciate and understand why parents do the things they do.
1. Teaching Consequences
One of the most crucial times of childhood is being punished
for your actions. Even though the yelling, timeouts, and washing
your mouth out with soap seemed like the end of the world, they
were a very important part of growing up. The use of disciplinary
actions helped us develop self control and taught us the difference between what is right and wrong. Discipline also taught
us the importance of responsibility, honesty, sharing, and rules.
2. Using Good Manners
“Cover your mouth!” “Take your elbows off the table!”
“Make sure you say thank you!” These are just some of
the few things that we are constantly told to do by our parents. Using good manners can have an effect on how others see you as a person. Having good manners meets social
expectations and shows a sense of respect for others. By
using good manners it helps others see that they are valued and that you have enough courtesy to express them.
3. Trying New Things
Going out on a limb to try something new takes confidence.
Showing yourself that you have what it takes will only make
you feel better about yourself. By forcing you to try new things,
your parents helped you build confidence in yourself, come out
of your comfort zone, and discover your own likes and dislikes.
4. Taking Pictures
How many times have you gone to a friend or family member’s home and picked up a photo album? Were you able to
go through that album without smiling at least once? Probably not. Everyone has turned through the pages of that photo album and re-lived some of the memories you saw in the
pictures. I’m sure you said things like, “I remember this!” or
“We had so much fun here!”. Looking back, it didn’t matter that we were being forced to take the picture, because
now we appreciate that we have them to look back on.
Parents devote the best and most productive years of their life
to raise their children. They try to lead you down the right path
and put up with you and your attitude, sassiness, and brattiness.
Even though we might always agree with them, we understand
that they only do the things that they do because they love us.
You know that one kid who graduated two
or three years ago, but still acts as if they are
in high school? Yeah, you know who they
are. Well, I am here to clear the air of the
alumni do’s and don’ts.
There are certain things that I feel are
acceptable for alumni to partake in, but other things I think to myself, “Really? Do they
think they are still in high school?” For example, sitting in the student section at sporting events. Ummmm, hello? You already
had four years while IN HIGH SCHOOL
to stand there and cheer, so buddy it is time
to pack up your pom poms and move on.
Don’t get me wrong, it is okay for alumni to
be at the games. Supporting your alma mater is something that you should do because
you should be proud of where you came
from. After all, Jefferson is pretty fantastic!
But sitting with the students is taking it too
far.
Moving on, another thing that is a
huge no-no for alumni is getting involved in
high school drama. Didn’t they have enough
of that while IN HIGH SCHOOL? I know
I have, so I would say stick to your college
drama (if there even is drama in college).
Another thing that I find a bit strange is
when someone who has graduated suddenly
becomes best friends with all of the freshmen. They are only fourteen/fifteen years
old while alumni are eighteen, nineteen, and
beyond. This is a problem. It is okay to be
nice and friendly to the freshies, but if you
are constantly with them and doing HIGH
SCHOOL things with them, then things
just get creepy. College, and even the work
force, are lovely places to meet new people.
So sometimes, although it may be hard, you
just have to cut the cord from good ole’ Jefferson and reach out and meet some new
people.
Going right along with this is dances. I think some people have the whole
homecoming situation a bit confused. The
parade, tailgate, and football game are all a
celebration of the past classes and should
be attended by all alumni who are able to
come. It’s sort of like a blast to the past and
a chance for the graduated classes to have
a small reunion. However, the homecoming
bonfire and dance are for the people who
are currently in high school. There is the
exception of an alumni who is dating someone who is still in high school -- of course
it is completely okay in that scenario. However, if you are someone just lurking around
searching for someone still in high school to
take you to the dance then STOP that right
now. You are not in high school anymore.
One of the biggest things that I do
feel that alumni should do is go back to
graduations, at least for the class that was
right below theirs. Our school is small, so
the alumni most likely know a large majority
of the people from the class below theirs
and owe them the respect of attending
their graduation if at all possible. Jefferson
is where their roots are, and coming back
to graduation is simply paying the school
back for all of its hard work while they were
there.
Third party is the way to go
A reliance on a two-party system limits our
country’s growth
by Dean Carter
Staff Writer
“There is nothing which I dread so much
as a division of the republic into two great
parties, each arranged under its leader, and
concerting measures in opposition to each
other. This, in my humble apprehension, is
to be dreaded as the greatest political evil
under our Constitution.” ((John Adams))
This quote from John Adams is a
perfect reflection of America’s current governmental system. Most countries around
the world have several political parties, but
in the United States the political process
is characterized by a ‘two-party system’
because there have historically been only
two major political parties with candidates
competing for offices, where those in third
or minor parties have little to no chance of
success. Why is this the case?
For starters, if a third party be-
comes successful enough in a campaign, it
practically guarantees victory for the candidate or party that is most opposed to the
beliefs of the third party voters. Another
common occurrence for third parties is
when their ideas are absorbed by one of the
two major parties. The original party’s main
ideas will stay the same, but will typically
be paired with the major parties’ agenda,
as well as limiting the politicians previously
unaffiliated with them. Examples of such
would be the 1892 Populist Party headed by
James B. Weaver, which held nine percent of
the vote with 22 electoral votes until it was
quickly absorbed by the Democratic party,
and again with the 1912 Progressive party
headed by Teddy Roosevelt himself which
won 28 percent of the vote with an Electoral vote of 88 was then absorbed by the
Can teenagers fall in love?
While falling in love at a young age is
romanticized in media, in real life it is
chalked up to nothing more than hormones
and immaturity
by Allison Griffard
Republican party. Lastly, every aspect that
encourages the American two-party system
also serves to discourage the emergence of
third parties such as campaign finance rules,
the electoral college, and single-member
districts where the individual with the most
votes wins.
These factors combine to make
third parties in American politics serve the
important purpose of refocusing the two
major political parties on issues they have
ignored or dealt with ineffectively. Although
third parties rarely win any political offices
their importance is evident and existence
needed to keep the larger parties focused.
Despite John Adams’ fears, America’s political system of today is saved through the
emergence of third parties and the people
behind them.
Speak
Out
Do you think teens can fall in love?
“It depends on the people. I just think that some people take it more seriously than others. Some people
want to fall in love -- others just want to have fun, or
don’t know where to look for love.”
--Sophomore Alex Steller
Opinions Editor
“Teenagers are incapable of love; they can merely lust.”
These are the words that came from a pastor’s mouth, and
many people would agree with him. However, this is completely absurd. Of course teens can love -- it’s not as if all
of our emotions emulate from our respective loins. The
question is, though, whether or not we are able to understand the love that we have.
Most teens that get in relationships feel as if
they love their significant other. And a lot of the time, they
do -- not in the sense of true love, but love on its own.
The kind of love that is just caring about another person’s
well-being, and generally enjoying being around them. It is
not the love, I think, that more mature people can carry. It
is not the kind of love that kids see between their parents
or even their grandparents -- the kind of love that involves
real sacrifices. The love that teens in relationships have for
each other is not mature, but it can get there. Teens tend
to confuse compromise with sacrifice, but like I said, their
relationship is not incapable of growing. It is a matter of
working on it with your partner, and sticking to it through
anything. The pastor, I’m sure, knows this, but thinks that
with this love there comes a stronger need for physical
intimacy that overshadows any adoring feelings. This can
be true for some high school relationships. This, in itself,
is not love. It is lust, and it is unhealthy. Where people go
5
wrong is when they generalize all teens into this category
of perpetual libido. There are many teens that don’t comply with their desires and remain in an innocent relationship. There are also many teens who do give in, yet they
don’t let it define the relationship. Most teens do lust, but
that does not mean that they are incapable of love.
Now, while these teens are in their relationships,
it is rare to find a pair that actually appreciate and understand the love that they have for one another. As a teen,
emotions are always firing out of nowhere, so the actual
“love” emotion tends to get left behind in the dust, though
teens like to talk about it. It is only through loss that most
teens feel their love for what it really is. When their partner
leaves for college or moves away, a teen is generally devastated. If, heaven forbid, the partner were to pass away, the
teen would completely dissolve. Through loss is where a
teenager really grasps their love. They don’t quite appreciate their significant other while they’re there in the way
that mature people, like adults, are able to. This does not
mean the love is absent though, and it does not mean that
all that is felt is desire. Teens can feel love like anyone else:
we are humans after all. A distinct quality of a human is
that we are able to love -- being hormonal at times does
not change that.
“I say no because your brain’s not fully developed
until you’re 25. You’re both going to change in the
next couple of years. People just think they’re in
love.”
--Senior Haley Thomas
“Yeah. I think it just depends on how mature they
are. My parents did. But now I think it’s kinda hard
because we’re all so self-absorbed. But yeah, I think
they can.”
--Junior Justin Huffman
“Yes. I think emotionally anyone can fall in love. It just
comes down to whether or not you’re able to deal with
those feelings. That makes all the difference. As far
as teenagers go, you always hear about people that
get married when they’re 16 and stay together until
they’re 88, and that’s great.”
--World Languages Teacher Mr. Kuehnle
6
[email protected]
May 2016
Features
The Class of 2016 has big plans and some advice to share.
Colton Kassen
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Jefferson College, paid for
by my A+ money, then transfer to a
four-year university.
Favorite Quote: The only reason
they tell you that you can’t do it is
because they are afraid you can.
Bobbie Bollinger
Plans after Jefferson: I plan on attend-
Lindsay Recar
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College after I graduate. After
that, I’m not sure. I’m still undecided
on a major, but I’d like to do something
involving writing, art, or both.
Favorite Quote: Confused? Unsure
what to do? Wow, sounds like
you’re human. Good luck.
Cameren Rineberg
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to at-
Jordan Shockley
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Westminister College on a
football scholarship. My major is
undecided.
attend Southeast Missouri State. I
hope to earn my Bachelor’s in either music education or education.
Advice to freshmen: Stay on top of
work and don’t procrastinate. Don’t
let others try and change you.
Advice to freshmen: His soul might
attend a college, though I am
undecided where. I plan to major in
computer science.
Favorite Quote: Make them dollars,
Advice to freshmen: Stay on top of
Advice to freshmen: Do the things that
Advice to freshmen: Enjoy the time
because it goes by fast.
Favorite Quote: Just because you aren’t
attend Truman State University
in the fall. I am still unsure about
my major, but I am leaning toward
English or history.
Favorite Quote: Sometimes in
the winds of change we find our
direction.
Wyatt Self
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jeffco and earn an Associate of the
Arts degree (A.A), and then transfer
to Webster and earn a Bachelor’s
degree in audio production.
Favorite Quote: If you don’t love
yourself, how the hell are you gonna
love somebody else?
Haley Thomas
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Mizzou in the fall. I hope to get into the
pre-law program, and major in political
science, then become a defense attorney.
Advice to freshmen: High school is like
“The Climb.” Once you get to the top,
the view is great. It’s hard now, but it will
all be worth it.
Kendall Huffman
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College and earn my paramedic
license. Then, I hope to attend a university and get my Bachelor’s in fire science.
Advice to freshmen: Be nice to
everyone and do great so you can
succeed so you can say you are
going somewhere in life.
Favorite Quote: Life is one big party
while you’re still young, but who’s going
to have your back when it’s all done?
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College then transfer to a
four-year university. I am undecided on
where I will transfer.
return to Brazil after leaving high
school. I plan to attend college.
Ellie Steller
SEMO for two years, then attend a college in California or Florida and major in
marine biology. Once I graduate, I want
to move to Hawaii to start my career.
Michael Tautphaues
tend a four-year university, although
I am undecided where.
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
be a sun. I’ve never met anyone
who had a sun for a soul.
Brittany Mitchell
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Bruna Mazetto
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
ing college, but I am still waiting to
hear back from several schools.
interest you, like ATS through Jeffco.
Get involved with sports or clubs
because it looks good on a college
application.
Maddie Brown
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
where you thought you would be, that
doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be
there shortly. Life is teaching you the
lessons to make you get there.
Mariss Nahlik
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College and earn my Assosciates in Business Management, while
keeping my job at Walmart. Then,
I hope to further my education at a
four-year university.
Favorite Quote: Don’t be afraid of
the possibilities you come across.
Emily Ray
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
don’t let them make you.
Katelyn Rundel
Plans after Jefferson: I plan on at-
Todd Killgore
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
due dates and don’t procrastinate.
Jade Keel
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
tending Jefferson College, paid for
by my A+ money, then transferring
to either SEMO or MSU. I plan to
major in early childhood education.
attend University of Missouri-St.
Louis. I plan to major in nursing,
and be accepted into their nursing
program.
Advice to freshmen: Be who you are
Advice to freshmen: Don’t be
and own it. Don’t follow the crowd.
Alyssa Becherer
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
annoying.
Casey Hines
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Jefferson College, majoring
in dental hygiene. Then I plan to
transfer to St. Louis Community
College.
attend Truman State and major in
nursing. After college, I hope to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.
attend a four-year university. However, I am uncertain where. I will be
majoring as an undecided.
Favorite Quote: We are all crazy,
Favorite Quote: Life’s all about the
moments of impact, and how they
will change our lives forever.
Advice to freshmen: Get involved in
some of us just hide it better than
others.
as many things as possible.
The Beacon
Siarra Sullivan
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Jefferson College for two
years, then attend Murray State to
major in veterinary sciences.
Advice to freshmen: Take high
school seriously. You only get one
chance, so don’t mess around.
Josh Mobley
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Columbia College on a
baseball scholarship. I plan to major
in nursing.
Advice to freshmen: Get involved in
sports, because you make life-long
frienships, and it makes the time go
a lot faster.
Jordan Troquille
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Jefferson College.
Advice to freshmen: Take school
seriously.
Will Pasley
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Jefferson College. My major
is undecided.
Advice to freshmen: Get involved or
you will regret it.
Nathan Ashbrook
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Mineral Area College, majoring in agriculture business. After
MAC, I plan to attend Williams
Baptist in Arkansas where I will
pursue a degree in youth ministry.
Advice to freshmen: Keep on top
of your work so you don’t have to
worry about passing classes.
Samantha White
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend East Central Community
College on a softball scholarship. I
plan to major in occupational therapy and become an occupational
therapist assistant.
Advice to freshmen: Always believe
that something good is about to
happen.
Courtney Eisenbeis
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Maryville University in
St. Louis and major in nursing.
Advice to freshmen: You won’t get
these four years back and it’s best
to look back at the memories you
made rather than regretting not
making any.
Nick Parris
Plans after Jefferson: I am undecided
on my plans after high school.
Advice to freshmen: Take school
seriously.
Alison Batts
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend University of Central Missouri, double majoring in criminal
justice and political science. I will
graduate in three years, and then
attend law school.
Advice to freshmen: Stay on top of
work and don’t procrastinate. Don’t
let others try and change you.
Jarrett Manns
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to join
the U.S. Army after high school.
My contract is set for 3 years and
17 weeks.
Advice to freshmen: Time flies
Logan Drysdale
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College and major in biology.
Advice to freshmen: Show up
everyday and get your required
credits during your freshmen and
sophomore year, then you will be
able to take classes you enjoy.
Lauren Beckham
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College and earn my RN
degree. I also plan to continue taking
courses at Jefferson College, through
UCM, to complete my BSN.
Favorite Quote: Sometimes you will
never know the value of a moment
until it becomes a memory
Zach Griggs
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to get a
job immediately after high school in
welding or some type of labor job.
Advice to freshmen: Do your work,
don’t slack.
May 2016
Features
Brendan Hammock
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Meramec College on a baseball scholarship, while majoring in
sports/business management.
Advice to freshmen: Don’t take time with
your friends for granted. When people
say high school flies by, they mean it. Just
have fun, have no regrets, and enjoy it.
Mackenzie Null
Jamison Oberle
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
complete my internship at Thomas Industrial Coatings, an industrial
painting company. I then plan to get a
job at TIC.
Advice to freshmen: Do not
Mike Reed
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Ranken Technical College. I plan to
specialize in auto mechanics.
Favorite Quote: The only way to
guarantee failure is to never try at all.
procrastinate.
Molly Hill
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend University of Missouri- Columbia, majoring in health science.
I hope to travel with my job.
Favorite Quote: A lot of people tell
me I’m a bit.. dreamy. But I like the
idea of that. Of being somewhere
else.
Emily Thomas
Plans after Jefferson: I plan on at-
tending Jefferson College to finish
my Associate’s degree, then transferring to a four-year university. I
am majoring in art and design and
minoring in literasture.
Advice to freshmen: Normality is
a paved road; it’s comfortable to
walk, but no flowers grow on it.
Gerald Payne
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Jefferson College, then
transfer after two years to Missouri
University of Science and Technology. I plan to major in engineering,
and minor in explosives.
Advice to freshmen: Graduate early.
Tyler Gosnell
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
attend Southeast Missouri State and
major in elementary education.
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College for two years, then
transfer to a four-year university. I am
unsure what I want to study.
Favorite Quote: When you want to
Favorite Quote: I will not tiptoe
succeed as badly as you want to
breathe, then you will be succesful.
7
through life to arrive safely at
death. #rip307
Nick Pope
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
Jefferson College, using my A+ money,
and finishing my general education.
I then plan to transfer to University
of Missouri- Columbia and major in
radiology.
Advice to freshmen: Be who you
are, not who others want you to be.
Elisa Pezza
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to
return to Italy and finish the five
years I have left in art school. Then
I plan to attend University.
Favorite Quote: Everyone you meet
is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
Brandon Friedmeyer
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to start
working in a factory immediately
following graduation.
Advice to freshmen: You can retake
a test, but you can’t relive a party.
Hilah Fish
Plans after Jefferson: I plan to attend
St. Louis College of Pharmacy on a
scholarship for volleyball and earn my
pharmaceutical degree, with a Bachelors
in biology.
Advice to freshmen: Your GPA doesn’t
define you. Grades are important, but
they aren’t everything. Keep working
hard, you can do it.
8
[email protected]
May 2016
Sports
Coaches do have favorites
by Mackenzie Null
Sports Editor
The coaches at Jefferson have their own style for many different reasons. Whether it is in practice or a game, the coaches use some of their favorite things to help them
make decisions. From their inspirations for coaching to their punishments for their athletes, the Jefferson coaches have their favorites that some might not know.
Head basketball coach Brandon Joines
Favorite inspiration: Watching games (in general) and seeing plays and
ideas I like or don’t like is the most useful way to bring new ideas to my
own coaching
Favorite professional athlete: Kevin Garnett, because of his intensity
Favorite workout: Anything involving lifting weights, preferably free
weights
Favorite professional team: Minnesota Timberwolves, it started with Garnett
Practice or game?: The coach in me is supposed to say practice, but I prefer seeing
things that we work on actually play out successfully in games; hence, my animation during
games
Favorite team to beat: Any time we play a rival, it’s a fun atmosphere to be a part of; I
don’t have one specific team (I want to beat everyone)
Favorite punishment: Conditioning is never punishment, so none.
Head football coach Alex Rouggly
Favorite inspiration: I’ve been fortunate to work with and be coached by
a lot of good coaches. With that said I really took a lot from my old high
school coaches, Bobby Thompson & Andy Runzi. I always told myself that
those were the two people that most inspired me to be a the type of coach I
am today.
Favorite professional athlete: Peyton Manning - I love the way he prepares himself, both
physically and mentally, to be the best he can be.
Favorite workout: Power cleans are my favorite workout, for many reasons.
Favorite professional team: St. Louis Cardinals - always have been and always will be!
Practice or game?: Game, although I love practice time, there is nothing like Friday night
lights.
Favorite team to beat: Valle Catholic . We are preparing everyday to beat the best
Favorite punishment: Hills, enough said!
SPOTLIGHT
ATHLETES
Junior Gunnison Heine
What is it about baseball
that you love?
”I love how relaxed it is and that you
get to play with your friends.”
Freshman Anna
Heacock
What is it about track that
you love?
I love the friendly competition and
how there is always room for
Improvement. You can always run
faster.
Head track coach Natalie Fallert
Favorite inspiration: I think about the podium at state… How many people can I get
standing there/ I also think about the runners potential. We have so much potential... if
we could just harness it in the right direction. What workout or coaching style do I need to
change to harness that individual?
Favorite professional athlete: Jackie Joyner-Kersee or Usain Bolt
Favorite workout: Repeat 200s and repeat 800s or track practice before districts… scavenger hunt
Favorite professional team: STL Cardinals
Practice or meets?: Practice makes me laugh… meets make me excited
Favorite team to beat: Valle because I love beating them and watching their coach. Festus because we can
still hang with them and we are a small school. Herky because our coaching styles seem to be very different
as well as our mentality.
Favorite punishment: Repeat 200s
Head volleyball coach Ashleigh Nagel
Favorite inspiration: John Cook, Nebraska Head Volleyball Coach. I started going to his
coaching clinics in 2008 and after watching him earlier in my coaching career I decided I
wanted to model my head coaching philosophy similar to his.
Favorite professional athlete: Kerri Walsh: she is an amazing and admirable volleyball
player and as a mom I admire her and her return to volleyball after children. Especially since
the last Olympics she was pregnant and won a gold medal.
Favorite workout: Spinning and circuits because it’s on the go, fast, and gets results.
Favorite professional team: Cardinals: it’s a fun sport to watch and they make it a fun town to live in during
the season.
Practice or game?: Game: because my players have always been “gamers” which makes that more fun that
practice.
Favorite team to beat: Jefferson County All Stars or....St. Pius.
Favorite punishment: Whatever the kids don’t like because the kids hate them and that’s the purpose, to
give motivation to do better and that’s best done when kids don’t like the consequence.
Hit and run
by Jordan Shockley and Macy Hill
Staff Writers
Baseball
As summer nears and spring is in full swing,
baseball season is flying by. The Blue jays baseball team is 7-9 overall and 3-0 in conference.
In the next two weeks they have three
conference games against St. Pius, Crystal City,
and St. Vincent. If they win those three games
they will be crowned conference champs. This
will make the Blue jay baseball team conference champs two out of the last three years.
Head baseball coach, Robert Kuehnle,
admits it was a slow start. “While there were
early growing pains, lots of guys have stepped
up, and the team is starting to get on a roll.”
So far out of their nine losses, six of
them have come by two runs or less. It’s easy
to see these Blue Jays won’t go down without
a fight.
Districts will start May 13th here at
Jefferson. The baseball team is looking to win
their first ever District Championship. Accomplishing this feat at home would make the
experience more memorable. Coach Kuehnle
may be the most excited for Districts. “Leadership has been great. It really seems like ev-
Pictured right is Junior Blain Prater pitching against the opposing team West County Bulldogs.
The Blue Jays beat the Bulldogs 9-8. Pictured left are members of the boys and girls track team
holding up their first place Grandview Invitational plaque.
erybody has bought in and that should take us
far into the state playoffs,” said Kuehnle.
Track
The JHS track team is off to a record breaking
start for the 2016 season. The girls finished 1st
at the Mineral Area relay meet, with the boys
following in 3rd place. Both teams received 1st
at the Grandview invitational, which was also
the first meet that the boys team has ever won.
The Jefferson girls made history, recieving the first ever Conference Champions
plaque. “Each girl stepped up and earned
points, breaking school and personal records.
Sixteen girls showed up to upset teams of 3050 athletes.” said head coach Natalie Fallert.
Members from both teams plan to go all the
way to the State finals, and the girls are pushing for a 1st place finish.
The Beacon
May 2016
Sports
Locker Room Anatomy
As unique as their odors, the boys and girls locker rooms have distinct
differences and their own personalities
9
by Casey Hines
Staff Writer
... went to London on an
all-star cheer team?
A) Hueter
B) Moulten
C) Fallert
D) Guffey
C) Fallert
... played intramural flag
football and won regionals?
A) Rouggly
B) Schachner
C) Atley
D) Lindhorst
B) Schachner
... was the college dorm
room champ in ping pong?
A) Schaffer
B) Schachner
C) Rouggly
D) Herzog
C) Rouggly
by Sarah Handrahan
Staff Writer
The boys and girls locker rooms have very different anatomies. A few of the differences include:
the decor of the lockers, the smells, the entrances, and the conversations.
Girls like to smell good; therefore, there
can sometimes be a combination of the perfumes used during the day; boys are usually not
too worried about the way they smell, so their
locker room usually has a unique mixture of
sweat and dirty laundry. The boys locker room
opens to the hallway and the outside, while the
girls enter to the hallway and the gym. Conversations in the girls locker room ranges from what
happened last night to the things that happened
during the day. The boys tend to talk about the
game last night and what practice is going to be
on that day.
In the morning, the girls locker room is a
hangout for those girls that do not want to sit in
the gym or cafeteria or just want to finish getting
ready for school. Once school is out, us girls will
gather in the locker room to discuss all the things
that happened throughout the day and talk about
how much we dread going to practice.
For the incoming freshman girls, here’s a
tip on where to choose your locker on the first
day of school. The cross country runners typically choose the lockers in the far corner of the
locker room near the bathroom stalls. The girls
that play basketball or volleyball usually choose
lockers closest to the coach’s office door, the
softball players choose the lockers near the hall-
way door and the track athletes and cheerleaders/dancers use all of the lockers farthest from
the door to the gym.
In contrast, the boys locker room is a little
confusing. Cross country athletes use the lockers
near the door to the hallway, while football and
basketball athletes tend to use the lockers closest
to the door to the outside of the school. The
football and basketball players have to switch the
lockers they use when their sport is not in season. Baseball players are just stuck with the locker they have when season rolls around and track
athletes use lockers from every part of the locker
room. When school is over and the boys meet in
the locker room they talk about things like what
they think will happen during practice and how
much running they think they will have to do.
... was the college dorm
room champ in bowling?
A) Kuehnle
B) Graf
C) Woodland
D) Nagel
... went to Hawaii and played
softball with team Kansas?
A) Lindhorst
B) Bowman
C) Saylor
D) Baum
A) Lindhorst
GIRLS
BOYS
A) Haug
B) Fallert
C) Thompson
D) Zenker
A) Kuehnle
Staff Writer
... got 2nd at state for
humerous speech
interpretation?
D) Zenker
by Sarah Handrahan
10
[email protected]
May 2016
Features
13 things that could go wrong
on Friday the 13th Graduation
Who do you follow
on Twitter?
by Alyssa Becherer
Staff Writer
by Molly Hill
Listed below are 12 other
unlucky things that could
happen on Friday the 13th:
1. A black cat runs across the stage
Photo Illustration by Holly Welker
For those of you who haven’t heard, this year’s graduation has
been set for Friday, May 13, 2016. Yes, you read that correctly,
Friday the 13th. Not only is this beyond creepy, but just imagine
everything that could potentially go wrong...
Before even showing up to the school for graduation,
you break a mirror. You’re brushing your hair and hit that one
gosh darn knot that just won’t come out. The brush then slips
out of your hand, barrels towards the mirror, and shatters it. If
this happens to you on the night of graduation, please, for the
sake of all attendees, do not show up to the ceremony. If you
still decide to come, and bring your seven years of bad luck with
you, more crazy things are sure to happen.
For example, your newfound bad luck could usher in
the thunderstorm of the century. With thunder, lightning, and
winds faster than 30 miles per hour, this storm would make the
trip to the gym very challenging. Not only does rain make road
conditions unsafe to travel on, it creates for a very spooky evening.
On top of the storm of the century taking place outside,
you could trip on stage; however, since it is Friday the 13th this
fall wouldn’t be just any normal fall. As your name is called,
you make your way to Mr. Johnston, proudly strutting and smiling ear to ear because you have finally made it and it is time to
receive your diploma. Suddenly, your 10-inch wedge heel that
makes you look like a fawn taking its first steps into life, gets
caught in your graduation gown and it rips. You start to tumble
and fall to the ground wiping out everything in sight and rolling
right towards the edge of the stage. Everyone is praying you
don’t fall off, but, come on, it’s the Friday the 13th. So you keep
on rolling right off the stage and onto the photographers down
below. You are like a bowling ball knocking down all the pins.
STRIKE. Of course after a fall like this there are several severe
injuries. 911 is called and the paramedics take you to the hospital
where you find out that you have broken your ankle, wrist, and
severely bruised your tail bone. And to think this is all from one
seemingly harmless trip on stage.
After you are taken away, the address to the class of 2016
begins. Mackenzie Null, the speaker on behalf of the class of
2016, is right in the middle of her speech when BANG, the
school is struck by lightning from the bizarre storm. The power
immediately goes out and causes a massive wave of panic to
surge throughout the gym. Then, all of a sudden the hallway
right outside of the gym bursts into flames. Everyone immediately floods out of the building to safety and tries to find their
loved ones. The fire department shows up and puts out the fire,
but the graduation can no longer be held in the gym. So as the
storm powers on, graduation is canceled until further notice.
Classic
2. Mr. Johnston passes out while reading his
forever long speech
Thank goodness
3. The stage collapses
Maybe the school board should lay off the pizza
4. All graduates get food poisoning and are
unable to attend
Probably from the Lam’s they ate on Senior Skip Day
5. Someone throws up while walking across
the stage to receive their diploma
Also probably from Lam’s
6. Every senior’s house gets broken in to
Courtesy of the thieves that have plagued the school
district
7. The senior slide show is pictures of Picnik
edits from sixth grade
Lovin’ those long locks, Gosnell
8. The cops show up to arrest every senior
because of their illegal senior prank
It was only TP?
9. The American flag touches the ground
Careless Boy Scouts
10. The basketball goal comes unhinged and
hits whoever is speaking at the time
Maybe we should have spent some of that auditorium
money on new ones!
11. Skunks spray all of the graduates’ friends
and family in attendance
Remember Courtwarming? Ask the Runzis.
12. In the rush of traffic to leave, there is a
massive pileup on Blue Jay Way.
Mr. Haug and Mr. Graf weren’t out there to direct traffic,
what were we supposed to do?
Co-editor-in-cheif
When deciding who to follow on Twitter it is a good idea to follow a
nice variety of different users. Too many Chatterboxes and you will
have information overload, too many shy tweeters and your time
line will need dusting off. It’s good to keep a balanced amount of all
the different accounts. So once you join the bandwagon and create
a Twitter account, who do you follow?
There are a few different types of people you can follow on Twitter. Below explains each type of Twitter user:
The Broadcaster
They joined Twitter for one reason and one reason only: to
make sure the Twittersphere knows they love sports and knows
who is winning and losing games.... Every. Single. Game.
The Newbie (Egg)
We all came into Twittersphere as eggs; however, sadly, many of
those eggs never hatch. We can spot these awkward moms from a
mile off, egg-faced and lacking in followers. As they wander aimlessly around Twitterville, they retweet month-old posts about Halo
from their son’s profile. But don’t let their 12 followers fool you,
they are about to hatch into the big, blue world known as Twitter.
The Shy Tweeter
These individuals don’t know how to really use Twitter and are much
more comfortable on Facebook. You rarely see this user’s name pop up
on your feed, and when you do, it’s neither mind-blowing or life-changing. This tweeter’s tweet will most likely be lost in the twitter ocean.
The Chatterbox
We all know this one: never shuts up, constantly tweeting, always nattering. The problem is it’s with the same six people everyday and you
end up unfollowing them just for some peace and quiet. Their verbal
diarrhea on Twitter is gaining nothing and certainly not new followers.
The Celeb
Yep, that’s the reason we all hear about Twitter before we join it.
Taylor Swift v. Nicki Minaj, Drake v. Meek Mill...if only we had such
power to create mass hysteria with 140 characters. Although we can’t
do such things, it’s still great to watch these uneducated fools make
a mockery of themselves and Twitter by ranting and then deleting
tweets. Whatever - we screenshot and retweet it before you realized.
The Lurker
Everyone, at some point, becomes a Lurker. We have all clicked
on a picture of our friend, then clicked on another picture, then
45 minutes later we are stalking your friend’s cousin’s boyfriend’s
brother. Oh, and don’t forget scrolling up to 3 years back on someone’s profile and accidentally liking one of their tweets.... It’s okay, it
happens to the best of us. Most Lurkers primarily use their Twitter
for stalking enemies and keeping tabs on the latest gossip.
Proudly Supports
Jefferson
High School
Sapaugh GM Country Is Expanding!
Best Deals • Better Service
Happy Customers
1,000 VEHICLES
IN STOCK
Sapaugh.com
The Beacon
Features
Getting salty
about spice
island
May 2016
11
Behind the Newspaper
by Elisa Pezza
Staff Writer
by Holly Welker
Features Editor
Now that you know some of the basic
principles of the Journalism class, you
are ready to know the process of how
we create amazing newspapers...
Step 1: Finding and Discussing Ideas
It is a kind of brainstorming period where everybody (not really
everybody) comes up with their own ideas about future articles.
It is my second favorite moment (you will understand later why
it is not the first) where we politely yell at each other and try
to figure out if the idea would work or not. Usually if an idea
creates a big discussion, it means that it is a GREAT idea.
Photo Illustration by Elisa Pezza
Food service departments in high schools across the nation have
been spicing up their food lately. When I say that they are spicing
up their food, I mean it in a literal sense. These high schools are
now offering flavor stations with a variety of spices for students to
choose from. The spices are a mixture of many other spices, ranging anywhere from sweet to salty. These new flavor stations give
students the ability to tailor their food to their taste interests and
the power to change up the bland, tasteless school food.
Using other schools’ flavor stations as inspiration, school nutritionist Tim Davis has implemented a sort of “spice island” here
at JHS. Davis is spice island’s biggest advocate. A couple months
ago he presented the “very expensive spices” to first and second
lunch, hopeful that we would enjoy the new addition to the lunchroom.
Spice island is located on a table in the middle of the cafeteria. Its location has forced many lunch tables to move. Now, after
you type in your lunch code you are greeted by the table and have
to navigate around it and the cluster of kids in line.
More like an obstacle you have to get around to find your
seat at lunch, spice island is not well-liked by the student body. The
only reason students ever go there is to get the ketchup that the
lunch ladies moved out of the lunch line, not for the spices. Maybe
JHS should consider getting whatever spices the flavor stations at
other schools have, because our spice island is deserted.
Do you know what lies behind the door
in Mrs. Hueter’s room near the board?
If your answer is yes, then you can just
skip the first part of this article. If your
answer is no, the door is the actually the
secret entryway to the magic world of
Narnia. Just kidding, the door leads to a
room just for the Newspaper staff where
the editors set up their pages and edit
stories...
Maybe a lot of you think that it is really easy to write articles for
the newspaper, but trust me, it is anything but easy. Writing an
article, or better yet, simply deciding what to write takes a very
long time. Listed below are a few of the things that I have learned
while being on the Newspaper staff:
1. Your opinions are yours, and it is absolutely okay to have them
as long as you do not scream them and force them down others’
throats.
2. NEVER go against one of the editors, because they have all of
the power. If you make one of them mad, your story will never
see the light of day.
3. This one is for readers. Be respectful to the members of the
Newspaper staff, or we might write a cruel article about you.
What does your taste in music
say about you?
by Lindsay Recar
Staff Writer
Rockin’ Recar
Here’s what your favorite genres say
about you...
Photo Illustration by Elisa Pezza
All alternative rock enthusiasts wear spikes and spray paint overpasses while country-lovers can be found chasing tumbleweeds and
selling lemonade out of their truck bed, right? Well, no, it’s not as
simple as that. Studies have found that musical preference can show
how people think and act.
People who pay special attention to others’ thoughts and emotions are more likely to enjoy slower music with emotional depth like
R&B, soft rock, and singer/songwriter genres. On the other hand,
those who favor patterns enjoy intense music with intellectual depth
like hard rock, punk, and heavy metal.
Pop
When people say “life of the party,” they’re probably talking about
you! Since you’re outgoing, friendly, and know how to talk, social
activities tend to be your domain.
Rock
It’s always best not to judge a book by its cover. Contrary to popular
belief, you are capable of being both gentle and at ease. Although it
may be hard for some to see past your music taste, you know how
to stay calm.
Country
For whatever project or task, you do your best. You know how to
separate work and play, which is why you are the most hardworking.
Rap
In order to command attention, rap artists must talk big and exude
confidence. The same goes for their fans! You tend to be the most
confident of your peers and are more outgoing than most.
Indie
You go against the flow and find music outside of the norm. It’s
not a stretch that you would also be the most creative. Whether it’s
through art, music, or brainstorming, you are able to come up with
the ideas that others fail to think of.
Step 2: The Secret Conference
This is a little meeting that takes place for one or two days
where Mrs. Hueter and the editors meet in the magical back
room I mentioned previously, and where you are absolutely not
allowed to enter because it is top secret. During this conference,
they argue which ideas are the best and what should be changed.
After this they write the topics on the board, dividing them
between the four categories: News, Opinions, Features, and
Sports.
Step 3: Picking Your Article
When the secret conference ends, one of the co-editor-in-chiefs
will open the door and say, “It’s time to pick your articles. Write
your name on the board next the topic you want.” In this moment, you know that you have to run to beat the other writers
and take the easiest article so you can continue to sleep during
class.
Step 4 and 5: The Boring Parts
It is time to begin to actually do something and interview people
for your article. Usually they give you 1-2 weeks to write it, but
we already know that most write it the night before the due date,
like I did for this article. This is also the part where your host
sister corrects your article because you are an exchange student
who does not know English. When you are done, Mrs. Hueter
and the editors will tear your article apart. But, don’t be sad, they
are the editors for a reason.
Step 6: Give Life to the Articles
If you are a writer, your work is done, and you can go back to
sleep. But, if you are an editor, now is the time where you start
to create the official pages of the newspaper, trying out various
combinations of layout to make it the prettiest it can be.
Step 7: The End
This is the part where you finally realize that you are a part of
the Newspaper staff. You know that you have been brainwashed
by the journalistic process when you get irrationally angry if
you find a newspaper in the trash can or feel extremely insulted
if people do not open the baby that you put your blood, sweat,
and tears into. Or whenever you are asked the ever-insulting
question, “Why do you guys only put out like three papers a
year?”
Step 8: Food
Now, you all can finally understand my favorite part of the
newspaper process. FOOD. As a celebration, every staff
member brings in some food and Mrs. Hueter orders pizza, as
a reward for all of our hard work. We all just hang out and have
fun, enjoying the accomplishment of a finished newspaper. Stop
Tara Price
Owner/ Photographer
Tara Price Photography
(314) 779-8860
tarapricephoto.com
Call now to book your senior
photo session!
Sunday-Thursday:
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday & Saturday:
7:00 AM - 12:00 AM
(573) 483-3223
5201 Valley View
Drive
Bloomsdale,
MO 63627
The Beacon
May 2016
Features
12
T E AC HERS
by Holly Welker
Features Editor
Have you ever wondered what character you would be if your life was a television show? You’ve tried all of those
BuzzFeed quizzes (Don’t lie, we’ve all taken “Which Kardashian are you?”), but they do not quite get who you are
(Out of all the Kardashians, I got Kim, really?). Maybe those quiz results are a little off because you do not completely understand yourself (Do I really have a big butt?). The Beacon decided to put this theory to the test in this article
where we compare teachers and staff in the school district to characters from the TV show Friends. Because, who
knows them better than the students who learn from them each day?
“So no one told you teaching was gonna be this way...”
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
Photo Illustration by Elisa Pezza
ROSS
Mr. Koenig
What would life be without a caring, kind, and
good-humored person like Mr. Koenig? He can
be awkward and sensitive, but he makes up for
it with his endearing childlike mannerisms (the
pranks he pulls on Kuehnle and the games he
plays with Zenker). Hey, that’s what makes him
a neat guy. As Ross is the leader of his friend
group, Mr. Koenig is the king of this group of
teachers. Also, Mr. Koenig’s first name is Ross,
how could this match up be any more perfect?
C H A N D L E R
Mr. Zenker
Mr. Zenker is extremely sarcastic and has
a dry sense of humor. He likes to have fun,
but knows when it’s time to be serious. If
you insult the Broncos or tease him about
being a Communist, you will likely receive
a sting of a comeback and ultimate dislike.
Much like Chandler, you do not want to get
on his bad side (Right, Janice?).
JOE Y
Mr. Kuehnle
It’s the simple things that make Mr. Kuehnle
happy -- like sub sandwiches, reclining chairs,
and foosball. He is constantly mocked because
of the subject he “teaches,” but is no-doubt
a hard worker who would do anything for his
friends. Even if he’s not into grownup responsibilities (yet), he still knows how to rock the “How
you doin’?” pick-up line anytime.
R AC H E L MON I CA PHOE BE
Mrs. Fallert
Mrs. Wilkey
Coach Nagel
It’s Mrs. Fallert’s world and we are just living in
it. She is smart and fashion-forward, which is
probably why people look up to her personal
style -- she rocks just as many hairstyles as
Rachel and should have one named after her
too. She also knows how to manipulate people
to get what she wants, but who doesn’t?
For Mrs. Wilkey, having fun is all about
rules and regulations. She is mature, level-headed, and is always thinking about the
future. She is also extremely competitive
and a perfectionist who’s obsessed with
keeping things super neat and organized.
“Don’t touch my blinds!”
Coach Nagel is a free spirit. Like Phoebe who
gave up school to pursue her singing career,
Coach Nagel dropped out of college and moved
to Colorado to become a ski lift operator! Unlike
Phoebs, Coach Nagel finished her schooling,
but she is still that adventurous dreamer who
isn’t afraid to belt out some high notes every
now and then, “Smelly cat, smelly cat!”