Issue No. 7
December 8, 2015
Despite First Game Losses, Boys
and Girls Teams are Optimistic
by Jordan Lough
The girls’ season began Tuesday night at
home with a conference game against Chariton.
The Mustangs lost the game with a score of 44-35.
Junior Kali Rudd explained, “We started off
strong but didn’t end the way we wanted to. We
all did a good job of never giving up.” Her goal
this season is to keep improving while the team
goal is to have a double digit winning record.
When asked what she likes most about her team
she said, “We are all close and no matter win or
lose it is always fun.”
When asked about the team's strengths and
weaknesses Mallory Wells said, “Our team is
good at fast pace, but we need to work on our
communication.” Her goal for this year is to be a
good leader and the team goal is to place high in
conference. What she likes most about her
teammates are “how they work together and don’t
get upset at each other.”
The boys’ season began Tuesday night in
Chariton. The Mustangs lost the game with a score
of 88-59.
Stone Sample said, “Our team goal is to
get better as the season goes. We are capable of
doing great things this year we just need to get out
of our comfort zone and think things we thought
we couldn’t do.” When asked about the team's
strengths and weaknesses he explained, “Our
strength is we are all capable of shooting the ball
anywhere on the court under any pressure, we can
drive the ball in on anyone we want, and we are
all good free throw shooters.” What he likes most
about his team is that they are physical and all
have trust in each other.
Junior Bryce Vinyard said of the game,
“We played well despite the final score. We hung
in there with Chariton in the first half but they
pulled away in the second half. Chariton should
win conference this year and are a very good team
so we can’t be disappointed with the loss.” His
goal this year is to become an all-conference
selection. The team goal is to finish in the top half
of conference and continue to improve together
throughout the season.
Clarabell Knapp fights for a rebound with a Chariton player.
When asked what he likes most
about his team he responded, “Our team’s
ability to get along well and play together.
Most of us have been playing together for
several years and our chemistry is better
than other teams in the conference.”
Good luck to both teams on the rest
of their seasons!
North Pole Moves to Elementary School
by Brittney Rysdam
On Friday, December 4th Octagon members served elementary students at the
Santa’s Workshop. These members visited the elementary in shifts throughout the day
Friday to volunteer. Mrs. Grove says, “High school students made sure that students
picked out appropriate gifts for each family member.” Octagon members also assisted
the students in wrapping their gifts. This was a great opportunity for members of the
Octagon club to make the holiday season special for children in our community.
When asked why she was excited about volunteering at the elementary,
Carson Dean commented, “I like helping little kids a lot. Helping pick out gifts and
wrapping presents is a fun activity to do with them around Christmas time.” She also
recognizes that Octagon members don’t get many opportunities throughout the year to
participate in club activities, so this opportunity was not taken for granted. Caitlin
Paddock added, “I enjoyed seeing the preschoolers’ faces light up when they talked
about their families.” The children were very appreciative of the help that volunteers
provided them.
PIE sponsored this activity by
purchasing multiple items that students
could buy for their family members.
Many of the items were bought at
Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and
Walmart with usefulness in mind.
Elementary school principal Jennifer
Donels remarked, “This was a chance
for our kids to learn about the
importance of giving.” Each student
was allowed to purchase five items
at a cost of one dollar each. Every
student was able to purchase a gift
for each member of their immediate
family. Santa’s Workshop went very
smoothly and hopefully it will be
even better next year.
Jaylynn Sharp helps elementary students wrap the gifts
they purchased for family members.
Kale Baird, wrestling at 152, takes down his opponent during last Thursday’s
meet. Kale won both of his matches.
Seniors Searching for Success
by Carson Dean
The wrestling team has gained 9 new freshman and now
has 15 wrestlers. There are six returning varsity wrestlers, which
include Ben Kincart, Kale Baird, Walker Henderson, Dylan
Henderson, Louie Chickering, and Colton Harry. The first four
are seniors, all of which have been on varsity throughout high
school. These four seniors have made a big impact on the team’s
success. Last year they had a combined total of 161 wins out of
233 and a total of 98 pins out of 114. Before the end of the season
all four of the seniors should each have 100 career wins.
One of their goals this year is to have more people
advance to districts. Only two people moved forward to districts
last year. Walker Henderson admits, “There’s already been some
improvement but some work still needs to be done.” They hope to
see some more progression with the team as the season goes on.
Mr. Joel Brus has joined Mr. Jim Nelson this season as an
assistant coach. Practice started November 16 and they had their
first meet this past Monday. At last Monday’s meet, Wilston
Wuthrich and Ben Kincart each won in their weight classes. The
team has many more meets this year and only one more meet at
home. It is on December 10, so make sure you come out and
show your support.
An Inside Look at Mrs. Ware
by Krystal Klawonn
This week's Teacher Spotlight is about Collyn Ware, who is in her 8th
year of teaching at Davis County. Mrs. Ware went to school to be an English
teacher, but ended up with a major in History and endorsements in English and
Special Ed. However, she says she “wouldn’t mind teaching History to switch it
up a bit.”
While in college she worked as a teacher's aide at Pickwick Elementary
and although she did enjoy it, she confesses she probably wouldn’t have the
patience to teach elementary students. She even admitted that one student in her
class was our very own Parker Palen. In her free time she does photography,
antiquing, and woodworking, where she can make any of the furniture she needs.
Mrs. Ware doesn't have any dull moments outside of school, thanks to the
fact she was blessed with two children, Griffin and Gracyn. One example of this
is how recently, Griffin didn't want to get out of his moose onesie and would cry
and cry until she would let him take it to school with him.
DCHS Students Make Pillowcase Dresses for
African Girls
by Julia Brown
For their sewing unit, Mrs. Katy Houston’s Basic Life Skills class is
creating dresses to send to the little African girls. The idea came from former
Davis County student, McKane Wells. Over Thanksgiving break, he came back
and gave Houston the idea to send dresses to needy children overseas. “[These
children] may not have nice clothes or clothes at all,” states Houston. Her
students are starting with a pillowcase and a little bit of fabric to create the
dresses that they’re making.
Africa is ranked the world’s poorest continent, so this project could
have a big impact on those who receive the dresses. Several of Houston’s
students have been inspired by the project, and thanks to their thoughtfulness,
her class will also be making blankets for the homeless.
Hopefully, by creating these dresses, her students are thinking more
about others and less about themselves. Trying to make a difference
somewhere is something good to get into. Little by little, step by step, we can
change the world. Something we all could try to understand is that sometimes,
giving is more important than taking.
Editorial
Bring Back Open Campus
by Madison Sines
For many years at Davis County High School, we have not had an “open
lunch” or “open campus”. But that doesn't mean at one point in time it was not given
as a choice. Open lunch is when students get to freely leave the school to go and get
something to eat at the restaurants in the town; open campus is when students get to
leave the school freely when they do not have any classes during the day such as a
study hall. But maybe one of these options is something the school should reconsider.
One of the rumored reasons DCHS ended open lunch is because kids were
leaving the school and going to stores and shoplifting, and the people who owned the
businesses were complaining to the schools because they disliked the kids coming
into the stores at odd hours of the day and being very disruptive. I think the school
district should think about how teens are now and how teens were back then, and
whether or not we have matured more than the teens back then. I believe most every
teen knows right from wrong, so the stealing would not be an issue.
Maybe the school could consider making this change on a trial basis. I think
that if the teens like leaving to get lunch, they wouldn't try and mess it up by doing
something irresponsible. But also with the lunch options now, we have to think about
the many different choices to choose from and kids are paying around $3.50 for
school lunches and I don't think anyone could leave school and get a lunch for that
price at any restaurant in town.
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Drama Department Spins the
Tale of Charlotte’s Web
by Caitlin Paddock
Most know E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web,
the tale of Wilbur the pig and his friends. With the
help of the wise spider Charlotte, his human friend
Fern, and the other farm animals, Wilbur learns
how to handle the hardships that come with being
a pig. This classic has been around since 1952, but
did you know it was adapted into a play? The
stage adaption includes all of the beloved
characters in the book, but brings it to life on the
stage. Our DCHS Drama Department will be
doing so for their winter play this year.
The Drama Department has already gotten
the ball rolling. The cast list was posted Friday
November 20th, and practices started last
Monday. The winter play/musical is a highly
anticipated time for the drama students. Grace
Morris, who is playing the part of Uncle, says she
is excited for her role. “I’m excited to hang out
with all my friends,” adds Morris. Savanah
Summers, who is playing the lead role of Wilbur,
is looking forward to “getting to wear a pig
costume” and also spending time with her fellow
drama students. “I’m excited for this year’s play
because it’s a dynamite combination of cast,
script, and director,” remarks Kayle Stremler, who
is playing Lurvy, a farmhand.
All of the cast and crew are eager to put on
yet another childhood classic, following last
year’s hit, Cinderella. Performance dates are
February 5th and 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Iowa
Theatre on the Bloomfield Square. The Drama
Department hopes to see you all there and
promises a great show for all ages. Break a leg!
Students Begin Fellowship of
Christian Students Club
by Natalie Joos
Junior Deborah Settles and Sophomore
Riley Jones have started a new club at DCHS called
Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS), which
gives Christian students the opportunity to gather
for a Bible study and an opportunity for fellowship.
Ms. Bresee is the sponsor of FCS, and at the first
meeting, Deborah and Riley were surprised but
happy to see about 40 people there. When asked
why she wanted to start this club Riley replied, “I
wanted to start the club because last year at my
other school they had an FCS; I loved it and it was
the highlight of my year. I wanted to bring that to
DC and make it the highlight of other people’s year
too.”
FCS plans to meet every other Friday, and
also has planned events such as a Christmas party.
They also plan to have t shirts made at some point.
They will be participating in ICARE this holiday
season and plan to buy for a couple of children.
They are also looking into some fundraising ideas,
one of those being Pizza Ranch Tip Night.
When Deborah was asked what she hopes
students gain from this experience she said, “I hope
students can grow their friendships with other
believers and can grow their own faith, too.” When
Riley was asked what she hopes students gain from
it she answered, “I hope students will become
closer with Christ and with one another throughout
the year. I want them to grow and spread their faith
throughout the school, helping one another so that
more and more people can experience the joy of
knowing Christ.”