The Wolverine Scoop
Volume 21 Issue 4 Jan. 28, 2016
Teacher shortage in Idaho
Oregon militia, cattle ranchers
by Bradley Parker
Across the United States, school
districts have felt an increasing
teacher shortage over the last few
years. Some states have shortages
in several academic areas, while
others have less of a problem.
Idaho’s shortage is in the extreme
category. Every year, fewer and
fewer college students in Idaho are
choosing education as a future career. Following are the most recent
statistics in Idaho from the 2013-14
school year. These areas are federally designated
teacher shortage areas.
A leader of the small, armed group of people
occupying a remote national wildlife preserve in
Burns, Oregon said that they will go home when
a plan is in place to turn over management of
federal lands to locals. The group originally took
over the building because of resentment of the
Hammonds, who are local farmers sent back to jail
because of arson convictions. The group recently
took down fences which allowed cattle to roam
free; they have also taken down security cameras
because they believe that they were put up by the
FBI. Overall, this group is causing havoc around
Burns and throughout the United States. It could
lead to a police shoot out or to a peaceful surrender American Government/Political Science (Grades
6 - 12); Art (Grades 6 - 12); Automotive Techby the group; only time will tell.
nology; Basic Mathematics; Bilingual Education
(Source: www.idahostatesman.com/news/na- (Kindergarten - Grade 12); Biological Science
(Grades 6 - 12); Chemistry (Grades 6 - 12); Comtion-wild/article53p65590.html)
munication (Grades 6 - 12); Consulting Teacher;
Dance (Grades 6 - 12); Debate (Grades 6 - 12);
Feb is teen dating violence month
Drama (Grades 6 - 12); Earth Science (Grades
by Corina Larsen
6 - 12); Economics (Grades 6 - 12); Electronic
Teen dating violence is a problem that is contin- Technology; English (Grades 6 - 12); English as
uously growing. These statistics are scary and a New Language (Kindergarten - Grade 12); Famunfortunately a brutal reality. February is Teen ily/Consumer Sciences (Grades 6 - 12); French
Dating Violence Awareness month so let’s work (Grades 6 - 12); Generalist (Kindergarten - Grade
on spreading the word about healthy relation- 12); Gifted and Talented (Kindergarten - Grade
ships!N early 1.5 million high school students 12); Health (Grades 6 -12); Hearing Impaired
nationwide experience physical abuse from a (Kindergarten - Grade 12); History (Grades 6
dating partner in a single year. One in three ado- -12); Humanities (Grades 6 -12); Library Media
lescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, Specialist (Kindergarten - Grade 12); Literacy
emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner, (Kindergarten - Grade 12); Marketing Technology
a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of Education (Grades 6 - 12); Mathematics (Grades
youth violence. One in 10 high school students has 6 -12); Music (Kindergarten - Grade 12); Natubeen purposefully hit, slapped, or physically hurt ral Science (Grades 6 -12); Physical Education;
by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Violent relationships Physical Science (Grades 6 -12); Physics (Grades
in adolescence can have serious ramifications by 6 -12); Psychology (Grades 6 -12); Small Engine
putting the victims at higher risk for substance Repair; Social Studies (Grades 6 -12); Spanish;
abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior, Special Education; Blended (Birth - Grade 3);
and further domestic violence. Being physically Standard Elementary; Technology Education
or sexually abused makes teen girls six times more (Grades 6 -12); Television Production/Broadlikely to become pregnant and twice as likely to casting; Welding; and Work-Based Learning
get an STI. Nearly half of youth who have been Coordinator.
Minimum wage varies around US
by Melanie Girvin
The lowest allowed minimum wage in the US is
$7.25, which is what Idaho’s minimum wage is,
and Idaho is not alone. Wyoming and Utah also
have the minimum of minimum wages, and Nevada is only one dollar over, at $8.25. However, as of
Jan 1st, many states raised their minimum wage.
For instance, Washington raised its minimum
wage from $9.47 to $9.67, Oregon from $9.25 to
$9.45, and Montana from $8.05 to $8.25. Across
the US, eighteen other states and DC raised their
minimum wage at the start of 2016. Hopefully,
Idaho’s will rise too, eventually.
(Source: http://www.raisetheminimumwage.com/
pages/minimum-wage-state)
Amazing race update
by Kaylee Nye
Over Christmas break, Mrs. Overgaard and her
team spent a majority of their time at school
planning for the second annual WHS Amazing
Race. WHS alum Nathan Eliason wrote a new
code for the technology, improving the program.
The Amazing Race continues to expand and to
earn more recognition, not only in Weiser but
around the world.
Overgaard would like to give a special thanks to
Mikel Davies for all of his hard work and effort.
She explains that it’s a creative event that anyone can enjoy and wishes more students would
participate. After talking to many contributors,
everyone loved the race and said they would do
it again. This year’s winners, taking home $100,
were Abbey Shirts, Sadie Shirts, Sara Lundberg,
and Stella Beams. Congratulations!
victims of both dating violence and rape attempt
suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls Federal Perkins Loan borrowers - If you are a
full-time teacher in mathematics, science, foreign
and 5.4% of non-abused boys.
languages, bilingual education, or any field designated as a shortage area, you may qualify for
(Source: www.loveisrespect.org)
cancellation of up to 100% of your loan.
Mountain lion sighted
by Melissa Curry
According to Principal Davies,
a call was taken at the Weiser
Police Department warning that
a mountain lion was spotted
near Weiser High. Several staff members were
sent out to make sure that a mountain lion was
not near the school. The lion was not seen during
the school day despite the call. Davies assured
students that, if the mountain lion had been spotted dangerously close by, the school would have
been put on lockdown with Fish & Game notified. Though there were rumors of a picture of
the mountain lion near the school, after further
investigation it was discovered that this picture
was not the rumored lion but a representation of
what a mountain lion looks like.
(Source: https://idaho.schoolspring.com/content/
high-need-areas.cfm)
Winter formal/Girls’ League
set
Looking ahead - Feb
Jan 30 = PEA dance after the girls’
game (9:30-11:30 pm)
Feb 3 = FAFSA walk-in workshop
The annual Girls’ League formal dance
(6-7:30 pm)
will be held Feb 13 from 8-11 p.m.
Feb 5 = PEA basketball shoot-out (during lunch)
at the Vendome. The theme this year
Feb 6 = Junior ACT
is Winter Wonderland. A late Homecoming in addition to a busy wrestling and basketball Feb 8-12 = PEA selling Valentine candy grams
season made it difficult to schedule the dance at its (during lunch)
Feb 12 = Half day of school (students dismissed
usual time of year. Tickets will cost $12 per couple.
at noon)
Feb 13 = Winter Wonderland formal dance
News............................................ 1, 2, 3
Feb 29 = Juniors will attend the Higher Ed Tour
Sports...............................................3, 4
(at WHS) (1:45-3:20 pm)
Op/Ed...........................................4, 5, 6
by Madison MacDonald
Feature.........................................6, 7, 8
1
NEWS
World news
by Nina Kommer
Cold snap
In Europe there is a new, but very strong
cold snap at the moment. In Poland the
situation is so serious that 77 people have
died this winter. Police said that citizens should pay more
attention and should avoid being outside too long, because
this can be dangerous for them.
Homeless people are mainly exposed to this danger, but
not only them. According to the police, a lot of drunken
people who fall asleep on a park bench, die from the cold.
Three hundred towns in the Ukraine didn’t have electricity
recently because of the winter cold.
(Source: http://orf.at/#/stories/2319601/)
Idaho open carry gun law
by Bradley Parker
Idaho has an open carry gun law. It
allows people to carry a weapon as
long as it’s visible on the person.
It allows people to carry without
a license. Also, it allows a firearm to be transported in a
vehicle, as long as it is in plain view or is disassembled
or unloaded. The law limits people from bringing their
weapons in school and places where they are not allowed.
The law is supported by the Second Amendment ,which is
the right to bear arms.
(Source www.idahoopencarrygunlaw.com)
Star Wars success
by Bradley Parker
News Briefs:
FFA
by Katie Davis
This month in the FFA there have been a
few new things going on. We continued
to sell raffle tickets for the half of a pig.
There will be two winners drawn at the last
boys’ home game. On January 27, some
FFA members went to the 212/360 leadership conference
in Boise. The animal science classes are preparing for the
meats contest in February. A few of the Weiser chapter members are also applying for their state FFA degrees this month.
Senior party?
by Bradley Parker
Any parents interested in helping to plan
the senior party need to contact Mrs. Gonzales ASAP. The party is not sponsored or
paid for by the school; parents do the fundraising and the
planning for the party. Parents interested in helping can call
the school at (208) 414-2595 or e-mail Mrs. Gonzales at
[email protected].
PEA sponsors events
The WHS chapter of Prevention, Education, and Awareness, or PEA, is sponsoring events throughout February as
it is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. The kickoff
event will be held this Saturday after the girls’ home game
against Fruitland. After a white out for the game, it will be
a stop light dance from 9:30-11:30 pm. On Friday, Feb 5 the
group will sponsor a basketball shootout in the gym during
lunch. They will also sell candy grams for Valentine’s Day
from Feb 8-12.
Teens for jeans
by Kaylee Nye
On opening weekend, Star
Wars the Force burned the
former record of $120.5
million. This was the first
movie in history to turn over $100 million in a single day.
It also became the fastest movie to gross $100 and $200
million. The marketing of Star Wars products is amazing
because the merchandise ranges from action figures to toys
to perfumes. If a product has the Star Wars logo plastered
across it, most likely it will sell. Pepsi, Burger King, Mars
candy, Hasbro, and Kelloggs are signed up for the tie-in
frenzy, while on the shelves of Target, Walmart, and pretty
much every department store chain in the world are full of
Star Wars branded products. Overall, Star Wars is a franchise
that everybody from all ages can enjoy.
Even if we don’t want to think about it,
people locally are barely scraping by with
the bare necessities; many in this community and across the state are homeless. For
these reasons, WHS is again hosting Teens
for Jeans. It is a program to help students
of all ages in our community by providing
gently used, donated jeans. There will be
a collection box near the office which will be available
Feb 1-26. Donations will be collected from each class
room during 5th hour. These donations will be distributed
locally to places like Rose Advocates and Love Inc., so
jeans can be available to those in need. We are hoping
to make a difference in Weiser with your help. Last year
over 800 pairs of jeans were donated, so step up, WHS! If
you have any questions ask Sam Ruth of Kaylee Nye.
(Source: www.starwars.com)
Winter hair, skin care
Junior job shadow nears
Winter is a great time to drink hot cocoa
with friends, play in the snow, and cozy
up by a fire, but the harsh cold and dryness of the weather can take a great toll
on our bodies...especially on our hair and skin! Here are
a few tips and tricks to keep that healthy, supple skin and
shiny hair year-round.
1.) Moisturize more. When the heat is turned on, it can
dry out skin. Find an oil-based moisturizer instead of
water-based; oil will create a protective layer for skin.
2.) Keep it cool. A hot shower on a cold day may feel great,
but it dries hair and strips it of its natural oils.
3.) Use coconut oil. People who suffer from an itchy/
dry scalp might try massaging a generous amount of
coconut oil into their scalp before showering.
4.) Exfoliate your skin. Scaly dry elbows are uncomfortable and unattractive. Create a shower scrub by mixing
sugar, olive oil, and lemon juice. After using the shower
scrub, moisturize with a thick cream.
5.) Eat healthy. Make sure to load up on fruits and veggies
or start taking a multivitamin. This is the easiest, most
effective way to improve hair and skin conditions.
by Melanie Girvin
Most students know that a job shadow must be completed
by juniors as part of the senior project. Without the senior
project, the student cannot graduate. The dates for the actual job shadow are Mar 17 or 18, the Thursday or Friday
before Spring Break, though there can be exceptions. Unlike
past years, the juniors did not do their research paper on
a career that they are interested in. Therefore, juniors can
do any job shadow about an interest that they have, even
if they do not want to pursue that career. After the actual
job shadow, students must complete an oral report about
their job shadow and must have a visual aid, for example,
a business card. A three-page written report is also required.
Various other pieces of information will be compiled in the
student’s senior project portfolio.
1st semester grades are in
by Melanie Girvin
First semester ended, for the most part,
before Christmas break. As for honor
roll, 60 freshmen, 68 sophomores, 51
juniors, and 47 seniors reached that
goal. On the other side, 12 freshmen, 13 sophomores, 14
juniors, and only three seniors had one F as a semester
grade. Ten freshmen, seven sophomores, nine juniors, and
no seniors had two F’s. Four freshmen had three or more
F’s, followed by eight sophomores, seven juniors, and only
one senior. Let’s do even better this semester, WHS.
by Emmi Hackbart
Scholarships available
by Roy Arana
You can pick up the following scholarships
in Miss Peterson’s office. Also, many of them
have websites on which you may print the
applications or apply online.
Elks Student of the Month, Due anytime through
March. There is a fill-in application online at http://
www.weiserschools.org/scholarships-and-counselors.
html. Filling it out once will make you eligible for all
of the months.
Sussle Company--Give scholarship every month. For
seniors--you must be a U.S. citizen and be able to contribute knowledge about your interests. Apply at http://
sussle.org/scholarships.
Alert Magazine Scholarship, No Due Date. For seniors, 2.5 GPA or higher, must write a 600-1000 word
essay about a personal encounter that you or someone
you know has had problems with drug or alcohol abuse.
Apply at www.alertmagazine.org.
Questbridge National College Match Program, Due
Date: Varies with different colleges. This program is
for high-achieving low-income seniors. Various colleges
are included. For more information see www.questbridge.
org.
Writers of the Future Contest, Due Date: Continual.
For students interested in becoming a writer. Find contest
rules at http://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules.
Elks Legacy Scholarship, Due Date: Jan. 29, 2016 at
12:00 noon. This scholarship is for high school seniors
who are children or grandchildren of an Elks Lodge
member. Apply at http://www.elks.org/enf/scholars/
legacy/rules.cfm.
10 Words or Less Scholarship, Due Date: Jan. 29,
2016. You can apply at https://www.
studentscholarships.org/easy.php.
Idaho School Boards Association Scholarship, Due
Date: Feb. 5, 2016. To apply, the student must be a
child or grandchild of an Idaho public school trustee or a
charter school governing board member, past or present.
Apply at http://idsba.org/node/88.
George Hansen Scholarship for Geological Sciences,
Due Date: Feb. 15, 2016. This scholarship is for a student
attending BYU studying Geological Sciences. Apply at
http://www.geology.byu.edu/Home/news/george-hansen-scholarship.
Idaho Governors Cup Scholarship, Due Date: Feb.
15, 2016. This scholarship is for a graduating senior with
a 2.8 cumulative GPA or higher with a commitment to
public service. To apply, go to https://boardofed.idaho.
gov/scholarship/gov_cup.asp.
Idaho Irrigation Equipment Association Scholarship,
Due Date: Feb. 26, 2016. This scholarship is for students interested in the irrigation industry - majors may
include Irrigation Engineering, Agricultural Engineering,
Horticulture, Crop and Soil Sciences, Agribusiness, Turf
Landscape/Irrigation Architecture and Design, Agriculture/Horticulture Education. See Miss Peterson for an
application.
Society of Women Engineers, Due Date: Feb. 28,
2016. This $2,000 scholarship is for graduating senior
girls pursuing a degree in engineering or an engineering
related field such as computer science or a strong science.
Must show strong academics and merit. Apply at http://
swidaho.swe.org/scholarships.html.
Discover Card Scholarship, Due Date: Feb. 29, 2016.
It’s a sweepstakes (drawing) entry. Just sign up for tips on
planning and paying for college. Apply at https://www.
discover.com/studentloans/scholarships/award.html?
acmpgn=E_SCH_XXXX_BM_X_CCEA2.
National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Scholarship, Due Date, Feb. 29, 2016. This
scholarship is for seniors in the top 25% of their class,
with a B+ average and a 24 on ACT or 1500 on SAT
(Math, Reading, and Writing). (They must have two of
the three). Pick up a hard copy from Miss Peterson. You
can mail or submit online.
TheWolverine Scoop staff would like
to thank the Gear Up Program and
the Weiser Education Foundation
for their support in publishing the
Scoop this year! We absolutely could
not survive without you!
2
Seasonal Affective Disorder
facts
by Melissa Curry
Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise
known as SAD, is a mood disorder
associated with depression and related
to seasonal variations of light. This means that, during the
winter, an individual may suffer from depression that leaves
during sunnier months, like summer and spring. SAD affects
an estimated half a million people every winter between
September and April, the worst months being December,
January, and February. The milder form of SAD, Winter
Blues, affects even more people. The individuals who most
often develop SAD are between the age of 18 and 30, three
of four of them being women. SAD occurs in both the southern and northern hemispheres but is extremely rare in those
living within 30 degrees latitude of the equator. Symptoms
of SAD include depression, anxiety, mood changes, sleep
problems, lethargy, overeating, social problems, and sexual
problems. The severity of SAD depends both on a person’s
vulnerability to this particular disorder as well as his or
her geographical location. Treatments for SAD include
phototherapy, otherwise known as bright light therapy, and
spending more time outdoors, which is usually reserved for
the milder cases of this disorder.
(Source: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/
sad)
Golden Globe winners
by Samuel Ruth
The 73rd annual Golden Globes were hosted
by Ricky Gervais Jan 10, in Los Angeles.
This event recognized America’s favorite
musicians, actors and actresses, films, and
TV shows. These awards include Best
Original Song - Sam Smith’s Writing on
the Wall; Best Drama Motion Picture - The
Revenant; Best Actor and Actress in Drama
Motion Picture - Leonardo DiCaprio and Brie Larson; Best
Animated Film - Inside Out; Best Musical or Comedy Film
- The Martian; and the Best TV Drama - Mr. Robot. There
were many more awards given such as Best Director, Best
TV Miniseries, and Best Supporting Actor and Actress.
However, one of the most prestigious and longest lasting
Golden Globe awards is the Cecil B. De Mille Award, which
is given to those who have changed or added to filmography
through acting or directing films. This award has been given
to very notable actors and actresses such as Walt Disney,
John Wayne, Bette Davis, Harrison Ford, Robin Williams,
Morgan Freeman, and Jodie Foster. This year it was proudly
presented to Denzel Washington for his achievements as a
performer and director. Last year produced many outstanding films enhanced by a host of great actors and actresses.
However, in 2016 there are going to be movies such as Star
Trek: Beyond, The Angry Birds Movie, Deadpool, and 13
Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. These films will
be highly anticipated during the year and are expected to
receive very high praise and awards.
Oscar nominations
by Samuel Ruth
Recently, many actors, actresses, and
screenplays have captured the hearts and
minds of the American populous. Many
of these icons have been nominated for
multiple Oscars for 2015. Starting with
Best Picture, there was The Revenant,
Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, and
a few others. For Leading Actors and
Actresses, there was; Matt Damon: The
Martian, Leonardo DiCaprio: The Revenant, Jennifer Lawrence: Joy, Charlotte
Rampling: 45 Years, and a host of others. Finally, in Best Animated Featured
Films, there was; Inside Out, Shown the
Sheep, Anomalisa, and a few others. There are many other
awards that will be given at the Oscars as well, such as;
Best Cinematography (filming), Best Foreign Language
Film, Best Music, and many more.
The Oscars will be held Feb 28 on ABC and hosted by
Chris Rock. However, even with the great nominees, there
is controversy over the fact that there are no colored people
nominated for any awards, which is leading to mounting
pressure on Rock to boycott the Oscars altogether. Though
there is some anger towards the selection committee, this
should be a great Oscar ceremony.
Self-injurious behavior explained
by Bradley Parker
Self-injurious behavior is one of the most devastating behaviors exhibited by people with developmental disabilities
and by teenagers who are experiencing emotional issues.
The most common forms of self-injurious behavior include
head-banging, hand-biting, excessive self-rubbing, and
scratching. This behavior is caused by certain neurotransmitters in the brain. The act of self-injury may increase the
production and/or release of endorphins. The release of
endorphins causes an anesthesia like effect, and they may
not feel any pain while engaging in the behavior. The main
problem with self-injurious behavior is that they lose the
feeling of pain, so they may cause themselves so much pain
that it may cause them to go to the hospital. If you know of a
friend who is self-cutting or engaging in another dangerous
behavior, immediately tell a trusted adult.
(Source: www.self-injuriousbehavior.com)
National African American history month
by Bradley parker
February is National African
American history month. It’s
an annual celebration of achievements made by African
Americans. It is also a time to recognize the central role
of African Americans in history. The Association for the
Study of African Americans’ Life and History sponsored
a national negro history week in 1926. They chose the
second week of Feb to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. February is a great
month to honor the achievements to modern society made
by African Americans.
Sports
Boys’ basketball rolls on
by Jackson Jensen
This year’s varsity Wolverine basketball team is led by Tony Lopez,
Alberto Sanchez, Jacobi Beesley,
Jace Roberts, and Bridger Bumgarner. At press time the boys had an
impressive overall record of 11-2, 1-1 in conference play. In a recent game versus Emmett,
Weiser lost, 61-36. Coach Adolfson said, “We got
our butt kicked.”
The boys have also recently faced Homedale,
Parma, Fruitland, and Payette. They will play
Emmett at home tonight. Coach Adolfson said of
the season, “When the kids play hard, we have a
chance to win.”
The district tournament will be held at TVCC Feb
16, 20, 23, & 25, with state following at Meridian
High School Mar 3-5.
Girls’ basketball season nears end
by Corina Larsen
This year’s varsity Lady Wolverine
team is led by Paige Brown, Ali
(Source: www.history.com/black-history-month)
Reed, Corina Larsen, Lauren Bouvia,
and Emily Gluch. At press time the
National eating disorder
Ladies had an overall record of 8-7,
awareness week
4-2 in conference play. In a recent game versus
by Lillian Burns
Payette, Gluch had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and
one technical foul, while Brown had 14 points
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, and
and five rebounds. They have also faced Emmett,
30 million people in the United States
Homedale, and Parma recently. They will play
suffer from some sort of eating disorder. Over one-half of
Fruitland this Saturday for their senior night.
girls and one-third of boys in the US have skipped a meal,
vomited, or used laxatives as an unhealthy dieting tactic
and only one of 10 American women who suffer from an
eating disorder receive any form of treatment. For these
reasons, the National Eating Disorder Administration is
hosting a National Eating Disorder Awareness week from
Feb 21-27. The goals presented by the NEDA for the week
are to improve public understanding of the causes, triggers,
and treatments of eating disorders and to encourage early
intervention and diagnosis. The theme for 2016 is “Three
minutes can save a life” because you can do your part to
participate in National Eating Disorder Awareness week
by going online to screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/
NEDA, by completing a quick mental health screening
survey, and by encouraging others to do the same. You can
also follow @NEDAstaff on twitter to receive updates on
local events where you can show your support.
(Source: www.NEDA.org)
Cheer starts competitions
by Hallie Wilkinson &
Lizette Almanza
“This is an incredibly talented squad! With a lot of
experience, I’m excited to
see how we show up in competition. We have a history of domination, and I believe this squad - if they
come strong - will continue to kill it!” said Coach
Jen Weldon. The squad will compete in a pre-district
competition Feb 13, their district tournament Feb
27, and state Mar 18.
Washington County
Coach Reed said of the season, “It’s been up and
down so far, but we’re still in a good position to
meet our goals.” The district tournament will be
held at TVCC Feb 6-11, with state at Middleton
Feb 18-20.
Wrestling hits mats
by Garrett Hinkley
This year’s varsity wrestling team is led by Garrett Hinkley, Alex Raby,
Cristian Delgadillo, Jeb Johnson, David Perez,
Colt Yeager, Buzz Loughran, Kristian Claudio,
Nick Gluch, Gustavo Molina, and Ricky Sandoval. At press time the squad had an overall season
record 2-0, going 1-0 in conference action.
At the recent American Falls Dual, the Wolverines
finished 2nd as a team. Hinkley, Perez, Yeager, and
Fager went undefeated. The team has also participated in the Emmett dual, the Padilla tournament
in Parma, and the Vale/Nyssa and the Homedale/
Ontario duals at home. They will participate in
the Darrell Brown Invitational at New Plymouth
tonight.
Coach Dickerson said, “We are continuing to get
better.” The district tournament will be held in
Parma, with state in Pocatello.
Crime Stoppers
414-COPS,
414-2677,
1-800-222-TIPS
Callers may remain anonymous.
3
Featured athletes (g bb)
by Alecia Lundberg & Hannah Alder
Name: Corina Larsen
School sports played: basketball
Future plans: to retire
New Year’s resolution: to graduate
Favorite school subject: History
Favorite Valentine’s present: Jacobi Beesley
Name: Emily Gluch
School sports played: volleyball,
basketball, softball
Future plans: to fight fire & to attend Easter Oregon University
New Year’s resolution: to be a
straight up gangster
Favorite school subject: Ag
Favorite Valentine’s present: chocolate kisses
Name: Ali Reed
School sports played: cross-country, basketball, softball
Future plans: to marry someone
rich after college
New Year’s resolution: not to tear
my ACL
Favorite school subject: PE
Favorite Valentine’s present: chocolate
Name: Paige Brown
School sports played: volleyball,
basketball, track
Future plans: to meet Lebron
James & to become a nurse
New Year’s resolution: I don’t
really have one.
Favorite school subject: American government/
History
Favorite Valentine’s present: chocolate & a rose
Who will win the
Super Bowl?
by Daniel Parker
It’s coming to the end of
the 2015-2016 professional football season with the
playoffs going on. Several
WHS students were asked who they think will
win the Super Bowl next month. Their responses
follow:
•Sarah Reyes (9): Carolina Panthers
•Westi Walker (9): Carolina Panthers
•Kyler Thomason (9): Pittsburg Steelers
•Santiago Ixta (9): Carolina Panthers
•Ashley Edwards (10): Green Bay Packers
•Trinity Dimmit (10): Pittsburgh Steelers
•Luke Henson (10): Carolina Panthers
•Daniel Parker (10): New England Patriots
•Skylar Chavez (11): Seattle Seahawks
•Hailey Turner (11): Seattle Seahawks
•Ben Wootton (11): Carolina Panthers
•Jackson Jenson (11): Pittsburgh Steelers
•Addison Pelletier (12): Seattle Seahawks
•Tyler Kenley (12): Seattle Seahawks
•Bradley Parker (12): New England Patriots
•Jarrin Ebbers (12): Pittsburgh Steelers
Opinion/
Editorial
Editor’s column
by Jonathon Shaber
Happy New Year, Weiser
High School, and welcome
to 2016! Of course, we all
know what the new year
brings; FAFSA. Yes, it’s time for seniors to start applying for financial aid, to make final plans for college,
and to find as many scholarships as possible. It’s a lot
of work, but hey, look on the bright side: we’re half
done with our senior year! Just four short months, and
we’re out of here! That’s something to look forward
to, unless you’re as scared as I am.
Not that I’m scared or anything.
Junior editor’s column
by Kaylee Nye
February is right around the
corner as well as big announcements. The ACT will be taken
Feb 6th. There will be a bus
to shuttle students to and from
TVCC for this testing. There are
practice tests online and study
guides to help, so now is the time to start cramming!
Also, the junior class will job shadow in March, so
now is the time to begin thinking about places you
may be interested in going. If possible, try to get out
of Weiser to get a different experience. Good luck!
College corner
by Miss Peterson
We are in the middle of FAFSA season.
The FAFSA is the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid and is to be completed by incoming college students. It helps colleges and the
federal government to determine if a student is eligible for
federal financial aid such as the Pell Grant, student loans,
work study, and scholarships from universities and colleges.
Most colleges will not award scholarship without a student
submitting a FAFSA. Here are some of the most common
myths surrounding the FAFSA:
1. I won’t qualify for financial aid because my parents
(or I) make too much money. Actually, there isn’t an income cutoff to qualify for financial aid. Your eligibility for
financial aid is based on a number of factors, not just your
or your parents’ income.
2. I don’t have good grades, so I won’t be eligible for
financial aid. Completing the FAFSA isn’t the same as
applying to college. Most federal student aid programs
don’t take your grades into consideration when you apply.
Just remember, once you’re in college, you do need to
maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to continue
receiving federal aid.
3. The application is too hard to fill out! Since it’s available online, the FAFSA is easier than ever to complete. If
you’ve filed your taxes, you can transfer your tax return
data into your FAFSA automatically. Plus, WHS will have
a FAFSA Workshop Feb 3 (6pm-7:30pm), and you can
ALWAYS stop by for help in Miss Peterson’s room! Where
there is a will, there is a way!
4. I have to wait until I (my parents) file taxes. Since
some colleges have FAFSA deadlines that are before the tax
filing deadline, it’s important to complete the FAFSA early.
You can use estimates on your FAFSA by basing them on
last year’s taxes. After you file your taxes, you can log back
into the FAFSA and input your updated tax information.
5. I support myself, so I don’t have to include parent info.
This is not necessarily true. Even if you support yourself
and file taxes on your own, you may still be considered a
dependent student for federal student aid purposes.
6. I am not a citizen, so I cannot do the
FAFSA. While it truly depends on your
situation, many non-citizens can still do the
FAFSA, especially those who have filed for
the DACA legislation.
How Do I Choose the Right College?
Choosing the right college for a student is not anywhere
near a science; it is definitely fluid and more of an art.
Choosing a college or post-high school education path is
one of the very first adult decisions that students make. It
can be a confusing, frustrating, and stressful decision. The
first thing students need to realize is that making the decision
of where their post-high school education path leads is a
deeply personal decision, one they will live with forever.
This can create some anxiety. However, it is one they need
to be educated about.
Before picking an institution, it helps to center on a couple
of career paths. Students need to take into account job prospects in that field. Once they have a couple in mind (it is
not set in stone!), it is time to look at institutions that have
those programs. If a student wants to study to be an auto
mechanic, going to a traditional university that does not
have a technical program for auto mechanics is a waste of
time, effort, and money. Once a student has list of three to
five colleges, applications need to be done. The next step is
the point where many WHS students are right now. They’ve
applied. Some know they’d rather go some places than others. Others are just not sure where they are best suited. This
is also where it comes down to a bit of that personal choice.
The best method of choosing, especially if one wants to
come out of college with the least amount of debt, is to
take a look at cost minus financial aid and scholarships.
This is taking the “sticker price” then subtracting the student’s financial aid and scholarship package to see what is
left. If a student has everything covered, consider taking
out less in student loans.
Fashion police
by DJ Moyle
This month’s fashion trends are North Face jackets and
leggings and Ugg boots. There is also wearing moccasins
and fuzzy socks. In addition to that, there is also wearing
the messy bun; that one has come into play a lot this month
and probably for many months to follow because of the
effortlessness that it takes to make a messy bun. Another
trend that is starting is wearing false lashes, which give the
appearance of longer and thicker eye lashes with a little
help from glue and tweezers. For the gentlemen, there is
wearing cowboy boots and dark blue or light blue boot cut
jeans. Also, there is wearing knitted sweaters, which may
be thin, thick, ugly, or just for looks or comfort. Either way,
they look great and keep you feeling warm this winter.
Remember to dress for the weather and to have fun starting
new trends with fashion.
This month’s fashion icons are junior Jackson Jensen and
senior LeAnne Wheeler. Interviews with them follow:
When it comes to clothing what are some of your pet peeves
about clothing on others around you?
Jensen: One of my pet peeves is when people wear shorts
in the winter. If you play a sport, that’s one thing, but when
it’s -2 degrees outside, it’s not a good choice.
Wheeler: I don’t really have any.
What are some of your favorite places to shop for closing
online, favorite store, etc. ?
Jensen: I really like Zara Men, H&M, and Top Man.
Wheeler: I like to shop wherever I can get a good deal.
What is your favorite thing to wear/favorite part of clothing
and how often do you wear it/them?
Jensen: I’m really into the Indie style, like cardigans and big
sweaters. I really like long shirts. They just add a different
look and corduroy pants; I wear them often.
Wheeler: My favorite things to wear are jeans and sweaters.
I wear them all of the time.
What is your favorite thing about your clothes or other
people’s clothing?
Jensen: My favorite thing about my clothes is that I have
lots of different clothes from different places and thrift
stores. All I have to say is BE YOU and don’t care about
what others think.
Wheeler: My favorite thing about clothes is that you wear
what you feel comfortable in.
4
Movie review: Star Wars:
The Force Awakens
by Jonathon Shaber
On December 17, 2015, director
J.J. Abrams released the seventh instalment of the legendary Star Wars franchise: The Force
Awakens. Perhaps the best marketed movie in film history
and already breaking what seems like every single box office
record, just a month after its opening in world theaters, it
already seems that everyone on earth has seen this movie.
Does it live up to the promise of the trailers and the hype?
Many would say yes, but some (myself included) aren’t
quite convinced. (BTW, here’s my spoiler alert to those
who haven’t seen the movie yet.)
First, I felt that the conflict in the new movie is bland and
overworked. The evil First Order of The Force Awakens and
the opposing Resistance aren’t simply throw-backs to the
Empire and the Rebellion of the revered original trilogy;
they’re total rip-offs. It feels like the rebels won in Episode
VI, set up a token republic, and quit immediately so that
this new thing could take power. I was also annoyed by
the gigantic new “Death Star,” for want of a better name,
that did the exact same thing that the Death Star did only
bigger. It was as if Abrams decided “They liked the Death
Star? Well, let’s give them an even bigger Death Star that’s
just as easily defeated!” A lot of elements were tired and
overused in the same way. For example, every main Star
Wars hero is a poor young person from a desert planet with
insane piloting skills missing at least one parent. I really
hoped for something a little more original than this, and
it would have been easy to deliver. For example, what if
the First Order was the uprising against the new Republic,
gradually gaining power while the Republic was too weak
to stop it, leaving the Resistance to defend itself as best it
could? I think that would make a far more interesting plot.
My second complaint is regarding characters. Let me say
that I loved Rey; she has more charisma than either Luke
or Anakin and even matches Han. For what it’s worth, I like
Finn, too, but he’s useless. He doesn’t have the Force, he
can’t fly a ship, he can’t fix stuff, and he’s a Stormtrooper,
so we know he can’t shoot. He’s basically just there for
a forced romance with Rey and is only in on the ride by
coincidence. I didn’t buy Kylo Ren either; he pulled off the
role well, and the movie did better with him than I ever expected, but to accept him would be to believe that Han Solo,
Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker, three war heroes for the
good guys, couldn’t teach one of their own flesh and blood
how to watch out for the Dark Side and avoid it. I would
have been happy if he had been some random apprentice
of Luke’s who turned evil; tying him in by making him
Han and Leia’s son to tie him in is unnecessary and dumb.
Finally, they wasted Po Dameron; he’s cool and deserves
more screen time.
My final complaint is one I often have with movies; it went
by too quickly. The first act, though aided by the coolest
opening to a Star Wars opening ever, was rushed, piling
breathless action upon breathless action, as if they thought
that I would lose interest in a Star Wars movie if action was
neglected for longer than five minutes. Remember in Episode IV when ten to fifteen minutes separated the opening
sequence from the second firefight? Well, no more. The
second act slowed appreciably and captured my imagination, and the third act kept it, but right off it was too much
and it annoyed me.
Here’s the thing about movies; sometimes the parts and
pieces add together into something much better than they
would have been in any other setting. A prime example is
Independence Day, a movie with virtually no plot aside
from “aliens blow things up, people blow aliens up,” that
was so cool that you forgot minor difficulties such as 90’s
computers hacking super advanced aliens or the problem
that literally nobody but America thought to try it. Was
The Force Awakens one of these movies? I’m not sure,
but watching it in the theater nearly convinced me that it
was. It was better than I ever dared hope, better than I could
have possibly imagined. I heard the echoes of what might
have been a better movie, and more worryingly I smelled
the whiff of Star Trek Into Darkness (which came from the
same director). I haven’t looked forward to re-watching
any movie this year more than this one, and it’s the first to
have me excited about a sequel in a very long time. Was
Star Wars: The Force Awakens everything that it promised
to be and more? Sadly, I think that it isn’t. Perhaps it’s the
next best thing, and perhaps it will lead to something far
better in years to come.
Book review
If I were president…
For January’s book review, I chose
Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn. Weyn
has written many other novels and short
stories, her most popular being the Bar
Code series. Set in the early 1900’s, Distant Waves tells
the story of the fate of five sisters. Raised by their psychic
mother, Jane, the second oldest and narrator of the novel,
soon finds her family’s destiny intertwined with Nikola
Tesla, the Titanic, and a mysterious young man named
Thad.
Several WHS students were asked, “What would you do/
change if you were the President of the United States?”
Their answers follow:
by Madison MacDonald
by Emmi Hackbart
An elusive novel, Distant Waves will take you on a
heart-wrenching journey across the Atlantic and will have
you cheering for each and every character.
Valentine’s date?
by Itzel Perez
Totally not in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, several students
were asked if they’d rather be locked in a room with a clown
or Barney. Their responses follow:
• Ariadne Perez (9): clown
• Emily Martinez (9): Barney
• Favian Ramirez (9): Barney
• Juan Garcia (9): clown
• Annabelle Frederick (10): Barney
• Monica Sanchez (10): Barney
• Isaac Tarelo (10): clown
• Daniel Prado (10): Barney
• Jessica Ramirez (11): Barney
• Lizette Almanza (11): clown
• Greg Reyes (11): Barney
• Jason Kerner (11): Barney
• Ana Duran (12): Barney
• Samantha Garcia (12): Barney
• Roy Arana (12): clown
• Marco Delgadillo (12): Barney
Minimum wage poll
by Kailyn Doty
There’s been a lot of talk about the minimum wage in
Idaho, and why a lot of other states have a higher paying
minimum wage than Idaho has. While Idaho’s is at $7.25,
California’s is at $9.00, Washington’s is $9.47, Nevada’s
is $8.25, and Montana’s is $8.05. These are just a few of
Idaho’s surrounding states that have a higher minimum
wage. Several WHS students were asked what they think of
Idaho’s minimum wage and if they think it should change.
Their responses follow:
• Juan Garcia (9): I think it should change because I want
more money.
• Abbey Shirts (9): Iit should change to at least $8.00,
because it’s more reasonable.
• Luke Hansen (10): I think it should change to at least
$9.00.
• Cami Rodriguez (10): I think it’s pretty low. It should go
up at least a dollar.
• Carson Beams (11): I think it shouldn’t change because if
someone wants to make more they need to earn it.
• Taylor Wood (11): I think that it should be the same as
Oregonm which is $9.25.
• Jase Roberts (12): It doesn’t really matter to me because
I work on a farm and get paid more
• any way.
• Camille Weldon (12): I think it should go up so kids can
earn more money for college.
(Source: raisetheminimumwage.com)
2015-16 Wolverine Scoop staff
Officers:
Roy Arana & Jonathon Shaber = Editors
Kaylee Nye & Itzel Perez = Junior editors
Reporters:
Corina Larsen
Trey Little
Hannah Alder Chris Phillips
Emma Burns
Jackson Jensen
Alecia Lundberg
Stella Beams
Melissa Curry
Austen Thomason
Lizette Almanza
Anaya Hill
Kailyn Doty
Mikel Davies
Lillian Burns
Greg Reyes
Bradley Parker
Kyle Ferren
Mia Sanchez
Nina Kommer
Kassidy Hagans
Garrett Hinkley
Kryshna Sylvia
Madison MacDonald
Katie Davis
Tiara Goodenough
DJ Moyle
Daniel Parker
Hope Fuller
Conner Hilt
Kayd Kunz
Melanie Girvin
• Darian Perez (9): “I would eliminate racism.”
• Noah Goertz (9): “no school on Fridays”
• Emily Perez (9): “fee college tuition”
• Haylee Marvin (9): “I would make food free.”
• Danny Olivo (10): “I would stop illegal immigration, but
I wouldn’t deport all the Mexicans.”
• Brenden Hubele (10): “I would swap the gender roles so
women went to work and men stayed home.”
• Brittany Hickey (10): “If you own more than four Nike
sweaters, the rest are free, and bowling is free.”
• Stephanie Lazaro (10): “I would make healthcare free.”
• Garrett Hinkley (11): “I would make college tuition
less expensive so people would still have to pay for an
education and work towards it, but it wouldn’t be free so
they could just throw it away.”
• Ricky Sandoval (11): “I would make all the immigrants
in the U.S. get their papers.”
• Skylar Chavez (11): “I would make everything in the
world free to myself and make myself famous and fit
with a touch of Nicki Minaj.”
• Adrienne Aburto (11): “I would make the smoking age
higher because 18 is way too young.”
• Alex Alba (12): “I would make school days shorter and
start later.”
• Alex Latin (12): “I would make all tacos and Twinkies
free to all people on welfare.”
• Nina Kommer (12): “I would improve the education
system by offering more foreign languages and make
world geography more important.”
• Mackenzie Dalton (12): “I would make health and welfare
a better system by making it available to only people who
need it, and people who don’t can’t access it.”
Skiing vs snowboarding?
by Alecia Lundberg
With January coming to an end, the weather continues to
bring inches of snow to the mountains, and the slopes for
skiers and snowboarders are in their prime. The winter
season is the perfect time to pack a lunch, drive up to a ski
resort for the day, and have fun in the winter wonderland.
A few WHS students were asked whether they prefer to ski
or to snowboard. Their responses follow:
• Sammy Lattin (12): ski
• Becka Johnson (12): ski
• Marco Delgadillo (12): ski
• Mark Galligar (12): ski
• Mikayla Hubele (11): ski
• Cecelia Whitehurst (11): ski
• Ben Wootton (11): ski
• Carson Beams (11): ski
• Emma Davidson (10): ski
• Lexi Zucker (10): ski
• Berke Walker (10): snowboard
• Rein Laan (10): ski
• Mckenna Zanelli (9): snowboard
• Abby Shirts (9): ski
• Braden Bumgarner (9): ski
• Brody vonBrethorst (9): snowboard
How do teachers feel about backpacks back?
by Greg Reyes
This year WHS students were allowed to bring
their backpacks back to classrooms. Students
seem very happy with this policy change, but how do teachers
feel about the addition to already crowded classrooms? Several
staff members were asked to name the positives and negatives
of this change. Their responses follow:
• Mrs. Overgaard - “I hate backpacks. They are in my way,
and it is very difficult to move around, especially with a
full class.”
• Mrs. Rux – “I’m ok with the new rule with backpacks; it
does not influence what we do in the class.”
• Mr. Franklin – “I believe that many teachers have their reasons for not liking the backpacks; I am neutral.”
• Mr. Lundberg – “I feel that it is not a big deal.”
• Mr. Cardenas – “I don’t feel that it is bad; I just don’t want
it to become a problem with food or trust.”
• Mr. Bowe – “I don’t mind the backpacks because I have
rather small classes, so I have no issues.”
• Mr. Hiner – “The backpacks help them to remember their
books better, but I find myself tripping all the time. I don’t
mind it as long as they put them under their desks.”
5
Letter to the editor –
bullying
by Aaron Lowe
The victims are beaten down by words
and sometimes fists. Bullying happens
to many kids. They slowly shut down
trying to keep away from people because they are afraid of
being beaten down again. They slowly lose hope of someone
hearing their silent screams of “Help me, please!” They
slowly lose the will to ask for help and choose to take the
bullying. They need some help but are too afraid to ask.
If you see or hear of someone being bullied, you are their
voice. Use it by asking them if they are okay, then help them
up and go with them to tell an adult. You are the voice of
the beaten victims who have no voice to use because they
have lost all hope. The victims need someone to use the
voice they have to stand up against bullying because even
I have lost my voice due to bullying at a different school.
No one stood up for me, so I, after years of being bullied,
have found my voice. I stand up against bullying because
I know I have a voice. You do too. We are the voice of the
voiceless. Before you lose your voice, use it to step up and
to help those who have lost theirs. You are the voice of the
voiceless.
Comics
submitted
by senior
Skylar
Thomas
Feature
Career of month
by Itzel Perez
After the sinking of the Titanic in
1912, “iceberg mover” became a
profession. The International Ice
Patrol (IIP) is operated by the US
Coast Guard. The purpose of this
operation is to monitor iceberg
danger in the North Atlantic Ocean
and to promote safe navigation, as
well as to eliminate the risk of iceberg collision. Moving an iceberg can take up to 72 hours, so one must
be prepared to work long hours as well as to operate
sophisticated equipment.
(Source: www.oddee.com)
College of
month: Northwest Nazarene
University
by Lillian Burns
Future teachers at WHS?
by Austen Thomason
There is a serious teacher shortage
coming nationwide, and especially in Idaho. Keeping this trend in
mind, several WHS students were
asked, “Would you ever consider
a career in education? Why, why
not? If yes, what level and where?”
Their responses follow:
• Kelvin Price (9): possibly, I
would like to teach 5th grade
level and in a large Idaho city
• Danielle Hoopes (9): no, I would rather travel and
discover stuff
• Karson Brush (9): no, I don’t want to be in school
• Janielle Miller (9): maybe, I really don’t want to
work in Idaho
• Huntley Kenley (10): I’d like to be a high school
English teacher probably somewhere in Washington.
• Sidney Dille (10): yes, I would work in the kindergarten because they get nap time; I would like to
work in Idaho
• Devon Pohl (10): I don’t want to teach because I’m
headed in a different career path.
• Nathan Burris (10): no, I don’t want to grade papers
for the rest of my life
• Wyatt Towner (11): I would not because kids like
bullying me.
• Marissa Goodwin (11): no, I really don’t like children especially in a mass; Idaho pays too little, and
I want to go somewhere else
• Logan Towner (11): I would consider teaching
because it was a childhood dream; I would teach
math but it’s not likely. Yes, I would work in Idaho.
• Hope Fuller (11): yes, I would want to be a PE
teacher at a high school
• Trey Little (12): no, I could not deal with the kids
• Nina Kommer (12): no, not really. I could not imagine teaching children every day, especially not for
this salary
• Shane Loughran (12): no, they don’t get paid enough
• Rylie Zucker (12): no, both my parents are in education and even though I would want to make a
difference in kids’ lives it’s a stressful job
Northwest Nazarene
University is located in Nampa, Idaho. NNU was
founded in 1913 and is sponsored by the Church of
the Nazarene. NNU’s average class size is 18 students,
with a total of 1300 undergraduate students and 700
graduate students in attendance. NNU is represented by colors red and black, and their mascot is the
crusaders. This private university offers 42 majors
and promotes four major values of transformation,
truth, community, and service. NNU students are not
required to be of the Nazarene faith in order to attend
school; however, students must follow “lifestyle requirements” that all students must follow that have
been set by the NNU administration. The average ACT
score of NNU students is a 23. Northwest Nazarene
students come from all over the northwest and many
foreign countries such as Guinea, Cameroon, Kenya,
Ethiopia, and South Africa. NNU is accredited by the
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
and has been consistently rated by U.S. News & World
Report as one of the top master’s-level universities in
the west as well as by the Princeton Review’s “Book
of The Best Western Colleges.”
(Source: http://www.nnu.edu/)
This day in history –
Jan 28
by Bradley Parker
Strange holidays - Feb
by Bradley Parker
*Change Your Password Day: Feb 1
* Crepe Day: Feb 2
*World Play Your Ukulele Day: Feb 2
*The Day The Music Died: Feb 3
*Liberace Day: Feb 4
*World Nutella Day: Feb 5
*Girl Scout Cookie Day: Feb 6
*Dump Your Significant Jerk Day: Feb 7
*Laugh and Get Rich Day: Feb 8
*National Pizza Day: Feb 9
*All The News That’s Fit To Print Day: Feb 10
*Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day: Feb 11
*Paul Bunyan Day: Feb 12
*Get a Different Name Day: Feb 13
*Batman Sticker Day: Feb 14
*National Gumdrop Day: Feb 15
*National Almond Day: Feb 16
*Champion Crab Races Day: Feb 17
*Cow Milked While Flying In An Airplane Day: Feb
18
*National Lashes Day: Feb 19
*Love Your Pet Day: Feb 20
*International Mother Language Day: Feb 21
*World Thinking Day: Feb 22
*National Dog Biscuit Day: Feb 23
*Inconvenience Yourself Day: Feb 24
*National Chili Day: Feb 25
*National Bacon Day: Feb 26
*International Sword Swallowers Day: Feb 27
*National Tooth Fairy Day: Feb 28
*Rare Diseases Day: Feb 29
(Source: http://www.brownielocks.com/Feb.html)
Exotic creature
- saiga
by Melissa Curry
Those students who
have taken part in
Mr. Walker ’s art
class will find this
organism a lot more
familiar than those
students who have not. This strange-looking land
creature is a type of antelope commonly known as
the saiga antelope. It looks normal enough until one
notices its distinctly strange nose, something like a
deformed elephant trunk or, for Star Wars fans, like the
nose of a certain alien from a desert planet. While the
saiga’s nose looks useless for such a graceful creature,
it actually helps the antelope to breathe in its natural
habitat, the dry steppes and semi deserts of Mongolia,
Kazakhstan, and Kalmykia. It filters out and cools the
kicked up dusty air during summer migrations and
heats air before releasing it into the lungs during the
winter, therefore reducing heat loss. Ranging from 3.8
to 4.8 feet in length and 2 to 2.6 feet high, supported
by thin legs that can propel it up to 48 miles per hour
for a short amount of time, bearing a wooly undercoat
and coarse outercoat to protect against cool weather,
able to see as far as .6 miles away, and the male gender
boasting wax-colored almost translucent horns that are
tapered, heavily ridged, and very sharp; the saiga is
truly an animal prepared to deal with mother nature.
Unfortunately, in the near future this creature may
be referred to in the same sentences as saber-tooth
tigers and wooly mammoths as it is now officially
endangered.
• 1547- King Henry Ⅷ of England died and his nine-yearold son, Edward Ⅵ, assumed
the throne.
• 1915- Congress passed legislation creating the U.S. Coast
(Sources: http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/
Guard.
• 1916- The First Jewish Associate Justice of the monster-week/animals-almost-too-strange-to-be-beSupreme Court, Louis Brandeis, was appointed. lieved/; http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/saiga.htm)
1986-U.S. Shuttle Challenger exploded 72 seconds
after liftoff, killing all seven crew members aboard,
including school teacher Christa McAuliffe.
• 1999- The Creation of Element 114 was announced
by scientists.
• 2003- In his second State of the Union Address,
President Bush presented his case for war with Iraq.
(Source: www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory/January-28)
6
Ibarra is back!
History of Mardi Gras
by Bradley Parker
by Kassidy Hagans
1. The birthstone for
February is amethyst.
2. Two zodiac signs for
February are Aquarius
(Jan 20 - Feb 18) and Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20).
3. The month has 29
days in leap years, when
the year number is divisible by four. In common
years the month has 28 days.
4. Viola (plant) and the Primrose are the birth
flowers.
5. Black History Month is celebrated in Canada and
United States.
6. National Day of the Sun is celebrated in Argentina.
7. In order to complete the Soviet Union’s victory
in Stalingrad during World War II, the last German
troops surrendered in the Stalingrad pocket.
8. On Feb 4, 1861, a temporary committee met
at Montgomery, Alabama where they organized a
Confederate States of America.
9. On Feb 6, 1933, Amendment 20 to the United
States was proclaimed which moved Inauguration
Day to Jan 20th.
10. In Feb 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was
incorporated.
11. On Feb 6, 1899, the U.S. Senate ratified the
peace treaty that led to the end of the Spanish-American War.
12. On Feb 6, 1952, Princess Elizabeth became
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
13. Feb 11 - National Foundation Day in Japan
14. Feb 12 - Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
15. Feb 14 - Valentine’s Day
16. Feb 21 - International Mother Language Day
17. Feb 22 - Independence Day in Saint Lucia
18. Feb 22 - George Washington’s birthday
19. Feb 24 - Flag Day of Mexico
20. Feb 25 - People Power Revolution (Philippines)
Cancer a sad word that can
change someone’s life. On
May 28, 2015, our beloved
custodian Ted Ibarra was
diagnosed with cancer. He
then went through seven
weeks of radiation and six
weeks of chemotherapy
to treat his cancer. Now that he is back, he is
feeling 80%. A coin drive was organized by the
National Honor Society in his honor to raise
money to help him through this stressful time.
Prayers were offered for Ted so that he could
come back to brighten everyone’s day. Ted
gives thanks to all the people who helped him.
He especially wants to thank the students nd
staff of WHS for all of their support. Although
it was hard, he learned that people are nice and
that cancer is a nasty disease. Ted is very happy
to be back and to see the students again.
Mardi Gras dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries and was called Boeuf Gras or “fatted calf”.
In 1703, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, a French-Canadian explorer, arrived at
a plot of land 60 miles directly from New Orleans and named it Pointe de Mardi Gras when his
men realized that it was the eve of this festive
holiday. In 1703 they celebrated the first American Mardi Gras.
February fun facts
(Source: http://www.famousbirthdays.com/
facts-about-february.htm)
What is your
favorite part of
Valentine’s day?
by Hope Fuller
Valentine’s Day will
come around next
month. Some love it –
some hate it. Several
WHS students were asked to name their favorite
part of the “holiday”. Their responses follow:
•Wyatt Johnson (9): all the chocolate
•Keegan Webb (9): My family is always happy.
•Sydney Cobb (9): I don’t like Valentine’s day.
•Shelby Allen (9): hanging with friends
•Edward Bittinger (10): relaxing
•Isaac Tarelo (10): chocolate
•Taylor Colella (10): staying at home and having
a good cry because I’m lonely
•Tara Howard (10): stay home and be a loner
•Bridger Bumgarner (11): watching romantic
chick flicks
•Carson Beams (11): watching people embarrass
themselves
•Aly Greene (11): staying home and watching
Netflix
•Diana Juarez (11): candy
•Alexander Lattin (12): It means I can break up
with my girlfriend the next day.
•Mark Galligar (12): Nariah Chappel
•Angie Hernandez (12): hysterically crying
while watching Twilight
•Fatima Alvarez (12): candy
National pizza
day
by Bradley Parker
National pizza day is
celebrated annually on
Feb 9th. It’s designed
for people to enjoy
the many different types of pizza including the
crust, Chicago style, deep dish, and anything in
between. Pizza is an American favorite, and on
average three billion pizzas are sold in the USA
each year, not including another one billion frozen
pizzas. The average American consumer eats 23
pounds of pizza every year. Pizza is a great food
that many Americans enjoy, so I challenge people
to have a slice on Feb 9 to celebrate this wonderful
day dedicated to pizza.
(Source: www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-pizza-day-february-9/)
Monthly quote
by Melissa Curry
by Kyle Ferren
New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Bienville,
and by the 1730’s Mardi Gras was celebrated
openly in New Orleans but not with the parades
known today. In the early 1740’s, the mayor of
New Orleans established elegant balls that then
formed into the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls
of today. The first reference of Mardi Gras carnivals is in 1781.
Through the centuries the holiday molded into
what is now known all over the world as Mardi
Gras.
(Source: www.//mardigrasneworleans.com)
National bacon day
by Bradley Parker
Feb 26th is national bacon
day. This is to celebrate the
delicious bacon that we as
Americans enjoy. The meat
is made from pork belly in America in Canada.
It is cured in either a sold brine or salt pack. This
meat can also be made from the side and back cuts
of pork. In other countries the smell of bacon is so
well liked that people buy bacon-scented popcorn,
soap, candles, air fresheners, and even perfume.
National bacon day is a great day to enjoy bacon
and its crispy shell.
“I exist, I am, I am here, I
(Source: www.nationaldaycalendar.com/baam becoming, I make my
con-day)
own life and no one else
makes it for me. I must
face my own shortcomings, mistakes, transgressions. No one can suffer my non-being as I do,
but tomorrow is another day, and I must decide
Nonsense word
to leave my bed and live again.” ~Leo Buscaglia
by Kailyn Doty
(Source: http://skinnyartist.com/150-amazing- This month’s nonsense word is
quotes-to-feed-your-creative-soul/)
winklepicker. I asked boys and
International Friendship Week
by Daniel Parker
International Friendship Week is an event taking
place from Feb 8-12. Schools from around the
world teach about human rights. The event was
created by teachers and has a curriculum of school
activities made for the children to understand and
learn about human rights. The event is meant for
children to interact with each other and to have
a good time.
(Source: https://www.amnesty.ie/friendshipweek)
girls from each grade to guess the
definition. Here’s what they said!
• Braden Bumgarner (9) - a small Asian servant that
picks your winkle for you
• Lacey Wilson (9) - a type of flower
• Taylor Doty (10)- a collection of pickle jars
• Jasmine Hall (10) - someone who picks pickles
• Ben Wootton (11) - someone who rides horses
• Skylar Chavez (11) - someone that picks on people
that wink
• Logan Rowley (12) - a clothing brand
• Tyler Kenley (12) - a British insult
Good guesses everyone, very creative! A winklepicker
is actually a style of shoe or boot in the 1950’s with a
sharp and long pointed toe.
(Source: voxy.com)
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Comics submitted by senior Skylar Thomas
WHS STUDENTS:
Color the picture on the
back page each month
and turn it in, with your
name and grade, to Mrs.
Gonzales in Room 13 to
win an awesome little
prize.
Comics submitted by soph. Daniel Parker
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