Issue 1, Series 87 Newton High School; 900 W 12th; Newton, KS 67114 Aug. 20, 2010

Newtonianthe

railernews.com

NHS bucket list

pg 5

Seniors offer advice to freshmen pg 3Meet the new teachers pg 6

Pictures of new parts of NHS pg 8

Paying attentionFreshmen watch one of the numerous new orientation videos made by Assistant Princi-pal Roger Erickson. Videos were presented to students in place of the frequent visits to the auditorium as past freshman classes had experienced.

photo by Shannon Ahlstedt

newsPage 2 The Newtonian Aug. 20, 2010

emma bradleynews editor

Throughout the summer, the big question on everyone’s mind has been, “Will the construction at the high school be finished by the time school starts?”

Principal Ken Rickard says yes.“We will have everything completed sufficiently

to have school,” Rickard said.When students walked into the school Friday

morning, many walked in through the recently completed main entrance of the building. With the new entrance to the building come new safety rules.

After school begins each day, the entry doors in the senior locker section will be locked. This will help to enforce the policy that all visitors much check in at the reception area before entering the rest of the building.

However, the doors will be unlocked during lunch so students who wish to go outside for fresh air or leave campus for lunch will have that opportunity.

The doors in the Willis Gym area will remain unlocked throughout the day so students can travel to and from classes in other buildings.

As well as locking the doors, many more security cameras were installed throughout the building.

English teacher Mary Beck is one of the many teachers who will be moving into a new classroom this year.

“I will definitely be in (my new room) teaching on the first day of school,” Beck said.

Beck will be teaching in her new room. However, she expects her classroom will not be completely finished.

Many classrooms have things that need to be cleaned or painted or have furniture that needs to

be assembled. Outside, the irrigation system still needs to be completed.

“After two years of seeing the construction, we’re finally getting there,” Rickard said.

Although not everything has been completed, Rickard expects all construction to be finished by the end of the month.

“It’s been a long project,” Rickard said. “I don’t foresee anything stopping completion.”

‘All construction completed by end of month’

photos by Shannon AhlstedtSchool prideWalking through the front entrance, this is the view students will see. These emblems can be found in several places of the new areas.a piece of workA construction worker welds the top of the columns. These pieces of artwork were created by NHS art classes.

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opinionsAug. 20, 2010 The Newtonian Page 3

Don’t be afraid

to ask questions.

Someone will

have a useful

answer.

~Alec Stahly

Take advantage of every second because you never know what could happen from one second to the next. ~Austin Ahrens

Stay caught up

on your work.

Nothing feels

worse than being

behind!

~Brielle Hennes

Get out of the way when we’re walking in the hallways. Its like driving - stay on

the right side. ~Brittany Grosch

Don’t always

congest your

locker section.

And expect

a prank this

year...maybe.

~Wes Derstine

You’ve got four years left of school, make the most of it. If you want to get involved in something, like sports, theater, clubs, anything...just do it. Don’t even think twice about it; you’ll regret it later on if you miss out on something you really wanted to do. ~Taylor Brown

Get involved right away, make new friends and stay close to those that have always been there for you. Enjoy the next four years as much as you can because they are here and gone before you know it.~Kyle Fiedler

Make the most of

your young age.

I find the older

you get, the faster

time flies; for the

worse.

~Breckyn

Dawson

Words of wisdomSeniors offer advice to

incoming freshmen

Get involved

or you will

REGRET it.

~John Wright

Be respectful to the upperclassmen. ~Jon Alexander

opinionsPage 4 The Newtonian Aug. 20, 2010

Ashley Murrell Tyler ProchAzkAeditor-in-chief

As the first chime of the year sounds, freshmen timidly walk the halls avoiding those awkward encounters with the up-perclassmen.

Sophomores heave a sigh of relief knowing they are no longer at the bot-tom of the totem pole, but prepare for the gruesome schedule ahead.

Juniors can now reap the benefits of upperclassmen status and begin to look into life after high school.

Seniors enter the year with bittersweet emotion; only one more year of those familiar faces seen since kindergarten but

anxious that the journey through life is just beginning.

But all have one goal: graduation. About 98 percent of students that

attend Newton public schools graduate, according to Public School Review. Some walk the stage barely squeaking by. Others walk with a resume fit for Harvard.

It might be impressive to have this resume, but in the broader scheme of life, school should only take a small but healthy fraction of life’s priorities. Cer-tainly, schoolwork is essential to future prosperity but the most important life lessons will not be found in a dusty history book.

In essence, strive to live. Take risks. If

necessary, fail. That is what makes indi-viduals stronger and happier. That is what shapes the most successful among us. Constricting life to rigid restrictions will ensure a life of scheduled boredom.

Never regret failure, regret never try-ing.

Some of the biggest risks in high school are the risks from branching out and meeting new people. The most vulnerable moments are when individuals reveal their true selves to another. Regardless, it es-sential to make these connections – noth-ing matters more than having a close circle of trusted friends.

Obtaining these connections means getting involved. Countless activities are

offered by NHS providing an entry into friendships with those who share similar interests.

The certificate that’s handed to a stu-dent on graduation day will whittle away with time, but the friendships made in the process will last a lifetime.

Freshman, sophomore, junior or se-nior; in a few years, these titles will blend together. Looking back at a high school yearbook, it is doubtful the math final will be the first thought in mind.

It is the memories of the risks taken and the friends made that truly make a high school career successful.

Here’s to another great year filled with friends and new adventures at NHS.

NHS LETTER JACKETS

Anderson Office SupplyMain & Broadway Newton 283-3570

WelcomeBAck!

online editor-in-chief

Ashley Murrell editor-in-chiefTyler Prochazka online editor-

in-chiefEmma Bradley news editorAlex Stucky news assistantLarrah Bills sports editorCody Mick sports editorTyler Brotton opinions editorJoanna Epp entertainment

editorErin Regier fine arts editorMindy Ragsdale features editorBrenda Valdivia random railers editorShannon Ahlstedt photo editorBrandon Hanchett covers

editorDeAnna Opland photographer

Maddie Anderson cartoonist, photographer

Katie Meyers business managerKyle Wiens online assistantErica Rickard adviserThe Newtonian316-284-6280 ext. 2117900 W. 12thNewton, Ks 67114

the newtonian staffLetters to the EditorThe Newtonian may accept letters to the editor, guest columns and news releases from students, faculty, administrators, community residents and the general public. Submissions should be 300 words or less and contain the author’s name, address and signature. All submissions will be verified. The Newtonian editorial board reserves the right to withhold a letter, column or other submission and/or return it for revision if it contains unprotected speech or grammatical errors that could hamper its meaning.Letters to the editor, guest columns and other submissions can be given to the editor-in-chief or adviser, delivered to room 1-113 or be e-mailed to thenewtonian@gmail.com.

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1. Go to Newell’s restaurant

2. Show up at a pep assembly and participate

3. Eat at Druber’s Donut Shop

4. Get freaky on dress up days

5. Dance the night away at homecoming

6. Attend a math class with Barbara Umscheid

7. Strut an expensive outfit at prom and build a masterpiece at prom building

8. Get daily updates and sports scores from Railernews.com

9. Leave for lunch and actually get back on time

10. Collect and read every issue of the Newtonian

11. Join a club and make an effort to actually go

12. Witness the enormous number of sports available and attend a game

13. Check out Charle Triggs’ senior picture wall

14. Make a new friend with one of the librarians

15. Keep those fingers crossed that a snow day will be called

16. High five the Railerman

17. Try out the lunchroom’s slushes

18. Become a star in Roger Er-ickson’s state assessment video

19. Pull a harmless senior prank and still walk at graduation.

20. Write in to the Newtonian about something ridiculously upsetting

21. Gain 10 pounds at the YEK Market Day

22. Read an entire book - one not required for English class

23. Show off that brainy side and make the honor roll

24. Discover NHS’ acting and singing ability at a musical or play

25. Burn those Market Day calories by trying out for a sport

26. Support local business and have a fun night with friends at the Taste of Newton

27. G r a d u a t e w i t h o u t a ny r e g r e t s

opinionsAug. 20, 2010 The Newtonian Page 5

27 things to do before leaving NHS

new teachersPage 6 The Newtonian Aug. 20, 2010

MEET THE NEW TEACHERSYears teaching: 24Position: Vo-Ag instruc-tor and FFA sponsorHobbies: Hunting, fish-ing, raising sheep and cattleGoals for the school year: “Be a productive staff member of NHS and make a differ-ence in students’ lives.”

Years teaching: FivePosition: World HistoryHobbies: Weight train-ing, coaching, family and friendsGoals for the school year: “To improve my classroom motivational skills.”

Years teaching: OnePosition: Interrelated Special EducationHobbies: Reading and keep-ing up with familyGoals for the school year: “Put into practice what I’ve studied the last years, contribute to the team of teachers in the department and build relationships with the students.”

Years teaching: SevenPosition: Physical Education, Track and Football CoachHobbies: FishingGoals for the school year: “Fit in with the staff, and get to know students.”

Years teaching: OnePosition: Family and Consumer ScienceHobbies: Baking, reading, spending time with family and friendsGoals for the school year: “Get to know the staff and students and have a successful year.”

Jeff Comer Molly Schauf

Tony Hein

Lowell Ely

Nancy Rogers

Schauf

ElyComer

Hein

Rogers

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Boys soccerWith many summer hours

devoted to conditioning and a large talent pool for the season, the boys soccer team is looking forward to the upcoming months. After last year’s upset at state, the team has a “desire to go further this year,” coach Scott Jantzi said.

“Last year we had something to prove. This year, we have a big target on our back. No game will be a walk in the park. Every team on our schedule will be talented and a good test of our character,” Jantzi said.

During the summer months, the team has done many activi-ties to get in shape and prepare for this season.

“Coach (Robin) Montano has been working out with a good number of the guys in the morn-ing out at Chris Rangel’s studio out at the Outlet Mall,” Jantzi said. “They have worked on strength and conditioning most of the summer.”

Besides conditioning, many of the players competed in a summer league at Bethel College, and some traveled to McPherson, where they won all three of the matches played that day.

“With a combination of our young talent and this year’s seniors,” Jantzi said. “We should be able to compete at a high level again this year.”

VolleyballThis year the volleyball team

and its coaches hope to compete well against teams they have not even seen play.

“We are in a new league this year, so we are excited to see some new competition and see how we compete against new teams,” assistant coach Lisa

Yoder said. “We have been work-ing every week this summer on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the girls also lifted weights.”

Yoder said they have a great returning team this year.

“We will miss seniors from last year,” Yoder said, “but we have a really strong team coming back. We will be a team to be reckoned with.”

Cross countryOver the summer, cross coun-

try runners were logging miles to work up to the new season. There were five mileage clubs runners could achieve, the 500 mile club being the best. If that goal was achieved, runners were likely to have a good season. With a week left to accumulate miles, several runners are striving for that goal.

“The boys have a solid group of newcomers who will compete for varsity spots,” head coach Richard Mick said.

“Our girls team has a big senior class, and we will rely on them for leadership,” Mick said.

The cross country team will be working this season to “develop depth.”

The first meet is Sept. 4 at Manhattan.

Girls golfHitting and working on short

game are only some of the many activities that the girls golf team has been trying to perfect before the season starts.

“I saw more players working on their game during the summer than ever before,” coach Joanie Pauls said. “They’re committed.”

Pauls is excited about the upcoming months.

“We want to consistently im-prove throughout the season and

repeat the trip to state,” Pauls said. “We do have to replace four varsity players (due to last year’s graduated seniors).”

Though replacing those play-ers might not be easy, coach Pauls is still optimistic about this season.

“(I’m looking forward to) see-ing the girls grow as players and individuals because we have a family atmosphere,” she said.

GymnasticsThe gymnastics team has

proven themselves. After budget cuts, the gymnastics team had to raise money to be able to com-pete last season. Everything came together when they tied for the state title.

The team is back this season and ready to win the state title once more.

“Our goals are to help all of our gymnasts to work to their potential and learn lifelong skills through the athletic and artistic sport of gymnastics,” head coach JoAnne Thaw said.

The team has numerous returning state champions from last year. Thaw considers this a benefit.

“Having four seniors is an advantage because they are seri-ous about reaching their own career goals, and they put forth that winning attitude and work ethic in the room. That is a great advantage to us,” Thaw said.

In the upcoming months, Thaw is looking forward to “working with another group of hardworking and fun girls who like each other and love gymnas-tic.”

The teams first meet is Sept. 9 against Emporia at NHS.

FootballRight through the brutal

heat of the summer, the football team has been preparing for the move up to AVCTL Division I.

“Division I is the best football league in the state,” head Coach Brent Glann said.

This is a big change for the Railers, but Glann is optimistic.

“If we can be successful at this schedule, we can play with anybody,” Glann said.

The team’s goal has been to improve daily and focus on not letting outside distractions get in the way.

“If we do that, the wins and losses will take care of them-selves,” Glann said.

The boys will play against a challenging group of teams, the toughest being Hutchinson, McPherson and Emporia.

Glann said the thing he is most looking forward to in the upcom-ing months is “how this team competes, week in and week out, against what could be the tough-est schedule this school has ever played.”

The varsity boys start their season Sept. 3 against Maize at Fischer Field.

Girls TennisBefore the season even starts,

the girls tennis players find it very important to become the best they can as early as they can.

“We have been working really hard all summer long,” coach Nick Sisson said.

With all of the hard work put in this summer, the tennis team can look “forward to a successful season,” Sisson said.

Sisson insisted that because of the talent possessed by the team and the work put into the sum-mer, that they will be a tougher team this year.

“We have many freshmen who have been working during the off season,” he said.

Fall sports previews by sports editors Cody MiCk and Larrah BiLLs

sportsaug. 20, 2010 The Newtonian page 7

Fall sports previewillustrations by Cody M

ick

photo essayPage 8 The Newtonian Aug. 20, 2010