The Sound Of No Bells by Briar Ahlborn

The Sound Of No Bells

            Being part of a school you always just assume you will hear a certain ringing at the end of class. That ring represents a kind of freedom to the students, gives us students something to look forward to the second we walk into the school, a better reason to watch the clock for. The bell was like a key that unlocked us to the hallways and, sooner or later, the doors to the world. Even teachers obey the sound of a bell, to release them to home. It unlocks them from teacher world, setting them free to go home, do what they enjoy and then return to the world of bells every hour.

            The school administrator made the suggestion for no bells, And I strongly disagree. No bells are a ridiculous idea and shouldn’t even be considered for any school. Let’s say you think you are running late to a class and aren’t one hundred percent aware of what time school officially starts or a class and, in this incidence, your last hope of knowing is the sound of the bell. You are working out of class, say in your school commons area to focus, or in the hallway with no clocks while listening to music as allowed by certain teachers. You’re really focused on your work and wearing headphones you wouldn’t have to worry, just listen for the high pitch blare of the class bell dismissing you to your next class.

With no bells you lose track of time and end up late, with nobody to ask about the time. With no bells you are in a constant argument with teachers or other students about what time the class ended. You are hovering by the door with the rest of the crowd because you’re not sure if the clock in your classroom is accurate. Better to be early than late, but if we had bells all we have to do is sit in class, still hard at work and wait for the bells to dismiss you. Otherwise you’re stuck wasting your time at the doorway with every other classmate eager to leave to the next hour.

Having bells saves you time, all the time you spent standing at the door waiting for the teacher to dismiss you, you could have been using that same time dedicated to your homework or extra class work.

These are just the few problems with having no bells in a high school. The benefit of having bells is much higher than no bells at all. If you want to complicate your school, take the bells away. No bells are a waste of time and should not be recommended for any high school.

By Briar Ahlborn

A class visit from Jim Asendio

A Class Visit from Jim Asendio

            It was just another boring day at Mission High School. I was ready to go home, take a three hour nap, and pig out on some junk food, but no, I still had to go to my seventh period Journalism class. To my surprise, my Journalism class had a visitor. I have never seen the man before in my life, and I would have never thought he was as famous as he really is. When I saw him I thought, “Oh yay, another boring speaker.” Surprisingly the speaker was not boring in any way, and I was wrong.

            The speaker was Jim Asendio. Jim Asendio has been working in the journalism business basically all his life. Asendio works for public radio in Washington, D.C. He previously worked at WAMU-FM as a Washington news director. Jim has been all over in journalism, from broadcasting, producing, and interviewing. Jim is so big in the journalism business he has even interviewed Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, and 50 Cent. In fact, during his interview with Mike Tyson, Jim gave Tyson advice about his money… Now 50 Cent owns Mike Tyson’s old home.

Jim Asendio’s stories kept me interested. He was an amazingly great speaker. He’s definitely inspired me to be a better journalist in my class.

By Cierra Dougherty

FCCLA by Allie Kosherbek

FCCLA

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (or FCCLA), is one of the volunteering clubs at Mission High School.

The Advisor of FCCLA club is Mrs. Cable, who is also a teacher of FACS and advisor of SOAR club. Mrs. Cable has been advising this club for 17 years.

In general, FCCLA is a service organization that teaches kids about the family, leadership skills, career opportunities, and so on.

The difference between FCCLA and other volunteering clubs is that the main goal of FCCLA is provide help to people. For example, organizing fundraising for the food bank, nursing, babysitting, etc. In addition, FCCLA provides  Christmas socks for kids and Christmas trees for families who cannot afford them. All in all, FCCLA provides any kind of help for the community and people in need.

How can you become a member of FCCLA? It is a  limited membership club that usually consists of 12-15 students.  First, you should fill the application form and have it signed by one of your parents. Not all applications are accepted, so write your best. FCCLA looks for thoughtful and responsible students full of creative ideas for helping our community.

Generally, there are juniors and seniors, but freshmen and sophomores are always welcome.

There are several conferences during the year that students can take a trip, e.g., conference in Spokane on November 15-17. Also there’s a State conference in March in Billings.

FCCLA meetings are usually held on Thursday every 2 weeks during the lunch.

If you plan to study at college and get a scholarship, or you like volunteering and helping people, apply for FCCLA. Take your time on the application!

Remember, it is a great investment in your future and the future of our community.

By Allie Kosherbek.

Breaking Down the Dress Code by Cierra Dougherty

Breaking Down the Dress Code

Just like every other school, our school has a dress code, which regulates what we wear daily.

Although we have a dress code, most students get away with what they wear. For example, you are not supposed to wear sunglasses or bandanas, but students do it anyway. They get away with the short shorts and skirts exceeding past their fingertips. Students also wear shirts showing cleavage, advertising drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. Also, girls get away with wearing tank tops with straps that are under three inches.

Some of the dress code rules, in my opinion, are absolutely ridiculous and horrid. For example, girls’ backs and shoulders aren’t supposed to be showing when they’re wearing a certain shirt to school. What is so bad about a shoulder and a back? Nothing. Therefore, that rule is idiotic and pointless, but some of the dress code rules are definitely needed around here. For example, shirts can’t be lower than 3 inches from the top of the sternum with minimal exposure. I definitely don’t want to see all the rez-rats’ cleavage.

The dress code definitely needs some updating, so all the ludicrous rules are gone, but retaining the rules that keep girls looking appropriate and classy.

By Cierra Dougherty

Dressing Up by Cierra Dougherty

Dressing Up

            In high school, at the beginning of the school year, we have a week of fun. That week of fun and nonsense is Homecoming, which is held to honor the alumni. Homecoming is filled with great events, school pride, game events, no homework, and dressing up like fools.

            Dressing up during homecoming is the best part. You can dress up like complete fools, and almost everybody joins in because it is a competition between classes. During the week of greatness, they have certain dress up days.

            The dress up days are created by the high school student council and representatives of each grade level. What they came up with on one fine and creative day was: Monday- Famous Person Day, Tuesday- Toga Day, Wednesday- Redneck/ Hillbilly Day, Thursday- Era Day, and, of course, Friday- Blue and White Day.

            The days are pretty self-explanatory. Monday you dress as a famous person, like Marilyn Monroe. Tuesday you pretty much wear a sheet to school, but thankfully, it needs to be school-appropriate. And when I say thankfully, I really mean I’m glad I don’t have to see Ryce literally go all out. That would be nasty. On Wednesday dress up like you’re REALLY from Montana. Thursday, like last year because they are so original, you dress up from a different decade. And last, but not least, Friday, you dress up with your school colors and show school pride.

            This coming week of homecoming should be a blast.

By Cierra Doughery

Interviewing McKenzie by Cierra Dougherty

Interviewing McKenzie

           

            For the new school year of 2014, we have gotten a few new high-schoolers and teachers, all of them being pretty cool and interesting. All the high school kids, being as friendly as we are, have already greeted them to the new school year and made friends with them in no time. Sadly, no one took the time to actually get to know them, by asking where they’re from and if it was hard moving to a new school, so I decided to take on the job. When I took on the job of interviewing one of the new faces here, one high-schooler struck me, and that was McKenzie McElderry, my kindergarten best friend.

            McKenzie had gone to school here before, but unfortunately, moved away in kindergarten and now she is back to graduate with her “original” class. She’s originally from Ronan, but when she moved away she went to school in Corvallis. She came back to St. Ignatius High School because she had to move back. Moving back here from her previous high school, leaving all her good friends behind, was hard. 

            Even though, leaving all her good friends behind at her old school was hard, she likes St. Ignatius High School so far. She’s met up with a few classmates from back in our kindergarten days, and her grandparents live here also.

            Since McKenzie just moved here, she doesn’t currently have a job. And when she is not in school, doing a hundred hours of homework, and has some free time, McKenzie likes to play her guitar.

By Cierra Dougherty

Students Serving the Community by Cierra Dougherty

Students Serving the Community

At Mission High School, one of the requirements to graduate is having 40 hours of community service. Unfortunately, if you’re like me, a senior with 13 hours of community service, you’re going to need major help. Thankfully, Students Serving Community (SSC) is here.

             The club does activities to gain community service hours in order to help you graduate. Two years ago, it was created by Austin Durglo and Mrs. Keast. Now that Austin is graduated, Mrs. Keast runs it and the group plans activities of what we can do for service hours.

            Just last weekend, we did a highway cleanup. It was an easy and fun 2 hours of community service. Not only do we do highway cleanups, we do other fun things too, like making cards for the elderly in nursing homes, or baking treats for fundraising. Those are just a few activities, though joining the club is very beneficial. It helps you graduate, it’s easy, and the best part is it’s fun. Joining the club is fairly simple. Brenda announces the meeting in the morning, and the meeting is held during lunch. All you have to do is get your lunch to go, head to the meeting and sign a sheet saying you are a part of SSC. If you missed the first meeting, then go to the next one, the club would gladly accept you. I would highly recommend to any student to join SSC.

By Cierra Dougherty