The staff at The Echoes would like to sincerely wish you a happy new year! We would also like to invite you to check out our 3rd and 4th issues online, which you can found under the “Current Issues” tab.
Enjoy your year!
- The Echoes
ShareStory by Victoria Holcomb
College View Elementary, home of the Little Lynx, was built and ready for students to come and learn in only days before the ribbon cutting on the 16th of August during their back to school night. At this back to school night the Abraham Lincoln mascot the Lynx came and took pictures with the students as well as high fives and hugs. The choosing of their mascot was due to an online voting pole, committee meetings, along with the notation of the high school. Abraham Lincoln, home of the Lynx, schooling several hundred students daily is only right down the hill from where College View Elementary was built, it seemed like a perfect fit. Besides the indication of being right next to Iowa Western, the name of College View seems to match perfectly to the mascot chosen.
College View has the ability to have growing neighborhoods with all the open land around them, along with increasing enrollment with several schools in the district closing. Enrollment goals were not only met but exceedingly high for being a new school with no housing anywhere near. With extremely high enrollment all the classes are packed full, but all the kids seem to love their school.
“As far as it seems; all the kids like their new school, are extremely excited to come every day and seem to brag about it to all their friends,” said Mrs. Rice, Principal at College View.
And even with the chaos of College View being a new school, all the talk and large enrollment numbers everything still seems to be going very smoothly. All the parents are great, supportive and adaptive to the change in placement of where his or her child or children are being educated at. While sitting in their cars waiting for that bell to ring at 3:35, these parents wonder what kind of story his or her child will tell them that day, while, all the students are getting lined up and ready, chatting amongst themselves, all looking very happy and anxious.
This elementary school, unlike all others in its district offers a Spanish course to students that wish to enroll in it. College View is known as a candidate school for primary years program and is pursing authorization as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Which wants students to commit high quality; challenging, international education which the school thinks is very important to their students. Besides being an IB league school, the teachers and parents and staff only want the best, and all the normal characteristics still apply.
College View can effect several people in AL because of the new teachers that work there and all of the new students that attend. Emma Preston ‘14, is effected by this this indirectly. Her little sister is in first grade as well as her mother who has started teaching there this year.
“The faculty is nice, education is great and school has a great facility,” said Emma Preston, ‘14.
With only a start to this school year; there is still plenty of room for change and improvement to school staff and education. College View is viewed by students and staff of AL alike as a great place for kids to be.
“I lost power from 8:30pm last night to 2:30pm (the following day),” said Paige Branson ‘13. “ We had to call the fire department because of a power wire that was on fire. But, anyway I had to take a shower in the dark and all that good stuff.”
During the time of the storm many students were present at numerous different places. Whether it happened to be the roaring winds, loud thunder, or hard hail the storm definitely could be heard wherever they happened to be.
“I was at my house during the storm,” said Holly Jensen ‘14. “ I could hear the hail on the roof.”
No matter where one was during the storm, the aftermath seemed the toughest to deal with because some damages were unknown.
“We do not know about the roof of our house but our porch roof has a bunch of holes in it,” said Jensen.
From street to street if one was to go around the town afterwards, more damages would be a more common sight then others. Broken windows, fallen branches and trees around houses were a common sight. The most common sight at school, however, happened to be damages to the cars.
“The back window (of my car) was completely out due to the hail,” said Ashley Vanderpool ‘12. “The trimming on the front window came out and on the driver’s side, the headlight is all busted out, and the passenger headlight has a few cracks in it.”
Many damages due to the storm can be fixed, but the night of this storm will not be forgotten for many students and teachers at AL.
(Story by Lauren Myers. Pictures courtesy of Hayley Hochstetler. Graphic by Brian Williams.)
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On March 30, players on the football team were told that head coach Justin Kammrad was resigning for a head coaching position at Papillion (NE) Lavista South High School. However, before the players could even complete the grieving process they were faced with yet another turn of events–Kammrad has withdrawn his resignation and will remain at AL.
“[I chose to stay because of] family and personal reasons,” said Kammrad. “I absolutely felt like I did the right thing.”
Many players said they are relieved Kammrad is staying.
“I was really happy that he came back because when he was going to leave, the whole mood of the football team was down,” said Ryan Hrabik ‘12. “It didn’t seem like anyone was going to try. Now that he’s back, everyone’s happy and it seems like they’re gonna try harder for next football season.”
Many players were concerned about what next season would bring since their head coach was leaving, however many players now feel reassured as does the school staff. Jeff Novotny, Activities Director announced the news to the AL staff yesterday (April 11) afternoon.
“I feel great, it’s great for the school,” said Novotny. “He’s great at supporting the school’s teams, not just football.”
Without the hassle of finding and then having players adjust to a new coach, AL students and staff are waiting to see what the Lynx will bring next season after an undefeated regular season in 2010.
“I honestly feel like the team is gonna be successful,” said Kammrad.
Story by Brittany Rupp, Emmalee Adams, Arianne Boehme, DJ Jefferson and Taylor Bright.
ShareStory by Lauren Myers
Glitz, glam, tuxedos,dresses, limos, and dates. Yes, the time for prom is just around the corner and one way, Thomcyn’s Formal Attire, at Mall of the Bluffs, focuses on prom is by having a fashion show.
“This is the first year they have ever done the show,” said Melissa Hively ‘11. “They mostly focused on weddings, but now their focused on proms.”
The show includes students from local schools. Students picked out favorite dresses from Thomcyn’s and JCPenney, then the students model the dresses down a runway. There happens to be many ways students got involved with the show.
“ The lady (who runs the show) asked me if I wanted to be a model and I thought (the show) would be fun,” said Jessica Valdez ‘14. “ I was nervous and I think it was overall a good (show) and I liked the dresses.”
For one of the four AL girls who participated in the show, just by having a sister who was participating in the show,was a way to be in the show. From one dress after the other, those who participated feel that the show went great and there happened to be many favorable moments.
“My sister is having her party and getting her dresses from there,” said Gabriela Valdez ‘13. “ (The show) was good and the end with all the girls and their dresses (were too).”
Not only do the stores offer dresses, the stores offer tuxedos too. By just purchasing a dress from the store, was a way one got involved with the show.
“I purchased a dress at the store and they called my mom,” said Hively. “(I enjoyed) getting to wear the dresses I couldn’t buy. I could of bought them if I didn’t already buy one.”
When the store puts on another fashion show, the girls show an interest in participating again.
“Yes I will (do the show again),” said J.Valdez. “I liked my first dress, it was pretty.”
From one part to the next, the end of the show is a favorite for one student. Favorable moments from the show leaves an impression on one student, that participating in the show again is a yes.
“I would do it again,” said G.Valdez. “ I liked the end when we all lined up and got our pictures taken together.”
The first prom fashion show put on by Thomcyn’s has shown to be a great one. From all of the dresses and students that participated in the show, coming back again to participate in another show looks like a future event for the AL students. If one shows interest in the store or the fashion show, one can contact Thomcyn’s at www.thomcyns.com or 712-325-0766 or JCPenney at www.jcpenney.com or 712-366-1107.
Coming back for another year is a tradition that is put on by Student Council at Abraham Lincoln High School. Mr. and Miss AL is a talent show in which seniors compete against each other for a prize and for the title of Mr. AL and Miss AL. This year it is set for March 25 at 6:30 p..m. And this year will be followed, for the first time, by a dance put on by the National Honor Society (NHS). Each year there is a lot of fun activities happening here at AL, but behind all the fun there is a group of students working hard. President Dan Hopper said that all the student council members have out in a lot of hours to make the show great.
“Andrew Moats (Vice President) and I have done a lot of planning and regulating, while the rest of the council has worked hard to get contestants and donations to hopefully put on a great show,” said Dan Hopper ‘11.
The NHS will be throwing a dance the same night shortly after Mr. and Miss AL is crowned. It may difficult to plan one activity but students took the challenge and decided to plan two. One can’t help but wonder why NHS would plan the dance on the same night.
“NHS originally planned their dance the same night as Mr and Miss AL, so that they could get the crowd there I assume,” said Hopper. “Being a member of NHS I figured it would be smart to put them together and make it an easier night of planning. I think the NHS can also give us more help, and more publicity which is vital to having a great event.”
Though some may be in it for the competition, others are in it for the fun of being in front of friends and family. It takes confidence to get up and perform in front of a crowd. It takes even more nerve to dance, act, and show the crowd your best talent. No matter how comfortable you are there may still be some unsettled nerves that have to be calmed.
“I might be nervous, but because of dance team I’m used to being in front of a crowd,” said Kelsey Tekippe ‘11. “I have to take deep breaths and make sure I’m well rehearsed before getting on stage.”
6 boys and 6 girls are signed up to set stage on March 25 at 6 pm in the Abraham Lincoln High School Auditorium for the competition. Following after the crowning, the first annual NHS Spring Fling will go on till 10:30 pm and one ticket gets you into both Mr. and Miss AL and the dance. Don’t miss out on the chance to watch 12 of your classmates compete against one another and end the night dancing it away.
The AL Echoes has just finished with a complete redesign of their website and released its third issue of the year. The website now has many new features, including a list of the most recent stories on the home page. This was done in an effort to make visits to the site more user-friendly and productive. Along the same lines, the site has been visually changed in order that it may be more pleasing to the eye. In addition, all of the information listed on the website has been updated.
Another exciting thing that has happened in The Echoes’ classroom is their latest issue being released. Included in the issue are many timely stories and a feature on Black History Month and Valentine’s Day.
You can find the latest issue as well as the other issues from this year listed here:
http://www.alechoes.com/?page_id=954
- Brian Williams, Arts & Entertainment/Website Editor
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With the end of the year near failing students rush to teachers to see what stuff needs to be done to pass the class. Students then attend Learning Recovery which prepares students to make up tests and redo projects.
But when some other students neglect to go to learning recovery they enter levels. Levels of the learning recovery process start with students meeting with teachers, then if one still neglects to go, a contract gets written up by teachers and students sign the contract and then mailed home. If the students still neglect to go after signing a contract, students go to the last level where teachers contact the department, the administration, and then the administration figures out ways to help the students to earn a passing grade.
“In Level 1 [students are] with a teacher, in Level 2 [students sign] a Contract, in Level 3 [there's] contact the department,” said Cyle Forney, vice principal.
Levels became a start in the school in the learning recovery process at the beginning of this year. Since the levels started, the levels offered students every opportunity to earn a passing grade for failing students, including the ones who rush around at the end of the year.
“Last fall, from the District Grading Committee, [levels were created] to identify what stage a particular student who has not passed a performance level assessment is at,” said Forney. “[Levels] serve as documentation that attempts were made to offer students every reasonable opportunity within an identified time frame to earn a passing grade on a performance assessment.”
From last fall to now whether what level a student enters, the amount of students entering certain levels decrease. Students that start attending earlier levels reach a point where a student does not have to attend a higher level of the learning recovery.
“Yes [the amount decreases] because some of them pass,” said Ruth Dowell, English teacher. “A couple pass level one then level two.”
When a student rushes to learning recovery to finish work to help a grade, he or she accomplishes much more. In the end attending all of the learning recovery sessions helps some students with the goal of reaching graduation.
”It establishes communication and time frames for student and teacher,” said Forney ” It enables students to earn a passing grade thus learning the essential concepts, ideas, benchmarks of the curriculum; designed to keep students aware that they need to complete and earn passing marks on performance assessments in order to earn credit toward graduation requirements.”
So when one rushes to learning recovery students either reach a goal of finishing a project to passing a class. When a student neglects to go to so many levels the student enters higher levels that vary from signing a contract to parents being contacted. In the end when Learning Recovery helps a student pass, the student earns credit which helps the student towards graduation.
Next year the learning recovery process will change. Instead of attending certain levels the new process allows students that fail a semester to make up a project to pass the class other than retaking the class, the year after. The new process still includes a contract made by teachers that students sign so the contract gets sent home. Finalization of the new process still awaits announcing.
-by Lauren Myers
ShareWaking up early, getting one’s hair, nails and make-up done, pictures, dinner, then prom. One of the exciting last chapters at the end of the school year for upperclassmen. But after the excitement of dancing for three hours, one may find themselves back at AL at midnight, something that isn’t found very often. Following prom activities, AL’s Booster Club, staff and parent volunteers hold the post prom event annually. At post prom, students have numerous different options to pass the time. There was a concession stand which is free of charge, obstacle courses, laser tag, money machine, a hypnotist, and prizes.
”My favorite thing about the hypnotist was when he made Chelsea Colpitts think she was an alien,” said Tyler McGee ’11. “And especially when she spoke the weird alien language.”
Post prom has proven to be effective in keeping students and their dates off the streets and out of trouble. Post-prom is scheduled 11:30 all the way till 4:30 in the morning. Cost for coming to post-prom was only five dollars, making it more available to go. And the same rules apply to post prom that are enforced at sports games and dances: once one leaves, he/she is not allowed to re-enter. The reasoning behind this is to prohibit any alcohol/drug, especially if someone plans on returning to the event. Students that are still under the age of 18 also have to worry about curfew rules once leaving post prom, if they chose to leave early.
Usually, the post prom activities will switch every other year. One year, the activities will be held at AL then the following year at a local recreational facility. Although for last two years, AL has had their post proms at AL.
”I thought it was great having it at AL. the things to do were so much fun,” said Ashley Cross ’11. “And it made it a lot cheaper than going somewhere else.”
The turnout for post prom this year turned out great, over 400 tickets sold! Post prom is an effective way of keeping AL’s students and their dates safe and away from danger. ”Post prom provides an opportunity for kids to get together and have a lot of fun without feeling like they’re being babysat,” said Cross. “So there are fewer students on the street and less in trouble because such awesome things are put together for us to do.”
Thanks to all the volunteer parents, staff, and AL’s Booster Club for putting together another successful post prom.
-by Tory Robinson
ShareThe staff at The Echoes would like to sincerely wish you a happy new year! We would also like to invite you to check [Read More]
Leave us a comment or post a picture on the Echoes Facebook page. Share [Read More]
Story by Victoria Holcomb College View Elementary, home of the Little Lynx, was built and ready for students to come [Read More]
Hail Storm Ravages Students’ Property The recent storm that struck the metro on Aug 18 has left many with quite a [Read More]
On March 30, players on the football team were told that head coach Justin Kammrad was resigning for a head coaching [Read More]