1. You can hear Willie Atchison commentating every football game, even on the opposite side of town.
2. Everyone is amazed when Mr. Marple says he agrees with something President Obama has done.
3. The fire alarm goes off at school, so the fire department has to come… during national fire prevention week.
4. There’s a cow wandering around on Market Street.
USD 420 custodian reaches 40th year of service
Article by Aundrea Koger
It is difficult to find someone who is completely dedicated to working hard day in and day out for the entirety of his/her career, through the exciting moments and the dull ones. Few people want to put forth 100% effort all the time, but thankfully, USD 420 has at least one staff member who is more than happy to work hard in any situation, and has been this amenable for an incredibly long time.
Jerry Cellar, one of the custodians who works the day shift at USD 420, has been employed by the Osage City School District since 1974. He’s helped keep the school spotless and running smoothly for 40 years, which is longer than many district staff members have even been alive. You will often see him dutifully sweeping the hallways at regular intervals, or cleaning up the messes unwittingly left by inattentive students. But despite their tendency to make the tidy school vexingly untidy, Cellar still enjoys the students’ presence. In fact, he even said that being around the kids and seeing them do well is what he enjoys most about his job.
Cellar has been a vital aspect in the day to day functioning of the Osage City School District for four decades, and it will be a shame to see him go when he decides to retire. However, it’s hard to deny that he deserves a break after the years of service he has put in. When asked about how much longer he plans on staying at it before hanging up his work clothes for good, he said with a chuckle, “Three more years, maybe, if I make it that far.” And when that three years is up, he will be missed.
Cellar’s diligence has truly shone through in his 40 years of service as a custodian for USD 420. Without his hard work every day, the school would be in shambles. There would be no one there to make sure the halls are tidy and everything is running smoothly. Quite literally, it would be a mess. When he does decide to retire, the district may have a hard time finding someone as dedicated and reliable as Jerry Cellar.
OCHS students take classes at Flint Hills Tech
Article by Hannah Mondragon
Osage City High School students now have the opportunity to take classes at Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia during the school day in order to get technical training for potential future jobs. This year, six boys were ready to get the hands-on expertise they needed.
The schedule at Flint Hills Tech is quite different than here at the high school. For example, instead of having blocks, they have a scheduled class for about an hour and a half, followed by a 15 minute break before their next course. Then they get to go to the shop and work on customers’ cars until it is time to come back to Osage City for their regular classes.
Junior Colton Tyler was asked about why he took the opportunity to go to Flint Hills Tech and he replied, “Because it’s what I want to do when I’m out of school, it’s close to the school (OCHS), I get to get out of my other classes here, and I’m making a lot of new friends, including the instructors. It’s all hands-on and it’s close to home.” Tyler is loving this experience that is going to help him in the future when he is out of school.
Each student can choose what area he would like to study. Four of the OCHS students are involved in automotive work and one is studying welding. When junior Quinn Boyce was asked about the classes he was taking, he replied, “I’m doing automotive and I’m also taking an electrical class.” In addition to taking classes, the Flint Hills Tech students have the opportunity to work on customers’ cars that are brought into the shop at the tech school in Emporia. Instructors wait there with them to answer any questions that they might have. And that’s not the only thing that the students can do to gain hands-on expertise.
“Instead of just working on customers’ cars, we also have the chance to do our own projects. It’s a very independent, hands-on experience,” says Boyce. Boyce says of doing his own projects, “Well, I took my mom’s car up there and fixed it for her, and I just got Austin’s car fixed for him.” So it’s apparent that being given the chance to take classes at Flint Hills Tech has benefited Boyce, as it will the rest of the students from OCHS.
The five boys going to Flint Hills Tech are having a great time gaining hands-on experience for when they get out of school. They are being given the chance to step out on a limb and try something new while still in high school, and they will surely benefit greatly from this opportunity.
Above-Five of the six Flint Hills Tech students pose for a group picture: Senior Hawk Goad, senior Austin Stromgren, junior Quinn Boyce, senior CJ Holmberg, and junior Gunner Horn. Junior Colton Tyler was absent.
Getting to Know the New Teachers at OCHS
Article by Sarah Thompson
New staff is a regular occurrence in OCHS; almost every year either a new paraprofessional or teacher joins on. These teachers and paras, whether brand new or experienced, have stories to tell. Their backgrounds aren’t widely known, though most would gladly share their story. Kids normally don’t take the initiative to get to know the teachers, missing out on the opportunity to hear about previous schools, college life, or good childhood memories. New teachers, Mr. J.T. Crawford and Miss Becky Fraker willingly shared some of their backgrounds with the PowWow.
PowWow: What college did you attend?
Mr. JT Crawford: Emporia State University.
Miss Becky Fraker: Emporia State.
PW: How many years have you been teaching?
JC: 21 years.
BF: This is my first year teaching.
PW: What is your favorite part about teaching at OCHS?
BF: It’s a smaller school, so its easier to get to know the kids, and the fact the school is all under one building.
JC: Teaching the kids in middle school, then seeing them again when they’ve grown.
PW: Have you always wanted to teach?
BF: Yes, I have.
JC: No. I started in college, but I always wanted to play in a band. I wanted to tour the nation playing music.
PW: Why did you chose your subject?
JC: I have always liked old things, antiques, and found wars fascinating.
BF: I chose business/computers because it wasn’t a typical girl career, and it always changes and has new teachings. Also, I’ve always been fascinated by it.
The Osage City cheer squad can’t be beat
Article by Jake Butterfield
When attending an Osage City High School football game, you experience a number of different sights and sounds. You will hear players yelling at one another, the piercing trill of the referees’ whistles, and the cracking of the opposing team’s skulls. As you scan the crowd you see over-enthusiastic parents, rambunctious middle school kids running wild, and the pep band waiting for a pause in the game to allow them to blare their tunes. However, there is one important group of people that is often overlooked, but without them the high school football atmosphere just wouldn’t be the same.
That important group of people is the OCHS cheer squad. The cheerleaders have a very significant job to perform at the games. The cheer squad may often go unnoted, but during the game the girls are what keep the fans paying attention. “Our cheers keep people into the game. Whether the game is good or bad, we are doing cheers to root for the football boys,” says senior co-captain Maren Peterson.
The cheerleaders are generally the most enthusiastic people in the stadium. Using their continuous smiles and peppy voices, they make it look easier than it actually is. From the simple, “Go! Big! Red!” to the more complex, “If you’re from Osage!” all their cheers take time and practice to memorize and perfect. The squad works very hard to make each of their cheers flawless.
When asked about the toughest part of being a cheerleader, freshman Molly Plinsky commented, “I still have a tough time remembering all of the cheers. It’s just so many words and motions, but it’s definitely getting easier!” Plinsky and the squad started all their hard work way back before school even started.
This summer the squad attended cheer camp at Butler Community College, where they learned new cheer upon new cheer to use throughout football and basketball seasons. Most importantly, the cheerleaders got the extra help they needed with their stunts. “We don’t have anyone to help us with our stunts during the year so we try to get as much help as we can during camp,” Peterson noted on the importance of cheer camp.
Once the school year starts the cheerleaders don’t have any time to relax. Although they only practice once a week, the squad is one of the busiest groups in the school. Their schedules consist of planning spirit weeks for Homecoming and Queen of Courts, planning pep rallies, making locker signs for everyone who is involved in activities at OCHS, making treats for all the teams, and most importantly, leading the crowd every Tuesday and Friday night to cheer on the Indian football and basketball teams.
The cheerleaders obviously put a lot into what they do and are a very important part of Osage City athletics. Without them, the high school environment wouldn’t be the same. Many fans would remain sitting for entire games, players would be more likely to give up without encouraging chants that take place during timeouts, and homecoming would be ten times more chaotic than it already is. So next time you’re at an Indian sporting event, don’t forget to take a minute to stand up, clap along, and yell with the enthusiastic, hard working cheerleaders.
Success at camp helps the OCHS Dance Squad pump up the crowd
Article by Sarah Thompson
The OCHS dance team has always been an upbeat group of girls who keep spirits high with each one of their performances. The girls enthusiastically continue to create fun and buoyant dances. Their song choices keep the crowd on its feet, singing and dancing along with anything from hip hop tunes to 80’s rock music.
The Lady Indian dancers don’t naturally know these uplifting dances. They work hard to perfect their performances. At the National Dance Association (NDA) Camp in Eudora, they have the opportunity to learn from professionals, who teach them how to perfect their dances and make them more entertaining. When asked how they did at camp this summer, freshman Georgia Hutton simply responded, “The best out of everyone.”
Many of the Lady Indians received awards. Seniors Paige Pearson and Tori Tomlinson were All-American award winners. Senior Carissa Johnson earned the title of Hip Hop Top Gun for the second year in a row. Freshman Jordan Hon won the Turns Division, and Hutton took first in Jumps & Leaps. The OCHS dance squad’s technique was also rewarded, with junior Cassidy Robinett, Hon, and sophomore Baeh Gill each earning titles in this division.
All of their success at camp has carried over into the OCHS dance team’s regular season. Coach and new sponsor, Kylie Baxter, thinks that her dancers have had a good year so far. “The girls get along well, and the senior girls are stepping up to choreograph and be leaders.” When she was asked how she predicted the year will progress, she said they’ll continue to crowd please and their season will go well.
Hutton agreed with Baxter’s thoughts about the year. “The year will continue to go well, with new and exciting experiences,” Hutton explained. She also stated that their season has been fun.
As they have for years, this team of enthusiastic Lady Indian dancers will continue to pump up the fans and get them on their feet to cheer on the team, giving them the support they need to win.
Fire scare at OCHS turns out to be a false alarm
Article by Aundrea Koger
If someone in Osage were to have been standing outside at around 11 o’clock last Thursday morning, they would’ve heard the blaring sound of fire truck and police sirens coming from the school. And if that person were to have been close enough to the school that they could see it, they would have laid eyes upon a large group of shivering students, standing across the street from the school in the rainy, 50-degree weather while firefighters scurried about.
Rumors ran amuck as to why the fire alarms went off. Anything from a stove catching fire in the home ec room to a flame igniting in the new gym were said to have been the cause of the disarray. There was a buzz of excitement and an encroaching feeling of apprehension amongst the students of USD 420, but it was all for naught, because the real reason as to why the fire alarms went off was, in fact, rather unexciting.
After failing to find any hot spots on the walls over in the east end of the high school (where the alarm had been triggered), and determining that no alarm had been pulled by a student as a joke, the fire department came to the conclusion that a build-up of dust over time in one of the smoke detectors had caused the disruption that set off the alarms. Thankfully, it was a very trivial matter. Nothing was damaged and everyone was okay. There was no stove that had caught fire, and the beloved new gym is still very much intact. Students were able to return to their classes within half an hour, and by the end of the day everyone was joking about the incident. And it’s no surprise that they did, because it was quite an ironic occurrence.
Last week was actually Fire Prevention Week, and the OCES students had been working on fire prevention posters and activities all week long. In fact, the fire department was already planning on coming to the school Friday in order to give a presentation to the elementary students. And not only that, but Mr. Tony Heward, the high school principal, noted that the first fire truck to arrive at the high school actually had to cut short a visit to the preschool in order to respond to the call that morning.
The irony of it all, and the fact that students were able to get out of class for 30 minutes, really made the whole affair a rather comical one. In all honesty though, the students and staff at OCHS are quite lucky that the matter was no more serious than it was. And the school district is very appreciative of the quick response and concern expressed by not only the volunteer fire department and police department, but also the community.
1. Earn some dough working at Jerry’s Thriftway
2. Get on Instagram
3. Take selfies
4. Facebook stalk
5. Watch Netflix
6. Sleep
7. Eat
8. Raise your Snapchat score
9. Hang out at Sonic
10. Play sports
Photos courtesy of: http://www.boiseweekly.com, http://lh3.ggpht.com, http://www.ihd-wallpapers.com/, http://blogs-images.forbes.com/
Why the Class of 2015 is Three-peat Homecoming Spirit Stick Winners
Editorial by Aundrea Koger
Now two weeks out from the senior class victory in the week-long competition for the 2014 Homecoming Spirit Stick, I have had a little time to gather some thoughts on our not just crushing, but absolutely monumental, triumph over the other classes. If you ask most of the students at OCHS, they will tell you that the seniors only won because we have the largest class, and frankly, because we are seniors. But we have dominated homecoming week since our sophomore year, so, if you ask me, I think it goes beyond just having a large class.
I won’t deny that having the largest class in the high school helps when you are trying to win the Homecoming Spirit Stick, but we didn’t have such a prodigious lead over second place without putting in some effort. Honestly, I think its less attributed to class size, and more attributed to school spirit. There seems to have been a decline in recent years in the amount of participation in events such as homecoming. When I was a freshman the lead changed hands several times as homecoming week progressed. The whole school really made it a respectable competition, and everyone was on their toes in anticipation of who would win. But as the years progressed, not only did we overcome the competition and put ourselves on top right out of the gate, but the fissure between the class of 2015 in first, and next class in second, grew ever larger. And this year it was worse than it had ever been before. If I was part of one of the younger classes, I wouldn’t want to be walloped so easily. Not only is it embarrassing, but it also makes homecoming less fun for everyone. Besides, a little healthy competition doesn’t hurt anybody!
So, to all of you freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, go out and have fun with Homecoming next year! Get involved, make some memories, and bring back the competition. After all, it only happens once a year, so you have to make the most of it. And before you know it you won’t have any more homecomings. You grow up fast, so don’t forget to live a little and enjoy the ride!
The Osage City Cross Country Team Performed Above Expectations at the Rim Rock Invitational
Article by Jake Butterfield
Each fall, schools and coaches from all over the midwest send their top athletes to Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas to run the most difficult course that many of them will ever run in their lives. But what is it that makes this course so tough? Could it be the pressure of running against the top runners in the region? Or maybe the fact that the course is the home of the University of Kansas Jayhawk cross country team? Perhaps it is the continuous hills that line the path of one of the season’s toughest meets? This fall the Osage City High School Cross Country team was fortunate enough to send five boys and five girls to run in the prestigious Rim Rock Invitational held Saturday, September 27.
When asked what makes Rim Rock the most dreaded course of the year, senior Sarah Peterson commented, “Hills, hills, and more hills!” Sarah also noted about the meet, “The competition is tough and you really have to push yourself to show everyone what you’ve got.”
Senior Tori Tomlinson, a first-year runner, was surprised at how difficult the course actually was. “I was expecting maybe one or two big hills, but no! There were four or five mountains that we had to climb!”
Sophomore Matt Burkert was also surprised by the course. “The hills killed me. Without them the course is easy.” remarked Burkert.
Despite the elite competition and mountainous hills, the Indians planned to do well at the meet and they did nothing less than that on the “course of all courses.” In the girls Blue Varsity race, senior Aundrea Koger finished ninth out of 282 runners with a time of 16:11. Seniors Sarah Peterson and Maren Peterson also finished well with times of 18:26 and 19:46, respectively. Freshman Jessica Davis and Tomlinson capped off the Lady Indians’ team, both finishing under 24 minutes.
The boys also met the high expectations set by Coach Bellinger. Senior Brennan Lawless led the Indians, finishing with a time of 19:50, followed by Burlingame runners Clay Thomas and Jake Thompson. Freshman Rider Nettleton also ran well, finishing in 22:33. Sophomore Matt Burkett rounded off the Indian pack running just under 24 minutes.
Not only did the cross country team run well, but they also realize how much of an honor it is to compete on such an elite level. “I feel honored that I got the chance to run at Rim Rock. Though most of us dread the course, it’s a great challenge and makes you feel accomplished after you finish,” said senior Maren Peterson. However, for Peterson and her fellow runners this won’t be the last time they will have to face this dreaded course. The Indians plan to make a return appearance at Rim Rock later this fall at the state meet.
The Rim Rock Invitational is a great opportunity for the team to prepare for the state meet and set themselves up for yet another successful season finale. With the experience of the Rim Rock Classic under their belts, the state meet will be nothing unusual and the team will be sure to excel more than ever.
The PowWow of Osage City High School 