Hi.LifeWhat you need to know now

Volume 86. Issue 4. Dec 17, 2008

+ Title Boxing Clubpg. 18

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H I . L I F EISSUE 05

Dec.17, 2008

On the Cover Title Boxing Club, located just down the strip of Price Chopper, strives to offer unbeatable rates for everyone.

T a k e away the fancy workout clothes, the high tech t r a i n i n g gear, and the celebrity trainers. The r e m a i n d e r is a gym where hours of classes, hard work, and sweat will transform the body into the desired p h y s i q u e w i t h o u t b r e a k i n g your budget.

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5 New Year’s Resolutions Be prepared for the New Year, because the countdown has begun. 10,9,8,7,6...

6 Seeing Double Two different candlelightings kick off winter break. During the same time NHS is in the Field House, Club 121 is at Grace Church sharing the story of Christmas.

7 Lost and Never Found Lose a book? Parents hassling you for that hefty fine you receive? Or perhaps car keys? iPod maybe? The lost and found may have just what you’re longing for.

1 0 Music Shows in LS Tired of the same old same old day in and day out? Look-ing for something new in LS? We may have the perfect solu-tion for you.

13 Breakfast Club See who fits the stereotype of the original members of the breakfast club. Or do they really fit the stereo-types? Will a jock has the qualities of a brain and vice versa

17 It’s A Wonderful Life In this holiday classic of the 1940’s, we learn to truly appreciate life. Along with the formal, yet simple fashion of the mid 1900’s.

1 9 MMA Tension runs high, the crowd is roaring on its feet. At this moment you can feel every ounce of adrenaline pumping through your body. Pride runs high in the sport of Mixed martial arts, MMA.

3 4 Leading to Victory The class of 2009 will have plenty of representation in this year’s winter sports. Here are a couple from each sport, as they continue their last high school season.

Go to the Hi.Life newsmagazine website, www.jlabmag.com, to check out more.

Seeing DoubleSeeing Double

HL

Gift Giving Many times there is confusion on what giving is. To give is to pass anything that is personal to another person. This can range from animate to inanimate things. A Nintendo Wii can be a gift or just simply personal time. Not all gifts are tangible. This holiday season I encourage everyone to have a giving attitude. With the economy doing so poorly it can be hard to give

though. Brayan spoke no English and my Spanish was very broken. By the end of my stay in Ecuador of May this year I realized that the educational resources were very thin. After realizing this I made it my goal this holiday season to go back to Ecuador with suitcases full of English books and other learning materials to help the people of Puerto Cayo, Ecuador learn more and more every day. In my future I hope to spend the rest of my life teaching people who speak other languages the English language. I have a dream of a world that is better united through more thurough communication. If you have any Spanish or English books, dictionaries or other learning materials please let me know (jjones5216@gmail.com)

sometimes. When the economy is bad, it presents a chance to be creative. Utilizing special talents can be great gifts for the family. Make someone an original work of art. Another major option is to look around the house and see if there are any things that would make good gifts for family and friends. Maybe someone has been over to the house and mentioned that they liked something. If it is possible, give it to them. This holiday season I will be traveling to Ecuador. This beautiful Spanish-speaking country has caught my gift giving target. A boy named Brayan would come to great me and my family every day at our house to spend some time in the ocean with us. Most of the time it was hard to communicate

[Staff]EDITOr-IN-CHIEFJosiah Jones

EDITOr-AT-LArGEStephanie russell

EDITOr-AT-SMALLChris Kinman

PHOTO EDITOrTaylor rice

NEWS EDITOrSAmanda BrownMallory Brown

FEATUrES EDITOrSMelanie McIlroyTyler FromsonAbigail Jones

FASHION EDITOrLindsey Bales

ENTErTAINMENT EDITOrrachael Lynn

OPINIONS EDITOrSAriel Andrewrachel Harness

SPOrTS EDITOrSJosh KennedyBrian Williams

ADvErTISINGHannah MorrisLacy Knipp

WEBSITE EDITOrPatrick Stoddart

MULTI-MEDIAMeighan Walsh

PAGE DESIGNErSAaron HanshawTony BottsBrett StoddardAlyssa ScheirhoffTyler Sherman

WrITErSAriel AndrewMary ArmesLindsey BalesDrew Barnhart

Max BelangerShelby BondickSara BornemanDerek BrooksMa’ryah CooperKathryn CowanNate Day Taylor DyerJulia Duckworth Eric FabiWes FitzgibbonsMikayla FrommerTaryn Hallrobin HarveyNelson HillMichael HolcombBrittni KeyhillSarah KensingerKara KleinDesirae KudraMiquelle Leonard

Presley LewisAlexis PuthoffSierra LewisHayley MerriottHayley MershonJake Mobleyravin MozeeSia NeroBrittney NortonJordan PenceKayla PetersBurkett PowellMorgan ramseyClay reynoldsSummer richardsKristen SandsNikki SchmidtPatricia SjutsPatrick StoddartKennita WallaceAlex Watts

Brooke WelshTyler WilmoreJosh Zans

PHOTOGrAPHErS Sami DowdMichael BushurAlisha GillespieNicole KelleherJanna LamasterAriel ShyKarlie SwanAnna TaylorColin TaylorMeighan Walsh>>

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New Year’s ResolutionsStick with it or let it drop

5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The ball drops giving those who need it a chance to start out again with a clean slate. “My New Year’s resolution is to stop sleeping in Sunday mornings because I miss church when I sleep in, and everyone else sleeps in when I sleep in,” sophomore Lindsay Nelson said.

Interviewees Chase Linder, sophomore and Lindsay Nelson, sophomore (lower right).

Stepping Back into the GameStep team plans to step big once again

“I tried to stop biting my nails last year, but that died. It’s a nervous habit. I’ve been biting my nails ever since I was four,” Nelson said. Making a New Year’s resolution is easy; the difficult part is keeping it throughout the year. “This year I will be setting my alarm earlier and forcing myself to get up,” Nelson said. Like Nelson, there are other people with a New Year’s resolution. “My New Year’s resolution is to get my poetry published, because it would be an important accomplishment,” sophomore Chase Lindner said. There are a lot of ways to make New Year’s resolutions work. It all just depends on the resolution. “I will be working with my best friend to get our poetry published and refined,” Lindner said. resolutions help those who make them stay on track for the New Year, but some of those people get off course when their resolutions end. So gear up and get ready to go with a clean slate in hand. The New Year’s countdown begins now. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6…

©{Nelson Hill}

©{Taylor Dyer}

It’s 6:00 in the morning, students gather around, tired, but by the time 6:15 hits and that whistle blows, they take the gym as if they are in front of one thousand people. Our school’s step, team not having performed for a long time, still comes together for practice on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to prepare for their next performance on Jan. 6. Steppers, still having the drive to perform, have had setbacks that have delayed their premiere. “We lost our sponsor and we had to get a new one,” senior and choreographer Ericka Philips said. While not being able to perform, the steppers still manage to practice. “Ericka’s like the choreographer for the team. We usually break up into groups and practice until we all get it right,” junior David Parker said. Having been without a sponsor, students had to find someone who had the extra time and wanted to work with one of the most popular clubs in the school. “rita Duvall had surgery over the summer and we started late because we needed someone who had time to assume the responsibility,” Jeanne rolls said. rolls and life skills teacher Claudia Campbell took over as the team’s sponsors. “Typically it’s certified staff that coach and we’re classified staff, so it took a while to get certified from central office,” rolls said. As time went by and students waited for their new sponsors to be certified, they kept practicing for their upcoming performances.

“Steppers don’t usually start performing for sporting events until January at the basketball games,” rolls said. New steps are learned in this amount of time, and routines are put together so the Steppers can make their way to their next big performance. “We’re still learning as we go, but this is new to us too,” rolls said. On the way are new and exciting performances from our high school steppers.

{Nicole Kelleher}

{Nicole Kelleher}

STep it outThese step-pers Erica Phillips, Dacid Parker, and Ashlee Davis show us their stuff in the B gym. “ Its real early in the morning, and sometimes gets pretty annoying, but its real fun.” says Phillips.

©{Hayley Mershon}{Sarah Kensinger}

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Superhuman Students

Two different Candlelightings kick off winter break With finals over and winter break looming closer with every passing hour, students are relaxed and free from the stress of finals.  The only decision they have left to make is which Candlelighting ceremony they will attend: the one honoring Christ, or the one recognizing different religions. National Honor Society and Club 121 both hold separate versions of Candlelighting on the last day of school before winter break. “The NHS Candlelighting celebrates the spirit of the holidays.  People get so caught up in Christmas that it’s nice to take a moment to acknowledge the religions and beliefs of others around us,” NHS sponsor Stacy Allison said. “Club 121’s version of Candlelighting focuses on the story of Christmas,

starting with the birth of Christ.  It’s all about reverence for God,” Club 121 coach Jessi Lueck said. One main difference between the two ceremonies is that the one at the school steers clear of being specifically focused on religions while the ceremony at Grace Church, the church right next to the school on Browning, only deals with Christianity.  Also, the expected quality of dress is different for the separate events.  “Students are expected to dress nicely for the NHS Candlelighting.  Boys should wear nice pants and a nice shirt, possibly even a tie.  Girls should wear a skirt, dress, or pants.  There should be no jeans or shorts,” Allison said.The Club 121Candlelighting has a more casual dress code for this event. “There isn’t really a dress code for our Candlelighting, students can wear jeans if they want,” Lueck said. There have been two separate Candlelightings for quite a

while at the high school.  “The Candlelighting at the school was originally based on a specific religion.  Then, lawyers were brought in due to the rule of separation of church and state and it was declared that it wasn’t allowed.  So two separate Candlelightings were then created,” Allison said. The NHS ceremony gives information about different religions of other cultures and how they celebrate the holidays.  NHS members have the chance to sign up to perform or to be ushers.  The other members help to set up and clean up. At the Club 121 ceremony the students prepare everything from the script to the music.  This year, different stations will be set up for the students to move around to, including a prayer room and a scripture reading.  The ceremony will conclude with everyone coming back together for a big group worship. “Candlelighting is a nice way of wrapping up the semester.  The students aren’t crazy and goofy, but calm, silent, and peaceful.  It’s great to start the break with that non-chaotic feeling,” Allison said. Each Candlelighting is an emotional experience for both Allison and Lueck. “I was in tears at the end of Candlelighting last year. It’s so neat to see how the students run a form of worship that honors Christ,” Lueck said.

<< Brain Tease: Some students endure exceedingly large amounts of stress in life. “ I don’t procrastinate, I need to do good now and later, Its enough to keep me motivated.” Kayla Cooper.

Seeing DoubleSeeing Double

©{Alex Watts}{Mary Armes}

5:00 AM- Wake up6:00 AM- Tigerettes practice starts7:30 AM- School3:30 PM- Ballet 6:00 PM- Work8:00 PM- More dance9:30 PM- Homework & Eating

Everyone has heard that getting involved in school or the community makes for a more well rounded person, and it looks good on college applications. Yet there are a few among us that really get into it. Up at 5:00 am, be at Tigerettes practice by 6:00 am, school for five hours, cadet teaching at Pleasant Lea Elementary until 3:15 pm, ballet until 6:00 pm, work until 8:00 pm, back to the dance studio for other dance class until 9:30-ish, go home for homework, then find time to eat and sleep. Skyler Hupp is just one of a group of students that are able to balance their school life, extra curriculars, social life, home life, all in one day. “My mom is a really hard worker, she is a real ‘go-get-er’. I am absolutely inspired by my mom, we

are basically the same person,” Hupp said. Junior Kayla Cooper is another student with a similar drive. “You just have to develop the time for it,” Cooper said. Cooper is involved in many activities as well. Between the musical, Club 121 leadership, sounds of summit, A+, being a tiger mentor and Tiger Act, Cooper also plans on joining National Honor Society. Many do not know that some students do all of this while holding down a job, keeping up with school, and balancing social life, in a seemingly flawless manner.

Students with packed schedules tell all

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©{Nelson Hill}

{Presley Lewis}

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New iPod PolicyRocking out with the revised policy

A month ago, sitting in class with an iPod hidden in a hoodie was a common practice of music lovers. But now, they can rejoice in the fact that they have an opportunity to listen to their music players in class as long as the teacher gives their consent. “The current policy is not much different from the old policy; iPods are still not allowed, period. They are almost like food or drinks in the classroom; the decision is left up to the teacher,” assistant principal Chad Hertzog said. Hertzog also said how iPods are still not allowed in the hallways or at lunch. The policy switch came about because some of the teachers requested that the principals look at the policy. “When the teachers were asked their thoughts on changing the policy, all of them wanted the policy change. Whether or not they would allow their own students to use the devices, they wanted teachers that were willing to let their students is listen to music to have the choice’” Hertzog said. When asked if music really does impact student’s learning, Hertzog explained that it is hard to say

whether music affects student’s learning, but it can be a good thing and very relaxing. “When teachers are trying to teach and the students are listening to their iPods, iPods could then become a bad thing and a distraction,” Hertzog said.

Hertzog also stated that he did not think that the policy switch would bring about too much change and that the old policy was not previously fair to teachers who thought it was all right to allow their students to listen to iPods. Overall, the policy change will be beneficial to teachers and students alike. Although the change was not huge, now teachers have the freedom to dictate if students can listen to their iPods/mp3’s. Hertzog stated that flexibility is key, ad that the principals are willing to listen to the suggested change.

HMH auto sport

Lost and Never FoundIt is a new year, same lost and found The screams of joy could be heard all across campus, From the weight rooms to the glaring stare of the Bengal tiger head guarding the entrance to the school, “I’ve found it, I’ve found it!”, students shout victoriously when holding that prized possession in their hands to which it had left their grasp not long ago. “ Lees Summit Social Services picks it up and they donate it,” said main office secretary, Mary Kinman. “ We do it twice a year”. She refers to the bursting at the seems lost and found, a place where students items are dropped off and rarely picked up. Some of the most unusual items can be found here. “ Eye glasses, iPods, you would think kids would miss these things”, said Kinman. “ I guess the most unusual thing is that no one claims them’.

And some of the most common things can be found here. “ Hoodies, jackets, coats…I don’t know why kids don’t come and get them, I guess laziness,” said Kinman.

Ipod Policy CutlineListen Up. Freshman Asa Hoss thinks the new policy is a great idea. “I think the new iPod policy is pretty cool. I think that when you are just sitting there working on work, you should be able to listen to music and this new policy allows you to do just that.”

©{Kristin Sands}

{Presley Lewis}

Lost and Found What are you missing? The most popular items in the lost and found are hoodies, coats, car keys, eye glasses, iPods, and cell phones. “Custodians and teachers are the ones who bring the items in from classrooms.” Main Office Secretary Kathy Kinman said.

policies. So better enjoy those snow day for the moment because at the end of those exciting snow days is a day were going to have to make up at the end of the year.

©{Alexis Puthoff}

{Courtesy of AP Photos}

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Most Popular in ‘05 & ‘08

Top Album of ‘05:

The Emancipation of MimiBy: Mariah Carey

Top Song of ‘05

Music Genre of ‘05:rap

Top Car of ‘05:

2005Aura rsx

Top Album of ‘08:

CircusBy: Britney Spears

With YouBy: Chris Brown

New iPod of ‘05:First Generation iPod Nano

New Tv Shows of ‘05:

90210& Privileged

Since You’ve Been Gone By: Kelly Clarkson

Twilight popular By: Stephenie Meyer

Top Song of ‘08

Top Book Series and Movie of ‘08

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

By: J.K. rowlingTop

Book

Ser

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and

Mov

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f ‘08

Music Genre of ‘08:

Pop

Top Clothing Brand of ‘05:

American Eagle

Top Clothing Brand of ‘08:Forever21

New Tv Shows of ‘08:

The Office& Grey’s Anatomy

Fourth Generation iPod NanoNew iPod of ‘08:

Top Car of ‘08:

2008 BMW 3 series Sedan

Top Game of ‘05:Sonic Unleashed

Top Game of ‘08:

Dragon Ball Z

Ever wonder what happened to the built in snow days and how it will effect this school year. How will we make up those days and what about the end of the

year finals that everyone’s hoping to pass before summer break. What happens if we have to many snow days to the point were its impossible to make up. Well here’s the answer to all of those questions. What exactly happened to the built in snow days, “ The district level decided not to do those anymore”, Dr. Argotsinger said. very few school districts even have built in snow days anymore. Majority of the schools are following the same rules that Lee’s Summit high school is applying. Plus the district decided to add two teacher workdays instead. This will effect our school in a way were “we will have to make up those days and it lengthens the school year”, Dr. Argotsinger said. Personally if it was up to Dr. Argotsinger, he would prefer the two built in snow days instead of the two teacher work days, But as many may not know its not the principals that make those rules it’s the district. Many still wish that we had the two built in snow days instead of the two teacher workdays. As well as now if we have a snow day we’re going to have to make it up at the end of the year, but as we found out it’s not up to the principals to make those rules, it’s the district and their

Snow Day PoliciesWhat happened to built in snow days

No Snow- This year the built in snow days have been removed. Every day that school is canceled a day is added to the end of school year.

©{Alisha Gillespie} {Collin Taylor}

Gas prices are currently low. The last time gas was this affordable was in 2005. Below is a comparison of what was popular the last time prices were low to what is popular today. http://top40.about.com

http://money.cnn.com

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Advertising $jla

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!{Kathryn Cowan} {Sarah Kinsinger}

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“It reminds me of the 80’s which was a great decade to grow up in.”

“It’s easy listening. It’s soft and pleasant to hear, and it’s relaxing and calms you.”

“I like her and her music. She has catchy songs, but I’m not a huge country fan.”

What Teachers Listen ToFind out what teachers in our school fill their ears with. These beats get our teachers going. Are their beats similar to yours?

Menendez’s CDAndrea Manchelli“Under the Dessert Sky”

Allison’s CDTaylor Swift“Fearless”

voelker’s CDBeastie Boys“License to Ill”

Music Shows in Lee’s Summit

Holiday Spirit. Lee’s Summit Women’s choir per-formed on December 11th. The Holiday show was a great way to get everyone in the Christ-mas spirit. This is one of many show that goes on in Kansas City during the Holidays.

Entertainment is flooding the streets of Lee’s Summit.

The holiday season is right around the corner. Adults, and children alike look for the perfect entertainment to share with each other during this season. Lee’s Summit had some ideas to consider when looking for that special way to bring good tidings, and cheer. The Lee’s Summit Symphony had a concert at the Bernard Campbell Performing Arts Center on December 13. Even though the concert date has passed, the chance to see the symphony is happening again on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at Bernard Campbell Performing Arts Center. The symphony will be putting on a spring concert. Tickets for this concert can be purchased online at the Lee’s Summit Symphony website, or at Hy-vee. The show will be at 7:30 pm. On December 11, the music depart-ment had their winter choral concert. The

choirs that performed were Freshman Women’s Choir, Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir, Concert Choir, Touch Of Class, Schola Cantorum, and Sounds of Summit. The choirs performed 3-5 songs each. Mix 93.3 is hosting their Jingle Jam concert this year. The concert was De-cember 10, and they had a variety of performances including Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte, Three Days Grace, and Matt White. The Nutcracker is having performanc-es all through December. This is truly a spectacular event, and tickets are run-ning out. This performance is one that wont’ want to be missed. There were los of things happening this month to lift the holiday spirits. It is al-ways great to have lots of entertainment during the holidays.

!{Haley Merriot }

{Sierra Lewis}

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TWITTER TAKEOVER

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TWITTER TAKEOVER

Facebook is to life what frosting is to a cupcake: deliciously juicy, endlessly interesting, and becoming a source of obses-sion. The majority of teens have had a Xanga, Myspace, or Face-book in their lives. All these sites have come and gone at there respective times, but what will be the new social networking craze? Some people are beginning to think that Twitter might just be the answer. Twitter is a site, which unlike Facebook, lets the user con-trol what information is shown on a page. It lets the user man-age what their interested in knowing by letting them take full

Twitter may become the new social networking craze...

CHA CHAMADNESS

Senior Shaylee Bushner was wondering where she could find a retro dress, but a computer was not near to ‘Google’ the answer. She tex-ted ChaCha and knew her an-swer in a snap. ChaCha is an easy and quick way to find the answers to questions that have always been ‘unknown’ whenever they were asked. Any ques-tion will be answered, even if it is a silly one. With ChaCha, asking more than one ques-tion in a text is possible, but it is recommended to send one text at a time. In the reply that ChaCha gives, it is limited to 160 characters; therefore an-swering two questions might be difficult. Another thing about Cha-Cha would be that unlike most search engines, direct

answers are given instead of links so refining questions ev-ery other minute is not neces-sary. This texting service is open all day and night and any cel-lular device can be registered online. registering a cell phone online and creating an account at ChaCha.com will give access to any questions previously asked and the an-swer that was given. ChaCha is supported by al-most all cell phone carriers and those who are able to text are able to use it. Students, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all are able to have answers in the palm of their hands. \The requirements for becoming a ChaCha guide are pretty simple. All that is needed is to have a computer with an operating system of Windows, Mac, or Linux and a high-speed internet con-

nection. A negative aspect is that guides currently paid av-erages of about three to nine dollars an hour, but they are able to earn more than that because they are paid by how many questions they answer. Even though ChaCha seems to be excellent, it also has some flaws. While the major-ity of the answers ChaCha gives are correct, there are a few that are wrong, and The Kansas City Star proved that. Also, on their website, ChaCha claims that they are free but normal text or voice charges from a carrier may apply. Upon the breach of twenty questions ChaCha sends a text message say-ing, “ChaCha gives you 20 Qs for FrEE each month,” then it gives you the total amount of questions remaining. While ChaCha contradicts itself, it is still always pres-ent. So, when a question has

everyone stumped, ChaCha will have an answer, right or wrong. Just send a text to 242-242 (Cha-Cha) and have answers to every unsolved mystery.

Cell Phone Crazyness. Many people find Cha Cha to be very useful. It can be risky sometimes though. Cha Cha should be used wisely.

control and getting rid of all those pesky updates no one cares about. On Twitter you ‘follow’ people you know and check on their status to find out what they are up to. “I’ve been using Twitter since April,” senior Halsey Young said. “I use it to keep in touch with people from my church, so it keeps me connected to them.” Twitter has many features that we have not seen since mid-Myspace. On Twitter people can personalize a page, which was lost when Facebook came around. Twitter can also add a link to a blogspot or Facebook. “Twitter takes a while to get used to, and not very many people know about it,” Young said. “But it’s getting a little bet-ter now that more people are signing up.” Just like any other site, Twitter has its bad points. Twitter does not have photo albums, play music, or even allow a profile full of interests, likes, and dislikes. Twitter is all about the ‘status’. “It’s a way to be up to date and to update your friends, simply finding out what’s going on with your friends and family through a new status,” Young said. Social networking has become a part of most teenagers everyday life, and before we know it Facebook will be out and Twitter might just be the thing on ever ones mind.

Answers galore by texting ChaCha, but it is not 100 percent correct... !{Mikayla Frommer}

{Sierra Lewis}

Twitterific. Twitter is still not blocked by the schools internet server. It may be accessed and utilized at school. Soon this blogging website may be blocked like all of the others from the schools Internet.

!{Brittini Keyhill}

{Ariel Shy}

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DIY Gifts !{Alisha Gillespie} {Colin Taylor}

Wrap It Up !{Brittni Keyhill} {Ariel Shy}

T rY T H I S

Woolly Winter!{Kara Klein}

Thrifty and cheap ways to wrap gifts this season.

ComicsUse the Sunday comics from your local newspaper or even comics from comic books, whatever’s available, and add a bow or ribbon for the holiday feel.

Brown paper bags

Take a bag from your local

supermarket and cut it to fit

on a box of any sort. Then add

holiday stamps or stickers for

a one of a kind piece.

MagazinesUse pages from magazines

related to your gift, like vogue

for clothing, rolling Stone for

CD’s, National Geographic for

busisness travelers, Wired for

gadgets, and even maps for

gifts related to traveling.

recipes in a jar: This can be anything from homemade cookies to hot chocolate packs. This is a great gift for anyone that loves to enjoy treats during the season. As well as have a big appetite for food or sweets.

recipe booklet: Many moms enjoy this gift to share with their families.

Shoeboxes

Take any type of box and

cover it with holiday fabric of

any color or print.

This gift is great to clip in recipes that are passed from generation to generation. Plus this will help anyone make that special recipe even faster with an easy access booklet.

Personalized calendars: These are great for that busy someone in your life that needs to be organized. Personalized calendars

give that special touch to anyone’s busy day, especially if it’s customized.

Soap or bath salts: These are great gifts for that someone who just needs to unwind from a busy day at work or school. This gift also lets that person explore and enjoy all different kinds of scents.

There are many great gifts out there, but as the economy gets worse, shopping gets harder. Here are some do- it- yourself gifts that you can give people this holiday season.

Do-It-Yourself Homemade gifts can be fun and easy to make for a special person for the holidays. Make an ornament or some sweet treats can tell someone that you love them.

T he farmer steps outside to harvest his crops early in August. The farmer notices much about the weather, and has to be constantly on the

watch. If he harvests his crops too early, they will not be ripe. If he harvests the crops too late, they could die early. This is why the Farmer’s Almanac was created, and is used all over to help people know what to expect for the winter. There are many signs that people use to predict a bad winter. Creatures can help meteorologists in predicting the weather, but so can nature in general.

Signs include >>-An abundance of acorns-Heavy fog-Shadows or circles around the sun and moon -Thicker woolly bear caterpillars.-Spiders spinning larger webs-Thick hair on the back of a cow’s neck-Woodpeckers share a tree-Early arrival of the snowy owl-Mice finding ways into sheds and houses-Pigs gathering sticks-Insects marching in a beeline-Bees seclude into their hives early-Muskrats burrow holes high on the riverbank-Hornets’ nests are lower-Squirrels’ nests are lower-White woolly bears

Some things to remember when shopping for a winter storm should include:

>>Cough drops

>>Hot chocolate

>>Soups

>>Cold medicines

>>Ice melt

>>Pet food

>>Coolers

>>Batteries

>>Flashlights

>>Candles

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Breakfast ClubLSHS

1 The Jock 2 The Princess 3 The Brain 4 The Artist 5 The Rebel

Corbin Berkstresser Tanja Petrovic Kory McEnaney Liberty Siefkas Chris Bingham>>“I feel kind of proud,” Berkstresser said. He fits the stereotype of a jock by being bigger than most people at school, although he is a sophomore. “I make good grades,” Berkstresser said, which makes him different. However, if Berkstresser was put in a room with a princess, a brain, a rebel, and an artist, he states that he would feel different, but he would get to know them.

>>Petrovic, a senior, was crowned Homecoming queen this school year, but she is not a huge diva. “When I think of a princess, I think like a spoiled brat, but that’s not what I am,” Petrovic said. She has to pay for her own car insurance, gas, and phone bills. Now being in a room with completely opposite people, she says she would have fun because she enjoys different perspectives.

>>McEnaney, a junior, stars as the brain. “I feel kind of good, kind of smart I guess,” McEnaney said. McEnaney is not all brains though. He does other stuff too, like play sports. “I think a princess would be cool, jock would be cool,” McEnaney said about being with other stereotypes. “An artist would be kind of weird, because they are just kind of weird,” McEnaney said.

>>Siefkas, a senior, is considered an artsy type by many students. “I feel pretty rad, it makes me feel deep, intellectual,” Siefkas said. Siefkas enjoys drawing and being in the musicals. She fits an artist perfectly, but is also different from the stereotype: she used to play sports. “I would find it really humorous,” Siefkas said about being with the Breakfast Club.

>>Bingham, a freshman, talks about being the rebel of the Breakfast Club. “I feel kind of like an outcast, people are scared of me,” Bingham said. Is it the piercings on Bingham that make people scared or is it a trait that makes him different from others? “I would probably be friends with the jock,” Bingham said, if he was put in a room with the other stereotypes.

!{Summer richards} {Sami Dowd}

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!{ravin Mozee}{Tyler Wilmore}

Uh....This Is AwkwardA guide to handling any situation

How to Parallel ParkParallel parking can be as easy as 1,2,3

1.Pull your car parallel to the space and make sure you have at least a foot of clearance in the front and the back of the car. Start three or four feet to the left side of the front car with your rear bumper right beside the front car’s back tire.

3. When you have cleared the front car, turn the wheel away from the curb and keep backing up. When your back window squares up with the rear car’s windshield, then you have parallel parked.

2.Back up slowly while moving the wheel in one motion putting yourself at a 45 degree angle to the curb. (Try to avoid dry steering, which is mov-ing the wheel while the car is not in motion).

!{Presley Lewis} {Kristen Sands}

Awkward Answers. Falling down in the snow, getting laughed at, and talked about. Wow, what an awkward situation

It seems as if the apocalypse is here, or close enough, when one is stuck in an awkward situation. It seems as if the only solution is to curl up in a ball and cry. But crying is no longer an option, since there is a way out. Apple has an application dedicated specifically to getting out of awkward situations. It is called Magic Tap. “This application lets you send a fake phone call to yourself on command,” Andy

Wang of PC World said. “ It’s more realistic and lets you customize the caller’s name, number and I.D. photo to anyone you choose.” This application can come in handy if one is talking to someone he/she really does not want to talk to or sitting through a boring lecture. ‘What? He’s in the hospital?’ will definitely get you out of any situation. But it is all about making it believable. U n f o r t u n a t e l y , everyone does not own an iPhone. The important thing to

remember is that awkward situations can happen to any student. Anybody can fall in public or run into a pole at some point in their life. Instead of wondering how that pole got there or why there are not any ‘Caution: Wet floor’ signs out, just laugh. One will see that when one laughs at their own situations, they do not seem so bad. Wall Street Journal c a r e e r - a d v i c e columnist, Sue

Shellenbarger, explains how not to sound dumb by saying ‘I don’t know.’ “Be direct. Just say: That’s a great question. I’d like to think about it and get back to you.” Sue Shellenbarger said. “But if one has not been paying attention in class when the question was asked, then it is common courtesy to apologize, or credibility is sure to be lost.” F o r g e t t i n g someone’s name also an awkward situation. However counselor Crista Tucker, makes a

suggestion on how not to forget someone’s name. “repeat the persons name when you first meet them to help plant the memory.” Tucker said. It may be helpful to associate their name with something weird that reminds one of them. Even if one does not always remember just state the mistake and apologize. It is important to make sure it is not a frequent mistake. Getting stuck talking to a motor mouth is not just awkward, but it is annoying. “People who talk too much know it. They will quickly find someone else to talk to if you walk away,” advice columnist etiquette, Anita Shower said. This is where the fake phone call application from iPhone can come in handy. But if one does not have an iPhone, counselor Judy Leonard gives advice on how to get away. “Say, ‘Hey, I’ve got to go now, I need to check in with my mom’,” Leonard said. Adding humor can help. Interject by saying, “Stop-it’s my turn now.” So saddle up and trample awkward situations without mercy. Also, look for Saving Face by Andy robin, Gregg Kavet, and Mike Pisiak for more reference on getting out of those awkward situations.

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Covert ClubsAlthough these clubs may not be in the spotlight they can shine in your life

Debate and ForensicsThe LSHS Debate and Forensics Team attends weekend tournaments and quite an impressive reputation. Members are required to compete in at least two tournaments a semester and have the chance to qualify for national tournaments. Members can also letter in debate and earn special cords for graduation. For information on joining, contact Nate Smith.

Book ClubBook Club provides literature-inclined students with a chance to read and dis-cuss various written works. Members are given two books to read per month and meet in the LMC on the third Wednesday of the month to discuss them. They also have online forums and chat sessions to discuss the books. Members have the chance to earn a varsity reading letter and a Gateway reading Patch. For more information drop by the LMC.

Club 121 Club 121 is a student led organization focused on providing students with an environment to discuss Christian-ity. Meetings are weekly and consist of games, songs, and guest speakers. Meetings are held Fridays in the Lecture Hall from 6:50-7:30 am. For more in-formation, e-mail Jessi ramsey at jessi.ramsey@leesummit.k12.mo.us or feel free to drop by at the next meeting.

Organization of Strategic GamingThe OSG is for students interested in historical, fantasy and sci-fi games. Members participate in school gaming sessions and attend larger gaming conventions. For information e-mail Mr. Fleck at

duane.fleck@leesummit.k12.mo.us

!{Clay reynolds}{Karlie Swan}

!{Lindsey Bales}

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Go Nutsfor the

Peanuts

A C

harlie Brown C

hristmas“You DO think I’m beautiful, don’t

you, Charlie Brown?”

The well-known Charlie Brown has the whole “awkward, but loveable outcast” going for him. He always seems to be down on his luck and is filled with insecurities. Charlie Brown shows us, that it is okay not fit in and to be an outcast. He changes up his routine outfit of a yellow zigzag shirt and jeans in this wintery movie. Everyone knows of Lucy van Pelt as a controlling, mature beyond her years girl from the comic strip, Char-lie Brown. Her bright, girlish sense of fashion is what sets her aside from other characters (along with her cynical advice giving). Lucy van Pelt is among one of the most out-standing, serious eight year-olds to be placed in a comic strip (she runs her own psychiatric stand); she is mature beyond her years. Her bright, old-fashion style is what sets her out from other females in cartoon strips.

1. Coat by Forever21 $21.50; 2. Hat by Banana republic $79.00; 3. Black Hair Dye (found at Walmart); 4. Jacket by Heritage 1981 $32.90; 5 Hat by Urban Outfitters $24.00; 6. Boots by Urban Outfitters $78.00

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In the town of Bedford Falls, the main c h a r a c t e r George Bailey (Jimmy Stew-ard) falls madly in love with the local girl Mary Hatch (Donna reed). This soon to be Mrs. Bailey has been in love with “Everytime a bell rings an angel gets its wings”

Romancing It’

s A W

ond

erfu

l Life

the Stone

Do you have a passion for fashion? Then you can have the opportunity to be featured in our upcoming publications! Send us your favorite pic-ture that represents your personal style at its best, and a few sentences describing your unique look. If chosen, you will be contacted and featured our fashion section. Send us your personal style: llbales0211@r7mail.leesummit.k12.mo.us1. Tunic by Forever21 $27.80; 2. Setting Lotion by Sephora $28.00; 3. Skirt by Dehilas

$38.50; 4. Heels by Kenneith Cole $160.00.

George Bailey her whole life, as it shows in the movie when she is at the local drug store; where Bailey worked when he was younger. In the movie she transforms from a naïve girl, into a strong, loving wife and mother. This holiday classic shows the world to truly appreciate life, while Hatch shows us her formal, fashionable style. Her style is nothing less of expected; it is formal, yet simple. She shows this movie’s viewers her sophisticated look.

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go up there anytime and do your own thing,” junior McKinley Duke said. With the new year approaching, a stop by the local Title Boxing Club

could help choose a New Year’s resolution, a much easier task.

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{Michael Bushur}

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!{Tony Botts}

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From the Ring to the WorkshopThe Legend of Narron

Title Boxing Clublocal gym gives Students and staff a break

Six Matches separated Bobby Narron from the biggest fight of his life. Unfortunately, barely six inches separated him from his inner city opponent directly next to him. Words of hate and taunting flowed from the young man’s tongue trying to throw Narron of his game. It was at that moment Narron decided; this kid was in for a beating. From the time assistant baseball and wrestling coach Bobby Narron was eight years old, the boxing gym has been a cherished place. Following his older brother to the gym soon became an ordinary routine, learning to duck from the jab or right hook thrown at his head while throwing a barrage of counter punches to his opponent’s abdomen. His passion for the sport is simple yet at times difficult for the average human to understand. “It’s a one on one sport. There are no excuses. When the game is over you can’t say ‘well its his fault, he dropped the ball’. It’s all you. If you lose, you lose. It’s a one one on one survival of the fittest type game, and I fell in love with it,” Narron said. That passion th lead Narron to eight individual Golden Gloves champion titles: twice at Kansas City, twice at Joplin, and four times at Springfield. This same passion has finally lead Narron out of the wood tech shop and back into the gym, Title boxing, which is owned by one of his childhood boxing friends. Narron now splits his time with coaching wrestling and baseball to train athletes through an intense hour of bag work and core strengthening Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 6 a.m.

Take away the fancy workout clothes, the high tech training gear, and the celebrity trainers. The remainder is a gym where hours of classes, hard work, and sweat will transform the body into the desired physique without breaking your budget. Title Boxing Club, located just down the strip of Price Chopper, strives to offer unbeatable rates for students and staff. This boxing gym has everything a man, and women, could want. Available upon activation of a membership are 42 classes per week with qualified instructors, free

weights, cardio equipment, and stylish clothing to revamp a wardrobe. Memberships cost 50 dollars, while monthly payments are a low 29 dollars. The classes range from early morning to late evening, so convenience will never be an issue. Their times range from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Their most popular class is the “Power Hour”, a combination of muscle burning bag work, gut carving core sessions, and self esteem building coaching. Many high school students enjoy working out there for simple reasons. “It’s cheap and you can

Deep Burn. Title Boxing Club is a recent addition to the plethora of fitness centers in Lee’s Summit. Title is located just down the strip from Price Chopper. Members can attend classes and improve their total body image. “It’s the best work out you can get. All the trainers were professional fighters and they are all really tight,” junior Connor Williamson said.

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challengers in five minutes. Since then the sport has swept the nation by storm. There are thousands of teams and competitors scattered across the states. The toughest local teams are Cave Man Crew, Team Hammer Fist, Pain and Glory, and House of Pain. Each team is devised of well-rounded gladiators who train vigorously for their upcoming battles. Those who are very passionate about what they do know that it goes beyond gym walls and work out rooms, just ask recent graduate Zach Hubbard. He started out wrestling in high school, “I wouldn’t be in the physical shape I am in now if it weren’t for Coach Graham and his wrestling staff.” Hubbard said. Hubbard has been fighting for over two years now and training for even longer, through it all he keeps coming back for more. “MMA has become a lifestyle. They have cool clothes and a different attitude. It’s become its own pop culture,” Hubbard said. Some people would find this statement to be true. To actually participate in a battle the participant must be at least 18 years of age. There are various spots in the metro that host these events and allow spectators to watch. However, they must be cautious of where to go and the consequences that may occur.

Tensions run high and the audience is roaring. At this moment you can feel every ounce of adrenalin pumping through your body. Mixed martial arts, also known as MMA, is a full contact sport that involves the use of many different fighting techniques. Techniques may include kick boxing, judo, Mua Thi, boxing and the two most common jiu-jitsu and wrestling Greco roman style. The sport has been around for over 700 years and it is still growing. It started out in 648 B.C. as ‘pankration’, which was hand-to-hand combat that took place in coliseums and stadiums. Today, MMA fights consist of two fighters from similar weight classes. The fighters objective is to win the match by out scoring his opponent, scored by a panel of judges similar to boxing. A fighter can also win by knocking his opponent unconscious or rendering the other fighter unable to finish the match. This is called a technical knockout or TKO for short. His final opportunity for victory is to submit the other fighter through a variety of body locks taught through the Jiu Jitsu discipline. Popular submissions include the rear-naked choke, triangle choke, and arm an ankles locks. Across the world many different forms of MMA began to pop up and finally reached the U.S. in the late 90’s. In 1993 fighter royce Gracie won the first Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament, taking down three

MMATHe intense sport sweeping the nation

{Janna Lamaster}

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Christmas PlaylistHi.Life has polled readers to see what their top ten favorite Christmas songs are.

Top 10 Holiday Gifts

Money- No matter who it is from, some cold hard cash is always a nice present. This is great to have

in hand for all the after Christmas sales!

Samsung rant- Find at any Sprint store or just look online at www.sprint.com. This phone

costs $299.99 and gives comes in two cool colors, red and black.

Nintendo Wii- This game system allows you to get up and move on your feet. You can find

this gift at Wal-Mart for $249.24

Gift card to Starbucks- Go to any Starbucks store and pick up a gift card. These are great for

stocking stuffers! Any amount can be placed on the cards.

Laptop- Find any color at Best Buy. Prices vary depending on type and model, but most run

around $599.99

Nikon Coolpix camera- New touch screen camera allows you to write whatever you like

on the screen, rotate pictures or even scroll through with just one touch. Find this camera at Nikoncoolpix.com for $349.95

Guitar Hero- World Tour- With this new Guitar Hero you can customize your own characters or

even make your own songs and record them, find this game at Wal-Mart for $85.00

Xbox 360- With great graphics and game play, this new game system is popular among the student body. Find this game

console at Wal-Mart for $199.92

·{Ma’ryah Cooper}

·{Sia Nero}

Even though money is tight, and shopping for that one special gift is

squeezing already stretched budgets, these are the ten

most wanted gifts of the winter season.

1. “This Christmas” – Chris Brown

5. “Santa Baby” – The Pussycat Dolls

4. “The Christmas Song” – Nat King Cole

3. “rudolph the red-Nosed reindeer” – Destiny’s Child

2. “All I want for Christmas” – Mariah Carey

10. “Carol of the Bells” – August Burns red

9. “Winter Wonderland” – Faith Hill

8. “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time” – Paul McCartney

7. “Jingle Bells” – Diana Krall

6. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” – Leon redbone and Zooey Deschanel

Ugg Boots- Get these stylish boots in black, brown, tan or many other great colors. Go online at

www.uggaustralia.com $160

iPod Touch- Can find this gift at www.apple.com get this perfect gift for anyone in the family.

Friends can get on Facebook, email, or even use it has an iPod. $229.00

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·{Nikki Schmidt} {Janna Lamaster}

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1A Christmas Story

(1984)Tells the story of nine-year-old ralphie, who

desperately wants a red ryder BB Gun for

Christmas—and is waging an all-out campaign to convince his reluctant

parents that the toy will be safe in his hands.

10 Holiday Flicks

2. Elf (2003)One Christmas Eve, a long time ago, an orphaned baby crawled his way into Santa’s bag of toys. Only to go undetected and accidentally carried back to Santa’s workshop in the North Pole.

4. Scrooge (1988)A network Tv president

3. National Lampoons Christmas vacationA Family tries to have a picture book holiday. Then plans change when the in-laws drop by.

5. Miracle on 34th StreetA little girl who has been raised not to believe in fantasy meets a department store Santa who claims to be the real Kris Kringle. Her mother insists that he is not, but soon things happen making them both change their mind.

7. Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)Charlie Brown finds himself nurturing one

8. Polar Express (2004)Live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super realism.

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Director ron Howard casts comedian Jim Carrey in the title role in this live-action adaptation of the famous Christmas tale by Dr. Seuss. Carrey is virtually unrecognizable in his elaborate green make up, but his anarchic comic touch is unmistakable.

9. We’re No Angels (1989)Two escaped convicts on the run try to out smart the law

Festive Films

little boy gets lost in the shuffle of his large upper-class family, as they are rushing to make a plane that will ferry them off to their Christmas vacation in France. The young boy, Kevin MacAllister who had been sent the attic as punishment, is forgotten. When the bumbling ‘Wet Bandits’ Harry and Marv target his house for robbery, Kevin steps up to defend his home.

of the scraggliest Christmas tree’s ever. At first his group of friends makes fun of him for picking an ugly tree but a message from Linus makes the holiday message go through.

by masquerading as priests, but as they go on through the holidays, they realize the meaning of Christmas.

is perhaps the most cold-hearted man ever, but his holiday spirit is given a painful booster by three vengeful ghosts.

6. Home Alone (1990)An eight-year-old

·{Brooke Welsh}

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Symphony of the Season

The over-done Nutcracker, the non-Siberian Trans Siberian Orchestra, the under-budget, over-rated Christmas Pageant that has been played since before anyone alive can remember. All of these have been seen and memorized again and again. It is time for something a little bit more contemporary. Something closer to home, and more importantly, easier on the wallet. On Monday evenings, unknown to most, a gathering of talent comes together in the halls of the school. A congregation of professors, former students, and normal neighborhood talent gather to tune their cellos, rosin their bows, and spiff up dulling trombones. LSSO (Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra) is directed by former LSHS orchestra maestro russ Berlin. The long time resident and friend of the community after three decades of service began to organize LSSO in 2002 for a concert in October of that year. The group will soon begin their sixth season of playing. “I began to organize LSSO to promote musical activities of high quality in the community and to serve as a haven for devoted musicians who are dedicated to excellence and life-long learning and growth,” Berlin said. Many of the players that are now an important part of LSSO are former

students of Lee’s Summit High School. “The Sounds [of Summit] are an excellent choral ensemble that has enjoyed a lot of success due to the dedication and musicianship of their Director, Mrs. Carla Oliver,” Berlin said. Music teacher Carla Oliver is a long-time friend and former co-worker of russ Berlin. She has not only seen the orchestra shine in their own light, but has performed alongside them with Sounds of Summit, a talented group of students that make up a chamber choir. “Having taught with Berlin, I knew that the work he did would be fantastic. The performance was an excellent experience,” Oliver said. The group usually performs four to six concerts annually, with six rehearsals between them. More often than not, the shows will end up sold out long before the doors of the school open for the performance, and for good reason. They perform an evening and matinee show, ten dollars each for adults and five dollars for kids. Tickets are available for sale at Hy-vee or online. “We really enjoy playing on the stage at LSHS. They have good acoustics and a very comfortable environment for the audience,” Berlin said.

Talley’s Autobody Inc. Provides premium performance to meet your custom auto body paint and repair

needs.

410 S. Douglas Lee’s Summit, MO 64063816.524.5566

Dynamic Directing: Russ Berlin conducts the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra in a performance.

Christmas concert involves a community of great musicians

The orchestra has performed at a number of places, among them Powell Gardens, Unity village, John Knox village Pavilion, KCMO Music Hall, LSW, and LSN. The most common place to stumble upon them however, would be in the instrumental music room at Lee’s Summit High School. “It’s always fun to hear the full orchestra and I enjoy the opportunity to sing,” Oliver said. The symphony is not just a string orchestra. It includes flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and percussion, alongside the strings of violin, viola, cello and base. “I have enjoyed the challenge of learning new professional repertoire and also the honor and privilege to work with some very fine musicians and former students,” Berlin said. While the conductor himself may be gracious about his part of birthing LSSO, the rest of the community is astoundingly grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a piece of their own neighborhood. Perhaps not as renowned as other special holiday traditions, or a classic that everyone would recognize, the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra provides new stories to bring under the tree this holiday season.

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·{Burkett Powell}

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Top Sledding Hills in the Area

The sledding hill is at the Sullivan city lake.

Angle: 70 degrees

Length: one hundred feet

Directions: Take I-44 to exit 225-Turn left and cross the over pass then take the first right onto the south service road, in front of Cracker Barrel -Go approximately .05 miles and turn left on Hwy D.-Go approximately .05 miles and make a right on SAPPINGTON BrIDGE rd. make the next right hand turn on Lake Dr.

The sledding hill at richards Gebaur Air Force base.

Angle: 45 degrees

Length: four hundred feet

Location: Belton

Directions: Take 71hwy to west 155th St. -This will take you into the Air Force base. -When you get to the light, veer left.

Blue Springs

Angle: 55 degrees

Length: four hundred feet

Directions:-From I-70. Go North on 7 Hwy to Truman rd.-Go east on Truman rd for approximately 2 miles.-Turn right into the Gravel

parking lot on the right side. -Head to the north side of William Landahl Park. The hill is right in front of you.

+Description and directions courtesy of http://www.sledriding.com/Missouri.html

·{Alex Watts}

Winter Wonders Twinkling lights, cascading white waves, crisp cold air, and hot puffs of breath envelop the winter scene. Weather it’s the gleaming lights of the Plaza or the timeless traditions of Crown Center, there are many winter activities in which one can partake in Kansas City.

Longview: Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park located at Longview Campground at Longview Lake and was named one of the top holiday things to do in Kansas City by About.com. With over 300,000 glowing bulbs and 175 animated figures, Christmas in the Park is fun for all ages.

Price: Christmas in the Park is free, however, donations to the park are accepted at the end of the ride. Hours: Hours are Sunday-Thursday: 5:30-10p.m., Friday-Saturday: 5:30-11p.m. Guide Tip: Expect bumper-to-bumper traffic, so be sure to have plenty of gas and time. Location: 10711 West Scherer, KCMO 64134

Great Wolf Lodge The Great Wolf Lodge is a great place to get your summer fix during winter. Get ready to get soaked by the grand daddy of soaker buckets,a1,000-gallon tipper that sits atop Fort Mackenzie. Fort Mackenzie is the water park playground inside the Great Wolf Lodge. The great Wolf Lodge is a hotel that has become famous for its water park. Complete with 2 slides, a playground, hot tub, lazy river, and 84-degree inside temperature, it’s a great place to visit.

Price: Prices range from $179.95 (For 5 people) to $319.95 (For 7 people). Special Offers: Snowland is an offer valid only at Kansas City, KS location, from December 6 to December 24, 2008. This offer includes: passes for our indoor water park for the entire family, and special holiday events and activities.

Crown CenterKansas City’s Ice Terrace, outdoor ice skating rink, is open for its 36th season.

Price: regular admission is $6, or free for children under age 5 and adults over 60. Skate rental is $3, or skaters may bring their own ice skates.Hours: During December and January, hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday-Thursday. Friday-Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Hours during February and March are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. only. Special Offers: Two-for-One Tuesdays pay one full price admission and receive the second one for free after 5 p.m.

The Country Club Plaza The Plaza has been laced with lights by Kansas City Power & Light for 79 years. At the Plaza, there are carriage rides and Surreys pulled by horses that are available for ride purchase.

Price: For Kansas City Carriages it’s $50 dollars for the base charge of 2 people, then $10 for each subsequent person. Kansas City Carriages is located near Halls. For Surrey’s Carriage Company it’s $55 for 2 people and $10 for subsequent passengers and $5 for each additional child. Carriages come in 2-seaters to 30-seaters. Surrey’s Carriage Company is located near victoria’s Secret. Hours: The Plaza’s shops have extended hours during the holiday season (November 28 – December 30) 10a.m. -9p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6p.m. on Sunday. Contact: For Surrey’s Car-riage Company call (816) 531-2673, and for Kansas City Carriage call (816) 531-1999.

Memory Making: A local kid spends his day sledding on a nearby snow-covered hill.

The snow begins to fall in our city and the sleds begin to be brought out. Many sledding hot spots in the city become available the the snow piles up.

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It’s BegInnIng to Look A Lot LIke ChrIstmAs

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Hot Shots! Concert Cornerrascal Flatts |One of country music’s biggest bands will take the stage at the Sprint Center on Sat., Jan. 17 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost $52.75 and are general admission.

Slipknot with Coheed & Cambria, and Trivium |The heavy-metal band Slipknot, along with Coheed and Cambria, and Trivium will take the stage at the Sprint Center on Sat., Jan. 24 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost between $39.50 and $45.00.

Kings of Leon | The Grammy-nominated rock band from Tennessee will play at the Uptown Theater on Fri., Jan. 23 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost $36.00 and are general admission.

Are you into photography? Have you ever taken a cool photo but didn’t know what to do with it? Well, here’s your chance to show off your work! Enter the HiLife Hot Shots Photo Contest by sending your photo with your name and grade to the photography editor Taylor rice at taylor_rizzle@hotmail.com. Please include some information about your entry or what inspired you. Make sure to send it in by Monday, October 20, and your work could be featured in the October edition of HiLife!

YOUr PHOTO HErE!

{Michael Bushur}

Country Club Plaza, 47th & Wornall

Downtown Lee’s Summit, 3rd & Main

Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd

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Late-breaking scandal: Christmas is on steroids. Santa needs bigger biceps for all the presents parents are ordering for their kids. This is not another lecture. We just wanted to point out how ridiculous it is that going to Wal-Mart is more hazardous than skydiving. The series 25 Days of Christmas on ABC has become an American pastime. Watching A Christmas Story, rudolph, and The Grinch have become holiday rituals across the nation. The only problem is that all of these movies have one central theme: the only things in life worth anything are family, friends, and community. This is a message that hardly anyone seems to get these days. Black Friday is perhaps the ideal example of capitalism flourishing in America, and one of the main reasons true holiday spirit is twisted now. Functioning on an excessive amount of coffee and a severe lack of sleep, consumers across the nation flock to several different

businesses at 5 AM to wait in ridiculously long lines, each hoping to get to the greatly discounted iPod charger, or you know, the highly desired four-piece luggage set before anyone else does. While we agree that it is really cool to have lots of fun stuff, we also know about these things called limits, and the line has definitely been crossed.

True holiday spirit is about loving one another. It is about that basic human need, right, and connection to all other humans. Gadgets and materialistic things can simply be amounted to just stuff. Stuff does not create genuine feelings of caring or appreciation for another person, but greed and envy for another person’s stuff. The best way to display proper affection for our fellow humans is to donate to various charities. Instead of spending money on iPods that will soon be yesterday’s thing, spend that money on adopting a family, where the help will be remembered forever. Also, do community work. It makes our community a better place, and goes without saying, looks great on a resume. Scratch that, it most importantly improves the relationships between each other, which are the most important things in life. Presents are all fine and dandy, but it is also easy to go overboard. remember what is the most important to us and everyone will have an enjoyable holiday.

That’sWhatSheSaid THEINBOX

As the seasons change and the weather becomes cooler and less inviting, the hallways become crowded. Many students rely on walking outside to make it in time. However, when the cold comes it becomes a choice: be on time to class or stay warm. A minute increase in passing periods during the cold months of the year could make a world of difference in the number of tardies given out this semester or a solution such as closing off the pathway in building A, creating a quicker inside route to class.

A problem that I have with the school is the amount of time we have between classes, especially during the winter, when it is bitter cold outside, snowy, and wet. The halls get so crowded that you

have to be mean and push people out of the way just t o get to class on time. People also stand and crowd in the hallways, especially in building B. Then some teachers understand and don’t give tardies, but others don’t see and just give you a tardy. I think we should be allowed eight minutes between classes and also have teachers keep the flow through the halls.

Dear Editors,

senior Courtney Lewis

senior Kayla Millwater

on four-piece“Discountluggage sets,

anyone?”

U{Michael Holcomb}

U{Taryn Hall}

U{Max Belanger}

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Opinions U

The day after Halloween, 24 hour Christmas music starts to play on the local radio stations. The jolly man with the infamous red suit and black boots returns to work to spread holiday cheer. Businesses are already starting to put out all their latest deals and great gift ideas for the holiday season. By the time Christmas finally arrives, it does not feel the same.

The holidays are a fun time, but not for everyone. All the families that are already in financial trouble due to the economy and are living pay check to pay check cannot afford to give their kids everything they want. People who are die hard fanatics of Christmas get decorations out the day after Thanksgiving and start to wrap every inch of the house in lights. For these people, Christmas can never start too soon because it is the happiest time of the year. They do not really mind the holidays starting earlier every year because it just gives them more time to enjoy themselves, and to take part in the festivities. The opposing side of this fight is the American businesses that are being affected by the recent economy slumps. In order to keep the money coming in, the holiday rush season is being started earlier than normal. Companies are getting better gimmicks to get teens and children to jump on the bandwagon to buy or want the new products being offered. No matter where people are this season, whether they are part of a money hungry company, a mom or dad who wants to get their children the perfect gift, or a Christmas fanatic: they must remember that Christmas is meant to be about being with family and giving some to others. This can be accomplished without gifts and the latest crazes being shoved our way.

A week before break when most shopping is done, people are having a blast. People are having fun. Around this time of year the joy of holiday cheer is spread. Few still battle over deciding the name to use ‘holiday’ over Christmas at places, if it can mean the same. As people bicker back and forth in non-decisive bashing, it leads to a war of different cultures clashing. There exists a supposed ‘War on Christmas’ in the United States. While not new, this debate has raged on most recently in our decades over whether the term Christmas should be avoided in the media. The people who argue against using holiday want to make the claim that the reason most media avoid using Christmas claim to being against relating to Christian ties; since it is usually celebrated as the birth of Jesus. The other side who wants to use ‘holiday’ thinks it is a much more logical term, and provides more equality for those who do not celebrate Christmas but holidays such as Kwanzaa by many African-Americans or Hanukkah by the Jewish community (which lasts longer than Christmas by seven days) for example. Both sides have bitterly argued this topic to such a dead-end that no one is really sure what is right and wrong. In fact, one could argue Christmas has evolved into a more secular event. This argument lies in that the most common Christmas items such as wreaths, yule logs, and mistletoe have pre-dated the birth of Jesus and have non-Christian origins. Christmas has also changed in meaning. Christmas was a day

in which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Over time, though, it grew into a different ordeal in which others are now purchasing gifts for one another that wanted items, and for people they love and cherish, gaining a humanistic value to it. By gaining humanistic quality, Christmas grew into something else in which friends and family focused more on each other, realizing unity is the important aspect. Unity is something that exists in all holidays, and can be celebrated by different kinds of people, and does not have to pertain itself as a religious idea. Jews, Christians, African-Americans all have unity during the winter season. While Christmas is considered the

major holiday of the season, acknowledgement is needed for the other holidays in which they too have grown to realize the important family aspect in everything. As the holiday group speaks their side and what to do, the others will stay and always argue. Both arguments not ending anytime soon, even by the new moon. In the end though we have to see, that can be simpler as one, two, and three. With over three hundred million people in this country of different origins to share, all holidays equally show how much they all care. In the end it doesn’t matter what you celebrate after fall. What matters most is the unity in families, and equality for all.

Holiday vs. ChristmasHo

liday

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Season’s (Greed)ings With all of the determined, selfish shoppers it is as if stores and shopping centers across the nation have become war zones. Consumers march into these places on a mission: to get what they want, no matter the circumstances. Unfortunately, this can bring out the worst in people. Despite good intentions, this attitude has resulted in death and other tragedies. Forget terrorists… the deadliest pursuits that Americans are faced with are shopaholics.

Interested? Read the rest of this article on www.jlabmag.com

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U{Julia Duckworth}

{Jake Mobley}

{Mary Armes}

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Opinions U

This year the school board cut a lot of money from the Lee’s Summit school district, which leaves students and staff dipping into their own pockets and time for the school. Everyday students come to school equals cash the school gets paid. This year, as the result of not having the money, we have no built in snow days. Luckily, after years of having school buses wobble on hazardous roads, they have finally proven to make safer choices. We on the Hi.Life staff pondered over the factors to be considered when deciding a snow day. A well known precept is that safety always comes first, and when students are in a rush to get to school it can get messy. It does not help when the bells ring and students have to run across an icy campus to get to class. Another condition we came up with was temperature; an average of 15 degrees or lower should be thought of as a snow day. Also walking from building to building in freezing weather is not the way to dodge catching a cold or flu. Of course there cannot be a snow day without snow, so it was decided that an average of three inches should be enough for a snow day to be declared. Student administration clarified how the new snow day policy works. In the past one year rules about snow days and how they affect our summer break were different than this year. Last year the policy was that we had two days built into our school year schedule to use for snow days. If we had over two snow days we would have to add days onto our summer vacation. Those two days do not apply to this year. Every snow day we have will mean an extra day added to the end of our year. The days that use to be for snow days are now for teachers. Teacher were requesting for extra time to finish things, now the two days are professional development days. The thought of a snow day always leaves one drooling at the mouth and day dreaming about endless possibilities; maybe missing a test or two, or getting to spend a day with friends. A winter day wish cold and icy conditions is worth a day from our vacation as long as we stay safe.

Staff Editorial

etch-a-sketch

Students are likely to brave icy streets and frigid temperatures since the district will be wary of making up days in the summer.

M.O.S.What do you think of the new snow day policy?

Freshman Lucy Lotspeich

Sophomore Dalton McDonald

Junior Kayleigh Brent

Senior Matt Houston

I think that one inch of snow should qualify, or if it is below 20 degrees outside. If it is still snowing at like six o’clock we should get a snow day. Whenever you are driving and hit ice a lot,

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Well, I don’t know really, my friend from Lee’s Summit West died in a car wreck on ice. So, I think that ice is the biggest deal. Teens take less caution on the roads,

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I don’t feel very safe when it’s icy and I’m riding the bus. I think it’s stupid we don’t have built-in snow days because we had a lot last year and some of the buses can’t drive,

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Whenever the driving conditions are harsh and when it gets to the point where you can’t walk three feet without stepping on ice and your snot turns into icicles, ”

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Sports

{Karli Swan}{Nate Day}

Morning weights on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, practice every day and a strict diet; that epitome of commitment. That shows the commitment these girls have to the team. According to some swimmers there will be cuts this year on the girls swimming and diving team. With such a large turnout that they need to make cuts gives hope that the team will be even better than ever. Many people follow strict diets and training to help improve in a sport. Some wrestlers must diet to maintain their weight, the girls swimming and diving team is on a strict diet as well. Components of this diet are mainly fish, turkey, chicken, fruits, vegetables and vitamins. To drink they are allowed to have water. Many things are cut out to help make the swimmers and divers healthier. One of the things cut out is red meat, this means beef, steak and other foods of that nature. They also are not supposed to have sugar, caffeine or salt. “There are some girls who have not gone off the diet in four years,” sophomore Sarah-Grace Miller said. This shows that the diet can be followed but also the commitment the girls show to working hard and training to be the best. “We work hard, practice, and do weights,” sophomore Clair Bohlman said. Training is a big part of becoming a better athlete, swimming and diving is no exception. The team has weights three times a week and practice every day, divers also have trampoline practice and swimmers watch videos to improve technique. Also in swimming and diving, unlike

most other sports, an athlete cannot just train to one specific race. They have to perform in many different events and dives each meet. This will help to make better all around swimmers and divers rather than just people who can only perform in one event. “Training is more difficult because of minimal pool space.” Miller said “Consider all three Lees Summit football teams practicing on one field, that’s how it is in the pool.” “Practice is not that bad, except for the fact there are seven people in a lane and many times, more,” sophomore rachel reynolds said. With a small amount of pool space practice can be difficult. This could be even harder due to the fact that enough girls turned out for try outs that they needed to make cuts. “I am really looking forward to the new

pool next year,” reynolds said. Hopefully the new pool will solve the space problem. A good team also has to be a close team. To be friends with one another can help improve teamwork and pushing each other to be better than before. “I love loading up on the bus everyday to go to the pool. Everyone is talking and laughing together,” Miller said. These close bonds will hopefully help everyone strive to be better and encourage the people and friends around them to be better. At each meet you will have one swim, two events, and two relays. reynolds says she has swam every event but likes the 200 free, the best because that is what she made state in last year. Many swimmers and divers anticipate this year to be a great one. reynolds mentioned that there are several good returning upperclassman and some decent freshman that came in. She also thinks they can make state in the 400 free relay. “It is really fun but also a lot of work,” reynolds said. Every one has a different level of commitment, often times people will put all their effort into being the best of their sport or they will not put any effort in at all. Our swimming and diving team here at Lee’s Summit certainly put a lot of effort in to being the best and have exhibited their commitment to the sport. Hopefully this will be a great season for the team and for our school’s athletics.

- Fri. 12/19/08 Independence

- Sat. 12/20/08 Independence

-Tue. 12/30/08 Longview

-Tue. 01/06/09 Henley Aquatic

-Fri. 01/09/08 PH Aquatic Center

-Sat. 01/10/09 PH Aquatic Center

-Tue. 01/13/09 BSS YMCA

-Sat. 01/17/09 Sedalia

-Tue. 01/20/09 Longview

-Fri. 01/23/09 Raytown YMCA

-Sat. 01/24/09 Raytown YMCA

-Wed. 01/28/09 Longview

Conference 02/04/09-02/07/09

08-09 Schedule

Making a Splash Previewing the girls swimming and diving season

>>

1. Kayla Archer practices swimming freestyle for her upcoming swim meet at Longview.

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{Derek Brooks}

Sports

7 Moments to RememberThe seven biggest sports moments of 2008

[6] The sixth spot on the list belongs to rafael Nadal.

Nadal turned the tennis world upside down when he beat roger Federer in the Wimbledon Final. On Aug. 18, Nadal took Federer’s place as the number one tennis player in the world.

[5]The fifth m o m e n t was the m e n ’ s O l y m p i c

basketball team. Know as the redeem Team, they took the gold medal with a win against Spain. The United States have not won the gold medal in basketball since the 2004 Athens Olympics.

With the Olympics over, Phelps and his amazing feat of eight gold medals in this years Olympics, join other great athletes all over the world of many ages, and in many various sports as the greatest moments in 2008 sports history. Hopefully sports in 2009 will be just as exciting as 2008 has been.

[3] Third on the list belongs to the New York Giants when they upset the 16-0 New England Patriots. Down by three,

Eli Manning gets the ball to receiver Plaxico Burress for the winning touchdown with only 35 seconds left. After the touchdown the score was changed to 17-14 Giants. The Giants are now the first NFC wild card team to win a super bowl.

[4]Forth on the list is golfer Tiger Woods. Woods beat rocco Mediate in a sudden death match at the U.S. Open. Woods had been playing the entire U.S. Open on a injured left knee. Two days after the U.S. Open Woods announced that he would have to miss the rest of the golf season because he was required to undergo minor knee surgery.

He’s Done it Again- Another Celebration after Tigers big win against Rocco Mediate

[2] Coming in second is pitcher Jon Lester. Lester pitched a no-hitter in Fenway Park against the Kansas City royals. The thing that makes

this moment so amazing is that just 20 months before the game, Lester had been diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a type of cancer. “It’s something I’ll remember forever, a lot of excitement. I think I had more adrenaline going in the ninth inning that in the first inning, which I guess is normal for that situation. It was great. The fans were great; they were on there feet yelling and screaming. It was probably the loudest times I’ve heard Fenway when I’ve been out there pitching” Lester told the L.A. Times.

Once In a Lifetime- John Lester begins his celbration after pitching the impossible. A no Hitter.

[1] Michael Phelps came out of the water after his last race thinking he had lost and come in second, but when Phelps

looked at the scoreboard a wave of emotion filled his body as he saw that he had won by a hundredth of a second. This win got him his eighth gold medal making him the greatest Olympic athlete. That was just one of 2008 great moments in sports. Phelps winning those eight gold medals in the Olympics is at the top of the list. Phelps now has a total of 14 gold medals, the most one by any Olympic athlete ever.

Just Another Medal- Michael Phelps achieved the unthinkable in this summer’s Olympics. Phelps earned 8 gold medals to bring home. Any more medals wold have become a strain on his neck. This is the greatest a c c o m p l i s h m e n t by any swimmer in history.

[7] NASCAr driver Jimmie Johnson takes seventh place. Johnson has won the Sprint Cup three times in a row now, tying former NASAr

driver Cale Yarborough’s record. If Johnson wins one more he will have the record for himself.Game Face- Nascar

Driver Jimmy Johnsons Pre-Race game face.

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Sports

{Josh Zans}Live StrongA Healthier life for a cheap price

An oil change, tank of gas, a new pair of jeans, and a DvD; thirty dollars can buy many things when it comes to gym memberships. To live stronger and live a healthier life, consider joining a gym with a great facility that is not hard on the budget.

Legacy Park Community CenterMonthly rate: $12.50 plus $25.00 activation feeYearly rate: $150 Cardio: Treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes, trackWeights: many weight machines, many free weights, medicine balls Miscellaneous: personal trainers Non-Member $48 Member $40, pool with slide, hot tub full size basketball courts, racquetball courts, many fitness classes

24 hour fitnessMonthly rate: $22.45Yearly rate: $268.99Cardio: Treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes, stair master Weights: many weight machines, many free weightsMiscellaneous: basketball court, pools and saunas, free full fitness evaluation, personal trainers five half hour sessions $106, five four hour sessions $300

Gold’s GymMonthly rate: $35-$40Yearly rate: $420-$480Cardio: Treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes, trackWeights: many weight machines, many free weights Miscellaneous: personal trainers, Full fitness evaluation and a 30-day revaluation

Summit FitnessOne Year High School Students only: $99Cardio: Treadmills, elliptical machines, bikesWeights: many weight machines, free weights Miscellaneous: Pool, hot tub, steam room, dry sauna, basketball court, track, fitness classes, Boxing, Gage fighting

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Sports

{Drew Barnhardt}

T hree Tiger athletes compete on a city-wide hockey team against other schools.North. West. Our rivals. Our enemies. How can any Tiger athlete be on the same team with a Bronco, a Titan?

Skyler West, Nathan Williams, and Chris Mitchell all play on the Lee’s Summit Storm. The Storm is a hockey team that represents all three schools in the Lee’s Summit area; yes the Broncos, the Titans, and the Tigers. West, Williams, and Mitchell are the ones who represent our school on the Storm. “I heard about the team from other hockey players. Just by playing you hear about it,” Williams said. West, Williams, and Mitchell all heard about the team through the hockey community. Other students are not that lucky, few

Hockey TownLee’s Summit combines with North and West for a city-wide team

Storming to Victory.The puck passes by the goalie as the Storm begin to celebrate another goal this season.

students know we have a team. “I think people don’t know that we have a team because it is not advertised like football and basketball,” West said. Football and Basketball get the attention of the student body. Only a few even know there is a hockey team at the school. The hockey team is unique. Things could get interesting being on a team with a rival. “It’s not as tough as you would think. We are a team. We play as a team. There are no hard feelings. Our only real rival is rockhurst,” West said. Williams echoed this. “Oh yeah, that’s no problem. We are all friends.” To prepare for a team such as this, the athletes have to work really hard. “I played seven years of roller hockey before playing for the team,” Williams said. West and Mitchell both play on the same travel team and that has helped them a lot when playing for the school. “The team is pretty decent. We have only lost a few [games], but we still have to work a few things out,” West said. The Storm also play their games at Pepsi Ice. The games are played on Wednesdays and occasionally on the weekends. For this one time, This one sport, all Lee’s Summit can put aside their differences and cheer on the Storm. However, this does not change everything. Come Friday nights, Tigers do not cheer for Broncos.

{Karlie Swan}

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Sports {Brett Stoddard}

{Tyler Sherman}Bowl Championship Series

After an intense season of competition and BCS ranking controversies, it is finally time to

crown the NCAA division-1 football na-tional champion. In the very controversial national championship game, the Florida Gators are going to take on the offensive powerhouse Okla-homa Sooners. This game has the mak-ings of an offensive showcase with two Heisman trophy winning quarterbacks facing off for the first time in history. The next match-up to watch would have to be the rose Bowl, with the hard hitting Penn State defense go-ing up against the exciting offense of the USC Trojans. This season’s bowl series should be a great send off of this peculiar season with ten great teams facing off in the most sought after bowls in the nation.

National Championship

Florida vs. Oklahoma7:00 p.m., Jan 8, 2009

FOXMiami, Florida

Prediction: Oklahoma

Heisman Hopefuls

VS.

Tim Tebow

Passing yards: 2,515Passing TD’s: 28

Completed passes: 174Pass attempts: 268

Completion %: 64.9%rushing yards: 564

rushing TD’s: 12Pass rating: 176.74

Colt McCoy

Passing yards: 3,445Passing TD’s: 32

Completed passes: 291Pass attempts: 375

Completion %: 77.6% rushing yards: 576

rushing TD’s: 10Pass rating: 179.2

Sam Bradford

Passing yards: 4,464 Passing TD’s: 48

Completed passes: 302Pass attempts: 442

Completion %: 68.3% rushing yards: 65

rushing TD’s: 5Pass rating: 186.29

Now introducing, Heisman Trophy winner...

WE SAY: For the first time in NCAA division-1A football history two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks will face off in the national championship game. The Sooners, led by Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, will look to their offense to put up lots of points and seal this game up early. While last year’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow will try to lead his team to yet another victory and tie up the Gators season with a win for the record books.EXPErTS SAY: The questions are, will it matter that only one team has very good defense? That Florida won a very watered-down conference? That Stoops is 0-4 in his last four BCS bowls? -foxsport.com

WE SAY: The Longhorns find themselves in the Fiesta Bowl when many think they are deserving of a national title shot, beating Oklahoma earlier in the season. The No. 3 Longhorns bang helmets with the No. 10 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. This game has the potential of being a blowout with the Longhorns playing with alot of frustration from their BCS ranking woes. But, the Buckeyes are looking to redeem themselves after last years national title plunder.EXPErTS SAY: You almost feel a little bad that the Buckeyes are facing this BCS-snubbed, angry Longhorns team. If the Bucks don’t win, which is likely, or worse, get blown out, they had better not be in next season’s preseason top-10 polls. -foxsports.com

Fiesta Bowl

Texas vs. Ohio State7:00 p.m., Jan. 5, 2009

Glendale, ArizonaFOX

Prediction: Texas

VS.

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Sports

Bowls 2 Watch 4

Ten powerhouse teams will end their season looking for BCS glory

Insight Bowl

Kansas vs. Minnesota4:30 p.m., Dec. 31, 2008

NFL NetworkTempe, Arizona

Prediction: Kansas

Gator Bowl

Nebraska vs. Clemson12:00 p.m., Jan. 1, 2009

CBSJacksonville, FloridaPrediction: Nebraska

Chik-Fil-A Bowl

Georgia Tech vs. LSU6:30 p.m., Dec. 31, 2008

ESPNAtlanta, GeorgiaPrediction: LSU

Alamo Bowl

Missouri vs. Northwestern7:00 p.m., Dec. 29, 2008

ESPNSan Antonio, Texas

Prediction: Missouri

WE SAY: The formerly No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the No. 6 ranked undefeated Utah Utes. Both teams having a high-powered offense, the Sugar Bowl bowl looks to be a high scoring event. WIth Utah being a Mountain West team and not used to playing the caliber of team as Alabama, they might struggle in adjusting to such a high pace game. The Sugar Bowl should be a sweet kickoff to the new year. EXPErTS SAY: Utah is similar to Florida in that the Utes have a prolific, high-octane offense that scores quickly and often. ‘Bama should be very proud of their season — after all, next year was supposed to be “their year” — and thrilled they are playing in the Sugar Bowl. -foxsports.com

Sugar Bowl

Utah vs. Alabama7:00 p.m., Jan. 2, 2009

New Orleans, LouisianaFOX

Prediction: Alabama

VS.

WE SAY: Penn State’s dominating linebacker crew looks to stall the off and on USC Trojan offense. This game should be a low scoring affair with both teams being solid on both sides of the ball. The old school style of Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno will lead to an interesting match up against the new-age style of Pete Carrol and the USC Trojans. Pasadena will turn into a war zone for the battle of the ages.EXPErTS SAY: The Nittany Lions run a beautiful, well-executed spread, but they haven’t played against a fast defense like that of the Trojans, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation. On the other hand, USC hasn’t exactly been consistent with its offense, and Penn State has a very good defense. -foxsports.com

Rose Bowl

Penn State vs. USC3:30 p.m., Jan. 1, 2009

ABCPasadena, California

Prediction: Penn State

VS.

Orange Bowl

virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati7:30 p.m., Jan 1, 2009

FOXMiami, Florida

Prediction: virginia Tech

VS.

WE SAY: virginia Tech heads back to Miami, Florida to compete in the Orange Bowl again after their gut-wrenching loss to Kansas last year. Cincinnati has remained under the radar all season and are now looking to show the world who they are with a great Orange Bowl victory. This game looks to be a tightly contested battle with both teams struggling at some point during this season. EXPErTS SAY: If a No. 19 virginia Tech team can play in a BCS Bowl with four losses, then obviously the arguments for eliminating automatic bowl berths should start here. I’ll lead the protest. No. 12 Cincy had to stage a late fourth-quarter rally to beat Hawaii, and the Bearcats barely beat rutgers and Akron. -foxsports.com

{Karlie Swan}

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Sports

{Brian Williams}

Luke SealerBasketballPosition: Guard4 Year lettermen“I feel like a leader. I have been there before, so I know what to expect.”

Leading to Victory

Carli DiMarcoBasketball

Position: Guard3 Year lettermen

“There’s new faces, only two seniors so it’s a lot

different from having six like last year.”

Trey CoxBasketball

Position: Guard3 Year lettermen

“It’s fun. I enjoy being a leader on the team.”

Andrew LattnerWrestlingWeight Class: 160 lbs.3 Year lettermen“I’m going to make it more intense and help pump everyone up before meets and duels.”

Jenna StidhamSwimmingEvents: 200 free,500 free, and 200 & 400 free relays.3 Year lettermen“I have to direct a lot of the girls, answer a lot of questions and help at practice.”

Taylor rodriguezSwimming

Events:50 free, 100 free, 200 medley, & 200 free

relay3 Year lettermen

“Being a senior is different, we are in charge of a lot of

things.

Corey LockwoodWrestling

Weight Class: 152 lbs.3 Year lettermen

“I’m going to train harder, wrestle better, and make it

to state.”

rachel CraigBasketballPosition: Guard3 Year lettermen“It feels good to be a leader. I help people out, direct them and give them tips.”

Seniors athletes begin their final season.

The class of 2009 will have plenty of representation in this year’s winter sports. Here are a couple from each sport, as they continue their last high school season.

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Photo Essay

Christmas Close-Ups

Can you tell what these photos really are? Check out jlabmag.com to find out what each object really is. {Sami Dowd }

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