Volume XIII, Issue I 21401 SE Falcon Way Kent, WA October 8, 2009

The Falcon Flyer

Know your Teachers!

Cross Country The Informant Teacher Strike

2 ContentsThe Falcon Flyer

News, Pg 3“Treasured director battles cancer”

studeNt life, Pg 13“Homecoming how to”

A&e, Pg 15“Soderberg, Damon return in top comedic form”

OP-ed, Pg 6“Teacher strike: selfish or selfless?”

sPOrts, Pg 18“Soccer shines, new season shows promise”

feAtures, Pg 3“Things you always wanted to ask your teachers”

Meet the PressCynthiann Heckelsmiller...................................Co-Editor in ChiefChristine Rushton..............................................Co-Editor in ChiefAlyssa Ryan.................................................................Op-ed EditorYasmin Abubakar..............................................Student Life EditorMike Lydon....................................................................A&E EditorHolly Pirret.................................................................Sports EditorKayla Maletich..................................................Businuess ManagerSpencer Transier............................................................Webmaster

Staff ReportersBrian Benshoof Jason HirscheyKeith Bolender Erin HuntKelsey Bolton Jacob LangholzBrendan Cescon Nicole LuceMichala Dymond Shaw Amy ReiterMatt Davis Michaela MandalaKierra Elfalan Megan RogersCraig Heffner Ryan SnyderJerel Henderson Daniel TadeoKiley Throop Mckenna HerronMelissa Pitchford Steven Weier

Kentlake High SchoolPhone: (253) 373-4900 Fax: (253) 373-4908

Principal: Diana PrattAdviser: Susan BestTheFalconFlyer.com

The Flacon Flyer is an open forum, produced by students in the journalism class at Kentlake High School. Its mission is to provide a thought-proviking, informative and high-quality publication for

the Kentlake community, adhering to strong journalistic principles. Editorials which appear in the Flyer represent the opinion of the named author or authors, or if no

author is credited, the opinions of the Editorial Board. The staff welcomes signed letters to the editor. The Falcon Flyer reserves the right to edit letters,

although every attempt will be made to preserve original content. Letters should be sent to thefalcon-flyer@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Kentlake students and staff are amazing. Through the sale of our Livestrong Wrist-bands AND collecting change/money during all three lunches last Friday, the KL Social Committee will be making a contribution to

the Lance Armssey) in the amount of …

$828.85We still have wristbands available for a $5 dona-

tion.November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month—so stay tuned for further events and mon-

ey drives.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 1st- for the

Puget Sound Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Walkhttp://www.pancan.org/section_get_in-volved/events_fundraising/event_details.

NewsThe Falcon Flyer3

Sadness struck the halls with the news that drama teacher Pam Cressey has been diagnosed with pan-creatic cancer. According to Jacob Axelson, a member of the dra-ma program, when Cressey was admitted to the hos-pital, a bile valve blockage was found in her liver. “They went in, and [...] they didn’t know what was

wrong with her and so she had her surgery [...] but her test results came back [on Sept. 22] and she has pancreatic can-cer,” said Axelson. According to the Hirsh-berg Foundation for Pan-creatic Cancer Research, “Seventy-five percent of pancreatic cancer pa-tients die within the first 12 months of the diagno-sis. The 5-year survival rate is 5 percent.” While this statistic seems grim, Cressey’s case of cancer is different from the usu-al patient. Cressey accepts her cancer and is ready to do anything to fight it. “I’m going to have a meeting with one of my oncolo-gists today, I’m meeting three of them, the three best in Seattle; so I’m getting three different

opinions today on what chemo and radiation to start. My surgery, which was a really big part of getting rid of what was in there. It was really successful, I’ve had absolutely no problems from it except trying to recover from it so I can start the next step, which is chemo and radiation. I’m ready.” Tamara Barnhart, Cressey’s friend and colleague, said, “She’s got to recover for four weeks, and then she’ll start chemo therapy. And then, from what she told me is she’ll probably do a month of chemo thera-py. And then she’ll have a month to rest, for her body to recover, then she’ll do another month of chemo

therapy. So it will be early Spring before she’s all fin-ished with that.” Mario Penalver, first year teacher, is the guest teacher for the drama program during Cressey’s ab-sence. According to Penalver, it has been challeng-ing. “Cressey’s a really wonderful person and she has left quite a mark on this place. I don’t expect myself to replace her. I expect that I’ll try to keep up the fort while she’s gone.” Plans for the continuation of drama are in place. Auditions for Pamelot, the special musical in honor of Cressey, are being held October 13 -15; Mr. Penoli-ver is leading that effort. Drama member Allison Combs said, “We’re all really worried, I think [...] we’re just trying to think positive right now, but we are pretty worried about her.” When asked how the staff and students can sup-port Cressey right now, Principal Diana Pratt said, “I think one of the things is to do what they can to stay in touch with her. We’ve got plans for helping with cooking. We have other plans for helping for other things that are hard to do when recovering from a major surgery, housekeeping, cooking is another one. Then in addition to that, kids are planning a musical tribute. The other thing they’re doing is moving for-ward with the drama program, as Mrs. Cressey would want us to do. [...] Also, fundraisers for the American Cancer Society.” The Livestrong fundraiser took place last Friday to support Cressey and all other cancer fighters and survivors. Student Craig Heffner said, “We all just love her and honestly, without Cressey, I don’t think I would be an actor.” When asked what she wanted to say to the staff and students, an emotional Cressey said, “I just need those prayers. [...] Tell them thank you, from the bot-tom of my heart and to keep it up, because I’m not done yet.”

Treasured director battles cancer

Spencer TranSierWeb MaSTer

Vice principal, Ian McFeat joins the administra-tion team and replaces Gary Melton who departed in the spring of 2009 to Malaysia, where he became a principal. Although McFeat is new to Kentlake, he is certainly not new to Washington. He attended high school in Eastern Washington and later transferred to Pacific Lutheran University. At PLU, McFeat earned degrees in writing and teaching. For the next nine years he pursued his teaching career in the Tacoma School District. Recently, he earned his principal’s certification, which coincided with the vice-principal opening. As an administrator, McFeat has the opportunity to implement new ideas, one of which is the one-minute music warning bell. He hopes to make it a permanent change. McFeat has other plans as well, he said, “…be

more visible in the classroom” and show support for the teachers and what they do. Also, to make sure students do not fall through the cracks, McFeat wishes to be visible to the student body. McFeat seems to have already made impres-sions on some of the students. An anonymous junior said, “He seems like a cool guy and has a good personality. [It] seems like he knows how to get things done in a fun and interesting way, like the music in the halls the last minute of passing periods.” Kentlake has also made an impression on him. McFeat is in awe by the majority of the students choosing what is right and also by their intelli-gence. In addition, he said, “the wealth of clubs is all so overwhelming,” while the parental support evident in the school is amazing. Outside of school, McFeat has a profound in-terest in soccer and in poetry. McFeat also enjoys working on Volkswagen buses during his free time, which is less now because of his two young daughters.

MaTT DaviSSTaff reporTer

New Vice Principal roams the building

Photo by Cynthiann Heckelsmiller

Pam Cressey picketing for the teacher’s strike.

Vice Principal Ian McFeat

Photo by Matt Davis

NewsThe Falcon Flyer4

Due to the School Resource Officer Program recently imple-mented into the Kent School Dis-trict, King County Deputy Bald-win is now a part of the security team. He works with private se-curity guard, Micki Preston. The School Resource Officer Program, also known as the SRO Program, is a part of numer-ous school districts throughout the country, including local ones such as Au-burn, Issaquah, Renton, and Tahoma. It is a nationwide program that consists of a p a r t n e r s h i p between local law enforcement and the schools. According to a Kent School Dis-trict pamphlet, the SRO Program is beneficial in the school commu-nity because having a county offi-cer is more cost effective for the school district than hiring private

security guards. They also have a wealth of knowledge to share with the remaining security personnel, which can be used to reduce and prevent crime within the school. Vice Principal Ian McFeat said, “It helps with discipline.” Also, McFeat clarified that having an SRO does not change current school rules. He is here for the safety of the students, an impor-tant issue for the district. The district believes this new adjustment in security is a step forward in protecting schools. McFeat said “It’s odd Kentlake

didn’t have an SRO before. It is usually the norm.” Even though school has not been in session long, Baldwin

has already made an impact in the minds of certain students. Senior Cameron Ellis was stopped in his car on his way to a job shadow and had to explain to the deputy how he had an excuse slip. Ellis said “It annoyed me, but I am kind of glad someone is patrolling.”

Matt Davisstaff RepoRteR

Security Revitalized

“It’s odd Kentlake didn’t have an SRO before. It is

usually the norm.”

-Vice Principal McFeat

Kent Education Association gathered at Kentlake to vote for a new contract proposal early in the morn-ing of Sept. 14. In a 94 percent agreement, teachers and other members voted to accept the contract, end-ing a two week long strike. Earlier on Aug. 26, the KEA union members voted to deny the Kent School District’s contract offer. Over the next 12 days, while union and district bargaining teams negotiated a new contract, members partici-pated in daily strike operations outside the schools and administrative office. On Sept. 1, the District filed an injunction with the courts against the KEA. At a press conference by the district office, Superintendent Edward Lee Var-gas said, “Strikes by public school employees are il-legal.” Following on Sept. 3, the courts ruled against the KEA’s actions, ordering the union members back to school. However, with an overwhelming 74 percent majority, the teachers chose to continue striking. This continued until the Sept. 4 decision. The agree-ment also saved teachers from having to pay upwards to 1000 dollars in court fines for not following the ruling. In several press addresses, KEA President, Lisa

Brackin-Johnson, clarified the union’s agreement requirements. Brackin-Johnson was adamant about the district addressing “class size and time with our students.” Brackin-Johnson emphasized their desires to gain what is right for the students and to provide for their needs. In short, the KEA stated that they wanted fewer meetings each week and smaller class sizes. The district maintained that they did not have the money to make all of the changes possible. Both class size and time were addressed by the negotiating teams in the final two-year con-tract. In K-3, relief (extra time for grading or planning) is allowed at 26 students, with a class size cap at 29 students. In grades 4-6, relief is allowed at 30 students, with a cap at 32 students. In middle school, the target is set at 147 students per day, and at high school, 157 students per day. PE and music classes have no targets. Also, there is now a limit of two meetings per week, and the three meetings in the morning at middle schools have been eliminated.

On the contract ratification, PE and health instructor, Julie Smith, said, “It’s a stepping stone.” Like many, she knew that not everyone got what they wanted, but she was alright with the agreement. For her and most other teachers in the district, the agreement “opened the door to make more gains in the future.”

Teachers rally for fair working conditionsChRistine RushtonCo eDitoR-in-Chief

Photo by Cynthiann Heckelsmiller

Teachers picket at district office.

Exonerated Teacher Returns Rick McCurdy, a woodshop teacher at Cedar Heights Middle School, was accused of hitting a student last spring. An investi-gation later revealed this claim to be false. Safety has always been one of McCurdy’s main priorities. Students are required to memorize the safety rules and are tested on them. Donovan Blaire, the involved student, al-leged that McCurdy pulled him away from a drill press because he had not secured loose clothing. According to Blaire, the situation continued to escalate. Blaire left the class to complain to the office about McCurdy’s actions, which he considered more dangerous than loose clothing. He later stated that when he came back, McCurdy slapped him. McCurdy was given two days of admin-istrative leave, so the district, as required by law, could investigate the situation. The inquiry concluded McCurdy was innocent of all charges. However, he was told he had “overenthusiastically” enforced the safety rules. McCurdy had not hit Blaire. Earlier that day, he had told Blaire to take care of his loose clothing, but Blaire had failed to com-

ply. McCurdy pulled him away from the drill press because Blaire’s coat sleeve could have gotten stuck in the rotating drill bit. “If you call that hitting, I guess that’s what I did,” McCurdy said, “He got caught doing something wrong and [it] probably embarrassed him in front of the whole class. He decided to get back at me.”

steven WeieRstaff RepoRteR

Rick McCurdy at Cedar Heights.

Photo by Steven Weier

NewsThe Falcon Flyer5

Jan Tabaczynski has qualified as a final-ist in the National Merit Scholarship com-petition. During Tabaczynski’s junior year, he took the PSAT and scored 222 out of a possible 240 points. This qualified him for the com-petition along with seniors Brian Oliphant and Cory Shiraishi. The competition is high level. Shiraishi said, “You take the test and if you score in the top one percent in the state then you’re in.” Once qualified, a semi-finalist title is given; if the score turns out to be in the top one percent of the state, the finalist round be-gins where scholarships soon follow. Tabac-zynski moved on to the finalist round. Tabaczynski was excited, but said that it was stressful waiting for the test results. He has had a good support system helping him along the way. “My parents are happy that I won. They don’t have to pay as much for col-lege now. They’ve always pushed me hard to do better.” Tabaczynski already has big plans for his future. “I want to go to college, a major one like UW or MIT. I want to study engineering maybe, but I’ll figure it out for sure after a few years of being there. I don’t know what I want to do yet.” His high school class load has included difficult Advanced Placement courses. He said, “I’m taking four AP class-es this year. Oh, and physics and band.” Tabaczynski took only a few practice tests in preparation for the PSAT. However, qualifying for this honor has taken a lot of energy and many years of instruction. When asked what his life goal was, Tabac-zynski said, “Yeah, change the world to make it a better place.”

aMy ReiteRstaff RepoRteR

Tabaczynski in finalist round

Even after a new system had been put in place for creating student schedules last spring, school be-gan with hundreds of requests for schedule changes. Counselors hand entered student schedules in April and May trying to avoid a mass amount of changes when school began. Schedules were not available during Falcon Days because the deadline was not met for the district’s computer program to release the schedules. Vice Principal Bruce Rick said, “It’s just like trying to juggle a bunch of things at once.” Senior Conner Ward said, “[it was a] big hassle…I had to change my schedule twice, I got the class I wanted the first time, and the second time I had to fix

it because I was getting marked absent for the class I switched out of.” One scheduling problem occurs when a student does not pick an alternate class and gets placed in an elective they do not want because their chosen class is full. Another major problem is that each school is only allotted a certain number of teachers in certain ar-eas, and the schedule has to be made based on that number and the num-ber of students that want to or need to take that course. Our school uses small learning communities (SLCs), which limits students to certain classes during certain periods. A third issue is that some classes are known as “singletons”, which means that they are only offered

for one period of the day such as Yearbook and Psy-chology. In some cases, these “singletons” overlap each other. “There are ways to avoid these same mistakes in future years…we’re considering eliminating giving out schedules on Falcon Day”, said Rick. He also said, “[that] tennis shoe registration (physically go-ing to booths that have been setup by the teachers to

schedule one’s classes) is a possibility”. Rick also said that “elimination of SLCs is a possibility.” When asked what would need to hap-pen if SLCs were not eliminated, Rick said, “If

we don’t eliminate SLCs then we have to limit the choices that students can have on their schedules.”

Keith BolenDeRstaff RepoRteR

Mass scheduling changes cause commotion

“We’re considering eliminat-ing giving out schedules on

Falcon Day.”

-Vice Principal Bruce Rick

The Howard Hanson Dam in the Green River Valley is currently under construction in an attempt to fix leaks in the upper section of the Dam’s right abutment. Failure to repair the dam would result in extensive flooding of the valley this winter. The Green River Valley includes areas of Kent, Auburn, Renton, and Tukwila. The Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing repairs, hoping to reduce the amount of flooding. A temporary fix is the current goal; the permanent will not be com-pleted for several years. In the Kent School District, three schools will be af-fected; Mill Creek Middle School, Kent Elementary School, and Neely O’Brian Elementary School. Mill Creek Principal Anthony Brown said meetings regarding this issue are attended by organizations such as “FEMA, the City of Kent, and the Red Cross.” Brown said that no plans in regards to flooding are yet official, as they are ever changing. According to the District’s current plan, sandbags are the first resources to go into action in case flooding oc-curs. “Three types of sandbags will be used: one-person sandbags, sandbags that weigh one ton, and 100 foot bladder bags, which are filled with water,” said an em-ployee from the City of Kent. If extensive flooding oc-curs as predicted, several businesses throughout the area will also be underwa-ter. While some are aware of the dangers that face them, others have not be-gun to worry. “I’ve heard it could be [flooded], I don’t know honest-ly. […] [My employer] has not talked to us about it,” said Johanna, an employee at Best Western and Plaza by the Green, (which resides within the flood zones).

Many government buildings will be flooded as well, in-cluding the King County Animal Shelter, seeing up to three feet of water, and Regional Justice Center, seeing up to four feet of water. The manager of a local Shari’s had a similar reaction. “We’re not really preparing ourselves at this location

quite yet.” However, Riverbend Golf Com-plex is aware of the possible dan-gers they are facing. “Last sum-mer, they had to close down part of the golf course to work on the levee” said an employee. “They

told us the disaster could be of Katrina proportions.” Currently, people are advised by the government to take their own precautions. Flood insurance is strongly advised, as well as sand bags to reduce damage.

Potential flooding sparks actionMiChala DyMonD-shaWstaff RepoRteR

Photo by King County

Green River flooding in 1995.

“They told us the disaster could be of Katrina proportions.”

-Riverbend Golf Complex employee

This year’s homecoming “Saturday” is the newest addition to the carnivale themed stockpile of events that has become Oct 17. This update to the calendar poses a threat to unsuspecting students, who plan on attending both the game and the dance, and will be a detriment to our school spirit.

The football game usually kicks off homecoming weekend, however not this year; it is six and a half hours before the dance. By the time the game gets over it will be roughly three o’clock, allowing only four hours to slip into a dress or tux, eat an over-priced meal, and take an enormous amount of awk-wardly posed pictures. For the average teenager, who can not keep to a schedule anyway, the outlook is not good.

For a high school guy, attending a football game requires an ample amount of energy, but especially requires an ample amount of rest afterward. We need to recharge, reenergize, and eat, so that we can be-come mentally prepared for the next thing on our agenda. Having the game on the same day as the dance makes it impossible to do this, creating an

abundant amount of half asleep zombie dates.With the game on Saturday, the female attendance

will be immensely less because of hair, nail, and make-up appointments, which cannot be cancelled

or postponed. Teenage girls put a lot of emphasis on looking good and it definitely takes time to apply var-ious techniques of beautification. The appointments are an essential part of the homecoming experience, and bring new enjoyment to the average teenage life.

Seniors have a right to be up in arms because it gives them less time to enjoy the little things in life that are approaching for the last time. A homecom-ing game and dance for a senior means a whole lot,

in the context that, it is their final homecoming and are going to regret not going. In the end, seniors have to make a decision on attending the game and being late to the dance and/or skipping a multitude of in-dispensable appointments.

Attendance and spirit are directly affiliated with and affected by these problems. Football games are supposed to generate school spirit, something which Kentlake greatly lacks. The more students that can rally together at games, the more pride and spirit our school will have. Students will have to make a deci-sion.

Many will be forced to sacrifice the grandeur of going to the homecoming football game, and that is just plain wrong. They are missing out on the fun-filled activities this event brings, including tailgat-ing and the oh-so glorious half time knighting of the homecoming king and queen, as well as the assorted princes and princesses.

The close proximity of the homecoming football game and dance will cause much grief, in some cases even severe anxiety, because students will not have the necessary preparation time they desire; time is not on anyone’s side this year. When life throws you lemons, you just have to adapt and hope for the best; that is exactly what we have to do on our “stockpiled” homecoming.

6Op-edThe Falcon Flyer

Ryan SnydeRStaff RepoRteR

On September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama spoke at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Vir-ginia to students across America. His speech was well performed and motivating, however some disagree. The media’s exploi-tation before the speech cre-ated a knee-jerk reaction. Some parents acted irrationally and without think-ing. They felt offended that Obama would speak to the future gen-erations. Some parents even proceeded to pull their children out of their first day of school just so they would not have to listen to what they thought was inappropriate. Has this been taken too far? How much drama should be allowed or even ac-knowledged about such a simple gesture?

“Every single one of you has something your good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to

discover what that is.” said Obama. He spoke moti-vating words to the students and related his child-hood life to the present lives that teens live in today. He encouraged them to strive for the best and take responsibility for your actions. Everyone makes mis-

takes, but they need to learn how to make something out of nothing. “Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.” Said Obama. Parents’ reactions were more self-centered than con-cerned toward what would hap-pen toward their children. For some, political views got in the way of their better judgment. On the ABC news website, one parent expressed that it made them worried that someone would need direct access to the children. Obama was not trying to de-mote them or promote profanity; or any other absurd reaction. Par-ents, grandparents, and guardians inflict advice upon teenagers

everyday; yet our country feels the need to freak out when a harmless connection be-tween the president and teens is proposed.

One outraged parents wrote a comment on the ABC news website on September 8, 2009 “…this man is stepping way out of bounds in what we have hired him to do…Mr. Barack Obama is becoming a dictator rather then a

Obama’s speech to American youth causes unnecessary mayhemleader in democracy.” Our country needs to learn respect for authority and accept that maybe our government can help. Mark Gaul said” if it’s coming from the president, it has to be good. I have to put my trust in the government and know that they are doing the right thing.” In a democracy we have to allow people to react and get it out of their system; but how far is too far? Seriously people. Obama is in no way trying to tell anyone how to live their lives, or trying to take over the country through a simple speech. Encouragement can go a long way, so let the president try and make this connection. “Work hard and stay in school” said Obama. Think about it and stop overreacting to something that was meant to help America as a whole. Give him a chance and cut out the drama.

amy ReiteRStaff RepoRteR

Photo by globalresearch.com

Photo by shastawolves.com

“For most teenagers, who cannot keep to a schedule anyway,

the outlook is not good.”

Stockpiled Satuday ruins ‘09 Homecoming experience

“Its a good idea, but maybe some music we know would be better.”

Ashlee Newsom, freshman

“Its annoying, but it makes you want to get to class quicker...

and it works.”Nathan Strand, senior

“Its cool, but they should actually play

good music.”Alie Shipley, sophomore

“I think it helps, but I don’t like the music.”

Sophiya Tsvan, junior

“I like the idea.”Greg Gordon, sophomore

The Falcon Flyer asked students what they thought of music play-ing the last minute of passing period. These are some of their responses.

YOUR TURN

Op-edThe Falcon Flyer7

Photo by globalresearch.com

Everybody has their own little obsession. Some people enjoy video games and Star Trek; others prefer stuffed animals and banana flavored candies. How-ever, out of all the obsessions in today’s pop-culture, one stands above all others in terms of absurdity as well as stupidity; vampire fantasies. Fueled by books and movies such as Twilight, the vampire movement is an ever growing phenomenon that continues to en-tertain its supporters and critics alike. Fans fantasize about the undead, and irritate those too mature to indulge in such excessive delusions. The absurdity of vampire hysteria is clear, as are its negative effect on teens’ perception of romance.

The passion following this series is mind boggling, especially the attention directed towards Twilight’s infamous Edward Cullen, a dreamy blood sucker who likes to watch girls sleep. Sure he is hot and… unique, but there is also that little control problem. Would you honestly go out with someone who would may-be, just maybe, eat you? Definitely a red flag. Sure a potential partner is going to have some flaws; bad breath, untidy hair, chapped lips, but actually crav-ing human bodily fluids (blood, I mean) is sick. Com-plications like this might be something to bring up in relationship counseling.

Characters like Edward intrigue teens because of their mystery; girls like a man who fascinates them. Unfortunately, when focusing on things like mystery, one often forgets that vampires are creepy, danger-

ous, and exhibit behavior more consistent with a convicted serial killer than Mr. Right. This is an im-mensely ignorant position when searching for a po-tential mate.

Twilight love is known for its speed; Bella and Edward’s relationship progresses extraordinarily fast, going from lab partners to soul mates in a rela-tively short time span. This is a terribly inaccurate fantasy that does not paint a good picture of love’s true nature. By constructing such elaborate fantasies, books like Twilight dramatize love and obscure real-ity, damaging teens’ perception of romance. Anyone with any experience in relationships can recognize this. Love is complex and cannot be stripped down to such a simple, superficial notion. However, this mentality remains strong with many teens, who con-stantly search for their Edward, never realizing that the books they worship are merely shallow fantasies of the author who once wrote them. The real world is much different from Twilight, which puts major emphasis on true love and relationships that seem to appear out of thin air.

While its success is irrefutable, the absurdity of Twilight and vampire hysteria in general is massive, and its impact has garnered several new television shows such as The Vampire Diaries or True Blood. Once again, Hollywood has found another way to cash in on an obsessive teen trend, no matter how ri-diculous it may be. However, there is something to be learned: if Edward truly is the perfect man, then the secret of how to succeed with women is now common knowledge. All you have to do is pretend they make you sick in biology class, follow them around in your car at night, and never, ever wash your hair.

Vampire craze escalates to absurdityBRendan CeSConStaff RepoRteR

Photo by thehollywoodnews.com

School: the epitome of our societal system, where we, as teens gather to so-cialize, bloom, and most importantly, learn. Our teachers work for a pittance to harness their knowledge and wisdom to aid us in our journey toward adulthood; what would school be without our teachers? As many know, Kent teachers were on strike from Aug. 31 until Sep. 15. Many people, though, still wonder what caused the strike. Aside from the already underpaid teachers’ keen desires to miss work, not get paid, defy court orders, and obtain outrageous fines, the KEA actually were striking for the sake and benefit of their students.

Many students might argue that the smaller class sizes and higher teacher pay holds little benefit to them. This is a gigantic misunderstanding. Lowering the class sizes allows more teacher-student interaction, which warrants more effi-cient teaching, not to mention a safer and more manageable class for the instruc-tor. Yet, this still does not address, nor justify, a salary increase. To better un-derstand the reasoning behind this, the working conditions of a teacher must be put into perspective. The teachers are forced to put up with the equivalent of 150 tests a day, all of which try the teachers’ very souls and mental endurance, while they try to uphold some sort of standard upon said tests. As if this task were not difficult enough, the teachers must perform this task 180 times a year. Partly due to its difficulty, being a teacher in many other cultures is to be held in the highest

As summer vacation came to a close, we all spent some time wondering, “Is school going to start on time?” As we were purchasing our new notebooks and pencils, the chance of a teachers’ strike loomed over our head.

The teachers on strike made several requests. They wanted smaller classes, fewer mandatory meetings and a higher salary. “We need our workload, our class size reduced and then we need fair compensation,” said first grade teacher Maureen Aiken.

Hang on… Less work for more money? This request is similar to demanding a higher grade than your classmates when you have only done half the work. Sal-ary should directly vary with the amount of work done. Wouldn’t the opposite of this – more work and less pay – make more sense than the teacher’s request?

The Kent Education Association’s blog expresses disappointment that “the district [is] unwilling to reduce overcrowded classes.” Unfortunately, smaller class sizes would mean more teachers and more classrooms must be available to teach the displaced students; it would not be right to tell these people that they are not allowed to go to school anymore because there are too many people. More money is required for these new teachers and classrooms, which would result in more budget cuts.

Budget cuts are nothing new to Kent students; in February, the district looked to cut $12 - $16 million worth of programs and salaries. Students were worried

about the future of music and art classes, as well as sports, for themes seemed to be on top of the list of programs to be cut. These programs would likely be cut to achieve smaller class sizes. But where would the music and art students go? This would result in larger class sizes for these students must be put somewhere.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Washington state as of July 2009 is at 8.8 percent; this means roughly 576,000 Washingtonians are jobless. As people continue to lose their jobs, Kent teachers have willingly given up their own. By striking, the teachers have affected parents as well: “[…] I had to miss work. My kids aren’t in daycare.” Said mother Letitia Castro. Working parents must now muss work to take care of their chil-dren who should now be in school, which could possible cost them their jobs. It does not seem courteous that teachers put others’ jobs at risk, does it?

The teachers seem to believe the strike is for the good of the students. “The Kent educators are here to stand up for what are right and good for our students,” said Union President Lisa Brackin Johnson. “The Kent Education Association is now on strike.” However, this strike has led to the delay of students’ education – the same students teachers claim to be helping. The strike appears to be a dis-service to these students as they fall behind in their education.

“I teach because I want to make a difference in a child’s view of the world.” said teacher Virginia O’Malley, who was nominated as one of Virginia’s teachers of the year for the 2007 – 2008 school year. “Teaching is a way to inspire chil-dren to believe in their abilities to learn.” What happened to the teachers who want to make a difference? Kent teachers appear to only be in it for the money.

respects of the students and populous. The revered occupation typically yields a live-able paycheck and complete set of benefits. In America, and especially in Washington, teachers are generally already lacking both, and thus at least deserve better compensation. An extra three to five percent increase in pay is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what they deserve, but it is an improvement.

As if all that our teachers deal with meant nothing, multiple students have the audacity to protest against them. Difficult would it be to come up with an in-you-face insult more disrespectful and ungrateful. However, it is difficult to un-derstand how one could feel the need to object to the sacrifice the teachers made to better the same student’s learning experience. To someone of logic, it would seem counter-productive.

Understandably, KSD parents have harbored frustration with the process. No-body likes to be inconvenienced, especially when it concerns their brood’s edu-cation and their ability to work and earn money. When other unions strike, the receivers of the products or services interrupted usually present frustration and attempt to act upon it. Despite this, it does not make the goals or determination of the striking party unjust.

It is true our education was delayed a couple weeks, but few classes have actu-ally been noticeably disadvantaged. Even the most schedule-bound classes will manage with the same amount of ease, or difficulty in some cases, as without delay. All in all, the student body owes respect and gratitude, no matter its opin-ions, to its guardians, mentors, and caretakers, the teachers.

Teacher strike self-centered,unfair

Teacher strike a fight for education

CON:

PRO: Jacob LanghoLzStaff RepoRteR

JennifeR baxteRgueSt RepoRteR

8Op-edThe Falcon Flyer

Photos by Komo4.com

Op-edThe Falcon Flyer9

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, civility is defined as: A polite act or expression. Furthermore, humility is defined as: The quality or state of being humble. Both expressions are easy enough to understand, but do Ameri-cans really know the true meaning of being humble these days?

In media-driven American society, everyone wants their two minutes of fame. People will do anything for a buck or a laugh. The question is: Have people gone too far to get their point across? And when do we draw the line as citizens and viewers that enough trash talk is enough?

The depressing thing about this entire situation is that Americans love to be mean. From an early age, children are cruel on the playground, teens gossip behind friends’ backs, and even adults will put others down to make them-selves look superior. For heavens sake, Hollywood even released a movie on girls being malicious to each other. Enter the aptly named Mean Girls, which disgustingly enough made millions at the box office.

Even worse still is the fact that the next generation of Americans are being brought up watching similar films that have just as horrible of a message. I am not rant-ing about how recent television and media is destroying America’s values, but on the contrary, I am implying that

Decreasing civility a growing pandemicthis media attention focused on negativity greatly influ-ences the minds of our nation’s children.

To some extent we have always had negativity in the media, but not nearly as bad as today. Some time ago, ten-nis superstar John McEnroe showed viewers everywhere what he thought about numer-ous tennis referees. His great skill coupled with his volatile temper made him a competitor to watch. A more recent ex-ample is ex-Mariner’s skipper Lou Piniella often unpredict-able mood swings. As many know, Sweet Lou was famous for passionately arguing with various baseball umpires and kicking the bases to prove his point. For many Americans, including myself, this was in-teresting to watch, but the fact remains: Any sports player or coach with national attention can cause an uproar on public television and it is the talk of the nation for days on end. It is almost like we are re-warding people for being negative and off-putting. Hordes of Americans gobble up the smut that media-attention whores put out to gain recognition.

With the recent outbursts of Kanye West, Serena Wil-liams, and Joe Wilson it is evident that we have not learned our lesson yet. Worse still, is the fact that each of these professionals are involved in different aspects of our soci-ety. I mean to say that it is depressing to see three individu-

als, all of whom are widely known and respected, to be acting so childish.

The rest of the world is surely laughing at the impo-lite brutes that make up the American population. How can we attempt to be a leader and world power if we can-not even hold our tongues? To combat this epidemic of arrogance I have devised a simple solution. That is, if any time you are upset or unhappy with your current situation, just step back for a second, breathe deeply a few

times, and try to respond in a courteous manner. It is not one of the hardest things to do, but evidently some Ameri-cans have forgotten a skill that is prevalent in most kinder-garten classrooms. If it is easy enough for a five year-old to do, maybe Kanye will think twice next time.

JeReL hendeRSonStaff RepoRteR

“When do we draw the line as citizens and viewers that

enough trash talk is enough?”

Editorial cartoon by Kierra Elfalan

Things you always wanted to know about your teachers

(But were afraid to ask)

Scott Simmons battles Storm Troopers while on

vacation.

JenniferMazukelli hanging out with

highschool pals.

10FeatureThe Falcon Flyer

Teachers are people too. They stand at the helm of the classroom every day. Their faces and voices are familiar,

but what do students really know about their teachers? Take a feared and revered edu-cator like Russ Ballard. Yes, he lords over his class with an iron fist, and only mere millimeters of his glasses’ lenses stand between students and his deadly glare. But would you dare to imagine that he is also a skilled quilter? Or that Edward Duggan has held down more jobs than the IRS can follow, from milking cows to fighting forest fires, fixing aquariums to being a policeman. Kentlake staffers form a diverse group. Some, like David Moore and Janae Landis are experienced world travelers. Some have interesting pets, such as Jen-nifer Mazukelli’s hamster named Chiquita Pink. Jake McKinzie’s world record pet bull snakes would probably eat little Chiquita. Not just good with numbers, Matthew Sturtevant has sung in Carnegie Hall.

Get to know your teachers, not just for being great instructors, but crazy aweome people. Intrepid David Moore

stradles a pachyderm.

Things you always wanted to know about your teachers

(But were afraid to ask)

WienkerWhitlock Rychlik

Buechler Wienker

ClearyWhitlock

Burns-PetersonTurner

Fluke DugganMcleod

FinleyDuggan

Kaas Rick

Williams Gleason

Kelsch Clayton Landis

SeamanChance

KinchImbruglio

Kaas Landis

WilliamsRychlik

Beuchler

Odd Jobs (Everyone has to start some-where)Police OfficerForest rangerNewspaper ReporterArts and CraftsAvid quilter since 5th gradeHandmade 2 wedding dressesDream Jobs (that make real money)Secretary of the InteriorProfessional Synchronized SwimmerProfessional Football PlayerLaw EnforcementWhale NaturalistStarstruck CrushesTom CruiseRick SchroderAntonio Bandaras Jackie ChanAllyssa MilanoDoris Day World-weary Travelers St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican CityBora Bora, TahitiBackpacking through EuropeKauai, Hawaii First Hotrods (or clunkers)Chevrolet Veretta1975 Toyota CelicaRambler1949 Plymouth Vintage Style (available now at Goodwill)PreppyHippieCatholic UniformWork-Out ClothesJeans and a TeeRockin’ 80s

Match the staffers’ names.

Teachers are people too. They stand at the helm of the classroom every day. Their faces and voices are familiar,

but what do students really know about their teachers? Take a feared and revered edu-cator like Russ Ballard. Yes, he lords over his class with an iron fist, and only mere millimeters of his glasses’ lenses stand between students and his deadly glare. But would you dare to imagine that he is also a skilled quilter? Or that Edward Duggan has held down more jobs than the IRS can follow, from milking cows to fighting forest fires, fixing aquariums to being a policeman. Kentlake staffers form a diverse group. Some, like David Moore and Janae Landis are experienced world travelers. Some have interesting pets, such as Jen-nifer Mazukelli’s hamster named Chiquita Pink. Jake McKinzie’s world record pet bull snakes would probably eat little Chiquita. Not just good with numbers, Matthew Sturtevant has sung in Carnegie Hall.

Get to know your teachers, not just for being great instructors, but crazy aweome people.

Feature11

Greg Kaas rocks the knee socks mommy

picked out.

12 StudentLifeThe Falcon Flyer

It takes guts to get on a stage and perform, and Allison Combs definitely has guts. A senior, Combs enjoys singing and acting, and is dedicated to her goal of becoming an actress. “I’d like to make a living. Short term, get into a school for it,” said Combs. At a young age, Combs dreamed of becoming an archeologist. That dream ended in the fourth grade, “I just said never mind,” said Combs. Then something new sparked her interest. “My sister went to a theater camp and we would go see her performances. I watched them do it and I liked the sound of the music,” said Combs. Nobody should underestimate how difficult performing is. “I wasn’t in the first two shows when I was in ninth grade, I didn’t make it. I thought I should give up,” said Combs.Thankfully, Combs persevered. “Arsenic was my first show and that was only hard because I had no idea what I was doing. I just jumped in and figured I knew what I was doing,” said Combs, “Noises Off [was my hardest show] because to get everything together smoothly, was almost impossible.” Combs may be remem-bered as playing Dotty in last year’s performance of Noises Off. Not only is performing difficult, it is also time-consuming, but Combs always finds the time. “Sometimes you get really into it [and] you don’t get a lot of sleep because of rehearsals. But it’s something you have to do. Everybody’s really supportive,” said Combs. In addition to drama, Combs is devoted to the arts. “I’m in a couple of choirs. I’m in an extracurricular choir called Rainer Youth Corral. I’m also in school choir. Last year, [school] choir sang in Carnegie Hall which was the most amazing thing ever,” said Combs, “I’m a second alto, which is lower than regular altos. I don’t usually sing the melody, I’m singing underneath,” said Combs. She also plays the flute in band. Combs’ quest to become a professional actress is a promising one full of potential. When the stress bears down, Combs can always turn to her idols. “I have a lot of actors I look up to I guess, but my mom and my sister are my biggest influences. As an actor [and musician], your biggest obstacle is yourself,” said Combs.

All about the dramaJason HirscHeystaff repoter

Photo by Jason Hirschey

The truth behind school lunches Every day at school numerous students line up to order lunch. Over the past few years, the school food has gone through many changes. To some students is seems like the school food is getting smaller and the rise in the price has been no-ticed as well. Senior Kevin Beason said, “I can’t believe we’re paying this much for this s**t.” The taste of the food doesn’t make this any better. “It’s delicious when you’re starving,” said Beason. Senior Chris Engelbrecht said, “The only things that are worth it are the subs.” The school food may not be the most appetizing, but is it healthy? According to the school website the BBQ rib with twisty fries is 658 calories and contains 1,924 milligrams of sodium. That is not including anything else that can be eaten with it such as milk or fruit. Although the calories and sodium content are high, it does contain 26.62 grams of protein. Shockingly enough, that is not the meal with the highest amount of calories. The deli sandwich number 2, which contains tuna, has 670

Kelsey Boltonstaff reporter

calories. On the school website it says, “School meals in Washington have changed a lot over the years. Chil-dren today get more variety. More nutritious foods they enjoy, like salads, tacos and pizza. And, increas-ingly, less fat, sodium, and sugar.” If the fat, so-dium, and sugar content are becoming increasingly smaller, then why does the sodium content of some

food items seem so high? The rec-ommended sodium intake per day is about 2,400 milligrams. Many of the food items contain around one-half of that. In addition, the fat content is higher than it probably should be and the sugar content is not even listed on the website. A majority of the food items on the menu that are meals have a

fat content that ranges from around 20 to 30 grams. Although not all the food items have that much fat. Some contain more than 30 grams where as others contain less than 20 grams. What makes these num-bers appear so high is the fact that each person should consume no more then about 66 grams of fat a day. Most of the foods the student body actually buys con-tain about one-third to one-half the daily fat intake. That is a lot of fat to be consumed in just one meal.

However, there are lunch choices that are a health-ier. Instead of ordering pizza or a sub, try a bean bur-rito, hamburger, or salad without the dressing. The bean burrito is available everyday and only has 10 grams of fat plus 19 grams of protein. The hamburger has 18.7 grams of fat, 632 milligrams of sodium, and 26.1 grams of protein. The salads are good options if not eaten with dressing. Most of the fat and sodium in the salads comes from the dressing. although prog-ress has been made in making school lunch healthier, there is still a long way to go.

“It’s Delicious when you’re starving”

- Kevin Beason

Photo by billyblurbs.com

13StudentLifeThe Falcon Flyer

come. The homecoming theme will be carnival and the music selection is expected to be even better than last Homecoming. For all freshmen out here, this is the night of all nights. The first high school dance expe-rience ever. It is bound to be a good one filled with excitement and shared with friends. Fresh- m e n have a lot to ben-efit from h o m e -coming. The best part is, as Mad-e l a y n e V a r e l a said, “Getting to know people and getting involved.” It is important to make friends, and Homecoming is a perfect opportunity. As people get older they often look back on their lives, and for some, high school contains their most

“It’s going to be a night to remember”

- Jessica Amoth

Carnivale comes to Kentlake Homecoming will be held in the commons on Sat-urday Oct. 17 from 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm. The dance will be held after the Homecoming Football Game. Attendance is expected to be huge. For those who have not got a date, find one and pick them up at eight. Still can’t find a date? Go with some friends, a lot of people do it. Do not miss the chance to go. The school is lucky that Homecoming is being held at all. Due to the Kent School District Strike Home-coming was postponed, but leadership students did all they could to make sure Homecoming was still possible. Dates were difficult to agree on, however, compromises were made, and thanks to students in leadership, an amazing homecoming night is still to

Kierra elfalanstaff reporter

cherished memories. Homecoming memories are al-ways made and they get better and better each year because Homecoming seems to get better. Junior Trimeka Heller’s favorite memory of last Homecom-ing was “going with all [her] friends and just having a good time.” Even if people are without dates, they can just go and have a good time, after all, that is what Home-coming is all about. Those not going to Homecom-ing may want to rethink their decision. According to sophomore Jessica Amoth “it’s going to be a night to remember.” As well as going to Homecoming, students should also go to Falcon Night and the Homecoming foot-ball game, in order to enjoy the full Homecoming experience. it will be fun to go out with friends and fellow students and attend what promises to be an awesome, unforgettable night.

How to survive Homecoming

10/8 You casually flip through the Falcon Flyer and see this article. Wait? Is it almost Homecoming? Oh &#%*! You remember you were meaning to ask that girl in English to go with you. After school, you go to the dollar store and purchase the following items: A dozen fake daisies, two cans of silly string, car window paint, a tiara and 40 yellow balloons. All evening you sit in your room trying to concoct a creative way to ask her to the dance. At 2 AM you straggle to your bed with and only a frail wisp of a plan.10/9 Wake up in a cold sweat. With your best friend, build an elaborate set-up by her car during 1st Lunch, but by the time you get to fifth period, you may decide to just go for it. No flowers, no balloons. You ask and she says yes! Get to her car before she does to clean up your mess.10/11 Purchase tickets and hand them over to your date. Discuss plans with her. Here, discuss means “listen,” you have zero say in who goes in your group. It is a little late to order a rental tux, but if you can procure a suit or tuxedo, be sure it coordinates with her dress. She probably bought a dress last June, and may have even bought you a tie. 10/16 Call your date and ask her for the final plans. You may have to repeat this step or ask to be given updates, as the plans will probably change.10/17 Shower, get dressed, and go pick up your lady. Do not be alarmed that she is not ready, she wants to look perfect, and has been preparing for the past 6 months. This allows time for her father to come talk to you. Ignore the revolver he has been cleaning at the kitchen table: it is not loaded. Keep the subject matter to the weather, your school’s athletic team, and skiing. Do not discuss professional sports unless you are certain you will not offend his favor-ite team. When your date descends the stairs, feel free to ogle. She is, after all, delectably gorgeous. After slipping on the corsage, brace yourself. It is her turn to pin the boutonnière. Hold still, do not scream. Any blood drawn is just part of the experience. Now it is time to party. Forget all the neves and just have an unforgettable night. 10/18 Get home from the dance, absolutely exhausted and happy. This early hour is not weird for you. What is weird is that you are not playing Halo right now.

10/8 You’ve been waiting for weeks, months, perhaps your whole life for this moment and it isn’t happening. Why won’t this guy come and ask me to home-coming already?! Your friends, who know every aspect of your life, keep reas-suring you that he is crazy for you, but it’s getting rather late, the dance is only nine days away! You’ve already bought that gorgeous dress of your dreams forever ago, and are done practicing your “surprised” face on being asked in the mirror. Well, you tell yourself if he doesn’t ask me soon he’s DEAD!10/9 HE ASKED! Mind you it wasn’t the most romantic event of the century but it still swept you off your feet. Of course you said yes! You dart faster than Paul Revere to all your girlfriends whom you inform of the joyous moment. You may wonder why he is removing an odd assembly of items out of your car… is that silly string? However, you could care less, it’s time to plan. Rules of planning, don’t let him get a word in, he’s a guy remember? I mean, who knows where or what you might end up eating if he gets choice of restaurant! Make SURE to remind him to get the tickets, and pound into his puny insignificant mind what color of tie to wear so you can match and be the hottest couple on the dance floor. 10/11 Ok, so he remembered to buy tickets without violence, so far so good. In-form him of “The Plan” Make sure he understands when to pick you up, when reservations are, so on and so forth. If ANYTHING changes contact him im-mediately, as men generally panic at last minute changes. 10/17 You wake up at the crack of dawn, for this is “clearly” the most important day ever. Shower and decide what needs to be done first. Hair, makeup, last minute gossiping, perfume, unloading Dad’s gun, deodorant… many hours later you are finally ready. When everything is to perfection, and you feel the urge to save your date from Dad’s ruthless interrogation, make your entrance. If your date is gawking at you like a dying goldfish then know that in his mind you are the most beauti-ful woman in the world. In the midst of all the excitement, attempt not to gore your date with the boutonnière. Now head out and have the night of your life. 10/18 Late that night your date walks you to the door and gracefully takes his leave. Of course you’re exhausted yet adrenaline pumps through you keeping you in a blissful state as you share with your parents the joys of a most perfect night.

Ah, what to do when the romance gets started! Homecoming is rapidly approaching and love is abundant in the air. Today we shall go on a perilous journey deep within the mysterious recesses of the feminine and masculine minds. Guys, read the left to know what your dates are thinkng and girls read the right.

Cynthiann HecklesmillerCo Editor-in-Cheif

Craig HefnerStaff Reporter

Photo by Jason Hirschey

14 StudentLifeThe Falcon Flyer

On the first day of school, freshmen were not the only ones getting lost in the halls. The school also re-ceived a number of new staff members. Among them is new Spanish teacher, Joan Doty. She was trans-ferred from Kentwood because they had too many teachers. Doty teaches first and second year Spanish, and is also fluent in French. She started learning French in seventh grade, and then Spanish in eighth. “I just really like languages,” she said. Her studies continued throughout high school. Doty received her BA from the University of Utah. She also studied abroad in France for a quarter. “The best way to learn a language is to go to the country. You just learn it so fast when you’re using it everyday”

Spanish teacher joins staffSteven WeierStaff Reporter

she said. Doty also added that she learned as much in that quarter as in three years of school. After graduating from the University of Wash-ington, she worked as a substitute teacher in Seattle. Prior to teaching at Kentwood, Doty taught at Kent Meridian. She also taught French and Spanish in Utah. Although only the beginning of school, Doty seemed happy with her first year students. She said that they were “doing really well,” and described them as “very attentive.” One challenge that she faces with her sec-ond year students is “bringing everybody to the same place.” This is due to the fact that her classes are comprised of pupils from a variety of Spanish teach-ers, all of which have different teaching styles. The only other difficulty that Doty faces is a long commute. She hopes to help her students become more comfortable speaking Spanish and also looks forward to getting to know the school better.

Adjusting to life in Washington Garman Leua first arrived in the United States from New Zealand last March. She and her family moved to Washington State to visit her father’s old-est brother who had cancer. Rather than being nervous about coming to live in a foreign country, Leua was mostly surprised by the culture and lifestyle here in Washington. She noticed a stark contrast between the people who live here and those from her hometown. One of the first things that Leua observed was the fact that drivers here sit on the left side of the car rather than the right. She also noted a difference in the roads. “You have really big

Sarah CubineStaff Reporter

roads here,” she said. Leua came just in time to experience the enor-mous heat wave that occurred over summer vaca-tion. In New Zealand the climate is generally mild and temperate. “It’s much hotter here,” said Leua. Another thing that became apparent to Leua was the differences in grammar and speech. She realized that many words here are spelled and pronounced differ-ently. School in New Zealand is not all that different, but there are certain things that are not the same. “I used to start at 8:45 in the morning instead of 7:30,” said Leua. Another difference is that students in New Zealand are required to wear uniforms, each school having its own.

Back at home Leua’s family carries many traditions that are unique to her country and culture. “At home we have different food, dances, and things like that,” said Leua. In her spare time Leua enjoyed going out with friends and attending sporting events; usually rugby games, which is an extremely popular sport in New Zealand. When rugby teams come to town for a match it’s a big deal. Moving to a new country can be a difficult expe-rience, but it can also be extremely rewarding. New countries provide unforgettable experiences and the opportunity to meet new friends. Few people get to say that they have lived in two different countries and experienced two different cultures. For Leua, this is something she will definitely never forget.

Photo by Sarah Cubine

15Arts&EntertainmentThe Falcon Flyer

I am not the kind of person who sits around thinking about dying, but occasionally I have wondered what would happen if I were forced to fight someone to the death. That situation would be frightening enough, but one thing I have not thought about is having to kill 23 other people in order to survive. And I definitely have not thought about living in a country where every year 24 children, ages 12 to 18, are forced to compete in a deadly tournament, all the while being televised for the entire country. This is exactly what Suzanne Collins writes about in her Hunger Games Trilogy, continuing the story with the second book, Catching Fire. Collins’ trilogy is set in Panem, a country that lies in the ruins of what was once North America. Panem is divided into twelve Districts with one Capital that controls everything. There used to be a thirteenth District which was destroyed for rebelling. Every year since then, in order to keep the people under control and remind them of its power, the Capital holds the Hunger Games, an event where a boy and girl from each District are put into an arena where they must kill each other in order to survive. The last person standing wins food and money for their district. Catching Fire continues the story of District 12’s

Katniss Everdeen who, along with fellow District 12 competitor, Peeta Mellark, won the Hunger Games. After ending up the last two standing and neither one wanting to kill the other, Katniss and Peeta decided to kill themselves by eating poison berries. However, before they were able to eat the berries, the man in charge of the Hunger Games, afraid of not having a winner, chose to make them both champions. Now the Capital is angry because Katniss and Peeta rebelled and they will stop at nothing to get their revenge. Catching Fire follows Katniss as she tries to make things right. Right from the start I knew that the first book of the Hunger Games Trilogy would become one of my all time favorites; I had never read anything like it. The idea of children being forced to kill each other, though repulsively barbaric, was fascinating to me. I couldn’t wait for Catching Fire to be published. When it finally came out I was ecstatic and when I read it, I wasn’t disappointed.

Not only is the concept of the book interesting, but Collins writing brings the story to an entirely new level. Covering everything from malicious presidents to starving runaways, Catching Fire never felt like a cliché. Even though Collins covers well known issues like teen love triangles, she puts a refreshing twist on everything. With Catching Fire, Collins expertly continues an intricate story that is thrilling and unpredictable. Many times I found myself reading late into the night, driven by the need to know what was going to happen next. It sounds corny, but that’s the truth. Now that I have finished

the book, all I can do is wait impatiently for the third

and final installment, which I’m sure will be fantastic.

Hunger Games sequel a riveting installmentYasmin abubakarstudent Life editor

Photo by amazon.

Sushi surprise Trapper’s Sushi is a new restaurant hidden in the corner of the Kohls’ parking lot in Covington. They specialize in a variety family-made sushi rolls and provide customers with a lively atmosphere and friendly service. The restaurant is a small chain that Trapper O’Keefe and his three brothers created in places such as Reno, Nev., as well as the more common Bonney Lake and Auburn. I was welcomed by warm smiles and light conversation. The staff is very easy to talk to, and if something on the menu is unclear, they are more then willing to deal with repetitive questions or give their own, honest opinion. The first meal on the menu was the spicy crab mountain roll. This oversized meal consisted of shrimp, tuna, salmon, yellowtail, spicy crab tobiko and green onions. I have never experienced a taste so perfected when it comes to sushi. Nothing was awkward (which is often common when eating fish) and all of the extra ingredients were able to compliment the flavors. This was followed with the deep-fried Bonney Lake and Trapper Roll, which both lived up to the taste of the first one. The menu consists of appetizers, soups and salads, nigiri, hand rolls, long rolls, different types of teriyaki, and deserts. They also provide an all-you-can-eat lunch of hand rolls, long rolls, and nigiri for just $17.50, as compared to one regular long roll that averages around $10. Careful, their main rule with this special is that you eat everything you order except for half of one roll… or else you have to pay for each dish individually. The record held for most rolls eaten is fourteen- as compared to us who could barely finish two. Trapper’s Sushi is an excellent place for a good laugh and a full stomach.

mckenna Herronstaff reporter

Among some of the more fascinating Basterds there are Donny Donowitz (Eli Roth) and Hugo Stiglitz (Til Schweiger). The former is known simply as “The Bear Jew” because of his twisted mentality to maul his Nazi victims with a wooden baseball bat. This makes for an especially graphic death scene for a particular Nazi captain. Stiglitz on the other hand is a quiet man that the Basterds rescue from jail to join their ranks. He is an expert at espionage and garroting his enemies. Both Eli Roth and Til Schweiger do a great job in their respective roles, showing no remorse for their bloodied opponents. Likewise, Brad Pitt is as funny as ever with his performance as Lt. Aldo Raine. The

real star of the show, however, is Christoph Waltz in his role as Hans Landa. Waltz delivers the routine of a lifetime as he travels from scene to scene, hunting Jews and the Basterds alike. He steals the attention from all other characters every time he pops into a scene. If anyone deserves an Oscar for the film, it is surely Waltz. If you thought Heath Ledger as the Joker was the greatest thing in film, you might want to reassess your

opinion after witnessing Waltz as Landa. With such a complete story and interesting dialogue, Inglourious Basterds is definitely the best movie I have seen this year. If Nazi Germany, blood and gore, and profanity is too much for you to handle, this might not be the movie for you. Conversely, if you are a fan of Tarantino films or even if you want to see an exquisite “historical fantasy,” The Basterds will surely deliver you to the promised land, and kill plenty of “Nat-zis” along the way. /5

I’d be pressed to find a more exciting way to begin a historical war film than with the tagline “Once upon a time in Nazi-occupied France...” With the recent release of Inglourious Basterds hope has been given to hordes of movie-goers everywhere that the cinema is still a magical place full of wonder and amusement. A place where someone can be fully engrossed in the plot of a film for over two hours and where the acting is believable and the effects superb. Tarantino has managed this feat time and time again, by creating some of the most interesting films in the last decade and his newest endeavor fails to disappoint. However, those expecting the next Pulp Fiction or even a non-fictitious history film should be forewarned – this is not your average war movie. In true Tarantino style, the movie is divided into five chapters in which viewers are only shown bits and pieces of the story at a time. For instance, the first scene opens with the witty Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) traveling to the LaPadite residence to hunt for possible Jewish refugees. Not but a few minutes later, Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) introduces his “Basterdly” crew and tells of their plight to kill numerous Nazis. From then on, the plot takes a multitude of twists and turns to keep the viewer interested. A cinema where a new Nazi movie will be premiered is central to keep the plot flowing, while the Basterds keep doing what they do best, that is, “Killin Nat-zis.”

JereL Hendersonstaff reporter

Tarantino tackles World War II

Laurent prepares for a climactic showdown.Photo by imdb.com

16 Arts&EntertainmentThe Falcon Flyer

As a contemporary alternative band, The Fray is in a sense revolutionary; it transforms musical blandness into an art form, and presents music so passive and harmless that you almost want to vomit. In fact, the entire adult music market seems to be so preoccupied with creating ballads that would not seem out of place furnishing a bachelor yuppie’s vinyl collection, or soothing a mob of sleep-deprived bureaucrats in an office building elevator, that innovation has become something of a profitless vice. They’re petrified of being disliked, and as a result the songs being churned out of American labels have acquired such a formality that it begs for somebody to take the formula and just throw a brick at it…just for a change of pace. Of course, The Fray is in no danger of leaving the general conciousness any time soon, even by the hand of the most experienced exorcist. If their 2006 single “How to Save a Life” failed to possess the ears of the music-listening demographic, then surely the lingering effects of last year’s piano-rock hit “You Found Me” picked up the slack. Indeed, that track so frequented the ventages of the public radio that to

this day I flinch whenever I consider toggling through stations, for fear that the all-too familiar melody will come clashing out of unsuspecting speakers. These are songs that are memorable because they are made to be—they are single-serving designer hits, and they have to be popular, even if people need to be forced into submission.And that is the nature that just about sums up everything that is wrong with The Fray: they’re a stylish band to be sure—their image is top notch—but what they are lacking is the ambition to fulfill any sort of musical thesis, and instead they settle for superficial appeal. Ultimately, they are ear candy. However, among the most positive of the band’s characteristics is their superb showmanship. Recently, as The Fray embarked on their nation-wide tour, Seattle was fortunate enough to play host to one of their venues, the Paramount Theater, and I was fortunate enough to attend. Though the quality of their music at the show does not come immediately into recollection, what was memorable was the fantastic onslaught of relentless flashes, the audacity of which succeeded in drawing emphasis away from the concert at hand. My opinion of The Fray’s musical prowess hasn’t yet shifted, but it did make me greatly appreciate their lighting technicians. I can’t wait to hear them on the radio.

Fray possesses questionable musical prowessMike LydonA&e editor

Nothing can prepare somebody for the emotional ride they go through after watching an incredibly engaging movie that is so touching, it connects to your heart, to your very soul. If you are into a movie like that, then you probably should not exert any effort to watch Love Happens. This movie is the epitome of chick-flicks, a romantic drama co-written by Brandon Camp and Mike Thompson that is both corny and sweet. The film features perhaps the lamest and most uncreative title of the year, and marks Camp’s directing debut, and unfortunately for him, it shows. With an all-star cast of Jennifer Aniston (Friends), Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight), and Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury), it appeared, at least on paper, that the movie would have a chance at being decent, maybe even good. Numerous questions arose after watching the misleading trailer which marketed the film as a love story, rather than a film dealing with personal grief. For one, would Aniston have another heartfelt, tear-jerking performance as she had in “Marley and Me”? Will Eckhart and Aniston be able to connect together? But more importantly, how great does Seattle look on film? The movie focuses on Dr. Burke Ryan (Eckhart), a best-selling self-help guru who, after the death of his wife, was inspired to write the creatively titled book, “A-Okay!” and holds seminars to help others cope with their grief. Lane (Dan Fogler), Burke’s agent and friend, schedules the sold-out seminar in Seattle, where he would meet the love interest of the film, Eloise Chandler (Aniston), a

maverick florist who just so happens to supply the flowers for the hotel Burke’s attending. Aniston’s and Eckhart’s characters meet when Burke bumps (how original) into the attractive Eloise Chandler in the hotel. The writers choose to keep this scene PG-13, I honestly was surprised when they didn’t use any of the rooms that surrounded them, and I praise them for that. However, sparks do not fly until about halfway through the movie, and any plausible love

connections displayed to establish the chemistry between the two are simply nonexistent. Do not get me wrong, they look great together on film, but Camp and Thompson do a terrible job constructing a believable story. This problem originated with their first mistake of taking the easy way out and

developing the element of love through a string of comedic scenes, such as when Aniston pretends to act like a mute (someone who can not speak) when Burke tries to ask her out. As we approach the halfway point, the love story seems to fade away from the storyline, which is a major disappointment and the film’s central theme of coping with grief takes over. Despite his potential to become the next Dr. Phil, Burke has not confronted his own pain, deeming the whole book a

lie and definitely not “a-okay.” Eckhart does an amazing job conveying the pain his character feels; on the other hand, Aniston’s role as the comforter seems out of place, and her role even disappears until the resurrection of the “love story” at the end of the movie. The film had its moments, including

the emotional acting of John Carroll Lynch (Gran Torino), who plays seminar-attendee Walter, a grieving construction worker, and the comedic performance of Dan Fogler. However, Love Happens is a big letdown, developing into one of those movies that fall between, “Alright movie,” and “Is this movie over yet”? The film drags on longer than necessary and with this cast of actors; it was underachieving. I was not expecting the onscreen

love to reach the caliber of a movie like the Titanic, but what was presented was quite pitiful. Aniston and Eckhart did their best, but it just did not seem natural; after all, Aniston is not doing so hot in this subject herself in her own life. The whole element of love seemed to be second nature in this film, appearing just for the purpose of attracting romance-lovers like myself, not only adding to this onslaught of negativity, but also disappointing all movie-goers who wanted to watch a potentially great love story. Love Happens is so predictable that you can figure out the whole movie after the first 15 minutes without much effort, plaguing it with virtually no “re watch-ability.” If you are going to watch a movie with someone who

has just lost a loved one, or want a movie with a “nice” story, this movie is a safe pick. Its end does bring some to the brink of tears, if not full-out crying. Unfortunately, I would probably wait for this to hit the shelves--it’s not worth taking time out to go and see in the theater. /5

Aniston flick suffers from romance clichés dAnieL tAdeoStAff reporter

photo by imdb.com

Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston share an intimate moment in Love Happens.

17minus the irksome whining of Kristen Stewart, in a way that the audience can sympathize and relate to. Paul Wesley as Stefan is simply irresistible. He is clearly more charming than Twilight’s

greasy Robert Pattinson, and it’s plausible to see how girls

would fall for his character . Wesley is

able to brood e f for t less ly

in a way that only a true teen

heartthrob can. Stefan’s older

brother Damon, another vampire

played by Ian Somerhalder, has

a devilish charm that despite his

m a l e v o l e n t demeanor, makes him impossible not to love. The two brothers are at war for Elena’s heart, and this battle between good and evil puts everyone’s life in jeopardy. The actors are perfectly cast for the

Arts&EntertainmentThe Falcon Flyer

Diaries provides hope for vampire genre As someone who was disappointed with what Twilight did for the vampire genre, I greatly anticipated the premiere of The Vampire Diaries; I saw it as a chance for redemption. Though the bar was set low, executive producer Kevin Williamson, who also created hits like Scream and Dawson’s Creek, surpassed all my expectations. His impressive resume was definitely an accurate foreshadowing to what should be expected from The Vampire Diaries. Thus far, the show has been dark, edgy, basically everything Twilight should have been, but wasn’t. Whereas Twilight tried to cram a vampire story into the teen genre, this show does just the opposite. The vampire mythology is not upstaged by the dramatic plot, nor does the subject of vampirism overshadow the human actors. Rather, each element compliments the other, which just makes the show all the more enjoyable.

The Vampire Diaries is loosely based off of the novel series by L.J. Smith and revolves around Elena Gilbert, a disheartened t e e n a g e r of Mystic Falls, Virginia, whose parents were killed in a car accident just four months ago. Though she had once been a popular, b u b b l y cheerleader, E l e n a now finds h e r s e l f d e t a c h e d from both friends and family, straining to hide her grief. As the school year starts, she is instantly attracted to a new student: the enigmatic Stefan Salvatore, who is, unbeknownst to Elena, a centuries-old vampire. Nina Dobrev plays Elena and her acting has been exceptionally solid. Dobrev is able to portray Elena’s sorrow,

CW, with the teenage demographic always in mind. They are glamorous, but not above being relatable. Being a Williamson production, viewers can be certain that the show will be filled with endlessly snappy dialogue, mixed in with popular culture references I was pleasantly surprised by how advanced the special effects were. It’s impossible to create a vampire show without it being a tad cheesy, but the producers did a commendable job. And thank God the vampires did not sparkle in the sun. However, The Vampire Diaries is far from perfect. It lacks the humor of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the class of True Blood, and I am sure the melodramatic love triangle between Jeremy, Tyler, and Vickie will get old fast. There was also an annoying use of overlaping voice-overs as the two main characters write in their respective journals. Hopefully this device won’t be overused in the future. Nonetheless, it definitely has potential and is without a doubt the must watch show of the season.

kAyLA MALetichBuSineSS MAnAger

reflection in the water? Do they just assume their noses are black by looking at other bears? That seems like a lot of thinking for a bear.” All of this is going on in his head while he’s supposed to be taking in vital information from two FBI agents. Later in the movie he is wearing a wire for corporate meetings when he feels the urge to narrate everything that he does on the tapes. Randomness does have its place and Matt Damon makes it work very well. Whitacre spends a lot of time trying to bring down the heads of ADM because he secretly wants to be the CEO of the company. He spends so much time lying to the FBI, his lawyers, and to the press that everything he says to everyone is a different lie. His lawyers see what he said in the paper and can’t believe they work for someone with that level of sheer stupidity. Whitacre spends much of the movie telling that his parents died in a car crash when he was little and that he was adopted by a rich amusement park owner. Later, his parents are contacted by a reporter, and you can guess what happens after that. This movie is so entertaining and filled with energy, and you can tell that the filmmakers had even more fun making it. The only fallacy the movie commits is the blandness of the settings--too many scenes take place in boring business meetings, talking about boring things, with boring people wearing boring suits, in excruciatingly boring rooms. Eventually the FBI arrests everybody and there are indictments of the company, all of which takes place in a corny ‘80s montage. The movie never really spells it out for you but, there is definitely a moral to the story...DO NOT LIE. Manic-depressive self-regard is what got Mark Whitacre, ADM, Bernie Madoff , AIG, and the Lehman brothers into trouble, and what put our entire economy into the toilet. This movie spends so much time laughing at itself that it just does not care what the audience thinks. I guess it is true; the joke is on us.

/5

Soderberg, Damon return in top comedic formkieth BoLenderStAff reporter

It seems like Steven Soderbergh is trying to ride the wave of success from his Oceans series in this latest film, The Informant! It is a bright and perky film, underlined an upbeat and colorful score by composer Marvin Hamlisch. This gives the impression that it is meant to feel like a 70’s game show that just…will…not…stop. The Informant!- even the title is full of pep and just an overall jolly good time. Starting in the early

‘90s, Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) works with the FBI to bring down an alleged price-fixing conspiracy with corporate giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a very large agricultural business that produces lysine, an essential amino acid. Unknown to the FBI, their “Informant!” has dirty hands himself and has become a little…let us say…unhinged. In his nutty, backward world he’s “Secret Agent 0014, ‘cause I’m twice as smart as 007.” Led by Special Agent Brian Shepard (Scott Bakula), the bureau sees Whitacre as their ace in the hole to bring down ADM. It kind of feels like you are watching a parody of The Insider and A Beautiful Mind all at the same time.

However, I definitely would not say that Whitacre’s mind is a beautiful thing at all; it’s really quite frightening. Matt Damon gives voice to his own inner conscience, and you hear the random and abstract thoughts going through W h i t a c r e ’ s bipolar, almost schizophrenic mind. A typical ramble: “Polar bears cover their noses when they hunt for seals. How do they know their noses are black? Do they see their Matt Damon plays double agent Mark Whitacre in Steven Soderberg’s The Informant!

photo by imdb.com

photo by wikipedia.

18SportsThe Falcon Flyer

“There is a famous quote,” said golf coach Mark Gaul, “that golf is 90% mental and 10% skill – so you really need to have the right mindset. You can’t be a mental midget!” Apparently this year the team is tee-ing off with plenty of mental aptitude, with the boys team in third and the girls team in fourth out of the SPSL. The golf team is the largest in the SPSL, consisting of seventeen boys and fifteen girls. Especially notable is the huge turnout of girls. Gaul said, “Most schools don’t even have enough girls to make a team, while we had to make cuts for the first time in Kentlake golf history! It’s sad [to make cuts], but it was great to have so many turn out.” Senior Lindsey Douglas said, “We have so many girls that not everyone gets to play.” Come competition day, six players of each gender are chosen to contend at varsity level. Each competes individually and then the final scores are combined

into two team scores. Currently the boys are 4-4 and the girls are 4-4. Despite the full team roster and limited playing time, Douglas said, “Everyone is friends.” In addition, team chemistry has played an impor-tant part in the thus far successful season. Senior Nick Lodato said, “The chemistry between the upper and lower classes is better than it’s ever been before.” “The team jokes a lot,” said senior Karl Dubeau. Does feeling like a team really matter in golf, a game where scores are based on individual perfor-mance? Gaul believes it does, he said, “Having team chemistry helps [players] to stay loose and have the right mindset to play.” Both coaches and players hold high expectations for the rest of the season. Gaul said, “We’re going to kick ass and take names! Also, we want to get as many people through to the second day of districts, Oct. 21 and 22, and go to state in the spring!” Nick Lodato said, “I’m excited to see how we end up at the end of the season – first or second would be sweet.”

Erin HuntStaff rEportEr

Growing golf team begins season

With six wins, eight seniors, and a massive amount of team chemistry, the girls’ varsity soccer is starting the season off strong. Leading the team are captains senior Frederike Dubeau and junior Katherine Miccile. They have plans of directing their pro-gram towards success. Miccile said, “When we became 4-0, we were really kind of shocked ‘cause it hasn’t happened in a long time, and we’ve scored more goals so far this year than in the past two, and it’s only been four games.” Why the big difference? Miccile listed a number of potential reasons. The level of competitiveness has increased, they’ve adapted to their second year with coach Kyle Jones, and the team has no problem meshing. The team benefits from leader-ship demonstrated by the eight upper classmen, and along with that Dubeau and Miccile receive plenty of help from key players such as Kasey Dauenhauer, Kris-tin Williams, Kyla D’Amico, Leanna McCord, Savannah Wood, Kayla Maletich,

Laura Rayfield, Paige Engeland, and Callen Shelton. The Falcons have conquered Thomas Jefferson, Kent Meridian, Auburn, Fed-eral Way, and Kentridge. They faced disappointing losses against rivals Tahoma on Sept. 24 and Kentwood on Sept. 29, but that has not stopped their determina-tion to improve. “We need to get better at heading the ball and dealing with frantic situations.

We’ve just got to take things one game at a time”, said Miccile. Dubeau included that they need to work on a new formation and better defense as well. The team tries to focus on team chemistry to unite the play-ers. Outside of practices they participate in team dinners, make shirts for big games, and, in the past, perform their infamous ‘team lock-in’, an activity where the entire varsity team spends a night in the gym. Overall, the girls are excited to see where their season is taking them. Dubeau said, “At the Tahoma game there were more fans than I’ve seen in all my four years. Obviously they

knew we’re getting better”. The school has done an excellent job supporting the team so far and they hope to see that this continues. Miccile feels that this year is “memorable already, and it’s only been a few games...”

Soccer shines, new season shows promiseMcKEnna HErronStaff rEportEr

“We’ve scored more goals so far this year than in the past two, and it’s only

been four games”

-Katherine Miccile

From one of man’s most primitive behaviors, de-veloped and manipulated over time, sprouts the ad-mirable feat of endurance known as cross-country running. The strength of the athletes involved in this challenging sport is commonly overlooked by those who do not understand the skill set required. Some would assume that there is not much to it except running, but it requires a mental strength and willpower that most people simply do not possess. When asked to describe cross-country, senior cap-tain Brian Oliphant said, “taxing, mentally and phys-ically taxing, it takes a lot of focus just to keep going. It’s unparalleled.” Whereas most other sports have a consistent play-ing field, runners deal with every imaginable envi-ronmental variable, including weather, terrain, and steeply graded hills. These variables must be adjust-

ed to so as to keep from being left in the dust. When asked about the biggest challenge of the sport, senior captain Erin Collins said, “Endurance is most important, I’ve seen a girl collapse half way through a race. This sport is definitely not for the faint-hearted, especially as the duration and range are unpredictable.” As for the main competition, Oliphant said, “the biggest challengers look like Gig Harbor and K.M.” As for this season, Oliphant said, “I expect both teams to go to districts, and a couple runners have a good shot at State. Also the girls are really strong this year, especially with [freshman] Terra McGinnis.” Both Oliphant and Collins recognized McGinnis as a top notch runner and expressed high expectations for her in the coming seasons. Though they have not had a large number of meets with other schools, the girls’ team has already won one meet against Auburn, and plan on continuing this streak.

Jordan Jacobson, Terra McGinnis, and Sarah Robbins race off at the start of a cross country competition.

Jacob LangHoLzStaff rEportEr

Running requirements unexpectedly difficult

Photo by Michelle Rogers

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SportsThe Falcon Flyer19

Who is this new running back the announcer calls “Dukes?” A transfer student from Columbus, Geor-gia, sophomore Latrelle Dukes has ignited the of-fense with a passion. Dukes’ speed and power makes him a force to be reckoned with; many call him the greatest player seen in years, others simply call him a “beast.” Staff reporter Daniel Tadeo had a chance to speak to the man behind the face-mask, and got to know the real #22. Daniel Tadeo: How did you get started in foot-ball? Why running back? Latrelle Dukes: As a little kid, my dad taught me how to play. When I touched my first football, I knew I wanted to be a football player. I love running the ball and like having the ball in my hands all the time. I love to break in the open field and score long touchdown runs. And I love “trucking” people. DT: What’s your favorite game so far? LD: The Kent-Meridian game because the line was making good blocks and opening holes for me, so I did my part and ran all over the defense and finished the night with 23 carries, 159 rushing yards, and 3 touchdowns. DT: What game are you looking most forward to? LD: Auburn because as I heard they are really good, and I’m hoping we can go in there and play to our potential, come out with a win, and show them how Kentlake Falcons do it on the field. DT: How do you prepare for a game? LD: I put on headphones and say nothing to no-body. Then I go out and perform. DT: What kind of music do you listen to? Favorite artist? LD: I like rap music, and I listen to Gucci Mane and Lil Boosie. DT: What are your goals for the season?

LD: Want to go to playoffs and hopefully win a state title. DT: How do you like our team? LD: I like them a lot, on and off the field. They play hard and as the season is progressing, we play more as a team. DT: Who is your inspiration? LD: My dad because he used to be a football play-er, until he messed-up his knee. He supports me and gives me a lot of advice. I’m continuing his dream. DT: Is there anything unique about you that you would be willing to share? LD: I’m half black and half Filipino. And I also like fried chicken and Vietnamese food. DT: What’s your favorite subject at school? LD: Math, education is the way to go. DT:What is the best nickname you’ve ever had? LD: Mr. Untouchable

DaniEL taDEoStaff rEportEr

Tennis on the brink

Already the varsity boys’ tennis team is doing bet-ter than last year, with a record of 2-5, putting them in fourth place in the North SPSL. Not only is the team placed in the North SPSL, junior Kyle Thomas is currently in seventh place for singles. Senior Jordan Amoth and freshman Shane Wilson are in sixth place in the North SPSL for dou-bles. Coach Debbie Raghubeer said, “We are better this year. We have really strong leadership. I feel our team is united, so we are more deep.” Senior captains Amoth and Taylor Welch hope to improve this year. Amoth has been playing tennis since freshman year, he said, “[I hope] to get better and be more of a leader.” Welch, who has been playing for six years, wants to “make state.” To give him a bigger chance of going to state, Raghubeer said, “The thing Taylor could do is play against higher level players.” Even though Trenton Jocz and Jordan Haynes, the top players from last year, have graduated, the team is still strong with the help of new key players such as freshman twins Shane and Brandon Wilson. Sopho-more Kyle Woo and seniors David Johnston, Chris Engelbrecht, Talon Sisley and Thomas bring stability to the team as returning players. “New freshman and JV players have bettered our team. They can swing between varsity and JV.” Raghubeer said. Every team has an objective, the tennis team’s objective is: “We want to get as many people to dis-tricts as possible. Also, we’d like to break 500 – win as much as you lose.” Raghubeer said. To get ready for the possibility of districts, the team is working on their skills. “During off season, it’s more about skill building. During season, it’s more about strategy during the matches and working with partners. Tennis is one of those sports, the more you hit the better you get.” Raghubeer said.

nicoLE LucEStaff rEportEr

Talented running back revealed

Photo by Megan Rogers

October Varsity Sports 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Tennis: KL@Decatur (3:30)

Soccer: KL@Auburn (7:30)

Volleyball: KL@KR (7:15)

Tennis: Spanaway Lake@KL (3:30)

XC:KR@KL (4:00)

Soccer: Federal Way@KL (7:30)

Volleyball:KL@Jefferson (7:15)

Swim & Dive: KR@KL (3:30)

Football: Tahoma@KL (1:00)

Soccer: Tahoma@KL (5:30)

Volleyball:KL@Auburn Riverside (7:15)

Volleyball:KM@KL (7:15)

Football: KL@Auburn Riverside (7:00)

Soccer:KL@KW (1:00)

Volleyball: KW@KL (7:15)

Soccer: KR@KL (7:30)

Soccer: KL@AuburnRiverside (7:30)

Football: KW@KL (7:00)

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