COLT CONNECTION

Volume 1, Issue 2

March 2003

Fundraiser is Big Success
By Emily Bennett

Way to go, Kiewit Colts! We sold over $70,000 in new magazine subscriptions and renewals. Forty percent of this number, or $28,000, comes back to our school. We spend between $3,000 and $5,000 for all the prizes, like the limo lunches and the cosmic bowling.
Some of the money also goes to the remodeling of the school, community service projects, field trips, and scholarships. One thousand dollars is set aside to be awarded to two graduating seniors who attended Kiewit for at least two years.
Our homerooms competed this year in order to have the honor of competing in the second annual pig races. The top selling homerooms in each grade competed against each other and the winners at each grade level competed for the school championship.
The pig races were held on February 24th. Due to a tie, four sixth grade homerooms got to participate in the pig races. They were Mrs. Pilkington, Mrs. Anthony, Mrs. Brower, and Mrs. Huetter. In seventh grade, we had Mr. Randolph, Mrs. Milroy, and last but not least, Mrs. Guthrie. Finally, in eighth grade we Mrs. Shannon, Mrs. Daubert, and Mrs. Skar competed to represent the 8th grade. In the school championship race, Mrs. Skar, Mr. Randolph and Mrs. Anthony raced. The overall winner was Mrs. Skar’s class. They won an “All-You-Can-Eat Pig Out” party.

Mayor Fahey Visits Career Class
ByAllison “Orca” Woolcott

On Tuesday, February 11, 2003, eighth graders in Ms. Haney’s Career Paths class received a visit from a special guest. Mayor Mike Fahey enlightened students about the job of being mayor.
As a child, Mr. Fahey grew up in Kansas City. He played sports and was involved in politics at an early age. As a little boy, he would pass out ballots for parties in the running for political positions. In school, he took a shorthand class, one that usually wasn’t taken by males. He thinks that the best course he took was English. Mr. Fahey believes it is very important to be able to write, understand, and speak English well. He also thinks History is must, because you need to be able to understand things that have happened in the past. Our mayor graduated from Creighton University with a degree in English.
Mr. Fahey works very hard at his job, which is very demanding. In order to become mayor, a person must be at least twenty-one, and needs to have had different background experiences in politics. Although Nebraska has never had a woman mayor, it is not mandatory that all candidates be male. It is very feasible that in the future, a woman may assume this position.
Being a mayor is a very time-consuming occupation. Mr. Fahey spends about a half of his time at his downtown office in the City County Building, and the other half is spent outside the office, attending meetings and giving speeches. His typical day begins at seven A.M., and comes to a close at ten P.M. On some days, he works with the City Council, while others he attends breakfast meetings and meets with his Cabinet Directors. It is important to understand that all departments in Omaha (such as police and fire) work for him.
During voting season, he works at the polls, not wrapping it up until they are closed. He explained that it is much more expensive to run for mayor than it used to be.
A few aspects that the mayor deals with are trash pick up, snow plowing, and lots of complaints from citizens. In fact, his phone rings almost constantly, and he appreciates it when the caller is there to offer support rather than criticism. When asked if he has to abide by a specific dress code at work, the mayor stated that his attire must be formal, leaving him with no time for casual Fridays. Although this job doesn’t involve a great deal of traveling, Mr. Fahey shared with us that he will be flying to Japan in the end of May.
When asked what he enjoyed the most about his job, Mr. Fahey shared that he liked meeting different people the most. His least favorite part about his occupation is the great number of hours it demands. He thinks the most challenging part of this job is the economical portion. The hardest thing to deal with, he says, is really bad crises (such as officer shootings). He says he would rather deal with economic crises than suffering any day. Mr. Fahey thoughtfully replied when asked which three words he would use to describe his job, “Exciting, challenging, and rewarding.”
Being the mayor of a city comes with many perks. Our mayor has four drivers, who are specifically hired to drive him around. These four are retired police officers who make sure he gets where he needs to go on time, pick him up in the mornings, and take him home after work. However, these men do not act as his bodyguards. On Tuesday, Mr. Al Martinez, one of his drivers, was with him at Kiewit. Another perk of this job is the invitations to numerous openings and restaurants. He also gets gifts from companies, such as a new shirt and tie from Sears. One misconception about being mayor is the rumor that they get free College World Series tickets, and free admission to Creighton games. This is not true. One last perk is getting to meet the President of the United States, as Mr. Fahey has done twice.
Although our mayor has a busy life at work, he also has a life at home. He tries to complete all his work at the office, so has more free time to participate in activities such as golf, running, and reading. As Mr. Fahey said, part of his job is “making sure that when we disagree, we don’t become disagreeable”. This ties in with why he thinks that one of the most important qualities of a mayor is being a good listener.
As you can see, Mr. Fahey shared tons of valuable information with students at Kiewit. We thank him greatly for his time, and appreciate the wonderful work he does for our city.

International Baccalaureate Program
an Option for Eighth Graders
By Allison “Orca” Woolcott

“The IB is a very rigorous program,” states Mrs. Buda, who is the head of the program at Millard North High School, and she says it best.
The International Baccalaureate Program (IB) first came to Millard North High about three years ago. Millard North is the only high school in Nebraska that offers this special opportunity to students. However, the IB is available in other states, as well as many different countries world wide.
What is this program all about? Well, the International Baccalaureate consists of courses designed for higher-level learners, and students who are willing to work hard and put in ample time and effort. Obviously, this program is not for everyone. In order to succeed in the IB, one must be studious, responsible, involved, and enthusiastic when it comes to learning.
Many people confuse this program with taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes. The difference between the two is the fact that AP only offers single courses, while IB offers a whole curriculum. At a glance, the IB courses are arranged in a hexagon. The six main groups are located on the outside (English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Arts and Electives, Sciences, and Foreign Language) while there are three components listed on the inside of the hexagon. These three mandatory parts of the IB curriculum are to write an Extended Essay, take Theory of Knowledge classes, and participate in CAS (Creativity, Action, and Service).
Throughout the course of the International Baccalaureate Program, the main focus is set on creating a “well-rounded” individual. The purpose of this program is not solely for students to improve their academic performance, but more importantly, to help improve themselves overall. From the time they start taking IB classes to the time they graduate, students learn a lot about who they really are.
In what grade do these courses begin? The IB classes actually begin in your junior year of high school and last until the end of the senior year, but much preparation is required. Students start planning and preparing for this program as early as seventh grade! A lot of importance is based on taking a full year of a foreign language in eighth grade if possible. To graduate with an IB diploma, five years of a foreign language is required, thus taking it for a year in middle school is a tremendous help. In the area of math, eighth graders should try to take Algebra or Geometry, also. Then, in ninth and tenth grade, more IB prep classes will be given.
The International Baccalaureate is a wonderful and unique program. Although it is very challenging and time consuming, it comes with a great amount of self-satisfaction.

Movies, Music, Shoes and 6B
By Amy Jia & Reid Despiegelaere

These 6B teachers have more things on their minds than just teaching students. They enjoy watching movies full of laughter and singing along to various songs. The teachers on this sixth grade team try to pack their fun styles into students’ learning experiences.
Ms. Johnson just graduated from UNL in December. She teaches social studies and thoroughly enjoys it. She loves the movie Top Gun starring Tom Cruise and owns about ten pairs of shoes. Ms. Johnson has many favorite songs and can’t just pick one. Ms. Johnson remembers falling in the middle of campus her freshman year. She said, “It was so embarrassing!! I ripped my jeans and yelled a famous ‘wooa’ on my way down!!”
Mrs. Page has been teaching for 20 years and ironically owns 20 pairs of shoes! She has no pets to keep her company, but she makes up for it watching movies like, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Her favorite song is Lights by Journey. In middle school she had a blast during a memorable moment at Okoboji with four friends.
Mr. Rhodes has been teaching for three years. He is the science teacher for this team. He recalled an embarrassing moment in college when he sat down in a class and broke the chair. Mr. Rhodes made many friends in middle school and nowadays enjoys watching the comedy Dumb and Dumber.
Mrs. Heithoff is an English/Math teacher. She began teaching seven years ago. She recalled an embarrassing moment from her middle school days when she fell down in front of her class, including the boy she liked. She says that she can’t count the number of shoes she owns. She loves the movie American President.
Another 6B teacher, Ms. Nauslar, has been teaching for eight years. She owns 20 pairs of shoes like Mrs. Page. She has two dogs that enjoy “roaming the neighborhood and chewing up brand new shoes.” She loves to cry though Terms of Endearment and sing along to many different songs. Ms. Nauslar loved to get involved with school activities in middle school.
These teachers on 6B are experienced in lots of areas, including shoes. They are very spontaneous and will make learning fun for all students.

Life as an 8B Teacher
By Craig Mathis and Val Reeves

The 8B teachers all have similar things to say about education. They all agree on certain issues, and two of them are very prominent, that they all love teaching and that they all love kids. “Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Philips, Mrs. Green, and Ms. Nichols almost make school fun.” one student says.
All of the 8B teachers come from different backgrounds and jobs. Mrs. Davis had once been a dietitian and worked in a nursing home. She switched over to teaching because students were a lot livelier than the people in the nursing home. Mrs. Phillips had tried to be a pediatrician but couldn’t stand to see injured people. Ms. Nichols was pursuing a journalism major, but then decided to be a teacher. This is her first year as a teaching.
We also learned things about these teachers that students never knew. Mrs. Davis had several funny stories to tell, being a science teacher. She’s managed to light oil on fire and burn a hole in the floor. She has also set nearly the whole classroom on fire with an “electric pickle” lab.
Mrs. Philips had a crazy clothing day once at Central, and dressed very strange. She managed to win the school’s competition. Her regrets about that day are that she went to get coffee before school that morning.
The teachers, along with their wacky sides, also have wise words for students. Ms. Nichols wants students to have persistence and value their education, while Mrs. Davis wants to have students find answers for themselves and go beyond what’s in the books. They also have different approaches to teaching. Ms. Nichols says her approach is “To make it how it made sense to me when I was in school.”
Students on 8B agree that the teachers are great. One day that many students remember was when Mrs. Green had a small war to simulate what a real one is like. “It was so awesome,” says one student, “I never thought American history could be so much fun!”
All teachers agreed on one thing, the hardest time of the year to teach is May. So let’s try to make it easier on our teachers by paying attention in class and just having respect for them and what they do. It’s not always an easy job.

Mr. Rhodes Follows Instincts to Teaching
By Emily Schlichting

Mr. Rhodes. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, don’t be alarmed. He’s new to our school this year. Mr. Rhodes teaches 6th grade science for team 6B. He moved to Kiewit from Central Middle School at the beginning of this school year.
When I asked him when he discovered that he wanted to become a teacher, the answer surprised me. “In high school.” I was a bit surprised that he knew what he wanted to do at such an early age, but he has stuck by his instincts, and look where it’s got him. There are many reasons one would begin teaching, but for Mr. Rhodes, the reason was simple. He wanted to have an impact on the children of today, the adults of tomorrow. And what better way to do that than to get involved, and teach them? The reason he teaches science in particular is “the strong belief that science develops our fundamental thinking skills,” but it doesn’t hurt that it can be fun, too.
Mr. Rhodes’ interests go beyond the classroom. His hobbies include football, coaching in particular, and he also enjoys the outdoors. Another thing that Mr. Rhodes really enjoys is spending time with his family, which consists of his wife, and a nice, big dog.
So next time you see Mr. Rhodes in the hall, maybe you could say hi, now that you know a little about him.

Meet Mrs. Nauslar
By Nicole Staton and Norah Jones

Mrs. Nauslar is a new teacher at Kiewit Middle School. Before coming to Kiewit, she taught at Fremont Middle School. She has been teaching for eight years and likes Kiewit because of the students and the involved parents. When asked why she liked teaching, Mrs. Nauslar answered, “The light bulb moment when a student is trying and trying, and finally, they get it right.”
Mrs. Nauslar’s favorite subject growing up was math. Her favorite color is red and when asked what qualities a good teacher needs she replied, “Patience, organization, and energy.”
Her favorite teacher in her childhood years was her history teacher. He let the class re-enact several wars. That’s just a few small tidbits about Mrs. Naulsar.

Fun, Cool, Amusing 7B Teachers
By Aunum Akhter

What do you get when you mix fun, cool, and amusing together? Why of course, you get the 7B teachers at Kiewit! They’re all these things put together and more! I think everyone should know about these enjoyable teachers!
Mr. Drummond teaches social studies. He has been working at Kiewit for 11 years. His most embarrassing moment in elementary school was when his first grade teacher told him, out loud in front of his class, that he couldn’t read, and if he didn’t learn how now, he would never be able to read! Mr. Drummond stated that the best thing about teaching is the simple joy of working with kids!
Ms. Thoreen teaches English and has been teaching at Kiewit for four years. The most embarrassing thing that she did in elementary school, was punch a kid’s two front teeth out! The cause of this was that the kid was trying to kiss her! Ms. Thoreen also said the best thing about teaching, is that everyday is different!
Mrs. Ausedemore teaches Pre-Algebra and regular 7th grade math. She has been teaching at Kiewit for 13 years. The most embarrassing thing that happened to her while she was in elementary school was when she was playing on a playground swing. Suddenly the swing broke, and the fall knocked her out. Mrs. Ausedemore then awoke on the ground, looking up to see a group of kids staring down right at her. Mrs. Ausedemore stated that the best thing about teaching is showing kids how to solve problems and hearing the kids say, “Now I get it!”
Mrs. Hoppe teaches science, and she has been working at Kiewit for four years. She said that the most embarrassing thing that happened to her in elementary school was in gym class when someone pulled down her gym shorts! Mrs. Hoppe said that the best thing about teaching is meeting different kids, teaching the subject science and not sitting in an office all day long!
Mrs. Johnson teaches reading. She has been teaching at Kiewit for 11 years. The most embarrassing thing that happened to her during her school years was when she forgot a cheerleading routine right in the middle of a tryout! Mrs. Johnson stated that the best thing about teaching is being around 7th graders and introducing new and exciting books to her students!

The Heartbeat of the School
By Kim Fortson

Have you ever forgotten an assignment and had to call home in order to get it? Sure you have, we’ve all been there. But who gets it to you after your parents bring it up to school? The secretaries. These ladies do everything—and I mean everything. They organize schedules, talk to parents, make and break appointments, and keep things running smoothly while still managing to have smiles on their faces. I have never seen one of them get angryor lose their patience with a student. Even so, they are probably some of the most unappreciated staff members in the school—most don’t even know their names. Therefore, I thought it would be fun and interesting to get to know these remarkable people behind the scenes by asking them a few questions.
We have four secretaries at our school, three in the front office and one in the counseling office. The first I interviewed was Mrs. Lane, who has been working at Kiewit for seven years. For the first four years, she was a Paraprofessional, and this is currently her third year as a secretary.
She has a loving family. “I have a husband and three children—Lisa is twenty-four, Sarah is twenty-two, and Kent is twenty, and they all go to college.”
Mrs. Lane has had her share of embarrassing moments. “One night I left someone on hold and forgot they were there. I think she was on [hold] for twenty minutes. It was terrible!” If Mrs. Lane could be anyone in the world she’d be—“If I could ever be someone, I’d be a singer. That’s the one thing I can’t be and would love to do.” Her favorite sports team? “That’d have to be the Millard North football team.”
Another thing I learned when I interviewed the secretaries, is that there are two Mrs. Moores—Mrs. Judy Moore and Mrs. Julie Moore! Talk about confusing. First I interviewed Mrs. Judy Moore, who’s been a secretary at Kiewit “since it opened fifteen years ago. I’ve been here longer than anyone in this building.” Her family has been through a lot. “I have a husband who’s just recuperated from a bout of cancer and two daughters who both live in Omaha and two and a half grandchildren—one on the way.”
Mrs. Moore had a great time in high school. “I enjoyed my high school experiences. I loved attending sports events. I have a few teachers I kept in touch with for a few years. I just loved the whole teenage scene…at the time.” The most rewarding thing about being a secretary is—“Oh, just the plethora of people that one is able to associate with, being around a lot of students. We have a lot of good students and parents to associate with. We have a delightful staff to work with. A lot of good people here.”
What does Mrs. Moore do when she just wants to kick back, relax, and have a good time? “Well, for one thing, I like taking care of my grandchildren. For a hobby I love to garden, and I love to cook. In fact we’re in a gourmet cooking club.” I don’t know about you, but any time she feels like coming to my house and cooking, she’s definitely welcome.
Mrs. Julie Moore is the secretary in the counseling office and has been at Kiewit since 1992. Her family? “I have a husband and two kids—my husband is Bill and my kids are Rachel, who is nineteen at Truman State University, and my son is Christopher who is a junior at Millard North.” She has a few favorite bands/singers that the teachers and your parents are probably familiar with. “[I like] Josh Groban, Three Dog Night, Chicago, and Motown.”
Mrs. Moore admits that the worst thing about being a secretary is “naughty kids and grumpy people.” If she could have only the one meal the rest of her life, it would have to be—“rice and gravy, fried chicken, a big glass of milk, and ice cream with chocolate shell and bananas.” I’m not too sure about the rice and gravy part, but everything else sounds excellent to me.
Last, but definitely not least, I had the opportunity to get to know Mrs. Galloway, who has worked at Kiewit almost as long as Mrs. Judy Moore. ”I’ve been at Kiewit…this is my fourteenth year.” This is her seventh or eighth year as a secretary.
Ever heard the saying, ‘one big happy family’? Well Mrs. Galloway’s family is just that. “I have a husband who’s a retired assistant principal at Millard North. We have nine kids, three sons here and one in Lincoln, and two daughters here in Omaha, two daughters in San Diego, and another son in Chicago, and I think twelve grandchildren.”
Her pick for the ideal vacation spot? “I love San Diego because of the weather and the ocean [and] the beach.”
Mrs. Galloway has never had to make the grueling trek to the principal’s office. “…I was a good kid in school. I was too scared to do anything wrong.”
Now that you have gotten to know the secretaries better, maybe you can start to appreciate them more. After all, they are people with some of the same interests as you and me, and they work hard every day just to make our lives a little easier. So next time you find yourself needing something at the office, take a second to smile and say ‘thank-you’ to these wonderful people.

If You’re Going to Put it on the Walls… Apply It in the Halls!!
By Whitney Shada

Several weeks ago, our school was lucky enough to have a very important person speak to us. This person was Mr. Mark Brown, a public speaker who speaks at middle schools throughout the country. Mr. Brown sent a very important message, and touched several of us.
If you look around our school, you will notice signs inspiring respect, humility and education. Putting these things on the walls is pretty much worthless until you decide to apply them to your everyday life. You have to put what’s on the walls in the halls.
It is hard for people who have not experienced teasing and bullying to understand the seriousness of his words. To some of us it was simply a boring assembly to get us out of class. To me, this was much more. He spoke words that truly touched my soul.
Take a second to think about what it would be like to be scared to come to school each day, or how hard it would be to sit all alone at lunch. Is it really that tough to invite someone to sit with you and your friends, or to simply say hello to someone trying to hide from everyone else?
Thinking about this and actually doing these things are two completely different things. If you can feel the pain of someone like the kids Mr. Brown spoke of, then doesn’t it make you to want to reach out to them? Changing their day from being a scary, independent ride to a joyous journey could make you feel better about yourself too. Everyone deserves to have someone. You can make a big difference and be that someone. Even though to you it may be no big deal, to them it may be the world.
Mr. Brown made a very good analogy. He told us to think of the movie The Beauty and the Beast. Belle was the only one able to look past the fierce, intimidating, demanding beast that everyone else sees. Instead, she sees a beautiful person with a gentle heart. When we can look past our differences and see the beauty in a beast. That’s when our school will become the better place Mr. Brown hopes to see. So, the next time you see an inspirational poster in the hallway, see if you can apply the words on it to your everyday life.

Kangaroo Jack
By Richard Gude

Kangaroo Jack. All around I would have to say it was a pretty good movie. This movie had some ups and downs, but still pulled together at the end.
It all starts with a man named Charlie and his best friend Iren, who is the kind of guy who just can’t seem to get out of trouble. There is also Charlie’s stepfather, Seth, who is the kind of guy who is greatly involved with mobs and gangs,
Iren gets in so much trouble that Seth steps in and sends Charlie on an errand to Australia to deliver fifty thousand dollars to a Mr. Smith. What Charlie and Iren don’t know is that Seth is actually sending them to their deaths at the hands of Mr. Smith. The only problem is that while messing around in Australia, they accidentally hit a kangaroo and decide to dress it up in the very same jacket containing Mr. Smith’s money!
After two or three pictures the kangaroo, known as Jacky Legs due to his resemblance to an actor named Jacky, jumps back to life a with a loud shriek and jumps off into the outback of Australia. Now Charlie and Iren have to pull together and figure a way to find and catch Jacky Legs because Seth has had it with them and has now even sends his own goons to take care of them. How can Charlie and make out of this alive?
Whether you like it or not, I thought it showed potential. This movie was for the whole family to enjoy. It shows no signs of immoral behavior and is an all around pleasant movie.

The Top Ten Uses for Duct Tape: School Edition
By Adam Moseman

10. Pencil Coating

Tired of your dull pen, or is that pencil with cute teddy bears on it embarrassing you? Putting duct tape over it not only solves your problem, but let’s you quickly identify your pencil from the rest. Warning: Do not sharpen coated pencils. Your likely to ruin your tape coat AND the pencil sharpener.

9. Facial hair remover OR adder!

A bit of tape can rip out that annoying little moustache. or if you prefer one, you can cut off a bit of hair and tape it under your nose! Neat!

8. Trendy tape shoes

Shoelaces missing? Tape your shoes to your feet. Shoes missing? Several layers of tape over your feet. Feet missing? Tape yourself to a classmate so you can reach your class on time.

7. Add duct tape to fit the dress code

Suddenly realize that your pants are far too low for the taste of the teachers? Create a duct tape belt! Shirt three sizes too small? Create longer sleeves, and add tape to the bottom to hide the bellybutton.

6. Falling asleep? Tape your eyes open!

If you partied a bit too hard, you can tape your eyelids open to absorb all of your teachers important details. Just don’t forget the eye moisteners at home.

5. Handy Friend

Feeling a tad bit lonely? Create a smiley face on your hand and you’ll always have somebody to talk to.

4. Cheaters near you? Tape over your answers!

If another student is keeping an eye on your test, putting duct tape on your answers will ensure nobody will see them. Warning: Tape does not uncover.

3. Hall Camouflage

If you think somebody’s out to get you, just cover yourself in duct tape and hide in the shadows. Goes well with idea #1.

2. Calculator/Gameboy

Finishing notes ahead of time, but left with nothing to do? Tape a Gameboy to the opposite side of a calculator, and play it during your long periods of free time. If a teacher becomes suspicious, quickly do a math problem with the calculator side of the device.

1. Be a Ninja!
If you are really bored withschool, you could put super strong duct tape on your hands and scale the walls of your school. Great for those who always wanted to be Spiderman, wanted to see things from a new perspective, wanted to avoid hall traffic, and just those who think it’s neat to freak out people doing stuff like this.

Confilict in Iraq
By Carolyn Latta

Lately, people across America have been pondering the thought that the United States might go to war with Saddam Hussein. That is a frightening thought, since our ally and oil supplier is just below Iraq. General Al-Khazraji, one of the thousands of Iraqi refugees in Europe, says that our military can easily overthrow Saddam. Currently in Iraq, the inspectors continue their search for weapons of mass destruction. They have found empty warheads that may have contained chemical and biological weapons. Every day they search old weapon factories to try to find any one clue to an illegal weapon.
In the US, people are stocking up on duck tape and plastic sheeting, as well as numerous other things the news has been recommending. Many people have reacted to possible threat of war. A few weeks ago, 25 people who didn’t want war with Iraq flew into Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, to protest war. The people claim that if the US strikes Iraq, they are killing fellow Americans.
Most recently, diplomatic relations have continued. Various member countries on the United Nations Security Council are offering possible resolutions in the hope of avoiding war.
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Oh, The Pleasures of Being President
By Meghana Kashyap

? George Washington and James Madison signed the Constitution.
? John Adams, Herbert Hoover, and Ronald Reagan lived past the age of 90.
? John Adams was the first president to live in the White House.
? Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe died on the Fourth of July
? John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and George W. Bush were the four elected presidents whose closest opponent received more popular votes.
? John Quincy Adams (son of John Adams) and George W. Bush (son of George H.W. Bush) were sons of former presidents that became presidents themselves. They are both the same names as their fathers except for the middle names.
? Martin Van Buren was the first president to suffer through a recession.
? William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison were the only grandfather and grandson who both served as president.
? William Henry Harrison served the shortest term in office-one month.
? William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren Harding, and Franklin D. Roosevelt died in office.
? John Tyler had 15 children, the most a president has had.
? John Tyler was the first president born after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
? James Polk was the only president who had served as speaker of the House.
? Millard Fillmore helped finance the invention of the telegraph.
? Franklin Pierce was arrested for running over a woman while driving his carriage in Washington, DC; the charges were later dropped.
? James Buchanan never married.
? Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy were assassinated.
? Andrew Johnson was 18 and his wife was 16 when they married.
? Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for speeding while driving a horse and buggy in Washington, DC. He had to pay a fine of $20.00 and walk back to the White House.
? James A. Garfield was the last of seven presidents born in a log cabin, he weighed 10 pounds at birth.
? Chester A. Arthur was nicknamed "Elegant Arthur," because at one time he owned 80 pairs of trousers and changed clothes several times a day.
? Grover Cleveland was the only president who had a child born in the White House.
? Grover Cleveland was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
? Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to visit a foreign country while in office.
? William Howard Taft and John Fitzgerald Kennedy are buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.
? William Howard Taft was the only person to serve as both president and chief justice.
? Woodrow Wilson held the first regular presidential press conferences.
? Woodrow Wilson was the first president to speak on a radio.
? Warren G. Harding was the first president to own a radio.
? Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover were the only presidents to be sworn into office by a former president.
? Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president to speak on television.
? Franklin Delano Roosevelt served the longest term in office-12 years, one month, and eight days.
? John F. Kennedy was the youngest person ever elected president-43.
? John F. Kennedy had the shortest lifetime out of all the presidents-46 years.
? Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office on an airplane.
? A woman swore Lyndon B. Johnson into office.
? Richard Nixon was the only president to resign.
? Richard Nixon was the only former vice president who became president but didn’t succeed the president under whom he served.
? Gerald R. Ford was the only president who didn’t win the election to either the office of vice president or the office of president.
? Jimmy Carter was the first president born in a hospital.
? Ronald Reagan received the greatest amount of electoral votes.
? Ronald Reagan was the oldest person ever elected president-73 years and 274 days when he was elected to his second term.
? Bill Clinton was in high school when he shook hands with President John F. Kennedy in the Rose Garden; his nickname as a child growing up in Arkansas was Bubba.

Magic Has a New Knack — Harry Potter Is Back!
By Meghana Kashyap

“The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a silence lay over the larger, square houses of Privet Drive… The only person left outside was a teenage boy who was laying flat on his back in a flowerbed outside number four.” Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Well, this is the beginning of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the newest book in the magical Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Not only is this the fifth book in the novel series where Harry is fifteen and in his fifth year of schooling, but it is also the seventh Harry Potter book released (if you include two “school books”). The book has 38 chapters, is 768 pages long, over 225,000 words are in it, and it is one-third longer than Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the previous book in the series. It is to be released on June 21st, 2003, in the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia.
This book is on such high demand that it was the best selling novel the day it was released for preorder. It is already on Amazon.com’s bestseller list. One fan was so impatient and couldn’t wait for the book to be released, that they paid $45,000 for a 93-word clue sheet on what happens in the story. With this much enthusiasm, you probably don’t want to miss your chance to read this book!
“ Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. ‘It is time,’ he said ‘for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.” These are the only other excerpted words that were revealed. But even with this much unveiled, fans keep guessing what will happen. Some of those hypotheses include:
? Phoenix could refer to Albus Dumbledore’s pet, Fawkes, whose tail feathers are in the wands of Harry and Voldemort.

? Harry is beginning his fifth year at Hogwarts and the events will most likely take place between July 31, 1995, and the end of June of 1996.

? At least one of Harry’s classmates will become a Prefect,

? Oliver Wood (Quidditch team captain and Keeper, kind of like a goalie) has left school; so new players will be needed. The question of who will be Keeper and team captain, should be answered.

? Hermione will become a Prefect.

? Lily Potter will have some connection with Voldemort... his daughter?

? The book will talk about the protection placed on the Dursleys’ house, that keep Voldemort’s followers from harming Harry while he’s there.

? The “Order of the Phoenix” is a society that Dumbledore forms to defy Voldemort.

? Sirius Black (Harry’s godfather)will be proven not guilty for a previous offense.

? Hagrid will become serious with Madame Maxine.

? Hermione will visit Viktor Krum in Bulgaria.

The author, J.K Rowling, has given some preview points about the book. "In book five, we go into a whole new area, physically, an area you've never seen before, a magical world," she said. "In book five (Harry) has to examine exactly what death means, in even closer ways," she also said. The following are what she has stated about book five:

? Book five will be scary.
? More boy/girl matters will be included.
? Why Voldemort killed Harry’s parents will be revealed.
? Ginny Weasley will play a more important role in the story.
? There will be a female Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
? The readers will learn a few new things about the Dursleys
? The novel’s fans will learn more about Mrs. Figg.
? One of the main characters die; she refers to them as Harry’s “fan.”

This exciting new book is coming soon to bookstores across the globe. It will be the biggest topic of discussion for a few days after it has been released. If you haven’t read the previous books and want to be able to talk about this book, time is running out! Read the number one best seller and know what everyone else will know.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
By Haley Hatter

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a play about a girl that is beautiful. Her father, King Absentminded, meets Queen Bella and decided to marry her. King Absentminded is rather, well, absent minded. Queen Bella is a snobby lady who thinks beauty is everything. Snow White is a beautiful and kind girl. As the years go by Snow White’s father forgets about her because Queen Bella doesn’t like her. Snow White meets Prince Goodhearted many times in the woods while he is trying to get home, he always gets lost. Prince Goodhearted has, you guessed it, a good heart.
Snow White runs away into the Black Forest and finds a cute little cottage where there are seven of every thing. She later finds out that seven dwarfs live there. These dwarfs are Hicory, Dicory, Dock, Weepy, Curly, Echo Echo, and Lil Banjo. I know what you’re thinking, these aren’t their names, but they are. This is Snow White as told by the Brothers Grimm. The Brothers Grimm are the people who originally wrote Snow White.
Snow White has a good time with the dwarfs, until the queen tries to put her into a deep sleep. Then Prince Absentminded comes by, lost as usual, and saves her. This story has a happy ending.
A few of the actors/actresses that had main roles were Peter Jensen (King), Aly Carstens (Snow White), Taria Abram (Queen), Burke Bourne (Mirror), and Adam Rowings (Time). The dwarfs were played by Sara Lechowicz (Hickory), Jaia Johnson (Dicory), Taryn Wood (Dock), Brian Welch (Weepy), Joe Selzle (Curly), Tyler Fry (Echo Echo), and Katie Bounds (Lil Banjo). There were also many people that helped with the scenery and other things.
I interviewed Mrs. Fisher about this play and she had a lot to say. First of all, she picked the play because she wanted a play that would appeal to people. There were over 30 parts in it, and this means more kids get to be in the play! She also thought the play was a wonderful experience. How many times do you get to work with over 50 talented teenagers?
Mrs. Fisher said that one of the coolest things that happened in a practice was this: One night most of the cast was feeling energetic, so they did a song from Stomp. Stomp is a play that has no words. The actors/actresses basically just hit things and make noises to tell a story.
Mrs. Fisher told me if she got to be in it she would be a tree because the don’t have a very defined part in the script so she could add a lot of her own ideas to it. She also said that her favorite scene in the play was when the queen realizes that she should be nice and that beauty doesn’t matter as much as being nice.
She has directed 13 different plays at Millard North. They include The Hobbit, MASH, Pride and Prejudice, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mrs. Fisher would like to let everyone that will be going to Millard North know that there is a place for everyone in the drama department whether it’s lighting, painting, or acting she hopes you will think about getting involved.
The next Millard North play will be Anne Frank and Me. It will be preformed on April 11, 12, and 13.

Ask Miss Know-It-All
By Dani Vetter

Dear Missknowitall,
I am having trouble with my friends. Two of my best friends are in a fight and I can’t stand it. One friend says bad stuff about the other and then diode. What should I do? Should I get involved or stay clear? I love them both very much and don’t want to hurt either of their feelings.
Stuck in the Middle

Dear Stuck in the Middle,
My advice to you would be stay out of it. They’re like flames that will eventually burn out. Trust me, I know from experience. Two of my friends were fighting, but I stayed out of it and everything got better.
Missknowitall

Dear Missknowitall,
I am in eight grade and am not sure what classes to take in high school. My parents want me to take one thing, but I want another. I want to have fun and still have all my credits for college. For my parents there is no fun. I don’t want to tell them that I don’t want to take those classes because it will hurt their feeling. If I don’t tell them I won’t have fun at all.
Classes Confused

Dear Classes Confused,
My tip to you would be take all the classes that you want and tell your parents to back off, in a nice way. Just simply tell them that you would like to take your choice of classes. High school is for you, not them. They already went now it’s your turn to have fun.
Missknowitall

Dear Missknowitall,
My grades are slipping and I am not doing my homework like I should. I do try really hard but I am not getting enough sleep Instead of doing my homework, I sleep. I go to bed way too early. Even though I go to bed early I still find myself snoozing in some of my classes. Not on purpose though, I am so worn out.
Sleepy

Dear Sleepy,
I feel your pain completely, lately I have been sleeping a lot, too. I also need to get on top of things. In order to do that I just plan a day when I can do all of my homework or any makeup work. I start right when I get home and don’t stop until everything is finished. I usually don’t have that much to do, so I am able to go to bed early, so I won’t fall asleep in class.
Missknowitall

MNHS+KMS+MNMS= Great Concert!
By Amanda Schlender

On January 28, two Millard middle schools (Kiewit and North Middle) teamed up with Millard North High School to put on a great musical show of the bands. The three bands were directed by Mr. Sheppard (of the high school), Mrs. Jenkins (of MNMS), and our very own Mr. Switzer. The performance took place in Millard North High School’s auditorium around 7:00 p.m.
The concert started off with the MNMS band as they played the songs El Capitan by John P. Sousa and South of the Border arranged by Richard Saucedo. I thought that the songs were not that exciting, but they did a great job. Then came Kiewit’s band. We played A Song of Hope by James Swearingen and Pevensy Castle by Robert Sheldon. Our playing was outstanding and I think many of the band kids actually liked these songs.
We left the stage to make room for the best band of them all, Millard North High School Symphonic Band. They played the song Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo, by Malcolm Arnold, which consisted of three short songs. Then the student director, Mr. Brian Erickson, directed the song Washington Greys by Claudio Grafulla. The high school band was very good; they had a very good tone quality and listened to each other to match pitches and dynamics.
For the grand finale directed by Mr. Sheppard, all of the bands sat together on the auditorium stage and played Simple Gifts arranged by Andrew Balent and The Great Locomotive Chase by Robert W. Smith. I liked The Great Locomotive Chase the most because it sounded like a train with the snare drums and the flutes well.
I think the parents of all the schools enjoyed it. If you went, I am sure you will agree that it was a great show.

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
By Taylor Olberding

The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers is the sequel to the first movie, Fellowship of the Ring. In this movie, there are three things going on at once. I think if you want to understand it clearly, you should see the first movie before you see this one.
The main story is about Frodo and Sam. They are trying to reach Mordor to destroy the ring. Along the way, they meet Gollum, who once had the ring. They keep him and continue on.
The next main event is with Gimbly, Legolas and Aragon. They try to catch up to a big city. There they warn them that there is going to be a war. They help move the town into an old and protected town.
The last event is with Meriadoc and Peregrin, who were captured in the first movie. They escape and run into a forest where the trees are living. They join the trees as they take them to their destination.
The movie was a little confusing since there were three things going on at once. The graphics were good and the story line wasn’t slow. All in all, I think the movie was awesome.

Wrestlers Post Respectable Season
By Allison “Orca” Woolcott and Sarah Zingerman

The Kiewit wrestlers had an exciting season this year. The team record was four wins and four losses in dual competitions. Mr. Daubert coached with assistance from Mr. Snow who teaches at Millard North High School. The team had forty-five members this year.
Each person wrestles for three one-minute periods. There were seven varsity first-year wrestlers; Jerrell Foster, Chris Bahr, Walter Reed, Mike Osborn, Ken Schaffart, Brian Newton, and Brian Thorson. There were four All City Meet top finishers; they were Nick Meneely, 2nd place; Austin Williams, 3rd place; Brian Newton, 4th place; Jerrell Foster, 4th Place and Brian Thorson, 4th place.
The goals for the season were for the wrestlers to improve everyday in their wrestling and in life. Mr. Daubert shared his thoughts about Kiewit wrestling next year, “We look to be an outstanding team next year with many experienced wrestlers coming back for 2004.” Special thanks to the Kiewit wrestling managers: Andrea Halpenny, Jessica McQuillan, Kirsten Verplank, Kelsey Lepp, Rachel Oasan, Whitney Shada. Great job to all the participants and coaches!

Our Champions: Boys’ Basketball Wins It All
By Lizzie Buell, Erika Larkin, and Sarah Sparks

In our last article, you read about the goal of the boys’ basketball team: to win the Millard District title. Well, our eighth grade guys did just that. The Kiewit Colts won against the Central Cyclones in an exciting and gut-wrenching championship game.
The game was a close one. It was one of those games where every play was watched closely by those in the stands. On one side, the students of Central made a massive sea of red with their taunts and cheers. On the other side sat the Kiewit parents, teachers, and about ten eighth grade girls cheering for their champs. (Girls, you know who you are!) When it seemed like the Cyclones were sure to defeat our Colts, the girls and some of the anxious moms stepped in and screamed their hearts out for the guys.
Their strategy seemed to work. It is true; any Kiewit crowd can lead the pack in cheering! The ten girls sounded like ten hundred! Way to keep the boys pumped up, Ladies!! Not only did the cheers help the gentlemen, but also Coach Drummond’s amazing spunk in the huddle relaxed the guys and allowed them to play to their fullest extent.
The boys’ hard work and determination at practice paid off. The Colts defeated the Cyclones in the championship game like the true and amazing athletes that they all are. We want to give a special thank you to all the coaches, managers, fans, and especially the players for making the eighth grade basketball season a fun and thrilling one. Congratulations, Boys…we are so proud of you! Long live the Colts!!

Talent?!
By Elsie Cook

Is Peter Kiewit a school full of talent? We will find out soon enough. On April 4, sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will come together, in the big gym for the talent show. We will gladly give our attention to the performers, no matter what their act is. Just mustering up enough courage to be in front of the entire school shows a world of talent.
There are many symptoms of stage fright, coming in many levels of severity. For example, one might experience “jell-o of the legs”, or “tremor of the hands”, or worst of all a case of “forgetting your act.” It is completely normal to feel your breakfast doing cartwheels in your stomach before you go on stage. Be warned; it is not wise to gobble down several servings of cereal if you are planning on performing that day.
Excitement will slowly start to build up as the big day draws near until the day of the talent show arrives. We will probably see beautiful singers and marvelous dancers, and a plethora of other talent filled students.
Whatever we see, I think it is safe to say that there is unknown talent swimming around in the people we pass in the halls everyday, and that talent is just waiting for a chance to come out. So if you are planning on performing, good luck to you! And if you are planning on being on the sidelines, enjoy the show!

Lady Colt Basketball
By Reid DeSpiegelaere

Lady Colt basketball has started a new season with a lot of talent. With help from coaches Z and Bee, the lady A/B team will hopefully bring home a trophy at the end of the season.
So far, the girls on the team have played Central, Andersen, and Beadle Middle Schools. While playing their opponent at Central, the Colts A and B teams defeated the Wolverines. They played very well. The Lady Colt A team came out with a devastating loss to Anderson Middle School. Kiewit’s B team brought home a victory.
At Beadle Middle School, the ladies’ talent was too much for the Bulldogs. Kiewit won the A game, as well as the B game. All games were played very well and let’s just hope that the competitors to come are ready for these Kiewit teams.
Yes, these ladies are very good, but will we see even more wins with larger margins of victory? I talked to Erin Abramson; a member of the Lady Colt A/B team, about how she thinks the team can improve. She replied, “We could all work more as a team and always give it 100%, but I think we have been doing good so far, yet we could always get better.” Erin obviously thinks highly of her team, but no matter how good they are, they can always get better.
Now, everybody knows that the team could not have gotten as far as they have without the proper coaching. In an interview with one of the Lady Colt coaches, Ms. Z, told me, “The girls are growing as a team.” It’s a good thing that the team is progressing as they move on. This growth is a good thing to have on any team.
It is early in the season, and there are a lot of games left to play. The Kiewit Lady Colt basketball team has a very busy schedule throughout February and March. Their opponents include: Council Bluffs, Westside Middle, Russell, and many more. If the girls keep up the good work, then by the end of all the games and tournaments, our trophy box, here at Kiewit, will be bound to house a nice, new trophy.

NBA Update
By Daniel Hoppen

Players to Watch

Yao Ming, Center, Houston Rockets

Yao was the number one pick in the 2002 NBA draft. He had no American basketball experience because he played in China, where he was a superstar. Now he’s in the NBA, and he’s picking up from where he left off in China. He’s averaging thirteen points and eight rebounds a game, both great stats for a rookie.

Dirk Nowitzki, Power Forward, Dallas Mavericks

Dirk was always an above average player, but last year he became more than that. He became a superstar, and he hasn’t stopped his unbelievable play this year. He is averaging 22.9 points and nine rebounds a game.

Tracy McGrady, Shooting Guard, Orlando Magic

Tracy was a bench warmer for the Raptors a few years ago. But he was traded to the Orlando Magic, and he stepped up and is now considered one of the best in the league. He led the All Eastern Conference starters in votes received (he had 1,316,297 votes) for the 2003 NBA All Star Game. This season he is averaging 30.2 points per game. Not bad for a guy who didn’t even go to college.

Kevin Garnett, Power Forward, Minnesota Timberwolves

Garnett, like McGrady, skipped college and was drafted straight out of high school. But he had to be a star right away because he was drafted by the lowly Timberwolves. Garnett has pretty much played without help, excluding Wally Szerbiak. Garnett has been a superstar and was the MVP of the All Star Game.

Teams to Watch

Sacramento Kings

The Kings are the NBA’s best team. Why? Because they have superstars like Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, and Peja Stoyacovich, and they have talented players like Vlade Divac and Doug Christie to compliment them. Any bench that has guys like Keon Clark, Bobby Jackson, Scot Pollard, and Lawrence Funderburke is amazingly good.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons don’t have a whole lot of flashy stars, but they’ve proven they don’t need them to win. Center Ben Wallace won’t score a whole lot of points, but he’s a ferocious rebounder and shot blocker. He was the Defensive Player of the Year last season. Guard Richard Hamilton scores twenty points per game. The rest of the team includes a bunch of good players who have gelled to make a great team.

New Jersey Nets

The Nets made it to the NBA Finals last year, but then they were swept by the Lakers. This year, they want revenge. Point guard Jason Kidd can score and dish out assists. Kenyon Martin and Dikembe Mutombo rebound like crazy, and Kerry Kittles and Richard Jefferson can score. The Nets have a very good chance of making it back to the Finals, but this time, they want to win it.

Kiewit Krew
By Stephanie Davidson

Have you ever been to a Kiewit concert? For those of you lucky people who have (assuming you paid attention), have you ever noticed the other groups that sing besides the regular music class? You were most likely listening to (and watching) Kiewit Krew (Krew for short), one of the two Kiewit swing choirs. It may seem easy to you. It’s just singing and dancing -- nothing to it, right? Well, according to actual swing choir members, there is a lot more to it than you might think.
Krew meets three mornings a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. During that time, the choir learns, memorizes, and perfects music. “We learn a lot of technique,” says Brittany Janning. “I can sing higher now than I could before Krew.” Once the music is learned, they move right on in to choreography. “One of the best parts of Krew is definitely choreography, assuming we learn the music fast enough.” Mikaela Zielke said.
As soon as they learn their music and dances, Krew prepares to perform. “Performing is the best!” Janning says, “It is worth all the time and effort for the performances.” Krew has been known to perform at approximately 3 Kiewit concerts a year, and has also been seen at places like Super Target and The Rose Blumpkin Home.
In addition to regular performances Krew also goes on an annual tour to elementary schools. They stop and sing for two schools. “Tour is so much fun! Definitely the best part of Krew.” Amy Schwied said. Recently Kiewit Krew also preformed a song with the Millard North swing choirs. It was a great experience.
Everyone in Kiewit Krew would probably have a different favorite thing, but they all agree that Krew is fun and completely worth the early mornings. For those sixth and seventh graders who enjoy singing and dancing, look for audition information in the music area.

Student Council Takes the Lead
By Samantha Evans

Student Council does more than plan all of your favorite spirit days; they represent the voice and ideas of the learning community. They promote a communication between the students and the educators. This organization encourages leadership and qualities for tomorrow. Student Council does many things for our school, like planning and supporting the dances, inspiring better scholarship within the school. We would be lost without this fine association.
There are over sixty kids in Student Council. Ms. Godsey is the full throttle leader with the help of the elected officers: President: Kramer Martin, Vice-President, J.R. Rehmann, and recorder, Abby Jacobberger. The group meets once a month on the first Wednesday for about twenty-five minutes to discuss the upcoming issues or topics. Usually, the president leads the group discussions with Ms. Godsey. “If people come up with ideas that are plausible and do-able, I will present it to Mr. Koch,” says Ms. Godsey.
Student Council often vote on what spirit days to do for the month or additions for the school. Did you know that all the shelves in the restrooms were provided by student council? Yes, Student Council also provides the food for the teachers during conferences, sponsors the food drive, and countless other activities.
Our school would not be as outgoing as it is if there was no Student Council to endorse the extracurricular activities. There wouldn’t be any dances or spirit days. Think of all the people that would go hungry if the Student Council food drive never happened.
If you would like to be in Student Council throughout 2003-2004 school year, all you would have to do is fill out a form stating that you are responsible and why. I highly recommend it if you want to make a difference in our school.

Fun and Creativity in Snack and Stitch
By Nicole Staton and Norah Jones

What club is fun, not too hard, and delicious? Snack and Stitch, of course! Snack and Stitch is a club where you get to make snacks and crafts. This club helps us be more creative, and teaches us how to make simple snacks. It helps during baby-sitting little kids or just while you’re sitting at home. Members of the club like it because it’s fun and never too hard. The instructors, Mrs. Haney and Mrs. Corbitt, help make the crafts interesting. They also give guidance during the project so you’re not completely alone and never lost.
Before Winter Break, the club made snowmen out of your normal white socks, rubber bands, and beans. Before Valentine’s Day they made hearts out of fabric and then sewed them on lace. The snacks usually consist of everything people like to eat, like chocolate, marshmallows, sugar, peanut butter, and more. The snacks aren’t confusing to make and taste excellent. Sign up when the next chance arrives, you won’t regret it!

Free Spirits
By Sarah Zingerman

Do you love to sing? Do you want to perform in front of a mass of people? Do you want to do all this and still have fun hanging out with your friends? Then Free Spirits might be the thing for you.
Free Spirits is an all-girl swing choir that meets every week on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. They sing a variety of music from slow ballads to fast paced dance songs. Free Spirits performs at many school concerts and was recently preparing to sing at a concert with the high school swing choir. This concert took place at Millard North High School on Tuesday, February 18th.
I interviewed a member of Free Spirits a few days ago. Maura Cornell was lucky enough to be questioned. “I like Free Spirits because you get to be with your friends and sing. I would recommend it to all those young sixth graders who like to sing to join and have their friends join with them.”
Free Spirits is run by Mrs. Armitage and is available to all seventh and eighth grade girls. Tryouts for this group are held sometime in the spring for all those interested. Hope to see you there!

We’ve Got Spirit How About You?
By Amy Jia and Sidra Akhter

Spirit days are the days of the year when a regular day suddenly becomes imaginative and original. We decided to find out which spirit days at Kiewit Middle School were the most popular. We asked students which of the following spirit days have intrigued them the most: Hat Day, Pajama Day, Wacky Hair Day, Sports Day, Clash Day, Mustang Day, or Twin Day. In sixth grade, Pajama Day and Wacky Hair Day tied, obtaining nineteen votes each. Next, the sixth graders liked Clash Day, which received eleven votes. Winning the popular vote was Twin Day, with ten votes. Hat Day with seven, Sports Day with six, and Mustang Day trailing behind with zero, were the final, most liked spirit days, in sixth grade.
The seventh graders had a few different opinions about which spirit days were the best. They liked Wacky Hair Day just as much as the sixth graders, so they gave it nineteen votes, yet they preferred Pajama Day a little less, with fifteen votes. Also, in seventh grade, Hat Day and Sports Day tied lagging behind with four, leaving Clash Day with three, Twin Day with two, and Mustang Day with one.
Many of the eighth graders were thinking similarly because twenty-six people liked Pajama Day the best. Only eight eighth graders, polled, liked Wacky Hair Day, but five liked Hat Day, and just two voted for Mustang Day and Twin Day. We totaled the numbers to get a result for all three grades. Pajama Day came in with a huge number of sixty. Even Wacky Hair Day couldn’t catch up with forty-six votes. Following sadly with sixteen was, Hat Day, tied with fourteen was Clash Day and Twin Day, Sports Day received ten, and lastly Mustang Day brought three.
Next we asked them, "If you could add a spirit day, what would it be and what would you do?" and "What do you like or dislike about spirit day?" Ms. O’Doherty’s class came up with Color Day. People would choose a color and try to wear as much of that color as you can. They didn’t like the fact that you can’t dye your hair. Mr. Pilkington’s class said that there should be a day where teachers dressed like students and students dressed like teachers. Ms. Davis’s class thought that we should combine everything and do an Everything Day where you do all the things at once. They liked it because you can express yourself. Mrs. Fierstein’s group came up with many creative spirit days like Favorite Literary Character Day, Zoo Day, and Celebrity Day, but a downside to spirit days were that there’s not enough participation. Finally, Mr. Kucera’s class said that we should do a Movie Day, Kids Teach Day, and Dye Your Hair Day. Their class said that on spirit days, it is less strict, but while having fun you still had to be in class. All in all, spirit days are very fun, while finding more than one way to express yourself.

Increased Pressure on Kids Has Benefits?
By Val Reeves

These days, many students are feeling a lot of pressure that can all be traced back to school. It seems as if grades are so important that they would kill for an A. Students feel that their backpacks weigh 100 pounds and that their homework pile never ends. Can you relate?
Speaking as an eighth grade student, I can’t imagine having a night without at least one hour of homework. Many adults have mentioned to me that they didn’t even have that amount of homework when they were sophomores. Even when a person looks at the types of classes offered now, you see lots of new changes. Most parents wouldn’t even think about taking Calculus until they were in college, but now, it’s offered as a high school course. On the flip side, as students of this generation, we are presented with a lot more opportunities. We can take Spanish, German, French, or even Latin, if we want. Schools, like Millard North High, offer lots of different classes to fit anyone’s personality. Personally, I think that’s a great thing.
All in all, kids now have a lot of pressure being put on them, but it’s worth it. If you try hard you’ll be rewarded, so keep working hard in school.
Whodunit?!?

Kiewit held its Second Annual Mystery Theater, “Death Stinks,” a play set in the 1940’s which is also performed on the Fremont Dinner Train. The mystery theater was performed by Class Act Productions, an acting troupe which includes teachers and students from Ralston High School. About 70 seventh graders participated. They diligently asked questions of all of the suspects to try to determine who the murderer was. It was a fun, and thought-provoking activity for all involved.
Colt Connection Staff

Contributing Writers for this issue include: Aunum Akhter, Sidra Akhter, Emily Bennett, Lizzie Buell, Brett Byman, Elsie Cook, Stephanie Davidson, Reid Despiegelaere, Samantha Evans, Kim Fortson, Richard Gude, Evan Halpain, Haley Hatter, Daniel Hoppen, Meghana Kayshap, Norah Jones, Erika Larkin, Carolyn Latta, Adam Moseman, Amy Jia, Craig Mathis, Taylor Olberding,Val Reeves, Amanda Schlender,Emily Schlichting, Whitney Shada, Sarah Sparks, Nicole Staton, Dani Vetter, Allison Woolcott, Sarah Zingerman,

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Edited on: Friday, April 11, 2003 8:00 AM
Web Comments to: John Carroll 
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