The Hoofprint - Issue 1 - October 27, 2011

The choir room teemed with nervous-looking students before auditions for the fall musical, “Once Upon A Mattress,” began. The auditions, which were held after school on the 20th and 21st of September, consisted of three parts: a small dance number observed by Choreographer Debra Bestland, script-reading in front of Theatre Director Tracy Hagstrom-Durant, and singing a solo for Music Director Michael Walsh.

“The audition was nerve-wracking, but also weirdly assuring,” said Sophomore Mickey Capps. “I knew that most of the bigger parts were going to go to the older kids, so since I’m just a sophomore, I didn’t have to worry too much. As with any audition, I was nervous, but I had fun during it.”

Auditions spanned two afternoons after school before the callback list was posted on the 22nd. A callback is an extra opportunity for all three directors to observe only the students that they are considering for large roles. The complete cast list was released early in the morning of the 23rd to some mixed reactions.

“After I found out that I was Lady Larken, I was completely psyched but also really surprised,” said Senior Kaelie Lund. “I know that there are people who could do a far better job at it than I could.”

Lady Larken and her love interest, Sir Harry, are two of the main roles in the musical. Sir Harry will be played by Senior Charlie Aldrich.

“When I found out that I was Sir Harry, I was excited because it’s one of the bigger roles. But I wasn’t expecting it,” said Aldrich. “ I see it as a challenge because the character is not like me at all.”

Even though not every student who auditioned got the part they wanted, or got a role at all, students can learn from the experience and gain confidence in themselves for future auditions. A level of disappointment may exist, but in the end, dwelling upon it isn’t worth it.

“You always feel disappointed when you don’t get the part you want,” said Senior Andrew Jacobsen. “You just gotta try not to think about it and focus on the part you did get.”

“All personal achievement starts in the mind of the individual.” said Philanthropist W. Clement Stone (1902-2002). With achievement comes reward, and Social Studies Teacher Tracy Hulley’s reward for years of hard work in our school came in the form of the Leadership in Educational Excellence Award (LEEA).

“When [Principal] Mark Mischke first came to talk to me about the award, I thought someone else in our department had won it.” Hulley said.

However, the opposite had occurred. Hulley was nominated by her colleagues, who took into consideration what she has done for our school inside and outside of the classroom. Hulley teaches American History and World Studies and is the advisor of Students Stepping Up (SSU) here at BHS.

“I was so surprised and so honored,” Hulley said, “I was not expecting something like this.”

The LEEA is given out yearly to one teacher from each school district in the central Minnesota region. Hulley will receive the award on October 26th at a dinner held in St. Cloud. She will be honored alongside other outstanding teachers in the area. BHS has had many teachers win the LEEA in past years.

State parks: closed. Drivers tests: Forget it. Vehicle registration and license bureaus did not operate. The Minnesota Zoo closed down to visitors. Road construction was halted on state highways. Highway rest areas closed their doors, inconveniencing many weary road travelers.

Welcome to the Minnesota State government shutdown of 2011.

T h e

The shutdown that began on June 30th was intended to help government officials come to an agreement on how to eliminate a $5 billion deficit from the budget. The Republican majority Congress and Democratic governor Mark Dayton could not come to an agreement on how to solve the crisis; Dayton wanted to impose heavier taxes on Minnesota’s richest while Republicans called for deep cuts in the state budget. Dayton eventually agreed to a temporary state- wide shutdown of all “non-essential” government programs while Congress met almost continuously.

After 20 days of senatorial debate, a method to stitch the budget gap closed was decided upon. Approximately $700 million worth of cuts were taken from state tobacco bonds. An additional $700 million was drawn from K-12 education funds, meaning big changes up ahead for public schools.

Less than a decade ago, Minnesota schools were funded at a ratio of 90:10, which means that in a year, the schools would receive 90% of their designated funding within that year and the other 10% would be paid the following year. They employ this method because the amount of money that schools need is determined by enrollment numbers, which vary from year to year. Post-shutdown, however, the ratio has dipped to 60:40. Funding shifts are an easy way for the state to withhold some money while technically not cutting anything from the budget.

Not all members of Congress were happy with this decision.

“I abhor it. They wear pennies on their lapels, the Republicans in the state house,” Mindy Greiling, the leading Democrat in the House education finance committee, said in a July interview with Huffington Post. “They will not think of raising any revenue. With no end in sight, I question if the deferred money is ever going to be paid back.”

As a public school district, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose will not be immune to financial changes. How extreme those alterations will be remains to be seen in years down the road, but for now, our district seems to be holding steady.

“Luckily we have budgeted for this,” District Director of Finance Gary Kawlewski said. “I believe that the district will be able to run the same programs this upcoming

school

year.”

Short term effects of

the budget issue are mostly going to be problems with the flow of cash rather than resorting to program reduction. In the years to come, however, the district financial offices will have to start facing the challenge of what programs to continue supporting. Imagine that you are planning an outing this weekend that will cost you $50. But, alas and alack! You only have $30 cash. You could either decide to do something that only costs $30, or you could dip into your savings account for an additional $20. Our district will have to to make similar choices in upcoming years, albeit on a larger scale. Our schools do have savings in the bank; however, when you are spending more on something than you are receiving money, choices must be made. “Programs like activities, course offerings, and buses are a a pretty significant portion of where our funding goes. If the state funding for education doesn’t improve, we’ll have to go through a comprehensive list of all the programs our district offers and decide which ones we can cut without impacting our students too much,” Kawlewski said.

In the past, our district has cut programs such as activity buses, exploratories, a few teaching positions, and activities such as drumline, lacrosse, and boys swim & dive. It’s unknown right now which programs could be cut in the future, but one thing that BHS students are concerned about is potentially losing the block schedule.

“I’ve worked in several school districts that operate on a block schedule,” Kawlewski said. “It’s true that they do cost more to operate than traditional schedules, but certainly not all of our cuts would come from that.” Losing the block is one option for cutting funds. However, it would definitely not happen until at least the 2013-2014 school year, if at all. The determining factor in all of this is, of course, the state budget. If statewide funding for schools does not change after the next biennial budget (a review that occurs every two years), Buffalo High School as we know it could drastically change.

[What I remember from 9/11] is putting some of my toys in a bag and giving them to my dad late at night, as he left to go to ground zero. I thought he was going on vacation or something.” said Junior Thomas Clarke

Firefighter Tom Clarke was in Minnesota talking to his mother in New York City when the buildings collapsed. At that point the phone went dead.

“My first reaction was the buildings were indeed going to collapse, and as a native New Yorker and previous FDNY fire fighter, I would be going to help pick up the pieces. I honestly did not know if I would return,” said Clarke.

Clarke’s role was that of a rescue worker, moving in and out of spaces within the molten steel, searching and praying for the possibility of a live rescue. The hardest thing for him was recovery of human remains.

“They would be wrapped in flags sometimes only the size of a Christmas gift,” Clarke said.

He also slept in the same building that housed the morgue.

“I can think of the smell and am instantly there,” said Clarke.

When it came time to leave New York City it was hard, because Clarke felt that the job was not done. He believed that there was still a chance of survivors in the debris, but construction equipment was being used to clear them out.

“My most memorable experience was riding into Ground Zero on the fire truck,” said Clarke. “There were hundreds of people with signs that read ‘keep going’, ‘you can do it’, ‘we love you.’ They handed me cookies and water, cheering and clapping.”

Clarke, throughout his ordeal, met many memorable people. One who stood out was a nun that gave him a small cross. She later died of toxic complications, and in her memory, Clarke still has the small cross.

The site where the towers fell is now a memorial to those who lost their lives and the service members who risked theirs to save as many people as they could. The site has special meaning to Clarke and all the other servicemen.

“I think it is a great place to go in peace and enjoy a moment and reflect on the tragedy of that fateful September morning,” said Clarke. “And also the beauty that existed in the wake of such a tragedy by the coming together of so many men and women for a common cause. We were far from terrorized and have rebuilt and will do it again and again if need be.”

Imagine never having tasted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Imagine never stepping foot in the Mall of America. Imagine traveling to a foreign country at the age of 14, 15, or 16 years old and living with complete strangers for three weeks. This is the reality of 19 German students participating in the 2011-2012 German-American Partnership Program (GAPP).

This is the fifth exchange that German Teacher Michele Strassburg has participated in at Buffalo High School. One exchange happens every other year. On Thursday, September 29, BHS became home to German students visiting us from Altkönigschule in Frankfurt, Germany.

“Everything in America looks like it does in the movies. I thought that it would be different or that it wasn’t real, but it is. And everything is so big.” said German Exchange Student Denise Schmand. She is staying with BHS Junior Gabrielle Thompson, who had to make a few adjustments before Schmand arrived.

“I had been worried about having six people in our house and only one bathroom, but things have worked out really well so far. We haven’t really had any issues.” Thompson said.

Meanwhile, Strassburg and Spanish Teacher Jodeen Fitzgerald have been busy planning numerous activities for the Germans to take part in during their stay.

“I was very excited about all the trips we will take and the homecoming dance,” said German Exchange Student Melanie Johannig. Homecoming certainly gave the Germans a culture shock, but they are more excited than worried.

“I was a little bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to speak English very well,” Johannig said. The Germans have been studying English for six years, whereas the Americans participating in the exchange have been studying German for three.

“I was very nervous about my host family not being able to understand me. I was nervous about everything new, because new is scary.” said Schmand. With new surroundings also come new beginnings, and the American and German partners have begun to make new friendships.

“I’m most proud that it’s not just a tour-guided trip to Germany. It’s a huge amount of work to bring the German students here and to go visit them as well, but it’s a great cultural experience,” Strassburg said. Strassburg’s students participating in the exchange meet during SSR twice a week, and share the highs and lows of hosting someone new in their home.

“My biggest piece of advice to an American hosting a German is be flexible. There are going to be things they do that are different to you. Just remember that it’s only three weeks,” said Strassburg. “It’s an unbelievable experience for them.”

Q. How do you know when a gig is going really well or sucking? A. Well, the best for me to tell is if the members of the band are either inactive, tired, distracted, or pissed at one another--or if the place is completely empty. You can still have fun then, too, but it’s a heck of a lot easier when there’s people about. I remember this gig in Zimmerman and there were four people in this bar, two of which were the bartenders, and we all had such a good time. We call those nights “paid practice evenings.”

Q. Has there been a time you felt like you let down the band? A. The only time I really felt like I had let everybody down is when I had my first gig with them and I was still very wary of all the songs, and I must have messed up every single one. I went home that night and just felt terrible, but the next night we had an awesome gig and I felt better. I still feel like I let the band down when I screw up, but it’s at the point where I’m not the one who is screwing up the most.

Q. Ever a time when you were embarrassed? A. On stage? Not really, no. I remember a crowd member referred to me as Pat Benatar once, but I just got pissed. They were just joking and turned out to be a big fan of my drumming. You can’t be embarrassed by mistakes that you made, it’ll define your performance. The best thing to do is laugh and shrug it off; those sober enough will notice and laugh with you.

Q. What skills, or traits, have you gained since joining the band? A. Well I have become a much better drummer. Not trying to be egotistical or anything, but it’s true, I have become a better player. Definitely not the best, or a super great drummer, but I don’t suck so much anymore. I think I can also talk to people easier; it helps when you have the band to talk about. Sometimes I have a lot easier time talking to complete strangers rather than people I’ve known for a few years. These people will literally ask me questions on the band for hours! Plus, if I come off as jerk, chances are I’m never going to see them again.

Q. How have you grown as a person since you joined the band? A. I have grown phenomenally as a person. I have so much confidence now these days. I have no reservations about going in front of a crowd of people and making a fool of myself. On top of that, I feel a bit wiser. I know what people can be like out there from performing for them, how judgmental and so forth, as well as the fact that it’s impossible to be perfect and please everyone out there.

The air is thick with anticipation. The chatter of a thousand voices fills the air with a sense of heightened excitement. The minutes tick by, practically taunting the gawking crowd. As the sun reaches its highest point, and the warmth of so many bodies crammed so close it seems unbearable, a hush sweeps over the mass. With the first steps of the musicians onto that wide expanse of stage, the crowd’s excitement reaches its climax and deafening clapping reaches the ears of all those within miles. Welcome to the summer concert experience.

Many high school students enjoy listening to music on devices like iPods, Zunes, MP3 players, even CD or record players and so on; it’s a huge part of teen culture and media. However, some love to experience the atmosphere of a live concert as well as what’s been recorded.

“I personally like being able to see how a band’s music translates from the studio and into a live environment,” said Junior Sam Reed, “Concerts are especially enjoyable when the artist has a lot of stage presence and energy, and is able to get the crowd to interact and sing along.”

Seeing some of the bands they like is another experience that summer concert-goers love. For Junior Emi Wagner, Warped Tour was a chance to see some of her favorite artists, including Black Veil Brides.

“I didn’t really expect that seeing them come on stage would get me all excited but it did. Just to see them in person was amazing,” said Wagner. So, what’s the downside to outdoor concerts? “They’re hot, and you get sweaty and sunburnt.”

Warped Tour is a touring music festival that stops in various locations around the U.S. One stop this past summer was in Shakopee, MN. This festival involves a large variety of musical genres, including Rock, Metalcore, Post-hardcore, Electronic, Pop, Hip-hop, and Alternative just to name a few. Some of the headlining bands for 2011 were The Devil Wears Prada, Gym Class Heroes, Paramore, Attack Attack!, and 3OH!3, along with countless other groups.

For others, music concerts can have a deeper meaning than just empty lyrics.

Sophomore Hayley Downing, who saw the band Tenth Avenue North live at Sonshine Festival said, “Whenever they play you can tell the Holy Spirit is speaking through them. They have songs that are meaningful and they have a great message afterwards, too.”

Sonshine Festival is a Christian music event held annually in Willmar, MN. It took place this summer on July 14th-16th with a free show on the 13th. A large variety of musicians perform, but they all have a common thread: their faith. There’s everything from hip-hop artists, to rock bands, to more Pop style artists.

For others, concerts are a way to spend time with other fans of similar music.

“[At Warped Tour] everyone is nice and it’s like you have a group of potential friends, even though you only see them at shows,” Senior Caleb Ackerman said.

It’s this mutual commonality that brings many fans back year after year. Friendships generally start based on common interests, and music tends to be high on the list.

It seems many BHS students enjoyed summer music events, for one reason or another. Some go for the atmosphere, while others attend for the friendships. Still others go for the whole experience. In the end, the reasons for attending aren’t that different from reasons we do anything else that we enjoy. The experience can also be a memorable highlight to the summer. It’s a chance to be entertained, and as said by Wagner, “We live in Minnesota; you enjoy the summer while you can!”

Six foreign exchange students sat around a table at Applebee’s after a football game, discussing how difficult it is to make friends in a new country.

“It’s okay,” said Senior Emily Schmidt from Denmark. “It’s kind of hard because I don’t know who to talk to because there are so many different groups.”

For Senior Neils Olsen from Sweden, he didn’t hesitate when voicing his opinion.

“It’s so easy. Minnesota is like the state of stalkers,” he says, laughing. “On the first day, everyone started talking to me because I was foreign.”

This year, nine foreign exchange students walk the halls at BHS, all traveling from different parts of the world to experience the American high school life.

“It’s a lot of students in a small place,” said Senior Charlotte Botemans from Belgium. “I don’t think we have enough time. The blocks are too long. We need a break between each class.”

With eight minutes of passing time to get to their locker, then to rush to their next class, school can seem like an obstacle course. Being shoved and pushed, huge backpacks being tossed around, and seeing what seems like a million new faces can make eight minutes fly by.

“It was hectic. We have a different way of doing it in Denmark. We stay in the same classroom with 24 students and the teachers come to us,” said Schmidt. “Buffalo seemed so big and confusing. A lot of people in the same place at the same time. I was confused on where to go for my classes.”

Ceramics, Higher Algebra, English Grammar and Usage, and Human anatomy. That is Olsen’s busy schedule for the next quarter.

“Human Anatomy is my favorite class. It’s interesting and fun,” said Olsen. “I want to be a doctor someday, so that class really intrigues me. I hope to come back to the United States for college and live out here.”

For the nine foreign exchange students, not only are they trying to succeed in classes, they are having to learn the subject in a different language.

“Some teachers are very clear and talk slow, others not so much,” said Senior and French foreign exchange student Betty Lujan, who has been learning English since fifth grade. “Some are impossible for me. I had to switch one of my classes because I couldn’t understand.”

Depending on how long they have been studying English, it is easier for some to keep up at our pace of speaking.

“I have been learning English since I was in third grade,” said Schmidt. “It’s really easy to understand my teachers.”

Six foreign exchange students sat around a table at Applebee’s away from the crazy chaos of school, opening up about missing there families and how excited they are to bring back all the memories that they have made here at Buffalo High School.

When Senior Reycel Christianson stepped out of her home September 13, 2004 she would not return for the next six years. Christianson, and her brother and sister had been adopted through a parenting foundation and were being brought from the Philippines to the USA to live with their new adoptive family.

“It was exciting and scary,” Christianson said, “But it was easy to get used to America.”

Before being adopted, Christianson had not seen her parents for four years, and had spent a month living on her own.

“I wanted to be independent,” Christianson said, “We don’t have cars so I needed to learn to commute on my own. I learned how to get to work and which malls to go to so I could get everything I needed to provide for myself.”

It wasn’t until January of 2010 that Christianson would have an opportunity to go back and

visit her home country. She worked with the foundation that brought her to the US to help other Philippine kids get adopted.

“My adoptive dad wanted me to be involved and give back to the Philippines. We spent two weeks there and they went by very fast. It was overwhelming when I got there,” Christianson said, “I thought I’d fit right back in but I was to ‘Americanized’. [I was] rusty in the language but luckily it came back quickly.”

This first trip brought many revelations to Christianson on how much things have changed in her home country.

“One of the things I noticed most was that poverty seemed worse. I realized that we [my family] were the lucky ones,” Christianson said, “I also found out that my parents had passed away during the trip. We were able to find my mothers grave, but not my fathers.”

On her return trip this summer Christianson made it her mission to find her fathers grave and find out more about her family still living in the Philippines.

“During my stay I took a trip to Quezon City with one of the social workers to find out more about my dad. After asking around we were able to locate some of my fathers family members, and also his grave. I had already heard that he was dead, but I needed to see it,” Christianson said, “Afterwards we visited my dads old work, where my uncle also works. He gave me a cell phone number for for my mom’s family.”

After catching up with so much family Christianson is going to keep strong ties with those that make the Philippines home for her.

“I wanted to find my family, and at the same time I kinda didn’t want to. They didn’t look for me so why should I look for them? Now I am glad I found them, and I am staying connected with them,” Christianson said, “My last day there I had my 18th birthday with all the family I found, the social workers from the foundation, and my adoptive family. “

Christianson through her journey was able to make meaningful connections with the place of her birth, but her goal extend beyond just her.

“Much of these trips were about discovering who I was, but it was more for my brother and sister,” Christianson said, “They are resistant about going back. They don’t speak the language anymore. Through these trips I’ve wanted to give them a reason to go back. I don’t want them to forget that they are from the Phillipines.”

“I know it was important for him to defend our country, but it was hard not to have him around.”

Every Saturday three other BHS students and I travel to Minneapolis to study music in a program at MacPhail. Before the program starts we usually have about an hour to spare, so we travel to the farmer’s market by the Guthrie Theater. By now we know exactly where to go for free samples of cheese and chocolate and who has the best deal on tea. Lately, I have felt as though my routine has lost a bit of its luster.

This past week I decided to try something new. I was on my own for the first time and I walked down the usual path to get to the farmers market. Parked on the side of the road was a big school bus with a sign on the outside that read, “Yes, this is a store. Come in!” After a moment of consideration, I walked on. Small chandeliers hung from the hollowed out bus. Mirrors and pop art clung to walls as I rummaged through refurbished antique furniture. I grabbed a card before I left the bus and returned to my normal routine.

That day, I realized that it never ceases to amaze me how much there is out there for me to do. There have been countless times when I have gotten bored with my ordinary plans and asked myself what to do. More often than not, I end up sitting at home watching TV. Why don’t I just go out and do something? We are lucky enough to live in an area that is close to all of the action. Why not go to see a play or a musical? The Twin Cities are full of professional and amateur theatre. The cities are just a short hour away and full of art, music, and spectacular food. I love the Minneapolis theatre scene. Broadway shows are always welcomed, as well as newer experimental work. With a tiny bit of research, it is simple to find music festivals and concerts. Once again, Minneapolis has a lot of up and coming artists as well as famous names. Perhaps one of my favorite places to visit is the Minnesota Institute of the Arts. It is a wonderful museum and completely free to the public! Although I don’t get to go often, whenever I do go I am always amazed at what I find and how lost I get.

The cities aren’t the only place to go. One can have an outstanding time staying close to home and being cheap. After a few Google searches, I was found a website called exploreminnesota.com. Here, I was able to search for events that were within 25 miles of Buffalo. Some of the more interesting festivals included the One Sky One World Kite Fly. On October 9th all over the world, people flew kites anywhere they can find the wind. In Chaska, you can drink traditional tea at the Arboretum. This event happens 8 times over the next 3 months. Thre was also the the Apple Cider Fest on October 16th. These are just a few of the events that are happening around where we live.

Getting out of the house doesn’t mean you have to go to a festival. There are always things going on in your community. See if there is a farmer’s market around town or a fun new coffee shop. Personally, one of my favorite things to do is go antiquing and garage saling. If you go with a bunch of friends, you never know what you will find. I bought my homecoming dress at an antique store last year and at a farmer’s market this year.

I know that parents and teachers are shoving exercise and “go play” down our throats, but that is not what I am asking. I simply want people to realize how much is out there to see in the area that we live in. Don’t let your routine get in the way of finding something wonderful or trying something new. Just like me, you could be taking a stroll and find excitement. Take advantage of it.

With love,

Lydia Wagner (‘12)

The 2012 Presidential candidates have been declared, G.O.P. debates have started, and television ads are up and running. However, most high schoolers have no idea who is running, let alone what they stand for. These days, voters support candidates simply based on their political party, not what the candidate specifically stands for. Voters are misinformed. In order to understand which candidate to support, one must know what to look for. But the question is, “Where does one start when choosing who to support?”

To easily narrow down the pool of candidates, one can study the debates. This early in the campaign, the only real debates are the Grand Old Party, more simply the Republican Party, debates. Debates are an easy way to see who has the same views as you: pro-life or pro-choice, “Obamacare” versus a new health care plan, etc.

For example, at the debate on September 12th, 2011, the topic of the Texas-mandated HPV (cervical cancer) vaccine was attacked by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Bachmann mentioned that Perry signed an executive order mandating that all girls entering the sixth grade must receive the vaccine. Though this executive order was overturned eight months later, Bachmann insisted that Perry belied this order, as she accused it of being a collusion between his campaign manager and major pharmaceutical companies. Rick Perry responded cooly, standing his ground.

This back and forth is an easy way to see what the candidates are worried about. In the end, the candidates are against each other. What they choose to attack is most llikely the other candidates’ weakest points.

Another easy way to see what side a candidate takes in an issue are campaign ads. Although these views can be skewed when the ads are not produced by the candidates campaign, but instead by and outside independent source, this is a good way to see what the candidates strongly believe in and support. President Obama’s most recent ad is about his strength and commitment while he is in office right now. It focuses around the idea that the people of America support him.

“I don’t agree with Obama on everything. But I respect him and I trust him.” says a man in Barack Obama’s ad.

Looking at these elements can provide a start to adequate information in choosing a candidate. One must keep in mind that choosing a candidate to support is a personal decision. One’s opinion of a candidate must not be slandered by uniformed speculation. Keep informed by following campaigns and debates. The only way to be satisfied with the United State’s President is to be informed and vote thoughtfully.

Physical education is a good thing. I never thought that I would say those words; in my underclassmen years, when Phy. Ed. class was a requirement, I dreaded it every day. Though my personal feelings towards Phy. Ed. classes may be less than favorable, I do think that it’s important for school-age kids to have physical activity incorporated into the school day. A study conducted by the California Department of Education revealed that 30-45 minutes of exercise three to five days a week enhanced memory, concentration, classroom behavior, academic performance, and general well-being in teenagers. Not to mention the fact that regular physical activity helps to combat the rising trend of youth obesity.

So yes. Physical education is an excellent program to have at Buffalo High School or any high school, for that matter. However, I believe that the overall objective for Phy. Ed. needs to be altered. A greater emphasis needs to be placed on the benefits of exercise rather than on assessments. In PE 9 and 10, a portion of the final grade is devoted to the results of running tests that are taken at least once a week. Team Fitness 10 includes tests on how many times you can dribble a soccer ball or shoot a layup successfully. Rather than placing value on a student’s physical exertion, skill test scores are assigned purely based on how fast he or she is able to run or how good they are at a certain sport. Granted, skill tests comprise only 25% of the final grade; however, 25% could be enough to lower one’s grade by several letters. This, I believe, is unfair.

“We have a grading system that has been set up to level the playing field. 25% is participation, 25% is written work, 25% is heart rate monitors, and 25% is skill tests. So 75% of your final grade is within your control,” Physical Education Teacher Jason Karn said.

According to Karn, the goal of Phy. Ed. is to teach students about how to continue to be active and healthy after the class is over. However, in my personal experiences with PE classes, that objective was seldom discussed and emphasis was instead placed on performance, resulting in some grades on my transcript that I am less than pleased with. I am by no means the most athletic person alive, but I always tried my hardest on skill tests and with heart rate monitors. I think that greater importance must be placed on the mental and physical benefits of exercise.

If the overall point of physical education is to instill habits of life-long exercise, it needs to be taught in a less intimidating way. Perhaps I’m biased due to my past experiences in PE classes, but I lost some respect for physical education after learning that my less-than- stellar running abilities would shape my grade so drastically. Those incidents have soured me on the idea of ever taking another PE class, which is the opposite of what was intended for me as a student. I would love to continue being active within the school day and throughout my life, but not within the atmosphere that I have always felt during Phy. Ed. classes.

Everyone’s staring at him. That one lazy kid who sleeps through the block without fail, no matter how many times the teacher berates him. Most people assume he just doesn’t care about school, but what you don’t know is that he’s taking several college courses through the school, takes part in after school sports, works for 30 hours a week, and manages to get through enough homework to not fail his courses. This scene is entirely fictitious but we at The Hoofprint are always watching student trends, and that scene illustrates what we’ve noticed; an obsession to work. Work for sure is an important facet of our lives, and to remain productive it is required, but when work becomes and all consuming goal, it can become counter-productive to actual achievement.

From the moment you enter school you are being taught how to succeed later in life, but the lesson being taken away is that success revolves around constant labor on your part. With the fear that children are falling behind in learning over 40% of schools have entirely cut recess or severely limited recess time. We push and we push and tell children that they have no time for fun or relaxation, and that if they don’t work hard now they will never keep up in the international workplace years later. Yet statistics from the International Labor Organization (ILO) show the US is still on top for productivity per person employed.

The side effects of this overworked generation are many. The University of Minnesota conducted a survey of over 4,500 high school kids and found that 39% suffered from some form of stress/depressive disorder, 9% considered being a severe stress/depressive disorder. The study linked this to our busy lifestyles. Our drive to do as much as possible is becoming our Achilles Heel. Over 33% of high school students are currently working part-time, and 80% will have worked at some point over their high school career, according to the Journal of Educational Resources which also points out that “part-time work during the school year is almost unique to the United States, [and is linked to] the relatively low achievement of U.S. secondary school students, compared with students in other industrialized countries.” We work for a variety of reasons but it all stems from the fact of our value of money in this culture, which is very visible when compared to how many days US citizens work compared to the rest of the world. While it is true that wealth is the tool of prosperity, blind pursuit of wealth leads to slavery.

Stress isn’t the only thing keeping us from our potential. To find time for all of our activities we sacrifice our time doing other things, namely sleep. According to the National Sleep teens need 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep a night, and less than 15% were even hitting the bare minimum of 8.5. Sleep is vital in mental growth. Research conducted jointly with the University of Notre Dame and Boston College has shown that sleep helps solidify memories and make them easier for later retrieval, and plays a role in general creativity when approaching problem solving. This explains why it is better to get a good night’s sleep then it is to cram for exams, but when students don’t even have time to go over the material at because of scheduling the point becomes moot.

This article is not meant to dissuade involvement, to the contrary we at the Hoofprint believe being involved in the school and community is very important. But instead of trying to tackle everything, focus in on fewer activities and make them count. Take time to decide now what is right for you, regardless of what others think, and find a balance in what you choose. From there you can always add more to your load, but if you become involved too much it is hard to shed the responsibilities you took on. Too many let time pass them by in High School, so take a moment and make these years the best of your life.

Sweat ran down their faces, the sun burning hot. Together as a team they began its last sprint. Once they finished and regained their breath they all replied in unison, “Thank you, coach.”

The Boys’ Soccer team agreed that playing for Varsity Coach Jeff Lindstrom has been an honor. They have developed a way of showing their appreciation for their coach over the years, with one simple saying: “Thank you, coach.”

“I can’t tell you what year exactly; it’s been a while,” said Lindstrom. “I would say about five or six years ago is when it started. I got my players in shape, I gave them abs, and what did I get in return...nothing. That’s why I started the “Thank you, coach.” After every conditioning drill the players must all reply, “Thank you, coach,” to show their gratitude. It has carried on for years and now I don’t think the players even know how it came to be.”

Conditioning is just another part of the soccer team’s daily routine. Even though many of them don’t enjoy it, they still realize that it plays an important role in games.

“You have to condition,” said Senior Garret Flynn. “Once you’re in the final quarter and everyone is exhausted that’s when you’re glad you did. You can out hustle the other team and make smarter decisions.”

Lindstrom said he encourages his players to play outside of practice, but little did he knew that his players would really take it to heart.

“On an average day during the summer, I juggle for at least 30 minutes,” said Junior Joe O’Flanagan. “I also go to the park with friends and just mess around for a couple hours.”

Joe is just one of the many players that finds ways to improve on his own. It’s not enough for him to have practice 5 times a week, he still wants to practice on his own time. He isn’t the only one with these urges to push himself, others feel the same way. Not all of them take the same approach though.

“I play FIFA [Xbox360 soccer game] to further improve my skills outside of soccer,” said Flynn. “I feel like I actu­ yally do learn new moves and plays.”

“Full Big Mac diet,” said Junior Luke Lingo. “You might not believe me but I have a Big Mac every day. I’m dead serious, it makes me more agile and flexible.”

Many of the players feel like doing these extra things on their own makes a big difference in the end. They all have moments where their practice paid off.

“This year at the Park Center game, I was sprinting down the field off a corner kick from my teammate Adam Dobo,” said O’Flanagan. “I dove and scored off a header into the bottom corner. The stadium instantly filled with screams from the crowd. All the practice does make a difference.”

We all have our own ways of showing stress. Some of us let it show, others keep quiet and bottle it up, and others make it look like we aren’t being stressed at all. All of these reactions can be seen on the Varsity football team on Friday afternoons. “We all get stressed,” said Football Player Dan Hansen. “We all just show it in a different way.” As it gets closer to game time, the team can only think about the game. It’s hard to think an entire town will be depending on you to win the game every single Friday. Some players try to fight the stress or use it to get themselves energized. “A lot of the kids get excited, some of them even take energy boosters,” Hansen continued. “Our trainers sometimes even give us pickle juice shots.” The pressure is the same with everybody, they just react differently. “I think the stress is the same with everybody,” Hansen said. “I guess I get stressed too, but I usually stay pretty quiet instead of yelling about it.”

“I hate to see the Seniors go, and love to see the Freshmen come,” said Activities Director Tom Bauman laughing, and referring to student athletes. “I feel I get connected with kids. It’s also sad for parents, but they know it’s coming and it is a good reward.” It’s a big change from coming in as a Freshman athlete to being a Senior athlete; an athlete will most likely change as a person and a player. But, the players and their coaches have to make it work and keep everyone united as a team as best as they can. Along the way they enjoy each other, and try to make the transition from being a Freshman to a Senior as smooth as possible. As a Freshman, Reed Morehouse had the challenge of running cross country at a much higher level than he was used to. His coaches had made sure that they treated him, as well as all of the other Freshman and upperclassmen, equally. “I like the coaches,” said Morehouse.” I feel like they treat Freshmen and Seniors the same in practice, which allows us to improve more.” Sophomore Anna Altmann has already had a year of experience. Some athletes having one year of experience are able to go into the next season with open eyes and willingness to try to reach their goal. “I felt like I knew everyone this year, because this was my second year,”said Altmann,“The sport itself got to be more enjoyable because I wasn’t the the new freshman.” As Junior Dan Pettit grew older he had the chance to make more memories and meet some new people. “Along the way of one of our runs,” said Pettit, “we saw a free fax machine on the side of the road that had a phone on it, we picked it up and ran with it for three or four miles. When we got back we put it in our gym locker and we said if we made State we would smash the crap out of it and when we made State, we went to the park at Pulaski Beach and we all brought bats and smashed it. Last week we found two couches about a mile away from the school; we grabbed them and ran with them back to the parking lot and put them in front of [Coach David] Knutson’s Jeep.” As Jared became a Senior he had the opportunity ofbeing able to play the sport he loves for the last 4 years. Starting with his Freshman year and getting to know everyone’s name, then ending with his Senior year with memories to last a lifetime. “I have become closer to my teammates,” said Senior Soccer Player Jared Yatckoske, “And made some good memories I will always remember.” So in the end, it’s the coaches and players who are the ones who make a team. It is the player who needs the determination, the will, and guidance to have a good season. “Coaches, no matter how good they are, it is the athlete with all the power,” said Bauman. “They are in charge of any successful season.”

Bison pride. One can’t help feeling it while sitting on the cold bleachers of a Bison Football game. The crowd yelling, the cheerleaders tumbling, and Buffy, the Bison mascot, pepping up the crowd. At all football games and basketball games, Buffy can be seen with the cheerleaders, running down the court or across the field. But as a new year starts, so does the search to find a new Buffy.

On Friday October 7th, Buffy tryouts were held at the Buffalo Homecoming game. You may not have noticed, but during the game, the Buffy suit was tried on by five different people all with hopes to be the new Buffalo High School mascot. Each contestant took their turn suiting up to pump up the crowd. Contestants were judged on their ability to communicate without speaking, how crowd appealing they were, their decision making, and their special moves or talents. While it may be easy to do all of these things by themselves, the participants had to do these while in a stuffy, heavy buffalo suit.

“[Being Buffy] takes perseverance,” says Junior Hannah Lindborg. “After five minutes, I was drenched in sweat. But it is worth it. Being Buffy is like being a superhero, no one knows who you are, and you can be as silly as you want.”

After the tryouts during homecoming, a new Buffy has been chosen. Yet the identity of Buffy must stay a secret, as it is tradition. Even though the person inside the suit has changed, Buffy will always remain the same: fired up and full of Bison pride.

Stereotypes: Good or bad, they’re in every hallway of every school. The jocks, the hicks, the skaters, and of course, the cheerleaders. Naturally, along with stereotyping comes judgment.

“People are so judgmental, it’s so wrong,” said Junior Madison Herzfeld. “Let them do their own thing. If it’s something they like to do, why would you tear them down?”

In a poll taken by both cheerleaders and students outside of cheer, cheerleaders thought their average level of dedication was a 9 out of 10, whereas the spectators ranked it at an average of 4. Why is the perception so different from reality?

“We just want our school to be proud of us,” said Junior Cheerleader Kassidy Duffney. “Just knowing everyone’s potential to get better and better and to see them improve is something we should all be proud of.”

Annually, the cheerleaders typicaly have one fundraiser per year, but this year alone they have raised approximately $1,500 with three fundraisers and have four more scheduled before they reach their total goal of $3,000 dollars. They have a variety of different fundraisers, consisting of; bagging at Cub Foods, hosting a bake sale, and creating a car wash. They donated 10 percent of their funds from the car wash to the Buffalo Food Shelf. Another 10 percent was donated to Red Cross for 9/11 from their fundraising at Cub Foods. In addition to fundraisers, cheerleaders are required to volunteer; helping out at the Hanover, Parkside, Tatanka, and Discovery Elementary School’s Fun Nights and interacting with younger students.

“I actually think they work really hard,” said Sophomore Michaela Perz. “And since they got a new coach they’re doing bigger stunts and more tumbling this year.”

A second survey was taken by 20 students and 20 cheerleaders who answered the question, “Does cheering make an effect in our athletes’ performance?” Seventy-five percent of the cheerleaders believed they made a difference. However, 69 percent of students voted that they did not.

“Some of the cheerleaders feel like the crowd is competing against them, trying to out-cheer them,” said former Sideline Coach Barb Christensen. Christiansen said she always taught her girls how to be supportive leaders.

“In this sport they are developing true leadership skills,” said Christensen. “They are called cheerleaders, not just cheerers.”

The squad has almost tripled in size within the past three years and has placed highly in all of their competitions this year with two first places, two second places and one third place title. Considering that in 2009 seven girls made up the entire cheer squad, their competition squad did not place at any level and the range of difficulty in stunts was kept at a minimum. They practice between two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours three days a week that focus more toward conditioning, cardiac activity, and stretching, which helps to improve their stunting and dance routines immensely in competitions.

Stereotyping is everywhere, but the academic facts and personal achievements of this squad shows that behind the judgements, our cheerleaders proudly represent this school and take their sport seriously.

“Just go out and do what you love, don’t let others put you down,” said Junior Jason Senger.

Walking down the hallway, with his head held high, Junior Bryant Stucky knows what he’s gone through; but do we?

Stucky first started using drugs when he was just ten years old. He went downtown and asked the older guys if he could try marijuana, because he wanted to know why everyone was talking about getting high all the time. The first drugs tried by Stucky were pot and cocaine, which made him feel calm, yet hyper and hallucinate.

“Using drugs are a waste of time,” said Stucky. “You won’t notice until you stop using it.”

Stucky used coke, meth, pot, crack and dilateds. He did drugs multiple times everyday. This resulted in getting pushed back a grade because of all the school he missed. He almost lost all of his friends because he would use them for drugs. In addition, he also hurt himself because now he has memory loss, random acid flash backs, brain damage, and rotten teeth.

Stucky watched his best friend overdose on heroin and die right in front of him. When he used heroin, it resulted in giving him a “rush” which depended on how much he took.

“The only way I wouldn’t be doing drugs is if I was dead.” said Stucky.

After having thirty dilateds, Stucky was found unconscious with pale blue skin. He was trying to breathe while his dad called 911, which rushed him to the hospital. The doctors ran tests, and Stucky’s liver and kidney had both failed. His lungs aspirated, and he had a heart attack. Stucky was on life support for two days. They told his parents he needed to be airlifted to the U of M, where they hooked him up to four IVs and multiple tubes.

“All I remember is taking about twenty-five dilateds, then getting in an argument with my dad and taking my last five pills,” said Stucky. “I started to watch SpongeBob then I blacked out, and woke up two days later with IVs and tubes down my throat.”

He knew he needed help. The first thing Stucky did when he got home was take four Oxycontin. Stucky went to five treatment centers and after that, he didn’t stop right away. He learned something different from every treatment center even though he thought it was all just a joke. Stucky has been sober for about a year and six months.

“I stayed at a psych word treatment evacuation center,” said Stucky. “They let me go home because I lied and told them I wasn’t going to do drugs anymore.”

“I enjoy talking about it” said Stucky. “Especially with people that still use it, because they think I’m retarded, but sooner or later they will look back and know I’m right.”