Mr. WD High winner

Andrew Oberbroeckling (11) (pictured on the left) performs his ‘chubby bunny’ talent for WDHS spectators. Also pictured: Spencer Haldeman (11). 

 

Photograph by

Nathalie Digman 

 

Movie reviews

“Orange Is the New Black” Netflix original series

BY LINDSEY RUSSELL

“Orange Is the New Black” is an original series on Netflix (based on the memoir of the same title) about a woman, Piper Chapman, who is sentenced to 15 months in a women’s correctional institution for a crime she committed 10 years ago. The series is about her experiences in the prison and how she changes as a person and must deal with the consequences of her past. It is one of the many hit Netflix- original series, in which all of the episodes are released on the same day.

 

Overall, the show is very enjoyable. Though at times the pace is slower, it always picks up and leaves the viewers wanting more by the end of the episode. But be warned, as this show is not suitable for immature audiences. If you have an account, you can watch the whole first season on Netflix. Netflix will release the second season on June 6, 2014.

 

Movie review: “The Monuments Men”

BY CLAYTON HEINRICH

“The Monuments Men” is a great film about the race against time to save artwork stolen by the Nazis during World War II. In this film, George Stout, played by George Clooney, is assembling a team to take to Europe to recover these priceless works of art. James Rorimer, played by Matt Damon, and Richard Campbell, played by Bill Murray, are also members of this team to recover the stolen pieces of art. It’s a great movie with memorable characters that are willing to die to preserve our greatest achievements as mankind: art. Although it was comical and witty in some areas, it really did capture the essence of the sacrifices made for the survival of something much greater.  It was a great film, and I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of World War II, or history. I give this film 3/4 possible stars.

 

Evolving the cheer world

BY ATHENA DORR

This year, the WDHS Cheer Team has made some drastic changes to their normal routine. With a new squad and new coaches, our cheerleaders put these changes into perspective. Former Cheer Captain Patricia Block shared some of her thoughts on this year.

“Getting the new coaches was very hard at first. They didn’t know how to coach high school cheer, and we were used to what we learned in the past because of how Mrs. Bogosian (former WDHS librarian and cheer coach) coached us. We did not want to change that at first, but once we started working together, everything fell into place,” said Block.

Other things, such as uniforms, poms and bows have affected the cheerleaders in a positive way. Getting new accessories has drawn more attention to them and keeps them pumped for games and performances. The WDHS Cheer Team also has a special addition to the team. That’s right; they have more male cheerleaders participating. The boys have helped the team by upgrading their stunts and performances. In order to figure out how the cheerleaders truly felt about the changes happening this year, I sat down with Racheal Howard to discuss the negatives and positives of the new cheer team.

“Negatives would be that some people think our uniforms are stupid, and that they are too short, also some think we are trying too hard to fit in. Positives would be that most people love us, and that at pep rally’s people actually cheer for us to come out, and they want to see us perform,” said Howard.

These ladies work hard every year to perfect their cheers and stunts. Though they have gone through a lot of changes this year, they keep their heads held high and push through obstacles. Their advice would be to “[j]oin cheerleading” because it’s a blast. GO BOBCATS!

 

Cell phones at Western Dubuque

BY BRAD PRIER

Waking up, going to the bathroom, stopping at a stoplight, cooking and reclining on a couch: you may begin to wonder what these have in common; the answer is that these are all situations when Americans check their cell phones, with or without reason. According to PewResearch Internet Project as of January 2014, 90 percent of American adults have a cell phone. Western Dubuque High School students are no exception.

Many students at Western Dubuque have cell phones, and most of them bring their phones to class. While some teachers are okay with it, others take phones on the sight of them. Mr. Kuhle tells students on their first day in his class that they can check their phones because he understands what it is like to get a text message. He just asks that they make their replies fast. However, Mr. Kurt is often referred to by students as a “phone Nazi”—a term he embraces. Assistant Principal Jacob Feldmann said, “I think cell phones are a very powerful tool, as long as they are used appropriately.”

The current policy at Western Dubuque Schools states that “[s]tudents may not use electronic equipment such as CD players, iPods, cell phones, etc. during instructional time throughout the day without express permission from the instructor.” But kids will be kids and rebel regardless of the consequences. Those consequences range from the teacher taking the phone for class to the office taking the phone until a parent/guardian retrieves the phone. Complete information regarding cell phone and electronic equipment use at WDHS can be found on page 26 of your students agenda book.  

For more statistics in regards to cell phones, visit http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/mobile-technology-fact-sheet/

 

Alternate role models

BY NIKKI CUPPS

With celebrities being a common topic among teenagers, it is very logical that they would serve as the “heroes” for the younger generation. In a culture ruled by social media, celebrities are at the top of that hierarchy and often use the power of social media to take their fame to new levels. Many celebrities are making poor choices and trying to convince their followers that nothing wrong has been done, which results in fans cheering on their favorite celebrities in their worst—and most inappropriate—times. Students, especially at Western Dubuque High School, should not look up to negatively influential celebrities and instead let a teacher inspire and influence them.

Instead of letting Lady Gaga, who dons outfits made out of oddly miscellaneous items such as raw meat, be your role model, maybe look up to Liza Walke-Pollitt, who teaches her students to always be safe and clean in the kitchen and to always cook meat all the way through before eating it.

Instead of Justin Bieber, who uses illegal substances, drives drunk with a suspended license, eggs neighbors’ houses and defaces property in foreign countries, consider Ken Kurt, who is a devoted English teacher, has two daughters and would karate chop Bieber’s neck if the two were ever to meet.

Don’t let Miley Cyrus, who prances around half naked, participates in the improper use of construction equipment and uses foam fingers for vulgar activities, influence you. Just look up to Breanna Lukes, who has a stable family, was in show choir in high school and is a successful English teacher.

Kanye West is a very pretentious, pompous person. His sense of conceit and arrogance fills up what he lacks in talent. Although Ben Ressler does not have a celebrity status, the art, yearbook and photography teacher is talented and has compassion toward his students. His friendliness makes him a much better role model than Kanye.

Creative Writing Corner

Secret Superhero

BY NIKKI CUPPS (12)

He works

Hard through everything.

A single-handed hero.

Two jobs,

Three kids,

Far too many bills to count.

One house,

If you could even call it that,

With two tiny rooms,

No TV,

Less than what most people live with.

He struggles through the payments,

Lives paycheck to paycheck,

With little left over.

To his kids he is invincible.

Superman.

Yet heroes can cry;

Heroes can crack.

They can be lonely and suffering,

Just like you.

Every hero

Has a Kryptonite.

 His kids do not know this,

And think he is invincible.

 Unbreakable.

Unstoppable.

Yet while they are safe in their beds,

Sleeping, dreaming,

They are unaware of the tears he cries,

Feeling not like a father,

But like a great disappointment,

As if he has let his children down

By not giving them everything they want.

But they have warmth, food, shelter.

They say it now, and will when they’re older:

Daddy, you’re a superhero!

 

Summer bucket lists

BY KAYLA HORSFIELD

Summer 2k14, which many teenagers will call it, is coming sooner than we think, and with summer comes crazy summer bucket lists. Many Western Dubuque High School students plan on playing sports, traveling or just staying home and soaking up the sun this summer. “You will most likely be catching me at all the local county fairs and enjoying a nice bike ride here and there,” says Maddie Frasher (10). This is just one example of many things you could be doing this summer. The last day of school as of now for Western Dubuque schools is May 29. With all these snow days, summer might seem like it’s taking longer to arrive. However, that may be fine for some students, as summer may include hectic schedules. “This summer I will be going to Florida and Nashville for the usual choir trip, but after that I will have to start preparing for college, and I also will be working two jobs,” says Isaac Ehlers (12). For many, summer is the best time of the year. School’s out, and you can hang out with all of your friends and just have a good time! So think about what might be on your bucket list this year because summer is on its way!

 

Internet famous?

BY SARAH WALSH

Syd Fox, a junior, has a very popular blog on Tumblr. She has over 39,000 followers! On her blog she posts about One Direction and anything that amuses her. She interacts with her “fans” by answering their questions and joining groups. Her tips for making a popular blog is to make friends, help each other grow and gain followers. In her free time, she is usually on Netflix or Tumblr. Since she is on the Internet 24/7, she picked up on some of the lingo such as, v (very), hella, cray, etc. Fox is clearly devoted to her blog and her followers, and that’s what makes her Internet famous.

 

Power of the pack: girls basketball

BY JESSICA CARTEE

On Feb. 25, a dream came true for the Western Dubuque Bobcat girls basketball team. On that night they defeated the number five ranked team, Waverly Shell Rock. That put the team one step closer to their ultimate goal: to become state champions. When starting forward Rose Simon-Ressler (11) was asked what helped the team make it to state, she replied, “The whole team worked hard in the season and the off season, and everyone wanted it.”

That was evident in their first round at state when the number seven ranked Bobcats took down the number two seed Crusaders. The girls weren’t satisfied on just making it to state. No matter who they were playing, the Bobcats were determined to find a way to win. Even though the girls were the underdogs, they were mentally and physically tough. The girls were willing to put up a fight against any team, and they proved that by defeating the number two ranked team Bishop-Heelan.

The next task was to take down Ballard in the semi-finals. The victory would not have been possible without the coaches scouting reports. The Bobcats knew the opposing players strengths and weaknesses. To help prepare for the game, the team practiced shutting down the strengths of opposing players. With the 30-23 win over Ballard, they were one step away from their state championship goal.

The final game was on March 8 against the returning runner-up team Harlan. Starting center Megan Maahs (10) said, “To prepare for the championship game, the coaches scouted the team, but the main thing was to focus on ourselves.” The players kept that focus during practice and even took ice baths to keep their strength. Finally, Saturday arrived and the girls were ready to play. Under strong leadership from Co-Captain Zoey Weber (12) the team kept their composure. Team captain Weber said, “I was 100 percent confident. I knew the game could go either way, but I didn’t let it show.” The Bobcats took the court with confidence, believing in not only themselves, but also in each other. During the first half, the girls battled hard, only down three at half time. Harlan extended their lead in the third quarter as the Bobcats struggled to score. During the fourth quarter, the Cyclones dominated with a 13-point lead, but the Bobcats weren’t giving up; they believed that they could still win it. They fought hard and came back to tie the game with 1:23 minutes remaining. Time ended in Harlan’s favor. They were able to take the lead and control the ball, and the ending score was 55-51.

The experience overall of going to state was incredible. The whole community was supporting the team.  Assistant Coach Rolwes said, “It was amazing to see how much the Bobcats improved every game in the state tournament.” A big part of the Western Dubuque Bobcats was their team chemistry. Maahs said, “My favorite part about going to state was being with the team and getting to stay overnight with my team at the hotel.” She also said, “It was awesome to see all the fans.” Four year varsity player Weber said, “The most memorable thing about the season was how close I was to the team.” Team chemistry was a crucial part that helped the team make it to state. The girls had a great experience at state, but next year’s returning players hope to work hard and return to state next year for the state championship title.

 

Book reviews

A review of “North of Beautiful” by Justina Chen

BY CHEYENNE PUETZ

In this beautifully written novel by Justina Chen, high school dream girl Terra Cooper is perfect. Well, almost. Born with a port wine stain—a reddish-purple birthmark—running down the side of her cheek, Terra has lived her whole life being judged as a freak, especially by her rude and judgmental father. After receiving countless laser treatments and going through daily makeup routines to try to mask her “flaw,” Terra begins to wonder when she will be able to please everyone and stop the stares being cast her way. When she meets Jacob, a Goth boy who knows how not being accepted feels, he makes her rethink what beauty really means. Jacob teaches Terra what really matters in life and shows her that she holds the power to control her own life. Taken on a journey of self-discovery, Terra has the choice to embrace every aspect of who she is, flaws and all, or let everyone around her determine how she sees herself. Much more than just another young adult novel, “North of Beautiful” is about learning how to accept people for who they are and not judge someone just because they do not look the way you want them to.

 

“12 Years a Slave”

BY ANGELA DELANEY

 This film was released on Oct. 18, 2013 and is based on a true story. It is about a free black man, Solomon Northup, living in New York. Then one day, he was abducted and forced to become a slave. In the years that he was a slave, he faced many challenges such as one malicious slave owner, who threatens his life and dignity. In his twelfth year, Solomon Northup met a Canadian abolitionist that altered his life forever. Though it has won many Oscars such as Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and was nominated for many more, it is rated R and is not suitable for immature audiences. However, this is truly an amazing and empowering movie that makes viewers want to pick up the memoir on which its based. “12 Years a Slave” earns 3.5/4 stars.

 

“The Kill Order” by James Dashner book review

BY LINDSEY RUSSELL

“Mark struggles to make sense of his new, post-disaster world in this prequel to ‘The Maze Runner’” (summary provided by Delacorte Press Publishing Company). In this dystopian young-adult fiction novel, Dashner expands on the disasters (sun flares) that ravaged the world prior to the main series “The Maze Runner.” Mark and Trina, the two main characters, must adapt to this new world (along with a few others) and a new, quickly-spreading disease of an unknown origin that is threatening the existence of the human race. 

This book is fast paced, and I would highly recommend reading “The Maze Runner” series before reading this. The series has three books: “The Maze Runner,” “The Scorch Trials” and “The Death Cure.” Also, look out for the movie based on “The Maze Runner” which debuts in theaters Sept. 19, 2014.

 

A review of “Wonder”

BY JULIA WICKHAM

August Pullman is 10-year-old boy who is about to start middle school. Starting school can be a scary thing for anyone, but for August it’s especially frightening. August is just like everyone else except for one difference that makes kids run away screaming and adults cringe. August was born with a facial deformity. Told from not only the perspective of August but also from others who were touched by him, R.J. Palacio’s story creates characters you want to hug and people you can understand. Auggie tells his story of going to school for the first time with humor and childlike intelligence which makes “Wonder” a joy to read.

“It’s okay, I know I’m weird-looking, take a look, I don’t bite. Hey, the truth is, if a wookie started going to school all of a sudden, I’d be curious, I’d probably stare a bit! And if I was walking with Jack or Summer, I’d probably whisper to them: Hey, there’s the wookie. And if the wookie caught me saying that, he’d know I wasn’t trying to be mean. I was just pointing out the fact that he’s a wookie.”

 In “Wonder,” August faces mean  kids and mean adults, but he also encounters amazing friends that encourage and uplift him. This heartwarming book will make you smile and think about the characters long after you turn the last page.

 

2014 Senior Survivor: Salomon Marin

Pictured left: Salomon embraces the challenge of eating oatmeal, mayo and beets, topped off with sauer kraut. Right: Salomon reigns as 2014 Senior Survivor champion.

A life altering app

BY AARON OSTWINKLE AND NIKKI NEMMERS

Many people spend a lot of time on their phones; the problem is that they spend most of that time on time-wasting apps. For example, games like Flappy Bird and Candy Crush are very time consuming. If they are spending all that time on their phone, why not do some good?

UNICEF has started a web app that will give one day’s worth of water to a person in need for every ten minutes that you do not touch your phone. To use this app go to tap.unicefusa.org and tap ‘PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE, SAVE A CHILD’S LIFE.’ Then, follow the on-screen directions to start saving lives. To use the web app, you simply click begin and set your phone down. You can’t text, talk, or browse the Internet for the duration of the challenge; in fact, simply picking up your phone will end your session.

The app will continuously give you fun facts about UNICEF. It also offers comparative statistics concerning what you have accomplished through this app vs. what others are doing with social media.  

Why not challenge yourself to put down your phone...and save a life?

 

Teachers and their free time

BY CLAIRE NAUMAN

Other than grading papers and creating lesson plans, teachers find things to keep them sane. I found that teachers enjoy plenty of different hobbies. There are the outdoor types like Mr. Lucas who enjoys fishing. Ms. Kennicott enjoys hiking, and Mr. Maher enjoys spending time at his cabin in Minnesota. There is also a homebody on staff; Ms. Recker likes to spend time with her family. Being artistic is nothing new for Mrs. Kratochwill-Jones; she enjoys photography and traveling. Then there is the politically involved staff member; Mr. Cleary who likes to keep up with and analyze politics. Though there are many different types of teachers on staff, they work well together to keep Western Dubuque High School running well.

 

Staff Spotlight

BY TIFFANY LUDWIG

In this issue of the Bobcat Bulletin, we are spotlighting WDHS teacher Tracey Broadbent. Mrs. Broadbent said she has always enjoyed working with kids and she knew she wanted to be a teacher from the start. “My father was a teacher, so I followed in his footsteps,” says Broadbent. She knew Western Dubuque was the place for her because she was a substitute teacher and toured all the schools around the Dubuque area for a year. “Western Dubuque was the perfect fit—not too big, not too small,” Broadbent stated. Mrs. Broadbent currently teaches Communications I, Communications II and freshman English.  Her favorite class to teach is Communications. “I really like Communications because it’s amazing to see a group develop friendships over the course of one semester,” Broadbent explains. Some of her hobbies outside of school include: spending time with her family and friends, supporting her girls in all their athletic events, and she loves to read and hang out with her puggle, Gracey. She believes she is very blessed to have an amazing family and great friends. Mrs. Broadbent also enjoys coaching speech. This year for group speech, we took seven groups to state. We even had one improvisation group go to All-State. “Go speech!”

 

Teachers of Yesteryear

Mr. Gerald Ross

BY ANGELA DELANEY

Gerald Ross was once a student that walked the halls here at Western Dubuque, and now he has taught here for a total of 38 years. He has taught junior high to the high school where he is today. The years he has been with us at Western Dubuque; he has taught many different subjects such as College Chemistry, Chemistry General Science Algebra Physical Education General Math and Environmental Science. He has not just been a teacher though. Some people might know him as coach. He has coached football from the junior high level all the way to varsity, and he has also couched eight years of wrestling at the freshman level. Now he is known as the girls track coach. He is also the assistant activity director which means he helps set up for basketball games, wrestling meets and track meets boys or girls. Mr. Ross is one of the most generous of people, and he is always willing to give a helping hand whenever it is needed. He has stayed with us so long because from the start he has enjoyed it here at Western Dubuque, and he says, “There has never been any reason to leave, and a lot of good reasons to stay.” One of the many reasons he chosen to stay with us would be all the people he has worked with or met at Western Dubuque. He said, “The kids have always been really good to work with. They come and ask for help when they need it.”  Another reason to stay is not just the people in the school, but also the people around the school. “It’s just a good overall environment and it’s really just the people that make it,” Gerald Ross states. Other schools say they are a close knit, extended family, but Mr. Ross does not think that they are as close knit as our bobcat family. We are really one true bobcat nation. During the many years Gerald Ross has worked at Western Dubuque, he has gained experiences, memories, and wisdom. Mr. Ross states, “Probably the best memory here is when we won the state football championship.” He was the defensive coordinator at that time. He says, “I used to watch the Olympics, and seeing the people standing on the podium getting their gold medals. I used to say I wonder what that feels like that day I knew. There was just so much euphoria in that win and accomplishing something like that still gives me goose bumps.” That was the first time the Bobcats have made it to state for football. Another experience that sticks out in Gerald Ross’s mind is when he was at Pleasant Valley track meet. At the end of the conference meet they announce that Western Dubuque has won, but the team knew that they were not victorious. They still took their lap around cheering. Once they got back to the bus, the couches went up to straighten out the confusion. They found out that they did not win. Mr. Ross one of the girls track couch states, “We got back to the bus, and I heard some of the kids hollering out the window at the Pleasant Valley bus. I thought ah oh,  and as I got closer they were hollering good luck Pleasant Valley at state, so to have that trophy taken away from them, but yet have the sportsmanship to tell them good luck.” This was a moment where everyone can take a step and look at what our school is really made of. The years he has been here; there was been many changes. Mr. Ross states, “probably the biggest change was when we went from the traditional one eight period day to block days. It was a major change, and we didn’t know for sure how it would work out. It turned out to be a good idea. In chemistry to teach a lab, I have a big block of time to do the lab instead of the short time which was really helpful.” Mr. Ross has been with us for a long time, and the one thing that is really shown through Mr. Ross is once a bobcat always a bobcat!

Senior Spotlight

Patrick Leitzen

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY ANNA KLUESNER

What are your future plans? Go to college. Then start a private security business and possibly go into active duty so I can jump out of planes.

Who is your favorite teacher?Mr. Omarzu or Mrs. Tipple. It’s a solid tie.

What has been the best part about being a bobcat?You can stay warm during the winter, and the pointy ears are pretty cool too.

What is your favorite high school memory?The Texas Band trip.

What is your favorite class and why?Physics, because I love physics with an unnatural passion.

Are you addicted to social media? If so, what site? Yes, Snapchat.

What is your passion?Doing my best to be a person that younger people can look up to.

Has anyone in the past four years truly inspired you?Chance Ingles.

What is your favorite school lunch?Orange Chicken

What advice would you give to underclassmen about the future?Stop being underclassmen

Who is your celebrity crush?Jennifer Lawerence

PDA is not okay

BY CLAIRE NAUMAN
We all know that Valentine’s Day is coming up which is the time for love and happiness. However, the displays of constant affection are not needed at school. Public displays of affection (PDA) are not appropriate for school grounds, schools use is for learning, studying and extra-curricular activities. Western Dubuque High School does not have a policy for PDA but it is just expected, a common courtesy, to not happen.

Depending on the person, public displays of affection have different extents from holding hands to a kiss on the cheek; either one could cause distractions. “PDA can cause distractions during school which can take away from a student’s ability to learn,” says Vice Principal Jacob Feldmann. Clothing can also be a distraction, which is a reason for the dress code. If a shirt would say something inappropriate, it would cause a distraction to facility and students; this can be compared to PDA, for it also can be very distracting to students. The two can easily be compared to each other. If we have a dress code we should have a policy for public displays of affection.

Secret snaps

BY JADEN RAUSCH

The latest application in the technology world is called Snapchat. Snapchat is an app where someone can take a picture of something or someone and then it can be sent to someone for up to 10 seconds. After taking the picture you have the option to draw on it or write a short text in a box. Snapchat was put out into the application store about two years ago. This app can be offending to teachers, administrators, strangers, and fellow peers because many teenagers use snapchat as a way to bully or humiliate others. Also, since this is an internet-based app the pictures are never actually gone.

To stop the bullying, we need users to understand how this can be humiliating and have them think twice about who it could hurt. If you would like to see what all the chat is about, you can go to http://www.snapchat.com and try out the app. You can download this application on any of the latest smartphones, I-Pods, I-Pads, etc.