features
Freshmen looking forward
INTERVIEWS & VIDEO BY CALLIE SPICE
Calling All Music Students:
There’s an End of the Year Music Banquet!
WRITTEN BY FREEDOM GOBEL
On May 11 from 3-5 p.m., the entire music department (Band, Choir, Orchestra, and General Music) is invited to the end of the year banquet in celebration of their successful year. “The music banquet is our end of the year celebration for the music department where we give out awards, have our annual band versus choir dodge ball tournament, and we have an ice cream sundae social. All music department students can attend!” band teacher Mr. Adam Murphy announced. “We ask students to bring in extra toppings so that our sundaes can be ridiculous.” |
As always, along with the banquet comes the choir versus band dodgeball game, and Mr. Murphy has high hopes for his band students. “Seven years ago the band challenged the choir to a dodgeball game for bragging rights. It has expanded to a multi-round bracket championship where the best choir goes head to head against the best instrumental group for the privilege of displaying the trophy, and old bass guitar, in their room for the next school year,” explained Murphy. “The band will win because we have a secret dodgeball training facility in the basement of room 135 where "Eye of the Tiger" is being played continuously on loud speakers 24/7 and we eat only a strict diet of sprinkles, chocolate sauce, and sixteenth notes. Plus we practice by dodging wrenches while dancing to the Bolero,” he continued. |
The music department has earned the banquet, as they have been recognized for their hard work and dedication on many occasions. “In November, our school was recognized by the Grammy Awards as a the 2015 Wisconsin Grammy School of Recognition. In February, we were nominated for 10 Tony Music Awards for Musical Theater. In April, I was awarded an Herb Kohl Teacher Fellowship which means I get to buy $3,000 worth of synthesizers for our school. There are even more nominations in the works!” said Murphy.
If you’re a music student, attend the Music Banquet at 3-5 p.m. on May 11 in the auditorium, gymnasium, and the cafeteria where you will be recognized for your hard work, and of course, “It’s free ice cream.”
If you’re a music student, attend the Music Banquet at 3-5 p.m. on May 11 in the auditorium, gymnasium, and the cafeteria where you will be recognized for your hard work, and of course, “It’s free ice cream.”
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Murphy commented, “Music is a motivator for students to attend school daily. Any day that you are absent is a missed opportunity to improve your personal skills or to gain new understanding about how to perform a piece of music. And because we make music together as a team we can only perform as well as our weakest link. This creates social opportunities for students who might not play on an athletic team to work together towards a common goal.”
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“I like showing students the benefit of working hard so that we can play hard. It is artistically rewarding to put a lot of time and energy into making music and performing at concerts but it is even more fun to celebrate our accomplishments as a group. Getting together at the end of the year is a nice way to close our busy year,” he continued.
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2016 exams are almost here!
CREATED BY JACKIE JONES
Why This Election Is Different
WRITTEN BY BASHIR ADEN
This is the 57th presidential election in United States history. Every 4 years the United States stops what it’s doing to focus on the next two people campaigning for the presidency. In 2008 it was Barack Obama and John McCain, before that George W. Bush and John Kerry, so why does this one feel different? Over the past year, we have seen four major shifts in political campaigning that make this election one that will not be forgotten.
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1.Donald Trump & Outsider Politicians In less than a year, the antihero of the election, Donald Trump has changed the political environment. While his actions in the media are debatable, it is impossible to ignore what Donald Trump represents. Donald Trump is currently the leading candidate for the Republican party, all while having no political history. Trump has never held any office and has no history in politics or foreign affairs. This can be argued as a good or bad aspect, however, it is clear to see what the mindset in millions of Americans is. The idea of a politician that isn’t already a part of the government is admirable to many voters this year. Hate him or love him, Donald Trump has created a change in american politics that will definitely affect elections to come. |
2.The First Timers This election is especially different because of the diversity of the candidates. Similar to the popularity of Barack Obama, the American people want to see a different type of candidate be president. If Hillary Clinton were to win the presidency, she would be the first woman president the US has ever had. If Bernie Sanders were to win, he would be the first Jewish president. Ted Cruz would be the first Hispanic president, and Donald Trump would be the first president with no past political experience. Whoever wins this election, the most popular candidates show that America is ready for something different in politics. |
3.Small Donor Impact Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are the two most polarizing candidates this election. They both have an overwhelming support from their fans. One of the appeals about these candidates is the lack of “big business” support. Both of them don’t have any Super-PAC or exterior funding from massive corporations. They both get funding from small donors and fundraising from citizens. If this trend of individual donations becomes a decider in this election, we could end up seeing this as an important factor in upcoming elections. |
4.Social Media Impact Social media is showing to be an important factor for gaining support in this election. Something unheard of for previous elections, the impact social media has had on this election is huge. Popular hashtags and Facebook trends have been circulating the internet in favor for whichever candidate. Candidates have gained a lot of momentum from using the internet and social media is showing to be a big help in campaigning. |
get politically educated
WRITTEN BY EVA SZOCIK
a vote will rock your boat
WRITTEN BY CHEYENNE RUPERT
There are many ways that you can help your favorite candidate win, such as:
- Phone-banking
- Rallies
- Canvassing
What is phone-banking?
Phone banking is where you call people from other states to encourage a large voter turnout. Whichever candidate that you may side with, there is a way for you get out and help them win the primaries!
What is rallying?
Rallying is when the presidential candidate comes to town, and a lot of people come together to watch them speak, and support that person! (In Wisconsin, our primary has passed us up, but if there is another nearby state that you are able to travel to in order to attend a rally, go for it!
What is canvassing?
Canvassing is the process of walking around neighborhoods, encouraging people to go out and vote! You can canvass with another person, or with a group of people!
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To volunteer for Hillary Clinton's campaign: https://www.hillaryclinton.com/volunteer/ To volunteer for Bernie Sanders campaign: https://go.berniesanders.com/page/signup/volunteer-for-bernie To volunteer for Ted Cruz’ campaign: https://www.tedcruz.org/volunteer/ |
To volunteer for Donald Trump's campaign: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/volunteer To volunteer for Jill Stein’s campaign: http://www.jill2016.com/volunteer To volunteer for John Kasich's campaign: https://www.johnkasich.com/volunteer/ |
staying sharp over summer break
WRITTEN BY MADELYN DRURY
TAKE it from the team: summer
WRITTEN BY CORI KRONSCHNABEL
“What did you do over the summer?” is a classic question asked by almost every teacher at the start of the school year. Some people say they went on trips or visited family, while others say that they did nothing. That is impossible! No one can do “nothing!” Whether it’s playing video games all day or reading a book for hours on end, you still did something. “Nothing” sounds and is quite boring. No one wants to hear about a summer vacation where you did nothing!
This month, the members of the Husky Howler are answering these questions - What do you have planned to do over summer vacation? What do you want to do? Is there anything you don’t want to do? The possibilities are endless!
Cori Kronschnabel
Over summer I am going to have to go all the way to Highland Falls, New York to drop off my brother at West Point United States Military Academy. I will miss him very much, but it’s an amazing college opportunity for him and he’s very excited for it. Over the extent of the summer I will be working - sounds boring, but I love my job! I work at all the festivals that take place on the Summerfest grounds, and I make pretty good money. Other than that, I will be relaxing, teaching myself how to longboard, wasting my time playing video games, and not being stressed out.
Alexxus Hart
Over the course of the summer, I am going to try and spend as much time with family and friends as possible. I'm going camping with my mom's side of the family at Devil’s Lake, and also I will be going camping with a few of my neighbors. Also during the first three weeks of summer, I'm going to take drivers ed and possibly even get a job.
Cheyenne Rupert
This summer, I plan on getting a job to help pay for my trip to Austin, Texas in October to see the Formula One races. I also plan on going to Hollywood, Florida for two weeks to visit my grandparents! I am applying for Carroll University in July, and I will know if I got accepted by the time the first month of senior year ends, which I am super excited and nervous for! Besides that, I plan on doing a lot of volunteer work for CAS, and to relax! I also would love to start exercising, and to become more active!
Claudia Spice
I plan on enjoying the warm weather and traveling as much as I can this summer! You will find me at Six Flags, Summerfest, or by the lake. I also want to tour some more colleges and just enjoy every moment!
Callie Spice
I want to go to the beach as much as I can because I love the sun! I also want to start running a lot and dedicate myself to getting healthier this summer.
Chloe Haapala
I want to enjoy my free time, and really relax over them summer, maybe paint a bit. I don’t want to waste it all sitting indoors everyday.
Gabby Newton
I plan to live it up this summer, enjoying a much needed break from IB-related stress. I can’t wait to take trips to colleges, workout, chill, and adventure with my friends! I also hope to get involved in volunteer work and take advantage of the nice weather. (:
Morgan Stark
This summer, I plan to stay in Wisconsin and take many trips with my family. I am also very excited to go up north to Minocqua again; this my family’s and mine 9th summer there! I also plan to kayak my days away or try and relax with a good book/ show on Netflix.
Mrs. Moore
I’m super pumped for this summer! Mr. Moore and I have a lot of small and big trips planned! We’re going to go up north to the UP a ton, which our dog, Buddy, loves and I hope it’s super warm, so we can enjoy being in the lake as much as possible! I plan on running a lot; my brother-in-law and I are going to run the Rock ‘n Role Summerfest ½ Marathon in June. Then in July, we’re roadtripping down to North Carolina for my mom’s wedding, and we’ll visit the Smoky Mountain National Park while we’re down there! I hope to spend a lot of time with family and friends while being outside! :)
This month, the members of the Husky Howler are answering these questions - What do you have planned to do over summer vacation? What do you want to do? Is there anything you don’t want to do? The possibilities are endless!
Cori Kronschnabel
Over summer I am going to have to go all the way to Highland Falls, New York to drop off my brother at West Point United States Military Academy. I will miss him very much, but it’s an amazing college opportunity for him and he’s very excited for it. Over the extent of the summer I will be working - sounds boring, but I love my job! I work at all the festivals that take place on the Summerfest grounds, and I make pretty good money. Other than that, I will be relaxing, teaching myself how to longboard, wasting my time playing video games, and not being stressed out.
Alexxus Hart
Over the course of the summer, I am going to try and spend as much time with family and friends as possible. I'm going camping with my mom's side of the family at Devil’s Lake, and also I will be going camping with a few of my neighbors. Also during the first three weeks of summer, I'm going to take drivers ed and possibly even get a job.
Cheyenne Rupert
This summer, I plan on getting a job to help pay for my trip to Austin, Texas in October to see the Formula One races. I also plan on going to Hollywood, Florida for two weeks to visit my grandparents! I am applying for Carroll University in July, and I will know if I got accepted by the time the first month of senior year ends, which I am super excited and nervous for! Besides that, I plan on doing a lot of volunteer work for CAS, and to relax! I also would love to start exercising, and to become more active!
Claudia Spice
I plan on enjoying the warm weather and traveling as much as I can this summer! You will find me at Six Flags, Summerfest, or by the lake. I also want to tour some more colleges and just enjoy every moment!
Callie Spice
I want to go to the beach as much as I can because I love the sun! I also want to start running a lot and dedicate myself to getting healthier this summer.
Chloe Haapala
I want to enjoy my free time, and really relax over them summer, maybe paint a bit. I don’t want to waste it all sitting indoors everyday.
Gabby Newton
I plan to live it up this summer, enjoying a much needed break from IB-related stress. I can’t wait to take trips to colleges, workout, chill, and adventure with my friends! I also hope to get involved in volunteer work and take advantage of the nice weather. (:
Morgan Stark
This summer, I plan to stay in Wisconsin and take many trips with my family. I am also very excited to go up north to Minocqua again; this my family’s and mine 9th summer there! I also plan to kayak my days away or try and relax with a good book/ show on Netflix.
Mrs. Moore
I’m super pumped for this summer! Mr. Moore and I have a lot of small and big trips planned! We’re going to go up north to the UP a ton, which our dog, Buddy, loves and I hope it’s super warm, so we can enjoy being in the lake as much as possible! I plan on running a lot; my brother-in-law and I are going to run the Rock ‘n Role Summerfest ½ Marathon in June. Then in July, we’re roadtripping down to North Carolina for my mom’s wedding, and we’ll visit the Smoky Mountain National Park while we’re down there! I hope to spend a lot of time with family and friends while being outside! :)
summer job tips
WRITTEN BY EMMA DUFFY
Milwaukee Events to Kill Boredom and Try New Things
WRITTEN BY LEO ESPINOZA
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Interested in crafts? You should go to the Bead & Button Show where there are workshops on how to make crafts and new techniques to improve anyone’s crafting game. The show does require registration, as well as $35 in order to be able to sign up for the classes. Also an additional $10 entrance fee is required if interested in the marketplace, which takes place starting the 10th. There is a link to register if interested-> here.
Like looking at art and getting inspiration by the lakefront? Then go to the Lakefront Festival of Art, one of the top twenty art festivals in the nation. All that is needed is a ticket which will go on sale in May.
Want to go to the largest music festival in the world!?!?! You don’t have to travel very far to get to it! Yes, Summerfest is just around the corner. With general admission starting at $8 for children and senior citizens and $13 for adults older than 10 years old, it's a great bargain. Go and enjoy the music festival that will have a whole bunch of music for all! Note: it is closed July 4.
Into French culture and stuff? Bastille Days is a festival that celebrates French culture. It has food, music, and dancing. The festival runs from July 14-17 and the best part is that it is free to go in and enjoy the many great things French culture can offer.
Guten Tag! Want to immerse yourself into Deutsche culture? Then go to German Fest and enjoy some German culture in Milwaukee. Eat some German food and enjoy some German music. Get your tickets to German Fest to get your German on.
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Love Jazz? Jazz in the Park is an event which brings good smooth jazz to the ones that want to hear it live. Click on the link to find out more.
Want to learn more about Polish culture? Go to Polish Fest and listen to some traditional polish music, try some polish cuisine, and even learn how to prepare some of the dishes. Cost is $12 at the gate, $10 if you buy them in advance, also on Friday, June 17th, get in for 50¢ from noon to 5:00 pm or $5 after 5:01 that day.
Downtown Milwaukee Fireworks: July 3 Where? Milwaukee Lakefront Want to experience Italian culture in a fun and large way? Then head on down to Festa Italiana. But, not yet, wait until July 22-24 to get your festa on. You will need a ticket to get in and they have an offer for cheaper pre-Festa tickets if bought on certain dates. Just click Ticket Information to get to the ticket info and get buying tickets. So get a crackalackin' and get your tickets to for Festa Italiana and have fun in Italy while never leaving Milwaukee.
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planning an exotic vacation?
CREATED BY JEROMY WILL
mAY DAY
CREATED BY JACKIE JONES
words of wisdom for our seniors
INTERVIEWS BY MORGAN STARK
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Assistant Principal Elhadji
Physics Teacher Mr. Putnam
Assistant Principal Ms. Swan
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Math Teacher Mr. Moore
English Teacher Ms. Overland
Music Teacher Ms. Breitbarth
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Special Education Teacher Mr. Perry
Special Education Teacher Ms. King
English Teacher Mr. Puddicombe
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Letter to the graduating class of '16
WRITTEN BY MR. SILVA
Dear Class of ‘16,
You’ve made it! 4 years of strenuous work is about to pay off. As you scatter across the country ready to make an impact on your respective campus communities, I wanted to take a moment to reminisce with you.
I’m writing this the day after prom, and I’m cracking up imagining how much fun you all had. Yet, I know the end is near. I’m going to miss many of you.
You all hold a special place in my heart. I have anecdotes about nearly every one of you, students of mine or not. That’s how impactful this class became. I absolutely love teaching English 10 and many of you are responsible for that. My first year I came into this school ready to learn, and many of you have taught me lessons that will stick with me forever. I always say it is easier to teach a family member rather than a stranger. Your class taught me that.
Some of you may remember that the first semester of your sophomore year I had you write letters to your future self. It was an assignment that at first seemed cool, but has gained importance, at least to me. You see, I also wrote a letter to myself. Many times when I have my classes write about something personal, it is because that subject is on my mind, and I am using my classes as an idea forum. I think about what I wrote in that letter constantly. I know exactly word for word what I wrote, but that did not take away from the feeling of opening that envelope and seeing the words of encouragement I wrote to myself. The letter reads, “Keep smiling. It’s not that bad. Remind yourself why you do this.” I cracked one of those half smiles. The best kind in my opinion.
At the time, I was in a slump. Year one was starting to stress my 25-year old self into a funk, and it was starting to reflect in my teaching. Teaching felt like a job for a while. The fun was fading. I felt like a puppy that had built up courage to climb some stairs, but then looked back and realized the journey I began was not as easy as I had built it up to be.
Those words ring in my head every time another deadline is approaching or when emails start to flood my inbox or a classroom management problem arises. Then, I think about what many of you are going through right now with the stress of testing, work, and graduation. I see we are not that different. We are all trying to get ahead and pursue our dreams. Add our family, love lives, and friendships, and the need to help each other get through this gains importance.
As the elder, I think about what I can do to help. What words of encouragement or motivational speech can I give to make sure you all understand that the journey you are about to embark on will be hard, yet fruitful. The best piece of advice I can give you is “Keep smiling. It’s not that bad. Remind yourself why you do this.”
Times are going to get tough moving forward. You will encounter obstacles that will make you think twice about what you are pursuing. But that is what happens with all things worth fighting for. If it is easy, be wary. Whether it is love or life, sometimes you will question if the journey is worth it. The answer is for you to decide, but if you feel passionate about what you are pursuing, don’t give up.
Hopefully, by the time this is published I will have handed you the letter you wrote yourself. If not, come and see me. When you read that letter, think about how much you’ve grown and will grow as you move forward. Attack the journey with vigour and enthusiasm. The world needs you, so keep swimming.
I look forward to seeing how far many of you will go. If I have done my job well, many of you will surpass me. Keep in touch and keep smiling.
Congrats and thank you class of ‘16. See you at the top!
Silva
You’ve made it! 4 years of strenuous work is about to pay off. As you scatter across the country ready to make an impact on your respective campus communities, I wanted to take a moment to reminisce with you.
I’m writing this the day after prom, and I’m cracking up imagining how much fun you all had. Yet, I know the end is near. I’m going to miss many of you.
You all hold a special place in my heart. I have anecdotes about nearly every one of you, students of mine or not. That’s how impactful this class became. I absolutely love teaching English 10 and many of you are responsible for that. My first year I came into this school ready to learn, and many of you have taught me lessons that will stick with me forever. I always say it is easier to teach a family member rather than a stranger. Your class taught me that.
Some of you may remember that the first semester of your sophomore year I had you write letters to your future self. It was an assignment that at first seemed cool, but has gained importance, at least to me. You see, I also wrote a letter to myself. Many times when I have my classes write about something personal, it is because that subject is on my mind, and I am using my classes as an idea forum. I think about what I wrote in that letter constantly. I know exactly word for word what I wrote, but that did not take away from the feeling of opening that envelope and seeing the words of encouragement I wrote to myself. The letter reads, “Keep smiling. It’s not that bad. Remind yourself why you do this.” I cracked one of those half smiles. The best kind in my opinion.
At the time, I was in a slump. Year one was starting to stress my 25-year old self into a funk, and it was starting to reflect in my teaching. Teaching felt like a job for a while. The fun was fading. I felt like a puppy that had built up courage to climb some stairs, but then looked back and realized the journey I began was not as easy as I had built it up to be.
Those words ring in my head every time another deadline is approaching or when emails start to flood my inbox or a classroom management problem arises. Then, I think about what many of you are going through right now with the stress of testing, work, and graduation. I see we are not that different. We are all trying to get ahead and pursue our dreams. Add our family, love lives, and friendships, and the need to help each other get through this gains importance.
As the elder, I think about what I can do to help. What words of encouragement or motivational speech can I give to make sure you all understand that the journey you are about to embark on will be hard, yet fruitful. The best piece of advice I can give you is “Keep smiling. It’s not that bad. Remind yourself why you do this.”
Times are going to get tough moving forward. You will encounter obstacles that will make you think twice about what you are pursuing. But that is what happens with all things worth fighting for. If it is easy, be wary. Whether it is love or life, sometimes you will question if the journey is worth it. The answer is for you to decide, but if you feel passionate about what you are pursuing, don’t give up.
Hopefully, by the time this is published I will have handed you the letter you wrote yourself. If not, come and see me. When you read that letter, think about how much you’ve grown and will grow as you move forward. Attack the journey with vigour and enthusiasm. The world needs you, so keep swimming.
I look forward to seeing how far many of you will go. If I have done my job well, many of you will surpass me. Keep in touch and keep smiling.
Congrats and thank you class of ‘16. See you at the top!
Silva
year-in-review with
principal roemer
INTERVIEW BY LEO ESPINOZA
This year has been full of success for us here at Ronald Reagan High School. Becoming the second best high school in the state according to US News, getting a state championship in forensics, as well as other major accomplishments this year. Principal Mr. Roemer describes the year in an interview about the 2015-2016 school year.
| Interview with Mr. Roemer.m4a |