Editor In Chief Holly Sanders Editor In Chief Lily Riehl Design Editor Cory ThomasonBulletin Editor Nick HerndonFYI Editor Chris MohrLife Editor Jordan TannerIn Focus Editor Ashley McGeeSpeak Up Editor Amanda FisherBuzz Editor Patricia OkontaSports Editor Cody ClawsonGraphic Designer Nathan EllermeierGraphic Designer Shiloh MorenoPhotographer Jamila St. AnnConvergence Connor HickoxAds Manager Patrick McDowellAdviser Lori Oyler

ReportersHaley SheriffShelby CurtisMacKenzie SackettSam SuttonMaddie ChristieJacob BlandJaeJae ShawKelley RoweAnnie RuckmanMat George

Our Mission for the 2010-2011 school year is to inform, entertain, and educate our readers; to provide opportunity for the community to express attitudes and opinions; to provide an educational opportunity for both the students who produce The Bell and those who read it; and to provide a medium for commercial messages. The Bell student newspaper is a public forum of student expression.

200 Blue Jay Dr.Liberty, MO 64068-8300

thebell@liberty.k12.mo.us

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The Bell Staff Our Mission Contact UsThe B

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Reporter MacKenzie Sackett briefs the student body on the brand new parking rules.

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Sophomore Shawna Kingston got a chance of a lifetime to visit impoverished areas in Thailand.

Student athletes put effort into training as they prepare for their fall sports seasons.

inside...

photo essay by Sam Sutton Haiti was the final destination for seniors Jake Ohlhausen and Cameron Riemensnider with nine others from Liberty Christian Fellowship, including FACS teacher Jody Fowler. The group was gone from June 21-28 to help in their sponsored orphanage. “The kids at the orphanage have the same needs we do but there is not much difference between them and us. We all need the same thing: Jesus Christ. The people of Haiti can see this much more easily than we can because of their lack of material possessions, whereas we let our things satisfy us imperfectly and allow them to get in the way of us finding joy and satisfaction in Jesus alone,” Riemensnider said.[photo supplied by Cameron Riemensnider]

CLOSE UPWith the separation of high schools, we need to reconnect to our school identity. Can you help find our mascot? The first person to find and bring the hidden Blue Jay to Room 101 during sixth hour will win a prize.

Find the Blue Jay

story by MacKenzie Sackett The 2010-2011 school year has brought forth many changes for students. These do not only deal with the separation of high schools but also affect the daily routines of students staying at Liberty High, one being the new parking rules and regulations. In past years at Liberty High, only juniors and seniors were eligible to park on campus. This year will be the first year that sophomores will also be allowed. This new rule has got a variety of students upset. Some are angry because when they were sophomores they were not allowed to park, while others are concerned that there may not be as many parking spots available as there used to be. “As a sophomore, yes I do like that sophomores can park, but that’s only because I can drive. Many sophomores aren’t old enough so it’s not very effective,” sophomore Kelsey Lewis said. One new regulation upsetting students is that students are not being assigned a specific parking spot this year. Instead, parking is on a first come, first serve basis. “I made the change because I want

students to get here on time. Parking is a privilege and I want to make sure students who make good decisions get rewarded,” assistant principal Dr. Greg Mees said. Students’ who register to park get a sticker on their car that allows them to park at any spot in their assigned zone on campus. “I really hate the idea of having to go to school early just to get a spot,” senior Kylie Bradley said. “There are going to be a lot of fights for a

parking spot and it’s going to turn the parking lot into chaos.” Not all students are upset by the new changes. Some students like that they are not designated a parking spot.

“I like the new regulations. I’m at school early so I will get good parking spots,” junior Ryan Barmann said. As this school year progresses, students will hopefully adjust to the changes and maybe even come to like the new parking rules and regulations. “I think all in all everyone who needs a parking spot will get a parking spot and it will all work out well,” Barmann said.

I like the new regulations. I’m at school early so I will get good parking spots. -junior Ryan Barmann

New parking regulations bring new concerns to students. DID

you know?

There are 750 total parking spots on campus.

PARKING WARS

Out of the 1,714 students, 681 are seniors, 529 are juniors and 504 are sophomores.

Out of the 449 students, 210 are juniors and 239 are sophomores.

There are 490 total parking spots on campus.

With the new parking regulations that are set in place for the 2010-2011 school year, some students are disappointed with the change. “The parking lot is going to be very chaotic this year,” senior Kylie Bradley said.[photo by Holly Sanders]

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SHAWNA KINGSTON

What type of work did you do on the trip?

What was the best part of the trip?

What did you learn during the experience?

What was your favorite activity?

What is one memory from the trip you will never forget?

We went to the slums and got to play around with some kids.

Getting to ride some elephants and working with kids in the orphanage.

How to just love on the kids and give them attention.

Getting to ride elephants and playing volleyball against the kids at the orphanage.

Seeing the kids smile. They were so bright and happy but on the inside they were all sad.

During the summer, the usual vacation includes a beach and fun in the sun. However, for sophomore Shawna Kingston her summer vacation included going to Thailand and visiting children in an orphanage to spread God’s word.

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“This was the first slum we went to. At this time we were just running around with the kids and getting to know them more,” sophomore Shawna Kingston said.

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story by Mat George It is a dream of many to visit China. On June 2, this dream came true for 55 Liberty High School orchestra students and 26 adults. Their goal was to perform on the Great Wall of China, but along the way they got to experience new customs, new people and new food. Mary Lou Jones, better known to students as MJ, is the Liberty High School orchestra teacher. She was invited to bring her orchestra to perform because of her international reputation with other conductors. The group flew for 16 hours to Beijing, where they stayed for three days. During this period, the students played at the Great Wall of China on the Ju Yong Pass. Kimberlin Degoosh, a senior violinist, was most excited to be able to play on the Great Wall. “I think we all were a little nervous, especially when we heard the first [Chinese] orchestra that had been planned played at a higher level than us. We had to remember that orchestra is all they do. They don’t get to play sports or any other extracurricular activities,” Degoosh said. Students in China mainly focus on one academic area. Next, they flew to Xi’an and stayed for two days. They and a middle school symphony were supposed to perform at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda but it was canceled due to weather. Their last performance was with two other local orchestras at the Xi’an Music Conservatory. When they had time, they visited Tiananmen Square, famous for being the location where students leading a 1989 protest were killed by Communist government soldiers. They also visited the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Terra Cotta Warriors. Sophomore Emily Duncan was able to play the cello on the Wall. “It was pretty intimidating to be playing with all these incredibly talented and dedicated orchestras from a different country. There was definitely a lot of pressure on us, and everyone had to put in 110%. I do think we pulled it together though and performed very well,” Duncan said. Although the students had a lot of pressure on them it was all worth it in the end. “Just to be able to say I’ve played cello on the Great Wall of China makes me feel pretty boss. Everything from the culture, the food, the environments, buildings, styles, attitudes, language and music was so different from what we’re used to, and it was incredible to be totally immersed in it all. This was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I was very grateful to be a part of it,” Duncan said.

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story by Holly Sanders Ten grueling hours on an airplane have passed and 20 students are sitting in anticipation, waiting to arrive in a new world of food, fashion and romance; a place none other than France. On June 7, a group of French students, teachers and chaperones embarked on a ten-day journey to France. With so much to do in so little time, the students were only able to spend a couple of days at each destination but were still able to experience the culture and get away from their hectic lives at home. “My favorite part of the trip was the atmosphere. The whole French mentality was much more relaxed and focused on enjoying life, unlike my crazy and hectic schedule here in Liberty,” junior Jordyn Seigfried said. The group’s trip started out in Paris where they explored famous monuments and were able to apply their knowledge of the French language more than ever before. “We started out in Paris for three days and essentially got thrown into a situation where we had to use our French to get by in the city,” senior Erin Howard said. “It was incredible to stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower and in front of the ‘Mona Lisa‘ all in the same 24 hours.” With the first three days gone, the group traveled south to the city of Tours on the TGV, the high-speed train that travels all throughout Europe. This stop was, for many students, one of the most scenic parts of the trip, as they were given the opportunity of being surrounded by the beautiful countryside. “Once we took the TGV bullet train south through Provence, I had fallen in love with France,” Howard said. “Wild poppies line the countryside and you can buy fresh lavender and fruit at the village market every morning.” For the last days of their trip, the group traveled to the very southern point of France to the beach city of Nice where markets lined the street. “The beach was beautiful and there was so much to do there,” Seigfried said. “We went to a farmers’ market and a fantastic gelato place with hundreds of flavors. I went ahead and tried all the weird flavors because where else would I be able to try cactus or rose flavored ice cream?” After the ten exhausting and liberating days were over and the students finally arrived home, all they wanted to do was go back and experience more of the French culture. “By the end of the trip, I fell in love with the country,” Seigfried said. “Now I just need to find an excuse to pack up and move there and I will.”

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MONSTER MASH

review by Haley Sheriff

Lady GaGa’s Monster Ball Tour provides more than a great show for fans.

To be honest, I had no idea what I was in for. This was my first time going to a concert at the

Sprint Center, and as that concert was Lady GaGa’s notorious Monster Ball, there was nothing to expect except the unexpected. But with the throngs of people dressed up in colorful wigs, glittery masks, fishnet panty hose, caution tape or even as GaGa herself, I was sure I was not going to be disappointed. The concert began with Semi Precious Weapons, a self-proclaimed rock-n-roll group, as the opening act. The energetic, spiky-haired singer successfully roused the crowd for GaGa as his screechy wailing, dim songs, and poor dancing only seemed to make the fans that much more eager for his performance to end and GaGa’s to start. Finally, ten grueling minutes after the opening act ended, the Monster Ball began. It was more like a musical than a concert, as there was an actual story line. GaGa and her friends were on their way to the Monster Ball when their car (which, when the hood was lifted, became a piano) broke down. They then had the bright idea to take the subway, only to get lost and end up in what they referred to as a very strange, very dark and evil place. When GaGa finally saw their

destination, all of her friends chickened out at the last minute and abandoned her, leaving her to face the Fame Monster, a humongous electronic creature with at least six wriggling tentacles and glowing eyes and teeth. But with the help of her beloved fans (her Little Monsters) and the tune of “Paparazzi,” she was able to defeat it and go to the Ball. From “Dance in the Dark” to the grand finale of “Bad Romance”, GaGa kept the crowd on its feet. With flashing neon signs, flaming pianos and of course fake blood, there was never a dull moment. I felt I truly got my money’s worth, not only because after each show GaGa and Virgin Mobile donate $20,000 towards helping homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth, but because she actually sang rather than lip synced each and every one of her songs. It was even more impressive that she was able to change into so many of her unique outfits, which consisted of extremely pointed shoulder pads, sparkling one pieces, full body suits and even a mystical butterfly-like ensemble, in such little time between each song. Overall, this was probably the concert of the century and deserves five out of five twirls of a disco stick.

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“To be completely prepared for a concert you need a wild voice. You need to be loud and crazy to scream and sing along throughout the entire concert.”

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- senior Abby Fish

“Out of everything needed for a concert, glowsticks are definitely the most important so that you can party all night and be seen throughout the venue.”- junior Joey Wheelhouse

“To go to any concert you really should take a camera. It’s always important to catch good memories of the show and time with friends.”

- sophomore Randi Richardson

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Lady Gaga preforms “Love Games”, one of her many hit singles, to thousands of screaming fans. [photo by Haley Sheriff]

Coming Soon!

to Bette’s Hallmark8500 N. Church Road

Kansas City, MO 64157(816) 407-9885

Welcome Back

Jays!

A Few Too Many “Surprises” in One Year The end of summer is always the worst with the thought of another school year approaching. As students enjoyed their last few days of freedom, the school decided to inform them on a few “surprises”, giving them an even more negative outlook on the upcoming year. The new open parking and lanyard IDs are just some of these surprises that many students and The Bell staff are concerned with. There has not been open parking at Liberty High School since the 2005-2006 school year and the school district has now decided to bring it back. Although the change was made to reward students who arrive at school on time, to the Bell Staff it still does not make much sense. There will always be some students who arrive late to school. It is inevitable. In essence, open parking may even make students later to class than usual. With every spot filled, finding a parking spot may take students much longer than expected, therefore making students late to class even if they arrived to campus on time. For years, seniors have traditionally been given better parking spots due to their seniority, and with open parking those privileges are taken away. Since very few seniors are

It took a short line and four letters for a small (but weighty) truth to hit me. For the first time in my twelve years of attending Liberty Public Schools, I was forced to check either LHS or LNHS on a form (my parking form if you care to know). I no longer attend a school district with a single high school. Granted, this move has been a long time coming. Liberty High school has slowly transformed from the spacious pride of the district to a suffocating cracker box with 400 too many kids. I think in the joy and “new school smell” of Liberty North we have lost sight of what another high school is truly doing to the small town nature of Liberty. Gone are the days of committing potential

federal offenses by shutting down 152 for the homecoming parade. No longer is it guaranteed that no matter what junior high you attend you will end up at the same place. I have had to ask the question, “Which high school are you going to go to?” multiple times this summer and that weirds me out. I am going to be a member of the last full graduating class of Liberty High School, the last remnant of the town unity that comes from a single high school. As someone who can proudly say that they have lived in Liberty all seventeen years of their life, that makes me sad. I would gladly choose a suffocating cracker box and town unity over a brand new school that breaks up the town any day of the week.

End of an Era

Cory ThomasonDesign Editor

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traveling between schools, the closer, reserved spots seniors usually have may go to mainly sophomores and juniors. Not only is the new open parking a big deal, but also the new IDs. Students are now required to wear their IDs on a lanyard at all times during the school day for safety precautions., as well as to buy lunch and check out books in the library. For the safety aspect, we, the Bell Staff, think this is a little excessive. We understand that people will be traveling between schools and the faculty needs to know who is entering and leaving the campus, but wearing a lanyard is not going to prevent strangers from getting into the school. What will happen when a student forgets their ID? Will students actually be sent home to retrieve them? And how will the administration be able to spot a student without one in the midst of crowded hallways? These are the questions that concern the Bell staff. There are so many changes happening this year, and for students to be open to change, it must come gradually, not all at once. The Bell Staff believes the transition from one high school to two will be hard enough without more changes thrown at us. This may just a little too much “surprise” for one year.

STAFF EDITORIALare in favor of the new parking rules

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The articles on these pages do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the entire Bell staff. Please feel free to comment, criticize or condemn anything you see on this page in a Letter to the Editor at thebell@liberty.k12.mo.usThe author of any letter must include their name.

are opposed to the new parking rules

story by JaeJae Shaw Everyone knows the saying “the early bird catches the worm,” but in this case, the early bird is sweating vigorously. Whether it is for football, cross-country, tennis or softball, student athletes know they have one thing in common: summer morning conditioning. These athletes run miles on end, lift weights, finish a set or hit a line drive before most of Liberty is awake, all to prepare for their fall sports. For a football player, training begins at six in the morning on the football field and ends at ten for 25 days. The Athletic Development Program, ADP, allows the athletes to excel in a variety of different areas. It is broken down into four categories: speed and agility training, weight training, nutrition meetings and leadership meetings. These categories help prepare players for the upcoming season. “Summer conditioning helps build mental toughness and gives you the willpower in the fourth quarter to keep going even though you are tired,” senior Caesar Smith said. Attendance is not mandatory for ADP, but coaches find that it is beneficial for the athletes to attend to be fit and committed to the program.With padded scrimmages, players

have the opportunity to get a head start on their opponents and get ready for the season. “During our 25 days, we also had a seven-on-seven league on four different days and two padded scrimmages against North Kansas City, Staley, Excelsior Springs and Platte County,” coach Chad Frigon said.

Not only are football players hard at work, but also the girls’ softball players. With every repetition, a softball player’s one goal in mind is to get stronger and outlast their opponents. A week after school was out for the summer, softball was getting ready for the season. “[We were there for] an hour in the weight room and an hour in the field actually practicing,” senior Tayler

Bernholtz said. “We are just trying to get better and ready for the season.” Upon exiting the weight room, the team practices hitting the ball and catching pop flies and ground balls. With only two weeks off from training, the players are set on improving their speed, hitting power and arm strength. The cross-country team has also

been hard at work with their training starting on the last day of school. Many of them, whether training with or without the team, have been running non-stop all summer long. “We are up at six in the morning getting ready for the season,” senior Cody Troy said. “With the conditioning it gets you in shape for the long season.” The first 20 minutes are spent stretching and warming up. Then

the runners set off on a voyage of vigorous uphill and long distance running for almost an hour. This in turn prepares the team for the upcoming season. “Summer conditioning puts you ahead of runners during the season and gives you that edge over people who may not have been conditioning as hard as we have,” senior Matt Armstrong said.

Summer conditioning helps build mental toughness and gives you the willpower in the fourth quarter to keep going even though you are tired. -senior Caesar Smith

RISE AND SHINELiberty fall sports prepare for the upcoming season.

“Coming in at 6 a.m. everyday is worth the feeling on a Friday night,” senior Marvin Black said.[photo by Jamila St. Ann]

The Bell |

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