High School Assembly - Volume 7 Issue 5

Academics | Extra-Curricular

College Prep | College Cash Savings

College Prep | AIB Spotlight

Student Life | Staying Classy At Prom

Student Life | The After Prom

Student Life | Summer Employment

Entertainment | The Hunger Games

2928 Ingersoll Ave.Des Moines, IA 50312PH: 515.283.1933FAX: [email protected]

VOLUME SEVEN | ISSUE FIVE

MIKE RICKORD | [email protected]

JOHN STREETS | Business [email protected]

LISA PRINGLE| Sales [email protected]

TIM WEIDEMAN | Editor

ETHAN CLEVENGER | Staff Writer

ADAM OESTREICH | Art Director

So you’re preparing for the big night; it’s probably just around the corner. Or maybe you’ve already had it. You’re probably still talking about — PROM! It’s sort of a big deal; at least everybody wants you to think so.

Prom comes with so much to consider. What suit or dress should I wear? Who should I ask? Where are we going to go out to eat? Should we rent a limo?

Oh so stressful. But it shouldn’t be.

Just relax and have fun! That’s what prom is supposed to be. It’s a night to relax and have a blast. Don’t forget that. It’s your prom. You’re supposed to have fun.

I remember from my high school days you could always tell when prom was coming up. The prom dress catalogs and websites start popping up and the popular discussion is always who asked whom. Something about prom lends itself to excitement. That excitement comes with a whole lot of completely unnecessary stress, though.

Want to know a couple secrets? There is no written law that says guys need to wear a suit. Prom can be just as fun in a nice shirt, dress pants and a tie — and the boys will all take off their ties during the dancing, anyway.

There’s also nothing anywhere that says a date is required. You might be surprised. Going with a group of friends can often times create many more memories than going through the motions and traditions of coming with a date. Hint: Your pics will be much more spontaneous and feel less obligatory.

If you have a significant other, however, I’d suggest for the health of your relationship that you not tell them you’re just going to go with friends. Unless they’re OK with that, then it’s cool.

Now, I’m not suggesting anybody take an entirely rebellious approach to prom. In fact, everyone else will enjoy themselves much more if you don’t show up with a date with surgically affixed horns on his head (yup, that happened my junior year … awkward).

I am suggesting you relax, maybe try something different or out of the box. You’ll have better stories to tell and more memories to share at the end of the night. That’s what prom night is really about.

Finally, thanks for browsing High School Assembly. Our staff works hard to recognize Iowa high school students’ achievements and recognize them for the effort they put into all extra-curricular activities. For more info on what’s going on inside and outside Iowa high school classrooms, make sure to head to www.highschoolassembly.com.

Thanks for reading, Tim Weideman

MAKE IT SPECIAL: SPICE UP PROM NIGHTBy TIM WEIDEMAN - EDITOR

Table of Contents

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Public school students across the United States participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities:

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTSDo these clubs, teams, and organizations support the academic mission of our schools? In a paper looking at predictors of academic giftedness, research has found that gifted students appear to spend their time out of school participating in constructive activities. The research disclosed that a “50 percent increase (in the odds of being gifted) was related to involvement in extra-curricular activities.” Involvement in extracurricular activities also helps at-risk students. Research indicates that engagement in school extracurricular activities is linked to decreasing rates of early school dropouts in both boys and girls. Such participation provides marginal students an opportunity to create a positive and voluntary connection to their school. Conversely, other strategies typically used to address the needs of at-risk students, such as school dropout prevention programs and remedial education, focus on the deficits of students and serve as a catalyst in the formation of deviant groups. The researchers strongly believe that involvement in extracurricular activities may support the at-risk student by maintaining, enhancing, and strengthening the student-

school connection.

RAISING ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLSDifferent kinds of activities have varying abilities to control school dropout rates. Students who participate in athletics, fine-arts activities, and academic organizations were an estimated 1.7, 1.2, and 1.15 times, respectively, less likely to drop out than those who did not participate. Athletic participation reduces the probability of school dropouts by approximately 40 percent. For example, the probability that the typical person in the sample would drop out of school is .0487, but if this same person participated in athletics, the estimated probability would be .0299. The impact of fine-arts participation for the typical person’s estimated probability is reduced from .0487 to .0415, or 15 percent. One research team looked at male and female high school students who participated in interscholastic soccer and who did not engage in another sport or major activity at the conclusion of the soccer season. They discovered that female participants in season maintained a GPA of 87.7 mean (M) with a 5.6 standard deviation (SD). Out of season these statistics dropped to 87.5 M with a 6.4 SD. The male participants in season maintained a GPA of 84.7 M with a 7.5 SD, and out of season their GPAs dropped to 83.8 M with an 8.7 SD. These data show that participants had significantly higher GPAs in season than out of season. The girls earned higher GPAs than did the boys, but the boys’ GPAs rose significantly in season versus out of season. The study supports the belief that

involvement in athletics for high school students does not endanger, and may enhance, academic performance. Research of students who did not participate in extracurricular activities with those of students who were moderately active found that this difference in participation level is associated with outcome differences of .582 SD in social self-concept and .390 SD in academic self-concept. Evidently, participation in extracurricular activities, even those not obviously associated with academic achievement, leads to increased commitment to school and school values, which leads indirectly to increased academic success.

PARTICIPATING FOR SUCCESSMost research suggests that extracurricular activities provide all students—including at-risk and gifted students—an academic safety net. It’s been said that eliminating the opportunity for such participation eliminates the last link to fostering a sense of belonging to school that some students have.” Educational decision makers must look at the consequences of denying students the right to participate in order to get them to “work harder in the classroom.” These kinds of exclusionary policies may well damage overall achievement and work against those students who could benefit most directly from involvement. Instead of cutting these programs when faced with budget squeezes, school districts might find that these activity programs are worth their weight in gold because they help students stay in, and succeed at, school.

Ethan ClevengerStaff Writer

Extra-Curriculars

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While you can’t control the cost of college tuition, there are smart ways of saving money for college that can start as early as your freshman year of high school. Read on to see how your high school academics can affect your college bottom line.

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMICS COUNTSEmily Sole of Traverse City, Michigan, handed over more than six hundred dollars to Wayne State University for a remedial math class that won’t even count toward graduation. She blames herself for not taking her high school math seriously. “I took Algebra II with a bunch of my friends and I just goofed off,” she admits. She took geometry her junior year but passed on math her senior year because she wanted to take more classes that matched her interests, primarily business classes. Now as a college freshman studying business administration, she regrets that decision. She spends five hours a week in a computer lab going over math basics she should have mastered already.

UNPREPARED COLLEGE FRESHMENColleges routinely test incoming freshmen to gauge how prepared they are for college work. According to a report published by the American Diploma Project and Achieve, Inc., almost seventy percent of college instructors reported spending time reviewing material with their students that students should have learned in high school. The same professors estimate that half of the incoming freshman class is unprepared for college-level math and writing. Why? Many college freshmen who feel unprepared for college admit that they didn’t work hard in high school.

HOW DIFFICULT COURSES CAN PAY OFFJim Levasseur from Mount Carmel, Illinois, took six Advanced Placement classes in high school and entered Bowling Green University with thirty-three credits. Since thirty-three credits

is the equivalent of a whole year of college credit, he entered school not as a freshman but as a sophomore and saved himself an estimated $21,700 in out-of-

state tuition and room and board at the school. Since tackling these challenging courses also helped Levasseur improve his scores on the PSAT, he earned a full ride National Merit Scholarship that will pay the rest of his way through school. Having the required courses behind him lets Levasseur take classes he is

more interested in sooner, including classes in his major of computer animation. He can also register for courses as a sophomore honors student, practically guaranteeing he won’t get shut out of any classes. This calmed his nerves about making the transition to college. “It’s sort of like a big head start,” Levasseur explains. “I was confident in my ability to do work at the college level.”

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6 Volume 7 Issue 5 Visit us on the web @ www.highschoolassembly.com

CAREER TRAINING. MONEY FOR COLLEGE.

AND AN ENTIRE TEAMTO HELP YOU SUCCEED. Talk to a recruiter today, and see how the Air Guard can help you succeed.

Excited about going off to college soon? While the thrill of independence and adventure is enticing, don’t be surprised to discover challenges involving more than just classes, professors and exams. Going to college is a total game change. It can mean leaving behind most of the people you know and learning to make your way on your own in a strange new town. Moving from quiet, familiar

neighborhoods to Des Moines’ maze of highway interchanges, one-way streets, skywalks and high-rise buildings can make your head spin at first, too. But current students at AIB College of Business in Des Moines have found the transition is quite manageable. Here’s what they

say about what changes were hardest for them – and what they wish they’d known before venturing off to college.

HOMESICK BLUESNo matter how eager you are to escape from your parents and your hometown, those ties can be pretty strong. You’ll never know how deep the hooks are set until you try to pull away. “The biggest transition from high school to college for me was being away from my family and friends. I never imagined I would miss Carroll this much,” said Breanna Haberl. “I have been surrounded with loving and caring people all my life in Kalona, and to all of a sudden be two hours away from them was quite a struggle for me,” agreed Kayla Duwa. Even though many students feel the small class sizes and intimate campus at AIB made their transition easier, they still had to deal with distancing themselves from the old and familiar. “Volleyball was a huge help,” says Shelby Sommerla, who went from knowing everyone in Malvern to knowing hardly anyone at college. By taking part in AIB’s growing athletics program in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), she found the support

and friendship she needed to handle moving halfway across the state. Because AIB has no Friday classes,

many students slip back home on the long weekends. But some don’t. “That’s not me,” says Jessica Lepird of Estherville, in northern Iowa. Yes, she misses her dog, Jake, and her family, but she handles it by immersing herself in her schoolwork, school organizations and three part-time jobs. She also embraces all that Des Moines has to offer, such as shopping, restaurants and events in downtown area, the East Village and Valley Junction.. “I go out and explore,” she says.

“I love to see what is going on around town.”

FOOD AND SHELTERFor many college kids, food and shelter equate with cafeteria menus and dorm rooms. “I would hate to live in a tiny dorm room that you have to share with two or three other people,” says Shelby. She

Rodney J. BrownAIB Communications

What Students Wish They’d Known Before Going to College

College Prep

Breanna Haberl

Kayla Duwa

Shelby Sommerla

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greatly prefers AIB’s apartment-style housing, with a kitchen, bath, dining area and bedrooms. “I think that these apartments give students a sense of freedom that doesn’t come with a dorm room,” says Stephanie Taylor of Tama. “It makes students really feel like adults, like they are actually grown up and on their own.” Freedom brings its own challenges, though. “Dad isn’t here to fix that flat tire you get on I-235,” says Kayla Gratopp of Marshalltown. “And Mom isn’t here to make your favorite homemade chicken pot pie.” Kayla Duwa laments not learning to cook earlier. “I wish my mother would have taught me how to make full meals for myself before coming to school,” she says. Breanna got lucky; her roommate cooks for her almost every night. Others had to learn quickly to fend for themselves in the kitchen or fall back on pizzas, takeout or the campus eatery – the City View Diner. But spending too much on eating out can cause problems, too. And speaking of money woes …

MANAGING MONEY“Before beginning college, I wish I would have known how to set a budget for

myself and manage money better,” says Stephanie. “I wish I would have known what gas prices were going to be,” Shelby adds. “Money goes fast,” Jessica says. “I knew how to save before I went to college, but even saving isn’t enough. You have to learn to find deals and learn to know what you need and not what you want. I’m still working on that.” If she had realized how many expenses she would have at college, Breanna says she would have spent her money a little less

freely on what she now considers “junk” in high school. “I also would have found a bank account with a higher-paying interest rate,” she says. But Kayla Gratopp discovered she didn’t need to spend a lot in order to have a good time in Des Moines. She enjoys a walk around Gray’s Lake, which is just a few blocks from AIB, and all the free entertainment events that are held in the surrounding park. Many students take

advantage of AIB’s “Degree in 3” program to cut their college costs. “I love the fact that I can earn a bachelor’s degree in three years,” Breanna says. “It’s saving me a lot of money and allowing me to start my career a year earlier than my high school classmates.” As full-time students, they also are eligible for AIB’s Tuition Freeze, which locks in one tuition rate for their entire college career. And while they’re learning to save, the students also are learning to earn. Almost all AIB students have at least a part-time

job. They’re acquiring the cash they need now while building skills for the careers they desire after college. Through real work experience and preparation from business-focused classes at AIB, these students become confident that they can handle whatever surprises lie ahead after college graduation.

Photos Provied By:AIB College of Business

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Jessica Lepird

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Gentlemen, the day has come. You may have planned dates, gone on dates, messed up dates and executed dates to perfection. But never has she worn this dress, there’s never been this crowd, and the pressure has never been higher. Maybe there’s never even been this particular “she”. Perhaps this is your jumping-off point for a fruitful relationship. Hopeless romantics aside, prom should be a night to remember where you showed a girl (or guy, ladies) a fantastic night, and as with any date, dinner can be an important opening move. Subway won’t impress anyone, so let’s look at some more appropriate options here in Des Moines. Best case scenario: you or a friend has a pretty nice house with a big dining room table. Several couples are getting together there where someone’s parents are sacrificing their time to put together salads, a main course and desert. This way, pictures can be taken right there before leaving and you don’t feel intruded upon by folks out doing their regular dining while you’re trying to be the only people in the world for an evening. The intimate setting is ideal. If

that isn’t an option (and many times it’s not), Des Moines is plenty big with lots of restaurant to please even the pickiest of dates. As a forward, entrées are going to run $15 and upward for this list in most cases – prom is the one night in high school to splurge. For a variety of selections, you might look at simply heading down towards Jordan Creek. Cheesecake Factory is perennially delicious, though I would avoid perusing the mall to avoid adding to the usual rabble of mall-rats that the adult community looks down on so much. Perhaps stray a bit further down the block

to Bravo or P.F. Chang’s. Avoid Joe’s Crab Shack, as the environment is anything but romantic (but maybe that’s not what you’re looking for). Also, it’s pretty messy considering you’re probably renting that tux. For a more intimate setting than Jordan Creek Mall, there are many options. Nick’s Bar & Grill located on University down from Valley West Mall is anything but a traditional bar and grill. It definitely feels like a nice sit down place featuring a variety of food options, warm wet napkins with your ribs and a pretty hefty plate with any order.


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Next up is Café di Scala, a contemporary and romantic Italian restaurant in a century-old Victorian mansion just west of downtown. This place prides itself in using local, seasonal ingredients and the pasta is homemade daily. For this reason, the menu can be slim and is constantly changing, but keep your mind open because whatever you order will probably be delicious. Centro is another downtown attraction. While the specialty is Italian, you can get a variety of entrées here and it’s pretty nice. If you

aren’t already aware, it’s a Des Moines staple for fine dining and is a classic decision. Also downtown is the Court Avenue Brewing Company. It’s in an old saddle manufacturing building, and so the architecture is really cool – the high ceilings are an immediate eye-catcher. They feature some awesome beer pretzels on the appetizer menu and have a lot of space for larger groups. If you’re looking for sushi, check out Miyabi 9 in East Village. It’s certainly the best sushi in Des Moines drawing glowing reviews, with several self-proclaimed sushi aficionados giving it their best marks nationwide. Make sure everyone is okay with sushi before heading here, since that’s pretty much all you can get. No matter where you go, there’s always the moment the check arrives. Play your hand carefully. If you’re going as friends and will probably never go on another date, she’ll probably insist

on paying her half, and while that would make sense, a true gentleman and good friend will pick up the tab for this special, one-time-only occasion. If it’s the beginnings of a flowering relationship, this would also be the route to take. If you’ve been dating

since freshman year, there have likely been nights like this before, and you may have reached a stage in your relationship where no one is trying to impress anyone anymore – it’s become a given. In this case, should she insist on going Dutch, let her be independent for the night.

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Take it from someone who’s been there: prom is not all it’s hyped up to be. There is absolutely no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on attire and no reason to cry if you go by yourself. In all honesty, a group of friends is probably more fun anyway. No, the dance itself is probably not going to be the single-greatest moment of your high school life. However, this does not mean that there isn’t a level of excitement that comes with it. The rush of this rite of passage for seniors can fuel something that may in fact be worth remembering. Meanwhile, graduation represents the culmination of your life thus far. The cap, the gown, the pictures and the parties – and not going back to school. Graduation is a reason to celebrate if there ever was one. Both of these awesome events come coupled, more often than not, with late-night antics to burn off the excitement and anticipation. That night can go really well, but it can also go depressingly poorly. To ensure a night worth remembering (and that you will, in fact, remember), consider a few of these tips.

CAMPFIREIt’s just getting warm enough for outside activity to be fun again, and being in Iowa presents prime outdoor activity opportunities. If you know someone

who lives out in the country, get your friends together, pool some hot dogs and marshmallows, and make a night of campfire talks and reminiscing that you won’t forget. This can also be coupled with sleepovers or camping out – a last chance to be a kid before heading off to college or a career.

BOWLING ALLEYThis is pretty self-explanatory. Hit a local bowling alley and play a few rounds in your formal wear after prom. Some bowling alleys even host a black light bowl on weekends, and if this is something you’ve never tried, give it a shot after the big night.

BREAKFASTIf you’re out later, Denny’s and Villiage Inn start looking really tasty. Eggs and pancakes are, in fact, better at one in the morning, so drop into a late-night eatery (in your formal wear, of course. Everything is better in formal wear) and grab a bite to eat. Where I’m from, we liked to hit up an area truck stop.

SCHOOL-SPONSORED PARTIESOften times your school will offer a party after prom or graduation for students. If this sounds lame, work with your student council to organize a not-so-lame version. Popular attractions include karaoke, casino games, euchre tournaments, sumo wrestling, Velcro walls and tons of other great fun that can only be done with your school’s budget. A quick internet search will yield numerous entertaining options.

AFTER-PROM DON’TSDon’t get wasted. We here at High School Assembly understand that our opinion isn’t going to stop you from having some drinks with your friends, regardless of age and risk, but at least realize that both of these nights are supposed to be ones to remember, and if you don’t remember it, what fun was it, really? Don’t mope around about something at prom. We’ve all been there, and we know it’s tough. Your old girlfriend or boyfriend may have had a different date to prom or some other scenario, and it can be a hard pill to swallow, but your friends aren’t going to want to sacrifice their night because you don’t feel up to having a good time. Buck up and make the most of the grand evening ahead. Don’t have impulse sex. Neither prom nor graduation means “get laid”, contrary to popular belief. Save it for someone you love and hopefully someone you plan on or have married. If nothing else, use protection. Sex has consequences. Gentlemen, you are probably renting your tux for prom. Don’t get it dirty! A tuxedo is expensive enough to rent, let alone pay for it if you damage it. While our after prom suggestions that involve your formal wear are fun, remember to be careful. If you tend to be a messy person, perhaps changing would be for the best. Whatever you decide on doing, make it a fun and memorable send-off to your high school years.


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The leading cause of death in young Iowans, aged 16-20, is fatal car crashes. The Iowa Department of Public Safety-Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau

(GTSB) is focused on helping deter one of Iowa's and the nation's bleakest statistic: Nationwide, a total of 58,000 drivers ages 16-20 were involved in fatal crashes; crashes which took the lives of 6,400 individuals. Additionally, in 2009,

41 young people ages 15-20 were killed in Iowa fatal crashes.

Several factors contribute to these unfortunate statistics:

Distracted Driving - Texting While Driving - Alcohol UseDistracted Driving - Texting While Driving - Alcohol UseSpeeding - No Seatbelts - Inexperience


Looking for Summer Employment?

The school year is winding down and it’s getting to be time to occupy yourself for the summer. For many students, that means getting a job to fund the next school year or a first year of college. Summer employment is a fickle beast with a select crop of jobs from which to choose. Fortunately for you, High School Assembly is here to make that a bit easier. If you aren’t working a part-time job during the school year where you can pick up some more hours in your sudden wealth of free time, consider some of the following jobs. A perennial favorite – especially in the Midwest – is to pick up a job as a corn detassler. While this is a temporary job for a couple weeks

mundane, sure, but it’s easy enough and out of the hot sun. Many young people went to various camps in their childhood through scouting, church or other avenues. Veterans of such camps are always in high demand to come back as counselors and generate awesome experiences for the new crop of campers. If you enjoyed camp, you’ll enjoy being a camp counselor. Proficient swimmer? Get your lifeguard certification and hit up local pools for jobs. You are suddenly a commodity if you’re certified. This is another way to get tan and enjoy the pool all summer long. These are only a few suggestions. The reality is that there are lots of places out there looking to pick up a summer employee or two, and high school students not looking for a career are perfect for these positions.

with brutal hours, it pays pretty well. Get out in the sun and get your tan on, drop a few pounds moseying the rows of maize and sleep in the rest of the summer on that fat paycheck. This can sometimes lead to extended summer employment doing odd jobs around the farm. If you’re a sports person, see if you can nab a job calling games or doing umpire work for a baseball league at the local YMCA or other organization. They’re always looking for high school help. You can sleep in with this one since most of these games take place at night. There’s a little training involved, but it’s certainly more entertaining than working the fields. Alternatively, you can pick up

a position doing concessions for a professional team like the Iowa Cubs.Sometimes the local public schools will hire on high school students to help custodial staff get the schools ready for next year. Depending on the size of your school

district, this can be an 8-5 all summer, and any 8-5 will result in a solid check after doing your time. The work is pretty

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The Hunger Games - “The Games Will Change Everyone”

“The Hunger Games” hit theaters last month to the sheer enthrallment of many of its fans, and as far as those fans are concerned, it’s a hit. The film grossed the third-highest opening weekend in history behind only “The Dark Knight” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”. I got a chance to go see this film, and it’s a bit odd to review. From acting to filming, nothing is strikingly flawed about this movie, and so most of the commentary I have to offer would be more appropriately aimed at author Suzanne Collins. Consider this then perhaps a two-in-one sort of review. First, the good. This movie says a lot of good things politically. The conservatives hail it as a victory for its depiction of oppressive big government. At the same time, one can’t help but get an Occupy feel from the disheveled citizens of the various districts – a markedly liberal movement. Additionally, the big government could just as easily be viewed as stratification of the upper and lower class, which is a decent argument for taxing the rich to get the poor off of their feet. Perhaps the film points out some common ground the two parties would do

for names like “Katniss” and “Peeta”, which is so close to “Peter” it’s stupid. It’s literally what Lois sounds like when she’s yelling at Peter in “Family Guy”. These futuristic abominations make every effort to detract from a movie with an otherwise strong voice. The ending is also extremely frustrating. It nearly upends everything the movie has tried to say, and in some ways does, but I wager that that’s why there are sequels on the way that will quell any such concerns. Overall, a decent movie. I’ve certainly seen better, but I’ve definitely seen worse.

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well to find, as any such ground has long been forgotten in today’s world of cookie-cutter representatives and gotta-win attitudes. Similarly we see criticism of pocketbook politics. The players can have all the skill in the world, but they have to play nice with sponsors to get any benefit. Put on that fake smile to get what you need. Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. It’s eerily reminiscent of corporate lobbying happening today in an effort to manipulate politicians. While the film portrays many valuable themes along these lines, it’s easy for those themes to get overshadowed. For what reason has the seemingly arbitrary decision been made to make the future completely outrageous and unlikely. I find it hard to believe a day will come when neon blue hair plastered in a curl to your forehead will be the ‘in’ style, and current tanning fads point everywhere except the powdered-white mistress. And finally, why have today’s names disappeared? Names like “John” and “Adam” have been around for hundreds of years, but suddenly they were dropped

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HOW MANY?How many empty seats in the class room does it take to change your mind?How many empty seats at graduation does it take to change your behavior?How many times do you have to grieve the loss of a friend, classmate or relative?

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