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Saydelphic The Newspaper of Saydel High School VOLUME 53 ISSUE 1

Homecoming Queen Sadie Thompson and King Aron Anderson pose for a picture before the football game begins.

Saydel High School

5601 NE 7th Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50313

www.saydel.k12.ia.us

Like us on Facebook: Saydel High School

Follow us on Twitter @SaydelHS

Homecoming 2013

“When the Lights Go Down in the City”

(Homecoming

collage)

by Skylar Clausi

Saydel students spent their week dressing up to show school spirit during Homecoming Week. All in all,

throughout the week not only did we see western folk and wacky people, but we also had a twin invasion.

We even threw back to the days when people used to wear togas! On Friday everyone dressed with green

and gold to show school pride.

Monday – Western Day Tuesday – Twin Day

Wednesday – Wacky

Day

Thursday – Throwback

and Senior Toga Day

Friday – Green and

Gold Day

Sophomores Makenzie Pyles

and Betsy Breitbarth dress

up for Western Day.

Sophomore Brett Guy and

senior Cody Gilleland dress

up as twin dinosaurs.

Senior Nevi Zerkle dresses up

like Luigi for Wacky Wednes-

day.

Juniors Emma Bowman and

Gabbie Richards dress from

the past on Throwback Day

(Toga Day for seniors).

Juniors Kaley Kuehl and

Maranda Bear wear green

and gold outfits to show

school spirit.

by Skylar Clausi

Throughout the week Saydel students participated in several Homecoming events during the school

day as well as in the evenings. The events that were held included a cookout, powder puff game, carnival,

and a jersey auction.

Western Day Cookout Powder Puff

Assembly

Jersey Auction Homecoming Court

Students from all grades show up to

cookout before school on Western

Day.

Senior Evan Andrews goes up

to auction off his football jer-

sey.

The cheerleaders work hard

to pump up the crowd at the

pep rally on Friday.

Freshman and sophomores play

each other during the powder

puff game Thursday.

The 2013 Homecoming Court

poses for a picture the night

of the dance.

Sophomore Allison Furman

poses with her friends Betsy

Breitbarth and Taylor Swank

on Western Day.

Junior Michael Miles wheels

his way around school on

Wacky Wednesday, dressed as

a hospital patient.

Sophomore Parker White and Junior

Sydney Samples dress in matching

bumblebee costumes on Twin Day.

Junior Lizzy Miklus poses

with her baby doll and pacifi-

er in her pajamas on Throw-

back Thursday.

Science teacher Mr. Mike Yeoman shows

his Saydel pride by painting his face green

and gold on Green and Gold Day.

Homecoming Week. At Saydel High School, this is

everyone’s favorite week of the year. From painting the

hill, grilling breakfast in the parking lot on Western Day,

going to and playing in the Powder Puff and Homecoming

games, and of course the dance, every year is bound to

be memorable. But what all has changed since we got

here? What used to be the traditions? One thing that’s

new to us this year is not having a parade, but to some of

the alumni, that’s old news.

Mr. Chris Mund was a senior at Saydel in 2001. He

remembers Homecoming Week as always being fun and

quite a big deal. “Juniors and seniors painted the hill.

That has always been a big tradition for us, but by far my

craziest memory was when we TP’d the school. One of

the kids got a huge round hay bale and put it in the en-

trance of the school. It fit in there perfectly, and there

was no way around it.”

Besides painting the hill, there are other im-

portant traditions that go on still. “Coronation of the

Court happened on Thursday night in the auditorium. I

was on the court will all my friends, so it was fun. All of

us guys had Burger King crowns, so when my friend was

crowned king, we all wore our BK crowns. It got a good

laugh,” Mr. Mund remembers. This year, coronation took

place on Friday night during pre-game.

In the past years, the Homecoming Game was on

Friday night, and the dance was held on Saturday night.

This year, we went back to having the dance on Friday

after the game. “When I was a senior, Friday was the

biggest day of the week. We would get out of class early

to compete in the Homecoming Olympics, which was a

bunch of obstacles and competitions by class. We had

the Homecoming Game that night, which in my opinion,

was the best part, and then the dance afterwards. It was

semi-formal, just like what it is now. The girls wore

dresses and the guys wore nice pants and ties. The only

people who got really dressed up were the court, and

they wore suits and fancy dresses,” Mr. Chris Mund

remembers. Homecoming Week has definitely had a

little re-vamping since 2001, but for the most part, it’s

pretty similar to how it is now. Toga Day is still a part of

it. “My favorite dress-up day was Toga Day because it

was basically a rite of passage of being a senior,” stated

Mr. Chris Mund. Until 2010, couches were allowed within

the concourse for the seniors to sit on and relax. They

were also allowed to decorate the hallways. Then it was

realized that it was a fire hazard, and the couches were a

no-go. By far, Homecoming Week has changed in many

different ways, but one thing will never change: the

excitement and wildness that Homecoming Week brings.

Mr. Chris Mund

and a fellow court

member pose for

a picture before

the 2000 Home-

coming Dance.

Football is all about teamwork, well , aside from tackling the opposing teams and scoring

touchdowns. Football teams are more than just a team: they're family. The goal of our football family is to

constantly improve. Senior Aron Anderson, a team captain, says that is what the team is looking forward to

the most this year.

This year’s team took the first win in four years! The team beat the Clarke Indians at their own field

with a score of 46-27. After the incredible win Aron stated: “We came together as a team. We quit the

childish and selfish attitudes and became a brotherhood. Also, we gave it our all every minute of practice.

Without our great coaches we wouldn't have gotten it together.” One coach, Mr. Jason Alons, thinks the

hardest part of going out and winning like this every time is “getting over the mindset that this is Saydel and

we are beat before we go in, and what’s proven difficult is trying to change that within the community.”

Wondering which students are leading the team this year? Well, seniors Aron Anderson and Jake

Figgins, and junior Clayton Sommers, are the team captains. Coach Jason Alons thinks the captains are

“adapting well to their new role in responsibility, and they are handling problems that come up well

without the coaches’ involvement.” Aron Anderson says being team captain is “amazing because it's great

to see the past four years of hard work I've put in have been recognized and the team chose me as one of

their leaders.” His goal as a team captain is “to be a leader. Not only on the field but off the field as well.

Also, not just with football but our actions in class and in public.”

The football team is working hard this year, giving their all at practice and out on the field. Come

support our Saydel Eagle football players Friday nights!

by Skylar Clausi

A look at the line of

scrimmage before the

snap in the Colfax-

Mingo game.

by Courtney Hill

Saydel volleyball is off to a great start this year! The team consists of two seniors and 13 juniors.

They have been working extra hard to make sure this season is the best it can be. “Not only are we

working hard during practice, but a couple of girls have been working hard after practice as well, staying

after practice to work on specific goals in small groups. This has had a big impact and has shown great

improvement. Also, as of this past winter, our volleyball program is now year round. We have AAU teams

that play 5-6 tournaments over the winter. In the spring, we have open gym once to twice a week, and

over the summer there is a strength and conditioning program that I do for volleyball players. We had on

average about 10-12 players that would participate in all or some of these programs,” explains Coach Lisa

Leon. Great improvements have been made already, and hopefully will continue throughout the season.

One thing that was different this season is Pink Out Night. As you may know, the volleyball team

sets up one game each year where everyone, including the team and the crowd, dress in pink for Pink Out

Night. They sell pink breast cancer shirts to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. This year was

slightly different. Instead of breast cancer, they decided to raise money and awareness for a lesser known

cause, ovarian cancer. Coach Leon said, “Breast cancer gets so much awareness. Ovarian cancer needs

more awareness, I believe. I have a very good friend who suffered ovarian cancer and survived. I have

been wanting to do it since last year and just decided that this year was the year.” The main color for

ovarian cancer is teal. So instead, they had a Teal Out Night.

Whenever you get the chance, make sure you go to a game and cheer on our volleyball team! The

team can agree that it is very important to have a loud, supportive student section, so help make that pos-

sible! The next home game is Tuesday, October 8, against PCM at 6:45 pm. Don’t miss it!

Senior Alyx

Andron

serves the

ball.

Junior

Brooklyn

Allgood

encourages

her team-

mates.

Juniors

Courtney Hill

and Brooklyn

Allgood

block a ball

hit by the

opponent.

The team

shakes

hands after

the game.

XC Saydel by Nick Dolan

The 2013-14 Saydel cross country season has been underway since August

29, although the invitational meet at ISU that day was cancelled due to triple digit

temperatures. The team’s first meet was Tuesday, September 3, at Dallas-Center

Grimes. The boys came in 5th place overall with an average time of 19:48, while

the girls put forward a good time also with an average of 20:46:60. Junior Casey

Roberts was the fastest Saydel boy with 18:31, and fellow junior Cassie Chubb was

the fastest girl with 19:18. Both of them set records for the history of the school

with fastest times. Our most recent meets include ADM on Monday, September

23, and the invitational at Roland-Story on the 26th, where we competed with

schools such as Madrid, Perry, and Bondurant-Farrar.

Mr. Steve Gebhart, Saydel’s cross country coach and former Saydel cross

country runner, is looking forward to both. “I’ve already seen fast improvement

between this year both boys and girls,” he said. “You can already see by our team

scores as compared to last year that they’re getting better. Individual times are for

the most part getting lower and faster.” Coach Gebhart is “looking forward to con-

ference and districts at the end of the year. All the other meets leading up to those

two are part of my practice plan for the team. Early meets are important but there

is a progression.” He likes coaching cross country “because the athletes that are

out for cross country truly want to be there. Cross country is not a sport for the

weak-minded because mentally it wears on you more than any other sport can. It’s

also black and white as far as competition between runners. If I have seven varsity

spots, they’re going to my fastest runners.”

This year’s home meet is October 17, and the final meet will be November

2. Be sure to come out and support your Saydel cross country team!

Far left: Freshman Lyndsay Bianchi holds her

5th place medal from the cross-country meet

at Roland-Story on September 26.

Left: Junior Joey Hassett, junior Casey Rob-

erts, freshman David Parker, and senior Kyle

Walter holding their medals from the same

meet.

Meeting the New Saydel Staff Mr. Eric Layden

Ms. Suzanne Lindaman Ms. Suzanne Lindaman

Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a band teacher?

A: “Seeing a group ‘get’ something that they had been struggling with in the past. When they realize that they can actually do it, or when the group has their first successful run-through of a section or a piece of music, the excitement in the student's fac-es is awesome to see!”

Q: What's your favorite instrument?

A: “I have two ... trumpet and piano. They were both my primary instruments in college; I gave a junior trumpet recital and a senior piano recital. I can't pick my favorite between those two!”

Q: What is your favorite thing about Saydel stu-dents or our school?

A: “My favorite thing about Saydel so far is that the school is small enough so that everyone knows eve-ryone, but large enough to give the students oppor-tunities that they would get at a larger school.”

Q: Do you have any advice you'd like to give to the students of Saydel?

A: “Join band!”

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a school librarian?

A: “I enjoy being a librarian because I love books and technology, and it is a great way to mix the two. I al-so appreciate that moment we all have when we learn something new and that light bulb goes off in our brain!”

Q: What’s your favorite book? And why?

A: “I don't know if I can name only one book. There are too many great ones and it depends on the mood I am in. I also love everything from picture books to non-fiction. I would say that a good horror story is my favorite when I just want to relax.”

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Saydel students or our school?

A: “I have always taught in districts where I can get to know the people around me. I am glad that Saydel is not a huge school. I also like to see the pride people take in their school.”

Q: What do you teach?

A: “I was hired to be a master teacher at the high school. A master teacher helps support staff members with the implementation of the TAP system. Before taking this position, I taught engineering and industrial technology classes.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?

A: “I have enjoyed working collectively with staff mem-bers to better understand effective teaching practices and provide support.”

Q: What's your favorite thing about the Saydel stu-dents or our school?

A: “I have worked in large school districts in the past, so I value the size of Saydel. Further, the staff mem-bers have been welcoming and supportive of new staff members during their professional transition.”

Q: Do you have any advice for the students of Saydel?

A: “Take advantage of the opportunities you have at Saydel by getting involved in the school. The experi-ence and relationships you gain from the time spent will pay dividends for you in the future.”

Mr. Joshua Heyer

by Nicole Axtell

and

Cassie Lee

Question & Answer

Interviews

Ms. Teresa Bowlin (cont.)Ms. Teresa Bowlin (cont.)

Ms. Annie Gallaher

Meeting the New Saydel Staff Mr. Josh Corwin Mr. Josh Corwin

Q: For the people that don't know, what classes do you teach?

A: “I teach Building and Construction, Intro to Con-struction, and CAD.”

Q: What do you enjoy about teaching?

A: “I enjoy preparing students to enter the real world. Although I'm here to teach students, I feel that I learn a lot from them.”

Q: How many years have you been teaching?

A: “This is my third year.”

Q: Do you have any advice for Saydel students?

A: “ Respect your teacher, respect your classmates and respect yourself.

Q: What class do you teach?

A: “I teach Geometry and Essentials of Algebra 1.”

Q: What do you enjoy about teaching?

A: “I enjoy teaching with so many awesome individuals every day, helping my students really get the material, and seeing them grow.”

Q: How many years have you taught?

A: “This is my first year.”

Q: Do you have any advice for Saydel students?

A: “My advice is to work hard then have fun.”

Ms. Teresa BowlinMs. Teresa Bowlin Q: What is I JAG ?

A: “IJAG-Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates, it is a class that helps in 3 areas: employment, which consists of how to fill out an application and deciding what career best fits your values/interests; exploring jobs through field trips, volunteering and having class speakers; leadership/team building with the main objective of keeping students on task of graduating and bringing up grades.”

Q: What do you enjoy about teaching?

A: “Keeping students in school and graduating, explor-ing college/other training options for after high school.”

Q: How many years have you been teaching?

A: “This is my first year working in a class setting. I

have 11+ years working with youth.”

Q: Do you have any advice for Saydel students?

A: “There are many opportunities in the world. Take

advantage of those opportunities that you may be giv-

en and enjoy life positively and remember there is al-

ways someone there to help you if needed.”

Mr. Brett HersomMr. Brett Hersom Q: Q: What is different at Saydel than other schools?What is different at Saydel than other schools?

A: A: “It’s more of a community. It’s smaller and eve-“It’s more of a community. It’s smaller and eve-ryone knows each other.”ryone knows each other.”

Q: Q: What do you enjoy about teaching?What do you enjoy about teaching?

A:A: “Day to day interaction with students.”“Day to day interaction with students.”

Q: Q: How many years have you been teaching?How many years have you been teaching?

A: A: “This is my 17th year.”“This is my 17th year.”

Q: Q: Do you have any advice for Saydel students?Do you have any advice for Saydel students?

A: “A: “To always set goals that you can achieve.”To always set goals that you can achieve.”

Top: Color guard and hornline stand in

their opening set.

Bottom: The pit jams out during one of

the home football games.

by Riley Hayes

Every day at six thirty in the morning, the marching

band is outside perfecting their fall show which is titled

“Water Night”. It’s set in the time frame of the 1950s, which

you may infer from the color guard uniforms and field props

such as park benches and light posts. With the weapon line

spinning and tossing actual umbrellas, it has a very “singing

in the rain” feeling. Even the hornline joins in at the very

end for umbrella fun.

The competition season has started for the band and

believe it or not it is over half way over. On September 28

they travelled to Fort Dodge and received first place in their

class, best color guard, best drum major and best wood-

winds. This weekend they will be competing at the Urban-

dale Marching Invitational. Future shows include ValleyFest

day show and showdown on October 12 and IHSMA state

contest and Ankeny on the 19th to wrap up the season.

“When we arrive at competition, before a perfor-

mance our rehearsals are focused and intense. You can feel

it in the air,” says drum major Nevi Zerkle. “Finally, as we

stand at attention on the field waiting for the salute to be

called, there is a sense of oneness, calm, and adrenaline. It is

a fantastic feeling to see all of our hard work come together

at a show.”

While every morning the band may be learning dots

and straight line paths, they also learn more valuable life les-

sons. It teaches them dedication, teamwork, and excellence.

It’s a fun journey for the band and when they walk into com-

petitions, they know that not even the rain can stop them.

Come out to one of the band’s competition to sup-

port them or stay to watch their show during halftime of a

football game. You won’t be disappointed.

David Parker, freshman

Where did you go to school last year?

“I went to Woodside middle school.”

What is your favorite subject?

“History.”

What do you like best about our school so far?

“Cross country.”

Are you in any sports?

“Basketball, track, and cross country.”

Rylie Farwell, junior Where did you go to school last year?

“Lincoln High School.”

What is your favorite subject?

“Science.”

What do you like best about our school so far?

“Basketball season that is coming up.”

Are you in any sports?

“Basketball.”

Annaliese Barton, freshman

Where did you go to school last year?

“Woodside Middle School.”

What is your favorite subject?

“Science; I like learning about the human body.”

What do you like best about our school so far?

“Having classes with multiple grades.”

Are you in any sports?

“Basketball, track, and softball.”

Madison Wolf, senior Where did you go to school last year?

“Werwick, in Virginia.”

What is your favorite subject?

“Science, it is closest to what I want to do.”

What do you like best about our school so far?

“I know most the people.”

Are you in any sports?

“No.”

New Kids on the Block by Sam Bullock

I don’t cry often. I just don’t, it’s not in my nature. And of all the times I

have cried, I can count on one hand the number of times that I’ve cried (or

almost cried) because of a book. The Fault in Our Stars adds another finger to that

hand.

The Fault in Our Stars (written by bestselling author and video blogger, John Green) is narrated by cancer patient

Hazel Grace Lancaster, as she proceeds with dying and obsessing over her favorite book. That is, until her adventures begin

with Augustus Waters, “a gorgeous new plot twist” in her rather predictable life story. (Goodreads.com)

The thing that makes this book so incredible isn’t so much in the plot or the characters (even though those are both

also amazing), but in the emotions that it invokes in the reader. Everything about the book, from

the emotions and actions of the characters, to your own, just feels very real. As Ms. Anne Gal-

lagher puts it: “It’s a very good book, very authentic. I hadn’t read something like this before, and

the ending’s not what I’m used to getting.”

After reading this, I would have to agree wholeheartedly. Eventually, after you

read so many newly published YA books, you can guess the plot two pages in. It gets extremely

predictable, the characters, the plots, the ability to read through it and get over it in a cou-

ple of days. This book is different in that it breaks the mold. Your main character is unique

in that she’s surviving cancer. She’s not pretty. She’s not cool. She doesn’t have a hot

non-human creature stalking her.

The main guy isn’t a hot non-human creature (hot, yes, non-human, not quite.). He

doesn’t stalk the heroine. He’s charming, fun, unique, and intelligent. He actually cares about the

heroine, even going so far as to read her favorite book, rather than revealing that he’s a vampire, or whatever. He’s someone

that has a life outside of being the main character’s love interest (which has become increasingly rare lately).

As for the plot… Oh, goodness, the plot. Where do I even begin? Also, if I do figure out how to begin, how can I do it

without giving too much away? I suppose, in five wonderful words supplied by Mrs. Gallaher, “Emotional, challenging, per-

spective-changing, funny, and sad.”

One can’t really add much more to the summary without giving too much away (“Don’t look up spoilers!” as senior

Olivia Hockey advises), but it’s enough to say that John Green’s reputation as an incredible author is well deserved.

What makes John Green so fantastic is his ability to take what teenagers are feeling (all the loneliness, the sorrow,

the longing) and compress it into one book. When asked who she would recommend it to, Mrs. Smith stated: “I think all teens

feel like they’re on the outside, so I would really recommend it to all of them.

Hazel’s vulnerability makes her so identifiable. So I would definitely recom-

mend this to any teen who feels like they’re on the outside.”

That statement perfectly sums up what is so touching about that

book. It takes all the ugly things you feel, and compresses it into one easily

readable, highly entertaining, touching book. So when it’s one of those days,

and you need someone to listen to you, or you just want to curl up with some-

thing to do, give The Fault In Our Stars a try. You won’t regret it.

A Book Review by Paige Schmidt

Mrs. Anne Gallaher, first year teacher at Saydel

High School, who endorses The Fault In Our Stars.

by Nick Dolan

“

What Did You Do Over

Summer Break?

“

I started staying up later and later until I eventually

became nocturnal. -Adam Sparks, junior

“

I rode my horse every other weekend when I was

spending time with my mom. -Kasi Frideres, junior

“

I went tubing at Saylorville Lake with some of my

friends. -Alex Scott, sophomore

“

“

“ -Cheryl Smith, Spanish teacher

-Kenne Cleghorne, freshman

Over the summer I went to Missouri with my dad for a

trip and we ended up moving my uncle out to

Missouri.

I toured Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

I went to a workshop for AP Spanish teachers. It

was both challenging and exciting, and I learned a

lot.

I got caught up on my TV shows and reading during

my free time.

-Tucker Watters, senior

-Kyle Luttenegger, English teacher

Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.

Cats sleep 16 to 18 hours per day.

The most common name in the world is Mohammed.

When you die, your hair still grows for a couple of months.

The most money ever paid for a cow in an auction was $1.3 million.

The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing their hands in jelly.

1 in 5,000 north Atlantic lobsters are born bright blue.

by Courtney Hill

by Riley Hayes

My favorite thing about fall is...

The Yearbook and Newspaper class pose for a photo.

Skylar: “The colors of the leaves, the weather, football season

and bonfires.”

Randa: “Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks.”

Cassie: “The weather.”

Paige: “The temperature outside.”

Sam: “The clothes you can wear.”

Riley: “Marching band competitions and Hawkeye football.”

Nicole: “The colors of the leaves.”

Courtney: “Volleyball and getting to wear sweaters.”

Nick: “The cooler weather.”

Mrs. KB: “Going to the apple orchard every year with my son.”