What's Up With That:

Winter Sports:

Mt’ Vernon Boys’ Basketball Starts Strong

The Mt. Vernon Basketball team has completed their first few weeks of games.

Competing at the Clever tournament, The Mountaineers beat Aurora in the first game on Nov 30 and lost to Clever later Dec 1. Next they attended the Arvest Hoopfest in Arkansas where they lost to Rogers Heritage in their first game and beat Clarksville 29-11 in the second game. The tournament was ended early due to weather. Since then they have won against Nevada and Joplin and lost to Fair Grove.

Still early in their season head coach Mike Ray says, “We are still learning what are strengths and weaknesses are but I do know that this group will work hard.”

This year the team has two returning starters: senior Kelly Vaughn and junior Cale Miller. In addition there are four returning lettermen: juniors Zach Jones, Colby Johnston, Slater Eldridge, and sophomore Mason Ballay. Beyond these players, Coach Ray informs, “We have many young players who are working very hard to improve.”

Lady Mt’ Neer Basketball Rules the Court

Since the Lady Mt’ Neer basketball team opened their season at the jamboree November 15, they have only lost one game.

They placed third in the Carthage tournament that took place November 26 through December 1. The team won their first game in the tournament against Hillcrest. They faced West Plains next, falling short five points. In their final game in the tournament they played Har-ber for third and won.

They played Nevada and Hollister on home court since the Carthage tournament beating both, and faced the Arkansas powerhouse Fayetteville at a shootout in Ozark where they lost by 14 points.

Fine Arts:

Mt' Neer Choirs and Band Bring Christmas Cheer Early

Mountaineers Perform their Hearts out at the Annual Winter Concert”

On December 9, Mt. Vernon High School held the annual Christmas concert at 2 p.m. The band and all three choirs performed individual pieces. There were ten pieces total making up this years concert.

Velocity sang “Mary Did You Know,” and “Angels We Have Heard On High.”

Vocal Motion performed “Winter Hymnal,” “Rudolph,” and “Mary Did You Know.” The choir decided not to perform “That’s Christmas to Me” due to the struggle of not getting it quite right.

The band orchestrated “Air for Band,” "Holiday Gallop,” “Them Basses,” and “Still, Still, Still.”

Concert choir belted out “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and "Mary Did You Know."

Overall, this event had a good turn-out. Everything went according to plan and was well organized.

Nerdy News:

Popular YouTube Series Moved to Official Site

Rooster Teeth, a popular channel on YouTube, animated and posted a series on their channel on July 18, 2013. RWBY, written and created by Monty Oum, is a series about the fictional world of Remnant. The main characters are a group of four girls training to be Huntresses or the warriors/peacekeepers of this world. They’re trying to defeat the antagonists along with fighting their own personal battles.

This series just recently reached his sixth season, releasing episodes every Saturday. Rooster Teeth has stopped posting the newest episodes on their YouTube channel and now only release them on their own website. Along with this newest development, people have to wait longer to see previous episodes from season six.

Episodes are still released every Saturday, but in order to view them, you have to be a FIRST member which is a paid membership that gets viewers exclusive benefits. If you are not a FIRST member, then you have to wait until next Saturday in order to watch the episode from last Saturday. You can also view the episodes on sites like VRV which is another pay-to-watch site.

Aquaman, Savior of the Deep and Taker of our Money

Who doesn’t love a good comic book to movie adaptation?

The newest movie edition to join the DC cinematic universe is Aquaman. Released on December 21, 2018, it follows Jason Momoa as the main character and tells the origin of Aquaman: How he grew up, learning who his mother was, and accepting his role as an Atlantean. Although Jason Momoa doesn’t exactly fit the stature of Aquaman himself, there are high hopes that he will play the role well.

Marvel’s Avengers Cinematic Universe Prepares Endgame

After Infinity War left us in the dust, Marvel fans are gathering around phones, computers, and televisions just to catch a glimpse of the first trailer to be released for the newest installment of the franchise.

The part two to Avengers: Infinity War, which is set to release April 26, is titled Avengers: Endgame. So far what we know is that Tony Stark is lost in space, the original and remaining Avengers are on Earth, and Thanos has successfully wiped out fifty percent of all living things.

It has also been brought to the attention of the fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr.’s contracts are up, meaning they may not star in another MCU movie again. With this being the last of the Avengers franchise, we can only hope that the MCU carries on with sequels and other superheroes who haven’t yet gotten their own movies.

Confessions of a Freshman:

School Nurse: How to Combat Test-Time Stress

As this time of stress and holiday blues is here, the school nurse has offered us some tips for how to ride away from it.

How can students de-stress themselves? According to Sarah Salmond, "They can study, drink water, meditate, and take deep breaths."

What are some reasons you think students freak out about finals? Ms. Salmond replied, "They will wait until last minute."

Why do you think we take finals twice instead of once a year? "It's your saving grace that we do it twice instead of once," explained Ms. Salmond.

When do you think we should start studying for finals to relieve stress? "Start studying at the beginning of the year instead of cramming," advises Ms. Salmond.

Mystery Faculty #3

He feels about 80

But he’s the father of a little baby

You’ll catch him snacking on popcorn

And driving an old truck

He once was a delivery driver

Now freshman call him coach

Who is he?

If you feel like you know exactly who this mystery faculty member is, email us at newspaper@mtvernon.k12.mo.us for a chance at receiving a prize!

What's Up With That:

The School Board Plays An Integral Part in Our Schools—But What Is It and Who Does It Involve?

Students Bleed Green to Save Lives

Karrington Lutes

Nathaniel Hudson said giving blood could help the world “by giving kids the blood they need.” Mount Vernon High School does this twice in a school year to make an impact and to save people from potential death caused by blood loss.

Before you donate, there are a few steps to get yourself to. First, you must answer questions about your health on a questionnaire. After you do this you go donate one pint of your blood. While you’re losing one pint of your blood, it will be useful to one person. And don't worry, your body will make more blood so you can donate again next time.

Fine Arts:

Confessions of a Freshman:

Freshmen Need a New Perspective

By Karrington Lutes

Why is high school so different from other schools? Freshman Shylynn Story explains, “It’s a lot less organized, there’s more people, people are nicer.” While we have moved into the next phase of our educational lives, some teachers treat us like adults, and others like elementary students. Though this difference in treatment can be confusing, our behavior in the classroom can influence it in a positive or negative way.

One way to obtain the treatment you want to receive from your teachers is to show them respect. The common saying "give respect, get respect" applies well here. The most effective way to earn the amount of respect you as a student hope for is to show it to your teacher. The opposite is also true. It's no surprise that taking advantage of a teacher, speaking out of turn, or just having a rude manner may led the teacher to expect less of you and take away some freedoms. Respect can be a useful tool when adjusting to a new school.

Mystery Faculty #2

By Hannah Hutchison

She likes her coffee strong

And gets annoyed by laziness and disrespect

You’ll catch her early

Or sometimes right on time

She doesn’t look up to anyone

Because they’re all usually shorter than her

Who is she?

If you feel like you know exactly who this mystery faculty member is, email us at newspaper@mtvernon.k12.mo.us for a chance at receiving a prize!

What's Up With That:

By Tatum Watts

Apple Butter Makin’ Days, annually held on the second weekend of October, just celebrated its fifty-second festival. It's known for craft booths set up all around the square, as well as food, entertainment and a parade, where the ABMD queen makes her debut. Every year a representative queen is chosen for this three-day event, but how is this queen and her court chosen? What is the process, and why did the tradition start?

It turns out, the process is simple and so are the requirements. The requirements to be the queen are as follows: contestants must be eighteen years old or younger, unmarried, must wear a turn-of-the-twentieth-century costume, and must fully complete a contest registration form.

To begin the competition, contestants meet at Mid-Missouri bank for the interview process, during which the contestants are called out alphabetically to meet with a three-judge panel. The judges ask a series of questions and take notes from each contestant's responses.

At the crowning ceremony, each contestant goes on stage and stands before the crowd, waiting in suspense to see if they have been named queen or at least runner-up. The queen not only gets a bouquet and a tiara, but they also get a $150 check from Mid-Missouri Bank. The runner-up gets a $100 check, and the rest of the contestants get a $25 check.

In past years there has only been the queen and her court, but beginning with the festival's fiftieth anniversary, the ABMD princess is now also named.

Congratulations to Capri Dalmas for taking the queen's crown this year!

Drama Club Trains Thespians in Life Skills

By Hannah Hutchison

The main purpose of MVHS Drama Club is to foster students' interests theater. Mr. Jordan Merritt, the head director of the club, said, “Our goal is to supplement our curriculum with real world experience with performing arts.”

The club takes three to four different trips throughout the year. Workshops are held where students learn about makeup, design, audition techniques, improv, and a variety of other theater-related topics. This year the club will be hosting their very own workshop at the middle school. Plays are also hosted at the MARC twice a year. You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, the drama department's fall musical, will take the stage November 1 and 3.

Drama Club isn’t just about acting and memorizing lines; members can also learn real life skills as they prepare performances. “People skills, speaking, design, construction, organization, scheduling, personal responsibility, and confidence are just a few of the life skills you can learn from theatre,” Mr. Merritt explained.

For those who are passionate about performing and want to learn more, Mr. Merritt urged, “Join Drama Club, take theater classes, and come talk to me.”

Show Choir Themes Strike Emotional Chords

By Karrington Lutes

The same piece of music can hit two completely different emotions for any two people. According to choir director Ms. April McBaine, “Everyone’s going through different things, and so they translate the music in contrasting ways.”

This year, Vocal Motion hopes their show theme will bring everyone together in a common way, to help their audience understand that life can be low at times, but there’s always something to hold onto. Velocity’s theme is about being your own hero.

Overall there are 47 members in Vocal Motion and 28 in Velocity. Though the choirs sometimes struggle in practice to work together, Ms. McBaine pushes them to keep improving, take the criticism they get, and work hard.

Ms. McBaine believes the theme this year has a specific meaning to everyone. “I feel like everyone struggles with something in life, and there’s always something good to hold on to,” she said.

Confessions of a Freshman:

Building Bonds Between Teachers and Students

By Karrington Lutes

What would our school look like if students started to form relationships with the teachers and staff? According to Ms. Jeanne Jones, “Life would be better if relationships were formed. Life is always going to boil down to relationships. Teachers can sometimes have the ability to to bring a positive relationship into a student’s life.”

It all starts with the hope for trust--most teachers just have your best interest at heart. As a teacher, Ms. Jones gets to know about her students personal opinions and views. She also gets to watch the students develop throughout the year and grows a bond with most of them. However, there are things that need to start in order to form that bond.

A relationship doesn’t just start out close. You’ve got to grow into the boots you want to fill. Ms. Jones advises students to start by saying hey, a smile, add some eye contact, and a simple greeting. The teachers will really be appreciative of this. If we, as students, went the lengths to make relationships with teachers, the school would change for the better.

At the brink of every relationship there has to be respect. Ms. Jones says you’ve got to understand the other person and put yourself in their shoes. Also, don’t forget to understand what this person wants out of you. Communication is key in all aspects.

However, sometimes we are intimidated by the teachers. Why is this? “There’s always going to be intimidation, the feeling that they have power over your life,” Ms. Jones explains. Students often see teachers as people who are going to take away all their freedom. Yet, “We’re all in this together,” Ms. Jones emphasizes. Teachers are guiding hands that just want what’s best for the students. Getting closer to the teachers isn’t hard either.

Mystery Faculty #1

By Hannah Hutchison

He once had a dog named Heidi

And grew up on Glenward street

His room is always cold

But he still tends to break a sweat

“If you’re on time, you’re late,” he says

And he’s always right

Who is he?

If you feel like you know exactly who this mystery faculty member is, email us at newspaper@mtvernon.k12.mo.us for a chance at receiving a prize!

What's Up With That:

Bell Schedule Change Befuddles Students

On August 16 the first bell of the 2018-2019 school year chimed, but something was a little different. The bell rang at 8:06 instead of the previous 8:05. Why? Dr. Ladd recounted the story for us.

It all started with Sue Barb the district data coordinator. Part of her job is making sure the Mt. Vernon school district is in compliance with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education otherwise known as DESE. She was checking the amount of time we spend in school and found the high school was going a minute too long each day which added up to 180 minutes or 3 hours over the course of the school year. The error in the schedule had gone unnoticed because the extra minute showed up in the middle of the day.

A change had to be made to satisfy DESE and to better line up with the other buildings which had been going the correct amount of time. Dr. Ladd was in charge of shaving the minute out. Ladd planned, “I’m going to do what has the least impact on people.” With this in mind, he decided on taking the additional minute out first thing in the morning where the change would have the minimum effect on lunch and other scheduling complications.

As mentioned before, the extra minute appeared in the middle of the day; it is because of this, the schedule is only moved back a minute during the first half of the day. The starting and ending times during the second half of the day remain the same as last year.

Mixed Bag: Volleyball Mountaineers Take Hits, Serve Up Wins

By Tatum Watts

MVHS Volleyball season took off on the August 28 when the girls faced Fair Grove in their first match.

Ragean Prescott and lover of the sport says, ”Our biggest problem is we just need to come together as a team more.”

“My personal goal is to have a better understanding of passing and hitting harder," Prescott said.

“We’ve got to figure out how to finish sets that are close," head coach Mrs. Bridgett Schmutz explained. "We’ve lost nine sets by two points, which is the least about you can lose by, I think we have a talented group of players we just need to get everyone on the same page at the same time."

Coach Schmutz added, “Every day at practice is a day to get better individually and to work out distractions.”

Currently they have played fourteen games and have a 5:9 wins to loss ratio.

We’re All in This Together: Veteran Player Nets Youthful Team

By Hannah Hutchison

Junior Brandee Loftus, who’s been playing tennis for three years, is very much excited about this year's tennis team. “This year's team is younger. It’s a lot of fun to see the change towards the end of the season.”

On September 6, the girls tennis team played Thomas Jefferson. The final results for the game were 3-6. “They’re our biggest competition because they’re like equal to us, during the game when we’d mess up we would work ourselves up about it,” Loftus explained. There’s a chance for redemption at districts on October 1.

Every team usually has a pump-up song, don’t they? Get’s the blood pumping and the nerves out. To get hyped up for games, the team jams out to the High School Musical soundtrack.

Mountaineer Cross Country Races to the Finish Line

By Karrington Lutes

For some it’s not about winning, but proving you can go the distance. Freshman Isaac Barker said that the hardest part is when you’re running in the heat. “The best part about cross country is when you start making friends with the runners around you,” he added.

He started running two and a half miles each day, but now he can run up to six miles. During their first meet he placed 65 out of 125 people. While that is very far back in the totem poles, it was their very first meet.

Barker’s goal this year is to run three miles in under twenty minutes. Tristan Gaddis’s goal is to run three miles in under sixteen minutes.

They have competed against Lamar, Aurora, Springfield schools, and many others. Barker plans to continue the sport throughout high school and beyond: “College too. I like it better than basketball.”

Nerdy News:

Newest Tomb Raider Installment, Spyro remastered

By Tatum Watts

Tomb Raider, a wildly popular game centered on the main character Lara Croft, first took to shelves in 1996 and its popularity skyrocketed after that. The newest installment of the Tomb Raider franchise, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, was released September 14 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It includes more about Lara’s origins and focuses more on stealth than in previous installments.

Insomniac and Sony teamed up back in 1998 to release the first installment of the Spyro franchise. Now Activision will be remastering and releasing the Spyro Reignited Trilogy which was supposed to be released on September 21st but got delayed until November. So, those of you who have waited anxiously for it’s release will have to wait a little longer.

To see more about the newest video games check out the link below:

https://www.gamesradar.com/new-games-2018/

In Movie News, Jack Black Is Back At It

By Tatum Watts

Jack Black hits the big screen yet again in the newest thriller/fantasy The House with a Clock in Its Walls. Released in theaters September 21, this book-turned-movie, directed by Eli Roth, also stars Cate Blanchett as Mrs. Zimmerman. The movie is rated PG and features Jack Black as one of the main characters, Jonathan Barnavelt. The book's author, John Bellairs, has also written novels including: The Figure in the Shadows and The Curse of the Blue Figurines.

Mystery Faculty:

COMING SOON

By Hannah Hutchison

Attention all mystery gurus… Next month our high school paper will be adding a new section, “Mystery Faculty.” A few clues will be given to you about a special someone. If you feel like you know exactly who this mystery person is, email us at newspaper@mtvernon.k12.mo.us! At the end of the month there will be a drawing: five students with the correct answer will be chosen to win a prize. Get to solving!