S e p t e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 3! V O L . 7! i s s u e i I

W i c h i t a C o l l e g i a t e S c h o o l N e w s p a p e r

SPARTAN VOICET h e

s t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r

SCHOOL HOMEWORK

SURVEYBY DIANA KIM

Couple of weeks ago, a survey sent to us by Mr. Ashbrook left a seed of curiosity deep inside of our minds. It probably has not been thought of lately, but the Spartan Voice staff wanted to know what the results were. Everyone probably did at a point. When I took the survey in the privacy of my home, I immediately thought, “maybe there’ll be a chance of reduced homework amounts!” -- Unfortunately, we do know that far, but from the results, the possibility is definitely there.

208 STUDENTS HAVE RESPONDEDLess than an Hour - 3 1-2 Hours - 60 2+ Hours - 145Didn’t finish even after 2+ Hours - 70

As I was looking over the poll, I realized there were a couple of students that stated they performed less than an hour of homework. Whether or not these students were pulling the administration's legs or not, it was very impressive; impressive of the fact that they only took less than an hour to finish their school work or impressive of the fact that out of 208 students who responded, they are the elite 1.4%, who I am assuming have a golden brain. Or they were just joking around, who knows. What appalled me the most of this survey was this: not only were 70% of the respondents took over two hours to finish schoolwork, but 48% of that same group could not finish by night-time. Are we being over-worked? At this point we’re all saying “obviously!,” but we cannot blame the homework. We have to take other things into account: video game distractions (Cont.pg. 2).

THE RESULTS ARE IN...

Mr. Ashbrook’s “Student Homework Survey” came to surprising results.

JUST GIVE ME

NUMBERSLess than an Hour (HW)

31-2 Hours (HW)

602+ Hours (HW)

145 Didn’t finish after 2+

Hours (HW)

70

S e p t e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 3! V O L . 7! i s s u e i I

W i c h i t a C o l l e g i a t e S c h o o l N e w s p a p e r

SPARTAN VOICE

Cont. from pg. 1 (Ex. GTA 5), new episodes on TV, internet, clubs, sports and maybe some friend/family issues. According to a research led by Robert Matchock, the highest point of productivity is from noon to 4PM (WSJ). Does this strike anyone so far? I understand from noon to 3:00PM, we are at school, but by 4PM we are at practice or at home. After school, many (not all) students go home and play video games or go on the internet, knowing the fact that they’ll “finish their homework” afterwards (by night-time or after dinner). But by the time comes, our highest point of productivity is already low. Could this also be a reason? Or is this just over-analyzed?

I think both parts should be taken into account: student’s laziness and teacher’s understandable (for this is the great Collegiate) inclination for student work. As I type, the back of mind is saying “remember, you have four tests next week...mwahahahaha...” But that could’ve just been bad planning...Who knows.

KANSAS STATE FAIRBy Jenna Farhat

The Kansas State Fair turned a hundred years old this year. Whether you’ve made your way out to Hutchinson every year for the occasion or you’ve never been before, be sure to stop by next year and take in some of that Kansas pride. This year, there were all the classic events like the butter sculpture, as well as a couple of new ones, like the petting zoo. Check it out and get up close to giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, donkeys, llamas, rabbits, and have your picture taken with a trained monkey. Or you could just spend all day playing carnival games and take home a hermit crab or a giant teddy bear. You can watch everything from pumpkins to goats get crowned for being the best of the best. The State Fair is not a place for diets, so you might as well talk yourself into a fried Oreo or cookie dough. And you can never go wrong with the best homemade ice cream you’ll have all year. So be sure to check it out next year and enjoy what makes Kansas so quirky and unique.

Seniors Brett

Waddell, Jack

Naron & Landon

Root dash off the

field after a

brilliant rendition

of our nation’s

anthem.

Photo Design by

Jordan Hull.

S e p t e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 3! V O L . 7! i s s u e i I

W i c h i t a C o l l e g i a t e S c h o o l N e w s p a p e r

SPARTAN VOICE

RATING

Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Review

By Jake Barrett

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones has entered the markets as a wanna-be new Hunger Games. It is very popular with the teen audience that devours the paranormal-thriller-love-story-suspense genre. The premise is pretty simple, even being stated in the book as "All the stories are true."

Long story short: there are demons from different dimensions who are trying to consume the life force of Earth, just as they have done with every other planet. There are wards in place put there by angels, or God, or whatever that keep most of them out, yet several slip through from time to time. The Shadowhunters, or Nephilim, basically half-angels, are there to kill demons and protect the

mundanes (humans). But wait, there's more! To add in the Twilight appeal, there are vampires and werewolves in addition to a whole host of other mythical creatures such as pixies, faeries, warlocks (half human, half demon), ifrits, kelpies, and all other assortments of creatures known as Downworlders (basically demon-hybrid mutts).

The Shadowhunters kill demons and Downworlders who break the Accords, basically the law. But the story centers around a ginger girl named Clarissa, Clary. She finds out in her teens that she is actually a Shadowhunter, and her mother tried to shelter her from it. Too bad her mother was captured by an evil man known only as Valentine before she could have a heart-to-heart with Clary.

Without giving more than the first hundred pages away, Clary becomes friends with a local Shadowhunter trio of teens and winds up going on all sorts of escapades, from warlock parties to vampire hotels to a Downworld fast-food joint. All the while she falls in love with the angelic Shadowhunter boy named Jace.

There is a decent amount of action and suspense throughout. However, the characters are a little too conveniently ignorant of

their surroundings at times and always explain things that can easily be inferred. The characters are real enough, but just too hard to get attached to. The real hook to keep you going for the rest of the series comes at the end in a plot twist of all plot twists.

The book as a whole earns about three-and-a-half stars, maybe four if I'm feeling generous, out of five. The beginning and middle were a solid three, while the end was easily a four-and-a-half if not whole five stars. I recommend reading it, and then going to see the movie that came out in August. Rotten Tomatoes reviewed it very poorly, but viewers showed a 70% satisfaction rating, pretty high. It doesn't have much literary or cinemagraphic value, but it is definitely a good way to spend your time. Check it out in the library!

(out of five)

RATING

GENEROUSLY...

REAL...

Why not join a club this year? You might be surprised and find something you really enjoy!

Gardening Club:

"To be honest, it's a lot of fun. Gardening with your

friends actually relieves some stress. Hard to believe?

Could be, but you're with Mr. Trombold the whole

time. How could you not want to join?" - Diana Kim

For more information go to: Mr. Trombold or Austin Daniels

French Club:

First meeting: September 11th (R Day) During break

in the French room.

Meet every R Day during break.

Come and enjoy French food while French music

plays in the background.

"The half French-American food is heavenly" -

Caroline Engel

SADD-- Students Against Destructive Decisions

First meeting: Wednesday during break in Mrs.

Schriefer's office

SADD is a national club created to raise awareness

about how powerful some of the decisions we make

can be and the impact they can have on the rest of our

lives.

Lit Club: Next meeting: October 6

First Book: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Lit. Club is for you if you have a love for reading.

Didn't read the book? Doesn't matter, you can still

come and talk about it. We don't annotate. Meetings

are usually held once a month at a cozy café or at

someone's house to discuss a book the group pick.

Want more info? Talk to: Mrs Mykel, Rachel

Fernandes, Diana Kim, or Ayesha Mohammad

EARLY CHILDHOOD DAD’S DAY.... Guess who came to make dreams come true? Do your thang Spartan Man!

SPARTAN VOICE

Senora White Interview: About Coach Fiegel

By: Heba Alshamary

1. How long have you known Coach Fiegel?

“Eight years. I didn’t talk to him for the first couple of years”

2. What does Coach Fiegel do around here?

“I think he lives here. He corners the teachers to work at the games.”

3.Any funny stories about Coach Fiegel?

“I plead the fifth!”

4.Word or phrase that describes Coach Fiegel?

“You are tardi-o... He has amazing Spanish skills.”

5. What does Coach Fiegel remind you of?

“My older, way older brother.”

6. Any advice to Coach Fiegel?

“Keep practicing your Spanish.”

7. Anything else you want to say?

“No, or he will make me work a couple of extra games.”

Meet our Swedish Student:

Gustav

Q What is Kansas like compared to Sweden?A: “I haven’t been outside of Wichita. Wichita compared to Sweden.. Sweden is so much bigger. And... you guys don’t really have a... down..town. Like a concentration of buildings. And you really need a car to get anywhere.”

Q: What do you absolutely love about Kansas?A: Well, I really like the whole school spirit. In Sweden you just go to school, study, then go home. Here you can stay after school and meet with friends and stuff.”

Q: Tell me... Are there any sports that are very new to you here? Will you join any?A: In Sweden we don’t have American Football.. or baseball. We do have basketball, but it’s much bigger here. I don’t really want to join any sports, but I want to play soccer if that’s possible, but i’m not quite sure at the moment.

How NOT to cheer at

Collegiate games....Ex-

Cheer leader and senior

Carolyn Lewelling on

strike.

SPARTAN VOICE

The Dos and Don’ts of HomecomingBy: Alex Bayless, Emily Ramsey, and Caroline Engel.

It’s that time of year again guys: time to start asking those special girls. There are some very cute ways to ask that the girls will love, but there is also that awkward “will you come to homecoming with me” (by the locker). For the seniors they have this down pat, well we would hope so after 3 years of practice. Freshman, start thinking up those ideas for the next 4 years! Homecoming will be fun, if it is done right!

Do’s:Ask in a very creative way.

Wear the color your girl wants you to, just don’t go off and get like a purple suit… like no, not cool guys!

Attention Guys: DO brush your hair, it would be greatly appreciated!

Guys: make sure that you pay for your date’s dinner. It is just how it is done.

Make sure your date is having the best time of her life.

Make your date feel special; compliment her on how pretty she looks.

Do be prepared to take a million pictures. Just smile at all those parents.

Don’ts:Don’t ask a girl at the same time as another guy (Awkward for the ladies and pretty uncool).

Don’t ask in a very simple way at their locker (don’t just say “Yo bro, wanna go to the hc?”)

Don’t you dare boys, ask another guy’s girl… not cool! Help yo bros out!

Just because you don’t get to ask the girl you

want to, do still ask another girl, because there are plenty of girls that want to go!

Don’t go to McDonalds for dinner, your date will probably hate you.

Don’t ask your girl the day before; no way could they get a dress that fast.

Guys, it’s totally not okay for you to call their house phone and ask them like that!

DO NOT ditch your date even at the dance. Make sure you slow dance with them.

Girls: DON’T say no to a boy when he asks you unless you have a REAL (not superficial) reason why you physically can NOT go with him.

So if you follow these rules you will have a successful and fun homecoming! :)

Your date will have a fun time and so will you. Guys don’t screw up this night because it only happens once a year.

Meet our Swedish Student:

Julia Q: What is one Think you absolutely love about Collegiate, or Wichita?A: That teenagers can drive. In Sweden we have an age limit of 18. So... I was so surprised. I am so jealous, I’m, I’m....”Q:What is Sweden compared to Kansas?A: It’s warmer. Um.. smaller. Hmm... I don’t really know how to answer...Q: I mean is there anything in Kansas that interest you?A: “I don’t really know much about Kansas. We are all teenagers, so basically we are all the same. Hmmm... I don’t know how to answer this question nicely (in terms of Kansas).” *laughter*

Q:What is your favorite class?A: English. I love Mrs. Mykel, I really like her. I mean, her teaching style is amazing, I came here to learn more English.”

How to wear shorts at Collegiate

BY KATE SORENSEN

SPARTAN VOICE`

What People Want to Change about

Collegiate

By Lillian Clark

Although our school is pretty much perfect, there are still a lot of things that we could add or change to make it even cooler. Here are some ideas from teachers and students, which hopefully we can fit onto the budget next year.

"We could have a sparkling water fountain… and a fireplace in the library." -Mrs. Cunningham "Digital thumbprints for your locker." -Spartan Voice

"We should have swimming pools as hallways." –Kate Sorensen "Every locker should have iPhone chargers." -Alex Bayless

“Chik-fil-a (or other restaurant catering) for lunch.” –Leen Bakdash

“The hallways should be trampolines.” –Madi DeVore "An area with recliners and speakers in the chairs to sit down and relax." -Mr. Ashbrook

"We should have a Starbucks vending machine." -Sophie Shawver

“Zip lines down the hallways” –Shreeya Dalla

Most hours of the day are spent at school from August to May, so it should be made as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. Although we can’t change the curriculum or work load, we can ease the stress of school days with awesome additions to the school. Comfortable chairs and heated blankets would make classroom time more pleasurable, and music playing during passing period would be soothing. Let’s take our spoiled-rich-kids status to a higher level and make these ideas happen!

WHEN TEACHERS TWEET:

PART I

UNACCEPTABLE

no

no

no no

ACCEPTABLE (green line)

SPARTAN VOICE

HOROSCOPES: Song Edition

By Rachel Fernandes

 Aries(Mar21-Apr19): This week you will go window shopping and realize that you have a lot of needs but no means to obtain them. You want to be a billionaire like one from the song "Billionaire". You should go out and get a job and see if that'll help with your predicament.  Taurus(Apr20-May20): You are growing tired of seeing others fall asleep in class. I have a solution for you. When you see it happen again this week just po-po-po-poke their face.  Gemini(May21-Jun21): This week you will dose off in class when we are taking a test. Don't worry; I'll wake you up when it's all over. Cancer(Jun22-Jul22): You are losing focus this week. I know that it's tempting to picture how Luke Bryan's "My Kind of Night" would be, but your nights consist of mind enriching homework. Time to get started!

 Leo(Jul23-Aug22): This week you will accomplish more than you have in your whole life! You'll find yourself standing in the "Hall of Fame", and the world's going to know your name. You could be a student a teacher a politician or a preacher. Virgo(Aug23-Sep22): Having trouble starting that essay due in a week? Once you pick up that pen (well, once you pick up that ThinkPad pen) you won't stop and can't stop. It will be one of the best essays you have ever written! "I Can't Stop" by Flux Pavilion will be running through your head as you write it.  Libra(Sep23-Oct23): You have been feeling very self-conscious lately, but it's only because you don’t know you're beautiful (and that’s what makes you beautiful). This week you will take a look in Justin Timberlake's "Mirror" and see how awesome you really are Scorpio(Oct24-Nov21): This week you are going to feel like Bruno Mars on a "Lazy Day". You won’t feel like doing anything. You'll just

want to lie in your bed. Welcome to my life, but you will still need to come to school! Sagittarius(Nov22-Dec21): I knew you were trouble when you walked in. This week you will take two pieces of candy from the office instead of one. Shame on you. Capricorn(Dec22-Jan19): This week you will look back on your life and realize how horrible middle school was. No need to worry. You started from the bottom, but now you're here.  Aquarius(Jan20-Feb18): This week you will become unexplainably angry. Take a breather before you go all Adele on us and try to set fire to the rain. I regret to inform you that water cannot be set on fire. Pisces(Feb19-March20):Have you been listening to Kay Perry's "Roar"? This week you are going to be as fierce as a tiger( possible fiercer than Richard Parker). Beyoncé will get jealous as people start to call you Sasha.

SPARTAN VOICE

THE SPARTAN VOICE ACCEPTS THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES: The Spartan Voice is a newspaper operated by

students at Wichita Collegiate School. Content in the Voice will consist of articles, editorials, letters, and any other material pertaining to the Wichita Collegiate community. The Spartan Voice was founded on the principle that all students should have an equal opportunity to share their opinion in an open, unbiased forum of

discussion. Students, faculty, administrators, and parents make up the four fundamental parts of the Wichita Collegiate community. Although controversial subjects

maybe featured in The Voice, no part of the community will be discriminated against. The views expressed in printed material do not necessarily represent the views of The Spartan Voice or Wichita Collegiate School.

SPARTAN VOICE STAFF: Editors: Jake Barrett, Diana Kim, Rachel Fernandes,

Jordan Hull, Aaron Clothier, Caroline Engel, Jenna Farhat, Heba Alshamary, Lillian Clark, Kate Sorenson, Emily Ramsey, Alex Bayless

All photos by Jordan Hull.