Beauty and the Beast Enchants Crowd

By Houston Hilton

The Goddard High School Mane Stage Theatre wowed the crowd on March 1, 2, and 3 from the astounding performance in every field ranging from costume design to acting. The cast also held a character breakfast with children March 2 before the show.
 The cast was only allowed three instead of five rehearsals before the performance because of the snow storm from February 22 to 26.

Jazz Concert to be Held March 12

By Darah Witherspoon

                On Tuesday, March 12, the Goddard High School Jazz Band will have a concert at 7:00 PM. The concert will be at Goddard High School in the auditorium.

                The band will be performing several pieces including “Hey Jude” and “Brass Machine”.

                Two guest performers will also be featured in the concert. Scott Strecke and Daryl Batchelor are both professional trumpet players that will join the jazz band’s performance.

“There will be two guest jazz trumpet players. It will be really awesome,” said junior Jeremy Brake.        

A lot of hard work goes in to preparing for a concert.

                “Students have been working hard all semester; they have already had two performances at jazz festivals this semester,” said Band Instructor Mr. Dane Danielsen.

                Students in Jazz Band are excited about the upcoming performance.

               

GHS School Shooting Drills are Redundant

by Houston Hilton

The Goddard USD 265 administration recently discussed the issue of school lockdown drills –drills that are to be run periodically, just as with fire and tornado drills, but are designed to keep students safe from intruders with a violent disposition. Such drills haven’t been performed for more than a startling five years – as such in-school violence at Goddard High School is minimal when compared to that of other schools - such as Wichita East High School. However, because of the relatively recent incident in Newtown, Connecticut, which involved a gunman murdering multiple elementary students, new controversy has spurred discussion on the subject at GHS. Such popular discussion involved making it mandatory for having recurring school lockdown drills – just as with the fire drills.

It’s a pretty hot topic right now, one could agree, based on the recent incidents of school violence that have occurred in the past three months alone. But are these additional school security efforts necessary to be put into GHS.

The extra efforts are futile in prevention of such a potential tragedy. Thus, it is not really necessary to have a school lockdown drill. An event as likely as a dangerous person entering the grounds of GHS is just as likely as an asteroid landing right on the campus and killing all in the area – obviously it is very unlikely. This tragedy has occurred once in this school district’s history¹, but the district has been in existence for over 100 years - so something like that would be bound to happen after a whole century.

The only importance of this drill is to give the student body “something to do” to make it seem like their efforts have a point – like when children were advised to duck down by a wall during the nuclear holocaust crisis in the 1950’s.

1.        James “Alan” Kearbey shot Principal James McGee on Goddard school grounds on January 21, 1985.



Student Book Club to Join Faculty Book Club

by Houston Hilton

            The GHS Book Club has evolved into many different forms over the years at Goddard High School. The club name was renamed from “GHS Book Club” to “Page Master’s Book Club” at the beginning of last year. This year, the Page Master’s Book Club features not only a new instructor, Ms. Desiree Moore, but also the joining of this book club and the faculty book club to discuss a novel relevant to both age groups.

Ms. Marylee Ramsay discusses Ender's Game in preparation for

the April meeting.

            “It might be fun to do something together, and it gives multiple perspectives,” Moore said. “The movie will be coming out and we’re planning to all see the movie together.”

            The faculty book club and the Page Master’s Book Club will both discuss Ender’s Game on April 10.  There is much anticipation for the meeting.

            “I think a lot of ideas will be agreed upon by both sides,” sophomore Marcy Lartey said.

The two book clubs plan to house similar, combined meetings in the future.

“We are planning on doing this at least two more times next year,” Moore said. “We’re going to have at least one in the beginning of the year and the other near the end.”

Top 10 Places to Give Back

1)       Red Cross

The American Red Cross prevents and lessens human suffering during emergencies by putting into movement the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

www.redcross.org/

 

2)       Toys for Tots

Toys for Tot help the less fortunate children throughout the U.S experience the joy of Christmas by collecting toys during a three month period, and then distributing near Christmas time.

www.toysfortots.org/

 

3)       Goddard Mitten Tree

Business, churches, and individuals help provide food, clothing and gifts to families in need.

Mittens are available at Pizza Hut in Goddard, cash contributions can be sent to the Goddard Mitten Tree at Emprise bank, P.O. Box 318, Goddard, KS 67052.

 

4)       Goodwill

Goodwill works to raise the dignity of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, removing barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their opportunity through learning and the power of work. 

www.goodwill.org/

 

5)       Make-A-Wish

Grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to add to the human experience with joy, strength, and hope.

www.wishks.org/

 

6)       Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provides people with essentials for living.

www.salvationarmyusa.org/

 

7)       Kansas Food Drive

Provides comprehensive and compassionate HungerCare whenever and wherever needed.

www.kansasfoodbank.org/

 

8)       Wichita Children’s Home

The Wichita Children’s Home is to assure the safety and well-being of children and to create healthy families by proving assessment and intervention services; a temporary home for children at risk of abuse, neglect or homelessness; and education preventing and advocacy initiatives.

www.wch.org/

 

9)       Big Brothers Big Sisters

Provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relatio0nships that change their lives for better, forever.

www.kansasbigs.org/

 

10)   Children’s Miracle Network

Children’s Miracle Network generates funds and awareness programs in partnership with and for the benefit of member hospitals/foundations and the children they are privileged to serve.

www.cmnwi.org/

Cold Weather

By Allie Craig 

                Cold weather. Like anything else, there are several people who have different opinions on it. Goddard High School students are no different. Some students like it, and some students dislike it.

                Some students have reasons to express why they dislike the cold.

                “I hate cold weather, except when it snows; then I like to go sledding,” freshman Anita Taylor said.

              Other students have contempt for the cold; due to health reasons.

“I don’t like it because it makes my joints hurt,” sophomore Emma Hislop said.
Senior Armando Valenciana likes the cold weather sometimes.

             “I sorta like it, but it’s the time when everyone gets sick,” Valenciana said.

              Even though some students despise cold weather, there are some who like it. Junior Janelle Wetta likes the snow that comes along with cold weather.

             “It needs to snow. It’s not a true Christmas without snow,” Wetta said.

Freshman Chandler Hansen also likes cold weather.

             “I like cold weather because I get to wear jeans, boots, sweaters, scarves, and other cute cold weather clothes,” Hansen said.

              Even though there are reasons to like cold weather, and reasons to dislike it, it comes every year to Goddard. The winter wouldn’t be the same without a few snowflakes and some cold and cloudy days to curl up with a good book and drink some hot chocolate.