To whom this may concern. Building a K-12 new school would be great, providing it is not built in Alma. Doing so would not unify the district — it would pull it further apart. Doing so would cause more dislike because this is not USD 329 Alma, it is USD 329 Maple Hill, Paxico, Mcfarland and Alma. Alma has never lost a school, has never had to bus young children down the road. They get to keep it all.
Opinion: ‘Parasite’ shows foreign films are worth exploring
At the Oscars Sunday, the South Korean movie “Parasite” won best picture. A movie wins best picture every year, but what’s special about “Parasite” is that it’s entirely in Korean. It’s the first non-English language to ever win best picture. “Parasite” also took home awards for best original screenplay, best international film and best director. The Oscar’s recognition of a film like this is a reminder that we don’t have to understand the language of a movie to enjoy it and take meaning from it.
Editorial: K-12 building would be best for USD 329
With the board set to take action on a bond, the Charger staff believes option 10 is the best choice for the future of our district. The option, which calls for a new K-12 building, unifies the school district, which will make the district more financially efficient and benefit many aspects of the students’ experience.... Continue Reading →
Opinion | Wabaunsee County needs to come together after 2019 tragedies
Wabaunsee County tragically lost five of its citizens to suicide in 2019, sparking a change in the way Wabaunsee Sherrif Rob Hoskins hopes to tackle mental health awareness. “We had a rough couple of weeks. It was rough on my staff, it was rough on the emergency responders, it was rough on me personally, and I know the families involved, it was devastating and terrible for them. Afterwards, I felt that something needed to be done,” Hoskins said.
Editorial: 7-period schedule increases student stress
After using block schedule for several years, WHS recently switched to a seven period day. Many staff members were adamant about switching to a seven hour day, thinking it would be beneficial for students in ways, such as retaining information better from having classes daily, students staying on task with shorter class periods, and making it easier to get caught up when you miss class. Teachers also seem to be going through lesson plans more quickly compared to previous years.
Editorial: End of second breakfast frustrates some students
As of Monday, Second Breakfast is no longer available. There are a few reasons behind the change, principal Jan Hutley explained. “I just think it’s unnecessary since we already have a first breakfast in the morning.” Initial theories for the change revolved around students being tardy to class after getting second breakfast, but this is apparently not the case. Hutley explained that she has no intentions of bringing second breakfast back, but will alter first breakfast to make it more accessible to students. These changes include making first breakfast open longer along and adding more a la carte options that give students the chance to buy them in the morning and eat them whenever they want throughout the day.
Editorial: Returns to State Show Quality of Programs
Going to state in volleyball and cross country is a special occasion for most schools, but for Wabaunsee it has become routine. Volleyball defeated Rossville to capture the sub-state championship and return to state for the second straight year, and the sixth time in nine seasons. There isn’t much room for improvement on a second... Continue Reading →
Editorial: Parent/Teacher Conferences Need to Go
Parent-teacher conferences are unnecessary. Students should be held accountable for staying on top of school work and communicating with parents and/or teachers if they are having an issue in a class, without relying on parents to express certain concerns for them. This year, WHS administration endorsed a career readiness course called Xello, where all high school students were required to complete a series of lessons and construct a PowerPoint containing information about their results that they will present to parents during a student-led meeting.
Editorial: Sex trafficking presentation valuable for students
Terry Hund and Barry Feaker with the Topeka Rescue Mission spoke with students last Wednesday on the dangers and warning signs of sex trafficking. It was a worthwhile presentation for WHS students. The speakers began by explaining what sex trafficking is and how to identify it. Sex trafficking is the exploitation of children and young adults for a monetary gain. Some signs of this may include having an older boyfriend, skipping school, and suddenly having many expensive items that they didn’t have before. Then, they explained ways for young adults to avoid sex trafficking and signs to report. All of their information was included on a handout given to students before the presentation.
