craze)Volume 1; Issue 4

Westside High School May’10

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The Latest craze)

Things

Places

PeopleMadeline Person........................................................04 Tevin Griffin.........................................................................06Van Dusen.........................................................................08

Road Trip through Nebraska........................10

Things to Do This Summer..................................12

Goodbye School, Hello Summer.............14

Issue 4

Policy:Craze is a school-sponsored publication of Westside High School. Westside Community Schools, 8701 Pacific St., Omaha, NE 68114. Craze is located in room 251. Phone (402) 393-2659. Craze is an in-house production. The magazine is distributed quarterly. Advertising rates are available upon request. Craze staff reserves the right not to publish any ads that are libelous or that contain non-factual information. Craze staff also reserves the right to nullify contracts at any time wihtout prior notification. Craze also refuses activities that promote activities illegal to a majority of the student readership. Reader response is welcomed in the form of letters to the editor. Letters should be sent to room 251. Craze editors will decide to honor such requests. Craze is a member of the Nebraska High School Press Association, and the Quill & Scroll Society. Craze staff recognizes that the administration of Westside Community Schools controls the curriculum and, thus, sets the parameters of the production process of school publications. Craze staff also recognizes its own responsiblities to inform, enlighten and entertain its readers in a way that reflects high standards of journalism, morals and ethics.

Letter from the Editors:This is the fourth issue of Craze. Craze is Westside’s new entertainment magazine. The focus of Craze is to zoom in on the local aspects of the metro area. This issue features profiles, an idea for a trip through Nebraska, several ideas for things to do this summer and more! We hope that reading the magazine inspires you to become involved in the community and try new things. If there are any comments or suggestions about the magazne, let us know in room 251 or email us via First Class. Thanks and enjoy Craze!

Sammy Berger & Emily Klimisch

Spread design by Emily Klimisch

“I would probably describe myself as quirky,” freshman Madeline Person said. “Although, my friends would probably say that I am awkward and that I al-ways say stupid things.” Living the average freshman life, Madeline rolls out of bed at 7:00 am on the dot every morning, show-ers, and decides what she is wearing to school. She fi-nally leaves the house and ventures to school. It’s a typical Monday. Madeline Person wanders down the third floor hallway to her favorite class, Algebra. “Math is kind of easy for me,” Person said. “I think it is more fun than any oth-er class I am in.” As a freshman, Person enjoys her schedule, especially when she has open mods. Person said, “I am very happy at Westside. I love having open mods to do basically what-ever you want and there are a lot of class choices.” Person is very interested in the class, Psychology, which she plans on taking in the future. A life goal of hers is to become a psychologist or therapist, as she is intrigued with the human mind. Person’s weekly schedule consists of schoolwork and soccer. During certain times of the year, Person is loaded with work as she attends soccer daily and keeps up with homework.

From studying math on Tuesday evenings, to planning study groups for Biology on Thursdays, she always finds a way to stay on top of everything. Madeline said, “I usually spend an hour or more on homework every night on top of two hour practices during season.” Outside of school Person stays actively involved. She plays soccer for Omaha Futbol Club and is a part of Youth Leadership Committee. Every Tuesday Mad-eline is obligated to attend a Youth Leadership Com-mittee one-hour meeting. On top of that, Person goes to soccer every weekday for at most

two hours. A typical weekend for Mad-eline consists of hanging out with friends, walking, and going to mov-ies. This past weekend, May 7 to May 9, Person mostly spent time with her family, as it was Mother’s Day Weekend. “Friday night I

went to the mall with a friend in search of a mother’s day present, while on Saturday I did yard work for my mom.” Person said “I don’t necessarily want to live in Omaha any-more because it can get kind of boring,” Person said. Ideally, Madeline wants to live in North Caroli-na because she loves the East coast. After college, Mad-eline wants to settle down and get married and eventu-ally find a house in North Carolina.

04 Story and spread design by Kate Kutilek; Photography by Sammy Berger

In-depth: Madeline Person

“I would probably describe myself as quirky.”

-Freshman, Madeline Person

Person enjoys her favorite class Algebra with Mrs. Mosier. Math comes easily to Madeline, which makes her love it so much (Above). Freshman Madeline Person works on homework in the social studies IMC. Through-out the day much of her time open is spent on homework (Below).

People

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“I always knew that if I really needed a place to stay, I knew [Alex Wolpa’s mom] would step in and allow me to stay at her house, so long as I followed the rules of the house.” -JuniorTevinGriffin

In-depth:Tevin Griffin About 2,000 students roam the halls of West-side High School every day. When the bell rings at 3:10 pm, students return home. Junior Tevin Griffin now has a different idea of home than he did earlier in his high school career. Griffin began living with another Westside student, junior Alex Wolpa, in August of 2009. Pri-or to living with Alex Wolpa, Griffin had lived with his mother. The living situation with his mother had reached a violent point., when he realized it had gone too far. Previously, when Griffin had gotten in fights with his mother, he had stayed at the Wolpa household. Steve and Vicki Wolpa were more than happy to welcome Tevin into both the house and the family. “I was already considered part of the family, but Wolpa’s mom sat me down and offered their house as a place to stay,” said Griffin. Child Protection Services (CPS) talked to Grif-fin and decided that the environment he was in with his mother was unhealthy. CPS told Griffin’s mother that essentially she could go to court and sign him over to the Wolpa’s or put him into state custody, which would end up placing him with the Wolpa’s. She de-cided to go the courthouse and sign Griffin over to the Wolpa’s in front of a judge. Griffin has now accepted Vicki Wolpa as his mother and refers to her as ‘mom’.

Though Griffin was adopted, he still lives a relatively normal life. During the school week Grif-fin’s adoptive mother wakes him up at 7:00 am but he doesn’t get out of bed until 7:30 am. Leaving for school at approximately 7:50, he makes it to school just in time for homeroom. After a long day of school, Griffin likes to wind down by lifting after school. Currently, Griffin is lifting for football this fall. Griffin also holds a job at Don & Millie’s three days a week. Griffin works in the kitchen at the restau-rant on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Griffin and his new family eat dinner as a fam-ily every night unless a sport is in season. “During my football season or Alex’s soc-cer season, we don’t eat dinner together as much,” said Griffin. However, on the weekends the family spends a little more time together. Griffin wakes up around 11:00 am to a homemade breakfast. “The breakfasts she makes are bomb,” said Griffin of Vicki’s cooking. Griffin’s curfew on the weekends is 12:30, un-less there’s something special like a late night showing of a movie. “As long as I follow the rules of the house, ev-erything works out fine,” said Griffin. In the end, Griffin has overcome obstacles in his past to settle into a new family and a new life.

Story by Emily Klimisch; Spread design and photography by Sammy Berger

People

You can find her at her desk during an open mod, you can see her patrolling the English IMC mod 12 on Tuesdays, and you can even find her managing the Courtyard mod 10/11 on Thursdays, but what does English instructor Joyce Van Dusen do outside of educating high school students day after day? Craze staff took an in-depth look at a “day in the life of” Van Dusen. Her days are structured in a routine manner: wake up at 5:45 am, shower, sit and eat breakfast. She starts her day with eating the same thing, oatmeal and orange juice.

As a Literature teacher, she loves to read while she eats. “I sit down and read a magazine, read a book, or read the paper, something while I’m eating. I always read while I’m eating.” Van Dusen said.

After breakfast, she typically leaves to go to school at 7:15 am. After that, her day begins. Throughout the school day, Van Dusen is teaching, supervising, and conferencing with students on their essays and projects. Her current “assignment” is to grade video projects completed by American Literature Honors students.

She admitted that teaching that class his her favorite. Although grading and teaching may seem

like a repetitive occurrence day after day, she has an unusual excitement every Monday. “I go over to Starbucks mod 3 and get a Chai Latte with Ms. Fischer.” Van Dusen said. The rest of the day is filled with conferences, but is not outrageously hectic. After school, her work is not always completed. Her schedule remains full of activities. Van Dusen

enjoys the outdoors by walking three miles almost every night. Then she will usually do yard work, make dinner, take phone calls.

Later in the evening, she usually grades several papers, or does some reading on her own. Her current novel takes place in Ethiopia called, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. After a full day, Van

Dusen makes it a goal to have her bedtime set at 10:00 pm. Van Dusen said, “In order to have fun at school, I need to have my sleep.” The devoted reader, mother, and teacher, has a full schedule helping and supporting the Westside Warriors. Her dedication to her career has benefited hundreds of students over the years. From a girl who grew up in Seward County, to the educator she has become, it can be said that there is one word that would describe the example she will be leaving at Westside, perfect.

In-depth: Van Dusen

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Van Dusen spends her time helping students and grading essays. Van Dusen is an English teacher; her desk is located in the English IMC.

Story and photography by Sammy Berger; Spread design by Emily Klimisch

People

Road Trip through NebraskaNeed a weekend getaway with your friends this summer? Want entertaining places to go to that won’t break your bank? Take a road trip through Nebraska!

Clockwise from top left, Bring the whole family to enjoy Simmons’ Wildlife Safari Park while safe in your vehicle. Or take a ride down the Niobrara by tube. Last stop, Nebraska City for an incredible view.

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Begin your journey through Nebraska in the cool air conditioning of your car at the Simmons’ Wildlife Safari Park. The park allows people to drive through four habitats for fewer than $10. Experience life on the safari as you drive past water buffalo, cranes, and wolves, among hundreds of other ani-mals. Located in Ashland, Nebraska about 20 minutes outside of Omaha, it houses over 150 animals and plants indigenous to the desert and swamp-lands. They are open March 27 to October 31 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily and they offer group rates.

Story and spread design by Jordyn Daubman

Next, travel 330 miles from the Safari Park (roughly five hours) to the Nio-brara River in Valentine, Nebraska where you can enjoy 200 waterfalls, hiking and biking. Stay at Smith Falls State Park where they offer camping and lodg-ing for $4 a night and an entrance fee of $4 a day per car. Bring a car full of friends and float down the river by tube, boat, canoe, kayak or raft. Enjoy the sun during the summer months of June, July and August. For more informa-tion visit the website http://www.nps.gov/niob/index.htm.

To end your journey through Nebraska, travel back to Nebraska City, Ne-braska to the Arbor Day Farm. Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, the Arbor Day Farm offers lodging at Lied Lodge, dining and fun! Trees, grass and a golf course surround Lied Lodge, while relaxation and a day at the spa are available in-side. They also have a three-story tree house that overlooks the forest of apple trees. Their most popular adventure is the Apple Harvest Tour, costing only $2.50 per person and lasting around an hour. Reconnect with your inner child at Arbor Day Farm.

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Sieze the day with a relaxing picnic!Set out on an adventure with your friends to find the perfect spot for picnicking. You do not need to bring much to have an enjoyable picnic. Some classic picnic food to bring along includes sandwiches and fruit. Grab a blanket and some of your favorite food and head out the door. It is best to settle down for your picnic at a grassy location. Great places for picnics include Memorial Park, Rocket Park and Swanson Park. When it starts to get hot at your picnic you can..

Have a thrilling water balloon fight!As the summer heat begins to sink in, a great way to cool off is having a water balloon fight. First you must purchase enough water balloons to last you through the fight. Next you need to fill them with water and put them in a large tub filled with water to ensure that they will not pop. You should have a water balloon fight in a large area. Areas with bushes, trees and other objects to hide behind makes for a more interesting water balloon fight. At this point is where you and your friends get to have fun pummeling one another with water balloons. Some variations to a traditional water balloon fight include purchasing normal-sized balloons as opposed to water balloons, dividing into teams and establishing bases for each team. Other fun activities to cool off are creating a slip n’ slide or running through the sprinklers. When you’re ready to go inside and grab a bite to eat...

Fuel up with Bayogla Pops!Get energized with a delicious and nutritious snack. To make 4 servings, you need 2 ripe bananas, yogurt and 2 cups of granola. Peel the bananas and cut them in half. Insert a popsicle stick into each banana. Dip the bananas in yogurt before rolling in granola until it is well coated. Freeze the bananas until they are solid, which takes a few hours. You can enjoy bayoglla pops as a quick and healthy breakfast item or snack anytime.

Things to Do This Summer...Ideas for Summer Fun

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Things

Story and spread design by Emily Klimisch; Photography by Sammy Berger

Counterclock-wise from top right; Enjoy a picnic out-doors. Make sure to bring a blanket! Yogurt and granola are two ingredients needed to make Bayogla Pops.

1414Craze 2010 - 2011 Staff: Sammy Berger, Editor-in-chief, Emily Klimish, Managing Editor of Craze, Kate Kutilek, Managing Editor of Xanadu, and Jordyn Daubman, Design Editor. ... And Moseley (see top right).

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Goodbye School, Hello SummerA Thanks to Participants

Westside High School’s Magazine publication through the year 2009-2010 would not have been possible if it wasn’t for its editors, staff, and educators. This issue of Craze has been brought to you by the junior staff. As a whole, we would like to thank our adviser Nathan Mose-ley for putting up with our class an entire year, as well as maintain-ing control. We would also like to thank our seniors; Emma Dobson, Zoe Vann, Joleen Jansen, Audrey Joslin, Bradie Benjamin, and John O’Brien, for being amazing role models and teaching us their ways. We would especially like to thank our Edior-in-Chief, Emma Dobson, for putting in the time and effort to make sure all of our classes and projects were planned and executed. All of the seniors have made it easy to transition into leadership roles from their stupendous example. We wish the best of luck in all that they pursue in the future, and know we will all stay in touch.

Junior staff of Westside’s Magazine