CyberPlainsman

(News) Plainsman Potpourri # 13 for Nov. 21: Previewing the coming week; reviewing the past

Tuesday, November 23, 2004 By LHS Journalism and Newspaper classes

District Music this week Some LHS choir and band students will attend district the District Music Clinic tomorrow and Tuesday at Cheyenne East High School. Choir and band students who are participating volunteered and then LHS directors submitted their names. The selected students received music to learn before they arrive tomorrow. Orchestra students aren’t participating in this district clinic because they had State Strings at LHS earlier this month. Concert Band, Women’s Choir, and Mixed Choir are the categories that students could participate. Music students from throughout the district will get together for the two days. Steven Moore will be the Concert Band guest director. Neil Johnson is the Women’s Choir guest director and the guest director for the Mixed Choir will be Sheryl Anderson. Students will rehearse from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow and 8 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Tuesday at 3 p.m. all three groups will perform during the District Clinic Music Concert in the East Auditorium. --Kelsy Jones Holiday tickets on sale “Home for the Holidays”-- that will include dinner, story, and son--will be preformed Dec. 6 and 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the LHS cafeteria by the four school choirs. Tickets can be purchased in the LHS activities office or by calling 721-4420. The price is $15 for adults and $12 for children. Seating is reserved and guests can select their seat when they buy tickets. Plainsmen Singers, Concert Choir, Girls Select, and Mixed Chorus will join together in the high school cafeteria to entertain with singing, dancing, and story telling, and to serve a holiday dinner to the audience. As for the meal director Sandy Steele calls it, “a traditional meal.” A specialty silent auction will be included in the evening. Fabulous gifts, entertainment, art works, and destinations will be a few things auctioned off. ‘Home for the Holidays’ is a fundraiser to help the choirs with their trip to travel to Hawaii in April. --Kelsy Jones FBLA participates in conference “Journey to Success” was the theme for the Wyoming FBLA Fall Leadership Conference in Casper Nov. 12 and 13. Nineteen LHS students attended the conference. They took tests and attended workshops that focused on different aspects of business. Inspiration guest speaker Ronald “Gus” Gustafson spoke Friday night. His inspirational and remarkable life story proved that optimism and determination could overcome personal and professional challenges. His ideas and determination gave insight to face the realities life throws your way, no matter the situation. Saturday an awards session was held where six LHS students were recognized for their outstanding achievement in testing. Senior Traci Aldrich (Business Law) and Sophomore Niko Kyritsis (Computer Concepts) won first. Placing second was senior Christine Rumsey (Banking and Financial Systems). Sophomore Josh Shenefelt (Computer Concepts) and senior Andy Pokorny (Java Programming) were awarded third. Andy commented, “It was surprising considering how many students competed, but hard work pays off.” Placing fourth was Mike Kamber (Impromptu Speaking). Students returned home, and after an informal interview, students decided they were satisfied with their efforts and were determined to study harder for the state conference in the spring. --Traci Aldrich American Ed. Week observed “Celebrating the American Dream” was the theme of American Education Week (Nov. 14-20). Responses relating to this theme were gathered from LHS students. They were asked to respond to the statement: “Describe a situation that a teacher or staff member who (in the past or currently) is helping you achieve one of your dreams.” Approximately 40 students participated and their responses are posted on CyberPlainsman. --Chelsea Carter Schedule set Monday: First practice for alpine ski team. Monday-Tuesday: District Music Clinic at Cheyenne East. Wednesday-Sunday: Thanksgiving break no school. --Travis Wroblewski Twenty years ago recalled This column will feature a brief summary of a bureau article that originally appeared in the Boomerang during the 1984-85 school year. The bureau scrapbook from those two years serves as a source. Oct. 7, 1984: DECA held an installation luncheon Sept. 26 at Laramie’s Ramada Inn. The honored guests included Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Conklin, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Leonard Hall, attendance secretary Janie Moore, principal Charles Mitchell, assistant principal Scott Mader and counselor Ryan Fulton. --Kelsy Jones On the Net: For more LHS news read and bookmark CyberPlainsman at my.highschooljournalism.org/wy/laramie/lhs Three stories on the Nov. 11 death in Iraq of Cpl. Kyle Burns, a 2002 LHS graduate, are included in the updated November issue. Burns remembered by teammate Lance Corporal Kyle W. Burns of the United States Marine Corps and 2002 LHS graduate, was killed Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Burns, 20, was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was among the first United States forces to enter Fallujah and was killed alongside many of his commanding officers. He was a proud supporter of LHS sports and activities, an avid hockey player, and loved the outdoors. According the Casper Star-Tribune, Burns is now one of nine Wyoming-linked servicemen that have been killed in Iraq since 2001 and the first from Laramie. I personally knew Kyle and was privileged to play on the same hockey team as he did. Kyle was an intense hockey player and had a deep love of the game that started at a very young age. I got to play with Kyle my sophomore year and we ended up being extremely successful, taking second in the state. While playing hockey Kyle lived to hit people. When he did he did it with gusto, usually leveling his poor victim to a heap on the ice. Hockey was life for him, and when he played he did it with unparalleled devotion and intensity. He was a great addition to the team, the hockey community, Laramie and the United States. He will be dearly missed. --Charles Buxton