splitting up the curriculum
The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 98, Issue 2 www.boosterredux.com
Second lunch divides math, encore and other classes
Friday, Jan. 27, 2017
Page 2D
Art by Alvaro Moncivais
america: the unbroken Hispanic students break barriers, attend college
primera generación
Page 3D
aiming the arrow toward
excellence
archery welcomes a variety of students Page 6D
‘stoney’ is high above the rest Sullivan voices positive opinon on post malone’s recent album
Page 5D
JOURNEY JARAMILLO
@journeybutcher
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ome students may take the education they receive for granted instead of using it to their advantage. However, some Hispanic students, including senior Karla Arana, came to the United States to attend school because they value their education and want to improve their family’s futures. “I really want to go to college because it’s the only way I can have a better future for me and for my family,” Arana said. “I really care about my education.” This year, multiple Hispanic students are a part of their family’s first generation to attend college, let alone finish high school. Senior Carlos Calderon’s parents never had the option to attend college because they had to support their family. “They did not have the opportunity to go [to college because they] left school when they were in the seventh grade to go work,” Calderon said. “[If] they could have stayed [in school] and learned more about a subject, they could [have been] anyone they wanted to become.” Some Hispanic students drop out of school or go straight to work after high school to support their families. Recently, an increasing number of students of Hispanic heritage, not just in the Midwest, are replacing dropping out with a college education. According to Pew Research, dropout rates decreased and enrollment increased within the Hispanic population. In years leading up to 2016, the Hispanic dropout rate plunged by over 20 percent since the 1990s. In the past seven years, Hispanic graduation rates have increased by eight percent and Hispanic enrollment in college has increased by nearly 15 percent since the 1990s. Previously, restrictions such as lack of financial aid education and information regarding college have been obstacles for students. Calderon believes a barrier Hispanic students face when contemplating college is the setting and language. “When you are 18 [in Guatemala] some people stop going to school because they have to work and there [aren’t] a lot of opportunities. Here we have more chances like going to school to be successful,” Calderon said. “My language [is another obstacle] because sometimes I have a hard time trying to speak and write in English.” Now, students in English for Speakers of Other Languages(ESOL) have teachers who educate them on the application process and college visits, as well as financial opportunities.
ESOL teacher Regina Winemiller helps her students with the process. “During enrollment, I work with them to choose classes that will help them in their future, whether college, or career,” Winemiller said. “I also give them time during a unit in the spring to research their interests. I teach them, give them guidance, and provide references, and occasionally have been asked to help edit applications.” Although Winemiller works with these students on a daily basis, she credits available resources she receives within the district for educating her students. “I really can’t take a lot of credit for all of this. The counselors do most of the work of helping them get more information about college,” Winemiller said. “[Also,] there is a Migrant -KARLA program through Fort Scott whose administrators come and talk to the juniors and seniors who qualify every year.” Calderon believes the guidance these adults give is helpful and needed. “My counselors and my teachers say that it is very important to go college,” Calderon said. “They have helped me by teaching me about life and how going to college can change a person.” Monica LaForte, who is the Migrant and ESOL Education Coordinator for USD 250, along with counselor Jessica Stegman, hosted a financial aid information night for Hispanic seniors in December. “They were provided documents as far as how to apply for financial aid if they are a citizen and if they aren’t,” Stegman said. “The parents who were we at the financial aid night, all, were very much in favor of their students going to college, bettering their lives and expanding their education.” As the district’s Migrant Coordinator through the College Assistance Migrant Program(CAMP), LaForte is responsible for providing information that will help migrant students with college.
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“I work with the students, I send a letter to them or to their parents, or make a phone call to refer them to the CAMP program,” LaForte said. “We usually have sessions for the seniors to let them know that this program is available to them.” In addition to teachers and counselors, many parents have supported their children during the process as well. “[My parents] are really proud of me. They want me to go to college and they really support me,” Arana said. “They came here to give my sisters and I a better future, so they are proud that I am going to college and that I’m taking advantage of all the opportunities I have.” According to Arana, when she shows interest in furthering her education through college, peers respond based on stereotypes they have heard about the Hispanic commuARANA nity. “I think a lot of people think that if you’re Hispanic you’re going to go to go work in a factory, and sometimes they don’t believe in you. They don’t believe that you can have a great future,” Arana said. “Many people ask me if I’m going to college and when I say yes, they respond with, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re going to college?’” Calderon, however, has not experienced any stereotypical comments but has been praised by both his peers and family for being amongst his family’s first generation to get a higher education. “[My friends] are actually pretty proud of me for being the first in my family to go to college,” Calderon said. As being part of the first generation of their families to get a higher education, these students believe college is the pathway to success. “[College is] pretty important because I can make my family proud of me,” Calderon said. “[With a college degree] I can get a good job, live a better life and if I ever have a family, I can support them.”
my parents are really proud of me... they came here to give my sisters and I a better future. So they are proud that i am going to college, and taking advantage of the opportunities I have.
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Principal bishop takes new position KALI POENITSKE & MADDIE BADEN @kali_poenitske & @maddiebaden
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fter nine years of being an administrator at the high school, principal Jon Bishop takes a new leadership position at Southeast Kansas (SEK) Interlocal #637. “[I am] passing the torch on to someone else to carry on what we’ve been able to accomplish,” Bishop said. “The programs and opportunities here for the kids are wonderful.” Throughout Bishop’s term, the school has made improvements in its academic and extracurricular programs. “From 2010 to now, we’ve come a long ways,” Bishop said. “We’ve got college and AP classes offered… The fine arts program continues to reap state honors. I’m really proud.” However, these awards could not have been won without strong support from Bishop himself. Bishop has also won several awards including Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA) Administrator of the Year and was named Outstanding Principal by the Kansas Music Educators Association. Bishop earned these awards because of his involvement with the student body. Senior Olivia Joy has experienced Bishop’s connection with kids all four years of her high school career. “I feel [Mr. Bishop] gets to know most of his students very well,” Joy said. “I have a good relationship with him. He always seemed very interested in how my school work and extracurricular activities were going.” His seventh grade English teacher, Linda Barberich, who is currently an English teacher at the school, has witnessed Bishop’s leadership develop. “Teachers love to see their students do well,”
Barberich said. “Mr. Bishop has been a wonderful school, he cherished the moments with the stuprincipal. He has many strengths that have made dents. him a strong leader. His heart is in this profession. “There are so many [memories]. One that sticks He has even personally performed in vocal perfor- out was getting to play a coach in ‘Footloose.’ I mances and played also felt very flattered his guitar for stuto have the opportudents at school.” nity to sing with the However, when mult i-gener at iona l Bishop is attending groups,” Bishop said. school functions, “I could talk about all he misses out on the programs we’ve family time with started here, and how his three children great they have gone, and wife. His new but the most memoposition allows him rable things are things to spend the after I was involved in dischool hours with rectly.” his family. While Barberich “Being the prinunderstands the need cipal of a school is to branch out, she a very stressful job. wants to congratulate It’s also very time Bishop on the new ad-JON BISHOP consuming. No venture. matter how much I “Mr. Bishop has try to delegate, I’m been a wonderful missing out on my principal. He does kids’ activities. There is always something going what he can to support all departments. I will miss on, and I feel like I am shortchanging one or the working with him,” Barberich said. “[SEK Interloother,” Bishop said. “It’s not like I can’t wait to cal #637] is very lucky to have him join their team. leave, it’s about the opportunity that came about, He has always had an open door to share a story, having a principal job open about 15 miles away, field a question, listen to a concern. He is a person which will allow me to have more time with fam- who always has time for you, a smile, an encouragily. It’s just the right time. I’m always going to be a ing word. I wish him well in his new position. He dragon.” will be missed.” As Bishop reflected on his time spent at the
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being the principal of a school is a very stressful job. It’s also very time consuming. No matter how much I try to delegate, i’m missing out on my kid’s activites. There is always something going on and I feel like I am short changing one or the other.
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