VOL. 57, ISSUE 5 /OCTOBER 14, 2009 2424 S.E. CALIFORNIA AVE. / TOPEKA, KANSAS

H1N1Why is it called Swine Flu ?

It is called the “Swine Flu” be-cause laboratory testing showed that many genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza vi-ruses that normal-ly occur in pigs (swine) in North America.

What is it?

A new in-fluenza virus which was de-tected in people in the US in April 2009.

This virus is spreading from person to per-son worldwide. Similar to the way a regular seasonal in-fluenza virus spreads.

How is it spread?

It is spread from person to person through cough-ing or sneezing by those infected with virus. Some-times people can even catch it by touching a surface or object with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Is there a vaccine available?

Severe illness and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with the virus.

A H1N1 vac-cine is currently available in To-peka in limited quantities.

P r i o r i t y groups for the vaccine include:

P r e g n a n t women,Children & young adults aged 6 months to 24 years.

What are the Symptoms?

Fever• Cough • Runny/• Stuffy NoseSore Throat• Body Aches• Fatigue• Headache • Chills• Some have • diarrhea and vomit-ing

What can I do to protect myself ?

Cover your mouth with a tis-sue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you finish using it.

Wash you hands often with soap and water. If soap or water isn’t available then use alcohol based hand rub.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Get Your Flu Shot.

Beware of the flu season Written By: Jordyn Kelly

By Prentice Inyard &

Ta’Micka Cavitte

Throwing footballs turned into throwing fists on Sept. 25 when Highland Park’s varsity team went up against rival Topeka High.

The teams were battling during the game but the heat turned all the way up during the fourth quarter with 8 minutes and 41 seconds left on the clock.

Because of alleged cheap shots and late hits the two teams started to fight on the field. After the brawl when both teams returned to their benches, officials called the game to an end.

Disciplinary actions and consequences followed very quickly.

Topeka High’s coach Walt Alexander made a public statement saying his team would not be reprimanded.

Highland Park didn’t get off so easy. There were suspensions made and student athletes lost their spots on the team.

In addition, the rest of the season

was at jeopardy. It was not certain if the team will be able to finish out this season, but a review from the Kansas Activities Association has agreed to allow the team to complete its schedule.

The KSHSAA statement reads:“After reviewing the report from

USD 501 district administration, the Kansas State High School Activities Association has placed the Topeka Highland Park football program on administrative probation for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year. The KSHSAA agrees with the position taken by USD 501 that it is in the best interest of all schools for both teams to continue their seasons.

“Along with the school district, the KSHSAA will continue to monitor the Highland Park football program but administrative probation allows the team eligibility to participate in KSHSAA post-season play should it qualify. The KSHSAA is issuing no additional sanctions on individual players or coaches beyond those imposed by

the school district.”The coaching staff had its own

punishments for the team. For example, in the first game after the incident the team was not allowed to wear their new uniforms and played in the older uniforms as a message to put their focus on more important issues.

“In order to better ourselves, the team has to learn to control themselves in the heat of the battle,” coach Sadiq Muhammed said.

There was a meeting Oct. 6 at the Hummer press box between the two teams. Superintendant, Kevin Singer decided that select players from both teams have to complete mandatory community service together, such as helping around at schools within the district.

Muhammed said this event has not scared him away.

“ I will continue to coach even harder than before. It’s my passion and since we have been faced with this adversity as a leader it’s my duty to face it head on and not be

scared.”

Parking Lot Fight

In addition to the incident on the field, there was another big fight at school about 10 days prior to the football fight, which brought a lot of negative attention to Highland Park.

On September 14, a fight broke out in the parking lot during the lunch break involving several students, former graduates, and a few parents. Several hundred students were on hand to witness the event.

When campus police called for back up, more than a dozen law enforcement cars arrived on campus, followed by a police helicopter, a K-9 unit and the news media.

The media inaccurately reported that the brawl was a result of escalated weekend gang violence.

Associate principal Valerie Patterson was quick to quash concerns that Highland Park is a dangerous school.

She said the incident stemmed from problems in the neighborhood between certain groups of girls that escalated at school.

“We, like other schools, have groups of students who don’t always agree. Sometimes the volcano just blows, but to say Highland Park is an unsafe place is not fair,” Patterson said.

There is no accurate number of students involved, but the result of the parking lot incident included a total of nine girls receiving five-day suspensions with long-term hearings.

Only three girls were allowed to return to their classes; three others were transferred to Twilight School and the remaining three transferred to other schools.

“It was a difficult decision,” Patterson said. “ I couldn’t put them all in the same place.”

Instead, the school looked at where the girls would focus best academically.

Fights give Highland Park a ‘black eye’

Last year students in Mrs. Terri Walton’s Honor’s Junior English class wrote a book about famous people buried in the Topeka Cemetery and had it published.

On Saturday Oct. 3 the very same contributors were invited to read at the 150th anniversary of the cemetery and learn of its history.

The book, “Beginnings to Endings: Topeka’s Founding Fathers Buried in the Topeka Cemetery,” was funded through the Sherman Oyler grant from the Topeka Foundation.

Oyler was a former Highland Park history teacher and the book is dedicated to him. The grant paid for the printing of the book, enough to give a copy to each student, as well as several local libraries.

Walton said the students worked

hard to gather the information for the book.

“They had to do extensive research. It was harder than googling.”

The students had to search archives at the public library as well as the KS State Historical Society Library.

Since the publication, the class has been asked to turn their biographies into first-person monologues, which will become a live theater production. The group is working with the TV Productions class to film the monologues for a film for the Kansas Historical Society.

Seniors Margaret Harris and Joshua Beshears read excerpts of the book at the recent cemetery anniversary celebration.

English class writes book celebrating lives

Information from: Centers of Disease Control & Kansas Dept of Health.

Senior Josh Beshears reads an excerpt from the book written by Honor’s

Junior English students about founding fathers buried in the Topeka Cem-

etery.

Freshman Quianna Bixel enjoys cotton candy at the Highlander Fling

carnival. For more Homecoming coverage see pages 4-5

The Staff

Editor in Chief- Ta’Micka Cavitte

News Editor- Jordyn Kelly

Features Editor- Bianca Greenly

Editorial Editor-Christine Labrador

Sports Editors- Dante Jordan

Antwan Robbins

Business Editor- Kira Southall

Web Master- Prentice Inyard

Staff Reporter- Yara Arreola,

D’Marco Smith

Adviser: Heather Hooper

Editorial Policy: The diverse opinions expressed in editorials are either

those of The Bagpiper staff or individuals. The editorials may never

purposely attack or ridicule anyone. Views in this newspaper do not

always represent those of the staff, faculty or the school board of Topeka

Unified School District 501.

Letters to the Editor: The Bagpiper encourages all readers to submit

letters to the editor. The letters can be mailed to The Bagpiper at Highland

Park, dropped off in Room 219 or turned in to any of The Bagpiper staff.

Submitted letters must be under 300 words and signed by the writer or

writers. The Bagpiper will not accept any obscene, personally offensive or

irrelevant material, and reserves the right to edit or refuse publication.

The Bagpiper is the official

student publication of Highland

Park High School. The mission

of this paper is to inform

students and staff of current

events, to entertain and to serve

as a forum for thoughts and

opinions of students and faculty

as accurately and tastefully

as possible. The Bagpiper

is published monthly and

distributed to the students and

staff at Highland Park.

October 14, 2009 • THE BAGPIPER 2

Halloween Express1930B SW Wanamaker Ave.Topeka, Ks 66604785-228-2044

Store HoursMon-Fri: 10 A.M.-9 P.M.Sat: 10 A.M.-9 P.M.Sun: 12 P.M.-6 P.M.

Flashback:Can you guess the Royalty among us?

Highlander Fling Carnival Sponsors

ApplebeesBurger KingCold Stone CreameryChicken Fly Committee Domino’s PizzaGodfather’s PizzaMcDonald’sOlive GardenRed LobsterSheridan’s Frozen CustardTargetUr Hometown Inflatables

Number 1 School in Topeka

501 Driver’s Ed

1965 1973 1985 1987 1996

Answers: Mr. Dale Cushinberry, homecoming king. Ms. Valerie Patterson, homecoming queen. Mr. Freddy Maisberger, winter royalty candidate Ms. Sherlice Spicer, winter royalty candidate. Elena Ramirez Johnson, winter royalty candidat

Mr. Tim Overman won basketball homecoming king 1970 Columbus, Kan.

Ms. Angie Seamans was queen of Pike Valley HS 1985

Ms. Karen Darting was royalty at Emporia High 1971.

Mr. Scott Kickhaefer was a royalty candidate 1993 Chapman High School

Honorable

Mention

All Highland Park has made headlines for lately is a right hook and a sucker punch. What is really going on?

So many great things happen at our school yet all we can get in the newspaper for is the fights.

It’s our school! It’s our responsibility to promote the image we want!

The football team’s actions are inexcusable and the lunchtime brawl gets reported as “escalated

weekend gang violence.” Come on people. As a

school, we need to work together and promote the positive image we want to project.

Our school could make headlines with all the positives we have going for us, such as Links Crew, AVID, girls’ tennis, debate.

All I’m saying is keep your hands to yourself and do what you have to do to succeed.

OPINION

Make headlines for the right things

By Ta’Micka Cavitte

4 THE BAGPIPER • October 14, 2009

Homecoming 2009

QueenKing

Q&A

Q : What was your most

memorable moment?

A : When I wore a fat

man costume and kilt.

Q : What was your most

memorable moment?

A : Becoming wing

commander of AFJROTC.

Q : What is your most

memorable moment?

A : When I got

nominated for

homecoming.

Jessica Cohee

Jermaine Parker

Taylor Childers

Prentice Inyard

Q : Why is great to

be a Scot?

A : Why isn’t it great

to be a Scot?

Q : Why is it great to

be a Scot?

A : It’s a great

school.

A : I couldn’t imagine

being at any other school.

Karen

Rodriguez-

Ortiz

Dylan Flowers

Q : Why is it

great to be a

Scot?

A : Because

its like another

family in school.

Q : Why is it

great to be a

Scot?

A : All the

people, the fact

that we are all one

big family.

Q : Why is it

great to be a

Scot?

Luis

Astorga

Deeloress

Slater

Khiry

Crawford

A : There’s

always something

brand new and exciting

to do here.

Jasmine

Kingcannon

Q: Why is it great

to be a Scot?

Q: What was your

most memorable

moment?

A: When I was a powder puff cheerleader.

Dee Slater & Jermaine Parker. Taylor Childers & Luis Astorga. Jessica Cohee & Khiry Crawford. Karen Rodriguez Ortiz & Prentice

Inyard.

Jasmine Kingcannon & Dylan

Flowers.

Queen Jasmine Kingcannon & King Jermaine Parker.

October 14th, 2009 • THE BAGPIPER 5

We Got Spirit!

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1. Jahlil Osby playing in the obstacle course.

2. Mr. Dale Cushinberry slides into the dunk tank.

3. Little kids enjoying the car smash.

4. Mr. Matthew Herbert, Ms. Alicia Billinger, & Mr. Jeffery Rezac are our new Scots mascots.

5. Seniors Jesenia Alcantara, Francisca Yebra, Nallely Vasquez on the Hispanic club float.

6. Sabrina Ramsey, Andreina Galicia, Carolina Mateos, Christine Labrador, Biainett Caldera, and Doralicia Fuentes on Multiple Day

7. Jocelyn Gonzalez shows her spirit at the homecoming parade.

8. Senior Women, left, take on theJunior Ladies in powder puff football.

The cross-country team is running very well so far.

They had runners finish in the top 15 in some of their races.

Coach Freddy Maisberger is also noticing the improvement with the team.

Maisberger said, “The team is doing very well. The runners are finishing with lower times than what they started the season with.”

Then he said, “I see more

commitment in the runners.” The running is helping

them build their stamina, but Maisberger said he wished they had started running more in the summer and ran on weekends.

Junior Will Gray said he enjoys the sport a lot and coach Maisberger is very helpful and competitive.

The workouts can be tough at times, Gray said.

The average work out has the boys running three 5 miles and the girls running two 4 miles.

The next meet is at Hummer Sports Park.

The Lady Scots volleyball team has hit a road block losing six straight games in a row.

Their current record is 7-15.

With varsity setter Taylor Wilson gone with a broken finger, Coach Tim Overman says Jessica Cohee and Jasmine Kingcanon and the rest the team must step-up because Wilson’s injury was a big loss for the team.

Senior Andrea Rhoiney said Wilson is really missed. “She is a key factor in our offense and defense, and we all miss her energy and intensity.”

Twin sister Katie Wilson said, “losing my sister has done a lot of damage to the team, but us seniors are fighting through the storm.”

Senior Makhala Giardina agrees that the team can

win without her, but it’s going to be hard.

“I think we can do it if we talk more and have intensity, its not impossible,” Giardina said.

As the team setter, Taylor Wilson was a big part of the team.

“From a hitters point of view its hard to get use to other setters setting it up to me,” Giardina said. “I was so use to her, working together all summer.”

The seniors say they plan to carry the rest of the team to state, but can not do it without the underclassmen playing their role and having more energy and intensity.

While Wilson is out sophomore Delores Smith and freshmen Sammie Zirkle have helped out the varsity in many ways,

The soccer team is playing with a force to win this season.

The team is 3-5 right now with an impressive win against Emporia 2-1, and Daniel Corral leading the team in goals.

Also, they are fifth in the Centennial League.

The team members say they can still use improve to be a successful team in the future.

Senior captain Luis Astorga said “We can use improvement on defense. We make a lot of mental mistakes, which causes us to lose close games.”

But overall, Astorga said they are doing better than last year.

“We have good team chemistry overall,” he said.

The team still has many weapons to help them be a good team.

Senior Jose Pelayo is controlling the middle very

well. Also the freshman Lauro Garcia is dominating on the field. Also, Enrique De La Torre also is helpful in the middle with Pelayo.

On Oct. 5 the team lost to our crosstown rival Topeka High 2-0.

De La Torre said, “I’m upset, but it was the little mistakes that we made.”

Then he stated, “We can change these mistakes and prepare ourselves for regionals and hopefully make it to the playoffs.”

Coach Dave Ulivarri said, “The team still looks good and we still can use improvement.”

Ulivarri said he thinks the team can make it to playoffs if they limit their mistakes.

“Overall, we’re doing pretty good and I’m really proud of the teams commitment.,” Ulivarri said. “When we’re down they never give up.”

Soccer Team keeps fightingBy: Antwan Robbins

Will Gray strides it out on the cross country track.

Tough TimesBy: D’marco Smith

A volleyball strugglePhoto by: Hannah Davis

Seniors claim victory in Powder Puff Football

Junior Ashley Lutz avoids

the touch!

Andrea Rhoiney ready to serve the ball.

Photo by: Heather Hooper

Luis Astorga prepares to launch the ball

against Topeka High.

“Down, set, hike,” yelled

senior quarterback Kane-sha Mock in the annual girls power puff football game.

The Class of 2010 won for the third time in their four years with Mock lead-ing the team at QB for the second year in a row.

Senior receivers said K-Mock is a smart QB for a girl, she is really athletic, and the juniors could not stop her passing game and trick plays.

Juniors Tre’Ona Hicker-

son and Chanaya Kershner claim the game was unfair, unsafe, and the referee let the game go on with disor-derly conduct.

The two said the junior girls were not as strong or athletic as the senior class, but if they can get a re-match they will show them who is the best class.

Jasmine Kingcannon and K-Mock both had a rushing touchdown, and Sapphire Phillips recov-ered a fumble and got a touchdown, with the score ending at 24-0.

By: D’marco Smith

The senior team with their

coaches celebrate the pow-

der puff victory.

6 THE BAGPIPER • October 14, 2009

Finishing StrongThe cross-country team is running well

By: Antwan Robbins

OCTOBER 14, 2009 • THE BAGPIPER 7≠

Fall Sports Mania

William Muldrow jogging for

success

Vanessa Ellis concentrating on the swing

Chanaya Kershner going for the spike.

Lauro Garcia leaps over his opponent to get the ball.

Nathan Horn going for the pass

8 THE BAGPIPER • OCTOBER 14, 2009

Topeka Haunts

This location, the former

Trinity Methodist Church

at 16th and Harrison, is

considered to be the most

haunted place in Kansas. It

is said to be possessed by

the Devil. The owner, and

numerous others report hear-

ing screams and a little girl

crying.

Harrison Church The Capital

The Kansas capitol is also

well known for a good

spook. Rumors tell, that

a mentally handicapped

woman climbed up to

the top of the Capital and

jumped to her death. There

are some who claim they

still hear her moans and

screams at night.

Rochester

Cemetery

Rochester Cementery holds

the well-known story of the

Albino Woman. Numerous

stories have been said

about this spook. The most

common says she wears

long white dresses and tends

to the graves at night. And

if any late night visitors

appear, she is known to

scare them off.

Topeka High Topeka State

Hospital

There have been many

ghost spottings at Topeka

High School. Rumors of

an underground tunnel

under the school leads to a

hidden cementery. If alone,

a conversation with a ghost

or other strange occurrences

are likely to occur.

This building once housed

an insane asylum from 1914

to 1997. It was opened to

ease overcrowding at two

other local asylums. Located

just north of Hummer Sports

Park, the grounds have its

own cementery. The land

was recently purchased by

the 501 School District to be

torn down.

By: Kira Southall

What’s your Halloween style?

5 Top

Bagpiper staffers Bianca Greenly

and Prentice Inyard recently tried

on some of this season’s most

popular Halloween costumes.

Top row:Bianca & Prentice show their

sweet side in this “Sugar Babies”

and “Sugar Daddy” costume.

Bianca walks like an Egyptian.

Prentice has transformed into

Wolverine.

Bottom row: It’s anchor’s away for Bianca.

Prentice has Bianca under arrest

with this cops & robbers costume.

Prentice shows his devilish side.

Bianca as a lady pirate.

Oct. 14, 2009 • THE BAGPIPER 3

Right from the start, Desiree Abbott realized the importance of academics, participation, and teamwork in achieving success in high school. Outside of Jr. ROTC, I’ve observed cadet Abbott’s involvement in her extracurricular activities and it’s evident that in whatever she’s engages, she understands the respon-sibility for its success or failure rests squarely on her shoulders.

Since school has begun, cadet Shawn Burris has dem-onstrated exceptional responsibility by going well above and beyond whatever he’s been asked to do. Cadet Burris’ personal responsibility so far this year suggests a bright future in the years to come.

Cadet Yara Arreola is no stranger to responsibility. As the logistics officer she has spent numerous hours throughout the summer preparing for the new school year. Because of her hard work and attention to detail this has been one of the smoothest issuing of uniforms for the ROTC program to date.

In addition to completing her final year of high school, Taylor Childers is responsible for the leadership and administration of our entire cadet cadre of over 130 cadets. Whatever task she’s been given in her last four years, she has demonstrated outstanding responsibility in accomplishing the task.

Character of the Month

September :Responsibility

Nominated by ROTC Instructors

Anthony Munoz-Crow took first place for accuracy in the riffle shoot at the Kaw Valley Muzzle Loader’s yearly riffle and tomahawk sports camp.

Munoz-Crow was one of five Highland Park students who attended the camp Sept. 18-20 with history teacher Jeff Rezac.

There they learned and participated in the tomahawk throwing for accuracy and as well as target shooting with the muzzle-loaded 50 caliber riffles.

They were among a group of 85 participants this year.

Eric Larue tells the aftermath of a school shooting, and leaves many unanswered questions.

This play consisted up of six actors, who highlighted each victim’s emotion in the shock of the shooting.

The performance was well written and acted. Even the stage set appeared crooked and unbalanced to give the audience the impression of the characters’ disturbed lives caused by the crime.

Director, Scott Kickhaefer, said the play was chosen because of the story line and because it seemed fitting with the school board emphasizing on bullying this school year.

“I chose it to make people think, and to ask questions,” Kickhaefer said. “To see it didn’t offer a solution”

The audience seemed pleased

with the performance. In one of the three nights of

showing, the largest night had about 75 attendees.

Overall, the play was one not to miss and had good reviews.

Eric Larue:

Fall play

looks at school

shooting

aftermath

Poetry Slam At Lola’s in Fleming Place

10th & GageSat. Oct. 17

from 7:30-10:00 P.M everybody is welcome

Taking Aim

Scot takes first place in riffle shootingBy:Yara Arreola

By:Yara ArreolaArt for Kids is a charity event

for the Topeka Public Schools Foundation .

Students and teachers from across the community are donating their time and artwork for the charibable auction.

Some of our students at Highland Park will be donating different medias of art.

Junior Marissa Bass, is painting our very own principal’s shoe for the event. There are five other students painting shoes.

Also being donated is a painted chair.

Junior Danielle Jones, has been working on a Twilight inspired chair for weeks.

She said, she wants to take her time and put as much detail as she can since its going to represent her as an artist.

The event will be held at the Ramada Inn Grand Ballroom Oct. 23 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Students Prepare for ‘Art for Kids’

By: Kira Southall

Anthony Munoz-Crow takes aim with an old fashioned muzzle-loader riffle.

He won first place for accuracy.

Above: Josh Bashears plays Eric

Larue, the school shooter.

Right: Marissa Bass, playing the

shooter’s mother, is comforted by

Bajuan Carr.

Photos by Margaret Harris

This chair, painted by Danielle

Jones, will be auctioned off with

other student artwork at the charity

event Art for Kids.