“Our school isn’t that much different from yours; we just have a little more of the good, the bad and the ugly,” Ron Vinduska, principal said.

The total number of kids at Seaman is around 1,250 and each class has about 250-300 kids in it. One grade almost equals our whole school! That would make it difficult to meet new friends and then have a good chance of those people being in your class.

“It was very intimidating because the school was so big,” Christa Hill, sophomore journalist, said. “At break everyone has their spot where they stand everyday and being a ‘new student’ I didn’t know what to do other than just stand there and wait to go back to class.”

“Going to Seaman made me realize how much I like Holton, walking through the hall ways was like walking through a crowd of hyenas,” Victoria Harshaw, sophomore journalist, said. “The rooms were all open; it made me feel like I was in middle school again.”

Besides the apparent fact of their school being a giant compared to Holton, we found many more differences. While our classes are alternated everyday, they have all classes every Monday and then the rest of the week they alternate days. The principal is very strict on NO cell phones. It’s either put away and shut off or taken away and put into the office where a parent must come pick it up and the student gets a detention. They have four different lunches for 25 minutes instead of just two. Another huge difference was how the rooms were built. In most halls the rooms would sit right next to each other, with just one measly wall separating them and no door or complete wall to close in the class. In most of the classes a student could just look over the wall and peek into the next class.

“It was really hard to concentrate because I could hear a louder teacher in the room next to me talking to his class,” Sam Riley, sophomore journalist, said. “Every time somebody walked by I would look up to see who it was, even though I hardly knew anyone from there.”

Seaman high school was different from Holton High School on the inside and also in the classes it contained as well.

One of the main differences was the large variety of opportunities students get to choose from. They have specialized classes like zoology, orchestra, pottery class, foreign languages like Chinese, French, Spanish, and a lot more. Talking to other students at lunch, we found that they have all the way up to Spanish 5, while our school only reaches to Spanish 2.

“I really liked how the kids had so many choices to choose from, that was probably my favorite part of the school,” Kylie Miller, sophomore journalist, said. “If I did go there it would be so overwhelming, but in a good way.”

One major course at Seaman is marching band. There are around 70 students in their Middle school band and they have 168 people in their high school marching band. In order to fit all of the middle school students in one room for band practice they have to bus them from the Middle school to the high school where they have a room big enough.

The Multimedia Department has a set studio where they have daily broadcasts telling students and teachers about the weather and upcoming activities in their school by television. Every class has a television so in the morning students can watch some of the kids in their school inform everyone what’s happening that day.

One thing that really stands out at Seaman was that they have a student- run bank right in their school. The bank was established in 1927. It is actually part of their business and documents class. There is only one other school in the area that has a bank in their school and they only have it because the former principal at Seaman high is now the principal at that school.

Seaman has more opportunities in the sports area also. They have all of the same sports as our school, except they have more to choose from such as soccer, swimming, tennis and even bowling!

When we were first thinking about writing this story we just wanted to visit a bigger school and figure out the difference between our school and theirs. After going through with it we ended up finding out what it’s like to be a new student, in a new school, not knowing anybody but each other. Overall, however, it was a great experience and we would all do it again.

“Drew Porter, junior, and Chris McManigal, father of senior Carlene McManigal, make the games worthwhile. They provide entertainment by joking around and just having fun,” he said.

During Porter’s eighth-grade year, he was sitting in the bleachers when Chris McManigal approached him and asked him if he wanted to help work in the booth.

“He told me that if I would help him out, I would receive free food and get into the games for free,” Porter said.

Porter said it took him to his second year of working in the booth to get used to Chris’s personality. Porter hasn’t always been the star though. His first year in the booth Mark Bowser was a senior and was the one who did the stats at the game. Porter was considered the waterboy, getting food and candy for the people working in the booth. After Bowser graduated, Porter took more responsibilty and was in charge of taking stats and finding who made the tackle.

“Working in the booth is a lot of fun, but it also takes a lot of hard work. If you don’t do your job it makes Chris look bad. which would definitely be a bad thing,” Porter said.

For the four years Drew Porter and Chris McManigal have been the announcers at Holton Middle School, freshman and JV football games, they have become known for their comical conversations and halftime trivia questions.

Porter says the trivia question is usually an NFL question. The winner gets a miniature football signed by THE Drew Porter. People know when it’s time for the question because they play the “Hey Porter” song by Johnny Cash.

McManigal finds enjoyment in poking fun at Porter, pointing out that Porter is “vertically challenged” any chance he gets.

“We’re tight, man.  He does pick on me, but when push comes to shove he loves me,” Porter said.

Community members Kevin Alford, Bob Miller, and Perry Moore also help in the booth. They keep track of the yards per game, who makes the tackle, and running the scoreboard.

“These guys are really the guys the make the show happen. A lot of people may think Chris does it all, but without these guys, the announcing wouldn’t be nearly as good,” Porter said.

Working in the booth has strengthened the relationship of Porter and McManigal. Porter says he really looks up to Chris. Chris gives Porter tips on his sporting events also.

“After every game I play, the first two people I talk to about it are my dad and Chris. I like talking to Chris because he tells it how it is, so when he compliments a person, it means a lot,” Porter said.

“This is a great learning experience for students to realize the impact that having a child can have on their lives,” Amy Oldehoeft, FACS teacher, said.

Any student who took the parenting class will be caring for a fake child during school as well as at home.

“The students learn that their time is no longer their own and that they have to work every single part of their day around their child’s,” Oldehoeft, said.

Students who took the parenting class received random scenarios of how their baby was born, if they had a boy or girl, how much the baby weighed and if the father was present. Before students drew their scenarios they had to choose a boy and a girl name for their child.

“I think that the babies are a good idea and that they teach you a lot; you can’t do what you normally do after school because you have to have the baby with you,” Morgan Cashier, sophomore, said.

Rafael Pellicci, a junior attending HHS this year, is from Botucatu, Brazil. His childhood in Brazil consisted of playing fun games like gringos (hide-and-seek) on the farm and also, getting to play soccer with his two twin brothers who are 12.

He described his hometown as being “about the size of Topeka.”

He said while he and his family do live in the city, his parents work on a farm where his father’s parents live. They raise 500,000 chickens, 4,000 pigs and roughly 200,000 coffee trees to sell to Europe. Most of the land they have is flat plain, similar to Kansas.

Pellicci is getting used to small town life in the U.S.  In Holton, he spends his time coaching soccer and hanging out with his “house brother,” Bryce Carpenter.

In Brazil Pellicci plays soccer, handball, and volleyball. His favorite color is red because his soccer team’s jersey colors are red, white, and black.

One of his favorite memories involving a sports team he played on occurred on the way to a handball game three hours away from his home town when the bus broke down twice. The team finally got there and ended up winning the game because the other team didn’t have enough players. because a big majority of them had gotten red cards. On the way home the bus broke down again and another bus had to come get the team. He characterized it as a very “crazy” day.

Right now he is busy coaching future soccer players in Holton grades 2 and 3. He is really enjoying it. Their first game is around the middle of April at the soccer fields just south of the square. They will probably be on the east side fields.       While here at Holton, Pellicci has been a part of the football program. He said it was very different, than in Brazil. However, he did enjoy it.

Conversing with others is not a problem for Pellicci. He knows how to speak three different languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish and when he returns to Brazil after this school year, he will be learning Italian.

Excited to participate in his first American prom at the end of this month, Pellicci, said, “My favorite kind of music in America is rock and I like the Beatles. In Brazil I listen to a popular rock group called MBB.” Pellicci said he has made many new friends in Holton as well as memories he won’t soon forget.

“Ehhh, you can find something better!”

This is word for word what happened literally 50 times while I was attempting to find my prom dress. I would come out with a big smile on my face full of excitement; then I would hear:

“Oh gag, it looks like someone puked a box of crayons on that dress.”

I would then just turn back around and try on another one. But as I was giving up, my life hero, Susan Renee Baum, brought me the most beautiful dress in my holy beloved life!

I put it on with a gigantic smile and tears in my eyes. I put it on and took everyone’s breath away – well my mom and my aunt’s at least. Then my mom asked,

“How much do you love it?”

I said, “I’ll wear it to my first day of college,” and we got it.    And I want to put it on every single night and watch MTV in it while I attempt to do homework and eat ice cream.

I am sure many out there have found their perfect dress too. At HHS 30 percent of girls have a blue dress and 26 percent have a pink dress. The more flowy dresses seem to be most popular with 41 percent going for that style. Ballgowns with a 31 percent follow in second place.   With prom arriving in 18 days, getting tuxes and dresses may be stressful but it’s more than worth a great night full of making memories. Remember to stay safe on that special night; wear your seatbelts and arrive alive.

Participants zone in as Mrs. Eubanks is talking about Spanish Club ideas.

Second year Spanish teacher, Brenda Eubanks decided to take on the challenge of forming a Spanish club for the first time here. It’s a club for people who are interested in the culture of the Spanish-speaking world.

“The purpose of the club is to get together to have a good time and learn more about the culture and language,” Eubanks said.

So far the club has had a party, made enchiladas from scratch and members are going on Thursday, Dec. 10, to eat at El Mezcal in Topeka. They hope to promote and fundraise for a trip overseas as well.  Eubanks is thinking the trip would be in summer 2011 either in Peru and Costa Rica.

Some of the students involved also volunteer at Centro Comunitario Latino de Holton to help out in the community.

“I like the club because I’m Mexican and like being involved with my culture,” David Butto, vice president said.

Eubanks hopes in the future to expand the group and its activities.

Upon returning home from the social, turned brawl, the brothers become terribly heartsick for their girls. When winter sets in Adam reads the story about the “sobbin’” women  and they decide to kidnap the girls (and a minister), bring them back home and marry them. After accomplishing this goal, an angry Milly scolds the boys and sends them all to live in the barn. Adam, upset at Milly, leaves to the  mountain cabin to live by himself. By the time spring rolls around, the brothers and the girls are in love and begin courting. At the spring thaw a changed Adam returns home to find his wife and newborn daughter waiting for him. The snow clears and the angry suitors make their way up to the house in the mountains to hang the brothers and retrieve their daughters. A melee erupts and the ending surprises the brothers, brides and townspeople.

“Today, kids have many stresses and overwhelming stuff put on them,” states Ms. Swisher, a teacher of Holton High school, “FCA is a great place where you can find help and release the stress.”

This year FCA is doing things a bit differently in order to involve more people, by making it easier for students to come to the meetings and get to the events. A lot of the students were too busy last year to make it to meetings, so there wasn’t has many activities held. The sponsors decided to divide the FCA members into four teams, there are approximately 9 members in each group. Each group has two months out of the year to hold different activities and prayer circles.

“This year I really want to make FCA the place to be. I want the students to think of it as ‘Yes, I’m excited for FCA this Saturday!’ and not ‘Oh, well lets just get this over with.’ So the activities that we hold won’t ever be boring and we try to do things we haven’t done in the past.” Pronounces Mr. Will, one of the FCA sponsors.

Some of the activities that are trying to be planned for October and November, are bowling, a hayrack ride if the weather is good, leaf raking for the community, and the passion play is coming up soon this October. The hayrack ride was cancelled last Saturday due to the cold weather and sicknesses going around, but they are trying to schedule another date for it again soon.

FCA is open to all students. If any students would be interested in signing up, because FCA would love to have you come and get involved, sign up sheets are in the office and it’s only a $3 membership to join. The meetings are on Wednesdays at 7:30 in the mornings. Hope to see you there!

According to the book, American Holidays, Halloween originated from ancient Europe. People used to light bonfires atop hills to worship the Sun God, and also to ward away evil spirits, that were said to have been released on the night of October 31. As they danced around the flames, their masks would light up from the reflection of the flame, making it seem as if they were spirits of the night.

Families that celebrate Halloween have unique traditions of their own.

“We simply wait for the kids to come to the door for trick or treating,” Kathy Kimmi, secretary, said, “We used to do a haunted house, but not so much anymore.”

While some families trick or treat, others do some things a bit different.

“We’ve never really had a tradition,” David Souter, senior, said, “Before I had moved here we used to trick-or-treat a lot. Since I live out in the country, I can’t really trick or treat. I’m planning on going to a Halloween party this year.”

“We don’t really do much… just trick-or-treating,” said Savhannah Fischer, freshman.

“I normally dress up because it’s fun,” Connor Gooderl, sophomore, said, “We do this one thing at my church where we park in the parking lot and give candy to people.”

Some trick-or-treat, others just stay home or hang with friends. However we spend our Halloween nights, the holiday seems to be one of everyone’s favorite spooky nights.