Musical Auditions

By Nathan Ma

Do you like acting and singing? Well, if you do, then you should try out for the Winter Musical, Bye-Bye Birdie! Auditions for the musical will take place December 5th – 6th at 3:15 pm to 5:00 pm. So what are you waiting for? Go show off your acting and singing skills! The musical is another fun and exhilarating experience waiting for you!

Dogs vs. Cats

By: Maggie Li

  There are some who are dog people and some who are cat people. But how about West? Are there more dog or cat people? Read on to find out.

I asked 21 teachers and students from all over West. Here are the results:

Then, I asked some of the people about why they liked dogs or cats better.

Dog People-

Estella Grove (7^th Grade Student) - “They are your friend and they love you and they are loyal to you. They go outside and play and don’t scratch you (like cats do).”

Mr. Forsyth (7^th Grade Teacher) - “Dogs, though I don’t know why.  My two dogs are terrible.”

Cat People-

Mr. Morgenroth (Band Teacher) – “Cats, because cats are better in town because of how you care for them. Dogs are harder to take care of in town. In the countryside, you can just let dogs run around, but in the city you can’t.”

Lydia Li (6^th Grade Student) - “Cats are cuter and dogs are loud while cats are not.”

Word Scramble

Unscramble all of the words below.  Submit your answers via email to westwarhawktalk@gmail.com.  Correct responses will earn a Best Buck!

ortsps = __________

olhsco = ___________

sekdinsen = ___________

eciraam = ___________

kobos = _________

Brought to you by: Michael Bido

Should There Be A Soccer Team for Middle Schools in Lawrence?

 By: Ming Da Zhang and Seungwoo Ahn

                We said that there should be a soccer team for the Middle School. It helps you exercise and you can make new friends in the pitch. It will be also cool to find other players that enjoy the game of soccer. Currently, there are basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, wrestling, track, and cheerleading teams. So why shouldn’t there be a soccer team? We think it would make sense to have a soccer team in the Middle School. Most people said (down below) why they think there should be a soccer team.

Warhawk Talk: “Should there be a soccer team in the middle schools of Lawrence?”

Sylas: “Yes, because there are kids that should be able to play sports they are good at.”

Nick: “Yes, because there are other teams like basketball, football, tennis, and track and much more so soccer should be a team too.

Bobby: “Yes, because soccer is a fun sport and it is a world known sport and it isn’t fair for there not to be a soccer team when there is a basketball and football teams.”

Jacob: “Yes because it is expensive for pro soccer teams and it is a good opportunity to make friends and be part of a team and it’s fun!”

Mr. Jaroscak: “Yes because the more chances you get to participate in sports, the better.”

Ms. Branson: “Yes, there should be.  Along with 7^th grade teams in all of the sports as well.  Unfortunately, the school district can’t afford it.”

                

All of the people that we interviewed said yes, and it would be a fun sport to have at West.  If we got the chance to do that it would be awesome!  We hope it might be a sport in middle school soon. 

Does Your Zodiac Sign Relate To You??

By: Xavier Bowen (Leo) and Max Fagan (Gemini)

First, find your sign

Aries: March 21-April 19

Taurus: April 20-May 20

Gemini: May 21-June 20

Cancer: June 21-July 22

Leo: July 23-August 22

Virgo: August 23-September 22

Libra: September 23-October 22

Scorpio: October 23-November 21

Sagittarius: November 22- December 21

Capricorn: December 22-January 19

Aquarius: January 20- February 18

Pisces: February 19-March 20

How the zodiac signs study

Leo, Gemini, Scorpio: Procrastinates until midnight or until the next morning

Pisces, Virgo, Taurus, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Cancer: Is responsible and studies at a reasonable time every night:

Libra, Capricorn, Aries: Plain out doesn’t

What the zodiac signs do for fun

Cancer, Aries, Scorpio: Sleep

Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Taurus, Virgo: Play sports/ play outside

Gemini, Sagittarius, Libra, Leo: Eats

Special/Interesting characteristics about the signs

Aries: Ambitious

Taurus: Trustworthy

Gemini: Easy Going

Cancer: Loyal

Leo: Leader

Virgo: Thoughtful

Libra: Honest

Scorpio: Determined

Sagittarius: Optimistic

Capricorn: Practical

Aquarius: Serious      

Pisces: Imaginative

Where the signs will be in 10 years

Cancer, Aquarius, Virgo: College

Leo, Sagittarius, Taurus: Working

Gemini, Capricorn, Libra: Rich and Famous

Scorpio, Aries, Pisces: Athlete

Signs when home alone

Cancer, Aquarius, Virgo: Uninterrupted Netflix/ Youtube run

Libra, Gemini, Aries: Sleep

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio: Raids Fridge

Sagittarius, Pisces, Capricorn: Scared

Signs that are secretly great:

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces

*This is not scientific or real, please don’t be offended

Upcoming School Dance

By Nathan Ma and Cami Palmer

            Have you heard about the school dance that is coming up? On Friday, November 18, West’s Student Council will be hosting a Hollywood-themed dance called Lights, Camera, and Action. If you like to party, or just hang out with your friends, you should go. Activities include ping pong, foosball, karaoke, basketball, a photo booth, a DJ in the gym, a movie, and more!  The dance is open to all West Middle School students, starts at 6 pm, and ends at 8 pm. There is a small entrance fee of $4, and snacks cost an additional $1.  Be there for a night of fun at West Middle School!

Craft Club

By Nathan Ma and Ming Da Zhang

            Do you like fun and design? Well, if you do, Craft Club is the place for you! Craft Club is sponsored by Mrs. Wilcken and Mrs. Briggs, who always have fun new arts and crafts assignments. From sewing patterns to epic pumpkin designs, Craft Club provides all the supplies to unleash your inner artist! For more information, read our exclusive interview with Mrs. Wilcken, one of the Craft Club sponsors!

Q: What has the Craft Club come up with so far this year?

A: Craft Club students have made pot holders, origami, and friendship bracelets to start out the year.

Q: Who would you recommend Craft Club to?

A: Anyone who likes to be creative, and share their work.

Q: What has been a big project this year?

A: We decorated pumpkins, donated from the Merc, and send them to Assisted Living Care.

Q:  Who comes up with the fantastic ideas for what crafts to do next?

A: The kids come up with the great ideas, but the teachers help with the community service projects.

Q: What does Craft Club plan to do for the holidays?

A: Craft Club does not plan to do projects for the holidays, but rather the seasons. We think that we can come up with much more creative projects.

As you can see, Craft Club is very fun and creative. So who knows, maybe you’ll find a passion for arts and crafts!

Interview with Mr. Kempf

By: Jacob Haney

            On October 3, 2016, I interviewed our new principal, Mr. Kempf, on his time being principal here at West. We discussed his previous experience and his plans for the future.

Jacob: Why did you decide to apply for principal here at West?

Mr. Kempf: It first starts with community. Lawrence is an amazing community and there’s a lot of things going on that I wanted to see or my family to experience. I really love this area and the community supports education, so West is a phenomenal school. It really has the reputation of a great place, not just for kids but for adults. Some people in the community really said, “Hey this is a good fit for you, you should look at it!” That’s why because if it wasn’t West, I wouldn’t have come.  

   

Jacob: Do you have any previous experience as principal in any other schools? If so, what were they?

Mr. Kempf: I have been principal for six years (including this one). In the last four years, I have spent my time in Emporia Middle School where I was the Associate Principal, and an Elective Director. Before that, I spent my time as principal at a small K-12 school in White City, KS, about 20 minutes south from Junction City. I really love the Lawrence area, and I have always hoped to get back this way. When West opened up it provided an opportunity to come back to Lawrence.

Jacob: How is your time being principal at West so far?

Mr. Kempf: My time at West has been great. It’s been nice to come in to a building with awesome kids and teachers, and it’s a different environment from where I came from. I also really enjoyed getting to know people, the culture here at West, and becoming a Westie.  

Jacob: What’s your favorite thing to do as principal here at West?

Mr. Kempf: Watching the students as they use their creativity, and go through the learning process. It’s been really amazing seeing what kids do in the building. The iPad initiative really helps out, and I believe the teachers will be really good about having kids produce things because it’s not a sit and get environment. The kids use their hands or tools to take what they learn and to produce so that everyone can look at and enjoy.

Jacob: What do you plan in the future for West?

Mr. Kempf: Maintaining the slogan of the school because West is best! We don’t want to continue doing things just because West has always done those things. We want to find things that will put West ahead of everyone else. So whether if it’s the iPad initiative or any other initiative in the school district we will be on the leading edge of that. So it’s finding and forming education for students, and make it where the students can go through West and be prepared for high school and prepared for college and life afterwards.      

Ways to Study

By: Madison Seelye

Everyone has their own way to study. Here are some new tips on how to study from teachers and students around West.

I asked Nikki Shaw, a seventh grade student, how she studies, and she said, “I study the hard ones first, then I go to the easy one, after that I have my parents quiz me.”

I asked Estella Grove, another seventh grade student, how she studies and she said, “I study my notes and ask my parents to quiz me.”

I asked Mr. Corcoran, a sixth grade teacher, what his best advice on how the sixth grade students should study for tests, and he said “Look over notes before the test,  but if you know the test is going to be in three days start going over your notes early. When looking over notes every day, study little pieces at a time, don’t wait till the test to study.”

I asked Mrs. Wilcken, a seventh grade teacher, what her best advice was on how seventh grade students could study for tests, and she said “You should look over notes every day for five minutes. You will be able to remember much more. Try and do something creative with your notes and vocabulary that will help them make sense to you. Mostly don’t wait till the night before the test to study!”

I asked Mrs. Jackson, an eighth grade teacher, what her best advice for the eighth grade students to study for tests, and she said “As soon as you take notes, study them every day, little bits at a time.”

Take the advice above into consideration the next time you have a test. Don’t wait until the last minute!