Here is the latest installment of the Plainsman Page, from Belle Plaine High School:
21st Century Jobs
By Trey Gerard
The economy is constantly changing, and it is more difficult to get a job now-a-days. Employers look for a variety of skills, but they notice your level of education the most.
Some of the skills employers look for are: basic, technical, organizational, and company specific skills. Some basic skills include reading, writing, and computation. Technical skills involve working with computers, telecommunications, and manufacturing technologies. Organizational skills involve customer interactions, communication, and problem-solving, being creative and self management. Company specific skills are skills and knowledge that are constantly changing especially abilities in technology, products, and services.
The most needed jobs for the 21st century are in healthcare, technology, business and professional services, and public services. Healthcare jobs include administration, nursing, physical health, dentistry, and mental health. Technology jobs that are available include biotechnology, engineering, and information technology. Business and professional service jobs are financial services, human resources, law, communications, public relations, sales and marketing, and food services. Public service jobs include social services, education, state and local government jobs.
The top ten highest paid professions…
1. Surgeon ($181,250)
2. Anesthesiologist ($174,810)
3. Obstetrician & Gynecologist ($171,810)
4. Orthodontists ($163,410)
5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon ($160,000)
6. General Internist ($156,550)
7. Psychiatrist ($146,150)
8. Prosthodontist ($146,150)
9. Family Physician ($140,370)
10. Chief Executive Officer ($140,210)
All of these occupations require a high school diploma as well as a higher level of education beyond a four year college or university. That is why it is so important to take education seriously, especially if you want to earn a lot of money.
Aquatic Center
By Justin Coshow
As you all know Belle Plaine is getting a new aquatic center. Some people have wondered about what is going on with this whole situation. Joel Formanek is the Belle Plaine Recreational Director and he is going to answer the questions for the people that want to know.
Will the new Belle Plaine Aquatic Center be open on time?
“The plan is to have it open May 28th as long as the weather and construction cooperates with the plans we have this spring.”
HOURS:
1-7 regular swimming
Wednesday Family Nights 7-9 P.M.
Adult Lap Swimming 12-1 P.M.
Swimming Lessons 10-12 A.M.
What features will it have?
“There will be the Large Flume Slide. A one meter and three meter diving boards, a zero depth entry with a kids slide and floor geysers. Five twenty-five meter lap lanes. It will also have a renovated bath house with a larger concessions area.”
How much will it cost?
“The daily pass would be $3.50 for ages 4-adult and $2 for toddlers (3-0).”
“Family season passes would cost $90 if purchased before June 1st or $100 after that date. This is for the in town residents. Out of town residents will cost $100 if purchased before June 1st or $110 after.”
“Single season passes for Belle Plaine residents cost $65 if purchased before June 1st or $75 after. The cost for out of town residents would be $75 before June 1st or $85 after.”
Many people from the community and surrounding communities are looking forward to the new and improved Belle Plaine Aquatic Center. It will be a refreshing addition to the city of Belle Plaine.
Attention Seniors
This is your friendly reminder that senior photos and baby photos are due now. If you would like to be in the yearbook please get your photo turned into Mrs. Maxwell, Dawn Stull, or the yearbook staff immediately. You must turn in four photos all together. If you have questions about this please contact the office. If you need to make arrangements to have your photo taken by a yearbook staff member let us know, we can arrange this. We would like to have everyone in the yearbook, so please get us your photo as soon as possible. Thanks!!
Boys Basketball Update
By Kaleb Gorsch
The Belle Plaine Boy’s Varsity Basketball Team has had a rollercoaster season thus far. With an 8-10 record to this point, they are looking for wins in two of the next three games at home bringing them into the SICL Conference Tournament.
The upcoming game against Sigourney on Friday, February 12, at home looks to be promising as the Plainsmen were able to pull out a win at their house earlier in the season. Due to weather the team will be playing two rescheduled games against Iowa Valley and HLV, those dates are yet to be announced.
The Plainsmen senior John Long is having a tough year. Long was out with a sprained ankle while the Plainsmen struggled against Keota and resulting in a loss. Senior Chris Janss has had a promising season. This season Janss has scored 222 points averaging 12.3 points per game. Starting point guard, Ben Ehlen, a junior, leads the team in total points per game, 14.1, and overall points, 254.
With this season winding down the boys are gaining momentum going into this year’s tournament play. With all their starters healthy and ready to go, these games promise to be an exciting end to the season.
Helping Haiti
By: Paige Wiese
After the tragic earthquake that brought Haiti to pieces, there are many people trying to do what they can to help. We have people in Belle Plaine making a difference too. The extra change in your pocket can help.
Hannah McLennan, 10, in 4th grade made posters and hung them around the schools and around the community. She also made boxes that are set up around Belle Plaine in places like Grieders, Country Foods, the banks, Dollar General, the bowling alley, New 2 You, the pharmacy, and many more places.
Hannah will be collecting until the end of February. So far she has collected about $1000.00. She will make sure to get everything to the Red Cross, so it can get to Haiti. Here is what Hanna said, “Thank you all for helping, every dollar counts.”
It would be greatly appreciated if you would stop by one of the places listed above and drop off some spare change. Remember all the donations are going to be picked up at the end of February. Please Help Hannah Help Haiti!
Belle Plaine Basketball
By Logan Baburek
Belle Plaine Boys’ Basketball is having a decent year so far. They have won six games and are hoping for another win Friday night. Their six wins are to Montezuma, Victor, Marengo, Tri-County, Sigourney, and North Mahaska. Friday night they play Tri- County for the second time and are looking for another win.
They are coming off of two hard losses against Lynnville-Sully and Keota. Both of those teams are tied for first in the S.I.C.L. Conference. A game against a team they have already have beaten is what they need to get back up on the feet, so they are prepared for the rest of the season and for districts.
There is a week and a half left of regular season of boys’ high school basketball before teams have to start worrying about districts. The first round of districts will be played on Monday, February 15. Belle Plaine will be playing Mid-Prairie in their first round of districts. Go out and cheer them on for the first round of districts because the fans help get the players pumped up, so they can win the first round and advance to the next.
Musical Impact
By: Melissa Stull
The way that music impacts teens around the world is spectacular. Music is a way for teens to connect with similar stories of other people. Also, music is a way of getting out feelings and stories, whether they are sad or happy. Different genres of music attract different personalities of people. The question is what would the world be like without music?
Have you ever thought about a life without music? It would be different. Some of the most famous people are famous because of music. Music describes everything; even our country has a song! I believe that many teens resort to music as an escape because it is a calming way to forget stress of school, sports, and other academics. We are surrounded by music, yet most people don’t realize the great impact it has on our everyday mental, physical, and spiritual health. “Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.” –Ludwig van Beethoven
“Where words fail, music speaks” –Unknown
Listen to a little more music in your day; it could lift so much off of your shoulders! Music is not only a way of expressing yourself; it has become a part of history.
New Class Offered at BPHS
By Philip Farr
A new one credit elective class during 2nd semester at Belle Plaine High School is Novels taught by Mrs. Maxwell. It is available to all students especially those who enjoy reading.
The novels and authors that will be introduced are…
• The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
• One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
• A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer
• Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The students will be reading these classic and well-known novels. The class consists of a small group of students, who will need to read frequently and make it a daily habit. The students will learn about the novels and authors, while participating in class discussions, assignments, projects, and papers.
Novels is a class for students who enjoy reading, but also for the student who wants to read more as well as learn about the authors. Novels will be a great addition to BPHS, and a great way to earn one elective credit out of the 12 total elective credits needed to graduate.
St. Patrick’s Day
By Dustin Drexler
St. Patrick’s Day takes place each year on March 17th, which is the traditional feast day and anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death. The Irish from all over the world have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years.
The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade actually took place in New York City back on March 17th, 1762. Today, this parade is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States with over 150,000 participants. This parade takes over five hours to watch with nearly three million people who line the one-and-a-half mile parade route.
In the United States there are 36.5 million Americans who register as Irish. Irish is the nation’s second most frequently reported ancestry trailing only behind those with German ancestry. Two of the more popular Irish customs are the wearing green and eating Irish food. The wearing of green is actually a United States custom, as the color green is actually considered unlucky in Ireland. The color green is connected to the old green flag and a time when Ireland was not free.
With March 17th just over a month away remember to show your Irish ancestry and wear green.
State Wrestling Nears
By: Tony Jones
The 2010 Traditional State wrestling tournament is nearing once again! Belle Plaine fans are encouraged to support the team in Des Moines in the upcoming days.
Belle Plaine will be wrestling on Thursday, February 18th, at 9:00 in the morning. This will be first round matches and first round consolation matches. On Friday 1A will wrestle at 9:00 o’clock again for quarterfinals and second round consolation matches. Class 1A will also Friday night beginning at 6:30 for semifinals, third round consolations, and consolation semifinals. Saturday, the final day, will include two sessions.
Consolation finals will be held at 12:00, and finals will be held at 6:00. Final festivities begin at 5:45 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. We hope the continued success of Belle Plaine wrestling and our strong fan support can carry over once again!
Super Bowl XLIV
By Tyler Striegel
On Sunday, February, 7th at 5:30 p.m. in Miami, Florida the opening kick-off started Super Bowl XLIV. The match-up was between the AFC Conference Champions the Indianapolis Colts and NFC Conference Champions the New Orleans Saints.
This Super Bowl was one of the greatest quarterback match-ups in Super Bowl history. The game started off and the Saints won the coin toss and elected to receive. In their first possession, they went three-and-out and had to punt. The Colts’ offense took the field for the first time, and they marched down the field and kicked a 38-yard field goal. Later in the first quarter, the Saints punted and got the Colts to the four-yard line, but the Colts wouldn’t let that stop them, and they scored a 96 yard touchdown. That tied a NFL Super Bowl drive for the longest play. In the second quarter, the Saints’ kicker would kick a 46 and 44 yard field goal; at the half the score would be 10-6 Colts. In the third quarter, Drew Brees would throw a 16-yard pass to Pierre Thomas, and the Saints would take the lead 13-10. Later in that quarter, the Colts would answer with a Joseph Addai four-yard touchdown run. At the end of the quarter, the Saints’ kicker would make a 47-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, is when the Saints would really turn it on and scored touchdowns twice; one by a 74-yard interception by Tracy Porter and a two-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey. The New Orleans Saints would win the super bowl by a score of 31-17.
It was the first Super Bowl win by the Saints. The win is memorable and a new start for the town of New Orleans.
Surviving Single
By: Jessica Landuyt
As we grow up and graduate high school, we all have experiences that we hadn’t been taught about. Now for seniors at Belle Plaine High School, there is a class to help teach important lessons students will use throughout their lives. This class is surviving single. Surviving single is taught by Leah Mast, home economics teacher.
Many of you may be wondering what could be taught in this class that students will use. Ms. Mast’s goals for this class are to teach the students how to live off a budget, use a checkbook, and cook. The biggest project in the class is where the students simulate living and working in Chicago. Ms. Mast gives each student a different job with a salary or hourly wage and college debt. Then the students have to live on the salary or hourly wage given to them. They have to find an apartment and figure out their monthly budget. On April 9th and 10th, Ms. Mast and a few chaperones will take her surviving singles class to Chicago to experience the big city.
For Belle Plaine High School seniors, surviving single is a great class for them to take. Going through the class, they learn many things that will help them through college and life after college.
