An author's best moment of their lives!
By Melody Vang
Nicole Kronzer was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She moved to Minnesota to become a professional actor for 5 years. She always loved performing in front of people and they told her she was a good performer.
But Nicole soon realized that she had to have 2 full time jobs to be an actor, so she decided to become an English teacher at CPHS! She became an English teacher instead because she liked learning, teaching and liked her teachers as a kid. Nicole also says that becoming both a teacher and an author is just like being an actor, you perform in front of students and being an author, you can sort of dress up the characters and write what they say. But in 2008 Nina LaCour, an author, attended CPHS to publicly speak at the library. Nicole, who loves to write stories and books, was also there. Nina noticed Nicole and went up to her and said “hey! You’re the creative writing teacher!”. At one point in their conversation, Nina told Nicole to write a book and send it to her for feedback as she was going to be out of town. Nicole was surprised and shocked because she thought you had to write in New York to really publish a book. But Nina was there, in Minnesota to help Nicole officially publish her very first book. When Nicole got sent her published book; Unscripted, she said it was one of the best moments of her life. She also said that when she held her book for the first time, it was like having a baby because it was a moment you couldn’t forget and a miracle. |
That mom a hero in the night and her daughter that shine so bright
By Laela Thomas
Grace is an 11 grade, and a part of the orchestra in the school. Her family has her mom, dad, and her sister that goes to Jackson middle school and a dog name Ninja and cat name Croby.
Her mom works as a nurse at Mercy hospital in the ICU, which is known as the place that has the most near death patients and post surgery patients. I got the information that she works from 7pm to 7am or the other way around on a day, so she works for 12 hours a day. Just think about having to go to school for that long. She is just like Batman. She is a hero in the shadows should people in Mercy hospital make shirts that make they wake up for the next day. “Sometimes I don’t see my mom before I go to school” is something that Grace said when I interviewed her. But I swear that she has her mom brain because Grace has got two academic awards when she was a freshman and sophomore in school because of her high GPA. All she does in PSA where she has to write 250 exams for a rough draft or she reads some books. |
Finding the love for reading again
By Aisha Sidibe
Monica was always interested in reading books, but in high school she began to lose that interest. But at the beginning of 2024, she slowly regained her interest in reading books and since the start of the year, she’s read over 10 books.
Her favorite genre in books is African literature, which connects a lot to her background being that she is Nigerian and some of her favorite authors are also Nigerian. She discovered that reading books really helps her past time, she also finds listening to music while reading really helps her relax. Monica also loves reading before going to bed or whenever she has free time. A book that has been her favorite so far is “Stay With Me”, a novel by Ayobami Adebayo. It gained her interest so much because it had a lot of plot twists and each chapter had a crazy event. The book was so good she was able to finish it in 2 days. Monica plans to continue reading and even try out some new genres, she's happy she began reading again and doesn’t plan on losing her interest anytime soon. |
Sophomore Hockey Player Faced With A Challenge
By June Semling
Sophomore Kylie Aswegan, a high school hockey player at Champlin Park. Kylie has a huge love for the sport of hockey and says she has been playing for 11 years. Through those 11 years Kylie has faced many challenges mentally and physically.
During sophomore year, Kylie was faced with an obstacle that she had to overcome. She had torn her meniscus and broke her knee cap. Kylie said “It was a very hard time for me and the lowest point for me during high school hockey.” As I spoke more with Kylie she described her injury as a major setback but also a stepping stone in her career. Kylie said, “As the days went on I saw my injury as more of a learning experience, and for 6 weeks I was able to learn from my team but also help give advice.” But she didn’t stop there, Kylie had also mentioned, “Although I couldn’t use my leg, my upper body was still working. I was able to stick handle and do arm workouts with my teammates who had helped me throughout my injury.” Kylie was able to persevere through this entire process with a couple of things. “I was able to get through this hard time with the help of my coaches and teammates who kept my spirits lifted and pushed me to my limits.” With Kylie's unfailing love and dedication for this game, she was able to come out of this injury better than ever. On Kylie’s first game back after her injury, she played outstanding, and got 2 goals and an assist. |
How working out changed someone’s life.
By Ken Roberts
This story is about how working out changed Royal Dickson’s life. There is a guy named Royal who has faced many issues in his life. A few of them were being bullied, being insecure about his body weight, and being depressed.
Royal was very insecure about being overweight. He started feeling depressed about it, and he has been made fun of because of it. Some of his friends were trying to help him out but he was depressed, so he pushed them away and just felt sad. Then he started facing issues in his life and became more sad. Some of his friends started to suggest that he start going to the gym with them, but he said no because he was too depressed and insecure. Royal then saw that his friends took a working out class in school, and he joined for fun because his friends were in it. Royal then would workout every day in class, and he started to feel comfortable in his own body. Then the trimester came to an end, and he wanted to keep working out, so Royal decided to buy a gym membership. To start working out seriously. He worked out every day after school, and he lost most of his insecurities from working out. Royal then joined wrestling, and his life got better from that, and he is on a variety of wrestling teams here at Champlin Park. |
A Young Athletes Journey To The Top
By Abby Pullis
Miley Jiracek was born an athlete. Her entire family played multiple sports and she grew up doing the same. Miley was involved in gymnastics, soccer, swimming, and basketball, before finding her passion for lacrosse.
What sparked her interest in lacrosse compared to the other sports she’s tried? Her brother Jack Jiracek, who she heavily looked up to. When she was younger they’d play lacrosse in her backyard. This helped form a strong connection between the two, and unforgettable memories. Miley’s been playing lacrosse for 5 years now, ever since 6th grade. She’s a beast at the game, and you can’t help but spot her on the field. In her first year of highschool lacrosse, she made varsity. This is a dream she’s always had. Which was to be on varsity, just like her brother Jack. Although Miley was a great player, this didn’t make it easy on her. She had to adapt to new skill levels and get her bearings in a new environment. At practices she was always working towards getting playing time for games. Miley crushed her first year on varsity and by winning section finals, and CPHS girls lacrosse made it to state. Miley says this is definitely one of her top memories. This year Miley has even bigger goals. She strives to get better every day. By hitting the gym multiple times a week, going to lift at the weight room, and late dome practices, Miley is constantly improving. She’s also involved in a lacrosse club called YETI LAX where she does more off-season training. Miley is one of many girls involved in the Champlin Park lacrosse program. CP Lacrosse is very welcoming and everyone is treated with respect. No experience is needed to join and there’s always room for learning. Just like Miley, if you’re athletic and want a fun environment, you can grow to the top just like she did. |
The flyin George
By Max Peterson
George Wilhelmi is a junior this year at CPHS and just a regular student, but his dreams is are to one day becoming a pilot. becoming a pilot comes with a lot of responsibility and a lot of training that he has to do.
George has wanted to be a pilot ever since he stepped foot in a plane, His first time he was in a plane was when he went to Orlando, Florida when he was 10, He was also able to be in the cockpit with the pilots and from that point forward he knew he wanted to be a pilot. George’s favorite memories so far has been the takeoffs as well as just being able to control the plane by himself. but he said the training is fun/hard part about everything so these are all of the things he has to do before he can get his license and have people on board. First, and foremost to become a pilot you first have to get your pilot license. He chose that he wanted to be a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines. Secondly, he needs to still get his instrument license, which allows you to fly in bad weather commercially so with passengers on board. Thirdly, he needs to also get a commercial maneuvers license, the maneuver license is for if you steer the Plane in tough situations. And lastly, he needs to get his ATP license which is flying 1000 hours to have people on board. These are all of the steps that George will need to take to become a pilot. |
Varsity basketball season ended abruptly
By Olivia Osonowo
It was at the end of the second half with around 7 minutes left. Toni and an opponent were going up for a rebound. Little did she know that that rebound would change the rest of her basketball season. Toni first started playing basketball when she was in 5th grade and has been playing for almost 5 years. She started playing because a soccer coach recognized her speed and thought she’d be a good fit for basketball as well. She now trains off season 4 days a week. She plays for varsity as a freshman for our school. When she figured out she was on varsity she “was shocked” because she was originally on jv, but played well in a varsity game and got moved up. Unfortunately, that experience didn’t last very long when she sprained her ankle rebounding. She said “when she was landing, her foot went parallel to the floor.” She really enjoyed the season though, and really liked her teammates, they were “really good for her.” Her coaches were “pretty strict, and hardcore but they were very passionate and wanted them to improve.” Overall, she really loved her season. However, she was upset because her “season was cut short.” She plans to play next year, and also plans to play in college. Her dream college is UCLA, which she would play basketball for if she can. |
First-year and qualifies for state
By Zakariya Mohamed
A senior taking up a new sport is a rarity, but it marked the beginning of an endless pursuit of excellence for one determined athlete.
Salman Mohamed is a runner for Champlin Park track and cross country. But he was not always a runner, originally Sal wanted to play basketball. He would usually spend his days at the gym playing basketball. It wasn’t until Sal got cut from the basketball team his sophomore year that Sal decided to join track. When Sal first joined track he was a sprinter for his sophomore and junior year. Sal decided to join cross country in the fall of his senior year and immediately found success. His impressive efforts earned him a spot at the state tournament. Sal had a great year finishing his season with some admirable awards, such as being all-conference, a top 75 finisher in the state tournament, and rookie of the year. Although this seemingly instantaneous success sounds easy it took many days of hard work and dedication. During our interview Sal said his favorite quote was “The gift of today is gone tomorrow” This goes to show how Sal stayed disciplined during his training regime. Sal is a commissioner of Link Crew and he also has a job and he said that he keeps a healthy school/work/activity/life balance by “not procrastinating and doing things as soon as possible.” Sal said “discipline, accountability, and setting goals” help him be successful in running. Sal also said in the interview that his favorite part of running is “testing your body’s limits.” He also said the hardest part about running is “having to run on days you don’t feel like it by holding yourself accountable.” I asked in the interview “Why do you think people should join track or cross country”? He said “Everyone has an event they can be good at and you never know where it can take you.” Sal is committed to running track and cross country at Minnesota State University, Moorhead where he will be majoring in exercise science and minor in health and medical science. |
The Crazy Dishwasher
By Austin Matton
Meet Cricket.
When she was young she got the crazy nickname from her dad who started calling her Cricket. He called her this because she loved bugs. Kristen has been called Cricket since she was 3 years old. Kristen said that the only time she is not called Cricket is at doctor’s appointments or any other official type places. Kristen said when her mom was mad at her she would not call her Cricket but would call her legal name Kristen. Kristen's two daughters also know her as Cricket. She started working at Champlin Park High School in 2016. In the school cafeteria where everyone knows her as Cricket Kristen likes to be called Cricket. She thinks Kristen is too formal. She never wanted to be called any other name and thinks Cricket fits her personality. Kristen believes she is loud, obnoxious and very fun and that Cricket matches that. |
16-year-old girl sets her sights on dentistry dreams
By Hannah Johnson
At just 14 years old Emmie discovered her love for dentistry. When asked why Emmie wanted to pursue a career as a dental hygienist she answered “it’s interesting, and not boring, and I want to help people.”
At just sixteen years old, Emmie found herself working in a dental office as a receptionist in hope to one day achieve bigger dreams of becoming a dental hygienist. Emmie’s job at her current dental office (Moffitt Dentistry) includes doing reception, cleaning tools, filing papers, and helping people. She works very hard and has never wavered in her determination. Emmie knew her hard work would pay off eventually and she can’t wait to make her dream a reality. Working in the Dental office at such a young age has helped Emmie learn and take in a lot of information shared by the dentists and hygienists that she can use in her future. She didn’t mind the sterile smell or the sound of drills; to her, it was all a part of the journey towards her dreams of becoming a dental hygienist. Emmie is very eager and excited to see what the future holds for her in her career as a dental hygienist. |
Local Student Secures First Chair Clarinet at NWSC All-Conference
By Lily Herwig
18-year-old Rebbeca made it into the NWSC all-conference orchestra and earned a spot as first-chair clarinet which means she was the best clarinetist in the ensemble.
Beginning at age 11, Rebbeca has been playing the clarinet for 7 years. She chose the instrument because while Rebecca was trying out the Clarinet she found she could play it well. Rebbecca is now in the symphonic band, the highest level band at Champlin Park, and has played in many other ensembles such as the Youth Honor Band at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Pep band, Pit orchestra, Full orchestra, and NWSC all-conference orchestra. Being first-chair clarinet, Rebbecca had to work hard because she was leading the section and she also had a solo for the hardest piece the orchestra played during their concert. To do this she practiced around 4 hours a week outside of school while also practicing music for Symphonic band and playing 5 hours a week in school. When asked, she said that the most challenging thing about being a first-chair clarinet was feeling isolated as there were not many clarinet players to back her up. Rebecca perseveres to be the best clarinetist that she can. She plans to continue playing the clarinet as she goes into college. |
What can’t he do?
By Luke Gilk
18 year old Matthew Heinen is what some people might call “Him”. He maintains above a 4.0 gpa in the classroom and is a member of NHS(National Honors Society).
He's not just a scholar though, he is a fantastic football player. Matthew has been playing varsity football for champlin park for three years and is committed to University of Minnesota Duluth to play at the next level. GO BULLDOGS!! Matthew is also involved in choir at Champlin Park he has a great passion for singing and he has been in choir since 6th grade. During one of our football games this last season Matthew was all suited up ready to play, and then the CPHS choir came out to sing the national anthem. Then Matthew ran over and joined the choir in his football uniform proud to be there and represent. He is a star football player and a great singer but it doesn’t stop there. He is a thrower on the track team and one of champlin's finest. In college Matthew is majoring in business and marketing and hopes to be a very successful man one day. He will leave football, track, and choir behind, but he will not lose his love for these sports/activities. Some fun facts about Matthew is he loves to hangout with friends, cook, lift weights, and golf. He is a member of FCA and the unified club. Matthew is a very dedicated, hardworking, and handsome man that has a great future ahead of him. |
Homeschooler turned Public Schooler
By Sierra Emery
15 year old Hannah Mayor was homeschooled for the first 9 years of her educational journey and then following in her sisters footsteps she decided to move to public school her freshman year of high school.
Hannah is involved in many activities in Champlin park including swim team, leo club and book club. Hannah says that “ being involved in champlin activities has immensely helped me make friends and feel more connected to my community.” Homeschooling is very difficult, especially in high school. Even though it is hard being away from family, Hannah really wanted to have the high school experience, be able to spend more time with friends, and have more opportunity to meet more people. High school has helped Hannah with time management and she has learned a lot by meeting different people from all over the world. She has made friends with many different foreign exchange students who have really broadened her view on different aspects of the world. After high school Hannah plans to further her education with college and either vet school or medical school. She has big plans for her future and will continue to grow as a person and a student. Overall hannah believes that “ high school has really helped me grow as a student and a human being.'' She is really grateful for her experience in high school and is looking forward to all that there is to come in the future of her educational journey. |
Young teen shares what it was like adapting to a new place
By Cooper Elie
Have you ever been told that you will have to move all the way across the country to a new state? This is an experience Zarek Khokar had to go through.
He had been living in Kansas Wichita all his life, Kansas was all he ever knew. One day his dad sat him down and told him and his siblings that he had gotten a job in Minnesota, so they are going to have to leave everything behind. They would be moving 652 miles across the U.S to Minnesota. Zarek was devastated to hear that he would have to leave all his friends, family, school, and everything behind. The reason I wanted to interview Zarek was because since his move, he’s become one of my closest friends. Wichita was a small town in Kansas, his school Goddard High School was small as well. Full of farm kids, it wasn’t like Champlin Park. Zarek had a hard time fitting in once he came to CP, and the culture was very different. But, it wasn’t long before Zarek started making friends. Zarek said, “At the start it was very difficult, but after a while I started making more and more friends, and it got easier over time.” Some tips Zarek wanted to share, for anyone who is in the same situation that Zarek is in, and trying to overcome the feeling of homesickness, or loneliness, is go out and make new friends. It's going to be hard at first, and maybe scary too, but once you have a good group of friends, life will get so much better. And those feelings of homesickness and loneliness will eventually go away. |
Family Experience With Substances
By Michelle Chiefredo
At a young age, Natalie received news that one of her older cousins overdosed on opioids. Two years later she received the same news about another one of her cousins, and now, a third cousin is now struggling with opioid usage.
“This has made me more mindful about the decisions I make and how they can turn my life around completely” words from Natalie. She now talks about how she stays away from drugs due to the two deaths she experienced. She now avoids most people that surround themselves with substances because it makes her uncomfortable. “What did this experience teach you?” We ask her, Natalie responds by saying, “when people around you are struggling with addiction it may seem easy to put the blame on yourself, but whether you are a friend or family member to this person who’s struggling, the most that you can do for this person is tell them that you're there for them and there's resources for them. Provide them with those resources”. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make that horse drink. You can tell an addict what they're doing to themselves but that won’t change anything. |
A minor setback, for a MAJOR comeback.
By Allana Bates
Macie Ahelegbe, a senior at Champlin Park High School who has always dreamed of playing college basketball. She could shoot from anywhere on the court and has an amazing IQ.
Well, going into Macie’s junior year, she tore her ACL in a breakdown game before she was able to get started for her junior year. She had to sit out at least 9 months and wasn’t able to play her junior year at Champlin Park, but that didn’t stop her. Macie went to therapy constantly hoping to get back to where she was. After many many months, her love for basketball started to fade because she was afraid of messing up her knee again because it never comes back 100%. Macie decided to turn her focus to her academic career and go to college to be a therapist. Although Macie still plays basketball for fun. She took the sign and used it to spend more time on her future. She now is deciding to stay here for her first 2 years, working on graduating highschool and then going to school to become a therapist. Despite missing basketball, Macie's experience is going to help her help young kids that may go through the same pain of an ACL tear. |
Experiences of a lifeguard
By Gaia Jaramillo
In the summer Mahria does lifeguarding, a rewarding but difficult job which involves saving lives sometimes.
The training has you do lots of things like swimming on your back 25 yards with a 15 pound brick on you, pulling people up from 12 ft under, swimming 500 yards without her hands and tread no resting and 25 hours of tests and videos. One day she was teaching a swimming class by herself. She was with seven 3 year old kids and they all had no lifejackets on so she had them all on a floating little dock. While she was helping one of the kids out one of the other kids fell off the dock and went under it they got stuck. Immediately she helped them and as she was helping one another fell off the same way! So she had to go back underwater and help again.. That was just one experience Mahria has had. Shes had to save lives multiple times and she can say with confidence being a lifeguard comes with lots of stories. But although she goes through lots of stressful situations sometimes she loves lifeguarding and will continue to do it every summer. |
Young Man’s Experience growing up in New York
By Aiden Nguyen
This is the story of Yaya Camara. Yaya Camara was born November 12, 2009. He grew up in a small one-room apartment building, along with his older brother and two parents. Eventually, he started getting outside more often, especially in what those may call “The Streets.”
He and his brother grew up around a lot of drugs, and violence. This took a large toll on Yaya’s mental health. His family started getting back on their feet, and his dad found a job in Minnesota. Where Yaya would find himself now. He had a rough beginning but had some goals set. He had his mind set on Basketball. This would power him through a lot of things, like loss of friends, and so on. He got into middle school, with a lot of issues, like fights. He ended up getting transferred to Jackson Middle School. This is where I personally met Yaya. This is where I saw Yaya developing the most. He made a lot of friends, and started getting into a more stable mindset. Afterward, he became a staple in my life, and a lot of others. This brings us to today. Where Yaya is sharing his story with the world, hoping to inspire those in similar situations. |
Far From Home
One out of ten
Isabel Fernandez is a foreign exchange student who arrived from Madrid, Spain to Champlin on July 24th. Filled with a friendly personality and a sunny smile, she explores the many different classes and opportunities that Champlin Park has to offer. She was first inspired to become a foreign exchange student because of the advice of her friends who had also been foreign exchange students. She dreams of being a flight attendant so she can learn different languages and have new and exciting experiences. She also says that being a foreign exchange student gives you the opportunity to discover who you are. One of her favorite classes is Graphic design because it offers freedom and creativity. She is also taking Algebra which is a struggle because she is used to doing it a different way in her country. After school she enjoys participating in the Champlin Park Ski Club. Although she is a beginner, her coach said she does very well. Even though she enjoys skiing, she says, “Dance is my world.” She dances to many different styles including flamingo, ballet, contemporary, and modern. Unfortunately Champlin Park does not have its own dance team for her to join but that does not stop her from feeling the joy that comes from dancing. |
Owner is happily reunited with her dog after a week of being separated
By Aiden Transue
15 year old, Aliyah was packing for a trip in early September when she left the door open, and her dog
Was nowhere to be found. In panic Aliyah and her family went out searching for her beloved dog. Over the course of a week searching for Ace, putting up flyers, and posting on Facebook she was losing hope, Aliyah was hoping that she could find Ace quickly so she could still go on her trip. Luckily on sept. 12th Aliyah got a DM from someone in her neighborhood saying they found a small, black dog. Aliyah said, “I burst into tears I was so excited they found Ace, I never thought anything like this would happen.” Ace is a wiener dog mixed with a chihuahua, Ace is three years old. Aliyah got him when she was 12 years old. The weekend ace went missing Aliyah was supposed to go on a trip to visit her grandparents up north. Aliyah is very relieved that she is reunited with her dog, also she was able to reschedule her trip to her grandparents for the following weekend. Today she is very protective of Ace, and she makes sure to always shut the door. |
A young italian Actor in America
By Elena Schweitzer
At the surprisingly young age of 7 Bianca Sparviero discovered her undisputed talent for cinema. In the interview she tells us how it all started with a school show in elementary school where she played the main character, leaving everyone awestruck. This was the beginning of her journey in the world of cinema, and her love for it grew steadily. Now, the 17-year old lady is very determined to pursue her acting career. She has an agency that gives her the possibility to practice and improve continuously, making short films and also various auditions. Her main goal for now is to be known in Italy and then aim for America in the future. And this is how her interest in the United States was born, leading her to the brave choice to make an exchange year to learn a lot about the American way of life, and of course the language. Despite facing challenges with her Italian agency not sticking to agreements they made before she left, Bianca remains undeterred in achieving her goals. Her friends and mainly her acting coach are extremely supportive. Her family on the contrary is not really happy about her not being home a lot due to acting, but surely they are very proud of their talented and passionate daughter. |
Living life without a maternal mother
By Erik-Miguel Rusu
“Just because someone gives birth to you doesn't mean that they are automatically your mother” Is a quote Jayla said when I was interviewing her. Being a mother is a big part of a childs life, and unfortunately Jayla’s maternal mother isn’t present in Jayla’s because of her parents separation. her stepmom is the only one who she feels like she can call her a “mother”, she later explained that and I quote “A mother is someone who provides for you and takes care of you” And it was surprisingly easy for Jayla to accept her stepmom as what she call her “real mom” and I found that really interesting because most people I know find that difficult to accept, In summary Jayla’s story is very interesting because it is a unique story that deals with overcoming her parents divorce and also her transition with having a stepmom in her life. |
The first heartbreak
By Calvin Phetvorasack
The event started on December 5th, it was a good day that day. They had just finished up Hmong club rehearsing and they were feeling pretty good. Until he got a text message that he has never in a million years wanted to receive.
It had really happened. A smile he’ll never see again is one but a few billion smiles he loved. If you’re curious on who it is, it was a girl whom he had met in such a special way, and had even gone on his first date with her on December 3rd. Even though he hadn’t known her for that long it felt like he had known her for years. Then, she was just gone, just like that. That night he wasn't really crying even though he truly wanted to, he was more in a state of confusion. He was so tired of this year that he couldn't do anything. He was talking with his cousin who was just checking up on him, and his cousin said something that truly just made him think about everything that had happened this year. He cried, he cried like they had lost someone, he cried like he had just witnessed the inevitable. He cried to the point of gasping for air. Everything that had happened all these 12 months finally came out and they wouldn’t stop. He was glad, though, because it had finally come to an end. |
The challenges of daughterhood
By Destyni Overton
Alexis ( also known as Lexi ) is one smart and beautiful individual. But most don't know what goes on behind closed doors in her life.
Lexi’s personal life consists of her biological father. Shawn koenig (Lexi’s dad) is in jail today because he apparently stole a car and scammed people. Lexi said, “ this affects me because he's not a good person, and when you want someone to be there and they're not there, then it makes you feel some type of way. It also makes me feel sad because he's not there when i need him the most, and his actions affect me because it makes me think of him differently and when he is around, he's not really there.”. Going into the background of her dad, he had a child with another woman named mason before lexi was born. Shawn koenig was married to her mom and cheated on her with a stripper named kia. Also a relationship with him and his ex girlfriend ended last year, she had some kids but they weren't his. Lexi still calls he dad every once in a while since he's in jail and catches him up on new things in her life like school or friends. |
Young hero helps elders in his community
By Isra Mussa
Osman, is a kind individual who helps the elderly in his community. He goes above and beyond in his efforts to make a difference in their lives. He is aware of the importance of helping others who are in need of it. He is a compassionate and caring soul, he is always there to help and he does it with a smile on his face. Whether its chores, helping brining groceries or even running errands, Osman will do it simply to make them happy.
One of Osmans greatest strengths is his amazing patience and empathy. He is understanding of their unique needs and problems that come with age. He cares for each and every one of them and handles them with a sense of empathy. Taking time to understand their emotions and situations, allowing him to give his best care and support for their needs. This is such a great strength of his because it truly lets him grasp their circumstances and how some things might be harder or take more time. Overall, Osmans personality shows through his caring nature and ability of helping others. He continues to show kindness and positivity no matter what. He is a inspiration to people in his community and a motivator for others to follow in his path and make differences inside their communities. |
The Kansas krash
By Mitchell Murray
A nightmare comes to life. As the car flipped, so did his world.
Late warm Kansas city night, Wyatt Matthews along with his Parents and Brother Owen are on their way to the Kansas City airport. They were visiting their grandparents over spring break. Wyatt says he cannot recall quite what time but on the way to the airport they were driving and all the sudden. BANG. Wyatt explains “I recall just seeing all white while the car is spinning and it smells like smoke.” After the car stops for what he says, “Felt like forever.” Wyatt wakes up in the hospital, with a broken leg and 2 broken ribs. Wyatt was put into a coma for a week. He states ¨No, I can't remember anything”. When he got back home after being in the hospital for 3 weeks he was headed home, but nothing was the same. He couldn't play sports. He missed school for almost 2 months and said he couldn't do anything. It's crazy to think how fast our lives can be changed. Within 3 seconds Wyatts whole life was changed. |
Growing up in the inner city
By Cooper McElwain
Being only 9 Jairo Leon had to put blankets over the window to keep the cold air out, only eating ramen, sometimes going to bed hungry and hearing gunshots every night was nothing a child should experience.
Growing up in the inner city was harsh for Jairo. According to Jairo Leon, “I had to put blankets over the windows to try and keep the cold air out.” “Some nights would be freezing and I had to use anything I could find to keep warm.” Hearing gunshots every night while trying to sleep was normal for him and his dad knew there needed to be a change and he knew he needed to get his family in a better place. His dad started 3 roofing business and at first it was slow but after some time it started to pick up. According to Jairo, “there was a drive-by that happened right by my house and with all the money my dad has been saving up from the businesses we moved out and got to a better place.” Jairo’s childhood shaped who he is and there will always be that part of him from his past. |
Going from one of the smallest schools in MN to one of the biggest
By Brynn Kelly
When Kumba arrived at her new school she knew it would be very different from the school she attended before.
Kumba Sesay is a student here at Champlin Park, she came here at the start of trimester 2. Kumba came from Parnassus Preparatory School which is a charter school in Maple Grove. When asked what the major differences between PPS and CP were, she said the size and amount of people. Parnassus has around 200 students in grades 9-12 while Champlin has around 3,000. She explained that she became quieter than she was at Parnassus since there are more people here and she doesn't know many people. She also talked about how Champlin offers way more classes than Parnassus. At Parnassus, she only had a few classes to choose from so when she came to Champlin she didn't fully know or understand what some of the classes were. During her time at Champlin, she realized that the classes here are easier than they were at Parnassus. Overall she has been having a great time at Champlin Park. |
Palestine protest story
By Agartu Hamza
Soora, a passionate advocate for justice, decided to join a Palestine protest in Saint Paul. The protest was filled with people from different backgrounds, all coming together to show their support for the Palestinian cause.
Soora arrived at the protest with a heart full of hope and a handmade sign that read, "Free Palestine." As the crowd gathered, their chants for peace and justice echoed through the streets. The atmosphere was electric, with everyone united in their desire for change. Soora marched alongside fellow protesters, waving their sign proudly and sharing their voice. The energy was contagious, and Soora felt a sense of solidarity and empowerment. People of all ages, races, and religions came together, showcasing the power of unity. Throughout the protest, Soora met inspiring individuals who shared their personal stories and experiences. They listened intently, learning about the struggles faced by Palestinians and the importance of raising awareness. Soora was moved by their stories and felt a renewed determination to be a voice for justice. As the protest came to an end, Soora left with a heart filled with hope and a commitment to continue advocating for the rights of Palestinians. The experience at the protest had ignited a fire within, and Soora knew that their voice could make a difference. And that's the story of Soora’s powerful and impactful experience at the Palestine protest in Saint Paul, Minnesota. |
Taylor turning things around
By Ave Cortez
A conversation with a CPHS student, Taylor Mennis shows just how possible it can be to change your way of life. Taylor says, “I can’t do anything about my past. It’s something I wont let define me, so the only thing I can do now is work on me and my future.”
Growing up things were never organized for Taylor. Family life being one of them, it truly impacted her mental health. While she resented her father for not being around, she resented her mother for what she felt like was pushing him away. This created a lot of disfunction and Taylor lost much motivation for anything. School was the most important but became least important in her book. Grades slipped and attendance was a major issue. Taylor states that in her 8th grade year she ended with almost every class failed, which for her, was a wake up call. Working through her past to work on her future was the first step she took. Another one of the things that helped taylor was setting routines, she began sticking to a morning and night routine that worked best for her and saw the benefits early on. “Nothing was easy, but it got EASIER.” she remarks. Starting high school she has stayed on top of everything she has hoped to, and continues to set goals for an even brighter future. |
From having nothing to acquiring it all the story of Aiden unfolds
By Yaya Camara
Meet Aiden.
He grew up in Vietnam, specifically in the city of Ho Chi Minh, for two years where he and his family of four struggled to make ends meet until his father found a job that was willing to give him a fresh start in America, Texas. They lived there for about one year before moving to Minnesota. He was homeless for 3 years until his mom saved up enough money to start his father's car mechanic business. The business would skyrocket, making his family tons of money. However, despite their newfound success, his family still wanted to save. They got a rental home until they were financially stable enough to buy a permanent home. They would live cozy in this house for many years until his mom also decided to open a store. The store was moving steadily but still making money. This brings us to the present day where Aiden is now living cozy with his family of four. This is the legendary story of Aiden from rags to riches — never forget where you started from. |
Growing Up In Someone Else's Shadow
By Hailey Bebout
Frances is a younger sister to her older brothers Calvin and Jack. Growing up she felt overlooked when living with her older brothers.
Although she had many good childhood memories with her brothers it's harder for her to remember since she was so young. She felt as if she was viewed differently than them due to being the youngest. Frances has become more mature due to her childhood with older siblings, which is a good thing in most situations but it has made her feel like she has to live up to her parents and everyone else's expectations. “I think it's interesting because I've experienced living as an only child but also like someone with siblings.” She also mentioned how she wishes she had some of those sibling experiences like many people do growing up. Frances feels as if she's lost those sibling type relationships with her brothers because of the age gap and it has been really hard for her and her brothers to connect. The biggest effect Frances's brothers have had on her is they've introduced her to a lot of bad things at a young age. She states how her parents compare her to her siblings a lot and they don't understand that since they are much older they are going to be doing better and greater things which is hard on a child growing up always being overlooked by parents and even other family members. |
Our local golden boy.
By Florence Auta
Matthew has been a strong leader and someone to look up to, with a love of football that he has grown to appreciate, even if he did not at first.
When he was younger, he played guard, a position he knew was not for him, but as he grew, his position changed to his current one as a linebacker, and because of his change and his ability to grow more and become who he is now, he had such an ample opportunity that not only him but also two of his former teammates were able to participate in the all-metro-conference football game. Matthew told me how happy he was to be chosen to play in the game because it was like following in the footsteps of other people who were also chosen to play because they were carefully handpicked. During his time with his team, he shared some new bonds and rebonded with old friends he met outside of football, and knowing them, he felt like he made new friends with whom they could share a bond for a long time just by being with them for a couple of days they were together. After his team won the all-metro conference game, making it the third time in a row that a Champlin Park student played on the team and won, he plans to get ready for his next season of football, but this time in college, at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and his dream plan is to join the NFL. If not, he will continue his business career and see what the future holds for him. |
A senior season cut short
By Samantha Anderson
Being the captain of a sports team is an honor but also comes with difficult responsibility. Now imagine doing it all from the sidelines. This is the unfortunate reality for Austin Anderson, the senior captain of the Champlin Park boys hockey team. Just 2 weeks ago Austin was starting off his senior season going into their 3rd game of the year with his head high. Then suddenly, his world came crashing down in a matter of seconds. He was checked from behind and found himself not being able to get up off the ice. After many doctor appointments and x-rays, Austin got terrible news that he would be out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. He was devastated. He thought his entire career was over - he had hopes to play beyond high school. Now, after a couple weeks, he’s had time to digest this news and come to terms with it. “Of course I wish I could be out on the ice with my buddies, it really sucks watching them from the bench. But I have accepted the fact that I can’t control this so I’m just trying my best to help the team as much as I can and focus on my recovery.” He said he's doing everything he can to still be involved with the team. “It's my job as captain to still be there supporting everyone else.” Although this journey has been tough for Austin, he's going into his upcoming surgery with a good mindset and hope for the future. |
Through all the chaos, here's how one student does it all
By Jimy Quintana
The stage lights brighten, the house lights are slowly brought down only so you are able to walk the aisles, and the man in the booth controlling it all is none other than Mikey Beasly. If you don't know who Mikey Beasly is, then let me tell you hes a man of many things, such as: Theater Tech, Marching Band, and Many Leadership Positions, including Stage Manager and Drum Major.
When asked how he manages his time with his roles and responsibilities, he said: “ Its tough, for sure, what helps me the most is by scheduling things out and using a planer to keep track of what needs to be done in classes per day” When asked about how being a Music/IB Student has helped him develop as a student with his strategies he explained that “I think those have helped me become less lazy with everything that i do.” One thing that I asked Mikey during our interview was if the skills that he’s gained through his multitude of jobs and roles somehow complement each other. He replied, “those qualities and traits of a superior role that require effective communication and time management and a high level of respect and responsibility can go directly into an actual creeer”. My final question for Mikey was, when looking ahead into the future, is he planning on working in the technical/music world? And his response surprised me; he had said, "No, I am not planning on continuing this beyond the small job here, and my plan is to go to school for engineering.” |
Hoverboard starts garage fire
By Lilah Plessel
Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to find your garage and part of your house on fire. That was the sad truth for Ryah Pegues on a 2021 summer night.
Ryah said her and her sisters' hoverboards were charging in the garage like everyother night. She stated that her family woke up to the sound of their smoke alarms. The family ventured downstairs and found the garage full of flames, so they evacuated the house. When the firefighters arrived the garage was ruined, and so was part of the house. According to Ryah, smoke from the garage got into the house which destroyed the cabinets, floors, and some furniture. The family said they had to stay in a hotel for two months while their house and garage were fixed. During the time the house was being rebuilt the family received a lot of help from there neighbors. Ryah said, they were invited over for dinner many days by their neighbors. After a long two months Ryah and her family returned home to their newly rebuilt house. |
The struggle of having to grow up as the “mom”
By Joselyn Tarrios Diaz
This is Elizabeth. She's a senior here at Champlin park. Everyone's life is different and you never get to know someone until you at least know a bit of their story, and this is hers.
She lives with her uncle and her brother. While most of the time though his uncle is working he would be considered as the parent figure, But because his uncle wasn't there most of the time Elizabeth became the parent figure instead of his younger brother. Her parents are both in Mexico and Elizabeth and her brother both haven't seen their parents since they were really young. When they both came here to the United States they only really had each other to rely on and this put a lot of pressure on Elizabeth. Knowing that she would have to deal with a lot of the responsibilities and since she was the only girl in the household,This was very stressful. Even though with all these hardships she still managed to become an amazing smart girl that now is striving. Even though she might not have her parents still at the time, she is still going on strong and showing who she really is and Is a soon to be 2024 graduate! |
Finley’s big crash
By Lily Legus-Christman
One little mess up of gas and brake, and that's all it took to break Finley's arm.
Finley was staying up at her friends cabin for labor day. On the first night she said she had a lot of anxiety and nerves and couldn't fall asleep. After calling her parents a couple times they decided that it would be a good idea for her dad to come up and comfort her. After a long three hour drive her dad arrived at two am. She felt a feeling of relief as she hugged her dad at the front door. In the morning she showed her dad how she drove the mini ATV’s. After some coffee and breakfast her dad had a talk with her and asked if she would be ok tonight since her sister was coming up that day. So her dad headed home and we had a good weekend. On the last full day Finley was riding around on the atvs with her friend. She exclaimed how she really wanted to ride the new atv that her friend was riding so she asked her and she got really excited that she got to ride the “faster cooler one” as she said. She told me how she started going down her friends dirt driveway that was really long, she looked back at her friend and started to swerve as she tried to hit the breaks she accidentally hit the gas, she ended up running into a tree and flipping over the handle bars. She told me how thankful she was that the tree was split down the middle and if she would have hit a tree that didn't have a split down the middle the injuries could have been much worse. Her friend was riding behind her and started screaming for help and they safely got her to the hospital. Even though it took a couple months Finley made a full recovery and was able to go back to doing her everyday stuff. |
CP student takes on another country
By Morgan Pietsch, Hannah Gerberding and Angie Rosa-Argueta
Calli Lamott got the opportunity to be an exchange student this year. She will be going to South Africa and will be staying there for a total of 6 months.
“I will be sad to leave my friends and family in Minnesota, but I know that I will have an amazing experience being an exchange student and learning about different things in South Africa.” She said. She learned about the chance to go through her friend Ebba, who had come to Champlin Park as an exchange student last year. Some things she is most excited for are meeting new people, and being able to see all the wildlife that she has never seen before. Calli had said that she will not be the only exchange student living with her host family. She is also going to have a host brother from Italy as well. The cost was a huge barrier for Calli, since she would be paying for this experience by herself, but after working hard with two jobs, she was able to pay the seven thousand dollars in order to do it. Calli promises to send lots of fun pictures and videos from her trip to her friends and family back home in MN! |
Authentic sunshine and creativity, the key to happiness
By Tess Maltman
Joy Haag lives up to her name being beautiful, buoyant and bubbly.
She’s an artist that finds her individuality through her creative works such as drawing and singing. She’s living in the moment, while keeping an open eye for the yellow, joyful moments of her life. Joy expresses, “I’m bright and yellow and happy sometimes, thats a big part of who I am, but I’m still not happy day in and day out, even though my name may say otherwise.” Joy refers back to the freedom of childhood as something she equants with happiness. She claims that “running around on the playground, not being held back by any ‘obligations’ and just being free” are some of her favorite memories. Joy also believes a future filled with creativity is what’s calling her. She reflects back on the quote “The arts may not be a way to make a living, but they are a very human way of making life more bearable.” (Kurt Vonnegut), which to her is perfectly aligned with how we can fill ourselves with satisfaction. Joy also has many friends, of which play a big role in why she tends to have a peppy spirit. If she were to die tomorrow, she claims her first priority would be to tell her friends how much she loves them, and spend as much time with them as possible. Overall, Joy choses to pursuit happiness in terms that relate to a sense of childlike freedom, creativity, and close relationships with others. To her, this is what equates to happiness, and it appears many of us could follow her in the pursuit. |
High school senior taking care of toddlers
By Yogie Sheriff
Imagine working at a daycare taking care of more than one human being.
Jenneh Sheriff decided to work at a daycare because she enjoys being around children and working with them. She was influenced by her grandmother, due to the fact that her grandmother owns her own daycare business. If she decides to stay in Minnesota for college, she’ll keep working with kids because that's something she enjoys. Her experience working with kids was great. She was able to help kids with their learning abilities, count numbers and to spell their name. After college, she either wants to become a nurse midwife, dermatologist, or an anthropologist. Her greatest strength is respect, because she always treats people the way she wants to be treated. The activities she does with the children, are playing either indoors or outdoors in the playground. Before this job, she worked/ had an internship at the Hennepin Healthcare. The challenging part for her working at a daycare, is remembering the children’s names. |
Singh’s big brain
By Ayla Kibitok and Kalida Sananikone
Imagine being one of the smartest people in your class, let alone the whole grade. For some that might be unimaginable or difficult, but for Shalina Singh it’s a reality.
Since she was a little girl, Shalina has been at the top of her class earning excellent grades. Specializing in math, Shalina competed at the St. Cloud University Math Mee’ where she placed top 5% in the rankings, as math comes easy for her. She is also ranked for being in the top two students as a freshman, and her GPA is a 4.19. As a freshman, she is taking all honors classes and is also in honors pre-calc. Although she enjoys doing school work, Shalina has been feeling pressured to be academically skilled and exceed academically since a young age by her parents, which many people can relate to. With her busy schedule, she plays softball and basketball for fun and also enjoys hanging out with her friends when she’s not doing schoolwork. After high school, Shalina hopes to get into Stanford for either engineering or something in the medical field. Something she would like people to know is, “You don’t have to grow up being smart to be smart.” |
Inside the mind of a new member to the CP family
By Charles Prin and Sydney Young
What is it like to be a new member of the CP family? Ashton Nagorski is here to answer that question.
Ashton moved from Woodbury High School to Champlin Park this year. When asked what it was like being new to CP he said, “It was awkward at first because I didn’t know how to start a conversation or know who I wanted to talk to, but it’s certainly a lot better now.” Later when talking about his first day at CP he said, “It was hectic, but I met some people over the summer here who kind of taught me where to go and what the school layout was. Getting to lunch I didn’t know who to talk to but in general, people have been really nice.” Finally, Ashton offers some advice to future Rebels. “Don’t limit yourself to just one person or one group constantly. Be nice, be open, make it so people want to talk to you.” Being a new kid can be very scary sometimes, but eventually you will find good friends and have fun. At first, CP can feel like an enormous place, but when you find your true friends and groups, CP feels more like a family. |
You’ll never believe who is leaving
By Cassandra Thao, Hailey Thao and Jordan V
Sierra Dehmer is a senior at Champlin Park high school.
As a senior herself, here are some things she has said about high school and what she likes to do. She said herself that being a senior is easy and is a fun experience. After she graduates she plans on going to college and traveling. She doesn’t exactly know where she really wants to go for college but she’ll soon find out. She wants to major in nursing and work in the medical field. She chose to attend this major because she enjoys working with and along the medical field. She's most excited for the college parties and the starting off a new chapter in her life. She also plans on potentially playing soccer in college. She threw some advice for her lower classmens. She said to stay focused and get your work done while in school. She says it's hard for you to catch up with everything and everyone. There are some classes that Sierra took herself and would recommend to other students. She would recommend taking psychology and anatomy. Now some fun things she has mentioned, for example are dating, she says that dating in high school wouldn’t be a bad idea if they aren’t going to distract you and make you not finish your school work and your path to graduating. She survived the four years of high school, by having her friends by her side making it easier for her, and she was also “forced” to come so she had to make the best out of it. |
Life as a multicultural, biracial person
By Ella B, Jordan S and Bella S
Ari Musevi is a 16 year old biracial, multicultural teenager. Her mother is African American and Hispanic, and her father is Russian and Iranian.
Born in San Diego, California, Ari was raised on English and Russian. Ari was able to fluently speak Russian as a child, but over the years she has gradually lost the ability to speak it. She moved to Minnesota at the age of four with her mom because the economy in California was poor, and her mom wanted to move closer to her family. During this time her father was in the military. Ari occasionally got bullied or harassed by people outside of her race and ethnicity. She says it’s not terrible, but as she got older she found more jokes being made about her. As part of her culture, she celebrates Novruc, a Persian holiday. It’s a celebration of the new year and spring. This celebration includes her family and friends. They eat, dance, play games, and have a good time together. Ari has mixed emotions about her different ethnicities. She finds it hard to communicate and understand certain things with her family; this is because of language barriers. However, she really enjoys how diverse she is and all the opportunities she has because of her race and ethnicity. |
All about Jordan Fields; a great CPHS girls basketball player
By Kaitlyn Olson and Charles Prin
Jordan Fields is a 15 year old basketball player at Champlin Park Highschool. She’s played basketball for 8 years and now plays for Champlin’s sophomore girls team. She has plans to do so throughout highschool and college. She said she first got into basketball because her dad forced her to, but she’s glad she did!
She hopes to attend Spellman college, an all girls college. She hopes to improve, play her best, and be a real asset to the team. Outside of basketball and school, she works at the new Chick-fil-a in Brooklyn Park, which she enjoys. She enjoys spending her time outside of that hanging out with friends and improving her basketball skills. Jordan loves going to CP and and if she had any advice for younger players, she’d tell them to do what you enjoy and be the best version of you! |
Champlin Park senior Alyssa Lo receives Homecoming Court nomination
By Victoria Brinton
Just two weeks after her senior year began, Alyssa Lo opened her inbox and was shocked to find that she had received a homecoming court nomination.
Unlike her fellow Homecoming Court nominees, she has some insight into the upcoming Homecoming festivities. Alyssa Lo is on Champlin Park’s Student Council committee for advertising & plays an active role in the Homecoming preparations. While the pandemic continues to restrict gathering, Alyssa Lo confirmed on behalf of Student Council that the Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned at the Homecoming Football game whose season is scheduled to proceed as normal. Lo also revealed that Student Council is planning a Homecoming event to take place before Halloween. Possibilities include an online pep fest, virtual spirit week, and a socially distanced spirit event. District and school guidelines concerning possible events are unclear and constantly changing. While nothing is definitively planned, Student Council is committed to arranging safe alternatives to create unity. “Our goal is for everyone to feel involved and have a voice,” says Alyssa Lo on Student Council objectives this year. For more information on CP activities and events throughout the year see the student council webpage or follow them @CPStudCo on Instagram or Twitter. Student Council will also be producing a segment for Rebel Report every Friday with additional information for the student body. |
Coronavirus vs a 6th grader
By Marcia McBorrough
“I thought my 6th grade year was going to be lit,” Korpo stated as she smacked her teeth.
Korpo McBorrough is a 6th grader who thought she was going to have a regular fun first year of being a middle schooler. “Do you like the new way of school, the hybrid method?” I asked. “Of course not, all we do when we get to school is sit down all day, the only time we are able to get up is when we’re going to lunch or when we are going to the bathroom” she stated. Korpo feels like school will never be the same. “I always wanted to be able to interact and have fun with my friends while switching from classes to classes like the 6th graders did last year. I didn't think that it was going to be fifth grade all over again” Korpo said as she deeply zoned out. The only way Korpo interacts with her friends is through facetime. I asked Korpo, “If you could say one thing to the virus what would it be?” “Your time's up please disappear now” Korpo said as she chuckled a little. “At the end of day we are all making sad sacrifices to stay safe, so to get our world close to normal we have to wash our hands, wear a mask and more” she stated as she asked me if she could go now. |
This teacher helps students reach their potential
By Moyin Osibodu
“It is the best gift to see students begin to believe in themselves and succeed in whatever they set out to accomplish.” That is what Mr.Yang, an AVID coordinator, had to say about why he loves the AVID program.
AVID is an acronym for Achievement Via Individual Determination. It is an organization that helps students with college readiness, especially for students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. When looking for new AVID students, Mr.Yang looks for hard workers. “I look for students that just want to try, that know that they can reach their potential.” “I like seeing students be successful and change this world for the better.” |
One life changing moment
By Sami Subject
On November 11th 2017 Natalie Worwa (#1) was playing point guard for Champlin Park Traveling Basketball Association against Centennial at Spring Lake Park High School.
It was the second half of the game Natalie was on a fast break when she was tripped by 2 girls on Centennial. Pop. Little did she know that pop would change her life. Laying on the ground, Natalie was screaming in pain and didn’t even notice until she snapped back into reality and heard herself. She had torn her ACL. Throughout the next year, Natalie went through rigorous physical therapy and training after her ACL surgery on December 12th 2017. Her physical therapy took place at Viverant in Champlin with Kris Balgaard. After months of being tested she finally got cleared to play sports again. After the incident Natalie will never be the same she will be grateful for every moment she gets on and off the court. |
Robotics team Makes it to Worlds
By Nolan Kluempke
The robotics team for Champlin Park High School went to the world championships in Detroit, Michigan and put up quite the fight for the title. Kyle Horton is a member of the team and remembers all about it.
The way the contest works is you pair up with other teams and build robots that can complete tasks that are equally split up amongst the teams. Kyle said, “Our robot moved boxes around. Unfortunately it drove around basically uncontrollably and had a bad elevator mechanism that broke constantly.” Despite the setbacks, his team continued to try their best to push through the malfunctioning part, but it caused them to slip down in the standings. “We were in first place for about an hour… After that, someone overtook us.” said Kyle. When asked about what going to the world tournament meant to him, Kyle replied, “It was big. We had fun and did a lot of screwing around” Even though they didn’t walk away with the crown this time, they had a great experience and learned a lot. They hope to make it back to worlds another year and win it all. |
Champlin Park skier goes from injury to lettering
By Jack Thomason
Champlin Park alpine ski racer/captain has skied her whole life. But what happened 2 years ago could have ended her ski racing career.
Two years ago champlin park skier/ captain Gracie Thomason fell at a ski practice, and something wasn't right. She had a great pain in her left lower knee. After practice that day she went to the doctor and she bruised her knee, which is as painful as a break but no bones broke. This was at the start of the season and days before our first race. She was devastated that she would be out for the season and couldn't walk for a few months. She went to every race with her crutches to cheer on the team. When she finally could walk again she had to wait all year for her next chance to ski. Winter isn't coming fast, and she was worried she wouldn't be able to ski the same as how she was skiing prior to the incident. Last year she made a return still as a captain and a skier! Gracie was nervous when she got back on the snow but was ready for it. Even though she had a year off soon she was back to where she left off, she did well in every race and lettered in alpine skiing. This year Gracie is a senior, and ready for the season which starts today. She has overcome many challenges to be where she is and I hope she will have a great senior season. |
Moving up in retail
By Margaret Grossman
Most high school students work a part time job to fund their basic needs and wants. However, it’s rare to see high schoolers with leadership positions at their job. This is where Annika Erickson stands out, she holds the community and leadership lead position at Old Navy.
“It’s usually a position only awarded to adults who have been with the company for a while” she states. Annika says she thinks her outgoing and gregarious as well as a commitment to customer satisfaction is what earned her this position. Annika was very happy with receiving this position and she believes that it will open doors of opportunities for her in the world of Human Resources, a field she is interested in entering. With this role at Old Navy, Annika trains other associates on how to improve their customer engagement, which in turn will increase the store's sales. Annika says the role can be slightly overwhelming especially on top of school and sports, but it has taught her a lot about time management and how to develop a proper work ethic. |
Young love
By Hannah Eidem
Jaedon Griggs, a 16 year old Junior at Champlin became infatuated with art as a child, and it’s been nothing but love ever since.
He loves art because it doesn’t have rules, like the majority of society does. However his favorite or preferred mediums to create his own include both pen and watercolor. While creating he doesn’t have a certain environment he sticks to, but usually has either music or his phone on instead of silence. His favorite piece he’s made is a crayon drawing of Ruby Rose from middle school that unfortunately has been misplaced. During class he can be found not only studying, but drawing, on paper and himself. His art career since CPHS has only grown. He himself has taken many of the arts classes offered here at Champlin Park. He’s taken up to Painting 2 and Drawing 3. For new artists or those simply looking to explore using art electives at CPHS, he recommends taking either, or both, Painting 1 and Drawing 1. He strongly recommends these two courses because for him they are what sparked his motivation not only to keep up with his craft but to also keep taking art classes throughout his High School career. |
Life as a junior
By Lena Phetsamone
Junior year in high school and having an active life everyday is a big challenge that most people accomplish.
Katherine Johnson is a junior at Champlin Park High School who struggles coping with doing work and practice while also handling her education at the same time. Every morning she wakes up and gets ready with a cup of coffee. She gets through school, but eventually struggles with learning and doing her work in each period. Throughout the day, the one class she gets stressed about is math. Katie says, “having to deal with my education and having to do work is very stressful.” However, outside of school she does gymnastics and works at TCT gymnastics as a teacher for Pre-k, elementary, and middle schoolers teaching gymnastics. In gymnastics, Katie has won tons of awards. The best one she has won is the country's national award in level 9 gymnastics. After work, she’s busy managing to finish all her school work before the next school day, but eventually gets to the point where she would need help from her peers to help her with the assignments that she doesn’t comprehend. You can tell life as a junior is pretty hectic, especially when you have so much to do and having to deal with time management to get everything done. |
People finding out what school they go to weeks after it starts
By Samah Hasso
My friends didn’t know what school they were going to until school started.
After their 8th grade graduation last year their mom decided that she wants her kids to go to a different school district. But she didn't have a school in mind yet. She ended up waiting up until the last minute to enroll them in a school. After summer ended and schools started opening she realized that her kids still don't have a school to go to, and schools were starting, so she finally decided to enroll them in one close to their home. They didn't know what school they were going to go to up until they went in for their first day. They didn't make it to the first or second week of school so they started on the third week at their school. After their mom enrolled them into a school she didn't tell them which school it was. When they finally got to school their schedules were not prepared for them. They waited for their schedules and went home. They started their first day the next day because everything was prepared for them by then. They started going to school the next day as their first day. |
17-Year old angler in the land of 10,000 lakes
By Avery Taylor
Have you ever wondered what is lurking in the depths of the Minnesota lakes? Well it is this 17- year old kid's goal to find out.
Adam Follmer is a hardcore fisherman that travels around Minnesota fishing for all kinds species of fish and participates in fishings tournaments. Adam’s passion for fishing started when he was in his early years. The first time he picked up a fishing pole was with his dad when he was 3 years old. He then got hooked on his first fish and loved the sport ever since. Now Adam is 17 years old and travels to all parts of Minnesota catching fish. Some of his well known hotspot lakes are Big Lake, Lake Velltain, and Elk Lake. He also participates in fishing tournaments on a different lake every year. Last year he placed 3rd place at one of his tournaments and received an award. Over the years that he has been fishing, he now wants to get a boat so he can take it around to different bodies of water and explore what the Midwest has to offer. He is a well known fisherman amongst his peers and family. His family members like to say that “He was born with a rod and reel in his hands” to emphasize his passion for fishing. |
Drawing through Covid-19
By Katreena Vang
Two weeks off of school they said. But what was supposed to be two weeks, turned into a year.
Freshman Genevieve Vang found her passion for drawing during her free time while school was all online during the CoronaVirus lockdown in 2020. “Drawing helped ease my mind and pass time during my free time” Genevieve said. She says that before, she wouldn’t really have time to draw and practice. But while stuck at home for the last year she was able to increase her skills and became better and better each day. She’d spend hours on her drawings. “I was self taught, I’d watch videos of how to draw specific details every chance that I could, anything to help me improve.” Genevieve said. Some things she said she struggled with was not having the right tools and utensils, but she does her best with what she has. She hopes that one day she can become a professional artist. She is currently taking Drawing Classes in school. In the future, being an artist is one of her dream jobs. “One day I’ll make it,” She said. |
From Champlin to college: An inside look on what college is like
By Maya Buhr
Sweaty dorms. Crowded classes. A waste of money.
That’s how some people view college, but not Darick Buhr. Darick graduated from Champlin Park last May, and is attending Eau Claire University as a business major. He’s currently getting used to the college lifestyle. “I like how I can be more independent and not have to follow such strict rules,” He says. “I also like how I can meet new people.” An average day for Darick consists of 2-3 classes. He wakes up at 8 and usually finishes classes around noon. He has lunch with some friends, and does homework until dinner. He then hangs out with more of his friends until late that night. Because he’s only taking 3 classes at the moment, he says they’re not too challenging. “They’re actually not too different from the classes I took in high school,” he explained. Transitioning from high school to college can be a very big step. Moving away from friends and family can be scary, but Darick was able to adjust quickly. “The transition was easier than I expected. It wasn’t terrible,” He stated. “But I do miss the people and teachers from Champlin Park.” And to all the seniors leaving for college soon, he leaves some advice. “Plan stuff out and figure out what you want ahead of time. Just make sure you do whatever you want to do.” |
A new approach to begin your journey throughout time
By Malachai Her
Everyone starts somewhere in life. I have been blessed with the knowledge I know today because my father and the support of my parents have gotten me where I currently am now in the fishing industry.
I had won some tournaments during the summer that got my name widely known across the fishing community which helped me be seen by bigger companies. Then everything just came hand in hand. Now I’m partnered with one of the best fishing influencers in the industry. Simms is a well-known clothing company that caters to anglers across the globe. I have been lucky enough to represent them as a bass angler in the great north known as Minnesota. Many people often question how I got so good at what I do for a living. The only answer I have for that is to work on your mental strength and continue to learn how to improve upon old mistakes. That is my answer to success. I had a great summer partnering with one of the best companies in the industry and plan to continue to push out more work for them. |
Hair braider in Minnesota
By Foster Nyekan
A young Liberian girl named Laura Kiazolu is only 16 and is a talented hair braider.
She braids hair for men and women all over Minnesota even for some of the students in the Anoka and Osseo district as well.. When I asked her what was her favorite thing about braiding hair she responds by saying “My mom doesn’t know how to do hair then l learned how to do hair it’s like a bonding activity for us I also love to try and create designs while branding my client’s hair” The one thing Laura struggles with her hair braiding is the crazy customers because they think the price is too high but compared to others it’s very affordable. She does over 10 different types of braids. When I had asked her if she gets the hair for her customers she stated: “I don’t buy hair because I could provide hair but hair is really expensive to buy so I have my customers buy their hair." That’s how she starts to prep her hair. She also gets the gel and washes her combs. She also checks their temperature then she sits them down in her living room to keep them entertained. She says the most she is busy is one weekend and in September and August for back to school. Laura loves to do what she does best and that is braiding hair. So if you want to get your hair braided by her hit her up on Instagram @Braidbylaura Or via Email - [email protected]. |
Exploring the mastermind behind the incredible Gundam illustrations
By Kayla Xiong
20 pieces.
A hard task indeed, but Jenny was up to it. When asked about her project, she explained that “The purpose was to introduce me to a variety of different art mediums and to further my knowledge and experiences with them. The criteria I had to follow was the use of one object as the centerpiece of the entire project.” For this project, she chose something of significance: her Gundam model. “The model is something I heavily consider my pride and joy as it took me around 2 weeks to completely build,” she said. The model itself is intricately designed, so naturally it presented itself as a challenge to Jenny. However, she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She stated, “...I will have special care towards the smaller details. The pressure is on me, but this was what I had intended. I wanted to push past my comfort zone for this project.” While she may only have 4 out of 20 pieces finished, she remains high in spirit. “I hope to explore scrapbooking and watercolors. I have no prior experiences with either mediums, but with my object in mind, I feel it would create great pieces,” she said. |
Inside the mind of a master procrastinator
By Ella Olson
Sumeya Mohamud is a master procrastinator. Towards the end of her junior year, she was told to write her college applications over the summer, giving her a three-month deadline. Sumeya wrote the essay the night of the second day of school.
This is not an uncommon occurrence. In advisement, you can expect Sumeya to be working on a math assignment due yesterday, or cramming for a test in history next hour because she ran out of time yesterday. “I don’t know why I’m like this,” she says, “if I could change my habits, I would.” Of course, changing habits is easier said than done. Maxwell Martz, a plastic surgeon, is best known for his philosophy: it takes at least 21 days to break a habit. However, between school, family, friends, and extracurricular, Sumeya does not have 21 days to spare. Instead, she procrastinates. Surprisingly, it does not affect her grades as badly as one might expect. This is because she has somehow found a balance- she procrastinates to the point where she needs to hyper-focus on one class and gets everything done in the nick of time. This intense focus on one class seems to teach her what she needs to pass, and even excel in her classes like IB English or IB Math Studies. |
Living without her best friend
By Andrea Mayson
“The worst day of my life” Marcia stated, the day she found out the devastating news.
It was an ordinary day until her mom texted her during her second period telling her the saddening news. “My whole world changed, we literally spoke two days before his passing” Marcia said. Her father had made her mad so she called her best friend to express her feelings, not knowing that it would be the last time that they would speak. “He was my right hand, my go to” she stated, while fighting back her tears. “The second worst day of my life, the funeral was beautiful, but I couldn’t speak on the podium the tears were too overwhelming.” Those two days changed Marcia for the rest of her life. “Without him I feel alone, he’s the only one that really understood me and took the time to listen” she said. “The passing of my best friend has changed me in many different ways, it has made me honor life, because you could be here one minute and not the next” Marcia said. Marcia goes about life differently since the passing of her best friend. She goes for things, she lives the life that he would’ve wanted for her. “He helped shape me into who I am today and I thank him for it.” Living without him made Marcia’s life difficult, but also has made her a better person. |
How this gym teacher found her passion
By Colin Lange & Nick Do
As the day began, and the sounds of bouncing balls on the gym floor and day to day chatter as kids run by, it is shaping up to be a relaxing normal day for Mrs. Bogenreif.
Growing up near Hastings, on a hobby farm, her early life was not exciting and early on. Immediately she wanted to be a cowboy, a farmer or a train engineer. In high school, she added teacher to the list, but she thought that she wasn't smart enough, but still managed to grab A’s and B’s. Shortly after high school, she went to a technical college and received her Associate of Arts, and then she did a nine week Nursing Assistant program. After being a nursing assistant for a while, she went back to get the required necessary education, knowledge, and particular training to become a Registered Nurse (RN). During this time, Bogie was taking teaching classes at Hamline University to become a teacher while also working night shifts as a registered nurse. She was also a volunteer firefighter during this time, for 10 years. After she completed her bachelor's degree, bogie went around and student taught. Eventually she had the opportunity to teach here at Champlin Park, and immediately fell in love. “This was the furthest school from my house, and I still wanted to be here, more than any other school” As the years have passed, she has gotten very comfortable teaching here, and when presenting to the school on September 6th, she seemed shaky, but reflected on it as better than she has ever done in any other profession. When reflection on her journey here, she remarked, “everyone has a unique journey and story and luckily we have something for everyone here” |
Best summer ever
By Sydney Bodin
I was hanging out with a group of friends about three summers ago
We were going everywhere on our bikes as you do in sixth to seventh grade We were going around Champlin, and one of us thought up the idea to go swimming, so we biked over to Coon Rapids Dam and all went down the old boat launch into the sand. We were close enough to see the dam but far enough away that we would only have to worry about the tide. We put our bikes on these big rocks and then put our backpacks under the bikes, and jumped in. I remember how cool the water felt, and it was pretty clear too. There was this island type thing in the water path about where the strip of water split in half. We wanted to get out there. I wore my flip flops because the rocks beneath hurt, but the water was too fast to swim in like a pool or at the beach. My arms and legs got tired half way out, so my good friend came out and carried me to the island. We found a bunch of cool rocks and birds that got scared and flew away. On the way back, I lost one of my flip flops, and it was gone in a second, but it’s all apart of the fun. |
Famous Soundcloud rapper: Lil Kajun
By Jordan Kirpach & Jadyn Herr
Lil Kajun, with 150 followers on Soundcloud and his number one song “blacked out”, is a 10th grader who makes his songs in his closet.
He said, “Well I started rapping and then I’m like yo, that’s kinda dope.” When he was in eighth grade, he did a science project which he rapped for, and ever since then, it’s been his passion. First, Lil Kajun makes a beat, then he begins writing the lyrics, and then records. Finally, he edits it and finishes the song. Making a song can vary from two days all the way to a month. Lots of people play his songs around school. He used to not like it when he first started rapping, but now he doesn’t mind. Finally, we asked him if he wants to be a famous rapper when he grows up and he responded, “I mean I’m not gonna like, say that but I’m not gonna like, complain if I am.” Go check out Lil Kajun’s newest song “I’m Alright” on Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud. |
Living with a partially paralyzed sibling
By Ella Bichler
Growing up with siblings is already hard enough. Now imagine that your brother or sister is unable to walk.
Ashley Mauch’s little sister Maci was born with spina bifida, causing paralysis from the waist down. Spina bifida is caused by your spine and spinal cord not forming properly at birth. Spina bifida comes with many complications. In Maci’s case, she can't walk, feel anything from the waist down, has hydrocephalus, and has trouble doing simple activities by herself. Ashley and her sister act as normal siblings do: they fight and argue, but also have that sisterly bond. However, with Maci’s disability, Ashley has to do more than just be her sister. She says it can be hard sometimes. After all, Ashley has to go through more than a normal sister would go through. Ashley helps get her sister ready for the day, along with anything else Maci might need. In addition to that, Ashley is in the process of becoming Maci's personal care assistant(PCA). That means she will be getting paid to help care for Maci. With Maci’s disability and conditions, it's hard to know what could happen. That’s why her family needs to stay thankful at all times. |
CPHS student takes on school in Chile
By Cullen McSweeney, Piper Otto & Kaden Vinar
What did you do last summer? Alex Higgins went to Chile to be an exchange student for six months.
Alex was already a Spainish student, but he wanted to advance his learning. He told us that he almost always spoke Spainish. In his free time, Alex enjoyed hanging out with his friends and going to parties with them. The parties were “crazy.” He loved the food in Chile, particularly ceviche. Ceviche is raw salmon and shrimp with lemon juice. Alex says people were nice there but his best friend was his host sister, Josephina. When Alex came home she came with him but didn’t go to school. She switched rolls and got to experience America for two weeks. Alex’s school life in Chile was different from here. He started at 8 am and ended at 5:30 pm. One day you could have 2 periods of one subject and the next day not even have that class. Of course gym was his favorite class. Alex is a soccer player here at CP. He didn’t go home for lunch, so during his lunch break he played soccer everyday. Alex learned a lot during his trip to Chile, but he’s glad to be back. |
The car crash that changed Alex’s life
By Jackson Milburn, Jacob Bergman & Alex Cienciwa
One summer day, Alex Cassela was coming back to his summer camp with two of his friends. Then, all of a sudden the driver falls asleep on the wheel and they all go flying into the ditch.
Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. Alex had an injury, but the other two were fine. Alex said “The car went flying, and I was bouncing up and down hitting my head on the roof and the seat.” He woke up in the hospital hours later with a concussion. Alex was laying in the backseat “hotdog style,” and add the fact that he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. It was a recipe for disaster. Considering he only had a mild concussion, he was pretty lucky. This traumatic experience changed Alex’s life. He said “I will never not wear seatbelt again.” The other two people in the car were wearing their seat belt and they were unharmed. This proves that wearing your seatbelt can save your life |
High speed police chase that led to a very eventful day
By Jordan Smith & Bella Schneider
It was a cold rainy day in Bemidji Minnesota seven years ago.
Ashten and her family were camping when they decided they needed to get a couple things from the gas station. On the way all of a sudden a car came speeding by and their tires exploded and the car flew into the ditch. The people in the car started running. To be in a safer place Ashten and her family went into the gas station to hide. They locked the doors and waited for the cops to come to make sure it was safe to leave. Once the cops came they chased the two people in the car for a mile before they finally caught them. Ashten and her family had a very eventful trip to the gas station that she will never forget. |
Small girl with big future ahead
By Olivia Eckes
Do you have plans for your future? Because this 14-year-old knows exactly what she wants to do.
Feenet Emiru has her whole life after high school planned out. First thing she would like to do before she goes to college is some traveling, Feenet would love to visit every state is the US and go to Europe. While she is in Europe she will meet a boy and they will both visit Paris, then come back to the US together. After she finishes her adventurous traveling she will attend the U of M or Howard University. She wants to major in biology and minor in chemistry. Soon after she finishes her first couple years of college, she wants to attend John Hopkins University School of Medicine and become a trauma surgeon just like her uncle. Before she is done with medical school, she would love to get married to her boyfriend from Europe. After she gets married, she will then finish medical school and would like to find a job at Children's Hospital. Feenet and her husband will find a permanent place to live for their whole family. She would like to live in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Once she is totally done with school and has a permanent job and home, she and her husband will then grow their family. |
2K addict
By Lacie Lemma, Eric Ryan, Mckenna Thorup & Homaan Biramo
Hunter Sax is a fifteen year old from Minneapolis and is obsessed with the virtual basketball game Nba2k by Take-Two Interactive.
The addiction first started when he discovered 2K in 2010, and to this day, he is still playing now what is known as 2K20. At first he started off just playing the game every now and then. But over time that lead to him spending more and more time on the game. Now Hunter is playing up to nine hours a day on the game. Not only does he waste his time but pays at least $60 for the game plus extra $50 for his “myplayer.” Over the years of him playing, one of his goals is to join the 2K league. The 2K league is where the best 2K players compete for money. He likes to be known as “DualKingBezzy.” He came up with this name because of the famous YouTubers he looks up to, “Prettyboyfredo” and “YoungPrecise.” The average screen time for ages 12-18 spend playing video games ranges between 13 -16 hours a week. While Hunter spends roughly 62 hours a week on an average playing 2k20 while also having an extra hour on other games such as “Call Of Duty “ and ”Minecraft.” Which is a total of playing sixty-three hours a week, of playing video games. That’s 279 hours a month and 3,348 hours in a year, which is way more than an average teen |
How one ordinary student hopes to become a member of an elite organization
By Andrew Scinicariello
Justin Lawrence (11) hopes to become a member of the Minnesota All-State Orchestra.
He participates in the concert orchestra and the chamber orchestra, which is the highest level of orchestra one could be in at Champlin Park. However, Justin wishes to take his talents even further as he has auditioned for the Minnesota All-State Orchestra. This was a very rigorous task for him as it took four months for him to practice, and he had very difficult scales to play. His audition consisted of a fast etude (a short musical composition), a piece from Brahms, and a slower etude to prove musicianship. He has even taken lessons from a retired Anoka-Hennepin teacher. Justin said, “It was so difficult. It was the hardest thing to do. I literally wanted to give up.” However he did not give up. Justin has had a lot of motivation to do this, so he couldn’t give up. His mother is also involved in music. She is the orchestra teacher at Jackson Middle School. Justin hopes to make his mother proud. And this motivates him even more to do this rigorous audition. While the audition results don’t come back until May, Justin is hopeful that he will make it and be able to be a part of an elite state wide orchestra. |
16-year-old juggles school, working, singing, and photography
By Jesse Allen & Angela Vo
Imagine working, going to school, singing, and taking pictures all at the age of 16.
Nick Stovall, a junior at Champlin Park High School, likes to do all of these activities in and out of school. Nick Stovall is a very special person because not only is he a singer, but he makes music. In fact he is making an EP right now. An EP is like a mini version of an album with two to four songs in it. He is working on two solo songs for his EP at the moment. Also he’s in concert choir here at CP and has even gotten two solos. In addition, he sings for his church choir outside of school. He is also a photographer on his free time. He likes to go out and take pictures of wildlife and even of people who want to get their pictures taken. So if you ever need great picture taken of you, you can always hit Nick up. He also works part time at Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers in Champlin. He works almost every day of the week. All of that at the age 16, we’d say that is quite something. |
CPHS student determined to introduce an unfamiliar after-school venture for fellow classmates
By Gracie Thomason
Seventh grade.
The majority would recall it as a time of drama and easy A’s. A moment of carefree thinking. For Dane Germany, being a seventh grader would change his world for the better. It would be the year he discovered his greatest passion. The passion of Student Government. Now a tenth grader Dane has continued to participate in YIG (Youth in Student Government) and plans to create a Student Government delegation here at Champlin Park. YIG, and other student governments, are programs dedicated to teaching the youth to be responsible citizens of the future, and preparing them for future political and government positions. Student government programs not only prepare young citizens, but also look good on college applications. Why create one at Champlin Park? Dane’s current delegation is not up to his standards. He would also like to introduce the program for students interested in political and government jobs, and he would like to give students a chance to find their voice. To give an insight to what the YIG, and other student government programs offer, vist https://www.ymcamn.org/locations/youth_in_government. So, if you are looking for a fun, new, and challenging activity for the next school year, keep your eye out for the student government program. |
The harsh life of unsettlement
By Txiamee Vang
Have you ever wanted to move in your life? To another city, to another state, even in another country? Perhaps you already have?
“It’s hard because the places we live, we can’t always pay for it because it costs so much. It’s just so stressful sometimes because you have to get used to the neighborhood, and you always keep having to make new friends at school” said Paitwua Vue, senior. Although she has been a student here for four years, she has constantly moved to different schools and different homes, due to her family’s financial situation; they have difficulty finding a stable home-life. I asked her a few questions about the places she has temporarily lived in so far, and she says she has only lived in apartments and never lived in her own family’s house before. “We tried living with our relatives before but it takes too much space, so we have to go somewhere else” Paitwua says. She is the oldest daughter in her family following her brother. Her mother is unable to find a job because of her inability to speak English. “I want to find a job so we can stay at a place without ever moving again,” she says. She wants to find a job by the time school ends, preferably, close to home since her family does not own a car. “Even if I have unstable home, I’m still grateful for having a roof over my head, but some take it for granted because they don’t appreciate the things they get. They should be thankful for getting a place to be in because I don’t get a lot of things most people get. We have to limit and use our money wisely” Paitwua says. Others should be thankful for having a home to stay in. |
Moped to no-ped
BY Sumeya Mohamud & Natalie Mayhew
One early October day, Jenny’s world was flipped upside down- literally. She was driving her boyfriend’s moped home from a date and just when they reached an intersection, a car suddenly cut her off causing Jenny to crash into the side of the woman’s car.
Jenny flipped over the top of her car, and Jenny blacked out. She only remembers glimpses of muffled voices from the paramedics and a slight memory of a police officer asking questions. Jenny was so out of it, she was unable to answer the questions and could only think of her boyfriend. She only asked if he was okay. Jenny later woke up in the hospital surrounded by her family and nurses. Finally, her concerned family could ask questions and feel some sort of assurance that she was okay. The moment quickly faded as she fell back asleep. When she came to, for the second time, a nurse was stitching a massive wound on her thigh. This was the first time she was aware of any injury. She broke her femur, had a lot of cuts all over her body, and a concussion. She was in the hospital for a week and on a lot of medicine to help with pain. To this day, she still has some numbness in her thigh where they put a metal rod and screws in to fix the break. The lasting effect that she deals with every day is her inability to focus for long periods of time due to the severity of her head injuries. She is still an average student that is planning to play lacrosse next spring. Now she can go back to watching Netflix and procrastinating homework, like every other teen. |
$150k cash and on the run
By Jared Johnson and Shane Kahl
It was a normal 7:00 am Tuesday when Officer Dickman was notified of a bank robber in the area and the getaway car was passing near the Brooklyn Park/ New Hope area.
The bags of stolen cash had trackers in them which lead Dickman and several other officers to the area on the highway, but the exact car couldn’t be identified. Eventually they were able to narrow the search down to a green four door sedan. A felony stop was attempted by the officers, but the suspect didn’t stop his vehicle and was now speeding down the highway at 85 MPH. Several pit maneuvers were attempted but not successful and the decision was made by a fellow officer to rear-end the suspect’s car to disable him from driving. The suspect was then stopped on the highway and officers had guns drawn and he was told to exit the vehicle; when the suspect exited the vehicle, he was holding a gun and then the call was made to shoot at the suspect because he had what was thought to be a real gun. The suspect was shot in the leg twice and then detained. The suspect made a full recovery and no officers were harmed in the police chase. |
Dating or siblings?
By Hanna Simon and Nabil Ali
Imagine having people think your brother is actually your boyfriend and your sister is actually your girlfriend. That’s what happened to fraternal twins Christian and Malena.
Growing up with a twin brings a lot of interesting stories to the table. When asked about having an interesting twin experience they both said, “people mistaking them for boyfriend and girlfriend.” It all happened in middle school before everyone knew they were twins. Christian and Malena would obviously spend a lot of time together outside of school and in school. The people in their grade and their friends noticed things like them walking to class together and getting rides together. Of course the minds of middle schoolers go straight to “They must be dating.” Everyone started talking about it and they all started asking questions. Before they knew it people were coming up to them left and right asking “are you dating” or “ is that your girlfriend?” and “is that your boyfriend?”. As you can imagine these questions shocked Christian and Malena. Not only were they shocked but they were also kind of embarrassed. Their reactions consisted of laughing and saying “NO!! That’s my sister” or “NO!! That’s my brother.” As more kids kept asking them if they were dating more kids started learning that they were actually twins. Within a few months everyone knew they were siblings. Nowadays EVERYONE knows they are twins. In the hallways you can hear people say to them, “ Oh there’s the twins!” or they’ll ask “Where’s your twin?” Although this is a hilarious story they will be able to share for the rest of their lives, let’s hope no one will ever mistake them for a couple again! |
Home away from home
By Malia Braiedy
In regards to their recent trip to Metlakatla, a Tsimshian reservation in southern Alaska, Zoe Bowen and Claire Egesdal had nothing but positive things to say about their experience. Even though they went to Metlakatla with the intent of helping run the children’s Vacation Bible School, they came back with so much more to the experience.
“We got really close with everyone,” said Egesdal. From the people they went with, to the kids at the VBS camp, to the local islanders, Bowen and Claire made many strong connections throughout this experience. Many locals came to stay with the mission group as well, often bringing food. “They were trying to help give back to us in any way that they could” said Egesdal. The church group was there to help the reservation, but the reservation wanted to do as much as they could to help them too. Even though they stayed on the floor of a run-down church, by the end of the trip- it didn’t matter where they slept. “The church became your home,” said Bowen. When recounting what they learned, both Bowen and Egesdal agreed of the importance of having a home, as opposed to having just a house. They both plan on going on future mission trips, and eventually reconnecting with their friends from Metlakatla. |
Life with scoliosis
By Maddie Tverberg
14 years old.
That’s how old Kaitlyn Lewis was when she found out she had scoliosis. Scoliosis is a disorder that causes an abnormal curve of the spine. When Kaitlyn noticed her back started hurting, so she went to the doctor. They thought it was her spleen but later found out she had scoliosis. The doctor gave her a back brace to help push against the curves to try and stop it from getting worse Kaitlyn says her back hurts most of the ti me, so her back brace helps her to feel less pain. She has to take off her back brace for physical activities. She sleeps with it, and her brace also helps her have better posture. She wears her brace 18-20 hours a day and gets check ups every three to four months to see if they need to make any adjustments on her brace. In a little over a year the doctors say she can hopefully have her back brace off because the bones in her back should be strong enough. The time she wears her brace will slowly decrease until she doesn’t have to wear it anymore. Having scoliosis is challenging but, Kaitlyn has gotten use to having her life with scoliosis. |
Life with diabetes
By Donovan Stroebl & Ashley Mauch
Imagine having a needle stuck in your lower back at all times.
9th grader Ashley Mehl has an insulin pump regulating and drawing blood all times through the day. Ashley has type one diabetes and was diagnosed at the age of 3-years-old. Ashley, says that it “doesn’t affect her very much other than when she goes low because the she gets confused easier and in sports it makes her slower.” We also talked to her about before she had the needle that always stick into her arm how many times she had to poke her finger. She said “four times a day.” We talked to her about what happens when her blood sugar is too high or too low, and she talked about how when she is high she feels sick and feels tired. When she's low she doesn’t feel good, stomach aches, nausea, and she can have diabetic seizures but that's only when she’s really low. She says she doesn’t remember anything that happen before or during her seizures, and she had one during a soccer tournament so she couldn’t play the next day. She can have some candy to make her feel better If she is low. |
Why being celiac isn’t what you thought
By Justina Palmer
At seven-years-old most of us were enjoying our lunchables and zebra cakes. But for Lauren Master this was not the case.
When Lauren was seven she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Celiac means you can’t eat anything containing gluten. “The worst thing about being celiac is that I can’t eat what everyone else is eating. I have to bring cold lunch every day and I can never participate in potlucks in my classes.” Lauren said. She also said that no one really understands what celiac means. “When I say I’m gluten free, everyone just assumes I’m doing it as a trend or a diet, and they don’t realize how serious it is.” Being celiac is just as serious as any allergy, although she hasn’t been hospitalized since being diagnosed, she has gotten very sick. “Once when I had a softball party, someone made something they thought was gluten-free and I got really sick.” Although the food was supposed to be gluten free, small traces of gluten had made their way on it, causing Lauren to have a reaction. But being gluten free isn’t as bad as it sounds, Lauren has met some of her closest friends because of it, and she has found lots of substitutes and foods she loves. |
She opened a business at 14
By Audrey Melson
Lindsey Shutt, a freshman at CP, has already started her own specialty cake business, with orders coming in one to two times a week!
Lindsey is self-taught, using YouTube to teach herself how to bake, and is now well on her way to a full, successful career in desserts. She found her love for baking through watching her dad cook all the time. She wanted to be just like him, and started baking when she was only 10 years old. Lindsey started her custom cake business at the end of September, starting with her cousin’s wedding cake. Since, she has gotten many orders, though mostly family and friends. Her parents are behind her 100%, giving her time and financial support. “I would never be where I am without my parents. They really are my biggest supporters with my new business,” said Lindsey. Though her business isn’t very big, she’s hopeful and wants to do this for the rest of her life. She has plans to go to business school, as well as minor in culinary so she can open her own bakery and cake shop when she’s out of college. Her favorite cakes to make are themed birthday cakes, because she gets to be the most creative with them, and feels a lot less pressure than when she makes wedding cakes. As a 14-year-old entrepreneur, she’s doing pretty well! She hopes to grow and mature as a baker, as well as a businesswoman. |
Schoolwork and hockey life
By Jack Potter & Ryker Grant
Managing sports and school at the same time can be very challenging, especially if you are on one of the top teams in the state.
The stress and pressure can be overwhelming but Adam Fischer, a freshman at CPHS exceeds at managing the two. There are a few things that he has to do that helps him with this. His first strategy is by managing his time. He comes home before practice, reads his textbook or starts his homework. He works on that for 45 mins, then he goes to hockey practice. After that he comes back home and finishes the rest of his homework. He also needs to keep a sleep schedule to help him excel at hockey and school. If he doesn't get 6-8 hours of sleep a night, then he won’t perform his best at his games and practices, and may fail his tests at school. The last thing that he always does in order to perform on and off the ice is actually going to his practices and doing his homework. If he doesn’t go to practice, he may not start or even play. If he doesn’t get his homework done and study, he may not pass his test. |
5 kids and another on the way
By Ava Seidel
Bella Ford, a sophomore at Champlin Park has five siblings already and yet another sibling on the way. Bella is the second oldest in her family after her 21 year old sister, Taylor. Bella also has three younger brothers. Evan who is 13, Reed who is 5, and Greysen who is 2. Bella’s mom, Summer, has another baby boy on the way.
Before finding out the gender, I asked Bella what gender she would prefer for the new baby to be, “I actually really want it to be another boy. I like having little brothers, and it’s kind of cool just having me and my sister be the only girls since we are the oldest.” The baby is due in May of 2019 and Bella said that her and her siblings “couldn’t be more excited” to meet the new baby. Although Summer has had some complications, the baby is looking “extremely healthy” and Bella says she and her brother Evan never hesitate to help out with their younger siblings when Taylor is away at college and can’t help. “No new name ideas yet. We’ve pretty much ran out of boy names” said Bella with a giggle. Bella says she’s “actually a little sad that I wont get to be there for most of his growing up since I’ll be going to college not long after he’s born.” Everyone can’t wait to meet the new Ford baby! |
Eight year old gets stitches
By Leah Tverberg
One warm summer afternoon, Gena and her older sister Kara decide to go on a bike ride around their neighborhood.
Gena was eight and Kara was 11 and they were at their dad’s house. They were going up a hill and then Gena fell over! Gena falls off her bike when she is riding around her neighborhood. Kara took Gena’s bike and told her to run home and tell their dad. Gena’s chin was bleeding a lot. Her dad said “It will be okay Gena, we will just slap a band-aid on it.” Luckily her step sister who was 17 at the time was there and said “No she needs to go to hospital and get stitches!” Kim, Gena’s stepmom came home, and no one was home, so she called them and then she was told they were at the hospital. She was freaking out and met them there. Gena said it hurt a lot because the doctors didn't numb her chin all the way. She got eight stitches, and it took about forty-five minutes to an hour. “I was nervous because I didn’t know how it would be and I was scared because I didn’t know how getting stitches would be” Gena said. She says the doctors were not very nice, but they got Dairy Queen after. |
“Besties” from kindergarten class in the sports world
By Ella Centola
Champlin Park sophomores, Andrew McIntyre and Darian Hoek, longtime best friends met in Ms. Loveridge’s kindergarten class.
Ever since they were 6-years-old, these two boys have become inseparable. Playing sports together as young kids and eventually high schoolers, they’ve encountered a lot. “Basketball and baseball have been the two staple sports that have held us together for so long” Andrew said. They started playing baseball together in second grade, and they both now play for Champlin Park Junior Varsity Baseball team too. In their sixth grade year, their Champlin AAA team went to Cooperstown, New York for two weeks during the summer. Basketball is the sport that Darian only continues now, because Andrew claims he “lost interest.” Darian now plays for Champlin's sophomore basketball team. Darian also had mentioned, “I think starting high school together was a big milestone. Considering we’ve known each other since Kindergarten... I mean we’re gonna be in college in 3 years. That’s crazy.” They both had mentioned that playing on the same college baseball team is a goal they’re working towards, since playing for a high school team together is “the funnest thing ever” quoted by Andrew. |
A new world
By Megan Panser, Maddie Kopp & Jenna Intihar
Blessed Thomas was born in Liberia, she came to the United States when she was three years old. The journey to the United states was very complex. Blessed states “When coming to America, we wanted to get as many people as we could into the country with us. I was told to say that everyone was my family.”
When Blessed got to America she lived here for seven years with her biological grandparents and 15 people that she was told were family. Finally, when she was in fifth grade, she was adopted. Nancy and Steve, her parents who adopted her, were very inviting. Blessed says “Even though my family was extremely welcoming, I often felt out of place because I looked nothing like them.” After six years, Blessed has joined sports, like high school track and soccer. She also has made many close friends, and has gotten better grades. From this experience, Blessed has grown into a strong, independent woman. |
From small to BIG in the snap of a finger
By Jared Walter, Tj Moberg, Nick Streitz & Jack McMahon
Who would of guessed that a kid from a school of 60 kids gets his phone stolen in the first week of attending Champlin Park.
Ethan Romo is a 17 year old teenager originally from a little school in Montana named Bainville public school, who transferred to Champlin Park in the middle of the first trimester in hopes for a better schooling system. He learned the hard way that he needs to lock his locker when leaving the locker room. Ethan said, “At my old school we did not need to lock our lockers because we knew everyone in the school, and if something were to get stolen we could go up to them and be like why do you have my stuff.” In such a small school there was no need to try, because they barely had enough kids to even make teams. Ethan started varsity in four different sports as a freshman… basketball, football, golf and track. When he moved to champlin it was a whole different situation based on competition level. He decided to try out for basketball and unfortunately got cut. One main reason he moved was because of the teachers. Ethan said… “The teachers did not like the students at my old school, if we were to ask for help they would say, go find somebody else and figure it out.” Ethan said the teachers here are a lot better and more caring for their students. If you ask for help they are more than willing to sit down with you and help. |
12 years of soccer to an end
By Lyda Her
He’s played traveling soccer for 12 years with six awards. Fifteen year old George Gontay has played traveling soccer for almost his whole life. He started at the age of 3 and has been playing up until August of last year.
He started in his grandma’s townhome, from there he has traveled to different states like Texas, Tennessee, and Ohio. Gontays’ first game was in Northview Middle Schools’ soccer field. When asked why he started playing, he says, “I started playing soccer and when I first tried it, I enjoyed it and kept playing.” He continues and says he once scored 4 times in a row and that it was one of his best moments while playing as striker. You’re probably wondering; “Why did he quit?” After 12 years of playing, George quit traveling soccer because he “lost interest”. He says the best part about playing was how his team always won games and how he got to play his favorite position; center midfield. “Yes I would play soccer again because although I lost interest in soccer, I still believe my passion is still there.“ he says. All in all, George Gontay has had a great run through with playing soccer, and would continue to expand his soccer career if he had the chance. |
One strange problem Christian Dau has that you would never expect
By Jack Mackeben
One crumb of gluten, that's all it takes to trigger freshman Christian Daus’, celiac disease. Celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten that he has to deal with.
Gluten is a substance almost always found in wheat. It is difficult in school to avoid gluten due to the mass preparation of meals. It does not matter the amount of gluten that he has ingested. His body will see it as a foreign substance, then attack it and damage healthy cells in the process. If he eats gluten enough times there is a chance it could result in stomach cancer. This is something he has to work around daily, especially in places like school lunch or classes that allow snacks. “You have to basically power wash utensils if it has been used with something nongluten-free” Christian says. It's that difficult for him to get away from. He avoids gluten in cafeterias by bringing his own lunch. In the past, he has worked with the cafeteria staff at Jackson Middle School to get 100% gluten-free options. He hopes to explore options like that here at Champlin Park High School. Another time Christian may have to deal with Celiac celiac at school is in classes that allow snacks. While this is a select few classes, it is still dangerous to him. Christian stated that whenever he has someone having a snack next to him he will inform them of his intolerance and then he moves as far away from them as possible without creating a disruption. Celiac disease clearly makes living normally very challenging. While Christian doesn't like to make it a big issue with anyone, it's still good to be informed so you don't accidentally trigger his celiac. |
Sophomores make summer count by saving turtle
By Margret Jacott
Do you ever feel bad for animals that get hit by cars and wonder what you could do to save them? Well two girls knew exactly what to do when seeing a turtle wander into the road.
It all started when sophomores Maleeya Raza and Maya Davis went on what they thought would be a quick coffee run. On the way home, Maleeya saw a turtle about to walk into the road. “I decided to try and save it as my good deed for the day.” Maleeya explained. She acted fast, jumped in front of the turtle and chased it into a neighbor's backyard. She knew she couldn’t do it alone, so she decided to call Maya who already got home. “I got this facetime saying, COME QUICK I NEED A BOX!” Maya said. She immediately left home with a shoe box to meet Maleeya and the turtle. Though the girls had trouble trying to get the turtle in the box, they managed to scoop it in the box. The turtle may have been small but managed to almost escape from the box many times. But lucky enough, they didn’t have to walk far to set the turtle free. As they reached the pond located near the neighbor’s house, the girls came to the conclusion to name the turtle Phyllis. It was very hard to say goodbye to their new friend, Phyllis but they were sure she was grateful for being saved that afternoon. Even the twenty minute rescue expedition created some good memories that day that helps make summer great. |
Trivia lover gets the chance to win a million dollars
By Kalin O’Connell & Elisah Ratajczyk
Keara Kelleher applied to the show “Who wants To Be A Millionaire” on a whim a year ago and managed to make her way on it. The day she got the call that she was accepted, she screamed out loud with excitement.
She thought she was good at trivia, however, she was nervous that it wouldn’t be enough. While she planned to practice before she went on the show, laziness overtook her. She didn’t look at a single question before she flew out to Las Vegas. When she arrived on set everything looked very fake. She said “It looks fancy on television, however it is all plastic. It’s all filmed in a huge warehouse with no ceiling.” Backstage, they sat her down with the other contestants and went through some practice questions. Keara started to feel the pressure when she realized that she didn’t know any of the answers to the questions. The feeling of doubt started to creep in but she pushed them down before she went on stage. Keara walked on stage and was feeling pretty confident with her outfit for the day. She was wearing a pink sheer blouse with a white bralette underneath and a pencil skirt. She stood behind the podium and she and Chris awkwardly made small talk as the camera crew tested the lights. Keara said “Chris Harrison was nice and handsome in real life, but we had some very awkward interactions for sure.” As soon as the lights went on, the light crew’s faces around her stared at her with an concerned look. She looked down to see that her sheer shirt had gone see through and everyone could see her undergarments. Her face burned with embarrassment as they went to find her another outfit. Once she had gotten a new outfit on, the show started back up and she tried to get focused. Everything was going well when they went on commercial break. She said that on the break they gave her a drink with a super long straw. It was used so the contestants didn't spill on themselves. When the show started up again she only went a few more rounds before she was eliminated. She says she regretted not thinking more about her answers as they asked her, but she did pretty well anyway and won herself $5000. Afterwards she said she cried the whole way back to the hotel. Even though she didn’t win as much as she could have, she got the chance to be on television. Channel 5 Eyewitness News interviewed her later, and she said “I think I did pretty well. I’m proud of myself.” By now she has already settled back into a normal life at Champlin Park but she will always remember that super cool experience. |
Inches away from disaster in 'The Golden State'
By Samira Harbieh
Last summer, Alissa Tomas embarked on a trip that most people only dream of. But some parts weren’t as dreamy as they seemed.
Alissa, her mom, and her brother were taking a road trip on Highway 1--which is known to be one of the most scenic roads to drive on in America, mostly because the highway is right on the coast of California and goes through almost all of the state. As someone who has always loved travelling her entire life, Alissa was thrilled to be going on a road trip all across California. Driving from Santa Cruz to Carmel, Alissa and her family were looking forward to seeing captivating beaches and mountains. But it gets a little hard to look around at the incredible sights around you, when you’re driving on a road that’s on a cliff. And your car is inches away from falling into the ocean. And the road is full of sharp turns. And there’s no railing. As all that started to become more evident, everyone in the car became silent--afraid they might distract their mom who was driving and the car would end up flying into the ocean. Alissa and her brother sat there frozen as if one small movement would make the car tip over and leave her and her brother plummeting to their death in the icy water. No one in her family expected anything dangerous to happen, because they were just expecting a relaxing and picturesque car ride. This just goes to show that sometimes it pays to take the backroads-especially when it’s for a shortcut out of immense danger, even if it means missing some scenic views. |
Living in a house of 9 siblings
By Angel Young & Xavier Thomas
Have you ever got annoyed with your TWO siblings you live with ? Or having to share a bathroom with a messy little sibling ? Or having them follow you EVERYWHERE. Try living with eight.
“Being with my siblings, i feel like i can tell them anything.They will always be here for me” said Monica. Having siblings that are different ages are amazing at times. You can have a different type of bond with each of them. Monica has 9 siblings. Whose names are Jade, Jasmine,Erik, Megan, Jordan, Zoey Alex, Alexus, and Adrienne Carbin. Think about what that would be like. Dealing with sharing bathrooms, sharing clothes or worse sharing toys or money. That's the life of the Carbin household of 10 kids. A variety of kids can be a handful. It's like being a parent and a child at the same time. You have to learn to grow up at times and handle yourself. Living with that many siblings means everyone has a role. Each kid in the house does a job, whether it’s cleaning, cooking, or doing laundry. Everyone plays a part, and they manage to make things run smoothly.Each child in the house does a chore. All the parents have to worry about is bills. The cost of raising and taking care of 9 kids can be a lot of money. Putting them through schools or sports. Buying enough food so they don't eat it all in one day. The cost of all that can be a handful, However the Carbins’ always make things work. From Jade(22) to Alexus(7) & Adrienne(7) every last Carbin has a role in this big crazy family. Living in a house of 10 kids isn’t bad nor good all the time. It all depends on how you go about your day. The Carbin household isn’t always great but they can always count on eachother. That's all that matters. |
5 Intriguing ways Belgium Schools are different than the United States
By Dane Germany
Elyse is originally from Belgium. Over her tenure here in the U.S. she has noticed many differences between our schools and Belgium’s. She breaks them down into five key differences
The extra time allows for students to have more breathing room in between their classes. Breaks in between classes range between 10 to 20 minutes. Elyse states that this allows students to have a brief refresh and a chance to refocus after periods.
Lunches are also different in Belgium. With over 40 minutes for lunch each day (with the average being 60 min), kids are allowed to enjoy their meal and have an extended break. Along with the longer time, the meals are better. Every day students are given a carefully prepared menu with an entree and multiple choices of sides. They are allowed to pick the sides they want and not have the sides they don’t.
In Belgium, phones are held at a lower respect than they are in America. Phones are recognized as privileges and not necessities. Students are not allowed to even look at their phone at all while at school. If you were to bring your phone to school, you would have to alert the office that you had it. It is such a big difference that Elyse even stated: “I notice people here they are, um, phone addicts. In Belgium you would never see that. Here they are on their phones in the halls, in the bathroom, and even in their classes.”
Because of the no phone policy, there is also a higher respect given to teachers. Teachers are valued among students and considered to be figures of authority. Parents teach their children to respect those older than them and to value their contributions to society. This causes rules to be highly enforced. If you are to be disrespectful to a teacher, you face detention and/or suspension.
Even with all of these differences, Elyse concludes this by saying “Neither are bad, they are just different.” Each country has their own way they run education, and that is fine. |
Unique hobby of CP teacher
By Alexis Piatt
At Champlin Park High School, there is a teacher who has a very interesting hobby outside of school. Ms. Nelson cans different foods.
She likes canning because she has two teenage boys that eat a lot, and they really like to eat salsa. Salsa is her main go to thing she likes to can. She's known for making her famous salsa, but she also cans beans, pickles and tomatoes. When it comes to caning, she likes the way her own flavors taste and how she controls the spice and flavor combinations. She prefers her salsa to have just a little kick - enough to make her want more after each bite, but she makes the salsa all different kinds of ways. She can make the spice level from hot to mild, and everyone enjoys it both ways. When she makes this salsa, the ingredients that go into it are tomatoes, onions, bell and hot peppers, vinegar, sugar and salt. That's all there is to her secret salsa. She ether grows all of the ingredients herself or she gets them from other people, because everything that's in her salsa is fresh and home grown. To try Ms. Nelson’s salsa is an honor and a very special treat. So if you're ever bored and need of a new hobby, try canning. |
CP senior with plans to join the US Air Force
By Melanie Hanson & Kenzie McGilp
“Excellence in all we do” - an Air Force Core Value
Champlin Park Senior, Aunya Chanthavongsa, was the Deputy for the AFJROTC (Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps) program at her former High School in Arlington, TX. This program’s main focus is creating future leaders and to motivating their students in becoming better citizens. JROTC consisted of studying aeronautical studies, physical training, community service, and marching. Students in this program most likely have an interest in joining the military in their future. In just her first year as a JROTC cadet, she was promoted to a first lieutenant and given the officer position of flight commander. After that, she was then elected as the programs deputy commander (vice president) and given the highest officer rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the end of her first year. She was granted The Air Force Association award, which is the highest award receivable. “Me getting promoted from the bottom of the chain of commands to the top in just my first year was such a major accomplishment for me.” Aunya said a fast promotion like this rarely happens during a cadet’s first year, but it indeed is possible. “If you work hard, anything is possible. You just need to have the determination to do it.” Aunya plans to join the US Air Force after she graduates and is working to become a linguistic officer. |
A passion found within time
By Charlize Ongeri
You always start off small, like being in preschool, years pass by, and finally, you’re a senior in your own high school.
At the age of 16, Brian Ongeri found his strong suit. Brian lives in a family of five. It’s him, his two sisters, mom, and dad, although his dad wasn’t always around, and they had a hard time communicating. Throughout Brian’s life, he felt as if his father didn’t show him love, like a real dad should. It all started when Brian was six. He wanted to become a mechanic. Brian had a difficult time adapting and putting focus on school. His grades were not the best, and he didn’t do so well. Brian would also lie to his parents and steal from school. For example, he stole a cookie from the cafeteria, which got him in trouble with the school and definitely his parents. In middle school, Brian’s grades were failing, meaning he got D’s and F’s, and his dad was really tough on him, which made things even worse between them. As the years of middle school went by, and was soon going into high school, he was always asked what he wanted to be, from wanting to be a mechanic, to fire truck driver, to police, he decided he wanted to become a food scientist. His parents would ask, “Why that was?” He wouldn’t give clear answers, but in his head he knew that maybe he didn’t want to be a food scientist. Although, he couldn’t lay a hand on what he wanted to be. His freshman year he went to a boarding school. Brian was sent there because his mother thought he, and his grades, would improve. Little did his mom know things were not going to get better. Brian was taken out of boarding school because it was a waste of money if he wasn’t going to work any harder. At the age of 14, Brian would say school was maybe not for him because he didn’t know his purpose of going to school. Not knowing what he wanted his future to be made him believe it even more. At age 16 he started to help with the audio visual at his church. He then found out he’s very good with technology. People would always compliment him and talk about how good he is with technology. Moreover, he actually really enjoyed it. From then on, Brian thought more about what he wanted to be. During his junior year into senior year, he looked at colleges with good computing programs or courses that deal with technology. After all, Brian started to do a lot better in school and knew for sure what he wants to do. He wants to become a computer networker and admission. He is now believing he can finish high school and pursue his career, but only if he puts in hard work and determination. |
10-year-old girl goes to a new country alone
By Neesa Vang & Destiny Ofulue
Goodbye, be good, love you.
Those words were said by Crown Bisan’s parents when leaving Crown to stay with her uncle and his family. At the age of 10, Crown left her home country of Nigeria. At that time she attended the fourth grade. “I didn’t even really know I was leaving until I was about to leave” Crown said. She told us that her mom had told her that America was better for her schooling and education. For example, back in Nigeria there were spankings as punishments, not an option of school lunch, and not being able to play any sports. However school wasn’t all that bad. She remembers having recess with her friends and other good memories too. Coming to America, school wasn’t exactly as pictured. She had to eat new foods, was faced with new people, and had to adjust to new customs. “Pizza and spaghetti were the worst at first, but now it’s okay” Crown says, as describing one of the first new foods she tried. The racial diversity of classrooms and the grading system were not easy adjustments for Crown either. There were some positives moving to America though, one being the fact that even though she was new she said, “everyone liked me and was very welcoming.” Crown was also welcomed when getting into activities, such as soccer. Back home she would play soccer with her neighbors, using buckets as goals. The game would really help distract them when times got bad. Back home the power often went out for a long period of time, leaving her and her family in darkness and unbearable heat. Also Nigeria wasn’t the safest place. There isn't such thing as 911 and police taking bribes from people happens far too often. One of the worst struggles could be at times when water supply would run low, leaving her family to rely on neighbors for water. She told us she is very happy to not have to deal with these problems anymore and is very grateful to be here. When asked if she would go back home she said no. “I miss my family of course, but life here is easier and it would be hard to adjust again to what life is like back home” Crown said. As for what Crown is working on now, she told us she’s planning to become a citizen, trying to go to college and / or professional soccer team and she is working toward being able to bring her family here. Crown Bisan is an Nigerian immigrant, but she will never forget where she came from. |
Lions and tigers and BEARS, oh my!
By Lauren Curtis
One sunny weekend during the summer of 2017, 14 year old Alexa went camping with her dad and brother in Northern Minnesota.
“Everything was going well,” says Alexa. “But at night, weird things started to happen.” Alexa explained how at night food went missing, how there were claw marks on nearby trees, huge animal prints on the ground, and loud noises at night. Alexa explained how it scared her and her brother. “What the heck is that?” cried Alexa and her brother. Alexa’s dad got out of the trailer and looked around with a flashlight. Alexa remembers holding her brother tightly to her chest as they wait in the trailer. “Not even 20 seconds later, my dad came rushing back into the trailer.” explains Alexa. He rushed in, then quickly locked the trailer door. “What happened?” asked Alexa and her brother. “He was very quiet at first, but he told us he saw a bear. A grizzly bear.” “He told us we needed to move to a safer location,” says Alexa. “So we all ran really fast to my dad’s truck.” Alexa explains how she remembers the bear being around 20 feet away from her. She remembers how scared she and her brother were. “I could have died…” says Alexa. |
Snoozing doesn’t always mean losing
By Marcus Wilcowski
I’m Marcus Wilcowski. I’ve got an addiction to playing video games, I am pretty good at drawing, I’m an A honor roll student, and I’m working on my physical health. But there’s one thing about me that not everyone expects…
I don’t have any memory of it, but from second hand sources, I’ve been a little “strange” since I was about two years old. I personally don’t remember having any issues as a little kid. Sure, I was weird, but who isn’t when they’re five years old? Well, everything hit a “dangerously high” level when I was in fifth grade. Halfway through fifth grade, I was diagnosed with moderate narcolepsy and cataplexy. What that means, is that my brain doesn’t produce the proteins that promote awareness and sleepiness. In a sense, I fall asleep a lot, when I don’t mean to. If I’m not physically active for long periods of time, like sitting through five classes, I start to doze. I see a neurological specialist for my narcolepsy, as my cataplexy hasn’t majorly affected me for more than a year now. I’ve been prescribed a form of medicinal drug by the name of Adderall. I take two pills a day, and the morning is usually toughest for me to get through. Despite my mental disability, I’ve been successful in school. There are lots of people that don’t have any problems like mine, that fail their classes. The truth is, they just don’t care. But I’m a physical example that snoozing doesn’t always lead to losing. |
Swift addiction
By Adam Lovaas
We all have that one musician we like. We listen to their music on multiple platforms and know all the words to their songs. It’s a healthy, normal dynamic that keeps the listener happy and the artist popular.
Artists come and go these days like water in a stream, and with social media, usually, the quicker they rise, the faster they fall. But there are always the artists, the ones with true talent, that find a way to stay on top and keep a loyal fanbase. To Natasha, that artist is Taylor Swift. Natasha has loved Taylor since the first grade, when she first heard the song You Belong With Me. It started when she heard people singing it at lunch, and then looked it up when she got home. “I loved it, but I mainly learned the lyrics so I could sing along. It was definitely a way to fit in more” Natasha said during the interview. It worked. Natasha would sing the song all day. She sang to the point of exhaustion and more. After a while, she realized she wasn’t singing to be popular anymore, she genuinely liked the song. It didn’t stop at You Belong with Me. She learned the words to every song that came out since then. And she would sing her heart out at the lunch table. Eventually it started to affect her popularity. People stopped hanging out with her, nobody would talk to her at school, all because she wouldn’t stop singing Taylor Swift. But at this point, it wasn’t that she wouldn’t stop, it’s that she couldn’t. Her addiction took a turn for the worst in 2010, when she was found in her room listening Mine on a twenty-four hour loop. Her parents contacted multiple rehab facilities, but none of them had programs to treat her condition. At that point, the walls in her room were smothered in Taylor posters, and all her clothes became Taylor Swift merchandise. She stopped coming to the dinner table to make more time for singing along to Taylor Swift. Her family became desperate. They attempted to take away her phone, iPod, and lock her computer, but unfortunately they didn’t know about her secret stash of CDs, so her addiction continued. It continued like this for years, but finally in early 2014, she decided she’d had enough. That was the year that Taylor Swift’s “1989” came out, and Natasha wasn’t a fan. “I like maybe three songs on the whole album and hated the rest” she said. She also realized that she didn’t have any friends left. All of her old friends now listened to other artists, such as Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Drake. Natasha had previously cut off everyone who didn’t like Taylor, leaving her alone. At the time this was written, Natasha has been fighting back against her addiction to Taylor Swift for four years, with every day being easier than the last. However, even this much later, she’s still picking up the pieces of relationships she’s lost. She does her best to make amends, but in many cases she’s hurt them too deep. Natasha never thought she could slip that deep into an addiction. This just goes to show that addiction doesn’t discriminate, and it can and will pull in in at anytime. Be careful of what you do and what pop singers you listen to, because in an instant you can be pulled in and then left broken, trying to pick up the pieces years later. Natasha is still figuring it out and still trying, but she’s slowly getting there. Day by day. |
Does the perfect man exist?
By Tyler Seufert, Eli Ekregen & Riley Keller
Yes, he does. Brandon M. Terry is a young man who has taken charge of his physical and mental wellness. How so? Brandon is a very determined individual in multiple activities such as rock climbing, cooking, and his education.
Brandon’s desire to rock climb is unbelievable. Not only does he visit the climbing gym once a week, but he also has made multiple trips out west to California, Colorado and Utah. We asked who one of his main inspirations was and he told us it was his sister. He said “she’s living a perfectly happy life doing all the things she loves.” He also takes his education very seriously and secures his place as a student above others. He maintains a GPA of 4.0, but that’s not all. His end goal is to attend a university in Colorado or California. Another way Brandon takes charge of his physical well being is his very healthy diet. Every Sunday, Brandon goes grocery shopping at Whole Foods with all of his meals for the week planned out. He says how he likes this healthy organic diet much more than the eating habits of most American teens his age. When asked about this he said “It just makes me feel a lot better, and I know it is going to pay off when I’m older.” Brandon has taken many steps that are often overlooked by most high school students in order to ensure his physical well being and created habits that will help him stay in good shape in his future. |
8 years and counting
By Jessica Belous
Donna Tur is not just an ordinary 15-year-old.
Donna is a sophomore at Champlin park high school, and along with being an honors student, she has been singing since she was 8-years-old. She grew up in a singing family. Her father is a choir conductor and her sisters sing in worship groups. Her life revolves around singing. In response to being asked about about singing and what it has brought in her life, she replied with “Singing isn’t for everyone, but I believe that if you try hard enough you'll manage to find a voice and know how to use it. Singing allows your emotions to pour out of you. I love to sing when I’m stressed, irritated, and even happy. Singing has taught me to manage my time wisely because of all the music practices I have, but it's totally worth it!” In terms of her career after high school Donna says, “I know I will continue to sing in worship groups and choir but I don’t know about career wise. I’m planning of a medical field career.” |
Their other half
By Emma Berge & Erin Reardon
1 in 3000.
Not many people can say they are 1 in 3000, but Abby can. According to twins statistics the chance of having a second set of fraternal twins is 1 and 3000. Abby lives in a family with two sets of twins. Abby and Jack are fraternal twins just like their younger siblings Carly and Luke. “Having a twin definitely has its pros and cons” says Abby. “It’s nice to know you always have a friend, but it really sucks when you both get blamed for everything, no matter who should get punished.” Abby enjoys having a younger set of twins because they don’t need attention like most younger siblings since they have each other. Living with someone the exact same age as you isn’t something most people get to experience. “It would be great if everyone got the experience to have someone you can always talk to or hang out with in your house like you do when you have a twin.” There are lots of fights when you are a twin but there are with any siblings. Being a twin is definitely a good experience to have. |
From Ukraine to America: Ayda’s story
By Cade Moffitt, Eden Robichaud, Hannah Prothero & Nick George
Ayda Nuriyeva(11) is a student here at Champlin Park. She is also an exchange student from Ukraine. She was chosen to come to America through a contest of 50,000 people. With only 150 people chosen every year, Ayda was one of the lucky ones to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity: coming to America.
When asked where she originally wanted to go, she said Florida or California. They were her first choices, and that’s where her friends were going. When she heard the news of coming to Minnesota her first words were “What’s a Minnesota?”. However, Ayda soon came to like Minnesota and is currently enjoying her time in America. She says that the people are nicer in general and smile at her when she walks by, even if she doesn’t know them. In Ukraine she said there is nothing like that; she also said that if you are walking by someone and don’t know them, you typically do not exchange greetings or even smile. Also in Ukraine, they only have 11 grades. With more than 17 core classes, they do not have any extracurricular activities, and no elective classes either. With all the great things she has experienced here in Minnesota, she still misses her family and friends. She is excited to go back at the end of the school year, but she says that she will definitely miss all of the memories and friends she has encountered in her wondrous experience in America. She hopes to come back sometime and continue to explore the rest of the United States. |
A true student athlete
By Rachel Gudmundson, Kylie Xiong & Maddie Austad
Defender in stripes
By Jack Bergstrom & Charlie Maertens
It’s a Titan match: two opposing forces fighting with all of their might, words being thrown out of pure frustration. The two gladiators in this brawl of right and wrong are a teenage referee and a soccer coach.
Nolan Klempuke (9) has a unique job that comes with some equally unique experiences. Nolan is a high school level soccer referee during his free time. During one game, one of the coaches was yelling at him, so Nolan gave him a warning. After a while the coach got even more furious with him, which made Nolan stop the play and ask the coach to leave. Once the coach decided to hold his ground, Nolan picked up the ball and said “The game won’t start until you leave!” About five minutes had gone by, and the coach’s face was becoming redder and redder; he knew he had to surrender because Nolan wasn’t caving. The experience taught Nolan that to become a good referee, he’ll need persistence and a strong backbone. |
Allergic reaction as a baby changes the life of a Champlin Park student
By Taylor Kemp, Bella Lundgren & Natalie Crandall
What’s your favorite meal? Now try and imagine it without dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. Most of us don’t have to deal with a diet that restrictive, but this is a reality for Champlin Park freshman Rylee Fredrickson.
It all started when she was a baby with a severe reaction to a formula. On November 9th, 2003, Rylee and her family were out for a typical day at the mall. Her grandma fed her a new formula, and soon she became extremely sick. Her family didn’t know what was going on right away, but knew it was serious as the symptoms started getting worse. She couldn’t breathe and had hives all over her. She was taken in an ambulance to North Memorial hospital to see if they could figure out what was wrong. They found out she was having an allergic reaction to her formula. As well as five other common foods. Today Rylee is still limited by her diet. She struggles to find places to eat, and she has to be very careful about her food choices. A food allergy might not seem like a big deal, but this affects her everyday life. Rylee is one of 50 million people who have to deal with this. |
Living life as a twin
By Tenley Simmons
Your friends have your back through thick and thin, but what’s it like having a best friend for life? When you’re a twin, you always have someone to lean on.
From playing soccer and basketball, to volunteering, to passing honors classes at CP, Maiya and Norah Furlong (9) have a lot on their plates. Luckily, they’ve each got a best friend for life to help them through it all. “There are a lot of benefits to always having someone with you,” said Maiya. “It’s really nice to have a best friend living with you. We always have someone to hang out with.” They also mentioned other bonuses of having a twin, such as always making each other laugh, less time spent being bored, and someone to help with homework. Mr. Maurer, who also happens to always be a twin, added that “You always have a blood or organ donor.” There’s another way of looking at it. However, being so close has its disadvantages. “We fight a lot.” Norah said when asked the downsides of being a twin. “But we always make up.” Another downside is that occasionally she gets mistaken for Maiya (and vice versa). At the end of the day, Maiya and Norah wouldn’t trade having a twin for anything. |
Pride and dedication
By Katie Leseman
Four hours a day, three days a week, and dedication.
Now that doesn’t sound like much, but Marching Band can be hard, most specifically, Color Guard. Gracie Stern has a love and dedication towards Color Guard, and although she’s only been in it for two years, she’s always wanted to try it out ever since she saw parades as a kid. She thinks of Color Guard as a way to express herself through dance and movement, and in my own opinion, it’s beautiful. I asked about her passion for this activity, and in her words, “on a scale from 1 to 10, a solid 9 ½.” Gracie hopes that she can continue this activity for a long while, or at least throughout high school. To those who consider joining, according to Gracie, it’s a lot of work, but once you get it down you meet lots of new people, and it’s worth it. |
Underappreciated hero at CP
By Destiny Shanahan
Have you ever needed someone to talk to, someone to help guide you in school or someone to make you smile?
Well I know just the person. The one and only Mrs.Westbrook would be the one that can help. She has a very important job here at Champlin Park. She helps kids socially, emotionally, and academically. The only down side to her job is seeing kids come in with problems that no kid should go through. Her favorite part about her job is seeing kids get through hard times and graduate. Before her job here at Champlin Park High School, she worked in group homes. She always knew she has a passion to work with people. She said that some qualities that are good to have for her job is to be a good listener, be able to put your bias on the shelf, and meet people where they are. After school, she is the director of Step and Women’s Group. This lady has made a big impact on many people’s lives, including me. She has a difficult job, and she never knows what's going to happen, but she loves what she does. |
Champlin Park behind the scenes
By Tanner Luetjens
You come to school everyday, and it's the same nice clean school, but do you actually know what goes on behind the scenes to make this happen?
Well meet Mr.Klinke; he is our school’s building supervisor. He has worked as a custodian for 26 years. Before coming to our district, he worked in St. Paul for 9 years. If you went to Oxbow Creek, you would know him because he was a custodian there for 12 years until coming to CPHS in 2011. The Champlin Park custodian staff consists of 10 custodians working between 6:30 am to 11:30 pm Monday through Friday. Klinke says his favorite part of the job is to interact with the students and staff here at school. He likes it when he gets compliments from department heads about how he is doing a good job. Did you know that there are 150 air filters in the school that get changed several times a year? That is just one of the many large projects that are taken on during school breaks and summer. The one thing that students can do to help out is to take pride in their school and keep it a safe and clean environment. |
A goal to beat his dad
By Kendall Shin & Rodger Coppa
Ever since Isaiah Lor was born, he was exposed to basketball due to his family and church playing with him. His family loves basketball and works together to get better and better at it everyday. His main goal is to beat his dad.
He practices every day. Even though he wants to be on a team he does like to spend time alone to really hone into some of the skills he need to work on. His friends say that he’s really good at point guard, though he doesn’t really see his future with basketball. He has thought of giving up on his goal, but his friends and family drive his passion for the sport. If you watch him on the court one day, you’ll see that he has a lot of fun in trying to do his best. |
Former Champlin Park basketball standouts
By Bryce Pettit, Jack Foss, Alex Sewell & Hamdija Mustafic
How are Champlin Park basketball stars, Mckinley Wright and Theo John, faring against Division 1 competition so far this season?
Well, star point guard and Mr. Basketball recipient Mckinley Wright is currently playing for the University of Colorado and is the starting point guard as a freshman. He averages 32.9 minutes and 14.9 points per game. The Buffs are currently 12-10 and are currently sitting in 9th place in the Pacific-12 conference standings. Some of their notable victories this year include home upsets over #4 ranked Arizona State and #14 ranked Arizona. Theo John, the star big man of the 2017 Rebels team, currently plays for Marquette University. He plays the power forward position and comes off the bench for the Golden Eagles. Theo averages 12 minutes and 3.9 points per game in a limited role for Marquette. The Golden Eagles are currently 13-8 and are currently sitting at 7th place in the Big East. Some of their notable victories this year includes wins over Seton Hall and Wisconsin. Wright and John graduated in the class of 2017. They both carried a undefeated team into the state tournament. The Rebels came up short against Apple valley in the state championship game ending their near perfect season. Mckinley and Theo both scored over 1000 points in their high school careers and hope to do the same in their college careers. |
CrossFit: A hobby or a lifestyle?
By Jack Foss, Bryce Petit & Alex Sewell
Stress. Boredom. Monotony. These three things can drive a person crazy without the correct outlet. This process was beginning to happen to Mr. Darda when he discovered CrossFit.
Stress from many different parts of his life started to eat at him and just working out by himself became boring, monotonous. Needing an outlet which could pull him outside of his everyday life, Darda found himself at CrossFit. CrossFit is a “constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement.” It not only provided Darda with a workout that he could apply to daily life, but a community who he could compete with and form a bond with. In Darda’s words, “We are all in it together, and there is always something you can improve upon.” This past summer, Darda even had the opportunity to witness the Titans of the sport in his hometown when the CrossFit games came to visit Wisconsin’s capital, Madison. When asked about this experience, Darda described it as “awesome” and found it “cool to connect with people from all over the world who have similar interests and hobbies as you do.” In addition to sharing his passion for CrossFit with his competitors in workouts, Darda enjoys to share it with his classes. Weekly segments known as CrossFit Fridays along with little anecdotes about his workouts of the week are always favorites among his students. Darda’s favorite aspect of CrossFit though? It is that anybody can do it. Young or old, differing levels of fitness, physically disabled, anyone can partake to the degree which they see fit. In closing, when asked if it was a hobby or a lifestyle, Darda responded “Both.” |
Teaching with a Hart
By Patricia Reid
When I think of teaching I think of hard work, classroom drama, and disruptive kids. These are all things thought about because they’re all related to teaching. However, the true purpose of teaching is to give back, and that's what Ms. Hart implements in her students. She believes that teaching is her purpose, and through teaching she can enlighten young lives.
Hart always saw herself helping people, so before she started teaching she had high hopes of becoming a doctor. Then she soon realized there are other ways you can help people and teaching was that other way. She knew becoming a doctor wasn't for her because her passion for the youth and teaching was something she felt strongly for. Hart was an outstanding student in high school, but life was still extremely hard for her in other areas of her journey. She had to undergo many obstacles in her life at that time, and her teachers were a big inspiration for her. They’re the main reason as to why she's currently teaching. They helped her overcome personal struggles and rise above situations through the power of learning. Mrs. Hart believes students who may be undergoing obstacles in life can possibly overcome them through her teaching. She loves her career and is happy to contribute to her students the same way her teachers did with her. |
The life of a 17-year-old minister
By Jay Vang & Johnston Freeman
Dekontee also known as “DK” lives his life by being a worshipper. He grew up going through a lot as a kid. His parents split, and he was also bullied.
Being bullied really changed DK’s life; it helped him see a new light. Bullying really fueled his fire to becoming a minister. It all started in middle school; he got made fun of because he was bigger than everybody else. People really looked at him differently because of his weight. At first, it really got to DK. It brought him down and left him in a dark place. He had no one to talk to and had no way to handle this situation. He was not sure what to do anymore. But one night he had a dream, or a premonition one might say. Jesus came to him in his dream and showed him a new path. Jesus helped him realize his dream of becoming a minister. After that vision, his life really changed. He finally found a way to overcome his struggles. Now no one can break his spirit because he is in a different bag now. To this day he walks around with God’s presence all around him. He now has dreams of owning his own church and becoming a minister to spread the blessing to everyone else. In the summer, he goes on tour around the world to inspire others to believe in themselves and to believe in his lord and savior, Jesus. |
The first Rebel freshman soccer player
By Keeley Boudreau, Ben Burns, Cooper Baxley & Myer Schmitz
Freshman varsity soccer player Megan Carlson was the only freshman on the girls varsity soccer team this past season. She played all 18 games and was the starter for all of them. She played most of the game if not the whole game.
Megan has been playing soccer for 11 years. In just this past season, she had 10 assists and scored nine goals. At one point during the season, Megan was awarded “ Player Of The Month.” Keep in mind this was her first year on the Champlin Park Rebels Soccer Team. She met many new people and became really good friends with a lot of them. Megan doesn't just love playing soccer, she loves the coaches and her teammates. The practices are not always easy, but Megan always tries her best. At the end of the season, Megan was also rewarded All Conference which means she is one of the best players in the whole conference. Megan plays the position center mid. She had a great season and we wish her the best in her upcoming seasons. |
Dropping the gloves against cancer
By Ally Snell
On July 26, 2013, Makenzie Baker (11) was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer that attacks the cells of the immune system.
When Makenzie first heard the news of her diagnosis, she was faced with many immediate fears. She was scared that she wasn't going to beat cancer. She was also scared of losing all her hair, because she knew people would look and treat her differently. But another one of her biggest fears was that she wouldn't be able to continue to play the game that she loves, hockey. Through many rounds of chemotherapy, Makenzie’s energy seemed to be diminishing, as well as losing a lot of weight and muscle throughout the treatments. At one point, one of her hockey coaches even told her she was “too sick to play,” but she wasn't going to let that stop her. After many hard months of fighting, Makenzie was cleared on October 4, 2013 and had officially won her battle with cancer. One of the first things she wanted to do was to get back into hockey and regain her ability to play like she once did. She knew it was going to be hard, but she wasn't going to give up. Makenzie worked harder than she ever had to try to build up her muscle strength to what it once was. She took many power skating clinics and lifted weights on a regular basis. With a lot of patience, Makenzie’s intense training eventually paid off and she was playing at the same level that she once was, maybe even better. Today, Makenzie’s hard work and dedication is evident, as she plays for the Champlin Park Girls Varsity Hockey Team as a starter and the leading goal scorer. |
A teacher’s incredible journey to become a published author
By Matt Hajicek & Hunter Bruno
Mrs. Kronzer has done something that you may not know; she has written two books. The titles of the texts are “Strive to Mend” and “Improv Girl.” They both revolve around teenagers facing real world problems such as love and loss, and sacrificing your own personal emotions to fight for others around you.
Both of Kronzer’s books are finished, but she is currently trying to get them published. She is still a long way off though. Kronzer has a critique partner who is helping her improve her books to the best they can be and thus, closer to being published. A critique partner is a fellow author who helps another author by reading their books and giving feedback. Kronzer is currently putting the finishing touches on both books. Her goal for the end of the year is to gain an agent. Kronzer gets almost all of her book ideas from her students. By working with students every day, she sees and hears stories all the time. Kronzer also loves writing books for teenagers. She never plans on leaving teaching to be a full time author; she wants to stay teaching to get more ideas for books and to keep educating the next generation. |
Boy with upside down feet blossoms into a soccer star
By Julia Doran, Joey Richison & Matt Michalski
When Samuel was born on October 21st, 1999, his mother was shocked to discover that his feet were upside down. This is known as clubbed feet. He was put in a full leg cast by the time he was only a week old, and his white cast had to be changed weekly for the first three months.
One night during a Timberwolves game, Kevin Garnett signed one of Sam’s white leg casts; he still has the cast to this day. For the next three months, Samuel’s cast was removed and was replaced by foot braces. Most babies are able to walk by the time that they are only a year old, however Sam was unable to walk until he was 18 months old. His abnormally tight achilles heel caused lack of stability which forced him to learn to walk on his toes and the balls of his feet. Despite his physical setback, Sam joined a soccer team at age six. He developed a passion for sports despite the need to ice his feet after every practice and buy customized shoes and socks. From there, Samuel blossomed into an amazing team player and an incredible athlete. By the time he reached age 10, Sam was competing in rigorous tournaments across the country. To this day, Sam’s athletic skills have impressed many. |
Devoted to the student section
By Andrew Stifter
Owen Trelstad (12) is involved in Rebel Report at the school, and he is an outfielder for the Champlin Park Varsity Baseball team. He is also involved in the Champlin Park student section (aka The CP 6th Man) at the high school, and he has just been awarded “most school spirit” in the 2018 senior class.
I asked him how he became the leader of the student section here at Champlin Park and he responded “I went to games throughout high school, then I just kind of took over.” Usually the “torch” is passed down to the most dedicated and well-known students in the section. They are responsible for leading the section that year. The seniors of that class pass it down to the juniors for the next school year and so on. We talked about what the CP 6th Man was and what they do, and he said “It is another name for the student section. “We just go to a lot of sporting events and support the teams and just show Rebel pride.” Owen says they mostly go to volleyball, football, basketball, and hockey games, “or just whatever we can get a fan section for.” Owen says he has been going to sporting events at Champlin Park for all four years he has been at the school. He preaches about “Rebel Pride.” Owen just loves supporting the Champlin Park sports team and tries to go to sporting events every week during the school year. He talks about making good friends through the CP 6th Man. He says “All the bros who are at the game form this alliance that is unbreakable.” This shows the dedication these students have towards their school and sports teams. Owen says everyone should follow the CP 6th Man on twitter @Cp6thMan. He posts game times and other stuff involving sports and the student section at the school. The profile has almost 1,000 followers on Twitter, and the profile is also passed down to the next year student section leader at the end of the year to continue the tradition. Owen is hoping for is for as many students as possible to come support the Champlin Park Rebels at any sports event you would like to. All these student athletes want is support, and Owen is trying his best to help out. |
Becoming a D1 athlete
By Ian Schull
Drew Collins has been playing soccer since he was 5-years-old. He is now 17 and has multiple D1 scholarships lined up.
Growing up, he has been on the best ranking teams competing at a high level all his life. When he was 15-years-old his club team took 2nd place in nationals. Recently he’s been playing on TSA which is a premier level club; Premier level clubs are the best teams in the Midwest and travel and play other teams from different states. As a freshman in high school he made the varsity team; He was the only freshman on the team, so he had a lot to prove. A couple games in, he secured a starting position as a left back. That season he scored one goal and had two assists. Going forward to his junior year, he became the head captain of the team leading them to a 7-7-2 record, which was better than the previous couple years. He has been grinding for a long time trying to make his dream as a pro a reality. This past summer (2017), he was invited to multiple D1 schools to participate in training camps and get to know the coaches and the schools. As of right now he has four D1 scholarships lined up as a junior in high school. |
CP student channels his inner Karate Kid
By Alex Wallace
One of our very own students is learning to kick butts and take names, like Mr.Miyagi himself.
Manuel Guzman (12) is the karate master around Champlin Park. He has been part of karate for eight years and has achieved the rank of second degree black belt. He is now even an instructor. He describes karate as “the only thing I’ve enjoyed enough to stick with.” He then goes on to describe his experiences and what he has learned by saying “Well, I’ve learned to beat people up. It’s a different type of sensory awareness that I have acquired. It’s a sense of ‘courage’. You notice what’s going on around you more in depth.” His favorite part is the takedowns. “It's taking them from the dominant position to the inferior position. Once they’re on the ground, you can contain them, like breaking their wrist or arm.” He has also said that he has taken takedowns from action movies and learned how to them. He then finishes by saying “It's very intense. There is a kind of respect between the belts: a hierarchy. People even have to call me sir or Mr.Guzman”. This is definitely someone you want to have your back. |
A twist in faith
By Ann Bui
Nadine Goetz has been a lunch lady here at Champlin Park High School for many years. Although many of you have seen her or even spoken to her, not many people know the emotional struggles she has had to overcome in her life.
When Nadine turned 25-years-old, she found out she could not have kids due to a hormonal imbalance. She and her husband were very disappointed and devastated. After finally coming to terms with it and making peace with the fact that she could never have children, she went to the doctor to get a checkup and the doctor informed her that she was pregnant. “I started to really believe there was a God,” Nadine said. It was just such a shock to her and her husband. Obviously they were both filled with joy, but they had to re-evaluate their lives and make plans for a new baby. Today Nadine and her husband happily have three kids despite the condition the doctors diagnosed her with. |
Blaska goes D1
By Kailee Hillman
Holly Blaska (11) is now entering a new exhilarating journey through her softball career.
Holly has grown up in a very athletic and talented family within the sport of softball and baseball. Holly states that her family has always been super supportive, and one of their key points was to have her choose her own path with little influence from them. She began her whirlwind of a softball career very early in life starting slow pitch in first grade and continuing to challenge herself by advancing to fastpitch in fourth grade. She is an all-around player that can play almost any position that her coach may need. She has switched around positions multiple times and is currently playing first base for her traveling team. Softball has made a huge impact in her life including giving her the opportunity to recently commit to play D1 softball at Miami of Ohio.There was a lot that went into her college decision. She toured Miami of Ohio and fell in love with the campus and field immediately. She was able to meet the other commits and made a good connection with them right away, which was another contributing factor to her decision. Overall, Holly is eager to begin her journey and to see where that may lead. |
Music will always be there for you no matter what
By Sabina Badrudeen
Five instruments, one student and passion. This is what motivates Hannah Sinouthasy to perform so well.
Hannah Sinouthasy (9) plays bass here at Champlin Park High School. Hannah agrees her bass style is different, especially when it comes to the electric bass. The amount of genres and songs are endless. Playing the bass can change your vibes and give you a whole new type of energy. So, where did love for the electric bass stem from? “Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. I listened to their songs, and I heard that bass and thought ‘they really help the band keep tempo.’” Since then she's been interested in playing electric bass especially since she had been playing the upright bass since 7th grade and is strongly dedicated to it. Another inspiration is Young K, bassist and vocalist from the Korean rock band “Day 6,” which her friend had introduced her to. |
The path to success
By Austin Thiphaseng
College Possible is a non-profit program to help students that aren’t as financially stable to prepare for college and also get an opportunity to earn many scholarships.
Raul Cordova Valle is currently in the program. It is a two year commitment where you stay after school two times a week. You have to sign up your sophomore year to see if you get accepted. College Possible is an amazing program to help with students who never thought that they would be able to attend a four year college. Majority of Champlin Park High school students don’t know of this program, but I am hoping by the end of this college possible gets the name out. “I never thought going to college would ever be this easy, if it weren’t for the program college possible” said Raul Cordova Valle. This program also provides ACT help with the practice books. You are also able to get 3 FREE tests. Secondly they have many after school college visits to get a more understanding on how a college is. Not only does college possible benefit you, it also helps out with the community. During one College Possible activity, they went around the Champlin Park community asking for canned goods/non perishable foods. They were able to earn over 2000lbs of canned goods. College Possible is an amazing way to further your future; it’s a great way to get to your life goal sooner. |
Career ending injury
By Makenna Karjalahti & Megan Carlson
Knee pads, helmets, elbow pads are all very helpful especially when it comes to poles, pavement, and injuries.
Lindsey Carlson (9) from Champlin Park High School was out on an afternoon bike ride. She was heading to Dairy Queen. Suddenly SMACK! She runs into a pole. She twisted her ankle and fell down in pain and agony. This is very unfortunate because tryouts for the high school soccer team were in less than a week. She didn’t get to tryout which was very depressing for her. Her ankle was sprained, swollen, and purple for days. She had to stay off her feet for a week. Lindsey was very upset that she couldn’t try out for the high school soccer team because she knew she could have made varsity. Lindsey has had many ankle traumas in the past. If something severe happens to her ankle again, she could be out of soccer for the rest of her life. Now, her ankle is healed from the pole incident, but she has occasional pains in her ankle. She is back playing soccer and better than ever. She is hoping her ankle doesn’t quit on her because she doesn't know what she would do without soccer in her life. |
The secret life of Darryl: Behind the scenes
By Will Taye
Rebels football defense corner Darryl Carter puts in work when it comes to his sports. But did you know that he is also very passionate about dedicating his time to helping in his community by volunteering at his church daycare?
The 17-year-old says “It started out with just going because my mom would tell me to, but it eventually began to mean something much more to me as I got older.” Other than working at the daycare after school, he also spends time to grow his faith as a Christian by attending bible study anytime he can. He says that he enjoys working with the kids and helping them in any way possible. He says “When I leave this world, I want to be remembered for my kind heart and for how much I care for others.” Carter explains that children are sometimes “looked down” upon because of their size, but we forget that it is essential that we prepare them in the right manner because they are our future leaders in the next generation to come. |
House basketball all-star
Cooper Olson & Jaice Miller
House Basketball season is right around the corner, and Will Hoffman cannot wait. With evaluations ending, the first game is coming up fast. Hoffman will be playing on Team Guckeen for the second year in a row.
Team Guckeen is coming in as the early season favorite. Last year the season did not end the way they wanted. This year they are coming out hungry and determined to win the Tier One Championship. With many returning players and some new faces, they believe they can come out on top this year. They lost their star player in Nick Streitz but the depth of the bench should be able to make up for the loss. Will came off the bench last year but will be starting this year and looking to make a big impact. Trying to improve his 9.1 PPG from last year. Will is also involved in football and he told us that the lifting and conditioning has really helped him get ready for the basketball season. He believes he is stronger and faster than last year, which should lead to a better season. He will be starting at Shooting Guard along side Tyler Hanson (PG), Tyler Guckeen (SF), Annikan Yang (PF), and Noah Link (C) . Will tells us the team has been looking good in these first couple weeks of practice. He is very excited to see what this team can accomplish this season. |
The first place trip
Andrea Moldan
Alisa Ehrlichman, a member of the Champlin Park marching band and captain of the color guard, performed at the 2016 Liberty Bowl in late December. There, she and the marching band competed against other schools and colleges from all over the country.
On the trip, they visited Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, and stayed in Tennessee. While they were in Tennessee, they went to the Civil Rights Museum, Elvis Presley’s house, a rodeo, Beale Street, and many other tourist activities. They practiced for many months to get to go on this trip. Alisa and the other members of the color guard practice dancing and spinning with flags, rifles, and sabres along to the bands music. The year they went to Tennessee their show was called Behind Closed Eyes. It was about a girl having a nightmare. With this show, they won the field show and parade competitions, which meant they got to perform their show during the Liberty Bowl. All the bands that competed performed with the Commodores on the field. Alisa and the marching band had a great and unforgettable once in a lifetime opportunity on their first place trip to Tennessee. |
How one teen handles a lack of self-confidence
Ben Dittrich
The world affects each of us in a different way, but for Danya Wazaz (11) and many other people, it attacks their self-confidence.
I inquired as to what she thought was the most critical problem for teens today, she said it was “self identity, and problems with how society views them versus how they view themselves.” When asked to elaborate on the statement, she added "being influenced by other people, by society, by media, and by people in power” was something that affected her. After that, I asked if she had any personal experience with self-confidence problems, and she did. Calling her self-confidence “not the greatest, because society has really damaged her self-image.” I asked how she handles this, and she replied with poetry, and “keeping it all inside.” To find some laughter, she turns to “her friends, Youtubers, and comedy.” At the end, I asked if her pass-times helped her get through tough times, and she said that they help “sometimes, but other times it makes it worse.” If you or someone you know is struggling with self-confidence issues, it would be in their best interests to find someone who they can talk to or find a way to express themselves in a way to increase their self-confidence. |
Avid outdoorsman in the city
Jack Bovy & Kevin Arthur
Cars blaring in the background, sounds of people passing by. On the edge of all that crazy noise is where an avid outdoorsman, Kyle Holland, lives. Kyle has a strong passion for the outdoors; he would much rather be in a deer stand or on a boat then at a store shopping.
Kyle has grown up in a family that hunts, and it wasn't uncommon for him to do the same. He started going into a stand with his dad since he was in the fifth grade. Since he started, he hasn't stopped and doesn't plan on it any day soon. As Kyle always says “There's freezers to be filled.” He says there is a reason why he hunts, it's not just for the thrill and the experience, its for what you get after all that hard work has been done. His daily schedule consists of going to school during the day and the hunting by night. “As soon as school gets out, I don't mess around. I go home and head to the woods.” One of Kyle’s biggest concerns is that cities are expanding and hunting areas are dwindling. “Cities have too many people and it's too bright. That’s why I am in the woods. It's me and the nature that surrounds me.” |
Behind the scenes of CPCR girls hockey
Erica McCollor & Celia Cook
Ever wondered what it would be like if your whole team was joined with another team? CPCR Girls Hockey faced this challenge this as Champlin Park combined hockey teams with Coon Rapids.
We asked CPHS junior Allie Leuer, #22, what was her first thought on the new team. She said “At first I was nervous because I thought that their skill level was lower than ours. I also thought that we wouldn't get along very well with the girls because of rivalry and the different school barrier.” Allie said “We spent the whole summer playing together, and we soon became best of friends.” Allie also said that “the commute from Champlin Park High School to Coon Rapids Ice Center is pretty hard since varsity practice starts at three and school doesn't get done till 2:20. Traffic is always a problem.” Since they are a new team, things haven't been the same. For example, they have different coaching staff, different drills, and different personalities. They do have a two year contract, “things will just have to stay the same” Allie says. We also asked sophomore from Coon Rapids Sarah McClellan what her thoughts were on the new team. She said “I was nervous at first about learning to play with a new group of girls and her meet new coaches.” She also told us that she likes “the new coaching staff.” She feels “they have taught her more about the game and helped her improve.” Sarah adds “I don't think I would change anything about the team; we all work hard and have so much fun!” In the end, CPCR girls hockey team has been a huge success for everyone. |
Secretary shares super silly story
Aaron Kilyun
Mrs. Van Tuyl has been a secretary for a very long time. 37 years, in fact.
She has been at Champlin Park specifically for 19 years. When first applying to her job here, she was interviewed by Mr. Hall, who she works with to this very day. Her job consists of many tasks such as scheduling appointments, maintaining attendance, and working with the principles and counselors, just to name a few. In addition to all of this, she has had crazy experiences throughout the years. “It happened seven to eight years ago…” she said. “A not so happy parent came to talk to Mr. Hall about a consequence for their student that they thought was unfair. The parent then started to raise their voice at Mr. Hall, where they then went to the atrium to talk,” she stated. “They started pacing back and forth next to house two, where the parent then called Mr. Hall a pencil-neck and stormed out of the school! We sometimes call Mr. Hall a pencil-neck to this day!” she stated while trying to hold back her laughter. The infamous name will forever stay with Mr. Hall. Mrs. Van Tuyl comes to her job with a positive attitude, ready to interact with students, parents and staff. She always has a funny or interesting story to tell from her years of experience. Her work is at CPHS greatly appreciated. |
Izzy Guy is a barrel of fun!
Annika Erickson & Hanna Lee
When you were five, you learned how to ride a bike, but when Izzy Guy was five, she learned how to ride a horse. For her fifth birthday, her grandmother got her a pony. But, because of her competitive nature, Izzy had been introduced to barrel racing.
Barrel racing is a timed rodeo event where the rider and their horse race around a track. The barrels are in a clover leaf pattern. That helps test the horse's athletic ability and the horsemanship skills of the rider. Also to maneuver a horse in a pattern of the three barrels. The horse goes around one barrel, to another, and finally the third to complete the race. Izzy has been racing for five years, along the way she has won a few awards. In 2017, Izzy won the 2017 Minnesota Junior Reserve Champion for barrel racing. Also, she was the 2016 Fast N Furious 3D Champion. To win these awards, she trains all year round. She has an indoor arena to do so, and every night for four hours she trains with her horses. During the summer is when high school rodeos compete. She has two main horses, Walter and Delilah, and then two other horses, Merlin and Autumn. Some of her favorite things about barrel racing are competing, traveling with her family, and spending time with her horses. |
Journey to entrepreneurship
Shane McIntosh
Peace & Prosper, a lifestyle brand founded by sophomore Nathan Miller, has had enormous growth in the short time since its launch in July of this year. The road to entrepreneurship for Miller started back in the summer of 2016.
Miller entered the shoe business last year, cleaning and customizing shoes. He made a decent amount of income. This income would eventually lead to the funding of his future brand. Miller’s own label, Peace & Prosper, launched with its debut t-shirt in July, 2017. The shirt sold out within the week, and he knew the brand would make it. He then expanded his product line to encompass everything from shirts, hats, and sweatshirts, among other things, each with multiple, unique designs to accompany them. His most popular product is a sweatshirt that has Japanese lettering that translates to “Prosper” in English. The message of Peace & Prosper is, “Through peace we will all prosper.” Miller believes in non-violence, positivity, and love. He told me, “The world needs more love.” In the future, he plans to do more clothing, like the Japanese hoodie, but connected to all cultures and languages, so he can spread the love. The message Miller wants to leave is, “Through peace, we will all prosper, which leads to success and having wealth. But through the journey to success, we will do it peacefully and with love, helping bring up others along the way.” |
Substitute teacher wonder story
Amanda Christensen & Kylie Lundquist
If you ask around Champlin Park High School, few substitute teachers are as popular as Mr. Erickson.
However, nobody was truly aware of why he had not retired yet. With the unique ability to connect with students, he was able to foster close relationships throughout the school. While in their English class, seniors Hailey Pietsch and Kelsey Breiter learned more about the details of his situation. Mr. Erickson had been struggling to pay off his wife’s medical expenses to get the care she needed. “A lot of us in that class said we would do anything to help him out, so [Kelsey] and I started a GoFundMe in hopes of making a difference.” says Hailey. Thinking it would be a single class effort, they started with a small goal of $500. However, the news of this heartwarming idea spread like wildfire throughout the school, eventually reaching whole communities. The need to increase the goal grew instantaneously and within 24 hours, they reached nearly $14,000. Due to tax purposes, they decided to close the fundraiser at that point, but the outcome was no doubt an incredible achievement. A few days later, Hailey and Kelsey surprised Mr. Erickson and his wife with the check, soon learning it was that money that would get Mrs. Erickson the cataracts surgery she had been needing for months. After all that Mr. Erickson had done for Champlin Park, the students were just glad to give back to someone that many considered a role model. |
Teacher by day, kickball all-star by night
Abby Gilk, Avery Donovan & Sydney Eckert
You may know Ms. Carlson as a Spanish teacher here at Champlin Park High School, but you probably don’t know that she is a kickball allstar. Carlson, along with Officer Dickman, are the heart and soul of their kickball team, “Got The Runs.”
“As the rookie coming into the team and being recruited, it helped us win. We really grew together. You know we didn’t really have a winning season, but we did ok in the playoffs” says Officer Dickman. The official record of the teams last season was 1-10. Student and fan, Dom Witt (10) says “It was really weird seeing my teacher outside of school, but I’m sure the support was appreciated.” Carlson sums up the season by saying, “We lost every single game except for the last game, which is the only game that counted so we ended up getting third place.” Working with her teammates outside of the sport leads to “‘Some sort of mental telepathy’” as said by Carlson. Students coming out to support one of their favorite teachers is much appreciated by the players. “It’s very very fun when students come to support me at my games, as they bring lots of extra energy” says Carlson. All in all, the 2016-2017 season for “Got The Runs” ended with more participation memories than winning memories. |
Two sport varsity athlete as a freshman
Sydney Paine, Alexa Salo, Nyah Ashanti & Gavin Rinehart
Terrance Kamara is freshman at CPHS and thrives as a two sport athlete. He is involved in football and basketball here at Champlin park.
Your first year of highschool is stressful as it is, but being on varsity for not one but,TWO sports. Football and basketball are intense sports and involve many hours of practice and hard work. Starting in third grade,Terrance Kamara as been training and working for a spot on the Rebels varsity team. The 2017 season has sadly come to an end but he is ready for the next to begin. Terrance is number 25 for basketball this season, McKinley Wright’s previous number. Terrance was inspired by McKinley’s drive for success.Terrance tries to train everyday but with school and sports it gets hard. With losing 11 seniors last season, it was basically a whole new team with all sorts of skills. Terrance says “nothing will be like last year; we have a young team, but we don’t care about the ranking; it’s all about how you play in the end.” Many days getting barely enough sleep and spending countless amount of hours practicing it shows his drive and love for the sports. He stated it “May get hard at times, but in the end it will show.” |
The cultural trip of a lifetime
Morgan Mauch & Sofie Sinjem
One of the Spanish teachers here at Champlin Park High School took a trip to Quito, Ecuador in 2014 to immerse in the culture and get a better understanding of the language and people.
For a whole month Jessica Carlson stayed with a host family and an indigenous family. She had great experiences hiking through the Amazon, visiting the equator, eating many different kinds of foods, and took a class in social justice. She met lots of new people. First she stayed with an indigenous family for a week which was a mom, dad, and son who had no water or electricity and lived right next to a volcano. Next she stayed with the host family who had a mom, dad, son, and two daughters who spoke Spanish with her. While hiking through the Amazon with the group she traveled with, they saw many different animals, especially tarantulas. They hiked numerous times, not only during the day, but also at night. Some of the unique foods she ate while in Quito were guinea pig, seafood, and fresh veggies from gardens. Ms. Carlson says that she learned a lot from this trip, had so much fun, and is planning on taking more trips like it. |
A medical solution turned favorite sport
Kendall Shin & Rodger Coppa
Sunny Jones was born with a dislocated knee. As a result, the doctors suggested she try swimming and advised that she not exert her muscles in her knee.
After that, her mother took her to the pool and signed her up for swimming lessons. She really enjoyed the swimming lessons and from there she grew to love swimming. Sunny’s first team was at Coon Rapids YMCA, the Barracudas, and she had her first meet when she was 7-years-old. She can remember how nervous she was and learned the feeling of having butterflies in her stomach. She did the 25 yard breaststroke, a freestyle relay and just had a lot of fun. She doesn’t want to do swimming in college, or at least on a scholarship. If that happens then she will have much more stress put on her depending on her times. She enjoys that on her current team; they have a family atmosphere. Currently she’s on the CPHS Swim and Dive team and her time for breaststroke is 1 min and 19 seconds and her 500m freestyle time is 6 mins and 13 seconds. She wants to be captain when she becomes a senior. She also wants to get into varsity finals. |
Student finds a hobby to reduce stress
Riley Simmons
After a long day of school you need a way to reduce stress.
Danny Armstrong (11) found working on cars helps him do so. Every day after school and on the weekends he goes to his garage at home to work on his cars. He has a 1998 Jeep and a 1967 Dodge Dart, which he and his family bought. For Danny, working on cars gives him an outlet to get rid of the stress that he gets from school. He said that without working on cars he wouldn’t be able to work as hard in school. But lucky for him, he also gets the chance to do car stuff at school, which helps him even more. He has taken most of the autos classes here at CPHS. He says he hopes to be able to do something car related for a future career, because that’s what he loves doing. But for now he is just focusing on school and most importantly his cars at home. |
Twin testing
Lindsey Roth & Jordan Stalpes
What most people don’t know about Allison Axness, one of the gym teachers at Champlin Park High School, is that she is an identical twin. Allison and her twin Angela have been participating in identical testing at the University of Minnesota every three years, since they were 12-years-old.
Each session of testing consists of physical and intellectual activities. In the morning, caps and sensors are hooked up on their heads to detect brain waves. One of the exercises in the morning is to sit in a dark room and watch a movie, while trying to keep your eyes open and refraining from falling asleep for 15 minutes. While the movie is playing, randomly a static sounds tracking how their brain waves react. Also they are given multiple puzzles, mazes and spelling quizzes. This is to compare how the twins matched up identically. In the afternoon, they are interviewed on what they do socially throughout their lives. Some of the questions include if you experience any mental illnesses. Once they grew older the questions got more profound leading to topics including usage of alcohol and drugs. After multiple sessions of the same testing they found out that the sisters are 98.7% identical. On average most twins are only 80% compatible. Because of how high the percentage was, the University uses their scores in other scientific experiments involving brain waves. Now since they have had multiple kids, the University wants to test their kids for other genetic purposes. The kids along with Allison and Angela will be tested in April. |
Big Mike playing for keeps
Grant Jansen
As the end to the school year comes clearer into view, it easy to sense a scramble from upperclassmen looking to be accepted into colleges. Some students are proactive over their summers and find ways to attract attention from their desired schools.
One of these students is Michael Sauro. Michael is a senior this year, and spends most of his time around the golf course. Whether he’s working at the driving range, grinding it out on the putting green, or playing a round at his leisure, Mike always seems to have his clubs with him. It’s not too difficult to see why. Over this past summer Michael has traveled across the Midwest in hopes of clinching a victory in the Junior PGA tournaments. When asked how many tournaments he’s played in, it was difficult for him to remember them all. “I’ve been all over the place. I played in a few tournaments in Michigan, as well as Wisconsin and Illinois just to name a few” Michael says. But Michael hasn’t just been playing in these tournaments, he’s been a top competitor. He placed in the top 10 out of roughly 150 competitors in three different tournaments. He hopes to play well in these tournaments so he can gain exposure from college coaches around the region. With offers from schools like Loyola, Bethel, and St. Thomas in the midwest, as well as Skidmore in New York state, it’s not hard to see Michael has gained the attention he desires. Michael says these tournaments have helped him because “they’re national championships, so they bring lots of college scouts from all over the country.” Although no decision has been made, he says he’s strongly considering Loyola’s offer because he always wanted to go to school in Chicago. |
UFC contender at CP?
Evan Schulte
Against some of the world's best competition, Zach Vang came out on top.
This past August, Zach participated in a martial arts tournament in London, England. In this international competition, Zach placed number one out of over one hundred competitors in his weight class. This was the most recent win in a successful MMA career. Zach started practicing martial arts at the age of four, and has since established himself as one of the best amatur fighters in the nation. Like all martial artists, he has dealt with his fair share of injuries. From broken bones to a dislocated shoulder Zach has experienced it all, although he’ll tell you “It doesn't hurt as bad as people think it does.” As a result of mounding injuries in late 2016, Zach and his family decided he should take some time away from the sport. His dominating performance in London was his comeback. |
From ACL to MVP
Jake VanderMeeden
Nick Bauer, a 16-year-old from Brooklyn Park, was playing in a football game in 9th grade when disaster struck. Running down the field on a kickoff, he quickly shifted right and he “felt something rip." It turned out to be his right ACL and MCL. “I knew what had happened as soon as I did it.”
Nick, who is also a very good baseball player was very distraught because he knew that this injury would end his upcoming baseball season before it even started. Instead of pouting and feeling bad for himself he started working on rebuilding the strength in his leg. He had the surgery done the very next day and he left the hospital that night. He visited a doctor and therapist to help with the recovery weekly. After weeks of strengthening, he could feel “the strength coming back in his leg." By this time it was the day of baseball tryouts. He was allowed to try out but he couldn't do any of the drills in which he needed to use his leg. Nick made the team, but was told by the doctor that he couldn't play in a real game for another 2 months. Watching the games from the sideline was “definitely the hardest part," “knowing that I can't do anything to help the team made the games hard to go to." After what could've been the “1 millionth” trip to the doctor, he was finally cleared to play. “I was the happiest person on the planet when I got up to the plate for the first time.” As it turned out, that first game could've been his best, going 4-4 with 4 runs scored, 3 rbis, and the game winning-walk off single. “As I was getting mobbed on first base, I knew that all the hard work was worth it.” The rest of the season for nick was nothing short of amazing; he ended up batting about .600 and was a key player in the lineup every day. “It's an amazing feeling when you work so hard at something and you succeed in the end.” |
Teacher by profession, traveler by passion
Julia Ingram
Traveling the world by herself is Ms. Welle’s passion. Ms. Welle has traveled to 26 different countries since she was 20. She travels by herself and stays in hostels with complete strangers.
According to Ms. Welle the hostels were very sketchy but a lot of fun. She liked the hostels because she liked meeting new people. Sometimes when traveling alone she would wish she had someone to bounce ideas off of or just someone to talk to. Also she would get lost sometimes. She liked the sense of traveling by herself so she could do what she wanted to do and not have to worry about anybody else. |
9th grader wants to be a millionaire
Anna Kaltved
Imagine 300 people watching you make the wrong decision. This is what Keara went through when she was a contestant on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”
Keara interviewed with the producers of the show in January. She got a call back in May and had to answer questions to be a contestant for the show. In July, she found out that she was going to be on the show, and she had to be in Nevada in August. When Keara first got to the show, she was very nervous. She was introduced to Chris Harrison (the host) and they talked for awhile. She described him as being really nice and cool. After talking, they started to begin the practice entrances, questions and exits. After she got it perfect, they started to film and begin the real questions. She was super nervous, and her heart was beating really fast. Everyone in the audience focused in on her. The audience tricked Keara, they made a lot of noise and it was really distracting to her. Everyone in the audience, except family members of contestants, had to take a test to be able to be in the audience. The questions were pretty easy to begin with, mostly common sense questions, but as she got more questions right, the harder they got. The question she got wrong was “What animal did a famous scientist discover that looked like a torpedo and was a pedipod?” The choices were A) Walrus B) Stingray C) Octopus D) Seahorse. Keara answered with B)Stingray. The correct answer was A) Walrus. She was so disappointed in herself, she felt horrible. The amount of money she won can’t be disclosed because of legal reasons. Keara is very grateful for the opportunity and had a great experience. |
Helping Haiti
Melanie Baker
Have you ever helped out less fortunate people like the people living in Haiti?
Autumn Carroll, a freshman, has traveled to Haiti two different times. Her first time traveling to Haiti was when she was thirteen. She tries to travel there two times a year to go to the Orphanage. She also plays with the kids, and delivers clean water to the families living in Haiti. She told me that Haiti is a lot different than the US. They speak a bunch of different languages unlike the US where we mainly speak English. They also don’t have street signs and many more things that the US has. Her favorite place to travel is the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. Autumn encourages everyone to do anything even the smallest thing to help the less fortunate people in the world. You don’t have to travel all the way to Haiti like Autumn, but do something here in the US to help others across the whole world. |
Moving 8,000 miles from home
Hayley Betts
Imagine moving across the country all by yourself. Britney Bosire moved one year ago to the United States from Kenya, Africa. She was 16 when she first got here. She came here all by herself to meet her family who had all come here at separate times. She was very happy when she got to be reunited with her parents and her siblings.
She flew from Kenya to Amsterdam then to Minnesota and all together it was around an 18 hour flight. She went that far all alone with nobody else. She said that she did get lost in the airport at times because they are so big. She says school is the most different thing here, because when she was in Kenya she went to a boarding school, because the rest of her family was in America and so she had to be able to stay somewhere. Schools harder in Kenya too she says. She never had to deal with winter before coming here so that was also an interesting experience. She also misses her friends the most. Her dad has been here for 20 years, and her mom and siblings have been here for 5. Although her family would come and visit her when she lived in Kenya. Since moving, here she has joined the high school soccer team and plans to join the track team in the spring. Now that Britney has moved to America she has made many new friends and has experienced the American culture and is loving it. |
Big Riq in Lil’ BP
By Holly Johnson
Riqxter traps after school. Tariq’s life has had a lot of good and bad experiences including his dad moving away.
Tariq is a kind-hearted boy who likes to make people laugh, and he also loves to have a good time with his “squad.” He has had multiple ups and downs but is very grateful for his mother. Tariq is a shy guy when you first meet him, but once you get to know the guy he is truly amazing. He has made so many friends over the years here at CP. He is worried that in two years he will not stay in contact with them anymore when he plans on going off to college. He does not know which college he will attend yet, but he wants to further is education. Tariq does not play sports but likes to play some “pick up’s” here and there. After school he is booked for work at Holiday down the street. Does he like his job? No. He just wants “that money.” He has been working there since the summer started, and says, “I just needed a job, I just need money… If I could quit right now I would.” Tariq is kind and a funny boy, that has a lot to offer for others. If you’re ever in the dumps, hit his line. |
Leaving a mark On Champlin Park
By Jasmine Johnson, Elizabeth Olowosago & Kato Seley
The biggest question for anyone in high school is, what will you be doing once you graduate?
Elizabeth, Kato, and I asked three seniors at CP what they plan on doing after high school and most of them didn’t know. They obviously want to go to college, but they have no idea of what they want to do next. So Elizabeth and I took a different approach by asking a couple of our Champlin Park senior friends how they want to leave their mark on this school. Thomas Zinnah said, “I'm going to leave my mark on CP through football because I want to lead the football team to a state title.” Another senior we asked was, Emmanuel Oluwinners. He said “I don’t really know how I’m going to leave a mark, but I do take photos in my free time, so I hope that encourages people to follow their dreams.” The last senior we asked this question to was Sophia Watkins. She had much to say, “ I want to leave my mark by having everyone feel welcomed, because when I came to this school I did not feel welcomed at all. I want everyone to enjoy their high school years and live for the moment.” In conclusion, all these seniors had wonderful ways on how they wanted to leave their mark, and they hope that you do the same. |
A brother's ultimate sacrifice
By Hannah Lysne
“I was sad when I found out Evan would leave for the army soon, But I was proud because I knew it was important and not many people have the guts to make that kind of sacrifice.” says Rylee Hoyt, sister of Evan Hoyt, MP in the united states army.
Evan has been gone since April of Rylee’s freshman year, he has completed basic training and is currently a Military Police officer working on base in Colorado. He plans to head overseas within the next two years. Evan’s training has been very grueling, one of his least favorite training technique is called rucking, they are forced to carry 50-75 lbs of rocks in their backpacks as they hike various types of terrain. They also are subject to early morning 3 mile runs each day and push up tests, Evan can now complete 70 pushups in a minute. The roles of Military Police officers are endless, they protect the lives and property on army installations. They enforce military laws and regulations and respond to all emergencies. Along with working as a first responder, They are trained as soldiers and police officers who must be ready for whatever situation comes their way. Rylee says she has enjoyed being an only child at home while her brother is away, but loves when he is able to come home to visit. She says one of the biggest thing this experience has taught her is to appreciate life and especially your loved ones. Her brother is her biggest hero and she can't wait to see all the great things he will accomplish. |
Sammy Garza on the intense application into the Naval Academy
By Lydia Brecht
Do you have an interest in engineering or NASA? A military academy might just be the place for you.
Sammy Garza first decided to do research on the Naval Academy when one of her English teachers saw her reading an article about NASA. Her teacher later recommended going to the summer seminar for high schooler’s at the Naval Academy in Maryland. She would soon find out that the application process was incredibly rigorous and time consuming, but that wouldn’t stop her from working towards her dream school. She has been committed to working on her application since March of 2017, and is still perfecting it. “I should be finished with the application during October” Sammy has mentioned. There are many assessments that the military application requires to be completed. Some of her requirements include: fitness tests, medical exams, two letters of recommendations, an interview with a naval officer and also a congressional nomination. Sammy has mentioned that the application process alone has made her become more of an adult and be more professional. It also has taught her to step out of her comfort zone and be more mature. You’re Rebel family is rooting for you, Sammy! |
Getting college credit in high school
By Jessica Sauro
Is it actually possible to get college credit in high school? It is possible according to senior Brinley Montour at Champlin Park High School.
Brinley attends one hour at Champlin Park and continues her high school classes at North Hennepin Community College. She says she chose to switch and start doing classes at the community college because you get college credit for high school classes, and that going to the community college is a good preview of what college is going to look and feel like. I asked Brinley how these classes were going for her and she said she has liked all of the classes she has taken at the college. She feels that they are going to be useful in the future and they all haven’t been very hard for her this year. Brinley recommends younger students to look into signing up for these classes at the college, and she said “Yes, I would recommend taking classes at the college. You aren’t at Champlin all day, and it gives you more freedom. It also allows you to get college credit for free that you can most likely transfer if planning on going to a university.” |
Sophomore comes back from knee injury
By Leah Jones
6 mm.
That's all that it took to take Piper Otto out of softball for a whole year. Piper says “tearing my meniscus was devastating, but this experience with my injury has taught me to be grateful and never take softball for granted, and handle hardships in life.” Following a long year of crutches, physical therapy, and various doctors appointments, coming back from a physically and emotionally traumatic injury was a relief but hard. Otto is a team member of the MN Force Club Softball in New Brighton. Working hard in the off season of high school ball, she travels a lot all over the midwest going to college camps improving her game. She says “I go to these camps not only to improve my game, but to develop new skills so I can also better my other teammates, keeping us on our game to reach our goals.” Otto is more determined than ever and ready to take on another season of high school softball. She says “I am motivated and Inspired by my brother: he works hard on and off the field. He has gone through injuries and worked hard to come back better than ever.” Otto is looking forward to the new season and making it to the state tournament in Mankato in June of 2018. Having a strong group of captains and coaches to push the rebels to the highest intensity of high school softball will take the rebels to state. |
Freshman wins state As eighth grader
Megan Roberts
How would you feel if you were the youngest gymnast to win all around in state history?
Chaney Neu became the youngest gymnast all around champion in state history on February 25th, 2017. Now Chaney is a freshman at Champlin Park High School. She was in eighth grade when she made the big achievement of winning state. I was recently talking to Chaney about all of her achievements so far and how it was competing in state. When she won state, she said “ I was glad because at that moment I felt all my hard work payed off. ” She said that she had her best performance of the season at the state competition. Along with winning state she also won first place in every competition all of her eighth grade year, which is a great accomplishment for Chaney. At state Chaney pulled out a score of 38.500 which was one of her highest scores of that season. Now Chaney is going to keep working hard for the next four years as a Rebel Gymnast. Chaney is also on the dance team for Champlin Park, while she continues to do gymnastics. She is doing both to be able to stay at tip top shape. She will be prepared and ready for the gymnastic season to start. |
Is this you?
Maddie Elizondo
Your grades are falling, friends are growing distant, chocolate ice cream has been the only thing on the menu for days, and all you can seem to do is watch the same romcom over and over to the point where you can recite all the words…Sounds like teen heartbreak.
According to an article from Stages of life, 59.6% of teenage girls who report to be in love in high school this is normal behavior at some point in high school. It makes sense. Less than 14% of teen relationships last through marriage, and half of those end in divorce. Olivia Leabo (Champlin Park Senior) gave a little insight into what exactly heartbreak means for the daily life of a high school student. Leabo describes herself as fun, focused, and adventurous. Her focus was no longer on work, school, and being with her besties, but on how heartbroken she was. When asked she said she doesn’t recommend relationships in high school and if she could go back she would never have been in one. That begs to question... Is it worth it in high school to have the distractions of a relationship? If you keep a realistic view and don't let it affect your future maybe. Unfortunately the consensus of this article is that no, it's not worth it. |
Why it's hard being African
Elizabeth Olowosago
Being a black kid and getting bullied at Champlin Park High School is a depressing thing to hear about. However, recently I've met up with Bolanle Adebomi to have a talk about things she has experienced. Sadly, bullying is one thing she has experienced at such a decent school. Bolanle, being born in Lagos, Nigeria has lived through some exciting experiences.
When going to school in Minnesota, she noticed she had a very strong Nigerian accent. It had taken her a while to adjust to the “American lifestyle.” Therefore, she began to hate her accent and then tried to change everything about herself. Moving forward in high school, it was also hard for her to make friends. She changed her name to “Blessing” so people understood, and she could feel more accepted. She also included that the experiences may vary depending on the social circles you choose. In high school, it's tough figuring out and knowing who your friends are, especially for Bolanle with such a tough accent. Walking down the hallways, people mimicked her accent, and she found this as a way of bullying. Ultimately, she felt that she should keep the name that she was truly born with. In addition, Bolanle Adebomi learned how to accept herself, appreciate her accent, and where she came from. |
From Raider to Rebel
By Izzy Ashburn
Al Axness, 12 year teach and coach at Roseville High School, began her first year at Champlin Park this school year.
Axness has filled in the role of CP legend Ms. Spehar. Although these are huge shoes to fill, Axness says her department is awesome, they have helped her through the transition, and she is very grateful for all of the PE teachers. She has also been coaching for the Champlin Park varsity volleyball team for the past two season and claims this team is like family to her and they were also a reason that this transition felt so smooth. In the last two seasons, CP volleyball has done amazing things with Mrs. Axness on their side. She has assistant coached the team through two state tournaments including second and third place titles. Axness states that Roseville and CP are pretty similar in regards to schedule and students. The biggest difference is her commute. For her Roseville commute it was a 44 mile round trip, but for CP, it’s under 2 miles. She also says she loves being in the community that she teaches in. Axness is a great addition to the Rebel family and we are honored to have her. |
Pond bois slaying the Bass
By Peter Claflin
On the border of Arbour Lakes therein lies a pond with bass of legendary size. The problem with fishing this pond is that it is illegal to fish this specific pond.
The pond lies behind the outdoor theater in Maple Grove near Arbor Lakes. We all hear rumours of a massive 6 pound bass that was caught in this small illegal pond. Well of course the Pond Bois had to venture into this pond of dreams. The Pond Bois are a small group of master Anglers who spend their time hopping from lakes/ponds looking for the next big fish. Of course the Pond Bois went to this pond to see for themselves if the rumours were true. Right off the bat Nick caught a whopping 4 pound bass from the illegal pond, and shortly after others were catching bass left and right. Now let me remind you that this pond has “no fishing” signs every 25 feet. We were all nervous if we were going to be caught by the police or some security guards. Low and behold after a good 15 minutes of slaying the bass a cop pulled up next to us and kicked all of us out, thus ruining a perfect night for slaying bass. The Pond Bois will never be taken down by the cops, so of course we will return to this pond to catch the legendary 6 pound bass. |
Far from home
By Roxana Arnold
For most of us, it is hard to imagine living without our parents. But for Sonya Lopez, this is a reality.
Sonya lives with her aunt, uncle, and cousins because her parents live in Mexico, and they wanted her to be in school in the United States. She doesn't have a problem living here with her aunt, uncle and cousins because she likes living with them. She likes it because her cousins are fun to hang out with. Where she lives they treat her nicely and with respect. Her aunt and uncle even treat her like their own daughter. They don't get together for family reunion because they don't have one. The only time all of her family gets together is when they have a birthday party. Her aunt, uncle and cousins have a nickname for her, and they call her Yuly, but in English it would be Julie. They call her that because of her second name which is Juliza. They are the people that have helped Sonya in her life. |
Young girl is left hospitalized for a week
By Marisa Johnson
Lyme disease is a world-wide infectious disease that has been found on every continent but Antarctica.
Jasmine Johnson was 11 when she got Lyme disease. She first noticed gradual swelling in her knee. About two weeks from seeing the small swelling, Jasmine had come home limping, and her knee was at least two times bigger than normal. She finally decided to show her mom. Her mom thought it was just swelling from bumping it against something, but it wasn't from that. Her stepdad then noticed that it looked abnormal and suggested that she get it checked out by a doctor. Her mom then took her to the doctor. Two doctors had looked at her knee before calmly explaining to Jasmine’s mother that she should be taken to the emergency room. Her mother was distraught. Her mother could not handle hospitals alone so Jasmine’s stepdad, and three of her siblings, ended up joining Jasmine and her mom at hospital. |
Champlin Park High School through the eyes of Kirk Gibberton
By Haylie Lo
Have you ever wondered who that guy who is just wondering throughout the hallways is? His name is Kirk Gibberton. Kirk is the CPHS hall monitor.
He makes sure that students are safe in the halls. This is Kirk’s second year at Champlin Park High School, and he loves it here. Kirk says that his favorite parts of working here are that he gets to have weekends and holidays off, the energy of the students, and the cafeteria lunches. “The lunches are convenient and tasty,” says Kirk. Surprisingly, Kirk says that his least favorite thing about Champlin Park is the late start schedule. “The late start schedule is unnecessary for the students and it sets them off rhythm; it also sets me off rhythm because I work directly with the students.” Kirk’s favorite moment, so far, is that he was the assistant coach for the wrestling team. Kirk’s least favorite moments, so far, are the times when he got “cussed out at least seven times by students.” I asked Kirk if he had a favorite class/ grade and he told me that he had two favorites: seniors and sophomores. “Seniors are the oldest and have more maturity and [they] can understand what I am talking about. I also like sophomores because it is the first grade that I will be able to see them grow from their freshman year all the way until the time they graduate.” As the year progresses, it will be interesting to see how Kirk’s thoughts about Champlin Park High School change. |
A junior on a mission
By Kaile Cosman
Erica said the mission trip changed her life more than she could imagine.
Erica is one who likes to help others out in the community and take charge when she can. The mission trip helped to show the effect she could have on other people. While she was in Peru, the mission group worked on building a sidewalk up to the church, and added plants around it to make it look nicer, because it was on a mountain surrounded by rocks and dirt. The mission group worked hard to make the church even more beautiful than it already was. She had also worked and played with children who had barely gotten a meal that day, but they still had the biggest smile on their face. Erica explained how the trip not only taught her patience, but also taught her not to judge others because they could possibly be the nicest person you've ever met. Erica adds that, “Although we may have taught the community to be kind and helpful, they taught us an even bigger life lesson, no matter the deed that is always done, be grateful and always smile, never ask for more, because what you have is more than enough.” |
$206,000 worth of free money, and how she did it
By Ally Lemmer
Elementary school, middle school, high school, and then what? For Kelsy Forslund (12), her next step is Augsburg College.
Since ninth grade, Kelsy knew Augsburg College was what she wanted to do next because she toured it and loved the campus. Little did she know that four years later she’d be getting a full-ride scholarship worth $206,000 to attend this school! Now I know you must be wondering: How did she do it? Kelsy said she applied right when the window opened, and she maintained a great GPA throughout high school, along with an above-average ACT score. Kelsy is planning on becoming a pharmaceutical technician since she’s great at chemistry and loves making money. It was surprising when Kelsy stated that she did not apply for this certain scholarship but that it was awarded to 30 students overall. Kelsy said that she is looking forward to living on her own, along with a roommate. One thing Kelsy is not looking forward to is having to take 16 credits each year in order for this scholarship to apply to her. Kelsy feels extremely lucky and blessed to have received this scholarship for Augsburg College. |
How one student helped empower millions
By Grace Marshalek
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Majority of people I know (including me) like to go home after school and crash on the couch. However Nahili Abdullahi has found a way to use her time to help others.
Nahili (9) volunteers at Books For Africa, an organization that donates books to the schools in Africa.
Their goal? Empowering the young minds of Africa.
Nahili believes that the books will help to empower young females in Africa. She explains that female education could advance the African economy, giving them a better life for themselves and their families. Nahili donates her own books and spends her volunteer time organizing and packing them up before they are shipped.
Nahili’s parents are immigrants from Ethiopia. They came to America three years before Nahili was born. During that time her dad, Farhan, worked three jobs exhaustingly, trying to raise enough money to bring Nahili’s entire family over to live here.
When asked why she started volunteering Nahili said “Helping others, helps me feel like a better person.”
Nahili has a very kind and positive attitude about life that is already making a difference. I think the world could always use more people as selfless minded as Nahili.
Nahili (9) volunteers at Books For Africa, an organization that donates books to the schools in Africa.
Their goal? Empowering the young minds of Africa.
Nahili believes that the books will help to empower young females in Africa. She explains that female education could advance the African economy, giving them a better life for themselves and their families. Nahili donates her own books and spends her volunteer time organizing and packing them up before they are shipped.
Nahili’s parents are immigrants from Ethiopia. They came to America three years before Nahili was born. During that time her dad, Farhan, worked three jobs exhaustingly, trying to raise enough money to bring Nahili’s entire family over to live here.
When asked why she started volunteering Nahili said “Helping others, helps me feel like a better person.”
Nahili has a very kind and positive attitude about life that is already making a difference. I think the world could always use more people as selfless minded as Nahili.
2 good 2 play
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Hannah Brekke: Future dog hoarder
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Jake and Kali Vandy confess the most asked questions about life as a twin.
First up: 1- What is it like being a twin?
2- What is the best part about having a twin
3- What is the most annoying part about being a twin?
4- Do you guys believe in “twin instincts” or twin telepathy? Surprisingly both twins answered with the exact same thing.
Both twins seem to love their sibling and don't wish to change anything. They often forget they even are twins after living 16 years side by side. Throughout the years both Jake and Kali have noticed that some things one twin can do, the other can not and vise versa. Mama VanderMeeden says “Although it was tough those first few months, I'm glad they always had someone to play with. It was a blessing having 2 in 1!” |
Three tips to become a better basketball player
By Katrina Khamsisavang & Sophia Kuehn
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a great athlete? We got an interview with Rashard Scott. He gave us some helpful key tips to become a better basketball player.
Rashard began playing basketball at the age of 6. The sport made him feel happy. Overall, he had fun playing. “Basketball makes me happy and is a good experience. It exposed me to different people and schools around the state. Also, I met great people along the way who I now call my friends.” The first tip to being a good basketball player is to work hard. You have to make time to practice a lot, but still make sure you put school before anything else. Working hard for Rashard includes practicing after school and on weekends while still focusing on school work. Dedication is the second tip. “You need to be dedicated to succeed” Rashard told us. The reason he succeeds in the game is because of the amount of work that he puts in. Lastly, you need to dream hard. Having big dreams will set the right mindset. It helps you stay positive. You also have to be willing to put in the work to make your dreams a reality. Staying positive is always a good thing to do! |
The little things no one sees
By Asia Yang
Fall, 2016. Carolyn Ngo and her sister were walking back from the gas station. Jackson Middle School had recently released its students from the school day. What they heard was what Carolyn had called, “unnecessary.” When Carolyn and her sister passed the two unnamed middle schoolers, they blantly said, “Ugh, Asians,” and went on to laugh at what the one of them said.
The incident has still bugged Carolyn along with many other small direct and indirect acts of racism. “I felt like I didn’t belong, like I wasn’t accepted.” said Carolyn when asked on how she felt about what happened, “Social media has influence over people. With how the world is right now, I feel like racism will only get stronger.” Carolyn has not been threatened or assaulted because of her ethnicity, but she still has gone through racism. Being stared at then being talked about within a group of, yet again, middle schoolers; have being grouped into a stereotype she didn’t like, and so on. “I understand that people make jokes, and sometimes it is funny. But some jokes go too far and didn’t need to happen at all” said Carolyn talking about the two middle schoolers comment. “If we can teach kids that making fun of someone because they look different is bad, and show them what happens and how it hurts everyone, maybe they’d have a better understanding.” |
Successes of the 2016-2017 school year
By Cassidy Wester & Hailey Williams
There are many reasons to love CP. Here are the top five of the school year:
1- Athletics
2- Academic Success
3- Music
4 -Teacher appreciation
Ms. Spehar- Physical Education Ms. Browne- Language Ms. Fuller- Special Education Ms. Schultz- Guidance 5- Rebel Pride
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School of 3,000, what makes her different?
By Lauryn Samuel
Dejah Jenkins (10) comes from a very unique family. Dejah’s brother, Damon has autism. Autism is a mental disorder that can impair one's ability to communicate and interact with others. This is the one thing that makes her family very unique.
She stated some of the cons were him not understanding and having to constantly repeat things, but those are only two things. Following the cons she listed plenty more pros such as having a different viewpoint, learning new things from him and Damon always being happy and into figuring out how things work. She is most thankful for his support and his cheers at every sporting event regardless if they are winning or losing. In the future Dejah sees him being very successful and not letting one thing hold him back. Damon loves sports, building things, listening to music and going to his sister’s sporting events. Though Autism is a mental disorder nothing holds Dejah and her family back from having high hopes for their very unique family member. |
Rookie of the year
By Brennan Boynton, Alex John & Owen Trelstad
Sam Lee received rookie of the year award for the Champlin Park Boys hockey team. Sam worked out and skated five days a week. He also played varsity during the summer league for Champlin. He improved a ton over the summer and made varsity his first year. Everytime Sam stepped on the ice the phrase “RTL” went through his head. He grinded every day during practice and played very well in games. Sam scored seven goals and 10 assists during the varsity season, which helped him win rookie of the year. Sam said “it’s truly a blessing to win, but now I have to start working towards next year.”
Sam's teammates think he well deserved this award. His defensive partner, Jeffrey Rylance, thinks there was no better rookie than Sam Lee. Jeff works out and skates with Sam so he knows how much work Sam put in towards getting better. Jeff said “Sam does a lot of things well, and helps the team a lot.” |