Keep the flu away from you

Submitted by Ally Davis, WHS Student Correspondent

With flu season nearing, people may be asking certain questions. What can I do to keep healthy? Where can I get vaccinated? Are there any complications that can come from the vaccine? What symptoms can I be looking out for? What do I do if I get the flu?

When asked how to keep healthy during flu season, USD No. 113 school nurse Heaven Schuette reminds everyone to, “get the flu shot and wash their hands regularly especially before and after they eat. Hand washing is the number one way to fight any illness.”

The flu vaccine is available at local health departments, physician’s office, clinics, some grocery stores and schools.

“The vaccine is a dead virus and will only cause complications if you have an allergy to eggs or had a previous allergic reaction to the vaccine. People that say they’ve gotten the flu from the vaccine is a myth, the vaccine is a dead virus. What happens is the person’s immune system is already compromised, then they get sick after getting the shot. This is not because of the vaccine, but because of what compromised their immune system in the first place,” Nurse Schuette said.

The symptoms of the flu include: high fever, body aches, cough, fatigue, chills, congestion, headaches and runny nose. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website, flu season starts in fall and lasts into the spring with a peak between December and February. Children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are more likely to contract the flu than others.

Nurse Schuette’s final advice is, “If one does get the flu, it is important to stay home, take fever reducing medications to help ease fevers and muscle aches, try to contain yourself to your house, and wash your hands. If going out can’t be helped, find some sort of face mask to help contain the virus and please get the flu shot!”

Freshmen fears

Submitted by Shayla Ball, Wetmore High School Student Correspondent

Wetmore students have been attending classes for six weeks. However, some freshman students are still navigating the rigorous schedule of a high school program.

When asked about their fears coming into high school, most students said that being able to adapt to the school work and schedule was difficult, while a few said that fitting in would be harder. Some freshman students weren’t scared at all as they already knew everyone and adapted easier than others. On the other hand, there are some students who didn’t associate with any high schoolers and were extremely nervous about their high school experience.

These freshmen sought help before school began. Most freshman students went to their older siblings for advice if they needed some, and some asked their parents for assistance about beginning their high school journey.

Perhaps the greatest challenge for the freshmen adjusting to high school has been time management.

“In middle school, any sport was practiced during school. Now, we have practice after school,” Eric Bloom said.

This change cut into most students’ homework time.

High school has also been harder time-wise because most of the class is involved in extracurricular activities such as sports and the musical. They’ve had a few troubles adapting to the after school schedule, but they are now getting used to it.

Learning more advanced subjects was also a challenge.

“It [school] might get a little harder, but how do you make yourself smarter without trying to learn?” Haley Murrow said.

The adjustment from middle school to high school has never been easy but, thanks to family and friends it is achievable. Some students wanted to give advice to next year’s freshman.

Tyson Ball reminded students, “High school is only four years of your whole life.”

Fighting for food freedom!

Submitted by Adam Montgomery, WHS Student Correspondent

When Brook Brubeck first became the food services director at USD No. 113, she saw the unhappy and frustrated responses of students within the district, including those of Wetmore Academic Center students. This negative reaction spawned changes from the school meals that had been the same for what seemed like ages.

Being a mother a five, Brubeck was used to picky eaters, but she could tell that this was a widespread distaste for the meal adjustments, and with her power as director, she could try to change this attitude.

The original attempt at creating the Food Team started in 2013, just as the government changed the criteria that each school lunch had to meet. The last few years were less active than the past: however, this year has seemingly turned around that passive streak, as each school in the district has their own team engaging with the Food Team.

The Food Team was started as a way to give feedback to the staff of the food program.

Brubeck, the head of the team, said, “I wanted to give [the students] a way to have some control, have a voice in the food program again, because, after all, we do what we do for [them], not for ourselves.”

The program also helps spread awareness and education about the system when it comes to school lunches, so that the students can understand there is method behind the madness. The Food Team allows students to participate in meals surveys, taste tests, and learn about guidelines and menu planning as a whole.

The students are also called on to provide constructive criticism. Changes due to this group can already be seen in numerous places.

“We have re-made old recipes to work within the current guidelines and bring back some old favorites. We have brought in new menu items. We have even gotten rid of a few items that the students just plain didn’t like. It’s even affected the days of the week we have certain things, in trying to stick with heavier meals on game days,” Brubeck said.

In conclusion, the Food Team allows Brubeck to give a voice to those that matter most: the students. Most can feel as if they are truly being heard for the first time in many years.

WHS junior Shayla Ball said, “I actually feel like I have a say about school lunches.”

Currently, Wetmore has only participated in surveys, but with more activities involving the program on its way, a Wetmore student can expect more changes to his or her daily meals.

Pets and our personalities

Submitted by Sophia Samano, WHS Student Correspondent

Pets are many people’s companions and family. No one can say that any two pets are alike in how they act.

A recent study in Huffington Post suggests that cat people and dog people have different personality traits. Those who are cat owners are typically more creative, adventurous and anxious. Dog owners, on the other hand, can be more extroverted, secure and more unwilling to take risks.

Even though many suggest that pets act like their owners, that is not entirely true. Some pets might be like concrete on the outside but act like a complete teddy bear; where as others may look like a teddy bear but are evil inside.

Savannah Stallbaumer has a different view of her mother’s pet.

“Coke, my mom’s cat, is totally evil and will attack you at a moment’s notice,” she said.

Some pets might be more jumpy than others, while others can be too adventurous. Though no one can say they love every little quality about their pet, people can’t deny that they love their furry friend.

“My husky Laz is a hyper fuzz ball whom I love with all my heart,” said senior Ally Davis.