By Shelby Simpson/Advanced Writing
These boiling temperatures make students beg for air conditioning.
The
Flint Hills Publications Workshop is usually in full swing around the
third week in July. When the heat waves are on the rise, sweaty students
walk the long steamy path from building to building for their tracks.
This
year was especially bad in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave and
the temperature hitting 107 degrees on Wednesday. Students walked
around campus with their heads hung, trying not to make contact with the
blazing sun. Groups walking past sprinklers put their hands out hoping
to catch even the smallest droplet of water on their heated skin
“The
sun can really make you tired,” said Madeline Maloney a junior from
Blue Valley Northwest. “Back in my hometown the weather is just as hot,
but I’m not used to having to walk everywhere. So I think that is the
worst part about the heat.”
People who have attended the Flint Hills camp agree it’s usually quite hot walking around campus.
“I
think that the weather this year is about the same as it was last year,
temperature wise,” McPherson High School adviser Lois Johnson said.”
These
high temperatures affected night activities as well, such as the ice
cream social on Sunday night. Once students sat down with bowls full of
Manhattan’s classic Call Hall ice cream, it was a race to finish it all
before it turned into a melted shake.
A
plus side to the summer temperatures was the swim party on Tuesday. The
heat outside made it feel that much more refreshing to jump into the
water.
Students
have done everything they can to stay cool during this hot week, from
laying on beds in air conditioned rooms during long breaks or getting
Popsicles at meals.
“All
week I have been trying to make sure I always have my water bottle and I
fill it as soon as it gets low,” said Caroline Engle, a junior from
Kapaun High School. “I hate this hot weather.”
Showing posts with label 2012 Workshop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012 Workshop. Show all posts
7/19/12
Student story: Students enjoy extra free time
By Miranda Poulson/Advanced Writing
After seven hours of class, free time seems like the greatest gift of all.
Flint Hill Publication Workshop campers enjoyed more free time than in past years. Sessions ended this year at 5 p.m. compared to previous years when classes ran until 9 p.m. -- wrapping up 11-hour days.
Having more free time, students have to find good ways to fill it. Some watch movies on their laptops, take pictures, play on their phones or just sleep.
While most kids spend their extra hours relaxing in their dorms, Hayden Parks from Pittsburg High School likes to stay active.
“I think we should spend it doing other things,” said Parks, who enjoys his free time taking pictures.
Some advisers even take their students into town to shop, eat or sightsee for a couple hours. Places they visit include Coldstone Creamery, Target and Manhattan Hill.
“We went to Tuttle Creek right as the sun was going down,” Malory White said. “It was so pretty.”
No matter how students spent their time off, campers agreed the extra time was great. It gave them a chance to unwind after a long day or plan for the upcoming school year.
“I like it,” Andover High School student Alex Hernandez said . “I’m not gonna complain.”
After seven hours of class, free time seems like the greatest gift of all.
Flint Hill Publication Workshop campers enjoyed more free time than in past years. Sessions ended this year at 5 p.m. compared to previous years when classes ran until 9 p.m. -- wrapping up 11-hour days.
Having more free time, students have to find good ways to fill it. Some watch movies on their laptops, take pictures, play on their phones or just sleep.
While most kids spend their extra hours relaxing in their dorms, Hayden Parks from Pittsburg High School likes to stay active.
“I think we should spend it doing other things,” said Parks, who enjoys his free time taking pictures.
Some advisers even take their students into town to shop, eat or sightsee for a couple hours. Places they visit include Coldstone Creamery, Target and Manhattan Hill.
“We went to Tuttle Creek right as the sun was going down,” Malory White said. “It was so pretty.”
No matter how students spent their time off, campers agreed the extra time was great. It gave them a chance to unwind after a long day or plan for the upcoming school year.
“I like it,” Andover High School student Alex Hernandez said . “I’m not gonna complain.”
Student story: Uneven numbers shape camp experience
By Madeline Maloney and Gunnar Hein/Advanced Writing
Forty-four girls.
Eight boys.
One camp.
The Flint Hills Publications Workshop has been open to journalism students across the states for 53 years. On average, there have been close to 150 students every year. This year is different. There are 52 students.
“There were so many fewer students than I expected,” student assistant Evert Nelson said.
That’s not the only new shocker this year. The amount of boys is significantly smaller than the amount of girls attending the workshop.
“I expected there to be a lot more guys,” senior Autumn Short said.
The difference in numbers has changed the atmosphere of the workshop. This leaves students at a loss how to speak freely to their peers, some said.
“It’s kind of awkward,” senior Alex Leff said with a slight smirk. “I think every one is acting a little bit more shy than they usually do.”
The planned activities have been thrown off. On Sunday night, students left the ice cream social immediately after they ate their chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Students stayed in school cliques.
“I thought that it was kind of awkward because everyone was eating in silence,” sophomore Shelby Simpson said.
Eighteen of 52 students came to the dance Monday night, but few interacted. The girls grooved, but boys were no where to be found.
“It was less awkward,” junior Katie Crandall said. “Us girls could really dance like crazy since the boys weren’t there.”
Tuesday night, the workshop rented two buses. One of the buses turned out to be a waste of money when only 12 girls loaded onto the other bus to go swimming. The boys did not tag along for the pool party, but the girls managed to keep themselves occupied.
“We had handstand contests,” junior Caroline Engle said. “It was awesome.”
What are the social dynamics in the tracks like? Senior Hayden Parks said it’s not easy to stay in touch with “my kind” when he is working in the Photo Journalism track.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Parks said. “Photo journalism has more of an artsy feel. Guys are generally more straight to the point.”
The girls are more at ease while in their tracks due to the lack of the boys’ judgment in the classes, some girls said.
“I feel like my camp experience has changed somewhat because now I can take less time getting ready since there are fewer boys to impress,” sophomore Madeline Fitzgerald said.
The faculty and staff at the workshop also have their own feelings about the uneven ratio of girls to boys.
“Honestly, I felt sorry for the guys,” student assistant Morgan Buchholz said. “I was jealous of their leaders because they only had eight guys on their floor [to look after].”
Forty-four girls.
Eight boys.
One camp.
The Flint Hills Publications Workshop has been open to journalism students across the states for 53 years. On average, there have been close to 150 students every year. This year is different. There are 52 students.
“There were so many fewer students than I expected,” student assistant Evert Nelson said.
That’s not the only new shocker this year. The amount of boys is significantly smaller than the amount of girls attending the workshop.
“I expected there to be a lot more guys,” senior Autumn Short said.
The difference in numbers has changed the atmosphere of the workshop. This leaves students at a loss how to speak freely to their peers, some said.
“It’s kind of awkward,” senior Alex Leff said with a slight smirk. “I think every one is acting a little bit more shy than they usually do.”
The planned activities have been thrown off. On Sunday night, students left the ice cream social immediately after they ate their chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Students stayed in school cliques.
“I thought that it was kind of awkward because everyone was eating in silence,” sophomore Shelby Simpson said.
Eighteen of 52 students came to the dance Monday night, but few interacted. The girls grooved, but boys were no where to be found.
“It was less awkward,” junior Katie Crandall said. “Us girls could really dance like crazy since the boys weren’t there.”
Tuesday night, the workshop rented two buses. One of the buses turned out to be a waste of money when only 12 girls loaded onto the other bus to go swimming. The boys did not tag along for the pool party, but the girls managed to keep themselves occupied.
“We had handstand contests,” junior Caroline Engle said. “It was awesome.”
What are the social dynamics in the tracks like? Senior Hayden Parks said it’s not easy to stay in touch with “my kind” when he is working in the Photo Journalism track.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” Parks said. “Photo journalism has more of an artsy feel. Guys are generally more straight to the point.”
The girls are more at ease while in their tracks due to the lack of the boys’ judgment in the classes, some girls said.
“I feel like my camp experience has changed somewhat because now I can take less time getting ready since there are fewer boys to impress,” sophomore Madeline Fitzgerald said.
The faculty and staff at the workshop also have their own feelings about the uneven ratio of girls to boys.
“Honestly, I felt sorry for the guys,” student assistant Morgan Buchholz said. “I was jealous of their leaders because they only had eight guys on their floor [to look after].”
Student story: Students traveling alone forced to make new friends
By Gallagher Martin-Chavez/Advanced Writing
All alone, with nobody to turn to. The idea may scare many people, but three students are embracing it.
Imagine attending the Flint Hills Publications Workshop by yourself. Nobody to eat lunch with. Nobody to gossip the details of your day. Nobody to sit with at night. The only option is to make new friends. Easier said than done.
“Getting to know people has been the biggest obstacle,” Wichita Southeast senior Ryan Lawless said. “I just stay in my room and hangout with my roommate.”
Students said a big key to surviving by themselves was meeting new friends and overcoming their fears of new people. Once they opened themselves up, they said making friends became much easier.
“I’m used to knowing people, so this has helped me get to know new people,” Lawless said.
For Blue Valley West junior Sierra Deitz the key to a good time wasn’t listening to music, or getting on Twitter. She had her own style.
“I’ve been designing flute T-shirts and sweatshirts for my marching band,” Deitz said. “I’ve also been studying for AP exams.”
Deitz was roommates with another student attending camp alone.
“I’m the only person from Gardner Edgerton, and my roommate is the only person from Blue Valley West, so we’ve been getting along fine,” sophomore Shelby Simpson said of Deitz. “We haven’t had any arguments.”
The opportunity to be by themselves has been beneficial, the students agreed. It made them stronger, and a lot less timid.
“I’ve had to reach out and meet other people,” Deitz said.
All alone, with nobody to turn to. The idea may scare many people, but three students are embracing it.
Imagine attending the Flint Hills Publications Workshop by yourself. Nobody to eat lunch with. Nobody to gossip the details of your day. Nobody to sit with at night. The only option is to make new friends. Easier said than done.
“Getting to know people has been the biggest obstacle,” Wichita Southeast senior Ryan Lawless said. “I just stay in my room and hangout with my roommate.”
Students said a big key to surviving by themselves was meeting new friends and overcoming their fears of new people. Once they opened themselves up, they said making friends became much easier.
“I’m used to knowing people, so this has helped me get to know new people,” Lawless said.
For Blue Valley West junior Sierra Deitz the key to a good time wasn’t listening to music, or getting on Twitter. She had her own style.
“I’ve been designing flute T-shirts and sweatshirts for my marching band,” Deitz said. “I’ve also been studying for AP exams.”
Deitz was roommates with another student attending camp alone.
“I’m the only person from Gardner Edgerton, and my roommate is the only person from Blue Valley West, so we’ve been getting along fine,” sophomore Shelby Simpson said of Deitz. “We haven’t had any arguments.”
The opportunity to be by themselves has been beneficial, the students agreed. It made them stronger, and a lot less timid.
“I’ve had to reach out and meet other people,” Deitz said.
Student story: Socializing at a minimum at camp
By Caroline Engle and Katie Crandall
Eight people dancing. Twelve people swimming.
At first, these numbers seem to indicate a group of friends having a good time. But when one considers that these are the numbers for activities sponsored by the Flint Hills Publication Workshop, which has 52 campers, it is a very different situation.
“I know there were more kids in the past and [the camp] was bigger,” said Alex Durano, a senior from Andover High School. “The dance was so weird in a big room and hardly anyone was there.”
While the drop in attendance for FHPW-sponsored recreational activities is partially because of fewer campers overall, it may also have to do with campers’ personalities.
“I’m actually very antisocial,” said Malory White, a senior from Pittsburg High School. “I kind of considered going when I heard about them but none of my friends wanted to go with me, and I didn’t really want to go by myself. Another reason why we didn’t go was because we were also exhausted from the walking and heat during the day, and we just wanted to go straight to bed.”
Students who did not attend camp activities participated in a number of other diversions.
“One night our adviser took us out because she went here for college and and showed us around a bit,” White said. “We went out for ice cream, and last night my roommates and I hung out in the basement lobby and gossiped. ”
The small quantity of male campers did not bother a large number of either gender.
“I would have been fine with it, but I didn’t want to split up from the other kids from my school,” Durano said.
Another issue was a lack of knowledge about some of the events prior to camp.
“We didn’t go because we didn’t really know about the pool party, so no one [from our school] brought swimsuits,” Durano said. “I could have swam in basketball shorts, but the girls from our publication wouldn’t have been able to swim.”
At least one of the attendees of the pool party -- Mill Valley High School sophomore Cassi Benson -- was happy she went.
“[Swimming] was laid back and everyone wasn’t really watching you while you were at the pool with your friends and going down the water slides,” Benson said.
Eight people dancing. Twelve people swimming.
At first, these numbers seem to indicate a group of friends having a good time. But when one considers that these are the numbers for activities sponsored by the Flint Hills Publication Workshop, which has 52 campers, it is a very different situation.
“I know there were more kids in the past and [the camp] was bigger,” said Alex Durano, a senior from Andover High School. “The dance was so weird in a big room and hardly anyone was there.”
While the drop in attendance for FHPW-sponsored recreational activities is partially because of fewer campers overall, it may also have to do with campers’ personalities.
“I’m actually very antisocial,” said Malory White, a senior from Pittsburg High School. “I kind of considered going when I heard about them but none of my friends wanted to go with me, and I didn’t really want to go by myself. Another reason why we didn’t go was because we were also exhausted from the walking and heat during the day, and we just wanted to go straight to bed.”
Students who did not attend camp activities participated in a number of other diversions.
“One night our adviser took us out because she went here for college and and showed us around a bit,” White said. “We went out for ice cream, and last night my roommates and I hung out in the basement lobby and gossiped. ”
The small quantity of male campers did not bother a large number of either gender.
“I would have been fine with it, but I didn’t want to split up from the other kids from my school,” Durano said.
Another issue was a lack of knowledge about some of the events prior to camp.
“We didn’t go because we didn’t really know about the pool party, so no one [from our school] brought swimsuits,” Durano said. “I could have swam in basketball shorts, but the girls from our publication wouldn’t have been able to swim.”
At least one of the attendees of the pool party -- Mill Valley High School sophomore Cassi Benson -- was happy she went.
“[Swimming] was laid back and everyone wasn’t really watching you while you were at the pool with your friends and going down the water slides,” Benson said.
7/18/12
Student story: Packing more than a toothbrush
By Emma Eveld and Malory White/Advanced Writing
Take one look at anyone’s suitcase and most of the time, it appears to be a regular old suitcase filled with basics like shirts to toothbrushes.
This is not so, however, for a few Flint Hills Publication Workshop attendees, who have found that they brought unusual or unique items to camp.
Take Star Wars bed sheets, for example.
“I just bought them specifically for camp,” student assistant Caroline Sweeney said. “I thought they would be something fun, and I’ve always wanted Star Wars sheets. Being nerdy wasn’t cool when I lived in the dorms, but it is now.”
Having something sent by your mother can also be considered nerdy, though for one camper, an item sent by her mother was useful. She was sent with a cooler filled with drinks.
“My mom made me,” said Alex Scimecca, a student from Blue Valley North. “I have water and Gatorade in there. It was actually kind of helpful...until the ice melted.”
On the sweeter side of things, one camper brought a framed picture of her boyfriend of two years. To some, it might not be unusual but instead, somewhat romantic.
“I’ve been away from home for the past two weeks and I haven’t had much time to spend with my boyfriend, so I brought his picture with me for comfort,” senior Michaela Wagner said. “The photo has no significance. It’s not the photo, it’s how the photo makes me feel.”
Whether weird or unusual, romantic or sweet, items packed by campers and faculty members have caught attention and show personality.
“I can let my freak flag fly,” Sweeney said.
Take one look at anyone’s suitcase and most of the time, it appears to be a regular old suitcase filled with basics like shirts to toothbrushes.
This is not so, however, for a few Flint Hills Publication Workshop attendees, who have found that they brought unusual or unique items to camp.
Take Star Wars bed sheets, for example.
“I just bought them specifically for camp,” student assistant Caroline Sweeney said. “I thought they would be something fun, and I’ve always wanted Star Wars sheets. Being nerdy wasn’t cool when I lived in the dorms, but it is now.”
Having something sent by your mother can also be considered nerdy, though for one camper, an item sent by her mother was useful. She was sent with a cooler filled with drinks.
“My mom made me,” said Alex Scimecca, a student from Blue Valley North. “I have water and Gatorade in there. It was actually kind of helpful...until the ice melted.”
On the sweeter side of things, one camper brought a framed picture of her boyfriend of two years. To some, it might not be unusual but instead, somewhat romantic.
“I’ve been away from home for the past two weeks and I haven’t had much time to spend with my boyfriend, so I brought his picture with me for comfort,” senior Michaela Wagner said. “The photo has no significance. It’s not the photo, it’s how the photo makes me feel.”
Whether weird or unusual, romantic or sweet, items packed by campers and faculty members have caught attention and show personality.
“I can let my freak flag fly,” Sweeney said.
Student story: Life on the Kedzie Krier for three days
By Emma Eveld/Advanced Writing
The conversations that happen on the “Kedzie Krier” staff aren’t typical teenage fodder.
“Overpack. Is that one word or two words?”
“Two, right? I mean, I think it is.”
“Someone go to dictionary.com!”
“It has to be two words. I swear.”
“Nope, I just checked. It’s one. Ha!”
This is just one example of the types of conversations floating around the “Kedzie Krier” “Royal Purple” publication room. These kids aren’t the normal staff as fewer campers applied than previous years. And they have less time since workshop days are shorter by about three hours.
These Flint Hills Publication Workshop campers applied to be on the “Kedzie Krier,” the camp newspaper, to get the fast-paced experience of life on a college newspaper.
“My teacher [Alison Long] thought that applying would be good for Maura [Eveld] and I because we’re going to be co-editors for our newspaper next year, and we need to experience that sort of time crunch and work together,” said Delaney Bates, from Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Their goal is to produce a copy of the newspaper in only three days -- in time for other campers to have their own copy to take home.
“It’s a little overwhelming because we have to be done with the paper in three days when usually at my school we get about two weeks to finish it,” said Jen Manning, from Kapaun-Mount Carmel High School in Wichita.
Some staffers described working in the grape purple room as crazy and chaotic, while others said it was laid back. Kyler Jost, from McPherson High School, described the room’s atmosphere as a “five person ant farm.”
As for the work load, the “Krier” staffers agreed it seemed like a lot as they scurried around campus to interview people and then bolted back to write and layout graphics and pages.
In their temporary newsroom, papers were scattered in clumps and wide-screened Macintosh computers lined the wall of windows. Chairs squeaked and chatter faded in and out. The click-click tapping noise from keyboards was a common sound.
They even had a giant white board perched at the front of the room with names, story ideas and assignments that needed to be attended to.
“Once someone completes something, Caroline, one of our editors and teachers, checks it off,” said Maura Eveld, from Notre Dame de Sion. “It really keeps us organized.”
Staff members are excited for the paper to come out the last day at camp and agree it will be top notch. Even if the room seemed a little chaotic, they said everything was going according to plan.
“I guess the best way to describe it is ‘organized chaos,’ ” Manning said.
The conversations that happen on the “Kedzie Krier” staff aren’t typical teenage fodder.
“Overpack. Is that one word or two words?”
“Two, right? I mean, I think it is.”
“Someone go to dictionary.com!”
“It has to be two words. I swear.”
“Nope, I just checked. It’s one. Ha!”
This is just one example of the types of conversations floating around the “Kedzie Krier” “Royal Purple” publication room. These kids aren’t the normal staff as fewer campers applied than previous years. And they have less time since workshop days are shorter by about three hours.
These Flint Hills Publication Workshop campers applied to be on the “Kedzie Krier,” the camp newspaper, to get the fast-paced experience of life on a college newspaper.
“My teacher [Alison Long] thought that applying would be good for Maura [Eveld] and I because we’re going to be co-editors for our newspaper next year, and we need to experience that sort of time crunch and work together,” said Delaney Bates, from Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Their goal is to produce a copy of the newspaper in only three days -- in time for other campers to have their own copy to take home.
“It’s a little overwhelming because we have to be done with the paper in three days when usually at my school we get about two weeks to finish it,” said Jen Manning, from Kapaun-Mount Carmel High School in Wichita.
Some staffers described working in the grape purple room as crazy and chaotic, while others said it was laid back. Kyler Jost, from McPherson High School, described the room’s atmosphere as a “five person ant farm.”
As for the work load, the “Krier” staffers agreed it seemed like a lot as they scurried around campus to interview people and then bolted back to write and layout graphics and pages.
In their temporary newsroom, papers were scattered in clumps and wide-screened Macintosh computers lined the wall of windows. Chairs squeaked and chatter faded in and out. The click-click tapping noise from keyboards was a common sound.
They even had a giant white board perched at the front of the room with names, story ideas and assignments that needed to be attended to.
“Once someone completes something, Caroline, one of our editors and teachers, checks it off,” said Maura Eveld, from Notre Dame de Sion. “It really keeps us organized.”
Staff members are excited for the paper to come out the last day at camp and agree it will be top notch. Even if the room seemed a little chaotic, they said everything was going according to plan.
“I guess the best way to describe it is ‘organized chaos,’ ” Manning said.
Student story: A mix of newspaper formats represented at camp
By Malory White/Advanced Writing
As about 50 students came together for the Flint Hills Publications Workshop, they brought different publication styles.
Out of the 13 schools that attended the workshop, three print a news magazine and nine print a traditional newspaper. One school, Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo., will publish online only for the first time this year after printing in a traditional format.
“I think students are more likely to look at it if it’s in their hands rather than online,” Central student Miranda Poulson said.
Among the campers are those all for the traditional to fans of news magazines and everything in between.
“I would rather do a news magazine,” junior Sarah Allen said. “For now, I wouldn’t want to go the traditional news side, but I do appreciate how traditional a newspaper is.”
At Notre Dame de Sion, where Allen attends, the newspaper is printed in a news magazine format. Meanwhile, junior Autumn Short attends McPherson High School, which prints a traditional newspaper.
“I like that it looks professional, but we can still incorporate designs and infographics,” Allen said. “I wish that it was all in color because in some issues, for us, it’s all black and white.”
Mill Valley High School senior Jillian Mullin said schools that have news magazines risk having a design style that could step on the toes of yearbook staffs.
“I would prefer a traditional newspaper because there’s certain elements they stick to otherwise they would start trickling into yearbook format,” Mullin said. “I wouldn’t hate it, but I feel like they would get ideas from yearbook. We have mutual respect because we are different.”
As about 50 students came together for the Flint Hills Publications Workshop, they brought different publication styles.
Out of the 13 schools that attended the workshop, three print a news magazine and nine print a traditional newspaper. One school, Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo., will publish online only for the first time this year after printing in a traditional format.
“I think students are more likely to look at it if it’s in their hands rather than online,” Central student Miranda Poulson said.
Among the campers are those all for the traditional to fans of news magazines and everything in between.
“I would rather do a news magazine,” junior Sarah Allen said. “For now, I wouldn’t want to go the traditional news side, but I do appreciate how traditional a newspaper is.”
At Notre Dame de Sion, where Allen attends, the newspaper is printed in a news magazine format. Meanwhile, junior Autumn Short attends McPherson High School, which prints a traditional newspaper.
“I like that it looks professional, but we can still incorporate designs and infographics,” Allen said. “I wish that it was all in color because in some issues, for us, it’s all black and white.”
Mill Valley High School senior Jillian Mullin said schools that have news magazines risk having a design style that could step on the toes of yearbook staffs.
“I would prefer a traditional newspaper because there’s certain elements they stick to otherwise they would start trickling into yearbook format,” Mullin said. “I wouldn’t hate it, but I feel like they would get ideas from yearbook. We have mutual respect because we are different.”
Student story: Experienced campers come back for more
By Gallagher Martin-Chavez/Advanced Writing
A few seniors at Flint Hills Publications Workshop haven’t just heard the saying “practice makes perfect” -- they exhibit it.
For seniors who have been lucky enough to come to the workshop for three years, they’ve grasped a diverse understanding of journalism.
“I’ve learned writing and designing skills and the purpose of journalism,” said Rachel Walker, a senior from Kapaun Mt. Carmel, who is taking Advanced Redesign for Newspaper. “A lot of journalists are alike.”
Whether students are in newspaper or yearbook, they benefit from the experience and hands-on training that comes with extra help during the summer.
“I’ve gotten way better at designing, being professional and meeting deadlines,” Walker said.
Finding easier ways to complete projects are just some of the benefit of camp.
“I didn’t know some of the things like auto save, but now I’ve learned shortcuts,” said Paige Black, a student from Central High School who is taking Advance Redesign for Yearbook.
Many times in yearbook, students find the need to go with flow. Alex Seimecca, a senior from Blue Valley Northwest, understands that changes are going to be made because in a world where appearance is essential, finding that right look is critical.
“Magazine looks are becoming more popular and the cover is becoming non-traditional, which is good,” Seimecca said.
Seimecca understands it’s all about the reader. The reader is the person who is going to judge it. The reader is the one who is going to buy the yearbook, and the reader is the one who students have to remember.
“Less is more,” Seimecca said. “If you keep it simple, it helps the reader.”
A few seniors at Flint Hills Publications Workshop haven’t just heard the saying “practice makes perfect” -- they exhibit it.
For seniors who have been lucky enough to come to the workshop for three years, they’ve grasped a diverse understanding of journalism.
“I’ve learned writing and designing skills and the purpose of journalism,” said Rachel Walker, a senior from Kapaun Mt. Carmel, who is taking Advanced Redesign for Newspaper. “A lot of journalists are alike.”
Whether students are in newspaper or yearbook, they benefit from the experience and hands-on training that comes with extra help during the summer.
“I’ve gotten way better at designing, being professional and meeting deadlines,” Walker said.
Finding easier ways to complete projects are just some of the benefit of camp.
“I didn’t know some of the things like auto save, but now I’ve learned shortcuts,” said Paige Black, a student from Central High School who is taking Advance Redesign for Yearbook.
Many times in yearbook, students find the need to go with flow. Alex Seimecca, a senior from Blue Valley Northwest, understands that changes are going to be made because in a world where appearance is essential, finding that right look is critical.
“Magazine looks are becoming more popular and the cover is becoming non-traditional, which is good,” Seimecca said.
Seimecca understands it’s all about the reader. The reader is the person who is going to judge it. The reader is the one who is going to buy the yearbook, and the reader is the one who students have to remember.
“Less is more,” Seimecca said. “If you keep it simple, it helps the reader.”
Student story: Publication staffs join forces
By Gunnar Hein/Advanced Writing
A lack of interest has forced staffs of the “Kedzie Krier” newspaper and “Wildcat” yearbook to team up.
The publications are a tradition at the Flint Hills Publication Workshop, but there was a glitch this week in completing that task when fewer students applied for the staffs.
“We only had three people for each staff,” yearbook production instructor Linda Drake said. “It wasn’t fair to put pressure on just three kids, so we decided it would be better to combine efforts.”
Students who signed up and were accepted for either publication are now focused on the “Kedzie Krier.” One camper returned to her original track. Staff members include seniors Delaney Bates and Maura Eveld, and juniors Meghan Daley, Kyler Jost and Jennifer Manning.
“It’s very stressful,” Jost said. “We are crunched for time with only five people and have three stories and two page designs each.”
Jost originally was supposed to work for the “Wildcat” staff. However, he said he was handling the change well. Drake, who has 17 years experience running the “Wildcat,” has made the transition easy for the yearbook hopefuls.
“[Switching to the “Kedzie Krier”] wasn’t that big of a deal,” Jost said.
Jill Chittum, who has been in charge of the “Kedzie Krier” for 12 years, had slight reservations concerning the combination of staff.
“I was a little worried at first that the yearbook kids would be disappointed,” Chittum said.
Chittum remains confident the newspaper will turn out to be a success.
“I think this is a group of hard-working kids,” Chittum said. “They understand what it means being on a short-time [schedule].”
The “Kedzie Krier” will be released the last day of the workshop.
“They have done an excellent job,” Drake said. “They are very on track.”
The question still stands: What will happen to the “Wildcat?” The yearbook will still be created this summer but will be a one-man show.
“It’s going to take some time, but it will be worth it,” student assistant Brent Gipson said, who has experience working on yearbooks at Kansas State University and McPherson High School. “I’m just designing it by myself. It shouldn’t be that hard.”
A lack of interest has forced staffs of the “Kedzie Krier” newspaper and “Wildcat” yearbook to team up.
The publications are a tradition at the Flint Hills Publication Workshop, but there was a glitch this week in completing that task when fewer students applied for the staffs.
“We only had three people for each staff,” yearbook production instructor Linda Drake said. “It wasn’t fair to put pressure on just three kids, so we decided it would be better to combine efforts.”
Students who signed up and were accepted for either publication are now focused on the “Kedzie Krier.” One camper returned to her original track. Staff members include seniors Delaney Bates and Maura Eveld, and juniors Meghan Daley, Kyler Jost and Jennifer Manning.
“It’s very stressful,” Jost said. “We are crunched for time with only five people and have three stories and two page designs each.”
Jost originally was supposed to work for the “Wildcat” staff. However, he said he was handling the change well. Drake, who has 17 years experience running the “Wildcat,” has made the transition easy for the yearbook hopefuls.
“[Switching to the “Kedzie Krier”] wasn’t that big of a deal,” Jost said.
Jill Chittum, who has been in charge of the “Kedzie Krier” for 12 years, had slight reservations concerning the combination of staff.
“I was a little worried at first that the yearbook kids would be disappointed,” Chittum said.
Chittum remains confident the newspaper will turn out to be a success.
“I think this is a group of hard-working kids,” Chittum said. “They understand what it means being on a short-time [schedule].”
The “Kedzie Krier” will be released the last day of the workshop.
“They have done an excellent job,” Drake said. “They are very on track.”
The question still stands: What will happen to the “Wildcat?” The yearbook will still be created this summer but will be a one-man show.
“It’s going to take some time, but it will be worth it,” student assistant Brent Gipson said, who has experience working on yearbooks at Kansas State University and McPherson High School. “I’m just designing it by myself. It shouldn’t be that hard.”
Student story: It’s a Party in Dorm 342
By Madeline Maloney
With avocado face masks, a disco ball, nail polish and movies, two girls have taken their camp experience to the next level.
Juniors Delaney La Fon and Holly Noon, two staffers from the Blue Valley Northwest High School newspaper staff traveled to the Flint Hills Publications Workshop with a mission to make the best of their time at camp.
“We decided that before we left for camp we should try and make our camp experience as much fun as possible and try and bond really well before the school year by having theme nights each night at camp,” Noon said.
The first night, they had a dance party with a disco ball flashing a rainbow of colors on the white cinder block walls of their room in Haymaker Hall.
Room 432 was bumpin’ that Sunday night -- kind of.
“We just turn on the disco ball and rock out, but we have to keep the music low so we don’t get in trouble for being too loud and obnoxious,” Noon said.
The second night at camp, La Fon and Noon had a spa night after a long day of working on designs for their school newspaper, the “Express.” These girls brought avocado face masks by Kheil’s face line and Pretty in Pink OPI nail polish.
“I thought that after a long day of hard work we should just relax and use avocado face masks, paint each others nails and curl each others hair,” La Fon said.
La Fon and Noon said being at camp and having theme nights is helping them develop as editors.
“Although we had to pack extra stuff for these themed nights, it was worth it, and we are having a lot of fun growing as a team together,” Noon said.
With avocado face masks, a disco ball, nail polish and movies, two girls have taken their camp experience to the next level.
Juniors Delaney La Fon and Holly Noon, two staffers from the Blue Valley Northwest High School newspaper staff traveled to the Flint Hills Publications Workshop with a mission to make the best of their time at camp.
“We decided that before we left for camp we should try and make our camp experience as much fun as possible and try and bond really well before the school year by having theme nights each night at camp,” Noon said.
The first night, they had a dance party with a disco ball flashing a rainbow of colors on the white cinder block walls of their room in Haymaker Hall.
Room 432 was bumpin’ that Sunday night -- kind of.
“We just turn on the disco ball and rock out, but we have to keep the music low so we don’t get in trouble for being too loud and obnoxious,” Noon said.
The second night at camp, La Fon and Noon had a spa night after a long day of working on designs for their school newspaper, the “Express.” These girls brought avocado face masks by Kheil’s face line and Pretty in Pink OPI nail polish.
“I thought that after a long day of hard work we should just relax and use avocado face masks, paint each others nails and curl each others hair,” La Fon said.
La Fon and Noon said being at camp and having theme nights is helping them develop as editors.
“Although we had to pack extra stuff for these themed nights, it was worth it, and we are having a lot of fun growing as a team together,” Noon said.
Student Story: New instructors join camp
By Miranda Poulson/Advanced Writing
While most students are rookies to the Flint Hills Publications Workshop, two instructors also are leading tracks for the first time.
Jacqueline Scott, an adviser at Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo., is teaching the Advanced Redesign Newspaper class. Mindy Gilman, an adviser at Blue Valley North High School, is leading the Yearbook Writing & Design class. In past years, Scott attended the advising class and brought students.
“I’ve been coming here for six years and wanted to do something different,” Scott said.
One thing Gilman likes is that all campers seem willing to give their best.
“At school I have lots of different classes,” Gilman said. “It’s nice here to just be one thing. It’s nice to have people in the class who are really interested in it.”
While this year may be different for Scott and Gilman, it also brings change for instructors who have taught in the past, too.
“It’s a little bit smaller which benefits the kids in my class,” Advanced Yearbook Redesign instructor Lindsey Glasscock said. “I’m able to give them one-on-one attention.”
First-time experiences aren’t always fun, but Flint Hills has a way of drawing instructors back year after year. Like several instructors, Glasscock got her start on the camp faculty as a student assistant.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Glasscock said.
While most students are rookies to the Flint Hills Publications Workshop, two instructors also are leading tracks for the first time.
Jacqueline Scott, an adviser at Central High School in St. Joseph, Mo., is teaching the Advanced Redesign Newspaper class. Mindy Gilman, an adviser at Blue Valley North High School, is leading the Yearbook Writing & Design class. In past years, Scott attended the advising class and brought students.
“I’ve been coming here for six years and wanted to do something different,” Scott said.
One thing Gilman likes is that all campers seem willing to give their best.
“At school I have lots of different classes,” Gilman said. “It’s nice here to just be one thing. It’s nice to have people in the class who are really interested in it.”
While this year may be different for Scott and Gilman, it also brings change for instructors who have taught in the past, too.
“It’s a little bit smaller which benefits the kids in my class,” Advanced Yearbook Redesign instructor Lindsey Glasscock said. “I’m able to give them one-on-one attention.”
First-time experiences aren’t always fun, but Flint Hills has a way of drawing instructors back year after year. Like several instructors, Glasscock got her start on the camp faculty as a student assistant.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Glasscock said.
Student story: Back injury doesn't stop Andover student from attending camp
By Shelby Simpson/Advanced Writing
Just one play could change an entire summer and senior year.
For Alex Leff, an Andover High School senior attending the Flint Hills Publications Workshop, being sore is not a problem. When you’re involved in football and baseball, your body is used to being beat up and pushed around. Until about three weeks ago, Leff had no idea his sports-filled summer would come to a screeching halt.
The sun beat down on the already burnt grass of the baseball field. Leff sat behind home plate, sweat dripping from his beat-up catchers mask. He stayed attentive, ready for the runner on third to try and steal home.
As Leff bobbled the ball in his mitt, he saw the runner sprinting toward home plate. Both players rushed to the plate.
Leff reached the plate just before the runner, but the runner couldn’t stop his momentum and smashed into Leff at full speed.
The crowd stared and gasped.
“When I was hit, my legs stayed in place and my back went backwards, away from the rest of my body,” Leff said. “I tried to get up, but I couldn’t move at all. I remember just laying in the dirt looking up at the sky until my coaches came and took me off of the field.”
Leff was immediately taken to the emergency room.
After many x-rays, doctors concluded Leff had hairline fractures in two of his vertebrae in the lumbar area, and a third fracture in a separate vertebrae.
The doctor said Leff would have to have surgery with recovery time of three to four months.
This has been a big setback for Leff, who had colleges recruiting him for baseball his junior year and had many coaches he was going to meet with and show off his skills to this summer. But this back injury means no camps or practicing during summer to stay in shape. Worst, Leff can’t play football in the fall.
“I had to go through radiation for my back, and it made me really weak,” Leff said.
Leff was supposed to go into surgery the third week of July, but he had already invested more than $300 to attend the Flint Hills Publication Workshop. He knew he could be in a ton of pain if he went. Long walks make his back stiff, and when he sits, he has to lean back. But he didn’t want the money to go to waste.
Along with sports Leff is also an editor for his school’s newspaper, so he decided to go.
“Some of my favorite things about camp have been that I can socialize with people again, because most of the summer I have been stuck at home resting my back,” Leff said. “But the dorms also surprised me. I thought that they were going to be a lot fancier than they actually are.”
Leff will have surgery soon after he gets back from camp. He hopes to recover as quickly as he can and get back into the swing of things before baseball season starts in the spring.
Just one play could change an entire summer and senior year.
For Alex Leff, an Andover High School senior attending the Flint Hills Publications Workshop, being sore is not a problem. When you’re involved in football and baseball, your body is used to being beat up and pushed around. Until about three weeks ago, Leff had no idea his sports-filled summer would come to a screeching halt.
The sun beat down on the already burnt grass of the baseball field. Leff sat behind home plate, sweat dripping from his beat-up catchers mask. He stayed attentive, ready for the runner on third to try and steal home.
As Leff bobbled the ball in his mitt, he saw the runner sprinting toward home plate. Both players rushed to the plate.
Leff reached the plate just before the runner, but the runner couldn’t stop his momentum and smashed into Leff at full speed.
The crowd stared and gasped.
“When I was hit, my legs stayed in place and my back went backwards, away from the rest of my body,” Leff said. “I tried to get up, but I couldn’t move at all. I remember just laying in the dirt looking up at the sky until my coaches came and took me off of the field.”
Leff was immediately taken to the emergency room.
After many x-rays, doctors concluded Leff had hairline fractures in two of his vertebrae in the lumbar area, and a third fracture in a separate vertebrae.
The doctor said Leff would have to have surgery with recovery time of three to four months.
This has been a big setback for Leff, who had colleges recruiting him for baseball his junior year and had many coaches he was going to meet with and show off his skills to this summer. But this back injury means no camps or practicing during summer to stay in shape. Worst, Leff can’t play football in the fall.
“I had to go through radiation for my back, and it made me really weak,” Leff said.
Leff was supposed to go into surgery the third week of July, but he had already invested more than $300 to attend the Flint Hills Publication Workshop. He knew he could be in a ton of pain if he went. Long walks make his back stiff, and when he sits, he has to lean back. But he didn’t want the money to go to waste.
Along with sports Leff is also an editor for his school’s newspaper, so he decided to go.
“Some of my favorite things about camp have been that I can socialize with people again, because most of the summer I have been stuck at home resting my back,” Leff said. “But the dorms also surprised me. I thought that they were going to be a lot fancier than they actually are.”
Leff will have surgery soon after he gets back from camp. He hopes to recover as quickly as he can and get back into the swing of things before baseball season starts in the spring.
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