Breaking News!

Hello HCHS! This semester has sure gone by quick and as we all prepare for the longest break during the school year, I’d really hate to kill the mood. However, it must be done. Sorry! Much like April showers bring May flowers, Christmas break tends to usher in some freak blizzards. Unfortunately, a lot of students live in the country. ‘Blizzard’ translates to ‘demonic force that leaves you snowed in your house with no electricity’. But, on the bright side, there are some ways to stay safe, and hopefully have fun.

The first piece of advice I have for you is to stay inside if the weather’s promoting a blizzard. Stay in one room and have plenty of flashlights/candles on hand. Clearly, being cooped up over break doesn’t sound like the funnest thing in the world, but it leaves a lot of time for family bonding, or maybe you were lucky enough to get snowed in at a friend’s house. Activities that don’t require electricity are probably the safest bet, and believe me I know just how hard it is to come up with non-technology-based fun in the 21st century. So, here are a few suggestions. Paper-football isn’t just confined to the classrooms, my friends. Make a few targets: the obvious trash can, a hole between furniture, your annoying sister’s mouth… And suddenly the game becomes a lot more interesting. Board games are something I recently rediscovered, and it’s safe to assume everyone probably has at least one in a closet somewhere. Risk and Monopoly are games that can last forever, so it’d be pretty easy to kill time with those. Still sounding lame? Raise the stakes, and have everyone throw in some Christmas money as a jackpot for the winner. Profit = fun. Disclaimer: HCHS School News does not promote gambling.

The next piece of advice I have for you kind of goes along with the first piece. I told you to stay inside, and you didn’t listen. That wasn’t very smart of you now was it? So, now you’re driving in a whiteout and end up getting stuck. Nice one, Einstein! Here’s what you should do… Call for help. (Obvious right?) However, if the weather’s really that bad it could be a while. Get out of your car and clear out some space around your exhaust pipe, so you don’t die from carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s recommended that you only turn on your car’s engine and heater for ten minutes every hour. If you plan on traveling at all during the winter, you should have an emergency kit. Put some important items in there for those just-in-case situations. Lots of Blankets, food (preferably the kind that doesn’t rot, nobody likes the kid with a smelly car), flashlights, and warm clothes are all an excellent idea.

So, please students of HCHS, I really hope our Christmas Break is awesome. But let’s all be smart and plan for the worst, just to be safe! I know I’m probably not the only one who’s hoping for just a Dairy Queen Blizzard this winter, but it’s probably not in the cards. So be safe, stay warm, and keep checking in to the Newsblog! This has been Danielle Hernandez, reporting for HCHS News, have a very MERRY Chrismas! :)

Heads Up: Raise Your Arms

Most days at school, doodling on your body is viewed as an act of boredom. We've all been there... The teacher keeps droning on and you're all out of paper, but hey, your hands, arms, and sometimes face are open canvas. But what if your body could be used to spread a message? Something more meaningful than 'Look at how productive I was in Calculus'?

Readers may recall a day last year when LOVE was written on the wrists of students. Perhaps you tossed it off as another random doodle, after all, that word is tossed around an awful lot these days... But was this the supposed deeper meaning body art deserves?



Indeed. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit organization bent on educating about and preventing depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Next Friday, November 12th, is the next scheduled To Write Love on Her Arms Day (via Facebook). If you feel like spreading the message that we were all "created to love and be loved", then bust out those Sharpies and spread the word.

Sometimes just reaching out can save a life. Some people go through life believing they aren't worth anything. But every life matters, and living your life to its full potential is definitely worth something.

TWLOHA donates profits from merchandise and donations on the website to helping those with self-hate seek help. They have many speakers who go and present to schools. Their website is full of many statistics, phone numbers, and ways to help those in trouble.

So, if your arms are otherwise available from long sleeves/extensive bracelets, be sure to join in and help the cause. It only takes four letters, and awareness is a step towards recovery. Get out there, grab a marker, and do some good.



This has been Danielle Hernandez for School News. What are your feelings about To Write Love on Her Arms? To learn more about the cause please visit their website.

Dress Me Up, Before Ya Go Go!

It's a Nightmare on Elm Street. In the dreams of his victims, a specteral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him. But in the hallways of HCHS, a different kind of monster plagues the students and faculty. And that monster is... the glory that is Dress Up Days. For five days the students strut their stuff down the hallways, and the sky is the limit.

For years, anyone and everyone associated with Harlan Community High School have been invited to join in the festivities of Homecoming Week by dressing according to the themed days. Traditionally, Monday has always been Pajama Day and Friday the legendary Red and Black Day. But Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are up in the air. So, I, Danielle Hernandez for School News, have taken on the task of recording the 2010 Homecoming Dress Up Days.



So, Monday rolled around and students rolled right of bed and headed to school. Pajama Day has always been a favorite, for the simple reason that it's easy, comfy, and hard to forget. As previously stated, Monday has always been Pajama Day. So if you forget, I would suggest getting yourself checked out. Best Dressed boy was Mason Fah, who dawned a red onesie, complete with footsies. There was a tie between Alex Hansen and Emily Assmann. And, as predicted, Mrs. DuVal walked away with a five dollar certificate to Cylcone Corner with her ensemble. You go girl!

Tuesday was comparable to a rainbow vomiting on all of the students. Technicolor tights were seen on the ladies below the waist while, unfortunately for many, bare thighs were exposed by the menfolk. This day was definitely a spectacle, as many ladies contributed to Global Warming with their excessive hairspray and gigantic, cheesy scrunchies. But aside from the ecological damage, it was a pretty enjoyable day. Best dressed male went to Alex Markham, who came prepared for tennis at the local country club with exposed white thighs. Best dressed girl was Jandy Johnston, who looked like she walked right out of a Jane Fonda video. Mrs. Lansman earned her title (and her calves for that matter) by jumproping all day long.

Wednesday was a throwback to my freshman year, with Duct Tape/Trash Bag Day making another appearance. Students got creative by designing entire outfits from the supplies easily found at home. A common theme that day was the coveted designer tape, with many patterns and colors being incorporated. David Siebert came to school wearing a trash can, and thus won himself Best Dressed. Chandler Mores was the winner for Best Dressed girl, and Best Dressed teacher was Mrs. Rasmussen.



On Thursday, the theme for those not participating in Powderpuff was Hippie Day. Tye-dye, bell-bottoms, and floral print filled classrooms while the students rocked the peace sign in all their pictures. It was good times to be had by all. Shelbie Jacobson looked postively retro in her dress and boots, and won herself Best Dressed. As did Nick Hadfield, with his torn jeans and laid-back style. Mrs. Rasmussen went back to back with her victories this week, a feat that will not soon be forgotten.

And there you have it, this past week's Homecoming Dress Up Days festivities summed up and accounted for. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. What did you all think of this year's days? Be sure to leave a comment! This has been Danielle Hernandez for School News. You stay classy, HCHS!

Well, About That Center.

Ba ba da da! Imaginary trumpets sounded as perhaps one of the greatest openings to ever take place in the history of Harlan (and dare I say it the world?) took place only a few short weeks ago. A fabulous place to get fit, kill boredom, make money, get out of those gosh darn cornfields... What could I be referring to? Why none other than the awesome Petersen Family Wellness Center and Lewis Family Aquatic Complex.

Construction started in December of 2008, and now the centers are in full boom. The facilities offer a variety of things to enjoy like a dry sauna, multiple playing courts, pool, and ridiculously nice workout equipment. The open houses they held were packed with people wanting to get a gander at all of the new stuff, and since then memberships have been incredibly popular. According to Sara Pape, "memberships have nearly doubled what was expected!"


Senior Dylan Greer was "totally" excited about the wellness center. "I haven't been fit in years!" But on a more serious note, he "really likes the opportunity to swim and exercise in more unique ways."

Around the school, conversations often center around the early morning workouts everyone has participated in and plans to join upcoming programs (such as yoga, starting on October 4th). American teenagers being excited about getting into better shape is definitely a refreshing change of pace. But another great chance the PFWC is offering is something American teenagers have been known to love... money.

That's right, there's plenty of high-schoolers working at the recently opened party central. Ellen Klitgaard, Joe Schmitz, Andrew Markham, Sara Pape, Dylan Greer, and Tannis Belisle are just a few. I know from personal conversations with teenage employee, Sara "Papey" Pape, that "the managers are trying to hire more lifeguards and daycare providers so that the center can accomodate more people." So, if you'd like a job where you can spend time with young children and maybe get in a sweat afterwards, you know where to go.

So, there you have it: the scoop on the brand spankin' new fitness/wellness/aquatic/super-awesome center. If you'd like more information about classes, hours of operation, or you just don't feel I've covered all the bases about Harlan's latest and greatest attraction, feel free to visit their website.

This has been Danielle Hernandez, reporting from my comfy couch at home, for School News. Let me know your feelings about the new wellness center, and feel free to pose questions about seeking employment or otherwise. Just click that nifty little comment button :)

Safe Driving PSA

Brought to you by Danielle Hernandez.

Safe Driving PSA from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

What Does HCHS Know About Woodstock?

What Does HCHS Know About Woodstock? from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

What does HCHS know about Woodstock? Danielle and Kelsey were dying to know, and they were determined to find out. For their final excursion as students of HCHS School News, they present to you the rights and wrongs about Woodstock. Adieu!

We WiII Remember You

W-e WiII Remember You from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Kelsey and Danielle present a memorial video to all of the WWII veterans of Shelby County in honor of the upcoming 65th anniversary of V-E (Victory in Europe) Day on May 8th. This video includes two very special interviews with Don Norgaard and Russ Adams.

Let The Sunshine In! (Spring Fever)

Let The Sunshine In! from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

With winter's last gasping, dying breath, spring made it's grand appearance this week. What does HCHS think of this recent seasonal change? Danielle and Kelsey explore this thought in this video...

Come Sail Away, With Me!

Come Sail Away, With Me! from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

When Kelsey ditches Danielle for fun time in California, how will Danielle operate? I mean, Danielle doesn't even know who she is without Kelsey! And prom is coming up! How is she going to handle THAT?! Oh that's right, she's better off without Kelsey. This video answers any questions you had about prom, and addresses some you probably hadn't even thought of.

One Visit To Your Future

Planning your future is something that we all eventually have to do. We need to decide so many different things in such a short amount of time. Being a junior in high school I am personally making my first step towards my future. I am trying to decide what college would be best for me to attend. There’re so many different colleges around the world and each one with a unique aspect to it, the one thing that makes a college the college for you.

After you get done figuring out what college that you want to visit it is important to make your appointment to visit. Picking a time and date is the one of the easier parts of planning it out. Preparing your self mentally for the visit however is a different story. Yes, it is true you can go to the visit in your hoodie and sweats and just cruise through every aspect of the visit, but while you are there don’t you want to be the person who they remember?

I am going to assume that you do want to be. So we will start with the basics. Before your visit you should know about the school. Get a feel for what the student life is like, what they value most (sports, academics, etc.), are they a party school or a private school, and other things along those lines. When you talk to your friends about your school you are going to hear rumors. Things such as “that school is in a bad neighborhood.” All of these things you will be able to find out at the visit. Keep them in mind and don’t be afraid to ask your tour guide about these things.

When you arrive you should be dressed fairly nice. You want to show them that you care about this school and you take it seriously. Present your self as a strong and confident adult. Ask the questions you have and don’t be scared to look around after your tour is over. Go around and talk to students, eat a lunch there, maybe even consider going into the admissions office and talk to them about financial issues or strengths.

Now every college is going to make them selves appear as your dream school. They want you to pick there school. It is important that you don’t get caught up on the fancy brochures and free stuff they give you. Keep looking at schools until you find the one school that fits every aspect of a school you are looking for. In short term find your perfect match.

This has been Kelsey McDaniel for school news talking to you about college visits. Your future is in your hands. Take your time, do your research and you will find the right school. When you do go on the visit and take it seriously. You do want to be the student they remember don’t you?

Moondance Film Fest!

The Sundance Film Festival went incredibly well this year. Lots of famous guests arrived, the films were fantastic, the ... Wait, Sundance? No, I meant Moondance. Yeah, that went well, too. So what was the Moondance Film Festival? Well, my silly, ignorant friends, HCHS had its annual film festival several weeks ago. And since then, the winners have been fending off the paparazzi and the enjoying the finer things of fame. The VIP who planned this event have also been living the high life, and I suppose that you readers would love to hear all about. I'm Danielle Hernandez for School News, and this is what went down.

For those of you who don't know what exactly the Film Festival entails, here's the jist of it. Students submit videos, whether they be class assignments or done in the students' free time, and a panel of judges reviewed them and gave out the awards. In previous years, the judge panel consisted of only teachers. But this year two guest judges, Chelsey Havick and Mark Langenfeld, also gave the student perspective on the videos. Judging this year happened after school on Wednesday, and on Saturday the awards night was held. The awards night consisted of musical numbers, costume changes, and of course, well... awards.

Months ago, Student Council began planning for this event. Joe Schmitz was the deputy in charge of well, just about everything. Kelsey and I wrote the script and took care of the announcing and costume changes. Erin Markham, Bri Nelson, Seth Lansman, and others were in charge of the prestigious Barbie Awards. Wait, Barbie Awards? Are you slightly confused? Well, similar to the Oscars, HCHS's film festival also gives away small, metallic, and creepy people. In the case of the Best Canine Cameo, however, the award was a small golden Barbie dolphin.

So what sort of awards were given out? Well, some of the honors included Best Foreign Film, Best Supporting Actor, Best Music Coordinator, and Best Actor. This year the highest number of films were entered, and Miss Gray, the Student Council advisor, was very pleased. According to the Facebook event page, over forty guests were in attendance.

The big winner of the night was the smash-hit Parody-normal Activity, directed by David Siebert and starring David, Jordan Siebert, Mason Fah, and Mitch Anderson. It won six awards, including Best Supporting Actor (Mitch), Best Canine Cameo (The Sieberts' dog Ginger), and Best Picture.

All of the entries to the Film Festival have been posted on the Newsblog, and if you haven't seen them, I would very much recommend doing so. Please comment and let us all know what you though of the festival and/or the films. Also, if you have any thoughts about what we could differently next year, we'd love to hear about those as well. This has been Danielle Hernandez for Harlan Community High School News.

Fairly Career-tastic: The Real Deal

Fairly Career-tastic: The Real Deal from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

This is the follow-up video to Kelsey and Danielle's previous video about the upcoming Career Fair. You guessed it! It's the actual career fair! Complete with presenters, planners, and participants (wow, that was a lot of words that began with 'p'!) this video has it all.

Right On Track!

Untitled from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

So, how will Boys Track do in the upcoming 2010 season? Only time will tell... Danielle and Kelsey delve deep into the world of HCHS track and field, of the male variety. Complete with interviews from coaches and participants, this video is sure to answer any questions you may have had... Assuming you had any questions.

Fairly Career-tastic!

Untitled from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Kelsey and Danielle bring you some news on the upcoming Career Fair, scheduled for March 25th. This video wouldn't be complete without an informative interview with Mr. Angel and several students.

The Conned Princess

It’s finally time for the epic night to come around again. It is the night that young girls look forward to since they enter the world of school. It is the night that a girl gets the chance to look like a princess and go on a date with there high school sweet heart. That’s right it is time for prom once again. But is this year going to break every teenage girl’s wallet?

How much do you think girls are willing to spend on a dress? Is it around fifty dollars, a hundred dollars, two hundred dollars?? No most HCHS girls have been spending close to four or five hundred dollars on a dress. It seems that since there is such a lack of stores around this area teens have been going to stores like Glam to get there dresses. At stores like this the chances of you getting a dress fewer than three hundred and fifty dollars are almost slim to none. So I, Kelsey McDaniel, am posing the question. Is it just simply the fact that girls spend this much money cause they have to or is it teen girls looking for a materialistic item that will provide them with one night of feeling like a princess?

Well yes it is true that stores do price dresses high, but stores such as Glam are not the only stores that sell these dresses. There are many stores that sell cheaper dresses even in a reasonable driving distance. These stores are ones that many people here are familiar with and ones that girls maybe are not. When a girl is going dress shopping they are aware of the fact that they are going to have to spend some money. The problem is that teenage girls tend to look past the fact of the price and more towards how they look in the dress. Which is perfectly reasonable, you want to look good in the dress, but what you want to do is find a happy medium, a medium between price and brand.

Okay girls are you ready for this… I have one word, bargains. Yes it is possible to find a dress for a hundred dollars or less. Here are some ways. You can go to a half and half store and buy a nice used dress. Go online and buy one off of eBay or Craig’s list. There’re always stores such as Deb that aim for low prices. Also there is always the option of asking a graduated girl about borrowing there dress for the night. Than there is a possibility that if you have some one in your family or a close friend who is good at sewing. They could make a dress for you. All you have to do is pay like a hundred dollars for the fabric. There’re many ways to avoid spending to much money.

Basically girls I am trying to encourage all of you to not buy the first dress you try on. Take your time. So based on the facts that I have just given you I leave you with the question. Is it just simply the fact that girls spend this much money cause they have to or is it teen girls looking for a materialistic item that will provide them with one night of feeling like a princess? What do you think?

Speech Follow-Up (It's Kind Of Like A Stalker)

What comes after a super awesome speech video? An even more super awesome speech written story, of course! See, speech stories are kind of like the stalkers of speech videos. And I, Danielle Hernandez, will be bringing you the first installment of this stalking extravaganza.

Several weeks ago, Kelsey and I did a video covering the aspects and results of the Districts for Large Group Speech at Clarinda. In case you didn't watch it (or just don't seem to remember) here are some of the highlights: Speech kids are insanely loud and admittedly obnoxious, six students from Harlan participated, and the ensemble acting force of Chris Schaben and Ellen Klitgaard advanced to State. Way to go, team!

At State competition in Ankeny on February 6th, Ellen and Chris once again performed their piece "Open to Interpretation" and receive two "1's" and one "2". Speech has a scoring system much like Band and Vocal competitions. A 'one' is the best score you can get, ranging down to a 'four' (which is disqualified). To advance to the All-State festival, students must receive a recommendation from two of the three judges. Which the two representatives from Harlan just happened to receive!Ellen and Chris were nominated for non-performing awards at The All-State Festival held on February 20th at The Iowa State Center in Ames. An All-State nomination is the highest honor there is in the Speech world. We should all be very proud of them, and I, for one, totally am. That, and I must say, they both look stylin' in their new All-State t-shirts purchased at the competition.

Well, with All-State over, Large Group is in the past. So now, it's time to look at the present. Neigh, look towards the future! This Saturday, the Districts for Individual Speech will be held at Logan-Magnolia High School. For the first since I can remember, contest is less than an hour away, people. Do you know what that means? You should all come out and support. Because not only will our acts be heart-wrenching, hilarious, and/or musical, they won't drain your gas tank to come and see.

So, while you're planning your wicked road trip to Lo-Ma, I'm thinking you should probably know what you have to look forward to. Your fellow Harlan Cyclones will be performing in such events as... Improvisational Acting, where he or she will draw characters and situations from a hat, and typically it's quite hilarious... Storytelling, in which he or she will tell a story to the audience, while treating them like they are small children, also typically quite hilarious... Prose, in which he or she will read sections of a book or other published material... After-Dinner, Poetry, Solo-Musical Theatre, and so much more! Us speech kids are down on our knees, begging you, come support us in entertaining you!

So, there you have it, one spiffy little speech follow-up (or stalker, depending on who you're talking to...). Expect yet another follow up somewhere in the very near future with results on Districts, State, and hopefully All-STATE! for the Individual division. This has been Danielle Hernandez, reporting live from my computer desk in my pajamas, for School News. Please let me know, do you plan on attending Speech districts since they are so close this year? What do you think of Speech as a whole? Comments are always welcome :)

Haiti Relief Concert

Haiti Earthquake from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Hansen Brothers Coffee Shop put on a concert to raise money for Haiti Relief. Two bands performed, Sistamattix and What Dwells Within. Hansen Brothers raised several hundred dollars for earthquake victims. Danielle and Kelsey bring you a video with several performances and interviews.

Too Cool for Principal of School

Too Cool for Principal of School from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Danielle and Kelsey delve deep into the hearts of the people affected by the decision to upgrade Mr. Wagner to Superintendent Mode... no more Principal Wagner? Moving to an office ACROSS the SCHOOL?! WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?! Most importantly, how does this make you feel?

Conquest: Large Group Speech Districts

HCHS Speech Contest from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

"Con-on-quest! They were out to make a conquest, they had some super fun, and they won, the pri-ize! Ah ah ah!" ... Well, large group districts speech ended pretty darn well. Learn all about the epic, thrilling adventures of speech kids.

Pack the (Concession) Stands!

Untitled from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

It's Friday night, do you have plans?! Of course you do! You're sweating your tail off in the Concession Stands. Do you know all there is to know?! Well, soon you will! Danielle and Kelsey, masters of the stands, bring you inside. Lucky for you, you are not required to experience the heat.