From pre-school to elementary, middle school to high school…we have made many transitions throughout our lives, from one school to the next. It would seem as though the years we have attended a school building grow smaller as we have grown older and reached higher grades.

North Star High School has been open for seven years. In the beginning it was a middle school as well as a high school. It is crazy to think that some of our seniors have attended LNS all seven years.

After being at school so long, it begins rubbing off on you. “North Star is like a second home. I liked the middle school because everyone new each other and it wasn’t very large,” said senior Darrel Ofodirinwa.

You would think that being around high school students would be intimidating, but according to senior Ty Cope, “It made the transition to high school less stressful, because I was used to everyone and knew how to get around the school.”

North Star has created so many memories for the students who attended North Star Middle School. Overall, students were able to have a “normal” middle school experience only seeing the high school students when they had early dismissal on Wednesday. According to senior Mariah Clark, “We were completely secluded and had the A wing to ourselves.”

As North Star’s middle school students turn to seniors and graduate, the memory of the middle school will forever be remembered through a picture located in the media center. The last year the middle school was open, the teachers and staff created a photograph of the high school using all of the middle school student’s school pictures to commemorate the beginning of a new generation and the end of a fantastic three years.

It seems silly to recognize the students who have attended the same school for so long, but what makes it even better, is the fact that many of these students have been in school with each other since kindergarten. What a crazy thought to graduate with the people you once loathed then loved, betrayed and trust. The kooky memories just keep coming as the bond between these students continues as they have more classes with each other.

“North Star Middle School was given many opportunities not given to other schools,” said senior Rachel Wenzl. For example, in the 6th grade, all of the students walked up to DQ and ordered food one day. Another instance, the LNS Middle School students were given the opportunity to see musicals and play productions. In the 8th grade, the middle school rented out Champions, and spent a whole day playing games, bowling and driving go-karts.

From Fredstrom to North Star these students have grown up with each other and spent every school year together.

As the year comes to an end, the realization of going to college sinks in. With different plans for their futures, next year will be a lot different, as they part ways attending different colleges across the nation.

When you think of New Years Resolutions you automatically think of losing weight or giving up something you can’t live without. Casey Molifua (11) is one of the few that has kept one resolution. Molifua has gone more than a year without drinking pop. He has also inspired others to make healthier choices in their lives.

On December 31, 2008 Molifua swore that for his New Year’s resolution he would go a whole year without soda. He was inspired after he read an article about a man from the University of Connecticut (UCONN) who stopped drinking soda. The student in the article said he had stopped drinking soda to become more active so he could keep going on and off of football season, so Molifua thought the same thing. He has found that it comes in handy during the winter while he is preparing for baseball season. He has also thought that it would help him on and off the football field. “I don’t get brought down by the carbohydrates and it keeps me on top of things. I am always hydrated and ready to go,” said Molifua, “I also rely on self-motivation, and I don’t rely on the soda to keep me going.” He drinks water, lemonade, and Gatorade. “I believe that I can do as well as I can as long as I keep my goal written down. I get my support from my family, I think that I can achieve this for a long amount of time.” Molifua is still going strong without drinking soda.

When Molifua told everyone in the family that he was going to attempt the impossible, no one believed that he could have made it quite this long. Molifua has kept his word on most of the things he sets his mind to. He has not made a new goal for this year. Molifua decided that if he keeps to one goal he will be happy enough. Molifua also said that he will keep this goal until it gets to him, but does not plan on giving up.

Teen Dating Violence and Awareness Month is for informing people about teen dating abuse, how serious is it, and what the consequences of it can be. Have a heart campaign states, “One in three teens experience some form of abuse and 2/3 of those who do, never report it.”

If your boyfriend or girlfriend is abusing you, you should talk to someone that you trust, such as a friend or parent. You can also call 1-866-331-9474, which is a national teen dating abuse helpline. If you are in an abusive relationship, you should research about it. There are many websites that can help you determine if you partner is abusive, help you find information on how to break-up with them, or even to file a civil domestic violence protection order. “The most important thing to remember is, if you the one being abused, no matter what, it’s not your fault,” said Leah Droge of Friendship Home.

When braking up with an abusive partner, you should meet in a busy place or be with friends. Tell your friends and family that you broke up and why. In school, stay with friends, change your school schedule if necessary, change up your routine, and have code words. If you are feeling in danger or uncomfortable you can say this word and your friend will know that you need help.

Often when people think of abuse, they only think of physical violence, but there are actually three kinds of abuse. There is physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Physical abuse is using force to hurt or scare someone. Emotional abuse includes things like insults, always needing to know where you are and what you are doing, and threats. Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual contact of any kind. All of these forms of abuse are very serious, and none of these things will be present in a healthy, non-abusive relationship.

If you are not sure if your relationship is abusive, you can go to www.loveisrespect.org and take a quiz to see if your relationship is a healthy one. Some things that may be clues to an abusive relationship include jealousy, such as not wanting you to spend time with friends or family, being angry if you talk to other people, or looking through your e-mail or phone to see who you’ve been talking to. Anger is another thing to look for, such as being angry a lot, or over small, unimportant issues, especially if this anger is directed towards you.

No longer is it monsters lurking in the shadows that we fear. Instead they have been replaced by real threats. The threat, especially in these winter months, is carbon monoxide (CO). It is also known as the Silent Killer because of its odorless, colorless features that make it so difficult to detect.

Each year, carbon monoxide poisoning kills nearly 500 people nationwide and sickens thousands more, says the Nebraska Regional Poison Center. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Nebraska has the highest rate of carbon monoxide deaths, with January being the deadliest month for carbon monoxide poisoning.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include sleepiness, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, shortness of breath and convulsions. If someone has been exposed to carbon monoxide, get the victim to fresh air, then seek medical attention right away.

The biggest culprits are faulty gas-burning appliances like a furnace, a vehicle running inside a closed garage or outside devices being used inside, like a generator. The best protection is to have a CO detector. Basic CO detectors cost from $20 to $40 and can be bought from most discount department stores.

Carbon monoxide is deadly, but quite preventable. Know the signs and keep your home CO safe. Contact the Nebraska Regional Poison Center at (402) 955-5555 if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning or if you have any questions.

The Nebraska Regional Poison Center offers the following suggestions to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Inspect all fuel-burning equipment yearly.

• Vent fuel-burning heaters to the outside.

• Do not use a gas range or an oven for heating a room.

• Never use a charcoal grill or hibachi inside.

• Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your house.

• Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.

• Have the vehicle muffler and tailpipes checked regularly.

Valentine’s Day is a day of love. A day where girls anxiously wait for the guy of their dreams to burst through the door with a dozen roses, a box of chocolates, and a Hallmark card that expresses his spectacular love for her. And then there’s us, the single girls and guys who despise this excuse for a holiday. We, who buy three buckets of ice cream and watch the movies like  ‘The Notebook’ and ‘A Walk To Remember’ over and over again until we feel guilty for committing gluttony.

The spirit of this holiday is to spend it with the person you admire most. To hold that person tight, to remind them of how much you love them, to even share a sweet kiss with them. Then there’s us single folks, who think this holiday is pointless. We constantly complain about how this holiday is an excuse for men to pretend like they have a romantic bone in their body. Why couldn’t they give us roses without it being Valentine’s Day, or without being sorry for something wrong that they did? When you love someone, you should express your love for them everyday in little ways. They always appreciate it.

Valentine’s Day is meant to be a day set aside for the celebration of your love. It’s not meant to be the only day you express your love, which is, unfortunately, what it has become for so many people.

This year, celebrate V-day the right way. If you are single, get out there and find somebody to love because V-Day really can be a special day, and if you have a significant other, show them how much you are for them on Valentine’s Day, and every other day.

The weather outside was frightful. But staying at home was quite boring and a day needed to be made up for that sixth snow day.

February 1st started the two weeks of lengthened school days, fifteen minutes earlier and twenty-one minutes later.

Overall, student feedback has been negative. “I don’t agree with it,” said Holliann Casey (12), “They should’ve just extended Tuesdays and leave the other days normal. Or take days off of break.” Of course the problem with extending Tuesdays would only benefit high school students.

Other alternatives also have been pondered. “We should have gone on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Day. He fought for our equal rights to be in school, so he would want it that way,” said Jeremy Olson (11).

Some blatantly disagree with this schedule. “It’s outrageous, and I’m not going to do it,” said Ryan Confer (11).

“It’s tough on everyone,” said Dr. Nancy Becker, “I’m mostly worried about the students who take the bus and that students will be without a ride.”

If another snow day happens Dr. Becker said LPS would most likely continue with the lengthened school day schedule. As of press time no additional days were needed.

Either way, the votes were cast in favor of this schedule. Today is the last day, so cheer and think of it as getting fifteen extra minutes of sleep starting next week.

If you’ve been attending the boy’s basketball, games you’ve probably noticed a few players watching the game from the bench. The injury list is no fun for a player, but when several players are plagued by injuries, it could cost them more than the bargained for.

At the beginning of the season, the varsity boys started off with a bang against Papillion-LaVista blowing them out with a 55-35 win. But as the season rolled on, it was obvious there was a problem. As the next three games pressed on, the boys only averaged 41.6 points per game, which, unfortunately, was not enough to beat Creighton Prep, Norfolk, or Millard West.

“The Northeast game was the game to be at,” said senior Jok Kut. “We came into the game short handed.”

Three key players on the team were injured, which slimmed the Gators chance for the win. Drew Henning (12), Anthony Ruhl (12), and Kiefer Musiel (10) were all on the bench during the game due to injury. Henning had broken a finger on his left hand during practice, Ruhl had torn ligaments in his leg after a fall, and Musiel was still recovering from surgery on a broken bone in his foot. Henning

Although all the injuries took a toll on the game, the varsity boys came out with the win after taking the game into overtime. Kut came away from the game with 21 points and 14 rebounds. “With all the injuries [we had] I knew I had to step up for my team,” said Kut. And step up he did, with the Gators winning the game 60-55. The team continues to take it one game at a time.

Through the injuries, the Gators have continued to persevere. All players are now healthy, as Musiel’s broken foot is now healed and he is working hard to get back on the court yet this season. He hopes to be able to take the court in time for districts in a few weeks.

The Gators take on the Islanders of Grand Island tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Swamp.

SkillsUSA members attending the Mid-America Conference in Columbus, NE are (left to right) Rayan Osman (11), Kasie Lehn (10), Lindsey Peppard (10), Jen Yung Lee (11), Nic Riebel (10) and Charmain Satree (sponsor). Courtesy Photo

Members of the SkillsUSA North Star chapter attended the Mid-America Leadership Conference in Columbus, NE from October 29 to November 1. The members who attended included: Stephanie Emodi (12), Jen Yung Lee (11), Kaise Lehn (10), Jackie Michals (12), Rayan Osman (11), Lindsey Peppard (10), and Nic Riebel (10).

The first day was probably the most stressful for some people, but not so much for others. By the last day you didn’t want to go home because you met so many people from different states. You went non-stop all day, but it was worth it. You started at six in the morning and worked until midnight.

We did many things from doing community service, industry tours and getting 20 different SkillsUSA characteristics  checked off so we could earn our Statesmen’s Award.

On Saturday we had a lock down from six to ten at night. During this time we had 6 different competitions going on and you couldn’t leave your chapter room. So most chapter’s just did games or watched movies.

The people who earned an award were Nic Riebel, – 1^st place in Chapter Business Procedure, Lindsey Peppard – 2^nd place in Chapter Business Procedure, Jen Yung Lee – 3^rd place in Opening and Closing Ceremonies and 1^st place in Secretary’s Book and Jackie Michals – 2^nd in Job Interview.

During our search for November SuperFan of the month, we came across a very modest role model. She is a freshman who got involved in the SuperFan club without being asked, and plays an important role in representing North Star, not only at events, but also at this year’s Sportsmanship Summit.

Freshman Ruth Nwaturuocha is November's SuperFan of the Month. Photo by Asia Ali

Our SuperFan for this month is freshman Ruth Nwaturuocha. She was chosen by the SuperFan club because of her responsibility and involvement not only at the sporting events, but also at school. “She not only has good spirit, but good character,” said Renee Hosek, SuperFan club sponsor. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders.”

Ruth is also a class officer for the freshman class. She took an interest in the club right away and always has new questions and ideas about themes, or different planned events.

Nwaturuocha said she is “surprised, but excited,” to be the SuperFan of the month. She attended every football game this year, and says she tries to wear North Star colors to show the spirit she has for our school.

She says she likes to get everyone fired up and it helps when she leads cheers and chants. She says it is important to maintain your spirit and hope, even when we aren’t in the lead, to help the players get back on track.

We would like to thank Ruth Nwaturuocha for being a supportive leader and for never failing to be a positive role model. She says she will continue with her spirit for our school. We are looking forward to seeing more North Star SuperFans this year, increasing our school’s spirit!