Speech and Drama showcases large group events

Top: Kendra Cranston helps free Abbi Nelson from a trashcan during the varsity choral reading “Move” at the Speech and Drama dress rehearsal on Jan. 5.
Middle (l to r): Zach Gibson, Alexis Ferguson and Niall Lyons portray superheroes and super villains during their ensemble acting piece “The Supers.”
Bottom (l to r): Bridgette Moore, Morgan Sanders and Natalie Wheeler sing to “Omigosh You Guys” during their musical theater performance of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.”

by  Natalie Kirton

On Thursday, Jan. 5, directors Liesl Roorda and Derek Bates presented to the community this year’s large group Speech and Drama participants. 

The annual dress rehearsal began with a dinner of Maid Rites, chips and a variety of desserts. Then, student groups were split between the junior high gym and the school lunchroom. 

Performing first in the gym was the Freshman Choral Reading group with their piece, “Magic Land.” Performers include Clara Johnson, Alex Brenner, Steve Kopp, Vincent Bushong, Joe Peck, Seth Fahlenkamp, Kaylene Corbin, Cheyenne Peters, Trevor Moyer, Sidney Roorda, Mikey Lyons and Luke Goodman. “Magic Land” is a collage of different fairy tale-like stories tied together with the theme of magic. 

Next were two Group Improvisation acts. The first group consisted of Dayton Pringle, Cassie Corbin and Kaylee White. The second group was Matthew Armstrong, Niall Lyons and Zach Gibson.

“Party of Three” was an ensemble piece played by Macy Taylor, Alyssa Lyddon, Karah Hansen, Matthew Armstrong and Stephen Vavroch. This piece is about a married couple being interrupted by an obnoxious diner at the next table. 

The Reader’s Theatre group performed a skit titled “The 11th,” a serious piece compiled of different memories from September 11, 2001. These included a woman boarding a plane and sitting next to a woman who she believes to be an Arab, as well as a school principal stressing over whether or not to release their students.

Group members include Alyssa Lyddon, Karah Hansen, Destiny Romberg, Bridgette Moore, Kaylin Hansen, Macy Taylor, Mariah Hirsch, Nathan Wheeler, Tiffany Heishman, Lex Jack, Cassie Corbin, Julie Audas, Colleen Johnston and Sage Comstock. 

The last performance in the gym was a Choral Reading piece called “Move,” which transitions through inspirational Christian songs dealing with some of life’s harder choices.

The participants in this group include Shena Bryan, Aly James, Kendra Cranston, Natalie Wheeler, Abbi Nelson, Stephen Vavroch, Coleton Tompkins, Alexis Ferguson, Emily Long, Brynna Steele, Kaylee White, Courtney Petersen, Nathan Wheeler and Shane Lyons. 

The ensemble group consisting of Niall Lyons, Alexis Ferguson and Zach Gibson kicked off the performances in the lunchroom. Their piece was titled “The Supers” and focuses on three superheroes angry about a life-long dispute over a Yo-Yo. 

The Musical Theatre group sang tunes from “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” This group was made up of Natalie Wheeler, Bridgette Moore, Kendra Cranston and Morgan Sanders.

Next was an ensemble group coached by Earlene Taylor performing “Elevator Games.”  Members of the group include Shena Bryan, Madison Dawley and Carly Steele, who play three strangers stuck in an elevator together. 

The last performance was the Radio News Broadcasting group led by Anya Johnson. The audience was able to listen to a recording of a fitness and health broadcast, performed by Colleen Johnston, Becky Kopp, Lex Jack, Tiffany Heishman and Garrett VanMaanen. 

These students are anxiously awaiting  their first contest, which is held at Grinnell High School on Jan. 21.

Teacher Talk: Earlene Taylor

by Chelsey Moore

This year marks Earlene Taylor’s second year as the Oasis Room instructor at Montezuma High School. Taylor grew up in Montezuma and attended high school at Montezuma. In high school she was involved FFA, student council, National Honor Society, Brave New Leaders, volleyball, basketball, track, speech and drama and school plays and musicals. 

After she graduated from Montezuma Schools in May of 2004, she started attending college at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa where she studied psychology and counseling psychology. Taylor worked at the preschool on campus, studied and spent time with friends while she was attending Grinnell. 

After Taylor graduated in 2008 from Grinnell, she began going to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. While attending Indiana University she did an internship at Eastern Green Community Schools. Taylor then graduated from Indiana University in 2010 to earn her masters degree in Counseling. 

Taylor said, “I became a teacher because my advisor in college suggested I look into school counseling because it matched my interests.” 

She returned to Montezuma, Iowa, because of family and a job opportunity.

Taylor has enjoyed her time here but most enjoys getting to know the students.

Taylor said, “In my free time I like to hang out with my puppy, Ava Mae, spend time with friends and family and read.”

JV Braves fight Warriors

by Colton Talbert

The JV basketball boys fought a close game on Jan. 3 after being on break from their last game back on Dec. 20. They outplayed HLV on their court in Victor and pulled out a win 27-20. The game was played at HLV in the downstairs gym while the varsity girls were also in action. 

Coach Dale DeJong was pleased with the game and  said,  “I thought our guys played well together, and it was great to get a win coming off of Christmas break.”

The Braves had  several key players contribute to the win on both ends of the floor. Point leaders were sophomore Siraj Thomasen and freshman Jake Hasley with six points each and freshman Joe Peck  and sophomore Dillon Wilhelm with five points each. Sophomore Bryan Gregson was  the assist leader on the night with five of the team’s eight assists. Rebound leaders were Hasley (9), Thomasen (6), Peck (6)  and Gregson (4). 

Coach DeJong said, “We have to get better at finding a guy in our area and blocking out, and we will work on that in practice. All in all, our guys continue to practice and play extremely hard, and I look forward to getting even better as the season progresses.” 

The JV Braves will be in action on Jan. 12 at English Valleys at 6:00.

Students and staff celebrate the holiday spirit

Allison Pargeon awards David Brondyke with a ribbon for winning the Ugliest Sweater Contest at the school’s assembly before winter break on Dec. 22.

by Morgan Sanders

With the holidays just around the corner, Montezuma students and staff show their holiday spirit with their attire. 

Monday was holiday hats day, Tuesday was holiday socks and ties day, Wednesday was red and green day and last but not least, Thursday was ugly sweater day.  

Throughout the week, after giving one last test before break, many classes had holiday parties or watched movies in class to unwind before break. 

Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., students and teachers piled into the junior high gymnasium for the assembly. To start the assembly, the band performed the songs “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” and “Deck the Halls.”

Then, the teachers entertained with a production of the song “Carol of the Bells.” 

After students had got a good look at the teachers’ sweaters, the second annual ugly sweater contest began. The teachers anxiously waited while students cheered or jeered at their sweaters. Determined to defeat previous champion, Keith Sietstra, teachers brought their A-game. Multiple teachers had light up sweaters and some of the men simply wore very small sweater vests and turtleneck shirts. This year, David Brondyke won with a sweater vest featuring a snowman he made using cotton balls  and pipe cleaners.  He was awarded with a ribbon to commemorate the event.  

To end the assembly, the band performed a “Holiday Medley” featuring “Jingle Bells,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,””Up on the Housetop” and “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.”

Teacher Talk: Stacy Schultz

by Kayla Werner and Elizabeth Ostrem

Stacy Schultz is a 1988 Montezuma graduate and is returning to the school to teach after teaching at Tri-County for four years and Ottumwa for two years. She has also taught at HLV for one semester and previously taught at Montezuma for three years. 

Schultz attended William Penn University to study secondary math education and graduated in December of 2001.She student taught at Montezuma from August 2001 to December 2001. Although she did not participate in any extra activities in college due to being a wife and mother of two children, she was a part of the flags team for two years in high school. 

Schultz decided to become a teacher because she wanted to impact society in a positive way. She also wanted to encourage young people to follow their hearts’ desire and change the world. 

The small school setting and friendly faculty drew Schultz to return to Montezuma. She most enjoys  knowing students and families of the community. 

In her free time, Schultz likes to visit family and friends, cook and go shopping. She enjoys comedies movies and how they make her laugh.

Speech and drama shows its talent

by Vincent Bushong

Every year, Montezuma’s speech and drama participants prepare a variety of different performances for contest. On Thursday, Jan. 5, the students will perform all of these for their parents in a dress rehearsal. The performances begin at 7:00 p.m. at the junior high gym.

The rehearsal provides a chance for all the participants to perform in front of a live audience before they perform for the district large group competition on Jan. 21 at Grinnell High School. This gives them an idea of what kinds of reactions the audience might have and see what areas of their performance need to be polished up and improved. It also gives parents a chance to see the students’ acts if they are not able to attend the competition. 

The performing groups include Freshman Choral Reading, Short Film, Ensemble Acting, Readers’ Theater, Musical Theater and Choral Reading. Derek Bates and Liesel Roorda direct Montezuma’s speech and drama activities with the assistance of Earlene Taylor and Anya Johnson. 

Attending and watching the rehearsals is free; refreshments will be sold in the form of loose-meat hamburgers. All proceeds will help cover entry fees for the speech and drama competitions. 

Montezuma’s speech and drama students put in many hours of practice preparing their performances for district contest. 

Come see the fruits of their labors in action!

JV Bravettes watch rockets take off

by Colton Talbert

Monday, Dec. 19 was a different environment for the Montezuma teams. The girls stayed home while the boys traveled to Eddyville-Blakesburg.  There was also a freshmen game added to the night. 

The Bravettes had another slow start to the night when three minutes passed before either team could get rolling. The Bravettes had turnovers that sent the Rockets off and left the Bravettes trailing 6-14 after the first quarter. The second quarter was almost a repeat of the first.  The half came with the Bravettes still trailing the Rockets 12-29. 

Coach Timm said, “We can’t turn the ball over 19 times in the first half and expect to win. We need to do a better job as a team.” 

The Bravettes had 34 turnovers to end the night. 

Coach Timm also added, “Mentally and physically we have to be ready to play the game. Tonight we had some girls who were ready, but we weren’t ready as a team. Eddyville has a nice group at the JV level, but I feel like at times we let things be way too easy for them on both sides of the floor.” 

The Bravettes had five shots inside while the Rockets had only five shots from outside the lane. Scoring leaders were Courtney Petersen with eight, Cheyenne Peters with four and Mackenzie James with four. Rebound leaders were Petersen (5), Clara Johnson (4), Dakota Norris (3) and Shayla Townsend (3).  The Bravettes were also made five out of 12 from the free throw line. 

The Bravettes will be off until after winter break, returning to action against HLV at home on Jan. 3.

Turn of the Page: 'Frozen Fire'

by Elizabeth Ostrem and Kayla Werner

“Frozen Fire” is a book written by Tim Bowler that begins with a phone call to a girl named Dusty. The voice on the other end, a boy’s, tells her he’s dying. Even though she’s never met the boy, he seems to know things about her, about what she’s thinking and about her older brother Josh, whom she hasn’t seen in years. 

After the call Dusty goes off in search of the boy, following a hunch that he’s at a park nearby her house. She finds a set of footprints and follows them, hoping they belong to the mystery boy, but ends up fleeing from three men with dogs who chase her before she can locate him.

Word of the boy soon starts circulating around her town, rumors that he’s wanted for holding girls hostage and disappearing from another city’s jail. He calls Dusty on her cell phone multiple times, but she fails to get many straight answers from him, especially about her missing brother. 

Some claim to have seen a strange boy in a coat hanging around, although no one’s been able to get close enough to question him without something strange or horrible happening.

Liz:

The mystery and intrigue surrounding the boy really work to draw the reader into the book. Dusty’s mission to find him, thinking that with his help she can find Josh, seems doomed from the start, but that only serves to further strengthen her resolve. 

“Frozen Fire” is a very suspenseful read, with a touch of supernatural and eerie psychological components that will leave readers wanting more.

Kayla:

“Frozen Fire” was a very interesting book to read. I was at home sick when I got the chance to read the book (and I’m glad that I was). I got to read it more carefully and pay closer attention to the detail.

The book really grabbed my interest from the get go and kept me in suspense through the whole thing. The detail that was put into this book is amazing, but the end really threw me off guard. I was not expecting it to end the way it did, but, after all of the reading, the book was wonderful.