Students leaving Saturday to spend three weeks in Germany

The 2010 Tatanka Yearbook – From Beginning to End

This documentary was filmed, edited, narrated and produced by Joel Morehouse.

It focuses on the First Worknight and then the distribution of the Yearbook.

Alternative college learning through Advanced Placement

“…Kevin had been reading AP study guides in his room. In the end, he passed  the exams in all three AP courses he had taken. He also passed the exams from 10 AP courses he had not taken. With the addition of a couple of community college classes, he entered UC San Diego as a junior, bypassing the grade requirements for admission.”

This is the story of a independent learner named Kevin from an excerpt out of “High Schools at a Crossroads” by Ed Coughlin. Every staff member read this article last Thursday. AP, or Advanced Placement, tests are offered at high schools across the nation, Buffalo High School is among the many of them. At BHS tests that have been offered in the last few weeks include: Calculus AB, BC,  Statistics, and Physics.

Most teachers offer study packets or a review day for students that have taken their class so that they will be more preparytest. Ed Cox, AP Physics teached when test daer, gave his students a packet to work out. The packet includes multiple choice questions along with free response, just like t comes. Calculus teacher, Carlton Urdahl, offered a two block review session the day prior to the AP Calculushe AP test will. “I did absolutely nothing [to study] and I regret that now because for the first half [of the Calculus AB exam] I feel I did alright but for the second half I didn’t do as well,” said senior Garrett Lee.

Although each AP course can be very rigorous, the benefit’s are well worth it. “Take the test. You have nothing to lose in taking this test. If anything it will only benefit you,” said senior Francie Varner.

Knowledge Bowl places 8th at State Tournament

The Buffalo Knowledge Bowl team took eighth place at the State Tournament, held at Cragun’s Conference Center in Brainerd, Minnesota. This was the program’s ninth year going to state. The team one members included: Gina Filo, Jensen Maiden, Neil Gleason, Jonathon Hank and Michael Bonde. Four of the Five members were on the State Tournament team from last season.

Beginning on Thursday night, the two day competition consisted of one written round and five oral rounds. Of the 48 teams present, half participated in the large school competition and half in small school. Team one competed in the large school division and held first place after the written round and two oral rounds. During the third and fourth rounds of competition they dropped out of first and eventually fell into fifteenth place. Finding a way to battle back, team one jumped seven spots in the final round to claim an eighth place finish.

This state appearance involved not only the members of team one, but also the seniors from teams two and three. All eight seniors who participated in knowledge bowl attended. As tradition, the group stopped on their way to the tournament for a game of bowling. Between rounds members golfed at the resort, swam in Gull Lake, and played Ultimate Frisbee with other knowledge bowl teams.

The Diviners suffers a cast change, but pulls together for opening night

The spring play, The Diviners, opened on Thursday, April 15. An extreme change from the bright colors and sounds of the fall musical, The Diviners focuses on the character of Buddy Layman, played by Charlie Aldrich, who lost his mother in a near drowning experience earlier in his life. This leaves Buddy terrified of water, even though he has the ability to divine, or find it. The play follows a character named CC Showers, a former preacher played by Junior D.J. McMoil, as he sets out to help Buddy.

Less than two weeks before opening night, the play suffered a cast change which had the ability to set them back a few steps. 3 members gained new roles and needed to learn new lines with limited time, but the cast managed to overcome it in time for opening night.

“The challenges of a cast change weren’t easy,” said McMoil. “It really showed the dedication of the members of the department. We just managed to pull together and bear down, lifting each other up and we somehow got it together. And as always, our director HD [Tracy Hagstrom-Durant] stuck right by us. We couldn’t have pulled this off without anyone else. I’m proud to be a part of this group.”

The Diviners will also be showing tonight, April 16, and Saturday, April 17 at 7:30 in the Performing Arts Center at Buffalo High School.

Pegasus Literary Arts Magazine reviews submissions

The Pegasus Literary Arts Magazine is working towards publication. Staff members met yesterday afternoon to review poetry and art submissions.
The magazine was created over 25 years ago as an outlet for students to publish their creative work and is advised by English teacher David Robinson.
Pegasus has received about 40 submissions total, but would like to receive about 35 more. Students can submit poetry, prose, and artwork for a variety of reasons, but work will not necessarily be published.
“It can give people more confidence to have their work published,” said Senior and Selection Editor Taylor Beck. “When somebody submits their work, it can be seen and enjoyed by hundreds of people.”
In the next month, editors will choose a cover and theme for this year’s issue and finalize its pages. The magazine should be published in late April or early May.

Knowledge Bowl returns to State

Mock Trial places second in State Tournament

After an unsettling seventh place finish last year at the State Tournament, the Buffalo Mock Trial team redeemed itself by earning second place honors at the State Tournament on Wednesday. Two Buffalo team members took All-State honors.

Each of the twelve teams at State compete in three rounds to determine the top two teams that square off in a championship round. The teams are divided into winner and loser brackets throughout the three rounds by the amount of ballots they receive. Each judge’s score sheet is considered a ballot, and three judges preside over a round.

Buffalo swept both St. Peter and Albert Lea in the first two rounds by taking all six ballots, which seeded them against Woodbury for the third round. Buffalo took two of the three ballots from Woodbury, which placed them at the highest seed in the tournament.

“We had a very fortunate seed in the first round,” said Coach Laurie Raymond. “Our point differential in that round let us face some of the weaker teams who were winning trials later on in the tournament.”

At the awards luncheon on Wednesday, Judge James E. Dehn announced that Buffalo and Breck School were the two highest-seeded teams advancing to the final round. The scores weren’t released, but Breck will represent Minnesota at the National Tournament in May.

“I won’t ever forget when they announced that Buffalo was going on to that final round,” said Junior Samuel Kemp. “Everyone at our table jumped up and started screaming.”

Throughout the tournament, Senior Lindy Jensen earned her second All-State Witness award at the tournament and Senior Graham Wyatt earned his second All-State Attorney award. Jensen was the only individual in Minnesota to earn an All-State Witness award twice, and Wyatt was one of only three to earn two All-State Attorney awards.

“The tournament was an incredible experience and a great way to end four years of mock trial,” said Wyatt. “Breck had a great team this year. They earned the privilege to represent Minnesota, and I don’t regret anything.”

DECA at State

On March 7 – March 9, Buffalo’s DECA team was at The Hyatt in Minneapolis for State.

Even though they sent 20 to district and 11 to state, no one made it to nationals.  “We have a small chapter,” said Senior Sara Watts.  “It’s hard because the other schools have DECA classes so more people participate.”

Each person involved with DECA that went to State had to compete in a variety of sections such as Sales Demonstrations, Fashion Promotion Plans, and Travel and Tourism.  Some were individual events while others had a small group.

“I had to compete in the Fashion Promotion Plan,” said Senior Chelsea Hinnenkamp.  “We all tried really hard and I’m satisfied with how we did.”

By Sam Nyberg and Sam Mailhot

Haiti Benefit work pays off

The Haiti benefit on Friday Febuary 26, raised nearly $800 that was donated toward the relief efforts in Haiti. Through out the night people kept donating and purchasing concession items. Donations from local businesses and churches included candy, pop, cotton candy, popcorn that were sold at the event.

Bands were chosen for entertainment, bands included Undefined Purpose, Whosah, Icicles to Eskimoes, and Lydia Wagner.

“I choose bands that I knew that people liked,” said Junior Kaylie Lund.

At the last  band of the night, Whosah invited people up to the front of the stage to have people dance and clap along. During one of the last songs, people were on the floor dancing, jumping, clapping and just having a good time. At the end of the night, every band that played that night and returned to the stage to sing “Let it Be” by the Beatles.

“I really enjoyed playing at the benefit. It was a fun and it was dedicated to a good cause,” said lead singer of Undefined Purpose, Senior Jesse Ernster.

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