The Class 4A state tournament was held at Wichita-Collegiate. DeSoto took
first place in the tournament and Wichita-Collegiate came in second.

“We got third at state, which is the best we’ve ever done. We beat out a
lot of the ‘higher’ schools,” says Taylor McMillan.

This is the third time in the past five years the team has gone to
state, but the first time the team has medaled.

We’ve gotten close but I don’t think we’ve ever actually medaled, so it
was really nice,” McMillan said.

The team consisted of seniors Forest Turner and McMillan, juniors Alexis
Ethridge and Wyatt Taylor, and sophomore Robert Klauman. freshman Rena Stair
went as an alternate.

Scholars’ Bowl is a sort of fast paced trivia game. Two teams are asked
a series of questions involving the Kansas curriculum, and given ten seconds to
answer each question, with the exception of math questions, in which each team
is given 30 seconds. Each team consists of four players.

Question categories include: World Language, Social Studies, Language
Arts, Mathematics, Science/Health, Fine Arts, and Year in Review.

“They ask a series of questions covering different aspects of the
curriculum, and if you get the question right you get points, and whoever has
the most points at the end wins,” Turner said.

]]> http://www.thecometonline.com/uncategorized/2012/04/04/scholars-bowl-takes-third-at-state/feed/ 0 http://www.thecometonline.com/opinion/editorials/2012/02/03/in-memoriam-spirit-week-1914-2012/ http://www.thecometonline.com/opinion/editorials/2012/02/03/in-memoriam-spirit-week-1914-2012/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:33:06 +0000 emilylair http://www.thecometonline.com/?p=1181 School Spirit was born in August of 1914, coincidentally around the beginning of Chanute High School, and lived a long and illustrious life. All those who knew him said their lives had been touched in a profound way by his presence, and until recently School Spirit never made enemies – those he encountered were always fast friends.

There was a feeling of camaraderie, an unmistakable vigor for life that characterized School Spirit. He was known as a positive influence to countless young people throughout his 98 years of life. Those around him were prone to experience random outbursts of joy and spurts of good-naturedly wild behavior that were usually shrugged off by School Spirit’s dear friends, the Administration, as “All in good fun.”

School Spirit had a passion for all extra-curricular activities within his school, but was perhaps most vocal about his support of the athletics program. His influence was so powerful among the student body that a commemorative celebration period of one week was held in his honor twice each year – historically the longest holiday ever established in honor of a famous public figure. These weeks were characterized by an indulgence of all those silly little things that made School Spirit such a darn great person to have around – he was the life of the party – and led up to School Spirit’s favorite time of the year: Homecoming.

It was on these homecoming days that traditionally the boy and girl with characters that most embodied School Spirit were crowned “King and Queen” for a night, and a celebratory dance was customarily held after the ceremony as an outlet for any positive energy that might be left over thanks to School Spirit’s continuing influence on the student body.

After a long and illustrious life, School Spirit, aged 98, passed away on January 9, 2012, at approximately 8:00 A.M., for causes unknown. The death was discovered simultaneously by several students who entered his residence at 1501 W. 36^th Street that morning and immediately noticed his missing presence. Resucitation attempts failed. He is survived by half-brothers Apathy and Boredom.

The cause of death remains under investigation. Some say that School Spirit died of natural causes, slowly fading away after a long battle with illness due to malnutrition and lack of support. Others suspect foul play. Authorities say that School Spirit allegedly made quite a few enemies who resented his eternally enthusiastic personage, and whose feelings toward him ranged from apathy to murderous rage. Investigation of the remains will continue, and the authorities expect to round up suspects in the next week.

The staff at The Comet mourn the loss of School Spirit – a dear friend for countless years – and offer sincere condolences to his loving family and friends, who will certainly feel the emptiness without his presence for many years to come. Until, of course, his memory fades into nothing and his former residence quietly becomes, well, purely and soley an educational environment, just like everyone thought they wanted. Goodbye, School Spirit. You will be missed.

On second thought, we do have something like this. The courtyard, located directly across from the library, is an outdoor area where students are supposed to enjoy as little as a few minutes outside during lunch or as much as a class time outside.

Instead, the doors stay locked and the tables and chairs have been eliminated. My question is, why was money spent on a courtyard that cannot be used?

I feel that the student body should be able to use the courtyard for the purpose that is was built.

There are many advantages by using the courtyard. Advantages such as being able to eat lunch outside on a nice day, class time outside, cutting across during a passing period and getting a breath of fresh air or simply just hanging out there during comet time or ten minute break.

Even though cutting across would not benefit to the extent of getting to class earlier, it would still allow students to get outside for a few seconds. If the administration feels as though we need supervision during regulated school hours, there are students willing to find volunteer supervisors if it would allow them the few seconds outside.

Having a courtyard is a simple, cheap and easy way to please the students. So in my opinion, there is only positive things that could come from the courtyard being open.

                The Comets host the undefeated Vikings and are looking to end their three game losing streak.

                The Vikings are picked first in the league and with their undefeated record will provide a challenge for the Comets.

                “They have a lot of players back and are one of the better teams in our league,” Coach Max Ruark said. “We’ll have to go out there and play very well against them.”

                Coming off a narrow loss to the Girard Trojans, the Comets will need to step it up.

                “The strength of our team lies on the inside. We have two big guys that can get good position and, if given the ball, can be effective,” Ruark said.

                Senior Quinton Schooley, one of these big posts, said, “We’re not as talented as some of the teams we play, but we can be successful if we get the ball inside.”

                Ruark also mentioned that the team has some guards that have also been helpful by shooting from the perimeter.

                The Comets played some close games earlier this season in the Louisburg tournament, but have struggled against league teams.

                “We can get better by working hard every day in practice and just doing the little things, making free throws, and taking care of the ball,” Schooley said.

                The Blue Comets currently hold a 1-5 record.  The contest will be a non-league game tonight.  The league game will be played at Parsons on January 27^th.

Correll started teaching music at Chanute High School and Royster Middle School in 1988. Before he came to Chanute, he taught in Missouri and Oklahoma. He started teaching in the 1960s and retired in 2005. Since, Correll retired he has remained involved in Chanute High Schools music department and is approaching his 24th year here.

Correll has stayed involved at CHS by playing the trumpet in the vocal concerts that are held twice a year, and he also plays in the fall musicals.

If there is ever a time Correll can lend a helping hand, he does.

“I really miss this and that is why I come back. When I was teaching this was a dream and I would love to be back here with these facilities, they are beautiful,” Correll said.

A friendship with former colleague and current CHS music teacher Russ Vallier is another reason Correll ventures back to CHS.

“I come back because I like Russ and I love being around all the kids. Me and Russ, or Mr. Vallier as you know him, we are very, very close and I really miss Russ and working with him.”

Correll loves being surrounded by kids to the extent of volunteering his time at the local after school center, Cherry Street. At Cherry Street he helps with their music program.

“There are two things that inspire me to come back to CHS and that is music and the kids,” Correll said. “Music, itself, is inspiring, and I enjoy being around young people after all that is the name of the game.”

But, Correll is not the only one who is inspired. Many CHS students recognize what Correll does and are touched by his actions.

“It is inspiring because music is something you can do and be involved in your entire life and he hasn’t let any health problems or just the fact that he has gotten older slow him down one bit,” junior Madison Wendt said. “It is just nice to see him year after year getting involved with Chanute music because he is so passionate about it.”

Comparable to everyone else, Vallier had nothing but great things to say about Correll.

“Mr. Correll is without a doubt one of the finest men I know. He exemplifies First Corinthians. I believe it’s in 13, it talks about love and the graces of love and Herb Correll loves kids and loves people,” Vallier said. “I think that is one of the things that sets Herb apart from everyone else. Unfortunately in teaching, not all of us teachers love like Mr. Correll did and does. I consider his friendship an honor and a privilege sent from God.”

The boys, coming off a tough loss to Independence on Tuesday, take a 1-3 record into Tuesday’s tilt.

The girls own a 3-1 record after holding Independence to five second-half points in a 40-27 victory.