Charger recognized as All-Kansas news publication

For the third year in a row, The Charger received an All-Kansas designation from the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.

Nutrition and wellness class provides snacks for athletes

Athletes get very hungry throughout the day. It can be at least 5-6 hours before athletes even have a chance to eat between lunch and supper. Family and Consumer Science teacher Diane Breiner oversees a nutrition bar for the current fall athletes every afternoon.

Power struggle | Government class runs presidential campaign

Students in Jess Rutledge's government class are running for President!  Every year government students create posters and campaign videos like real politicians to simulate a political race. “I started doing this assignment when I first arrived at WHS eight years ago. I was looking for more projects in the senior government class and got the idea from a former professor at Kansas State,” Rutledge said.

Government class proposes bills to improve school

Senior government students have proposed changes to the bell schedule, excused absences and improvements to the parking lot and volleyball equipment.

Excelsior program rewards students for academic achievement

A new program at WHS seeks to reward high academic achievement. The Excelsior program rewards students for having a GPA of 3.5 or higher. It is split into three tiers with various rewards and is based on the previous semesters grades.

Seniors receive scholarships, honors at awards night

Recipients of the Alma Area Foundation Scholarships were announced at academic awards night May 7.

Throwback Thursday: 1995 Math and P.E.

This week’s Throwback Thursday issue highlights two academic pages from the 1995 WHS yearbook.  Each page shows different activities that occurred in each class throughout the year. On the mathematics page, students are working on assignments with the help of their teacher Julie Schnieder. Students get a break from sitting and homework to lift weights...

Editorial: 7-period schedule increases student stress

After using block schedule for several years, WHS recently switched to a seven period day.

Many staff members were adamant about switching to a seven hour day, thinking it would be beneficial for students in ways, such as retaining information better from having classes daily, students staying on task with shorter class periods, and making it easier to get caught up when you miss class. Teachers also seem to be going through lesson plans more quickly compared to previous years.

7-period schedule benefits core classes, challenges electives

The new WHS schedule caused debate among students and teachers last year. After nearly a semester of the new schedule, opinions are mixed.

WHS introduced a 7-period daily schedule for the 2019-2020 school year, after using a block schedule in previous years.

The Charger polled sophomores, juniors and seniors to gauge the general feeling among the students most affected by the change. Incoming freshmen ran on a 7-period schedule in junior high, so this schedule was not new for them. The majority of students greatly preferred block scheduling, another large portion of students slightly prefer 7-period and 18 percent didn’t have an opinion.

Alderman a National Merit Finalist

Senior Maddie Alderman and her parents Sara and Roger Alderman, learn that she has been named a National Merit Finalist for 2019. Senior Madison Alderman has been named a National Merit finalist for 2019. She was first named as semifinalist last fall. “When we took the PSAT as juniors, it was like the application to...