Preferred pronouns in public schools
Kaitlyn Bailey, Editor
November 14, 2019
Kelsey Pegg is among the thousands of people who conclude their emails with four simple words. They/them/their pronouns. “Including your pronouns, whether or not someone asks, allows for two things. First, it makes it clear what your pronouns are right away. It doesn’t leave it up for discussion,...
Let it Snow
Kenny Miller, Reporter
November 11, 2019
In 2018, Missouri saw an unusual amount of snow, causing Columbia Public Schools (CPS) to take more snow days then they have had in the last four years combined. Because of this, CPS has implemented a new snow day policy to help make sure students will still be in school and won’t lose learning hours...
Trump Pulls US Troops out of Syria
Ava Kitzi, Copy Editor
November 5, 2019
President Donald Trump’s decision to pull all United States troops from Northern Syria on Oct. 3 was immediately challenged by bipartisan backlash in Congress, and could face many consequences in the future. The conflict in the Middle East is backed up by thousands of years of controversy, war, and ...
ACT To Implement New Changes
Leah Freeman, Reporter
October 28, 2019
In the United States, there are many requirements, skills, and scores that the average student needs to have to meet a college’s admissions requirements. One important test score that colleges require before admitting an applicant is the student’s American College Testing (ACT) score. The ACT ha...
The Achievement Gap Crisis: Opportunities Decrease for Poor Children
Kaitlyn Bailey, Editor
October 27, 2019
Poverty affects more than a child’s home life; it also affects the behavior of adolescents in many different ways. In Columbia, 16 percent of children 18-and-under are living in impoverished conditions, according to 2018 data collected by Boone County. These numbers are still rising. Rachel...
The Great Wall of Honor
Connor Parrish, Sports Editor
October 25, 2019
On the first day of school, students walking down the hallway saw a noticeable change in the hallway: the wall of honor that is located right outside the gymnasium. On Oct. 4, a formal presentation was held with Adam Taylor, Dr. Kim Presko, Dr. Peter Stiepleman, and Lisa Bailey all giving speeches to d...
Federal Aid Craze
Aaron Melville, Copy Editor
October 25, 2019
On Oct. 1 every year, the application for Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) opens for students to fill out and submit to schools of their choice. Battle High School started participating in a statewide after-school program in mid-October every year for students to receive assistance when fill...
American Impeachment Explained
Ava Kitzi, Copy Editor
October 25, 2019
Over the past month, news sites and radio shows have been overwhelmed with the fast-emerging scandal involving President Donald Trump and the country of Ukraine. An anonymous whistleblower complaint has turned into a full-blown impeachment inquiry for Trump. The statement claims that the President coerc...
CPS to Implement No-Backpack Policy
Kaitlyn Bailey, Editor
October 25, 2019
In an effort to ensure more safety at football games, Columbia Public Schools (CPS) implemented a new no-backpack policy for all middle and high school sporting events. Sharla Hyler, guidance secretary, sent an email in the Spartan Mailer last month outlining the new policy. “At the home foot...
Parking Passes
Connor Parrish, Sports Editor
October 17, 2019
Throughout Columbia Public Schools (CPS) all three high schools have parking passes at $50 per person. The money from parking passes goes to the security staff at Battle. Also, parking passes are not prorated. Shelly Herman, the extracurricular activity (ECA) secretary, explained where the mone...
Students experience teaching in elementary classrooms
Kaitlyn Bailey, Editor
October 1, 2019
Students in Columbia Public Schools are getting a head start on real-world experience within the teaching industry. “Fresh out of college, you rarely have anything significant to say in a job interview. No one asks about your accounting class or what grade you got on a group project,” Kaitlyn ...
Not cool to Juul
Nicholas Myers, Reporter
October 1, 2019
Vaping, or the consumption of nicotine through vapor, has become a widespread phenomenon amongst high schoolers all across the nation. Vaping chemicals have recently caused an outbreak of lung illnesses among e-cigarette users. Eight users have died due to lung illness, sparking an investigation from ...