LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF CYBERBULLYING ON PAGES 14-17.
Page 16 Sophomore Aliana Donlen looks at her phone while sitting in the library. Read more about the effects of cyberbulling on pages 14-17.
Photo by Olivia Moore.
A Look into the Issue...
Pg. 6,7 “The purpose [of Unified Sports] is to connect people that wouldn’t normally connect with each other,” John Daigle said.
Pg. 18,19 “I try really hard, especially in my gov classes, to be neutral on things,” Krista Chugg said. “I want everyone to feel respected and be in an environment where they feel like they could speak up and express their opinion.”
The North Star Staff
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Addison DeVore
Madi Garrelts
STAFF WRITERS
Anthony Sutcliffe
Emily Hathaway
Olivia Moore
Van Freeman
Safa Al Ameer
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
Hannah Markiewicz
Cash Durbin
DESIGN EDITOR
Anjali Kambhampati
WEB EDITORS
Paul Struby
Josie Jones
COPY EDITORS
Lauren Kopitas
Lilly Copeland
Anjali Kambhampati
COMMITTED
BVN athletes committed to collegiate sports share their paths to college and the process of athletic recruitment.
By Cash Durbin
College athletics has been in an ever-changing landscape over the past few years due to the legalization of NIL (Name Image Likeness) deals, which allow college programs to pay recruits and transfers through advertisements using their likeness to sell goods and services to consumers. In 2020, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) passed regulations allowing NIL compensation for student-athletes. These changes were scheduled to be implemented in 2022 and 2023 and are now active across all NCAA schools. College coaches can first contact high
schoolers following their sophomore year. During the athlete’s junior year, they can start attending official visits and receiving verbal offers. However, the rules vary depending on the sport that the athlete plays.
From left to right: Tommy McDowell completes his swing as he hits his ball in a golf tournament. Photo provided by Tommy McDowell. Jada Farrington clears the ball away during a BVN soccer game last season. Photo by Cash Durbin. Briley Early races in a cross-country meet for the BVN. Photo provided by Briley Early. Tommy McDowell prepares to drive his ball during a golf tournament. Photo provided by Tommy McDowell. Briley Early competes in a cross-country race for BVN. Photo provided by Briley Early.
Design by Cash Durbin
Tommy McDowell
Senior Tommy McDowell is a college golf commit attending Western Missouri State University next year. McDowell began the recruitment process as he entered the summer prior to his junior year when the NCAA allowed coaches to contact potential student-athletes. He then received his first offer during the summer before his senior year. McDowell got in contact with coaches early and would update them on how he was playing throughout the season through social media and direct messages.
“I would post my scores on Instagram,” said McDowell. “I definitely had coaches follow me on Instagram, and they would text me
after seeing [a score]. I had a coach see my story, and he said ‘Hey, great stuff, man.’”
The hardest part of his recruiting process was remembering to reach out to coaches, not getting lazy, and missing chances.
“The most challenging part was making sure I was emailing people, always being in their face, because sometimes I’d get lazy and not want to send emails but that’s a missed chance,” McDowell said.
McDowell also said maintaining a good balance between schoolwork and practice was hard for him.
“Balancing school and golf is always hard because sometimes you let your grades slip and you want
Briley Early
Senior Briley Early is a crosscountry and track commit attending the University of Nebraska Omaha next year. Early started her recruitment process by getting messages from college coaches about camps and other showcases during her sophomore year.
“As my times got faster, I started getting offers from bigger colleges, and then I reached out to other colleges that hadn’t reached out that I was interested in,” Early said.
Early chose which colleges she wanted to attend by making sure it was not too far from home, and that they had what she wanted academically. She narrowed down
her choices by going on visits to each school and seeing the environment of the campus.
“It came down to the college visits I went on. Omaha, it stood out to me, and I felt like I belonged there,” Early said.
She recommends reaching out to colleges rather than waiting for them to contact you because, in her experience, they will most likely respond. Looking back on her recruitment experience, she wishes she would have reached out to schools and started thinking about running in college sooner.
“I’d probably reach out to colleges earlier than I did, and start
Jada Farrington
Senior Jada Farrington is a soccer commit attending Abilene Christian University next year. Farrington started her commitment journey in middle school as she attended various college showcase tournaments through club sports but picked it up in the summer before her junior year when coaches were allowed to contact her. She received interest from day one, including the school that she ended up deciding to attend.
“My school reached out to me on June 15, the day opened, and they wanted to come to a camp,”
Farrington said.
Farrington had a unique experience during her recruitment process as she committed to a school and then later decommitted, then committed to ACU.
Also, Farrington has played soccer for most of her life and has worked countless hours to achieve her goal.
“I do soccer all year round, even in the summer. I get up, [and] I do 6:00 a.m. workouts every morning,” Farrington said.
Farrington believes that it is beneficial to be involved in club
to go practice,” McDowell said.
Overall, McDowell found that keeping good grades is important so that doors and pathways stay open. Because of this, he felt more pressure to maintain his GPA to stay eligible for all the scholarships and schools he wanted to attend.
“There’s definitely some pressure because certain schools have a GPA requirement and with that pressure, though, you’re going to find the right school eventually, schools will find you, and there will be a perfect fit too,” McDowell said.
thinking about it earlier than I did,” Early said.
The most important lesson Early learned during this process was to keep running because it is what she loves, but to still focus on her academics because that will be more important in her life after college.
Early said it is important for her to “keep running [but] as much as I love it, grades are important to me, and academics and after college, that’s going to be more important to me than running because I’m not going to run after college.”
sports as her experience has given her many opportunities to play in front of college coaches year-round. She also says that her coaches in club sports were able to help connect her with college coaches and find out their interest in her.
“Coaches are a really big thing about helping you, because they have a lot of connections, especially in the college world, and so they can help reach out to schools for you,” Farrington said.
EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY
Shining a light on Unified Sports at BVN
By Anthony Sutcliffe
BVN offers clubs for a variety of different people and interests. From the Chinese Club to the Marching Band, many students are able to find a community that they fit into at North. One group that focuses on inclusion is the Unified Sports Team.
John Daigle coaches BVN’s Unified Sports team.
“Unified Sports is a program created by Special Olympics that brings athletes from different walks of life together,” Daigle said.
According to Special Olympics. com, Unified Sports brings people with
Design by Anthony Sutcliffe
and without disabilities together on the same team.
Teams are made up of athletes (students with disabilities) and peers (students without disabilities). Together, athletes and peers compete in meets and tournaments against other schools from across the Kansas City metro area.
“The purpose [of Unified Sports] is to connect people that wouldn’t normally connect with each other,” Daigle said. “I think a lot of times, we are really busy and we don’t take the time to stop and connect. I think using sports as a vehicle to connect people is really important.”
Junior Malia Reeder has been participating in Unified Sports as a peer since her freshman year.
“It [Unified Sports] is amazing,” Reeder said.“I love seeing the students and the happiness on their faces whenever they get a basket or score a soccer goal. It brings me so much joy.”
Unified Sports has had a big impact on the people involved in the program.
“I think it [Unified Sports] has
BVN’s Unified Sports team on their last day of basketball. Photo provided by Mythili Kambhampati.
made an impact in a lot of ways,” Daigle said. “I’m definitely more patient. [I am] definitely more willing to meet people where they’re at, and look at the entire person instead of [making] judgments.”
Reeder also believes that her involvement in Unified Sports has made her a better person.
“I think [Unified Sports] has made me a more inclusive person,” Reeder said.
“I feel like I’ve become more understanding of what other people are going through.”
“
Preston said. “It’s a break from the stuff I’ve been doing. It’s just a fun thing to do.”
“Myfavoritepart aboutUnifiedSports istogetalittlebreak fromeverything that’sgoingoninmy life. It’s a break from the stuff I’ve been doing.It’sjustafun thingtodo.”
–Boston Preston
With the bocce ball season wrapped up, BVN’s Unified Sports team will start their soccer season this April. Overall, Unified Sports is a program determined to connect people through sports and athletics. It creates a space where people from all around Kansas City with different backgrounds and walks of life can come together and share a common interest in sports and community.
“
Blake Hudkins is a sophomore and an athlete on the unified sports team. Hudkins’s favorite sports are Unified Bocce ball and Unified Soccer.
Boston Preston is also a sophomore athlete in unified sports. He enjoys Unified Bowling.
“[I joined to] have fun and be with friends,” Hudkins said.
Preston also joined the program to have fun playing sports with friends.
“The thing that made me want to join Unified Sports [was] that it was a fun thing,” Preston said. “It just gave me something fun to do.”
Unified Sports practices take place during Club Days. Preston appreciates the time set aside for it during school.
“I like how they teach us and critique our skills,” Preston said.
Games are often treated as the stage where athletes and peers get to show off everything they have been working on up until that point.
“The games are kind of like the practices, except they’re more focused on you actually doing the skills that you learn from practice,” Preston said.
Preston highlights how Unified Sports provides a change of pace to his normal routine.
“My favorite part about Unified Sports is to get a little break from everything that’s going on in my life,”
“Unified Sports is basically a thing where you get to know people, and you get to know each other better,” Preston said.
About Unified Sports:
- Unified Sports was established in 1989.
- Unified Sports at BVN plays basketball, bocce and soccer.
- See Mr. Daigle in room 241 for more details.
Photo of Mallory Nelson from a Unified Bowling meet.
Photo by Lilly Copeland.
IBET
ON IT
Students discuss their involvement with the rise of sports betting.
By Paul Struby
n recent years, the phenomenon of sports betting has snowballed into a billion dollar industry, partly due to its legalization in many states, along with the aggressive advertising by the variety of betting companies, including Sleeper, DraftKings and Underdog Fantasy. In 2024, Kansas generated $2.54 billion, an increase of 21% from 2023, as the gambling business continued to rocket upward nationally.
Many BVN students have started to explore the complicated world of sports betting, with varied results. Senior Athan Tran is one of the students who has recently begun his sports betting journey.
“It was around September or October of last year [that I started
betting],” Tran said. “My friend hit me up from college, and he knew that I turned 18 and he wanted me to use his [referral] code.”
While Tran originally started betting on Underdog, he has migrated to other platforms like PrizePicks all in the pursuit of financial gain.
In an activity involving so much risk, a win, whether it be hitting a parlay or the over/under, is an achievement worth celebrating.
“
great when they won, but have also struggled with losing.
If you’re gonna [bet], don’t go all in. Just do it to have fun, but make sure to stay even and never go too hard into it, because it is unpredictable at the end of the day.
“There’s nothing like [winning], it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world,” an anonymous junior said.
On the contrary, gambling can lead to increasingly negative thoughts and overall mental health. It can also bring up feelings of sadness or despair, the phenomenon commonly known as “Gambler’s Guilt” according to the Mayo Clinic. This phenomenon describes individuals who have felt
–Athan Tran“
“[Losing] is very detrimental. Sometimes if it’s a big loss, I might have my night ruined, but we come back and we win,” the anonymous junior said. One strategy that North students, as well as many gamblers, employ is to keep the bets small to limit the scope of the losses. This way, no matter if they are losing a lot, the goal is not to lose a large amount of money. Losing is an inevitable part of the betting experience, but different strategies can help keep the Gambler’s Guilt at bay. However, there is still a limit to how many bets students can feel
Fantasy Logo
comfortable losing before calling it quits, according to Tran.
“I always try to stay even, so I keep my head up,” Tran said. “After the Super Bowl, it was kinda rough. I was surprised when not a lot of things hit, so I took about a week off.”
One anonymous sophomore agreed with Tran’s point.
“If I were to keep losing repetitively, and the bank account almost goes to zero [I’d quit],” the anonymous sophomore said.
As sports betting at North, and in general, continues to grow, the prominent and negative side effects of it are becoming more discussed and prominent. Increased stress levels, anxiety and negative thoughts have all been linked with betting, and these are already common struggles for high schoolers in general.
“I don’t feel like a lot of people our age are addicted to it, but it stresses you out,” the anonymous junior said. “[It] also helps your mental health [when you win], so as long as you’re not addicted to it, it won’t affect your mental health as much.”
One thing that all three students agreed on was that influencers and celebrities who advertise for betting sites have helped to introduce more people to the world of betting. Another way in which sites like FanDuel and DraftKings grow is by advertising during the Super Bowl, which is the most watched sporting event in America, according to the NFL.
“A lot of people that I see are sponsored by sports betting sites,” the anonymous junior said.
The anonymous sophomore agreed, specifically mentioning the company Stake as one that advertises extremely heavily.
“[Advertising] has a big impact on people, especially for stuff like Stake
which is a scam, and the odds are always against you no matter what,” the anonymous sophomore said.
While companies do use some questionable tactics sometimes, one thing that all three students agreed on was that when they bet, they end up enjoying a game more because they have money on it.
“It’s fun, especially when I’m with friends and we all have our bets going on the games,” Tran said. “It’s kind of a social thing and it’s fun to play around with it and compete with friends.”
Betting has uprooted the old ways of interaction with athletes online, and how the students watch sports in general.
“People are watching for certain things, they want certain outcomes, like for a player to get more yards, less yards, stuff like that,” the anonymous sophomore said.
The anonymous junior agreed, but also emphasized that people have very emotional reactions, and that can lead them to saying certain things or feeling certain ways about athletes.
“If you’re doing a parlay and one player messes it up, you’ll probably hate that player forever,” the anonymous junior said. “Some people will DM athletes and tell them they want to kill them, and that’s not good.”
Sports betting has continued to evolve as it is legalized in more states, and more and more high school students are starting to do it. Even though none of them have experienced the side effects of sports betting yet, all three stressed the necessity of going slow and going small.
“If you’re gonna [bet], don’t go all in,” Tran said. “Just do it to have fun, but make sure to stay even and never go too hard into it, because it is unpredictable at the end of the day.”
BILLION
59 SPENT IN U.S. IN 2024 -THE AGA BILLION AMOUNT BET ON THE SUPER BOWL IN 2025 -ESPN
$1.3
Underdog
Father’s Club
The influence of the BVN Father’s Club chapter on the school community.
By Lilly Copeland
The Father’s Club is an organization that encourages fathers to go beyond average participation in their child’s education and make a difference within the BVN community. As a nonprofit organization, the BVN chapter encourages members to organize and collaborate with clubs and departments to help them with events. They facilitate these relationships through fundraising, performing miscellaneous jobs around campus and passing out food in the morning before school.
Co-Chairmen Todd Welhoelter wanted to become a member of the organization as a new way to be involved with his kids’ lives, as well as being an active participant in student outreach.
kids we come in contact with so that we can hopefully make a difference.”
The Father’s Club’s influence at BVN is multifaceted, with its events and programs aimed at supporting various clubs and areas of the community. In the past, Assistant Principal Michael Moss collaborated with the club on various student events.
“ I liked the philosophy of being intentional with your kids, with other dads and your community.
–Todd Welhoelter
The Father’s Club can host these events annually for their fundraising activities and requirements.
“At our chapter, what we do is ask for donations from just the school and the parents in general,” Welhoelter said. “Some of the dads have employers that will match fundraising. If a dad donates a certain amount, the employer will contribute.
Additionally, some employers offer grants for nonprofit organizations, so we’ll reach out to them, or a dad will approach them if they work for them.”
Another aspect of their creative fundraising methods is selling pickles and cotton candy.
“I liked the philosophy of being intentional with your kids, with other dads and your community,” Welhoelter said. “It provides a lot of meaning not just to attend the [sports] games, but be involved.”
Welhoelter’s words echo the organization’s mission, with their events and fundraising focused on helping members of the student body and promoting paternal participation.
“Our mission statement is creating ways for dads to be intentional with their kids and other dads and within their community and to be a catalyst for positive influence around the world,” Welhoelter said. “[We] are trying to be a good influence to the
Design by Lilly Copeland
“
“The Father’s Club will typically call fist bumps with dads a few times a year,” Moss said. “[This is] where they will hand out breakfast sandwiches and donuts before school as kids are walking in, just to be a presence, a way to show their support.”
Another favorite event for students and staff is the luncheons the fathers provide yearly.
“They help grill out for grilled burgers, for clubs like Sources of Strength during their yearly training,” Moss said. “They also do all the grilling for our staff luncheon, luncheons to begin the year and also to end the year.”
“One of the things we do that’s fun is we sell pickles on a stick and cotton candy at home sporting events. So like the football games, basketball games,” Welhoelter said. “Then we use that money to do things that support the students and the school activities.”
While the Father’s Club may be best known for the food they distribute, they also take pride in maintaining the school’s appearance.
“They came in this fall and just did some random landscaping for us, around the building and facilities such as mulch, de-weeding different areas, cleaning up branches and stuff like that,” Moss said.
The Father’s Club is also vital in helping organize Project Grad, a program offered by high schools nationwide. The goal is to host a safe
celebration the night after graduation to prevent things like teen drinking and substance-involved gatherings.
“The kids go, they buy tickets and there’s a bunch of giveaways, free food and games offered at Chicken and Pickle,” Welhoelter said. “The father’s club hosts the Casino Night part of it. So we have craps table, poker tables and the kids just have a fun time.”
Despite the organization’s immense impact, the requirements for membership are straightforward.
“No requirements beyond being a dad,” Welhoelter said. “And you can be a grandfather. There are a couple of grandfathers who have come to some of the events, too.”
New members can be recruited through multiple avenues, with the most considerable effort being to introduce fathers of incoming freshmen into the program.
“At the beginning of each school
year, we have an opportunity to go and talk to the incoming freshman parents,” Welhoelter said. “We give a little presentation for them, and we have a table set out that night so they can come and sign up. Then we do it [again] for when it is back to school night when all the parents are there to see if anybody else is interested.”
The Father’s Club puts a significant emphasis on promoting community and student support throughout the school.
“We see our chapter as a link in the chain to support the students in the school,” Welhoelter said.
Children that have involved fathers are two times more likely to attend college.
This year, the Father’s Club will host its annual Mission Cup golf tournament, which will be open for its hosts and members to attend.
Kids who have actively engaged fathers are 43% more likely to achieve A grades in school and 33% less likely to be held back a grade compared to those whose dads are not involved.
Statistics provided by All For Kids and
Top Left: Members of Father’s Club passing out candy at homecoming parade. Photo by Alegria Aguilera.
Top Right: Father’s Club selling cotton candy at football game. Photo provided by Todd Welhoelter. Middle: Father’s Club member selling pickles at homecoming parade. Photo by Anjali Kambhampati. Bottom: Father’s club advertizing their pickles. Photo provided by Todd Whelhoelter.
Fathers Club.
Class Time
How do BVN’s tenured teachers view their time at the school?
By Van Freeman
In 2025, Blue Valley North is nearing its 39th year since being founded. First opening in 1986, the staff, building and policies have greatly changed throughout its time. But how exactly has it changed? Three of BVN’s longest-tenured teachers shared how the school has changed from the time they started to the present day.
Social studies teacher Jason Smajda has been working at BVN for 30 years.
“I student-taught here in 1995 and then I subbed [in] the spring of 1996, and my first year full time was the 1996-1997 school year,” Smajda said.
Fellow social studies teacher Jeffery Breedlove had a similar beginning at North.
“I student-taught here in [the] spring of 1994, my first full contract year was 1995, and then I left for a couple of years [because] my wife got transferred, but I came right back,” Breedlove said.
When asked about things he’s helped to change in his time at BVN,
Breedlove cited his time in the building leadership committee.
“I sit on the building leadership committee, right? So even [when] they talk about the building changes that are going on, or they discuss how to do advisory, how to do class schedule, how many minutes a day, we help sign all that,” Breedlove said.
Math teacher of 31 years, Brenda Colwell also discussed aspects of the building leadership committee.
Smajda, however, focused on changes he aimed to make in his classroom.
“I’ve served on committees to do things, but I feel like my difference making is in the classroom more than it is on a school level,” Smajda said.
“It’s not about what I’m teaching and how I deliver it, it’s really about what the students are learning and understanding. –Brenda Colwell
“We meet once a week and we talk about, ‘what are changes that we need to make? How can we help the school improve and stay current with the times?’ I’ve been a part of a lot of those discussions,” Colwell said.
“I feel like we’ve been stuck for over 100 years in the classroom setting where the teachers are in the front of the room and the kids are at the desks, and the kids have an hour and they have to get everything they need [done] in an hour, and they go home and they do their homework. And I’ve played a part in perpetuating that, right? But I was taught in college not to
“
Photo of Blue Valley North founding plaque. Photo by Van Freeman.
Design by Van Freeman
do that, that’s not the best way to do it. Having a more organic, hands-on approach, where students are allowed to learn at their own pace… that’s more beneficial.”
On the topic of changes they’d like to see made, Colwell mentioned the schedule.
“I would personally like to see us go back to a modified block schedule, as opposed to the schedule we’re on,” Colwell said. “I would like to see traditional days Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and only block on Wednesday [and] Thursday. It gives us another teaching day per week.”
Breedlove, however, expressed appreciation for how block days have made him change as a teacher.
“I love block schedule. I think block schedule has forced me to create activities or other things that are just as meaningful, but without me just talking to you for 90 minutes,” Breedlove said.
Breedlove, as well as Smajda and Colwell, have acknowledged how their teaching methods have changed over their time.
“I think when it comes to teaching, I think that I’ve learned to make sure that I’m actually teaching so that students can understand. It’s not about what I’m teaching and how I deliver it, it’s really about what the students are learning and understanding,” Colwell said.
Smajda shared a similar opinion, focusing on how he’s grown with his subject.
“I had no idea what I was doing [when I started]. To me, the number one challenge to being, at least, a great social studies teacher, is learning
stuff. You can’t be a good U.S. History teacher unless you really understand U.S. History,” Smajda said. “I’ve been able to climb that ladder, if that’s a ladder, [of just] being able to know the content.”
“The advent of technology has clearly forced teachers to sort of play a whole new game. I came up without the technology, right? So we didn’t have laptops and things. We didn’t have computers, we didn’t have overhead [projectors]. So as that’s solely been brought out, its forced teachers to change and adapt to it,” Breedlove said.
When asked if their tenure brought any privileges or effect on their treatment from fellow staff members, the teachers shared their thoughts.
“I think people who have been here longer and have done their job well get some political clout, in the sense that new administrators come in, and you instantly have their, at least, respect and admiration. But I don’t think that’s necessarily a privilege,” Breedlove said.
Smajda clarified if his tenure made him any different from the newer teachers at BVN.
“Some younger teachers in the department may ask for advice every once in a while, [but] I don’t get to be special because I’ve been here a long time by any means.” Smajda said. “I don’t know that it
comes with privilege. Knowledge, but not privilege.”
Despite having differing views on some changes throughout BVN, the teachers all had similar responses to why they stayed in the stable for years.
“I teach with the best staff. We’ve always had great administrators, [and] this current administration that we have here at North is, you know, it’s there,” Colwell said.
“I love who I work with. Without a doubt, the people I work with, the teachers in this building, are amazing. I am a better teacher because they have made me a better teacher. My relationships with these people has made me who I am,” Breedlove said.
“You have good support from your administration, we’re always either the best or second best school in the state, and there’s a reason for that. And I’m not trying to be the company man here, but I really think, ‘why would I go work anywhere else?’,” Smajda said. “After almost 30 years, I still like it. [Do] you know how many people can say that?”
Photo of Blue Valley North’s entrance from BVN Northern Light Yearbook vol. 1. (1986-1987). Photo by Van Freeman
Photo of Blue Valley North’s entrance (2024-2025). Photo by Van Freeman.
Concerns of Cyberbullying
What are the causes and effects of cyberbullying in the BVN community, and how can it be prevented?
By Olivia Moore
Cyberbullying, a form of harassment that takes place on digital devices, has been on the rapid incline in past years as technology exposure has intensified. With the use of social media and texting, bullying can follow teenagers home past when the school day has ended.
There are numerous ways that cyberbullying occurs, and according to the Social Media Victims Law Center, they include sending cruel texts or emails, posting hurtful messages on social media, spreading rumors or embarrassing information online, posting or sharing private images, impersonating someone, excluding somebody or creating a hate group.
Cyberbullying can result in an increase of negative outcomes for teenagers, including low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, social isolation and suicidal behavior. According to the Pew Research Center, 59% of U.S. teenagers have experienced cyberbullying, making it a dangerous,
Design by Olivia Moore
yet often neglected issue in high schools across the nation.
While cyberbullying can take place publicly on social media or in video games, it can also go unnoticed when it is done on private communication platforms. This means that cyberbullying is difficult to detect when it is not reported.
For this reason, junior Jaydin Lashley says that it is difficult for administrators at BVN to prevent cyberbullying.
“If it is a recurring problem, they can make the person face consequences, but they can’t really prevent it from happening,” Lashley said.
Usman Shahid says that BVN counselors utilize several methods to try to prevent cyberbullying.
“I think that one really good thing that our school does every year is the Diversity Assembly. It definitely makes people feel unified, and it has a good impact,” Shahid said.
When it comes to diffusing a problem regarding cyberbullying, BVN social worker Lisa Summers says that while she often has the opportunity to talk with students about what they are experiencing, there are some limitations in what measures she can
take.
“If a child were to open up and say that they were cyberbullied over the weekend, that is an invitation to talk,” Summers said. “So in that way, I don’t think we’re limited. But if we’re talking about the legalities of it, there isn’t a process for us many times.”
Despite the barriers that can prevent school counselors from interfering with cyberbullying, counselor Linda Hardy uses several strategies to help her students who have been cyberbullied.
“My first reaction is to listen, find out what is going on, and how I can help the student get to a state of calm,” Hardy said.
Despite BVN’s techniques to prevent and handle cyberbullying, 47% of students polled on the @ bvnnews instagram believe that cyberbullying continues to affect the BVN community.
According to freshman Aryiana Winstead-Moody, cyberbullying worsens the mental health of BVN students.
“Cyberbullying can hurt a lot of people and make them feel insecure,” Winstead-Moody said.
Additionally, Lashley says that cyberbullying can affect the behavior of teenagers.
when teenagers are still discovering and establishing their identities, cyberbullying can put pressure on them to conform to societal standards and disregard their sense of self.
“Developmentally, you are
“ I feel like cyberbullying plays a big role in how teenagers act, and it may be why some people don’t like to be themselves..
–JaydinLashley
of Health, victims of cyberbullying have greater difficulty planning for and taking tests, resulting in worse grades than students who are not involved in cyberbullying. Additionally, Hardy says that being a victim of cyberbullying can diminish a student’s attendance.
“You don’t want to go to a place where you aren’t connected and where you don’t feel safe, so that’s what bullying destroys,” Hardy said.
For some students, talking to a teacher allows them to resolve their conflicts regarding cyberbullying and report the issue to the school administration if needed.
“
“As a teacher, I think it can be really hard to read everybody’s emotions, but I think that if teachers notice somebody is struggling, they should talk to them,” Shahid said.
“I feel like cyberbullying plays a big role in how teenagers act, and it may be why some people don’t like to be themselves,” Lashley said.
Summers says that during a time
supposed to be creating who you are, your social person and who you want others to see, and it gets solidified as you get older,” Summers said. “Cyberbullying puts a wrench in the whole developmental process.”
Shahid says that the mental health effects inflicted upon students by cyberbullying can influence their academic performance.
“If someone has low self-esteem or doesn’t feel accepted, they may be shut out or not focused on their studies,” Shahid said.
According to the National Institute
On the other hand, WinsteadMoody believes that the prevention of cyberbullying is dependent on the school administration.
“I believe that [administrators] can prevent cyberbullying by setting boundaries, kind of like the no cell phone usage policy,” Winstead-Moody said.
Summers agrees that the no cell phone policy is the most effective method to prevent cyberbullying on campus.
“I wish we could go ahead and pass the rule that phones stay at home,” Summers said.
Summers also says that students have the power to speak up and
prevent cyberbullying.
“Staying silent is not what you need to do because when you’re staying silent, you’re actually agreeing
with the aggressor,” Summers said. Summers says that it is important to not only worry about the victims of cyberbullying, but also the aggressor.
Where are people cyberbullied?
Bullies, including cyberbullies, sometimes reflect their hardships onto others in order to make themselves feel better, which means that they are dealing with mental health struggles as well.
“I worry a lot about the person being targeted, but I also have to worry about the person who said something and if they thought they were doing something good by letting the other person know,” Summers said.
Research shows that several factors lead to groups of students being involved in cyberbullying at higher rates on both sides of the spectrum.
For example, students of minority races and religions are targeted more often. According to the Pew Research Center, 21% of Black U.S. teenagers have been cyberbullied because of their ethnicity, which is significantly higher than the 4% of white teenagers that have been cyberbullied because of their ethnicity.
Freshman Adrianna Koita says that students of minority races are more likely to be cyberbullied.
“There is a lot of racism that goes
According to TechSoup Blog, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat are more likely to be sources of cyberbullying, and WhatsAPP, Youtube and Twitter have less cyberbullying.
Design by Olivia Moore
Sophomore Aliana Donlen looks at her phone while sitting in the library.
Photo by Olivia Moore.
around,” Koita said.
Additionally, some BVN students believe that girls are more involved in cyberbullying, while others believe that boys are.
“I think that boys joke around with each other more and are a little more harsh,” Lashley said.
On the other hand, junior Jack Becker believes that girls are more involved with and affected by cyberbullying.
“I feel like girls spread rumors online more, which has a gigantic outcome,” Becker said.
Hardy says that female beauty standards cause females to pick on each other more about their insecurities.
“We still have high beauty standards and expectations that you should look a certain way as a woman,” Hardy said. “I think that plays a role in why women pick on other women and why people attack women.”
Winstead-Moody also believes that girls are more likely to bully somebody online.
“With females, their friends make fun of them, so they think that they have the right to make fun of people too,” Winstead-Moody said.
Lashley says that friends making “jokes” about each other can quickly become harmful. “I do think that there is a line that is easy to cross if it gets to a point where it’s making somebody feel bad about themselves,” Lashley said.
While there is no major distinction between the rates that females and males are cyberbullied, transgender teenagers are cyberbullied at a significantly higher rate. According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, 23.7% of females, 21.7% of males and 35.4% of transgender teenagers are victims of cyberbullying. Furthermore, a greater number of LGBTQ students have experienced cyberbulling, 31.7%, compared to the 20.8% of heterosexual teenagers.
Shahid believes that socially isolated people are more likely to be hurt by cyberbullying.
“I feel like a lot of people who aren’t comfortable speaking up in person feel more comfortable online, but if they are cyberbullied, they might not feel accepted anywhere,” Shahid said.
Becker also believes that social status is a determining factor for whether somebody is cyberbullied.
“Some people might be affected more if they are not as popular,” Becker said.
These examples demonstrate that several factors that cause some high schoolers to be cyberbullied more often than others, which negatively affects their mental health.
To Say or Not to Say
WShould teachers share their opinions on controversial topics?
By Safa Al Ameer
hen becoming a teacher there are guidelines one has to follow. Similar to a student handbook, teachers have their own code of conduct set by the district and school board. Some teachers strictly adhere to those guidelines while others believe it’s important to voice their perspective. Topics such as religion, political views
up and express their opinion.”
According to the Blue Valley School Board policy for Political Advocacy By Employees 6350, teachers in the state of Kansas cannot use any time during working hours for “campaign solicitations or for the promotion, election, or defeat of any candidate for public office, or for any ballot question”. Chugg says election years are always “tricky” and although it might lead kids to be engaged in class it’s also harder because students are more emotional about it.
the use of cuss words are what teachers have to be careful about when discussing controversial topics.
AP Government and Sociology teacher Krista Chugg says the classes she teaches have controversial topics that need her to be unbiased.
“I try really hard, especially in my gov classes, to be neutral on things,” Chugg said. “I want everyone to feel respected and be in an environment where they feel like they could speak
Design by Safa Al Ameer
“You’ll have kids who are really supportive of one candidate or the other, and it’s tense,” Chugg said. “So sometimes you’re like, the peacekeeper. You’re managing everyone, and really, as a teacher, that’s what you’re doing.”
There have been times when Chugg has received an email from a concerned parent, but in the end, it has always been a misunderstanding.
“If I’ve ever gotten a parent, like a negative parent response, it’s a misinterpretation of what was said,” Chugg said. “Sometimes what a kid says, or their interpretation of something and where a parent goes with it is just not even true.”
That being said, Chugg also believes it’s not a bad thing for a teacher to share their perspectives and be “authentic”, but she understands why some teachers might not want to share their opinions.
“I don’t think we should be afraid of talking about real things in real life, but I think there’s a way to do it, in a structured way, in a way that is, like, maybe more academic, that has been supported with evidence,” Chugg said. “But I think any topic should be on the table because we want to prepare kids for real life.”
Senior Elliot Karpin shares a similar thought, believing teachers should have more flexible guidelines of what they can or can’t say.
“I think [teachers] should be able to say more actually, because I feel like it can kind of allow people to feel more comfortable with their teachers and like, be honest about their feelings,” Karpin said.
Karpin has had some instances where a teacher has shared information about their personal life that came off a bit “sketchy” or talked about a sensitive topic in their private lives. He believes if a teacher does ever say something that could be taken the wrong way, it’s never intentional.
“I think [if a teacher does say something “inappropriate,” it’s] to try to make a point about whatever they’re teaching, I don’t think they would just say it for no reason,” Karpin said.
Students in the library. Photo by Safa Al Ameer.
“It’s usually like they’re trying to make an argument, and it sometimes just comes across as weird.”
When it comes to the topic of cussing, Karpin isn’t affected by it. He believes that could be due to him being an upperclassman.
“Teachers have cussed, but I don’t think people are too weird about it,” Karpin said. “I think earlier in high school, people were weird about it because it was more surprising, but now it happens more often.”
“We employ human beings we want to be themselves, and its good to share things about your life, just like we would want with any student, to do themselves.
–TysonOtrosky
like politics, they are not allowed to force their views on what they believe. Bhagat thinks the way teachers handle topics is different depending on the generation of a teacher. “I think older teachers tend to either try not to bring stuff up, or they bring things up out of nowhere and it gets really awkward and random,” Bhagat said.
“
“Younger teachers are
more accepting of everyone and they talk about [“sensitive topics”] more.”
think there’s a “limit” to what can be shared about a teacher’s personal life as long as the intentions are to create a connection with their classes.
“If [what is said is] something to develop relationships with their classes in a way that’s appropriate, absolutely,” Dr. Ostrosky said. “You know, we employ human beings, and we want people to be themselves, and it’s good to share things about your life, just like we would want with any student to do with themselves.”
Freshman Dhriti Bhagat has heard her teachers cuss before, but the classroom’s overall reaction to it was laughter. There have also been times when teachers have shared their personal lives in classes.
“It can make the class feel more relaxed and people probably more comfortable,” Bhagat said. “But then sometimes, they take it to an extreme where it makes people feel the opposite; they feel uncomfortable.”
Bhagat has had teachers who talked about their religion in one way or another or mentioned something political. In the state of Kansas educators and students both have the right to religious expression, but
Principal, Dr. Tyson Ostrosky doesn’t believe age plays a role in what is or isn’t said in a classroom. Instead, he thinks it depends on the teacher.
“It’s completely whatever [the teachers are] comfortable with,” Ostrosky said. “Some people think [sharing their personal life is] a way to kind of develop a rapport with their students and that’s great. We respect teachers who are more private of their personal lives. That’s okay too.”
When it comes to topics such as politics and religion, Dr. Ostrosky believes anything of a “political nature or personal beliefs on issues are not part of the school setting” need to stay out of the classroom. He doesn’t
Ms. Chugg talking to her goverment class.
Photo by Safa Al Ameer.
Craziest Things Teachers have Said
“Put the wordle away before I murder you academically.”
“I’m the alpha.”
“A.I. is a type of horror.”
“I have a prediction: Orcas will start to eat humans soon.”
Beyond the Bubble
How has young peoples’ imposed and chosen isolation rerouted their relationship to themselves?
By Lauren Kopitas
Many young people note that this decade’s brand of solitude is a new and notably generational grievance, gracing the depersonalization felt in crowds, the bleak self-awareness of evenings spent alone at home, and gradually, even American attitudes towards actuality. A quarter into what has been termed an anti-social century by publications such as The Atlantic, BVN students discussed the cultural agents created by the modern cognitive fact of isolation.
Senior Amelia Brown mentioned technology’s stagnating effect, describing it as the mainstay of today’s self-isolation.
“It became clear to me how often we isolate ourselves as a habit when I noticed how lots of us consider outings a rarity,” Brown said. “Social media has given us a low-effort place to land . . . after a long day at work or school, and with this comes solitude. It’s technically our choice to isolate ourselves and scroll, but it doesn’t exactly feel like a conscious decision because being alone in this way is now
Design by Lauren Kopitas
a cultural habit.”
Freshman Tae Tran stated that this inclination has a basis in solitary opportunism.
“America is very individualist, and this value is central to the country’s workforce, but it’s also the thing that might set that workforce back as far as meaningful tasks and bonds are involved,” Tran said. “Unless you’re going out to eat on your own or doing something unplanned, you see the same faces basically every day, but connection with those people -- and with lots of things in life, actually -- is [discouraged] by the lifestyle we’re expected to adopt by the time we’re in middle and high school. There’s not much room for connection in the American schedule.”
Junior Isabella Matascik also emphasized the routine difficulty of socialization, citing America’s commercial infrastructure as a social barrier.
“Most public gathering places support consumption, not connection,” she said. “There aren’t many businesses or public places where you
can chat with friends without feeling obligated to spend money, so most young people avoid the inconvenience and just stay home by themselves. And with the shift towards this isolated lifestyle, people have lost the impulse to actively maintain and grow their friendships altogether.”
According to The New York Times, social psychologists have claimed that today’s habitual solitude enables people to construct and live in ideologically insulating niches -- both digital and personal -- which loosen the average individual’s adherence to actuality. Tran reinforced this idea, describing solitude’s disruption of conceptual exchange.
“When you’re stuck in an isolating bubble, you become too familiar with certain beliefs and start to incorporate biases into the way you think about the world,” Tran said. “That feeds into unnecessary hate and more negative emotions than those that are necessary to feel, and more importantly, it also hides you from any sort of conflicting worldviews and discourages opportunities to grow your mind and
ultimately your personality through conflict.”
Matascik noted the confusion of fact and feeling often accompanied by this seclusion.
“The situation is basically a judgement loop,” she said. “Without another perspective, you’re stuck [on the wheel] of your own mind, and after a while, you can’t be totally sure which thoughts are subjectively yours and which are reality.”
Brown claimed that this conflation has given rise to abrasive public communication styles, both personal and political.
“We curate our worlds so that they reflect nothing but our own ideas, and because of that, we obnoxiously criticize anything outside our bubbles that we think is offensive,” Brown said. “This is especially clear in American politics right now, not just private communication. The party system’s polarization is due to a hateful us-versus-them mentality . . . that is supported by each group’s sort of ideological isolation. That’s why there are several officials with basically no loyalty to truth passing our laws.”
Despite this segregation, Matascik claimed that self-isolation as a shared tendency doesn’t necessarily represent a pathological decline, but instead a revised understanding of social fulfillment.
“Historically, I feel like friendship has been strongly influenced by coincidence and environments, but right now, we’re seeing physical communities disappear, which helps
us to more intentionally choose the connections we begin and continue,” Matascik said. “It leads us to create less temporary entertainment-based friendships and more resilient valuesbased friendships.”
In this vein, Tran cited the prosocial potential of solitude.
“There’s this tendency to talk about isolation like it’s inherently bad, and while it can be destructive in many contexts, it can also prepare us for better connection through a kind of personal review,” Tran said. “Time alone gives us the chance to sit with and digest our own thoughts, which makes our sense of identity a little stronger. This means that we present a more complete version of ourselves to other people when we’re social with them going forward.”
“We curate our worlds so that they reflect nothing but our own ideas, and because of that, we obnoxiously criticize anything outside our bubbles that we think is offensive.
public anymore,” Brown said. “We’ve changed our world to avoid simple socializing. A surprising number of young people are bothered when they have to talk with someone [they don’t know], like a cashier or a waiter. The loss of that surface-level communication just binds us closer to existing friendships, which also leaves us stuck in our own little worlds.”
– Amelia Brown
“
Matascik noted the reassuring quality of regular social retreat, suggesting that it temporarily distracts from a deflated mutual identity stretched thin.
Meanwhile, Brown claimed that certain categories along a spectrum of distant to intimate socialization may be disappearing altogether.
“Less close friendships have basically become for us what acquaintanceships were for people older than us because we hardly ever interact with complete strangers in
“We pour days into the same soothing online and social loops because this hyperproductive society splits us from others, quantifies our importance at a young age, and completely exhausts us,” Matascik said. “As bad as it might be for us to seclude ourselves sometimes, isolation is a break from expectation, almost a defense mechanism. We hide away to stay afloat.”
Sophomore Jeffrey Montiel browses online for a brief distraction while working alone. Photo by Lauren Kopitas.
How to Host
Two French exhange students and a BVN student describe their experiences with exchange programs.
By Hannah Markiewicz
Every year, students from all over the world come to the United States and stay with families to get the experience of American high school. Hosting a foreign exchange student means being a second family for a
student who may not know anyone in the United States.
Sophomore Maria Parsons explained her experience with being a host family.
“Our first time hosting was through my older sister when she was in eighth grade. We had a French exchange student, and I was still pretty young, but I just love having someone here from another culture,” Parsons said.
This year, she and her family welcomed an exchange student for the second time.
“When I had the opportunity to [host a student], this past summer, for the first time, I jumped at it, and I was so excited to have someone who I could give the whole American experience to and also learn a little bit more about the French culture,” Parsons said.
Syrielle Chardin is staying with
Parsons for three weeks.
“[I came to the U.S. because] I wanted to discover the culture and I wanted to improve my English,” Chardin said.
Zoé Malcles-Vaux is also spending three weeks attending BVN with Junior Jonah Stein.
“I wanted to improve my English accent and I wanted to study in other lands,” Malcles-Vaux said.
Parsons explained that applying to host a foreign exchange student is an in-depth process with many parts, but it is generally not difficult.
“Honestly [applying to host a student] was pretty easy, as long as you have someone who has experience, like the French teacher last year, she’s retired now… she had a lot of good connections with people through the exchange program, and so she was able to make it easy,” Parsons said.
Design by Hannah Markiewicz
Chardin playing pickleball. Photo provided by Syrielle Chardin.
family is safe and will be a suitable environment for the student.
“The first time we applied, we had to go through a background check, we had to get a recommendation from the French teacher at Blue Valley North, we had to have a home check as well,” Parsons said. “They had to look through my social media and do background checks on my parents as well to make sure that we were a good fit. And then obviously just having a language teacher at the school… advocating for you to host a student is really important as well.”
Once the exchange student has been assigned to a family, the next step is settling into the new home, environment and school.
“School in the U.S. is less strict than France. The professors are more open in joking with the students, plus the schedule is different.
start school way earlier than they do, we eat lunch a lot earlier [and] we have a lot less time for lunch…So just getting into a regular routine of different timings is definitely the biggest thing,” Parsons said.
For the exchange students, American high school has created a reputation due to its popularity as a setting in movies and TV shows.
“[I wanted to come to the U.S.] because I wanted to test if the U.S. high school was like in the movies,” Malcles-Vaux
“ I feel like it’s really common that all the
students we’ve hosted have been
very proficient
in
trying to make sure they see everything and do as much as possible in the time that they’re here.”
Parsons enjoys hosting foreign students and has a difficult time when deciding who would be the best fit for her family.
“I think the hardest part is just, before the student gets here, getting to know about the students, like maybe seeing which would be the best fit for you,” Parsons said. “It’s so difficult because I want to host all of them and I want to meet all of them, but definitely just figuring out which one would probably have the best time with you and your family.”
English I’m very impressed like grammar, vocabulary, everything.
–Maira Parsons
“In France, we have to work from 8-5 or six,” Malcles-Vaux said. Chardin agreed that she has noticed differences between the U.S. and France.
“I feel like everything’s bigger than in France and people wearing pajamas to go to school [is different],” Chardin said.
Parsons has seen these cultural differences with her host student as well.
“The food portions are a really big thing because here everything is so big, but they’re not used to eating as much and seeing that much food,” Parsons said. “... And then also, what time we do everything. We
said. “[I hope to gain] maybe a better grade in English.”
Parsons is excited to give Chardin the American high school experience while she is here.
“We’ve gone downtown, we’ve gone to the Plaza, we went to Sweetheart this weekend, that was a lot of fun. We’re going to a…North basketball game,” Parsons said. “Definitely just giving [the host student] the most American experience possible, because that’s really the whole reason… that they’re here…But just integrating them into your daily life is the biggest goal and just
BVN students host exchange students almost every year, and there will likely be more hosting opportunities in the future.
“A lot of people I know, they’re like ‘I want to, but [hosting a student] just seems like a lot of work.’ It’s really not,” Parsons said. “If you just continue your own life and just make space for one extra person, it is honestly one of the best experiences you’ll ever have. Sometimes it’s a little bit difficult working around your plans and maybe having to add another person in there. But honestly, it’s really worth it to give these people the experience that they want coming here, and being able to show them our culture.”
Parsons and Chardin at the Plaza. Photo provided by Syrielle Chardin.
Malcles-Vaux at the Nelson Atkins Museum. Photo provided by Zoé Malcles-Vaux.
Malcles-Vaux and Chardin at the Sweetheart dance. Photo provided by Syrielle Chardin.
Chardin at Crumbl Cookies. Photo provided by Syrielle Chardin.
Season
As winter sports have come to a close, read about the end of their season.
By Addison DeVore
Boys Basketball
The team competed in their first substate game on March 4 against Olathe Southwest. They lost the game against the Falcons with a final score of 48-40.
Girls Basketball
The team competed in their first substate game against Olathe East and won the game with a final score of 100-34. Substate vs. Gardner is March 7 and State will be March 13-15. Results can be found online
Design by Addison DeVore
Recap
Wrestling
The team headed to state on Feb. 28 and ended 35th in state.
Swim & Dive
The team headed to state on Feb. 20 through Feb. 22. They overall ended the 12 events with 308 points and 1st place. This made the 2025 season their third straight state championship.
Bowling
The team went to state on March 7. Results can be found online.
Fashion Favorites
The clothes worn throughout BVN.
By Emily Hathaway
Clothes. Many people take hours to get ready in the morning, some only a few minutes. The majority of this time could be spent choosing an outfit or deciding what looks best with what or what to wear for the day.
Some people buy clothes because they like them, some buy clothes because they are popular or trending and sometimes both. In 2025, there will be countless fashion trends popping up throughout the year, such as animal print. I find animal print uncomfortable, ugly and very difficult
to match with.
Luckily, the animal print trend isn’t very popular at BVN. On the contrary, the camo clothing trend is very popular. I find the camo trend very unique, and that adding camo to your closet can upgrade your wardrobe.
Almost every day at BVN, you can see someone wearing camo sweatpants, a camo hoodie, camo jeans, etc. One of the most popular places where these camo items are purchased is Hollister, a closet staple of mine. Hollister has many new, trendy, popular clothes, from baggy jeans to graphic tees.
Another very popular brand worn at BVN is Lululemon. Lululemon is worn by many people every day at BVN, and you can spot at least one person wearing it walking to every class during the passing period. I don’t mind Lululemon. Although it is expensive, the quality of the clothes is exceptional.
One way Lululemon is worn that I don’t particularly like is wearing only Lululemon, for example, a Lululemon tank with a Lululemon jacket with Lululemon leggings and shoes. It’s just too much of a good thing, and I dislike how it looks. Another awful fashion trend of 2025 is the denim on-denim outfits; again, it’s just too much of a good thing.
To me, you look like a pair of jeans when you wear only denim. It just does not look good, and wearing it does not mean that you have a good style nor should you be viewed as having a unique style, you just look like your mom dressed you. On a high note, another trend that came back from being popular in the ’90’s
is cargo pants.
Cargo pants are incredibly comfortable and can make a mediocre outfit instantly better; you just have to know how to style them. At BVN, cargo pants are most commonly worn with a graphic tee, hoodie, sweatshirt or jersey, making it another common trend for 2025. The last criminal trend from the early 2000’s has to be skinny/ slim jeans.
From the awkward fit in general to the awkward look with almost any other article of clothing, skinny jeans have to be the worst fashion trend of 2025. Luckily, very few students at BVN wear them.
Brands commomly worn at BVN
PHOTO COLLAGE
the past semester at
Photos from
BVN.
Design by Addison DeVore
I SPY
By Addison DeVore and Madi Garrelts
Treasure Chest
Cat Pig
Upcoming Events
March 17-21
Event: Spring Break!
March 25
Event: Varsity Softball Double Header vs. SMNW
March 25
Event: Girls Varsity Soccer Game vs. BVW
March 26
Event: Varsity Baseball Single vs. ONW
March 27
Event: Boys Varsity Tennis Quad
Photo by Addison DeVore.
Photo by Cash Durbin.
Photo by Cash Durbin.
Photo by Madi Garrelts.
Design by Addison DeVore
Graphic by Josie Jones.
Immerse yourself into the upcoming spring season with this issues springthemed crossword. Use the articles and your knowledge to answer all of the questions.
By Madi Garrelts
CR SS W R D
ACROSS
4. Toys made of soap and water
5. Name of one of BVN’s U.S. history teachers
7. Harassment that is social media based
8. The legal age to sport bet in Kansas
10. The winter unified sport found at BVN
11. Popular location for spring break
DOWN
1. The sport Jada Farrington is committed for mentioned in the story “Committed”
2. Popular clothing brand found at BVN
3. The state of being alone
6. The name of a parent lead club at BVN
7. Name for an opinion that is not commonly shared by others
The North Star is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley North High School, an open forum distirbuted to all the students four times a year. This is the March issue of volume 39. This issue of The North Star is published digitally through ISSUU and in print by Valley Print Logistics. This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.
Blue Valley School District #229
Blue Valley North High School
12200 Lamar Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66209
