The North Star Volume 39, Issue 2

the

North Star

catch me

if you can

Learn more about the school skipping epidemic at Blue Valley North on pages 14-17.

BLUE VALLEY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS | VOLUME 39 | ISSUE 2

Contents News

Student Life

4,5

18,19 Connecting Through Concerts

Peer Presentation Van Freeman

Emily Hathaway

24,25 Season Recap

20,21 Is It True?

Feature

22,23 Decking the Halls

Addison DeVore

Anjali Kambhpampati Josie Jones

6,7

Burnout Olivia Moore

8,9

Editorial

Illuminating Learning Models

30

Lauren Kopitas

10,11 Diving into the Season Safa Al Ameer

12,13 Moving Medically Lilly Copeland

Photo Coverage 27

14-17 Catch Me if You Can Cash Durbin

Advertisement 26

Old World Ballonery & Yearbook Addison DeVore & Madi Garrelts

Flurries and Film Addison DeVore & Madi Garrelts

Photo Collage Addison DeVore

Arts & Leisure 28,29 ISpy

Addison DeVore & Madi Garrelts

31

Crossword Addison DeVore & Madi Garrelts

Online

Sidelined Birthday Blues Join the Club Anthony Sutcliffe Hannah Markiewicz 2 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024

Where We Droppin’?

Paul Struby

Page 17 A student signs out in

order to leave the classroom during class hours. Read more about school skipping on pgs. 14-17.

Photo by Cash Durbin.

A Look into the Issue...

SOCIALS

WEBSITE

@bvnnews

bvnnews.com

The North Star Staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Addison DeVore Madi Garrelts

STAFF WRITERS

Pg. 4,5 “I think for people who aren’t usually in the arts, they just see it with a clean set of eyes,” Masilionis said.

“So that’s really good on critiques for you, to see what other people, a bunch of different types of people, would say about your work.”

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

Pg. 10,11 “I like to encourage the underclassmen to start going because once they [the seniors] leave, someone has to fill those spots and the races, so you just got to motivate them to do better and get faster,” Parisi said.

COPY EDITORS

Lauren Kopitas Lilly Copeland Anjali Kambhampati

Website Instagram

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 3

NEWS

How do the students of BVN Share their artwork?

By Van Freeman

Photo of student painting a sunrise. Photo by Van Freeman.

F

rom painting to portfolio, BVN is home to many different art classes. At the end of each semester, all the students’ artwork is displayed for the entire school to see. Some of the art students, as well as the art teacher, shared their thoughts and opinions of what it means to display their art.

Tom Holland is the teacher for painting, portfolio and many other art classes at BVN. “I love painting and drawing,” Holland said. “I will paint and draw until I can’t. Until I physically can’t.”

Holland shared his thoughts about art and the art showcase.

“We [BVN art teachers] wanted to come up with something that the kids could be involved in, and where they could actually vote on [art] and we would give awards,” Holland said.

“We wanted to make it a culminating activity.”

One of the art students that participates in the show, Junior Ivy Fischer shared what art meant to her.

“I’ve never been really good at putting my thoughts into words, so I always have it easier communicating through art,” Fischer said.

Senior Siena Masilionis shared similar thoughts on the topic.

“My favorite thing is you can really

4 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Van Freeman

just tell stories that you want to tell,” Masilionis said. “I’m in portfolio, so our main goal is to try to have an overarching theme for all of our pieces. So you can really just show your personality and what you want to tell through your art.”

During the art showcase, students may display one project they have worked on during the semester.

“What I’m working on right now is combining my 3D sculptures with my 2D stuff,” Fischer said about her display piece.

These projects are designed to build the skill set of the artist, according to Holland.

“Most of them are based on skillmore expensive than we thought it building exercises,” Holland said, would be. I don’t know if it’s ever “Developing a skill set that’s going to going to come to fruition or not. I make you better.” desperately hope it does.”

Masilionis agrees with this idea.

Despite these issues, the art “You will improve so much showcase still is a large event. throughout the “We put year, so by around the the end of announcement I love painting and the semester, and we say, drawing. I will paint everybody ‘Hey, come has at least down and see and draw until I can’t, something the artwork,’” until I physically that they’re Holland can’t.–Tom Holland proud of and said. “People something that tell friends, they’ve at least sometimes we improved on,” have parents Masilionis said. come up, we When it was created, the art have an award ceremony… it’s usually showcase ran into many problems at during AST.” first.

The students also help to spread the “The logistics of doing it were word about the art showcase. always kind of challenging, you “I try not to [encourage] just my know, because then we couldn’t do work, but also head down there to see everybody, because it’s just too much,” what the other students are doing, and Holland said. “There’s too many kids, what they’re involved in,” Fischer said. not enough wall space. So we managed Fischer shared her view on what it to get these grid walls, which really means to her to show off her artwork. helped hang the paintings and stuff “I really like when people can see on.” it,” Fischer said. “I like [how] they Holland also said there have been interpret my stuff, because I know I more issues with displaying the art have my own specific information, but concerning the budget.

I really think when people talk about it, “The one thing I’ve really pushed it’s just interesting.” for the last couple of years is to get Masilionis also shared her view an art gallery down in the flex space,” about showing off her artwork to her Holland said. “We got some grant fellow students, and how it helps her money for it, but the project has been improve. stalled out because it’s just been way “I think for people who aren’t usually in the arts, they just see it with a clean set of eyes,” Masilionis said.

“So that’s really good on critiques for you, to see what other people, a bunch of different types of people, would say about your work.”

Holland emphasized the work that goes into the students’ artwork, and why being able to show it off is important for them.

“The world in which we live in today, unfortunately, everything’s about instant gratification,” Holland said. “Art is a process; it’s a lengthy process and it’s not something that happens instantaneously, and it takes concentration, focus [and] commitment to what you’re doing.”

Holland also shared the importance of what the art showcase does for the students.

“It’s significantly important for Photo of a painting of a river. Photo by

“

our department, and important for our kids, for recognition. They get something that they recognize, right?

And we really put a lot of emphasis on this with our kids, to get involved.

We want our kids to be rewarded and recognized.”

“

Van Freeman.

Photo of portraits hung on wall from portfolio class. Photo by Van Freeman.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 5

Burnt Out

FEATURE

How are BVN students affected by mid-year burnout and how do they cope with it throughout the year?

By Olivia Moore

M

id-year burnout is a common struggle for high school students as winter break is finally in sight and the stress of finals and semester deadlines looms above.

For junior Ruth Van Der Laan, managing AP classes at the end of the semester is a driving force that leads to mid-year burnout.

“This year, I’m in four AP classes and one honors class, and I think that all of those teachers feel like their class is the most important,” Van Der Laan said.

However, Van Der Laan strives to stay on top of her school work throughout the year due to her academic aspirations.

“I’m interested in going to

competitive colleges, so I try to remind myself that I have to do my homework because it will be good for my future,” Van Der Laan said.

On the other hand, sophomore Chloe Lwin has decided to not take AP classes in order to avoid burnout, which has proved to be valuable for her grades and her mental health.

“Before my freshman year, I was told to focus on building friendships, so I haven’t taken any AP classes yet, which I find beneficial because I know that I don’t have to be failing an AP class when I can be exceeding in an on-level class,” Lwin said.

Senior Ryan Lo claims that the “competitive culture” at BVN is why many students decide to take an exceeding amount of AP classes.

Isabella Edwards scrolls on her phone in the library.

Photo by Olivia Moore.

6 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Olivia Moore

During his junior year, Lo took several AP classes, but he struggled to balance his time between extracurricular activities and schoolwork.

“It all starts with sports for me,” Lo said. “During soccer season, you already get home late, then you have to do homework afterward, so that kind of ruins my schedule.”

Van Der Laan’s extracurriculars, the French horn and Scouts, take up a lot of her time, yet she has found that she gains motivation instead of becoming burnt out and overwhelmed by them.

“Sometimes I’ll actually take a break from my school work to go do my extracurriculars,” Van Der Laan said.

Attending Scouts camping trips throughout the year provides Van Der Laan with much-needed breaks and gives her something to look forward to when she is feeling overwhelmed.

When Van Der Laan feels overwhelmed at school, she utilizes AST as a break.

“I’ll listen to a podcast, crochet or read a book,” Van Der Lann said.

Lwin has found that dedicating time to focus on her hobbies outside of school every day prevents her from becoming stressed.

“I learnt to play the ukulele with my brother, which was a fun thing to do,” Lwin said. “One thing that I always do is journal, and I love writing poems because they help me express what I’m going through.”

Furthermore, attending social activities on the weekends and staying

active helps Lwin remain positive throughout the week.

“Going on runs is really good because it helps me keep motivated,” Lwin said. “Also, I always have something to look forward to on the weekends, or even Friday night football games.”

However, Lwin claims that she attends less social activities as the year progresses.

“I feel like as the school year goes on, we have more tests that are worth a lot of your grade and more projects that are time consuming,” Lwin said. “So, I feel like I do lose out on social interactions because I’m so focused on school.”

For some high school students, managing grades proves to be challenging when experiencing burnout.

“My grades do fluctuate throughout the year because I turn lots of stuff in late,” Lo said.

Van Der Laan also observes changes in her grades throughout the year.

“They start at 100%, then they sometimes take a little bit of a dive, but they tend to stay pretty steady,” Van Der Laan said.

Although Lwin does notice a decrease in her grades when experiencing frequent burnouts, she has recently been driven to get “A’s” in all of her classes because of her career ambitions.

“I really want to pursue medicine when I’m older, possibly be a cardiologist,” Lwin said. “So I know that I have to work really hard to become a doctor.”

In order to stay focused and complete her school work, Lwin ensures that all distractions have been removed from her mind before sitting down at her desk to work.

“I get very distracted easily, so I have to put my room in full darkness

and blast music in my ears so that I can concentrate,” Lwin said. “The tiniest noise can completely distract me, or a text message on my phone, so I always put my phone on do not disturb.”

An additional effect of mid-year burnout for some students is sleep deprivation.

“I get less sleep because I kind of

“

It all starts with sports for me. During soccer season, you already get home late, then you have to do homework afterwards, so that kind of ruins my schedule.

–Ryan Lo

get into this rut where I continually stay up later to do homework, and I procrastinate way more in the middle of the year,” Van Der Laan said.

On the other hand, Lo claims that sleep is vital for his mental health when he is burnt out.

“You definitely need more sleep when you are burnt out because you are already stressed,” Lo said.

Whether mid-year burnout causes sleep deprivation, social isolation, stress or decreased grades for a student, it shapes the lives of many.

Lwin claims that mid-year burnout is an universal experience for teenagers, and society needs to take charge in order to solve the detrimental problem.

“I feel like a lot of teenagers express that they are stressed, but they are neglected. In order to solve this, I would say that people should just pay attention to those who are stressed and find ways to help them,” Lwin said.

“

How a student’s emotions fluctuate throughout the year because of burnout.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 7

FEATURE

Illuminating Learning

Models

How do the library’s atypical offerings support the resurgence of adaptable and personally-driven educational models?

W

hen students enter the library, they’re met with novel displays, spirited music and multi-sensory activities, all of which create an atmosphere quite unlike that of a normal study space. Though unconventional, the library’s outlets involve up-and-coming learning models that seek to provide instruments for worldly learning.

According to Abby Cornelius, one of the school’s two librarians, the space’s environment helps students create a leisurely “self-guided curriculum” for themselves when they visit.

“Libraries have been getting busier across the country, and this is part of a greater academic trend that prioritizes concrete engagement,” Cornelius said.

“We work hard to provide resources and activities that help kids understand how to make their own lesson plans, so to speak, and not just here in school, but outside of it. As a librarian, my goal is not to teach students what to

By Lauren Kopitas learn, but how to learn.”

As a student who enjoys frequenting the library, junior Kat Begelfer said that the space not only helps her to identify her own interests, but also provides the educational resources necessary to approach them seriously.

“I think it would be easy for the librarians to entertain kids’ passions for a little while as a brain break or a way to increase productivity in the classroom, but that couldn’t be further from the values they seem to have,” Begelfer said. “They treat students’ random questions and side interests like they’re just as important as what the kids learn in their classes.”

Absorbing information in small segments as Begelfer describes is a new technique referred to as microlearning.

Kate Pommerenke, the other school librarian, suggests that she and Cornelius strive to implement methods like this one for the benefit of growing minds.

“I think microlearning — or learning in small doses — is extremely

8 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Lauren Kopitas

beneficial for students who find themselves asking questions that don’t yield immediate answers,” Pommerenke said. “This practice gives you the chance to think critically in little bursts without confining yourself to the subject of interest. If your mind wanders and you find yourself thinking about other components of the same subject, no curriculum or other guiding force can keep you from exploring it.”

Cornelius emphasized the library’s support of tactile learning, another form of learning.

“Working with one’s hands has been shown to not only make us happy, but to alter our attitude towards learning as a whole,” Cornelius said.

“The majority of high school curricula focus on abstract things like historical events or numbers so small that they can’t be visualized. By working with your hands, you’re not only digesting information in a way that creates a sense of concreteness, but you’re developing questions about the world as it is now.”

The gradual rise of microlearning and tactile learning aligns with a current resurgence of New Education movement principles.This trend also encouraged cooperation, hands-on engagement and exposures beyond the classroom. In recent years, these principles have begun to resurface in the form of compound and tactile learning techniques.

Begelfer agreed with these changes, but cited the importance of maintaining the current educational framework as a guiding backbone.

“I think kids themselves should absolutely have a bigger say in what they learn, but at the same time, we shouldn’t stray too far from a model with a shared foundation as far as what is being taught in class,” Begelfer said. “All of us need to be able to write a solid essay and carry out certain math operations, for example, but we should be allowed to do these things slightly differently than our peers if need be.”

Pommerenke explained that these repurposed New Education values cater to humans’ impulse to learn.

“In kindergarten, kids tend to wander around the classroom from activity to activity the way we encourage them to do in our library, but the transition to secondary school conditions them out of this explorative mindset,” Pommerenke explained.

“The goal of the New Education movement — and the goal of the library — is to reawaken kids to that impulse. If we expose them to spaces

like the ones in which they thrived when they were younger, they’ll eventually remember what it means to learn and to love doing so.”

For Pommerenke, the prioritization of these values encourages a change in the libraries learning environment.

“Library curriculum should revolve around about how to be a free-thinking person in a society that may not always invite questions,” Pommerenke said.

“Teachers have to focus on narrow subjects and formulas, but as librarians, we have the opportunity to create information-savvy citizens, and that’s

“

As a librarian, my goal is not to teach students what to learn, but how to learn.

–Abby Cornelius

“

our most important privilege.”

Cornelius emphasized the difficulty of impressing these changes within the confines of the country’s enduring academic model.

“The hypocrisy of today’s education is that it’s clearly here to help young people learn, but it restricts them from pursuing a variety of knowledge in the process because of how formulaic it is,” Cornelius said.

“While using AI to produce ideas for school is completely unacceptable, it makes sense that lots of kids have

turned to those means because, after all, our approach to learning has seriously harmed their ability to think.”

Adding to this idea, Belfeger suggested that most of the school’s physical educational spaces themselves aren’t helpful to learning.

“Minimal natural light, bright fluorescents, and uncomfortable chairs distract kids or harm their ability to absorb info, and when you add in the narrowness of the curriculum that is taught in these spaces, schools can feel stifling,” Begelfer said. “They have the exact opposite effect on students than what’s intended and close them off from education instead.”

While Cornelius claimed that the New Education resurgence is a positive development, she also expressed concern about its efficacy, identifying its limitations in the very origins of systematized learning.

“Education has gone through numerous swings in the past few years, just like always,” Cornelius said. “But the critical reason that all of these movements eventually lose momentum is because they function within a broader academic model that has been basically the same since the 1870s and was first created to train soldiers, not thinkers. Until this model collapses, whether as a result of administrative evaluation or external forces, I can’t be sure that education will change the way the world needs it to.”

Left: Junior Aakanksha Roy and sophomore Ananya Santhosh collaborate during a segmented math lesson taught in the library.

Photo by Lauren Kopitas.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 9

FEATURE

Photo of the varsity swim team after winning state for the second time last year. Photo provided by Noah Pratt.

Diving into the Season

As the swim season begins, the one question on people’s minds is this: Will the favored North swim team become champions again?

By Safa Al Ameer

T

he North swim team has been the reigning KSHSAA Swimming & Diving champs for the last two years. This winter, they are trying for a third to continue their victory streak.

Junior Harris Stevens is “excited” for this swim season and to get back to the “positive environment.”

Although the only time the swim team competes together is in relays, Stevens believes swimming isn’t a solo sport but more of a team.

“It’s not on the back of one person, it’s a team sport, and it’s going to be a team effort to win,” Stevens said.

Stevens said his biggest supporter is their coach, Rob Cole.

He said Rob knows how to get people motivated and he knows when to be “silly” and “serious.”

“There are some people that are just made to be coaches, and [Cole is] one of those people,” Stevens said.

“He’s given me lots of not just swimming advice, but also life advice.”

Sophomore Noah Pratt is also excited for this season. Pratt says the team has been putting in a lot of work off-season and it would mean a lot to have all that work to go to something good like winning state again.

“

It’s not on the back of one person, it’s a team sport, and it’s going to be a team effort to win.

–Harris Stevens

“

Similarly, Pratt shares the same views on Cole as Stevens. “[The best advice Cole gave us was] probably, keep swimming,” Pratt said. “No one cares. [If you] got something going on, nobody likes [when] you mess up. Just get back to what you’re doing.”

Even as a sophomore, Pratt feels pressured to win state again. He believes the team’s greatest strength

10 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Safa Al Ameer

is the 4x100 freestyle relay. Cole, the coach, agrees.

“We have won the 400 freestyle relay the last four years in a row, and it’s the last event of the meet,” Cole said. “And even when we haven’t won a state championship. We’ve won that event.”

Swim practice is different than other sports practices. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, there’s morning practice from 5:15 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. Every day, after school they have practice from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Lastly, on Saturday, practice lasts two hours. Pratt said that Cole pushes his swimmers, but it benefits them in the end.

“Compared to other teams, [North prepares for the state championships differently],” Pratt said. “A lot of teams will have a two-week taper period where they kind of go easier. Rob is like, ‘The three days before the meet will go a little bit easier.’”

Senior Henry Parisi said that at the rest time, it’s best to get your body ready by eating well and getting a good night’s sleep.

Parisi is “absolutely excited” for this swim season and going for the third victory.

“I think we win our state championships because we are overall a good team,” Parisi said. “These other teams have a couple few amazing swimmers, but all of our guys overall are very good, and we’re very diverse.

We have a lot of different people that have different strengths, and that’s what really matters at state.”

Just like Pratt and Stevens, Parisi has gotten much advice from Cole. “[Cole’s best advice is] when training starts to get hard, and when things get hard at practice and your body is tired, that’s when you really need to push yourself so you can push that line of exhaustion further,” Parisi said.

This kind of dedication and motivation can be seen in the swimming pool and out. Parisi said when going to the swim meets, people would be able to hear the swim team in the locker room.

“We’re all banging on the lockers.

And it honestly doesn’t even sound like bangs, it just sounds loud,” Parisi said.

“We also have the horse saddle. We usually find one of the freshmen, put them on top of that, and lift them up at the beginning to swim meet, and we say our chants.”

As an upperclassman, Parisi sets an example for the underclassman. He said his dedication helps with that.

“I think [my dedication] may rub off on others because I like to encourage the underclassmen to start going because once [the seniors] leave, someone has to fill those spots and the races, so you just got to motivate them to do better and get faster,” Parisi said.

Parisi, Pratt and Harris all have something in common when it comes to the North swim team and that is

their supporting coach. Rob Cole has been coaching swim for over 30 years, this is his eighth year coaching at North. He believes the swim team is strong but this year it’s a close call on who will win state, as schools like Shawnee Mission East will be competition this year. “[The North swim team] expects to be one of the better programs every year,” Cole said. “They train as they would if they were going to win it and so I think they always have that mindset of ‘we have to aspire to rise to the top.”

Cole loves the community at North and how supportive the team is to one another. “[The boys] might not be all friends outside of the pool, but inside the pool, they definitely help one another out,” Cole said. “When somebody needs to be picked up or challenge somebody in practice [they know how] to push each other.”

In the end, Cole doesn’t believe it’s all about winning. Winning state doesn’t just prove that they are the better team.

“I focus on improvement,” Cole said. “[The boys] collectively decided to set goals and [winning shows they] met those expectations [while also] working together to achieve their greatness.”

North swimming pool. Photo by Safa Al Ameer.

What Does Morning Practice Look Like?

5:15-6:30

6:30-7:00

7:35

Rob Cole writing on a whiteboard during practice. Photo by Safa Al Ameer.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 11

FEATURE

moving

medically BVN students are pursuing medicine outside the traditional classroom.

By Lilly Copeland

B

VN students are stepping out of traditional classrooms to immerse themselves in an innovative learning environment, the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS). Available to juniors and seniors, the medical CAPS program prepares students for a future in medicine. The program offers diverse courses and handson learning experiences to guide students through the complexities of being a practitioner. Students from around the district leave their home school for part of the day to learn in a building designed to simulate real-world experiences.

With the guidance of healthcare professionals, teachers and guest speakers, CAPS medical students gain firsthand experience in fields they aspire to pursue.

Senior Margaret Wilkinson is currently training in the Certified Nursing Assistance (CNA) course, working towards earning her license at the end of the semester. She was inspired to join the program after shifting her focus to a different future career.

“I was originally going to do teachers ed, but I had to have hip surgery over the summer going into

my junior year, and I decided that I wanted to start doing medical instead,” Wilkinson said. “I was really inspired by all the nurses, so I decided to sign up to take the CNA CAPS.” The class’s coursework varies depending on the day, ranging from

“

Being able to take CAPS has been an eyeopening activity.

–Kushal Reddy

Design by Lilly Copeland

“

working clinical trials to studying state curriculum for the exam.

“There’s two very different days,” Wilkinson said. “One of the days is you’re in the classroom and you’re working with the state curriculum, and it’s basically this blue book that states ways to be a CNA and how to do things and what to do when things happen. And then the other days we go to clinicals at retirement homes, so at first, I was at Tallgrass. And in a week,

12 | THE NORTH STAR | MONTH 2024

I go to Village Shalom.”

Clinicals are essential to the class, putting students in the field to experience CNA procedures with patients.

“We’re paired up with some nurse or a CNA or a med aide, and we just walk around with them, with patient care, getting them up, helping them change, helping them shower, and it’s all a fun experience,” Wilkinson said.

Traveling to these nursing homes allows students to practice patient-topractitioner communication.

“You have to refer to everything very professionally, no matter what,” Wilkinson said. “There’s a thing called elder speak where you talk down to elderly people and call them names like honey, baby, sweetie, or anything. And you’re not supposed to do that, as it can aggravate patients.”

Patient relationships can sometimes be complicated, highlighting the hard work nurses in nursing home facilities put in.

“I had this one patient, and she was so sweet, but she had some issues, and she couldn’t remember that her parents and her sister died,” Wilkinson said.

Due to their training in patient communications, all staff and students must maintain the truth regardless of

the situation.

“It was so hard to tell her over and over again that the people she was asking for were dead, as I wasn’t allowed to lie to her,” Wilkinson said.

For senior Ali Hinds, professional communication is a key curriculum focus as a student in the foundations of medicine program.

“Connecting with the patients is important,” Hinds said. “They emphasize that a lot in CAPS, especially in my class, we need to be upfront with what the patient is dealing with. You can’t lie to them. You can’t stretch the truth. We emphasize the importance of effective, honest communication with the patient.”

The Foundations of Medicine program explores a variety of diverse daily tasks to train students for medical procedures.

“Most Fridays, we have a simulation lab where we practice medicine on these big simulation dolls,” Hinds said. “We’ve had ones on cystic fibrosis, heart attacks, lots of things We take blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate; everything do is a basic analysis on the patients before we go into whatever that week’s theme is.”

Utilizing hands-on experience through mock procedures allows students to understand concepts more easily.

“Learning about subjects in class is interesting, but not many people have the same learning strategies,” Hinds said. “So, I think being in the SIM lab helps people connect to their brains better and learn.”

CAPS gives students the opportunity to access an alternative learning style that helps them step out of their home schools into a new environment. For Hinds, her class has helped her shape the course of her future post-graduation.

“I love going to CAPS,” Hinds said.

“I think it’s great that it gets you out of this sterile, regular school environment.

Being in these programs has helped me know that I want to pursue medicine.

I love helping people and being a part of this.”

Senior Kushal Reddy shares a similar opinion on expanding his education by participating in the CAPS Bio-Science Research program.

The program allows students to choose an area of interest within biology to continue exploration and research.

“Being able to take CAPS has kind of been an eye-opening activity, not only because I’m not focusing on mastering a single curriculum, but being able to do my own selfdriven thing that I’m interested in has motivated me,” Reddy said.

The Bioscience program differs from others in the medical strand by emphasizing connecting with researchers to broaden medical knowledge.

“I’m hoping to get out of it is to be able to connect with the researchers,” Reddy said. “ I’ve been able to talk to two researchers. One works at KU Med Center, and one looks at Children’s Mercy Research Institute.

So just being able to talk to them about something I’m passionate about like diabetes, was the most eye-opening thing to me.”

Students can utilize their research for future medical schools and employers through written papers to add substantiality to their resumes.

“Being able to research gives you the skills that are useful for the future when you have to do research for medical school and when you talk to professionals and communicate with them,” Reddy said. “Just being able to get all these skills early on will help me to get ahead of everyone.”

When considering schedules for the next semester or year, current medical students strongly recommend the diverse variety of classes.

“I would totally suggest my program,” Reddy said. “If you’re willing to put in time and be a hardworking person at it, then, yeah, you’re going to get a lot out of it. I think, it is really interesting and opens more opportunities for the future.”

While CAPS classes can be more complex than typical classes, the experience is worth the reward.

“I would 100% recommend taking the CNA class,” Wilkinson said.“It’s a very hard class so every day you’re doing something, you’re never just going to be sitting there.”

Steps To Become CNA Certified

Successfully graduate from a certified nursing assistant school in Kansas.

Pass the Kansas NATCEP Nurse Aid State Exam.

After passing exams individuals are required to register as a certified CNA on the Kansas CNA Registry.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 13

FEATURE

Catch Me

School attendance is at an all time low, what is the impact on BVN?

By Cash Durbin

14 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER Design by Cash Durbin

Student runs away from Security Resource Officer in an attempt to skip school.

Photo by Addison DeVore.

If You Can S

kipping school is a common going through certain things in life, occurrence in high schools and sometimes it manifests in ways across the country, and where students don’t go to class. I’m according to an article not in a position to judge people for published by “The Hechinger what they’re going through. I just want Report,” roughly 1 in 4 high school all students to know that we want them students were chronically absent from here.” school in the 2022-23 school year,.

Cox also believes that while it may This drastically increased from the seem as though lots of kids are leaving 15% of chronic absenteeism seen throughout the school day, many are before the COVID-19 pandemic. going to different district activities such Chronic absenteeism is classified as as CAPS and career-ready programs missing more than 10% of classes like the fire department program throughout the school year. Between offered at North. the school years of 2018-19 and “We have a lot of students that 2022-23 the percentage of K-12 kids come and go for various programs across America nearly doubled from within our building, and so it may 15% to 28% of students according to look like we have a lot of students who an article published on Brookings.edu. aren’t here for periods of time, but in This connects to Blue Valley school actuality, they’re part of another Blue districts absenteeism rates as well. PreValley program,” Cox said. pandemic in 2018 the district reported Cox wants students to be in class a 7.71% absenteeism rate compared to and wants students to feel comfortable the 2022 school year where a 15.01% in the building and able to learn. absenteeism rate was reported by the “We want students in class, and if Kansas Legislature website. they’re not here, I think our teachers Oftentimes, at BVN, the first do a really good job of working method of outreach to fix these with them to make sure that they issues is to understand the communicate content that with the family they missed,” I’m not in a position of the kid to try Cox said. and get a grasp Sophomore to judge people for on why it might Lucia Noll had what they’re going be happening. contrasting through. I just want Dr. Cory Cox opinions about is the director the issue of all students to know of curriculum skipping at that we want them and instruction North. here. at BVN. He “[At] believes that North I would –Cory Cox BVN, along with definitely say the other Blue [skipping] is Valley schools, a problem, is doing well because it’s against chronic pretty easy absenteeism to walk out and working together to improve the of the school and then just walk back district the best they can. whenever you want,” Noll said. “You “I think we’re in this as a united don’t have to talk to attendance or front,” Cox said. “I think everyone is anything.”

“

“

If Noll could change anything about how things are done to prevent skipping, she would add more security.

“I think you just have to have tighter security, to not make it so easy to walk out of the school whenever you want,” Noll said.

Sheryl Stein, a math teacher at Blue Valley North, would agree with Noll that there is a problem with students skipping days of school. However, Noll and Stein have different beliefs about how much students skip.

“I don’t think it’s skipping for most kids, hour by hour, but I do think it’s a lot of kids skipping full days,” Stein said.

However, in contrast, Noll believes that skipping doesn’t always occur for the full day.

“I feel like a lot of times, people will skip just one class, because maybe they have a test or something they’re not ready for,” Noll said.

Stein mentioned that another school in the Blue Valley district has an attendance policy. Noll added onto this and said that friends she had at another Blue Valley School weren’t able to leave the school due to a recent addition of an attendance policy.

“I know a lot of my friends at Blue Valley West can’t walk out of school [because] they have people [security] there, so you can’t do that,” Noll said.

While Stein thinks that there is an attendance problem at North she thanks the admin for their recent policy additions like the hall passes as they help keep students in class.

“I think that the hall passes have, for the most part, helped to keep kids in class,” Stein said.

Stein is also pleased with the effectiveness of the recent district-wide phone policy, which requires students to store their phones in a phone holder during teaching hours. It has removed the threat of students agreeing to meet up during class time to hangout which disrupts the learning environment.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 15

Example of a student’s attendance chart in Synergy.

disrupts the learning environment.

“I think the phone policy helps with student engagement in the classroom, and the fact that the phone can’t leave, makes it so kids leave and get back quicker, and we don’t have problems in the bathroom,” Stein said.

Stein also said that she thinks that the skipping problem has become a more serious issue in recent years after the pandemic in 2020.

“I would say probably since COVID, we’ve seen an increase, and it’s because so many teachers put their notes, videos and help online,” Stein said.

Stein appreciates her students who are active in the classroom and knows she doesn’t have to worry about their academic standing.

“I think most kids are doing what they need to do,” Stein said.

Stein wishes that there were more strict consequences for students skipping classes such as in her math classes, as it is hard to make up lost class time. While she acknowledges that there are serious reasons that students are unable to come to school, she wishes that parents could also help end this problem of students skipping class.

“As long as the parents are willing to lie for the kids, then it doesn’t matter,” Stein said. “So unless you get parents on board to say, like, do not call your kid in sick, let them take it.”

42% (93 votes) Of 220 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram.

16 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024

YES

NO

Do you think that BVN has an attendance issue?

58% (127 votes)

BVN student signs out to use the class hallpass, a newly implemented system at BVN. Photo by Cash Durbin.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 17

Connecting Through Concerts FEATURE

Why do students at BVN go to concerts and are they actually worth the hype?

By: Emily Hathaway

T

“I bought merch because it was Alan Jacksons’ last tour and it’s a great souvenir to remember the experience,” Snyders said.

Sophomore Zayley Love described pop. her experience going Another to Pitbull, Drake, senior, Yasmine Bryson Tiller and Snyders said Rod Wave this she went year.

“Going to concerts is to see Alan “Going what I like to do for Jackson and to concerts is fun; it’s fun to talk to the Urge this what I like to year. Snyders do for fun; it’s people around you, explained fun to talk to meet new people, and why Alan people around listening to music you Jackson was you, meet new her favorite people, and listen to throughout concert. listening to your daily life in “It was music you listen person is an amazing his last tour, to throughout the venue your daily life experience” was huge, in person is –Zayley Love and I had an amazing so much fun experience,” singing and dancing with my friends,” Love said.

Snyders said.

Love described why her favorite Synders added that the overall concert was Bryson Tiller. experience led her to buying merch “He had a dj and before he came and made up for the price of the out he was hyping the crowd up with tickets.

Sexxy Red, Pinkpanthress, etc.,” his year, several BVN students went to a variety of concerts, spanning from rap to

“

“

$uicideboy$ album.

18 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Emily Hathaway

Love said. “I also especially liked this concert because there weren’t seats, everyone was standing up, and I got to meet a lot of new people.”

Love thinks that meeting new people is so easy at concerts because everyone already has a common interest and is looking to connect with similar people.

“Everyone is so nice and their true selves at concerts, since everyone is happy to be there and are just living in the moment,” Love said After concerts, Love’s favorite extradition is getting merch as a souvenir. Similar to Snyders, Love agrees the price is worth it.

“I like to buy merch because I like to have it as a memory and it’s fun to wear it to school the next day to show everyone you went to that concert,” Love said.

Love has gone to concerts with several different people, and believes it impacts the overall experience at a concert.

“I went to Pitbull with my friend and her mom, then the rest of the concerts I just went to with my mom,” Love said.

Senior Blaire Curdy said she

Jason Aldine singing. Photo provided by Blaire Curdy.

enjoyed her past experiences with concerts, with each making an impact on her outlook of concerts.

She has been willing to go to a concert no matter how far away it is. “ The farthest I’ve traveled for a concert was Tennessee for a Garthbrooks concert, it was around 9 or 10 hours, not including our stops,” Blaire said.

Curdy talks about how out of all of the concerts she went to this year, her favorite was Jason Alsine, an artist her family has worked with for years. “[My favorite part was] the quality time I was able to spend with my family, I knew every song and was the loudest in my section,” Curdy said.

This year Curdy also saw $uicideboy$ in concert this year. She talked about how the people you go to concerts with can make your overall experience better.

“The concert experience was phenomenal, but what put the experience over the top was spending time with family and friends,” Curdy said.

Curdy believes that concerts are a good outlet for people.

“I would recommend people going to concerts in general because they are a great way to let out any built up emotion,” Curdy said. “All your negative thoughts are just gone and the only thing you’re thinking about is the present moment, it is an experience unlike any other. I also get to meet a lot of new people and make so many good memories.”

$ucideboy$ singing. Photo provided by Blaire Curdy.

How much are you willing to pay for a concert ticket?

53% said $100-$200 (130 votes) 29% said $200-$300 (70 votes)

9% said $300-$400 (22 votes)

9% said $400+ (22 votes)

Of 244 people polled on @ bvnnews instagram.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 19

Was the moon landing fake?

What goes on in Area 51?

Is Princess Diana still alive?

Does the government silence people who know too much?

STUDENT LIFE

Was the CIA involved in John F. Kennedy’s assasination?

What are students’ takes on popular conspiracy theories?

W

as Princess Diana’s death an accident?

Was the moon landing a hoax? Is Beyoncé behind the deaths of multiple celebrities? Many different opinions are circulating among popular conspiracy theories.

On Aug. 31, 1997, Princess Diana of Wales died from injuries following a car crash in Paris, France.

Despite many findings surrounding the situation, several rumors and conspiracy theories have spread through the internet, including people orchestrating the car crash and the doctors purposefully not saving her.

Senior Ella Grant believes in the widely held belief that, “Princess Diana is still alive.”

“A lot of TikTok [videos] that I see, facts about her supposed death, license plate numbers on the backs of the cars and how they don’t match up, and what led up to her death, such as the divorce and the royal family, [makes me believe in this conspiracy theory],” Grant said. “There was something about the license plate that she got into

By Anjali Kambhampati that was different than the car that crashed, so that’s how I believe she’s still alive.”

Grant said the general public created the conspiracy theory and it “sparked an interest” in her.

“I did a project on her a while ago,” Grant said. “There have been so many incidents in the royal family that made me want to learn more about her death.”

Grant also said that others around her have varying opinions about this conspiracy.

“I’ve seen a lot of other people say that [Princess Diana is still alive], “Grant said. “My dad is a big conspiracy theory guy so he believes in them too. I have a lot of family members that just say, ‘That’s just some big scheme that the government wants you to believe,’ I feel like those people just don’t care enough to try and investigate it… there’s the thing about being ‘happier if you’re living obviously,’ and you don’t know what’s really happening. They kind of just stay oblivious to keep the peace.”

Senior Mia Shipman agrees with

Grant, as she believes in a conspiracy theory regarding the deaths of a group of celebrities.

“My conspiracy theory is that there is a group of celebrities that the general public thought was dead but maybe they moved on to create a new life under a different persona or they’re just out of the public eye,” Shipman said.

Shipman said that this conspiracy theory arose through the deaths of celebrities such as Princess Diana and Michael Jackson.

“There have been so many celebrity deaths that have been so interesting, like Princess Diana and how it did or didn’t happen and maybe she’s somewhere else in the world, or things with Michael Jackson or Tupac when people say they see celebrity lookalikes,” Shipman said. “Sometimes when you’re online, you’ll see videos about this celebrity and it will be a slideshow, and the next slide will be something like, ‘Point out all the differences…’ I think with celebrities like Avril Lavigne, it’s alleged that she has a dupe persona that she found

20 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Anjali Kambhampati

Is the Illuminati real?

Is there an alternate universe?

Is telepathy real?

Did you thank Beyoncé today?

Is the megalodon alive?

“

“

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 21

Is everything connected?

Is the Mandela effect real?

Is time traveling possible?

Are airplane contrails actually chemicals being sprayed?

videos about it and see how much aren’t afraid to stand up to something truth there is to it [and] how much that they might not believe is true evidence and information there is and not just go along with the general to it,” Grant said. “I kind of make public’s opinion,” Grant said. “I don’t my decision based on what party is think not believing the same thing involved because with some people I’ll as someone else is something that be like ‘Yeah I could totally see them someone should be ridiculed for.” lying about this,’ and some people Shipman agrees with this belief. don’t seem like the type to do that.

“With social media and how So for the most part, yes, but I follow everybody has a connection, like them with caution.” ‘seven degrees of separation to some Shipman said that she “sometimes, famous person,’ and just because they but definitely not always” believes in might believe they have some insider conspiracy theories. tip might make them believe different “I feel like everything on social things,” Shipman said. media is taken with a grain of salt, Grant said that a “shock factor” especially with so many influencers, is what attracts people to conspiracy and you won’t know the person’s biases theories. and where they are coming from,” “Something that you wouldn’t Shipman said. “I think it’s definitely necessarily expect or a crazy idea to what your environment is like and think about,” Grant said. “It could what you’ve been raised to believe.” also be less of a curiosity factor and Pint considers herself someone who more just people trying to look for often believes in conspiracy theories. excitement or thrill.”

“I don’t want to be a sheep and go Pint also said that there are a lot of along with what other people say,” Pint conspiracy theories on the internet on said. “I like to think outside the box.” apps like TikTok or Instagram.

Grant said that these conspiracy “I think there’s a lot of conspiracy theories don’t have much effect on her theories with Taylor Swift and all of life. her songs and stuff,” Pint said. “I think “There is stuff with more Swifties make up a lot of theories government [connection] that I would about songs or lyrics or what outfit see that I think she’s going to wear. could maybe That’s probably impact me the most more, but in relevant one I I think the people my everyday see.” who tend to believe life, no,” Shipman in them [conspiracy Grant said. said that a lot Contrary of websites theories] are the to Grant, Pint market to people ones that question said that her who believe authority, and the conspiracy in conspiracy theory does theories. people who aren’t affect her life.

“A lot of afraid to stand up to “It affects websites like something that they me when I’m Buzzfeed do a in class and lot of marketing might not believe is I’m super cold towards it,” true... because the Shipman said. mice aren’t “They’ll have –Ella Grant running pop-up ads and enough,” Pint they’ll say, ‘20 said. “I can’t Things You focus when I’m super hot.”

Didn’t Think Were Real but People Grant also said that there could Caught on Video.’ I feel like sometimes be psychological or social factors that it depends on cultural beliefs and just lead to people’s beliefs in conspiracy thinking about the history. Sometimes theories. holidays like Halloween and stuff make “I think the people who tend to you think that conspiracy theories are believe in them are the ones that real.” question authority, and the people who

Are aliens behind the existence of the Egyptian pyramids?

many years ago.”

Shipman also explained why she believes in this conspiracy theory.

“I believe in this conspiracy theory just because there are so many facts that are unclear in a lot of the cases, and it alludes to a lot of questions from the public just because they [celebrities] had such a public persona,” Shipman said. “I just think it’s weird that all these celebrities go missing under these unforeseen circumstances and there’s always a connection to something that people point out. The whole tangibility of it being real is what drives the public to believe that it’s true.”

Although Shipman believes in this celebrity death conspiracy theory, there are some conspiracy theories she has seen that she does not believe.

“I saw this theory and it’s that the earth is flat,” Shipman said. “It’s like a snow globe, and there’s a dome all around it, and underneath there’s a giant secret civilization that controls the earth. I think that sounds utterly insane.”

Senior Sierra Pint has a smallerscale conspiracy theory, one with more connection to BVN. “My conspiracy theory is that at BVN, there is a farm of mice in the ceiling that basically powers the electricity at BVN,” Pint said.

Pint said that this conspiracy theory started during her sophomore year.

“It all started sophomore year in Ms. Salimbene’s applied psych class,” Pint said. “I was at my table and for the whole semester, and I would always hear squeaking in the ceiling, and you could always hear something running in the ceiling. Later that year, there were mice starting to fall out of the ceiling, in the trash cans and in teachers’ backpacks, so I started to get suspicious. I realized that when you’re in one of you classes and it’s super cold, the electricity isn’t fully running and there might be a deeper reason behind that.”

Pint also said that not many people believe in this conspiracy theory.

“You know, I might be a lone wolf on this conspiracy theory, but I believe that it is true,” Pint said.

Grant said that she often believes in conspiracy theories.

“When something is told to me, I don’t believe it right away, but if I see it, I’ll research it and [watch] more

Is Paul McCartney dead?

STUDENT LIFE

Decking the

Halls When and how do BVN students start celebrating the holidays?

By Josie Jones

S

tudents who celebrate Christmas tend to have varying opinions on when the appropriate time is to start decorating. Their opinions can be impacted by multiple factors including, other holidays and family traditions.

Senior Micaella Gamboa said that her family starts decorating for Christmas right after Thanksgiving.

“For me and my family, it is a very busy time in November,” Gamboa said. “So we just wait till after Thanksgiving because we think that is very late already.”

Junior Nathan Shultz shares that him and his family wait to decorate until after Thanksgiving because he doesn’t want to miss what Thanksgiving brings to the table and doesn’t want it to be outshone by lots of decor for another holiday.

“I’m a big Thanksgiving supporter, I really think that that is a top tier holiday, and I don’t think that should be overshadowed by Christmas,” Shultz stated.

Shultz also said that he personally tries to wait a little bit before being fully immersed in the music, but it is often a struggle.

“Obviously, you can’t escape Christmas music, but I try to listen to it personally after decorations happen,” Shultz said.

Senior Addison Stout says that she and her family decorate early for Christmas.

“We usually start the first week of November, it’s kinda a tradition,” Stout says. “My mom loves Christmas, every room in the house is usually decorated and the lights go up as soon as possible.”

22 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024

Design by Josie Jones

Stout also shares that she loves to decorate because she wants to make the season last as long as possible.

“I think it is a quick season, like usually less than a month, and I love Christmas, it’s my favorite holiday so I always appreciate decorating it earlier and getting the full extent of the season,” Stout said.

When considering Christmas music, Gamboa says that it should come way before decorations. As soon as Halloween night is over, she starts listening to her favorite Christmas artists.

“Right after Halloween, Sabrina Carpenter’s Christmas EP is so good,” Gamboa said.

Stout said that while she decorates early for Christmas, she waits longer to start listening to the music and watching the movies.

“I don’t start doing music or December, [you are] kind of missing movies until December which might your cue, winter has already come,” be a little weird, but I’m not excited Shultz said. about it [that early],” Stout said. “I Shultz states his opinion on like the decorations because it makes why the timing of decorating for me happy to walk downstairs and Christmas is such a big deal. pull up to my “I think house, but it is just I don’t customs I think it is a quick want to or habits season, like usually less hear a that lot of the people than a month, and I love music yet build up, Christmas, it’s my favorite because and if holiday so I always I am not that is in the broken appreciate decorating it Christmas it’s earlier and getting the full spirit upsetting extent of the season and for me,” –Addison Stout Shultz said. “[I] love necessarily.” me some Gamboa shares that she knows Thanksgiving, and if it is people start decorating and listening overshadowed by Christmas I get to music even before Halloween, but frustrated with that.” she thinks that is too much.

“I know a lot of people do it before Halloween, and I think that is way too early,” Gamboa said. “Why are you celebrating it when it’s two months from now.”

Shultz says that there is a time period when it is too late to start the winter festivities and that people have already missed some exciting parts of the Christmas season.

“If we are already two weeks into

60%

“

Other

After Halloween

8%

32%

After Thanksgiving

“

When do you start celebrating Christmas?

Of 149 people polled on @bvnnews on Instagram.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 23

NEWS

Season As fall sports have come to a close, read about the end of their season.

By Addison DeVore

Football

Football beat De Soto and Leavenworth High School in the first two rounds of playoff, but lost to St. James in sectionals.

The team ended the season in the top 8 in 5A.

Girls Tennis Girls Tennis headed to state on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 and ended with senior Shelby Smith placing 2nd in singles. The team overall placed 3rd in State.

Volleyball Volleyball headed to state on Nov. 1 and won their match against Garden City High School, but lost to Olathe West and Mill Valley High School. The team ended the season 7th in State. Senior Logan Parks receive the Evelyn Gates award after the season ended.

24 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Addison DeVore

Recap Girls Golf Girls Golf headed to state on Oct. 21. Green medaled at T16 with a score of 78-83---163. The team held a final score of 328-348---676 and placed 5th in state.

Cross Country

Cross Country headed to regionals on Oct. 26. The girls team placed 4th in the 5000 meter run with senior Briley Early placing 2nd. The boys team placed 8th in the 5000 meter run.

Briley Early headed to state on Nov. 2 and placed 6th.

Unified Bowling

Unified Bowling headed to state on Nov. 19. and ended the season 10th in state.

Boys Soccer Boys Soccer went to the first round of playoffs on Oct. 8 against Blue Valley West. They lost with a final score of 2-0 and ended the season 26th in state.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 25

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26 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024

PHOTO COLLAGE

PHOTO COVERAGE

Photos from the past semester at BVN.

By Addison DeVore and Madi Garrelts

“I was celebrating that we scored because it was 6-45,” senior Ben Parish said.

“It was my first time being apart of the tennis community and I made so many friends and achivements,” freshman Maya Finkle said.

“The Diversity Potluck was a great oppurtunity to try diverse food options,” senior Suhana Mohammed said.

“It’s fun helping people and being able to be more a part of the community,” senior Mia Shipman said.

“Signing day was a really cool experience because it showed that I worked to get to this point throughout my whole tennis career,” senior Shelby Smith said.

“Me and my brother were drawing some pictures...I was drawing a vine going down with a mountain,” junior James Osbourn said.

“In this moment I was telling them about my sad side of the story that people don’t realize I go through,” sophomore Joaquin Gonzalez Layton said.

“It was a really important award to me because its come from a long line of really good volleyball players in the metro,” senior Logan Parks said.

“[This was] a debate I had against my opponent...I was giving my big monologue about how I love America,” sophomore Mirabella Bedell said.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 27 Design by Addison DeVore

ARTS & LEISURE

28 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024

Design by Addison DeVore and Madi Garrelts

I SPY

By Addison DeVore and Madi Garrelts

Candle

Spider Snowflake

Snowman Card

Red Bow

MONTH 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | #

EDITORIAL

Flurries and Films

Grab a cup of hot chocolate and read these popular christmas movie reviews.

By Addison DeVore and Madi Garrelts

HOME ALONe

The first “Home Alone” movie is one of the most iconic untraditional Christmas movies out there.

It is full of comedy, suspenceful moments and a sweet ending. Although it isn’t entirely focused on Christmas, the lead character Kevin McCallister incorporates Christmas decorations into all of his traps for the robbers.

When it comes to the holiday season Elf has always been a staple in my household. From the adorable romance, to Will Ferrel’s hilarious delivery of his line this movie has something for everyone. I also personally love the soundtrack throughout the moive. When the little “buh bums” start kicking in at the start I’m always flooded with nostalgia.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was released in 2000 and has since been a classic Christmas movie for people to rewatch around the holidays. It stars Jim Carrey as the grinch, which is, in my opinion, the best choice they could’ve made. His facial expressions perfectly bring the Grinch’s character to life and immerses the audience in the story.

theHoliday

The Holiday has always been my favorite Christmas movie, and I’ve always been upset with the lack of recognition it recieves. It’s the perfect combination of a Christmas movie and a romcom.

And don’t get me started on the fashion throughout the move, the classier 2000s look is amazing throughout. This is another movie where I also love the sooundtrack. Whenever I hear Mr. Brightside I can only think of Cameron Diaz. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend you give it a try.

30 | THE NORTH STAR | DECEMBER 2024 Design by Addison DeVore

Immerse yourself into the winter season with this issues winter-themed crossword. Use the articles and your knowledge to answer all of the questions.

By Madi Garrelts and Addison DeVore

ARTS & LEISURE

W CR SS R D

ACROSS

4. Zayley Love’s favorite concert.

6. The name of the drawing teacher that’s also an actor.

7. The number of years in a row that the swim team has won state.

10. The royal family member that died in a mysterious car crash.

11. The lead female actor in the film “TheHoliday”.

DOWN 1. The term for losing motivation during the school year.

2. One of the four food groups according to Buddy the Elf. 3. The type of learning that the library emphasizes.

5.The item needed to leave class to go to the bathroom.

7. The fluffy green Who that hates Christmas.

8. A famous Christmas movie that stars a young boy fighting bad guys.

9. The first medical CAPS program mentioned in the “Moving Medically” story.

DECEMBER 2024 | THE NORTH STAR | 31

and more

@bvn news 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 December 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