The Express- December 2018

2018-2019

The express

the Climate crisis Page 13 As scientific reports warn of the consequences of climate change, some Johnson County citizens explore more sustainable lifestyles.

Volume 26 • issue 4 • Blue Valley Northwest High school

Issue 4 | 12.06.18

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Contents 05 06

staff editorial: the future is now opinion: students with an a should be excused from finals

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OPinion: Project-based learning isn’t the answer leaving the pack early

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Right: “Solar charging tables are a great way to help students see the small-scale utility of solar energy on a campus,” Sustainability Education and Engagement Coordinator, Kristy Howell said.“Not only do they provide some shade to students as they enjoy being outside, they also allow students to charge personal electronic devices, like a laptop or phone, while they work or eat lunch.” (Photo by Emma Johnson).

Below: Sophomore Jeremy Bredemeier explains why “Call of Duty” is so much more than a game, Nov. 4. “Playing COD allows me to bring out my competitive side in such a different way that I could’ve never imagined,” Bredemeier said. “Meeting new people online who share the same drive and passion as you is really a special thing.” (Photo by Maddie Beischel).

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Above: McLain’s is a family-owned bakery, cakery and coffee shop that has three locations in the Kansas City area: Lawrence, Overland Park and Kansas City Mo. (Photo by Alyssa Peterson).

Right: Sophomore Bailey Allee stands in ending position during her compulsory program, which is a routine without music at a skating competition at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in the summer of 2015. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Allee).

Cover: Recent reports have said the planet will face extreme weather events and increasing temperatures if drastic action is not taken in the next 15 years.

(Photo illustration by Naomi James).

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an escape from reality the climate crisis Ice, Ice, Bailey happy holidays! perspectives life Styled craving cookies puzzle

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staff Editorial the future is now

et’s face it, our older generations have screwed us over. While our generation isn’t the main contributor to climate change, it’s up to us to fix it. Despite how daunting solving our changing climate will be, we only have a short period of time to fix it before it’s too late. If we decide not to make serious changes now, our planet will be in ruins before we’re barely adults.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program published its fourth national climate assessment last month. The report found that without any future change, the Midwest will experience increasing temperatures and more extreme weather conditions such as droughts and flooding.

While these conditions may seem far away or insignificant, they could have detrimental effects on livestock and crop production, leading to food shortages and economic hardship that could happen right in our area. These conditions would have catastrophic effects on our Kansas GDP, and could leave us, in Johnson County, facing food shortages. Even though farming seems distant from the typical Johnson County white-collar lifestyle, we won’t be immune to the same struggles the farmers face.

This future climate could cause billions of dollars lost in the U.S. economy and millions of deaths around the globe. At this point, it’s not enough to debate whether or not climate change exists. There are many more studies proving it exists than those that deny it.

Countless studies emphasize its serious effects, and it’s up to us to take the proper steps to alleviate its devastation.

The Express conducted a survey in November to get students’ opinions about climate change and how much they care about it. Eighty-four percent of BVNW students said they believe climate change is happening. Yet when looking at the importance of climate change now, only 68 percent of students find it an important issue to some degree.

We may be young and inexperienced, this doesn’t take away from the fact that this is our future and we need to take action now.

With the earliest scientific reports saying that we only have about 15 years to make serious changes before our climate is irreversible, 100 percent of students need to find this issue important.

Northwest meteorology teacher Sarah Derks said it’s harmful when people deny climate change.

“It’s disheartening as a person of science to see the denial of science and the denial of clear evidence pointing us in a direction of destruction,” Derks said. “The biggest piece is just filling yourself with knowledge as to what climate change truly is, what it isn’t and how it will affect you.”

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While it’s imperative that we demand our politicians enact ecofriendly policies and legislation, we can’t just point fingers. We must also be committed to making sacrifices in our day-to-day routines, whether that be through reducing plastic use, switching to greener energy or incorporating less meat into our diets.

The Blue Valley School District is known as a leader and the goldstandard for education, so they should be leading the country in more environmentally-friendly resources. They need to continue to invest in green energy and recycled materials like grey water for bathrooms and more plant-based meals in the cafeteria. Our district emphasizes how students should be put first, so having the most sustainable resources is imperative for them to show their commitment to our future.

We may be young and inexperienced, but this doesn’t take away from the fact that this is our future and we need to take action now. If we do not start caring about our climate and encourage others to do the same, it will be far too late for us to be able to fix it.

We can’t listen to our parents or older generations that have greater interests in economic gain than our future.

Our community, district and parents always say they want what’s best for kids. What’s best for us is a livable and sustainable planet.

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Opinion students with an a should be excused from finals

Issue 4 | 12.06.18

By emma johnson s the end of the semester approaches, so does the inescapable burden of finals. Cue the last minute studying, desperately trying to remember information learned back in August.

Slowly the fear approaches that the grade you’ve worked for all semester could be lost due to one bad test score.

All of this stress presents a bigger problem: one test shouldn’t determine 10-20 percent of students’ grades if they have proven mastery in the subject all year. This is why students who have an A in a class should be excused from the final. Not only is this a great incentive for students to keep their grades up throughout the semester, but it also allows them the time to focus on other classes where they are struggling.

High school finals are meant to prepare students for college finals.

However, students already take countless tests throughout the year that cover months of knowledge which already prepares them for collegiate test taking. Additionally, under a plan where students with an A are exempted from finals, most students would have to take at least a few finals each semester. For those who would end up taking no finals, they will often take AP exams, which in turn provide these students a more rigorous testing experience.

Saint Thomas Aquinas High School uses a waiver system that exempts students from taking their finals. Under the system, students who have an 86 percent or above in their classes have the option on whether or not they want to take the final. If they have a 96

percent or above, they are completely exempt from the final and don’t have the option to take it. This system also includes certain disciplinary measures to ensure accountability. For example, students are only allowed two absences, three dress code violations, six tardies and two cell phone violations in order to be exempt from a final.

“If a student has maintained such a high grade in the course, they know the material well enough,” STA Principal of Academic Services Craig Moss said.

“The final, in that instance, could only hurt their grade, so rather than punish the student by making them take the final, the decision was made that the student would be exempt and not have to show up to take the final exam, and their final grade in the course would be what they had earned up to that point.”

the original purpose of the waiver, which is to excuse students from finals, gets lost.

Terril said since students at Aquinas can only miss two days of school each semester, they will go to extremes to keep their waiver, even if it takes showing up to school ill.

“I would change the amount of school you can miss because kids will come to school super sick just so they can keep their waiver,” Terril said.

BVNW Principal of Curriculum and Instruction, Tyler Alexander, said that while the goal of finals are to prepare students for college, finals often leave students stressed trying to prepare for so many in such a short period of time.

“We are constantly talking about what finals we should give in different courses,” Alexander said. “As a building and within different departments, teachers talk about it a lot, still trying to find a way that is supportive of students but still measures the goals of the class.”

With the pressures students are under, exempting students with an A from finals is in no way letting them off easy. Rather, it would commend them on the work they’ve done over the semester while allowing more time to focus on classes they have lower grades STA sophomore Maddy Terril said in, resulting in higher finals scores. the waiver system motivates her to keep This upcoming semester, we should her grades high enough to be exempt implement a trial system for excusing from her finals. The system also allows students with an A from finals. With an her more time to study for the finals she education system that is ever-changing, is either required to take, or chooses to finals are one of the only things that take because she has a lower grade. has stayed constant. The time has If Northwest were to adopt a waiver come to take a step back and take a system similar to this, it should be deeper look at the outdated system of based solely on students’ grades in a finals, changing them for the benefit of class, not mandatory attendance. When modern students. too many requirements are involved,

“if a student has maintained such a high grade in the course, they know the material well enough.”

-Craig moss

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Opinion

Project-based learning isn’t the answer

By Naomi james

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roject-based learning is the biggest craze in education right now, sweeping the nation with its promises of positive collaboration, real-world experience and creative exploration.

However, the benefits of this kind of curriculum only outweigh its cost in specific situations. PBL should not be widely implemented in public schools because it cannot effectively provide a comprehensive education for all students.

PBL reached its high point of popularity in the 1960s, but lost support as its iteration during that time was considered too radical. Had PBL shown true merit as a primary method of teaching, it would have survived more prominently.

PBL is being implemented by teachers at BVNW, like Honors Algebra II and AP Statistics teacher Laura Deffer. Deffer said that PBL can include activities like building a model or coming up with a solution to a problem.

“Project-based learning goes beyond the content and explores how it can be used in the real world,” Deffer said.

Proponents of incorporating PBL more frequently in public schools argue that it allows students to pursue their own interests and talents in school. While most students currently begin focusing their education on one subject during college, this curriculum would give kids the opportunity to specialize earlier on. But how many teenagers actually know exactly what career path they want to follow as an adult? High school is meant to be a time of exploration and discovery, not a time for getting trapped in one field or interest. Mandating specialization for students is harmful because it pressures them to narrow their focus at

Design by Maggie McCready the time when it should be widest.

PBL is appropriate in specific subjects, like some elective classes. For example, in Newspaper we learn skills through experience, which allows us to see our successes and failures in a product. Newspaper is meant to teach real-world skills, not facts and concepts in the way that a math or science class does. Our school system is set up so that every child is required to be at least somewhat experienced in the basic subjects of ELA, math, science and social studies.

This ensures that every teenager enters adulthood with a solid base of knowledge that allows them not only to pursue the career of their choice, but to also become an educated and experienced member of society. Core classes should give all students a basic understanding of the world and how it works. Application of this understanding is still necessary, but it should not be the focus of a class that is intended to provide each student with the same body of knowledge about a subject.

Putting students in charge of their own learning is not only too large a burden in terms of decision-making, it is unreliable.

Most of my peers can attest to the fact that in many group projects there is at least one student who does little- tono work and learns nothing through the process. While learning to deal with these situations is beneficial in small doses, it often weighs down the active members of the group as the slacker rides on other group members’ coattails. Without an unrealistic level

PBL should not be widely implemented in public schools because it cannot effectively provide a comprehensive education for all students.

of teacher supervision, it is nearly impossible to hold every student accountable for doing his or her part and learning the intended material through a project. For this reason, PBL should be isolated to elective classes that are built to support it.

Even when PBL is used successfully, it is less efficient than traditional instruction in classes based on specific curriculum, like math and science.

My Honors Algebra II class recently completed a group project in which we were required to build a catapult that could launch a ping pong ball. The project was part of a quadratics unit, so we recorded the parabola-shaped flight of the ball and found its equation.

While spending a class day building a catapult and another launching ping pong balls was a nice change from my normal routine, my understanding of quadratics was not enhanced by this project. In the ten class periods it took up, it provided me as much practice as I could usually find in a 15-minute worksheet. Class time is valuable, and it should not be taken up by projects like this that add little to the curriculum.

At its best, PBL teaches useful skills like collaboration and critical thinking, but at its worst it distracts from critical information and instruction.

Hands-on projects are an effective method of learning for some kids, but this benefit does not outweigh the method’s time-intensive and inconsistent nature. PBL should be implemented in small doses in order to accommodate the different learning styles of today’s students, but it should not be the primary method of teaching within required subjects.

“Project-based learning goes beyond the content and explores how it can be used in the real world.”

-Laura Deffer

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Leaving the Pack

Early

Planning to have a head start to their post high school plans, some seniors are opting to graduate at the end of first semester.

By Danya Radhi

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even hundred and twenty days of high school.

A constantly repeated phrase said by principal Amy Pressly and engraved into the minds of BVNW students at assemblies and meetings, even before starting high school. Whether that be a countdown to a happy parting or bitter goodbye, several students have taken a different route by graduating a semester early.

In order to graduate from Northwest in December, Associate Principal Tyler Alexander said there is a checklist of items that need to be completed, including meeting with a counselor and finishing necessary credits.

Currently undergoing the process that comes with graduating early, senior Sophia Self said overall, the process is not very hard. After discussing all the logistics with her counselor, Self said she is completing any credits she had not previously gotten to. That being said, she has to double her English classes.

Design by Ellen Bruce

Senior Parker Kane poses in his Air National Guard shirt. Kane plans on going into the Air Force after graduating at semester, Nov. 15. (Photos by Alyssa Peterson).

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Senior Sophia Self explains her posthigh school plans and discusses why graduating early is beneficial to her, Nov. 6.“During the semester when everyone’s at school I’ll be able to get a second job and save up,” Self said.

While other seniors will remain enrolled at BVNW, Self said she will be able to save more money during what would be her second semester of senior year.

“During the semester when everyone’s at school I’ll be able to get a second job and save up,” Self said.

Investing in stocks and saving up for a car are some of the other things Self said graduating early will allow her to do.

“The system of the schools has encouraged me to finish stronger and faster and get it done as soon as I can,” Self said. “I can go ahead and learn the things I’ve been wanting to learn.”

Similar to Self’s experience, senior Grant Fitzsimmons said that after meeting with his counselor and coordinating all his credits, he is set to graduate this winter.

“I decided I might as well take my shot and see what I can do with a semester before college.”

- Grant Fitzsimmons Fitzsimmons said he wanted to graduate early so he would have the opportunity to work full-time at a bakery along with having a graphic design internship at 435 Magazine, before he goes to college in fall of 2019.

“I decided I might as well take my shot and see what I can do with a semester before college,” Fitzsimmons said.

Using his early departure as a gateway into the U.S. Air Force, senior Parker Kane said he is eager to start his post-high school life.

Despite all the excitement, Kane said he had doubts regarding whether or not he could complete all of the requirements prior to being able to graduate early, but said that he just wanted to get started with his life so the sooner that was, the better.

“It was one of those things where I wanted to do it so badly, I was fine with all the extra work I had to do to get there,” Kane said.

Knowing this is his last semester of high school, Kane said he feels great and is very excited for the future.

According to Kane, many people have approached him saying he is lucky to be graduating early, but in response, Kane said it is something that has to be worked for and can be done by anyone if they choose to do so.

Aside from the mandatory components that go into the “checklist” designed for early graduation, there are other factors that may sway one’s decision to say goodbye to what essentially is a second home. Alexander said that although graduating early can come with many benefits, there is something to be said about finishing the traditional side of high school, as it can go by quickly.

“I was in a big hurry to make everything kind of start happening, and now looking back, it would have been OK if I didn’t try to rush through,” Alexander said. “But it’s different for each person.”

Similarly, both Fitzsimmons and Self said they will greatly miss the ability to close high school off with their friends.

“The worst thing about graduating early is that I don’t get to experience the last half of high school with my friends,” Fitzsimmons said.

Despite this, Fitzsimmons as well as the students said they acknowledge that when students graduate early and use the extra time to their advantage, the benefits can outweigh these negatives.

“Make sure you have a plan for what you’re going to do for an entire semester, because it could be a throw away of valuable time,” Fitzsimmons said.

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An escape escape from reality Reality

While playing video games since age 8, sophomore Jeremy Bredemeier participates in online Call of Duty gaming tournaments for money.

By Maddie Oliver

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t the age of 8, sophomore Jeremy Bredemeier said that he began watching “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II” with a neighbor and that playing video games has been an interest of his since. Now he plays “Call of Duty: Black Ops III” competitively at the age of 15.

Though his parents did not want him playing “Call of Duty” when he was younger because the game is for a mature audience of players age 17 and older, Bredemeier said that his parents

Design By Emma Gau let him play it at age 10.

“My parents would never let me play,” Bredemeier said. “I started playing and it just escalated from there, and I really enjoyed it.”

“Call of Duty” is a first person shooter game with different game modes such as Search and Destroy and Chardpoint. Bredemeier said he plays multiplayer in a public match with 12 people either all over the world or just players from the same continent in each match.

Sophomore Jeremy Bredemeier explains the cons of playing Call of Duty, Nov. 4.

“Playing online does have its risks,” Bredemeier said. “I’ve lost tournaments because of a power outage and I’m not able to play which is really frustrating because it’s something out of my control.” (Photos by Maddie Beischel).

While playing in these matches, Bredemeier said he plays with people from all over the country. Bredemeier said he plays “Call of Duty” for four to six hours during weekdays and up to 20 during the weekend or on days when he has free time. While playing in these matches, Bredemeier said that some of the people he has met have become close friends and he plans to meet them in person this coming summer.

“We’re brothers and best friends, so being able to talk to each other in different parts of the country and spending a lot of time together, it takes you out of the real world,” Bredemeier said.

When he wins competitions with his team of players, he said that depending on the types of competitions from gamebattles.com, his earnings range from $50 to $10,000 at most.

“To get invited to tournaments you have to make a name for yourself and be one of the top teams,” Bredemeier said.

Out of all the “Call of Duty” games, he said he enjoys playing “Call of Duty: Black Ops III” the most since it was the game he started playing competitively and grew a lot of memories from his experiences with it.

“My best memory from it is there are prime tournaments where only the best teams compete. Our team got invited and we made it to quarterfinals of a $5,000 tournament. It was winners take all, we were the last non-pro team left, so the team we lost to ended up getting second world champs and

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Bredemeier shows off his setup he put together in his basement. “My setup is just for functionality,” Bredemeier said. “I have two monitors on the sides for my computer and the one in the middle is for my play station. It’s nice to be able to have it all right in front of me and be comfortable.” [winning] $500,000 that year.”

Bredemeier said that he enjoys playing video games because they are a getaway from reality.

“It’s a really good escape for me. I can just go be with the guys I play with, be competitive and escape reality for a little bit,” Bredemeier said.

Lisa Bredemeier, Bredemeier’s mom, said her son does not get distracted from playing “Call of Duty,” but sometimes misses important events and gatherings with the family.

“There’s been nights he has missed meals or missed doing things with us because he has a match,” Lisa said. “Or I’ll say, ‘I thought you were going to be done at 10 and he’s like, ‘But they came to the match late, so that’s why we’re going.’”

Although he has missed family events, he said he is dedicated to his team and believes he might miss out on important matches with them.

“I miss a lot of family dinners just because of tournaments, big matches and scrimmages,” Bredemeier said.

“You should never take family stuff for granted, but I’m really committed

to my team, and I know there will be more opportunities to see them whereas some of these tournaments are more rare.”

“It’s a really good escape for me.”

-Jeremy Bredemeier With Bredemeier meeting new people all over the nation, Lisa said he needs to be careful with sharing personal information and if he continues to be careful with internet safety, she will continue to trust him.

“I’m much more comfortable with it now that he is 15 years old,” Lisa said.

“But, as long as he pays attention and isn’t too public about who he is or give too much personal information with it, I’m fine. He’s a smart kid. He isn’t gonna push the limits.”

Junior Jack Cowden said he also plays competitive “Call of Duty” for fun and that being paid for something he likes to do is beneficial.

“It feels nice,” Cowden said. “It’s a rewarding bonus to my real job and it’s awesome to be paid for doing your hobby.”

Like Bredemeier, Cowden said that it is a great way to relieve stress. “‘[Call of Duty]’ means a lot. It’s a great stress reliever,” Cowden said. “To get that social aspect of communicating with people and that [same] competitive aspect that you get from sports.”

The Express reached out to the teammates of Bredemeier and Cowden for comment and they said they did not want to comment about playing competitively.

Lisa said she enjoys that Bredemeier enjoys gaming competitively and that it’s interesting that people play it for a living.

“It’s interesting to me because I think most adults think of it as just a game and there are people that is their livelihood,” Lisa said. “Not that will be what he does as a career, but that’s one of his hobbies.”

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The Climate Crisis

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New U.S. reports regarding climate change paint a grim picture for the world’s future.

Feeling the Heat

By Jonny Isaacson Design by Erin Reece

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new U.S. government report published Nov. 23, states the annual average global temperature could increase by nine degrees Fahrenheit by the turn of the century, compared to preindustrial temperatures. According to the report, this would have devastating effects on health, the U.S. economy and will increase the risk of natural disasters.

Climate change is the rising of average global temperatures on earth.

Cars, factories and energy usage in homes and schools release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air while trapping heat inside the atmosphere. The report’s findings directly contradict President Donald Trump’s message that climate change is a hoax.

“Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS-Whatever happened to Global Warming,” Trump questioned in a tweet Nov. 26 as some Americans faced the coldest Thanksgiving in more than a century, according to an article from the Weather Channel.

However, the science explained in the report suggests that climate change is not disproved by the extreme cold of one day or a week, but is demonstrated by long-term trends.

BVNW AP Environmental Science teacher Michaelyn Podany said people

JCCC Sustainability Education and Engagement Coordinator Kristy Howell displays a sculpture at JCCC made by student Chelsey Walker. The sculpture represents climate change and is made out of recycled items. “Four-and-twenty blackbirds explode out of a pie in a fury of flight and energy,” Walker said. “These dark winged creatures, which have feet for bodies, might represent exhaust and greenhouse gases, or perhaps our carbon footprint,” (Photo by Emma Johnson).

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Climate Change Statistics

1.5 parts per million The average amount carbon dioxide increases every year

1.8 F How much the global temperature has risen since 1880

still deny climate change.

“With the increased storms that we’ve seen, with the melting of glaciers and the flooding of coastal areas, I don’t think anyone can deny anymore that it’s a reality,” Podany said.

Not only will the rising temperatures affect coastal cities, but the report stated that it will also affect Midwest farmers. The quantity and quality of Midwestern crops will decline across the region due to higher temperatures, droughts and flooding. According to the report, in parts of the Midwest, farms could produce less than 75 percent of the corn they produce today, and the southern part of the region could lose more than 25 percent of its soybean yield.

According to the report, the higher temperatures will also have an impact on citizens’ health. The report said that the Midwest alone, which is predicted to have the largest increase in extreme temperature nationally, could see an additional 2,000 premature deaths per year by the year 2090.

In 2015, the Paris Climate

Agreement was signed by 174 countries. Signing this agreement signified a goal each country agreed to work toward, a goal to maintain global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to what it was before the industrial revolution.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) recently released a report which stated the planet is already clocking in at one degree Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, meaning the globe is more than halfway to a global temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius. At the rate the planet’s temperature is increasing, if drastic measures aren’t taken, the report said the mark will be hit by 2040. The report said if the mark is hit, it will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.

In 2015, under President Barack Obama, The United States signed the Paris agreement and was part of the accord until Trump announced his intention to pull

The mass of earth’s polar ice sheets decreases by Gigatonnes

413

every year

3.2 millimeters The amount the sea level rises every year

Oceans have increased in heat by

0.4 F *Data from climate.nasa.gov

Howell displays one way they repurpose at JCCC.” The exterior of Galileo’s Pavilion on the campus is clad in reclaimed chalkboards,” Howell said. “The material came from the Olathe School District, as they replaced chalkboards with whiteboards.” (Photo by Emma Johnson).

12.06.18 | Issue 4 the country out of it in 2017. The U.S. can’t formally withdraw until 2020.

“The Paris Agreement handicaps the United States economy in order to win praise from the very foreign capitals and global activists that have long sought to gain wealth at our country’s expense,” Trump said in a statement June 1, 2017. “They don’t put America first. I do, and I always will.”

“With the increased storms that we’ve seen, with the melting of glaciers and the flooding of coastal areas, I don’t think anyone can deny anymore that it’s a reality.”

-Michaelyn Podany BVNW meteorology teacher Sarah Derks said the Trump administration wrongfully pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement if they are looking to benefit the future economy.

“The future industries are the clean energies, and if we are really worried about the economic status, as a powerhouse, we would be investing in those industries, not coal and oil,” Derks said.

However, contrary to Derk’s beliefs, freshman Jack Furstenau said he believes the government should not implement a large amount of harsh laws and regulations to save the environment, as they limit innovation.

“So many regulations on corporations about the environment can hurt the economy because then they’re not able to move forward with their businesses,” Furstenau said.

According to NASA’s climate website, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are the highest they have been in 650,000 years. This has lead to the planet’s average surface temperature rising about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century. Greenland has lost an average of 281 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and

15 2016, while Antarctica lost about 119 billion tons during the same time period, resulting in global sea levels rising about eight inches in the last century.

While the planet needs carbon dioxide to keep warm, Derks acknowledges the importance of maintaining it at a sustainable level.

“Carbon dioxide acts as a blanket and we need that blanket, but it’s a difference between a nice, thin blanket versus a down comforter,” Derks said.

While some people stress the potential effects of climate change, sophomore Vivien O’Keefe said she does not believe people need to worry about climate change.

“Climate change is happening, but it’s natural. The earth goes through cycles of heating and cooling,” O’Keefe said. “It’s happening, but it’s not humancaused and it’s not a thing that we should be worried about.”

According to Derks, she said she believes some people don’t believe in climate change due to the fact that the Midwest isn’t feeling it yet. “[People] deny climate change because we don’t feel it yet,” Derks said. “You don’t feel the supreme consequences of it here in the Midwest. We aren’t seeing huge issues like category five hurricanes.”

Similar to Derks, the executive director for the Center of Sustainability at Johnson County Community College, Jay Antle, said climate change will be a huge problem for the world to combat.

“Dealing with climate change is going to be the greatest challenge the planet faces over the course of the rest of this century as global temperatures rise,” Antle said. “The challenge will be what do you do to reduce the amount of emissions going into the atmosphere that are causing temperatures to rise, combined with what are you going to do to make human systems more resilient to the changes that come to weather over time.”

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Ways to reduce climate change

Save water

Reuse & Recycle

Avoid using plastic products

Save trees by reducing paper use

Use renewable energy *Data from climate.nasa.gov

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Initiating change

By Raabia Qureshi

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he popular phrase ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ continues to be advocated in schools and public facilities. Blue and green bins appear in many classrooms and are utilized by both students and teachers. However, the United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 75 percent of the American waste stream is recyclable, but only about 30 percent of it is being recycled.

According to a survey of 157 BVNW students conducted by The Express, 56.7 percent said they believe human action is the main source of climate change. In order to reduce their carbon footprint, 46 percent of the students said they recycle and 15 out of the 157 students said they carpool.

Blue Valley Northwest AP Environmental Science teacher Michaelyn Podany said individuals must take more self-responsibility and recognize the contribution of their high consumption rates to the amount of waste produced.

“If you go look at the trash cans, probably three quarters of the things in the trash should be in the recycle,”

Podany said.

However, throwing paper into recycling bins is not the only step toward fighting climate change. In the Johnson County area, people are taking larger steps to save the planet than just recycling. For instance, Johnson County Community College contains three green walls designed to improve the indoor air quality and absorb acoustic energy.

“I think the conversations that the green wall starts are even more important. How you bring elements of nature into the built environment and make the built environment more healthy for people,” Jay Antle, the Executive Director for the Center of Sustainability at JCCC, said.

Moreover, Kristy Howell, the Sustainability Education and Engagement Coordinator at JCCC, said students are becoming more dependent on technology and require the need for easy access to technology.

In response to this situation, Howell said JCCC installed Solar Powered Appointed Consumer Electronic Stations (SPACES).

“Solar charging tables are a great

way to help students see the small scale utility of solar energy on campus,” Howell said.

According to the JCCC website, the tables are costly to begin with, but the college is ultimately saving more money through the solar charged tables versus installing a multitude of outlets around campus. The tables allow to students to study, socialize and use their devices as they remain energy efficient, said the website.

The JCCC website also recognizes Galileo’s Pavilion, a 3,000 square foot academic building on the JCCC campus which thrives on sustainability through its energy conserving designs and functions. Covered in refurbished chalkboards, the building incorporates features like solar panels, wind turbines and rooftop plants. By taking such actions toward sustainability, Galileo’s Pavilion earned a platinum certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a green building rating system used widely across the country.

Freshman Holden Leathers said he believes the first step toward preventing further climate change

BVNW’s thoughts on climate change how important is climate change to you?

19.7%

Do you think human actions are causing it?

Extremely Important

5.4% 6.1%

28.7%

Important

6.4%

23.6%

not important at all I don’t care about it

*The Express surveyed 157 students from Nov. 14 through Nov. 27.

yes partially no

Somewhat unimportant

45.2%

8.2%

56.7%

I don’t believe in climate change

12.06.18 | Issue 4

17

Kristy Howell shows the plant wall inside Galileo’s Pavilion at JCCC. “The walls themselves encourage beneficial physiological reactions in people when they visit, called a biophilic response,” Howell said. “They also provide cleaner, more oxygen-rich air for students who study and learn in the space.” (Photo By Emma Johnson). is reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Although people don’t realize it, he said, most daily uses of electricity indirectly use fossil fuels. However, Leathers also expressed his concerns for alternative energy sources.

“If you covered an area the size of France with solar panels, you could power the entire earth. The only problem with solar power is we don’t know how to store it,” Leathers said.

Although solar energy is a popular alternative to fossil fuels, Leathers said there are setbacks. Not all areas have access to adequate sunlight. When the access to resources is limited, he said, so is the energy.

On the other hand, some BVNW students said they combat climate change on a more personal scale through pursuing a vegan lifestyle.

An Oxford University study published in the Climate Change journal found that dietary greenhouse gas emissions among omnivores were 99 to 102 percent higher than those of vegans.

After learning that the animal agriculture industry is a top contributor to the earth’s increasing temperature, senior Sayan Grover said it prompted him to become vegan a few years ago.

“As Americans, if we just dropped that juicy steak, there’s so many other alternatives. You’re not losing anything

besides killing animals and the environment,” Grover said.

Since becoming vegan four years ago, sophomore Marguerite Dyke said the trend of denying the role of human activity in climate change is shocking to her because consequences of climate change will affect everyone.

“It would require a lot of change in lifestyle, hence veganism, that I don’t think a lot of people are willing to make,” Dyke said. “To know that I’m doing my part is comforting.”

The Blue Valley School District has also implemented many energy-saving regulations and guidelines in their building and facilities, Blue Valley School District Executive Director of Facilities and Operations Dave Hill said. From installing geothermal systems to using efficient lighting systems with occupancy sensors, Hill said the district also adheres to LEED principles.

Hill also said the Blue Valley CAPS building is a primary example of energy conserving design and functions. Due to its passive solar design and other sustainability efforts, the LEED organization certified it as a LEED Gold building, the second highest certification a building can receive from the organization. Passive solar design uses the sun’s energy and exposure for the heating and cooling of

living spaces, he said.

According to Hill, traditional buildings will begin to mirror facilities like the CAPS and JCCC buildings. The current qualifications for the LEED award system will become a baseline expectation, he said. Hill said he believes sustainable transportation will replace carbon dioxide-releasing vehicles. As such innovations potentially take over the future, Hill said students can carpool more, completely shut off their computers at the end of the day and conserve water to benefit the environment.

Blue Valley Northwest meteorology teacher Sarah Derks said she cannot stress enough the importance of the young generations and their battle against climate change. Often, she said, some high school students blindly engage in activities that harm the environment due to their unwillingness to educate themselves on the issue.

“Sometimes students will only believe what their parents tell them or what their pastor tells them. I’m not saying don’t believe those things, but I’m saying go out and get information so you can be knowledgeable,” Derks said.

Nacole Boan, the activities director at Northwest, said she also emphasizes the importance of protecting the planet for future generations. The school, she said, can reduce its carbon footprint by cutting down its paper usage, expanding its recycling program or simply utilizing natural light on a greater scale instead of relying on the expansive lighting systems.

Although protecting the planet is not critical to some, Derks said the initiation begins with young generations. Individuals must educate themselves, she said, to recognize the severity of the issue. Derks also said many people in the Midwest deny climate change and its dire consequences because they have yet to engage in a reality of wildfires and severe hurricanes which in other parts of the world, claim hundreds and thousands of lives.

“You have to believe that you’re the last generation capable of making change,” Derks said. “You shouldn’t grow up thinking that someone else will solve your problems.”

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Issue 4 | 12.06.18

12.06.18 | Issue 4

Ice, Ice, Bailey

19

Finding fun in the competitiveness the sport has to offer, sophomore Bailey Allee participates in synchronized ice skating during her free time.

By Grace Davis

G

liding against the slick ice, she feels her white skates cutting with sharp precision. She looks up and hears blades crisscrossing as she attempts to stay in rhythm with her teammates.

When on the ice, sophomore Bailey Allee said she experiences these feelings when performing with her ice skating team, Illusion.

Skating at Line Creek Community Center and Ice Arena, Allee said she leaves school at 2 p.m. every day and goes straight to the rink. She skates four days a week with her practices lasting four and a half hours, occasionally having to eat dinner and do homework at practice.

Allee said her favorite part of skating is the demanding nature of the sport.

“I like all the technicality and everything that goes into it,” Allee said. “You have to be kind of on top of everything.”

Initially, Allee said she was involved in competitive cheer but became disinterested, which led her mom, Marty Allee, to introduce her to ice

Design by Maggie McCready skating. Unlike with cheer, Marty said her daughter was more motivated to skate, translating to better results. “[Allee] is extremely determined,” Marty said. “She sets her goals and works hard to meet them. She went from one of the beginning synchronized ice skating teams to the highest team within record time.”

Coaching Allee since fifth grade, Amy Fankhauser said Allee caught on to the sport as soon as she stepped on the ice rink.

“She sets her goals and works hard to meet them. She went from one of the beginning synchronized ice skating teams to the highest team within record time.”

-Marty Allee “She is a quick learner and is dedicated to reaching her goals,” Fankhauser said. “She is focused on

Sophomore Bailey Allee stands in opening position at a skating competition at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in the summer of 2015. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Allee).

details and wants to do everything the right way, not just slide by the easy way.”

In competitions, Allee said everything has to match perfectly with one another, including hairstyles, uniforms and nail polish color.

Competing mostly in Missouri and Kansas, Allee said she enjoys competitions, but said they can be stressful.

“It’s really complicated, there’s a lot that goes into it,” Allee said. “Having everyone’s eyes on me and then having a bunch of judges’ eyes on me really freaks me out.”

Looking past high school, Allee said she would like to attend college in Canada and begin coaching after that.

As Allee continues skating, Fankhauser said she sees her succeeding as she takes the next steps to her future goals.

“I enjoy working with [Allee] because she truly loves the sport,” Fankhauser said. “I see [her] achieving any goal she sets her mind to, whether that be in skating or any other aspect of her life.”

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Issue 4| 12..6.18

Happy Holidays!

By Izze Lentfer

What is your favorite holiday song?

42.2%

9.7%

“All I Want for Christmas is You” Mariah carrey

“White christmas” bing crosby

9.2%

“Baby its cold outside” Dean martin

11.9%

“Winter Wonderland” michael buble

8.6%

Other: 18.4%

“last christmas” wham!

What is your favorite holiday movie?

2.7% 1.6%

14.1%

7.6% 17.3% 1.6%

5.9% 12.4%

36.8%

other

“miracle on 34th street”

“Home Alone”

“Elf”

“national lampoon’s christmas vacation” Hallmark seasonal movies “How the grinch stole christmas”

“The polar express” “it’s a wonderful life”

12.6.18 | Issue 4

When do you start listening to holiday music?

Where do you go over break?

14.1%

10.3%

stay home- 73.5%

Travel out of the country- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

10.8%

Grandparent’s house- - - - - - - - - - 31.4% Travel within the u.s.- - - - - - - - - - - - 24.9%

24.3%

30.3%

Travel to realtives houses- - 41.1%

21.1%

All Year Long Dec. 24 dec. 1 nov. 23 nov. 1

what holiday do you celebrate?

200

other Eid Chinese New Yr Las Posadas

150

100

Diwali Kwanzaa Christmas Hannukah

50

0

which “grinch” movie is your favorite?

34.1%

56.2%

9.7%

do you like snow?

27% 69.7%

3.2%

if i don’t have to go outside no- - - - - - - - - yes- - - - - - - - -

What is your favorite winter activity?

1.6% 11.9% 49.7%

21.6%

shopping 12.4% 2.7% vacationing Christmas Tree Shopping watching holiday movies ice skating being with friends and family

21

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Issue 4 | 12.06.18

4 WEEK WINTER BREAK SPECIAL *Equipment Included* 8323 West 135th Street

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12.06.18 | Issue 4

Perspectives 1.

1. Senior Haley Shin, along with her parents, Chang Shin and Mary Shin, applaud her fellow classmates at college-signing day, Nov. 14. “Signing to further my education and softball career at Rockhurst University is a huge opportunity that I am very grateful for. It is going to allow me to continue to do something I am very passionate about as well as receive a great education,” Shin said.

(Photo by Alyssa Peterson).

2. Freshman Max Rempel throws a football to a friend during Physical Education, Nov. 14. “Gym is really fun because I like to play sports and hang out with my friends,” Rempel said. (Photo by Maddie Beischel).

2.

24

3.

3. Senior Natalie Mutu bakes a cake in her fifth hour class, Baking and Pastries. “I like the dynamics that you get from the different groups and the different types of baking projects we do,” Mutu said. (Photo by Maddie Beischel).

4. Sophomore Ellie Bail learns and practices back blows in health as a part of their CPR unit, Nov. 8. “The thing I learned about CPR is most likely going to come in handy in the future,” Bail said. “That’s why I think it’s very beneficial that we’re learning about it.” (Photo by Alyssa Peterson).

5. As a part of the Rube Goldberg project in Physical Science, students had to calculate the gravitational potential energy. Sophomore Allison Dragoo does calculations in the 300 hallway for her group’s Rube Goldberg project. “I liked the project because I had a really great group and they made it fun,” Dragoo said.

(Photo by Ellen Bruce).

Issue 4 | 12.06.18

4.

5.

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25

6.

7.

6. Sophomore Avery Feather and senior Mark Doyle perform in the play “To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday.” Feather played the part of Gillian in the play. “My favorite part about the fall play was the support and friendship that was formed in this cast,” Feather said. (Photo by Emma Johnson).

7. Orchestra teacher Mike Arbucci directs a class during the school day. Arbucci teaches at Harmony Elementary and Middle School as well as BVNW. “Some of these students I’ve known for five or six years,” Arbucci said. (Photo by Maddie Beischel).

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Issue 4 | 12.06.18

Life

sTYLED

By Lola Shipman, Maddie Beischel & Grace Davis

Vans

Sweatshirt: $50-$60 Vans is a stylish brand for guys, but girls definitely wear it as well. They sell many products, such as shoes, hats and clothing. Their trendiest attire are sweatshirts, shirts and shoes. Their pricing is pretty average, with a quality material sweatshirt being about $50.

Their clothing is paired nicely with any other brand or clothing type.

LULUlemon Lululemon is definitely the priciest, with its prices ranging from $50 and up. However, the comfort, style and quality outweighs the cost, as they are very trendy for both sexes. Their most popular items are their leggings, shirts, tank tops and joggers. Joggers are especially in style right now. Perkin paired a Lululemon shirt with her joggers. Guys can pair black joggers with most of their sweatshirts.

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27

Tommy Hilfiger Joggers: $80 Tommy Hilfiger is very fashionable right now, especially for girls. Their clothing is a bit pricier than average, but is of good quality. Their joggers are particularly popular. They are paired nicely with anything and are very comfortable.

Champion

Sweatshirt: $50 Champion is a great on-trend, unisex brand. They are a versatile brand that can be paired easily with leggings and joggers. Champion is known for comfortable-fitting clothes.

Currently their most popular items are joggers and sweatshirts. Their clothing is also easy to pair with any type of shoe, typically tennis shoes.

Modeled by sophomores Rowan Ramey and Isabella Perkin

Issue 4| 12.06.18

28

Craving

Cookies

The Kansas City area offers a variety of bakeries serving up cookies with plant-based ingredients, decorative and traditional cookies. Each bakery is rated out of five cookies.

By Kathryn Case & Alyssa Peterson McLain’s Bakery

Design by Jenna Weyforth

201 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64114 McLain’s Bakery is a classic Kansas City bakery that serves breakfast and light lunch, plus signature cookies and cakes. McLain’s Bakery is a fairly large and busy bakery, as the shop is usually packed with people sitting at almost every table.

The bakery is thoroughly decorated with plants and mugs and has an overall trendy vibe. Some of their popular cookies include the Sprinkle Sugar and the Double Chocolate Chip. These cookies are an affordable price of around $2 dollars each. The Sprinkle Sugar is a little dry, but still tart and sweet. The sugar cookie has sprinkles baked into it as well as a thick layer of sprinkles on top.

Underneath the layer of sprinkles is an unnoticeable coat of thin icing. The Double Chocolate Chip has a powerful, bittersweet taste to it. The outside has a thin glaze that is slightly hard, but the inside is filled with melted chocolate. There are chunks of chocolate chips throughout the cookie that enrich the chocolate flavor. The browniebatter-like-cookie is great for those who have a strong sweet tooth.

(Photos by Alyssa Peterson).

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Unbakery

634 E 63rd St, Kansas City, Mo. 64110 Unbakery and Juicery is known for their plant-based raw treats as well as juices. The desserts at this bakery don’t use animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and honey. Unbakery and Juicery makes all of their treats using vegan-friendly ingredients, such as almond flour and granola. They use a process called a raw vegan diet, meaning no heat has been used to kill any vitamins or nutrients in the products according to store manager Robin Krause. A few of their popular vegan goodies are

the Snickers Bar and the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Protein Ball.

The total amount of both cookies is around $7, making it pricier compared to the other bakeries.

The Snickers Bar has a granola base, a cashew cream laid on top, then dark chocolate covering the whole bar. The dense bar has many flavors of various nuts and chocolates, like cashews and dark chocolate. There are also a variety of small nuts sprinkled on top.

The Peanut Butter and Chocolate Protein Ball is soft, but not wet.

There are chunks of cashews and other nuts in the ball as well with chunks of chocolate chips. The uncooked, crunchy ball is a tasty treat, perfect for those who enjoy nuts and chocolate in their pastries.

Unbakery and Juicery appeals to those who like healthy food and are looking for a visually appealing and modern looking place to eat, due to the white color scheme and many cute windows.

Cookies by Design 7106 W 119th St, Overland Park, Kan. 66213 Only an 11 minute drive from BVNW, Cookies By Design is a national chain selling handcrafted cookies in creative arrangements, gift baskets and trays. A few of their best known cookies are the Gourmet Sprinkle Sugar Cookie and the Pumpkin Spice Cookie. The total of both of these cookies is around $3, perfect for those on a budget. The Gourmet Sprinkle Cookie is a soft, thin sugar cookie with ridged edges.

On top of the cookie lies a thick layer of colorful beaded sprinkles.

However, the decorations can’t supplement for the fact that this cookie doesn’t have a strong flavor compared to cookies from McLain’s Bakery. The Pumpkin Spice Cookie is an extremely fluffy, bread-like cookie. Biting into the cookie has

a similar texture to biting into a slice of pumpkin bread. On top of the cookie is a thin layer of glaze icing and sprinkles of cinnamon sugar. The pumpkin flavor isn’t

that prevalent and also has a bland taste. Overall, this bakery seems to attract less customers than McLain’s.

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12.06.18 | Issue 4

winter By Naomi James

31

puzzle Across

1. “Be quiet!”

4. Eve’s partner 8. Southeastern Florida city 13. Take 15. Cobra, in India 16. Squirrel snack 17. Actress Hathaway 18. Cross inscription 19. “Frasier” sitcom brother 20. Swiss Miss, e.g.

23. Vatican Chapel 24. Clear gemstone 28. Little ender 29. Tater 31. Suffix with serpent 32. Left, on a boat 35. Olive and corn 36. Solemn promise 37. Seasonal tag line 41. Keep an ___ on things 42. Multiplied 43. Devours 44. Deadbeat 45. “Proof of Heaven” author Alexander 46. Hole 47. Artemis’ twin 49. Medium for free TV 53. Winter garments 56. Wash against, like waves at the shore 59. Jump 60. “Umbrella” singer nickname 61. Came up 62. Desire 63. “Wow...”

64. Step 65. Faucet brand 66. Former baseball closer Robb

down 1. Onetime Iranian leaders 2. Capital of Vietnam 3. Chases, as prey 4. Negatively-charged atoms 5. Get down6 . Farm prefix 7. Snail ___ 8. Formal name of “praying” insect 9. Less friendly 10. Web portal since 1985 11. GI’s field grub 12. ___ and outs 14. Scold 21. Tips

22. ___ Pacific University Cougars 46. Dusty “Peanuts” character 25. Well-mannered 48. ___ Apso (dog breed) 26. Switch type 49. Saying 27. Semi-aquatic salamanders 50. Bird-related 29. Tornado alarm 51. “Around the World in Eighty Days” 30. Begged author Jules ___ 32. Tiny organism 52. Authenticate online 33. “You owe me!”

54. Grad.

34. ___ Mountain (Vermont ski resort) 55. He fiddled while Rome burned 35. Shrek, for one 56. Long. counterpart, on a map 38. Monastery head 57. The “A” of “ETA” 39. Spin 58. “The Raven” poet 40. Received info 45. Overjoyed *To view the answers to the crossword, check out BVNWnews.com.

2018-2019

The express staff editor-in-chief

writers

contact information

Anna Cowden

Kathryn Case Emma Gau Ben Hobbs Jonny Isaacson Naomi James Aidan Knauth Izze Lenfter Maggie McCready Grace Miller Maddie Oliver Raabia Qureshi Danya Radhi Erin Reece Katie Rodriguez Lola Shipman Jenna Weyforth

Mailing address: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213 Phone: 913-239-3544 Website: BVNWnews.com

print editor Anna Levine

online editor Jaelen Matthews

Photo Editor Ellen Bruce

features editor Olivia Dowell

Online Copy editor Ethan Knauth

Photographers Maddie Beischel Grace Davis Emma Johnson Sara Maloney Alyssa Peterson

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Letters may be published either on BVNWnews.com or in our print edition. Letters may be edited.

about us The Express is the official high school news publication of Blue Valley Northwest High School, an open forum distributed to all students seven times a year. This is the December Issue of Volume 26. Subscription rates are $10.

The Express is printed by The Sedalia Democrat, 700 South Massachusetts, Sedalia Mo. 65301.

assistant adviser disclaimer Kimberly Hillstock

adviser Jim McCrossen

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This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified 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.

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