2018-2019
The express star in the darkness Page 16 To help cope with her Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, freshman Savanna Tullis brought her service dog, Star, with her the first week of school.
Volume 26 • issue 3 • Blue Valley Northwest High school
Issue 3 | 10.25.18
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staff editorial: Wake up and smell the politics opinion: the benefits sports provide OPinion: Controversy in classrooms my big fat greek traditions a part of the team keeping track
Cover: Freshman Savanna Tullis hugs her service dog, Star (Illustration by Naomi James and Alyssa Peterson). Right: Crystals such as amethyst and rose quartz are sold at metaphysical supply store Crescent Springs, located in downtown Overland Park, Oct. 2. Prices vary on the type and size of the crystal (Photo by Ellen Bruce). Below: Established in Austin Texas, Chuy’s serves Tex-Mex cuisine. Chuy’s recently added a location on 135th St. (Photo by Grace Davis).
10.25.18 | Issue 3
In the atrium, Savanna plays with Star, Oct. 16. (Photo by Alyssa Peterson).
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crystal clear star in the darkness perspectives your vote matters life Styled Chuy’s Review: The Heart of Tex-mex puzzle
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Issue 3 | 10.25.18
10.25.18 | Issue 3
staff Editorial wake up and smell the politics
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e’re in the last stretch before the midterm elections take place Nov. 6. We’ve seen numerous political ads and campaign yard signs, and for some of us, we’re voting for the first time. Just because not all of us can vote doesn’t mean we shouldn’t all partake in an educated community of future voters. Part of what makes us informed voters isn’t the fact that we’d be voting in the next election, it’s about staying educated. So many people say, ‘I don’t know enough to vote,’ ‘I don’t care,’ or the popular excuse, ‘I’m not interested in politics.’ Even though most of us can’t vote yet, we still need to be up-to-date on local and national policies and news. This is an important time in our lives. We may not all be invested in politics, but we aren’t blind to what’s happening in our communities, state and country. We need to pay attention to learn how to interpret what a candidate says in the news or at a rally the way we see it, not just how our parents see it. While it may not be exciting for everyone, we need to understand how candidates’ decisions would affect our community, which is something everyone should care about. It doesn’t matter that not all of us find politics engaging, because
ultimately the people we elect are going to have an effect on our lives, whether we like it or not. We also need to prepare to vote now in order to see policies that are going to protect us and our futures. According to a recent U.N. report, our globe could be in an environmental crisis by as early as 2040, which means natural disasters could be more extreme and possibility of food shortages exists. The majority of our current politicians may not be alive when this global warming crisis will affect the population, but it’ll directly affect us. In this way, it’s important for us to be researching candidates now who’ll vote for environmentally-friendly policies. A total of 272 mass shooting incidents have occurred in 2018 as of Oct. 8, according to data collected by the Gun Violence Archive. Some candidates in Kansas have looked at school shootings and suggested policies that would arm teachers with guns, but regardless of whether we agree with these propositions or not, we need to be aware of the impacts these policies would have. No matter the effects they’ll have, we can’t complain about elected officials if we choose to ignore their campaigns and choose not to vote. In the past, people our age have generally chosen not to vote, as only 39.4 percent of 18-24 year-
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olds voted in the 2016 presidential election and 15.9 percent voted in the 2014 midterms, according to the U.S. Census. If we want to see more of our voices heard through the candidates running, then we need to be preparing to vote to get that statistic higher than it is now and have our opinions represented even more. We also can’t hide from education cuts that directly affect us, as they’ve been following us through the reversal of most of former Kansas governor Sam Brownback’s taxes for the past five years. The Kansas Board of Regents called for a tuition increase in its six public colleges in May 2018, with University of Kansas raising its tuition 2.8 percent, Kansas State asking for 1.1 percent and Wichita State raising 2.5 percent. This may seem like a remote issue, but some of us are already preparing for college and this issue alone should make us want to look deeper into the politics behind our hefty tuition payments. Our age isn’t an excuse for us to blow off what’s happening around us. If anything, we need to embrace politics for what it is because the ideas these candidates propose directly impact our future. If we choose not to pay attention now, then we’re just letting other people decide our future for us.
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Opinion
Issue 3 | 10.25.18
The benefits sports provide By Ben hobbs
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s a high school athlete who participates in football and wrestling, playing sports and being part of team environments makes me a better person as a whole. While many factors come into playing sports, I’ve learned accountability, mental toughness and cooperation skills that’ve helped shape my character into the best it can be. In football, we have to know our plays perfectly, so that everything will run smoothly on the field. We need to watch game film and look at the playbook to make sure we know where to be and how to execute. This creates a culture of accountability, because if someone doesn’t know what to do, then the play falls through. As an offensive lineman who’s smaller than the average size, I need to be able to handle challenges. At my position, I often face opponents larger than me. This creates physical toughness within me, but more importantly, mental toughness. I have to be able to face every play with confidence, no matter the outcome.
Playing on a team allows teammates to hold each other accountable and support one another in the good and bad times, which helps in handling difficult social situations. Also, according to a study from the National Library of Medicine with 60 participants, those who participated in sports showed much higher leadership traits than those who didn’t. Regardless of how people tackle stressful situations, the family environment created within a team as well as the leadership developed through organized sports strengthens this quality exponentially. The family aspect of a team is also something that will carry players through life. My dad played football at Lehigh University, and frequently says his offensive line teammates are his best friends to this day. Whenever he’s on the phone with any of them, I can see how happy he is to speak with them. He always talks about how he never regretted not being in a fraternity, because he had his own through football. Coming from Ascension Catholic
School and having the summer to meet my football teammates before the start of my freshman year at BVNW, I had the opportunity to get to know people and create relationships. I didn’t realize this at the time, but it provided me with friends I still have today, whom I admire and appreciate. The balance required between sports and academics is another test to building character. Getting used to the time management between athletics and academics prepares student athletes for the coming years of life. In college, the structure is a lot more lenient, which is a change from the rigid high school environment. Playing sports allows players to manage their time well to get everything done, which will benefit them in the future. Regardless of talent or athleticism, even just participating in sports creates something to do, benefiting players in more ways than not. Next time the opportunity presents itself, join a team because it may be the best decision of your life.
The Huskies run onto the field in the game against Harrisonville on Sept. 7 at the DAC. The Huskies were defeated by the Wildcats, 29-24. (Photo by Emily Farthing).
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Opinion
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Controversy in classrooms By Raabia qureshi
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hen controversial issues are brought up in schools, we shift in our desks, become rigid in our chairs and go completely silent. Any sort of hot-topic issue makes us shut down in order to avoid offending someone. This response to controversy needs to change so we can feel more comfortable talking about current issues, without allowing fear to govern our opinions. As a freshman advisor, I’m able to directly witness this often uncomfortable reaction in my advisory class. After a few moments of awkwardness where no one is willing to say anything, we usually move on to a more comfortable topic, dismissing the controversial one to never be discussed. Working together, our academic community can ease this discomfort by facilitating intellectual discussions of these sensitive topics. As the next generation of thinkers, we should be able to address any sort of issues and work together to solve them. When it comes time for us to leave the sheltered, rigid environment of high school and face the outside world, the plurality of controversial ideas that will surround us on a daily basis will continue to evoke anxiety, outrage and easily offend us. As much as learning
geometry or literature is important, learning tolerance and the ability to respectfully disagree will follow us into the future more often. Just recently, the district implemented a mandatory “Signs of Suicide” course where counselors addressed suicide in an upfront manner. Even though the course stimulated awareness among students, some students still felt uncomfortable answering questions and discussing them. We need to know that no matter how controversial our thoughts may seem, school should be a proper setting to voice our opinions. Teachers can simultaneously express their views and monitor heated conversations. In classes, they can run open seminars or more student-led discussions, as long as the conversations remain civilized. Teachers must take the plunge into controversy by delving deeper into bigger issues. It can also be unfair when a teacher pretends we can’t see or hear the major societal events occuring outside the classroom. Believe it or not, I also witnessed new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation amidst the sexual assault accusations. I also read about ‘Punish a Muslim
*Photo illustration by Anna Levine
Day’ as it covered headlines in the media. As a Muslim myself, I remember suppressing the feelings of disgust, outrage and fear at school to avoid making others uncomfortable. Even though discussing it initially would have provoked discomfort, I ultimately realize now that talking about it in a classroom would’ve comforted me and shown me that our school community cares about such matters. In the past, the Northwest community has collectively addressed nationwide issues such as gun violence through the “March for Our Lives” protest. Not only did this bring attention to the problem, it let us know that the rest of the student body cares about our opinions. Let’s stop tiptoeing around the issues that flood the media and our homes. Instead, let’s encourage people to use their voices and discuss conflicts in a well thought-out academic environment so various perspectives can be shared and change can be implemented. We need to debate issues we can relate to and are passionate about, no matter how controversial they are. It all starts among teachers and students within the classroom.
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my BIG FAT GREEK
By Aidan Knauth
Issue 3 | 10.25.18
T r a d i t i o n s
With Greek heritage on both sides of her family, sophomore Petrina Arvanitakis and her family participate in various Greek traditions.
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Petrina Arvanitakis (bottom row on the left) and her friends pose for a picture with their jerseys, Sept. 11. (Photos courtesy of Petrina Arvanitakis).
Arvanitakis (bottom row, second from the right) and her dance group pose for a picture before their last performance, Sept. 11.
pening gifts on New Year’s, throwing teeth on the roof for the tooth fairy and putting a coin in bread for good luck are traditions sophomore Petrina Arvanitakis said she and her family participate in every year as part of their Greek culture. Both sides of her family have Greek heritage. She said her mom was born in a Greek town called Tripoli and her dad’s family is from the Greek island, Zakynthos. Like her dad, Arvanitakis said she herself was born in the United States, but visits Greece every other summer for two months to spend time with her relatives. While in Greece, Arvanitakis said she enjoys spending summers there because the people are much nicer. “The society there is very different,” Arvanitakis said. “It’s more communal. In Greece people are just friendly with everybody.” One of the many Greek traditions Arvanitakis said she and her family celebrate is what they call ‘name day,’ instead of having someone’s birthday celebrated on the day that he or she was born. A person’s name day is a special day that correlates with the saint a person is named after and is held on the day he or she is baptized. Whenever someone celebrates a name day, Arvanitakis said there’s a party thrown with many kinds of traditional Greek food and games,
like Greek hide and go seek, people selling various goods and a lot of dancing. On name day however, people are supposed to give gifts instead of receive them. “On your name day you’re supposed to receive people into your home, and give them a nice meal or deserts,” Arvanitakis said. “It’s kind of opposite on a name day, you don’t receive gifts you give gifts.”
“My faith and my Greek friends and family are an amazing part of my life.” -Petrina Arvanitakis Arvanitakis is named after St. Peter, so her name day is on July 19. Her favorite name day so far is when she said her godparents surprised her with her favorite desert, Kormo, an assortment of biscuits smothered in chocolate, and they had people over. For the Greek version of New Year’s Eve, Arvanitakis said they put a coin in a piece of pita bread, known as ‘Vasilopita,’ and whoever gets the coin receives good luck for that year. According to Arvanitakis’ mom, Angela Arvanitakis, St. Basil is the Greek version of Santa and brings all of the gifts. New Year’s Eve is a huge celebration,
10.25.18 | Issue 3 Arvanitakis said, and is held at their grandparents’ home with all their relatives. The Greek version of the tooth fairy is also very different than the traditional American version, as Arvanitakis said they throw teeth on top of their roof and leave them there. In the morning, Arvanitakis said they will find the money under their mattress. Instead of having a set date for Easter, Angela said the Greek calendar for the year is different than the American one, so Easter can be four weeks early or four weeks later. On the last day of the holiday, she said they go to church for a midnight service. On the Friday of the last week of Easter, her dad, Spiro Arvanitakis, said his family mourns the death of Jesus and has a reenactment of His burial. Arvanitakis said the following Sunday they celebrate the rising of Jesus at a three hour church service. Since they sing songs for the first hour, Spiro said they usually do not come for the first hour and a half. As part of their wedding traditions, Arvanitakis said the night before the wedding the whole family goes to the bride’s house, prepares the house and bed for the future couple and throws money on their bed. Traditionally, Arvanitakis said it’s common for people to throw 50 Euros on the new couple’s bed. Their church, St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Christian Church, sponsors many different Greek events including the yearly Greek Festival which Arvanitakis said the church holds to share Greek culture and to raise money for the church. According to the festival’s website, their motto is, “food, music, dancing, shopping and culture all in one.” For this year’s festival, Arvanitakis said she helped promote it and was also a dancer. “I dance about three times a day for the weekend,” Arvanitakis said. “There’s a little booth for the kids to play a ton of games and there’s performances that you can watch.” Petrina’s dance instructor for the Greek Festival, Georgia Kartsonis, said she has been teaching the Arvanitakis children ever since
09 she moved to Kansas from Dallas, Texas twelve years ago. According to Arvanitakis, the Greek Festival has been a tradition in the Arvanitakis family and for the church ever since she could remember. “I really love the Greek Festival,” Arvanitakis said. “It’s the best time of the year.” In years to come, Arvanitakis said she hopes to continue her Greek traditions. “I’m so happy and proud to be brought up in the Greek culture,” Arvanitakis said. “My faith and my Greek friends and family are an amazing part of my life.”
Arvanitakis (left) and another dance group member raise their hands as part of a Cretan dance, Sept. 10.
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a part of the team As manager for the varsity team, freshman Sean Blauvelt stays involved in football.
By Maddie Oliver ince developing a love of football in sixth grade from attending college football games, freshman Sean Blauvelt’s mother Theresa Blauvelt said he wanted to continue participating in the sport as a manager. Theresa said Blauvelt has Down syndrome, a genetic condition where there is an extra, third copy of the 21st chromosome in every cell. As the only manager of the varsity football team this year, freshman Sean Blauvelt said he wanted to be part of the football team in any way could. Some of his tasks as manager include filling up the players’ water bottles, bringing out bags and tackling dummies for practice as well as cheering from the sidelines during
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games, assistant defensive line coach Zach Orrick said. “We had heard that he played football on the eighth grade football team at Oxford Middle School last year and he wanted to be a part of the football team,” Orrick said. Before coming to Northwest, Blauvelt worked with Lauren Richter, an Occupational Therapist, at Oxford Middle School for three years. Richter said that she is helping Blauvelt achieve social and job skills in the school environment. “I started working at Oxford Middle School Sean’s seventh grade year,” Richter said. “Sean and I have worked on developing his vocational skills and social skills throughout the school environment. Some of the vocational
skills we have focused on the last few years have included sorting, delivering items, following directions, listening and speaking to others.” After playing for the OMS football team in eighth grade, Richter said Blauvelt wanted to be involved in high school football. “I played football and loved it,” Blauvelt said with the support of Richter. “I wanted to be a part of the team when I came to high school.” While spending time with Blauvelt, Richter said she began to see his strong passion for football. “I was the person that found coach Orrick and told him about Sean,” Richter said. “A big part in working in special education is advocating for your kids. You want them to have ways to
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Left: Freshman Sean Blauvelt fills a water bottle during football practice with junior Dash Goldston. “Dash helps me fill up the water bottles,” Blauvelt said. “I like him.” (Photo by Maddie Beischel). Right: At the Homecoming game on Sept. 28, Goldston and Blauvelt pose for a picture on the field.“Sean brings happiness to the team by giving them knuckles and cheering them on during games,” Goldston said. (Photo courtesy of Dash Goldston).
meaningfully be involved in the school community.” After Richter talked to Orrick about Blauvelt’s love for football, Orrick said he talked to head coach Clint Rider and defensive backs coach Leon Washington about possible roles Blauvelt could fulfill on the team.
“A big part in working in special education is advocating for your kids. You want them to have ways to meaningfully be involved in the school community.”
-Lauren Richter “Coach Washington works on an everyday basis with Sean and some of his other peers,” Orrick said. “Coach Rider had kind of known about Sean a little bit last year, so it’s a no-brainer that we wanted to get him involved as fast as we could and get him involved in our program.” Theresa said she believes the football program is a good experience for Sean and is adding onto the skills Blauvelt is covering with Richter. “I think it’s a great arrangement and
Sean seems so happy with it,” Theresa said. It’s a good experience for him. For me, I see it as it enhancing not only his social skills, but his job skills for being able to listen and follow directions. I think all those things are great.” Varsity captain Peyton Potts said he believes Blauvelt brings positivity to the football team. “He’s awesome to have around,” Potts said. “He always gives high-fives and is motivated to be there. He’s running around, trying to help out as much as he can. We all enjoy that he’s there.” Varsity wide-receiver Evan Ranallo said he thinks Blauvelt is a big help to the team, and does his job well. Ranallo said that Blauvelt is supportive filling up water and handing it to the players that need it. “He’s great to be on the team,” Ranallo said. “He’s always smiling and always bringing life to our team, and always running around trying to help us out and encourage us.” Since the beginning of the 2018 season, junior Dash Goldston said he has helped Blauvelt fill up the water bottles. Earlier this year, Goldston said he was asked by special education paraprofessional Polly Schwarz if he could help Sean manage. “I was walking down the hall and Mrs. Schwarz asked me if I wanted to
do it because he needed someone,” Goldston said. “I knew a bunch of football players and I was like ‘Sure.’ She introduced me to him and we just clicked.” Goldston said Blauvelt is a good manager and rarely needs people to help him with his job. “Honestly, Sean just does everything himself, Goldston said. “He functions enough where he can just do what he needs to do. It’s just a matter of he needs someone there to give him his tasks and give him what he needs to do. I’m just there for him to [be] a companion if he needs it.” Orrick believes that Blauvelt brings positivity to the team and that he is happy anyway the game goes. “He brings positivity. His smile lightens up the field while he is down there,” Orrick said. “The kid is happy every single day and we all could live our lives as happy as Sean does. Win lose or draw, Sean doesn’t care. Sean is just happy to be out there and that goes a very, very long way.”
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Keeping
Issue 3 | 10.25.18
Track
Tracking apps, such as Life360, allow parents to monitor locations of their children in real time.
By Jenna Weyforth
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ifty eight percent of Northwest students said they are tracked by their parents, and 52 percent of those students said their parents check the app at least once each day, according to a survey conducted by The Express. Released in 2008, Life360 is an app that allows parents to track where their students are located and notifies them when their children leave the house, telling parents how long it takes them to arrive to a certain location. “People don’t like the idea that someone’s always watching them, and I don’t think that’s any different for apps like Life360,”
sophomore David Westerhaus said. Apps like Life360 are new territory, Westerhaus said, because the majority of people have only started utilizing them in the last few years. “It’s kind of a dangerous game to play because this is the first time you’ve been able to just track where your kids are all the time,” Westerhaus said. “That takes a lot of freedoms away from what childhood has been.” A negative of apps like this, Westerhaus said, is that tracking can lead to a decrease of trust, which is important in a strong family bond. “It really exemplifies the whole
helicopter-parent thing because you’re literally watching where they go, how fast they go and how much they use use their phone,” Westerhaus said. “It’s for a good purpose, to keep them safe, but it sort of dissolves trust which can break a family relationship.”
“It’s like they know my every movement, and that’s kind of stressful.” -Ally Farley Physical Science and Earth Space Science teacher James Hale has five children, ranging from ages 13 to 22. Hale said he does not have a tracking app for his kids, but acknowledged there are positives and negatives to the apps. “If something serious has happened you want to make sure where they’re at to locate them, so there’s a positive,” Hale said. “Of course there’s a negative
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BVNW Tracking Stats Do your parents monitor you on a tracking app?
58.6%
If yes, what app is it?
Yes
36.1% 12.4%
no 41.4%
Life360
51.5%
Find my iphone Other *The Express surveyed 240 students from Oct. 2 through Oct. 11.
that you don’t trust your kids and you have a reason to spy on them. That kind of sets a poor example of a relationship unfortunately, but I can see why. Each family has to decide that for themselves.” With easy access to people’s locations on the app, Westerhaus said the line of privacy with tracking is risky to cross. “It’s well-intentioned, but I think we should definitely be careful with it,” Westerhaus said. For the past two years, senior Ally Farley said she has used Life360 with her two younger siblings. Due to her new freedom to drive and organize her schedule, she said her parents forced her to download the app in high school. “It’s kind of us knowing we’re having our privacy invaded, because it’s one thing if there’s a tracker on my phone from the phone company, but it’s another to force us to download the app,” Farley said. Since sophomore Amita Ganesh has been in high school, she said her parents have used the Life360 app to find her
location and assure her safety. “I don’t really do anything that my parents don’t know about, so it’s often more convenient than about privacy,” Ganesh said. Ganesh said she generally likes the app because it notifies her where her family is located. “I think it’s really useful,” Ganesh said. “I can’t drive, so if my brother or my parents are going to pick me up I can
see where they are.” While tracking can be beneficial, Farley said she dislikes that her location is constantly accessible. “It’s like they know my every movement, and that’s kind of stressful,” Farley said. Parents can track their kids with a touch of a button using the Life360 mobile app. (Photo by Emma Johnson).
Issue 3 | 10.25.18
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Senior Katie Henry shows some of her crystal jewelry in her home, Oct. 12 (Photos by Ellen Bruce).
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Firm believers in the healing power of crystals, seniors Katie Henry and Nachel Sawyer both said they use healing crystals to improve their emotional well-being.
By Kathryn Case
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piece of paper written with positive messages lays beneath a purple crystal as senior Katie Henry performs her ritual. As the ritual progresses, Henry said she begins to feel lighter due to the negative energy being lifted off her. This ceremony is popular among many crystal users, she said, as it’s believed to radiate positive energy. To perform this ritual, Henry writes down her intentions and goals for performing the ritual and places them under her crystal. The ceremony helps her organize her thoughts and issues
in her life, which she said can be grades or school drama. As she lets the positive energy diffuse around her, Henry said she lets go of the negative energy and it’s shot into the universe. Also using the crystal ceremony as an outlet for her stress, senior Nachel Sawyer said she believes in using crystals for healing purposes. “I put my crystal in the middle of the paper, and I sit there and I let the good vibes wrap around me,” Sawyer said. Henry said she believes crystals have more mental healing properties than physical. “I don’t use them to physically
heal my body,” Henry said. “I use them to clear my energy or to help with relationships or to enhance love or friendships.” Since she was about seven years old, Henry said she’s had an interest in crystals. Not only does she have them all over her room, she said she also wears crystal jewelry every day. When Henry’s mother, Janetta Henry, was in medical school she wore a crystal necklace to help her get through her exams, Henry said. When taking stressful tests, Henry said she uses that same necklace to comfort her. “It makes me feel really calm,” Henry said. “Sometimes I start
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Rose quartz, also known as the love stone, is a popular crystal as well, Lyman said. Stones that are used for protection are very popular, like smoky quartz, black tourmaline and jasper. In addition to being protective, Lyman said they also have nurturing qualities. Along with Henry, Lyman said she is never without her crystal jewelry. “I wear [crystals] for all different things,” Lyman said. “Stones help with transformation and healing of the physical body, the mental emotional body and the spiritual body. Some are for protection, and some are for helping to have good health.” While Lyman said she thinks
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“Rocks are like people. All people are people, but they all feel different.” -Kat Lyman
there are specific crystals for certain people, not every stone is right for that person. “Rocks are like people. All people are people, but they all feel different,” Lyman said. “There isn’t one size fits all. A stone that feels right to put in my pocket today could be different than what feels right to put in your pocket [tomorrow].” Although they don’t solely belong to one person, Lyman said she believes all stones have a purpose. “A crystal to me, in general, wouldn’t have just one person that it went with, because they may never meet in this lifetime,” Lyman said. “When I purchase stones I always have a sense that somebody could use that stone.”
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“They are the stone of spirituality and contentment,” Lyman said. “They transmute a low vibration into a high vibration.”
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touching it, and I know everything is going to be OK.” Instead of only using the crystals in a ceremony setting, Sawyer said healing crystals can be used more simply, like holding them or placing them around the house. If a crystal warms up in one’s hand, Sawyer said she believes it’s meant to be his or hers. Regardless of how much people know about a certain crystal, Henry also said she believes certain crystals are drawn to certain people. If users see crystals they are drawn to, she said they should get them. “If you see one that you’re really attracted to, you just immediately get it, even if you don’t know what the function is,” Henry said. “I think it’s important to grab whatever crystal you’re attracted to, because it’s intentional.” Manager of metaphysical supply store Crescent Springs in downtown Overland Park, Kat Lyman said she has been working with crystals for more than 18 years, and is a strong believer in the power of stones. Popular crystals include amethyst, which Lyman said is known to have powerful healing qualities, are good for meditation and are used as psychic protection.
Some of the necklaces sold at Crescent Springs. Along with necklaces and crystals, the store also sells bracelets.
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Crescent Springs, a store in downtown Overland Park, sells many different types and sizes of crystals..
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Issue 3 | 10.25.18
Star in the Darkness
by Katie Rodriguez
Reporting By Grace Miller Blue Valley Northwest began the school year with a new student: freshman Savanna Tullis and her service dog, Star.
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n eight-month-old, honeycolored labradoodle garnered much attention while roaming the halls alongside her owner for the first week of the school year, freshman Savanna Tullis said. Her dog, Star, is the smartest and most mild-mannered puppy one will ever meet, she said, making it an extremely calm and well-behaved presence in the classes Savanna attends, but she said the dog’s joyful presence is with her for a more serious reason. Savanna has her service dog for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to Cathy Linde, a behavioral consultant for the University of Kansas, sufferers of PTSD continue to experience episodes of initial stress systems regardless of whether or not there is a real threat present. “When a person has grown up in a household where there’s unpredictability in safety...[his or her] nervous system kind of looks at the world that way,” Linde said. Savanna said in 2016 her father hanged himself. However, she also said the struggles that lay the roots of her PTSD do not start at this isolated event. Preceding the traumatic aftermath of his death, Savanna said, were years of physical and emotional abuse, at the hands of her father. Savanna’s mom, Sabrina Tullis, said the biggest factor in the decisionmaking process was determining whether or not her daughter actually needed a service dog. “We obviously spoke to her psychiatrists and her family doctor and everyone else to get their input,” Sabrina said. “When everybody was in agreement that she would improve her social interactions out of the home and
Freshman Savanna Tullis plays with her dog, Star, in the atrium, Oct.16. (Photos by Alyssa Peterson).
10.25.18 | Issue 3 also inside the home, it was really just a matter of finding the right dog.” Savanna and her mother said they felt that a miniature labradoodle like Star was the ideal choice, as they had been told labs are an extremely loyal breed and poodles are known for their intelligence. Not only is Star small and hypoallergenic, but Sabrina said she is also able to quickly master the extensive range of skills needed in order to successfully perform the functions of her job. Glenda Keller, CEO of the Kansas Specialty Dog Service, an organization that generally prefers golden retrievers and labs like Star, but did not train Star nor work with the Tullis family, said her organization generally looks for a lot of specific qualities in an ideal service animal candidate. “What we are looking for is a physically sound dog,” Keller said. “We’re looking for a dog that can pass its hips test, its heart test. We want
17 to make sure that it doesn’t have any deficiencies, any allergies.” Once the family found Star, they said they reached out to a trainer specializing in service dogs so they could have Star officially recognized as a service dog. Star’s trainer was unable to comment, but Sabrina said Star had to go through training and pass two separate tests, proving she is trained to perform specific tasks to
“She’s the light that guides my darkness." -Savanna Tullis assist her owner. However, Sabrina said Star’s training is not quite over, as she continues to work with her regularly to sharpen her skills and expand her repertoire in order to more efficiently
At BVNW, Star looks to the side as she sticks out her tongue, Oct.16.
assist her owner. Sabrina said these services have been a game-changer for Savanna. According to BVNW principal Amy Pressly, the distinction between a legally certified service dog compared to therapy dogs is important. The current district policy stipulates that service dogs are allowed in Blue Valley schools, but therapy dogs are not. “A therapy dog...is available to lots of kids, or a small group of kids...to help with stress or anxiety,” Pressly said. “A service dog is working with one individual student or one individual person for a specific reason or a specific thing that that dog does or that dog’s been trained to do.” When she is on the job, Sabrina said Star works specifically with Savanna in various ways. For example, Savanna said her anxiety is triggered in settings with large crowds. If she is unable to leave before the bell rings or gets
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Star sits as she takes a break from playing with her ball, Sept. 5.
trapped somewhere that is congested with people, Star will sit on her feet to calm her down. In other situations that cause Savanna’s anxiety to flare up, Star can provide tactile stimulation by rubbing against Savanna’s legs, signaling for her owner to pet her, which provides a reminder that Star is there and Savanna is not alone. According to Savanna’s best friend, freshman Emma Tong, Star is also beneficial in not just relieving Savanna’s anxiety symptoms, but detecting them before they are able to fully set in. “Star does realize before it even happens that she’ll have a panic attack. Sometimes she’ll just be sitting down and all of a sudden Star comes over,” Tong said. Savanna said she engaged in self-harm behaviors from the age of eight until Star’s adoption in eighth grade. Sabrina said Savanna has only had a couple
of relapses since Star’s adoption, largely because the dog has offered her a newfound sense of comfort that has become an alternative outlet in moments of distress. This is one of the reasons she said she believes a service dog can be very beneficial for people with mental illnesses, not just people with physical limitations.
“[People] should do what comforts them. What comforts me is my dog.” -Savanna Tullis “She’s the light that guides my darkness,” Savanna said. The responsibility that comes with nurturing and training a pet has given Savanna the closeness and unconditional love humans crave, according to Sabrina. Though Star is
a highly-trained animal, Sabrina said she is similar to any other pet in this regard. That being said, Savanna said a service animal is still very different than having a pet in many other respects. As soon as her vest or shirt goes on, Savanna said Star is aware she is on the job and is no longer free to behave as a normal puppy. When she is off the clock, Star enjoys chasing squirrels and curling up on her owner’s lap, but when it is time to work, Savanna said she must immediately become focused on her job. Both Savanna and Sabrina said having Star around, particularly during school hours, can amass a lot of unwelcome attention, which they said risks worsening Savanna’s anxiety. “[Savanna] just really doesn’t like any eyes on her, and the dog brought more eyes on her,” Sabrina said. Due to this additional anxietyinducing factor, Savanna said she is
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Right: Savanna reaches down to pet her dog Sept. 5. Below: Savanna gives Star a handshake at school Oct. 16.
attempting to make it through the year on her own, attending class without Star as frequently as she can. However, she said she still encourages students at BVNW to understand the importance of Star’s job and to respect her role. Many wonder why Savanna would need a service animal, she said, since there tends to be a lot of stigma around service animals as only having a use for those who are blind or deaf. But just because one does not see someone’s pain or illness, Savanna said, does not mean it is not there. Savanna also said she wishes schools would provide more resources about service dogs so when people like her come to school, their situations are not made even more stressful by ignorant comments from their peers. Pressly agreed it would be beneficial to help students be more informed so they can be more understanding in situations like this one. “I think we need to do more education with students about what
a service dog is and why someone might have a service dog,” Pressly said. According to Pressly, the BVNW staff is constantly expanding their knowledge of mental health issues and social and emotional learning in order to fully address the individual circumstances of each student and their unique needs. “We should just appreciate everybody for who they are instead of trying to kind of tear them apart because they’re different from who we are,” Pressly said. As one can never know what goes on in someone else’s life, Savanna said she encourages her fellow students to be more accepting of whatever it is that an individual relies on. “[People] should do what comforts them,” Savanna said. “What comforts me is my dog.”
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Perspectives 1. 1. Sophomore Aviva Keating works on her jewelry project, Oct. 2. “We’re given a lot of freedom into the kind of stuff we want to make so it’s not a one size fits all class,” Keating said. (Photo by Alyssa Peterson). 2. Freshmen Lindsey Farthing (left) and Rosemary Lufkin (right) participate with boys from their class in the freshman dance on Class Color Day, Sept. 27. “During spirit week I think everyone realized how serious Northwest actually takes spirit week. Seeing all the grades get together to support each other just made me happy,” Lufkin said. (Photo by Sara Maloney).
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3. Sophomores Annie Fischer (left) and Amita Ganesh (right) launched catapults to learn about quadratic functions in Laura Deffer’s seventh hour Honors Algebra ll class, Oct. 17. “This project was really fun, because it was a change from what we normally do in class, and I got to be really creative,” Fischer said. (Photo by Sara Maloney). 4. Science teacher Michaelyn Podany puts the doorstop back in the door after returning to her classroom, Oct. 15. The doorstop is the new safety feature so teachers don’t have to leave the classroom to lock the door in case of an emergency. “I like it because I don’t have to open the door to lock it, all I have to do is pull it out,” Podany said. (Photo by Ellen Bruce). 5. Junior Connor Simeon sings with the BVNW Chamber Choir in the library during seventh hour, Sept. 27. “Choir has allowed me to create friendships with people from countless backgrounds. Regardless of any differences, music allows me to get along with anybody,” Simeon said. “The satisfaction and relaxation that comes from good singing makes taking two choir classes a day worth it.” (Photo by Emma Johnson).
4.
5.
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6.
6. Juniors Jackson Mehlin (left) and Ben Barron (right) dance in the junior class skit on Villain Day, Sept. 26. “The skits and spirit week are really fun to be a part of and is something we will continue to do because of how fun it is, and how it brings our class and the other classes together through competition,” Mehlin said. “I love spirit week because of how fun it is to have people come and watch you perform and enjoy what you work hard at.” (Photo by Sara Maloney). 7. Sophomore Matthew Bridges participates in the egg drop for Physical Science while sophomore Paige Rigdon watches, Oct. 11. “It’s really nice for all the groups to come together and drop the eggs, and it’s even better to watch 90 percent of us fail,” Bridges said. (Photo by Ellen Bruce).
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8.
8. Freshman Jack Rost works on building a stool in his Woods I class. “I like this project because it takes skills and effort,” Rost said. (Photo by Sara Maloney). 9. Sophomore Ellie Bail (right) gives a speech about her time on the tennis team with Senior AnnaGrace Cooley (left) at senior night, Sept. 28.“Ellie wrote my speech for me and this was after she read it,” Cooley said. “We were both crying and laughing at the same time. I am going to miss Ellie so much next year, but I know she is going to be a great captain her senior year, and I am excited to come back and see her growth in tennis!” (Photo by Sara Maloney).
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your vote matters With midterm elections Nov. 6, this is what you need to know about the candidates
By Jonny Isaacson
governor Former lieutenant governor Jeff Colyer has filled the position of Kansas governor since Sam Brownback’s resignation in January. However, the conservative governor was defeated by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach by fewer than 150 votes in the Republican primary in August. Republican candidate Kris Kobach is facing Democratic nominee Laura Kelly and independent Greg Orman. Steve Rose and Patrick Miller, writers for the Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle, have suggested Orman’s presence on the ballot is more helpful to Kobach than to Kelly, considering the breakdown of the state’s voter registration. Republicans make up 44 percent of the state’s registered voters, while unaffiliated voters make up 31 percent and Democrats 24 percent. Known nationally for his hardlined stance on immigration and proof of citizenship voter laws, president Donald Trump endorsed Kobach only a day before the Republican primary. In a tweet Aug. 6, Trump voiced his support for Kobach, noting his strength “on crime, border, and military.” On April 11, former governor Sam Brownback signed the Secure and Fair Elections (S.A.F.E.) Act into law. S.A.F.E was sponsored by Kris Kobach, and required Kansas voters show a birth certificate, passport or driver’s license in order to vote. Kobach supported this law because he believes illegal immigrants pose a threat to the voting system. “Every time an alien votes, it cancels out the vote of a U.S. citizen. That’s real disenfranchisement. It’s happening every election and it’s happening in every state,” Kobach said June 1, 2016. However, the law was struck down by federal judge Julie Robinson June 18. Robinson stated in her ruling that the law, “disproportionately impacted duly qualified registration applicants, while only nominally preventing noncitizen voter registration.” While senior Wyatt Benteman said he doesn’t like Kobach’s personality, he thinks he is the best option for governor. “While I don’t like him as a person, I feel like he wants to represent Kansas and he cares about Kansas, which I think is important,” Benteman said. As the Kansas state senator for the 18th district for 13 years, Kelly has voted in favor of gun restrictions, including restoring the ability of state colleges and
universities to ban concealed weapons. Kelly said she will invest in higher education, as well as technical and trade schools and job training programs, so that all graduates in Kansas have the skills needed to enter the workforce. According to Kelly’s website, she plans to “implement common sense gun safeguards – like requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning bump stocks, and limiting access to the types of assault weapons that were designed for war.” Sophomore Faran Zufer said with a history of fighting for education, Kelly would fit the position well. “She fought to reverse Sam Brownback’s education cut, which resulted in pay freezes for teachers, larger class sizes and a shorter school week,” Zufer said. “Her programs have been very successful.”
house of representatives Serving as the Congressman for the 3rd District since 2011, Republican Kevin Yoder is facing Democrat Sharice Davids for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite serving as Congressman since 2011, Yoder said he feels that he is still the underdog in this election. “I think we may be the underdog in this race,” Yoder said. “She thinks she has this race in the bag and she doesn’t need to work hard for it.” Vice president Mike Pence knows this well, with the Overland Park area voting for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. To raise money and promote Yoder’s campaign, Pence visited Kansas City, Mo. July 11. Yoder proposed a bill that would set aside five billion dollars for the US-Mexico border wall July 18. Trump tweeted on the same day that this bill has his earned his “full and total endorsement.” Voting in favor of tax cuts for middle class families, Yoder also voted for the largest increase in military spending since the war on terror began and the largest troop pay raise in eight years. In a candidate survey July 9, Davids said her top three priorities if elected are providing excellent education, safe communities and easy access to affordable health care. According to her website, Davids said she will “fight to protect DACA recipients and create a pathway
10.25.18 | Issue 3 to citizenship for those undocumented immigrants.” Despite political attack ads stating the candidate wants to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), her campaign refuted this claim. “Sharice does not support abolishing ICE. She does, though, think ripping kids away from their parents is wrong,” Davids spokeswoman Allison Teixeira Sulier said in a statement Aug. 22. If elected she would become the first lesbian Native American congresswoman.
secretary of state Serving in the Kansan House of Representatives for the 49th District since 2008, Republican Scott Schwab is facing American software designer and Democrat Brian McClendon for Kansan secretary of state. Fighting to make elections secure, McClendon said he will also try to promote voter participation by making it easier to register. Planning to reduce the amount of friction involved in starting a business, McClendon said “starting a business is hard enough, the state of Kansas shouldn’t make it harder.” According to McClendon’s website, he has founded several companies, such as Keyhole, the startup which became Google Earth, and understands the concerns of the business community. Looking to execute the new policies regarding voting, Schwab will enforce Voter ID, Proof of Citizenship requirements, and moving of local elections to the fall with a longer cycle between the primary and general elections. According to Schwab, “in 2011 as Chair of the House Elections Committee I played a leading role in passing the bi-partisan SAFE Act that required photo ID when voting.”
attorney general Current Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt looks to hold his position against Democrat Lawrence Attorney General Sarah Swain. As a criminal defense attorney for 17 years, Swain’s website states she “has seen firsthand how justice had not been applied equally to the many of citizens in Kansas. She has been a fierce advocate for accountability and integrity in Kansas Courts.” According to her website, Swain will work hard to ensure that sick Kansans will have access to both CBD and legal cannabis. Willing to prosecute anyone regardless of job title, Swain said she will implement a new system focused on transparency and accountability in law enforcement. Under Attorney General Schmidt’s leadership since 2011, his office has focused on prosecuting crimes against children, protecting senior citizens from scams and rip-offs, recovering record-setting amounts of money for Kansas consumers and taxpayers, providing professional legal services for the state of Kansas and standing up against illegal overreach by the federal government.
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voter turnout percentage 2014 midterm elections 38.5% 45.3% 15.9% 2010 midterm elections 41.8% 45.2% 19.6% 2006 midterm elections 43.6% 44.3% 19.9% % of total voting-age population who voted % of total kansas voting-age population who voted % of total population ages 18-24 who voted *According to U.S. Census Bureau
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Life Styled In this issue of Life Styled we found some last minute DIY costumes for you to try. These costumes are cute, comfy and inexpensive.
By Lola Shipman, Grace Davis & Maddie Beischel All materials are available at Michael’s, Target and Party City. Pricing: $15-$25
Cheetah Costume
This trendy cheetah costume can be paired with any shorts or shoes. To make this, use shapes cut from felt and a hot glue gun to attach them to an oversized shirt. These shirts can make costumes cute, comfortable and affordable, since they aren’t nearly as expensive as a full costume. Pairing it with ears or other accessories of your choice can bring it all together.
Batman costume
This Batman costume is great for a simple take on a traditional Halloween look. It takes little time to make, with few steps and few materials. All it requires is to cut out a bat shape with the felt, glue it on the shirt and let it dry. It’s trendy and perfect for a cute, spooky look.
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cloud dress
This costume is both unique and simple at the same time. It’s made with a glue gun, white tube top, or any white shirt and cotton balls. All you do is individually hot glue each cotton ball to the shirt on both the front and back, and let it dry. It can be paired with white leggings or a skirt, to make it even trendier. It’s a great way to incorporate friends and to get cute photos for Instagram.
*Modeled by sophmore Sydney Stremming
Mike & Sully costume
These oversized shirts are trendy and easy to make. All you need is a plain shirt, felt and hot glue. First, cut out the eyes, mouth and teeth, as well as the patches for Sully. Then, hot glue the felt on and let it dry. It’s a good costume idea for friends or couples. This costume is simple, but still draws attention to itself. You can also get a lot of cute pictures with your friends in this creative costume.
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the heart of tex-mex Three of Chuy’s most popular Tex-Mex dishes were tested at their Olathe location on 11965 S Strang Line Rd., due to the new 135th and Metcalf location opening too close to The Express’ print deadline. Each item is rated out of five tacos.
By Olivia Dowell
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Enchiladas The Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Enchiladas are a signature dish at Chuy’s. The dish is comprised of two chicken enchiladas, a house-made boom-boom sauce made of cheese, green chiles and tomatillos with green onions. While the sauce has a little kick of spiciness, it is tolerable to the average consumer. Unlike most enchilada dishes served at other Tex-Mex restaurants, Chuy’s portions are small enough for the consumer not to be wheeled out of the restaurant from an overly full meal. The chicken tastes similar to a basic rotisserie chicken. The enchiladas are served with only a few strips, so the meat does not overwhelm the other flavors. However, the chicken is dry. The dish is flavorful, but if you are looking for a hearty meal, do not order this dish à la carte. Photos by Grace Davis
Rating:
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Comida Deluxe Chuy’s really is not kidding by calling this next combo the Comida (food in Spanish) Deluxe, as the dish lives up to its name. The restaurant’s most popular combo are two Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas, two chicken flautas, one crispy ground sirloin taco, a side of guacamole and two tostada chips with chile con queso on top. It is an overwhelming meal for one person, but the food is phenomenal. However, the taco is fairly small and the sirloin tastes similar to fried chicken. The flautas are nothing special since the crispy tortilla is too crunchy and has no sauce to compensate from the small chicken bits. The selling point of this meal is the two Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas covered in Chuy’s house-made Tex-Mex sauce. The sauce tastes similar to a non-spicy chili. The tostada chips with chile con queso owes its spiciness to the chili powder and jalapeños, but the chips were stale. Be sure to enjoy this meal with another person. It is too large for most people to eat alone.
Tortilla soup The soup only comes in two sizes, a small or large. You either get a bowl too small to satisfy you as a whole meal, or a large bowl that’s too much soup to finish. In the soup is chicken and various vegetables that are hard to imagine in soup, such as avocados and corn. The soup is topped off with tortilla strips and cheese. This is a poor example of a well-made Tortilla soup due to its blandness. The soups leaves a gross cinnamon aftertaste. Chuy’s should add more green chiles to the soup to give it more spiciness, as there is nothing special about the current recipe.
Rating:
Rating:
30
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halloween
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puzzle By Naomi James
Across 1. Mileage counter prefix 4. Detest 9. Not covered 13. A Nathan, for short 14. “Good job!” 15. Musk, CEO of SpaceX 16. Strauss, maker of jeans 17. New editions 19. Hunt for candy 21. Positive or negative atom 22. Alleviates 23. Ascends 27. Raked up 29. On the right side of a map 31. From the largest continent 32. Series of Talks 33. Hair-styling help 34. Poverty 39. Harry Potter’s best friend 42. Guys 43. Urgency 47. Walking into the kitchen, you are greeted by the ___ freshly-baked cookies 50. Muslim ruler 51. Streep of “The Devil Wears Prada” 52. Arr and Tee connectors 55. East, in German 56. October attraction 59. Breed of horses 62. Road or hip suffix 63. Food plan 64. One who traps eels 65. Cartoon frames 66. Eastern European 67. Clothe 68. Hospital procedure sites, for short
down 1. Burdensome 2. Renaissance man 3. Auditory 4. Overseas 5. Rabbit and Fox, in literature 6. Short-story author Bret 7. Supervised 8. Part in a play 9. “Get out!” 10. Lou Gehrig’s disease, for short 11. Caviar 12. Nav. officer 13. Nissan sedan 18. Hearing tools 20. Nancy Drew’s author 24. Piece of a line: Abbr
25. Before, in poetry 26. Weekly sketch show, for short 28. Sunflower state: Abbr 30. Lemon suffix 32. Classic can metal 35. Angst-ridden punk music genre 36. Protector 37. “Quiet down!” 38. Mineo of film 39. Los Angeles football player 40. Mineral deposit 41. Neither here ___ there 44. Wider 45. Curtain ornaments 46. Comes in 48. The expensive box in my living room
49. Wings, in Latin 50. Passover dinners 53. Old 54. Monica of tennis 57. Employed 58. Store now called CVS 59. Cassette tape replacers 60. Small, informally 61. Supportive vote
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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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 Summer Issue of Volume 25. Subscription rates are $10. The Express is printed by The Sedalia Democrat, 700 South Massachusetts, Sedalia Mo. 65301.
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adviser Jim McCrossen
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