The Express - February Issue

Blue Valley Northwest

Vol. 29 Issue 5

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02.17.22

02 | CONTENTS

CONTENTS: THE EXPRESS STAFF Editor In Chief………..........................Megan Yates Print Editor……………............................Tessa Regan

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12

SIBLING SHADOWS

NEURODIVERGENT

Junior Landon Braun and others reveal how being compared to their siblings has impacted their time at Northwest.

Freshman Brooke Troppito has ADHD and said it is often difficult for her to navigate things in a school setting.

Online Editor…………..........................Liz LaHood Managing Editor……….................Julia Moser Sports Editor……………......................Jack Nitz Photography Editor…….............Lindsey Farthing Design Editor…………….....................Sabrina San Agustin Editor At Large…………….................Lucy Halverson Online Chief Writer……….........…Rachel Hostetler Print Chief Writer…………..........….Elizabeth Caine Chief Photographer...................Bailey Thompson

Writers Quinn Brown • Hannah Rakolta Alyssa Gagnon • Lizzie Lively • Anna Bailey Reagan Kauth • Thomas Rose • Reagan King Lindsay Maresh • Libby Addison • Payton Porter Alex Cowdrey • Ashley Adams Photographers

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HUSKY HIGHLIGHTS

Laura Benteman • Anna Shaughnessy Norah Alasmar • Lila Vancrum • Maci Miller Remi Nuss Designers Sophie Dellett • Regan Simeon • Avery Sigg Adviser Jim McCrossen

Assistant Adviser Amanda Ford

A collection of photos of student activities from the beginning of second semester.

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04

EDITORIAL Respect The Pound

CONTENTS | 03

06

OPINION There Is No Planet B

07

OPINION What's My Size?

16

COVER:

THE HOOKUP HYPE Modern day relationships have had a drastic shift from past styles of dating, and no longer have as strong of a focus on personal connections. As a result, many students turn to casual hookups.

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SWEETHEART SPIRIT

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

GAME DAY GALLERY

Sweetheart spirit week took place from Feb. 7-11. Students dressed up according to each day’s theme.

This year's Black History Month theme is Black Health and Wellness.

Read about Black trailblazers in the medical field.

Photos from wrestling meets, swim meets and basketball games throughout the winter sports season.

04 | EDITORIAL

T

RESPECT

THE POUND

here is no doubt sporting events are a major part of the high school experience. Although times have drastically changed since our parents and grandparents were teens, our culture’s love for sports has remained constant.

In recent weeks, there have been issues concerning Northwest’s student section, known as “The Pound,” and fan behavior at basketball games. These events prompted Principal Amy Pressly to send an email to the BVNW community on Jan. 11, reminding everyone of Kansas State High School Activities Association’s Rule 52 on standards for crowd conduct during games. More recently, a large group of students were asked to leave the Feb. 1 varsity boys basketball game after starting an “airball” chant.

In her email, Pressly included this information: saying chants like, “I believe that we just won,” or “defense, defense,” were appropriate conduct, but that all unsupportive and offensive language went against KSHSAA guidelines and would result in ejection from the game and a week’s suspension from all games.

This ignited a debate over what should and should not be considered appropriate at high school sporting events, as many people believe the rules have become too strict. While it is arguable that some of these punishments seem a bit excessive, many are equally justifiable.

As students ourselves, we recognize there has been a lot of activity in our student section this year that crosses the line of what should be allowed.

From drinking in the stands to chanting curse words and yelling slurs at players, it is obvious that

02..17.22

things have gotten out of hand.

Sporting events are meant to bring people together to support their teams and have fun.

To our players and coaches at Northwest, is this really the energy you want from your supporters?

The actions taken by our student section set the atmosphere for the rest of those in attendance.

Not only does this behavior reflect negatively on students, but it impacts the school’s reputation as a whole.

This school year we have received the opportunity to experience many high school activities that were lost due to COVID. These activities fuel our school spirit and the culture within our building. We urge our fellow students to be self aware while attending these activities in order to not jeopardize our future attendance.

Not only that, in addition to students, school sporting events are also filled with players’ relatives, from young children to grandparents.

The vulgarity from our student section is uncomfortable and disrespectful to the families present.

A staff member of The Express has a sixyear-old cousin who they said has started to use taunting chants he heard during Northwest games at his kindergarten basketball games.

This is embarrassing. Not only is our behavior at sporting games affecting how we and our school are perceived, it is teaching these practices to the children who are there.

To put it simply, we need to be better. Although cases like these are the result of a small group’s actions, they reach to affect the entire Northwest community. Bad decisions can have real consequences and can impact reputations, so at what point do we stop and look at how our actions reflect back on us? Our self-awareness has become entirely skewed in this situation.

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OPINION

06 | OPINION

I

THERE IS NO

2.17.22

PLANET B

Written by Quinn Brown, Design by Avery Sigg

t is a ticking time bomb.

Kansas is changing. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in the past century, the state’s temperature has risen by at least half a degree Fahrenheit. Soil is becoming drier, storms are intensifying and floods are becoming more severe.

These problems are not just happening in Kansas, though, this issue is global –​​and we need to address it.

I am frustrated because these events have received far less attention than they deserve. The emerging extreme climate cycles are most likely caused by climate change.

Climate change is a shift in regional climate patterns and the current change is attributed primarily to greenhouse gas emissions. While some emissions occur naturally, they are currently produced in drastically higher quantities due to the human consumption of fossil fuels.

Industries such as transportation, energy, agriculture, fashion, and food retail are all major contributors to the problem. Unfortunately, climate change has become a political subject. There should be nothing political or controversial about climate change.

It is a popular belief that individual actions can address climate change, but there are issues bigger than any one person can solve.

Since the Industrial Revolution, gases have been polluting the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate. According to NASA, human activities are causing carbon dioxide to increase more than 250 times faster than it did during the ice age, when it came from natural sources.

Emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes contribute to about 78 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions globally, according to an EPA study.

One person is not enough to help with these crises, so the majority of our attention must focus on the biggest sources of emissions. We need to hold industries that produce and combust fossil fuels accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis.

Requiring these companies to decarbonize would be a great start. Decarbonizing involves reducing carbon emissions with the goal of permanently eliminating them in the future. This might involve funding and support for research, adjusted carbon pricing and carbon capture and storage (capturing carbon before it is released into the air from industrial processes).

We can not let slogans like, “reduce, reuse, recycle” be used to pass on responsibility. Remember plastic straws?

Corporations got individual consumers to blame themselves for pollution. By pointing fingers at the consumers’ recycling habits, plastic producers have tried to shift blame, claim a problem is being addressed and excuse their own contributions. We cannot allow the responsible parties to escape accountability for their contributions to climate change.

Of course, we do still need to do our part, even if that part is a tiny fragment of what needs to be carried out. However, for real change to occur, it is going to take a major reevaluation of the way we structure and run our society. For example, if we gradually switch to electric cars as our main source of transportation, we can reduce emissions. If we start eating more plant-based foods and consider the origin and sustainability of a product, we can redirect this major global problem.

The Biden Administration has pledged to cut pollution by half this decade, proposing new appliance and building efficiency consumer standards, methane pollution limits and reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

Beyond this, an economy-wide policy that would cut fossil fuel demand across the nation is key. We could put a significant tax on the production of these fossil fuels, in hope to lessen the constant demand.

The clock is ticking. We can gradually make changes to defuse the time bomb. It is time to prove we are capable of building a sustainable world.

2.17.22

WHAT’S MY

SIZE?

Written by Lizzie Lively, Design by Avery Sigg

hate shopping for clothes. No size ever truly fits me, and I walk into clothing stores armed only with the knowledge that, if I am lucky, a certain range of sizes could fit. I have struggled with my weight my entire life.

Shopping for clothes only exacerbates that. Ultimately, it only makes buying clothes unpleasant and uncomfortable.

The blame for my discomfort lies in the laziness of the U.S. government. There is currently no standard for sizing that stores have to follow; the only standard sizing guidelines available to U.S. companies are made by a private organization, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International).

The government used to have standard sizing guidelines, but they were rescinded in 1995 because of the rise of vanity sizing.

According to a 2014 Time magazine article, “The Bizarre History of Women’s Clothing Sizes,” vanity sizing exists to trick women into thinking they are smaller than they actually are. Vanity sizing is the practice of marking down sizes, meaning a medium size could be labeled a small. To understand the impact vanity sizing has on women, it is important to also understand America’s racist and sexist history behind standard sizing.

World War I changed the role of women in the workplace.

With men away at war, women took over traditionally maledominated fields. This shift drastically changed women’s fashion. Before the war, clothing was made for specific individuals using their body measurements. During the war, women’s uniforms called for more practicality in the production and design. This brought about a demand for ready-to-wear fashion and manufacturers started churning out mass-produced women’s clothing.

However, since not all women’s bodies are the same size, most of the ready-to-wear clothes were being returned and it became cost prohibitive for manufacturers to continue to produce this ill-fitting clothing.

In 1939, The U.S. Department of Agriculture made their first attempt at standard sizing: a year-long study named Women’s Measurements for Garment and Pattern Construction. The study concluded that mass-production of women’s clothing only needed five measurements: weight, height, bust, waist and hips. It was seen as a step in the right direction.

OPINION

I

OPINION | 07

Regardless, the study only used the measurements of white women, completely excluding women of color from any kind of standard sizing to be developed by the government.

At the request of the Mail Order Association of America, the National Institute of Standards and Technology published “Body Measurements for the Sizing of Women’s Patterns and Apparel” in 1958. Manufacturers used the sizing chart in this document until 1983.

Clothes often do not fit because they were not made to fit the majority of women’s bodies. Women who are bigger sizes are shamed for wearing their true size but instead of fixing the actual issue, brands created a new issue.

Vanity sizing emphasizes the societal standard that skinny is the only form of beauty. Fat is not a bad word and being fat is not a bad thing. It is sad that the importance of being thin is so ingrained in our societal structure that even the size of our clothes pushes that narrative.

The U.S. government needs to come out with standard sizing that is inclusive to all body shapes and sizes.

Right now, fat people’s bodies are only tolerated. The normalization of vanity sizing and its presence in our clothing stores is disgusting. It is demeaning to be told that seeming like a smaller size is going to make me buy more clothes because it places an unhealthy emphasis on weight.

Size has no relation to beauty and never should have.

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08 | FEATURE

02.17.22

SIBLING SHADOWS Past and present students of Northwest focus on how their siblings have shaped their high school experiences

Written by Reagan Kauth and Lucy Halverson, Photos by Bailey Thompson, Design by Regan Simeon

W

hile junior Landon “He didn’t like it the way my other Braun never kids [did]. He felt like he was kind of played high school in their shadow,” Lisa said. “I saw him basketball at the really turn it around when Covid hit same time as his and we had all the boys home and a older brothers, he explained the effect bunch of their teammates too. They their high school athletic careers really just kind of worked out and have had on him. Parker Braun and played with him; he has really caught Christian were each basketball state fire ever since.” champions at Though Parker Northwest. and Christian Both currently are off playing It’s a lot of pressure, play Division 1 college basketball basketball: Parker now, Landon said obviously. Together, at Santa Clara he cannot seem my brothers won three University and to escape their state rings here, so Christian at the reputations at University of Northwest.

I’m being held to that Kansas.

“In games, I standard.

“It’s a lot hear about [my of pressure, brothers] a lot. obviously.

People will always -LANDON BRAUN Together, my say, ‘they’re better brothers won than you,’” Landon three state rings here, so I’m being held said. to that standard,” Landon said.

Even off the court, Landon said he Following in his brothers’ footsteps, finds himself being compared to his Landon began playing basketball at brothers.

Northwest during his freshman year.

“When [my brothers] are in town, Although he has since come to enjoy we’ll sit and watch their film. We’ll turn the sport, initially, Landon said he on old high school games, and it’ll just hated it. feel like their team is so much better “I resented the sport, just because than ours, it’s unbelievable,” Landon my brothers played it, and I think said. “My brothers played for the best the pressure got to me when I was team this school ever had, so it’s hard younger,” Landon said. “Since then, to compare my team and theirs.”

I’ve embraced it, but I didn’t really play 2019 graduate Christian Braun said until I was a freshman.” no matter what Landon may think, his Landon’s mom, Lisa Braun, shared brothers believe in his skill set. some insight as to why Landon disliked “He looks up to us and he probably basketball growing up. struggles with that a little bit, but

we are all confident in his abilities,” Christian said.

Landon’s parents were Division 1 college basketball athletes as well, so Landon said he often feels his parents expect him to achieve the same, despite what they say.

Donald Braun, Landon’s dad, explained that while he thinks siblings and athletes will naturally compare themselves to one another, they ultimately need to know their own identity. “[Our boys] are not playing for or living for anyone but themselves. There are obviously certain experiences [that evoke] comparison, but they’re all different. They don’t have to live up to anything,” Donald said.

Christian said although the pressure of their legacies may get to Landon, he believes that his and Parker’s basketball careers have positively impacted Landon.

“He gets to see Parker and I playing college basketball, and I know that’s what he dreams of, and I know that’s what he will do,” Christian said.

In contrast to Christian’s claims, Lisa said her older sons’ high school careers may have negatively affected the way people view Landon.

“I think it’s kind of been hard on him because a lot of people won’t let him just be [himself], and enjoy what he brings. They have a lot of expectations for him. I have no doubt that he’s [going to] be successful in his own way and on his own merit. He’s not Parker and he’s not Christian. He will find his way and I’m sure he’ll be good at it,” Lisa said.

02.17.22

FEATURE | 09

Junior Landon Braun discusses attending school after his brothers, Christian, left, and Parker, right, graduated and the influence they have on him. “My brothers are the reason I love [basketball]. If it wasn’t for their dedication, I wouldn’t have ever become a student of the game,” Braun said. (Note: Parker transferred from the University of Missouri to Santa Clara University in 2021.)

Despite the pressure Landon receives, Landon said he has grown to have a good relationship with his brothers.

“Until I was 14 years old, I didn’t have any real conversations with [my brothers],” Landon said. “But I feel like I woke up one day and we were just best friends. And we’ve been close ever since.”

2020 graduate Campbell Newby, older sister to junior Kate Newby and freshman Charley Newby, said she and her sisters have great relationships with one another.

“It’s like a built-in friend group,” Campbell said. “We are all girls, so we have a lot in common.”

Kate said attending the same high school as her two siblings has helped their relationships. For the short time Kate and Campbell were in school together, Kate said they found ways to connect.

“On late arrival days, we would go to Vibe [Nutrition] before school, which was really fun,” Kate said. “We could relate about teachers and [Campbell] could help me with homework.”

Like the Brauns, the Newby girls shared a common sport: cheer.

According to Kate, cheer became a great bonding experience for the sisters.

“It made it easier for me to have an older sister on the team, and now I get

to do that for Charley,” Kate said.

However, being a part of the same cheer team created some conflict between the sisters. Campbell explained that while she was a cheer captain, Kate had a difficult time respecting her.

“When I was hard on her, she didn’t take it very seriously,” Campbell said.

“Throughout the year, she got used to it. And it’s not like I harped on her all the time, but I think in the end it made her better.”

Kate agreed with Campbell, saying she did struggle with respect. She added that Campbell’s criticism has shaped her into a better captain.

“From her, I learned how to lead a

02.17.22

10 | FEATURE team to success, and what it takes to be a leader. I had a very great role model to look up to and Campbell taught me everything I needed to know about being a great cheerleader and captain,” Kate said.

Though all three girls participate in the same activities, Kate found that her parents do not compare the sisters as much as she does.

“I think I compare myself to Campbell more than anyone else does,” Kate said. “I’m doing all the clubs she did, because I know she was successful, so then I feel I have to do [the same clubs] to be successful.”

As the youngest, Charley said she has had a different experience, as she said her parents do occasionally compare her to Kate and Campbell.

“I got a B in math and my sisters didn’t. [My parents] said ‘oh, well

oldest, she does not compare herself Campbell didn’t [get a B]’ and I’m like, to her sisters, but she often uses her ‘well, I’m not her,’” Charley said. experiences to direct their high school Crystal Newby, mother of Campbell, careers.

Kate and Charley, “I try not to be a responded know-it-all when to Charley’s it comes to them, viewpoint, and I got a B in math and but it’s hard. They said that although my sisters didn’t. [My were filling out she is occasionally parents] said ‘oh well their schedules compared to the other day and her sisters, the Campbell didn’t [get I just wanted to be comparisons are a B]’ and I’m like, ‘well like, ‘oh you should often positive.

I’m not her.’ take this class, I “She has [had] did it,’” Campbell a lot of firsts, said. and a lot of While having accomplishments -CHARLEY NEWBY siblings can and gifts that the bring challenges, other girls don’t Campbell believes she owes her have,” Crystal said. “She’s definitely made up for it. Her B is doing just fine.” character to being an older sibling.

“It’s different how people without According to Campbell, as the siblings are, versus people with siblings. I think you learn different skills at a young age, [like] having to share with your sister, or learning to communicate,” Campbell said.

Similar to Campbell, Landon said he is grateful to have his older brothers and their examples to help direct his life.

“It’s nice; I wouldn’t have chosen to grow up any other way. I think it’s always a good thing for people to grow up with siblings and someone to look up to,” Landon said.

Reflecting on his experiences, Landon also said that if he did not have his two older brothers, he would be less motivated but also significantly less stressed.

“I think the advantage [my brothers] didn’t have is that I know what to look for. I know what to do because I saw them do it my whole life,” Landon said.

“But also if I didn’t have [that pressure], I feel like it would be a lot easier to walk through these halls.”

2020 graduate Campbell, freshman Charley and junior Kate Newby talk about what comes with having sisters who have gone through the same school. “Teachers will say, ‘your sister was in my class,’ and then I feel like I have to do good because my sisters did good in the class,” Charley said. (Photo courtesy of Kate Newby)

02.17.22

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02.17.22

Students with learning disabilities bring attention to the disadvantages they face in the Blue Valley education system Written by Lindsay Maresh and Elizabeth Caine, Photos by Anna Shaughnessy and Lindsey Farthing, Design by Rachel Hostetler

A

lthough she was diagnosed in November, senior Kimberly Gibson said she always knew she had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as she said she was always more talkative and hyperactive than the average kid.

“I’ve always been this way since I was a little girl in elementary school. I used to get in trouble a lot for talking too much,” Gibson said. “Teachers used to think that I was being disrespectful, but in reality, I just couldn’t control it. It’s just how my brain worked.”

Similarly, freshman Brooke Troppito, who also has ADHD, said one of her main struggles is talking too much.

“One of the hardest things is sometimes I talk too fast or I talk too much. I don’t have some social cues that I probably should and eye contact is difficult,” Troppito said. “I get distracted very easily and I lose my train of thought very easily.”

Before she started taking medication for her ADHD, Gibson said it was hard to focus in school and absorb information in an eight-hour day. “[I had] to work a lot harder to achieve good grades than somebody who doesn’t have ADHD,” Gibson said.

ADHD also affected Gibson’s work performance as it prevented her from completing tasks. She said it impacted her confidence during moments such as these because she was unable to control how hyper she was.

“It’s kind of stressful when you’re in a school environment and you have to act really calm and you feel like you can’t be yourself,” Gibson said. “But then when you are acting like yourself, it’s stressful because you don’t feel like you fit in with everyone else.”

For these reasons, Gibson said she grew to hate school.

“You don’t even get a chance to move around except for a five-

minute passing period,” Gibson said. need to leave a space…I can just go in “But that’s definitely not enough there,” Troppito said. for somebody with ADHD because I Junior Nia Bender agreed with feel like I always need to be moving Gibson, saying that school is not around.” designed for every kind of student, Troppito agreed that navigating which is partly why, as a fifth-grader, school as a student with ADHD is very Bender transferred to Horizon difficult.

Academy, a school for students with “The biggest challenge is definitely dyslexia and other language-based school or social gatherings because learning disabilities. they make me uncomfortable and “I didn’t mind transitioning to that I’m not a fan of eye small private school, contact,” Troppito because I wasn’t said. “But also, school happy at [Indian Valley The biggest is very difficult Elementary] because I challenge because if I’m not want to learn, I want to is definitely super interested in it, meet my full potential,” then I’m not paying Bender said. “And school or social attention at all.”

[Horizon Academy] gatherings The school system definitely helped me because they does not support reach my full potential neurodivergent and helped me to be the make me students well enough, extraordinary student uncomfortable according to Gibson. that I am today.” and I’m not a fan “There’s got to Although Indian Valley be a lot of changes Elementary placed her of eye contact. made to the school in a special education system to incorporate program, Bender said -BROOKE TROPPITO everyone’s needs and the school did not feelings for the school do a sufficient job of to feel comfortable,” Gibson said. helping her cope with her four learning According to Gibson, the school disabilities. system is geared toward a particular “It felt like a waste of my time and kind of student who can sit in school like I could be doing other stuff to help for eight hours a day and focus on me with this and help me improve, but things they do not care about, while instead you’re just having me sit here still being able to succeed. on my iPad the entire day,” Bender said.

“I definitely wish they would “It felt like a huge waste of my time and incorporate more things for students [was] very unhelpful.” with ADHD so they could be able to In fact, Bender said she would fake move around [and] have breaks every being sick so she would not have to go so often,” Gibson said. to school.

The main resource Troppito said she “In my mind, I’m like, ‘I’m not smart has at school to help her with her ADHD enough to do this work. I don’t know is the gifted program. how to do it. So I’m just not even gonna “I think gifted is a really good way for try,’” Bender said. me to be able to do stuff because [the As a fifth-grader, Bender said she teachers are] very accommodating and was at a third-grade reading level, but they’ll help you with anything and if [I] by the time she left Horizon Academy in

02.17.22 eighth grade, she was at a tenth-grade reading level.

“While there wasn’t a great opportunity to be social, [the school] definitely help[ed] get the kids oneon-one time, which is what I think the public schools were lacking,” Bender said.

In Blue Valley, one teacher has to deal with at least 24 students already, which makes helping all of them with their individual needs difficult, according to Bender.

“There’s no way that [teachers] can get through each [kid] individually and get them the proper and speciallydesigned help that they need,” Bender said.

After she graduated eighth grade, Bender said she decided to return to public school because she made the progress she needed to. At first, she said the transition was very overwhelming due to a large number of students and differences in teaching styles.

“We had to devise a 504 plan for me

FEATURE | 13 to help me get through [my] struggles and challenges and help me be successful,” Bender said.

A 504 plan is a formal plan created by schools to help students with disabilities receive the support they need. For Bender, she said this plan included accommodations such as receiving more time on tests and getting the teacher’s notes to help with her auditory processing disorder.

However, Bender said during the required evaluation, the subjects she learned about in the study skills class like organization and planning, were unhelpful as she already learned about them at Horizon Academy.

“After one semester of it, I’m like, ‘Mom, I need to get out of this class.

They’re not helping me. This is a waste of my time,’” Bender said. “‘I don’t need to work on my organization and my planning and how to do self-advocacy.’”

To improve how they teach neurodivergent students, Bender said all teachers at Northwest should be trained by professionals who deal with

learning disabilities daily.

“They need to change the curriculum and they need to make it more individualized and not just be like, ‘Here’s a program that you can go on that will help you,’” Bender said. “You need to be taught by an actual person that knows what they’re talking about.”

Jennifer Luzenske, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Blue Valley School District, said that teachers have been trained to teach reading in a new and more effective way that benefits students with dyslexia, such as Bender.

“Any accredited school in the state of Kansas is now implementing what is called structured literacy as the approach for teaching reading,” Luzenske said. “It is particularly advantageous for students with challenges in reading, including students with dyslexia.”

Luzenske said teachers have many resources to strengthen their knowledge of dyslexia, and how to assist students with dyslexia, which in

Senior Kimberly Gibson discusses how having ADHD has affected her outside of school. “It also affects your self-confidence, because you can’t really control how hyper you are,” Gibson said. (Photo Illustration by Anna Shaughnessy and Lindsey Farthing)

02.17.22

14 | FEATURE turn benefits the students receiving the instruction.

“There [are] a lot of phases to training the faculty, so we have professional learning with teachers on district professional learning days,” Luzenske said. “We have reading specialists that are right there in the buildings that can provide support and professional learning for teachers on demand.”

Along with students, staff members and other adults in the community navigate life while being neurodivergent. Math teacher Nick Titus has dyslexia. He said he was diagnosed as a junior in high school but has experienced its effects his entire life.

Titus did not attend schools within the Blue Valley District, but throughout his schooling, at St. Thomas Aquinas in Wichita, Kan., for elementary and Kapaun Mt. Carmel for high school, he said he was not taught to read in a way that was effective for him.

“I struggled a lot with the ways that they teach you to read, and English itself is a difficult language because of

the inconsistent rules for phonics and spelling and things like that,” Titus said.

However, Titus believes this issue has improved recently and discovering dyslexia in younger students has received more attention within the Blue Valley community.

“I think they’ve been doing a better job of identifying students earlier and they’ve made an effort as a district, recently, to emphasize that, which I think is a good thing overall,” Titus said.

Colleen Zink, Dyslexia Coordinator for the Blue Valley School District, said there has been more awareness spread about dyslexia within the education system, which can lead to more assistance starting earlier in life.

“I think there definitely has been an awareness made of what characteristics of dyslexia are,” Zink said. “If you understand what to look for, then you’re going to be able to help the students differently than you might have in the past.”

With dyslexia being addressed at a younger age, students may face

opinions from peers. Titus said one such opinion deals with associating learning disabilities with a lack of intelligence, however, this is not true.

“People interpret any sort of learning difference or difference in understanding as an intellectual difference,” Titus said. “[But] there’s not a correlation between intelligence and dyslexia or [other] learning differences.”

Along with the misconception that learning disabilities mean a lack of knowledge, Gibson said she also encounters people thinking she is trying to be disrespectful or a trouble maker, but they do not realize she is someone who is struggling to focus and stay on task as it is a part of her ADHD. She went on to say this is just how her brain is wired and it is not something people with ADHD can control unless they are medicated.

“Each person learns differently and even if it’s not the way that you learn, that doesn’t mean that it’s weird or different,” Gibson said.

Freshman Brooke Troppito said ADHD has many positives and negatives. “I think it’s good because with cheer I have a lot of energy,” Troppito said. “[In school] I can’t sit through really long tests, and I have to get up and move.” (Photo by Lindsey Farthing)

02.17.22

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08.20.21

02 | FEATURE

Romance and dating are becoming a thing of the past for many high school students Written by Ashley Adams, Alex Cowdrey and Reagan King, Photos by Lindsey Farthing, Design by Sabrina San Agustin

J

ulia Masterson, 2020 graduate, said she experienced how hookup culture captivates teenagers.

“I had some friends that fully transformed. They went from wanting to save themselves until marriage and then ended up going crazy. They started hooking up with so many different people, because it was just such a normalized thing,” Masterson said.

Although some do see the appeal in a committed relationship, hook ups are often the easier choice.

“With a relationship, you get consistency and someone to hang out with,” Junior Tyler Wolf said. “But it’s

high school, most people aren’t really looking for that.”

High school comes with homework and countless opportunities for extracurricular activities. Creating a relationship with someone else would involve taking out time for them, said Wolf.

“Responsibilities come with a relationship, but sometimes people only want the intimate side of things, so they turn to a hookup,” Wolf said.

Junior Julie Dean shared what she thinks is an appealing aspect of hookup culture.

“I think people look for hookups rather than relationships because they don’t

require an emotional connection as much as relationships do,” Dean said. “A lot of the time, people choose to get into the relationship without actually having to commit to a person.”

Wolf stated being committed to someone else can be fun, but it is not always simple.

“Being in a relationship is great if you can find it. But once something happens, like someone gets their heart broken, it often isn’t what they’re looking for anymore. They start to look for those quick connections,” Wolf said.

But for some, high school love can be real. Seniors Maya Welde and Luke Sallman have been dating for three years.

08.20.21

FEATURE | 03

More teens are choosing to hook up with one another rather than dating in the traditional sense.

Both of their parents were high school sweethearts. Through watching her parents, Welde said she was shown that young love is possible, and can work.

“My parents have been together since they were 17, and I’ve always felt lucky to have that model of love,” Welde said.

Another successful representation of high school sweethearts is science teacher Michael Richards and his wife, Julie Richards. The pair has been together for almost 15 years. Richards and his wife met when he was a sophomore and she was a freshman.

According to those who have been in a committed relationship, such as Welde and Sallman, a relationship is stronger

once a label is established.

“I think actually having the title of dating says that I see him on a deeper level than just attraction; there’s a sort of deeper substance to our relationship,” Welde said. “He’s my best friend and my boyfriend.”

Richards said a title can create clarity for the people involved.

According to Sallman, defining a relationship shows that the couple actually wants to spend time together.

“Even just hanging out with her, we get to have fun. We’ll play games or just watch movies, and it means we’re content just being in each other’s company,” Sallman said.

The pair said it is no easier to be in a committed relationship; it has its set of flaws and struggles as well.

“It’s hard to know who you want to be already, and getting involved in a relationship that isn’t right for you can be hard, and probably won’t work,” Sallman said. “It would be better to be apart than trapped in that sort of relationship.”

But for Welde and Sallman, they believe the commitment works and is worth it.

“If your intention is just that physical attraction, or a temporary companion, maybe [hookups] are just better for you,” Welde said. “But for us, even with everything that comes with it, we wanted

02.17.22

18 | COVER someone long term.”

In contrast to Welde, Wolf said many teenagers find themselves in a position where settling down is not a path they want just yet.

“We’re teenagers, everything’s constantly changing. How can we really know what we want?” Wolf said.

Junior Thomas Peterson said there is a reason the younger generation seems to be the main contributors to hookup culture.

“We’re young. We don’t have a lot of strong morals yet. We make decisions off of impulse, especially because we’re in high school, our brains are still developing,” Peterson said.

Wolf added it is common to make snap judgments of someone based on their physical appearance.

“It has to do with infatuation. We’re quickly attracted to someone, and become obsessed with the idea of them or being around them, instead of the person themself,” Wolf said.

Masterson said it’s easier to find a quick connection with someone in recent years.

“I think what’s changed the most is the way that people have been communicating in general, like with Snapchat. I’ve definitely noticed that people just have the ability to talk to more people at once,” Masterson said.

Peterson shared his point of view on the perceived increase in hookups. “[Societal] culture has shifted a bit.

Virginity is less of an enforced idea,” Peterson said.

Wolf suggested another reason for the shift.

“In the ‘50s, a lot of women took [on] the role of a housewife after high school.

It was not as common for girls to get a higher education. But, once women started attending college, obviously, hookups started happening,” Wolf said.

Richards said he observed how his students are impacted by the lack of commitment associated with hookup culture, despite most students being

Seniors Maya Welde and Luke Sallman have been together for three years. “We’ve been together since I was fourteen, and I’m about to turn eighteen,” Welde said. “It’s just cool to be able to grow together.”

02.17.22 private about their relationships.

“You typically see one person getting hurt and it’s stereotypically the girl,” Richards said.

Dean shared her perspective on the differences in hookup culture for girls and guys.

“It definitely makes women feel less valued, because most of the time it’s men seeking out women for [a hookup] and I think women are more likely to catch feelings,” Dean said.

Additionally, Dean said women are often negatively stereotyped compared to how men are viewed.

“If a girl gets with a lot of people, everyone hears about it and thinks of

COVER | 19 them as someone who gets around.

Versus with men, you see them as more desirable because they are getting with that many girls,” Dean said.

Wolf used a metaphor to explain how hookup culture is perceived differently for guys and girls.

“I heard this thing recently, for how girls and boys’ [sex] life is seen. ‘If you have a key, and it opens a lot of locks, it’s a master key. But, if you have a lock, and it can be opened by a lot of keys, it’s a broken lock,’” Wolf said. “I don’t know why it’s this way, but I’ll admit that is how boys and girls are perceived.”

Dean said hookup culture can affect a person’s reputation in a variety of

ways. At the end of the day, she said it is important to remain considerate of others’ decisions.

“I think [men and women] need to treat people with more respect,” Dean said. “Even if you’re still participating in [hookups], be more open minded to actual relationships as well.”

Students find convenience in hookups, leading them to treat relationships in a causal manner. This is evident in multiple aspects of hookup culutre from location, such as meeting up in cars, to the overall lack of emotions and commitment.

THE LOVE THAT LASTS Teachers give a lesson in love Q. What do you think of high

school sweethearts?

A. “I think it's perfectly normal and expected for

teens to fall in love and form deep attachments. I think it's rare and somewhat unrealistic to expect it to last forever, although not unheard of.”

-Joanna Mays, Art Teacher

Q. What is your advice for people

Q. Have you ever been rejected?

If so, how did you feel?

A.

”Yes, it’s part of life. It stinks in the moment, but in the bigger picture it is usually for the best.”

-Rizz Alexander, Special Education Teacher ”It was miserable but ultimately it was part of the path that helped me find happiness.”

-Kerry Kinkelaar, Math & AVID Teacher

A.

Q. With your current significant other, when did you know you wanted to marry them?

“Break up before college/post high school life. There are way more people out there than in the JoCo bubble.”

-Rizz Alexander, Special Education Teacher

”I don't think it was a specific moment as much as it was a gradual process of forming a connection and creating a life together. Once we had moved in together and established similar life goals, marriage felt like a natural next step.”

-Joanna Mays, Art Teacher

in high school relationships?

“Stay true to yourself, be honest and if you are not happy with the person you are with, move on.”

-Kerry Kinkelaar, Math & AVID Teacher

A.

Q. What are your do’s of dating?

A. ”Be thoughtful and patient, always try to do little things that will make your person smile and feel special.”

-Matthew Shulman, Academic Interventionist

“Communicate about what bothers you, do not brush things off… they will come up later.”

-Rizz Alexander, Special Education Teacher

Q. What are your

don’ts of dating?

A.

”Don't settle for anyone who treats you less than the greatness you deserve. Don't compromise your values.”

-Kerry Kinkelaar, Math & AVID Teacher “Don’t take anything too seriously… Enjoy the moments, but remember you’ve still got a lot of room to grow and mature.”

-Matthew Shulman, Academic Interventionist

02.17.22

ADS | 21

22 | HUSKY HIGHLIGHTS

02.17.22

HUSKY HIGHLIGHTS

Senior Aly Hofmann is crowned Sweetheart Queen at halftime of the varsity boys basketball game against Saint Thomas Aquinas, Feb. 11. “When my name was called I was shocked but excited,” Hofmann said. “It was such a good group of people, and every single person on the court deserved to be there.” (Photo by Ellison Gracik)

Junior Maddy White works on an assignment during her seventh hour physics class, Jan. 13.“I chose physics because it seemed different than the other science classes I have taken, and I wanted to be able to understand our world better,” White said. (Photo by Bailey Thompson) Rolling a ball to his classmate, sophomore Masen Adelman plays a game in the atrium during his Spanish class, Jan. 26. “My favorite part of this class is the recreational time where we can play kickball,” Adelman said. (Photo by Lindsey Farthing)

SCAN HERE FOR

02.17.22

HUSKY HIGHLIGHTS | 23

Looking at a freshly cut open pig heart, senior Jackson Marrs learns about how hearts work during a dissection lab in his seventh hour Anatomy class, Jan 21. “I like hands-on stuff in class; I feel like I learn better,” Marrs said. “I was able to identify the heart parts and what they actually look like.” (Photo by Laura Benteman) Juniors Lauren Robinson and Stella Woodall dance in ‘80s outfits for spirit week on Decade Day, Feb. 8. “My favorite thing about spirit week is dressing up for the spirit days and coming together as a grade to show school spirit,” Woodall said.

(Photo by Remi Nuss)

Learning about a film camera’s light meter in his fifth hour Photography I class, senior Sam Stubenhofer looks through the viewfinder, Jan. 7. “I’ve really enjoyed going through the whole process of having a photo I took and developing it into a physical product,” Stubenhofer said.

(Photo by Laura Benteman)

MORE STUDENT LIFE PHOTOS

24 | FEATURE

MORE THAN

02.17.22

SKIN DEEP Students combat societal standards for appearance regarding their acne

Written by Libby Addison and Alyssa Gagnon, Photos by Lila Vancrum, Design by Julia Moser

A

lthough acne is only visible on the outside, junior Claire Doherty said acne is an internal battle many teenagers face daily.

Doherty said while many teenagers have acne, it is looked down upon instead of being accepted as normal.

“Over the years, the social standards about acne [have said it is

a] flaw,” Doherty said. “A lot of people see how perfect celebrities' skin is or [how] people [they] look up to have clear skin and want to achieve that, so acne is always looked down upon.”

Junior Michael James also feels that the only reason acne is considered bad-looking is because society says that a teenager's skin is supposed to be flawless.

“The standard for what looks

good is symmetrical, clean and smooth. Acne gets in the way of that,” James said.

Dermatologist April Larson, M.D., said acne is referred to as a skin condition.

“Acne is considered a disease of the skin, where there is some dysfunction in the normal skin cells,” she said.

Both Doherty and James started noticing their acne around the beginning of middle school.

Doherty’s acne started in sixth grade and got worse in eighth grade.

She said she never experienced bullying from it, but she did find herself growing anxious about her appearance. “I think that when [my acne] started getting worse, I definitely was insecure about my self image, especially freshman year,” Doherty said.

When Doherty had an acne flareup, she said whenever she saw her face, her acne made her feel very self-conscious.

“Acne made my face look red and puffy. Every time I saw pictures of myself, I would feel ugly,” she said.

Unlike Doherty, James said acne has

Junior Claire Doherty looks at her reflection after being on Accutane, a prescribed acne medication, to help clear her skin. “Your appearance is completely normal whatever you look like,” Doherty said. “It is a part of you, and you can’t look like anyone else. Everyone is different.”

02.17.22 not caused him to be insecure.

“If you have acne, you look fine.

Trust me, it's not that big of a deal,” James said.

Despite the fact that James has had acne since seventh grade, he said he is not currently on any medications to get rid of his acne.

“I just don't really care [what my acne looks like],” James said.

Doherty, on the other hand, said she started taking medications her freshman year to help treat her acne.

“I've been taking a lot of different [medications] for the past two years, but I just finished Accutane, which has been the most helpful for me,” Doherty said.

According to Larson, Accutane is an oral medication used to treat acne.

She said it acts on the sebaceous glands, which are overactive with acne patients.

“Essentially, it is the only known cure for acne. So, about 50 percent of my patients that take a course of Accutane, will never have acne again,” Larson said.

Although Accutane has helped clear Doherty’s skin, she mentioned that there are side effects that come along with the medicine.

“I know Accutane is a very heavy prescription drug. Personally, I had some aches, like headaches, from it, and it affected my mood a bit. It wasn't super bad though; I didn't experience any weight gain. It took a while, but it eventually worked,” Doherty said.

Like Doherty, freshman Emily Fleischaker also experienced acne throughout middle school and went on Accutane to help get rid of her acne. “[In] September of 2020, I went on a medicine [for my acne] which didn't work, so then I went on Accutane [in January of 2021]. It started to clear up, and then I got off of Accutane in August,” Fleischaker said.

Even though Fleischaker said Accutane was worth it because it was able to clear her skin, there were many side effects that came along with it. After she started taking Accutane, Fleischaker said she stopped getting her period and her mental health worsened as she experienced an increase in depression and anxiety.

“I haven't necessarily done anything

FEATURE | 25

At some point in their lives, 90 to 95 percent of people will experience acne. Some students said their complexion is an important part of their confidence. to try to get [my period] back because I figured it would come back on its own time. I don’t really worry about it too much, even though I probably should,” she said. “I have experienced depression and anxiety, but it wasn’t necessarily from being on Accutane, although it did worsen it.”

Larson said the most common side effects are dry skin and lips, however she said there are more complications to the medication.

“The other common side effect is sensitivity, which means they are more likely to burn and get sunburned,” Larson said.

For those insecure about their acne,

Fleischaker recommends going on Accutane, but if not, there are many other medicines available that have less severe side effects. Junior Emily Natanova has not gone on Accutane like Fleischaker, but has tried other methods with fewer side effects such as Curology, an online skincare platform that creates a customized routine to clear acne.

“I have used different products before, but they haven't really helped me. I just started doing Curology, [and] it hasn't really had any negative side effects,” Natanova said. At first, Natanova said she felt very insecure about having acne, but now she has

26 | FEATURE grown to accept it. “[Having acne] has definitely made me less confident and have lower self-esteem, but I feel like it's kind of a part of me now that I really can't control, so I've learned to accept it,”

02.17.22 Natanova said.

Fleischaker, on the other hand, She said she started to notice mentioned that she was made fun of her acne when she was 12 years old, by a few boys she knew. although she said it did not bother “[There were boys who] were mean, her as much back then compared to but I had friends who were like, ‘it's recently. Even though OK’ because Natanova has learned they had to accept it, there are acne, too. It's Beauty is subjective. times when she still [something that What’s ugly to feels insecure about is] just natural, someone is going having acne. so it doesn't “In March really matter,” to be beautiful to 2020, [my Fleischaker someone else. acne] started said. “Beauty getting is subjective.

-EMILY FLEISCHAKER really bad What’s ugly because to someone is of Covid, stress, wearing going to be beautiful to someone else.” masks and all that. My Similar to Fleischaker, James said family started pointing acne is something that is normal and it out a lot, so I felt kind happens to almost everybody. of insecure at those James also believes that since so times when they would many people have acne, it should not specifically mention be as big of a deal as people make it things like, ‘oh out to be. you have a “People need to get over their pimple there,’” perception of what looks good,” James Natanova said. said.

Natanova’s According to Natanova, social media acne not only has played a big role in how acne affected how she has made her insecure. Although she viewed herself, knows social media does not show the but it also complete and honest picture, she said affected how it still causes insecurities for her. she felt when “When I see people on social media she went out in with what looks like clear skin, I know public. it's either makeup, filters or editing “On the their pictures so it's not necessarily bad days, I true, but it does make me feel more would feel insecure when I see people with really insecure perfect skin,” Natanova said. about going Even though Natanova said society out. It's kind of tells young people clear skin is counterintuitive, essential to looking good, according but I would want to to Larson, between 90 to 95 percent wear a mask to hide of teens will experience acne at some it, even though point in their lives. Doherty said since the mask is what acne is so common in teenagers, it gives me more should be more accepted by them. acne,” Natanova “People should realize [acne] is said. a regular part of puberty, and that Although people, especially teenagers and Natanova felt she young tweens, shouldn't worry too needed to hide much because everyone has it. The her acne, she was clear skin that a lot of people see never bullied is hard to achieve especially when because of it. you're that age,” Doherty said. “Your appearance is completely normal whatever you look like it is a part of you.”

02.17.22

27 | A&E

SWEETHEART SPIRIT CLASS COLOR DAY

DECADES DECADES DAY DAY

WESTERN OLYMPIC DAY DAY

HUSKY DAY

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

02.17.22

28 | FEATURE

Research by Hannah Rakolta and Payton Porter, Design by Sophie Dellett

This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Black Health and Wellness.” This theme, determined by The Association for the Study of Negro Life, highlights Black scholars and medical practitioners in modern medicine.

HISTORY Black History Month began in 1915 when Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). His organization was devoted to uncovering African-American achievements that were hidden in the shadows. In 1926, his group declared the second week of February as National Negro History Week, with support from many schools and government officials.

February is a month of importance since the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass occur in February. As years went on, National Negro History Week evolved into Black History Month, which recognizes the struggles and achievements of Black Americans.

BLACK-OWNED MEDICAL ORGANIZATION The National Medical Association (NMA) is dedicated to representing Black physicians and health professionals in the U.S. Before the start of the NMA, Black Americans were denied membership from the nationwide American Medical Association (AMA); subsequently, a group of Black doctors established their own hospitals and medical associations through the NMA.

02.17.22

FEATURE | 29

IMPORTANT FIGURES REGINA MARCIA BENJAMIN

Benjamin was born Oct. 26, 1956, and is best known for her tenure as the 18th U.S. Surgeon General in 2009, during which she served as first chair of the National Prevention Council. She is the founder and CEO of BayouClinic in Bayou La Batre, Ala, which provides clinical care, social services and health education to residents.

DR. ALEXANDER AUGUSTA Augusta was born March 8, 1825 and is known as the first Black physician to be appointed director of a U.S. hospital, at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. In addition to being a successful surgeon, he was a veteran of the Civil War.

JAMES MCCUNE SMITH James McCune Smith was born into slavery on April 18, 1813 in New York City. Growing up he was determined to become a doctor. He went on to become the first Black person to graduate with a medical degree. After graduating, he went on to become the first Black American to run a pharmacy.

MARY ELIZA MAHONEY Mary Eliza Mahoney was born in 1845 and was the first Black American to earn a professional nursing license. She and three others, out of 42 students, were the only students to complete the intense nursing program that year

30 | GAMEDAY GALLERY

02.17.22

GAMEDAY GALLERY Junior Grant Stubblefield shooots a layup in a tournament game against Raytown South, Dec. 7. “I spend a lot more time in [the] off season with basketball, just trying to get better because I have a lot more stuff to work on compared to football,” Stubblefield said.

(Photo by Bailey Thompson)

Sophomore Josie Grosdidier defends against Blue Valley West, Jan. 7. “I really enjoy being with the team and am excited to see what we can do for the rest of the season,” Grosdidier said. (Photo by Remi Nuss)

Senior Gavin Biancalana pins an opponent during the Husky Invitational, Jan. 21. “It feels good to win [wrestling], and to be the only person out there,” Biancalana said.

“You don’t have to have a team to rely on.” (Photo by Lila Vancrum)

FOR MORE GAME DAY

02.17.22

GAMEDAY GALLERY | 31 Junior JP Carter swims the 500yard freestyle against Olathe East, Jan. 7. “I feel like I was doing pretty well,” Carter said. “I was able to score points during the event.” (Photo

by Maci Miller)

Senior Joey Robinson passes the ball back to junior Aidan Behymer against Blue Valley Southwest, Jan. 4.

“We’re practicing harder every single day and preparing as much as possible before our games,” Robinson said.

(Photo by Bailey Thompson)

During the basketball game against BVW, senior Hayley Numrich dribbles the ball past her defender, Jan. 7. “During the West game, I was locked in and ready to win,” Numrich said. The Huskies defeated the Jaguars, 47-29.

PHOTOS, SCAN HERE

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