Receiving a cancer diagnosis and going through chemotherapy is difficult, especially as a child. Sophomore Ella Moore said she missed some of elementary school due to treatment, which was difficult. “I think it’s just hard to understand cancer at that age, so it was a lot of trying to explain it [to a child],” Moore said. No Laughing Matter OPINION
7 School Spirit is Expensive OPINION
FEATURES
8
Raising Hope, Raising Awareness
20 Beyond the Bar
The weight room provides an environment different from other classrooms for student-athletes to develop. Junior Ava Grosdidier said she likes the variety found in the class. “I think it’s really fun to have different ages and different sports involved in the same class,” Grosdidier said.
Dresses, Ties, Hellos and Goodbyes
Navigating relationships and finding dates for school dances in high school can be complicated. Senior Gabi McFall said that being in a long-term relationship has helped alleviate this pressure. “It takes a lot of stress off my shoulders because I don’t have to worry about who I’m going with,” McFall said. “He still sometimes gives me flowers and [asks], ‘Do you want to be my date?’ even though I already knew I was going to be.”
SAVED BY SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships provide extra help in financing postsecondary education.
CONNECT THE DOTS
Connect the dots to complete this Halloweenthemed picture. HERE COMES HALLOWEEN Writer Hailey Heckman brainstorms at-home costumes this Halloween.
TEACH, DON’T TAKE
Beginning in kindergarten, we were taught to be kind to others. We were taught how to share. We were taught to be attentive and listen when someone else was talking. Once we made it to middle school, we were taught to be organized. We were taught to do our homework without being told. We were taught to manage our time and not be late. Everything we needed to know to be successful in high school, we were taught in elementary or middle school—except how to manage our cell phones.
This year, we were told we cannot handle having our phones and, therefore, must put them away, out of sight; yet, we have never been taught how to properly use our phones in school.
The Blue Valley Board of Education determined that high school students are not allowed to be on personal electronic devices during instructional minutes, even if their work is finished or there is downtime.
We get it. From a purely academic standpoint, this new policy is justified. We recognize that phones are a distraction and that not having cell phones in class improves concentration and overall academic performance. That being said, high school is more than just academics.
High school is where we learn how to be functioning members of society. It is where self-discipline is built that will one day help us hold a job, get a degree or excel at anything we desire to be. For students to be successful after high school, their motivation to learn and grow must come intrinsically rather than from administrative enforcement.
Part of this discipline comes from the confidence we have in ourselves and our abilities. For this confidence to be fostered, we must be respected as young adults— young adults who have been taught to be successful
on our own. We need the ability to experiment with these crucial life skills while we have a supportive environment to fall back on when we fail.
Device addiction does not only affect teenagers. Teachers regularly have their phones on their desks and check them while we are doing our work. Our parents mindlessly scroll on Facebook for hours at night. We do not have good phone etiquette because nobody does. The entire human race needs to learn together how to put them away, but it needs to start with the people we look up to. It needs to start with the adults.
We were told we could not control ourselves without getting a chance to prove we could. It’s not that we don’t know phones are a problem, it’s that we were never taught why. Teachers spent a whole morning of professional development before school started in August learning why cell phones are such a huge problem. Why didn’t we?
Education regarding proper cell phone use must start before we even have access to personal devices. Ageappropriate programs should be implemented starting in elementary school to educate the next generation about the ramifications that come with cell phones. Let us know early on how putting them away will benefit us, and we will learn to do it on our own.
We know it is too late to change anything this year, but we ask the district to reevaluate its policies moving forward. Rather than just enforcing restrictions, consider taking a more educational approach, teaching students from a young age the consequences of excessive electronic use.
By simply taking our phones, you are denying us the education to help with the self-discipline necessary for our futures. We need to control this ourselves, and just taking our phones away teaches us nothing.
The other night I opened my phone to a Snapchat post of someone quoting their friend saying, “I’m going to rape you.”
This nauseating phrase was used in a humorous context, and it is a form of comedy that I have seen become increasingly common. These types of “jokes” have never been funny, and I am sick of them being used to perpetuate the normalization of sexual assault. Rape is one of the most horrendous violations that can happen to someone. It is dehumanizing and traumatic.
Unfortunately, this act of violence is scarily common.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), every 68 seconds someone in America is sexually assaulted. The term sexual assault refers to any sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the victim.
NO MATTER LAUGHING
Written by Reagan Wald, Designed by Iqra Nadeem
them.” Although there is a time and place for dark humor, it absolutely crosses a line when jokes perpetuate or normalize harm rather than point it out.
I know more people my age who have been sexually assaulted than I can count on all ten fingers. None of them have been able to press charges on their offender. Sexual assault is so common, they did not feel like their situation was “bad enough” to be reported, or when they did report, law enforcement did nothing about it.
Although there is a time and place for dark humor, it absolutely crosses a line when jokes perpetuate or normalize harm rather than point it out.
Just as we have become culturally desensitized to suicide and gun violence through attempts at humor, the same thing is happening with sexual assault. I cannot get through a school day without hearing someone comedically shout, “I’m going to touch you,” at their friends or discuss how a difficult test “raped
Rape has been fetishized in the media for years, and the dismissive humor surrounding the subject only contributes to its disgusting normalcy. This crude behavior not only makes survivors feel uncomfortable within their school community, but it also instills the wrong message in our youth. I have recently heard middle school girls discuss how they want to be raped to “know what it feels like,” and 13-year-olds certainly did not come up with this idea on their own.
I am not solely blaming my peers who make these jokes for the nationwide spread of rape culture. If a form of humor is used within social circles, of course their friends will accept and repeat similar jokes.
That being said, we need to be more hesitant before mindlessly accepting these forms of heinous and offensive comedy.
It is understandable that people do not like to talk about uncomfortable topics, but we must have conversations about this clearly prevalent problem so we can collectively work toward solutions. Instead, people my age would rather make jokes about it and ignore the situation completely.
Although your jokes may appear harmless, there are real ramifications for the underlying message they send about our society’s tolerance for sexual assault. Rape “humor” is not funny. It never has been.
This is not OK.
Find some better jokes, because this is no laughing matter.
EMBRACING NEW THE
Written by Ruby Halverson, Designed by Iqra Nadeem
This year my parents pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to try a new sport: tennis. I had never played before, so joining the BVNW team seemed daunting. I went to a tennis camp over the summer for about three weeks to learn how to play. After only a month of beginning the sport, I tried out.
It was nerve-wracking on the first day of tryouts, especially since I did not know very much about the team or the girls on it. The pressure of performing well started to creep in. I was terrified of messing up and what people would think.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how supportive everyone was. It felt like I was becoming part of the team, something outside of myself.
the first time. Many are freshmen, but there are also new additions from grades 10 – 12.
Tryouts can be a very stressful time, and adding on more pressure by making fun of someone is just excessive.
At Northwest, I constantly hear students say they are nervous to try out for a team. However, it is easy to dismiss this message, instead of hearing what the student is hoping to convey. Everyone has internal debates related to trying out for a team or joining a new activity, and nerves can make this a difficult task. Having involvement in school activities is great to see, and supporting new arrivals should be a key focus. It is often scary to try something new, especially when you do not know anyone or are challenging yourself with this new activity.
are more prone to crack or falter in their execution. Tryouts can be a very stressful time, and adding on more pressure by making fun of someone is just excessive.
In some cases, students feel isolated when trying something new due to friend groups already being formed within the activity. Coming into a new group where you feel like a complete outsider can be super disheartening, and if the people already involved are not friendly or inclusive, it is very difficult to make new friends or even feel accepted. However, smiling or waving can do wonders for someone’s quality of day, especially one who feels out of place. These little acts are simple to perform but beneficial to both parties and should be included more in daily routines.
The student body should be more supportive and encouraging of students who are experimenting with new activities.
Trying new things should be an enjoyable learning experience, not looked down upon when someone is not very good yet. The people who are new to a sport or club should be given lots of positive attention and feedback that will help them grow.
This fall, students are a part of football, soccer, tennis, cross country, golf and volleyball, some for
Performance anxiety often occurs in activities’ newest members, and certainly will happen if they feel judgment from others. The expression “choking” can become apparent in these times. According to the Harvard Business Review, “when choking, not only does your performance in the moment decline, but it can trigger a vicious cycle of self-doubt, shame, guilt, and fear, making it all the more likely you’ll choke again.”
When someone is under pressure, social or performance wise, they
When specific people on a team are being targeted for being an outsider or not being as skillful, they will often feel alone. Being left out is never a good feeling, so why should we do it to others? In these situations it is important to fall back on basic principles we were taught as children, like treating others as we want to be treated. Overall, students should feel included in the activities that they are involved in, and a team should feel like a sanctuary for all.
Trying to reach out to the quieter people of the group is a great way to show effort in building a team environment. Making teams a safe space for everyone can have great results and create greater relationships in our school.
Whether you are playing on the field or cheering on the Huskies from the student section, sporting events are filled with excitement that no one would want to miss out on. With the fun dress-up themes, student-led chants, band, color guard, cheer, and dance performances, activities at Northwest bring the student body together and create school spirit. All students at Blue Valley Northwest should have the opportunity to attend home, schoolsponsored sporting events for free. Students currently get charged to get into games and support their classmates. It is recommended that all students purchase the $40 student activity pass at the beginning of the year. This can be an unattainable purchase for some students, especially those in difficult financial situations. An activity pass may not be as big of a burden for those who are not in an unstable financial situation. If you do not purchase the student activity pass, you are asked to pay at least $5 when you arrive at the game. Over time, this can add up, especially when you already need to pay for away games. You would think for $40 the online digital student activity pass would work well and be easy to use, but, from experience, it always seems to crash or be difficult to pull up when you need it to work.
Last year, my mom and I were at a Northwest volleyball game. When we tried to pull up our digital passes, they simply would not load. After we
SCHOOL SPIRIT EXPENSIVE IS
Written by Paige Mailliard, Designed by Iqra Nadeem
told the ticket keeper, a teacher at BVNW, that we were unable to pull it up, he told us we needed to pay. We showed him past emails with tickets from previous games and a screenshot of my student ID, yet he still charged us to get into a game that was almost half over.
Together my mom and I spent $20 on a game at my own school. Spending that money to get in was pretty upsetting, but even more upsetting knowing I had a student pass and my parents had their own activity passes. To make matters worse, the time it took to figure this out made us miss almost half of the game.
I understand it would be a difficult job for the ticket takers at events with the technology issues. This year I went to a soccer game and had a hard time pulling up my ticket. The ticket taker was sympathetic and let me into the game. It is obvious that the technology that is being used is not a good fit for the games and takes a long time to work, causing people to miss part of the event. We are paying to get into our games and even with a pass, the GoFan can be glitchy. Paying to get into our school’s games and using inconsistent technology may be a factor in the decrease in attendance at sporting events.
greatly valued; we are always trying to improve it. A good way to improve our spirit is to have our attendance numbers increase, and the easiest way to do that is to make games free. It won’t only improve our school spirit, it will also improve the performance of our players due to a larger crowd.
All students should be able to go to games, and the cost of them should not be the reason students cannot go.
The money earned from game tickets does not go to waste. It helps benefit our school and our athletics, but there are other ways we can earn that money and help our school with financial costs. We can hold events before games such as raffles and other fun fundraising events that people are attracted to and want to participate in. This can also add school spirit and bring teachers, students, and parents together.
High school only lasts for four years, and during those four years, it is important to be involved at your school and make memories. All students should be able to go to games, and the cost of them should not be the reason students cannot go.
Here at Northwest, school spirit is
raising hope, raising awareness
Childhood cancer survivors and their families work to raise awareness and cope with their trauma
Written by Emily Olm-Shipman and Inaya Zaman, Photographed by Rachel King, Designed by Claire Elley
At five years old, sophomore Ella Moore had to be rushed to the hospital and put under anesthesia. When she woke up, she had a port in her collarbone and had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL.
ALL is a cancer of blood and bone marrow. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is the most common cancer among children.
Moore said she was treated with chemotherapy from ages 5 to 8 and did not fully complete remission until age 12. She said this treatment process made attending school very difficult, especially after she changed schools in the second grade.
“That’s when I was really sick, so I missed school every Wednesday, and I [felt] more sick, I just wouldn’t go at all. It was weird at first,” Moore said. “I think it’s just hard to understand cancer at that age, so it was a lot of trying to explain it [to a child].”
Though Moore did experience some difficulty adjusting to her new lifestyle, her mother, Julie Moore, said the family had various support systems in place such as Moore’s classmates, Julie’s coworkers, family members and friends. Julie said her workplace, Moore’s school, was quite accommodating to her child’s condition.
For example, Moore would often have to go to her mother’s classroom to rest in order to deal with the exhaustion brought on by her treatment. Julie said her students were accepting and kind to Moore when she visited her mother to take a nap.
“My students were super supportive. Everybody just always covered for us, and they were always ready to support us,” Julie said. “All of my students would be so quiet and respectful and sweet. They just wanted her to be OK.”
Outside of receiving support from coworkers and loved ones, families with a child who has cancer can receive support and answers for their child’s condition through community organizations. After Moore’s initial diagnosis, her parents got a call from Braden’s Hope, an organization named after cancer survivor Braden Hofen who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at three years old. According to Executive Director Kim Stanley, Hofen’s mother, Deliece Hofen, was fighting breast cancer at the same time as her son, even having chemotherapy on the same days in two different hospital locations.
While her son was undergoing treatment, she noticed that there was less
research being done for childhood cancers compared to cancers that are more common. Stanley said Hofen found only 4% of funds were allocated to childhood cancers, so she decided to start her own organization.
For comparison, $6.9 billion is donated each year to adult cancer research, according to American Institution for Cancer Research and $250 million to childhood cancer research, according to Little Warriors Foundation. Childhood cancer can be found in one out of 285 kids before their 20th birthday in the U.S. That is 300,000 children
every year. Childhood cancer rates have increased almost 35 percent over the last 40 years, according to the American Childhood Cancer Organization.
Since its founding in 2010, Braden’s Hope has been able to raise $5.5 million for childhood research grants with their partners, Children’s Mercy Research Institute and The University of Kansas.
“We aim to fund as much research as possible so that we can level the playing field for children and families who fight cancer,” Stanley said.
Some students choose to join the cause by participating in Gold Out KC, a local organization created in 2016 to support children battling cancer. Co-president of the Blue Valley Northwest chapter, senior Divya Subramoni said she wanted to continue the club’s mission to raise
awareness and money for research and work with St. Jude’s Hospitals to ensure no family has to pay for housing and treatment.
“I think it’s an important thing to raise awareness for [childhood cancer] because [while] losing anyone is a tragedy, losing a child [feels] like something different,” Subramoni said.
At Northwest, she said the club will host fundraisers at sporting events to raise money and educate the community about childhood cancer.
Though many are working to raise awareness about childhood cancer, it is not possible to fully understand one’s personal experiences. BVNW social studies teacher Lauren DeBaun said she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during her sophomore year of high school. DeBaun said hearing her diagnosis
Left: Members of Blue Valley Northwest’s Gold Out KC club educate visitors about their mission at the varsity football game on Sept. 6. Top right: Sophomore Ella Moore receives chemotherapy when she was 7 years old. (Photo courtesy
was quite difficult to comprehend, especially as a student athlete.
“Logically, it didn’t make sense to me and emotionally, none of it really clicked with me,” DeBaun said. “My goal in life was to play college basketball, so in my teenage mind, this was getting in the way of my dreams.”
According to DeBaun, the changes she experienced during her treatment took away from her personal identity and affected the relationships she had in school.
“Who I thought I was in high school had to do with three specific things about myself: my height, my curly hair and being a basketball player, so I had most of my identity completely stripped from me,” DeBaun said. “I found that [people] who I thought were my friends were not really my friends, and a lot of people stopped talking to me.”
of Ella Moore) Bottom right: Sophomore Ella Moore in the hospital in 2017 during her chemotherapy treatments. (Photo courtesy of Ella Moore)
A cancer diagnosis can force people away from personal interests, hobbies and life. Moore said her time spent in the hospital caused her to miss important events and holidays. A time that stood out to her was when she was rushed to the hospital on Dec. 21 and missed her family’s Christmas at her grandma’s house in Nebraska. Julie said they missed being with family and friends during one of their biggest annual celebrations.
organs were failing,” Julie said.
After 10 days of fear and uncertainty, Moore was released from the hospital on New Year’s Eve. Julie described this period as being highly emotional, awful and stressful.
[While] losing anyone is a tradegy, losing a child [feels] like something different.
-DIVYA SUBRAMONI
“Not only did we miss a holiday, but it was a really scary time because her kidneys had stopped functioning, so it seemed like her
Now, 10 years later, Moore is cancer-free; however, it is still a part of her life because she has a higher risk of getting cancer later.
“Kids who get chemotherapy and survive cancer when they’re young have a [higher] chance of experiencing some other sort of cancer in their life,” Julie said. “It seems unfair.”
Senior Divya Subramoni hands out infographic flyers about Gold Out KC at the varsity football game on Sept. 6. “The Gold Out fundraisers help spread awareness about
Moore said even today going to the hospital can be scary and even cause feelings of PTSD from all her visits as a child. After she was first off chemo she was put in remission and had monthly visits up until last year. Blood testing and hospital visits will always be a part of Moore’s life along with the emotional trauma she went through.
According to DeBaun, childhood is an important time in life and a cancer diagnosis can have a significant effect on their development.
“Childhood and adolescence is when we as humans do the most developing, physically, emotionally [and] mentally,” DeBaun said. “To have something like [cancer] on top of just the normal development of a child is traumatic, and I think there’s some cancers that need a lot more research behind them.”
[childhood cancer] and encourage others to help in whatever ways they can,” Subramoni said. “It brings together the community for a common cause.”
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Tips and advice from AVID teacher Kyle Farrington and information on upcoming scholarships
Written by Sara Scheibel, Designed by Bridget Hamlin
Would you recommend applying for scholarships?
A: Q:
Q:
Q:
Why do you think it is important to apply for scholarships early?
How can you apply for scholarships?
What’s the easiest, most efficient way to do that?
A:
Yes, I think students should be applying for scholarships most of the time. The good news is [that] those are processed with your application when you send in all of your information, but as long as those are in by usually December 1, those scholarships start rolling out.
When you’re in for scholarships, in that December deadline when they switch over to the new year, you can make sure that you’re first in line when they start handing out money. A lot of scholarships are guaranteed because of your grade point average.
Q:
How can students learn about what scholarships are available to them?
A:
A:
[The] easiest way to apply for most scholarships is just to apply for your college and make sure that you have all of your transcripts and everything sent in, that’s where most kids get their the most money, just because that scholarship schedule that every college has is available online.
Most of the time the best way to find these is to go to your specific institution that you want to apply and go to both their admissions page and their financial aid page, both of those are going to have links to their scholarship opportunities and then, usually within those so on the first page, most of the time,
Kansas Comprehensive Grant:
The Kansas State Scholarship:
$10,000 No Essay Scholarship:
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship:
Available to students with financial need. Kansas residents who attend a school in Kansas (one of the six state universities, 18 private schools; or Washburn University), can apply for this grant. To be eligible for this grant, you need to turn in the FAFSA (free application for federal student aid). The amounts for scholarships are from $200-$10,000 for private schools and $100-$4,000 for public schools. 1 in 3 students who apply for this grant are awarded it. The priority date to apply is May 1 2025.
Scholarships for students in the top 40-50% of their class who are designated as state scholars during 12th grade. To be able to apply you need to have gotten a certificate saying that you completed the required curriculum, and a letter saying that the Kansas Board of Regents recommended you for application during your senior year of high school. The priority date for application is Aug. 1 2025.
This scholarship is available to all students who are looking for extra money to help pay for their education. This scholarship is awarded to students who utlize the Scholarship360 scholarships and content. Application is open and the deadline to apply is June 30 2025.
Scholarships for high school seniors only. Offers winners up to $55,000 per year to help pay for education. This scholarship has given out over $222 million in scholarships. A minimum GPA of 3.5 is needed to apply. The deadline for applications is Nov. 14 2025.
hellos AND GOODBYES
Navigating high school relationships and school dance dates
Written by Blen Belachew and Ellie Votypka, Photographed by Julia Curotto, Designed by Sri Trikona
hat’s a babe,” Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Michael Richards thought when he saw his future wife, Julie Bitter, walk into school his sophomore year of high school.
“I was crutching down the first-floor hallway (due to a recent football injury) and she walked in the school, and it was a sunny morning, so there was this beaming light, this aura, around her curly hair,” Richards said.
After learning her name, Richards said he was determined to get her number by asking Bitter’s tennis teammate in his biology class. Since he could not play football, he said he was able to text her often, bringing them even closer.
“I didn’t get to play that entire season, so I was just texting her all the time. I was able to talk to her and get the foot in the door before everyone else did,” Richards said.
Like Richards and his wife, seniors Gabi McFall and Keaton Humphrey connected early in high school. They, however, bonded
through their love of sports. Humphrey said he enjoys how they go out and support each other at games, which has brought them closer together.
“In a relationship, you have to dig into people’s feelings,” Humphrey said. “After a rough game or a rough week, you have to understand what they’re going through.”
In addition to relieving each other from the pressure of sports, McFall said her relationship with Humphrey ended her search for school dance dates. Their relationship blossomed after their
freshman-year Sweetheart Dance, and they have now been dating for two and a half years.
“We weren’t dating at the time, and then he figured out he had feelings for me,” McFall said. “After [the dance], I asked him to hang out one day, and ever since then, we have dated.”
Unlike her friends, McFall said she does not have to fixate on finding a date because she has a boyfriend and appreciates not feeling constant pressure during the dance season.
“It takes a lot of stress off my shoulders because I don’t have to worry about who I’m going with,” McFall said. “He still sometimes gives me flowers and [asks], ‘Do you want to be my date?’ even though I already knew I was going to be.”
Similarly, Humphrey said having a steady partner has made the dance preparations easier.
“I don’t have to go through the stress of asking someone and making a sign and doing all that. It makes me feel happy to have the same person,” Humphrey said.
Other students, however, opt not to go to dances with a serious date. Junior Kayleigh Gronau said she was not initially looking for a date to the Homecoming Dance this year, but she decided to go with a friend because they shared mutual connections.
“We spent the majority of the summer hanging out with each other, so we got really close. I don’t think it’s going to be awkward. If anything, it will just bring us closer, and it’ll be something we can laugh about,” Gronau said before the dance.
Reflecting on the last time she took a friend to a dance, Gronau said it was the best experience for her so far because there was no pressure.
“You didn’t have to worry about looking good, the couples pictures or a boutonniere. You kind of just
did your own thing,” Gronau said.
Conversely, some students feel pressure to secure a date. Freshman Isabella Eils said she found the process overwhelming.
“It was super stressful. I felt like I had to have a date. People had already gotten dates over the summer before they even had a chance to meet,” Eils said. “I just wanted a date because I didn’t want to feel left out.”
According to Eils, seeing transition videos users post online with their date plays a key role in the stress of finding a date.
“A lot of stuff that you see on TikTok, they all have dates. Everyone thought they had to have a date because they’ve never experienced high school dances before,” Eils said.
On the first Friday of the school year, Eils said her friend set her up with a potential date. He later asked her to the dance with a sign, but their plans fell through after a disagreement. After another
unsuccessful attempt to find a date, Eils said she attended the dance solo and hung out with friends instead.
“I thought it would be kind of embarrassing at first, but I realized that a bunch of people would be by themselves too,” Eils said. “It was definitely a relief knowing that other people were doing the same thing I did.”
Having similarly gone without a serious date, Gronau said she believes students should focus on enjoying the event with friends rather than worrying about a date.
“In my opinion, you don’t really need a date as long as you have one or two good friends to hang out with,” Gronau said.
Likewise, Eils said students should not feel peer pressured and force themselves to get a date to fit in. She said her first
The stress of finding a date for school dances can lead to changes in plans. On the first Friday of school, freshman Isabella Eils said her friend set her up with a potential date. Their plans later fell through after a disagreement. (Photo Illustration)
SOPHOMORE YEAR HOMECOMING
2007
NOW
Assistant principal and athletic director Michael Richards and his wife went to their first homecoming together at Hoisington High School when he was a sophomore and she was a freshman. “I wouldn’t say I was in love yet. I mean, that was early.” Richards said. Richards and his wife are now parents to their son, Cooper, who was born in January. (Photos courtesy of Michael Richards)
“You got to go around, talk to people and not worry about having to stay with [your date] the whole time,” Eils said. “You definitely get to be yourself and have lots of fun.”
Senior Luke Schelhammer said he went to Homecoming and Sweetheart his freshman year with more serious dates, but now he mainly goes as friends.
“Early on in high school, I was looking for more of a relationship, but as I progressed, I realized that it’s kind of hard for that to happen and some people don’t prefer that,” Schelhammer said.
Psychology teacher Heidi Gipple said there are various psychological factors behind why teenagers enter short-term relationships, especially around events like Homecoming.
“A lot of it is perspective-based, depending on what that relationship
is going to fulfill for us. Is it that sociocultural part of [what we see] around us? Is this fulfilling our love and belonging needs because those aren’t being met somewhere [else]?”
jh
Gipple said.
According to Gipple, the expectations of finding a date can potentially harm a student’s self-esteem, so she believes students should take a step back, not care about what others think and do whatever makes them happy.
I had so much fun the whole night and dancing with my friends was something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
-KAYLEIGH GRONAU
is very strong like, ‘Oh, somebody else is doing that, that’s the way. If I don’t do that, am I going to be seen as weird?’” Gipple said. “In reality, nobody else is looking at us because they’re usually caring about themselves anyway.” Through his experience finding dates for dances, Schelhammer said it became easier over time. However, he said going with a date is not always the only option.
“Playing that comparison game
“This year, I decided not to go [to Homecoming]. I stayed with a couple of buddies and wanted to have one last time with some of my
FRESHMAN YEAR SWEETHEART 2022 2024
best friends,” Schelhammer said.
Conversely, Gronau said she had a great night with her date and it was not awkward for her, as she expected.
“It went really well and it did indeed bring us closer. His mom hand-made my corsage and bouquet and he even asked me to be his girlfriend after,” Gronau said.
Reflecting on her high school years at an all-girls Catholic school, Gipple said her school had mixers with the all-boys Catholic school instead of a homecoming dance. Due to the religious culture of her school, Gipple said girls felt more pressure to have a boyfriend and maintain a long-term relationship.
“It was the feeling that the longer your relationship lasts, the better or
NOW
Seniors Gabi McFall and Keaton Humphrey went to their first Sweetheart dance together in February, 2022. “I actually had asked him to the dance because I liked him,” McFall said. McFall and Humphrey have now been dating for two and a half years. (Photos courtesy of Gabi McFall)
the healthier your relationship was,” Gipple said.
Richards said having a high school sweetheart shaped his values of commitment and discipline, which strengthened their relationship.
“Even though we’ve only been married for seven years, we’ve been together for 17. The impact of being together that long and us being so young at this, I feel like the strength of our relationship is huge,” Richards said.
Even though she does not have the years of experience Richards has, Gronau said she had a great time with both her date and her friends at the dance.
“I had so much fun the whole night and dancing with my friends was something I don’t think I’ll ever forget,” Gronau said.
Ultimately, Gipple said the goal of school dances is to have fun and foster a place of community in Northwest.
“People have brought dates before, people have gone with friends and people have gone solo,” Gipple said. “Surround yourself with people that make you happy, and you’ll have a great time.”
HERE COMES
HALLOWEEN
Writer Hailey Heckman comes up with quick and easy DIY costumes
Written
by
Hailey Heckman,
Photographed by Adria
Heinauer,
Designed by Miles Thomas and Sri Trikona
Blackdress
Blackboots
Inspired by Wednesday, the popular show on Netflix, the first costume is the one and only Wednesday Addams. This simple costume consists of a black dress on top of a white button-up shirt, paired with large black boots and her signature twin braided hair.
WEDNESDAY ADDAMS
White collared shirt
Another simple costume idea for this year is Barbie, inspired by the popularity of her hit movie this last summer. Barbie would be dressed in a pink dress with matching pink shoes and any additional pink accessories found around the house.
MUMMY
Anywhiteshirt
A mummy is a perfect fun and easy Halloween costume for this year–all you need is toilet paper. Dress in white clothing, wrap yourself with toilet paper you have on hand and that’s it.
Finally, we have a classic Batman costume which includes a pair of black pants and a black shirt with a printed out Batman logo. This costume also needs a black mask and, of course, a black superhero cape.
BARBIE BATMAN
Black mask
Blackcape
Pink necklace Pink shoes
Pink dress
BAR BEYOND THE
“I started reaping the benefits and realizing that I enjoyed this,” Nelson said. “It wasn’t just something I did because I was forced to do it.”
Nelson said the weights program has improved his attitude, strength and discipline. He said this change occurred due to the energetic environment and seeing himself improve athletically.
Nelson has Strength and Conditioning first hour, which is primarily football players. He said the class has a “get after it” attitude.
“I think you have to want it bad enough, want to get up, want to be in there at 7:35 (a.m.) lifting,” Nelson said.
In the sixth hour weights class, junior Ava Grosdidier performs squats while looking in a mirror. “I think the coaches do a really good job making it inclusive, and like, highlighting all sports and athletes and just people in the weights class,” Grosdidier said.
“Especially the seniors and juniors, we lead the energy in the weight room.”
Junior Ava Grosdidier, an athlete involved in track, basketball and tennis, said she likes being enrolled in Strength and Conditioning and likes how it helps the needs of multisport athletes.
“I think it’s really fun to have different ages and different sports involved in the same class,” Grosdidier said.
She said she has met many new people in the class, and it feels like an inclusive environment. Grosdidier also said the coaches are very good at correcting form for exercises and they prioritize that over lifting a lot of weight. If they see something concerning, she said they will talk to the person about it.
Almost one out of every three students at Northwest is enrolled in the weights program. Head football coach and weights teacher Clint Rider said he highly encourages his football players and other athletes to be involved in Strength and Conditioning due to the benefits of the program.
“I think [it is] a positive thing for athletes to be involved in Strength and Conditioning, to not only help them perform better but just to do our best to keep them on the court with injury prevention,” Rider said.
Athletic Trainer Christy Grimes said she likes the weight room and its ability to energize students.
“It’s made our kids a lot stronger and healthier,” Grimes said.
One of the only things Grimes said she wishes for the weight room to change is that athletes are taught to squat below parallel.
“Once you’re past 90 [degrees], the only thing that’s really working is your patella tendon,” Grimes said. “Then, your femur puts pressure on your labrum of your hip.”
Winchester said the risk of injury increases once below parallel.
“You’re putting your body in the weakest position there (below parallel), and you get the same amount of benefit squatting at 90 degrees as you would going below there,” Winchester said.
He said it is important to have a good range of motion and proper form to build muscle.
“I would say if you were to do a bodyweight squat below parallel, that’s fine,” Winchester said. “You got to be able to have that good range of motion, but there’s no need to excessively load it to that below parallel state.”
I think it’s really fun to have different ages and different sports involved in the same class.
-AVA GROSDIDIER
“Strength is one of the best injury preventers out there.”
Physical Therapist Ian Winchester said high school students should be enrolled in weights. He said this is because the most growth can occur in this time of life.
Winchester said after a certain age, people stop developing great amounts of muscle. At a young age, he said weight training can translate into everyday life and functionality to do more daily tasks, such as lifting furniture or doing dishes.
Rider said he focuses on mastering the body first in a safe manner such as starting with bodyweight exercises. In regard to squatting below parallel, Rider said there are many different views on whether it is beneficial or harmful. He said that it is not a set science and opinions vary depending on what medical professional you ask.
“The research that I have seen has basically said that once you’re below parallel, the stress on the tendons actually decreases rather than increases, because the highest tensile point for the tendons in the knees is at parallel,” Rider said. “We
want to be strong through the full range of motion.”
Rider also said most studentathletes need basic strength training for their sports, and the program is centered around being flexible to the training ages and needs of the athletes. He said they modify exercises for students with injuries and will never push an athlete to add more weight before they can go through a full range of motion.
During his first year in high school, Nelson said he felt pain in his knees that he attributed to genetics, but after practicing certain exercises in weights class, they were strengthened.
“My freshman year, my knees really hurt, but after doing squats and power cleans, I’ve felt that my knees have gotten better, they’ve seemed healthier, and I’ve just felt better overall,” Nelson said.
Winchester said the impact of squatting below parallel depends on the individual’s abilities and he emphasized the importance of good form.
“If we have extreme mobility [and] strength deficits, then it would create an unsafe below-parallel squat. If we have great mobility [and] strength in all planes of motion, then the below parallel squat would be beneficial,” Winchester said. “It ultimately depends from person to person.”
Grimes said the weights program is beneficial to many athletes. She said when done correctly, squats and lunges are great.
In the future, Grimes said she hopes to see more stretching and endurance training for all athletes, such as doing more reps of each exercise rather than one rep at a heavier weight. She said these more diverse exercises could be accomplished by having more space in the weight room.
Rider said he is happy to see the number of students enrolled in his program increase and hopes to continue to grow the program. He also said he hopes to work on speed and plyometric training more once the program gets a new weight room
with the area to do so.
“This new room will have twice the square footage and will have additional space for sprinting, jumping, and other auxiliary movements,” Rider said.
The new area will be located off the side of the new main gym, near the soccer fields.
We just want to continue to try to be a place where kids enjoy to be and enjoy [to] train.
-CLINT RIDER
Along with being excited for the new gym, Nelson said he appreciates the opportunity to get better every day and likes seeing improvement throughout the year. He said he enjoys the journey and setting high standards for himself.
“I like seeing my stats go up on paper, seeing the start of the year I’m lifting 200 (pounds) and then at
the end, I’m up to like 300 (pounds) on squat,” Nelson said.
When Rider first became the strength training coach he said only 107 students were enrolled in the class, and now there are around 500 students enrolled. Rider said he believes students like the class because it is a different environment and allows students to work off steam and be around friends.
“I think kids enjoy being part of a good culture,” Rider said. “We celebrate when sports teams do well, we celebrate when kids get a personal record in the weight room, and we just want to continue to try to be a place where kids enjoy to be and enjoy [to] train.”
Junior Zach Fritz rings the bell for hitting a PR in his weights class on Oct. 1. “I like that weights is a place where people can better themselves and hit new milestones with their friends,” Fritz said.
CONNECT THE DOTS
Directions: Connect the dots from numbers 1-85 to complete the picture. Then, color the picture.
Designed by Blen Belachew
ABOUT THE EXPRESS
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Mailing address: 13260 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS 66213
Phone: 913-239-3544
Email: BVNWnewspaper@bluevalleyk12.org
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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 October Issue of Volume 32. The Express is printed by Valley Print Logistics, 160 S Sheridan Ave, Valley Center, KS 67147.
DISCLAIMER
This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.
EQUITY POLICY STATEMENT
BVNW Publications is committed to amplifying the voices of our student body and community, no matter the color of skin, religious belief, financial status, gender or sexuality. We are an independent platform that by practice, and by law, is not a mouthpiece of the school district. We promise to cover all stories with fact and integrity. We stand in solidarity with all people who are fighting for equality. We promise to educate ourselves and represent our entire community to our audience to the best of our ability. For our students, teachers, readers, viewers and families who are struggling for equality, we deplore the injustices you face. We strive to be a unifying platform that celebrates diversity and shares your stories, and we will continue to work toward increasing minority voices internally, as well as externally. We may not always get it right, but we will try, and we will listen and be open to suggestions on how to better tell your stories.
