The Express - September 2014

ThEExprEss volume 22 | Issue 1

| september | blue valley Northwest hIgh school

Perspectives

View more photos from Homecoming as well as other student activities

Page 23

Contents

Husky night 2014 Above: Hallie the Husky shows her spirit to Willa Krasovec, daughter of school psychologist Monica Symes, at a recent BVNW home game (photo by Maddison Barley).

Cover: Seniors AJ Fuller and Molly McGinty share their first dance as Homecoming King and Queen (photo by Jordan Joyce).

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4 6

What’s the Z-score?

Senior Zack Zegunis and his father Mike Zegunis share how their father-son relationship carries over to the football field.

Bigger is Better The girls tennis team has nearly doubled in size this year, resulting in many changes to the program.

8 13

Unwrapping Gifted education The Gifted Education program is designed to help select students flourish in their educational ventures.

However, not all agree on its effectiveness.

For the Record Junior Madeline Connor collects vinyl records due to her musical passion.

the express | Issue 1 | september

the express staff

editoR-in-CHieF

Sarah Hirsch

ManaGinG editoR

16 20 23

Kansas is reported to have the second highest number of “problem puppy mills” in the U.S. Experts say this leads to a variety of effects in society.

streets to seas Three transfer students from around the city, region and world share their first impressions of BVNW.

perspectives Student life is showcased through a variety of photos.

26 28 31

Ankit Kadakia

neWs editoR

Natasha Vyhovsky

critique Noticed any new changes to the food in the lunchroom? Read a review of six new items.

FeatURe editoR

Laney Breidenthal

spoRts editoR

Greyson Woerpel

pHoto editoR

Maddison Barley

enteRtainMent editoR

Zac Johnson

entertainment Solve this issue’s crossword and sudoku puzzles. Find the answers online at BVNWnews.com.

opinion editoR

Olivia Baird

pUZZle editoR

Avery Mojica

soCial Media ManaGeR

Claudia Chen

BUsiness ManaGeR

Madison Graves

opinion Read student columns and the staff editorial.

RepoRteRs

Emma Bruce Brandon Fagen Cameron Hamm Flammy Huo Hope Lancaster Morgan Lewis Ayesha Vishnani

pHotoGRapHeRs

Senior Trevor Kerns races down the field, defending the ball from Rockhurst (photo by Nicole Tenold).

Aggie Cain Jenny Lu Emily Staples Nicole Tenold Caroline Trupp

GRapHiC desiGneR

Hannah Adams

assistant adviseR

Kimberly Hillstock

adviseR

Jim McCrossen The Express is the official high school news publication of the Blue Valley Northwest High School, an open forum distributed to all students seven times a year. This is Issue 1 of Volume 22.

Subscription rates are $10. The Express is printed by Osage Printing, 400 N Liberty St Independence, MO 64050.

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.

the express | Issue 1 | september

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WHAT’S THE

Z-SCORE?

By Hope Lancaster

Senior Zack Zegunis explains how the relationship with his father, head football coach and math teacher Mike Zegunis, plays out during his

H

e laces up his shoes, takes a deep breath, walks out of the locker room and sees the stands filling up with eager fans. Adrenaline starts pumping through his veins as the team has one final huddle before kickoff to hear encouraging words from the coach. However, for Senior Zack Zegunis, he receives those encouraging words from his father.

Zack has played for his dad, head coach and math teacher Mike Zegunis, throughout his high school football career. As a child, Zack accompanied his dad throughout Zegunis’ decade long career as the head coach.

Zegunis said he loves how he gets the opportunity to spend this much time coaching his son.

“It’s been really neat that I have been the head coach here for 10 years now and Zack as been on my sideline on the football field all 10 years,” Zegunis said. “We have had some really big wins and some really tough losses over these 10 years and he has been a part of all of them. I can look back and remember when he was in fourth grade coming home crying because we lost a tough game and then being really excited when we won big games.”

Zack said he loves playing for his dad because it is something he has grown up with. This has allowed Zack to predict his father’s coaching style and understand how he thinks. He has enjoyed all the memories he has created with him on and off the field.

“We go way back when I was the ball boy for him,” Zack said. “I grew up spending every Friday night, going straight from grade school to hanging out with the football guys and standing next to my dad’s side.”

A son and father playing together is different from most player-coach relationships because when they go home together they know each other differently than other players and coaches. Zack said he agrees with his father; when practice starts, their main focus is football and

working to improve every day.

“I do tend to put more pressure on myself just because I am the coach’s son,” Zack said. “I do feel that his expectations are a little higher. However, I just play hard because I know he wants what is best for me.”

Zack said he believes it can be very handy having his father as his coach. He can always ask him questions revolving around the sport.

“You always know what is going on and you’re always in the know about stuff,” Zack said. “ If I have a question about a play or anything, it is very easy to ask him.”

Throughout all the years, Zack said his dad, as the head coach, has made him a better player in his high school career. Zegunis’ coaching has helped Zack with his attention to detail on the field. Zack said that having his father as the coach has pushed him because he cannot get away with anything that would not benefit his performance on the field.

“If I am having a bad practice, he will let me know,” Zack said. “He will always make sure I stay focused.”

Zack’s good family friend and teammate, senior Dalton Schoen, said this year they should surprise a lot of people by how good their team will be. He said he is really looking forward to a great season and playing with Zack.

HiS expectationS are a little HigHer. However, i juSt play Hard becauSe i know He wantS wHat iS beSt for Me. -Senior Zack Zegunis

“I think Zack will do really well as quarterback,” Schoen said. “He and his dad have a great connection and know what they are doing on the field. They get along really well. They know when to make things fun, but then they know when to be serious.”

As Zack’s senior year progresses, he has high expectations for the current fall season as he takes the role of starting quarterback. He believes they should do well due to the good returning players on the team.

“I know [Zack] has been looking forward to this for a long time and he has done a terrific job of preparing himself and getting him ready for the year,” Zegunis said. “I really hope things fall in place for him. It’s not going to be an easy ride, but I think Zack will be able to weather the ups and downs, and I cannot wait to watch him play this year.”

BIGGER IS BETTER

by Morgan Lewis

With the noticeable increase in numbers of the girls tennis team, coach and players describe how the team’s aspects have changed.

L

ast year, the BVNW girls’ tennis team placed third in state in doubles, but this year bigger numbers bring more opportunity for improvement.

Instead of 10 people on each team, they can now place around 15 on each team. The girls’ tennis team is starting off the season with a little less than double what they had last year, a total of 32 girls.

“We’re hoping that we build a bigger foundation of interest in tennis and a bigger base of competitive girls,” head coach Ted Fabiano said.

Last year, the girls tennis team only had 19 girls compared to the size of the team this year. Fabiano said 32 girls tried out and made the teams, extending the junior varsity team to a bigger size. Fabiano said the team’s growth was all due to the girls’ hard work.

“I just feel like the girls that played last year reached out to the middle schools and I think they did a good job of representing the team and getting them to be interested in the possibility of playing a sport,” Fabiano said. “I think it was pretty good word of mouth from the girls who played last year to siblings or friends of siblings that were in middle school.”

Although the teams didn’t change much in how the girls were split up, the competition among team members is more competitive if they want to have playing time. With 32 girls on the team, Fabiano said the competitiveness creeps into the girls trying to get playing time.

“I think they become more aware of where they stand on the team,” Fabiano said. “I think if you have a smaller number it’s less about where you stand on the team because everyone gets a shot.”

Lindsay Haight is one of the top performers on the tennis team. She is also the senior captain for the varsity team. She agrees with Fabiano that bigger teams are good and bad for the players.

“The pro is that more girls play in matches so you don’t have to play every single match,” Haight said. “The cons are there are more names to learn and it’s a lot of girls on six courts.”

Along with balancing practice times, Fabiano said everything is taking more time and work than last year. The coaches are also putting in more work to aid Fabiano with the new number of girls. There are, however,

problems that could arise from the number of girls and difference of skill. Fabiano said that the girls depend on each other to work on the drill.

“Passing information out to the girls takes longer,” Fabiano said. “There’s more communication back and forth from parents now. It takes a lot more time I think on behalf of the coaches than it did in the past.”

Bigger teams, according to Fabiano, have characteristics that prove to be helpful and hurtful to the players.

“There’s kind of two sides to it,” Fabiano said. “The one side is it can be difficult if not all the players are on the same page because if you’re trying to maintain quality across your team and you have one or two girls that just aren’t working hard it kind of affects the whole team. The likelihood that that might happen is greater than if you have 15 or 16 on a team.”

Senior co-captain Nikki Ost said she believes the bigger team would help the players. Ost said the bigger teams bring more energy.

“Everyone’s here for each other,” Ost said.

“I feel like if it were a smaller team not as many girls would have this support system so I think as a team and the way that we work it’s nice having a lot more girls.”

EVERYONE’S HERE FOR EACH OTHER. -Senior Nikki Ost

Fabiano predicted that his top performers will be the two girls who placed third in state last year, Lindsay Haight and Kylee White.

Fabiano said they stand out as the best players based on the results from last year. The pair caputured the EKL doubles championship Saturday.

“I think [the top performers] have got a lot of experience in high school and that will translate well,” Fabiano said. “I expect that we’re going to play our best tennis in the end.”

Above: Juniors Payton Pierce, Kayla Conner, and Jessica Nguyen listen to head tennis coach Ted Fabiano in preparation for their upcoming match against Shawnee Mission East. (photo by Jenny Lu). Right: Sophomore Xiqing Wang does a drill during practice (photo by Jenny Lu).

Unwrapping

Gifted

Education

08

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Students such as senior Carli Plymale, above, are not enrolled in the Gifted Education class, but are still able to participate in the program (photo by Ankit Kadakia).

W

alking through the 700 hallway, there is a room just for a specific group of students. These students are classified as gifted.

They work with their Gifted teachers to accomplish their personal goals and live up to their full potentials, according to the Gifted Education instructors.

Kristin Asquith, the coordinator of Gifted Education in the Blue Valley School District, defined a gifted student as one who performs or demonstrates at a significantly higher level of intellectual ability in one or more academic fields when compared to his or her peers.

Peggy Harrington, the Gifted Education teacher at BVNW, who has been working in the program for three years at BVNW, said Gifted Education in the state of Kansas is a mandated program that belongs to the Special Education program.

However, Asquith said that Gifted Education serves students with abilities rather than students with disabilities by meeting children’s individual needs.

“We are looking for students who are learning more quickly, who are asking a lot of questions, exhibiting behaviors that are analytical, have a higher level of Bloom’s Taxonomy, and have a high, intense interest in something,” Harrington said.

According to Harrington, the first step

to identify a gifted student is to complete comprehensive research about the individual from different perspectives of teachers and parents. The second step is to work with the individual and observe if certain methods could assist him or her to achieve more academically, which leads to the final step, testing. The test examines

“I thInk there are some really gIfted students who aren’t a part of the program who are the brIghtest In our grade.”

-senior moira henderson

intellectual ability.

As a part of Special Education, Asquith said the program is tailored to their IEPs, which are Individual Education Plans.

“We want all students to be wellrounded, but students who are identified as gifted often have some different needs that are unique to that group of kids,”Asquith said.

Harrington said some gifted students

display “at risk behaviors” such as underachievement because their fast-paced learning styles are not addressed in the classrooms.

Harrington said the goal of Gifted Education is to help gifted kids who are at risk to advance their levels of learning and maintain interest and motivation. She also said once a student is identified as gifted, the individual will always be considered gifted and has access to all the resources offered in the special program.

Senior Moira Henderson said she was identified as a gifted student early in elementary school, but a new teacher required her to retake the test when she was in fifth grade. Henderson said she did not retake the test, and therefore she was not able to continue in Gifted Education.

“I don’t really see the necessity of it,” Henderson said about the Gifted Education program at the high school level. “I think there are some really gifted students who aren’t a part of the program who are the brightest in our grade.”

In high school Gifted classes, students choose from eight options to accomplish their personal goals. Harrington said the Gifted teachers are expected to guide them on standardized tests and future plans.

Students have their own IEPs, and they are highly monitored in the classroom.

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Gifted Education instructor Peggy Harrington teaches Gifted Education students Maddie Pickett, Sarah Hansen and Grady Wright, all juniors, proper notetaking and study skills. Harrington said the goal of Gifted Education is to help gifted kids who are at risk to advance their levels of learning and maintain interest and motivation (photo by Ankit Kadakia).

Senior Lauren Gensch, a student identified as gifted, said that college research is emphasized during the freshman year. After that, it is up to the students.

“It depends on what you want to get out of it,” Gensch said.

According to Asquith, the “pull out model” is used in elementary schools.

Students are pulled out from their general education classes and go to the Gifted Education teachers. The students spend half of the time on group activities and the other half on what is mandated in their IEPs. They mainly focus on creativity and exploration.

In middle school, Gifted students are required to go to Guided Discovery class, where they do research projects and develop critical thinking skills.

“When you’re stuck in a class that you are very bored in, you don’t learn anything, and I think having the opportunity for younger kids to explore these different ideas and be able to do stuff on their own, that’s really important,” Carli Plymale, a senior identified as gifted, said.

Because there is a wide range of honors and AP class choices provided in high

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school, Gensch said Gifted Education may no longer be necessary. However, some Gifted students need a safe zone because of their exceptionalities. It is crucial for gifted students to have a safe place to talk to students of the same level as themselves.

Asquith said, “The capability [of some gifted students] is so strong that even AP classes are not enough. Gifted Education teachers do a lot to help students find other avenues to continue to learn in ways

“It’s just who you are, [being in Gifted] doesn’t make you better than other people.”

-Gifted Teacher Peggy Harrington that they may not be learning in general education.”

Harrington also mentioned that some students are unwilling to be identified as gifted because they are afraid of being unfairly labeled. She referred to these students as the “underground gifted.”

“When I was younger, in middle school, I didn’t tell anyone that I was in Gifted [Education], because I was getting made fun of,” Gensch said.

Harrington said by talking about the setbacks out loud with her students, she is able to help them deal with their emotions and obstacles more effectively.

“Everybody likes to be with the like kind, and you want to be with people who appreciate you,” Harrington said. “Some [students] are athletic, some of them are musical... It’s just who you are, it doesn’t make you better than other people.”

According to Harrington, there are gifted students dealing with the stress and “perfectionism” because of gifted identities.

“I feel like [a gifted identity] puts the expectation on you that you get straight A’s all the time, you never get a B on a quiz or test, or anything like that,” Gensch said. “That’s not true at all. Gifted [Education] is about how you think and how you handle situations. It does not necessarily mean that you know all the information forward and backward.”

However, Gensch said she appreciates the opportunity to be around people in the Gifted Education program who are

struggling with the same pressure of trying to be perfect. She also said Gifted Education is beneficial in that students can receive help with scholarships, colleges and standardized tests.

Plymale said Gifted Education provides Gifted students a lot of college preparation resources, materials about scholarships and books for standardized tests.

“I think when you’re younger, because all the classes are exactly the same for everyone, there are kids that are above and beyond that. [Gifted Education] is

really nice because you get to explore things you wouldn’t get to explore within the classroom...but when you get to high school, when you just have an extra class to do college preparation, I don’t think it’s that necessary,” Plymale said.

Henderson said that the Gifted Education program might be a little unfair because children have to be tested early.

Once the time of the identification passes, the chance of getting into the program is almost impossible. She said she thinks that students are smarter if they work

50%

70% of students said they know what the Gifed Education Program is.

345 students polled

71%

of students said they have not been given the opportunity to join the Gifted Program.

of students believe the Gifted Program does not

336 students polled

harder, so the fact that the test relies on students being inherently gifted or talented is somewhat unjust. “‘Talented’ is an interesting word, because it doesn’t necessarily mean ‘gifted’,” Asquith said. “There are going to be a lot of talented children who can benefit from all of the resources that are available throughout the school in general education, but it’s the ones who demonstrate the need and exceptionality that we have to pinpoint for special education.”

64%

of students believe the Gifted ths students in it.

69%

of students said they would not want to be in the Gifted Program.

333 students polled

303 students polled

384 students polled

The Express polled students for this survey during lunch Sept. 15.

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For the Record

By Emma Bruce

Junior Madeline Connor collects vinyl records in her spare time due to her exposure to unique genres of music during her childhood.

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This page: Junior Madeline Connor looks through her record collection.

Opposite, top: An MGMT album spins on the record player in Connor’s room.

Bottom: Connor’s records are displayed on shelves in her room (photos by Caroline Trupp).

She places the large vinyl record on the record player, dropping the needle onto its grooves after it begins its revolutions around the player and a symphony of sound is released from the vinyl record.

Junior Madeline Connor collects records in her spare time.

“I don’t know that there was ever really a start of collecting,” Connor said. “I just accrued several records.”

Katie Connor, Connor’s mother, said her daughters have always been interested in music. She said music was never censored when her kids were growing up and they had a lot of it playing.

Connor said she found some of her parents’ records from when they listened to vinyl “back in the day,” and she liked the sound. Katie said most of the records belonged to Madeline’s dad. She said she thinks the reason her husband kept them was because he used to be into collecting them, and keeping the records was a connection to his past.

Connor said when she found the records, she thought it was a good way to listen to music, and she liked the anticipation of waiting for the music to start as she loaded her record player for the first time.

“It takes a lot longer to set up the

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record and put the needle on,” Connor said. “There’s grooves in the vinyl, the plastic of the record, and it vibrates.

There’s a needle on [the record player] and it vibrates to make the sound. The little lines around the record are tracks of the record,” she said.

Connor said one of her favorite record stores is Mills Records. Judy Mills, owner of Mills Records, said vinyl is the best way to listen to music because it has a better

IF YOU’RE SITTING DOWN LISTENING TO MUSIC, YOU WANT TO SEE THE ART...

[RECORDS HAVE] A MUCH WARMER FEEL.

-Mills Records owner Judy Mills

sound than CDs or digital music.

“If you’re sitting down listening to music, you want to see the art; it’s a much more tactile environment, it’s a much warmer feel,” Mills said.

Mills also said that another benefit of vinyl over CDs or MP3s is the artwork and the increased value of what one is getting when they purchase a vinyl record instead.

Connor said she has not counted how many vinyl records she owns, but she

estimates it to be around 100. The first one she said she owned was an EP, or extended play, for “Miss You” by the Rolling Stones, which includes a B-side for “Far Away Eyes.”

Connor said her newest record is an original press of “In a Gadda Da Vida” by Iron Butterfly. She said it was in very good condition and not that expensive.

“What you can do if you’re at a record store is tilt [the record] in the light and see if there’s any scratches,” Connor said. “When a record is in bad condition, you will see scratches, which give you the fuzzy sound on the record. I guess a little bit of that is some of the appeal, because it sounds older and like it has history.”

She said she collects records because there is a lot of music you can get on vinyl that are not necessarily released digitally.

Connor said a lot of new bands today release specific songs that they like the sound of on vinyl better. She said a song that was hard to find on CD or MP3 is “The End” by The Doors, however, one can find it easier on vinyl. “[The] radio edits cut [The End] down to a nice round three minutes or so,” Connor said. “It’s not nearly as good. It doesn’t have all the solos.”

Connor said she thinks people listen to

the express | Issue 1 | 2014

Record Hits

the entire album versus one song off the album when they listen to a vinyl record instead of a CD or MP3. She said it’s good for people to listen to the entire album, because a lot of artists like to write as a complete piece rather than just a single.

Connor said she gets new records whenever she has the opportunity to go shopping. She said she also goes to record stores for a specific album. She said it’s not a weekly event, it is just when she comes upon a record store or occasionally on the weekends.

“There are a couple albums that you like and you want to look for [at a record store] and you’ve always wanted to hear on vinyl, and sometimes it’s nice just to look [when shopping for records],” Connor said.

Her mom said she thinks Madeline’s collection has opened her up to new genres of music.

“I think it’s good that the kids realize there’s other music than just pop and what’s on the radio all the time,” Katie said. “I think it’s been good for [Connor] to be exposed to more than just pop. It also has brought music into [Connor’s life]; [she plays] instruments and [she’s] learned about music itself and music theory, and I think that’s good.”

the express | Issue 1 | 2014

“This is The Doors, ‘Weird Scenes Inside The Gold

“This is The Clash’s,

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A Ruff Life

By Natasha Vyhovsky

The prevalence of substandard dog breeding in Kansas has brought the state to the second highest number of puppy mills in the nation. There are said to be a

M

idge Grinstead, Kansas State Director of the Humane Society of the U.S., walks through a puppy mill, observing sickly dogs that lay crouched in tiny cages stacked on top of each other. She observes the accumulation of urine and feces on their fur, so bad that some of the dogs can no longer walk correctly.

Kansas was recently recognized as the state with the second highest number of puppy breeders with the worst conditions provided for their dogs. According to a report from the U.S. Humane Society, Kansas has 11 percent of the breeders listed as running inadequate breeding facilities.

Senior Rebecca Jenkins volunteers as a dog socializer at Wayside Waifs, a local nokill shelter, where she said she continues to learn about puppy mills in an effort to raise awareness of their effects.

“I’ve definitely been doing my time working with shelter animals and trying to get more knowledgeable about the mistreatment of animals in today’s society and how to combat that,” Jenkins said.

There are currently more than 1,700 puppy breeders in the state of Kansas alone, although there are thought to be many more “backyard” breeders who are not registered, according to Captain Brian Hill of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Grinstead, while the number of unlicensed puppy breeders is impossible to estimate, it is likely an astonishing amount.

Grinstead helps law enforcement and shelters handle the mistreatment of animals. She works mainly on state legislation, pushing for laws and guidelines to improve breeding standards in Kansas. She has participated in the seizure of more than 100,000 dogs from illegal breeders in her career and has experienced puppy mills firsthand.

According to Grinstead, there is a difference between a “normal” breeder and the negatively connotated “puppy mill.” While legal breeders follow statutes and regulations surrounding the health

and well-being of their animals, “puppy mill” is the name often associated with breeders who, while they may be licensed, do not provide adequate levels of care for their dogs.

“A puppy mill is a breeder [whose] bottom line is money,” Grinstead said.

“They are breeding as many puppies as possible to sell, either outright or to pet stores; they’re usually very large and they have hundreds of dogs and they don’t take care of the parents. The idea is to make as much money as you can off the babies.”

The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) is a Kansas state entity that governs the Kansas Pet Animal Act, which is the act that everybody has to be licensed under if they are involved in breeding or the sale of bred animals.

For-profit dog breeding is legal. Breeders can legally breed and sell dogs if they apply through the KDA, maintain a license, follow the Kansas laws around animal care and pass biannual inspections. Without being licensed, breeders can legally breed two litters in a calendar year if they follow all the guidelines under the Kansas Pet Animal Act. Dog breeding becomes illegal when the breeders fail to meet the civil or legal guidelines set by the state of Kansas and the KDA. Grinstead said the main problem contributing to the high number of inadequate breeding facilities has to do with the regulations set under the Kansas Pet Animal Act. For example, Grinstead said that breeders are required to give their dogs water every 12 hours if it is over 110 degrees outside.

“To me, that’s unacceptable,” Grinstead said. “...I’ve been trying to change that so the dogs have access to clean, disposable water... And it’s like pulling teeth. You’d think I was asking for the moon.”

Grinstead said she believes new processes of regulating the breeding facilities under the KDA have made it much easier for unfit breeders to continue breeding. She said she believes the KDA is overlooking and giving too many chances to breeding facilities that should be shut down.

“You can see if an animal is suffering right away,” Grinstead said. “You can see if it’s starving to death [and] if it’s frozen to the ground, and if you choose to ignore that, then how are you going to be educated to get better?

They’re dying and they’re dead. I just don’t understand the [KDA] education process. “ Likewise, Hill said he believes one of the reasons Kansas has such a large number of puppy mills is due to the funding deficit of the KDA. Because of this, he said, there are not nearly enough inspectors for the number of breeding facilities in existence.

“When you look at the entire state of Kansas, [more than 1,700] groups or individuals that breed these dogs, and you have three people that basically travel around and inspect these facilities,” Hill said. “That’s obviously a difficult task.”

In addition, Hill said that the lack of specific laws and guidelines surrounding animal breeding is a likely reason Kansas is at the top of the list of worst puppy mill states.

Breeders can be charged with either civil penalties under the KDA, criminal penalties under law enforcement, or both. Under Kansas state statute, animal cruelty charges on an “unfit breeder” would constitute a misdemeanor, resulting in a jail time anywhere from five days to one year and a fine of no more than $2,500. Hill said that the civil penalty fines imposed by the KDA do not do enough to prevent breeders from mistreating or neglecting their dogs.

“You fine [a breeder] $1,000 and the guy is making $200,000 a year, you just lowered his profit margin to $199,000 a year, so they’re willing to take those risks and those hits,” Hill said. “They’re civil penalties, so it’s not like it’s going to go on his record or prevent him from getting a job.”

Grinstead said that not all breeders deserve the bad reputation given to puppy mills. She said one of the major problems associated with the uprise of puppy mills in Kansas is the impact it has on lawful breeders.

“It’s created negative feedback through multiple states,” Grinstead said.

“All of the breeders that are doing a good job now have a bad name because of the puppy mills that are causing the problem.”

Hill said he has personally seen dog breeders who make sure to take care of their dogs and are genuinely interested in the welfare of their animals. He said there was one breeder in particular he remembers distinctly for the good condition of the facility.

Senior Rebecca Jenkins walks and interacts with dogs at Wayside Waifs. Wayside Waifs is a local, no-kill shelter (photo by Nicole Tenold).

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the express | Issue 1 | september

the express | Issue 1 | september

10,000

estimated puppy mills exist in the U.S., both licensed and unlicensed.

1,700

estimated puppy breeders practice in the state of Kansas alone.

2.04

million estimated puppies are sold annually who originated from puppy mills that were USDA-licensed and non-USDA licensed.

25% are purebred.

of dogs in animal shelters

3

million estimated dogs and cats are euthanized by shelters every year in the U.S. *Information provided by Midge Grinstead, Kansas State Director of the Humane Society of the U.S.

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“[The breeder’s] facilities were absolutely immaculate,” Hill said. “He’s obviously breeding for profit, but that’s not illegal...

He was definitely brokering to pet stores and retail outlets to sell these dogs, but...he wasn’t breaking any laws.”

Hill said that, although Kansas has a high number of puppy mills, he has never been called by the KDA to one in Johnson County. He said that there are likely some within the multiple cities in Johnson County, but many are elsewhere.

“It’s more likely that puppy mills of a substantial size would probably be within a rural area and not within city limits,” Hill said.

In addition to the social impact the presence of puppy mills places on all dog breeders, Grinstead said that there is also an economic impact associated with puppy mills. She said that it costs the state thousands of dollars to euthanize dogs inherited from large puppy mill seizures, and even more to care for the dogs that are able to be kept in shelters. “[Puppy mills cause] a huge impact to law enforcement, shelters and the [KDA] that have to pick up the cost and the overpopulation issues,” Grinstead said.

Grinstead said the costs for staffing, medical care, transportation, supplies and other expenses associated with the seizure of bred dogs poses a significant problem to the community, as recorded costs for a single seizure have been as

67% of the 379 BVNW students polled said they own a dog.

affiliated with puppy mills supports the business of those puppy mills and, thus, indirectly supports the irresponsible breeding they conduct. She said if people cease shopping for anything from pet stores that buy from puppy mills, a lot would be done to combat them.

“If [the puppy mills] have no funding, they’re going to shut down obviously, so then that puppy mill wouldn’t have that business,” Jenkins said.

A prospective pet owner will likely be able to tell if a dog comes from an irresponsible breeder, Hill said, merely by the ability to obtain knowledge on the breeder, as well as from where they are buying the dog. He said that if a pet store does not offer breeder information to customers when asked, it is likely they are buying from breeders who do not maintain adequate facilities.

“Responsible breeders want to know who’s buying their dog... there is no way a responsible breeder is going to sell their dog to a pet store, having no idea [about the adopters],” Hill said. “I’ve never come across any responsible breeders who are going to sell their puppies to a pet store, just because they’re not going to know where that puppy is going to go.”

One local pet store gets their dogs from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved breeders in various states across the country, an employee of the store said. Because of the “close relationship” the store maintains with the breeders, the store

At BVNW...

55% of the 321 polled students who own dogs did not get their dogs from animal shelters.

48% of the 350 students polled at BVNW do not know what a puppy mill is.

high as $510,000.

Jenkins said Wayside Waifs tries to persuade the public not to support puppy mills, including the purchase of pet food or supplies from places that are affiliated with illegal puppy breeders. She said they also try to stress that adopting a dog is the best choice for prospective dog owners.

“I think [students] just really need to realize that buying an animal from a breeder or some big company isn’t the way to go,” Jenkins said. “There are other animals out there besides the purebreds and the pretty ones that are capable of loving you just the same… If you help those shelters decrease their population, they’re going to euthanize less.”

Hill said he also believes support of puppy mills would decrease through public education. Although he acknowledges that some pet owners are not concerned with the origins of their dogs, he said that if more people knew about puppy mills, he believes they would take care to avoid buying pets or pet products from stores that buy from puppy mills.

“If people stop shopping at your store because you’re buying from for-profit breeders, you’re going to be faced with a decision: ‘I either stop selling these dogs or I’m going to go out of business,’” Hill said.

Jenkins said that simply buying food from a pet store that is

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said they cannot release specific contact information for their breeders.

Grinstead said that being licensed under the USDA does not necessarily mean that breeders are taking care of their dogs, however. She said that, considering there are few USDA inspectors employed to monitor breeders, it is likely that the license does not mean the breeders have always followed the guidelines expected of them.

To ensure that a breeder is responsible, Hill said anyone can look up a breeder on the USDA website to check the licenses and the validities of them.

Jenkins said she tries to occasionally spread awareness of puppy mills and their effects through social media to get the message across to her followers. She said she believes most people unknowingly support puppy mills with inhumane conditions; she does not think it is a matter of ignorance, but rather a matter of a lack of public education.

“Even though humans think we’re all that with these crazy cerebral cortexes and opposable thumbs, other creatures are capable of feeling pain, loneliness and sadness, and I just hate the thought of an animal’s last memory being of a cold, dirty cell all alone,” Jenkins said. “All dogs do are love you; who are we to be throwing their lives away?”

the express | Issue 1 | september

Senior Rebecca Jenkins regularly volunteers to socialize with the animals at Wayside Waifs. She has been volunteering since the summer (photo by Nicole Tenold).

the express | Issue 1 | september

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Streets to seas apart story by Ayesha Vishnani

With many new faces joining BVNW this year, there has been an addition of new personalities and cultures from around the world. Whether from Quivira Road or Budapest, Hungary, each new Husky has his/her own outlook on the BVNW experience.

Blue Valley Southwest

F

rom a Timberwolf to a Husky, Junior Christina Shilling’s move from Blue Valley Southwest to BVNW has been characterized by a transformation in culture, environment and social life.

Shilling said although her first day was embarrassing because she accidentally walked into the mens restroom, her experience at BVNW has changed for the better.

“I wasn’t paying attention and it was the guys side,” Shilling said. “I walk in and there were all these toilets hanging against the wall and there was a guy standing there. I’m just like ‘Oh my gosh, wrong bathroom,’ so that was really embarrassing.”

She said she made the decision so she could attend her Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering classes at CAPS as well as attend school conveniently. Though she had attended BVSW for the past two years, she knew many students who attended BVNW from her years at Harmony Middle School.

“It wasn’t like I was scared or anything because I knew a lot of people,” Shilling said.

“I was excited to see where everyone was in

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their lives.”

One thing she likes about BVNW is that it is more developed because it is an older school in comparison to BVSW, Shilling said. She also said the diversity of cultural backgrounds adds to the appeal of the school.

Though she said BVSW is more technologically advanced because it was constructed more recently than BVNW, she prefers facilities such as the Dawg House and the DAC that are offered here.

“Southwest does not have it’s own fullsized football field,” Shilling said. “I know [the DAC is] technically shared with other schools, but it’s super nice to have our own sports complex.”

Shilling has also joined the cross-country team at BVNW and practiced with the team during the summer.

“I love cross country; I love everyone in cross country,” Shilling said. “We’re like a family, it’s really nice.”

Shilling said she has not been disappointed with her decision to move to BVNW. Though there are many differences between the two schools, Shilling said she is starting to appreciate the Husky experience.

“I feel like I belong here because it’s in my district and I feel like this is the school I was meant to go to,” Shilling said. “Everyone’s been so nice to me and I like my classes. It’s just a really nice environment.”

Canyon Lake, Texas

T

he scorching heat is accompanied by the coolness of the surrounding lake; the temperatures there stay consistent and rarely fluctuate.

When Senior McKenna Nease left the familiar environment of Canyon Lake, Texas, she not only experienced a climate change, but also the struggle of adapting to a new atmosphere in Overland Park.

“I walked into school; I was completely late to my first class,” Nease said. “I had to go to the office four times to find my classes.”

According to Nease, she chose BVNW because her cousins Ryan and Kerry Nease graduated from the school and had a positive experience.

“I heard it has the best schooling here and I heard the school spirit here is really good,” Nease said.

She said her previous school was distinct from BVNW due to its smaller size and social environment. Nease said the school was similar to a family because the students grew up with one another.

Nease also said she was looking forward to the new experience and getting involved in various activities offered at BVNW. “It’s just different going to a bigger school,” Nease said. “There’s so many more things that you can get involved with.”

However, Nease said she had some fears about attending a new school in a new city. “[I was afraid] that everyone would have

their set cliques,” Nease said. “No one would want a newbie to join their group senior year.”

Another difference that Nease said she observed was the lunch environment.

“Lunches [at BVNW] are a lot different; everyone has a designated space,” Nease said.

“At my old school it was kind of free for all, everyone would sit with everyone.”

Additionally, Nease said she was surprised by how the grade levels were separated from each other.

“I feel like here grades are more...split up,” Nease said. “If you’re a freshman, you’re a freshman. You’re not known as who you are.

At my old school, seniors come up to freshman all the time.”

However, she experienced a change in spirit from her old school, which was not very high, Nease said.

I DON’T FEEL LIKE I’M TOTALLY ALONE ANYMORE...I THINK I PICKED THE RIGHT SCHOOL. -Senior McKenna Nease “Everyone’s about their school,” Nease said. “Everyone’s very proud of where they’re from; you have a school store and everyone wears Husky stuff.”

Though initially it was difficult, Nease said she overcame her uncertainties and was able to make friends that had similar interests and personalities. Although she is still adjusting to life as a Husky, Nease said she thinks it worked out in the end.

“I don’t feel like I’m totally alone anymore,” Nease said. “It’s a lot easier. I think I picked the right school.”

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ww

Budapest, Hungary

T

he reverberating sound of a locker slamming is masked by the chattering of students as they travel through a maze of people with their textbooks. Each movement is synchronized with another; the ringing bells with the rushing students, the inside jokes with the scattered laughter and the assessing eyes examining the new students.

IT JUST SURPRISED ME, THE FACT THAT [BVNW IS] LIKE IN A MOVIE. -Senior Dániel Sallói

“When I came into the first day it was like when Zac Efron entered the school [in the movie ‘17 Again’],” Hungarian exchange student Dániel Sallói said. “It’s the same.

Nothing really surprised me. It just surprised me, the fact that it’s like in a movie.”

According to Sallói , the education system in Hungary has a different structure. There are more classes offered throughout a school year.

Additionally, the school he attended, Xantus Janos High School, is a bilingual secondary school. Due to its reputable name, the school is difficult and competitive, Sallói said.

However, Sallói said he wanted to be part of the foreign exchange program to increase his

22

proficiency in English and experience a new environment.

Additionally, Sallói said life in Budapest, Hungary is not as lavish as it is in the United States.

“We live a poor life in Hungary; it’s not a rich country,” Sallói said. “Of course, it’s smaller so it’s like a state in the United States.”

As a result of his decision, his family and friends had mixed emotions at the prospect of him leaving for the school year.

“My mom was just crying,” Sallói said.

“My dad was like, ‘Come on, you can go now.’”

After saying goodbye to his family and friends, Sallói boarded a flight and, more than 15 hours later, landed in the Kansas City International Airport.

“When I stepped out from the airport I was like, ‘What is this big place?’” Sallói said.

According to Sallói, the first day at BVNW was also accompanied by surprises. Not only did he observe a shift in the physical environment but was exposed to a lifestyle that was fast-paced, Sallói said. Sallói also said he was asked embarrassing questions on the first day.

“Everyone asked me a lot of questions like ‘Is there spiders in Hungary?’” Sallói said.

“It was embarrassing, all of these questions, but I liked it because the people were with me, so it was good. I could make friends.”

According to Sallói, the students at BVNW are likable because they are relaxed and friendly. He also said he could see a clear distinction in spirit as compared to his old school.

“When it’s game day, the cheerleaders are wearing their stuff and everybody else is wearing their game day shirt,” Sallói said.

“It’s very positive and I like it.”

P E R S P E C T I V E S 1.

3.

2.

1. Senior Miles Alexander runs the ball in for a husky touchdown. The Huskies lost to Bishop Miege 44-36 (photo by Maddison Barley).

2. Senior Khari Banks impersonates Rafiki the monkey during spirit week. The theme for the seniors was the “Lion King� (photo by Caroline Trupp).

3. Junior Bennett Wixon cuts his bookmark design in Jewelery I class (photo by Aggie Cain).

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4.

4. Sophomore John Tran displays his Rubik’s Cube knowledge to the freshman during the activity fair (photo

by Emily Staples).

5. Junior Andrew Binder dribbles the ball down toward the goal against Blue Valley West in the championship game of the Fat Cat tournament (photo by Hope Lancaster).

6. Junior Brenna Harsch cheers on her fellow classmates as they won the class competition during the Homecoming assembly (photo by Aggie Cain).

7. Seniors Zach Henry and Caleb Banegas rehearse with chorale. Chorale will be performing their annual concert in October (photo by Caroline Trupp).

8. Juniors Nick Mehlin and Cooper Trusdale pose as Ken and Barbie for the Homecoming spirit week skits. The theme for the juniors was “Toy Story” (photo by Caroline Trupp).

5.

PERSPECTIVES

7.

6.

8.

OPINION

Claudia’s culinary critique Due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Smart Snack in School regulations, several changes were made to the a la carte foods sold at BVNW. The Express has reviewed restaurants in the past, and we felt we should review some of the new items in the lunchroom. For more information about the new guidelines, visit BVNWnews.com.

(photos by Nicole Tenold).

Celebrating Kansas

30 minute world traveler

With a slimy texture and overwhelming flavor, it is safe to say that the buffalo chicken crispers are not the best way to pay homage to our state animal. Upon first glance, it’s hard to tell what exactly this dish is supposed to be, but one whiff of it gives off a cheesy and sulfuric smell. One bite into a crisper leaves a flooding trail of buffalo sauce on your tongue, and the texture of this dish is closer to rubber than to anything crispy. However, if you’re the type of person that enjoys an overload of sauce and a smooth texture, perhaps you will enjoy this entrée. As for me, I’m going to have to pass and focus on the buffalo in my history textbook.

Have you ever wanted to be at three places at one time? Well, now you can with the Thai chicken flatbread pizza. The Thai part of the name draws inspiration from Thailand, while the pizza part draws inspiration from Italy; eat it in the lunchroom and you can experience North America, Asia and Europe all at once!

The sweet sauce and smooth cheese of this dish are balanced with the textured flatbread base, and the nut, carrot and chicken toppings create a lasting impression in your mouth. This flatbread pizza is also very visually appealing. It has a nice combination of colors, making it Instagram worthy; I would recommend the Valencia or Amaro filter to make the colors pop.

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Fries that aren’t fried

OK, so they weren’t fried last year either, but the fries served this year certainly have distinct differences in size and texture. The fries in the past were much smaller and thinner than the ones served this year, and these new fries are soggier and are not as crisp as those in the past.

I’m a fan of soft fries, so I naturally enjoyed the new fries more than I did the old ones. However, the fries are still quite bland and taste like enclosed packets of crushed potatoes. This lack of flavor can be fixed with dipping sauces, but if you’re not a fan of the standard ketchup, mustard or barbecue selections, you’re out of luck.

by Claudia Chen

Spice (bucket) challenge

The ALS ice bucket challenge was the forefront of philanthropy last month, but if you would prefer not to get drenched with a bucket of cold water during the school day, you can try a spice challenge instead by eating peppercorn ranch flavored Salvéo Tater Pops.

These crisps smell like one of those cheap spice racks available on sale at the grocery store and are fully seasoned with what tastes like dozens and dozens of random spices thrown on top of each other. They hold an interesting texture when chewed, like a thick stack of rice paper, and they taste vaguely like the fettuccine alfredo noodles from Olive Garden. The bottom line with these crisps is that they have a strong taste and unique texture, but are not very pleasing to the nose — or the tongue.

Flavorsplash or trash?

Nothing says healthy school lunches like the artificial sweeteners found in the zero-calorie sodas in the cafeteria.

If you’re trying to satisfy a carbonated craving, Aquafina’s Sparkling Flavorsplash delivers.

This beverage has a weak carbonation and mellow flavor, especially when compared to regular sodas. The best way for me to describe this drink is that it tastes like something special without tasting like anything at all; its lack of flavor makes it a pleasant pairing with almost anything because this beverage is almost as neutral as drinking water.

Plus, Aquafina gets extra points for coming up with clever names like “Berry Loco” and “Color Me Kiwi.”

Taco hummus

I don’t usually associate hummus with Mexican food, but the hummus in the hummus and pita plate tastes like the inner workings of a taco were ground up and smashed into a thick sauce. The hummus has a salty taste and thick texture that is evened out with the relatively bland pita and carrots that come with it.

The overall sensory overload is balanced out with the flat taste and smooth texture of the string cheese. The carrots, pita and cheese feel like simple snacks when eaten alone, but when combined, make an interesting combination.

Instead of vacationing to Playa this spring break, save thousands of dollars and immerse yourself in the taste of Mexican food at the unlikely place of the BVNW lunchroom!

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ENTERTAINMENT

CROSSWORD

By Avery Mojica

Autumn Beginnings

FIND ANSWERS TO THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE AND SUDOKU ONLINE, AT BVNWNEWS.COM

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the expReSS | ISSUe 1 | 2014

CROSSWORD CLUeS ACROSS

1. “In your dreams!” (2 words) 5. Inning enders 9. Brazilian dance music 14. First name of a woman who wouldn’t give up her seat 15. Not on land 16. Squirrel snack 17. Shopping center 18. Rock band that sings “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” 20. Seaweed surrounding sushi 22. Slowly discover 23. Protected 25. Most like 23-across 30. Frighten 32. Hawaiian necklace 34. Band that sings “Barbie Girl” 35. Copy and _____ 37. Sugar or coal unit 38. Masculine

39. Question 40. Hold responsible 41. One of the Great Lakes 42. Kanga’s son in Winnie the Pooh 43. Sample a food 44. Heredity element 45. Sick 46. Basketry twig 47. Highly skilled people 49. Sign up 50. Bush forming a fence 53. Thick piece of concrete 56. Dropped 61. Something that foreshadows 63. Bye-bye, in Spanish 64. What length times width sometimes equals 65. It tells the way the wind blows 66. Elude 67. Short, sharp cry 68. Finales

SUDOKU

DOWN

1. Something up one’s sleeve 2. Drench 3. A dot on a map?

4. Snoozes 5. Big dumb dolt 6. Practical application 7. Give a report 8. Discount period 9. Health club feature 10. Notoriously hard test (abbr.)

11. Wild bunch 12. “Don’t tase me, ___!”

13. Uncertain amount 19. Watering spot in the desert 21. Birthday celebration 24. Service charge 26. Becomes enamored (with) 27. Consider identical 28. “______ lovin’ had me a blast...”

29. Gift wrapper’s need

32. Disinfectant brand 33. Cry of surprise 38. It means “huge” 39. “You’ve got mail” Internet giant (abbr.)

40. Foundation 42. Stood up 43. Overly 48. “We hold _____ truths to be self-evident...”

49. Gem 51. June 6, 1944 52. Former vice president Al 54. “____, a plan, a canal...” (2 words) 56. Silly Bandz, once 57. “Much ___ About Nothing” 58. Cap 59. One may be thrown into a 60. Short sleep 62. Nintendo’s Super ___ (abbr.)

31. Dog

By Avery Mojica

each of them contains the numbers 1-9, each appearing only once.

the expReSS | ISSUe 1 | 2014

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OPINION

Just one step

Growing up in Shanghai, I was used to skyscrapers and unreasonable traffic.

Culture shock is basically what I feel, but perhaps in a less frightening way.

Not only did I have to adjust to speaking English regularly, but I also had to learn how to integrate myself into an entirely new culture while still maintaining my Chinese heritage.

I am not alone. There is a group

of international students who may seem invisible at times. Since they are unfamiliar with the new language, they are unable to express their feelings precisely. The gap between local students and us is occasionally unrecognizable, but sometimes too vast. It took me a long time to actually have casual conversation even though I’m supposed to be an outgoing person.

Having a social life is a big deal for high school students, no matter where they live in the world. However, a study done by the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication revealed that more than one in three international students have no American friends at all.

With zero cultural background of America, international students assume they have nothing in common with local students to converse about. While I had trouble creating new friendships, I realized I was gradually drifting apart from my old

By Flammy Huo friends. No longer aware of their life back in China, I began to feel like I was in noman’s land.

The definition of “moving,” besides the one that relates to a change of residence, is “having a strong emotional effect.” For me, this coincidence implies the sense of insecurity in a new region, where I am not the master, but the guest.

We should encourage international students to be more involved, more confident, or maybe take some field trips with local students and learn how Royals games work. International students, please jump out of your comfort zone and immerse yourselves into the new world. Huskies, don’t forget about them. Accepting them can be as simple as inviting them to your lunch table or talking more about their culture. Who knows, maybe you will form a new friendship or learn something that you never would have learned otherwise.

Break out of the bubble

By Natasha Vyhovsky

Taking a look around the BVNW student parking lot, one might believe they have started to drown in a sea of Lexuses, BMWs and shiny new Jeeps. Do not be fooled; this is not a reflection of the students, but merely a statement of their parents’ affluence. Ask any one of those students, and I’m sure most have never changed one of their own tires, their own oil, or filled up gas with their own money.

It’s fine and dandy if parents want to buy their children nice things if they can and have the money. But the fact is, when we are handed things on a silver platter we oftentimes don’t learn to do things on our own. Why should we have to do anything if Mom and Dad want to do everything for us anyways?

It’s a darn good thing to have Mom and Dad around when it’s time to do laundry, for starters. For heaven’s sake, all those buttons and the soap...how much to use;

30

how to know when the clothes are ready to be taken out. Oh man, you mean there is another step? Yeah, I would just let Mom do it, too.

Unfortunately most of my friends vent to me on a regular basis about how Mom shrunk their shirts while doing laundry, to which I always suggest the daunting task of washing their own clothes. After staring at me in bewilderment, they are shocked to learn that I do in fact wash my own clothes on a regular basis. It’s crazy, I know. I’m still not sure how I manage it.

I get that, for the most part, our school is characterized by career-oriented dads and overinvolved stay-at-home moms.

With all the disposable time Johnson County moms have to pamper their children and ensure they never dirty a finger or break a sweat, it is easy for us to rely on that assistance too much. But this shouldn’t mean that we can’t do things for

ourselves once in a while, or, at the very least, know how to do so.

We all crave independence, unless it means actually doing things for ourselves.

As we near college and adulthood, it is due time we learn to change a tire, wash our own clothes, and fly out of the nest just a little bit.

FIND COLUMNS, REVIEWS, BLOGS, AND MORE ONLINE, AT BVNWNEWS.COM

STAFF EDITORIAL

It’s on us One of the Blue Valley School District initiatives is its College and Career Readiness program, but dealing with sexual assault is one aspect of college readiness the District has failed to touch on enough.

The University of Kansas recently made national news for the way it dealt with, or rather, didn’t deal with, sexual assault. It is now one of 76 higher education institutions under investigation by the government regarding the way it handles sexual violence on campus.

It is also a college that a large number of BVNW students choose to attend.

Teenagers are taught how to prevent rape and what to do if it occurs, but are clueless when it comes to interpreting real life experiences and determining what constitutes rape. We are told how to avoid being sexually assaulted instead of telling us not to sexually assault. This can have detrimental effects on not only our development, but also how society moves forward and deals with sexual assault and its consequences. Last week, the White House partnered with the NCAA starting the “It’s on Us” campaign, a nationwide public service campaign geared toward getting young people to do more to prevent collegiate sexual assaults.

If the White House is taking a stand, then this issue is clearly one the District needs to address. Educating teenagers on sexual assault should be more than just giving them a 24-hour hotline. The school district must remove the grey area when it comes to educating students about sexual assault in order to diminish its prevalence.

While we can’t change what happens in college, we can shift the focus here at the high school level and create a societal shift away from rape culture.

Do you think high school has taught you enough about sexual assault to make you feel prepared for college?

Yes 26% No 74% out of 296 students polled during lunch Sept. 17

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