a whole new mission cheer team adjusts to two new coaches
pages 9-11
THE STANDARD blue valley southwest | volume 9 | issue 2
2 | contents / the standard / sept. 2018
contents
17
news 15 | Giving back 17 | Pack pride 23 | The leader of Oz
feature 5 | Leading the pack 12 | The school spirit shift 14 | Phone dilemma 20 | Modern thrift 24 | The mobile trail
sports 9 | A whole new mission
on the cover
volume 9 / issue 2 www.bvswnews.com
The school’s mascot, Tina the Timberwolf, shakes a pom-pom to pump up the crowd during the Green and White scrimmage on Aug. 24. photo illustration by emma olinger
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4 | editor’s note / the standard / sept. 2018
editor’s note
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n a society that’s constantly on the move, we often get caught in the frenzy. Fixated on applying for college, balancing time between family and friends, what we’ll wear tomorrow, when we have time to work — we are stretched and expected to excel in all areas of our lives. In the midst of the frenzy we forget to slow down and breath. In this issue we explore new beginnings — new ways people at Southwest have decided to push themselves and become accustomed to change. From freshmen walking into a high school environment for the first time, to a cheer team rebuilding itself around a new coach, we explore what it means to start over. In the frenzy, we forget that it’s ok to take a deep breath and reinvent the parts of our lives and surrounding that give us trouble. Growing up in the Johnson County area, lots of us are blessed with opportunities that others aren’t as fortunate to receive. However, the downside is we are often told exactly how are our lives will pan out. It is an unwritten expectation that we will go to college and get a degree to work our way up to a suitable career. While this path is ideal for a large majority of people, it should in no way surface itself as the only reasonable future for every individual. In the midst of the frenzy we forget to stop and ask ourselves what we want — a simple question with large implications. We are asked at a young age to decide one thing we will purse for the rest our lives — a question that taunts and hangs over many of our heads. It is absolutely imperative that we slow down and take time to think for ourselves. At the end of the day, after high school and into the adult world, you won’t always have a parent to tell you what your next move is or a counselor to guide you to your next step. We have to understand that our futures are just that: ours. If you want to go to college or take a gap year or apply for an apprenticeship, the decision is yours. Throughout high school I’ve struggled to remind myself that I can’t do everything perfectly. I’ve over-involved myself, over-studied and stressed myself out one too many times. I often forget that one flaw — one bad test score, one late assignment, one disagreement with my mom or dad — doesn’t mean everything is destined to be terrible. I am only human and humanity comes with the promise of failure but also never-ending opportunities to pick yourself up off your feet and try again. So next time you feel helpless — you failed your test, you and your best friend aren’t getting along, you strain yourself weekly at work — remember it’s never too late for new beginnings.
the standard editor-in-chief emma olinger online editor lauren urschel design editor jonah mccormick social media editor elianna oliver staff writers isha patel sadie putnam jenna hope staff designer isaiah tarwater adviser rachel chushuk The Southwest Standard is published seven times a year for students, faculty and surrounding community of Blue Valley Southwest. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration of Blue Valley Unified School District #229. Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged for publication. The Southwest Standard reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content and encourages letters to be no more than 350 words. All letters must be signed and names will be published. The Standard 17600 Quivira Road Overland Park, KS 66221 Website: bvswnews.com Email: bvswnews@gmail.com
| social media editor
feature / standard / sept. 2018 | 5
LEADING THE PACK Q and A with the school’s newest teachers
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: A lot of things, but I decided that the Division I level wasn’t for me at this time for a lot of reasons. Basically when I graduated college, I got my masters, my bachelors, and my teaching credentials so I could teach any level. This summer, we found ourselves without a job, so I reevaluated what I was coaching for. The thing is I want to impact more kids; I felt like I could do that more at the high school level, so I went back to California and got my California credentials reinstated so that I could coach and teach here. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: The area. For my family, for the school, for the tradition that they have in baseball. There were too many reasons not to try and come here. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: Player and student first. It’s all about their health and welfare, making sure they develop habits for lifelong fitness and lifelong health and lifelong — basically — ability. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: Play with my kids. I have a boy who’s 6, and the girl is 5. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I’m a huge Star Wars fan. I am a Star Wars nerd, a little bit. (2) I’ve coached over, probably, 50 major leaguers, and (3) I was cut in high school; it can happen.
RACHEL BINDER Resource Teacher
TYLERPhysical KINCAID Education
Q: What subject do you teach? A: I am a resource teacher, so I help students with IEPs in all of their classes, but I co-teach Algebra I twice a day. Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I loved my job at the Access House — they call it the 18 to 21 program now — and my undergrad is not in education, so I decided to go back and get my masters and teach just because I loved it. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: OK, I hope nobody else reads this besides people at Southwest, but this school is known as being the best place to work so I’m sure it’s the best place to go to school. Everyone here is really supportive, I really like it; it’s the newest school. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: I am here for the kids. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I have a four-year-old son, Jamison, so we like to hunt down new railroad tracks around town. Anything with him going outdoors — Deanna Rose, swimming. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I’m originally from Illinois, (2) I went to school to be a lawyer and (3) I am the youngest of three girls.
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LAUREN MARTENS
Assistant Orchestra Director
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: It was actually my teachers growing up that really changed my perspective on teaching. They weren’t just teachers to me; they were mentors and therapists and idols, and I really hope I can do that with my students. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: My best friend was [in] the opening freshman class at Southwest and she loved it so that really inspired me to come here. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: I am silly, yet stern. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I love going to see live music. I love going to concerts and I love that atmosphere. I also love being outside during the summer at the lake; that’s my thing. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I have played in the Kauffman Center more than I have seen performances there; I have played eight times in the Kauffman Center. (2) I’ve also eaten pizza with the lead singer of Walk the Moon. (3) A third interesting fact is I’m a huge Star Wars nerd; like, giant Star Wars nerd.
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: It’s fun to be with kids. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: It’s just like, there is opportunity, then I just come. There’s nothing like, ‘You have to go there,’ but it’s just like an option ... you just want to explore. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: Try out different things. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: Travel, watch movies and go shopping. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) My parents are living in Poland, even though I’m from China. My brother is studying in University of Indiana-Bloomington, so my family is like, around everywhere and spread out. (2) I like Japanese sushi. That’s my favorite thing. I like Japanese food. (3) I was always recognized as a student when I was in the school.
ANNE-MARIE KNECHT French
JUN Chinese WAO
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I have wanted to teach ever since I was little. I liked helping others, and I really liked helping students get that moment where they didn’t really like learning and then they saw something that was interesting to them and they like learning it. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: I wanted to explore high school, even though I love middle school. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: I will make you participate. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I love to spend time with my fiance — my fiancee is Gabe Thompson, who coaches for Blue Valley — and hang out with our pets, and go to cafes and spend time outside when it’s nice out. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I’m getting married Oct. 6, and will become Madame Thompson. (2) I think everybody should take a foreign language. (3) I love teaching like a middle school teacher.
feature / the standard / sept. 2018 | 7 Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: Honestly, it was something that I’ve always wanted to be. When I was a little girl I always played like I was a teacher. My dad was a teacher, so I’m sure that had something to do with it. It was just a career I always wanted. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: My husband unexpectedly got a job offer from Garmin back in the spring and at the time I was a stay-at-home mom and had planned to go back to work and get a library job in the school setting. Mrs. [Liz] Chopp is awesome and I really, really enjoyed her when I was interviewing and here I am. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: I guess I would say I’m flexible, laid-back, energetic and I like to have fun. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I love to read, obviously, but I also am married with two young kids so we like to go out and do family things. I love to cook when I have a moment to do that. I really enjoy binge-watching TV shows. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I am a huge Harry Potter nerd, so I’m obsessed. (2) I graduated and taught at Kickapoo in Springfield which is the high school Brad Pitt graduated from. (3) Mr. [Michael] Watson, the new English teacher, and I actually graduated from Kickapoo. We had no idea that we were working together until the new teacher orientation.
NATASHA VERNON Spanish
KRISTAN BOWLIN
Library Media Specialist
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I actually fell in love with Spanish first, and I was so passionate about it that I wanted to have the opportunity to share that with others. That’s what brought me to teaching. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: I was really impressed with the program here, and the way that everything was set up. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: Students, comfort and happiness come first. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I don’t have a lot of free time to be honest, but when I do I like to read, I like to do anything that’s creative and I like to exercise, especially running and yoga. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I have a daughter in 6th grade who goes to Aubry Bend. (2) I live in Weston, which is a little over an hour away, so I’m commuting. (3)I have traveled and lived out of a backpack, so I’ve paid my dues in travelling, I guess.
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I did English tutoring for foreign students when I was an undergrad. Specifically, family members of doctoral candidates, and I really enjoyed it. I was also a French tutor — that was one of my jobs at university — and I really enjoyed that too, so I continued to pursue it. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: I’d heard really good things about this school. Everyone I knew who worked here really loved it. Madame Grant who was the French teacher before me, she told me great things about it. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: Energetic. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I really love kickboxing. Painting — I’m not very good at it but I enjoy it. Cooking, eating. I’m a huge cinephile. Hanging out with friends, hanging out with family. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I’m a huge geek, that’s probably the most obvious fact. (2) I love dark chocolate, in case anyone wants to bribe me. (3) I love books.
GRETCHEN MEYER French
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MELISSIA GO Resource Teacher
Q: What subject do you teach? A: I teach intensive resource, special education. I, this year, teach reading and writing and math and then I also co-teach a Field Biology class. We also do Connections. Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I actually volunteered in eighth grade in Special Olympics and I just thought it was a really neat experience, so that sent me down the path of special education, but when I was little I always wanted to be a teacher. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: I had been in middle school for 11 years and I just really wanted a change. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: Very relationship driven. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I have three children, so a lot of family things. We go to the park, we exercise, we go to Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun. We like to travel. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I grew up in a town that the population is smaller than the school. (2) I’m kind of a health nut. (3) I’d say my family is fairly diverse.
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I think, probably, the influences that I had from other teachers growing up when I was in elementary school and high school. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: You know, I’ve admired it from afar for a while. I think the Blue Valley School District is the best district in the state. I like their values, their vision. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: I think I try to create an environment that’s safe, so that students have a place they can learn in an environment that is conducive to their experiences and hopefully they’re getting a little bit of physical education in as well. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I like to spend time with my kids. I have two kids; a 5- and a 3-year-old. Just kind of spend time away with them and my wife and just like to fish, things like that. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I’m a huge college football fan. (2) I enjoy musicals and plays. (3) I have 10 nieces and nephews.
RYAN MCFARLAND Debate
ERIK JONES
Physical Education and Health
Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I liked helping kids learn and get the skills that debate provides. Q: What made you decide to come to Southwest? A: The work ethic of the students, the parental and administrative support. Q: If you could sum up your teaching style in one sentence, what would it be? A: Pretty laid-back. Q: What do you like to do outside of school? A: I don’t really have time to do stuff outside of school. I am still a student and I do a lot of debate stuff outside of school hours, so I don’t know, hang out with my dog, Achilles. Q: What are three interesting facts you want people at Southwest to know about you? A: (1) I’m originally from Hutchinson, Kansas. (2) I have a big shoe collection. (3) I graduated from Wichita State University.
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a whole new mission cheer team recieves two new coaches
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wo new faces. Two new coaching styles. Two new names to learn. Two new kinds of instruction to take. Two new coaches, new educators to learn from and value to the end. The 2018-19 cheer team has two new coaches, completely rearranging the state of school cheer. As the year began, senior Caroline Ayres said the team had experienced all that came with new management. “I think a lot has definitely changed,” Ayres said. “I think it brought a little bit of anxiety because, for a while, we didn’t know who our coach was so we didn’t have a lot figured out about the year … But in the end, all those changes were good. There are some new traditions and new things these coaches liked; it compliments their experiences and our experiences.” With new coaches comes a new format. Ayres’ teammate sophomore Sydney Stanton said she agrees with the new changes and is excited for a fresh start in cheer. “I feel that it’s gotten a little bit stricter,” Stanton said. “But the coaches are more respected and the girls have a better time. We’re learning more new things, and it’s a better switch for the program.” One of the new coaches is Courtney Slick, who began coaching during her senior year of high school. Despite this being her first time coaching cheer in Kansas, she has been a cheer coach for 14 years. She said she has already implemented a new ideology amongst her cheer squad that will help them as leaders in the school. “It is important to me to equip athletes with skills that translate from athletic activities into all walks of life,” Slick said. “I want to guide them in self-discipline, motivation, responsibility, goalsetting, teamwork, how to celebrate wins and how [to] move on from losses. I coach because it is my true passion in life. Nothing is more rewarding to me than seeing someone work hard and achieve something they never thought they could.”
Seniors and varsity cheer captains Caroline Ayres and Jenna Hope pose for a photo during the green and white scrimmage on Aug. 24
10 | news / the standard / sept. 2018
School mascot Tina the Timberwolf cheers for her fellow timberwolves at the green and white scrimmage on Aug. 24.
Before this school year, cheerleaders could typically be found in cheer class during seventh hour. However, there is no cheer class this year, causing the cheerleaders to have outside practice. Junior Gracie Rodlund said she had her doubts at first, but has come to realize the benefits of having cheer practice after school. “I loved cheer class because it gave us more bonding time,” Rodlund said. “I feel like last year it was just like a hangout hour. We got stuff done, but not as much as now. We actually get stuff done at the real practice now, so I think as a team, not having a class has benefited us.” With more time to practice, coach Kalli King said she is excited to share her passion with her new squad. She said she cheered for the Morehead State University Cheerleading Program and, during her freshman year, helped the 2010-11 All Girls Squad win their eighth UCA College National Title. Unfortunately, that same year she suffered her sixth knee dislocation and decided to move back to Kansas, finishing up college at Kansas State University. Now, she said she is committed to coaching and is excited to continue with this squad. “I coach because I love the sport,” King said. “I love teaching cheerleaders new stunts, nothing compares to trying a new stunt over and over again and then something just clicks and it works like clockwork. It’s an amazing feeling. I love showing that there is more to cheerleading then cheers, it’s the difficulty and talent of a team that creates those ‘wow’ moments in a routine you remember.”
Junior Kaitlyn Jashinski does a cheer routine with her teammates at the green and white scrimmage on Aug. 24.
| 11 Motivation stems from a variety of places, Stanton said. However, she said the thing that motivates her to push herself this year is the school crowd. “I want to prove that we are better than we were and that we can actually do cool stuff,” Stanton said. “We have stronger girls this year that can stunt and the coaches teach us how to do new things. We also have more tumblers — it looks more impressive to the crowd.” Rodlund said Stanton’s dreams of the crowd becoming more accepting and impressed by cheer are coming true thanks to the overwhelming response the team gained at the first day of school assembly. “I think just after the past two years ... everyone has just kind of been like ‘Oh, the cheer team. Cool. They’re the cheer team,’” Rodlund said. “So this year, after the first day of school assembly and seeing how everyone responded to that, I just think our goal is for that to happen every time and just really lead the school in spirit.” A fresh start for the cheer squad is just what it needed, Stanton said. Ayres said every teammate has to give 110 percent, which will benefit the program as a whole. “New routines, new cheers, a whole new mission,” Slick said. “Stay tuned, we’ve only just begun.”
| emmaolinger
Junior Jenna Brewster laughs with her teammate between plays at the green and white scrimmage on Aug. 24.
Junior Gracie Rodlund stands alongside her teammates at the green and white scrimmage on Aug. 24.
Junior Jenna Brewster laughs with her teammate between plays at the green and
the school
12 | feature / the standard / sept. 2018
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he rumble of 300 shouting, stomping students is heard from the commons. Fifty feet away these 300 students all chant in unison, hoping to win the competition over their peers. Helping lead this crowd is senior Blake Steele. Across the gym stands freshman Cooper Kelly. While Kelly may be younger than Steele, he is learning the ways of high school just as Steele did as a freshman, someday to become an image of school spirit, just as Steele is today. Transferring to Southwest his freshman year from Overland Trail middle school, Steele said starting out high school with people he didn't know, was a difficult transition. He said he felt it was “much more of an independent adventure than your ordinary first day at school.” Even with this tough transition, Blake said he warmed up to his new school and helped to build the level of school pride. “I just think the best part is everyone being excited to be here — like I said with the teachers — the teachers love being here and we love learning,” Steele said. Along with Steele, senior Madeline Reeves said she loves Southwest. Going to the same middle school as her friends, Reeves didn’t have as big of a jump going
into high school, but said she still had her own challenges. “[The seniors] were very intimidating,” Reeves said. “I remember being very short and tiny and all of the seniors that year were like 6’4”; I was very scared of them but, in the end, our grade ended up having a lot of spirit.” Due to it being her last year, Reeves said she wants to make the most of it. “I’m excited to be with everyone for one last year and make our last memories before we all leave and go off to college,” Reeves said. On the opposite side of the spectrum is Kelly, a freshman having just completed his first few weeks of high school. Kelly shares the same common fear that Reeves had during her first week of high school. “Southwest is a lot bigger and it has a bit of a scarier impression,” Kelly said. “But it’s not bad after getting used to it for the first week.” Just starting out, freshman Madi Turner said she is already able to recognize some of the major differences between her life at Aubry Bend Middle School and in high school. Turner said she loves how much more spirit there is here. “[I love] just being here,” Turner said.
Senior Madeline Reeves jumps with the crowd, beginning the first crowd chant of the football game on Aug. 31 against Lansing.
“I love my classes; the teachers are super nice. It’s been a great start to the year.” After four years of getting used to the school, Reeves said she is sad that this will be her last year before graduation, but is excited to go out on a high note. Along with Reeves in her excitement is Steele with a word of advice to the freshman class. “High school is what you make of it,” Steele said. “You want to go all out — that’s what makes high school. That’s what makes it the best four years you have and I’m fortunate enough to have put everything in it. I love going to games, I love going to shows, I just love being around the people and that’s what you need to do in high school.” | isaiahtarwater
spirit shift
freshmen and seniors compare their high school experiences.
Seniors Madeline Reeves and Madeline Hall sing the Alma Mater at the beginning of the football game against Lansing High School on Aug. 31.
Seniors Logan Moore, Blake Steele and junior Delton Larson get pumped up for the football game on Aug. 31. Southwest defeated Lansing 37-14.
14 | feature / the standard / sept. 2018
a m m e l i d Phone T
students and staff discuss the school’s current phone policy
exting, Snapchatting, scrolling through Instagram and playing games; things students say they can’t live without. They enjoy the adrenaline rush when they get a response or a like. Phones are constantly on in classrooms, hallways and flex spaces, and they are always connecting people. Student council has now been tasked with making a policy for the whole school. Sophomore Jalyn Dunlap said she gets distracted and tends to look at her phone a lot during class but rarely receives consequences. However, Dunlap said she sees advantages and disadvantages to having a cell phone in school. “It’s easier for teachers to put assignments online onto Canvas but then there’s a slight disadvantage because they don’t use their time wisely on their phones,” Dunlap said. Many classes completely eliminate phone usage from the classroom. Senior Rachel Kelly said some classes don’t hesitate when enforcing strict phone policies. “I haven’t had it physically taken away,” Kelley said. “But in some foreign language classes sometimes they make all of us put our phones away if someone has it out during class as punishment for all of us.” Though the policies may seem strict, English teacher Storm Shaw said these policies are in place to eliminate dissociations in class. “I do notice a lack of basic social skills,” Shaw said. “It really comes down to the listening and speaking quality of the conversation. When interacting with students, sometimes I don’t feel that the student is actually listening in order to, then, contribute back to the conversation. Sometimes it’s like, ‘Ok, I heard you and now our conversation goes this way —
entirely unrelated.’” The creation and mass distribution of cell phones is still a fairly new concept, and as more and more people own a certain device, Dunlap said the appropriate times for using them are still under question. She said she sees both sides of the cell phone usage argument in schools. “Sometimes kids don’t do what they’re supposed to do on their phones,” Dunlap said. “[They] goof off and get on social media … But also it’s a good way to access books, Canvas and assignments.” Many teachers encourage students to get textbook apps on their phones so if they have time to read or do homework it’s right there — at the tip of their fingers. While there are benefits for online classes and assignments, Kelley said there are a few problems that we all need to fix which can easily be done by using the phone wisely in class and learning something new. “I think if teachers figure out a way to engage students, it could be a great way to increase learning and get people more excited to do assignments,” Kelley said. Many of the classes have things to do online, but for classes like science or math paper and pencil is a big part of the learning process. Kelley said it depends on the class for her; some are easier to do on the computer, others are not. “Technology is a great tool but it sometimes it gets abused,” Kelley said. “I think that in high school there’s not a ton of regulations for when people are on their phone so it can be a distraction.” | ashlynwakefield | emmaolinger
news / the standard / sept. 2018 | 15
Giving back students share how they get involved in the community
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alking through the dog park, taking in the fresh air and stopping to play catch with the dogs are only some of the things senior Abby Fanous does every weekend as a part of her volunteering job at Wayside Waifs. “They are a no kill shelter, so they take dogs from off the streets or dogs from kills shelters who would originally be killing dogs,” Fanous said. “They save them and give them all of their shots and everything so they can be adopted and find their forever homes.” There, Fanous said she has the job of being a dog walker, in which she keeps the dogs company by taking them out to the dog park and playing with them, instead of having the dogs stay in their kennels all day. “I feel as if [volunteering is] a way to give back to my community because I have been so fortunate in my life with where I live,” Fanous said. “I feel like it makes [someone] more humble and feel fortunate for what they have. Especially here in [Johnson County], it’s easy to get stuck in that bubble and never go outside and see what the world is really like. Volunteering helps you branch out to see what [there] is.” Additionally, she said she enjoys volunteering because she knows others are appreciative of her help. “Every time I go and volunteer, I am always thanked by
someone and I feel so welcomed by the people I am working with; [they] are always so kind,” Fanous said. She said she makes time to volunteer every Saturday for at least two hours a week. Furthermore, she said she describes volunteering as something everyone should experience. “I feel like you’re missing out on a whole different experience because it gives you a different outlook on the world,” Fanous said. "Instead of previewing everything out of the perspective of money, it’s out of the perspective of doing good or making people feel better." She said people should be volunteering out of the good of their heart, not to just receive a prize or an outcome they wanted, as that defeats the purpose of the community service. Junior Saha Ahmadian said she has chosen to dedicate her volunteering at a the Healthcare Resort of Olathe, a nursing home for senior citizens. “I just always thought [volunteering] would be a fun way to help out with the community, and [a chance to] go out there, talk to residents and hear their stories,” Ahmadian said. "I always found an interest in this kind of stuff.” She said she has been volunteering for the past two years at various places, including Ronald McDonald Houses and the Harvesters Organization. She said part of her job is to
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interact with the residents, putting on movies for them, calling out bingo and having a conversation, along with being a receptionist on some days. “I feel that volunteering is a good way for kids to give back to their community, it’s a fun way to kill time and you know that you’re helping,” Ahmadian said. “When you go in there I can tell you ... brighten up these elderly people’s day, because they are there every day and when someone like you comes in and you listen, talk [and] make conversation—that just makes me feel good. I made them happy and changed up their regular routine.” Ahmadian said she tries to go in and volunteer every Saturday and Sunday based upon her schedule each week. Normally, she said she spends between four to five hours each day at the nursing homes. “There is no negative aspect if [someone doesn’t] want to volunteer, [if] they are missing out then they won’t have the opportunity to give back,” Ahmadian said. “But if you [choose to] volunteer you want it do it with a good mindset and you want to do it through the good of knowing that there’s a good outcome that your feeling.” In addition to the experience of volunteering, Senior Emma Green said she has volunteered at Wayside Waifs and occasional hospitals and nursing homes. However, her main way of giving back to the community is through the school’s KAY club. KAY stands for The Kansas Association for Youth, and is an organization directed through the Kansas High School Activities Association that provides students the opportunity to learn leadership skills along with finding multiple ways to give back to the community. Green said she likes to incorporate the things she is passionate for into ways that she can help the community, or give back. “I think volunteering is more enjoyable if you do what you love, and use your talents and abilities that you have,” Green said. “I’ve always loved doing community service.
I think it’s important as members of the community that we give back to it. So, freshman year, I was like ‘oh yeah, I’m going to join KAY club’ because one of their values is community service so I got plugged in there and kind of stuck [with it].” Currently, Green is the president of the school’s KAY club in which she overlooks the entire club and organizes ways for members to earn community service hours during the weekend, along with planning team building activities to learn and incorporate the skills into the meetings. Moreover, she said she earned the title of Area 1 President for KAY. “In the state of Kansas the club is divided into six geographical areas and each area president is elected,” Green said. “Our area, Johnson County is in Area 1 and I am the Area 1 President, and I preside over thirty-eight middle and high school KAY clubs.” Greens said it is her job to be the represented speaker of the district, talk at conferences and produce a daily newsletter to be sent out to all clubs included in Area 1. “[KAY] is a great way to get community service hours with your friends,” Green said. “We volunteer but we also learn a lot of leadership skills too and I think that is important for high schools, to have a foundational set of leadership skills. We get to know people and [other] volunteers [while] serving others and I think that is a really important thing, it’s a really humbling experience, so get out of your comfort zone and go for it.” Green said she agreed that those who chose to not volunteer are missing out on a great experience. She said she gets a feeling of happiness every time she serves others and not just herself. “I think it an important thing as humans [that] we need to be selfless, not selfish,” Green said. | ishapatel
pack pack pride pride
news / the standard / sept. 2018 | 17
Wolf Pack Crew works to change spirit point system
Organizing the Green and White T-shirts, senior Kori Stonestreet prepares for the third assembly of the year. WPC members planned and put on the assembly on Aug. 24.
U
P, UP, ON YOUR FEET—the gym buzzes with excitement as every senior yells at the top of their lungs—T-WOLVES LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM—class chants have begun— SOUTH, SOUTHWEST, SOUTH, SOUTH, SOUTHWEST. This year, Wolf Pack Crew has decided to make changes to the spirit point system with the intent to increase event attendance, school spirit and trust in the fairness of the system. Junior Nate Adamson, one of the student leaders in Wolf Pack Crew, emphasized his goal of giving every grade a chance to earn spirit points. “A lot of people thought it was rigged, which I understand it’s hard to keep track of,” Adamson said. “But we just wanted to
give the underclassmen a chance to win and have the opportunity to win and have pride in something.” Hoping to gain more trust from the student body, Adamson said spirit points will be counted at events of the week. “We have buckets now,” Adamson said. “Instead of going around and taking pictures of your grade, we’re going to have you put your ticket that you buy when you come into the event into a colorcoordinated bucket of your grade so it’s going to be easier and more accurate for us to count.” Wolf Pack Crew is also offering a picture contest for each event of the week on Instagram. “You send in a picture to the WPC Instagram, and you tag them on your
Instagram story,” Adamson said. “It will offer you a point system, if you send in more pictures, you will be given more points.” Adamson said he believes if underclassmen are given more chances to receive spirit points, they will be more motivated to dress up and attend school events. Wolf Pack Crew sponsor Margaret Davidson also said she hopes with more spirit point opportunities for each grade, it will lead to increased participation. “I hope that it motivates them to come out knowing that every quarter they have a new chance, if a group gets behind, they still have a chance next quarter,” Davidson said. “It just gets them to be prideful in Southwest and want to be at events.”
18 | Checking the final details for the assembly, seniors Sydney Lierz, Kori Stonestreet, Madeline Reeves and Wolf Pack sponsor Margaret Davidson discuss the schedule. “A problem [with assemblies] is making sure everything is laid out to a T and very detailed and scripted,” Davidson said.
In an attempt to reach more students and get them involved with spirit points, Wolf Pack Crew has increased their social media presence. Senior Grace Kim, another student leader in the club, said they are using different platforms for different reasons. “Every social media account is used for different things,” Kim said, “Twitter we focus on sports, Instagram we focus on pep rallies and spirit days, and Snapchat is also meant for spirit days and cool things that go on around school.” In addition to focusing on spirit points, WPC has begun switching from sporadic assemblies to a more consistent amount of pep rallies. With an all new layout to the pep rallies, Davidson said
WPC plans to improve them for the future. “We’re going to improve them by trying to make them flow better for everyone, getting more people involved, getting coaches and players more involved and getting their ideas for how they want to be represented,” Davidson said. Like Davidson, Kim said she hopes to gain more school traditions by getting more students involved and by proving the fairness of the spirit point system. “Hopefully [the new system] will start to build tradition and we can continue to make this grow and get more people involved as they start to see the spirit points become more fair and effective for all the grades and it will encourage
Plugging in his phone, junior John Harrick plays music for the assembly. Harrick and senior Lexi Stethem are responsible for technical aspect of every assembly.
everyone to get more involved,” Kim said. With the potential for increased enthusiasm and attendance at school events, Kim said she is excited for a new atmosphere. Adamson said he hopes all the spirit point modifications positively impact the student body and encourages more student participation. “I hope students will want to get involved,” Adamson said. “I know that in the previous years, spirit points have lacked in priorities for students. I know people go to events, I know they want their class to win, if we can get them involved in the spirit point system ... it could bring our school together and give it a stronger student base.” | sadieputnam
ads / the standard / sept. 2018 | 19
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20 | feature / the standard / sept. 2018
M O D E R n
dear t society h r i NOVA f t downtown stores reimagine the thrift shopping experience
| 21
Dear Society
Locations:
115 W 18th St Kansas City, Missouri 64108 3566 Broadway Blvd Kansas City, Missouri 64111
A
small boutique tucked in the heart of the West Bottoms, Dear Society is a store that puts a twist on traditional thrift shopping. The store falls under a modern-vintage variety and store manager Jessica Brinck emphasized Dear Society’s aim to make antique pieces new again. “There are a lot of things that we bring in that we change up a little bit,” Brinck said. “If something looks super ‘80s we will change it, like take out the shoulder pads or change the silhouette a little bit and it looks more modern and you’re like ‘Oh, I never would even think to wear that, but it looks cool.’” The store not only carries clothing, it also has home goods and apothecary items. The owners said they get their products from a variety of places to ensure they’re selling the best items. “The two owners do a lot of thrifting, they go to estate sales, sometimes they find stuff on ebay or Etsy,” Brinck said. “For our modern stuff, they go to market twice a year to buy all the new stuff.” In order to showcase their handpicked products, the owners opted for a simple, clean interior. The walls are white and accents of wood and plants are sprinkled throughout the store. When walking in, senior Savannah King said she felt happy due to the carefree atmosphere.
“I really like the simple, clean look with good lighting and cute decorations,” King said. With an inviting environment, comes an opportunity for a variety of customers. Brinck said the store caters to a large age group of people — some of which surprise her. “There are some people that come in that I wouldn’t assume would shop at our store just based on their style when they come in, but they end up finding something,” Brinck said. Not only has the store provided for customers, Brinck said she personally accredits the store for many good things in her life. “I feel like it has brought a community of really great women into my life, from the people I work with, to even just customers,” Brinck said. “People come in regularly that are now kind of my friends, not just a customer that I help.” With a passion for her job and an exciting mission statement, Brink said her career has redirected her shopping habits. “I tend to prefer vintage [clothes] now, just knowing thrifting is better for the environment — reusing old clothes — fast fashion is bad for the environment and workers,” Brinck said. “I still occasionally go to Forever 21 or whatever but I tend to sway more
toward vintage or thrifting, and it’s way cheaper usually.” With the prices and opportunity for unique pieces in mind, King said she too prefers vintage shopping and enjoys how it pushes her out of her fashion comfort zone. “If I have something specific I’m shopping for, I’ll usually go retail,” King said. “But thrifting is nice to [do] when you have a day off and you have time to look through stuff because you’re not looking for anything specific.” Dear Society’s variety — new pieces and reworked vintage — accounts for prices ranging from low to high, however King said it is worth the sacrifice. “The prices are pretty high for a high school student to be paying, but the pieces are really good quality and are going to last you a long time, so I think it’s really reasonable,” King said. At the end of the day, Dear Society is a small shop with a big aim — to create a new definition of thrifting. Brinck said Dear Society does a good job of trying to create an easier thrifting experience for the customer. “Thrifting takes a lot of patience, and I’m still not the best at it,” Brinck said. “You have to go rack by rack, so I think that’s why stores like this are nice, because someone has already curated it for you.”
22 |
nova made & Found
Location:
W
andering into a little store in downtown Kansas City, senior Sydney Quijano is bombarded with personality and bright colors. She takes a look around and is enveloped in all the beautiful clothes and furniture around her. She is greeted with an inviting smile and she feels welcome. Nova Made & Found is a vintagethrift shop in Kansas City that sells a variety of reused items. The store is owned by Nova Engle who chose to open a store that meant something to her personally. “Well, I had boys and I am a second Nova in the family — my great grandma’s name was Nova — so this is my way of carrying it on,” Engle said. The significance behind the name is one of many things that draws customers such as Quijano into the shop. She said the store has a home-like atmosphere and she appreciates the variation in products. “I like how it’s named after her and it’s named after her great grandmother so it has a back story,” Quijano said. “I like the fact that it has furniture and water bottles and Koozies, and whatever she finds and thinks is cool.” Engle works hard to maintain her store’s product variety and range. She said she drives statewide and
1515 Walnut St Kansas City, Missouri occasionally out of state to find the best pieces to showcase and sell for her customers. “I drive a lot and put a lot of miles on my truck,” Engle said. “I have family in other states, and I’ll make an excuse when I go visit them to check out auctions and just bring a truckload home.” Not only does she self-supply her store, but Engle is an independent business owner and does not have anyone else who works with her. Quijano said her free spirit and drive is something she admires about the business structure. “I thought it was really cool that she was the only one working at the store because it was all her and she’s super sweet and very talkative and she told me everything about the store,” Quijano said. “It was super cool how close she was to the store because you could tell she was passionate about it.” With the store as her own personal platform, Engle said she likes to keep things fresh and new and keep her customers on their toes. “I don’t stick to a general aesthetic,” Engle said. “I change it as quickly as possible because I get bored with things easily so I want customers to have something new to look at every time
they come in.” Engle said her customers are most important and she tries to tailor her store’s aesthetic to make the customer feel right at home. Nova Made & Found is filled with plants and colorful knickknacks to draw in customers and catch their eyes. “A lot of it’s based on how I decorate at home,” Engle said. “I’ve always been drawn to a tropical vibe so I try to incorporate tropical plants and make it feel more at home here at the shop. I kind of set it up like it’s a new apartment, I call it my apartment in the city, that way it can be visualized to the customer how it’s going to look set up in a home — not so much a store setup but a home setup.” With a store that looks and feels like home, Engle said it has turned into her life. She is grateful for the opportunity the store has given her to live out her dream and share her passion with the world around her. “It means creative freedom,” Engle said. “I’m not tied to a 9 to 5 job anymore that I hate and I have more time with my family and making money doing what I love is like anybody’s dream, so that’s what it means to me.”
| eliannaoliver
feature / the standard / sept. 2018 | 23
The Leader of Oz quick analysis of candidates for state governor
Kris Kobach is the republican candidate: Kobach is known for having hard-line views on voting access and immigration and is very loyal to President Trump, according to politifact.com. He is adamant on building the republican party of Kansas around Trump. According to politico.com, Kobach has been under scrutiny in the past for unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud.
“I support Kelly because I believe in tighter gun control in the sense of protection so we have less mass shootings, but at the same time I do support the right to bear arms,” senior Reagan Kerr said.
“I would vote for Kris Kobach because I believe he would be able to create jobs to make our economy flourish,” senior Alex Rockwell said.
Laura Kelly is the democratic candidate: She fights for education, lower health care costs and working with the public to create jobs in all levels of society, according to The Wichita Eagle. She also approves the idea of tightening gun laws because she believes the government and other lawmakers have made them too easy to acquire in recent years.
Greg Orman is the independent candidate: Orman is interested in making the government work for the people and making sure it doesn’t specialize in national party agendas, according to OrmanforKansas. com. He would like to see improvements to healthcare costs and access, which would aid in a better workforce and also higher wages.
“Greg Orman isn’t in a specific party, and I think that’s definitely important because people who are in one party or another tend to favor their own party over the general public,” senior
Amayah Meadows said.
| jonahmccormick
24| feature / the standard / sept. 2018
The M
o
bile Trail
students describe how tracking features on apps impact their daily lives
T
he speed limit is 45. You’re cruising in the car blasting your favorite music when an alert bings on your phone. You’ve been caught speeding. Only going five over, the alert has already been sent to your parents. Life360 is a family tracking app that allows parents to track their children’s locations at all times, regardless of if their phone is turned on or off. It also provides parents with other information like their children’s battery percentage, speed while driving and crime alerts in the local area. Math teacher Hannah Skidmore said she used Life360 to help track the children she nannied over the summer. Skidmore said she first heard about it through one of her students, who complained about its “invasive” features. “A year ago a student came in complaining that his mom had bought life 360,” Skidmore said. “He didn’t realize that he could also log in and see her information. She had been on him about using apps and driving, so he checked hers and she had been on her phone 30 times in one car ride.” Tracking features have become more popular on social media apps. On Snapchat’s latest feature, they installed a “Snapmap,” allowing users to see where their friends are and when they last used the app. Users do have the option to turn this feature off, however with Life360, they do not. According to Life360.com, the
company is “not about people sneakily tracking their loved ones, we can’t stop anyone from uninstalling the app, and there’s no way to hide the fact that our app is installed.” On the other hand, parents like Carnegie Mellon Professor, Lorrie Faith Cranor, are against using it. She stated in the New York Times Article, “Should You Track Your Teens Location?” that she doesn’t think kids should “feel like their parents are following them around all the time.” “It’s actually made [communication] a lot easier because I work, and I hang out with friends and I always used to text and tell my mom where I was. Now I don’t because she can just open up the app and see where I’m at.”
| juniorreedkrewson
Junior Libby Shiker said she has gotten in trouble as a result of the app. She said it has negatively impacted her life, giving her more stress about her parents and whereabouts. “I constantly worry about my speed and if I’m somewhere I shouldn’t be,” Shiker said. “I’m also worried about the roads I take.” However, junior Reed Krewson said that Life360 has positively impacted his life, allowing communication with his parents to be more open and simple. Krewson has had the app for only two
months, but said it’s already made his life easier. “It’s actually made [communication] a lot easier because I work, and I hang out with friends and I always used to text and tell my mom where I was,” Krewson said. “Now I don’t because she can just open up the app and see where I’m at.” Shiker said she is worried about how the future of technology will impact future generations and children’s bonds with their parents. “I think that apps like this can cause problems with kids and their parents, because kids will constantly think their parents don’t trust them — even if they aren’t doing anything wrong,” Shiker said. “I do understand the safety aspect of it though.” Skidmore said she agrees that the tracking features on the app can be taken too far. “I don’t think parents should get on it whenever they feel inclined to,” Skidmore said. “I think that’s when an imbalance of power comes into play, parents just thinking they can do it whenever.” Like Skidmore, Shiker said both the parents and children need to find a balance when using apps like Life360. “I think that parents should trust their kids until proven otherwise,” Shiker said. “I think that kids should be able to share their location whenever they want to. They should have that choice.” | jennahope