The Standard Vol. 4 Issue 3

thestandard vol. 4 | issue 2 | september 2013 | bvswnews.com | blue valley southwest | overland park, kansas

student artwork page 11

soccer success page 31

printedition|

content|

| feature

¬ Braden’s Hope

| opinion

¬ Cell phones in the classroom

| photo essay ¬ JDRF Walk

| special sections ¬ Haunted houses review

editor’snote|

T

he time that we spend with family is precious. Family provides the best escape that we can get from the daily grind. Having said that, the importance of family is slowly diminishing within society. Sometimes, we tend to forget the meaning behind family; that no matter what the situation may be, we are in it together until the end. In this case, Southwest is considered to be a family. For some of us, we have stayed it out four years together, supporting the teams and school Southwest is proud to finally become. As we look around the crowds of sporting events, assemblies and clubs, Southwest can now be viewed as one – sticking up for each other through thick and thin. Southwest is no longer the rejects or the land of misfit students, but a family. We now have games where the stands are filled to the back with fans and spirit; it’s amazing to think how far we really have come. In this issue, the families we make through genetics, soccer players or academics shine through, families from cheerleaders to thespians to juniors trying to survive the year together. Family is not just important; it’s everything Southwest represents.

competitive cheerleading varsity cheerleaders continue activity off school grounds for sport

page 26 managing editor

Photo by erica good. Cover photo by anna glennon.

onlineedition| dashain dance

road construction

Relive the Hindu holiday of Dashain through photos of Southwest students.

Students share the difficulties caused by local roadwork.

2 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | in this issue

vol. 4 issue 3 oct. 2013 the standard

advertisements | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 3

opportunity of a lifetime

4 | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | feature

Once in a lifetime S

senior Tori Loepp is casted in the performance of Making Magic/Defying Gravity

enior Tori Loepp auditioned against 80 other females and was chosen to be a part of the cast of “Making Magic/Defying Gravity”. The event was a one time only performance at Blue Valley North on Oct. 21.

As part of the show, they had the chance to

| toriloepp

What were your feelings like during your audition?

“The girl that auditioned before me sang the same song I had originally prepared. But I was glad to have another song ready so I switched to another one at the very last minute.”

How you did you react when you found out that you were casted?

“I was in choir and Mr. Schmidt came in, he had printed off a paper, pulled me aside and pointed to my name. I was really excited.”

What was auditioning against so many other people like?

“I have auditioned for a lot of things and sometimes you make it, sometimes you don’t. The important thing to remember is that no matter what the result is, it has nothing to do with you as a human being. I was prepared to both win and lose.”

work with the professional cast of “WICKED” throughout the performance. It was also one of the fund raisers for our State Thespian Organization. Loepp’s father, Roy Loepp, and the-

atre director Dan Schmidt discuss ways Tori

| royloepp

What initially sparked her interest in getting involved with theatre?

“Her sister’s early involvement in theatre and her mother’s encouragement were what initially sparked her interest in theatre.”

Would you like her to continue with acting in the long term?

“We want her to use her skills for a lifetime (not necessarily professional) for enjoyment and maybe teaching and inspiring others.”

How much time would you say that she dedicates to this specific production?

“I would say that she dedicated a few hours for [the] audition and maybe 4-5 hours of practice for this specific production.”

has grown because of this audition. Loepp also discusses what it is like to audition for major roles as well as her experience. | rachelconner

| danschmidt

Did you help Tori prepare for the audition?

“I helped her last year on her Individual Event performance for State & Nationals. She got most of everything ready for this particular audition.”

What progress has Tori made in her acting abilities?

“Tori has definitely became more confident, poised, sure of her abilities and eager to try new things.”

What was your initial reaction when you were told that Tori had made it in?

“I felt a mixture of emotions. These included being very excited plus extremely proud when I found out that she had made it in. “

feature | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | 5

“Boardwalk Dreams” sets the stage

The Repertory Theater produces its first student-made play

Top: Seniors Lauren Henke and Johnny Tapp discuss their date for later that night. Bottom Right: Seniors Kyle Drum and Mason Wilkinson argue over the job they took. Bottom Middle: Sophomore Paige Boomer dances to “Jungleland” by Bruce Springsteen.

Bottom Left: Junior Shari Gaynes expresses her excitement about other people’s life stories before boarding the bus.

Photos by Erica Good.

6 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

Boardwalk Dreams Bottom: Seniors Tristan King and Meagan Holloway portraying characters of “Johnny 99” argue over Johnny’s lost job. Top Right: Junior Caleb Jenkins and senior Matara Hitchcock in “Thunder Road” discuss their oppurtunity.

Top Left: “In Spirit in the Night”, Seniors Tristan King and Mason Wilkinson listen to Jenkins’ reasoning as to why they should go to the party.

Photos by Erica Good.

photo essay | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 7

T

he sounds of Bruce Springsteen were their inspiration.

The setting was a carnival and the overall theme of the play was losing something. The play itself, however, was nothing they’d ever done before.

The Repertory Theater took a chance and decided to perform a student-made play, “Boardwalk Dreams,”, for its annual fall production on Oct. 17 through 21.

“When writing a play it’s easy to fantasize some crazy melodramatic scene of how we’d like stuff to happen,” senior Lauren Mylin said. “Schmidt really worked with us and broke our scenes down. It was cool to see how the most simple dialogue that we talk in was the most real and impactful.”

After the students listened to the chosen Springsteen songs“Jungleland”, “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?”, “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)”, “Thunder Road”, “Meeting Across The River”, “Johnny 99”, “Spirit in the Night” – they were assigned a specific scene to write themselves.

“Schmidt has respected Springsteen’s work for a long time and he came to us with the idea about writing and performing our own scenes,” senior Johnny Tapp said. “We saw the idea as a challenge and we ambitiously attempted to take it on.”

Students spent the summer and first quarter working on the

production, carefully planning out each scene.

“They [the scenes] don’t connect to each other as one storyline exactly but that’s another aspect that makes it new and exciting,” Mylin said. “Each scene has its own story … just like each song chosen.”

Along with that, another challenge brought on by having to create each scene’s dialogue.

“There were so many times that we would write a whole in-

“

“I think the reason Repertory Theater decided to write their own play is that it’s a different way for us as a class to expand our range as actors and show us a new perspective on something we tend to take for granted-the script and the work that goes into creating a story that makes sense, flows and is actually good,” Holloway said.

Although Springsteen is an idol in the pop culture world, winning 18 Grammy Awards and one Academy Award, along with sell-

There’s a special type of ownership that we have because we have... worked together from start to finish on a product that is 100 percent ours.

-MeaganHolloway

terchange and then say it out loud and be like ‘Oh no, that sounds so stupid,’” senior Meagan Holloway. “So we changed the wording of each scene like 20 times.”

However, the challenges paved the way for the student-made play to act as a learning opportunity.

It not only gave them the chance to expand their theatrical writing skills but also to work together as a team to produce not only a performance of a show but the show itself as well.

Left: Sophomore Christina Shilling reads a note on a rose that she believes is from senior Jake Louis.

Right: Seniors Keaton Fahnholz and Lauren Mylin argue about how Fanholz’s character is never home.

Photos by Erica Good.

8 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

ing over 65 million albums in the U.S. alone, the specific impact of his lyrics is what drew Rep to really take on the challenge.

“Springsteen wrote some seriously lyrical stuff in his early career so they were easy to choose for inspiration,” senior Alex Peuser said.

While set in a circus, the play never has a constant theme.

“There’s a lot of darker themes, like death, loss, longing, and even some like love,” junior Amanda

Miller said. “Springsteen wrote a lot of themes like those in his earlier songs, and we used those as scene inspirations.”

Another benefit of writing and producing their own show was the stronger connection the actors could make with their characters.

“My role represents insecurity which I love because I think anyone can relate,” Mylin said. “My scene is about a broken marriage.

It was inspired by the song ‘The Promise.’ Listening to the song at first I found it so different from the others and honestly very sad. Our scene deals with a husband and wife that lost a lot but the worst was losing their son. How raw and difficult it is just makes it that much more interesting to watch and fun to play.”

Although different, the student-made play changed the dynamic of the Repertory Theater program and challenged the students to step up and expand their horizons.

“I really like working with our own show,” Holloway said.

“There’s a special type of ownership that we have because we’ve listened to the songs, written the script, cast the scenes, directed and acted together and just worked together from start to finish on a product that is 100 percent ours.”

| carolinefronczak

Photos by Charlotte Davis.

The Borowiak-Miller bunch A

sophomore Izabella Borowiak-Miller is one of 12 children

fternoons at the Borowiak-Miller household aren’t out of the ordinary. The boys gather around the television in the living room to play on the Wii. The girls lounge around the kitchen and make Play-Doh sculptures on the kitchen table with the younger ones. Others relax in the office by the kitchen, playing on the computer or spending time with mother Bridget Miller as she rocks the newborn baby. As dinner time rolls around, Bridget prepares a meal in the kitchen, making sure to cook enough to feed the 12 children in her family.

cont. to page 10 feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 9

cont. from page 10 Sophomore Izabella Borowiak-Miller is the oldest of seven brothers and four sisters, all of whom are biological and none of whom are sets. “[Having 11 siblings] is really fun and entertaining,” Izabella said. “There’s never a dull moment.”

Bridget met her husband and the father of all her children Brad Miller in high school, and started dating a few years later. They married in 1996, and one year later Izabella was born. Bridget and Brad are now the parents of 11 other young children: freshman Xavier, 14 years old; Brannoc, 13 years old; Frankie, 12 years old; Killian, 11 years old; Gavin, ten years old; Henry, nine years old; Octavia, seven years old; Roque, five years old; Dahlia, four years old; Lucy, three years old; and Violet, 15 months. Bridget is currently expecting her 13th child, a girl, due on Dec. 4, 2013.

“I always wanted a large family, but I didn’t plan [for 12 kids],” Bridget said. “I just left it up to God. I knew that I would accept His will, and it’s exciting for me [having 12 kids].”

As a family, the Borowiak-Millers enjoy playing card games, watching movies or play-

ing outdoor activities such as kickball, baseball and basketball. Every night at 8 p.m., the Catholic family says the rosary, and each member shares with the family what happened in his or her day.

While spending an adequate amount of time with each of the 12 children may seem like a daunting task to some parents, it’s one that Brad doesn’t find a challenge.

“I don’t look at it as what time I spend with [the kids],” Brad said. “I don’t try to have a scheduled time with each child.”

To keep the kids in order, Bridget disciplines her children in creative ways. When one of the kids isn’t behaving, he or she has to draw a piece of paper from the Penalty Box, a black box that contains folded pieces of paper with odd chores or tasks that no child wants to do written on them, such as rubbing someone’s feet or saying three prayers for the person on the other end of the fight. However, extreme forms of discipline aren’t needed, because the kids are generally not too difficult to handle.

“I have always [raised the kids] by myself,” Bridget said. “I’ve never had any cleaning people, and I’ve maybe had two or three babysitters.”

One of the positives to having 12 children: the family, which is well-known around the

10 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

community for its size, receives free clothes, food, toys and more from businesses, friends and neighbors.

“A lot of people around here are really generous,” Bridget said. “I don’t ever turn away anybody’s charity because I was raised that if you turn down someone who’s trying to be charitable, you might be responsible for them losing their charity, so if somebody comes up to me and is trying to give me something nice, even if I don’t want it, I will always be like, ‘That’s so nice.’”

While Bridget and Brad wouldn’t have their family in any other way, they are often met with criticism and are scrutinized by both strangers and others in the community for having 12 children.

“A lot of people say mean comments,” Izabella said. “We get a lot of judgment. I think that by looking at all of us, people are trying to absorb it because you don’t see a big family like ours nowadays.” cont. to www.bvswnews.com

| margojohnson

ALL ABOUT THE

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ART

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k at s

tuden

t crea

tions

|sarinaacharya

Title: Infamous Artist: Freshman Grant Gruenhaupt Media: Acrylic

Title: Ecstasy Artist: Senior Gabi Bailey Media: Acrylic

“I got my inspiration from Salvador Dali, who is a cubist artist. My favorite part about working on this piece was getting to do exactly what I wanted to do.�

| seniorgabibailey

Title: Untitled Artist: Sophomore Isabelle Finzen Media: Metal

photo essay | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 11

Title: Balloons Artist: Senior Alex Lawrence Media: Wire and Cans

Title: Waves Artist: Junior Michael Hansen Media: Metal

Title: Sweet Praise Artist: Senior Jaeky Spencer Media: Bible Pages

“My inspiration is my love for Jesus Christ and also the gift of music. My favorite part was getting to be creative and burn the edges of the papers to make the guitar look old.� | seniorjaekyspencer 12 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | photo essay

Title: Table Mountain South Africa Artist: Sophomore Christina Shilling Media: Acrylic

The gym floods with students from Southwest, Blue Valley and West for the 2013 Relay For Life event.

Photo by lauren zahner.

Graphic by sarina acharya

Raising hope

Deliece and Braden Hofen share their battle with cancer

O

ctober welcomes pumpkin patches, snuggly sweaters and trick-or-treating. However, this could be the last time that Deliece Hofen gets to experience such fall festivities with her nine year old son.

Braden Hofen is a fourth grader at Morse Elementary School who was diagnosed at age three with stage four neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Neuroblastoma typically starts in the kidneys and can spread to other sites like the liver or bones. There is no known cure for neuroblastoma and Braden has less than a 10 percent chance of survival by August 2016.

“I have memorized my son’s face, fingers, toes, eyelashes, everything because I have feared the day when I would say goodbye to him and never see him again,” Deliece said in her online blog.

Not only was her son diagnosed with neuroblastoma, but

Deliece was also diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 at the same time that Braden was struggling through a relapse. They went through chemotherapy together in the summer of 2010. Along with her breast cancer, Deliece had been battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for many years before that.

“I was absolutely in shock,” Deliece said. “[I was] hoping there was some kind of mistake.

Then reality sunk in, and I simply had to fight for my son who was the bravest person I ever have known.”

When Deliece was diagnosed with cancer, she learned more information about her breast cancer in a one hour appointment than she had about Braden’s neuroblastoma in the two years he had been fighting. Deliece was astonished by the amount of information that was available about breast cancer compared to how much was known about Braden’s

cancer. She researched more and discovered that childhood cancer was the number one disease killer of children. Likewise, she found out that childhood cancer received almost no funding or awareness.

Deliece’s research made her eager to take a stand, so she created Braden’s Hope, a foundation that raises money and awareness for childhood cancer. It has gotten recognition from the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting Kansas City.

“American Idol” winner David Cook also created a Facebook page in honor of Braden.

So far, Braden’s Hope has educated thousands of people and raised over $100,000.

“Research brings hope for treatments that can end cancer.

It’s really that simple,” Deliece said. “We want to be able to fund enough research that we put ourselves out of ‘business’ because

there isn’t a need.”

Seventh grader Bethie Gregory from Aubry Bend Middle School created a fundraiser for Braden’s Hope at Southwest. She bought 3,000 water bottles and decided to sell them at $5 apiece at home football games. All of the profits went towards Braden’s Hope and childhood cancer. So far, the Southwest community has helped Bethie raise $3,000.

“It may be simple, but I’m trying to change the lives of children with cancer everywhere and really make a difference,” Gregory said.

Students at Southwest have created their own way to raise awareness. Many students wear Braden’s Hope T-shirts in order to spread the word. Southwest students are recognizing cancer more and the impact it can have on a person’s life. cont. to page 14

feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 13

cont. from page 13

“I know a lot of people at Southwest that have been affected by cancer, and we need to create more of a community around that because it affects people more than they think it does,” sophomore Freddie Charlesworth said. “It’s really inspiring that they [The Hofens] are doing so much with the foundation and really pushing to keep hope, even when I know it’s really easy to lose that hope.”

Along with Braden’s Hope, students have raised awareness in other various ways.

Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, students have come together to support. Every year, Southwest has a pink night football game where everyone dresses in pink for the cause. The drill team and the girls golf team also sold breast cancer T-shirts at lunch.

“I think pink out is a good

way to show our support and to make people more aware of the impact that cancer has,” Charlesworth said. “People always come together and get really excited for it.”

Along with annual pink-out nights, Southwest hosted Relay For Life last year for Blue Valley West and Blue Valley and is planning it for this year, as well. Relay for a Life is an event through The American Cancer Society where students stay awake through a whole night and recognize those who have been affected by cancer.

All the proceeds made during Relay For Life are donated toward cancer research.

Last year, together the schools raised $127,000, which was ranked nationally 10th among all of the Relay for Life events being held.

“I think it’s [Relay For Life] a great opportunity to make an impact on our community and truly make an impact on this terrible disease,”

co-president of Relay For Life Connor Davis said.

Events like these are creating hope for those affected by cancer. Southwest has created a community through various events to support and raise cancer awareness.

“BVSW rocks,” Deliece said. “The entire school has done so much for Braden and our kiddoes with cancer. SW is raising their voices to help inform others and that means so much to every parent who has a child with cancer, especially me.”

| nicolebecker

Test your awareness:

true

false

1) National Cancer Survivor Month is June.

2) The color of the ribbon for childhood cancer is blue.

3) The most common cancer is breast cancer.

Scan this QR code to visit Deliece’s online blog.

Top left: Deliece and Braden Hofen take a picture as they spend time together. Bottom Left: Braden and Bethie Gregory smile together for a selfie. Right: Braden shows his affection for Bethie for what she has done to raise awareness.

Photos courtesy of Deliece Hofen.

4) Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death out of all childhood diseases.

5) The American Cancer Society is the top non-profit organization for cancer.

6) In 2013, over 150,000 people are estimated to die from lung cancer.

7) National Liver Cancer Awareness Month is in October.

answers

1)True 2)False; the correct answer is gold.

3)False; the correct answer is skin cancer.

4) True 5)False; The correct answer is the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

6) True 7) True

14 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

Concrete & Dirt

Harrison Mancini shreds terrain and pavement in his spare time

| annaglennon

feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 15

Concrete & dirt

i

t’s all about the thrill and the risk for junior Harrison Mancini, an adrenaline junkie, who treasures his bike more than anything else he owns. When he isn’t in Colorado, flying

W

hile he enjoys wreaking havoc in the streets, Mancini would rather be on the mountain. In downhill biking, the rider is pitted against time and terrain and fights as he or she flies down the mountainside. They jump over rocks and weave through trees at

down a mountain side at a break-neck pace, you can find him with other enthusiasts, shredding a local street spot, making every object a new trick to be mastered on his bike.

full speed. Downhill is his passion – “It’s more thrilling [than BMX]; it requires more skill, and everything is fast-paced,” Mancini said.

“Anything can go wrong and send you into the trees and down the mountain. To me, downhill biking is the best feeling on Earth.”

Downhill photos courtesy of Harrison Mancini.

“ 16 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

It’s thrilling - anything can go wrong and send you into the trees or off the trail and down the mountain.” feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 17

Concrete & dirt

D

on’t get confused, unlike what most people assume, BMX and downhill are nothing like motocross. It is more comparable to skateboarding than it is to the high power antics

“

of motocross. “It’s very frustrating to explain to people what I do,” Mancini said. “It’s like skateboarding but on a small bike; there are many different styles to riding BMX.”

BMX allows me to get my bike fix while I’m not on the trails in Colorado.

18 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

M T

Maestro Math teacher continues Maestro lifelong hobby purely for Maestro the joy of it

he moving notes of a Frédéric Chopin piano sonata fill the halls of the art wing, resonating from one small practice room. Here, a lifelong piano player crafts melodies and phrases of some of

| grantlaster

the most challenging pieces ever composed for his instrument. But don’t expect to find a student hunched over the wooden upright grand, perfecting the art. Instead, it is math teacher Jerry Holtorf who spends his plan periods and after school hours practicing the piano, continuing his studies, purely for himself.

When Holtorf does not have tests to grade or lessons to plan, he finds his way to a practice room near the band and choir rooms.

That is why, Holtorf said, he can usually be found practicing more often at the beginning of the year because his classes have a lighter course load, and he has fewer tests and quizzes to grade.

“There’s an old saying that playing piano is like recess for

adults,” Holtorf said. “So, it’s something to do to release a little creativity or a little stress, I guess. Just to not do what you normally do. And I can only do that when I don’t have as much on my plate or I’m willing to take a little on extra in the nighttime if I have some grading that needs to get done.”

Holtorf has been cultivating his skills since second grade, when his parents made him take up the activity, but he took a brief break from piano in middle school after his family moved. Having just moved, his parents allowed him to stop playing piano as he was adjusting to a new town, but Holtorf began practicing intermittently to play popular tunes that he heard on the radio. He began practicing at full force when college rolled around and his grandfather gave him a hundred dollars to continue his hobby.

Much like any teenager might be reluctant to put in hours of hard work and diligence to reach his or her full potential, so too did Holtorf despise the forced practice sessions that were required of him as a child. cont. to www.bvswnews.com

feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 19

WALK CURE for a

| ciaramurphy

20 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | photo essay

Page 20 Bottom Left: Sophomore Abby Yi and freshman Angela Fornelli walk and talk at the JDRF walk. “It means a lot more to me ever since my sister was diagnosed. We just need a cure,� Fornelli said.

Page 21 Top Left: Junior Kiersten Graham laughs as she raises money for the JDRF. Top Right: Freshmen Emma Holland and Sam Gettings walk around Arrowhead Stadium. Bottom: The U.S. Army flies planes over the stadium, closing the walk.

photo essay | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 21

BALA NCE Finding the

juniors juggle the rigor of advanced classes with other activities

S

Foulon spends his mornings practicing the tuba for band, which he says is his biggest time commitment. During the day, he takes AP and honors classes, then works as a mentor during HUBS in English Language Arts teacher Mark Rabbitt’s room.

Photos by Lauren Stone.

ince the beginning of time, or at least the beginning of high school, the rumor mill has circulated the idea that junior year is the hardest year. As students make it into upper level classes and are presented with more responsibilities in their extracurricular activities, they are faced with the challenge of maintaining a balance between work and play.

“This year is the hardest year,” junior Nick Foulon said. “It’s real. It’s your first opportunity to take all the hardest classes. Plus this is the year where you start to have higher standings in your clubs, which requires you to do more work for them. And you’ve got to devote time to both: to your homework and to your clubs and other organizations.”

Foulon would know a thing or two about having a busy schedule. An active member of band, debate, mentors, Student Council, the Environmental Club and the Diversity Club, he also takes three AP classes and spends four or more hours on homework each night.

He isn’t the only junior with an ambitious schedule.

“It’s a pretty demanding schedule,” junior Shari Gaynes said. “But I don’t regret it. I find academically challenging classes to be among my favorites because there’s a lot of passion and drive from the students as well as the teachers.”

22 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | opinion

Just like Foulon, Gaynes is currently taking three AP classes but will be taking a fourth during second semester when she adds AP Psychology to her schedule. Additionally, she has been heavily involved in theater since her freshman year, is a mentor, member of the Gay Straight Alliance and spends each Saturday working at Clock Tower Bakery.

With her busy schedule, Gaynes finds that she doesn’t often have time off.

“Yeah, free time is pretty scarce, because there’s always a test that could be studied for or assignments that could be done ahead of time,” Gaynes said. “Friday nights and Sundays are when I have the most time – but I have to make sure there’s time for homework to be completed. I try to use some of that time to sleep for as long as possible, but I make time for friends because I’ve got to have a little fun, right?”

With such busy schedules, both feel pressure to do exemplary work.

“Kids will kind of put themselves under pressure to do these activities and take the higher classes because they naturally want to do well,” Foulon said. “They naturally want to get into a good college.”

Unfortunately, there are some negative repercussions that come from being too stressed for too long. cont. to page 23

Graphic by Sam Billman

cont. from page 22 “I am very stressed over just having enough time to not only get my work done, but to do it in a quality way as well,” Gaynes said. “That can be frustrating too, because I want to produce high-quality work in and for school, but I should also, like, actually sleep sometimes. My sleep cycle is so out of whack, it’s ridiculous. It’s hard to avoid that though, because I don’t want work to go undone.”

For the time being, homework and extracurricular activities are just a way of life, but there has to be a way to power through when the school year gets rough. The first way to do this is to commit yourself to whatever you are passionate about.

“I think that all it takes for anyone to get through is passion and devotion,” Gaynes said. “I’m not saying that this is relevant to every junior, but this is my personal take on the matter.”

It is also important that parents realize that expectations are different from when they were in school.

“From what my father has told me,” said Foulon.

“It seems like [high school] was easier in the past and it wasn’t required of kids to do so much.”

By opening up this dialogue, it helps everyone understand the rigorous, stress-filled year that lies ahead as students begin to apply to colleges and attempt to earn scholarships.

“Students today are more stressed than ever before,” Gaynes said. “Colleges today are much more competitive to get into, which in turn pushes students to live up to the standards of certain colleges. My father attended college at Duke University, and he told me that if he were in high school today with the academic achievement he considered to be of a high level back then, he wouldn’t be able to be admitted into the school because it’s so much harder.”

seniors chime in: was junior year really the hardest?

Gaynes compared the weight of her textbooks and the weight of her cat, Marvel.

At 20 pounds, her books weigh eight pounds more than her cat.

Photo courtesy of Shari Gaynes

Other than that, it is vital for students not to be intimidated to challenge themselves in school, especially because it can lead to great opportunities.

“Don’t be scared of the AP classes,” Gaynes said.

“If you’re not taking advantage of the great courses our school has to offer, then you’re doing it wrong. AP classes are a great way to prepare for college, and you can even get college credit from them.”

Most importantly, it is imperative that you enjoy what you’re doing, otherwise the year will be torture.

“Junior year has been my most fun year so far, Foulon said. “I’m kind of a workaholic, so I like this, and it’s been the most enjoyable year for me.” | laurenstone

“ “

I thought junior year was the hardest because that’s when people take their hardest classes.” |seniorbeccaschnelle

I’d say junior year was the hardest because that’s when I took my hard college classes. I also had sports and a job, so I had no free time.” |seniorbradywagner

“

I actually thought that freshman year was the hardest because I couldn’t choose which classes I took.” |seniorashleycantrell

opinion | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 23

TIME SHINE TO

15-year-old Emily Edwards scores a spot on the school cheerleading squad

T

he Southwest fight song does more than just inspire athletes on the field. It has also inspired 15-year-old freshman Emily Edwards to accomplish something no other Southwest student has done before her.

This year, Edwards became the high school’s first cheerleader with Down syndrome. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome and affects over 400,000 Americans.

Although Edwards has this disability, she doesn’t let it hold her back when it comes to cheer, school and friendship.

Edwards enjoyed watching the cheerleaders perform and it was recognized by the team and the coaches. Asked formally by varsity cheer coach and special education teacher Kelli Lair, Edwards was ecstatic to be invited to perform with the entire cheer team.

“I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Emily this summer, and after getting to know her I found out that she loved cheerleading,” Lair said. “After I talked with her parents first, I asked Emily if she would be

interested in coming to cheer class and working with the girls, and obviously her answer was yes.”

Lair then decided that Edwards would begin to learn routines, cheers and chants so that she would be ready to perform with the team.

With never a dull moment, Edwards was an enjoyable new addition to the team and Lair knew she had made the right choice.

“The other girls on the team love Emily,” Lair said. “Everyone is always very excited to help Emily, and we all love to see her be successful.”

Since cheer practice is during seventh hour and Edwards is enrolled in a seventh hour class other than cheer, Lair records the routines and material Edwards must learn for her next Friday practice so that she misses as little as possible of her seventh hour class.

Edwards has practiced with the team every Friday since the start of October and finally cheered for the first time at the assembly on Oct. 18, performing routines and chants that took the team the entire summer to perfect.

Edwards will later begin to perform at upcoming games, as well.

Junior varsity cheer coach Taylor Holmes

24 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

is also rather fond of Edwards joining the team and believes it benefits the team much more than it does Edwards.

“Emily’s excitement really does shine on the other girls and helps them perform better at practice,” Holmes said. “It’s a great experience for her to be active and have an even bigger support system and group of friends.”

Cheerleading has been an inspiration to Edwards by creating confidence and good worth ethic. Edwards exclaims that she has nothing to be nervous about while performing.

To Edwards, cheerleading is more than just an activity; it defines her.

“It’s my life,” Edwards said. “I really like to cheer, and it makes me proud to be on the team.”

Edwards had a hard time picking what she enjoys most about cheer, but if she had to it would be her new friends. She also mentions that she loves dressing up in her new uniform and all the bows and glittery apparel that go along with being a cheerleader. Edwards says she looks up to the girls on the cheerleading squad and that they are an inspiration to her. cont. to page 25

cont. from page 24 “My cheer friends are awesome,” Edwards said. “I love cheering with the girls and being able to watch their routines.”

The entire cheerleading squad has enjoyed the company of Edwards, her cheerful presence and being a role model for the freshman. The team, including senior captain Deavyn Carey, is delighted by the idea of Edwards becoming a new member of the team.

“We are so glad that Emily is on the team,” Carey said. “She has such a fun spirit, and there’s not one time I’ve looked at her and saw

her frowning. She is always laughing or wants to learn more.”

Emily’s paraprofessional Jo Oliver believes cheer has benefited Edwards in multiple ways, but mostly through friendship. Oliver says that Edwards has learned the value of teamwork, and cheer has increased her motivation to learn.

“Cheerleading really helps Emily get involved and to create a bigger circle of friends,” Oliver said.

“Not only does Emily learn more and get more involved, it lets the school know more about Emily.”

| mariemtowakoli

Top: Freshman Emily Edwards stretches out with varsity cheerleaders, junior Abby Pelfrey, sophomore Lexi Tarter, junior Addison Daniel and junior Alisha Ngyuen before the big pep assembly on Oct. 18.

Right: Edwards claps along with varsity cheerleader Katrina Schuster during the Homecoming Assembly, Edwards works on the cheers and chants along with the other memebers of the team once a week.

photos by anna glennon feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 25

Photos by Erica Good.

more than a

sideline sport

five girls devote time to varsity and competitive cheerleading

S

tudents are used to seeing cheerleaders as smiling faces chanting in front of the bleachers at a pep assembly. But walking into competitive cheer practice feels more like walking into boot camp. Coaches shout commands from the side: “Eyes up! Move it! ” Stunt groups launch flyers, who spring into the air like shots firing. Athletes leap several feet off the ground, performing stunts that sometimes take an entire summer to perfect. Everything is rapid and there are almost no breaks,

no time to stop and rest. But at the same time, the group is organized, disciplined and intense.

Each girl wears a mask of determination that covers any signs of pain, because everyone there has a greater purpose: staying strong for the team.

Senior Mikki Wright, sophomore Kate Perrigo and juniors Addison Daniel, Paige Donovan and Katrina Schuster all double as varsity cheerleaders at Southwest and competitive cheerleaders at Kansas City Athletic

26 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

Cheer (KCAC). But the competitive cheer practice looks nothing like the perfected stunts performed under the lights at Friday night football games. Each group starts its routine, and when someone inevitably falls or is hit, she jumps back up and starts again without hesitation.

“You’re constantly, for three hours a day, pushing your body to its limits,” Wright said. cont. to page 27

cont. from page 26

“Even at your most exhausted point, you still have to do your routine full-out; you still have to go for every skill you have; you still have to push yourself and push your teammates. It’s just a lot of mental toughness.”

Since the girls spend anywhere from 15 to 24 hours a week cheering, the teams become pretty close. During the run-through of the routine, whenever one of the girls has a moment of rest, she is screaming “come on, girls!” for her teammates until she is back in again. At one point, one of the stunt groups comes close to completing a routine correctly for the first time. The entire team suddenly erupts with shouts — “You got it!” — as the group continues through the flips. When the group is successful, the room bursts into applause — and then everyone begins working again.

“The hardest part about allstar cheerleading is losing or not putting out the best routine you know your team can do, when everybody wants it so bad,” Wright said. “Letting your coach down is always awful, too. [But] the hardest part I would say for high school cheer is watching one of your teammates get hurt.”

As part of a team, each girl is constantly responsible for someone else’s safety. She could be the one inflicting the pain on her teammate, and if one person goes down, the entire team suffers.

But injuries are nearly unavoidable. According to Health News on NPR, “cheering accounts for two-thirds of catastrophic injuries among high school girl athletes.”

In fact, injuries are so common that even the parents don’t give them a second thought. A small room at the front of the KCAC gym serves as a waiting area where spectators can watch the practice from TV screens, since it’s too dangerous to be in the room with the cheerleaders. Here, some of the moms watch the end of practice, chatting about whose daughter broke her neck or needs stitches this week.

To a stranger, this casual smalltalk may come as a surprise.

But as Wright said, in cheerleading “every day you get hit at least once, if not more. You always have bumps and bruises.” While Wright won’t go to the doctor because she doesn’t want to get surgery, she thinks she might have torn ligaments in her wrist. However, with a sport of this level, taking it easy isn’t an option.

“It is what it is,” she said.

“Competitive cheer I would say is more mental toughness than physical toughness. You get dropped, you get back up; you get fallen on, you get back up and brush it off. Even if it hurts really bad, you keep going.”

Schuster is no stranger to injuries either. At KCAC she was asked to base with a girl who was much taller than her, so the weight of the girl they were holding was more than her body could handle.

“They [the coaches] made me base a girl, and she was too heavy for me to hold,” Schuster said.

“Her weight was more on me, so it just snapped my collar bone in half. [During practice] I sat out and I thought my shoulder hurt, but I didn’t think I broke it. [But] I went to the hospital and it was cracked right down the middle.”

Injuries are largely a result of

the difficult skills now required in the sport. High school cheer coach Kelli Lair used to cheer in high school, and she later coached for nine years, including at an all-star gym in college. But she says high school cheerleading has strayed from the cliché.

| anandabhatia

cont. to bvswnews.com.

“they’re dumb”

Stereotypes

“cheerleading isn’t a sport” “male cheerleaders are gay”

“they’re sluts” “they’re not really athletes” “you have to be pretty”

Quotes taken from the interviews of each cheerleader.

Top: Daniel, Perrigo and Schuster pose to the music during a run-through of the competition routine. “[The hardest part] is mastering your skills,” Schuster said. “You can work all summer to master one thing.” Bottom: Wright and Schuster perform a series of jumps during one of the most intense parts of the routine. “It’s basically just how much you think your body can handle,” Wright said. “Some people would stop before others would, but none of us will say we’re hurt ever.”

feature | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 27

Digital Distractions

The learning ability of students is being compromised

S

itting in a 50-minute class at a high school, it’s pretty easy to pick up on the difference between students who actually want to learn and the students who are there because they’re legally obligated. The kid who is at least trying to learn is sitting there and diligently listening, while that student’s counterpart is texting and has an ear-bud in all class. Cell phones are becoming a distraction in our schools, and the line needs to be drawn on uses of cell phones in the classroom.

Early last month, Apple unveiled its newest creations, the iPhones 5s and 5c. A survey done

by Piper Jaffray shows that nearly half of all American teenagers own an iPhone. Their most popular product is basically treated as a toy by teenagers. Teens have become so attached to their phones, that they’re not able to go anywhere, or do anything without it in pocket.

There are actually a multitude of ways cell phones can be used for beneficial purposes in class.

Programs that allow students to interact with the learning material are abundant in this day and age.

There are websites that allow students to record responses to a quiz on their phone by texting in their answers like the polling program,

28 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | opinion

Pole Everywhere. StudentVue has a smartphone application that allows students to check their grades easily at school.

Students today, however, are seemingly addicted to their cell phones. The South Korean government has set up a program to help heal teenager’s in their country with their cell phone addictions.

While there are limitless ways cell phones could be used in beneficial ways in school, these addictions to smartphones don’t exactly yield when it comes time for class. A teacher may mention a cell phone policy at the beginning of the year, but he or she rarely enforces it.

The teachers that put the hammer

down with a strict no-cellphone policy at the beginning of the year rarely have issues with students looking at their phones instead of the whiteboard.

The fear of cheating is one of the main reasons some teachers have been cracking down on inappropriate cell phone use in class.

“I’ve been involved in several instances of cheating,” English Language Arts teach Katherine Buchanan said. “Students would take a picture of a test and then put it on Twitter.” cont. to page 29

staff vote yes - 14 no - 1 your vote

Go online to bvswnews. com to cast your vote for this month’s editorial question.

Read other student responses and comment on the editorial.

Make your voice heard at www. bvswnews. com. or mention us on twitter @bvswnews

photo editor anna glennon

managing editor mariem towakoli

features editor ananda bhatia

news editor caroline fronzcak

ting their phones taken away.

“Teachers need to be more lenient with their phone policies,” sophomore Zach Keeling said. “Some teachers I respect for being more lenient because they understand that phones are a com-

Cheating Not Cheating Cheating Not Cheating

Cheating Not Cheating

er sees you with a phone out they will immediately take it away,” German foreign exchange student Alexander Hintz said.

Some students are opposed to the fact that teachers have the right to confiscate students’ phones. They believe they have the right to use to their cell phones in class without the fear of get-

mon part of daily life.”

Students and teachers, however, are expected to follow the student technology guidelines set forth by the Blue Valley School District, which clearly states that cell phones and other personal mobile electronics are to be used for educational purposes only. Students need to expect confiscation of their cell

phones if they abuse their privileges.

A University of Pittsburgh study shows that students send an average of 2.6 texts per class, and are more likely to miss instruction and score lower grades as a result. Having your phone out in class and texting distract you from listening to the instructor and learning the class material.

Technology is a great thing; there is no denying. Teenagers need to be able to separate themselves from their phones, especially when there is a teacher standing at the front of the room teaching. I think everybody has sent the occasional text during class, and that’s not an issue. The issue is when you distract yourself from learning during class by constantly staring at your phone screen. Our society has gone decades without such technology, and we should be able to go 50 minutes without it.

| michaelmagyar

| thesouthweststandard

editor-in-chief grant laster

web editor caroline fronzcak

Search the Taking internet for pictures of the answers test and during a sending to test a friend

“Cell phones could definitely be used more appropriately in class,”science teacher Deborah Sisk said.

“Teachers have really been trying to engage students in more purposeful uses for smartphones.”

Resources like phone applications are certainly great learning tools. Apps like Dropbox and Evernote allow students to log the information they learn in class and study it later on computers at home. These are all great ways smart phones can be used in class; however, it all comes back to the maturity issue. Students can be told to look something up on their phone, but instead use this opportunity to be on their phones to text their friend or to try to beat their high score on a game.

Schools worldwide also struggle with having students addicted to their phones. A high school in Bondurant, Iowa, has banned students having their cell phones out in class. This may sound extreme, but school officials claim that the students were using the phones excessive-

ly, and something needed to be done. In countries in Asia, it is common practice for teachers to take the students phones during class hours.

In Germany the rules aren’t much different.

“In Germany, if a teach-

Text friends answers during a test

cont. from page 29

Do you think cellphones are being abused in class?

opinion editor nicole becker special sections editor lauren stone adviser heather lawrenz

photographers sarina acharya sam billman charlotte davis erica good ciara murphy staff writers margo johnson michael magyar lexi tarter rachel conner

The Southwest Standard is published Letters should be submitted to room 118 emailed to seven times a year for students, faculty bvswnews@gmail.com or and surrounding community of Blue Valley Southwest. It is an open forum for student mailed: expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessari- The Southwest Standard c/o ly reflect the views of the administration of Blue Valley Southwest High Blue Valley Unified School District #229.

School Letters to the editor and reader respom17600 Quivira ses are encouraged for publication. The Overland Park, KS 66085 Southwest Standard reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and The Southwest Standard also content and encourages letters to be no encourages guest photography. more than 350 words. All letters must be signed and names will be published

opinion | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | oct. 2013 | 29

Fright night | lexitarter

reviews on Kansas City’s most popular haunted houses

Worlds of Fun: Haunt Fest

Fear Farm

Fright zones were wide open and you could easily navigate through and see people before they scared you.

There are multiple levels of scary. The first two weren’t very scary. However, the last two were very scary.

Attractions include The Beast, Chambers of Poe, Macabre Cinema and Ghosts & Gangsters.

The mazes were scary because they were more enclosed – there were strobe lights – and things just popped out. The scariest mazes were Asylum Island and Corn Stalkers.

In the corn maze people jumped out and scared you. You couldn’t tell if the people that were dressed up like scarecrows were real people or fake because of how dark it was, so they took you by surprise.

The Beast was the scariest house because you don’t stand in a line and you don’t follow a specific path; instead, you wander through the scenes and you never know when something is going to jump out at you.

Asylum Island had people behind bars that reached out and also nurses and doctors that had fake syringes that followed you.

Friday night tickets- $29.99

Admission for all five attractions- $21 + tax Fear Farm and Zombie Apocalypse combo$30 + tax

Saturday night tickets- $44.99

Edge of Hell

Single house admission- $37 Two house combos- $65 Full Moon Festival Season Pass- $80

what scared you the most?

“

The rat man at Edge of Hell really freaked me out. I’m forever going to be scared of rats now.” | sophomoresydneyfitchett

“

I got so scared at Fear Farm that I still sleep with my lights on.”

Tips to survive haunted houses •

Remember that they can’t touch you

•

Always go with a buddy

•

Don’t act scared and they won’t react as much

•

Don’t run or they will chase you

•

Stay calm it’s not real, it’s just for fun!

| sophomoreabbyragsdale

Photo by Design Bolt.

30 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | special sections

| charlottedavis

Left: Sophomore Will Hawkins digs in during the 0-0 draw against Mill Valley. Bottom Right: Junior Justin Hicklin passes to a teammate.

Top Right: Senior defender Kevin McKinney launches the ball downfield. Top Left: Juniors Max Baum and Jack Tobin join Senior Alexander Hintz to wait for a free kick into the box.

31 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | boys soccer

| charlottedavis

FROM THE FIELD Favorite Team Memory:

“

Beating West, because I have lots of friends who play on that team, and Alexander had an incredible goal in overtime. Bang bang.”

| juniormaxbaum

“

Being as a team, the team dinners, things at school and practice. It’s just fun to play at a competitive level.”

| freshmansamgettings

“

Beating West in overtime for the second time in a row. It was a great feeling.”

| juniorjacktobin

32 | oct. 2013 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | boys soccer

Top: Sophomore Jacob Weaver waits as teammate Max Baum clears the ball out to him.

Bottom: The Timberwolves congratulate Freshman Sam Gettings for scoring a goal against Barstow on Oct. 7th.