The Standard Vol. 5 Issue 5

S

the standard blue valley southwest volume 5 | issue 5

33

CONTENTS 27

feb 2015 vol. 5 | issue 5 overland park, ks 05

how to stay healthy this winter

06

hindering health

08

finding the line

12

the procrastination problem

15

bridging the gap

18

shooting for a scholarship

22

challenge accepted

24

there’s no place like Kansas

27

life through a lens

30

energy to spare

33

setting the stage

35

baking club’s cookies

36

phone wars

37

deterring the damage

40

not just for guys

42

programmed for success

44

changing the pace

46

dance dilemma

48

a look inside Cupid’s arrow

30

15

40 24

editor’s note

Changes NEXT EXIT

Front cover: Driving to the hoop, sophomore Jamicheal Morgan looks to score in the paint.

Morgan’s contributions were not enough as the Timberwolves fell to the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints 60-54.

Cover photo by Delaney Oliver Graphic by Abby Yi

I

have lived in the same house my entire life, gone to school with the same people and eaten at the same restaurant, Jose Peppers, every weekend. My friends even

tell me that I look exactly the same as I did my freshman year, which is usually unheard of. To be honest, I have been perfectly content with familiarity and routine.

However, change is inevitable.

We find reason to celebrate the very fact that change is happening with the coming of the new year. Change deserves to be welcomed with anticipation — regardless of what form it comes in. With the new year came new faces to The Standard as we welcomed two members to our very talented family. New year, new stories.

With only three issues of the newspaper left, we hope to bring you more content with diversity and new angles.

Our school is in constant motion, challenging students to go further in all that they do. Students explore the evolving industry of computer programing, make their dream of playing collegiate sports a reality and learn how to perform the hardest musical our school has seen. The people of our school have many successes, which deserve to be recognized, but that is not the full story. Your stories are not solely a tale of accomplishment but bring forth the grit and tenacious attitude with which you embrace the change.

| onlineeditor

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| thesouthweststandard editor-in-chief ananda bhatia managing editor margo johnson

design coaches lauren stone lexi tarter copy editor ellie augustine

web editor nicole becker

adviser heather lawrenz

writing coaches michael magyar nicole becker

photographers donna armstrong kate bowling

jelle buijs riley martin delaney oliver abby yi staff writers sneha bhavanasi lillie hoffart blake gustafson madison leighty katie lucas broc putnam

4 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | ads

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.

Letters should be submitted to room 118 emailed to bvswnews@gmail.com or mailed: The Southwest Standard c/o Blue Valley Southwest High School 17600 Quivira Overland Park, KS 66085 The Southwest Standard also encourages guest photography.

HOW TO STAY

HEALTHY THIS WINTER tips and tricks on how to look and feel your best in the cold | katebowling

UA

SQ

During the winter, exercising outdoors is not always an option. In this case, a home workout may work best. These simple exercises make it easy to fit in a short session during the day.

T

SHAPE UP

HYDRATE

Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated, but it also keeps your skin looking healthier, aids in digestion and gives you more energy.

When you don’t feel much like exercising, try a mini-workout. Exercises that work more than one muscle group at a time — squats, lunges, push-ups, planks and dips — let you wrap up your strength workout sooner.

STOCK UP Having your own supply of things, like pens, can keep you from picking up a virus because viruses can be transmitted through objects.

PLANK

MODIFY YOUR MEALS

1. Opt for fruits, grains and veggies. Steer clear of pre-packaged, non-nutritious foods.

2. There’s no reason not to incorporate more plants into your diet. Salads, vegetables and fruits are healthy options that come in a large variety.

3. Look for healthier alternatives as far as beverages. For example, switch out a latte or frappuccino for an herbal tea.

4. Find recipes online that include healthy winter foods.

Information taken from mindbodygreen.com and webmd.com.

CATCH MORE ZZZ’S Sleep is overlooked and underrated when it comes to being healthy. Your body needs rest like it needs food and water.

STAY SOCIAL

Health doesn't start and end with food and working out. Your mind and emotional state matter, too.

Making time to be social helps with depression, anxiety and stress.

graphic | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | feb 2015 | 5

hindering health school pressures cause students to struggle with caring for their health

J

tiredness, chills, fever and aches suggest the flu developing

unior Cooper Courtney could barely lift her head off her pillow or get out of bed. With the strike of mononucleosis (mono), she suffered a fever for nine days, pounding headaches and stomach and liver issues. After seven different blood tests, she was able to somewhat return to her routine, but in the meantime, a month of missing school work and basketball had piled up with finals quickly approaching.

“My symptoms had died down, but when I came back, getting up was definitely a struggle,” Courtney said. “I started with half days at school, and it was hard because it was right when basketball was starting, so I was trying to go to practice and get in shape for that. Then I fell asleep during almost every class, and, yeah, it was hard.”

With the migration of the arctic winds of winter, it is almost certain that the flu bug will find its way to Kansas as well. According

to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 78 percent of flu activity reached its highest in December through February from 1983 to 2014.

Young adults, on average, have two to three colds a year, which brings almost every student to be lying in bed at some point with a Kleenex pile next to him or her, trying to determine whether coming to school is really worth it.

With constant tests, homework assignments and projects, missing one day of school is not always the simplest decision. It can be just as easy to come to school with a bag of cough drops and suck up the symptoms for a couple of days.

“Usually I’ll have a lab or tests or something, and it’s kind of hard to make them up,” junior Rathi Narayan said. “I’d rather not come in later and do them because all of the teachers will usually tell you in advance that we’re having this test or this lab.

So, I usually just come in even if I’m sick so I don’t

a cold develops gradually, while the flu is abrupt 6 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | opinion

have to make up the work later.”

Menacing make-up work causes students to question the importance of their health, but they need to take a step back from all the stress and realize that one or two days will not be the end of the world. School policy does not limit how many excused absences a student can take; it is possible and necessary for students to allow time off for their bodies and minds to restore themselves.

“For one, your body doesn’t have a chance to rest and heal if you’re at school, and that’s really what your immune system needs is time to lay down, to sleep, to push fluids and to allow your immune system to fight off whatever infection is invading your body,” school nurse Mitzi Edwards said. “When you’re up and around at school, it puts that whole healing process on hold.”

However, not all symptoms are worth phoning in sick and watching Netflix all day.

on average 23,600 people die from the flu in the U.S. annually

A mild sore throat, cough, runny nose and/ or congestion are nonrestrictive symptoms that allow students to continue with their daily routines. When a student is deciding if symptoms are harsh enough to stay home, Edwards recommends looking for a fever as a sure sign of sickness. Edwards says that a fever is a recognizable symptom that states that the immune system is fighting something, in which she advises the student to stay home and rest.

“If you have to go to the doctor for what you’re sick for, and they tell you that you have to rest, then I think you should stay home for sure,” Narayan said. “When you have a fever, you shouldn’t come to school.

I usually don’t come to school when I have a fever or am taking antibiotics, but I come to school when I have a cold or something simple.”

Sleep contributes enormously to the general well-being of a person — it is essentially the food for the brain. The amount of sleep a person gets affects his or her growth, mood and ability to think. Teenagers should average eight to nine hours of sleep a night, but over 50 percent of high school students sleep seven hours or less, according to Student Pulse.

As workload increases, so does the ab-

sence of sleep. According to the Center for Advancing Health, nearly 20 percent more seniors have sleep deficits than freshmen.

Senior Jacob Hegna considers himself to fit into that category, averaging five to six hours of sleep a night.

“My activities definitely attribute to my being tired because I usually don’t stop thinking about things and relaxing until a lot later in the night because of things I’m working on,” Hegna said. “So I don’t feel like it’s time to go to bed until much later.

I’m pretty used to not getting enough sleep, but during my first hour I usually don’t learn as much as compared to my fourth hour because I’m still tired and waking up.”

Lack of sleep in teenagers cannot solely be blamed on workload, unfortunately. Students tend to not want to do their work and procrastinate, which leads to harm to their health and wellness from sleep deficiency.

Although it’s necessary to relax after a day of work, planning out the day could allow for more time to do responsibilities while maintaining healthy habits.

“After you have a bunch of hard classes and work, you need time to unwind because it’s not good for you if you have work all day and then come home and just do the

flu facts as a virus, the flu can only grow inside of another living cell

same thing,” Narayan said. “It’s important to have time to yourself.”

Every person needs to recognize the importance of health and balance it with school and other activities. High schoolers are too caught up in everything that they’re involved with that they fail to give their bodies the time that it needs. Something as simple as keeping a planner to manage time can allow students more sleep and benefit their health. Every habit that a person establishes now continues with him or her in the future, so it is vital to take care of the body and limit stress.

“Just realizing that taking care of your body is very important and getting over your illness and in the long run,” Edwards said. “Young people — and I was like this too — tend to feel invincible, like, ‘Oh, we can just pop a pill and go back to school and do OK,’ but really, your body says otherwise. You do need to take the time to rest and give your body a chance to heal because the teachers here are awesome, the administrators are great [and] we all are going to get sick as well and work with students to help them get caught up.” | nicolebecker

Graphics by Abby Yi.

on average, five to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the flu annually

there are three different types of flu viruses facts taken from www.flufacts.com

|7

8 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | news feature

how the school allows religious freedom without promoting religious beliefs

L

ast year, sophomore Alexa Kathol chose a book about creationism to read for biology class.

Although the class learned only about evolution, Kathol said “telling kids that they’re nothing more than an educated fish seems a little dehumanizing.”

While she was allowed to do so, she said that her peers “thought [she] was crazy and they probably thought [she] was just trying to stir up conflict,” and her teachers seemed “very shocked” with her choice. When the class was presenting in small groups, Kathol said her teachers “went around to every group and listened in” except for hers.

“Nothing was necessarily uncomfortable,” she said.

“It was more of just an overwhelming feeling of sadness, because I had this realization that kids actually believe the things that teachers are telling them about evolution, and it’s sad to know that I know the truth about the detail and love and passion that went into creating humans.”

Creationism is commonly brought up in the conflict of finding the line between religious freedom and religious promotion in a public school. The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

|9

The problem lies in the following clauses: while the Establishment Clause “requires neutrality from government and prohibits public school advancement of religion,” the Free Exercise Clause “prohibits schools from interfering with religious expression.”

“I think people should be able to express who they are,” sophomore Michael Taylor said. “I don’t think we should say absolutely no religion, because I know that’s a big part of people’s lives, and it’s really not fair just to cut it out completely.”

In September of 2013, a nonprofit group called Citizens for Objective Public Education filed a lawsuit to block the Department of Education from adopting the Next Generation Science Standards that would teach evolution and climate change in science classes. According to the Huffington Post, the lawsuit claimed that the standards would promote atheism and therefore violate the separation of the church and state.

But the lawsuit was dismissed, and the Next Generation Science Standards stayed in place. According to the National Academy of Sciences, “creationism, intelligent design, and other claims of supernatural intervention in the origin of life or of species are not science because they are not testable by the methods of science.” Creationism is still not allowed to be taught in the classroom.

Kathol, however, did have the right to write about creationism. Students have the legal right to choose religious themes for self-directed assignments.

In the past, students have also written about evolution versus creationism for argumentative papers. But while writing about these topics is allowed, English Language Arts teacher Shauna Rinearson said it is difficult for students to remain objective in these papers.

“From a rhetorical standpoint, the greatest challenge that a student faces in writing about any controversial top-

H T Y M VS T C FA 10 |

Information from interviews with Assistant Principal Todd Dain on Jan. 8 and 15.

ic is the strong possibility of relying on emotion rather than logic and turning what should be a reasoned argument, supported through effective evidence, into a persuasive paper supported by emotional appeal and personal opinion,” Rinearson said. “When we choose to write about issues such as evolution versus creationism, it may be very personally dear to our hearts, and perhaps we have exceptionally strong convictions about those issues.”

In the case of writing about religion for school assignments, the problem is not necessarily related to the fact that the subject matter was religious. Similarly, sometimes seemingly religious items are used for secular educational purposes.

Assistant Principal Todd Dain said religion is a “valid part of school curriculum” because it is a part of culture — it is talked about in social studies, English and world language classes.

Myth: School meetings can’t be held at religious buildings and religious groups can’t meet at schools.

Fact: All outside groups have to have an equal opportunity to access school facilities, so the PAC or fixed forum can be rented out to religious groups. School meetings can be held at church facilities to accommodate for the size of the group.

For example, quotes from the Bible or other religious texts are allowed on the walls of classrooms if they are treated as literature and promote positive, universally applicable ideas.

The school’s policy is that religious symbols can be on display in classrooms where they are relevant, such as a world history class, as long as all religions are equally represented. Sophomore Jacob Ginsberg believes that while teachers should not devote their entire classrooms to a religious belief, it should be OK to “just have a cross or something in a corner or on a wall” or for students to “have some sort of satanism thing on their desk.”

“People should definitely have freedom of religion because that’s what keeps people different, and that’s what makes things interesting,” Ginsberg said. “I just think people should be more accepting and less threatening toward people who are different.”

The school, however, is not allowed to promote any one particular belief. For this reason, students aren’t allowed to pass out religious items because of the chance that some students

who want them might not get them or students who do not want them might receive them. And if teachers want to share their own religious beliefs with students, they can only do so outside the classroom. They are required to make it clear that it is their own perspective as individuals and not as teachers.

“We’ve never asked a teacher to lie, and I think that honesty and that transparency are very important,” Dain said. “But the teacher has to separate their role as the teacher and as a role model and separate their duty as someone with influence over students.”

But freedom of religion also allows students to express themselves. Kathol said players on the girls basketball team write Bible verses on their arms before games.

“It’s covered under our First Amendment rights — freedom of speech and freedom of religion — so I feel like [it] is important that schools and people in the school recognize that America is different; America was founded on the principle that people are allowed to do this,” Kathol said. “For me, Christianity isn’t

just a religion; it’s a relationship and a lifestyle.”

Lastly, religious freedom provides students with more chances to learn about different cultures and ways of thinking outside of the classroom. Even though Taylor is no longer affiliated with a religion, he said “faith plays a huge role in some people” and he believes students should be able to talk about religion at school openly.

“I think you should be able to be who you want to be in school,” Taylor said. “I think we all are really diverse, and when you’re not tolerant and you force somebody to conceal part of who they are, not only do you not get to really experience who that person is, you miss out on the opportunity to learn.”

Myth: Students are not allowed to pray at school or school-related activities and events.

Myth: Only certain religious clubs are allowed to hang posters in the school.

Myth: Teachers are never allowed to talk about personal religious beliefs with students.

| anandabhatia Editor’s note: In the next issue, The Standard will be covering minority religions.

FCA Wed 7:10

JSU Thu 8:15

Fact: According to the American Civil Liberties Union, “children are free to pray in public schools either as individuals or in groups.” However, coaches can still designate certain times before a game as time for the team, and therefore ask students not to pray or do anything else on their own.

Fact: All school clubs and groups, including FCA and JSU, have equal access to bulletin boards, hanging posters and announcements, as long as the messages are open to all and reflect that everyone is welcome.

Fact: While faculty members cannot pray with students or lead religious discussions, they are allowed to share their religious perspectives with students, as long as it is done outside the classroom.

| 11

Th e Procrastination Problem getting to the root of why students procrastinate

(Editor’s note: Th involved ere w in the w riting of as procrastinati T-Minus this arti on 24 ho cle.)

“The w and not eek befo a senten urs until a pro was sup re ject is d ce has b ture glu p o s een writ e u ed down d to be w finals, I e, pa te p n to orking o e r n a o fo r p “I neve r Englis oster b a picna h, and e I tried, junior R r, ever do thin oard. verytime I simply gs when iley Tre myse could nt said.

I off until “I alway should,” up lf do it,” Trent s n’t make the last m s aid w p inute o ut thing Students s befo rking until 4 a . “I ended frequen . .m r lem. Th e . tly come it was d ed ue to fin the night Th they scr istractions are e to the same pro ish it.” b- trib e rise in techn amble to ndless, and in tu ology is uting fa finish th sible sec c a r ings at ond. the last n, of a butto tor. With just th conNew Yo n p e , o s a press p r er k Univ a multit gist Wil ude of d son has access liam K ersity at Buffalo is to tr apps, m na cent of c p essaging actions, includ ollege stu us estimated th sycholoin a n g ds “ at 90 p d students er- to With social me ocial media. , 25 per ents procrastina dia, you other pe cen te. Of th tors and op ese to c they are t are chronic p o,” Tren le who are proc an talk r up drop o u c s r a u s a tinally the r t a s s ping ou a tinati id .“ else pro one t of coll always th crastina If you find som ng ege, tho s who end s e case: ti eone ng, ugh this eem like many stu brink of isn’t a bad id suddenly it doe delay. dents th a sn’t ea. And few mor rive on “Some the e, the b ecause th and then it’s all n you find line’s clo people will w ait unti se so th at least en you get the m over for you l the d e adrenali I en eadne rush n they get this myself o won’t be screw tality, ‘Well, ,” schoo energy Kerr sa e v d e r and n l ps a id othing I and over that th lone.’ I tell and the . “Then they ca ychologist Cath could po e r y really e is lite ncel eve y is eve ssibly fi rally co ry — that’ nd on w s someb ncentrate and k thing out bu n half as impor itter tha tant as m t as muc ody who nock it deadline t h as I try ou y can wor .” to avoid school work, k well to t a vice and Trent is it, I simply a cannot e technology is Many th she work one of those pe s c in ape it.” ople. La g ed into th s c ontribute yet the st se e to finaliz to procr e what s wee hours of th mester ager one that seems astinatio ’s lives is he e mornin m I’ve eve g exhausti ost prevalent in n, r written said was “the b est pape on. .” teenr

12 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

For those under the age of 20, a study of self-reported sleep-induced issues found that 23 percent of those asked were unable to concentrate properly after a bad night’s sleep, which, in turn, makes it harder to concentrate the next day, and therefore a person is more likely to procrastinate.

“As far as high school students go, I would say we mostly procrastinate because we’re tired — tired and unmotivated,” Trent said. “It can be pretty hard to drag yourself out of bed to do that math assignment when you average four hours of sleep a night.”

With so much homework, not to mention after school activities, sports and jobs, students are finding it harder to get their z’s.

“I’m usually either working or playing volleyball when I’m procrastinating, then after either work or volleyball, I am too tired to want to do my assignments,” junior Lexie Penichet said. “If I have to work from 3:45 to 9:30, then I know I have no time after school. I don’t have a study hall during school, so I will most likely need to wake up early and get [my homework] done then.”

In addition to sleep loss, some of the more detrimental effects can occur when people are especially stressed; procrastination can cause symptoms of physical illness, as well as emotional distress.

“I think when you move into that anxiety, it can be crippling and it can cause physical symptoms,” Kerr said. “Anxiety is very physical, so you know, heart racing, and shortness of breath and feeling tired or ill or even nauseous. Over a long period of time, I think that probably can wear down your immune system if you’re that anxious for things, so it can bleed into really making you not function very well.”

Despite the obvious downsides to long-term procrastination, there are ways to get on with life, for good.

“I do think people can overcome procrastination,” Trent said. “I haven’t mastered that yet, but I think a lot of people — myself included, believe it or not — can recognize when it’s really time to get to work and stop messing around. It can be hard but no one wants their grade to drop because they were too lazy to do a simple assignment.”

Among the ways to stop procrastination, Kerr said students can set small goals for themselves, and then “start with the due date, work backwards and then try and accomplish those [goals].” “[It is helpful to take] short breaks, like working for 10 minutes, taking two minutes off, working for 20 minutes, taking five minutes off — taking short breaks can help calm that anxiety and keep you going on something,” Kerr said. “Sometimes it is a learning process, where ‘next time I have this assignment, I don’t want to feel this way,’ so the next time you start working at those time management skills.”

However, despite all the consequences due to procrastination, it is something that students don’t think will be going away anytime soon.

“When faced with choosing between Instagram and algebra homework, it’s almost always an obvious choice for me,” Trent said. “Then I end up dooming myself to spend another late night scrambling to get work done.”

“

When fa ce choosing d with between Instagra m and algebra h om it’s almo ework, st alway s an obvio us choic e for me.” | junio rrileytren

t

| ellieaugustine | 13 13 | jan. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

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Bridging The gap The bridge is a hot spot for a handful of students.

Bridge-sitters can enjoy the architecture of the school while socializing with friends and eating lunch. Away from the chaos of the cafeteria, some students share their thoughts on their unique seating choice. | abbyyi

| abbyyi

photo essay | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | feb. 2015 | 15

“

I’d rather sit with a small group and actually know everyone than a big table and not be able to talk the whole time.” | seniorsammymoulton

Why do you

“ 16 |

| seniorromarickeuwo

I just really love the bridge. I think this is the best thing in Blue Valley because friends come over here sometimes and are like, ‘Oh my gosh, you guys have a bridge ­— we don’t have that,’ and I’m like ‘haha, sucks to be you.’”

“

| freshmankitanarichards

I sit on the bridge so after I eat, I can read. I’m trying to read a book every two months because I’m not from this country, so reading helped me with how I talk. I moved here from Florida, but before I lived in Florida, I lived in Jamaica.”

sit on the bridge?

“

Well, it’s just me and one other friend, so there’s no point in taking a whole table.” | juniorseanmckinzie | 17

1

3

(1) Junior Miles Lester drives to the hoop, looking to score a basket for the Timberwolves.

Lester’s 13-point contribution was not enough, however, as the Timberwolves fell at the hands of the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints with a final score of 6454. (2) Junior Rilynne Like dribbles to the basket for a layup to decrease the Saints’ advantage.

The Lady Timberwolves lost 46-27. (3) Like slides in between senior Lauren York and the opposing player to assist in guarding the Aquinas player. (4) At the boys varsity basketball games, the Timberwolf student section is dressed for a white-out, while the Saints wear 80’s apparel. (5) Junior Matt Wilkinson handles the ball while being defended by a member of the opposing team.

Wilkinson was able to score 10 points against the Saints.

ww

2

4

5

18 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

6

(6) Senior Sam Randall dives for the ball as the crowd watches intensely to see the outcome of the small battle for possession.

(7) Junior Cooper Courtney fights through the double team. Her two-point contribution was not enough to bring the Timberwolves a victory. (8) Wilkinson goes in for a layup, outrunning the opposing team. (9) Senior Tyler Farrell and sophomore Jamicheal Morgan smash a player of the opposing team between the two of the them while jumping for the ball, sending the ball out of bounds.

Scoring 7

8

how stu

dents tra

For a Sc

nsition f

rom high

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school t

o collegia

Junior Rilynne Like steps on the court for basketball practice, exhausted from completing seven strenuous hours of school. As she begins to focus, she realizes she needs to put the thoughts of school behind her and mentally prepare to better herself and her team. After practice, she retreats to her home to complete the long list of homework awaiting her arrival. For Like and other athletes preparing to transition from high school to college athletics, this is merely a normal day.

Like estimates the total amount of work put in for basketball alone is around 15 hours per week. She has an average of six practices every week, each lasting two hours. On the weekends, Like frequently completes four hours of extra workouts. In addition, she squeezes in an athletic training session whenever her schedule allows it. With such a busy schedule, Like has had to learn to manage her day-to-day life.

“It makes me really tired having to balance all of it,” Like said. “I have to make sure I have a certain amount of sleep, or I just shut down and it gets really tiring.”

Effective time management allows Like to stay on top of things and not fall behind.

She has learned to utilize her extra time efficiently and work ahead, preparing to shorten homework and studying time due to games or practice. Her passion gives her the motivation she needs to continue with her busy schedule. Like started playing basketball in first grade and loved it ever since.

“When you’re young, it’s kind of hard to decide if you really love it, but I loved it,” Like said. “It was awesome.”

As a kid, her basketball career wasn’t nearly as serious as it is now; today, as she has grown along with her skills, her in-practice ideals have changed. Her purpose has developed to wanting to progressively get better and improve her skills.

Like hopes her hard work in and out of practice will prepare her for college-level

ip

te sports

athletics. She has had instances in which colleges will show interest and then back off right away, which has brought her down mentally. While preparing for this higher level of competition, Like has found her height challenging. According to slate. com, the average height of a WNBA player is just under six feet, yet Like stands at a below-average height of 5’5”.

“It’s hard being as short as I am and playing against girls who are quicker, faster and taller than me,” Like said. “[I’ve learned] that I have really had to overcome [that] and make sure I have an advantage of quickness and explosive moves.”

Like is prepared to dedicate her time to the sport she loves. Overcoming the obstacles set in her path has pushed Like to succeed. The hard work she has put in over the years has paid off in the form of a fullride scholarship to University of Missouri-Kansas City.

“I really like the competitiveness because I get really into the games, but I really like that it is a team-oriented sport and you have to work together for an end goal,” Like said. “The different pieces that every player offers to it and they all work together to get you that end goal.”

For Like, basketball is everything.

Her willingness to put in as much work as possible is now paying off and giving her the chance to play basketball after high school, at a college that is right for her. After recently talking to a student at her soon-to-be college, Like said that students shouldn’t pick a college based on the coaches because that can change; they should choose a college that can help them academically. Like believes she found that college, and is lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of the athletic program additionally. She said that getting to a college sport takes more than playing well — it takes good grades, a sufficient GPA and an average (or better than average) ACT score.

| 19

9

10

Planning to do something with nursing in college along with her basketball career, Like perseveres through school work and studying.

Like said she wishes she could start college right now, but she knows that she has one year left to improve before continuing to a college sport.

“I don’t know what my life would be like without basketball, to be completely honest,” Like said. “I’ve spent most of my life focusing on this, and I have sacrificed doing things with friends, so I can’t imagine life without it.”

With their commitment to their sports, student athletes find themselves making many sacrifices to ensure their success. Preparing for college athletics requires work in and out of the normal practice schedule. According to usatoday.com, NCAA rules say coaches can

20 |

11

take only 20 hours per week of their players’ time, regardless of the sport. However, most students choose to work outside of required practice hours to better themselves and their skills. Junior Matt Wilkinson chooses to participate in a weight-lifting and strength-building program called PSP. He also works out with his off-season team, MO-KAN, to ensure he is improving his skills.

“Outside of the practice and outside the season and in the off-season, some kids will work harder,” Wilkinson said. “Some kids will do what they want to do to be able to play at the next level. But a lot of this is God-given — I mean I’m tall enough and I have height, so colleges will start looking at me. It’s about what you do with what you are given from God.”

Even with his natural talent, Wilkinson gets nervous before playing his games. He threw up before his first time starting varsity his sophomore year. As he has progressed, he has learned to calm his nerves. Now, a year later, pre-game jitters still occur, but nothing quite like sophomore year. This is all worth it to Wilkinson because of the people who motivate him and his love for the sport.

“I play for my teammates,” Wilkinson said.

“I have a good group of guys that I play with at Southwest — we’ve all gotten a lot closer.

And I play for my mom because it’s awesome to say, ‘Hey mom, look, the work I have put in has saved you money and hours and work and stress.’ The biggest motivation I have is being able to give back to my mom.”

(10) Senior Lauren York widens her defensive stance, guarding her opponent. York contributed six points to the total score. (11) Going in for a block, senior Laura Eldridge defends her position as forward. (12) Waiting to throw the ball in, senior E.R. Steffey looks for an open player. Steffey added 13 points to the final score of 64 as the leading scorer of the game. (13) Senior Steven Andersen positions himself under the basket for a shot. Andersen ended the game with a total of four points.

13

12

Wilkinson’s current plan is to play basketball in college while engaging himself in political science or history studies as well. Wilkinson has recently received his first scholarship offer, giving him an opportunity to continue his basketball career for a Division II NCAA team.

“Everybody has a little-kid dream of playing D1, but the reality is [that] any college sports, at any level, is no joke,” Wilkinson said. “It’s still going to be your life — you’re still going to wake up at 6 a.m. every morning for practice, and it’s going to be tough.”

Wilkinson believes that with a year and a half left to prepare, he will be ready for the challenges college sports will bring. Despite

the amount of time and effort that is going to be required of him when entering a collegiate sport, he is willing to put in the extra hours for the game he loves.

“College basketball, at any level, is going to be different,” Wilkinson said. “It’s going to be hard, and you’re going to have to work to be able to succeed.”

Alumnus and sophomore at the University of Oklahoma Wesleyan, present-day college basketball player Colton Miller reaffirms this notion.

“In high school, it is a little more laid back,” Miller said. “It wasn’t all year-round.

When you come to college, it’s a lot different.

You have to be ready to treat it as a job. “ Miller said that college basketball is more of a one-on-one game, with time to work on individual skills. His favorite part about college sports is always having something to do and to keep you busy and in shape. Miller believes that everybody wants to play the game he or she loves, and that is the good part, even with the tough work.

“My favorite thing is that when I play, nothing else really matters,” Miller said. “You are just so zoned out in the game, just playing the sport you love — you lose yourself in it.” | delaneyoliver

| 21

D E T P E

C C A E G N E L L A H C p to u p e t

the

ss

ent stud

W

ith their grades and potential college credit on the line, every day, second hour, 17 students pile into Room 209, ready for another day of doing something no one else in this school has done. Perhaps unsatisfied with their first semester grade card, or perhaps simply aiming to do better second semester, the students sit at their tables to review the notes they took the night before. This is social sciences teacher Tyler Alexander’s one and only Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography class.

“I thought it would be interesting,” freshman Crystal Rathburn said. “My eighth grade social studies teacher recommended me for it. When he explained it, he made it really interesting, so he influenced some people to take that class.”

This year, Blue Valley decided to add the first AP class open to freshmen. AP classes, equivalent to college-level courses, allow AP students to take an exam in May. Those who receive a score of a three or higher can get college credit for the course.

Principal Scott Roberts said that all five

fh

ar o e y t rs

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cho igh s

freshmen],” Roberts said. “It just made eir fi h t s sense for us. In fact, we’ve been s a l cl e looking at this course for three years; it’s a v e l high really great first AP course.” llege o schools in c a Alexander said that the class is about evf o the district had to rigor erything from agricultural practices to political agree to offer the course before geography to culture and religion to the way the consensus was presented to the Curpeople behave in society and why. As in othriculum Instruction Committee and finally the er AP classes, students complete AP multiple Blue Valley Board of Education for approval. choice questions and free-response questions.

After discovering that other school districts The units are broken into key issues that the in the area were already offering the class, reading and guided notes elaborate on. In Roberts decided that AP Human Geography class, students usually participate in activities or case studies to expand on what they It is my belief that read the night before.

Carrying out the class has presented its anyone who wants to go own difficulties. Both the teacher and the stustraight from high school dents have struggled with adjusting to the new class, since it’s everyone’s first try. to a four year school “Sometimes the background knowledge is should take at least one hard because [the freshmen] haven’t had all of the other history classes,” Alexander said.

AP class. [The classes] “Suppose if we talked about the Renaissance were tough but the [AP — they don’t have any reference points. The lack of background knowledge is maybe the students] were ready.” most difficult part. I think part of it is getting used to, especially for freshmen, what AP means because they don’t know what that looks like.”

Senior Jacob Emery explained that the class is easier for him as a senior than it is for a freshman because of all the background would be a good choice for the Blue Valley knowledge and AP skills he has acquired from School District to implement. taking other AP classes.

“You look at AP classes within the full catalog they have [and] AP Human Geography is about the only one that’s really appropriate [for

“

| principalscott roberts

22 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

Even though the class may be more manageable for students with experience in AP classes, Rathburn said that for freshmen, the class is a big transition amidst a new school and setting.

“There were a lot of terms that nobody understood or knew,” Rathburn said. “For tests, there was a lot of writing and multiple choice, and that was difficult for a first time because it was on a different grading scale. You had all the information to study, but there was a lot of it, so you didn’t know what to study.”

Rathburn said that students were intimidated to be the guinea pigs of a new AP class.

Unable to get advice from anyone who had previously taken the class, Rathburn said the freshmen didn’t know what to expect.

“[The other freshmen] probably were scared to try it out,” Rathburn said. “It was a big step going into [the class and going into] high school. I thought it was going to be a lot harder than it was, but now that I have gotten used to it, it’s gotten a lot easier.”

Despite the debate that an AP class for a freshman is too difficult, Alexander and Roberts thought it was a good addition. AP Human Geography serves not only as another rigorous class, but also a stepping stone for students looking to go into other AP classes. “[AP Human Geography has] just what it takes for work and the study component and what it means to be prepared for class and be engaged and discuss and participate,” Alexander said. “I think that’s a good challenge for students to get in right when they come into high school — to have that become the norm.

It’s a really good opportunity for them to develop AP skills. If you’re prepared to be challenged, then I’d say it’s a good fit.”

Though many students choose to take an AP class simply to challenge themselves and look good on college applications, others simply follow their passion.

“I like history, and it was another AP course,” Emery said. “If I would’ve taken this class as a freshman, it would’ve prepared me better for AP Euro and APUSH.” Whether it’s passion or prestige that guides someone to take an AP class, Roberts said alumni claim that the AP experience made them more prepared for college.

“It is my belief that anyone who wants to go straight from high school to a four year school should take at least one AP class,” Roberts said. “[The classes] were tough but the [AP students] were ready. And that’s that push we have. We don’t want you to be just college-eligible — we want you to be college-ready. That really validates why we have these AP classes.

Taking the class is great, but preparing and taking the test is the most college-like thing we can offer you in high school.”

| snehabhavanasi

| 23

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE KANSAS Kansas is celebrated in commemoration of Jan. 29, 1861, the day it became a state

70

HAYS

TOPEKA BONNER SPRINGS

335

KANSAS

DODGE CITY

70

JUNCTION CITY LUCAS

EMPORIA

135

KANSAS CITY MERRIAM OVERLAND PA

OTTAWA

35

35 WICHITA

35 COFFEYVILLE

S. P. Dinsmoor built his “Garden of Eden” between 1907 and 1928. He was a military nurse, a Freethinker, and an artist. After purchasing a house in Lucas, Kan., he decided to surround it with towering concrete sculptures that depicted scenes that are diverse: from biblical figures to animals to his social views. He constructed a sign above the entrance that reads “Garden of Eden.” He had wanted visitors to be able to tour his creation. Dinsmoor is buried on the edge of the property.

24 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | special sections

K

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW KANSAS?

1.

2.

4.

The town of Lebanon is the ______ of the contiguous 48 states:

A) smallest town B) geographic center

C) silo capitol D) gateway to the West

The first known photo of ______ was taken in Kansas:

A) a prairie dog

C) a cowboy

B) tumbleweed

D) a tornado

Who elected the ornate box turtle as the state reptile?

A) Jimmy Carter

C) Bob Dole

B) the town of Stilwell

D) a sixth-grade class

The major source of water in Kansas is from the:

A) Missouri River

C) rainfall

B) Ogalalla Aquifer D) Kansas River Which two creatures are the official state fossils?

A) the Tylosaurus

C) trilobites

B) the Pteranodon D) the Stegosaurus

Facts from kshs.org and www.garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com.

5.

6.

| lilliehoffart

A) limiting erosion C) agriculture B) raising cattle on D) tornadoes

3.

Moon Marble, located in Bonner Springs, is a shop that sells old-fashioned toys, but specializes in marbles. This shop also features artists who make marbles and other glass objects, and owner Bruce Breslow gives live demonstrations about the art of marble making. The shop’s “wall of marbles” allows visitors to fill a tube with marbles of their choosing.

The state soil, Harney Loam Silt, is best for:

Answers: 1C, 2B, 3D, 4D, 5B, 6A/B Creative Commons licensed Garden of Eden photo by Joe Shmacher. Other photos by Lillie Hoffart.

Soda fountains were a very popular stop for drinks during the early twentieth century. Along with traditional soda, they served lunches, ice cream, and specialty drinks such as Green River, a lemon-lime drink that was second in popularity only to Coca-Cola. The Georgetown Pharmacy and Soda Fountain, located in Merriam, is one of the few working soda fountains left in Kansas and is still open for lunch, snacks and a classic dining experience.

| 25

Coif Salons 6633 West 149th Terrace

Cori Miller (913) 636-5296

coif: 1. style or arrange (someone’s hair), typically in an elaborate way

26 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | ads

life

through a lens

senior Madi Dombrowski turns her passion for photography into a reality

S

he puts the lens to her eye and life transitions from being out of focus; it suddenly becomes clearer. Senior Madi Dombrowski chooses to view life through her lens. To her, photography is more than a hobby — it’s her passion. When she presses her shutter release, there’s so much beauty when she looks at others, and when she’s able to use her camera to capture beauty, it seems unreal that the world holds this much perfection. Looking at someone through her lens and seeing the smiles, the sparkle in peoples’ eyes and other qualities that make them unique makes the world she sees through her lens the best possible place to be.

27 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

“Photography is what has kept me going,” Madi said. “Through life-changing difficulties and unhappy times, photography has never failed to show and remind me of the beauty in everyday life. Being able to find this beauty and show others through photographs would be the most fulfilling way to spend my life.”

Madi started her business, Madison Nicole Portraits, two years ago. The company served as a gateway from a hobby to a full-time job.

Using her website and Instagram to promote her work, she offers a two hour session with two to three outfit changes then a disk with the client’s enhanced portraits. She also offers 45 minute “mini sessions” which are treated like full sessions but with one outfit, and the clients receive fewer images. Madi discovered her true passion in the seventh grade when she tagged along for her brother’s senior picture session.

“After [attending my brother’s photo session], taking pictures was just something I enjoyed playing around with and experimenting with,” Madi said. “It has been through about the past year and a half that I truly discovered my love for photography. When I understood that just one photograph had the power to expose the beauty not only on the outside of people but their beauty on the inside, I could never get enough of photography. From the learning, practice and many failed moments I was amazed by it all.”

In order to further herself in her photography career, Madi plans to spend time on working on branding her company and polishing her technique to provide the best quality of portraits for people. However, during her high school career, it hasn’t always been easy for her to establish herself as a photographer.

But with the support of the people close to her, she’s been able to prosper.

“Reactions from my peers have always been extremely supportive and think it’s great,” Madi said. “Adults tend to have more of a mixed reaction. Often they are skeptical that a teenager can produce quality portraits.

| 28

Others think it’s amazing that I have started to make my dreams reality. My parents have been amazing supporters; they understand my crazy schedule during busy season, always provide feedback and never doubt my ability.”

With the emotional support of her mother, Lisa Dombrowski, Madi has somebody to listen to her thoughts and ideas about her photography. According to Lisa, she has always been honest about Madi’s work. If her mother feels something is not quite right she tells Madi, so she can see that the opinion of others may not always mesh with hers. Her mother has also made sure that Madi has everything she needs to be successful, such as top notch cameras, accessories, props, a computer and computer programs.

“I have always known Madi is a very artistic person,” Lisa said. “From drawing to picking out what she was going to wear to school in elementary, she has had that keen eye.

All of that eventually turned into her passion for photography. Madi will have my help for her passion of photography for as long as she needs — this is her life to live. My hopes for Madi’s future is that she is happy. I feel as if Madi is happy she can achieve any dreams she may have. Her ability to find the beauty in everyone shows in her words and work, and for that I love her to the moon and back.”

Madi has been able to rely on friends for testing out new photography methods. Whenever she wants to try out a new lens or something she learned at CAPS, senior Elise Peterson lets Madi test it out on her. And when she takes other people’s pictures, Peterson usually tags along.

“It’s been neat to see how her photography and herself personally have grown since she first started taking pictures,” Peterson said. “I can tell that she truly loves it, and the fact that she decided to start up her own business while still in high school is super inspiring to me.

She is one of the most hardworking, kind individuals that I know, and I am so thankful to have become friends with her. Madi continu-

ously inspires me everyday. She loves photography and wants to show everyone how they’re beautiful in their own way.”

The dedication needed to turn a passion into a reality is something that isn’t necessarily easy, but according to Madi, it’s worth the hardships to see the finished product at the end.

“The most important thing I have learned by starting my own business is that there is never a challenge too big to overcome for something you love,” Madi said. “Don’t wait for tomorrow to do it. Do it now. It may be a small start, but you always have to start somewhere. Once you make your passion a reality, you’ll know that your life has truly begun.”

Pursuing a passion can have positive outcomes and provide stories that inspire a person to never give up — it gives life a purpose.

Madi said there was a session with a teenage girl where when she showed the girl a few images on the back of the camera, and the girl began to cry. What the girl said to Madi stuck: “I thought people could only look like this with Photoshop.” That was one of the moments that Madi realized showing people what they truly look like brings an indescribable joy.

Photography has allowed overwhelming happiness to be present in Madi’s life every day.

“Photography and my business have impacted me in ways I never imagined,” Madi said. “It has allowed me to show others how I see the world when words fail. It has brought me a kind of joy that when you go to sleep at night you’re smiling. It also allowed me an escape from the lowest point in my life. Running a business has also showed me a new side of responsibilities, and made me grow up quickly to be able to handle the situation. Overall, photography is the reason I am the person I am today, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

| lexitarter

Photos by Delaney Oliver.

29 |

4 | aug. 2014 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

1

2

Energy to Spare the bowling team practices in preparation for KC Bowl on Jan. 26 | katielucas

30 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | photo essay

4

3

(5) Senior Madeline Fines steadies her ball before going for a release.

Fines has been playing since freshman year after being inspired by her cousins, who participate in their school’s bowling teams. “I hope to [continue bowling],” Fines said. “Depending on where I end up for college, I might join a league, but I am definitely taking my ball with me wherever I end up.”

“

(1) Sophomore Emily Tolar concentrates on her ball’s destination as she prepares to throw. One of Tolar’s favorite things about new coach Tom Hult is his “Hult high-five,” which she says make her feel inspired, and his energy, which keeps them all feeling enthusiastic. “In our last practice we didn’t even bowl; we had a Fun Day Friday, and we ended up doing softball slides into the bowling lane to bowl, and it actually worked pretty well,” Tolar said. “A lot of people got strikes.” (2) Senior Katie Craven laughs as she hugs senior Megan Tolar after falling down during her bowl. Craven joined bowling this year to be with her friends and have fun. “[My favorite bowling memory] was Friday when Megan caught my ball when I was going for the swing and I fell down,” Craven said. “So that was pretty amusing. I felt kind of victimized, but

It’s always really fun after you get a strike or a really high score to walk away from the bowling alley, like in those movies where things explode behind you. You just kind of feel a little bad to the bone.” | seniormegantolar

it was pretty funny.” (3) Senior Brooke Tilley lines up her ball with the lane before starting her swing. Tilley has played many other sports, but to her, bowling has been the most fun. “It feels good [when I score well] because I try really hard to work on my form and everything, and if it’s just not going well, I try more, and when I actually accomplish something it feels really good,” said Tilley. (4) Senior Megan Tolar steals the ball from sophomore Emily Tolar as she swings the ball the back before throwing it. Emily has been bowling since her freshman year with her sister Megan. “Someone just told me it would be really funny to grab their ball when they throw it back, and the first time I did it to her, she hit me in the gut with a ball, and it knocked the wind out of me,” Megan said. “But this time it was just really funny.”

5

| 31

ANY SIZE SMOOTHIE

32 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | ads

Setting the Stage thespians rehearse for the spring musical, “Legally Blonde”

12 Jan.

As director Dan Schmidt instructs junior Austin Ragusin, junior Paige Boomer makes a note in her script. Boomer plays the musical’s central character, Elle Woods. “I’ve wanted to do [this show] since I first saw it, which was [around] fourth grade,” Boomer said. “To be able to say, ‘Oh, yeah, I did “Legally Blonde” in my high school years,’ is so crazy. It’s so surreal that I can’t believe that it actually happened.”

16 Jan. Singing the number “Blood in the Water,” Professor Callahan, played by senior Caleb Jenkins, instructs his students on how to be ruthless lawyers. This scene takes place during Elle’s first day at Harvard Law. “[Callahan] basically drills the students with a barrage of hypothetical scenarios to try to teach them to be more cunning,” Jenkins said. “The only problem is the way he goes about teaching the students is very abrasive and rude, so they’re all pretty scared of him.”

photo essay | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | feb. 2015 | 33

After gifting a dress to Elle, a store manager, played by junior Sydney Swyers, sings a solo in the song “Omigod You Guys.” This is Swyers’s first time as an onstage ensemble member in a school musical.. “I have to belt at one part, and I’m not a belter,” Swyers said. “But I love [singing] that part because it helps me with that part of my voice.”

Elle’s sorority sisters cheer her up in the song “Positive.” At the end of the number, Elle decides to undergo a transformation from blonde to brunette. “[The sorority girls] are her best friends, and they kind of represent her home life back in L.A.,” senior Hannah Tymosko said. “They comfort her through all the struggles she’s going through at Harvard.”

19 Jan.

21 Jan.

“Legally Blonde” will be shown on Feb. 19, 20 and 21. Tickets can be purchased online for eight dollars.

Scan the QR code to view more photos and purchase prints.

34 |

| madisonleighty Graphics by Abby Yi

B A K I N G

1 1/3 cup flour

1 1/3 cup rolled oats 3/4 cup M&M’s, chopped nuts or raisins 3/4 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup white sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup melted butter 1 egg 1 teaspoon of milk 1 teaspoon of vanilla

C L U B ‘S

cookies

F

rom decorating cakes to making fruit pizza, the Baking Club explores different recipes each week.

It meets every Wednesday during hubs and after school in social studies teacher Kathryn Pinto’s room.

There you’ll find the about 30 members of the club.

Because they don’t have ovens, they work with no-bake recipes or they bring their dough home and put it in the oven themselves. Each holiday, they organize their own cookie exchange. Everybody picks out ingredients, brings in the recipe card and then tries out other people’s recipes.

A majority of the club consists of girls. However, the club is trying to get more boys to come. Senior Molly Menefee said that what makes Baking Club so great is that it’s really laid back, very casual and a good way to relieve stress.

“

[Baking] is a good way to relieve stress.” | seniormollymenefee

| jellebuijs

1

Preheat the oven to 175.

Grease in cookie sheets.

Shape the dough into walnut

2

Place two inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven.

3

Transfer from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Bonne appétit!

TIP: Layer the ingredients (except the butter, egg, milk and vanilla) in a 1 quart jar in the order given above. Make sure to press each layer firmly in place before adding the next layer, otherwise it may not all fit. Give it together with the recipe as a present to your friend. Baking Club meets every Wednesday after school and during hubs in Room 213. Interested in joining the club?

Contact them on their Twitter account: @BVSWbakingclub.

special sections | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | feb. 2015 | 35

Phone Wars

| laurenstone

a side-by-side comparison of the iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S5

The iPhone 6 was released on Sept. 14, 2014.

Are you Team Apple or Team Android?

60% iTunes

80% Google Play

on

e

Sp

ec

s:

I’ve always had an iPod or iPhone, so switching over would be too much work. I’m sure Android is just as awesome, but I don’t want to bother learning a new system.” | juniormaddiebarger

Ph

“ “

Fr St ee or A e p : ps

The Galaxy’s dimensions are 5.59 by 2.85 in.

The iPhone measures 5.44 by 2.64 in.

Pe

r

The Samsung Galaxy S5 was released on April 11, 2014.

The iPhone 6 has an 8-megapixel camera and a battery life of up to 250 hours on standby.

I don’t really see what’s so great about Apple. Sorry, I don’t want a phone that bends.”

The Galaxy has a | seniorwyatt 16-megapixel camera and a risovibattery life of up to 390 hours on standby. hendrickson

36 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | infographic

Information from gsmarena.com and techrepublic.com

DETERRING THE

A A M E G D administrators implement new lunchroom policy after incidents of vandalism

E

very afternoon, juniors Madison Moore and Madison Ruffalo go to four hours of swim practice. By the time they get home, shower and eat dinner, their day’s worth of homework is often started close to 9 p.m.. In an effort to balance homework and sleep, Moore and Ruffalo utilized their lunch period to alleviate their homework load for that night. However, after incidents of vandalism and messes repeatedly occurred and became a more frequent problem throughout first semester, administrators implemented a new lunchroom policy that tightened restrictions on where students are able to eat during the lunch period.

“It’s really frustrating because sometimes when I’m going through my list [of homework] before I go to bed I’ll be like, ‘Oh, I can do that during lunch — it’s no big deal,’ but now that’s not an option anymore,” Ruffalo said. “I’m not

the only one who used the library during lunch time, so me and all the other people were trying to be good, but we’re feeling the heat more from [the policy].”

The new policy took effect the first day of second semester, Monday, Jan. 5. Students had previously been able to eat lunch in other parts of the building, including the library, classrooms and flex spaces, but under the new lunchroom policy, all students are required to stay in the commons during the lunch period.

“When we saw trash down [in the hallway] and we saw food on the walls, we thought, ‘OK, we’re going to correct it because somebody is taking advantage of us,’” Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Gary Howard said.

“For somebody that’s been here for five years and appreciates what we have and wants to keep everything nice for the next kids that come through, that hurts me. If I can do some-

thing to correct it, then I’m going to do it.”

The custodial staff would commonly find lunch trays not returned to the cafeteria left in other parts of the building, trash on the floor, spilled food, lunch trays in the trash cans and other messes, including food thrown against the wall. Custodians also encountered messes left in the bathroom.

Video footage revealed that the majority of the incidents occurred during the lunch period when kids were not eating in the commons. This led Howard, the custodians, school resource officers (SROs), counselors and other administrators to the proposition of a new lunchroom policy that would include locking doors to hallways exiting the lunchroom and tightening supervision to ensure all students stayed in the commons during their allotted lunch time.

news | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | feb. 2015 | 37

“The simplest thing to do is to eat in the lunch area, and that way, if you make a mess in the lunchroom, it falls on the concrete and it takes probably five or 10 minutes [to clean up], and it’s no big deal,” Howard said. “If you come down here [in the flex spaces] and nobody is supervising you, and you find applesauce on the side of the wall, how would that make you feel?

It hurts. I would imagine that most kids, if they saw what was going on, would correct it themselves, but unfortunately, some of the kids are doing it when nobody else is around.”

Messes composed of food weren’t the only issues that led Howard and other administrators to implement the new policy. Thermostats were found torn off walls, paper towel dispensers were found on the floor, locker doors were bent, bathroom mirrors were broken and students were discovered smoking e-cigarettes in the bathrooms — all on numerous occasions. Video surveillance again revealed that a common factor was found among the incidents — they were occurring during the lunch period.

“We used to be pretty liberal about leaving doors unlocked, and it just got to the point where too many bad things were happening during the lunch period because everybody’s main focus is in [the commons], so then a lot of the kids were wandering the halls unsupervised,” SRO Lance

38 |

Balderston said. “[Vandalism] is progressively getting worse. It’s not epic, but it’s gotten worse over the years.”

According to the Pocket Guide to Kansas Criminal Law, which Balderston and fellow SRO Matt Buelt follow, vandalism is defined as “knowingly damaging, destroying, defacing or substantially impairing the use of any property in which another has an intent without consent of such other person.” Once destruction of property is discovered, Balderston and Buelt file a criminal damage to property report and send it to the Johnson County District Attorney’s office, along with information surrounding the suspect of the vandalism.

Vandalism is divided into two categories — misdemeanor, which includes crimes under $1,000, and felony, which covers crimes over $1,000.

The cost of the property combined with the cost of repair comprises the total charge that would either fall under a misdemeanor or felony. School administrators and the district court can be involved in deciding upon a punishment for the perpetrator, which can range from suspension to court-ordered community service.

“It seems that the kids just don’t respect each other or their property or their school,” Balderston said. “I don’t know if that’s a wave of what we’re getting from the new kids or the freshmen that are mov-

ing in from other schools, but it just seems like it’s kind of gone — the respect for each other and each other’s properties.”

While food messes in the hallways aren’t filed in criminal reports, they don’t go unpunished. Incidents classified under disorderly conduct can also result in in-school and out-of-school suspensions.

Disorderly conduct is often handled at the administrator level, and its cleaning can be just as burdensome for the custodians as incidents filed under criminal reports.

When custodians encounter messes in their designated areas of the school, they are expected to clean up the mess during their eight-hour shifts.

However, if the shift ends before the mess can be properly cleaned up, a custodian working the next rotation will take over cleaning the area. If the custodians do not have the appropriate cleaning supplies readily available at their home high school, they contact Executive Director of Facilities and Operations Dave Hill and Director of Operations and Maintenance Dave Peterson at District Office. District Office can provide external cleaning supplies, such as heavy duty washers, and also handles reports surrounding broken property and provides new equipment to replace what was damaged.

Graphics by Kate Bowling and Riley Martin.

Costs according to Executive Director of Facilities and Operations Dave Hill.

“We strive for a very quick response,” Hill said.

“The goal is to not give anyone that might have done the vandalism the satisfaction of the message or the shock value that they were intending to create by doing it in the first place. It’s unfortunate when custodians need to take time out of their normal routines to address [vandalism], but we recognize that’s part of providing custodial services for a high school.”

Messes in the flex spaces and classrooms have created challenges for the custodial staff and Howard, as the carpet poses a difficult cleaning duty. While the trashcans in the lunchroom are emptied immediately after lunch and the floors are washed with a wet squeegee daily, trash cans in other parts of the building are sometimes not emptied for 24 to 48 hours. Therefore, even properly disposed food can attract insects, mice and other rodents. “[Lunch] is a time not to go out in different parts of the building,” Howard said.

“We’ve been a little bit lax in doing that, and the majority of the kids can handle it, but what [other kids] do is they see some kids taking food to a classroom to eat, and they’re saying, ‘Why do they get to do that?’ And then all of a sudden, instead of all the kids eating in the lunchroom, you have kids eating in the halls and down in the flex classrooms. If you

let 10 kids, then you better let 260 kids go anywhere they want. There has to be some supervision in what we do.”

The new lunchroom policy may decrease vandalism and mess issues, but it’s also unintentionally affected students who used the lunch period to work on homework in the library or socialize with their friends in a supervised classroom. WolfByte crew members had taken pride in their tradition of listening to music and spending time as a crew in the WolfByte classroom during lunch. Even after being restricted to eating in the WolfByte classroom only twice a week first semester, adjusting to eating solely in the lunchroom was a big transition for WolfByte Executive Producer senior Mads Carrigan, who had eaten in the WolfByte room every day since she joined the crew last spring.

“The first couple of days [that the policy was enforced], we had no idea where to go or who to sit with,” Carrigan said. “There are no full tables where we can all sit down together because by the time we get there and everybody gets their food, they’re all taken, so we can’t even continue our tradition in the lunchroom because there are 19 of us. Our tradition has been completely cut off.”

While Howard said the new policy has unfairly penalized those not responsible for the issues leading to its

implementation, he said that students should spend their lunch period taking a break from the stresses of school — and do so in the lunchroom.

“The classrooms aren’t a place for kids to eat,” Howard said. “For that 25 minutes that you have during [lunch], that’s your time. You should be able to sit up in the commons across from one of your friends and visit. That’s 25 minutes of your time when you need a break during the day.”

While the effectiveness of the new lunchroom policy is currently in the ‘wait and see’ period, Howard doesn’t expect the lunchroom policy will ever go back to being as liberal as it once was. The typical lunch period serves around 260 to 270 students, but with numbers expecting to grow to as much as 400 students per lunch period, Howard said restrictions on allowing students to leave the commons are needed to protect the conditions of the school.

“I’m passionate for the kids, and I’m passionate about this building,” Howard said.

“I’ll want the next generation to be able to experience the same [conditions of the school]. We are very fortunate to have this building, and I want it to be as nice in 10 years when kids come in [as it is now].”

| margojohnson

THE COST OF VANDALISM Damaged locker repair/replacement

$250 depending on repair/replacement needs

Restroom mirror replacement

$150 installation hvac thermostat replacement

$300 average installation, depending ON TYPE clean-up costs, messes

$13 Average hourly pay per person, depending on severity | 39

Not Just For Guys

sophomore Jennifer Jones shares her story as the school's first female wrestler

w

hen sophomore Jennifer Jones began her wrestling career freshman year, her friends and peers were “definitely shocked because they didn’t see [her] as the wrestler type.” However, Jones said her friends were still very supportive, and her teammates included and accepted her. Jones is the first female wrestler in the history of the school. She joined the team with no prior experience, except for wrestling with her brothers as a child. Since starting wrestling, Jones has gone on to win one match and hopes to continue to win more throughout her high school wrestling career.

| donnaarmstrong

q: a:

1 What would your response be to people who say ‘wrestling is for guys?’

“My response to them is, ‘If you have the mentality and if you have the motivation, then regardless of your gender, just go out for it.’”

q: a:

What are some of the challenges you face in the sport of wrestling?

“The one major challenge is the physical challenge. So, I mean, just being a girl, obviously our bodies are different than guys’, and so it takes a bit more strength training if you want to get up to a guy’s level.”

q: a: 2

q: a: 3

2

What got you interested in wrestling?

“All my brothers did it ­— plus, it was freshman year, and everybody tells you to try out for something, do something you normally wouldn’t do. And so I decided on wrestling because thats stepping out of my comfort zone a little bit, I figured why not.”

Has wrestling changed the way you view yourself?

"Definitely — freshman year, after wrestling, I just had a major confidence boost because freshman year you have a lot of stuff on your mind, and I was kind of transitioning, and I didn’t think too highly of myself, didn’t have a lot of confidence. But after wrestling, it changes the way you look at yourself. And things like, 'If I did wrestling, then I could make it through this day; I can make it through that.' It strengthened me as a person, not only physically but mentally.

And so I think if people are on the fence about wrestling, just go out and try it.

The worst thing that can happen is that you get pinned or you lose a match, but it’s all benefits."

40 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | q & a

5

q: a: q: a:

4 Was there a person in your life that got you interested in wrestling?

“My parents definitely encouraged me.

They supported me when I was on the fence about making the decision — they were the ones that supported me and encouraged me and motivated me to go out for it."

(1) Fighting her way out of a headlock, sophomore Jennifer Jones continues to force the wrestler from Blue Valley Northwest to remove his hands from around her neck. Jones wrestled her opponent for almost two full minutes before she was ultimately pinned at the end of the match. Jones was the only girl at the match on Jan. 21. (2) Struggling to remove herself from the grasp of the BV Northwest wrestler, Jennifer Jones perseveres through to escape. But at the end of the match, Jones was pinned anyway by the male wrestler from BV Northwest. (3) Charging at her brother senior Dahrah Jones, beads of sweat drip down Jennifer’s forehead. During the “aggressive drill” at wrestling practice, the wrestlers must continue to attack at their partners for three minutes. (4) In the grasp of her brother, Dahrah, Jennifer pushes back during a JV wrestling practice. (5) Wrestling the previous BV Northwest opponent, Jennifer fights to escape her way out of a headlock to gain a point. At the end of the match, Jennifer ended up falling to the other wrestler and was pinned. (6) Escaping from a headlock, Jennifer Jones fights her way to get another point on the scoreboard. The referee at the match watches carefully to see if Jennifer has her shoulders on the ground for two seconds, indicating she has been pinned.

Have you faced any mental challenges being the only female wrestler on the team?

“At my first matches I was terrified because I’d go out there and I’d see this big muscular dude. I’m like,’No way in heck can I go out and do this.’

But, I think the biggest mental challenge is just getting out there and being comfortable on the mat, with everybody watching me.

Putting myself out there like that — I think that’s been the biggest challenge — but I think I’ve overcome it.”

6

| 41

Graphic by Kate Bowling.

Programmed for Success

D

ifferent linguistics and languages are some of the primary causes for separation and boundaries among the human race. However, with the emergence of new technologies and the breakthrough of the Information Age, new types of mechanized phonetics have emerged, uniting purveyors of the trade across the globe. Now more than ever, fluency in these new-age languages is at an extremely high demand, and throughout the United States, a push for the education of young people in the basics of computer sciences is being made.

Computer programming languag-

Students explore the growing computer science industry es themselves are nothing new. Programming languages with functional implementations have been around since the 1950’s. What is new, however, is the rampant demand for hiring people with programming skills.

This can be traced to the ever rapidly evolving world of technology.

“We’re using computers to do more and more, all the time,” Kansas State University Professor of Computer Science Nathan Bean said. “If you look at when computers were first created, they were primarily used to perform very difficult or tedious calculations to

42 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

support scientific research happening in universities. Then they spread to homes, and now you can find them in phones, in your car, in your TV, etc.

With each new use that was found for computers, more programmers were needed to support the development of software to meet that need.”

America, however, has a problem.

Tech companies in the United States are struggling mightily to find sufficient talent in the fields of computer science.

This may come as a mystery, as the field is growing, as well as an average salary of over $75,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The answer to why there is such a shortage of computer programmers in the U.S. is rooted within the lack of implementation of this kind of education within the public school system. That, although is quickly changing.

“We need to train more American programmers. STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education success has been given strategic priority by recent administrations and for good reason ­— innovation and economic growth are closely tied to these social indicators,” University of Chicago Professor of Computer Science Adam Gerber said.

“As an instructor of Computer Science at UChicago, I'm in a position to recommend my best students to companies wanting to hire top talent.”

The youth movement of computer science is extremely crucial to increasing the amount of technology related jobs able to be taken by home grown talent. At this point in time, Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science is offered in only 10 percent of U.S. high schools. In 2010, the AP test for that class was taken by only 14,517 students, compared to 194,784 students that took the AP Calculus test that same year. Although, some students are finding ways to enhance their knowledge in programming without a surplus of computer science courses offered.

Junior Reed Bowling is a proponent of the initiative to teach more computer science in schools and to increase the number of class options for that field of learning.

“I definitely think that schools should teach more computer science because not only is it teaching us to code with computers, but it’s also teaches us great problem solving skills,” Bowling said. “Last semester I took an independent study in comput-

er science from Harvard, and right now I’m taking an Honors Java II class; I’m the only one in that hour.”

Southwest currently offers several classes in the computer science field, such as basic game design courses and Java classes. This does not hold true with other American high schools, however.

Other ways of promoting computer science to youth have popped up all across the country. Launching in 2013, Code.org is an organization pushing for the mandate of adding computer science courses to core curriculum. Its goal is to allow for every student, regardless of any kind of demographic to have access to at least a basic knowledge of computer science. Code.org also started the Hour of Code initiative, a program that encourages students to try at least the simplest of programming.

“Basically what it is, is trying to bring awareness to computer science to younger kids,” Bowling said. “It’s exposing the youth to computer science” With promoters of Code.com ranging from Barack Obama, to Bill Gates, to Usher, the initiative has made a heavy impact on schools across the nation. Over ten million students have tried the Hour of Code, and over 60 school districts have implemented computer science curriculum around the Code.com agenda. Another goal of the program is to bring more diversity to computer science. Sixty percent of students taking online courses through Code.com are Hispanic or African-American, and 34 percent are girls. All three of those demographics have very limited number in the computer science job force.

According to the Computing Research Association, 4.5 percent of bachelor’s degrees in computer science from prestigious universities were awarded to black students, while 6.5 percent were awarded to Hispanic students.

“As the situation currently stands,

knowledge of programming and coding is largely concentrated in a technological elite – computer scientists and programmers, who are predominantly white, middle class males,” Bean said. “With a single group controlling computer software with sharing a common viewpoint, the software that is developed will embrace that perspective, and everyone else must either accept it enough to work with that software, or reject it and the benefits the software bestows.”

Senior Jacob Hegna is a computer science enthusiast and thinks automation is the future of many industries.

“I think a lot of jobs in the future will be automated, so like account jobs and general business jobs and manufacturing jobs,” Hegna said. “I think being on the side of the people who are automating the process and not being on the side of people who have the jobs that are being automated is good for sustainability” The future of the computer science job force is still up in the air; although major strides are being made. With a field full of benefits and job opportunities galore, American tech companies may eventually end their desperation for talented personnel.

“Want to help cure cancer? An important tool in that effort is computer models of cells, proteins and DNA. Want to end world hunger? The United States alone discards a staggering amount of spoiled food; computerization of the food distribution network promises to reduce that waste, allowing excess resources to be diverted to hungry mouths,” Bean said. “Computers are used in so many different ways; the role you can have as a computer scientist is equally as broad.” | michaelmagyar

Computer Science at a Glance: Computing-related jobs constitute 5 out of the 10 highest paid jobs from among the 30 fastest growing jobs

Average Starting Salary: $64,000

Only 12 percent of computer science degrees are awarded to women

–

| 43

Study Skills teachers help students reach academic success

44 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | feature

B

efore moving to the Blue Valley School District, sophomore Noah cess on an individual’s needs.

Rich was told he would never make it past a third grade reading “The most challenging thing is when you try things that you really level after being diagnosed with autism. He would prove this theo- think should work because they might have worked for others, and then ry wrong as he continued to succeed in his academic career. they don’t work for a student,” Voor Vart said. “So you really have to be “I have trouble reading, so [if] a teacher says, ‘You need to read a really flexible and be willing to try new things, and in a class where I’m textbook page,’ it may take me double or triple time to read it,” Rich teaching five or six different kids strategies, that might mean five or six said. “And then say taking notes, I’ll just listen and take notes later different lessons for each of those kids.” cause if I try to do both, I’ll pay more attention to taking the notes than Although Christenson, LaPlant and Voor Vart said some days may be what is going on and miss half of it. Other than that I get by just fine.” harder than others, they look forward to going to work and helping their Most teachers help him by breaking down the lessons and progressing kids to become better students. slowly over difficult topics; however, some teachers are not as under“I just love working with students who learn differently — somestanding or do not even realize he has a disability. But the real key to times they are the most creative and think the most outside of the box,” his success has been getting the extra help he LaPlant said. “I enjoy that I really get to needs in a class called Study Skills. know my students because we talk so much In rooms 206, 307 and 509, not only are les“I think the biggest thing about everything that is going on in their son plans being taught each day, but students is to get students to really lives.” with learning disabilities find themselves in a Christenson said she thinks that Study know themselves [better] Skills is not just a class for students to safe environment where they are taught testing skills, problem solving and social skills that studying tactics, but a place for them and how they learn and learn they will carry with them into the next stages to really grow and discover themselves as retain information and the students. of their lives.

Kathyann Christenson, Lynda LaPlant “I think the biggest thing is to get studifference between short- dents and Leann Voor Vart all teach Study Skills, a to really know themselves [better] term and long term mem- and how they learn and retain information class where students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity ory study skills. Basically and the difference between short term and disorder and autism, receive help on anything, long term memory study skills,” Christenhow to study and what is son said. “Basically how to study and what ranging from daily homework assignments and projects to long term goals. effective for them — just is effective for them — just trying to make Students in these classes have an Individual it individual.” trying to make it Education Plan (IEP), a legal document recogAll three teachers said that their classnized by the government that indicates that the rooms are different than other rooms across Individual.” students need assistance in order to be successthe school. As they have their students all ful in the classroom. four years of high school, the teachers are “Many of the students [with learning dis| katyannchristenson able to build strong bonds and teach life abilities] in this school that have an IEP are enlessons that wouldn’t be taught in any other rolled in special education of some sort, but you classroom. would not be able to pick them out of the crowd Just because their students have learnor in your classroom because they have sucing disabilities does not mean that they cessfully been able to come up with things that cannot receive an A+ in algebra or score help them in the classroom,” Voor Vart said. “I do feel that for a lot of the game-winning goal at their soccer tournament. those students that you may not notice it, but they generally have to work “They have to be very resourceful,” LaPlant said. “They are just as harder to be as successful as someone who does not have a disability.” intelligent and as smart as everyone else — they just do things a little On an ordinary day in Study Skills, students usually have time to get differently.” help with lessons or homework that they may need to go over a second Many students in the Study Skills class did not wish to be interviewed time. Christenson’s room is always busy with students working. for this story. Teachers of this class feel the reason for this is that their “People are at individual tables unless they are doing a group ac- students don’t want to stand out or be labeled for having a disability. tivity,” Christenson said. “I would either be sitting at a table with one They want their privacy just like other high school students. student or going over grades with another or checking to see how they are “These students are just like everyone else,” Voor Vart said. “Someusing the computer as far as if there are any kind of programs that they times they need a little extra help with test strategies, editing or even need to use for studying.” organization. But who couldn’t?”

Voor Vart’s class is very much the same — checking up on her students’ grades, helping them to stay organized and helping to peer edit | blakegustafson papers. Some of the challenges Voor Vart faces are having to plan suc-

“

| 45

Prom committee member junior Christina Cornell makes posters advertising Prom, which will be held on March 28 at Camelot Ballroom.

Photo by Donna Armstrong.

“

I feel like it’s really close to Snowball.

Prom is supposed to be an end of the year activity.“

| seniorjenna oettmeier

dance dilemma

prom committee changes the date of prom to accommodate band mem-

I

t was released recently that the date of prom would be moved from April 25 to March 28, and Southwest is the only school making this change.

For senior Wyatt Risovi-Hendrickson, Prom symbolizes “the end of a way of life” for seniors. Prom has traditionally marked the ending of students’ high school careers.

“For a senior, prom symbolizes that you’re about to go off to college, and you’re leaving all the fun times of high school behind,” Risovi-Hendrickson said.

Now it appears that the end will be coming a little earlier than ex-

46 | feb. 2015 | southwest | www.bvswnews.com | news

pected. Prom originally was booked for April 25 at Camelot Ballroom, and once the Prom committee started planning the dance, it seemed that preparation would go smoothly.

The committee put down the deposit, booked the DJ and picked the theme.

Then one day one of the committee members noticed that the band had the Kansas State High School Activities Association State Music Festival, meaning that many senior and junior band members would have to choose between attending prom or the state competition that same weekend. Realizing the situation, the committee called Camelot to see

if it was possible to change the date without losing too much money in the process.

After the date was changed, the next task for the prom committee to tackle was rescheduling arrangements already made for the dance.

However, this wasn’t difficult for the prom committee.

“I don’t believe that the new deadline will be too much for the staff,” Prom sponsor Kelley Alexander said. “With the early Snowball dance this year, it all kind of evens out.”

For each dance, National Art Honor Society is in charge of making the decorations. Even though it will have almost a month less to finish decorations, the club said that the earlier date won’t have a negative effect on the decoration making process, as the club still will have 56 days to prepare after the snowball dance decorations are finished.

While the new date isn’t an issue for those making the decorations, it hasn’t been well received by some students. For

the non band-members who didn’t need the date to be changed, it can feel very rushed.

“I feel like it’s really close to Snowball,” senior Jenna Oettmeier said. “Prom is supposed to be an end of the year activity.”

Although some may students think that Prom is too early, there some advantages to an earlier date.

“The change isn’t all bad; in fact, it has some pretty good upsides to it that students should take advantage of,” Alexander said.

“One being that no other prom will be hap-

pening on that day, so restaurants will be much easier to book.”

However, Risovi-Hendrickson said that the new date has taken away from what he thinks Prom symbolizes. “[Prom] is basically a goodbye party to the seniors, and with prom being so far away from the end of the school year, it’s just different,” Risovi-Hendrickson said.

| brocputnam

in the halls

What’s your opinion on the Prom date change?

“

It seems very rushed to have two dances only two months apart.”

| seniortyconstant

“

I thinks it’s a good idea because it makes getting reservations for a restaurant a whole lot simpler.”

| juniorbrooke pigneri

“

I feel like it would lack the excitement that Prom usually has for the senior class.”

| seniorwyatt risovihendrickson

“

It feels a bit rushed, so right after Snowball you will need to get everything ready for Prom.”

| juniorgabbimiller

| 47

A look inside Cupid’s arrow

About 70 percent of students would prefer getting chocolate over flowers

| rileymartin

Around 54 percent of students think Valentine’s Day is an important holiday when in a relationship

About 36 percent of students celebrate Valentine’s Day Poll of 111 students taken during lunch.

on Valentine’s Day...

29 percent of

people will type a romantic text message

The average person spends $130.97

224 million roses are grown in advance

Sophomore Sam Gettings has managed to maintain a reSam Gettings & Emma Holland

lationship with girlfriend and former Southwest student, Emma Holland, who now lives in the Netherlands. According to Gettings, they are “planning to celebrate Valentine’s

Day as much as they can.” “[The long-distance relationship] is different than an average relationship because you can’t see each other every day, but when you do, it’s very special, and you appreciate their presence much more,” Gettings said. He said that Valentine’s Day is very important to them.

Social sciences teacher Tyler Alexander also said that he and his wife, math teacher Kelley Alexander, will also most likely be celebrating Valentine’s Day. “You should probably do something for Valentine’s

Tyler & Kelley Alexander

Day, but it doesn’t have to be that big of adeal,” Tyler said. Tyler said that “a pro of working in the same place is you get to carpool, and you also never have to worry about them being safe.” He said that a con is “always having the same stories to share and nothing ever really different.” Tyler thinks that they may be running in a marathon on Valentine’s Day. Photos taken from cnn.com and staticbrain.com.

Photos courtesy of Sam Gettings and Tyler Alexander.

infographic | www.bvswnews.com | southwest | feb. 2015 | 48