The Tiger Print — February 2018

education by the books student, faculty member compare experiences regarding u.s. education system

| PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY NICK LAMBERTI

//THE TIGER PRINT

Blue Valley High School | Vol. 48 | Issue 5 | February 2018 | bvtigernews.com | Overland Park, Kansas

2 //february 2018 // contents

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in this issue... | DESIGN BY KAITLIN YU | PHOTOS BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS & COURTESY OF THE TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

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ASSIGNED READING’S PITFALLS

Staff writer Carley Sherer argues for allowing students to choose what they read in class.

| CARTOON BY KASSIDY WAGNER

9 10

POP-TARTS AND CHARITY

LET’S END SEXUAL CRIMES

Editor Julie Freijat asserts that speaking out about sexual assault can make a difference.

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WHY YOUTH SPORTS MATTER

DANCING WITH CULTURE

Learn about the classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam from junior Sindhu Manda.

Read about how the infamous PopTart locker became something more.

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SPRUCING UP THE LIBRARY Here’s how the displays in the library come together.

23 22

THESE ARE THE CLASSES YOU SHOULD TAKE NEXT SEMESTER

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FEMALE WRESTLER

Senior Megan Hatfield joins wrestling as a part of her commitment to try a new sport.

| PHOTO SUBMISSION BY SINDHU MANDA

//TIGER PRINT THE

co-editors Julie Freijat Alli Williams Kaitlin Yu photo editor Melanie White

staff writers Allie Ament Marie Biernacki Courtney Brown Cassidy Carpenter McKenna Cole Kyle Elmendorf

Molly Holmes Maddy Kang Noma Kreegar Nick Lamberti Shay Lawson Sadie Myer Veronica Peterson

Carley Sherer Lizzie Skidmore Victoria Wilson Kelly Zhang adviser Michelle Huss

“The Tiger Print” is an official publication of Blue Valley High School, an open forum distributed to all students eight times a year. This publication may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees may disclaim any responsibility for the content of this publication; it is not an expression of school policy.

Student authors and editors are solely responsible for the content of this publication.

Letters to the editor are encouraged for publication. “The Tiger Print” reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content.

Letters should be submitted to Room 450, emailed to thetigerprint@gmail.com or mailed to: The Tiger Print Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th St. Overland Park, KS 66085

OFF THE RADAR you may have missed this An upcoming Supreme Court ruling could change the way your privacy is legally handled Throughout late 2010 and early 2011, a series of armed robberies occurred in Michigan. Later, four of the five suspects involved in the crime were arrested. After one of the suspects handed his phone into the FBI, they used it in order to identify the fifth robber, Timothy Carpenter. Carpenter and his lawyers argued his right to privacy was violated because the FBI didn’t obtain a warrant for the phone records — they were granted access through the Stored Communications Act by a judge. The decision, which is set to happen prior to June 2018, will determine whether or not it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment to access an individual’s cell phone location records without a warrant.

Demonstrations in the Congo have resulted in the deaths of at least 6 people Protests have erupted in Democratic Republic of the Congo where President Joseph Kabila has yet to step down after his term ended over a year ago. Six people have been killed as a result of the protests and many more have been injured. The Catholic Church has a great influence over the population and called for peaceful demonstrations last year. According to witnesses in the area, police had fired live rounds and tear gas in an attempt to end the banned anti-Kabila protests.

UN peacekeepers have been deployed in an effort to reinstate stability.

President Trump becomes the first president to address March for Life attendees In January, hundreds of pro-life protesters gathered together in the annual March for Life on Washington, DC. The protest was created after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 in an effort to reverse the Supreme Court ruling. In years past, presidents addressed the protesters by phone or through a pre-recorded message. This year, President Donald Trump became the first president to address the crowd live from the White House Rose Garden.

| WORDS BY JULIE FREIJAT | PHOTOS BY TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

news // february 2018 //

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| DESIGN BY MELANIE WHITE | PHOTO

BY MELANIE WHITE Acting as the arms of his castmate, senior Garrett Gunnerson reaches for a jolly rancher on the floor. “Everyone is super supportive,” he said.

“The people are super fun.”

| PHOTO BY MOLLY HOLMES While dancing for elementary and middle schoolers, sophomore Georgia Trent sings in the South Area Choir Festival. Elementary and middle schoolers performed for their parents and then joined Chorale for “Sing Out!”

NEWS IN | PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Waving a flag, junior Josh Harrington acts in the Repertory Theatre’s winter play “Urinetown.” In the play, citizens fought for the right to pee for free. “My favorite part about theatre is the atmosphere. Everyone is super nice and we’re all like a huge family.”

| PHOTO BY MELANIE WHITE Cheering for the seniors playing Knock Out, senior Nick McLaury yells. During the Winter Sports Assembly, the December and January teachers of the month were announced — science teachers John Holloway and Charlena Sieve.

news // february 2018 //

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| PHOTO BY CASSIDY CARPENTER Looking through sheets of music, junior Hamilton Brown switches songs during the Blue Valley Band’s spaghetti concert, which entices eighth graders to join the band. “I have a lot of friends in band,” he said. “We all work really hard over the season to put out a good show.”

| PHOTO BY CASSIDY CARPENTER Giving a speech, senior Kevin Man practices | PHOTO BY VICTORIA WILSON for the State debate competition. “[The debate Dancing with her partner, senior Ady Shaw performs with the Chamber Sing- topic this year, which is] education, applies ers. “I love how we include classic choral pieces but also modern pop pieces pretty well to the real world,” Man said. “The and pieces from musical theater,” she said. policies that we talk about actually affect us.”

PHOTOS

6 // february 2018 // news

Sentenced to 45 minutes ented in behind bars Phone jails implem oms to crack down on classro unnecessary phone usage

lizzie skidmore & victoria wilson staff writers Over the past five years, cell phones have developed in a way that facilitates access to different mediums of information and communication. With this new responsibility in the hands of young generations, some students at Blue Valley have been struggling to manage.

That’s why in December, administration offered phone jails to classrooms that teachers could further utilize or ignore at their own will.

Social Studies teacher Clark Winslow has decided to let students keep their phones during class but said he notices the negative impact cell phones have on students’ grades, performance and behavior.

“You can become addicted to anything, and [cell phones are] a visible addiction — it shortens attention spans and interrupts sleep patterns,” Winslow said. “We didn’t [notice] it because we’ve only had cell phones for 10 years.”

For the majority of students’ careers up until high school, cell phones have not been a step in survival. So, why is it a problem now?

Chemistry teacher Manal Wiedel said it has everything to do with a student’s maturity level.

“We’re in between [that stage] of students being adults and not being adults,” Wiedel said. “Unfortunately a lot of students are not able to multitask in an appropriate | DESIGN BY MARIE BIERNACKI

manner.”

The inability of disconnecting from phones and engaging in class has played a role in lower grades and performance and has forced teachers to police students on their own personal belongings.

Cell phone holders were issued to provide an opportunity in order to discipline these students.

“The students that don’t like phone jails are the ones that feel entitled to that privilege [of having a phone],” Wiedel said. “They don’t understand the consequences to that.”

Not every student is insecurely attached to their phone and misuses it in class, but for those who do, the power is now in the hands of the teacher to punish individual students with an easy and effective solution.

“I’m a firm believer in doing what you say you’re going to do,” Winslow said. “Students know when I say, ‘Get off your cell phone,’ and then they’re back on it, it’s going to go up in the phone jail. [Having a] phone jail has made it possible for me to deal with cell phones instead of having to send them down to the office.”

As overall grade averages have shown, students’ grades last semester were worse than in recent years, and phone jails have been implemented to help students, not punish them. “[Students need to] know when it’s their time and when it’s not,” Wiedel said.

| Winslow

| Wiedel

Do you think phone jails are necessary to keep students focused?

11.9% yes no 88.1%

What type of impact will phone jails have on the learning environment?

17.4% positive

42.2% neutral

negative 40.4%

based on a poll of 109 BV students

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8 // february 2018 // opinion

L ve your Literature Students should be granted opportunity to choose what books they read in school

carley sherer staff writer

The all-but-eager reaction students give their teachers after they announce the next book to be read in class is a familiar moment in English courses, but does reading really have to have the negative connotation that surrounds it in schools?

When educators press students to read specific books, it demolishes the desire to read and crushes creativity.

Assigned reading books leave many students bored and struggling to understand the complex texts.

After finishing a novel that I’ve been assigned to read, I find myself unsatisfied and unwilling to free-read in my spare time.

Many students find themselves using summarizing sites such as SparkNotes in replacement of the book as a result of their lack of interest. This is a sad, but real problem in ELA classrooms that stems from preselected novels.

Literature should be treasured, not dreaded.

While teachers should guide students in the direction of high-quality literature, students themselves need to have control over the books they read in order to keep them motivated and engaged during class.

Those who are given the opportunity to choose their own books grow as readers. According to a study by the University of Maryland, giving students a choice from a collection of books improves performance on standardized tests.

Presenting students with options allows them to take risks they would not take otherwise. Teachers can experi-

ment with different methods, such as having students select the book of their choice from a particular genre that isn’t as popular — the students may end up surprised by their interest in that genre.

Not only will students take more risks, but they will be more engaged in all class lessons. Teachers can use free-reading to gauge what their students are interested in and can mold lesson plans to target those interests.

The class won’t dread doing quality work because they will care about what they are learning.

I get it — some classics have to be implemented into the school curriculum.

But instead of having one book students have to read, form a list they can choose from so they can feel empowered by having a say in the subject they’re immersing themselves in.

Words are powerful — let’s make sure students actually read them.

| DESIGN BY CARLEY SHERER | CARTOON BY KASSIDY WAGNER

opinion // february 2018 //

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HANDS OFF Sexual assault is a problem, but it can get better good reason — it’s the driving force behind what causes us to change things. If these crimes julie freijat co-editor in chief make you feel disturbed — if they make your stomach turn — they are worth being addressed.

They have the possibility of He tells me the complaints are ending. pointless.

Apathy is not a solution. It’s a He tells me there is no where surrender. we can go from here — that we These problems have been are stuck in this cycle of hurt happening for a very long and greed and the world won’t time — and we have seen change simply because we progress. People are reporting. acknowledged the problem.

Perpetrators are acknowledging He is a friend, and the their crimes. Help is being problem is sexual misconduct. sought — on both ends. These Why have such little hope in baby steps are key to creating a ending the problems that hurt wave that can sweep the country us? and create a safer environment I don’t think he is saying for us all. what he is in defense of the 2017 was not the year of perpetrators of this crime. I sexual crimes. It was the year think this is being said because, people got tired of staying quiet. from an outside perspective, Yes, this world has always humanity is growing sicker by experienced the horror of sexual the day. and moral corruptness — and But we don’t see things from no, I don’t expect it to completely the outside — we live on the stop right now. I would hope inside, and it’s arrogant to think you see that there is always a any of us have the privilege solution. I would hope that these of judging our own species so revelations put some thoughts in cruelly. your head.

Unfortunately, my friend’s What do you see? What can opinion is shared by millions. you do? Certainly, some of us This is an opinion with which can do more than others, but that I strongly disagree. doesn’t mean your small amount Discomfort exists for a very of help means nothing.

You own only yourself. You only are responsible for yourself.

Do not bend the boundaries, and you won’t find yourself tangled in a mess of hurting others.

Take your hands off what doesn’t belong to you.

Use your voice — use your platform. We all touch so many people in a day, whether it be by word or by action. Sexual misconduct is an issue, and it can sometimes be a symptom of a deeper problem. This conflict has created a vast amount of the world’s issues — the lust for power. It’s corrupt and deadly, but there is always an opposition, a resistance.

I believe that in this situation, we need to make decisions not based off impulse but based off thought and justice.

Don’t rush into any mindset. Changing society is not something that happens overnight. We don’t all have the patience for it. It takes years. It takes people who will approach it with a fair, methodical work ethic.

Chances are, we won’t see ourselves eradicated of something like this anytime soon. But if we are taking the steps to do so, it doesn’t matter how quickly we get it done, so long as we get it done right.

| DESIGN BY JULIE FREIJAT

10 // february 2018 // opinion

Thank Your Mom For Making You Play Tee-Ball

Youth sports teaches important life-long personal skills victoria wilson staff writer

We’ve all faced disappointment, rejection and failure. How we deal with those things is what shapes who we are. But how do you teach someone to get back up after life kicks them down? Participation in youth sports offers children the opportunity to learn how to rise after sustaining some sort of loss.

Being a part of a team submerges you in an environment of dependency, trust and responsibility. Sports such as soccer, football or lacrosse require multiple people to work together and trust one another in order to achieve the common goal, which is typically winning.

But when you lose, your team loses with you, and children learn how to lean on others when they don’t succeed. Or conversely, children learn how to take care of others in need. A team mentality will push children to work harder and do more in order to succeed the next time.

Sports teach you that losing is inevitable, but with hard work and the help of others, you learn to get back up. There will be times when, despite your best efforts, you don’t make it.

| DESIGN BY VICTORIA WILSON

Those who haven’t learned resilience will stay in a mindset of failure and resist to try again. But those who participate in youth sports and are encouraged by coaches and teammates to get back up develop a positive approach to failure and the perseverance to try again.

Sports also teach you to treat opponents with respect and develop sportsmanship skills that can translate in everyday life.

Competition can foster aggressive and disrespectful habits, but when children are taught to “leave it on the field” and be respectful to their opponents before and after a game, they learn that winning isn’t the most important thing in the world.

Children also learn how to respect their mentors through player-coach interactions.

Acting out has consequences, and when that consequence is immediate, such as running extra laps or sitting out for an inning, they learn to respect their coaches. Subsequently, they develop a habit of respecting all the people who hold authority in their lives including teachers, parents and bosses.

Respect and resilience are integral to future endeavors, both personal and occupational — participating in youth sports offers a unique means to learning these skills in a fun and supportive environment. So, next time you think back to your old glory days on the tee-ball field, remember you have gained so much more than a participation trophy.

staff ed // february 2018 //

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| CARTOON BY MARIE BIERNACKI

Admission rejection does not determine high school, future success The college admissions process — endless research, applications, essays, letters, emails, questions, scholarships and waiting. Lots of waiting.

After spending hours, days or even weeks writing essays and filling out personal information in the form of drop-down menus and financial figures, you can end up feeling disoriented regarding your own identity.

Although everyone is aware the application only ever displays the perfect version of yourself, it can still be difficult to separate yourself from that image at the end of the day because you spent the last years in high school curating everything in your life just to impress the admissions office of a certain school.

Every choice you make culminates in the single event of pressing the submit button on a college application.

And sometimes, all that arduous effort put into creating the ideal model of yourself ends up for nothing as the

decisions begin rolling in and the letter declares “wait-listed” or “rejected.”

Students can begin feeling down on themselves, concluding that they weren’t smart enough or hard-working enough or skilled enough or just plain good enough for the schools they were applying to.

However, students should be sure to not let the admissions process determine who they are or poison their passion for knowledge.

Not only do colleges use an impersonal system to judge applicants, including “personality scores,” the admissions officers who review the applications are often graduate students who are underpaid and just a few years older than seniors graduating from Blue Valley, according to The Atlantic.

And even if you’re trying your hardest in your classes, you may still be deemed unfit for the college — some critics compare the system to a lottery.

If you’re applying to schools with a low acceptance rate, you may not get in even if your resume seems sharp and your grades high.

Additionally, many people are beginning to recognize that the admissions process is failing students and are starting initiatives to change it.

Therefore, students need to acknowledge that they hold much more value than what a college declares.

And remember that in a decade or two, what you will cherish is not necessarily the name of the school you went to but the experience of attending it.

The friends you make, the information you absorb and the passions you undertake are what you will look back on.

Of course, it’s much easier to say, “Don’t let college decisions determine how you feel about yourself ” than do, but when you receive your decisions, just step back, take a few breaths and relax.

This staff editorial is the representation of the opinion of The Tiger Print staff.

12 // february 2018 // opinion

Keeping Keeping Up with the KeepingUp Upwith withthe the Current Current Events CurrentEvents Events Celebrities should use their platform to speak about national, global issues lizzie skidmore staff writer

Celebrities share the same concerns as many others in society. Although what they hold in advantage to everyday people like me is a large platform that can make an impact in important conversations. However, many people argue this power should not be used to discuss politics or other issues — that they should mind their own business and stick to entertaining. But behind their public image as famous and rich celebritrities, they are real people too.

As American citizens, it’s our right to be able to speak out on issues, there’s no denying that. To speak out about an issue is not necessarily to take a side, but rather to recognize that something wrong, and sometimes something great, is happening.

Whether that’s being one of 300 women in Hollywood to create the “Time’s Up” movement or sending four planes filled with supplies to a devastated Puerto Rico like reality star Bethenny Frankel, action is important.

For me, as a 17-year-old high school student, I can’t send four planes of supplies to a powerless country, and it’s hard to get the system we live in to take me seriously and listen.

But when people of higher power — of higher fame — understand what the lives of average citizens are like, it’s easier for them to contact a Senator or to tweet out to the world that “No, middle class citizens don’t like your tax plan,” or “Yes, we do agree that we don’t want to start a nuclear war.”

Celebrities having opinions is going to generate some backlash, but that’s the point of having an opinion — to start a conversation, to agree and to disagree. Just because they know it will have a major influence on their followers does not mean they should shut their mouths — it means they should speak louder.

Many celebrities have followed this idea of speaking up — from ESPN reporter Jemele Hill calling out President Donald Trump for not condemning white supremacy to actress Sophia Bush advocating for women’s healthcare and to actor Leonardo DiCaprio founding an organization to bring attention to climate change.

It’s the 21st century, we have entered a culture where celebrities have become influencers, not just in entertainment but in society as a whole.

And if you think celebrities shouldn’t talk about politics, maybe next time don’t elect one as president.

CONTACT S YOUR SENATOR ran Senator Jerry Mo (913) 393-0711 @jerrymoran erts Senator Pat Rob (913) 451-9343 @senpatroberts

| DESIGN BY LIZZIE SKIDMORE

feature // february 2018 //

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Blue Valley Theatre Presents

HELLO, DOLLY! allie ament & sadie myer staff writers This year, Blue Valley students are performing the well-known Broadway show “Hello, Dolly!” Feb. 1-3. Cast and crew members have put hours into rehearsal and are ready to show the community their work.

Senior Seth Hughes has been in a BV musical since his freshman year.

“I’ve been in love with musical theater since I was a little kid,” he said. “I auditioned when I was a freshman and every year after because I always wanted to be a part of [the performances] I saw when I was little.”

Hughes said after four years of determination, he has finally landed a lead role.

“I was ecstatic to find out I got the part I wanted,” he said.

“I have also been in the place where I didn’t get the part I wanted, which can be pretty disappointing.”

Hughes’ character is a wealthy older man named Horace Vandergelder, who is an arrogant and selfish man that is very set in his ways.

The BV stage is filled with students that all share a similar

passion.

What is “Hello, Dolly!” about?

The production “Hello, Dolly!” is centered around a lively woman named Dolly Levi. She is very talented, and well-known in New York City for her amazing work. But everything changes when she realizes how much time she is spending trying to make others happy, so she has to figure out how to reconcile the conflict.

Junior Lauren Brucker said she was nervous leading up to auditions, but her nerves only motivated her to reach her goal.

“I worked on the music with my private voice teacher and practiced the music in class,” Brucker said. “I didn’t look at the cast list at first because I was really scared. [Auditions were] super competitive. My friend ended up calling me and telling me I had made it. It was crazy to see who got the [lead] roles, but overall it was fulfilling to see my name on that list.”

From the preparation for the auditions to the two months of rehearsals, the musical requires a lot of time and dedication to perfect the final performance, Brucker said.

“Practices include rehearsing [songs], learning choreography, blocking, working together and supporting each other,” Brucker said. “We’ve all become very close.”

Hughes said the overall experience is something he will always cherish.

“Since you spend so much time with everyone, you create an awesome bond,” he said. “The friendships created is one of my favorite parts.”

Performance Times: •Friday at 7:30 p.m.

•Saturday at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Price: •$8 | DESIGN BY ALLIE AMENT & SADIE MYER

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feature // february 2018 //

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textbook education

words by mckenna cole and noma v

*

Some students feel that the education system has not set them up for success. What issues led them to point fingers at a system they assume is failing?

How do teachers weigh in on those concerns? The Tiger Print sat down with two members of the Blue Valley High School community to find the answers.

| DESIGN BY NICK LAMBERTI

16 // february 2018 // feature “has the american education system failed our youth?”

student says american education system creates excessive stress

S

chool, work, clubs, study, sleep, repeat.

If this is your schedule, you might be a high school student.

Our high school years are meant to prepare us for the responsibilities and challenges of post-adolescent life. But is such preparation really helpful? In a study conducted by New York University, results revealed there are high levels of chronic stress that our modern youth have to experience. The study concluded that such levels hindered their ability to succeed academically and foster their mental health.

Junior Alexa Campbell shared her experience as a youth in high school.

“I feel stressed every day,” Campbell said. “With all our classes and activities stacked on top of each other, there is no break long enough to relieve all the stress.

Even when you think you’re on top of everything, you suddenly remember a test coming up or an assignment that’s due the next day.”

In a poll of 120 BV students, 68 percent said they had a job. Campbell said she quit her job because she found it difficult balancing work and school.

“It was hard working until 10 at night, having hours

of homework to do after and then waking up early in the morning for school,” Campbell said. “There was no time to relax, and I got the bare minimum of sleep.”

Campbell said she is counting on her GPA and ACT score for acceptance to college but doesn’t understand why a test gets to depict a student’s future.

“I am an awful test taker,” Campbell said. “It’s not because I’m not smart or prepared — it’s pure anxiety.

There is so much racing through my head and the pressure is insane. There are so many variations of ‘smart.’ [Turning] someone away just because they didn’t do too well on a test doesn’t make sense to me.”

In the poll, 37 percent of surveyed students revealed they had cheated on a test and 84 percent said they had used SparkNotes instead of reading an assigned book.

Campbell claims the pressure of good grades and test scores is the major factor of using these shortcuts.

“When the main focus is on literal letters and numbers, you’re almost setting yourself up to fail,” Campbell said. “People are willing cheat their way through instead of actually working for it because all that matters is getting an A.”

feature // february 2018 //

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teacher argues that blue valley boasts opportunities that other u.s. districts lack

T

here are hundreds of teachers in the Blue Valley District, thousands in the state of Kansas and millions in the United States — each has their own stories, opinions and passions. It’s easy to throw around accusations that the education system has failed many of its students, but how do these teachers weigh in on those concerns?

History teacher Clark Winslow shared his journey into teaching and his insight on the issues students have with the system.

“It was never my plan to be a teacher,” Winslow said, “On a vacation to Florida, my dad passed away suddenly due to a massive heart attack when we were fishing. On that long, horribly painful ride home, my wife and I had a few deep conversations.”

Winslow said through speaking with his wife, who is also a teacher, he realized he was passionate about history and wanted to pursue a career related to it.

“Teaching may not be a high-paid living, but it’s a great life,” Winslow said, “Teaching allows you to do things that a lot of other careers don’t allow you to do, like sit around and talk about your passion.”

The average Blue Valley teacher salary in Kansas is around $45,139, according to the district website.

“If people couldn’t live on being a teacher, nobody would be teaching,” Winslow said.

Students sometimes assert that the education system is flawed and may have failed them in some way. Winslow said he believes the success of a student is predominantly based upon their willingness to apply themselves to the content in class and their willingness to seek help outside of class.

“I understand we have an education system that doesn’t reach everybody, but I truly believe it’s the student’s responsibility to get the most out of their educational experience,” Winslow said. “If you get into a class with a teacher you don’t like for whatever reason, and you sit there with your arms crossed the whole time, you’re not going to learn anything. The responsibility for your

education is yours and yours alone.”

However, Winslow has his own problems with the American education system.

“There’s this idea that you don’t need teachers in classrooms, and you can replace us with automations, but here’s the thing — I do more than teach,” Winslow said.

“I talk to kids about problems at home, problems with today’s society. I was talking to a student who has a pretty severe problem with the form of economic government we use — capitalism. That didn’t have anything to do with the classes I was teaching — we just talked about it.”

Winslow said that most teachers go far beyond the job title in today’s educational situation.

“Teachers wear a lot of hats, and I don’t think people who aren’t engaged in what we do on a daily basis would understand,” Winslow said. “Back in the ‘80s, teachers were expected to do one thing and one thing only — get [students] in the seats, cram information down their throats and get them out the door. That time has changed.”

Winslow also believes the U.S. education system is often taken for granted, especially compared to other systems around the globe.

“Even though our education system is what it is, people would kill, and I don’t mean figuratively — I mean literally — kill to have the educational opportunities that many people have in the United States,” Winslow said.

The BV district is full of opportunities for its students, but Winslow said there’s something different about it.

“This is the best building I’ve ever taught in, and that starts with the leadership of this building. It starts at the top, with [principal] Scott Bacon, who’s an incredible leader,” Winslow said. “I get to experiment in my class, I get to see what works best with kids — you don’t get that in a lot of buildings. I would say definitely, not just in the district, but particularly in this building, there are a lot of advantages and opportunities that we have here that we don’t have anywhere else.”

| DESIGN BY NICK LAMBERTI

18 // february 2018 // feature

THE BASICS BHARATANATYAM BV Student partakes in Indian classical dance

Y - BREAKING IT -

Bha - ‘Bhava’ meaning emotion

Ra - ‘Raaga’ meaning melody

Ta - ‘Taala’ meaning rhythm

Natyam meaning dance ABSTRACT EXPRESSIVE - MOVEMENT to display rhythm and convey emotion

ou’ve heard of ballet, tapdance and tango, but have you heard of Bharatanatyam?

Junior Sindhu Manda shared her experience with the dance style.

Bharatanatyam, a genre of Indian classical dance, stems from Hindi spiritual ideology and religious themes. The dances feature different aspects, including rhythm, emotion and music. The dances consist of intricate hand gestures — or mudras — and facial expressions that convey the tone of the story being told.

The attire, which consists of silk sarees and gold embroidery, has its own meaning and serves to enhance the experience of the audience.

“It’s different from American dance because the movements are different, but there are some modern aspects of it like pointing your feet,” Manda said.

“There’s different styles, and mine is called Thanjavur.”

Manda said for most Bharatanatyam dancers, it is important to start at an early age.

“I started when I was 5 years old, my friend started when she was 4, but some people start when they’re 3,” Manda said.

“There’s other people who do it in the school, too.”

Manda said because she started so early, it took her a while to find an interest in it.

| WORDS BY NOMA KREEGAR | DESIGN BY NOMA KREEGAR & VERONICA PETERSON | PHOTOS SUBMISSIONS BY SINDHU MANDA

“I wasn’t very passionate about it until about sixth grade,” Manda said. “Until then, my parents had always forced me to practice about once a week, but I [realized that I] had to keep practicing for my Arangetram.”

Arangetram, which means rising or climbing, is a dancer’s debut-performance that follows years of training and requires an understanding of classical dance and different aspects of dancing.

Manda said her Arangetram was in ninth grade. Since her first performance, she has been avidly dancing on the weekends.

“There’s a lot of performances that I can do here in KC,” Manda said. “Recently, I’ve been performing every weekend.”

Although the dances can seem intimidating from an outside perspective, Manda said she has gotten used to the style of dance.

“It’s not something that everyone knows about, but I’m really passionate about it,” Manda said.

HOMECOMING 2016

UNDER THE SEA

feature // february 2018 //

PREVIOUS DISPLAYS B W BA E E K OO K NN E D

WINTER 2016

19

LIKE SNOWFLAKES NO 2 BOOKS ARE ALIKE

BANNED BOOK WEEK 2016

Window Shopping

the front window display and sideboards inside.

Library para Michele Wirt said they change their front array based mostly on the | WORDS BY ALLI WILLIAMS & KAITLIN YU season or on current | DESIGN BY KAITLIN YU school events — Library staff explains process that goes into although, they also have a back-to-school creating window displays, book boards and Banned Book Week theme.

At Blue Valley, we are fortunate “Some of my displays I feel enough to have an award-winning are better than others,” Wirt said. library — named National School “There’s not really a particular Library Program of the Year favorite season for me. I really by the American Association of liked the winter one I did [in 2016] School Librarians in 2015. From where I had the birch trees up providing 3D printer access, green [and] the Homecoming one I did screen technology, “How-to-Kits” before, where I had a circus tent about programming to crocheting and a tiger that was cartwheeling available for check out, thousands across the front.” of unique books and a quiet place Wirt is not the only one who to read or study, the staff is always puts together these intricate designs doing the most to help students out — in fact, she said it’s a group both academically and personally. effort among all the librarians and Perhaps one of the most paras. underappreciated aspects of “I do most of them, but all the library is the everof us in here do stuff,” Wirt said. changing decorations and “[Librarians Caitlin] Neneman displays that occupy the and [Jessica] Kramer both have space. done the side boards and [para Librarians and Brenda] Bruehart as well. [Para paraprofessionals routinely Geli] Mackey helps us put it dedicate hours of work together and find books.” | Wirt and creativity decorating Whenever it’s time to switch

the theme around, Wirt said she comes up with the basic idea then uses the internet for more creative brainstorming.

“Sometimes, I go to Pinterest or just Google and look at things,” she said. “Then, I put together what I see and what I want to do from it.”

Each display incorporates a variety of book recommendations to go along with the theme. The librarians and paras hand-select these by a combination of shelfreading and searching for keywords on the online catalogue.

“We try to put out newer books that students want to check out,” Kramer said. “The hard thing about displays is that students feel like, ‘Oh, it’s a display, so I can't take this book.’ The whole reason they’re out is so it highlights them and so people can take them.”

Most of the displays are created using materials from the school.

“We use paper from the teachers’ lounge,” Wirt said.

“Sometimes, we buy stuff. The library purchases that — we just go out and pick it up.”

Wirt said she has a creative gene when it comes to designing and decorating.

“It’s fun to come up with an idea, put it together and then see it pan out,” she said. “[I enjoy that] I’ve done it myself and how it turns out — it’s just the accomplishment of doing it.”

20 //february 2018 // feature

The Boy Who Gives Senior uses donations to become closer to peers, make a difference

| WORDS BY CARLEY SHERER & ALLI WILLIAMS n important part of high school is forming relationships and creating bonds that last. For senior Zack Ford, meeting new people had always been difficult, so he decided to reach out to others in a way no student has before — he feeds them.

A

Locker 1527, located in the senior hall, stands out among the rest. Although identical in appearance to any other neighboring locker, to many Blue Valley students, the locker’s contents hold a sacred value.

Ford said he had finally had enough of dealing with the reduced-fat single-serving Pop-Tart pouches last year that were being sold in the cafeteria.

“Instead of going to [the] administration, I decided [to find a solution],” he said.

“One night, I went to Walmart and bought a small stash of Pop-Tarts [to keep in my locker].”

Whenever he heard students say they were hungry, he would offer them snacks from inside.

“I’m not the loudest or most extroverted kid, so I wanted to find a way that I could communicate to people,” Ford said. “I found that if we can find a common ground — which is usually that people get really hungry and want food — how can you not talk to people through that?”

He said he used this idea to redefine how others saw him.

feature // february 2018 // supplying began in

2016

estimated

restocks every

spent so far

weeks

$650

21

2

“Junior year, I didn’t know anyone outside of my social circle,” Ford said. “Now — going around and asking people ‘Hey, do you want some candy?’ — it’s not something you would expect from anyone else. I thought, ‘This could be a me-thing.’”

Ford said this year he’s been trying to maintain a consistent schedule. Every two weeks, he spends around $130 from his paycheck and restocks the supply. Generally, he said the experience has been rewarding for him.

“I got other people to talk to me,” he said. “There are a couple of people on the football team that I would have never expected to get to know. Having them ask me how the food situation is going and asking if there was any way they could help feels really good to me.”

Although he said he has not had any negative interactions resulting from his giving, some people have tried to take advantage of the system.

“I wouldn’t say greedy but maybe glutenous — I’ve had people come up to me and ask for more candy or more Pop-Tarts,” he said. “I remember one day, I brought in $120 worth of Pop-Tarts. They were gone within two days, and no one told me.”

Continuing the Spirit of Charity Ford’s generosity extends beyond being the snack source of the student body — he also uses his money to donate to charitable causes.

This past holiday season, the senior class adopted Emiliano, a child in need. His family did not have the financial means to buy presents for him themselves.

His simple gift request was for a pair of tennis shoes and some horror films. If every senior had donated a dollar, they would easily have been able to provide his wish.

However, when Ford saw after a few days of collection the amount raised was only $74, he knew he had to do something more to help.

“I was looking in the senior group chat, and the first thing I saw was about Emiliano, and I thought ‘I hope people donate [to him],” Ford said. “He’s just a kid asking for horror movies. When I looked at the amount of money raised [so far, I knew] it wasn’t enough to give him what he [wanted].”

Knowing that donations were low, Ford promised that

for each person willing to take a survey about Pop-Tart preferences, he would donate $1 toward Emiliano’s gift.

“I was able to raise [about $60 through the survey,]” he said. “I was really happy to raise more than I anticipated. I was thinking I would raise 30 or 40 bucks, so raising more than that felt really good.”

The total donations among the senior class amounted to $156, much of which Ford funded.

“Zack’s donations had a huge impact on the gift we were able to give [Emiliano] in the end,” said Student Council member senior Katie Upton.

With that, Student Council was able to purchase two pairs of tennis shoes, socks, a gift card and a large collection of scary movies.

Though the gifts seem like simple items to many in the BV community, they made Emiliano’s holiday wish come true, and it couldn’t have been done without the generosity of Ford. | PHOTOS & DESIGN BY ALLI WILLIAMS

22 // february 2018 // feature

The Rainbow Nation Brothers retell experiences in Africa

maddy kang & shay lawson staff writers Imagine experiencing a new country, living in an unfamiliar place, while diving into an exciting culture. Two sets of Blue Valley brothers, the Andrys and the Hattinghs, had the opportunity to live about 9,000 miles away in Africa.

The Andrys lived in Pretoria, South Africa for 2 years, while the Hattinghs stayed for 12 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

While one family came to the U.S., another left for Africa — both for their fathers’ work.

However, both families fully explored the majestic, yet dangerous, daily life in Africa.

“We weren’t allowed to leave our neighborhood — there was an electric fence, fingerprints to get in and armed security,” junior Matthew Andry said. “[It] was a high hijacking zone outside of our house.”

The Hattinghs said they especially missed all of the things Africa had to offer, from safaris to the scenery.

“While I lived there, I really enjoyed the fact that we didn’t have the drama of social media and technology at our age,” former BV junior Kiron Hattingh said. “We spent our days outside playing in the rivers and going on safaris. We had everything we needed — a bunch of land with wild animals, prairie bushes, dirt and friends.”

Freshman Tibeyan Hattingh also said they had a river conveniently located near their home | DESIGN BY SADIE MYER

where they would swim for fun.

There were many cultural differences in Africa, but a major one was schooling. The Andrys attended the American International School of Johannesburg, freshman Jake Andry said.

“It was outside — the weather was always nice,” Matthew said. “I would walk to my next class and go outside. It was hard, though, because the teachers were from Africa and had accents, and they all taught differently.”

Kiron said another cultural difference was that different nationalities of people in Africa blended together very well, and people were generally interested in strangers’ lives. He said if he was waiting in line for something in Africa, a stranger would socialize with him to pass time.

“The country is called the ‘Rainbow Nation’ because you have European culture, Native African, Eastern and Indian,” Kiron said. “They all blend in a way I have never seen before. Within the few years I’ve lived in the U.S., people keep more to themselves and have an isolated vibe to them.”

Both sets of brothers expressed the positives that came from living in a country other than the U.S. and how it affected them.

“It was a completely different experience,” Matthew said. “It was a lot different than here.

We got to experience new things, and we got a whole new vibe of culture.”

feature // february 2018 //

23

D N A H A G N I D N E L EF club helps those in need UNIC

courtney brown staff writer

O

ften times while watching the news, there seems like little you can do to help those in need. Five Blue Valley juniors came together to create the UNICEF club to help solve this problem.

Vice president junior Niki Joshi said she and president junior Shreya Menon were two of the students who came up with the idea to start this club after watching the news and seeing people needing help.

“We were both looking at things that were going on in India since we have family there,” Joshi said.

“Children over there weren’t getting a proper education. There are issues in the Middle East where children are in desperate need of food, water and clothes. Children are just not getting access to the things they need, so we wanted to be able to actually do something. We wanted to take a part of something bigger than us. We

| Executive diretor of events Atrik Patel, 11

“UNICEF is really amazing and you can do things at a local level at your school with fundraising. You’re able to send money across the whole globe to help out.”

wanted to have some sort of impact on the world.”

According to Joshi, the club itself is affiliated with the international UNICEF organization.

“When we set up the club we had to contact them and actually register within their database,” Joshi said. “They gave us a lot of different fundraising ideas. When people from the school give us money through fundraisers, we donate the money to [UNICEF], and they distribute it to those in need.”

Joshi said there’s a lot that goes into creating different events.

“We have a group chat that goes off pretty much every day,” Joshi said.

“There’s a lot of planning that happens through that. We spend about a couple hours a week catching up with each other and coming up with ideas.”

Menon said the officers communicate with members at UNICEF’s headquarters in New York City.

“We spend a lot of time sending emails to the administration,” Menon

said.

Menon said their main purpose is to do as much as they can to help.

“Our goal of this club is to aid the organization in raising money for children suffering from epidemics, violence and poverty,” Menon said.

“Even 90 cents can provide things such as water purifying tablets and vitamins for malnourished children.”

Menon said BV students should join the club to assist others outside of their community.

“Club members get community service hours for helping out,” Menon said. “It’s a good thing to raise money for important issues affecting children throughout the world.”

Joshi said in the club’s first year, the club has been fortunate to be in a community such as Blue Valley.

“It’s been successful,” Joshi said.

“I believe we’ve raised over $1,000.

We’re very happy with the money we raised, and we’re thankful for the community we have where people are able to donate their money.”

“With the hurricanes that happened this past year and all the people it impacted, especially since it was more at home, it touched me to try and spread out to other countries and to help what’s going on in other places.” | Secretary Elaina Ismert, 11

| DESIGN BY COURTNEY BROWN

24 //february 2018 // a&e

S S E E S S S S A A L L C C R E T T A THAT M

HOW TO FILL YOUR SCHEDULE WITH

| WORDS & DESIGN BY ALLI WILLIAMS

START

College

I prefer learning Hands-on

Through discussion

I best communicate using

I prefer to

My words

Life

Learn black-and-white facts Interpret things my own way

Artistic expression

I want to Report events

I prefer

I want a class that will prepare me for

Create the events

I would consider myself

REE OR TO T S S L L O O O O H CH SC S Twitter

Analytical

Artsy My hands

Gain real-world experience and apply to work for Tigers Inc.

I prefer working with Computers

YouTube

T ST AS CA C D D A A O O R R B B

Learn to produce high-quality videos through interviewing, filming and editing. Broadcast is a prerequisite for Tiger TV and important for video journalism.

M URNALIS JO Take this prerequisite class for newspaper or yearbook and learn how to use Adobe programs, work a camera, design pages, write stories and meet and interview people in your community.

I prefer to

Play by my own rules

Follow specific instructions

Y RY AR NA ULLIIN CU C S ALLS IIA T T N N E E S S S S E E Food is a necessary part of life, and

learning the skills you need to perfect your culinary abilities is an important step of growing up and avoiding a college experience spent on ramen.

a&e // february 2018 // Blue Valley offers a tremendous number of classes to students each year. By the time you fill your schedule requests to the brim with required courses necessary for graduation, it can seem overwhelming figuring the best, most worth-while classes that will benefit your interests and passions. Follow this simple guide to discover the classes best fit for you.

Y GY OG LLO O O H H C C Y Y S S P P Learn about the interesting reasons we think the way we think and do the things we do.

I’m more interested in science of the

Mind

I want a more

P OP PO AP DIIA MEED M Never miss out on a movie

Fast-paced environment

Relaxed environment

ALL NA ON SO RS PEER P CEE NC AN NA FFIIN

ALL NA ON TIIO T A A N N R R E E T T N IIN S NS ON TIIO AT LA R REEL Expand your understanding

reference again. Take media and popular culture and spend class days watching movies and discussing themes.

Visual learner

on global conflicts and the way nations interact through class discussion and essays.

Invest in your future by taking this class and understand how to bank, get insurance, pay taxes and plan financially.

Y HY PH OP O S S O L O I L I H H P P

Broaden your mindset on the way you think about the world around you, as you challenge yourself and your peers by participating in discussions.

Auditory learner

A VA G AV NG JJA IIN M M M M A A R R G OG RO PPR Problem solve while learning to program with Java and design algorithms. This is an important skill set in modern development.

I prefer to work on projects At school

At home

I want to

Become an expert in one thing

Dabble in a bit of everything

Y HY PH AP RA R G G O O T T O O H PH P

D OD OO S WO W GIIEES OG O L L O O N N H H C TEEC T

Anyone can take shots on a smart phone, but it takes specific skills to understand how to create amazing photos. Use a film camera for various projects.

N GN SIIG S E E D D & & E E L I TIL XT TEEX T This class incoorporates a variety of projects and skills to hit the spot for any creative student and expand the mediums they work with.

& Y& MY OM TO AT NA AN A Y GY OG O L L O O I I S S Y Y H H P Get in an extra science P credit while learning about the human body and performing dissections.

Body

I’m more of a(n)

25

OEE PO HP H

To discover your interest in engineering, take Honors Principles of Engineering to understand what the career path is really about through various projects and calculations.

Develop life skills in this project-based course intended to teach the basics of woodwork and design.

!

26 // february 2018 // a&e

2018 LOVE HOROSCOPE

What your horoscope says about your love life this Valentine’s Day aquarius Do you believe in love at first sight? When you see that special someone for the first time this month, be patient.

Jumping to conclusions is too dangerous; give it some thought.

taurus Unless you’re already in a relationship, February isn’t the best time to make decisions surrounding your love life. If you are in a relationship, focus on spending time with them — not spending money.

leo Through talking it out and staying calm, your relationship can stay stable.

Don’t try to ignore your problems or find other ways out of them; communication is the best option for you.

scorpio This is a great month for Scorpio. You will be flooded with love, not just in relationships, but in every other aspect, too. You will enjoy encounters and feel invincible this month. Do something new you think you’d enjoy.

| WORDS & DESIGN BY NICK LAMBERTI

pisces Your intuition will be strong this month. Your judgment is so quick that you will be able to immediately identify if things will work out between the two of you.

gemini Be patient, Gemini. If you let time do its work, you’ll eventually end up with a satisfactory relationship.

Don’t rush things, even if you really want to.

virgo It’s time for your personality to show through, Virgo, so be confident. With respect in mind, you’re ready to encounter love this month, so don’t turn down anything with potential.

sagittarius You prefer to be simple with your affairs, where everyone is independent and in their place. You don’t have to change your personality for love this Valentine’s Day; it’s OK to be free.

aries Whether it’s a breakup or dealing with difficulties, the month of February will be tough for you, Aries. February will be unsatisfactory when it comes to your love life, but with your strong personality, perseverance is always present.

cancer This month, you’ll come off as cute and quiet; let affection and sympathy do the talking for you.

libra At the beginning of the month, communication and intimacy are in your favor.

If you’re struggling with something relationshipwise, now is a good time to work things out.

capricorn If there’s misunderstandings surrounding your love life, don’t worry anymore, because things get better this month. Identify the toxic relationships in your life, and get rid of them — they contribute nothing but negativity in your life.

4 ways

a&e // february 2018 //

27

to set yourself apart as a potential leader

| WORDS & DESIGN BY KAITLIN YU Along with inductions, banquets and end-of-the-school year celebrations, seniors are beginning to hand down their positions of leadership. If you’re interested in seizing one, whether it’s for the resume or because you are genuinely passionate about the activity you’re pursuing, it’s not too late to make a powerful impression to your superiors. Here are some tips to help you navigate the next few months in your extracurriculars.

dedicate extra time You can’t become a leader by being a passive member. You’ll have to put aside additional hours and effort outside the usual amount to contribute to the club, which means you will have to learn to manage your time among your school work, your extracurriculars and your personal life.

hear from the

leaders of bv

| Christian Hansen, 12 • DECA vice president • Investment Club co-founder • Model UN co-founder • Speech and Debate Prefect “In today’s climate, leaders can stand out with pure commitment to their organization. I would also say solid leaders not only commit more themselves but try to motivate and incorporate others as much as possible.”

| Nikki Larson, 12 • DECA pres.

• NHS vice pres.

• Students Assist Schools co-pres.

• NSHS treasurer • Tennis co-cap.

• School store manager

keep organized You cannot efficiently lead a club if you’re all over the place.

Additionally, it doesn’t look impressive to your current leaders or sponsors if you aren’t able to meet deadlines. If you have a handle on all the happenings of your life, then the seniors will feel assured handing their leadership down to you.

be innovative Don’t be content with the status quo. Take time to think about what issues lie within the activity, and brainstorm solutions to those predicaments. If your superiors believe you’re interested in advancing the club on a better path, then you’ll immediately be perceived as a leader.

desire to lead You can’t be given a leadership position without the motivation to earn one. This means that it’s key to carefully choose which leadership positions you pursue — only undertake the clubs you care about!

“I believe being more than just a participant is what sets apart someone from other candidates. In other words, always go the extra mile and truly dedicate yourself.”

| Bella L’Heureux, 12 • Student Council executive pres.

• Thespian State Board member • Blue Valley District Special Education Prom co-creator “I was motivated to become a leader simply because of passion. The more work I can do with the activity, the happier I am because I am focusing on the hobbies that fulfill me. A leader should be passionate.”

28 // february 2018 // sports

Sole girl competes on predominantly male team | DESIGN

BY MOLLY HOLMES

kyle elmendorf staff writer

| PHOTOS

BY NICK LAMBERTI

On the morning of a wrestling meet for Blue Valley, the entire wrestling team weighs in at the boys locker room to determine their weight class for the competition.

However, this season, after the boys clear out of the locker room, the coaches weigh in one final wrestler, one who isn’t traditionally seen on a high school wrestling team: a girl wrestler, senior Megan Hatfield. Her decision to sign up for wrestling came from her trend of trying a different sport every year.

“Eighth grade, I did basketball, freshman year I did soccer, sophomore year I did track and junior year, I did softball,” she said.

She said her decision to wrestle also came from people telling her she couldn’t do it as well as her own interest in wrestling.

“I thought it would be a good experience to have,” Hatfield said. “My dad said I would get Impetigo, and my mom said it’s weird to wrestle boys, so I really wanted to prove them wrong. One time freshman year, I wrestled [senior] Coby Blasen and he couldn’t beat me. I actually pinned him.”

Hatfield said she initially had some difficulties becoming comfortable on the team, but they

weren’t permanent.

“I was afraid none of the guys would like to wrestle me and it was true at first,” Hatfield said. “I would stand there awkwardly and then make one of the freshman go with me, but now they want to wrestle me because we’re good friends.”

Wrestling has been one of the most difficult sports for Hatfield to partake in. She said there are some disadvantages to being the only girl on the team.

“I’m in the locker room by myself, and it gets kind of lonely,” Hatfield said. “It’s super awkward because on meet days, all of the guys weigh in, then I get to go in. I get to go in the boys locker room, which is kind of exciting. It’s just kind of uncomfortable because I have to wait for them all to get out, and then I go in and weigh.”

She said her main goal is to go out and win some matches against the boys.

“I won a match at our first tournament, which was super exciting,” Hatfield said. “There’s also a girls State, so I’m hoping to go to that.”

Hatfield said she hopes to serve an example for other girls who are told they can’t compete with the boys.

“There’s a lot of good wrestlers out there,” Hatfield said. “I’m not one of them yet, but I hope someday to be. I also want to be a role model for girls who come after me that we as a people can do anything that boys can do as a people.”

sports // february 2018 //

29

WINTER SPORTS | WORDS BY KYLE ELMENDORF | DESIGN BY MOLLY HOLMES

BOYS BASKETBALL Last season, the boys basketball team lost in Substate to rival BV North, a result senior Jack DeVeney said they were not satisfied with.

“Last season we were disappointed because we didn’t make it to State,” DeVeney said. “It wasn’t a good way to end the season.”

He said this season they hope to make it further in the postseason than they did last year.

| PHOTOS BY MOLLY HOLMES “Our goal is to make it to State,” DeVeney said. “Right now we’re really trying to win our tournament.”

Being a leader for the younger players is one new role he has taken up as a senior.

“We have four freshmen on the team,” DeVeney said. “We try to help them know their place, so that’s the biggest role us seniors have this year.”

DeVeney also said his responsibilities as a player have changed.

“Last year and two years ago, I wasn’t the focal point,” DeVeney said. “This year, I’m more of a scorer.”

DeVeney said he enjoys the opportunity to play with his teammates.

“I really like my team,” DeVeney said. “They’re all pretty good friends and even the underclassman are cool.”

30 //february 2018 // sports

BOYS SWIM & DIVE Senior Shahab Mirza is a captain on the boys swim and dive team. He said his part of the team has changed as a result of his seniority.

“This year my role has become more like a leader,” Mirza said. “I serve as co-captain with Ryan Richards, and that basically means we motivate the other swimmers and serve as general leaders.”

Mirza said he hopes for a strong finish to the season for the team.

“We got a lot of newcomers on the

| PHOTOS BY KAITLIN YU

team and they have been doing really well,” Mirza said. “I’m excited to see how they do especially as we approach the end of the season.”

Improving his race times is something Mirza said he is eager about.

“I’m looking forward to hopefully dropping my times,” Mirza said.

“We’ve been working hard as a team, so we’ve been putting a lot of hours in, and hopefully it’s going to turn out.”

The swim team practices every day after school and every morning before school except for Wednesday. They have weekend practices on Saturday and participate in “Hell Week” over Winter Break.

“Hell Week is basically several days where coach [Adam Bien] really goes hard on us,” Mirza said. “He assigns some pretty tough sets to try to get us in really good shape and to help

us power through those challenges to make us better swimmers as a whole.”

Mirza said he enjoys the relationships he forms with his teammates.

“My favorite part about swim is probably the brotherhood that results from all of the hours spent together,” Mirza said. “We’re all really challenging ourselves. “The fact that there are just these few people within our school community who we spend so much time with really forges a bond between us, and I really enjoy that.”

sports // february 2018 //

GIRLS BASKETBALL

31

| PHOTOS

BY KELLY ZHANG

Senior Catherine Szukalski is a captain on the girls basketball team. She said as a captain she is responsible for advising the less experienced players.

“I’m a mentor for the younger girls,” Szukalski said. “I show them what coach [Ryan] Mahoney expects and do the right things in practice.”

Szukalski said their training for this season began in the summer.

“We went to Pitt State camp and KU camp,” Szukalski said. “We [also] had workouts every week day in the summer and after school workouts in the fall.”

Last season ended in a loss in the first round of Substate. She said this year they hope to have a better result and qualify for State as well as bond with the other girls.

“I look forward to spending a lot of time with the team and having fun,” Szukalski said. “I love the sport.”

She said she likes the opportunity to compete with her friends.

“I love being able to play with people that share the same interest,” Szukalski said. “[I enjoy] meeting new girls that I typically wouldn’t be friends with or might not have even known.”

She said she foresees the team performing better than last season because of the senior leadership. “[I expect] for all of us to play together and everyone put out their best performance,” Szukalski said. “I think the team can improve on enjoying the game while we’re playing the game.”

BOWLING When the bowling team practices after school, they travel down 135th Street to Olathe Lanes East. They prepare for their various competitions, including Regionals — at which senior Claiborn Schmidt said she aspires for the team to qualify for State.

“I feel like we might place at Regionals,” Schmidt said. “We didn’t do as great last year as what I’m hoping this year. It was a little disappointing.”

Schmidt said she thinks this year’s team is one of the most talented Blue Valley teams she has seen.

“We have some pretty high scorers, so I’m excited to see [how we do this season],” Schmidt said.

“Our JV is probably the best I’ve seen since I’ve been here.”

She said the seniors this season are supposed to lead the younger bowlers.

“The seniors are split up, and we

| PHOTOS BY MELANIE WHITE all share responsibilities,” Schmidt said. “We try to keep the team happy and get information out.”

Meeting all of the new girls is one of her goals — as well as improving her score, along with the rest of the team.

“It would be awesome if we could get a few more people to break 200,” Schmidt said. “Last year we only had one girl.”

Schmidt said her role on the team has changed as she has gotten older.

“At the beginning, I stood in the shadows and watched what the other girls did,” Schmidt said.

“Now, I have been on varsity the last few years and help the younger girls.”

Schmidt said one of her favorite parts about being on the team is the opportunity for

free bowling with her friends.

“It’s really fun — it’s not super stressful,” Schmidt said. “Our school doesn’t stress it a lot. It’s pretty calm, and all of us girls are just there to have a good time.

32 // february 2018 // news

BREAKING UP THE CROWD Drama newcomers perform The Nine Worst Breakups of All Time.

1. Glaring into the audience, freshman Emily Brixey stews in her anger at her potential prom date who proclaims he just went through the “worst break up of all time.” “It’s hard to exaggerate so much so that the audience laughs,” she said.

2. Hitting her castmate with a club, freshman Claire Powell acts as a cave-woman breaking up with her husband. Each act in this play contained a count down to the worst breakup of all time.

3. Staring down at her character’s recent ex-boyfriend, freshman Halley Eastham acts in the number one worst break-up of all time. “[My favorite part] was getting close to the cast every day after school,” she said.

4. Twirling with his castmate in his arms, freshman Dylan Arnold acts in the third worst break up of all time, according to the play. In this breakup, after a romantic dinner Arnold got down on one knee to break up with his ex-girlfriend to be.

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Advanced Repertory Theatre Performs: Feb. 15 & 16 at 7 p.m. and

Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. | PHOTOS & DESIGN BY MELANIE WHITE