the
BLUE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL bvtigernews.com
Vol. 41 Issue 1
August 2010
Stilwell, KS
inside Take a tour
LEED-certified BV Southwest opens its doors today. page 3
The queen is crowned
2010 graduate Kaitlin Long wins America’s Homecoming Queen competition. page 9
Sharing the stadium
BVSW moves in, BV West plays at the DAC. page 11
inthenews
in the halls... 1. Senior ads due this month Senior ads are due to the office by Aug. 27. The ad forms can be found on the BVHS website home page (www.bluevalleyk12.org/bvhs). Messages and photos can be used to personalize the ads. “Senior ads are a great way for parents to make a tribute to their son or daughter before they graduate,” yearbook adviser Jill Chittum said. “Ads also help fund the yearbook a lot which keeps the prices of the yearbooks down for students.” By Kelly Cordingley.
2. Back to School Night gives parents chance to meet teachers Back to School Night is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23. Parents have the chance to go through a shortened version of their child’s schedule to meet their teachers and learn about curriculum. Students are allowed to go as well. “Back to School Night helps the parents put a face with the name of a teacher,” counselor Sandy Fryer said. “We hope it helps the parents feel comfortable contacting teachers.” By Courtney Woodworth.
this month... Aug. 18
First day for all students Sophomore class ring meeting
Aug. 20
All-school picnic and Freshman Class Day
Aug. 23
Back to School Night
State implements new vending machine standard; school tradition funding at risk caitlinholland editor-in-chief Last year, as a junior, Felicia Walker would walk out of third hour and head straight to the vending machine in the senior hallway with her friends. She used to drop four quarters in, punch the letter-number combination and watch the bag of Lays chips fall. Walker usually had swim practice in the mornings and looked forward to her mid-morning snack that would hold her over until lunch. This year, that scenario will never happen. The Kansas State Board of Education voted for vending machine standards that will restrict what types of foods and beverages students can purchase throughout the day. The restrictions force all schools in Kansas to move to an advanced stage in an effort to promote healthy eating. The mandate says that foods that do not meet a minimal nutritional value will not be offered to students until one hour after lunch ends, and the same applies for zero-calorie soda. Foods that are 200 calories or less per serving, or have sugar as 35 percent or less of their total weight, as well as water and juice beverages, will be sold the entire day. While he feels promoting healthy eating is important, principal Scott Bacon is concerned about a potential decline in machine sales. He said a portion of the money the machines make is kept in the school and used in ways that students notice. “Pepsi has been very generous to us over the years, and we’ve been able to do a lot of things because of that,” he said. “My fear is that the allocation that we get every year is going to go down. If it does, then we’re going to be forced to make some changes.” Steve Davis, district director of budget and operations, said it is hard to tell how students will respond to the change this early. “I think students will understand,” he said. “It’s not something the principal or the district can control; it’s something every school in the state has to comply with.” Bacon predicts changes in school traditions like doughnuts after state championships and community service days. His concern is that, because they are not directly tied to the classroom, they might be viewed as unimportant.
“Pepsi has been very generous to us over the years, and we’ve been able to do a lot of things because of that. My fear is that the allocation that we get every year is going to go down. If it does, then we’re going to be forced to make some changes.” principal Scott Bacon
“I’ve been here longer than anybody else, just about,” he said. “I’m tied to tradition as much as anybody, but the budgetary issue really causes us to have to look at making a change.” The money BV receives from Pepsi is usually used to finance doughnuts, speakers, academic awards breakfasts, recognition assemblies as well as some of community service day. Now a senior, Walker said that she will still probably use the vending machines in the morning, but choose a healthier option rather than the chips she used to buy. She said, as a swimmer, she knows that a balanced lifestyle is important and students should be able to select the foods they want for themselves. “I think offering other alternatives but not really taking stuff away, then also teaching stuff and through learning experience would help people to make a better lifestyle, so when you’re older you won’t have to change it,” she said. Davis said students in the district are showing an interest in making healthy choices, and cafeteria food options reflect that. He said the vending machine change is another step toward more nutritional choices for students. “We’re implementing a lot of nutritional focus type-things because our students are interested,” he said. “As far as food service goes, we’re looking at items that are new, innovative and healthy, and are interesting to students.” Walker said she expects most of the student body will be frustrated with the change, and some students will just go get the snacks they want from stores before the school day begins. “I do not think they will be happy at all,” she said. “I know a lot of people eat snacks, especially before lunch. Even all my friends go to the vending machines before fourth hour. I think there will be quite a few angry people, to say the least.”
Aug. 25/26
School pictures
Sept. 3
Pizza dance following football game
So, when can I buy that ?
Sept. 6
Labor Day, no school
Food:
Sept. 15/16
Map testing: Math for freshmen and sophomores
Sept. 17
Blood Drive in Auxiliary Gym at 8:30 a.m.
on the cover... Welcome back for another year. The 2010-2011 year brings a variety of intriguing topics that will affect student life, ranging from budget cuts to vending machine sales. Photo illustration by Maegan Kabel.
0 2 AUGUST 2010
Sold in the morning to the end of the day
less than 200 calories calories from fat less than 35 percent of total weight sugar makes up less than 35 percent of total weight
Drinks:
water juice containing 50 percent to 100 percent real fruit juice
Food:
more than 200 calories calories from fat more than 35 percent of total weight sugar is more than 35 percent of total weight
Drinks:
Sold one hour after lunch to the end of the day
diet soda
Sold near athletic facilities: electrolyte replacement drinks
inthenews
inthenews
architecture & technology
Take a tour:
BV Southwest
people & tradiditon
One feature of the BVSW courtyard is an upper deck of picnic tables, avaliable off the commons for students to use during lunch. Many of the hallways have access to the courtyard, which also has an amphitheater and a patio connected to the library .
The library has many windows facing the courtyard, allowing natural light to fill the room. One of the librarians, Becca Munson, worked on the design committee for the library, where she made sure to incorporate her vision for the library into the design. “We are a teaching library where we incorporate 21st century skills into the content areas,” she said. “The library is also a place to foster the appreciation of literature, so we have a magazine area along with comfy chairs to read a variety of books and other materials.”
School specialist Bev Bertolone helps Social Studies department chair Mike Ortmann unpack books and set up his room. Ortmann, who originally taught at Lawrence High School, is looking forward to the new school year. “I think the possibility of working with the new staff and greeting the new students in the new building is exciting,” he said. Ortmann’s room has a modern feel with large windows in one corner, overlooking acres filled with trees. “I’m looking forward to the fall foliage,” he said. “It’s all very exciting.”
The hallways of Southwest are wide and have cement floors. Some have tan lockers lining the walls.
Biology teacher Lynn Martens stands in front of rows of textbooks and cabinets filled with science equipment. She allows students to name the skeleton and muscle-structure displays. “The students this year will get to do that, and the names won’t change after that.” After many years teaching at Blue Valley North, Martens moved to BVSW for the experience. “I transitioned because this is new, exciting and fun,” she said. “Not because I didn’t like North. It’s kind of neat to have the merging of the high school in two ways. It’s the healthiest mix of what Blue Valley has to offer for students and teachers.”
Library para Maggie Padek labels, sorts and shelves books. Library paras worked throughout the whole summer to set up the library. Books were ordered from Nov. 2009 to Jan. 2010 and were processed over the summer as they arrived at the school. The librarians organized the books by genre to make them easily accessible to students. The shelves are on casters, which makes moving furniture around easy for the librarians. “I have to say I love our furniture,” Munson said. “I tend to change things up a bit to make things more functional and I like the flexibility of it.”
The school features advanced technology for students to use. The journalism room contains new Macintosh computers on which the yearbook and newspaper can be designed (bottom). All photos and captions by Maegan Kabel.
AUGUST 2010 0 3
outloud
District budget affects students directly
Understanding basics on educational funding is important for all Welcome (freshmen) and welcome back (everybody else), This year promises to be an interesting one. With our school a little bit smaller we already see a difference from years past on the surface. With the district’s budget tightened up, each student will most definitely notice a change or two throughout the school year. Budget problems aren’t new. For years, the district has been forced to make cuts in order to keep pace with the dwindling state budget. School board members have been doing the little things to keep the cuts focused at district office, away from students’ classrooms and activities. Students have been able to slide by without really knowing or caring about the district’s budget situation. Budget. That’s something our parents talk about. That’s the reason our teachers lecture about not printing in color all the time. It’s our problem, too. Unfortunately, school board members are running out of things to cut back on at district office. The dam is finally starting to crack, and students will see the result of the budget
problem in their school lives now. Whether it’s one more student in the back row of Algebra II or less money for a club to use on supplies, it’s happening. And it’s not just our parents’ problem anymore. The truth is, it’s our school. We should care about it enough to educate ourselves on the budget basics — and take it one step further. We should voice our opinions to district and state officials to let them know we know what’s best for our school. An issue for everyone. All students, freshmen and seniors alike, should care about the district’s financial situation. Upperclassmen have the advantage of knowing the school really well, what changes would be embraced by the student body and what would be rejected. Underclassmen should feel the need to be aware. The district’s budget will play a critical role in their education for the next few years. There are ways to make a difference. It isn’t impossible, or even difficult, to stay informed on the district and state financial situation. The board of education often has meetings where patrons are invited to attend, and information regarding the time and place for the meetings are on the local news and the district website. The district website also has contact information for officials in different departments, so it’s easy to communicate with the person who can best answer your questions. Every day in school there are things to do that can impact
the overall budget. Little things like turning a faucet off in the bathroom instead of letting the water drip, or completely editing an essay before printing are easy ways to display budget awareness during school. The financial problems our district, like many others in the nation, faces are frustrating. However, the current situation provides high school students an excellent opportunity to speak their minds and make a difference. This issue shouldn’t be discussed solely by our parents. It’s our problem more than anyone else’s.
for more information: Go to pages 6-7 to learn more about the current budget situation. Includes info on: Base State Aid Per Pupil Cuts affecting students and parents School board president Steve Klika’s opinion
The Tiger Print editor-in-chief Caitlin Holland managing editor Sara Naatz news/web editor Annie Matheis opinion editor Jacob Pruitt features/ entertainment editor Jordan Huesers
staff writers Jaida Anderlik Jamie Chaffin Jordan Coons Kelly Cordingley Clay Cosby Benjamin Grove Ryan O’Toole Odi Opole Cooper Page
The Tiger Print is published nine times a year for the students, faculty and the surrounding community of Blue Valley High School. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrations of Blue Valley Unified School District #229. Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged for publication. The Tiger Print reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content and encourages letters to be no more than 350 words. Letters should be submitted to room 450, e-mailed to thetigerprint@yahoo.com or mailed to:
design editor Jordan McEntee
photographers Maria Fournier Juliana Himmel The Tiger Print c/o Conor Storm Blue Valley High School Courtney Woodworth 6001 W. 159th St. Stilwell, KS 66085 phone: 913-239-4800 cartoonist Evelyn Davis
photo editor Maegan Kabel
adviser Jill Chittum
sports editor Chris Roche copy editor Emily Brown
0 4 AUGUST 2010
ads manager Sam Brennan
The Tiger Print also encourages guest photography. Photos should be submitted to room 450 with information pertaining to the photo.
up close
‘There is nothing simple in France’
Senior returns from foreign exchange experience, opinions on politics, society altered emilybrown copy editor
Senior Anthony Orwick was overwhelmed. The sights, the sounds and the people of France were completely unfamiliar to him. As a foreign exchange student, he stayed with a host family, whose beliefs and culture were the complete opposite of his own. Cloudy weather and the death of his host family’s grandmother made the beginning of his stay difficult. But soon he found the change invigorating. “It wasn’t easy adjusting,” Anthony said. “I had to deal with a very controlling host mother and the climate was so different. At the same time, I was enjoying myself because I was no longer in the U.S. It was like a break from all of my problems.” Anthony’s mother Pam Orwick found his absence heartbreaking. “I talked to him over ooVoo [video chat] but I really missed the physical contact, the hugs,” she said. The first thing Anthony needed to learn was body language. “You study faces and movement,” he said. “But if I was talking to someone and didn’t understand what they were saying, I would laugh and agree with them. It was always the easy way out.” Anthony found French parenting to be very different from his own upbringing. “Respect is a huge deal in their country,” he said. “You don’t befriend your parents. They aren’t there to be your friends. They are there to teach you how to live your life and to be responsible.” It took him only a few days at the family dinner table to sense their love of debate. The typical conversation starter would be a question about politics. “My host mother was very passionate about her opinions,” he said. “She taught me how to persuade others. In their minds they have to support what they say with logic and fact. There is almost an obsession with logic.” He soon noticed that the political atmosphere of France was very different from the U.S. The French would strike on a weekly basis. “There is this revolution mentality,” he said. “One time, I didn’t go to school because the teachers were striking. It wasn’t abnormal. Another time a bunch of farmers got together and rode their tractors to downtown Paris. Hundreds of tractors were going about 15 miles per hour down the highway.” Anthony said that the French people took their rights very seriously. “They know their rights more than they know how to take care of themselves,” he said. The hardest part of his stay in France was learning to control his emotions. He said French people tended to be more reserved than Americans. “There is a time and place for emotional expression,” he said. “You can act silly and funny at your house, but at school you must be calm and polite. On the streets, you don’t usually talk to other people.” The people he met in France were full of complexities, but he always found them open-minded. “They love hearing new ideas,” he said. “They don’t resort to fighting; they resort to discussion — intense discussion at that.”
Orwick poses with his host sister, Shémirahmis. She will arrive in America next month as a French exchange student, and will stay with him. He had three other host siblings, Hellisandre, Anthinèa and Nathanïel. Photo submitted by Anthony Orwick.
Two characteristics he did not see in the French people were snobbery or arrogance. “French people are very modest,” he said. “When it comes to wealth, they feel it is extremely impolite to show it off, even if they have earned it.” Despite obvious cultural differences, Anthony noticed that the French generally respect Americans due to strong relations between the two countries. “There was a lot of love towards us,” he said. “They still appreciate what we did for them in World War II. A lot of the young people dream about going to America.” Friendship in France was not a simple matter and did not happen overnight for him. “They are open to talking and being friendly, but friendship to them means something different than it does in the U.S.,” he said. “To them friendship is a lifelong connection, no matter the distance. They have fewer friends than we do, and they are very close to those particular friends.” Anthony’s trip was eye-opening, and he encourages others to travel, too. “Getting outside your comfort zone, you have absolutely nothing to lose,” he said. “It is just fantastic. You can make mistakes and learn from them.” Anthony’s mother thought his way of thinking changed during his stay in France. “He is so independent; almost adult-like,” she said. “He has so many great ideas about politics and the world.” While he was there, he learned to think, speak, act and behave like a French person. “The only true way to learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself into the culture and experience the people,” he said. “The French language is very complicated; full of contradictions, but beautiful. That is kind of how the French people are.”
Orwick stands before the Arc de Triumph in Paris. He hopes to return to France in the future and stay with his friends to save money. “It is really cool the kind of connections you can make with people there,” he said. Photo submitted by Anthony Orwick.
AUGUST 2010 0 5
upclose
Marching band welcomes new assistant director saranaatz
managing editor Carol Lowman squats in the middle of the gym, the Blue Valley Stridin’ Tigers circled around her. Her hair is pulled back to keep her mind on the detail of the music. She instructs the band to repeat the same section of the music until it is perfected. Lowman is the new assistant band director for BV, and the fourth one in five years. She is replacing Daniel Kirk, who took the job as head director at Blue Valley West. “[Kirk] kept us on our toes and made us work a lot harder,” drum major, junior Meera Chakravarthy said. “He had a weird style of teaching that we really liked. He was always explaining things with metaphors.” However, Kirk recently took the position of head band director at Blue Valley West. Because of this,
0 8 AUGUST 2010
the band will have to adapt to another assistant band director. Chakravarthy said that Lowman holds a great deal of potential as a leader. “My first impression after hearing she had been part of the drum and bugle corp for the Colts [football team] was ‘Oh my gosh she’s going to make us a lot better,’” Chakravarthy said. “She’s also really nice and is bringing an entirely different personality to the band.” As Lowman learned more about the BV band’s history through word of mouth and past experience in competitions, she was drawn in to the position of assistant band director. “I know that the program has been really strong, with a really strong reputation,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot about it.” Lowman said the band is living up to expectations so far. “They are really positive and hard-working with a good outlook,” she said. “The band’s leaders have a
really good grasp on the skills they need.” Kirk said he believes the band will continue to shine due to their work ethic. “They have an amazing commitment to working hard and a dedication to the task at hand,” he said. Chakravarthy thinks that the band can also benefit from the type of leadership Lowman brings to her position. “She has a whole new way of doing things,” she said. “She makes it a lot more student-based so we can see what we’re doing. She doesn’t yell at us, she shows us what we’re doing wrong.” Lowman said she believes teaching students to see what needs to be changed is more beneficial than telling them directly. “I want to teach them to think critically about the product they’re creating,” she said. “Music is special because you work really hard with a group of people to perfect it.”
Assistant director Carol Lowman judges a game of Tiger knock-out among woodwind players. The game, which helps improve finger accuracy and speed, involves playing a warm-up multiple times, getting faster each time. Lowman said she loves teaching at BV. ”I really want the students to commit to the show and to each other,” she said. Photo by Maegan Kabel.
Kirk believes that Lowman’s leadership potential lies in her experience and kindness. “She’s an amazing player and the students will love her,” he said. “You can’t help but like someone who’s nice to you.” The band plans on using all the methods Kirk taught them as
well as all of the new techniques Lowman introduced. Chakravarthy said that Lowman’s enthusiasm for music will inspire the band to do all that they can to improve. “She definitely loves what she does,” Chakravarthy said. “And she knows how to interact with the band and motivate us.”
Kaitlin Long flashes her All-American smile as she accepts her title as Amrica’s Homecoming queen. She went through many steps such as an interview and an evening gown competition before being crowned. Photo submitted by Susan Pals-Long.
upclose
Blue Valley graduate crowned America’s Homecoming Queen courtneywoodworth staff writer Onstage there’s a spotlight. Three girls stand elegantly dressed, waiting to hear their fate: Miss Texas, Miss Alaska and Miss Kansas. Kaitlin Long, 2010 graduate, hears her name called, and goes to accept her title as America’s Homecoming Queen. “I honestly couldn’t believe it when they said my name,” she said. “Once I processed what was happening I was trying to remember what to do, and where to walk.” The state pageant consisted of an interview, essay and an evening gown competition. The national pageant had those three components plus a speech and an American history quiz. Kaitlin competed against 49 other girls, who also won their state competitions. “The first night I was super overwhelmed,” she said. “All of the other girls were so nice and so gorgeous. I
just knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Kaitlin’s mom and dad were extremely supportive of her since the day she entered the competition. “Kaitlin has always been a selfdirected person, and made her own decisions,” Kaitlin’s mom Susan Pals-Long said. “This was a path she selected on her own.” Her parents anticipate more success from her in the future. “We are very proud of what she has accomplished and are sure that the best is yet to come,” Susan said. For the competition she had to bring 60 gift bags filled with items that represent Kansas to give to the other girls and judges. She also had to make a video about high school activities and community service. “[Mark] Mosier helped me film everything and put it together,” she said. “I definitely couldn’t have done it without him.” Kaitlin came prepared, but she didn’t know what to expect. She was required to write a speech about why people should come to Kansas. “Before I left I timed it and it was
four minutes and when I got there they told me it had to be one,” she said. “So I trimmed it down a lot one afternoon.” Although the judges never told the contestants what they would be looking for, Kaitlin found out what the criteria was afterward. “The judges said I had the total package,” she said. “They said I had great interview skills and the AllAmerican smile. They also said I kept my shoulders back and stood straight, which was surprising because I feel like I slouch often.” She will travel to Memphis, Tenn. in December to do the coin toss at the Liberty Bowl. “While there I also get to visit St. Jude’s Hospital, which I am very excited about,” she said. Blue Valley will receive a plaque to display in honor of Kaitlin’s accomplishment. “I never would have imagined leaving my mark on Blue Valley like this,” she said. “Winning America’s Homecoming Queen was amazing, and I am so proud to represent Blue Valley.”
AUGUST 2010 0 9
centerstage
Concert Crazy
Three anticipated summer shows do not disappoint
Justin Bieber odiopole staff writer The Sprint Center was packed with girls and women of all ages. Six-year olds screamed their little heads off, teens held up signs proudly boasting, “I LOVE YOU!” and all the parents were wearing earplugs. It was 8:30 p.m., and the tense crowd had been waiting for their idol since six or seven. The stage went dark, as laser lights and smoke surrounded a metal ball at center stage. Slowly, a figure rose up from under the ball. It was Justin Bieber. Now, for all the haters: it was a good
show. While some artists lip-sync, some hardly sing (cough, Sean Kingston, cough), and others just don’t sound as good, Mr. Bieber has full rights to the applause he gets. He can sing, he can dance and he’s charismatic. Charismatic enough to make me believe, anyway. The whole concert was a high-energy party, and the line-up included radio hits such as “Baby,” “One Time” and other songs from the My World and My World 2.0 albums. He sang songs that were obviously crowd-pleasers, even to the (okay, my) untrained ear. Bieber did a lot of dancing — more
July 29
dancing than you would expect of the main voice on stage. He was popping, locking and moon walking with the best of them. In between acts, there were short videos, including one with old pictures and home videos. He also included heartfelt messages to fans throughout the concert and showed that he hasn’t let fame go to his head. For first-timers and skeptics, Bieber showcased three things: he has good vocals, he has great footwork and he just oozes charm on stage. Don’t believe me? Ask the girl who was given a dozen red roses on-stage while he sang “One Less Lonely Girl” to her.
photo courtesy of gomoxie.org
Warped Tour June 25 courtneywoodworth staff writer Vans Warped Tour was a day with a heat index of 108 degrees. A few thousand eager fans braved the heat to see the concert extravaganza. The doors opened at 11 a.m., and the last performance was at 7:50 p.m. The tour showcased about 70 performers, countless vendors and signings by many bands. Each band put on a performance that kept my eyes glued to what I could see of the stage. It’s considered a day in punkpop heaven. We the Kings They covered “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World. I don’t usually like covers, but they executed this one really well. It was a smart move on their part since people
1 0 AUGUST 2010
walking by stopped a minute to sing along. Pierce the Veil These guys were by far the best performers I saw all day. Every band member was incredibly talented. The lead singer and guitarist, Vic Fuentes, was not scared to get up close and personal with the fans. During the best part of their set, Fuentes stood on the fence as he sang “Chemical Kids and Mechanical Brides” to the audience. Four Year Strong They were my second favorite of the day because, like Pierce the Veil, they showed their connection with not only their fans but other bands on the tour. During a chant in “Wasting Time (Eternal Summer),” the band shared the stage with performers from Pierce the Veil, Set Your Goals and Suicide Silence.
Lady Gaga sambrennan ads manager She stands astride a fiery piano. She lays engulfed in fog. Her fans scream for more. Lady Gaga gives a show that won’t soon be forgotten. “I don’t want you to leave here loving me more.” Her true fans couldn’t love her more. The crowd screams and releases any remaining uncertainty. Tonight being different is cool, and being normal is boring. Tonight we are all her little monsters. This concert was going to be the highlight of my summer. I had no doubt in my mind that the sold-out show would be the mind-blowing spectacular
that I expected it to be. Sprint Center. 8:51 p.m. The opening act, Semi-Precious Weapons, clears the stage and it goes dark. 8:59 p.m. The curtain goes up. Gaga’s silhouette is illuminated on a giant screen surrounding the stage. She proceeds through the show growling and purring at her fans, demanding screams and dancing. She disappears from the stage during songs, and appears in a new avant garde outfit, each more extreme than the last. Never is there a moment when the monsters aren’t entertained. Even during her breaks and outfit changes, techno music is played to keep them dancing. She sings all her hits from albums The Fame and The Fame Monster.
Aug. 4
There is only one point during the performance that Gaga and her fans calm down. She rises from the stage laying on top of a piano. She revels her secrets and tells stories about her family. She begins playing the piano, sweetly at first. But as she moves through the song, the piano catches fire along with her. She plays with her hands and her heeled foot. I was surprised to see Gaga so accepted in the usually conservative Kansas City crowd. Even as she preached her beliefs about rights for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) the monsters screamed in agreement. So, how was the Monster Ball with Lady Gaga? “We burned that place to the ground.”
tigerturf
BVSW to share BV stadium Saturday game added to schedule as result of new school opening anniematheis news editor Blue Valley Southwest will share the field at Blue Valley High School for the upcoming football season. Blue Valley West will no longer play home games at BVHS, and instead play them at the District Activity Complex. The decision for BVSW to utilize BV’s field was at the district level. “It makes sense, with Southwest being the farthest Blue Valley School south, it would utilize this facility,” principal Scott Bacon said. Bacon said he doesn’t anticipate any differences for the nine football games this year compared to previous years. “Certainly when we are in our home stands, it is not going to be any different,” he said. “What might make it a little bit unusual is that there will probably be a greater familiarity with our students and the students at Southwest, because half of its students came from BVHS.” Football coach Eric Driskell said he thinks his team’s connection with BVSW players will be challenging. “It will probably be intense, because it’s the first time they have been opposite of each other,” Driskell said. “And it does kind of draw some lines, because some of those guys are still friends. It could be tough on a lot of those kids because they have played together for a while, and at this point they are on opposite sides.” Varsity football player, senior Alex Newell looks forward to sharing the field with BVSW. “I like it better than sharing the stadium with Blue Valley West,” Newell said. “We kind of know a lot of the kids who are going to Blue Valley Southwest, more than we know the guys over at Blue Valley West. And even with either team sharing it, it’s still our home field.” Newell said he doesn’t think the opening of BVSW will have a large impact on his senior year, because few junior and senior players transfered to BVSW. “I am glad that we are playing them,” Newell said. “I think a lot of people from BV are looking forward to playing against Southwest.” Sophomore football player Cody Kaemmer said he is excited to play against some of his friends and former teammates. “I think it will be fun because I’ve played with them before,” Kaemmer said. “You don’t really get to play against them very often.” Bacon said he can see the two schools becoming rivals. “I think there has always been some sense of rivalry between Blue Valley schools,” he said. “Everybody wants to be top dog in the district, so I think there might be a natural rivalry that will develop anyway.” Driskell said the BV-BVSW rivalry might take time to mature. “It seems like every time a new school opens, it becomes an instant rival,” he said. “West, Aquinas and all the other Blue Valley schools are pretty big rivals, too. It will be hard to match that intensity, but it will grow to be that.” Newell said he doesn’t believe the rivalry with BV-BVSW will match the rivalry with BV-BVW. “I think a lot of the reason we are rivals with West is just because the kids from Blue Valley don’t like the kids from
Blue Valley football players practice over the summer at the BV stadium. With the new school opening, BVSW will share the field with BV and BVW will play games at the District Activity Complex. BV will play nine games this year, with one Saturday evening game. Photo by Maria Fournier.
West,” Newell said. “But, I think if Southwest does become a rivalry, it will be more playing against the kids you grew up with and know; more like a fun rivalry game. Especially in football, everything is about competition, and you are always going to want to beat your friend.” Junior Clayton Stiver, a former BV football player, will be on the BVSW team this season. “I think everything will be easier until we play a game,” he
KSHSAA school sizes Because of BVSW opening, BV will become a 5A school. BVSW will open as a 4A school.
6A and 5A - 64 biggest schools in Kansas Blue Valley High School: 5A, 1,200 students
4A, 3A,2A - 64 next-largest schools Osage City High School: 3A, 230 Students
1A- all remaining schools Centralia High School, 85 students =100 students
said. “The games will be harder, and I’ll miss the tradition.” Newell said he believes the number of fans in the stadium on Friday nights might be different than it has been in past years. “On Friday nights, if either we were home or West was home, and you drove by there, it was packed,” Newell said. “Even West had full stadiums. The only thing that might change with Southwest is there might not be as many people going out. It doesn’t really affect us, but it is kind of nice when you drive by there and see the whole stadium packed.” New field arrangements will have a slight effect on the BV football schedule, which now includes one Saturday night game. Kaemmer said he doesn’t like the idea of a Saturday game. “Friday night lights, it’s a high school thing,” he said. Newell said he would rather be playing on a Friday night, but he doesn’t think a Saturday night game will cause that much of a difference. “Friday night is when people go to watch high school football, so I think it might feel a little different playing on a Saturday night,” Newell said. “But it is still a night game, and still a weekend.” BVSW will be BV’s first away game this year. “It’s our home field,” Kaemmer said. “But we will play the same, it’s a rivalry game.” Bacon said the only time sharing the field will affect BV is the one game of the season where the students must sit on the visitor’s side. “We have been through this four times before, and we just deal with it and move on,” he said. “Who’s gone is gone. We have to work with who we have, and all of our teams are in a position to be very competitive at every level.”
AUGUST 2010 1 1
incolor
[around town ]
[august]
2010
FroYo Frenzy:
Over the past few months frozen yogurt shops have been popping up left and right in Johnson County. The Tiger Print went out to taste-test the different FroYo places our area has to offer. Review by Chris Roche.
Over the Top Cupcake and Ice Cream Shop
Orange Leaf
YoBerry
48941 West 135th Street
16120 SantaFe Street
4825 W 119th Street Located on the far side of Town Center Plaza.
Very friendly service. Spacious atmosphere that accommodates large crowds well. More than 50 flavors stocked that can be interchanged, always something new to try. Invented the “Brownie Batter” flavor. Low price at 34 cents per ounce.
Pluses:
Pluses:
Lists calorie and nutritional information next to all of the flavors. Can make your flavor into a smoothie by choosing your favorite fresh fruits to add. Has a wide variety of cupcake flavors and frosting choices.
Minuses:
Minuses:
The prices are a little higher than other frozen yogurt shops, at 49 cents per ounce. They only serve eight flavors at a time.
Because they have so many flavors, your favorite might not be there forever.
Pluses:
Lowest cost of the three stores at 33 cents per ounce. The staff is really welcoming and interacts with customers. Offers boba tea in a variety of flavors ranging from red to watermelon. Has unique toppings like Rice Krispies.
Minuses:
The shop is the farthest drive from the school. Doesn’t offer very much seating inside the store.
YoBerry Over the Top
Orange Leaf
Photos by Courtney Woodworth and Conor Storm.
Overland Park ranked 7th best city to live in U.S. odiopole staff writer Money Magazine listed Overland Park as the 7th best place to live in the U.S. The city placed twice before, sixth in 2006 and ninth in 2008. Overland Park was picked for its affordable housing and job availability. The city’s unemployment rate, now 4.6 percent according to simplyhired.com, is still below the national average. The article cited great schools, parks and a farmers market as perks to living in the area. The Blue Valley School District is one of four districts that have schools in the city. BV Secretary Heidi Wood has two children in the district. She cites the district’s standardized curriculum as one of it’s strongest features. “I think it’s great that they have a lot of the teachers teaching the same thing,” Wood said. “Then it’s a little fairer,
1 2 AUGUST 2010
and the curriculum doesn’t vary as much.” Her family moved to Overland Park from Ohio, and have been in the district for thirteen years. “The schools were a big part of it,” she said. “We wanted Blue Valley because it has a really strong reputation.”
Top 10 Places to Live in the U.S. 4
6
OP fast facts nationally acclaimed school districts low unemployment rate at 4.6 percent placed 6th in 2006 in Money Magazine rankings placed 9th in 2008
3
1 9 7
8
2
10 5
1. Eden Prairie, MN 2. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD 3. Newton, MA
4. Bellevue, WA 5. McKinney, TX 6. Fort Collins, CO 7. Overland Park, KS
8. Fishers, IN 9. Ames, IA 10. Rogers, AR
Information from Money Magazine.