SPOTLIGHT April 27, 2016
Blue Valley West High School, 16200 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kansas, Vol. 15, Issue 6
individuality pg. 6 PG. 15 PG. 12 Pg. 20
Photos by Ryan Barrett
Humans of bv west Individual interactives meyers-briggs test first impressions
CONTENTS
2 Contents 4 5 6 8 10 12 15
Editor’s Note Beyond the Bubble Random Student Pr0file Blocked Web Sites Flag Facts & Opinion Meyers-Briggs Personality Test Interactives & Puzzles
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10 Photo by Alexis Larson
Photos by Ryan Barrett
Brothers Diego and Santiago Fernandez came to Overland Park, Kan. in at 16-years-old from Mexico. Their impact on BV West is unique; their perspectives on education and culture is worth reading.
Students and staff are often surprised to see the flag at half-staff without knowing why. Read about how those decisions are made and other facts and information about the United States flag.
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Principal Dr. Brett Potts leads our school academically and philosophically. What kind of personality style does it take to lead more than 1500 people? Find out his personality style and that of other teachers. Photo by Hannah Fisher
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Contents 3
The boys golf team has been keeping a low profile but that is just to WOW fans even more at the end of the season with the performance of freshman Cade Uhlenhake. Uhlenhake has already won at Loch Lloyd and big things await him and the rest of the team. Read about the other spring sports in the Sports Briefs on pages 18 and 19.
Photo by Mariana Pulido
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Surfing the web is filled with wipeouts at Blue Valley School District buildings with many sites blocked. Some make sense while others, like Jagged Edge, are confusing. Read the story to see what sites are blocked and why.
Photo by Ava Tronoski
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BVW Assassins shared their media photos for a fun Photo Essay. Winners and victims both have facial expressions that leave little question about who got whom.
Photo courtesy BVW Assassins Twitter
14 Gun Control 16 Assassins Essay 18 Spring Sports Briefs 20 Body Language 21 Final Exams...sigh 23 Cartoons
4 Editor’s Note
Spotlight Staff
Editor’s Note
The seniors have taken a backseat on this issue, in preparation for an exciting issue we have coming down the pipeline (a special gift to our senior class). As we labor away on that, the rest of the staff has worked vigorously on this issue. Much of this issue came together with very little of my guidance. This staff has grown tremendously as writers, editors, designers, and as people since September, and I am inexpressibly proud. Glancing through this edition is a special experience for me, because this issue marks the passing of the torch. I am beyond excited for the future of Spotlight, knowing that it will be in the magnificent hands of Leah Zimmerli next year. This is goodbye, from me, for now. Carly McDonald, Editor-in-Chief For this issue, we wanted to celebrate individuality. The population of BV West is vibrant and full of wonderfully different people with stories that deserve to be shared. Our individuality is what makes us able to create the change we want to see in the world. The fingerprints on the cover belong to the Spotlight staff, who have worked tirelessly all year to make this paper the best that it can be. There are no words that can express how proud I am of my staff, this issue, and this publication as a whole. I want to thank my brilliant Editor-in-Chief, Carly McDonald, for making the Spotlight especially unique this year. Room 233 will not be the same without you, and I hope the work I do next year will make you proud. I wish the best of luck to all the seniors on their future adventures. Until next issue, Leah Zimmerli, Managing Editor
Senior Countdown 18 days
Carly McDonald Editor in Chief
Grace Lamar Leah Zimmerli
Managing Editors
Rebecca Abraham Ryan Barrett John Byrket Beth Gasser Shaye Herman Editorial Board
Jaden Dudrey Melissa Franano Mara Hennessy Stephen Kinder Madeleine C. Lewis Chloe Maher Alexis Melson Dana Nasr Jonah Park Mikaela Schmitt Alexa Turiello Contributors
Spotlight is printed six times a year for the BV West students and community. Its goals are to inform, entertain and interpret through editorials and bylined articles while providing an open forum of communication for the diverse student population and faculty members. Spotlight aims to be fair, accurate and impartial. The content of the publication is determined by its student editors as determined by the Kansas Scholastic Press Act and may contain controversial subject matter as the staff exercises their First Amendment Rights. Spotlight does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the faculty adviser, the administration of Blue Valley West or USD 229.
Beyond the Bubble 5
i. Ecuador A 6.2-magnitude aftershock
hit the coast of Ecuador Thursday, April 21st. The aftershock follows a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake on the previous Saturday, April 16th. There were no immediate reports of damage, however it damaged survivors attempts to find food and shelter after the previous earthquake.
Bey nd the Bubble Mikaela Schmitt Contributor
Informing students about issues that take place beyond Johnson County’s borders
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I II. Mediterranean sea
Approximately 500 or more migrants may have drown in the Mediterranean Sea. Smugglers were attempting to transfer a group of 100-200 refugees fleeing persecution onto a larger ship, already carrying hundreds of people. During the transfer, the larger boat capsized and sank. There were 41 survivors who were able to return to the smaller boat and were rescued after three days at sea.
iii. Netherlands
The Dutch government has passed a bill to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars starting in 2025. Existing cars will be allowed to stay in use, however no new cars will be sold after 2025. The motion has only passed through the lower house of the Netherlands’ parliament, and will need to pass through the senate to become legally binding. There is opposition to this movement, and some problems may still occur. However, this is a major step towards phasing out polluting transportation in the Netherlands.
iv. United States The United States II
Treasury announced the new plans to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. A campaign to put a women figure on U.S. money was originally planned for the $10 bill. New changes to the money also include featuring members of the women’s suffrage movement on the back of the $10 bill, and the back of the $5 bill will honor historic events that occurred at the Lincoln Memorial.
6 Profile
Humans of BV West
Photo by Ryan Barrett
Jonah Park Contributor
Diego & Santiago Fernandez
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ENIORS DIEGO AND SANTIAGO FERNANDEZ found themselves in an entirely different school in an entirely different country at the beginning of their freshman year. They had lived in Mexico their entire lives until this time, and they were making a very dramatic transition, to say the least. In this move, they were leaving behind their entire family, besides themselves and their dad who was already living in the US. They ended up at Blue Valley West, and they have become extremely involved and dedicated to the school. “We moved here because we wanted to experience high school in the United States. Our dad lives here and he owns a restaurant so we wanted to come live with him.” Diego said. They also had an older brother who had gone to BV
West, and he told them about the school and life in the US, sparking their interest. The brothers moved to Kansas in the summer of 2012, right before their freshman year. Senior Jordan Cowen swam with them and saw them almost everyday during the swim season. He uses the word “fraternal” to describe their relationship, exemplifying how the twins have always been together through their life. The twins haven’t always been fluent in English, though. “We started learning it since we were in kindergarten. So we didn’t really become fluent in it until eighth grade before we moved here.” Diego said. They still have a slight accent that indicates English is their second language, but living in the United States has helped them improve their speaking skills.
take a year off to volunteer for the Red Cross International. Their response team. Say there’s an earthquake somewhere. I would be sent out to help the people there with the Red Cross and rescue,” Diego said. “I’m going to do that for a year and I’m going to go back to college and I’ll probably have it figured out then.” Santiago’s plans also reflects their non-traditional spirit. “I applied to many different colleges. I got accepted in the one I wanted to for marine biology,” Santiago said. “This last year I’ve been looking into different stuff I really like. Like writing and poetry so I’m also going to take a year off and tour the world. I’m going to go to Europe and all around the US. I’m going to visit every possible place that I can before I’m finally settling down and going to college.” Despite their move from Mexico to the United States, Diego and Santiago Fernandez have been able to fit in and become accustomed to daily American life. In the process they have had to leave behind the majority of their family and live mostly on their own with their dad. Through these experiences, they have developed and learned valuable things that they will use in college and life afterwards, wherever that may take them.
Photos by Ryan Barrett
The BV West community embraced the pair as the Fernandez brothers are. Together, they have been a part of swimming, cross country, track, tennis, soccer, and even Academic Decathlon. “[Living in the US] gives us a different perspective. In Mexico you had to do sports. Here you can choose; it’s great. Just a lot of freedom to it.” Santiago said. They bring a positive attitude to everything, and not many people could say they have seen the two upset. Freshman Ben Kim, who was on the swim and track team with the twins, uses words like “ecstatic” and “gleeful” to describe them. “They always seem to be happy,” Kim said. Diego and Santiago are part of the first Blue Valley School in the history of Academic Decathlon to win the state competition. “We’re the first school outside of the Shawnee Mission school district. It is pretty exciting,” Santiago said. “No one expected us to win. So when our coach was setting this all up she didn’t expect us to win state, so she didn’t ask for enough money to take us to nationals.” Nationals is in Alaska, and the team leaves on April 26. Upon asking what they plan to do after they graduate, both of them laughed. Diego was the first to answer.
7 7 “Well, before I decide to go to college, I am going to Features Features
web d Blocke The inside the firewall with building computer tech vong yang
8 Feature 8 Feature
Stephen Kinder Contributor
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TUDENTS HAVE BEEN RAGING THAT Blue Valley finally found an effective way to block websites that are very precious to the student body: games and entertaining time-wasters. Though most computer savvy students will almost always find a way around this, the district always finds a way to patch up the loopholes. Now that BV West’s wrestling website is blocked for “violence” and students cannot access jaggededgevideo. com, a lot of students are curious about ways to get around blocked websites, and how much power the district really has over the Internet. It is a given that schools all over the United States are required by law to block all the “harmful content” on the web. However, in Kansas the law specifically states what harmful content is. One Kansas school technology law specifies that harmful content is: “Visual depictions such as pornography, obscene content, etc.” The “etc.” part can go a long way, when it comes to what a school can block. “We block game websites along with everything else, because they’re non-school related.” computer tech Vong Yang said. Besides games being blocked on the Internet, social media such as Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook are blocked for the same reasons of not being “school related.” The only exception is YouTube. “YouTube was unblocked a little while ago, because it was decided that high school students should be allowed to use it.” Yang said. “Also teachers need it show videos to students.” The firewall Yang has set up lets him see every website that students go on. “If I see a student on a website thats unrelated to school or innapropriate on the firewall, I can easily block the website.”
WEbsites that are blocked for strange reasons: 1) www.bvwwrestling.com Reason: “Website contains prohibited Violence/Hate content.” 2) www.ultrasurf.us Reason: “Your administrator has been contacted.” 3) plus.google.com Reason: No reason provided. 4) jaggededgevideo.com Reason: No reason provided.
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VPN (Virtual Private Network) is similar to a proxy. In this modern day and age, VPN proxies are very easy to obtain, simply Googling “VPN” or “Proxy” will show you hundreds of services that let access blocked websites. While having a VPN is legal in the United States, using a VPN in countries such as North Korea is illegal, because you can access blocked websites and leave no trace. Depending on what VPN service you use, the word “secure” is what most people want. Nobody can truly be secure on the internet, but using a VPN makes it harder for people to trace and find out what VPN users are doing on the internet. Just because VPN services claim to keep you private, it does not mean you can go out and do illegal stuff on the internet. People can always see what others are doing.
What is a vpn? How does it work? Is it illegal? Am I really “secure” using one?
Infographic courtesy smartservervpn.me
9 Feature 9 Features 9
Tech-savvy students recently found a way to get around blocked websites by using a VPN app on their Smartphone or laptop. A VPN allows students to surf the web on any website, but they must sacrifice quick internet speeds. “I was not aware of students using VPNs until now.” Yang said. “There is a way of stopping it. You just have to block any traffic that uses a VPN.” Using VPN proxies are not allowed on Blue Valley computers, but some wonder about people who use them from their own personal phones and laptops. “I’m not sure if we can search regular phones and computers for VPNs and proxies, but I do know that we are allowed to search every electronic device that belongs to Blue Valley.” Yang said.
Because of students trying to get onto blocked websites to play games at school, Vong has confirmed that Blue Valley IT will never allow students to install or download anything that is not allowed by Blue Valley. “I wouldn’t consider letting students install stuff.” Yang said. “Students would also download a lot of viruses on accident, and on purpose.” Knowing that Blue Valley can block VPN users, a final concern is if they can figure out who uses them. “We have a way to figure out who is using a VPN or going on forbidden websites.” Yang said. “Our firewall will warn us and show what user or IP address is doing it. Blue Valley will always see what you’re doing on the Internet.” BV West computer technician, Vong Yang, works at his desk in an office near the library. Yang started working here earlier this year when the former tech retired. Photo by Ryan Barrett
Fast flag facts “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.� - Section 8J of the United States Flag Code
=
Little known facts Leah Zimmerli Managing Editor about our flag
How to fold the flag:
1. Fold over, in half lengthwise evenly.
According to the Huffington Post,
94%
of American flags made in 2013 were imported from China.
Flags fly in instances of national distress, remembrance and recognition of various holidays, or following the death of certain governmental officials. Additionally, according to the U.S. Flag Code, the President, state governors and the Mayor of Washington, D.C. have the power to order flags to fly at half-staff. The power to order flags at half-staff is considered an honor and is only kept as a responsibility of those in charge.
2. Fold it a second time to meet the open edge.
3. Start the first fold on the striped corner, bringing it to the open edge.
4. The outer corner is then brought inward, parallel witht the open edge to keep the tirangle form.
5. Fold the flag 12 times and tuck the remainder of the fabric inside, underneath the union (stars).
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Patriotism Or Politics? When the United States issued flying their flag at half-staff for the terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris as a show of support,it became contraversial when the same was not done for the attacks in Beirut, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern/Eastern countries.
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OVEMBER 13TH, 2015 IS NOW AN INFAMOUS DAY known for two unfortunate events: In Paris, France, ISIS, terrorist organization, attacked innocent civilians in key locations of the Paris nightlife killing 130 people. Earlier that day, about two thousand miles away, ISIS had attacked capital of Lebanon, Beirut, in a shopping mall killing 43 people. Both of these events occurred at a far distance from one another but share an almost exact scenario. That is why it is questioning when the media had only sympathized with only one of the two attacks. In the midst of the Paris attacks the whole world watched as the news attempted to cover as much as they could on the event. People used the hashtag #prayforparis an innumerable amount of times on all social media platforms. Cities lit up with the respective bright colors of the Paris flag, reflected on buildings as a symbol of support. And most locally, the flags at BV West and the rest of the United States flew at half-staff to show awareness and support for those in Paris. This amount of sympathy isn’t at all exagerated and in fact is necessary for bringing out the humanity in the midst of all the chaos. The only troubling thought that comes to mind is the fact that the same reaction did not apply to the attacks on Beirut. Beirut did not get a hashtag. Beirut did not get the beautiful colors of its flag to reflect on any buildings. Beirut did not get any flag of any sort lowered for them as a sign of respect. Most importantly, Beirut did not get the appropriate, well-deserved news coverage it needed. In fact the awareness of the event seemed so little it was as if it did not even occur. Many have tried to explain that this could be a coincidence or the attention was focused
more on Paris because of its proximal time to the Beirut attacks. But this was not the only time that a terrorist attack had occurred at two places at once and the Western nation had received the most attention. A perfect example would be, most recently, the attack in Brussels, which received mass media attention comparative to the Paris attacks. Days after the Brussels attack, both Iraq and Yemen were also attacked by ISIS. As most know, these two attacks in the Middle East had little to no news coverage even though they were on such a similar basis of events only three days apart. This lack of awareness and support for Eastern countries in the midst of a crisis is considered to be a form of discrimination and gives off the sense that lives of those living farther away are less valuable than those closer to home. This is inhumane treatment from the media and quite ridiculous of the major news channels to be totally oblivious to an event that, for a minute, shook a country and made most citizens feel unsafe in their own homes. The news is meant be a platform to bring awareness for all deserving worldly events. So it is concerning when it starts to be used to play a part in a system of discrimination towards Middle Eastern/Eastern countries and the lives of their people. It has gotten to the point where reevaluation needs to occur in order for there to be a solution to this ongoing issue of ignorance. It is detrimental towards many groups of people if the news media continues to use proximity to derive importance. All places where a significant crisis occurs deserve to have mass amount news coverage, signs of sympathy and support through social media, and have the flags at BV West and the rest of the United States respectfully at half-staff for them. This human way of reaction should be the only way of reaction.
Feature 13
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When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances?
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-Enjoys technical and scientific fields where logic is important -Notices inconsistencies -Looks for logical explanations or solutions to almost everything -Believes fairness and truth is more important than being tactful -Can be seen as too task-oriented, uncaring or indifferent
In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options?
J
-Task oriented -Likes to have things decided and make a to-do list -Likes to use time wisely and get work done before playing or relaxing -Likes to bring life under control as much as possible, and has some decided morals -Sometimes focuses so much on the goal that they may miss new information
Introversion Intuition
N F P
Feeling
Extraversion
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-Remembers events as snapshots of what actually happened -Solves problems by working through the facts -Pragmatic and looks to the bottom line -Trusts experience first; trusts words and symbols less -Sometimes pays too much attention to facts and misses new possibilities
I
Perceiving
EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT PERCEPTION of the world and judges differently how they should respond to a situation. While this behavior is seemingly random, it is actually very orderly and consistent based off of these decisions. The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBTI) utilizes four dichotomies to create 16 different personality types. The dichotomies are based off of personal preferences in social situations. The four letter type can then be used to determine what professions or learning styles are best for specific Myers-Briggs types. Knowledge of different types can also help one understand and appreciate differences in relationships with others. One’s Myers-Briggs type is not innate; it can develop and change throughout life based on different experiences. One may become more extroverted or introverted as they grow up, often depending on specific relationships with teachers, family and friends. Many trends can be found in the distribution of types in the population. ISFJ is the most common type in the total population and for females, however the most common type for males is ISTJ. Stereotypically, men are more thinking oriented, while females focus on the feeling aspect. Trends in the distribution of types are an accurate portrayal of today’s society because of the accuracy of the MBTI test. The four letter personality type can be determined by the MBTI test or by a similar test, such as http://www.humanmetrics.com/ cgi-win/jtypes2.asp. However, one can also self-determine their own personality type. Take the test or use the following descriptions to determine your Myers-Briggs Personality type.
-Outgoing -People person -Comfortable in groups and likes working in them -Wide range of friends and knows lots of people -Sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don’t allow enough time think it over
Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? Sensing
E
Mikaela Schmitt Contributor
E
Thinking
Classifying personalities through four letters.
Judging
MYERS-BRIGGS Personality TYPE
Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world?
What types are your teachers? -Reflective or reserved -Comfortable being alone -Likes things they can do own their own -Prefers to know just a few people well -Sometimes spends too much time reflecting and doesn’t move into action quickly enough
-Remembers events by what is read “between the lines” about their meaning -Solves problems by leaping between different ideas and possibilities -Interested in doing new and different things -Sees the big picture, then figure out the facts -Sometimes thinks too much about new possibilities and never looks at how to make them a reality
-People or communications oriented -Concerned with harmony -Looks for what is important to others and expresses concern for others -Makes decisions with heart and wants to be compassionate -Sometimes misses seeing or communicating the hard truth of situation -Can be seen as too idealistic, mushy or indirect
-Likes to stay open and respond to whatever happens -Appears to be loose and casual, likes to keep plans to a minimum -Approaches work as a mix of work and play -Works in bursts of energy -Stimulated by an approaching deadline -Stays open to new information so long that misses making decisions when they are needed
Dr. Potts ENFJ
Dr. Hall INTJ
Ms. Bauman ENFP
Ms. Waldorf INFP
Mr. Anderson ESFJ
Ms. Kerns ISTJ
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GUN -EDUCATED
New Kansas law is allowing students to carry guns on their college campuses. Maddy C. Lewis Contributor
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N 2013, THE KANSAS BOARD OF REGENTS quietly passed legislation permitting the concealed carrying of guns on public college campuses, effective July 1st, 2017. As this date quickly approaches, students and faculty of the state’s six universities alike are growing concerned for the environment such a law could create in schools. A mass shooting is defined as an attack which kills or injures at least four people, including the assailant. In 2015, America was the ground zero for over 350. Of these 350 attacks, 64 took place in schools. These acts of violence are shocking, senseless, and nothing if not persistent in the news media. By Nov. of last year, there had been more mass shootings than there had been days in the year, quickly surpassing totals for 2013 and 2014. Meanwhile, the pro gun attitude gripping conservative American government remains fervent, as if in a linear relationship with the hike in gun related casualties across the nation. The idea that a “good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun”, as coined by National Rifle
3 out of every 5 homicides in the USA are committed with a gun. 2 PERCENT OF GUN DEATHS ON US SOIL WERE DUE TO TERROR ATTACKS.
BETWEEN 2005 AND 2015...
THE OTHER 98 PERCENT (ROUGHLY 302,000) WERE KILLED BY SHOOTINGS/ OTHER GUN VIOLENCE.
Association (NRA) head Wayne LaPierre, could be to blame for rationalizing the record setting 185 thousand background checks the FBI processed on Black Friday, but the numbers show little evidence of more guns correlating to fewer gun deaths, showing almost the opposite. But what does this mean for schools, and more specifically, Kansas schools? While the bill to legalize open carrying on campuses was overwhelmingly popular in the conservativedominated legislature, an NPR poll of over 20,000 students and faculty in Kansas Board of Regents schools found that 82 percent would feel “less safe” if students were allowed to carry guns in class. The legislature’s decision is vastly unaligned with the general consensus on the bill, and leaves students and teachers concerned about the changes it could bring. There may be a safe place for guns, within the boundaries of Americans’ homes or personal property, but the line blurs when these safe spaces for firearms could extend into such communal living areas as college campuses.
ON AVERAGE, 36 AMERICANS WERE KILLED EVERY DAY BY GUN VIOLENCE IN 2015.
82 % OF 20,000 STUDENTS AND FACULTY POLLED WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH GUNS BEING ALLOWED ON CAMPUS.
Interactives 15
bv west sports trivia
John Byrket Editorial Board
Down
1. What team plays a formation of 4-4-2? 2. What sport has three star senior athletes injured? 3. What BV West varsity team is ranked in the top 50 in the nation? 4. What runner runs an 11.3 in the 100 meter dash?
Across 5. What sport can have up to 16 schools attend the same “game?� 6. Who is the state champion in the 100 meter breaststroke? 7. Who is the new head football coach? 8. Who is the starting goalie for varsity girls soccer? 9. Who is ranked number 1 in the triple jump in Kansas? 10. Who is the varsity coach for boys tennis?
FINGER PRINT MAZE Start
See if you can make it through the fingerprint maze, inspired by the theme of individuality.
d En
Grace Lamar Managing Editor
16 Photo Essay
Juniors Haley Bates and Zane Champie step up to run traditional senior game; garner positive reviews Photos courtesy BVW Assassins 2016 Twitter
BVW ASSASSINS 2016 @BVWASSASSINS16
Photos courtesy of BVWAssissins Twitter
Why play ?
Photo Essay 17
Prideand
$
W
1ST PLACE 2ND PLACE 3RD PLACE Most kills
$600 $350 $200 $40
ITH THE LONG STRETCH OF school facing seniors after Spring Break, they were looking for a diversion. Senior Assassins fit the bill. Organized by juniors Haley Bates and Zane Champie gave all members of the Class of 2016 a chance to participate. Each of the 150 participants paid $10 in the hope of earning the first place prize of $600 by squirting their assigned target with a water gun. Rules of the game included no “kills� at school, work or school activities. The game was suspended during Prom weekend. The first senior to exit the game was Paula Walewicz who received a refund of her $10. The 150 initial players quickly shrunk as students were taken out or lost the privilege to continue by not getting their targets The last three players were Ali McGuire, Evan Hailes and Madison Usher.
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18 Sports Briefs
pring ports
John Byrket Editorial Board
Regular season play drawing to a close
Girls Swim and Dive Photo by Grace Glander
New swim coach, Ginger Waters, has athetes saying the reason they have been so successful is because of her emphasis on technique. Great practices have led to four State qualifiers in swimming: freshmen Katie Gildemeister and Hannah Wastler, sophomore Natalie Xu and junior Alyssa Davis. Senior Morgan DeWalt and junior Skylar Holsinger have qualified to State in diving. The swimmers and divers will combine their scores at EKL at BV Southwest on May 6 and 7.
Photo by Hannah Fisher
Girls Soccer
Ranked first in 6A and the top 25 in the nation, the girls soccer season is returning to championship form. The girls have had some great wins. They have outscored their opponents 43-5. Their first win was a 7-0 shutout of Manhattan but suffered a frustrating 1-2 loss to Blue Valley the next week. The team regrouped and posted five wins in a row against Gardner, BV North, Wichita Southeast, Park Hill South (Mo.) and Smithville (Mo.) before they tied Blue Springs South (Mo.) last Friday. The Lady Jags have a strong reputation in EKL and the state. Some feel their success comes from senior captains Taylor Lile and Danielle Laughery leading a practice game called The Beast. “The Beast is pretty brutal and is really intense and, honestly, kind of stressful,” senior Brigid Mark said. “It’s basically a game of keep away with the field divided into a big grid with the offense and defense trying to beat each other.” Mark, Lile and Laughery will lead the team in their next match on Thursday, April 28 at BV Northwest at 3:15 p.m.
Photo by Julia Huebert
Baseball The Jaguars started the season out great with scoring a run in the 1st inning and another run in the 4th inning resulting with a clutch 2-0 win against Maize High School. The team has been adjusting to new coach Scott Wright and notched an exciting win against BV Southwest in extra innings on March 29. The notched another great win against EKL opponent Bishop Miege 6-5 at the bottom of the seventh inning. They can thank senior Alex Ronnebaum for his up the middle grounder causing an infield error which led to two runs. The team is in the heart of their season and is figuring out how to work together. The boys play today against St. James Academy in Lenexa at 5:30 p.m., at BV North on Thursday at 5 p.m. and Blue Valley at Kauffman Saturday at noon.
Photo by Katie Walesh
Track and Field
Sports Briefs 19
The nice weather has helped the track and field athletes get off to a great start. Senior Evan Hailes continues to be ranked first in the state in the triple jump with a top mark of 46 feet. Last weekend at the extremely competitive Kansas Relays, Hailes placed fifth of all high school boy competitors but first among Kansans. Junior Wyatt Dorsh has been tearing it up with a personal best of 38’ in the shot put. While the State qualifiers will not be determined until Regionals in May the field events are raising enthusiasm. Running events are also finding success. The 4 x 100 boys relay team of junior Jake Selvera (first leg), freshman Blake Nelson(second leg), senior Evan Hailes (third leg), and junior Jonathan Lacy (fourth leg), reached their best time of 44.3 seconds at the Lawrence Free State Barrier Breakers meet. That great time qualified them to run in the KU relays along with the 4 x 200 sprint medley. The 4 x 100 group ranked 33rd at KU and the 4 x 200 group finished 25th. The next opportunity to the see the Jags in action is at the St. Thomas Aquinas Invitational on Friday, April 29.
Softball
Photo by Julia Huebert
The Lady Jags are hungry after their State runner-up performance in 2015 and have been showing that energy on the diamond. This past weekend was evidence of their tenacity. After an initial loss to BV Northwest in the first round of the Southwest Tournament on Friday, they went on to win the next three games to end the tournament with 3-1. They shutout Shawnee Mission East by 15. Senior Alexis Larson and junior Brynne Stockman hit home runs. and freshman Maddie Redman who threw a no hitter against Lawrence. The team has played solidly all season after splitting their first two games in Ft. Scott they have gone on to sweep EKL opponents BV North and BV Northwest at the varsity and JV level. Next up for the Lady Jags is an away game St. Thomas Aquinas at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. They’ll then play several EKL opponents before Regional play. The team goal is to return to State and better the 2015 result.
Photo by Reagan Sherron
Boys Tennis
State Champions in 5A have never gone on to win in 6A the next year but that is the goal of the boys tennis team. The hard work the boys put in at the Elite Tennis Club paid dividends to start the season with a 1st place finish at the Emporia Tournament. While some doubter may have felt their results would change once they started playing tough 6A schools but the team beat Shawnee Mission East, last year’s 6A State runner-up 11-1. Perhaps the team’s biggest confidence booster yet was winning the BV Northwest Tournament held at the Country Club Plaza courts. The team has never won a tournament there until this year. Junior Max Kurzban was the individual champion winning first place in singles. Kurzban has only dropped eight games out of 56 he has played this year. Up next for the Jags is BV Northwest at home on Thursday, April 28 at 3:30 p.m.
20 Feature
First Impressions
How to control how you are percieved Chloe Maher Contributor
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E ARE ALWAYS TOLD THAT HIGH SCHOOL is the time to try new things and take advantage of new opportunities, and with new opportunities, we start meeting new people. Whether applying for a job, joining a club, or just making new friends- first impressions are a big deal. Colors of clothing and body language, can send messages to others. With this knowledge, teens can start to control how others view them.
color perceptions RED
Wearing red will create a sense of urgency. Wearing red creates a sense of power and draws attention.
orange makes people seem friendlier orange Wearing and more optimistic. Orange gives off creative vibes and wearers seem more approachable.
is know to inspire. It’s very bright so yellow Yellow will draw attention, but will send off a feeling of intelligence and happiness.
wearing a calming green, people come off green When as more caring and friendly. as green is a soothing color.
blue will create a sense of confidence blue Wearing and freedom. Blue radiates responsibility and provides a feeling of trust worthiness.
is the “royal” color. Wearing purple can purple Purple make someone seem mysterious and creative,
but is also associated with wealth and luxuries.
pink makes the wearer seem sensitive. It is pink Wearing the color most strongly associated with love and seems more caring and open.
BODY LANGUAGE STANCE
Arms crossed in front of the body will make someone seem defensive and non-approachable. Instead, stand straight up with shoulders back to communicate confidence and friendliness.
HEAD The way people hold, touch and move their head is a large part of the way people will view them. Resting a hand on a cheek will give the idea that someone is considering something. Rubbing the nose will give the impression of lying or in disbelief. When somebody is pulling on their ear, it signifies being indecisive. Nodding your head gives the impression of being engaged in the conversation. If somebody is holding their hands on their head, it shows boredom or frustration and anger. Eye rubbing can show somebody is doubtful or in disbelief.
Wearing brown gives the impression of wholesome brown and down to earth, but still strong. Brown tones Hands promote team work and good attitudes.
Wearing black exudes powerful and elegance. black Black is mysterious and luxurious, but still comes of as strong and respected.
is a very solid color. Wearing gray will reflect GRAY Gray practicality. Wear gray to seem experienced and successful, and promote a sense of stability.
white gives a clean and safe vibe. White white Wearing will make others view you as well balanced. Purity is also often strongly associated with white.
Hands can be a “tell all” when it comes to what a person is thinking. When somebody is placing their fingertips together, or “steepling,” it is a way to assert power. When someones palms are open and completely visible, this shows sincerity, honesty and trust. Holding and clenching hands behind the back will make someone seem angry or nervous. Nervousness is also shown with constant finger tapping, or nail biting.
Sources: www.color-meanings.com, www.mindbodygreen.com, www.prdaily.com, www.nifc.gov
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ANOTHER ARTICLE ON HOW TO STUDY FOR FINALS Mediocre study tips for the intellectually lazy. Shaye Herman Editorial Board
H
OWDY, FELLOW STUDENTS! I know that you’re all clamoring to know what this article is going to be about. Well, prepare to be amazed, because this article is going to educate you exactly how to study for finals! I know that you, a high school student, probably know NOTHING about studying. Golly, you must be so confused! Don’t worry though, because I just happen to be an expert on being a functioning and responsible student.
1. First things first, make sure that you load up on all your favorite comfort foods, like candy, chips, and caffeinated soda in unnatural shades of yellow. The unhealthier, the better! The sugar and fat will help you focus and keep you from falling into a school-induced depression. #Relatable, am I right? 2. Second: Draw the curtains, close the windows, and lock yourself in your room without a trace of natural light or fresh air. Barricade yourself into one spot and don’t move from that spot for the next 12 hours. Moving around and taking breaks is for slackers! Besides, all that will do is break your impenetrable focus and waste time. 3. PANIC. Force yourself into an anxiety-driven frenzy and refuse to think logically about the stress you feel. Think about all the studying you have to do, and how the rest of your future depends on these grades, and how if you fail you’ll be destined to a mediocre life devoid of meaning and inevitably die alone without leaving any impact on the world… Well, you get the idea. This overwhelming panic will give you the motivation to study! 4. Choose the most boring method of studying possible, since everybody knows that the more you hate it, the better you’ll remember it. Open your textbook and read from it until your vision gets blurry. Get mad at yourself for losing focus. This will help you retain the information.
5. Try studying in a group of your favorite people! Go someplace loud and exciting to do so- like McDonalds, or a rave. All the socializing and distractions will give you the energy to discuss biology and calculus, because that’s definitely what you’ll want to do when surrounded by your friends. 6. Wait until the VERY LAST MOMENT. Remember kids: procrastination is cool! All your friends will be like, “Woah dude! That’s gotta be a new record! I’m impressed by your lack of enthusiasm for education and your obvious downward spiral of bad habits that will follow you throughout life!” By waiting until the very last minute, not only will you get a high five from your pals, you’ll also panic even more about studying, which brings you back to step four. 7. Don’t sleep. Sleep is for the weak. 8. After not sleeping, drink caffeine until you can hear colors and see sounds. The more your hands vibrate, the more it’s working. 9. When you get frustrated, try blaming yourself. And throwing things! 10. If you don’t understand something, give up. After all, what’s the point in even trying? You’ll never amount to anything in life. All you’ll ever get are average grades and live an average life. Then, proceed to fall into an existential crisis that lasts for months.
So there you have it, friends! Now you know exactly how to successfully study for finals. By following this handy-dandy guide, you can probably achieve a solid grade above a C. Probably.
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