SPOT LIGHT Blue Valley West 16200 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kan. Volume 20 Issue 4 May. 4, 2021
INSIDE Student Tattoos.......04 Arranged Marriage..08 Teacher Retiring.......20
Masthead Our Cover Our cover discusses senior, Rafia Siddiquea and her journey to marriage earlier this year. We shared her story with the purpose to educate and inform students on cultural differences and embrace everyone’s own unique path. We specifically love this photo and the beauty it captures of a big moment for a student at West!
SPOT LIGHT Blue Valley West 16200 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kan. Volume 20 Issue 4 May. 4, 2021
INSIDE Student Tattoos.......04 Arranged Marriage..08 Teacher Retiring.......20
Letter from the Editors As our last edition comes to a close, we are so proud of the struggles, learning curves and memories the Spotlight has created for us this year. Creating a paper through a pandemic and the lack of allowance for togetherness and bonding was hard to overcome. As we close with this edition, we can honestly say we are beaming from ear to ear with the hard work and perfection displayed in this edition. We cannot wait to create the Senior edition for all of our classmates to officially close us out. It all feels too bittersweet, but we leave knowing freedom dies in the dark... and the Spotlight leads the way. We love you jaguars,
Kolbie, Natalie & Kiley
Spotlight is printed at least six times per school year for BV West students and the community. Its goals are to inform, entertain and interpret through bylined articles, opinions and editorials, while providing an open forum of communication for the diverse student population. Spotlight aims to be fair, accurate and impartial. The content of the print publication, online news site and social media accounts 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 opinions of the faculty adviser, the administration of BV West or USD 229.)
Blue Valley West High School 16200 Antioch Road Overland Park, Kan. 66085 Phone: 913-239-3700 Email: bvwspotlight@gmail.com Web: www.bvwnews.com Social Media: @bvwspotlight
Staff Members Kolbie Christensen Natalie Lindmark Kiley Peterson Lucy Call Caroline Erickson Jordan Faller Kevin Glenn Reese Hager Rajneet Lehal Ally Madden Lauren Miexner Rachel Park Nabila Qureshi Madison Shuey Aminah Syed
In This Edition Arts and Entertainment 04..... Student Tattoos Sports 06..... Spring Sports Opinion 08..... Teacher Favoritism Feature 12..... Arranged Marriage 14..... Fight for Senior Year 15..... Monica Follow Up News 16..... Teachers Retiring 19..... AAPI Discrimination Interactive 20..... Assassins Review 22..... Ice Cream Review
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Meaningful Marks
Students show off their tattoos and the meanings behind them Madison Shuey
reporter
H
appy 18th Birthday, you can now buy a lottery ticket, join the military, be charged as an adult, be able to vote and get a tattoo. Growing up, tattoos were seen as taboo with negative stereotypes. However, the implications have changed and this is not the case. Tattoos are now viewed as a way to express yourself and a form of art. They often have special meanings or they can just be for pure fun. Either way, there are often beautiful art.
Senior Lauren Kirk had always wanted tattoos but wasn’t sure if she would be able to get one due to her parent’s views on them. Recently, her family endured the loss of her sister, Emily Kirk. “My parents, sister, cousins and aunts all got tattoos for Emily. All of ours are a little different because we wanted to each have our special one,” Kirk said. The tattoo is the quote “Until we meet again” located on her rib cage. “When I start to miss my sister a lot, this tattoo reminds me that I will get to see her again one day,” Kirk said.
Photo By Audrey Kirk
Photo By Ali Gudenkauf
Photo By Audrey Kirk
Always having a fascination with tattoos, senior Caitlin O’Connor enjoys learning about the story behind each one. O’Connor currently has two tattoos; one located on her rib cage and the other along her spine. Both are dedicated to her older brother who passed away five years ago. The first tattoo is angel wings with the words “Love, Sean” written underneath. “I wanted a piece of him on me and I thought it was perfect to get his handwriting from a note he wrote me,” O’Connor said. This tattoo is also shared with her mom and is something special that only they’ll have. The second tattoo, which is also her favorite, is a Mac Miller quote that says “life goes on, days get brighter.” “Every time I listen to Mac Miller I think about the times that we would drive around together and the quote is from one of our favorite songs together,” O’Connor said. O’Connor has plans for more tattoos in the future and even has one scheduled within the next few weeks. “I think tattoos are just another way of expressing yourself and it’s art on your body,” O’Connor said.
Tattoo Rebels Students under 18 share their ink that had to be signed off by an adult. “Rebels” for getting it before they are legal adults.
Lulu Walton Junior
Photo By Ava Speropoulos
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Senior Arianna Page spent a lot of time thinking about the perfect tattoo for her before scheduling the appointment. Page has a tattoo along the side of her rib cage that is a NEDA symbol with a flower coming out of it. “NEDA stands for National Eating Disorder Awareness and I have struggled with this since I was in 4th grade. The flower at the top, for me, represents the beauty that comes from recovery,” Page said. Page’s tattoo represents all the struggles and recoveries she has had with her eating disorder. Page would like more tattoos but will not be for a while.
Photo By Ali Gudenkauf
Photo By Arrianna Page
Not always a fan of tattoos, senior Sydney Nissen found she was more open to the idea as she got older. Nissen has two tattoos with one located on the side of her rib cage and the other on her forearm. The first tattoo she got was a butterfly on her rib cage to represent the “butterfly effect.” “I do competitive dance and one of my choreographer’s first explained the phenomenon to me when I was about 13 and ever since it really has been what guides and inspires me,” Nissen said. The decision to get her tattoo happened during March 2020 which was the start of the COVID lock-down. “I decided it was most fitting to get it tattooed as a reminder that what has happened in the past can lead to something bigger and better,” Nissen said. The second tattoo is her middle name on her forearm in her mom’s handwriting because she wrote her notes starting with “Sydney Rose” throughout the big moments in her life. “I remember receiving those notes like it was yesterday and now I am 18 wanting to savor all of those moments. My mom has been the most influential person in my life so I chose to honor her with this tattoo and also as a reminder of how short life is.” Nissen said. The name “Rose” is also many of her relatives’ middle names and Nissen would like to pass it on to her children.
Photo By Ali Gudenkauf
Audrey Kirk
Alayna Sutton Junior
Sophomore
Photo By Ava Speropoulos
Photo By Ava Speropoulos
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Sports
SPRING SPORTS RETURN
After losing the 2020 season to COVID-19, the athletes are hungry to compete.
BASEBALL
Photo by Ana Esqueada
Kevin Glenn
reporter
Coach: Joe Allison Ass’t. Coaches: Dana Harrison, Alex Lahasky, Matt Shipley Fan Support Needed: May 11 vs. BV Southest Home @ 5 p.m. Current Record: 10-3
BOYS GOLF
BOYS TENNIS Photo by MaryKate Deves
Photo by Emily Gordon
Coach: Aaron Anderson Ass’t. Coach: Ryan Copp
Coach: Alec Bergeron Ass’t. Coach: Carrie Sherron
Regionals: May 17 Prairie Highlands Golf Course
EKL: May 1 Fan Support Needed: May 3 vs. BV Northwest Home @ 3:30
GIRLS SWIM & DIVE
Sports
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Coach: Jordan Rowlen Ass’t. Coaches: Monique Marquette, Izabelle Finzen Dive Coach: Robert Ayers Currently Undefeated State Swim: May 21 in Topeka, Kan.
Photo by Olivia Lasley
SOFTBALL
Coach: Jessica Wedermeyer Ass’t. Coaches: Brooke Ash, Coach Maasen, Tyler Dickerson
Currently Ranked #1 in 6A: 200 Medley Relay, Addie Barnes-4 events, Annika Finzen-2 events, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay
TRACK
Fan Support Needed: May 11 vs. BV Southwest 4:30 Away HY-VEE Team of the Week-April 19 Photo by Emily Gordon
Photo by Cassidy Davis
GIRLS SOCCER
Photo by Maddie Merchant
Coach: Malloy Huseman Ass’t. Coaches: Brian Kroeker, Richard Strecker, Coach B ailey, Josh Koerkenmeier, Coach Randall, Coach Baldwin and Derek Howard EKL: May 14 SWIDAC
Coach: Alex Aiman Ass’t. Coach: Tait Einerson, Manny Patino, Jennifer LeGrotte Last Home Games before Regionals: May 11 vs. BV Southwest 6:30 May 13 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas 6:30 May 14 vs. Mill Valley 6:30
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Opinion
Teachers and students anonomously give their input on teacher favoritism
Ally Madden
reporter
Caroline Erickson
S
s a i B r e h c a Te Fact or Fiction?
reporter
tudents typically have seven or more classes in a given year. Within those classes they have a variety of different teachers, each with a different style and personality. It’s a given that students have a favorite teacher; one that they wave to in the hallway,talk to after class . Many of these students are outspoken as to who is their favorite or even least favorite teacher without any fear of being penalized. A question more daring to ask however, is; who is a teacher’s favorite student? It is inevitable to have biases, but many teachers claim they do not. To settle this debate, students and teachers gave anonymous input on the issue of teacher bias. While some teachers may have a favorite student, most agree that specific groups are shown special treatment. “Math teachers tend to like the popular athlete boys while ELA teachers always favor cheerleaders,” an anonymous senior said. Showing favoritism does not always mean letting students off easy, but sometimes showing them more attention. “Teachers usually pick on the kids they like the most and make jokes about them,” an anonymous senior said. After getting strong statements from students in their
survey, Spotlight sent every teacher an anonymous Google form to ask their opinions on the matter of favoritism. Some teachers failed to admit the relevance of favoritism while others claimed they tried their best to fight unconscious bias. When asked if teachers believed they are guilty of showing favoritism, one teacher appeared to be offended by the question. “I don’t even pick a favorite color. My rainbows would not be as magnificent if 6 of the colors were jealous,” an anonymous teacher said. Another teacher tries their best to make every student feel special. “I care about each and every student. I connect more with some than others but do my best to make each one feel that I “see” them,” anonymous teacher said. Teachers were asked how to address this problem. One teacher’s response seemed less serious than most. “Seven hours of professional development for teachers. Then, our favorite students can have another day off from school!” an anonymous teacher said. Another teacher provided a more thoughtful approach. “Not sure there is a onesize fits all solution, other than to acknowledge that it does exist. Just like racism and sexism, or any other discriminatory bias, the first
step in resolving the issue is to give it a name and recognize our own participation in it,” anonymous teacher said. When a student knows that a teacher has a favorite, they may be less inclined to do their best work. “If a teacher doesn’t like me, it doesn’t matter how much effort I put in, I’m still going to receive a bad grade” a senior said. On the flip side, this makes some teachers work harder. “I always try hard to prove to my teacher’s that I care about their class and want to succeed, even if I think they don’t like me,” a senior said. Overall, many teachers were grateful for the opportunity to speak out, as this issue has not been discussed very often. “I think continuing to educate on the sensitivity of this subject. This is a good question and I know I have been guilty of it as a teacher. I appreciate this survey to reflect on this issue more” a teacher said. As long as teachers acknowledge that bias exists, change will be possible.
Opinion Opinion
Student Answers
Teacher Answers
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Feature
Reese Hager Rajneet Lehal
THE NEXT CHAPTER Seniors share their unique paths for next year
reporter reporter
Q What is your plan as far as after high school? “After graduation, I plan on double majoring in neuroscience and public policy at Duke while also being on the pre-med track. After undergrad, I want to go to either go to med school or pursue a PhD and do research.”
What made you choose this route?
DUKE Supta Das
“I have always had a passion for brain science, but I became more interested in this field because of volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association in high school.. .I also really got into public policy as a result of doing debate and realizing the drastic effects of legislation. Double majoring in both neuroscience and public policy would allow me to become a better advocate.”
Do you think this is more beneficial to you than attending a university closer to home? “They offered a lot of opportunities...Duke offers a lot of interdisciplinary programs which I couldn’t find at other schools. Duke is also a smaller school, which allows me to get more one-on-one contact with professors which is really important for my learning.”
Q
What is your plan as far as after high school? “My plan after high school is to attend Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.”
What made you choose this route?
SCAD David Hudler
“I chose this route because it’s the most creative, spontaneous, and adventurous school I could attend... with my major, film and television, Georgia and SCAD will give me the opportunity to work on real blockbuster sets and have technological and logistic hands on experience. In my opinion, going to Savannah is a much more beneficial decision than going closer to home. There are a ton of work and internship opportunities, specifically for the major of my choice of film production.”
Feature
Q What is your plan as far as after high school? “ I plan on going into the United States Military, I’m between Marines and Navy at the moment. But I do want to get my associates degree at JCCC which is just two years.”
What made you choose this route? “I chose to go into the military because it’s been something I have been interested in since the end of my freshman year. I always had a great sea of respect for the military I just never knew what branch would be right for me. I’ll be the second person in my family to choose this path, after my Grandfather.”
MILITARY Irina Mikos
Why did you choose military over tradtional university? “I’d rather do something I would be passionate about for my time out of high school, I’m not saying that education isn’t important, I’m still getting education, it’s just in a different way. Everyone has a calling, the military just happened to be mine. I’m all about serving and protecting, it may be a huge challenge, but it is one that I am willing to take and risk. ”
Q What is your plan as far as after high school? “I am serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for the next 2 years in Chile, following that I will be attending BYU and major or Physiology and Developmental Biology.”
What made you choose this route? “I have wanted to go and serve on a mission for as long as I can remember, but especially after seeing my older brother go when I was a freshman I had no doubt.”
How do you think this will benefit you in the long run? “I think this will help me grow and mature, going on a mission for that long requires a lot of discipline. Both of my brother that have gone have came back bilingual or trilingual, which will be beneficial regardless of my future career”
MISSION Ethan Evans
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FIGHT FIGHT FOR FOR SENIOR SENIOR YEAR YEAR
Rachel Park
reporter
Seniors talk about the challenges that hindered them from making their year memorable and the plans to make the best out of the end of senior year
P
rom is one of the most special nights of high school. From movies, books, and TV shows, prom is highlighted as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that every high school student should look forward to. This year, seniors were met with the disappointment of a year full of COVID-19 and no official school dances. The fight for prom was intense with lots of obstacles involving social distancing guidelines. This year the seniors will get a Promenade that includes signing up for a time with a group of friends and getting to walk through the halls of the school with pictures from the past year.
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lass Day is an event to recognize BV West’s senior class in a more personal way than graduation. It is not as formal as graduation, but a sentimental way of celebrating the accomplishments of our unique senior class. The seniors will get to ring the Victory Bell just as we did on our first day as incoming freshmen. There will be performers and speakers and a chance to reflect on the past four years as a class. Unfortunately because of COVID-19, there have been many challenges and changes made along the way. Some challenges have been planning an event that adheres to COVID-19 guidelines while also recognizing the Class of 2021 in the best and normal way possible. Class day will take place on May 21, 2021, in the BV West gymnasium and as of now, only two guardians are allowed to attend. Another change this year is that the juniors will not be allowed to watch the ceremony like in past years. Seating for parents will also be spread out to meet COVID-19 safety guidelines.
T
he Senior Picnic is a tradition that almost every senior class has participated in at BV West. This event is mainly planned and funded by the PTO and will be on May 20 after Class Day rehearsal and will take place in and around the school. . Seniors are encouraged to wear a T-shirt of the college that they are planning on attending following year. There will be opportunities to play games, eat food, take pictures, and spend time together as a class. This year, due to COVID-19 guidelines students should bring their own blankets and social distance. Yearbooks will be handed out the week before.
IMPORTANT
DATES
Prom- May 1 ibutionYearbook distr May 14 Picnic- May 20 21 Class day- May ool- May Last day of sch 21 ay 23 Graduation-M
OVERCOMING STATISTICS
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n the winter of 2019, The Spotlight wrote about a senior who faced teen pregnancy. As the months went on writing this piece, the story blossomed as Monica Curtright had baby, Porter Curtright. Now Curtright has come back to share her story since giving birth on her journey being a teen mom. The journey began Dec. 19 2019, where she gave her birth to her little boy. The process didn’t go as smoothly as she would have wished. “Porter had to be in the NICU because he had issues regulating his blood sugars and struggled with feeding and had an unknown infection as a result of that. It was very traumatic for me to not be able to help my newborn baby as he was hurting and it broke me that he had to go through so much in such little time he had been here. He started showing signs of improvement and he got to come home after 7 days, but unfortunately he had to stay in the NICU over our first Christmas together,” Curtright said. Curtright was determined to start off as the best mom as she could by putting Porter first. “I had the option to stay at the hospital with him overnight or to come home but I refused to come home without my baby in my arms,
Photo credits to Monica Curtright
Feature
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Former BV West senior gives update on life as a teen mom
so I slept on the hospital couch while recovering myself.” After those seven days, Curtright expresses she was ecstatic to finally bring him home. She spent the next months learning, growing and cherishing memories and milestones. “With being able to stay with my baby each and every day I’ve been able to witness every milestone he’s achieved from learning how to crawl, take his first steps, and say his first word which was mama!” Four months later, between a newborn and COVID-19, Curtright still chose to fight and come out victorious, being able to graduate and walk at graduation. “I was able to walk at graduation! Unfortunately, due to COVID, I wasn’t able to carry him across the stage with me, but it was still just as special for me to know that I finished something a lot of girls in my position aren’t able to finish.” Curtright spent the summer passing more milestones and preparing for a new chapter for her. “I started college at JCCC and now am going to be going to Mizzou in the spring to get my degree in Sociology! I am on track to graduate with the rest of my class thankfully.
Natalie Lindmark editor-in-chief I am currently able to work from home with Porter, so that helps me to be able to be a full time mom, student, and worker,” Curtright said. While balancing these crazy components, Curtright was also able to keep up her social life. “I met my new boyfriend Brady earlier this year and he has been my rock ever since he’s been around me and helping with Porter. He may not be Porter’s biological father but he treats him as such and I couldn’t be more grateful for the role he now plays in Porter’s life. I stood on my own two feet taking care of Porter before I met Brady, and I will always be able to divert to that, but I still couldn’t imagine my life without Brady in it.” As the Spotlight left off in December, Curtright proved to be “more than a statistic”. “It still holds true to me that I’m more than just a statistic. Only 40% of teen moms graduate high school, and less than 2% finish college before age 30. While I still haven’t finished college yet, I have worked hard to have amazing grades and work towards my career goals, that I see no reason why it would not work out in my favor. Statistics are statistics, but I knew I didn’t have to be one of them.”
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News
Exceeded Excellence
Three teachers are leaving BV West at the end of this year
Lucy Call
reporter
Kolbie Christensen
editor-in-chief
P BV hot Ar W os ch es fro iv t Y m e ea th rb e oo k
I
s it possible to live up to a goal of exceeding excellence? This school year may have been an anomaly, but what hasn’t changed is the dedication of the staff. As the school year comes to a close, we learn that some of BV West’s beloved staff members will be moving on in the coming year. What has it been like for them personally? Three individual teachers f r o m d i ff e r e n t areas of the school have one thing in common: this will be their last year teaching at BV West. But, how has the journey been? What’s important to remember as they move on, and what will be their legacy? T h e Spotlight a s k e d about their ex p e r i e n c e s to get the best insight on what it’s like to teach at one school so long and what it’s like to move on. Dr. Brett Potts has been the principal of Blue Valley West since 2013. After 15 years of teaching, Potts knew it was time to move up to administration. So when
the position at BV West opened up, he applied. Being in the center of things for nearly eight years has taught him a lot about life and leadership, similar to how he has taught the BV West family. He lives by his famous cornerstones: family, pride, grit, and excellence. “We went through a process eight years ago, as I entered as the principal, we just wanted to take a step back and say, what do we stand for here at West and we got input and feedback from our staff and from students and parents, and we created a list of values and collective commitments, as well as we created a vision for the school,” Potts said. Potts adds that the impact the cornerstones have throughout the community has surprised him. Even students and staff who didn’t attend BV West have a grasp on them which he is increasingly proud of. As Potts gets ready to depart BV West he hopes that the cornerstones he helped to create are here to stay at the school, forever cementing his legacy. “My hope is that they remain here as part of the development of students, but I’m hoping that you and all of your classmates take them with you when you leave, and they’re always a part of you. That would really make me happy,” Potts said. One of the biggest challenges that Potts faced was an unexpected challenge. Taking care of all the students is a big task and something that he didn’t feel the weight of
News until he got the job. “So then you kind of take a step back and think, I’ve got a big responsibility here. Each and every one of these students are different. They’ve got different backgrounds, different family situations, different interests, and how do you as a leader, try to create a school that is home to all those students that they feel good about. And [that] they have a great experience while they’re here and get them ready for whatever their next steps are,” Potts said. Knowing that all of this rests on his shoulders, Potts never took this challenge lightly over his eight years at BV West and worked hard to make everyone feel included. On the other hand, for every challenge Potts has faced there have been many triumphs and memorable moments. Whether it’s watching the students sing the alma mater at the end of assemblies bringing tears to his eyes, or doing the announcements with students. Those are the moments Potts will miss. Along with witnessing state championships and watching students grow and collaborate in the classrooms, the family aspect of the school will forever stay with him.
“But I’ve seen this community do that time and time again, we’ve had some tragedy in the school, but I’m always proud of the way that our community responds when things happen and how they celebrate when good things happen,“ Potts said. Adding the reason why he will remember these moments the most, is due to the relationships he has forged. “But those they’re all relationship based, you know? And they all have to do with the family aspect of the school. That’s what I’m going to remember the most, that’s what makes it hardest to leave,“ Potts adds. As Potts leaves BV West he looks forward to his new role at District Office, working with the administration teams at the five Blue Valley high schools along with the Academy and CAPS. “One of my main focuses is going to be supporting those leaders so that they can support the growth of their staff and their students and continue to improve their school,” Potts said. He is excited to get to work and be a supporter as well as a resource that those principals can rely on, similar to how he was a resource
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for the teachers here while he was principal. As well as working on different projects to help all students enjoy their high school experience and create as many opportunities for students as he can. With the exit of BV West’s principal many are wondering who will fill that slot. Recently, it has been announced that Katie Bonnema will become the new principal. Currently Bonnema works for Blue Valley as Director of Career-Ready Programs. Bonnema also worked as an assistant principal at BV West three years ago, and is a close friend to Potts who believes that she will do great next year. Believing that her new set of eyes will help see things that many don’t and help take BV West to the next level as a school and as a community. Also up in the administrative office is Cindy Roach, Blue Valley West’s athletic director and associate principal. Roach has worked at BV West since the building opened--for over 20 years. Her teaching career began in 1985 in the physical education department at Shawnee Mission
Ms. Roach gets pied at the carnival Photo By Libby Johnson
Dr. Potts and Mr. Brutto make some burgers at the Jaguar Grill!
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Northwest. She also worked as a volleyball coach. Athletics are very present in her background--she has had sports teams experience at JCCC including softball and volleyball. After mandating things in the athletic department at Blue Valley West so well for so long, Roach will leave a large legacy and hard shoes to fill behind her. Another member of the BV West family that is leaving is Coach Scott Wright. Wright taught in Blue Valley for 20 years before coming to BV West in 2001. Like Roach, Wright has been with BV West for 20 years--since it first opened. Along with his teaching experience, he has been a baseball, football, and swimming coach for BV North, BV High, and of course BV West. For fifteen years was the head football coach at BV West. He fostered a culture of Team First, one of the philosophies that made him such an inspirational coach and so impactful to the BV West football program. As well as following the motto, love and serve those whom you have be entrusted to. Over his many years of coaching, Wright says that the relationships he has made with the teams have been some of his favorite memories. “I love to compete, so the growing by competition was always a joy. But, the relationships I was blessed to make with the coaches and students/athletes will be my biggest treasure!” Wright said. As both a teacher and a coach Wright remarks that everyday is a new challenge when it comes to young people. Adding that being a small part of a student’s growth and struggle was worth the reward to him. Being around students and athletes for more than 20 years Wright has certainly learned lessons from them that he will take away with him as he enters
retirement. “I learn more from my students than they ever will learn from me. But the ability to be flexible is one that I constantly admire in young people,” Wright said. While Wright is looking forward to his future he can’t leave without giving one last piece of advice to his former and future athletes. “Strive to be the best teammate you can be. When you strive to serve your teammates you instantly become a better player,” Wright said. With Wright moving on, BV West will feel the absence of his presence not only in the athletic department but around the school as a whole. Wright is excited for new opportunities as well as spending more time with his friends and family. “Looking forward to starting a new challenge (not sure what it is) but looking forward to the uncertainty of the unknown. It will also give me a new opportunity for growth as a person. Also just some more time with my family and friends!” Wright said. It’s always sad to see such inspiring people leave, but everyone is excited to move on to the next chapter in their lives. It is the definition of bittersweet for BV West. However, the school is lucky to have known them at all. It’s safe to say these staff members exceeded excellence as they planned all those years ago. All students and staff members will carry what they taught and continue their legacies.
The Spotlight wishes Dr. Potts well on his next endeavor. As well as wishing Ms. Roach and Coach Wright congratulations on their retirement. Once a Jaguar, always a Jaguar.
THE REAL EPIDEMIC
News
Aminah Syed
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managing editor
With the recent rise of Asian hate crimes, BV West students discuss their feelings about it
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he COVID-19 virus has impacted the lives of all Americans. After news broke that a deadly virus was spreading through China then swept throughout the world and into the United States in March of 2020, the world stopped and is now slowly resuming back to a normal pace. But, another epidemic that has been in the United States for centuries has been becoming increasingly worse and prevalent, specifically towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. “Racially motivated crime[s] against AAPI has risen exponentially since COVID-19, or as some would incorrectly call it, the “China-virus,” was declared a global pandemic,” said junior Zoe Arp. Hate crimes targeting AAPI have risen 150% from 2019 to 2020. After racist rhetoric was passed around prominently in the media when the pandemic began, it did not take long for physical and verbal aggression to begin. “My sister, who was in 6th grade at the time, was told that she was a “virus” and that she should go back to her country,” said Arp. Within the last year, there have been countless acts of violence and harassment towards AAPI throughout the nation. Many AAPI citizens are concerned for a loved one or themselves when they walk down the street after the exponential rise in hate crimes. In March of 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia, there was a mass shooting where eight Asian Americans were killed. There have also been countless attacks towards innocent elderly citizens. This sparked media outrage when the sheriff’s captain in Atlanta, Jay Baker, claimed that the suspect was just “having a bad day.”
This issue of Asian hate or harassment is not new. Hate against Asian Americans is centuries-old; for example, in the late 1800s in government acts such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, it was published to prohibit the immigration of Chinese Laborers. “AAPI hate in the US is nothing new, and it is woven into the very fabrics of our country,” said Arp. While COVID-19 is the inherent cause of the rise in AAPI hate crimes currently, there is an evident cause for these vile acts. COVID-19 has been a clear scapegoat for discrimination to persist. “The cause of this hatred isn’t the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s white supremacy and racism,” said junior Amanda Zhu. Even pre-COVID, AAPI hate was prominent and was not unknown. COVID-19 has just shown a light on the long going epidemic of AAPI hate in America. “People have walked up to me and told me to “open my eyes.” People have said things like “hey Ching Chong, think you could do my math homework for me?,” or just “shut up, Asian,”” said Arp “I’ve been told my whole life that ‘Asian racism doesn’t exist’ and that I should just learn to ‘take a joke.’” Jokes that may seem harmless to one are a big part of why there is such a massive amount of hate crimes toward AAPI civilians and other minorities and are being taken seriously. “Even if they’re not overtly violent, racist jokes still actually contribute to the attitudes that spawn violence,” said Zhu. BV West Principal, Dr. Potts, gives his condolences and sympathy towards AAPI and minority students.
“Our team is here, and that we want to hear their story and learn more about their reality at BV West,” said Potts. As stated in articles from Spotlight, such as “What’s That Thing On Your Head?” and “1,134”, the BV West staff has been engaging in professional learning around diversity, equity, and inclusion for two years now and are planning to expand this work by this coming fall. “We’ve created two workgroups, one studying and auditing our school culture and physical space as it pertains to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The other workgroup is studying and auditing our curriculum in an effort to more fully provide representation within our curricular products, practices, experiences, and perspectives,” said Potts. Comparatively, students do not feel heard or seen by the administration and encourage that immediate action should be taken to alleviate the issue of discrimination. “Racist behavior towards AAPI [is] very real and should not be taken lightly,” said Arp. “The BVW Administration needs to listen to its AAPI students [and] raise them up.” “I [want] the administration and staff to be educated on how to teach students anti-racism and equal treatment,” said Zhu. “There should also be more pressure for teachers and students to, you know, not be racist.”
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Interactive
ASSASSINS REVIEW
A break-down of each round of assassins and who ended up winning from the senior class of 2021
Kiley Peterson
editor-in-chief
ROUND ONE
John Martin assassinated
Olivia Schram assassinated
Alexa Couse
Harrison Dill
Ella Cook assassinated
Kayla Beal assassinated
Claire Harris
Addi Barnes
Josh Hallowell assassinated
Riley Peterson assassinated
Jack Lowden
Taylor Hindes
Rajneet Lehal assassinated
Elizabeth Reese assassinated
Izzy Diep
Jenna Clark
Owen Burgess assassinated
Lindsey Kuhlman assassinated
Ella Gordon
Blake Browne
Alayna Schiller assassinated
Sam Wambua assassinated
Ally Madden
Aubrey Dean
David Hudler assassinated
Colton Hess assassinated
Sheridan Bredehoeft
Elizabeth Reese
Quinn Wilson assassinated
Brenna Morrison assassinated
Sam Kirk
Loch Louis
Anna Dawald assassinated
Leighton Beckley assassinated
Kaitlin Mack
Kiley Peterson
Alex Everhart assassinated
Berit Jones assassinated
Josh Hallowell
Sara Alam
Steven Nebergall assassinated Grace Odgers assassinated
Norah Kennedy
Reese Hager
Elisabeth Pujado assassinated
Brady Fancher assassinated
Aaryan Phadnis assassinated
Macy Saulsbury assassinated
Brenly Lott
AK Marquette
Maddie Shuey
Delaney Horst assassinated
Arianna Page
Ally Townsend assassinated
Nick Edwards assassinated
Chayne Greenwood assassinated
Sam Forsen
Josh Ronnebaum
Lauren Sinclair
Jake Sawyer
Jaudon Mandley assassinated
Kelsey O’Neil
Catherine Darche assassinated
Jared Patterson
Hannah Cowen assassinated
Remy Wood assassinated
Hayley Ford
Kenton Wood
ROUND TWO
Olivia Schram assassinated
John Martin assassinated
Crayten Ryan assassinated
Lauren Sinclair assassinated
Piper Doby
Piper Carter
Ella Cook assassinated
Michael Fournier
Quinn Wilson assassinated
Zoe Gibson
Lizzie Wombolt assassinated
Ella Cook assassinated
Ben Nichols
Kate Mayer assassinated
Luke Steiner
Baron Chen assassinated
Nick Edwards assassinated
Alex Skorupan
Daniel Novosel assassinated
Katie Jones
Jackson Patchen assassinated
Alex Everhart assassinated
Rajneet Lehal
Gracyn Martin
Jaudon Mandley assassinated
Colin Welsh assassinated
Grace Odgers assassinated
Alex Holmes
Kylie Sheline assassinated
Kyler Murphy
Quinn Wilson assassinated
Claire Meyers assassinated
Priyatam Nuney
Lukas Curtiss
Ella Cook assassinated
John Martin assassinated
Kailey Gronek assassinated
Jillian Vistuba
Ella Cook assassinated
Chayne Greenwood assassinated
Brody Rembold assassinated
Elena Peterson
Andrew Bradley assassinated
Crayten Ryan
Nick Milonovich
Emma Montgomery
Kayla Beal
Lizzie Wombolt assassinated Lizzie Wombolt assassinated
Emma Montgomery assassinated Claire Meyers assassinated
Sydney Nisson assassinated
Joseph Cheung assassinated
Ari Elwell
Ian Axelrod
Mitch Goldstein assassinated
Rocco Hicks assassinated
Abby Mieras
Kailey Gronek
Steven Nebergall Delaney Horst Berit Jones
Anna Dawald
Brady Fancher David Hudler
Aaryan Phadnis Hannah Cowen
Chayne Greenwood
Riley Peterson
Ally Townsend assassinated
Joseph Cheung
Daniel Novosel assassinated
Brody Rembold
Sydney Nisson assassinated
Leighton Beckley
Lizzie Wombolt assassinated
Kylie Sheline
Elisabeth Pujado assassinated
Catherine Darche
Lindsey Kuhlman assassinated
Daniel Novosel
Kayla Beal assassinated
Alayna Schiller
Ally Townsend
Interactive
ROUND THREE
John Martin assassinated
Lindsey Kuhlman assassinated
Lizzie Wombolt
Hayley Ford
John Martin assassinated
Sergej Kavs Grace Odgers assassinated
Lauren Sinclair
Sydney Nisson assassinated
Alex Everhart
Sydney Nisson assassinated
Arianna Page
Ella Cook assassinated
PARTICIPANTS
Elisabeth Pujado Brenna Morrison Kyler Murphy Steven Nebergall Ben Nichols Sydney Nissen Wyatt Novak Daniel Novosel Priyatam Nuney Kelsey O’Neill Grace Odgers Arianna Page Jackson Patchen Jared Patterson Kiley Peterson Riley Peterson Elena Peterson Avery Peterson Aaryan Phadnis Elisabeth Pujado Elizabeth Reese Brody Rembold Josh Ronnebaum Crayten Ryan
Addi Barnes Sara Alam Ian Axelrod Kayla Beal Leighton Beckley Andrew Bradley Sheridan Bredehoeft Blake Browne Owen Burgess Piper Carter Baron Chen Joseph Cheung Jenna Clark Evan Clymer Ella Cook Alexa Couse Hannah Cowen Lukas Curtiss Catherine Darche Anna Dawald Aubrey Dean Izzy Diep Macy Saulsbury
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THE WINNERS Sydney Nissen Ella Cook Lindsey Kuhlman John Martin Grace Odgers
Zoe Gibson Mitch Goldstein Ella Gordon Chayne Greenwood Keziah Grimaldo Kailey Gronek Reese Hager Josh Hallowell Ian Hammer Claire Harris Colton Hess Rocco Hicks Taylor Hindes Alex Holmes Delaney Horst David Hudler Katie Jones Berit Jones Cassidy Julian Sergej Kavs Norah Kennedy Sam Kirk Jake Sawyer
The winners decided to split the pot to end the game! Ella Cook got the most kills, and John Martin got the first kill so they received a few extra dollars.
Madison Shuey Lauren Sinclair Alex Skorupan Luke Steiner Megan Stone Ally Townsend Jillian Vistuba Sam Wambua Michael Fournier Nick Milonovich Brady Fancher Hayley Ford Sam Forsen Colin Welsh Quinn Wilson Seth Wisdom Lizzie Wombolt John Wood Kenton Wood Abby Mieras Jack Lowden Kaitlin Mack Alayna Schiller
Ally Madden Jaudon Mandley Anna Katherine Marquette John Martin Gracyn Martin Kate Mayer Lizzie McGrath Claire Meyers Emma Montgomery Lauren Kirk Lindsey Kuhlman Rajneet Lehal Lindsey Locke Brenly Lott Loch Louis Harrison Dill Piper Doby Thomas Edwards Nick Edwards Arianna Elwell Alex Everhart Kylie Sheline Olivia Schram
THIS YEAR’S GAME WAS RAN BY JUNIORS NELDA SUMMERLIN AND SHANZAY QALBANI All pictures in this spread are from the BV West 2021 assassins Instagram @bvwassassins2021 You can check out more pictures and behind the scenes on the account.
22 Interactive
Sweet carolines Presentation - 6/10 price - 3/10 (overpriced) taste - 5/10 availability - 6/10
ANDY’S presentation - 4/10 price - 5/10 taste - 7/10 availability - 4/10
SONIC presentation - 3.5/10 price - 5/10 taste - 5/10 availability - 9/10
we scream Students rate the best ice cream in the BV West area
for ice cream SYLAS & MADDy’S presentation - 5/10 price - 5/10 taste - 5/10 availability - 4/10
Betty Rae’s presentation - 6/10 price - 6/10 (reasonable) taste - 8/10 availability - 5/10
FREEZING MOO presentation - 6/10 price - 4/10 taste - 4/10 availability - 5/10
Interactive Reese Hager Rajneet Lehal
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reporter reporter
Blue Valley West Spotlight 16200 Antioch Road Overland Park, Kan. 66085 Email: bvwspotlight@gmail.com Web: www.bvwnews.com Social Media: @bvwspotlight
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