spotlight Blue Valley West 16200 Antioch Rd., Overland Park, Kan. Volume 19 Issue 5 Feb. 6, 2020
INSIDE World on Fire.................04 Stuewe’s Retirement....12 Location Tracking........14 Tattoo Photo Essay......20
Masthead Letter from the editors
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ith the new semester in full swing, there are many events and activities to look forward to in the upcoming months. From snow days and the school musical to pep assemblies and basketball games, the third quarter promises to be great. While it felt difficult to return to school after winter break, we must persevere through the cold, and for some, the senioritis, to make the best out of this semester. Our Spotlight staff worked hard this edition to produce a newspaper that will hopefully provide you all with interesting stories about students, sports and even Valen-
tine’s day. There were certainly plenty of events to choose from, both sad, such as wildfires in Australia, and fun, like student tattoos. Though our press cycle presented a challenge, our staff members managed to work together and create a wonderful set of stories. Enjoy the rest of the third quarter, Jags. We hope it’s filled with plenty of snow days.
Your E.I.C.’s, Hannah Cole Rae Zimmerli
contact us Blue Valley West High School 16200 Antioch Road Overland Park, Kan. 66085 Phone: 913-239-3700 Email: bvwspotlight@gmail.com Web: www.bvwnews.com All Social Media: @bvwspotlight
19-20 Staff editors-in-chief Hannah Cole Rae Zimmerli
managing editor Natalie Fiorella
On the cover
reporters
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ith climate change comes rising temperatures that dry out the planet. One small spark can start suffocating wildfires that kill all living creatures in its wake, as seen with the billions of animal deaths in Australia and the near annual fires in California. Reporters Kiley Peterson and Kolbie Christensen take a look at the environmental consequences and the effect of wildfires on the globe and even for students at BV West. Photo by Rae Zimmerli
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.
Kolbie Christensen Jillian Dunlay Kevin Glenn Norah Kennedy Natalie Lindmark Ally Madden Lucas Park Kiley Peterson Aminah Syed
in this issue News
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Photo by Izzy Fultz
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Photo by Rae Zimmerli
04...................................Wildfires 06...................2020 BVSD Bond
Sports
07......................Shira Pellegrino 08.........................Winter Sports
Features
10....................Fitness Accounts 11.....................Jackson Schaffer 12.............Stuewe’s Retirement
Opinion
14......Location Tracking Apps
A&E
16.............Valentine’s Day Gifts 18....................Music Streaming
Photo essay
20.....................Student Tattoos 22.............................Chiefs Pride
Interactive
23......School Book Crossword
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Photo courtesy of Reese Wheeler
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ON
FIRE
Australian wildfires spark climate change discussion Kiley Peterson reporter Kolbie Christensen reporter
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he bright red color overtakes the sky and ashes are woven into the air making it hard to breathe and to see. That’s the reality for the millions of people living in Australia since September. Currently, billions of animals and thousands of people are suffering in Australia due to the bushfires. According to CNN, the fires have spread across 17.9 million acres of land, with the death total reaching 28 people as of Jan. 13, 2020. These fires sparked a deeper look into the environment and into climate change. Climate change has been around in the news for the last 30 years and isn’t a new phenomenon. The cause of climate change can be boiled down to humans excessively burning fossil fuels which is creating greenhouse gases that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere. This raises the overall temperature of the Earth and contributes to the wildfire issue. In the United States, California has been the target for many wildfires in the last couple of years. While wildfires are not something new to California, the intensity and amount of fires in the state is. Climate change has made wildfires much easier to
spark and to continue burning. Similar to California, Australia has become hotter and drier which ultimately made wildfires spread faster and more intensely. Since 1950, Australia’s national temperature has increased by 2.7 degrees fahrenheit per year, adding to dry conditions and making fire season increasingly worse. J.J. Quillin, BV West’s AP Environmental Science teacher, discusses the subject of wildfires in his classes and understands how natural fires work. “The increased temperature makes things dry out more, making them more susceptible to burning,” Quillin said. “Fires are then more likely to start and when they do, there are more dry materials that exacerbate, and that makes it more intense.” While the bushfires in Australia are known for causing harm to people, Quillin explained how the naturally occurring fires can actually be beneficial to the environment and almost necessary to keep it lush. “[Wildfires are] necessary for many ecosystems to thrive, fire cleans the slate and there are many organisms that have evolved to withstand
Photos courtesy of Wikipedia and Getty Images. All photos taken in Australia.
them,” Quillin said. “Naturally, ecosystem’s are designed to withstand [a fire]. “Basically, if there is an ecosystem or environment that can burn, it probably has adapted to withstand it and [fires are a] part of keeping it healthy.” While natural wildfires are necessary to the ecosystem, most people believe these wildfires are too big and too out of control. Instead, these fires are evidently no longer helpful, but now, harmful. Many people, such as the American firefighters that flew into Australia in Jan. 2020, are rushing to help extinguish the fire, but Quillin said these actions sometimes do more harm than good. By trying to put out the fires, humans can actually cause that specific area to be more flammable. “Humans have prevented the fires and in preventing them, we have made them worse,” Quillin said. “Since humans have moved into these places, we’ve always tried to stop and prevent [fires]. What that does is build up more biomass that is flammable.” Quillin suspects that the firefighters’ goal may be to monitor the fire instead of attempting to put it out. They might also want to know which direction the wind is going and where the fire is moving to hopefully get to sensitive areas and protect them. While these wildfires might help cleanse and renew the environment, they also hurt both Australian residents and others with a connection to the country. Senior Dani Ferrigno lived in Sydney, Australia for three years before moving to the United States and eventually Kansas. She still feels very close to the fires and feels like they affect her, even if they’re almost 10,000 miles away. “The place I once called home is currently on fire. I feel like my hands are tied and that there is nothing I can do to help but donate money to local organizations that are bringing relief for the fires,” Ferrigno said. “I remember all the times I went to the Taronga Zoo in Sydney and saw kangaroos and held koalas. To know that these
are the same animals that are being deprived of their home and literally burned alive [because of] climate change, breaks my heart.” Ferrigno believes that not only are the fires much worse than most people think, but people aren’t concerned enough about the implications of this destruction. “When I think about situations like this, I think about how people raised over a billion dollars to help rebuild the Notre Dame,” Ferrigno said. “Think about how much relief and recovery the people in Australia would get if the same amount of money was raised for the wildfires.” There are celebrities that continue to donate to the fire relief cause such as Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Chris Hemsworth and many more both from Australia and from around the world. People like Bindi and Robert Irwin are even helping to evacuate the animals who have lost their homes. On a larger scale, teen activist Greta Thunberg continually attempts to reform climate change laws and spark action in order to help the world. From striking in front of the Swedish Parliament to giving speeches at the United Nations, Thunberg wishes to inform people about the larger issue with the environment and find ways to prevent tragic events, like wildfires, in the future. Overall, people like Thunberg simply want to improve the situation and help others. “Climate change is a real thing that is happening and it is having real consequences on the environment,” Ferrigno said. “Over a billion harmless animals have been burned alive in Australia and are suffering as I say this. Australia needs our help.”
Photos courtesy of Flickr and Public Domain Files. All photos taken in California.
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news
Hannah Cole editor-in-chief Blue Valley community endorses a new bond in hopes of improving schools
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primary goal for the Blue Valley School District (BVSD) is to reimagine learning. The district believes that with their recently approved bond of $186 million, they can help accomplish this goal. The voting for the three-year bond began on Jan. 8 and continued through Jan. 28. After the twenty-day mail-in voting window closed, the BVSD community endorsed the bond election 73.8 percent to 26.2 percent.
The BVSD most recently passed bonds in 2005 and 2012. This funding helped maintain the school district for over a decade, however, after the prolongment of the 2012 bond, the BVSD decided to appeal to their residents for more money. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan said that the BVSD worked for years to decide what the money would fund and what schools needed the most. They ultimately decided on a variety of district-wide projects, including new locks on every classroom door and flooring replacements. “We’ve been working on this for several years identifying the different things that every building across the district might need,” Merrigan said. “We then have to continue to whittle that down to the work that we can get done in a three-year period.”
At BV West specifically, the bond will fund a number of different projects that will benefit sports
teams, the performing arts department and other activities. Assistant principal Bryan Brutto said that the bond will support a number of improvements from resurfacing the tennis courts to developing a Career and Technical Education (CTE) focus. “What you will probably see in this district, as a patron, is that we are continuing to look at how we reimagine what our district is doing when it comes to education,” Brutto said. “In this world, we can’t hang our hat on just one thing. What else is out there when it comes to Career and Technical Education pieces? I’ve heard [we are developing an education in] building trades or the auto technical field. I think we’ve got some students here that would enjoy that [path].”
Students also feel confident and hopeful about the benefits of the upcoming improvements. Senior Kess Weiser said she is especially grateful for the increased security the bond will fund, such as the updated doors and locks. “Coming from Connecticut, I know that new doors and new locks seem like a hassle, but [these measures] are proven to be safer for students,” Weiser said. “There hasn’t been a school shooting in Connecticut since Sandy Hook and since the implementation of these new security measures.” Weiser, like Brutto, believes that these measures are important to the development and improvement of the BVSD. The district and commu-
nity are constantly changing and the BVSD believes that this funding helps complete the necessary updates.
Without the passing of this bond, the district worried that some essential projects would be disregarded. To keep up with the growth of the BVSD, especially following the suburban sprawl of the last 15 to 20 years, Brutto said the schools need funding. The older high schools like Blue Valley, Blue Valley North and Blue Valley Northwest, for example, gained many more students in the years after they initially opened and now need improvements, like new gyms, to accommodate more students. Brutto believes that, depending on the age of the school, it might require more or less funding for expansion and renovation.
In addition, both Brutto and Merrigan said that the bond would not increase taxes. The last bond passed in 2012 amounted to $271 million. Residents are currently pay taxes for this previous bond so the passing of the 2020 bond still requires people to pay taxes for the funding but not at an increased cost from the 2012 funding. Ultimately, the three goals of the bond are to reinvest, reinforce and reimagine the BVSD to provide a better learning environment for its students.
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On The Ice Freshman Shira Pellegrino shares her passion for ice hockey Hannah Cole
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editor-in-chief
ce hockey is an intense, high impact sport that is typically a male-dominated. However, freshman Shira Pellegrino holds a passion for playing the sport. Pellegrino ice skated for four years before deciding to pursue hockey. While Pellegrino had other skating sports to choose from, such as competitive figure skating, she ultimately wanted to play hockey. Most kids start playing at a young age and Pellegrino said she worried that she started too late. However, her mom encouraged her to try it anyways and helped her find a new passion. “I like the skating part,” Pellegrino said. “That’s always been my favorite. I want to do speed skating [as well] but they don’t have that in Kansas.” Hockey is a fun opportunity for Pellegrino but she also must work to manage a busy schedule and keep up with training. On top of school, Pellegrino attends practice every Tuesday and Thursday. Occasionally, she and her team meet up on Sundays as well. “We practice in Independence and in a rink in Shawnee called KC [Ice Center] and some days we have practice on Sundays in St. Joe,” Pellegrino said. Most people think recreational
ice skating rinks only appear in the winter, but Pellegrino and her team practice and compete all year round. Despite the time commitment, Pellegrino tries to maintain a balance between school and hockey.
Photo courtesy of Shira Pellegrino
“It’s travel hockey. So it’s basically all year round like from the beginning of August to the end of April,” Pellegrino said. “Then there are camps for the summer season. It just takes up a lot of time because of traveling. [However] the practices aren’t until 7:30 at night so I have a lot of time right after school to do my homework.” While the girls train hard, Pellegrino explained that there are
some differences between girl’s hockey and boy’s hockey. For example, Pellegrino said the game is less physical and more mental. “In girls hockey, there’s no checking, so there’s not as much physical contact,” Pellegrino said. “There are girls out there that get pretty physical but [overall] it’s a lot more mental and we focus on working together. The boys have these fighting concepts and are more physical.” Overall, Pellegrino hopes that more girls try hockey. She and her team want to expand the sport and show others how fun it is. “This is the only Kansas City girl’s team and when I first started playing last year, they had me playing on a boy’s team. At a certain point, the boys got bigger than a lot of the girls and it’s dangerous for [girls] to be playing with them because you might get hurt,” Pellegrino said. “So it’s really good that places are trying to make a team for girls.”
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KEVIN GLENN reporter
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boys
BBALL
top scorer: Spencer Bain 16.8 ppg most rebounds: O’mar Stanley 10.9 rpg best ft%: Jabari Brickhouse 85% most assists: Spencer Bain 4 apg Newcomer: Ross Lovich (return from injury) team wins: 8-4 record total points: 624 (56.7 ppg)
Photos by Lindsay Kuhlman
Swim&Dive Fastest times 50 free Hunter Rey
100 free Hunter Rey 200 free Hunter Rey 500 free Sam Foster 100 back Kevin Glenn 100 fly Hunter Rey 100 breast Chase Lane 200 IM Kevin Glenn
Top Freshman: Grayson Moyer
Photos by Ansley Gildemeister and Gabi Alexander
Newcomer: Hunter Rey Most points scored: Jason Garlett State qualifiers: Philip Dailey, Sam Foster, Jason Garlett, Kevin Glenn, Sam Kratochvil, Chase Lane, Grayson Moyer, Sam Pankratz, Lucas Park, Hunter Rey, Trevor Sinclair and Aidan White
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bowling
girls
BBALL
Top game score & athlete: Irina Mikos 194 individual game 457 series
top scorer: Neva Longhofer most rebounds: Lily Ba and Kate Bandre best ft%: Neva Longhofer most assists: CC Forcellini Newcomer: Sophia Tewell and Lily Ba team wins: 4 total points: 410 Photos by Izzy Fultz
wrestling most wins: Matt Lancaster 34 most pins: Ryan Schram 19 Top JV Wins: Veda Gummadipudi Newcomer: Ben Darling
(first year on varsity) team wins: 2nd @ Nebraska, 5th @ Husky Invite, 7th @ JOCO Invite Photos by Avery Peterson
best team performance: 1st meet of the season vs. St. James, St. Thomas Aquinas and BV Southwest newcomer: Freshman Felicity Newell Top team performance: Score of 1603! team motto: Have fun! Photo by Austen Nordstrom
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Influencing Fitness Lucas Park reporter The rise of fitness accounts on Instagram has influenced students to create their own
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orking out and lifting weights aren’t usually the first activities that people want to do with their free time. However, juniors Sam Kirk and Elle Jackson want to work out to motivate people to become more active. Jackson decided to create a fitness account of her own on Instagram two years ago in order to motivate more girls to work out. Jackson’s account has over 1000 followers. She posts videos and pictures, giving advice and encouragement to other girls to work out as hard as she does. She shares her own progress and posts some of her own workouts for other people to use as well.
Tips for Rookies: Try working out with someone who regularly work out and learn correct form so you don’t hurt yourself Get a Gym membership and commit yourself, it’s hard at the beginning but it’ll be worth the work Photos by Lindsey Bigger
“I wanted to inspire girls and inform them more about weight lifting and fitness,” Jackson said. After experiencing success with her own account, Jackson convinced Kirk to also create an account of his own. Though Kirk said he was skeptical of owning a fitness account, for fear of receiving criticism from other students, he said that he has gotten a lot of positive feedback and support. Kirk posts his workouts for his followers to try out themselves and said that several people have come up to him and told him they used his workouts at the gym. “It’s a great feeling to know that you inspire people to get healthier,” Kirk said.
Not only does working out help Jackson and Kirk feel healthier but it has also allowed them to meet new friends. Jackson said that she believes lifting helps her meet new people and make friends that have similar goals, which can make exercise more enjoyable and sociable. Both Jackson and Kirk hope that their accounts get sponsored in the future when they start posting more consistently. For these students, their accounts may lead to a future career. Jackson said she wants to pursue a personal training license in college to teach people while also studying business. Similarly, Kirk has ambitions to become a personal trainer in the future. Follow Jackson and Kirk’s accounts for tips on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
Fitness accounts on Instagram: @ellejackson_fitness @samkirkfitness
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Soaring Through
Photo courtesy of Jackson Schaffer
SENIOR YEAR
Natalie Lindmark reporter Senior Jackson Schaffer finds his passion for flying while working for his pilot’s license
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ost high school seniors are currently caught up in a whirlwind of big decisions, anticipation and being able to have one last time for high school shenanigans. However, one senior has a different focus in mind. Jackson Schaffer is devoting his senior year to getting his pilot’s license. After turning 18, Schaffer decided to pursue his lifelong interest in flying. “Flying has always been something that I wanted to do. When I was a kid and Air Force or military planes would fly over, I would freak out,” Schaffer said. “My grandfather was in the Air Force and he’s been a big influence on me. He’s the whole reason I’m getting my private pilot’s license now because I’m also going to go to the Air Force after college.” Schaffer plans to attend Oklahoma State University and participate in their flying program, but he has some preparation to do before he leaves and his career, quite literally, takes off. “The specifications for a private pilot license is 40 hours of flight time and 20 hours of ground school,” Schaffer said. “I try and fly as much as possible and schedule as many flights as I can.”
Schaffer attempts to navigate his busy schedule between school and flying. He wants to fly as much as possible while also upholding his other commitments and participating in school activities.
“You’re constantly calculating where you are, what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.”
Schaffer said
“Usually about an hour a day is what I’m shooting for. I’ve been flying every day for the past couple weeks,” Schaffer said. “Training has been tough with not only having to go to school but playing sports and having other commitments in the community. It’s a lot of hard work and a lot of late nights studying.” It is a struggle balancing flying with the other aspects of his life and
Schaffer said he realizes that flying isn’t always fun and games. “It’s not just like driving a car. You’re constantly calculating where you are, what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. It’s a lot of numbers and I’ve never been really good at math,” Schaffer said. “ We calculate air speeds by hand and find directions using old paper maps. There’s a lot of new technology that we get to use but you got to learn the old stuff first. That’s probably been the biggest challenge.” As busy as Schaffer’s senior year has been, he said he wouldn’t trade this experience and feeling of flying for the world. “The best part is absolutely that feeling you get right when the wheels leave the ground,” Schaffer said. “I remember my very first flight that I was the pilot in command. Right when the wheels left the ground I remember freaking out and getting really scared that I was in command of this plane. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, this isn’t what I want to do.’ Then, once we got off the ground, everything was so calm and it was one of the greatest feelings of my whole life.”
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After 14 years at BV West, Mr. Stuewe’s teaching career comes to an end Ally Madden
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eachers can greatly impact a student’s life. Amazing teachers change the lives of kids and inspire them to reach their goals. A perfect example of a great teacher is Paul Stuewe, the AP European History teacher, who helped and taught hundreds of students during his 14 years at BV West. As his teaching career comes to a close with his retirement at the end of the year, Stuewe and a few students reflect on his career. Though Stuewe is now a well-respected teacher, he did not plan on becoming entering the profession until he found his passion in college. While majoring in history for a potential law degree, Stuewe realized that it wasn’t the law that fascinated him but rather his major. This interest became the beginning to a long and successful career. “I majored in history, which was a good thing to major in if you’re going to law school,” Stuewe said. “The more I studied it, the more I liked it more than the law. I thought, ‘what can I do with history that would really engage me? Teaching.’” After college, Stuewe did a stint in the military, backpacked across Europe and then began teaching at a small high school in Kansas. Many
years into his career, Stuewe decided it was time to retire. However, he realized later that he wanted to continue.
“Probably the stories students enjoy the most are from my military experience being in Europe during the Cold War and being drafted during the Vietnam War.”
stuewe said
“Technically I retired 14 years ago the first time and I thought I might do something else. But the more I thought about it, the more I didn’t want to do anything else,” Stuewe said. Stuewe returned to his teaching
career and began working at BV West 14 years ago. Stuewe said he still remembers his first day teaching and how beautiful the school looked. “My first memory was driving up. I had never been here before, so driving up the driveway, I just couldn’t believe it. It was such a beautiful school,” Stuewe said. “It looked more [like a community college] with all of the fields out there.” Though Stuewe loves history and his students, he is retiring in May 2020. “I am retiring for good now because I’m 70 and so that’s a good time to retire,” Stuewe said. “Oh, it’s too hard to define one moment in my career. It’s an accumulation of moments that have been really good.” People generally choose to become teachers so they can help others and spread their knowledge. These moments made teaching worth it for Stuewe. “I would say in my classes when I’m talking about European history and I see kind of the light bulbs come on in people’s eyes in terms of understanding,” Stuewe said.
Junior Nick Edwards, a former AP Euro student and the current History Club president, worked with Stuewe often in the past few years and feels grateful for the opportunities that Stuewe gave him. “In the past couple years, Mr. Stuewe has given myself and the other History Club officers many tools to lead and now with him eventually leaving the building, he has given the mantleship of History Club to us officers,” Edwards said. In addition, Edwards shared how Stuewe approaches teaching in an interesting and engaging way. As a Vietnam veteran, Stuewe is able to use his experience from war to give a unique perspective on history. His students are able to connect through the stories and be more engaged. Edwards said that Stuewe’s stories, describing his first hand expe-
riences with the content he teaches, were providential to the success he had in the class. “Mr. Stuewe mixes his lectures with a lot of personal stories and background. Because he has such a broad understanding of history, he is able to connect it to us on a deeper level,” Edwards said. Stuewe was aware of the impact his personal stories had on his ability to connect historical examples to students. “Probably the stories [students enjoy the most] are from my military experience being in Europe during the Cold War and being drafted during the Vietnam War,” Stuewe said. As he parts ways with BV West and his students, Stuewe reflects on what he will miss most about teaching.
“Well, I know this sounds cliche, but it’s really true, the students and being able to meet the students. I get to know them, work with them. And then the other thing is a captive audience to talk to about history with,” Stuewe said. Like hundreds of former students, many Jaguars are sad to see him go but will make sure to keep in contact. “The biggest thing I will miss about Mr. Stuewe is his attitude and admiration for history and just seeing him in the halls of West. I know I will keep in touch with him after he is gone,” Edwards said. Though some students did not have the privilege to be in Stuewe’s class, the students who had him will remember the joy and excitement he brought to history.
Big smiles from Stuewe on Picture Day. He had a new photo taken every school year and is one of a few teachers who has a yearbook from every year he taught at BV West. Posing with the 2018-19 History Club members, Stuewe stands proudly with fellow history buffs. Caught in action, Stuewe stands at his usual teaching position behind the podium and under his pennants from KU and Washburn University. His sense of humor was evident in the Mark Twain quote he displayed in Room 374. Photos courtesy of the yearbook archive
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SURVEILLANCE Or SAFETY? Teens feel that location-tracking apps invade privacy Jillian Dunlay
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he same text message from parents has appeared on the phones of teens everywhere: “Turn your Life360 on. Make sure you set your location permission to always.” These words spur a variety of emotions in the hearts of young people, often ranging from anxiety to anger. A fun night with friends can go awry as kids feel trapped under the supervision of parents. While technology has opened up a new world of social connection for teens, parents can easily limit that world with the click of a button. Parents can install apps that closely monitor their child’s digital activity, giving them access to everything from their child’s text messages to their driving speed. However, out of the wide range of protective parenting apps that exist, one of the most common and controversial is the location-tracking app. Location-tracking apps are used to pin-point the location of an enabled device. Typically, families or
friends will install the same location-tracking app to connect all of their phones and have access to one another’s locations. Some of the most popular apps include Life360 and Apple’s Find My. “My mom primarily uses Life360 to monitor where my brother and I are,” senior Jason Garlett said. “She also makes sure that I’m driving safely. If I ever get into an accident, I know that my mom would be able to immediately see where I am.” The idea of location-tracking apps appears beneficial. If a child has not contacted their parents for a long period of time, parents can check their child’s location by simply opening an app on their phone to make sure that their kid is safe. Senior Emily Meade recognizes the usefulness of location-tracking apps. “My family uses Life360 to know where I am if something happened and I didn’t have access to my phone. Also, it allows me to not have
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to check in constantly,” Meade said. “I don’t see many negative effects [of using the app] as my parents do not personally overstep boundaries. We have a trusting relationship. It makes me and them feel better to know where I am and what I’m doing. It [also] could be useful for the police in the event of something serious happening. I think every family should have the app.” While location-tracking apps can be advantageous for some families, the apps can also limit the freedom of teens. Many teens are required by their parents to keep a location-tracking app installed on their phone. By being forced to have the app, teens can perceive it as a way for their parents to prevent them from growing into independent adults. It can make kids uncomfortable as they feel that their parents are constantly watching over their shoulder and tracking their every move. “A lot of times it seems like
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80% 65%
Yes
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62% 35%
38%
Life 360
no Find My
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Yes
Do BVW Students use a location-tracking app?
Which Location-tracking app do BVW Students use?
Do BVW Students think location-tracking apps are beneficial?
Out of 65 votes. Poll taken on Jillian Dunlay’s Instagram on January 26th, 2020.
Out of 53 votes. Poll taken on Jillian Dunlay’s Instagram on January 23rd, 2020.
Out of 68 votes. Poll taken on Jillian Dunlay’s Instagram on January 23rd, 2020.
Life360 is too much and that parents may lack trust in children,” Garlett said. “For me, [Life360] seems annoying. Some features seem like too much.” Senior Tess Ryan also admits that while parents may view location-tracking apps as a helpful tool, their kids can view it as a way of inhibiting their autonomy. “I think because I’m looking at the app from a different perspective than my parents, I see more negative effects than positive effects. For example, my parents see it as a way to make sure I am where I say I am, [but] I see it as a way to limit my independence,” Ryan said. “I really don’t like people knowing where I am at all times. I get that my parents are worried about me and they want to make sure I’m not doing things I shouldn’t, but I like having the independence to keep track of my own schedule without my parents looking over my shoulder constantly.” Ryan understands that while location-tracking apps can be helpful for parents and children alike, there should still be a shared understanding of respect and privacy between
parent and child to preserve trust.
“I think it’s okay for parents to check in on their kids every so often, but there needs to be mutual trust between family members.”
ryan said
“Families shouldn’t let [location-tracking apps] control their whole day. I think it’s okay for parents to check in on their kids every so often, but there needs to be mutual trust between family members,” Ryan said. “There’s less of a Big Brother type of energy to the
app when you know your parents won’t call you when you’re out with friends because they trust you’re making the right decision. I think the trust can come from seeing that your kid’s telling the truth with time.” Maintaining a good relationship between family members should remain the most important priority when dealing with location-tracking apps like Life360 or Find My. If parents feel the need to install these apps, it’s necessary that they sit down with their children and create guidelines that both the parent and child are comfortable with following. Location-tracking apps can be valuable for parents, especially when dealing with high school students who often have busy schedules. However, it is still essential for parents to understand that their children deserve privacy. After all, allowing a teen to be responsible and make their own decisions without the input of their parents is how they will truly learn to thrive in adulthood.
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best and Worst The best and worst possible Valentine’s Day gifts to avoid or look for this February Natalie Fiorella
managing editor
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bouquet of flowers is a staple Valentine’s Day gift for a good reason. They are relatively inexpensive so they are perfect if you’re on a budget, or if the flowers are one of several gifts. Flowers just say “romance.” (Make sure they are not already wilting before giving them by putting them in a vase of water.) Be sure to find out if the person receiving them is not allergic as well, or else you could be putting your relationship in jeopardy. If you’re feeling like taking a risk, try switching things up and get an Edible Arrangement-they still look just like flowers. If you go with this fruit bouquet, try your best to keep it refrigerated for as long as possible before gifting it.
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f flowers seem too impersonal, a super sweet boyfriend or girlfriend would choose a present that lasts longer than a few weeks, like a photo collage. Print out pictures of you and your significant other and put them in a picture frame or on a poster (or whatever arrangement is the easiest to make in only one trip to the nearest Hobby Lobby or Michaels). With a little more planning, beat the procrastination bug by arranging the collage to tell the story of your relationship. Gather photos or memorabilia from every couple of months of your relationship to make a timeline. Cupid couldn’t do a Valentine’s Day gift any better than this personalized one!
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ewelry is a more serious gift, but if you are willing to spend a little more money and take that risk, it’s worth it. To play it safe and avoid wasting money on a gift your sweetheart would never wear, shop for smaller items. For necklaces, look for something with a small charm or pendant. Be cautious when looking for earrings and choose ones that are meant for daily wear, such as studs and small hoops. While rings are a hard gift to go wrong by as long as it’s simple, they require knowing the person’s ring size or an in-person fitting. Rings also tend to signify a long term commitment and might scare people away if they interpret it as a promise ring. Regardless of the type of jewelry though, sterling silver is the easiest and most inexpensive material that also won’t tarnish quickly. While jewelry does take more of an effort, it’s definitely worth it.
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he most thoughtful and personal gift is definitely an experience. This does not have to be a mini-vacation or anything expensive, but rather a planned day of each other’s favorite activities and destinations. These places could include each other’s favorite restaurants, the location of your first date or somewhere your sweetheart has always wanted to go to. Believe it or not, there are plenty of places in “the bubble” that could allow for a great trip together, Prairie Fire (for the first time since middle school), Heritage Park, Deanna Rose Farm, the Arboretum, or even a playground. Try also going north of 435 and checking out some of the popular places Kansas City is known for, such as the Nelson Atkins Museum, the Plaza, Downtown Overland Park, Union Station or the Kansas City Zoo.
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valentines gifts O
ne popular gift that’s a big NO is a giant teddy bear. While it seems like an adorable idea and a cute gesture, it’s obvious you are trying too hard and nobody likes that. It’s cliche, takes up space and, even if you’re enjoying a long-term relationship, they won’t be able to take it to college. Stuffed animals and toys can be a pretty cheesy gift that not everyone will like, so especially stay away from them if this is you and your signifcant others first Valentine’s Day. A smaller stuffed animal or even a fun date to Build-A-Bear would provide for a memorable Valentine’s Day, if the toy route is the way you want to go. An unnecessarily large furry friend is just desperate.
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he biggest, most avoidable mistake is to “re-gift.” Good luck coming back from this one if you get caught. Your valentine would rather you stop at Quik Trip and buy a 32oz. drink than give them something that’s already laying around your house or, heaven forbid, something someone gave you a year ago. If a hand me down present really seems like your last option, either quit now, or grab a piece of construction paper, cut a heart out, and write a note inside. Cards are a smart choice to put in any gift no matter what though, but at least this way your romantic side has a chance to shine. Or at least make an appearance.
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teer away from all gifts that you know nothing about. Makeup, while something that most girls would love to receive, is tricky to buy for someone else as you don’t know what products they already have and what they would like. Additionally, face makeup such as foundation and concealer comes in a variety of shades that needs to be an exact match. Other makeup items like eyeshadow and any lip products are too risky of a choice, unless you know the exact product. Another gift that is too individual for someone to buy your someone else is perfume. Everyone has a different preference that is too hard to guess. A pack of different rollerball perfume samples is an alternative to this.
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othing would be worse than putting time, effort and money into a great gift, only for it to be wasted because of the bad timing. Even if your Valentines’ favorite food is ice cream, do n o t surprise them with a carton of it before school, or anytime where they will not have immediate access to store it. The same goes for chocolate, try to keep it indoors for as long as possible. Another example of a gift that’s ruined by poor timing that isn’t a food, is a surprise date. While this spontaneous idea does sound exciting, nothing would be worse, and more awkward, than having an entire night planned only for the other person to already have plans. Additionally, not everyone enjoys surprises, either because they prefer to be the planner, or they don’t want to risk not enjoying whatever activity is already planned. To avoid any awkwardness, make sure to plan ahead when you’re delivering gifts, and at least give your date a heads up before planning a day out.
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WHAT WHAT TO TO STREAM? STREAM? Aminah Syed reporter Comparing music streaming options to determine the best service Apple Music
Spotify
Price: $9.99/month ($4.99 for students)
Price: $9.99/month ($4.99 for students) Family Plan: Up to 6 People $14.99/Month Free with ads
Family Plan: Up to 6 People $14.99/Month No, but beats1 radio streams for free Free trial for 3 months
Premium Free trial for 3 months 50 million songs
Tidal
50 million songs
Soundcloud
Price: $9.99/month ($19.99 For The “hifi” plan). STUDENT DISCOUNT FOR $4.99 (”HIFI” PLAN FOR $9.99). MILITARY DISCOUNT FOR $5.99 (”HIFI” PLAN $11.99)
Price: $6/month (pro), $12/Month (Pro unlimited), $9.99/Month (Go+)
Family Plan: Up to 5 People $14.99/Month ($29.99 FOR FAMILY “HIFI”)
Free with ads
30-day free trial
Family Plan: None available
Free trial for 7-days for Go, 30-day Free trial for go+ 125 million songs
60+ million songs
What do BV West students use?
Is it worth the cost?
Spotify 56.6%
Yes 75.8%
Apple Music 36.8% no 24.2%
Tidal 4.4% Based on 136 votes
soundcloud 2.2% Based on 66 votes
e m i T e h t All
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20 photo essay
Student ink
Rae Zimmerli
editor-in-chief
Students share the stories and meanings behind their tattoos
“My sister and I got matching tattoos before she left to go back to college in Colorado. The hearts represent each one of us, she is the top heart and I am the bottom heart, hence the reason why my bottom heart is filled and her top heart is filled.”
Macy Salusbury Kate Neil “I got my tattoo in honor of my sister, Hannah, who passed away from neuroblastoma cancer a little less than a year before I was born. I never got to meet her but she forever holds a huge spot in me and my family’s hearts. She would be 21. Getting it did not hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would, just felt kinda like a cat scratching you.”
Grace glenn “I got all three of these tattoos in honor of my dad who passed away from suicide when I was in seventh grade. The semicolon represents suicide prevention, the B was his inital and I got angel on my side to know that I’ll always have him by my side no matter what.”
photo essay
piper carter
“The sun represents my highs, the waves represent my lows and the mountains symbolize how tough it can be to get through the hard things. For me, high school has come with some of my worst times including family passing and personal issues and this tattoo reminds me that things will always get better. The planets represent the people I’ve loved and lost in my life.”
Katie Kess Weiser van Beber
“On my arm I have a hibiscus flower. It is a soul tattoo and is meant to symbolize finding one’s passion in life while facilitating an outflow of creativity. On my ribs there are two daisies, it was a more impulsive decision and I love it.”
“I gave the tattoo to myself while I was with some of my friends. It was kind of impulsive, but we all wanted to get stick and poke tattoos together. I love animals and I have always loved birds so I decided to get a small bird on my wrist. It didn’t even hurt and it was fun to do on myself because I could control everything about it. I still love it to this day even though I did it as a freshman. My only regret is not telling my parents I was doing it, I told them it was henna and that it was temporary. Now they know and they aren’t mad.”
Maria Kershaw “The sun over the waves represents happiness for me even when I’m at my lowest points. I did it after two of my grandparents passed away within a few months of each other. The anchor symbolizes my sister because I’ve always been pretty wild and she’s been the calm one. It reminds me to stay grounded even when she’s away at college and not there to balance me out. The lotus flower was the last one I did and it represents luck. Personally, I think of it as good or bad luck. I reminds me that I can’t control what happens and when bad things do happen, better things are coming.”
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22photo essay
Photos courtesy of Jonah Park
50 years in the Making
Photo courtesy of Blake Brown
Celebrating the Chief’s Super Bowl win with photos of Jaguar pride Rae Zimmerli Photo courtesy of Carly Burkholder
editor-in-chief Photo courtesy of Reese Wheeler
Photo courtesy of Rajneet Lehal
Photo courtesy of Natalie Lindmark
Photo courtesy of Lindsay Kuhlman Photo courtesy of Carly Burkholder
Photo courtesy of Gabi Alexander
School Book Crossword Rae Zimmerli
interactive
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editor-in-chief
Use the quotes provided from each popular school book to guess the
Directions: title of the book, then write it in boxes provided for that number (spaces in between). 1. Can I still tend to the rabbits, George? I didn’t mean no harm, George. 2. The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. 3. As long as you live, there’s always something waiting; and even if it’s bad, and you know it’s bad, what can you do? You can’t stop living.
4. I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me. 5. What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do? 6. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. 7. These violent delights have violent ends. 8. We did everything adults would do. What went wrong? 9. I saw the dull yellow eye of
the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. 10. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. This and nothing else. 11. Until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven. 12. I hope she’ll be a fool-- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.
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