Volume 49
Issue 3
December 2019
the green pride
To find out more about student engagement during basketball season, flip to page 6. December 2019 / dhsnews.org
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NEWS
ubblecream brings oomin’ business
KENNEDY EBBERTS staff reporter
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s most people know, De Soto has recently been growing. In 2018, Cause Coffee opened, and now a new ice cream shop right off of 83rd street, called Bubblecream has joined the mix. Bubblecream is owned by De Soto High School graduate and current Kansas State University freshman Erilynn Meo. The whole idea started with Meo’s father and grandparents, who were the owners of the building before it became Bubblecream. Meo started by helping to create the design for the interior. “He [Meo’s dad] came back to me after I was done designing it, and he talked to a marketing agent. He was like, ‘you’re going to own the ice cream shop now,’” Meo said. After having the idea to put bubbles on the walls, Meo was inspired to make the whole theme of the shop
In this issue:
centered around it. Soon after, the name Bubblecream was born. “I had seen multiple times on social media the bubble waffle cones, and that kind of became our thing,” Meo said. Meo has had help from her dad and grandparents throughout the process, but she still faces the difficulties that come from being a first-time business owner and a full-time college student. “Balancing out my time can be difficult, but I’ve learned that when I’m at school, that is my study time and when I’m here [Bubblecream], that is my work time,” Meo said. Many current DHS students hangout at Bubblecream and some even work there. Junior Priscilla Albaran is an employee and has a positive view of her position at the store. “The environment is very bright and energetic,” Albaran said. “It’s
all about happiness.” The ice cream shop has a cute and fresh atmosphere that many students feel appeals to them. From colorful bubbles on the walls to playground swings indoors, Bubblecream has something for everybody. “It’s a great place to hang out with friends or after a school activity like a choir or band concert,” said sophomore and daughter of the Bubblecream general manager Shelby Marquis. Bubblecream gets its ice cream from Sylas and Maddy’s so now everyone can enjoy quality ice cream in the De Soto area. “I hope it affects the community in a positive way by bringing people together or giving them something fun to do instead of going to Mcdonalds for ice cream, since their machine is always broken,” Meo said.
News
Opinion
Feature
Sports
Page 3: Recent change with the ACT allows students to retake specific sections on the test
Page 4: A Green Pride staff member discusses which television streaming site is the best
Page 5: Sydney D’Andrea talks about her involvement with The Green Pride and her future in the art world
Page 6: An evaluation of student spirit between football and basketball Page 7: Boys’ swim has new coach
Page 8: The Green Pride staff reflects on the new technology, news and pop culture during the last decade
Section Editors Erin Pickert Lauren Stanton Lynlee Hutchison Ella Fixsen Hunter Finerty
Staff Reporters Abby Knuth Abby Campbell Sam Goins Jack McCracken Natalie Nusz Deleana Marquiz
Ethan Ferguson Kennedy Ebberts Chase Culver
On the cover: Senior Jordan Diehl shoots the ball during the Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic vs. Gardner-Edgerton High School on Dec. 9. Photo by Quinlan Robke
Editors-in-Chief Camryn Robbinson Hayley Moss Maggie Kroeger Art Illustrator Sydney D’Andrea
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The Green Pride / December 2019
Video Journalists Spencer Burch Kyle Ahaus
Entertainment
Page Design by Camryn Robbinson
Changes to the
NEWS
ELLA FIXEN news editor
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eginning in September 2020, students will be able to retake individual sections of the ACT test, as well as complete the assessment online for the first time. The implementation of these changes stems from the idea of creating a less stressful and more successful ACT testing process for high schoolers. Section retesting will allow students who have already completed the full ACT to retake one or more individual sections of the test to improve their composite scores. The retake process will be beneficial for students, giving them an opportunity to focus specifically on individual parts of the ACT, rather than studying for the entire test again. This change is also due to the fact that the combination of a student’s best scores will more closely align with how a student will perform in college classes. Ultimately, section retesting will give students the opportunity to submit their highest scores to colleges and universities and showcase their skills on a more accurate basis. Senior Delaney Lecluyse has much experience with the ACT and feels that section retesting will be very beneficial to students, especially ones who are weak in particular subjects. She believes that this opportunity will create favorable circumstances for those
Page Design by Lauren Stanton
who choose to take advantage of this modification. “I think it’s a really cool opportunity. I scored pretty high on the ACT the first time I took it, but there was one specific section that I know I struggled with, and if I would have had that opportunity to go back and retake that and get a higher score, I totally would have,” Lecluyse said. “It opens up so many opportunities for kids to get scholarships, as long as they don’t alter the scholarship process because of this change.” Along with section retesting, the ACT will also be available to be taken online in 2020. Because technology is consistently utilized in high schools, online ACT testing will create a more comfortable and familiar testing environment for students. Another benefit of online testing is the length of time in which a student receives their ACT scores. While students have previously had to wait around two weeks for test score returns, online ACT testing can provide students with multiple choice results in as soon as two business days. Although these new processes are being implemented in 2020, students will still have the option to take the ACT as usual, with all four sections of the test on paper.
December 2019 / dhsnews.org
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OPINION
What is the best streaming service?
ETHAN FERGUSON staff reporter
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ovies and films have been popular for decades, yet the focus has shifted from movie watching experience in a theater, to enjoying the movies in your home. This is made possible through the growing popularity of streaming services. Streaming services themselves are great, but with so many to pick from, it can be difficult to choose the best one for you. The perfect streaming service should have a user-friendly interface that is appealing to the eye with quality movies and series, and avoid ads all for a reasonable monthly fee. While that seems like a lot to judge, it’s important to take all of these factors into account when selecting the best service. Among these services, there were three standouts that will be evaluated by this criteria, resulting in my own top pick. Coming up first on the list is Hulu, an underrated service that has really improved its content lately. Hulu is an on-demand streaming service that costs $5.99-$11.99 per month, depending on if the version purchased. Hulu also added a recent option to pay an additional $40 per month for live TV. For the sake of this argument, the regular $5.99 version of Hulu is the version that was evaluated. While there is a solid selection of movies, the area where this service really shines is the quality of the TV series that they offer. From childhood classics to cooking shows, Hulu has an elite selection of series. The interface of the service is appealing as well, with enough categories to find specific shows.
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The “my stuff” feature is a convenient list that allows watchers to save their favorite movies and shows. The downfall of Hulu is the ads that regularly interrupt the viewing experience. Additionally, the same ads play over and over, which admittedly gets annoying at times. However, if you can deal with frequent commercials, Hulu is a good choice for lovers of TV series and the occasional movie. The original streaming service, Netflix, offers plans from $8.99 to $14.99 each month and provides a large selection. With countless movies, there is next to no reason why a person should run out of things to watch. The quality of the movies, such as Thor: Ragnarok are top notch as well. Netflix provides everything from classic movies and TV shows, to brand new Netflix original films and series. With a top-tier movie selection, its sleek design makes Netflix the most attractive service on the market. Cosmetics also relates to the user friendliness aspect of the service, which is exceptional as well. There are just the right amount of categories to narrow down movies and shows, as well as a “my list” feature that allows watchers to save their favorite shows. Netflix is also ad-free, which allows for some serious binging with zero interruption. Netflix is and will remain a top-tier streaming service for years to come. Although Disney Plus is the youngest streaming service, the streaming service is quickly gaining popularity. At the second lowest price of $6.99 per month, Disney Plus gives watch-
The Green Pride / December 2019
ers a bang for their buck with a vast selection of both movies and TV series. Star Wars, Marvel and classics like That’s So Raven and Phineas and Ferb, are some titles included in the extensive collection of Disney Plus. The sheer amount and quality of classic TV shows and movies on the service is enough to make the service worth it, but there are many more shows on top of those that make the service great. Not only are all of the movies and TV shows quality content, Disney Plus looks great, even rivaling Netflix for their style. Disney Plus also has necessary features like different categories and easy-to-use tabs to find the different companies owned by Disney, such as Pixar or Marvel. The “watchlist” feature is simple but important because it allows watchers to save their favorite Disney movies and shows. On top of all of these positives, Disney Plus is also 100 percent ad-free. To recap, Disney Plus is the cheapest, one of the most easy to use, has the most quality movies and shows and is totally ad-free. Of course, not everyone is a Disney fan, and those people may not enjoy or require the service as much as others. To me though, Disney Plus has enough advantages over other services for me to confidently say that it is the best streaming service of 2019. In conclusion, there are many services that allow us to watch our favorite movies, and more are in the works from different companies. However we like to enjoy our movies and shows, there is no shortage of subscriptions that provide them to us.
Page Design by Hayley Moss
FEATURE
MEETbehindSYDNEY: the scenes at the Green Pride SAM GOINS staff reporter
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t De Soto High School, there are a great many organizations to choose to be a part of, such as newspaper, which issues a great deal of stories online and on paper. But what about the people who work behind the scenes? Meet DHS senior Sydney D’Andrea. D’Andrea, who is not enrolled in the newspaper class, creates graphics and illustrations to put in the newspaper. D’Andrea loves to create art so much that she wants to continue her art career. “I really admire how art has the ability to express things that can’t always be said with words,” D’Andrea said. “Also, there’s something about creating that’s very rewarding for me.” D’Andrea’s closest friends agree, especially her sister, freshman Anna. “She’s so talented in so many fields that she could really pursue any of them and be truly excellent,” Anna said. Another one of D’Andrea’s friends, senior Erica Hoelting, looks up to Sydney for different reasons. “What I admire about Sydney is her ability to always get things done on time and to always get it done with the best quality,” Hoelting said. “No matter how many classes or extracurricular activities she participates in, she always manages to get everything done.” D’Andrea enjoys making graphics for the newspaper and has been doing it since DHS senior and co-editor-inchief Hayley Moss asked her to do it at the beginning of the year. “Making illustrations is really fun,” D’Andrea said. “I usually start
Page Design by Sam Goins
out by drawing a simple version in my sketchbook. Then, I scan it into the computer, and I’ll trace, color and add more details to it in Photoshop.” Anna and Hoelting feel like she could be the best at whatever she does. “I believe Sydney could be able to run a successful print shop in the future and sell her original works of art around the city,” Hoelting said. Although D’Andrea is involved in a lot of things, she is a senior and no one will miss her more than her sister. “It’s going to be pretty lonely [when Sydney leaves for college]. We have a lot in common, so that helps strengthen our relationship,” Anna said.
Senior Sydney D’Andrea poses with an issue of the Green Pride with the cover that she designed. Photo by: Sam Goins
December 2019 / dhsnews.org
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SPORTS
Football season is over, what now? Basketball is ready to take the spotlight
CAMRYN ROBBINSON editor in chief
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ith the end to fall sports, a new opportunity begins for winter sport athletes. Based upon popular beliefs at De Soto High School, “Friday night lights” is the most memorable and cherished tradition. The transition from fall to winter, however, leave students with no plans after school on Friday—or some think, anyways. In DHS’ past, many people have expressed that winter sports—more specifically basketball—are not given the same credit and admiration as fall sports. Students such as senior cheerleader Graci Molzen have noticed how student sections are smaller, pep rallies are not as energetic and the overall school-wide hype is depleted. In Molzen’s eyes, basketball is the football of winter sports, yet many seem to be more supportive on the turf field than the gym court. Girls’ varsity basketball coach Ryan Robie, agrees with Molzen that basketball should be considered the main winter sport. “When we talk about the level of people that attend games, they [basketball games] are more readily available,” Robbie said. “I would say basketball is the prime time sport in the winter.” As a supporter of the football team, varsity girls’ basketball LaMayah Ricks has noticed the change in student involvement between both sports. “I feel as if the lack of support for not only girls, but [also] boys basketball games, diminishes the whole high school experience,” Ricks said. “Especially senior year when your friends are leaving next year and some people choose not to support them their final year.” This year, however, the student sections for boys and girls’ basketball have a chance to increase. Because the 2019 Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic tournament consists of a game against
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Katelynn Ostronic Average 13.5 ppg Average 6 rpg
#33 Varsity
Photo by: Hayley Moss
Average 15.5 ppg Average 6 rpg Average 5.5 bpg
Nate Barnhart Average 1.5 apg Average 2.5 bpg
#15 Varsity
Photo by Quinlan Robke
Mill Valley High School, student section leader Samuel Hashagen was already prepared to have a big turnout at the game on Dec. 10. “I expected the student section to be very loud on Tuesday because of who we played,” Hashagen said. “I hope that the people that came on Tuesday realized how much fun basketball games are and will continue to come back to more.” With the friendly rivalry between both schools in the district, varsity player Colton Jones wanted the team to stay focused on playing rather than getting caught up with drama. “I expected there would be some talk, but it came down to the fact that we were playing basketball and not football,” Jones said. Not only is there a desire to play well, but there are also expectations for the student sections throughout the season to be as loud and big as it was for football games. “We [cheer team] stand by the students so it is more enjoyable when the crowds are bigger,” Molzen said. “When the student sections are bigger, it feels like we are a united family.” From a coach’s perspective, Robie believes that student sections have direct ties to the outcome of games. “The crowd is a significant thing.
The Green Pride / December 2019
I think the fans are a huge part of all sporting events. Loud, crazy and peppy fans makes the experience better for everybody,” Robie said. According to varsity player Emily Fuhr, games are always better with a supportive crowd. With an engaged crowd, Fuhr recognizes the amount of support and is motivated because of it. For the rest of the season, Hashagen encourages everyone to attend all basketball games and give equal amount of support the football players received. “I think the basketball game student sections are just as important as football,” Hashagen explains. “Since we are inside at basketball games, our voices are heard and we are louder . . . that gives us an opportunity to make an impact in the game.” Along with the basketball team’s expectations of a big student section, they also have personal goals they wish to accomplish during the season. Both Ricks and Robie share the same goal of making it to State because of how many seniors and returning players there are on the team. “We have expectations to compete and we have the opportunity to win some games,” Robbie said. “We have six seniors in the program, four of them being starters, so we have high expectations for the season.”
Page Design by Lynlee Hutchison
DIVING IN with Boys' Swim
SPORTS
Boys’ swim team adjusts to new coach at the beginning of winter season
NATALIE NUSZ staff reporter
Senior Cale Marquis gets ready to dive into the pool at Oregon Trail Middle School during a boys’ swim team practice after school on Dec. 5, 2019. Wildcat Photo
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he boys’ swimming team at De Soto High School recently hired a new coach for the winter season. The new coach, Kayla Ayer, is excited to start the season and has plans to help the team grow. “I feel pretty confident. I’m excited for the new opportunity and to grow the program,” Ayer said. The boys on the team have enjoyed having a new coach and the learning environment. Ayer has been taking suggestions and communicating with the previous coach, Alissa Ruffin, as well, which has helped the team integrate into the new coaching. “She’s [Ayer] been keeping in
touch with our old coach to make sure that we don’t change things all that drastically,” said junior swim team member Nick Rogers. Ayer has previous experience with swimming, which gives her an advantage when coaching at DHS. In the past, Ayer coached club teams throughout college. When she moved to Kansas City, she coached another team for a year, but is now taking on her first high school level position. “The new coach is really nice and she seems like she knows what she is doing. She has been doing a lot of really productive workouts at practice, but at the same time we get enough breaks,” Rogers said. The team has practice every week day from 4-6 p.m. Once the new pool complex in Lenexa opens, the team will also have practice on Saturdays. Although the team has already started practicing, any DHS student is welcome to join at any time. “We welcome everybody and anybody that wants to join
swim. Even though our practices have already started, anybody is welcome to join any time in the season,” Ayer said. The team is not as big this year as it has been in the past, but the members believe that the team is still growing in skill. They predict that, with their hard work and collaboration, they can have a successful season. “We have less people, but we are practicing hard, so I think we will get to be successful this season,” senior Wesley Hendrix said. Overall, the team has been working hard with the assistance of Ayer. The team has shown their dedication and hard work to the new coach and she enjoys working with the team. “My expectation for the team is that they work hard, give 100 percent, and they are dedicated to themselves and their team,” Ayer said.
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Adviser : Michael Sullivan 35000 W. 91st, De Soto, KS 60018 P : (913)-667-6250 F : (913)-667-6251 E : msullivan@usd232.org Page Design by Hunter Finerty
December 2019 / dhsnews.org
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The end of a
DECADE The decade brought us...
Wildcat Photo
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Self driving cars Tik Tok Legalization of gay marriage First picture of a black hole One Direction, who formed in 2010 and broke up in 2015 - Legalization of marijuana in 11 states - Streaming TV services
Things changed:
Photo by Jonatan Svensson Glad, Creative Commons
Photo courtsey of donkeyjacket45, Creative Commons
- President Barack Obama left office and President Donald Trump entered - Amazon rain forest caught fire - Iconic Disney Shows such as Hannah Montana, Good Luck Charlie and Phineas and Ferb ended - Kylie Jenner became the youngest selfmade billionaire - Vine shut down - Said goodbye to legends such as Paul Walker, Prince and Robin Williams - De Soto High School’s population increased from 620 to 995
Iconic Moments and Movements: Photo by Bengt Nyman, Creative Commons
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The Green Pride / December 2019
- DHS played Mill Valley in football for the first time in 15 years - Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements - Avengers: End Game - Ice Bucket Challenge - Harambe the gorilla passed away
Page Design by Maggie Kroeger