The Green Pride - Volume 52 Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

SPORTS

OPINION

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MEET THE STAFF

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OPINION EDITOR

GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR

ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

PODCASTS/SOCIAL MEDIA

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NEWS EDITOR

FEATURE EDITOR

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LETTERS TO THE EDITORS FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS

Freshman Curtis Jones gets set during his match against a Lansing wrestler while the team competed in the Eudora Duals on Dec. 9 PhotobyMariaNino

SStufed Animals: Are They Benefcial?

Destigmatizing beloved childhood stuffed animals.

leeping with stuffed animals is often looked down upon if people are over the age of 10. However, many teenagers sleep with stuffed animals from their childhood which poses the question: Is it good or bad to sleep with stuffed animals?

Studies cited by “The Power of Plush” show that sleeping with a stuffed animal “triggers the release of oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’” (The Power of Plush). The love hormone also helps calm people’s anxiety.

Further Scientifc research supports that stuffed animals “effectiveness, showing that these objects can decrease anxiety, promote relaxation, and improve sleep quality” (The Power of Plush).

With the uprising of teenagers’ anxiety since Covid-19, they are constantly trying to fnd a way to decompress without using medicine. Therefore, stuffed animals are the perfect solution.

Although stuffed animals are benefcial, some believe that they aren’t helpful if people become too dependent on them.

Being dependent on stuffed animals “may actually lead to a higher level of self-esteem and comfort” (Giggle Magazine).

Many teenagers continue to sleep with stuffed animals because of the sentimental value.

Stuffed animals also have “the power

to soothe and rejuvenate” (The Power of Plush). Sometimes after a long day, people simply need to unwind and cuddle with their childhood stuffed animals while watching their comfort television show and drinking hot chocolate.

Similarly to stuffed animals, teenagers have been sleeping and collecting Squishmallows as a different type of stuffed animal. They are described as a super soft plush toy that is similar to a

“...sleeping with a stufed animal triggers the release of oxytocin, the love hormone that helps with anxiety,”

- Ashlyn Hammel Co-Editor-inChief

stress ball.

“I love collecting squishmallows because there are so many different designs,” senior Maya Rozelle said. “I sleep with mine every night.”

Squishmallows have similar positive effects as stuffed animals and are the new and improved beanie babies that people grew up loving.

Another popular type of stuffed animal is weighted stuffed animals. Many

teenagers sleep with weighted stuffed animals (most commonly in the shape of a dinosaur) to help calm them while they are sleeping.

According to Mattress Clarity “weighted stuffed animals help with anxiety and mental wellness by using deep pressure stimulation.”

The weight of the stuffed animals often help teenagers decompress after a long day of school or work.

All in all, sleeping with stuffed animals is actually very good for teenagers, and often helps them destress and fall asleep faster.

40% of adults still sleep with stuffed animals

72% will keep their childhood stuffes forever

Studies show stuffed animals help kids & adults feel less anxious at bedtime

(Sleep, KHON2)

Schooling beyond Traditional Colleges

Community Colleges can sometimes get a bad reputation for being for people who don’t know what they want to do in life. Tis is completely false. Te truth is that community colleges can be for students at every point in their journey whether that be deciding on a path or receiving extra schooling or training.

“ Te main role for a community college is to prepare students for entering the workforce and furthering their education in English, math, social studies, and other traditional academic subjects” says Pete Felt an administrator at JCCC.

Community college can be a great academic choice for students looking to advance their education in a budget safe, local way. So many students from De Soto High School end up going to JCCC or community colleges like it. Tese programs can ofer classes and training from Culinary Arts to History of Music and schooling is at little to no cost out of pocket from students.

“JCCC is a great opportunity for all types of students but community college isn’t for everyone. For those looking for a more traditional college experience it can be underwhelming. Make sure before you commit to a community college or a large public university that you know what to expect” says administrator Pete Felt. While community colleges

are a great form of furthering your education, if you want a college experience that is very involved with Greek life and big football games it may not be the correct choice for you. Big universities offer a more social college experience but if that is not necessarily your thing, going to a school like JCCC could be a great option.

When in doubt, you are your own best advisor. Community colleges have great classes taught by qualifed teachers and can help get you through college much faster and cheaper. If that sounds like a perfect ft for you, community college should be an option to consider.

Senior year can be a stressful time for students and parents alike. Oftentimes we may not fully consider all of our options for the future; this is especially true about technical schools like Washburn Tech and many others in the area.

“The obvious go to for a technical school is something in auto or manufacturing but I think people don’t realize all of our programs. We provide healthcare courses, courses in hospitality, and many others that people could really beneft from being a part of” says the Associate Director of Admissions, Ian Marples.

Technical schools, despite popular belief, offer much more than traditional trades and can be a great starting point for high school students looking into career paths of all types. Washburn Tech is no exception to this. From nursing to law, this school truly has it all and is a fantastic “In high school my favorite subject was German language class.”

-Associate Director of Admissions, Ian Marples

option when looking for affordable education in the area.

“I believe that Washburn Tech can be a great choice for every student. Not only do we have terrifc programs by great teachers, we teach students to be in the workforce. If you are taking auto classes, you are working in auto clothes and working with machinery everyday” says Associate Director of Admissions, Ian Marples.

Not only does Washburn Tech get its students integrated into the workforce really well with excellent resources, it also comes at a low cost with the Kansas Promise Scholarship. This scholarship covers any costs not already covered by other scholarships and aid programs. Meaning if you are eligible, you could potentially pay zero dollars out of pocket for training and schooling at tech schools in Kansas. Yet another reason why tech schools like Wash-

“My favorite subject in high school was journalism.”

-Exec. Director of Strategic Communications

Ukraine-Russia Confict

On February 24 of 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Previously, Russia had denied Ukraine its own title of statehood. However, Ukraine resisted which led to, currently, a year long war. So what are their goals? What is the future of the confict? Will this be resolved?

According to the University of Rochester, Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants to reestablish directly or indirectly, by annexation or by puppet-regimes, a Russian empire—be it the former USSR or Tsarist Russia. A second possible factor has to do with the role of domestic Russian politics”. As they state, Russia means to reinstate the land that the USSR previously held. The other topic relates to the politics currently going on.

How information about the confict is managed in the classroom is a different story. In Mr. Murphy’s class, the topic comes up when talking about how governments are run. Their class

discussed authoritarianism and the types of governments associated with that model. How the Russian government was run was appropriate to talk about in the situation.

“We talked a lot about authoritarianism in this class, and how Putin came into power, slowly over time,” said Murphy.

In addition to the authoritarian government style, Murphy’s class also tries to put their attention more on the “why” and not the “if”.

“We talk more about how it happened, why it happened–we don’t talk about ‘should it have happened’. We just try to understand it,” said Murphy.

Not only did Murphy talk more about the “why” and not the “if”, but also getting the students engaged in the conversations. Once they knew more about it, they were more engaged in the conversation.

“I think most kids are at least interested in what is going on. For many, they lacked the background knowledge of the history of the event. Once they had a better

understanding of the history they were more willing to participate and ask questions,” said Murphy.

Aside from the class’s perspective, students from Ukraine, Zakhar Bielov and Sofa Herasymchuk share their perspective on moving from their home country after the war began to the United States.

“This is from the United Free Ukraine Program, so, this is a chance for any Ukrainians. I came here when I was able. I made a reservation in February when the war started, but I came here in December,” said Bielov.

Although Bielov and Herasymchuk came here, some of their family members didn’t.

Herasymchuk discusses her family who did not leave the country.

“Yes I do have family members back in Ukraine, my sister, mom, my dad are there and my Grandma doesn’t want to go,” said Herasymchuk.

According to the New York Times, as of today, roughly 300,000 have been injured with 190,000 deaths in total. Luckily, Herasymchuk’s and Beilov’s families are in areas of the country that are farther from the war zone and their families are currently safe. Despite missing their families, both plan on staying here, for at least some time, until they graduate.

“The economics here, the lot of people, the better study. I would defnitely stay here,” said Bielov.

PhotoscourtesyofWikimediaCommons

Israel-Palestine Confict

The current confict going on in the Gaza Strip started long before the attention that has now been drawn to it. Originally, it had been a part of the Roman Empire. After some time, the Ottoman Empire took hold of the Gaza Strip; however, after some time, it became British property after World War ll, which was then “given” to the Palestinians.

Though Palestine was residing in the Gaza Strip, Britain redrew the border, which favored the land going to Israel. Some groups, such as the Hamas, did not want to comply after Israel attempted to forcibly remove thousands of Palestinians from the Strip.

This is when attention was drawn to the Gaza Strip. There have been many signifcant events since then.

The 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense was, according to AJC Timeline was when, “Israel launched an operation to target terrorists and rocket launchers in Gaza, in response to increased rocket attacks from Gaza into nearby Israeli communities.” Then again on October 7th, 2023 when “Hamas, the Iran-backed terror group controlling Gaza, launched an unprovoked and vicious surprise attack on over 20 Israeli communities.” These were some of the most notable events.

The perspective that DHS takes on the confict is very current. In Mr. Robie’s political class, it is an ongoing dis-

cussion that is talked about as needed.

“We never spend an entire class period on it but will gladly take the time needed to discuss and answer questions that students have. It often is a source of our current event assignment that are given frequently as well” said Robie.

In addition to the ongoing discussion, they began talking about the confict promptly.

“As soon as the confict began, we were talking about it” said Robie.

According to Robie, while consistently mentioning it, the students learning about the confict seem to be involved and interested. It helped many students get a better understanding on the situation, as well.

“For many, they lacked the background knowledge of the history of the event. Once they had a better understanding of the history they were more willing to participate and ask questions” said Robie.

Similarly, student Lucienna Guess agrees that speaking on the confict is crucial to students understanding the world.

“It’s super important for students to understand what’s going on in the world and utilizing school as a way to push that information is super benefcial not only to combat things like misinformation but also just learn about what’s going on” said Guess.

Because it is important to talk about, some different classes consistently mention it. According to student Claire McGinn, certain classes speak on it more.

“For debate it’s probably about two times a week. We use it more for argument purpose and for history classes” said McGinn.

As of October 19, according to CRS Reports more than 1,400 Israelis and 3,785 Palestinians have been killed during the confict.

Unmasking the Truth about Misinformation

Talking about the misinformation on social media and how to acknowledge it.

The internet has grown tremendously over the years creating misinformation that has spread throughout social media.

Most frequently, teenagers use the app Tik Tok to get most of their news.

“Tik Tok is my main news source because it is the app I use the most daily,” junior Sydney Moore said.

According to CNN, every 10 videos on Tik Tok there is a video that states misinformation.

The CNN study “analyzed 540 TikTok results and found that 105 videos, or 19.4%” contain misinformation (CNN News).

These videos are often edited to make them look real. For example, the creators could caption a video of a little girl crying as “child abuse,” when in reality she accidentally dropped her ice cream cone. If the video doesn’t show the part of her dropping it, then the viewers will think the caption is real.

One way to fact check Tik Tok videos is by searching up the topic on other sources like CNN or FactCheck.org. It is important that people are fact checking what they see on Tik Tok to stop the spread of misinfor- mation.

Anoth- er example of misinforma- tion in America is related to the creation of AI. Lately, students and profession- als have been using Ai technology to write their essays. Most often AI is inaccurate because it sometimes gets informa- tion wrong, it is not updated often, and it has been caught

“AI systems are prone to errors due to limitations in understanding context, nuances, and cultural refer- ences” (AIContentfy).

Another website that could potentially be harmful is wikipedia. This website is a volunteer run website. That means that the volunteer’s could not know anything about the topic, but are forced to write it because no one else will. Wikipedia is a good source to get a general outline on a topic, but not if the reader needs reliable information to further their research.

Additionally, with technology advancements individuals are now able to edit photos very easily. This could cause problems if people are able to alter photos to tell a different story.

Therefore, being able to identify misinformation in a variety of formats is important. One way to identify misinformation is by looking it up with fact checking websites. Also, researching the author to double check their background will tell the readers if they are a credible source. Lastly, if there are supporting sources linked, then click on them and see if they actually correspond to the article.

All in all, it is important to know how to identify misinformation because technology is growing every day and so is the misinformation. If you are not a critical consumer of information, you could easily fall prey to fake news.

What’s Behind the Can?: The Buzz of Celsius

Energy Drinks: What do people really know about them? This story uncovers the truth about the nutrition facts on a popular energy drink called Celsius.

Celsius and many other energy drinks claim to help athletes keep endurance during their workouts and athletic events.

While this is true, the athletes would overall experience more health problems, more headaches, and more mental problems due to the ingredients in energy drinks.

How often do DHS students drink energy drinks?

15%

12%

25%

48% Everyday 3 times a week 1 time a week

None

If people drink more than 400 mg of caffeine a day, then they will eventually produce kidney stones, experience headaches, and other health problems.

Gurana is used in energy drinks to provide the caffeine fx. The number one symptom of Gurana is increased anxiety and other mental health issues.

Julie Coover, Agent 3265 Lexington Ave Ste B juliecoover.com

Non-Wildcat Victories

De Soto athletes take on sports outside of the school sports atmosphere.

Sawyer Brace Hockey

While hockey is not available as a high school sport in Kansas, it is still a popular sport enjoyed by many in the midwest. Senior Sawyer Brace hopes to see the sport continue to grow.

“I think it’s defnitely something a lot of people can do and it needs to be more popular,” Brace said.

Brace plays for the varsity Kansas City Stars and has been involved with the club for several years. Through hockey he is able to stay active and socialize with

Mason Van Allen Rugby

Senior Mason Van Allen is a part of a long family bloodline of successful rugby players and he has been playing competitively since he was little. Van Allen enjoys the hard-nosed, physical nature of the sport.

“Absolutely, it’s a blast, it’s a lot of contact, if you’re a physical person it’s a lot of fun,” Van Allen.

Rugby is growing rapidly in the United States because of the increase of opportunities to play the sport. Outside of the physical benefts, Van Allen has had

new people he wouldn’t meet in a school sport.

“It’s good for my health, it keeps me active, and it helps me stay in touch with a different part of the community,” Brace said.

While playing hockey, Brace has been able to travel and learn many new skills. Although hockey is not a school sport, Brace’s time playing this sport has been well worth it.

Although gymnastics is not available as a sport at DHS, junior Peyton Speciale has found it to be her passion. Speciale enjoys the family aspect of gymnastics at her Pinnacle.

“I chose it because I found a love and a home at my gym,” Speciale said.

Speciale plans to continue her gymnastics career in college, but is undecided on what college to attend. For now, she reaps the physical benefts of the sport.

Peyton Speciale Gymnastics

“It makes you have good endurance,” Speciale said. “And your strength over all, it’s made me a lot stronger and helped my form in weights.”

Despite occasionally missing class time for competitions and lack of Wildcat team, Speciale has found a passion for the sport. She has enjoyed her time competing in gymnastics and will continue to compete at the next level in the coming years.

a chance to be a team captain and learn many life skills from the opportunity.

“Personally, it’s helped me become a better person, I’ve had the opportunity to captain a team and be a leader,” Van Allen said.

The next step for Van Allen is to continue his career at Kansas State University and possibly look at the professional level past that. Although rugby is not available at DHS, Van Allen has been fully committed to the sport and has a bright future ahead.

The Game Changers

Football Baseball

Our managers are one of the most important parts of our De Soto Wildcat sports teams. They contribute more than most people know, coaches and players are very thankful to have them a part of their various teams.

Senior Maite Foss is a football manager, she has been doing it since freshman year and has loved it ever since, Foss has been one of the key members of the football team helping out with all sorts of things from big to small.

“As a football manager I go to practice everyday and set out equipment for each of the coaches, I give out water to all of the players on break,” Foss said.

Foss has also grown accustomed to being “Ball Girl” getting the ball for refs and players during the game. Foss’ efforts as a football manager was greatly appreciated by many as a part of their successful program.

The football manager has another great manager, senior Peri Schmidt. She has been with the football team for 4 years and is some of the coaches favorite. She has been around football her whole life and helping out.

“With football I have quite a bit of responsibility, I work with athletic trainer Kara, I coordinate logistics for coach king and do just about everything except coach,” Schmidt said.

She is a great help to the Football team and Coach King goes out to call her and Schmidt out by name to recognize the work they do for the team.

“They do a ton for us and we do not run effectively without our managers here,” King said.

With all the efforts it takes to have a successful football program, the managers are defnitely involved in the success.

Our football managers are great but they are not the only ones making an impact on Wildcat sports. All of our sports are important, but juniors Reaghan Sabo and Brooke Wagner are crucial for the success of the baseball team.

Sabo has expressed her love for baseball for a long time and it shows. She does all sorts of things like keeping track of stats.

“I love sports including baseball and my friends were doing it so I decided to do it too,” Sabo said.

Brooke also plays an important role in assisting the baseball team. However, her role is more heavily involved with building the family aspect with the coaches and players.

“I defnitely bring the jokes and the best personality,” Wagner said. “Fun bond and I get to have a second family.”

Wagner’s job is very important to assist with head coach Joel Thaemert’s lineups and rosters for big games. The stats and data she collects is later used in Thaemert’s decision making process.

“Stats and so Thaemert knows what he has to do when he is making a lineup for the next games,” Wagner said.

It’s very good to see all the managers and players getting along so well and becoming a big family with the team. As the Wildcat baseball team seeks back to back state championship appearances, these managers will be a necessity along the way.

Senior Maite Foss watches the football game while waiting to fulfll her role as the “ball boy”.

Photo by: Maria Niño-Elliot.

Former manager Ella Torney and junior manager Reaghan Sabo pose for a picture before a state tournament game on May 23, 2023. The Wildcats would go on to beat the Saint Thomas Aquinas Saints 12-2 to advance to the state championship game. Photo by: Brooke Wagner.

Behind the Scenes

How managers contribute to Wildcat sports teams on and of the feld.

Wrestling Soccer

The wrestling team requires several hard working managers in order to thrive and succeed the way they do. Seniors Maria Niño-Elliot and Lauren Owens fll this role of assisting head coach Javier Vieyra and the wrestlers.

Niño-Elliot’s contributions go on and off the mat. She helps keep the wrestlers various equipment and necessities organized in their storage space.

“We make sure they have all their gear for every meet and every practice.

Anything that they need we make sure they have it,” Niño Elliot said.

Ever since joining the team freshman year, Owens has enjoyed being a part of the program.

“My freshman year I decided to manage because my brother was on the team but by the end of the season I really enjoyed the time I got to spend at meets,” Owens said.

Their success is supported by the special bond the wrestling managers have with each other. Around and away from wrestling, Owens and Niño-Elliot are very close friends.

“The managers are all really close, we’re all still friends outside, so we’re all pretty connected in that way with just being friends outside of the season,” Niño-Elliot said.

Their experience as wrestling managers adds to their beneft on the team. Coach Vieyra and the wrestling team are thankful for the dedication to the team.

Despite not making the soccer team as a player, freshman Sam Robinson still contributes to the team in any way he can as a manager. He is recognized by the team as one of the most dedicated managers they have.

Robinson has a very practical contribution to the team as he is always working on anything the coaches want him too.

“I have to fll up the waters, I have to go get a bunch of balls that were kicked over the net,” Robinson said. “ I have to help out the coaches with anything that they ask me too.”

However, Robinson’s biggest contribution is the energy he brings to the team. He never fails to get the team ready to play a game, or push themselves in practice.

“I bring great energy to the team because I know everyone there and they know me well,” Robinson said.

This energy comes from his pure love for soccer. Robinson is willing to do whatever it takes to be a part of the soccer team. Even if that means simply being a manager rather than a player.

“Well I love soccer and I tried out and I didn’t make it. I wanted to be part of the team so I decided to be a manager,” Robinson said.

Robinson will continue to be a big part of the DHS soccer team in one way or the other. For now, it is safe to say that he assisted the team during their deep postseason run.

Senior manager Lauren Owens records flm of a wrestling match for the wrestlers to review later and learn from their mistakes and successes.

Photo by: Maria Niño-Elliot

The Wildcat Soccer team prepares for the Regional Championship game against Washington. They would go on to win 3-2 off of a last second goal.

Photo by: Gracie Smith.

Painting the Way

The DHS Art Club looks towards growth in the new year

One of the many activities De Soto High School offers is Art Club, sponsored by Mrs. Mikendra Gotham. Students throughout many grade levels join together to express themselves artistically during seminar or after school.

Sophomore Gracyn Speck touches on what drew her to join this club.

“I just wanted time that I could just do art for fun by myself,” Speck said.

Art club gives students the ability to have a set time outside of art class to create art for enjoyment and relaxation.

Mrs. Gotham believes this creative outlet allows people to unwind.

“I think art gives people a safe place to be creative with their minds and their hands. And then doing so helps [them] decompress,” Gotham said.

While fostering a stress-free environment, Art Club also creates a space where creative individuals can interact and uplift one another.

Gotham appreciates that artists can use this time to collaborate.

“This club comes and really enjoys being with each other. It is a great community of friends. So people just use it as a place to fnd a sense of safety and recharge,” Gotham said.

Having a camaraderie of artists gives members a feeling of belonging and the ability to improve their skills.

Freshman Jayden Gomez has learned about the artistic process through working with her peers.

“They’ve helped me realize that mistakes are okay,” Gomez said.

However, the art club has not only given its members wisdom in regards to art, it teaches them lessons that they can apply to their regular day-to-day life.

Gracyn Speck fnds membership to be helpful when it comes to her life outside

of Art Club.

“It defnitely helps me get a creative view on things and how to fx problems creatively,” Speck said.

Jayden Gomez adds that art helps improve her outlook on life.

“Art is beautiful obviously, and so life is beautiful in a way. I think that living, nature, and life in general is just art. And its helped me see a brighter side of things,” Gomez said.

Overall, for the more artistic students of De Soto High School, Art Club is a great opportunity to get involved with the school, express themselves, and make new friends along the way.

Mrs. Gotham would like to see art club continue to grow.

“All are welcome. You do not have to be enrolled in an art class to be in art club. You don’t have to feel like you’re a fantastic artist to be in art club. You’re coming and you’re experimenting with art supplies while also hanging out in community with friends,” Gotham said.

If you are interested in joining contact sponsor Mikendra Gotham at mgotham@ usd232.org, or see her in Room 309.

Members of Art Club attend a meeting.

Photo by Sadie Clarke

The set for the fall musical, The Addams Family features ancestor’s gravestones created by Art Club.

Photo by Maria Nino

Behind the Curtain: DHS Theater

Behind the curtain is where the magic happens.

Behind the curtains of De Soto High School’s fabulous productions are some very integral members of any theater production. Te backstage crew of DHS’s theater productions work tirelessly to make sure everything fows smoothly come show time. But what drives this crew to backstage work instead of being in the spotlight?

Working backstage involves a multitude of diferent elements. Freshman Sophia Feyerabend describes that work can include anything from making sets to doing some of the heavy lifing.

“I like being really creative so before the show starts you get to make the set…I like working with my hands, painting, and building,” Feyerabend said.

While working backstage is fun and incredibly rewarding it can come with its own set of challenges. Tese challenges can be stressful while working in the fastpaced environment of backstage work.

“When you are managing you are basically crisis management. So you are constantly dealing with any issues that come up,” Mater said.

Even though backstage work can be difcult at moments, the members of this crew wouldn’t give it up for anything and are dedicated to making sure that everything runs smoothly on show night.

An unheard but not unseen integral part of all theater productions is the costume and makeup department. While the members of this department aren’t seen on stage, the tireless work they put into their craf can clearly be seen on the stage.

Te decision to join costume and makeup came pretty easy for sophomore Alexis Paterson, given that she has enjoyed designing her whole life.

“When I was growing up I always loved fashion and doing makeup on my mom,” Paterson said.

Te environment created and the work done by this department is essential to a smooth show. However, Senior Peyton McFarland fnds that there can be some challenges to this line of work.

“[A challenge can be] When the makeup doesn’t want to apply the right way,” McFarland said.

Te work done by makeup and costume is essential to the success of theater productions. Tis department’s tireless work shows just how dedicated they are to making sure the production runs smoothly.

Te most visible and largest group of people that make up productions are actors. Each actor, no matter their part, is essential to the fnal product of the production.

Many actors, like sophomore Savannah Hendry, fnd that the bonds and experiences created while on set are one of the draws to theater.

“I have had a lot of new things to try and I have defnitely formed new relationships while being Wednesday,” Hendry said.

Teater allows all to broaden their horizons and gives the actors a unique ability to afect the people in their audience.

“[My favorite thing about theater is] making an impact on others…a performance can go a long way,” Protho said.

All these aspects of theater combined show that being a part of something bigger can truly enrich someone’s life and the experiences they have.

The Beineke family discuss before entering the Addams mansion

PhotobyJuliaNeal

Uncle Fester (Linden Tuttle) performs his solo to the ancestors.

PhotobyJuliaNeal

The Addams family react to Alice Beineke (Rose Rulifson) fainting.

PhotobyJuliaNeal

PhotobyJuliaNeal

PhotobyJuliaNeal

Actors pose as their designated ancestor. Photo byMariaNino-Eliiot

Gomez Addams (Brodie Breckenridge) shows Mal Beineke (Logan Fixen) around the Addams mansion

Grandma (Alayna Marovec) displays her array of potions to Pugsley Addams (Renee Mitchell).

Thriving Thespians: DHS Theater

An inside look on what the large audiences might not see...

We are all aware of the major productions put on in our new Performing Arts Center–the large shows that include bright lights, elaborate sets, and eye-catching costumes. Despite the broad nature of these performances, more subtle ones take place within the shadows of DHS theater. Productions by the top acting class Repertory Teater, festivals for the Kansas Tespian Society, and senior shows are all smaller, yet equally important components of De Soto High School theater. Te actors, crew, and directors of these shows put a substantial amount of efort into making their performances the best they can be.

Once a year, students and thespians involved in Repertory Teater or Tespian Society have the option to attend a festival put on by the Kansas Tespian Society called Tes-Con. One of the students attending this year’s TesCon is senior Brodie Breckenridge. His love for directing is illustrated through the performance he is taking to the festival, an emotionally moving one-act called “Tracks.”

“‘Tracks’ is a show that I read towards the end of my junior year…I was told to pick a show and I picked it in a week. I read the show and I fell in love with it instantly,” Breckenridge said. “ Te show is about self-discovery and fnding out that you don’t always have to limit yourself…It’s about a bunch of people fnding out that they’re dead in a subway station and coming to grips with the fact that this is what life has given them and they’ve kind of got to eat it.”

Teater is a part of life that means a lot to Breckenridge and all of the students involved in productions put on by the school. Junior Kyla Jacobs, who played the role of the Homeless Girl in “Tracks,” said the play is a story that she takes great pride in.

“I just want them [the audience] to see hard work,” Jacobs said. “I feel like the theater program gets recognition, but I think people don’t realize how much work is put into shows and how much time outside of class we also put in.”

Most of the students involved in theaterrelated activities at DHS have been pursuing it for most of their lives and see it as a leading factor of their success in other areas. Breckenridge elaborated on how his theater experience has helped him with the area of directing.

“One of the frst shows I ever did was a really serious show where I played a drunk middle-aged man,” Breckenridge said. “Something about playing a character you can’t truly relate to can really help you become a better actor…”

Not only does theater help expand one’s understanding within other productions, but it can also aid with opening up a whole new world of possibility. Jacobs explains how theater, and “Tracks” specifcally, has infuenced her life as a whole.

“Tis production afected me a lot last year whenever we did it for the very frst time,” Jacobs said. “I think it made me think of things in a new perspective…I think it just kind of helps me grow as a person, in theater and outside of theater, too.”

Te blood, sweat, and tears that are put into even the smallest of productions are certainly put towards a good cause, as these shows not only afect the viewers, but the actors and crew involved as well. Teater is a very signifcant element of life to these thespians, and their hard work is nothing short of emotionally evident within their performances. Although the bigger productions may have the larger crowds, the smaller shows have just as much heart and soul presented from all those involved.

Kyla Jacobs rehearses as the Homeless Girl for her performance in “Tracks” on Dec. 7. Photo by Lucy Brandmeyer

Student director Brodie Breckenridge takes notes in his script for “Tracks.” PhotobyLucyBrandmeyer

Students in Rep Theater prepare for their performance at Thes-Con. PhotobyLucy Brandmeyer

Swea Bonnstetter and Alayna Marovec practice for “Tracks” in class on Dec. 7. PhotobyLucy Brandmeyer

Taylor Swift

It would be diffcult to fnd an American teenager at this point who is unaware of Taylor Swift. Her Eras Tour sold out within minutes in November of 2022, making global headlines, with tickets skyrocketing to prices of more than $20,000. Additionally, with A-list celebrities such as Selena Gomez among the list of attendees, trading friendship bracelets with fans, it’s hard to not hear about her. Nobody, except for possibly Beyoncé, could claim the fan following that is as loyal and devoted as Taylor Swift. But why does she garner such loyalty and how did she get to where she is today?

Taylor Swift, born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 1989, originally started her musical career in Nashville, Tennessee, where she began producing and releasing albums with Big Machine Records. With Big Machine, Swift released 6 albums spanning multiple genres, originally starting out with country before making a shift to pop.

After the release of her 6th studio album titled “Reputation,” she signed a new contract with Republic Records, where she has released 4 new albums and 4 rerecordings of her previous albums as well.

Over the years, Swift has gained a massive following, with 278 million followers on Instagram and 94.9 million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter. Her fan base, deemed “Swifties”,

connect to her music in a multitude of ways. One heavily praised part of Swift’s music is her songwriting. Avid Swiftie and Junior Mishayla Guile described what makes her music so appealing.

“If you really listen to the lyrics, they’re amazing,” Guile said. “For example, in ‘Maroon,’ where she talks about the rushing of blood in her cheeks. The way she goes out of her way to explain things so in detail, plus her music, is amazing.”

Another Swiftie, Junior Swea Bonnstetter shares her thoughts on Swift’s songwriting talent.

“I just think she’s really good at storytelling,” Bonnstetter said. “A lot of people think her music is just shallow pop, but it’s like, ‘You clearly haven’t gotten deep in [her music.]’”

The rerecordings of her music have also been heavily praised. Swift originally began rerecording her albums in an effort to reclaim her old music after they were sold without her consent.

“I think it’s really great that she has the opportunity to have the right to her own music,” Bonnstetter said. “I actually do have the CD of [‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’].”

Most recently, Swift has embarked on a global tour spanning 151 dates and 5 continents. “The Eras Tour” has broken numerous records, including becoming the frst tour expected to gross over $1 billion, making Swift the frst musician to become a billionaire. When tickets for her

tour originally went on sale, Ticketmaster broke for many and blame was pushed on Swift and Ticketmaster. However, some feel like Swift shouldn’t be blamed for the fasco.

“I don’t think it’s her fault that it broke,” Bonnstetter said. “Ticketmaster doesn’t work for a lot of places and it makes it hard to want to buy tickets when you know you have the possibility of waiting all that time and then getting kicked out.”

Even though some people, such as Bonnstetter, weren’t able to get tickets, others were and described it as the best event of the century.

“It was my favorite two nights of my life,” Guile said. “I had gotten tickets for Christmas, so I made so many bracelets. ‘Speak Now’ came out the night before I went, so it was that anticipation of waiting.”

The Eras Tour has also been critically acclaimed by numerous news outlets for Swift’s three-hour-long performance, with almost little to no breaks in between sets that take concertgoers on a musical journey throughout her discography.

“The energy was really good,” Guile said. “It was like a community of people who were all invested in the same thing, which was super refreshing to have people who care about the same thing you do.”

Despite the hardships Swift has faced throughout

her career, she has persisted and continues to make music that fans here at DHS and globally are all able to love and enjoy.

1.3 Million Albums Sold of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)”

111 Guinness World ReGlobal Top Artist on Spotify & Apple Music

First Artist to Occupy Entire Top 10 of the BB100

The Rizz: Original Music by Maya

A look into Maya Rajapaske’s new songs released on Spotify

Inspiration can strike at any moment, so Maya Rajapakse always has her Notes app at the ready to jot down lyrics and melodies as they come to her. But when it’s time to get serious, Rajapakse heads to her room where the real work begins. Sitting at her colossal desk, humming and thinking, she hits record and starts producing.

Maya started writing lyrics the summer before her freshman year, but sophomore year is when everything started to come together. The production quality of Rajapakse’s music increased signifcantly after she purchased a Mac and the software, FL Studio, a digital audio workstation.

“I made pure garbage until sophomore year when I started always making something decent when I tried to.”

Music has always been an important part of Rajapakse’s life; as a kid she took piano lessons. Once she started experimenting with writing, it became a coping mechanism. If she was not able to write songs, it would be extra challenging to process big emotions.

Maya Rajapakse’s song “The Rizz,” is inspired by a dear friend and is out on Spotify.

“I had a friend who liked this one guy, and my friend was very nervous to talk to him and wanted to make a move and wanted to confess but also didn’t,” Rajapakse’s said.

Rajapakse's friend was super nervous as they were going to hang out at some point and asked what she should do.

“So I didn't give the best advice to my friend, but while they were at the event together, I sat in my room and stuck with my piano, playing chords and singing how I would give advice if I really was just like, a shoot your shot kind of person.”

“So, the advice is ‘Don’t forget the rizz. You're working up to this, don't

want you to miss the moment because you're scared to act.’ It's basically a song about being a wingman and encouraging your more nervous friend to actually do something about their feelings.” Rajapakse says.

Some artists prefer performing their music, while others prefer the writing process. Rajapakse's favorite part is production.“I like the creative elements, I like the layering, that's my favorite part.”

For artists, support comes frst and foremost. Support gives a sense of connection and is like having a personal cheer squad.

. Throughout Maya’s process, she has had non-stop support from some true friends.

“Kylee Hunter comes frst. I specifcally remember being at a Taylor Swift concert with her and her telling me that she was gonna see me on that stage one day, and that was huge and I’d like to thank Bree Avery, um for always streaming ‘The Rizz.’

Cael Province helped Rajapakse put the posters around the school and referenced the lyrics all the time. But it was a small suggestion Province made that had the biggest impact.

“He also suggested that I change the ending of the song and that's what I ended up doing! When I almost decided to redo the vocals for like the ffth time, he told me, ‘Maya listen to me, you're done.’ That was a week before the release date too!”

Rajapakse’s boyfriend has also been a big source of support.

“I'd like to thank my boyfriend for checking in with me about how many listeners and how like how my Spotify’s doing and he’ll send me screenshots of it before I've even gone to check, and that means a lot.”

There have been many more support-

ers that Rajapakse wants to thank as well.

“When strangers, people I don't even know, take a second to tell me that they like it, that's huge. It’s, it’s very meaningful, especially when it’s someone who like doesn’t even know who I am. When they feel the need to express their appreciation, it gives me tears in my eyes, so I love that.”

Maya wants the best for her song “The Rizz” and would love to have 1,000 plays; as of now, she stands at 600 plays on Spotify.

Rajapakse wants to continue on this path and put out new music every few months. She plans to get out her next single on December frst.

“I need to be done with it in the next couple of weeks so I can get it sent out to the Spotify’s and whatnot,” Rajapakse said.

3

During the holiday seasons there is a lot of controversy about when it is appropriate to decorate for Christmas and listen to Christmas music.

Some people argue that you need to wait till December, others argue afer Tanksgiving, and a few even argue before Tanksgiving or even Halloween is appropriate.

Decorating for Christmas, putting up the tree and lights and sometimes even infatables outside, is a big part of celebrating Christmas for most people.

Out of 135 students, 81 said it is acceptable to decorate afer Tanksgiving, 31 said it is acceptable to decorate before Tanksgiving, and 19 said it’s acceptable in December.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Along with decorating for the holidays, many families and friends have created traditions over the years. Some traditions are common, with most families participating, but there are some special traditions that are less common. Freshman Eion Spatz has a very unique tradition.

“Whoever wakes up frst is quiet and makes cofee, and whoever gets up last gets thrown [outside] for fve minutes,” said Spatz. Tis tradition is very special, especially when it has snowed, and Spatz’s family has been doing this for about twelve years.

Although there are many ways to celebrate the holidays, junior Lau ralyn De León, celebrates a

Mexican tradition called Posadas with her family.

“A few weeks before [Christmas] you gather with family and you have a candle and you pray and sing,” said De León.

Tis tradition is widely celebrated throughout Mexico and the United States to remember Mary and Joseph’s journey from Bethlehem to Nazareth.

De León celebrates Christmas day with her family and gifs, although De León believes that Christmas is not about presents, it is about family.

No matter when or how you choose to celebrate Christmas, the holidays are about spending time with the

When do you listen to Christmas Music?

When do you decorate?

Which colored Christmas Lights do you like best?

TOP THINGS ON CHRISTMAS LISTS

1 Clothes

Money

Shoes

Books

Car

NAVIGATING THE

In recent years, thrifting has become a huge hit all over the nation.

LOCAL NATION WIDE ONLINE

Local thrifting has experienced a signifcant upswing, proving to be benefcial to the communities they serve. As a catalyst for community improvement, it has provided support to the local economy.

In instances such as being non-proft, or doing discounts depending on the week day (i.e senior discounts and or holiday sales) organizations such as these are always providing donations.

For example, all local Goodwills will donate 90¢ of every dollar back to causes they stand for, such as placement services, community programs, and support people with disabilities who are challenged with fnding employment.

Junior, Sara Sarazov explains how thrifting is like a gambling addiction that produces “saratonin.”

“Whenever I donate my clothes I get a 20% coupon and that makes me feel like I can go on a shopping spree,” Sarazov said.

This instance of thrift stores giving coupons to their donors is essential. As an individual gives something to beneft others, the store will provide something back. Thrifting is a cycle of giving.

Thrifting has demonstrated several impacts on a national scale. Economically and environmentally, second-hand clothing stores have been quite benefcial.

In both positive and negative ways, thrifting has impacted the economy. Multiple stores nationwide, such as City Thrift, are non-proft which allows them to donate more money; however, thrift stores have risen in price.

Senior, Charlie Haake who dabbles in thrifting explains his thoughts on the rise of prices.

“It’s fun to go thrifting at times, but

The trends of social media have shaped consumer culture,and in this case, thrifting has been easier than ever. In recent years, the rise of online shopping such as DePop, Mercari, and ThredUp have been essential to some people shaping the way of engagement in thrifting.

When shopping on DePop, reviews

the prices are out of control. That's why I go to the bins these days rather than a thrift store, because they are cheaper and go by the pound,” Haake said.

Despite price increases, environmentally there is always good in thrifting. Thrifting reduces waste, and is able to provide a second chance to clothing. Additionally it increases the conservation of resources, and minimizes the pollution of continuing fast fashion

have been varied, both positive and negative.

Junior Alayna Marovec is both critical and supportive of online resales.

“The upside of DePop has been that it has been able to preserve a collection for upscale items, however, some people can get those vintage items at a cheaper price. Usually those Depop sellers are just trying to charge more and make money,” Marovec said.

Marovec has a lot of opinions about online thrifting.

“I feel like it defeats the culture of thrifting, but there are some good positives because you can fnd specifc items you are wanting,” Marovec said.

In many ways, there is still some reform for the culture of online thrifting.

Pride explores the reasons onto why the thrifting has become so popuar.

The world of thrifting consists of hidden gems that can be discovered. In the student body of De Soto High school, many students like to thrift. Senior Sophia Lucas has been thrifting for her entire life.

PANDEMIC THREADS OF THRIFITNG

In recent years, the trending of thrifting has signifcantly increased, and in 2023 second-hand shopping has been seen as ideal.

While the concept of thrifting has been a part of consumer culture for years, the COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the surge in resale market. California News indicates that there will be a $28 billion to $64 billion increase in the next fve years.

Infuencer cultures on social media have also talked about the trends of thrifting. Since the rise of YouTube star, Emma Chamberlain in 2018, numerous videos about her thrift hauls and fnds have been uploaded to her channel.

Thrifting has not died down since the end of the pandemic.

Senior Branden Burgos explains how they’ve been thrifting since the pandemic, and got inspired by social media.

“Social media like Pinterest and Tik Tok infuenced my style of clothing, which I can usually fnd from items from thrifting,” said Burgos.

Thrifting has become a lasting trend, ushering in a new new-found hobby for many novice thrifters including refurbishing, making home projects, and notably, providing a practical and affordable solution to satisfy one's shopping needs.

“Thrifting has many options for trying new things. I come out of the store with new shirts that I need to work in with my style.” Lucas said.

When clothing styles do not align with her comfort level, Lucas tends to alter clothes by sewing.

“I’ve taken multiple skinny jeans and have turned them into fared jeans, as well as that I have altered many dresses. It’s so much cheaper than taking it to a seamstress,” Lucas said.

However, the trend in thrifting also includes teachers as well. Science teacher and golf coach, Mr. Scott Sharp has had a passion for thrifting for years.

“Thrifting is like a game … cheap clothes, and it’s fun to fnd things that are really high quality.” said Mr. Scott Sharp.

Mr. Scott Sharp can often be seen strutting his thrift fnds down the hallway including his iconic colorful pants.

The Green

Fostering Inclusivity In every game

Paving paths for better involvement

With the new edition of the organizations like the Wildcat Way and the Wildside our attendance and participation at games and other school events has skyrocketed.

“I think it’s a really good group because it connects the students and makes for a good student section atmosphere,” senior Grace Burger said.

Although we have had many more students come out to support their peers, there are still some who feel there are ways De Soto’s involvement could improve. Senior Sophia Lucas gave her opinion on having to miss multiple sporting events.

“Personally I work so it makes it really diffcult to be as involved in the activities as some of my peers,” said Lucas.

When Senior Andrew Powers was asked about the attendance at his soccer games this year he stated that on average you would see eight people in the student section at any given game. Senior Jeremy Quintanilla was asked the same question and his opinion differed.

“I would say a decent amount of people come to watch, especially the big games,” Quintanilla said.

Another sport that is trying to get their attendance rate up is volleyball. Sophomore Peyton Gab gave her opinion on the student involvement in the gym during her games.

“The student section has done one chant the whole volleyball season, it was during our game against Mill Valley. I honestly wish they did it more, we love having the energy in the gym,” Gab said.

Student athletes are not the only ones noticing the disparity between the sports. Cross Country and Track coach

Jack Sachse has noticed the difference in attention given to other sports going on at the same time as the ones he coaches.

“It is a little more challenging for Cross Country because typically our one and only home meet is in the morning so high schoolers simply are not going to attend a football game on Friday night then wake up the next day to watch a meet at eight or ten in the morning,” said Sachse

Many sports are trying to combat the lack of attendance by promoting events, whether it be games, community service, or fundraisers.

One example is all the social media surrounding our sports. Pages like Wild cat Takedown, our wrestling Instagram, posts for every varsity meet day and via social media allowing the community to get to know the team by posting anytime the team has an outing, results from meets, and a few more fun posts here and there.

While many teams are going the social media route many are simply leaving it in the hands of the students. Hoping that their athletes will do the hard job of getting the word out and relying on their friends to come and support them and their sport.

Coach Sachse admits that he has not really thought about a better way to market the team but hopes to improve in the spring.

is still much to improve on. The involvement around the more well known sports has been steady now its time to focus on

“For track we could do a better job marketing ourselves. Our home meet is at the end of April, the weather will be nice and maybe we could do an incentive program where if you are a De Soto student and come to meet you a free hot dog or something,” said Sachse.

While the Wildside has brought more light to the sports around De Soto there

WHAT TYPE OF SOUP ARE YOU BASED ON WINTER ACTIVITIES?

1. The weekend has started and there is snow everywhere! What are you doing frst?

MOSTLY C? YOU ARE ... EGG DROP SOUP

You always love to live in the moment and live your life to the fullest potential. You fnd happiness in anything, and overall just have a nurturing, down to earth personality. You cherish a lot of things

c a

A lazy day, whatever vibes I wake up with, I’ll act on it.

b Sleeping in just a tiny bit more, and then having plans to watch my favorite shows, movies, games, etc.

Something fun and spontaneous. Whether it be ice skating, sledding, or chilling in a cofee shop.

2. You’re feeling the Christmas spirit, what are you watching?

MOSTLY B? YOU ARE ... CHICKEN NOODLE

c a

Either Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Te Polar Express. Tey’re classics.

b Anything that is more on the comedic side such as Elf or Home Alone.

Something debatable... Tings like Die Hard, Te Harry Potter Series or Little Women.

3.Out of these iconic festive individuals, who is your favorite?

Grinch & Max... Tey’re the most iconic Christmas duo.

You have a lot of high energy and are always looking out for the next adventure. You’re passionate about a lot of things, and you’re not afraid to express your love for things. People can be intimidated by you, but you always around you, and have the tendency to care for your friends more than yourself sometimes.

have the best in mind for others. You thrive on challenges, and will always show a fearless attitude towards anything.

b Te Peanut Gang! Tey resonate with my friend group.

c a Mariah Carey! ITT’SSS TIMMEEEEE!

4. After picking your movie of choice, whats your go to snack and holiday beverage?

c a Something simple and traditional, like eggnog and a sweet treat.

b Probably a super festive hot chocolate, marshmallows and whip cream. Balance it out with a salty snack. A unique drink that I haven’t had in a while, paired with anything that feels right.

MOSTLY A? YOU ARE ...

POTATO SOUP

You’re comparable to a brown cuddly teddy bear. You embody a cozy, quiet and comforting sense that everyone loves. You can chat for hours, but you also need to keep to yourself at times. You can always sit together in comfortable silence with someone.

Finals Memes

SRO Oficer

Homework, Finals, and Projects

My friends and I planning to run away before fnals

Teachers

Students

Me every day at Cat’s

Corner:

When the fnals calculator says I need a 125 % on the fnal to pass

Me the entire fnals week after studying for 20 min:

Me after using photomath on the entire study guide