December 2021 by Eagle's View

EAGLE’S VIEW

Liberty North High School

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Volume 12 Issue 2

Table of Contents

NEWS 4 Breaking News

EAGLE’S LIFE 6 Edge vs NNbD 8 Market Day

CULTURE 10 Concerts and Holiday Traditions 12 Holiday Rewind and DIY Gifts

INDEPTH 14 Students deal with the Employee Shortages

SPOTLIGHT 20 Hard-working Staff Spotlight

OPINION 24 Should ASL be taught as a Class 25 Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie

SPORTS 26 Football Season 28 Basketball and Wrestling 30 Swim and Winterguard

FUN & GAMES 32 Games and Puzzles

Table of Contents

from LETTER the EDITOR H

ello Eagles! I’m so happy we’ve been able to put out our second issue of the 21-22 Eagle’s View! We have been working hard to get this out with a large variety of stories that are relevant to those here at Liberty North. As we get to the end of the first semester, hopefully everyone has adjusted to the new schedule and bells as well as found a worklife balance. Winter weather has started to appear and I couldn’t be happier! We’ve seen our first small snowfall and I hope we’ll see more snow this year. This issue we have decided to cover something that impacts many students here: students being overworked at their jobs and many places having employee shortages. The employee shortage has affected many businesses since COVID-19 and now these places may not be able to serve customers like with a full staff but that means places are hiring for jobs. I hope you enjoy reading our second issue and I hope you look forward to the issues we will bring to you next semester! - Morgan Griffin

EV Subscribers Gayle Krieger Kevin Scott Pamela Scott

On the Cover Artist Maddie Hartman designed the cover to represent the difficulties that students face as they try to balance their work, personal, and school lives.

Eagle’s View Staff Editorial Board Ava Henry Sami Binning Ian Toney Morgan Griffin Makena Dickens

Graphic Designer Madelyn Hartman

Designers

Madison Tucker Caitlyn Scott Lyndsey Cooper Ava Wilson Vivian Seley Violet Richards Justin Scott Ava Powers

Reporters

Alison Engelage Laine Kelly Gianna Elizalde Mak Morgan Bryson Prindle Trinity Mueller Kaitlyn Von Gunten Jack Bendure Kate DeGarmo Maia Gaddis Alexis Helms Justice Williams

Photographers Rorey France Brie Green Scott Beeton

Adviser

Jennifer Higgins

News

Breaking NEWS

Omicron Outbreak

he Omicron variant, first discovered in South Africa in mid November, is causing a renewed global worry regarding COVID-19. While cases locally and nationally have been in decline for the past months, this new variant is a cause for concern with some claims that it is highly contagious and resistant to existing vaccines and antibodies, which might be proved by COVID positive cases rising in areas where Omicron was discovered. The World Health Organization continues to conduct research, though it does warn that there “may be an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron.” While it remains unclear just how dangerous this new variant is, WHO urges countries and people both to continue to use and promote precautions such as masks and vaccines to prevent the spread. What is certain, however, is that the variant is spreading. It was seen in the

written by: Ava Henry Netherlands as early as November 19, a whole week earlier than it was thought to be when on Friday November 26, 14 passengers on two flights from South Africa tested positive for the Omicron variant after arrival in the Netherlands. This new mutation of COVID-19 follows the outbreak of the Delta variant earlier this year, which was seen to be more infectious and have an increased transmissibility. Some experts including National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, recommends that people still mask up because “even without knowing about Omicron, because Delta is very much with us.” President Joe Biden raises similar points in his White House briefing on November 29, suggesting Americans get vaccinated and continue to wear masks, but claiming as well that there will be no lockdowns in the future, as Omicron is a “cause for concern- not a cause for panic.”

“The Omicron variant is cause for concern- but not panic,” President Joe Biden said.

photo by: AP Newsroom

News

Chinese Tennis Star Peng Shuai Missing written by: Ian Toney

arly in November, Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai made a lengthy #MeToo post on social media, accusing former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her three years ago. Within 30 minutes, the post had been deleted, and the Chinese government began a lengthy censorship campaign never before seen in any previous #MeToo allegations in the country. Peng herself disappeared from the public eye shortly afterwards, alarming Olympics officials and fans alike. Following international outcry, various videos purportedly showing Peng living her normal life were posted on Twitter by government-controlled media outlets. Despite this, many human rights activists and Olympic officials are unconvinced, due in part to

China’s spotty human rights record. “While it is possible that Peng is well, the history of the Chinese government disappearing people and then making videos of them to prove that they are unharmed when it is, in fact, the opposite, should make us worried about Peng’s safety,” said Maya Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch. Members of the International Olympic Committee were allowed a video call with Peng, after which Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission Emma Terho said she “was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine.” However, many activists are unconvinced, with Wang stating “The IOC call hardly alleviates our concerns for Peng’s well-being or safety.”

photo by: AP Newsroom

Good News for Theaters

written by: Ava Henry

s tickets were released for pre-purchase for Marvel’s new movie “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, theater websites were overloaded with fans, some sites such as AMC even becoming backed up. This could be great news for theaters since movies that could have been block-buster hits in the past year have done worse than expected due COVID. On top of that and many theaters shutting down for months at a time, a large number of movie-watchers recently have elected to stay home and stream new movies instead. But now, “No Way Home” might be heralding the return of theaters, with sales already on their way to the levels of pre-pandemic blockbusters, as well as being predicted to be the biggest money-maker of 2021.

photo by: Ashton Overby

Eagles Life

Micro Schools

written by: Kaitlyn Von Gunten and Alexis Helms

iberty North High School has much to offer including a new learning system, North Nation By Design also known as NNbD. “The North Nation by Design program is an interdisciplinary, project-based approach to school. You can kind of think of it as a ‘school within a school’ since our students are attending their core classes all together with the same group of teachers. Our mission is to ‘Cultivate a community of learners to invest in themselves and society through inclusion, instruction, and innovation.’ So this really means that our program focuses on allowing our students to follow their interests and learn the curriculum through it,” teacher Christopher Becker said. Some might consider that NNbD and regular classes have moderately the same workload. Another factor is how it benefits the students. “The NNbD program allows students to take ownership of their learning since they are learning the class material through projects that they have created or helped design,” Becker said. The average day as an NNbD student is primarily the same as any other student with one big difference. “The difference between NNbD and regular classes is you stay in NNbD you stay in the same area and the same time with the same people,” sophomore Amari Englehart said. Along with NNbD, theres another program called Edge. Edge is a global micro-school located in Liberty High School. It offers project-based, handson learning and encourages students to get

Learning like we’ve never seen before

involved with different problems that are going on and come up with ideas to solve them and make a difference in their communities. Not only is Edge open for students at Liberty High School, it is also available for students at Liberty North. North students who are involved in Edge are provided shuttle transportation to and from Liberty. “In Edge, you attend your classes but it is in a more flexible manner and we do more global activism-based projects. My favorite part of Edge is probably the flexibility and that I am able to have time to work on my work independently but at the same time I can also work on projects and talk with my friends. I also like being able to go to both schools because I get to meet new people and experience new things,” freshman Addison Riemann said. At Edge, students are given the freedom to schedule their classes, have independent work time, and create projects. This can cause a different learning environment and a new way of learning for students involved. “The learning environment is kind of chaotic. Everyone is doing their own thing or working in groups so It’s very interesting. Everyone is working on something different even if it’s the same project focus. I like that we are all working on problems that the real world is experiencing and then trying to solve them,” junior Emily Goeglein said.

“The NNbD program allows students to take ownership of their learning,” teacher Christopher Becker said.

Eagles Life

Edge offers project based learning that focuses on real world problems 4Is located in Eagle’s View at Liberty High School. 4The Students work independently and in groups. 4All students from each grade are in the same space and work together on projects. 4Students have freedom over their learning and are able to work more independently.

4Edge is a new learning option this year

EDGE vs NNBD

NNbd is focused on project based learning with a flexible schedule

4Is located in the upper wing at Liberty North 4The students work in groups and travel from classroom to classroom

together on a flexible schedule

4The different grades have classes at different times and different locations 4Students have more freedom over their learning and can practice time

management

44 separate teachers teach each of the core classes, one for each grade 4Students Work in rotations, giving a students more time for one on one

learning

Eagle’s Life

Classroom Entrepreneurs Students are using the skills they have learned in Youth Entrepreneurs to market food, clothing, and other merchandise.

written by: Ian Toney

or the students in the Youth Entrepreneurs class, November 19 marks an important day in class. Market Day allows these students to sell products to their classmates and obtain valuable experience in marketing and business. “It’s a class where we try to solve problems for profit. That’s really what entrepreneurship is about. We try to do that in an efficient way with foundational values, things like sound judgement and win-win focus, to make sure that we’re being entrepreneurs in the right way and not the wrong way,” Youth Entrepreneurs teacher David Chatlos said. Many of Chatlos’ students had been planning their projects for Market Day even before the official start date, spending multiple class periods brainstorming their ideas. “This is my first year. It is pretty cool, you do new stuff every day. Market Day is what the class is mostly about and what everybody is hyped up for,” senior Mario Martinez said. Martinez decided to sell chicken from Raising Canes for the Market Day, along with his classmates senior Drew Case and senior Tyler Bliss.

“We were going to sell popsicles, but we decided that Cane’s was more marketable and easier to do, as well as able to get us more money. We also had the idea for Sonic slushies, but due to COVID we did not have many options for that,” Martinez said. While there was doubt concerning how well food from Canes could be obtained and distributed conveniently, the group managed to find a solution that proved to work much better than their previous ideas. “At first we didn’t know if Cane’s was going to work, because we were going to do the tailgates, but those do not work because of Covid. We are going to have to individually package everything, but we worked that out and Cane’s said it would be fine,” senior Tyler Bliss said. Mr. Chatlos, the one who has been teaching the class for the past five years, has been pleased with his student’s entrepreneurship and dedication to the project. “They seem to be pretty into it. In fact, they were pretty excited about getting started, and probably wanted to start early. I felt like we were ready, but we’ve been working it out for roughly two weeks now,” Chatlos said.

photos by: Scott Beeton Students prepared for Market Day in Youth Entrepreneurs, a marketing and business class taught by David Chatlos. “It’s a class where we try to solve problems for profit. That’s really what entrepreneurship is about,” Chatlos said.

Eagle’s Life

“In Youth Entrepreneurs, we do a lot of games. We learn how to become little entrepreneurs ourselves and present things we come up with. It is a really nice class, actually. It is very fun and lets you be creative once in a while,” senior Mario Martinez said.

photos by: Scott Beeton

Culture

Fine Arts Festivities Get an inside look at Liberty North’s Fine Arts concerts.

written by: Justice Williams

very year at Liberty North around December it comes time for the annual holiday band concert. The students begin practicing in October and will continue doing so until the day of their performance. “I’d say my favorite part about the holiday concerts is getting to play our festive music on time for the holidays because we start rehearsal in October,” senior Gabe Fransens said. Festive concerts are not exclusive to band. Choir will often sing a mix of traditional and non-traditional songs during the holiday concert, so expect to hear some seasonal favorites. “We’re singing “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey and it’s honestly the most overplayed holiday song around this time of year but it’s nice to already know a piece before we start learning it,” junior Evan Anderson said. The holidays are something almost everyone can enjoy for some reason or another and the orchestra holiday concerts at Liberty North are the perfect way to bring out your holiday spirit. The holidays hold a special place in the hearts of many; Liberty North holiday concerts can be a source of cherished memories for the audience and performers. “My favorite part of the holiday concerts is seeing and playing the familiar music and seeing how it is interpreted into an orchestra,” freshman Andrew Hodges said. All Liberty North holiday concerts will take place in December before winter break. The students performing are working hard to perfect their performance before the concerts take place. Many people enjoy coming to the concerts to support their friends and family, but even if you may not have any connections to choir, band, or orchestra you can still come out to support your fellow Eagles and their passion for music. “Orchestra is a big part of my life and always will be, the holiday concert is where I can really express that love with my friends and family supporting me,” Hodges said. photos by: Brieanna Green

Culture

A Look Into Cultural Customs Explore the traditions and customs of Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Hanukkah.

written by: Maia Gaddis

rom November to January, many families can be seen celebrating different holidays from around the world. During this time, Christmas seems to have overshadowed these other holidays but some festivities like Hanukkah, Diwali, and the Chinese New Year are thriving in various parts of the world. The traditions that many families hold dear have made their way into being culturally significant. Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th of the Hebrew month Kislev. With a holiday that has been around for centuries, new traditions began to blossom with it. One of these is the Menorah. Candles are lit on the Menorah to show universal enlightenment. “When we were growing up, we always made Latkes and a big dinner. wWe’d light the Menorah and say prayers in Hebrew each night. Our family loves decorations so we put stars on windows, streamers on the ceiling, and white and blue around the house since they are the colors of Hanukkah,” sophomore Olivia Brown said. Hanukkah isn’t the only holiday around this time. Diwali is recognized around India, taking place from November 4-6. It’s celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs as they take time to worship God for happiness and success. With this celebration taking place in India, families in America keep the heritage of Diwali alive. “We can’t do fireworks in November, so we do sparklers instead. We give offerings like fruits or sweets that we made to God. God blesses that food and gives it back to us to eat. The temple we go to is pretty far away, so if we’re not busy then we will go to the temple, but usually we just celebrate it at home,” sophomore Sindhu Rao said. Taking place at a later time, the Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 1, 2022. Holiday customs include the color red to represent good fortune and joy. New traditions create environments that are both safe and fun for people of all ages. “People used to make dumplings and put coins in some of them. If you got a coin in your dumplings it was supposed to signify good luck. You don’t see it as often anymore because it can be a choking hazard. Now, my family always gathers together and eats a big meal. The adults give the children red envelopes with money in them to signify good luck for the year,” sophomore Nicole Chen said.

photo by: Olivia Brown

photo by: Sindhu Rao

The Menorah is used in Judism to represent the creation in seven days. Foods, such as

fruits and sweets, are used as offerings to Hindu gods, like Lashkmi and Ganesha.

Culture

Holiday Holiday Rewind Rewind A look back on holiday memories from a time gone by. written by: Trinity Mueller

or some, looking back on elementary school brings back nostalgic memories, but things can change. In high school, there are no longer Christmas parties, Polar Express day, Thanksgiving breakfast and many other celebrations like there were in elementary school. Maybe a rewind of those fun times could bring the holiday spirit back. “I loved making the paper chains at elementary school parties. Every year we’d write out names and a little note. It was a time we all got to connect and be friends instead of being separated,” sophomore Reagan Sledd said. Paper chains are something classes do in elementary school. Everyone in the class who is making them would take a rectangular piece of paper and some would write a little note while others would write the days until winter break. Another thing very popular was traveling. Not everyone travels during the holidays, some stay with their family around them. “I travel every year during the holidays. We either go to Grandview or Wisconsin. I go with my best friend, Maddie, and her family. I’ve always enjoyed going with them, it’s always a blast, ” Sledd said. Snow days have also changed. Students would get excited when the phone rang and the school called to notify them that a snow day was present that morning. Snow days used to be the unexpected day off school. Some would go outside with their friends, others would stay inside with hot cocoa in hand. Now, due to virtual and remote learning, snow days off might be a thing of the past. “I honestly don’t like them. If it’s a snow day, you shouldn’t work, snow used to be

exciting and full of freedom. We would play games, like board games, family games. I’d also go outside with my family and play for at least an hour making snowmen, forts and, sledding,” freshmen Zach Bond said. When a snow day does come, the possibilities of the day are limitless. Things like making a snowman or building a fort. Maybe watch a movie or spend time with family. From playing in the snow to grabbing hot chocolate to warm up from the cold. “On snow days, I like to go snowmobiling with family and friends, just to hang out. If I don’t feel like going outside or I’m done with being outside, I like to curl up and watch movies. Depending on my mood, my favorite movies to watch are Elf, Christmas Story, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Sledd said. Another popular thing was Polar Express day and the parties the day before Winter Break. After recess or specials, coming back to make little snacks or crafts with a movie or some Christmas music in the background before Winter Break was something some of us waited for. But now there’s not as many celebrations as there used to be. “If I could, I would bring back the parties. I really enjoyed making crafts or snacks while a movie was playing in the background. My favorite thing to do during class was making the chains to count down until Winter Break,” Bond said.

Culture

Gnome for the Holidays

DIY your way to gift giving stardom! written by: Madison Tucker

Materials: 2 socks (larger sizes equate a larger gnome), four jingle bells, 1 two pound bag of rice (approximately 5 cups), hot glue gun, three pipe cleaners, wooden ball, rubber band, beard colored felt, scissors, permanent marker graphics by: Maddie Hartman

photos by: Brieanna Green 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Take one sock and fill three fourths of the way with rice (this sock will be your body!) - Make sure the rice is compacted at the base (more compact = a bigger body) Note: my gnome used about 3 cups of rice, but yours could vary depending on sock size

2. 3. 4.

5. 2. 3.

6. 7. 8.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Fasten your “hat” over the “body” base, stuffing the body’s knotted off excess into the hat for structure

10.

Bend the pipe cleaners to your liking within the hat

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

11.

Once you’re satisfied with the body size, section off the sock with a rubber band. Pull the band ightly to keep the rice compressed

Take the beard and place it’s top under the hat’s rim just slightly. Hot glue the top of the beard to the body

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

12.

Using the permanent marker, draw a beard outline on the colored felt - Make sure the beard outline is proportional to the gnome’s body base

Place the wooden ball at the beard’s top middle, wrapping the hat over its top. Hot glue the ball to the body, this will be its nose

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

13.

Cut out your beard outline and place aside

Hot glue the bottom four edges of the hat to the body/beard (where it’s touching)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

14.

Plug in the hot glue gun for later use Tightly twist two of your pipe cleaners together, trying to keep them as straight as possible Wrap your twisted pipe cleaners around the remaining pipe cleaner for reinforcement, while still trying to keep them straightened Place the pipe cleaner twist in the hat designated sock, with one end at the sock’s toe end and the other at the opening

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Hot glue the hat’s inner edge and the wooden ball “nose” together with one dot at the top and one on either side (three in total)

15.

Take three jingle bells and hot glue them to the hat’s tip in a triangle shape

16.

Using your last bell, hot glue it in the middle of the triangle, making a pyramid like shape

17.

Name your gnome and enjoy its company all season long!

“I feel like my job makes me more stressed, because along with school I have clubs and sports that extend into my weekend, so then I have to look at my schedule and try to balance those things and my job at the same time,” junior Camille Parker said.

Indepth

Overworked and Out of Time? Students at Liberty North High School are facing changes in their workplace, lives outside of school, and their mental health due to the ongoing employee shortage, which is a current issue in the United States. written by: Makena Dickens

Before COVID-19 there were more people in the workforce. Now many jobs are low on workers,causing students to work more hours. “I definitely have to work more,” junior Benny Clayton said.

photo by: Rorey France

Indepth

Balancing School Work

With the demands that come with having a job and now along with the employee shortage, students are finding less time to be able to do their schoolwork. Some students are having to work more hours than they are used to, which might be impacting their performance in school. “Most nights we stay until 10:30 closing, which can affect my schedule, because I cannot go home and do homework and I cannot get things done,” junior Camille Parker said. Because of some students having to work later hours, students might have to stay up late at night just to get their work done on time. “I do not balance school and my job. It is really difficult. I work three days a week, and as soon as I get home, I stay up until 2:00 AM doing homework. It is not really balancing, it is just pushing,” sophomore Wade Larison said. With many trying to balance their work and school schedules some find it difficult with how late they end up scheduled. This ultimately can end up decreasing the amount of time a student has to do their schoolwork. “School is always going to take priority so I try to get as much homework as I can done, and if I have too much homework, I just will not go in,” junior Benny Clayton said. If a student can stay on top of their work, and take responsibility for it, the chances of them getting it done and succeeding in school can increase. “You have to be very organized and have a lot of willpower because when you are tired, you do not want to get things done,” sophomore Maddie Steiger said.

Mental Health in the Workplace

Due to the ongoing employee shortage, work environments and the overall mental health of workers has been impacted. Students are having to work more hours, which can cause them to become more stressed, and possibly develop other mental illnesses. “I feel like my job makes me more stressed, because along with school I have clubs and sports that extend into my weekend, so then I have to look at my schedule and try to balance those things and my job at the same time,” junior Camille Parker said. Not only are some students becoming more stressed, some are facing more serious forms of mental strain. With students not being able to focus on their mental health as much, some are experiencing developments of worse mental well-being. “It is so bad. It is so bad all the time. I struggle a lot. My job gives me anxiety, but I have made a lot of friends,” sophomore Lily McRorey said. Even though work can be stressful and anxiety inducing for some, some students have made the best out of their situation. Finding the positives can be difficult, but when someone has a positive outlook, the situation can be shed in a new light. “Having a job allows me to learn responsibilities I need later on in life,” Steiger said.

Indepth

photos by: Rorey France

Working More Hours Because businesses do not have enough workers, students are being asked to work more days of the week. This could cause stress, because if a student knows they might be asked to work more days and more hours, their schedule could be impacted. “My hours have definitely increased. I was working a lot this summer anyways, so I was only going to be working two days a week and now sometimes it is three or four,” sophomore Wade Larison said. Some students are finding themselves being asked to work more hours, which can impact multiple aspects of that student’s life. Students are having to pick up the slack of others who are not currently working. “I definitely have to work more, even on days that I say I am not available, they will put me down on the schedule,” junior Benny Clayton said. With the stress that comes with employees being short and students having to work more hours, some students are finding that a solution is just to quit their job in order to alleviate some of that stress. “I had to quit my other job because on the weekends it was only me and my manager working and we did not get bonuses or anything so it was not worth the struggle,” Clayton said. With students having to work more, some are questioning the number of hours they are working, and if they even should be allowed to work that many hours. “I definitely have to work a lot more hours, I work more than a 15 year old should be working,” sophomore Lily McRorey said.

73.8% of

students work more than eight hours in a week

88.1%

28.4%

students work on the weekend

students do not work opening or closing shifts

*218 students surveyed

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Spotlight

Heather Anderson Receptionist

he first person seen when entering the school is receptionist Heather Anderson. As the receptionist she is one of the faces seen first. “I answer the phones, I help students with questions, parents with questions, I run passes, just whatever I’m needed for. I love being with the students so I think that’s why it is the favorite part of my job,” Anderson said. Receptionists have to have good communication skills and are usually very involved in their work environments, which is no different for our receptionist here at North. “Being nice and knowing how to multitask are what I’ve gotten good at since being here,” Anderson said. Anderson has spent seven years at Liberty North, and naturally, her sons going to the same was a really enjoyable experience for her. “My kids went here and so it was really fun. They’d always come and get their lunch and stuff like that. They’re not here anymore, but I’m still here!” Anderson said.

written by: Gianna Elizalde

Fun Facts

Favorite food: Cheese! Favorite place to eat: Anywhere with a good view! Favorite color: Green, it brings out my eyes.

photo by: Rorey France

Favorite guilty pleasure movie: Anything with Justin Batemen. An interesting fact about you: When I was in college, I had a job as the Kool Aid Man. Favorite hobby: Tennis A show you recently binged: Only Murders in the Building

Spotlight

Rachel Lockwell

Custodian

he custodians at Liberty North High School are always working. They are at school during the day and long after the students are gone. The Head night time Custodian Rachel Lockwood, is often here until midnight. “I come in around 2 and I don’t leave until my last crew member is done. Each person has their own section of the school; they get two 15 minute breaks, and they get a lunch at 7 pm. They finish up in their separate areas and then come down to the field house. It’s usually an 8 to an 8 and a half hour day,” Lockwood said. Sometimes there are no extracurriculars going on after hours, but the schedule can sometimes vary based on sporting events, such as football games. “On game nights, we will be here until all the cleaning is done. There’s a lot of people, so there’s a lot of trash, then the restrooms, and inside the school as well,” Lockwood said.

written by: Kate DeGarmo

photo by: Scott Beeton

Fun Facts

Favorite food: Guacamole Favorite place to eat: Jose Peppers Favorite color: Dark Teal Favorite guilty pleasure movie: Rocky Horror Picture Show

An interesting fact about you: I actually really enjoy cleaning. Favorite Hobby: Reading and painting. A show you recently binged: This Is Us.

Spotlight

Michelle Barnett

Cafeteria Manager

afeteria managers work a job that can be hard and demanding at times, all to make sure the students get what they need. Here at Liberty North, Michelle Barnett fills that role well and has for a long time. “I’ve been in the food industry for 16 years and with Liberty Public Schools for 5 years,” Barnett said. The job of a cafeteria manager can be busy and hectic, and Barnett’s day is full of many responsibilities that she must carry out, including being responsible for the other cafeteria staff. “A typical day for me would be I start by opening the kitchen up, planning production for the day, and make changes as needed. I order products, ensure staff have what they need to be successful, and watch inventory control,” Barnett said. Even though most jobs come with their own challenges, there is almost always a silver lining that keeps employees coming back. “My favorite thing about my job is certainly the students,” Barnett said.

photo by: Scott Beeton

written by: Alison Englage

Fun Facts

Favorite food: Italian Favorite place to eat: Garrozo’s Favorite color: Teal/gold Favorite guilty pleasure movie: Selena!

An interesting fact about you: obessed with COWS! Highland cows are my favorite. Favorite hobby: Aerial yoga, bjj, judo (well.. anything fitness related) A show you recently binged: Dexter

Spotlight

Rolo Aguilara

Tech Support

ur technology support specialist Rolo Aguilera might just have one of the most important jobs when it comes to helping the school function properly. “I help with any kind of computer troubleshooting. That could be not just the hardware, but anything software related. It’s kind of crazy and vast. If a student forgets their password or loses their MacBook, I can help them find it,” Aguilera said. Aguilera’s job doesn’t just work with troubleshooting, he helps with a wide range of technology from student and staff laptops to wifi. “I usually see about a dozen students a day. The most common thing is MacBook screens breaking,” Rolo said. Despite not being the most visible staff member, Aguilara’s role at Liberty North remains crucial, as technology has seeped into daily education. “The day-to-day is just sitting and waiting for things to break so I can fix them, though there are other projects than that, like working with the software team or the network team,” Aguilera said.

photo by: Scott Beeton

Fun Facts

Favorite food: Sushi Favorite place to eat: Sushi UNI in Lenexa, KS Favorite color: Blue Favorite guilty pleasure movie: Borat

written by: Bryson Prindle

An interesting fact about you: I’m a retiree Favorite Hobby: MMORPG video games A show you recently binged: Ted Lasso

Opinion

American Sign Language

An important investment for our generation? written by: Sami Binning

panish, Chinese, German, and French. These are the language classes offered at Liberty North. We believe that American Sign Language, or ASL for short, should be offered, as well. Around the world, 70 million people use a form of sign language to communicate. Learning ASL can be arguably more useful locally than most of the languages offered here at North. According to the Census Bureau, only 1.7% of the U.S. population speaks either Chinese, French, or German at home. Knowing ASL, just like knowing another foreign language, can create many opportunities in the job market and can give someone an edge up during job interviews. There is a high demand for sign language interpreters and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this demand is and will continue to rise steadily. Many high schoolers take foreign language classes to get a head start for college, as many colleges will accept high school foreign language credits towards their credit requirements. Many colleges accept ASL classes as language credits, with some even providing them. By providing classes for ASL, schools are promoting the accessibility and inclusion of those who rely on it. Here in the U.S., ASL is the primary form of communication for around 1 million people with hearing impairments.

In a survey of Liberty North students, 47% said they know someone who is deaf or hearing impaired, but only 4% said they know sign language. Not all people with hearing impairments use sign language, but many do. If COVID-19 taught us anything, it is the importance of human connection and collaboration. By learning sign language, we can break communication barriers and find ways to include everyone in the conversation.

The percentage 216 of students interviewd who think sign language should be taught as a class at Liberty North

Yes

88%

12%

Opinion

Die Hard:

Yippee-Ki-Nay? photo by: Brieanna Green

n July 15th, 1988 “Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis hit theaters and kicked off a long line of sequels that continued to 2013. The original “Die Hard” takes place at a Christmas party that is crashed by German terrorists, throughout the movie John Mclain played by Bruce Willis shows off his witty character by tying in infamous quotes that would be used around Christmas as he works to thwart the terrorists and save the day. Now, this might be a personal thing to me, but nothing says Christmas like Bruce Willis, explosions, and terrorists. It’s become an annual tradition every Christmas to sit down as a family and watch Die Hard. Die Hard is the perfect balance of action and good ole’ Christmas fun, it’s the kind of movie that you can just sit down with a glass of eggnog and not only laugh until your stomach hurts, but also enjoy that sense of American patriotism as the terrorists’ plans get put to an end by one of the best actors in cinema history. If you’re looking for a feel-good action movie this Christmas, Die Hard is just the movie for you.

Jackson Bendure

Kate DeGarmo

ie Hard is not a Christmas movie. It starts with Bruce Willis Christmas shopping, but other than jokes or props, after that, nothing is centered around Christmas because his shopping is interrupted by terrorists and turns into an action movie. The plot has nothing to do with Christmas, as it is an action movie, and he is just a cop trying to save people from terrorists. The setting may be at Christmas time, but it is not a Christmas movie, as it does not have any Christmas themes such as love, kindness, or giving. There are action movies that can be considered Christmas movies because they have family themes, such as Shazam!, but this movie does not have anything like that. Shazam! is centered around a foster kid who becomes a superhero and accepts his new family, but Die Hard is simply an action movie with no themes that make it feel like a Christmas movie. Many Christmas movies make you feel warm and hopeful, but Die Hard just makes your adrenaline spike, as an action movie would.

photo by: Brieanna Green

Sports

A SEASON TO

remember remember The Eagles made history by wrapping up an incredible 2021 football season with a trip to Columbia for the State Championship, a first for Liberty North. written by: Maia Gaddis and Jack Bendure

ootball ended the season with a record of 11-2. The year finished with varsity playing the State Championship game against the Christian Brothers on November 27 for the state title. The game was a loss for the Eagles with an ending score of 21-48. “You know, it is what it is. We wish we would’ve played better after all the work we put in to get there but it is what it is and we’re moving forward,” coach Greg Jones said. Though it was a loss, the team didn’t let it change their perspective of the season. To get to state, all teams had training both physically and mentally in preparation for the season. “Our preparation has been stuff that we’ve been doing since last January. At 6 am, [players]

would cycle through about 10 or 11 different stations. We’d have a lot of 7 on 7 offensive workouts and defensive workouts through January, February, March, then we had our summer weights set up. We had 7 on 7 during that time too. Then we had a team camp that we went to UCM for and a one in August to get ready to go for the season. So really, those kids worked 9-10 months out of the year to prep for the season,” Moore said. For their first game of the season, Liberty North went to Arkansas to play against Bentonville. The game ended up being a loss, losing 43 to 30. The varsity team took it as a learning experience, moving to win 11 games in a row after that.

Sports “When we lost down in Arkansas for the first game, I think it really humbled us. We kinda came into the season with a lot of hype, thinking that we were so good. I think we got into our heads a little bit. We got knocked off track, but then going into the season, we stayed and continued to win from there,” sophomore Freddie Lavan said. By the end of the season, varsity gained an overall 85% winning average. Though the season didn’t finish with a state victory, lessons were learned for future seasons. “Football definitely has taught me how to be tough, physically and mentally. It has also taught me how to handle adversity. In our first game of the season, we faced some adversity while playing

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Bentonville which was a solid team. After that game, we regrouped as a team and bounced back up,” sophomore Trey Snyder said. This team wasn’t one to just move from game to game. Connections had been made and bonds had been formed. Though some athletes are leaving, the memories between the players and the coaches are still being shared. “My favorite memory of the season doesn’t go down to one particular team. It’s being around the kids every single day. One particular memory in my mind is getting the opportunity to be around the kids and build relationships with them. It’s tough to see that end especially when you’ve been around them all day for quite a while,” Moore said.

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photo by: Shalyn Person

Sports

LN Invitational Tournament of The Year written by: Justin Scott

very year, Liberty North hosts one of the most premier basketball tournaments in the Kansas City metro. The tournament features brackets, filled with an assortment of competition from all over the metro, and is organized by Liberty North’s Athletic Director Lane Green. “The Liberty North classic basketball tournament is one of the premier preseason basketball tournaments in the area, the Kansas City metropolitan area,” Green said. But what makes the tournament unique is that it is a co-ed style tournament inviting competition from both genders. “What makes it unique is the fact that it’s a term for both boys and girls. It’s a full girls tournament and a full boys tournament, all played on the same week here at Liberty North,” Green said. While Liberty North hosted the tournament last year it was plagued by restrictions from the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, that removed fans from the stands. But now with lighter restrictions, Girls Varsity Head Coach Brian Rockers hopes the atmosphere of the past will return. “Well, hopefully, this year the atmosphere is back from what it was two years ago. Anytime we play in the Fieldhouse, whether it be in the tournament, or just a non-count game or a conference game, the atmosphere is huge,” Rockers said. Not only is the atmosphere of the games important but the tournament serves as a way to get a feel of the competition the teams are facing this year. “We always try to tell our girls anytime we play in a tournament, we either want to go three in a row or two and one you want to come out of those tournaments with a winning record. So doing well that week would be a huge, huge benefit for us finishing up the first parts of the basketball season.” Rockers said.

photo by: Justin Scott Men’s JV and Varsity teams run dribbling drills in preparation for their upcoming games. The LN Invitational will be held December 6-10. “It gives all the schools an opportunity to get their feet wet,” Lane Green said.

Not only does the tournament provide the ability to get an early tip-off on the competition for the teams. But it also is a long lasting tradition at Liberty North, going almost all the way back to the schools founding. “The tournaments about 10 years old. And it’s a great tournament because it gives all the boys and girls teams who participate in a chance to see where they’re at as a basketball team to give them an idea of where they stand in terms of competitiveness.” Green said.

Sports

Pin Down For Wrestling written by: Jack Bendure

Women’s Womens Wrestling

he women’s wrestling team is gearing up for their first duel against the Park Hill South Panthers and the Oak Park Northmen Wednesday, December 1. The team has been practicing to get ready for their first meet. “There is an intense drive and passion this year. You can tell from the atmosphere in the room that there are big goals set this season and they will do anything to get them,” head coach Laurel Shoger said. The team has set its sights on having a successful season with hopes of sending multiple athletes to state this year. “Our biggest goal is to work on building each other up and connect more as a team. We would also love to maintain our good dual record as well as take home more medals from tournaments,” Shoger said.

he men’swrestling team is gearing up for their season, it will kick off at home and will progress to duels and tournaments all over the metro area. The team has been working hard, practicing since October to prepare. “Conditioning is definitely a challenge but it’s super important for us to be ready for competition and it’s definitely a good show of who wants it the most,” senior Preston Beran said. The Eagles are working with a full roster this year with lots of freshmen moving up to the high school level. “Our biggest improvement has definitely been getting the new freshmen good looks at practice and getting to give them a good feel of what a live match is going to look like,” Beran said. Coaches have said that there is a lot of talent, so drawing line-ups will prove challenging. “There’s a lot of competition to make varsity, we’re going to have a good line up on JV and Varsity,” head coach Logan Searle said.

Men’s Mens Wrestling

photos by: Justin Scott Men’s Wrestlers run takedown drills in preparation for upcoming duels. The team has a full roster this year. “Our biggest improvement has definitely been getting the new freshmen good looks at practice,” Beran said.

Sports

NEXT UP

After much anticipation, women’s swim and dive is here, and the ladies are ready to hit the water!

SWIM

written by: Laine Kelly

ive into the water, inhale, exhale, move, stretch, kick. All of these things are a part of swimming at the Liberty North High school women’s team. But there is more to swim than just the physical. There is a mental aspect that can take an individual’s swimming to the next level. “My favorite part of swimming is how strong it makes me feel. Once you get the feel of the water as we call it, it’s a very empowering sport. I also just love the feeling of going to meets and seeing the results of my work in practices,” senior Ainsley Dillon said. One of the Liberty North women’s swim team’s accomplishments was winning the conference in 2020, in the midst of everything going on in the world. “If someone is thinking about getting into swimming, my biggest piece of advice would be to not give up on it. Human beings are not water beings obviously, so it doesn’t feel natural to most people. But for me, it’s a very calming and humbling sport in the way that it requires such consistency and dedication,” Dillon said. photos courtesy of Avery True

Sports

IN SPORTS !

Winter Guard is opening their season back up and they are preparing to compete. written by: Mak Morgan

photo by: Brieanna Green

ollowing Color Guard in the fall season is Winter Guard. Color Guard is done outside for parades and football games, while Winter Guard is more competitive. This year there is only one senior Sarah Hemenway. “Freshman year, I did fall guard and it was ok, but everyone said winter guard was more fun so I went for it and that was that,” Hemenway said. Hemenway has done color guard and winter guard since her freshman year. “I’m going to try out for the color guard team at K-State and hopefully I make it,” Hememway said. About two-three years ago they opened winter guard to 7th and 8th graders. The team members that could drive would come by Heritage and SVMS to show off what Winter Guard was all about. “Winter Guard people came by during lunch in 8th grade, and so I was like why not. Flag is my favorite piece of equipment, it’s easy, you can do different things, and I get to do tosses on it,” Sophomore Giselle Martinez said.

WINTER GUARD photo by: Brienanna Green

Fun and Games

WORD LADDER Make your way from GIFT to TREE by changing just one letter each step to make a new word

GIFT

Something given to someone else

easy

5 9 7 3 4 6 3 2 1 3 5 9 4 9 7 6 1 9 3 1 9 7 2 9 1 8 2 6 1

Main point of an arguement

Clenched hand

Short for fraternity

To worry

Buy one, get one _____

TREE

Has a trunk, branches, and leaves

hard

Italian car manufacturer

4 9 8 3 2

4 5 2 9 2 4 7 3 8 3

3 6 2 6 9 8 1 2 5 8 5

2 1

Fun and Games

Logic PUZZLE

Sami wants to deliver gifts to her friends for the holidays. She got the gifts wrapped and everything ready, but she lost her list telling her which present is which! Using the clues below, figure out the order, owner, and appearance of each gift.

CLUES

- The wrapping paper and ribbon colors do not match. (for example- the present with blue paper does not have blue ribbon) - The gift for Erica will be delivered before the gift with pink ribbon, but after the gift with blue paper. - The gift for Alli has red paper, but not green ribbon. - Neither the gift with green ribbon or the gift for Andrew will be delivered last. - The gift for Megan does not have pink paper, but does have blue ribbon. - The gift with green paper does not have pink ribbon. - The gift for Alli will not be delivered first or last.

Order

Friend

Paper Color

Ribbon Color

1 2 3 4 If you want a grid to help you work out this puzzle, check out our socials!

Fun and Games

CROSSWORD 1

2 4

5 6

ACROSS 4. The Liberty North _____ team had a fan-

tastic season, ending with a record of 11-2.

6. Last name of the staff member who works at the front desk.

7. Alternative approach to learning held at Liberty High School.

9. This is volume _____, issue two of the Eagle’s View.

DOWN 1. Non-verbal language used in America. 2. First name of the writer of the Letter from the Editor.

3. Event held by Youth Entrepreneurship on November 19th.

5. Name of the middle section of the paper with one overarching theme.

8. First name of the tech support staff member.

HINT: All answers can be found by reading this paper!

Fun and Games Be the first to bring in a completed Fun and Games section to room 305 to win a prize and shoutout on our social media! After the prize is claimed, we will post the answer key, so make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @LN_EaglesView and don't forget to tag us in your posts!

CRYPTOGRAM Use the table below to decode the message!

W 9

T 7

G 19

P P

’

W I

T 7

’

W 9

A B C D E F G H I J K L MN O P Q R S T U VWX Y Z 17

$ $

$ $$

$ $

$ $ $ $ $ $

$ $

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $$ $ $ $

EV $ $

$ $

$ $ $ $$ $

December 2021

Articles inside

Market Day

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie

Football Season

Basketball and Wrestling

Holiday Rewind and DIY Gifts

Concerts and Holiday Traditions

Swim and Winterguard

Edge vs NNbD