The Patriot Volume 55 Issue 3 by SMS Patriot

T H E PATRIOT

Shawnee Mission South Overland Park, KS Volume 55 Issue 3 March 27th 2021

T H E R AI D ER RET UR N The first full in-person school day of school has arrived just two months before school is out

Read about it on page 8 and 9

OPINION

FEATURE-NEWS

NE WS

SPORTS

Read about the debate between two staffers on whether or not it’s a good idea to vacation during spring break this year. Page 3

Want to read a little bit about how a freshman in high school is already committed to college? Check out Hazel Franz’s Story. Back Page

If you’re curious about what is going on with the vaccine process, check out this story.

Check out the spring sports practice story. A few athletes share how they get to practice.

Page 3 and 4

Page 10-11

TABLE OF C ONTENTS 1

Cover

TOC

Spring Break Debate

4-5

Vaccine Update

6-7

Full-in-Person Photo Essay

8-9

Full in person story

10-11

Sports Spread

Hazel Franz

MISSION STATEMENT The Patriot is a newsmagazine that aims to objectively present topics affecting Shawnee Mission South High School, as well as connect with readers on issues concerning the student body. Staff members reserve the right to express their views in the Opinion section. These pieces are labeled and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole, except the staff editorial, which represents the views of the editors. Each section editor designs their own sections pages, unless otherwise specified. Under the First Amendment and Kansas law, The Patriot staff is entitles to freedom of the press and neither the school nor district is responsible for any content or coverage. The staff encourages letters to the editor; they will only be published if signed. The Editors-in- Chief reserve the right to refuse or edit any letters for grammar, length, and good taste.

STAFF Head Editors McKenna Pickering - Co-Editor-in-Chief Evan Shibel - Co-Editor-in-Chief Katie Hiebl - Assistant Editor-in-Chief Section Editors Annalie Polen - News and Opinion Editor Katie Hiebl - A & E and Features Editor Nathan Judd - Sports Editor Management Editors Reese Woods - Multimedia Editor Evan Shibel - Ads & Management Editor Photo and Deisgn Editors Trinity Clark - Photo Editor-In-Chief L andrea Van Mol - Assistant Photo Editor Jack Wagner - Assistant Photo Editor Repoeters and Photographers Annie Caswell Jake Foil Simon Cox Noel Mohamed Elliot Calvert

SPRING BREAKING THE RULES With spring break approaching, so is traveling.

PRO Nathan Judd Sports Editor

pring break is coming up fast, and some students are looking forward to leaving Kansas and going on vacation despite the lingering pandemic. Most years spring break is a time to not worry about school and get as far away from home as possible, but this year many people are still worried about the pandemic. It has been a long year for all students, and we all deserve a break. Most students, specifically seniors, plan out a trip to Mexico or Jamaica or other warm countries with amazing beaches. Although no trips have happened yet, there is already backlash coming. Obviously the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting people, but the numbers have gone down and people are getting vaccinated, as long as you are considerate when you go on these

trips spring break shouldn’t be too big of a problem. Stay with the people you came with and wear masks in public and we should all be fine to go on spring break Personally I have gone on several trips during the pandemic, I know… probably not the best idea. But I only went with 2 other people that I live with, and wore a mask if I was in public. I didn’t harm anyone and had a lot of fun traveling for a lot cheaper then normal. Even with it being spring break, people still need to be smart. It probably isn’t the best idea to go to other countries and party on overcrowded beaches, but going on a small trip with some of your friends should be fine, maybe get tested before and after you go just to make sure you are being safe. I’m not saying to go travel with a bunch of people and be inconsiderate, all I am saying is this past year has been rough and students deserve a week to do what they want and get out of Kansas.

CON Reece Howard Reporter

am personally against traveling this Spring break. We are still in a pandemic that has killed over 2 million people and is still on a killing spree. It is not a safe time to travel if we want to go back to normality. I believe in sacrificing a spring break vacation so COVID-19 calms down and we can finish this pandemic. The vaccines are still in the process of being given, we have a 100 million, but are still early in the phases. While waiting for everyone to get a vaccine, we need to do our best to keep COVID-19 cases down so herd immunity is easier to reach. COVID-19 cases are still going up and if we have a lot of people

Are you going anywhere for spring break? Out of 129 people

31% YES

69% NO

traveling, they will continue to go up. On March 23rd, we had almost 50,000 new cases. Imagine how many cases we will have if everyone is traveling around the globe. We can’t keep letting COVID cases go up because we will just end up in lockdown again, which nobody wants. The CDC has proved that traveling internationally increases your chances of spreading and catching COVID-19. It is recommended to avoid and delay travel and stay at home instead. The CDC should be listened to by us because they know what is right. Because of this, I believe that you should stay at home for spring break, and spend time with family and friends and time outside because in the end it’s the safer option. So that by summer, we can travel and explore the world again.

Do you think its a good idea to leave Kansas for spring break? Out of 123 people

35% YES

65% NO

From recent instagram polls

COVID NEED-TO-KNOW Information regarding vaccines in Johnson County With the Covid-19 vaccine becoming more readily available to people, covid numbers are beginning to drop, but people still have questions about the vaccine. Right now, Kansas has moved to Phase 2 of the vaccine distribution which includes people over the age of 65, people who work in congregate settings (child care, emergency shelters, homeless shelters,etc.), and high contact

Q.1

What are my different options and how old do I have to be?

The answer varies on the different options that are available at the moment. Right now, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson are saying that you need to be 18 and older to receive their vaccine, while Pfizer is cleared for patients 16 and up. All this is subject

Q.2 Fo

critical workers (retail, transportation, grocery workers, etc.), on top of the remaining people from phase one. Now with Phase 2 opening up the opportunity to get vaccinated to so many more people, questions like how old do you have to be, what are the different options, and where can I go to find it, come up, as well as questions like does it hurt or what are some common side effects.

• Jocogov.org • usatoday.com

to change however because Moderna and Pfizer have both launched trials on groups of younger patients to determine the results on younger patients.

Where can I go to get vaccinated?

at io

At this time there is no set place to go get a vaccine. There are places scattered around all over Kansas and Missouri with people traveling far and wide to try and get their vaccine.

“I went to some random town in Western Kansas called Pleasanton that had a surplus of vaccines,” senior Keely Wright said.

Q.3

What are some common side effects?

Aside from the general soreness you typically feel when getting a shot, the CDC says it is normal for you to feel:

• • • • •

Pain Redness Swelling Tiredness Headache

• • • •

Muscle pain Fever Chills Nausea

To help reduce the symptoms and discomfort, doing things applying a damp cold washcloth to the area and exercising can help, along with staying hydrated. However, everyone is different so reactions will vary depending on the person, and if you have received the second vaccination the side effects might be more intense.

Q.4

“I had a sore arm within a couple hours other than that I was fatigued. I fell asleep at 6:45 that night and woke up at 5:00. Usually I sleep for 5-6 hours so a full 10 was very strange,” Mr. Love said after receiving the second shot.

Does it hurt?

Again the answer varies from person to person and with the side effects being different from first dosage to second dosage there is really no definitive answer. However from taking with different students and faculty who have had either one dosage or both they have different responses.

“I felt pretty sick for a day. I had to go to work the next day and didn’t feel 100% for the whole shift,” senior Harley Witbrod said after the first shot.

“I didn’t even feel [the shot]. It got a little sore after 24-hours, and after that I was exusted, but I was fine the day after that,” Mr. Berg said after receiving the second shot.

FIRST DAY, TAKE FIVE Pep Club, KSMS, Pacesetters, cheerleaders welcome students to their first in-person day in over a year. Photos taken by Jack Wagner and Landrea Van Mol Assistant Photo Editors Member of Pep Club, junior Sydney Johnson hands a t-shirt to student Veronica Fast as she walks into school.

Members of KSMS, junior Crystal Ugalde and senior Brett Conner, make announcements to the crowd of students walking into school.

Rocky the Raider pumps up his fist in celebration of the first in-person day of school.

Seniors Morgan Lank and Evan Shibel wave around Pep Club t-shirts to give to the incoming students. Cheerleaders and Pacesetters line the walkway and dance as students filter into school.

THE RAIDER RETURN Annie Caswell Reporter

he first day of school was a super crazy experience. It almost felt wrong to walk down a crowded hallway and have so many seats filled with students. “It was really weird because even though we still have a quarter left, it felt like the first day of school. Also my classes are so crowded it’s ridiculous,” said Keely While COVID-19 has been a very challenging time for many, the return of students to the classroom has so far been a light in the darkness of the situation. After a welcoming entrance back to

Eva Tuttle - Freshman “I am excited to see people, except i’m also scared for the rest.”

Jordyn Francis - Freshman “it was good to be back but it felt super crowded. It was bad but good”

school full of music and dance numbers from both pace setters and the cheer team, everyone was bound to have a great time back. Many feel excited to be back in the classroom surrounded by friends while some students are not so excited about the early morning wake up call. “I think it’s fine it’s just gonna be hard to wake up every single morning for five days,” sophomore Brielle Staines said. For many of the students, March 22nd was the first day they got to see the packed hallways of South.

Rachel Horsely - Junior “Parking was a disaster, it was overall very overwhelming,

Xavier Garcia - Freshman “I mean [i’m] kind of [excited to go back to school], I’m looking forward to seeing everybody and going to class full time.”

SPRINGING INTO THE S

Many end of year sports have differing plans to practice at off-campus sites. By Sarah Ohlde Reporter

arge sports teams have had difficulties with finding adequate practice space. Sports like swimming, tennis and baseball can only do so much to improve outside of their designated facilities. When the team gets too big the next best thing is to find space off campus. As more and more people go out for a sport like swimming, only so many swimmers can fit in the pool at one time. With the opening of the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center, the team gets a chance to spread out and focus on swimming and not the overcrowded lanes. “A pro is we don’t have to share with the swimmers, because that gets kind of hectic and the boards are a lot nicer at the SMAC,” freshman diver Greta Waller said. The $28 million SMAC

opened in Nov 2019 but was only really used by the boys team, as the girls’ season was canceled due to COVID. “[The SMAC] is a lot nicer than the pool at south but a con [to practicing at the SMAC] is that it breaks like once a year,” sophomore swimmer Olivia Ponnuru said. As more and more boys go out for tennis in the spring, the south courts fill up fast, leading the team to split up practice locations between the south courts and the Marty Park courts. “Pros of practicing offcampus at the Marty courts is the quality of courts. Most of the Marty Courts are well maintained even through their heavy use, both by the south tennis team and the general public,” freshman tennis player John Kelley said.

BEN BELANGER tennis

JACK RUPP Baseball

ELI THURSTON Golf Golf practices at Brookridge, Deer Creek, and St. Andrews

Baseball practices at South but plays all of their home games at 3&2 which is about 15 minutes from South.

SPORTING SEASON OLIVIA PONNURU Swim and Dive

GRETA WALLER Swim and Dive

JOHN KELLY tennis

Along with everything else being different this year due to COVID, small things like carpooling with upperclassmen has been something that the tennis team and all other sports are no longer allowed to do. “It can be hard for freshman and other students that can’t drive though especially during COVID because they can’t ride with an upperclassman,” senior tennis player Ben Belanger said. When it comes down to it, most athletes don’t have an opinion on where they practice as long as it’s with their team. “Practice is amazing no matter where it is, because it comes down to Raider pride, and Raider pride is something we have a lot of,” junior tennis player Peyton Peck said. The golf team practices at Brookridge, St. Andrews and Deer Creek golf courses. “[For] tournaments we can only take five [players] this year

Swim practices some days at South and some days at the SMAC which is 1015 minutes from South depending on traffic.

so it will not be as fun. [With] one less player at tournaments too making this year more challenging and competitive,” senior golf player Eli Thurston said. Baseball practices at south but all home games take place at 3 & 2 Baseball fields in Lenexa. “It is a bit inconvenient to have to take a bus to all of our games even if they’re “home”, but we aren’t really able to play games at south,” senior baseball player Jack Rupp said. Hosting meets off campus that area technically home has its own difficulties and the team misses out on the student body involvement in their games. “It would be awesome if we could play games at south because that would mean more students would possibly come to games, but for now we aren’t able to,” Rupp said.

Half of the tennis squad practices at Marty Park and the other half practices at South.

EARLY TIGER ACCESS

Hazel Frans is one of only forty Kansas high school Freshmen and Sophomores accepted into the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS), an early college program at Fort Hays State University. She will start at Fort Hays University at the beginning of junior year when she is only sixteen years old. I had the opportunity to interview Hazel about her nerves, application process, and so much more. By Noel Mohammed Reporter

How were you introduced to this whole idea of taking college classes at Fort Hays State University? When I was in fifth grade

my seek teacher’s daughter went to the program. She introduced the entire class to the concept of going to college early and provided us with information. When I was in seventh grade we visited the college on the preview day and I was really excited and thought it was a really nice program.

You said in the email that you had to go through the same process as most Seniors do when you applied. How was that for you?

It was interesting. I went and took the ACT in December, visited the college, filled out a lengthy application, wrote a lot of essays, emails, and just a lot of back and forth communication. There was just a lot of stress about getting into the program and wondering if I was going to be accepted or denied.

If another kid wants to apply for the same scholarship what is a piece of advice you’d like to share with them? I would tell them

to think about their stories pertaining to whatever program they are trying to get into. Let’s say it’s the science program so they should talk about how you’ve been really into science your whole life, how you’ve been looking at studies, researching. Talk about how you handle harder classes, if you’re good with kids talk about that, how you volunteer, just have a lot of stories.

The scholarship you were awarded allows you to live on-campus. How do you feel about that? The college has a separate

dorm building for all the kids in the KAMS program. You can get your own room and pay a little bit more, or you share a room and it is a little less. It’s far away and it’s a little bit scary to live on my own at fifteen or sixteen. Would you start next year as a sophomore or the year after as a junior? I will be doing it as a junior and senior. It is a two-year program. I applied for early admission most people apply as a sophomore but I did it as a freshman, so I have to wait a year.

How do you apply for this? If you’re a

freshman or a sophomore you apply before December of 2020, so if you’re a sophomore then you’re kind of late but if you go to their website they have applications, they have links to scholarships. If you applied you can get room and board free, and the tuition is already paid for when you get accepted. So you can just go to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science website and it will have a lot of information there.

Why did you pitch yourself as a story?

I thought it would be a nice little break from spring sports. To learn more about the academic process, especially early college, because a lot of students don’t know that there are a lot of college opportunities they can apply for. It is just a way to show that if you want you can get out of high school early and accomplish a lot of amazing things even when you haven’t graduated.