The Patriot January 2017

january

THE

Patriot

The Balancing Act Shawnee mission south 5800 W 107th St, Overland Park, KS 66207 (913) 993-7500

issue 5 VOL. 51

2017

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On the Cover Contents

A diet full of nutrient-rich foods helps fuel the body and mind, helping students succeed in school. Other factors that influence performance include sleep and stress management.

Photos by savannah morgan Photo Editor

News

A&E

Transfer Students

20

Staff Editorial

25

14

Q&A with Ryan Bare

21

Healthy Living

26

At Home Workout

16

Importance of Health

22

27

Cafe Gratitude KC Calendar

Extreme Athletes

18

Winter Driving

The Debate: New Year’s Resolutions

28

Book Suggestions

19

Seasonal Effective Disorder

29

Who, What, Wear

30

Twitter Contest

Features

9

Cheerleading

13

Fitness Class Review

11 12

4

News to Know

5

Black History 10 Month

6

AcaDec

7

Masterworks

8

NAHS Knitting

Staff Amelia Holcomb Editor-In-Chief Features Editor Sophia Belshe Assistant Editor-In-Chief Opinion Editor Savannah Morgan Photo Editor Mark Holland News Editor Tara Phillips A&E Editor

Opinion

Sports

Mission

Avery Woods Sports Editor

Mara Baine Writer

Lily Wagner Web Editor Infographics Editor Madison Holloway Ads Editor Miah Clark Copy Editor Editorial Cartoonist Blake Atkinson Writer

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Senior Motivation

Sweetheart Dance Creative Writing Plaques

Hannah Carter Photographer

Mitch Brock Writer

Angela Machado Writer Addie Soyski Writer

Tess Conley Writer

Nicole Thomas Writer

Kice Mansi Photographer

Faith Danaher Writer Anastasia Jackson Writer Muriel Lund Writer

Hannah Underwood Writer

Jillian McClelland Photographer

Cassandra Awad Photographer

Julie Fales Adviser

Maxie Crimm Photographer

The Patriot is a news magazine 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 Opinions section. These pieces are labeled and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole, except the Lead Editorial, which represents the views of the editors. Under the First Amendment and Kansas Law, The Patriot staff is entitled 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, but they will only be published if signed. The editor-in-chief reserves the right to refuse or edit any letters for reasons of grammar, length and good taste.

Table of Contents

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News to Know

By Anastasia Jackson Writer

Election Email Hacks

Director of National Intelligence General James Clapper said Russian President Vladimir Putin did order the hack of Democratic emails.

Putin denies having anything to do with the hack, but the evidence found shows otherwise.

President Donald Trump recently acknowledged that the Russians did the hack.

“I think the Russians are stupid, because now if they try to immigrate here they will probably will be kicked out too,” freshman Gretchen Garcia said.

Trump told The New York Times that the focus on Russia’s involvement is a “political witch hunt” by the Democrats who he said are embarrassed that they’ve lost the election.

Trump’s Inauguration

The 45th president, Donald Trump, will swear that he’ll preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States during the Inauguration today beginning 8 a.m.

“Trump is a wild card. He could be good or bad. We don’t really

know. But I think he will be good because he speaks his mind,” eighth grader Juliana Martin said.

Trump is expected to appear at all of the Official Inaugural balls being held that night. The national prayer service will be held tomorrow, as well as the Women’s March, where women in the United States will gather to go to D.C. in hopes their voices will be heard.

Students enjoy lunch in the cafeteria.

With the start of the new semester students are no longer allowed to eat in the halls.

Photo By Kice Mansi

More Schedule Changes

Alongside the lunch changes this semester, beginning the week of Feb. 6 the district has decided to give late starts on Thursdays a try.

The late start is to allow teachers in the same area to implement successful teaching methods and curriculum in the classroom. It should also benefit students by either allowing them more sleep or more time to get help.

Students who do not have their own transportation will still ride buses and arrive at school at the regular weekly time.

“I think it’s stupid because the bus riders still have to get up and I still have to get up to make my brother breakfast,” freshman ThienAn Pham said.

If students arrive before the Thursday 8:50 a.m. start time, they will have designated areas to go to: cafeteria to eat breakfast, quiet studying room, testing room or collaboration area.

Wednesday schedule Hour 1: 7:40 -9:05 am Advisory: 9:10-9:40 am Hour 3: 9:45-11:10 am Hour 5: 11:15 am - 1:10 pm Hour 7: 1:15-2:40 pm

Thursday schedule Hour 2: 8:50-10:15 a.m.

Seminar: 10:20-11:10 a.m.

Hour 4: 11:15 a.m. -1:10 p.m.

Hour 6: 1:15-2:40 p.m.

Shout Out To English Department

Senior Michael Carter was the only perfect scorer on the most recent WordWright challenge.

Theater

Theater teacher Mark Swezey was inducted into the Kansas Thespian Hall of Fame.

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News

ACT

Junior Nicolas James received a perfect score on his ACT.

All-State

In choir- Gabe Carter, Zach Greer, Zackary Russell, Jack Venable, Kaitlyn Fields, Annaleigh Hobbs, Anya Horton, Celeste Kincaid.

In orchestra: John Byrne, Isabel

Gusman, Sarah Morrill.

In band: Madeline Bernond, Jonathan Huhn, Nicholas Velicer, Kylie Hance, Katrina Sargent, Emily Featherston, Alyssa Bridges, Emma Ross, Jocelyn Clark, Alexandra Rutkowski, Cora Selzer.

Celebrating Black History Shawnee Mission South High School

Cultural event provides opportunity for student expression.

By Tara Phillips A&E Editor ultural diversity fills the halls of the school. From different races to religions, each student has an origin and deserves to celebrate it freely among the school.

This year the school has decided to hold a celebration for Black History Month. This event is being put on by English and Writers Workshop teacher Caroline Ewing and her classes. “...it’s another form of learning. It’s the purpose of our school...” Ewing said.

The event is especially important in Johnson County, a predominantly White county. The hope is by openly putting on this celebratory event, it will give students of Black culture comfort and ability to share their opinions and views on the world. “...it is very important to have events like this in Johnson County because for the minorities, and or African-American students, it gives them a chance to express themselves in a place where there are not many people that look like them...” senior Desi Upton said.

For students of all cultures, this a gateway into a new found freedom of expression of their culture. These students are able to feel like the school

February, 2017

Original Art Contest

Still, I Rise.

Black History, Our Shared History.

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ALL students are encouraged to enter in one or more of the following categories:

Writing ▪ Visual Art ▪ Multi-Media DEADLINE: Thursday, February 2, 2017.

CELEBRATION: Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Contest Information

Purpose:

Competition is designed to increase awareness, foster greater understanding and celebrate African American History and culture.

Who can submit: All SMS students Categories: Written, Visual Arts, Multimedia Deadline for Submission: Feb. 2, 2017

Log into your graduating class’ Google Classroom to get more information

Prompt: In keeping with the message of “Still I

Rise” What can you do to rise above yourself for the betterment of your family, school and community?

Recognition: Finalists will be recognized Tuesday, Feb. 14 during the basketball game against Lawrence Free State supports their background and where they come from.

For many students, this event is extremely important in creating a comfortable environment with their peers.

“This kind of event actually excites me, because when I transferred here to South...coming from Wyandotte County

USD 500 where the vast majority of the student body and staff were African American, I was afraid that there were not many students like myself... I feel like an event like this would bring students from every ethnicity together,” Upton said.

For Ewing, this is an important step for the

community, and that’s exactly why she put this event in motion.

“I think even though our culture is predominantly Caucasian, it becomes so important to celebrate our differences if we’re going to coexist in a positive manner...” Ewing said.

This kind of celebration provides not only a comfortable environment, but a creative outlet where students feel able to express their background and culture.

The hope is that they will also feel comfortable teaching people about their culture, and students who come from different backgrounds will be curious to learn about it. “...there’s so much to learn about other cultures that we don’t know about, or that we take for granted as part of our society…”

Ewing said.

There are parts of life that can’t be taught in a classroom, and cultural acceptance falls into the category of societal teaching. Not all lessons and knowledge are learned through traditional teaching. Providing educational outlets such as this gives students a new expressive outlet. “...I can’t teach you empathy and compassion and ear marks of culture, that’s something you have to experience yourself,” Ewing said.

The Black History Celebration will be during the Feb.14 boys basketball game and will be accompanied by a writing and visual arts contest within the school.

News

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Banding Together Masterworks combines band, choir, orchestra for Jan. 26 concert.

By Addie Soyski Writer he joint concert called Masterworks combining the choir, orchestra and band is scheduled for Jan. 26. According to band director Steve Adams, Masterworks is an opportunity for members of all three classes to hear each others’ work, as well as an opportunity for the community to experience the quality of the music program.

“Masterworks is highly regarded because you get the best of the three [music classes] all in one piece,” senior orchestra soloist Aidan Sarmiento said.

Mastwerworks gets its name because the pieces being performed are considered high quality, historically significant and have a reputation within the musical community.

“Zach Greer’s solo is a 100-year-old Italian aria,” choir director Jon Duncan said. “It is one of the standard, classical vocal songs and has been around since the late Renaissance or early Baroque era. It is a piece that almost every single singer who studies voice in college and afterwards has either sung or heard someone else sing.”

Soloists have been selected from choir, orchestra and band to perform. The band’s soloist is senior percussionist Jonathan Huhn, who will be performing Michael Daugherty’s, “Raise the Roof.” Sarmiento has been selected from the orchestra to play “The Cello Concerto in A Minor”

by Camille Saint-Saëns. Greer, the choir’s soloist, will be performing “Quella Fiamma C’he Máccende.”

To perfect their performances, the soloists put extensive time and effort into practice.

“I started lessons with a private teacher right when I got my solo, and I’m getting with her about once a week for an hour to practice it,” Sarmiento said.

Soloists are not only practicing currently, but have been for a while.

During the summer, Huhn ‘drilled the piece into his head’ with the use of a set of timpani he borrowed from his instructor.

Their preparation goes beyond practice. It includes trying their best to stay healthy for the show.

“Drinking lot and lots of water, vitamin C, vocal rest as much as possible. I’m doing throat sprays, washing my hands, taking lots of medicines, just doing everything in my power to stay healthy,” Greer said.

But there are some challenges that come for the entire music department. It can be time consuming to coordinate the three music classes and their music.

“There’s a challenge in making sure that there’s enough rehearsal time with the orchestra and choir together... making sure that everyone’s really prepared and that the rehearsals go really efficiently so that you make a product at the level you want it to be at,” Duncan said.

The overall consensus is that the Masterworks concert

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Combined orchestra and band students rehearse for their upcoming concert, Masterworks. Masterworks is a chance for juniors and seniors in band, orchestra and choir to showcase their talents.

photo by Cassandra Awad

Soloists’ Selections “The Cello Concerto in A Minor”

by Camille Saint-Saëns.

Aidan Sarmiento: “I stumbled across it online last year for choosing solo for State solo contest and I saw a video and I became absolutely obsessed with the piece.

It really spoke to me as a person and I had the most passion playing it. I knew it would be a challenge but I crave a good challenge and it’s been about 10 months and I think I got it down pretty well. “

Michael Daugherty’s “Raise the Roof” Jonathan Huhn: “It is a concerto for timpani and symphonic band. Part of why I picked it is because not many of those have been written. This piece seems to be one of the most popular timpani concertos performed by college bands in recent years. I also personally like it because the piece has a lot of intensity and grandiosity and can really make for an impressive performance.”

“Quella Fiamma C’he Máccende” Zach Greer: “It’s just a very fiery, emotional song and it’s very well in my range...This man is desperately in love with this girl and blatantly says it and awaits her response… it has fiery passion.” is a beneficial and positive experience.

“It’s a really fun, exciting piece that’s mine. It’s a piece that features me. That’s an opportunity I’ve never really gotten before,”Huhn said The concert is in the auditorium from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and all students are welcome. A reception to honor the soloists will be held in the cafeteria following the concert.

News

07

AcaDec captain Ben Hanson leads his fellow club members at a meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10, after school in Coach Natalie King’s room. The members organized the three different teams: honors, scholastic and varsity. Photo By Kice Mansi

Rising to the Top AcaDec tries for State championship.

By Nichole Thomas Writer he Academic Decathlon is a 10 stage event that teams of high school students from all over the country participate in. The schools pick three teams of three, one honors, one scholastic and one varsity team to compete.

South has participated in the Academic Decathlon since 1993 and holds the record for highest team and individual scores at the State competition (Kansas Academic Decathlon). Every year there is a new theme for the students to study. The competition includes essay writing, delivering speeches, and exams in art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, and social studies, all relating back to the main theme. This year’s theme is World War II. In the 2015-16 school year, the students faced a coaching change and had only one upperclassman on the team. With two new coaches this year, English teacher Natalie King and special education teacher Seth Peck, and more participants, the teams are organized and prepared for the State

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competition tomorrow.

Participating in the club and attending the competitions has many benefits.

“Students competing in AcaDec learn about the economy, art, music, and mathematics of that time,” King said. “They also write an essay and compete in a Super Quiz. There are also speaking and interviewing assessments.”

In addition to academic benefits, there are other reasons to attend the club. Despite the studying, the atmosphere of AcaDec is different from what you may expect. “...[AcaDec is] really fun, and the longer you stay there the more you get to compete in the competitions,” freshman William Cooper said.

Students not only study together, but help each other grow in their knowledge. Junior Lauren Bass has been a part of the club since her freshman year, and enjoys the relationships she’s formed between her and her peers.

“You think, ‘Oh it’s just studying to take tests,’ but we actually get to know everyone and meet each other on a different level and have a good time...” Bass said.

Studying for competitions is quite

Info about Acadec: The United States Academic Decathlon is a 10-event scholastic competition for teams of high school students.

Each high school enters a team of nine students: 3 “A” or honor students (3.750 4.00 GPA), 3 “B” or scholastic students (3.00 - 3.749 GPA), and 3 “C or below” varsity students (0.00 - 2.999 GPA).

The theme for the 2016–2017 Academic Decathlon is World War II. rigorous. With multiple areas to study, the students make Powerpoints and share them with each other. They meet every Tuesday and Thursday to study.

“You are teaching yourself while teaching others, which is really helpful,” Bass said.

Knitting for Newborns Members of NAHS learn to knit blankets to donate to a local NICU.

by Faith Danaher Writer

W

hen thinking of knitting, you imagine old ladies and cats. National Art Honors Society (NAHS) is here to redefine your perspective on knitting.

NAHS is diving into the pool of knitting for a project meant to help the community. With the help of paraprofessional Brenda Campbell, an avid knitter, the members of NAHS will learn to knit and make blankets for neonatal intensive care units in community hospitals.

“Mrs. Campbell is going to come in and teach the kids how to knit, and we’re going to knit a bunch of squares that we’re then going to put together to make baby blankets. Then we’re going to donate them,” NAHS sponsor and art teacher Cortney Dougherty said.

The members of NAHS try to meet as a group to complete different art projects that help the community. Earlier this year, they organized a community Trunk or Treat.

NAHS president junior Margo Hunter thinks that the project will be a good chance for the group to have fun and knit blankets.

“We’re just hoping to have a good time and get to know the other people in the group better. Also to make blankets, of course,” Hunter photo illustration by said. maxie crimm Campbell is hoping that the knitting project will go well. She wants the members of NAHS to enjoy knitting, and not think of it as a hobby only for “old ladies.”

“I think it’s frustrating at the beginning to learn how to knit because there’s a lot of different parts to it. I hope they have fun. You know knitting kind of has that connotation that only old people do it, but that’s not true. It’s sort like a soothing thing, knitting has a calming effect, so hopefully they’ll feel that, but it takes a while, so I hope they’ll enjoy it,” Campbell said.

Students who join NAHS can expect to meet about once a month to participate in projects like this one. The members of NAHS will work hard on these projects to help their community.

“I just think it’s a nice way for us to use our artwork to benefit kids who need it. And it gives them a nice little memento also so they’ll always know where that blanket came from,” Dougherty said.

The project is still in the works, but the members of NAHS met Jan. 17 for the knitting tutorial courtesy of Campbell.

“We haven’t done that much preparing yet, but I think it will be really cool once we get it all organized. It will be a fun time. I don’t actually know how to knit, so hopefully I’ll learn something,” Hunter said.

Overall, the club’s goal for the project is to do good for the community while having fun and learning to knit.

“Hopefully, the activity will be fun and worthwhile for the group. We are hoping to continue to create and give back to the community,” junior NAHS member Bethany Ward said.

The group will be needing knitting needles and yarn to make the blankets, and are asking for donations. Because the blankets are being donated to the NICU at Children’s Mercy, acrylic yarn would be a preferred donation of yarn because of issues with allergies, but they will appreciate anything. If you want to make a donation, bring it to Dougherty in Room 223.

“I just think it’s a nice way for us to use our artwork to benefit kids who need it.”

National Art Honor Society sponsor Cortney Dougherty

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News

To The Top of the Pyramid Cheerleaders share their opinion on competitive cheerleading being named an official sport.

By Miah Clark copy editor, Editorial Cartoonist ot real athletes. A classification that cheerleaders have faced since the sport’s creation, and a classification they were finally freed of in late 2016. On Dec. 9, The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, voted to recognize competitive cheerleading as an official sport. The world governing body of cheerleading, the International Cheer Union, or ICU, will be given a three-year recognition period in which they will receive annual funding from the IOC, and afterwards be able to petition to be included in the Olympic games.

“I think competitive cheer would be highly viewed as an Olympic sport,” senior cheerleader Emma Elliot said.

Elliot has been a part of the Kansas City Athletic Cheer team for four years, on their highest ranking level five team. The majority of her week is spent both practicing and working at her gym.

“People don’t understand that cheerleading is actually a sport,” Elliot said.

“They just assume we all have pom-poms and do cheers. Competitive cheer is nothing

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Quotes gathered

by Avery Woods Photos by Kice mansi and Hannah Carter

like that.”

At the heart of competitive cheerleading is a two minute and 30 second routine, usually with music and including various complex stunts, jumps and tumbling.

“It actually feels like you’re dying the whole time,” Elliot said.

When watching the performance of a competitive cheer routine, the difference between it and regular cheerleading become clear.

“It’s really hard,” freshman cheerleader Avery Yarbrough said. “It’s harder than people assume it is.”

Yarbrough, alongside Elliot, cheers for both Kansas City Athletic Cheer and South.

The routines require intense synchronization and the perfect execution of stunts, thus an even greater amount of practice beforehand. Elliot dedicates a total of 16 hours each week to her competitive cheerleading.

“I get home pretty late and am up doing homework, but I try not to let [cheerleading] get in the way,” Elliot said.

While competitive cheerleading’s status as a provisional Olympic sport does not guarantee it a spot in the 2020 Olympic games, it does inspire hope for the sport to be included in the future.

“Just because it doesn’t have a ball or it’s not boyish, it’s still just as hard as any other sport,” Yarbrough said. “You put a lot of time and effort into it, and that’s what I think makes it a sport.”

Photo illustration by Jillian McClellan

Athlete Snapshots

freshman Kristina Bermond What’s your favorite part of being a freshman on varsity basketball?

“I really enjoy being with upperclassmen and being on the varsity team because everybody goes to those games.”

junior Preston Kroner Why did you decide to do bowling?

“It was kind of an accident. I kind of just walked in the hall one day, saw my friends get on a bus, and I got on the bus.”

senior Noah Birkel What do you think about the future of South’s swim team?

“We have a couple of good swimmers coming up...who I think will be really vital to the team next year.”

Sports

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Trying It All

Staff member samples different fitness classes.

By Tess Conley Writer he feeling and effects of working out are incredible. You become more fit, healthier and often happier after finishing. It can be difficult to get motivated to workout, especially in the winter. I went to three exercise places around the Kansas City area that I think are fun, but also motivate you to be active.

T Sophomore Tess Conley does a push-up at the Overland Park Crossfit. Crossfit is a myriad of exercises that are combined to create one workout. photos by Hannah Carter

Apex Climbing Gym

Crossfit is typically depicted as the workout or sport that people get super ripped in or hurt easily.

Overland Park Crossfit is different.

The instructors weren’t huge, and made sure that everyone was doing the workouts correctly to insure that nobody would get hurt. The workouts are high intensity reps, mine having deadlifts, burpees (lots of them), squats and step ups. The reps are short, so you try to use little weight. We did reps of five for two exercises for eight minutes, which seems easy but was really hard. I’m used to doing strength build up, agility and endurance for soccer, so it was a different workout. It still was a good change, and very tiring.

The instructors also had us stretch both before and after to ensure less muscle soreness and reduce the risk of injuries. In conclusion, if you are looking for a crossfit place to workout at, I would recommend OPC.

7200 W. 106th Street

Sports

Overland Park Crossfit

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8303 W 126th St Suite B

Sweat KC

12206 Johnson Drive

Out of all the classes I went to, SWEAT KC was by far my favorite.

I took the Yoga Burn class, which is yoga mixed with cardio, abs and strength. The class was really hard but also super fun. All the instructors were welcoming and friendly, making me want to purchase a membership.

SWEAT KC offers a variety of yoga, zumba, lifting, pilates and more classes that inspire anyone to get fit.

My favorite thing about the class was that while it was hard, you could still easily adjust each exercise to make it more difficult for you. I am super inflexible, and my teacher helped to accommodate my weakness. We did yoga poses, then incorporated strength into them. All in all, SWEAT KC is better for me than a simple gym membership that has huge classes.

You gain a personal relationship with the instructor and have a lot of fun while exercising.

When you walk into Apex, the walls are covered in climbing grips.

The walls are organized by course, each course being color coded and labeled with its difficulty at the starting point. You can pay $16 to get chalk, shoes and access to the climbing and ninja training for a day. There are also specified classes: ninja training, climbing and yoga.

A problem I encountered at Apex was that there is a separate place for kids to climb, that when I was there nobody was regulating. Kids were running around and climbing, incorrectly, while we were trying to climb. Climbing for an hour is legitimately one of the hardest workouts I have ever done. Your hands get tired while you climb, and the next day your arms in general are a little sore. Overall, Apex is a great workout and a good place to spend your energy in a fun rewarding way. It is also pretty inexpensive.

Fitspiration for the Winter Blues At-Home workouts are easy ways to be active.

by Hannah Underwood Writer t’s officially winter now, which means cold, windy days and a desire to lounge around on the couch. It can be challenging to make time to go to gym and workout, and exercising outside is often out of the question in this harsh Midwestern weather.

The presence of Pinterest has given rise to numerous “at-home workouts” that usually focus on incorporating a quick workout into daily routines. They can be targeted on a variety of things, such as cardio, core and even month long squat challenges.

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For those looking for easy, full-body workouts that can be done in a jiffy, the 5-4-3-2-1 workout is ideal. This workout is perfect for those enthusiastic about working out, and for those looking to tone up before the upcoming Spring Break. This workout could also be used as a quick study break, because the endorphins that are released during exercise can provide a boost of energy for even the longest study sessions.

Remember, the most important part of a workout is to have good technique. Proper technique for any movement can be found in a plethora of websites. This workout is called the 5-4-3-2-1 workout and only takes 15 minutes.

Most importantly, this workout does not require any equipment and can be done completely at home.

5 minutes: 1

1.

minute jumping jacks, 1 minute run stairs, 30 seconds squat jumps, repeat

back straight while completing the bridge exercise. Squeeze and hold the position for 30 seconds before lowering.

4 minutes:

3. Planks strengthen

3 minutes:

the abdomen. Switch your position to side plans to work more muscles.

30 second bridge, 30 seconds sumo squats, 30 seconds calf raises, repeat plank (30 seconds middle, 30 seconds each side, 30 seconds middle)

are just like squats, but with the legs positioned wider apart. Add weight for an extra challenge.

2. Keep your

1 minute tricep dips, 30 seconds mountain climbers, 30 seconds pushups, repeat

2 minutes:

1. Sumo squats

Photos by Maxie Crimm

2.

1 minute: wall sit

3.

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photo illustration by jillian mccllelan

Living Outside the Box New requirements affect transfer students.

by Mitch Brock writer ach year on April 1, there is an online application that students enter their basic and academic information in to, and at the end of April, that application closes.

Who’s this application for? Transfer students. In 2016, new transfer policies changed from transfer students being able to maintain a 2.0 to not being able to get a D in a class.

When students want to transfer to a district school outside of their attendance area, they send in the application and the district reviews each transfer application.

“When the application is sent in,” associate principal Ryan Flurry said, “the district approves or denies based on whether that student is meeting the standards and criteria at their school, and then if there is space available at the school they want to go to. Now our high schools have space, and as long as there aren't any disciplinary problems and they have good grades, they're approved.”

To be held to certain academic standards is not a problem for some, but when students are forced to move to the school that is within their boundaries because they can't abide by those standards, it has a bigger effect on them and their schoolwork.

Here at Shawnee Mission South, sophomore Stephen Luancing, one of 99 transfer students, was close to being forced to move schools despite having attended South area schools since elementary school.

“You can't get anything below a 69.5 percent. You have to exceed the expectations of what you would normally have to do because if you do terrible you’ll have to switch schools,” Luancing said.

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Grades are not the only factor weighing on whether or not transfer students meet the guidelines.

“Aside from maintaining grades, there cannot be any excessive disciplinary issues, no suspensions of any kind and no more than 10 days absent in the school year,” Flurry said. “For the grades, it's nothing below a C (69.5 percent) for quarter grades or semester grades.”

As far as students getting kicked out for not meeting the criteria, not many actually do.

“I’d say maybe one a year from Shawnee Mission South gets kicked out to another school. We just have a good group of transfer students who do what they're supposed to do. We get a couple students coming to South who get kicked out from other schools who should be going here,” Flurry said.

Students have their own reasons for transferring schools, and they are willing to abide by the rules so they can be where they want to be.

“My older siblings went here and I thought it would be right if I went to South. I have friends that go here too,” Luancing said.

Each school has its own boundary, meaning if you live within that boundary you go to that school. If you don't live within the school of your choice's boundary, you fill out the application to go to the school you want to attend.

One issue for transfer students is that although they may live closer to a certain school, it may not matter due to the fact that they aren't within that school's boundary.

“I don’t think it’s fair because I live closer to South than I do East, and if I get bad grades, I get kicked out," Luancing said. “Not every student excels at school, so some students are going to struggle.”

Features

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Pushing it to the Limit

Photo Illustration by Kice Mansi

Athletes go to the extreme for their sports.

by Lily Wagner Web Editor, Infographics Editor hile playing a sport is generally considered healthy, some athletes put their well-being at risk to compete. One third of South students participate in sports, meaning athlete health is a schoolwide issue.

In wrestling, weight is a necessity to the sport.

Wrestlers like junior Max Holmes, who currently wrestles in the 113 weight class, must maintain their weight while participating.

“I was supposed to be in 120,” Holmes said. “That’s how much I weighed when the season started, but then I looked at all of the people who were in the 120 weight class and was like, ‘nope.’”

During his first time cutting weight, Holmes felt hungry afterwards. Hunger is one of the negative health effects that weight maintenance can bring. Wrestlers also often feel tired, are more prone to getting sick and can have trouble sleeping while cutting weight.

“I don’t feel like it’s healthy or really a good thing for your body to do,” Holmes said. “I mean, it’s kind of a necessity. It’s always better to wrestle in a lower weight class because people are smaller and easier to wrestle.”

Because of the impacts on the student’s health, the Kansas State High School Athletics Association has guidelines in place regarding the weight cutting and

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gaining process in wrestling. They outline the regulations for everything from scales to athlete hydration.

“The state does have rules and certifications,” wrestling coach Joel Rios said. “A certain wrestler can only lose 8 percent of their weight.”

Although cutting and gaining is still common in the sport, it is much less prevalent than it used to be. Coaches have begun discouraging it in favor of their athletes’ health.

“We don’t recommend it. We don’t encourage it. There is always a coach who monitors what they weigh in,” Rios said. “We encourage wrestlers to wrestle as close to their natural weight as possible.”

In contrast to the weight cuts and fasting practiced in wrestling, student athlete Corrine Rogers has struggled in balancing her vegetarian diet with the demands of soccer and cross country.

“With cross country [my diet] made me a lot more lethargic and less strong,” Rogers said.

Playing club soccer and running cross country at the same time during the fall, and playing soccer for South in the spring has pushed Rogers to pay more attention to health.

“I’m a vegetarian, so I have to eat a lot of protein and get a good night’s sleep and manage time well,” Rogers said.

With winter sports well underway and spring sports set to start soon, more than half of the school’s 498 student athletes will be paying more attention to their health.

Ryan Bare has been a part of boy scouts for eleven years. While in boy scouts, Ryan attended camp and completed a service project to become an Eagle Scout.

photos courtesy of ryan bare

Q

A &

with junior Ryan Bare

Junior Ryan Bare has been involved in cross country, band and swim all while planning and completing his Eagle Scout project and participating in Boy Scouts. Bare has been in Scouts for 10 years and talks about getting the highest honor in Scouting.

BY blake atkinson writer PHOTO BY hannah carter

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How long have you been involved in scouts?

How do you hope your project will impact others?

I’ve been in Scouts since first grade.

I just hope the charity uses it on a regular basis and it improves their work flow. That was what we set out to do from the outset.

Have you done a service project?

What did you do?

Yes, I built a storage unit at a local charity, Blessings Abound.

What was the process of getting your Eagle like?

It involved doing a couple different review boards and completing the project as well as a board of review made up of district officials and parents from my troop.

What went into the planning for that?

There was a lot of documentation that you have to do to make sure the Boy Scouts of America knows exactly what your plans are and what you’re doing.

What are all the requirements you have to complete to get your Eagle?

Mostly it’s just staying in Scouts long enough and making sure you stay active.

How long did the Eagle Project take?

How much did it cost?

With all the paperwork it was a couple months, but actual work, we had two work days which were about 4 hours a piece. $170.

What did they need the storage unit for?

What they wanted it for was they had a whole bunch of hangers scattered about their facility and they wanted a wall mounted unit they could store them on in one location.

How did you come across the project?

How do you expect this to help you for the future?

It’s a great thing to put on a resumé and Eagle Scouts just kinda have a reputation as being very marketable people.

How has being a Scout impacted your life?

I’ve had a lot of great experiences in life that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere, and it’s just been a lot of fun over the last few years.

What difficulties did you face during the process?

The hardest part of staying on top of the timing and making sure everything got done in a timely fashion.

Lots of people don’t continue Scouting into their later years of youth, what’s it been like to be older and still involved?

Scouts is something that’s really great to do when you’re in elementary and middle school. But once you get to high school, it’s very hard to stay active and most people do stop participating when they get to high school because they get so much busier.

What are some of your favorite memories from Scouting?

Some of my favorite memories would have to be water skiing and trap shooting. Those were some really fun experiences.

I was familiar with the charity. My church has worked with them for a long time so I knew they would probably need something so I called them up and asked if they needed help.

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The

Balancing Act Teens often neglect their health in favor of other priorities.

by Avery Woods Sports Editor

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oodiness, irritability, attention and memory problems – just a few issues

that often come along with certain deprivations of health necessities.

Health class is a requirement to graduate high school, but all those rules and health tips are often disregarded by teens. Not only do most high schoolers not get enough sleep, they also don’t eat well and don’t manage their emotional and mental health.

Though social life, work and sports all affect stress levels and amounts of sleep, the most common complaint for teens’ shortcomings on health is school. It’s the bane of high schoolers’ existence and the main grievance of the day. All of that objection has some truth to it.

“I think the stress that students put on themselves to get the good grades causes them not to eat, not to sleep,” school nurse Angie York said. “It’s a vicious cycle.”

York recommends cutting out one stress in life that isn’t as important, such as TV, social media or video games.

“Teens put a lot of pressure on themselves,” York said. “They’re involved in way too much stuff.

They’ve got school, they’ve got sports, they’ve got homework, they’ve got friends, a social life.”

Sleep

This pressure can come from piling schedules with honors classes or just straining to get good grades. Ultimately, these will lead to lack of sleep. According to

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teenhealth.org, stress leads to insomnia, and further, stressing about insomnia will lead to even less sleep.

The recommended amount of sleep for teens is anywhere from eight to 10 hours; nationwidechildrens.org says that the average teen only gets about seven.

“I definitely should get way more [sleep] than I do. I’d say during the school year I average about five hours a night, maybe six,” senior Karynn Carroll said.

Carroll says that school and sports lead to her lack of sleep. School isn’t the only factor that affects sleep patterns in teenagers. Studies have shown that after puberty, the body’s circadian rhythm resets, which makes the biological clock two hours later than during childhood. A teenager who used to fall asleep around 9 p.m. would now fall asleep around 11 p.m.

High schoolers already get so little sleep because of the biological shift in sleeping patterns, then add stress.

But then factor in the early starts for school.

“I get about six hours of sleep because I wake up early,” sophomore John Foster said.

The new late start system Thursdays beginning Feb. 9 may be able to help high schoolers catch up on sleep, but the rest of the days will still include a normal waking time.

The effects of sleep deprivation can range anywhere from moodiness to poor decision making. According to teenhealth.org, studies have also shown that students who get limited amounts of sleep tend to get worse grades and are more likely to fall asleep during class. Attention, memory, reaction time and creativity – all important to do well in school – are also inhibited by lack of sleep.

York recommends staying away from electronics before going to bed.

“To get a good night’s rest, you can’t have your phone on, your music

Instead of reaching for chips or cookies after require little preparation, and will provide you

photo by savannah morgan, arranged on, your TV on. You can’t have any distractions to get a good night’s sleep,” York said.

Ideally, getting enough sleep requires not waking up in the middle of the night, something that can’t happen if a phone goes off. Making sure you eat well enough and exercise during the day can help to sleep through the night. Avoiding caffeine and taking early afternoon naps when you’re tired can also help to get enough sleep. Nationwidechildrens. org advises against sleeping late on weekends to catch up on sleep; this sets the body’s clock back to an even more depriving sleep schedule.

Diet

Another factor in teen health is diet. Eating healthily can impact high schoolers’ lives greatly. And yet, many don’t have the time, money or desire to eat a healthy meal.

“You guys live in a fast-paced world, so everyone wants to go through a drive-thru and grab something easy to eat because you’ve got 13 other things going on at the same time,” York said.

There’s a recurring theme here: high schoolers tend to take on too many responsibilities and in the wake of this, leave their health behind.

school, try a healthier snack. These options u with energy and nutrients.

d by hannah underwood Teenhealth.org recommends a diet of 2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day, or five servings.

“I try to eat generally well-rounded meals. So I’ll have a protein, a grain, a vegetable and a fruit in every meal,” Carroll said.

Eating healthily and having everything in moderation is not equal to dieting; looking for a quick fix to health issues isn’t always the way out.

“Unfortunately you guys are still growing, and your brains are still growing, and so you need all the nutrients,” York said.

Drinking water also goes along with eating well. Teens who do tend to eat well are usually athletes, concerned with making sure they put good things in their bodies and to get good performances. Runners especially watch their diets closely.

Instead of reaching for fast food, eating healthy fruits and vegetables, mixed nuts, eggs or plain Greek yogurt can improve health and give your body the nutrients it needs as it continues to grow.

Stress

Stress can impact the body in several different ways, and according to The American Institute of Stress, there are few diseases and viruses

that are not aggravated by stress.

Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are also linked to stress.

York says that stress seems to be selfinflicted among teens. The pressure to get an A can often affect teen health negatively.

“I think there needs to be a whole lot more education when it comes to teens and mental health. There needs to be more resources available for them, to be able to know that it’s okay to call somebody, to get the help that they need, no stigma attached,” York said.

Social worker Erin Burvee has come up with several ways to deal with stress.

“Obviously mental health is a foundational need that needs to be addressed in order to focus on other areas of life,” Burvee said.

Burvee recommends devising a wellness plan in order to deal with stress, so that when a teen is in a crisis situation, they can pull out a notecard of ways to deal with their growing anxiety whenever needed. The wellness plan is devised by the user.

It’s usually a list of ways to cope with stress, like deep breathing or taking a walk.

Emotional health is also an issue when it comes to grades.

“Grades will be the last thing most people will worry about when they’re stressed about something else,” York said. “The last thing you want to do is study for a test if your boyfriend just broke up with you… When you aren’t into the moment of what you’re doing gradewise, anything else is going to affect your grades.”

Though emotional health can affect teens’ schoolwork, it can also affect physical health. Emotional eating, according to York, is a serious health problem. When stressed, some teens end up eating more than they should. Helpguide.org says that emotional eating is using food to make yourself feel better. Reaching for food, especially sugary kinds, when one is angry, lonely, stressed, exhausted or bored can cause weight gain and overeating. In addition, emotional eating can lead to regret or guilt later, which cycles back to eating again.

Instead of reaching for food, use other stress relieving activities to help cope.

Giving into cravings only encourages

Simple Ways to Reduce Stress

Although the best way to combat stress is to address the source of it and modify your habits to deal with it, these are some tips to temporarily provide relief.

- listen to music

- stretch - meditate - write down 10 things you’re thankful for - chew a piece of gum - do 20 jumping jacks - look at photos from a fun vacation - spend time outside - play with your pets bad habits.

The core of teen health issues tends to cycle back to one main cause: school. School triggers stress, which then impacts everything else. Though it’s unavoidable, there are still some changes that can be made if stress is affecting other parts of a student’s life. Taking fewer honors classes or practicing certain stress relieving activities can help alleviate some of the anxiety that school brings. Some healthy ways to relieve stress include stretching, meditating, doodling, counting to 10 and practicing deep, slow breathing. If you’re ever having trouble dealing with too much stress, talking to someone can help too.

Health is not something to take lightly. Though it may not seem like it, a good night’s sleep and a healthy meal can really affect how teens see themselves and how they are perceived.

“It’s important to me to take care of myself. It’s kind of gross to me if people don’t take care of their bodies,” Carroll said. “You just feel better, especially if you’re exercising often. When I eat badly, I feel terrible… I just feel better, and mentally I feel better about my life.”

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photo illustration by cassandra awad

clock is affected from the change in season or a change in your melatonin levels.

“I always try to Seasonal Affective keep doing something Disorder (SAD) is a type of and keep busy; I depression, but comes and also take Vitamin D goes with seasonal change. supplement. Most everyone doesn’t have enough Vitamin D,” Kelley said.

There are some Irritability medical treatments Tiredness or low energy such as light therapy Problems getting along (phototherapy), psychotherapy and with other people medications.

Hypersensitivity to “If there is a rejection biological reason for the depression, it can Heavy, leaden feeling in be treated/prevented the arms or legs with medication.

Oversleeping SAD symptoms can Appetite changes, also be alleviated through a variety of especially a craving psychotherapies, or for foods high in alternative therapies, carbohydrates like light exposure therapy,” Sheppard Weight gain said.

SAD lamps, or light boxes, can offer SAD depression relief through light Depression exposure therapy.

Light boxes are Insomnia something that one has to be careful with though, since exposure too quickly or heavily can make the depression worse or cause onset bipolar depression.

Light box’s type of light causes a chemical change in the brain that lifts the mood and decreases SAD symptoms.

The light exposure mimics outdoor light. Usually, people use light boxes when they wake up or during down time activities like reading or napping. SAD is something that can easily be coped with.

“There are also many specific things that people suffering from SAD may find valuable: exercise, vitamins, lifestyle changes, etc.,” Sheppard said.

Another option for SAD experiencers is therapy, where a licensed professional can help keep their patients motivated throughout the season. Locally, one could treat SAD at the Lawrence Public Library. There is a light exposure lamp for people to use while reading at the library.

If you experience the symptoms or feel like you have had SAD before, begin treating yourself like you are coping with SAD before it begins to seriously affect you.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms

Symptoms associated with fall/winter SAD:

Just sad or SAD? Winter darkness coincides with Seasonal Affective Disorder. by tess conley writer s the season changes to winter, some students become down because of the lack of sunlight.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects more than six percent of Americans, and more in countries farther away from the equator, according to the Wall Street Journal. For junior Claire Kelley, this is a reality.

“In the winter there’s not as much sun and it’s dark outside. I get sad,” Kelley said.

SAD is a depression that affects people when the seasons change, often in the winter months, but also sometimes during the summer.

“Seasonal affective disorder can be caused by biological factors, like a chemical imbalance. It can also be caused by psychological factors, like things that originate in the environment: stress, family or friend issues, negative self-talk and low self-esteem, etc.,” psychology teacher Heather Sheppard, said.

Those affected may experience depression, lethargy, irritability and a desire to avoid social situations. The cause of SAD is currently unknown. According to the Mayo Clinic, some causes are a drop of serotonin and Vitamin D levels, and because of the lack of sunlight, your biological

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Symptoms associated with spring/summer SAD:

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Crash Course Winter conditions worsen roads and endanger drivers.

by Muriel Lund writer now flakes falling from the sky creating a canvas of white is gorgeous until you get behind the wheel of a car and can’t see. This is what happened to junior Rhys Jones in the parking lot earlier this year.

“My windshield and the window were both covered with snow so I couldn’t actually see what was on my right, and Peter was parked on my right,” Jones said. “Above my back tire caught onto his bumper and completely pulled it off. I heard a noise, but I thought it was just me driving on the snow so I kept going.”

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), drivers ages 16-19 are three times more likely to crash than drivers over 20. Adding winter weather conditions can be a recipe for disaster when young drivers get on the roads.

Jones admits that if he wasn’t in a rush and instead had taken his time leaving the parking lot he could have prevented the accident.

SRO Officer Mike Brown agrees, saying that people are usually in a hurry to get home and aren’t looking when

S

leaving school.

“That’s when we have most of the accidents,” Brown said. “Brakes are not your friends if there is ice or snow out there. You just have to slow everything down. Plan ahead before you go somewhere.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 22 percent of the yearly vehicle crashes are due to winter weather conditions. It is important to prepare your car for the winter weather. You can fog proof your windows by spraying shaving cream on the inside then wiping it off with a paper towel, and your gas tank should always be kept above a quarter tank. With the increased likelihood of being stranded on the side of the road while waiting for assistance it is advised to keep a winter car kit in your vehicle at all times. These kits can be purchased already put together online or in stores. You can also put together your own kit, making sure it includes a blanket, a first aid kit, water, high energy non-perishable food such as peanut butter or granola bars, a flashlight, extra batteries, a phone charger, jumper cables and a snow scraper.

Snow or shine, slowing down isn’t the only way to prevent accidents in the parking lot.

“People are careless and on their phones. They need to put their devices away. Go the speed limit and be careful,” sophomore Mia Neaderhiser said.

By following these safety tips, the student body can work together towards lowering the teen driving and winter weather statistics.

Winter Car Kit

Items to get you through being stranded on the side of a road portable phone charger one of the principle reasons for having a cell phone is negated by it being dead

flashlight - it’s hard to figure out photo by Kice Mansi what’s wrong with a car in the dark, and your phone should be using its power to make SOS calls

First Aid kit - quick fix for minor cuts and bruises

water & high energy snack - provide protein and hydration

jumper cables - “‘Red from the dead, to red on the good. Black from the good, to under the hood”

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blanket/sweatshirt cold turns to really cold quickly

ice scraper - a scraper with a brush can tackle snow and ice

Staff Editorial

Editorial Cartoon by Miah Clark

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tress has become synonymous with the high school experience.

AP classes, standardized tests, college applications, work, extracurriculars, leadership positions, volunteer hours and GPA all loom down on students. Students are promised, that, if they can strike the perfect combination of all these factors, they will go on to college and succeed in whichever area of interest they desire. And while this resumé may seem like the perfect applicant to a college, it is not the deciding factor of future success. Students quickly wear themselves down by trying to meet this unrealistic expectation, which could be set by family, college admissions or even internal drive.

This scene of students coming home from daily sports practices or shifts at work, studying or finishing homework for their honors and AP classes into the early hours of morning, just to sleep for a few hours and do it all again the next day, every day for five days, is a dangerous reality.

Today’s high schooler cannot have it all. Trying to achieve “the perfect resumé” can easily come

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at the expense of adequate sleep, proper nutrition, regular exercise, relationships and mental health.

Teenagers need to start prioritizing their health and well-being. As the years pass, the achievement of an A in calculus will fade from memory while the healthy habits that can be started gradually today can literally pay dividends as the years pass. According to the Journal of the American Heart Association, participants who took a 30 minute walk five days a week saved an average of $2,500 a year on medical expenses compared to those who didn’t exercise.

If there can be that much money associated with a relatively small daily lifestyle change, imagine how much time, energy and money could be saved by avoiding illnesses through making more healthy changes like giving the brain more time to recharge by increasing the amount of nightly sleep or helping the body function better by eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods.

Stress is not unique to high school, and balance is key to any schedule. If students can establish healthy ways to prioritize their responsibilities, while

also taking care of themselves, they will be better equipped to enter the workforce and “real life” as healthy individuals.

While there are unknowns in many areas of one’s life, good health should always be a constant. Whether that means going to sleep instead of staying up for a couple of more hours cramming for a test, dropping one honors class or activity to allow for more time to focus on the other aspects of life or even taking a 15 minute study break every hour or two to take a walk and practice deep breathing, we can all benefit from remembering that at the end of the day, our health is one of the biggest factors in our lives. Establishing habits that are beneficial to the mind and body now has the potential to save more stress, time and money in the future, thus allowing for a fulfilling and successful life.

9/9 editors agree with the views expressed in this editorial

Photo Illustration

by Jillian McCelland

Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Reluctant week of choosing to live healthy leads to a lifestyle change.

By Angela Machado Writer ne of the most difficult health issues our country faces today is breaking the cycle of obesity, especially in young people. We have seen this issue brought to light as former first lady, Michelle Obama, spoke out about this ongoing issue to try to change the unhealthy habits of the youth in order to create a much healthier lifestyle for their future. For the week of Dec. 26- Jan. 2, I partook in healthy living, which included a minimum of 8 hours of sleep each night, one workout per day and only healthy foods. I challenged myself to follow these guidelines to emphasize the benefits of living a healthy life.

The benefits of sleep impact nearly every area of daily life. While it may be obvious that sleep is beneficial, most people don’t realize how much sleep they need and why it is so important. Sleep plays a vital role in promoting physical health, longevity and emotional well-being.

People who get the appropriate amount of sleep on a regular basis tend to live longer, healthier lives than those who sleep too few or even too many hours each night.

This underscores the importance of making sleep a top priority. Teens need an average 8-10 hours of sleep every night, but unfortunately the majority of teenagers have irregular sleeping patterns.

Despite the astounding benefits of getting the required amount of sleep each night, I am commonly unable to achieve the necessary hours of rest. I rarely get more than five or six hours of sleep a night, which means I take a lot of naps when it’s light outside, holding the title of ‘sleepiest girl you’ll ever meet’. This experiment has taught me that I have the chance to be happier and healthier if I choose to rest a bit more each night. I found that with at least 8 hours of sleep, I didn’t get that 4 p.m crash that I typically get, and my eating schedule was more consistent.

It was a lot easier to be in a better mood.

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As well as sleeping, the health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are just as vital. While exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss, exercise has many other advantages on the body. Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression and a number of types of cancer and arthritis. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed, all while boosting your confidence and improving your self-esteem.

Consistent workouts can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance, giving you more energy for your day-to-day life.

As a high schooler trying to find a balance between school, work and a social life, I find it difficult to find time to set aside for going to the gym or working out, even though I understand how beneficial it can be to my body.

For this week long experiment I dreaded going to the gym each day, but once I forced myself to, I instantly felt great.

I began to see improvements almost immediately after beginning this lifestyle change. For example, I was getting a better night’s rest and finding it easier to fall asleep. I felt less sluggish and more energized, and my body felt cleaner as it got rid of all the toxins.

A key part in treating your body well is what you put in it. Some of the benefits of eating healthy include increased productivity, enhanced mood, regulated weight and overall an extended healthy life.

I rarely watch what I eat because I am an avid believer in doing what makes you happy, and to be honest, broccoli doesn’t make me as happy as chicken nuggets do.

The hardest part about changing your eating habits is not including healthier foods, but cutting out the foods that aren’t as good for you. Doing this experiment over break was extremely difficult, with all of the holiday foods and my friends asking me to go out to eat. I am proud of myself for sticking with the guidelines and having been able to experience the change in lifestyle, because now I can wholeheartedly stand by the true benefits of a healthier life. I plan to turn these changes in my life into habits.

Opinion

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The

Debate

By Mark Holland News Editor Photos By Kice Mansi

D

Yes:

ating back thousands of years to the time of the Babylonians, people of various cultures have been following the tradition of creating a goal for themselves at the beginning of every year. Since then, New Year’s resolutions have been a part of New Year traditions for many.

But there are a large part of Americans who do not support this tradition. Some feel that they are pointless because nobody seems to stick with them.

While it is true that people who make resolutions do not follow up on them, the practice of making them can still be a good thing.

At the end of every year, reflections are made, and people look back at the past year and think about what they can improve in their life. The act of making a resolution is a way for people to look to the future year with hope.

When they realize how they can improve their lives, they can make a promise to themselves to improve it and make the next year better than the one before.

Yes, it is true that a lot of resolutions made are never carried out, but the problem isn’t with the resolution, it’s with the person. Many people don’t make an effort to actually accomplish their resolutions.

But when they do make an effort, that effort can go a long way.

New Year’s resolutions are by no means necessary things, but they are a good way to check the path your life is going down.

So why do people neglect to accomplish their resolutions? It could be that they set an unreasonable goal for themselves, but most commonly it’s the fact that they don’t work hard enough.

When a New Year’s resolution is made, the maker should create a plan for how they will see these goals realized. Whether it’s setting reminders or asking someone else for help, they should try something. It may be hard in the beginning, but if they are passionate about making changes then they should not give up on it.

Now, if the person picked an impossible goal, then that can’t be helped.

It’s important to remember when making these goals that they should both be possible and desirable. When people choose to do that, then those goals are achievable.

New Year’s is meant to be a celebration of a brand new year. If this year is to be better, then people need to put forth the effort to make the world a better place.

Poll results: Are the proposed schedule changes positive?

Yes 42% 22

Opinion

No 58%

Should people make New Year’s resolutions?

No:

by Amelia Holcomb Editor-in-Chief Features Editor

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ew Year’s resolutions are nothing more than an excuse to put off goals until a specific date. They allow their users to spend all of December over-indulging in unhealthy habits with the promise of being able to start over Jan. 1 with a suddenly clean diet and rigorous workout routine. This sudden shift in lifestyle is difficult to maintain over months or years, which is why the same people make the same resolutions every year. According to a University of Scranton Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45 percent of Americans usually make a New Year’s resolution and of those, only 8 percent are successful in achieving that resolution. Instead of setting arbitrary dates as the day we will become healthier, we should try to incorporate more healthy habits and practices into our everyday lives.

Resolutions are also often too vague to stick to. What does “spend more time with family” or “get more sleep” really mean and how will you shift your priorities and commitments in your schedule to make time to implement those changes? Setting specific goals with detailed plans on where the extra time will come from or go will set you up for a better chance of success with your goals. A specific plan such as planning a standing weekly family dinner or only allowing five minutes to check social media on your phone before bed are small but measurable ways to change a lifestyle and stay accountable.

Even if a resolution is specific, it may be too extreme to realistically implement. One who tries to go from never working out to going to the gym every day or completely cutting carbs from a diet will most likely fall back into old habits, and once they’ve failed their resolution they may stop trying altogether.

The general intentions of New Year’s resolutions and the practice of setting goals are worth observing. We could all stand to eat better, exercise more and spend less time on social media accounts. I understand the fresh start a turn of the calendar brings, but if we want to make changes in our lives, we should make them as soon as we decide it’s worth it, and we should focus on gradually bettering ourselves in a way that will eventually turn into a realistic and manageable lifestyle change. By all means, if a cold turkey, all-ornothing approach to lifestyle changes works for you, do that. But don’t wait until Jan. 1 to start.

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photo illustration by cassandra awad

Race to Graduate Despite only having one semester left, seniors should finish strong.

By Hannah Underwood Writer ell, my fellow seniors, we did it. We’ve made it through our first semester of senior year. Seven out of eight semesters down, one to go. 116 days until graduation. For many of us, senioritis has started to kick in. And as government teacher Tony Budetti says, “There is no one more useless than a second semester senior.”

Even doing the most mundane of things becomes impossibly difficult. Homework? No thanks. Three tests on Tuesday? I’m not feeling it. Basketball game against East on Friday? Count me in. By now, many seniors have a plan for their future, whether it be attending a college or university, working, or taking a gap year.

For all my life, I have always been an overachiever, taking on what seems to be too many obligations. But even the most ambitious people like me have senioritis. I didn’t think I would experience a complete lack of motivation at times, but senioritis is real.

For the first time in my high school career, my future isn’t vague. I have a better sense of who I am now, and I know what I want. But, I believe seniors like me become so focused on the future that we forget to live in the present.

Seniors’ grades tend to drop during their second semester, because we are so focused on where we will be next fall that we ignore our current obligations. Athletes are more likely to quit sports their senior year, not wanting to take on the responsibility of being a leader or ending their athletic career strong due to the effort it takes.

So, I am encouraging you, fellow seniors, including myself, to stay motivated. We’ve made it this far, so what’s another semester? We have forced ourselves to study for countless tests, written essays and watched an innumerable amount of Crash Course videos to help us cram. We can do this.

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You may not know this, but college admissions offices look at your eighth semester grades. Colleges and universities want the best of the best. They want students who resist the temptation of becoming lazy and show that they will not relinquish their endurance and hard work, even when the finish line is just on the horizon. The more we maintain our study habits, the easier the transition to college level classes will be. So I encourage you to pause your Netflix marathon and study for that test. Work hard so that when the time comes, you can play hard.

For those of you seniors who aren’t overwhelmed with challenging classes and outside obligations, find another way to stay involved. If you find yourself having plenty of free time, try finding a job or joining a club. I guarantee you that if you stay busy, you will live more in the moment and be more satisfied with your last few months at home.

Don’t get me wrong, senior year is supposed to be the best of our high school years. Our hard work has finally paid off, and now we can enjoy being the top dogs. We will excitedly file into the first few rows of the stands at sports games, because seniority rules. We will go on senior spring break trips with our friends. We will have our last hoorah at Senior Prom.

I am asking you to close your eyes and visualize May 16, 2017, our graduation day. You are draped in green and gold, tassels and cords. Your face is beaming as you listen to your principal and elected graduation speakers talk about the mystery and beauty of the real world that we are about to enter. When your name is called and you walk across that stage to receive your diploma, will you walk confidently, or will you begrudgingly shuffle? Will you have a million-dollar-smile on your face as you shake Dr. Dain’s hand, or will you look at your feet? Will you be satisfied with how you ended your high school career, or will you have lived with regrets?

I encourage each and every one of you to reflect on this. In the end, we want to be able to move our tassels to the left and enthusiastically toss our caps in the air, then smile and say, “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

This is why I worked hard. This is why I finished strong.”

Sweet Night for Sweetheart Restaurant Choice: Lidia’s Italian Restaurant $$ 101 W 22nd St Kansas City, MO 64108 Tel: (816)221-3722

BRIO Tuscan Grill

Homecoming groups gather together for pictures at the Rose Garden in Loose Park.

$$ 502 Nichols Drive Kansas City, MO 64112 Tel: (816) 561-5888

photo courtesy of stephanie rogers

With the Sweetheart dance coming up, making plans for where to go before the dance can be a challenge, but these tips and suggestions should help. by mara baine writer h no! Can no one agree on a place to eat and take pictures for Sweetheart? With Sweetheart coming up, there can be many stresses about where to go and what to do before the dance. While there are many places in Kansas City to eat and take pictures, the most popular places are sometimes full or overpriced.

Downtown Kansas City has many restaurants that may be a far drive, but could be well worth the gas money. Many restaurants you could be in Sweetheart attire, and fit the style of the restaurant. These types of places can normally be found down by the River Market or on the Plaza, this includes places like Lidia’s Italian restaurant and BRIO Tuscan Grill. But

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if your group doesn’t want to drive all the way downtown, there are also many restaurants near school such as Jack Stack or J. Gilberts.

If your group is looking for more of a casual restaurant, places like Winstead’s on the Plaza or Cinzetti’s in Overland Park can both be options that are less expensive than others, but can still be appropriate for fancy attire.

Picture planning can also be very important for certain people who want the perfect background.

Downtown Kansas City is also a popular place for pictures. Some of these places that attract a lot of students include The Plaza and The Liberty Memorial. But, with the cold weather many might want to stay indoors for pictures. If your groups is one who wants to be outside as little as possible, some places to take pictures indoors include Union Station, or The Sheraton Hotel Convention Center.

Jack Stack BBQ $$ 9520 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 913-385-7427

J. Gilberts $$ 9801 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 913.642.8070

Winstead’s on the Plaza $ 101 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd Kansas City, MO 64112 816-753-2244

Cinzetti’s $$ 7201 W 91st St Overland Park, KS 66212 (913) 642-0101 photo from cinzzettis.com

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Plaques that Show Personality

At the end of each semester, Writers Workshop students design a plaque with a message. Writers Workshop teacher Caroline Ewing keeps memorable plaques from previous students. photos by hannah carter

Writers Workshop culminates with a project that tells a personal story through paint.

by madison HOlloway ads editor ottles of paint are scattered across every counter and tabletop. Quiet music plays in the background, strings of lights illuminate the room, giving it a cozy feeling. The atmosphere is relaxed and full of creative concentration as students sit around tables painting wooden plaques.

In Caroline Ewing’s creative writing classes, the last project of the semester was for each student to create a plaque that artistically displays an aphorism, or a short, witty statement about life. Students were directed to choose a quote that was meaningful to them in some way and paint their design onto a small piece of wood for Ewing to put up in her room.

Ewing breaks out her large collection of paints for this project, getting students to explore a unique form of publishing.

“It gets to a point at the end of

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the semester where we’ve done so much and it’s fun to step out of the… confines of pen and paper or Google doc and be able to create something that feeds into different student’s strengths,” Ewing said.

The plaques range from highly artistic and philosophical to simple and concise. But one thing they all have in common is the heartfelt honesty that each one evokes.

Though they are small, each one conveys something significant about the student who made it and what they have to say about life. “[I want them to know] that there’s value in the words they have to say,” Ewing said.

Senior Katie Turk explained the thought process behind her plaque.

“Mine says ‘Life changes in the instant’,” Turk said. “It’s something I learned about it in Ms. McFall’s AP English class. Basically it means everyone has an instant planned out

in their life since they were born. It could be positive or negative, but it’s going to be a life-changing thing. [My painting] really emphasizes the word ‘the’ because … it’s not about just any instant, it’s about the instant that will change your life.”

Over the course of the semester, Ewing gets to know each of her creative writing students on a different level because she reads their journals and gives feedback on extremely personal things that they’ve written. The plaques serve as a way for her to remember her students once they graduate and move on.

“I go through a great plaque purge [at the end of every semester] and I keep either the ones that are very good artistically, or I keep ones that remind me of certain students,” Ewing said. “[For example,] Joe Stokes last year. His was just “be good to people”. It was very simple, but I probably will never take it down because it just reminds me of Joe and what he [stands] for which is such a good thing.”

And for many students, this class is a place where they get to express themselves and open up in front of their peers about personal topics.

Creating the plaques is a way for them to commemorate this special time together.

A Cafe Full of Gratitude

Cafe Gratitude is a small vegetarian restaurant located in the Crossroads Arts District. The restaurant is filled with brightly colored, healthy dishes photo by: Savannah Morgan

If you’re looking for a place to eat good and feel good, Cafe Gratitude is the place for you. afe Gratitude which is located in the Crossroads Arts District is a primarily vegan cuisine targeted towards the growing culture of people who support healthy eating that is both good for their bodies and the environment. All the food made at Cafe Gratitude is 100 percent plant based to support local farmers and environmentally friendly products.

The goal of Cafe Gratitude is to create an atmosphere that celebrates

healthy food that makes you feel great.

“We wanted to create a community for people that are like minded in wanting to be positive in their life, their work and eating healthy and having fun,” manager of five years, Patrick Craft said.

The restaurant has a warm environment that radiates positivity the moment you walk in the door by being greeted by the friendly staff.

The cozy feel is complemented by the comfy benches you can sit on and the window view table. The menu consists of gourmet plant based cuisines that put off a positive message. The “you are what you eat” menu style is used to promote positivity with names such as “I am open-hearted, I am blessed, I am enough.”

With the vibrant fresh foods, friendly staff and warm atmosphere, Cafe Gratitude has the perfect recipe.

Championships

Restaurant Week

Classical Series

Kansas City is hosting the Figure Skating Championships Jan. 14-22 at the Sprint Center. Tickets available at 2017usfigureskatingchampionship. com

Multi-course menus range from $15 to $33 at over 180 local restaurants from Jan. 13-22.

Come to the Kauffman Jan. 20-22 to hear the symphony play Beethoven’s “Pastoral” and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

Tickets available at kcsymphony.org.

by angela machado writer

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KANSAS CITY CALENDAR KC Symphony: Kansas City US Figure Skating

The Kansas City cityscape is accompanied by the Missouri river and skyscrapers. photo by jenna fackrell

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Recommended Reading Curl up this winter with one of these editor-approved books.

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tart of the New Year with new books. Staff members reviewed some of their favorite books and gave their insight

on what reads will interest students. From book series to autobiographies, to historical books, these reviews will entise the everyday reader and even those who don’t read much. So spend the next few break periods catching up on books brought to you by The Patriot staff members.

“Wishful Drinking”

by Carrie Fisher

By sophia belshe assistant editor-in-chief, Opinion Editor In light of her recent passing, now would be as good a time as ever to pick up Carrie Fisher’s first memoir, “Wishful Drinking.” She tells her story from growing up with celebrity parents to her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise to her battle with mental illness. It’s written in true Carrie Fisher fashion, with laugh out loud wit and refreshing honesty. Her stories are energetic and entertaining, but still manage to brilliantly illustrate the underlying truth about living with bipolar depression, addiction, and the downfalls of a life in the spotlight, and doing it in a way that’s both eloquently written and inspiring. It’s a quick read at just over 160 pages, and once you’ve finished it, her other books, both fiction and not, are worth a read as well.

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“All the Light We Cannot See”

by Anthony Doerr

by amelia holcomb editor-in-chief, Features Editor Set before and during WWII, “All the Light We Cannot See” follows a young, curious German studentturned-Nazi soldier and a blind French girl. It goes through their drastically different experiences with the war in a (sometimes confusing) non-linear path. The book is built on beautiful imagery describing the daily struggles faced by normal citizens during times of warfare, through both the German and French perspectives.

In 2015, the book won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. This isn’t the lightest read, but it’s important to remember what happened during WWII, and also realize just how privileged our lives are.

“The Tunnels” series

by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

By mark holland news editor The young adult science fiction series “Tunnels” is a great read for the nights when the weather is bitter and thrilling entertainment is desired.

Tunnels follows the story of 14-yearold British kid Will Burrows, who is the son of an archaeologist. When Will’s father goes missing, he and his best friend Chester Rawls journey to an underground world of mystery and danger to find him. What follows is an exhilarating six book ride that sees the main characters explore this new world that is more vast and fantastic than anything they could have imagined. This series is one of the best of its kind. Anyone who loves science fiction and fantasy will devour it.

Who, What, Wear: Athleisure Edition

By Tara Phillips A&E Editor photos by maxie crimm

senior Karynn Caroll

Q: Where’s your favorite place to get your athleisure clothes?

A: I think my favorite place is probably lululemon.

Q: Why do you like athleisure clothes?

A: They’re really comfortable, I can wear it around or go on a run.

sophomore Austin Conner

Q: Where do you get most of your clothes?

A: Academy Sports and Outdoors Q: Why do you wear athletic clothes?

A: Because they’re comfortable.

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Students tweeted or Snapchatted @SMSPatriot what they did over winter break. @jackiestidham: hung out with

@mia_neder: I danced

so many dogs!!

1st

2nd

Social Media Contest 3rd

@baileythomson27: warm

winter break = picnics at Loose Park

4th

@Bamstaller: the picnic was a front, I just wanted to hammock

First Place in the Social Media Contest wins a $10 giftcard.

Next month’s contest is “Relationship Goals.”

Go to smsouthnews.com to print out a 2017 coloring page.

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OH LAND OF

Opportunity JOIN OUR TEAM STOP IN AND ASK FOR A MANAGER OR APPLY ONLINE!

FREDDYSUSA.COM/CAREERS

Shawnee Mission South Now Hiring Ad 7x4_75.indd 1

9/6/2016 1:34:31 PM

And the Sweethearts Are...

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After finding out she is a candidate for Sweetheart Dance, senior Emma Jarrell completes the form given to her at the beginning of fourth hour.

Photo by Hannah Carter

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This year’s candidates for the Sweetheart dance are seniors Jonas Price, Will Blinzler, John Byrne, Andrew Anderson, David Parks, Sam Schneck, Noah Birkel, Steffen Seamon, (not pictured: Aidan Sarmiento, Kenny Chan); Rakeya Martin, Liz Holmes, Crimson Barker, Anna Distefano, Addie Nerstheimer, Emma Jarrell, Emma Kate Stapp, Corinne Rogers, Stella Shapiro and Hannah Underwood.

Photo by Kice Mansi

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Senior Crimson Barker gets her boutonniere adjusted by Student Council Special Events co-chair Liz Holmes as the friends find out they were nominated.

Photo by Hannah Carter