The Patriot December 2016 by SMS Patriot

December

THE

Patriot

issue 4

Blinded by Technology Shawnee mission south 5800 W 107th St, Overland Park, KS 66207 (913) 993-7500

VOL. 51

2016

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On the Cover

Technology seems to make life easier for those who use it, but there are health risks and other negative effects associated with the increase of technology in the modern age. Photos by savannah morgan Photo Editor

Contents News 4 5

News to Know Election Aftermath

Sports

Features

Opinion

A&E 25

Photo Essay

Last Minute Gifts

Snow Activities KC Calendar

Stadium Construction

Coloring Page

Staff Editorial

Cheer and Dance

Robotics

Q&A with Asmaa Abuhamda

Giving Up Technology

Holidays

Cacao Review

Effects of Technology

The Debate: Schedule

Who, What, Wear

Holidays with Foreign Exchange Students

Global Warming

Twitter Contest

Schedule

DECA Coffee Shop 11

Balancing School and Sports Gymnastics Clinic

Staff

Amelia Holcomb Editor-In-Chief Features Editor Sophia Belshe Assistant Editor-In-Chief Opinion Editor Savannah Morgan Photo Editor Mark Holland News Editor

Mission

Tara Phillips A&E Editor

Avery Woods Copy Editor

Evan Howell Writer

Hannah Carter Photographer

Keeli Ward Sports Editor

Miah Clark Editorial Cartoonist Writer

Angela Machado Writer Jill Propst Writer Tess Conley Writer Hannah Underwood Writer Cassandra Awad Photographer

Maxie Crimm Photographer

Lily Wagner Web Editor Infographics Editor Madison Holloway Ads Editor

Mara Baine Writer Mitch Brock Writer Faith Danaher Writer

Kice Mansi Photographer Jillian McClelland Photographer Julie Fales Adviser

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

News to Know pies] over in the Bistro kitchen, the baking part of it, which was really a good opportunity for them because here in the classroom we cook on a small scale versus in the bakery they cook for large scale... so it’s really good for the kids to get to see the different opportunities that are available.”

Workers protest for higher minimum wages The winning students won this trophy and rolling pin.

Photo By Cassandra Awad By Mark Holland News Editor

Foods class wins trophy

Senior Asmaa Abuhamda, sophomores Karla Diaz, Heidi Tapko, Alexis Smolich, and junior Raquel Wheeler participated in the Broadmoor Bistro Pie Cook-off Friday, Dec. 2. All five high schools and Horizons were represented. The students’ entry was vanilla pumpkin pie, and they won the contest. Foods teacher Chris Hornbeck thought this contest was unique. “It was the first time they’d done it,” Hornbeck said. “And they called community people to come in to be the judges and they made [the

Over 70 people were arrested after the biggest act of civil disobedience in Standup KC’s history. They were part of a nationwide protest that spanned 333 cities across the U.S. Nov. 29The protesters stood front of the Kansas City McDonald’s on Meyer and Troost Avenue. While some protesters maintained a constant chant, others took their place in the middle of Troost Avenue, where they waited willingly for the police to arrest them. The protest occurred in order to get fast food business to raise the minimum wage to $15. Some people, however, do not support the protesters’ cause. “When you’re talking about minimum wage, those jobs that they’re doing aren’t really quality jobs,” junior Jeremy Kucera said.

Kucera thinks there are plenty of people out there who deserve more money than fast food workers, like those who go to college. “Who’s gonna go to college for four years, do all that work and then get paid the same as a guy who dropped out of high school just to flip burgers,” he said.

Tennessee Wildfires

On Nov. 28, hurricane force winds spread embers from a 500 acre fire that burned near the Chimney Tops in the Great Smoky Mountains. As the embers spread, downed power-lines and trees added to the flames, and within 25 minutes they were racing towards Gatlinburg Tennessee, a resort town. Mandatory evacuations of both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge took place. When the fire hit, an estimated 1,684 structures were destroyed. At least 14 people were killed, and at least 134 were injured. Many wonder what Tennessee officials will do for the refugees in light of this event. “They should have people donate food and water,” junior Jeff McKinzy said. Two teenagers (names unreleased) have been arrested for starting the wildfire.

Shout Out To Academic Decathlon

Placed first at Regionals Nov. 19. The following students took gold in one or more areas: Grace Markum, Ben Hanson, Amelia Mullin, Nick Dunn, William Cooper, Brittany Kulla, Evan Haseltine, Townes DeLuca, Lauren Bass, Charles Stallbaumer, Bennet Vavak, Nicolas James, Annaleigh Hobbs, and Alex Erwin.

News

Canned Food Drive

The initiative brought in 9,057 cans. Junior Breanna Bresel and senior Megan Berning brought in the most jello and received the opportunity to throw jello at Pep club execs. Swezey’s 4th hour class brought in the most cans.

Choir District Students

Alex Baron, Braeden Burgard, Gabe Carter, Kimberly DeWitt, Kaitlyn Hobbs, Anya Horton. Celeste Kincaid, Michal Lackey, Leah Lissauer, Zackary Russell, Micah Sarmiento, Jack Venable, Erin Viets.

Electoral Vote Trumps Popular Vote Former businessman, TV star Donald Trump takes the presidency.

By Angela Machado Writer peechless. Stunned. Shocked. Scared. Those were the reactions of many as more and more states turned red on the electoral map Nov. 8, putting Donald Trump ahead of Hillary Clinton. Media and polls had led the country to believe Clinton would surely be elected president. Whichever side you were on, the results left everyone in shock. “I am very upset and disappointed by the election because I was so sure that Hillary would win. He is a businessman, not a politician. Hillary is qualified and Trump isn’t,” senior Kelsey Karpowich said. Throughout Trump’s campaign people saw a lot of negativity portrayed towards him and his supporters, which scared American’s even more after the election because of the possible outcomes. “I think if Hillary would have won, little girls would have been empowered. But Trump winning gives the idea that saying the things he has said and done is OK,” Karpowich said. It is no surprise that Clinton supporters or people who were anti-Trump were devastated after he received 306 votes from the electoral college, gaining the title President elect. “I was excited to see what she was going to do as president because I agreed with her policies and she had much more experience,” senior Matthew Neaderhiser said. Backlash from Trump’s victory caused an outbreak of riots and protests. There has been a multitude of racial and hatred incidents in schools, universities and public places. “It’s good that people are voicing their concerns about Trump as president and the things he has said. I don’t agree with the riots and I think people should only peacefully protest,” Neaderhiser said. Although the election results have spurred hate, many individuals are still hopeful and eager to see what Trump can do for the country and what changes he will bring to the table. “I’m hoping it’ll be less the establishment type Washington D.C. and everybody’s voices being heard instead of the same-old, same-old kind of stuff,” social studies teacher Jackie Turner said. “I just kind of want to see things go in a new direction.” What made the outcome of this election unique was how many of the ballots cast were more of a protest vote against a certain candidate rather than a supportive vote for their party candidate. “I really don’t like Hillary Clinton because of her past lying and I don’t think she can be trusted,” junior Kevin Cashman said.

Photo Illustration By Hannah Carter

Trump’s Cabinet Requires senate confirmation EPA- Scott Pruitt Homeland Security- John F Kelly Defense- James N Mattis Treasury- Steven Mnuchin Transportation- Elaine L Chao H.H.S.- Tom Price Commerce- Wilbur Ross Education- Betsy DeVos U.N.- Nikki R Haley HUD- Ben Carson CIA- Mike Pompeo Attorney General- Jeff Sessions

Does not require senate confirmation

National Secretary Adviser- Michael T. Flynn Chief of Staff- Reince Priebus Chief Strategist- Stephen K. Bannon

News

Second Semester, New Rules Proposed schedule changes may be affecting students second semester.

By Evan Howell Writer eginning next semester, South is set to bring some change to the first semester schedule by adding a third lunch, as well as possible changes to the weekly schedule across SMSD high schools, in an effort to create time for teacher and administration improvement. For South, the only official change right now is transitioning to three lunches. The main reason for this is to help keep the hallways cleaner. Students will only be allowed to eat in the cafeteria or courtyard. The classes that have second lunch will go to class, then lunch, then back to class. While the lunch schedule is a go, the new weekly schedule is only a proposition for right now. It went to the district committee as of Dec. 5. It also isn’t a sure thing that any changes will be made immediately after break. Since it’s such a big change, it may not come for some time after break. If the new plan is put in place, Monday, Tuesday and Friday would remain traditional days, and Wednesday and Thursday would remain block days, with 85 minute class periods. The biggest changes would be the addition of a late start on Thursdays. Class is set to start at 8:50 every Thursday and seminar will still come between second and fourth period, but it will only be 50 minutes rather than an hour and 50 minutes. “The biggest thing is that teachers will have a set time to collaborate each week, “ associate principal Nicolas Platko said. Teachers would use the time given each Thursday morning to work with other teachers of the same subject or field, as well as the possibility of working with other in-district teachers. “I like that I’ll have set time

News

Students enjoy eating lunch in the hallways, a privilege which will be revoked next semester.

Photo By Jillian McClellan

New Lunch Schedule Starting when students get back from Winter Break, there will be a new lunch schedule featuring three lunches. 1st lunch (A) Science Industrial Tech Social Studies

2nd Lunch (B) Language Arts World Languages Business Special Education

each Thursday to work with my colleagues,” math teacher Vince LaVergne said Even if the schedule changes, the bus schedule wouldn’t. Bus-riders would be arriving at school at the same time, go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast and to study until second hour. Students who drive to school or get dropped off would just need to get to school by 8:50 a.m.

3rd Lunch (C) Math Family & Consumer Science Performing Arts Physical Education Health Visual Arts

“It’ll give us more time to cram in last minute homework if you need to or last minute studying for a test,” senior Emma Stapp, who drives herself to and from school said of the late starts. Other students aren’t so lucky. “I wish the bus schedule would change too so that I could sleep in,” junior Jessica Peña said.

DECA leaders discuss upcoming projects.

Photo By Hannah Carter

Begin January With a Jolt From DECA Coffee shop to open second semester. By Mitch Brock, Writer f you’re having trouble staying awake in class, or struggling to get to school on time, the marketing department has just the thing you need. Starting next semester from 7 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. will be the opening of the new Shawnee Mission South coffee shop. The idea has been constructing itself within business teacher Bryce McElroy and his students’ heads for a while now, and with a little inspiration from other schools like Shawnee Mission East and Blue Valley West, they are finally making it happen. “We’ve been thinking about it for about a year and a half now and it’s sort of just been an idea,” McElroy said. McElroy thinks the new coffee shop comes with possible benefits for kids who sleep in first and second hour and who are also late to school. “I think the opening of the coffee shop will help to an extent,” McElroy said. “We hope that the kids that normally go and get coffee before school can take care of that here. To a small extent, hopefully we can get a few more students here in the

Additional Coffee Shop Information

1. Highest price: $1.50 2. An email will be sent to parents about donating two to three Keurigs 3. Supplies needed: teas, hot chocolate, stirrers, straws, sugars, creamer packets, etc. 4. Possibility of discount for bringing your own cup morning by offering them something that they’ll be interested in.” Senior Evan Offutt and McElroy will be scheduling people to work the stand in the morning. The marketing students and members of DECA will be running the stand in the morning and will be trained to operate the coffee shop. Eventually they hope to get SPED kids involved too. But that won’t be in the beginning. “We’re going to do dry runs with the marketing classes to try and get kids trained for it,” Offutt said. The coffee shop will be located at either one of three areas: the library,

one of the faculty storage rooms transformed it into a coffee shop, or setting up in the main entrance room by the Rocky mural. “For right now it will just be a long table with two to three Keurigs,” Offutt said. When you’re bumming out about school starting back up from winter break, where you may be sleeping in class or not getting to school on time, don’t worry, the marketing department will have something waiting for you when you get back. It will be warm, energizing, and served to you with a big smile.

News

Stadium Renovations, Additions Changes are underway for the Shawnee Mission School District district stadium in the following months. By Keeli Ward Sports Editor

ith fall sports being finished, the renovations of the SMSD district stadium at South are now starting to begin. The Board of Education approved the bond to make renovations to the stadium on June 22, 2016. The maximum estimated price of the renovations is $6,755,281. According to the district staff, the cost is acceptable for all of the renovations and additions that will be done to the stadium. The costs were based upon the plans and specifications prepared by ACI Boland, Inc. The work will be done by J.E. Dunn Construction and Superior Concrete Cutting. The stadium will undergo many renovations and have some new additions. The construction company has begun tearing down the old press box and putting in a new one, and sealing the backs of the stadium. When they seal the back of the stadium, fans who are attending activities, held at the stadium, will have to enter and exit through the sides of the stadium. Students who have their student ID already enter through the sides of the stadium. Other than replacing the press box and closing off the back entrances of the stadium, the construction company will also be building a new building where the restrooms and concession stands will be located. The building will be located in between the track and the tennis courts. The new building will be called “Champions Plaza.” The concession and restrooms have always been under the stadium since the stadium was first built. Now that both will be moving, fans from both sides of the stadium will have to leave the stadium and walk away from

Sports

Superior Concrete Cutting fixing the concrete on the home team side of the stadium. One of their responsibilities was to fill in the back entrance with concrete.

Photos By Savannah Morgan the stadium in order to get their half time snack and use the restroom. “I am not sure if it is going to impact sales. Each side’s fans will just have to get used to coming to the South side, rather than staying on their own side,” concessions manager Joseph Laurenzo said. “I don’t foresee a change.” South is not the only high school in the state of Kansas to make their restrooms and concession stands separate from the actual stadium. “Lawrence Free State, I believe, has a similar style stadium and they don’t seem to have a problem,” Laurenzo said. The renovation is going to make the stadium more wheelchair accessible. Currently, the west side of the stadium has no way for wheelchair bound people to get up to the stands, which means that if someone is not able to walk up stairs, the only way they can watch the game is if they are at ground level. This can be inconvenient because they won’t be able to see all of the game from the ground. Elevators will be put in on both sides of the stadium. “It’s going to be cool,” junior Joe Stoermann, who uses a wheelchair, said. There are many reasons why the stadium is being renovated and

Employees of Superior Concrete Cutting working together to take out the old, broken pieces of concrete. The stadium hasn’t been renovated in 46 years.

getting additions, but the biggest reason is that the stadium is old. “It’s all 50 years old, so we needed improvements in the facility,” athletic secretary Karen Wager said. When South was built in 1965, there was no stadium but there was a track. The stadium was finally built in 1970. This is the first time that the stadium has been renovated for over 46 years.

Cheer, Dance Competitions South’s cheerleaders and dancers have competed this winter even as fall sports come to a close. By Avery Woods Copy editor

hough fall sports are over, cheer and dance have continued into winter with several competitions. The cheerleaders have already competed in their three competitions, Nov. 5, Nov. 12 and Dec. 2. The Pacesetters performed Dec. 10 at the Kansas City Classic in Liberty, MO, and have one more competition at Olathe South Jan. 13 and 14 called Miss Kansas. Though cheer isn’t technically a sport, they still have fierce competition. When asked who their

biggest rival was, sophomore Maddy Musson, a varsity cheerleader, answered Shawnee Mission East. “A lot of the girls on the squad have friends at East and there’s obviously the rivalry,” Musson said. The case is similar with the Pacesetters. “I’d say within Shawnee Mission, East has an amazing dance team, so they’re really hard to beat, as well as West has some really strong dancers too, so within the district, those are the two schools we’re up against,” senior Olivia Love said. Love is a captain of the dance team. When it comes to competitions, there’s a set schedule that the cheerleaders follow. They arrive at 9 a.m. at the competition, and then watch other teams’ routines before performing their own. “My favorite part about competing is probably the adrenaline rush from putting it all out there, because it’s only 2 minutes, just performing in front of everyone,” senior Trisha

Olson, captain of varsity cheer, said. The dance team also has a scheduled performance day, where they compete throughout the day and then receive awards at the end. “We clean our routine and learn new ones and perfect them so we can get the highest score possible,” sophomore Mia Neaderhiser, a varsity Pacesetter, said. Cheer had a stronger team last year, according to Musson, but Olson argues that they did the best they could. “Our team is a little bit weaker than all the other teams, but last week we hit everything perfectly,” Olson said. Olson believes that the South cheerleading tryouts may be to blame for the team’s weaknesses. “I think that our tryouts are just easier. We aren’t as hard on our girls as other schools. We don’t take it as serious as they do. They also have a lot more competition girls on club teams,” Olson said.

1 4 1. The varsity Pacesetters preform their

contemporary routine for the students during the Homecoming assembly. This routine involves the girls breaking free from their handcuffs. 2. During the winter assembly, senior Tatiana Briceno gets into position before preforming a routine. 3. While preforming a hip hop routine, senior Megan Berning stomps and claps along with her fellow teammates. 4. Senior Emma Elliott performs alongside the JV and freshman cheer teams. They showed the school their new routines at the first assembly of the year.

Photos By Savannah Morgan

Sports

Athletes Balancing School and Sports Photo Illustration By Kice Mansi

How student athletes prepare for finals amid their busy sports schedules.

minute to avoid becoming overly stressed. “Honestly, I cram. I don’t really study over a period of time, just kind of the day before,” Parks said. Boys basketball is also fortunate in that they do not have any games the week of finals, so they can get their studying done in between practices. By faith Danaher On the other hand, junior Robyn Writer MacDonald, who also plays girls basketball, thinks that the best ho practices at least two way to prepare for finals is to work hours per night, studies at hard throughout the semester so least another hour and a that when finals come around half on top of that, and considers she is not in a borderline spot. seven hours a generous amount “You know your finals are going to MacDonald does use her of sleep? A student athlete. come. ... do your best to prepare for them. materials to study for the classes Being a student athlete is a huge If you get a bad grade, it happens. Life goes that she is closer to borderline in. responsibility. To remain eligible, She listens to her teachers about on.” - Robyn MacDonald they must keep their grades up what she will see on her finals while still practicing to do well in and studies those concepts so their sport. This task is particularly “It depends on the class, but I she will feel prepared. difficult around finals time. usually study to prepare for finals. I “I just always think: Don’t stress Athletes have different methods have my materials out and I spend about what you know is going to for juggling sports and finals. Senior about two hours per class. If it’s just happen,” MacDonald said. “You know Josh Buss tries to study for all his like a weights class I don’t spend your finals are going to come. You can classes, especially the harder classes. much time on it, but for my AP classes do your best to prepare for them but He says that his sport, boys swim, I’ll spend a decent amount and I begin there’s no need to seriously worry. lowers his stress level around finals. studying about two weeks before,” If you get a bad grade, it happens. “For me, sports are a really Holmes said. Life goes on. I’ve found that a little good way to kind of forget about Other athletes choose to study stress is OK to motivate you, but if homework and all that stuff and just more last minute for finals. Senior it’s pushing you to the point where kind of relax and have fun with some David Parks likes to focus on you’re overexerting yourself, then it’s really good friends,” Buss said. basketball and put the thought of not worth it. You’re more important Luckily for Buss and the other finals out of his mind until the last than the letter grade.” swimmers, there are no swim meets

Sports

the week of finals, so they can focus on studying and practicing. However, senior Elizabeth Holmes, who plays girls basketball, thinks that being involved in a sport during finals adds to the stress because there is less time to study. Time management and good study habits are important to succeed during finals while also being involved in a sport. Girls basketball also does not have any games during the week of finals so the players will have more time to study.

Sharing Their Talents With Kids

Gymnastics holds clinics to get the elementary girls interested in high school gymnastics. By Tess Conley Writer

fter being notified that gymnastics would continue being a school sport, the South’s girls gymnastics team chose to not only make a difference in their own personal performances, but they choose to make a difference in elementary and middle school girls lives, who do gymnastics, by holding more clinics for them. “They’re a way of generating interest for kids in the Shawnee Mission School District that want to try gymnastics,” athletic director John Johnson said. “There are a lot of kids interested in gymnastics. They just do club, and we are trying to get them interested in high school.” The clinics are similar to the clinics that cheer holds, where the high school participants help teach the younger girls what high school level gymnastics looks like. The clinics cost $10 and the girls receive T-shirts. Because of lack of access to Photos By Cassandra Awad and Keeli Ward Quotes gathered BY Tess Conley and Keeli Ward

As a middle school gymnast works to learn a kip on the uneven bars, freshman Phoebe Holmes is ready spot and helps lift her to the bar. During the first clinic, Holmes worked with different aged girls on a variety of skill levels.

Photo by Meg Blinzer equipment, there are no more for the rest of the winter. The team members teach the middle school and elementary school girls routines that are similar to the ones they compete with in high school competitions. “They were created to prepare the girls to know what’s coming so it’s not a complete reality check in high school, where there is competing and lots of other girls that they didn’t know,” sophomore Meg Blinzer said. Blinzler was a varsity gymnast and State participant this year. For South gymnastics coach,

Jennie Terflinger, the clinics are a way to teach the girls the type of routines from high school and see the prospects she has coming in. “As coaches [we] would like to start seeing what incoming kids we have for each of our schools as well as raise awareness for our sport that is offered at the high school level,” Terflinger said. The clinics hope to recruit more kids to participate at the high school level and have gymnastics continuing to be a school and district competitive sport.

Athlete Snapshots

senior Gillian Brennan

What are you looking forward to the most this bowling season? “I think helping the new people and bringing the team together will be fun this year because we have a bunch of new people.”

senior Spencer Brown

What is your favorite memory while doing swim here at South?

“Being able to qualify for State for the first time.”

senior Gabby Green

What is one thing that you want younger generations to know about playing basketball? “That it’s all about hard work, and that you really shouldn’t give up on it. If you put everything into it, then you should work hard as a team and as an individual sport.”

Sports

Snow More Finals Stress Overwhelmed with school work? Take a break and color! Coloring complicated designs, such as Mandalas, distracts the mind from stress, helping to reduce anxiety. With a deep breath and some colored pencils, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be feeling better and ready to face your finals in no time. by Miah Clark editorial cartoonist

Features

The Robotics team works together to dismantle their robot from last year. The club will build and program a new robot this year to compete with other schools in the area.

photos by Jillian mcclelland

Coding and Construction Former Robotics member returns to coach the team this year. by jill propst writer n the school's basement garage hidden behind hallways and doors, the Robotics team meets to work with various materials and computer programming to create a robot that will complete a task accurately and efficiently. With a new coach and fresh faces, the Robotics team is prepared to succeed this season. Until last year, science teacher Art Wells was the coach. This year a graduate has taken over. “I graduated in 2015. Last year I was just helping out, and when Mr. Wells retired last year and they couldn’t find a teacher to do it. They asked me,” Robotics coach Daniel Plotas said. Plotas is going to Johnson County Community College for Computer Aided Design (CAD) graphing, which focuses on 3D product modeling rather than just animation. CAD is used in Robotics, so Plotas will put some of his skills he learned in Robotics to use in his future career. “Most of the guys were on the team when I was here, so I still know them. It is kind of weird [to come back], my friends always think it’s weird that I’m hanging out with high school kids but I actually enjoy it,” Plotas said. With new freshmen entering each year, the rest of the team has to teach the new students.

“There’s a very large learning curve. All the new people who come in don’t know anything. Robotics is definitely a specialized thing. Just because you know how to use a hammer doesn’t mean you know necessarily how to build a robot,” junior Aidan Smith said. Three times a week, the Robotics team gets together after school to work on robots. Each year the team also designs a website, team logo and a T-shirt. The South Robotics team competes in the Kansas City Regional Robotics Competitions in March. “The first Saturday in January they announce the game for that year and then you have six weeks to build a robot to play that specific game,” junior Madeline Bermond said. “Then there’s a big competition in March, and there’s some offseason ones, but the biggest is in March. That’s the Kansas City Regional with all the teams from Kansas City.” The team tries to raise money in different ways to support their supplies and activities. “We do all kinds of things [to raise money]. We just started doing a LEGO robotics class for the younger kids in the district. We’ve done a pancake breakfast before. We’ve raked leaves. We do whatever we can to raise money,” Smith said. The same organization that puts on the competition that the South Robotics participates in also has a LEGO competition for younger kids. The purpose of the LEGO league is to get younger children interested in robotics and STEM programs.

Features

Reaching an audience of over 112,000 followers, Abduhamdaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social media accounts give her a significant platform to share her style and details of her life. These photos were taken from her Instagram account, @asma_you.

Photos courtesy of asmaa abuhamda

A & with senior

Asmaa Abuhamda Abuhamda talks out about the discrimination she faces day-to-day as a Muslim in Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s America, and how she uses her platform on social media to speak out and help others.

BY angela machado writer PHOTO BY cassandra awad

Features

Tell me what you think about the election results.

It wasn’t really expected, I know that for sure. I didn’t think Trump would win going off of what everyone was saying, but whatever happens, happens. Trump won and it’s pretty embarrassing for America. It’s not like all he says is going to happen, because it doesn’t all go through him. I’m not saying that it can’t happen or that it won’t. I’m saying that it won’t go through right away through him, because there’s other people that it has to go through. It really just depends on other people, not just him. For example, like building the wall or banning Muslims or having them have a badge. What I’m afraid of is Trump’s followers because what has been said to me because of Trump is not OK.

What do you want to tell people that have negative views towards your religion?

I want to tell them not to judge based on what they see on the media because it’s usually blown out of proportion and that’s what they’re always seeing, so it kind of promotes that and what they want to see put on the media so people have a perception of people which isn’t true; like Muslims are terrorist, black people are thugs, and white people just have mental issues, so I want people to ask and interact and get to know people before judging them.

What are some examples of when you have faced discrimination and prejudice?

So I was at QuikTrip and this guy came up to me and asked me, “So when are you going to leave?” And I confusingly answered, “When I buy my stuff,” and he said, “No, when are you leaving our country?” And I told him I was born in America and so were my parents. I am American. And he goes, “Well, you won’t be anymore.” I’ve gotten a lot of people messaging me, especially because I have a large amount of followers on social media. I get a lot of hate, but I also get a lot of good things, so it goes both ways. As for hate, it’s sad to see that people can actually have those types of thoughts in their head when you probably think they’re not like that or when it’s someone you know and you realize they actually think like that. Like on Twitter, someone tweeted me saying, “You should be slashed for being Muslim.” People have said, “Take that shit off your head. You look like a terrorist,” or “You look pretty, but you’d look so much better without [a hijab].”

How has your social media platform played a role in the discrimination you face? Of course there’s people who motivate you so there’s going to be people that put you down and you can’t let that get to you. You just have to do you.

How do you use your platform to speak out about the problems Muslims are currently facing?

I get a lot of messages from people, Muslims and nonMuslims, asking me about Islam or asking me how can they help themselves and cope with what they get from people or how they can feel confident about themselves. I like to help them by giving them my advice, but also using my platform for people to come to and help others too, so they can get more opinions and different views on what to do.

Do you believe that the discrimination towards Islam not only in the U.S., but worldwide, will change, or do you think this is going to be an ongoing problem?

It’s already been changing, but after Trump has been elected I’ve realized how much hate people actually have and it’s kind of sad to see people that you knew and were close to, you didn’t think they thought badly, but once Trump won, they thought it was OK to say mean things and they’ll look at me and say, “This is what I think of you. This is what you are.” He’s a president, so if he does something then you can’t tell people they can’t do it, because he’s doing it too.

What do you think of proposed government registries of mosques and Muslim citizens?

That’s really hypocritical because if you want to do that to one religion you have to do that to the rest or not do it at all.

Features

Blinded by Technology Medical studies and teachers’ observations highlight the negative effects of technology. by hannah underwood writer hink about all of the technology in today’s world: computers, laptops, tablets, cell phones, televisions, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook; the list goes on and on. People wake up, and the first thing they think about is checking Snapchat stories. Teens spend their time unwinding with a marathon of five episodes of “Orange is the New Black.” Look around at restaurants and waiting rooms, and nearly everyone is on their phone. Despite the fact that the majority of modern day technology has only been around for the past 25 years, technology has become something ubiquitous in American society. According to the Pew Research Center, over 90 percent of adults in the

Features

U.S. own and use a cell phone. Eightyfour percent of American households own a computer. Also, according to Statista, around 78 percent of Americans have at least one social media profile, and over 94 percent of U.S. teens have social media and check it daily. “I probably check social media a ridiculous amount, like 20 or 30 times a day,” senior and social media user Kelsey Karpowich said. “But I just love checking the news and current events on Twitter and also just seeing what people are up to.” The abilities of technology over the past few decades have been significant. With the help of technology, medical miracles have come true. The military can use computers to crack codes, track locations and make plans. Among more common uses, Americans have access to a plethora of information about any subject they want within seconds. People can communicate faster than ever before via a phone call, email or text. Starting in the 2014-15 school year, the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) introduced MacBooks and Google Classroom to the majority of its schools. Students experienced online homework assignments, quizzes on Skyward and Kahoot review games. As a senior, Karpowich has experienced school without computers and with computers, so she has a different perspective than younger students. “I prefer [education] with computers, because I think it’s really open to creativity,” Karpowich said. “I do think the computers can be distraction to some people, though, which is why the computers are bad for some people but good for other

people, like me.” Although many students were excited to have computers like Karpowich, not all teachers were equally excited. “I think technology is a tool and it has its place,” AP English teacher Travis Gatewood said. “But at the heart of things, we want to be able to work through things in a deeper sense, more of a conversational discussion situation to make sure minds are there.” According to Nicholas Carr, author of the best-selling “The Shallows: How the Internet is Changing our Brains,” we have created a system that is so great because we have so much information at our fingertips, yet we are in a state of perpetual distraction and constant disruption. When people constantly have new stimuli flowing into their brain all day long, it becomes harder to sustain attention, and the consequences are that we lose the ability to engage in deeper thinking. “I think one thing that I’ve noticed as a teacher, especially now that we have computers, is that attention span is different.” Psychology teacher Heather Sheppard said. “I feel like students are so used to instant gratification that if they don’t get it, they lose interest so much quicker. It’s harder for them to sustain interest over even just a ten minute span.” Moreover, a Stanford research project showed that the more we are used to the continual flow of information from the internet, the more our minds focus on what is new rather than what is important. “I feel like students at the high school level have changed a little bit. A vast majority of them are so used to having so much information at their fingertips that they lack a little bit of self-discovery,” Sheppard said. Along with a lack of attention span, technology has negatively affected people’s abilities to store information.

“I think technology is a tool and it has its place. But at the heart of things, we want to be able to work through things in a deeper sense, more of a conversational discussion situation to make sure minds are there,” - AP English teacher Travis Gatewood

The Physical Effects of Technology

According to Carr, our ability to move information from our conscious mind to our long-term memory requires attentiveness and time to process information. Therefore, when students are distracted by surfing the web or playing games, information is moving in and out of the conscious mind before it gets stored as a long-term memory. “I think when we had an open computer policy, the students’ minds weren’t there,” Gatewood said. “They’re surfing the web, playing a game, texting, whatever. So for those moments when I want them [to pay attention], I see technology as more of a hindrance.” One policy that Gatewood has instilled in his classes is that students are required to take their notes by hand in a notebook. According to a study conducted by Princeton’s Pam A. Mueller and University of California-Los Angeles’ Daniel M. Oppenheimer, students who took notes longhand style score significantly better on a comprehensive test than students who took notes on their computer. “Although more notes are beneficial, at least to a point, if the notes are taken indiscriminately or by mindlessly transcribing content, as is more likely the case on a laptop than when notes are taken longhand, the benefit disappears,” Mueller and Oppenheimer said in their study. That is the reason for Gatewood’s limited computer use policy. “Unless we are working on writing or a project that specifically requires a computer, when we are discussing or doing a close reading, I want them to be present and involved so that their brains are connected to the content,” Gatewood said. According to Carr, the distractions and interruptions not only undermine our attentiveness to process information, but also our attentiveness to make connections

-Reading dark text on too bright of a screen can lead to muscle spasms in the temples.

with people face-to-face. “When you put people face to face in a group and allow them to communicate and make connections, I feel like that’s almost been inhibited with being able to immediately figure things out on our own,” Sheppard said. “We want things to move at a fast pace, and when that’s not allowed, I think people get frustrated more easily and we communicate less faceto-face. So definitely with the society that we live in, I think we can see that people’s personalities and preferences and communication styles are changing.” One of the many ways technology users can communicate with one another are through social media outputs, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat. For Carr, the connections that can be made through social media have been more detrimental than beneficial. “What makes me more pessimistic [about social media] is that we’re kind of building our personalities and our entire societies around this new set of norms and expectations that says you need to be constantly connected,” Carr said in his book. “As long as we continue going down that path it’s going to be ever harder for us to buck the status quo.” Karpowich disagrees, and views the connections made through social media as an advantage. “I think social media has connected people more. For example, my best friend is from Iowa and I’ve only met her twice in person because we met through social media,” Karpowich said. “But still, social media is what connected us.” These expectations to constantly be connected have put a burden on social media users’ shoulders. In an NPR story about the effects of Facebook, “When you’re on a site like Facebook, you get lots of posts about

-Staring at a computer screen can cause blurry vision and dry eyes, accompanied by tension headaches.

-Glowing light from technology decreases levels of melatonin, the sleep hormone, and increases levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. -When people tilt their head 60 degrees down, 60 pounds of pressure is put on the neck. -Acne and eczema breakouts can be triggered by the bacteria and germs that pile up on phones. -Men who are exposed to electromagnetic radiation from laptops sitting on their laps for extended periods of time report to have low and damaged sperm levels. Information from The Huffington Post

what people are doing,” University of Michigan cognitive neuroscientist John Jonides said. “That sets up social comparison — you maybe feel your life is not as full and rich as those people you see on Facebook.” As for when makers of technology will recognize more of these negative effects of technology, the answer is unclear. However, what we do know is that overuse — that is, spending multiple hours a day on technology spanning for multiple years — has negative effects on the mind and body. The biggest question is if all those harmful effects outweigh the positive effects. “I think we are where we are today because of technology,” Sheppard said. “I think we have to have that technology, but the negatives of it are starting to catch up with us.”

Features

Holidays Away from Home

Foreign exchange students celebrate American holidays.

by Jill Propst writer any miles from home, exchange students are immersed in American culture this winter. Winter is typically a time of celebration, but celebrations vary from religion to religion and country to country. “We celebrate Christmas. We don’t do as many things as you do here, but it’s pretty similar. We still have Christmas music. We eat the same food. We do basically the same things,” French foreign exchange student Juliette Nguyen said. But not everyone celebrates Christmas. “We don’t have any Moroccan winter holidays. Sadly, we do not celebrate Christmas. However, we celebrate New Year’s Eve which is pretty cool, because we celebrate the new upcoming year,” Moroccan foreign exchange student Hiba Kondah said. “My friends and I get together at night, and we just watch a bunch of movies and hang out. Then with our families we go out to see the fireworks

Holiday Foods around the World Morocco: Moroccan mint tea Graphics by miah clark

Features

Germany: fondue and gingerbread

photo Illustration by cassandra awad on Jamee El-Fnaa Place. They start at midnight, and the mood there is amazing. People sing and dance, and they put henna on. At midnight, people hug each other and wish the best for everybody.” Holidays are usually a time spent with family, making it hard to be away from home. “I think for Christmas it’s going to be a really tough time. I’ve been here for about three months and I like it here but I really miss my family and my friends and everything,” Nguyen said. Since other countries do not celebrate Thanksgiving, the foreign exchange students experienced a first this year. “[Thanksgiving] was fun. I met the whole family. It was a lot of food, just a lot of food,” German exchange student Cara Schaper said. The foreign exchange students are also excited to see how the holidays are celebrated differently in America than in their home countries. “A lot of people already put their Christmas trees and their Christmas lights up and I just think it is so pretty. I got so excited when I was decorating the Christmas tree with my host family,” Kondah said.

France: escargot (snail)

Staff Editorial

safety pin is not a political statement. It is not an endorsement or a sign of opposition. A safety pin is meant to signify that its wearer is accepting of all people, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. The Monday before Thanksgiving, Shawnee Mission School District asked its staff to refrain from wearing safety pins after the presidential election, citing concerns that the display of them would be a “distraction in the education process” brought on by “symbols of divisive and partisan political speech,” according to a statement on its website. The safety pin movement to show solidarity and support for anyone feeling threatened began in Britain after the racially and anti-immigrant sentiment-charged Brexit success. The movement spread to the U.S. through social media after presidentelect Donald Trump’s win. Trump campaigned on limiting the freedoms of Muslim and LGBTQ+ citizens, and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants.

Editorial Cartoon by Miah Clark According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a survey of 10,000 K-12 educators across the country found that 2,500 educators observed “specific incidents of bigotry and harassment that can be directly traced to election rhetoric.” The incidents include graffiti (including swastikas), assaults on students and teachers, property damage, fights and threats of violence. The increase in these divisive incidents, which are already disrupting schools, is one of the reasons for the development of the safety pin movement. They are meant to show every student that he or she is respected and safe talking to a wearer. The movement is bigger than this election and this country. This symbol of solidarity and encouragement is harmless to students not feeling threatened, but can be profoundly encouraging to those who are. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas eloquently responded to the district’s statement with an open letter saying, “If it is actually the district’s position that it is

“disruptive” to symbolically state that all students can feel safe and valued, that says something deeply disturbing and harmful about the culture and orientation of Shawnee Mission School District.” SMSD ends their statement with this: “The Shawnee Mission School District has been and will continue to be a district that focuses on taking care of students and making sure that all students feel safe and supported regardless of issues or concerns occurring outside of our schools.” To complete this goal of making all students safe and supported, teachers should have the choice to wear safety pins if they want, just as they should have the choice to refrain from wearing them. The district’s decision to establish this as a pressing political issue is bringing on a variety of problems for itself, and ultimately further distracting the learning process in its schools.

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

Opinion

Unplugged I went three days without my phone and learned some surprising things. By Avery Woods Copy Editor he stereotype for teenagers is that they can’t live without their phones – always texting, tweeting, snapchatting. So I tried it: three days with no phone, no way to contact anyone except when I was at school. I wasn’t worried about not being able to talk to my friends, because two of the three days were going to be school days. I did worry about my Snapchat streaks, because I had some that were about 250 days and I wasn’t about to lose those. So even though I couldn’t use my phone, I planned on carrying it to school with me and keeping it in my backpack, and at lunch or before school, I would ask one of my friends to open it up and snapchat all my streaks. With this plan in mind, I thought I was prepared for those three days. I learned there was a difference between having my phone taken away or losing it, rather than having it with me and using pure willpower to not use it at all. On the first day, I felt free – I could observe everything around me. I didn’t have my nose in my phone. I felt lighter without an iPhone 6s in my hands. In the morning during school, I was fine without my phone, because my morning classes are the ones I have to concentrate in and a couple of hours didn’t seem like much to me yet. Then came lunch, and as I sat alone at my table waiting for my friends to buy lunch, I felt a sort of longing for my phone set in. I was exposed, sitting alone, with nothing to do but twiddle my thumbs and look around. I realized how much I relied on my phone for keeping me busy when I didn’t have any other distractions. I found myself wishing I had brought a book to read. In the afternoon, my classes were more relaxed, especially in Spanish, and I wished for my phone again, but it passed quickly and I instead talked to my friends. Then, after school, I realized that I was going to miss my phone the most when I didn’t have school. I couldn’t snapchat my friends. I couldn’t text my boyfriend. I couldn’t even listen to music. I kept myself busy with homework instead. The second day, a Tuesday, was about the same as the first. I didn’t encounter many problems with my phone at all. The third day, however, was when I really started to realize how much I missed my phone, because we didn’t have school, and I didn’t want to do homework. So what was I supposed to do? Every time I walked by my phone sitting on the charger, I felt a pang of yearning. “You’ve made it this far, Avery,” I told myself, and I handed it to my sister to snapchat all my streaks for me. I got to spend some quality time with her and the rest of my family as well that night, which I think was the biggest positive I got out of the experiment. I think if I put my phone aside during those situations, I’d have a lot more fun at home. I made it through those three days with minimal casualties, and I remember my dad asking me, “Did you get some more face-to-face interaction with people than when you weren’t on your phone?” I’ve thought about it, and honestly, I didn’t. Even though I didn’t have my phone, everyone else had zero restrictions on theirs, and they used their phones just as much as I normally do. I talked just as much to my friends as usual, and my social interactions were very much the same; even though I didn’t have a phone, my friends still did, and they used it. I even noticed how much my dad used his phone on a regular basis for recreation. I realized how obsessed we really are with our smartphones. We periodically check them for updates; we get the shakes if we haven’t taken a selfie in three hours (OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration). But still, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. My experience has prompted me to use my phone less. And after all the hassle making sure I kept my streaks, I got rid of every single one.

Photo Illustration by Savannah Morgan

Opinion

B C

“Happy Holidays”

Students reflect on not celebrating the most commercialized holiday. By Lily Wagner Web Editor, Infographics Editor s a Jew, the holidays specific to my religion are often overlooked and misunderstood. Anyone who celebrates religious holidays that aren’t Christian can tell you how hard the winter holiday season is. Hanukkah is the holiday that Jewish people celebrate in the winter time. It doesn’t have a specific date because it is based off of the Hebrew Calendar. In 2016, Hanukkah starts on Dec. 24 and ends on Jan. 1 of 2017. However, in 2013, Hanukkah was during Thanksgiving. For Jews, Hanukkah is the celebration of a miracle that happened when the Greeks destroyed the Jewish Temple around 170 BC. The Jews returned to their sacred site in ruins and found enough oil to light a menorah, which is a type of candelabra, for one night, but the oil ended up lasting for eight nights.

Now, Jews celebrate the miracle of the oil by lighting a menorah for eight nights, eating food cooked in oil and playing a game called Dreidel, where a spinning top is used to gamble. There are parties and celebrations. My synagogue holds an event where people bring hundreds of menorahs into one room and we light them together. After that, there is singing and the winners of the menorahbuilding contests are announced. People who don’t know Judaism very well assume Hanukkah is the holiest Jewish holiday, when it actually has minimal spiritual value. Jews actually have another holiday with traditions similar to Christmas and Halloween. Its called Purim. Children dress up, there are triangleshaped cookies with fillings, and the Megillah is read. The Megillah is the Book of Esther which talks about Queen Esther and a man named Haman. During the reading, when Haman is mentioned by name, the reader and listeners boo and make noise. Originally, Purim would be considered Judaism’s “Christmas” holiday. Now it’s just a fun celebration at synagogue.

At school, there is “winter break” that is scheduled perfectly to give everyone time off for Christmas and New Years. Jews do not get district time off during our holiest holidays or any of our four new year celebrations. In order to observe our religious practices we have to take time out of school and miss the tests, quizzes and labs that teachers have unknowingly scheduled. The holiday season seems to get longer every year, forcing anyone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas to endure the obnoxious materialism and music of the majority. Those of us who observe holidays that aren’t mainstream get accustomed to not having many options in regard to festive products. We’ve accepted that Hallmark may only sell two types of Hanukkah wrapping paper and the decorations in every store are wreaths or life size ornaments and we never pitch a fit when the holiday Starbucks cup doesn’t have anything for Hanukkah on it because it never does. But we celebrate our holiday with pride and enjoyment, which everyone should do during the winter holidays. Photo By Kice Mansi

By Kice Mansi Photographer magine all of your friends have seen a movie that you haven’t seen. They spend a month talking about how good this movie is, but you can’t relate because you’ve never see the movie. That is what Christmas is like for Muslims living in the United States. Although we don’t have Christmas, we do have two major holidays throughout the year. The two holidays are called Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Since Muslims follow a lunar calendar, the dates of our holidays in the Gregorian calendar, the most commonly used calendar in which January is the first month and December is the last month, change every year. The dates change by approximately 10 days. Eid al-Fitr is

on the first of the month of Shawwal, which is after the religious month of Ramadan, in which we fast every day from sunrise to sunset. Eid al-Adha is on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts four days. It occurs at the end of the Hajj, which is the Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Eid al-Fitr means “festival of breaking of the fast.” It marks the end of the month of Ramadan when we fast every day from sunrise to sunset. Most Muslims in the U.S., but many Muslims overseas, will celebrate the holiday for three days. We start the holiday by having a small breakfast and then by going to prayer which will often be held at a Mosque or a hall. The second major holiday is called Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha celebrates the end of the pilgrimage that all Muslims make once in their lifetime. It starts just like the first holiday: a small breakfast followed by prayer. Many families will slaughter

a lamb(s) and may serve it to family or guests or some may even serve it to those less fortunate than they are as a form of charity. The main theme that both holidays have is family. Most spend the entire day visiting all of their family. The adults will give money to all of their child relatives and sometimes will give gifts too. What makes both holidays different from Christmas is that although we give gifts, we don’t center the whole holiday around just giving gifts. Instead, we center the holidays around spending time with family. Some may just invite their family over for dinner, while others will go as far as to throw large extravagant parties. Although not many people in the United States are aware of our holidays, throughout the world they are celebrated just as widely as Christmas.

Photo by hannah carter

Opinion

The

Debate Yes:

By Tara Phillips A&E Editor Photos By Kice Mansi ystery has continued to flood the proposed new schedule that might be coming second semester. The schedule would remain similar regarding traditional days, but block days would have a few changes made. Wednesdays would consist of an advisory period which, in theory, will create a larger bond within the already assigned advisory classes. This would allow people to take time out of a busy block day and relax for a quick 20-minute period. With the introduction of the proposed schedule it could allow for advisory to advance toward a more relevant and applicable class experience. Thursdays have the most build up in the community because of the late start beginning at 8:50 a.m. rather than 7:40 a.m. With a late start it would allow students to gain more sleep since sleep deprivation is a pressing issue within the high school community. With the late start it would also allow teachers to have time to collaborate with other teachers in Professional Learning Communities (PLC). With continuation of this, teachers could utilize any extra time in the morning to grade papers, help students and plan for class periods. Another immense change that is coming to the halls of South is the change from two lunches to three lunches. With the implementation of this, students with second lunch would have lunch within the middle of their fifth hour. While this may seem slightly inconvenient, it would allow for classes, such as choir, to have a quieter classroom due to noise from the hallways. With a smaller amount of students in each lunch period, the cleanliness of the cafeteria and surrounding eating areas would increase as well. Though the new schedule would be a drastic change in certain aspects of the day, it would allow for many new experiences and experimentation for the education system itself. The updated schedule would be a way for the district to implement activities such as advisory in a much more effective way. By having advisory on Wednesdays, it would give students a larger focus on the discussion happening rather than having it during seminar when students are trying to work on homework and projects, which has been a main concern among students. While a new schedule would involve many changes to the daily routine, the rewards of it could outweigh the stress of the transition. Students and teachers could both benefit from many of the new additions and arrangements made by the proposed schedule that could help create a more efficient learning schedule.

Opinion

Are the proposed schedule changes positive?

No:

by Lily Wagner Web Editor Infographics Editor

s the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The proposed schedule changes coming for second semester move advisory to Wednesday, make every Thursday a late start, and adds a third lunch period every day of the week. While some of these changes seem great on the surface, they could actually cause more problems than they aim to solve. If the schedule is implemented, on Thursdays, classes will start at 8:50 instead of 7:40. This will give teachers time for “Professional Learning Communities,” and will cut seminar down to 50 minutes. The current amount of seminar time is a necessity to the schedules of many students and teachers because it gives a time set aside for making up assignments, doing homework and getting help from a teacher. For some students, seminar is the only time when they can work with teachers. Despite the late start, buses will still run the same schedule. That means bus riders will arrive at 7:40 and stay in the cafeteria until school starts. Students who arrive early, however, cannot meet with teachers since teachers will be in their “Professional Learning Communities.” Abbreviated as PLCs, these communities will be meeting opportunities for teachers of the same subject in the school and district. In addition to this, the time-waster known as advisory period will be Wednesday for 20 minutes. If there is going to be an entire separate period for advisory, the administration is going to have to come up with some new things to talk about. The confirmed change is that lunch will be split into three sections. The reasoning behind the decision is so everyone can and will sit in the cafeteria or the courtyard. The people who leave trash in the hallways have ruined it for us all because now you must sit in the cafeteria. Students sit outside of the cafeteria to escape its depressing and unclean atmosphere. This change will also bring problems because some classes will be split in two for second lunch period. This will be a challenge when classes take tests or are working on projects. While the proposed schedule changes could be problematic in itself, the fact that it might be decided halfway through the school year is worse. Every single person involved with the Shawnee Mission district high schools is affected by this: students, parents, teachers, administrators, district employees. Thousands of people will have to adjust to the changes. The teachers who have been following the same schedule for years and the freshmen who just got the new schedule down will have to relearn a new routine. Hopefully this district will decide not to create a second semester schedule shakeup and maintain the current schedule.

Opinion

In the Hot Seat Actions of humans contribute to the ever-present threat of global warming.

By Evan Howell Writer lobal warming has been relevant for quite some time now. Scientists have provided us with all sorts of statistics that point to our home planet heating up. A large amount of people continue to deny the fact that the Earth’s average temperature is growing warmer and warmer. Other species are being forced to adapt constantly in certain places, like polar bears and penguins. Ocean water is on the rise. According to NASA, sea water around the world has risen by an average of 3 inches, and in some locations, as much as 9 inches. Three inches may not sound like it’s anything at all, but the amount of water it would take in gallons to add that much water to the oceans across the world is incredible. One key contributor to this is the rise in the average surface temperature across the planet. The first six months of 2016 all broke records for the warmest global surface temperature in recorded history. When water becomes warmer it expands. Another major contributing factor is the melting of Arctic sea ice during “melting season.” Each year arctic sea ice melts then refreezes, but in recent years more and more has been melting in comparison to the amount that has been refreezing during the cold weather. The arctic sea ice has been decreasing at a rate of about 13.4 percent per decade (NASA), which is a frightening statistic.

Opinion

Photo Illustration by Maxie Crimm This has the potential to add to the water levels rising dramatically. There are no plausible reasons to deny that our Earth is experiencing change, and a large portion of the change is caused by humans. The term “Greenhouse gases” is a term used to describe gases that are being trapped in our atmosphere and are piling up. These include things like carbon monoxide and methane. Our cars are continuously pumping out carbon monoxide which is not good for us or the Earth. We need to be more conscious of how we treat our planet. Whether you choose to deny the reality of global warming or embrace the need to improve our environment, we have to all work toward treating our home with the respect it deserves to be treated with. Think of it as the same respect you’d treat someone who’d let you stay in their home. In a time where diversity is a major problem in our society, this is something that could, and should, bring us together. This world isn’t meant for humans. We are lucky to be able to walk the Earth each and every day. This is our place to live. Be conscious about the nature around you, the animals around you. This planet deserves your respect for being home to billions of creatures. We owe it to the Earth to do the little things, such as not letting the water run while you’re brushing your teeth. Do things that will help to contribute to a better home for all of life here. Recycling is great, but whenever possible reduce the amount of paper and plastic you use whenever you can. Do your best to reuse items, and lastly be sure to recycle. I think we just need to be grateful we’re able to thrive on this planet and understand it’s up to us to keep this Earth alive. We are the future of this planet.

Talent & Technique 1

4 1.

Performing a traditional Hispanic dance, junior Mitzy Navarro smiles and swings her dress in the talent show. The talent show was a way to raise money and cans for the annual canned food drive. Students had the option of bringing 10 cans or paying $5 to get a ticket to the talent show. Photo by hannah carter

At the talent show, senior Michael Carter played a song on the keyboard. Carter composed the song himself. photo by hannah carter

During a wrestling practice, juniors Jacob Obeidat and Caleb Cossairt battle each other to prepare for their next meet. Cossairt and Obeidat are both in the 182 lb. weight class and were ready to see who took the varsity spot. photo by hannah carter

Lining up his shot, sophomore Deonte Carroll takes a 3-point shot. Carroll made the basket but the Raiders lost in overtime. photo by maxie crimm

Photo Essay

Offensively Expensive? Gift giving can take on a whole new meaning with heartfelt handmade gifts.

Snuggling up with a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top is always a good way to spend a snowy winter day. This hot chocolate/marshmallow kit is a perfect gift for someone who loves lazy days inside.

Hot chocolate kit

by: tess conley writer Photos by Cassandra Awad hen you’re broke around Christmas there’s always the challenge of getting a good gift.. So there is always the controversial expensive vs handmade argument. So what is the actual difference between the two? Expensive is probably manufactured in a factory, and is priced high for work that cost the company next to nothing. Homemade products are something you spent time making, and put thought and creativity into. These products are something that often appear more personalized and have a little more significance to the person. Therefore, handmade tends to be more personalized and meaningful for a gift, so you should lean toward spending your money to make a personal, heartfelt gift for them.

Materials Hot chocolate mix Marshmallows Hot glue 2 mason jars, one small one large

Bath bombs Materials 1 cup baking soda. 1/4 cup cream of tartar. 1/2 cup cornstarch. 1/2 cup salt (Epsom salts, sea salt, or non-iodized table salt) 2 teaspoons essential oil. 1 tablespoon oil (any type of moisturizing vegetable oil, such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil)

Baths are a great way to unwind during the busy, stressful time of the holidays. Homemade bathbombs are a fun and colorful gift to give a friend, or yourself.

Painting sticks festive colors and hot gluing them around a candle is a fun and inexpensive way to make the holidays brighter.

Branch candle holder Materials Branches Candle Hot glue Paint of your choice

In case of emergency break glass Materials m&ms deep backed frame write “in case of emergency break glass”

Desserts are an important part of the holidays to many people. By putting M&Ms or other kinds of chocolate in an empty picture frame, it can be sure no one will ever run out of sweet treats.

A&E

(Please) Let It Snow A plunge into winter comes with the expectation of snow, but with not much snow promised, it might be hard for some to enjoy winter activities.

by mara baine writer madison holloway ads editor hile it seems to be that snow angels and snowball fights are something one can only imagine, there are many different ways to have fun without snow. A paper snowflake can be made by folding paper in half and cutting into the fold and the edge of the paper with different shapes. Open it up and it looks like an enlarged snowflake. Although it might not be as exciting as real snow, it is a way to give yourself some snow to look at. Even though there isn’t snow, the temperature is dropping, which means colder weather. People could take advantage of

the temperature by sipping on some warm hot chocolate and listening to holiday music. The heat steaming off the cocoa might help one forget about the fact there is no snow and only cold weather, and the music singing about the snow, like “sleigh bells ring/are you listening/in the lane/snow is glistening” might take your mind off the fact that there really isn’t snow glistening in the lane. Besides drinking hot chocolate to stay warm and in the spirit for winter, having a bonfire outside and roasting

marshmallows could help a lot. One positive thing about not having snow means it’s easy to have a bonfire. Making gingerbread houses is a classic festivity in many households. It is a tradition that brings many feelings of nostalgic atmosphere around the holidays. Building one of these is a way to enjoy winter if you want to stay inside and away from the holiday chill. Even though there might not be any snow, these winter activities can make a winter without just as fun.

KANSAS CITY CALENDAR Ice Terrace

Coterie: Rudolph

Christmas in the Park

Nov. 4 - Mar. 12 Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 10 am - 9 pm Friday-Saturday: 10 am - 11:00 pm Location: 2450 Grand Blvd. Crown Center Kansas City, MO 64108

Nov. 8- Dec. 31 Hours: Show times vary see www.thecoterie.org Location: 2450 Grand Blvd. #144 Crown Center Kansas City, MO 64108

Nov. 23 - Dec. 31 Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm Friday-Saturday: 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm Location: Longview Lake Campgrounds 1499 SW County Park Road Lee’s Summit, MO 65064

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

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Fresh Ingredients Serving KC From the first step into Cacao, you are hit with the aroma of tacos, burritos, and tamales, which are only a few of the huge variety of menu items. By Mitch Brock Writer ne of their best-known menu items is the pork carnitas burrito. Every bite is as good as the last, and almost every bite is different, due to how they pack the burrito, as goes for most of their burritos. One bite could be pulled pork, and the other could be pulled pork and black beans. The owners of Cacao strive to make Mexican food the way it is traditionally made. Ivan Marquez and Victor Esqueda, who have spent a long time as a restaurateur owning another Mexican restaurant in the Northland, and his nephew Alfonso Esqueda, don’t want Cacao to be a “Tex-Mex” restaurant. They want to keep it as authentic and traditional Mexican food. Going along with this theme, as you look around the restaurant, you see different authentic items like colorful cultured baskets, novelty lamp shades

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and stitched rugs all around the restaurant, which makes you feel like you are a part of the rich Mexican culture. This high-end Mexican restaurant isn’t just known for their food, however. Every Friday evening they have a DJ playing music, people dancing and having a good time. They move the tables by the bar, make a dance floor, and customers can sing and dance. Cacao is located at 5200 West 95th St. Prairie Village and its hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you are in the mood for original Mexican food, want to see rich culture, or feel like dancing on a Friday night, Cacao is the place for you.

photo from cacaokc.com

Location: 5200 W 95th St. Prairie Village, KS 66207 Store Hours: Sun-Thu 11:00 - 9:00 Fri-Sat 11:00 - 10:00 Menu Items: Soup Salad Tacos Burritos Enchiladas Tortas

By Tara Phillips A&E Editor photos by maxie crimm

Who,What, Wear: Sweater Edition Junior Ben Smith “Sweaters can be worn with almost any outfit and look good, and there’s so many varieties of sweaters to express yourself.” -Junior Ben Smith

Junior Paiton Schafer

Junior Annaleigh Hobbs

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Students tweeted @SMSPatriot what they won’t miss about 2016 @abigaillhindle: The thing I

won’t miss about 2016 is all the bad vibes. So much has happened this year but I’m ready to move on and be happy

1st

@addie_g31: “I will not miss the oak mites...”

2nd

Tw i t t e r C o n t e s t 3rd

4th

@alltheifonlys: “I wish I could say @Lukespringett: “I’m not going I won’t miss this...but frosh year college won’t be as nice as this”

to miss croutons programming skills”

First Place in the Twitter Contest wins a $10 giftcard. Next month’s contest is to be announced. 30

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PA R K S & R E C R E AT I O N

Assembly Activities

1. As part of the canned food drive, student body vice president Rakeya Martin

has food thrown at her by the winning class for each specific food. Teacher Mark Swezey’s fourth hour theatre class won the corn competition.

2. Diving into bowling pins, senior Kamau Kimaru smiles as he falls off of the scooter. The sophomore class won the challenge while Kimaru took second.

3. Falling into the arms of senior Zach Greer, senior Megan Berning and Greer

attempt to persuade the crowd to see the school play, “Miracle on 34th St.” They used a trust fall exercise to reference believing in one another; one of the main themes of the play.

4. During the winter assembly, the cheerleaders flip junior Danielle Reichart in the air for a stunt. Reichart had been a varsity cheerleader for three years. photos by savannah morgan