Griffin Rites Vol. 47 Issue 5 by Griffin Rites

Vol. 47 Issue 5

February 13, 2017

GRIFFIN RITES Winnetonka High School | Kansas City, Missouri

griffin

rites

ISSUE 05 TABLE OF CONTENTS

FIGHTING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY COULD LEAD TO A FELONY The misunderstanding of a law that was already enacted

14 TWEETS OF VALENTINE’S DAY Students share their stance on Valentine’s Day in 2017

GOING OFFLINE FOR PEACE OF MIND Students leave social media after it becomes a proven contributor to depression

A HEALTHY OBSESSION Teachers lace up their tennis shoes to compete in an Fitbit challenge in an effort to become more active

WEATHER FAIL, THEATER WIN Students return from Thespian Conference with success and experience

DATE IDEAS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY Different ways to spend Valentine’s Day for every budget

GRIFFINS SEIZE THE SEASON Winter sports teams compete to improve their records

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Copy Editor News Editor Features Editor A&E Editor

Rachel Adamson Alyssa Magrone Kaitlyn Minet Katie Bullock Alyssa Magrone

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Adviser

Clayre Barkema Jessica Glaszczak Shelby Hilburn AnaLe Lund Laura Williams

On the cover: Painting of a cell phone rooted into to a hand to emphasize the attachment students have with social media. By AlyssaMagrone.

The Griffin Rites staff strongly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. Freedom of expression and press are fundamental values in a democratic society. The mission of any institution committed to preparing productive citizens must include teaching students these values, both by example and lesson. We welcome letters to the editor and reserve the right to edit them for grammar and length, but we will not change ideas. Letters may attack policies but not people. They must be signed and submitted to F6 or mailed to Mrs. Laura Williams attention at 5815 NE 48th St., Kansas City, Mo. 64119. Advertising space is also available. Please e-mail laura.williams@nkcschools.org or call 816-321-6527 for information. Our organization is a member of the Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City, Journalism Educators Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.

New law, same consequences

Misinterpretation of Missouri law causes unnecessary outrage

| AlyssaMagrone

| editorial voice of the Griffin Rites staff

dolescents’ outrage over the reinforced law regarding school fights is immature and they are blowing the situation out of proportion. Starting in January, a law in Missouri was reinforced that suggests punishing adolescents with a felony if they partake in a fight on school property or transportation. Many feel this action is extreme, but in reality it is just holding the young citizens of the country accountable for their actions. Some argue that adolescents’ brains, especially males, are less developed in the amygdala the part of the brain responsible for intense emotions such as anger-which can support that teens are not in complete control of their actions. However, research shows that while there is difference in relative development between adults and teenagers, it is so insignificant that it would be absurd to blame violent actions on this physiological factor. Parents are a main contributor to this worrywart of an issue. They are concerned that charging a young adult with felonies will cause them to funnel into the incarceration system and make them more prone to be convicted of future crimes. However, if parents are as concerned as they like to claim, they would teach their children to control their actions and hold them to moral standards that would keep them out of trouble. If then the young adult acts out, there would be

no defense as to why they should not be punished. Another source that factors into the outburst of concern is social media. According to officials, the law has been around for a while, but the recent spread of news on the social spectrum has brought awareness to the issue. This would not be such a rampant controversial dialogue among people had they not relied on social media to be their main source of information in the first place. While social media can be source of reliable news, it is most often a source of biased news. An individual should make oneself aware of the laws held in our government, especially if they could potentially impact them personally. They can do so by escaping the black hole of social media and keeping updated on current events. If people had done so to begin with, this topic would not be as shocking. Several students, after finding out about the new law via Facebook and other sources, are concerned for their peers. They are upset that the school(s) have not informed the students about this “new” law. This notion, if anything, is immature thinking. Ever since pre-school, children have been disciplined to act peacefully and to be respectful of others. As age increases, it only makes sense to increase the punishment. Before, kids would sit in time out. Now, they may sit behind bars.

EDITORIAL | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY RACHEL ADAMSON

Fighting on school property could lead to

felony By Ana-Le Lund

hanges to a Missouri law that was enacted on Jan.1 involving charging students with felonies for violent behavior, is worrying many students and parent. However, the worry stems from the widespread news of the law, which previously had little attention. Now that people are more aware if its existence, concern has grown. According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the new law claims that third-degree assault and some cases of harassment will become class E felonies. Harassment includes victims suffering emotional distress and extreme cases of bullying.

“I think the new law smart.” - Cecelia Nastasi According to School Resource Officer Shepeord Owens, the law is not new, only minor changes have been added to it. “The law has always been a law,” Owens said. “It’s not new. There have been some minor changes to the law which is why it’s so relevant now, which is why it has been brought to everybody’s attention but it shouldn’t affect [the students] at all.” The changes to the Missouri law have caused a mix of emotions in schools across the state. The miscommunication of the new law’s additions is said to have started in the Hazelwood

Misunderstanding of a law that was already enacted

School District. The law was recognized at Ferguson-Florissant when superintendent Joseph Davis posted a YouTube video warning parents and their children about the law. Shepeord claims that the law started showing up in homes across Missouri because of social media. “There are more ways to get it out,” Owens said. “With social media and all, people try to give things more attention.” Senior Cecelia Nastasi believes the law will help students control their actions. “I think the law is smart,” Nastasi said. “I think it will prevent students from fighting and it will make them think twice about their decisions that they make in school. I feel like there will be more control, maybe every situation will be handled better.” Nastasi also explained that the rumors of the law scared students into believing that it is more impacting than it actually is. She said that the law could cause serious damage to a student’s life, given the circumstances, and that students should worry about the chances of a serious record being created. “A felony charge like that will follow with you your entire life, that’s why this scared a lot of people,” Nastasi said. According to the Dec. 16, Education Exchange Corps blog, written by Elad Gross, the law will not affect students any differently. “Imprisonment penalties will remain the same, although potential monetary fines will increase,” Gross said. “The 2017 law will not bring a rash of new prosecutions against kids. These media outlets are inciting panic.”

NEWS | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY ANA-LE LUND

Student responses to the existing law

- Freshman Nicholas Bolton

- Sophomore Madison Mayes

- Junior Justin Hanson

“I think it’s weird, but if it causes people to stop fighting then it’s alright. They are old enough to know not to do those kind of things.”

“Honestly I think it’s kind of good, because there is a lot of fighting in school. Its ridiculous how much people fight; but it’s also kind of scary because you can get charged.”

“I do feel that the law is appropriate because if you are old enough to know better you could be charged with a felony. Criminal action has no place in school.”

“I definitely think it’s a case by case situation depending on how extreme the fight is. But I feel like, especially if you’re older, it’s not right. You should have some self-con- Senior trol. It depends on Makayla Jameson what the situation is.”

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“Little Wins” for Winnetonka

Mark Maus brought in on short notice as Interim Principal

New Interim principal Mark Maus discusses transition with Griffin Rites staff writer sophomore Clayre Barkema on Jan. 27. Photo by AlyssaMagrone.

By Clayre Barkema

month after the arrest of the school’s long-term principal, according to students and staff, things are back to normal since Executive Director of Human Resources Mark Maus was brought in on short notice from central office to act as the school’s Interim Principal. He appears to have made a good first impression on the staff. “I thought he was very personable, friendly and nice,” administrative assistant Lisa Butler said. “When he greeted all of us, I had never met him before and I felt like I knew him already.” On top of filling in as principal, Maus is still maintaining his position at central office. “I do have a job in Human Resources that I’ve been neglecting, for lack of a better term,” Maus said. “Thursday and Friday I try to spend a lot of time here because I’m out Monday and Tuesday for different meetings.” Maus has been in education for 16 years and has been at central office for a year. “I taught math for six years and then I was an assistant principal and then six years as a principal for two different schools,” Maus said. “Then I transitioned

to HR but now I’m back being a principal.” As a teacher, his favorite part about education is when the light bulb in a student’s head goes off. “Sometimes you can describe it as little wins,” Maus said. “When students have been struggling with a problem or a worksheet or a project that they’re working on and you start seeing them get it, that to me is the most exciting moment.” Having previously been a principal at Oak Park, Maus shares how his experience in both schools are similar while still being unique. “Kids are kids,” Maus said. “Freshman are squirrely. Sophomores are a little bit more mature, but they don’t like being underclassmen. Juniors want to be seniors. Seniors just want to be done with high school.” Maus said he is excited to get back to the hallways after being in central office. “I get to shake hands, give high fives, see kids ace tests, or on the basketball court or in theater,” Maus said. “I really like that whole aspect that I get to see as a principal. I like seeing all those things.” Senior Grace Taylor met Maus and claims she had an excellent experience with him. “He was really funny and he made me

NEWS | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY CLAYRE BARKEMA

feel like I’d known him for a long time,” Taylor said. “He has gotten to know a lot of the kids and has made us feel better about the whole situation.” Taylor has also noticed his presence around school more. “Maus has been wanting to get to know the students,” Taylor said. “He asked us to interview him for WGTV, Tonka Talks, because he wanted everyone to get to know him better.” Maus claims he is passionate about being a principal and motivates students to do their best. “I expect a lot out of students,” Maus said. “I know that when young men and women apply themselves they can do amazing things.” Maus wanted to share some information to students to encourage them to keep with school. “Enjoy high school. I know sometimes it feels like it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done because of something going on or you’re mad at your friend or you’re mad at your parents,” Maus said. “But I absolutely loved high school. My best friends, still to this day are the friends that I had in high school. So enjoy your time. It goes really fast.”

14 Tweets of Valentine’s Day

Students share their stance on Valentine’s Day in 2017 By Kaitlyn Minet

or some, Valentine’s Day is a time to express passion for a significnat other. For others, it is a time to replace the love of a significant other with their own. Either way, the day is still popular for its Tweets. In honor of Valentine’s Day, students share what they would Tweet about the highs and lows by describing what it is like to be single or in a relationship.

TOP LATEST NEWS PHOTOS VIDEOS MORE

Trends

#relationshipin2017: 7 Tweets

Sophomore @Andrea_Simmons 2m “Being in a relationship in 2017 is honestly stressful.”

#singlein2017: 7 Tweets

Senior @Connor_Murray “‘Treat yo’self.’-Parks and Rec”

32s

Sophomore @Emelly_Martinez 11m “You are dating yourself and won’t have to wait for someone to buy you things.” Freshman @Sierra_Maciel 26m “Being single on Valentine’s Day is amazing. You don’t have to buy anyone anything!” Senior @Kaytlyn_Writesman 49m “Single on Valentine’s Day sucks. It’s like when you go to the grocery store and they’re out of twinkies. I think the store being out of twinkies sucks more.” Sophomore @Monét_Phipps 3h “Being single on Valentine’s Day is like coming home and seeing someone ate your slice of plzza you been saving all day… sad story lol.” Sophomore @Hannah_Stuevan 4h “Well it sucks but you appreciate yourself… nevermind.” Senior @Graciela_Delgadillo 7h “Being a single pringle just means you get more candy for yourself.”

Junior @Sydney_West 17m “Being in a relationship in 2017 is really amazing because it’s a new year to start something amazing with someone that means so much to you.” Junior @Curtis_Greer 38m “Being in a relationship is the best feeling because you’re able to say that the person you love is yours and being able to spend time and enjoy life with that person.” Senior @Kalyn_Musselman 1h “There’s nothing more assuring than having someone be your best friend and significant other. It is love that is fueled with compassion and compassion that is fueled with patience.” Sophomore @Alyssa_George 2h “I like it because we have a lot of fun and we can do cute things like go on a date, going to the movies and out to eat and it just means more when you get to be with someone you love.” Senior @Abigail_Hutton 5h “Being in a relationship is like having a parachute. It makes you feel safe, but you still have to keep your eyes open as you fall so you know that you can land safely.” Senior @Lindsey_Brand 8h “I never considered Valentine’s Day lonely or bad when I was single, but now that I’m sharing it with my best friend and true love I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

ETC. | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY KAITLYN MINET

Going 51%

of students said they're addicted to social media

By Katie Bullock

ocial media has been a growing trend since it first emerged into the mainstream media in 2003, according to History Cooperative. But recently more and more people have stopped pressing the “like” button. “Social media used to be the first thing I would do when I woke up,” sophomore Makayla Cambiano said. “I would check my Instagram and see how many followers I had or how many people had liked my photos. As soon as I quit I just sighed in relief because it was like, ‘I’m free.’ I didn’t have to worry about it anymore.” Cambiano recently deleted her social media apps because she felt they had become a source of negativity. “Everything on it [social media] was negative,” Cambiano said. “I had to stop because I didn’t want to be surrounded by that. It had become a depressant in a way.” Cambiano’s feelings could be explained by recent studies that show a correlation between social media usage and

depression. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that those who used social media frequently were 270% more likely to have depression than those who rarely used it. The study also found that depression stems from feelings of inadequacy which can be a result of exposure to unrealistic standards set by peers through social media. Viewing other people’s positive content often leads users to believe they are not as happy or successful as those around them. “It’s all about seeking approval and getting feedback which can lead to problems,” senior Mira Vecchio said. “For some people, if they don’t get enough likes on a post then they don’t feel good about themselves, they don’t feel confident. It can make you wonder if you did something wrong, which isn’t healthy.” The correlation between social media usage and unhappiness is so prevalent that the University of Michigan published a study in 2014 that proved declines in the subjective happiness and well being of young adults can be directly predicted by

FEATURE | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY KATIE BULLOCK

66%

of students said they have thought about deleting their social media

the amount of time they spent on Facebook. “I feel happier since I quit because I’m free from everybody’s negative comments and opinions,” said Cambiano. “I don’t ever want to go back to it.” Although Vecchio uses social media she believes that it can become unhealthy when it consumes too much of someones time. “On the weekends when I have nothing else to do I could spend hours on social media and I don’t think that’s healthy,” Vecchio said. “It’s actually scary to think about because it’s not good to spend all that time closed off from people looking at a glowing screen. Everything needs to be taken in moderation.” Although Vecchio recognizes the downsides of social media, she also believes that it can function as a way to connect with new people and serve as a stepping stone to real-life interactions. “I’ve gone to three different

For Peace of Mind

Students leave social media after it becomes a proven contributer to depression

67%

54%

of students said they have checked their social media instead of having conversations with friends

of students said they believe that social media is unhealthy

high schools so far,” Vecchio said. “Social media has helped me make more friends because I only knew one person when I came here. I followed her on social media and then I followed her friends. It just kept going and that’s how I found my now best friend.” Senior Sally Dishman, who is currently on her third break from social media, believes that it can be helpful for communicating with new people and family but it is only healthy to an extent. “It’s good to connect with your family – I watch my baby cousins grow up on Facebook since I don’t get to see them that much – but I really don’t think so [it’s healthy.],” Dishman said. “I have to get off of it sometimes. When I start to feel unhealthy or in a down mood I get out of social media so that I can focus on myself and pick myself up rather than others. People post a lot of negative things on social media and it becomes unhealthy because it brings

you down more than it picks you up. ” In Jan. 2012, Facebook itself proved that negative posts can and do impact how users feel when they [Facebook] altered the News Feeds of over 650,000 users by making the feed exclusively positive or negative. The majority of the users then began to post in a way which reflected the type of content they viewed, showing the direct correlation between social media and its user’s mindset. “Sometimes you see only negative things that people are posting,” Dishman said. “I don’t always want to be on social media because I know that it can affect me in a negative way and I don’t want that.” Social media is also diluting social interaction by lessening the number of face-toface contact that teenagers have, according to Cambiano. “I think in some ways it’s breaking down our generation. Everybody is so absorbed in their phones and they have this idea of what being social means from ‘social’ media," Cambiano said. "We have so much knowledge and technology yet we use it to post pictures of ourselves. |

Read a book, spend time with your parents, play with the cat you pretend to like on social media. We’re losing social interactions and people skills by playing with our phones instead of each other.” For Dishman, although social media can help connect people, it is more important to engage in personal interactions. “I feel so much better when I stop using social media. I feel comfortable just sitting at home and thinking my own thoughts. It gives me peace of mind because instead of focusing on other people’s thoughts I can focus on my own,” Dishman said. “It’s okay to go on it every once in awhile, but if you live on social media then you’re not going out and actually living your life. You need to focus on living right now, you need to focus on being in the moment. You can take pictures at events but you don’t have to live on Snapchat. You should be able to embrace the moment rather than experiencing it on your phone. Social media is just a distraction.” Graphics

KatieBullock

FEATURE | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY KATIE BULLOCK

OBSESSION

Teachers lace up their tennis shoes to compete in a Fitbit challenge in an effort to be more active

By Jessica Glaszczak

riendly competition arises among the staff as teachers eagerly race toward a healthy lifestyle. “It’s not to lose weight, it’s simply to get more activity in our lives,” history teacher Sarah Green said. Fitbits have recently become a global trend and are beneficial in helping people become more healthy. According to statista.org, the Fitbit corporation has more than 16 million active users and has sold more than 38 million devices worldwide. “I don’t know why it’s so popular,” french teacher Erica Stones said. “I know I like it because I like to be able to see the data and the numbers and the goal and seeing how I’m progressing towards the goal.” The Fitbit is a device that helps keep people aware of being active. It connects to an app that allows teachers to track their steps to their goal while competing with other teachers. “When you go onto your Fitbit, you can actually tag people and challenge

them to be in your challenge,” Green said. “Last year we actually had two challenges because we had a group of people that had under 50,000 steps a week and then we had a couple of people that were doing 100 to 120 thousand steps per week. We just do two different groups, so that you were kind of in a group that met your level.” The teachers are doing a challenge on the Fitbit called “Workweek Hustle” which allows teachers to communicate with each other and see where the others are on the challenge. “You’re friends with people who are in that challenge and people who are in that group can communicate and comment in that group,” Stones said. “It’s good motivation for the competitive side of me I guess. If I can get in a few more steps, then I can beat this person.” According to Green, the Fitbit competition is all about motivation and keeping each other accountable. “The Fitbit will tell you, this person’s on your feet or this person’s right behind you,” Green said. “So sometimes it moti-

vates you knowing that someone is in this with you.” This challenge has been around for awhile but has recently picked up pace. “Every week it starts over. We try to do it almost every week. It’s renewed interest because of the New Year,” math teacher Melanie Fender said. Some teachers compete for the number of steps and to get ahead of others. For other teachers, it is all about helping each other out to meet their step goal. “Some of us would jump out of bed at 11:50 at night to be first place,” Green said. “Then for some it’s just the idea of camaraderie. It’s the idea that you’re doing this with other people just to get walking more and get more fit.” According to Green, Fitbits are a very helpful reminder to stay active and stick to a goal. “I think as a society we’ve become more aware of how we need to [be more active] and some of us are addicted to our Fitbits,” Green said. “This is a constant reminder for me to be more active.”

FOCUS | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY JESSICA GLASZCZAK

Teacher's Steps: Jan 30- Feb 2

63,751 H. Sulzen 61,985 C. Marcantonio 39,358 H. Kendrick 39,111 E. Stones 35,189 S. Green 30,481 P. Wiltfong 23,365 Corporal Taylor 1. History teacher Sarah Green checks her step count on her Fitbit. Photo by JessicaGlaszczak. 2. Art teacher Heather Sulzen and gifted resource specialist Carrie Marcantonio run together in the hallways Photo by JessicaGlaszczak. 3. History teacher Sarah Green, art teacher Heather Sulzen and gifted resource specialist Carrie Marcantonio run together to raise their step count. Photo by JessicaGlaszczak.

By doing this challenge with other people in and out of the Tonka community, Fender is motivated to meet her step goal. “I know it gets people moving and it’s always nice to have a friendly competition. That’s one thing that motivates me, the accountability

thing,” Fender said. “[Doing this challenge, teachers] start feeling better, moving more and getting healthier.”

| Graphic by JessicaGlaszczak

FOCUS | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY JESSICA GLASZCZAK

Weather fail, Theatre win

Students return from Thespian Conference with success and experience By Kaitlyn Minet

he annual Thespian Conference provides students in the International Thespian Society (ITS), a drama organization for high school theatre students, a place to express their passion for any area of theatre. However, this year the conference, held Jan. 12 in St. Louis, came to an end sooner than expected. According to theatre director Sheri Coffman, each year the Thespian Society meets for conference which is a state competition that determines who continues to nationals. Besides the competitions, other activities such as workshops, main stage shows and one-act plays are offered. Students also have the opportunity to audition for scholarships and perform individual events. Due to bad weather reports, the students were forced to come home the next morning. “When we got there Thursday, we were contacted late Thursday night saying we had to be ready to leave Friday morning,” Coffman said. “[Senior] Kali Holman was supposed to do the scholarship auditions which is a really big deal but we had to leave before she was supposed to do it on Friday morning. She missed it by an hour.” However, the students did not let this stop their fun. Seniors Maddie Fields and Holman performed in the musical duet competition. “We got a 'superior' rating which qualifies us to go to nationals in Lincoln, Neb. which is pretty cool. That was the biggest thing we did at the conference,” Fields said. “We sang ‘I will never leave you’ from “Sideshow,” the musical we did our sophomore year." Junior Riley Neighbors said she performed to gain experience and earned an "excellent" rating.

“I did a monologue from ‘Tell Follow GriffinRites on the Aurasma Me That You Loved Me, Junie Moon’ to view hidden video: as my dramatic monologue, and a app Seniors Maddie Fields and Kali Holman perform “I monologue from ‘Goodbye Charles’ will never leave you” from Sideshow, the musical at the State Thespian Conference. Video courtesty as my comedic monologue,” Neigh- Missouri Maddie Fields. bors said. “I knew I would be performing in front of a large audience which was the first time I had really done it outside of high school theatre. It was a little step forward from what I'm used to." The conference provided workshops such as production of shows and lessons for performing in musicals. Senior Zach Chargois appreciated a new workshop that revolved around a future in theatre. "The transitioning from high school theatre to college theatre [workshop] was really interesting and it wasn't offered last year,” Chargois said. “It was super helpful and they were comSenior Kali Holman and Maddie Fields arrive back at pletely honest." school after Thespian Conference on Jan. 13 after a perJunior Danielle Dodd was formance earning a superior rating, qualifying them for upset about the lost time because nationals. Photo courtesy of SheriCoffman. of the benefits of the conference that were missed. Con" and now I'm ready to go view the “Everybody goes there to make whole movie next year.” friends and make connections in the net- While all were saddened about the work which I think was what we really shortened trip, Coffman is especially dismissed out on this year. Those are the appointed because the environment only most important things if you do plan on the conference can provide was not expegoing into theatre professionally and you rienced this year. need to develop those skills,” Dodd said. “It's a non-competition feeling Junior Cameron Daniels, who at- there,” Coffman said. “Everybody wants tended the Thespian Conference for the to do good but it's not at the expense of first time, said he was impressed with another school. I love to take the kids to what he observed in the little time he was the thespian conference because there's there. no other place you can get that feeling. "Everyone's so comfortable with We will definitely go back next year; I feel each other,” Daniels said. “Everyone has obligated to take them back because I feel the same mindset and they're so open to so bad.” each other versus high school. I just got a little taste. I got the teaser trailer of "Thes

ENTERTAINMENT | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY KAITLYN MINET

Date ideas FOR

It is Valentine's Day and love is in the air. It does not matter whether one is perpetually single or experiencing love. Either way, there are fun ways to spend the holiday. By AlyssaMagrone.

Valentine’s Day high-price

low-price

RESTAURANT

Cheddars. For those wanting to amp up the game and get a little fancy, Cheddar’s is sure to please. With it’s dim lighting and open space, a romantic mood is sure to take place. However, the place is sure to please singles as well as the restaurant offers plenty of comfort food that is well worth the higher price tag.

Steak n’ Shake. For those not wanting to break the bank, Steak n’ Shake is the best option. The variety of meals available under four dollars is an absolute steal. The dinner vibe makes customers feel like they are right at a sock hop, making it an enjoyable atmosphere for all. Lovers can make dreamy eye-contact over a shared milkshake or friends can mend their hearts with the healing powers of ice cream.

UNIQUE DATE

Powerplay. Not everyone wants to wear a fancy dress. For a more casual and adventurous night, Powerplay is the way to go. Not only is there bowling, go karts and laser tag, Powerplay offers a pizza buffet. Nothing speaks love more than blasting your friends to their deaths during a game of laser tag and making up for it by a round of pizza.

Late night drive through the city. All this date costs is some gas money and a driver’s license. Enjoy the night by driving through the city lights with a partner or friends in the seats. Couples can hold hands while reminiscing in the silence with wind blowing their heartstrings, while friends can blare Taylor Swift’s “22” and make fun of their ex’s.

MOVIE DATE

Dine-in theater. This classic date never goes out of style. Instead of going to the typical movie theater, make a night out of it and treat oneself. Dine-in theaters are a top-notch choice for those wanting to go with the dinner and movie date but offers the convenience of not having to speed through the streets to make it from the restaurant to the movie on time. Plus, these theaters typically offer comfy and cozy recliners ensuring a night of relaxation while still feeling pampered.

Movie Night. For those wanting to stay comfy and lazy this Valentine’s day, throwing a movie night is a cannot fail choice. Netflix is amazing but if it is out of reach, a simple solution to this is renting some movies from the local Redbox. It is much cheaper than going out to see only one movie, plus there is room for more alone time. Perfect for the friends who speak too loud and pause the movie for conversation.

ENTERTAINMENT | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY RACHEL ADAMSON

GRIFFINS SEIZE SEASON

THE

Winter sports teams compete to improve their records

GIRLS SWIM 2.

t is Jan. 24, the bleachers in the Gladstone Community Center are packed full of fans cheering on the girls swim meet as the senior swimmers swim in their last home meet. "It was really cool to have a whole cheering section of my own," senior Suzanna Zimmerman said. Head coach Luke Young strives to make swim fun for the girls. One way he does this is by taking the varsity swimmers to a swim meet in Springfield every year. The memories from this trip sticks with Zimmerman from two years ago when the girls played a teambonding activity. “We were playing the game Catch Phrase and the word was marshmallow," Zimmerman said. "Kaitlyn Presko was trying to get us to say it without actually saying marshmallow and she said that they grew in swamps.” Senior Susan Engstrom's favorite memory from her four years of swim derives from the latest trip to Springfield. “The hotel had an indoor pool that also went outdoors," Engstrom said. "We jumped in the pool where it

was all snowy and icy and Christine’s [sophomore Christine Harpe] hands stuck to the railing when she tried to get out of the pool because her hands were warm and the railing was frozen. When she pulled them off, she screamed and that was really funny.” Swim season ends on Feb. 4 with the girls competing in a conference swim meet. The team placed 4th overall in the meet. "It was a very fun season, I will miss everyone," senior Gloria DiLauro said. "I wish I could be here next season to do it again." Seniors are escorted on Jan. 24 during the senior night swim meet. 1. Senior Rachel Adamson escorted by her mom and dad. 2. Senior Gloria DiLauro escorted down the length of the pool by her host dad and two little sisters. 3. Senior Susan Engstrom shares a laugh with her mom and sister. 4. Senior Inga Hunderman walks with her host mom and dad as she is being escorted down the length of the pool. 5. Senior Suzanna Zimmerman escorted by her mom and dad. Photos by KatieBullock

SPORTS | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY RACHEL ADAMSON

BOYS BASKETBALL D 6.

espite 6. having a 3-13 record so far this season, the boys varsity basketball team is keeping their heads up. "We are improving every day this season," senior Daulton Freeman said. "We work hard in practice and hope it will translate to games later in the season."

The team will play the Raytown South Cardinals in a district game on Feb. 23. 6. Junior Bol Tong shoots the ball during the Pack the House basketball game on Jan. 17. Photo by AshlynBunch. 7.

GIRLS BASKETBALL T 7.

he girls basketball team is 3-8 so far this season. Junior Victoria Williams claims the team is doing much better in comparison to their previous season but there is still room for improvement. "We need to bond as a team and be like a family," Williams said. "This will make us play better because we will have better communication." The girls will face Pembroke Hill on Feb. 23 in a district game. 7. Junior Victoria Williams pushes past a Fort Osage defender during the Pack the House game on Jan. 17. Photo by RachelAdamson.

DANCE 8.

n Jan. 21 the Griffinettes varsity dance team won first place for their mixed routine at regionals. "It felt really good to win because we've been working hard for it," freshman

Hallie Stamper said. "When they called our category we were all holding hands and gathered in a circle on the gym floor. There were only four places so when they called fourth it wasn't us, and when they called third it wasn't us so we thought we'd get second, but then 9. they called second and it wasn't us so we knew we were first. Once they called it, we all just looked at each other and screamed and hugged and were high-fiving." 8. Freshmen dancer Hallie Stamper dances at a pep rally on Sept. 23. Photo by RachelAdamson. 9. Senior captain Mya Riley performs a dance routine on Sept. 23 during a pep assembly. Photo by RachelAdamson.

SPORTS | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY RACHEL ADAMSON

Tonka hosts “Little State” Wrestling teams from around Missouri compete for the ulitmate prize By Shelby Hilburn

n Jan. 20 and 21, Winnetonka hosted 20 teams from all around Missouri at their annual "Little State" tournament to prepare wrestlers to face challenging competitors. Now in its 46th year, the tournament helps players better themselves while also getting a feel for the competition. “The purpose is to get our wrestlers to exceed some of the best kids in the state and even out of state,” head wrestling coach Ryan Lowry said. “There’s plenty of people that can argue that this is tougher than the state tournament.” Typically, only the varsity teammates are able to compete in the tournament. “We invite 20 teams,” Lowry said. “Sometimes teams may not be able to fill a weight class so if there are openings we’ll allow some JV wrestlers to slide in, but mainly it’s just varsity guys and even then it’s only the higher level varsity guys.” Sophomore Travion Franke believes the tournament went well for him considering it was his first time competing in the tournament. “It was exciting to wrestle better people and good schools,” Franke said.

Instead of a medal, a title belt is given to the wrestler as an award for coming in first place. “They’re [title belt] leather and metal and they have a cool logo on them,” Lowry said. “Second through fifth place will just get a medal and we also give out some awards for outstanding wrestler, most takedowns in the tournament and most falls with the least amount of time.” Senior Tyler Stults believes that practice pays off which helped him prepare for the tournament. “Practice is always essential,” Stults said. “Be there on time and always try to work harder than the other kids you’re going to wrestle.” No one ranked in the competition, however, wrestling coach Kevin Griffith claims the tournament was a great learning experience. “It really is a neat tournament,” Griffith said. Stults said getting to set everything up to prepare for the tournament is difficult, but also exciting. “We have six mats and a lot of schools coming so we have to make sure everything’s in tip top shape,” Stults said.

Senior night for wrestlers on Feb. 2. Photos by MackenzieJackson

Senior Jacob Allen

Senior Micheal Aquino

Senior Gordon Hicks

Senior Christopher Hurd

Senior Melvin Roberts

Senior Dakota Taylor

1. Senior Tyler Stults prepares to takedown his teammate in the tournament on Jan. 20. Photo by ShelbyHilburn. 2. Senior Chris Chestnut takes down his wrestling opponent on Jan. 20. Photo by ShelbyHilburn.

Senior Tyler Stults

SPORTS | TONKANEWS.COM | PAGE BY SHELBY HILBURN

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