JagWire Newspaper: Volume 19, Back to School Issue

JAGWIRE MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL VOL. 19 BTS ISSUE AUG. 15, 2018 MVNEWS.ORG

BACK TO SCHOOL 2018-19

02 CONTENTS

Cover by Annie Myers

August 15, 2018

JagWire

table of contents 06

05

13

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NEWS

FEATURES

OPINIONS

SPORTS

04 calendar

06 new teachers 08 guide

10 little things

13 camps

05 StuCo

14 xc trip

2018-19 staff editors-in-chief Annie Myers

jagwire.anniemyers@gmail.com

Ally Nguyen

business manager

a&e editor

Hunter Ristau

jagwire.stevencurto@gmail.com

jagwire.hunterristau@gmail.com

jagwire.allynguyen@gmail.com

Anika Roy

jagwire.anikaroy@gmail.com

managing editor Hunter Ristau

jagwire.hunterristau@gmail.com

photo editor Andrew Tow

jagwire.andrewtow@gmail.com

news editors Hannah Chern

jagwire.hannahchern@gmail.com

Tatum Elliott

jagwire.tatumelliott@gmail.com

features editor Sophie Lecuru

jagwire.sophielecuru@gmail.com

Steven Curto

mill valley news editors-in-chief

reporters & photographers

Katya Gillig

Sophia Armendariz

jagwire.katyagillig@gmail.com

opinions editor Ben Wieland

jagwire.benwieland@gmail.com

Jonathan Atchley

jagwire.elizabethjoseph@gmail.com

jagwire.jonathanatchley@gmail.com

Marah Shulda

Sam Hanson

jagwire.marahshulda@gmail.com

sports editor Jakob Twigg

jagwire.jakobtwigg@gmail.com

jagwire.sophiaarmendariz@gmail.com

Elizabeth Joseph

social media editor Hannah Chern

jagwire.hannahchern@gmail.com

jagwire.samhanson@gmail.com

Addie Kemp

jagwire.addisonkemp@gmail.com

John Lehan

jagwire.johnlehan@gmail.com

Anna Owsley

jagwire.annaowsley@gmail.com

Tanner Smith

jagwire.tannersmith@gmail.com

JagWire

Design by Annie Myers

August 15, 2018

STAFF

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jagwire office 5900 Monticello Road Shawnee, KS 66226 Phone: (913) 422-4351 Fax: (913) 422-4039 Email: jagwirenewspaper@gmail.com Adviser: Kathy Habiger khabiger@usd232.org JagWire, a monthly publication of Mill Valley High School, is printed by the Sedalia Democrat.

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professional associations Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association Journalism Educators of Metropolitan Kansas City The 2018 JagWire earned an All-American rating from NSPA and an All-Kansas rating from KSPA. It is also a member of the NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

social media Twitter: @millvalleynews Facebook: Mill Valley News

censorship policy

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A&E

PHOTO ESSAY

15 class cup

16 summer

The Kansas Student Publications Act guarantees the same rights for student journalists as are guaranteed for professional journalists. These rights include, but are not limited to, all First Amendment rights, including the rights of freedom of speech and the press, insofar as published items may not contain libelous, slanderous or obscene statements, may not incite or promote illegal conduct and may not cause a substantial disruption to normal school activity. This law also prevents censorship of any kind by the adviser, building or district administration.

editorial policy We value your opinions. If you wish to submit a column or a letter to the editor to the JagWire, you can do so by handing it in to a member of the staff or to the print journalism room (C101). Additionally, you may email any member of the staff with opinions, as well as tweet us at @millvalleynews. Anonymous content will not be accepted. Please understand that we have the right to edit all copy that runs in this publication.

letter from the editors

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ello and welcome back to school, jaguars, but more importantly, welcome back to the 2018-19 JagWire newsmagazine. As editors-in-chief, we couldn’t be more excited for the issues to come, especially considering the fresh set of staff members we’re joined by this year; nearly half of our staff consists of new staff members. While this adjustment was challenging at first, it was ultimately beneficial to have fresh faces help contribute new ideas and keep content fresh.

The biggest change we’ve made to the backto-school issue is that this year’s content has been geared towards the whole student body whereas last year it was created with the purpose to help new students. We wanted to be able to share our

paper to a larger audience and to be able to utilize the skills of both the new members and the returning ones. This change sparked others within our paper; you may notice we’ve redesigned our paper to create a fresh and modern look that fits our style. This includes a new photo essay, which will be a review of things that have happened over the course of a production schedule and a rethought table of contents.

Lastly, one other thing you may notice is this issue is slightly smaller than ours normally are.

We originally planned for a 24-page issue, but had to make page cuts due in part to the increased price of printing, but also due to the lack of time available to create our content in addition to having to take things a little slower to support our

new staff members.

Despite the hectic schedule of this issue, we are so proud of our staff for coming in during their summer to put their best foot forth. We are so excited for this school year and can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.

wish us luck,

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NEWS

Design by Sophie Lecuru & Anika Roy

august freshman orientation - 14 first day of school - 15 first soccer game - 24

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JagWire

save the DATE A few important events planned to occur in this upcoming school year by sam hanson

by katya gillig mill valley news editor-in-chief

reporter/photographer

september first cross country race - 1 homecoming dance - 8 dig pink game - 20 aquinas football game - 21

october

“When it’s Aquinas week, you can feel a different atmosphere because the fans want us to beat them as bad as we do.”

end of first quarter - 11 bark for life - 20 fall break - 12-15

SENIOR STEVEN COLLING

“I feel that it is good to get a head start and try [the ACT] as early as I can ... then try to improve from there”

SOPHOMORE ALEX WHIPPLE

By the musical’s float, juniors Ashley Grega and Anna Paden walk in the homecoming parade on Wednesday, Sept. 6. // submitted by Avery Liby

november

“Bark for Life is almost like Relay for Life except you can bring your dog and it’s only for three hours.

It will be at Garrett Park and all of the money goes to the American Cancer Society.”

SENIOR KATE BACKES

catty shack opening - TBD thanksgiving break- 21-23 first basektball game - 30

december ACT test day - 8 first day of finals - 14 open mic night- TBD Singing with graduate Tyler Orbin, senior Lindsey Edwards participates in open mic night on Wednesday, Nov. 29. // Lexi Flipse

later on... woco - late february relay for life - march 29 prom - april 20 graduation- may 18

“We have Relay for Life and it’s a big deal. Everyone looks forward to it and everyone participates.”

SENIOR CIARA PEMBERTON

JagWire

August 15, 2018

Design by Tatum Elliott, Katya Gillig & Elizabeth Joseph

NEWS

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MOVING FORWARD

StuCo plans to move in a more student-oriented direction in the upcoming school year

NEWIDEAS StuCo will be using new tools to plan events this school year

Utilizing Twitter polls for student input

During a StuCo workday on Sunday, Jan. 8, current student body president Hannah Barnes paints a promotional poster for the first semi-formal winter homecoming dance. “Creating diverse event opportunities will help get all areas of the school involved,” Barnes said. // Hunter Ristau

by katya gillig mill valley news editor-in-chief

by john lehan reporter/photographer

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o improve upon last year, StuCo aims to incorporate new ideas to help get the student body more involved.

These ideas came in part from a StuCo camp attended by five StuCo members, including junior Ashley Grega.

According to Grega, the camp was a good opportunity to share and receive ideas with other schools, which could be intimidating for some of the members.

“In order to [get out of your comfort zone] you had to show leadership skills by going out, sharing your ideas with everyone, and kind of putting yourself out there,” Grega said.

Student body president Hannah Barnes also intends to implement new winter events to continue school spirit throughout the school year.

“This year in StuCo I would like to see an increase in events during the

winter months,” Barnes said. “Every year we get into these stale periods, that’s when energy and spirit starts to go down. I think this can [be fixed] by getting StuCo members to be more invested in the community.”

Barnes hopes to increase school spirit specifically during homecoming week. She hopes these changes will better represent the student body.

“StuCo has a lot of rad spirit days in the works which will hopefully be appealing to the student body,” Barnes said. “This year we want to take into account what the students [want] so we can best represent them.”

According to Grega, one focus of StuCo will be the ability to unite different parts of the community through its events.

“I love how [we] try to get everyone in the school involved,” Grega said. “No matter if you do sports, don’t do them, do musical, band, don’t do anything, I just love how StuCo is a way to have events people can all come to and have fun at.”

Spirit days that better represent what students want

Roundtable discussions with the student body

StuCo t-shirts to be worn at all StuCo events

06 FEATURES

Design by Sophie Lecuru & Ally Nguyen

August 15, 2018

JagWire

NEWEST

The school welcomes two English teachers, a Spanish teacher and a special education teacher by sophia armendariz

by hannah chern

by elizabeth joseph

reporter/photographer

news editor/social media editor

mill valley news editor-in-chief

Malorie Crutchfield

Anticipating her first year teaching, English teacher Malorie Crutchfield is “hoping to build new relationships with kids.”// Jonathan Atchley

Communication Arts

oming from a family of teachers, working with kids has always come naturally for English teacher Malorie Crutchfield.

After graduating high school, Crutchfield attended Johnson County Community College and later the University of Kansas to pursue a teaching career in English.

While she was sure she wanted to work with students in middle or elementary school, Crutchfield’s views changed when she became a student teacher for English teacher Ashley Agre’s classes at the school in 2017.

“I always wanted to teach eighth grade at the highest … because that just seems young enough but they are also old,” Crutchfield said. “Then when I got my student teaching position ... [ninth grade] was perfect and what I wanted.”

Crutchfield will be teaching English for tenth and twelfth grade, which she particularly enjoys due to the subject’s relevance to students.

Aly Young

Spanish teacher Aly Young shows off her favorite decoration in her classroom, a painting of a to horse on Monday Aug. 7. // Jonathan Atchley

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aving fun while focusing on immersing students in the Spanish language is one of world languages teacher Alyson Young’s main focuses this school year.

While Young hadn’t initially anticipated getting a degree in education, the area turned out to be a natural fit.

“I didn’t declare a major until my fourth semester,” Young said via

“I can help connect things we are reading to [students],” Crutchfield said. “It’s easier to get [them] interested in the topic, depending on what [they] enjoy ... and it’s easier to do fun stuff with English too.”

As she begins formally teaching this year, Crutchfield hopes that her students will gain an appreciation for language arts.

“I don’t sit here and expect everyone to like reading [and] I don’t expect everyone to like writing,” Crutchfield said. “I don’t expect everyone to be good at those things but I do think that there is something to get from it.”

email. “I enrolled in my first education class, continued to enroll in them and really enjoyed my student teaching experience.”

Teaching Spanish combined many interests, according to Young.

“World language classes are very interpersonal,” Young said. “I get to combine my love for talking and being around others to help young

Spanish

adults become bilingual.”

Young also studied abroad in Córdoba, Argentina with a host family who spoke no English, in order to strengthen her Spanish literacy and speaking skills.

“It was either a sink or swim situation, and I swam,” Young said. “I had a headache the first week of living there because I was focusing so much on what was being said. It was a really good experience.”

While Young hopes her students will eventually become fluent in Spanish, she believes there are numerous other skills students can benefit from learning.

“I want my students to know that it’s important to take risks because speaking Spanish is a lot of fun,” Young said. “We’ll make mistakes but mistakes are proof that you’re trying.”

JagWire

FEATURES

August 15, 2018

Isaiah Murdock

Communication Arts English teacher Isaiah Murdock squats next to the most interesting object in his classroom, a tiki head that he calls an A-203 tradition, on Friday Aug. 4. // Annie Myers

here’s nothing English teacher Isaiah Murdock loves more than a game of football and quality time with his dog — besides writing.

“I love to write because I like to articulate my thoughts on paper, and I think communication is one of the most important skills that we could learn,” Murdock said.

Murdock will be coaching football and wrestling in addition to teaching English for grades nine and 11. His love of the sport started at age six and has followed him since.

“I love the lessons that [football] teaches people,” Murdock said. “I think you get something out of it every time you’re doing it, whether it’s camaraderie with your teammates, or if that’s teaching you how to work

hard or when things are out of your control if the odds are stacked against you. ” While Murdock is new to teaching, he hopes for students to come into his class with an open mind.

“I want them to come in and treat me with the same kind of respect that I’m going to give them,” Murdock said.

“I want them to know that I’m not going to be perfect but I’m going to do my best, and I just hope that they’ll bring the same attitude to class.”

Ultimately, Murdock hopes that the lessons students learn in English carry over outside the classroom.

“I want to use my uniqueness in a way that is conducive for everybody to become better communicators,” Murdock said.

Jamie Pollard pecial education teacher Jamie Pollard will be undertaking the former position her husband Rick Pollard, who left to become the head football coach at Piper High School, held at the school.

While Pollard has 14 years of experience working in education, the path she took to become a special education teacher was unconventional.

“The first time I went to college, I was going to be a recreational therapist,” Pollard said. “I did my testing and became a [paraprofessional] and did coaching. Then I decided, ‘I should go and get my teaching degree,’ so I went back seven years later.”

However, teaching special education ended up being the right decision, according to Pollard. “[I love] seeing kids succeed and

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“WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO EDUCATION?” “I come from a family of teachers and that has really impacted me.”

English teacher Malorie Crutchfield “Teachers have impacted me my whole life and I wanted to be that light for another student.”

English teacher Isaiah Murdock “I wanted to impact young lives who might need a little extra support.”

Special education teacher Jamie Pollard “Teaching is a very social career path and I enjoy being around people.”

Spanish teacher Aly Young

Special Education

have growth in areas that they aren’t too successful in,” Pollard said. “I like to see how much kids can grow and learn about themselves.”

Pollard hopes that the student body will keep an open mind when interacting with students who may have different academic challenges from them.

“I want them to accept that everyone is different [and that] everyone learns differently,” Pollard said. “I want everyone to just be more accepting and include kids who struggle.”

As she undertakes her first year teaching at the school, Pollard looks forward to a fresh start.

“This is a different job, different place, different students. It’s a change,” Pollard said. “I just want to help kids learn.”

After setting up her room, special education teacher Jamie Pollard stands next to her bowling pins on Friday, Aug. 3 . // Jonathan Atchley

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FEATURES

Design by Addie Kemp & Annie Myers

August 15, 2018

JagWire

who’s, what’s & where’s the

MAIN OFFICE

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR MARILYN CHRISLER To start a club, students can meet with activities directior Marilyn Chrisler. “Students have to be in good standing [and have] good grades” to participate in clubs, Chrisler said. // Hannah Chern

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ctivities director Marilyn Chrisler is the person to go to for any questions regarding starting a club, she also keeps a calendar of dates with every clubs events.

Chrisler said that almost any club can be started at the school as long as it serves a purpose within the school or the community. For example, “clubs like Make-A-Wish help the community.”

According to Chrisler, the other requirement for a club is that they have to get together on a regular basis and keep track of attendance as well as take notes of what happens in their meetings.

“Typically most clubs meet once a month, others [meet more often] than that,” Chrisler said.

Chrisler also explained that all new clubs have to submit a proposal and be approved by the district and they make those decisions in April, so new clubs can not be added during the school year.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JERALD VANRHEEN As athletic director, Jerald VanRheen oversees logistics of sports teams, which includes but is not limited to deciding on individual budgets and scheduling buses to events. // Marah Shulda

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hen it comes to being involved with sports, athletics director Jerald VanRheen is there to help.

According to VanRheen, if you want to join a sport, “the first thing you should do is contact the head coach or another coach that will explain the time table for that sport.”

VanRheen explained that one of the biggest misconceptions about participating in a sport is that all it takes is physical work. There is much more to it behind the scenes.

“You need all your paperwork on file in the office before you’re able to participate,” VanRheen said. “We also have a code of conduct that all students must sign.”

Additionally, students must be in good academic standing.

“We have a little bit stricter policy than what KSHSAA says,” VanRheen said. “You can not compete in a school sporting event if you have an F grade in any class.”

ATTENDANCE SECRETARY

AMY SANDERS

Signing students in and out, secretary Amy Sanders handles attendance. In addition, Sanders said she can answer “any questions [students] ever have.” // Hannah Chern

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f you’re running a little late in the morning and walk into the main office, you might run into attendance secretary Amy Sanders.

Every student receives one emergency tardy to be used at any point throughout the year and Sanders keeps track of who has used theirs.

Sanders is also in charge of the sign-in and sign-out sheets and according to her, the process of being signed out during the day is not overly complicated.

“You have to have a parent call in …

Then they have to tell us a reason and what time, then your name,” Sanders said. “[For appointments,] any appointment will be unexcused unless we have a doctors note.”

Sanders also explained that any secretary would be happy to help if anyone gets lost, or if anyone needs help throughout the day.

“We can help with pretty much anything. If we can’t help you, we’ll find out who can,” Sanders said.

JagWire

FEATURES

August 15, 2018

A guide to people, opportunities and places available at the school

by sam hanson reporter/photographer

by anna owsley

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COUNSELING

reporter/photographer

NURSE’S OFFICE

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NURSE HEATHER VAN DYKE If a student feels ill, nurses can “make [their] day a little more comfortable,” nurse Heather Van Dyke said. // Tatum Elliott

MATH LAB

MATH TEACHER BRIAN RODKEY Each day during seminar, math teacher Brian Rodkey helps in math labs with math teachers Greg Oder and Kevin Mosher. // Tatum Elliott

ocated at the entrance of lower B hallway, nurse Heather VanDyke is always prepared to aid students.

According to Vandyke, students can come to her for a variety of overthe-counter medication like “tylenol, ibuprofen, tums, cough drops, and eye drops” if “it is okayed by the parent through online enrollment.”

VanDyke explained that students with certain illness and injuries “ have to do half days or sometimes they need rest periods if they have headaches.” In the case of a more serious injury, however, students are sent directly to athletic trainer Clint McAlister.

VanDyke would also tell students that being with the nurse is an excused absence from class “as long as [teachers] know where you are at.”

She stresses the importance of this communication.

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ath lab, lead by math teacher Brian Rodkey in the commons every Seminar, is a resource for students who need math assistance.

“Math lab gives students another option as far as getting help on math concepts. Either on math homework questions, test preparation or anything like that,” Rodkey said.

While Rodkey recommends students try their classroom teachers first he also explains that “math teachers can get really swamped in seminar and [math lab] gives students the option of getting timely help so they can get help right away and get that homework assignment done for class the next day.”

Also leading the lab are math teachers Greg Oder and Kevin Mosher. These teachers also work with students who don’t need help, but can have a different impact on helping their fellow students.

“We will have some NHS students in there,” Rodkey said. “Having that peer explanation can be beneficial.”

COUNSELOR CHRIS WALLACE Counselor Chris Wallace oversees students with last names starting with Ro-Z. // Hannah Chern

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ll of the school counselors can help students change their classes and help students plan for college among many other things.

It is simple to set up a meeting with a counselor, according to counselor Chris Wallace.

“We all operate with an open door policy so we can always try to make appointments,” Wallace said.

Wallace added that counselors are always here to assist students with whatever they may need.

“We certainly do a lot to help [students] get schedules arranged, and to make sure students are doing as well academically as they possibly can,” Wallace said.

DIVIDINGOUT Students are distributed to counselors alphabetically

A-E F-K L-Ri Ro-Z

TRISH CHANDLER ERIN HAYES ELIZABETH MOLGREN CHRIS WALLACE

10 OPINIONS

Design by Annie Myers & Ben Wieland

it’s the

LITTLE THINGS

August 15, 2018

JagWire

BAND CLASS WITH DEB STEINER

that make mill valley great

FINDING A PLACE IN THE MORNING C-101 gave me a place before school where I can belong

by marah shulda mill valley news editor-in-chief

by anika roy

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editor-in-chief

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s a girl with a serious, perpetual fear of being tardy, walking into school approximately 30 minutes before necessary in the morning isn’t unusual for me. To most, this half hour may seem like an insignificant portion of a long school day, but it’s much-needed time for me. Yes, it’s typically spent in the journalism room eating a ziploc bag of Honey Nut Cheerios, catching a 15-minute power nap, or finishing work I procrastinated on for class, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Through the hustle and bustle of the morning hallway, it’s easy to recognize the comfortability of students in the place they call their own. Aside from the few stragglers that manage to, without fail, arrive rushed to the sound of the warning bell every day, you’ll see a group of friends in the Upper C hallway playing ukulele, a seemingly endless group of boys flooding the locker banks, another group of boys scarfing down breakfast in the cafeteria and some that rather sit in the parking lot, dreading the day. For me, although it took over two years, I found that place in C-101, literally and figuratively. I found a physical place to sit down out of everyone’s way, but more importantly I found a home among peers who persistently encourage me to seize the day ahead.

Deb Steiner changes school from tolerable to enjoyable

Or, at least just power through it.

“MY GREATEST FRIENDSHIP AND SELF-DISCOVERIES BEGAN IN THIS SETTING” senior anika roy

I could argue that some of my greatest friendships and self discoveries began in this setting. I’ve formed relationships with people I was previously so confident I could never relate to or even hold a conversation with, but was able to find a common interest in journalism with. I’m beyond thankful for Kathy Habiger for allowing me this daily space and both Dorothy Swafford and Jerry Howard for happily unlocking the room whenever I need it, as I again tend to arrive quite early. It’s the little things at Mill Valley, like that special place you spend those seemingly irrelevant minutes before class, that truly make it so great.

hile I would like to say that I enjoy coming to school simply for the learning experience and classes I take, I have to acknowledge that is not the case. Personally, I rather enjoy walking down the halls and seeing the familiar faces of my friends and teachers. One of my favorite teachers in particular, and the one I have the most classes with, is band director Deb Steiner.

I have always been involved in band, but it wasn’t until I came to high school and was taught under the direction of Steiner that it turned into a passion. Band has many different aspects to it and each of those individual parts have given me many of my greatest strengths. Most of my leadership skills have stemmed from band as a drum major and these skills have given me a greater confidence in all my other activities. I enjoy all my classes with her and have the most fun while in her classroom. This one little thing about high school makes the rest worth it and gives me something to be confident about.

My different band classes make me love coming to school, and seeing Steiner as I enter the room and all my worries from the school day wash away. By seeing her, I know that I am coming into a class that I love. Band and Steiner are the little things that help me get through the big things.

JagWire

OPINIONS

August 15, 2018

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SNACK SHACK VISITS WITH PAM Daily conversations with Pam help me see the good in life by hunter ristau managing editor/business manager

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s I take my daily trip over to the Snack Shack, I see Pam King, more commonly referred to as “Pam the Cookie Lady,” handing students their post-lunch snacks, ranging from cookies to ice cream.

She hands me my brownie and a bag of chips every day at the beginning of lunch so I can miss the rush at the end.

During this time, I also get the chance to have a conversation with her, and as I’ve been getting to know her more and more over the past three years I have come to learn how important building a relationship with King is to me. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to get to know King on a more personal level over the past three years. She remembers everything that we talk

about, and we pick up where we left off.

There are times that I don’t even want anything from the Snack Shack, yet I go anyway to have a nice conversation with her. Topics range from how school is going to what’s going on in my life. She will always lift my mood after taking a hard test and keep me sane with all the stress of school. She genuinely cares about everyone and she loves what she does every day, whether it’s getting ready for lunch or serving breakfast in the mornings. I strongly believe that Pam the cookie lady is one of the reasons that Mill Valley is great.

THE VOYAGERS CLASSROOM The Voyagers program helped me embrace new perspectives by elizabeth joseph

tains of homework and obligations.

Although interactions can range from pretty wild to mildly chill, of these are privileges to experience.

As I’ve progressed through my years at Mill Valley, I’ve found many more activities and classrooms in which I’ve been pushed to be a better student and better person; the

mill valley news editor-in-chief

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hen I entered Gifted Services facilitator Carmen Shelly’s classroom, A-97 with my fellow voyager students, she told us that every time we came in for a block, we would have to pick somewhere to sit that wasn’t our seat in seminar. Why? To force each of us to find a new perspective of the room.

However, the Voyagers program has challenged me to rethink my world beyond a visual angle and gave me a reason to start loving the school as a freshman.

From day one, Shelly made it clear that Voyagers was a space in which we could come in for anything, ranging from activities that would encourage

us to think creatively to simply unwind during finals week with easy access to coffee, snacks and peers there to do the same. And while I don’t come in as often as I should, returning to the Voyagers room after a schedule jam-packed with AP classes and activities always feels like a breath of fresh air.

While this is largely due to Shelly and paraprofessional Elizabeth Goodman’s efforts to make the room a safe, welcoming space, it also helps to know that anyone in the room is as ready to go off about something they find interesting as they are to challenge my opinions, or share in the misery of seemingly endless moun-

“THE VOYAGERS PROGRAM HAS CHALLENGED ME TO RETHINK MY WORLD” senior elizabeth joseph

J-Room and A207 are both spaces in which I’ve been forced to take on new challenges and become more capable.

But, the Voyagers room was the first place I held as a safe space upon entering MV, and it will always be close to my heart.

12 ADS

Design by Hunter Ristau

August 15, 2018

JagWire

JagWire

August 15, 2018

Design by Steven Curto & Addie Kemp

SPORTS

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WORKINGOVERTIME With players standing behind them, quarterback coach Kody Cook, wide receiver coach Zack McFall and head coach Joel Applebee watch as players participate at the Blue Springs South football camp on Thursday, June 7. // Photo submitted by Lori Habiger

Football team participates in camps over summer to prepare for the upcoming season by ally nguyen editor-in-chief

by anna owsley reporter/photographer

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he football team improved its skills and built up its strength as a whole by attending a football training camp at the Jaguar Stadium from Monday, July 9 to Thursday, July 12.

The camp used a variety of activities to improve each individual player as well as the team as a whole, according to senior Matty Wittenauer. The activities could be individual workouts or they could consist of small

IT MATTERS Senior Matty Wittenauer explains benefits of camps

groups of players.

“We did individual skills with our position group coaches,” Wittenauer said. “For offense we worked on plays and how to up-tempo, seven-on-seven against defense and then team competitions.”

In addition to improving skills, head coach Joel Applebee thinks that having the camp annually is also beneficial for team building.

“It’s really important [to attend camp],” Applebee said. “It is a very important part of the summer to finish up the last week of the time we can actually work together on football drills.

It’s an opportunity for all of them to get together, an opportunity for us to work as a team.”

In addition to team building, the camp also provides the players with motivation from not only their teammates, but their coaches as well.

“They are always cheering you on, telling you to go,” Wittenauer said.

“When they talk about the end goal, you really want to finish strong.”

Ultimately, Applebee believes the training camp was an overall success with an attendance rate of about 98 percent. He also believes that attending training camp was a good way for the players to show their dedication to the program.

“We don’t have issues with kids missing if it’s for a specific valid reason. We don’t really focus on that.

To be honest with you, we just focus on the guys that are there and are wanting to get better,” Applebee said.

“They work really hard. All summer long they work hard for us and do a great job.”

The first football game against Blue Valley West will be on Friday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.

“[Camps] are really important. We were working on all of our skills. In basketball we worked on getting our systems in place. In football, obviously we worked on running plays.”

SENIOR MATTY WITTENAUER

14 SPORTS

Design by Marah Shulda

August 15, 2018

GOINGTHE by sophia armendariz reporter/photographer

by sophie lecuru features editor

T

he cross country team traveled to Lyons, Colorado for their annual summer trip.

While the first cross country meet may not be until Sept. 1, student athletes have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. The team traveled from Estes Park to Boulder, Colorado, running at many different locations.

Head cross country coach Chris McAfee’s favorite place they ran was Magnolia Road, a landmark famous for helping runners shape up to Olympic standards.

“A lot of Olympians and elite athletes come and train [there]” McAfee said. “It was a pretty high elevation, and it was really hilly.

That was probably the favorite run that we did because it was challenging.”

Colorado, famous for its altitude, p rov i de d a challenge for the runners.

JagWire

Cross country runners go on school-sponsored trip to Colorado to run and bond as a team

DISTANCE

McAfee saw the effects of the height first-hand.

“Nobody got sick, but we definitely had a couple of kids who were feeling the effects [on the run].” McAfee said.

Running wasn’t all the team did on the trip, he group did many things from exploring downtown Boulder to summiting the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park. Senior Delaney Kemp even got to try something new.

“I’ve never summited a mountain before. Last year we drove Pike’s Peak instead of summiting it, like, instead

“WE BROKE DOWN THOSE BARRIERS AND IT HELPED US GET CLOSER.” sophomore nathan greenfield

of hiking it, so it was really fun to actually hike something.” Kemp said.

However, some of the best memories weren’t made outdoors, according to Kemp.

“The most memorable moment for me was when were putting together the Mario Kart Tournament,” Kemp said. “Just laughing and having a good time together was honestly my favorite part, more than the running.”

After all the time they spent together, junior Nathan Greenfield thinks the trip improved how the team worked together.

“The guys and girls team got a lot closer,” Greenfield said. “We broke down those barriers and it helped us get closer as a team.”

Fueled by the progress that they made on the trip, McAfee is optimistic for this year’s cross country season.

“On paper, we don’t look like we should be as good as we were over the last two years, but I think right now we could be as good—if not better than—the last couple of years,” McAfee said. “I feel really good about our upcoming season.”

DAYBYDAY Daily schedule of the trip

Wake-up call

Ride to trailhead

Run

Activity

Team Bonding While running down a mountain in Lyons, Colorado, the boys cross country team runs in a pack on Thursday, July 12. // Jakob Twigg

The team's main bonding exercise was a Mario Kart Tournament in which they split up and made a bracket. // Jonathan Atchley

JagWire

August 15, 2018

Design by Sophia Armendariz & Ally Nguyen

A&E

15

ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK A brief overview of how activity of the week, themes and the class cup rewards system work by katya gillig mill valley news editor-in-chief

ACTIVITYADVISORY Student Leadership Team adviser Debra Steiner describes how SLT decides activity of the week and themes

1 2 3 4

Get the schedules for all in season sports teams and see which games are the most popular and important

by sam hanson reporter/photographer

MY FAVORITETHEMES Students share the best things about their favorite theme

“I like how everybody participates in it and can get free t-shirts for a good cause.”

Search for upcoming events that other clubs within the school are hosting

“Tropical is cool because we do it when we play Aquinas and that’s the biggest game of the year.”

Decide on one activity per week and be sure each activity is represented. If applicable, decide on a theme Change the banner hanging in the foyer to show the current activity of the week

SOPHOMORE KYLIE OVERBAUGH

SENIOR HUNTER HARRIS

WHERE TO SHOP Popular places students buy theme items from

CLARIFYING CLASS CUP Class cup is based upon a point system and rewards vary between the amount of points

Students can gain class cup points by attending an activity of the week or by participating in club-sponsored drives

Students must get their student ID scanned in order to be counted as well as to qualify for the quarter reward

Savers and Good Will WHAT TO GET: Hawaiian shirt, fanny pack and hats

Dollar Tree WHAT TO GET: Spirit beads, face paint and poster boards

SLT uses the ratio of percentage of attendees by grade rather than the pure number of students who attended

Quarter rewards can include smaller rewards like an extra early release or a larger reward like a zoo trip

16 PHOTO ESSAY

Design by Andrew Tow

August 15, 2018

a look back:

TIME to RELAX

Students do different activities throughout the summer

JagWire

Grilling their chicken kabobs on Sunday, Aug. 5, juniors Logan Arnold and Nico Gatapia like spending time over the summer grilling and cooking together.

“I enjoy cooking because it is a way for me to learn a new skill for later in life,” Gatapia said. // Andrew Tow

With the three children she nannies in the summer, senior Taylor Stephens pours a glass of lemonade for a customer at their stand on Thursday, Aug. 2. // Anika Roy

ABOVE: After tacking up her horse, Elsie, on Monday, Aug. 6, senior Abby Hoepner rides in the Covered M Arena. // Jonathan Atchley RIGHT: At Shawnee Mission Park on Monday, Aug. 6, juniors Kaleigh Johnston and Abby Lee paddle board on the lake. “Paddle boarding gives me a chance to get outside and enjoy the weather and nature,” Johnston said. // Marah Shulda

Scanning the pool on Wednesday, Aug 1, senior Laura Santos spends time working as a lifeguard at the Thomas A. Soetart Aquatic Center. // Anika Roy