JagWire Newspaper: Volume 22, Issue 3

JAGW IRE

JW

CONQUERING THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS

As mental health issues rise among teenagers, more students are in need of and looking for help

SCHO

THE FUTURE

RELATIONSHI

SPORTS HA

ENVIRONMENT COVID-1 BULLYING ENV SCHOOLWORK TO SHIPS FAMILY ISSUES PERSONAL TRAUMA FR VOLUME 22 ISSUE 2 DECEMBER 14, 2021 Mill Valley High School | Shawnee, Kansas

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dec. 14, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 OPINIONS

STAFF EDITORIAL

4

NEWS

BASEBALL & SOFTBALL FIELD CONSTRUCTION

5 GRAPHICS

MARVEL UNIVERSE

12

13

2021-22 STAFF

OPINIONS

PERSONAL STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH

A&E

HELPING DURING THE HOLIDAYS

14-15 SPORTS

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

16 PHOTO ESSAY

BEHIND THE SCENES OF MVTV

6-7 FEATURES

INSTAGRAM AESTHETICS

8-11

FEATURES

MENTAL HEALTH

Getting ready for the live announcements, sophomore Olivia Huston prepares to count down to the anchors Thursday, Dec. 3. Photo by Elizabeth Summa

PUBLICATION INFORMATION 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 Valley Offset Printing

Professional Associations Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association Journalism Educators of Metropolitan KC The 2021 JagWire earned a Pacemaker and an All-American rating from NSPA. It is also a member of the NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

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.

Censorship Policy 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.

Editor in Chief

Quinn Franken

Online Editors in Chief

Gabby Delpleash Avery Gathright

Photo Editor

Hayden Resch

Assistant Editor

Madelyn Welch

Reporters & Photographers

Kaitlyn Burke Grace Brookshire Emma Clement Julia Coacher Liz Coenen Alayna Dill Amy Hill Katelyn Krosky Sydney McGlasson Natalie Merley Chloe Miller Baylen Monson Sophie Sena Julia Shumaker Elizabeth Summa Abigail Troilo Luke Wood

ON THE WEB @millvalleynews @millvalleynews1 @Mill Valley News

JagWire

Design by Julia Shumaker

OPINIONS

3

Staff Editorial

IT’S NOT

ENOUGH

Current administrative measures are not enough to improve students’ mental health inside and outside of school by jagwire staff

T

oday’s students are grappling with a variety of issues beyond the classroom. Depression and anxiety. The state of the country.

COVID-19. Climate change. Mass shootings.

Everything from five-day school weeks to three hours per night of homework to two hours a night of sports practice is enough to make even the busiest of adults shudder at how often teenagers are stretched thin to the point of collapse. New issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic to this impossible balancing act drives teens to seek ways and outlets of validating their feelings.

As young adults who are often characterized by our vulnerability and impressionability by older individuals, we yearn for school to be a safe place to express our hardest struggles, insecurities and most prevalent fears. While we may be too young to concern ourselves with taxes and bills, one in seven of us go to bed wishing we weren’t waking up for one reason or another.

In 2020, the advocacy group Mental Health America surveyed teens

about the top three things that would be most helpful for their mental health.

More than half the respondents cited the ability to take a mental break or absence from either school or work.

All respondents reported that what they need most is support for their own mental health, connection to mental health advocacy and training to support their peers’ mental health.

These statistics should scare public schools to death yet they catch the slightest attention from school administrators who endeavor to simplify the complexity of teenage mental health by issuing band-aids in the form of social-emotional lessons, SEL, among other measures that only address mental health at face value. Aside from acting as a conduit for any kind of mental illness, SEL’s unpopularity among students stems from its lesson content and presentation residing within an elementary level to high school students.

The unpopularity among staff comes from teaching material they did not create, making “uncomfortable conversations” with their students more difficult. This has caused some teachers to neglect the SEL curriculum altogether.

According to the New York Times, high school students in several states

are already combating the widespread issue of mental health negligence amongst schools by advocating for mental health days. By the time “Students Coalition For Mental Health” leader Ben Ballman reached his junior year in high school he was busier - and more anxious - than he had ever been.

“I had moments where it felt like the whole world was coming down on me,” Ballman said. “It’s not even that I was going above and beyond, it was ‘This is the bare minimum.’ It’s a pressure cooker that is locked down. There is nowhere to escape. Eventually you just kind of burst at some point.”

Starting with our school, mental health needs to be addressed headon, starting with raising the universal awareness that mental health is an issue that cannot be simplified. There is no easy solution but there are alternate approaches that include but are not limited to: hiring additional social workers to join clinical school social worker Debbie Gudenkauf, publishing a list of mental health resources on the counseling websites, and, yes, a mental health day once or twice a quarter.

The earlier our school addresses the elephant in the room, the sooner “one in seven teens” becomes “not a single teen.”

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NEWS

Design by Julia Shumaker

FIELD OF THEIR DREAMS

Dec. 14, 2021

Complete with artificial turf, the new fields provide multiple beneficial amenities for the baseball and softball teams

Behind yellow caution tape, the baseball scoreboard will be surrounded by a new fence next season Wednesday, Dec. 1. The fence will include a new solid navy batter’s eye and will cut around the right field rowdies deck. Photo by Luke Wood

by gabby delpleash

S

online editor in chief

ounds of construction equipment and smells of fresh turf coming from behind the football field often fill the air from early morning to late afternoon. An anxious head baseball coach Jeff Strickland observes the progress of the new baseball and softball fields from his classroom. Strickland’s team hasn’t stepped on the new field yet, but he is eager for them to experience all of its new benefits.

“We’re unbelievably excited and grateful that we’re getting what, I think, will be the nicest field in the Kansas City area for a high school,” Strickland said. “We’re getting new bullpens and dugouts, new fencing, new bleachers, new lights and turf.”

The new fields come from the third and final phase of the district’s $85 million bond issue that addresses the

IN THE WORKS

An excavator in front of the new softball press box was used to remove dirt in order to level the field so the future turf can be laid down Wednesday, Dec. 1. Photo by Luke Wood

school’s negligence to provide equitable on-campus facilities for baseball and softball. Construction began in late spring of this year and is expected to be finished before the start of the 2022 spring sports season.

Head softball coach Jessica DeWild cannot remember a time where she wasn’t advocating for an on-campus softball field, thinking about all of the issues the new addition would resolve. “[The new field] will be very convenient for us,” DeWild said. “We’ll be able to practice and play our games on campus, whereas in the past we would have to drive to ‘3&2 Baseball Complex’, which caused us to start practice later. We’d have to transport equipment back and forth [between campus and the complex]. We’re going to get a turf field so we shouldn’t have to have as many rainouts and worry about the weather because in the spring, there’s a lot of rain.”

The addition of a softball field will

A timeline of the new baseball and softball fields construction

Source: Jessica DeWild, usd232.org/bonds and Steve Dagon

2022

2021 June 21: June 2021: Construction began Backstop placed

Sept. 9: Field lights constructed

Nov. 10: Original Jan-Feb: The foul date for turf install line will be drawn

allow for simultaneous gameplay of the softball and baseball varsity teams, a feature that will relieve tensions between the two according to junior Emma McCall.

“We’ll definitely have more people getting along,” McCall said. “We’ll get along with the baseball team a lot better by having fields close to each other.

[Additionally], we’ll have a lot more people coming to the games since [the new field] is on campus now.”

NEW ADDITION COSTS Bleachers: $1.14 million per stadium Lights: $50,500 per field Fence: $8.28 million per field Hiting Tunnel (two per field): $7800 per field Softball field turf: $444,000 Baseball field turf: $1.6 million

JagWire

Research by Avery Gathright

M RVEL MANIA

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought together a multitude of Marvel movies into one cohesive narrative that fans can easily follow along with

OVERALL OPINION

GRAPHICS

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UPCOMING RELEASES Spider-Man: No Way Home (December 17, 2021)

Doctor Strange in The Multiverse

*Survey of 155 students

From characters to movies, students have differing opinions in regards to the MCU. The lists below display the top three favorites, all within their respective categories

MCU MOVIES

Design by Chloe Miller

ORIGINAL 6

of Madness

(May 6, 2022)

Thor: Love and Thunder (July 8, 2022)

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (November 11, 2022)

32.2%

30.1%

1. Guardians of the Galaxy

1. Iron Man

DID YOU KNOW? Marvel does not own the rights to all MCU characters

Spider-Man is co-owned by Sony, and

Universal Studios co-owns The Hulk

28.1%

26.6%

2. Avengers: Endgame

2. Black Widow

Stan Lee appeared in 22 MCU films

26.7%

21.0%

3. Thor: Ragnarok

OVERALL CHARACTER

3. Thor

Stan Lee, creator of many iconic Marvel characters, appeared in 22 MCU films, more than any other person, with two

of these films released after his death

in 2018. Throughout the films, Lee has portrayed a wide range of characters, including a bus driver and a

dimension-hopping astronaut.

10.3% 1. Spider-Man

4.0%

2. Iron Man, Scarlett Witch, & Bucky Barnes

3.7%

3. Black Widow

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FEATURES

Dec. 14, 2021

Students and teachers have very unique instragram profiles and all have a certain aesthetic that they try to maintain

@sonnypentola @sonnypentola

@schoolinstyle @schoolinstyle

@nathanegarner @nathanegarner

SONNY PENTOLA Junior Sonny Pentola posts pictures of himself on Instagram that are a combination of casual and creative.

In Pentola’s opinion, his photos are not as planned out as other accounts, and it’s photos he just simply thinks look good, describing his Instagram as “a little more artistic.”

“I like it because I can post the photos [on Instagram] that I like without really thinking about it, or thinking about what someone might see,” Pentola said.

“My friends and I, we just realized that Instagram isn’t as deep [as some people think it is].”

Pentola edits his pictures, but not in the way that many on the app do.

“I don’t edit it so I look pretty,” Pentola said, “ I edit it with a more creative outlook.”

by baylen monson writer/photographer

by abigail troilo writer/photographer

@kendallls.nails_ @kendallls.nails_@its_ur_friend_sarah @its_ur_friend_sarah

SARAH SIDES Math teacher Sarah Sides’ Instagram account focuses on affordable fashion geared towards teachers. On Instagram she has 22,000 followers. Taking a picture of her outfit every day helps inspire Sides to be creative with her style. “[Posting on Instagram] motivates me to get dressed each day and come up with new outfits,” Sides said.

Instagram allows Sides to meet people that have the same love for teaching and fashion.

“I made a lot of friends through Instagram,” Sides said, “Which sounds super cheesy, but [I’ve met] people who do similar things and have similar style to teacher fashion.”

Sides loves teaching and shopping, so getting to combine those two things on Instagram is a creative way to represent herself.

JagWire

Design by Grace Brookshire and Photos by Elizabeth Summa

FEATURES

7

NATE GARNER Sophomore Nate Garner posts his digitally drawn art on Instagram.

Some examples being titled “Boy Wonder”,“Orange Soda’’, and “Money in the Bag”. For Garner, making art is special to him and allows for him to express himself creatively.

“I don’t want anyone else to govern what I do, especially since [my art is] kind of like my little sanctuary,” Garner said.

Recently, Garner interviewed Miles Davis, who owns Massive Burns Studio, an art company. Garner cares for art and has a passion for it.

“I appreciate everything with art,” Garner said, “It’s not something I want to do as a career, but it is something I enjoy doing.”

KENDALL LIEN Sophomore Kendall Lien started doing her nails when she was in fifth grade. She then started posting pictures of her nail art on Instagram in October 2020. Lien finds doing her nails relaxing and fun, and uses her nail art as a creative outlet.

“My favorite thing I’ve posted would have been the side rainbow french tip I did with metallic blue as the base,” Lien said.

In her free time, doing her nails is a way to challenge herself creatively.

“It shows a willingness that I have to try anything when I’m bored with nail art,” Lien said.

Since beginning her account, Lien feels she has improved at the detail-oriented art.

“I’ve definitely gotten better at hand painting designs and being a little bit more competent with what I’m doing on my nails.”

SARAH COLEMAN

Sophomore Sarah Coleman posts pictures of unique things she finds in public and herself, having the same aesthetic throughout her Instagram account.

“I enjoy posting [on Instagram] because looking at it all together makes me happy because I like the colors and I like taking the pictures, obviously,” Coleman said.

Coleman specifically likes graffiti, and taking pictures of it.

“If I’m in public and I see graffiti I’m usually like, “That’s pretty cool. I’m gonna take pictures of that,” Coleman said.

Additionally, she edits her photos using Prequel and Picsart to add filters and stickers.

“I like to edit my pictures,” Coleman said, “So I’ll put little stickers on them, things I think look cute.”

Coleman believes her posts show others how she enjoys spending her free time.

“I feel like it shows when I have time outside of school what I can do with my makeup and my outfits,” Coleman said.

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FEATURES

Dec. 14, 2021

MIND YOUR MIND With a recent surge in mental health issues, it is important to recognize stuggles and find help

by avery gathright by emma clement by sophie sena

W

online editor in chief

writer/photographer

ithin this past year, COVID-19 has had an enormous effect on the mental health of people around the world.

With less balanced lives and social interaction, many teens have been affected in these troubling times, and despite their young age, their voices need to be taken seriously. In order to help struggling students, the district has implemented a Social Emotional Learning, or SEL, curriculum, which has been met with varying responses. However, SEL opens the door to further discussions concerning mental health, a much-needed step in the right direction.

writer/photographer

CACAUSES USES FORFOR HEALTH PORPOOR MENTAL HEMENTAL ALTH

In a world where more people are struggling with mental health than usual due to COVID-19, younger people have been especially affected.

In a UNICEF survey of 8,444 people between the ages of 13 and 29, 46% felt less motivated to do activities they had previously enjoyed.

Sophomore Sam Johnson, who has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, depression and ADHD, noticed how COVID-19 affected their daily life and usual activities.

“[COVID-19] was a big struggle for me,” Johnson said. “I used to be out skating every day, hanging out with people and keeping my life at least in balance and then [COVID-19] hit and you’re trapped inside and couldn’t go out and do anything. That really took a toll on me, especially after school hit.

Schooling online isn’t meant to be, and I think that people’s mental health really showed in their grades.”

Senior Benjamin Baumgart, who has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, believes that although school gives him more purpose, it becomes a stressor when he becomes

JagWire

Design by Quinn Fanken and Photos by Liz Coenen

too busy.

“I’d say, especially with the last two years, there’s been a lot of pressure placed on students to do everything at once,” Baumgart said. “For me and for a lot of my friends, it is overwhelming doing classes [and] being in clubs. I’m doing activities like the musical and for a lot of the time, those will help give me a purpose. But [sometimes] it gets to the point where it’s overwhelming.”

According to Johnson, the things that affect mental health cannot be boxed into any category, because it is such a large part of people’s lives.

“I think a little bit of everything plays into mental health because no matter what you’re doing, where you are, who you are and who you’re with, you’re always going through some kind of situation,” Johnson said. “And that situation can turn into anything. It can turn into the best day of your life or the worst day of your life. I don’t think there’s one specific thing that plays into mental health.”

According to school clinical social worker Debbie Gudenkauf, adolescents’ mental health issues can be exacerbated by their brain development.

“High school students typically do not yet have the life experiences that give them the perspective and confidence to know they can get through difficult times,” Gudenkauf said. “They do not have the brain maturation that they will have [in] 5-10 years. That brain matura-

FEATURES

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“I’d say, especially with the last two years, there’s been a lot of pressure placed on students to do everything at once.”

tion will eventually help them understand and rationalize situations. Just because you might struggle as an adolescent does not mean you will struggle all your life.”

Freshman Skylar Smith, who has been diagnosed with ADD and depression, explains that people tend to blame

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

surface-level things for poor mental health instead of underlying issues. “[A] misconception is that social media, or video games is the cause of the stress and the anxiety. Though, I feel like that’s really the coping mechanism for the stress and for if the stress Continued on pg. 10

A growing number of teenagers are experiencing some type of mental health issue

1717% %

of youth experience a

30.3% of survey

mental health disorder

50%

of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14

Source: National Alliance on Mental Heath

respondants described their biggest reason for mental health struggles was

PROBLEMS PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL SCHOOL IN

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?

15% 55.6% 29.4%

WHEN TRYING TO FIND HELP

48.6%

DID NOT STRUGGLE

33.6%

SOMEWHAT STRUGGLED

17.8%

STRUGGLED A LOT

I rarely struggle with mental health issues I sometimes struggle with mental health issues I almost always struggle with mental health issues Survey of 148 students

10 FEATURES

SELF ASSESSMENT

Indicators of mental health distress and signs that one should seek help

Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks Severe risk-taking behavior that causes harm to self or others Intense worries or fears that disrupt daily activities Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits

While it is important to be aware of your mental state and take your health seriously, in order to get the help needed you should see a specialist.

Relying on self diagnosis can cause further harm. A professional diagnosis will provide a way to progress.

Source: National Alliance on Mental Heath

Dec. 14, 2021

gets too much,” Smith said. “[To] just attack the video games or the music, just going for what’s on the surface, it isn’t really a good idea for mental health.”

EFFECTS OF POOR MENTAL HEALTH Because mental health issues are not immediately visible, it can be easy to dismiss them. However, it can be detrimental even to one’s physical health, something Baumgart has experienced.

“People say it’s all in your head to dismiss it,” Baumgart said. “And it is all in your head. The problem of mental health is that you don’t have physical symptoms. You don’t have rashes and you don’t have a fever for most of the time, but it’s there and it’s always affecting you. Mental health affects your physical health. One time, I was really having tough mental health and I got physically sick. I wasn’t sick before that, but I was not able to do anything. I just didn’t have any energy.”

A common effect of mental health issues is a lack of confidence. Some

“Be good humans, listen to the child like you would an adult.”

students have dealt with more mental struggles after the reduction of COVID-19 restrictions. According to a junior female who did not feel comfortable having her name published, masks provided a sense of relief.

“I think a little bit of everything plays into mental health because no matter what you’re doing, where you are, who you are and who you’re with, you’re always going through some kind of situation.” sophomore Sam Johnson

“I think people with mental illnesses and insecurities can relate that wearing a mask was just so much more comforting because I wasn’t worried

JagWire

Design by Quinn Fanken

As a result of COVID-19, many have recognized the need for help, and are seeking it in various ways. This school year, the district introduced SEL, to provide for students struggling with mental health. However, students have varied opinions about what methods of coping are helpful.

Gudenkauf explains how the district aims to use SEL to better prepare students to cope with their mental health.

“At Mill Valley, across the district, across the state and across the nation, we are seeing an increase in adolescent mental health struggles,” Gudenkauf said. “This district recognizes the need and has been gathering data to determine what and where the needs may be highest. We’ve also implemented the social emotional curriculum to better equip students.”

Baumgart appreciates SEL but feels there are flaws in how it is implemented.

“I’m happy that the district has noticed that mental health is an issue and they’re wanting to address it, but I don’t think SEL is the best way to do it,” Baumgart said. “It’s put on, say, a history teacher, or a math teacher

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“I don’t think there’s one specific thing that plays into mental health.”

about what half of my face looked like and I wasn’t worried about people judging me,” said the female.

It is common to hear people say they are depressed or anxious without an official diagnosis, or even as a joke.

According to Gudenkauf, these statements are inconsiderate to those who are actually struggling.

“Throwing out diagnostic terms, especially without the credentials to make that diagnosis, diminishes the seriousness of the illness for those who are diagnosed,” Gudenkauf said.

“This is disrespectful to those who struggle.”

Similarly, Johnson feels too many mistake sadness for depression.

“I think there are a lot of people out there with depression lately,” Johnson said. “I don’t think people understand that being sad is different than being depressed. If you’re sad for a few days because something upset you, that’s being sad. Being depressed is feeling dead. You could be in a crowd of people and still feel all alone by yourself, and it lasts for weeks to months sometimes.”

MECHANISMS COPING COPING MECHANISSM SEL ANAND D SEL

FEATURES

to tell you how to deal with mental health. They didn’t go to school to be a mental health counselor. It’s not that they don’t want to do it or they’re not doing a good job. They’re doing the best they can, but they don’t have the education or the background to deal with [mental health].”

The anonymous female thinks SEL lessons, which are during seminar, have negative effects on students with heavy workloads.

“I wish that it wasn’t taken out of a time that is used for people to study and calm down, but was used during a different time where everyone is able to put their full selves into it and be able to actually learn and actually be present,” the female said.

According to Gudenkauf, “opening the conversation and working to eliminate any stigma attached to a mental health diagnosis,” a goal of implementing SEL, is important in combating mental health struggles.

Similarly, Smith believes people should be willing to listen to someone of any age about their mental health.

“Be good humans, listen to the child like you would an adult,” Smith said. “They may not be as experienced as you but they have some demons and they want some help to fight them off.”

THTHE E HELP SCSCHOOL’S HOL’S HELP

Seminar lessons and on-site staff members are available resources

Social Emotional Learning lessions are now mandatorily taught as a result of several new prevention statutes (i.e. bullying, youth suicide, opioid abuse) in Kansas and emerging social-emotional learning initiatives and research.

The purpose is to provide a framework to schools so that students will learn, practice and model essential personal life habits that contribute to academic, career, and personal success.

Source: Kansas Board of Education

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OPINIONS

Design by Emma Clement

TEEN MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

Dec. 14, 2021

Mental health is a difficult subject, but sharing emotions can help teens realize they are not alone

hey! school is really stressing me out lately, do you have any ideas on how to make it better?

tips and tricks from experts on mental health in teens

MANAGING STRESS

actually, breathing exercises, getting organized, taking regular breaks, and getting enough sleep can be really helpful! oh yeah! i’ve heard of breathing exercises, usually you breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and out for 8 seconds, right? yep! and making lists can help students with organization. many professionals also recommend 20 minute breaks, every hour. also, teens need 8-10 hours of sleep, and not getting enough sleep can contribute to poor mental health and issues with focusing. wow! those are great ideas, thanks for your help!

Breathing Exercise (Healthline), Study Timing (Illinois University), Sleep (CDC), Lists (Psychology Today)

by hayden resch

W photo editor

hen COVID hit nearing the end of my sophomore year, school was canceled and students were put into online learning. At first I was excited, however, as the last quarter continued, being stuck indoors and not being able to talk to anyone wore me down. Eventually I fell into a depression that lasted through the first quarter of my junior year.

I believed I was helpless, that all the misfortune that fell on me was my fault. The passing of a loved one, a hard break up and the general discomfort that the pandemic brought started to weigh on me. In response, I punished myself. I refused to hang out with friends. I wouldn’t eat or do my homework at all because I thought I was the victim and needed a break from everything. It came to the point where my actions could affect my future. I started failing my classes, scored poorly on the ACT and even skipped school on occasion. If I didn’t shape up, I really would be helpless.

I finally decided I had hid my emotions for too long, and I opened up to my parents. I didn’t schedule a time or a minute alone. I walked up to them one night and explained my situation. At first they scolded me, but then they sat me down and talked to me. I opened up about all my thoughts, how

school stressed me out, how the pandemic scared me and how I felt like I was alone and afraid. As I continued my parents comforted me more and told me that they had many of the same concerns and empathized with their experiences as well. That night I learned I was not alone, and I have others I can rely on.

“Once others know you are in pain, they will help you heal. Even if it is a small act, telling another person can motivate you to get better so you can return to being the person you were meant to be.” senior Hayden Resch

Though expressing my emotions to my parents helped, I still felt uneasy.

Eventually I came up with the idea to write down what I had on mind. First I wrote down everything I cared for: my family, friends, my dog, my home, anything I could think of. Then I wrote down everything I was struggling with:

my grades, self-confidence and talking to others. Then I wrote down what I love about myself: I’m funny, I’m kind and I’m a good person.

Making those lists helped me start to deal with my depression because it gave me strength. I started talking with my friends again. I began looking others in the eye. Most importantly my confidence returned. Once I realized what I was missing out on by hiding in my room and not being part of the world, I was able to be myself again.

Any time you have a problem, do not be afraid to ask for help, either from a friend or family. Once others know you are in pain, they will help you heal. Even if it is a small act, telling another person can motivate you to get better so you can return to being the person you were meant to be.

Another thing I learned was that distancing yourself from those who care about you does not help. When you are depressed, it is easy to avoid others and keep quiet about your problems. If you do, all your insecurities will pile up and eventually you will have a breakdown and do something you may regret. Reach out to someone you trust. You’re not alone.

My point is that if you want to be happy, you need to seek out help.

Seeking out a professional is not something you should be ashamed of — we are all human, and though there is no one like you, there are always those who can understand you.

JagWire

Design by Grace Brookshire

FOR FORTHE THE FOR THE

A&E

13

Students are helping during the holiday season by donating and raising money to support our community by kaitlyn burke writer/photographer

D

onating money, clothes, and gifts are all important ways to help our community during the holidays.

School groups and outside organizations both try to lead the way in helping those in need.

Every year StuCo does an Adopt-a-Family fundraiser where they collect money to give back to the Adopt-a-Family organization. This year, StuCo adopted two families to support this holiday season.

Senior Lauren Walker, a member of the committee in charge of the event, shares more details about what StuCo is doing to help.

Walker said this is something StuCo has done for several years, and will continue to be a tradition.

“We’ve done this for the past three years. It’s kind of a tradition and this year we are adopting two families from the Adopt-a-Family organization,” Walker said. “Our goal right now is to raise $1,000.”

Freshman StuCo member Kenzie Johnson helped collect money for StuCo and thinks that since the donations are student collected, it makes it more student-oriented.

“I also think if we have students doing it, then it kind of makes other students want to do it. It kind of makes it more relatable,” Johnson said.

Walker is thankful for the privilege

her community has and the opportunities that they are given.

“I think that our community has a lot of privilege and we don’t necessarily see what’s outside of it. So, it’s important that we give back what we have because we’re so fortunate to go to such a great school, in a good community,” Walker said. “I think that this is just a small way we can make an impact on two families during this holiday season.”

Along with StuCo, Youth for Refugees is supporting the community this holiday season. Youth for Refugees is a club established at school which helps people who are refugees or in an asylum seeking situation within our area.

In the morning before school, the club ran a clothing drive and collected donations to provide clothing for children in need.

Sophomore Anna Zwahlen, a member of the Youth for Refugees club, said that Youth for Refugees is donating to Kansas City International Academy, which is a kindergarten through eighth grade school that helps specifically refugees and asylum seekers.

A member of Youth for Refugees, sophomore Gwen Heideman, knows the importance of giving back.

“I think it’s important to help out in our community any way that we can.”

Sophomore Emma Clement receives a clothing donation during the Youth for Refugees clothing drive Tuesday, Nov. 30. Photo by Natalie Merley

Librarian Ashley Bennett donates money to freshmen Kenzie Johnson and Logan Koester for the Stuco Adopt-A-Family fundraiser Tuesday, Nov. 30. Photo by Natalie Merley

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Donate and volunteer during the holiday season Harvesters: Donate a “Holiday Box”

Wyandot Center: -Coats -Gloves -Hats Until December 17th

Unleashed Animal Shelter: -Food -Toys -Blankets -Cleaning Supplies

Toys for Tots: Donate toys for children during the holiday season

14 SPORTS

Dec. 14, 2021

WINNING THIS WINTER A preview of the winter sports season and the first season of the newest athletic program, girls wrestling by julia coacher by madelyn welch writer/photographer

assistant editor

GIRLS WRESTLING

G

irls wrestling is a new addition to winter sports this year, led by head coach Travis Keal and assistant coach Michelle McRay. There are currently 11 girls on the team and the season, which will consist of tournaments and duals, runs for about three months.

KSHSAA approved girls wrestling in the winter of 2020.

In the first year any schools that had a team were able to compete against each other. For this season, the team will compete in a combined class of 5A and 6A. Division I is 5A and 6A. Division II is 1A through 4A. McRay has many goals in mind for the team and hopes to see every girl succeed and provide support and help for them.

“I just have the goal of keeping every girl involved. I want to see them all finish the season and meet their personal goals and help them to that, whatever that may be,” McRay said.

Keal’s main goal is for the girls to have fun wrestling even though

it is a tough sport mentally and physically.

“I just want to get them excited about it. It’s a hard sport to be fun, but the hard work, work ethic and the character in the sport outweighs the medals and trophies,” Keal said.

McRay sees girls wrestling as an opportunity for girls to participate in wrestling with more ideal competitors.

“Wrestling is a sport that really differs between boys and girls.

Wrestling is one where there’s a huge difference in just the way our bodies are made and how were able to wrestle together, so I think it’s super important for girls to be separate from boys and girls need to have the opportunity,” McRay said.

Freshman Lexus Pennel is an athlete on the team who is looking forward to having the opportunity to develop her wrestling skills with other girls on the team.

“I am excited to be a part of the team and learn with the other girls,” Pennel said. “[My goal is] to improve and get better at what I’m doing in wrestling.”

BOYS WRESTLING COACH KEAL

LAST SEASON’S STATS Placed first at sub-state Placed third at state

WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO COMPETING AGAINST?

“Anyone who steps in line. I don’t think any competition is bigger than the others. They’re all important.”

THIS YEAR’S GOALS

“Try to be a better version of ourselves than we were yesterday.”

COACH MCRAY NUMBER OF GIRLS ON THE TEAM

11

THIS YEAR’S GOALS

“I just have the goal of keeping every girl involved. I just want to see [the team] finish the season and meet their personal goals and help them to that, whatever that may be.”

Sophomore Aleena Ismail holds sophomore Katie Fredricks down on the mat at practice Monday, Nov. 29.

Their first meet took place Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Sydney McGlasson

SENIOR JACOB MCGLASSON THIS YEAR’S GOALS

“Progress and be ready for the postseason. I am trying to give myself and the team the best chance to place high at state.”

HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPROVE THE TEAM? “We work really hard at practice. We go in whenever we can, even for just 20 minutes to help us improve.”

In a practice match, sophomore Colton Clark and senior Jacob McGlasson prepare for their upcoming meet Monday, Nov. 29. Photo by Sydney McGlasson

JagWire

BOYS SWIM

COACH EVANS

LAST SEASON’S STATS Placed ninth in their league Placed 11th at state

THIS YEAR’S GOALS

Qualify for state in all three relays Personal records for new swimmers

HOW WILL THIS SEASON BE DIFFERENT?

“This season is going to be different because of the lifting a lot of COVID restrictions. We haven’t had any parents able to attend the last two seasons.”

Design by Quinn Franken

SENIOR DEREK LONG

THIS YEAR’S GOALS

“Have the best senior swim season possible. I don’t care about being the best; I would rather enjoy swimming with my friends and beating my own records.”

HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPROVE THE TEAM? “I will be encouraging the team, as well as helping them with techniques and form.”

BOWLING

COACH MCCLURE LAST SEASON’S STATS Boys placed sixth at state Girls placed ninth at state

THIS YEAR’S GOALS See how well we do in tournaments Qualify for state

HOW WILL THIS SEASON BE DIFFERENT?

“This year we will have fans at meets. We also have 12 new members on the team, so it’s essentially starting over.”

THIS YEAR’S GOALS

“My main goal is trying to rebuild a fun little community on the team again, because we lost a bunch of seniors last year.”

HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPROVE THE TEAM? “I think that just keeping it calm and just letting everyone know it’s okay if you’re not the best.”

Standing at the edge of the foul line, senior Abigail Hayes lets go of her ball in hopes of getting a strike Thursday, Dec. 2. Photo by

Alayna Dill

COACH BANGLE

LAST SEASON’S STATS 11 wins and 12 losses 5A sub-state winner

THIS YEAR’S GOALS Make it to state again Improve every game

HOW WILL THIS SEASON BE DIFFERENT?

“There’s going to be a few new faces that I’m excited to see.

Young guys that will get their chance to play.”

SENIOR ADRIAN DIMOND THIS YEAR’S GOALS

“Get back to the same place we were last year and hopefully increase our chances in going to state.”

HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPROVE THE TEAM? “I plan to keep the energy high in practice and in games as well as I can.”

Earning an and one, senior Adrian Dimond puts up a shot at practice Wednesday, Dec. 1.Photo

by Luke Wood

15

SENIOR ABIGAIL HAYES

Coming up for a breath, senior Derek Long swims the 25-meter butterfly at practice Monday, Nov. 22. Photo by

BOYS BASKETBALL

SPORTS

Alayna Dill

GIRLS BASKETBALL

COACH RUNYAN LAST SEASON’S STATS 2 wins and 16 losses

THIS YEAR’S GOALS

Build a foundation for the program Continuously improve

HOW WILL THIS SEASON BE DIFFERENT?

“I think it’ll be a lot different for the girls because there’s a different coach so things will be run differently. We’re really pushing the idea of building skill to remove doubt.”

SENIOR EMREE ZARS THIS YEAR’S GOALS

“I want to make sure everyone has a good time and enjoys what they are doing. Also, building the program would be a big goal of mine.”

HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPROVE THE TEAM? “By encouraging my teammates to work hard, have the want to win, and the will to work hard everyday.”

Catching a pass at practice Wednesday, Dec. 1, senior Emree Zars leads her team through drills.

Photo by Luke Wood

16 PHOTO ESSAY

Design by Hayden Resch

Dec. 14, 2021 Sophomore Trinity Baker and senior Christine Turner practice their lines for MVTV Thursday, December 3. Photo by Elizabeth Summa

BEHIND THE SCREENS An inside look at MVTV and how they prepare segments and stories before showtime every week

MVTV Producer senior Lauren Payne gives advice to junior Mary Caroline Graves Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Preparing to film for his broadcast class, junior Luke O’Neal practices his script Friday, Nov. 19. Photo by Amy Hill

Photo by Katelyn Krosky

In the sound booth, sophomore Lucy Roy adjusts audio settings for the airing of MVTV Thursday, Dec 3. Photo

by Elizabeth Summa