JagWire Newspaper — Volume 16, Issue 5

MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME 16 ISSUE 5 FEb. 10, 2016

With a new parking lot for staff, more spots will be available for students next school year pg. 4-5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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21-23 32 10-11

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12-13

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26

24-25 in this issue NEWS

SPORTS

parking solution tobacco purchase law

4-5 6-7

A&E

FEATURE choir accompanist unconventional love chipotle employees gun control

OPINIONS staff editorial staff columns

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TOC

24-25 26

swim & bowl overtime

DESIGN BY Tori aerni cover BY karissa schmidt

9 10-11 12-13 14-19 20 21-23

local pizza reviews Netflix original movies live music in KC

28-29 30 31

PHOTO ESSAY 32

before school

mill valley high school

jagwire

letter from the editors

JAGWIRE 2015-16 staff EDITORs-IN-CHIEF Tori Aerni Sarah Myers Karissa Schmidt

fter four issues of the 2015-16 JagWire, we decided to make some changes for the betterment of the paper ­— the biggest change being an upgrade from 24 to 32 pages.

Our main goal in adding more pages is to give our readers more in-depth coverage, like our special section this issue, “A Loaded Gun,” about gun control.

Following President Obama’s executive order, our staff was interested to see where the student body stood in the gun control debate.

Our reporters chose to write the story in a way that presented a variety of views to allow students to take an educated stance on the topic.

One problem our reporters experienced while collecting data for the story was biased statistics. Due to arguments between Congress and gun advocates, as well as underfunding for gun violence research, credible data on the issue is almost impossible to find online. Even the definition of ‘mass shooting’ is vague, varying with almost every source. Knowing this, readers should take caution when finding statistics on gun violence online.

Moving forward, we hope to continue covering in-depth stories like this one and showcasing student opinions on big issues.

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Tori Aerni

Sarah Myers

features/a&e editors

REPORTERS Claire Boone Jason Chen Tricia Drumm Morgan Gurwell Victoria Wright

Claire Biles Margaret Mellott

managing editor

opinions editor

Jillian Leiby

Adri Talavera

copy editor

sports editor

Nick Booth

Braden Shaw

photo editor Madison Ferguson

mill valley news editors-in-chief

business managers

Justin Curto Jena Smith

Abigail Archibong Adri Talavera

news editor Sam Lopez

PHOTOGRAPHERS Claire Boone Morgan Gurwell Nick Precht Victoria Wright

ILLUSTRATOR Jason Chen

social media editors Alison Booth Nora Lucas

JAGWIRE OFFICE

CENSORSHIP POLICY

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.

Kansas Senate Bill 62 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.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

EDITORIAL POLICY

Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association The 2015 JagWire was named a Pacemaker winner and an All-American newspaper by the NSPA, and earned an All-Kansas rating from the KSPA. The Mill Valley News website was also named a Pacemaker finalist by the NSPA.

We value your opinions. If you wish to submit a column or a letter to the editor for 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA Karissa Schmidt

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Twitter: @millvalleynews Facebook: Mill Valley News

DESIGN BY Sarah Myers

staff

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POSSIBLE PARKING

Tentative mock-up of planned parking spots provided by director of facilities Steve Deghand

The intent is to use leftover money from the 2008 bond to add the parking lot

Estimates are currently between $350,000-400,000 An additional 90100 parking spaces will be added

Excavation would begin right after school gets out

SEARCHING FOR

Administration recently released a new parking plan to accommodate staff and student population

by alison booth

reporter jagwire.alisonbooth@gmail.com dministrators recently announced a new parking plan that includes building a new staff parking lot at the east side of the school, issuing senior and junior parking passes, having a sophomore lottery for remaining spots and no longer allowing freshmen the option of driving to school.

The new plan will go into effect at the beginning of the next school year, although construction for the new lot will begin in late May and end mid-July.

According to district director of facilities Steve Deghand, the new parking lot will cost approximately $350,000 to $400,000. However, according to Deghand, this amount will be taken from the leftover money of the

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2008 bond used to expand both Mill Valley and De Soto high school, as well as build Belmont Elementary, and the money will not come from the district capital fund.

According to principal Tobie Waldeck, the new lot will only be available to staff, as students will not be able to enter through the front doors without a badge due to safety reasons, therefore requiring the doors to remain locked.

The new lot, to be located in the front of the school, will contain approximately 100 parking spaces, according to Deghand.

“We don’t know what that’s going to look like yet, we have a rendition of what we think it might look like, but [nothing definite],” Deghand said. “[Mill Valley is] hurting for parking right now, with the number of students that are enrolled here.”

Administrators have previously tried putting plans into place to better organize the parking lot. At enrollment for the 2015 school year, administrators attempted to

issue seniors and juniors parking passes.

At the start of 2016, administrators had planned to initiate a sophomore lottery and a no freshman drive policy. Both attempts, however, were unsuccessful.

“The first plan failed in my opinion because we had more seniors and juniors that don’t drive all the time basically getting a parking pass when they aren’t necessarily going to be using that spot,” Waldeck said.

“We can’t reserve or have spots open for a month at a time if you don’t use it. Part of this is only going to work if we have everyone being honest.”

According to Waldeck, the new plan is essential because the amount of student drivers is gradually increasing, proportional to the constant growth of the school.

“It is necessary so that we can [relieve] the issues that we currently have because we’ve had students talking about the fact that there haven’t been places to park,” Waldeck said. “As the year goes on and the

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AREWETHEREYET? How the administration has attempted to resolve the overcrowded parking lot

2010 The auxillary parking lot on the north side of Mill Valley is built in the summer to bring capacity to 755 spots (including students, staff and visitor spots)

Administration establishes a new parking plan that would assign parking spots to students and limit driving to upperclassmen

2014

2015 Parking spaces numbered as per the original plan, however, the project fell through due to unexpected demand for spots

An additional staff parking lot is scheduled to be completed in July of this year as a part of another proposed plan, awaiting board approval in April

2016

A SPOT number of sophomores that drive increase, it becomes more of an issue.”

Physical education teacher Sarah Haub has watched the issue develop over time, and thinks the change is necessary.

“I was here in 2001 as a student and as we’ve added onto the school, parking has gotten smaller,” Haub said. “As we’ve grown as a school, we have more people here so it’s definitely been crowded and we need to make other alternate plans for student and teacher parking.”

Waldeck hopes that the reactions of students to the new plan will be understanding and encouraging.

“We have to work with what we have and we’re going to have to work together as an administration, teachers and students to make sure we do what’s right,” Waldeck said.

“My hope is that it alleviates a lot of the problems, but there’s no guarantee anytime. You have a finite number of spaces and you have more students than spaces, we’re all going to

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have to work together to get it resolved.”

Several teachers have expressed excitement for the promise of a parking lot strictly dedicated to staff, including social studies teacher Kelli Haeffner.

“My spot gets taken quite often and so I think it’s great that they’ll just have one area [for staff],” Haeffner said. “Obviously it’s not going to be able to accommodate all staff, but it’s going to fit the majority of us into one area that students know is going to be off-limits to them. I’m glad that the district has chosen to move quickly and realized the importance of getting on to this at a very quick rate.”

Haub also said that the new plan provides more opportunities for student parking at the east end of the school, but thinks “it’ll be interesting to see if any [students] park in the teacher parking lot.”

Although it’s possible he may not be able to drive next year, freshman Dominic Martinez isn’t excessively worried about the plan

for a sophomore lottery.

“I might be a little mad, but nothing extreme,” Martinez said. “If this is the only [plan] where we just can’t drive, I guess that’s OK.” In contrast, freshman Lexi Knappen is upset about the prospect of a sophomore lottery and feels as if it will cause tension within her class.

“Personally, I don’t think it’s going to end [the parking problem] because I think there’s going to be a lot of objections to [the new plan],” Knappen said. “A lot of people are going to have an issue with it.”

Although the plan seems promising to some staff and students, Waldeck understands that it may not end the parking problem completely.

“Certainly I am a little bit tired of dealing with the parking lot so I want it resolved,” Waldeck said. “I also understand that nothing is black and white, there’s gray area that we’re going to have to work through.”

design by Sam lopez & Claire boone

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Trying Tobacco Statistics on teen tobacco use

9 10 adult smokers started before 18

5.5% of high school students chewed tobacco in 2014

SMOKE 3

as many high school students used e-cigarettes in 2014 as in 2013

Across The country Many cities and towns have raised the tobacco purchase age to 21 In January,

Information from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Centers for Disease Control

HAWAII

became the first state to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21

localities in nine states have raised the tobacco purchase age to 21, including

OLATHE WYANDOTTE COUNTY KANSAS CITY, MO. INDEPENDENCE, MO. Information from the Campain for Tobacco-Free Kids

Photo illustration by Margaret Mellott

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BREAK

by NICk BOOTH

copy editor jagwire.nickbooth@gmail.com ansas City, Missouri and Wyandotte County both raised the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 last fall, and Olathe did the same on Tuesday, Feb. 2. A similar change may come to other parts of Johnson County, according to Steve Rose, who wrote in a December 2015 Kansas City Star column that Johnson County mayors were considering raising the age.

Senior Grant Roach chews tobacco regularly, and believes it’s unfair for a change in age to affect those who were legally allowed to use tobacco products previously.

“If someone’s been chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes since they’ve been 18 and then they’re 20 and all of sudden they just can’t buy them, that just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” Roach said.

The ordinances in each of the three areas affect the sale of e-cigarettes and vapor products as well as tobacco. In Olathe, people under the age of 21 who purchase these products will get a $25 fine. In Wyandotte County, the punishment for businesses that violate the ordinance is a minimum $200 fine.

Despite the raise in the minimum age, a senior boy who wished to remain anonymous because he vapes illegally said he won’t see much of a change in his ability to get e-cigarettes.

“I guess my friends aren’t gonna go buy [e-cigarettes] or fluids from [the areas with a higher minimum age] anymore,” the anonymous senior boy said. “If they can’t get it there, then they’ll stick to here. It’s better not go through that hassle, because obviously it’s not [everywhere].”

According a 2012 Surgeon General’s report, 83 percent smokers first began smok-

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ing when they were under the age of 18. A raise in the minimum legal age for purchase of tobacco products may stop teenagers from starting to smoke early in life. A report from the Institute of Medicine released in March 2015 predicted that raising the smoking age to 21 nationally would reduce the amount of new smokers aged 15-17 by 25 percent.

Senior Annie Dillon is the president of the Johnson County Teen Task Force, a

If you can prevent people from getting addicted, then it’ll become a lot easier just to prevent all the negative consequences.

SENIOR ANNIE DILLON group made up of students campaigning to prevent substance abuse. Dillon spoke at the Olathe City Council meeting in support of raising the minimum age, before the vote that ultimately passed the ordinance.

“I think it’s a good idea just because so many people struggle with addiction throughout their life, and if you can prevent people from getting addicted, then it’ll become a lot easier just to prevent all the negative consequences,” Dillon said.

According to Dillon, the Teen Task Force is trying to get the age raised in as many other cities in Johnson County as possible,

Breaking down the BAN RAISING THE TOBACCO PRODUCT PURCHASE AGE COULD AFFECT jagwire

mill valley high school

After Olathe and other Kansas City-area localities raised the tobacco purchase age to 21, other Johnson County cities may follow suit

CIGARETTES

including Shawnee.

Other parts of the United States have made the decision to raise the age, with Hawaii recently becoming the first state to legally raise the age, for both e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 115 local areas within the United States have already raised the smoking age to 21.

Rose believes that raising the minimum age in Johnson County would help curb teen smoking and set an example for other areas.

“The research is clear. If you can nip smoking early, there is far less likelihood young people will take up smoking as adults,” Rose said in his column. “This is a big step forward, with appropriate accolades to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, which led the way. This entire metropolitan area could lead the way for the United States if all of the communities in our region would adopt similar laws.”

The anonymous senior boy, however, doesn’t believe a change in the minimum age will reduce tobacco use among teenagers.

“The thing is, then you’d just have to buy in bulk,” the anonymous senior boy said.

“When I ask my friends for liquor, I don’t ask my friends for just one drink, because it’s harder to get since the age is 21. I ask for a bulk of it at one time, to last me a while.

So the same thing would happen. It won’t do much of anything. If a kid wants something, he’s going to be able to get it.”

Although he acknowledges that there are dangers, Roach believes smoking and other tobacco use should be a personal choice.

“Tobacco can kill you, and I think everyone who chews or smokes knows that when they’re doing it,” Roach said. “But I feel like if you’re 18 and you’re legally an adult, then it should be your decision to smoke or chew, if you’re of age.”

Kansas City-area laws raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 didn’t just affect cigarettes

CHEWING TOBACCO

E-CIGARETTES design by justin curto

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03/31/2016

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People Pieces: Julie Bosworth

A series on our students and staff and what makes them unique

ABOVE: Accompanist Julie Bosworth plays piano for choir director Sheree Stoppel’s Jaguar Singers on Friday, Jan. 29. Photos by Nick Precht

The Key to success Piano accompanist helps choir classes run more efficiently

by morgan gurwell

reporter and photographer jagwire.morgangurwell@gmail.com t isn’t unusual for wonderful music to be flowing out of the choir room, but they haven’t been this in tune since accompanist Julie Bosworth pitched in her talents two years ago.

From day one, choir director Sheree Stoppel remembered how great it was to have an accompanist to assist her during classes.

“A good accompanist knows where I’m going back to, can play the pitches before I even give them to the kids … and she can do that for me,” Stoppel said.

As of four years ago, Stoppel was doing the job of a director and an accompanist at the same time. Knowing that she was doing a disservice to her students by trying to do it all, Stoppel, as well as parents, students, and community members took the problem to administration. After an evening of reviewing spreadsheets and listening to advocates, former superintendent Dr. Doug Sumner saw the necessity for the position.

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Two years and two accompanists later, a mutual friend of Stoppel told Bosworth about the new job opening. Accompanying part-time at Pioneer Trails Middle School, Bosworth decided to interview for Mill Valley’s position as well.

Not long after, Bosworth got the job.

Her transition into a new school went well, thanks to the friendly and welcoming students.

“The kids and [Stoppel] just accepted me from day one and everybody’s polite and just kind,” Bosworth said. “[Stoppel] is the best at what she does and she’s just wonderful to work for.”

Bosworth has been involved with the piano for the past 42 years, working for Kindermusik, a youth music program, teaching private lessons, and accompanying. Before she decided to make music her career, she was an actuary at an insurance company, sitting behind a desk, crunching numbers all day.

Although a career in music has some downfalls compared to Bosworth’s previous job, it’s all worth it to her.

“I made a switch about eight years ago to pursue music, which is my first love,” Bosworth said. “I make a way lot less than I used to make, but I’m a lot happier.”

Involved in all four choirs at the school, senior Maddie Gerber has grown to love Bosworth and all that she does for the choirs.

Whether it’s making students treats, being a second adult in the room, or just doing her job, Bosworth makes the choir classes a better place.

“It would be very challenging to do the pieces that we do [without Bosworth] because we do a lot of more challenging music.

Without her it would be impossible to do anything,” Gerber said.

Stoppel refers to her relationship with Bosworth as a team, but from Gerber’s point of view, Bosworth and Stoppel have a friendship in addition to their working relationship.

“If I were ever a teacher, I would want a friend like that. It’s fun to watch them … they’re honestly really close friends,” Gerber said.

This type of relationship is essential for the teamwork that they need to do their jobs successfully.

“It’s great having another adult in the room; another set of eyes in the room,” Stoppel said. “Our personalities fit and that’s important.”

Playing Favorites Bosworth shares some fast facts about herself

her favorite color is blue jagwire

Mill Valley High school

Her favorite book is “Pride and Prejudice” photo from mct campus

her favorite ice cream is DESIGN BY tricia drumm

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by justin curto

mill valley news editor-in-chief jagwire.justincurto@gmail.com

by adri talavera

opinions editor/business manager jagwire.adritalavera@gmail.com

unconventional

love

Students and staff find relationships in unexpected ways

Love stories Other students share how they met their significant other

ABOVE: Senior Brock Miles and his girlfriend, Joanna Riggs, attend a wedding together in Iowa. Photo submitted by Brock Miles

Hung up on love One young couple found each other at Shawnee Mission Park f all the phone numbers littered on the floor of the tower at Shawnee Mission Park, one is significantly more important than the others for senior Brock Miles and Olathe East High School senior Joanna Riggs, a couple since fall 2014.

The day before her junior year began, Riggs and her friends were hanging out at the tower. They saw a cellphone number that they later found out belonged to senior Shane Calkins — a friend of Miles’ — and texted it. “[They] said, like, ‘Hey, we’re at the Shawnee Mission Park tower, do you want to meet up?’” Miles said. “And we happened to be there, Frisbee golfing. So, we went up there.”

While Riggs and Miles may be currently dating, Riggs said he didn’t make a great first impression.

“We came down and talked to them for like, I don’t know, a half hour,” Riggs said. “I don’t even remember him. Like, right as soon as he got out of the car he started to climb a tree, and then he fell out, and then he just disappeared the rest of the time.”

When Riggs and her friends were finished talking with Miles and his friends, the groups exchanged Twitter handles. For the next few weeks, Miles and Riggs kept in con-

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tact with the messaging app Yo and through Twitter direct messages.

One day, Riggs mentioned she was going to “Buzz Beach Ball,” a one-day music festival at Sporting Park. Miles decided to buy a ticket and go as well, “pretty much just to go and see her.”

“We were like, ‘If we see each other, that’s cool, [but] if we don’t, like whatever,’” Riggs said. “But we both really wanted to see each other there and I literally had to fight through the crowd so hard to get [to] him.”

After spending some more time together, Miles asked Riggs to Olathe East’s Homecoming dance, and they began formally dating soon after. Since the story of how Riggs met Miles takes some explaining, Riggs said she often simplifies it.

“Sometimes I’m just like, ‘I don’t feel like telling the story, so I’m just going to be like, “We met through friends,’” Riggs said.

Though the couple’s lack of mutual connections makes it hard for them to see each other, Miles said his relationship with Riggs has exposed him to many new things.

“You definitely get a lot of new people to meet ... and lots of new experiences,” Miles said. “I go to her school’s things, like her prom, her dances, just hanging out with her friend group.”

Looking ahead, Riggs does not foresee much difficulty with keeping a long-distance relationship with Miles in college since they already live farther away than high school couples who go to the same school.

“For college, like long distance, that’ll be a lot easier [for us] than other people, because we kind of know what distance is, but not like the full extent,” Riggs said. “Whenever we see each other, we try to make it like worth more.”

“[We met] on a bus ride to a cross country meet.

We started becoming better friends and then I guess we just started dating after that.”

SOPHOMORE ANDREW KOFOID ABOUT FRESHMAN ABBY PHILLIPS

“We met on Facebook ... then we started kind of messaging for a few weeks and then it kind of went from there. We asked for each other’s phone numbers and [then there was] just an avalanche of everything—It just kind of rolled down hill—not downhill! We were just [talking} and a few weeks later we were dating.”

SENIOR ALEX ALT ABOUT SENIOR NIAMH PEMBERTON mill valley high school

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a perfect match Online dating proved worthwhile for one English teacher hrimp curry may not mean a lot to most people, but to communication arts teacher Kristen Crosbie and her fiancé Tom Huang, it symbolizes a milestone in their relationship.

The two met on Match.com in May 2013, where Crosbie initially overlooked Huang’s profile.

“He came up in my ‘people you might like’ pictures and I scrolled past him,” Crosbie said. “Then I scrolled back because I was like ‘Dreadlocks? Oh, wow,’ and then I read his profile and I liked him.“ Their shared admiration of poetry prompted Huang to send a message.

“I remember that her tagline [was] a Rainer Maria Rilke quote, and I took note of that,” Huang said.

A seasoned match.com user, Crosbie was frustrated with the monotony of online dating interactions and took it upon herself to invite Huang out.

“I had been on Match for a long time. I just realized that it didn’t do much good to have an email conversation with somebody,” Crosbie said. “I was at the point where I was like ‘Let’s meet!’ So we did.”

According to Huang, their first date was a success.

“We sat outside and people watched and talked for a few hours,” [Huang] said. “It was really comfortable and easy.”

So much so that Huang invited Crosbie

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ABOVE: Communication arts teacher Kristen Crosbie laughs with her fiancé, Tom Huang, outside their home on Friday, Feb. 29. Photo by Jena Smith

over for dinner.

“I went on a lot of Match dates and I never went to anybody’s house on the first date. Except for this one. Then he made me shrimp curry,” Crosbie said.

Over winter break of 2015, Huang proposed.

“We were sitting there having Advent candlelit Christmas Eve dinner having shrimp curry,” Crosbie said. “During dinner I was like ‘This is one of my favorite meals because it reminds me of the day we met.’”

We were thinking we need to be on a Match[.com] commercial.

COMMUNICATION ARTS TEACHER KRISTEN CROSBIE Huang said the proposal wasn’t actually supposed to happen until the next day.

“So I had it planned for Christmas and ... but then she suggested that we have shrimp curry,” Huang said. “I thought it was kind of providence because it wasn’t anything we had planned.”

According to Crosbie, the success of their relationship has the potential to inspire those looking for a relationship.

“We were thinking we need to be on a Match commercial,” Crosbie said. “You know, they always have the match commercials success stories.”

a ‘tinderella’ story

LEFT: Senior Madison King and her boyfriend, Ein Wernex, spend Christmas day together at King’s house.

Photo submitted

by Madison King

Two students began their relationship after meeting on Tinder s a means to pass the time, senior Madison King opened up the Tinder app on her phone in February of 2015. She browsed profiles of local guys, swiping right on the guys she finds attractive and left on everyone else when she stumbled upon Harrisonville High School sophomore Ein Wernex.

Tinder is a dating app that connects users to singles in their area by presenting their Facebook profile pictures and a brief biography.

Unlike her previous interactions on Tinder, King said this instance was different.

After messaging Wernex, King soon realized he was unlike guys she had previously encountered on the app.

“He wasn’t like all the other guys, the kind that like ask you for pictures and that kind of stuff,” King said. “He was just really sweet.”

Their relationship escalated soon after

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getting matched on Tinder.

“It just kind of took off from there,” Wernex said. “We just kind of talked about what we like and stuff like that and [our relationship] just kind of grew.”

The couple traveled nearly an hour to meet in person a week after meeting online.

According to Wernex, their initial encounter was slightly uncomfortable, but their relationship has developed significantly since.

“It was a little awkward at first but it really wasn’t that bad. I didn’t know what to expect so it was a little weird at first,” Wernex

said. “I did not expect [to be] where we are now out of that at all.”

Although King and Wernex have been together for nine months, King does not recommend Tinder for those looking for a relationship, but rather companionship.

“Don’t expect anything out of it. “If you’re going to use it, [use it] for fun. [A positive aspect of using Tinder is] meeting people I guess that you wouldn’t normally meet,” King said. “Even if it’s not like a boyfriend or girlfriend, just a friend for hanging out and stuff.”

design by Margaret Mellott & Nora Lucas

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starting New Chipotle location opens near the school, eight juniors find employment and enjoyment

by jason chen

reporter and illustrator jagwire.jasonchen@gmail.com t’s not surprising to find students working part time jobs in the local area, whether it be at the neighborhood Price Chopper or the McDonald’s next door. However, the recent addition of a new Chipotle Mexican Grill on 66th Street has drawn several students into employment — especially juniors.

Currently, eight juniors are employed at the new Chipotle location: juniors Tyson Baker, Spencer Butterfield, Meghan Clark, Alina Garcia, Jayna Smith, Joel Soderling and Laken Wagner.

Wagner became interested in applying for a position at Chipotle due to her passion for culinary arts.

“I’m in the culinary program at Eudora so I knew that I wanted to work in the food industry and I had a friend who applied and she got an interview really quickly so I was like ‘Hey,’ I might as well work there too,” Wagner said. “I heard about about it from her during English so during class I went online and applied for the job.”

For Garcia however, the application for a position at Chipotle came at a complete surprise.

“My mom filled out the application for me,” Garcia said. “When I found out that I

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had an interview I was really excited because I knew it was a popular restaurant and I knew it had good customer service and food so I was just really excited.”

For the students who were hired at the new location, a tedious week of training and preparation was necessary. According to Baker, the training process included a fast-paced examination of the skills that would be crucial for employment at Chipotle.

“We had a week of training, everything from cutting vegetables to preparing food, and keeping our areas tidy,” Baker said. “We had to study what the company’s vision was which is creating a group of top performers that empower each other to achieve high standards.”

According to Wagner, working with so many of her classmates has created closer ties not only in the work environment, but at school as well.

There is a way someone acts in school and out of school and I’ve seen that in lots of my classmates JUNIOR ALINA GARCIA “It’s definitely entertaining especially since six of the eight people, including myself, are in the same English class,” Wagner said. “So, just like in the middle of English class we’ll be like ‘Hey, did you hear about what happened at work the other night?’”

This element of bonding is Garcia’s favorite aspect of working at Chipotle.

“I really like it because I get to see true personalities. I believe there is a way someone acts in school and out of school and I’ve seen that in lots of my classmates,” Garcia said. “I can say that now since we’re all super close and it’s because I’ve actually gotten to know their actual personalities — not just their academic side or the front they put up.”

According to Soderling, working at Chipotle is not all perfect. For him, most stressful aspect of the job regards customer complaints when it comes to delays in orders.

“The worst part of the job is when I get off break and I find out there’s no chicken ... so, I have to get up and make more chicken; which, takes 12 minutes and there’s customers there standing, waiting for me to make the food,” Soderling said. “They’re staring at me, kind of mad at me, but it really isn’t my fault since I just got off break.”

This backs up in the line and complaint from customers directly affects Garcia, who works as a cashier.

“I’m the last person they see, since I’m the cashier and I get the backlash” Garcia said. “ I’ve had a few people ask to talk to my manager and in the end those customers ended up being in the wrong because there was nothing that we could have done beside give them free food ... because they had to wait.”

Another bothersome aspect according to Garcia is the constant question regarding health safety and E. coli at Chipotle locations.

“It was so long ago, we weren’t even opened when that whole outbreak of E. coli at Chipotle happened,” Garcia said. “It just gets old hearing about it since we are doing everything that we can and that we are making so many changes to make sure everything is safe.”

According to Soderling, these are just minor problems and nothing compares to the great working environment that Chipotle

what is your favorite food to make?

Steak “When I make it it’s medium

soft tacos “A lot of people like to try

junior joel soderling

junior LAKEN WAGNER

rare, it’s the best, it’s juicy, people ask it specifically from me to come and make it.”

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different meats on each taco and it’s really fun to recommend items for them to try on the tacos. “

mill valley high school

jagwire

FRESH RIGHT: Junior Spencer Butterfield rings up a customer on Thursday, Jan. 21. Photo

by Claire Biles

ABOVE: Juniors Joel Soderling and Spencer Butterfield make chicken on Thursday, Jan. 21. “It’s fun to work with people you go to school with,” Soderling said. “You get to build on relationships, getting to know them better ... than you would just seeing them in school.” Photo by Claire Biles

“We’re the first store in America that has this sort of low income model; which, means that we have less employees and we’re projected to make less income.” junior joel soderling

announced

opened

JULY 28, 2015

dec 8, 2015

what is your favorite food to eat?

jagwire

“My favorite item is a steak bowl.

You ... have white rice, sour cream, corn, salsa, lettuce, cheese, and maybe some chicken mixed in.”

“My manager actually introduced this to me, I get the hardshell barbacoa tacos with pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, and hot salsa.”

junior ALINA GARCIA

junior TYSON BAKER

mill valley high school

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a loaded gun

President Barack Obama’s executive order about guns draws mixed opinions from both students and staff

pressure building Throughout this section, this timeline will show some of the deadliest mass shootings beginning at the 1999 Columbine High School shooting

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jagwire

Photo illustration by Madison Ferguson, Karissa Schmidt & Victoria Wright Photos from MCT Campus, Time Magazine and New York Times

by tricia drumm

reporter jagwire.triciadrumm@gmail.com

by jillian leiby

managing editor jagwire.jillianleiby@gmail.com

by adri talavera

opinions editor/business manager jagwire.adritalavera@gmail.com

jagwire

mill valley high school

uring one visit, She’s a Pistol instructor Adrian Bliss answers questions from a group of prospective gun owners about a pink hunting rifle. The purchasers appear barely over eighteen, and Bliss informs them that by completing one background check, they could walk out with that rifle the very same day.

Soon, new legislation may complicate this process.

President Barack Obama’s new executive order was announced in early January; it

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includes comprehensive background checks, mandatory licensing for gun sellers and more funding for mental health.

She’s a Pistol is a locally-owned gun store in Shawnee which sells long guns, handguns, as well as other gun safety products. In light of this legislation, the store has experienced an uptick in customers in the last few weeks.

“We’ve already seen an increase in business. Obama said … he’s going to make it

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columbine high school Littleton, Colo.

13 killed 24 injured

buckhead offices atlanta, ga.

12 killed 13 injured

arpil 20, 1999

july 29, 1999

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a nation

CAUTION CAUTION

The U.S. holds

tially be a murderer [or] criminal. I think a lot of those people are stopped from getting guns but, no matter what we do there will always be people … who are going to find a way to cause harm to other people.”

According to senior Shelby Hudson, this legislation could have a beneficial effect on society.

“It will … [slow] guns from getting into the wrong hands,” Hudson said. “It’s not always going to stop it, but it’ll slow it.”

Public safety is another positive outcome that could come from this legislation according to social studies teacher Andrew Hudgins.

“I think ... it will allow people to be less fearful in all public settings, let alone the school setting,” Hudgins said. “It’s a scary thought to think that the mass shootings are increasing in number.”

Resource officer Mo Loridon agrees that some action was necessary.

“I think [the new laws] were made as a reaction towards the bad stuff that’s happening with guns,” Loridon said. “We’ve got the mass murders going on and people … not having a hard time getting [guns] and I think it’s just another reaction towards the bad stuff that’s going on.”

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CAUTION

5%

harder for people to get ahold of [guns],” Bliss said. “We’re seeing an increase in business … before this legislation gets passed.”

Junior Tom McClain considers the executive order to be a step in the right direction but one that may not ultimately last.

“Frankly, [the new laws] are not enough and it shouldn’t have to be done this way because that kind of executive action can be undone in the future by his successor,” McClain said. “So, what we really need is some sort of congressional cooperation, but that’s obviously not going to happen.”

While McClain would like to see more done, Bliss finds gun restrictions to be ineffective.

“Taking firearms off the streets is not going to stop the issues,” Bliss said. “Obviously, they can take all the firearms from legal gun NOITUthat AC they want. Criminals are going to owners deaths caused by obtain them off the street regardless.” junior Dylan Smith sees the posigun-related injury in 2013 NOITUAtives C While of gun control, he agrees with Bliss and National Center for Injury Prevention and Control believes it is not the only solution.

“There are a lot of people who could poten-

CAUTION of the world population...

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i

w o f j t

versus

shotgun survey Do you have a non-hunting gun in your home?

32,719

Survey of 438 students shows where the

Do you intend to keep a handgun in your house when you’re older?

deaths caused by car accidents in 2013

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

53%

47%

Yes

Yes

35%

48%

No 17%

No Undecided

red lake high school red lake, minn.

9 killed 7 injured

virginia tech University blacksburg, va.

32 killed 17 injured

westroads mall omaha, neb.

8 killed 4 injured

pinelake health and rehab carthage, N.C. 8 killed 2 injured

march 21, 2005

april 16, 2007

dec. 5, 2007

march 29, 2009

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amer B 13 kill

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n divided CAUTION

...and

CAUTION

Hudgins agrees with Loridon, but believes that Americans have a right to own guns.

“Clearly it needs to be a little bit stricter, but I don’t think anybody is advocating for people’s guns to be taken from them,” Hudgins said. “I don’t think that’s fair to those that own guns, but … we need to try and figure out a way to prohibit guns from getting into the wrong hands.”

The wrong hands could mean people with severe mental health issues, as that can be a factor in gun violence. Reports from the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health suggest that up to 60 percent of perpetrators of mass shootings in the U.S. since 1970 displayed symptoms of acute paranoia, delusions and depression. President Obama’s executive order includes a $500 million investment to increase access to mental health care.

McClain considers mental health to be an important factor in gun legislation “The people who would attack a school with firearms are clearly not in a good state of mind, or anyone who would attack civilians for that matter,” McClain said. “Gun control just needs to keep guns out of the hands [of those] who shouldn’t have them.”

The definition of gun control varies from person to person. To McClain, gun control is “the government controlling how much access people have to guns.”

Hudson believes that public perception has changed the connotation of the term.

“When people hear gun control’ they hear ‘Oh, the government’s going to come take my guns away,’ but really, it’s just better background checks,” Hudson said.

To junior Dylan Smith, gun control is a more vague concept.

“Gun control is not necessarily anything specific,” Smith said. “It is just kind of the general name that people have given to all the laws that regard owning and purchasing firearms in America.”

In Kansas, anyone over 18 can buy a long gun, which includes hunting rifles and shotguns, and anyone over 21 can purchase a handgun. Smith expressed interest in owning a gun someday and is in support of background checks.

“There is definitely nothing wrong with background checks. I don’t have a problem with sitting down and going through a

30-50% of the world’s civilian-owned guns 2007 Small Arms Survey

12,200,928 years of potential life lost before age 65 by gun injury (1999-2014) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

83:100 high estimate: 97:100

low estimate:

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e student body stands on gun issues 200

Are you in support of President Obama’s executive order?

In general, how do you feel about current gun laws in America?

ratios of civilian-owned guns to people in America 2007 Small Arms Survey

150

They should be stricter 25% 56% 19%

Yes

They are fine how they are

No

They should be looser

I don’t know

I don’t know the current gun laws

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rican civic assn.

Binghamton, n.y.

4 injured led

april 3, 2009 jagwire

fort hood fort hood, texas 13 killed 32 injured

hartford distributors manchester, conn.

8 killed 2 injured

century 16 movie theater aurora, colo.

12 killed 58 injured

sandy hook elementary newtown, conn.

27 killed 1 injured

nov. 5, 2009

aug. 3, 2010

july 20, 2012

dec. 14, 2012

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DESIGN BY sarah myers & jillian leiby

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washington navy yard washington, D.c.

12 killed 3 injured

sept. 16, 2013

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on the ISSUES How the top Presidential candidates respond to gun control

Fmr. Secretary of STATE Hillary Clinton - Clinton believes in a balance between legal gun ownership and keeping guns from criminals - She does not like the idea that anyone can get a gun anywhere

Senator Bernie Sanders - Sanders wants a ban on semi-automatic guns and gun show loopholes - Sanders wants to enforce instant background checks

BUSINESSMAN Donald Trump - Trump wants to protect the second admendment but also address mental health - Trump also believes that gun-free zones are a danger to citizens

SENATOR Ted Cruz

REPUBLICAN

background check,” Smith said. “Do I think I should have to go through that every single time I want to buy a gun? Maybe not, but … I don’t think that anyone that wants a gun for lawful purposes would oppose a background check.”

Hudson comes from gun-owning family and also sees nothing wrong with background checks.

“My father owns guns and he is a law abiding citizen and I don’t think background checks will diminish or stop people who enjoy guns as a hobby and who followed the laws from attaining more guns,” Hudson said. “It’s not taking guns away, it’s just slowing putting guns into other people’s hands that don’t need them.”

Background checks are not currently required in Kansas, however some gun stores still use them. She’s a Pistol requires background checks for all gun purchases. While Bliss finds the current background check process to be sufficient, there are still room for improvements. “[The background checks] do run it through quite a bit as it stands, but I think it could be a little more stringent,” Bliss said.

“I don’t mind seeing [the] waiting period go into effect again.”

In a survey conducted by the JagWire, 48 percent of students intended to keep a handgun in their house when they are older. 53 percent of the students surveyed said that their family already keeps a non-hunting gun in their home. Regarding current gun laws in America, 39 percent were in favor of stricter gun laws, while 38 percent were fine with how they are now.

Despite the varied responses, Hudson believes this executive order, and gun control in general, will lead to communication between the government and legal gun owners.

“It should just be a mutual respect thing that the government wants to do stuff for the good of the people and [that] is slowing down people who are dangerous from getting their hands on weapons,” Hudson said.

“You have that mutual respect for each other and the fact that “‘Hey, I want to keep my guns and I want to protect you with having guns. We just want to make sure that nobody does anything that could have them taken away.’”

Democrat

continues from page 17

- Cruz opposes restricting the second admentment - He considers background checks unreasonable All information from On The Issues All photos from MCT Campus

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church umpqua community college roseburg, ore. charleston, S.c.

9 killed 9 injured 9 killed 0 injured

june 18, 2015

oct. 1, 2015

inland regional center san bernardino, calif.

14 killed 21 injured

dec. 2, 2015 mill valley high school

jagwire

up in arms

Two JagWire reporters debate what should (or should not) be done about gun ownership in America

second amendment does not make sense in modern society by nick booth

Guns are killing machines that provide no tangible benefit to anybody in the real world

pro gun control

ur Bill of Rights protects some of the most basic and essential freedoms we need to live in a truly democratic society. Among them are the freedom of speech, freedom from illegal search and seizure and the freedom of religion. Each of these is necessary and vital if we want to claim that America is a free country.

The right to own a firearm, however, should not be among these. To be clear: I’m not proposing an outright nationwide ban on guns. I’m just saying that gun ownership shouldn’t have constitutional protection.

The Second Amendment should not exist.

It may have made sense at its time of writing, but it simply doesn’t now. Restrictions

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on gun purchase and use only serve to help the entire nation, by making sure that lethal weapons don’t make it into the wrong hands.

But if restrictions are constantly hindered by questions of constitutionality, then the government can’t properly protect the people.

The other freedoms protected in the Constitution each benefit the American people as a whole. Free speech lets people express their thoughts and ideas without fear of persecution. The freedom from illegal search and seizure ensures people’s right to privacy. The right to own a gun doesn’t protect people – in fact, it does the opposite.

Countries such as Japan and Australia that

copy editor jagwire.nickbooth@gmail.com

have very strict gun laws also have virtually no shooting deaths each year, and this isn’t very surprising. The less guns there are out there, the less likely it is people will die from gun violence. Guns don’t protect people; they kill people. They are brutal killing machines that have no place in a civil society.

Maybe an outright ban on guns is necessary. Maybe it’s not. We’ll never know if the government doesn’t have the freedom to explore different gun control options; we need to be able to know what works. If the government doesn’t have the ability to ban guns, then it will never know if such a ban would be effective. Guns are not sacred, and we should stop treating them as such.

i second the Second amendment ANTI gun control

Changing gun laws would not change the mindset of people who use them for unlawful purposes

uns are not a problem that needs to be solved. Yes, there have been mass shootings and murders with guns, but changing the law will not help that. Someone who plans to harm a group of people with a gun could be mentally unstable, and knowing they’re breaking the law will not change their actions. Furthermore, guns are not the only instrument that could be used to bring harm to others, not to forget that self-defense would be limited.

An attacker is aware of all punishments and obviously does not care about breaking the law. This is also shown through drug dealing, as cocaine and meth are commonly sold among citizens, even though they are illegal. People with criminal intentions will not hand over their guns because a law is passed making them illegal. The fact that these guns are passed along illegally and

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without documentation would also make it hard to round them all up.

If the government was magically able to take guns away from all criminals, the criminal would just use another object to kill people. Two of the worst terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, 9/11 and the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995, did not involve guns. Almost anything could be used as a weapon – even something as simple as a baseball bat – but is the government going to take away all baseball bats?

No, because people use them for reasons other than harming individuals, as most law abiding, gun owning citizens use guns.

Besides not being able to get all guns from criminals, citizens would lose their guns, leaving them with weaker defense. While being attacked or robbed by an assailant with a gun, it takes time for police to respond. The victim is left to defend themselves before

by victoria wright

reporter and photographer jagwire.victoriawright@gmail.com

they could get killed or critically injured. For that reason, a gun is one of the most logical defense objects. A knife is another logical defensive weapon, but when the person attacking you has the ability to harm you from a distance, a knife may not cut it.

Regardless of restrictions, criminals will find ways to get guns. Taking away, or changing, the Second Amendment will not solve any violence because many other things could be used to hurt people. It may, however, exasperate the problem as it would restrict the protection individuals could provide for themselves. No amount of changes to the law will help that criminals do not care what stands in their way. If they want something, they won’t back down at the passing of a law. That’s why I support the Second Amendment, to protect our citizens and for the betterment of this great nation.

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The JagWire gives its opinion on a topic covered in this issue

STaff Editorial

new order promotes safety President Obama’s new executive order will bring safety for Americans, despite its restrictions on gun owners

resident Obama made an executive order in support of stricter control on buying and selling guns in early January. This call to action makes sense after years of mass gun violence, and we believe that it will have a very positive effect on Americans and could impact the presidential election.

President Obama’s executive action involves improving and requiring background checks in each state, despite the current state law. The background checks for those wanting to buy a gun will include more thorough examinations of mental health history and criminal activity. Furthermore, anyone who sells a gun must have a license — regardless of what platform the sale takes place, including online and through gun shows.

This is an important step in decreasing the number of mass shootings, as well as overall gun violence, in the country. This type of regulation is not possible inside our current, much-divided Congress. Comprehensive gun legislation is necessary, especially after a year of excessive mass

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shootings by people who should not owned guns in the

have first place.

This problem can be alleviated through the Obama administration’s $500 million investment to make mental health care more accessible, a policy that could have prevented gun-related injuries that have happened in the last 20 years. In some instances, gun violence has been linked to mental illness. If it is true that guns don’t kill people, people do, this new legislation will help those who could possibly perpetrate gun crimes in the future.

However, some say there are still reasons to be wary of such legislation. The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms, and gun advocates argue that government regulation infringes on that right. The United States has a long history of proud gun ownership, whether

JagWire

agree DISAgree

staff vote 20

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it be for self-defense or recreation.

President Obama’s new executive order does not affect lawful gun ownership.

Those seeking to buy guns for lawful purposes should not be opposed to background checks. While it may seem inconvenient, this process will save lives.

N o matter how you feel about gun control, the topic will play a major role in the upcoming presidential election. Now, more than ever, it is important to exercise your right to vote and choose a candidate that takes a position you believe in.

Gun violence is out of hand and action needs to be taken. Legislation that builds on Obama’s executive order is important to the safety of Americans. The lives lost from an unregulated gun industry serve as an example of the danger from doing nothing, so take this as a point to move forward. If we want to reduce gun violence in this country, gun control is the next step.

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illustration by Jason Chen

mill valley high school

jagwire

Letter to the editor

Readers submit letters addressing issues of concern to the editors

Women’s sports deserve respect All athletic teams should receive equal amounts of recognition

by Sydney bennett guest reporter

by lilly lutz guest reporter

or the last three years, we have been managing the girls basketball team, and every year, it’s always the same. When 5:45 p.m. rolls around, the bleachers are filled with several sets of parents scattered here and there, while the student section remains nearly empty. Once the boys game starts, however, the student section is packed with kids dressed out in spirit, holding signs and chanting along to the fight song.

The students should want to come out and support the girls basketball team, be-

F

opinion

cause they work just as hard. There are times when we stay for the boys games and the student section is cheering for every trip, up and down the court. When the students cheer, it hypes up the players and brings the school together. Senior Catie Kaifes said “I really enjoy the crowd we get, but it would make [the games] even better if more people came and everyone would cheer and stand up.”

This problem does not just fall on the student body but also on the lack of recognition before and after the games. The absence of announcements and the lack of attention on social media makes the players feel unappreciated. Mill Valley has an excellent athletic program and all athletic teams, not just girls basketball should be appreciated and celebrated.

We wish we could say this is a problem only at Mill Valley, but it is not. Women’s athletics are receiving very little credit all over the world, including the Women’s National Basketball association and the Women’s National Soccer Association. We are not trying to bash men’s athletics, just to make it aware that women work equally as hard and deserve the same amount of credit in all

It’s ok to be ‘green’ with envy The words “jealousy” or “envy” often hold negative connotations. In the Bible, jealousy is described as a sin and the act of being controlled by self-desire. It can apply to almost everything: qualities, physical objects, physical features, relationships, etc. You could be jealous of someone’s dog if you felt that strongly.

People should let their jealousy improve them as individuals

by tricia drumm

reporter jagwire.triciadrumm@gmail.com n Pre-AP English 10 last semester, my teacher had us read and analyze the novel “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles. After reading a few chapters of the novel, which was not nearly as terrible as it was made out to be, she assigned a journal response on Blackboard about if it was OK to envy your best friend. Jealousy is not a bad thing. In fact, it can make you a better person.

I

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sports and leagues.

As Sarah Spain, a sports reporter for ESPN said, “Female athletes come in all shapes and sizes and should be celebrated as strong, confident, hard-working and inspiring, just like their male counterparts.”

Instead of dwelling on your emotions, let jealousy make you a better person.

TRICIA DRUMM

I know all too well what jealousy feels like. For example, a close friend of mine recently got her cartilage pierced. The thing

is, when I had asked my parents if I could get my cartilage pierced before she got hers pierced, they said no. I was crushed. I was — wait for it — jealous.

Jealousy is natural, and you can’t stop it. As humans, we are hunter-gatherers.

The original context of the phrase refers to hunting animals and gathering plants, but to put it in the perspective of human emotions, “gathering” can be the collection of materials and/or qualities (you can’t necessarily gather mental qualities). Meanwhile, the “hunt” can be envy. What we cannot gather, we hunt.

If you make a bad choice because you are jealous, it isn’t acceptable to blame your actions on the emotion. You have full control over your attitude.

Instead of dwelling on your emotions, let jealousy make you a better person. Is a gorgeous statement necklace holding your undivided attention? Work hard and save some money up! Use your competition, the person that has what you want, to strive for excellence. Wishing you had an A in math like the kid sitting next you? Let that drive you to become more devoted to your studies.

Let jealousy motivate you to become a better person.

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opinion

Girls shouldn’t feel ashamed of their menstrual cycles, Period.

Periods are natural bodily functions and not a taboo subject

by adri talavera

opinions editor/business manager jagwire.adritalavera@gmail.com n the final years of elementary school, the girls have letters sent home requesting their parents’ presence at a “tea party.” Only, in addition to tea and cookies, the school nurse describes menstruation and pubescent development while a room full of fourth grade girls look around at their friends and giggle uncomfortably at every mention of the word “vagina.” But, this should be the first and last time talk of periods makes anyone uncomfortable.

There’s no reason for a natural bodily function to become some sort of taboo subject.

However, throughout middle school and even into my senior year of high school, I’ve witnessed numerous accounts of girls feeling embarrassed because of something they have no control over: their periods.

Most recently, in one of my classes – which is predominantly occupied by women most of the time – a certain girl walked around, asking if anyone in the room had an extra tampon. Upon hearing this, a certain guy in the room told her she should “be quiet” because “that’s gross.” This caused some upset among the other present females. Another male came to his defense, comparing her search for feminine products to himself going around asking “Does anyone have a condom?” since they both involve the reproductive organs.

H e might h a v e

I

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been on to something in that they’re both sold in the sexual health aisle at CVS, but that is the only common denominator between the two: tampons and condoms are vastly different products, neither of which are gross. What is gross, however, is the stigma that vaginas are inherently always sexual.

There is nothing sexual about periods. They are completely natural bodily cycle that every female experiences and virtually can’t do anything to stop.

Based on their functions, a more accurate comparison to tampons would actually be toilet paper or Kleenex, or any other hygienic paper products.

Personally, I’ve never found myself grossed out by anything of that nature, so it’s hard to understand how unused tampons or pads are any grosser than products that clean up snot or poop.

There is no reason why a female should have to pull a James Bond — stealthily sneaking into the bathroom with a pad or tampon tucked into her sleeve, shoe or other ridiculous place — just to avoid embarrassment when changing out feminine products. Tending to your hygienic needs during your time of the month should not be mission impossible.

Yeah, periods happen. Girls, pack as many as you need, and don’t feel embarrassed about taking your purse with you to the bathroom or asking around. And boys, we know blood is kind of gross.

But bleeding out in the middle of class is even more gross.

Trust us, boys – if we females could somehow choose to prevent periods from ever happening to anyone ever, we would.

Until then you should at least tolerate them, considering you may one day have a wife or daughter experiencing the same thing.

mill valley high school

jagwire

Opinion

Don’t hate on others for being fans of something just because you’re not a fan of the same thing

by justin curto

mill valley news editor-in-chief jagwire.justincurto@gmail.com got a pretty awesome gift at the newspaper white elephant gift exchange this past December — a Minions T-shirt. I’m a huge fan of the Minions: those mischievous, yellow, nonsense-speaking creatures of “Despicable Me” fame. However, I quickly found out that almost none of my newspaper friends are, as they proceeded to say terribly things about Minions to me. Clearly, Minions didn’t make them smile and laugh like they made me, but I was confused about why they felt strongly enough to shame me for liking them.

After some more thought, I began to un-

I

opinion

Young people should be considerate about other’s religion

by nora lucas

reporter and photographer jagwire.noralucas@gmail.com really enjoy church. Though some people may not understand, I enjoy picking up a hymnal and listening to the massive organ in the back playing my favorite tunes at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The tradition of Communion and the Latin readings in my Episcopal faith is what makes me enjoy it, but I don’t mind trying new things, and I’m definitely not opposed to other kinds of religion. In general, I don’t think other people should

I

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I’m not a fan of fan-shaming derstand where they were coming from. I remembered some of the bad things I had previously said about, and sometimes to, fans of twenty one pilots, Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift. This put me in a real quandary — I didn’t like how it felt to have other people tell me that Minions are terrible, but I also didn’t know if I could bring myself to support fans of musicians and celebrities that I just flat-out don’t get the appeal behind.

After careful consideration, I found a solution: I’d preach against fandom shaming, and I’d also practice what I preached by no longer shaming other fandoms.

The people and things we’re fans of make us happy and give us something to relate to. So, when others say bad things about what we like, it makes us — or, at least, it makes me — not only feel bad about liking those things, but question whether we even should.

People shouldn’t have to wonder whether the things they like are legitimate, though. If something makes you smile or laugh, or you can relate to it, then you should be able to like it. You may have to defend why you like something every now and then, but it shouldn’t happen every time you mention it.

There is one exception to the rule. There’s no reasonable case for being a fan of someone that promotes racist, sexist or morally reprehensible views. For instance, if you’re

a fan of Bill Cosby after his recent scandal, don’t expect to get by without criticism.

We shouldn’t demerit what others like, but instead celebrate it. I’m sorry if I’ve offended you in the past for saying mean things about something or someone you’re a fan of. Likewise, I hope I’ve motivated you to stop hating on people for liking Minions — at least enough for me to wear my T-shirt.

faith is a personal experience care what you believe when it comes to faith.

Over winter break, I agreed to attend my cousin’s church for Christmas mass. Walking in, I was greeted by a large number of people exiting from the service before, and was filed into what was essentially an amphitheater.

Waiting for the service to start, the lights dimmed and my ears were blasted with the shredding electric guitar of Trans Siberian Orchestra. I tried to let the Christmas spirit sink in, but most of what I got seemed like an overly-marketed, desperate appeal to my age group.

Despite these feelings, I tried to not get emotional. Most of the service was fine and amusing, until one preacher started talking about his opinions on what church should be.

Standing up in his suit, facing thousands of people in the crowd and through an online stream, he told us that some people have too much ritual in their faith. According to him, the Catholic-esque denominations bog up the “real” Jesus and the “real” Bible. Tears started to fill my eyes, and I held my mom’s hand for support while I let this guy go on and on about how much disrespect he had for something I had grown up with.

The brutal truth is that some people sim-

illustration by jason chen

ply feel the obligation to convert others into their own religion, faith or church. There’s nothing wrong with churches marketing, but this blatant attack on a whole group of people was offensive and downright rude.

This experience really got me thinking about how people my own age handle evangelism, or the personal spread of Christianity. I’ve had my fair share of friends pleading for me to come to their youth group or go to their church event, and while it’s not necessarily ignorance or intolerance that brings people to act this way, faith is a little too personal to talk about with people you don’t know that well.

It is important that young people are considerate of each other and realize that we are still developing our views. If you really care about introducing someone to your faith, demonstrate it to them by being a good role model instead of constantly begging for their attendance.

Everyone needs a chance to explore how they feel about religion whether it’s Christianity, buddhism, atheism or anything else.

Religion can be the greatest experience of a person’s life, or it could end up as a negative memory because someone pushed them too hard.

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LEFT: Freshman Chris Sprenger swims in the 200 yard IM. Sprenger placed second overall in the event. Photo by Jena Smith

Hitting thE DifferenT Strokes Multiple changes over the years that helped the swim team grow

Diving was added to the program for the 2014 season

Split into two teams this season: De Soto and Mill Valley

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Coaches and athletes continue to grow young swimming and bowling

ver since the 2012-13 season, the swim team has progressed from a small club to a program with annual trips to the state swim meet.

Simply getting the athletes used to swimming at the high school level was the main goal at the beginning, according to former Mill Valley swim coach Alissa Ruffin.

“The first year, there were only four swimmers with year-round swim experience on the team, and three of the four were seniors,” Ruffin said. “While this meant that our sophomore year of existence as a team would mean we’d lose that experience, it set the tone for the program as to what strong swimming work ethic looked like.”

Boys swim assistant coach Kristen Crandall believes the team’s strong bonds are what make the team stand out.

“With any sport, any program, working to have a certain culture [is important],” Crandall said. “The boys are starting to have their own traditions and they’re building a culture of hard work and being good teammates to each other. It’s really exciting to watch.”

The girls team has had difficulty gaining the right mindset during practice, according to senior Jennifer Sims, with the head coaching position currently vacant.

“It’s been a little rough with coaching, since we haven’t had a consistent coach, but it’s growing because a lot of girls want to do it,” Sims said.

“They take on more responsibility themselves, working on their own … [junior] Elaina Bartlow organizes the workouts. The captains take on more [responsibility].”

The drive to practice at Indian

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by braden shaw

sports editor jagwire.bradenshaw@gmail.com

Trails Middle School in Olathe each day has also been a difficulty which junior Mitch Willoughby believes discourages students from ever joining the swim team in the first place.

“The thing that keeps people away from it is going out to Olathe to practice,” Willoughby said. “People don’t want to do that. It would be nice if we could get a pool here. A better location would mean that we wouldn’t have to drive 15 minutes for every practice.”

Even though Willoughby believes the lack of an on-campus pool might drive people away, the swim team still has 20 swimmers and one diver for this season. However, boys swim head coach Daniel Dervin still wants to add more talent headed into the future.

“We want to continue to recruit new swimmers and athletes from other sports,” Dervin said. “One focus we have is to convince football and cross country runners to try swimmer as a way of cross training for the spring sports. Also, we would like to get a couple of the players cut from the basketball team. Since we are joining the [Eastern Kansas League], it would be nice to increase our numbers to 25.”

Ruffin sees the program growing in the future and keeping its stability due to the increase in popularity and the work by the current swimmers.

“Now that the program is in place and earning notoriety, middle school students have an interest in the team and are working to get better so they’ll be prepared for the high school level,” Ruffin said. “All three relays are already headed to state and there are already individuals who have either qualified or achieved consideration times. The program is thriving and continues to get better every year.”

mill valley high school

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lanes

ABOVE: Senior Cole Griggs picks up his bowling ball to prepare for his next frame at Olathe Lanes East on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Photo by Justin Curto

by sam lopez

news editor jagwire.samlopez@gmail.com

he bowling team’s reputation as state contenders has been the result of hard work from both students and coaches since its conception in the 2011-12 school year.

The biggest change seen by head coach Rick Pollard has been the increasing popularity of the program — and with that, a rise in the number of students trying out.

Senior Cole Griggs, who tried out sophomore year, has noticed a greater turnout for tryouts during his time on the program as well.

“We only have about 25 to 30 bowlers that actually know they’re coming to make the team. Others just show up because of the free games,” Griggs said.

“It’s still cool though because you get like 70 to 80 people coming to try out.”

As the program has grown, they now fundraise and support their own program and others in the school.

“We have a very small budget they give us because [we’re not as big as] the basketball program. So we do a fundraiser, but our kids do a fundraiser so [well]that we’re able to help the local Special Olympics team,” Pollard said. “We wrote them a $1,000 check last year. This year we’re supporting them and the new Make-A-Wish program.”

Despite the dramatic increase in popularity, the biggest challenge for the team is the bowling alley itself.

Although the teams practice at Park Lanes, compared to the 20 minute drive to Ranch Bowl in their inaugural year, practice time is still an issue.

“We share [Park Lanes] with three other schools that practice there. So we’re limited on the number of lanes we get to practice on,” Pollard said.

“We have limited practice time and

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just limited space to get better.”

The teams also cannot practice when other schools have meets and rarely practice on Fridays due to nonhigh school bowling leagues.

Griggs hopes conditions improve.

“Hopefully Park Lanes really steps up and lets us practice more times throughout the season because that’s how you get better,” Griggs said. “We have to put like six to eight people on each lane so it takes up a bit of time.”

Despite this, senior Kat Anglemeyer, a bowler for four years, continues to put forth effort for the team.

“I feel like people take bowling as joke. But it’s really not a joke, it’s a sport,” Anglemeyer said. “We try out for it, we practice. We’re always trying to perfect our techniques.”

With the team in its infancy, Pollard had to learn how to coach bowling during the program’s development.

“I’ve had to teach myself along the way how to become a better bowling coach,” Pollard said “I get better by coaching kids that are newer. I know a little bit more and every year I get a little bit more knowledge of the sport.”

Anglemeyer has been able to see first-hand Pollard’s improvements. “[Pollard] is a really good coach and he knows what we’re doing wrong and how to fix it,” Anglemeyer said. “I hope that he stays and can help the bowling team improve.”

Despite how young the program is, Pollard’s teams “jumped on the map,” by having a state-ranked boys team and sending the girls team to state last year.

“We’re always competitive,” Pollard said. “Other schools that are traditional bowling schools really like competing against us because we’re good.”

Follow through Significant moments that impacted the bowling team

Fundraisers for Special Olympics and Make-a-Wish programs

Change in practice facilities (Ranch Bowl to Park Lanes)

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j a g w i r e

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overtime An inside look and additional coverage on this season’s sports and athletes

Guacamole

Super Bowl Food?

Queso Dip

Q&a with

Buffalo Wings

WHat is your Favorite Survey of 324 students

Nachos/Tacos

5% 3%

Sliders Pizza Rolls

Chicken Tenders

Cupcake/Brownies 6%

senior Clayton Holmberg Holmberg has played on the boys varsity basketball team all four years

8%

34%

30% 33%

SENIOR SEBASTIAN PETERSON

25%

JagWire: What were your feelings going into your final season?

Holmberg: [I am] sad that this will be the last [season] but [I] have watched three senior classes play before me, so I’m ready to be a senior and excited.

“It's Jw: What is the best part of being on the team? usually Ch: Just spending time with the guys on the pretty hype team. We are really a ... fun group of guys to be around, so it’s fun to just spend time … When we with them at practice. are at home Jw: What will you miss about this the crowd is team and this sport? usually really Ch: [I’m going to miss] playloud and really ing in front of the student supportive of the section, playing in front team.” of my friends ... [just]

SENIOR GRANT WARFORD playing for Mill

Valley in itself.

It’s going to be

tough to let Senior go.

“High school is not something that lasts forever and you want to be as involved as you can and just have fun while you’re there.”

Meet The

boys cheer from the student section at basketball games

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Fans

DESIGN BY Claire Biles & jason chen

Photos By Victoria wright

“The chants are easy to get everyone involved ... and it gets the crowd loud, which can help the basketball team and the game.”

SENIOR CAMERON HITE

interviews By abigail archibong

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You are doing the work.

Are you getting the credit?

Save money on four-year university tuition by earning college credits in high school.

Sign up for JCCC College Now classes this spring.

See your school counselor for details, visit jccc.edu/collegenow or call 913-259-7447.

12345 College Blvd. | Overland Park, KS 66210

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Relive winter homecoming Coverage of SPIRIT DAYS, WISH WEEK ACTIVITies, PEP ASSEMBLY, bASKETBALL GAME, CORONATION AND THE DANCE WWW.MVNEWS.ORG/CATEGORY/SPECIAL-COVERAGE/

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PIZZA TELEPHONE Inspired by a BuzzFeed video, the JagWire reviewed pizza by the slice at pizzerias that were suggested by employees at other pizzerias. Journalism adviser Kathy Habiger recommended to start with Papa Keno’s. The cashier at Papa Keno’s suggested d’Bronx, and it was all satisfaction by the slice from there.

RULES

RATING The reviewers considered ...

1 2

Pizzerias must sell pizza by the slice Reviewers must order a slice of cheese

CRUST TOPPINGS (SAUCE & CHEESE) ATMOSPHERE SERVICE

SATISFACTION johnny jo’s pizzeria 1209 W. 47th Street Kansas City, Missouri www.johnnyjospizza.com

hough Johnny Jo’s Pizzeria is a superb place for a slice of pizza, that may be hard to imagine at first. After all, the restaurant is about 12 feet wide and only has two parking spaces and one table. But that’s exactly what makes it so fantastic.

The slices of pizza at Johnny Jo’s have a flavor profile unlike most others. This comes from the amazing sauce, with spices that add depth that most other pizzas don’t have. The hand-tossed crust was the perfect vessel for this, and the heated-to-order style made the cheese per-

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fectly melted for a thoroughly great combination of tastes. The variety of pizza at Johnny Jo’s outshines most other pizzerias, with slices ranging from mozzarella and basil to tomato and artichoke.

Johnny Jo’s also serves glass-bottled sodas, which accompany their slices of pizza well. The service doesn’t stand out, but the pizza is served quickly. If you’re planning to eat there, don’t worry — the open door helps the restaurant to feel less crowded despite its size. Do check into the hours, though, as the restaurant closes mid-day and its lunch and dinner schedules don’t match up.

Perhaps the true test of how great the pizza at Johnny Jo’s is that it’s worth driving into Kansas City and eating at such a small restaurant just for its flavorful slices. Of the three places reviewed, Johnny Jo’s was definitely the best place to end on.

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d’bronx 3904 Bell St Kansas City, Missouri www.dbronxkc.com

pon walking into d’Bronx, one immediately notices the signatures all over the walls and booths. This makes sense, given the restaurant’s status as a local favorite for New York-style pizza. Although its pizza is ultimately good, d’Bronx doesn’t quite compare to other, less popular local pizzerias.

While both the toppings and the crust of the pizza were delicious separately, the combination of the two was less than

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satisfactory. The cheese and sauce complemented each other well. The crunchy, brick oven crust didn’t quite fuse with the toppings, though, leaving the pizza with conflicting tastes.

The previously mentioned wall signatures do add a nice touch. While the vibe of the restaurant and the pop music coming through the speakers don’t entirely match, that has debatable significance in terms of the atmosphere. The restaurant’s elongated layout isn’t the best, but it works. Nothing about the service lacked, as the slices came out within a reasonable time, except it was slightly impersonal.

If you’re looking for a tried and tested local slice of pizza, then go to d’Bronx. Taking an extra step to seek out a lesser-known pizzeria — like Joe’s Pizza Buy the Slice, suggested by d’Bronx employees — will likely lead to finding a more flavorful and cohesive slice.

BY THE SLICE

by alison booth

social media editor jagwire.alisonbooth@gmail.com

by justin curto

mill valley news editor-in-chief jagwire.justincurto@gmail.com

joe’s pizza buy the slice 4058 Pennsylvania Ave. Kansas City, Missouri www.joespizzakc.com

ttached Joe’s Pizza Buy The Slice shares a space with and sells pizza in Kelly’s Westport Inn, a bar which is commonly accepted to be the oldest building in Kansas City, so it might seem like it’d be hard for the pizzeria to receive the attention it deserves.

But the extra-friendly service and unique style of pizza at Joe’s make it feel nearly as important to Kansas City as Kelly’s.

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The crust at Joe’s is thicker and softer than most other places, which helps the pizza to stand out. The sauce’s flavor has depth, and the interplay between the sauce and cheese make the entire slice feel cohesive.

Though Joe’s is greasier than most pizza, it’s a worthy tradeoff for a great-tasting slice.

Joe’s may seem almost too small for a pizzeria, but it still manages to fit two tables and lots of wall decorations. The service is quick and the employees are personable, and the classic rock coming through the speakers accompanies the restaurant nicely.

The originality of the pizza and light atmosphere at Joe’s Pizza Buy The Slice make up for its small size, and establish Joe’s as a go-to for pizza whenever in Westport.

When not in Westport, it’s not worth the trip to Joe’s — especially when Johnny Jo’s Pizzeria, a restaurant that two Joe’s employees suggested, has better pizza near the Country Club Plaza area.

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Beasts of no nation fter Netflix bought the rights last year for $12 million, “Beasts of No Nation” was released simultaneously on the streaming services as well as in select theaters to widespread critical acclaim. Many thought it was sure to find itself nominated for an Oscar — although it ultimately wasn’t — and for good reason.

The film itself is a masterpiece, and brilliantly tells the story of Agu (Abraham Attah), a child soldier caught up in a civil war somewhere in West Africa.

With depictions of brutal violence, it can be hard to watch at times, but never lets its graphic nature take away from the overall tone of the movie.

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The cast here is fantastic, from newcomer Attah to seasoned actor Idris Elba. Elba plays Commandant, a ruthless and sadistic military leader who takes a special liking to the young Agu. His portrayal here manages to be terrifying and spectacular at the same time.

The movie’s strength, though, is in its ensemble. The entire cast, not just Elba, is one of this film’s best qualities, with each actor masterfully bringing their character to life.

“Beasts of No Nation” is unique in that it brings to life a topic that’s not often covered in entertainment, and does so in a way that puts the harsh realities it confronts on the screen.

What Happened, Miss simone? his movie is a documentary telling the story of the rise and fall of jazz singer Nina Simone. The film tells this story mostly through the use of archived footage and interviews.

More than anything else, “What Happened, Miss Simone?” is an excellent representation of the singer’s life and career, even garnering public praise from Simone’s daughter, Simone Kelly. Nina Simone was certainly a complex musical titan who wasn’t afraid to share

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jury, the movie features incredibly racist portrayals of Native Americans, including several stereotypical caricatures. This eventually prompted some involved with the production to walk off the set.

Unlike Sandler’s other movies, “The Ridiculous 6” isn’t harmless fun when it comes to its poor attempt at comedy. This is one Netflix original definitely not worth watching, unless you enjoy mindless drivel.

Netflix

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War Machine - Will be released in 2016 -Based off the non-fiction book “The Operators” which chronicles the inside story of a general in Afghanistan.

- Starring Brad Pitt, Topher Grace and Will Poulter

Winter on fire: Ukraine’s fight for freedom

TIG All photos from Netflix

ike most movies from Adam Sandler and his production company, Happy Madison, “The Ridiculous 6” is unfunny, unnecessarily offensive trash lacking of any compelling plot.

Although there are a few genuinely comedic moments, most of the jokes here fall flat.

Everything in “The Ridiculous 6” is insanely over-the-top, from the special effects to the horrendous acting. To add insult to in-

Netflix releases that will satisfy all moviegoers

- Released Oct. 9, 2015 - The documentary is about the Euromaiden protests in Ukraine in 2013.

- Nominated for a 2016 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature

her opinion, and the film covers this extraordinarily well.

Even though it tried to extensively cover the life of an icon, this documentary seemed at times to be a little dull. It was certainly engaging overall, but parts of it lag and make the movie just a little bit of a chore to watch. This could be due in part to the film’s being a documentary; by nature, it was going to be a bit boring. However, “What Happened, Miss Simone?” is still definitely worth watching.

Ridiculous Six

Try This

by nick booth

copy editor jagwire.nickbooth@gmail.com

- Released July 26, 2015 - The documentary chronicles comedian Tig Notaro’s personal and professional life after suffering emotional and physical tragedies

The do-over - Release date to be announced - Second in Adam Sandler’s four-film deal with Netflix - Two men who fake their own deaths. They learn that the people they are impersonating are in much deeper trouble then they were ever in.

- Starring Sandler, Paula Patton and David Spade

by braden shaw

sports editor jagwire.bradenshaw@gmail.com

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JagWire staffers review original movies released on Netflix

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DESIGN BY jillian leiby

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SOUNDs OF by sam lopez

news editor jagwire.samlopez@gmail.com

Kansas City News editor Sam Lopez reviews music venues around Kansas City The Art Factory

B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ

The Phoenix Jazz Club

1205 E. 85th St. Kansas City, Missouri www. bbslawnsidebbq. com

302 W. 8th St. Kansas City, Missouri www.thephoenixkc.com

5621 W. 135th St. No. 2630 Overland Park, Kansas www.theartfactorykc.com

oasting not only a menu worthy of Kansas City’s barbecue fame, B.B.’s Lawnside also provides a great live music venue for the blues artists of K.C. Pulling up to the neon-lit windows of B.B.’s, you can already feel the divey environment engulf any area surrounding the restaurant. Walking into the cramped room filled with dim, colorful lights, paintings, posters, and stickers alike, the stranger-friendly tables and comfortable, polite staff give off a homey vibe to prepare you for their six nights a week blues shows. While there is a cover charge for the live music, it will usually be around five bucks, which is a perfectly reasonable price for the quality of music.

On that same note, the food — from your classic K.C. barbecue all the way to the “Louisiana Favorites” — is well worth the money spent and perfectly embodies the tone of the surrounding environment and music. Dinners range from $10 for the BBQ Meatloaf to $25 for a full slab of ribs. There’s truly something for everyone.

Whether you’re going to chow down on their delicious food or simply going to enjoy some soulful blues music, B.B.’s Lawnside has to be on the top of your to-do list for new restaurants and local music.

lthough I would not advise searching for this mysterious club at night in downtown K.C. using just your GPS, it was well worth calling the host — who willingly stood out in the sub-20 degree weather to find my car — to get directions. As you make your way into The Phoenix, you’re greeted by a more than jubilant dancing host in a dim, high-decibel environment.

You’ll notice the concert-like squeezing you have to do on a Saturday between the crowd is a surefire sign of a good time. You will make your way through the city-cliché building to your table, although the amount of standing and chatting by other patrons has you wondering why they even have tables.

There is a catch, however: after 8 p.m. the club only accepts guests that are 21 and over. Do not be deterred by this rule though, as the club has late-morning and early-evening shows that anyage guest can attend.

While I didn’t get a huge taste of their menu, the wide variety of food was incredibly enticing. With sub-$10 appetizers and sub-$20 dinners, the food prices seemed relatively cheap for how popular and a little higher-end the club seemed to be. The Phoenix is a great place for those searching for something new to spice up their weekend.

he classier feel of The Art Factory and the spacious room filled with modern art pieces perfectly sets the mood for a soft, relaxed music venue for those less thrill-seeking.

Placed right in the middle of the Prairiefire shopping center, the gallery is surrounded by restaurants, stores, and a movie theater to top off a classic weekend adventure.

Due to the fact that it is an art gallery, The Art Factory does not serve food and focuses primarily on drinks, but there’s plenty of food options nearby.

If you’re looking for a quick getaway from the clutter and high-intensity environments of other music venues, the weekend shows at The Art Factory boast a wide variety of bands for music listeners of all kinds, however, a cover charge is still required.

The small, very modern room and high, atmospheric ceiling advertise an open-floor plan not seen at most other venues. The minimal conversation among guests also provides a very introspective environment for all customers.

With lounge chairs, small tables, and barstools spaced out throughout the gallery, there’s not a bad, or uncomfortable, seat in the house — as you’ll always have a nice view of pop art littering the walls or the band currently playing.

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ABOVE: The Confessors, a band that performs weekly at B.B.’s Lawnside Blues & BBQ, performs on Sunday, Jan. 17 with a guest singer. Photo by Karissa Schmidt

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ABOVE: Playing on the other side of the bar, Tim Whitmer & KC Express performs at the Phoenix on Saturday, Jan. 23. Photo

by Karissa Schmidt

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ABOVE: The Sons of Brasil trumpet player takes the lead in a trumpet solo while performing at the Art Factory on Saturday, Dec. 23. Photo by Karissa Schmidt

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LEFT: Sitting in the senior locker bank, senior Audrey Linsey (center) talks with her friends on Monday, Feb. 1. “Every morning I like to come to school early to beat the traffic,�

Linsey said.

Photo by Claire Biles

ABOVE: Football teammates, senior Hersimran Aujla and juniors Brady Rowse and Joel Donn, finish their breakfast on Thursday, Jan. 28. Photo by Abigail Archibong

Morning Madness

Before school starts, students eat breakfast, practice and hangout with friends ABOVE: Holding a flashcard on Friday, Jan. 29, junior Danie Graviette prepares junior Hunter Paxton for an upcoming test.

Photo by Abigail Archibong LEFT: Practicing his juggling with fellow classmates on Wednesday, Jan. 27, junior Braden Rifflel tosses a racquet ball in the C-wing hall.

Photo by Claire Biles

ABOVE: During morning practice on Thursday, Jan. 28, seniors Abbie Hughes and Sarah Amos practice a dance with Silver Studs. Photo by Morgan Gurwell

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DESIGN BY madison ferguson

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