Volume 13, Issue 5

JAGWIRE MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 5 | FEB. 8, 2013 | MVNEWS.ORG

BREAK THE BINGE

10-11 Students share the negative influences binge drinking has had on their lives

NEWS 3

SAFETY POLICIES IN QUESTION

FEATURE 6

STUDENTS PRODUCE DUBSTEP MUSIC

SPORTS 14

BONNER SPRINGS PREVIEW

A&E 19

UNDERRATED SHOWS TO WATCH ON NETFLIX

NEWSINBRIEF

QUIZ BOWL WINS REGIONAL

BY JACK LOPEZ

jagwire.jacklopez@gmail.com

The Quiz Bowl team took first place as the host of the regional competition on Thursday, Jan. 31 and qualified for the state meet. Despite early troubles in the first round, the team pulled through in a surprise victory, beating out 13 schools from Eastern Kansas including St. James Academy, Bishop Miege and St. Thomas Aquinas. Quiz Bowl sponsor Mary Beth Mattingly was thrilled with the result.

“I was very happy because it’s been a while since we’ve actually been a regional champion,” Mattingly said. “We’ve qualified for state several years, but this is nice because we’re actually regional champions.”

Mattingly noted that the team was just as happy with the outcome.

“The whole team is very excited,” Mattingly said. “They know it’s been a

WHAT’S INSIDE

News

3 School safety

4 Shortened schedules

Feature

6 Juniors produce dubstep 7 Mother’s accident gives student a new perspective 8 Students job shadow 10-11 Impact of binge drinking

Opinion

12-13 School safety ideas, technology grants, goals, PDA, teachers should not be armed

Sports

14 Preview of Bonner Springs basketball game 15 Multi-sport players decreasing

A&E

18 Couple profiles 19 Netflix suggestions

Photo Essay 20 Swimming

Cover illustration by Kristina Milewski

2 BRIEFS

LEFT: Quiz Bowl members begin their second round against one of their opponents, Schlagle High School, in the regional competition on Thursday, Jan. 31.

They beat Schlagle in the round and won regionals overall.

Senior C.J. Hopkins believes effort is the most important part of the competition.

“It’s not about the result [of the tournament],” Hopkins said.

“It’s about giving it your all.” Photo by Baylee Owen

while since we’ve been regional champions as well so they’re all excited to get down to Newton for state.”

Senior C.J. Hopkins was ready to compete and hoped for a good result.

“There’s some strong teams out there,” Hopkins said. “We just have to go out and do our best.”

The team, consisting of seniors Hopkins, Cole Clay and Alex Reeves, juniors Joe Gunter and Andrew Hecht and sophomore Jack Earlenbaugh will practice this week with former state competition questions. Mattingly is hopeful about bringing back good results.

“They’re a strong team. They know how to play to each others’ strengths,” Mattingly said.

The state meet is Saturday, Feb. 9 at Newton, Kan. “We have some tough teams to go up against,” Mattingly said. “But I think we stand a good chance.”

NEW TECHNOLOGY ADDED

BY AMBER NGUYEN

jagwire.ambernguyen@gmail.com

Over winter break, the district purchased new technology for the school’s journalism and business departments.

The print journalism and broadcast journalism rooms received new Mac computers while the business classes received newer, updated Dell computers.

Approximately 1,274 Dell computers were purchased along with 150 Mac computers. The total cost of the new technology received was approximately $1.3 million.

Graphic design teacher Jerry Howard

thinks the new Macs will help improve his class. “[The Mac computers] are faster, better, bigger and the size is much better,” Howard said. “You can also open more applications, which is useful in graphic design.”

Business teacher Adam King has not seen much improvement in the hardware but wants to see improvement in the software in the new Dells.

“Currently I haven’t seen much change in the new computers from the old ones,” King said. “But we hope to be able to maintain the new software that we will be implementing for the classes.”

PIANISTS RATED FOR SOLOS

BY KATHERINE WHITE

jagwire.katherinewhite@gmail.com

Six students attended the KSHSAA piano regional competition on Saturday, Feb. 2. Four of the six received a one rating, earning a spot in the state competition.

The four students who were given a one rating were freshman Katie Lee, sophomores Laura Earlenbaugh and Eli Stewart and senior Keenan Ford. The other two students who attended were freshman Sara Hempleman and senior Brenna Iskra.

Stewart said that the competition was

a great opportunity.

“It’s a chance to show my peers and my teachers something I normally can’t express,” Stewart said. “It’s cool to show somebody a talent that they didn’t know you had.”

Only band and choir students were allowed to participate in the competition.

Choir teacher Sheree Stoppel said that the experience is beneficial to the two musical groups.

“If someone is an accomplished piano player, they’re going to be a better musician, which helps both the band and the choir,” Stoppel said.

State will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16.

WHAT’S UP

CLASS CUP POINTS* SENIORS

WOMEN IN COMBAT The Pentagon will lift the ban of women in frontline combat

BALTIMORE RAVENS Winning 34-31, the Ravens go home with the Super Bowl trophy

WHAT’S

34 JUNIORS

16 SOPHOMORES

28

NORTH KOREA Kim Jong-un has ordered officials to retaliate against UN sanctions on his country Photos from MCTCampus

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Jim Harbaugh loses in the sibling rivalry between coaches

FRESHMEN

22

*As of Tuesday, Feb. 5

SCHOOL FACES SECURITY’S

District discusses safety plans after Sandy Hook shooting

BY HANNA TORLINE

jagwire.hannatorline@gmail.com

BY KRISTINA MILEWSKI

jagwire.kristinamilewski@gmail.com

With the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary still generating a lot of debate, school districts across the country have been forced to shift their attention to the issue of school safety, and De Soto is no exception. While the district and school are taking steps to address security concerns, many students and teachers feel like more work needs to be done.

According to director of administrative services and community relations Alvie Cater, the district is working toward increasing the safety of the schools and focusing on improving intruder drills.

“We are increasing the frequency of intruder drills because training is important,” Cater said. “But each incident is different and you have to be prepared for a variety of things. What we’re trying to do is come up with the best practice. Then we have to know that our staff knows what to do and our students know what to do. It’s an ongoing process.”

Chairman of the Building Leadership Team Brian Rodkey also believes that practicing intruder drills more routinely would make students and teachers more confident with the procedure. The first intruder drill of this year occurred on Thursday, Feb. 7. While the school does practice an intruder drill once every year, last year’s drill practiced only the lockdown portion of the procedure. Students and teachers were only told to lock their doors as the drug dogs entered the building and were not required to practice hiding or other procedures for dealing with an intruder in the building.

Rodkey said intruder drills need to be increased and improved.

“We practice fire drills time and time again,” Rodkey said. “As soon as the fire alarm goes off you assume it’s a drill, not a fire. Then students don’t panic. It’s the same with an intruder drill. If there’s an

intruder and you know what you are supposed to do, your level of anxiety goes down.”

Freshman Shelby Badger is one of the 339 students in her grade who, prior to the drill on Thursday, had never gone through an intruder drill at the school, something she sees as a large potential problem.

“I have no idea what ... to do if there’s an intruder,” Badger said. “[A large group] of students don’t know what to do. It’s a little bit unsettling.”

Rodkey also believes that intruder drills should be updated and encompass more situations to better prepare students, such as explaining what to do if a student were in the hallway, bathroom, lunchroom or library.

“I think the current plan is great in the first steps,” Rodkey said. “[But] I think that [the] last part of the plan is outdated … We should [also] be able to come up with a reasonable plan of what to do in an ‘everyday life’ scenario. Whether there’s a plan in place or not, it hasn’t been communicated to a level where every person in the building knows how to respond ... You would like to go your whole career never having an intruder in the building. But it’s hard to later think that it could have been stopped if we had prepared and communicated better.”

After hearing these concerns, Principal Tobie Waldeck ensured that changes will be made to the intruder procedure.

“What is going to be done to take certain [concerns] into account is we will increase the frequency of intruder drills and the first one next year is going to be done in August,” Waldeck said. “Also, I think having an intruder drill during lunch is a good idea … We realize the importance of this. The district is committed to school safety, as are we.”

Also part of the process for analyzing security, members of the Building Crisis Team have met to examine the safety procedures. The school’s team has met twice since Sandy Hook, and consists of teachers and administrators, including school psychologist Debbie Gudenkauf.

“There’s no way you can ever be prepared for every single scenario,” Guden-

NEW REALITY

kauf said. “You have to make sure the bones of the plan are solid but fluid enough to adjust to different situations.”

Waldeck has been involved in both meetings and believes the school is working toward its goals.

“Our goals are to provide as much normalcy in the building as possible and to keep kids safe,” Waldeck said. “Returning to normalcy promotes calmness and consistency, and it prevents panic. We don’t want a knee-jerk reaction. We want to think through methodically how we are going to handle various situations.”

While many teachers and students are pleased the team is meeting to discuss further safety options, some have concerns they believe should be addressed, including classroom doors that can only be locked from the hallway as opposed to from the inside of the room. Math teacher Kristen Chavez is one of many teachers who have these locks. Until the problem is resolved, Chavez has decided to keep her door locked at all times.

“If we were to have an intruder, I’d have to open the door to lock it,” Chavez said. “I [feel] that doing so would put the students at risk. [Because I lock my door, it is] kind of a pain to get up every time, but it really isn’t that big of a deal.”

Waldeck believes that the team will look into the locks.

“I think they are working with police, the fire department, etc. to see exactly what can be done,” Waldeck said. “That is not an inconvenience that is strictly in this building, and it is a concern that has been communicated.”

There are also issues some teachers and students have regarding the crisis manuals that are supposed to be available to teachers in every room. The manuals were removed during first semester to be updated, but they have not yet been returned. The manuals were being updated with easy-to-understand language, but they are currently not finished.

While Cater sees the need for manuals to be distributed back to teachers, he believes they should be used before a crisis, not in the event of one.

“The [crisis manual] is designed to help prepare staff in advance,” Cater said.

“In the event of a crisis, clear communication is going to be the best thing …

[The changes are] definitely in response to what happened in Newtown. The tragedy in Newtown is a shift in the paradigm. It’s going to be part of the national conversation and this is just an extension of that.”

Senior Alyx Stephenson is also concerned about the lack of communication between teachers and administration.

“In general I feel safe at our school,” Stephenson said. “But I think we could do better at educating everyone on the plan of action in case of an emergency.

Teachers are supposed to be the ones protecting the kids and if the teachers don’t know what to do, they’re putting students’ lives at risk.”

Librarian Andy Shelly has had to deal with a school crisis before firsthand. The middle school DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE Shelly taught at as a math SERVICES AND COMMUNITY teacher in the early 1990s RELATIONS ALVIE CATER in Kansas City, Kan. experienced a school shooting.

A student walked into the lunchroom and fired shots, injuring two students.

“If you think about the number of schools in the country and how many incidents have happened at those schools in the last 50 years, I don’t think anybody imagines that could happen at their school,” Shelly said. “But you have to try to prepare yourself for the worst possible scenario. I didn’t think it could happen where I was at and I don’t think it could happen here. But you have to prepare for the worst.”

Waldeck realizes that the current problems with communication need to be solved and is willing to work toward finding solutions.

“As a principal, the last thing I want is for the staff and students to be confused or not feel safe,” Waldeck said.

“Absolutely there are things we could improve. [Sandy Hook] has opened a lot of eyes. We do take it seriously and we are willing to make corrections … I love my staff and I love my students and I want to For further coverage: take care of them.” http://www.mvnews.org

“The tragedy in Newtown is a shift in the paradigm.”

NEWS 3

NUMBER OF SHORTENED-DAY SENIORS INCREASES

Seniors with shortened days increases from previous years

BY RYAN FULLERTON

jagwire.ryanfullerton@gmail.com

The number of seniors who have gone to a shortened day schedule during second semester has increased for the third year in a row.

When seniors were first allowed to have a shortened day in the 2010-2011 school year, 15 out of 251 seniors had a shortened day schedule. In the 20112012 school year, that number increased to 47 seniors out of 224, and this year the number has risen to 77 out of 270 seniors.

This amounts to about 6 percent of the senior class in the first year, 21 percent of the senior class in the second year and 29 percent of the senior class this year.

Students who wish to have a shortened day must have passing grades and no disciplinary issues. They must fill out an application, complete with a parent signature that then needs to be approved by school and district administration. Any student participating in events sponsored by KSHSAA must be enrolled in five classes, excluding seminar and teacher’s aide, and the classes they are taking on a given day must be consecutive. Counselor Patricia Chandler said most students come to school in the morning and then leave for the

afternoon. The shortened day option is only available for seniors during second semester.

Chandler said the two biggest reasons students are going to a shortened day schedule are for work and for taking classes at Johnson County Community College.

“We were seeing that seniors didn’t have a lot of choices of electives they could take,” Chandler said. “We also had students who were excelling in their jobs outside of school. I’ve had students get promoted to management positions after going to a shortened day.”

Chandler said another cause for the increase in students who are working instead of attending school full time is that some students are wanting to save money for college.

“I could see the economy being a part of it,” Chandler said. “College is expensive, and I can see trying to get ahead as being a part of it.”

Senior Autumn Rodriguez is one of those students, and works at Chili’s and as a nanny for her nephew. She attends school on Blue days, except for seminar. “[I went to a shortened day] just so I could work more because I have to start saving money for college,” Rodriguez said. “Also, some of my classes for second semester were kind of pointless. I kind of thought about [missing out on things] at first but I’m kind of in-theknow because of social media.”

Rodriguez appreciates the extra rest

SHORTENED SCHEDULE

A glimpse of what shortened-day senior Grant Schrepfer’s schedule looks like

Blue days First block: Schrepfer goes to English 12 with English teacher Adam Wessel from 7:50 - 9:13 a.m.

Rest of the day: Schrepfer works at Pizza West for seven or more hours

Silver days

and free time she receives because of her shortened day.

“The pros are I get to get more rested [for my] two jobs now and I get to see my nephew more,” Rodriguez said.

Senior Grant Schrepfer also has a shortened day so he can spend more time working at Pizza West. He is present at school for the first three blocks on Blue days and for first block on Silver days.

“I still get to come to school and see my friends but you also get to relax and study more,” Schrepfer said. “[The cons are] you don’t get to be at school all day to see your friends and you miss out on some of the things that are going on.”

Rather than having a shortened day, senior Alex Reeves chose to use the Quick Step offered by the school program offered at the school to take Economics II at Johnson County Community College.

“I’m still in after school activities, so going part time would prevent me from doing [them],” Reeves said.

Chandler wants students who are considering having a shortened day to think carefully about their decision.

“As seniors consider going to a shortened day, really consider that it’s your senior year and what you might be missing out on,” Chandler said. “You can only be a senior once, but you can always work and you can always take a class at Johnson County [Community College].”

A comparison between this year’s shortened-day students and the past two years shows an increase of shortened-day students over time

ABOVE: Senior Autumn Rodriguez makes the most of the time she has with her nephew on Friday, Feb. 1. “Ten years from now I’m going to look at these times and want them back,” Rodriguez said. Photo by Devynn Harris

Shortened-day seniors

29% 21%

71%

Number of shortened-day seniors from 2012-2013

First block: Schrepfer goes to Zoology with science teacher Eric Thomas from 7:50 9:13 a.m.

Second block: Schrepfer goes to Political Participation with social studies teacher Chris Dunback from 9:20 - 10:43 a.m.

Third block: Schrepfer goes to Algebra II with math teacher John McFall from 10:50 - 12:38 p.m.

Rest of the day: Schrepfer works at Pizza West for seven or more hours

4 NEWS

Full-time seniors

ANDREA M. SPRUYT, O.D. JEFFRY D. GERSON, O.D., F.A.A.O. 16202 MIDLAND DRIVE SHAWNEE, KS 66217

PHONE: 913.962.2010 FAX: 913.962.2013

WWW.WESTGLENEYECARE.COM

79% Number of shortened-day seniors from 2011-2012

6%

94%

Number of shortened-day seniors from 2010-2011

Nails Mirage Woodsonia Shopping Center 5432 Roberts St. (913) 908-6009 Mon-Sat: 9:30 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Sun: 12:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. $2 OFF ANY PIZZA, ANY SIZE LOOK FOR THE BLUE AWNING

422-9100 SM PKWY & MONTICELLO

BY STARBUCKS

City of Shawnee: Summer Lifeguards and Swim Instructors Wanted!

Be a part of the fun in the sun at our state-of-the-art aquatic facilities this Summer season!

The City of Shawnee is currently seeking enthusiastic and dependable workers to fill Lifeguard and Swim Instructor positions at both pools.

First year Swim Instructors earn $9.75 and Lifeguards earn $8.75 with ability to work through Labor Day. Applicants must be 16 years of age older with strong swimming skills. American Red Cross Waterpark lifeguard certification is required for Lifeguard position’s. Lifeguard classes are currently available through the Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information on class cost and dates call (913) 631-5200 or applications are available on-line at www.cityofshawnee.org and at Shawnee City Hall, 11110 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 66203.

Contact Sean Keenan, Recreation Specialist, at (913) 742-6404 or skeenan@cityofshawnee.org for further information. Positions are open until filled. All positions require pre-employment drug screen.

ADS 5

STEP INTO SOUND Three juniors make dubstep music and DJ in free time

BY KATHERINE WHITE

jagwire.katherinewhite@gmail.com

DOMINANT: On Monday, Jan. 28, juniors Brian Schath and Matt Kavanaugh work on mixing songs and creating music. “Brian and I practice about one to three times a week,” Kavanaugh said.

ABOVE: Schath uses turntables to create different ways of mixing their music on Monday, Feb. 4.

RIGHT: Kavanaugh mixes songs on his computer using the programs Ableton and Frooty Loops Studio. Photos

by Riley McDonald

6 FEATURE

For juniors Brian Schath, Matthew Kavanaugh and Greg Darnell, electronic music isn’t just for listening to. These three students work individually and together to make dubstep music, a genre that Schath defines as a “series of electronic sounds like synthesizers and drum beats arranged in ways that sound good together.”

The three started creating their own songs due to their love of the genre.

“One of my friends showed me in freshman year ‘Ripple VIP’ by Liquid Stranger and I was just hooked on it immediately,” Schath said. “I listened to a lot of it and I have a nice computer so I thought, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ It was hard at first but then I got used to it.”

After Schath started working on his own songs, he shared his hobby with his friends. “[Schath] showed me a song and I immediately fell in love with it,” Darnell said. “I thought, I have to hear more of this and find out how to make it.”

To create their songs, they use computer programs Ableton and Frooty Loops Studio. The programs allow them to insert beats and tracks, or make their own, combining them into a song.

“Everyone thinks it’s easy [to make] but it’s very complex,” Schath said. “I play guitar and if I have [a tune] in my head and want to figure it out I can just play it. But with [dubstep] you can’t really do that. It takes you on a ride.”

Darnell also enjoys the differences between making dubstep and other types of music. “[My favorite part is] the creativity aspect,” Darnell said. “You’re never wrong, really, it’s all up to you. You shouldn’t worry whether or not people will like it or not, just do what you want. That’s my favorite part, there’s no set guidelines.”

Kavanaugh finds the best part of making dubstep to be creating something he loves.

“Overall it’s really fun because that’s something that me as a fan of music can enjoy,” Kavanaugh said. “I’ve been into music since I was little, and me and [Darnell] and [Schath] are all big fans of music.”

Darnell and Kavanaugh share their love of music by working on songs together.

“You have to start from scratch when you write a song, so [Darnell and I] would split parts of the song. He would write a part and I would write a beat and we would put it together,” Kavanaugh said.

In addition to working with Darnell on dubstep songs, Kavanaugh also DJs with Schath. While they are still amateur DJs, they have an offer to DJ at a birthday party at a convention center coming up soon.

“We get a folder of a whole bunch of songs that we think will look good together and we will mix the songs,” Kavanaugh said. “We don’t really manipulate the songs, we just lead it up and switch into a different song.”

While Schath said that making dubstep and DJing are only just hobbies for him right now and that he doesn’t plan on making it a career, it is clear that he will continue to love the music in the future. “[Dubstep] is new,” Schath said.

“Back in the ‘70s, they had rock and roll and parents were like, ‘What is this devil’s music?’ Now we have dubstep and it’s the same situation. It’s a new wave of music for this generation.”

83%

7:13 PM

Playlists

DARNELL & SCHATH

Edit

Clear

Now Playing

Delete

Playlist of dubstep remixes by juniors Greg Darnell and Brian Schath

Shuffle Ghost in the Shell November 2012 - Greg Darnell

Messin’ with Massive October 2012 - Greg Darnell

Live Mix 1 January 2013 - Brian Schath

Snap Backs and Tattoos Remix January 2013 - Driicky Graham Feat. Greg Darnell

Scan with a QR app on your smartphone to hear the dubstep mixes at mvnews.org

FREE

PUBLIC SKATE ($7 value)

Saturdays 12 to 2 p.m.* Sundays 1 to 3 p.m.*

19900 Johnson Drive 913.441.3033 kcicecenter.com *Public skate times subject to change without notice

“...TAKE EVERY DAY AS IT COMES”

BY CONNOR OSWALD

jagwire.connoroswald@gmail.com

Freshman Julian Teopaco and his mother, Serena, discuss living life after Serena experienced a paralyzing car crash How would you describe your mother’s condition?

What did you have to give up when your mother became paralyzed?

What do you miss most about your mother before she became paralyzed?

Julian: I mean she is paralyzed. I always describe it as she doesn’t have much or any function below her shoulders; she has a little bit [of function] in her arms and she can’t use her hands that much.

She is also in a wheelchair.

J: We had to move here, but that wasn’t as big of a change, we just moved across the highway. We also can’t go out as much, we gave up mobility.

J: I kind of miss just going out and traveling. It was like we would have a threeday weekend and just get up and go, and [my mom] would have us all packed and out the door and we would be gone for the weekend. So I kind of miss that, just [being able] to get up and go. She also can’t do much with school, not that she can’t help me with my homework, but she can’t be an active participant. Like if we go on a field trip, she cannot decide to go anymore. That is something I kind of miss. I miss that fact that she [used] to always be able to be there, even if we were sick, she would be there. So just like her being there and being able to do stuff with her, [is something I miss].

Serena: I say I’m tetraplegic; the difference is that when you’re paraplegic, that means you do not have any control of two of your limbs, and if you are quadriplegic you do not have control over your four limbs. However I have a certain amount of control [over my limbs].

I have my shoulders, [but] I don’t have every muscle in my shoulders. And I have biceps and a certain amount of wrists. I have minimal triceps and I don’t have my hands at all. So it is tetraplegic because it doesn’t mean you can’t use all four limbs, but you cannot use them the same as everybody else.

How did you become paralyzed?

S: A girl ran a stop sign. It was a two-way stop, so she had a stop sign and I didn’t.

I was going somewhere around 55 miles per hour, which was the speed limit, and she was going around 65 miles per hour, which was her speed limit. And then she T-boned me. She was in an SUV and I was in a small car.

How did you feel when you found out your mother was in a car accident?

J: I was crying, there was a lot of pain. I was asking, “Is she going to die?” We did not know a lot of the details [immediately after her car accident]. I mean, she was in extensive surgery. But first, I just wanted to know if she was going to die.

What would you like other people to take out of your family’s experience?

J: Besides what I have learned, I would love other people to appreciate what they have. It is kind of a sad point, but you guys don’t appreciate what you have.

Sometimes I just have to take time out of my day to think about what I am thankful for.

What has the experience of your mother becoming paralyzed taught you?

J: Well I had never appreciated cars, but now I am getting a little more appreciation for their abilities. And how without a seat belt [my mother] would have lost her life. I have started to appreciate the car a little more, I’ve learned not to text on the road. Then I have also learned to live. I know everyone lives, but [I have learned how] to live in the moment.

Other than the physical aspects, how has your mother changed since she became paralyzed?

J: I don’t know if she is more reserved, but she is more quiet. She does not really speak her mind as much. But she is there more often; she is [at home] more often than not. [Before becoming paralyzed] she used to be gone like 12 hours of the day, so we wouldn’t see her. We would only see her late at night or early in the morning.

How has your view of your mom changed after she became paralyzed?

J: Well I think it is weird saying you are proud of your mom but I was proud [of her] because she was so positive right after [the accident] and I did not expect that. She is very strong, and patient. She is just kind, strong and optimistic, even if she may not think that. People ask me if she is depressed but I can’t really say yes.

I mean there are ups and downs, but she is not depressed because [she] has a good laugh once in a while.

How hard is it to deal with your mom being paralyzed?

J: It is just the way of life, it is not hard to deal with. I just take every day as it comes, it is not really easy, but I don’t really think about it much. I don’t walk home from school and be upset because my mom can’t walk. There are occasions where I will forget and I will have

ABOVE: Freshman Julian Teopaco sits with his mother Serena Teopaco and discusses the struggles of her being paralyzed.

“I don’t think I actually cried the first time I saw my mother,” Teopaco said. “I was just so happy I could finally see her.”

LEFT: Serena Teopaco shares her experiences being tetraplegic, the result of a car accident.

Photos by Devynn Harris

a dream where my mom is walking and then I’ll wake up and [know she can’t].

But it’s nothing new. It is just, you know, a day-to-day thing.

How has you mom becoming paralyzed affected your life?

J: I have just learned to live in the moment and to take each day as it comes.

It is a learning experience, but I don’t mind the changes that have happened. I would love if we could not have everyone come in and put her into bed, and that she could come and tuck us in. It is hard because when I’m sick she can’t be near me, she could get pneumonia and [she] would die. So when I’m sick, she is not there. It is the simple things that moms are known for that you get used to [not having], but still miss. So the biggest change is just daily life. It has also affected our family. After the accident, we became a lot closer. But I wouldn’t recommend getting in an accident just to get your family closer together. No one at school notices that I’m different. Maybe I don’t talk to as many people or I’m not as social during certain periods. But it just makes you think more, and it makes you appreciate more.

THE TIME TO

RECOVER Facts behind Serena Teopaco’s accident

Car crash was enough to paralyze Senera Teopaco

3

Years have passed since the accident occurred

10

Months in rehab before she could go home

FEATURE 7

HELPING HANDS

RIGHT: Refilling the milk pitcher, senior Tyler Dubas works at the Country Club Cafe on Thursday, Jan. 31. Dubas works there a few days per week as part of the Job Exploration Program.

Junior Clare Young, left, helps Dubas as part of the Friends in Learning program. Photo by Kelsey Floyd BELOW RIGHT: Freshman Caroline Miller restocks the lunchroom refrigerator on Friday, Jan. 25.

Miller is one of three students participating in the Job Exploration Program. “[It] teaches students to be more independent,” Job Exploration Program coordinator Rachl Rada said.

“The key of job shadowing is independence.” Photo by Ashley Kitchen

Q&A with Country Club Cafe owner Renee Rogers How does senior Tyler Dubas benefit the business?

He helps because he comes in and he cleans tables and he does dishes. He cleans bathrooms and he takes out trash if we need him to. It benefits us because when we are busy, I have an extra pair of hands.

LEARNING THE TRADE

In what ways have you noticed his skills improving?

Job shadowing opportunites offer valuable experiences

BY CONNOR OSWALD

jagwire.connoroswald@gmail.com

BY ANNIE CROUCH

jagwire.anniecrouch@gmail.com

Students enrolled in the Job Exploration Program have been working throughout the community to help build employment skills to help aid them after high school.

There are currently three students in the Job Exploration Program. In the program, the students help perform jobs, either in the school or local business, such as stamping logos on pizza boxes and restocking the cafeteria.

There are a few prerequisites a student must have before they are given the ability to take part in the program. The student must be either a junior or senior, and must have already displayed proficiency in the skills that their potential job requires.

Job Exploration Program coordinator Rachl Rada feels that the main goal behind the program is to guide the students to “be as independent as possible.”

While the Job Exploration program benefits the students enrolled in it, the paraprofessionals helping the students also feel accomplished.

“It’s a huge reward to us, it’s hard to explain. You can start the job shadowing and it is cool to see them learn and eventually be able to do it by themselves,”

8 FEATURE

paraprofessional Cindy Forster said.

In addition to the paraprofessionals, the students in the Friends in Learning class also go out and work with the students in the Job Exploration program.

Friends in Learning junior Clare Young said the class gives the students someone to connect with.

“It benefits the kids because it gives them a peer that is their age that they can come to, talk to and relate to,” Young said.

In addition to the Friends in Learning class benefiting the Job Exploration students, Young feels the class teaches her something also.

“...and it is cool to see them learn and eventually be able to do it by themselves.”

PARAPROFESSIONAL CINDY FORSTER “It makes you appreciate the work the paras do,” Young said. “It gives you a better relationship and experience with the students.”

The over-arching goal of the Job Exploration Program is that by the time students graduate, Rada hopes that they have as many options as possible.

“We want them to have as many opportunities that a regular graduating high school student would [have],” Rada said.

“It just has to be modified.”

In the beginning, he did just a couple different tasks and now he has a lot more. We used to watch him a lot more when he was first starting out ... [now] he doesn’t have to go back and redo as much as he used to.

Will he continue to work here after high school?

If he goes to the Access House.

The Access House is where students go after their senior year until they are 21 years old. The kids come in here a couple days a week and do the same kind of things he is doing.

What is your opinion on programs like the Access House and the Job Exploration program?

I think they’re wonderful. You know, it teaches the kids to be independent. And as a society, I think we need that instead of just giving handouts and saying, “Here, I know you can do stuff, but I don’t have the time to teach you so I’m just going to give you money.” Who wants to do that?

They need to learn to do things so they can realize their full potential.

Shawnee Chiropractic and Accupuncture 21620 Midland Drive Suite B (east of Earl May off Shawnee Mission Parkway)

Dr. Kimberly Flaming D.C. Dr. Alisa Joyce D.C. Dr. Karl Wilen D.C.

13034 Kansas Ave Bonner Springs On K-7 Highway

(913) 422-1900 shawneechiropractic@yahoo.com

Carry Out Call: (913) 441-6484 Fax Order: (913) 441-8880

5436 Roberts Shawnee, KS Johnson Drive and K7 Phone: (913) 422-9010 Fax: (913) 422-9012

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Drive Thru - Carry Out - Pickup Order

“Pizza West is a dream come true for both of us ... to prepare excellent salads, pasta and pizza from family recipes, served by a great staff ... and do it consistently every day.”

So, eat, drink and enjoy!

-Dave and Cory Knubley

Fridays: Open til Midnight!

Night Owl Special: 15% OFF your ticket after 10pm.

*Dine-in Only: NVWOO or Gift Card Sales

Holidays are coming: Buy someone dinner. Buy a $25 Gift Card and get $5 in pizza bucks FREE!

Discover Dental Care, P.A. A.R. Castaneda D.D.S., M.A.G.D 21626 Midland Drive Shawnee, KS 66218 (913) 268-1337 www.discoverdentalcare.com

Free whitening upper arch with new patient exam, X rays and cleaning ($199 value) ADS 9

BREAKTHE

BINGE WITH A SCHOOL-WIDE SURVEY REVEALING THE TREND OF BINGE DRINKING AMONG STUDENTS, THE JAGWIRE STAFF TOOK A LOOK AT THE CONSEQUENCES IN HOPES OF CURBING THE TREND

BY MACKENZIE ECKMAN

jagwire.mackenzieeckman@gmail.com

BY ALANA FLINN

jagwire.alanaflinn@gmail.com

BY RYAN FULLERTON

jagwire.ryanfullerton@gmail.com

From legal troubles to broken relationships, students share how binge drinking has negatively affected their lives.

I AM RECOVERING When a student who wishes to remain anonymous began binge drinking in seventh grade, having a good time quickly developed into major abuse.

“By the end of the year, my grades slipped, I had no trust with my parents and my relationship with my brother was lost,” he said. “By winter of sophomore year I had my first [Minor in Possession].”

A week into spring break of his sophomore year, he held a party at his house while his mom was out of town. Two days after being put on diversion for his first MIP, he received another MIP and received a charge for hosting a juvenile alcohol party. His was among 16 other MIPs handed out that night.

Since the incident, he has entered an intensive probation program to recover from his alcohol abuse. After two years of required counseling and 20 hours of community service, he will have his record expunged and all of the charges brought against him dropped.

“After that night I realized that I definitely had a problem,” he said. “I was out of control.”

This teen is among half of all U.S. teens who, if they drink before age 14, will develop an addiction to alcohol, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Through the recovery program, he has discovered how to cope with the triggers of his abuse.

“My main reason for using alcohol was pretty much to manage my emotions,” he said. “Now that I’ve gone through treatment, I have the tools and the skills to cope without using the drugs. As of Feb. 4, I am 68 days sober.”

His mother agreed that his sobriety could not have come at a better time.

“The most positive changes I have seen are the motivation to do things right, the light back in his eyes,” she said. “[I] have enjoyed seeing the person he has always had inside reemerge.”

I LOST A FRIEND

BY CALLEE LINTON

jagwire.calleelinton@gmail.com

BY JACK LOPEZ

jagwire.jacklopez@gmail.com

BY AMBER NGUYEN

jagwire.ambernguyen@gmail.com

Photo illustration by Kristina Milewski Illustrations by Riley McDonald

10 FEATURE

F

Even though she doesn’t drink, Sarah Thomas has felt the effects alcohol can have first-hand.

“I had this friend that I used to hang out with all the time,” Thomas said. “I knew she drank, but she never did it around

me because she knew I didn’t like it.”

Thomas and her friend were on their way to an event when Thomas found out that her friend had been drinking when they got to their destination.

“I was driving and she was in the backseat,” Thomas said. “When we got where we were going, she was stumbling and asked if I would go with her to the bathroom. I thought she had been acting funny. I just kept wondering, ‘Did she drink? She couldn’t have; I was with her the whole time.’ I just kept denying it.”

Thomas’ friend passed out on the bathroom floor and Thomas didn’t know what to do.

“It was so scary,” Thomas said. “The fact that I’d never seen her drink and there she was, passed out in front of me ... I had no idea what I was supposed

“It just seems stupid.

There are better things you could be doing.”

SENIOR SARAH THOMAS to do, so I found someone and told them.

They called an ambulance but she ended up going home with her dad.”

Thomas’ friend’s drinking hadn’t ever affected Thomas before.

“She knew how to control it, but this time she went overboard,” Thomas said.

“Of course, the time she went overboard, she was with me.”

Their friendship ended that night.

“She said she was sorry over and over but I just ignored her,” Thomas said. “I wish I would have confronted her about it. I wish I would have blown up and yelled at her. Maybe if I had, it would have gotten through to her and saved our friendship.”

Through her experiences, Thomas believes drinking in high school isn’t worth it.

“Seeing what happened to her and losing her as a friend just reinforces what I already knew: I won’t drink in high school,” Thomas said. “I lost my best friend. It just seems stupid. There

STUDENTS WHO SAID THEY DRINK REGULARLY:

are better things you could be doing.”

I BINGE DRINK

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in every five high school girls binge drinks. For one student who wished to remain anonymous, binge drinking is just another trend she has caught on to, as well as a habit she has learned from watching her parents.

“Seeing my dad drinking the way he does makes me want to stop but I can’t,” she said. “He is another reason I started drinking. I think it strongly influences kids when they see their parents drink.”

While teenage drinking is bad, the extremes of all the consequences are not fully recognized by most teens. Drinking can damage the body but it can also damage relationships with friends and family.

For this student the relationship with her mom has slowly disintegrated.

“I had a few friends over one night and we decided to get some alcohol and drink in my basement. I had the person bring it over to my house and we thought we had successfully snuck it inside and drank it before my mom could catch us,” the student said. “The next morning my mom had told me she knew I had been drinking that night. I tried to lie but she told me she had seen me sneak it in the house.”

For that student, now it is harder to connect with her parents and there is a lack of trust between them.

However, she said that she chooses to ignore the negatives of drinking for the fun of it.

“I still drink,” she said. “It’s fun and my friends and I like how it makes us feel. We basically just don’t care about anything when we are drinking. I don’t really think about the consequences of drinking. Sometimes I do afterwards, but by then it’s too late.”

Unfortunately, the student recognizes that the only way she’d stop drinking is if she became in trouble with the law.

“I would probably stop because after getting in trouble once,” she said. “The consequences would escalate and it’s just not worth it.”

100

90

90

80

80

70

70

60

60

50

50

40

40

26.05%

20 10 0

6.57% 9

22.22%

11.31% 10

Grade

WEIGHT GAIN

CANCER

LIVER

HEART

ALCOHOL POISONING

IMMUNE SYSTEM

According to studies, excessive consumption of alcohol over a short period of time results in the expansion of the stomach cavity which, in turn, results in abdominal weight gain.

This explains your uncle’s flattering beer belly.

Too much alcohol consumption over a long period of time can result in different forms of cancer in both males and females, such as cancer of the mouth, cancer of the esophagus, throat cancer, liver cancer and breast cancer.

Drinking heavily affects the liver the most of any organ over time. Some of the problems include steatosis (fatty liver), alcohol hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Drinking heavily at a young age greatly increases the risk for these diseases.

Too much alcohol consumed on a single occaision or over time can damage the heart, triggering problems like high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of the heart).

Alcohol poisoning is essentially an overdose of alcohol in the blood stream, resulting in the victim being confused, unresponsive, having shallow breathing and entering an alcohol-induced coma, sometimes resulting in death.

Binge drinking makes the drinker’s body a perfect target for disease by weakening the immune system, even 24 hours after being drunk.

People who drink often have a higher risk of contracting diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Information from National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical News Today and Kids Health

BINGE DRINKING’S EFFECT ON YOUR BRAIN Ways binge drinking affects different parts of the brain PARIETAL LOBE

-Shaking -Impairment of motor skills -Decreased reaction time

CEREBRAL CORTEX

20

0

9

10

Grade

11

12

-Decrease in judgment -Inappropriate or erratic behavior -Shrinkage over time

“BUT I’LL GET KICKED OFF THE TEAM” Next time someone tries offering you alcohol, try one of these more realistic excuses (Insert type of drink here) makes my stomach hurt

LIMBIC SYSTEM

MEDULLA

-Sleepiness -Unconsciousness -Death

-Memory loss -Emotional fluctuation

Information from National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, The Scientific American and Blood Alcohol Information

Juniors:

HOW SERIOUSLY DO YOU TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRINKING ALCOHOL?

None (92%)

None (64%)

1-3 (2%)

1-3 (20%)

Not at all (16%)

4-6 (1%)

4-6 (5%)

Somewhat (23%)

7+ (5%)

7+ (11%)

Seriously (25%)

Sophomores:

30

FRONTAL LOBE

-Contributes to the shrinkage of vital brain areas -General decrease in brain volume

Freshmen:

10

11 12 Survey of 748 students

A look at various ways in which binge drinking acts as a hazard to your health

NUMBER OF TIMES STUDENTS HAVE *BINGED IN THE PAST MONTH:

100

30

RISK FACTORS

Seniors:

None (85%)

None (44%)

1-3 (9%)

1-3 (28%)

4-6 (2%)

4-6 (10%)

7+ (4%)

7+ (18%)

*Binge drinking is defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as the consumption of 4-5 alcoholic drinks within a span of two hours Survey of 854 students

Very seriously (36%)

I’m the designated driver No, my parents will be waiting up to talk to me when I get home Eh, I’m not a big fan of (insert type of drink here) I have to wake up early for work tomorrow

Survey of 806 students

HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY AN ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATH/ACCIDENT? Yes (16%)

I can’t drink with the medicine I’m on now Take the drink, walk away and then set it down

No (84%)

Survey of 934 students

FEATURE 11

SPEAK OUT How safe do you feel in the school building?

SCHOOL SECURITY COULD IMPROVE JagWire staff gives suggestions to help increase school security

BY JAGWIRE STAFF

jagwirenewspaper@gmail.com

“I feel safe. I don’t think we’ve had anything happen to make me think otherwise.”

FRESHMAN JACK BOOTH

“I feel very safe because we live in a good area and we have a good [school resource] officer.”

SOPHOMORE NATALIE CALDWELL

As school shootings appear more often in the news, our own school’s safety comes into question. While it is impossible to be 100 percent safe, there are actions that both the administration and students can take to make our school more secure.

If you see an adult walking around in the school who you don’t recognize and isn’t wearing a staff I.D. or visitor badge, let a faculty member know. It may seem silly, but it’s one of the easiest things you can do to make our school safer.

Another action that can be taken to make our school safer is to discuss intruder plans more often. Most classes have gone over where the fire exits are, and most teachers make sure to let you know of the expectations of their class. However, some students are still confused about what to do during an intruder situation. Some teachers say hide, some say fight the intruder and some don’t discuss it at all. Making the policy clearer would be helpful to students and staff, and that’s up to administration to clarify. In addition, students can do their part by taking intruder drills seriously.

STAFF VOTE

AGREE

Cartoon by Riley McDonald

A recommendation to improve the school’s safety is to upgrade the old locks in the building. Locks on certain classroom doors must be opened before they can be locked, which is not an ideal situation when it comes to intruders. We hope the district will find the funds necessary to fix them.

What you shouldn’t do is make threats, not even as a joke. Whether it’s a Facebook status, a hit list, or writing on a bathroom

22

DISAGREE

0

stall, threats aren’t going to seem funny to the person they are aimed at or heard by.

Don’t take a threat as a joke either, and don’t encourage others to make them. Joke or not, making threats has serious consequences.

While the school is already pretty safe, these are definitely steps that can be taken to make its security even better. The JagWire staff believes that, with some effort, we can improve the state of our school safety.

ABSENT

0

SCHOOLS SHOULD CONSIDER NEEDS “I feel like the school does a

very good job taking extra precautions to make it safe. ” JUNIOR KATIE LINSEY

Grants should benefit schools that have the greatest need

BY HANNA TORLINE

jagwire.hannatorline@gmail.com

“I feel moderately safe. I can’t trust everyone. Sandy Hook was in a good area and look at what happened there. ” SENIOR SONYA NJOROGE

12 OPINION

Over the past two years, our school has been bombarded with pleas to vote for one of the district elementary schools in a technology grant of some kind. Last year, Mize Elementary won a $50,000 grant for technology through the Pepsi Refresh Project, and Prairie Ridge recently won $25,000 in a Clorox voting contest, also to be used for technology. Most students at our school would attest to the fact that these schools campaigned heavily for the voting, trying everything from making YouTube

videos, to handing out treats to students, to coming up with creative slogans (iMize technology), to airing ads on MVTV. But after voting multiple times for both Mize and Prairie Ridge, I began to wonder what the money would be used for. Yes, I want to fully support the schools in our district.

But our district doesn’t seem to be struggling.

In fact, it just spent $1.3 million to purchase 1,274 new computers, some of which benefitted the district elementary schools. Yet the elementary schools made it seem as if both grants were necessary to their improvement.

Mize initially ran for both a Clorox grant and a Pepsi grant, hoping to purchase new computers for the school and buy Smart Boards, interactive white boards that teachers can control while still moving around the room. Prairie Ridge ran for another Clorox grant with the goal to “provide students access to Smart Boards, Tablets, iPads, Doc Cams, Skype and updated laptops,” according to the information on the Power a Bright Future website.

North Elementary, a school in Brighton, Colo., was also in the running for the Clorox grant against Prairie Ridge. The

school only has laptops for teachers, many of its students do not have access to computers at home, the library has no computers available to students and its TVs play only VHS tapes. Only 53 percent of the school’s students are proficient in reading, compared to 96.1 percent in our district.

Yet, despite the seemingly obvious differences in the needs of the two schools, Prairie Ridge won the voting contest for the Clorox grant. North Elementary only received money after being named the “Judge’s Pick.”

While it is important to make sure the schools in our district have the resources they need to be successful, we should also consider the wider picture. When one school wins a technology grant, another one loses.

If another school in the country has a greater need for the money, they should receive it.

The elementary schools shouldn’t be selfish and run for the grants unless they have a real need for the technology. Let’s face it, there are schools and districts in our country that need technology significantly more than we do. And while Smart Boards and iPads would be great, students in our district don’t need them to be successful.

IMPORTANCE OF SETTING GOALS Certain methods should be considered to keep goals

BY AMBER NGUYEN

jagwire.ambernguyen@gmail.com

As the New Year is brought in, many people make a resolution. However, most of these goals are short-lived. Many people will either simply forget they made the goal or will come up with excuses for

not following through with it later in the year. This problem arises from the fact that people simply do not know how to create and maintain a goal. Making, keeping and accomplishing goals is an easy task if you have experience and know what you are doing.

The first step in goal setting is choosing and making realistic ones. It might be easier to get carried away with making grandiose plans such as losing 10 pounds in two weeks but chances are your goal will fall through. I personally set a goal to start running a mile a week. This is achievable for me but still can create a change in my lifestyle.

The second step is to pressure yourself to complete the resolution. One way you can do this is by a setting a deadline

that encourages you to make daily strides towards your goal. I don’t necessarily run a mile in one day, but cut them up into short distances for each day.

The third step in goal setting is to have a positive and determined mindset.

Having confidence in your ability to achieve your resolutions makes motivating yourself easier. As I prepare to go running, I always tell myself that all this hard work and dedication will all pay off by summer.

While it may seem that your goal is impossible and you just can’t follow through with your resolution, don’t give up just yet. Soon, when you finally achieve your goal in the end, all the hard work, waiting and effort will be more than worth it.

ETIQUETTE FOR HALLWAY COUPLES Couples must make the halls more tolerable for others

BY ANNIE CROUCH

jagwire.anniecrouch@gmail.com

Every day more and more innocent students become disturbed, nauseated and annoyed due to witnessing couples and their public displays of affection. From blocking hallway traffic and lockers to

shoving their tongues down each others’ throats for the world to see, PDA is causing students to become agitated and ill.

When couples decide to have a makeout session in the middle of the hallway, they are not only being rude and inconsiderate to others around, but their nasty oral action is causing the innocent students traveling to become grossed out to the point that they vomit. Hunger is a problem in society and PDA is a contributing factor. When the poor students witness the couple “in action,” they become uneasy and upchuck the food they ate previously in the day, causing them to go hungry. You can keep people from suffering from hunger by saving the nasty make-out sessions for a private place.

Other problems that PDA is causing

for onlookers are bruises, broken bones and moodiness. Holding hands is tolerable if the pair is walking with the flow of traffic or out of the way of other students during passing periods. It becomes a problem when the couple is stopped in the middle of the hallway, wrapping their arms around each other, becoming a road block. If you are walking with the speed of traffic and all of a sudden you walk right into a solid human wall, you may end up with a broken nose or toe (depending on the force with which you hit the clustered couple), not only leaving you in pain, but angry for the rest of the day.

You can keep students safer in the halls and less temperamental by walking with the flow of traffic and making hugs short and out of the way.

JAGWIRE STAFF Editors-in-chief Austin Gillespie Kristina Milewski Hanna Torline Photo editor Kelsey Floyd Copy editor Sydney Wilson News editor Ryan Fullerton Feature editor Regan Jones Opinion editor Jack Lopez Sports editor Alana Flinn A&E/Social media manager Mackenzie Eckman Briefs editor Katherine White Web editors Alec Santaularia Miranda Snyder Ads manager Austin Gude

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

MEMBERS OF Kansas Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association Journalism Education Association The 2012 JagWire was named an AllAmerican newspaper by the NSPA and earned an All-Kansas rating from KSPA. The Mill Valley News website was named a Pacemaker finalist by the NSPA in 2012.

CENSORSHIP POLICY 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.

EDITORIAL POLICY We value your opinions. If you wish to submit a column or letter to the editor for the JagWire, you can do so by handing it in to a member of the staff or the print Staff journalism room (C101). Additionally, you Annie Crouch may email any member of the staff with Devynn Harris opinions, as well as tweet us at @millvalStephanie Hudleston leynews. Anonymous content will not be Ashley Kitchen accepted. Please understand that we have the right to edit all copy that runs in this Callee Linton publication.

Amber Nguyen Connor Oswald SOCIAL MEDIA Baylee Owen Twitter: @millvalleynews Facebook: Mill Valley News Artist Riley McDonald

ARMING TEACHERS DECREASES SCHOOL SECURITY Firearms in classrooms would create unsafe environment

BY JACK LOPEZ

jagwire.jacklopez@gmail.com

After the disaster at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the National Rifle Association released a series of statements urging schools around the country to train and arm not only guards to patrol the school, but teachers and staff in the

building as well. The idea is that arming teachers will make the school safer in the event of an intruder situation.

As we’ve heard, the best thing to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, right? What has not been given as much thought is how this precautionary measure could impact the classroom environment and, more importantly, it has not been looked into from a student’s standpoint.

If teachers are allowed to carry firearms, it will always be in the back of my mind. Quite frankly, the idea is discomforting.

What if the teacher gets a little too mad at an ornery student? What would happen if that teacher threatened to whip out their concealed weapon?

What if the teacher actually did draw the gun? Surely, the teacher’s contract would be terminated, but it could lead

to further lawsuits against the district and would reflect poorly on the district’s reputation. In a similar situation, what would happen if an emotionally unstable student acquired one of the firearms, either by overpowering the armed teacher or by taking it from wherever it is stored when the owner of the weapon is not paying attention or is not present? At that point there would be a crisis situation that could have easily been avoided.

Simply put, there are too many possibilities of backfire to put into effect a plan to train and arm school staff. Hundreds of staff members with lethal weapons is the stuff of nightmares for parents, students and administration alike. A perfectly capable School Resource Officer is enough to keep the learning environment as safe and secure as possible.

Cartoon by Riley McDonald

OPINION 13

RIVALRY RUNDOWN District rivalry continues despite uneven competition

BY HANNA TORLINE

jagwire.hannatorline@gmail.com

Often the most anticipated and wellattended basketball game of the year is against Bonner Springs High School, the Jaguars’ district rival. This season, the teams met at Bonner on Friday, Jan. 11, the Jaguar boys winning 64 - 42 and girls winning 47 - 21. The teams will meet again when the Jaguars play at home on Friday, Feb. 12.

Senior forward Stephanie Lichtenauer looks forward to the competitiveness of each game against the Braves.

“I think it is [a rivalry],” Lichtenauer said. “It is always a close game against Bonner and it’s always a great feeling when we come out with the [win].”

The Jaguars are leading the all-time contest against the Braves 20 - 8. Because of this seemingly one-sided margin, some students and players have questioned whether Bonner should still be considered the school’s rival.

“I think the rivalry is definitely not as even as some others,” senior forward Nathan Stacy said. “But the Bonner games

14 SPORTS

are still always really intense.”

Senior Blake Miles agrees that even if the scores are often skewed to favor the Jaguars, the students continue to have strong feelings about the outcomes of the games.

“I think the rivalry is fueled with very strong emotions from both sides,” Miles said. “I personally have dangerously passionate negative feelings towards Bonner, [but I] think the rivalry is good for competition.”

Stacy thinks that regardless of the level of competition, the two schools will continue to be rivals because the fans will continue to have an interest.

“People get really into the games and take it seriously,” Stacy said. “Even if it’s not close, it’s always a big deal to beat Bonner.”

Since head coach Justin Bogart was coaching at the school when it opened, he remembers when the Jaguars and Braves first began their rivalry.

“It really began when [the Braves] joined the Kaw Valley League and we played them two times a year in basketball,” Bogart said. “Also, just the natural location and proximity of the schools to each other made it a natural rivalry … and there are some differences between

the schools as well in terms of which areas the schools serve. There are some cultural issues at work there.”

Some of those issues were most prevalent when some Jaguar fans came to a game dressed in white trash bags in 2008, when former student Miranda Fields was a sophomore, in response to the Braves students dressing in preppy clothing the previous game.

“The rivalry was intense and playing Bonner was always a fun game to watch,” Fields said. “I don’t think the students that wore trash bags were trying to be malicious but [it seemed that way] to many adults and other students, [and] the joke was not taken lightly. At the time it didn’t bother me very much but I thought we should show more class.”

Bogart agrees with Fields’ perception of the rivalry.

“It enflamed the rivalry,” Bogart said.

“That’s probably when it took on its legend. Yes, [the trash bags were] probably in poor taste … [But at the same time] I think that it’s almost a myth that it has not been a good-natured rivalry. I’ve not seen animosity at an actual school-sponsored event. The schools have taken some jabs at each other but I’ve never seen it to be hostile.”

ABOVE LEFT: Sophomore Patrick Muldoon drives to score at the Bonner Springs High School game on Friday, Jan. 11. Photo by Miranda Snyder MIDDLE: The Jaguar - Brave rivalry continued on Friday, Jan. 11 as the Jaguars traveled to take on the Braves. “There is definitely a certain attitude in the air when we play Bonner,” senior McKenzie Koch said. Photo by Ashley Kitchen ABOVE RIGHT: Pushing toward the basket, senior forward Nathan Stacy attempts a layup against Bonner Springs on Friday, Jan. 11. Photo by Miranda Snyder

SEASON MATCHUP BOYS

as of Monday, Feb. 4

Mill Valley Bonner Overall record

12 - 2

7-8

GIRLS

Mill Valley Bonner Overall record

13 - 1

13 - 2

League record

League record

7-1

7-0

3-6

Average points per game

73.21

46.5

Points allowed per game

50.86

48.27

8-1

Average points per game

49.71

50

Points allowed per game

32.57

40.36

SPORTS STATS BOYS BASKETBALL RECORD: 11 - 2* PLACED FIRST AT COFFEYVILLE TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY, JAN. 19.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Photo illustration by Stephanie Huddleston and Alec Santaularia

SINGLE-SPORT ATHLETES INCREASE REBECK’S STATS Senior multi-sport athlete Staton Rebeck participates in numerous activities Practices 15 - 20 hours a week for sports Participates in football, basketball and baseball Is a member of both National Honor Society and Student Leadership Team Has earned three academic letters

Multi-sport student athletes becoming less common

BY ALANA FLINN

jagwire.alanaflinn@gmail.com

While junior Molly Oshinski grabs her volleyball and knee pads for a day at practice, senior Staton Rebeck stuffs two workout outfits and a yellow Gatorade in his duffle bag for football weights before school and basketball practice after school. Oshinski has chosen to specialize in volleyball while Rebeck has played as many as three sports in a school year.

Recently, coaches have begun to acknowledge that multi-sport players like Rebeck are becoming limited compared to specialized athletes like Oshinski.

Athletic director David Ewers said that the amount of specialized players has increased greatly over the past decade.

“Between 2002-2003 is when onesport players really picked up,” Ewers said. “Since then, it’s just increased tremendously.”

Head girls basketball coach John McFall said that in the last 10 - 15 years of coaching he has noticed a huge increase in the amount of specialized players.

“The specialization of athletes in high school is out of control and pushed by too many people that have their own agendas,” McFall said. “What happens is if [players] limit themselves to only [one sport], the first week of practice they [could] blow a knee then miss the entire season. They have passed up other opportunities to compete in high school sports and you only have one chance in life to be a high school athlete.”

Oshinski plays volleyball year-round as her sport of choice. She said if she was given the chance to play more sports she would, but time management is a huge factor.

“There’s no other time to play another sport,” Oshinski said. “I practice three times a week for nine months of the year and every day during high school season.”

Baseball coach and former high

Terri LaBarge, RDLD Nutrition Coach Services: -Nutrition Plans -Weight Loss Plans -Competition Preparation

“Get the accountability you need and the support of a registered dietition for your personalized action-oriented goals formulated just for you!”

For prices and more, visit: terrilabarge.com

school athlete Dustin Stinnett said that while the time management may be difficult, it is worth it to play numerous sports.

“I benefited from every sport I played,” Stinnett said. “If I had said ‘I’m going to play baseball and that’s it’ then I would have missed out on opportunities.

You’d miss out on the chance to see if you love a sport.”

Rebeck said that he has made sacrifices for being a multi-sport player, but the benefits are what matters.

“I miss out on hanging out with friends or staying up late,” Rebeck said.

“But I have a broader athletic ability and a lot of life skills like hard work, dedication and perseverance.”

Although she acknowledges she would consider playing another sport, Oshinski said the deciding factor was her passion for volleyball.

“I don’t think I could love another sport as much,” Oshinski said. “I can see myself doing it for a long time and it’s always been my one sport.”

Contact Information:

(913) 314 8502 Terri@terrilabarge.com terrilabarge.com

RECORD: 13 - 1* PLACED FIRST AT EL DORADO TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY, JAN. 26

WRESTLING NEXT MEET: LEAGUE TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY, FEB. 9 LOCATION: LANSING HIGH SCHOOL

BOYS BOWLING PLACED FIRST AS A TEAM AT LANSING MEET ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 PLACED FIRST AS A TEAM AT KC BOWL MEET ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30

GIRLS BOWLING PLACED THIRD AS A TEAM AT MEET IN LANSING ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 PLACED SECOND AS A TEAM AT KC BOWL MEET ON WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30

BOYS SWIMMING NUMBER OF STATE QUALIFIERS: 8* ILC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6 *as of Monday, Feb. 4

SPORTS 15

16 A&E of their lives.

The cast of “Buckwild” consists of childhood friends who grew up together and disregarded their adult responsibilities to have fun. Living in the country with a tight budget, the friends never seem to fail to find a way to make their day fun. Whether it’s turning a dump trunk into a swimming pool, making a potato shooter or just hanging out, nothing stops the great adventures they will go through.

Although they are all friends, relationships change and tension grows between them. Love and relationships come and go but in the end it only pulls the bonds of the family and friends closer.

While the cast sees nothing wrong with their lifestyle, viewers criticize everything they do. Some find the show very trashy and that it is portraying a bad lifestyle for their viewers by saying it’s acceptable to act the way they do.

Despite the negative criticisms the show received, I would recommend this show to anyone that likes comedy shows and likes to see different styles of living.

I would also recommend this show to anyone that is looking for new ways to have fun, even though the methods of fun may not be the safest, some would enjoy watching “Buckwild.”

Pat your stomach

Meat in a can Illustrations by Riley McDonald

SLAP YOUR PUPPY

Peanuts

GOOBERS

REDNECK CAVIAR

Hunting for frog meat

FROG GIG

Comfortable, cozy

SNUG AS A BUG

Baby doll

RAG-BABY

Brush up on your Western slang with a few of these terms

COUNTRY CHATTER

The new show “Buckwild” on MTV is a comedic reality series showing what life is like for young adults living in the one-stoplight town of Sissionville, W.Va. “Buckwild” involves a group of nine friends that spend most of their time tearing up their properties and getting drunk.

Similar to “Jersey Shore,” “Buckwild” shows the redneck version of partying and life. Also similar to “Jersey Shore,” the show has its own dialect they have coined.

Through their redneck adventures, the cast is only worried about coming up with new ways to entertain themselves rather than becoming adults and making something out

“Buckwild” acts as redneck counterpart to “Jersey Shore”

Photo from MTV

GOING BUCKWILD

Your sideways glance at all things Western

Photos from Country Outfitters, Sheplers and Sportsman’s Guide

Roper boots are distinguished by a shorter boot shaft and a shorter heel than classic cowboy boots

Fashion boots are worn mainly for looks and come in an array of different styles with lots of colors

From Wrangler to Carhartt, Shepler’s is the Western store for all ages from men and women to teens and kids. You will be shopping there for hours with popular brands like Timberland, Ariat and Stetson. If you want to check it out, go visit the store at 1100 W. 136th St. store number 16 or call for more information at 816-286-4203.

Country singer Randy Houser’s new album, How Country Feels, was released on Tuesday, Jan. 22. His album soon topped the Billboard Hot Country Song charts.

With truly outstanding songs writ-

Staff member reviews Randy Houser’s new album

Photo from Randy Houser

Rusty Spur Couture is not just any Western store like Nigro’s Western Store or Shepler’s. Rusty Spur Couture has Western boots, shirts and jeans, along with trendy bags, scarves and jewelry. If you’re looking for a store that will meet your Western and trendy needs, try Rusty Spur Couture at 610 W. 48th St. or call at 816-600-2723.

ten with passion, Houser reaches his full musical potential. Houser has incredible vocal versatility that he really shows in the album.

Over the course of his previous albums, he has shaken out the weak spots in his singing, strengthened his voice with practice and has been willing to explore his musicality.

While the album is topping the charts and hitting number one spots on the radio, a lot of techniques and ideas from other artists can be found in Houser’s music.

A few of Houser’s songs sound very similar to those of fellow country artists Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean.

Although this may be true, he adds his own style into the songs, makes them unique and gives country music a different touch, therefore making his music original.

I would recommend this album to any country music lover and anyone that likes Jason Aldean or Luke Bryan.

REVIEWING RANDY

Photos from Nigro’s Western Store, Sheplers and Rusty Spur

The most well-known and authentic Western store throughout the Midwest is Nigro’s Western Store.

Nigro’s has a variety of boots to choose from and if you don’t like the brands they have, you can customize your own boots. If you haven’t been there yet, stop in at 10509 Shawnee Mission Parkway or call the store at 913-631-2226.

Check out these stores if you’re looking for Western wear

STORE GUIDE

jagwire.calleelinton@gmail.com

BY CALLEE LINTON

jagwire.reganjones@gmail.com

BY REGAN JONES

Classic cowboy boots are distinguished by features such as a tall boot shaft and a slanted heel

FLIPSIDE

THE

TREE

913-829-2244 7505 QUIVIRA, LENEXA/ SHAWNEE 1441 E 151 ST, OLATHE 4 S BERKLEY, LOUISBURG

Shawnee Cycle Plaza offers great prices on Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha motorcycles, ATVs, and Scooters.

5833 Nieman Shawnee, KS 66203 Phone: (913) 631-6464 shop@okgarage.net

13020 Shawnee Mission Pkwy Shawnee, Kansas 66216 913-631-1111 We service what we sell, take tradeins and buy used bikes for cash.

Pack your phone, keys, books and Country Club Bank! We’re ready to head anywhere you are!

There r some

The best part is, we won’t take any of your allowance— we’ll give you:

things u take wit

h

u wherever u go

—

Country Club Ba

nk

is 1 of them!

• FREE Junior Executive checking, • Free debit card, • Free savings accounts • Free online access to your accounts • Free mobile banking • 8 free non-Country Club Bank ATM transactions per statement • $25 minimum opening deposit

It’s always wise to travel with a friend, and Country Club Bank is a trusted member of the community. Any parent would be happy to have you hang around with us! Come see us at our Shawnee Financial Center— Shawnee Mission Parkway & Monticello Road.

{ Country Club Bank~ countryclubbank.com • 816-931-4060 • Member FDIC

ADS 17

DATING DYNAMICS

BY CALLEE LINTON

jagwire.calleelinton@gmail.com

Two couples explain how they met and have stayed together JORDAN AND AUSTIN

With a dad in the military, a mother living in another state and a younger sister with autism, moving to Colorado was the only option for junior Austin Mitchell. In the spring of Austin’s sophomore year of high school, he was told he would be moving to Colorado to live with his mom. Mitchell then returned home at the start of his senior year.

Two and a half years later, junior Jordan Lawyer and senior Austin Mitchell share how they made their unique relationship work.

“We are really open about things.,” Mitchell said. “When one of us is mad, we talk it out.”

While their relationship is built on trust and honesty, they also share the importance of having their friends around too.

“Other couples don’t hang out outside of themselves,” Lawyer said. “You have to do things outside of school and with other people.”

Although they were not officially dating the whole time he was gone, they refused to date anyone else. The couple agreed that while Mitchell was in Colo-

“When one of us is mad, we talk it out.”

SENIOR AUSTIN MITCHELL rado, they did not text as much as couples that have not experienced something like that before. While they did not text much, they talked on the phone and used Skype almost every night.

Together the couple decided their most memorable moment was Mitchell’s first day back in Kansas this summer.

“We went to Shawnee Mission Park,”

Mitchell said. “It was really awkward.

Then we went to surprise my friends that I was back.”

Relationships are hard and many people find themselves lost trying to work through one, according to the couple.

After being together for two years, the couple thinks they have some good advice to offer.

“Don’t lie, and just be happy,” Mitchell said. “Trust is also very important.”

Lawyer agrees.

“Don’t be suspicious,” Lawyer said.

“When problems arise, work things out.

Look at the good more than the bad.”

ALEXIS AND GREG As junior Alexis Riedel was going into her freshman year of high school, meeting then junior Greg Mason (now a freshman at Washburn University), she never thought he was going to be so special to her in some way or form.

After meeting through Lexi’s twin sister Hope, the memorable first interaction between the couple at a football game will never be forgotten.

“I will never forget the first time I saw him and heard his name,” Riedel said.

Although Riedel finds their first interaction with each other very memorable, the couple came together and decided that Mason’s junior prom was the most memorable.

“Greg lit candles on my driveway spelling out, ‘PROM?,’ and when I saw it I ran outside and of course said, ‘Yes,’” Riedel said.

Now Mason is a freshman at Washburn University, approximately an hour away. The couples’ time together has been very limited because of the distance. They really only get to see each other on the weekends but they explained how they make it work.

Being away from each other isn’t easy and Riedel has the same perspective on the situation.

“I have to admit, there are more difficult than easy things that come with a long-distance relationship,” Riedel said.

“Things that have made it easier are FaceTime and talking on the phone. We talk on the phone almost every night to end our days on a good note. I think the hardest part is not being able to comfort each other and fully be involved in each others’ lives, but at the end of the day all the difficult things in a long-distance relationship get pushed aside and it’s easy to remember why we are together.”

After knowing each other for four years and dating for two, the couple agrees they still learn new things about each other all the time. According to Riedel and Mason, a long-distance relationship is a challenge, but they make things work through strong communication and talking things out.

“Communication is key and we tell each other if something is wrong or if something bothers us,” Mason said. “We work together to build our relationship and make it as strong as it can be.”

ABOVE LEFT: Junior Alexis Riedel poses with her boyfriend, Mill Valley graduate Greg Mason. “Having a long-distance relationship is hard for the fact that she’s so great,” Mason said. “So when I’m away I always miss her. Being able to text and have phone calls is so great though.” ABOVE RIGHT: Junior Jordan Lawyer and senior Austin Mitchell pose for a photo. Photos by Ashley Kitchen

DO

DON’T

DO

DON’T

Make eye contact. Look up at your date and be engaging instead of looking down at your phone.

Turn your date into a therapy session. Unpacking emotional baggage on the first date is a definite no-no.

Be attentive. Try to focus on the person you’re with instead of what’s going on around you.

Look for perfection.

Getting your hopes up will just lead you to disappointment.

DO’S AND

DON’TS Follow these tips for first-date success

18 A&E

NETFLIX: UNDERRATED

MOVIES

BY REGAN JONES

jagwire.reganjones@gmail.com

BY SYDNEY WILSON

jagwire.sydneywilson@gmail.com

Check out these movies and TV shows you might have overlooked on Netflix

SUPER 8

THE ARTIST tigating, they learn that something dangerous escaped the train that night, and it has begun terrorizing the town. When one of their friends is taken, they decide to take action.

The movie is remarkable in that it manages to strike a good balance between the action and the plot. The characters are believable and likable, and the explosions are always fun. The personal subplots were not so much separate story lines, but actually added to the main plot, even while being interesting on their own. Except for a few minor quibbles regarding the amount of damage a truck can do to a train and an ending that lacks a conclusion, “Super 8” is a great movie to watch on Netflix.

The award-winning movie “The Artist” is a comedic yet touching silent film set in the 1920s and ‘30s. In it, George Valentin is a famous silent film star who encourages a young dancer named Peppy Miller to follow her dreams and become an actress.

As Peppy moves up through Hollywood, George stops working when silent films lose popularity due to the rise of talking films. The two meet several times over the course of five years, sharing successes and hardships. George and Peppy are both interesting characters, and watching their relationship grow and change is heartwarming. If you’re looking for a sweet story that will have you laughing and crying, “The Artist” is the movie for you.

DOLLHOUSE

SONS OF TUCSON

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

The television show “Dollhouse” is a thrilling yet complicated show that will have you on the edge of your seat by the end of each episode. The show is about underground organizations called Dollhouses that program individuals, called Actives, to have temporary characteristics and skills. Then, wealthy clients of the Dollhouses will pay for certain Actives for a certain purpose. In the first episode, Echo is hired by one of the Dollhouses’ wealthy clients to negotiate the kidnapping of his daughter. For this certain kidnapping, Echo is programmed to efficiently negotiate the kidnapping of the wealthy client’s daughter. Throughout the series, Echo tries to find her identity before the Dollhouses. If you ever need a sci-fi television show on Netflix, look up this show.

“Sons of Tucson” is about three kids: Gary, Brandon and Robby Gunderson, who hire Rob Snuffkin to be their father for a day because their biological father is in jail and their mother left them a long time ago. The boys only wanted Ron for one day to enroll them into school, but throughout the series they find out that they need to keep Ron longer because the kids are having a hard time staying out of trouble with the administration staff and teachers. This makes the administration staff and teachers have suspicions about Ron being the kids’ parent because every time they get in trouble they are not able to call Ron. “Sons of Tucson” will have you laughing throughout the whole season from Robbie’s witty comebacks to Ron’s inept parenting abilities.

The hit television show “Friday Night Lights” is a must-see for Netflix television.

“Friday Night Lights” will have you wanting more of it by the end of each episode.

“Friday Night Lights” is set in a small town called Dillon, Texas that is obsessed with their football team going to state and faces issues along the way. The football coach for the Dillon Panthers, Eric Taylor, his family and members of the football team face issues that are still relevant today. For example, in one episode, the assistant coach says some words on air that offended the black community in Dillon. This led to the school and football team being separated by race. If you don’t watch this television show on Netflix you are missing out on an exhilarating and thought-provoking experience.

“Super 8” is an exciting movie full of action and suspense. It opens in the small town of Lillian, Ohio, where 14-year-old Joe Lamb and his friends are filming a zombie movie to enter in a film contest.

While filming a new scene just outside of town, the kids see someone driving his truck on the tracks, causing an oncoming train to crash violently. While exploring the wreck, they come across some unusual objects and meet the driver of the truck, who tells them that if they say anything, he will kill them and their families.

When the Air Force comes to investigate the crash and weird things begin happening around the town, the kids decide to look into what happened. While inves-

TV SHOWS

OTHER OPTIONS

1. LIBRARY $0 2. REDBOX

With a library card If you don’t have Netflix, check out these you can check out alternate places to view movies or TV shows free movies

$1.20

Great for last-minute rentals and available at most places

3. AMAZON PRIME

$79 4. HULU+

A yearly service that costs more up front, but gives deals on more than movies

$7.99

Pay each month to keep up with recently aired TV shows A&E 19

RIGHT: Swimming in the 100yard butterfly on Tuesday, Jan. 8, freshman Spencer Clayborn finished with a time of 1:28.72.

“I think it’s going really well for my first year on the team,” Clayborn said. “I’m making and breaking a lot of personal records.”

Photo by Kristina Milewski BELOW: Preparing swim team members for their meet at Chisholm Trail Middle School on Monday, Jan. 14, head coach Alssia Ruffin gives a pep talk. “We cheer them on during their races and provide feedback following each race,” Ruffin said. Photo by Kelsey Floyd

BEATINGTHEHEAT Boys swim team members focus on improving their speeds and strokes to beat the competition

ABOVE: Swimming at the Olathe South High School meet on Monday, Jan. 14, sophomore Callahan Eckhardt competes in the 100-yard backstroke. “I did well,” Eckhardt said. “My times have really been improving.” Photo by Miranda Snyder LEFT: As the first swimmer in the 200-yard medley relay, sophomore Callahan Eckhardt prepares to begin swimming backstroke at the Turner High School Invitational on Tuesday, Jan. 8. The relay team finished in first place with a time of 1:46.98. “The season has been great and the team has really been productive,” Eckhardt said. “I’m really looking forward to state.” Photo by Kristina Milewski

20 PHOTO ESSAY

ABOVE: Competing in the 100-yard breaststroke, sophomore Nick Stack places eighth on Monday, Jan. 14. “I think I’ve done fantastic [and] the team’s doing well,” Stack said. Photo by Miranda Snyder BELOW: Freshman Spencer Clayborn motivates his teammates with a pep talk on Thursday, Jan. 24 at the Blue Valley West High School Invitational. “The team is doing pretty good for our first year. But I’m sure there’s room for improvement,” Clayborn said. Photo by Kristina Milewski

ABOVE: Swimming with a kickboard at practice on Wednesday, Jan. 30, senior Aaron Akin focuses on improving his technique for kicking. “The best part of swimming is when you finish a race ... and [realize] you’ve dropped time,” Akin said. Photo by Kelsey Floyd

Scan with a QR app on your smartphone to see more photos online at mvnews.org