JagWire Newspaper: Volume 20, Issue 6

JAGWIRE

MILL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | VOL. 20 | ISSUE 6 | MARCH 5, 2020 | MVNEWS.ORG

THE FIGHT AGAINST CHEATING Examining the causes and effects of academic cheating page 12-16

02

Table of Contents | Cover by Tatum Elliott

contents news

04 vape detectors

06 housing lawsuit

features

08 new principal

10 joan downey 12 cheating

opinions

17 staff editorial 18 opinions

sports

letter from the editors hey mill valley!

Welcome to the sixth issue of the JagWire! For this issue, we wanted to look into the role that academic dishonesty plays both here at Mill Valley and in the school system at large. In a survey it was revealed that 90% of students admitted to cheating on an assignment or test. Multiple anonymous students have agreed to discuss the factors that create the cheating culture at school. Whether it’s parental or social pressures, we thought it was important to find out what factors compelled students to cheat.

Third quarter has gone by fast, and the staff has worked hard to cover im-

a&e

23 cheap staycations

photo essay

24 band

portant stories in and around the school.

With six issues down, we only have two issues left for this year.

As always, we can’t wait for you to read this issue, and we hope that you find the content insightful!

your editors,

staff 2019-2020 editors-in-chief

Hannah Chern

jagwire.hannahchern@gmail.com

Tatum Elliott

jagwire.tatumelliott@gmail.com

valley news 20 anthony molinaro mill editors-in-chief

21 the keals

March 5, 2020

reporters & photographers

Isabel Aerni

jagwire.isabelaerni@gmail.com

Aiden Burke

jagwire.aidenburke@gmail.com

Julia Fair

jagwire.juliafair@gmail.com

Anna Owsley

Claire Franke

Ben Wieland

Quinn Franken

jagwire.annaowsley@gmail.com jagwire.benwieland@gmail.com

photo editor Andrew Tow

jagwire.andrewtow@gmail.com

assistant editors Steven Curto

jagwire.stevencurto@gmail.com

Sophie Lecuru

jagwire.sophielecuru@gmail.com

Tanner Smith

jagwire.clairefranke@gmail.com jagwire.quinnfranken@gmail.com

Jordin Harris

jagwire.jordinharris@gmail.com

Anastasia O’Brien

jagwire.anastasiaobrien@gmail.com

Jordan Prestia

jagwire.jordanprestia@gmail.com

Hayden Resch

jagwire.haydenresch@gmail.com

Evan Sherman

jagwire.evansherman@gmail.com

Zach Shrader

jagwire.zachshrader@gmail.com

jagwire.tannersmith@gmail.com

@millvalleynews

find us at:

mvnews.org

@millvalleynews1 Mill Valley News

jagwire office

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

JagWire

Content by Aiden Burke | Design by Hannah Chern

| News Brief

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HAVE YOU HEARD? A review of the significant news highlights and events to remember from this month

Bernie Sanders Leads Democratic Nominees As of Wednesday, Feb. 26

In an attempt to select a nominee for the 2020 presidential election, the 29 Democratic candidates ran for the party nomination. Only eight of those original candidates are still in the race. After popular vote victories in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, Senator Bernie Sanders is currently polling as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. photo source Dreamstime/MCT Campus

Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty on Two Charges Monday, Feb. 24

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty Monday, Feb. 24 of various charges of sexual assault and rape. After five days of jury deliberation, leaders of the #MeToo movement believe that the verdict marks a turning point in the justice system. Weinstein awaits his sentencing, scheduled for March 11, of anywhere between four and 25 photo source Timothy A. Clary/Getty/TNS

Death Toll from the COVID-19 Over 2,500 As of Wednesday, Feb. 19

The first reported case of the recent coronavirus epidemic came from the Wuhan region of China Dec. 31, 2019. Since then, the epidemic has spread across the world, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship has been quarantined in a Japanese port due to the virus. The death toll has risen to over 2,500 and there are nearly 80,000 reported cases across photo source Ezra Acayan/Getty Images/TNS

professional associations

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

censorship policy

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

Pi Day

Saturday, March 14

“Pi Day is a great day to have an irrational day! ” sophomore benjamin baumgart

Waffle Day

Wednesday, March 25

“I am going to eat a lot of waffles that day. I am going to pull up at IHOP with my friends at 2 a.m.” senior anna ricker

April Fool’s Day

Wednesday, April 1

“It is a fun day where you can prank your friends and have a good time.” sophomore evan harris

editorial policy

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

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News | Design by Isabel Aerni

March 5, 2020

STEPPING UP THE SYSTEM In an effort to combat the ever-growing vaping problem, the district has invested in vape detectors

News

JagWire

TANNER SMITH assistant editor

HANNAH CHERN editor-in-chief

T

he district recently purchased two vape detectors as a trial run to evaluate the effectiveness of the devices. In addition to the existing measures that the district has in place to combat vaping on school property, the district funded just under $2,000 for the installation of the vape detectors to be placed into one bathroom at each high school.

While these devices are a step to combating the use of vapes at school, according to assistant superintendent Alvie Cater, there are “no plans to purchase any additional detectors at this time.”

According to Cater, the discussion of purchasing vape detectors was first brought up as a way to counter the increase in student vaping.

“The idea of trying two vape detectors was simply a deterrent to see if it might cause a student to think twice about [vaping],” Cater said. “We know that this is not the solution to prevent and stop vaping, so that’s why we took this approach; we want it to test it and see how it goes.”

Despite administration’s intentions for the vape detectors, an anonymous junior male—who wishes to remain

anonymous because he admits to vaping on school property—believes that the vape detectors will not prevent students from continuing to vape, even if it reduces students’ access at school.

“I feel like you would help them not have vapes at school as much, but I don’t think you’ll help like the kids stop vaping,” the male said.

“THE IDEA OF TRYING ... VAPE DETECTORS WAS SIMPLY A DETERRENT TO SEE IF IT MIGHT CAUSE A STUDENT TO THINK TWICE ABOUT VAPING.” assistant superintendent alvie cater

These sensors, known as FlySense sensors, work by detecting the chemicals produced by vaping and alerting the administration when said chemicals are detected. According to Cater, these sensors, which are placed in the bathrooms, do not use microphones or

fast facts

How many detectors did the district purchase?

The district has installed one in each high school.

How does it work?

When a sensor detects sound level irregularities or chemicals from vaping, it sends a notification to school officials How much does each sensor cost? $2,000 each Does the sensor have cameras or microphones?

No, it does not in order to protect student privacy source: Soter Technologies

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cameras to protect students’ privacy.

“Vape detectors are relatively unobtrusive, and they can be moved. They don’t record video or audio, and they just register a chemical signature,” Cater said. “So when that is triggered, the system can send an email and or a text alert to school officials.”

Due vaping’s negative effects, science teacher Landra Fair feels less students are picking up the activity.

“I feel that vaping at the school has reached a peak,” Fair said. “Since the deaths, I think there’s a lot of kids that aren’t doing it. I don’t think it’s quite as cool or as common as it used to be.”

Even if a student is caught vaping through the sensors, the consequences have not changed, according to Cater.

“The consequences are going to be the same. It doesn’t matter if a classmate reports it, if a teacher walks into the restroom and sees somebody doing it or if a student does it in the classroom versus a vape detector,” Cater said.

While there are consequences that result from vaping on school campuses, Cater believes that they won’t resolve the issue.

“I think it’s important to clarify that consequences alone are not going to make a difference,” Cater said. “So what we’re working on is increasing our efforts to help educate students about the potential dangers of e-cigarette use and vape devices.”

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News | Design by Sophie Lecuru

March 5, 2020

LAWSUIT OVER THE LAND

Austin Properties files lawsuit after city council denies development proposal

STEVEN CURTO assistant editor

BEN WIELAND

mill valley news editor-in-chief

J

ohnson County development company Austin Properties, owned by Greg Prieb, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Shawnee for denying a $50 million project to build multi-family and single-family homes in Woodsonia, claiming that the city’s denial of the project was unreasonable.

At the Dec. 23 city council meeting, Austin Properties presented their preliminary development plan, which was originally proposed and tabled at the Dec. 9 city council meeting. Their plan proposed 384 apartment units to be built on 29.2 acres of land along Woodsonia West, near Johnson Drive and Kansas Highway 7.

This proposal by Austin Properties raised concerns among council members and Woodsonia homeowners who believed the project’s housing was too dense. They saw the proposal as a departure from the city’s vision for Woodsonia.

After opening up the Dec. 23 city council meeting to community and council discussion, the mayor preceded with a council vote on the proposal, which came to a 4-4 tie. Council members Eric Jenkins, Dr. Mike Kemmling, Stephanie Meyer and Lisa Larson-Bunnell voted no on the proposal, and it fell short of the seven required votes.

Woodsonia homeowners started a petition against the project that Austin Properties proposed in late June. The petition was widely backed by 41 of the 67 surrounding property owners, per the Shawnee Mission Post.

Resident Alicia Backlund, who has lived near the proposed location of the

PINPOINTING THE PROJECT A map depicting the proposed location of the buildings

Location of proposed complex

source: Google Maps

development for the past 18 years and signed the petition, stated that when she originally moved to Woodsonia the property was zoned to be small family homes, not multi-family units.

“Originally, it was supposed to be small homes, which would have been fine,” Backlund said. “I just think that the population density would be too much, and some of the developments around here that have been multi-family aren’t always built with aesthetics in mind.”

Shawnee City council member Lisa Larson-Bunnell declined to comment on the development due to pending litigation, but voted against the development plan on Dec. 23.

At the Dec. 9 city council meeting, Larson-Bunnell stated that she had major concerns over traffic issues regarding the developer’s plans, which had not specifically outlined the additional number of cars that would travel through the neighborhood on a daily basis.

“I am going to make the argument that [traffic] will have an impact on the residents in that neighborhood,” Larson-Bunnell said at the meeting.

“On the whole, these traffic concerns are valid and there is a direct correlation between the number of units in the proposed development and the impact to traffic.”

Larson-Bunnell’s traffic concerns echoed the sentiments of many residents and other council members in the chamber, and the council tabled voting until the Dec. 23 meeting. One such resident was freshman Sophie Sena.

Sena spoke at the Dec. 23 city council meeting, voicing her own concerns about traffic that would potentially block a nearby fire station. Today, she sees the benefits and drawbacks of the potential apartments.

“On one hand, they are a good idea

News

JagWire

because they open up our community to more diversity,” Sena said. “However, the sudden increase in people could lead to a ‘too many people, and not enough space’ situation that our small community might not be able to handle.”

Mayor Michelle Distler did not respond to a request for comment, but at the city council meeting on Dec. 23 she disagreed with Larson-Bunnell’s traffic concerns. Distler discussed how she drove to the intersection in Woodsonia and watched traffic.

“THE SUDDEN INCREASE IN PEOPLE COULD LEAD TO A ‘TOO MANY PEOPLE, AND NOT ENOUGH SPACE’ SITUATION.” freshman sophie sena

“I watched people coming and going during the peak hours in the morning and the evening. Never once did I see more than three cars exiting at a time,” Distler said at the meeting. “When we’re thinking 400 cars, we’re thinking about the exodus of a Chiefs game. I watched the reality… you’re not having all of these cars at one time” Distler also addressed other concerns about the development’s impact on school size and justified the high-density development by arguing that it could attract businesses and visitors to Shawnee.

“The superintendent has said they

have more than enough room at the schools,” Distler said at the meeting.

“I want to go back to the density... we heard the comments all through the Imagineering sessions. We want restaurants. We want retail. We keep hearing we want these things, but we don’t want the density that is required to get those things.”

Before the city council voted on the proposal, Distler shared her concern that shooting down the plan would scare developers away from Shawnee.

“We are told on a regular basis.. western Shawnee is slow to grow because you don’t have the density.

Businesses [aren’t coming] to a place that does not have the traffic to support people going to their businesses,” Distler said. “I have been contacted by two developers [who said] if [the multi-family homes proposal] does not go through, we are not bringing our development to western Shawnee.”

Melissa Hoag Sherman, an attorney with Spencer Fane LLP, is representing Austin Homes on the case and did not respond to request for comment.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in Johnson County District Court on Jan. 15, Austin Homes claims the city was both unreasonable and unlawful by denying the developer’s application.

The lawsuit alleged that decision was unlawful, as one city council member had a predetermined decision on the project and assisted neighbors with the petition they created to not have the developer’s plans pass.

The developer claims that the Woodsonia West project is in compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan in the lawsuit and that denial of the project is unreasonable and should be overturned.

If Austin Properties wins the lawsuit, their application will be reevaluated by the city.

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POPULATION PREDICTION

The estimated density of people occupying the land source: Austin Properties

The aerial view of the proposed location where the buildings would be located. | Claire Franke

KEY: high density residential

public and quasi-public

medium density residential

parks and open space

low density residential

commercial

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Features |

Design by Quinn Franken

PASSIONATE PRINCI

March 5, 2020

Get to know new prinicpal Dr. Gail Holder and her vision for improving the school

the path to principal

1984

1989

graduated from University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in curriculum and instruction

19922016

taught English and was the dance team director at Olathe South

20182020

worked as the assistant principal at Olathe East

BEN WIELAND

ill Valley’s new principal has been striving for success since her own high school days.

Dr. Gail Holder gwwraduated from Olathe South as a volleyball player, swimmer and dancer – all while preparing for her performance at the 1984 Olympic Trials in synchronized swimming. She hasn’t stopped working since.

“Every day when I wake up, I literally say, ‘I will be better today than I was yesterday, but I won’t be as good as I’ll be tomorrow,’” Holder said.

While Holder didn’t originally plan on going into education, she feels her high school experience and role models played a pivotal role in her personal development, especially through their support once Holder realized that her dream school, the University of Arizona, was a financial impossibility.

“I had some incredible coaches and teachers who really were patient with me and sat down and talked with me and helped me navigate through some of those things,” Holder said.

Holder pursued her associate’s degree and dance at Kilgore College in Texas, and she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in English education and master’s degree in curriculum and

instruction at the University of Kansas. In 1990, she landed her first teaching job in Coffeyville, Kansas as an English teacher. A year later, she took a job at Shawnee Mission West where she taught dance.

She returned to the Olathe school district in 1992 as an English teacher and dance team coordinator at Olathe South. During this time, she earned her administration degree through Pittsburg State University in 2008 and saw her own daughter graduate from Olathe South. She took a job at the Olathe Public Schools district office in 2016 as the assistant director of teaching and learning.

In 2018, Holder realized she missed working directly with students and staff and accepted her current job at Olathe East as an assistant principal.

Olathe East language arts teacher Karen Bourland-Kirk appreciates Holder’s enthusiastic presence.

“She constantly circulates throughout the halls, interacting with teachers and students and visits classrooms frequently,” Bourland-Kirk said.

While Holder had made Olathe her home for 25 years, she pursued the opening at Mill Valley because she “wanted to start a new chapter in [her]

mill valley news editor-in-chief

New principal Gail Holder’s educational and professional journey to Mill Valley

graduated from Olathe South High School

ANNA OWSLEY

1986

graduated from junior college at Texas Kilgore College with an associate’s degree

19911992

taught dance at Shawnee Mission West

M

mill valley news editor-in-chief

20162018

worked in the district office in Olathe as the assistant director of teaching and learning

2020

takes over as principal of Mill Valley in July

Dr. Gail Holder outlines ideas at her introduction ceremony Wednesday, Feb. 12.| Kathy Habiger

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In an interview Thursday, Feb 20, new principal Dr. Gail Holder discusses her ambitions for the school. “I’m going to do everything I can to be the very best version of the building principal,” Holder said. | Quinn Franken

educational journey.” She will replace retiring Tobie Waldeck as principal Wednesday, July 1, which will be made official when the Board of Education formally approves the hire.

Holder’s goal entering this position is to push the school to be the “number one high school in Kansas.” Her plan of action is to confer with everyone in the building, from administra-

“EVERY SINGLE STUDENT DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW EVERY SINGLE YEAR.” new principal dr. gail holder

tors and students to custodians and cafeteria workers, to determine where the school can improve.

“I’m going to spend a long time getting to know what Mill Valley already has in place before I start saying, ‘This is what I think we should do,’” Holder said. “That is a collaborative

decision that happens after a lot of discussions and planning.”

Bourland-Kirk can affirm that Holder will put in the effort to fulfill the school’s needs, whether that be through action or everyday motivation.

“If you bring something to her attention, she will quickly get to work trying to solve or seek a resolution; [she’s] very action-oriented,” Bourland-Kirk said. “She is personable with staff and students, asking you about other things, not always about school happenings. Her passion remains very evident whether that is bringing music to staff meetings, supplying us with snacks at parent-teacher conferences or having props at a [professional learning committee meeting].”

Holder believes her job as principal is to ensure every student finds their high school experience to be fulfilling.

“My role in their experience is to make sure as best as I can that their teachers are taking care of, that their facility is taking care of, that they have all the resources they need,” Holder said. “I would hope that they would be able to see the 20,000-foot view of what it is we’ve done and accomplished, and they’re talking about their overall experience, that it has been joyful, it has been meaningful and has been relevant and they are ready for whatever comes next.”

holder’s hot takes

Get to know the new prinicpal by learning about her favorite things

favorite food

salmon hobby

working out favorite color

navy blue favorite movie

to kill a mockingbird

10 Features | Design by Anastasia O’Brien

March 5, 2020

SELF-TAUGHT SKILLS Senior Joan Downey taught herself how to crochet and speak multiple languages

Sitting in the library, senior Joan Downey crochets a bumblebee. She will be selling them during Relay for Life as a way to raise money for the event. Last semester, she spent a lot of time crocheting in the library because she was librarian Andy Shelly’s teacher assistant. | Jordin Harris

AIDEN BURKE

A

reporter/photographer

Harvard Business Review study outlines that it takes 6 months to learn a new skill. This arduous process presents difficulties for most, but to senior Joan Downey, teaching herself new skills comes easily.

Downey has taught herself skills from cooking and crocheting to linguistics.

When Downey found herself interested in linguistics in her sixth grade World Languages class and the content offered by the class wasn’t enough, she figured the best solution was to teach herself. Downey has taken efforts to learn Spanish, French, Russian, Mandarin, Italian and Guarani.

The tools Downey uses to teach herself languages range from programs like Duolingo to books and podcasts in new languages. These resources aren’t particularly difficult to find, either; they can be checked out from the library or found online.

With something like learning languages, most of the struggle resides in the ability to retain information.

To Downey, the most effective way to do this is with easily memorized mnemonic devices.

“I use a lot of mnemonic devices,” Downey said. “I mostly just look for patterns and connections to things I

already know.”

Downey also believes this mental repetition and memorization helps keep your mind sharp. When it comes to other skills, however, the learning process is very different. Downey taught herself how to crochet different animals, in order to have something to do during class and help her focus.

When it comes to her crocheting hobby, it took Downey a few months of learning before she was “satisfied with any of her work.” Contrary to the process of learning a language, the learning process for a hobby like this involves a lot more guesswork.

“It’s just a lot of trial and error. I know what I want to be able to do, and I try different things to get there until something sticks,” Downey said. “I still don’t know how to read all of the patterns and charts you see online. I just look at pictures of crocheting and start reverse-engineering it and doing it myself.”

One of Downey’s close friends, senior Eva Burke, shares that Downey learning these skills requires lots of creativity, but it goes a long way to better oneself. “[Downey] likes to create things and improve herself and others,” Burke said. “Crocheting and learning languages help to do that by building creativity and giving her inspiration.”

learning a new skill

Tools Joan uses to learn new skills

1.

Duolingo was used for learning vocabulary

2. Listens to news podcasts in foreign language

3.

Learned to crochet by reading books

JagWire

Design by Molly Smith | Ads

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Design by Tatum Elliott

March 5, 2020

UNDER THE

TABLE

CHEATING CULTURE

A

s time is ticking down, a whole page of the test sits in front of you, left blank with questions you don’t know the answer to. Panic rises in your throat. Your hand slides into your pocket and reaches for your phone as you carefully watch the teacher, hoping you can find the answers on your device.

Scenarios like this play out frequently in all schools, and the culture of cheating revolves around pressures that students face when it comes to

their academics. Whether it is from their parents or societal standards, students find themselves cheating to relieve these pressures.

For a senior female—who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid criticism of her opinion on academic dishonesty—there are two sides to cheating.

While she believes that cheating is not putting the effort into a class, she thinks that it is acceptable when an individual is only doing it for minor class assignments.

“If I see someone who constantly cheats... I think they’re cheating themselves out of an education,” the female

said. “On the other hand, I believe that sometimes, for certain assignments, [cheating] is acceptable since assignments have less of an impact on your grade.”

Similarly, for a junior male, who asked to remain anonymous due to his admittance to cheating, sending a picture of a small assignment is more acceptable than cheating on an exam. “[Cheating] on homework, just sending someone a picture, doesn’t matter to me; I do that every day. I haven’t done homework in years,” the male said. “I try not to cheat on tests because I think that is wrong.”

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Passing paper notes during a test is a common way students cheat. | Photo Illustration by Evan Sherman

HANNAH CHERN editor-in-chief

STEVEN CURTO assistant editor

Evaluating how cheating plays a role in the educational system and impacts both culture and policy at school

Taking into consideration the many pressures that students face, the female believes that a major cause of cheating is grown from immense pressures that students receive from parents.

“I definitely believe that if you’re raised in a household where rewards and punishments are given for grades, there’s going to be a higher rate of cheating,” the female said. “...Pressure from family is something that impacts a student’s willingness to cheat because they will do whatever it takes to please their parents or their teachers.”For a junior girl, who wanted to remain

“IF I SEE SOMEONE WHO CONSTANTLY CHEATS ... I THINK THEY’RE CHEATING THEMSELVES OUT OF AN EDUCATION.” anonymous senior girl

anonymous due to her complacency with cheating, pressures from her mom to obtain at least a B in all of her classes caused her to decide to cheat.

“My motivations to cheat are that my mom will ground me if my grades drop below a B,” the girl. “The desire to not be grounded until my grade is back up leads me to cheat my way to get better grades.”

In addition to parental pressures that some students face, math teacher Sarah Sides believes that society and individual pressures cause students to

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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Design by Tatum Elliott

ADDING IT ALL UP

The prevalence of cheating at school

have you ever cheated academically?

yes no

90% 10%

if you have cheated, why did you feel compelled to cheat? to get or keep an A

48%

a different reason

19%

test anxiety

18%

to pass a class

15%

if you have cheated, what type of assignments do you cheat on most? homework

77%

tests

13%

quizzes

10%

continued on page 16

March 5, 2020

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 turn to cheating.

“A lot of [students put] pressure on themselves to perform really well and [face] pressures from parents at home and from society,” Sides said. “I think a lot of students are perfectionists, so they might not need to cheat, but they tend to ... because of the pressures.”

Though students often face pressures to maintain As in their classes, some students use cheating as a way to pass a class, such as anonymous junior male who cheated in Spanish II his freshman year.

“I had a pretty bad grade...and to try and improve it, I had a few words and what they meant ... [written] on my leg,” the male said. “I wasn’t really using it, but I guess it was seen [by the teacher], and my grade dropped tremendously.”

For another junior girl, who asked to remain anonymous due to her actions with cheating, challenges in life cause her to resort to cheating.

“I feel like I haven’t cheated until this year. It’s like work has been easy, but now that I’m actually having to face hardships, everything’s getting harder,” the female said. “I’ve just been using other people as a resource instead of relying on myself.”

School social worker Debbie Gudenkauf has come across many students with test anxiety, which is the feeling of distress one has before taking a test, which she stated can motivate students to prepare well for the test, but often interferes with performance.

“It’s normal to have some distress or anxious feelings before a test. Those feelings can actually help you prepare and perform better,” Gudenkauf said.

“When these feelings are so strong

that they interfere with your performance and you do poorly, they may be at the level that would be considered test anxiety.”

Test anxiety may be one factor for why students decide to cheat, but for AP Physics teacher Ryan Johnston when it comes to AP students cheating in his classes, he believes it’s primarily the result of pressures students place on themselves to get all As, which he

“WHEN YOU GET ALL THIS PRESSURE TO SUCCEED ... THEY’RE GOING TO SUCCEED

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.” teacher ryan johnston

believes is the result of the self-worth students derive from the grading system.

“There’s a lot of pressure to get good grades, there’s a lot of pressure to get into good schools with a lot of pressure to get good jobs,” Johnston said. “People see these [grades] as value judgments on themselves. Grades are just constructs put on them by society, and so when you get all this pressure to succeed according to society’s expectations, then they’re gonna succeed by any means necessary which is to cheat.”

Gudenkauf agrees with Johnston for the reason students resort to cheat-

SPEAKING

UP

Anonymous students from each grade level voice their opinions on cheating

“I think people should do their assignments to learn the material, but sometimes it’s just easier to cheat.” anonymous freshman girl

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Smart watches are used to cheat on tests by looking up answers online or sending messages to other test takers. | Photo Illustration by Evan Sherman

ing, as she believes students cheat due to fear of failure and not maintaining a high GPA. “With the students I see, it is often fear of failing – fear of not having the GPA they want or that parents expect, fear of not getting into a college that they want or fear of being academically ineligible to participate,” Gudenkauf said. “While there are students who cheat because it’s easier than doing the work, those are not the students I see.”

A second anonymous senior female shares Johnston and Gudenkauf ’s sentiments about why her peers decide to cheat in both AP and regular courses.

“I think they’re motivated by grades because we’re taught, in this society, that grades are everything; your GPA is everything, and if you have a C, it’s the end of the world even though it’s not,” the female said. “That kind of environment causes students to cheat rather than learn the material, which is what school is supposed to be de-

signed to do.”

While most students cheat because they fear failure and having a bad GPA, Sides believes that students should take a failure for one test rather than cheat.

“I always try to tell students, ‘I’d rather you fail a test than I catch you cheating because ... we all have bad days,’” Sides said. “Take less emphasis off of the grade and put more emphasis on your character, your choices and efforts.”

“[Cheating] on homework ...

“It’s bad when people cheat on tests because ... you know doesn’t matter to me. I try not to cheat on tests because I multiple days before you are having one and can prepare.” think that is wrong.”

“I say [cheating on anything is] bad because either you put in the effort or you don’t.

I think there’s no in between.”

anonymous sophomore girl

anonymous junior boy

anonymous senior girl

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March 5, 2020

continued from page 14

do you view cheating as morally wrong?

yes no

37% 63%

if you have cheated, how often do you cheat on tests?

Cheating is dealt with differently by each teacher. One consequence for cheating is receiving no credit for the test or assignment they cheated on. | Photo Illustration by Hayden Resch

CHEATING POLICY

I

n the student handbook, the school defines academic dishonesty as “cheating, plagiarism, obtaining an unfair advantage and aiding and abetting cheating” on assignments and examinations. While teachers often deal with cases of academic misconduct on their own, according to the student handbook, the highest consequence students can receive is an “in-school or out-of-school suspension and/or loss of participation in extracurricular activities.”

If a student is caught cheating and administration is notified, the student will face a standard consequence depending on the offenses severity. If the student is caught cheating again, administration follows a consequence continuum to determine the student’s punishment, according to Waldeck.

“A student who engages in any form of academic misconduct will forfeit credit for the work in question and may be subjected to additional disciplinary measures,” Waldeck said.

“You will get a zero...and after that, if the behavior continues or if you were also dishonest with us, we may issue further consequences.”

An anonymous senior female thinks that the policy of giving students a zero for assignments that they’ve cheated on is excessive, as it will hurt their grade significantly and prevent them from obtaining a reasonable grade in the class.

“I think the policy is way too harsh because if someone gets a zero on a highly weighted test...then giving them a zero can possibly...ruin their GPA,” the female said. “That will affect them later in life when they apply to college, and I just think that’s ridiculous.”

While administration follows the guidelines set in the student handbook, some teachers report cases of cheating depending on the circumstances. Even though Sides reports major incidents of cheating to administration, such as on a test or a final, she believes that just because a student cheats, it shouldn’t reflect their capabilities.

“Obviously there should be consequences, but...you don’t want their grade to be two grades below what it should be...,” Sides said. “I want their grades to reflect what they actually know, not the fact that they cheated.”

Waldeck hopes the policy for cheating will help push students to work for their grade.

“It’s our hope that the consequences deter the behavior and students... except the grade they earn based on how hard they work,” Waldeck said.

Besides giving students consequences to deter cheating, the anonymous junior female believes that teachers should also focus on making sure content is understandable.

“Cheating is inevitable, so I really think that [teachers] should work to not just prevent cheating...but make sure everyone understands the concepts so cheating can be nipped at the start instead of at the end.”

rarely

60%

sometimes

31%

always

9%

if you have cheated, how often do you cheat on assignments? monthly

only once

survey of 124 students

JagWire

Design by Isabel Aerni | Illustration by Tatum Elliott | Opinions

17

staff editorial:

PREVENTING CHEATING

The education system should be reformed to disincentivize cheating

ANNA OWSLEY

mill valley news editor-in-chief

TANNER SMITH assistant editor

F

or many years, the education system has been built upon the idea of getting good grades. While cheating has always been a problem, in recent years it has been on the rise due to its increasing ease. Between phones, smart watches and the increase of online tests, students have been desensitized to cheating.

In addition, the increased pressure of school has made cheating increasingly common. Whether the goal is entry into a good college, living up to parents’ expectations or simply graduating high school, students have had many reasons to get an advantage in any way possible. Despite the steep consequences that students who are caught cheating face, the need to get the grade often outweighs the possible consequences.

Even if students always have the incentive to cheat, the problem could

be reduced if teachers modified their teaching style. While no one is arguing that teachers are to blame for cheating, they can still take steps to prevent it.

The education system’s focus on memorization allows students to pass tests without having retained the information. This creates students who aren’t prepared for the rigors of college or the workplace. The best way to remedy this is to focus on discussion and written responses, which lessens students’ ability and incentive to cheat.

To reshape this flawed system, inclass assignments should be replaced by teacher-led student discussion that better engages students, while still forcing them to stay on topic and learn the material. This would minimize mindless Googling and copying, and encourages students to voice their questions, make connections and develop opinions about the content. Although this class structure may sound more difficult, it will help students find the content more meaningful to their lives so that they are more likely to ac-

tually retain the information and put in the effort to learn the content.

Another crucial change would be to restructure tests. Required classes generally use traditional multiple choice tests that emphasize names and dates.

Teachers should instead measure students’ knowledge, as done in AP U.S. History teacher Jeff Wieland’s class, by utilizing written-response questions that require a deeper understanding of the material. While classes would not need to have the same rigor as AP U.S. History, this general teaching strategy can be utilized in on-level classes just as easily.

Although these measures will not completely eliminate cheating, they are a step in the right direction. While students will always try to cheat, these changes would disincentivize students from the practice. Even if these changes may be difficult for teachers, the benefits are worth the cost. By better engaging students with discussion, they retain information and gain a deeper understanding of the content, while disincentivizing cheating.

18 Opinions | Design by Isabel Aerni

March 5, 2020

PROSPECTIVE PATHWAYS It is okay not to know your plans after graduating high school

JORDAN PRESTIA

you’re not applying your knowledge to your career.

If you don’t plan to attend college, trade school is something to look into. rom the moment we enter high Currently, a shortage of people with school, and even before, we are these skills creates a high demand for constantly questioned, “What their specific expertise. Also known as are your plans after graduation?” This technical school, education here rang“NOT HAVING can be overwhelming, especially if you es from several month certificate prodon’t know your plans, let alone what grams to two year associate’s degrees.

SOLID PLANS CAN you want to do for the rest of your life.

They take much less time to complete Most say it’s a good idea to plan for SEEM RISKY TO than traditional four year universities after graduation before you actually and are more cost friendly. graduate. Although I can understand SOME, BUT IN THE Another option if you need time to their reasoning, I believe in many cassave or make a decision is to take a gap es, not having a solid plan or even a END YOU HAVE SO year or longer after graduating high vague plan is better. school to create your plan. This time One common choice is college, MUCH TIME TO allows you to discover new opportuniwhich is a good path for some, but like jobs, meeting people, traveltempting to attend because it’s acceptFIGURE OUT WHAT ties ing and more. Taking time off school ed or to have something to do after grants you time to decide between all graduation. While college is a solid TO DO.” your new found options. Another benoption, it is very expensive for a lot of efit is a chance to save up money for middle class citizens no matter where sophomore jordan prestia college or other future expenses until you attend. This is why I say if you’re you determine a plan. going to spend up to tens of thousands Not having solid plans or being unof dollars a year, make sure you’re up in a job that doesn’t correspond to decided can seem risky to some, but in ready.

Despite the financial aspect, only your degree. The only real benefit to the end you have so much time to fig27% of college graduates have a job this situation is the fact that you at- ure out what to do for sure. This may closely related to their major accord- tended college, which seems useless if be the better option for many students because you can confidently make your choice without feeling forced or rushed into a decision you’re not ready to make. Without a solid plan before graduation, you have time for laying out all your options and choosing the There are many post high school options best one for you, use it wisely.

reporter/photographer

F

ing to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This shows that many jobs do not require a specific field of study, meaning you may end

evaluating options

college

work military

gap year

Design by Anastasia O’Brien |

JagWire

SWIMMING TO SUCCESS

Sports

19

As a new addition to the swim team, freshman Anthony Molinaro is already setting records

ZACH SHRADER

F

reporter/photographer

reshman Anthony Molinaro is on a level of performance some don’t reach until their senior year, and he’s just getting started.In his first year, he broke the school record for the 50yard freestyle, he placed eighth in the state in 50-yard freestyle and he was a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team that took ninth place at state.

“It feels great that I broke the record so early,” Molinaro said. “This shows I have a lot of time for improvements.”

Despite his success, Molinaro is not immune to the stereotypical mistreatment of underclassmen athletes.

“As a freshman, everyone is giving you a hard time” Molinaro said. “I feel like I’m starting to fit in. I have got their respect and on their good side.”

Senior Avery Lawson believes that Molinaro gets along with the team.

“As a teammate I think Anthony brings a good balance to the team,” Lawson said. “He knows when to have fun, but he also knows when to get focused up.”

As well as swimming year round for the Aqua Dragonflies, Molinaro demonstrates his hardworking attitude when he had to fix his stroke due to an injury early in the school season.

“This season I have overcome a shoulder injury. I fixed this by changing my stroke and putting less stress on

Freshman Anthony Molinaro swims freestyle during practice Thursday, Feb. 20. | Isabel Aerni

ANTHONY BRINGS A GOOD BALANCE TO THE TEAM. HE KNOWS WHEN TO HAVE FUN, BUT HE KNOWS WHEN TO GET FOCUSED UP.” senior avery lawson

my front shoulder,” Molinaro said.

Head coach Daniel Dervin is very impressed with Molinaro as a swimmer and leader.

“Anthony has improved in all events he’s swam in,” Dervin said. “He has an excellent work ethic, he doesn’t let older competitors intimidate him and he’s an excellent teammate.”

Molinaro is looking to break more records and earn an opportunity to swim in college.

“I’m hoping to break the 50-yard freestyle record again, the 100 butterfly and the 100 freestyle. By my last year I’m hoping to get a scholarship to Texas, Missouri or Indiana,” Molinaro said.

PROFESSIONALS VS. MOLINARO

Comparing freshman Anthony Molinaro’s results and college athletes’ results College swimmer David Lambert has a time of 19.17 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle Olympic swimmer Joseph Schooling has a time of 50.39 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly

Freshman Anthony Molinaro has a time of 22.42 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle Freshman Anthony Molinaro has a time of 55.7 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly source: NCAA

20 Sports | Design by Tatum Elliott

March 5, 2020

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY How wrestling brings the Keal family together

ZACH SHRADER reporter/photographer

S

ince they were kids, wrestling has been an integral part of twin seniors Zach and Austin Keals’ lives. Both brothers spend hours at practices with their dad, head wrestling coach Travis Keal, who has strived to make his children better on and off the wrestling mat.

The competition between the brothers can help boost performance.

However, according to Austin, they sometimes become unfocused on improving at wrestling.

“The strong competition between us makes me work harder. I feel we sort of feed off of each other. If one of us is doing good is carries onto the next. ” Austin said. “However, the competition can also cause us to get a little aggressive and focus on just beat-

ing each other and not getting better.”

Zach says that the competition between him and Austin isn’t just on the wrestling mat; it is also one of the reasons both boys have experienced success inside and outside of the gym.

“There is competition in everything we do,” Zach said. “I believe it makes us better because we never want to lose to each other in practice, in a tournament, at home and even at school with tests and grades. I think that is one of the reasons we have become successful because for the last eighteen years. We have been trying to win against each other in all aspects of life.”

Not only do Zach and Austin practice with each other every day, they also have their father as a head coach, which has benefits and issues of its own.

“Having my dad as a coach is very helpful,” Zach said. “He knows how to get me ready and make sure I am

“THERE IS A COMPETITION IN EVERYTHING WE DO. I BELIEVE IT MAKES US BETTER BECAUSE WE NEVER WANT TO LOSE TO EACH OTHER.” senior zach keal

Sports

JagWire

OVERALL

21

ACHIEVEMENTS What the Keals have accomplished during their time at Mill Valley

ZACH

During the regional wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 22, senior Zach Keal wrestles with his opponent. Keal went on to take first place in the 132-pound weight class. | Jordin Harris

1st

in 132-pound weight class of 2020 6A regionals

3rd

in 120-pound weight class at 2019 6A state championship

committed to west point

AUSTIN

At the start of the second set, senior Austin Keal bends over his opponent and tackles him to the floor at the regional tournament. He went on to take first in the 145-pound weight class. | Jordin Harris

ready to wrestle my best, but also is very tough on me in the practice room if he doesn’t like what he is seeing.

Also wrestling never ends, practice and tournaments are talked about at home, unlike others on the team who go home and get a break from their head coach.”

Even Travis admits that he is harder on Zach and Austin than his other wrestlers on his team.

“They face the pressure of being the coach’s son where there are more expectations on them,” Travis said. “I would say I am definitely harder on them because I have high expectations of them on and off the mat.”

Austin feels as though he is pushed by his father, however, he tries not to let it affect his life at home.

“I would say he pushes me more than others on the team, which helps a lot. The main challenge is to not let

wrestling things affect life at home or vice versa,” said Austin.

Travis enjoys teaching and coaching Zach and Austin throughout the year.

“My favorite part of coaching them is getting to interact with them daily, watching them grow from the challenges they face and watching them mature into great young men,” Travis said.

Travis’ involvement in the improvement of his sons has led to massive success and accolades for Zach and Austin. Both contributed to the wrestling team’s first place finish at regionals and both boys won their weight classes. Travis also helped the brothers earn college scholarships, Zach is committed to wrestle at West Point Military Academy, and Austin is committed to wrestle at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

1st

in 145-pound weight class of 2020 6A regionals

4th

in 132-pound weight class at 2019 6A state championship

committed to university of arkansas at little rock

COACH KEAL 2020 6A regional coach of the year 2018 5A coach of the year 2016-2017 kansas wrestling officials coach of the year 2016 5A regional coach of the year 2015 5A coach of the year

22

A&E | Design by Sophie Lecuru

STAYCATION in CLAIRE FRANKE reporter/photographer

Some of the popular places students remaining in town can visit over spring break Located in downtown De Soto, Cause Coffee is a locally owned coffee shop that offers a variety of drinks and food options. | Andrew Tow

A

A popular hangout spot among students is Cause Coffee, located off of 83rd Street in De Soto. The coffee shop opened in March 2018 in a rehabbed building previously vacated by a church.

Cause Coffee is a nonprofit, and their mission is to raise money to give back to charities around the world.

The charities donate to help kids and orphans in need in places like Mexico, Nicaragua and Uganda. The shop offers menu items that range from coffees to pastries with organic, gluten free, dairy free, vegan and paleo options. Sophomore Ella Lorfing enjoys visiting Cause Coffee because of the atmosphere.

“It just gives good vibes as soon as you walk in,” Lorfing said. “The people there are wonderful.”

Cause Coffee is slightly over ten miles away from Mill Valley, making it a quick drive for most students to go get delicious food and drinks while supporting a good cause.

“Cause Coffee is very affordable,” Lorfing said. “I take my friends here to

study and just to hang out because of the environment.”

Cause Coffee is open Wednesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cause Coffee is an 18-minute drive from Mill Valley, but definitely worth the travel to help kids in need.

The Lenexa Public Market is a unique place to get a bite to eat or shop at the locally owned booths. Restaurants like Chewology and Mad Man’s KC BBQ offer good cuisine at the market. | Andrew Tow

T

he Lenexa City Center is a new addition to our area that is a popular spot to go to. Built along 87th Street Parkway and I-435, the area is a short drive away. The area includes food spots like Culver’s, Silo Modern Farmhouse and Ignite Wood Fire Grill; it’s also near the local Lenexa City Center Library, numerous shops, an art museum located inside the newly relocated City Hall, and the Lenexa Rec Center, which houses a pool, gym and walking track.

Senior Nico Gatapia likes to visit because of the close proximity and wide variety of things to do.

“You don’t have to just go to buy food, there’s a lot you could do,” Gata-

March 5, 2020

pia said. “You can study, you can go to lunch or you could just walk around or look at the art museum.”

The City Center, though still new, has already earned many accolades such as being named “Best New

Hang” spot in Kansas City for the 435 Magazine.

As for a place to stop, Gatapia recommends Mad Man’s KC BBQ. “They have really good food, liquid nitrogen ice cream too.” Gatapia said.

A&E

JagWire

DRIVING

The time it takes to reach each staycation destination from Mill Valley

23

source: Google Maps

CAUSE COFFEE

LENEXA CITY MARKET

MASSACHUSETTS STREET

MONTICELLO LIBRARY

minutes

minutes

minutes

minutes

18

12

33

Massachusetts street in Lawrence Kansas offers a variety of shops and restaurants such as Love Garden Sounds and The Burger Stand. | Andrew Tow

M

assachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas is a a cool place to go staying nearby while on a budget. Along the street, which is located just east of the campus of the University of Kansas, there are restaurants, stores to shop at, and parks. Popular locations include Burger Stand, a restaurant that sells burgers, hot dogs and fries; The Granada, a historic theater and concert venue; South Park, a park that surrounds both sides of the street and is the oldest park in the city of Lawrence; and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, a shop that sells popular street tacos.

Sophomore Soledad Stevanov enjoys going to buy affordable thrift clothing from Arizona Trading Company, eating out at the numerous restaurants or just walking around

with her friends or family.

“My favorite thing about Massachusetts Street is the proximity to Shawnee,” Stevanov said. “It may seem far, but Lawrence is just close enough to go for the day and chill.”

Lawrence is known for being one

of the best college towns in the nation, and Massachusetts Street is not only close in proximity to the campus but is the main street for the town. The area is open daily, but tends to be busier on weekends. Young adults and teens are among the main weekly visitors.

The Monticello location of the Johnson County libraries is a great place to meet friends over spring break. The location offers both indoor and outdoor seating. | Andrew Tow

T

he Monticello Library is a place where many students regularly hang out after school or on the weekends to be productive and get homework done. The library, which opened in August 2018, boasts an incredible modern design and includes many amenities such as office space, Mac computers, photocopiers, printers and self-checkout stations. The library is located just over a mile from Mill Valley, which makes it a popular hangout place after school or on early release days.

Junior Cali Rhodes enjoys visiting the library as a quiet place to get work done. “It’s a nice environment where you can get things done,” Rhodes said.

5

“It’s also a nice place to hang out with the office rooms and open space.”

Along with studying and hanging out, a Johnson County library card is also available to apply for free of cost to browse and check out books at any

Johnson County library branch. There are 14 locations around the county, with closer locations in Shawnee near the civic center and in Lenexa, DeSoto, Olathe and Overland Park. The library offers books, movies and CDs.

24

Photo Essay | Design by Andrew Tow

BEHIND THE BAND

March 5, 2020 During the basketball game against St. Thomas Aquinas Friday, Feb. 14, the pep band performs “Land of a Thousand Dances.”

The team had the lead until the fourth quarter, but lost to Aquinas 49-48. | Quinn Franken

Over the past few weeks, students involved in band have participated in activities throughout the school In concert band, senior Cahill Eckardt plays the vibraphone during the song “Fanfare for the Third Planet.” | Hayden Resch Playing his trumpet, junior Jason Kingsbury utilizes a band practice room to prepare for his concert during seminar Tuesday, Feb. 18. | Jordan Prestia In preparation for the upcoming state solos and ensembles contest, senior Adam Tilden practices the piece he will perform. | Andrew Tow To prepare for the upcoming jazz concert, seniors Kayla Middaugh and Megan Overbaugh rehearse along with the rest of the class. | Julia Fair