December 2018 by Lee's Summit HS Hi-Life Magazine

ON THE COVER | WASTEFUL LIVING

Voice | SCHOOL LUNCHES

Students with different diets five us the scoop on cafeteria catastrophes.

Talk |

LOCAL BANDS

Meet a few of our schools own celebrities.

18 December 2018 | Volume 94 | Issue 3

whats inside

from the

I 18

LUNCHES

Discuss the limitations and restrictions students with different dietary needs face in our cafeteria.

HOLIDAY RECIPES

Learn a few winter CHEAP GIFTS recipes perfect for Cost efficient any holiday dinner options for any table. stocking.

WASTEFUL LIVING pg. 11

06 LOCAL BANDS

Profiling the talented school musicians who are playing their hearts out.

Investigate the nature of wasteful living with managing editor Audrey Badgerow, photographer Makayla Holmberg, and editor-inchief Makenzie Kraxberger.

SKATE ON

Connect with us | @jlabmag

hilife.jlabmag.com

ONLY GOING UP

editor

n my lifetime, I have read countless headlines that plead for environmental awareness; but lately many of those headlines have transformed from independent groups trying to build a better future to national news insisting time is running out and the damage we have caused our planet is soon to be irreversible. This is a global problem, and eradicating straws (though helpful) is not going to do the trick. Our society seems to focus far more on the individual than the collective, and I believe this problem needs a collective solution, and quickly. Our lives have become more about speed and conveniency than conservation and our lifestyles and perceptions must evolve before anything can change. As people who live on this planet, we should all share the accountability and actively pursue a cleaner way of living. Personally, I am trying to cut back on my water usage, being conscientious about recycling and educating myself on ways I can help better impact the environment. Several staff members this month took this theme to heart, and investigated students whose lifestyles were positively impacting the environment, and how the school is helping or inhibiting them. Our centerspread focuses entirely on wasteful living, from the way our city handles trash and recycling, to PETA’s philosophy about the impact animals have on the environment. Though I firmly believe we need drastic solutions at this point, contribution of any kind is much better than none at all and maybe if everyone helped out just a little bit it would be enough. Hopefully, just reading this will motivate you to pursue a cleaner future, even if it is just a shorter shower or Makenzie Kraxberger a recycled water bottle.

Editor in Chief

STAFF Editor-In-Chief

Makenzie Kraxberger

Managing Editor Audrey Badgerow

Design Editor Tyler Williams

Photo Editor

Renee Haskell

Sports Director Clayton Couch

Content Editor Jordan Turner

Junior Sports Director Mike Smith

Reporters

The 20172018 staff proudly shows off at J-Day in front of Jesse Hall.

MEET JESSICA Jessica Winkler is a third year editor who’s conquered it all. “I was able to branch out and really express myself in three different ways, all while telling the stories of people I love” said Winkler. Winkler will pursue Northwest Missouri State to further her journalism and education career.

Max Almaguer, Amari Childs, Megan Curless, Izzy DeMarco, Chloe Doak, Leah Haskell, Micaela Helvey, Mackenzie Henks, Makayla Holmberg, Tommy Hicks, Cheyanne Kennedy, Blake Lemon, Alana Makowski, Lilian Mann, Katie McKitterick, Jaeden Miller, Faith Roach, Alana Rogers, Cesar Rutiaga, Daltyn Schafer, Samantha Schierholz, Rachel Schouten, Camera Schulenberg, Bianca Stewart, Veta Wareing, Emma Wesseldine, Lyric Westley, Ava Whitney, Jordan Wilson, Kenna Witske Advisor: Mr. Marc Russell

foreign

What we Think

Thoughts from the staff.

Amari Childs

also had an impact on the new precautions. “I think that school shootings have become way too frequent, and I am glad the school recognized that and took action against the possibility” junior Makayla

“

I do not feel safer in the event of a school shooter, because most of them are from the school itself and know procedures. Plus we are locked in with them.

“

he deafening bell sounds throughout the hall cueing all the doors to lock in sync, stopping students fast in their tracks. Freshman Amari Childs sighs and spins around to make the extended journey from B-building to the library. He could have walked outside and shortened his walk exponentially had he been two minutes earlier. “There was a lot of pressure on the school districts around the country to take action and this was the best thing our school district could do at the time,” senior Tyler Williams said. The door locking system was implemented to combat safety issues the school faced, many students feel as though this was long overdue and necessary, whereas others express their critique for the system. “I do not feel safer in the event of a school shooter, because most of them are from the school itself and know procedures. Plus we are locked in with them,” junior Mike Smith said. The March for our Lives movement and the recent surge of school shootings may have

Holmberg said. However, not all staff members are convinced. “What are locked doors honestly going to do?” Childs said. Many staff members feel as though the locked doors are a step in the right direction, but think other

festivities festivities

Are you content with the safety measures at LSHS?

measures and improvements could be taken for the benefit of convenience and safety. “I think that every door having a buzzer, or at least a lot more doors having buzzers would make things a lot easier on students,” Williams said. Some staff members do not feel as though the doors impacted their attitude towards safety whatsoever. “I feel pretty much the same about coming to school 79% of staff members said yes now as I did before, but I did not really feel unsafe before,” 21% of staff members said no Holmberg said. Though the locking doors 43 staff members were polled may not be the perfect answer towards a national problem, one thing is for sure; the school is making an effort in light of student safety concerns.

Makayla Holmberg

4 TALK | NOVEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

“Going into the Holidays is really exciting with my host family especially.”

OTO SHIMADA “I am excited for the presents”

Written by: Makenzie Kraxberger Photographed by: Makenzie Kraxberger Designed by: Makenzie Kraxberger

Mike Smith

SHADI MADIEH

Tyler Williams

CLEMENS LUDWICKI “I am excited to experience how different families, especially my host family, celebrate the holidays”

Foreign students discuss how they celebrate holidays at home.

pending time with family is how most people spend their holidays. Family from near and far gather to celebrate, delicious aromas fill the rooms and holiday cheer is everywhere. But for those who are away from their family for the holiday season, it can be rough; especially for foreign exchange students Shadi Madieh, Clemens Ludwicki, and Oto Shimada on the other hand are unable to have their usual traditions and get to experience new ones. “Germany is Christianbased so we have presents and a Christmas tree. It’s a German tradition. The only thing that is different is we have a something called Advent. We have four candles in an Advent candle holder and every Sunday before Christmas and we light one candle and then then the next Sunday we light another until we have four candles lit. It’s an old tradition.” Ludwicki said. But every culture is different. People celebrate religious holidays in different ways.

“In Palestine we do not really celebrate Christmas. Some families do, but mine does not. We celebrate many other holidays like Ramadan or Eid. On Eid, for example, everyone wakes up in the morning and you make cookies and people go around and visit relatives and the older people give presents or money to younger people,” foreign exchange student Madieh said. Taking part in different traditions may feel a little odd, but being able to experience and see a new cultural aspect is something everyone should try to do at least once. Broadening their horizons and becoming more aware of other cultures and their traditions is exactly what these students plan doing. “We have a lot of traditional meals.They are pretty different from the ones here. There is one called Maqluba. It’s my favorite traditional food. It’s rice,

eggplant, and chicken or meat and then you would flip it upside down onto something and then it’s eaten with yogurt or salad,” Madieh said. Other traditions have a simpler take on them, but are still just as special. “ We eat Christmas cake, it’s just white cake and strawberries. We don’t really have any other special food we eat for Christmas, just food you want to eat,” Shimada said. Sharing new cultural traditions can be fun, and in the end foreign exchange students can take and leave new and different ideas for holiday traditions. Being able to share these ideas and cultures is something not everyone has the chance to experience. Those who have are able to share their new memories and get exposure to new culture.

Written by: Veta Wareing Photographed by: Kenzie Hanks Designed by: Audrey Badgerow

CULTURE | DECEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

BACKINGUP BACKING he student arrives at school, searching for their specific numbered space, finding it quickly with no hassle. They pull forward in their space to make it easier to leave at the end of the day, hoping they will not get in trouble for which direction they parked their car. The parking lots have become safer and more convenient this year. “The assigned spaces help because students know where they park. They are not coming in and scrambling for parking spots last minute in the morning and they know where their spot is and it is going to be available,” assistant principal James Oyler said. It is safer to know who is in the parking lot at all times. “It helps with safety because we do not have as many cars just driving around campus looking for a close parking spot,” Oyler said. There is less of a risk of an accident happening, too. “Reducing the traffic reduces the chances of a student getting hit by a vehicle and reduces accidents,” Oyler said. Students are able to park in their spot each day when they arrive at school. “When somebody parks in another student’s spot, we are able to find out who that car is, and every time this year, so far, it has either been a sub or another student parking in the wrong spot,” Oyler said. Substitutes are supposed to park in the teacher’s spot they are substituting for, or

sometimes a handicapped spot. “It increases our ability to keep track of who is parking on campus,” Oyler said. Administrators have tried to make the parking lots safer than they have been in the past. “We added a stop sign in the West lot in the turnaround lane to slow people down,” Oyler said. Last year, there was a new rule that students

“

Last year, there was a new rule that students would not be allowed to back into spaces.

“

Students have the oppurtunity of backing into their assigned parking spaces this year.

would not be allowed to back into spaces. “Last year we tried the ‘park head in’ thing,” Oyler said. They tried to enforce this rule, but it did not work. “We changed that rule because there were so many people doing it,” Oyler said. Most students still continued to pull

forward through their parking spaces, or backed into them. “The main reason we did it, more than anything, was so cars would be facing each other,” Oyler said. When supervisors checked parking lots, they could walk down the middle of the row and check both sides. “When you have cars facing opposite ways on the same side, you have to walk down the side, back to the middle, then down the other side,” Oyler said. It is a lot more work to check each car when they are not all facing the same direction. “We decided not to keep going with that, because it was taking a lot of time to try and check all of the cars, so we just let it be,” Oyler said. Now that supervisors know who belongs in each spot, it is not as hard. “This year, with the assigned parking spots, it is not such a big issue,” Oyler said. Overall, students do not mind having assigned parking, even if they might not like their spot. “We have changes coming for next year on how to sign up for parking spaces, and it will be like when you go to a concert and you can see what seats are available, but with what parking spaces are available,” Oyler said. The parking lot is different this year, but these changes have made it safer for students and staff, and also more convenient.

Deck the Plates with

Delectable Delectable Delights Delights

Recipes for sharing during the holidays Homemade Eggnog Makes 6 cups

Ingredients: 6 large eggs 1 cup granulated sugar 2 cups whole milk 1 cup heavy cream Grated nutmeg

Ingredients: 12 dinner or Hawaiian rolls 3 cups shredded cooked chicken 1⁄3 cup barbecue sauce 1⁄2 cup sliced red onions 6 slices of prefered cheese 2 tbsp butter 1 cup pretzels Black olives Sliced white cheese Raisins

Written by: SAM SCHIERHOLZ Photographed by: RENEE HASKELL Designed by: CHEYANNE KENNEDY

Instructions: 1) Preheat oven to 350°F 2) Slice rolls in half lengthwise. Place bottom half in 9 x 13-inch rimmed baking dish. 3) In a large bowl, mix together chicken with barbecue sauce. 4) Evenly spread out chicken on rolls, then evenly spread out onions and add cheese. 5) Place remaining rolls on top and lightly brush tops of rolls with melted butter. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until bread is golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes. 6) To decorate, cut a pretzel in half and use as antlers. Cut cheese into small circles and add for the eyes, use raisins as the pupil in the eyes. Cut olives in half for the nose.

Holiday Puppy Chow Makes 10-15 servings

6 CULTURE | DECEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

Written by: LEAH HASKELL Photographed by: RENEE HASKELL Designed by: JORDAN TURNERw

Instructions: 1) Separate eggs. Place yolks in a medium bowl and the whites in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate whites until step 5. 2) Add sugar to yolks and whisk until smooth and creamy. 3) Whisk together milk and cream until combined. Cover bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. 4) Before serving whisk the egg whites until the whites form stiff peaks. Use a mixer on high speed. 5) Add beaten egg whites to eggnog and gently fold or stir. Some egg whites will float to the top. 6) Serve eggnog in individual glasses with grated nutmeg over top. Eggnog should be consumed within 1 day of making.

Reindeer BBQ Sliders Makes 12 sliders

Instructions: Ingredients: 1) In a bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut 1 box Chex Corn cereal (14 ounces) 1 cup chocolate chips butter, and butter. Melt in microwave for 1 minute. Stir and heat for an additional 30 1⁄2 cup peanut butter seconds or until mixture is smooth. 1⁄3 cup butter 2) Add vanilla extract, mix well. 1 tbsp vanilla extract 3) Pour Chex cereal into a large bowl. Pour 2 cups powdered sugar chocolate mixture over cereal and stir. 2 cups twisted pretzels 4) In a gallon ziploc bag, pour mixture and 2 2 cups Christmas M&Ms cups of powdered sugar. Seal and shake well. 5) Pour mix into bowl then add M&Ms and pretzels.

CULTURE | DECEMBER 2018 | JLABMAG.COM

VETA’S Written by: Veta Wareing Photographed by: Renee Haskell Designed by: Makenzie Kraxberger

VOGUE

Cut to the Chase Family Hair Salon 9124 E. State Route 350 Hwy Raytown, Mo. 64133 (816)-859-9191

A fashion column by Veta Wareing. GREEN HOODIE

TARGET $20.00 Comfortable and cute, this hoodie has it all for a fair price.

PAJAMA PANTS

These green patterned pajamas are perfect for any Christmas party.

he clashing materials hit the sidewalk as the young girl confidently walks into the world starting a new trend. Mixing patterns can always be risky, but being able to find contrasting patterns that go well together is an amazing feature not many can achieve, which is why this article exists, to help any pattern clashing days come to an end. A way to make sure the different patterns go well with each other is to ask this simple question. Do they have a different, but similar style? If so it is probably best not to put those patterns together. Types of patterns that clash are different type of flower patterns. Just because different flowers in a bouquet look good together does not mean that different flower prints look good together. Another no-go is patterns that are the same, but are different colors. Those may seem like they go together, but what the end result in is looking like a matching clothing set got mixed and matched. Patterns that do go well with each other are gingham print (picnic blanket) and flowers, especially for summer. Stripes also would go well with a flower pattern. Having the same pattern and color for an outfit is entirely okay. It looks like a matching set. Busy patterns (plaid, polka-dot…) clash when brought together, both are busy patterns and deserve their own outfit with a solid colored article of clothing instead of sharing an outfit with another busy pattern. At the end of the day, fashion is a tedious struggle. Making sure an outfit looks okay before rushing out the door can be really difficult. Knowing some simple tips can make it a whole lot easier.

8 CULTURE | NOVEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

Monday: Senior Day (65 yrs+) $10 Tuesday: Mens Day $12 Wednesday: Kids Day $12 Thursday: Lady’s Day $5 dollars off of any shampoo set

Beomyoung Sohn (MFA 2012)

TARGET $20.00

Various discounts throughout the week!

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WASTEFUL LIVING WASTEFUL LIVING S

ince long before the turn of the twentyfirst century, sci-fi and young-adult visionaries have been profiting off of the fear of a dystopian world. Through this, creatives have detailed futures consisting of technologypossessed or power-obsessed inhabitants, who occupy the once picturesque Earth, now as a charred world full of ash and gray. Sustainability is defined as the preservation of natural resources in order to avoid the exhaustion of natural resources. This can be practiced in a variety of ways, ranging from simple dietary changes, to donating unused items, to cutting back on water usage, to minimizing automobile usage or switching to an electric car, to striving to reduce the human carbon footprint, amongst other approaches. ¨Meat production is terrible for the environment. When land is used to raise animals for food, precious water and soil are lost, trees are cut down to create grazing land or to make room for factory-farm sheds, and untreated animal waste pollutes rivers and streams. In fact, the United Nations has said that meat

production is the number one cause of climate change. Each year, animals who are raised for food in the United States produce one trillion pounds of waste. Many tons of waste end up in giant pits in the ground or on crops, polluting the air and groundwater. According to the EPA, agricultural runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterway,¨ PETA2 Correspondence Coordinator Melissa White said. Dietary adjustments such as this have more benefits than what meets the eye. ¨Between the amount of water that the animals drink, the amount of water that is used to clean the filth out of the factory farms, and the amount of water that goes to produce the crops that feed the animals, the farmed-animal industry takes a heavy toll on our water supply. Switching to a vegan diet reduces your ecological footprint and in fact, going vegan does more to fight climate change than switching to a hybrid car does,¨ White said. The animal industry is one of the leading consumers of natural resources. ¨As if that were not bad enough, the billions of chickens, turkeys, pigs,

STATS

TRUMPS NET WORTH MONEY EARNED RECYLING AVERAGE RECYLING COST AVERAGE LANDFILL COST

3.1

billion

USD per ton

49 USD per ton

STATS

UNPACKED

and cows who are crammed together and abused on factory farms emit enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. Also, nearly half of all the water used in the United States goes towards raising animals for food. Chickens, pigs, cattle, and other animals who are used for food are the biggest water consumers in the United States. One pig consumes twenty-one gallons of water per day, while a dairy cow drinks as much as fifty gallons,¨ White said. These dietary adjustments may seem arduous, however, the environmental impact that these changes make overshadow any plights or difficulties. Junior Chloe Erps is one student who made such a modification for a better world. ¨I decided to become vegan earlier this year, after watching a documentary that showed just how cruel the industry really is. It was a little difficult to do at first, but once I stopped thinking of animals as food and producers of food, it was so much easier than before,¨ Erps said. Clothing production is yet another industry that inordinately uses and abuses natural resources, more specifically the ´fast fashion´ trend. This fad centers on the concept of fashion right-now, in large quantities, at strangely low prices. Despite the convenience of it all, this piles landfills, contributes to high levels of greenhouse gases, while also consuming billions of cubic-meters of water a year. Second-hand stores offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to this.

Though it is more costly for the everyday American to recycle, the recyclable waste in the US waste stream would generate over $7 billion if they were recycled. Unfortunately, only about 32% of total waste in the US is recycled. According to a study by Stanford, one ton of recyled plastic saves 5,774 Kwh of energy, 16.3 barrels of oil and 4 cubic yards of landfill space.

in 2015

Only

20%

Sustainability is not a matter America faces alone, this is a pressing global issue that has impacted all corners of the world. Worldwide, we have already begun to feel its impact in climate change, rising smaug levels, or warmer temperature.

of plastic was recycled globally Source: National Geographic

hungry. At the schoolwide level, this does not seem to be a matter of worry. Ïf we do have some leftovers, we normally take it to the social services, or we let the lunch ladies eat some of it,¨ school cafeteria assistant manager Sandy Dimnier said. As the school population cultivates, students may lose sight of the sheer importance of recycling, due to the overshadowed nature of recycling bins in comparison to trash cans within the school. The convenience of trash cans and the obscuring of these reminders of the fading environment makes it especially difficult to make an environmentallysatisfactory decision. This is not apparent simply within schools, but throughout the country. Ëvery year we get more and more students, and that will increase the amount of trash,¨ building manager Wes Harbit said. KCGreen is a volunteer organization affiliated with the city that simultaneously promotes messages of economic vitality and environmental quality. Costs associated with environmentallysavvy practices may seem steep at first glance Ëach initiative, program, or project must go through a more detailed analysis to determine if it is sustainable. A simple example would be to look at LED light bulbs. Certainly more expensive than incandescent light bulbs up front. However, if you incorporate the added lifespan of a LED and its lower energy usage, you will save more on energy costs and few bulbs purchased than

if you stuck with incandescent bulbs. Sustainability means that you are considering the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the initiative before making the decision to implement the project. So even though there may be a higher economic cost, there should be a beneficial impact to social or the environment for the economic cost, which sometimes does not translate well into dollars,¨ KCGreen environmental compliance manager Andrew Savastino said. Many restaurants have popped up recently, promoting a message of sustainability. These health cafes have mainly been established in larger cities, however, Kansas City restaurant Cafe Gratitude provides a vegan experience while also promoting a message of sustainability. ¨We aim to be sustainable by supporting organic agriculture, while also trying to farm locally. This can sometimes be difficult since not all fruits and vegetables can be farmed year-round locally, but we do have a farmer who works part-time at the cafe,¨ Cafe Gratitude assistant general manager Jordan Thompson said. Cafe Gratitude is sustainable in that the local restaurant, located at Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, is the portrait of contemporary sustainability. The restaurant is powered by solar panels, most of the installations within are made from recycled and repurposed items, the to-go boxes are made up of biodegradable substances, and at the end of the day, the leftover food scraps are composted. Despite past generations, many of who, are less concerned with the downward environmental slope, the youth of today still has time to reform certain learned behaviors and to treat Mother Earth with the respect she deserves, the perpetual fear of a gray, ash-filled dystopian future may remain in the stage of fiction.

GL AI

UNET REENH G IM ATE C CL STE FUL L WA AL WARM OB POLLU AN R L G A NETHIC USE H O U GREENH AT E C CLIM

A GLOBAL ISSUE

¨The money earned at Goodwill goes towards helping people with disabilities get and keep jobs, not just at Goodwill, but at other places too. This all happens while also making sure these people get the skills that they need to keep these jobs, ¨ Goodwill team leader Jeremy Remey said Despite the clear environmental benefits of shopping second-hand, thrift-stores in general all work towards a specific cause to assist the needy. Omitting shopping for clothing new, can be especially difficult at first, however donating unused items is an alternative that has many of the same advantages. ¨People donate a lot of really good clothes, and I try really hard to make sure that I am not letting these clothes go to waste. So, I make an effort to thrift most of my clothes,¨ senior Aidan Clark said. According to the Council for Textile Recycling, United States residents produce roughly twenty-five billion pounds of new textiles per year. Of that number, approximately eighty-five percent ended up at landfills, while the other fifteen advances to second-hand stores, such as Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Hillcrest or Red Racks. Sustainability in regards to food waste is yet another issue to be tackled. Often times, food is simply left uneaten, whether it be at home, or at restaurants. This is especially alarming due to the fact that a third of food worldwide is merely wasted, while roughly a billion people are going

O HIHAUSE G IVIN NG As TI IN ON G GG WAE LO STEA IMA IR POLBAL WA R LU L AN AS GR TREAT TIO GE CL EENHO MEN N T U IMA TE CHSAE GA NGE-S GR

60% of Americans live in areas where air pollution is considered unhealthy CULTURE | DECEMBER 2018 | JLABMAG.COM

LIFESTYLE

ome students decided to take this pressing global issue into their own hands by pursuing different dietary means to achieve a better future. Though often ridiculed, belittled or discouraged in media, vegans, vegetarians and peskatarians alike brave it all for hopes of better skin, weight loss, environmental change or overall health. Seniors Cameron Brigham, Aidan Clark, Lindsay Reinhardt and junior Chloe Erps are just a few of many students that bring diverse diets to LSHS. “I’ve been a vegan for a year and six months, and I think it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Clark said. The decision to pursue a limited diet is a difficult one, oftentimes the choice becomes more costly and inconvenient. Especially in school lunch rooms, where sustainable options for these lifestyles are entirely absent. “Currently, I have to pack my lunch everyday in order to receive the nutrients I need. Of course, a lot of students choose to bring their lunches, but I would appreciate the option to eat in the cafeteria sometimes, and if healthier options are offered other students might

Students aid the environment from meal to meal. follow suit,” Erps said. CAM BRIGHAM Though a restricted diet isn’t for everybody, there are more moderate ways for the general public to benefit the environment. “Maybe on Mondays you don’t eat any meat. The impact the environment would feel from nationwide meatless Mondays would be monumental. AIDAN CLARK I feel like that’s a change everyone could fit in,” Clark said. Though oftentimes, plastic and paper are thought to be the primary perpetrator to negative environmental effects, mass animal production is a major source of greenhouse LINDSAY REINHARDT gas emission and a large factor of water waste. “Raising animals for food in general requires tons of land, food, energy, water, and is one of the worse causes of climate change. I chose to stop eating red meat for a year and a half, it was small but I was still contributing to the bigger picture,” Brigham said. Meat and dairy are also

Anybody can walk up to McDonalds and buy a cheeseburger, but as far as I know, no fastfood chain is mass producing a vegan burger

14 CULTURE | NOVEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

Cam Brigham did not partake in any red meat for a year and a half in pursuit of better cardiovascular health and a healthier lifestyle. Her best tip of advice to people thinking about a lifestyle change is to and educate yourself. Aidan Clark has been an active vegan for one year and six months now, as well as a political activist for environmental change and animal rights. Her favorite vegan recipe is sticky sesame cauliflower. Lindsay Reinhardt is currently dairy free, and has cut out any meat that is not considered lean. As a cross-country runner, Reinhardt believes her diet is extremely important to maintaining overall fitness and performance.

packaged differently than most plant products, and tend to waste more plastic, paper or other materials used in preserving the items. “If I am eating more plant based food I cut down on a lot of things that are non recyclable, there’s no packaging for an apple, whereas different meats you have to account for the packaging, the water, and all the other things that goes into that one product,” Reinhardt said. Though the benefits of veganism, vegatarianism and other dietary choices are great, very few pursue any dietary restriction. “I know that the choice I made was right for me and right for the environment, my skin cleared up and I felt more energized. However, I had to work hard to get where I am, going vegan is a long process and no easy task,” Clark said. Oftentimes healthier options are more expensive than their unhealthy counterparts, limiting the spectrum of people who could even afford to keep up the lifestyle. “On top of everything being harder to find, or being unable to eat at certain restuarants, healthy food is way more costly and way less convenient. Anybody can walk up to McDonalds and buy a cheesburger for a dollar or two, but as far as I know, no fastfood chain is mass producing a vegan burger,” Reinhardt said. Though their lifestyles may need an extra step or an extra dollar, these students are one step ahead towards a cleaner future.

The

average

American

family uses

300

gallons

AIDAN CLARK

has saved

water

per

day

599,500 gallons of water and 545 animal lives by going vegan for 18 months

according to www. epa.org

Written by: AUDREY BADGEROW AND MAKENZIE KRAXBERGER

Photographed by: RENEE HASKELL Designed by: MAKENZIE KRAXBEGER

CULTURE | DECEMBER 2018 | JLABMAG.COM

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The SOUND of MUSIC

Student musicians amaze the crowds. plans on writing more music in the future. He has already written and performed his own piece in his seventh-grade talent show. Senior Josh Nazworthy became inspired to learn percussion from watching Loud when he was 4 years old. His preferred genre is jazz, with added hip-hop influences. “I have a brother who is 10 years older than me, and

“

when he was in high school he was in band. He was 14 and I was 4, and he told

career as a percussionist. “The percussion ensemble at LSHS has played with UMKC and UCM. In jazz band, we’ve gone to competitions at Wichita State and UCM. With drumline every year we compete around the state of Missouri. I plan to go to a 4-year college to get a bachelor of fine arts in percussion. Then hopefully I can teach percussion for a school or an organization,” Nazworthy said. Percussion is distinct from other instruments, which further draws Nazworthy’s appreciation for the instrument. “My favorite thing about it is getting to be musical in a way that no other instrument gets to be. Other instruments are all structured around the idea of pitch. With any other instrument you can be musical by deciding what pitches you want to

I love being able to create something and have other people hear it, instead of keeping it to myself. Whether people like it, love it, or hate, you put yourself out there.

“

alking through the halls, he hears the rhythms and melodies played by students. Eager to start playing he hurriedly enters the music room. Senior Sebastian Mayhugh got his start in music by learning to play classical piano several years prior. “Eight years ago my parents gave me a little toy piano and that’s how I got into it,” Mayhugh said. Mayhugh has plenty of experience performing for different audiences and

my family about Loud, which is a variety show that drumline puts on that is all percussion. From that moment on, I’ve always wanted to play the drums,” Nazworthy said. Nazworthy has experience competing at different events, which could help him in his future

18 TALK | DECEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

play, but with rhythmic percussion, you only get one note and you get to be musical based around rhythm instead of tone. It allows for a whole new creative cloud to be developed upon,” Nazworthy said. Senior Parker Tozier, along with his proficient guitar skills, has also been a part of a band, The Moose, as well as Jazz Band, Sounds of Summit, and has been a member of the pit orchestra. “My most defining experience as an instrumentalist was attending the Berklee 5 week summer program in Boston. That completely changed how I think about music and how I play. I was surrounded by musicians who were head and shoulders above me, which helped me learn a lot about my strengths and weaknesses,” Tozier said. Music allows students to define themselves. Through the different genres and wide array of instruments, one can find what fits their unique personality the best.

Written by: JORDAN TURNER AND LYRIC WESTLEY

Photographed by: JORDAN TURNER Designed by: TYLER WILLIAMS

TALK | DECEMBER 2018 | JLABMAG.COM

he tires bounce up and down off of the soil, sounds of twigs snapping underneath English teacher Matt Buxton’s bike tire leaving his body trembling from the recoil of the suspension. “You can definitely feel the trail you can feel the bumps, roots, and all of that... best case scenario you are going way faster than you should be on things that are really rocky and rough, but it does not feel that way because you are letting the bike absorb the majority of the impacts,” Buxton Said. Despite the chance of of injury and possibly death, Buxton uses bike riding as a stress reliever. “I bike to get some exercise and spend some time in nature. I think it is a good way to both stay in shape, but also clear your mind. It helps you process things in your day a bit better, and it helps you cope with stress,” Buxton said. Riding has helped Buxton in other aspects of his life, the immediate task of riding creates a euphoric utopia in which he uses to escape the daily reality. “It is just you, your bike, the trail, and nature, so your are focused enough on not crashing and all of the obstacles but you do not need to think about anything so it allows your mind to wander a little bit. I find that bit to be freeing and cathartic,” Buxton said. While the trail provides a nice outlet for Buxton, it also brings some dangers with it. Close to 818 people die per year due to

cycling crashes. Buxton does not let that scare him away from pursuing the next trail. “I think you need to be aware of your surroundings, in all honestly dying in a car accident on your way to the trailhead is greater than getting ran over by a wild beast,” Buxton said. Injuries come with any type of sport, fourtantly Buxton has been able to avoid having too many serious injuries while riding. Protective gear has played a major role in Buxton’s safety. “I have broken my hand going over the bar, seperated my shoulder, which took months to heal, and multiple bumps and scrapes... you got to have a helmet, protective gear could be helpful,” Buxton said. Buxton has traveled across the country leaving trails blazed from state to state, while he has seen many remarkable trails; some of his favorites are closer to home. “I like lake Tahoe in California, I grew up riding there. Colorado has some great spots, and two hidden gems Cable Wisconsin, they have really good riding, and Bentonville Arkansas is a really good place to ride. Locally, Swope park, Blue River Parkway, and Landahl Park in Blue Springs those are all good places to ride too,” Buxton said. Whether its at home or afar, Buxton will continue to ride trail after trail, snapping twig after twig to better himself both physically and mentally.

BLAZING SHOOT, BLAZING TRAILS SCORE!

PLAY | DECEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

he massive student section went wild as the soccer ball was struck into the back of the net with ease, making the Tigers Conference Champs. “Whenever we scored, I could hear the Loud Crowd screaming and going crazy for us, a rush of adrenaline went through my body. I felt like I was playing for something other than myself.” midfielder Isaac Nickens said. Soccer provides a sense of unity. It is not just a one-man game, it is a game that takes teamwork. “I knew when I scored that I should be doing it, it’s my job, but when my teammates would score I would feel extremely proud and excited for them because I know how hard we’ve been working.” forward Keenan Johnson said. They spent the season working hard and focusing on fixing their attitudes towards one another.

Written by: CLAYTON COUCH Photographs by: MATT BUXTON Designed by: TYLER WILLIAMS

“Not only did I work on improving my soccer skills, but I spent a majority of the season focusing on adjusting my attitude and always having a positive outlook, even when things didn’t go exactly how I wanted them to.” midfielder Joseph Achugo said. The team’s hard work and dedication throughout the season paid off. “There’s no doubt that we scored a lot of goals this season, but that’s not what’s important to me, this season we developed a sense of brotherhood rather than just some guys that play soccer together.” Johnson said. Sacrifices were made in order for the team to come this far this season. “I made plenty of sacrifices this season in order to be on Varsity. I spent time outside of practice so I could improve more. Plus, our team really bonded so we were all willing to do whatever it took to win.” goalie Naji Aburas said.

Written by: ALANA ROGERS Photographed by: RENEE HASKELL Designed by: CHEYANNE KENNEDY

CRYING ON THE FIELD: Junior Alan Reyes-Herdiz cries after he gets the winning shot during the teams first game against Lee’s Summit West. “I was happy, when I fell on the ground it was because I started crying, I scored the winning goal,” Reyes-Herdiz said.

SPORTS | DECEMBER 2018 | JLABMAG.COM

ACHIEVING GREATNESS

Athletes showcase their abilities the on court.

neakers squeak “The goals don’t really change, echoes in the our goal is to be the best we can be empty gym as and working hard every year. We sophomore Lejuan have a deep roster this year,” Little Miller works to said. improve his ball handling skills Most of the players just enjoy to prepare for his first varsity the sport and want to just have season. fun with their teammates and “I would say I have look forward to enjoying the improved my shot, but my ball game of basketball and want to handling needs some work,” have an important role on varsity. Miller said. Sophomore Lejuan Miller is Miller is inexperienced on the striving for an important spot on varsity court, but he continues varsity. to strive for a varsity role in “I know a lot of the players just his sophomore season. and we just enjoy playing against “My biggest goal for this each other and making eachother season is to earn close to a better,” Miller said. starting spot, or at least have Sweat hits the floor after miller a important role on varsity,” finishes his long workout in the Miller said. gym, after months of working hard The goals for the team stay in an empty gym miller will shift the same every year, and the his focus on filling gyms with his players just want to be the plays. best they can be, and go as far as they can possibly go. Out of nearly two dozen practices the Tigers have completed everyday for starting varsity spots. “We have had 25 practices and I have been happy on 23 of those, so we’ve only had two days I have been unhappy,” head coach Blake Little said. The roster has depth this year so the coaches have a lot of players to choose from. Effort and dedication to achieve the team goals has been Senior Sam Lock looks for the a tradition for this team. open man while shaking the

defender

READY TO

POUNCE

Coach Crawford shapes up Girls Varsity Basketball team.

Senior Dam Martinez dribbles up the court attempting to score early in the first quarter.

22 PLAY | DECEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

Written by: DATLYN SCHAFER Photographed by: JESSICA WINKLER Designed by: TYLER WILLIAMS

ith the in kindergarten and seasons competitive in Third grade” changing, Wiseman said. comes an Starting young gives the exciting player more time to gain time for girls team sports. experience and strength in Girls basketball coach Jessica aspects of the game. Crawford is preparing for a “I am a really good new season. outside shooter, usually “I think we will be a from the three point line” team that gets a lot better Wiseman said. throughout the season” A strong leader to keep Crawford said. the team coordinated and With many new faces to calm is very important, the high school game, the girls and Wiseman believes team will have to re-adapt to she is able to take the the different environment they responsibility. are in. “I have always had “They’re really coachable leadership skill. I always and they play really hard” think of others before Crawford said. myself because it takes Hoping to recover from last a team to win a game” years season, coach Crawford Wiseman said. is trying to keep her team Showing very promising together. skills and personality, “Last season was an Morgan Wiseman is ready emotional roller coaster” to prove herself as a leader, Crawford said. as well as a dominant player After many injuries and on the court. ineligibilities last season, this The girls are prepared to is a fresh start for the girls have a good season this basketball team. year, and coach Crawford Sophomore Morgan is ready to lead them to Wiseman is a center for victory. the girls varsity basketball team, and is starting to look Written by: CAMERON SCHULENBURG like a leader for the team. Photographed by: AMARI CHILDS Encouraged by her dad and growing up with basketball Designed by: TYLER WILLIAMS being very prevalent in her life, Wiseman started to play at a young age. “I started playing recreational

PLAY | DECEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

SKATE SKATE TEACHING ON SKATES

Worker Brady Thompson skates around the ice to help the new skaters. “Teaching people how to actually skate is pretty cool.” Thompson said.

HOLIDAY HOBBIES

Skater Santa glides across the ice to help bring some Christmas cheer to the children “It’s wonderful to be Santa to all the kids and those that believe.” Santa said.

BEGINNER’S BALANCE

ON ON LSR7 Lee’s Summit H.S. Hi-Life 400 SE Blue Pkwy. Lee’s Summit, MO 64063

Junior Caitlin Vento skates around the rink for her first time in five years. “I really like the atmosphere. It’s a really cute place and a lot of fun.” Vento said.

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Lee’s Summit, MO 64063