Freshman 2016

HI-LIFE | LEE’S SUMMIT MO | VOLUME 98 | ISSUE 1 | 8/16/16 | $0.50

LOST: TRAVERSE THE HALLS WITH CONFIDENCE WITH INSIDER MAPS PG. 9

HI-LIFE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carter Moore

NEWS EDITORS Cori Matney and Miles Ward

“As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well-used brings happy death.”

-Leonardo da Vinci

FEATURES EDITOR Johanna Holmberg OPINIONS EDITOR Madeline Antey

“Have courage and be kind” - Cinderella

COPY EDITORS Angela Lenhardt Molly Goetz PHOTO EDITOR Julia Ngega ADS MANAGER Mariah Walkenhorst WEB EDITOR Garrett Stroginis “In order to write about life you must first live it.”

-Ernest Hemingway

ADVISER Marc Russell

“It’s not your life, it’s life. Life is bigger than you. Life isn’t something that you possess, it’s something that you take part in and you witness.”

- Louis C.K.

REPORTERS Ana Arteaga, Abby Ault, Ashley Ault, Izzy Demarco, Aspen DePeralta, Christina Felix, Eli Frazee, Maggie Gadd, Rylan Gregg, Renee Haskell, Grace Hoffman, Mathewos Keller, Makenzie Kraxberger, Phoenix Laspy, Brittany LeJune, Angela Lenhardt, Mason Mackey, Da’Quon McGee, Renee Merlin, Makenna Nickens, Jaimie Pearce, David Perkins, Grant Pierson, Mallory Rajer, Samantha Schierholz, Lynsie Shipman, Lexi Stiers-Seacreas, Sierra Terry, Haley Townley, Anthony Villareal, Claire Wagner

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SCHOOL HACKS: LEARN HOW TO MAKE LIFE IN HIGH SCHOOL AS EASY AS POSSIBLE

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FEATURE

TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 14

GET AN INSIDE LOOK INTO THE CLASS OF 2017’S FRESHMAN YEAR

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IT IS DIFFICULT TO STAY CHILL IN THE HEAT. TAKE THESE TIPS TO REMAIN DRY AND HAPPY

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TAKE A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE TIGER SPORTS THAT WILL BE OPEN TO ATTENDENCE

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SENIOR ANGELA LENHARDT STARTS A CLUB TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE POSITIVITY 02 | HI+ LIFE <

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DO positive! Walking through the doors of this high school is like a smack in 1 Be the face. Thoughts are running through the freshman’s minds such as “Do I look okay?” or “This is going to be harder than I thought.” It does not matter! If they are positive, nothing can get past them.

2 Get involved. Be active in the school’s activities. In doing so, the opportuni-

ties of meeting new people, learning new things, and increasing the ability to play a sport, sing a song, or make a robot will come. Go through the list of extracurricular activities and see what sticks out the most, and then do it.

that people actually do not care. Many freshman are worried about 3 Realize what they wear, who they talk to, and what they are doing because they

do not want to look ridiculous. Everyone else is so busy worrying about themselves and what homework they have to do, that they don’t notice the freshman or anyone else for that matter.

DON’T not try to blend in with the upperclassmen! As a freshman, the upper1 Do classmen are automatically going to make fun of them. No worries, the

upperclassmen were treated this way when they were freshman too. It is almost like a tradition, and freshman will understand once they become an upperclassmen themselves. Blending in with the upperclassmen can change their outlook on the freshman because freshman will seem cocky and rude if they are always trying to one-up or become one of the upperclassmen.

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SCHOOL HACKS

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unning late to catch the bus, only 5 minutes left before school starts and forgot to do math homework, and forgot to study. Don’t worry there’s school life hacks for that.

Those little life hacks see on social media from time to time can be really sometimes helpful. Life hack #1027 says, can always remember the value of Pi by counting each word’s letter in, May I have a large container of coffee (Math hack). Life hack #1725, have a paper due? Need to not be distracted by the internet? Keepmeout.com lets you block sites for a certain time period. Hack #764, if you are able to choose a topic for a paper, pick one that infuriates you the pages will fly by. There are also many fun ones and tricks, from getting an essay longer. It has been proven that peppermint stimulates brain activity and makes you concentrate better so try eating a mint before a test or quiz. To make sure you leave the house on time in the morning, create a playlist exactly as long as you have to get ready. When the last song plays you’ll hustle up like you never have before hack #1582. For studying, study for 30-50 minutes at a time (with a 10 min break in between) is the most effective way to retain info. All of these hacks are provided and created by 1000LifeHacks. com.

The next time forgot to study and or just need a little help for a test, think about these life hacks and you be on your way to a better, less stressful future.

NOT PROCRASTINATE! Everyone knows this one, and they 2 DO probably do not want to hear it again but it is so important! Procrastinat-

ing starts with “I will do it later” and ends with “Look, I have an F in this class.” It is true, and it is not good. Long story short, do not procrastinate.

NOT walk one mph in the halls! No one enjoys being caught up in the 3 Do hallways because the person ahead will not speed up. They stop to talk and talk, and once they start walking again they are as slow as molasses. Do not be this person. Being the person to actually speed things up will result in praise from every teenager in the building.

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Written by MAGGIE GADD AND IZZU DEMARCO Photographed by DAVID PERKINS Designed by JOHANNA HOLMBERG

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WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE ON HAND 1) DEODORANT AND BODY SPRAY:

6) READING BOOK:

must.

7) PHONE CHARGER:

Feeling fresh and clean hroughout the day is a

2) HAIR TIES AND HAIRBRUSH:

Bad hair days happen unexpectedly sometimes. It is always helpful to have a way to fix it within your backpack.

3) EARBUDS:

It is never fun to forget earbuds at home when you are wanting to listen to music. Keeping them in your backpack will ensure that they are always with you.

4) GUM:

Since brushing your teeth at school is difficult at times, gum is a temporary fix for fresh breath.

5) HAND SANITIZER:

It helps pass time in classes with teachers that do not allow phones.

You never know when your phone could run out of battery.

8) WATER AND HEALTHY SNACK:

Bringing a snack and a bottle of water will keep you energized throughout the day.

9) CHAPSTICK:

Having dry lips is never a good thing, so be sure to have chapstick in your backpack at all times.

10) CHROME BOOK AND

CHARGER:

Having your chromebook is a vital key to success in high school; bring your charger to ensure the ability to use it.

The school is filled with germs, prevent getting sick by using hand sanitizer regularly.

Written by MADELINE ANTEY AND GRACE HOFFMAN Photographed by ZION MARISCHLER Designed by JOHANNA HOLMBERG

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TRADITIONS

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Written by ANA ARTEGA Photographed by HI LIFE STAFF Designed by MILES WARD

1. TPX: is hosted every year, and it is a competition

with around 17 teams of school athletes. They run through different courses and games. The team with the most won games wins the annual TPX games.

2. Candle lighting; since 1955 the senior members

of the National Honor Society have presented a silent Candle lighting program. It has been a tradition for almost 60 years in our school that silent Candle lighting program day is designated as a dress-up day for all students and teachers.

3. Black and gold Fridays; every Friday is black and gold spirit wear

4. White out, black out and pink out; some footballs

games have a theme and it is a colored theme fundraiser.

5. Loud crowd; a crowd of seniors who cheer at the

all the games of the season and show awesome school spirit.

That’s True

ACTUALLY

“I heard that the school was really fun and big and there were tons of clubs to join, I know now that the school is really big and it is so much fun and there are so many clubs and people.”

Zion Wiseman “The school was pretty big and I heard that it was easy to get lost. I also heard that it was tons of fun and that we had a lot more freedom than middle school. Now I know that I love the school, it is so much fun, there are tons of activities and teachers are really helpful.”

Tre Kendall

“I heard that the school was the best because of our drumline and just the school itself. I heard that it was really stressful and there is a lot more homework, I know now that our school is great and it is really Merle Summers awesome and it is much easier than middle school.”

“I heard a lot about the teachers and that the school itself was pretty big and that it would not be easy to find our way, but now I know that the school is not as big as I expected and there are many different ways to find Ahmir Stettler your way around. Once you are used to the school, it seems like it gets smaller.”

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5 APPS TO USE THIS SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR- Although a calendar app is not anything new, it is a good idea to start using the app to organize activities. Use the app as a reminder of important events, deadlines, or extracurriculars. The calendar app can also help cut down on procrastination giving a visual of when important dates are incoming. Available on Web browser, iOS, Android

DESMOS- Desmos is an online graphing calculator providing the tools to complete math homework. Not only is desmos available on a web browser, but it is also available on mobile devices allowing for easy access when not in reach of a graphing calculator. Available on Web browser, iOS, Android

GRAMMARLY- Use Grammarly to edit out grammatical errors, and reduce the amount of points taken off assignments for spelling and grammar errors.

Grammarly is an advanced spell check system which explains errors in an attempt to help prevent users from making the same mistake again. Available on Web Browser, iOS

POWERSCHOOL- Instead of using the Powerschool desktop website on mobile devices, use the redesigned powerschool app. The app allows users to check grade progress by providing visual cues for when grades increase or decrease.

Checking recently updated grades also only takes a few taps, as it highlights recently graded assignments.

Available on Web browser, iOS, Android

QUIZLET- Save paper by using quizlet to make flashcards. Quizlet is an online flashcard alternative allowing time to study for tests while on the go. The app provides different ways to learn terms with games, tests, and flashcards.

Users can even look up flashcard sets created by others. Available on Web browser, iOS, Android

Written by MATTHEWOS KELLER Photographed by BRENT WEBER Designed by MASON MACKEY

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THE ART OF STUDYING

Where We Study Many places can be found around the school and community that provide a place to study.

“I usually see people studying in the library or in the cafe,” freshman Megan Kolenda said.

The cafe inisde the library provides food to eat while studying, as well as outlets to charge phones and chromebooks.

“The library is always a good place to study because it is open later, sometimes it can be crowded, but usually it’s quiet in there,” English teacher Diana Lehman said.

There are also various locations around the city that students take advantage of for studying.

“After school I see students at

Written by CHRISTINA FELIX Photographed by BRITTANY LEJUNE Designed by MILES WARD

Starbucks, Panera, and the public libraries too,” Lehman said.

“Good after school places would be parks, a quiet place in your house, or public libraries,” senior Simon Sharber said.

“Studying at a friends house could be good because they can quiz and go over things with you that you are studying,” sophomore Sydney Weyrauch said.

“A good place to study after school would be a coffee shop like Post Coffee because it is quiet and not that busy,” junior Alyssa Felix said.

The school and city offer a wide variety of places for students to study.

STUDY TIPS 1. Remove all distractions from your

enviornment. This includes turning off all unnessicary electronics. Removing distractions helps you focus.

2. Take a 15 minute break every 45

minutes. This will help reenergize your mind and keep your stress levels low.

3. Study a little bit every day rather

than for a long period of time the day befor a test. This will make you retain the inforation better.

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TIGER SPORTS

BOYS BASKETBALL

The varsity boys basketball team went above and beyond expectations in the 2015-2016 season.

The boys went undefeated to State Semi-Finals in Columbia but lost to Kickapoo High School. After a loss in the third-place game, Lee’s Summit finished its season with a 29-2 record.

TI G E R ETTE S

Maddie Chambers, Samantha Franklin, and Maddie Hoffman led the Tigerettes dance team in the 2015-2016 season. They are now passing captain positions to juniors Jaclyn Berry and Grace Hoffman who hope to strengthen the team.

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Written by ALEXIS WILLIAMS Photographed by ALEXIS WILLIAMS Designed by ALEXIS WILLIAMS

GIRLS SOCCER

The 2015-2016 varsity girls soccer team was ranked first in the stateand third in the nation. Undefeated in the 2015-2016 season, the team faced tough opponents such as rivals Lee’s Summit North and St. Teresa’s Academy.

BASEBALL

After losing to sister schools and arch rivals LSW and LSN in the 2015-16 season, the varsity boy’s baseball team is hoping to bounce back for a more rewarding 2016-2017 season.

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BEFORE YOU GRADUATE… Plan early to complete your bucket list

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igh School is only a small portion of your life, so why waste it? Here are the top five things you absolutely must do before you accept your

Ride the tallest waterslide in the world Schlitterbahn Waterpark is bringing something big to Kansas City, literally. Verruckt, the world’s tallest waterslide stands at a startling 168 ft and 7 inches tall. It is suggest to bring good walking shoes! Although the ride is not for the light of heart, it’s an absolute must do before you graduate.

Compete in the Nerf War Grab some darts and gather a team!

The annual nerf war is an exciting way to get involved outside of school with your peers.

Not to mention, there is generally a reward for the winner!

Attend Prom The pinnacle of your junior and senior year prom. This is amust do before you graduate, and it is something you will regret later if you do not. Find your dresses or ties and start dancing!

Road Trip!

Pack your bags and grab some friends. There is no experience quite like a highschool road trip.

Rain or shine!

Take charge of a float!

It is important to learn some leadership in high school, and there is no better way to do it then with a homecoming float. Nothing compares to the homecoming parade.

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Go to a dance! You probably will not be going to prom this year, but you can attend a dance. Whether it be courtwarming or homecoming, alone or with a group it’ is always a blast.

Get involved! Whether it be on stage or on the field, it is important to find your place here as a freshman, and there’s millions of ways to do that. Join a club, sport or performing group!

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he warmer times are here and that calls for a change in your outfits. Stick to the warm colors and pinroll your jeans to create a unique and clean look. Always keep a clean pair of kicks, the shoes to wear for the summer times are called runners which can vary from flyknit racers to free runs. These shoes are low top so they flow with pinrolled jeans and they come in summer colors and are a breezy material so you can be comfortable while fashionable.

An ideal outfit for the street wearers is a longline tee pinrolled denim andy wash and some runners preferably flyknit, this fit just flows and looks right in so many ways.If you’re a different style still keep it clean by wearing a polo button up some denim and monk strap dress shoes or cole haans to keep it breezy and clean. You can be so fashionable in so many ways during the summer, it’s the time to bring out the flowy clothing and just stomp out your competition in those fun summer kicks keep it simple on the top and kill it with the kicks. Be comfortable and have fun with fashion.

Fashion also goes for the girls, which means bring out the sun dresses and wedges or keep it simple and wear some distressed denim, a flowy top of choice, and some sandals. Girls can also spice it up with accessories like glasses and jewelry, but keep it comfortable and unique don’t forget both girls and guys can bring out the chelsea boots to create a versatile look with any fit. At the end of the day fashion is a way to express yourself and show positivity in what you wear have fun with it and make peoples heads turn to look at what you’re wearing that is the goal. Be unique be yourself and look good doing it.

Written by ANTHONY VILLARREAL Photographed by CLAIR WAGNER Designed by CORI MATNEY

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FEATURE Written by ANGELA LENHARDT Photographed by LEXI STIERS Designed by ELIZABETH MARSZALEK

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PROJECT POSITIVE

roject Positive is a club that encourages a healthy body image and positivity. With social media on the rise, poor body image is also climbing rapidly. Social media has become a place for comparison and negativity, and it makes me want to affect a change.

Ninety-five percent of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12-25, making it of great importance to educate teens on healthy body image and eating.

This club will discuss the effects of these unhealthy lifestyles and create a group of high schoolers that come together and support one another.

Body image is something that affects nearly every person and I feel it would be very beneficial to LSHS to have a club where we could come together and discuss these issues.

Poor body image is also rising in teen boys as they are expected to have a body that can only be achieved with steroids. So, everyone would be welcome to join this club even if they

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just want to check it out.

The club would meet with English teacher Carrie Weeda in room A110 every Thursday morning.

The first meeting will be August 26 and will serve as an introduction to the club. We will discuss these topics and have different activities planned throughout the year. We hope to have

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Ninety-five percent of people with eating disorders are between the ages of 12-25, making it of great importance to educate teens on healthy body image and eating.

guest speakers that are experts and can educate on these topics.

This is the first year this club will be at LSHS so feedback and suggestions

from club members will be vital to make this club the best it can be. This cause is important to me and I hope to see it help many teenagers and become a success for many years to come.

Follow us on our twitter page @LSHSProjectPos and direct message with any questions.

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WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN...

SENIOR CONNOR LOVELACE

“I would like to tell freshmen to make sure that they keep up with homework and don’t procrastinate. I know homework seems tedious, but it helps tremendously when it comes to taking the tests at the end of the unit.”

“Don’t be scared.

Everyone seems a little scarier than they are. Some of the coolest people you’ll meet are older and will have more insight on successfully getting through high school.”

SENIOR

HANNA SWARTZ

Also, I would advise taking classes that challenge you, but make sure that you manage them well.”

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TIPS

“Don’t procrastinate, and work hard,” Little said, “Set aside time each night for homework/studying.”

“Find a place to belong: join a club, go out for sports, enroll in a co-curricular class like debate, or music,” Ficken said.

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“Be open to new experiences,” Ficken said, “look for wa ys to form new relationships while keeping old friends.”

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“Practice goal-setting: immediate goals, shortterm and long-term goals,” Ficken said, “Develop a plan to meet the goals you set.”

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“Use social media for good: check out the school website and Twitter accounts for lots of good information,” Ficken said.

“Use available resources such as accessing extra help from a teacher, after-school tutoring, asking advisors/ mentors for guidance and the counseling center,” Ficken said.

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“Don’t be afraid to leave your bubble because the activities you don’t expect are the ones you’ll find a passionate experience in.”

Written by MASON MACKEY AND SAM SCHIERHOLZ Photographed by MAKENNA NICKENS AND ASHELY AULT Designed by CORI MATNEY

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” counselor Connie Ficken said. “Talk to your teachers. Don’t be afraid of them. They are here to help you. Visit with them before or after school if you need help. The more you do that, the more successful you’ll be,” counselor Kristin Little said.

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HOW TO WIN THE

NERF WAR

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Written by CARTER MOORE Photographed by CARTER MOORE AND JOHANNA HOLMBERG Designed by CARTER MOORE

With Advice from the legends, an arsenal that the CIA is envious of, and strategy straight from Sun Tzu, the Hi+Life Nerf War Bible has arrived.

ARMORY

“We don’t let them have ideas. Why would we let them have guns?“ -Joseph Stalin

NERF N-STRIKE RENEGADE: FPS: 30ish Clip: 8 Accuracy: On the Nail NERF SKIMITAR: Length: 13 in Lethality: Foam Death Blockage: minimal

Sun Tzu Strategy: The Art of (Nerf) War

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n the 5th century, before christianity, the Roman Empire, and even sliced bread, the Chinese Empire ruled the entire East with an iron fist, and had seemingly perfected the Art of War. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” Sun Tzu, the legendary Chinese war commander said.

Take this advice into your Nerf strategy by learning everything possible about your enemies, addresses, activities, cars, family members, and use this to your advantage.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” Tzu said.

This is to say, be quiet. The nerf teams that lose quickly lose due to their obviousness of where they are and when, throwing away the advantage to their opponents.

STAPLE LSHS EVENTS AUG First football game

SEPT Homecoming- the first dance of the year

MAR Mr. tiger- senior boys “beauty pageant”

APR Prom- last dance for the seniors

MAY TPX games- like field day but more competitive, only athletes can participate.

Graduation