Hi Life Magazine September 30, 2011 Issue 1 Vol.93
What You Need To Know. Now.
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825 NE Deerbrook Lee’s Summit MO
(next to the Fairfield Inn on 291 Hwy)
www.mocentral.org 816.246.0002
NEW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
JACOB LAUDIE, DDS
GRAND OPENING SPECIAL
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HI.LIFE 2011
FOR LIFE!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
September Vol. 93 No. 1
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5 Things You’ll Know After Reading This Issue:
- A few Swedish phrases -Where to find some showcased art and some good music -Tips to stay flu free this season -Reasons for the food policy changing -The top Gateway books that should be read
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Table of Contents
6) Operation Impact: A tragic story affects the students
7) Forbidding Foods: The main reasons the food policy is altered
12) Cheap & Affordable Fashion: Get a new wardrobe for cheap.
13) Canvas Campus: Great Art & Music is taking over Longview
14) Gateway Books: Best Gateway nominees are in the library.
15) Musician Q&A: Undiscoved musicians interviewed
21) Foreign Phrases: Learn useful sayings for Sweden
22) Dressing Correctly: What is our dress code compared to others?
27) Striking Out: There is a new club rolling into the school
31) Interview with an Athlete: Ever wonder what athletes
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On The Cover:
Bullying is a problem at every school, but many people do not take the time to see it. See more on pg.16. Picture by Elaine Fouchia
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HI.LIFE 2011
LETTER
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Balancing Act
MIKAYLA FROMMER
It is a new school year and all of us get a fresh start. We get new teachers, new classes, new clothes and maybe even some new friends. No matter what we have new though, we still have a lot to keep up on. Since the year has already started moving along, homework is piling up and tests and quizzes are coming at students like no other. For kids involved in many different school activities, it can sometimes be difficult to balance the work load with everything they are in and to try and still have a social life outside of school. Many of students are able to find a perfect balance somehow though. The key to all of it is to have time management skills. If people can not keep some fairly decent estimates on how long the activities they choose to partake in, they will not be able to find time for their homework. If we do not get our homework done quickly, we do not have times to hang out with our friends and still maintain good grades. Face it, once we get out of school and get home, none of us want to do our homework, but we still have to. So what is a way to lighten the amount of work taken home? Use your time. A lot of students have time to spare at the end of a few of their classes and that extra time is perfect for completing homework from other classes. If you are just sitting there doing nothing, there is no reason to not do things for other classes. Also, if a student happens to get done eating lunch fast, or they get to their class early, those are good times to work on homework as well. Once homework is out of the way, us students have so much more free times on our hands and we have many more things we can do. Everything in school is a balancing act and we just need to take a little time to find our equilibrium. So whether you are trying to keep good grades, or just have more of a social life this school year, just remember, it is all in the time management.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
Editor in Chief: Mikayla Frommer Web Editor in Chief: Kevin Adams Photo Editor: Elaine Fouchia and Zac Harris News Editor: Mary Jo Roccaro and Michelle Hurley Features Editor: Tyler Robertson Entertainment Editor: Haley Gillilan and Shelby McNealy Fashion Editor: Tori Carlie and Jordan Jullian Opinions Editor: Jacob Valentine Sports Editor: Nick Rellihan Copy Editor: Paige Seymour Ads Manager: Sierra Lewis Advisor: Marc Russell
Writers and Photographers: Paige Allin, Kaelyn Bailey, Jonathon Barr, Darby Beatty, Taylor Berg, Taylor Bruce, Marissa Corcoran, Samuel Eames, Chelsea Englis,Victoria Gardner, Dylan Glover, Daniel Graham, Aaron Hagan, Joshua Harris, Andy Jarnevic, Courtney Jeffries, Harlee Kelley, Chloe Maberry, Carly McCarthy, Anna Meyers, Ian Nickens, Hannan Nickles, Sydney Nyquist, Taelor Oller, Logan Phillips, Andrew Potter, Matthew Rellihan, Jessica Rhoades, James Ross, Jared Shepherd, Kailyn Smith, Jude Spaulding, Arna Steinarsdottir, Sean Stevens, Megan Terry, Tierney VanMeter, Shelby Wagner, Tristan White, Ashley Hagan, Nicole Kelleher, Kimberly Tabe, Aaron Wood, Ashley Burrison, Jacob DePeralta, Timothy Snook, Jesse Butler, Wendy Hayworth, John Wood JLABMAG.COM 5
NEWS
Race for the Future
This event is a fun, different way to help out.
runners, 70-80 ‘dream partners’ find a way to participate without running by donating 25 dollars to the foundation. With an entry fee of 20 dollars per runner, the race has generated over 20,000 dollars in previous years. This year, the majority of the money raised is going to fund the PEAK grants that allocate money to specific causes within the district. This years’ focus is retrofitting elementary schools with up to date technology. With this year’s race aiming to improve technology, it is fitting that tracking chips are “It’s all about compassion, connection, and community,” foundation going to be given to all the racing contestants director Sheryl Frankee said. for the first time in the race’s history. The tracking chips will be used to obtain more accurate results and an official placing list. It is Saturday morning and a bleary eyed man is stumbling around Lee’s While the main goal of the race is to raise money, the people behind the scenes are Summit West in a semi-circuitous doing their best to make it a fun event. One fashion. All the lofty goals The Race for the Future boasts are obscured by of the ways they are trying to accomplish this is by entering anyone who can beat the the early morning sunlight reflecting off the sweat beading in the runner’s superintendent’s race time into a drawing for a 100 dollar Hy-Vee gift card. eyes. “It’s all about compassion, connection, Race for the Future is set to take place on Oct. 8. To sign up for the student senate and community,” foundation director team, simply turn in the race entry form to Sheryl Frankee said. Stansberry Leadership Center by 3pm today. The race has grown from 75 people to over 800. In addition to the 800 Sstory by Sam Eames photos by Paige Allin
Operation Impact The PAC fills up quickly as students file in. Everyone is chatting, glad to be out of their last two classes for the day. It is not long before principal John Faulkenberry motions for silence. “Operation Impact is a program that tries to influence teenagers to make positive decisions. Especially young drivers making decisions on the road,” Special Services teacher Kevin White said. Traditionally, Operation Impact has taken place before Prom and was only attended by seniors. This year, however, it was decided that this program was too important to be put off for that long and for so few student-drivers to 6 HI.LIFE 2011
see it. The event started off with a simple yet powerful video. Images of blood splattered limbs poking out of the wreckage and bodies crumpled on the ground shocked the crowd. “This is our second year having Maddy speak for us,” White said. Throughout the video, Maddy Cannon avoids looking at the screeen. “I’m not going to say that I was a perfect child because I wasn’t,” alumni Maddy Cannon said. That night, she had told her mom she was going bowling with a friend. That was a lie; they were going out of town and drinking the whole way. “We were obviously
Note: teenagers are not invincible.
drunk, stumbling around a gas station parking lot,” Cannon said. A friend offered to give them a ride, but they left before he could. “That was the last thing I remember. I woke up two weeks later in the hospital,” Cannon said. Simple everyday tasks are now difficult for Maddy. “I am 19 years old and I shower with my mom. I rely on everyone else around me for everything,” Cannon said. Cannon has made it a point to return to her former school to speak. “I do not want you to feel sorry for me. I got what I deserved. You’re sitting there thinking this sort of thing will
never happen to you. her a standing ovation This is something that as she smiled down at happens to someone them all. else. Well, to me, you are someone else,” Cannon said. “I feel like a prisoner in my own body. I want to get up. I know what it feels like to stand on my own two feet and walk,” Cannon said. Throuhout the event, the audience hung on to her every word. She “I feel like a prisoner in my own body. I want to had a point get up. I know what it feels like to stand on my own two feet and walk,” Cannon said. to prove and she proved it. When it was Story by: Wendy Hayworth over the audience gave
NEWS
Forbidding Foods The new food policy has created some very strong opinions. It is Culture Day in Spanish. Everyone is filling their plates with traditional Mexican foods to sample. That is when it all starts. A quiet boy in the back of the room bites into a cookie someone brought in. No one pays attention, but they should. His body breaks out in hives. His throat swells shut. His breathing stops. His body shuts down. All it took was one bite. One bite to cause the allergic reaction. One bite to kill him. The current food policy is designed to protect students from potentially deadly situations like this one. “So many kids deal with food allergies, so we’re trying to make it as safe an environment as possible,” principal John Faulkenberry said. This policy limits what foods are allowed to be brought in for sharing. Only foods with a list of ingredients and nutrition facts are permitted. “We shouldn’t be serving food without knowing our audience because you don’t know who has allergies. The days of having homemade foods are gone,” Faulkenberry said. The Missouri School Board decided on this policy. The superintendent and administrators essentially have no say and must follow the rules for liability reasons. “Anyone who chooses to ignore board policy would lose their job,” Faulkenberry said. Allergy problems have never been a serious issue at
Keep Out- Only foods with a list of ingredients and nutrition facts are permitted to be in the school this year. “So many kids deal with food allergies, so we’re trying to make it as safe an environment as possible,” principal John Faulkenberry said.
Lee’s Summit High School.. “In my nine years, I don’t think we’ve ever had a food allergy that’s gotten out of control,” Faulkenberry said. With that said, some teachers and staff members believe this policy is a little extreme. “At 15 to 17 years old, you should know what you’re allergic to and how to handle it,” culinary instructor Tracy Bertoncin said. Others, however, disagree with Bertoncin’s statement. “Our students’ safety is our number one priority, so it’s not a bad thing,” Spanish teacher Maria Pabon said. Many teachers and students are seeing the changes this policy has caused first-hand. Fortunately
for Bertoncin, this policy does not affect any of her culinary classes. “Foods are prepared by students in class under my supervision with known ingredients from published cookbooks,” Bertoncin said. The modern language department is not so lucky, though. “We are exposed to different cultures, and it’s challenging for teachers to find foods that are prewrapped with a food label,” Pabon said. Even though Pabon has never had a student have an allergic reaction, Culture Days, a popular aspect of modern language courses, will now be limited. “I guess my students will
have to get that experience outside of the classroom,” Pabon said. Student safety is the number one concern for the school district, so the food policy is not likely to disappear anytime soon. “I have to follow it, teachers have to follow it, and students have to follow it. It’s very set in stone,” Faulkenberry said. Whether the students and staff like it or not, the food policy is here to stay.
story by Shelby Wagner photos by James Ross
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NEWS
Rolling in the dough- The athletic department is bringing in a lot of money this year
ACTIVITY FEES
New policies have our athletes and band members paying to play
Our high school changes its policies every year. This year, we not only have to pay to attend the games, but our athletes also have to pay to play. This year, several of the school activities require an activity fee. All of the athletes in a team sport, choirs, orchestras, bands, debate students, the scholar bowl the cheerleaders, the dance team, and the color guard will have to pay the fee. “Mixed Chorus and clubs do not have to be paid for, along with some individual sports,” activities director Dan Schnell said. Students ask what the money goes towards. “All the money goes into one general account that is through the school board. The school does not directly receive the money,” Schnell said. Even though the school does not directly receive the money, some is filtered back into the school through principal John Faulkenberry. Then it is used to purchase things like
FLU SEASON
TIPS AND TRICKS TO KEEP YOU HEALTHY THIS FLU SEASON story by Kaelyn Bailey photos by Darby Beatty
November to February- The tip of the flu season can mean sore throats, coughing, runny nose, sneezing, grumpy people and many other symptoms; but whether people are surrounded by fellow students at school or just wanting to help keep their family healthy, there are some simple, easy tricks to stay snifflefree this flu season. “Washing your hands, don’t share your food or drinks, and eat healthy; especially fruits and vegetables,” school nurse RN med Helen Enright said. Washing our hands, not sharing foods with other people, and eating healthy are easily done but people can also get a flu shot as an alternative and safe way to keep from getting the flu. “Family physicians and a flu shot clinic are the best places to get a flu shot,” Enright said. Being familiar to the symptoms of the flu can become valuable knowledge. Symptoms of the flu can be very similar to a cold or allergies, so before rushing to the nearest doctor or 8 HI.LIFE 2011
instruments for those who cannot afford them or thing like new football jerseys. With the tough economy, parents wondered if there would be a limit on how much money they would have to pay. The school board came up with a plan to limit the costs. “Each musical activity costs $50 with a limit of $100 dollars for music. The same plan exists for sports resulting in a $200 limit per family,” Schnell said. Other commonly asked questions are how long will the school have to pay the fees, and what would happen if students did not have to pay them? “We will continue to pay activity fees until the board decides that it is in a good place and they don’t need the extra money for the schools,” Schnell said. “If the students didn’t pay the fees, there would need to be more fundraising to levitate the finance cuts.” Students have to pay to be a part of the activities they participate in. Even if the school always has to pay the fees, at least students will get to continue participating in their activities. story by Kailyn Smith photos from Associated Press
Time is money, money is time- The more athletes and band members the more money our athletic department makes
walgreens to get a shot know the symptoms of the flu. “Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny nose, headaches, chills, and fatigue are the most common symptoms of the flu,” Enright said. So do not forget to wash hands, eat healthy and do not share that cookie or drink at lunch. These are just a few simple, cheap tricks to keep bodies healthy and everyone safe and sniffle-free this upcoming flu season. Sniffle-Free- There are many things you can do to stay away from the doctor. “Washing your hands, don’t share your food or drinks, and eat healthy; especially fruits and vegetables,” school nurse RN med Helen Enright said.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Behind The Scenes
Every student gets to see the end result of the yearbook, but what they do not see is how it is put together. The yearbook is a vital part of schools everywhere; we could not possibly have a better thing that is only made by students. It is also an important part of the school year. In what other way could students get the idea that the school year is finally coming to an end? Everyone looks forward to this moment and it is now a part of the tradition. This year the yearbook staff has four classes that are full of students wanting to learn. The whole process takes the whole year from start to finish. Students write multiple stories throughout their time in the class. There are not a lot of deadlines in the class, so they move on to another story as soon as they finish the one that they are on. Staff members do many different things to make the yearbook possible. Everyone has a different role to play, so students will work with others to do something else. Each person is assigned to a partner who will have the same story as them, and they work together. Having a partner makes everyone’s job easier, because they split up the responsibilities of interviewing, writing, taking pictures and designing.
JLA B com - one o p wor uters f the k m spr . “In yearbo any e Y o for ads, pi earboo k uses c k Sch pop tar tures, we fo to ts!” arre and cus r sa o id. editor ur lov on e Ally son
people omething s been s s from many ay w al k has y morie “Yearboo great me most importantl and have r as io h n h s e ri t s e I h ,” c t. come their pas ecades to d years in r o f d orize been mem nnan said. Bre e n n ia z Jo
“I love being on the yearbook staff. I like doing what I do, and I like the people that I work with,” returning yearbook staff member Megan Patrick said. Many people think that yearbook is a great class for multiple reasons. There is not a lot of homework, they have an option to write or take pictures, and the only deadline they have to meet is at the end of the year. While the yearbook staff is busy doing their work, they come across good ideas that always make them happy. “My best experience was finding a spread idea that was really good, and using it. I really don’t have any bad experiences,” Patrick said. At the beginning of the year the advanced students are hard at work putting together the yearbook, while the beginners are learning the basics. The students that are first entering yearbook have a lot to learn about what they will be doing for the rest of the year. They start off the year learning and begin working on the publication later. Towards the end of the year, after the deadline, the class continues to work on the yearbook for the next year. At this time they put together a section about
things that didn’t get printed in the current issue. This is a way that nothing will be forgotten, and everything has a chance to make it in. “This year the yearbook is set to come out on May third, It should be really good,” Patriok said. The day that the yearbook comes out marks the first day of yearbook signing. This is a fun day when everyone will get together and have their fellow classmates sign and write messages in their yearbooks. Students in yearbook like what they do, they like the class, and they like knowing that the whole school appreciates what they have been working on all year. The students also think that it is a good class and the outcome is worth it. The point of this class is to learn how to be a good writer, photographer, or designer. Whichever they choose, students feel the the biggest reward of this class is getting to read the finished product at the end of the year. story by Ashley Hagan photos by Tristan White
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FASHION
Color of the
Purple Passion THE CRAZE FOR THIS MONTH IS PURPLE!
Purple can be a great accent color. There’s many different shades, so take a look at the fashionable items selected for this month
1) Bar III $32.40
These high rise shorts can be casual or perfect for when you need something fancy.
2) Sugarlips $68
The beads add sparkle and sass for an astonishing look.
3) I-N-C $89
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The latest peacoat style ends right at the waist to convey a fashionable look.
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4) I-N-C $22
A scarf is an elegnt accessory, which helps you stay warm while looking amazing.
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5) Sunny Leigh $29.98
This top is dressy and has lots of flair to make an extrordinary first impression.
6) Kenneth Cole $48.30
These can be worn with jeans or a skirt to top off a fabulous look.
By Tori Carlile Photos by Tori Carlile
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HI.LIFE 2011
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FASHION
MONTH: PURPLE Fiercely Purple ADD THESE STYLIN’ ACCESSORIES TO MAKE AN OUTFIT EVEN BETTER.
If an outfit is boring, here are some examples to maintain a fashionable sense of style.
1) Style & Co. $20
A chunky ring will complete any outfit making it look stunning.
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2) Coach - Poppy $228
Coach’s brand Poppy has brought bright colors a new taste of diva style to the Coach world.
3) Betsey Johnson $150
An extravigant necklace such as this one, with its exciting charms and colors is sure to complete an outfit.
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4) Betsey Johnson $55
This matching bracelet will make an outfit burst with pazazz.
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5) Style & Co. $26
With a plain shirt, this necklace will spice up any outfit.
6) Macy’s Brand $34
This necklace will add syle to any top with its cheetah, purple, and gold hues.
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By Tori Carlile Photos by Tori Carlile
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FASHION
Hair Flair
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AN INSIDE LOOK ON HAIR STYLES
There are many different hair styles that are popular right now. Whether it is a short pixie cut or brightly colored highlights, there are a variety trends to fit any type of style. “Steven Tyler (the guy on American Idol) made me want feathers,” sophomore Frankye Koontz said. Some people’s hair styles are inspired by celebrities, but some, like sophomore Chandler Curley’s hair style are inspired by their friends. “A lot of my friends have different colored streaks in their hair,” Curley said. Curley decided to get rainbow hair because she wanted to be different from everyone. She always saw people with the same color of hair, brunette or blonde. “I love it, it really expresses me,” Curley said. Another rising trend among females is the pixie cut. “I had a pixie cut for two and a half years until recently, I started to grow it out, but I did start the trend here at school,” senior Kimberly McCarty said. One trend that is becoming more popular is tinsel. Tinsel is a shiny streak placed in the hair, similar to a feather. “Tinsel is not quite as popular as feathers. Often someone will come in to get feathers and I talk them into tinsel too,” hairstylist Emily Fouchia said. Fouchia hopes that tinsel will become more popular in the future. She said that it is a lot more fun than feathers. Many people are in demand for tinsel and feathers, ranging from as young as five to in their fifties. There are many styles that are trendy right now. There are also many options when trying to find one that fits a personal style, whether it is a bright feather or a cute pixie cut.
Hair That Gets Stares Top: “I got my feathers before anyone else,” sophomore Frankye Koontz said. Middle: “I don’t care what people think of my hair,” sophomore Chandler Curley said. Bottom: “My hair is really low maintenance,” senior Kimmy McCarty said.
story by Jessica Rhoades photos by Harlee Kelley
LOOK GOOD FOR LESS
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Cheap & Chic
Fashions come and go and so do their prices. Buying a pair of jeans at the mall costs fifty dollars. That new American Eagle sweatshirt would be forty-five dollars. That same pair of jeans at Plato’s Closet, a mere fifteen dollars. That name-brand sweatshirt is now eleven dollars. Spotting these deals, priceless. From casual to vintage, goth to preppy, there are many styles that are desired by teenagers these days, but at what price? “Current teenage style is what we have most of here,” Plato’s Closet employee Destiny Spry said. These can be found for much lower prices that what would usually be found in the mall or other name brand stores. Selling for ages 13-22, Plato’s Closet’s stock mostly consists of t-shirts and jeans, but has a variety of accessories to compliment a teenager’s new wardrobe. “We only buy clothing in good conditions. No rips, stains, added color, and the clothes have to be clean,” Spry said. The clothes are always in the best of conditions when bought. They cannot be in bad shape. Thrift stores are also perfect for finding almost anything desired: vintage clothing, halloween costumes, shoes, and anything else a shopper is looking for. There is such a wide variety of clothing to choose from, and all of it is cheaper than at malls or other name brand stores such as Abercrombie and Fitch. Whether the personal style is a name brand or the fashion statement from a vintage look, it is always better to have cheaper place to shop then having to overpay for the same outfit. story by Anna Myers photos by Victoria Gardner 12 HI.LIFE 2011
Looks for Less Top: Plato’s Closet has a variety of shoes for a fraction of the price, Middle: Mannequins are displayed up top to showcase fashions. Bottom: Plato’s Closet is a choice for many teenagers.
Canvas Campus
ENTERTAINMENT
The scoop on this year’s Longview Art Fair By Ian Nickens Photos by Nicole Kelleher
There is only one thing that can combine art and music in one place at the same time in complete harmony. This would be none other than the local Longview Art and Music fair. The Longview Art and Music Fair is held every year at the Longview Community College located at 3rd and View High Drive, Lee’s Summit. This year the fair will be held on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1&2. This is not just some little fair with a few booths and a few ponies, this is the real deal. There will be around 90 professional artists and several bands performing. As a matter of fact, there will be horses. The two mascots of Longview Elementary, Hart and Loula, will be there for display purposes only, so stay off of them. At the fair, there are many activities such as hayrides around the campus, face painting, awards ceremonies, and the always entertaining Chalk Walk. The Chalk Walk is a competition among schools to see who can draw the best chalk art. Each school that Get Creative. The Longview Art Festival showcases participates has three or four teams. Each team is given a section of sidewalk and several art and music from all around Kansas City. Many students can be featured its just a matter of submitting hours to complete their drawings. This year’s theme is vintage postcards. to longviewartmusicfest.com. “Artists have to apply “Around 40,000 people attended last year, so the same number of people or higher are by sending in work to be judged.” Art teacher Angela Hayes said. likely to attend the fair this year,” Art teacher Angela Hayes said. There’s family fun and it’s just a great place to be. Plus there’s tons of art from everyone,” Hayes said. So, to satisfy the lust for art and the passion for music, or maybe just go to check it out. Go to the the Longview Art and Music fair. If you are interested in participating in the chalk walk, talk to Mrs. Prindle, room B124, and fill out an application. For more information, go to www.longviewartmusicfest.com.
The Upside of Social Networking Some benefits you want to know
Parents always yell at their kids to get off the computer because they are getting distracted when they are supposed to be finishing an English paper, and far too many teens spend much of the day trying to figure out what new status should be posted to notify the world of what is going on. Even with everyone using social networks, people wonder what the positives of the sites are. Studies have shown that using social networks can actually enhance teenagers’ social skills, and it is good for self-expression. “I love Twitter because I try to come up with fun, witty tweets,” sophomore Frankye Koontz said. “Sometimes I really feel like a creeper looking at everyone else’s statuses, tweets, or pictures.” Many clubs and activities have started using groups on Facebook as a way to inform members of important information. “The only bad thing is that you can get ‘addicted’, and that’s all you can do,” Sites said. “I spend about 3 hours using a social network each day.” Although people feel like a creeper sometimes, social networking is a great way to be informed about upcoming events. But researchers have found that all of those hours spent on social networking sites have not been a complete waste . Studies show that social networking can actually help teenagers become better writers because of the 140 word limit on statuses or tweets. People have to become more concise in order to get their point across. “I love Twitter because you don’t have friends, you have followers, and it allows you to follow people you’re interested in, including famous people like Justin Bieber or David Beckham,” Sites said. That is yet another positive to social networking. Everyone is able to find out things about people that they may not have known before, and it allows people with common interests to come together. “Social networking has an effect on my homework when I’m at home. I’ll get distracted and end up getting on Facebook,” Koontz said. There is no doubt that there can be negatives when it comes to social networking, but it is important to see how there are positives as well. Just like many other things in life, everything should be done in moderation. So next time someone complains about how their friends are spending too much time on Facebook or Twitter, let them know it is actually making them a better writer and helping further their social skills while getting informed. They just need to make sure they get their English paper done before logging on and getting distracted.
Express yourself. People use social networking for communication and opinions. Many people are addicted and say that they could not live without facebook or twitter.
By Sydney Nyquist Photo by Arna Steinarsdottir
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ENTERTAINMENT
Which Gateway Novels are worth your time this year.
Gateway Novels
The Gateway’s may have a deceiving name, but do not be confused, they are not a big arch or anything, they are books that are recommended as some of the best written in Lee’s Summit. Many people talk about the books and say they need to be read, but for those who do not like reading, they wonder if the books are worth their time. While the book club is eating pizza and voting for the favorite books of the year, the library keeps their party going. The library has a pizza party for everyone who reads the Gateway. There are many books to choose from, but for those who need a quick read, the librarians have suggested If I Grow up by Todd Strasser, The Chosen One by Carol Lynch, and Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick. All of these books are fast reads that will pull anyone through at intense speeds. For a lot of people it is hard to get through a book in one sitting, so here are a few that are easy to set down and come back to Hate List by Jennifer Brown, and The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford. These are perfect for busy people with lots on their plates. Many teens are just interested in the most popular books though, and the ones that most often are checked out from the library are: Hate List by Jennifer Brown, King of The Screw-ups by K. L Going, and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. In Hate List, Valerie’s boyfriend opens fire in a school cafeteria and kills 6 people and leaves countless wounded. Now haunted by the memory of her boyfriend, Valerie has to come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to move on with life and make amends. King of The Screw-ups, Liam Geller is the most popular boy at school, but he has an uncanny ability to screw up in the very ways that tick off his father the most. When his father finally throws him out Liam’s uncle, a gay glam-rocker disc jockey who lives in a trailer upstate New York. This is not at all what Liam has planned for senior year. Liam tries to remake himself into a total nerd to be everything his father wants him to be. Now Liam has to decide which version of himself he can live with. Morgue and Me, Christopher had no plan on working in a morgue this summer, and discovering a murder cover-up wasn’t mentioned in the job description. That is exactly what happened and now Christopher has to decide what to do. 14 HI.LIFE 2011
Normally one would call the cops, but the sheriff is the prime suspect. Now Christopher’s brother has disappeared. What’s going to happen next? Whether people are going to the library for a quick read, the most popular book, or the patch, the library provides it all. story by Anna Myers photos by Marissa Corcorn
ENTERTAINMENT
A Different Note Q: What are your musical backgrounds? Luke: I played the saxophone until 7th grade for school band, which was fun. I started taking bass lessons in 8th grade. I taught myself some guitar along the way and played bass for a band in sophomore year. Q: What were your favorite bands at ages 10, 14, and now? Luke: When I was 10, I really loved Led Zeppelin and Outkast. At 14 my favorites were Tool, Modest Mouse, The Roots, and the Talking Heads. I still love Modest Mouse and the Roots today. Some of my other favorites are Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Boards of Canada, The Get Up Kids, and Charlie Parker. I mostly like instrumental stuff these Q: What are your favorite songs, albums, and artists at the moment?
Q&A with two intriguing LSHS musicians.
Luke: My favorite albums this year are Shutter Release by Lymbyc System and Zoo Weather EP by Tera Melos. I’ve also been listening to MellowHype and A Tribe Called Quest. days. Q: Do you see music as a part of your future, career or otherwise? Luke: I plan on being in bands in the future. Right now I’m in the early stages of a semifunctional instrumental band with just bass, drums, and ambient electronics. I’m going into audio and film editing, so recording bands and making music for my films is how I plan to become a billionaire. Q: What are your musical influences? Luke: I’m really influenced by stuff like Jazz, postrock, math-rock, and ambient music. I hate vocal music, and am likely to enjoy anything instrumental. I like bands that are unique.
Having been inspired by various artists and genres of music, senior Edgar Enriquez plays several different instruments. “I play guitar, rhythm bass, and drums.”
Influenced by jazz and rock music, senior Luke Drape has played the bass since the eighth grade. “I’m going into audio and film editing, so recording bands and making music for my films is how I plan to become a billionaire.”
Q: What are your musical backgrounds? Edgar: I used to listen to whatever was on the radio, which was mostly soft rock, late night jazz, hip-hop, and church hymns. I didn’t start to branch out until around middle school. Q: What were your favorite bands at ages 10, 14, and now? Edgar: At the age of 10, I was really into classical music. This was Handel, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc. I was simple-minded. By the time I was 14 I had uncovered what had developed around me and made the mistake of accepting anything with a caterwauling guitar and the rhythm of bass and drum. Now I can enjoy any music with intelligent design. Q: Do you see music as a part of your future, career or otherwise? Edgar: I would love to play music for the rest of my life. People need to be well-
rounded. They need to jog, eat, learn, work, talk, and above all practice creativity. Q: What are your musical influences? Edgar: My main musical influences have got to be The Beatles, Olivia Tremor Control, and Snoop Dog. Q. What are your favorite songs, albums, and artists at the moment? Edgar: I used to indecisive, but now I’m not so sure. If I had to pick, I think a band I really enjoy at the moment is The Books. An album I can listen to all the way through would be Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues, and a song I cannot get out of my head is A Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?”. Story by Sam Eames Photos by Jake DePeralta
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KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH JLABMAG.COM
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CENTERSPREAD CENTERSPREAD
Bullying Bullying is more than relevant. In fact it is evolving. As the internet grows, the threat grows as well. While the internet allows for more and more creative ways to trample someone underfoot, face to face bullying is becoming less common. That does not mean that it has gone away completely.
Face Face-to-
Students crowd the hallways, pushing and shoving to make their way through. It is just an average passing period on an average day, for most people at least. For one in particular, the shoving has gone to far. Once free of the jostling crowd, she falls to the ground. Most people hardly notice what is going on right before their eyes. That is, until the fists begin flying. Over and over they collide with the poor girl’s face. The crowd parts, unsure. A few students run for a teacher while others stand around and jeer. “No one can say they haven’t bullied someone at some point,” junior Tyler Barnes said. As cliche as it may sound bullying is still an issue and will continue to be for as long as humans interact with each other. “When I was in seventh grade I was shoved into a trash can. An eighth grader took the cap off his drink and threw it in on top of me,” freshman Saryna Bennett said. Bennett was singled out simply because her parents could not afford the newest supplies or the most stylish clothes. “He got suspended but I didn’t go to school for a week. I was crying too much,” Bennett said, tears beginning to brim her eyes. Victims are not always the stereotypical loner or quiet kid. In some cases the victim can be the popular kid. All stereotypes aside, bullying can and will affect everyone. “The damage one look can do to another person is devastating. Girls are especially adept to it, they have their own secret language. It can really tear you down,” counselor Sally Sabata said. As damaging as a single look can be, nothing can be done about it. It is impossible to stop people from looking at each other. Even if one could be punished for looking at someone, there is no way to prove that look meant what it meant. “Bullies can get away with so much,” Sabata said. Bullying is no longer as simple as shoving someone down the stairs. The increase in social networking has brought bullying to a whole new level. “Bullying has been hit hard for many years, because of this, bullies are adapting” Sabata said. Cyber bullying has grown rapidly along with the internet. The easier it becomes to communicate with others, the easier it is to drag someone down. “The internet is a wonderful tool, but it’s too much power at the fingertips of the irresponsible,” Sabata said. To many, it may seem that the traditional face-to-face bullying is taking a backseat to harassment over the internet. “They don’t have to see or face their victim; they don’t have to look at their consequences. It’s a spineless, underhanded way to hurt someone,” Sabata said. Cyber bullying is not just limited to the internet. Any electronic media is fair game, such as social networks, e-mails, and texting. “The internet tends to decrease one’s social inhibitions, or the tendency to monitor or control one’s response, in part because there is the false assumption that others won’t know what they are doing,” psychologist Jerri Whiting said. This assumption can cause many people, bullies and victims alike, to get into serious trouble, they feel like they cannot be accounted for it and believe that they can just delete it. “Just because it’s deleted, doesn’t mean it’s gone,” Sabata said. 18
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Cyber
CENTERSPREAD Witnessed Cyber Bullying 14
Been Bullied Witnessed Have Bullied Have Been Have Cyber The goal of cyber bullying is to break down their victim Bullying Others Cyber Bullied Bullied Others without having to exert extreme effort. “The internet can open your world and destroy your world all 1 11 16 6 8 3 at the sameRegion time,” Sabata said.
Bullyingat AtLSHS LSHS Bullying
l Psychologica
Effects
19%
24%
“Bullying has been around for so long, it’s considered a Bullying at LSHS boring topic,” Sabata said. To a lot of students, bullying is no longer relevant. Bullying is something that was lectured about over and over in grade school, but it is not something to worry about in high school, or so most people thought. 19% “People who don’t get bullied probably don’t think there’s a 24% problem,” Sabata said. Bullying is still a big problem today that does not just go away. Even if a student is no longer being bullied, the bully’s vocal and physical assaults will continue to echo in their 5% minds. “Nobody has the right to be treated that way. Everybody has 28% the right to choose to believe it,” Sabata said. 14% The possible effects of bullying are well known. Stories of bully-based suicide have the captured the media more than 10% once. “Research shows that if bullying goes on indefinitely it can lead to long term problems of depression, irritability, shame, suicide, and relationship Been Bullied issues. Related, several teen murderers Have Bullied Others were bullied and ostracized as young Have Cyber Bullied Others children,” Whiting said. Bullying changes people for the worse, it causes them to become something thats broken, lonely, and hurt. “Failure to admit that you are being harassed empowers the bully as it prevents them from having consequences for their behavior,” Whiting said. Often times the victim is too afraid to turn against the bully, this allows the bully to continually harass students. “Unfortunately, bullying behavior seldom stops on its own, because the bully feels empowered by his or her actions,” Whiting said. Which is why the only way to stop or prevent bullying behavior is to talk to someone before the bully can gain power over their victim. “I’m not saying fight them, I’m saying tell someone,” Bennet said. The most important ally a victim can have is a friend. The more involved a student is or the more friends he or she has to hold them up, the better. “Be assertive. This doesn’t mean fighting back, but does include standing up straight, not acting afraid, telling the bully to stop and surrounding yourself with a strong group of friends that you trust, that literally can get your back,” Whiting said. To the girl curled up on the floor, bullying is very real. While the bruises will fade, the hole in her heart may never fully heal. The physical assault was only part of the trauma. The jeers of the crowd will echo in her head. The words exchanged will leave the deepest scars. Scars will heal, the jeers will fade, but words never go away. Story by Wendy Hayworth and Jude Spaulding
5%
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28%
10%
Witnessed Bullying Been Bullied Witne Have Been Cyber Bullied Have Bullied OthersWitnessed Cyber Bullying Have Have Cyber Bullied Others Witne
Photos by Elaine Fouchia and Nicole Kelleher
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FEATURES
Jackson Hill
Jackson Hill’s astonishing story. by Aaron Wood
4:30pm, June 13. Tabitha Hill got the call that her brother was just in an accident nearby. When she arrived at the scene, paramedics were trying to stabilize him enough to get him off the ground. She started walking towards him as he lay in a pool of blood on rural Route 13 before being cut off by the 9-1-1 director. “Where are you going?” “That’s my brother, the boy on the motorcylce.” “Oh no, honey...” She wasn’t allowed to come closer, but Tabitha had seen enough and knew the severity of the situation. For 45 minutes, she took to her cellphone and told everyone what was going on. All the while, her brother lay wounded on the road with no pulse, no blood pressure reading, and a pair of severelydamaged legs. The first thing he said: “Pray for me.” “It was very hard watching all of this play out. I can honestly say the grace of God was the only thing that kept me going,” Tabitha said. “It was very mechanical for me. I just did what needed to be done and didn’t really think about or process all of the things that were happening.” The State Highway Patrol report described the incident with a cold play-by-play: Outside Holden, Missouri, about a half-hour from the school, Jackson Hill was five 20
HI.LIFE 2011
minutes away from his sister’s house on his way to meet some friends. He attempted to pass a 30-yearold woman’s 2003 Chevy on his motorcycle, but clipped the back of the car and went in the wrong lane. A ’97 Honda happened to be driving by, and the collision destroyed his motorcycle
and left him on the ground writhing. Eventually, medics were able to get Jackson off the ground and into a helicopter, but his outlook was obviously grim. Shortly after the accident, the right leg of a wrestler and football dreamer was amputated. His family will tell you it was nothing short of a miracle that he even survived, but his life and theirs had changed forever. There’s no denying this one person means a lot to a lot of people. And how could he not be? “God is the one who pulled me through, and I’m thankful.”
62 HIL L Jackson’s girlfriend Michaela Tevis said, “People are always telling me that it’ll never be the same again, but I have to disagree with that. I still look at him as though nothing is different. He’s still the same person; nothing about him has changed, and I’m perfectly happy with that.” “Jackson has kept a very good attitude through it all so far,” Tabitha said. “There are difficult days still, but there always will be. This story is really just beginning. It has been close to four months since the accident, but I know the changes in our lives are not over yet. We have stuck together as a family through it all. We lived at the hospital for the bigger part of the first three months, and now we are all trying to go back to our jobs and school and stuff, but we still stay very close.” “I waited until the helicopter took off to leave, and took his helmet, shoes, wallet, iPod and phone wth me. To this day, I still keep his license with me. It’s something I can hang onto when things are so uncertain. There have been so many days when we didn’t know if he was going to make it or not, we didn’t know how long he would be unconsious, we didn’t know anything for certain.” He did make it, and Jackson Hill’s miracle didn’t go unnoticed.
FEATURES
Sweden Sweetheart Saga, our very own Swedish sweetheart, answers a few question.
story by Megan Terry
This months featured foreign exchange student, Saga Mossberg is from Stockholm, Sweden. Stockholm is a place not very well known, and neither is Saga, so here are some fun facts about her. Q: Why did you choose to come to the U.S.? A: I wanted to come to the U.S. for a long time, finally one day my mom said I could. Q: Why did you want to come? A: I wanted to see other cultures and life styles and since I already knew the language, it was a pretty good idea. Q: How are things such as food, clothes, and people different here? A: In Sweden the people eat healthier and more health conscious. In my school they would not serve pancakes for breakfest because it was not a healthy choice. Q: Is school a lot different in Sweden? A: Well we get a lot more freedom in Sweden; we are treated three years older than kids here are. We start school later, sometimes around ten o’clock, so were get out at around five-ish. We also have breaks during the day at school. Q: When are you able to drive in Sweden? A: We can drive when we are eighteen. Q: Is there a dress code at your school? A: No, people do not think things are wierd, like short shorts and having your stomach showing and etc. The boys in Sweden put more time and effort into what they wear also. There are some interesting facts about Saga. Now even though Stockholm, Sweden is not very well known, Saga is.
Swedish girl- Blond hair and green eyed Saga Vendela Blaze Mossberg poses by an old oak tree. Saga is a Swedish foreign exchange student at LSHS this year. “It’s cool being an exchange student here at LSHS because it’s a great school with lots of spirit.. and great cookies!”
photo by Harlee Kalley
Foreign Phrases When people go to a foreign country, they rarely know the language. Hopefully these seven phrases will help when visiting Sweden. What is the weather going to be like? Vad kommer det vara for vader Where is the bathroom? Vart ligger toaletten? I don’t speak Swedish. Jag pratar inte svenska. Do you know any good restaraunts? Vet du nagon bra restaurang? Where do all the hot guys hang out? Vart hanger alla snygga killar? What time is it? Vad ar klockan Where is this class? Vart ligger den har lektionea
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Dressing Appropriately Understanding why dress code is enforced. For several years, schools have enforced strict dress codes that are mandatory for students to follow. Dress codes are written, or sometimes even unwritten rules in regards to clothing. Coming to school dressed in inappropriate attire can result to a phone call to one’s parents, or even possibly being sent home. Because of the strict guidelines concerning this policy, LSHS students question if LS-R7 school district’s dress code policy is similar to other districts. “ All districts dress code policies are similar in some ways, but not exactly the same. Each school has their own standards that they enforce. As for the three high schools in this district, the policies are the same.” assistant principal, Chad Hertzog said. In many other schools around the States, both students and parents have complained, and even petitioned, their schools’ dress code. Having to follow clothing guidelines that tells one what they can and cannot wear can be at times quite difficult. “The only complaint that I have heard concerning our policy is that it is difficult to purchase shorts that meet our standards, but there has been less violations this year than last year.” Hertzog said. Each individual has their own way that they prefer to dress. LSHS personal image teacher Kathy Leslie told the staff how she believes each gender should present themselves, when in school, in a more appropriate manner.
“I just feel that students should dress like kids when coming to school. School is like their job, you must dress appropriately. No one wants to see another School Swag- Devin Coyazo, freshman, shows what is appropriate to wear during school. “I don’t se why people can’t follow the person’s under rules of the school dress code, it’s not that hard to wear something appropriate to school.” garments, shorts and skirts should not be too short, and shirts should not be too low-cut.” Leslie concluded, “I believe that the dress code is fair, and the school’s dress code is practice for the real world. Dress appropriately!”
story by Kim Tabe photo by Taylor Berg
ADHD Study Why Students Take ADHD Medication to Help Study
Most students have been up at midnight, sweating over a book or studying for a test they have in the morning with coffee in one hand, and pen in the other, but some students resort to using prescription medication to help them stay up for an allnight study rush. “They take it to help wake up, or for a rush, or to be more alert,” school counselor Kristin Little said. Sadly, many of the students who just take ADHD pills when they are not prescribed do not understand the ramifications of what they are doing. “You get in a bad mood, you tend to overreact to everything, and you lose your appetite. You become sluggish, and crash within an hour. It can also cause sleeplessness, nervousness, increased pulse and respiratory rates and cardiac arrest.” direct support professional Kristin Spence said. In fact, the effects of the ADHD medication can be far worse than just the up-front, health problems. “You can easily become addicted to the medication, and to top it off, it’s illegal to use prescription medication like that,” Spence said. With all of the risks that come with taking a few pills, it really should make people wonder if it is worth stay up those few 22
HI.LIFE 2011
Popping- Many teens and young adults will take ADHD medicine in order to be able to focus in school without realizing how bad the effects of the medications can have on them. “They take it to help wake up, or for a rush, or to be more alert,” school counselor Kristin Little said.
extra hours when there are better ways of getting the A they want. “It’s not worth it. There’s better ways to stay up. You can manage your time better, have a sleep schedule, or even drink coffee, though that’s almost just as bad” Little said. With the risks involved ranging from addiction to possible death just to stay up a few extra hours when there are many better ways of doing better in school, it seems pills just are not the way to go. story by Sean Stevens photo by Elaine Fouchia
FEATURES
The Value of the Dollar What the dollar bill is really worth.
Penny for your thoughts? Chances are, people’s thoughts are not even worth that much anymore. The United States Dollar is dropping in value. “Our economy is based on small businesses and creating jobs here in America,” personal finance teacher Vicki Crisafulli said. “The value of the dollar has gone down because of the high rate of unemployment.” With the value of the dollar down, people might think that the government takes more money out of their paycheck in taxes “Approximately 33 percent of your paycheck is going to taxes,” said Crisafulli. when asked how much of the money made goes to taxes. This is the same number as it has been for awhile. The value of the dollar is measured in exchange rates, which is the amount of a foreign currency that the dollar is worth. Against the Euro, the main currency used in Europe, for example the value of the dollar has declined in the last 30 days. “How good or bad the economy is doing is measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ, or National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, which are indicators based on the buying and selling of stock,” Crisafulli said. ”What is not selling is solar panels, what is selling is medical and technology stocks”
Decrease- The value of US money is going down“Our economy is based on small businesses and creating jobs here in America,” personal finance teacher Vicki Crisafulli said.
When asked when she thought the economy and the value of the dollar will get better. “It all depends on our leadership in government,” Crisafulli said. With this information in mind, if someone were to ever offer any amount of money for ‘your thoughts’, take the money and walk away before they change their mind and decide they want it back.
by Jared Shepherd photo by Aaron Hagan
Saving Money What off brands foods taste like the name brand?
So there you stand in the local HyVee forced to pick between the $3.79 bag of Goldfish, and the $1.79 box of off brand Whales. Teen shoppers are faced with problems like this every time they go to the store. According to YahooShopping.com, off brand Food Lion chicken noodle soup actually tasted better than famous Campbell’s chicken noodle soup while costing less than Campbell’s. Also people chose America’s Choice hot dogs over well known Oscar Meyer hot dogs which are a whole dollar more. Comparing name brand ketchup Heinz, $2.74, and Market Pantry ketchup, $1.74, tasters could not tell the difference. Also when popular name brand Craft cheese, $3.20, compared to Kroger cheese, $2.52, tasters also could not taste the difference. According to TODAY.com, off brand foods such as Fruit Swirls (Fruit Loops) and American Choice ginger ale actually tasted better than popular name brand Canada Dry, while costing close to two dollars cheaper. “Off brands are a knockoff it’s the same product but doesn’t look as pretty” foods teacher Tracy Bertoncin said. So, who makes the off brand foods? Actually the name brand companies such as Frosted Flakes and Coca-Cola actually
The Pretty Boxes Always Win- Most brand name and generic foods are exactly the same, yet they’re priced very differently. This is mostly due to advertising. “People buy into advertising,” food teacher Tracy Bertoncin. At HyVee, brand name cereal Cheerios is priced at around $3.50 a box while off-brand Tasteeos are $1.79 a box.
makes the off brand products and sell them to the off brand companies. In a study held some off brand products actually have more vitamins and are healthier for you than name brands. Now that you know what to buy generic wouldn’t it be nice to use that extra money on gas? story by Matt Rellihan photo by Chloe Maberry
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OPINIONS
Unrestricted Access STUDENTS HOPING FOR SOME CHANGES IN OUR LUNCH AND IN OUR PRIVILEGES. Over the years, many LSHS students have experienced a change in their privileges.
“
receive the fresh air
”
Letter to the Editor
Though these changes may have been minuscule they have affected students in many ways. Possibly one of the biggest changes we have seen through the years is the fact we cannot eat out in the courtyard during our lunch. The class of 2015 probably did not even know that we used to be able to go sit outside during our lunch shift and eat at the courtyard. Possibly one of the biggest reasons why we cannot do that is because throughout the years we have had an increasing number of students added to each lunch shift. With all of the people in the lunch shift, it is easier to keep the students contained inside the cafeteria. However, we have multiple lunch supervisors and would it not be okay to put one of the lunch supervisors outside? Students gaining this privilege would not only allow students to get fresh air, but would also allow them to enjoy the weather and receive some healthy vitamin D from the sun. Privileges this year also could see a few changes for the better. The teaching staff at the school could spare one teacher to open either the track or the courtyard in B.
If people take the time to think about it, all of the current spots available to seniors during privileges are inside. Seniors have the Field House, B Gym, and the cafeteria, but no where outside. If the teaching staff was available to open up one of these spots, students could receive the fresh air and sunlight during privileges as well. At the track, students could be allowed to walk or run around the track with friends, and in the courtyard in B there is an enclosed outside area students could stand and talk while still being easily supervised. Tiger Students are responsible enough to handle a few more privileges and teachers could easily keep track of the students if these areas were opened up for use.
Dear Editor, This year is flying by, and already we have seen several changes in LSHS. The most significant change that affects all TIger Football Fans is the new student section. Not only does this change clear the area near concessions, but it also provides enough seating for our growing student section. Based on concession sales, our crowd at the home football games has exceeded our crowds end the past 9 years. We are incredibly lucky at LSHS to have such a wonderful problem, and have the facilities to accommodate the growing crowd. When we look back on the student section we will not only be able to say that we started the tradition, but we made a change by showing our pride and support. Change, especially in such a large scale is tough on everyone; however, it is important to keep in mind that we have changed LSHS for the better and we will always be the students that started this new tradition.
Christina Jones By Jacob Valentine
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OPINIONS
Staff Editorial TIGER TRADITIONS ARE BEING SWITCHED UP AND UPSETTING THE STUDENT BODY. As many of us know, there was a drastic change made to seating at home football games. If anyone did not hear about the change, then they would have not heard that the band and student section were moved to the north end of the stands. There was good reasoning behind this change, but what if there was another option? I believe that I have a better solution than the one that was made. I think that if the student section was moved to the middle of the stands then there would be great results that everyone could benefit from. Many students do not like sitting on the north end of the stands because it is breaking tradition and the students liked where they were. Most of the students would like sitting in the middle of the stands, where they would feel like they are in the middle of all the action and are making more of an impact. The fans and parents would also like it because they could join in on cheers with the students. According to athletic director Dan Schnell that area has historically been an overcrowded area that did not allow clear passage for patrons and students. Some of the major concerns for the administration were accessibility for handicapped people and just getting a good passage for students and patrons to get to their seats and the concession area. The administration would probably argue that neither of these things would be accomplished by the solution I have given. However, as part of my solution, a path could be made for students to follow which could allow for a better passage to the concession area and to seats. The accessibility for handicapped people would also be improved. Everyone wants to feel like they are a part of the action at the Friday night football games, and by making this change I believe that everyone, including students and fans, could enjoy the game even more.
by Jon Barr
Man on the Street
Do you think seating at football games now is better than how it orginally was?
“Yes, there is more order in the stands, theres no fighting on where someoneshould be sitting, we know our place to sit and we should abide by that, we will get our turn.” freshman Sydney Scharrer said.
“No, I do not really care who sits where, it is not that big of an issue to me, and it does not even matter to me because I am on the field, not in the stands.” sophomore Jarred Miller said.
“Yes, upperclassmen should always have the better seats, it was like that last year but not really enforced by the school, but more by the students.” junior Anna Everson said.
“Yes, because seniors automatically get a front row seat, that’s how it should be. It’s better enforced and i like that.” senior Tre Harvey said.
illustration by Jillian Moore
Story and Photos by Timmy Snook
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OPINIONS
Editorials Anthem Atrocity
School Lunch Lines
Disrespecting the National Anthem. g Jesse Butler
The Star-Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance are both the most known pledges for the United States. Both of these pledges are regularly performed in school events and sports. However, The Star-Spangled Banner has been inconsiderately altered, unlike the Pledge of Allegiance. When the Star-Spangled Banner is sung, the crowd replaces the last word of the anthem with a school mascot’s name or a sport team’s name. For LSHS, almost everyone perks up so that they can shout Tigers out loud, at the top of their lungs, when the orchestra reaches the final words of the anthem. When people make this alteration, it tarnishes the true meaning of the actual Star-Spangled Banner every time the change is made? I understand where the students are coming from when they make the change. They think that it is fantastic to have school spirit and that changing the Star-Spangled Banner would improve our school spirit. Plus, some students do care about their country, but they didn’t think that replacing “Brave” with “Tigers” was such a big deal. However, this changing of the Star-Spangled Banner is highly disrespectful towards our beloved country. Not even a week past 9/11’s tenth anniversary, LSHS had a school assembly where the students shouted this adaptation. From my understanding, LSHS acted inconsiderate towards our country and every citizen who has lived, seen, or heard the horrors that had occured during 9/11. A simple solution that can be easily placed to solve this disrespectful change to the Star-Spangled Banner is to just not change it in the first place. By performing self-control and controlling their impulses, students can stop making that alteration. The people gaining some self-control would greatly help everyone from insulting the country that the students all love so much, disrespecting the soldiers and veterans who had fought for our freedom, and avoid being seen as an ignorant and selfish group of people by everyone else in the world. The Pledge of Allegiance and the Star-Spangled Banner are pledges that everyone knows in the United States. They both show the greatness of our country as a whole, so it keeps on bringing up the topic in which people change the StarSpangled Banner. Sure it is good to show your team spirit for your favorite sport or your school mascot, but it is just terrifying that people would think of harming our country’s dignity by changing one of it’s pledges. It would be best to keep the StarSpangled Banner the way it is meant to be, because we are Tiger strong, Tiger proud, and we live in the United States, the Home of the Brave.
POL ICY 26
Lunch lines are currently too long. g Hannah Nickles
The Galaxy, pizza, Chipotle Rice Bowl, and Popcorn Chicken meals are all some of the student’s favorite lunches, but some classmates have to wonder if their favorite school meals are really worth waiting in the long lines. Many students at the school do not have the patience to wait in the long lines, but some are willing to wait no matter how much time it takes. “I don’t care how long the line is, BIg Joes’ gotta eat,” sophomore Joey Pagnotta said. While some students get to lunch faster than others and usually do not have to wait as long, some students just do not eat at all. “I don’t usually eat here, the food isn’t very good either,” senior Sammy Hunter said. Many of our peers might get a chance to eat, but even if kids are patient enough to wait in the massive lunch lines, many do not have enough time to eat once they get through the lines. “I don’t wait in line because if I do I only have a few minutes to eat and I don’t usually get to eat everything I get,” sophomore Matti Harvey said. Not only is time an issue with the lunch shifts, but so are the amount of people in each. The first shift has 658 kids minus the sounds kids. The second shift has 394. The third shift has 620 kids minus the winds program. With so many people in each shift, it makes the students wonder why lunch is arranged in it’s current way. According to assistant principal Jamie Argotsinger certain kids have to be in certain lunch shifts. Sounds kids all have to be in the same lunch shifts because they practice during lunch. PE kids have to be in the third lunch shift. Winds kids have to be in the same lunch shift. Classes that have labs like science and cooking classes can’t be in the second lunch shift. All second lunch shift is math, English, and foreign language classes. While administration has their reasons for the way lunch is ran, there could be a better way of organizing so everyone gets a chance to eat.
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HI.LIFE 2011
school journalists. We will be a bold and student led publication. Our obligation to opinions in our publication reflect the views provides accurate insights and entertainment.
CLUB PAGE
G N I K I R T S
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Story By: Andy Jarnevic
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SPORTS
Paintballing
A new trend has hit Lee’s Summit If LSHS grad Joe Grisafe had his way, paintball tournaments will one day pack the stadiums like football games do. “Paintball is a sport that 90 percent of people don’t understand. It’s not just running around shooting each other. People will spend thousands of dollars on paintball just because of their love for the game,” Grisafe said. Paintball is a growing sport. There are main points that are understood by most, like shooting everyone to win, but to understand why people play and more about the game. A dedicated player needed to be asked. Grisafe has played paintball for seven years and has completed over 20 local tournaments and eight national tournaments. “There are three main games played. The first is X-Ball, which is a fast pace tournament style played by five people on five people. The second is NPPL, which is a slower paced style played by seven people on seven people. The last is Woods Ball where you use a different type of gun and use the environment. Also paintball is not cheap. You have to really love the game and put your time into it if you want to play,” Grisafe said. For one practice it would cost around $60. For a tournament though, the price could range anywhere between $600 to $800. To break that down even more, to buy a box of paintballs it could cost between $45 to $50, good guns cost between $700 to $1200, and other equipment could be $400 to $500. So with
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There is more to paint balling than running around shooting people, it is about skill, agility, planning and dedication. “Paintball is a sport that 90 percent of people don’t understand. It’s not just running around shooting each other. People will spend thousands of dollars on paintball just because of their love for the game,” Joe Grisafe said.
all this cost one might wonder why Grisafe plays this sport. “When the team is good, they really form a bond. You will want to do it more and more. The adrenaline rush you get from playing and winning always makes it worth it,” Grisafe said. Like any other sport a love for the sport needs to be present and practices have to happen for anyone to get better. Whether people play for the adrenaline rush or the joy they get from it, paintball is a sport most of the players would recommend.
story by Courtney Jeffries photos by Paige Allin
SPORTS
Lift Above Gym
story by Jonathan Barr photos by Logan Phillips
Alternative, Fun, Fitness
There are some people who actually like to work out, and then there are many that do not. Many of those people who do not like to work out complain about it being too hard or boring, but what if there was a place where people could train their bodies in many creative ways? Well there is such a place in downtown Lee’s Summit called Lift Above. “We are a creative personal training studio and we come up with workouts by the seat of our pants,” owner Chris Termini said. At Lift Above, they like to use many different and ingenious ways to train the body. “We like to train our minds as we are training our bodies in creative ways,” Termini said. Now, many people also complain about how pricey a membership to a fitness center can be. Lift Above offers competitive prices compared to other fitness facilities, and they could possibly be lower than the other places. Another thing that people are concerned with is the type of services provided by fitness facilities. “Lift Above offers one-on-one personal training, small group training, and a Lift Camp,” Termini said. If one were to attend a Lift Camp then they could expect to use downtown Lee’s Summit as a personal playground and also they could anticipate doing some inventive exercises to build muscle.
“We offer a discount to people who come to the Lift Camps,” Termini said. So by now, some people Weightless Workout Dane Goodman, trainer at Lift Above, is are probably out on one of the TRX bands in their small but growing wondering how working gym. Goodman enjoys being able to train there. “It is fun fitness, they can take we do something different everyday and it keeps the body that first step to guessing,” Goodman said. start attending Lift Above. “If you are interested in coming to Lift Above, call my cell phone number because I believe that if people feel the training will be more personalized they will be more likely to make an optimized decision about continuing to attend the training,” Termini said. An advantage that Lift Above has over other fitness places is that they make the training specific to someone’s needs. Who knew that such a place existed in Lee’s Summit? By attending Lift Above, not only will one train their mind and body in many new and innovative ways, but they will also be supporting a local business here in Lee’s Summit.
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SPORTS
BigConference 12 Collapse Realignment
story by Andrew Potter photos from Associated Press
Turned away by the Pacific-12, the Big 12’s most powerful members are trying to find ways to live together again after weeks of hurtling toward a breakup. Little members hope teams such as Texas and Oklahoma will stay in the Big 12 so that they won’t be left out. The college sports meltdown is still alive and well. The conference scare this year has started with the Big 12 once again. According to ESPN, Texas A&M has accepted an invitation from the SEC and is leaving the Big 12 next summer. Not feeling safe, Oklahoma and Texas both wanted out so that they could go to the Pac-12. If the two teams left, then it would leave the rest of the conference looking for a new home. Then, the Pac-12 denied access to any team wanting in, because they did not want the birth of a massive college sports meltdown blamed on them. Texas and Oklahoma having been denied access to the Pac-12, are now coming back to their original home, the Big 12. Missouri has recently received word of possibly becoming the SEC’s 14th member of the conference and Texas A&M is leaving no matter what occurs. Oklahoma is demanding that there should be restrictions on Texas’s Longhorn Network. If other members of the Big 12 receive any offers to leave they should accept. The conference will not stay together much longer considering that Dan Beebe was the former commissioner. A year ago Beebe promised that the Big 12
Concussion Testing
would stay together, but that has not happened. If the Big 12 is to unite and stay together then they must get more colleges to strengthen Football Fright- The college football league known as the big themselves. twelve, is running the risk of unavoidable collapse. The only way for Brigham Young the big twelve stay together is for more colleges to be added. University and West Virginia both look like possible members to join. This would give promise to other members and would encourage them to stay. This does not seem very likely if other conferences tempt Big 12 schools. The fans of NCAA deserve better than a huge conference shake up. The conferences are still on the verge of realignment and schools do not feel safe. This fear is what causes teams to move. Colleges need to start wondering if they should stay or leave their conference.
New Measures To Keep Athletes Safe
Some say the Concussion Impact Test is like playing a computer game, but the questions and problems in it are made to challenge the mind and make it think. “When you get a concussion you don’t think as well or don’t react to it as clear. You take the test as a starting point, then after and impact or injury, you take the test to compare. ” football player Phillip Maggio said. As many athletes say, the test makes a person think and remember things such as objects, times, and numbers. “It helps to focus on remembering certain important events,” Maggio said. However parents, coaches and students think it is a really helpful test and believe that it works. “On the Concussion Impact Test, if the scores are even, the athlete taking the test will most likely continue playing,” Maggio said. Hopefully the Concussion Impact Test will work out in our benefit, and other schools will follow in our lead, adopting the Concussion Impact Test into their sports program as well. “The Concussion Impact policy, was adopted last year. The test was adopted because a board called MSHSAA stated that our school would be required to have some kind of test for concussions. As a district, our school adopted this policy,” athletic trainer James Oyler said. Student’s are required to take the test if they wish to participate in any physical sports, and must retest every other 30
HI.LIFE 2011
story by Taelor Oller photo by Morgan Bruce
year, because of brain development. “If a player were to take the test because of an impact that happened on the field, the post reaction rate should be within ten percent of the first test that was taken.” Oyler said. Some symptoms that should be looked for after an impact are things like headaches, vision Head Case Conputers are the newest way to problems, light headed, check for concussions. Pro sports teams have ringing in the ears, dizziness, started using computers to take a base test and when a player is suspected of having a and nausea. concussion they take the test again to com “If the player has several pare to the first test. “ impact testing verys from student to student” says James Oyler of these symptoms, then there will be more complex questions asked like, ‘Where are you?’, ‘What is your name?’ and ‘Where are you from?’. If most of these questions cannot be answered then, the player will be sent to the hospital,” Oyler said. Adopting the Concussion Impact Test is an efficient way to make sure that kids involved in sports are safe, and not at risk of any permanent medical problems. All schools should adopt a way to make sure players are safe.
For Love Or The Game
SPORTS story by Andrew Potter photos by Carly McCarthy
The Hi Life Staff gave junior Brittani Taylor, and Tanner Stuart a little quiz to see just how well they knew senior Nick Howe. If Nick was not playing football, what would he be doing?
What is Nick’s biggest pet peeve?
What is Nick’s favorite pre-game song?
What’s Nick’s most memorable football moment?
Working, then PS3
When people chew with their mouth open
Any song by Eminem
My diving TD against William Chrisman
Playing another sport +0
When people “juice” him +0
Kid Cudi +0
His first touchdown +1
When his mom asks him a bunch of questions +0
“Til I Collapse” by Eminem +1
His touchdown against William Chrisman +1
Playing NCAA 12 on PS3 +1
The results are in and Stuart wins. Stuart got three points on the quiz whereas Taylor only got one.
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PHOTO ESSAY
Homecoming
Alice in Wonderland was the theme for this year’s Photos by: Zac Harris Homecoming.
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1.The prince and princess at the assembly. 2. Students participate in musical chairs during the pep assembly. 3. The Cheerleaders enjoying tea on their float. 4. The NAHS float leaves the school. 5.Lisa Weeda crowns the David Michaelis, the KIng, at half time. 6. Alexis plays a solo after escorting the king.
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