Kaneland Krier: Volume 46, Issue 2

KANELAND

KR ER Should high schools remove class rank? p. 10

Math

Art

Interesting hobbies pp. 14-15

Physics English Choir

History

Theatre Band

Spanish

Volume 46 • Issue 2 • Kaneland High School • November 14, 2019

KANELAND

TABLE OF CONTENTS 03 04 06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 16 17

Lifestyle Voices Opinion Editorial News Investigative Centerspread Feature Feature Photos Sports Activities

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU VOTE WHAT IS THE MOST STRESSFUL PART OF YOUR DAY?

SHOULD HIGH SCHOOLS REMOVE CLASS RANK? DEFINING YOUR PRIORITIES

KHS SHEDDING LIGHT ON NEW FATAL HABITS

WHAT KANELAND WILL DO WITH $5.5 MILLION

DO STUDENTS HAVE TOO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE? A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KANELAND STUDENTS

EFFECTIVE WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS

INTERESTING HOBBIES

TUCKER JAHNS: ALL-AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYER HOPING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON STUDENTS’ LIVES

Executive Letter As students at Kaneland get further into the school year, our list of priorities and responsibilities gets longer.

The Krier staff has some ideas that can make the rest of your school year less stressful while simultaneously preparing you for the future. We have advice for managing your priorities and balancing all the activities high school students have on their plates.

We have tried to identify some stressors in students’ lives, such as grades, extracurriculars and busy schedules outside of school. As we grow older, we are constantly needing to make important decisions. The Krier staff hopes for the best for each student as they go through high school, and we hope our ideas can help.

Ben Durbala Editor-in-Chief

Casey Schanks Web Editor-in-Chief

Gianna Provenzano Webmaster

Bailey Prichard Sports Executive

Jacob Booten Design Executive

Bailey Prichard Production Manager

Sami Callaghan Ad/Business Manager

November 14, 2019 Lifestyle

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU VOTE

BY JACK HOLDER, Reporter

DO RESEARCH

Being familiar with candidates is the most important part. You don’t want to go into that voting booth without a clue of what any of the candidates stand for. To prevent this from happening, do your research. Every candidate has their own website describing their policy plans. Take a careful look at those sites, and make sure your candidate isn’t making any empty promises but that they have a real plan.

Watch debates when they air, as you’ll get a feel for who the candidates really are when they’re communicating their ideas to the audience. If you fully understand your options, you’ll go into your polling place stress-free.

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f you can believe it, the 2020 presidential election is just around the corner. It might not seem like it, but primary season starts in just four months, followed by more rallies, conventions and debates. Before we know it, Nov. 3, 2020, will be here. Seniors at Kaneland, as well as some juniors, are eligible to vote in the Illinois primary and in the November general election next year. First-time voters might feel a little overwhelmed when making a choice on whom to vote for and what the process is to do so. Here are a few tips for being ready to vote for the first time.

BE REGISTERED

You can’t vote if you aren’t registered. In Illinois, if you are 17 by the date of the primaries (March 17, 2020) and will be 18 by Nov. 3, 2020, you are eligible to vote in both the primary elections and the November general election. If you aren’t registered or you aren’t sure if you’re registered, go to ova.elections.il.gov, and click Start the Online Voter Registration Application at the bottom of the screen. Or you can click on Voter Registration Lookup, and follow the directions that appear on the screen. You must have a valid form of identification to complete the registration process. You can register in Illinois online, through mail or in person. It is up to you to choose how you want to register to vote. Once you finish registering, you must wait about a month for your voter ID card to come in the mail.

Page design by Emma Schaefer

KNOW WHERE TO GO

When you register, you should be told the location of your polling place. You can find this information at ova.elections.il.gov. Just answer the questions on the screen as they appear. If you know you are going to be away from your polling place on Election Day, you should fill out an absentee ballot. An absentee ballot will allow you to cast your vote either by mail or in person at another polling location. If you’re planning on voting in a different state, do some research a few months prior to the election. Know what you’re going to need to do if you’re planning on being away from home on Election Day.

GET ACTIVE

VOTE Polling places in the area: Dave Werdin Community Center (Kaneville) Fox Valley Christian Church (Batavia) Sugar Grove Township Community Building Town & Country Library (Elburn)

If you want your candidate to be successful, you have to work with your peers to get things done. Get your friends registered to vote if they aren’t already, canvass for your candidate to spread the word and make phone calls to try to convince others to vote for your candidate.

If you want to win, work to win. Posting on your Instagram story isn’t enough. Donate to campaigns, stand up for your rights and build that grassroots movement that this country so desperately needs. Show your support by getting a lawn sign or wearing a shirt that represents the candidate of your choice. Even if you think what you’re doing isn’t enough, a collection of individual efforts is what a grassroots movement needs to start. Doing whatever you can do for a campaign and getting others in your community politically active helps in more ways than you could imagine.

Lifestyle

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Voices November 14, 2019

“I think [AP US History] because it’s the hardest class I’m taking, and it requires a lot of work and note-taking. There are lots of long assignments like quizzes, projects and tests all due within the same week,” junior Elizabeth Biala said.

WHAT IS THE MOST STRESSFUL PART OF YOUR DAY?

“Towards the end of the day because that’s when I see how much work I have all together and I get pretty stressed,” freshman Diamond Bawuah said.

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Voices

Page design by Ashlyn Klecka

November 14, 2019 Voices

“Doing homework because I come home from school and then I have to do even more school work,” senior Maddie Cooper said.

“My classes that are standards based grading because they are opinionated and make me work harder,” junior Grant Williams said.

Page design by Ashlyn Klecka

“I’m pretty stressed during the tennis season because I’m still trying to get everything together,” senior Sofia Gonzalez Magnabosco said.

Voices

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Opinion

November 14, 2019

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BY SOPHIA MULLINS, Editor

hether I would like to admit it or not, almost everything I do in school leads back to one main objective: making my college application look better. I have taken every AP and enhanced class possible, joined every club I can and studied far too long in hopes of creating a version of myself that colleges find favorable. I have done the best that I possibly can in my high school career. There is nothing more disheartening than putting in all this effort and then seeing the ever growing list of students that outrank me for valedictorian. Class rank is an unnecessary hierarchy that only causes more stress for the student body.

Class rank is not an accurate way of demonstarting a student’s level of success. The ranking system only takes into consideration your GPA. It does not include the difficulty of your classes, the number of classes you take, how many extracurricular activities you participate in or the degree of effort you are giving outside of the classroom. This is not an accurate depiction of a stellar student. Class rank encourages students to only develop themselves academically, because if you want to become valedictorian then you better make sure your top priority is your grades.

The race for valedictorian creates an unhealthy sense of competition between students. I do not want to look at my peers as people I have to beat for recognition for my achievements. Teachers and administrators constantly preach the importance of teamwork, but then pit us against each other for an award that has no real value.

After doing some research on the topic, I

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SHOULD HIGH SCHOOLS REMOVE CLASS RANK? learned that many colleges don’t even look at class rank when considering admissions.

“Due to the tremendous differences in curriculum and grading standards at different high schools, many admission officers (especially at selective private colleges) have begun to discount the accuracy and importance of class rank as a factor in evaluating students.

Some colleges that used to rely on class rank now use SAT® scores and GPA,” according to The College Board.

Class rank also leaves room for people to cheat the system. It is easier for someone to achieve a high GPA if they are not taking difficult classes. To be fair, AP classes are necessary for obtaining the highest GPA, but that doesn’t mean there are not some AP classes that are easier than others. Another factor is the way certain teachers may run their classrooms. If a student doesn’t have a challenging workload, then it can be easier for that sudent to have higher grades. The difficulty level of

a class varies depending on the teacher’s approach. We should not be using a ranking system that does not factor in our class difficulty.

A student’s rank and the importance of that title differs from school to school. The size of the school can completely alter the meaning of a student’s rank. Being in the top 10 out of 300 kids in your grade is not as impressive as being in the top 10 from a school with over 1,000 students. The quality of your education and the methods by which you are assessed also affect your class rank. Although colleges may look at your ranking, they will not make any large decisions because of it.

Mason High School in Ohio has already done away with the class rank system. Schools just like Mason have been eliminating the valedictorian distinction, and there has even been talk of this happening at Kaneland. Mason High School saw the unhealthy competitiveness of the valedictorian race and replaced it with a better way of rewarding excelling students.

“The recognition system will reward our students for genuine academic success based on their academic accomplishments,” Mason High School Principal Bobby Dodd said.

“This will help reduce the overall competitive culture at MHS to allow students to focus on exploring learning opportunities that are of interest to them.”

Class rank is just another way to stress out students and make them feel like they are inferior to someone else. Getting rid of class rank is a feasible solution to a problem that affects every single student. Rather than force us to compete against each other for a title that doesn’t even matter to most colleges, schools should focus on what matters to students.

ILLUSTRATION BY CORINNE CONDOS Many schools are beginning to evaluate the importance of class rank. Kaneland is one such school rethinking the way they classify their students.

Opinion

Page design by Abby Lycan

November 14, 2019 Editorial Kaneland High School 47W326 Keslinger Rd. Maple Park, IL 60151 (630) 365-5100 www.kanelandkrier.com Member of IJEA, Quill & Scroll, NSPA, NISPA IHSA State Finalists 2013-2019 IWPA Silver Pen 2017 NISPA Golden Eagle 2017 IJEA First Place for Krier Online 2017 IJEA Second Place for Best Hybrid Publication 2019 IJEA Second Place for Best Overall Publication 2019 Subscription rates: Five issues, two supplements School-delivered, $15; Home-delivered, $25

ILLUSTRATION BY JENNA LIN High school students face a daily challenge of balancing all of their different priorities. The difficulty is deciding which of these priorities are most important.

DEFINING YOUR PRIORITIES

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veryone has different priorities in life.

Some may seem important but aren’t truly beneficial. Especially when life becomes busy, you have to prioritize some things over others. It could be academics, sports, clubs, family time or even things like social media and video games. But what you should prioritize are those things that are most important to you.

A student who pursues a 4.0 GPA may automatically prioritize school, but the star athlete on the baseball team trying to go Division I will probably prioritize his sport.

There’s not a right or wrong thing to put your focus towards as long as that thing is truly meaningful to you. If you’re in a sport just to say that you play a sport, you should quit. You shouldn’t be putting your time into something that isn’t important to you. You have to ask yourself, “Am I doing this for the right reasons? Or just to occupy myself? Or because others want me to do it?” You will overwhelm yourself with too many responsibilities if you don’t prioritize the important tasks.

If you’re a student who is trying to take every AP class offered, are you doing it because your parents want you to? Or maybe all of your friends are taking hard classes and you want to feel included. If you’re a student involved in multiple extracurricular activities, taking AP classes might not need to be your top priority. Take a step back, as you cannot be doing something just to please other people.

Mindset coach and creator of The Blissful Mind blog Catherine Bread has a belief that

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Page design by Sophi Mullins

figuring out your top priorities is essential.

“The thing is that many of us are unclear on our priorities, which often means we struggle to split our time between different things.

If you’re not clear on your priorities, you’ll have trouble managing your time and making progress on your goals. You’ll also overwhelm yourself with too many responsibilities,” Bread said.

Defining your top priorities is very important, otherwise trying to manage time can be hectic. For example, if a student is in a sport that they’re not passionate about, has a job that they don’t enjoy and strives to get good grades in classes they don’t really care about, what has to give? With how busy each person is, we shouldn’t put our focus into things that won’t benefit us in the long run.

Best-selling author Maria Brilaki created a five-step procedure to live a life she loves. “[The five steps are] taking a break and figuring out what is important to you, thinking about the things you do every day and writing them down, cutting down on the urgent stuff, running a test week and putting the more important stuff in your life,” Brilaki said.

When your phone alerts you that you were tagged on Instagram, do you look right away?

Most people will check that one notification and end up wasting hours of time scrolling mindlessly. Managing your time and setting your priorities straight is the only way to be successful when times get busy. Once you define your priorities, focus on those things and don’t let unimportant factors get in the way.

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EXECUTIVE STAFF Ben Durbala Editor-in-Chief of Print

Casey Schanks Editor-in-Chief of Web

Sami Callaghan Ad & Business Manager

Gianna Provenzano Webmaster

Bailey Prichard Sports Executive & Production Manager

Jacob Booten Design Executive

EDITORIAL STAFF Cover Jenna Lin

Table of Contents Ben Durbala

Lifestyle Emma Schaefer

Voices Ashlyn Klecka

Opinion Abby Lycan

Editorial Sophia Mullins

Feature Regan O’Brien

Centerspread Jenna Lin

News Gianna Provenzano

Investigative Rachel Cormier

Photos Sasha Clinnin

Sports Ayshe Ali

Activities Gio Valle

Advertisements Sami Callaghan

STAFF

Leonard Anderson, Mia Bergman, Dylan Calabrese, Paige De La Bruere, Delaney Douglas, Sophia Drancik, Scott Dunne, Patrick Gampfer, Cody Ganzon, Sandra Garcia, Josh Hanold, Jack Holder, Karmyn Hookham, Sarah Janito, Moses Kim, Madeleine Little, Brianna Michi, Nicholas Mitchinson, Matilyn Mumm, Anna Olp, Sophia Opp, Olivia Ortegel, Gabrielle Parker, Morgan Phillipp, McKenna Ryan, Casey Walters

ADVISERS Dominic Bruno Krier adviser

Nicole Larsen Print adviser

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorials represent a majority opinion of the Editorial Board and are not necessarily the opinion of Kaneland administration, staff, students or parents. The Krier Editorial Board consists of designated Advanced Journalism students: Ayshe Ali, Jacob Booten, Sami Callaghan, Sasha Clinnin, Rachel Cormier, Ben Durbala, Ashlyn Klecka, Jenna Lin, Abby Lycan, Sophia Mullins, Regan O’Brien, Bailey Prichard, Gianna Provenzano, Emma Schaefer, Casey Schanks and Gio Valle. Students make all publication decisions.

Letters can be sent to the address above or e-mailed to krier@kaneland.org. Letters must be signed (names may be withheld under extraordinary circumstances as deemed by the editorial staff) and must be under 300 words. The Editorial Board has the right to work with writers to edit for clarity and length. Any material that is potentially libelous, obscene or disruptive will not be published, at the discretion of the Editorial Board. All decisions to publish or not publish letters are made by executive editors. The Krier has been an open forum since 1974. As an open forum, we restrict editing to staff members only; prior review and editing are prohibited by people outside the staff.

Editorial

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News November 14, 2019

KHS SHEDDING LIGHT ON NEW FATAL HABITS

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BY ASHLYN KLECKA, Editor

he number of lung illness cases connected to e-cigarette use is growing by the day. As of Oct. 29, 2019, and in 49 states, 1, 888 lung injury cases associated with vaping have been reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). 37 deaths have been confirmed in 24 states. Investigators are trying to find answers for the rapid rise of fatalities associated with vaping. U.S. officials expect those numbers to continue increasing.

According to WBUR, Boston’s National Public Radio station, in October, a Massachusetts woman in her 40s died due to a lung injury related to vaping. This is the second death in that particular state attributed to vaping during the month of October.

As vaping is a relatively new habit, researchers warn that there is still a lot we don’t know. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, some health concerns include problems in the lungs, liver, immune system, heart and brain, as well as contributing to the development of some cancers. Patients usually feel symptoms such as coughing, chest pain or shortness of breath

PHOTO BY DYLAN CALABRESE According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 37% of 12th graders reported vaping in 2018, compared with 28% in 2017.

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News

PHOTO BY SOPHIA MULLINS A 6-foot tall Juul created by senior Halle Gensler for Snowball represents today’s large vaping problem.

before their health becomes affected to the point of needing hospitalization.

Despite the risks, high school students may start vaping as a way to cope with any stress they’re feeling.

“I believe teens vape due to interest, peer pressure and the inability to manage tasks and stress,” Dean of Students Joshua West said.

Teens may vape because it is a popular trend that many of their friends do.

“I think people vape at our school because other people like their friends do it, and they hit their vapes and get hooked on it,” junior Troy Cruz said.

As vaping becomes more prevalent, Kaneland administrators are looking for ways to make students more aware of the dangers.

Administrators have hung posters that provide students with statistics and information. These posters have been put up in attempts to get the message across about the harmful effects vaping can have on the body.

“There are still some unanswered questions in regards to the health concerns due to vaping. I think that question unanswered is scary enough. Not knowing the risk of a poor

choice is a very slippery slope,” West said. “I believe teens will give up as they start to feel the negative effects of vaping. Always best to never start.”

In Cruz’s opinion, though, not everyone will be affected by the threat of health concerns.

“It all depends on the person. If they’ve been vaping for a while then they won’t stop, but if they have been doing it for a short amount of time I think that it is possible to stop,” Cruz said.

The more someone vapes the quicker they will start to notice the effects on their body.

Vaping rewires the brain, causing users to crave nicotine. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, vaping can transfer harmful chemicals such as propylene glycol, glycerin and nicotine through the body and into the lungs. Rather than resorting to a dangerous habit to relieve stress, there are plenty of options that a student has that are not harmful.

“Seek out help when stressed instead of trying to escape it. Be there for your friends, and have open conversations,” West said.

PHOTO BY BAILEY PRICHARD According to Dr. Richard Miech, who conducted a survey of 44,000 students at the University of Michigan in 2018, “Vaping is leading youth into nicotine use and nicotine addiction, not away from it.”

Page design by Gianna Provenzano and Bailey Prichard

November 14, 2019 Investigative

WHAT KANELAND WILL DO WITH $5.5 MILLION

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BY AYSHE ALI, Editor

n Sept. 16, 2019, the Board of Education held a meeting to discuss a strategic spending plan that addresses what to do with approximately $5.5 million the district has accumulated over the past three to five years. During the 2018-2019 school year, the budget had a surplus that caused the school’s fund balance to grow.

“Our goal is every year to look at our needs and create a budget that would be balanced, so we’re going to expend the dollars that we brought in. Over a period of time, the fund balance has grown. That means we have created a budget and the expenditures have been less than the budgeted amount, so then the fund balance grows and that’s where the current fund balance that we have now came from,” Superintendent Todd Leden said.

The district currently has plans to spend the money on capital projects, but they also need to save some of the money for the Fund Balance Policy. The Fund Balance Policy states that the district needs to maintain 45 days cash on hand at all times. Currently that adds up to approximately $7.2 million.

“If we take our expenditures for one year and we divide that by 360 days, we get a daily amount and we want to make sure that in our fund balance we have at least 45 days. What that does is those months that we have more bills, we have enough money to pay those bills because we have it saved. At the end of June 2019, we had about $12.7 million or 80 days in fund balance. That’s about 34 more days than is needed, or approximately $5.5 million,” Associate Superintendent Julie-Ann Fuchs said.

The Board’s main goal is to spend down the fund balance to bring it back to 45 days. That’s where the discussion on what to do with the money came from.

“Kaneland employees and the Board consistently have a student-first mindset,” Board President Shana Sparber said. “The Board asked the administration to draft a strategic spending plan and will be hearing about trends, needs and opportunities in a variety of areas this fall, from technology to curriculum.

Additionally, the next strategic plan will be created this year, which will also be used to set the district’s direction for the next several years to come.”

The Board has been in constant discussion over what to do with the excess money. They

Page design by Rachel Cormier

PHOTOS BY AYSHE ALI There are varying opinions about what to do with the $5.5 million that Kaneland School District 302 has accumulated. Transportation employees, for example, are hoping for upgrades to their workspace.

are currently looking into using the money for more one-time expenditures rather than recurring ones. This means that the money will be spent on more capital projects that don’t require recurring purchases.

“We have a very large list of capital projects that we’re evaluating. We have a capital plan from last year, and we’re in the process right now of updating that plan. A lot of the needs are related to the building. For example, new boilers, new roofs, new air conditioning,” Fuchs said. “We know that the high school track needs to be upgraded, and so that is on the list. We also know that the parking lot needs to be re-sealcoated and paved and things like that, so that’s on the list. There are a variety of needs across the district.”

Many staff members have expressed their requests and needs in regard to what to do

with some of the funds. One major need is updating and renovating the transportation building. This building is meant to hold 52 people, yet it only contains one unisex bathroom. The building also worries employees because there are no fire alarms or sprinkler systems.

“There are no sprinkler systems in here.

There are no fire alarms in here. If something started a fire, this place would go up. We would like more space or an updated building. This is one of the oldest buildings. It’s been here since the very beginning of Kaneland,” Transportation Assistant Colleen Slowick said.

This is an ongoing process that requires input and communication, and there are not yet any definitive answers on what the Board is going to do with the excess fund money. They will continue meeting on the topic and will come up with a plan most can agree on.

Investigative

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Centerspread

November 14, 2019

How much time do you spend each night doing homework?

ACADEMICS

20.9% One

11.8% Two

26.3% 2 hours 7.2% Three

4.6% Four or more

28.4% 1 hour

55.5% None

How many AP classes do you take?

13.7% 30 minutes

15% 3 or more hours

16.6% None

DO STUDENT MUCH ON TH

The following polls are based on the voluntary r

Do you consider yourself busy?

11.8% No

88.2% Yes

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Centerspread

A

BY JENNA LIN, Editor

s time progresses, the levels of education that students are pursuing are becoming more advanced and increasingly demanding. Colleges are expecting more out of students, and employers are looking to hire only the best of the best. With increased pressure and heightened expectations, students are beginning to face the realities of their future earlier than ever.

In today’s world, students’ determination has only grown. The pressures from parents and in the educational setting force students to overwork in order to live up to society’s demands. The ultimate goal for most high school students is to graduate with the firm belief that they are going to be successful. For most students, that also means building their resumes, taking on as many leadership roles as possible, being involved in the community and keeping up with their academics, all to hopefully secure a desired position or level of education for a clear pathway to the future they envision.

This causes many students to find themselves overly stressed and confused about how they should be balancing all these responsibilities.

“I encourage students to reach their full potential. I often use the phrase, ‘I want you to be happy and healthy, so don’t sign up for more than you can handle.’ The counselors

are here to support the students and help them find ways to meet their needs,” counselor Erin Shore said.

Academically, students might have a lot on their plate based on what classes they choose to take. Students often want to take Advanced Placement (AP) classes because of the potential for college credit and to have more rigorous classes that colleges look for when accepting students. However, taking AP classes comes with a more intense workload, increased responsibility and pressure to do well on the AP tests. After all, it costs money to take these tests, so these classes have developed a high intensity. U.S. News states that educators need to be up to date with the content on the SAT and ACT and cover all the information that comes up on AP and International Baccalaureate (IB) tests, so it is only natural for teachers to move at an accelerated pace and provide more out-of-class assignments.

“I find AP students, for the most part, to be more engaged. I think that is because this is a choice. My expectation is that students put forth the effort and are engaged and that they are going to have more work to do than a regular U.S. History student. Reasons being they need to understand the stuff a little deeper, and you need to work faster because the AP test

Page design by Jenna Lin

November 14, 2019

INVOLVEMENT

How involved are you in your clubs?

21.4% Highly involved 20.5% Somewhat involved 5.4 Barely involved

42.5% Not in a club

Centerspread

10.2% Holds a position within a club

18.3% 2 sports

39.8% 1 sport

4% 3 or more

37.9% None

TS HAVE TOO HEIR PLATE?

How many sports do you play?

responses of 325 Kaneland High School students.

comes up a couple of weeks before the end of the year,” history teacher Javier Martinez said.

Teachers of underclassmen, meanwhile, look to guide them and ease them into the demands and expectations in higher levels of education. This assistance helps younger students in preparation for the pressures that await and gives them enough time to discover the most efficient ways to balance their time.

“In class I usually give [students] work that will take most of the period. Outside of class I don’t give a whole lot, at least not right now.

I try to give them time in class so if they have questions I’m there to help rather than give a ton at home,” English teacher Matthew Czerak said.

Some students, though, don’t find themselves caught in the whirlwind of overworking themselves. For some, maintaining stable mental health and staying as stress free as possible are the most important factors to a successful education.

“Even though I have many long and busy days, I think it’s important to stay organized, get lots of sleep and eat healthy because it keeps me on track to do well in my classes and my sports,” junior Mackenzie Egert said.

Alongside academic work, many students participate in various extracurricular activities

Page design by Jenna Lin

to achieve their desired well-roundedness.

Whether that means participating in a sport, with a club or volunteering, it isn’t uncommon to find high schoolers struggling to juggle their time between their academics, extracurriculars, family and friends.

“After school I go straight to work so I try to get my studies done while I am at work or after work late at night. I think it’s important to do well in high school because it will help you in life by disciplining you and teaching you to work hard to succeed,” senior Nate Bermes said.

Though education has only become more rigorous, students are finding ways to respond to those lofty demands. Daily challenges that students come across in their lives help broaden their strengths and increase their range of abilities. It’s important for students to find their own balance to discover what works best for them.

“Your high school career should be busy with stuff you enjoy, not with stuff you don’t enjoy because we’re young and we’re going to grow up to do whatever with the rest of our lives so we should work towards that. Sometimes it gets stressful, but I like to have something to do and not just sit around and wait for my future,” senior Xitlaly Andrade said.

Do you find it hard to balance your academics with extracurriculars?

28.8% No 71.2% Yes

Centerspread

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Feature November 14, 2019

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enior Kayla Brumbaugh finds herself occupied with Basic Nursing Assistant Training (BNAT) in her Fox Valley class during her first three periods of the school day.

Brumbaugh wakes up at 6:30 a.m. She gets ready for the school day by doing her hair and makeup. Then she arrives at school at 8:00 a.m., which is when her Fox Valley class starts.

This year, Brumbaugh selected the BNAT class to support her plans of going into the medical field.

“We learn the basic 21 skills to becoming a nursing assistant. We also do clinicals and get to practice the skills we learn with our instructors present at the facility,” Brumbaugh said.

Brumbaugh enjoys the class, however it takes up a lot of time in the day and comes with a lot of homework.

“It’s stressful. It is basically like a college class, so it takes up a lot of time and it requires a lot of studying outside of school,” Brumbaugh said.

Once the Fox Valley class is done for the day, she attends her other core classes, including Personal Finance, Contemporary Health, English 12 and College Algebra.

After school, Brumbaugh goes to work at Jewel Osco in Sugar Grove and works on homework, leaving her with about half an hour of time to spend with family.

DANIELLE ESPINO

TODAY’S SCHEDULE: 5:30- Wake up, get ready,try to eat 7:35- AP Stats 3:00- Cheer (remember to check which gym) 5:00- Gymnastics practice 9:00- Homework

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KANELAND STUDENTS

BY EMMA SCHAEFER, Editor

KAYLA BRUMBAUGH

TODAY’S SCHEDULE: 6:30- Wake up and get ready 8:00- Nursing starts 3:00- Try to get homework done and eat 5:00- Get to Jewel 9:30- Finish homework

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAYLA BRUMBAUGH Senior Kayla Brumbaugh prepares for her 8 a.m. BNAT Fox Valley class.

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Feature

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIELLE ESPINO Junior Danielle Espino practices on the bar at Prairie Gymnastics Club in Batavia.

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unior Danielle Espino starts her day at 5:30 a.m. She wakes up, gets ready and drives to school without time to eat breakfast. Since Espino doesn’t have time for breakfast, she finds herself with no energy during her first period AP Statistics class.

Espino’s day is full of challenging classes, including AP Statistics, AP Language and Composition, Communication Studies and Enhanced Biology. These classes come with a heavy load of homework. Since she has such a large amount, Espino works on her homework in her STEP and Study Hall.

“Most of my homework would take two hours if I did it all,” Espino said.

Most of Espino’s time goes to cheerleading and gymnastics after school. She is on the varsity cheer team at Kaneland and is a dedicated gymnast at Prairie Gymnastics Club in Batavia. She has been competing in gymnastics for 14 years and cheerleading for three years.

Once Espino’s school day is finished, she goes straight to varsity cheerleading practice.

After practice, she eats dinner with her family. Espino sees her family a maximum of 30 minutes a day.

After being with her family for a little while, she goes to her gymnastics practice in Batavia. She prepares for her upcoming meets and also helps coach two recreational classes.

“I teach kids the basics of gymnastics, and I spot them so that they don’t get hurt,” Espino said.

Page design by Regan O’Brien

November 14, 2019 Feature

EFFECTIVE WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS

BY SASHA CLINNIN, Editor RACHEL CORMIER, Editor

T

eenagers often look at stress as a very controlling aspect that affects their everyday lives. Stress can influence students’ daily activities and impact their willingness to put forth effort. Stress is a pressing issue that students need to learn to manage and deal with.

While stress is often not beneficial to teenagers, it does have some positive effects. Managing tress helps students learn to deal with more complicated circumstances that they encounter daily. It can help them become comfortable

trolling stress. Mindfulness is a type of meditation used to relax the body and help one learn to be aware of themselves. Mindfulness is defined as the state of being conscious or aware of something, and it is a way of controlling stress. Mindfulness can help control anxiety and depression and even improve teenagers’ moods. Psychologists consider meditation one of the best ways to practice mindfulness. By setting aside a few minutes each day and letting your mind refocus, you can relieve stress.

When you are stressed, there are also things you should focus on not doing. One of the most important things to focus on is what you can control. People often stress themselves out when they focus on the uncontrollable, like weather and traffic. Uncontrollable situations are stressors that teenagers need to learn to ignore. Those situations may be an inconvenience but they won’t ruin everything, and

PHOTO BY REGAN O’BRIEN The Hampton Social in downtown Chicago offers many healthy food options. A balanced diet is a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

PHOTO BY SAMI CALLAGHAN P.E. classes get students up and moving, which is a great way to minimize stress. This class played baseball in the east gym to avoid the cold weather and stay active.

dealing with unfamiliar situations, but there’s also a point where it becomes unhealthy.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), students and teenagers today deal with such a large amount of stress that they have more mental illnesses and higher stress levels than adults. Kaneland’s psychologist John Markovich often observes the difficult mindset that stress produces for students.

“We look for complex answers to simple problems, but a good mindset to have is that the problem is something that can be gotten over and understanding that it will pass,” Markovich said.

Understanding that stress can be managed can lead to a healthier mindset and lifestyle.

As students work through the inevitable stresses of life and high school, there are several potential ways to clear their minds.

Meditation is one effective method of con-

Page design by Regan O’Brien

er. The endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that make a person feel happy, from exercise are responsible for the improvement of an individual’s mood. Psychology teacher Mark Meyer teaches his students the advantages that physical activity has on the brain.

“The different neurotransmitters in your brain have shown to be benefitted by meditation, yoga, exercise; even just jogging can help for sure,” Meyer said.

Besides relieving stress, exercise has many

PHOTO BY SOPHIA MULLINS Om Sweet Om Yoga is located in La Fox and offers opportunities for students to relieve stress.

they are extra stressors one can wash away.

Teenagers need to remember that they don’t have to be perfect and no one actually is. Markovich recommends anticipating conflicts that could create additional stress.

“It’s always good to prepare for the unexpected, and that may involve changing your schedule or beginning to plan ahead so you can be organized and deal with it better,” Markovich said.

Exercise is another important stress reliev-

benefits like improved sleep, mood and confidence levels. Exercise can also diminish anger and help those with mental illnesses. Exercise also provides a distraction from everyday worries and concerns, allowing a person to focus on their body instead of on their mind. The American Heart Association recommends exercising for 30 minutes a day about five days a week.

Eating healthy can prevent stress as well.

Stress negatively affects blood pressure and blood flow according to Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical health company. The nutrients that healthy foods contain improve blood flow, which lowers stress levels. Vegetables and foods with high fibers normally contain these vitamins, along with certain fruits and dark chocolate. Foods with inflammatories, like sugars or fats, are good to avoid. Many people also start meal plans to keep their healthy eating consistent. It makes it easier for them to have food ready to go every week, instead of stopping for unhealthy fast food.

Feature

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Photos

D A N C E

November 14, 2019

INTERESTING

Kelsey Ganzon (Junior)

Photo by Sasha Clinnin Anneliese Hasenbalg (Senior)

Photo courtesy of Anneliese Hasenbalg Jack Yore (Junior)

R U G B Y

14

Photo courtesy of Jack Yore

Photos

M A R T I A L

A R T S

Page design by Sasha Clinnin

HOBBIES

H OR R I SD E I BN AG C K

November 14, 2019 Nate Bermes, Erick Barragan, Michael Rose (Seniors)

Photo by Casey Schanks Natalie Hazen (Junior)

Photo courtesy of Natalie Hazen

Illustration courtesy of Paige Beattie

Page design by Sasha Clinnin

Paige Beattie (Senior)

Photo courtesy of Paige Beattie

Photos

S FC I I RE EN C E

A R T I S T

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Sports November 14, 2019

TUCKER JAHNS: ALL-AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYER

FRESHMAN

Goals: 6 Assists: 3 Hat Tricks: 0

SOPHOMORE

Goals: 26 Assists: 10 Hat Tricks: 5

JUNIOR

Goals: 31 Assists: 8 Hat Tricks: 4

SENIOR

Goals: 35 Assists: 15 Hat Tricks: 7

BY GIO VALLE, Editor

W

hen he walks through the hallways, senior Tucker Jahns might look like any regular student. But outside of school, Jahns is one of the best high school soccer players in the country.

He has played for Campton United Soccer Club, Kaneland United Soccer Club, Tri-Cities Soccer and the Chicago Inferno Super Y team, an elite soccer team that competes all over the country for a national championship.

His team won for the first time three years ago.

Jahns was also a part of the Top Drawer’s Fall 2018 All-American Watch List, a list compiled of the 125 best juniors in the country.

“Many people just think, ‘Oh he’s Tucker Jahns and he goes to a 2A school and faces all these easy opponents,’ but to be recognized nationally is probably one of the greatest things I could be recognized for. And not only do I prove myself in high school by scoring all these goals, but I do the same things in club and average around 20 to 30 goals a season,” Jahns said.

Jahns has put together a decorated resume while playing at Kaneland, including First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Area, First Team All-Region, Allstate All-American, All-Sectional, Offensive Player of the Year, 2018 Player of the Year and Academic All-Conference.

Not only is Jahns a great soccer player, but he is also a great teammate and captain.

16

Sports

“He is fun, he is a good leader and he is someone I look up to and respect. Tucker has a lot of potential. If he wants to keep working hard, he’ll go far. It’s up to him,” senior Garret Robinson said.

Jahns not only leads by example but also with his words. His character and leadership skills have earned the respect of his teammates.

“He has a very high work ethic and is always the one pushing everybody on the team and himself. He is the same person on and off the field and has matured as a player and a person due to his work ethic. No one else I know has that work ethic,” Robinson said.

Jahns was not always a great player. When he first started with the Kaneland United Soccer Club, he was not selected to be on the top team, and that made him look up to and want to compete against his friends that were selected. He wanted to prove the coaches wrong.

“When I started out at the Kaneland United Soccer Club, I always looked up to people like [seniors] Gavin Cano and Rachel Richtman because they were on the top team, and I wasn’t. I had the desire to be the best from a young age. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to play on the top team, and ever since then my game has kicked off and I have done things that I never thought I would be able to do,” Jahns said.

At the beginning of his junior year, Jahns wanted to focus on his studies and put the

PHOTO COURTESY OF TUCKER JAHNS UW-Whitewater commit and current senior Tucker Jahns is one of the best soccer players in the state.

thought of soccer in the back of his mind. But as the year went on and the thought crept back in, he decided that abandoning soccer in college was not an option.

Jahns is currently looking forward to the future and will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to play soccer and major in business and finance.

“They are one of the best Division III schools in the nation, and they care a lot about their sports. The coach was one of the main deciding factors in UW-Whitewater because he is very old school. Some of the kids do not take the game very seriously, but with him, he is on top of his players and treats them like part of his family,” Jahns said.

Tony Guinn, the men's soccer coach at UW-Whitewater, sees the potential in Jahns and is ready for him to come and play next fall. In fact, Jahns headlines the Warhawk recruiting class.

“We have recruited a really good class, and I think that Tucker is at the top of that class.

The three reasons I recruited Tucker are that he is a winner, he is athletic and he has great character. Kids like Tucker don’t come into a coach’s life very often. You can go 10 years and not see a kid like him. He is not like kids you see today because he knows how to work.

He is not entitled. Tucker probably has to pay for his stuff. Tucker has a work ethic, which is something I do not see anymore, and that's a big compliment,” Guinn said.

Page design by Ayshe Ali

November 14, 2019

Activities

HOPING TO

MAKE AN IMPACT ON

T

BY ABBY LYCAN, Editor

he motto of the HOPE program, “Helping Others Prosper Everyday,” is an accurate description of the mutually supportive environment that HOPE has created.

“HOPE is a program that helps students who have different challenges, whether they’re physical, social or emotional. We help with these challenges through social and physical activities to help develop life skills,” HOPE teacher Brian Willis said.

Participants in HOPE see benefits beyond just the physical activity of their P.E. class.

“It’s a place where you are allowed to be yourself regardless of the setting,” senior Sofie Carrillo said.

They do many different activities on a daily basis. Sometimes they work to strengthen the bond between the students and make sure that

ILLUSTRATION BY GIO VALLE

STUDENTS’ LIVES

each individual is comfortable with everyone in the program. Recently, you may have noticed that there has been popcorn and Jamba Juice sold in the cafeteria. HOPE is the group who has been selling those items.

“Selling popcorn and Jamba Juice helps to mimic a job environment and how to deal with those types of situations and also how to interact with people in general,” Carrillo said.

Willis and P.E. teacher Jill Carpenter started the HOPE program 11 years ago to give students with challenges a comfortable place at school to have fun and stay fit.

“There was a need for the students who have challenges to have their own PE class…

[The administration] approved our written curriculum, and here we are 11 years later,” Willis said.

To get involved in the HOPE program, students have to submit an application. After

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN WILLIS Junior Taylor Carlson leads the HOPE program in a dance. On a daily basis, participants engage in a variety of different activities.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN WILLIS The HOPE program mini golfs at the Sugar Grove Family Fun Center to enjoy a nice day outside. The HOPE program goes on several trips throughout the year to be active in different ways.

reviewing all the applications that are submitted, Willis reviews the applications and then chooses the students that he feels would best fit in the program.

“I accept the students through an application process and an interview, just as if it was a job. It’s always a tough choice because there are so many people that want to be involved.

I interview between 40 and 50 people and accept around 15. That’s the worst part of this program is having to say no to some people who would be very good at it,” Willis said.

While the HOPE program is described as a P.E. class, the impact it has on its students is so much more than a traditional gym class. ¨[HOPE] taught me not to judge others and to just love and support everyone no matter who they are or what challenges they may face,” senior Eva Ottoson said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN WILLIS Each HOPE class takes place in the auxiliary gym and begins with a warmup. Students find ways to be active while also bonding with one another.

ILLUSTRATION BY CASEY SCHANKS

Page design by Gio Valle

Activities

17

open range

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Visit our website for banquets & catering.

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Varsity Jackets Available In: -Boys & Girls Jackets -Tall & XXL Sizes -Special Orders

Find us at Shady Hill Gardens 11/15 & 16

630-555-3655

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Just in time for the holidays and back by popular demand, Honey Toffee makes the perfect gift!

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UPCOMING EVENTS AT SGPL: Teen Holiday Party! 12/21 Sat., Dec. 21, 1:00-3:00pm

Join us at the library for an afternoon of book bingo, video gaming, and cookie decorating!

844-910-6100 1725 Crescent Lake Drive B Montgomery, IL 60538 www.tapintoarchery.com Find all events on @tapintoarchery

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Visit vaor.com Visit @10Calfl www.localflavor.com for afor 2 for 1 offand lessons deal 10% on range equipment rental

(fun for a date night out or something different to do)

Want your business to have an advertisement in the Kaneland Krier?

Contact us at: Kanelandkrier@kaneland.org for more information and pricing!

Visit official calendar at: sugargrove.evanced.info/signup SUN: 2pm-6pm MON-THURS: 10am-8pm FRI: Closed SAT: 10am-4pm

The Krier is a great opportunity to advertise to all nine communities in the district.

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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STAY CONNECTED!

@Kaneland_Krier @KanelandKrier @khs_krier

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